Many of you have been Apple devotees since long before “I bought an IBM PC and my wife bought an Apple
the iPhone was even a twinkle in Steve Jobs’s eye: Macintosh (1984). We both sat in our home offices the same
night with our new purchases, but, after sharing our joy and
“One of my two tech devices was an Apple II Plus. I was letting each other see what they were both like, she went to
working in an electronics components manufacturing bed, and I stayed up working with the new Mac. By the time
company. My boss had been using the sole Apple II machine the sun came up I had decided to turn my PC in and get a
bought for the engineers and was entertaining buying more Mac myself. I’ve never looked back. I even bought stock when
computers to provide more timely and accurate it was less than $30 a share and have done that on a regular
manufacturing quantitative information than our rather basis since. Needless to say, the portfolio is worth lots today,
unresponsive company MIS department could. He asked me and we both still love Apple. We were there when Steve
to try out the Apple II Plus and give him my assessment and introduced the iPhone.”
recommendation. I was instantly smitten. The Apple hosted
a word processor that allowed me to bypass a secretary and - Bob C.
Wite-Out. Wite-Out was used to cover up single letter typos.
So instead of a Wite-Out-spattered page, anything I printed I couldn’t resist closing with some memories from James
from Word Perfect was presentable, even on a dot matrix Prevo, a man who clearly earned his stripes in the world of
printer.” early tech:
- Len Z. “My first mobile phone was a Motorola DPC 550 in 1995.
My wife and I had identical phones with car kits which
included an antenna and a 3-watt booster. Few people had
mobile phones back then. My first email-enabled mobile
phone was circa 2003. On my first business trip, I was
reading and responding to email in airport terminals and
remarking that this was going to change everything.”
-James P.
One of the things that struck me as I read all these stories
(dopy smile on my face and all), was how many of the emails
included the signature “sent from my iPhone.” Dozens of
missives about punched-card computers, dot matrix printers,
8-bit graphics, “portable” devices that weighed more than a
toddler, all sent electronically, in a split second, across
hundreds or thousands of miles from wildly powerful devices
that fit (more or less) in the palm of a hand. Thirty years ago,
to write an article like this, I would have had to start planning
months in advance, print a call for submissions in the
previous issue of the magazine, direct you to send
self-addressed stamped envelopes if you wanted your
stories returned to you, and type them all up myself. Today, it’s
as easy as taking an off-the-cuff idea from my editor (shout
out to Amy!) and email you a quick line in my weekly editor’s
message.
There are meaningful discussions to be had about the ways
technology can consume our lives, but I’m grateful for the
incredible power it has to connect us and bring us closer, too.
Without all the antique tech you shared your loving memories
of, there would be no MacBooks, no iPhones, and I probably
never would have been able to hear so many fascinating
stories from so many fascinating people. Ѷ
Elisabeth Garry is an Associate Editor for iPhone Life. Formerly of Gartner, they have
four years’experience writing about technology. As a former college writing instruc-
tor, they are passionate about accessible communication, which is perhaps why they
love helping people make the best use of the strongest communication tools they
have available: their iPhones. They have a degree in Russian from Reed College.
“My first computer was a Macintosh 128K purchased in Image sources: Reader submissions and Wikipedia Creative
Germany for well over the listed price in the USA. We’ve been Commons.
Mac advocates ever since!”
- Richard W.
iPhone Life Winter 2022 49
8 HOBBIES TO LEARN
ON YOUR IPHONE
APPS TO HAVE FUN & GAIN NEW SKILLS
BY RHETT INTRIAGO
W hether you’re stuck at home or just find yourself up a new instrument, Yousician is your go-to source. The app
bored with your usual pastimes, you can effortlessly offers in-depth lessons from real musicians, challenges to
pick up a new hobby if you’ve got your iPhone keep you motivated, and everything you need to learn to play
nearby. From learning a second language to picking your favorite songs.
up better health habits, there’s an app for just about anything. TAKE UP TREASURE HUNTING
Below you can find a list of some of the best apps for getting Geocaching is a great activity for those
looking to get out of the house or explore
started with new pursuits and cultivating your talents. their city a little more. This free Geocaching app conveniently
shows all the geocaches in your area and allows you to easily
LEARN AN INSTRUMENT navigate to any of them.
A geocache is a container that can vary in size, from
Did you buy an instrument, fully intending to larger bins to small canisters. Depending on the size, it might
learn to play, only to have it wind up collecting be harder to find than other caches. Once you discover the
dust just a few weeks later? Well, there’s never a better time cache, sign the log and be sure to put it back where you found
to start learning than right now. it so others can find it too. Some geocaches contain tradeable
Yousician (from $7.49/month) is an app that teaches you items, so bring something along to leave for others to pick up.
to play instruments, from the most basic chords to more Geocaching is great because it allows you to discover areas
complex techniques, helping you become a real musician. The you might not be familiar with or discover a new area of your
main app has lessons for the guitar, bass, and vocals. If you’re hometown.
interested in teaching yourself to play the ukulele or piano,
Yousician has split these off into their own separate apps. Nadia Grapes/shutterstock
If you aren’t sure where to begin when it comes to picking
50 iPhone Life Winter 2022
START A PODCAST looking to code as a hobby, Mimo offers the necessary tools
to get started.
Spotify has made it easy for even the most
amateur podcasters to get started with its GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY
podcast creation app Anchor (free). So why not start one of
your own? When it comes to photo editing, Adobe is
Anchor allows you to build your podcast from the ground up undoubtedly one of the best and the
within the app. It’s as easy as pressing the record button and Lightroom app ($9.99/month) is no exception. Not only is this
talking. The app offers short musical snippets to use as app great for editing your photos, but it’s also useful for
interludes, along with a collection of sound effects. If you learning more about photography and editing in general.
have a Spotify account, you can even use tracks from your You can select from a wide variety of community created
library to add as background music. When you’re done, you presets when editing your photos or create and share your
can publish your podcast on Spotify and, if you get 50 unique own. Additionally, the Learn tab is home to lessons and
listeners, you can begin monetizing it as well. tutorials created by other photographers that help you
Not sure where to start? Listen to one of Anchor’s shows improve your skills and turn any photo into a work of art.
on the making of podcasts to motivate you to jump in and
begin making yours a reality. TAKE UP YOGA
GET INTO RUNNING Yoga is a great practice for maintaining your
physical and emotional health. For those
Looking for a way to make exercise more looking for a new fitness routine, the Yoga for Beginners app
exciting? Zombies, Run! (free) makes running ($3/month) offers lessons that are easy to follow and
a game by turning you into a character within a zombie customizable to you and your goals.
apocalypse. You are tasked with gathering supplies for your The app features audio-guided yoga exercises along with
outpost by going for a run. As you run, you’ll listen to an audio visuals showing you each pose, making it accessible and easy
narration that unravels the story over the course of your for all kinds of beginners to learn quickly. The pose times,
workout. The best part is that you don’t even have to run to cooldowns, and rest times can all be tailored to a length that
enjoy the app! If you’d prefer to walk, the app can use your works for you. You can also choose to have your workout
phone’s GPS to adjust the story to match your pace. accompanied by the app’s ambient sounds or own music.
Additionally, the app features a wide variety of yoga
LEARN A LANGUAGE programs for different needs, such as yoga for stress relief,
specific muscle groups, strength building, weight loss, and
There’s a reason why Rosetta Stone (from much more. You can also create your own yoga routines by
$7.99/month) is one of the most well-known adding the poses you want and customizing the length.
and most-used language learning tools. It is an excellent
resource, whether you’re using it as a hobby, to communicate TIME TO GET STARTED!
with friends or family, or while traveling to a new country.
Rosetta Stone condenses lessons into 5- to 10-minute There are millions of apps on the App Store and they’re not
segments. By taking just a few minutes every day to learn a all fun and games. Many apps allow you to access a wealth
new language, you’ll find yourself quickly becoming more of knowledge from subject matter experts and pick up new
fluent. Rosetta Stone offers a wide variety of language talents from the comfort of your home. Reach your maximum
courses, including Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, Italian, Persian, potential by acquiring a new skill and hobby through one of
and many more. countless engaging apps. Ѷ
LEARN TO CODE Rhett Intriago is a passionate writer and Apple enthusiast. When he’s not drafting
iPhone Life articles, he prefers to spend his free time gaming with friends, watching
Coding is a language of its own and Mimo anime with his wife, or playing with his three cats.
(free) teaches you how to speak it. This handy
app simplifies the extensive learning process so you can
start coding with ease. When using Mimo for the first time,
you can choose between web development or Python with
the option to easily switch between courses at any time. You
can customize how long you’d like each lesson to be. These
lessons are broken down into easy-to-understand chunks,
allowing you to learn and practice coding from just about
anywhere. For any aspiring developers or those who are just
iPhone Life Winter 2022 51
FEATURED iUSER:
CINDY LIM
Location: Singapore
Bio: Cindy runs a coaching business, Our Mindful Pod, coaching
parents on mindful living and peaceful parenting. She’s trained in
Montessori and Satir Family Therapy and is certified as a Positive
Discipline Educator.
