I love gaming on my iPhone, and I am happy to pay for an app. But too often, I’ll get into a ‘free’ game only to end up spending more on in-app purchases than I ever would have on a single game for any regular gaming console. Which is why Riptide GP: Renegade is such a refreshing surprise. I spent $2.99 for the initial game, which is a great price considering the developers don’t upsell you within the app at all. The graphics are beautiful, the racing controls are the smoothest I’ve ever tried, and it feels like a normal game because once I buy it, it’s fully-featured and ready to play. All of this combined makes Riptide GP: Renegade the best racing game on the iPhone. We’ll cover more on what this game offers and why I love it below.

iOS 11.3 is now available and brings with it fixes that iPhone owners have been hoping for, as well as upgrades and a few surprises. Two major fixes include greater transparency about data and privacy, and more information about battery health and throttling. Among the new features added to iOS 11.3: a Health Records feature in the Health app, the Business Chat platform, app integration with ARKit for a more diverse range of Augmented Reality experiences, and of course, four new animoji! 

The New iPad Will Have Apple Pencil Support

Apple unveiled a new 9.7 inch iPad for 2018 with lower educator pricing and an expansive package of classroom-management and curricular apps at its recent "Let's Take a Field Trip" event. The new hardware and applications are designed to launch teachers, students, administrators, and the classroom itself into an integrated, streamlined future where educational and creative opportunities are expanded, organized, and optimized. 

Kids love iPad time as much as the rest of us, but am I the only one who can almost see my iPad cringe at my child's enthusiastic appreciation? My standard protective iPad case can handle the wear and tear of adult and teenage use, but isn't up to the task of drops, bangs, and spills that a younger child dishes out. Therefore, I've set about to find the very best iPad cases for young children so that I can safeguard my iPad and my nerves from the perils of our preschooler in residence. I'm looking for three key features in my search for the best iPad case for kids: it must be drop proof, easily cleaned, and cute. Let's get started on our review of my findings so you can decide which of these iPad-saving cases you'd choose!

Using the right task-management app and note-taking app can make all the difference to your productivity. And the iPhone Notes app and Reminders app aren't quite up to handling more than the basics. On the other hand, the App Store offers so many alternatives that it can be hard to know which of the options will end up being the right app for your particular needs, whether you're looking for the best task-reminder app, the best Evernote alternative, the best checklist app, or the best iPad note-taking app. That's why we assembled this list of our favorites and shared which functions each app does really well. There's sure to be an app in this list that can meet your requirements!

Whether you're looking for iPad accessories, preparing to sell your iPad online, or needing to replace a cracked screen or aging battery, you might be stuck on one question, "what iPad do I have?" The first piece of information you'll need to help discover which iPad version you own is to find your iPad's model number. Once you've found the model number on your iPad, you can learn which type and generation of iPad you own, so you can buy parts for needed repairs, or sell your iPad online and upgrade to a newer, faster, more versatile device. Whether you have an iPad Pro, an iPad Mini, an iPad Air, or you're just not sure which type of iPad you have, it's time to learn which of the fifteen iPad models Apple has released so far is yours. 

There are a lot of plastic mounts vying to hold your expensive phone or tablet, but why settle when there are well-made mounting solutions like the Steelie Mount and Stand accessories (starting at $19.99) from Nite-Ize?

I recently tried out Solo New York's Cameron Rolltop Backpack and Shorewood Leather Briefcase. Solo New York gets the urban vibe and understands the practicality of modern work. The design of both bags takes into account that briefcases and backpacks often travel with other luggage. The design includes panels for sliding thebags over rolling luggage handles. For someone who travels a lot, that feature alone makes these bags far more appealing than any who skip or skimp on this feature. Read on for more details about each bag.

