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Daughter stunned by little-known iPhone feature after father's sudden death

<p>Queensland woman Carrie Payne was unable to access her father's phone after he died unexpectedly last month due to Apple's policy. </p> <p>The policy is that devices locked with a passcode and therefore protected by passcode encryption, cannot be accessed without erasing the contents on the device. </p> <p>Apple has refused to create software to hack into the iPhone for security reasons, and for grieving families who don't have access to their loved one's phones, this could mean that hundreds of photos and memories could be lost. </p> <p>After losing her father unexpectedly from intracranial haemorrhage, Payne did not have access to his phone, which made it difficult for her to contact his friends and colleagues to inform them of his death. </p> <p>“We also then couldn’t use any of the family photos he may have had on there in his funeral service,” she said.</p> <p>“In the end, we are at peace with things now and haven’t pursued anything. We may still investigate this once we have all the legal documents to confirm his passing/the terms of his estate, but we are weighing this up with his right to privacy in death. The immediacy of needing access has gone, so we are instead focusing on remembering him.”</p> <p>While she has tried almost everything to gain access to the phone, she has had no luck, and now she wants to prevent the same thing from happening to someone else. </p> <p>Payne, an estate planning lawyer, shared the little-known iPhone feature, called a Legacy Contact. </p> <p>This can be set for your Apple ID on an iPhone (starting from iOS 15.2), iPad (iPadOS 15.2) and Mac (macOS 12.1). </p> <p>The Legacy Contact gets access to data stored in your Apple account after your death including  iCloud photos, contacts, calendars, messages, mail, voice memos, notes, files stored in iCloud drive, apps you have downloaded and device backups.</p> <p>But, data like payment information and passwords remain off limits. </p> <p>To add a Legacy Contact on your iPhone or iPad, you go to settings, tap your name, tap sign-in &amp; security, and then tap legacy contact.</p> <p>On a Mac, click the Apple menu, then system settings, then Apple ID, then sign-in &amp; security, and legacy contact.</p> <p>After your death, your Legacy Contact will need the access key that you generate when you choose them as your contact and your death certificate.</p> <p>The Legacy Contact will have access to your data for three years from when the first legacy account request has been approved. </p> <p>In Australia, next of kin can request access to an account with the right legal documentation if they don't have a Legacy Contact access key. </p> <p><em>Images: Carrie Payne</em></p>

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7 ways your iPhone could save your life

<p>Your iPhone can do many amazing things, including save your life. Here are seven ways how it could help you in an emergency.</p> <p><strong>1. Use voice-activated Siri</strong></p> <p>A news story earlier this year reported on a man who was trapped under a lorry with his phone in his back pocket. He managed to save himself by using Hey Siri to call emergency services.</p> <p>To use voice-activated Siri to your phone, go to Settings > General > Siri >Allow Hey Siri</p> <p><strong>2. Add a medical ID</strong></p> <p>Adding a medical ID means anyone can access the emergency details and medical history on your phone (but only the medical ID).</p> <p><strong>3. Donwload a medical app</strong></p> <p>There are various apps around from St John Ambulance Australia to the Blood Pressure Companion that can help save your life in an unexpected situation.</p> <p><strong>4. Use a location service app</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.life360.com/family-locator/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">T</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">hese apps</span></a> track your location and let your chosen users known exactly where you are all the time. It can be an invasion of privacy so can be turned on and off.</p> <p><strong>5. Add an ICE (in case of emergency) to your contact list</strong></p> <p>It’s always useful to have indicate an ICE contact on your phone.</p> <p><strong>6. Use the Apple health app</strong></p> <p>The new health app on iPhones lets you add blood pressure, body measurements, and other vital information. It’s not only easier for you to keep track of your vitals but means it’s easier for others to know your medical requirements if they ever need too.</p> <p>To activate, go Health > Health Data > Vitals > Add Data Point</p> <p><strong>7. Turn on the flashlight</strong></p> <p>The flashlight is handy to have in lots of situations. Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen and tap on the flashlight icon. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Long-awaited feature FINALLY available for iPhones

<p dir="ltr">iPhone users rejoice! The latest iOS update has brought with it a long-awaited feature: editing and unsending text messages.</p> <p dir="ltr">The new iOS 16 update, available for iPhone released after 2017, now allows users to unsend and edit iMessages, but there are some caveats.</p> <p dir="ltr">A message can only be unsent within two minutes of it being sent, while editing can occur within 15 minutes.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>How to unsend</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">To unsend a message, open the Messages app, press and hold down the text you want to unsend.</p> <p dir="ltr">This will bring up the Tapback reactions and a quick action menu, which includes the option to undo send or edit, and then tap Undo Send.</p> <p dir="ltr">The text will then disappear from both your phone and from the recipient’s, though it will be replaced by a notification saying that a message has been unsent.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, this function won’t work if the recipient doesn’t have the new update, even if your phone says it has unsent the message.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>How to edit</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">If you’ve sent an unfortunate typo or some other details, editing messages is now a simple affair.</p> <p dir="ltr">To edit, simply open the Messages app, go into any thread that is using iMessage (also known as blue text), and hold down the message you want to edit.</p> <p dir="ltr">When the reactions and menu appear, tap on Edit. This will allow you to delete the entire message, fix mistakes or add more text.</p> <p dir="ltr">Once you’re happy, tap the blue checkmark on the right side to save your edits.</p> <p dir="ltr">A single message can only be edited a maximum of five times, and an “edited” button will appear under your text, which the recipient can tap on to view previous versions.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-20719474-7fff-f9f3-8dda-181c99e074e7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Finally! Long-awaited features coming to iPhones

