The 7 Things We Love About iOS 7

Brit Morin
Sep 20, 2013

If you haven’t heard, Apple released a few things recently that are kind of a big deal. First and foremost, they’ve announced (and started selling) a new line of colored and metallic iPhones…with fingerprint sensors to boot! And coupled with the cool new hardware is a major upgrade to the iPhone software: iOS 7. Just out yesterday, we’ve taken a few twists and turns while scoping out all the things this new software can do, and we have to say that we’re pretty darn impressed. To download it for yourself, either plug your phone into iTunes (and make sure you have the latest version of iTunes downloaded), or open your phone and go to Settings > General > Software Update.

To keep from gushing about all the nooks and crannies we love (you know we’re big Apple geeks and could chat about their products all day), we thought we’d cut it down to our seven absolute favorite new features.

1. Overall Design: We’ll be honest. It was weird at first, but so was the Facebook News Feed when it first launched in 2006. (Remember how many people complained?) After just a couple of days, we are now easily finding our way around and starting to really love the simplicity of the design — especially how much more vibrant all the colors are. The colorful icon for “Photos” (aka your Photo Library) is by far our favorite addition.

: Speaking of Photos, apart from the design overhaul, the new camera features are making us extremely giddy. We’re itching for more

projects! First and foremost, the camera itself is SO. FREAKING. FAST. It takes photos as soon as you touch the shutter button. And if you hold the button down, it will take multiple photos in a row until you release. (Great for those moments when you are trying to capture something in motion and need a whole lot of options for the best shot.)

Secondly, the photo library has evolved to categorize your pictures by year and place. There’s even an integrated map that will show you all your photos based on the location they were taken! Love that. Finally, now you can share photos via a feature called AirDrop, send them instantly to one (or multiple) of your friends, and have them automatically saved to their camera rolls, too. This makes photo sharing way, way easier. No more emailing pics! Example: next time you take a group photo, you don’t ALL need to snap a picture. Only one person will have to take it and then you can all get a copy instantly. Brilliant.

3. iTunes Radio: Apple calls this one “radio re-imagined” but we call it “iTunes turns into Pandora.” Basically, you can now create playlists and listen to pre-programmed “stations” that get smarter as you listen to them. Enough said.

4. Command Center: You type-A people are going to love this one. (I know I do.) Basically, Apple finally figured out that most iPhone users are constantly in need of: setting alarms, taking photos, calculating things, needing a flashlight, finding wifi, and adjusting controls like volume and brightness. So, they put all of these things together in one easy-to-open panel (just swipe up from the bottom of your phone). It’s always there, no matter which app you’re in, making it awesome for fine tuning your phone on the fly.

5. Closing Apps: In earlier versions of iOS, to shut down apps (which is a method used to help save battery, by the way), you had to do so one by one. Now, you just double tap your home button and swipe up. Voila! All apps are shut down. Battery saved.

6. Blocking People: Step off, ex-boyfriends, stalkers, bullies, and telemarketers! Now you can block all unwanted calls, messages and FaceTime requests from people who you don’t want to hear from. To do this, just click the Info button on one of your contacts and scroll down to hit “Block.” Goodbye!

7. Enhanced, Auto-Updated Apps: Not only do many of your favorite apps (Facebook, New York Times, etc) now have an enhanced design and user experience (like integration with AirDrop), but they auto-update, too! That means you never have to update an app again, you’ll never have an annoying red number on your screen, and you’ll always have the latest new features for all your apps. WIN. (We’re especially pumped about this for our Brit + Co. app… which all of you should have by now if you don’t already!)

The new App Store also has a cool feature called “Apps Near Me” which uses your location to detect which apps may be most relevant to where you are. And for moms and dads (and aunts and uncles), you’ll be excited to know there’s now a Kids category in the App Store! Related: our favorite baby onesie ever, “There’s a nap for that.”

BONUS: You guys, Siri is now a dude, too! (Just go into Settings > General > Siri to change gender preferences.) Sadly, he can’t yet be programmed to talk like Morgan Freeman or Ryan Gosling, but he CAN search through your Twitter feed to find any relevant tweets related to what you’re saying to him. It’s the little things, folks.

