The world of Apple Retail revealed through the eyes of ex-employees with wonderful and weird tales to tell.

Disclaimer: The events in this column are based on true stories. All names and likenesses have been changed but every single weird, grotesque, funny, or wholesome anecdote happened within the walls of an Apple Store somewhere out there.

Pips and Pixels is a new column by James Bentley, iMore's resident gaming expert, covering all things gaming in the Apple ecosystem. Looking at news, accessories, and titles you might have missed out on, Apple is becoming more serious about gaming than ever before. With an eye on the wider games industry, James will guide you through what could be next for Apple gamers. 

The iOS platform runs your iPhone, and iOS 18 is just around the corner. Announced at WWDC 2024, it will bring AI to the phone in a whole new way. Meanwhile, iOS 17 gave your iPhone a fresh new feel with some big improvements to the way you use your device. From updates to the Phone app with Contact Posters to new ways to track your mental health and check in with friends after you get home, it's one of the best iPhone updates in recent years.

iOS tips, tricks, secrets, and more 

Looking to do more with your iPhone? Pick your platform below, whether it's the forthcoming iOS 18, the current iOS 17, or an older flavor, and explore our deep coverage.

With the ability to message family, call your friends, set up reminders, and of course track your workouts, the Apple Watch has made us all rethink what watches can do for us. The entry level SE offers most features at a killer price. The Apple Watch Series 9 has unexpectedly hefty updates that are sure to turn the heads. And the new for '23 Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the most advanced yet: It can potentially save lives with features like blood oxygen monitoring, irregular heart rate notifications, and even fall detection. Which Watch is right for you?

The current lineup

Here's the newest Watches from Apple, the Watch Series 9 and the Watch Ultra 2, as well as the software that powers it all, watchOS 10:

How to fix common problems

If you've got Watch woes, rest assured, you're not alone. We've seen them all -- and we've fixed them all. We've got solutions to common problems, easy work-arounds for thorny issues, and fixes galore for crashes, reboot loops, and every other issue under the sun. 

Fix watchOS problems | Common Watch problems | Fix Watch battery

Hosted by iMore's veteran crew - Daryl Baxter, Karen Freeman, and guests -- The iMore Show is your go-to source for information about the iPhone, iMacs, and all things Apple. Be more ... iMore! Join the thousands of other Apple fans who tune in once a week. Episodes below, or subscribe here.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS

It may not have actually started in a garage, but the Mac still put Apple on the map. With so many iconic designs and influential ad campaigns over the years, the Mac has become one of the world's most versatile computers. And the power of MacOS 14 Sonoma -- and soon, MacOS 15 -- will keep your creative energy going. Plus, with Apple now making its chips, we've only scratched the surface of how powerful and efficient the Mac can be. The 2024 MacBook Air M3 is a perfect example. 

The Laptop Line-up

Portable power crossed with beauty and elegance defines the MacBook lineup. Here's the current roster from Apple: 

The Desktop line-up

Performance, packaged up for your desktop or studio. Apple's offerings range from the all-in-one iMac to the sheer torque of the Mac Studio. What's your Mac?

Do more with your Mac

Creative professionals, designers, artists, musicians ... the Mac platform touches each of us in different ways. Whether you're just digging in or a lifelong fan -- or forgotten how to take a screenshot on a Mac -- iMore has guides, information, and perspective to help you make more of your passion. 

How to set up a new Mac | Awesome keyboard shortcuts | MacOS Sonoma

Since Steve Jobs introduced the iPad in 2010, the tablet market has never been the same. It's so much more than a bigger iPhone; it's a portable workstation, a creative drawing tablet, and a fantastic way to view your favorite media. Thanks to iPadOS 17 -- and soon, iPadOS 18 -- the iPad helps you get anything you want done. Whether you're an M4 iPad Pro power-user or an iPad mini maven, there's never been a better time to get an iPad. iMore has all the advice you need to get the most out of Apple's tablet. 

