Microsoft Support & Discussions

If you're struggling with an iPhone or iPad that isn't working right, restoring it as new can be just what the device ordered! I've had a third-generation iPad — the first Retina Display-equipped model — since it was released. I've never upgraded, not even to the new iPad Air or iPad Air 2 because the iPad 3 has always done what I wanted it to do. Or at least it used to. When I first updated to iOS 8, it killed my iPad. Made it a doorstop. The iPad became sluggish and unresponsive. It became almost impossible to type on it; launching apps became excruciatingly slow, and I'd occasionally get spontaneous restarts too. I was afraid it wasn't going to be useful anymore.…

Ed: Welcome to this week's edition of The Pixel Project: a weekly comic from Diesel Sweeties' Rich Stevens on Apple, technology, and everything in-between. Today: The Truth About All Operating System Arguments Read more comics from the Pixel Project on iMore.com. Continue reading...

Here's how to add custom quick replies to Messages on your Apple Watch. When it comes to sending quick messages, your Apple Watch excels. But if you find yourself often sending texts that might be too complicated for Siri to parse, or you happen to dictate the same phrase over and over, try adding custom replies to your Messages screen. How to add custom Message responses to your Apple Watch Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. Tap on My Watch. Tap on Messages. Tap on Default Replies. From here, you can type up to six replies that will show up on the Messages screen when composing or replying to a text. Emojis work, too! (Yes, even Spock's "live…

Microsoft today teased a planned update that is expected to hit the App Store later this year. The next version of Xbox Music will enable you to stream music from OneDrive cloud storage. Alongside the announcement of Cortana for iPhones, which is also set to arrive later in 2015, Microsoft detailed plans to allow iPhones with Xbox Music installed to stream music from OneDrive at no extra cost. "With the latest upcoming version of the Music app, you'll be able to store and access your music from OneDrive not only on your PC but now also play it anywhere, for free, on your iOS or Android phone (this already works on Windows phones). This means the music playl…

Including two per package, these iPhone 6 screen protectors are simple to apply and leave no sticky residue when removed. They're made of a tough, self-adhesive polymer that stand up to common enemies such as keys, dirt and other debris. Get yours today and save 50% off the regular price! Continue reading...

In a mobile-first, cloud-first world, it’s devices that enable all the experiences to come together for consumers, businesses, developers and IT. Working with our partners, Microsoft has helped enable an amazing breadth of devices running Windows, desktop and mobile apps and compelling services to make people more productive in their digital work and life. Our aspiration is to continue to build and grow a vibrant community of billions of people who love and rely on Microsoft experiences, on any device, across all aspects of their daily lives. To achieve this Microsoft has made a series of moves to win over the hearts and minds of our partners and customers. We’ve re-engin…

Microsoft says Windows 10 will be the last version of Windows. Should OS X 10.11 be the last version of OS X? Microsoft's Jerry Nixon raised eyebrows at the company's Ignite conference recently. He said that Windows 10 "is the last version of Windows.". Microsoft may be on to something, and I'm wondering how well it would work for the Mac when it comes to OS X 10.11. An iterative approach might give Apple an opportunity to introduce new technology more gradually. Nixon doesn't mean that Microsoft has any plans to cancel Windows or do something else radical with it. Instead, he's talking about Microsoft's plans to evolve Windows as a service, rather than as a…

Microsoft is bringing its Cortana digital assistant to the massive audience of iPhone users later this year. Microsoft says it will bring its Cortana digital assistant that was originally developed for Windows Phone 8.1, and later for Windows 10, to the iPhone sometime later this year The app will be a "companion" to the Windows 10 PC version of Cortana. Here's what Microsoft has to say about Cortana, which is also coming to Android. The 'Phone Companion' app on the PC will help you install the Cortana app from the Google Play or Apple App Store onto your phone so you'll be able to take the intelligence of Cortana with you, wherever you go. The Cortana app can …

