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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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Screwed over: how Apple and others are making it impossible to get a cheap and easy phone repair

<p>If Apple and other tech companies have their way, it will only become harder to have our phones and other devices repaired by third-party businesses.</p> <p>Smartphones and many other tech devices are increasingly being designed in ways that make it challenging to repair or replace individual components.</p> <p>This might involve soldering the processor and flash memory to the motherboard, gluing components together unnecessarily, or using non-standard <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/14279/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone">pentalobe screws</a> which make replacements problematic.</p> <p>Many submissions to an Australian “right to repair” <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/submissions#initial">inquiry</a> have called on tech manufacturers to provide a fair and competitive market for repairs, and produce products that are easily repairable. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/issues/repair-issues.pdf">right to repair</a> refers to consumers’ ability to have their products repaired at a competitive price. This includes being able to choose a repairer, rather than being forced by default to use the device manufacturer’s services. </p> <p>But it seems Apple doesn’t want its customers to fix their <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/evmeya/apple-iphone-right-to-repair-california">iPhones</a>or <a href="https://www.inputmag.com/culture/apples-repair-policies-are-utterly-shameful-and-shouldnt-be-allowed-e-waste-recycling-macbooks-t2">Macbooks</a> themselves. The company has <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/nz85y7/apple-is-lobbying-against-your-right-to-repair-iphones-new-york-state-records-confirm">lobbied against</a> the right to repair in the United States and has <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/936268845/apple-agrees-to-pay-113-million-to-settle-batterygate-case-over-iphone-slowdowns">been accused of deliberately slowing down</a> iPhones with older batteries.</p> <p><a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/10/16/tech-giants-fight-digital-right-to-repair-bills">Opposition</a> against the right to repair from tech companies is to be expected. Cornering consumers into using their service centres increases their revenue and extends their market domination.</p> <p>In its defence, Apple has said <a href="https://time.com/4828099/farmers-and-apple-fight-over-the-toolbox/">third-party repairers</a> could use lower quality parts and also make devices vulnerable to hackers. </p> <p>It also defended its <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/14/apple-defends-iphone-unauthorized-battery-warning-as-a-safety-feature/">battery warning indication</a> as a “safety” feature, wherein it started to alert users if their phone’s replacement battery hadn’t come from a certified Apple repairer. </p> <p>In the US, Apple’s <a href="https://support.apple.com/irp-program">independent repair provider program</a> grants certain providers access to the parts and resources needed to fix its devices. Independent repair shops in <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/07/apple-expands-iphone-repair-services-to-hundreds-of-new-locations-across-the-us/">32 countries</a> can now apply, but the scheme has yet to extend outside the US.</p> <h2>Impact on users</h2> <p>With the iPhone 12 — the latest iPhone offering — Apple has <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/45921/is-this-the-end-of-the-repairable-iphone">made it even harder</a> for third-party repairers to fix the device, thereby increasing users’ reliance on its own services. </p> <p>Apple has hiked its <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/service/screen-replacement">repair charges</a> for iPhone 12 by more than 40%, compared with the iPhone 11. It is <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/service/screen-replacement">charging</a> more than A$359 to fix an iPhone 12 screen outside of warranty and A$109 to replace the battery. </p> <p>Historically, third-party repairers have been a cheaper option. But using a third-party repairer for an iPhone 12 could render some phone features, such as the camera, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/30/21542242/apple-iphone-12-third-party-repairs-ifixit-camera-module-replacement">almost inoperable</a>.</p> <p>According to reports, fixing the iPhone 12’s camera requires <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/30/iphone-12-camera-repair/">Apple’s proprietary</a> system configuration app, available only to the company’s own authorised technicians. </p> <p>It’s not just Apple, either. <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/samsungs-galaxy-s20-ultra-is-unsurprisingly-difficult-to-repair">Samsung’s</a> flagship phones are also quite tricky for third-party repairers to fix.