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How to Use Back Tap on iOS

by Tyler Stephen

In iOS 14, Apple introduced back tap, a feature that takes advantage of an iPhone’s accelerometer to detect taps on the back of the device. This can be used as a second accessibility shortcut, useful if you rely on more than one accessibility feature and don’t want to go into Settings or use Siri to turn it on and off, and it can also be used to access various functions of iOS and iPadOS, or run Siri shortcuts. In addition, if you use VoiceOver, back taps can compliment the extensive customizability of Voiceover gestures to perform VoiceOver specific actions.

 

To use this feature, you must have an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 14.

Configuring back taps to perform system-wide actions

To configure a double or triple-tap on the back of your iPhone to perform a system-wide action on your device, open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > back tap, and choose either a double or triple-tap. You will then be presented with a list of actions that you can assign to that gesture, placed into categories such as accessibility features, access to common areas of iOS, such as the Home Screen, app switcher or Control Center, and your own Siri shortcuts, among other things.

 

Note: the list of available actions you can assign to a gesture is categorized and organized by heading. Thus, if you’re using VoiceOver, you can simplify navigation of this list by turning the rotor to headings and swiping up and down with one finger to move through the different categories.

Configuring back taps to perform VoiceOver functions

In addition to the wide array of system-wide actions that back taps can be configured to perform, they can also be mapped to specific VoiceOver functions. If you, for example, find a particular VoiceOver gesture difficult to perform, you can configure a double or triple-tap on the back of your iPhone to perform that function instead.

 

Note: at the time of writing, it is my understanding that unlike using back taps to perform system-wide actions, using them to customize VoiceOver requires an iPhone XS or later; the iPhone XR should also work.

 

To configure a back tap to perform a VoiceOver function, open Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Commands > Touch Gestures, and under the, “Back tap,” heading, select either a double or triple-tap. From there, select the action you’d like that gesture to perform. Like the list of system-wide actions, the list of VoiceOver actions is organized by heading to allow for quick navigation between categories.

 

If you have any questions or suggestions for future tips, sound off in the comments.

Tags: iOS, iOS 14, iPhone Tips
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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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Debunking common myths about Apple iOS

by GeeksModo Staff

iOS has its pros and cons, but you can’t believe everything you hear about Apple’s mobile operating system

iPhones, and Apple’s iOS platform, are everywhere. But that doesn’t mean that all the talk you hear about the mobile operating system is true.
Actually, there are a couple of persistent misconceptions about iOS that cloud your understanding of how the operating system works.
That’s especially true if you’re trying to figure out what the real differences are
between iOS and Android.

See also:
Top 10 Advantages of an iPhone Over Android
Now, read on to learn about five iOS myths and to find out why they’re incorrect.

Myth #1: iOS is immune to malware

The vast majority of people think that because iOS is a closed system, over which Apple has extensive control, it’s impossible to end up with malware on an iOS device.
Unfortunately, that is simply not true. Although Apple thoroughly screens all apps in the App Store, infected apps,
or apps that compromise your iPhone’s security may still end up in the App Store. (For instance, consider the scenario in which
Apple removed some ad-blocking apps
from the App Store. The company noticed that the apps in question were installing their own root certificate and were thus theoretically
able to access encrypted traffic.)

iOS devices are also susceptible to network attacks, which can occur over public Wi-Fi networks in coffee shops, airports, and other places where you may not be
as careful as you should be. That’s one of the reasons why you should be careful and take precautions when
connecting to a public Wi-Fi network.
Even if you’re connected to a network that you’ve used before, a hacker can also be on that network and access your information, your passwords, and
other personal data. Though it’s easier to update iOS than Android, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to pay attention to security.

See also:
Can an iPhone get a virus?

Myth #2: Touch ID isn’t secure

It is now well known that
Touch ID is hackable,
in part because the form of biometric authentication of the iPhone depends on your fingerprint, which a determined hacker could obtain from something
you’ve touched. But for the average user, who doesn’t live in a spy movie, this is a pretty unlikely situation. Just like discovering that
your iPhone has been tapped.

It’s true that Touch ID has its weaknesses, and someone can exploit those weaknesses to gain access to your iPhone. But in practical
terms, it is extremely unlikely that someone will get a viable fingerprint, even from your iPhone itself, lift the print correctly and then use
expensive equipment to create a fake fingerprint that can fool the system. Are the photos and app data that you have on your iPhone worth all that trouble
to someone else? Probably not.

It comes down to? Touch ID is not 100% secure, but no form of biometric authentication is. If you have a spy-novel-worthy hacker after you, it is possible
that Touch ID can be used to access your iPhone. But for casual and opportunistic thieves? Touch ID will not make your personal information easy
to access. As with any mobile operating system, iOS has some vulnerabilities. But if you do your bit to keep track of your iPhone, you shouldn’t have any problems.

See also:
Touch ID Vs. Face ID: what are the differences and similarities?

