Use the “Today” tab in the App Store for discovery, not just searching for apps you already know.
The Curated Magazine vs. The Phone Book
Imagine the App Store is a giant library. The search bar is the phone book—perfect if you already know exactly who you’re looking for. The “Today” tab, however, is a beautiful, curated magazine delivered to you every single day. The editors, who are real people, hand-pick one interesting app and one fun game and write a compelling story about why it’s special. It’s the secret to discovering the hidden gems and the brilliant indie creations you would never have thought to search for on your own.
Stop letting all your apps update automatically over cellular. Do change the setting to Wi-Fi only to save data.
The Expensive Courier vs. The Free Delivery Truck
Imagine your monthly data plan is a limited tank of expensive, bottled water. App updates are heavy boxes that need to be delivered. Letting them update over cellular is like hiring a fleet of expensive, private couriers to deliver those heavy boxes, draining your precious water supply with every trip. Changing the setting to “Wi-Fi only” is like telling the delivery service, “Just wait for the free, unlimited city water truck to come by.” It’s a simple switch that ensures your expensive bottled water isn’t wasted on routine deliveries.
Stop paying for subscriptions you don’t use. Do manage them all from your Apple ID settings instead.
The Master List for Your ‘Ghost’ Memberships
Subscriptions are like “ghost” memberships to gyms you’ve forgotten you joined, silently draining your bank account every month. Trying to cancel them in each separate app is a nightmare. Your iPhone has a secret, master list. In your Apple ID settings, there is a single, clean page that shows every single active subscription you are paying for through the App Store. It’s the one place you can go to see all the ghosts in one room, making it incredibly easy to find and cancel the ones that are no longer welcome.
The #1 secret for avoiding scammy apps is to read the recent one-star reviews, not just looking at the overall rating.
The Restaurant’s Reputation vs. Last Night’s Food Poisoning
A high overall rating for an app is like a restaurant that was famous for its great food five years ago. It’s the old reputation. The recent one-star reviews, however, are the customers who ate there last night and are now warning you about the food poisoning. Scammers can buy fake five-star reviews, but they can’t stop the real, angry customers. This is where you find the truth: “The latest update broke everything,” or “This free trial is a trap.” It’s the secret to seeing the rot underneath the shiny apple.
I’m just going to say it: Most apps with a “free trial” are designed to make you forget to cancel.
The ‘Opt-Out’ Trap
A “free trial” is like a beautiful, friendly Trojan horse. It arrives at your door, offering a wonderful gift. But its secret mission is to get inside your walls, sit silently in the corner for seven days, and then, when you’ve completely forgotten about it, unleash a surprise attack on your credit card. These systems are not designed for you to try the product; they are designed with the statistical certainty that a huge percentage of people will simply forget to opt-out, turning your forgetfulness into their business model.
The reason your apps are crashing is because you’re running an old version of iOS that they no longer support.
The New Car on the Old, Crumbly Road
Modern apps are like brand new, high-performance race cars. Your iPhone’s operating system (iOS) is the road that they drive on. If you are running a very old version of iOS, that road is old, crumbly, and full of potholes. A new, modern race car cannot drive safely on that old, broken road. It will constantly crash and perform terribly. By updating your iOS, you are “repaving” the road, giving your modern apps the smooth, stable, and secure surface they were designed and built for.
If you’re still not using the “Offload Unused Apps” feature, you’re losing valuable storage space.
The Magical, Self-Packing Storage Unit
“Offload Unused Apps” is like having a magical, intelligent organizer for your house. It silently watches for the bulky furniture you haven’t used in a while. It then automatically packs that “furniture” (the app) away into a secure, off-site storage unit, freeing up a huge amount of space in your house. But here’s the magic: it leaves a perfect, little “box” behind (your personal data). If you ever need the furniture back, you just tap the box, and it is instantly returned, exactly as you left it.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that all the apps in the App Store are safe and high-quality.
The Walled City with a Few Pickpockets
The App Store is like a beautiful, walled city with a team of diligent guards at the gate. It is dramatically safer than the wild, dangerous lands outside the walls. But it is not a perfect utopia. The guards do an excellent job of keeping out the most obvious criminals, but a clever pickpocket or a disguised scam artist can sometimes slip through. The biggest lie is that the city is perfectly safe. It is safer, but you should still keep an eye on your wallet and be wary of the strangers who seem too good to be true.
I wish I knew about Family Sharing for app purchases when I was buying the same apps for my kids’ devices.
The Family’s Shared Board Game Closet
Family Sharing is like a magical, shared board game closet for your family’s digital life. When one person buys a new board game (a paid app), a copy of that game magically appears in everyone else’s closet, completely free. I used to buy the same great educational game three times—once for me, and once for each of my two kids. Now, I buy it once, and it instantly becomes a part of our shared family library, saving me money and making all our great apps available to everyone.
99% of users make this one mistake with in-app purchases: not having them protected by a password or Face ID.
The ‘Open Cash Register’ in the Candy Store
Allowing in-app purchases without a password is like leaving the cash register at a candy store wide open, with your credit card sitting on top, while your child is inside. It is an open invitation for them to, with a few innocent-looking taps, spend a shocking amount of your real money on a mountain of digital “candy.” Requiring your Face ID or a password for every single purchase is the act of locking that cash register. It ensures that not a single dollar can be spent without your direct, conscious approval.
This one small action of reading an app’s privacy label before downloading will change how you think about your data.
The ‘Nutrition Label’ for Your Digital Diet
An app’s privacy label is the “nutrition label” for your digital diet. Before you “consume” a new app, you can take two seconds to look at the label and see exactly what “ingredients” it’s made of. It will tell you, in plain, simple English, if the app is tracking your location, sharing your contact information, or selling your data to advertisers. This one small habit can be a shocking, eye-opening experience that will make you a much more conscious and healthy consumer of technology.
Use the App Store’s “Share” button to send an app recommendation to a friend, not just telling them the name.
The Direct Link vs. The Vague Directions
Telling your friend the name of a great new app is like telling them about a cool, new, hidden shop, but then just giving them the general neighborhood to look in. They might find it, or they might get lost and give up. Using the “Share” button is like sending them a direct, clickable, GPS pin that will take them to the exact front door of that shop in a single tap. It removes all the friction and guesswork, ensuring they can experience the great thing you’ve discovered.
Stop just accepting the default app layout. Do use the App Library to automatically organize your apps.
The Self-Organizing Bookshelf vs. The Messy Pile
Letting all your apps pile up on your Home Screen is like throwing every book you own into a giant, messy pile in your living room. The App Library is the magical, self-organizing bookshelf. It automatically takes all your “books” (your apps) and sorts them into neat, logical, and alphabetized categories for you. This allows you to keep your main “living room” (your Home Screen) clean and clutter-free, holding only your absolute favorite books, knowing that everything else is perfectly filed away and easy to find.