</p> <h2>Impact on environment</h2> <p>When certain parts for repairs aren’t available, manufacturers will produce new phones instead, consuming <a href="https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/environmental-laboratory/7/breaking-news/how-do-smartphones-affect-the-environment/48339">more energy and resources</a>. In fact, manufacturing one smartphone <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/science/article/pii/S095965261733233X">consumes</a> as much energy as using it for ten years.</p> <p>As smartphones become harder to repair, electronic waste will grow. Apple and Samsung both cited environmental benefits when they announced they would no longer ship <a href="https://theconversation.com/apples-iphone-12-comes-without-a-charger-a-smart-waste-reduction-move-or-clever-cash-grab-148189">chargers</a> with their phones. </p> <p>Yet, they’ve turned a blind eye to the environmental damage that would arise from completely cornering the repair market.</p> <p>The average Australian home has <a href="https://thinktv.com.au/facts-and-stats/australian-homes-are-experiencing-a-screen-explosion/">6.7 devices</a>, including televisions, personal computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. With diminishing opportunities for repair, the environmental burden from disposing of these devices will increase.</p> <h2>What is being done?</h2> <p>Phone giants make it tough for third-party repairers to do their job in a variety of ways. This includes constantly changing designs, adding hurdles to the repair process, and restricting access to parts, diagnostic software and repair documentation. </p> <p>Meanwhile, consumers are left with broken phones and huge repair bills — and repairers are left with less business.</p> <p>The fight to remove barriers to repair is gaining momentum outside Australia, too, in countries including <a href="https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/monitor/when-will-canadians-have-right-repair">Canada</a>, the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/right-to-repair-means-spare-parts-for-household-appliances-mr5gmkjxr">United Kingdom</a> and the <a href="https://www.repair.org/legislation">United States</a>. Legislative reforms have been introduced in the <a href="https://repair.eu/news/european-parliament-calls-for-ambitious-right-to-repair/">European Union</a> and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93wy8v/newly-passed-right-to-repair-law-will-fundamentally-change-tesla-repair">Massachusetts</a>.</p> <p>France has introduced a <a href="https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/indice-reparabilite">Repairability Index</a> requiring electrical and electronic equipment companies to inform consumers about their products’ repairability on a scale of one to ten. </p> <p>This takes into account the ease of repairability, availability and price of spare parts and availability of technical repair documents.</p> <h2>The path moving forward</h2> <p>Until the push for right to repair legislative reform gathers pace globally, consumers will have little choice but to pay up to big companies to access their authorised repair services. </p> <p>If they don’t, they may risk losing their warranty, ending up with a non-functional device and even <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e449c8c3ef68d752f3e70dc/t/5ea8a6d93b485d0feb9b5d6b/1588111098207/Report_RightToRepair_HanleyKellowayVaheesan-1.pdf">infringing</a> upon the manufacturers’ software copyrights.</p> <p>Ideally, phone companies (and others) would assist users with the repair process by providing replacement parts, repair documentation and diagnostic tools to third-party repairers. </p> <p>This would also help <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2020/07/apple-commits-to-be-100-percent-carbon-neutral-for-its-supply-chain-and-products-by-2030/">Apple</a> and <a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/sustainability/environment/">Samsung</a> reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their environmental goals.</p> <p>Although the way things are going, it’s unlikely tech companies will be able to escape their self-inflicted repair obligations. In the past, Apple CEO Jeff Williams has <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/08/apple-offers-customers-even-more-options-for-safe-reliable-repairs/">said, "</a>we believe the safest and most reliable repair is one handled by a trained technician using genuine parts that have been properly engineered and rigorously tested."</p> <p>But with only so much workforce available even to Apple, sharing the load with smaller repairers will help. </p> <p>And for consumers’ benefit, the right to repair legislation must be taken seriously, with consistent repairability scores developed across the globe.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/screwed-over-how-apple-and-others-are-making-it-impossible-to-get-a-cheap-and-easy-phone-repair-156871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Technology

