Whoa! 10 iOS 8 Tricks That Will Transform Your iPhone

Lisa Raphael
Sep 19, 2014

Whether you’re reading this while standing in a wraparound line for the new iPhone, or are sticking to your just-upgraded-and-not-mad-about-it 5s guns, you can have a new iPhone in your hands with one simple trick: downloading the latest Apple operating system. While the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will come with iOS 8 already installed, anyone with a 4s and up can feel like they have a whole new phone, too. Here are 10 of our favorite tricks that make your smartphone feel shiny and new again.

1. Your Camera and Photos Apps Are Supersized: A common theme among iOS 8’s most sparkling features is that Apple appears to be upgrading your native apps to superhero-like levels of awesome, incorporating favorite features from companion apps into their own phones’ catalog of standards. You gotta love a more streamlined experience (especially when the upgrade itself is a pretty hefty download in terms of space needed). One of the best examples is in the improvements to your Camera and Photos apps.

Get excited pro photogs and rising Insta-stars alike, your Camera app now features a timer for selfie taking and group shots along with new options to take panoramic pics or slo-mo and time-lapse videos.

Did you just delete some pics you wish you could bring back from the trash can? Open up the Photos app and see an album of Recently Deleted pics before you lose ’em forever. You can also hide photos in your stream that are for your eyes only.

2. You Can Now Control Group Messages: We were excited about this one when we first found out about iOS 8, but it’s worth reminding you about the coolest new feature: You can ghost your way out of group messages instead of having to suffer through the incessant notifications! FINALLY, your group messaging game has totally changed. You can name groups, invite new people to them, share your location with those you’re texting, scroll through videos and pictures you’ve messaged back and forth and send each other audio and video.

3. Pay With Pics: ApplePay is going to make you a believer in the mobile wallet, but enjoy a preview of that ease in iOS 8, which totally cuts out the need to type in your credit card while online shopping. When you go to checkout at any site, you will be prompted to scan a picture of your credit card instead of having to enter the info on your card. Your phone can also store your CC info in the iCloud Keychain, still prompting you to add in your security code each time, but making impulse shopping that much simpler.

4. Track Your Phone When It’s DOA: Or we guess that should be Dead on Departure… So, you forget your iPhone in a cab every now and then. What?! It’s not like it’s full of important info OR cost you hundreds of dollars or anything. By now, Find My iPhone has surely become your BFF, but we have something to reach BFFFFFF x infinity level status. iOS 8 Has a new feature that will ensure you at least know where your phone was last even if you (also) forgot to juice it up before you left it in that bar booth. Sigh.

To turn on: Go into Settings → iCloud → Find My iPhone and turn on Send Last Location under Find My iPhone (make sure that one’s switched on, too!).

5. Siri Comes When You Call: Hey, your glasses know you’re talking to them when you start a sentence with “OK” and now Siri can be conjured hands-free just by you saying “Hey, Siri.” This only works when your phone is connected to power, so try it out next time you’re driving for a hands-free way to stay connected and find whatever you need.

To turn on: Go into Settings → General → Siri and flip the switch on Allow “Hey Siri.” (Then, stay tuned for a hack to get her to respond, “‘Hey’ is for horses” in our new Sassy Siri series jkjkjkjk)

6. Keep Track of Your Battery: In an Android-like move, you’ll now be able to see which of your apps are sucking up the most of your battery’s ever-dwindling juice.

To use: Go into Settings → General → Usage → Battery Usage and have the option of seeing the suckage over the last 24 hours or the last couple days in one handy place.

7. QuickType Knows You Better Than Autocorrect: QuickType is a little grey bar that will appear above your keyboard while you’re typing messages, suggesting words or phrases to fill in your blanks. Believe it or not, this appears to work way better than autocorrect ever did — win!

8. Your Notifications Are Now Interactive: Check things off your to do list lickety split by answering texts, calendar invites and emails from the notification pop-ups you’ll see while you’re busy doing other things.

9. The Doctor Is In. Your Phone. The Health App is here! Even if you’re still waiting for that crowdfunded activity tracker to make its way to your doorstep, you can still play around with it and make sure things like your medical card are all filled out in case of an emergency.

