This hidden iPhone feature lets you perform one of 6 secret functions in an instant

With millions of new people continuing to Buy Apple's iPhone 6 , iPhone 6 Plus and other iPhone models each month, it’s important for us to remember that there are tons of great tips and tricks newer users simply don’t know about. Even when we cover handy tips and tricks on the site, it can be important to address them again down the road for these new users. It also helps existing users, of course, who can often forget about cool iPhone features because there’s just so much to remember in iOS.

Today, we want to bring one simple hidden iPhone feature to your attention that can be used to perform any one of six different functions in a fraction of a second.

The Accessibility section within Apple’s Settings app on iPhones and iPads likely makes the iOS platform the best on the planet for people with a wide range of disabilities. This subsection of the Settings app is also a treasure trove of secret features that many iOS users would never uncover on their own.

Of course, that’s why we’re here.

In the past, we have covered a range of hidden functionality that can be unlocked in an iPhone’s Accessibility settings. For example, we told you about a secret trick that could dramatically improve your iPhone’s battery life, as well as a tip that adds a nifty dimming effect to the screen to help with viewing the phone in low light.

Now, it’s time to wrap a bunch of those individual posts into one nifty how-to: It’s high time you met the Accessibility Shortcut section in your iPhone’s Settings app.

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap General
3. Tap Accessibility
4. Scroll all the way to the bottom and tap Accessibility Shortcut

In this section of the iPhone’s Accessibility settings, you’ll find six options listed. By selecting any of them, you’ll enable a hidden iPhone shortcut — the home button triple-tap — that will give you access to any of those functions in an instant.

Here are the six options:

1. VoiceOver
2. Invert Colors
3. Grayscale
4. Zoom
5. Switch Control
6. AssitiveTouch

So, for example, if you select the “Invert Colors” option, the colors of everything on your display will be inverted anytime you triple-click your iPhone’s home button while on any screen.

VoiceOver will make Siri describe everything happening on any given screen, grayscale will remove all color from the screen and display only shades of gray, and Zoom adds a built-in magnifier. Finally, Switch Control lets you navigate your phone with simple head gestures, and AssistiveTouch makes the iPhone simpler to use for people with motor control problems.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 release date, rumours and specs

The latest iPhone 6s features, specs, release date, rumours and leaked pictures - or should that be the iPhone 7?

9to5Mac obtained images of what appears to be the iPhone 6s Photo: 9to5Mac

Few events work the technology world into a frenzy quite like an iPhone launch, and this year's anticipated event looks set to be no exception. Read on for the latest rumours, features and specs circulating the internet.

When will it be launched?

^{There is a significant size difference between the iPhone 5s (L), launched September 2013, and iPhone 6 Plus (R), launched September 2014}

New iPhone launches have settled into a regular schedule which sees new models each September. For several years we have seen a major update every other year, with more incremental improvements carrying s or c monikers. For instance, in September 2012 we got an all-new iPhone 5, followed by the updated iPhone 5s and 5c in September 2013.

The new handset is likely to be launched during a keynote speech by Apple chief executive Tim Cook, with additional speeches from senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller and senior vice president of internet software and services Eddy Cue, who helped to showcase the 6 and 6 Plus last year.

The new model will run iOS 9, the newest version of Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch software which was announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in early June.

Updates and features include Siri becoming more proactive in recognising your behaviour, longer battery life and improvements to existing apps including Maps and Notes. The new News app aims to provide an experience akin to reading a magazine, with big glossy visuals.

What will it be called?

A popular concept image for the iPhone 6

Good question. Going by the above pattern, and assuming that Apple keeps a small (4.7-inch) and large (5.5-inch) version, designating the latter 'Plus', we'll have the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

However, there are also rumours that we will get a third phone this year - an iPhone 6c. Earlier in May Apple appeared to leak a picture of what could be the iPhone 6c on its site - what looked like an updated iPhone 5c with an Touch ID sensor on its home button. However, it's more likely this was a poorly-rendered picture of an original 5c, and the image has since been removed from the site.

