It was long rumored that Apple was looking to use sapphire to replace Corning's Gorilla Glass for the iPhone 6. That didn't happen, and Apple's partner in sapphire production went bankrupt. Corning is taking advantage of the situation and promoting their next-generation product, Gorrilla Glass 4. While sapphire is still used by Apple, for camera lens covers and potentially the Apple Watch, the advantage is how difficult sapphire is to scratch.

Sapphire is surpassed only by diamonds on the hardness scale, so it should remain scratch-free. Indeed several watchmakers already use sapphire for their screens. However, the bigger problem with smartphones is fractures due to drops, and Corning thinks their offering is better than sapphire for such a use case.

The next version of Gorilla Glass should be up to twice as durable as existing offerings which would be a major step forward. I've had my own dealings with the fragile screen of the iPhone 6, and would have appreciated a more drop-proof screen!

The first Steve Jobs movie, released shortly after his passing, didn't pass muster with a lot of Apple followers, including Steve Wozniak. Admittedly, it wasn't based on the official biography by Walter Isaacson, and the making of it seemed rushed. It also didn't cover modern day Apple, just ending upon Steve's triumphant return to the company he founded, after being kicked out, much like Moses in the wilderness. The "official" movie, based on the "official" book was expected to get the full Hollywood treatment. Christian Bale, fresh off success as Batman and coming soon as Moses, appropriately, was slated to play Jobs. He has the build, face, and occasional beard, not to mention temper, to pull it off. Seth Rogan would take on the role of Wozniak. I loved that the guy who played Batman was going to team up with the guy who played the Green Hornet, since those superheroes teamed up occasionally.

However, Bale just bailed on the project, and Sony has dropped it as well. It looks like Universal may take over, and I'm hoping that either Keanu Reeves or Noah Wyle gets the part. Wyle did a great job as Jobs in The Pirates of Silicon Valley, as well as at the live MacWorld keynote in 1999, on stage with Jobs himself!

What a difference a word makes. The European Union objected to Apple's use of the word "Free" for apps that have In-App Purchases and ordered them to change it. Yesterday, they did. But Apple changed the "Free" button to "Get" for all no charge apps, even those that don't have In-App Purchases. I would have preferred that they left such apps as "Free," but at least they have text, in gray, below apps that say "In-App Purchases" if applicable. The headlines still read "Top Free Apps" so they haven't eliminated the word free entirely. The change in verbiage may not do much to stop users from downloading such apps, and eventually making purchases. After all, the top grossing apps tend to be "Freemium" apps with In-App Purchases.

A recent change, as part of iOS 8, may do more to prevent unwanted purchases. With Family Sharing, a parent can be alerted when a child tries to make a purchase, or even download a "free" app, as long as the iTunes accounts on both devices share the same credit card. This is a positive step and should eliminate many of the outlandish charges we've heard about. But it's not perfect. If the adult's device is shared, then no such warnings occur (which might be Apple's plan: buy more iOS devices!) and it can be annoying to approve of even free apps. But better safe then sorry.

Many people are waiting until the great deals available on Black Friday to make their purchase of an Apple product. And if Walmart's deals on the iPhone and iPad interest you, you won't have long to wait. According to AppleInsider, Walmart is kicking of their Black Friday deals on Friday, November 21. As I noted in an earlier post, those deals include a 16 GB iPhone 6 for $179 plus a $75 gift card, meaning that your final price is effectively $104 (with a two-year contract). They'll also have the new 16 GB iPad Air 2 for $489 with a $100 gift card. You'll be able to get an iPhone 5s for $79, with a $75 gift card. Also, if you're an AT&T Next or Verizon Edge customer, you can get the iPhone 6 or iPhone 5s for $0 down.

AppleInsider also says that Walmart with be matching or beating Black Friday offers from other retailers. Sounds like they really want your business.

Other Black Friday deals available from Walmart Friday include a Samsung 58-inch Smart LED HDTV for $698 and a 40-inch Samsung LED TV for $298.

You likely know that Google and other search engines keep a record of your searches so that search results and ads are more relevant to your interests. You can read Google's privacy policy here. In general, they don't share your personal information. If they share your aggregate information with one of their partners, they say they don't include personally identifiable information. That means I may be shown ads for products that interest me, but the company putting the ad on the web page I'm visiting doesn't have my name or contact information. Still, many people don't like the fact that so much information is gathered about them as they use the Internet.

If you're concerned about privacy, the good news is that the DuckDuckGo search engine is now an option in iOS 8. Not only does DuckDuckGo not profile users, they say the show the same search results to everyone for a specific search term, regardless of their previous searches, location, etc.

