The Lock screen exists in between states, when your iPhone or iPad is no longer asleep, but is also not yet open and fully functional. It can protect your device from unauthorized access and actions by a simple slide-to-unlock gesture, by a 4 number pin-code, by a strong alpha-numeric password, or Apple's Touch ID fingerprint identity scanner. Yet the Lock screen can be functional as well. If you want to, you can access Notification Center and Control Center, the Camera, and Siri. On the iPhone, you can even make emergency calls. Yes, the Lock screen can be secure or it can be convenient, it's entirely up to you!

How to change the auto-lock time on your iPhone or iPad

The auto-lock feature on the iPhone and iPad lets you control how long you want the screen to stay on when the device isn't being used. The shorter the amount of time you set it for, the faster the screen will go off due to inactivity. A shorter auto-lock time will make your iPhone or iPad prompt for a passcode faster, which results in better security. Not to mention battery life can improve since the screen isn't on as often. Follow along and we'll show you how to edit your auto-lock settings.

• How to change the auto-lock time on your iPhone or iPad

How to secure your iPhone or iPad Lock screen with a passcode, password, or Touch ID

Protecting your iPhone with a 4-digit passcode, long, strong alphanumeric password, and Touch ID, if available, makes it much, much more difficult for anyone to access your device and do things with it — like steal your data — without your permission. Passcodes provide enough protection for most people, most of the time. Long alphanumeric passwords provide stronger protection if you need it. Touch ID, if you have it, makes it quicker and faster to access your device without having to use the passcode or password.

• How to secure your iPhone or iPad with a 4-digit passcode
• How to secure your iPhone or iPad with a strong alphanumeric password
• How to secure your iPhone with Touch ID

How to quickly access your iPhone camera from the Lock screen

The iPhone's iSight takes great photos under a wide range of conditions, but you still need to have it in your hands, ready to shoot, whenever the need arises. Sometimes that's when you least expect it. Sometimes that's when you see something spectacular or your child does something amazing. It's not planned, it's not posed, but it's still incredibly important to you. That's where quick camera access comes in. Apple knows you may need to get to the Camera app in a flash, and they've built in a great way to get right to it!

• How to quickly access your iPhone camera from the Lock screen

How to access and use Notification Center from the Lock screen on your iPhone or iPad

Notification Center collects and organizes all your alerts, all in one place, including on the Lock screen. Whether they're in Notification Center proper, or a banner or a popup, whether they beep or buzz, Notification Center does all it can to make sure you get all the alerts you need. And if you prefer not to risk having anyone else access your notifications from the Lock screen, you can easily turn it off.

• How to access Notification Center from the Lock screen on your iPhone or iPad
• How to use Notification Center banners, popups, and alerts from the Lock screen of your iPhone or iPad
• How to disable Notification Center on the Lock screen of your iPhone and iPad

How to access and use Control Center from the Lock screen on iPhone or iPad

Control Center can be called up right from the Lock screen. Once activated, Control Center gives you instant control over radios like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and lets you toggle Airplane mode and orientation lock. There are also media controls for your audio and volume, brightness controls, and a way to quickly launch everything from the camera to the calculator. Of course, if you don't want anyone accessing apps, toggling settings — or putting your device into Airplane mode! — from the Lock screen, you can easily disable Control Center.

• How to access and use Control Center from the Lock screen on iPhone or iPad
• How to disable Control Center access from your iPhone or iPad Lock screen

How to access and use Siri on the Lock screen of your iPhone or iPad

Siri is Apple's virtual, personal, digital assistant with a personality straight out of a Pixar film. With Siri, your iPhone or iPad can help you do all sorts of amazing things, from keeping in contact, to keeping on time, to keeping informed. And you can access all of it right from your Lock screen! If you don't want anyone having access to Siri from your Lock screen, you can also turn that off.

• How to access and use Siri from the Lock screen of your iPhone or iPad
• How to disable access to Siri from the iPhone or iPad lock screen

How to get more help with the Lock screen and iOS

Complete guide to the Apple TV, Apple's iOS-powered, 1080p streaming set top box

While rumors of a new Apple TV continue to make the rounds, the current Apple TV is already a fantastic little $99 device that lets you stream all sorts of content — including iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, MLB, NHL, and much, much more to your HDTV. What's more, it lets you AirPlay video and even mirror the screen of your iPhone or iPad straight to the big screen. There's a lot more you can do as well. Here's our complete guide!

How to set up and start using your new Apple TV

Because the Apple TV is relatively inexpensive — only $99 in the U.S. — and provides a ton of video and audio streaming capability, including direct lines in iTunes and even AirPlay from iOS devices, it's an incredibly easy purchase to justify. It's also an incredibly easy device to set up. If you're having any trouble, however, here are the step-by-step directions.

• How to automatically set up your Apple TV using an iPhone or iPad
• How to manually set up your Apple TV using the hardware remote

How to use VoiceOver on your Apple TV

If you have an Apple TV but find it difficult or impossible to see and navigate the menu system VoiceOver is there to help. An accessibility option meant to help those with visual challenges, VoiceOver "speaks" the controls to you, letting you hear what you can't see. You can even set up shortcuts to turn VoiceOver on and off with just two taps.

• How to use VoiceOver on your Apple TV

How to pair an Apple remote with your Apple TV

Apple's hardware remote is a small, convenient aluminum stick with absolutely indiscriminate infrared (IR) blasting. If you only have one Apple TV in the vicinity, that's not a problem. If you have multiple Apple TVs, however, or if you have older Macs running Front Row, you'll want to lock the remote a specific device. Luckily, it's easy to do!

• How to pair an Apple remote with your Apple TV

How to use shortcuts on your Apple TV remote

Ever been stuck deep down inside Netflix on the Apple TV and wished there was a way to instantly jump all the way back to the main Home screen? Ever been frustrated by fast forward going too slow or too fast and wished you could simply skip chapter by chapter instead? Ever had Home screen icons disappear or services say they're not available and wished you could reboot with only a couple of clicks? Well, you can! The little aluminum remote that comes with the Apple TV might not seem like much but there are a lot of options hidden behind those buttons. Here are some of the best!

• How to instantly jump back to the Apple TV Home screen
• How to put your Apple TV to sleep with one button press
• How to jump through video chapters on Apple TV
• How to quickly pair and unpair an Apple TV remote
• How to reset your Apple TV in two button presses
• How to mark episodes as watched or unwatched with the Apple TV remote
• How to reorder channels with the Apple TV remote

How to control your Apple TV with the Remote app for iPhone or iPad

Apple's Remote app lets you control the Apple TV with your iPhone or iPad over Wi-Fi. Not only does that give you a backup if you ever lose the aluminum hardware remote that comes with the Apple TV, but it also lets you maintain control even if you're not in line-of-sight, makes navigating large amounts of content — including Home Sharing libraries — easier, and thanks to the virtual keyboard, makes search term and password entry a breeze. Here's how it works!

• How to control your Apple TV with the Remote app for iPhone or iPad

How to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with your Apple TV

While navigating and selecting with the Apple TV remote control works fine, trying to enter a search term or a password is tedious and frustrating. The Remote app can help ease the pain, but nothing beats a real keyboard when it comes to typing. Luckily, Apple makes it possible to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with your Apple TV so that you never have to struggle again!