Kik is a free messaging app that lets you send text messages, videos, GIFs, stickers, and more to friends who've also downloaded the Kik app. Kik users can also find new friends to message; and since the Kik app has over 300 million users, the odds are good that you'll find at least a few people you'd like to chat with. It's easy to get started using Kik; rather than using your phone number to create an account, all you need is an email address and username. Once you've downloaded Kik and created your account, you can use the app to message your friends who are also on the platform, and invite other people in your phone contacts to join. There's one problem though: Kik is easy to download on your iPhone, but what about Kik for iPad? Despite the lack of an official Kik app for iPad, there are ways to work around this missing offering. Let's get started learning how to get Kik for iPad. 

iPhone Life readers share their most cringe-worthy tech mishaps—from Facebook faux pas to sleep texting. Have your own mortifying mishap to share? Email us at techmishaps@iphonelife.com by Monday, March 5, and you could be featured in our next column! (Don't worry, we won't include your name.)

Good news; season 2 of the popular Netflix series, Jessica Jones, will be released on March 8. Jessica Jones is an exclusive Netflix offering produced by Marvel Television and ABC Studios and is part of Marvel's The Defenders series on Netflix featuring Luke Cage, Daredevil, and the Iron Fist. Jessica Jones offers action and intrigue as well as drama, and is a stellar addition to the Marvel Universe. Season one of Jessica Jones is thirteen episodes long, and we can look forward to thirteen more episodes on March 8. Here's how to stream Jessica Jones online through your iPhone, iPad, MacBook, or Apple TV as soon as those episodes drop!   

I do a lot of typing in my job and I prefer to travel with my iPad instead of my MacBook, so I'm always looking for a good keyboard case for my iPad. Enter the solidly built Rugged Book ($129.99) from ZAGG. I'm confident it could survive a drop; and in fact, it feels like I could use it as a weapon! If the bulk is too much at times, you can remove the tablet portion from the keyboard for a lighter, more compact case. You can also flip the tablet part around for use as a video player or kiosk.

Just as the Mac became the predominant music-crafting tool in the 1980s, the iPad is quickly assuming this role in this decade. The tactile display coupled with powerful hardware make it an ideal surface to construct digital musical landscapes. While eager budding musicians can begin their explorations with Apple's Garage Band, experienced music architects will need a program that allows the full realization of sampling, sequencing, and looping possibilities. This is the space that iOS developer Retronyms hopes to fill with its embodiment of Akai Professional's MPC dedicated music hardware within a software equivalent called iMPC Pro 2 ($24.990. Is the app worth its relatively expensive (in comparison to other tap-centric music construction apps in the App Store) price? Read on to find out.

Black Mirror Season 4 premiered on Netflix on December 29, 2017, the latest addition to the sci-fi, dystopic anthology that dates back to 2011. Originally produced by the BBC, Black Mirror was bought by Netflix in 2013, which means you need to be subscribed to Netflix to watch it. Netflix has since released twelve episodes of Black Mirror, split between seasons three and four. If you're wondering how a show that has produced 19 episodes total over the course of six years can be so anticipated and critically acclaimed, well, I guess you'll just have to watch to find out! Word of warning, though, Black Mirror is The Twilight Zone of the digital age—if you remember the extreme heeby jeebies you got from some of those old episodes, you might be prepared for the emotional impact of Black Mirror. So, if you're up for a creepy, thought-provoking experience and have a loved one or a pet to snuggle during the scary parts, let's go over how to stream Black Mirror online through your iPhone, iPad, Macbook, or Apple TV. 

Jealous of devices like the Nintendo Switch, with their physical controllers? Help is on the way, thanks to Gamevice ($79.95–$99.95). Gamevice is a collapsible/expandable controller that encloses an iPhone. It's somewhat adjustable for different-sized iPhones as long as they aren't in a case. The Gamevice is comfortable to the touch and has handy buttons, joysticks, and a diamond pad. They sell different versions for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices and have a Lightning, microUSB or even USB-C port. The Gamevice supports over 1,000 games and there is a handy reference page on their website.