iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

Apple's new operating system, iOS 12, is supposed to bring improved battery performance to every iPhone, even older ones. You don't have to take anyone's word for it though, because one of the new features being rolled out with iOS 12 is improved battery health tracking (Battery Health was first introduced with iOS 11). Your iPhone's battery usage is broken down app by app in this new set of data so that you can see not only the percentage of battery life used by each app but also how long you spent on individual apps. Let's get started learning how to check your iPhone's battery health. 

If you just emptied your piggybank to buy a new iPhone, you may not have a lot left over. But more than ever, you need to protect that investment. Fortunately, X-Doria has a lot of reasonably priced options with its Ultra, Shield and Lux line of iPhone Cases (starting at $29.99). I've used them with previous phones and had complements.

Here's a fun thing to try with Apple Maps on your iPhone; did you know you can change your Maps settings from Map to Satellite and see all the real-life detail of the area you're viewing? This setting is Apple's version of the popular Google Street View. Let's get started learning how to change Apple Maps' settings to Satellite now. 

Screen addiction is a very real issue for many smartphone users and Apple is taking the problem seriously. With the rollout of the latest operating system, iOS 12, there's a new feature called Screen Time that can help iPhone and iPad users become aware of how much time they spend on their devices, then cut back if they feel the need. One of these settings is called Downtime, and it's exactly what it sounds like; a set time of day where your device reminds you that it's time to unplug and do something else. Let's get started learning how to set up Downtime in iOS 12 now. 

Apple's new operating system, iOS 12, introduces a new, useful measurement app that also includes a level (the Compass app no longer has a level feature). Third-party developers have long offered a level app, a tape measure app, or both, so it's great that owners of the iPhone 8 and later can now enjoy this Apple app for free. I've written about how to use the augmented reality (AR) tape measure portion of the Measure app in a previous tip, so now it's time to go over how to use the level feature; let's get started! 

The iPhone may be the number one camera, by use and arguably by picture quality, but it's still pretty uncomfortable to take photos with. That's where the Pictar One (starting at $99.99) from Miggo comes in. The Pictar One is a sort-of half case that your smartphone slides in to. The Pictar One adds a tripod mount, a cold shoe for lights and similar accessories, three dials, and a shutter button.

Name any hobby, sport, interest, or diversion, and you'll find out more about it than you ever dreamed possible on the Pinterest app. Not so very long ago if you wanted to find guidance for your latest woodworking project, some fresh new garden ideas, inspiration for a unique vacation destination, or an exciting new craft idea, you'd have to pore over books and magazine articles or spend tons of time surfing the web to find all the most helpful links. Now, though, your search can be much more quick and rewarding; you can look to Pinterest as a clearinghouse for pictures, videos, and information about over 100 billion different topics ranging from wildly popular to extremely obscure, right on your iPhone or iPad. What's more, you can share your favorite Pinterest categories and findings with friends and family who are also using the site or app, and keep all your best pins (saved posts) for whenever you'd like to go back and refer to them. Let's get started learning about everything Pinterest now, so you can start pinning with the best of them!