The current lineup

The iPad lineup is deep and wide, including Pro models with extra features, thin and powerful Air models, minis, and more. Here's the roster:

How to troubleshoot iPad problems 

iPad is an amazing computer, managing to be powerful, portable, and accessible all at the same time. If it's working. If it's giving you problems — if it's sluggish or stuck, won't power off or power back on, if the battery is draining fast or not charging properly — then it's a worthless hunk of metal and glass. Your first instinct might be to call Apple Support or visit the Genius Bar, but that all takes time. If you just want to get everything working again, here are some things you can try on your own right now!

Common iPad problems | Fix iPad battery issues | Fix AirDrop | Reset iPad

Over 1 billion iPhones are in active use making it one of the world's most popular devices — with a fascinating history. The App Store features over a million apps, helping you unlock your iPhone using your face, charge without cables, have Siri turn on the lights in your home, and so much more. Apple's most advanced iPhone range is here: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. And hints about the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 Ultra are already trickling in. 

iPhone 15: The current lineup

Here's what you need to know about the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, including specs and new features:

Do more with your iPhone

The iPhone isn't just beautiful and magnificently fun -- it's practical too. It's the best camera in the world, the window to your smart home, an assistant that can maintain your schedule as easily as your health, and more. And loads of stuff came to the iPhone with iOS 17. Here's the top features and how to use them.

How to Download iOS 17 | Contact Posters | Standby | NameDrop | AirDrop

Our staff regularly review technology products that include accessories, software, services and of course, iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Each year, we thoroughly test hundreds of products and provide our readers with in-depth reviews written by our team of experts. In an effort to highlight products we like, we've established the iMore Awards. When you see either our gold or silver seal, you can feel confident that the product has been tested and recommended by our staff. If you're looking for a way to cut through the clutter, iMore Awards are a great way to find the stuff we really like and recommend.

Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to read endless reviews in pursuit of your perfect device. For that reason, we've done most of the hard work for you. We use iOS and OS X on a daily basis (and sometimes more!) so we know good when we see it. We don't take these awards lightly either. We know that you rely on us to help you make an informed decision when it comes to tech — and Apple in particular — so we absolutely use these products as you would so we can separate the best from the rest, and only those that are truly worthy receive this award.

Apple has a cloud-based storage service, called iCloud, that you can use to store and sync photos, documents, movies, music, and a whole lot more. You can find all of your iCloud content on any of your Apple devices using the same Apple ID, from re-downloading apps and games to watching TV shows and movies. Here's everything you need to know about iCloud on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

How to set up, sync, back up, and restore with iCloud

The very first thing you'll need to do before you can use iCloud is set it up. This involves choosing what data you want to sync and what you want to back up. You'll also need to decide whether or not you need to buy additional iCloud storage space, which we'll help you with as well.

If you're already using iCloud on one Apple device and need to know how to get all your stuff to a new device, this is the guide for you. We will walk you through setting up a device as new, restoring from a backup, and lots more. You'll walk away feeling confident you have complete control over your iCloud data, how it's stored, and what you need to do in order to recover it.

How to use iCloud Photo Library

iCloud Photo Library is available to anyone with an iPhone or an iPad. iCloud Photo Library keeps your entire photo and video library in sync between any iPhones, iPads, and Macs you own. This is done through the Photos for iOS and Photos for Mac apps. Create an album on your iPhone, it's instantly synced to your Mac, and vice versa. iCloud Photo Library can also help you free up tremendous amounts of storage space on your best iPhone or iPad by streaming photos and videos instead of physically downloading them. A great compromise for anyone who wants the best of both worlds.

How to use iCloud Photo Sharing and My Photo Stream

iCloud Photo Sharing and My Photo Stream are both parts of the Photos app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac as well. iCloud Photo Sharing lets you create shared photo albums that friends and family can view, add to, comment on, and like. It's a great way to share photos with only a small group of people, no social network required.

My Photo Stream can automatically store your last 30 days of photos, or most recent 1,000, whichever is larger. These are then available across any device that supports Photo Stream. It doesn't store videos like iCloud Photo Library but may be enough for some people. Check out our guide to learn some of the most important differences between the two.

How to use Find My

The Find My app lets you locate any Apple devices that you may have misplaced. Things mean devices like your iPhone or Mac, but also accessories like AirTags Not only can you send an alert with a message to a device you can't find, you can also remotely wipe data from it if worse comes to worst. The best part is that if you have Find My enabled, potential thieves won't be able to turn it off without your iCloud password. We highly recommend enabling and learning everything you can about how this free service can help you protect your devices and your personal data.