Despite all this, Apple could choose to buck its own naming convention and go straight in with the iPhone 7. We'll just have to wait to find out.

When will it go on sale?

The iPhone 6s' sale date has been given away in a leaked internal email from Vodafone. The email reveals the newest handset will go on sale on September 25, with pre-orders being accepted from September 18. The memo, seen by Mobile News, does not clarify the exact name of the model, called simply 'the new iPhone'.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has asked its suppliers to producea record number of new models - between 85 million and 90 million compared to last year's 70-80 million, suggesting strong faith the new generation of iPhones will outsell its predecessors.

One thing we can expect is to see the return of the queues snaking around Apple stores across the globe. For the launch of the Apple Watch, Apple decided on a soft 'online-only' launch, meaning the April 24 date effectively only meant some models started shipping that day and were not available to buy in the shops. Retail chief Angela Ahrendts told staff in a memo seen by the Telegraph that not every new Apple product would be launched in this manner. "We all love those blockbuster Apple product launch days - and there will be many more to come," she said.

So regardless of when the new phone goes on sale, we're likely to see the same old faces at the head of the queues.

What new features can we expect?

^{How designer Martin Hajek envisions a home button-less iPhone}

The Taptic Engine and Force Touch from the new MacBook and Apple Watch are rumoured to be making an appearance on the new iPhone, giving users new ways of interacting with their handset. Force Touch detects how hard the user is pressing and allows different actions to be carried out accordingly. Press the fast-forward button in a video player, and you can vary the speed at which it skips by pressing lighter or harder, for instance.

In late June it was reported that initial production had started on two 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones, both equipped with Force Touch technology.

The next version of the iPhone will see the “biggest camera jump ever”, offering quality to rival a DSLR, according to blogger John Gruber. He reported in November that the new device would include a "weird two-lens system where the back camera uses two lenses and it somehow takes it up into DSLR quality imagery.” What exactly the “two lens” system refers to is unclear, and is likely to remain so until the launch. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities claims the next camera will receive a welcome bump up to 12MP, with the front camera capable of recording 1080p video at 60fps, 240fps in slow motion mode and flash support.

According to research from Barclays, the 6s will sport a new near-field communication (NFC) NXP 66VP2 chip, up from the 65V10 used in the 6 and 6 Plus. Another new STMicro chip is also likely for inclusion, which could be used for any function requiring data security, including soft SIM, health or biometric data, secure multimedia streaming, Enterprise authentication, or Automotive.

^{The composition of the iPhone 6 camera lens}

Sapphire glass - a scratch resistant material used in screens - is another likely feature. It was widely slated for an appearance on the iPhone 6 but manufacturing problems reportedly got in the way.

There could also be a new processor - the A9 - produced by Samsung. It will be smaller, faster and use less power, just as you'd expect from a new chip. The current A8 series use a 20nm process and the new ones would use 14nm. RAM is also likely to be upgraded to 2GB from the current 1GB.

One unusual update could be a safety feature that uses the vibrating motor, "air foils" or ejecting batteries to spin the handset in mid-air if it's dropped and ensure that it always lands screen-up. The company claims that this will reduce the chance of cracked displays, and has been granted a patent on the idea.

Another rumour that has persisted for some time is the idea of Apple doing away with the home button altogether, to create a more streamlined device with a larger display. To do so, however, the company would have to find a way of integrating its Touch ID technology into the entire display, rather than just within the home button's sensor.

Apple has filed numerous patents around this, including one which would allow the phone's display to identify multiple fingerprints at once. It's pretty unlikely we'll see this development in iPhones for a couple of years, however.

Another feature that may take a few years to make it into final models is Apple replacing the iPhone's current LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with a new organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen - also used in the Apple Watch. It effectively means we could see flexible-screened iPhones by 2018 as suppliers are already working towards production of the new displays, according to reports.

We've known that Apple has been interested in bendy devices for a while now - several patents have been granted in recent years.

What will it look like?

Images of what is claimed to be the iPhone 6s were leaked to 9to5Mac in early July, showing internal and external views of silver metal casing, which looks very similar to the anodised aluminium used in the iPhone 6. However, in reality this could be the Series 7000 aluminium alloy used for the Apple Watch Sport - a new strengthened composite.

