iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

The Best Job Search, Diet, Fitness & Dating Apps for Self Improvement

By Briana Dicks

Whether you’re kissing someone at midnight in Times Square with your 2020 hat pushed back on your head or lounging on the couch in PJs reminiscing over years past while listening to “Auld Lang Syne,” there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to cross your mind that evening: the time-honored tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions. There is something truly magical about a new beginning, a fresh start, or a chance to better yourself. New Year’s is the perfect time of year to reevaluate your life choices and prioritize the change you want to achieve. Don’t wait for the ball to drop to make your resolutions. It’s time for you to take your self improvement into your own hands, because this is your year! Since the majority of people fail to stick to their resolutions, I have gathered the best apps possible to help you on your journey toward your goals. These functional apps will help you to get motivated and make some big life changes and tackle all your resolutions. Whether you're looking for fitness apps, job search apps, diet apps, or apps to organize your finances, and even your inbox, we have you covered. 

Featured iUser: How Fashion Blogger & Entrepreneur Louisa Moje Uses Her iPhone

By Tamlin Day

In every issue of iPhone Life magazine, we feature the iPhone Home screens of people from different walks of life, so our readers can see how they use iPhone apps to meet a variety of needs. In our Spring 2020 issue, we featured fashion designer and blogger Louisa Moje, who uses her iPhone apps for photo editing, social media posting, meal planning, personal finance, and more. If you have a story and apps you'd like to suggest, email Tamlin Day, and we may feature you in an upcoming issue of the magazine!

Smart Camping Gear, Accessories & Equipment for Off-the-Grid Adventures

By Leanne Hays

If you love hiking in the mountains, camping and fishing at a favorite lake, or just going for a walk in the woods, you likely already know that time in nature does a world of good for both physical and mental health. Researchers at the University of East Anglia performed a meta-analysis of more than 140 studies completed in 20 countries that objectively confirms these subjective impressions. Exposure to wild spaces reduces the production of stress hormones, lowers pulse rate and blood pressure, decreases sleep disturbances, and increases happiness, well-being, and even creativity. For many people, spending time in the great outdoors, whether for an afternoon or weeks at a time, means a break from technology. But there are so many practical benefits of having your phone with you! So before you escape to the woods to eat roots and berries and forget human speech, think about adding some of this essential camping gear and equipment to your packing list. While you're at it, check out our collection of travel, hiking, plant identification, and bird apps.

Review: The Ohsnap Magnetic Phone Grip Wants to Replace Your PopSocket

By Todd Bernhard

You may have tried PopSockets phone grips and stands, but the folks at Ohsnap think they have build a better mousetrap. There are indeed advantages to the Ohsnap Phone Grip (starting at $19), which Ohsnap gave me to try. First, it's slim and gets even slimmer by sliding out so you can wirelessly charge your smartphone when the Ohsnap is removed. It's also magnetic so you can easily mount your phone on refrigerators or other metal (not aluminum) surfaces.

Review: iAdapt 7-in-1 Multiport USB-C Hub with Card Reader for MacBook Pro

By Todd Bernhard

I use a MacBook Pro at work and a different one at home, and I use multiple monitors and other accessories in both places, so I'm always looking for the ideal docking hub. Kanex sent me the iAdapt 7-in-1 Multiport USB-C Hub + Card Reader ($79.95) to try. For users like me, it's a great addition. I specify users like me, because it does require a MacBook Pro with two adjacent USB-C ports. It simply won't fit on other Macbooks. Indeed it plugs in to those two slots and essentially become a part of the MacBook Pro.

7 Best Apps to Create an NCAA Basketball Bracket & Buy Tickets for March Madness

By Anjerika Wilmer

Cue the madness. From Selection Sunday (mark your calendars for March 15) to the Final Four, you won’t want to miss out on any of the excitement that the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is known to elicit. With 68 teams competing to participate in NCAA March Madness and become the national champion, trust us, you won’t want to be left out of the loop. Just to reiterate: That’s a whopping 67 games played over 21 days. Phew. Now, I don’t want to speak for anyone else, but who doesn’t love filling out an NCAA basketball bracket with your predictions (Go ’Hoos!)?

With the convenience of iPhone apps, finding sports news and filling out a bracket is so easy that even the most novice sports fan will want to get in on the fun. Throw in a little friendly competition with coworkers and the potential to take home a fancy-schmancy prize should your bracket come out on top for the optimal March Madness experience. Get hyped to cheer on your favorite teams with these seven best NCAA tournament apps that will help you make informed bracket picks while providing 24/7 game highlights. The best part? All of these apps are free!