• How to pair a Bluetooth keyboard with your Apple TV

How to hide channels on your Apple TV main menu

The Apple TV interface is overflowing with channel icons and it can make finding your favorites, the ones you actually want to watch, into a chore. So, what if you want Netflix and HBO Go but not NBA or MLB, or vice versa? Easy! You can hide channel icons right from the main menu, or toggle them on or off right from settings!

• How to hide channels on your Apple TV main menu

How to AirPlay video from your iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV

AirPlay lets you wirelessly beam whatever you're watching on your iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV, even videos in App Store apps like YouTube and Netflix. Any app that's incorporated Apple's AirPlay media button will work. All that's required are a few taps!

• How to AirPlay video from your iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV

How to use Control Center to AirPlay videos to your Apple TV

Ever wish you could take a video from your iPhone or iPad and watch it on your big screen TV? Well, with AirPlay and an Apple TV you can! Many apps have built-in AirPlay buttons but, sadly, they're often in different shapes, sizes, and places. Luckily, Control Center has an AirPlay button as well. That makes it easy to find and easy to use!

• How to use Control Center to AirPlay videos to your Apple TV

How to use AirPlay to mirror your iPhone or iPad screen to your Apple TV

AirPlay Mirroring lets you wirelessly beam whatever you're viewing on your iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV. Whether you're using a dumb network TV app that doesn't include built-in AirPlay or just want to game on your big screen HDTV, AirPlay Mirroring lets you share almost anything and everything in just a few taps.

• How to use AirPlay to mirror your iPhone or iPad screen to your Apple TV

How to use AirPlay to mirror your Mac screen to your Apple TV

While iTunes can send media directly from your Mac to your Apple TV, you can also mirror your entire display. It's especially useful for things like family FaceTime and company presentations. What's more, it's easy to do!

• How to AirPlay Mirror your Mac to your Apple TV

How to watch iTunes Extras on your Apple TV

iTunes Extras are like DVD to Blu-ray movies extras that play right inside iTunes on the Mac or Windows, and on your Apple TV. They can include director's commentary, deleted scenes, bonus scenes, making-of documentaries, and other features. Not every movie has iTunes Extras, but for those that do, here's how to find and enjoy them!

• How to watch iTunes Extras on your Apple TV

How to use Home Sharing to access your iTunes library on your Apple TV

Home Sharing is a great way to stream content from your Mac right to your Apple TV. It lets you quickly and easily get anything from the iTunes library on your desktop to the HDTV without it having to be on Apple's servers, like iTunes in the Cloud, or you having to be at your computer, like AirPlay. It's an older feature, more pull than push, but for home movies, personal video collections, ripped CDs, and more, it still works great. Here's how!

• How to use Home Sharing to access your iTunes library on your Apple TV

How to manually check for software updates on an Apple TV

When there's an update available for the Apple TV you'll get a popup notification telling you about it. However, you might be in a hurry to watch a movie, listen to music, or do something else when it happens, and you may not want to stop and do the update right then and there. Luckily, you can check for and apply Apple TV software updates at any time. Here's how!

• How to manually check for software updates on an Apple TV

How to fix a glitchy Apple TV by restoring it to factory settings

If you're having problems with your Apple TV, if Wi-Fi or connectivity is buggy, if it keeps failing to connect or update, if the channels just don't work the way they're supposed to, then restoring it to factory settings can give you a fresh start. Sure, it's the nuclear option but it will also solve most problems, most of the time. If you're suffering, a factory restore is one of your last, best hopes for salvation!

• How to fix a problematic Apple TV by restoring it to factory settings

How to fix a bricked Apple TV by restoring it with iTunes

Like any device, from time to time an Apple TV can give you problems. In most cases a restart, reset all settings, or restore to factory settings will fix the problem. If you're Apple TV is totally non-responsive — or bricked — the only way to fix it is a full restore using iTunes. Here's how!

• How to fix a bricked Apple TV by restoring it with iTunes

How to get more help with your Apple TV

If you need any additional help or have specific questions check out our Apple TV Forum!

Note: Originally published April 2014. Updated July 2014.

You can already share media with your family, but iOS 8 will make it easier to share even more — and keep track of who has what

iPhones, iPod touches, iPads everywhere — everyone in the family has devices and uses them for everything. One of iOS 8's key improvements is more convenient family sharing. This is what it is and how it works.

Easier media sharing and better parental control

You've been able to share media content with other members of your family for quite some time thanks to Apple's Home Sharing: Up to five computers and an unlimited number of iOS devices are all linked to a central Apple ID used to buy media and apps.

That's how it's set up in my family: Me, my wife, my three kids — all of us able to buy and share apps, movies, music, TV shows, iBooks. All the content that's available from the iTunes and App Stores. Works great, though it's all dependent on my Apple ID, which means giving out my password when someone wants to make a purchase.

Inconvenient and frankly not safe — my Apple ID is my key to the Apple realm. I use it for iCloud e-mail. I sync documents in the cloud. I trust every member of my family, but it's still uncomfortable risk.

With iOS 8 Family Sharing, we'll have that same ease of sharing but without the dependence on sharing a single Apple ID. With Family Sharing, up to six people, each with their own Apple ID, can download apps and iTunes media. Parents can control kids' spending, too.

Better family surveillance (optional)

Family Sharing isn't just about iTunes and App Store transactions, though. Managed through the iCloud settings in iOS 8, Family Sharing pulls together shared access to other content that can benefit family members.

Need to figure out where your 14 year old is? Use Find My Friends. You can also find your (or your kids') lost devices using Find my iPhone.

Of course, no one likes to be spied on, and Apple's taken that into consideration. You have control over whether your device can be located. Assuming your parents haven't restricted that functionality to begin with.

Easier calendar and photo sharing

There's also an easily shared family calendar that anyone can mark up, to help keep everyone up to date, along with shared family reminders. A shared family photo album makes it easier to remember special occasions and events.

Family Sharing ultimately comes down to one person who's the common point of contact — in this context, that's the Family Organizer. The Family Organizer is the person who sends out the invitations in the first place.

Reducing user pain

Our family has long made do with the patchwork of content sharing technology that Apple makes available to iOS and Mac users. But it's been unwieldy and difficult to manage. Apple's moving in the right direction by making all that easier in iOS 8 with Family Sharing.

If you're already managing much of this stuff separately, as my family is, I'm sure you can see the benefit. By bringing it under one roof through iCloud, Apple's streamlined family sharing and made it much easier to manage and more secure.

Everything you need to know to DIY (do-it-yourself) repair a stuck or broken power button in your iPhone!

The iPhone has been plagued with power button issues since the debut of the iPhone 4. We've seen complaints from many readers that their iPhone power buttons are completely recessed and no longer register when pressed. In some cases, they'll still respond but you have to press extremely hard. In severe cases, the power button actually recesses into the casing. The iPhone 5 power button failed enough that Apple issued a replacement program. Unfortunately, that only extends to certain owners, and in certain countries, which leaves DIY repair as the most cost effective option.

Luckily, that's where iMore comes in! No matter what iPhone you have, we can walk you through how to troubleshoot and fix a stuck power button!

• How to fix a stuck power button on an iPhone 5
• How to fix a stuck or broken iPhone 4S power button
• How to fix a stuck or broken power button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to fix a stuck or broken power button in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4

How to fix a stuck power button on an iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 started suffering from power button issues early on. Typically issues would begin when users noticed that they'd have to push down on one specific side of the power button or their iPhone 5 would not lock. Over time, the button becomes more and more touchy until presses no longer register. In severe cases, the sleep/wake button could even become recessed into the device enough that no movement at all could happen. These issues are actually caused by a tiny metal contact underneath the power button itself. It shifts or becomes dislodged. When this happens, the power button cable no longer makes contact with the button, resulting in no feedback.

