How to set up iPhone 15
Prepping to grab yourself a swanky new iPhone 15, perhaps the Pro or Pro Max in titanium finish? Here's everything you need to know to set it up.
So, you decided to go all out and fork over the dough for a shiny, new Apple iPhone 15. Now what? It’s time to set up that device. If you watch the show And Just Like That… you might have laughed at the Season 2 scene when Charlotte and Harry frustratingly tried to figure out how to set up her new iPhone without their kids’ help (she tossed her old one into a pitcher of margaritas in anger). It’s actually not that difficult. Setting up an iPhone 15 involves the same process as setting up any iPhone. Here’s a rundown of what to do.
Best screen protectors for Samsung Galaxy A14 in 2023
The Samsung Galaxy A14, introduced in early 2023, is a solid smartphone with a 6.6-inch Infinity-V display you'll want to keep protected.
We've all seen what Samsung is doing with its best mobile phones, like the Galaxy S23 Ultra or the Galaxy Z Fold 5. But what the company has done with the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G might be even more impressive, as the smartphone is surprisingly feature-rich at a $200 price point. It has a 6.6-inch Infinity-V display that has FHD+ display technology, and it looks great during daily use. Since it was updated in January 2023 to include 5G support, you'll get fast data speeds and good call quality. However, one thing you won't get right out of the box is a quality screen protector.
How to take a 2x2 passport photo with your iPhone
Passport photos are a drag, but they're necessary if you want to travel, and can actually be simple to take with an iPhone.
So, you’re getting ready for an epic vacation or a work trip and you realize that you have let things slide and your passport is about to expire, or worse, it already has. Maybe you don’t even have one yet. Whatever the case, there are very strict requirements for passport photos. You can’t be wearing any headgear (unless it’s for religious reasons and you have a signed statement that verifies the reason) nor eyeglasses. You can’t smile, showing any teeth or changing the dimensions of your face and crinkle of your eyes. You need to be positioned very specifically, facing forward with the head a specific size. The background has to be plain. And the image size has to be a very specific 2x2 inches. The good news? All of these rules are pretty simple to follow. The even better news? You can take a 2x2 passport photos with one of the best iPhones.
How to set up and use Apple Pay and Apple Pay Cash
With Apple Pay and Apple Cash, you can pay from an iPhone, Apple Watch, or other compatible device and leave your wallet at home.
Apple Pay is a convenient way to pay for items at contactless terminals without having to fish in your wallet for your credit card or even bring it with you. Meanwhile, Apple Cash is a simple method to use for sending and receiving money from either the Messages or Wallet app. It’s worth getting one or the other (or both) set up on one of the best iPhones or another Apple device like an iPad or one of the best Apple Watches, including the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2. It can be a lifesaver if you forget your wallet at home or the office, and it gives you the opportunity to leave your wallet at home altogether when you go to the gym, a concert, or other events. Thanks to the secure and encrypted nature of the feature, including two-factor authentication, using Apple Pay is no different than using a physical card. Some might even argue that it’s safer.
How to reply to text and iMessages from Apple Watch
Not only can you read your messages on Apple Watch, you can easily reply to them, too, using a tiny keyboard, voice, or prewritten quick replies.
With the best Apple Watches, you can check your messages right from your wrist. But did you know that you can also reply to them? Whether you want to send a quick reply using voice dictation or predefined short messages or type out a lengthy reply, it's simple to do from the tiny screen of the device.
How to set up or transfer an eSIM on iPhone
You can do away with the physical SIM cards with some iPhones and carriers, and enter the simpler world of eSIMs.
Setting up a new iPhone or transferring your data from an old model to a new one is typically a simple process. But one part can often be frustrating: swapping SIM cards. Enter the eSIM, a digital SIM card that removes the need for a minuscule card and the need to install it properly. An eSIM works with any iPhone XS, XS Max, iPhone XR, or later as long as the phone is being used with a wireless carrier or provider that supports it. Once ready, you can install eight or more eSIMs to a single phone if desired, even using two phone numbers at the same time.
All of the cool hidden features in the iPhone Accessibility menu
The iPhone has a feature-rich Accessibility menu with options to help users with vision, physical and motor, and hearing challenges.
Over the years, Apple has worked hard to add new accessibility features to its great iPhones. These features are designed to assist those who might otherwise have trouble using the smartphone for various reasons. They can come in handy whether you have vision limitations, hearing loss, or other impairments to your physical and motor capabilities. With these features activated, using your smartphone can become much more manageable.
How to control other devices with iPhone
One relatively unknown feature of the iPhone is that you can use it to control other compatible devices, effectively turning it into a remote.
One of many accessibility features offered in the best iPhones for those with physical and motor limitations extends beyond the smartphone itself. The feature allows you to control other devices using the iPhone.
All the keyboard improvements and upgrades included in iOS 17
There are several keyboard improvements with iOS 17 for iPhone that make typing, organizing, and navigating messages much simpler and more intuitive.
You may have never learned to type like a receptionist on Mad Men, but chances are, when you start composing an iMessage on your iPhone or an email in your Mail app, your fingers move more furiously than you could've ever imagined. Still, the iPhone keyboard isn’t perfect; I'm sure you've sent plenty of “ducking” messages rife with typos. And there’s always room to improve.
What I like about Apple Fitness and what could be better
The Apple Fitness app works with both an Apple Watch and without one, and there are things I love about it and things that could improve.