^{9to5Mac obtained images of what appears to be the iPhone 6s}

The casing appears to be the same width as the 6, suggesting Apple is indeed planning to keep to the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch dimension precedent.

^{iPhone 6s schematics: slightly thicker than the 6}

However, schematics leaked by a source with a Chinese supply line to Engadget Japan suggests the iPhone 6s will be 0.2mm thicker than its predecessor at 7.1mm, a potential concession to Force Touch given the capactive glass surface and the internal taptic engine used within the recently-released 12-inch MacBook and refreshed 15-inch MacBook Pro.

^{How Force Touch works within a MacBook trackpad}

A small rectangular hole cut into what appears to be the underside of an iPhone 6s display panel (according to 9to5Mac) could be a space for the taptic engine required for Force Touch.

^{The small rectangular hole in the underside of what could be the iPhone 6s' display panel}

Steve Hemmerstoffer of Nowwhereelse.fr has sourced what appears to be CAD renderings of the purported iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, with the same dimensions of 7.1mm thickness. The 6S Plus appears to be 7.3mm thick, extending to 7.8mm thanks to the protruding camera.

^{CAD renders obtained by Uswitch suggest the same dimensions}

^{The mounting points are in a slightly different position}

Internally the frame sports newly-located mounting points to support a new logic board. The speaker holes, headphone jack, microphone and lightning charging ports remain in the same places.

^{The camera may still enjoy an internal upgrade, but the hardware looks to be the same size as the iPhone 6}

^{The charging port remains in the same place}

Designer Antonio De Rosa envisions the next iPhone as taking on theApple Watch's digital crown on its right hand side - an unlikely but nonetheless good-looking concept.

^{Will the next iPhone sport a digital crown? Almost definitely not.}

^{Designer Martin Hajek's vision of a rose gold iPhone, pictured next to a rose gold Apple Watch Edition}

• Is this what the iPhone 6s will look like?: in pictures
• Apple's iPhone: a history in pictures

Kuo again claims the iPhone 6s will come in a new rose gold hue, and that Apple is planning to stick to the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch size conventions established by the 6 and 6 Plus, scotching previous rumours a 4-inch version was in development.

Chief executive Tim Cook has said that the company takes Chinese consumer tastes into account when it designs many of its products, and considers details including colour palettes to suit local tastes. The decision to offer a gold iPhone in 2013 reflects in part the popularity of that color among Chinese users, he added.

It's unknown whether the new model would be rose gold-coloured anodised aluminium, like the current iPhone 6 and 6 Plus' gold option, or actual 18-carat rose gold like the luxury Edition Apple Watch, which is priced from £8,000.

^{How the new iPhone 6s line up could look} 

Apple filed a patent which could potentially see the end of the thin plastic strips which run across the width of the iPhone 5 upwards back in December 2013. The filing, which was published on June 18, details how the company is developing a metal composite to replace the plastic strips, which are necessary for the phone's antenna to send and receive signal. Future iPhones could see a complete anodised alumnium unibody design.

What about the iPhone 6c?

It's possible that Apple is also working on a refresh of the colourful iPhone 5c line, updating the device with Touch ID sensors and Sony camera sensors, according to GSM Dome.

Apple iOS: a brief history

As we prepare for the potential unveiling of iOS 9 at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, Rhiannon Williams takes a look at the history of Apple's mobile operating system

There are few tribal arguments in the technology world that divide quite so sharply as your choice of smartphone or tablet operating system. Whether you're a die-hard Android or an iOS devotee, the devotion to each is passionate and embittered, with arguments raging in forums and comment sections across the land.

Where Android prides itself on its transparency and customability, iOS is praised as a clever ecosystem that 'just works'. The entire system is an uncompromising labour of love that enchants as much as it infuriates, and ahead of the potential iOS 9 big reveal at this year's WWDC, rumours are circulating as to what the latest features and updates may hold.