If these symptoms are something you've experienced, you need to replace the contact on the power button assembly.

• How to fix a stuck or broken power button on an iPhone 5

How to fix a stuck or broken iPhone 4S power button

The design of the iPhone 4s is largely the same as its predecessor, which means it is also prone to the same power button issues. Much like the iPhone 4, the problem isn't actually related to the physical power button at all, but the cable that sits directly below it. This cable controls your power button, ambient light sensor (what senses brightness in a room), proximity sensor (what turns the screen off when the phone is brought to your face), and top mic. If you are experiencing issues with any of these other functions, a new cable may very well prove to solve those issues as well.

While an iPhone 4s power cable replacement isn't the easiest repair, it's doable for anyone with moderate to advanced DIY skills. This repair will get your power button back to perfect working condition in just under 90 minutes if you're taking your time.

• How to fix a stuck or broken iPhone 4S power button

How to fix a stuck or broken power button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

Just like the GSM iPhone 4, the CDMA variant of the iPhone 4 is just as prone to power button issues. If you find your power button to be recessed or it has stopped registering presses, this DIY repair can help you correct the problem. As in other iPhone models, the actual power button isn't the issue, again it's the cable that lies beneath it. After so many presses, it just becomes worn down and too thin to register when you're pressing it.

While this repair is a little easier than replacing the power button flex cable in the iPhone 4s, we'd still rate it at moderate to advanced. As long as you have some patience and a steady hand, we're confident you can get your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 power button back in working condition in around 60 minutes.

• How to fix a stuck or broken power button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to fix a stuck or broken power button in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4

The GSM variant of the iPhone 4 seems to be where all the power button problems began. Since then, each iteration of the iPhone has had its own set of issues when it comes to the sleep/wake button. Even with later hardware revisions for the iPhone 5 and beyond, the power button still uses the same kind of assembly, making it an issue for years to come. Luckily, an iPhone 4 power button replacement is quite a bit simpler than an iPhone 5. It's also a heck of a lot more cost effective than getting a new iPhone.

If you aren't ready to trade in your iPhone 4 just yet, a power button replacement isn't too terrible and will take you around 60 minutes if you're being careful.

• How to fix a stuck or broken power button in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4

More DIY help & how to's

Whether you aren't sure if these are the repairs you need or you've already started a repair and have run into issues, our jailbreak, mod, and DIY forums are a great place to ask for help. If you have questions you can't seem to find answers to or would like to see another type of repair guide we don't currently offer, you can always email me as well!

Additional resources:

• iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch repair: Ultimate guide to replacing cracked or broken screens
• iPhone DIY repair: Ultimate guide to fixing broken or unresponsive Home buttons
• iPhone DIY repair: Ultimate guide to replacing the battery in your iPhone
• All DIY guides and how to's

Note: Originally published, January 2013. Updated, July 2014.

Action extensions promise to rework your Yosemite workflow by putting your content front and center instead of your apps

OS X's Yosemite's new Markup tool is an example of a new class of technology called Action extensions. Action extensions promise to save you time and make you more productive with the software you're already using.

How Action extensions work

Let's look more at Markup as a practical example of how Action extensions work. Markup will let you make changes to photos and other image files. You can embed arrows, dialogue bubbles and other shapes, add text, even add a magnification loupe to zoom in on part of the picture.

Markup as demonstrated at WWDC shows off new functionality in Mail, but it doesn't stop there, because Markup can work in any application that handles text and images. So will other Action extensions.

Action extensions aren't just there to let you mark up images - they can transform all kinds of data. Need to do language conversions? Action extensions can make it happen. Developers can limit Action extensions to whatever type of data is best suited for them.

Expanding and extending

You can liken Action extensions like Markup to plug-ins in applications like Photoshop. Action extensions provide really specialized, context-sensitive ways to both show and modify content you're creating.

Ultimately, Action extensions will let you access the capabilities of the apps you depend on from anywhere in the OS, without having to actually launch the app. The possibilities are endless — it's really up to app developers to figure out how and where Action extensions will be used.

Conceptually, Action extensions are a much bigger deal for iOS 8, because Apple has, up to now, prevented iOS app developers from having that access. As Rene Ritchie explains:

Extensibility in iOS 8 means that we're not longer bound to action options supported by Apple and Apple alone. We no longer have to wait for things like AirPlay and AirPrint to be rolled out, or wonder if Apple will ever add system-wide support for someone else's product or service. Now any app can add an action extension that increases the utility and diversity of other apps and iOS itself.

New spin on an old idea

But OS X is different. Since the very first version of OS X, there has been a Services menu (buried in the application menu) — it's actually a vestige of the NeXTSTEP operating system upon which OS X was based. Action extensions provide similar data transformation capabilities. Apple calls Action extensions the spiritual successor to the Services menu.

Accessing Action extensions will be easy. Select content, move the cursor over it and click the button that appears — the Action extension you've selected will spring into...well, action. Action extensions will also be available through the Share toolbar and menu. Developers can also create custom toolbar buttons for Action extensions.

The bottom line

It'll be interesting to see how app developers and Apple alike implement Action extensions in Yosemite. Services in OS X have often gone ignored and underutilized, but they're also more limited in scope.

Action extensions make it possible to do more to your content without having to shuffle different applications. By doing so, Action extensions continue a concept we've seen Apple iterate over and over again with iOS 7 and Mavericks: The idea that the interface should just get out of your way.

Everything you need to know about setting up and using Siri on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad!

Siri is the name of Apple's personal digital assistant. It's basically voice control that talks back to you, that understands relationships and context, and with a personality straight out of Pixar. Ask Siri questions, or ask Siri to do things for you, just like you would ask a real assistant, and Siri will help keep you connected, informed, in the right place, and on time. You can even use Siri's built in dictation feature to enter text almost everywhere by simply using your voice.

How to set up, secure, and start using Siri

While in most cases you can start using Siri right out of the box, in some cases you may have to enable it first. There are also some settings you can configure, including ways to make Siri more secure. Since Siri can, if you choose, bypass your PIN lock and get to your contacts and other data, you should check out all your options and make sure you pick whatever blend of convenience and security makes the most sense to you. You can also change Siri's language, control when Siri listens to you, and even adjust certain settings on your iPhone and iPad, all with the sound of your voice!

• How to use Siri
• How to edit a Siri question or command
• How to enable Siri in the Settings
• How to configure Siri
• How to secure Siri with a Passcode Lock
• How to change Siri's language on iPhone and iPad
• How to manually control when Siri listens to you
• How to use Siri with typing instead of your voice on iPhone and iPad
• How to change and adjust settings on your iPhone or iPad with Siri
• How to teach Siri to pronounce someone's name correctly

How to call, message, and email your contacts using Siri

Siri isn't just another voice control system, it remembers context and it can understand relationships. That means, for example, you can tell Siri to call your wife's iPhone, and Siri will know who that is and which phone number to dial. Not only that, Siri can send iMessages or SMS, and even email any of your friends, family, or co-workers. No matter how you like to communicate, Siri makes it incredibly easy to stay in touch.