8 Unbeatable Deals On Apple Products No One Wants You To Know About

Prime Day continues to impress us! Apple products like iPads, iPhones, AirPods, and more are almost never on sale for prices this low. This Prime Day, we’re seeing hundreds of dollars worth of savings, which is especially satisfying if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your current desk set-upor revamping your super old headphones. Scroll on for the 7 best deals on Apple products we’ve found, available for historic sale prices now.

Amazon

Apple Watch Series 9

$280, was $399

This powerful little sidekick is now $119 off for Prime Day! You can do practically everything you do on your iPhone with the Apple Watch, like talking, texting, navigation, and workout and sleep support. It easily syncs up with the rest of your Apple devices for a seamless experience. Plus, all of your activity will be super visible and bright, thanks to the Series 9's clear interface.

Amazon

Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)

$120, was $169

You can save nearly $50 on some brand-new AirPods this Prime Day. The 3rd generation model is snug-fitting, sweat and water resistant, and lightning fast when it comes to communicating with your devices. You get up to 6 hours of listening time with a single charge, which is ample time to listen to your new favorite album or audiobook on repeat!

Amazon

Apple iPad (10th Generation)

$450, was $499

If you like to get things done on the go, the iPad is a total lifesaver. It's way more compact than a laptop, but its small size is still perfectly suitable to see the screen clearly. You can snag it in storage sizes 64GB or 256GB and four different vibrant colors on Amazon right now! This pick is compatible with the Apple Pencil as well as the Magic Keyboard (both are $50 off for Prime Day) based on your usage needs.

Amazon

Apple AirTag

$24, was $29

The AirTag ensures you'll never lose track of your wallet, keys, or backpack ever again. It communicates with the Find My app on your Apple devices, so you can locate your items in a single press of a button! This model even has a built-in speaker than can ring out loud to help you track down what you've (seemingly) lost forever.

Amazon

Apple iPhone 12

$282, was $398

The classic iPhone really speaks for itself, but this $115 off Prime Day deal makes it even better. We all live on our phones, so whether it's for scrolling TikTok, messaging your long-distance pals, or playing games, this device does it all. You can shop from storage sizes 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB and 6 different colors on Amazon right now!

Amazon

Apple AirPods Max

$395, was $549

We're never far from a pair of headphones, and the AirPods Max are definitely the hottest style to rock right now. They deliver high-quality audio through the cushioned ear cups, and you can even toggle between several different noise-cancelling settings. These wear really light on the head and even offer some nice breathability, since the headband is made from a light mesh material. With a single charge, you get up to 20 hours of listening time – and at $154 off, that's a major score!

Amazon

Apple Magic Mouse

$80, was $99

If you've been searching for an excuse to upgrade your clunky computer mouse, this wireless Magic Mouse from Apple is gonna feel like a total treat. It's compatible with both Macs and iPads to help you get the job done. This mouse works silently, too, so you won't ever be distracted by noisy scrolling or clicking again. It even has an incredibly long battery life, operating at full power even if you haven't charged it in a couple weeks!

Amazon

Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation)

$380, was $499

A slightly smaller iPad model, the Mini ($119 off) is still as great as the OG. It features a super bright and impressively clear screen display, fast wifi capability, and tons of storage to handle all your notes, apps, and photos. This model is available in storage sizes 64GB and 256GB and 4 different colorways on Amazon now.

Shop our Amazon storefront to snag more amazing Prime Day deals on beauty, home, fashion, books, and more!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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The 10 Best Super Bowl Commercials For 2025 (That You Can Already Watch)

Let’s be honest, one of the best parts of the Super Bowl is the commercials, and whether you’re rooting for the Chiefs or Eagles, there’s something for everyone to enjoy while watching. Every year, there are ones that stand out because of how hilarious, absolutely ridiculous, or celebrity-filled they are. Super Bowl commercials are also the perfect time for co-star reunions, random collaborations no one saw coming, and interesting twists on a beloved concept. Long after the big game is over, these ads will continue to be talked about, for both good or bad reasons.

Here are our picks for the 10 best new Super Bowl commercials for 2025!

10. Knock, Knock

Who’s there? Well, who wouldn’t answer the door for Post Malone and Shane Gillis, especially when they come bearing Bud Light.

​9. Who Let the Dogs Out?

Spruce is unleashing all the dogs to promote their new pet-safe weed killer. Baha Men even re-recorded their hit “Who Let the Dogs Out” for the party!

