iOS 10 Update - Best New Features

iOS 10 update comes with lot of new features. Lets see each one in detail.

Handy button to check all unread emails

There is a button on the bottom left of the Mail app in iOS 10 that lets you quickly check all unread emails. Also long press of the button leads to other filters. And also one more button added i.e unsubscribe which lets you to unsubscribe by tapping it from annoyed newsletters,etc.

Get back to the old home button

The new unlock feature in iOS 10 where  the user has to press the home button to unlock the device works very well with the latest releases of  Apple i.e., iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus(which has a touch model button but actually it is not a button). Coming to the older devices this feature is less convenient. To restore the old home button: Settings > General > Accessibility > Home Button > turn on Rest Finger to Open

Hide photo albums

Photos app in iOS 10 has a very impressive feature, it identifies people and groups all the photos they are in. And if you want to hide someone’s pics just open the People album and tap Select on the top right and now select the pics you want to hide and tap the Hide on the bottom left. 

Contact name predictions

While sending  iMessage or text from email address or a number which is not in your address book, iOS 10 tries to predict who they are.

Assign default numbers, email address for contacts

In the Contacts app, if you open any contact, you will see four blue icons-  Text, Call, FaceTime, and Email. For example if any contact has more than one phone number or email address you can pick a default. To do that tap and hold those icons. After picking the default if you tap any of these icons it will directly mail, call or message the default contact number or email address you assigned.

Draw anything on photos

If you want to add any text or draw something funny on any photo iOS 10 has a feature called Markup.  Open any picture in the Photos app > tap the settings icon (next to the trash icon) > tap the three dots icon on the top left > tap Markup. Same feature available in iMessage. Tap the right arrow on the bottom left. This reveals the camera icon, so tap that. Now tap and hold any photo and then tap the Markup button on the bottom-left.

Close multiple tabs at once in Safari

To close the multiple tabs open in the Safari browser simply tap and hold the tab button on the bottom right then you will get an option in red to close all tabs at once.

Uninstall pre-loaded apps

Annoyed with the unwanted pre-installed apps such as Weather, Mail, Stocks? Now you can rid of them easily by deleting them like others apps you delete, But the thing is these apps are not really uninstalled from the system, only the icon is hidden. It means we won’t gain any storage space.

Disable read receipts

Not interested to send read receipts on iMessage, simply tap the i icon on the top right of any conversation and disable the send read receipts.

Recent badge in call logs

Suppose if some contact has multiple numbers and you forget the number which you want to call them on.  Tap the i button which is next to the contact then you see a Recent badge you have called recently to that number.

Decrease data consumption on iMessage

If you face a slow internet connection situation you can now send compressed images via iMessage. Go to Settings > Messages, scroll to the bottom and enable Low quality Image Mode.

No limit on tabs in Safari

On iOS 10 you can open unlimited tabs in Safari which there is limit of 36 tabs on iOS 9

Optimise Storage to save space on Apple Music & Automatic Downloads

This feature in iOS 10 automatically removes the songs you haven’t played much to free up the storage space. Go to Settings > Music > enable Optimise Storage. Other feature is Automatic Downloads- When you add songs to your library, Apple Music will automatically download those songs. Just go to Settings > Music > turn on Automatic Downloads.

Improved Dial Assist

Go to Settings > Phone > turn on Dial Assist. Now if you get any call from landline numbers, iOS 10 shows you which city and state the number belongs to. 

Bedtime

There is a new feature in Clock app in iOS 10 which is Bedtime. With this feature you can set a sleep and wake up time. It reminds your sleep on time and wakes you up with relaxing music.

Five iPhone Accessories to Up Your Geek Status

There is no shortage of options when it comes to iPhone accessories, but what about owners that are ready to up their geek status? Instead of those bland cases and ear buds, some want to know what science and nerd-based accessories they can use to make their smartphone more exciting than ever. If you own one of the hundreds of millions of iPhones that are in circulation, here is a look at five of the absolute best accessories for science and technology lovers. 

1. Portable Oscilloscope

With over 500 million iPhones having been sold, it is no wonder that some manufacturers have targeted electricians and hobbyists with a portable oscilloscope. These amazing devices have been used for many years to measure the change of voltage in an electrical charge for industries such as engineering, healthcare, and telecommunications, but they did come with the drawback of being large and unwieldy. A portable iPhone oscilloscope can carry out all of the same functions as a full-sized model, including the testing of digital and analog signals. 

2. Blood Pressure Cuff

High blood pressure can lead to a variety of serious health issues, including an increased risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Unfortunately, taking an accurate measurement typically had to be done with a personal cuff at home or in the doctor's office. An iPhone blood pressure cuff allows owners to test their blood pressure anywhere and at any time. As an added bonus, this accessory can send the results directly to a health app or stored for later analysis by the doctor.

