5 hidden AirPods tips and tricks

Get more out of Apple's earbuds with these stealth features.

Author

Lewis Wallace
April 08, 2023

The seamless way that AirPods work with other Apple gear makes them a no-brainer for anybody steeped in Cupertino’s hallowed ecosystem.

But are you really getting all you can out of your Apple earbuds?

Read this week’s top post and/or watch our how-to video for five ways you can squeeze even more fun and utility out of AirPods.

Also in this edition of The Weekender:

Enjoy your weekend!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

How-tos

5 hidden tips and tricks for AirPods

AirPods are seamlessly integrated with your iPhone and Apple Watch — but if you want to get more out of them, you need to dig through Settings. Here are five super-handy features you might not have known about.

How to turn your iPad into an iMac

Add a few accessories and your iPad transforms into a mini desktop machine.

How to make Apple Passwords a standalone app

There’s much more to iCloud Keychain than meets the eye. You can put an icon on your Home Screen, use it for your 2FA codes and sync your passwords on Windows.

How to make text larger on iPhone or iPad

You can increase the text size on your iPhone or iPad so don't have to put on reading glasses to use these devices.

Pro Tip: Don’t lose track with persistent notifications

You can set all notifications from a specific app to stick to the top of your screen, so you won’t lose track of them.

News

Add ChatGPT to iPhone or Mac with this new Shortcut

Don't be jealous of Microsoft Bing's AI capabilities: A new Shortcut called S-GPT integrates OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot into Apple devices.

Apple fixes security vulnerabilities and bugs with iOS and macOS updates [Updated]

iPhone, Mac and iPad users got fresh operating system updates Friday. iOS 16.4.1, macOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 fix a smattering of bugs.

Apple couldn't get away with proprietary USB-C cables for iPhone 15

Rumors and speculation that only Apple-approved cables will be able to charge the first USB-C iPhone are sketchy at best.

Steve Jobs’ ‘Make Something Wonderful’ comes out April 11 (for free)

The Steve Jobs Archive's new collection of the Apple co-founder's writings and sayings will be free on its website and on Apple Books.

Tim Cook sees augmented reality as a tool for collaboration, not isolation

Apple’s CEO sounds very upbeat about the potential for AR in a new interview. He had nothing to say about VR, though.

iOS 16.4 takes a big chunk out of iPhone battery life

A week after the release of iOS 16.4, tests show that the new version reduces the battery lives of a wide variety of iPhone models.

Deals

Easter Sale: Score up to 25% off stylish Apple Watch bands

In the Cult of Mac Store, you can slash up to 25% off regular prices on a variety of Apple Watch bands from Mifa, Elkson, Rilee & Lo and Laut.

Plus, more from our Easter Sale:

$70 gets you 10TB of cloud storage for life

If you need a lot of room for a long time, here’s your chance to get a 10TB lifetime subscription to Prism Drive for the best price online.

Enter to win a magnetic iPad stand with built-in wireless charger

In this week's giveaway, one lucky winner will get their hands on a magnetic iPad stand with a built-in wireless charger from Kuxiu.

This password manager works on all your devices, and costs just $24 for life

TL;DR: If you're tired of forgetting passwords, a lifetime subscription to Sticky Password Premium can help. And it now costs only $23.97 until April 11.

Plus, more software and educational deals:

Cut down on cords with this 3-in-1 retractable cable

This 3-in-1 retractable charging cable gives you three standard ports in one compact package: Lightning, USB Type-C and Micro USB

Reviews and recommendations

Mac mini with M2 Pro: Apple silicon for the rest of us [Review]

The new Mac mini is the best value in the entire computer industry, point blank.

‘Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker’ traces a tennis star’s epic fall [Apple TV+ review]

The new Apple TV+ docuseries centers on a famous tennis player embroiled in a scandal.

A handy USB hub by day, a colorful mechanical keyboard by night [Review]

It's a full RGB-backlit customizable mechanical keyboard with a handy-dandy hub for your USB accessories and HDMI display.

What could be better than the ‘Hello Tomorrow!’ season finale? A second season. [Apple TV+ recap]

The first season of “Hello Tomorrow!,” the Apple TV+ show about men selling lunar dreams and lies, comes to a close this week in high style.

Plus, more Apple TV+ recaps:

New Crystal Palette cases add whimsical color to iPhone 14

If you're tired of utilitarian iPhone cases that make your handset look like everyone else's, have a gander at Laut's vibrant Crystal Palette cases.

Setups

Apple classics: If it ain't broke, don't replace it

This setup boasts a 2013 "trash can" Mac Pro driving three Cinema Displays from yesteryear. And that's only about half the retro gear here.

Celebrating the joys of owning 2 Macs

Are two Macs better than one in a computer setup? What's overkill to one user could be a perfectly sensible use of resources to another.

Floating iPad Pro works as a 'perfect' second screen

Some great setups, like this one, get by with zero external displays. But how do they make the iPad levitate like that?