Today’s smartphones are packed full of features, but are you aware of all of them? More than 200 million iPhones are sold each year, but the vast majority of users fail to use all of the tech at their disposal. In fact, if you’re an Apple user, there’s a good chance your phone has a whole range of features you’re unaware of. To find out what you’re missing out on, take a look at these five ways to get the most out of your iPhone now:
1. iMessage Games
The App Store might have an endless range of games on offer, but iMessage has some of its own too. What’s more – they’re mostly free to use and you can play them with your contacts instantly. Simply open iMessage and click on the contact you want to invite. Then, click on the App Store icon directly above your keyboard. Here, you’ll see extensions that can be used with iMessage, so keep an eye out for ‘iMessage Games’. Click on ‘See All’ and browse through what’s on offer until you find a game you like.
All you need to do is select ‘Get’ and the game will download. You can then close the App Store via the ‘X’ in the corner and go back to the iMessage screen. Once installed, the game icon will appear at the top of your keyboard. Tap it, select the settings you want and hit ‘Send’ to start playing!
2. Screen Mirroring
If you want to scroll through your photos with friends, watch videos stored on your smartphone, or share content with colleagues, screen mirroring is a useful feature to know about it. When you cast your screen to another device, you can watch your iPhone screen on a TV, which makes it easy to enjoy content with other people or simply view the contents of your phone in a whole new way.
Fortunately, there are numerous ways you can mirror your screen, so there should be an option for virtually any setup. If you don’t have a Smart TV, for example, you can rely on an HDMI cable to facilitate screen mirroring. To learn more or to start using screen mirroring straight away, take a look at this in-depth how-to guide from Setapp and find out how to cast iPhone to tv now. If you really want to maximize the functionality of your iPhone, Setapp makes it easy to do so. With access to a range of curated apps, you can boost your productivity and find the solutions you need at any time.
3. Level Your Phone with Grid Settings
All iPhones have impressive camera options but, if you’re a budding photographer, the three 12MP cameras and TrueDepth functionality of the iPhone 12 Pro probably make it your best choice. However, keep your software updated and you’ll find that you can take great quality shots on any iPhone device.
When you’re taking overhead shots, however, it’s always tricky to keep your phone or camera steady. Until now, that is. When you turn the Grid settings on in the iPhone’s native camera app, you can line up the subject of your shot more easily. However, position the iPhone so that it’s overhead and the grid will turn into crosshairs. Simply position your iPhone until these crosshairs line up and you’ll know your phone is perfectly level and ready to take a great quality photo.
From taking an accurate photo of a physical document to capturing your best angle for a selfie, using the grid and crosshairs to line up your phone will boost your photography skills and allow you to capture even better shots.
4. Screen Recording
Recording your iPhone screen can be a fun way to share content with friends or create a how-to video of your own but few people realize their phone has this feature built in. Open Control Center and look for the screen recording icon (a dot with a circle around it). If it’s not present, click ‘Customize Controls’ and add it.
When you want to record your screen, open Control Center and tap screen recording. It will give you 3 seconds to close the Control Center before it starts recording your screen. Video generated by the phone will be included in your recording but, if you want to talk over the video or record external sounds, turn your microphone on before you start. To stop recording, simply Open Control Center and tap the screen recording button.
Head over to the Photos app and you’ll find your new video safely stored in there. You can keep it on your iPhone, back it up to the cloud, share it on social media or send it directly to your contacts via iMessage or other messaging apps.
5. Markup Screenshots
As we move towards a more portable work life, people are routinely using their iPhones to undertake professional tasks and even to run entire businesses. If you want to provide feedback to colleagues or make notes to review later on, being able to markup screenshots comes in very useful.
To use this feature, open the relevant screenshot via the Photos app and tap on Edit. Here, you’ll see the Markup option. Tap on it and you’ll have the option to add shapes, text, freehand notes, speech bubbles and arrows. You can also use a highlighter to grab the viewer’s attention and add a digital signature to your work.
When you’re finished, tap Done in the top left-hand corner, and you’ll be given the option to save the version in Photos or in Files. You’ll be able to send a copy of your marked up screenshot to recipients via iMessage, email or a shared folder from either of these locations.
Finding the Best iPhone Features
Whether you’re still using a trusty iPhone 6, or you’ve upgraded to the latest release, chances are there are numerous hidden features lurking on your device. By taking the time to familiarize yourself with them, you can uncover the true potential of your iPhone and make the most of the technology that’s available. From taking the perfect selfie to maximizing your productivity, the iPhone has hidden features, tricks and hacks to help you achieve almost anything.
