iPhone 4 Tips and Tricks
Apple's iPhone 4 is a bastion of user friendliness. It's a device that practically begs to be picked up and played with, and without much coaxing or cajoling even the most technophobic of users can have it purring at its near full-tilt potential.
That doesn't mean there aren't a few little tips and tricks that more seasoned users rely on to get the most out of their sleek little box of tricks and we thought it was about time these little secrets went public.
Keep a check on your word count - Most iPhone users will have a message bundle on their plan but it's worth knowing how many texts you're sending to save you from going over your allowance and incurring the wrath of your carrier's billing department.
This can be easily achieved by selecting Settings>Messages>Character Count and tap the button to switch the functionality on. It may be a no-brainer but it might just save you some money.
Use iBooks to manage your PDF library - If you want to manage your PDF files in iOS's great iBooks application, all you need to do is long press on the PDF in question and select 'Open in iBooks'. Your file will now happily sit on your virtual bookshelf, waiting for your perusal.
Record a video memo - You can make use of the iPhone 4's great front-facing camera to record a video memo, which you can save or send to a mail recipient. To achieve this, simply open your camera app, switch to front-facing mode and record your message, once you're done choose the e-mail icon to send the message, or save it for later.
Track your parcels with ease - iPhone 4 sports the latest version of Apple's iOS, which includes new advanced data detectors which not only recognise telephone numbers and calendar entries but also now tracking numbers. With a simple tap of the screen your iPhone 4 will whizz you away to the courier's website and furnish you with up-to-the-minute tracking results, no faffing around required.
Tap to zoom in the camera app - Everyone knows that the iPhone 4 has a superb camera, but surprisingly few people are aware that they can focus said camera with a single screen tap on the area they're interested in. It's an especially useful function if you're trying to take a snap in a hurry.
Protect yourself from malevolence - Password protecting certain apps and functions should rank highly on your iPhone 4 to-do list. Whether you're protecting your financial information in iTunes or simply locking your Facebook app to keep out 'hilarious' friends or colleagues, a password is a must-have.
All you need to do is choose Settings>General>Restrictions and select the 'Enable Restrictions' option. You'll then be prompted to input a password and nominate which apps you wish to lock.
These tips are useful but this list is far from exhaustive. There's plenty more to learn about your iPhone if you have the time and the inclination, or you can just sit-back and appreciate it for its beauty and simplicity. It's up to you.