There were widespread reports of users struggling with poor LTE and WiFi signal on their brand new iPhone XS and XS Maxs just after release. They started rolling in on Reddit and the Apple Support Forums after devices started arriving on Friday and kept up all weekend. This certainly isn’t what anyone wants when they get an expensive new iPhone. Negative reports are also the LAST thing Apple wants killing their post-launch buzz.
iOS 12 is a more subdued update than many we have seen over the years, with most of the changes being subtle and the improvements under the hood and out of sight. Because it is decoupled from the OS itself, it is easy to overlook just how big a shift in philosophy that Shortcuts represents for Apple’s mobile OS. When you think about how guarded they typically are with iOS and its user experience, allowing users this much access under the hood and behind the scenes is a really big deal.
Have you ever wished you could hold your smartphone steadier while taking photos? Have you ever felt less than secure while fiddling with the focus and zoom of the Camera app, afraid you would drop it and break your screen? Have you ever needed to use a tripod with your smartphone camera? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to take a look at this.
I’ll open by saying that I really like what Apple is doing with Siri Shortcuts overall. I think it’s a great next step beyond the original intent and design of Workflow, and it could end up being the boost that finally gets Siri on the right track. That by itself would be a huge accomplishment. However, all that said, I am not sure why the Apple Watch didn’t get a real invite to the party.
Since the title leans toward the negative side, I’ll be clear- I love my new iPhone XS Max so far. I love the size. Love the screen. Love the resolution. I can live with the trade-offs, like over size and weight and the difficulty with one-handed use. However, after using mine for a day and a half, I think there is still some untapped potential in this hardware.
My iPhone XS Max finished fully restoring overnight, and I think pretty much everything is set up at this point. Here are a few stream-of-consciousness ramblings on Apple’s giagantor phone as I spend more time with it.
Launch days rarely work out for anymore. I thought I had it all set up today, and that I would be able to come home a little early to start playing with the new toys. Well, real life and work both intervened and that didn’t happen. In fact, I didn’t get home until after 8 PM, so my phone is still restoring, and I’ve only had a little while to play around with my new 44 mm Apple Watch.
My iPhone XS Max will arrive sometime tomorrow, along with many thousands of others across the US and the rest of the world. I was ready for this phone as soon as I laid my hands on the iPhone X a year ago, so I’m ready to see how much size matters. That said, this is a good time to look back on what I can honestly say is my favorite smartphone that I’ve owned to this point.
No one but the cool kids have gotten their hands on the new iPhones and Apple Watches yet, and we are already getting fresh reports on what’s coming next. Considering that the news is about the now all but official iPad Pros, I’m all for it.
A good stand is an almost essential tool for tablet users, and the more versatile they are, the better. The ARMOR-X 2-in-1 Tablet Stand is a perfect example. Not only can it hold your 7″-10.5″ tablet in portrait or landscape, but it also doubles as a temporary wall mount.
I vividly remember reading about Mat Honan, then of Wired Magazine, getting hacked by kids using social engineering tricks over six years ago. His entire digital life, including a laptop with family pictures that weren’t backed up, was wiped out in less than an hour. And all of that was just to hijack his three letter Twitter account (@mat) for the lulz. His pain and the expense of piecing things back together and getting data recovery done on a blank hard drive were a wake up call for me and many others. That kind of thing can happen to anyone, and you never know when an attack on your data will come.