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If It Weren’t For This Feature, The iPhone Wouldn’t Exist

by GeeksModo Staff

Steve Jobs first announced the original iPhone at the Macworld convention in January 2007, the rest as they say, is history.
He famously said at the Keynote;
“We wanna reinvent the phone.
So, what’s the killer app?
The killer app is making calls!”
However, there was a very certain irony to the fact that this one feature (calling) that every phone prior to the iPhone had managed quite easily almost lead to the downfall of this revolutionary product. It wasn’t the phones ability to make calls that was the issue, more it was the fact that because of the new and revolutionary ‘all glass’ touchscreen design of the iPhone, this presented an issue that had not previously existed… how to stop a customer’s cheek from inadvertently activating the touchscreen, and potentially even ending a call.
Most phones before the iPhone featured a small (none touch) screen at the top and a plastic keyboard at the bottom (Jobs was known to not be a fan of this design and this inspired him in the design of the iPhone).
Just months before the iPhone was due to go on sale to the general public the iPhone was fraught with problems that ranged from buggy software, faulty antennas and a battery that couldn’t hold charge — these problems could all be addressed, but it was said that the issue of a customer’s cheek ending phone calls that could be the real deal breaker.
The iPhone was well into development stage before the
proximity sensor
was conceptualised but it was nowhere near ready for release, all the other bugs could be (relatively) easy resolved, but there was still no solution to the problem, a problem, if not fixed, would have caused a delay, or even cancellation of the iPhone!

How does the proximity sensor work on iPhone

The proximity sensor in the original iPhone works in fundamentally the same way that all modern iPhones do; they detect when the phone is lifted to your ear and turns off the display, and the other way around when done with a call. It works via the emission of infrared radiation — if the radiation hits an object (i.e. your cheek) and bounces back, it is detected by a receiver. There is however more to it than that — if the small burst of radiation reflects off an object nearby then it will be more intense than an object much further away. It was therefore necessary that the sensitivity be set just right in order ensure it worked correctly.
It was a tricky issue to fix as there were so many variables: skin colour, hair length and hair colour and it had to work faultlessly for them all. The reflection of radiation is influenced by the colour and appearance of the surface — light, shiny surfaces bounce back far more light than darker colours, which absorb light. Shiny objects on clothing for instance could cause the proximity sensor to inadvertently turn off the display, even when a user wasn’t on a call.
As the iPhone’s release deadline drew nearer, Apple engineers had to work day and night to find a solution, it was even said that an Apple engineer with ‘extremely dark hair’ was asked to donate some of his hair so that it could be put into a device to test and calibrate the sensor to ensure that it worked as expected.
None the less, the Apple engineers and design team worked around the clock and got the iPhone Proximity Sensor to work and function in much the same way that it does now — the display goes off when at your ear and comes back on when you’re done with your call.
The iPhone proximity sensor was such a huge feature at the time, it was listed as a major feature on the product page on Apple’s website.
The technology has stuck ever since, it was of course not without a few issues, most notably the iPhone 4 received numerous reports and criticism that its proximity sensor didn’t function.
None the less the technology has lived on ever since, were it not for the engineers at Apple coming up with a solution to a newly made problem, then the iPhone may never have been.

Tag: iOS
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Top 4 Amazing Piano Apps

by GeeksModo Staff

Learning how to play the piano can be a very difficult task. You’ll need to learn the correct hand placements and figure out what order to play the notes is. While you could pay for piano tutorials, there is a more modern solution to this problem. You could use a smartphone app. This is often one of the most enjoyable and convenient ways to improve your piano skills. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best apps available for you to try.
Piano

Perfect Piano

One of the keys to learning how to play the piano is practicing as often as possible. However, it’s usually not practical to carry around a full-sized piano with you. Because of this, you might want to download the Perfect Piano app. This will allow you to simulate the experience of playing the piano on your iPhone.
This app comes with several features that make it a great piano simulation option. First, you can touch the screen at multiple places
when playing. This will help you replicate the experience of playing multiple keys at once. It will also let you adjust the keyboard to better suit your smart device. This will make it easier for you to judge where the keys will be. Finally, you can also have a lot of fun with this app, with multiple built-in sound effects. For example, you’ll be able to use a grand piano or pipe organ.

Note Rush

Another excellent app to use while learning how to play the piano is note rush. In this case, it will use your iPhone’s microphone to determine which note you’ve just played. When it does this, it’ll match it up with the note shown on the note on the screen. This is one of the best ways for you to improve your note reading ability while having fun. The more often you do this, the easier it will be for you to understand sheet music.
There are a few other features available on this app. First, it will be able to detect which octave you’re using, making sure that you’re using the right one. It’s also been designed to wait for as long as it takes for you to find and play the right note. This will stop you from getting lost when playing. There are also different themes, and you can design your own levels. This will ensure that you are always able to test yourself and improve your skills.

