Table of contents for 160 in iPad & iPhone User

The iPad Air (2019) has long been the sweet spot between price, performance, and features in Apple’s tablet line. At its Time Flies event, the company unveiled a new iPad Air that further cements its position as the best iPad for most people. Here are the most important things to know about the new redesigned 2020 iPad Air. 1. IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE AN iPAD PRO The new iPad Air (2020) takes some design cues from the much more expensive iPad Pro. It features the same flat-edged design with relatively thin bezels all the way around. Like the Pro, a more useful USB-C plug replaces the Lightning connector. This tweak to the Apple design language is likely to appear in the iPhone 12 as well. 2. IT’S…

The Apple Watch SE may be the newest member of Apple’s wearable family, but like the iPhone SE, it’s not a new device. Not exactly, anyway. The Apple Watch SE is a little Series 4, a little Series 5, and a little Series 6, all wrapped up in a lower-priced aluminium body. Here are six surprising things Apple delivered in its newest affordable device. 1. APPLE WATCH SE HAS THE SAME DISPLAY AS SERIES 6 With the £199 Series 3 watch using the older square watch face, we fully expected the Apple Watch SE to go retro as well to cut costs. That’s not the case. The Apple Watch SE has the same 40mm and 44mm bodies and larger retina 448x368 displays as the Series 6, just without the…

The Time Flies event was packed with new products, so you can be forgiven for missing this. Apple revealed that its mobile operating systems – iOS 14, iPadOS 14 and watchOS 7 – would be available from 16 September. So you can download them now. If you own an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update and then click Download and install. If you own an Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your connected iPhone. Then tap General and Software Update. Alternatively, on your Apple Watch itself, open the Settings app, then tap General, then Software Update. You can download and install the update directly from your Watch.…

With each major new release of iOS, Apple tightens the screws on apps and services that would violate users’ privacy without their knowledge or permission. With iOS 14, Apple’s got a lot of new privacy-minded features, and issued a notice to developers on 3 September about two of them. When iOS 14 is released, Apple will require developers who distribute apps in the iOS or Mac App Store to submit information about all the data the app collects and how it is used in a host of common categories. This information will be presented in a special section of each app’s App Store listing, so users can see what information they’re going to give up before installing an app. Apple’s statement informs developers that they will be able to submit…

Sure as summer turns to autumn, sure as pizza is the most delicious food, sure as a shark will devour whatever lies in its path, Apple is once again gobbling up smaller companies. Over the summer, we heard of at least three acquisitions that Apple made. Whether it’s because the companies have developed some sort of technology that Apple wants for itself (or to deny its competitors) or because the Cupertino-based company is looking to hire more people with certain specialities, Apple tends to acquire smaller companies regularly. According to comments from Tim Cook last year, it’s at a rate of roughly one company every two or three weeks, which is, well, a lot of acquisitions. While you can’t always draw a straight line from the firms that Apple decides…

Price: Free (in-app purchases) from fave.co/3hcXq5w Smartwatch owners love being able to customize the appearance of the Apple Watch face. With just a few taps on the screen or rotations of the digital crown, no two wrists look the same. But in typical Apple fashion, that personalization stops just short of perfection, since there’s no way for developers to create truly unique third-party watch faces of their own. Instead, Apple Watch lovers must rely on an extensive battery of complications to populate favourite watch faces with data relevant to each person. For those looking to go beyond this limitation, there’s now an ingenious app designed to automatically display a wide range of complications on a given schedule throughout the day. It’s the closest we’ll likely come to custom Apple Watch…

Price: Free (in-app purchases) from fave.co/32iSF5V Although I love Fantastical, there are tasks on my to-do lists that would be better served by a different kind of app. Reminders for recurring DIY and car maintenance chores such as cleaning the car, mowing the lawn, or scheduling annual eye tests and dental cleanings are just a few of the important services that are easy to be overlooked when intermixed with unrelated one-time tasks. These are exactly the type of reminders Directive was created for. Free to download and use for up to ten maintenance tasks on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, the app comes preconfigured with more than 30 of the most common, repetitive chores faced by those who own a home or car. Directive can’t perform the actual task for you,…