How to use Family Sharing

Family Sharing lets you share iTunes and App Store purchases with other members of your household. Even better, parents can take advantage of the "Ask to Buy" feature which requires young children to request purchases. You'll get a notification and can approve or reject their request remotely. Family Sharing also adds convenient tracking features which are handy for children in the household. When they're old enough to be on their own plan, you can hand their Apple ID over to them to manage on their own.

We can walk you through how to set up child ID's, track someone's lost device in your Family Sharing group, and anything else you need to know about Apple's Family Sharing service.

How to use iTunes in the Cloud

iTunes in the Cloud lets you access, stream, and re-download content you've purchased from iTunes. This includes items from the App Store, iTunes Store, and iBookstore. If you have an Apple TV in your home, you can access all your purchased movies, tv shows, music, and more just by logging in. They'll be instantly available for streaming. And if you have Family Sharing enabled, you can also stream purchases belonging to someone else in your Family Sharing group.

How to use iCloud Music Library

iCloud Music Library lets you compare your entire library with the iTunes music catalog: If it finds the same song, it lets you stream or download it from iTunes, to any of your Apple devices, immediately or for as long as you stay a subscriber. If it doesn't find the same song, it uploads your version and lets you stream it just the same. Because your music is always available on Apple's servers, it works like a backup, making sure you don't lose your collection even if you lose your device.

How to use iCloud Keychain

iCloud Keychain tries to bring sanity to password management. If you save a password in Safari on your Mac for use later, iCloud Keychain can sync that same convenience to Safari on your iPhone or iPad. iCloud Keychain can also store credit cards, addresses, and other personal details so you can easier fill out forms when you need to. Need to generate a strong password for a new account? iCloud Keychain can do that too!

Don't forget iCloud+

When you pay for iCloud, rather than using the free version Apple offers, you'll get access to iCloud+.

Cloud+ brings with it some new features, though, namely the privacy-focused Hide My Email and Private Relay, plus enhanced HomeKit Secure Video storage. iCloud+ also comes with custom email domains for iCloud Mail accounts. So be sure to check it out, to see if it's for you.

Raspberry Pi is a mini-computer that was specifically created to make tech learning easier. It has a lot of components for computer-based projects, like USB ports, an ethernet port, an SD card slot, Wi-Fi antenna ports, and more. The Raspberry Pi is perhaps the most notable and popular single-board computer ever produced. Developed by the Raspberry Pi foundation in the UK, the tiny computer was developed with the goal of promoting and teaching basic computer science in schools.

The list of operating systems that have been ported to Raspberry Pi includes: Linux, Android, Debian, Firefox OS, WebOS, Unix, Windows CE, ChibiOS/RT, Haiku, AROS, Puppy Linux, Gentoo Linus, openSUSE, and RISC OS to name a few. The list does go on and on. And on.

It does not come with peripherals, like cables, a keyboard, a mouse, or a monitor. It is great for learning program languages, like Python, Scratch, and Wolfram. Most Raspberry Pi enthusiasts like making single-process builds to show off their do-it-yourself talents.

HomeKit is Apple's home automation framework that lets developers more closely tie accessories to the iPhone and iPad. It does that securely, with end-to-end encryption, and conveniently, with access to the Siri virtual personal assistant. That means you can control all your home automation accessories with your voice, and you can do so without worrying about passwords. The Apple TV and iPad act as a "home hub" to add remote control for when you're away from home.

If you have any questions about HomeKit or the Home app, be sure to bookmark, save, or share this page and we'll get you up and running with HomeKit, show you how to set everything up, and help you troubleshoot it all if and when anything goes wrong.

The iPod touch is Apple's dedicated music player, but it does more than just play music. You can think of it as an iPhone without cellular or a really small iPad. It does everything an iPhone or iPad does, including support apps and games, send and receive text messages (over wi-fi) and even make and receive phone calls (using Continuity). With the latest processor chip, it can handle graphics-heavy AR games. It comes in 23GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage options.

