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Best apps for students in 2024
If you're looking to improve your studying experience, or simply focus more on schoolwork, we've collected some of the best apps to consider
For students going back to school, purchasing a new laptop, such as a Mac or Chromebook, or a tablet is just the start. These devices will automatically be useful for school due to their built-in offerings, like text editors and browsers. However, you'll need to download a few third-party apps to make the most of a computer, phone, or tablet for learning. We've rounded up some of the best education and learning apps that are available, for students as early in their education as preschool to experienced learners of all ages.
iOS 18 may introduce exclusive AI features on the iPhone 16
Apple is said to be working towards adding exclusive AI features to the iPhone 16 and subsequent models.
Apple surprised everybody at the Wonderlust event by not explicitly mentioning "AI", even though the company has been integrating AI capabilities into its products for quite a while now. The company has big plans for AI in the future as well, some of which will likely be materialized in 2024, with the release of a new Siri experience and the iPhone 16.
How to scan documents on a Mac with Continuity Camera
Continuity Camera allows you to use your iPhone or iPad to scan documents directly onto your Mac, thus making your workflow easier.
You might know Continuity Camera as the feature that allows you to use your iPhone's rear cameras as your Mac's webcam, and you can use it with these great iPhone mounts. However, before that iteration of Continuity Camera, Apple made it possible to scan documents to your Mac with your iPhone's camera. Though it might not be as flashy as Continuity Camera for webcams, you can still do it, and it's a surprisingly useful feature.
Should I install the iOS beta version on my iPhone?
Is it a wise idea to run pre-release builds on your premium phone?
The latest iPhones are some of the best phones available on the market. Not only do they offer premium builds, but they also receive OS updates for many years. Furthermore, you can try upcoming operating system updates and the features they pack weeks, or even months, in advance. This allows you to get your hands on the exciting additions on day one, instead of needing to wait for the public, stable release. Though, expectedly, pre-release versions are often riddled with bugs.
How to automatically unlock your Apple Watch with your iPhone
Typing the security PIN on the Apple Watch's tiny screen can be a hassle. Here's how to unlock your watch with your iPhone automatically.
Apple devices are known for the tight ecosystem that ties them together. Your new iPhone is well aware of your excellent Mac, which similarly connects to your Apple Watch by default. This allows you to utilize features and shortcuts that only simplify your workflows and life. For example, if you're tired of typing the security PIN on your Apple Watch's small display, you can unlock tit automatically through your paired iPhone. Whether you own the Apple Watch Ultra or an older model, the process is the same, and we've listed the steps below.
How to set up Face ID on your Apple iPhone and iPad
Here's how you can set up Face ID on your Apple iPhone or iPad to keep it secure and make unlocking the device more convenient.
Back in 2013, when Apple announced the iPhone 5S, one of the major highlights of the device was a fingerprint scanner embedded into the home button. Apple referred to this as Touch ID. In 2017, when Apple took the bezel-less route with the iPhone X, there was no home button to integrate Touch ID and that meant Apple had to figure out an alternative method for biometric authentication. As a result, Face ID was born.
App sideloading may arrive on iPhones and iPads as soon as 2024
Apple is going to experience some changes over the next couple of years, and one could see sideloading apps becoming an option on the iPhone and iPad.
It's been a year since the Epic Games lawsuit against Apple. While there have been small changes here and there, the App Store has kept chugging along, taking up to a 30 percent cut from big and small developers. However, it looks like things could be changing, according to a new report, which states that Apple is preparing to allow alternative app stores on its devices in an effort to comply with European Union requirements that are set to arrive in 2024.
SwiftKey returns to iOS by ‘popular demand’, Microsoft promises increased investment
Weeks after taking it down, Microsoft has re-listed SwiftKey for iOS on the Apple App Store. The company has also promised to invest heavily in it.
Back in 2014, with the launch of iOS 8 and its support for third-party keyboards, SwiftKey made a debut on the iPhone. Prior to that, the popular keyboard had been exclusive to Android, giving users a solid alternative to first-party options. After all, SwiftKey offers themes, glide-to-type, a solid performance, and much more.
Chrome on iOS receives 6 new features with latest update
Google is rolling out six new features to Chrome on iOS with the latest update. Read on to learn more about the changes.
Google recently rolled out Chrome 103 for Android, iOS, and desktop with a couple of improvements, like faster site load times thanks to better link prefetching, .avif support for Web Share API, and local font access. In addition, the latest build of Chrome on iOS comes with a couple of additional features.
Apple adds official support for Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons and Pro Controller in iOS 16
Support for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Cons was added to iOS 16, allowing users to properly use them within games.
If you want to game on your iPhone, you’ll probably want to connect a gamepad or controller over the Lightning connector or Bluetooth. There are tons of generic gaming accessories out there that can work on iOS, but many of you are probably interested in using gaming controllers you already own. For example, if you have a Nintendo Switch, you may want to connect the Joy-Con or the Pro controller to your iPhone to play. Unfortunately, Switch controllers do work out-of-the-box with macOS, but not iOS. Apple is finally fixing this on iOS 16.