Millions of users have their online accounts compromised every day. Password lists are traded on the dark web, and bad actors use automated processes to try them against lots of accounts and services. Sophisticated phishing attacks attempt to trick you into giving away your password (or the info necessary to reset it) by posing as legitimate services or customer support. Obviously, the best defence against this sort of thing is to have a different, strong, hard-to-guess password for every single account you own. A good password manager like 1Password (fave.co/3320MD2) or LastPass (fave.co/3bAzJCX)is a key component in managing that. But good passwords are not enough. Not a month goes by without another report of millions of passwords potentially compromised, and a computer infected with a virus can simply watch the…

When Apple introduced iPadOS 13.4, hooking up a mouse to your iPad became a lot simpler than it was when iPadOS 13 first dropped, and the overall experience has improved, as well. And at long last, you can hook up Apple’s own Magic Mouse 2 without diving deep into the Settings app or worrying about support dropping after iPadOS updates. Here we’ll show you how. SET UP A BLUETOOTH MOUSE ON AN iPAD OR iPHONE The easiest way to use a mouse with your iPad is to set it up with Bluetooth. Any old Bluetooth mouse should work. Before iPadOS 13.4, you had to dig in the Accessibility menu in order to pair some specific Bluetooth mice, but now you can do it straight through the regular Bluetooth interface. First,…

If you’re familiar with Apple’s popular and economical 7th-generation iPad (introduced about a year ago), you already know what to expect from the 8th-generation model. As the new base-model iPad, the 8th-gen iPad is essentially just the 7th-gen model with an upgraded processor. The 7th-gen model had an A10 processor, which offered very good performance for the price. The newly updated model features an A12, which is a big upgrade. First introduced in the iPhone XS, the A12 is much faster than the A10. Apple says it offers 40 per cent faster CPU performance and double the graphics performance. Looking at our performance benchmarks (fave.co/3izHXOp) of the iPhone XS (featuring the A12) and comparing it with the iPhone 7 Plus (which features the A10), those figures seem about right. Apple…

Online fitness services such as Peloton and Daily Burn have become very popular, and now Apple wants in on the business. They will soon offer Apple Fitness+, the latest service for Apple users. Fitness+ combines your Apple devices, videos, and collected exercise data to allow you to have satisfying workouts. Here’s all you need to know. WHAT IS APPLE FITNESS+? Internet-based fitness services and apps that work on your iPhone has been around for a while from companies like Peloton, Daily Burn and YogaGlo. They saw a huge growth in popularity thanks to the pandemic. With the Apple Watch, Apple has a device that’s perfectly made to help people get the most out of their workouts. The new Apple Watch Series 6 includes new blood oxygen monitoring and an ECG…

For Apple enthusiasts who want to use Microsoft’s Office software on an iPad, iPhone or Mac, you can now download the full Office 365 bundle, or any of its individual apps, from the Mac App Store. The bundle includes six apps: Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook and Word. You can also download them individually from the iOS App Store. There is a free one-month trial, after which the subscription is £59.99 a year, or £5.99 a month. As part of the subscription software updates are applied automatically as they are rolled out.…

If you are interested in getting a game by Epic in Apple’s App Store, you’re out of luck. Apple has terminated Epic’s developer account, and games made by Epic are no longer available. The move by Apple is the latest in the battle between the two companies, which started in August when Epic provided an option in Fortnite to buy directly from them. This was a direct violation of Apple’s App Store rules, and Fortnite was removed from the App Store. If you don’t know, Fortnite allows players to buy in-game stuff (outfits, dance moves, that sort of thing) with a virtual currency called V-bucks. It’s akin to the gems, diamonds, energy and other virtual currencies used in so many other mobile or free-to-play games. In August, Epic announced that…

