There are many ways to take advantage of an iPhone through third-party apps and not-so-obvious tricks at first glance. It’s always good to know a few external apps and iOS tricks. We’ve rounded up several apps and tips that take iPhone usage a step further.
7 Interesting Apps to Install on an iPhone
- Documents to manage records: Apple has its own Files app for managing documents and folders, but we might also be interested in Readdle’s alternative: Documents. Free application that you can download from the App Store and with which you can open and play dozens of different files.
- Things or Todoist to organize tasks: If we want to go beyond the Reminders application, perhaps with more complex tasks that require more detail in their approach, it is worth taking a look at alternatives such as Things or Todoist. The former is a one-time payment, the latter is free with an annual subscription option for premium features.
- Spark Outlook to manage mail: Two interesting applications to manage our email. In this sense, the best in the App Store at the moment are Spark from Reeder and Outlook from Microsoft. Both totally free.
- 1Password to save passwords: Using different passwords for each application, website or account is essential if we want to protect our data. To do something like this you need to have a password manager (unless you’re a genius) and the best is definitely 1Password. At Applesfera we explain what it is and how to take advantage of it. Available for free on the App Store with in-app purchases.
- Covered, Castro or Pocket Casts for free podcasts: If you like listening to podcasts, there are also alternatives to Apple’s Podcasts app. The best ones are Overcast (for its audio enhancement engine), Castro (for its amazing podcast episode management and interface), and Pocket Casts (if we want something cross-platform available on Android and the web as well). It’s all free with in-app purchases on the App Store.
- Streaks to complete habits: No app helps us achieve our goals more than Streaks, with an interface specifically designed to complete habits and with integrations with Health and the Apple Watch to automatically complete habits if they have to do with health or sports, among others. A one-time payment in the App Store.
- Darkroom to edit images: An excellent photo editor on iPhone for the large number of editing, cropping and enhancement options. It also has a multitude of filters and the ability to add custom filters. Available on the App Store with in-app purchases.
- Halide to take pictures: If we want to take photos in a more professional way and with more control over exposure, ISO or focus, among others… Halide is the best camera application at the moment. A one-time payment in the App Store.
7 hidden tricks to use on the iPhone
- Customize the Control Center: In the control center we have access to a series of options quickly by swiping at the top right of the screen. If we want to rearrange, add or remove controls from the control center, we can do so from Settings
- Scan QR codes and Wi-Fi networks: We just open the Camera app and point to a QR code. The app will automatically detect the QR code and a notification will appear which if tapped will open the QR code link or information. By the way, if we point to a QR code of a Wi-Fi router, it automatically connects to this network without the need for a password.
- Change Siri’s voice: Siri comes with a female voice by default, although this can be changed to male if desired. Also change your accent or language. All this since Settings > siri and search > Siri Language/Voice.
- Swipe to type on the keyboard: Yes, on iPhone it is also possible to write by simply sliding your finger along the keyboard if you write faster that way. The iPhone will automatically recognize the words. Just summon the keyboard and start swiping your finger, stopping on the letters you want to “press”.
- Save an entire website:
- Hide photos from the Photos app: If we don’t want a photo to appear in the main album of the Photos app or in features like Memories… we can hide it in a hidden album by selecting the photo (or photos) and in the share menu by choosing ‘Hide’. It will only appear in the hidden album, but be careful, this does not mean that they are not accessible, there is no type of password protection to access the album, it’s just another album.
- Configure two faces in Face ID: Face ID adapts and understands the changes we have on the face, for example when we wear sunglasses, hats or a long beard. But if for some reason we constantly have two very different appearances (say a clear face and another wearing a scarf in winter) it is possible to configure an alternative face so that Face ID recognizes us more easily. we go from Settings > Face identification and code > Configure an alternate look.
As for tips, we have many more that are worth taking a look. Here we have 57 towers and here we have another 33 towers. With these resources we will ensure that we get the most out of an iPhone which, as we can see, has much more to offer than it seems.
Picture | Jeremy Bezanger