Myth #3: You can change everything on iOS that you can on Android

Android is known for its customizability, but the vast majority of Apple fans think that recent updates have made iOS just as customizable as Google’s much-more open
operating system. That’s just not true, as iOS is a “walled garden” that still leaves much control in Apple’s hands. For example, While you can totally
change the look of the interface on an Android device, , that’s not easy to do on iOS, and you won’t be able to make all the changes on iOS that you
can do on Android.

Of course, you can
jailbreak your iPhone
to be able to customize it any way you want. But we really don’t recommend jailbreaking your iPhone. A jailbroken iPhone cannot download updates or security
patches without returning to its original state. And jailbreaking has unforeseen consequences, such as
shorter battery life,
features and apps that may stop working,
or software that keeps crashing. If you want to take control of the appearance and functionality of your phone operating system, you’ll
be much better served by choosing an Android device instead of an iPhone

As you may already know, Apple has changed the customizability of its operating system to some extent with recent versions of iOS,
perhaps in response to complaints from users who would like more control over what they can do on their iPhones. While users accustomed to Android used
to complain that you couldn’t change the default keyboard used in Apple’s operating system, Apple began allowing third-party keyboards with the introduction
of iOS 8. That means that you can choose an alternate keyboard to use throughout the system, something you could previously control only on Android. And

iOS 10
 brought, among other features, the ability to delete stock apps you don’t want. But iOS still doesn’t match the customizability of Android.

Myth #4: Apple invented apps, so all the goods apps go to iOS first

To start with, it’s a common misconception that Apple “invented” apps with the introduction of the iPhone and then the App Store. That’s not true.
When the Cupertino brand launched the first iPhone in 2007, it was basically an iPod Touch with calling functionality added — no 3G connectivity and no App Store at launch.
While Apple played a major role in popularlizing the concept of mobile apps when it did introduce the App Store, it really didn’t invent any apps. Stuff like
calendar apps, ringtone editors, and basic mobile games were around long before Apple created its first iPhone.

As for the myth that all the best apps go to iOS first, this isn’t as true as Apple fans would like to believe. It’s true that there are tons of developers
who release new apps on iOS first. (If Apple’s iOS was the programming language and platform that you were most familiar with, wouldn’t you start there,
too?) The iOS App Store is also a better place than the Google Play Store for paid apps or apps with in-app purchases. But any developer who wants wide
distribution will publish on both iOS and Android, even if his or her technical background influences the choice of which app to complete first.

The Android and iOS app stores have roughly the same number of apps. If you’re an Android user who has got the impression that all the apps that you’d
like to use go to iOS first, it is properbly because many startups in the United States are run by iOS users, especially in Silicon Valley, where the iPhone
dominates (at least according to anecdotal evidence). But you can find great apps for both mobile operating systems, and when
choosing between iOS and Android,
you need to research which platform allows you to use your favorite apps.

Myth #5: Bigger specs are better, and iPhones often lose

When you compare smartphones, you can easily get caught up in how their tech spects compare. And if you’re comparing
a high-end Android smartphone against one of Apple’s iPhones, there are probably at least a few areas where the Android smartphone seems to be clearly better. But
a phone has more to offer than its spects, a truth that will come up again and again if you read the experts’ reviews of the smartphones you’re trying to
compare.

One example is how megapixels, the easiest specification to compare when dealing with two different smartphones with unique camera systems, don’t
offer the whole story when it comes to the camera’s performance.

Myth #6: Jailbreaking Apple Devices could Land You a Spot in Jail

Contrary to popular belief, jailbreaking your iPad and your iPhone is not illegal. Of course, it can affect your warranty negatively but as per the U.S. Library of Congress, jailbreaking your Apple device does not mean you are breaking or infringing copyright laws.

See also:
Debunking Common Myths about iPhone Battery

iOS myths debunked?

Debunked or not, these myths about Apple iOS are the most common among critics and users. There are probably more common myths or less common myths surrounding this popular gadget giant but it would be too big a list if I were to enumerate and describe them all. More myths may crop up in the future and it would be up to the critics and fans to evaluate whether these myths are true or not.

Tags: iOS, iPhone Tips
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Simplify Productivity with Text Replacements on iOS, iPadOS and macOS

by Tyler Stephen

If you’re like me, you may find that you spend a fair amount of time typing the same block of text over and over again on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. This can be driving directions to your home, birthday or holiday greetings, or anything else that you find yourself typing repeatedly. Luckily, you can save time by configuring text replacements so that with just a few letters, you can insert that block of text into any document, email, or other instance of text input. You can do this on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, and these settings are synced between your devices.

iOS and iPadOS

Note: if you’re using VoiceOver, whenever this guide says to, “Tap,” perform a one-finger double tap instead.