Xero Accounting: Xero is an app dedicated to helping
small businesses manage invoices. I use it to invoice my
clients.
WhatsApp: I use both WhatsApp and Instagram to stay
in touch with my clients, using it to help coach them on
peaceful parenting and mindful living.
Zoom: I use Zoom for both online coaching sessions and
for meeting with potential partners.
Google Drive: Drive is my top choice for sharing
documents with both my clients and my partners. Since
my audience covers the USA, Australia, and parts of Asia,
being able to share documents virtually is important.
Apple Calendar: I share an Apple Calendar with my team,
so we know when to look out for relevant launches. I also
have a family calendar I share with my husband.
NLB Mobile: I use this one to search for books from my
local library. I also use Libby to borrow e-books from the
library.
Notes: I use this as a brain dump for all my work and
personal ideas. I also share notes with my husband so we
can keep records of family related notes (e.g., Grover List).
Shopee: Shopee is my favorite shopping app. It lets you
shop, get discounts, see reviews, track your orders, and
more (available in Singapore only).
52 iPhone Life Winter 2022
HIBERNATE WITH
YOUR IPHONE
SMART GEAR TO GET YOU THROUGH
THE WINTER
BY LEANNE HAYS
I spent most of my childhood in California and, despite Cosori Dual Blaze Air
14 years of practice, have never quite adapted to the Fryer
horror that is Midwestern winters. Fall is my very ($179.99)
favorite time of year, yet as it progresses, the dread
increases... Winter is coming. If you’re anything like
me, winter brings out the
I always tell myself that our five months of winter urge to snack your way to
an extra insulative layer.
aren’t really as cold, gray, and depressing as I In an effort to rein myself
in, I’ve invested in an air
remembered. Deep down, though, I know the truth. It’s fryer. This way, I get the
best of both worlds; tasty
worse. November through March in Iowa is like childbirth, and comfort food with up to
85 percent less oil than
people stay for more than one winter for the exact reason stovetop or deep frying.
they have more than one baby; the brain can’t accurately recall The Dual Blaze has
a 6.8-quart capacity, so I can cook meals and snacks for my
the actual amount of pain and suffering that occurred. whole family at once. Best of all, I can control the Dual Blaze
right from my iPhone with the VeSync app. There’s a menu
If you’re wondering how you’ll get through yet another of recipes for any time of day or style of food, and I can start
cooking and monitor progress from any room in my house
winter, read on. I’ve discovered apps, gear, and coping (most often the bathtub, where I’m submerged and doing my
best lobster impersonation until spring arrives).
mechanisms through my years on the frozen tundra that will
Edge Creative/shutterstock
help you make it to the other side with your mental and
physical health relatively unharmed.
54 iPhone Life Winter 2022
MW Connect, which can be used to monitor battery levels,
adjust heat levels, and add and control items of heated
apparel as you expand your collection. I have my sights set on
the gloves next!
Utoplike Bamboo Bathtub Caddy XGIMI Elfin Mini Projector
($29.99) ($649)
Speaking of baths, they’re a vital component to winter A major part of my winter survival strategy is to find a
survival in my house. After a long day of work, farm chores, movie or series to immerse myself in, and this projector gets
and errands, I can look forward to my hour in the tub to get the job done. I have two approaches for different phases of
the chill out of my bones. There are tons of different brands winter. In the earlier months, I’ll watch a show set in a
and models of bath caddies out there, but I like this one best warmer place or season, with the goal of being briefly
because it holds everything I could possibly need: my iPad transported and remembering that spring will happen
or a book, my iPhone, a snack, and a mug of tea or a glass of eventually. The second strategy kicks in after New Year’s,
wine. The caddy is also adjustable to fit most tubs, and even when I begin to fear I’ll never see another leaf or blade of
folds away for easy storage at the end of the night. grass. At that point, I choose a gritty wilderness-survival show
like Alone, or a documentary about Shackleton’s expedition
Fieldsheer Heated Socks & across Antarctica. Morbid, I know, but watching vivid proof
Jacket that others are and have been colder than I currently am
(From $79.99) somehow softens the blow.
Did I ever imagine I’d spend The Elfin Mini is perfect for either coping mechanism
money on battery-powered, because it’s easy to set up in whichever room of the house
heated clothing? No. Do I regret the family is camped out in. We can set it up in the living
the splurge? Also, no! I don’t room, move up to a bedroom and project onto the wall, or
know why, but regardless of pack and bring it along if we’re traveling for the holidays. Any
double layers of wool socks and projection surface from 60- to 120 inches produces great
the sturdiest winter boots, my image quality and contrast.
toes are numb within a half hour
of frozen January chores. But I The projector features auto-focus and intelligent screen
think things are going to be alignment and auto keystone correction, so I spend far less
different this year! time leveling and adjusting back and forth to fill the screen
properly.
Fieldsheer’s Merino Heated
Socks connect to your iPhone No extra speakers or peripherals are needed; the two-
via Bluetooth and offer four heat pound Elfin has two built-in speakers that are loud and clear
settings to keep your piggies enough to fill a small or medium-sized room. There’s also the
nice and snug. The soft, breathable, calf-height socks cushion option to connect a set of Bluetooth headphones or earbuds
the soles and heels of my feet very comfortably. to the Elfin.
The batteries are roughly the size, shape, and weight of
a Zippo lighter, though they are a bit thinner and curve to fit The one downside to the Elfin Mini is connectivity. The
the contour of the calf. They fit into a small pocket at the top included Bluetooth remote control works well, and the
of each sock and plug in to a wire harness that runs down Integrated Android TV app works with over 5,000 apps and
the inner seam, under the sole of the foot, and over the tops streaming services, including Amazon Prime, YouTube, and
of the toes. The batteries last for up to 10 hours, perfect for Apple TV Plus, though sadly not Netflix. The Apple app,
sporty types who like to expose themselves to bone-chilling however, is prone to lagging and crashing. While we wait for
temperatures for a full day of masochistic winter activities. improvements, this projector is most easily used by
Fieldsheer’s Backcountry Heated Jacket uses the same connecting and streaming via Apple TV. Ѷ
battery power and Bluetooth control system as the socks,
though it runs on a single battery the size of a small pocket Leanne Hays is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life. She loves reading and blogging, and
calculator. The hip-length, water-resistant jacket comes in is never without a book in her backpack or an audiobook on her phone. Short-term
black, morel, scuba blue, or burgundy. It’s perfect on its own goals include finishing painting her house and starting an aquaponics farm, long-
for errands and quick chores, or as a base layer for longer term goals include a bike tour of Italy and writing a novel.
forays into the icy blast.
The heated jacket and socks connect to the companion app
iPhone Life Winter 2022 55
USING YOUR
IPHONE
EXERCISE, DE-STRESS & STAY
SAFE WITH THESE BUILT-IN
FEATURES
BY ASHLEIGH PAGE
Y our iPhone can help with far simple method to convey your situation add emergency contacts, the service
more than communication and so they can best help you. While a calls the emergency service
entertainment! We all know the medical alert bracelet or a medical departments and alerts your emergency
ID card in your wallet may help in an contacts at the same time. Those saved
downsides of too much screen time, emergency, your iPhone is another contacts will receive a message with
tool to ensure you receive the care you your current location, warning them
and to help, Apple’s recent software need. To set up your Medical ID, open that you have called emergency
the Health app, tap your profile icon, services. Apple makes it incredibly easy
updates have focused on helping you tap Medical ID, and tap Edit. Now you to add these contacts. Just open the
can add any medical conditions, notes, Health app, tap your profile icon, tap
build better habits and track your and allergies. Scroll down and tap the medical ID, and tap Edit. Now you can
toggle to show your Medical ID on your scroll down and tap Add Emergency
mental, emotional, and physical health. Lock Screen and tap Done to save. First Contact and select people from your
responders can then view this Contacts list. Tap Done to save your
Let’s cover some simple ways to track information by tapping the Emergency new emergency contact.
button on your Lock Screen.
your fitness and nutrition goals, monitor #3 Set up
#2 Add Wind Down
health symptoms, get better sleep, Emergency Shortcuts &
Contacts for Sleep
reduce stress, and make use of your Automatic Reminders
Notification for Better
iPhone’s emergency features. Sleep
There’s
#1 Add no denying Not
Crucial that the getting
Medical Emergency enough
Information SOS on your sleep can
to your iPhone Lock compromise
iPhone’s Screen is a your health
Lock Screen life-saving and safety
feature. in ways
If you have What many ranging from
a medical don’t realize increased
issue such is that if you risk of heart
as a cardiac
condition, akilev/shutterstock
severe JabaWeba/shutterstock
allergy, or
problem
that may
leave you
unable to
communicate with medics and other
first responders, it’s important to have a
56 iPhone Life Winter 2022
disease to car accidents. Wind Down #5 Track exercising, or spending quality time
shortcuts and Sleep Reminders can Your Blood with family and friends. To create a
help you get the consistent, quality Pressure, Focus mode, open the Settings app, tap
sleep you need each night. Wind Down Walking Focus, and tap the plus icon to create a
shortcuts allow you to quickly access Steadiness new Focus category.
