I will probably upgrade to the iPhone 6s, but not for the reasons you might think. Yes, Apple claims "The only thing that’s changed is everything" and that's true. Almost every element of the iPhone 6 has been enhanced. The metal is stronger. The screen has 3D Touch. The camera is a big improvement. The processor is faster, as are the graphics and networking. If your job was to repair iPhones, there are almost no components from the older iPhone 6 that could be reused in the iPhone 6s. It is entirely new. Everything has indeed changed. Apple has a valid point and it is also trying to head off the inevitable "nothing's changed" criticism that comes with any "s" model.
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Why You Might Want to Pass on Apple’s New iPhone Lightning Dock
By Todd Bernhard
It got barely a mention during Apple's action-packed announcement on September 9, but Apple now offers an iPhone Lightning Dock, in four different colors. And if you want one, it's one of the few items announced that is actually available to order and shipping within 1–3 business days. The dock is sold in silver, space gray, gold, and rose gold to match the latest lineup of iPhone 6s colors. The dock itself is compatible with more than the iPhone 6s, specifically the iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, 6, 6 Plus, 5s, 5c, 5, and iPod touch 5th and 6th generation. But it still may not be the Lightning dock for you.
iPhone Life Podcast Episode 001—iPhone 6s Announcement Preview and Rumors
By Sarah Kingsbury
We are excited to announce launch of the iPhone Life Podcast! Tune in to hear our editors share with you the latest Apple news, best apps, iPhone tricks, and the coolest accessories.
In the first episode of the iPhone Life Podcast, Sarah, Donna, and David discuss the latest iPhone 6s and Apple TV rumors leading up to the Apple annoucement. We answer all of your burning questions including: "What is Force Touch?", "Do we need a 12 MP Camera?", "Will Apple release a streaming service?", and much more.
Enter the iPhone Life Photo Contest: Deadline September 4!
By Rheanne Taylor
It's photo contest time again. We know you enjoy taking the occasional artistic shot with your iPhone, so why not get rewarded for it? Enter our iPhone Photography Contest for a chance to win awesome prizes and a spot in our magazine!
Review: Charge Up to 7 Devices with the Skiva StandCharger
By Todd Bernhard
If you have an assortment of smart devices that need to be charged daily, you probably have USB chargers in every outlet in the house. Skiva has a smart alternative and it's on sale for half price. The StandCharger 7-Port USB Charging Station ($59.99) is normally $119.99 and even that would be worth it. The well-built charger accommodates up to seven devices, including iPads and other tablets.
Review: NoiseHush Noise-Cancelling Headphones
By Brian Faulkner
NoiseHush offers two great pairs of affordable noise-cancelling headphones. The i9 BT comes with Bluetooth connectivity while the i7 does not. Check out the pros and cons of both of these pairs of headphones in this in-depth review.
The Brookstone HDMI Pocket Projector Pro ($249.99) was a wonderful surprise for me; an extremely functional, portable, and practical creation that is well worth the extra $49 investment for the required Apple A/V adapter — if you don't already have one that is. Once you've got the Apple A/V adaptor, connecting your iPad or iPhone to the projector is as simple as plugging it in and turning it on. With this projector you can instantly view your iDevice's high-definition videos and images, games, and even native iOS apps like Keynote or FaceTime, all on a variable sized viewing screen the can enlarge the image to a 115-inch diagonal size.
How to Transfer Photos from Your iPhone to Your Computer Using AirDrop
By Rheanne Taylor
There are a variety of reasons why you might want to transfer your photos from your iPhone to your computer. Maybe you’re running low on storage space and need to clear out some room in your Photos app; or maybe you just like the extra bit of security that comes with having your photos on multiple devices. Here’s how to use AirDrop to transfer photos between devices.
Apple Watch Sapphire Display Performs Poorly Against ION-X Glass
By Todd Bernhard
In this age of multi-device households, sharing accounts with family members can be a little stressful. Add a tween or teenage into the mix, and it might be enough to push you over the edge. If you’ve ever had your phone ring with a FaceTime call from your 12 year-old’s best friend or received the “iCloud is full” error message after adding a new device to your household, this article is for you.