<p dir="ltr">Apple has announced a new suite of features will be introduced to iPhones in the latest update, including some that have been highly anticipated by iPhone owners.</p> <p dir="ltr">The tech giant broke the news at its Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, in early June, which corresponded to a jump in the value of Apple’s shares by 0.2 percent according to <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/apple-unveils-major-changes-to-iphone-at-wwdc/news-story/5c1758ec73128d842d3cf4b2a822ba4e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Apple revealed that the new iOS 16 operating system would include one of the company’s most highly-requested changes: the ability to edit and un-send iMessages.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d3c1fe85-7fff-60f4-b579-845e5eae5011"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">A total overhaul of the phone’s lockscreen will also be included in the new operating system, with users gaining the ability to create their own using custom fonts and widgets for a host of different apps.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/Apple-WWDC22-iOS16-3up-hero-220606.jpg" alt="" width="1960" height="1102" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The new lockscreen was announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference Image: Apple</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Apple said that notifications will also “roll in” through a compact bar at the bottom of the screen rather than dominating the whole display.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have re-imagined how the Lock Screen looks and works with exciting new features that make it more personal and helpful, introduced iCloud Shared Photo Library for families, streamlined communication through new capabilities in Messages and Mail, and harnessed enhanced intelligence with updates to Live Text and Visual Look Up,” Craig Thompson, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, said in a press release.</p> <p dir="ltr">The news comes as Apple will be forced to use the same charger for smartphones, tablets and laptops sold in the European Union, under a landmark deal that will see a single charger be able to charge any device sold in the EU from late 2024, per <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/mobile-phones/apple-forced-to-use-the-same-usbc-charger-for-all-products-after-landmark-eu-agreement/news-story/cd3a71bf9fa5a100bd8a2cbfc2e20015" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is a rule which will apply to everyone,” said Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Alex Agius Saliba, who led the negotiations.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If Apple ... or anyone wants to market their product, sell their products within our internal market, they have to abide by our rules and their device has to be USB-C,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d8e338f6-7fff-7e3d-28f6-8ddb511cc63d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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18 hidden voice memos features you never knew about