the apps you might use as you wind & Nutrition
down before bed each night, such as a #7 Increase
calming playlist, guided meditation, or If you Productivity
podcast. Those shortcuts will appear on have a by Setting
your Lock screen at a set time before specific area Time Limits
your bedtime goal each night, so you of health for
don’t have to open your phone and you’re Addictive
scroll past potentially distracting apps interested in Apps!
and notifications to find them. To enable tracking, you
Wind Down shortcuts, open the Health can likely Setting
app, tap Browse, select Sleep, and tap do so in daily screen
Sleep Schedule to set the time you’d your Health time limits
like to go to bed each night. Then tap app. When for apps you
Wind Down Shortcuts to add shortcuts you open often
to your preferred apps. Select Options the Health app and tap Browse, you’ll mindlessly
and tap to enable the Sleep Reminders see various Health categories, such scroll
toggle to notify you when Wind Down as Heart, Mindfulness, Nutrition, and through can
is about to begin for that day. Symptoms. Tap a category to start increase your
tracking or setting specific health goals. productivity
#4 Track Your For example, you can use the and reduce
Workouts Symptoms category to help you track stress. I used to go through cycles of
& Activity recurring issues to show a health deleting social media apps on my
to Crush professional, such as chest tightness, iPhone to make them less readily
your Fitness headaches, or nausea. In the end, the accessible, only to find myself
Goals specific areas you’d like to track will re-downloading them a week later (like
relate to your current health goals and a strict diet I couldn’t stick to). With
Did you concerns. screen time limits, you can set a daily
know regular time limit, and after you’ve spent the
movement #6 Reduce allotted amount of time on that app,
greatly Stress by your iPhone will lock you out until the
decreases Enabling next day. To set time limits for an app,
the chance Focus open Settings, tap Screen Time, tap
of premature Modes App Limits, and tap Add Limits. Then,
death? If you select an app and the amount of time
have a daily Do your you’d like to set as a daily limit. Ѷ
step count ews
goal, or notifications Ashleigh Page is a Feature Writer for iPhone
distance or incoming Life. With a background in computer science
you’d like to swim or cycle, you can messages and creative writing, she loves blending aspects
track your daily activity in your Health give you of the technical and creative. An avid technol-
app. When you carry your iPhone, it will regular ogy enthusiast, she adores Apple products and
log the distance you’ve covered, and cortisol keeping up with the latest innovations. When
if you log workouts on a paired Apple spikes? Your she’s not working, Ashleigh is often found crafting whimsical
Watch, you can log dozens of different iPhone’s short stories, hiking, and playing sand volleyball.
types of movement. You can view all generic Do
your activity in the Fitness app, or in Not Disturb
the Health app by tapping Browse, then mode has
Activity to view all your tracked activity been rolled into a more customizable
data. You can also scroll down and tap Focus mode feature. With Focus
an activity category to add specific modes, you can pause notifications
workout data, such as a specific from specific apps or contacts for a
cardio or strength workout. period of time to help avoid
distractions. You can set these Focus
modes manually or have them activate
while you’re at a specific location or
during a particular time of day. Many
people have created Focus modes to
reduce notifications while driving,
iPhone Life Winter 2022 57
LAND YOUR
DREAM JOB
WITH YOUR
IPHONE
FIVE JOB HUNTING APPS
TO FIND YOUR PERFECT FIT
BY MIKE RILEY
L ooking for a job can be a stressful affair. Regardless other services do require that users have an account.
of your circumstances, finding a job listing,
applying, and keeping track of your submissions Indeed Job
Search
can be a full-time job in itself. Fortunately, job sites (Free)
with polished iOS apps make the hunt a less taxing endeavor. Billing
itself as the
Let’s explore the top five free job search apps available today. “World’s #1 Job Search
Site,” Indeed boasts over
Career- 250 million jobs in its
Builder: Job database. Yet even with all
Search those records, searching
(Free) Indeed via their app is
simple and quick. You can
Career- filter your searches by job
Builder is the granddaddy title, type, location, salary
of the job search market. range, and other aspects,
Founded in the mid-‘90s, and you can bookmark
CareerBuilder offers a results for future searches.
wealth of job aides and You can create and upload
listings for potential hires. resumes on the Indeed
The iOS app lets job app, and research potential
seekers upload their future employers through
resumes; bookmark favorite ratings and even photos of
job listings; and search by office locations.
job type, category, and
location. Seekers can use Mashmuh/shutterstock
the app without first having
to sign up for an account,
but uploading resumes,
saving job searches,
receiving notifications and
58 iPhone Life Winter 2022
LinkedIn: as a few taps and swipes of a finger. However, iOS users will
Job Search need to sign up or log in with an existing account before the
& News program will let you access these capabilities.
(Free)
ZipRecruiter
LinkedIn Job Search
has grown far beyond its (Free)
“Facebook for working
professionals” origins to This is one
become the world’s leading of the newer,
HR database for tracking hipper job search platforms,
careers and working and its app shows how its
relationships. HR more progressive approach
professionals, hiring to finding a job can be fast
managers, and savvy job and helpful. Like several
seekers use LinkedIn to other services featured
get the details on potential here, ZipRecruiter requires
hires, supervisors, and even users to create or log into
company plans and mission an account before any of its
statements. Recruiters use features can be accessed.
the service to target Once you’re logged in, all
individuals with the precise the expected job seeking
skills for a job, and sales functions are available such
representatives use it to as bookmarks, job filters
canvas prospective clients based on job title and and notifications, resume
responsibilities. Despite the wealth of details LinkedIn offers, uploads, and more. Of
they are still a relative newcomer in the job listing world. course, HR professionals
But given the backing of parent company Microsoft, and the can use the app to post
extensive network of job seekers, career professionals, and job openings, screen candidates, and evaluate job applicants
HR networks, LinkedIn offers a wide array of services to help within the app.
find, place, and train people in the position that suits their
career goals. The app cleanly integrates all these avenues and CONCLUSION
options into an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface. A user
account is required to access LinkedIn’s job search features. In addition to the selections highlighted in this article, there
LinkedIn also offers a premium monthly subscription service are several other top-quality job search aids with iOS
that allows you to see who accessed your profiles, along with companion apps. These include Dice, Glassdoor, and
other job seeking aids and services. SimplyHired, to name a few. While these services can also
assist with landing your dream job, they lack some of the
Monster more aggressive market visibility of the programs I reviewed
(Free) here. But, regardless of which app best suits your personal
job search needs, the most important factor is to make the
Monster, effort to seek job openings every day, follow the companies
another job you most want to work for, and reach out to key hiring
seeking site managers and build an ongoing repertoire with them. When
that has been around since that new opening occurs, they will remember you and, if your
the early days, offers an qualifications match the needs of the position, contact you as
abundance of tools that a courtesy to get you one step closer to landing that job you
make the process quick and have always wanted. Ѷ
easy. Besides the usual job
filter preferences and Mike Riley, a professional software developer and emerging information technologist,
resume upload tools, is the author of Programming Your Home, published by Pragmatic Bookshelf. Mike is
Monster’s iOS interface also a contributing editor and author of hundreds of technical articles and reviews for
allows you to simply swipe a number of popular technology publications. For more information, contact Mike via
to the right to select the job email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @mriley.
you want to apply to. The
application’s heavy
emphasis on the Monster
brand may be slightly
overdone for some users,
but their tools for refining
job skills (complete with
online quizzes) and intuitive
(if a bit too colorful) interface makes finding a job as simple
iPhone Life Winter 2022 59
HOW TO RET URN AN
APPLE PRODUCT
GOT SOMET HING DAMAGED OR
INCORRECT? HERE’ S WHAT TO DO
BY BELINDA SANMIGUEL
Y ou bought an Apple product, how exciting! Perhaps a third-party dealer, such as Amazon or AT&T, you will need to
you splurged on a new Apple Watch or received an review their refund policies. These products must be returned
iPad as a gift. But unfortunately, it might have to the third-party seller and cannot be returned to Apple. If
arrived damaged or not have been what you you purchased your product directly through Apple, you have
expected. So, how do you return Apple products? two options: you can return the product in-store or ship it
back. When you return a product, all accessories (such as
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN RET URN chargers or cables) and any documentation should be included
with the return.
According to Apple’s return policy, undamaged products are
returnable within 14 days from the date you received them. Apple’s return policy is pretty generous, and you can return
You can only return products purchased from Apple.com or an nearly all products. There are only a few exceptions, as you
Apple retail store. If you purchased the Apple products from cannot return opened software (software purchased in-store
that has already been installed on a device), electronic
software downloads or upgrades, Apple Print products, or
60 iPhone Life Winter 2022
Apple Gift Cards (this includes the previous generation Apple 8. Click Print Now to print the address and shipping label.
