How to Stop Safari from Revealing Your Recent Searches on iPhone

How to Stop Safari from Revealing Your Recent Searches on iPhone

blognet   Monday, March 24, 2025   Comment  

Safari on iOS just got a little nosier — and it could unintentionally expose more than you'd like. With Apple's latest update, your recent searches appear front and center whenever you open a new tab or tap into the address bar. In iOS 18.4, Safari automatically shows a list of your recent search queries when you perform a query from an empty search field. While it can be useful for picking up where you left off, it also creates a small but notable privacy issue. If someone else grabs your iPhone — even momentarily — they could see what you've been looking up in regular non-private browsing sessions. Thankfully, you can clear the list quickly or shut the feature off for good. This behavior shows up most clearly when you open a new tab to the start page and tap the address bar, but it's not limited to that. Your recent searches can appear even in an existing tab with a loaded webpage — as long as you tap the address bar and clear whatever search term or URL is already in it. That means...more

Your iPhone Compass Is More Useful Than You Think — Here's How to Take Full Advantage of It

Your iPhone Compass Is More Useful Than You Think — Here's How to Take Full Advantage of It

blognet   Monday, March 17, 2025   Comment  

With so many useful native and third-party apps available on iPhone, the Compass app often goes unnoticed. It may not be as essential as Messages, Photos, or Mail, but you can still get plenty of use out of it, especially if you're a hiker, camper, or someone who enjoys outdoor adventures. One of the best features of the Compass app is that it works offline, relying on your device's GPS and magnetometer rather than cellular service. This means it's just as effective in remote areas as it is in urban settings. While navigating, you can also turn on Airplane Mode or Low Power Mode to conserve battery power. For added security, download offline maps in Apple Maps before heading out. Here's a breakdown of all the features in the Compass app, a simple yet powerful tool with everything you need on a single screen. (We're showing it off on iOS 18, but it will work similarly on older iOS versions.) Determine your direction in degreesThe Compass app displays your current direction and a...more

16 Harry Potter Spells for Siri That Turn Your iPhone into a Magical Elder Wand

16 Harry Potter Spells for Siri That Turn Your iPhone into a Magical Elder Wand

blognet   Friday, March 14, 2025   Comment  

Your days as an ordinary Muggle are over — as long as you have an iPhone. With just a word or two, you can use your iPhone and newfound Muggle-born powers to cast spells or utilize charms just like Harry Potter and team. Only your "wand" is from Apple, not Ollivanders in Diagon Alley. Whether you're a Muggle-born witch or wizard, there are at least three spells and summoning charms built into Siri that you can conjure up on your iPhone using Talk to Siri or Type to Siri. And you don't even need to attend Hogwarts to learn them! But why stop there? You can also program Siri to use even more incantations from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — the possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination. Don't Miss Out: Huge Savings on Babbel Language Learning – Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) Siri tipsThere are two different Siri modes: Talk to Siri or Type to Siri. For Talk to Siri, you can say "Hey Siri" and/or "Siri" followed by your spell. If you don't want to use a...more

10 States Support Digital Driver's Licenses in Apple Wallet — Which States Are Next?

10 States Support Digital Driver's Licenses in Apple Wallet — Which States Are Next?

blognet   Friday, February 28, 2025   Comment  

You might not know this, but you can use Apple Wallet to store your driver's license right on your iPhone. It speeds up airport security, adds an extra layer of protection with Face ID or Touch ID, and lets you verify your age or identity quickly without handing over your physical card. Apple first announced support for mobile driver's licenses and state identification cards in Apple Wallet in 2021, with Arizona leading the way as the first state to support the feature in 2022. Since then, Apple has officially stated that it is working with several other states and territories to bring mobile IDs to residents, including Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico. While the rollout has been slow (seven of the announced partner states have yet to materialize anything), nine states and one US territory currently support Apple Wallet IDs, and at least 21 other states, districts, and...more