Now accounting for around 20.3 per cent of the European smartphone market, according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, iOS is the second most popular operating system in Europe behind Android. Here's a brief history of each incarnation of the system since its 2007 inception.

2007: iPhone OS 1

^{The first iPhone, launched by the late Steve Jobs in 2007}

Revealed alongside the original iPhone in January 2007, the first Apple smartphone operating system was not given a specific name until the following March, with the launch of the first Software Development Kit beta., when it became known as iPhone OS. The first iPhone could not support 3G, the copy and paste function, email attachments or MMS - and couldn't run third party apps.
Further updates included the introduction of the iTunes Music Store, allowing users to purchase music directly onto their phones (through a WiFi connection) for the first time, and the ability to create their own ringtones.

2008: iPhone OS 2

^{The iPhone 3G, complete with GPS}

Coinsiding with the launch of the iPhone 3G, the second major update to the operating system saw the launch of the App Store, leading to the introduction of third party apps and games. Full support for Microsoft Exchange and the option to wipe your phone in the event of failing to enter your passcode were other new features, the latter being added in a subsequent update.
Google Street View was enabled with the 2.2 update, featuring walking, driving and public transport options.

2009: iPhone OS 3

^{The iPhone 3GS enabled typing via a horizontal keyboard for the first time.}

With the third incarnation for the new 3GS handset, the cut, copy and paste function finally became commonplace, alongside the long-awaited push notifications for third party apps. Video recording, MMS (multimedia messaging service) and voice control were also added, and users were given the chance to purchase films, TV shows and audiobooks through iTunes.
Spotlight search enabled more comprehensive search through email, contacts, calendar, notes and within music, and the new voice memo function facilitated the recording and storing of audio notes. Purchasing within apps was also introduced, but only within paid-for apps.

The 3.2 version contained a raft of improvements designed for use with the newly released iPad. While not supporting general multitasking, it was made to accommodate the differing resolution of a larger screen than the iPhone, as well as revamping apps specifically for the new platform.

2010: iOS 4

^{Steve Jobs launching the iPhone 4 in 2010}

Introduced on June 21 2010, iOS 4 was the first operating system to bear the iOS name, released on the new flagship iPhone 4. Its folder system accommodated the storing of up to 12 similar apps within one mother folder, while multitasking allowed apps to run simultaneously, such as writing an email while listening to Spotify, and navigation apps continuing to track your location in the background.
iBooks, Apple's ebook-reading software, and its parent iBookstore was introduced, and the improved 5MP iPhone 4 camera was complemented by 'tap to focus' software and 5x digital zoom. The device's new front-facing camera also facilitated video calling feature FaceTime.

2011: iOS 5

^{Susan Bennett, a voice-over actor from Atlanta, was the original voice of Siri}

2011 saw the launch of the iPhone 4S and with it, iOS 5. The main new feature was Siri, Apple's voice-activated virtual assistant that had previously been downloadable from the App Store as a third party app. Now integrated into the OS, Siri now communicated with other apps to make calls, check emails and transcribe text.
Containing more than 200 new features, iOS 5 heralded the arrival of iOS user messaging system iMessage, Twitter integration across a range of apps and online storage facility iCloud, replacing previous system MobileMe.

2012: iOS 6

^{WWDC 2012 took place in San Francisco's Moscone Centre}

Tim Cook took to the stage at Apple's 2012 WorldWide Developers' Conference shocked fans by announcing that Google Maps would not feature in latest incarnation iOS 6, and would be replaced by the company's own inbuilt Maps app.
Siri also received a makeover, featuring restaurant recommendations, the ability to dictate tweets or Facebook statuses and film reviews.
A year after Twitter integration into Apple's native apps, Facebook was added to the fold, and Apple launched its answer to Google Wallet, Passbook, will collated tickets, boarding passes and coupons within the single app. 