​8. Your Attention Please

Hailee Steinfeld is demanding that we “give breasts the attention they deserve” in this team up with Wanda Sykes for Novartis and breast cancer awareness. It’s time for women to put our health front and center.

​7. We’re Here

Instacart has a super fun spot for their Super Bowl debut, which includes iconic brand mascots such as Chester Cheetah, the Kool-Aid Man, the Energizer Bunny, Mr. Clean, Pillsbury Doughboy, the Green Giant, and many more. Just don’t forget to order the milk!

​6. Photobomb feat. Doja Cat

Taco Bell is ready to give fans the spotlight in their ad this year, but Doja Cat has other plans. She’s determined to break the no-celebrity rule at all costs.

​5. True to Texas

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson want to change the tune and bring film and television productions back home to Texas. As if this True Detective reunion wasn’t enough, the commercial also includes Dennis Quaid, Woody Harrelson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Renée Zellweger.

​4. First Delivery

So a horse walks into a bar to prove you’re never too little to save the day. While Budweiser might lean more into emotion rather than humor with this ad, it’s just as effective thanks to the Clydesdales.

​3. We Listen & We Don’t Judge with Charli XCX & Martha Stewart

Uber Eats is bringing Charli XCX and Martha Stewart together to try the “We Listen and Don't Judge Challenge” TikTok trend. However, something tells us that there will be plenty of judging by the audience and each other with these confessions.

​2. When Sally Met Hellmann’s

It’s time for a When Harry Met Sally reunion with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, courtesy of Hellmann’s. The two are seated at NYC's Katz's Deli and give those eating around them, including Sydney Sweeney, “lunch and a show.” Sign us up!

1. The ULTRA Hustle

Michelob ULTRA is giving us the duo we never knew we needed with Willem Dafoe and Catherine O'Hara as pickleball hustlers taking on professional athletes. Do we need to say more?

Check out 26 Savory Super Bowl Snacks For Munching On During Halftime. They're so good, you won't have leftovers!

super bowlcelebritypop culture

This Amazon Portable Phone Charger Is The Best Gadget I've Ever Used

I am a very prepared person, which means I do my best to handle life's unexpected chaos with grace. A recent curveball that I did not prepare for was my phone dying in the middle of New York City. When you live in Manhattan, there's always a show to see, friends to grab margaritas with, and events to attend. That means you lose phone battery pretty quickly, which is exactly the one thing you don't want to go without in the middle of the city.

Ahead of my show at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, I was #influenced to buy this viral gadget to bring into the stadium with me — and it's the best portable phone charger I've ever used. I can't believe I've gone this long without it!

First Impressions

I grabbed the iWALK Small Portable Charger (which I got for $30), and the first thing I noticed was the size. The whole thing is smaller than my iPhone, meaning that it'll fit in just about any size bag and works with a lot of stadium concert rules!

It comes in multiple colors like pink and teal, but I got it in white.

The Timeline

I left for the concert at 2pm with a fully charged phone. I had to use Spotify, Google Maps, Uber, and my camera all before Taylor even came out, which means that by the time Gracie Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers had finished their opening acts (around 8 pm), my phone was on death's door.

The portable phone charger went right into the port and kept my phone alive for the rest of the night! It also didn't interfere with the audio in any of my recordings, which was super important to me.

Final Thoughts On This Portable Phone Charger

Image via Chloe Williams/B+C

This product really surpassed my expectations because of how much power you get from such a small device. I've used it multiple times, and every time I do, my phone ends up fully charged, meaning I have enough battery for another round of adventures and antics.

I'll definitely have it in my bag all summer long. You can search on the internet for some other portable phone chargers for your summer, but this is definitely my favorite.

Follow us on Facebook and check out our email newsletter for more life-changing products.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

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Did You Catch This 'The Bear' Easter Egg In 'The Fantastic Four' Trailer?

The Fantastic Four trailer is finally here! And it's just as creative and exciting as I hoped. The retro futuristic edge feels brand new and familiar at the same time (and is totally giving Captain America: The First Avenger...but more on that later), and yeah, I'll say it: Pedro Pascal looks good. Let's get into the trailer for this new movie because I've already watched it multiple times.