Store Gift Cards and App Store & iTunes Gift Cards). You also
cannot return Apple Developer products, such as Apple will notify you when it receives your items and issue
memberships or WWDC tickets. But outside of the your return.
exceptions listed, any device or product purchased from Apple
can be returned within the 14-day period. RET URNING APPLE PRODUCTS AS
A GIFT RECIPIENT
If you bought a product, such as an iPhone or iPad, and
have already set it up for cellular service, you may still have If you received an Apple product as a gift but do not wish to
to contact the wireless service associated with that account. keep it, you can just as easily return the item online. To do so,
Each wireless carrier will have different cancelation policies, you will need either the serial number of the device you wish
and returning an Apple device doesn’t guarantee the service to return (this is listed on the device, the product packaging,
will be canceled with your cellular provider. So, make sure you and receipt) or the order number and Universal Product Code
call your provider and cancel service for the returned device! (the UPC is the number listed near the barcode on the retail
box). Once you have this information handy, follow the steps
HOW DO APPLE EXCHANGES below to complete your gift return:
WORK?
1. Go to Gift Returns.
If you opt to do an Apple product exchange, you will need to
visit the Apple Store in person. As long as you’ve purchased 2. Enter your Serial number (listed on the device), or enter
your item from an Apple Store or online in the United States, the order number and the Universal Product Code.
you’ll be able to take your items to any U.S. Apple Store for an
exchange. If you exchange a product, you will need to bring 3. Select the items you wish to return.
the original receipt, packaging, and any included accessories
within 14 days of the date you received the product. 4. Enter your contact information.
Remember that when exchanging Apple products, the
availability of items is not always guaranteed. It’s best to 5. Select Continue to submit your return.
check Apple.com to see if the product you want to exchange
is in stock at an Apple Store near you. 6. Print the return label and pre-paid shipping label. You can
then schedule a pickup or drop-off at the carrier’s location.
Apple’s return policy states that engraved items and
custom-configured Macs are not eligible for an exchange. You Apple will notify you once they receive your items, and will
can only return custom-configured Macs or engraved items then email your refund as an electronic Apple Gift Card. Then,
for a refund. If you choose to return your engraved item or you can use your Apple Gift Card to purchase other Apple
custom-configured Mac, your refund will be issued to the devices and services.
original payment method you used on your order. Also, if you
ordered an item online and the product arrived damaged, you We all hope that we won’t have to return products, but
can return it to any Apple Store, or by contacting Customer sometimes it happens. The good news is that Apple has made
Service. returns easy, whether you opt to do so online or in person. If
you have additional questions about your specific return, you
HOW TO RET URN AN APPLE can also contact Apple directly.
PRODUCT ONLINE
We hope you can rest easier with these big purchases now
So, how do you return an Apple product online? First, you that you know how to return a product! Ѷ
need to sign in to your Apple account. You can locate your
order by entering your order number and email address or Belinda is a passionate digital marketer and content writer who loves creating un-
signing into your Apple account. Follow the steps below to forgettable experiences for audiences with compelling copywriting and other forms
return your Apple products: of media. She used to live in England, has traveled to over 15 countries, and loves
swimming in the ocean. In her free time, she enjoys planning women’s events and
trying new restaurants in Chicago.
1. Go to Order Listing Page. Get an
2. Log in using your Apple ID or enter your order number iPhone tip
and email address. every day.
3. Select any items you wish to return.
4. Click Start a Return. iPhoneLife.com/dailytips
5. Click Get Started.
6. Click Initiate Your Return.
7. Select the items you wish to return.
iPhone Life Winter 2022 61
APPS TO BROADEN YOUR
CULTURAL HORIZONS
LEARN A LANGUAGE, FIND A GREAT
MEAL, & EXPLORE THE WORLD
BY ELISABETH GARRY
I f we’re not careful, our devices can make our worlds Viki
feel smaller, spending all day with our faces buried in our (Free or
screens. But if you know how to use them right, our $4.99/month
devices can also expand our worlds. You can use them not for Standard,
only to connect with people around the globe, but specifically $9.99/month
to broaden your cultural horizons. Want to learn Brazilian for Plus)
capoeira? There’s an app for that. Need to find the best places The most fun part of
to visit in the Philippines? There’s an app for that, too. You can learning a new language
study cuisine from every corner of the world, learn hundreds is watching movies and
of languages, watch foreign movies and TV shows, and so TV shows in the language
much more. you’re trying to learn. Even
if you’re not learning a new
Duolingo language, watching foreign
(Free, In-App media is a great way to
Purchases) expand your cultural
horizons. Viki is an app for
Far and watching movies and TV
away the shows from Korea,
most popular app on this Mainland China, Taiwan,
list, Duolingo is a language- Japan, Thailand, and other
learning app with 38 Asian countries. You can
languages to pick from (if watch a limited selection of
you’re learning from subtitled shows for free
English—you can select with ads, or you can pay for one of two subscription tiers to
other languages to learn watch a wider variety of shows ad-free.
from, as well). The app is I’ve tried out some shows on both Viki and Netflix, and I
structured around several generally find that Viki’s subtitles are better, and there is
units and lessons that plenty to watch even if you opt to watch for free. Another big
unlock as you learn. Each plus is that when you watch with ads, you don’t even have
lesson is translation-based, to create an account or sign in to watch in your browser. To
meaning you will either be watch in the app, you do need to create an account, but after
translating a sentence from that, you can get straight to watching.
your starting language to My recommendation to watch for free: The Untamed, an
your target language or vice absolutely off-the-wall bonkers (and hugely popular) Chinese
versa. The app also includes fantasy drama (xianxia) about a necromancer with a heart of
speaking exercises, but in gold.
my experience these
exercises will accept just about anything you say into the iTranslate
microphone, so their utility is limited. (Free for
Duolingo gamifies language-learning with extra points for Basic,
completing lessons, gems you can use to buy extensions on Starting at
timed exercises, and leaderboards that let you compete with $3.99/month
other users. While these trappings are certainly motivating, for Premium)
I’ve found that they can cause you to lose sight of what you’re Even if you’re not
there to do: learn a language. In particular, the focus on learning a new language,
competition incentivizes barreling through lessons at a break- iTranslate is a great
neck speed to move up in the rankings, but you can easily get resource for anyone
through lessons without retaining any information when you traveling in a foreign
do this. It’s best to slow down, take the time to write down country or just talking with
sentences and understand how they’re constructed. Stop speakers of other
worrying about where you stand on the leaderboard if you languages. Its basic
want the skills you learn in Duolingo to translate (forgive me) features allow you to
to the real world. translate text to and from
In my opinion, Duolingo by itself is not going to make you over 100 different
fluent in a language, but it is a great place to brush up on skills languages and access
or jumpstart a language-learning habit. Since starting essential phrasebooks with
Mandarin on Duolingo, I’ve downloaded several different apps sentences you can play out
to help me learn the language, plus my all-time favorite loud, either to hear for your-
browser extension, Language Reactor (which I’ll talk more self or to play for someone
about later). I use all of these in conjunction with Duolingo to you’re conversing with. You
direct my self-study habits. Think of Duolingo as cereal—just can also add a widget to your Home Screen to quickly
part of a balanced breakfast.
iPhone Life Winter 2022 63
translate without having to open the app. learn more about them. I also had a lot of fun looking through
The premium subscriptions are really where you’re going a panoramic gallery of world-famous food markets in the app,
and the app lets you easily discover interesting articles on art,
to get the best features, though. Full Access includes voice culture, and history you might never have thought to look for
conversations, camera translation, augmented reality (AR) otherwise. The app also includes fun activities for kids like a
translation, and offline mode, plus no ads. You can try out coloring book of famous pieces of art, crosswords, and
iTranslate Full Access free for seven days, but be careful: after puzzles you can do solo or with a party. Many of the features
that period, it will auto-renew at $39.99/year, so make sure to are a bit clunky (somehow I doubt this is where Google is
remember to cancel if you don’t want to subscribe. investing much of its mindboggling resources), but it’s a fun,
interactive way to bring a host of museums right to your
Eatwith home.