<p><strong>Make the most of your voice memo app</strong></p> <p>Your iPhone is packed with productivity tools, but you don’t have to download a dozen apps for your device to become a true time-saver. Apple’s voice memo app alone can add to your productivity, help you keep track of your appointments and reminders, and act as your personal assistant. Use Voice Memos to record conversations, meetings, lectures, and the great idea you had while driving or walking the dog. You can even record a phone call on your iPhone by using the Voice Memos app.</p> <p>The app is easy to locate – you’ll find it in your Utilities folder, though you can move it wherever you’d like, or ask Siri to open it for you. It’s easy to use. It’s available on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple computers. And best of all, it’s free. There’s no time limit for recordings (it’s dependent on the internal storage capacity of your device), so you can likely record that entire lecture without worry.</p> <p>Scroll down for tips that take you beyond voice memo recording and to all of the truly cool things you can do with a voice memo app.</p> <p><strong>Record a voice memo</strong></p> <p>There are a whole host of reasons you might make good use of a voice memo app. Maybe your boss loves to have walking meetings, but you’re not quite skilled at walking, note-taking… and not running into a tree. Maybe you’re meeting colleagues for a brainstorming dinner and want to keep track of everyone’s ideas. Or maybe you need a quick way to take down a brilliant idea – for a business, a birthday gift, you name it – during your commute.</p> <p>It’s incredibly easy to use your iPhone’s Voice Memos app. (Just be sure to ask the other person’s permission first!) Here’s how:</p> <p>Open the Voice Memos app.</p> <p>To start recording, tap the red record button.</p> <p>Boom! You’re recording your conversation.</p> <p><strong>Pause a recording</strong></p> <p>While you may often record straight through without breaks, there are times when you may want to pause a recording. For instance, during an important lunch meeting with colleagues, you really don’t need to keep track of your coworkers ordering coffee at the care. This iPhone trick will also be helpful during conversations with long pauses or when you’re put on hold. Here’s how to do it:</p> <p>While recording, tap or swipe up on the recording field at the bottom of your screen to bring it into full-screen view.</p> <p>Tap the pause symbol to temporarily stop recording.</p> <p>Tap Resume to continue.</p> <p><strong>Stop a recording</strong></p> <p>When you’re done recording your conversation, remember to actually stop the recording or you’ll be stuck with a really long voice memo that eats into your storage space. Here’s how to do it:</p> <ul> <li><strong>In partial-screen view</strong>: Hit the red square.</li> <li><strong>In full-screen view</strong>: Tap the pause button, then hit the word Done.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Delete a recording</strong></p> <p>Not every recording is worth saving. If you decide you don’t need yours, it’s easy to delete. Here’s how to do that:</p> <p>In your All Recordings list, find the voice memo you’d like to delete.</p> <p>Select the recording to expand the field.</p> <p>Tap the trash can.</p> <p><strong>Recover a recently deleted recording</strong></p> <p>If you delete the wrong file, don’t panic. Just as you can recover deleted photos, you can recover recently deleted recordings. Just follow the steps below.</p> <p>Navigate to the main Voice Memos screen.</p> <p>Tap Recently Deleted.</p> <p>Tap the recording you’d like to restore.</p> <p>Select Recover to restore your recording.</p> <p>To recover multiple deleted voice memos, select Edit in the upper-right corner. Tap all of the recordings you’d like to restore, then select Recover All from the lower left-hand corner.</p> <p>One thing to bear in mind: you only have about 30 days to recover deleted files.</p> <p><strong>Save a recording in the Voice Memos app</strong></p> <p>If you’re satisfied with your recording, you’ll want to save it. Thankfully, a voice memo on iPhone saves automatically. As soon as you stop a recording, it’ll save in the Voice Memos app and appear in your All Recordings list. Yep, it’s actually as simple as that.</p> <p><strong>Rename your recording</strong></p> <p>Be sure to give your file a new name so you’ll be able to find it easily in the future. Here’s how to do that:</p> <p>Tap the recording.</p> <p>Tap on the name.</p> <p>Type your new file name.</p> <p><strong>Save a recording to an iCloud folder</strong></p> <p>While Voice Memos automatically saves a recording, you may want to save it to iCloud for extra security – or so you can access it from any device. By following the steps below, you’ll ensure your voice memo remains in the app and in your chosen folder.</p> <p>Tap the recording you want to move.</p> <p>Look for a circle with three dots in it. Tap it.</p> <p>Select Save to Files from the list below.</p> <p>Tap the folder you’d like to add it to.</p> <p>To create a new iCloud folder, tap the folder icon in the top right corner.</p> <p><strong>Organise recordings in Voice Memos folders</strong></p> <p>If you use the voice memo app often, you may want to organise your recordings to make them easier to find, just as you would organise your apps for easier access. You can group them in folders, which you’ll find on the main Voice Memos screen.</p> <p>Here’s how to move a voice memo to a folder:</p> <p>Tap the recording you want to move.</p> <p>Tap the circle with three dots in it (to the right of the recording’s name).</p> <p>Select Move to Folder from the list below.</p> <p>Tap on the folder you want your recording to appear in.</p> <p>To create a new folder, tap the folder icon in the lower right-hand corner. Give the folder a name, then select Save. Select that folder to save your recording there.</p> <p><strong>Crop a recording</strong></p> <p>There are many reasons why you might want to crop your new file. Musicians often use the Voice Memos app and then crop out the bits they don’t want to share. One thing to keep in mind: While the crop icon looks the same as in Voice Memos as it does in other apps, the function is actually called Trim.</p> <p>Navigate to your All Recordings list.</p> <p>Tap the voice memo you want to crop.</p> <p>Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots in a circle.</p> <p>Select the Edit Recording option.</p> <p>Tap the crop tool at the top right of the file.</p> <p>Drag the yellow trim handles until the section you want to keep is highlighted in yellow and the section you want to crop is in white.</p> <p>Be sure to check that you’re keeping the part you want. Tap the play button to listen.</p> <p>Click the Trim button to crop everything except the section highlighted in yellow.</p> <p>Tap save and then Done, and you’re good to go.</p> <p>You can also delete an entire portion of your recording. With the section selected (it’ll be yellow), tap the Delete button. Remember, Trim removes everything except the yellow segment, while Delete removes the yellow segment.</p> <p><strong>Replace sections of a recording</strong></p> <p>If you mumbled or coughed in the middle of an important voice memo, fear not! It’s really easy to record over the bits you don’t like.</p> <p>Go to your All Recordings list.</p> <p>Tap the recording you want to fix.</p> <p>Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots in a circle.</p> <p>Select Edit Recording.</p> <p>Move your finger over the waveform (the lines that visually represent your recording) until you’re in the section of your recording you want to replace.</p> <p>Tap the red Replace button to start recording. The waveform will turn red while you record.</p> <p>Tap the pause button when you’re done.</p> <p>Check your recording by hitting the play button. If you’re satisfied, tap Done to save your changes.</p> <p>The great news: You can do this in as many places as you like to make sure you’re happy with the entire recording.</p> <p><strong>Speed up or slow down a recording</strong></p> <p>If a fast or slow talker is making your voice memo sound weird, or if you need to speed up or slow down a section of music, you can do that easily with the voice memo app.</p> <p>Navigate to your All Recordings list.</p> <p>Tap the audio file you want to speed up or slow down.</p> <p>You’ll see an icon in the bottom left corner that looks like a synthesizer, or three lines with buttons. Tap the icon.</p> <p>Under Playback Speed, move the horizontal slider to the left (toward the tortoise icon) to slow down the playback speed of your recording. Move it to the right (toward the hare) to speed up your recording.</p> <p>Tap the X at the top right of the box to close the screen.</p> <p>Press play on your recording to test the new speed.</p> <p>If you’re not happy with the way it sounds, return to the Playback Speed function and select the blue Reset option.</p> <p>When you’re happy with the recording, tap the X to close the screen again.</p> <p><strong>Automatically skip silences in a recording</strong></p> <p>Unlike in real life, it’s really easy to remove awkward silences from recordings in your Voice Memos app.</p> <p>Tap the audio file you want to edit.</p> <p>Tap the icon in the lower-left corner that looks like a synthesiser (three stacked lines, each with a knob).</p> <p>Toggle on the Skip Silence button.</p> <p>Tap the X icon.</p> <p>Tap the play button to listen to the recording and see if you like the way it sounds.</p> <p><strong>Enhance a recording</strong></p> <p>While writing this article, I was typing in the background. I also coughed quite a few times, which didn’t sound amazing on my recording. If you have street noises or other background sounds on your voice memo or just want to create a more professional recording, you can easily enhance it, just as I did.</p> <p>Tap the audio file you want to edit.</p> <p>Tap the icon in the lower-left corner that looks like a synthesiser (three stacked lines, each with a knob).</p> <p>Toggle on the Enhance Recording button.</p> <p>Tap the X icon.</p> <p>Tap the play button to listen to the recording and see if you like the way it sounds.</p> <p><strong>Duplicate a recording</strong></p> <p>Before you edit any recording, you probably should make a backup. That way, if you end up hating your edits, you always have a fresh copy of the original. It’s also helpful if you want to compare the original with the edits.</p> <p>Go to your All Recordings list.</p> <p>Tap the recording you want to duplicate.</p> <p>Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots inside a circle.</p> <p>Select Duplicate from the list.</p> <p>The copy of your recording will appear directly below the original with the word “copy” added to the file name. Tap the file to change the file name.</p> <p><strong>Copy a recording</strong></p> <p>I like to keep copies of all my important files in several places. If a file becomes corrupted, I can head to my backup and work from there. Here’s how to copy a recording in your iPhone Voice Memos app.</p> <p>Go to your All Recordings list.</p> <p>Tap the recording you want to copy.</p> <p>Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots in a circle.</p> <p>Select Copy from the list.</p> <p>From there, you can paste the voice memo into an email or text to send to yourself (or someone else) as a backup.</p> <p><strong>Share a recording</strong></p> <p>There are many reasons why you might want to share your recording. Maybe your colleagues want a copy of that daylong meeting you recorded or you’re sending your audio notes to someone for transcription. The Voice Memos app makes sharing your file super simple; just follow the steps below.</p> <p>Navigate to your All Recordings list.</p> <p>Tap the file you want to share.</p> <p>Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots in a circle.</p> <p>Select Share from the options below.</p> <p>Select how you’d like to share this file, such as via email, text, or AirDrop.</p> <p><strong>Record a phone call</strong></p> <p>Maybe you’re speaking with a lawyer and want to catch every last detail. Or maybe you’re interviewing someone. Whatever your reason, it’s helpful to know how to record a phone conversation. Apple doesn’t make that easy – you can’t record a call in Voice Memos while you’re on your phone. But there’s a workaround: Use two devices.</p> <p>Open the Voice Memos app on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac computer.</p> <p>Start recording by tapping the red record button.</p> <p>Make your phone call from a different phone. Be sure to place the call on speaker so Voice Memos captures both sides of the conversation.</p> <p>When your call is over, hang up the phone and stop recording.</p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-cf7fa5ea-7fff-554b-232e-079b0ae53d8c">Written by Rachel Weingarten. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/18-hidden-voice-memos-features-you-never-knew-about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></span></em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Little known iPhone feature saved this man’s life