10. Get to Inbox Zero Without a Fancy New App: We’ve all been wooed by the promise of opening up an inbox with strictly the essentials, all it takes is taking on a new app for your email needs. Sounds simple enough, but it doesn’t always work and you just end up settling on the standard Mail app. Now, Apple’s native inbox is taking a h/t or two from Dropbox’s Mailbox and other apps with swipe functions that want to help you work through your messages with ease. And remember, you can mark that email as read when it pops into your notifications too, so no excuses for having 18,000 unread emails. Yes, me, I’m talking to you/us :-X

BONUS! Psst, want more tips? There’s an app for that. Like, really. After you DL iOS 8, you’ll see a little yellow lightbulb app icon called Tips on your Home Screen that will keep you up to date on new features. But you could also just stay tuned to us for more tips, tricks and hacks as we get to know our new phone(s). <3

Have you downloaded iOS 8 yet? What is your favorite feature so far? What is it lacking (besides volleyball emoji)? Sound off below!

Hold Up, Did Rebecca Yarros' First 'Onxy Storm' Excerpt Just Tease Violet Sorrengail's True Identity?

Fans of Fourth Wing are on pins and needles because Rebecca Yarros just announced she's finished writing the third book in the Empyrean series! It's us, we're fans — along with over half of BookTok.

We can't believe we're getting closer to reading more about Violet Sorrengail's journey, but we know you have a ton of burning questions about the release date for Book No. 3.

We may not have all the answers, but we've done a little digging to share as much as we can because who doesn't want to know what Rebecca Yarros has been up to?

I'm new to the Empyrean series. Are "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" really worth reading?

Amazon

I'm not going to lie to you. The editorial team, including myself, are extremely biased about Fourth Wingand Iron Flame. From my perspective, I think these are great books for anyone who had the pleasure of growing up during the great Harry Potter era and moved on to watchingGame of Thrones and House of Dragons.

Did she announce the name of book no. 3?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

YES! Book No. 3 is titled Oynx Storm.

Knowing what we do about the manifestation of Violet's powers, I think this could hint she's going to play an even larger role in the series. According to a fan theory shared on TikTok(via Empyrean Riders), it's believed that Violet and Xaden Riorson are actually gods. Stay with me here.

Empyrean Riders noted that Violet's last name means heavenly and that she's able to control time thanks to her connection to the young dragon Andarna (I love her so much!). That sounds pretty god-like to me.

And when asked which two Taylor Swift songs describe Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros chose "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from The Tortured Poets Department and "So It Goes..." from Reputation. "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is one of Taylor's most powerful songs and definitely translates the idea that Violet's powers are going to be stronger than ever, while "So It Goes..." is equal parts suspense and seduction, and is TOTALLY about "all the pieces fall right into place" to get together with the right person.

There's so much more to unpack so I suggest grabbing a yummy snack while you fall down the rabbit hole. All I'm sure of is that Onyx Storm is going to leave our emotions in shambles just like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame did.

When did Rebecca Yarros announce she's done writing book no. 3 in the series?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

On June 17, Rebecca Yarros shared this image of her laptop to indicate she'd finished the third book in the Empyrean series.

She wrote, "(Pic from one of the very many locations in which this book was written)," towards the end of the caption before adding a few relevant hashtags to it.

When will Onxy Storm be available for purchase?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

Rebecca Yarros exclusively told Good Morning America that fans can expect the book to hit shelves January 21, 2025! That gives us a little over six months to prepare our emotions for what's sure to be a storm of a book.

She said, "There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons." There's no way she could forget the dragons because I'd willingly riot over them. They deserve to have their stories told forever.

As luck would have it, Cosmopolitan received an exciting first look at what's to come in Onyx Storm. The excerpt begins with Violet realizing the Venin have found their way into Basgiath War College and are wreaking havoc. Alongside Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc, she races to stop the Venin from releasing Jack Barlowe from his prison cell.

However, Violet's shocked when she discovered one of the "dark wielders" has a long silver braid that closely resembles her own. Before she can fully react, the woman disappears. According to Screen Rant, there are possible theories about why Violet saw her and what this means for her growing power.

Towards the end of the excerpt, Violet discovers the Venin want to capture her too. Also, Xaden makes his long-awaited appearance and it's clear their playful banter in the face of danger hasn't changed. That he hasn't fully changed into the Venin Violet's used to seeing.

I officially can't wait to read the rest of the book in January!

Has Rebecca Yarros revealed the cover for Onyx Storm?

Today/Bree Archer, Elizabeth Turner Stokes for Entangled Publishing

Onyx Storm

Yes!

TODAY received an exclusive look at the cover for Onyx Storm and it doesn't disappoint! Unlike its predecessors, it appears Rebecca Yarros is hinting that darker events will take place.