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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>

Technology

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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>

Technology

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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>

Technology

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No screen on your flight? No problem

<p dir="ltr">Surely we’re all familiar with the crushing disappointment of realising your plane seat has no TV screen when it comes to those dreaded long-haul flights. </p> <p dir="ltr">Some travellers use their phone as an awkward substitution for the glorious big screen, however it can be a pain to keep it propped up. One savvy tech expert knows this feeling all too well and has shared her TikTok hack for transforming the back of your seat into your very own entertainment hub.</p> <p dir="ltr">Katarina Mogus, who posts as <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@katamogz?lang=en">@katamogz</a>, shared her own "iPhone travel hack" for when you don't have an included TV screen on the back of the seat.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the video, Mogus takes the case off her iPhone and pulls out the sick bag from the seat pocket, She then proceeds to tuck the bottom of the sick bag between her phone and case, ensuring it is thoroughly wedged in.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the bag is securely fitted inside the phone case, Mogus pulls down the tray table and folds half of the sick bag and secures it behind the tray.</p> <p dir="ltr">Finally, she uses the sliding bolt to keep the sick bag in place.</p> <p dir="ltr"> The result is a hands-free, hanging screen - so you can sit back, relax and watch your favourite television shows or movies without having it hold it up yourself.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d7782e6f-7fff-82a6-bf43-968ae0881bf5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">If the plane doesn't have Wi-Fi, you can pre-download shows or films on any streaming service so you can still enjoy it without using data.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: TikTok</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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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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5 appliances you’re shortening the life of through misuse

<p>Buying electronics and appliances can be a huge investment, and when something goes wrong with them, it can also cause a huge headache. So, of course, you want to keep everything working for as long as possible. While many of us blame the seemingly shorter lifespan of these products on the fact that things just aren’t made like they used to be, that’s not entirely true. It turns out that much of the time, the culprit is us! Read on for the mistakes you probably don’t even realise you’re making, which can cause the early demise of everything from your laptop and your phone to your stove and your toaster.</p> <p><strong>1. Laptop</strong></p> <p>There’s nothing more frustrating than a laptop that goes from on the fritz to suddenly needing to be replaced. It turns out the key to keeping our laptops longer is turning them off at least once a day. This allows the operating system to install software updates and patches so everything can run smoothly and up to snuff. Another mistake that causes the early demise of this essential and expensive device? Failing to install anti-virus and malware programs.</p> <p><strong>2. Smartphone</strong></p> <p>If you feel you need to replace your smartphone way before the newest one comes out, it’s probably because you’re letting it overheat. According to <em>PCMag</em>, a major cause of this is something most of us are guilty of: charging our devices overnight. In fact, your phone is at risk of overheating every time you keep it plugged in with a full battery.</p> <p>And while many of us know it’s best to leave our phone at home when we go to the pool or beach, water damage isn’t the biggest risk. An article from <em>Time</em> reveals that too much heat exposure from the sun can cause lots of problems, including battery leakage and loss of data.</p> <p><strong>3. Vacuum</strong></p> <p>No one wants to empty the dirt cup after vacuuming your entire home or even before you vacuum, but an overfilled unit will not only run less efficiently – it will also ultimately shorten the life of the appliance. While most bagless units have a line indicating it’s time to empty the cup, it’s less obvious for bag machines. A sudden decrease in suction is a good indicator.</p> <p><strong>4. Car</strong></p> <p>A good car doesn’t come cheap, and to get yours to last as long as possible, you can’t skimp on regular maintenance. One biggie: oil changes. If you wait too long to change the oil, you’re asking for trouble. So how often are you really supposed to be doing this? According to Cars.com, it depends on the make and model of your car. Check the owner’s manual. Changing the oil keeps the corrosive material and debris out of your engine, so if you live in a city, it’s best to change the oil even a little sooner than the manufacturer recommends.</p> <p><strong>5. Fridge</strong></p> <p>If you have a big family and you find yourself with a fridge that’s constantly full, it might be time to consider buying a larger one. That’s because overloading it places pressure on the fan blades, causing them to work improperly or even break.</p> <p>Cleaning the fridge is another way you can extend its life. The coils, the internal mechanism and the outside of the fridge need to be cleaned on a regular basis.</p> <p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.rd.com/advice/ways-youre-damaging-home-appliances/">RD.com</a></em></p> <p><em>Written by Amanda Lauren. This article first appeared in </em><em><span><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/home-tips/12-ways-youre-shortening-the-life-of-your-home-appliances">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=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></span></em></p>

