TheNewsGuru

Tag: iPhone

  • Why you should stop closing apps on your iPhone

    Why you should stop closing apps on your iPhone

    If you constantly close apps on your iPhone while attempting to speed things up or save battery life, you’re doing the opposite and making your iPhone perform worse. Here’s why.

    iPhone Handles System Resources Automatically

    Many people might be familiar with how apps run on a Mac or a Windows PC. On those platforms, if an application is running in the background, it can still be using up CPU cycles or taking up RAM. Conventional wisdom says that closing those programs will make your PC or Mac perform better.

    On an iPhone, things work differently: When you switch away from an app, the app enters a suspended state, and iOS automatically frees up CPU cycles and RAM that were devoted to running the app. iPhone’s automatic resource management is so good that you never need to worry about an app paused in the background slowing down the app you’re using in the foreground.

    Officially, Apple says “You should close an app only if it’s unresponsive.”

    Re-launching Apps Hurts Performance and Battery

    In fact, when you force an app to close on your iPhone, it will not only slow down your app experience but will also use up more battery life. That’s because, once an app is closed completely, it needs to re-launch and reload all of its resources the next time you open the app. That takes extra CPU power, which uses up your battery faster. Re-launching a completely closed app is also slower than switching quickly to a suspended app.

    So, instead of increasing performance and saving battery life, regularly closing apps on iPhone will actually do exactly the opposite.

    There is one exception, however. Sometimes a background app can check for new information. If that app is programmed improperly, it might use more battery life than usual. If an app is abusing its resources in the background, you might see evidence of it in the “Battery” section of the Settings app. In that case, don’t force quit. Instead, you can disable Background App Refresh in Settings.

    Sometimes You Still Need to Close Apps

    Despite everything we just wrote, there are still a few legitimate reasons you might need to force-close an iPhone app. If an app stops responding or isn’t working properly, it’s a good idea to bring up the app switcher and close the app completely. To do so, you’ll need to perform a different action depending on the type of iPhone you have:

    On iPhone X or later: Swipe upward from the bottom of the screen toward the middle of the screen, then lift your finger.

    On iPhones with Home buttons: Double-press the Home button located below the screen.

    When the App Switcher opens, you’ll see thumbnails of apps that are suspended in the background. To force close an app, swipe its thumbnail upward, off the screen.

    Swipe upward on an app’s thumbnail.

    When the app disappears, the app has been closed completely. The next time you tap its icon, it will re-launch itself.

    Even though Apple allows you to force-close Apps in this manner, doing so should be a very rare occurrence. iOS takes care of multitasking in an elegant and efficient way.

  • Apple to phase out one of its flagship iPhones

    Apple to phase out one of its flagship iPhones

    Apple is set to phase out one of its flagship iPhones, the iPhone 6.

    In an internal memo, Apple will add the iPhone 6 Plus to its list of retro products on December 31. This means that more than five years have passed since Apple stopped distributing and selling the device.

    However, Apple Store and Apple authorized service providers will continue to provide repair services for retro products for up to 7 years. Of course, this will be subject to the availability of parts.

    The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, launched in September 2014, are the two most popular smartphones ever sold by Apple. These two devices have “larger” 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays that are extremely popular. These devices have been driving the small screen smartphone market for years.

    Although the iPhone 6 Plus was discontinued in 2016, the smaller iPhone 6 was still available for purchase through specific retailers in some regions until at least 2018.

    In fact, many people still use this product as of today thus it will take longer to become a retro product.

    In addition to the milestone increase in screen size, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are the first devices to support Apple Pay. Other main features include the A8 chip as well as a significantly better camera.

    In terms of software, with the release of iOS 13 a few years ago, Apple has given up support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but it is still known as the first generation of “magic machines”, which is full of memories for many users.

  • Why you must not use your iPhone in extreme weather conditions

    Why you must not use your iPhone in extreme weather conditions

    Apple has warned users of its flagship iPhone and iPad devices to beware of extreme, super hot and super cold, weather conditions.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Apple gave the warning in a post published on it’s website.

    According to the publication, using an iOS or iPadOS device in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life.

    It advised users not to store their devices where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F).

    It also advised users not to leave their devices in their cars, stressing that temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.

    “Use iOS and iPadOS devices where the ambient temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F).

    “Low- or high-temperature conditions might cause the device to change its behavior to regulate its temperature,” the website post reads.