(Free, In-App
Purchases) SUBTITLE SUPERHERO
Eatwith Language Reactor
allows you (Free)
to connect with home-
cook hosts in more than This is not an app, but I love it so much I must
130 countries. The goal is include it anyway. Language Reactor is a browser
to bring travelers together extension for Chrome that helps you learn foreign
with locals for dinner languages. I primarily use it to watch Chinese-
parties, facilitating an language shows on Netflix, where it displays subtitles
authentic cultural in both the show’s native language and English (or any
experience for the traveler language you choose to set as the user language).
and multicultural exchange You can mouse over any subtitle to get a definition,
for everyone. and hovering over the subtitle will automatically pause
But make no mistake: your video so you can look up words at your leisure
this is no early-days without missing any of the action. A sidebar on the
couchsurfing. You will pay screen also shows subtitles coming up and those that
the host for their trouble have just passed, and you can click a subtitle to jump
(after all, there’s no such that point in the video. If you create an account, you
thing as a free lunch). can also save words as they come up and find your
Looking at the app, I found saved list in a tab at the top of the sidebar.
tons of delicious-looking
options in many different countries, but many of them looked The Language Reactor extension works with
suspiciously professional for the cozy, personal experience Netflix and YouTube, and it has been an invaluable tool
the app seems to advertise. I would not be shocked if many in my language studies (or at least an invaluable tool
of the hosts were professionals using the app to advertise the for letting me feel like I’m learning something while
prix-fixe menus at their restaurants. I’m binging Chinese dramas). Language Reactor also
has features in beta for creating machine translations
Google Arts of text and videos, as well as TurtleTube, a collection
& Culture of language-learning videos (though the videos
(Free) selected here are still a bit baffling to me). Ѷ
Google Elisabeth Garry is an Associate Editor for iPhone Life. Formerly of Gartner, they have
Arts & four years’experience writing about technology. As a former college writing instruc-
Culture is a tor, they are passionate about accessible communication, which is perhaps why they
completely free app that love helping people make the best use of the strongest communication tools they
brings museums of the have available: their iPhones. They have a degree in Russian from Reed College.
world right to your device.
In the app, you can find
museum exhibits near you,
explore AR art galleries,
discover culturally important
sites around the world, and
more.
While the AR art
galleries can be a bit
difficult to navigate at first,
wandering through a virtual
museum is a fun
experience, and you can tap
on the exhibits (try that in
a real-world art gallery) to
64 iPhone Life Winter 2022
Ęnn Ufq 7fwq
)XNP wru`P
GET THE MONEY FLOWING &
YOUR BUSINESS GROWING
BY RACHEL NEEDELL
N owadays, it feels like everyone is running a side fooled just because fashion seems geared toward women,
business out of their bedroom or selling clothes menswear and men’s fashion are hot commodities on the
online. Business closures in the early days of the app. The site does take a 20 percent commission, but sellers
pandemic forced many people to turn to the don’t have to pay shipping which is a pretty sweet deal. And
while sites like this always put you at risk of bad-faith buyers,
internet to keep their families afloat. the app is easy to navigate and because it is connected to
your social media, you may be able to boost your sales
There are plenty of amazing apps out there that you can because your friends and followers can easily access your
store. Personally, I know a few friends with very successful
use to start, build, and grow a business on the side (and side hustles on Poshmark, so it’s definitely something to
consider if cleaning out your closet sounds enticing.
maybe even turn that side gig into a main gig). With so many
MAKE DELIVERIES
options available though, trying to figure out which app is right
Uber Eats: Food Delivery
for you and your business can be overwhelming. That’s why (Free)
we’ve taken stock and curated a list of platforms and services While Uber lets users essentially use you
as a taxi service, Uber Eats lets them order from restaurants
we love and trust to help turn your side hustle into a success. and have you deliver food to their doorstep or office. Uber’s
SELL YOUR CLOSET
Poshmark: Buy & Sell Fashion
(Free)
Poshmark is a hugely popular platform to buy
and sell clothing, shoes, or any lightly used fashion. Don’t be
66 iPhone Life Winter 2022
payout formula for drivers is made up of three components: a IKEA furniture, moving an old woodburning stove, and tree
payment for pick-ups, drop offs, and mileage covered. While trimming. Another thing that’s fantastic about TaskRabbit is
drivers do keep 100 percent of their tips, you’re only that aside from an initial $25 registration fee, all site fees are
guaranteed to make $1–2 per ride from the payout model. paid by customers, not freelancers. This means you will get to
That means it is possible, although unlikely, to only make $3 keep 100 percent of the profits you make.
for a single delivery. Although there are other great delivery
apps you can drive for, we recommend Uber Eats because it GET SPONSORED TO CREATE
is among the market leaders for both ride sharing and
delivery services. This means in any given city, you’re more Patreon
likely to book more orders and therefore put more money in (Free)
your wallet.
Ever heard of the Medici in Renaissance-era
SELL ART, CRAFTS & CREATIVE ITEMS Italy? While your patrons on Patreon may not be grand
purveyors of European art like the Medici family, Patreon is
Etsy: Custom & Creative Goods a wonderful app for building relationships with people who
(Free) are interested in what you make. And that can be a variety of
things, like a history podcast, a true-crime blog, or Irish folk
Etsy is one of the top online marketplaces music. Patreon is like crowdfunding, but with a focus on
for craft and vintage items. Because the site has been around continued support for a creator in return for enjoying their
for so long, it has a well-oiled marketing process of turning content or product. Creators can choose from a couple
one-time buyers into regular customers. It has become one of different billing options when setting up their payment plans:
the most popular places to open up shop on the internet. Etsy the monthly option is the most common choice and requires
charges just 20 cents per listing and once you sell something, subscribers (or patrons) to pay a standard monthly fee, or fees
you can expect a 6.5 percent transaction fee for sales, and per creation, meaning you’ll charge patrons every time you
typically an additional 3 percent for processing (though the release something new. Additionally, you have the option to
amount may vary by country). At Etsy, you are essentially set up multiple donation tiers from as little as $1 to $1,000 or
running your own business. You are determining what to more. It’s free to get started on Patreon, but once you start
make, how to make it, and how to price your goods. earning money, you can enroll in one of the platform’s three
However, as any small business owner can attest, running pricing plans: Lite, Pro, and Premium. Each one charges a
your own show is hard work and it comes with few different percentage and offers a variety of tools and options
guarantees. Although some users have complained over the in return. Patreon is a fast-growing app, so now is as good a
years, the platform has few rivals and brings in massive traffic time as any to join and finally receive some compensation for
e, making it one of our top recommendations for opening up a all your creative work, whatever it may be. Ѷ
side business online.
Rachel Needell is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, a published poet, and a longtime
PET CARE Apple fan. In the spring of 2021, she graduated with her Master’s degree in English,
specializing in early 20th-century literature. She is interested in all things tech and
Rover—Dog Sitters & Walkers currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her cat Blue.
(Free)
Do you love working with animals? Have you
missed the chaos and energy of children but don’t want to
take care of an actual human child? Well Rover is the app for
you and your side hustle. On Rover, you can post your
availability and what kind of animal care services you’d like to
provide. Rover takes 20–25 percent of your fee but you get
to set the rate. Simply post your profile to the app explaining
your location, provided services, and availability. This side
hustle can be quite lucrative; it’s possible to make more than
$1,000 a month using the app, and what better way to make
spare cash than doing it with furry friends?
ODD JOBS MASTER YOUR
IPHONE
TaskRabbit
(Free) iphonelife.com/getinsider
If none of these kinds of jobs sound right for
you, maybe you’d prefer something like TaskRabbit. TaskRabbit
is an app that helps you find odd jobs in fields like cleaning,
maintenance, or construction. Once again, you set the rate,
and freelancers who sign up with TaskRabbit receive access
to millions of potential clients. And when we say a wide array
of fields, we mean it. Some listings include help assembling
iPhone Life Winter 2022 67
WRITE BY
HAND ON
YOUR IPAD
6 NOTETAKING APPS TO HELP
YOU JOT, SKETCH & MORE
BY BRIAN PETERS
O ne of the great things about iPads is their notetaking, especially if your needs are professional.
combination of portability and a large screen. This Evernote’s primary downside is that it does not do much to
makes them perfect for reading eBooks, digital take advantage of the iPad’s unique features or provide any
comics, and magazines. It also makes them a support for styluses, so your actual writing will need to be
done via keyboard.
potential replacement for a paper notebook, especially when
GoodNotes 5
paired with a good stylus like the Apple Pencil. Of course, to (Free, $8.99 for
Full Access)
replace someone’s sketchbook, journal, or notepad, the iPad
My wife Tina
needs a good notetaking app. As someone who used to love recommended
this app (and has
brainstorming ideas and writing short stories by hand, I’ve used our iPad
significantly
long been curious if the iPad could help me recapture that more than I
have), and I
feeling. So, I decided to look at some of the most popular quickly saw why
she likes it. This
notetaking apps available for the iPad, all of which offer their app makes solid
use of the iPad’s
core functionality for free (and most of which have premium touchscreen and
stylus support. It
versions with more features if you decide you love them). has many
drawing tools
Evernote and stickers, and
(Free, $7.99/ the ability to add
month for your own
Premium) images, allowing
you to use it like a digital journal or a simple sketchbook. It
This behemoth has extensive organizational tools, as well as handwriting
in the world of recognition to make even your handwritten notes searchable.
notetaking apps GoodNotes is an excellent all-around choice if you’re
needs to go first. interested in drawing, journaling, and professional notetaking
It’s been around without a strong preference for any one area.
a long time and Honorable Mention: Notability is another solid all-around
is very popular, notetaking app similar to GoodNotes.
for good reason.