Stop getting annoyed by “Rate this App” pop-ups. Do turn them off permanently in the App Store settings.
The ‘No Soliciting’ Sign for Your Digital Front Door
The “Rate this App” pop-up is the digital equivalent of an annoying, persistent solicitor who is constantly knocking on your door and interrupting you, asking for your opinion. It’s a distracting and deeply frustrating part of the modern app experience. Deep in your App Store settings, there is a simple, beautiful “off” switch for these pop-ups. It’s like putting a big, clear, permanent “NO SOLICITING” sign on your digital front door, ensuring that you will never be bothered by these unwanted interruptions again.
The #1 hack for getting a refund on an accidental purchase is using Apple’s “reportaproblem” website.
The Digital ‘Customer Service Desk’
Accidentally buying the wrong app or having your child make an unauthorized in-app purchase can feel like a final, irreversible mistake. But Apple has a secret, digital “customer service desk” where you can plead your case. The website is reportaproblem.apple.com. You can sign in, see a list of all your recent purchases, and select the one you have an issue with. By explaining that it was an accident, you have a surprisingly good chance of getting a quick, no-questions-asked refund.
I’m just going to say it: The App Store search algorithm is terrible.
The ‘Clumsy Librarian’ Who Only Knows the Exact Title
The App Store’s search is like a clumsy, old-fashioned librarian. If you know the exact, perfect, and complete title of the book you are looking for, he can probably find it for you. But if you give him a vague, conceptual search—like “a good app for taking notes”—he will often just stare at you blankly and then hand you a stack of the most popular, and often completely irrelevant, books. It is a search engine that is surprisingly bad at the art of discovery and context.
The reason you can’t find an app is because it might not be available in your country’s App Store.
The ‘International’ Section of the Bookstore
The App Store is not one, single, global bookstore. It is a collection of over 150 separate, country-specific bookstores, each with its own, unique inventory. Just like a physical bookstore in France will have books that you cannot find in a bookstore in Japan, some apps are only licensed or designed to be sold in specific regions. So, if you are reading about a cool new app, but you can’t find it, the reason might be that it is not available in your country’s “international” section.
If you’re still manually checking for app updates, you’re losing out on the convenience of automatic updates.
The ‘Self-Repairing’ Car
Manually checking for and installing app updates is like having to take your car to the mechanic every single week for a routine tune-up. It’s a tedious and repetitive chore. Turning on “Automatic Updates” is like owning a magical, self-repairing car. While you are asleep at night, the car will silently and automatically install all the latest software patches and bug fixes, ensuring that it is always running as smoothly, as safely, and as efficiently as possible, all without any effort on your part.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need a different app for every single task.
The ‘Single-Purpose’ Tool vs. The ‘Swiss Army Knife’
The App Store is full of millions of “single-purpose” tools—an app that only scans QR codes, or an app that only makes voice memos. The biggest lie is that you need to buy all these separate tools. Your iPhone is already a brilliant, powerful, and deeply-integrated Swiss Army knife. The Camera app can already scan QR codes, the Voice Memos app is a broadcast-quality recorder, and the Notes app is a professional-grade document scanner. You already own the multi-tool; you don’t need the messy, single-purpose wrenches.
I wish I knew how to view my entire purchase history to re-download apps I had forgotten about.
The ‘Personal Library Card’ with a Lifetime of History
Your Apple ID is like your own personal, permanent library card. In your App Store settings, you can view the entire, chronological history of every single “book” (app) you have ever checked out, going all the way back to your very first iPhone. This is not just your current books; it’s a lifetime of borrowing history. It’s a fantastic way to rediscover a great game you used to love or a useful utility you had completely forgotten about, allowing you to instantly re-download it for free.
99% of people don’t know they can use gift cards to pay for subscriptions and in-app purchases.
The ‘Pre-Paid’ Wallet for Your Digital Life
An App Store & iTunes gift card is not just for buying apps and songs. It’s like a pre-paid, universal “debit card” for your entire Apple digital life. When you redeem a gift card, the balance is added to your Apple ID. This balance will then be used as the default payment method for everything. It will pay for your Netflix subscription, for the extra lives in your kid’s favorite game, and for your extra iCloud storage. It’s a great way to budget or to give the gift of a subscription.
This one small habit of updating your apps regularly will protect you from security vulnerabilities.
The ‘New, Un-pickable Locks’ for Your Digital Doors
Every app on your phone is a separate, digital “door” into your life. A security vulnerability is like a master locksmith discovering a new, secret way to pick that door’s lock. A software update is the lock company’s emergency, overnight response. It is a brand new, redesigned, and un-pickable lock that they are offering to you, for free. Every day you delay that update, you are knowingly and deliberately leaving the old, vulnerable, and easily-picked lock on that one, specific door.
Use TestFlight to try beta versions of apps, not just waiting for the official release.
The ‘Sneak Preview’ of the Movie
TestFlight is the secret “sneak preview” for the App Store. It’s like being invited to a special, early screening of a movie before it is released to the general public. It’s a separate app where developers can invite you to download and test the beta versions of their upcoming updates. It’s a fantastic way to get a first look at the exciting new features, to provide direct feedback to the “director,” and to be a part of the creative process, not just a passive consumer.
Stop just downloading free apps. Do consider that if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.
The ‘Free Lunch’ with a Hidden Price Tag
A “free” app is like a restaurant that offers you a delicious, completely free lunch. It sounds great. But as you eat, you notice they are taking notes on your conversation, photographing your ID, and asking for a list of your friends’ phone numbers. The lunch was free, but the “price” was your privacy. Many free apps work the same way. They don’t charge you money, but they make their money by collecting and selling your personal data. You are not the customer; you are the product being sold.
Stop letting your kids have free rein on the App Store. Do use “Ask to Buy” to approve all their downloads.
The ‘Parental Co-Signer’ on the ‘Digital Credit Card’
Letting your child have free access to the App Store is like giving them their own credit card with no limit. “Ask to Buy” is the parental co-signer for that card. When your child tries to “buy” anything—even a free app—a notification is sent directly to your phone. You can then look at the “purchase,” see if it’s appropriate, and approve or deny it with a single tap. It’s a simple, powerful feature that allows you to be the thoughtful, engaged gatekeeper for your child’s digital world.
The #1 secret for finding indie gems is browsing the “App of the Day” and “Game of the Day” features.
The ‘Staff Picks’ Section of the Bookstore
The “Top Charts” in the App Store are the “bestseller” list at a giant, corporate bookstore. They are full of the same, predictable, big-name “authors.” The “App of the Day” and “Game of the Day” features, on the other hand, are the “Staff Picks” section at a small, independent bookstore. It’s where the passionate, human curators shine a spotlight on the brilliant, creative, and often-overlooked indie gems that you would have never discovered on your own. It is the heart and soul of the App Store.