<p dir="ltr">A New Zealand man has shared how a feature on his iPhone saved his life after he fell through a five-metre crevasse while snowboarding alone.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tim Blakey fell down the hole while snowboarding in Switzerland, with nobody seeing him disappear.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taking to Instagram to share his story, Mr Blakey said he would never snowboard alone again after the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No matter how experienced you think you are, it is no joke,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was lured into a false sense of security which also led me to be very blasé about researching the areas I snowboard.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2b1f14f7-7fff-80c1-743f-55f70e65c86f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Though his iPhone had just three percent of its battery left and he had very little reception, Mr Blakey was able to signal for help using a feature found on recent models.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcBT6ApIr1O/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcBT6ApIr1O/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tim Blakey (@mrtimblakey)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">By clicking the side button five times, Mr Blakey was able to activate the phone’s emergency function which makes an emergency call, alerts the owner’s emergency contacts, and sends them the location of the phone and its user.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It very likely saved my life,” Mr Blakey said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Eight out of ten people I tell this story to aren’t aware it exists.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The emergency alert resulted in Mr Blakey being tracked down and taken to safety by Swiss Rescue.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The alternative to this has been keeping me up at night to say the least,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e3b37e4e-7fff-978f-7baa-e959d3082723"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“To walk/hobble away from this relatively unharmed &amp; make my flight back to London that evening is quite the headf***.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbmrP3CIDQY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbmrP3CIDQY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tim Blakey (@mrtimblakey)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">He later shared a photo of himself with one of his rescuers and of the crevasse he was trapped in, along with a message of gratitude and caution for others to not make the same mistake he did.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Michael and his team quite literally saved my life. I am still clueless as to how I will ever repay him and Swiss Rescue services,” Mr Blakey wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But I assure you I am working on it. Perhaps the first step is bringing awareness to the amazing job these guys do on the mountain and awareness to others to not be as careless as I was.</p> <p dir="ltr">“17 years snowboarding, and the majority of those times spending a lot of time solo and off-piste. Never solo again.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c18911a9-7fff-ad80-8210-b580da38b386"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @mrtimblakey (Instagram)</em></p>

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Ex-Apple employee shares mind-blowing iPhone hacks

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A former employee at Apple has posted a series of videos sharing handy hints that iPhone users never knew they needed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Canadian tech expert Sabrina Badin knows a thing or two about Apple devices after her time working for the tech giant, and is now emparting her wisdom. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sharing the videos on TikTok under the username @sabbadz, she has garnered thousands of views with hacks she learned from her time as an Apple Genius. </span></p> <p><strong>Move multiple apps at once on the Home Screen</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s an easy way to move multiple apps at once rather than dragging them one at a time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To move one app, hold the icon down until it starts to juggle. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can then move it to another location on the same page or somewhere else on your phone. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not many people know that you can move apps at once, as Sabrina has demonstrated in a video.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, you tap and hold one app you want to move, and then tap around the other apps you want to move with it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can then move them across your Home Screen as a group, and then letting go will drop them in a line into the empty area of your choosing.</span></p> <p><strong>Play music while recording</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s an easy way to jazz up your videos with a fun soundtrack. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Simply play music through your iPhone speakers with your preferred music app, whether it’s Spotify or Apple Music. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While your tune is still playing, open up the camera app, but make sure your camera is set to photo mode and not video.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then, tap and hold the shutter button and drag it to the right. Your iPhone will begin recording a video while your music continues to play in the background. </span></p> <p><strong>iMessage tricks</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In order to send weird animations to your mates, all you need is a secret codeword for each effect to activate. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For instance, sending the words “pew pew” will trigger a laser effect, while the words “happy birthday” will make balloons float from the bottom of your friends’ screen. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When January rolls around, sending the words “happy new year” will trigger fireworks to burst across the message. </span></p> <p><strong>Scan real-world text in seconds</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your iPhone is loaded with a handy tool that will allow you to load the content of a menu or newspaper on your iPhone instantly. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tech, caled “Live Text”, allows you to point your iPhone camera at a real world object and quickly copy and paste text on it onto your handset. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grab an object with text you want to scan and open the Camera app on your iPhone. Point the camera at the object and then tap the indicator that appears in the lower right of your display. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It looks like lines of text surrounded by a box. When you tap it, the text jumps out on your display and you’re given the option to copy, select, look up, translate or share it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can then copy and paste this information into an email or Note, as well as any messaging social media apps. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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The most useful iPhone and iPad keyboard shortcuts

