With the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus now available from Afghan Wireless stores throughout Kabul, you won’t want to miss this chance to upgrade to the very latest in smartphone technology. Read on for a look at 10 terrific features you’ll be sure to love about this great new mobile device.
3D Touch
One of the most innovative new features of the iPhone 6s, 3D Touch uses special sensors just underneath the screen to detect the level of pressure of your finger, and offers different options or capabilities depending on how hard you press. Until now, this kind of pressure sensitivity has been mainly used in Apple’s drawing apps, but now the company has incorporated it directly into the user interface, where it adds a whole new level to a range of useful apps and functions.
Pop and peek
Thanks to 3D Touch technology, it’s now easier than ever to get a “sneak peek” at e-mails, texts, and webpages. Just tap and hold a link to jump into a preview (or a “peek”) of whatever you want to look at; it will appear above your current app in a floating window. If you want to continue reading, a firm press will “pop” the page open; if you want to go back to what you were doing before looking at the preview, just lift your finger to close the sneak peek and return to your previous screen.
Hidden trackpad
Another great use of 3D Touch technology in the iPhone 6s is the hidden trackpad feature. In any app, the Apple keyboard will transform into a trackpad when you firmly press on it and hold. You can then control the cursor simply by sliding your finger around, making it easy to place the cursor exactly where you want it. Pressing a little harder will allow you to quickly and efficiently select and highlight text. This feature is especially useful for correcting typos.
Live photos
Bring your photos to life with the new Live Photo feature in the iPhone 6s camera. When this feature is activated, the camera will automatically capture one or two seconds of video immediately before and after any picture that you snap, thereby creating something that’s a unique cross between a completely static image, an animated GIF file, and a short video. The Live Photo feature also records audio, thus making the complete file a full sensory experience.
Live wallpaper
Make your lock screen more dynamic by using a Live Photo as your background wallpaper; just press on the display when you’re in the lock screen and the image will come to life. There are also several ready-made motion wallpapers you can choose from if you haven’t yet made any Live Photos of your own.
Quick actions from the home screen
This great shortcut feature allows you to jump quickly from the home screen into a range of actions without having to first open the required app. For example, pressing firmly down on the camera icon in the home screen will bring up a menu of quick-access options you can select without actually launching the camera app; choosing the “Take Selfie” option, for instance, will directly open the front-facing camera. Similarly, whenever you’re in an Apple app, pressing firmly on a contact’s picture will bring up a menu of quick communication actions that you can use to easily call, e-mail, or message the contact. You can also send automated replies to a contact by pressing down on a message, then choosing a quick reply option like “OK” or “Thanks!”
Low power mode
A new feature of the iOS 9 system, the low power mode can increase your battery life by up to three hours. As soon as your battery drains down to 20%, you’ll receive a system notification asking if you want to enable low power mode. You can also turn it on manually from the Settings menu. This is a great option to help save your battery on days when you don’t have access to a charger.
Hands-free Siri
Even when your iPhone 6s is locked and the screen is off, you can still launch Siri using only your voice. You can enable this feature when you set up your phone for the first time or at any time through the Settings menu. Using this option, you can activate Siri simply by saying “Hey Siri” three times and then asking one or two questions. For security, Siri will only respond to your voice.
4K video
The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have the ability to record 4K video, a great bonus for users who rely on their phones to capture and create high-quality video files. The various recording options are available under the Photos & Camera menu. However, you should be aware that 4K videos need a considerable amount of storage space.
Wi-Fi Assist
If you’re in a location with a weak or patchy wireless Internet signal, this feature lets your phone borrow from the local cellular data connection to boost your Wi-Fi connection speed. If you don’t want to use up too much of your data plan, you can control Wi-Fi Assist from the Mobile Data menu.