I just discovered that somewhere between my old iPhone SE and my spiffy new iPhone 12 Mini, Apple decided to introduce a new image format that nobody ever asked for called High Efficiency Image Format (which of course is abbreviated HEIC in the new file extension because WTF?). I did not realize this until I attempted to copy some pictures I took ( Read more... )

It was far easier to adjust to than I expected. I was apprehensive about the removal of the Home button, but the new swipe gestures are so easy to use that I really don't miss it. And Face ID works so seamlessly that I wasn't even sure it was doing anything until I tried to open my phone while it was sitting flat and facing away from me and was ( Read more... )

I slipped it into the teeny tiny Torras case that arrived at the same time - a cute little clear case with dark blue trim. Looks fantastic. Then, since the phone seemed to be completely uncharged, I plopped onto the MagSafe magnetic charger, which woke it up immediately. Now I'm working through setup and data transfer, which is taking a while.

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Aiieee! My smartphone is wearing out. AGAIN. For the last 4 years I have been stubbornly clinging to my outdated but beloved iPhone SE, the last phone that Apple manufactured that wasn't obscenely big and clumsy. It was a refurb (so it is probably actually 5 years old) and irreplaceable because Apple discontinued them in 2018 and hasn't ( Read more... )

 After months of grumbling about the increasing number of spam calls on my iPhone, I finally downloaded a free robocall blocker called Hiya. That's apparently the service that AT&T uses (and charges for). But if you download the app directly, basic blocking service is free. You still have to pay $3/month to get caller-id and some additional ( Read more... )

tldr; How to temporarily disable auto screen lock on your iPhone.

One of the best and worst things about iPhone's IOS is its obsessive security. While it is possible to disable auto screen lock completely (not a good idea, IMHO) there is very little middle ground. The longest settable time before the screen locks on you is 5 minutes. And there is ( Read more... )

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