iOS 18.4 Has 30+ New Features and Changes for iPhone You Won't Want to Miss

iOS 18.4 Has 30+ New Features and Changes for iPhone You Won't Want to Miss

blognet   Wednesday, February 26, 2025   Comment  

Apple's iOS 18.4 update for iPhone is on the way, and it's bringing some exciting new tools, smart refinements, and deeper Apple Intelligence integration that make your iPhone experience even better. Whether you're looking for ways to stay more organized, enhance your daily workflow, or enjoy new forms of entertainment, this update has something for everyone. Apple Intelligence continues to evolve, with new ways to streamline notifications and help you focus on what truly matters. Key apps are getting notable improvements, making it easier to find what you need, stay productive, and personalize your iPhone like never before. Plus, Apple has a brand-new app that offers a unique way to play certain types of music — though you won't find it alongside your other apps. Beyond that, iOS 18.4 delivers subtle yet meaningful improvements that touch nearly every corner of the system, from communication tools to privacy enhancements. Even the Photos and Safari apps have received useful upgrades...more

iPhone 16e: Everything You Need to Know About the Budget iPhone SE's Replacement

iPhone 16e: Everything You Need to Know About the Budget iPhone SE's Replacement

blognet   Thursday, February 20, 2025   Comment  

Apple just killed the iPhone SE, replacing it with something bigger, better, and packed with more modern features. The iPhone 16e ditches the old-school design for a large OLED display, a more advanced camera system, and Face ID, making it the most dramatic upgrade in Apple's budget lineup yet. Announced on Feb. 19, the iPhone 16e isn't just a visual refresh — it also introduces Apple's first in-house 5G modem, the C1, which promises improved power efficiency and a more Apple-controlled connectivity experience over the last-used Qualcomm modems. It finally abandons the Lightning port in favor of USB-C, adds an Action Button for quick shortcuts, and doubles the base storage. Apple Intelligence support also brings generative AI-powered tools like Genmoji, Image Wand, and Writing Tools to the mix. Image via Apple.While this is a major step up from the third-gen iPhone SE, it also comes with trade-offs. The iPhone 16e drops nano-SIM support, lacks ProRes video playback, and removes...more

How to Free Up Storage Space on Your iPhone: The Ultimate Guide

How to Free Up Storage Space on Your iPhone: The Ultimate Guide

blognet   Tuesday, February 11, 2025   Comment  

While iPhones and iPads don't come with an option to upgrade the storage space using an external memory card like some other non-Apple devices do, there are plenty of things within your power that can help clear up storage so you can put everything you want on your device. One of the first things you can do is keep your iOS device updated at all times. Having the latest update allows you to access all the latest features while maintaining optimal performance. Sometimes, you won't be able to install the latest update due to not having enough storage to download it, and this is a common problem iOS users face. Don't worry; this only means that you should apply some of the tips listed below to clean up your device and you'll be good to go! Don't Miss: iOS 19: Features, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know So Far How to Check Your iPhone StorageBefore diving into the tips, it's important to know how much space you have available and understand what's consuming your storage. To...more

Create Custom Vibrations for Contacts on Your iPhone to Feel Who's Calling or Texting

Create Custom Vibrations for Contacts on Your iPhone to Feel Who's Calling or Texting

blognet   Wednesday, February 05, 2025   Comment  

Staying connected with the people who matter most is easier when you can instantly distinguish their calls or messages — even without looking at your iPhone. That's where custom vibration patterns for alerts come in handy. They're perfect when you need a tactile way to identify who's calling or texting while your iPhone is on silent or in your pocket. Custom vibrations have been around for a long time — since iOS 5, to be exact. And while the software has changed, the original idea has stayed the same: to help you identify important contacts just by feeling. They can accompany or be used instead of ringtones and text tones, and they can be set to always play, only play in silent mode, or only play in ring mode. If you have any Focus profiles set to ignore specific contacts, you won't feel any vibrations for phone calls, FaceTime calls, texts, and iMessage notifications received by them. However, if you allow repeated calls from that person, the vibrations will play when the call...more