• How to establish contact relationships with Siri
• How to manually add relationship data to Contacts
• How to get contact information with Siri
• How to call a contact with Siri
• How to send an SMS or iMessage with Siri
• How to send an email using Siri
• How to make a FaceTime call with Siri

How to check for missed calls, listen to voicemails, and more with Siri

Not only can you dictate messages, emails, and more to Siri, you can also have Siri keep you up to date on incoming notifications on your iPhone or iPad. If you're driving and receive a text message, instead of taking your hands of the wheel, just have Siri read the message for you. The same holds true for emails and much more.

• How to check your iPhone's call history using Siri
• How to check your iPhone's voicemail using Siri
• How to check for and read email messages with Siri

How to set reminders and update task and to-do lists with Siri

Siri was designed to help you get things done, and part of that job description is creating and updating your to-dos and lists of to-dos in the Reminders app of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If you need to be prodded to pick up milk on the way home, order that present in time for the big party, or set up that lunch meeting before the end of the day, Siri's there to help!

• How to add reminders to specific lists with Siri
• How to create location based reminders with Siri
• How to create time based reminders with Siri
• How to create and share a shopping list with Siri and Reminders

How to create, view, update, and cancel calendar events using Siri

Since is meant to be your personal assistant, it only makes sense to have it schedule and manage your meetings and events on your iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPod touch 5, iPad 4, iPad 3, or iPad mini. Asking Siri to create a Calendar event only takes a few seconds and is much faster than creating them manually and entering all the data yourself. Whether you need Siri to schedule a meeting, tell you what's on the agenda for the day, or move an existing meeting to another time to make room for a conference call or a power nap, Siri will help make sure your schedule is set.

• How to create a calendar event with Siri
• How to update a calendar event with Siri
• How to cancel a calendar event with Siri
• How to view and check your Calendar with Siri

How to set alarms and timers using Siri

Siri ties right into your iPhone or iPad's built-in Clock app which means if you want to be woken up at 7am, have a timer set for 10 minutes so the cookies don't burn, or find out what the hour is in Australia before you call, Siri can keep you alerted and on time!

• How to set an alarm with Siri
• How to turn on and off alarms with Siri
• How to change or edit an alarm with Siri
• How to delete alarms with Siri
• How to set a timer with Siri
• How to edit an existing timer with Siri
• How to check the time anywhere in the world with Siri

How to get driving, walking, and transit directions with Siri

Siri is a great utility to help you find your way home, help you around the big city, and figure out which route you should take to avoid traffic. No matter where you're traveling to, Siri can worth together with the built-in Maps app to help you get where you need to go. If you need walking directions, Siri can even recognize third party apps, such as Google Maps, that you have installed and launch them for you.

• How to find places with Maps and Siri for iPhone and iPad
• How to find your way home with Siri
• How to use Flyover with Siri and Maps
• How to get walking directions with Siri and Google Maps

How to check stocks and exchanges using Siri

Siri can't be your financial advisor or broker -- yet! -- but Siri can look up stock prices and exchange positions for you. Whether you want to find out what's happening with APPL or GOOG, or if the DOW or NASDAQ is up or down, Siri's got you covered. (Just not your positions. Sorry.)

• How to check individual stocks with Siri
• How to check stock exchanges with Siri

How to view, create, and update notes using Siri

Being a virtual personal assistant, you'd obviously expect that Siri can dictate notes. In fact, Siri can not only take a note, but update them as well. If you need something that's more permanent than a reminder, something more like an idea you don't want to forget, or a draft you want to get down while you're driving, Siri and the Notes app are the perfect combination.

• How to take a note on your iPhone or iPad with Siri
• How to update a note on your iPhone or iPad using Siri
• How to view a note on your iPhone and iPad using Siri

How to check the weather and get forecasts using Siri

Siri not only makes for a great digital assistant but a great weather forecaster as well. With a little help from Siri, you can make sure you're never caught without your umbrella, raincoat, snow shovel, or suntan lotion again.

• How to check current weather conditions with Siri
• How to check weekly weather forecasts with Siri
• How to get sunrise and sunset information with Siri

How to play and control music using Siri

Siri can help you access your music more easily than ever. With Siri you can play tracks, albums, and entires genres without ever having to open your Music app. If you're in the car, Siri also makes for a safe way to keep your tunes going while keeping your hands on the wheel.

• How to play iTunes Radio stations with Siri
• How to pause, play, skip, and shuffle tracks with Siri
• How to ask Siri to play a specific song
• How to play music from a specific artist or album with Siri
• How to play music from a specific playlist with Siri
• How to play a specific music genre with Siri and iTunes Radio

How to search Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and Wolfram|Alpha using Siri

If you need information, chances are Siri can help you find it. Apple currently enables Siri to search Google (or Yahoo! or Bing) for general information, and Wolfram|Alpha for computational knowledge. You can use Siri to find anything you would normally type into a web search box, only there's no typing needed. Just ask, and you'll get back everything from the latest celebrity gossip to the answers to that nagging math questions to a listing of the best free apps for your iPhone.

• How to search the web with Siri
• How to get Wolfram|Alpha results with Siri
• How to use Siri to search Google instead of Bing

How to find movie locations, showtimes, reviews, ratings, and trailers using Siri

Siri has become quite the movie buff, able to tell you not only what films are playing at which theaters, but provide you with their ratings and reviews, and even play you their trailers. Want information about your favorite actor or a complete list of the movies they starred in? You need only ask!

• How to find movies and showtimes in your area with Siri
• How to watch movie trailers with Siri
• How to check movie ratings with Siri
• How to buy movie tickets with Siri on your iPhone and iPad
• How to get directions to the movie theater with Siri
• How to search for movie theaters in specific areas with Siri
• How to get information about a movie, director, or actor with Siri

How to look up sports scores and schedules, team rosters, and player stats using Siri

As of iOS 6, Siri has become quite the sports fanatic. Whether you're on the road and desperate for the latest news, or at a bar and just as desperate to win a bet, Siri now has you covered. From current game scores to upcoming schedules, player stats to team rosters and standings, you can query and compare your soccer, football, baseball, basketball and hockey favorites from Italian Seria A, English Premier League, Dutch Eredivisie, Major League Soccer, French Ligue 1, Spanish La Liga, and German Bundesliga, Major League Baseball, NCAA Football, NFL, NCAA Basketball, NBA, WNBA, and the NHL.

• How to look up sports scores and game information with Siri
• How to look up game schedules for your favorite sports teams with Siri
• How to look up sports league standings with Siri
• How to look up player stats with Siri

How to find restaurants and businesses, read reviews, and make reservations using Siri

Siri can help you find restaurants and even book tables. You will need the OpenTable app from the App Store to complete your reservations, but Siri does a lot of the heavy lifting, including finding places and times, and showing you Yelp-powered reviews and pictures are also included so you can view all the information you need before booking, all in one place.

• How to find a local business or restaurant with Siri
• How to get pricing, hours, and general restaurant information with Siri
• How to make restaurant reservations with Siri
• How to look up different kinds of restaurants with Siri

How to launch apps using Siri

Siri can launch your apps for you as well. Instead of scouring your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad Home screen, or digging through folders, for that app you know you have but just can't find, as long as you remember its name, you can open it with Siri just by asking.