3. Portable Telescope

With a simple attachment the iPhone can turn into a powerful telescope that has the ability to capture and save images from the sky. While these telescopes are around the same size as a traditional amateur telescope, they do come with some amazing advantages. The most useful feature is the ability to take real-time photos of the images that are seen as well as widen the picture so multiple users can enjoy the telescope at once. For those that already have a telescope that they use, a simple telescope-to-iPhone adapter can be purchased. 

4. A Digital Microscope

Just as an iPhone can easily be turned upwards as a telescope, a simple attachment can also turn it into a portable and high-def digital microscope. These devices are often no larger than a small flashlight and can take up to 5 megapixel pictures. They can be used by those within the healthcare industry to track information for patients or simply as a tool for the hobbyist looking for exciting new technology. Much like the telescope, simple adapters can also be purchased in order to capture images from a previously owned handheld digital microscope.

5. Solar Panel Case

With all of these accessories being used, even the iPhone's advanced lithium battery is going to need to be recharged frequently. Instead of waiting to get back to the car or looking for a wall outlet, a solar panel case is a great way to keep the smartphone running with nothing more than a little sunlight. While solar panel cases will not charge as quickly as wall chargers, they are more efficient than ever and add no more weight or size to an iPhone than a typical impact-resistant case. For a full charge from 0 to 100 percent, owners can expect a charge time of 3 to 4 hours depending on the amount of sunlight, apps that are currently on, and the age of the phone. 

The sky is the limit when it comes to some of the amazing iPhone accessories that are currently available today. These five products are only the beginning for iPhone owners that are ready to reaffirm their status as a proud geek.

Bang For Your Buck: What Are You Getting Out of Your Phone Plan

With the purchase of a cell phone from almost any major retailer, a contract ranging from six months to three years or longer is often necessary. With even just a single smartphone, customers could be looking at potentially lengthy contractions and expensive stipulations, and that is why everyone should take a few extra seconds to understand a few basic steps to take in order to get the most out of one’s phone and phone plan.

Contract Details
One of the most important choices will come down to the contract details. Families and loved one’s will often purchase their phones and sign a contract in a bundle to save on money and cut down on the total minutes and texts that they will be using. Depending on the carrier, group contracts could cut costs by a relatively large percentage, but the length of the contract itself is another important consideration to make as they can range from just a few months to multiple years.

Phone Options
The next thing to consider is the phone itself. Many loyal Apple customers will opt for iPhone plans so that they can keep up with this mobile technology and its unique app market. Customers may also choose the Blackberry OS from Bell.ca in order to take full advantage of Research in Motion, also known as RiM. The primary alternative to Apple and Blackberry cell phones are phones base on the Android operating system. This company has a number of unique features including an app market that is owned and operated by Google.

Data Plans
Some cell phones do come without the need for a data plan, but almost all smartphones like iphone plans that are listed as a 3G or 4G phone require a 3G or 4G data plan. Data plans refer to the amount of information that is uploaded and downloaded from the phone when it is not utilizing a local wireless network. With modern carriers, the data plan is often the most expensive component of one’s overall phone bill.

Warranties and Coverage
A final consideration, and one that many customers overlook, is the warranty and coverage extended to the phone. Warranties will vary by the manufacturer of the phone as well as the retailer and they could potentially save the owner of the phone hundreds of dollars in the coming years. This coverage can often be extended to further cover all accidents and theft, preventing the need to purchase an additional phone before the contract is expired.

Apple iPhone 5 Full Specifications

Operating system: Apple's iOS 6


Processor: A6 Chip Dual Core with HD Graphics

Memory: Available in 16Gb, 32Gb, 64Gb


Color: Available in White and Black
       
Display:

•     Retina display
•     4-inch widescreen Multi-Touch display
•     1136 by 640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
•     800:1 contrast ratio & 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical)
•     Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front

  
Camera:

•   8-megapixel iSight camera
•   Video recording, HD (1080p) up to 30 frames per second with audio
•   Front facing HD camera with 1.2MP photos and HD video (720p) up to 30 frames per second
•   It comes with Autofocus
•   Face detection in video or still images
•   LED flash

Size and Weight:

• Height: 4.87 inches (123.8 mm)
• Width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
• Depth: 0.30 inch (7.6 mm)
• Weight: 3.95 ounces (112 grams)
• Cellular and Wireless

      
Model:

• GSM model A1428*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 4 and 17)

• CDMA model A1429*: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)

• GSM model A1429*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5)

Connectivity:

•   802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
•   Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

Audio Playback:

•  Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV

TV and Video:

•  AirPlay Mirroring to Apple TV support at 720p

•  AirPlay video streaming to Apple TV (3rd generation) at up to 1080p and Apple TV (2nd generation) at up to 720p

Video formats supported: 

• H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

Headphones:

•    Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic
•    Storage and travel case

Viewable Document Types:

• .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

Sensors:

•     Three-axis gyro
•     Accelerometer
•     Proximity sensor
•     Ambient light sensor
•     Assisted GPS and GLONASS
•     Digital compass

 Other things:

•     Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
•     Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter
•     Talk time: Up to 8 hours on 3G
•     Standby time: Up to 225 hours
•     Internet use: Up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 8 hours on LTE, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi
•     Video playback: Up to 10 hours
•     Audio playback: Up to 40 hours

In the Box you will receive:

•     iPhone 5
•     Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic
•     Lightning to USB Cable
•     USB Power Adapter
•     Documentation

Word Suggestion Toolbar For iOS 5

Here's how to activate the word suggestion toolbar:

•  Plug your iPhone into your computer and right click it within iTunes. Select "Backup."
• While your iPhone's backing up, download and install iBackupBot, an app that lets you easily modify iOS files.
• Once the backup is complete and the app is installed, launch the app and pick the backup you just created.
• Open the LIbrary folder, then the Preferences folder, and then find com.apple.keyboard.plist.
• Double click the file, and click "Cancel" if iBackupBot asks you to register.
• Copy and paste <key>KeyboardAutocorrectionLists</key><string>YES</string> in to the end of the file. Save the file.
• Within iBackupBot, restore your iPhone from the most recent backup you made a few minutes ago.
• When your iPhone restores, it should be the same as before, but with a new word helper toolbar!

SIRI Apple iPhone 4S New Feature

Siri – Heard a lot about it … ?? Not Yet, then let’s explain what it is and how it works. It came to news with the launch of Apple iPhone 4S.

Siri is a new and distinctive feature that is available on the iPhone 4S and its sure that it will become a new way to communicate with Apple Machines, i.e the iMachines.

About Siri

The best way to describe it is by calling it a HELPER , a kind of machine intelligence that helps us find things or simply to interact with the device. Philip W Schiller – a prominent figure in Apple’s public presentations called Siri as an “Intelligent Assistant”

The idea about this new feature isn’t new. For example, the same company Apple dreamed of this possibility in 1987  where they called it a Knowledge Navigator, but of-course at that time it was just concepts of future that may become possible someday.

Until now Apple had the Voice Control which can still be used if we keep the start button pressed for a few seconds on the iPhone. The controller responds to very specific predefined phrases. A similar example can be set from Google Android which is called Google Voice Action which performs predefined action set with various voice commands.

But this was not what Apple thought back in 1987. They imagined a machine which will be able to talk and take an almost human way of thinking through Artificial Intelligence. United States Army also thought of a similar concept and began experimenting for developing a Helper for voice-controlled soldiers. A project after its completion gave birth to Siri – a company investigating complex systems to interpret the language and even got to introduce an iPhone application that will surely have no doubt seen on video or you will have proven yourself.

And here we come today. Last year, Apple bought Siri with a clear idea of integrating this technology sooner or later in their devices. What Apple wanted was the algorithm which Siri uses to understand the users language and later accept it as a Command. The Apple guys finally got the algorithms and successfully integrated with their latest device – iPhone 4S.

According to a list made by Schiller, Siri can be described in the following aspects :

    Natural Language : We speak as if it were an ordinary person, with the same naturalness and spontaneity, without learning methods or expressions, it do not maintain an order to speak or obey certain requirements such as “Play Music” or anything like that , just say “I want to hear ABC” and Siri will. We don’t need to express every command in detail like for calling my girlfriend I’ll have to say “Call My Girlfriend” and not like the traditional way “Call XYZ”.

    Conversation : Siri is not unidirectional, it is a human talking to a machine but a two-way communication occurs, the system also tells us, asks, suggests, shows potential, tell us in what state is it in action we have ordered and respond to questions about their own purpose. In the demonstration conducted by Scott Forstall, he asked, “Who are you” and Siri replied “A humble personal assistant.” So now you can understand about its smartness.
    Context: As part of artificial intelligence to which we referred before, Siri uses the context to continue browsing.
    Native App Support : It works with native apps. Reminders, Maps, Safari, are among Apple’s own apps used by Siri to help the owner of the phone.
    Dictation : Of course, as part of the system, we can dictate to Siri to write for us, just press on the microphone icon which appears on the iPhone’s virtual keyboard to complete emails, messages, etc

Thanks to these multiple actions that we will ask Siri to make them for us. Consultation time, set alarms, add reminders, timers start. And with the integration of Wikipedia and WolframAlpha, the possibilities are even greater.

Its operation is quite simple and undoubtedly to use need you need to have a iPhone 4S first. The reason for this requirement is the ability of the system itself. It seems that Siri consumes high system resources but the new smartphone with dual-core processor and more RAM will surely meet these needs without a problem.

To enable single Siri you must press the start button for a few seconds, just in a similar way we do today for Voice Control option in iPhone. Then we will deploy the new icon down waiting for orders.

Presently it will accept only three languages English, French and German. I would have been jumping if it would have supported Hindi, Bengali or some other languages from India and other parts of the world. Still we shouldn’t dishearten as Schiller said the development was still in beta and new languages ​will be added ​as soon as possible.