Accessories

In the 25th episode, the iPhone Life team talks about the pros and cons of cutting the cord and replacing cable or satellite TV with an Apple TV,  as well as which apps offer the best viewing options. Other topics include how to free up storage space on an iPad or iPhone, what the earthquake in Taiwan means for iPhone 7 chip production, and why you should pay for your music streaming service.

I had the opportunity to try Wi-Fi HDD P700 ($119.99) from Emtec. I liked the truly massive amount of storage (1 TB or 2 TB) it offers compared to most competing offerings which are solid state based and offer 16 GB to 64 GB. I also liked that it offers both Wi-Fi and Ethernet based router capability. The device offers six hours of battery life, plus iOS and Android support with multi-user support (up to eight users). However, it is somewhat expensive and users must have the free "Emtec Connect" app to access the content. 

When it comes to running and listening to music, you need headphones or earbuds that feel comfortable but won’t budge no matter what terrain you’re running on. In the past when trying out active headphones, I’ve come across two major problems: they fall out or the added bulk to keep them in place hurts my ears. If a pair of active earbuds have neither of these problems, I look for added features and am particularly drawn to those with Bluetooth capability. Here’s my list of the three best Bluetooth-enabled earbuds for running.

I've tried a lot of highly rugged Bluetooth speakers, but they tend to come with a high-end price. The ECOPEBBLE ($59.99) from ECOXGEAR offers a rugged design and is waterproof to IP67 standards. The thing even floats! However, it's still quite affordable at under $60. 

In the 24th episode, the iPhone Life team is joined by long-time iPhone Life contributor, Mike Riley, to talk about the iPad's role in creating and performing music and the best apps and gear for getting started. Other topics include Error 53, which is reportedly bricking iPhones that have been repaired by third parties, and Tim Cook's Super Bowl twitter blunder. Plus, the iPhone Life kids weigh in on their parents' tech rules.

One of the things that frustrated me most when I recently got the iPhone 6s was its size (yes, I was one of those people who longed for the days of my 4-inch iPhone 5s). The problem was that I had a pretty difficult time using the iPhone 6s one handed. Yeah, I get it, there’s that whole Reachability feature that Apple added to help solve this exact issue. But let’s be honest—nobody likes Reachability. I’ve activated the feature a lot since purchasing my phone, but never on purpose. So when I saw the 6Sense Tempered Glass Screen Protector by Avant Guard at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show—which allows you to activate functions located at the top corners of your screen (like the Back and Edit buttons in the Photos app) from the bottom of your screen instead—I was pretty excited by the concept.

Valentine’s Day is nearly here. Sure, you could buy your sweetheart the traditional flowers and chocolate but the best gifts are either handmade or personally selected. If your love happens to be a tech lover as well, why not get them a gift they’ll both use and adore? For him and her, we’ve got a list of awesome V-day gifts for the tech lover in your life from the Keyboard Waffle Maker to a coffee pot you can start from anywhere.