iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

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.

In episode 98, the iPhone Life team focuses on the best apps for you to use this holiday season. Learn how Apple’s new augmented reality app called Measure can help with your festive baking and what app you can use to record a special moment every day with friends and family. Other topics include tips for the Notes app, Siri Shortcuts and navigation in Google Maps

At the 2018 September Apple announcement, Tim promised us over 70 new emojis, including the long-awaited red-headed emoji. Redheads around the world rejoiced with the announcement of Apple's newest member of the emoji family. But how does one install the new emoji, and how does one access the emoji once installed? Fret not, we've got you covered. Read on to learn how to install and access the new red-headed emoji in iOS 12.

It's possible to access the same voice memo on any of your Mac, iOS, and iPadOS devices, and to do things like record a voice memo on your iPhone and edit it on your Mac. To do this, you will need to be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on each of your devices. Once you're signed in, you can sync voice memos on your iPhone and iPad, and even Mac. You can also follow these steps to disable iCloud sync for Voice Memos. 

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.

In the 97th episode of the iPhone Life Podcast, David, Donna, and Sarah tell you what new iOS 12.1 features to keep an eye out for, including Group FaceTime and a new batch of emojis. Other topics include pros and cons of sharing Apple’s HomePod, advanced photo search tips, and apps and gear iPhone Life’s editorial team is loving this holiday season.

iPhone cameras are improving every year, to the point where we can all take (and edit) professional-grade photos with just our phones. Still, once you've dived into iPhone photography there are a few accessories you may want to try out; we've rounded up our favorite photo gear for this very reason. From iPhone camera attachments like lenses, to our favorite iPhone tripod, to an awesome starter drone, an iPhone photo printer, and of course a selfie stick, we've gathered our favorite gear of the year right here. We've also included a few extras like a travel bag, a waterproof iPhone case, and some great free photo filter and editing apps to take you from start to finish on your photography adventure. Let's get started! 

Coffee is my co-pilot throughout the week. But if you asked me how much I drink on average, I'd draw a blank. Since my coffee habit was actually on auto-pilot, I chose RECaf - Caffeine Recorder as a a caffeine tracker for what, when, and how much caffeine I was consuming. This app is compatible with "Hey Siri" for logging entries and has customizable options so I can add specific drinks or food with their approximate caffeine content.

I had the opportunity to try the updated BEDDI Glow SE ($79.99) from WITTI. I reviewed the original model, and was happy when WITTI sent me the newer version. This one has a compact footprint and battery backup, two valuable enhancements for nightstand use, which is how I used my original BEDDI for years. You can set multiple alarms on different days, such as a weekday alarm for work or school and a weekend alarm that's a little later.

We all want our kids to avoid screen addiction and be safe online, but that can be hard to accomplish when children have open access to the internet via their iPhone or iPad. Fortunately, Apple's Screen Time parental controls are easy and free to use. In the past you might have had to pay for iPad or iPhone parental control apps to make sure inappropriate content wasn't getting through on your kids' devices, but not anymore. Learn how to set up Screen Time settings on your child's iPhone and iPad, and how to lock those settings so your curious kids can't access the content you've blocked.

Now that November is here I can officially start thinking about Christmas gift ideas, and lucky for me I was tasked with writing this roundup of top tech gifts under $100. I found so many cool things to buy for the 2018 holidays; gifts for women and men, and even a few things kids and teenagers will love. Let's get started with my 2018 Buyer's Guide for tech gadgets, including toasty warm winter texting gloves, a GPS tracker to help find lost items, a smart water bottle, and more. Your friends and loved ones are going to be really happy with their presents this year! 

Pages