2013: iOS 7

^{iOS 7 compared to iOS 6}

iOS 7 marked a radical aesthetic departure for Apple, masterminded by Sir Jony Ive, and debuted on the twin release of the iPhones 5s and 5c. The new 'flattened' and pared-back user interface drew praise and criticism in equal measures.
The single-swipe control centre feature allowed users to quickly access key settings such as WiFi, Airplane mode, Bluetooth and the newly-introduced torch without having to delve into the Settings menu. Siri was upgraded to both male and female voices, and redesigned to understand French and German.
Other changes included a new camera interface with a square photo mode, full multitasking for all apps and new wallpapers.

2014: iOS 8

^{Banners displayed at WWDC 2014}

Announced at the 2014 WWDC conference, iOS 8 features frameworks HealthKit and HomeKit, integrating apps to track health data and the standardisation of controlling internet-enabled home appliances.
It shipped on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus following their launch in September last year, and a beta version of iOS 8.4 is currently available to download.
Other features include being able to send audio and video messages by holding down a record button while inside the Messages app, new predictive typing feature QuickType and the new and improved file hosting service iCloud Drive.

2015: iOS 9?

^{The WWDC 2015 logo}

Details are beginning to leak of what we can expect from iOS 9, and it looks to be a fairly exciting upgrade. The newly revamped Beats Music - believed to be called Apple Music - is expected to be announced at WWDC, alongside split-screen mode support for multitasking on iPad. Other significant rumours include Force Touch support, a new security system called Rootless, enhanced Spotlight search function renamed Proactive and an Apple Pay rewards scheme.

How to install iOS 8

Apple has introduced iOS 8, the latest version of its mobile operating system. Here's how to update your iPhone or iPad when it becomes available to the public 

As iOS 8 becomes available to download from today, here's a brief and handy guide on how to get started with Apple's latest operating system. 
Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will ship with iOS 8 as standard, and will be available to buy from September 19.

1) Check if your device is compatible

Before you do anything else, check whether your device is actually eligible to install the new software. Apple usually limits system updates to its newer devices. The following devices (along with the preinstalled iPhone 6) have been named by the company as compatible with iOS 8: iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air and iPad Mini.

2) Make sure you have backed everything up before installing the upgrade

By far the most important thing to do before starting the installation is to backup everything on your iPhone/iPad. In the unlikely case of the upgrade failing, this means that you’ll be able to restore the device completely and start again without losing important data.

If you use iCloud for your backups, go to Settings, iCloud, Storage and Backup, then tap 'Back Up Now', or you can use iTunes to do so by plugging in your device, choosing it from the menu on iTunes, and selecting ‘Back Up Now’. A backup will then be saved onto your computer’s hard disk.

3) Create enough room to install the new software

For the new download to happen, you’ll need to have enough space on your device to accommodate all the upgrades. At least 1GB of free space will be required on your iPhone or iPad before you can get started.

Photos, videos and big apps tend to be the main culprits for memory hogging, but to see exactly what to get rid of, go to Usage under General in Settings. Here you’ll find a list of everything that uses space and how much, in size order.

4) Download and install the update

Once all that’s done, you’re now ready to install iOS 8. You should get a notification that the new operating system is available, at which point you can do so easily through the Software Update option in Settings. Make sure your device is connected to both Wi-Fi and a power supply, then simply tap Download and Install to do so.

If your device is passcode enabled, you’ll need to enter the passcode before installing the update. You’ll need to set aside some time for the update to complete - don't try to use apps, make calls or send texts while iOS 8 is installing.

If however you’d prefer to update using iTunes, you should install the latest version of iTunes on your computer, then connect your device and select your device from the menu. Under Summary, click Check for Update, then choose Download and Install, and it should be taken care of.

5) Confirm your iCloud details and start using your phone

When the update is complete, your device should restart automatically. Once it does, you may be asked to enter some iCloud details, and set security questions. After these have been filled out, your newly updated device should be ready to use.

iPhone 6 and iOS 8: 16 hidden features

With the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus comes a brand new mobile operating system, iOS 8, available to download for older devices from today. Currently, iOS is one of the most popular operating systems in the world, playing second fiddle only to Android. Now upgraded to include a raft of new features, Apple will be hoping that the updated system will help in closing this gap. Here are some of the features that might not be immediately obvious, but could certainly help their cause.

