Little-known iPhone feature is hailed a ‘game changer’ for people who travel

There’s a new feature on the iPhone that every user needs to know about if you’re planning to up your travel game this year.

Travel is quite the hassle at times, particularly when it comes to managing the various different planning aspects.

For example, your currency conversion.

Imagine paying for something you have mentally calculated as being a couple of dollars, only to realize that you’re completely wrong and now you’re left with pittance for the rest of your trip…

Plenty of travel buffs don't know about this (Getty stock photo)

Plenty of travel buffs don’t know about this (Getty stock photo)

It’s not exactly a farfetched scenario, and it’ll cause you more than just a headache as it means you’re having to scrimp and save just to pay for some yummy food on your vacation.

Thankfully, if you have an iPhone (sorry Android users) then you don’t have to worry about this.

There’s a little feature on your smartphone that’ll help you with managing your money, and it’s totally free.

iPhone’s safety check feature to keep you safe

Credit: Apple

If you didn’t know, your calculator app has upgraded thanks to the iOS 18 update.

Instead of being useful for simple math, you can also use it to convert your money to multiple currencies too.

According to Instagram user @lifeofthetravelingpin, this ‘game changer’ should be widely known.

You can use your calculator app to quickly convert currencies (Instagram/@lifeofthetravelingpin)

You can use your calculator app to quickly convert currencies (Instagram/@lifeofthetravelingpin)

She said in a post alongside a reel showing people how to use it: “DON’T miss this travel hack! It works without data too.

“This is a crazy new update for @apple Iphone users! SAVE this for your next international trip and SHARE it with a friend!

“As someone who is always traveling, I have a currency converter open on my phone at all times. I used to dread those moments at the market trying to quickly calculate prices in my head. Fumbling with a currency converter app while offline was always a bit stressful. Can you relate?! If so, keep reading! This NEW feature not only is it easily accessible, but it also works without data AND easily switches to input the local currency or your home currency. Now you can easily convert currencies directly from your phone, even when you don’t have an internet connection.”

So, how do you use your calculator to convert currencies?

First, you’ll need to go to the Calculator app and tap the Calculator Mode button.

Then press on your ‘Convert’ selection and select ‘Currency’ from the menu, and then you can choose the currency.

The iOS 18 update makes this feature available on iPhone XR/XS and more.

Which iPhones are compatible?

You can use it if you have a:

  • iPhone 16
  • iPhone 16 Plus
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone SE

0 comments

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/mihailomilovanovic/Getty Images/SimonSkafar

Topics: TraveliPhoneAppleMoney

Apple reveals three little-known iPhone settings that will actually double your battery life

Apple reveals three little-known iPhone settings that will actually double your battery life

Two of the three suggestions are obvious, but knowing how to switch them on is a different matter

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

Is there anything worse than your phone dying – especially when you aren’t at home?

Well, if you’re an iPhone user then you’re in luck because Apple has revealed there are three iPhone settings that you can tweak on your phone to actually double your battery life.

There are so many things you can do to conserve battery life but the tech giant has now compiled a list of three things that you can do to prevent your phone from dying at the worst possible time.

Is there anything worse than a 'dead' phone? (Getty stock)

Is there anything worse than a ‘dead’ phone? (Getty stock)

Location services

Apple writes: “Background Location: An app has been using your location in the background. To improve battery life, set the app’s location access to While In Use.”

Yes, when you download apps some of them will ask for you to turn on your location services – which for many is needed, but often we accidentally turn it on and leave it running in the background.

Apple introduces the iPhone 16
Credits: Apple
0 seconds of 2 minutes, 52 secondsVolume 90%

To prevent this from happening in the future, make sure you only allow the app to access your location while you’re using it.

For those of you wondering how do you turn your location services off, you need to click on Settings then ‘Privacy & Security’ – while you’re there, select the app you wish to stop sharing your location with and toggle it off.

Waiting for your iPhone to charge in the middle of the day is frustrating, but there are tips you can adhere to for a longer batter life (Getty stock)

Waiting for your iPhone to charge in the middle of the day is frustrating, but there are tips you can adhere to for a longer batter life (Getty stock)

Auto-brightness

OK, this is another simple one – simple in the way that we know reducing your brightness saves battery life… but not everyone knows how to access this.

Using their many built-in light sensors, our iPhones can detect how bright their surroundings are and automatically adjust their brightness to make for easier viewing

To turn auto-brightness on or off:

  1. In the Settings app, tap Accessibility.
  2. Tap Display & Text Size.
  3. Scroll to Auto-Brightness and tap to turn the feature on or off.

