1. Translate languages straight from the camera
Have you ever passed a sign in a different language and wondered what it said? On iPhone models from the iPhone SE (2nd Gen) and up, you can translate straight from your camera. All you need to do is go onto the camera app and position your phone so the text appears on the screen. Then, when the yellow frame appears around the text, tap on the hamburger-looking menu that appears next to it. Select the text you want to translate, then tap ‘Translate’. If you can’t see the word ‘Translate’ immediately, there should be an arrow on the right hand side that if tapped on can give you more options where ‘Translate’ should appear. This option is also available for text on social media or the news app in another language, so all you have to do is highlight the word, tap, and translate. However, it should be noted there are a limited amount of languages available, so you may not always get the translation you want.
2. Instant jump to the top
Imagine this: you’re on the news app reading a Metro story and it's so brilliantly written that you find yourself reading a long, long way down. Instead of scrolling all the way back to the top of the page, you can just tap the top of the screen. The best place to click would be just under the black bar, which is available on models of iPhone 10 and above, or you can just tap the top of the touchscreen.
3. Using the Apple logo as a button with Back Tap
The little Apple logo at the back of your phone is more than just a flex to show you have an iPhone. It can be used to do a wide range of things. If you search ‘Back Tap’ in the Settings app, you should be directed to the ‘Touch’ settings where there is an option to initiate the feature. From there you can choose what happens when you double tap the back or triple tap the logo. Features include taking screenshots, switching on the torch, summoning Siri, or muting your phone. However, the issue with this feature it that it is, unsurprisingly, touch sensitive, so having a case on your phone may mean you can’t access this feature as easily.
4. Switch on the interactive iOS weather map
If the little numbers frustrate you on the weather app, then you can switch to a more visual mode by tapping on the map looking icon at the bottom of the left hand side. There, you will get a scrolling 12-hour forecast, for anywhere you have added to your weather list through the hamburger menu at the bottom of the right hand side of the app. The interactive app allows you to look at temperature, precipitation, air quality and wind speed.
5. Scan documents
Picture this: you’re heading out the door and suddenly you remember you have a bunch of life admin to do. The journey to work is an hour so you have time to work on it. All you have to do is open your notes app and select the camera button of a new note. Then scan your document, and voila, it’s on your phone. If your phone is in auto mode, the camera will scan it as soon as it detects a document in its view. Then, once it's scanned, and you’re on the bus, you can use Markup from the share menu and add a signature to fill out any of the required fields, save the document and send it back to whoever needs it.
6. Personalise your control centre
It’s a headache to be fumbling for the Shazam app before the song comes to an end. Or going into your phone to set up an alarm and getting distracted by Instagram. Instead, search ‘control centre’ in your Setting search bar and choose what you want your control centre to look like. This is the screen that appears when you swipe down from the top right hand corner of your phone. You can choose from your wallet, timer, screen recording, alarm, QR code scanner, torch, camera and a host of other options so it works for you.
7. Change your lock and home screen features
Similarly, you can choose what you want to see on your lock screen. Say, hypothetically, you’re in a long distance relationship and you would like to know what time it is in your partner’s city. If you open your phone, swipe down for the notification centre and hold, you can make edits to how your lock screen looks. Simply press on ’customise’ at the bottom of your screen then tap on the lock screen. From there, you can change the different layers of your phone, from the calendar you use, to how the time looks by changing colour and font. You can choose up to four widgets on the third layer down, depending on size, and chose clocks for different time zones, news stories, Spotify shortcuts, Google maps, and so much more.
8. Control your torch intensity
The power goes out, and you need to find your way to the fuse box conveniently located in the garage. So you go to use the torch, but the light is not bright enough. Well, if you hold down the torch button, you can change how intense the light is, and increase or decrease the brightness according to the situation. You wouldn’t (shouldn’t) have a bright light on when rummaging for something in the cinema, for example. Tut tut.
9. Drag and drop your photos
This little-known feature is for those a bit more dexterous. But with the drag and drop feature, you can easily import an image or video from your photos, a webpage or even a PDF from your files and drop it into an app such as Notes or Messages. However, you need to tap and hold on the file first, then move it towards the top or bottom of your screen. Then using another finger, swipe up front the bottom of the screen and open the app you want to drag your file into. Then simply drop in the most appropriate place, such as in the notes app or the message bar of WhatsApp. Equally, you could hold the picture with one thumb and navigate with the other.
