New models of the iPhone 6s are seen displayed during an Apple media event in San Francisco, California on September 9, 2015. Apple unveiled its iPad Pro, saying the large-screen tablet has the power and capabilities to replace a laptop computer. AFP PHOTO/JOSH EDELSON (Photo credit Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)
You’ve unboxed your iPhone, you’ve booted it up, you’ve told all of your WhatsApp groups you’re messaging from a new iPhone. Now what? This, this is what.
Understand 3D Touch
This is the killer feature of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.
But before you *dive* in, take a second to understand how it works. The main thing to wrap your excited mind around is the ‘Peek and Pop’ feature, which lets you dip into content without fully opening it. For example, soft pressing on an email will let you ‘peak’ at it, while a hard press will open it fully. Sliding up whilst ‘peeking’ on said email will also present other options and access to shortcuts.
Shortcuts are the name of the game with 3D Touch. If you soft press on, let’s say, the camera app, you’ll be presented with shortcuts to take a quick selfie. This is wonderfully consistent across iOS 9 and works with most Apple AAPL +0.20% apps.
Elsewhere, 3D touch can use used really intuitively. Another good example is hard pressing on the keyboard to bring up an on-screen trackpad, which lets you move the cursor with a degree of accuracy not possible just by tapping on the screen. Especially useful for the less dexterous.
There are other cool features like hard pressing on the edge of the display and swiping left to bring up multitasking. You can also hard press on a live wallpaper to kickstart the animation, or soft press on a ‘Live Photo’ to see the video footage of the seconds leading up to when the picture was taken.
Upgrade to iOS 9.0.1
Apple has released has already released an update to iOS 9: iOS 9.0.1, which fixes some fairly serious bugs. Forbes Amit Chowdhry explains more.
“Since Apple did not have a proper fix in place, the Cupertino giant quickly issued the minor software update. There does not appear to be any software additions in iOS 9.0.1. It just has bug fixes like:- Fixes an issue where some users could not complete setup assistant after updating- Fixes an issue where sometimes alarms and timers could fail to play- Fixes an issue in Safari and Photos where pausing video could cause the paused frame to appear distorted- Fixes an issue where some users with a custom APN setup via a profile would lose cellular data.”
Become an iPhone 6S and iOS 9 Blackbelt
Don your Halloween Ninja suit and become an iOS 9 master with these tips and tricks.
Feed Proactive
Proactive is your new sidekick, but it needs to be fed to be useful. That means it needs to understand you; your likes, dislikes, embarrassing google searches (not really) and habits. Everything. Once it has this information, it will give you suggestions based on your past behavior. For example, Proactive will tell you when it’s time to leave for that flight you need to catch. Or, if you peruse Twitter TWTR +3.87%when you wake up, it will make the app available on the Proactive screen (swipe left from the homescreen).
So go about your normal habits; add dates to your diary, regularly visit places, and keep on endlessly consume content on the internet. Then sit back and let Proactive take control.
Get a case
Yes, this is the toughest iPhone yet. But life, oh life, – in the words of the chart topping singer Des’Ree’ – is much tougher and has bigger screen-busting pecs. So don’t get cocky. Get a case. And be sensible: don’t get something strange just because it has (limited) comical value. Unless it’s this inadvertently lewd piece of kit, which everyone should buy.
Mous Musicase. Image credit: Mous.
Lots of manufacturers have announced iPhone 6S cases, and I’ll be reviewing many in an upcoming feature. But a good place to start is Urban Armour, Otterbox or Lifeproof (for waterproof cases). There’s also some more unusual options out there like the Olixar Quicktap screen protector, which adds Android-style capacitive button to either side of the Touch-ID fingerprint scanner.
Although, you might not need a waterproof case if TechSmartt’s iPhone 6S Plus water test is anything to go by.
Although, you might not need a waterproof case if TechSmartt’s iPhone 6S Plus water test is anything to go by.
Film some 4K footage….and then find a 4K TV to watch it on
Go forth and film that glorious 4K footage that’s now available on the iPhone 6S…. and then go and watch it on a 4K TV. 6S Plus users can enjoy the image stabilization that comes with the larger model, which means more steady and smoother footage.
If you’ve got the 16GB storage model, however, immediately delete the footage after watching it.
ALTHOUGH, do note some accessory makers do offer cases with built-in expandable storage such as the Leef iBridge. Whilst useful, it’s not exactly the most attractive piece of kit.
Embrace Apple Pay
You’ll be prompted to register your cards for Apple Pay on setup, and you certainly should. The list of participating stores in the US is growing daily and it’s worth your time. The novelty of paying for something with your phone, and then getting an immediate transaction receipt doesn’t wear off. Check out Apple’s list of participating stores here.
Get an Olloclip
The iPhone 6S’ new 12MP camera module should be properly exploited.And there’s only one accessory that will do the job: an Olloclip. It’s a super popular 4-in-1 lens attachment that create certain effects; such as a 15x Macro lens zoom without losing image quality, and a ultra-wide angle lens (155° field of view).
Download these essential apps
I’m building a new list of essential iOS apps to replace last year’s list. But a few early frontrunners include excellent camera enhancing software like VSCO Cam, Instagram Hyperlapse and Enlight. Productivity app Workflow is also worth a punt, as is the increasingly popular brain-training game, Peak.
If you want to briefly pretend that you’re interested in your personal health, iOS 9’s Health app is super in-depth, recording data from your sleep patterns to your reproductive health. It needs information to work, so if you’re prepared to take the time to enter the data, you’ll get a fairly detailed report on the state of your health.
Download Warhammer 40,000: Freeblades
Alright, this tip isn’t one to do immediately – Freeblades isn’t out until the ‘holiday season’ (read: Christmas). But, as one of the first games to use the aforementioned 3D Touch technology, but it’s something to get excited about. SUPER excited about.
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