I’m just going to say it: App subscriptions are getting out of control.
The ‘Thousand Tiny Leaks’ in Your Financial Boat
App subscriptions have become the “death by a thousand cuts” for our bank accounts. Each one is a small, seemingly insignificant, and easy-to-justify monthly charge. But when you have a dozen of these tiny, silent “leaks” all dripping at the same time, you can find that your financial “boat” is suddenly and mysteriously full of water. The model has shifted from the one-time, satisfying purchase of a tool to a never-ending, and often-forgotten, system of digital rent that is slowly and silently draining our resources.
The reason your Home Screen is a mess is because you’re allowing all new apps to be added to it by default.
The ‘Mail That Goes Directly to the Filing Cabinet’
Allowing every new app to install directly onto your Home Screen is like having your mailman dump every single letter, package, and piece of junk mail right in the middle of your clean living room floor. In your settings, you can choose to have new apps sent directly to the App Library instead. This is like telling your mailman to put everything directly into the correct folder in your filing cabinet. Your “living room” (your Home Screen) stays clean and uncluttered, and your new app is neatly filed away, ready for when you need it.
If you’re still using a third-party app for a feature that is now built into iOS, you’re wasting space and resources.
The ‘Redundant Tool’ in Your Toolbox
In the past, you might have had to buy a special, third-party “wrench” to perform a specific task. But over time, the company that made your main toolbox (Apple) has started to include that exact same wrench as a standard, built-in feature. Continuing to use the old, third-party app for your document scanning or your QR code reading is like insisting on carrying a second, redundant wrench in your pocket. You are wasting space and resources on a tool whose job has been made obsolete by a better, more integrated, and already-included solution.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to pay for an app to get quality.
The ‘Price Tag’ vs. The ‘Craftsmanship’
The idea that a higher price tag always equals a better app is a complete lie. It’s like believing that the most expensive hammer at the hardware store is always the best one. Some of the most beautiful, most powerful, and most brilliantly-crafted apps in the entire App Store are made by passionate, independent developers who have chosen to offer their work for free, or for a very small, one-time price. Quality is about the craftsmanship, the attention to detail, and the respect for the user, not about the number on the price tag.
I wish I knew how to redeem an App Store gift card using the camera.
The ‘Magical, Self-Typing’ Code
Redeeming a gift card used to be a clumsy process of carefully and painstakingly typing in a long, 16-digit code. But there is a magical, hidden shortcut. In the App Store, when you choose to “Redeem Gift Card,” you have the option to “Use Camera.” This is like having a magical, self-typing assistant. You just hold the gift card up to your phone’s camera, and it will instantly read the code in the little black box and enter it for you automatically. It’s a simple, brilliant, and deeply satisfying time-saver.
99% of users don’t use the search filters in the App Store to narrow down their results.
The ‘Fine-Tuning’ Knobs on Your Search
A standard App Store search can feel like a blunt instrument, giving you thousands of irrelevant results. The “Filters” are the hidden, “fine-tuning” knobs for that search. After you search, you can tap a filter to narrow the results by a specific category, by an age rating, or, most powerfully, by price. This allows you to instantly filter out all the apps with in-app purchases or to only see the apps that are a part of your Apple Arcade subscription. It’s a powerful tool for turning a noisy search into a focused one.
This one small action of long-pressing an app update to see the release notes will tell you what’s new.
The ‘Director’s Commentary’ for Your App Update
When you see an app has an update, the simple habit of long-pressing the “Update” button is like unlocking the secret “director’s commentary” for that new version. Instead of just blindly installing it, this action will pop up the full “release notes.” It’s where the “director” (the developer) tells you exactly what they have fixed, what they have changed, and what new “scenes” they have added. It’s a simple, informative habit that keeps you in the loop and helps you to appreciate the work that goes into the apps you use every day.
Use the “Sign in with Apple” feature for new apps, not creating a new account with your email and password.
The ‘Fake ID’ for the Internet
When you sign up for a new app, they often ask for your personal email, which is like giving your home address to a complete stranger. The “Sign in with Apple” feature is like being issued a perfect, fake ID and a private mailbox for that one specific club. Apple generates a unique, random email address that forwards to your real one. If that club starts spamming you or sells your “address,” you can simply cancel that one fake ID, and they will never be able to contact you again. It’s the ultimate privacy tool.
Stop just deleting an app from your Home Screen. Do make sure you’ve also cancelled any active subscription.
The ‘Gym Membership’ You’re Still Paying For
Deleting an app with an active subscription is like throwing away your gym membership card and thinking you’ve cancelled your membership. You have not. The gym will continue to silently charge your credit card every single month, even though you no longer have the “key” to get in. You must go to the gym’s “front desk” (your Apple ID subscription settings) and formally and officially cancel your membership. Deleting the app does not, and will not, stop the recurring payments.
Stop getting fooled by fake reviews. Do look for detailed, balanced reviews.
The ‘Paid Actors’ vs. The ‘Real Audience’
The five-star review section of a scammy app is like the fawning, over-the-top quotes on a terrible movie’s poster. They are often written by “paid actors” or by bots. The real, honest truth is found in the detailed, balanced, and thoughtful three- and four-star reviews. These are the “real audience” members. They will tell you what is genuinely good about the app, but they will also give you an honest assessment of its flaws and its limitations. This is where you will find the credible, trustworthy information.
The #1 hack for a cleaner iPhone is to delete any app you haven’t used in the last three months.
The ‘Annual Spring Cleaning’ for Your Digital House
Your iPhone is a house, and over time, it gets filled with clutter. The single, most effective “spring cleaning” hack is to perform a simple, ruthless audit. Go through every single app on your phone and ask yourself one simple question: “Have I used this in the last three months?” If the answer is no, you should be a ruthless “declutterer.” Delete it. You can always re-download it later if you need it. This one, simple, annual habit will free up a huge amount of space and mental clutter.
I’m just going to say it: The App Store review process, while good, still lets a lot of garbage through.
The ‘Good, but Not Perfect’ Bouncer at the Club
The App Store’s review process is like a very good, very professional, and very diligent bouncer at a popular nightclub. He does a fantastic job of keeping out the most obvious troublemakers, the criminals, and the people who are clearly breaking the rules. He makes the club dramatically safer than the one down the street with no bouncer at all. But he is not an infallible, all-knowing god. A clever and well-disguised con artist can, and often does, still manage to talk their way past him.
The reason you have so many apps is because you’re downloading them “just in case” you need them.