To switch your default search engine to DuckDuckGo, go to Settings > Safari > Search Engine.

Select DuckDuckGo, and it will now be your default search engine.

In this day and age it's become commonplace for us to do just about everything with our iDevices, which means that we need gear that can keep up with us on any outlandish escapades, as well as on our day to day grind. The items featured here represent some of the best in their respective categories; built tough and designed with integrity and durability to handle the  adventures that lie ahead. Many of the products featured here have impressive MIL-STD or IP ratings, which you can learn more about by clicking HERE.

Here at iPhone Life we love turning people on to great gear that fits their specific purpose and need and we're hoping that these reviews will make your holiday shopping that much easier. Whether as a present for yourself, or as gift idea for family or friends, this list of exceptional products will help you find the perfect accessories.

Adventure-Proof iPad and iPhone Cases

Lifeproof iPhone and iPad Cases(prices start at $69.99)

The Lifeproof cases continue to set a high bar as far as what we can expect a great heavy-duty iPhone case to be, and they do it without the bulk. The form-fitting design of these svelte cases makes them more of an enhancement for your iPhone or iPad than an obstruction. They are waterproof (6.6-ft submersion) and shockproof (from a 6.6-ft drop) and should keep your iDevice safe and sound, even in some of the most extreme circumstances you may encounter.

Griffin Survivor All-Terrain (starting at $49.99)

Though this ultra-protective model case has undergone a few name changes over the past few years, it's still the same great product that delivers some of the best and most comprehensive protection you can get for your iPhone and iPad. This splash-proof and shockproof tank of a case is priced very affordably and offers extra grip and shock protection with its extreme-duty design. The All-Terrain is available for the iPhone generation 4 and up, and for the iPad generations 2 and up.

Otterbox Defender (starting at $59.90)

The Defender is still one of the most popular rugged protective cases in the world, despite the competition growing so much over the years since Otterbox first made such a splash with their original iPod rugged protective cases. Whether it's an iPhone or iPad that you are in need of a case for, the Defenders multi-later approach and structurally reinforced design make the Defender one of the best investments for the well-being of your iDevice that you'll ever make. The Otterbox Defender is also available for the new iPhone 6 series.

iBattz Aqua Refuel ($119.95)

The Aqua Refuel is the only case that has made it to market that is both waterproof (to seven feet) and shockproof and has an external battery built into the case. This case, as of this writing is available in a 5/5s compatible model, which is actually great since the iPhone 5 and 5s have batteries that are so much smaller and more in need of frequent recharging than the new iPhones 6 and 6 Plus. Here's hoping that those of us who eagerly migrated up to the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus will also have access to the extra back up battery power of this amphibious case before too long.

Pelican Voyager (starting at $50)

Pelican has made a name for themselves, providing first responders and military personnel with highly protective gear that is built tough and ready for the field. With its minimalist, design, removable screen protector, and slim profile the Voyager iPhone case has got your iPhone covered and secure. The Pelican Voyager is also available for the newest generation iPhone 6 series.

Gear for Life On The Go

SCOTTeVEST Revolution Plus ($200)

If you are the techie-type you are going to love this one! The Revolution Plus is the ultimate tech-friendly jacket, sporting just about every feature that you could think to ask for, including removable sleeves and a special weight management system. With 26 gadget oriented pockets, including pockets with touch sensitive transparent fabric lining them as well as a megapocket for an iPad Air or mini, the question is less "what can you carry?" in this jacket, but rather, "what can't you carry?" in this classy and stylish cold weather coat.

BioLite CampStove($129.95)

For the modern adventurer who spends as much time in the wilderness and off-grid as possible, here's a neat little multi-purpose gadget to have handy. The BioLite CampStove is a unique tool that not only lets you have a small, contained fire for preparing warm food and drinks, the BioLite also lets you safely harness the energy generated from the heat of the fire to charge your iDevice. It's a great back up charger when you are far from a wall outlet and battery life is precious!

ReadyAction iDevice Camera Mounting System (starting at $24.95)

ReadyAction offers a solution for all iDevice users who have the desire to turn their iPhone or iPad into the equivalent of a GoPro. The folks at ReadyAction realize that we always have our iDevices with us, so naturally what better way to be prepared to film our adventures on the go than with a mount that transforms our go-everywhere smartphone (or tablet) cameras into something that we can attach to ourselves, or to a filming pole, roll bar, bike handle, helmet etc.