Flowkey

If you’re learning how to play the piano, you can’t overlook the Flowkey app. This is designed to be as user friendly as possible. First, it will help you assess your current level of proficiency. Then, the app will recommend lessons, based on your skill levels. This app is suitable for both complete beginners and those who have a few more hours of experience.
Each of these lessons has been designed to be as easy to follow as possible, stepping you through everything you need to know. Also, when you are learning a new song, you can replay difficult sections, until you’ve mastered them. As you grow your skill level, you’ll also start to learn a little more about the theory behind the music that you’re learning. This will help you develop your overall understanding of the piano.

Musicnotes Sheet Music Player

Finally, you might want to consider downloading the Musicnotes Sheet Music Player. When you are playing the piano, you need to make sure that you have plenty of sheet music. This app gives you access to over 300,000 pieces of sheet music, from your favorite artists. It also has features that let you organize your songs into lists, which can help professional musicians create an exciting set.
There is a range of other useful features that you might want to explore. For example, you might be able to change the tempo of your songs, making it easy to put your spin on the material. It also comes with a pen function, so you can make notes as you’re playing, making it easier for you to create engaging arrangements. Finally, if you’re learning piano, you’ll be able to get a simpler version of the sheet music.

Conclusion

Apps can play a big role in helping you learn how to play the piano. Thanks to technology, you’ll now be able to practice your skills anywhere in the world. However, nothing compares to sitting down at a real set of keys. When you do this, you’ll really be able to start putting your skills to test, making music for real.
So, find a keyboard and put the skills you’ve learned from piano playing apps into practice.

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I Ditched the Mac for the iPad – Here’s how it Went

by GeeksModo Staff

I bought the 2020 iPad pro and sold it in one week.
Try to not repeat my mistake.
The thought of having a new iPad has been toying with my mind for a while since I gave my old iPad to my mom in 2016. I used to have the old iPad and the oldie classic MacBook air. Each one of them had a separate function back in the day; I used the iPad for listening to music and watch movies while the Macbook air mainly for my job. It was easy to switch between them given that each of them was made for a specific purpose.

Fast forward, Apple released the 2020 iPad pro and I knew I would find a way to convince myself to fork a $1000 to buy one.
A little about me, I am a full-time doctor. What I can consider as productivity in my field is mainly writing and reviewing medical articles, finishing presentations for different meetings and working on multiple excel spreadsheets. And aside from the casual internet browsing, that is basically it. I currently own a 2019
MacBook pro
which has been serving me well. I opted for the 12.9-inch
iPad Pro
and once I opened it — like a 13 year old kid looking at his new toy — the first thing that enthralled me as you can probably guess was the display. The colour reproduction on the iPad was nowhere near my MacBook pro. Don’t get me wrong the MacBook display is great, but something about the iPad screen just made the colours pop.

After setting it up in the first day, I woke up the next morning, got ready for work and decided to take the iPad with me. On my first afternoon staff meeting I took the iPad out and started taking notes, and thats when I felt I was missing something, yup! A keyboard. Don’t get me wrong, I am not new to touch screens but typing on the 12.9 screen made the experience a bit… awkward — If that is the term, but I decided to ignore that feeling for now.
Things started to take a different direction at that point.
With the iPad learning curve, it did not take me a lot really to master the task switching and multitasking interface — something which I acclaim Apple on. I mainly use Spark for my emails instead of the built-in Mail app and that went on just fine. The new support for the file system made attaching documents and working through my OneDrive cloud space super doable — again with a bit of learning curve. I was quite astounded that the new Office app is not supported on the iPad, but the separate Microsoft Excel and Word apps worked pretty well.

The following day, I went on thinking, should I purchase the new Magic Keyboard? I think It will improve my iPad experience and will solve the one problem I have with it, I told myself. Well, thats another $300 to fork out!

Around the middle of the week, I got into that point where I was subconsciously making comparison between the MacBook and the iPad Pro.

From a portability viewpoint: both of them are relatively very similar, even If I decided to purchase the Magic Keyboard. I do not think anyone would say that one is more portable than the other one.

From a battery viewpoint: I would say the iPad has almost the same battery life as my MacBook Pro. Basically, both of them can get me through the day without me thinking I would lose power at any point.

I figured out that I don’t need both devices really, one of them can do everything an average person — like me — would want from a Computing device.
Then What’s really the difference between these two powerful devices? Why is Apple selling both?
Well, I drew a conclusion that both of these devices will enable you to do everything you want,
BUT…
…in a different way.
With the MacBook pro, I feel more comfortable, It is a screen and a keyboard. You open the lid and you start typing your notes, browsing or watching. My hands know where to rest and my viewing angle is not something I need to think about.
With the iPad Pro, I felt I am using a pumped-up version of my iPhone. Do I want to look cool and use a pen on the screen? I can. A keyboard? I can buy one and attach it. Maybe mouse instead of touching the interface? That is supported too. I have to admit that it is a very versatile device and I can understand why anyone would be intrigued to buy it.
I think at the time of writing this, Apple has made two equally powerful breed of machines, MacBooks and iPads, both will get you anything you throw at them done equally effective yet, in a different way. And it all depends on which interface you like better.
Apple is really smart in a way that It looks like it is eating Its own market share rather than waiting for someone else to eat it.

I did not keep the iPad Pro, despite its great features, I figured out that I don’t need both devices really, one of them can do everything an average person — like me — would want from a Computing device.