Fans of the Empyrean series aren't the only ones who are excited to see what fate has in store for our favorite characters though. In a statement to TODAY, Rebecca revealed how elated she is to be working on the series again. "It's amazing to be back with these characters again. She also said, ""I can't wait for readers to see what Violet, Xaden, and the rest of the quadrant have in store for them in Onyx Storm!"

Are you excited for the release of Onyx Storm? Follow us on Facebook for more entertainment news!

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

This post has been updated.

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WHICH Movie Had Kate Winslet "Sh—ing" Herself?!

Kate Winslet is THE Hollywood actress to me. Not only has she starred in box office smashes like Titanic and Avatar: Way of Water, but she's proven her acting chops in breakout indie flicks and provided mothers and daughters everywhere with eternal Christmas movie nights thanks to The Holiday. But the actress' consistently viral kindness, her dedication to embracing her natural beauty, and her sophistication don't mean she always feels confident. Kate Winslet just spilled on the one movie from her career that had her "sh—ing" herself, and I just had to dive in.

Here's what Kate Winslet had to say about her scariest movie experience ever.

  • Kate Winslet made a name for herself with Titanic, Sense & Sensibility, and The Holiday.
  • However those movies aren't the film she wants fans to ask about!
  • The actress spills on the movies she's proud of, and the one job that had her "sh—ing myself."

Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.

"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."

Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."

The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."

Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."

"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."

Let us know your favorite Kate Winslet movies in the comments, and since we've officially entered cozy season, check out Why The Holiday Movie Ending Is The Most Important Scene while you're at it!

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Here's A New Look At Florence Pugh's Return As Yelena Belova

Marvel movies are known for their heroes and their hopeful outlook on the world. But in 2025, we're getting a brand new team: the Thunderbolts. This team is made up of antiheroes and former villains, and it's sure to be the wackiest and strangest, as well as one of the most memorable, superhero movies we've seen in recent years.

Keep reading for the latest news on Thunderbolts* before it hits theaters in 2025.

Marvel Studios/YouTube

Thunderbolts* comes out this May, and the cast just showed off some brand new footage at the D23 convention — and thanks to the new 'Celebrating 85 Years' spot, we have the first look too!

We get a look at Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, John Walker, and Ghost. Plus, Yelena Belova, of course. This heartbreaking detail about Yelena's new look connects Florence Pugh's Yelena to Scarlett Johansson's Natashaand I'm WEEPING.

Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios

And at D23 Brazil, we got a brand new look at my new favorite team. "There’s something in this film, in terms of superpowers and superheroes, that shows that our superpowers lie in how ‘broken’ we are," David Harbour said at the event. "As if our superpowers came from our relationships.”

What is the plot of Thunderbolts?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Plot

Consider Thunderbolts* to be The Avengers' edgy younger sibling. The movie follows Yelena Belova (who we know off the bat is a "depressed assassin" thanks to a Marvel Studios press release). She's joined by Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, and John Walker. Based on a leak, it looks like we'll see this group of misfits team up against Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after she sends them on a deadly mission.

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Jesse Grant/Disney

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 2, 2025.

Who's on the Thunderbolts team?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Cast

Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.

This is a huge cast, and Viswanathan just revealed how crazy the first day of filming was. “My first day didn’t feel real," she tells Vanity Fair. "I felt this extra pressure of, ‘Know your lines, babe. You can’t really play around like you usually do.’"

Historically, sci-fi fans haven't been kind to actresses in their favorite projects (remember when Star Wars fans bullied Kelly Marie Tran off social media?). But Viswanathan is already thinking ahead. “If it’s overwhelming, I’ll log off. But I like discourse around pop culture,” she says. “[Thunderbolts*] felt a little bit edgier and fresher, more existential and dark.”

Jesse Grant/Disney

The rest of the cast also enjoyed working together. “Everyone is going to f—kin’ love me! It’s really, really, really fun to be with a group of actors that you have a good time with," Wyatt Russell says at Comic Con (via Variety), while David Harbour adds, “Florence Pugh [is] just electric to work with. There’s warmth and humor, but there’s also a lot of pathos.”

“This is why we can't stop laughing together, because we genuinely just had such a wonderful time with each other and we've loved working with one another," Pugh tells People. “I feel like this is something that we've never seen before from Marvel...it's a very open and honest and truthful idea. And I'm just really excited for people to watch it.”

Are you excited for this brand new chapter in the MCU? I really feel like Thunderbolts* will usher in a whole new generation of fans and I, for one, CANNOT WAIT! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.

Lead images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

This post has been updated.

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