How to Block Websites on an iPhone or iPad

By iPhone Life Team

If you’re wondering how to block a website on Safari, never fear. In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to block websites on iPhone running iOS 13 and how to block websites on an iPad running iPadOS. Most smartphone users keep their devices to themselves and have no real need to share their phones except to share pictures or lend it to a friend to make a call. There are times, however, when restricting website access is necessary. Say your kids or grandkids are over, and they want to check out your apps. You’ll want to be sure to block explicit content. Or maybe some malware or ransomware is circulating. Knowing how to block a website or sites on your iPhone or iPad will keep things safe and blocking content will automatically apply to all installed browsers, including Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Opera Touch.

Review: ANNKE Smart Floodlight Includes HD Camera, Siren & More

By Todd Bernhard

For two decades, I've been adding smart features to my home, including a video doorbell, smart light switches, Alexa devices and more. But for most of that time, I have relied on X-10 motion-sensing floodlights and analog cameras for security. But now that changes, because ANNKE sent me a Floodlight Cam ($135.99) to try and, while not perfect, it has many benefits over the older technology.

How to Shuffle Music & Repeat Songs in Apple Music

By Tamlin Day

If you want to know how to repeat a song or shuffle music, you'll like this tip on how to find and use playback controls in Apple Music. The controls to shuffle music and repeat songs can be hard to locate, especially when you’ve accidentally enabled them and need to turn shuffle or repeat off! Read on to learn how to repeat songs and shuffle music, plus how to turn shuffle off.

Review: Sennheiser HD 450BT Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

By Mike Riley

The wireless headset market is saturated, which is why I find it so interesting to see how established, expert audio manufacturers compete in such a crowded space. Some emphasize features over performance while others strive for an impeccable sonic experience with minimal features. Then there are companies like Sennheiser that strive to balance a fine line between these aspects. Read on to find out if their latest high definition headset is able to achieve this objective.

Review: Time Traveler Apple Watch & iPhone Portable Power Bank

By Todd Bernhard

My family has three Apple Watches and four iPhones, so anytime I can find a device that charges both, I'm happy. The folks at The Grommet sent me the Time Traveler iPhone & Apple Watch Battery Bank​ ($79.95) to try and it does that and more. The Time Traveler has a built-in charging pad for an Apple Watch. You don't need to provide your own so that's a cost and convenience bonus. There is also a built-in Lightning cable that tucks away under the unit, so you don't have to bring a Lightning cable either!

Review: The iHome Air 2-in-1 Fan & Sound Machine

By Todd Bernhard

If you need help sleeping, either from a sound machine or a cooling fan, the folks at iHome have a new dual-purpose device that could help. They sent me a review unit of their new iHome Air ($70) to try. It makes sense, as you probably have limited space on your nightstand to house multiple devices, so why not combine a couple of gadgets that work best close to your pillow?

How to Block an App's Bluetooth Access on Your iPhone

By Tamlin Day

With iOS 13, Apple has stepped up its Privacy settings. Now, in addition to being able to customize your Location Services for specific apps, you can also block apps from using Bluetooth. This won’t stop you from being able to use your headphones, but it will prevent the app from using your iPhone's Bluetooth in other ways that might affect your privacy. Read on to learn how to disable Bluetooth for specific apps.

Review: SmartCine Wireless Video Kit for iPhone

By Todd Bernhard

I recently reviewed the SmartCine Complete Universal Smartphone Kit. It's a handheld mount that holds a smartphone in place for use in videography. I was intrigued to see how the "complete" kit could get better when Movo sent me its SmartCine Wireless All-in-One Video Kit ($149.95) to try. It turns out there was quite a bit more that could be added. First, Movo added a wireless lavalier microphone option. When combined with an added telephoto lens, this makes it easy to record a distant subject while keeping them in the picture. The kit has a convenient headphone jack as well to check audio levels. Make sure you have your own Lightning to 3.5mm audio converter to accept the output of the wireless receiver.

Apple ID Login: 9 Ways to Fix the Error Connecting to Apple ID Server Message

By Leanne Hays

Have you tried to use your iTunes login or App Store login, log in to your iCloud account, or use any other Apple ID login and gotten an "Error Connecting to Apple ID, Verification Failed" message? Don't worry; we have nine troubleshooting steps you can take if you cannot connect to the App Store, your iCloud account, or any other Apple service. Let's get started. 

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