15 iPhone Tricks Apple Has Been Hiding From You

Technology

The iPhone is not only Apple’s main money-making machine, it’s also the world’s most popular smartphone. Maybe not in terms of numbers, because global sales of the iPhone are only about 20% as of 2016. But Apple does lead the market in terms of customer satisfaction, often earning above 95%.

First introduced in 2007, the iPhone has defined the mobile market. Apple didn’t invent the cellphone, but you could argue it did invent the smartphone. After the iPhone, other mobile handset manufacturers quickly emulated its design. Screens got bigger, apps became popular, and truly personal computing was born.

In 2016, Apple introduced the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, as well as iOS 10. With these new models, Apple gave us two new color options for the iPhone: Black and Jet Black. The matte black color is really just an improvement on the Space Grey of previous models. The Jet Black color option is entirely new, and gives off a polished, refined look.

iOS 10 is a major upgrade to the mobile operating system. It offers new features as well as improved design. Since the new iPhone models have an updated Taptic Engine, iOS 10 has more options for 3D Touch. Siri is also more powerful than ever, and iPhone photographers are sure to be pleased by the cameras.

Whether you’re an iPhone veteran or new to the platform, iPhones have plenty of features, some that you may or may not know about. In this article, we’ll explore iPhone tips and tricks designed to enhance your experience.

15. Setting An Alphanumeric Passcode

Many security experts say that iPhones are pretty secure. While iOS has bugs and vulnerabilities just like most platforms, it’s locked down due to Apple’s close ecosystem approach.

A passcode is essential to any smartphone owner. In the beginning, iOS limited users to 4-digit passcodes comprised of numbers. But now iPhone users can set a 6-digit passcode, as well as using an alphanumeric passcode. Alphanumeric just means that it’s a combination of letters (alpha) and numbers (numeric).

To enable this, go into Settings > Touch ID & Passcode. Tap Change Passcode at the bottom, then select Custom Alphanumeric Code. You can make it as long or short as you want, but a good length is around 6-12 characters long. Just make sure you pick something that you can remember! Although these codes are generally longer to type in, they are also more secure.

Remember: Unlocking your phone using Touch ID is faster, but police can legally force you to unlock it. They can’t force you to give up a password though. You store that in your mind, and that counts towards self-incrimination.

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