The rebranded Google TV app finally arrives on iOS
Google has finally launched the Google TV app on iOS. The new app replaces the existing Play Movies & TV app. Read on.
When Google launched the rebranded Google TV app on Android back in 2020, it wasn't accompanied by an iOS release. iOS users were stuck with the old Play Movies & TV app. But that finally changes today as the company is bringing the new Google TV app to iOS.
The Google app for iOS is getting a new Notifications tab
Google is rolling out a new Notifications tab to the Google app for iOS to help users keep track of notifications for followed topics.
Google is reportedly adding a new "Notifications" tab in the Google app for iOS to help users keep track of notifications for trending topics. According to a recent report from 9to5Google, the new Notifications tab has already started rolling out to some users, but it isn't available on all devices.
Google Home for iOS gets Android TV remote with latest update
The latest update for the Google Home app on iOS brings the Android TV remote feature to iPhone users. Read on to learn more.
Google rolled out a new virtual remote feature to the Google TV app back in September last year. The feature made its way over to the Google Home app for Android in November, giving users who don't use the Google TV app access to a virtual remote for their Android TV and Google TV devices. Sadly, the feature didn't make it to the Google Home app for iOS at the time. But Google has now started rolling it out for iPhone users.
WWDC is Apple’s annual event with a major emphasis on showcasing its software advancements. What this means is every year at WWDC, we get our first glimpse of the new versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and all of Apple’s apps and services. In 2021, Apple announced iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 along with macOS Monterey and watchOS 8. This article should give you a comprehensive overview of iOS 15 right from how you can install it on your iPhone to what the features and improvements are on Apple’s 2021 smartphone OS. If you want to learn more about the latest OS version, check out iOS 16 instead.
Twitch now supports watching streams with friends using Apple SharePlay
Twitch has added support for Apple SharePlay to its iOS app, making it easy to watch Twitch streams with friends on iOS.
Apple SharePlay is a new feature on iOS and macOS that allows you to watch content with other people over FaceTime, like a system-level version of Prime Video's 'Watch Party' or Instagram's 'Co-Watching' feature. There aren't many applications and services that work with SharePlay yet, but streaming platform Twitch announced today that SharePlay is now available in the Twitch iOS apps.
You will soon be able to publish iOS apps from your iPad
Swift Playgrounds 4 is currently in beta testing, and it will let you publish apps right from your iPad, without needing a Mac.
Swift Playgrounds was first revealed during WWDC in 2016. The app initially would only work on iPads, but Apple has recently expanded support to include macOS, too. Last June, the company announced during WWDC21 that Swift Playgrounds 4 would allow iPadOS users to publish iOS apps directly from their iPads, without needing Xcode on a Mac. It seems like the stable release of version 4 is right around the corner, for Apple is already beta testing it with a group of developers.
Netflix allows iOS users to subscribe directly through its newly released games [update]
Three years after abandoning the Apple App Store payment system, Netflix has finally reimplemented the option on its iOS app.
Apple has often been criticized for the 15-30% cut it takes from subscriptions done through its App Store payment system. Some companies like Spotify and Netflix have avoided paying the commission fees by removing the option to subscribe through their iOS apps. Users would have to pay through the website, and then the premium privileges would get reflected on the iOS client. After three years of abandoning the App Store payment system on its main app, Netflix has now included the option to subscribe directly through the newly released games on iOS.
Apple has released iOS 15.2 developer beta 2, here's what's new
Apple has released the second beta of iOS 15.2 to registered developers. Here's everything new included in this updated build.
Apple has released the second beta of the upcoming iOS 15.2 to registered developers. This update comes packed with changes and tweaks aimed at user privacy and security. These features include some that Apple had teased during the iOS 15 reveal at WWDC21. App Privacy Report, Communication Safety, a tweaked Notification Summary, and more will be available to the public within a month or two. Here's everything that is new.
[Update: Decision reverted] Popular iOS app Notability paywalls features that users already paid for, prompting raised pitchforks
Notability, one of the most popular iOS note-taking apps, has switched to the freemium model, paywalling features users already paid for.
Notability -- one of the most popular note-taking apps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac -- has switched to the freemium business model. While we've seen this move happen with other apps before, this app is taking away features users had already paid for. So if you've purchased the app and any in-app purchases (IAPs) to unlock extra features in the past, you're going to be treated like any other free user in a year.
Apple could be copying Pixel's coveted "car crash detection" feature next year
A report claims that Apple is working on a car crash detection feature for next year, similar to that currently on Google Pixel phones.
Google always includes exclusive features on Pixel phones, likely to lure more people and increase sales. One of these features is car crash detection, which automatically calls emergency services (in supported regions) when a crash is detected unless you choose not to. It now seems like Apple is working on something similar for the iPhone and Apple Watch.