My conclusion is, Try both; I personally feel that If you are coming from a MacBook, you’ll stick with a MacBook. while If you are holding an iPhone and you are looking for a replacement for your Windows PC, You will love the iPad Pro. So, with whatever you choose you will not be disappointed…
but just buy one of them!

Obviously it’s different for everyone, so I would recommend heading over to an Apple store and try them out. Don’t worry, they sanitise them after each person
is done with them.

Alternatively, you can buy them, and try them for fourteen days, as long as you return them within this period, Apple’s return policy allows you to give them back.

I hope this article has helped and answered your questions, if not, leave a comment below and I’ll surely respond.

Please do share your experience as well. I would be very interested to hear them.

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Apple Watch Series 5 Review: Imperfectly Perfect!

by GeeksModo Staff

Was the wait for an always-on display worth it?

Early last year, I got a pretty awesome promotion at work, and as a gift to myself, I purchased an Apple Watch Series 4 in Stainless Steel with a Milanese Loop band.

I have been wearing an Apple Watch on and off since day one, but after purchasing the Series 3, I got bored of the same old design that it shared with the first two versions. So I sold the watch and used a Seiko 5 dumb-watch for almost a year before I decided to get myself the Series 4.

Since march last year this watch has been on my wrist every single day, besides while sleeping — not into sleep tracking yet.
It is the best Apple Watch since the original, and I have enjoyed using it for everything like time (of course), weather, workouts, notifications, podcast playback, adding to my to-do list, and, above all, timers!

So when the Cupertino based brand announced
Apple Watch Series 5,
and it was the same old Apple Watch I adored, but with a new and better screen that allowed an “Always-On” display, my initial reaction was excitement until I started thinking about it deeply.
Don’t get me wrong, the fact that Apple was able to get the display not only to be always-on but to also, almost¹, keep the overall style of the watch face by keeping all of the colors and complications always available for view is a brilliant idea.
One biggest thing you lose, which isn’t at all that big of a deal, is the screen goes from 60Hz to 1Hz when in dim mode, meaning the refresh rate drops to help with power consumption.
The next thing that you may lose, though, which is still coming in from early users, is the battery life not being great on these watches. It is hard to know if it is the watch itself, the always-on screen, or something else like a bug in iOS.
Nonetheless, if you want the Apple Watch Series 5, the major upgrade is this new Always-On display feature. So I bought a Series 5 and put it to the test for a few days to see if it is worth the hype.

Is it worth upgrading from a Series 4, like some are suggesting, or even an early model?
Apple describes the new screen in the Apple Watch Series 5 as an Ultra-low-power LTPO display.
If you switched off the always-on display on the Series 5, it would be indistinguishable from the Series 4. The new screen technology is only there to assist in the always-on feature. So my aim of testing this out was to see if the always-on was that useful and if it is worth upgrading from any other previous Apple Watch model.

So I wore the watch for a couple of workdays and tested to see how much I would benefit from having the time and complications always available to me on my wrist.
Usually, at work, I sit a desk with a keyboard and mouse. Of late, I have been using a MacBook more with a monitor so I can jump around to meetings and other buildings more efficiently. As I sit at my
MacBook Pro
using the keyboard, it was nice to be able to look down at my wrist and see the time without having to lift my arm.
But honestly, how useful is this really?
When I am on my computer, I usually look at the time on the screen. I touch type, so I am never looking down at my keyboard when I am typing. So looking down at my Apple Watch, is not typical for me. So to me, this isn’t that useful, it’s nice that it is there, but generally I don’t see a massive benefit.

When walking back and forth to meetings, I sometimes have to travel outside to other buildings. I wanted to see how useful the always-on display was when walking in the sun, especially when holding something, like a cup of coffee or laptop, that wouldn’t allow me to raise my wrist.
I could see the time, but not that great. If I was in direct sunlight, I doubt I would see much at all and honestly at this angle do we really need to see the time? If I really wanted to look at my watch, I would have lifted my arm, which would exit dim-mode, or set my coffee down.

The next test I wanted to conduct was going to the gym. I wanted to see how beneficial it would be to use the Series 5 while running on the treadmill inside. When you are sweating, breathing heavy and in motion, lifting your arm sometimes can be a problem. I may be exaggerating a little, but it would be a good idea to glance down at your wrist while jogging instead of having to lift your arm to check your progress.
This, I will say, was the biggest sell for me to move to the Series 5 from my Series 4. The always-on display when in dim-mode shows everything I need to know when wanting to glance down to see my progress. My heart rate, miles run, the time elapsed, calories, and I can see the actual time in the top right corner effortlessly.
I’m certain outside the display would be a little less visible, but overall I think this is a superb use of the always-on display. Using it at the gym would be a huge benefit whether you are running, lifting, or even stretching to be able to glance at your wrist without having to pause the activity you are doing.

