Here’s how Huawei implemented its version of ‘Force Touch’ into the Huawei Mate S

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 26, 2015

Last month, Huawei made headlines by introducing a phone with Force Touch before Apple. Everyone knew that Apple was releasing a phone with Force Touch, (now more appropriately named 3D Touch in the iPhone 6s) so Huawei probably thought it was a good idea to strike preemptively and build off of the already established momentum.

The result, as you can see from the following video, is a mixed bag. While Apple's implementation is focused with a defining purpose, Huawei's version seems to be all over the place. Judge for yourselves...

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How the iPhone 6s Plus Taptic Engine compares to the vibration motor in the iPhone 6 Plus

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

If you're rocking a new iPhone 6s, then you've no doubt felt the difference that the new Taptic Engine makes when it comes to vibrations. Vibrations are now audibly quieter on the iPhone 6s, yet still just as strong, if not stronger. If you've ever felt a vibration from the Apple Watch, a device the necessitated the creation of the Taptic Engine, then you already understand the difference.

You'll also notice a new default vibration option for text tones in the Settings app. The new default vibration, called Synchronized, replaces the older Staccato default vibration from older devices. Synchronized allows for the Taptic Engine to sync with the sound of a selected text tone. This provides users with a unique vibration that matches each selected text tone, which is really cool.

We've created a video highlighting some of the differences between iPhone 6s Plus and the iPhone 6 Plus' vibration patterns. It's a change that goes unnoticed to the eye, but you can certainly feel and even hear the differences.

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Video shows iPhone 6s surviving for 1 hour under water

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

While we've yet to independently confirm the validity of such a test, a new video is making its rounds on YouTube showing an iPhone 6s and an iPhone 6s Plus being submerged in bowls of water for over an hour. Each device then emerges from the bath apparently unscathed.

Apple has never touted its devices as being water proof, or even water resistant to any degree, but, assuming it's legitimate, this video raises some interesting questions...

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How to use 3D Touch on iPhone 6s: a video tutorial

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

3D Touch is the biggest new feature to come to the iPhone 6s, and it brings a whole new interaction paradigm to the iPhone. 3D Touch is possible by means of a new pressure sensitive screen used in Apple's new iPhone hardware.

By tapping into this new input method, Apple and third-party developers are able to lend users access to quick Home screen shortcuts, in app previews, and quicker access directly to specific pages within an app. Not only is 3D Touch an awesome feature today, but its potential for the future is even more exciting.

In the following video, I'll share over 15 different points on 3D Touch. Perhaps you'll find something in this list that you weren't aware of.

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How to turn iPhone keyboard into a trackpad with 3D Touch and select text with precision

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2019

iOS 9 brought out a new feature for iPads called easy text selection which lets you slide two fingers on the screen to turn the keyboard into a trackpad of sorts. While in this mode, you can control cursor movement and select chunks of text with precision.

Thanks to 3D Touch, you can bring up this trackpad-esque functionality on your iPhone 7 or later in order to easily select and manipulate text with great precision, here's how.

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How to adjust 3D Touch sensitivity

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 9, 2019

Using a grid of 96 sensors that read microscopic changes in the distance between the cover glass and the backlight, your iPhone is able to detect different degrees of pressure. This headline feature, called 3D Touch, is used to reveal content previews and contextual menus within apps and quick actions on app icons on the Home screen.

Do you feel like 3D Touch requires you to press the screen too hard? If so, iOS offers a handy slide to change the amount of pressure you need to activate the feature.

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How to turn off and on 3D Touch on your iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 9, 2020

So you got your brand new iPhone and decided that 3D Touch is more of a nuisance than gets in your way than a time-saving feature you'd like to use on an everyday basis. Worry not, for iOS gives you an easy way to disable 3D Touch on a system-wide level with just a few taps.

3D Touch, of course, offers shortcuts to commonly used app-specific actions right from the Home screen and lets you preview content or jump straight into it within supported apps by applying varying degrees of pressure to the screen.

People with disabilities, those with limited motor skills and everyone who would rather do without these handy shortcuts for one reason or another can easily disable 3D Touch on your iPhone.

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How to only transfer Activity and Health app data to a new iPhone

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Transitioning to a new iPhone is made simple by iCloud backups, iTunes, and a few clicks or taps. Apple ensures it is easy to move from a fully loaded and setup device to a completely fresh iPhone with the same information, using their backup options. Most laypeople, almost always choose to restore new iPhones from their backups; however, more technically inclined concerned people tend to start with a fresh iPhone and do not restore from backup to prevent carrying over any unwanted information.

Earlier this week Christian highlighted two methods for upgrading to a new device and retaining your Activity and Health data. Method #1: use a third-party app to import your Health data, but it lacks Activity logs. Method #2: backing up your old device to iCloud or iTunes and restoring from backup, as I've described above.

But, what if you want both your Activity and Health data, but a fresh setup too? Step inside to learn how to install both, yet only, your previous device's Activity and Health data on your new iPhone. 

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How to get your Likes back in Apple Music after upgrading your iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ September 26, 2015

I woke up this morning to the sad realization that all my Apple Music Likes had disappeared. Hundreds of little red hearts that are supposed to make my Apple Music experience more tailored to my tastes were gone. I didn't really connect the dots right away as I assumed nothing had changed in my set up between my old iPhone 6 and my new iPhone 6s, but as it turns out, a simple tap of a button fixed everything.

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GIFO, Solar Walk 2, AmpMe and more apps to check out this weekend

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

There is no shortage of new and exciting content for Apple devices. An update to iOS 9 for the newest handset already came out, and a beta release popped up for the rest of us. There are dozens of great new titles in the App Store and updates that add all kinds of fun feature to the Apple Watch. If you are looking for new content for your iPhone, look no further than our list of apps and games for this weekend.

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Why 2GB of RAM in the iPhone 6s is a big deal for everyone [Video]

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Safari. It's one of our go to apps, and arguably the most popular app on iOS. It's also one of the apps that has suffered the most over the past few years due to lack of resources. Safari has been starved for far too long, and its resulted in perpetual Safari tab refreshing and frustrated end users.

Starting with last year's iPad Air 2, Apple decided it was time to change that. It was time to feed Safari and other RAM starved apps. The results were great and immediately noticeable. It's one of the reasons that the iPad Air 2 can keep on trucking just fine without a yearly refresh.

Today, Apple extended the same favor to its most popular product, the iPhone. Like the iPad Air 2, the iPhone 6s benefits heavily from the extra gig of RAM.

But how much does the extra RAM truly benefit day to day usage on a phone? Is it something that everyday users will notice, even if Apple refuses to place emphasis on it? Watch our video pitting the iPhone 6 Plus vs the iPhone 6s Plus, and see for yourself.

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