Pelican S140 Sport Elite Backpack($100.99)

The Pelican S140 backpack is the way to go if you're the type who tends to tote their iDevices around wherever you go, especially if you have a tendency to be rough on your stuff. Like many other gear bags that are designed to protect your delicate techie hardware, the S140 has dense, shock absorbing padding to protect your devices. However, unlike other protective packs Pelican has taken protection to the next level by incorporating a rigid polymer shield into the exterior design of the S140, with a protective plate of armor built over the front pocket of the bag that will keep your smaller-sized collection of accessories safe from any extreme abuse you subject this bag to. What's more, the S140 also has a watertight, crush-proof tablet clamshell storage sleeve to the rear of the pack, which will keep your iPad safe in most imaginable scenarios.

Goal Zero Lighthouse 250 Lantern ($79.99)

This lantern is a truly valuable asset anytime you go off-grid. This purposeful lamp has a hand-crank built into the top, which provides you with the option of charging the lantern's battery via a little good ol' elbow grease. The 250 Lantern can also be charged by connecting it to one of Goal Zero's portable solar panels. Another great feature of this lantern is that it can also charge your iPhone via a USB charging port. The Goal Zero 250 has a wide range of lighting settings that you can dial in, everything from hazard-flashing red blinkers to fully adjustable LEDs for dim to ultra-bright illumination. The 250 Lantern is perfect for camping or anytime you are in a pinch and there's no electricity.

Gomadic SunVolt 10 Watt Solar Panel ($99.95)

With the SunVolt solar panel you'll never be without a charge for your iDevice as long as the sun continues to shine. This solar panel is about the size of a large three-ring binder notebook. When not in use it folds up compactly into its weather resistant, protective shell, and when it's time to put it to work collecting the sun's rays, the Gomadic solar panel can be positioned at varying  angles to harness the maximum solar energy possible. 

Speakers and Headphones for Adventurous Audiophiles

Scosche boomBOTTLE H2O ($99.99)

V-Moda Crossfade M-100 ($310)

The Crossfade M-100 are accurately billed as being virtually indestructible and having passed the rigorous Military Standard testing criteria. Additionally, V-Moda offers a warranty on the M-100s that is unparalleled in the headphone industry: a 60-day test-drive period with a no-hassle return policy, a full-coverage, two-year warranty an their "Immortal Life" warranty whereby you can get 50 percent off of a replacement (after the two year warranty expires) if one ever becomes necessary. With a reinforced metal infrastructure, durable leather trim, heavy-duty, Kevlar reinforced headphone cords and environmental protection from the likes of temperature and moisture, the Crossfade M-100s are one of the most hardy, adventure-ready pair of headphones you will find.

Divoom Voombox Series Bluetooth Speakers(starting at $39.99)

If you are looking for the best value on a ruggedized Bluetooth speaker, be sure to check out Divoom's Bluetooth speaker options. Their Voombox line of rugged speakers boast spectacular sound, with solid bass, all wrapped up in a shell that is splash-proof, shock-resistant and dust-proof. Available in a range of sizes, from an ultra-portable "travel" version ,to the larger and more robust Voombox Outdoor, Divoom has something that should fit anyone's criteria with their versatile and durable Voombox heavy-duty speakers.

Jabra Revo Wireless ($199.99)

As part of the Revo's development process, these headphones have been subjected to some pretty extreme torture testing. I kid you not, I've never witnessed a pair of headphones that have to be able to pass such a high bar before going to market as these. See for yourself in this extreme product testing video, these headphones had to take a serious beating before Jabra said they were good to go. But the Revo Wireless aren't just tough as nails, they also have an amazing sound output and the fancy flair of a touch sensitive pad built into the outer earpiece for controlling your audio playback.

Fugoo Bluetooth Speaker (starting at $199.99)

This fully waterproof Bluetooth speaker boasts an impressive 40-hour battery life, which helps cement this speaker's position as one of the best-suited speakers for going on adventures off-grid. It's also ideal for sporting environments, waterside activities and even fancy, more formal events, thanks to its interchangeable "jackets." The extreme-duty Fugoo Tough Jacket is built tough enough to be run over Bluetooth a truck and survive, while at the other end of the spectrum, the Fugoo Style Jacket is the kind of thing you might use when hosting a party or a get together, or on display on a vanity or desktop. Whichever jacket you opt for, the rugged, waterproof integrity of the Fugoo Bluetooth speaker Core remains unchanged.

Like Walmart, Best Buy is already beginning to offer Black Friday deals, notably $80-$85 off the WiFi iPad Air for the 16, 32, 64, and 128 GB models. That means you're paying $320 for the 16 GB iPad Air, which isn't quite as good as Walmart's offer of a $100 gift card with the purchase of the $397 16 GB iPad Air. 