    Why your device might get warm

    You might notice that your device feels warmer when you:

    • Set up your device the first time
    • Restore from a backup
    • Wirelessly charge your device
    • Use graphics-intensive or processor-intensive apps, games, or features, including augmented-reality apps
    • Stream high-quality video

    These conditions are normal, and your device will return to a regular temperature when the process is complete or when you finish your activity. If your device doesn’t display a temperature warning, you can keep using your device.

    When your device gets too warm

    iOS and iPadOS devices have built-in protections to prevent overheating. If the interior temperature of the device exceeds the normal operating range, the device will protect its internal components by attempting to regulate its temperature. Here are some of the higher ambient-temperature conditions and activities to avoid, because they might cause the device to change performance and behavior:

    • Avoid leaving the device in a car on a hot day
    • Avoid leaving the device in direct sunlight for an extended period of time
    • Avoid using certain features in hot conditions or direct sunlight for an extended period of time, such as GPS tracking or navigation in a car, playing a graphics-intensive game, or using augmented-reality apps

    If the interior temperature of your device exceeds the normal operating range, you might notice these changes:

    • Charging, including wireless charging, slows or stops.
    • The display dims or goes black.
    • Cellular radios enter a low-power state. The signal might weaken during this time.
    • The camera flash is temporarily disabled.
    • Performance slows with graphics-intensive or augmented-reality apps or features.

    Additionally, if you’re navigating, the device might show this alert and turn off the display: “Temperature: iPhone needs to cool down.” Navigation still provides audible turn-by-turn directions. When approaching a turn, the display will illuminate to guide you through the turn.

    When your device gets too cold

    Using an iOS or iPadOS device in very cold conditions outside of its operating range might temporarily shorten battery life and could cause the device to turn off. Battery life will return to normal when you bring the device back to higher ambient temperatures.

    Your iOS or iPadOS device might not charge or could stop charging if it gets too cold.

    When you see a temperature warning screen

    If the device exceeds a certain temperature threshold, it will present a temperature warning screen similar to this:

    An iPhone showing this message might still be able to make emergency calls.

    To resume use of your device as quickly as possible, turn it off, move it to a cooler environment (away from direct sunlight), and allow it to cool down.

  • BREAKING: Apple now lets you repair your own iPhone

    BREAKING: Apple now lets you repair your own iPhone

    Following widespread criticism regarding its anti-repair practices on the iPhone 13 lineup, Apple today has announced a Self Service Repair programme.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Apple announced the Self Service Repair, which will allow customers, who are comfortable with completing their own repairs, have access to Apple genuine parts and tools.

    Repairs of Apple iPhones before now have been limited to Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) and Independent Repair Providers who have access to Apple parts, tools, and manuals.

    However, with this programme, product owners who are capable of performing repairs themselves can now have access to Apple parts, tools, and manuals, and be able to carry out repairs themselves.

    The company had earlier shared that it would not be disabling Face ID after third-party screen repairs, following an online outrage. The Cupertino giant is now taking an unexpected step further and making repairs easily accessible to individuals.

    According to a newsroom post by the iPhone maker, the programme will be available first for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups, and soon to be followed by Mac computers featuring M1 chips.

    The Self Service Repair programme, according to Apple, will be available early next year in the US and expanded to additional countries throughout 2022.

    The initial phase of the programme will focus on the most commonly serviced modules, such as the iPhone display, battery, and camera. The ability for additional repairs will be available later next year.

    “Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed. In the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and training, and now we’re providing an option for those who wish to complete their own repairs,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer said.

    TNG reports the move by Apple is unprecedented, but it is most definitely a welcome one that will help the company dodge antitrust lawsuits.

  • How to take scrolling screenshots on your Apple iPhone

    How to take scrolling screenshots on your Apple iPhone

    If you want to save the contents of the screen on your device, taking a screenshot is one of the best and easiest options.

    However, if the content is spread across multiple lines or sections vertically, like this article, for example, you’ll have to take multiple screenshots to capture the entire information. This is where scrolling screenshots come in handy.

    A scrolling screenshot, as the name suggests, lets you scroll down on any page and capture screenshots of every section. It then stitches all of those screenshots into one single image.

    A lot of Android OEMs have scrolling screenshots as a built-in feature on their custom UIs.