Have you ever passed a sign in a different language and wondered what it said? On iPhone models from the iPhone SE (2nd Gen) and up, you can translate straight from your camera. All you need to do is go onto the camera app and position your phone so the text appears on the screen. Then, when the yellow frame appears around the text, tap on the hamburger-looking menu that appears next to it. Select the text you want to translate, then tap ‘Translate’. If you can’t see the word ‘Translate’ immediately, there should be an arrow on the right hand side that if tapped on can give you more options where ‘Translate’ should appear. This option is also available for text on social media or the news app in another language, so all you have to do is highlight the word, tap, and translate. However, it should be noted there are a limited amount of languages available, so you may not always get the translation you want.
2. Instant jump to the top
Imagine this: you’re on the news app reading a Metro story and it's so brilliantly written that you find yourself reading a long, long way down. Instead of scrolling all the way back to the top of the page, you can just tap the top of the screen. The best place to click would be just under the black bar, which is available on models of iPhone 10 and above, or you can just tap the top of the touchscreen.
3. Using the Apple logo as a button with Back Tap
The little Apple logo at the back of your phone is more than just a flex to show you have an iPhone. It can be used to do a wide range of things. If you search ‘Back Tap’ in the Settings app, you should be directed to the ‘Touch’ settings where there is an option to initiate the feature. From there you can choose what happens when you double tap the back or triple tap the logo. Features include taking screenshots, switching on the torch, summoning Siri, or muting your phone. However, the issue with this feature it that it is, unsurprisingly, touch sensitive, so having a case on your phone may mean you can’t access this feature as easily.
4. Switch on the interactive iOS weather map
If the little numbers frustrate you on the weather app, then you can switch to a more visual mode by tapping on the map looking icon at the bottom of the left hand side. There, you will get a scrolling 12-hour forecast, for anywhere you have added to your weather list through the hamburger menu at the bottom of the right hand side of the app. The interactive app allows you to look at temperature, precipitation, air quality and wind speed.
5. Scan documents
Picture this: you’re heading out the door and suddenly you remember you have a bunch of life admin to do. The journey to work is an hour so you have time to work on it. All you have to do is open your notes app and select the camera button of a new note. Then scan your document, and voila, it’s on your phone. If your phone is in auto mode, the camera will scan it as soon as it detects a document in its view. Then, once it's scanned, and you’re on the bus, you can use Markup from the share menu and add a signature to fill out any of the required fields, save the document and send it back to whoever needs it.
6. Personalise your control centre
It’s a headache to be fumbling for the Shazam app before the song comes to an end. Or going into your phone to set up an alarm and getting distracted by Instagram. Instead, search ‘control centre’ in your Setting search bar and choose what you want your control centre to look like. This is the screen that appears when you swipe down from the top right hand corner of your phone. You can choose from your wallet, timer, screen recording, alarm, QR code scanner, torch, camera and a host of other options so it works for you.
7. Change your lock and home screen features
Similarly, you can choose what you want to see on your lock screen. Say, hypothetically, you’re in a long distance relationship and you would like to know what time it is in your partner’s city. If you open your phone, swipe down for the notification centre and hold, you can make edits to how your lock screen looks. Simply press on ’customise’ at the bottom of your screen then tap on the lock screen. From there, you can change the different layers of your phone, from the calendar you use, to how the time looks by changing colour and font. You can choose up to four widgets on the third layer down, depending on size, and chose clocks for different time zones, news stories, Spotify shortcuts, Google maps, and so much more.
8. Control your torch intensity
The power goes out, and you need to find your way to the fuse box conveniently located in the garage. So you go to use the torch, but the light is not bright enough. Well, if you hold down the torch button, you can change how intense the light is, and increase or decrease the brightness according to the situation. You wouldn’t (shouldn’t) have a bright light on when rummaging for something in the cinema, for example. Tut tut.
9. Drag and drop your photos
This little-known feature is for those a bit more dexterous. But with the drag and drop feature, you can easily import an image or video from your photos, a webpage or even a PDF from your files and drop it into an app such as Notes or Messages. However, you need to tap and hold on the file first, then move it towards the top or bottom of your screen. Then using another finger, swipe up front the bottom of the screen and open the app you want to drag your file into. Then simply drop in the most appropriate place, such as in the notes app or the message bar of WhatsApp. Equally, you could hold the picture with one thumb and navigate with the other.