• How to launch apps with Siri

How to keep up with Twitter using Siri

Siri can tie directly into any Twitter account that you've got linked through the Settings app. While you can't manage all aspects of your Twitter account — at least not yet — you can easily send out a new tweet and keep up with what's going on. Whether it's checking hashtags, viewing a specific users tweets, or something else, Siri's got you covered!

• How to post a tweet using Siri
• How to keep up with Twitter using Siri

How to get Siri to tell you a bedtime story

Anyone with small children will appreciate this little Siri trick! If you ask very nicely, Siri will even read to your kids — or even you, we won't tell anyone! It may take a little coaxing but after if you put in a little effort, Siri eventually gives in to your pleas and reads bedtime stories!

• How to get Siri to tell you a bedtime story

Note: Originally published, December 2012. Updated, July 2014.

Roller Coaster Tycoon 4 strategy guide: How to build the biggest and best theme park ever on your iPhone or iPad!

Anyone who grew up playing computer games no doubt remembers the Roller Coaster Tycoon franchise. Now you can build amazing theme parks and attractions right in the palm of your hand in Roller Coaster Tycoon 4 for iPhone and iPad. In order to keep up with customer demand, you'll need to stock your park with plenty of amazing rides, attractions, and food booths. However, coins and tickets are not unlimited and can be rather hard to come by if you don't build and invest your money wisely. That's where iMore can help! These are the top 10 Roller Coaster Tycoon 4 tips, hints, and cheats we think you need to know!

1. Don't waste tickets on speeding up construction

Roller Coaster Tycoon 4 is one of the few games where you really don't have to spend any real life money if you're smart about how you spend your initial coins and where you choose to use your tickets. You only earn tickets for completing quests and as special finds. How many coins you earn is completely up to how well your park performs. One of the biggest wastes of tickets is to spend them on speeding up construction. Instead, be patient and pay attention to how long something takes to build. If it's a long wait, build those things right before you close the game. That way you aren't tying up money you want while playing. You also don't end up spending tickets on rushing the process. It happens while you're gone.

Unfortunately, unlike many other games, Roller Coaster Tycoon 4 doesn't seem to be susceptible to rolling forward time. Many games like Candy Crush, Two Dots, and others are. That means you'll just have to learn some patience and build smarter to avoid spending real money.

2. Add Food Rush and become an ultimate burger master

Food Rush is found under the Build section in Specials. Add it to your park as soon as you can. Tap on it and then tap play. Your job is to serve as many burgers to your park customers as fast as possible. The more you serve, the more cash and XP you earn. There are certain tricks to burger rush such as timing when ingredients must refill. The better you get, the more you earn. If you need some cash or need to burn some time, it's a great way to do it.

3. Build your own coasters, don't waste money on prebuilt layouts

Coasters that are already made for you may be convenient but they're also astronomically expensive. Save your cash and build your own coasters. You can design them anytime and then build them when you have the money and tickets to do so. There's also another advantage to this strategy and it's that you can custom build coasters that fit to your park layout. A lot of times prebuilt coasters are large and bulky on purpose. This is so you're forced to buy more land. Instead, rearrange your park and build to suit. It's cheaper and makes your park more unique than the next guy's.

4. Don't can trees and bushes, transplant them

When you buy more land to expand your park, you may find lots of trees and bushes get in the way of construction. A big mistake many players make is that they remove them. Instead, relocate them to another area of the park. Your guests enjoy looking at nice landscaping and it increases their overall happiness. Happy guests equals thriving park. So let the shrubs stay!

5. Invite friends for free tickets

Like many other games, Roller Coaster Tycoon 4 lets you hook your Facebook in so you can share roller coaster designs, request blueprints, and send each other gifts. The same goes for Game Center. However, if you send invites to your Facebook friends, you'll earn 1 free ticket for each friend you invite. Sure, we all hate Facebook spam, but it's for a good cause, right?!

6. Upgrade attractions whenever possible

Many attractions allow you to spend some coins in order to upgrade them. This increases the buzz around them and keeps your guests happy. Upgrade your attractions whenever you feasibly can. While it's easy to get distracted by building roller coasters and ignoring regular attractions, your park's buzz will suffer if you do so.

7. Food booths and hotels are your biggest money makers

The main way you'll earn money in RCT 4 is by selling food to your park guests. Hotels are important to since they increase your park's holding capacity. The more people you have, the more rooms you book and the more food you sell. Figure out which food booths generate the most money and build a ton of them. I like to do it off in a corner of the game where they aren't in the way. Hotels you can easily upgrade before building more so they take up far less space.

8. Check the parking lot for special deliveries

Sometimes you'll find cargo boxes in the parking lot that contain special gifts your park receives. It's easy to overlook them so be sure you check from time to time as gifts vary from statues to other decorative objects that you can place in your park for free. Your guests enjoy looking at them so it never hurts.

9. Listen to your guests

Every once in a while you'll see guests with thought bubbles over their heads. Tap on them to read their thoughts. Listening to your guests is the number one way to increase park buzz and make people spend more money. If you're meeting their needs, your park will thrive. So before you build another roller coaster, make sure that's what your guests are really asking for.

10. Equip your park with engineering and maintenance staff

Adding an engineering building to your park will minimize the amount of time overall construction takes on rides and attractions. It doesn't cost a lot so be sure you add one. As for maintenance, after you add the building, you can trade tickets to keep it running. As long as the maintenance building is paid, your rides won't break down while you're away. This is a nifty way to make sure you come back to the game with tons of money to collect and a great park buzz.

Your top Roller Coaster Tycoon 4 tips, hints, and cheats?

If you've been building the theme park of your dreams on your iPhone and iPad, what strategies have you used to become a theme park master? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

If you can't hear the caller on the other end of the line when you hold your iPhone to your face, or they sound distorted all the time, it's possible that the earpiece is defective or blown out. Most users that have iPhones with this issue can verify it if speakerphone works just fine. If that sounds like what you're experiencing with your iPhone, an earpiece replacement may be in order. Depending on what model iPhone you have, the difficulty range can vary. One thing is for certain though, performing an iPhone repair on your own is a heck of a lot cheaper than purchasing a new iPhone.

How to fix a blown earpiece in an iPhone 5

The earpiece on the iPhone 5 was completely redesigned and relocated. Instead of residing in the casing where it then made contact with the logic board, it now sits on the back of the screen assembly. Not only did this change in location and design make the earpiece clearer and louder, it also made it much more accessible when it comes time to perform a DIY repair. I'd say even a novice repair ninja could tackle an iPhone 5 earpiece replacement pretty easily.

For anyone experiencing distortion when on a call with the earpiece, no sound at all, or intermittent sound, this is the guide you want.

• How to DIY replace a blown earpiece in an iPhone 5

How to replace a bad earpiece in an iPhone 4s

The iPhone 4s earpiece is located in just about the same place as both iterations of the iPhone 4. The main difference is how it's attached and wrapped around the power button cable. This requires a little more care so we'd qualify this repair as an intermediate to advanced. Just like other earpiece replacements, the symptoms of a blown earpiece in an iPhone 4s are distortion, no sound, and crackling. However, a common symptom in the iPhone 4s that differentiates it slightly from other models is low volume. This is an issue I saw frequently. You could hear, but just faintly.