<p>It’s time to give your tired thumbs a break.</p> <p>With keyboard shortcuts on iPhones and iPads, you can save time when typing messages to your family, friends and colleagues.</p> <p>Changing your keyboard’s settings is simple and quick, even for the least tech-savvy users.</p> <p>Here’s how to set up and customise text shortcuts on your iPhone and iPad keyboards – and the handiest shortcuts to try.</p> <p><strong>What are keyboard shortcuts?</strong></p> <p><span>Keyboard shortcuts are text replacement tools for the busy iPhone or iPad owner. </span></p> <p><span>Similar to how autocorrect works for spelling, a shortcut automatically replaces any brief abbreviation with a longer word or phrase as you type. </span></p> <p><span>Just customise your shortcuts in the Settings app to start using them. </span></p> <p><span>Not only does this feature speed up your texting time, but it can also save you from accidental or embarrassing typos.</span></p> <p><strong>How to create keyboard shortcuts </strong></p> <p><span>To make a new shortcut, launch the Settings app  – &gt; General  – &gt; Keyboard  – &gt; Text Replacement and choose the “+” symbol in the top right corner. </span></p> <p><span>Enter the abbreviation you’d like to use in the “Shortcut” field, and then type in the entire phrase you want it to be replaced with in the “Phrase” field. </span></p> <p><span>Tap “Save” at the top right once you’re done. </span></p> <p><span>N</span><span>ow when you type that abbreviation and tap the space bar, it will be replaced with the phrase you saved in the settings. </span></p> <p><span>Pro tip: To stop your phone from autocorrecting certain words by mistake (“lick” instead of “luck,” for example), fill in the “Phrase” field with the word and leave the “Shortcut” field blank. These 40 iPhone tricks will make your life easier, too.</span></p> <p><strong>How to edit and customise keyboard shortcuts</strong></p> <p><span>If you find yourself typing a shortcut by accident or one of your shortcuts has a typo, there’s an easy fix. </span></p> <p><span>Edit and customise any shortcut by going to the Settings app  – &gt; General  – &gt; Keyboard  – &gt; Text Replacement. Select the shortcut you want to edit, type in the new phrase, and hit “Save.”</span></p> <p><strong>How to delete keyboard shortcuts</strong></p> <p><span>No longer using a keyboard shortcut? You can get rid of it with a swipe of your finger. </span></p> <p><span>In the Settings app, hit General  – &gt; Keyboard  – &gt; Text Replacement, and swipe left on the shortcut you want to delete. </span></p> <p><span>Then tap on the “Delete” button to make the shortcut disappear. </span></p> <p><span>This trick is also good to know if pranksters ever get a hold of your phone and secretly change your shortcuts.</span></p> <p><strong>Most useful iPad and iPhone keyboard shortcuts </strong></p> <p>Thanks to text shortcuts for iPhones, you can communicate fast while out and about.</p> <p>If you are constantly running late, try the shortcut “OMW” to say “On my way,” or “FMIN” to say “I’ll be there in five minutes.”</p> <p>Personal information that you often share, like your email address, phone number, and home address, can be programmed to appear when you type EML, PHN, or ADDR, respectively.</p> <p>You can also create your own abbreviations for names or places that you frequently type or text, such as a favourite restaurant or your child’s school. Consider adding any words you often misspell or mistype, like “should” rather than “shoukd,” as well.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/the-most-useful-iphone-and-ipad-keyboard-shortcuts" target="_blank">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

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How to stay on top of your online subscription spending

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Between online video streaming, sports, delivery services, music platforms, e-books and fitness apps, it's easy to lose track of what digital subscriptions you’re paying for.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With our digital landscape pulling our attention in so many different directions, most of which need paying for, it’s not hard for our money to just disappear. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While most services can be less than $20 per month, those costs quickly add up when you rely on multiple platforms for your entertainment. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research has shown that lots of Aussies are facing the same issues, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">with subscription services forecast to rise by more than 58 per cent between 2020 and 2024.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi said Aussies were quick to embrace digital entertainment, and the pandemic has seen this trend continue to grow. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said, “It’s not just video — it’s going to be gaming too. In the past, people would go to a restaurant or the cinema. When they’re locked up or their movements are limited, casual gaming is a huge attraction.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed by an influx of various subscription payments, there are ways to help you keep tabs on your spending. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Apple will let you check ongoing subscriptions in the menu of an iPhone or iPad under your iCloud account, for example, and you can cancel and view items from there.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Subscriptions ordered through Google can be managed in the settings of your Android phone or in a dedicated menu at play.google.com.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are also budgeting apps such as TrackMySubs.com where you can sign up for reminders on when your subscriptions need to be renewed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even though they’re a recurring expense, Mr Fadaghi said some subscriptions may be worth it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It comes down to the utility of those subscriptions,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If people are using them regularly, it can make good financial sense.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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Mum shares “life-saving” iPhone feature

<p>A woman has taken to Facebook to share a simple iPhone feature that could save lives.</p> <p>The mother based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland said she was shopping at a local Kmart when a woman became unresponsive and was in dire need of medical attention.</p> <p>“I was looking through her purse and then when I found her phone, it’s locked and needs the pin number she was unresponsive so we could not access the contacts,” she wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>While searching through the woman’s phone in the hope to find out more information, she remembered a feature she could access without needing the pin code or face time to unlock.</p> <p>“Lucky she was ok but if I could of called her nearest and dearest we could of been told of any possible illnesses and maybe they have an epipen or something,” the woman added.</p> <p>She was referencing Apple’s emergency contact feature which is on every iPhone, even if the handset is locked.</p> <p>“In your settings add a medical ID, it will have all medical knowledge and emergency contact numbers that an ambulance or member of the public can use without unlocking your phone,” the woman explained.</p> <p>The emergency contact features is available for all iPhone users to nominate an emergency contact phone number as well as list any allergies or medical requirements that can be identified without having to unlock the device or risk any other private information being shared.</p> <p>To make an emergency call the Apple website instructs users to go to the lock screen and then tap the red “emergency” button.</p> <p>The person can then call the emergency number the iPhone user has nominated.</p> <p>Medical information such as allergies and conditions can be listed in this screen as well,</p> <p>“If someone needs help and is unresponsive, you can check their iPhone for Medical ID. </p> <p>“Medical ID provides information about a person that may be important in an emergency, like allergies, medical conditions and who to contact,” the Apple website states.</p>

