iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear
The Wireless Keyboard Apple Should Have Made
Sponsored By iPhone Life on Thu, 11/08/2018
Do you ever find yourself fumbling around at night for the correct function key on your Mac keyboard? Maybe your screen is bright enough to see what you’re doing, but if that's the case then chances are you’ve been losing sleep. If these problems sound familiar to you, then Matias has the solution you’ve been looking for to keep you oriented in the dark without costing you sleep. Read on to learn more about the wired keyboard Apple should have made.
How to Eliminate Duplicate Passwords with Apple's Password Manager
By Hallei Halter
If you're worried about reusing the same password for multiple accounts, Apple's iCloud Keychain password manager now has a tool to strengthen your password security. In the Settings app, you can now check your passwords for any exclamation point icons. The exclamation points indicate accounts that have a shared password. Here's how to get rid of the old weak passwords and use Apple's password suggestions to create a unique and secure password instead.
Just Mobile TENC Air: A Protective Case for the iPhone XS, XS Max & XR
By Mike Riley
I have been reviewing Just Mobile products for iPhone Life since the release of the company's iPad accessories and stands nearly ten years ago. With Apple's introduction of its most impressive (and expensive) iPhone to date, the iPhone XS Max, keeping such a substantial investment from harm is of utmost importance. Just Mobile agrees and has designed two product to address such a need.
App Saturday: RECaf - Caffeine Recorder
By Hallei Halter
Coffee is my co-pilot throughout the week. But if you asked me how much I drink on average, I'd draw a blank. Since my coffee habit was actually on auto-pilot, I chose RECaf - Caffeine Recorder as a a caffeine tracker for what, when, and how much caffeine I was consuming. This app is compatible with "Hey Siri" for logging entries and has customizable options so I can add specific drinks or food with their approximate caffeine content.
Review: Smart Wireless Car Charging Mount for Your iPhone
By Todd Bernhard
The folks at Lynktec sent me their brand new Bolt Smart Car Mount & Qi Wireless Charger ($49.99.) I've reviewed several such products and they always fall short in one area or another. So I was pleasantly surprised to see the attention to detail in the Bolt.
Beddi Glow SE: The Updated Wake Up Light & Bluetooth Speaker from WITTI
By Todd Bernhard
I had the opportunity to try the updated BEDDI Glow SE ($79.99) from WITTI. I reviewed the original model, and was happy when WITTI sent me the newer version. This one has a compact footprint and battery backup, two valuable enhancements for nightstand use, which is how I used my original BEDDI for years. You can set multiple alarms on different days, such as a weekday alarm for work or school and a weekend alarm that's a little later.
Review: Wireless Earbuds with Cadence Tracking & Voice Coaching from Soul
By Todd Bernhard
Soul sent me its Run Free Pro Bio ($149.99) wireless earbuds to try. I was skeptical because they are priced around the same as Apple's AirPods, so I figured they had to have some advantages over Apple. I was right, the Run Free Pro Bio earbuds have a bunch of distinctive and interesting features that runners should find appealing.
Best Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) Headsets for Your iPhone
By Dig Om
Check out our roundup of the best VR headsets for the iPhone; they range in size and price, but all are cheap enough for just about everyone to give VR a try. Whether you are new to VR or have been playing around in virtual realms for a while, we also recommend trying free VR apps, including Veer VR, Within -VR, and VR Tube to explore a variety of original, mind-bending VR content.
New for iOS 12: How to Set Up Screen Time Parental Control on iPhone & iPad
By Leanne Hays
We all want our kids to avoid screen addiction and be safe online, but that can be hard to accomplish when children have open access to the internet via their iPhone or iPad. iOS 12 features Screen Time controls that make parental control not only easy, but also free, whereas in the past you might have to pay for parental control apps to make sure inappropriate content wasn't getting through on your kids' devices. Let's get started learning how to set up Screen Time settings on your child's iPhone and iPad, and how to lock those settings so your curious kids can't access the content you've blocked.