The ‘Over-Packed’ Suitcase for a Weekend Trip
Downloading an app “just in case” you might need it one day is like packing for a simple, weekend trip and bringing a giant, 50-pound suitcase that is filled with a tuxedo, a snorkel, and a snowsuit. You are weighing yourself down with a huge amount of unnecessary digital “luggage” for a series of hypothetical, and deeply unlikely, scenarios. A smarter, more minimalist approach is to pack only the essential “clothes” that you know you will need, and to trust that you can always “buy” a new outfit if an unexpected occasion arises.
If you’re still using Facebook’s app, you’re losing your privacy and battery life; use the mobile website instead.
The ‘Live-In’ Private Investigator vs. The ‘Occasional’ Visitor
The Facebook app is like a private investigator that you have invited to live, 24/7, in a spare room of your house. He is constantly listening, constantly tracking your movements, and constantly reporting back to his head office. It is a massive drain on your “energy” (your battery) and your privacy. Using the mobile website in Safari is like having that same investigator only visit your house for a few, specific, pre-approved appointments. He gets the information he needs, and then he leaves. It is a much healthier and more private relationship.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that “Top Charts” equals “Best Apps.”
The ‘Bestseller List’ vs. The ‘Pulitzer Prize’
The “Top Charts” are the “bestseller list” of the App Store. It is a measure of popularity, not of quality. It is often dominated by the literary equivalent of fast-food romance novels and flashy, disposable thrillers. The “best” apps—the beautiful, innovative, and life-changing ones—are often like the Pulitzer Prize-winning novels. They are not always at the top of the bestseller list, but they are the ones that are celebrated for their craftsmanship, their artistry, and their lasting impact. You have to seek them out.
I wish I knew that I could “gift” an app to someone else directly from the App Store.
The ‘Digital Book-Giving’
Giving a specific, paid app is like giving a specific, thoughtful book that you know your friend will love. It’s a personal and curated gift. On any paid app’s page in the App Store, there is a “Share” button. Hidden in that menu is the option to “Gift App.” It’s like being able to walk into a digital bookstore, buy a specific book, and have it instantly and magically teleported to your friend’s bookshelf, complete with a personal, written note from you. It’s a wonderful and often-overlooked feature.
99% of people don’t know they can use Siri to search the App Store.
The ‘Voice-Activated’ Librarian
Siri is not just your assistant; she is also your personal, voice-activated librarian for the App Store. Instead of having to open the app and manually type in your search, you can simply say, “Hey Siri, search the App Store for a great weather app,” or “Find the game ‘Monument Valley’ in the App Store.” She will instantly perform the search for you and present you with the results. It’s a faster, hands-free, and surprisingly convenient way to find what you’re looking for.
This one small habit of checking an app’s permissions in Settings will show you how much data it has access to.
The ‘Key Master’s Logbook’
Every app on your phone is like a contractor that you have hired to work in your house. The “Permissions” in your Privacy settings are the “key master’s logbook.” This logbook shows you a clear, simple list of which “keys” you have given to which contractor. You can see that you have given the “plumber” (a social media app) a key to your “filing cabinet” (your photos) and your “microphone.” A regular, quick review of this logbook allows you to act as your own security auditor, taking back the keys from the contractors who have no business having them.
Use the App Library to find an app alphabetically, not swiping through pages of folders.
The ‘Index’ at the Back of the Book
The App Library has two views. The main view, with its automatic categories, is like the “table of contents” of a book. But if you swipe down on that screen, it will transform into a simple, single, alphabetical list of every single app on your phone. This is the “index” at the back of the book. It is the single, fastest, and most efficient way to find any app if you know its name, without having to remember which “chapter” (which folder) you happened to put it in.
Stop just accepting the terms and conditions. Do at least skim them for red flags.
The ‘Fine Print’ on the Contract
The “Terms and Conditions” are the long, dense, and boring “fine print” on the contract you are signing with an app. Just blindly clicking “Agree” is like signing a legally-binding contract without reading it. While you don’t need to read every single word, the simple act of scrolling through it and looking for the “red flags”—the sentences about selling your data, about owning your content, about tracking your location—is a crucial act of digital due diligence. You should at least know what you are agreeing to.
Stop trying to find the perfect app. Do realize that a combination of a few good apps is often better.
The ‘One Perfect Tool’ vs. The ‘Well-Stocked Toolbox’
The search for the one, single, “perfect” app that can do everything is a frustrating and often-fruitless quest. It’s like searching for one, single, magical tool that can be both a hammer and a screwdriver and a saw. A much smarter and more realistic approach is to build a small, curated, and well-stocked “toolbox.” You might have one, simple, beautiful app for your notes, another for your to-do lists, and another for your calendar. The power is in the combination of a few, excellent tools, not in the myth of the one, perfect tool.
The #1 secret for parents is using the age ratings in the App Store to determine if an app is appropriate.
The ‘Movie Rating System’ for the Digital World
The App Store is not a lawless jungle; it has a clear, easy-to-understand movie rating system for every single app. A “4+” rating is the “G” movie. A “9+” rating is the “PG” movie. And a “17+” rating is the “R” movie. Below the rating, it will even give you a detailed description of why it got that rating, like “Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence.” It is the single, most powerful, and most overlooked tool for parents, allowing you to make a calm, consistent, and informed decision about what is appropriate for your child.
I’m just going to say it: The App Store commission rate is a tax on both developers and consumers.
The ‘Landlord’ of the World’s Busiest Shopping Mall
The App Store is the biggest, busiest, and most profitable shopping mall in the world. And Apple is the landlord. The 15-30% commission is the “rent” that every single “shop owner” (the developer) has to pay to the landlord. And just like in a real mall, that high cost of rent is inevitably passed on from the shop owner to you, the customer, in the form of higher prices. It is a tax on the entire digital economy, a price that is paid by both the creators and the consumers.
The reason you can’t update your apps is because you don’t have enough free storage space.
The ‘Delivery Truck’ That’s Too Big for Your ‘Garage’
When you update an app, your phone needs enough free space to download the new “delivery” and to unpack it, before it can throw the old one away. It’s like a delivery truck that needs a bit of extra space in your garage to unload the new furniture before it can haul the old sofa away. If your “garage” (your phone’s storage) is already packed completely full, there is no physical room for the delivery truck to do its work. The update will fail, not because it’s broken, but because there is literally no space for it.
If you’re still using an app that hasn’t been updated in years, you’re risking security and stability issues.
The ‘Classic Car’ with ‘Original, Un-serviced Parts’
Using an app that hasn’t been updated in a long time is like driving a beautiful, classic car that is still running on its original, 10-year-old tires and has never had an oil change. It might look fine, but it is a ticking time bomb of security and stability problems. The “tires” are full of un-patched security holes that modern “hackers” know how to exploit, and the “engine” is not designed to run on the “modern fuel” of the latest iOS. It is an accident waiting to happen.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to be on the public beta of iOS.
