How To Use Your iPhone: Five Cool Tips I Learned
I’ve had an iPhone on and off for quite awhile. I have now become “that” person who goes into almost a full blown panic attack if I’ve misplaced my phone. I’ve added enough apps, photos and contact information that it’s become my second brain (the one that isn’t fried). Even though it’s something that I use and rely on every single day, I am totally aware that I’m not using my phone to it’s full potential. There are features I’m not quite sure how to use and what exactly they’re used for. You too? I’m not talking all geeky, tricked-out techie stuff, but just useful and efficient features and tips that we’d like to know how to do.
Photo credit: organized CHAOS online
On a quest to learn how to use my iPhone to it’s full potential, I thought I could bring you all along with me, so we’ll be making “How To Use Your iPhone” an ongoing series. We all have knowledge to share that can benefit others. I’ve learned how to do shortcuts on my iphone from people who have only had theirs for a short time. So let’s all share what we know, wanna? For those of you who are seasoned iPhone users, you never know…you may run across something you didn’t know how to do. If not, please feel free to comment with any tricks you haven’t seen us post. There are days that I have a love/hate relationship with my phone. I can’t figure out how to do something that I KNOW it can do. if you have a “how to…” question, just post it in the comments. We respond to all comments on our blog, and if your question is one several of our readers also have, it may be the next topic in our “How To Use Your iPhone” series.
With all that said, I’m excited to share these cool things I just learned. I tried them all, (except the wet phone one) and they’re easy peasy. Before we get started with this series, you may see terms that you aren’t familiar with – I had to Google some of them myself, so I thought it might be helpful to show you where everything is and what it’s called on your iPhone. The features may be placed differently, depending on the iPhone model you have, but for the most part, the below image will give you an idea of what’s what and what’s where on your iPhone.
Photo Credit: Apple
#1. See a Six-Day Weather Forecast
Put your finger on the Status Bar (see location above), and lightly swipe down. What you now see on your screen are called notifications. You should see your local weather displayed. To see your six day weather forecast, lightly swipe your finger to the left or the right within the weather strip. Cool, huh? (To open the weather application, just tap anywhere on the weather bar. Once there, you can tap on a day and it will give you the hourly forecast.)
Photo Credit: organized CHAOS online
Note: If you just want to quickly look at your notifications, swipe down (It’s like a little window shade you’re pulling down). To close notifications, see the little handle at the bottom? Put your finger there and lightly swipe up.
#2 Dry Out a Wet Phone
Ooops. Did you drop your phone in the toilet? After you’ve fished it out, don’t turn it on to see if it still works, it could short circuit your phone and wreck it. Just calmly dry your phone lightly with a towel. Don’t try to do it quickly with a hairdryer – it could push moisture into areas that aren’t already wet. Now pour some uncooked rice into a Ziploc bag, submerge your phone, and leave it overnight.
Photo Credit: Origin Unknown
#3. Use Your Phone Like a Camera
Your iPhone takes some pretty awesome pictures, but because the shutter button sometimes is awkward to get to, your finger may shake as you press it, giving you a blurry picture. Now you can hold your iPhone just like a camera. Turn it horizontally and press the volume button now on your top right (which also doubles as a shutter button), to take your picture. I tried this and it feels so much more natural.
Photo Credit: Udemy
Note: If you’ve got a hardcover on your phone though, you have to use the tip of your finger or your fingernail to push the button.
#4. Extend Your Battery by Closing Apps
When you use an application, it stays open, even if you’re done using it. Open apps can drain your battery faster. To close them, press twice on your Home button (see location above). All the applications you’ve used recently will show along the bottom. Press and hold one of the icons. They will all show a red minus sign and start to jiggle. Touch the red minus sign on the ones you want to close.
Photo Credit: organized CHAOS online
Note: I loved discovering this one! To save my battery, I now do this each time I’ve used an app that I won’t be using again soon.
#5. Turn Your Favorite Website Into a Desktop Icon
If you visit a website often, instead of typing it into your iPhone browser each time, save it to your screen as a desktop icon. Here’s how:
- 1st Image: Open Safari and type in the website you want to save: i.e, www.organizedchaosonline.com
- 2nd Image: Tap the Go To icon (the one on the bottom with the half square and the arrow). Then select Add to Homescreen
- 3rd Image: The shortcut to the website will now appear as an icon on your Homescreen
Photo Credit: organized CHAOS online
How handy is THIS??
Watch for the next in our “How To Use Your iPhone” series. To read our Tip of The Day while you’re drinking your morning coffee, “Like” us on Facebook!