Home & Garden

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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>

Travel Tips

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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>

Technology

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How to deal with smartphone stress

<p>In the past decade, smartphones have gone from being a status item to an indispensable part of our everyday lives. And we spend <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/au/mobile-consumer-survey">a lot of time</a> on them, around <a href="https://www.emarketer.com/corporate/coverage/be-prepared-mobile">four hours a day on average</a>.</p> <p>There’s an increasing body of research that shows smartphones can interfere with our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597814000089">sleep</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853217300159">productivity</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032716303196">mental health</a> and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-016-1011-z">impulse control</a>. Even having a <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/691462">smartphone within reach</a> can reduce available cognitive capacity.</p> <p>But it’s recently been suggested we should be more concerned with the potential for smartphones to shorten our lives by chronically <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/well/mind/putting-down-your-phone-may-help-you-live-longer.html">raising our levels of cortisol</a>, one of the body’s main stress hormones.</p> <p><strong>The stress hormone</strong></p> <p>Cortisol is often mislabelled as the primary fight-or-flight hormone that springs us into action when we are facing a threat (it is actually adrenaline that does this). Cortisol is produced when we are under stress, but its role is to keep the body on high alert, by increasing blood sugar levels and <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2004-15935-004">suppressing the immune system</a>.</p> <p>This serves us well when dealing with an immediate physical threat that resolves quickly. But when we’re faced with ongoing emotional stressors (like 24/7 work emails) chronically elevated cortisol levels can lead to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10732263">all sorts of health problems</a> including diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and depression. The long term risks for disease, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-0192">heart attack, stroke</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00043">dementia</a> are also increased, all of which can lead to premature death.</p> <p>While many people say they feel more stressed now than <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-10-13/smartphone-survey-results-show-fascinating-differences-in-usage/9042184">before they had a smartphone</a>, research has yet to determine the role our smartphones play in actually elevating our levels of cortisol throughout the day.</p> <p>A recent study found greater smartphone use was associated with a greater rise in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217306908">cortisol awakening response</a> – the natural spike in cortisol that occurs around 30 minutes after waking to prepare us for the demands of the day.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300024/original/file-20191104-88378-14tmhxu.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300024/original/file-20191104-88378-14tmhxu.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em> <span class="caption">In the past, we couldn’t receive angry emails from our bosses 24/7.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">from www.shutterstock.com</span></span></em></p> <p>Awakening responses that are too high or too low are associated with <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0167876008007940">poor physical and mental health</a>. But smartphone use did not affect participants’ natural pattern of cortisol rises and falls throughout the rest of the day. And no other studies have pointed to a link between smartphone use and chronically elevated cortisol levels.</p> <p>However people still do report feelings of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15213269.2015.1121832">digital stress</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563215300893">information</a> and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ct/article/27/3/269/4651866">communication overload</a>.</p> <p>Checking work emails in the evening or first thing upon waking can lead to the kind of stress that could potentially interfere with natural cortisol rhythms (not to mention <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597814000089">sleep</a>). <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563214007018">Social media can also be stressful</a>, making us feel tethered to our social networks, exposing us to conflict and cyberbullying, and fostering social comparison and <a href="https://clutejournals.com/index.php/JBER/article/view/9554">FoMO</a> (fear of missing out).