Evernote is
available on
basically every
platform, and
your notes will
sync across all of
them so they’re
available to you
anywhere. It has
organizational
tools and can incorporate images, video, sounds, and web
pages into your notes. Evernote is an excellent option for
68 iPhone Life Winter 2022
Nebo Notes
(Free, $7.99 for (Free)
Full Access)
Of course, no
This app discussion of
impressed me notetaking apps
with its stylus- on Apple devices
focused design. would be
Nebo is all about complete
making without
handwriting as mentioning
functional and Apple’s own
powerful as Notes. This free
typewritten text. app is likely
It features a already on your
gesture system iPad, and while it
to easily format is quite basic and
text as you go feature-light, it is
and converts also simple. If all
your handwritten you really want is
text to type. My the ability to take
favorite hand- notes quickly and
writing easily with your
recognition feature is the real-time preview, which lets you keyboard or a stylus, the Notes app has you covered, and with
check that the app is reading what you write correctly. It also iCloud, it’s easy to access notes made on one Apple device
has a selection of basic drawing tools and more unusual with another. Notes doesn’t do anything too fancy, but it’s free
features like interactive diagrams and the ability to write out and easy to use.
math equations which it will then solve. Of the apps I looked
at, this is the one I’m most eager to use regularly. While it Transom
allows for keyboard input, if you’re not planning to make (Free, In-App
extensive use of handwriting, there are probably better Purchases)
options for you on this list.
The last app I
Zinnia want to mention
(Free, $9.99/ is Transom. This
month for notetaking app
Premium) is geared toward
writers, and as
This app is a someone who
digital journal enjoys dabbling
and planner. in fiction writing
Zinnia is the now and then,
second app my this drew my
wife curiosity. In
recommended. function,
She used to do a Transom is pretty
lot of journaling basic. Like
in physical Evernote, there’s
journals, and I no real
can easily see handwriting
why she likes functionality,
this as a which is disappointing, but the features intended to
replacement. encourage daily writing and help break through bouts of
Zinnia has a writer’s block are intriguing. The lack of handwriting support
huge selection means it’s low on my list for use on the iPad, but I plan to give
of digital paper it a try on my iPhone. Ѷ
types, stickers, drawing tools, washi tape, and more. Zinnia
lets you decorate and organize your digital journal as much as Brian Peters is a Feature Web Writer at iPhone Life, a creative writing hobbyist,
you would a physical one. One standout feature is linked and general technology enthusiast. He has a bachelor’s degree in English, and has
journals, which require some work to set up, but then allow completed National Novel Writing Month multiple times. He lives in the Austin, Texas,
you to tap a day on the calendar page of your planner and area with his wife, two dogs, and two cats.
jump immediately to the page for that specific day.
iPhone Life Winter 2022 69
XNNPc Pb
THE BEST THINGS grebeshkovmaxim/shutterstock
YOU NEVER KNEW
YOU COULD DO
ON YOUR IPHONE
BY AMY SPITZFADEN-BOTH
ur iPhones are capable of so much, yet many of us only scratch the surface with our daily use. Expanding your
iPhone skills doesn’t mean you have to create feature-length movies or become a high-level app developer. You can
simply learn hidden features that make your daily tasks easier. So, let’s take a look at the best hidden iPhone tricks
to make your iOS use a little easier and a lot more fun.
HAVE SOME FUN Caption Your Photos
Captioning your shots is as
Send Your Message in Style
Apple wants to let you express handy as it is enjoyable. Captions
help your iPhone identify people,
yourself in messages, made places, and things in your photos.
clear with the advent of emojis, They make it easier for you to
memojis, animojis, and every kind search photos by name or phrase,
of ‘moji you can think of. But did and for screen readers to describe
you know you can animate your the picture. You can also add your
messages themselves? Type in own thoughts and memories, just
the message you want to send in like in a scrapbook or journal. To
an existing chat or enter a contact add a caption, just swipe up on a
to create a new message thread, photo, tap the field that says Add a
write your message, then long Caption, type in your caption, then
press on the blue Send arrow. hit done. Swipe down to close out.
You’ll be treated to a menu of fun To view the caption, just swipe up
animation options, and if you tap on that photo again.
the Screen tab and swipe right,
you’ll get even more, from
balloons to fireworks.
70 iPhone Life Winter 2022
TAKE A LOAD OFF Clean Up Your Home Screen
Having too many app icons on
Use Siri to Share
Using Siri to share is not only your Home Screen can slow you
down or even pull you off track
an easier way to send pictures, entirely. We usually want to have a
videos, and websites, but it also lot more apps on our iPhones than
offers those with limited mobility we use on a daily basis (for
a much better sharing option. example, I keep Uber even though
Not every app has Siri sharing I only use it when traveling), and
enabled, but many do. To share we don’t need them all on our
using Siri, just open the webpage, Home Screens. Luckily, you can
photo, or other content you want remove an app icon from your
to share, and say, “Hey Siri, share Home Screen but still find it in the
this with…” then the name of the App Library. All you have to do is
contact you want to send it to. Siri long press on the app icon in
will have you confirm and show question, tap Remove App, then
you a draft of the message. Either tap Remove From Home Screen.
say yes to confirm or tap the send Now, it’ll be off your Home Screen
arrow yourself. Don’t worry, if Siri and in your App Library.
sharing isn’t possible, your iPhone
will let you know! Write Notes from Your Lock
Screen
Personalize Your Font Size by
App Frequently, I’ll want to write a
note so quickly that unlocking my
Each app has its own default iPhone can make the difference
font size, but you might want to between remembering what I
adjust them individually, rather wanted to say and forgetting it
than do an all-over zoom on your forever. Luckily, you can
iPhone screen. First, you’ll need circumvent your Lock Screen and
to add the text size option to your open the Notes app directly from
Control Center. In Settings, tap your Control Center. In Settings,
Control Center. Toggle on Access tap Control Center, then tap Notes.
Within Apps. Scroll down to the Next, in Settings, tap Face ID &
More Controls section and tap Passcode and toggle on Control
the green arrow next to Text Size. Center so you can access your
Now, when you open an app, Control Center when your iPhone
swipe to open your Control Center, is locked. Now, all you have to do
and tap the text icon (two A’s). A is swipe to open the Control
slider will appear on your screen, Center and press the Notes app icon, and you’re good to go!
and you can swipe up or down to
adjust your text size within that app. Have Siri Take a Screenshot
Whether your hands are full or
Teach Siri to Pronounce a Name
Many of us have names we you have limited mobility, having
Siri take a screenshot is a super
have to break down phonetically, helpful trick that not many people
and Siri, despite its best attempts, know is possible. Believe it or not,
usually misses the mark entirely. it’s as simple as saying, “Hey Siri,
Teaching Siri to pronounce the take a screenshot.” Siri will take a
name of a contact correctly makes picture of the screen and save it
it a lot easier to use Siri to call that to your Photos App as usual and
person, saving you from you’ll also be able to find it in your
pronunciation gymnastics as you Screenshots folder. However, you
try to get them to understand. will need a cellular or WiFi
Open Contacts, tap on the name connection for Siri to carry out this
of the contact, then tap Edit. Scroll command, so if you’re somewhere
down until you see “add field” without any service, manually
and tap it. Choose Phonetic First taking the screenshot might be
Name, Phonetic Middle Name, your only option.
or Phonetic Last name. Enter in
the phonetic pronunciation of the
name you want and tap Save.
iPhone Life Winter 2022 71
DO IT FAST Record a Video Fast
When you find the perfect
Automatically Answer Calls
There can be a host of reasons moment for a video, you don’t
always have time to switch
why we can’t physically answer a between Photo and Video mode
call. Maybe we’re elbow-deep in on your iPhone. Luckily, there’s a
dinner prep, or maybe limited handy trick to start instantly
mobility hinders our ability to recording in video even if you’re on
swipe the screen. Whatever the the regular Photo setting. Simply
reason, having your iPhone drag your shutter button over to
automatically answer calls for you the right. Your camera will start
can be a big help. To set it up, go recording a video, which you can
to Accessibility in Settings, tap end by either tapping the center
Touch, then scroll down and touch shutter button which now displays
Call Audio Routing. Tap Auto- the red video recording icon.
Answer Calls, then in the next The white shutter button to the
display toggle Auto-Answer Calls right will take a still. No need to
on. From here, choose how quickly hold the shutter button after you
your iPhone will answer. It can be swiped; just swipe once and let it do its thing!
as soon as three seconds, or you
can give yourself a full minute to answer on your own. Jump Back to the Top of an App
Did you know that a simple
Keep Favorite Contacts on Your
Home Screen iPhone gesture can save your
thumb the workout of scrolling
Do you have a handful of people back to the top of most apps?
you contact regularly? Instead of Inside most apps with vertical
scrolling back through previous scrolling, you can return to the top
calls or message threads, you can by tapping a specific portion of
add a widget to your Home Screen the screen. All you have to do is
that displays your most contacted tap the center top of your iPhone,
people. Just long press on a blank usually just below the notch if you
area of your Home Screen until it have one. This will jump you back
enters jiggle mode. Then tap the up to the top, so if you want to see
Add icon on the top left. In the box where your photo collection really
that pops up, scroll down until you begins or look for the title of the
see Contacts. Tap it, swipe through long article you just finished
until you see the size widget you reading, you can do it in one touch.
want, then tap Add Widget. Now,
you just have to tap on a name in Quickly Find Events in Your
the widget for that person’s Calendar
contact info to come up.
