Push Away Notifications

In iOS 7, you can push away notifications that may be in the way of your apps. Simply tap, hold, and swipe up on the notification. Look below at the notification blocking the controls above. 

Grab the handle and push up. 

The result…

The Click: Surface 2

Just because you try, try again doesn't mean customers will buy, buy again.

P.S. Subscribing is only for my YouTube viewers.

iPad Mini 2: Retina Display

The iPad Mini 2, which will be announced in October or November, is now very likely to have a Retina Display. When the iPad Mini was released last year, the biggest complaint was the lack of a Retina Display. It was the only thing holding me back. Okay, maybe not the only thing (Obsolete A5 Chip, $329 price tag, etc.). Thank goodness for the new development. Also, it's also expected to have an A7X chip (maybe even a new A8 chip that we don't know about yet) for extra processing power and support of a Retina Display. There are very high hopes for this unannounced event. Prepare to line up in front of an Apple Store for weeks for a product that's not even announced yet, again!

The Wish List

In iOS 7, Apple has finally added the iTunes wish list to iOS. You used to only be able to do this on a computer. This allows you to keep track of items you want, but aren't completely set on buying yet. Pretty much a wish list. To add something to your wish list, go to an app or iTunes Store item that costs money and tap the share button at the top of the screen and tap "Add to Wish List." It's that easy. 

Obsolete Gift Cards!

Now that iOS 7 has been released, the icons have been updated. But, do you remember the icons on some of the iTunes Gift Cards? They have the old icons on them still! Okay, it's not that big of a deal. When will they be updated? And what will they look like? Hopefully it will be interesting…

Access the Flashlight Quickly

If you're ever in need of a flashlight, just pull up from the bottom of your iPhone's screen (this brings up Control Center) and tap the bottom left button with a flashlight on it. It's that easy. Tap it again to make the flashlight on the back of your phone turn off. Note that you need an iPhone with iOS 7 to do this. 

What's Left in 2013…

Now that the iPhone 5s/5c has been released alongside iOS 7, what left for 2013? OS X Mavericks and iPad 5 are expected to make a debut next month. Alongside OS X Mavericks will probably be an update to iOS 7.1 including a new Calendar feature that will notify you when you should leave for an appointment based on traffic. Also, Maps will be updated to allow directions to be sent from Mavericks. Not much else has been said about the rest of 2013. I'll report when there is more. 

Clearing Out Your Multitasking Bar Like A Geek!

If you hated closing apps in iOS 6, then you'll love it in iOS 7. To close three apps at once, just open the multitasking bar by double-clicking the home button. Then, swipe up with three fingers, one on each app. There you go! It's that easy!

The Click: iPhone 5s/5c and iOS 7

iOS 7 and the new iPhones were released this week. What's so great about that? I'll tell you in this week's video!

How to Text Yourself

Have you ever been bored? Do you need a new friend other than Siri? How about yourself? In Messages, type in your iMessage address (phone number or email) and type in a message. You'll immediately get it back! Try it!

The iPhone 5s/5c Comes Out Today!

If you want the new iPhone lineup, rush on over to your Apple Store and get there before the line gets too long. The iPhones come out at either 8 AM (PDT) or 10 AM (PDT), so plan accordingly. One of the shortest lines you'll find will be at least 1000 feet long. However, the process is always fun. The geniuses come around and give out water and even show off the new devices a bit. Check out a live blog (Try this one!) or Twitter to see it in action.

The End of an Era

It's time to say good bye to that old OS and to upgrade to iOS 7. As far as I'm concerned, I haven't heard about, nor found, any major bugs. The upgrade takes up 3.1 GB only to give back 3.5 GB. You actually gain more space during the upgrade. If you're still on iOS 6, give that home screen one last look before you upgrade. One last screenshot. One last memory. Or just Google it online.

iOS 7 Comes Out @ 10 AM

Today at 10 AM, iOS 7 will be released. Be sure to look for any bugs on the internet as there might be some major ones. Last year, some users weren't able to load any webpages with iOS 6. Just do a quick search. And, of course, I'll report any major bugs on this blog, if needed. To update, simply go to Settings > General > Software Update > and check for the update. For more information, check out my tips on "How to Upgrade an iOS Device."

P.S. Today marks the one year mark since I started writing once a day. It's gone by so fast and I'd like to thank each and every one of you. Thanks!

The NEW Nomad Cable!