    On the iOS side of things, Apple introduced the ability to take scrolling screenshots natively on iPhone but it isn’t as straightforward as Android.

    It doesn’t work on all applications, you can’t store that screenshot in your gallery, and iOS 15 doesn’t make it any better either.

    However, it works well and should get the job done for most people. If it doesn’t, we also have a third-party app recommendation you can use to take scrolling screenshots.

    Scrolling screenshots on iPhone using default method

    As mentioned earlier, if you have an iPhone running iOS 13 or later, you have the option to take scrolling screenshots built into the UI itself.

    A lot of users may not have noticed this option in the screenshot menu since it’s not very self-explanatory, but we’ll tell you how to use it today.

    Note that this option is not available in all apps and is supported mainly in Safari and other first-party apps from Apple.

    • If you’re not using one of Apple’s first-party apps, we suggest you open the content in one of the default apps since the scrolling screenshot option is present mainly on them.
    • For example, if you want to capture the screenshot of an entire webpage, we suggest opening the page in Safari instead of a different browser like Chrome.
    • Once you have the content you want to take a screenshot of on your screen, press the usual button combination to take a screenshot that is volume up + power button.
    • Your iPhone will now capture the screenshot and display a small thumbnail on the bottom left corner of your screen. Tap on it and you will see the screenshot edit menu.
    • In this menu, select the Full Page option next to Screen at the top and you’ll instantly see a scroll bar on the right with a highlighted rectangle.
    • Use the highlighted rectangular box to scroll down on the page till the point you want to capture the screenshot. If you want to capture the entire page, scroll down till the very end.
    • Once you have reached the desired point on the page, select Done to save it. Note you can only save scrolling screenshots as a PDF and not as a JPG or PNG image.
    • Select the directory where you want to save the PDF in the Files app and your scrolling screenshot will be saved.
    • To access the scrolling screenshot, open the Files app and navigate to the folder you saved it in and open the PDF.

    While this is the simplest way to take a scrolling screenshot on an iPhone, the fact it doesn’t let you save it as an image but only as a PDF can be a hassle.

    A workaround to this problem would be to use a PDF to JPG converter to convert the screenshot into an image and download it to the Photos app on your iPhone.

    If you don’t want to do that, you can use third-party apps to stitch screenshots together and form a scrolling screenshot. Let’s see how you can do that.

    Scrolling screenshots on iPhone using Picsew

    Picsew is a third-party app that allows you to stitch multiple normal screenshots into a single long screenshot, similar to what a scrolling screenshot would look like.

    It is free, simple to use, and gets the job done perfectly well. Also, it saves the screenshot as an image and not a PDF which is a lot more convenient.

    There are no restrictions to using Picsew and it works for screenshots taken across the device, and in all apps, so if you’re not using a first-party app, this is the only way to capture a scrolling screenshot on an iPhone.

    Here’s how you can use Picsew to stitch together multiple screenshots.

    • Head over to whichever app or page you want to take a scrolling screenshot of. Now, take a normal screenshot of the page till the end of the screen and then scroll down to the next section. Take a screenshot of this section and again scroll down to go to the next section. Repeat this till you have taken screenshots of every section on the page up to the desired point.
    • Now, open the Picsew app and select all the screenshots that you took of the page you want to stitch together. Then, select the Vertical option.
    • You’ll now see the screenshots you captured arranged one below the other with a line in between signifying where you want to merge the screenshots. You can drag the divider up or down and adjust where you want the consecutive screenshots to be cropped and merged.
    • Once you’ve adjusted that, select the Share button at the top right corner and select Export to Photos and your screenshot will be saved.

    This is how you take scrolling screenshots on an iPhone. It surely isn’t as straightforward as on Android, but you can use these workarounds to make it happen.

    Hopefully, with future versions of iOS, Apple will include a more advanced screenshot tool that can let users take scrolling screenshots on all apps across iOS as well as allow them to save the screenshots as images instead of PDFs.

  • Google reveals plans to revamp iPhone, iPad apps

    Google reveals plans to revamp iPhone, iPad apps

    Google has revealed plans to revamp its iPhone and iPad apps to match Apple’s design language.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Jeff Verkoeyen, staff engineering lead for Google Design on Apple platforms gave the hint in a series of tweets recently.

    When it comes to Google apps on iOS and iPadOS, almost all users notice one thing when first launching them — how similar they look to the ones on Android.