In general, I think the Apple Watch Series 5 is the same exceptional Series 4 with a feature I don’t feel is necessarily worth the upgrade.
If you own a Series 3 or earlier, sure, the new Series 5 will be a significant upgrade. Not only for the always-on display but the display itself with it being larger and rounded in the corners like the Series 4. It is far much better than the boxy earlier models.
But if your primary objective in purchasing Series 5 is to use it as an ordinary dumb-watch, I don’t think it is worth it. A non-smartwatch is in a whole different category from smartwatches in the sense that a smartwatch does more than tell you the time. I would reason time is the lowest priority when buying a smartwatch.
It is the same when purchasing a smartphone over a dump-phone. You don’t purchase a smartphone to make calls and send text messages; you use it for all of the other superb features that are bundled in a smartphone.

I do understand that you are getting more than just the time with an always-on display. You can see other complications like weather and your activity rings. But for me, if I want to check a timer or the weather or check my activity progress on my watch, I will raise it to my face.
The intention of wanting to check something will drive me to want to lift my arm. Causally looking down at our watch is something we do when we are at a meeting or something people do casually while doing something else. If I intend to get information off of my watch, I’ll raise it to my face. Even while admitting that at the gym it is really beneficial, I don’t think that is enough to get it.
So if you’re in the market for a smartwatch and you want one from Apple, get the Series 5.
It is an excellent watch.
However, if you already have one that is still working perfectly and you are like me and don’t see the real need of an always-on display, I would say your better off not upgrading.
When I do upgrade my Series 4 in a couple of years I am sure the always-on display will be on that new watch, I am sure it will be even better² than it is on the Series 5, and I will probably love it.
But for the time being, I love my stainless steel Series 4 and the black screen that is there when I look down as I type this doesn’t bother me whatsoever.

Obviously it’s different for everyone, so I would recommend visiting an Apple store to try them out. Don’t worry, they sanitise them after each person
is done with them, and they will also allow you to pair them to your personal phone.

Alternatively, you can purchase them, and try them for 14 days, as long as you return them within this period, Apple’s return policy allows you to give them back.

I hope this review has helped and answered your questions, if not, leave a comment below and I will answer them.

Please do share your experience as well. I would be very interested to hear them.

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MobiMover Review: Easily Transfer Files From iPhone to Computer

by GeeksModo Staff

One of the most common questions regarding using iPhone is how to transfer files from iPhone to PC or iPhone to Mac. This is a deceptively simple question, and we’re going to push aside any of the complexities of transferring files from iPhone to computer, and instead we’ll show you the single most direct method of transferring files from iPhone to PC or Mac computer, since that is usually what people are looking to do.

You have photos, music, or videos on your iPhone, and you want to transfer those files to your Mac or PC – simple right? Yes, the process is easier than you may expect, as we’ll show in the walkthrough here.

Copy files from iPhone to computer without iTunes

Even though Apple allows users to transfer data between iPhone and computer via iTunes, it isn’t really up to the mark. It has a lot of limitations when it comes to supporting file types during the transfer. That’s what people at EaseUS are trying to solve with their tool called MobiMover
EaseUS Logo

“MobiMover” has a lot more features to help you easily transfer data from iPhone to computer, computer to iPhone, or iPhone to iPhone. Let’s explore all its features in details.

MobiMover from EaseUS – Easily Transfer Data Between iPhone and Computer

Transfer files from iPhone to computer

This is one of the best features of this tool as most of the users find it extremely hard when they want to transfer files from iPhone to computer. With MobiMover from EaseUS, you can:

  • Transfer files from iPhone to PC
  • Transfer files from iPhone to Mac

MobiMover allows you to transfer various file types that includes: Photos, movies, books, ringtones, TV shows, messages, voice memos, notes, contacts, music ETC.

Transfer files from computer to iPhone

If you are searching for something that can seamlessly transfer files between iPhone and Mac, then MobiMover is the perfect solution. The app allows you to:

  • Transfer files from PC to iPhone
  • transfer files from Mac to iPhone.

It supports all the file types mentioned in the above list.

Transfer files from iPhone to iPhone

Similar to transferring files from iPhone to computer, iPhone to iPhone transfer also supports all the above-mentioned file types. As it is the same ecosystem, there isn’t anything special when transferring data from iPhone to iPhone.

Let’s see how it works.

How to transfer files from iPhone to computer using EaseUS MobiMover App

Step #1. Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac using USB cable and launch EaseUS MobiMover.
How to transfer data from iPhone to PC without iTunes

Step #2. On the MobiMover app screen, choose the data transfer mode for example phone to PC and click next.

Step #3. MobiMover will automatically read and load all the supported files on your iPhone and list them all unchecked, use the checkbox beside different file types to make the selection. After everything’s checked, all you need to do is to click the “Transfer” button.
How to transfer data from iPhone to PC without iTunes

Step #4. MobiMover will start the process of transferring files from iPhone to computer without iTunes. Once the process is complete, you can click view to check the transferred files.
How to transfer data from iPhone to PC without iTunes

Whether you want to copy files from iphone to PC or the other way round, the data transfer speed is incredibly fast using the MobiMover tool.

Do you have videos you want to download? Well, MobiMover can help you download video via urls for free. Let’s face it! It’s easy to download YouTube videos for people who have little technical knowledge. But it isn’t straightforward for a newbie. With just one click on the MobiMover tool, you can download video via urls from sites such as YouTube, Facebook or Vimeo to your computer, iPhone or iPad free of charge.