Having trouble getting iTunes to recognize your iPhone or iPad? While there are are fewer reasons than ever to plug your iPhone or iPad into iTunes on your computer as time goes on, when you do — to transfer large media files, to make an encrypted backup, to restore your device, etc. — you need it to work. So what happens when it doesn't? What happens when it won't connect to iTunes? That's the issue we tackle in this edition of iOS Help! iOS Help Every Thursday our Ally Kazmucha brings you iOS Help — a column where you can get your iPhone and iPad questions answered and problems solved! Submit your question Email iOS Help There are many reasons w…

Steve Jobs once said no one had more operational power at Apple, aside from himself, than Jony Ive. Jony Ive, the man who helped reignite Apple with the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad had more operational power than the finance group, the engineering group, the services group, even the operations group. Apple, the company that put design first, put design first. For years Ive ran industrial design (ID) at Apple. When Tim Cook became CEO in the fall of 2011, he added human interface (HI) to Ive's responsibilities. The goal was to remove silos and increase collaboration. Ive, who'd long had Richard Howarth as a lieutenant for ID, brought Alan Dye over from marketing to …

If you want to keep informed about the weather, there's no better place than on your wrist. Like time, weather is something that a lot of people want to stay updated on as often as possible. Having it on your Apple Watch means quick information about temperature, precipitation, and even sunrise/sunset can be just a turn of the wrist away. What's more, thanks to Siri and the built-in Weather app, you can get more detailed information about any city in the world, and any day in the next week, with just a word or a few taps. Here's how! How to check the weather on your Apple Watch with complications How to check the weather on your Apple Watch with Siri How to check…

Jony Ive is now Apple's Chief Design Officer, a step up from his previous role as Senior Vice President of Design. An interview with Stephen Fry has revealed that design guru Jony Ive has been promoted to Chief Design Officer at Apple. Joining Ive in his promotion are Richard Howarth and Alan Dye, who are now the heads of Industrial Design (ID) and Human Interface (HI), respectively. From The Telegraph: Until now, Ive's job title has been Senior Vice President of Design. But I can reveal that he has just been promoted and is now Apple's Chief Design Officer. It is therefore an especially exciting time for him. Inside the fabled design studio (cloths over the l…

Have you used the Apple Watch's Camera Remote feature? Show us on Instagram with #shotonapplewatch. We love taking pictures with our iPhone here at iMore, and adding an Apple Watch into the fray has been an awesome new tool for iPhone photography. As such, we'd love to see any images you've taken with your iPhone and the Apple Watch's Camera Remote feature. Post them to Instagram and include the #shotonapplewatch hashtag, and we'll feature the very best on iMore.com next Monday. How to use the Apple Watch to take photos with your iPhone The prize The winner this week is going to take home a Glif Tripod Mount and Stand and a $25 iTunes gift card! This is the…

Want to frame and take a photo with your iPhone from afar? Just use the Apple Watch. If you're lucky enough to own an Apple Watch, you can use its Camera Remote app to snap images from your iPhone's front or back still camera. This is great for group shots, low-light exposures where you don't want to touch the iPhone, and more. How to shoot photos with your Apple Watch and iPhone Open the Camera app on your iPhone. Open the Camera Remote app on your Apple Watch. After the app loads, you can use its viewscreen to help position your iPhone on a tripod or elsewhere to get the perfect shot. When you've finished tweaking the framing, you have two optio…

Lara Croft: Relic Run is now available for both the iPhone and iPad, just a month after it was first shown off. Back in April we first caught wind that Lara Croft: Relic Run would be making its way to the iPhone and iPad at some point this year, but it was unknown exactly when. Well the wait is over, and the game is now available for your downloading and playing pleasure. Some of the gameplay features include: Make your way through multiple ancient locations - each filled with secrets and danger Power up Lara's weapons and engage in frantic combat Use Parkour moves to create death-defying last minute escapes Fast-paced vehicles like ATVs and motorcycles…

If you'd like to make images and text easier to read, or if you'd like to have even more desktop space, the Mac makes it easy to adjust. With just a few clicks in System Preferences, you can go through all the resolutions supported on your Mac. If you're using a Retina display, you can switch from "Default for display" to "scaled" and either make things big or make use of all the pixels at your disposal. That can help with legibility or just help you cram even more windows onto your Mac. The procedure is different depending on what sort of screen you have connected to your Mac: built-in or external. How to change the resolution of your Mac's built-in display …