The ‘Test Pilot’ for the ‘Experimental Jet’
The iOS public beta is like being a volunteer test pilot for a brand new, experimental jet. It is an exciting, thrilling, and cutting-edge experience. It is also a dangerous one. The jet has not been fully tested, the engines might fail, and the navigation system might crash. For tech enthusiasts, this is the fun part. But for the average person who just needs a safe, reliable plane to get them to their destination, you should never, ever fly on the experimental model. You should always wait for the final, stable, and fully-certified passenger version.
I wish I knew how to hide my past purchases from my family members in Family Sharing.
The ‘Private’ Section of the ‘Shared Family Library’
Family Sharing is like a shared, open family library where everyone can see the “books” you have checked out. But sometimes, you might have a “book” that is a little embarrassing or that you just don’t want your kids to see. You can “hide” a purchase. It’s like taking that one specific book and quietly moving it to a private, personal bookshelf in your own room. The book is still in your possession, but it will no longer be visible to everyone else in the shared, family living room.
99% of users don’t write reviews for apps they love, only for ones they hate.
The ‘Silent, Happy Majority’ vs. The ‘Loud, Angry Mob’
The App Store review section is a profoundly skewed and unreliable sample of public opinion. It is the digital equivalent of a restaurant where the only people who bother to fill out a comment card are the ones who have had a terrible experience. The vast, silent majority of happy, satisfied customers will just quietly enjoy their meal and go home. This is why you should always take the star ratings with a huge grain of salt. You are not hearing from the average user; you are hearing from the angriest user.
This one small action of turning off in-app video previews will save you a surprising amount of data.
The ‘Leaky Faucet’ in Your ‘Data Tank’
The auto-playing video previews in the App Store are like a small, silent, and constantly-dripping leaky faucet that is connected to your monthly “data tank.” Each little, five-second video is a small “drip” of data. It might not seem like much, but if you spend a lot of time browsing, those hundreds of little drips can add up to a significant and surprising puddle of wasted data. Turning them off is the simple, two-second act of tightening that faucet, preserving your precious data for when you actually need it.
Use the “Report a Problem” link to flag scammy or non-functional apps, not just deleting them.
The ‘Neighborhood Watch’ for the App Store
When you discover a scammy or a broken app, just deleting it is like seeing a burglar in your neighborhood and just quietly locking your own door. The “Report a Problem” feature is the “neighborhood watch” hotline. It allows you to alert the “police” (Apple) to the presence of a bad actor. By taking a minute to file a report, you are not just protecting yourself; you are being a good digital citizen, helping to keep the entire “neighborhood” of the App Store safer and cleaner for everyone else.
Stop just looking at screenshots. Do watch the app preview video to see how it actually works.
The ‘Staged, Photoshopped’ Picture vs. The ‘Behind-the-Scenes’ Video
The screenshots on an app’s page are like the beautiful, perfect, and often-staged and photoshopped pictures in a home’s real estate listing. The app preview video is the “behind-the-scenes” walkthrough. It is a much more honest and dynamic representation of what it actually feels like to be inside the “house.” It shows you the flow, the animations, and the actual user experience in a way that a series of static, perfect images never can. It is the best way to get a true sense of an app before you “buy” it.
Stop letting apps send you notifications. Do manage your notification settings on a per-app basis.
The ‘Open Door Policy’ vs. The ‘Strict Secretary’
Allowing every single app to send you notifications is like having an “open door” policy for your brain. Any app can barge in at any time and demand your attention. A much smarter approach is to be the strict, efficient secretary. In your settings, you can go through your list of “employees” (your apps) and decide which ones have the authority to interrupt you. You can silence the noisy, unimportant ones and give special privileges to the ones that are truly critical, creating a calmer and more productive mental workspace.
The #1 hack for getting a developer’s attention is leaving a polite but critical review.
The ‘Public Comment Card’ vs. The ‘Private Email’
Sending a private email to a developer is like leaving a suggestion in a private comment box. It might get read, or it might get lost. A public review in the App Store is a giant, public comment card that is taped to the restaurant’s front window for every single potential new customer to see. A polite, well-written, and critical one- or two-star review is the single most effective way to get a developer’s attention, as it is a direct and powerful threat to their public reputation and their bottom line.
I’m just going to say it: An iPhone with only Apple’s default apps is a very capable device.
The ‘Perfectly-Stocked’ Kitchen from the Manufacturer
An iPhone, right out of the box, is like a brand new, high-end kitchen that has been perfectly and thoughtfully stocked by the manufacturer with a beautiful, cohesive, and high-quality set of their own pots, pans, and utensils. While the giant “supermarket” of the App Store offers a million other specialized tools, you should not forget that the elegant, powerful, and perfectly-integrated “cookware” that is already in your drawers is more than capable of producing a gourmet meal.
The reason you get charged for a subscription is because you deleted the app without cancelling the subscription first.
The ‘Magazine’ You’re Still Paying For
Deleting an app from your phone is like throwing away the latest issue of a magazine that you’ve been sent in the mail. The magazine company has no idea that you’ve thrown it away. They will continue to charge you and to send you a new issue every single month until you call their “subscription department” and formally cancel. The same is true for apps. You must go to your Apple ID’s “subscription department” to officially end the recurring payment. Deleting the app does not stop the charge.
If you’re still using a flashlight app you downloaded, you’re wasting space; it’s built into the Control Center.
The ‘Redundant’ Wrench in Your Toolbox
In the early days of the iPhone, you had to download a special, third-party “wrench” if you wanted a flashlight. But years ago, the company that made your toolbox (Apple) started including a beautiful, powerful, and perfectly-integrated flashlight as a standard, built-in feature. Continuing to use an old, clunky, and ad-filled third-party flashlight app is like insisting on carrying a second, redundant, and inferior wrench in your pocket. You are wasting space on a tool whose job has been made obsolete by a better, free, and already-included solution.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to update every app the second an update is available.
The ‘Optional’ Software Update for Your Car
When a car manufacturer issues a major, critical “recall notice” for a safety issue, you should take your car in immediately. But most app updates are not a safety issue. They are the optional, “quality of life” software updates. If your “car” is running perfectly well for you, there is no urgent, desperate need to install the new version of the radio software the very second it becomes available. It is perfectly acceptable to wait a few days or to let the updates install automatically in the background.
I wish I knew about the “Today” tab’s stories that often feature great new apps.