1) ‘Send Last Location’ setting

A Send Last Location feature has been added to Find my iPhone so that your GPS coordinates are backed up to iCloud whenever your battery life is close to running out.

Just before the battery shuts down, the last thing the device does is pinpoint exactly where you left it, so there’ll be no need to turn the house upside down for your phone when it’s sitting pretty in the office.

2) Detailed battery usage breakdown

Is Kim Kardashian (or more specifically, her mobile game) responsible for running down your battery life? A new option in the usage menu under Settings will be able to tell you; it provides a breakdown of how much battery each app has used in the last 24 hours or seven days.

3) Leave Group Conversation option

Good news for those with already quite enough Whatsapp and Facebook group messages to contend with. Under Details in a group conversation on iMessage, there’s now the option to exit the conversation. Alternatively, if you’re not watching the same programme your friends are live messaging and fancy a little respite, you can also select the Do Not Disturb option to stay in the conversation, but silence it.

4) Grayscale mode

A little ostentatious perhaps, but for anyone interested in giving their device a vintage twist, the Accessibility menu now offers a ‘grayscale’ option, that gives the entire operating system a black and white hue.

5) Reply to messages without changing screens

Previously, if you were using an app and received a text message, you’d need to exit the screen you were on in order to reply. iOS8 eliminates this irritating feature; simply swipe down on the banner that appears when a message comes through, and enter a quick response without leaving the screen.

6) Self-destructing photos

Apple appears to have taken a leaf out of Snapchat’s book with this new feature. When using iOS 8’s messages app, holding down on the camera icon opens the camera app, and any pictures or videos sent from here will self-destruct two minutes after being sent.

7) Send multiple pictures at a time

If you tap on the keyboard’s camera icon, a preview of up to 20 recent photos comes up, giving you the option to easily choose multiple photos at the same time.

8) View all attachments from a conversation without scrolling up

Instead of having to scroll back through eons of messages to relocate a photo or video previously sent by a friend, with iOS 8, you can go to a ‘Details’ icon and scroll down to view all of the attachments that any conversations has garnered.

Press down on the attachment, and you can choose to either save or delete them too. This should save photos automatically cluttering your photo stream.

9) Share your location in Messages

iOS8 allows users to share their location directly through Messages. Under Details, you can choose the option to ‘Send My Current Location’, and a mapped image will be sent to the recipient – useful for when your friend asks where to meet you.

10) Faster access to contacts

Double tapping the home button will result in your most contacted people appearing as a line of icons. Clicking on one of the faces will provide you with the option to call, chat or FaceTime this contact.

11) Upgraded Mail

With iOS 8 comes gesture based message manipulation in the Mail app. Now, users will be able to swipe to the left to reply to a message or delete a flag, or, with a harder swipe, delete the message altogether.

12) Keyboard enhancements

The new iOS 8 software sees Apple upgrade its keyboard for the first time. It now offers context-sensitive predictive typing, which claims to pick up on how you write, and subsequently provide a list of words to make texting a lot faster.

Apple claims that this feature is sensitive enough to decipher who exactly you are talking with and adjust the suggestions accordingly, so should, in theory, be able to pick up on the differences when texting your boss, as opposed to your best friend.

13) Siri listens at all times

Not as creepy as this might suggest; Apple has upgraded Siri to listen constantly in order for it to be activated simply by you saying ‘Hey Siri’, and without the need to touch the home button.

14) Siri and Shazam have integrated

Siri will now be able to recognise songs being played in the vicinity, eliminating the need to open the Shazam app used for the same purpose. You will then be able to purchase songs from the results screen.

15) Quick access to apps according to your location

Apple has built subtle notifications into the lock screen, based on location, so that if you’re near to a particular shop or business, a tiny icon for this business will appear. If you pull this up, you’ll be automatically transported into the relevant app.

16) Easily recover deleted photos

In iOS 8, when the preview icon at the bottom of the screen in the camera app is tapped, it opens up a view that allows you to recover deleted photos. To clear this menu, you can simply empty the ‘Recently Deleted’ album in the Photos app.