Belkin Wemo Smart Plug ($29.99)
BEST FOR BEGINNERS
I love smart home products, but they have the unfortunate tendency of being both expensive and complicated to install. That makes a smart plug a great start. They are inexpensive, easy to install, and incredibly useful. I’ve used Belkin Wemo smart plugs for years. They are HomeKit compatible, have a very slim profile, and are easy to set up. I’ve found a ton of uses for them over the years. I have one Wemo connected to the humidifier in the bedroom so that it automatically turns on in the evenings. I use a smart plug for my Christmas tree each year so that the lights automatically turn on in the evening, but then turn off at bedtime to avoid a fire hazard.
Arlo Video Doorbell 2K ($129.99)
TRUSTED BRAND
Video doorbells can sound like a novelty product, but I’ve found them to be incredibly useful. You can see who’s at the door and talk to visitors when you’re in the other room or away from home. Video doorbells also provide the peace of mind of having a security camera (complete with stored recordings) to protect you from intruders. When it comes to security cameras, it’s important to use a reputable company, and Arlo has an excellent reputation. The Arlo Video Doorbell is HomeKit compatible, has a wide field of view, and high-quality video—even at night. The app uses AI to distinguish between people and pets and can even recognize packages.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Winter 2023-Ausgabe von iPhone Life Magazine.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Winter 2023-Ausgabe von iPhone Life Magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
LOCK YOUR APPLE ID WITH A PHYSICAL KEY
Security keys are physical items that can be used to verify your identity when logging into your Apple ID. If you are planning to use security keys, make sure you have at least two. Apple requires you use two, so that if you lose one, you will have another as a backup. At iPhone Life, a brand we recommend is the Yubico Yubikey 5Ci ($75).
IT'S TIME TO USE YOUR APPLE WALLET!
Apple Wallet lets you virtually store your credit and debit cards, rewards cards, boarding passes, movie tickets, and more all in one secure place.
END-OF-LIFE PLANNING
APPS & RESOURCES FOR PEACE OF MIND
PHOTO SHARING FACE-OFF: ICLOUD VS. GOOGLE PHOTOS
If there’s one thing that keeps me hooked on Google Photos, it’s sharing.
MY PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
TIPS, APPS & GEAR FROM A LIFELONG LOVE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
SMART OUTDOOR LIVING
CREATING A HAVEN FOR YOUR FAVORITE POLLINATORS & PEOPLE
FROM ZERO TO GYM BRO
GET FIT AT HOME WITH THE SPEEDIANCE GYM MONSTER
WHY I DITCHED MY APPLE WATCH FOR THE OURA RING
Every morning for the past three months, I wake up wearing a shiny gold ring on my right pointer finger. If you look closely, you can see beams of red or green light leaking out the sides as it scans my heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. I roll out of bed, grab my phone, and open the Oura app.
THE BEST APPS OF 2024
One of the most frequent questions I’m asked by friends and family is “Which app should I download?” With millions of options out there, choosing which apps to use is a task that stumps many people. Will a free version overload you with ads? Is the paid version worth it?
OPINION: I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE WITH APPLE VISION PRO, AND IT SUCKS.
Color me a virtual-reality optimist. Alongside writing for iPhone Life, I’m a video game developer, 3D artist, and sci-fi author. I own a Meta Quest 3 and use it all the time to play games and view 3D models as I work.
