Apple prides itself on thinking and being different to everyone else.
It acknowledges competitors like Microsoft and Google only grudgingly,
and usually in a way that only illustrates how much nicer and more
prosperous its own Mac and iPhone platforms are. It will have hurt that
pride, therefore, to have to announce today that the big new Apple
initiative, Apple Music, will be available on iPhones, iPads, Macs, PCs, and Android.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
The simple trick iOS 9 uses to improve your battery life the instant you install it
ios-9-1
Apple took the wraps off of the next-generation iOS 9 platform during its big
WWDC 2015 keynote on Monday, and there’s a lot to digest. You can visit our WWDC 2015 hub to learn more about the new software, or you can skip right to our post on the 5 best new features in iOS 9 for a cheat sheet.
During the company’s presentation, Apple
revealed that iOS 9 will feature some big improvements that focus on
battery life. Interestingly, the company said that iOS 9 will improve an
iOS device’s battery life by about an hour just by installing it.
So, how exactly does iOS 9 add an hour in between charges?
The
battery life improvements that come with iOS 9 certainly aren’t among
the platform’s flashiest new features, but battery life remains
smartphone users’ biggest concerns. As such, gaining an extra hour in
between charges will be a welcome change indeed.
This
change will also be of particular interest considering the fact that
iPhones aren’t top performers in the battery department when compared to
rivals.
Apple
has plenty of optimizations in iOS 9 that contribute to the big battery
life gains, but there’s one simple trick in particular that will have a
dramatic impact on battery life without disrupting usage at all. In
fact, this little trick seems so elementary that you’ll wonder why it
took Apple so long to implement it.
From Apple’s iOS 9 page:
Across the entire operating system, apps and key technologies have been made more efficient to trim battery usage wherever possible — so you get more battery life for the things you do every day. Thanks to ambient light and proximity sensors, your iPhone knows if it’s facedown on the table and prevents the screen from turning on, even when you receive a notification. And the new Low Power mode lets you extend your battery life even further.
Can
you believe how simple that is? When an iPhone is facedown on your desk
or a table, there is absolutely no reason to illuminate the display as
new notifications arrive. After all, the display is always one of the
biggest culprits on any smartphone when it comes to battery drain.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The future of the iPhone is here: Apple unveils iOS 9
The moment iPhone fans have been waiting for is here: Apple has unveiled iOS 9.
Apple says that its main goals with iOS 9 are to add intelligence to
enhance how you use your device without compromising privacy while
enhancing the apps you use most. First, for iOS 9 Siri has a new user
interface and is able to respond to a more diverse array of commands.
Apple is making Siri more proactive by making it easier to set
reminders, to offer suggestions for people who you might want to contact
based on upcoming meetings as well as one-tap location suggestions.
10 Mind-blowing Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Your iPhone
Sure, you're a master of Instagram, your Seamless order is saved, and
you can Tinder on the sly, but your iPhone can do more than just get
you dinner and a date (and you know, make calls). Here, a list of 10
unexpected ways to use your smartphone.
Unlock Your Car
Always losing your keys? The Viper SmartKey system allows you to replace your car keys with your phone. When enabled, you can lock and unlock your car (and even disarm an alarm) without even taking your phone out of your pocket.
Light Your Home
Cree's LED lightbulb connects to your phone via an app, turning your device into a dimmer you don't have to install. (Bonus: You can set the amount of time the light stays on without even being in the room, saving you money throughout the year).
• • •
Check Your Heart Rate
You don't need to invest in a Jawbone or a Fitbit to monitor your heart rate. Azumio's Instant Heart Rate app measures your heart rate and gives you personalized reports to help you burn more calories and track your health.
• • •
Order a Drink
There are a million reasons why you might not want to leave the house to
get a drink, but if you haven't perfected your home bar set up yet, use
Minibar to order wine, liquor, or mixers—right from your phone.
• • •
Take a Nap
Who doesn't need an afternoon siesta from time to time? With Breather,
you can find a room to rent for a minimum of 30 min so you can take a
break from city life—or do whatever else you need to do with a room for a
half-hour.
• • •
ID an Image
You might be familiar with the Shazam app's ability to identify a song, but late last month the service added image-identifying technology to its skill set. Just hold your phone up to an image, and Shazam will tell you what you're seeing and display matching content.
• • •
Do Not Disturb
Whether you're in a movie or your friends are night owls, there are times when you just don't want to be disturbed (and silent mode won't cut it). Did you know that built right into your phone is a Do Not Disturb mode (it's under the Settings tab) that will stop texts, alarms, and alerts from coming through?
• • •
Translate
Taking a trip and forgot the pocket dictionary? Google's Translate app can translate two languages in real time, so you can have a conversation (or just find a bathroom). The app also works with text, making foreign-language signs easy to understand.
• • •
Predict the Weather
Yes, the weather app on your phone can tell you how to dress for the day, but it can't give you minute-by-minute updates. Dark Sky not only shows you a radar screen but also lets you know when it's going to rain down to the minute, so you can time your coffee breaks accordingly.
• • •
Create an Augmented Reality Map
If you're driving in the dark, the rain, fog, or just unfamiliar conditions, download Hudway, enter your destination, and put your phone on your dashboard. Your phone will project a GPS-enabled map on your windshield—no extra equipment required.
8 cool features coming to your iPhone and iPad that Apple didn't mention yet
Apple's WWDC developers
conference event lasted over two hours Monday, but it still couldn't fit
in time to reveal and demonstrate all the new features and updates
we'll find in iOS 9, the upcoming operating system for iPhones and
iPads. We've picked out some of the cool features they couldn't
demonstrate at WWDC that you'll surely find useful.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Why Do People Buy Dumb Phones Instead of Smartphones?
While a smartphone and all of its accompanying apps and
features seems like the ultimate of modern necessities, millions
of people still opt not to use a phone that affords them the convenience
of the Internet in their pockets. Instead, for a variety of reasons —
including lower initial cost, better battery life, cheaper
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