Pricing

If you are looking for a free iPhone transfer software for Mac or PC, MobiMover is available for free to download but with few limitations. If you want to transfer unlimited data to multiple computers, please consider buying EaseUS MobiMover Pro version.

Should I Buy EaseUS MobiMover Pro version?

Importing files from iPhone to computer can be very difficult for people who aren’t “tech-savvy” and things can go wrong. MobiMover also runs independently of iTunes, so it can be a perfect workaround for people who have had problems with iTunes in the past.

And this brings me to my favorite feature of EaseUS MobiMover — it’s hands-free. You plug your iPhone, iPad, or iPod into your computer, click a few buttons in the application window, and you’ll be transferring your files in no time at all!

EaseUS MobiMover is intuitive, user-friendly, and accomplishes its intended goal in a very short amount of time.

How Do I Download EaseUS MobiMover?

You can download EaseUS MobiMover for Windows or Mac by visiting EaseUS’s website and clicking Buy Now. A free version is also available, but you won’t be able to transfer unlimited files between multiple computers without purchasing the full version.

Highlights of EaseUS MobiMover

  • Backup your iPhone data to a computer
  • Copy iPhone/iPad data to computer
  • Transfer files from computer to iPhone
  • Download video via urls
  • Allows you to bypass your iPhone or iPad Screen Passwords even if you’ve forgotten it or if your device is disabled
  • Compatible with all iOS devices including iPhone 6, 6s, 7, 8, X, 11 and SE
  • Can remove numeric passcodes, Touch ID and Face ID. Please note: this feature will erase data on your iPhone. And you need to remember your Apple ID
  • Available to download on Windows and Mac
  • A free version is available
  • Does not require professional skills

Our two sense…

EaseUS MobiMover is one of the well-known names when it comes to managing iPhone content via computer. They have a range of products and most of their products are easy to use; above all, they do the job very well. EaseUS MobiMover is a brilliant software . Actually, it might just be the best in its class in that respect. Give the free version of MobiMover a try and if you find it useful, you can decide to buy MobiMover Pro.

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How to Setup your iPhone for a Better, Less Stressful Life

by GeeksModo Staff

Over the years, I’ve come to realise that the way I interact with my technology correlates to my stress level of the moment. This is the reason I decided to create this post on simplifying your technological environment.

Social Media

The first category I will tackle is Social Media. I know, it is kind of mean to ask you to look at how much time you spend on there each week, my number is 2h 08 minutes, what’s yours? In all seriousness though, I explain a bit more further down.

Social Media Usage:

I consider 2h of weekly usage to be reasonable. Seeing this laid out still makes me reflect, and I will be more conscious of the amount of time I allow myself to look at apple leaks, and scrolling through Snapchat.
TIP: I invite you to take a look at your weekly phone usage, you can also see the total time you spent on your phone for the week. You might have a shock when you see a 20 hours a week on TikTok or more! It did it to me a few months ago, I deleted the app straight! To access your report go to Settings → Screen Time → See all Activity, and if you want to see a full week like me: → swipe left on the graph.

See also: How to break iPhone addiction and check your phone less

Where is my social media buried in my iPhone?

The Untidied Folder where all my (non-daily) apps reside
Well, as the saying states: “out of sight out of mind”, so my social media apps are untidied in a folder with all the other apps I do not use on a daily basis. In this way, it is quite painful for me to find them. I ultimately use Spotlight to launch apps, which gives me the time to think twice before clicking mindlessly the button. (to access spotlight: simply swipe down from the home screen on your iPhone).

Advices on reducing Social Media / Netflix, Apple TV+ … / YouTube consumption

If you are not interested in reducing your iPhone screen time, skip this part, the following one continues on the subject of creating very useful shortcuts with the Control Centre.
Well, sometimes it’s challenging to stop a bad habit and we need some help. I needed help! A few years back, Apple added a feature that allows you to limit the time you spend on certain apps. It’s called app limits (Works for your mac and iPad too if you need to block apps). The way it works is: You decide how much you want to use a certain app/category of apps each day, and the apps will become unavailable on their own after the allocated time. You can allow yourself 15 minutes more / unblock for the day if you want to, but that is not the goal. I used it to use YouTube less 1 or 2 years ago, and it worked well! If you have a social media addiction I recommend it. How to set it uphead over to Settings → Screen Time → App Limits → Add Limit.It will then ask you for a specific app or category how much you want to allow yourself each day and more.

Useful Shortcuts and Tips to improve your experience

Now that you are breaking your iPhone addiction, let’s learn some handy shortcuts and automation for your iPhone.

Control Center

Control Centre is a relatively unused feature of the iPhone for most people and it doesn’t make any sense to me. I have customized my control center to only have what I need. While most are up to personal preference, there are two icons that I think you could benefit from greatly:

  1. The low battery icon: while when you have left your iphone asks whether want to activate mode sometimes go out and know that be short on battery. you: swipe up tap the power button now in clear welcome.
  2. The dark Mode Icon: While this one is not obligatory, I found my eyes straining when looking at iPhone screen in the dark. I find dark modes to help a bit (not a 100% change) but still better. If you sometimes forget like I do, you can set dark mode to turn on automatically by following these steps: Head over to Settings → Display & Brightness → Automatic (make it green) → Options → Light until sunset.