• How to replace a blown earpiece in an iPhone 4s

How to replace a blown earpiece in an iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 earpiece repair is almost exactly the same as an iPhone 4s. The CDMA and GSM variants have slightly different guides due to the internals being somewhat different. Regardless, whichever model iPhone 4 you have, you can expect this repair to take around 30 minutes. So if you're picking up distortion, crackling, or aren't receiving any sound at all through the earpiece, check out the guides below to see if it makes sense for you to take a stab at the repair yourself.

• How to replace a blown earpiece in a GSM iPhone 4
• [How to replace a blown earpiece in a CDMA (Verizon or Sprint) iPhone 4](

How to fix a blown earpiece in an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS

Much like the iPhone 5, the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS opens from the front. Even luckier yet, the earpiece is located on the back of the display assembly as it is in newer model iPhones. This makes the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS extremely easy to fix when it comes to a bad earpiece. You actually have two choices, you can replace the earpiece by itself or just swap out the entire front digitizer assembly, which is a lot easier. Either way, both methods aren't expensive and require only about 20 minutes of your time. Replacing the entire digitizer can also rule out any issues with the proximity sensor and ambient light sensor.

• How to replace the earpiece on your iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS
• How to replace the complete digitizer assembly on your iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS

See also:

• How to replace your iPhone's cracked or broken screen: The ultimate guide
• How to fix a bad dock connector on your iPhone: The ultimate guide
• How to fix a non-responsive Home button on your iPhone: The ultimate guide
• How to fix a stuck or broken iPhone power button: The ultimate guide
• All iPhone DIY repair guides

Timberman strategy guide: How to chop down more trees and get your best score ever!

Timberman is arguably just as addictive as the infamous Flappy Bird is but with a twist. This time, you'll play a logger that's tasked with chopping down an endless tree as fast as possible. Watch out for branches or game over. The more chops you get, the higher you'll level up. Just don't let too much time go by between chops or your life meter will run out. While game play in Timberman is pretty straight forward, there are a few tips, hints, and cheats you should keep in mind to get your highest score yet!

1. Pick a dominant chopping side

When you first start playing Timberman, you may realize that you're more comfortable chopping on one side than the other. That's most likely your dominant chopping side. While you obviously can't stay on one side, when you can that should be your control side. If there's a large enough gap, you will most likely find that you feel you have more control on that particular side, and that's ok. Stick with it!

2. How to prevent accidental or reflex taps

It's very easy to accidentally tap the screen one more time than you should. This is why I typically intentionally lift my finger higher up off the screen in between taps. This of course slows you down slightly but just enough to prevent accidental taps and not enough to make a big enough difference to drain your life much quicker.

3. The rule of fours

From the time a branch appears at the top of your screen to the time it hits the top of Timberman's head is 4 chops. That's all you have to get out of the way. Knowing this and counting as you tap is a good way of knowing when you absolutely need to switch sides. It's a great method when you have a long run of cutting and then all of a sudden see a branch. Count to 4 and then switch!

4. The rule of twos

When you get lots of branches in a row, they normally come in a specific pattern and that's typically chop twice, switch, chop twice, switch. I have seen that pattern appear more than any other so when you see a grouping of branches and you need to move quickly, that's the pattern you should go with if all else fails.

5. Focus your sight line underneath your chop count

If you focus only at the top or the bottom of the screen, you probably won't have very much luck. Darting your eyes around the screen doesn't really do much good either. You are far better off focusing your vision right under the chop count. This lets you view what's coming up but also to keep a decent eye on the bottom of the screen so you don't accidentally switch sides before a branch clears the bottom of the screen.

6. Know when to speed up and slow down

As long as you keep your life meter full, you're golden. Learning when you can slow down and take a hit is just as important. When you see a good run coming, chop away as fast as you can to get your meter up as high as you can. Then use that life you built up to slow down slightly when you've got to maneuver through harder to pass sections. Don't watch the life meter deplete but instead focus on getting to another clear run so you can build it right back up. Whenever I get fixated on the life meter, my game ends abruptly, so try and avoid that.

7. Bigger is better

If you have an iPad, the extra screen real estate gives you a lot more room to tap the screen without your fingers obstructing some part of your view. I haven't touched the score I've racked up on my iPad on my iPhone and I think that's why. I just don't feel like I have the field of vision I do on the larger screen. So when you want to sit down and have a serious Timberman session, grab your iPad instead of your iPhone!

8. Use Do Not Disturb mode

With games like Timberman, it's very easy to get distracted and looking at the top of the screen to check a notification can mean game over a lot of the times. It's even worse if you use popup notifications. So next time you're in a groove and having good luck, try enabling Do Not Disturb mode so you can play uninterrupted.

• How to enable Do Not Disturb mode on your iPhone or iPad

Your favorite Timberman tips, hints, and cheats?

If you're as addicted to Timberman as we are, be sure to let us know of any tips, hints, cheats, or strategies you've found to be useful in the comments below! And if you'd like, let us know your highest score so far!

The iPhone 5s has been on the market for a while now and remains a perennial best seller around the world. The Amazon Fire Phone is brand new, just in the U.S., and only on AT&T at the moment. Both command a premium price. The iPhone has a bleeding edge 64-bit processor, a great camera, Touch ID fingerprint identity sensor, and apps from every major provider, including Apple, Google, and Amazon. The Fire Phone has even more faux-3D than iOS 7, a hardware shopping system in FireFly, a Mayday button for instant help, and last year's chipsets warmed over. So, which one should you buy?

Regionalism

The Kindle Fire phone is currently U.S. only. If you buy it in the U.S. and try to use it internationally, you'll have to give up major features like Amazon Streaming Video.

The iPhone 5s is a world phone that can work in almost any region.

Carriers

The Fire Phone is currently AT&T only. You can try to run it on other GSM networks, but see Regionalism (above).

The iPhone 5s is available on the vast majority of carriers on planet earth.

Apps

The Fire Phone has the Amazon Appstore, which doesn't include apps from Google — which some would argue are the lynchpin of Android — and of course, no apps from Apple. There are Amazon's apps, and many but not all major third-party apps.

The iPhone 5s has the Apple App Store, which includes apps from Apple, as well as all major apps from Google and Amazon, and pretty much any and all major third party apps you could want or imagine.

And more

The Fire Phone has some interesting features. The interface looks terrible, and the faux-3D will likely make anyone bothered by iOS 7 parallax run for the hills. The FireFly button, to a cynic, is just a way to get Amazon Prime whales to spend even more, but to an optimist is an interested way to compare real world and virtual world shopping and gather information. The Mayday button can get help for people not used to smartphones... but that probably isn't anyone who'd buy a Fire Phone to begin with. It's about the same price but starts at 32GB and comes with a free year of Amazon Prime, a $99 value, to subsidize the price. FireOS is an Android fork that gets none of the Google Play services and since this is a version one, it's untested. Unfortunately, the chips inside aren't cutting edge either and its hard to tell how well it will age or hold its value.

The iPhone 5s has an industry-leading 64-bit Apple A7 processor that allows for features like the Touch ID fingerprint identity scanner. It has AppleCare and Apple Genius bars for support. It starts at 16GB and there's no kickback, but it holds its resale value incredibly well. It also runs iOS, soon to be iOS 8. If Apple holds to pattern, there will also be a new iPhone 6 (or two) this fall, perhaps with bigger screens and even more advanced technology.