Here's every detail you missed in the new TheFantastic Four trailer.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps confirms the movie's not in our world.

First things first, The Fantastic 4 trailer lets us know we're not on Earth-616 (our world) with the first frame because even though the Baxter Building is in New York City, the cityscape is full of buildings our real Manhattan doesn't have. Plus, Sue Storm and Reed Richards' kitchen is full of gadgets and gizmos aplenty.

One of my favorite moments comes when Ben (played by The Bear star Ebon Moss-Bachrach) is cooking with H.E.R.B.I.E. and winds up improving upon the robot's sauce with some garlic, which is TOTALLY something Richie would do behind Carmy's back.

We also learn that The Fantastic 4: First Steps will take place after the team has gotten their powers, and that Reed specifically is struggling with the fact they've all changed: Sue turns invisible, Ben became a literal rock, and Johnny can turn into flames. But as Sue reminds him, "Ben has always been a rock, Johnny is Johnny, and I am right here."

"Whatever life throws at us, we'll face it together," she continues, "as a family."

The Fantastic Four trailer recaptures the magic of Marvel's Phase 1.

And the most impactful part of The Fantastic Four trailer for me is that it really emphasizes how Phase 5 of the MCU is a refresh. The fact we're getting introduced to a new family, as well as the retro element and the tech, calls back to Iron Man and Captain America: The First Avenger for me. Just like those movies provided us with a foundational understanding of the MCU, I really believe F4 will set the tone for Marvel moving forward. Plus, I won't say no to Pedro Pascal becoming one of the new Avengers' leaders!

Whether the movie leads directly into Avengers: Doomsday, or it ends with Sue, Reed, Johnny, and Ben coming to our timeline like Steve does at the end of Captain America, we'll have to wait for July 25, 2025 to see what kind of adventures await these fantastic four.

What do you think of the new Fantastic 4 trailer? Let us know on Facebook and check out Everything Marvel Announced At San Diego Comic Con 2024, From Avengers 5 To Robert Downey Jr.'s Return To The MCU.

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Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's Judge Gave Their Legal Teams A Surprising Warning Amid Viral PR War

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively's lawyers went to court on February 3 for the first time since the It Ends With Us actors sued each other. And while they both maintain their stances (Blake is alleging Justin sexually harassed her and orchestrated a smear campaign and Justin sued Blake, Ryan Reynolds, and the New York Times for defamation), Judge Lewis Liman is warning their legal teams to calm their PR war down.

Here's the latest news on Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively's legal battle.

During that February 3 meeting, Judge Liman warned Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's legal teams to "rein in the public relations war outside the courtroom," according to People. He also told both lawyers they needed to work according to the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, and avoid saying anything with a "substantial likelihood" of leading the jury to have a bias one way or the other.

As the viral legal battle rages on, the internet (and my group chat) has a lot of opinions.

"The avalanche of self-inflicted bad press Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds are currently getting buried under is surreal. Talk about a generational crash out," one X user says.

Another tweeted, "To see how [Justin Baldoni] advocated so much against abuse towards women and then to find out he sexually harassed Blake on the set of the movie that is focused heavily on domestic violence is not only disappointing, but so so cruel and scary." Needless to say, the court of public opinion has become incredibly emotionally involved.

On February 1, Justin Baldoni published a website titled TheLawsuitInfo.com with both his Amended Complaint and a full five-year timeline of events leading up to their legal battle. The timeline includes dozens of text exchanges and emails, including one with Ryan Reynolds telling Justin "I happen to adore you."

The website claims there was "a pattern of demands by Lively and acquiescence by Baldoni" from pre-production to post-production. And after the pretrial conference at United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Blake Lively's legal team told People, "We are pleased with the result of today’s hearing and eager to move forward immediately with discovery in this case."

"The court granted our request that all attorneys in the matter actually follow the rule of law and not make any statements that could prejudice a jury," they said. "This case deals with serious allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. We will hold the defendants accountable, and we are confident that once all the evidence is submitted in this matter, Ms. Lively will prevail."

Justin's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said (via The Hollywood Reporter), "I couldn’t be more pleased with how the case was handled today. We’re going to move as quickly as possible and prove our innocence."

What do you think about Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's PR war? Check Brit + Co for the latest updates on their legal battle, and check out A Definitive Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's It Ends With Us Feud for more.

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