 

To configure text replacements on iOS and iPadOS, follow these steps.
Step-1:Open Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, and tap add.
Step-2:In the, “Phrase,” field, type the block of text you want the device to insert when the shortcut is typed. If it is a longer or more complicated passage, you may want to copy and paste it from another app into this field.
step-3:In the, “Shortcut,” field, type the letters you want the device to replace with the phrase you typed in step 2. For example, if you typed, “Happy birthday,” in the phrase field, you could type, “HB,” in the shortcut field. This way, whenever you type, “HB,” and press the Space bar, the phrase, “Happy birthday,” will be inserted.
Step-4: Tap save.

macOS

Note: if you’re using VoiceOver, whenever this guide says to, “Click,” press VO Space instead.

 

To configure text replacements on macOS, follow these steps.
Step-1:Open System Preferences > Keyboard.
Step-2:Select the, “Text,” tab and click add.
Step-3: In the, “Replace,” column, type the letters you want the Mac to replace with the text in the, “with,” column. For example, if you typed, “HB,” in the replace column and, “happy birthday,” in the with column, whenever you type, “HB,” and press the Space bar, the phrase, “Happy birthday,” will be inserted.
Note: these columns are not labeled for VoiceOver, and pressing VO Left and Right arrow will not work to move keyboard focus between columns; you must instead use the tab key. Read more aboutiPhone Productivity Tips Here
 

If you have any questions or suggestions for future tips, sound off in the comments.

Tags: iOS, iPadOS, Productivity
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How to restart an iOS device using AssistiveTouch

by Kevin Hollington

Intro

Apple’s iOS devices are great products, with lots of useful functions and features. However, there are some features that are simply not present for reasons only known to Apple. One such feature is the ability to restart the operating system. While you can hold the power button until the slide to power off screen appears, this is not the same thing. This turns the device off completely rather than restarting it. This simple method will show you how to use the AssistiveTouch accessibility feature to quickly and efficiently restart your iPhone or iPad.

How to enable AssistiveTouch

Start by navigating to Settings>Accessibility>Touch and turn the AssistiveTouch feature on. Next, select the gesture you’d like to use to quickly bring up this feature. You may choose single-tap, double-tap, long press, or create custom gestures. The easiest method is single-tap. Note: If you are using
VoiceOver,
you must double-tap the Assistive Touch icon for single-tap or triple-tap for the double-tap gesture. Once you have selected the desired gesture, select the restart option from the list of actions.

How to use your new AssistiveTouch gesture

Now you can quickly restart your iOS device by performing the assigned gesture on the AssistiveTouch icon. This icon is always present on the screen if AssistiveTouch is enabled. It can be dragged around which gives you the freedom to place it on a part of the screen that is convenient for you. iOS will confirm to make sure you actually want to restart the device. Select restart to immediately reboot the system, or cancel if you inadvertently accessed the feature.

Conclusion

While this may not be useful for everyone, this is a very interesting workaround to Apple’s strange omission of a simple restart button in the power screen. Now you can quickly restart your device if you are experiencing strange problems. It is also useful for a totally blind person, as there is no longer a need to completely turn the device off and then hope it is actually turning on when you hold down the power button.

Tags: iOS, iPhone Tips
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How to Turn Off Find My iPhone on iOS, iPadOS & MacOS

by Tyler Stephen

Find My iPhone, iPad, or Mac is a feature that lets you locate, track, and erase your device should it get lost or stolen. If you’re selling or giving away your device, you’ll want to turn it off and sign out of your Apple ID so the new user can sign in to theirs.

 

Once turned off, it can no-longer be tracked by Apple unless you turn it back on.

 

After turning it off, you should get an email from Apple notifying you of the change. If you didn’t make this change, a third-party may have gained unauthorized access to your Apple ID, in which case you should change your Apple ID password immediately.

How to turn off find my iPhone on iOS and iPadOS

Note: if you’re usingVoiceover, whenever this guide says to, “Tap,” perform a one-finger double tap instead.

 

To turn off Find My iPhone on iOS and iPadOS, open Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone, and toggle, “Find my iPhone,” off. Enter your Apple ID password to confirm the change.

 

Alternatively, tapping sign out in Apple ID settings or erasing all content and settings on the device by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings will also disable Find my iPhone.Turn off find my iPhone

How to turn off find my Mac

Note: if you’re using VoiceOver, whenever this guide says to, “Click,” press VO Space instead.

 

To turn off Find My Mac, open System Preferences > Apple ID and select iCloud in the table. In the, “iCloud services,” table, uncheck the, “Find My Mac,” checkbox and enter your Apple ID password to confirm the change.

 

Note: if you’re using VoiceOver, you may need to interact with the table cell with VO Shift Down Arrow to focus on and deselect the checkbox.

 

Alternatively, clicking sign out in Apple ID preferences will also disable Find My Mac.Find my iPhone Mac turn off

 

If you have any questions or suggestions for future tips, sound off in the comments.

Tags: iOS, iPadOS
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