By Hallei Halter
I use my Calendar app to set reminders for meetings and appointments. These events are usually scheduled to begin when the minute hand is at a 0 or 5, so scrolling through each minute on Calendar can be annoying. Here's a quick tip for setting precise times on your Calendar app that will take less than a minute to learn!
By Hallei Halter
I hate running. This is something that has and always will be true. However, after deciding I need to take care of my physical and mental health, the one choice I kept circling back to was, "I need to start working out." My schedule doesn't always sync with my friends, so I typically go to the gym alone. And without anyone to spot me on weights or go with me to a class, the best solo workout for me is running around the indoor track. Zen Labs' C25K app guides users who are complete beginners with an eight-week course that can be used for running outdoors, indoors, or on a treadmill three times a week. In fact, the C25K stands for Couch To 5K, and the app aims to have its users reach a goal of being able to complete a 5K marathon at the end of the eight weeks. As someone who hates running, I really like using the C25K app. It's started a huge change for me. I've gone from just hating the thought of going on a run to hating it while I'm running.
By Hallei Halter
It's important to update your iPhone's software, so why not make iOS updates automatic? Instead of getting notified to update the software, and understandably keep putting it off for later, you can enable your iPhone can do it by itself when the update becomes available. All you'll need to do is leave your iPhone locked and charging in Wi-Fi for the update to happen. And if you charge your iPhone overnight on a regular basis, you're already doing that. Here's how to enable automatic iOS updates on your iPhone.
By Hallei Halter
Now that Apple has added Voice Memos to the iPad and Mac and made it possible sync them via iCloud, it's possible to access a voice memo on any of your Mac and iOS devices and to do things like record voice memos on your iPhone and edit them on your Mac. To do this, you will need to make sure that iCloud is enabled for Voice Memos on both your Mac and your iOS devices. And you will need to be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on each of your devices. You can also follow these steps to disable iCloud sync for Voice Memos.
By Hallei Halter
I love taking photos and my Instagram account shows it. The Layout app from Instagram helps me combine multiple photos into one collage. So if I have pictures from a party or a walk around the park, I can put several of them together into one frame. Layout makes it easy to customize, share, and save my creatively arranged photos.
By Hallei Halter
My iPhone has become something I always carry with me, along with my keys and wallet. I have a better chance of finding my iPhone in the dark than say, the bathroom doorknob on the first try. One of the most useful things my iPhone provides is the Flashlight feature. With the iOS 12 update, I can now turn the Flashlight on and off using "Hey Siri" voice commands. So if I'm stuck in the dark, "Hey Siri" lights the way.
By Hallei Halter
As part of the Apple home automation wave, the HomePod is a fun way to use Apple HomeKit accessories. The smart speaker connects to other iOS devices and can access Siri for voice commands, responding to questions, or playing music. If you want to let family members or friends use the HomePod to do things like turn lights on and off and adjust the thermostat in your house, you can give access via the HomePod. Here's how to add another user to the Apple HomePod.
By Hallei Halter
The Notes app is a convenient tool for everything from planning projects to writing down random thoughts to explore later. What I like about the Notes app is the ability group related notes by putting them in folders. Sometimes I'll make a note and later realize it's in the wrong folder. Other times I won't put the note in a folder and it will end up in the general Notes folder by default. The Notes app has a simple way to move a note from one folder into another, or to start a new folder entirely.
By Hallei Halter
Feel like nothing's ever happened in your hometown? Wish you could find somewhere more special to visit than Ye Olde Tourist Trap? If you're interested in local history or are wanting to find unique vacation spots, the Inquire app's easy and efficient search results can help.
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.