Kero has released another version of their Nomad Cable. Now in Micro-USB form. Previously, they made a Lightning version. Nomad cables are flat, 3-inch cables. They are there when you need them! This cable has a cap on the Micro-USB end due to its hollow form. Also, Kero is making a limited edition green Kickstarter version of the cables. Only 1000 of these will EVER EXIST! I bought a green one and will do a video review. Here are the early bird specials!

FINALLY Out of Beta

Apple's Siri, the virtual assistant on their iOS lineup, is finally official. After two years, Siri is no longer in beta. Prior to the iOS 7 release, Apple has taken off the "beta" label on Siri's page. Over the years, Siri has gained the ability to make reservations, check sports scores, and was integrated in car systems. In iOS 7, Siri gets a redesign and gets a new voice. iOS 7 comes out Wednesday.

Video Tutorial: Quizlet

Do you HATE studying? Then you'll LOVE this video! Check out Quizlet at quizlet.com!

Managing Storage…

One of the many problems in modern society today is having enough storage for our devices. Here is my easy guide on how to free up storage space on your iOS device. First, go to Settings > General > Usage > and get a feel as to what apps take up the most space. Usually, the apps that take up the most space are apps that copy the ENTIRE PHOTO LIBRARY (iPhoto, 1SE, etc.) and apps that slowly accumulate data over time (Facebook, Minecraft, etc.). And let's not forget apps that are just naturally large. While you can't do much about the apps that copy the photo library and are naturally large, you can start off by removing any unnecessary apps that you won't need and apps with data stored in iCloud. You can also try deleting and reinstalling social network apps about once a week to get more storage. Next, try removing media that you don't use anymore. Media includes music, videos, and photos. My final tip is to buy videos in standard definition. HD uses up twice as much memory as SD and you'll only notice the difference when you pause, as you'll probably be too immersed in the content to notice. There are my tips! I hope it helps!

Of Course Our Smartphones Will Be 64-Bit!

Just after the announcement of the iPhone 5s with a 64-bit architecture, Samsung says that they have 64-bit "in the works." J.K. Shin, Samsung mobile chief, says that it will take a while, but it's coming. Apple is the only smartphone to have a 64-bit smartphone ever, making Samsung's comment a little bit awkward as if he whispered to his crew, "put that on the to-do list!" Sorry Samsung, "the next big thing is [almost] already here" and it's not your product. 

A Better Way to Control Apple TV

If you haven't tried this already, download the Remote app from the Apple App Store. With Apple TV, you can control it with an iOS device. Be sure both the Apple TV and the iOS device are on the same WiFi network and are registered to the same Apple ID. Select your Apple TV from the Remote app and select the remote control function from one of the corners. There you go!

Apple's iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c Event

Yesterday, Apple unveiled iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. The iPhone 5c is a cheaper version of the iPhone 5s. However, it's not as bad as it looks. It has better battery life than the iPhone 5, and better LTE than the iPhone 5. Otherwise, it's just a fancy iPod Touch. Sorry Apple, but "lacquer hard-coated polycarbonate material" is just another way to say plastic. The iPhone 5s is the real deal. It comes with a A7 chip and a M7 chip. M7 can be used for tracking workouts more accurate. A better camera with more optics creates better pictures. But the real cool part is the fingerprint scanner. It is integrated into the home button. To unlock your phone, put your finger on the home button. To make a purchase, put your finger on the home button. You can use different fingers to unlock your iPhone 5s. Add all ten fingers! Maybe your family's fingers. It's really cool. 

P.S. Sorry about the miscalculation yesterday! I accidentally said that there would be a live stream for the event would be available. Apple apparently didn't provide that feed for whatever reason. 

Today is the Big Day!

Today, the Apple will reveal the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C at 10 AM. To tune in, go to Apple's website and go to the live event link after 10 AM on your iOS device or computer. You can also take it to the big screen and watch it on the Apple TV. Just go to the "Apple Events" app. One last thing, I forgot to do this analysis, so I'm going to quickly analyze this invite to the event.

As you can see, the invite is simple. However, the dots can hold a few secrets. The colors on the dots seem to represent the color options on the iPhone 5C. They could also represent the filters coming in iOS 7 for the Camera app, but it's not likely. The phrase, "This should brighten everyone's day", is referencing the dual-flash on the iPhone 5S. However, we shall see today in a few hours. Tomorrow, I plan to put up a review of the events. See you then!

THIS IS LIKE iOS 4 ALL OVER AGAIN!!!