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“Hey Siri, I’m getting pulled over”: The iPhone shortcut that lets you record police encounters

<p>Amid worldwide protests against police brutality, an iPhone shortcut that allows people to record their encounters with authorities has gained traction.</p> <p>The shortcut, which must first be <a href="https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/cc95be30b285469ea22b7cff11ce0737">installed on the device</a>, is activated by saying: “Hey Siri, I’m getting pulled over”. It will then pause any music, dim the brightness of the phone, turn on the Do Not Disturb mode, open the device’s front camera to start a video recording, and send your location in a message to a predesignated contact.</p> <p>Once the recording stops, it will send a copy of the video to the predesignated contact and give you the option to upload the clip to iCloud Drive or Dropbox.</p> <p>The “I’m getting pulled over” shortcut was created by Robert Petersen in 2018.</p> <p>Petersen said the feature could be “a very huge help” for those experiencing “improper police interaction”.</p> <p>“I just wanted a way for anyone to have proof of their version of events in the unlikely scenario that something unexpected happens during a police interaction,” he told <em><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apple-siri-shortcut-ios12-lets-you-secretly-record-interactions-with-police/">CBS News</a> </em>in October 2018.</p> <p>“And if one in 10,000 people find my shortcut useful at all I’d be glad.”</p> <p>Petersen recommended <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/shortcuts/comments/9huqiw/getting_pulled_over_by_police/">putting the phone on a dashboard mount</a> when using the function.</p> <p>The feature has been brought back into the spotlight on social media amid protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.</p> <p>Taking pictures or videos of police carrying out duties in any public place is legal in <a href="https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/12/is-it-legal-to-film-police-officers-in-australia/">Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/109993747/police-apologise-after-officer-threatens-to-ticket-filming-teenager#:~:text=Filming%20police%20carrying%20out%20duties,complaint%20was%20passed%20to%20police.">New Zealand</a>.</p> <p>Here’s how to install the shortcut on your iPhone device:</p> <ol> <li>Download the Shortcuts app.</li> <li>Open <a href="https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/cc95be30b285469ea22b7cff11ce0737">this link</a> in the Safari web browser.</li> <li>Once it opens, scroll down and select “Add Untrusted Shortcut”.</li> <li>Select a contact whom you would like to send your location and video recording to.</li> </ol>

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7 hidden iPhone hacks you never knew about

<p>It can be really frustrating when it seems to take forever to write a text message, not to mention finding there’s no available space for that quick snap you want to take. Luckily, there are lots of little tricks and tips to make things that littler bit quicker.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/17-hidden-iphone-hacks-you-never-knew-about"><strong>1. Get a faster charge</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/17-hidden-iphone-hacks-you-never-knew-about"> <p>Few things are worse than watching your phone charge at a glacial pace – especially when you’re short for time. For a faster way to top up, turn on Airplane Mode. Doing so will temporarily pause your phone’s background noise (such as random notifications and GPS roaming), which tend to drain the battery as it charges. While the extra juice won’t be much, a little can go a long way.</p> <p><strong>2. Set a timer for your music</strong></p> <p>Long gone are the days when you nodded off to your favourite snoozing tunes, only to wake up at 3am with the music still blaring. Believe it or not, your phone’s timer can turn off the music whenever you want. Go to Clock &gt; Timer &gt; When Timer Ends, tap the ‘Stop Playing’ option, and select the amount of time you want the music to play. Your phone will automatically turn off the tunes (on both Apple Music and Spotify) when the timer runs out.</p> <p><strong>3. Take a hands-free photo</strong></p> <p>You don’t need two empty hands to snap a photo on your phone. Just plug in a pair of compatible headphones and hit the volume button, and your iPhone will capture the moment.</p> <p><strong>4. Shave seconds off your typing time</strong></p> <p>If you still shift back and forth between keyboards to type numbers and symbols, you’re wasting your time. All you need to do is hold your finger down on the ‘123’ button, drag it over the number or symbol you want, and then let go. Voilà! No screen-switching necessary.</p> <p><strong>5. Make the screen smaller</strong></p> <p>If you’re a one-hand texter, you probably know the struggle of stretching your thumb across the phone’s wide screen. Try moving the keyboard closer to your left or right palm by holding on the Globe icon and selecting one of the keyboards that are positioned to either side. You can also get to this by going Settings &gt; General &gt; Keyboard &gt; One-Handed Keyboard. Or, tap (not press) on the home button twice to shift the entire top of the iPhone screen down. Both tricks will make the entire screen much more accessible for the average-sized hand.</p> <p><strong>6. Press one button to make a call</strong></p> <div id="page15" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>Don’t waste time digging around your contacts for the last person you chatted with on the phone. Simply tap the green call button, and your phone will redial the last number you called.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/17-hidden-iphone-hacks-you-never-knew-about"><strong>7. Get more storage space</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/17-hidden-iphone-hacks-you-never-knew-about"> <div id="page17" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>Storage space is a hot commodity for the average iPhone user. To make the most of yours, hold down the ‘Power’ button, wait until you see the option to slide and power off your phone, and then hold down the ‘Home’ button. Doing so will clean out your phone’s RAM, which reduces the amount of space your apps might be taking up.</p> <p><em>Source: <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.rd.com/culture/iphone-hacks/" target="_blank">RD.com</a></em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p><em>Written by Brooke Nelson. This article first appeared in </em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/17-hidden-iphone-hacks-you-never-knew-about"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></p> </div>

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Apple could be forced to change charger cables for iPhone AGAIN