The ‘Curated, Daily Newspaper’ for the App World
The “Today” tab is the beautiful, curated, and editorially-driven daily newspaper for the entire App Store. It is not just a list of apps; it is a collection of stories. Every single day, a team of human editors will write a short, interesting article about a new app, a fun game, or a useful tip. It is the single best, and most overlooked, source for discovering high-quality, interesting, and often-independent apps that you would never, ever find by just looking at the soulless, algorithm-driven “Top Charts.”
99% of people don’t know they can add money to their Apple ID balance.
The ‘Pre-Paid Debit Card’ for Your Digital Wallet
Adding money to your Apple ID balance is like loading money onto a pre-paid, digital debit card for your entire Apple life. It’s a great tool for budgeting. You can give yourself a $50 “allowance” for the month for all your digital spending, from your subscriptions to your in-app purchases. It’s also a fantastic way for a family to manage a child’s spending, as you can load their account with a fixed amount of money, giving them the freedom to buy what they want without giving them access to your credit card.
This one small habit of checking for a “lite” or free version before buying an expensive app will save you money.
The ‘Free Sample’ at the Grocery Store
Before you buy a big, expensive bag of a new kind of coffee bean, the smart move is to see if the grocery store is offering a small, free sample. The same is true for apps. Before you commit to buying an expensive, “pro-level” app, the simple, five-second habit of searching for the developer’s name can often reveal a “lite” or a “free” version of the same app. This “free sample” will allow you to try out the core features and to see if the app is a good fit for you before you make the big investment.
Use the developer’s website to find support or tutorials, not just giving up on a complicated app.
The ‘Owner’s Manual’ and the ‘Customer Support Hotline’
When you buy a complex, new appliance, it comes with a detailed owner’s manual and a customer support hotline that you can call if you have a problem. Every app in the App Store has the same thing. On the app’s page, there is a link to the “Developer Website.” This is the “owner’s manual.” It is often full of tutorials, FAQs, and detailed explanations of the app’s features. It is also where you will find the “customer support hotline”—the email address or the contact form to get direct help from the people who actually built the tool.
Stop just using the apps that come pre-installed. Do explore the App Store to find better alternatives.
The ‘Good, Basic’ Tools vs. The ‘Specialized, Professional’ Ones
The apps that come with your iPhone are like the good, basic, and high-quality set of tools that come with a new toolbox. They are fantastic for most everyday tasks. But the App Store is the giant, world-class hardware store that is filled with a million other, more specialized and more powerful tools. While the basic “hammer” that Apple gave you is great, you might find that a third-party “sledgehammer” with more features is a better fit for your specific, professional needs. The store is open. Go explore.
Stop letting your kids know your Apple ID password. Do use Face ID or Touch ID for all purchases.
The ‘Master Key’ to the House vs. Your ‘Face’
Your Apple ID password is the master key to your entire, digital house. It can be used to buy things, to read your messages, and to see your photos. Giving that master key to your child is a profound and unnecessary security risk. By enabling Face ID or Touch ID for all purchases, you are changing the lock on your house. The “key” is no longer a secret code that can be shared or stolen; the “key” is now your own, unique, and un-copyable face. It is a fundamentally more secure system.
The #1 secret for a better software experience is to find and support independent app developers.
The ‘Craftsman’s Workshop’ vs. The ‘Big Box Store’
The App Store is full of big, powerful apps from giant, corporate “big box stores.” But the real heart and soul of the platform is in the small, independent “craftsman’s workshops.” These are the apps that are built with love, with care, and with a passionate, obsessive attention to detail by a single person or a small team. By seeking out and supporting these indie developers, you are not only often finding a more beautiful, more creative, and more ethically-designed tool, but you are also investing in the vibrant, artistic future of the App Store itself.
I’m just going to say it: The process for sideloading apps should be easier and officially supported.
The ‘Private, Side Door’ to the ‘Walled City’
The App Store is a beautiful, safe, and curated “walled city.” But sometimes, a person should have the right to use a private, secure, and well-lit “side door” to install an app that has not been approved by the city’s main guards. A more open, but still-secure, system of “sideloading” would not be an act of tearing down the walls. It would be an act of giving users more freedom and more control over their own property. It is the difference between a benevolent kingdom and a true, personal computer.
The reason your phone feels old is because you’re not taking advantage of the new features in the latest iOS update.
The ‘New, Unopened’ Tools in Your Toolbox
When you update your iOS, it’s like the company has snuck into your garage at night and left a box of brand new, powerful, and exciting tools for you. The reason your “workshop” (your phone) feels old and stale is that you have not even bothered to open the box. The new features—like the customizable lock screen, the new widgets, or the Focus Modes—are the new tools. By taking a few minutes to learn what they are and how to use them, you can make your old, familiar workshop feel brand new and more powerful again.
If you’re still manually moving apps one by one, you’re not using the “jiggle mode” trick to select and move multiple apps at once.
The ‘One Box at a Time’ vs. The ‘Moving Dolly’
Moving your apps one by one is like trying to move all the boxes from your old house to your new one by carrying them, one single, solitary box at a time. It’s a slow, tedious, and deeply inefficient process. The “jiggle mode” trick is the “moving dolly.” You can enter “jiggle mode,” and then, with one finger, you can start to drag a single “box.” Then, with another finger, you can start to tap on all the other boxes, stacking them into one, single, easy-to-move pile. It’s a brilliant, powerful, and deeply satisfying time-saver.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that cleaning your RAM by swiping up on apps does anything useful.
The ‘Tidy, but Inefficient’ Butler
Swiping up to “close” your apps is like having a tidy, but deeply inefficient, butler. He is obsessed with putting all your tools away the very second you set them down. So, the next time you need your hammer, he has to go all the way to the garage to get it again. Leaving your apps in the background is like having a smart butler. He leaves your most-used tools out on the workbench, frozen in time, so they are instantly ready the next time you need them. He is a master of efficiency; swiping up is an act of micromanagement.
I wish I knew that some iOS updates could dramatically improve battery life.
The ‘Free, Professional’ Engine Tune-Up
Some iOS updates are not about new features; they are about a deep, fundamental, and invisible “engine tune-up.” It’s like taking your car to a master mechanic who spends a day fine-tuning the fuel injection system and optimizing the software for maximum efficiency. You don’t get any new buttons on your dashboard, but you will suddenly and magically discover that you are getting an extra 50 miles per gallon. These “point-one” releases are often the most important updates, as they can deliver a massive, free, and very welcome boost to your phone’s endurance.
99% of users don’t customize their Share Sheet to prioritize the apps they use most often.
The ‘Custom-Organized’ Toolbox Drawer
Your “Share Sheet” is the toolbox drawer that holds all your sharing “tools.” By default, that drawer is a chaotic, disorganized mess. But you are the head carpenter. You can “edit” that drawer. It’s like taking a moment to put your most-used tools—your favorite hammer (your Messages app) and your favorite screwdriver (your Notes app)—in a special, easy-to-reach tray at the very front of the drawer. This small, one-time act of customization will save you a few seconds of searching every single time you use it.