Bottom line

If the rear iSight camera on your iPhone either isn't working or shows imperfections in photos, it's possible that the camera assembly itself is defective or damaged. While defects typically just arise for no reason, a damaged iSight camera could be caused from a hard fall. Typical symptoms of a broken or defective iSight camera include a blacked out screen when trying to take a picture, purple or blue blemishes on the screen that also appear in the resulting photo, and lines going through the screen either while snapping photos or that just appear in the final photo. What iPhone you have will dictate how difficult a DIY repair will be. Luckily, we've got the guide you need to get the job done from start to finish!

How to replace the rear iSight camera in an iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 has been one of the only iPhone models that seems overly prone to camera issues with many users reporting purple blemishes on photos. You can easily verify you have this issue by launching the Camera app and aiming your iPhone 5 at a white surface. If you see a purple blemish somewhere on the screen, it's a defect in the lens and will need to be replaced. Other issues could also include extreme fringing or lens flare, which could signal that the camera needs to be reseated correctly inside the housing. Regardless of the issue, we can walk you through how to replace the entire assembly on your own.

• How to replace the rear iSight camera in an iPhone 5

How to replace a broken rear camera in an iPhone 4s

The iPhone 4s rear camera is a pretty simple repair to perform. First you'll need to be sure that you are replacing the correct part. If the lens cover itself is cracked, you actually need to replace the back panel, which is even easier. However, if you're experiencing other issues such as pixelated images, lines through the screen, or the camera shutter won't open at all and freezes when you launch the Camera app, you'll need a replacement camera assembly. Luckily, that isn't that hard to replace either. Hit the links below for both guides to determine which repair you need.

• How to replace the rear camera assembly in an iPhone 4s
• How to replace the back panel and lens cover in an iPhone 4s

How to replace the rear camera in an iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 is very similar to the iPhone 4s and contains a camera assembly that is replaced almost the exact same way. Actually, the same symptoms are normally present with an iPhone 4. And just like before, if the camera is hazy or the lens cover is cracked, you'll need to replace the back cover, not the actual camera assembly itself. Hit the guides below to determine which you need to replace.

• How to replace the rear camera in a GSM or CDMA iPhone 4
• How to replace the back panel and lens cover in an iPhone 4

How to replace the rear camera in an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS

If you've still got an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS laying around, a replacement camera is pretty cheap nowadays. While there didn't seem to be too many complains about the iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS camera, it was possible to dislodge it or for the lens itself to break due to a bad fall. If you feel like tinkering, the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS aren't very hard to DIY repair. We can walk you step by step through a camera replacement, complete with links to parts.

• How to replace the rear camera in an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS

Even more iPhone repair guides

Don't have a broken camera but need to fix something else? We've got those guides too! Whether you're rocking an iPhone 5s or an iPhone 4s, we can help you get any issue you may have in working order again! Just hit the following link for a complete list of all our DIY repair and hardware info!

• All DIY guides and news on Apple hardware

If the iPhone — or iPod touch or iPad — is the best camera you have with you, the the Camera app has to be one of the best, and most important apps on your device. With it, you can capture those magic moments with your family and friends, at work or at play, at home or on vacation, in your backyard or atop a mountain halfway around the world. From front- to rear-facing, still photos regular, square, or panoramic, to video and slow motion video, with built in high dynamic range (HDR), burst mode, filters, and more, the Camera app has a ton of functionality and options. Here's how to get started

How to quickly access your camera from the Lock screen on iPhone or iPad

The iPhone's iSight takes great photos under a wide range of conditions, but you still need to have it in your hands, ready to shoot, whenever the need arises. Sometimes that's when you least expect it. Sometimes that's when you see something spectacular or your child does something amazing. It's not planned, it's not posed, but it's still incredibly important to you. That's where quick camera access comes in. Apple knows you may need to get to the Camera app in a flash, and they've built in a great way to get right to it!

• How to quickly access your camera from the Lock screen on iPhone or iPad

How to quickly access your camera from Control Center on iPhone or iPad

If you need to quickly take a photo or shoot a video, and you're already using your iPhone, then Control Center is your best friend. Whether you're sending a message, to checking the weather, to crushing some candy, etc., thanks to Control Center you're only ever a swipe and a tab away from the Camera app and capturing the world around you!

• How to quickly access your camera from Control Center on iPhone or iPad

How to take photos with your iPhone or iPad

The Camera app app on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad means you're never more than a swipe or tap or two from taking a picture and capturing a magic moment. While the camera app might look simple, there's a lot going on inside. It has auto-focus and auto-exposure, and both can be changed with just a tap of the screen. There are also options for high dynamic range (HDR), to switch between rear-facing and front-facing cameras, and even live filters and burst mode.

• How to take photos with your iPhone or iPad

How to record a video with your iPhone or iPad

The Camera app on the iPhone and iPad isn't just for taking still shots. With access to both the 1080p iSight camera on the back and the 720p FaceTime camera on the front, it's also great for shooting video of everything and anything, from sports to kids to pets to breaking news to moving selfies.

• How to record a video with your iPhone or iPad

How to record slow motion videos on your iPhone

The Camera app on the iPhone 5s can not only record video but it can record 120 frames-per-second (fps) slow motion video as well. Slow motion video means just what you'd expect — everything recorded moves more slowly, but still smoothly. It's like the effects you see in movies and on TV. Better still, Apple lets you quickly and easily set in and out points for the slow down effect at any time, so you can make sure your video only goes slow, and stays slow, for the precise moments you want.

• How to record slow motion videos on your iPhone

How to use the panorama camera on your iPhone

The Camera app on the iPhone lets you capture panoramas — much wider, much higher megapixel photos than are otherwise possible with the built in iSight lens. By taking a video-like stream of successive frames, the iPhone can literally create single photo greater than the sum of its parts. With iOS 8, panoramas will also be coming to the iPad!

• How to use the panorama camera on your iPhone

How to take a photo or shoot video using the volume up button with your iPhone or iPad

The Camera app on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad can take a picture or start a video with a simple tap of the big, round shutter button right on the screen. If you're trying to take a photo or shoot video one-handed, however, or even just depending on your position, even that big, round button can be out of reach. Luckily, Apple also lets you activate the shutter and take a picture or start recording with the volume up button.

• How to take a photo using the volume up button with your iPhone or iPad

How to take a photo while simultaneously shooting video with your iPhone or iPad

With the Camera app on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPhone, you can not only take photos and shoot video, but take photos while you're shooting video. Whether it's an amazing moment amid the action, or just a great composition you want to capture in its won right, there are times when you'll want to have your video and photo too! Luckily, Apple makes it easy to do.

• How to take a photo while simultaneously shooting video with your iPhone or iPad

How to quickly edit and share photos and videos from the camera app on iPhone and iPad

The Camera app on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad is supposed to concern itself with capturing your pictures, and videos and leave the editing and sharing work for the Photos app. To bad nobody told the Camera app! In an effort to make your workflow faster, Apple lets you easily call up an embedded version of the Photo app right inside the Camera app. Pretty much all the features you need are right there for you, including cropping, red eye removal, auto-optimization, filters, trimming, AirDrop, messaging, social, AirPlay, and more. With iOS 8, third party filters, sharing options, and action extensions will be made available as well!

• How to quickly edit and share photos and videos from the camera app on iPhone and iPad

How to use the camera flash on your iPhone

The Camera app can not only take photos, it can take flash photos when there's not enough light for anything else. Make no mistake — mobile flash photography still stinks no matter the quality of the tiny elements involved. However, whether you have a single or dual LED on your iPhone camera, they can help you capture important moments at low-light levels that would otherwise be impossible. So, to get the best photo you can, regardless of whether the you'e facing twilight to incandescence, tungsten or florescent, something cool blue or warm yellow, or any combination in between, you can set up and use the iPhone flash.

