With iOS 10, Apple introduced Message Effects that allow you to add a bit of fun to the messages you send. You could make confetti rain or a laser show ensue when the recipient opened it. With iOS 11, Apple adds two new Message Effects— Echo and Spotlight. We’ll go over what each Message Effect does and how to use it. Here’s how to use the new Message Effects with iOS 11 on iPhone.
Conner Carey
How to Save Camera Settings on iPhone (iOS 17)
By Conner Carey
If you're an avid iPhoneographer, there are certain camera settings you may want to be standard in the Camera app on your iPhone. You can preserve a few different camera settings so that you don't have to enable your preferred settings every time you go to take a picture. Let's take a look at how to save Camera settings on your iPhone.
For years, we’ve recommended turning off Background App Refresh on your device to save battery life and cellular data. Background App Refresh automatically refreshes apps you have open in the background so that when you go to look at the app again, the page is already up to date and loaded. Which is why the feature can siphon off your data without you noticing. But now, with iOS 11 on iPhone, you can choose to turn Background App Refresh on only when your device is using a WiFi connection. That way, you can enjoy the perks of the feature without worrying about how much data it’s using. Here’s how to set background app refresh to Wi-Fi only with iOS 11 on iPhone.
Mealime: Best Recipe App for Busy & Health-Conscious People
By Conner Carey
I’ve tried Mealime (Free) in the past and shared my experience. It’s one of the few practical daily meal planning apps, as it offers meals you can make within about 45 minutes. Every meal I’ve tried is super delicious, and my only real complaint is that there needs to be even more variety (new recipes are added every week). However, if you’re a busy professional or caretaker who wants to feed yourself and your family healthy meals, I highly recommend giving Mealime a try. The free version is limited but perfect for testing it out. The pro version of Mealime is $5.99 a month; so if you decide you love it too, it won’t break the bank. We’ll go over more of what Mealime does and why we love it below.
If you've recently noticed that the flashlight is missing from the Control Center, there's no need to worry. Your iPhone light is still available, and it's easy to place it back into the Control Center with your other quick-access icons.
How to Turn on Emergency SOS with iOS 11 on iPhone
By Conner Carey
With WatchOS 3, the Apple Watch added the ability to make emergency SOS calls right from its Lock or Home screen. With iOS 11, the iPhone now has the same ability to call Emergency SOS. You turn this on within settings and enable Auto Call; so if you’re in a situation where you need help, it’s easy to make a call to emergency services such as 911. In order to call for emergency services on an iPhone running iOS 11 or later, you'll need to know your iPhone model since it's slightly different on iPhone 8. Here’s how to turn on Emergency SOS on iPhone.
Previously, I went over how to follow friends on Apple Music with iOS 11. But one of the perks of following your friends on Apple Music is getting to see what they’re listening to. If you’re in a music rut and want to discover something fresh, checking out what your friends are listening to on Apple Music is a quick way to find something you’re probably going to like. Here’s how to see what your friends are listening to on Apple Music with iOS 11 on iPhone or iPad.
Expand Your Vocabulary with This Word-a-Day App
By Conner Carey
I remember the days of taking home a huge vocabulary list home from school and spending hours memorizing the definitions. Back then, it was pain in the ass. But nowadays, I get a secret joy from using those same vocabulary words I dreaded. I don’t know about you, but as an adult, I still want to learn new words and continue to expand my vocabulary. Of course, the best way to do that is to read. But the next best way may very well be this app. The Daily Word is a super simple app that gives you a new word to learn each day along with its pronunciation, definition, and an example sentence. Here’s more on what it does and why we love it.
How to Add a Table to Notes with iOS 11 on iPhone
By Conner Carey
With each new iOS, Apple improves the once barely adequate Notes app. Now, it’s a bona fide note-taking app with lots of features. With iOS 11, the list of features grows with the ability to add tables to a note now possible. Making a table in the Notes app can be helpful for creating various items. For example, you could use one to keep an easy tally of your expenses. Here’s how to add a table to Notes with iOS 11 on iPhone.
How to Lock & Unlock an Apple Watch with Water Lock
By Conner Carey
Have you ever brushed against your Apple Watch screen during daily activity and started tracking a workout or opened a random app without meaning to? If so, you probably want to know how to lock your Apple Watch in order to prevent that from happening again. In addition, it prevents water from getting into the watch during water workouts. But you can also use Water Lock to keep your Apple Watch locked any time, even if you're not swimming. Here's how.