This one small action of disabling Background App Refresh for apps that don’t need it will improve your battery life.
The ‘Secret, Energy-Wasting’ Appliances in Your House
“Background App Refresh” is like allowing your appliances to secretly and silently turn themselves on in the middle of the night to “check for updates.” For some essential appliances, like your security system (your email app), this is important. But for the vast majority of your appliances—your toaster, your blender, your lamp—this is a completely unnecessary and wasteful drain of your house’s “energy” (your battery). By turning this feature off for non-essential apps, you are unplugging the dozens of secret, energy-wasting vampires in your digital house.
Use the “Remove from Home Screen” option to keep an app in your App Library without deleting it, not just hiding it in a folder.
The ‘Closet’ vs. The ‘Pile in the Corner’
Hiding an app you don’t use often in a “junk” folder is like taking a piece of clothing you don’t wear and just throwing it in a messy pile in the corner of your room. The “Remove from Home Screen” option is the elegant, adult solution. It’s like taking that same piece of clothing and neatly hanging it up in your beautiful, well-organized closet (the App Library). Your “room” (your Home Screen) stays clean and minimalist, and the “clothing” is still there, perfectly filed away for the day you might need it.
Stop just accepting software updates. Do read about the new features before you install.
The ‘Renovation Plan’ for Your House
A major software update is like a construction crew showing up at your house to perform a major renovation. Just blindly clicking “Install” is like telling them, “Sure, go ahead,” without ever having looked at the renovation plan. Taking a few minutes to read the “What’s New” description is like reviewing the blueprint. It allows you to get excited about the new “rooms” you are about to get, and it prevents the disorienting and frustrating experience of waking up to find that the kitchen has been moved to the other side of the house.
Stop downloading apps for one-time use. Do see if there’s a mobile website that does the same thing.
The ‘Rental’ Tool vs. The ‘Purchase’
Downloading an app for a one-time task, like booking a specific airline ticket, is like buying a large, expensive, and highly-specialized “wrench” that you will only ever use once. A much smarter and more minimalist approach is to first check if the airline has a good mobile website. This is the “rental” tool. You can use the “wrench” for the one, specific job you need to do, and then you can just close the tab and walk away, without having to permanently add a new, heavy, and single-purpose tool to your already-cluttered toolbox.
The #1 hack for finding cool new apps is seeing what tech reviewers are featuring on their Home Screens.
The ‘Celebrity’s Bookshelf’
A good tech reviewer is like a celebrity or an intellectual whose taste you admire. And their Home Screen is their personal, curated bookshelf. Seeing a screenshot of their Home Screen is like getting a private tour of their library. It is a powerful, visual, and deeply personal recommendation. The apps that they have chosen to give the most valuable and limited real estate to are, by definition, the “books” that they find the most beautiful, the most useful, and the most essential. It’s the ultimate “if you like them, you’ll like this” discovery tool.
I’m just going to say it: The App Library was a good idea with a clunky execution.
The ‘Self-Organizing’ Bookshelf with a ‘Confusing’ Layout
The App Library is like a magical, self-organizing bookshelf. It’s a brilliant idea. However, the “librarian” who designed the specific layout of the shelves can be a little bit… eccentric. The automatically-generated category folders are often a strange, unpredictable, and slightly-confusing mix of broad categories and specific, single-app folders. It can sometimes feel less like a perfectly-organized library and more like a slightly-chaotic, but well-intentioned, used bookstore. The alphabetical list is its one, saving grace.
The reason your update is taking forever is because you’re on a slow Wi-Fi network and the file is huge.
The ‘Giant’ Delivery on a ‘Slow, Country Road’
A major iOS update is like a giant, multi-gigabyte delivery of a new piece of heavy machinery for your house. Your Wi-Fi network is the road that the delivery truck has to drive on. If you are on a slow, bumpy, “country road” of a Wi-Fi network, that giant, heavy truck is going to take a very, very long time to arrive. For the fastest possible delivery, you should always make sure you are on the wide, smooth, and high-speed “interstate highway” of a fast, modern Wi-Fi connection.
If you’re still using an app with a terrible privacy policy, you’re telling companies that you don’t care about your data.
The ‘Vote’ You Cast with Your Download
Every single time you download and use an app, you are casting a vote. You are sending a small, but powerful, economic and social signal. When you choose to use an app that has a clear, respectful, and privacy-focused business model, you are casting a vote for a better, more ethical internet. When you continue to use an app that is a known, data-hoovering, privacy-invading vampire, you are casting a vote that says, “Yes, please, this is fine. I do not care what you do with my personal information.” Your downloads are your ballot.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to be afraid of major iOS updates.
The ‘Well-Managed’ Renovation of Your House
The fear of a major iOS update is a leftover trauma from the early, wild-west days of smartphones. It’s like being afraid of a home renovation because you once had a terrible contractor. Today, a major iOS update is like a professional, well-managed, and incredibly reliable renovation project. While a minor, temporary bug is always possible, the days of an update “bricking” your phone and destroying all your data are, for 99.9% of people, a thing of the past. The “contractor” has gotten very, very good at their job.
I wish I knew that I could use the Files app to manage downloads from Safari.
The ‘Downloads Folder’ That Was Hiding in Plain Sight
For years, the iPhone felt like a computer that was missing a “Downloads” folder. It was a frustrating and limiting experience. The Files app is that missing folder, and it has been hiding in plain sight. You can now download any file—a PDF, a zip file, an image—from Safari, and you can choose to save it directly to a dedicated “Downloads” folder inside your Files app. It’s a simple, but fundamental, shift that has made the iPhone feel much more like a true, capable, and professional computer.
99% of users don’t know they can add or remove apps from the iMessage app drawer.
The ‘Customizable’ Tool Belt for Your Conversations
The row of app icons at the bottom of your iMessage window is a customizable tool belt for your conversations. By default, it is a cluttered, messy belt with a dozen tools you will never use. But you are the master craftsman. You can swipe all the way to the right and tap the “More” button. This is the “edit” mode for your tool belt. You can remove the useless, single-purpose “wrenches” and you can put your favorite, most-used “hammers”—like the GIF keyboard or your favorite stickers—at the very front for easy, one-tap access.
This one small habit of curating your app collection will result in a more focused and useful device.
The ‘Curated’ Bookshelf vs. The ‘Hoarder’s’ Pile
Your iPhone is a library. The simple, annual habit of “curating” your collection is the difference between a beautiful, useful library and a hoarder’s chaotic pile of junk. It involves two simple actions. First, you must be a ruthless “editor,” deleting the “books” (the apps) that you no longer read. Second, you must be a thoughtful “librarian,” organizing the remaining books into a clean, logical, and easy-to-navigate system. This small habit will transform your device from a source of distraction into a tool of intention.
