4 of the perfect obscure iPhone options you are not utilizing

Apple touts many

iPhone
options from the hills, no matter how essential they’re in observe. Contemplate the

Camera Control
button on the

iPhone 16
, for instance — I principally solely use it for opening the Digicam app, taking a shot, and adjusting zoom, and a few individuals do not use it in any respect. This form of factor is to be anticipated, although, because it’s within the nature of capitalism to say any benefit you may over the competitors.

Sometimes, nevertheless, Apple does introduce options that obtain little if any advertising and marketing regardless of being genuinely helpful. That additionally is smart in its personal method, as a result of a few of the issues that make a product higher aren’t essentially straightforward to promote by way of TV commercials and roadside billboards. These are a few of the extra obscure iPhone options I like — your personal checklist might fluctuate.

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1

Again Faucet

Like Double Faucet to your iPhone

Again Faucet is much like the Double Faucet gestures Apple launched with the Apple Watch Collection 9 and Extremely 2, letting you utilize movement gestures to set off instructions as a substitute of clicking a button or utilizing a touchscreen. Arguably, it is higher — particularly since you may assign your personal customized features everytime you double- or triple-tap the again of your iPhone, akin to turning on the flashlight, taking a screenshot, or opening Management Middle.

Why have not you heard a lot — if something — about Double Faucet? For one, Again Faucet remains to be thought of an “accessibility” function, meant to simplify iPhone use for individuals with bodily impairments. The opposite is that you need to flip it on manually by going to Settings > Accessibility > Contact > Again Faucet. It is off by default, presumably as a result of it might be all too straightforward to set off instructions by chance in the event you have been unaware of the function’s existence. How usually do you drum on one thing whenever you’re bored?

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2

ChatGPT integration into Siri

Lastly, Siri can really let you know concerning the Mongols

Apple / Pocket-lint

Till iOS 18.2, Siri was notoriously unhealthy at answering data questions. It may reply some apparent ones, akin to who the US President was or what the climate was going to be like, however too usually it might throw up its arms or ask you to faucet on an internet hyperlink — even in the event you have been speaking to a HomePod. The truth is, that is nonetheless how questions work on Apple’s sensible audio system.

iOS 18.2 added ChatGPT integration for iPhones with Apple Intelligence, specifically the iPhone 16 collection and the iPhone 15 Professional. So in the end, in the event you ask a fancy query, Siri can produce a solution with out making you go someplace else for it. You will have to attend a second whereas Siri contacts OpenAI’s servers, but it surely nonetheless makes the assistant really feel much more highly effective. You’ll be able to even make it generate photos in some conditions, akin to Messages.

Apple does really promote this function a bit, however solely within the context of different Apple Intelligence choices. It is most likely none too wanting to shine the highlight on a product it is not answerable for, and it is seeking to recruit different AI companions too, akin to Google.

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3

Altering default apps

Use your most well-liked on a regular basis instruments

Apple would like that you simply use its personal apps every time doable, but it surely additionally lives in the true world — different apps are generally extra in style, and antitrust lawsuits can (and do) hold its habits in verify. If you happen to go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps, you may select your personal preferences for issues like electronic mail, net looking, translation, and passwords. In some international locations, at the least, you may even select a substitute for Apple Pockets for dealing with NFC transactions.

The principle catch right here, aside from doable regional restrictions, is that some apps you’d assume could be selectable merely aren’t. Google Translate cannot be chosen as a substitute for Apple Translate, for example, although it is undoubtedly extra widespread. Control this function — the gates could also be pressured all the way in which open by legislators sooner or later. You would not tolerate a Home windows PC that locked out Chrome and Firefox, in spite of everything.

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4

Textual content Substitute

Create shortcuts and repair shortcomings

Numerous human communication includes the repetition of inventory expressions. That is not a judgment of the species — that is simply how language works. As a result of expressions like “see ya” and “on my method” are so commonplace, they’re loaded with that means, and we do not have to hassle formulating a brand new phrase every time we talk the identical normal idea. You’d assume somebody was losing their time in the event that they stated “I sit up for seeing you once more once I return to work tomorrow morning” earlier than heading out to their automotive.

To save lots of much more time, when typing at the least, you may go to Settings > Basic > Keyboard > Textual content Substitute and generate shortcuts that robotically swap in your most used expressions. Utilizing “omw” to set off “on my method” is an apparent instance, however I may doubtlessly use “@rf” to insert one thing like my electronic mail handle, cellphone quantity, or Bluesky deal with. In a great world, I would have the ability to share a whole contact card, however that is not right here simply but.

NameDrop
can do one thing comparable if each individuals have an iPhone (they usually’re standing proper subsequent to one another).

An attention-grabbing trick Apple helps is utilizing Textual content Substitute to power iOS to not substitute one thing, say if it is a bit overzealous about “correcting” product names, track names, or swear phrases. Within the Textual content Substitute menu, you merely enter a phrase or sentence into the Phrase area, however depart Shortcut clean. The truth is, that is one in all my greatest pet peeves about iOS, so I am reminded that I ought to sit down someday and enter a flurry of latest shortcuts. At some point, iOS will cease attempting to right me concerning the obscure ambient and industrial bands I like from locations like England and Germany.

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