Unlock Your iPhone's Many Hidden Text-to-Speech Features to Make It Read Virtually Any On-Screen Content

Unlock Your iPhone's Many Hidden Text-to-Speech Features to Make It Read Virtually Any On-Screen Content

blognet   Wednesday, April 23, 2025   Comment  

Speech-to-text technology can be seen on your iPhone in various places, from the Dictation tool to Apple's new behind-the-scenes, auto-created transcripts for podcast episodes. Your iPhone also has some pretty impressive text-to-speech capabilities. With them, your iPhone can read webpages, documents, or whatever text is on the screen out loud to you — only some of these tools aren't easy to find. Sure, you can listen to free audio stories in Apple News or subscribe to hear audio versions of select News+ stories. And there are plenty of audiobooks available in the Books app. And you can use third-party apps to read pretty much anything that you need, likely at a price. Some apps even work in Messages, so you can dictate in your own language and spit text out in a different one. There's a shortcut that can even help you with that. Or you can use the Translate app to speak entered or translated text. Don't Miss: Make Siri Say Whatever You Want Every Time You Connect Your iPhone to a...more

Quickly Launch Your Favorite Messages Chats from Anywhere on Your iPhone

Quickly Launch Your Favorite Messages Chats from Anywhere on Your iPhone

blognet   Monday, April 14, 2025   Comment  

Your iPhone can already send messages with your voice, reply with a tap, and suggest words while you type. Now, with iOS 18.4, it can instantly launch a specific conversation from virtually anywhere on your device. Thanks to a new action in the Shortcuts app, you're just one tap (or Back Tap) away from texting your favorite contact. Apple introduced the new Open Conversation action in iOS 18.4, and it's also backward compatible with at least iOS 18.3.1. Whether you're setting it up for speed, accessibility, or just pure convenience, it's one of the most useful Shortcuts updates in recent memory. Here's how to create a shortcut that launches your most-used Messages threads — and how to run it from your Home Screen, Lock Screen, Action button, Back Tap, Control Center, or anywhere else Shortcuts can live. This is the most basic shortcut you can create, but you can add to it to create even more useful workflows. RequirementsiPhone or iPad running iOS 18.4 or iPadOS 18.4 or later...more

iOS 18.5 Hints at 5G Advanced Support, but Hardware Readiness Is Unclear

iOS 18.5 Hints at 5G Advanced Support, but Hardware Readiness Is Unclear

blognet   Monday, April 07, 2025   Comment  

Apple's first iOS 18.5 beta has introduced a new localization string that suggests the company is preparing support for "5G Advanced," the next evolution of cellular technology. Specifically, the beta includes a new "status.network.5ga" = "5G Advanced" string, which could point to upcoming system-level support for showing a 5G Advanced label in the iPhone status bar or settings. Joining that string are ones for 5G, 5G+, 5G Evolution (E), 5G Ultra Capacity (UC), 5G Ultra Wideband (UW), LTE, 4G, 3G, Edge (E), and GPRS (G), all supported on iPhone already with their own status bar icons. It hints that Apple is preparing to support 5G Advanced (5G-A) cellular technology based on 3GPP Release 18 standards in a future software or hardware update. What is 5G Advanced?5G Advanced (3GPP Release 18), often described as 5.5G, introduces smarter and more adaptable network capabilities. With support for features like AI-based network optimization, ultra-low latency, and improved location accuracy,...more

iOS 18.5 Brings Small but Smart Upgrades to iPhone — Here's What's New

iOS 18.5 Brings Small but Smart Upgrades to iPhone — Here's What's New

blognet   Thursday, April 03, 2025   Comment  

Apple's iOS 18.5 update may be lighter on headline features than its predecessor, but it still brings a few quality-of-life upgrades and behind-the-scenes enhancements that make using your iPhone just a bit smoother. It's a smaller release, but if you dig into the details, you'll find thoughtful refinements across core apps and settings that help simplify tasks and give you more control. From quick access settings in Mail to faster recovery options in Photos, iOS 18.5 trims a few extra steps from your daily workflow. AppleCare & Warranty details have also been reorganized, and the Back Tap detection banner returns after disappearing in iOS 18.4. Plus, Apple Wallet may soon support digital car keys for another vehicle brand. While the long-promised Apple Intelligence-powered Siri experience is still absent, iOS 18.5 continues laying the groundwork with subtle under-the-hood changes. And as usual, many of these features may also appear in iPadOS 18.5 for iPads. Here's a full look at...more

28 Safari Gestures Every iPhone User Should Know for Faster Browsing

28 Safari Gestures Every iPhone User Should Know for Faster Browsing

blognet   Thursday, March 27, 2025   Comment  

Safari on iOS is more powerful than it looks, especially when you know the hidden gestures that can make your browsing faster and more productive. These shortcuts quietly transform how you navigate the web, manage tabs, and share content across devices. Once you know them all, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. Many of these gestures work seamlessly across the Apple ecosystem. While some are optimized for touchscreens, like drag-and-drop tab management or swipe gestures, others, such as organizing and sharing links, work just as well on a desktop. Whether you're juggling work and personal tasks across devices, these tricks will help you navigate more efficiently. Don't Miss: Safari on iPhone Finally Lets You Check a Site's Security — Here's How to Verify SSL/TLS Certificates Navigation gesturesSwipe left or right on the address bar to switch tabsWhen multitasking between multiple tabs, switching can be a hassle if you're constantly opening the tab overview. Instead, simply...more

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