Use the Screen Time widget to see at a glance how you’re spending time on your phone, not just burying the data in Settings.
The ‘Mirror’ on the Wall vs. The ‘Mirror’ in the Attic
The Screen Time data is the honest, and often brutal, mirror that reflects your true digital habits. Burying that data deep in your Settings app is like keeping that mirror locked away in the attic. You will rarely, if ever, look at it. Placing the Screen Time widget on your Home Screen is like hanging that giant, honest mirror right on your living room wall. You will be forced to look at it, to confront it, and to be aware of it every single day. It is the most powerful and most direct way to stay conscious of where your time is going.
Stop just using apps. Do learn about the developers who make them.
The ‘Chef’ vs. The ‘Meal’
Using an app without knowing who made it is like eating a beautiful meal at a restaurant without knowing anything about the chef. You might enjoy the “meal,” but you are missing the story, the passion, and the artistry behind it. The App Store is full of brilliant, creative, and passionate “chefs”—the independent developers. By taking a moment to learn their names, to read their stories on the “Today” tab, and to follow them on social media, you can transform the anonymous act of consumption into a richer, more human, and more appreciative experience.
Stop letting apps constantly ask for your location. Do set it to “While Using” or “Ask Next Time.”
The ‘Polite Guest’ vs. The ‘Nosy Roommate’
Allowing an app to always have access to your location is like having a nosy roommate who is constantly tracking your every move, 24/7. It is a massive invasion of your privacy. A much smarter and safer option is to set the permission to “While Using the App.” This is like a polite guest who only knows your location while they are actively visiting your house. The “Ask Next Time” option is even better; it forces the guest to knock on the door and ask for permission every single time they want to know where you are.
The #1 secret for a stable iPhone is to avoid installing beta software on your primary device.
The ‘Experimental Jet’ vs. The ‘Commercial Airliner’
A public beta of iOS is an experimental, test-pilot-only jet. It is an exciting, thrilling, and cutting-edge piece of technology. It is also inherently unstable, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous. Your primary, everyday iPhone is the safe, reliable, and fully-certified commercial airliner that is responsible for carrying your entire, precious digital life. The #1 secret for a safe and stable journey is to never, ever, under any circumstances, use your commercial airliner as a test plane. Let the professional test pilots find the bugs.
I’m just going to say it: iOS is a mature operating system, so revolutionary new features are going to be rare.
The ‘Skyscraper’ That’s Already Built
In the early days, iOS was a construction site, and every year we got to see them add a whole new, revolutionary floor to the skyscraper. But that skyscraper is now a beautiful, mature, and mostly-finished, 17-story building. The days of adding entire new floors are likely over. From now on, the “innovation” will be in the form of beautiful, refined, and thoughtful “interior renovations”—a redesigned lobby, a new set of elevators, a better security system. The revolutionary work is done; the age of refinement has begun.
The reason you can’t install an update is because your battery is too low; plug it in.
The ‘Construction Crew’ That Needs ‘Power’
A major software update is like a crew of construction workers who have come to perform a complex and delicate renovation on your house’s foundation. It is a power-intensive and high-stakes job. For safety, this construction crew has one, single, unbreakable rule: they will not, under any circumstances, begin the job unless the house has a stable, reliable, and sufficient connection to the main power grid. If your battery is too low, the “foreman” (your iPhone) will simply refuse to let them start the work. Plug it in.
If you’re still using a QR code scanner app, you’re not using the one built into your Camera.
The ‘Key’ That’s Already in Your Hand
A QR code is a key that unlocks a digital door. Using a separate, third-party app to scan them is like seeing a locked door and then having to rummage through your entire bag to find the right key. Your iPhone’s built-in Camera app is the master key that you are already holding in your hand. You don’t need to do anything special. Just open your camera, point it at the QR code, and the door will unlock automatically. It’s a seamless, instantaneous process that requires no extra, clunky steps.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that the App Store is perfectly curated.
The ‘Giant, Public Library’ with a ‘Few Bad Books’
The App Store is the largest and most impressive public library in the history of the world. And it has a team of very good, very diligent librarians who do their best to keep the shelves organized and to remove the truly terrible books. But it is not a perfect, hand-picked, boutique bookstore. It is a vast, sprawling, and sometimes-chaotic public institution. And just like any giant library, there are a huge number of mediocre, poorly-written, and even-deceptive “books” on the shelves. The curation is good, but it is not infallible.
I wish I knew that I could delete Apple’s built-in apps if I didn’t use them.
The ‘Pre-Installed Furniture’ You Can Actually Remove
When you get a new iPhone, it’s like moving into a new house that has been pre-furnished by the builder. For years, you were not allowed to remove any of this furniture, even if you never used it. That is no longer true. You are now the homeowner. If you never use the “Stocks” end table or the “Compass” floor lamp, you can now take that piece of furniture and put it away in storage. You can delete almost all of Apple’s built-in apps, freeing up space and de-cluttering your digital home.
99% of users don’t know what a “Universal Purchase” is (buy once, use on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV).
The ‘Magical, Multi-Room’ Key
A “Universal Purchase” is like buying one, single, magical key that can simultaneously and automatically unlock the same door in four, separate houses. When you buy a “Universal” app, you are not just buying the iPhone version. You are also, at the exact same time and for the exact same price, buying the iPad version, the Mac version, and the Apple TV version. It’s a fantastic, consumer-friendly feature that allows you to have a seamless, consistent experience with your favorite apps across your entire, digital real estate portfolio.
This one small action of checking the “Last Updated” date on an app will tell you if the developer still supports it.
The ‘Expiration Date’ on the ‘Milk Carton’
The “Last Updated” date on an app’s page is the “expiration date” on the carton of milk. If the app was updated in the last few months, you know that the “milk” is fresh, safe, and has been recently attended to by the “farmer” (the developer). But if the app has not been updated in two, three, or even five years, you know that the milk is old, that the farmer has abandoned the farm, and that it is probably sour, spoiled, and potentially even dangerous to drink.
Use the App Store as a tool for empowerment, not as a digital shopping mall for distractions.
The ‘University’ vs. The ‘Shopping Mall’
The App Store is a vast, sprawling city that has two, very different districts. It has a glittering, tempting, and deeply-distracting “shopping mall” that is full of games and social media. But it also has a quiet, beautiful, and world-class “university” that is full of powerful tools for learning, for creating, and for self-improvement. The secret to a healthier digital life is to make a conscious, daily choice to spend a little more of your time on the university campus, and a little less of your time in the mall.