AirPods are Apple's take on the headphones space, and while we might be a little biased, some of the best your money can buy. There's an AirPod for everyone, from the relatively low-cost AirPods 3 all the way up to the astronomically expensive AirPods Max. Connecting them to your best iPhone is an absolute breeze; just pop them out of the case near your device and they'll magically appear and pair.

They will, of course, work best with Apple Music, Apple's rather excellent streaming service which boasts millions of tracks and hi-res streaming.

The current AirPod lineup

There's a great range of AirPods available, from the budget to the extremely expensive: This is the AirPods product line.

Getting more from your AirPods

AirPods are, in many ways, magic. They connect to your iPhone like you where casting a spell, Spatial Audio makes music sound like its coming from all around you, and they're designs have become synonymous with in-ear buds in many cases. But there's always a way to make sure you're getting everything possible from your AirPods; here are just some hints.

Best AirPods cases | AirPods 3 vs. Jabra Elite 75t | How to rename your AirPods | How to turn off automatic ear detection on your AirPods

The world's largest, most intense, often crazy and always memorable tech show is upon us. The 2019 Consumer Electronics Show looks like it just may be the best yet, drawing not only the electronics world's biggest and most influential companies but also its most important people, personalities and publications. This is your one-stop shop for all things CES 2019!

With a shocking amount of different streaming services available for all sorts of content, having an Apple TV hooked up to your TV just makes sense. The newest Apple TV 4K is more than just a streaming box: It's an extension of the Apple ecosystem onto the biggest screens in your home.

From the ability to play Apple Arcade games to using AirPlay to display what's on your iPhone or iPad right on your TV screen, the Apple TV can be the foundation of your home entertainment center.

Apple TV 4K (2022): Review | Everything you need to know

Apple TV+ What's streaming in 2024?

If you're hungry for something new to binge, there's plenty of fresh content streaming on Apple TV+, Apple's answer to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount+, and all the other over the top streamers. 

What to watch | Best shows | Best movies | Best docs

Jony Ive is Apple's chief design officer, and the award-winning designer of the iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and... whatever comes next. Born Jonathan Paul Ive on February 27, 1967 in Chingford, England, he studied industrial design at Newcastle Polytechnic before joining London design firm, Tangerine. He joined Apple in 1992 and worked on the second generation Newton MessagePad. Following the return of Steve Jobs, Ive was promoted to senior vice president and head of the industrial design (ID) team. His first job was to redesign the Mac for the modern era, which became the iconic Bondi blue iMac. Ive went on to design the iPod, the iPhone, the complete Mac lineup, and the iPad.

Following Tim Cook's reorganization in late 2012, Ive also took over Apple's human interface (HI) group as well, unifying hardware and software design, and began work on what would become [iOS 7](/ios-7 "iOS 7 reviews, features, apps, help, and how-to). The following year OS X got its redesign with Yosemite and Apple debuted an entirely new product category with the Apple Watch, a project Ive had pitched back in 2001.

In May of 2015, Ive was promoted to Chief Design Officer, with his managerial duties moving to Richard Howarth as vice president of industrial design, and Alan Dye as vice president of user interface design.

In 2006, Ive was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 2012 he was elevated to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Pandora is a streaming radio service available for both the iPhone and iPad (not to be confused with on-demand style music locker services). Pandora focuses more on music discovery and curation. For folks who don't like to listen to the same things and prefer a more traditional radio like experience, Pandora is one of the best options currently available. By liking or disliking songs, Pandora gets to know your tastes and will play music that it thinks you'll enjoy. The more information you give Pandora, the smarter it gets.

Basic radio streaming through Pandora is completely free. You can create up to 100 radio stations based on your favorite artists, songs, and albums. The basic model of Pandora is also ad supported and only provides so many track skips at a time. Pandora's paid subscription model, Pandora One, currently costs $3.99 per month. Paid subscribers enjoy an ad free experience along with even more skips per hour and unlimited stations. Other features of the Pandora for iPhone and iPad app include bookmarks which allow you to save tracks you really like so you can either purchase them on your own or start a station based on them. You can also tell Pandora when you're tired of a track so it doesn't keep looping it into a playlist you're listening to.