On the other hand, if you're not interested in receiving a gift card, Best Buy may be the place to go. Note that this sale is only available through Saturday, November 22. Best Buy is also offering $100 off their cellular data iPad Air models. In addition, Best Buy is offering the fifth-generation iPod touch for $249, which is a $50 savings.

As new iOS apps flood the App Store every day — recently topping 1,200,000 — we know it’s tough to tell which ones are worth their salt. But thanks to our Weekly Scoop, you can have the best for free! Here you’ll find a weekly roundup of the coolest apps free or at a discount for a limited-time only. Each week features the best and brightest from websites like Free App Report, AppsGoneFree, AppieDay, AppShopper, and more.

Hurry! Get 'em while they’re hot!

1. Blek ($.99 from $2.99)

The New York Times calls this game a "perfect representation of touch screen play" and it was called one of the best and most elegant iPhone games by The New Yorker. Fans of the game seem to agree that the game is as elegant and arts-y as it is fun and satisfying to play. I kinda want it to have a more elegant name though, right?

2. Satellite Safari ($2.99)

This app is being offered at a 30% discount until November 30th, so hurry on up! If you've ever been curious about how many satellites humanity has launched into space, this app will give you a tour. It's pretty cool to be able to find a satellite and then see earth from the view of that particular satellite. Intriuging stuff, and certinly worth the $2.99!

3. Rotate Video 360 ($2.99)

Ever see something cool happening, whip out your phone and start to video it only to realize you forgot to hold your phone in the correct position? Well this app can fix that foible and put your video in the right orientation. Don't be frustrated by your own impulsiveness ever again!

The Biweekly Giveaway – Award Winner Edition features prizes from companies that won iPhone Life awards at the recent Super Mobility Week powered by CTIA 2014 trade show! Be sure to enter the giveaway at iPhoneLife.com/giveaways to win prizes, which we'll announce December 1! We are raffling off tons of great accessories for FREE.

Here's how it works: Every other Friday we announce the prizes we're giving away through iphonelife.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. To enter the giveaway, go to iPhoneLife.com/giveaways and tell your friends to enter too! On the following Monday morning, we will randomly select the winners. If you win an app, we will email you the promo code to redeem the app for free. If you win an accessory, send us your address and we will mail it to you.

This week's featured items are:

1. Otterbox Alpha Glass: Retail Price $29.95

Ultra thin glass screen protectors for iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5c for hardcore, anti-shatter protection you can't see. Premium display clarity worthy of protecting your iPhone's touchscreen.

2. Toast Real Wood Cover: Retail Price $34

The original cover that started it all. (And by "all" we mean Toast.) This elegantly crafted real wood cover for the iPhone includes a back cover, sleek side wraps, and button covers. As you expect from any Toast product, this cover is beautifully engineered with precise details, cut by lasers, and finished by hand. Simple peel and stick application. Max it out with a matching wood front cover for extra protection and woodiness.

3. Scosche boomBOTTLE H2O: Retail Price $99.99

Experience remarkable audio with the boomBOTTLE H2O. The boomBOTTLE H2O packs remarkable wireless audio into a rugged IP67 waterproof frame—perfect for the poolside, beach, snow, or any other environment.

Questions or comments? Email Brian@iphonelife.com. Good luck and remember to visit iphonelife.com/giveaways to enter! Also check out our other contests at iphonelife.com/contests. The next contest drawing is December 1!

With iOS 8, we finally got the ability to customize the interface by adding widgets to Notification Center. Now when you swipe down from the top of the screen to see the Today view in Notification Center, you have the opportunity to see many new items in addition to the standard ones that had been available in the past. New widgets you can add include sports scores, news, travel guides, calculator, dictionary and thesaurus, package tracking, task management, photos, and much more.

To use this feature, you need to have apps on your device that have an associated widget. Macworld has a great list of the best apps that have associated widgets. iMore also has a list of the best widgets.

You likely already have apps on your iPhone or iPad that have widgets. You simply need to turn them on. To do so, swipe down from the top of the screen to reveal Notification Center. In the Today view, scroll all the way down to the bottom, where you'll see an Edit button.

Tap the Edit button to view a list of the widgets that are already available. (You'll need to have opened the app at least once on your device in order for its widget to show up in the list.)

To add a widget, simply tap the green + icon at left of the items in the lower list. To remove a widget, tap the red - icon in the list at top. To change the order of the widgets in the list, tap and hold the parallel lines icon at right and then drag.