A word on Night Shift

It has been a trend and a belief that blue light negatively affects your sleep. The good news is that, there is a cool little known feature that allows you to reduce the blue light of your iPhone at night. I do use it and have it set up in the following way.
To activate it, simply follow these steps: Head over to Settings → Display & Brightness → Night Shift → Sunset to Sunrise.

Re-gain Power over your mornings and nights: Use Down Time

I naturally don’t tend to reach to social media or my iPhone in general in the morning or at night. Although, it would be a lie to say I have never done so. There are unfortunately quite a lot of consequences in depending so much on your iPhone. What you see, read, hear first thing in the morning, or the last thing at night does affect your night’s quality, but also the quality of your day and your general mood. Do you want to give that much power to your iPhone? I don’t! Fortunately, your iPhone can help you use it less, YES, you understand correctly, the Cupertino based brand helps you use the very product they make most of their money from, less. So why not use it to our advantage? Downtime is a set time from which most of your apps (but the one defined as always available) are greyed out and require you to click a button to say you want to use an app.
If you’re interested in trying it out, simply follow these steps: Head over to Settings → Screen Time → DownTime → Choose the time for each day.
I have it set up from 9 pm to 8:00 am every weekday, which represents an hour before my bedtime and an hour after my wake up time. The weekends, from 9 pm to 9:30 am. While I tend to go to bed later, it allows me to spend a bit more time, reading or doing something else like writing these articles.

Night Mode:

The last handy feature that I will talk about in this article: Night Mode. It allows you to mute all notifications at night, preventing anybody from disturbing your sleep. It also prevents calls (while still allowing repeated calls in case of emergency!).
To activate Night Mode on your iPhone, simply follow these steps: Head over to Settings → Do Not Disturb → Schedules → I add the same times as for my Down Time.

Tip: if you find reaching for your iPhone first thing in the morning, try and charge it at the opposite end of your room. It will also help you with waking up in the morning!!

As you might have discovered, I love technology. Although, I find it important to keep control over how we use it, and not let our technology decide the way our days go. Because at the end of the day, your favorite app makes a profit out of the time you give it. But for most people, the opposite is not true.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned on how to use your iPhone for more productivity and less stress.
See also:
Amazing Trick to Unlock Real Productivity on your iPhone

Tag: Productivity
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MacBook Pro 2019: Quick Vadict

by GeeksModo Staff

My computer journey Before I tell you about the MacBook Pro 2019I want to first go over my laptop journey.
It has been over 3 years since I have owned a fully powerful laptop that would allow me to take on any task. It was a 2013 13-inch MacBook Air, configured with an i7 processor and 8 GBs of RAM. It was a solid machine for about 3 years before selling it and almost exclusively going iPad only once the Pro’s started coming out.
I had a couple other stints with other MacBooks and a variety of iPad Pros until I finally hit optimization fatigue. In April of this year I sold my MacBook Air 11-Inch that I was using for browsing and I gave my wife my 10.5-inch iPad. Then I went on swappa and bought myself a used iPad Mini 5 for journaling (with the support of the Apple Pencil) and reading.
I have used the iPad Mini for about a month before I started going back to writing with pen and paper for journaling. I still love the 7.9 inch size for reading so for now it is still a device I keep next to my bed, I might even trade it for a iPad Mini 3 or 4 to save a few bucks.
What I realized in scaling back so much was that I needed a device that would handle any task again. I needed a machine that I could use to do software development, writing, run Windows 10 using Parallels (to remote into work occasionally) and other more difficult tasks. These can all be done on an iPad, except to remote into work since I can’t use my work issued Yubikey to connect to the VPN, but compromising simplicity and constantly looking for workarounds get old.
This isn’t a bash on the iPad, I really do like the platform and I love what Apple has done as far as the iPadOS is concern. But I was foolling myself in thinking that an iPad was the path I needed to keep going down to accomplish the tasks I wanted.
So I bought a
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019.)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019)

In the middle of owning the MacBook Air’s I did have a 12-inch MacBook for about a year. The retina screen was a massive upgrade coming from the 1400 x 900 resolution. But this MacBook Pro screen is absolutely fantastic.
The high resolution is obviously great but the colors with true tone makes me want to never look away. And the 13 inch screen is the perfect size, it even feels bigger with the smaller bezels.

Compared to the 12-inch MacBook the keyboard feels much more soft with a little more travel. It feels comfortable and I really enjoy typing on it. I was a fan of the new butterfly keyboards since day one, so it is no surprise I would like this one. I’ve not experienced any problem with double, stuck and unreliable keys so maybe my fandom will change with this one if it starts to fail over time.