If you think your screen brightness isn’t adapting correctly, try to turn off auto-brightness and then turn it back on.

Hopefully these suggestions by Apple will help you to always have a charged phone! (Getty stock)

Hopefully these suggestions by Apple will help you to always have a charged phone! (Getty stock)

Auto-Lock

It’s what it says on the tin – auto-lock locks your phone after a set amount of time without activity and it was designed to conserve battery life.

So how do you make the most of this?

Go to Settings, then click on ‘Display & Brightness’, and you’ll find ‘Auto-Lock’.

From there you can actually change how long it takes before automatically locking.

If these tips save at least one phone’s life, then I can live with that.

0 comments

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Jajah-sireenut/Getty Images/FreshSplash

Topics: AppleiPhoneTravel

Man spent $40,000 to unbox a sealed original iPhone and is shocked by what he finds inside

Man spent $40,000 to unbox a sealed original iPhone and is shocked by what he finds inside

The original iPhone is the most sought after gadget for collectors

Gregory Robinson

Gregory Robinson

The year 2007 marked a lot of iconic releases. From Britney Spears’ album Blackout, to Disney/Pixar’s Ratatouille, and of course, the very first iPhone.

New tech will always be the talk of the town. Several iPhones later, the original iPhone is still a subject of intrigue and interest. As any collector will tell you, getting your hands on an old gadget in its original packaging will cost a pretty penny.

Steve Jobs unveiling first ever iPhone
Credit: CNN
0 seconds of 1 minute, 7 secondsVolume 90%

The first ever iPhone — known as the iPhone 2G or first generation — was unveiled by Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs 17 years ago in 2007. It cost $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB model. In recent years, original iPhones have sold for as much as $63,000 at auction.

One Apple fanatic managed to get his hands on an original, sealed iPhone. Marques Brownlee bought the groundbreaking phone for $40,000 — and luckily for us, he broke the seal and showed us everything inside the box.

He begins by telling his subscribers that the most ‘sought after tech in the collector world is the factory-sealed, unopened, original iPhone’. This is understandably very rare, because who would buy a new gadget and not use it? Smart people, apparently. Perhaps they had an inkling that the iPhone would be worth a fortune in the years to come…

Brownlee says sometimes people re-seal used original iPhones and sell them as if they have never been used. A lot of effort goes into making the scam look as believable as possible.

When the YouTuber won the auction for the iPhone he paid $40,320 for it. The sellers sent it in a massive wooden box. He initially offered to pay $32,000 before the price jumped massively during the auction.

This is what he finds in the box (Marques Brownlee)

This is what he finds in the box (Marques Brownlee)

After unscrewing the box and peeling back the bubble wrap, Brownlee finds the brand new (but also very old) iPhone. The box has a ‘lucky you’ sticker, which he eventually discovers was used sometimes if the phone was intended as a gift.

Thankfully, the phone is a factory-sealed new phone that has not been used before. He finds the documents for using and operating the phone, and a microfiber screen cleaner, plus Apple stickers. The box has a sealed USB-A wall plug, a 30-pin dock with a headphone jack, a 30-pin charging and data couple, plus old school earphones.

All the signs suggest the $40,000 iPhone is authentic (Marques Brownlee)

All the signs suggest the $40,000 iPhone is authentic (Marques Brownlee)

Unfortunately, the iPhone did not turn on originally because the battery is so old but he is eventually able to charge it.

The current iPhone is the 16. It is available in five different shades – white, black, ultra marine, teal and pink – which all come with an aero-space grade aluminium finish. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus start at $799 and $899.

Conversation3 Comments

18 Viewing
Commenting as Guest

Sort by 

  • What a stupid waste of time article. Man buys iPhone, unboxes it to find iPhone.

    1

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Marques Brownlee

Topics: AppleTechnologyiPhoneYouTubeMoney

Urgent warning issued to iPhone users to turn on new thief-blocking security feature

Urgent warning issued to iPhone users to turn on new thief-blocking security feature

It initiates barriers against theft and stalls access to a stolen phone

Apple users have been encouraged to turn on a new security feature that could help them if their phone is stolen.

Getting your phone stolen is annoying to put it mildly. This situation becomes even more frustrating when someone has the potential to gain access to much of your sensitive data.

Apple’s latest update, iOS 17.3, has a new feature that it believes can help deter thieves from going after iPhones.

Following the update, that released on January 22, iPhone users are able to use the Stolen Device Protection feature for added security protection, which initiates barriers against theft and stalls access to a stolen phone.

It’s essentially an emergency backup solution before you call the police and report it stolen.