First, it’s important to know a little bit about your Apple ID and iCloud. Your Apple ID is what gives you access to iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage, iTunes, the App Store, and Game Center, among other services. Since these are the most-used services in my house, they are the ones I’m going to talk about here. Some families choose to share an Apple ID for some services and use separate Apple IDs for others. There is no “one size fits all” cure for family device management—it all depends on your family's preferences. If you forgot your Apple ID, here's how to reset your password.
Welcome to Game Centered. Usually our Game Centered column focuses on iOS gaming apps, however this time we're taking a slightly different tack and focusing on iOS gaming gear, specifically exceptional headphones for iOS gaming. This roundup has been a long time coming. Over my years writing for iPhone Life magazine I've gotten hip to many great headphones, but only a handful would I consider optimal for the iOS gaming environment, as many factors go into making a pair of headphones optimal for the core gamer. The headphones featured here all fit that bill and address the fact that more and more core gamers are looking to their iOS devices to provide their gaming fix. It's rare that I come across reviews or roundups that focus on great gaming gear solely for the iOS gamer, and this aims to do just that. So if you are an avid, core gamer who loves playing on iOS, this one's for you!
Navigating around in a document can be challenging on your phone because it's hard to get around the page. You don't have to be frustrated by that anymore as your iPhone 6 hooks you up with an easier way to zip around the screen.
iPhone 6 Cover Review: 3 Options from Qmadix
By Daniel Rasmus
I am always overwhelmed by iPhone cases shipments. A few days ago a big box arrived from Qmadix with one of every case they currently distribute for the iPhone 6.
They say you can never have too much money. I don't know if that's true. Shakespeare had King Richard shouting "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" I don't ride a horse, but I do have a couple of old convertibles that have had the battery die on occassion, so I can relate. All the money in the world won't help you if your car and phone batteries are dead and nobody is around to help. That's why I was very excited to see the JumperPack mini from Cyntur.
IK Multimedia made the iRig 2 ($39.99) product available last week and sent us a review unit to test out. The iRig is a guitar interface that allows you to process signals from any electric guitar and listen to the output on your headphones. It now can send signal out to an amp or PA. I tested the iRig with several of my guitars running into a Line 6 Flextone and a Roland guitar amp, as well as with headphones. I also tested it up against the iRig Pro HD model, and have to say it performed nearly on a par with the fancier iRig model!
This is the first Indie Project Corner post, a regular feature we will be undertaking to showcase noteworthy indie development efforts (mostly iPhone-related). It's not easy to get a crowdfunded product off the ground, as any who have done it will tell you, and iPhone Life wants to help by interviewing entrepreneurs and getting the skinny on what makes their products the best. In this first edition, we interview Gene Aikens of The Power Company, maker of the Smart Card, and the iPocket Drive. Gene sent us an early review sample of the iPocket Drive to check out. If you are looking for an alternative to network or cloud-connected storage, you will want an iPocket Drive! Gene shares some great insights in part one of this edition.
This is the follow-up post to our first edition of the Indie Project corner, where we talk to indie product developers who are crowdfunding and implementing a new project related to iOS. In Part 1, we interviewed Gene Aikens of the Power Company on the early success involving his recent campaigns on Indiegogo. In this edition, we are following that up with a product review of his iPocket Drive.
Out of all of the thousands of mobile games available to gamers, few if any have generated a buzz in the core gaming community like Vainglory has. Vainglory is an unapologetically core game, built from the ground up for the mobile touchscreen platform. I had the opportunity recently to sit down and chat with Vainglory's COO Kristian "EdTheShred" Segerstrale and former pro League of Legends player George "Zekent" Liu who now serves as Vainglory's Video Community Manager. What follows is an essential and informative read for anyone who is a core gamer in this day and age where touchscreens are increasingly becoming the dominant gaming platform.
Tip of the Day: Rotate your iPhone 6 Plus to View Both Messages List and Selected Conversations
By Adam Harvey
Have you ever wished you could see both your list of messages and a selected conversation at the same time? You can now if you have an iPhone 6 Plus!
Tip of the Day: Recording Videos at 60 Frames Per Second with Your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus
By Adam Harvey
Ahhhh there's nothing quite like shooting great quality videos! Before the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus came out, iPhones were capable of capturing 30 frames per second (fps). Now, with the launch of the latest smartphones, Apple has bestowed upon us a magnificent gift: a full 60 frames-per-second recording capability.