I’ve no issues with the touch bar as well. It does everything I used the previous function keys for; volume, play, pause and brightness. I rarely used the esc key, so I really don’t have a reason to miss the original function key row.
I am not sold on the touch bar yet, since I haven’t yet found it that useful, but I am excited to finally have it. There have been four generations of the touch bar laptops now but it wasn’t until this model were you able to buy one at $1299 (unless you go used).
The screen, Touch Bar, two USB-C ports, and the new generation keyboard were all things I was looking forward to when I saw this laptop get released at the lower price. The only hesitation was that it “only” had a 1.4 GHz Quad-Core i5 Processor.
After watching various reviews though, the hesitation disappeared. In some other tests I saw in other videos the processor in this MacBook Pro was thrashing last years 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Needless to say, performance on this MacBook Pro will never be a concern for me.
I was a bit surprised of the weight when I first took it out of the box. I think because I have been so used to much smaller MacBooks and iPads that the heft threw me off gaurd. After carrying it around the house and in my backpack the past couple of days, I definitely do not find it heavy.
Overall I am very pleased with this MacBook Pro.

When I went to Apple Store to pick it up, I thought, this would just be a try out to see if this is what I want. I have done this many times when I would bring a new iPad Pro or Windows Laptop home and immediately regret my purchase. This time was different though. As soon as I took it home I turned it on, set it up and immediately started writing.

In my opinion, this MacBook offers true value for your money. There will be reasons for people to pick a more powerful or cheaper device but for the sweet spot that will please just about anybody for a long period of time, MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2019 is a perfect choice.

See also:
Don’t buy a Laptop, Buy a MacBook: Here’s Why

Tag: MacBook Pro
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Don’t buy a Laptop, Buy a MacBook: Here’s Why

by GeeksModo Staff

When it comes to deciding on what laptop to buy, I have always been a strong believer in the idea that an expensive product, while costing more upfront, will provide much more value in the course of time.

This value ranges from simple daily experience to generating a full-time income through content you can produce on the device. Because a laptop is such a powerful tool and it’s portable, it offers you the ability to create almost anything.

The computer I’m currently using is the base Apple MacBook Pro 13 inch from 2019. I choose a MacBook because of the content I could create which would simply be much more challenging and in some cases impossible on other devices.

Premium Hardware

I have always valued the importance of quality when it comes to those things that really matter in my life. While a laptop is certainly not a basic item, it allows me to work, play and innovate through a thin and light device that I can take anywhere.
When using a MacBook I always get the feeling that Apple engineers spent sleepless nights meticulously crafting every aspect of the device. I can say the same about just a few other pieces of tech.
From the well-balanced keyboard to the force-touch trackpad everything works like magic. I have owned this device for almost a year now and the hardware is just as functional as the first day. The touch bar is also a nice touch and while pretty useless most of the time it usually reminds of the lengths Apple will go to innovate.

The display is sharp and color-accurate enough to suit my needs. I find that a good display is hard to notice but a bad one is quite easy.
Overall hardware is far too undervalued and quite honestly underrated in the tech world and a device like the MacBook makes using the computer far more intuitive and enjoyable.

See also: MacBook Pro 2019: Quick Vadict

Premium Software

Apple is popularly known for updating the software on their devices each year. This is great because it means the Cupertino based brand is always working around the clock to improve the user experience.
This is another thing I can’t always say about other companies. As a MacBook user, I often feel as though Apple has customed tailored the product for my use and if not is working towards that goal through future updates.

Apple’s software is simple but powerful. It has been refined for years to improve user’s experience and you can notice it in day to day use. Everything from an easily accessible dock to spotlight search to dark mode and apps, macOS is extremely powerful and provides the tools you need to get work done.
I have always appreciated Apple software as a minimalist because it stays true to simple design language and easily prevents you from getting distracted.

Optimization

This is by far the best reason to pick Apple when it comes to buying a laptop. Unlike most Windows devices where a different company is usually the one creating the hardware than the software, Apple custom engineers the hardware to fit with the powerful software.
From the touch bar to force touch on the trackpad, every aspect of the device feels like it’s designed to work together.

Apple also offers unprecedented Continuity allowing you to use most of your important iPhone apps on the Mac. This means you can leave your iPhone behind and still receive text messages.
Everything syncs seamlessly from photos to music the overall Mac experience that much better.
See also: Continuity for iPhone, iPad, Mac, explained

All things considered, if I were to recommend any laptop it would by far be the MacBook. Whether that be the MacBook Air to the Pro is dependant on your usage situation, but you can be sure you will receive a premium product tailor-made to suit your needs.

Tag: MacBook Pro
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Why I Use My iPhone Without a Case

by GeeksModo Staff

For years now, I’ve been Using an iPhone without a case. I have never been against those who want to protect their expensive devices. But I’ve always felt that I lose some of the value that the device brings when you cover it in hard plastic.

