Tell me something I never knew my iPhone could do

[ConfusedDotty]

Just that really. I want to be all impressed with it again.

Eh? Doesn't it pick up wifi if you are near one it knows but be on 3G otherwise?

Doctrine, no, luckily it was just about still in warranty and they swapped it for a new one. It was completely dead, the guy in the Apple store couldn't bring it back to life. I have no idea how I managed to kill it just by dropping it on the floor so it might have been faulty anyway.

I can still remember some of the videos and pictures I lost. Thankfully we took some pictures of the party with our camera.

If it is set to wifi when I'm out of the house it tries to link to other rubbish wifi sites which never work properly, so I want it on 3G when I'm out and wifi when I'm in. I don't want it trying to find me wifi sites, because they never work.

re best calendar app, I like Fantastical (pretty cheap and works as a calendar should IMHO)

If you flick up from the bottom of the screen when the iPhone or ipad is locked you can press the plane icon to put it straight into airplane mode without unlocking and going thro the settings palaver - really handy if sitting in the cinema, school assembly...& they also charge much faster in airplane mode, especially the ipad! There's also a torch on the grey flick up screen.

If you haven't got the find my iPhone app get it! Royal Mail lost my current ipad in their guaranteed next day delivery system (don't ask...DH said I was awful to live with for the week it was missing) but I could put it in lost mode using the app on my iPhone (the app was on the ipad too) & told my iPhone to notify me if it came online so I could erase all data remotely on the app if it did.

When I eventually got the ipad back & switched it on the front screen said it was in lost mode & to call my mobile number & the iPhone then notified me it had connected to wifi & where exactly the ipad was - correct address - I was very impressed!!!

Oh & make sure they've been backing up properly...my ipad hadn't so was extra scared I wouldn't get it back!

If your teen has an iPhone you can track them with Find My iPhone. Useful for ensuring dinner is ready promptly when they get home!

I don't routinely track them. :)

I love my iphone. . I am always amazed that people have them but barely seem to know about any of the features. Why pay so much money for things you don't use

I am even more amazed that people don't use Siri very much. I know it takes a bit of getting used to but it's so useful. I use it all the time. I have got to the stage of not being embarrassed about it either.

The other feature I use a lot is Location Based Reminders If I am out and about and remember I need to put the bins out when I get home I ask Siri Remind me when I get home to put the bins out. Then when I get home I get an audible reminder.
Siri will use any address in your contact list. So I can set up reminder for the post office, or work or the supermarket. You can set the reminders to come when you arrive or leave a location.

I now never forget to buy something at the supermarket as I usually get a very long reminder of what to buy when I get there

Here are some recent reminders I have used

remind me when I get to mums to ask about the holiday

Remind me when I get to Asda to buy scouring pads

Remind me when I get home to call the bank

(You can see I lead avery exciting life )

I am always amazed that people have them but barely seem to know about any of the features.

Perhaps this would not be the case if Apple provided an instruction manual detailing everything the phone can do, including odd things that people have found that are not quite how Apple intended them to be used.

If you download the Glympse app, you can email someone a link that gives them a real-time map of your position and an eta of your arrival at e.g. their house. Useful if you're going on a long journey somewhere, they can have a cup of tea ready when you arrive!

As it's done through email and the internet, they can pick it up on any device.

You can click "forget this network" but mine only tried to link to ones it knows eg The Cloud.

I've never changed it, I'll look at the settings.

Owl a written manual would be pointless as it would need updating each time there was a software update. There are loads of online guides and apps with information.

HERE IS A FREE APP with tips on using your iphone. (I have no idea if it's any good though)

Have you got "ask to join networks" toggled off?

Fab thanks for tips -especially strawbmousse re guided access & will defo try the location thing-I'm only on payg tho as I don't use the phone much so obv this may only work where there is wi-fi. However it may be so useful that I actually upgrade to a contract with 3G. Anyone know of any cheap ones that would be enough just for locations?!

I have an app that I use a lot bizarrely & it's a ruler! I would love a thermometer app-don't suppose there is one yet!

ApoqA I was simply explaining why some people don't know everything their iPhone can do, not suggesting Apple provide a manual.

Evelyn, I've recently become a pay as you go pikey in order to save money.

I'm on orange, pay £10 a month and get 400 texts(maybe more), 1gb 3G and because of another offer I get 168 mins. Rarely need to top up again in a month. Most iPhone contracts start at £36/7 quid tho

If you buy you own handset then Threes £15 a month package is great, TRUE unlimited DATA plus more calls and texts than you could possibly use (can't remember the exact details). Plus it allows tethering.

What is tethering please?

Thank you to the darling person up thread who told of how to make mumsnet into an "app". Now typing first post to MN on iPhone! And have set up all my most-used websites into a folder. Sadly am in heaven!!! #littlethings

Tethering is when you make your iphone into a personal hotspot which you can use to connect your ipad (or whatever) to the internet when you don't have wifi.

You can turn on your personal hotspot in settings. (If your carrier allows it). It eats up your battery life though so I only turn it on when I need it.

Hi theDoctrine thanks for that - I have now untoggeled that "ask to join network" so hopefully that will do the trick.
I am in London, and use my phone a lot on the way to work on the tube. As there are so many wifi thingies available, I can be trying to download my twitter as I go down the escalator and then find out it is trying to connect to vodofone wifi or the cloud and is waiting for a password or for me to register, then I have to spend entire journey to work without twitter (sob). It's very frustrating .

The Mumsnet app can't do pound signs, euro signs, stresses on French names etc. It comes out as gobbledy gook. Mumsnet Towers know for over a year but haven't fixed the problem. Some messages are not legible at all. I wish a Mumsnet employee would test it on an iphone.

Siri knows some geeky jokes. Just ask him. My Siri said that he didn't know any jokes. Maybe because I have a 4S instead of a 5?

to make sure you don't lose any photos in the future, you can add dropbox app to your phone which offers cloud storage

syncing calendars is great - make sure your calender is synced with icloud and then invite other people to share the calender

findmyfriends means you'll never have to ask "are you on the train" again

other really good apps are duolingo free french, smiling mind mindfulenss for children and strava to track bike rides and runs

Good apps- traffic eye. You can see the cameras on all motorways to see how busy the road is or how bad the traffic ahead is

Satm8. Free sat nav