Author Archives: Doug Holcomb

Hard reset your iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch every couple weeks to maintain speed of device

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All computers and smartphones benefit from a restart periodically. Your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch are no different. I would recommend doing a hard reset every couple of weeks. It is simple and only takes about 30-60 seconds. Here is how: 1. Navigate to the Home Screen (your first page of apps) and then double tap the “Home Button”. This will bring up the multi-tasking tray at the bottom of the screen revealing all of your recently used apps. Tap and hold on the first app in the list till it starts to shake. A little red minus with a Continue Reading →

Access open tabs in Safari from other devices using iCloud in iOS 6

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One of the features that Apple introduced in iOS 6 and Mac OS X Mountain Lion is tab syncing in Safari between multiple devices. This means that at any point, you can see any of the tabs that you have open on all of your devices. For me, I have a Macbook, an iPhone 4S, and an iPad. At any point, I can access the tabs open on any of these devices. Here is how: 1. Make sure that all your devices are updated and that Safari on your Mac is running the most recent version. 2. Make sure that Continue Reading →

Quick Tip: Pinch to zoom when using Camera App on iPhone, iPad (Mini), and iPod Touch

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If you find yourself in a place where you need to zoom in when taking a photo, you can simply place your thumb and a finger on your iPhone or iPad screen when in the Camera app. Then, with your thumb and finger still on the screen slowly spread them apart. The subject of the photo will get bigger as you zoom in. Keep in mind, this is a digital zoom meaning that the more you zoom in, the less you will get in photo resolution (your photo will become slightly pixelated). To zoom out, simply reverse the process. Alternatively, Continue Reading →

Quick Tip: Access full screen mode in Safari with iPhone running iOS 6

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The Safari app in iOS 6 has a special feature that allows you enter full-screen mode. This will make both the top bar (with the web address) and the bottom bar (with the navigation controls) disappear. It is an immersive web experience (if there is such a thing on a 3.5″ or 4″ screen :). To activate this feature, simply turn your iPhone on its side so that it is in landscape mode. Once you do this, you will notice that there is a little button in the bottom right corner with 2 arrows pointing outward. Just tap this button Continue Reading →

Turn on Kid’s Mode (Guided Access) on your iPhone, iPad (Mini) and iPod Touch in iOS 6

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Have you ever wanted to let your kids, grandkids, or someone else’s kids play with your iPhone or iPad? Have you ever come back later to find that this wonderful little person ended up sending random texts to people in your contacts list, deleting photos, and other things you didn’t want to happen? Well, there is a solution to that. It is called “Guided Access.” I have renamed this Kid’s Mode or Child Mode because that’s what I use it for. Kid’s Mode locks your device into one app and disables the Home Button, On/Off Button, and Volume Buttons. This Continue Reading →

iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S case with built in Bluetooth Headset

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One of the iPhone accessories that I use every single day of the year is a case that I got for my 4S that has a built in bluetooth headset nestled in the back. It is called the Mogo Talk. The case protects my phone while providing me access to a handsfree headset any time. I love it. In fact, I like this case so much that it is one of the main reasons I have not yet upgraded to the iPhone 5 (they don’t make the case for the iPhone 5). I charge the headset overnight and then turn Continue Reading →

Silence an incoming call on the iPhone in iOS 6

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This button on the iPhone can be pressed to silence the ring/vibration on an incoming call

There are 2 ways to silence the ringer on an incoming call on an iPhone. The first way is to push either the volume up/down on the side of the phone or the On/Off button on the top of the phone. This will also stop the vibration of the phone if the ringer has been turned off. This is especially helpful if you have forgotten to silence your phone when in a meeting. You can also send an incoming call straight to voicemail if you push the On/Off button twice. For other ways to respond to an incoming call, see Continue Reading →

Multi-finger gestures increase ease of use of iPad

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In the last two renditions of Apple’s operating systems for the iPad (iOS 5 and iOS 6), there has been the inclusion of multi-finger gestures. Multi-finger gestures are by definition actions that you can perform on the screen using more than one finger. Most people are familiar with using two fingers to pinch and zoom on a photo which has been a core since the iPhone was first introduced. But the gestures I am talking about are 4 and five finger gestures. These are called, Multitasking Gestures. Here they are: 1. 4 Finger swipe up on screen to reveal multitasking Continue Reading →

Best Audio-Video Baby Monitor for under $75 using your iPhone, iPad (Mini), or iPod Touch and Foscam Camera + App

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Baby Monitoring Setup for under $100

This article will give you everything you need to know about how to use iPhone, iPad (Mini), or iPod Touch as an audio video baby monitor with Foscam Camera and a Foscam Camera App – all for under $75! When my 2 year old was born, one of the things I wanted was a video monitor that I could use to make sure my baby was safe and sleeping well. As I looked around at the options, I was disappointed by the low quality of the devices and the high cost. So, at first, I gave up. Then, I had Continue Reading →

Pulse News Reader (Free App) – Best blog, news, and web content app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

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This is by far the best new reader app I have found on the App Store – and it’s FREE! You can add any type of blog, news feed, and a lot more web content that can all be viewed in a beautiful layout. If the news feeds have images in them, those will come through as well. The user interface on this app makes it so much fun to use (Check out the gallery below). I have never enjoyed consuming digital content as much as when I got this app. Some of my favorites are MacRumors.com, Tuaw.com, CultofMac.com, TheAtlantic.com, Continue Reading →