Click Done at top right, and you'll then see your new widgets in the Today view of Notification Center.

As parents, it can be hard to strike a balance between enough screen time and too much screen time for our kids. ThinkStorm LLC has introduced an answer in the form of the app Kid Screen Time (free). This app allows parents to keep track of how much time kids are spending on their devices by sending alert messages to any phone or through email during the following events:

• When a kid starts using a device (the message will show number of minutes left)
• When a kid has ruan out of minutes
• When the device is locked or unlocked
• When the app is no longer running (or has been uninstalled).

Another great thing about the app is its rewards system wherein kids can earn points when they do not use all the minutes allocated to them. The app also allows multiple users to log in so parents are able to track usage of more than one kid. By managing kids' usage, parents can establish healthy device usage habits for their kids.

Parents can start off by installing Kids Screen Time on their children’s devices and setting up a parent password. After this, they can now set time limits for device usage. For example, you can limit your child's device use to 60 minutes on weekdays and 120 minutes during the weekends. You can give out unlimited car minutes during a road trip or award him 15 bonus minutes for cleaning his room. Or, if you prefer to empower him to responsibly spread his minutes out, you can give him his time allowance on a per week basis, giving him 100 minutes for the entire week.

Upon using their devices, kids will be prompted to select their name and input their passwords before starting to play. Passwords are given for each kid so they do not use each other’s minutes. Their time starts after login and you get a notification that your kids are on their devices.  

The app will keep track of minutes spent every day and will automatically reset at midnight if the minutes are set daily, or on Sunday midnight if the screen time is set weekly. If they have used less screen time than they were given, unused minutes will turn into award points the next morning. Whether you turn those points into cinema tickets, a whole gallon of ice cream, or more device time depends on you!

Kid Screen Time is free and comes with 50 Text Alert Credits and 300 Email Alert Credits. Additional credits may be purchased within the app as needed:

• Text Alert Credits are normally $1.99 for 150 credits.
• Email Alert Credits are normally $0.99 for 300 credits.

Turning on Reader View in Safari allows you to enjoy articles on the small screen of your iPhone or iPad without the clutter of ads and menus. But did you know you can also share this ad-free version of an article with friends?

If you are reading an article in Safari and want to share it with friends, you can send them the ad-free version of the article by sharing it via email (but not text or social media, unfortunately) while in Reader View. Just tap the share icon, select Mail, and send the email. The images and text of the article will be sent in the body of the email along with a link to the original article.

Top image credit: Quka / Shutterstock.com

I have seen the future of online mobile gaming, and it is MOBA. Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas is a term familiar to any core, hardcore, or professional gamer. If it's not already a common term in your vocabulary, popular iOS MOBA titles like Fates Forever (free), Vainglory (free), and Heroes of Order and Chaos (free) plan to change that, as they help usher in the new renaissance of mobile gaming.

2014's The International $10-million eSport championship.

Have you played any of the amazing MOBA games available in the iOS App Store? Well you're certainly not alone if you haven't spent time playing any of these capture-the-flag-style, real-time battles. As popular as they are, many people are not even aware of the massive popularity of the genre and the high-stakes, professional-level gaming environment that surrounds breakout PC hits like Dota 2 and League of Legends. MOBA are the next "big thing" and I won't be the least bit surprised if within a few years we see a mobile title like Fates Forever or the newly released MOBA, Vainglory, competing on the world stage for the attention, the fans, and the massive prize awards that their PC predecessors currently enjoy. Some of these games have competitions that play out on the international stage and attract millions of spectators to events that can be viewed live at major sporting arenas, or online at sites like Amazon's newly acquired company Twitch. There are potentially millions to be won on the professional circuit for those who are extremely proficient at MOBA games, and this emerging breed of action-packed iOS MOBA games can definitely compete with the best of the PC titles.

This genre is really taking off on mobile platforms, as evidenced by the fact that Apple called upon the newest MOBA, Vainglory, to show of their new iPhone's Metal. Apple obviously took into consideration the staggering numbers of spectators watching live video games known as eSports on sites like Twitch and ESPN. The following are our top three MOBA games on iOS. I could easily imagine any one of these games building upon the popularity of the MOBA genre, and becoming part of the first generation of highly profitable, professional-level eSports on iOS. Now, without further ado...

iPhone Life's Top 3 MOBA on iOS

1.Vainglory (Free)

Vainglory is my new favorite and deservedly takes the number one spot for best iOS MOBA. Vainglory debuted at the unveiling of the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch, and was used to show the next-generation gaming capabilities that are possible with Apple's Metal interface. I fully expect this game to do extremely well, especially riding the momentum of Apple's iPhone 6 introductions. It's a very new game, although it has had a gradual roll out in Australia and Southeast Asia, and in a short period of time Vainglory has managed to amass a strong following. This game is making waves within the international game community, and from the awesome gameplay footage below you can see that it's a MOBA to be reckoned with.

Vainglory debuting at the iPhone6/Apple Wacth reveal.

This game is perfectly positioned to capture the hearts and minds of MOBA fans worldwide, and with good reason. Vainglory effectively does away with the argument that iOS games are somehow not as good as PC or console games. Along with its balanced gameplay and phenomenal graphics, Vainglory also features intuitive, touchscreen-friendly controls and a solid storyline to support its capture-the-flag gameplay. This game is the complete package and even though it's a new game, I expect to hear many great things about it over the years to come.

5 out of 5 stars

3:Heroes of Order and Chaos(Free)

This title is from the prolific game development house that is Gameloft. As we have come to expect from Gameloft, Heroes of Order and Chaos has great graphics and gameplay while adhering to the basic formula and common threads that make up other popular MOBA games. With Gameloft's far reaching, international fan base, I expect this one to continue to do extremely well as it capitalizes on Gameloft's tremendous popularity and solid reputation. Heroes of Order and Chaos is the first iOS-specific MOBA to get full Twitch integration, paving the way for iOS MOBA titles to skyrocket in terms of both popularity as well as cash prize awards.

4 out of 5 Stars

It's that time of year again. Right after a new iPhone comes out there is the inevitable deluge of great cases to protect your new investment. This happens with every iPhone release, but perhaps never more markedly than with the introduction of the completely new form factors of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. If ever an iPhone needed a case, it is these large and larger models, with their increased real estate, slick, rounded edges, and extra weight. Rather than clump a bunch of individual cases together I'll be focusing on one great case each  week over the course of the coming months. This week's featured case is the Powerful; a tremendously protective, extreme-duty iPhone case  of gargantuan proportions from Love Mei.

The Powerful adds bulk, as you can see with the iPhone 6 Plus resting on top.

The Love Mei Powerful case is an excellent and more affordably protective case for the iPhone 6 series. The folks at MobileFun turned me on to this exemplary case and I have to say, I am quite impressed, which is saying something, considering how many cases I review. The Powerful is available for both the iPhone 6 as well as the iPhone 6 Plus with both sporting a bargain price of $45.99.

This case is well made, with lots of flair and pizzazz! That said, it's a BIG honkin' case, and heavy as the dickens! It makes a big phone like the iPhone 6 or the iPhone 6 Plus ginormous! But the extra heft and proportions come with the benefit of some pretty hardcore protection. This case is built like a military defense vehicle.

Practically Speaking

On a practical level, the honeycomb-injected silicone rubber inner frame is shock absorbing to the extreme and it extends outward on the edges by almost a quarter inch with an air-suspension style design. Not only does the inner silicone shield your iPhone from all but the harshest blows, it also covers all the ports and buttons without limiting access to the controls or functionality of the iPhone in the least. In fact, the Powerful actually makes it much easier to find and interact with the iPhone's minimalist button design. The only feature of the iPhone 6/6 Plus that is not accessible with the iPhone in the Powerful case, is Apple's Touch ID/Reachability features, which may or may not be a bad thing, depending on who you talk to. Instead of a thin, relatively flimsy piece of plastic over the home button, like many other rugged cases opt for, the Powerful employs a sturdy protective disk as armor over the home button.

The Powerful's  silicone skeleton is sandwiched between two panels of aircraft grade aluminum, which screw together over the silicone shell for even great shock and impact protection. Attached to the metal front panel is a screen protector made of shatter-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, the same glass Apple uses for the iPhone's touchscreen. This is particularly impressive since high-quality glass screens are a luxury reserved primarily for the traditionally much more expensive, high-end rugged cases. The use of a glass screen protector also makes interacting with the iPhone's touchscreen almost identical to the experience you would have if you weren't using a screen protector at all! I could go on about how sweet it is to have a genuine glass screen protector on a rugged case, but if you've already tried out rugged cases with their standard, plastic touchscreen protectors, you already know that plastic screen protectors pale in comparison to glass.

A valid concern when it comes to heavy-duty cases is how much they will diminish the iDevice's sound quality. Love Mei has addressed this problem by building two sound channels into the case's design where the microphone and speakers are, and then covered the speakers and mics with a durable steel screen. While almost all rugged cases take a little away from the iPhone's sound quality, the Powerful manages to take little away from the microphone's clarity and if anything, it enhances the bass of the iPhone's lower speaker while preserving the mid-range frequencies. However, I did notice a slight loss of acoustic quality at the higher end of the spectrum.