Tips on saving iPhone battery life
Credit: YouTube/@BenObiTechYT
0 seconds of 42 secondsVolume 90%

When the feature has been turned on, it will require the person accessing to perform a successful Face or Touch ID to access sensitive information, such as your wallet and stored passcodes.

Ultimately, it’s one extra layer of protection against thieves who would likely try their hand at taking your money after they’ve stolen your device.

On the back of the recent feature, the tech giant wrote: “In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure.

It initiates barriers against theft and stalls access to a stolen phone.

Getty Stock Image

“When your iPhone is in a familiar location, these additional steps are not required, and you can use your device passcode like usual.”

Apple confirms that familiar locations are places where the iPhone is commonly used, including places of work and your home.

However, if the device is in an unusual location, the feature will trigger an hour-long delay if someone is attempting to change the password. This would give the actual owner more time to report their phone stolen.

As well as this, passcodes will no longer be able to be used a backup method of unlocking the phone.

iPhone users are being urged to turn on the Stolen Device Protection feature for added security protection.

Getty Stock Image

If you haven’t already turned on the feature, here is how:

  • Make sure you have the latest iOS 17. 3 software updated.
  • Activate two-factor authentication in settings under ‘Password & Security’.
  • Make sure both Face and Touch ID are enabled, along with Find My features, and create a password if you haven’t already.
  • Enable ‘Significant Locations’ in locations services.
  • Tap on ‘Face ID & Passcode’ in settings and enter your password.
  • Toggle ‘Stolen Device protection’ to turn it on.

Featured Image Credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Topics: AppleiPhoneTechnology

Mark Zuckerberg claims Apple is making money in controversial way after saying 'they haven't invented anything great' since iPhone

Mark Zuckerberg claims Apple is making money in controversial way after saying ‘they haven’t invented anything great’ since iPhone

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has questioned how Apple are ‘making more money as a company’

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

Mark Zuckerberg has spoken out against Apple ‘just kind of sitting’ on the iPhone 20 years on and what it means for developers.

The chief executive of Meta Platforms Inc. appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast and it didn’t take long for him to reveal his true thoughts about the technology company. Zuckerberg praised it for ‘one of the most important inventions of all time’ in creating the iPhone but interrogated how the company still makes money.

Apple introduces the iPhone 16
Credits: Apple
0 seconds of 2 minutes, 52 secondsVolume 90%

On an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience released on January 10, the host admitted there’s ‘so much about Apple‘ he ‘doesn’t like’ and it didn’t take long for Zuckerberg to chime in, noting how the rise of the iPhone parallels fairly closely with his own journey starting Facebook, Steve Jobs coming out with the first iPhone in 2007 and Zuckerberg with his first social media platform in 2004.

In the clip, Zuckerberg reflects on the ‘dominant platform’ being ‘smartphones’ and, while this is ‘great’ to ‘build these tools that everyone can have in their pocket’ and ‘there’s like four billion people who use the different apps’ covered by Meta, he notes the company ‘didn’t play any role in basically building that, those phones, because it was kind of getting worked on when [he] was just trying to make the first website’.

He argues: “[Apple] have ‘used that platform [of the iPhone] to put in place a lot of rules that I think, feel arbitrary and feel like they haven’t really invented anything great in a while – Steve Jobs invented the iPhone and now they’re just kind of sitting on it 20 years later and they actually, I think year-over-year I’m not even sure they’re selling more iPhones at this point. I think the sales might actually be declining.

“I think part of it is each generation doesn’t actually get that much better so people are just taking longer to upgrade than they would before, the number of sales has generally been flat to declining. So how are they making more money as a company?

“Well, they do it by basically like squeezing people and, like you’re saying, having this 30 percent tax on developers by getting you to buy more peripherals and things that plug into it.”

For example, AirPods, which Zuckerberg praises as ‘cool,’ but says Apple have ultimately ‘thoroughly hamstrung the ability for anyone else to build something that can connect to the iPhone in the same way’.

Zuckerberg continues: “Apple has a specific protocol that they’ve built into the iPhone that allows AirPods basically to connect to it and it’s much more seamless and they’ve enabled that but they’ve not let anyone else use the protocol.

“If they did, there would probably be much better competitors to AirPods out there. And whenever you push on this they get super touchy and they basically wrap their defence of it as, ‘Well, if we let other companies plug into our thing then that would violate people’s privacy and security’.

“It’s like no, just do a better job at designing the protocol.”

Zuckerberg reflects on the whole issue as ‘wild’, but notes he’s ‘pretty optimistic that, just because [Apple] have been so off their game in terms of not really releasing many innovative things that eventually […] [it’s] just going to get beat by someone’.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *