Whichever iPhone it is that you own, whether it is a ‘classic’ 1st Generation or a snazzy new iPhone 4, you will want to optimize it in order to make the most out of it. No matter whether you spend a few minutes a day chatting to your friends, or hours on end surfing the web and downloading Apps, the savvy amongst us will have a desire to get the best out of their favourite accessory. Well, here at iPhoneAppCafe we have compiled a list of 10 Top Tips to help you make the most of your iPhone, because…well, we’re just that nice. And it’s Christmas. Merry Christmas.
How To: Rearrange your iPhone’s App icons
When you turned your iPhone on for the first time, you will have been greeted with the same screen layout as everybody else, with your App icons all in a uniform row. It was great. But as you downloaded more Apps, your screen became cluttered and you wanted your most-used App icons within quick reach! Well, the easiest way to rearrange your iPhone’s App icons is to press and hold the Home key until all of the Apps are shimmering and just drag them to the place where they will suit you the best. In this mode, you can also delete certain Apps by pressing the ‘x’ in the top right hand corner of the App, but best of all you can create App folders by dragging App icons over other icons, so everything is filed away and you have satisfied your inner OCD freak!
How To: Save a Screenshot on your iPhone
Ever been sent a ridiculously funny string of texts or pictures, or seen something funny on your screen whilst surfing the web and wanted to save it as an image? Well, the quick and easy way to save a screenshot is to hold down the Home and Power Key simultaneously when you are on the screen that you want to save, and a copy of the screen’s image will be saved to your library, ready for you to send to your friends!
How To: Maintain your iPhone’s Battery Life
The iPhone is a fantastic invention, capable of just about anything that you would ever want it to do, (short of cooking you dinner, but it can order a pizza like nobody’s business!) However, the battery life is not fantastic and during the course of you using all the weird and wonderful Apps that you have downloaded from the App Store, you may experience a power shortage and ensuing cut out. Well, the best way to elongate your battery life is to make sure that the phone is only being used when it is being used! So, turn off 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth roaming when you are not looking for such devices, set the Autolock to just one minute and lock your screen when you are not using it. If this isn’t enough, download ‘Battery Doctor Pro’ which is an Battery monitoring App that shows you where all of your juice is going…you will soon see the difference!
How To: Talk on your iPhone when on the Internet
Living in today’s busy world of constant communication, you may need to multi-task whilst using your iPhone; if you can’t decide between emailing one friend or calling another, then why not do both?! By pressing the Home button while making a call, your home screen will appear, which will allow you to access Safari and gossip via email about all the secrets that your friend is confiding in you! Be sure to switch the phone to Speaker mode while you are browsing, in order to hear your friend more clearly…you wouldn’t want to miss any juicy details!
How To: Increase your iPhone’s Security
As a great Philosopher once said, (or was it Spiderman’s mentor?!), with great power comes great responsibility, and seeing as the iPhone is one of the most powerful social tools of our time, it has a responsibility to protect all of the information that you store on it from unwanted eyes and ears. So, to turn on a Passcode Lock, press ‘Settings’ and select ‘General’ then ‘Passcode Lock’, where you can choose a 4-digit passcode that will be required each time you open your iPhone’s Home screen. You can choose time settings as to how long it will be before the passcode is required, to allow you a little more freedom. You can also monitor what theiPhone is used for in the ‘Restrictions’ section; worried parents can put a passcode on accessing certain WebPages and YouTube links to prevent the loss of their children’s innocence!
How To: Make Cheap Calls Abroad
If you have a partner or family member that you want to stay in touch with when they or you are abroad, then a Skype or Viber App is essential. With Skype you can make calls to existing Skype users anywhere in the world for free, provided that you have their email address; however, Viber is slightly more accessible, seeing as all you have to do is invite them to Viber via their phone number and all of your calls will be free! (Remember, if you are abroad then you must use a WiFi connection to avoid ridiculously high roaming charges.)
How To: Make the Most of your iPhone’s Camera
The iPhone’s camera does exactly what it says on the tin; it takes photos that will be exported to your library, where you can email, upload them to a computer or SMS them to friends and family. However, to really make the most out of your iPhone’s camera, you should download some camera Apps that put special filters on the lens and make all of your photos look proper professional! ‘Hipstamatic’ is a great App that lends your photos a hazy, beautiful feel, while Camera Genius boasts Antishudder, a voice-activated shutter and a timer to allow you to get in your own photos!
How To: Save Your iPhone if it gets wet
Taking your iPhone on a night out is a dangerous thing to do, no matter how essential it may be; there are sinks, toilets and pint glasses galore just waiting to swallow your precious phone, given a momentary drunken fall. However, should the worst happen, all might not be lost! If you act quickly then you may save the phone, or at least the data stored on it. So, quickly grab your wet iPhone and turn the power off, then dry it off with a towel or a T-Shirt, whatever is nearest; then place it in a bag of uncooked rice to soak up the moisture and leave it for two days. If you manage to turn the power back on, then don’t count your chickens; write down all of your contacts immediately in case it dies later on. (Of course, the best cure is prevention, i.e. don’t get drunk and wave your iPhone around in the bathroom!)
How To: Best protect your iPhone
Your iPhone will undoubtedly be one of your most prized possessions, so, naturally, you will want to protect it from all of the jutting edges, tough tarmacs and sharp pocket change that the world may throw at it. So, a case is essential, as your delicate iPhone may not survive a direct drop if it is unsheathed. Cases can range from the sleek and slim leather cases to the more hardy rubber encasements; one you end up choosing will depend on your requirements and personal taste, but make sure that you get a screen cover, as a house key can easily scratch the screen, given a little time together in your pocket!
How To: Use your iPhone as an External Hard Drive for Free
Most iPhone users will have cut their teeth on an iPod before investing in its communicative older brother, so they will be aware of the iPod’s ability to be used as a Hard Drive; by connecting it to your computer, you can drag files into the icon on screen and carry the contents of your Hard Drive around in your pocket. Well, now the iPhone has that capability as well, however, to activate it is a little more complex. If you download ‘Discover’, then you will have the only free App that allows you to gain full functionality of the iPhone as a Wireless Hard Disk, either by connecting to your computer via WebDAV protocol or the Web interface via your browser. What more could you possibly want?!
useful tips in this post.