Since getting an Apple Watch, I have made good use of the Fitness app, including the free trial for Apple Fitness+. But I continued to use it even after my trial expired because the workouts are a nice way to switch up my regular exercise routine. Even without Apple Fitness+ or an Apple Watch, the Apple Fitness app is a great way to keep on top of your movement and activity. Add in the Apple Watch, and you can also monitor your stand and exercise minutes, heart rate during workouts, earned awards, and more.
Complete guide to the Fitness app on iOS
The Fitness app is an essential hub into a world of activity from iPhone and Apple Watch. Here's a complete guide to this iOS application.
Once you have one of the best Apple Watches, there are a few first things you should do with it. This includes setting it up and syncing it with your iPhone, of course, adding all your favorite apps, personalizing the screen, and more. You’ll also want to set your personal fitness goals, add friends with whom you can share stats, and get prepped to leverage everything the smartwatch has to offer.
How to leave a FaceTime video message on iOS and iPadOS 17
With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, you can now leave a FaceTime video message for someone if they don't answer your video call.
Usually, if you call someone, and they don’t answer, you leave a voice message. Whenever they get around to it, they’ll call into their voicemail, listen, and, if necessary, call you back. But nowadays, text messaging and video calls are the more common types of communication methods. If you FaceTime someone and they don’t answer, it simply rings and rings and rings until you hang up, or the call eventually cuts out, notifying you that they are unavailable. But with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, you can now leave a message for a video call, too. When the person gets back to their phone, they’ll not only see a missed FaceTime call but can also check a video message from the caller, letting them know why they called.
What are Safari Profiles and how to use them on iOS and iPadOS 17
Safari Profiles on iOS 17 are a new way to separate your browsing experiences with unique profiles for work and personal, general and private.
Not everyone has a separate phone for work and play. This means you might be searching online for your work or school assignments throughout the day but then switch to browsing casually for your personal pleasure at night or on lunch. Whether you’re researching for a project or shopping online for new laptop accessories, or you prefer to have general and private browsing experiences, you might benefit from being able to separate your surfing. This is where Safari Profiles come in.
Complete guide to stickers on iOS and iPadOS 17
Stickers have gotten a massive upgrade in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, now allowing you to make them using your own photos, even with animations.
Stickers are a fun way to liven up photos on an iPhone or iPad when sending them through the Messages app. Available for years, there are standard stickers, themed sticker packs you can download from the Apple App Store, and personalized Memoji characters. But iOS 17 is kicking things up a notch.
What's Live Voicemail and how to use it on iOS 17
Live Voicemail in iOS 17 is a new way to screen calls that shows a live transcription of a voice message being left.
There are so many cool features coming with iOS 17, relating to everything from managing apps to personalizing the device and even with voice calls. Yes, people still actually call others and leave voice messages!
Your wellness is about more than just getting enough physical exercise. It’s also about eating well, taking care of your mental health, and focusing on the mind as much as the body. Apple Fitness+ has tons of mindfulness exercises, while the Apple Watch itself, including newer models like the Apple Watch Ultra, has relaxation and breathing exercises for whenever you need them. There are actually a lot of ways you can use your Apple Watch to relax.
How to create a custom Fitness+ workout plan on iOS and iPadOS 17
Custom fitness plans with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 make it simple to create your own programs including multiple workouts that play back to back.
One of the new features coming with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 is the ability to create custom Apple Fitness+ workout plans. Custom workouts have been available in the Workout app since watchOS 9, but these new features combine the best of Apple Fitness+ with the new OS updates to take it to new levels. You can now schedule monthly or even weekly fitness routines, select the days of the week you plan to exercise, the duration for each workout, what activity type, the instructor, what music you want, and so much more.
How to use Screen Distance to reduce eye strain on iOS and iPadOS 17
Screen Distance is a useful new feature with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 that alerts you if you're holding your phone or tablet too close to your face.
iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 introduced a lot of goodies, including one feature called Screen Distance, which is designed to help preserve eye health for younger users and prevent the development of near-sightedness, as well as reduce eye strain for people of all ages. Once you turn the feature on, the device's TrueDepth camera will keep an eye out (pun intended) for any time you hold your device too close to your face. It measures the distance between the device and your eyes, and if it’s less than an arm’s length away for a certain period of time (Apple does not disclose how long, but I found that it kicked in after about four minutes), you’ll get a notification to adjust.
Should you buy an Apple TV on Prime Day?
Apple TV is a great way to enjoy a seamless experience with streaming TV and movies, and access other Apple services like Fitness+, Music, and more.
With Amazon Prime Day almost here, scheduled to take place July 11 and 12, you're probably gearing up to buy lots of tech gear at hefty discounts. We've already begun to highlight some of the best Prime Day deals, including deals on wireless earbuds and displays. But discovering the hidden gem deals and major discounts is an exciting but sometimes daunting task. What's more, some products you want to buy aren’t actually being reduced, which can lead to disappointment on the big day. One item you might be wondering about is the Apple TV. Is Amazon Prime Day the right time to purchase an Apple TV? The short answer is no.
5 reasons Apple Wallet is a game-changer for me
Apple Wallet has been a game-changer for me since I started using it on iPhone and Apple Watch, and here's why.
I’m one of those people who took forever to finally add my credit and debit cards to my Apple Wallet. But even then, I wasn’t really using it often. I would forget it was there or just didn’t bother. It was only after getting an Apple Watch that I truly realized the benefits of Apple Wallet, both with the Watch and my iPhone. Why hadn’t I been doing this all along? I use Apple Wallet now often for all types of payments from both the Watch and my iPhone 14, and I can’t remember how I lived without it.