How to use iOS 8 like a boss

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How much is your smartphone spying on you? Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Make the most of iOS 8 with these tips and tricks. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

You don’t need a new iPhone to enjoy the awesome power of iOS 8. Loaded with new features and built-in apps, Apple’s latest mobile OS is its most powerful yet.

As intuitive as it is, there are plenty of tips and tricks that will help you truly get the most out of iOS 8 — even starting before you pull the trigger on the free upgrade. Just in case you don’t feel like reading all 182 pages of Apple’s official iOS 8 user guide, here’s a roundup of Cult of Mac’s most helpful iOS 8 tips and tricks. (We will update this post as we dive deeper into iOS 8 in coming weeks.)

Getting started

11-_MacBook_Air_compared_to_iPad_(1)How to get ready for an iOS 8 upgrade the right way
iOS 8 isn’t just for the new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. Here’s how to get your older device ready for the upgrade.

20131019_ios8-8.1_0009Get iOS 8.1 now for Apple Pay, iCloud Photo Library and more
It’s time to start taking advantage of iOS 8’s best new features.

icloud drivePSA: Why you shouldn’t upgrade to iCloud Drive on iOS 8 yet
Wonderful as iOS 8 is, you probably want to hold off on activating this feature.

love_ios_8First look: Why you’ll love upgrading to iOS 8
Not convinced you need to upgrade? This video shows iOS 8 in action.

ios_updateHow to downgrade from Apple’s buggy iOS 8.0.1 update
Apple released an upgrade to fix HealthKit and other issues with iOS 8, but it created more problems than it solved. Here’s how to revert if you were an unfortunate early adopter.

iOS 8 features

iOs8-wishlistiOS 8: The most important features you need to know
Get an overview of all the biggest changes in Apple’s new mobile OS — and how to take advantage of all the best new features.

dark_mode18 hidden iOS 8 features you probably didn’t know about
These little-known features didn’t grab the headlines, but they add to the power of iOS 8. They’ll add to your mastery of your iDevice.

iOS81New iOS 8.1 features you need to know
Get the lowdown on Apple Pay, Instant Hotspot and other key upgrades to Apple’s mobile OS.

messagesMaster Messages in iOS 8
Messaging gets some radical upgrades in iOS 8. Here’s how to send voice, video and photos to all your contacts — even those lost in Android land.

continuityUse Continuity and Handoff with iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite
With OS X Yosemite still in beta, some features of Continuity and Handoff don’t work entirely as advertised.

cloudHow to use iCloud Drive the right way
Tips — and warnings — on how to make proper use of Apple’s cloud-storage service.

airdrop-to-and-from-OS-X-640x568Use AirDrop to share files between OS X Yosemite and iOS 8
Apple’s new operating systems make it a breeze to share large files among Macs, iPhones and iPads.

Tap the iOS 8 ecosystem

Day-One-iOS-8The best apps for taking advantage of iOS 8
iOS 8’s new Extensibility feature means third-party apps tie into the Apple ecosystem more securely than ever. Here’s the cream of the crop when it comes to apps that tap iOS 8’s powers.

minuum-keyboardA definitive guide to third-party keyboards in iOS 8
At last! iOS 8 lets you decide what kind of keyboard you want to use. Here are some of the best (and strangest), plus how to install them.

fleksy
How to start enjoying third-party keyboards in iOS 8
Android users love their bolt-on keyboards. Now iPhone users can get a piece of the keyboard customization action.

iOS 8’s focus on photography

light-controliOS 8 gives the Photos app superpowers
The iPhone 6 camera is earning raves, but don’t underestimate the impact of iOS 8’s photo-centric feature set. Here’s how to get the most out of it.

iCloud_PhotoHow to switch to iOS 8’s iCloud Photo Library right now
If you’re ready to take the plunge, here’s how to do it.

imovieiMovie’s iOS 8 extension lets you edit your movies in the Photos app
It’s never been easier to edit your video.

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