Apple recently released their own radio streaming service, iTunes Radio, to compete with offerings such as Pandora. Both services focus on providing a curated listening experience while encouraging users to actually buy the content they like instead of rent it, which is what services such as Rdio, Spotify, and Beats Music offer.

Aside from providing a universal app for both the iPhone and iPad, Pandora also provides a free Mac app for Pandora One subscribers, web listening, integration with Sonos, support for the Pebble smart watch, and integration with many more platforms and services.

• Pandora for iOS - Free - Download Now

FaceTime is Apple's video calling service. It allows anyone with a recent iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Mac to make free calls to any other Apple user over Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

On the iPhone, FaceTime is bundled into the Phone app. On the iPod touch, iPad, and Mac, FaceTime is a separate app. On all devices, FaceTime can connect to any Apple-registered iPhone phone number or email address. That makes it perfect for keeping in touch with family who lives far away, with the kids while traveling, with business partners at distant offices, or even with that special someone while shopping for the perfect gift.

Apple originally announced that they would release FaceTime as an open standard so that third parties to create FaceTime for Android, FaceTime for PC, etc. So far, that hasn't happened. Apple was sued by a patent troll of FaceTime and, after losing on appeal, Apple has been re-architecting FaceTime to work through relay servers. (This could be why FaceTime was never released — it would be subject to the same patent trolling on any other platform.)

Ecobee is a smart, Wi-Fi enabled thermostat that brings your climate control into the home automation age. The Ecobee3, when paired with its remote sensors, lets you not only monitor and control the temperature in one room, but in multiple rooms. That makes it much more flexible and powerful than similar systems without the remote sensor functionality.

• Ecobee3 thermostat - Order now
• Ecobee3 remote sensors - Order now

The iPhone and iPad don't come with instruction manuals. They're intuitive, to be sure, and accessible to more people than any computer platform before them, but they're also deep, and powerful, with hundreds if not thousands of features just waiting to be discovered. But why wait? Seriously. You can discover them all now, everything from the basics of getting started to the higher level ninjary all right here, right now. That's what the iMore ultimate guides are here for!

Otterbox is a privately owned accessory maker that has a focus on rugged, durable, drop-resistant cases. Otter Products LLC, the parent company, owns both Otterbox and Lifeproof, two of the most well known case brands for those who value protection on their smartphone or tablet.

The company was founded in 1991 by Curt Richardson, when he made a completely water resistant box box in his garage, and in 2001 it began producing its first iPod cases. Since then, the company has expanded its product line to include a variety of cases for various iPhone and iPad models, including most recently for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Mobile World Congress is a yearly mobile technology exhibition that takes place in Barcelona, Spain. The conference typically takes place each year in February, featuring big names from across the tech space, including manufacturers, mobile carriers, and vendors from across the globe.

In past years at MWC there have been some huge announcements in the mobile industry. Such devices as the HTC Desire 816 & 612, LG G Pro 2, Galaxy S5, Galaxy Gear 2, and Windows 8 reference platform with Qualcomm were all products of MWC.

AppleCare and AppleCare+ are Apple's own extended warranty programs for iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac. Anytime you buy a new Apple product, you get at least one year limited AppleCare warranty that covers hardware failures and manufacturing defects. Some limitations apply and the length of the standard warranty depends on your country. You can choose to extend your AppleCare warranty if you choose for an additional time period. For iPhones and iPads, AppleCare+ also covers accidents such as liquid damage, broken screens, and more.

If you aren't sure whether or not you are currently covered by AppleCare, you can check your warranty status in just a few steps by using our guide:

• How to check your Apple warranty status

You can obtain more information about AppleCare and AppleCare+ plans from Apple's website at the following link:

• More about AppleCare plans

Guy English is a long time game and app developer, and hall-of-famer who worked on Tap Tap Revolution among other titles for iOS.

• Twitter: @gte

Don Melton, affectionately known as "gramps", worked at Netscape on open-sourcing the Gecko HTML engine that became the foundation of the Mozilla and, subsequently, Firefox projects. He next worked on Nautilus, which became the file browser for GNOME. He's most famous for leading the Safari and WebKit projects at Apple. Before he retired, Melton was director of internet technology at Apple.