    For the longest time, there have been complaints regarding how their user interface (UI) doesn’t match that of iOS.

    Switches, banners, and other buttons all follow Google’s Material Design language from Android.

    However, it seems like Google is now finally planning to revamp its iPhone and iPad apps to match Apple’s design language.

    Verkoeyen highlights that Google has been “filling gaps in UIKit” all these years. That’s because Apple’s UIKit was missing fundamental elements that Google needed in its apps. The latter had to build its own custom top bars, menus, lists, etc., which led to the similarities.

    But now Google believes that UIKit has matured enough to be almost completely dependent on.

    “There’s simply no need to recreate and maintain custom buttons and designs when there’s a native solution for nearly everything.

    “This year my team shifted the open source Material components libraries for iOS into maintenance mode,” Verkoeyen tweeted.

    Google put Material components libraries for iOS into maintenance mode back in July.

    It now encourages developers to follow Apple’s Human Interface guidelines and depend on modern UIKit and SwiftUI components.

    It’s worth mentioning that Google will still be applying “light branded touches” to maintain the Google feel on its iOS apps, even after the revamp.

    Google has been adopting some newer iOS APIs, such as supporting iOS 14 widgets when they were first made available.

    In fact, some Android users complain about Google implementing some new features on iOS before its own mobile operating system.

    It is yet to be seen when the first revamped app updates will appear on the App Store and whether the shift will be gradual or not.

  • You won’t be able to downgrade your iPhone after this update

    You won’t be able to downgrade your iPhone after this update

    Apple recently rolled out the iOS 15.0.1 update and now the company has stopped signing code for the iOS 15 that was launched for the public on September 20.

    This means that Apple iPhone users with the new iOS update can no longer downgrade to an older build.

    So, if you are already using iOS 15.0.1 or have upgraded to iOS 15.1 beta version then you cannot downgrade, even if you want to.

    Released last week, iOS 15.0.1 was focused on resolving bugs reported by several iPhone users after installing iOS 15.

    The update included bug fixes where few iPhone 13 users were unable to use Unlock with Apple Watch feature.

    Apart from this, the update also fixed a bug where the Settings app was incorrectly displaying an alert that the storage is full and Audio meditations could unexpectedly start a workout on Apple Watch for some Fitness+ subscribers.

    The company regularly stops signing legacy codes whenever a new iOS update is launched as it allows to keep more devices on feature-rich versions and it also protects the users from cybercriminals that try to use newly discovered weak links.

    Although the company does not recommend downgrading to an older iOS version, iPhone users who jailbreak their devices often prefer this process. Users who face battery issues and any other bugs when they install a new iOS build update also often try to downgrade their operating system.

    First unveiled in WWDC in June, iOS 15 marks a major version update introducing features like Live Text, Focus Mode, SharePlay, Virtual Look Up, redesigned Safari browser and other security updates.

    The update is only available to install in iPhone models launched after 2015 or above iPhone 6S.

    To install the latest version in your device you can go to Settings > General > Software Update.

  • Why Apple may discontinue production of iPhone 12 mini

    Why Apple may discontinue production of iPhone 12 mini

    Apple has been speculated to discontinue the production of iPhone 12 mini by the second quarter of 2021.

    According to a supply chain analyst, Apple may stop producing the iPhone 12 mini due to weak demand.

    Recall that the mini version iPhone debuted alongside the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max that are speculated to have relatively better market performance.

    Apple brought the iPhone 12 mini to provide a flagship option to consumers who are looking for a smaller yet powerful device.

    However, the latest model wasn’t able to meet the expectations, research firms reported recently.

    JP Morgan supply chain analyst William Yang in a note to investors noted that the iPhone 12 mini production might be discontinued by the second quarter of 2021, AppleInsider reports.

    The discontinuation doesn’t mean that the iPhone 12 mini will completely leave the market as there could still be enough inventory for the small model to continue to be available for some time.

    Last month, market research firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) stated that the iPhone 12 mini attracted only six percent of total iPhone sales during October and November.

    Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also last year noted that the iPhone 12 mini — along with the iPhone 12 — didn’t meet expected demand.

    The iPhone 12 mini was launched as Apple’s solution for the people who were looking for a small-size flagship iPhone. It shares many similarities with the iPhone 12, albeit with a smaller display and a shorter battery life.