You’ve seen the stories (see page 33): it’s an epic (eye-rolling pun intended) war between two technology giants. In one corner is Apple, accused of being a greedy colossus using its tight-fisted control over its platforms to stifle innovation and ruin consumer choice. In the other, Epic Games, accused of posing as the victim of a controversy it manufactured in the name of keeping more cash for itself. Who do you back? Choose your side. The thing is, I don’t really back all the actions of either party in this kerfuffle. Instead, I’m squarely on the side of the people who use technology. Let’s leave aside the tech giants. What are the outcomes that would most benefit regular users? EASIER TO BUY STUFF There’s no doubt about it. Apple’s restrictions…

Price: £34.99 (inc VAT) from fave.co/32bVV2V Every Mac (other than the Mac Pro and Mac mini) includes a built-in webcam, which Apple calls a FaceTime camera. And every single one, without exception, is total rubbish. They top out at a paltry 720p resolution, with the exception of the iMac Pro’s 1080p model. Resolution aside, they produce video that is grainy, blotchy, underexposed and with horrible dynamic range. This is weird, because Apple also makes some of the best cameras you can buy on a phone or tablet. The iPhone and iPad’s cameras put not just Apple’s crummy Mac webcams to shame, they outshine any webcam. Even the front-facing iPhone cameras. Enter Camo, a handy utility by Reincubate that turns your iPhone into a Mac webcam. It’s not the only method…

Price: £349 (inc VAT) from fave.co/2ZuY8ov Two years ago, when I reviewed Sony’s WH-1000XM3 active noise-cancelling headphones, I said that Sony had finally eclipsed Bose in this category. And I wasn’t the only one to say it. Now, the company is back with the all-new WH-1000XM4. While these new cans don’t advance the ball by a lot, they nonetheless are my new top recommendation for music lovers looking for great-sounding headphones that also deliver terrific noise cancellation. Key improvements include a proximity sensor that automatically toggles play/pause when you put the headphones on and take them off, support for Sony’s LDAC high-res audio codec (a common feature on high-end digital audio players), and multipoint connection via Bluetooth 5.0 (so you can connect to two sources at once). Sony made other…

I really wanted it to work. A couple of weeks ago I closed my MacBook on a Friday afternoon with no plans to open it for a week. I wasn’t going on holiday – rather, I was testing the theory that the iPad could actually be ‘a computer’. My set-up was as high-end as you could get: a 12.9in iPad Pro with 1TB of storage and cellular connectivity, a Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil – a set-up that’s more expensive than the 13in MacBook Pro I got it in 2016. It looked great on my desk and felt every bit like the future Apple sells. When I snapped the iPad into its magnetic enclosure, I hoped it could replace my MacBook with a sleek, modern and versatile device. Sadly, it…

The Apple TV: perhaps the most unloved of Apple’s major platforms? Even though the Apple TV has been around about as long as the iPhone – it was actually shown off by Steve Jobs before the iPhone’s announcement, though it was then called the ‘iTV’ – the set-top box has long seemed an afterthought for the company. That’s only increased more recently as Apple has embarked upon partnerships with third-party makers of televisions and set-top competitors to expand the footprint of its Apple TV+ service, bringing those devices features such as the Apple TV app and AirPlay 2. Still, recent rumours suggest that an updated Apple TV may be waiting in the wings, though what enhancements it might feature are largely anybody’s guess. But with all of the changes in…

Apple has launched a new Apple Watch Series 6, bringing a new high-end wearable to join an inaugural mid-range model and a brand-new service that’s powered by Apple’s iconic wearable. But while it might not seem like this is a huge upgrade, it’s actually bigger than it seems. Here’s why: 1. APPLE’S BLOOD O2 SENSOR IS BETTER THAN FITBIT’S As rumoured, the Apple Watch Series 6 can measure the oxygen levels in your blood, thanks to a new sensor that uses red and infrared light to calculate the colour of your blood and determine its oxygen level. Unlike Fitbit devices, which only measure your bloodoxygen levels while you sleep, on the new Apple Watch you can take a Blood O2 reading in just 15 seconds at any time of…