• How to use the camera flash on your iPhone

How to use the HDR camera on your iPhone or iPad

The Camera on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad lets you take high dynamic range (HDR) photos. HDR involves taking a series of photos in rapid succession, at least one of which is under exposed and at least one of which is over exposed. Those photos are then all combined resulting in a single, unified image that shows details both in the shadow and the light. The results are landscapes that aren't lost to darkness and skies that aren't all blown out. Apple has provided an HDR mode on the iPhone for years, and more recently has provided not only an HDR mode for the iPad, but an automatic HDR mode for the iPhone 5s.

• How to use the HDR camera on your iPhone or iPad

How to switch between the rear iSight and front FaceTime camera on your iPhone or iPad

The Camera app on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad lets you easily switch between the rear-facing iSight and front-facing FaceTime cameras. That means you're never more than a tap away from capturing a breathtaking landscape or... the obligatory selfie.

• How to switch between the rear iSight and front FaceTime camera on your iPhone or iPad

How to lock focus in the Camera app for iPhone and iPad

The Camera app on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad comes with auto-exposure and auto-focus. That lets you get the proper balance and sharpness on most of your photos, most of the time. But sometimes whatever it is you're trying to photograph is too busy, too jittery, or otherwise too difficult for your camera to latch on to. When that happens you can try to focus and expose on an easier subject, lock that focus and exposure, move your camera, and then take your photo. It's called AE/AF Lock (auto-exposure/auto-focus lock) and it's especially good for kids, pets, macros with a lot of objects at different depths, and other challenging situations!

• How to lock focus in the Camera app for iPhone and iPad

How to use burst mode to capture all the action with your iPhone camera

The Camera app on your iPhone makes it easy to take photos. But what if things are moving? Jumping, blinking, dancing, fidgeting, flipping? Not only do you have to worry about avoiding motion blur, you want to make sure you capture the action at just the right moment — the high point of the slam dunk, the fullness of the splash, the cross-of the finish line, the impact of the moment. For that, there's burst mode!

• How to use burst mode to capture all the action with your iPhone camera

How to preview camera filters in real-time on your iPhone

The Camera app on your iPhone 5s can apply real-time filters to your photographs. That means you get to see their effects live in the preview screen, and make sure you like them, before taking your shot. Why filters? They're a great way to add some variety to your photos. While they aren't suited for every photo, they're definitely fun to play around with. Coming soon with iOS 8, you'll also be able to add third-party app filters to your photos, such as VSCO Cam and more!

• How to preview camera filters in real-time on your iPhone

How to enable the camera grid on your iPhone or iPad

The Camera app on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad has an optional grid that can help you better frame people, pets, and objects, horizons and celestial bodies — pretty much anything at all in your photos. Using the rules of thirds can elevate your pictures from the ordinary to the extra ordinary, and all with the flip of a toggle!

• How to enable the camera grid on your iPhone or iPad

How to turn photo geotagging on or off on your iPhone or iPad

When you launch the Camera app on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad for the first time it'll ask you if it can use your location. That uses Wi-Fi router mapping, and, if available, cell-tower triangulation and GPS to determine where you are and record that information along with the photo. In other words — geotagging. It's great if you want to keep track of where you took your pictures, like on a photo walk or a vacation, but if you want to protect your privacy and keep your location undisclosed, it's not so good. Luckily, even if you allowed location the first time, you can change your mind at any time.

• How to turn photo geotagging on or off on your iPhone or iPad

Best camera apps for iPhone

While some people appreciate that the iPhone's built-in Camera app, others want as many manual, fine-grained controls as possible. Whether you want to adjust your white balance and shutter speed all on your own, or you just want an all-in-one camera and photo editing app, you've come to the right place. There are lots of camera replacement apps available in the App Store, but which ones are the absolute best?

• Best camera apps for iPhone

How to take better photos with your iPhone

The mechanics of operating a camera are one thing. Taking great photos is another. Knowing the "rule of thirds", negative space, shadows, and more can make your photos really stand out. Understanding the differences between portraits and landscapes, newborns and kids, pets, cars, and more can make them shine.

• iPhone photography: The ultimate guide

How to get more help with iOS

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rooftop Run is a new endless runner by Nickelodeon that lets you play as your favorite turtle characters. You'll have to defeat enemies on rooftops and in the streets in order to make it as far as you can before your energy meter runs out. Along the way you can play mini games, search for pizza, and collect Mutagen, the game's form of premium currency. These are the tips, hints, and cheats we think you need to know to achieve your furthest run ever without having to spend tons of real world cash!

1. Make sure you're collecting green orbs whenever possible

If you run out of energy, game over. As you run you'll have to collect green orbs in order to build back up your energy while you're running. If you have a choice between fighting an enemy or jumping over them to collect orbs, always go for the orbs.

2. Save your Mutagen for defeating enemies

Mutagen is Rooftop Run's premium form of currency and is rather hard to come by. If you run out of energy due to getting hit or from lack of orbs, you'll have to cough up Mutagen to continue on or you'll have to start over. Each time you decide to continue on, the amount of Mutagen you have to cash in gets higher and higher. This is why it's smart to use it wisely and typically save it for when you're battling an enemy.

3. If you're going to buy anything, buy Mutagen

If you decide you want to spend some real money in order to give yourself an edge, coins are easy to collect in-game so pass on them. Instead, buy yourself some Mutagen so you can continue on during runs when and if you need to.

4. Fill your energy meter to activate Turtle Time

If you completely fill your energy bar by collecting enough green orbs, you'll activate Turtle Time which is a sort of bonus game. In the mini game, you'll have the opportunity to rack up tons of coins quickly, so be sure your always aiming to fill that meter.

5. Buy Turtle Power Magnets and other boosts to give yourself an edge

The store offers lots of items for sale. One of my favorite boosts is the Turtle Power Magnet which attracts all green orbs near you so you don't have to go after them. If you find yourself having a hard time making it past rooftop enemies, the laser bot will most likely be your best bet. Regardless what you choose, boosts aren't terribly expensive, you can trigger them whenever you'd like, and you're free to stock up on as many as you'd like.

6. Focus on leveling up a single turtle instead of unlocking them all

Instead of unlocking all 4 turtles, a better strategy, at least in the beginning, is to concentrate on leveling up one. This way all your coins are going to giving you the maximum amount of armor and energy as fast as possible. So pick your favorite in the beginning and stick with them for a while.

7. Increase energy and armor capacity before anything else

Increasing energy and armor means you can take more hits and go longer without having your energy meter fall. For most folks this will mean that you'll have a better chance at getting farther without having to use Mutagen. You'll be thankful you have the extra armor and energy when battling enemies.

8. Don't forget to visit the garage to upgrade the Shellraiser

You'll need to protect and upgrade your vehicle just like you upgrade your character. Increasing armor should be at the top of your todo list followed by adding better launchers. Just choose wisely when it comes to spending money on the Shellraiser and on your character.

Your Rooftop Run tips, hints, and cheats?

If you've been playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rooftop Run, what tips, hints, and cheats have you found to be helpful? Be sure to let us know in the comments, along with the length of your best run yet!