    Being the smallest in the series, the iPhone 12 mini comes with a 5.4-inch display, while the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro share the same 6.1-inch display and the iPhone 12 Pro Max has the largest in the series, a 6.7-inch display.

  • How to get iOS 14 before others

    Apple recently unveiled its latest operating system, the iOS 14, but it won’t be available likely until September.

    The iOS 14 allows users to put widgets on the home screen for the first time; plus other mouthwatering features.

    There are two ways to get the newly unveiled iOS 14, and start feeling the groove of the new features, before others.

    You either get it earlier by signing up for the Apple’s beta programmes or you get it way earlier by signing up for Apple’s developer programme.

    To get the iOS 14 through the beta programmes, you would have to wait till mid-July, but you will have the OS immediately if you use the developer programme option.

    To be eligible you need to go to Apple’s beta software programme page and sign up – all you need to do so is a valid Apple ID (iCloud accounts qualify).

    Before you download the beta iOS 14, it is advisable you do a backup of your device; just in case things go awry.

    To get started, you first need to head to the enrolment page here, and thereafter, download the iOS 14 beta profile to your phone here.

    The next thing to do is manually install the iOS 14 profile on your phone by heading to Settings > General > Profile, and selecting the Profile Downloaded (a new option which should appear) and tapping the profile selected.

    Stay on your settings but scroll down to software update, which should give you the option to download iOS 14. It is a 5GB update, so will take some time. Plug your phone to a charging point to make sure it doesn’t die while updating.

    Once the update is complete, restart the phone and you should find it running the new iOS 14. Easy, right?

    The iPhone 12, 12 Max, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max to be released later in the year will all come with iOS 14 pre installed.

    However, iPhone 6s & 6s Plus, iPhone SE (2016), iPhone 7 & 7 Plus, iPhone 8 & 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS & XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max and iPhone SE (2020) are all compatible with the new iOS.

  • Apple borrows Android features for iOS 14 to make iPhone better

    Apple on Monday at the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) unveiled the new iOS 14 and a redesigned iPhone home screen with new widgets, and other Android-borrowed features.

    While many of the iOS 14 features might feel new for Apple iPhone users, most of the features are already familiar with users of Android devices.

    Here are all of the new Apple iOS 14 features that Android already had.

    Widgets

    With the iOS, the home screens of the revamped iPhone and iPad will include widgets, which let users see information like the weather on the home screen at a glance. Prior to iOS 14, iPhone users could only have apps on the iPhone home screen. Widgets, which contain more information and are more functional than app icons, have been a mainstay feature on Google’s Android since its inception in 2008.

    App Library

    Another part of Apple’s redesigned home screen is an App Library that organizes apps into groups and lists. With the new home screen in iOS 14, users can also “hide” apps from their main home-screen. This is similar to Android’s app drawer, already in existence long before.

    App Clips

    Apple’s App Clips let users preview “small parts” of apps quickly without downloading them. Google introduced a similar feature, Instant Apps, in 2016. Instant Apps gives apps their own URL so users don’t have to download an entire app, except they really want to download it.

    Translate

    With iOS 14, Apple introduced a new Translate app that is designed for use in real-time conversation. As of March 2020, Google’s 14-year-old dedicated translate app could already transcribe conversations in eight languages in real time.

    Picture-in-picture

    Apple also announced a new picture-in-picture feature coming to iOS 14, which will allow users to be able to watch a video while using other apps. The video will shrink and be able to float anywhere on the screen. It can also be swiped away and the video’s audio can still play. While the audio doesn’t continue to play if the video is swiped away, Android phones already have the ability to float videos over other apps.

    Apple Maps cycling directions

    The updated Apple Maps app will provide ways to travel in a more eco-friendly fashion in iOS 14 and WatchOS 7. The dedicated Cycling option will help users find bike paths while taking into account elevation, whether the route a user takes is busy or quiet, and if a user will encounter any stairs. While Google Maps doesn’t factor in stairs, there has been the option to select “cycling” since 2010.

    Wind Down mode

    Apple also announced a Wind Down mode for iOS 14 that helps users get ready for bed. The feature, which works for iPhone and Apple Watch, let users set a desired bed time and wake-up time, and puts the phone into Do Not Disturb mode. There are also options to add shortcuts for meditation or playing relaxing music. While Google does not have a dedicated app for this, there had been a way to set up a bed time routine through the Google Home app for long.