15+ Handy iPhone 5 Tips and Tricks

As we all know, a few days back Apple launched a new and shiny smartphone: the iPhone 5. Although not quite amazing (not even in battery power), the new iPhone does bring a few extras when it comes to its software features. Some minor tweaks and improvements that go a long way. They make an already user friendly smartphone into an even better one, and if you haven’t gone and pre-order it from the cheapest reseller, better take a good look at the new features before you change your iPhone 4S into a 5-er.

Collection of useful iPhone 5 tips

If all you Apple fans out there are wondering what these improvements are, here we have compiled a list of the most important ones (and no, we are not talking about the bigger screen).

The Map

Use Quick Route to plan your trips
Getting navigation assistance has never been easier. Just drop a pin wherever you want on the map, and tap the Quick Route button and you will receive very accurate information and turn by turn directions to your destination.
Flyover Maps show you a different dimension
I always liked the streetview that Google has on its Maps, but I must admit, the Flyover from Apple is pretty awesome. It’s much more easier to navigate a city or to find a location if can virtually visit it. The feature is very easy accessible by tapping the 3D button and you can rotate the map, navigate or see landmarks from any city.
Related Article: Can Apple’s Flyover 3D Maps Outwit Google’s StreetView?
Virtual navigation has never been easier
With the possibility to rotate the map or tilt it to have a better perspective, you can easily make your way through the urban jungle. The names of the streets, buildings and landmarks remain stable, so you won’t get misoriented.
Always keep true north
Although this features does not have much application in cities, when you go off road you will definitely feel its impact. When you need to regain your north-south orientation, all you will have to do is tap the Compass button and the map will orient itself towards north. This way you will never get lost on a hiking trip.
Save locations with pins
Whenever you find an interesting spot on the map, or something you wish to visit later, just tap the location hold down. A pin will be placed there and you can use it get that address, share the location or get directions to that location.

Siri

Quick list of what Siri can do
If you want to see what Siri do for you, all you have to do is hold down the Siri icon and Siri will greet you with a “What can I help you with?” message, tap the “i” button and you will see a list of what Siri can do and how it can help you.
Teach Siri who are your friends and relatives
Siri can remember who are your friends or relatives, just tell it “Erin is my wife” and it will keep this in its memory. This might come in handy when you want to text your dad for example, all you have to do is say “Text my dad” and Siri will know who your dad is and open an SMS for you to write.
Input locations and Siri will help you remember tasks
The old To-Do list has gotten to the new age. Now you can tell Siri to remind you when you leave work to go pick up the dry-cleaning or to go to the store. Input your usual locations and then just tell Siri “When I leave home, remind me to go to the store to pick up the groceries”.
Siri can write your emails
Another great feature of Siri’s is that it can send, reply or forward email messages. Just tell it what you want to do, the person you like to send your email to and then dictate the email. This feature goes hand in hand with the family recognition feature. Also, dictation can help you quickly update your Facebook status, send text messages or take notes.

Camera app has awesome features

Take quick and awesome photos
The camera icon can now be accessed from the lockscreen, giving users the possibility to take quick photos and not spend time searching for the incon in the app drawer. Also, you can take an awesome panorama picture with great ease just by tapping one time.
Pinch to zoom while taking photos
If you like to take a photo but you only want a part of the view in front of you, then you can pinch to zoom on a specific area and take your photo. You have the possibility to zoom in and out up to 5 times!
Focus on what matters
When taking a picture or shooting a video, tap the screen in any place and the iPhone will automatically focus in that region. It will adjust the exposure and white balance.

Sharing and Internet are better and easier

One swipe to refresh your inbox
If you receive lots of email every day and you feel the urge to refresh your inbox every 5 minutes, then all you need to do is swipe down and your inbox will instantly refresh.
Organize your Inbox so you can find what you need
Create folders, batch delete or move, everything is possible. Tap the Edit button and you will see all the different organizing tools that you can use to keep your Inbox nice and clear.
Write text more easy and more creative
The keyboard is much more customizable in the new iPhone. It gives you the possibility to input to your dictionary entire sentences and use shortcuts to quickly write a message. Also, you can add special characters by holding down one letter, or add numbers quickly by holding down the 123 button. By double tapping the spacebar, it will add a period and capitalize the next letter you write. You can also add quick smiles by taping the globe button.
You can view websites in full screen
If you like to fully enjoy a website and see it in all its glory, then try the full screen view! Turn your iPhone in landscape orientation and tap the full screen view icon. Then you can admire the awesome graphics of any website on a bigger screen.
Save images from the web in one tap

If you want a new background for your iPhone, find a image you like and tap and hold until the option to save it appears. Also, you can copy the image and send it via MMS to whoever you like. Sharing images on the iPhone has gotten a lot better.
Bookmarking at a new level
If you are an avid bookmarks user and want to save the best pages you land on, now you can add them directly to your screen. Safari will allow you to save the web address to your desktop, as an icon when you tap the Share button on the bottom of the screen.
The list of new features and tiny improvements goes on and on, this are just a few of the things your iPhone 5 will be good at, but in order to find out all the cool tricks it can do, better try it out for yourself!