Style and Flair

If you can handle the added bulk of the Powerful rugged case you'll be in for a treat, this is one snazzy heavy-duty case. It has a style and fitness that is sophisticated and modern. It sits well in the hands with a smooth feel while still providing plenty of contour and traction to help keep it from slipping out of your grip. And, since the Powerful is such a mammoth case, you may want to take advantage of the lanyard loop so you can loop it to your wrist (especially in any precarious circumstances) with your lanyard of choice.

The headphone port cover is a shiny hinged door with its very own bling in the form of a tiny stone-cut style jewel embedded on it. The mute switch (which is now located on the front face of the iPhone) is actuated by a slick looking button that looks as if it were set with an onyx stone. And the glass screen protector is an inclusion that makes interacting with the iPhone a sheer pleasure usually reserved for folks who like to live dangerously with no screen protection whatsoever.

Conclusion:

With the water-resistant, shock-proof and crush-proof Love Mei Powerful case you can rest assured that your iPhone will be receiving some of the highest level of protection on the market. If you anticipate the need for an extreme-duty protective case, the Powerful is a bargain deal and well worth consideration. Rated on looks alone the Love Mei Powerful is a solid five-star case. The only slight drawbacks to this case are its size and weight, but then again, it's size and weight factor into the fact that this is one powerhouse of a rugged case. Additionally, the lack of access to Touch ID might be a deal breaker for some folks, but then again, having a solid, slightly textured button over the iPhone's home button might not been seen as a shortcoming for anyone looking for a truly rugged protective case.

iPhone Life rating:

4.5 out of 5 Stars

Apple prides itself on making everything on its devices intuitive. So you could probably figure out how to make an emergency call on a locked iPhone pretty quickly. But do you want to take even those precious moments to do so in a real emergency? Why not learn how ahead of time?

To call for help on your own or someone else's locked iPhone, swipe right on the Lock screen. Tap Emergency and use the dial pad to call 911.

This is also where you will find the Emergency Medical ID Card of the phone's owner.

Top image credit: koya979 / Shutterstock.com

It's fun to see so many more details of the Apple Watch emerging as a result of Apple's releasing their WatchKit to developers who are creating apps. I summarized many of these details in a previous post, including the pixel dimensions of both sizes of the Apple Watch. An interesting article on The Verge also has a good summary, including some details that I missed. In particular, an interesting feature of the Apple Watch is that it will distinguish between "Short Look" and "Long Look" notifications. If it senses that you're just glancing at your watch, you'll get a single message, such as that your plane is boarding now. But if you keep looking at the notification, more information appears. In this case, the flight number, boarding time, and gate number.

During the Long Look, the icon for the app and the original notification get smaller and move to the top of the screen to make room for the additional detail. You can then scroll through the additional information and perform actions such as commenting, favoriting, or dismissing. It's amazing how Apple has thought through such fine details as this. 

The Verge again discusses a point I made in my earlier post: that much of the computing power takes place on one's iPhone, which then pushes information to the Apple Watch. However, they note three exceptions: dates, times, and timers function independently from your iPhone. Presumably that means that if you don't have your iPhone with you, you'll still be able to use your Apple Watch as a watch. And again they make the point that Apple says native apps will be coming to the Apple Watch later next year, meaning that these apps will function independently of your iPhone.

Why would Apple make their watch so completely reliant on connecting with one's iPhone? I'm guessing it comes down to their fundamental guiding principle: user experience. In this new environment, they want to have strict control over the user experience. So they've greatly constrained the ways in which information can be presented on the device. Once the environment is launched, and developers gain experience in feeding select bites of information to the device in precisely the way Apple requires, then Apple will open up the platform for native apps. 

Apple has also constrained the gestures used to interact with Apple Watch. Presumably this is because the display is relatively small, with simple gestures being necessary for a positive user experience. According to The Verge, the gestures are limited to vertical swipes to scroll through the screen, horizontal swipes to go between pages, tapping to select, and a "force touch," which opens a contextual menu. Also, the digital crown lets one scroll quickly through pages. Plus, there's an "edge swipe" that goes back and another edge swipe that opens the Glance view.

I believe Apple has another winner. They've given an extraordinary amount of attention to every last detail. This is what makes Apple products special, and loved. It will be fascinating to see how the Apple Watch does in the marketplace.

