Reviews

Your HomeKit enabled cameras can now help you keep your home safe by telling you who is coming and going. Any camera with HomeKit Secure Video support will be able to pull faces from your camera roll and let you know when people it recognizes pop up. Let's take a look at how to turn this feature on and manage the faces it recognizes so you can get the most out of your Apple HomeKit security.

Every new iPhone model comes with a screen that is more resistant to scratches and cracks than its predecessor. Despite technological advances, these expensive devices are still not life-proof. A damaged screen is not only unsightly, it can make basic iPhone use more difficult. On the other hand, there are certain drawbacks to using a screen protector. This is why many are asking, “should I use a screen protector for my iPhone?" If you're wondering if having a perfect screen is worth the hassle of choosing, installing, and eventually removing a screen protector, the answer is: it depends.

While cooking over fire may seem like an inherently primitive and lo-fi task, high-tech tools can make your barbecues easier and more enjoyable. In testing this new smart cookout gear, I was surprised and excited by how much it improved my cooking. Here is my definitive list of smart gadgets to help you channel your inner grill master and enhance your next outdoor gathering.

Whether you’re an early riser or prefer to sleep in, everyone wants to begin the day on a good note. In this world of modern technology, it’s easy to start scrolling social media or checking work emails the minute you open your eyes. This kind of routine doesn’t give your sleepy brain or body any time to adjust and find a moment of peace before you’re thrown back into the thick of it. That’s why I’ve gathered a list of the best apps to open before you put yourself out into the world that will bring a little bit of positivity, learning, good habit-building, and gratitude into your fast-paced life.

Apple’s new AirTags can help you find those items you’re always misplacing: keys, purses, umbrellas, wallets, and more. The Apple tracking device uses the Find My network to show you the location of the item it's attached to. But before you can retrieve your lost item, you’ll need to learn how to set up and use your AirTag. Here’s how:

Any warm beverage lover knows the importance of drinking your steaming cuppa in the temperature sweet spot: after the scalding steam has eased and before the lukewarm disappointment sets in. Finishing your morning beverage before it goes lukewarm is a challenge though! That’s why the promise to keep my beverages hot while simplifying my desk layout piqued my interest. First stop: the OHOM Ui Plus Self Heating Mug Set (starting at $88) and OHOM Leiph Self Heating Teapot Set ($49).

Have you ever misplaced or forgotten your keys? Gotten all comfy in bed just to wonder, anxiously, if you locked the door? Wished you could let your friend or neighbor into your home while you’re at work? The Level Lock+ makes all these concerns a thing of the past! This smart lock is Apple HomeKit compatible and comes with Apple Home Keys, giving you dozens of quick and easy ways to lock and unlock your door, even if you’re continents away.

Last September, Apple launched Apple Arcade, an innovative new service that gives you access to a growing selection of high-quality iOS games for a fixed monthly fee of $4.99 per month. It now includes over a hundred games with the subscription. I don’t consider myself much of a gamer, but I was a passenger on a long car ride with lots of time to kill and decided to check it out. I’ve since used it extensively and will share the good and the bad of Apple Arcade with you here.

If we’re not careful, our devices can make our worlds feel smaller, spending all day with our faces buried in our screens. But if you know how to use them right, our devices can also expand our worlds. You can use them not only to connect with people around the globe, but specifically to broaden your cultural horizons. Want to learn Brazilian capoeira? There’s an app for that. Need to find the best places to visit in the Philippines? There’s an app for that, too. You can study cuisine from every corner of the world, learn hundreds of languages, watch foreign movies and TV shows, and so much more.