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Apple could be forced to change the iPhone cable again under new rules that will be enforced in Europe.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tech giant might have to switch to USB-C cables and ditch the well-known Lightning connector in Europe.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The company would only have to use this charger in EU countries but would likely do the same globally.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The EU is set to vote on the matter “at a future session”, but no date has been confirmed as of yet, according to </span><em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/10737203/apple-iphone-charging-cable-usb-c-lightning-forced-eu/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Sun</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></a></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The switch would force Apple users to buy a new lead if they upgrade their phone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The new cable would be Apple’s third in 13 years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The EU has previously called for common chargers on phones, but now wants to enforce the ruling.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To reduce electronic waste and make consumers’ lives easier, MEPs want binding measures for chargers to fit all mobile phones and other portable devices,” the EU explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A common charger should fit all mobile phones, tablets, e-book readers and other portable devices, MEPs will insist.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“According to estimates, old chargers generate more than 51,000 tonnes of electronic waste per year.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Apple has previously spoken out against proposals to force common chargers across the industry.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Regulations that would drive conformity across the type of connector built into all smartphones freeze innovation rather than encourage it,” Apple’s Claire Darmon told the EU in 2019.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Such proposals are bad for the environment and unnecessarily disruptive for customers.”</span></p>

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How to take the best travel photos with your iPhone

<p>Most people think you have to have a professional-grade camera or have a certain knack for photography to capture photos worth sharing. But, now-a-days, the camera on your iPhone is advanced enough to deliver high quality photos…as long as you remember these tips and tricks:</p> <p>In order to get the most out of your iPhone on your next adventure, make sure to clear-up some storage on your phone before you leave home. This can be done by connecting your iPhone to a computer and offloading photos and videos from your phone to your computer. This can also be done by deleting unnecessary applications from your iPhone or deleting accidental photos or irrelevant videos.</p> <p>First things first, ensure your phone has full (or close to full) charge on the battery. You will find that more so than simply making calls or checking texts, taking photographs and videos will use up battery life fast. If your iPhone is already quick to lose battery charge, consider investing in a small portable external battery. These are powerful batteries that you charge in addition to your iPhone at home base and bring with you during your outings.</p> <p>Next, take some time to get familiar with iPhone camera settings and options.</p> <p>1. Traveling alone or don’t trust a partner/stranger to take a good photo? Switch the camera to selfie-mode simply by tapping the switch camera icon in the corner of your iPhone camera screen.</p> <p>2. HDR: When the HDR is turned on, your iPhone will take 2 photos in rapid succession; one photo will be a low-light photo, and the other a high-light photo.</p> <p>The two photos are combined automatically and produce amazingly well-lit and vibrant photos.</p> <p><strong>TIPS FOR TRYING:</strong> use the HDR setting when taking a photo where there is not much movement going on in the frame. Test HDR out during a sunrise or sunset where the light is especially amazing!</p> <p>3. In iPhone settings, you can switch-on the photo grid. After you have switched it on, you will see a grid superimposed on the camera screen that will divide the photo into 9 small squares.</p> <p>The lines are there to help you to take photos that are beautifully composed (meaning objects are centered and horizons are flat). The grid doesn’t show-up in the final photograph, it is only a guide when taking photos.</p> <p>4. Try taking a burst of photos. iPhone allows you to take photos in immediate succession simply by holding down the circular take photo button on the iPhone screen.</p> <p>The number of photos captured is a direct result of how long you hold-down the take photo button (a word to the wise: photos are taken at very high speed rates, so if you hold the button down for more than a few seconds, you might end up with 10-20+ photos!).</p> <p>When you take a burst of photos, not all of the photos show up in your camera roll; only what the iPhone determines is the best, least-blurry version, will be shown. However, the beauty of burst photos is that you can pick the best of many.</p> <p>In order to look through each of the many photos taken in that burst, open the photo iPhone displayed in your camera roll, and click ‘select’.</p> <p>Here you will be able to scroll through all of the photos in the burst and select the one or more photos you wish to keep.</p> <p><strong>TIPS FOR TRYING:</strong> use the burst method when taking group photos– with so many pictures taken in a second, the is bound to be a photo where everyone’s eyes are open! Also, take a burst of photos when trying to capture something in action; this feature can be used instead of video.</p> <p>5. On newer iPhones, you can use the self-timer setting. This will direct the camera to count down from 1s, 5s, or 10s before taking a photo.</p> <p>A helpful numeric countdown flashes on the screen to inform you how much time you have to get in position before the photo is taken. Also, the flash flashes every second during the countdown and then flashes rapidly right before it takes the photo– this is to let you know when the photo going to be taken if you can’t see the iPhone screen countdown.</p> <p>To make things even better, the camera not only takes one photo, but automatically takes a 10-photo burst when the countdown is up so that you can select the best one!</p> <p>6. Last but not least, one of the best little known tricks for capturing photos on your iPhone is this: when the camera app is open on your screen, the increase-volume button on the side of your phone, when pushed, acts as secondary take photo button!</p> <p>Like with the circular take photo button on the screen, you can take a burst of photos by holding down the volume-up button!</p> <p><strong>TIPS FOR TRYING:</strong> Sometimes, while in selfie-mode it is hard to hold the phone and take a good photo of yourself, that’s when you can use the increase-volume button on the side of your iPhone instead!</p> <p><em>Written by Luray Joy. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/how-to-take-enviable-travel-photos-with-your-iphone/">MyDiscoveries.</a> </em></p>

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iPhone 11 pro models reportedly sending data to Apple despite permissions being turned off