iOS 19: Features, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know So Far

iOS 19: Features, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know So Far

blognet   Wednesday, February 05, 2025   Comment  

The first beta version of iOS 19 is still months away, but Apple has been hard at work getting the next-gen iPhone software ready for developer testing. And we already know of a few potential changes and updates you can expect to see. Codenamed "Luck," iOS 19 is being developed alongside macOS 16 ("Cheer"), watchOS 12 ("Nepali"), and visionOS 3 ("Discovery"). Alongside a redesigned Camera app and a smarter version of Siri, we might also see further refinements to Apple Intelligence, which currently powers app interactions and personal assistant upgrades. Apple Intelligence first appeared on iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Here's everything we know about iOS 19 so far: Release datesApple's yearly software cycle revolves around its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where the latest software versions are announced. The first developer betas are typically released on day one of WWDC or shortly after. Based on previous trends, WWDC 2025 is expected to kick off on...more

How to Trigger iMessage Effects with Just a Keyword

How to Trigger iMessage Effects with Just a Keyword

blognet   Wednesday, January 29, 2025   Comment  

One of the coolest aesthetic features of iMessage is its animated message effects. If you're like many users, you might even have discovered them by accident, where wishing your friend a "Happy Birthday!" or congratulating them on a promotion unexpectedly flooded your screen with balloons or confetti. Apple's iMessage effects first appeared in iOS 10 and still work perfectly in the most current iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions. While Apple has only formally mentioned a few code words and phrases that automatically trigger these effects, I've compiled a massive list of all the hidden triggers I could find through research and trial and error — with over 50 languages included. Don't Miss: Every Hidden Special Character on Your iPhone's Keyboard That You Can Unlock Right Now While Apple hasn't added any more English trigger words and phrases to its list of Easter eggs for iMessage effects since iMessage effects were a thing, it has added more words and phrases that work with other...more

Freeform on iOS 18: All the Features You've Been Missing Out On

Freeform on iOS 18: All the Features You've Been Missing Out On

blognet   Saturday, January 25, 2025   Comment  

Apple's Freeform app levels up with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, offering you new features to enhance creativity, collaboration, and organization. While some updates, like the new Scenes feature, are prominent, others are more subtle but just as powerful. This incredible app's versatile features work equally well on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you haven't updated to iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 yet, it's definitely worth it for Freeform's upgraded capabilities. Many of these features also work on macOS Sequoia 15. The updates cater to a wide range of users, from casual planners to professional teams working on large projects. Freeform's improvements also beautifully integrate with other Apple ecosystem features, including iCloud, Siri, and Apple Intelligence. If you enjoyed the app's earlier ability to create freehand sketches and collaborative boards, this update expands on those strengths with new tools designed to make your workflow smoother and your projects more polished. Don't Miss: Unlock the...more

iOS 18.3 Is Coming Soon — Here's What to Expect on Your iPhone

iOS 18.3 Is Coming Soon — Here's What to Expect on Your iPhone

blognet   Saturday, January 25, 2025   Comment  

Apple is gearing up to release iOS 18.3, its latest software update for iPhone, and it could hit devices as early as the last week of January. While it's not as feature-packed as the previous updates for iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.1 were, there are still a few important changes you'll want to know about. Aside from the return of a critical Calculator feature, most of the changes in iOS 18.3 apply to iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence. Those would be the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models. The new emoji from Unicode 16 are also missing from this update but are expected to arrive with iOS 18.4. Note: Many of these features and changes also apply to iPads running iPadOS 18.3 and Macs running macOS Sequoia 15.3. Apple Intelligence Enabled by DefaultAccording to Apple's release notes for developers, you'll automatically be opted into Apple Intelligence after upgrading a supported device to iOS 18.3. That way, you have immediate access to all of Apple...more