Third-Party Apps

Social distancing during the Coronavirus pandemic is necessary to save lives, but it can be hard to adapt to an at-home lifestyle. We've already gone over some COVID-19 tips, like how to clean and sanitize your phone and other devices. We've also shared articles about yoga and meditation apps, as well as mental health apps that may come in handy during voluntary social distancing or quarantine. What about working from home, exercise, and shopping, though? Here's a roundup of the best fitness apps, shopping apps, food delivery apps, and more to keep you stocked up and in touch, and stave off cabin fever.  

There's a lot to love about iOS 10, Apple's latest mobile operating system. But there are some features users don't love. At all. Ever since Apple released iOS 10, we've been hearing from readers who want to know why iPhone can't slide to unlock anymore and what is going on with the iPhone Home button, how to fix iMessage so they can send message effects, and where in iPhone screen settings they can turn off Raise to Wake. If you've been wondering how to turn off the most annoying iOS 10 features, we've got the answers below.

Buyer's Guide 2023: Kid's Tech

By Amy Spitzfaden Both

Buyer's Guide 2023: Kid's Tech

Just because they're young doesn't mean there aren't all kinds of different tech for kids that are both safe and age-appropriate. Technology can be a useful tool for raising healthy and happy kids in this fast-paced modern world. Check out our top picks for tech gear designed specifically for little ones! 

iView: iPhone in Nature

By Hal Goldstein

iView: iPhone in Nature

My wife and I are most fortunate to own and share 33 acres of rural Iowa forest with birds, trees, plants, grasses, insects, fish, reptiles, small mammals, and deer. Admittedly, staring at my iPhone when walking in our woods is not a good look. Yet, worlds have opened thanks to apps that let me name trees, identify birds, diagnose plant health, and plot our newly created paths.

Best Tech to Bring to the Cookout

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.

5 Apps to Start Your Day Right

By Rachel Needell

5 Apps to Start Your Day Right

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.

Romanticize Your Life with OHOM Self Heating Tea Set

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).

Saved by the Apple Watch: Stories from Our Readers

I frequently call my Apple devices lifesavers. I would miss 99 percent of my appointments without the help of my iPhone alarms, but it may be a bit of an exaggeration to say I would die without my HomePod. There was no hyperbole needed for many of you who wrote in with stories of when your Apple devices saved the day! Once again, you came through with some amazing tales of your iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirTags coming to your rescue. I will reproduce several of them here, edited for space and clarity.

How to Make Google Maps Default on iPhone (Even Though Apple Won't Let You)

Apple Maps has its strengths and weaknesses, and those weaknesses may lead you to prefer Google Maps. It can be a pain to separately open the app and type in an address every time you want to navigate, so you might be wondering how to change your default map on your iPhone. Unfortunately, you can't officially do this, but you can make it so every navigation you launch from your mail or your web browsing takes you straight to Google Maps. Here's how to set Google Maps as the default on your iPhone by working around Apple's limitations.

It seems unfair that the times we're able to play games on our iPhones are the exact times that there's unreliable, unsecured, or no Wi-Fi connection at all. If you've been wishing for a few fun offline games for those long flights, waits at the DMV, or road trips to the back of beyond, I've collected a sampling of no Wi-Fi games just for you. Whether you enjoy offline racing games, strategy games, puzzle games, or even RPG games, there's something in this games without Wi-Fi roundup for everybody. Let me know which of these iPhone games is your go-to when there's no internet available, and if you have any to recommend that I've missed. Let's get started!

5 Best Cultural Apps for iPhone

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.

We have been able to stream media from our iPhones to Apple TV for a while now, but Apple did not support Mac and AirPlay until very recently. Yes, there have been a few workarounds in the past using third-party apps, but with Apple's latest software updates, you can now AirPlay iPhone to Mac with very little effort. Keep reading to learn how.

Calendar apps top image

If you’re firmly attached to the idea of owning a wall calendar, you’re not alone! Unlike many print products, sales of paper calendars are on the increase, alongside an explosion in the digital calendar app market. Instead of choosing between paper or digital, many people opt for both, allowing for the sentimentality of a wall calendar and the convenience of apps. In my quest to find the ultimate digital calendars and planners, I was pleasantly surprised by the range of layouts, sharing, and customization options offered by the different apps. Many of my top picks below combine functional interfaces with fun design elements, making them both easy to use and aesthetically appealing. There’s truly an app for everyone, from the fun and whimsical to the oh-so sleek and professional.

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