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs has alerted the public about a worrisome location tracking feature on Apple’s latest iPhone 11 Pro.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He revealed on his website </span><a href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2019/12/the-iphone-11-pros-location-data-puzzler/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">KrebsOnSecurity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that even if you turn off your location services on the latest iPhone, the phone intermittently tracks your location and sends the data to Apple anyway. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Location Services Privacy policy reads:</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Location services allows Apple and third-party apps and websites to gather and use information based on the current location of your iPhone. If Location Services is on, your iPhone will periodically send the geo-tagged locations of nearby Wi-Fi hotspots and cell towers (where supported by a device) in an anonymous and encrypted form to Apple to be used for augmenting this crowdsourced database of Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower locations.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, in the video below, you can see the purple arrows which mean that location services are still being used despite the services being turned off.</span></p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/37_3hd_SK24"></iframe></div> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Krebs notified Apple and said that an engineer got back to him, saying that they “do not see any actual security implications”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We do not see any actual security implications,” an Apple engineer wrote to Mr Krebs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is expected behaviour that the Location Services icon appears in the status bar when Location Services is enabled. The icon appears for system services that do not have a switch in Settings.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Krebs tried to replicate the tracking issue on an earlier iPhone 8 but was unable to, which points to a possible issue with the iPhone 11 Pro devices themselves instead of the software.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Apple later disclosed to Krebs that the behaviour is tied to the inclusion of a new short-range technology that lets iPhone 11 users share files locally with other nearby users that support this feature. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Apple also said that a future version of its mobile operating system will allow users to disable it.</span></p>

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Big 5G problem haunting the iPhone 11 launch

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As tech giant Apple unveiled three new iPhone models that promised faster performance, increased battery life and new camera technology, industry experts are warning consumers that the product is missing a key component.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That component is known as 5G.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The next generation mobile network has already been rolled out in Australian capital cities and it’s expected in other parts of the country in the next couple of years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The lack of 5G is disappointing, according to Finders money expert Angus Kidman, as there’s a considerable price tag on the new iPhone 11 models.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People always want their phone to be faster because we’ve rapidly gone from just making calls to watching video,” Mr Kidman told </span><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/technology/iphone-11-launch-big-5g-problem-plaguing-the-new-apple-phone/news-story/49a0a31684d5833733c24d8e598ff948"><span style="font-weight: 400;">news.com.au</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We want high speed connection and I think there’s an expectation that if you’re going to pay $1900 for a phone then you should get premium service from it and, in network terms, that’s not going to be the case.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Past research has shown that Aussies tend to upgrade their phones once their two-year phone contract is up, but research from Finder shows that consumers are now holding onto their devices for more than three years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’d be saying to anyone buying a new phone now make sure you get something that’s 5G capable because it’s going to give you better functionality for longer,” Mr Kidman said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Samsung was probably the first major brand to come out with 5G, there are some LG models out there as well.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“At the moment, very few people have a 5G phone but the expectation is that the next premium device you buy, you’d want 5G built into it.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">EFTM tech commentator Trevor Long has said that Apple have avoided 5G for a reason, which is simply that 5G hasn’t matured enough for the tech giant to consider adding it to their phones.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It feels like that would be something Apple would want to avoid. They don’t want a disappointed customer buying a phone with a feature they simply can’t use,” Mr Long told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">news.com.au</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It needs to mature more; we need to wait another year before 5G is getting a little better and that’s when it would make sense to have a 5G phone.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Photo credits: Picture: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP</span></em></p>

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Apple's major announcement: The changes coming to your iPhone, iPad and MacBooks

<p>Major changes are coming to iPhones, iPads and MacBooks, the company revealed at its annual conference.</p> <p>Apple announced a range of new changes and updates to its devices at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in California on Monday.</p> <p>As part of its new iOS 13 software, Apple is introducing new features on iPhone, including a Dark Mode, as well as new ways to edit photos, use the virtual assistant Siri, sign in to apps and websites, and navigate the world with a new map.</p> <p>With the new “Sign in with Apple” feature, users can sign into apps and websites without sharing their email address. It also allows users to show their location to any app just once instead of continually.</p> <p>Apple Maps is also set to receive a makeover, with more precise addresses and 3D street-level imagery similar to Google Maps. While the new map is currently limited to select cities and states in the US, it is expected to roll out to other countries next year.</p> <p>Voice assistant Siri will also be updated with a new, “more natural” voice and ability to read messages aloud to AirPods.</p> <p>According to the tech giant’s executives, iOS 13 will also open apps faster and include a Face ID system that will let users unlock their phones 30 per cent faster.</p> <p>Other offerings in the new software are the QuickPath keyboard – which makes it possible to type by sliding through the keyboard – and ‘Find My’ app to track missing gadgets and other people’s devices.</p> <p>The iOS 13 software is expected to be released later this year, with observers predicting it to launch with the new iPhones in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/ios-13-features" target="_blank">mid-September</a>.</p> <p>The company also confirmed that it will remove the iTunes service and replace it with three separate apps: Music, TV and Podcasts. </p> <p>"The future of iTunes is not one app, but three,” said senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi. iTunes has been phased out from mobile devices such as iPhone and iPad, and now it is set to be withdrawn from Macs and personal computers.</p> <p>For Apple smart watch users, the App Store will be available to allow apps to download on the wearable device, including independent apps that do not rely on iPhones.</p> <p>Apple also unveiled a new version of its professional desktop computer MacPro, whose design has been likened to a cheese grater. Prices will start at US$6,000 (AU$8,600).</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">New Mac Pro looks like a cheese grater cuz is gonna shred all the funds in ur bank account <br />(🥁bu-dun-ski🥁)<br />...yes I’ll leave now... <a href="https://t.co/Q4Pzv4Xfkl">pic.twitter.com/Q4Pzv4Xfkl</a></p> — Dillon Francis (@DillonFrancis) <a href="https://twitter.com/DillonFrancis/status/1135647605747212288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">Apple serving us GRATEness with their new Mac pro which has1.5 Terabyte 👏👏 <a href="https://t.co/1avn3zsx0X">pic.twitter.com/1avn3zsx0X</a></p> — KACHI❤ (@j_butney) <a href="https://twitter.com/j_butney/status/1135664375040282630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Computer users can also benefit from the new app Sidecar, which allows them to use an iPad as a second display.</p>

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