More than 160 million people use Snapchat every day, and developers keep rolling out new, versatile features to keep Snap fresh. Whether you want to use Snapchat to send a photo, video, or message to one friend or to a whole group of followers, live video chat, or discover short-form content from publishers and celebrities, there's a lot to keep you connected and engaged. Beyond that, Snapchat allows users to send and receive money through Snapcash, create avatars, augment content with filters and AR lenses, stickers, and a drawing feature, and share locations for still shots and live chat. Formerly a non-archival platform, Snapchat now allows users to save photos and videos, called snaps, with their Memories feature. A frustration many Snapchat users share is the inability to download Snap for iPad. Snapchat for iPhone is super convenient, but when you have the ability to use an iPad, it sure would be great to have a larger drawing surface so you can add more detail to your still shots and filters, and have more screen space to explore Stories. Although Snapchat for iPad is not officially available, there's an easy trick to install Snapchat on iPad. Let's get started learning how to get Snapchat on iPad!
Jim Karpen
Details Emerge on 4-Inch iPhone 5se Coming in March
By Jim Karpen
As noted in this earlier post, rumors have been swirling that Apple will be holding an event in March to introduce new products. And in recent days details of what to expect have become more clear. The biggest news is that it's increasingly likely that Apple will announce a new 4-inch iPhone the week of March 14 that will take over the low-end slot in its lineup of models. The announcement could come at a media event or it could simply be an online announcement. It may also include new Apple Watch models with new bands and an iPad Air 3.
I'm working on a post about cutting the cord with your Apple TV, and my best discovery so far is that I'm able to watch the wide range of programming that Sling TV offers for just $20 per month via my Apple TV. The service includes ESPN, ESPN2, AMC, A&E, History channel, TNT, TBS, Disney channel, Travel Channel, CNN, HGTV, Food, and more. This can be done in two different ways: mirroring your iPhone or iPad using AirPlay and using Sling TV as your credentials for the WatchESPN app.
How to Ask Siri to Play the Rest of the Album
By Jim Karpen
There are likely occasions when you're listening to a playlist or to shuffled music, or listening to Apple Music, and you hear an artist you like — and you want more. At that very moment you want to listen to more from the album or to hear more from that particular artist. Siri is here to help.
When Apple announced iOS 9, I got really excited about the forthcoming News app. And now that I'm using it regularly, I feel my excitement was warranted. Plus, I like the snappy and seamless manner in which one can toggle between the overview of the news and a specific story. And I recently learned there's an even easier way to return to the overview, as well as to read the next story without going to the overview.
Apple first announced HomeKit, its smart-home platform, in June of 2014, but HomeKit-compatible devices have been slow in coming. And frankly, it may not have been easy to understand exactly what HomeKit is and what the benefits are. iHome generously sent me its smart plug a few weeks ago, and now I finally get what HomeKit is. It's really cool. I want to share with you what I've learned, in case you're interested in what HomeKit is and whether you may want to start creating a smart-home environment. This is especially relevant now, because with the annual Consumer Electronics Show currently going on, more and more HomeKit devices are being announced.
Tip of the Day: How to Add a Third-Party Keyboard
By Jim Karpen
Apple introduced third-party keyboards in iOS 8 after a lot of user requests. Now, the options seem endless, from the popular SwiftKey app to adding a gif keyboard for fun communication between friends. To add a third-party keyboard, the first thing you need to do is download a keyboard app from the App Store. Once downloaded, the setup is easy.
Top iPhone Features and Apps That Can Save Your Life
By Jim Karpen
How to Use Apple TV Remote App for iPhone or iPad
By Jim Karpen
As my fellow blogger Todd Bernhard noted in this post, Apple has updated its Remote app for iPhone or iPad (free) to work with the new fourth-generation Apple TV. I've been using it a bit and am pleased with how intuitive it is — and how similar it is to the remote that comes with the Apple TV. here's how to use the Apple TV Remote app for iPhone or iPad.
Getting Started With Your New Apple TV
By Jim Karpen
Did you receive a new fourth-generation Apple TV for Christmas? Here's a short guide to getting started with this new device. We'll cover setup, basic navigation, using Siri, and controlling videos and music. Some of this information is covered in more depth in these posts on 31 Top Tips for Mastering Your New Apple TV and Apple TV — What Siri Can and Can't Do.