Even if you think you know how to use your iPhone 5, there are still plenty of handy tips and tricks you can use to really help you get the most out of your phone. After all, with so much enhanced functionality available it’s only fair that you’d want to use it to your own advantage wherever you can.
iPhone 5 Tips and Tricks Guide
Making the most of Siri on the iPhone 5
The brilliant iPhone virtual assistant Siri uses voice recognition to decipher what you’re saying. Then Siri will get done whatever you’ve told it to do. You don’t even have to issue robotic commands for Siri to understand you. The software not only picks up your words, but it also picks up your meaning. This means you can talk to your iPhone the same way you would speak to a person and Siri will pick it up.
So, if you say you want to find a great pizza place near where you are now, Siri will search for any available places nearby. If you then change your mind and say you prefer a French restaurant, Siri will modify the search to only include those restaurants in the vicinity.
You can use Siri to make calls for you or even write and send texts for you without having to raise a finger. Siri will even create reminders for you automatically.
Setting locations
If you put your home and work addresses into your Contacts, Siri can use this information to help you plan things. So, if you say “remind me to pick up the dry cleaning on the way home from work” Siri will remind you to do this as you leave work. Introduce people to Siri
Siri is able to connect people by your relationship with them. You simply need to tell it who’s who. For example, you can say “Jodie is my mum” or “Mark is my husband” and Siri will make those connections automatically in future.
That way, you can say “text my husband” and Siri will create a message for Mark. You can ask Siri to “call mum” and it will locate Jodie’s number and make that call.
Siri the virtual assistant
Your iPhone 5 comes complete with your own virtual assistant. Ask Siri to schedule meetings or to create an event in your calendar for you. It will get done.
Siri can help you make restaurant bookings or even arrange movie tickets for you through your phone. It can locate nearby restaurants to wherever you are and even sort them by cuisine type.
Siri is also able to take dictation. This is great if you want to make notes or dictate a text message. You can even tell Siri what you want written on your Facebook status update and it will update it for you.
Siri the navigator
Using the Maps app, Siri is able to find locations and direct you turn-by-turn to your destination. This makes travelling easier, as you only need to tap the Quick Route icon next to the name of whatever location you’re travelling to.
iPhone 5 Maps App
The Maps app lets you pinpoint a specific location and then it works out the best way for you to get to that destination quickly. There’s also a Flyover view in the app that lets you fly over the destination and actually see what it looks like in 3D from the air. Use your iPhone to zoom in on features or rotate around various landmarks to get a feel for what’s there.
Personalise your email
The iPhone 5 now lets you refresh your emails with a single swipe. This is great if you’re waiting for an important email to come through. You can also customise your emails using emoticons, including an array of smileys, shapes and icons.
iPhone 5 iSight and iPhoto
The added power of the iOS 6 in the iPhone 5 now means that you can benefit from a more powerful camera and matching software. The camera itself is an 8MP camera with a Panorama mode. This lets you take wide panoramic photos quickly and easily.
iPhoto is a brilliant app that lets you customise, enhance or edit your photos easily right on your phone. This lets you fix any average photos you took so they appear more professional once you’re done.
Do not disturb
The new ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature is excellent if you really don’t want to be disturbed during an important meeting. Switch the feature on and it will stop any incoming calls or messages until a later time. You can even customise this so that only calls from specific people or groups can still go through, but no one else can.
There are just so many ways you can use your iPhone 5 to your advantage that you really do need to spend some time getting used to all the features. Once you do, you’ll love it.