I remember when I got my very first expensive, fully-loaded computer that my Dad offered to pick for me on my birthday. At the time I worked for him at his external IT consultancy where he provided tech support to local companies. So the gift was partly , my birthday present, and partly, business expense, because he wanted to get me a computer that could help my position as a Network and PC troubleshooter.
The laptop I choose was a 2011 13-inch MacBook Air with an i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 512 GB SSD. It was the most expensive computer I had ever owned and immediately felt I needed to protect it from the world it lived in. So I purchased a clear Incase plastic casing for the outside of the device.
After five months of using the MacBook Air, I realized that the case was starting to turn yellow. It was quite scratched, but I felt that was the point; instead of the MacBook Air getting scratched, the case got it.
However, the yellowing started to bother me and decided to take the case off one day. I was blown away by how beautiful the silver aluminum casing was; I hadn’t seen the outside of the MacBooks casing without the clear case since I got the laptop five months earlier.
After that day, I never put the case back on. I also took off the case from my then Galaxy S2 as well and realized how my phone felt good in hand without a case too.

iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and even AirPods all have had cases, but we’re removed shortly afterword’s because of my desire to have a pure experience with the device as it came. The disadvantage of using an iPhone without a case may be the risk of wear and tear or destruction of a costly device if you are not careful.
For instance, I have had my
iPhone 11 Pro Max
since around September of last year, and it’s quite worn out from my constant use and exposure to different surfaces. I have not put a case around it since I got it and have enjoyed feeling the industrial design of the device every time I pick it up.
The stainless steel and glass materials that make up the
iPhone
provides a dense and solid experience as if you are holding something substantial. Covering that with a thick plastic just seems wrong, which is why I have not wrapped it up in anything.

The result of using an iPhone without a case, in some instances, is an iPhone that looks quite worn out and abused. I promise that I try and be careful with my iPhone, but it is also a tool, and I use it as such. If I place it on a table, I can place it face down to avoid distractions during a meeting or dinner.
Using an iPhone without a screen protector may appear horrifying, but my aversion to a screen protector on my iPhone outweighs the risk of possible scratches. Recently, my iPhone’s got a small but deep scratch on the screen when it slipped out of my pocket and rubbed against a staple between the base of my sofa and the cushion.
I also accidentally cracked my poor iPhone 11 Pro Max back glass after hitting asphalt from me getting out of my car and forgot that the phone was resting on my lap. The crack is small and has not affected the performance or caused any internal damage to the device. Instead, it gives a glimpse of my hardcore usage of my iPhone, which I’m proud of.

iPhones and other computing devices are expensive. When I buy something at a high cost, it should provide enough use to reflect that cost. My iPhone offers a lot of value for what I paid for it, and I use it to meet that value. This usage can cause some wear and tear, which makes sense to me.
I do understand some people are not as lucky as I am in keeping my phone from a broken screen and do understand younger people need cases because they are more likely to drop things. I’m also aware of the resale value argument if you plan on selling your iPhone each year and want to get as much money as possible to pay for the upgrade.
However, one of the advantages of Using an iPhone without a case is the beauty of actual small and compact design. Wrapping an iPhone in thick plastic or screen protectors takes away the value I feel the size and weight of the iPhone offers. As a compromise, I have to handle the scratches, dings, and cracks that may come in using a device in this way.
But truth be told, I enjoy the appearance of my weathered iPhone. It sends the message that I am getting the value I paid for it and reminds me that it is a tool over anything else. So, that’s why I use my iPhone without a case!

Tag: iPhone Tips
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I Found The Cheapest Way To Get New iPhone Every Year

by GeeksModo Staff

iPhone 12 is just around the corner and you are probably excited about it, but you are probably preparing to cry over your wallet when it comes out as usual. The good news is that, there is a cheapest way to get new iPhone every year without losing any money.
I have been using the top of the line iPhones for the last three years and I have been upgrading without losing my cash on any of them, and you should be doing the same as well.
If you are reading this, you are probably one of the few nerds who have been going through the
new iPhone
rumours and getting hyped about it. You care enough about your Tech gadgets to reach GeeksModo and follow the Tech publications. And in case you are wondering, compared to the “normal” population, We are just a few.
So here’s how to get new iPhone every year…

Sell your current iPhone now!

You probably own
this year
or
last year’s iPhone.
The first thing you should do is put your phone on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Why now? because it is the most opportune time to sell it. Most of the people you do not know only care about is the fact that this iPhone is the latest — so far. They hardly even know when the next one will come out and even if, they don’t really care. But once the new iPhone is released, your current one will sharply devalue, If you still hold it.

But the next iPhone is not out yet, what would I use?

Find an extra phone lying around and pop your sim in it. go retro for a change, or maybe re-explore old phones. There is always an extra phone somewhere, don’t make an excuse for it.

Do not Pre-order immediately

Chances are you will be probably watching Apple’s Keynote and getting excited about the new iPhone and preparing to hit that pre-order button.
Well, Don’t!
Wait for it to be released, many enthusiastic fans will start buying, people will start upgrading their contracts as well. A few weeks later, You will see many “Sealed latest iPhone” ads on eBay and other Marketplace websites. They will usually sell for $100–$200 Cheaper than the retail price. This is when you purchase.
…and then do the same next year.
Doing so I always manage to get my hands on the new iPhone without losing any money when selling my
iPhone,
or worst case $100 loss. not bad, hah?

Looking for a better deal?

Another cheapest way to get new iPhone every year involves a planned vacation to one of the cheap tourist countries such as Egypt, Morocco or Southeast Asia. iPhones in these countries usually sell much higher — due to insane taxes- and this means that secondhand market will also make you more money than you would expect. As a frequent traveller to one of these countries, I have tried this a couple of times and it works like magic!

Tag: iPhone Tips
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