Know you have a birthday party
Quickly Translate Text to go to this month but can’t
Whether you’re traveling or just remember the date? You can
search the Calendar app on to find
come across a phrase in a events and their dates. You’ll need
language you don’t know, Live Text to have the events already saved
can translate for you without you to your Calendar, but most
having to type the phrase in and holidays are automatically entered
select the language yourself. Just in the Calendar app by default.
take a picture of the text or just Just open your Calendar app and
open your camera and point it at tap the Search icon. Then enter the
the text, and tap the Live Text name of the event. The results will
button once it appears. Tap the include all the events of that name,
arrow to the side and then tap including ones that have passed,
Translate. Your Translate app will so make sure to check the year! Ѷ
show you the translation and give
you options to favorite, change the Amy Spitzfaden-Both is the Managing Editor at iPhone Life, an award-winning
language, or copy the translation. novelist, and an iPhone enthusiast. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband
When you’re done, just tap the X and daughter. When she’s not writing or glued to her iPhone, she enjoys hiking,
in the top right corner to exit. traveling, and creating her own tea blends.
72 iPhone Life Winter 2022
BABY’S
FIRST
IPHONE:
HOW TO KEEP
YOUR CHILD SAFE
IN THE WORLD OF
TECH
BY AMY SPITZFADEN-BOTH
B efore my daughter was born, I was convinced I devices can be a good way to go when shopping for a kid. If
wouldn’t let her have access to any screens before you’re getting your child an iPhone, an SE or mini might be
the age of five, and after that I’d impose strict limits good options, as children tend to have smaller hands, and
on her digital access. I shook my head at parents these are easier to manage.
who bought tablet devices for their preschoolers. GET THE GEAR
Fast forward, and my three-year-old daughter has not only her If a child, especially a small one, gets a device, you’ll want
to protect it. Durable cases like the Otterbox Kids EasyGrab
own iPad, but also a smart TV set up specifically for her. We ($59.95) and screen protectors like the Zagg InvisibleShield
($19.99) are an absolute must if you want to keep the device
lasted about 18 months before my husband put her in front in working order. Telling my daughter to “be careful” does
exactly nothing to protect her iPad, and wiping sticky fingers
of an episode of Sesame Street in a desperate attempt to get only gets us so far. Once you have protective gear set up,
consider if there are any accessories you’d like your child to
some work done (pandemic parenting isn’t easy), and, to our have. Wireless and volume limiting headphones like the
Riwbox BT05 Bluetooth Kids Headphones ($28.98) are
surprise, the more she watched those colorful little monsters, great when you don’t want to worry about tangled cables or
ear damage, and styluses allow kids to draw and write on an
the more her vocabulary and ability to identify letters, colors, iPad, giving them expanded learning opportunities.
and shapes grew. APPLE ID FOR
KIDS: YAY OR
“RAISING CHILDREN NAY?
IN THE DIGITAL AGE
IS INARGUABLY Did you know that parents can create an Apple ID for kids
COMPLICATED.” under the age of 13? This allows the child to be a part of the
Apple Family Sharing plan but keep the account age
Raising children in the digital age is inarguably complicated. appropriate. The Apple ID you create for your child will be their
In fact, in a recent survey published by the Pew Research account for all their Apple content, including Apple Music,
Center, 66 percent of parents think parenting is harder now Apple Podcasts, Apple Books, and Apple TV, as well as their
than it was twenty years ago, and the top reason given was iCloud account. Apple introduced Family Sharing to make it
technology. And while the Erikson Institute reports that 85 easy for parents to control the Apple family account after
percent of parents give their children access to technology, setting up an Apple ID for their kids.
they also report widespread concern among parents about
too much screen time and access to inappropriate content. It’s easy to make a new Apple ID for a child, though you’ll
Still, the same report showed parents perceiving across- need to make sure your child has their own email address. You
the-board benefits in children who use technology, including can either create one when setting up the new device, or log
school readiness and success; early learning; language in with an adult’s Apple ID, go into Settings and tap
development; and more. With such mixed messages, it’s hard Family below the name of the Apple ID account holder. Tap
to know what the right course is when it comes to tech and Add Member and follow the prompts from there.
our kids. And while I’m a strong advocate of each parent or
caregiver figuring out what feels right for their specific Important Note: To create an Apple ID for a child under 13,
families, I have some guidelines for when your kid gets a new the Family Organizer (adult) will be prompted to use the CVV
device to help reap the benefits and mitigate the downsides. code from a credit card. Entering your CVV code is considered
parental consent for the child’s Apple ID. Though you must
CHOOSE THE enter your card info to register your child with an Apple ID,
RIGHT DEVICE you may change your payment method once the new Apple
ID account is created.
If you’re thinking of introducing your child to device
ownership by purchasing them one of their own, there are a
few things to consider. Only you know your budget and what
you are willing to spend on a child’s device, but it’s important
to keep in mind what your child actually needs. For example,
a preschooler is unlikely to have any use for an iPad Pro, and
children in general don’t usually need top-of-the-line
technology. Less expensive devices also tend to lead to less
stress for the parents when the kids inevitably don’t take as
much care with them as we’d like. For this reason, refurbished
iPhone Life Winter 2022 75
SET YOUR done through entering your Screen Time Passcode, so if you
LIMITS tell your kids they get one hour on the iPad, they can’t ignore
you and keep streaming YouTube once that hour is passed.
Once you have the device purchased, protected, and up Content & Privacy Restrictions gets more into the nitty gritty
and running, it’s your time to shine as a parent. Well, that of it, allowing you to limit specific sites and content, toggle
was probably when you presented the device to your kid, but on or off Apple native apps you don’t want the kids to access
setup is where you get to flex your my-house-my-rules power. (like FaceTime or Safari), and set whether you need to enter a
(Or, you know, where you step in to keep your child safe.) The passcode for iTunes & App Store purchases, which I strongly
first thing you’ll want to do is go into Settings and then select recommend.
Screen Time. Specify that it’s your child’s device. After that,
you’ll have several options of how to customize the device to “FAMILY SHARING
meet your family’s needs. OFFERS A GREAT
WAY TO STAY
“MANY STREAMING INVOLVED WITH THE
SERVICES OFFER MEDIA YOUR CHILD
ACCOUNTS IS CONSUMING AND
SPECIFICALLY FOR GIVES YOU THE
KIDS . . . OPPORTUNITY TO
ELIMINATING THE BOND OVER
RISK OF THEM FAVORITE MUSIC,
STUMBLING ACROSS BOOKS, AND
THE SERIAL KILLER GAMES.”
DOCUMENTARY YOU
WERE WATCHING Once you’ve set up Screen Time limits, you might want
AFTER THEY WENT to investigate other ways to block inappropriate content on
TO BED.” the apps your child uses. Many streaming services, such as
Netflix, offer accounts specifically for kids, which only shows
them age-appropriate content, eliminating the risk of them
stumbling across the serial killer documentary you were
watching after they went to bed. Remember, even networks
like Disney+ have content you might not want your child to
see, so be mindful in what you give them access to.
First, you might want to tap Use Screen Time Passcode
to set up a passcode that you know and your child does not,
which will keep them from changing the settings on their
own. Next, you can tap App Limits to set limits for certain
kinds of apps, or all apps. Once the limit is reached, the app
stops working unless you grant it more time, which is usually
76 iPhone Life Winter 2022
APPS TO GET YOU STARTED
Wondering where to begin with loading your kid’s device up Khan Academy Kids
with fun and enriching content? Here are three places to start. (Free)
Bark – Parental Controls Aimed toward kids ages two through eight,
(Free) Khan Academy Kids offers stories and games
to develop key skills in reading, math, science,
Bark offers content monitoring on your kid’s and more. It’s engaging and easy to navigate, offering multiple
phone so you don’t have to do it yourself. It will ways to engage with the content including singing,
alert you of anything potentially problematic in drag-and-drop, drawing, and more.
your child’s browsing or conversations, but still give them
privacy in any other regard. This is a great tool for older kids OurHome - Chores and Rewards
who are looking for a little more digital independence, while (Free)
still giving parents peace of mind.
OurHome is a great resource for managing
YouTube Kids a household. Not only can you track tasks and
(Free) to-dos, but you can also set up rewards for
chores, helping children contribute to household management
YouTube has the potential to expose your in a positive way that fits your family. Each family member can
child to all sorts of things you don’t want them have their own profile, so no need to share a device or
to see. YouTube kids addresses that by offering manually keep track of who is doing what.
curated content that is not only suitable for children, but also
vetted by you. Choose what channels and shows you want
your kid to have access to and let them enjoy scrolling just
among that little world.