Since retirement, Melton has worked on transcoding video and audio, on writing for his website, donmelton.com, and podcasting, with notable appearances on Debug, Vector, and as host of the monthly 80s movie show on Review.

• Twitter: @donmelton

Rogers is the biggest Canadian wireless service provider. Rogers also owns Fido, which acts as their prepaid brand. In addition to the usual spread of wireline and internet services, Rogers also owns several media brands, such as Sportsnet. Alongside Bell, Rogers also has a partial stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns many Canadian sports teams. Rogers was founded in 1967 and was one of the first cable operators in Canada. AT&T owned 34% of Rogers until 2004. Their current CEO is Guy Lawrence, the former CEO of Vodafone UK.

Apple Inc. trades on the NASDAQ under the AAPL symbol. Apple incorporated on January 3, 1977 and went public on December 12, 1980 at $22 a share.

Although AAPL flirted with bankruptcy following the ouster of Steve Jobs, following Jobs return, a series of breakthrough products including iMac, iPod, iTunes, Apple Retail, iPhone, and iPad, and the subsequent succession by Tim Cook saw market cap surge past oil giants like Exxon to become the largest in the world, and its stock price exceed $700. AAPL has more recently been under considerable pressure, greatly reducing its price. Unlike other tech companies, Apple's price to earnings ratio is almost laughably small, and the market exhibits little confidence that the company that keeps re-inventing computing will ever be able to do it again. (Hey, who said markets were rational?)

Launch Center Pro is an app for iPhone and iPad that lets you overcome some of the limitations of iOS and create advanced shortcuts to save you time and get more things done faster. Calling or messaging a frequent contact, going straight to camera in Instagram, going directly to your favorite web page in Safari, create a new task in OmniFocus, and just a few of the possibilities Launch Center Pro gives you. (See the complete list.) All of this thanks to a really clever implementation of URL schemes and x-callback-URL. Launch Center Pro was developer by David Barnard and Justin Youens of Contrast.

• $4.99 - Launch Center Pro for iPhone - Download now
• $7.99 - Launch Center Pro for iPad - Download now

Dropbox is a cloud storage and sync service available for the Mac, PC, and most mobile devices. It makes sure that anything in its special folder is kept safe online and mirrored on any other device you install it on. What's more, Dropbox provides a powerful API for developers that allow many other apps to tie into their service and use them for cloud storage and sync as well.

Many apps use Dropbox to store files and settings. For example, several mail apps for both Mac and iOS use Dropbox to safely store attachments or user preferences. Some examples of this are the Mailbox, which is now owned by Dropbox, and apps like 1Password which can sync your keychain to all devices via Dropbox.

• Free - Dropbox for iOS - Download now
• Free - Dropbox for OS X - Download now

Eddy Cue is Apple's senior vice president of Internet software of services, and the man in charge of iTunes and iCloud.

A graduate of Duke University, Cue led software and support teams at Apple before taking on increasingly larger roles, including the creation of the iTunes Store for the iPod and the App Store for the iPhone.

Following the disappointing MobileMe launch, Steve Jobs placed Cue in charge of fixing it, leading the eventual launch of iCloud. A skilled negotiator, Cue's responsible for Apple's deals with the entertainment and technology industries and, since Tim Cook's reorganization, he's now in charge of all of Apple's online services.

• Twitter: @cue

Phil Schiller is Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, and the man in charge of telling the iPhone, iPad, and Mac story. Born Phil W. Schiller in Natick, Massachusetts, he attended Boston College before working at Apple in product marketing in 1987. He later left for FirePower Systems, then Adobe, before returning to Apple 1997. He helps set product direction for Apple, and typically introduces new Mac and iOS device hardware at Apple keynotes.

Notes is the built-in memo taking app for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and Mac. It debuted with the original iPhone as part of iPhone OS 1.0 and has persisted ever since. Apple added a version of Notes to the Mac with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, and Notes are also available and accessible via the web at iCloud.com.

3D Touch is the name Apple has given to the force touch-like technology in its iPhone line. On the Mac, Apple calls the technology Force Touch. It works through a sensor array beneath the screen (or trackpad, on the Mac) that measures microscopic changes in distance as the pressure from your finger increases. Rather than just being able to tap on an icon (or the screen) for a single action, 3D Touch allows for a whole new set of actions based on how much force is applied.

