6 iPhone 6 things to know

Let's be honest up front and say that some of these features are actually because of iOS 8. Of course many people are using iOS 8 only because they just got a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus.

Let's have a look at 6 of the best things that I have seen already on the iPhone 6 that you will want to take a look at (or make sure you delete if you can't stand these things)

 

1) Group Texting

A great way to message a group and even label the conversation to remember who you were speaking to. 

Of course this is not the best thing about the new group texting, the best thing is it is so easy to remove yourself from a conversation that you never wanted to be a part of in the first place. 

If there is nothing else new this would be enough!

 

2) Reachability

This is what they are technically calling the feature that allows you to access the apps that are too far away for your fingers to reach while using only one hand on the iPhone. Maybe the most recent text or email is one you want and it is all the way at the top of the screen.

Just double touch the home button (do not push, just tap) and the screen slides down to you and cuts in half! BRILLIANT!

When I am bored I have already found myself double tapping just to watch the apps move down, back up, down, back up...(I need a new feature to play with!)

 

3) Hey Siri

Now I know that most people don't like Siri and the reason for it, people think they can ask anything and she is some form of A.I. If you watch movies like Terminator, Transcendence or iRobot you would fear A.I. and be happy Siri has limits.

If you use Siri for the things she does well, the score in the game, the weather report, tells you the time, and sends email and text then you will love her and her limitations.

Now with Hey Siri, as long as she is plugged in to a charger (your computer, the wall, or a car charger) you can just say "Hey Siri" to activate her.

• Driving in the car, just say "Hey Siri, text my wife, I am on my way" and you never have to pick up the phone.
• Sitting on the sofa and wondering what time it is, "Hey Siri, what time is it" Of course you won't have to ask this once you have an AppleWatch.
  

4) Predictive Text

Here's hoping this works as well as it already seems to be working. The more you text and email the better this gets. The phone (ok, the operating system) learns what you are most likely going to say and offers the words for you.

While this is probably easier to just keep typing with the shorter words, anything over a 4 letter word (get your mind out of the gutter) is  going to save you time to select it from the list of options. 

I see a website one day not about auto correct errors but dedicated to predictive typing suggestions. This could be fun!

 

5) Notifications Center

The notification center is not new. It is just something most of us probably didn't use much in the past. A simple swipe down from the top of the screen and you had a glance at your calendar, your reminders and a lot of other stuff you wish wasn't there. Now the notification center can be customized easier. 

While you cannot move the Today and Tomorrow summary you can easily add and delete what you get notifications about from the button at the bottom of the screen. Add in things you want and move them around to an order that works for you.

Watch as this takes off as more and more app developers work to make this a feature for their apps to be a part of the notification center.

 

6) Do Not Disturb

Ok this is not new at all, at least not to the iPhone or the past few years of operating systems. It might be new to you. As I speak to people I find more and more of them have no idea of this amazing feature. 

• Get your phone to stop beeping and vibrating when you are attempting to sleep
• Stop having your phone distract you when you should be focused on work - unless it is a true emergency
• Get more done by controlling your phone and not letting your phone, friends, Facebook and everything else control you!

Read more about the greatest gift from Apple, how to use Do Not Disturb. Just know that screen shots won't be the exact same. 

 

 

This is just a start and a glimpse at 6 of the great new features and we haven't even seen ApplePay, the AppleWatch or HealthKit