If you haven't heard, the iPad version of iOS 7 may be delayed until a hardware refresh. Pretty much, iOS 7 won't come out for iPads until the new iPad 5 and iPad mini 2. This was suggested because only pictures of iPhones running iOS 7 where shown at WWDC 2013. If this sounds familiar at all, this is because the same thing happened with iOS 4. A few years back, iOS 4 only came out for iPhone and iPod Touch. It took a few months until it finally came out for iPad. It will probably take a month this year for the update for the iPad to come out.

P.S. The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C come out tomorrow. See you then!

Video Tutorial: Google Drive Documents

Need help with Google Drive documents? Check out my tutorial on how to master the cloud-based Google service.

iOS 7 May Support iBooks Textbooks 4 iPhone

Rumors are currently circulating that iOS 7 may allow iPhone to support textbooks on iBooks. Prior to this, iBooks textbooks only support iPad and iPad mini. When OS X Mavericks is released, iBooks textbooks will be supported by Macs. iOS 7 is expected to be released within the next week after the iPhone 5S is announced. 

The Happiest App on Earth

The Disneyland Explorer app is the perfect app if you're planning to go to Disneyland. It gives you wait times and games to play. This app also serves as a map. It even gives you info about each area of the park. However, be sure to make room on your iOS device as it consumes over 700 MB. The Disneyland Explorer App is available on the Apple App Store for free.

The Time To Buy A Mac Is NOW!!!

If you are part of a school or are a student, you should buy a Mac now or never. If my predictions are right, you'll be able to get a $100 iTunes Gift Card along with a free copy of OS X Mavericks. If I'm wrong, Mavericks will only cost $20 from your $100. You have until September 6th (tomorrow) to buy a Mac. Be sure to go to the Apple Education Store and select your school (or district) from the list. I hope this helps. 

Making School Fun With Apps: Quizlet

Quizlet is the easiest way to study for a quiz or test. They're digital flash cards in the cloud. Quizlet allows you to study flash cards by games, tests, and audio tests*. You can even print out 3x5 flash cards. Quizlet is a free app and available online.

*Some features require the web version at Quizlet.com

Heat Affects Battery Life

Recently, I noticed that when I leave my iPad in the car on a hot summer day, the battery is drained. This is strange because the iPad's battery can stay up to 80% over an entire day. It lowers itself down to 30%. This is because a chemical reaction in the iOS's lithium-ion battery powers the battery. Hot and cold temperatures play important roles in chemical reaction and can change the entire outcome. A hot temperature will make the battery drain faster (and supposedly vise-versa with cold). One other factor may affect this. I've found that the Smart Cover accessory can actually "fold open" and turn on the screen of the iPad. This may also be a factor. This can be resolved by removing the Smart Cover or by going to Settings and turn off "iPad Cover Lock / Unlock" until you come back to it. For both of these methods, you'll have to manually lock the iPad by pressing the top button. I hope this helps!

Public Charging Stations Know Where You Are!

It's growing more and more popular. The use of USB charging stations in malls, airports, and more! It supplies power to our devices running low on power. While Apple Stores don't count, malls are hotspots for charging stations. USB ports are found hidden on side tables. However, these helpful little ports are hiding a dark secret. Some USB ports are stealing MAC addresses. It's like when you plug in your iPhone into your computer. It begins to sync as it charges, exchanging data with the computer. Much like that, the MAC address is "synced" to the computer. This is perfectly normal and is no different than connecting to WiFi. However, when somebody accesses the MAC addresses and puts all of the pieces together, they can see where you go when it comes to public shopping and travel. This isn't exactly an evil scheme, but it does take a piece of privacy away from you. If you don't want people knowing this kind of stuff, turn off your device to save battery and not connect to any hotspots that may want to take data. You can also invest in the "LockedUSB Adapter" which doesn't allow any sync with something connected to it. However, this isn't available yet (funding available on Kickstarter). In addition, reports have been showing that wireless communications from "hi-tech trash cans" can steal your MAC address. Remember, that this isn't an evil scheme. It's advertisers and large companies analyzing trends of their customers. Go about it how you want. Personally, I think there's nothing to worry about. I'll charge in a public charging station if it means giving up my MAC address. I'm sure someone already has it.

Duolingo

Duolingo is the easiest way to learn a new language. It has languages including Spanish, Italian, and French. Duolingo helps you learn by using "blocks", visuals, and the iOS device's microphone. The only thing it doesn't have is a glossary to review what you've learned. However, I've learned a lot about Spanish for free, so that's great. Duolingo is available off of the Apple App Store for free!