Your Apple Watch can't send emails, but it can make dealing with them a whole lot easier. Everyone has a different system for sorting emails, whether it's Inbox Zero, and trying to delete everything of unimportance, or flagging and marking emails you need to respond to as unread. Your Apple Watch can't reply to incoming emails from the Mail app, but it can make sure that they're easier to deal with when you return to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. How to manage your emails with Apple Watch from Notification Center Open Notification Center by swiping down from the clock face. Tap on the notification in question. From here, you can Flag, Mark as unread, or Archive/d…

Lightweight and durable, the Feather Case for iPhone 6 is engineered to provide inconspicuous protection. The snap-on application of this hard case allows for quick installation when needed and its soft touch finish provides a comfortable grip in the hand. Choose your favorite color today and save 40% Continue reading...

If you have a lot of peripherals to connect to your Mac, and you want high-performance, you should consider a Thunderbolt 2 dock. Using a Thunderbolt 2 dock has practical benefits. For one thing, it simplifies the connection to your Mac down to a single cable. For another, it makes attaching a wide array of devices to your Mac quick and easy. And with twice the bandwidth of the original Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt 2 is an even faster way to connect. If that sounds like what you need, here's a roundup of our favorites for you to check out. Note: These are all standalone docks, as opposed to laptop-specific docks with Thunderbolt 2 support. OWC Thunderbolt 2 Dock …

Over the last few months, we've gone over many of the reasons why more people than ever are switching to iPhone. That includes the amazing camera, the terrific apps, the focus on privacy and security, and the advantages of Apple Pay, Apple Stores, and AppleCare, or just to get the Apple Watch. We've also gone over the reasons many of our readers have switched from their Nexus, Galaxy S, and other Android Phones, and gone all in on iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. But that still leaves many of you who haven't yet made the switch, and today I want to ask you — why? Some of you have previously said you were worried about leaving all your Google Play services behind, but Goog…

With your Apple Watch, your calendar isn't just in your pocket anymore — it's on your wrist. If keeping up to date is important to you, the Apple Watch will do more than just tell you the day and time, it'll make all your meetings, appointments, and events instantly accessible — with complications, Siri, Glances, and an app! How to check the calendar on your Apple Watch with complications How to check the calendar on your Apple Watch with Siri How to check the calendar on your Apple Watch with the Glance How to check the calendar on your Apple Watch with the app How to check the calendar on your Apple Watch with complications You can set up your Apple Wa…

Photos for OS X brings Apple's new, system-live image and video service to the Mac. That meant an end to Apple's traditional photography tools, iPhoto and Aperture, but in their place Photos for OX offers seamless integration with Photos for iOS. That includes sync for both content and edits via iCloud Photo Library. With optimized storage, only your most frequent, favorite, and recent images and videos take up space on your Mac's drive while the rest are stores a click-and-download away on Apple's servers. Yet, as much as Photos for OS X may have replaced iPhoto, it's left some Aperture users looking for more. So, what would you change? Support for external editor…

Apple designed it so that a single iPhone would be paired with a single Apple Watch. That doesn't mean you can't use multiple Apple Watches with your iPhone if you really want to, but it does mean it'll require some extra work on your part. Basically you need to pair, un-pair, and re-pair with your iPhone every time you switch Apple Watches. Yeah, it's a pain, but if you want a workout and a dress Apple Watch, or a fancy and a casual one, we can walk you through the process! How to switch from one Apple Watch to another Pair your iPhone with your first Apple Watch. How to pair your iPhone to your Apple Watch [*]When you want to switch, un-pair your iPhone fr…

This skin case is made out of 100% premium silicone and is a great, lightweight option for protecting your iPhone 6. The durable silicone absorbs any shock from accidental drops or bumps, keeping it just like new. The smooth silicone gives you a sure and lasting grip, too! Choose your favorite color and save 62% Continue reading...