Here you'll find everything you need to know about 3D Touch, so don't go too far!

The iTunes Store app comes built-in with every new iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It's your gateway to the iTunes store and where you'll buy movies, television shows, music, podcasts, ringtones, and more while on the go. Instead of having to sync your iPhone or iPad to iTunes, just fire up the iTunes Store app, purchase something, and you're good to go.

iWork for iPhone and iPad is Apple's mobile office and productivity suite, comprised of Pages for word processing, Numbers for spreadsheets, and Keynote for presentations. The iWork suit of apps is similar in features to what Microsoft offers with their Office for iPad suite of apps. However, if your'e tied into the iCloud ecosystem and also own a Mac, iWork may be a better option.

With Pages you can elegantly compose anything and everything from a newsletter to a book, a memo to flyer, essay to resume, poster to card. Pick from many hand designed templates or download one from several online sources and import it. Add clip art, images, and more to personalize your documents even further.

Numbers is an all-in-one spreadsheet solution that lets you quickly plan anything and everything from a checklist to budget, savings plan to schedule, team roster to party plan, invoice to cost projection, grade book to lesson chart. If you regularly use Excel files, not to worry, Numbers not only opens them but lets you save any file you create in a native Excel format. This way you can rest assured any Microsoft Office users will have no trouble opening and viewing your Numbers files.

Need to create an eye-catching presentation? That's where Keynote comes in. Easily make presentations for work or for school, for conferences or for pitches, for conceptual design or story boarding of any kind. Just like Numbers, Keynote plays nice with Microsoft Office as well and lets you save files in PowerPoint format if and when you need to.

All of the iWork apps support multiple export formats including PDF. The best part? Create a document on your iPhone or Mac and pick up where you left off on your iPad with iCloud sync.

Individual iWork apps are $4.99 on the iOS App Store but are made free to any new iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad owner.

• Free - Pages for iOS - Download now
• Free - Numbers for iOS - Download now
• Free - Keynote for iOS - Download now

iMessage is Apple's built-in instant messaging (IM) service. It lives inside the Messages app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. On the iPhone it works alongside — and often replaces — carrier SMS and MMS. On the iPad provides similar functionality, allowing you to send text, picture, video, voice memo, location, contact, and other types of messages to anyone else using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

The Hue series of lights from Philips are Wi-Fi connected devices that allow for control of lighting from a smartphone or tablet. The lightbulbs work in standard sockets and run over a Wi-Fi network and bridge. Users can set the color of the lamps to various settings depending on mood, holiday or whatever the occasion. Hue lights are available as a starter pack with four bulbs and a router, where add-ons are also available individually.

PayPal is a company that processes online payments around the world, allowing consumers to pay for products, send money to friends and family and much more with just a few clicks of their mouse. The company, which was founded in 1998 and went public in 2002, is one of the largest Internet payment companies in existence currently.

Apple Pay is Apple's contact-less payment system. Combining NFC technology with personal authentication, Apple Pay promises to revolutionize the way we pay with our smartphones.

• Does your bank support Apple Pay? Find out here!

Apple Pay will work with all existing American Express, MasterCard and Visa debit and credit cards issued by many popular banks including Bank of America, Capital One Bank, Chase, Citi and Wells Fargo. Apple is touting that this covers over 80% of cardholders in the United States. In order to use Apple Pay at brick and mortar stores, customers will need either an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, or an Apple Watch which can then be paired with the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5c. Older iPhone models will not be supported. However, devices with Touch ID capability that don't have NFC can still use Apple Pay for online purchases in apps that support them, such as the Apple Store app, Amazon, and many more.

Where security is concerned, Apple has taken serious consideration. Apple Pay does not store your actual card numbers on your device or on Apple's servers. Instead, each Apple Pay customer is assigned a unique device account number that is only used once. Apple Pay will then create a dynamic security code in order to validate and process each transaction. This means that if anyone ever got ahold of your iPhone, they wouldn't be able to view actual card numbers. And since Apple Pay uses Touch ID for authentication, this helps prevent unauthorized use of the service. Not only that, large data breaches at major merchants would only result in hackers receiving one-time use codes that are already useless.