Apple has several subscription services available, and now you can save some cash by signing up for Apple One, a pricing plan that bundles Apple’s services together for discounts. In effect, it replaces expensive à la carte pricing with cheaper pricing bundles. Over the following pages we look at everything you need to know. WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN APPLE ONE? All of Apple’s services are available for bundled pricing: Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News, Apple TV+, and iCloud. (Apple Fitness+ will not be available until late 2020.) If Apple introduces new services, they’ll probably adjust the Apple One plans accordingly. Please note: AppleCare, Apple’s warranty and support programme, is not part of Apple One. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Apple has three Apple One plans. Each…

Apple has released an update to iMovie for the iPad, iPhone and Mac. It includes new comic-based filters that give your video a ‘hand-drawn look’. There are three comic filters on the iPhone and iPad, and five on the Mac. The release notes for the iPhone and iPad update details the other updates: • Addresses an issue that could prevent the viewer from updating after duplicating a photo in the timeline. • Choose from 25 new soundtracks – in genres including action, chill, and sentimental – that automatically adjust to match the length of your movie. • Give your videos a hand-drawn look with three new filters: Comic, Comic Mono and Ink. • Improves reliability of Redo when editing a trailer. • Includes performance and stability improvements. Here are the…

Need help with your Apple product? You should start with the Apple Support app (available from fave.co/328pRwT). The app offers step-by-step instructions and guides for many common problems and questions. What’s more, you can talk to an actual person to help you troubleshoot. You can also make support reservations, including taking your product to the Genius Bar at your nearest Apple Store. The Apple Support app doesn’t get much attention (perhaps because it’s not pre-installed on iPhones and iPads?), but it’s a great resource for the less technically inclined. Apple recently updated the app to version 4.1 with several welcome changes. If you make an appointment at the Genius Bar, you’ll find a pass in your Wallet for easy check-in. Advisors are also available in more languages and there are…

On 15 September, Microsoft made its Project xCloud service to stream Xbox games is available to the public. Provided that public owns an Android device. Anyone with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription will get to stream over 100 games from the cloud, using their Xbox login credentials and cloud saves. But there won’t be an app for your iPhone or iPad, because Apple doesn’t want people playing games unless they get a cut. APPLE’S FLIMSY EXCUSE Why won’t Apple allow Xbox game streaming (or Google’s Stadia, or GeForce Now)? The company gave Business Insider its official reason: The App Store was created to be a safe and trusted place for customers to discover and download apps, and a great business opportunity for all developers. Before they go on our store,…

Price: 99p (inc VAT) from fave.co/32khDC3 Smartphone cameras are great for documenting life’s precious moments to replay them over and over again in the years to come. With a front-facing camera, it’s even possible to put yourself in the action, although video selfies come with inherent limitations. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to shoot high-quality video from the back camera while capturing your reaction from the front camera at the same time? That’s exactly what Camera FrontBack is designed to do. This 99p app combines live video from the front and rear cameras at the same time in a single movie, allowing iPhone owners to put themselves into the action while simultaneously recording high-quality video from a camera on the back of the device. The app superimposes video…

Price: £179 (inc VAT) from fave.co/35ql2B9 Will you be redeemed by wearing the Redemption ANC buds from the House of Marley? Likely not, but if you’re concerned about the usual Earth-unfriendly methods of making devices like this, you’ll at least walk away with a load off your conscience. They’re not biodegradable, but they are made from recycled silicone, and House of Marley even found a way to work sustainable materials like bamboo and wood into the design. Along with their sound quality and general stylishness, that’s a good reason to be happy about these buds, but it may not take long before you start worrying about the shortcomings of some of the active noise cancelling and other features. DESIGN AND CONTROLS They make a good impression even when they’re in…

Rumours of an Apple augmented reality headset have been around for years, but in the past few weeks speculation has rapidly begun to ramp up, alongside suggestions that the product could be shown off as early as this year, and might even ship as early as next year. On the one hand, maintaining scepticism is still healthy. Though Apple has had its share of product leaks over the years, it’s still a company that plays things extremely close to its chest – especially when it comes to prototype hardware. (Unsurprisingly, after the infamous incident in which a pre-release iPhone 4 was left in a bar nearly a decade ago, it’s been extra cautious.) But the sheer number of rumours and amount of speculation are probably based on something, so it’s…