Take Apple’s hearing test: You need an iPhone running iOS 18.1 and a pair of AirPods Pro 2. Put in your earbuds, open Settings on your iPhone, then tap the shortcut for AirPods settings. Look for Hearing Health, then tap Take a hearing test. Follow the on-screen prompts. Do it in a quiet place for the best results.
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Remember when a cell phone was for calls and a round or two of Snake? Today’s phones are pro-grade cameras, PDF scanners and even car keys.
I keep a digital copy of my driver’s license on my phone because it’s just so handy. Here’s how to do that.
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There’s a ton more your phone can do. Many of these functions are found in the accessibility settings. Developers create them for people who need extra assistance using their phones — but they’re handy for just about anyone.
1. Add captions to your video calls, podcasts or phone calls
Not every video chat happens in a quiet space — or maybe your hearing isn’t great. No problem. You can get real-time captions on video chats, podcasts, calls, music and videos.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning.
- Toggle the switch next to Closed Captions & SDH to the on position.
To turn on Live Captions on your Android phone:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Caption preferences.
- Tap Show captions to turn it on.
2. Translate a conversation in real-time
Despite my promise to myself every year to learn a new language, it never happens. Next time you encounter someone you’re having trouble communicating with, whip out your phone to help. No, you don’t need to pay anything to complete this.
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Millions of people struggle to hear properly, which can significantly affect their quality of life. But correct medical care and equipment can be costly and difficult to maintain. Tap or click here to use your Echo to get medical help.
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Apple just dropped the update to test your hearing: You’ll need a pair of AirPods Pro 2 and an iPhone running iOS 18.1. Go to Settings > AirPods Pro > Take a Hearing Test. If hearing loss is detected, turn on hearing aid features under Settings > AirPods Pro > Hearing Assistance. FYI: The test takes about 10 minutes, and you’ll need to remain in a quiet room; otherwise, you’ll have to start over. Spoiler: This only works if you have mild to moderate hearing loss.
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Each week, I receive tons of questions from my listeners about tech concerns, new products and all things digital.
Sometimes, choosing the most interesting questions to highlight is the best part of my job.
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