Holiday Gift Ideas under $100 for 2018: Tech Gadgets for Everyone on Your List
By Leanne Hays
Now that November is here I can officially start thinking about Christmas gift ideas, and lucky for me I was tasked with writing this roundup of top tech gifts under $100. I found so many cool things to buy for the 2018 holidays; gifts for women and men, and even a few things kids and teenagers will love. Let's get started with my 2018 Buyer's Guide for tech gadgets, including toasty warm winter texting gloves, a GPS tracker to help find lost items, a smart water bottle, and more. Your friends and loved ones are going to be really happy with their presents this year!
Review: Portable 5K Wireless Charger from Moshi
By Todd Bernhard
I recently reviewed a number of iPhone accessories from Moshi, so I was surprised when the company sent me another item just a few days later. It looks like Moshi was working on something that improves upon the items I just reviewed. The Porto Q 5K Portable Battery with Built-in Wireless Charger ($84.95) has a nice fabric and rubber surface like their previous wireless Qi charger, but this has some welcome enhancements.
Siri Shortcuts Intro: Selecting, Editing & Creating Basic Shortcuts on an iPhone
By Tamlin Day
At WWDC 2018, Apple made a big deal about Siri & Shortcuts during the keynote presentation. Shortcuts is based on the app Workflow, which Apple bought in 2017. In this article, we'll provide the basics to get you going with the Shortcuts gallery and the editor's screen. Now that Shortcuts is available for iOS 12, it seems that no one quite understands how the app works. Even Apple's official guide to Shortcuts fails to answer some important questions. Grab yourself a cup of a soothing herbal tea and let's dive into this mess together.
New for iOS 12: How to Add a Free Thesaurus to Look Up on Your iPhone & iPad
By Leanne Hays
I love using a thesaurus when I write, so the fact that this option has been missing from the Look Up feature in Safari has been a sore spot for me. With iOS 12 I'll no longer need a thesaurus app, because we can now add a thesaurus to Look Up on iPhone and iPad for free! Let's get started learning how to add a Thesaurus to Look Up, so we can find a synonym or antonym whenever we need one, and expand our vocabularies.
Get to Know iOS 12 with an iPhone Life Insider Membership
By Tamlin Day
Here at iPhone Life, we're big fans of Apple, but that doesn't mean learning how to use the new mobile operating system (iOS) they release each year comes easily. That's why we've taken everything we've learned about iOS 12 and created The Complete iOS 12 Guide for members of our premium monthly service, iPhone Life Insider. This guide is packed with all of the how-tos, tips, and tricks you need to become an expert in iOS 12. We’ll cover all of the features big and small, and we'll make it easy to follow with guided videos that’ll show you exactly what your iPhone or iPad screen will look like every step of the way. You’ll be teaching your friends iOS 12 tricks in no time. Check out a preview of the guide and learn more about the iPhone Life Insider membership below.
How to Use Siri to Turn Your iPhone Flashlight On & Off
By Leanne Hays
Your iPhone's flashlight is one of its most simple, yet useful, features, and through the years it's gotten easier and more convenient to use. With iOS 12, you can simply ask Siri to turn your flashlight on and off for you. We've already gone over how to turn your iPhone's flashlight on and off from the Control Center, so now let's get started learning the easiest way to turn on your iPhone flashlight.
App Saturday: Chess - Play & Learn
By Hallei Halter
Chess had always been one those games where I knew what it looked like but I didn't know how to play it. Pixar's short film Geri's Game made it seem fun, while every version of Sherlock Holmes made sure to have the hero brood over the board game at least once. Chess.com's Chess - Play & Learn, has been helping me to play chess and enjoy it. The app's resources, which include news and live tournament feeds, has also gotten me excited to know about the chess world at large.
How to Find an iPhone Serial Number Whether You Have Your Phone or Not
By Leanne Hays
Have you ever needed the serial number for your iPhone and realized you had no idea where to find that information? In this article, we'll go over several different places to check for an iPhone serial number, which you may need when filling out registration and support forms from Apple or your insurance company. Whether you have your device in hand or not, and whether your device is working or not, we lots of helpful tips for you to find that essential iPhone serial number; let's get started.