As a follow-up to my article on Apple changing the wording from "Free" to "Get," I noticed that the word hasn't changed everywhere. While iTunes and the App Store display "Get" for apps that don't have an initial price, the App Store preview pages, which are displayed when web sites link to an app, still show "Free" for such apps. Eventually, Apple may get around to fixing this, but it is a glaring inconsistency from a manufacturer that usually takes their entire web store down to make changes.

I noticed this because a potential end user of one of my apps emailed me about the new wording. He, understandably, didn't want to "get" an app that might have hidden charges. While it's just a change in wording, the "Get" action might discourage users from downloading formerly "Free" apps in the first place. For apps that never had in-app purchases, this is unfortunate. Users might not look for the "In-App Purchases" text in gray below the "Get" button.

I am all in favor of warning users about potential revenue scams, but I also want to encourage users to try totally free apps. Perhaps Apple could have text like "In-App Purchases offered up to $99.99" which might fight back against the developers who charge outrageous amounts for consumable goods in games meant for kids.

If you need a web-based camera that rocks, then this is a great choice, because it sort of, well, rocks. The iBaby Monitor M6 ($199.95) swivels and spins, but if you manipulate the controls the right way, you can also make it rock.

iBaby is intended for watching babies. Not just watching them, but also communicating through voice and music. It works best with little people, and with creatures, that are mostly stationary or at least contained—babies in cribs, lizards in a cage, birds in a cage, puppies in a pen—you get the point. It doesn’t do much with a dog that has the run of the house. You might glimpse a curious nose occasionally, or witness a sweeping blur of head and tail, but iBaby isn’t designed to chase a pet around a house. iBaby is designed to watch things in a confined space, along with the area around it. The camera rotates up and down and in a circle on a fixed base.

iBaby sees color by day. At night, it runs night vision, just like on ghost hunting shows. So yes, if you want to use iBaby to monitor the preternatural, it can do that, but it’s an undocumented feature. Another undocumented feature is freaking out older children using their account on a home computer (or trying to cook something after school) while you are out. It’s not a hidden camera by any means, and makes some noise when it runs. So use its conspicuous appearance and think of it more as a deterrent.  

Given its basic rotational capabilities and night vision, the iBaby could also monitor yards or external areas easily viewed from a window that's near a power socket.

iBaby requires an iPhone or iPad to connect it to a network. Plug-in the power, run the app, plug in the phone and the iOS device gets the iBaby connected to the network. Make sure you have all of the latest software installed, because it took me a couple of tries get the Wi-Fi up. Control works well from an iPhone with iOS 8, but was challenged with UI and crashes running the iPhone app on the iPad. An easy-to-set-up Internet account provides access to the net from any network, even 3G (though slower connections result in lower quality video).

iBaby’s design is fun and functional. It looks like a tiny snowman on a saucer. The 720HD resolution is adequate for monitoring a beautiful bundle of baby, or a pack of Labradoodle puppies.

Other features include video recording, timed image capture, easy access for sharing the camera with others (yes, you can give Grandma a link to the baby) and two-way audio.

If you want to be the coolest parent on the block, ditch the traditional baby monitor for an iBaby. It may seem like overkill if the baby is in the next room, but on date night you’ll feel comforted to be able to watch the baby and the babysitter.

One of the great features of recent versions of iOS is how deeply embedded sharing is. You can quickly share items such as photos and videos with friends, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Flickr, and more. In fact, you have so many options now that the screen that pops up when you tap the button for sharing can start to get cluttered. Fortunately, you can customize it.

To make changes to the screen that appears when you want to share an item, first select a photo or something that you'd like to share by tapping on the share button.

Then when the sharing screen appears, tap on More at the far right of the sharing options.

When you do so, a new screen will appear that lets you turn on or off sharing options such as Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr. (Notice that you can't turn of Mail, Message, or iCloud Photo Sharing.)

In addition, you can change the order of how these items appear in the sharing screen by tapping and dragging up or down the three parallel lines at right.

This article originally appeared in iPhone Life magazine. Subscribe for a print or digital subscription at iPhoneLife.com/subscribe.

There’s a good chance that when Andy Williams crooned, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” he wasn’t the one in charge of all of the cooking and baking. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are full of family dinners, cocktail parties, and a not-insignificant amount of stress. This year, leave your cookbooks on the shelf—these apps couple all the recipes you need for your favorite holiday treats with sanity-saving extras like built-in shopping lists and preparation tips.

Tip!

While you’re cooking, place your iPhone or iPad in a zip-seal sandwich bag or a clear sleeve designed specifically for iDevices; you’ll still be able to interact with the touchscreen, but it will be safe from spills and sticky fingers.