SHARE WITH COMMUNICATE
THE FAMILY YOUR PLAN
After you ensure your child can only access safe and You’ve set up and enabled limitations on your kid’s device;
age-appropriate content (and not bankrupt you with App Store you’re good to go! Almost. I strongly recommend letting your
purchases), I recommend adding the new device to your child’s other caretakers know what your plan is, and how
family’s Apple network. Access Family Sharing using the much of it is flexible. For example, I know my daughter is
steps listed above, in the Apple ID for a Child section. From going to spend a little extra time on screens with her
here, you can set up the apps, music, movies, storage, and grandparents, but I still don’t want her scrolling unsupervised
more you want to share between family members and want through YouTube, because of all the things she could be
your child included in. Family Sharing offers a great way to exposed to. You might not all see exactly eye to eye, but it’s
stay involved with the media your child is consuming and important to set up ground rules you all follow.
gives you the opportunity to bond over favorite music, books,
and games. On your own device, you can access Family This may seem like a massive undertaking, but getting your
Sharing and then tap Purchase Sharing to set up shared child a new device is an important (and exciting!) step.
purchases from iTunes and the App Store. Ensuring your child is safe and protected is the first step in
engaging them in the digital world and building skills and
You might also want to set up Find My on the device, which hobbies that can last a lifetime. Let the fun begin! Ѷ
is handy for both absentminded children and your child’s
safety if they are out and about with their iPhone or iPad. Go Amy Spitzfaden-Both is the Managing Editor at iPhone Life, an award-winning
into the Find My app, then under People or Devices, tap the novelist, and an iPhone enthusiast. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband
Add icon (which looks like a plus sign) and choose Share My and daughter. When she’s not writing or glued to her iPhone, she enjoys hiking,
Location. Choose to share it with your Apple ID, so you can traveling, and creating her own tea blends.
always keep an eye on where your child’s device is.
iPhone Life Winter 2022 77
WHAT TO DO IF
YOUR APPLE
WATCH IS LOST
OR STOLEN
FIND YOUR LOST
APPLE WATCH &
PROTECT YOUR DATA
BY RHETT INTRIAGO
L osing an expensive device is stressful enough, but when you factor in the possibility of your whole digital existence falling
into malicious hands, the panic increases tenfold. Whether you just put your watch somewhere that you can’t remember
or something more sinister happened, we have a list of things for you to do the moment you can’t find your Watch. We’ll
also show you how to remotely disable the device so thieves cannot misuse your Apple Watch or its data.
STEP 1: USE 1. Open the Find My app.
THE FIND MY 2. Tap your Apple Watch displayed in the list of your Apple
APP devices.
3. Tap Play Sound and your Apple Watch will emit a
As soon as you realize your pinging sound, allowing you to find it easily if it is nearby.
Apple Watch has been lost 4. You can also tap Directions to open Apple Maps and
or stolen, the first thing you get step-by-step guidance to your Apple Watch.
want to do is check the Find
My app. This app is included Hopefully, you will have been able to locate your Apple
as a default Apple app on Watch by following the steps above. However, if your Apple
your iPhone, but if for some Watch isn’t displaying on the map, it may not be connected to
reason you don’t have it, you your iPhone, or Find My might not have been enabled before
can quickly download the the device was lost. Unfortunately, outside of Find My, there
Find My app for free from is no other way to track your Apple Watch, so your next step
the App Store. Here’s how should be to lock your Apple Watch and mark it as lost.
to locate your Apple Watch
with the Find My app on your Antlii/shutterstock
iPhone:
78 iPhone Life Winter 2022
STEP 2: STEP 3: HOW
LOCK YOUR TO ERASE
APPLE YOUR
WATCH & APPLE
MARK IT AS WATCH TO
LOST PROTECT
YOUR DATA
If your Apple Watch has
been stolen, locking the If it’s been a while since
device will prevent thieves you lost your Apple Watch
from accessing your data and or it seems likely that your
possibly stop them from Apple Watch has been stolen,
trying to resell the device. your next step is to remotely
At the same time, you can erase the data on your Apple
display a message on your Watch to protect your saved
screen with contact info, in payment methods and other private data. Here’s how to erase
case some good soul finds it and is trying to return your your Apple Watch data remotely:
device to you. Here’s how to lock your Apple Watch and mark
it as lost: 1. Open the Find My app.
1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone. 2. In the list of devices, tap your Apple Watch.
2. In the list of devices, tap your Apple Watch. 3. Tap Erase This Device.
3. Under the Mark as Lost section, tap the Activate 4. Tap Continue.
button.
5. Tap the text field to enter a phone number. After your
4. On the next screen, you will see an explanation of Watch has been erased, it will be disabled with a phone
what this feature does. Scroll down and tap Continue. number displayed on the screen, allowing anyone who
finds it to contact you and let you know.
5. You will have the option of entering a phone number to
display on the watch screen after activating Lost Mode. 6. Tap Erase.
Tap the text field to enter a phone number, then tap Next.
After that, your watch will be completely wiped, preventing
6. You will also have the option to enter a message that misuse of your data. It will also be disabled, making the
will display on the Apple Watch Lock Screen. Tap the box device useless to thieves or anyone who might find it and
to type your message, then tap Next. want to keep it for themselves. If your device seems like it
has been stolen, we also recommend reporting your stolen
7. On the last screen, you can tap the Notify When Found device to local law enforcement. Hopefully though, your
toggle to receive a notification the next time Find My device has already been located or will be returned to you! Ѷ
picks up its location. (The toggle is green when enabled.)
You can also tap to enable the Receive Email Updates Rhett Intriago is a passionate writer and Apple enthusiast. When he’s not drafting
toggle if you want to receive emails with updates on the iPhone Life articles, he prefers to spend his free time gaming with friends, watching
status of your missing Watch. anime with his wife, or playing with his three cats.
8. Tap Activate.
Your Apple Watch will be disabled and display the message
that you typed on the screen. Once you have your watch back
in hand, tap Unlock and enter your passcode to unlock your
Apple Watch. This will automatically turn off Lost Mode.
iPhone Life Winter 2022 79
iVIEW
Drone On!
I ’ve long thought about using a drone to capture footage Illustration by Mikaila Maidment, mikailamaidment.com
of my Iowa woods. Knowing nothing about drones, I
hesitated for years, concerned that I would crash it and Using Find My Drone from the app, a loud noise and
it would disappear. I yielded and purchased the 5-star-rated flashing light revealed its location. Some minor scratches and
DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo ($599). About half a pound, the muddy shoes later, I rescued the drone.
Mini 2 looks like a bug-like creature (the light weight means
no government registration is required). I am impressed The DJI controller joins with the iPhone to create an
despite a frustrating first few weeks. enhanced controller. A microSD card stores photos and
videos. The app lets you transfer selected files to your iPhone.
For safety, I decided to launch my first flight in a baseball The battery allows about 30 minutes of flying time.
field. I quit after 45 minutes of error messages about the over-
loaded gimbal motor and the not-ready GPS. Through some The app displays live video during flight with options to take
glitch, the tutorial in the iPhone DJI Fly app was in Japanese. photos and record. It provides controls for takeoff and landing;
maps your flight; displays flight metrics; issues strong wind,
The next day, using simple tips I learned from YouTube low battery, and other warnings; and can find a lost drone.
tutorials, I successfully launched and landed the drone. As I
got more familiar with the controls, I let the drone roam. The Mini 2 has proven great fun. Pairing drones with
powerful computing capabilities of a mobile device allows
Soon, the drone disappeared! I decided to land it using the drones to be feature-rich, intuitive to use, and affordable.
built-in Home feature. Land in Place appeared instead with However, if I wish to properly map my land, I will eventually
several warnings and beepings, so I aborted the landing. Ten need a more expensive, heavier drone with better camera and
minutes later, amid loud and flashing low battery warnings, I omni-directional object avoidance.
pressed the Land button. I must have also pressed something
else for when all seemed lost, like a miracle, the drone Pros:
suddenly appeared in the sky way above. • No government registration needed
• Lightweight & affordable
I decided to try the drone at home. Recording, I flew the • Surprisingly durable despite size & fragile appearance
drone a few yards ahead as my wife and I walked a path • Integration with iPhone
through the trees to the creek. Luck ran out when the drone
hit a branch and disappeared into our muddy creek. Cons:
• Somewhat steep learning curve
• Lack of object avoidance
• Awkward physical integration of controller with iPhone Ѷ
Hal Goldstein founded iPhone Life’s original publishing company, Thaddeus
Computing, in 1985. You can contact him by email at [email protected] or
@halgoldstein on Twitter. You can find the print, digital, and audio versions of his
book Meditating Entrepreneurs- Creating Success from the Stillness Within at Amazon.
80 iPhone Life Winter 2022
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