iPhone

Stay up-to-date on the latest iPhone news and learn new tips and tricks with our comprehensive tutorials. From software updates to new features, we’ve got you covered.

Review: the Prong PWR is an iPhone battery case with a twist

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

After spending a year growing accustomed to the iPhone 6 Plus, I decided to go for the smaller handset. I've been pretty happy with the 6s thus far, but the smaller size means a smaller battery, and I've found it's not enough to get me through a normal day.

When I'm working, my dock is typically within arms-length, but on days when I'm out and about this gets to be a problem. We have several battery packs, but I find USB cables very limiting, and I definitely don't want to use a bulky battery case full-time.

That's where the Prong PWR Case comes in.

Google launching deep integration between search and iOS 9 apps by month’s end

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2015

Google announced today that Apple fans who are running iOS 9 on their iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices will soon start seeing app content in their search results in the Safari browser.

The company's so-called App Indexing feature is now compatible with HTTP deep link standards for iOS 9. Owners of iOS 9 devices should expect app content to begin surfacing in search results by month's end.

Review: Overcast 2.0 brings streaming support and new price—free (no IAPs whatsoever)

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2015

Developer Marco Arment today issued a major update to Overcast, its praised podcast player and manager app for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple Watch. Going from the freemium to free model, Overcast 2.0 is now a free app without In-App Purchases, advertising or other limitations.

Instead, you can now support the continued development of Overcast, if you want, by becoming a patron which entails a recurring subscription.

If not, enjoy everything Overcast hast to offer absolutely free of charge.

One of the major new features in Overcast 2.0 is streaming, which can now be used with Smart Speed and Voice Boost effects to save time when listening to podcasts by shortening moments of silence without having to download new episodes first.

Some of the previously pulled apps and games now returning to App Store’s Purchased history

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2015

Many of the iPhone and iPad applications that have vanished from users' Purchased histories are now returning to the App Store, TouchArcade reports, suggesting the whole brouhaha was but a glitch in the App Store.

Not all of the pulled games have returned, however, though some classics like Ngmoco's games and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 can now be re-downloaded through the App Store's Purchased tab again.

Get more out of your iPhone photos with the Imvio Camera Lens Kit

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Folks in the market for an iPhone lens accessory should consider adding the Imvio Camera Lens Kit to their list of prospects. The kit includes an iPhone case, a Fisheye and Wide Angle lens, a protective carrying case, and it's available for every late-model iPhone starting with the 5s.

I've been using Imvio lenses on my iPhone 6s for the past week, and I have to say that overall, it's a solid product. The case fits well and the lenses attach and detach easily. It's not perfect though, and I did find a few things I didn't like during my testing. Read on for my full review.

SIM-free iPhone 6s now available in Apple’s web store

Cody Lee ∙ October 8, 2015

Heads up to those of you who have been waiting for SIM-free iPhone 6s and 6s Plus handsets. As noted by MacRumors, Apple on Thursday night began offering SIM-free models of its latest smartphones via its web store.

While you could previously buy the iPhone 6s at full retail, they have, until now, included carrier-specific SIM cards. These new models, as the name suggests, do not include any kind of SIM card, meaning they are unlocked.

Starbucks will soon begin accepting Apple Pay

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Starbucks fans rejoice! The popular coffee chain will soon support Apple Pay. Jennifer Bailey, the head of Apple's mobile payment arm, broke the news Thursday onstage at the Code/Mobile conference, telling Recode's Ina Fried that the launch is planned for early next year.

Note that this will be different than the current implementation of Apple Pay in the Starbucks app, which only really allows you to re-fill your Starbucks Card. In-store support of the payments service will allow users to pay for their coffee using their iPhone or Apple Watch.

Wake Alarm Clock goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Heads-up deal seekers. Apple has named Tiny Hearts Limited's "Wake Alarm Clock" its App of the Week for this week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you'll be able to pick up the popular alarm clock app for free for both iPhone and iPad—a solid savings of $4.

For those unfamiliar with the app, Wake is highly regarded for its beautiful and intuitive design, and its range of various alarm modes. You can slap your phone to activate a short snooze, flip it to turn off all alarms, or you can set it so you have to shake your phone to turn all alarms off.

How to check if you have TSMC or Samsung chip in your iPhone 6s

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 15, 2019

For the first time ever, Apple has dual-sourced the engine that drives the new handsets from more than one supplier. Both Samsung and rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) won contracts to build the Apple-designed 'A9' system-on-a-chip for the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

While these chips offer literally the same compute and graphics power, both synthetic benchmarks and real-life tests have shown small yet notable difference in terms of battery as the TSCM-built A9 appears to be more power efficient than its Samsung counterpart.

The question is, does your brand spanking new iPhone 6s have the TSMC or Samsung-built chip? You can find that out in just a few simple steps, let me show you how.

Samsung-built A9 chip in iPhone 6s found to drain battery faster than TSMC one, Apple doesn’t really agree

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

Does your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus come outfitted with Samsung or TSMC-built A9 processor? The answer to that question could determine how long your device will run before its battery needs recharging.

Your key takeaway is this: while the dual-sourced chips perform identically in synthetic Geekbench tests in terms of sheer CPU compute power and GPU performance, there's a marked difference in observed battery life ranging from six to eleven percent.

You could argue the difference is barely felt in day-to-day use, but I beg to differ: energy efficiency is paramount for mobile devices and the battery-friendlier the main processor is, the longer it will run on a single charge.

Gonzo action game The Executive is IGN’s Free Game of the Month

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 10, 2015

So you want to be the CEO of a trillion dollar mining company that has been infiltrated by werewolves? Look no further than The Executive by Riverman Media, a title unlike any other mobile game on the market.

The Executive, normally a $4.99 download from the App Store, has just gone free via IGN's ongoing Free Game of the Month promotion, marking the first time the game has hone free since its July 2015 debut.

Best of all, there are no ads and no In-App Purchases in The Executive so this single free download is all you need. The Executive is part rhythm game and part 2D fighter and can be yours at no charge if you follow our instructions on redeeming your free copy.

iOS 9 adoption hits 57 percent after three weeks

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 8, 2015

According to Apple's own data, the adoption rate for iOS 9 has reached 57 percent of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices in the wild after three weeks of availability, as measured by the App Store on October 5, 2015. By comparison, it took iOS 8 nearly six weeks to zoom past the 50 percent barrier.

A total of 33 percent of iOS devices running iOS 8 visited the App Store on October 5, while earlier version of the mobile operating system accounted for the remaining ten percent of hardware in the wild.