Apple Pay currently works with over 200,000 merchants across the United States including every Apple Store, Bloomingdales, Walt Disney, McDonalds, and Walgreens. If you have questions about whether or not your bank supports Apple Pay, we suggest checking their website or calling for details.

T-Mobile is the multi-national carrier subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG that serves iPhone and iPad owners, among others, in Europe and the United States.

T-Mobile US, Inc. is the American operating entity of T-Mobile International AG. The fourth-largest carrier in America, T-Mobile U.S. — NYSE: TMUS — is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. The company has 49.1 million customers across the United States and has annual revenues about $24.42 billion.

T-Mobile's roots go back to the mid-1990s, when VoiceStream Wireless PCS was created by Western Wireless Corp. The business spun off in the late 1990s, and T-Mobile acquired it and renamed it in 2002. T-Mobile developed a niche for itself with the Danger Hiptop, rebranded as the T-Mobile Sidekick — an early smartphone with a slideout screen and a QWERTY keyboard that proved popular with wireless users interested in messaging, email and other online access. Microsoft acquired Danger in 2008 then in 2009 its servers suffered a massive outage that made many Sidekick users lose their data. T-Mobile lost customers in droves.

Rival wireless company AT&T attempted to acquire T-Mobile in 2011 in a $39 billion stock and cash offer. After facing heavy resistance from the United States government, AT&T withdrew its offer. T-Mobile then merged with MetroPCS Communications, then the nation's sixth largest wireless carrier. The combined company, T-Mobile US, began trading on the New York Stock Exchange as TMUS.

Since then, T-Mobile has embarked on an aggressive strategy to modernize and expand its wireless network. The company operates a wireless network that communicates using Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), the same system used by AT&T and operated by most wireless carriers worldwide.

T-Mobile's network operates on different radio frequencies than AT&T's, which affects both the area of coverage for its cell phone towers and how well its signal penetrates buildings. As a result, T-Mobile customers often complain of network dropouts or lost signals, especially inside buildings. To correct this, in 2014 the company bought unused 700 MHz spectrum from rival Verizon and plans to begin to deploy it by the end of the year.

• T-Mobile coverage map

Sprint is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas and is the third largest carrier in the United States.

Sprint traces its history back to 1899, when Cleyson and Jacob Brown started the Brown Telephone Company to provide telephone service to the farms surrounding Abilene, Kansas. By 1911 the company joined more than a dozen other independent service providers to form the United Telephone Company, eventually becoming United Telecommunications by the mid-1960s.

The name Sprint was originally an acroynm that stood for Switched Private Network Telecommunications, a rebranded switched voice service from Southern Pacific Communications (SPC). SPC and GTE would merge in the early 1980s, and United Telecom merged with that organization shortly thereafter. By 1992, the new organization was called Sprint Corp. Sprint's expansion into nationwide wireless service began in the mid-1990s, acquiring 1900 MHz PCS spectrum and building out a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network — the same communications technology (operating at different frequencies) that powers rival Verizon's nationwide wireless network.

While Sprint has divested itself of local landline holdings, the company continues to derive revenue from long-distance service and through its Internet services. Sprint is a Tier 1 ISP that resells its services to major corporations and smaller ISPs.

• Sprint coverage map

AT&T — originally American Telephone & Telegraph — is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The largest iPhone, iPad in the United States, AT&T is the nation's second-largest wireless carrier, behind Verizon.

AT&T's lineage runs directly back to the original Bell Telephone Company founded by Alexander Graham Bell. American Telephone & Telegraph — AT&T — was originally established in 1885.

While AT&T faced some competition in the early days, its ascendancy was all but certain by the early part of the 20th century. AT&T entered an arrangement with the United States government that virtually assured it would have a monopoly on telephone service for the U.S. market throughout most of the 20th century,

In 1984 U.S. regulators dissolved AT&T's monopoly, turning "Ma Bell" into regional operations (known as "Baby Bells") and allowing for more competition in the long distance market. Southwestern Bell was one of these. The company eventually purchased that AT&T name and brand; today's AT&T is an outgrowth of that.

• AT&T coverage map