</p> <p>Despite being aware of these stressors, the dopamine hit we get thanks to social media’s <a href="http://sheu.org.uk/sheux/EH/eh363mdg.pdf">addictive design</a> means there is still a compulsion to check our feeds and notifications whenever we find ourselves with idle time. More than half of under 35s regularly check their smartphone <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-10-13/smartphone-survey-results-show-fascinating-differences-in-usage/9042184">when on the toilet</a>.</p> <p><strong>Some tips</strong></p> <p>Dealing with smartphone-induced stress is not as simple as having periods of going cold turkey. The withdrawals associated with the unofficial condition known as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4036142/">nomophobia</a> (an abbreviation of “no-mobile-phone phobia”) have also been shown to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6143708/">increase cortisol levels</a>.</p> <p>Rather than going on a digital detox, which has been likened to the fad of the <a href="https://qz.com/1229311/digital-detoxing-is-the-tech-equivalent-of-a-juice-cleanse-and-neither-of-them-work/">juice cleanse diet</a>, we should be aiming for <a href="https://www.digitalnutrition.com.au/">digital nutrition</a>. That is, maintaining a healthier relationship with our smartphones where we are more mindful and intentional about what we consume digitally, so we can maximise the benefits and minimise the stress they bring to our lives.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300027/original/file-20191104-88368-9qo4rf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/300027/original/file-20191104-88368-9qo4rf.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em> <span class="caption">Making the bed and kitchen table phone-free zones can help to reduce their effect on our lives.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">from www.shutterstock.com</span></span></em></p> <p>Here are some tips for healthier smartphone use:</p> <ol> <li> <p>Use Apple’s “<a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT208982">Screen Time</a>”, Android’s <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actiondash.playstore&amp;hl=en_AU">ActionDash</a> or the <a href="https://inthemoment.io/">Moment app</a> to take an audit of how often you use your phone and which apps take up most of your time</p> </li> <li> <p>Turn off all but the most important app notifications (such as private messages) so you can take back control of when you look at your phone. You can also allocate certain times of the day to be notification free</p> </li> <li> <p>Turn off the “push” or “fetch new data” option on your smartphone’s email. This way emails will only appear when you open the mail app and refresh it. As an added bonus this will help extend your phone’s battery life</p> </li> <li> <p>Take some time to complete a digital declutter, which includes unfollowing people/pages (there’s an <a href="https://blogs.systweak.com/how-to-mass-unfollow-on-instagram/">app</a> for that!) and unsubscribing from email lists (<a href="https://www.cleanfox.io/en/">that too</a>!) that cause you stress or don’t benefit you. Remember you can unfollow friends on Facebook without defriending them</p> </li> <li> <p>Create tech-free zones in your house, such as the kitchen table or bedrooms. An “out of sight out of mind” approach will help keep smartphone-delivered stress from creeping into your downtime</p> </li> <li> <p>Set a digital curfew to support better restorative sleep and don’t keep your phone next to your bed. Instead of reaching for your phone first thing in the morning, start your day with a brief meditation, some exercise, or a slow breakfast</p> </li> <li> <p>Be mindful and curious about how often you pick up your phone during the day simply out of boredom. Instead of bombarding your mind with information, use these opportunities to clear your mind with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bs0qUB3BHQ">short breathing exercise</a>. There’s even a mindfulness exercise that challenges you to hold your phone while you <a href="https://www.mindful.org/addicted-to-your-phone-try-this-practice-phone-in-hand/">meditate on your relationship with it</a>, so you can reclaim your phone as a cue to check-in with yourself, rather than your emails or social media feed.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/116426/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> </li> </ol> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brad-ridout-730902">Brad Ridout</a>, Research Fellow; Registered Psychologist; Deputy Chair, Cyberpsychology Research Group, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-deal-with-smartphone-stress-116426">original article</a>.</em></p>

Technology

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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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