Interface tricks
Get your iPhone or iPad working the way you want it tap and hold on Edison’s icon to choose an inbox to open, or to go directly to a Smart inbox like Subscriptions or Travel. In Bear, you can start a new note, a new to do or add a photo.
The way we interact with iPhones and iPads has remained broadly the same since version 1, but there have been changes along the way. For example, 3D Touch – supported in most iPhones since the 6s – has been replaced by the long press, known as Haptic Touch, in the iPhone XR and iPhone 11. Here, we’ll show you a few interface tricks you might not know.
1 Rearrange apps
Rearranging apps on the Home screen is now a two-step process – you need to long press on an app, then choose Edit Home Screen. From here you can drag apps around to re-arrange them or tap the ‘X’ in the corner to delete them. Then press Done when you’re finished.
2 Access from Home
Depending on the app, you can access features by long-pressing on its icon on the Home screen. For example,
3 Master Dark Mode
The new Dark Mode in iOS 13 is a revelation. To set it up, tap Settings then Display & Brightness. Choose Light or Dark and then use the Automatic switch to determine whether it should change between light and dark automatically during the day. Use Options to specify when it should automatically adjust.
4 Wi-Fi in Control Centre
Swipe down from the top left corner to access Control Centre, then tap and hold on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth widget. Now, press and hold on the Wi-Fi button and you’ll see a list of available networks. Tap one to choose it, or tap Settings to access Wi-Fi settings. Bluetooth works in the same way.
5 Location settings
Apple has doubled down on privacy in iOS 13 and location data is an example of that. In addition to periodic warnings about apps that have access to it, there’s a new setting: Ask Next Time. In Settings, tap any app that uses location data, tap Location, then choose one of the options.
6 Block senders in Mail
Mail is another place where privacy is improved. You can now block senders. In any message, tap the Sender field, then tap the sender’s name to see their contact card. Tap Block This Contact. You can manage how blocked senders are dealt with in Settings > Mail > Blocked Sender Options.
7 Mute threads in Mail
Stuck in an email thread that’s no longer interesting but keeps alerting you to new messages? In the Mail inbox, swipe left over a message and tap More. You’ll see a menu of options reveal themselves. To mute a thread, tap Mute. You will no longer get notifications when new messages are received on that thread.
8 Silence unknown callers
If you’re fed up of being disturbed by robocalls, here’s a solution. Go to Settings then tap Phone. Scroll down and switch on Silence Unknown Callers. Calls from unknown callers won’t ring and will be sent directly to voicemail.
9 Reading goals in Books
Launch the Books app and tap the Reading Now button at the bottom of the screen. Tap the clock that shows how much you have read, then tap Adjust Goal. Use the wheel to set your new goal and tap Done when you’re finished. You can only set goals for a book you are currently reading.
10 Images in Messages
Messages’ search has been beefed up significantly in iOS 13. In the main Messages window, tap the search bar. You will see categories showing contacts, links, photos, and attachments. Next to Photos, tap See All. Use the slider to choose Photos or Screenshots.