10 Siri Voice Commands for iPhone for the Blind & Visually Impaired
By Joe Leo
Ever since Apple’s virtual assistant Siri debuted with the release of the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 in 2011, using our cell phones has become quicker and easier. So why are you still navigating your device with taps, swipes, and gestures when you could be using Siri? Whether you are a seasoned or rookie iPhone user, Siri will allow you to take control of your device, save time, and be more productive.
Business Apps for the Entrepreneur: Taxes, Time Management, Publicity & More
By Conner Carey
In 2019, I’m not certain it’s even possible to run a business without using a few essential apps. The broad range of functionality iPhone and iPad apps offer improve a myriad of problems and daily tasks, including automating email, keeping all of your projects organized, building your brand, creating stunning promotional images, sending out invoices, and much more. From the more practical apps that help you with time management and taxes to the creative-but-essential apps that allow you to cultivate your company’s presence on the web and across social media, this list will be helpful to budding entrepreneurs across the board. My two personal favorites are Over, for creating promotional photos, and Trello, for staying on top of all the work small business owners need to do.
Best Apps: Meetup
By Hallei Halter
Feel like you need to leave the house or want to squeeze in a small outing on your business trip? If you're wondering how to meet people or find local events, the Meetup app is your answer. With its array of groups and events created by people local to the area, Meetup could show you something you've never seen before, even in your own hometown.
Messaging Dos & Don'ts: Texting Rules for the Digital Age
By Sarah Kingsbury
If you came of age in the pre-smartphone era, you already know the basics of phone etiquette. But now that texting and messaging apps have overtaken phone calls as the preferred method of staying in touch, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the dos and don’ts of texting as well. Here’s how to avoid being the bane of the group chat, telling someone it’s funny that their loved one died, and snubbing someone just by letting them see that you read their message!
Reader Recommended: Summer Reading, Podcasts & Music for 2019
By Leanne Hays
It can be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of music, audiobooks, and podcasts hitting the marked every day. Which are worth your time? Luckily, we've gathered reader recommendations from all over the country for your summer reading and listening pleasure. Explore our Summer 2019 list and see what strikes your fancy!
Best Apps: Udemy
By Hallei Halter
Have you ever wished you could take a college class just to learn about something more in-depth? With Udemy, short for You Academy, you can find a course covering almost anything you can think of and follow along on your own schedule. Udemy hosts over 80,000 courses uploaded from all over the world, with instructional videos on topics ranging from how to make your own sourdough bread to how to use a new coding program.
Hands on with Apple's Second-Gen AirPods
By Sarah Kingsbury
In the 109th episode of the iPhone Life Podcast, tune in as Sarah, Donna, and David share their first-hand experiences with Apple's second-generation wireless earbuds. Other topics include productivity apps and tips and Apple's last-minute cancellation of the AirPower mat it's been promising since 2017.
Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies Quiz: Personality Meets Productivity
By Leanne Hays
Have you been struggling to meet your productivity goals? Do you wonder why others succeed with the exact same tools and techniques that have been failing you? Author Gretchen Rubin has the answer to these vexing questions. What’s her magic formula? Self-knowledge. Many people stumble across effective productivity hacks, whether it be through advice from a friend, an article online, or just hard experience. Many of us, though, have yet to find the best way to go about meeting our goals and wonder why an app or planner that works so well for those around us is just not helping us improve our performance.
App Saturday: Overcast
By Hallei Halter
I habitually autoplay hours of Netflix or Youtube because I like the sound of people talking while I'm puttering around my apartment. Podcasts naturally fill that need with the bonus that I'm not missing any context since there's nothing to watch, only listen to. But even when I'm only listening, I still want to personalize my choices. Overcast is a podcast player app that gives me as many choices as I want when it comes to selecting content and how I want to hear it.
Tivoo Review: A Cute, Functional Speaker with a Customizable Pixel Display
By Todd Bernhard
A big theme at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was "Retro" and yet the cutest item I saw was both retro and futuristic at once. The folks from Divoom gave me a Tivoo ($59.90) to try and I love it. It looks like a small, old-fashioned CRT television set from the 50s or 60s, without the rabbit ears. It's sold in assorted colors for a reasonable price.
App Saturday: Amazon Music
By Hallei Halter
While you may think of Spotify or Apple Music when it comes to streaming music, if you're wanting to stay up to date with new music or browse your tried and true favorite albums, Amazon Music just about has it all. And you already have access to it if you are an Amazon Prime member. With the ability to find and listen to thousands of hours of music, you won't have to search for long to settle on something you enjoy.
The Best Apps for Reading, Podcast Listening & Cleaning
By Sarah Kingsbury
In the 108th episode of the iPhone Life Insider Podcast, tune in as the team shares their favorite apps for reading, listening to podcasts, and getting on a good cleaning routine at home. Stick around for an exclusive Insider discussion of how to manage your app subscriptions on the iPhone.
App Saturday: Grubhub
By Hallei Halter
Looking up your choices for "Food delivery near me" and not happy with the results? You can place a takeout order on Grubhub for restaurants (even those that don't offer delivery) and a driver will pick up your order and deliver it to your address. Grubhub orders can also be placed for pickup, but the real advantage of Grubhub is having the menus and pricing of local restaurants all on one app.
iPhone Photo Saving & Sharing Guide: Text, Email, AirDrop, Shared Albums & Social Media
By Leanne Hays
One of my favorite uses for my iPhone is taking and sharing pictures, but with so many different methods and platforms, it can get a little tricky. In this guide, I'll cover everything I've learned about saved images and photos, including how to save and share them from text and iMessage, from email, with AirDrop and iCloud, from Shared Albums, and even social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. After we cover that range of topics, we'll go over how to transfer pictures from your iPhone to your Mac and PC so you can keep your photos and albums organized and safe. Let's get started!
App Saturday: Lyft
By Hallei Halter
On vacation or a business trip and hate trying to maneuver your way around unfamiliar territory? Lyft is a rideshare app that employs local people as an alternative to conventional taxis, and provides discounts for cheap fares. To save time and hassle, Lyft can get you to your destination with just a few taps.