APPLE SKILLS iOS
Got an iPhone 14 Pro or a new iPhone 15? Then try these tips and tricks
IT WILL TAKE
10 minutes
YOU WILL LEARN
Some of the cool things you can do with the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro or later
YOU’LL NEED
An iPhone 14 Pro or later, suitable apps
One of the best things about Apple’s latest iPhones is that they all now come with the Dynamic Island – the magical notification area that first appeared on the front of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. If you own an iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, you now get the Dynamic Island too, and that’s great news for two main reasons: one, it’s no longer exclusive to Apple’s ‘pro’ phones; two, Apple and third-party developers have had time to come up with all kinds of clever uses for it.
HOW TO Make the most of the Dynamic Island
Here, you’ll discover some of the cool things the Dynamic Island can do -from displaying the currently playing track in Apple Music to giving you driving instructions when navigating using Apple Maps. We’ll also show you some tips and tricks that’ll make using the Dynamic Island even more fun. Plus, we’ll share some of our favourite third-party apps that use it too.
So get your hiking boots on and join us as we explore the Dynamic Island. It’ll be worth the journey. Promise! Rob Mead-Green
1 Cue the music
Play a track using the Apple Music app and a tiny ‘now playing’ notification will appear in the pill-shaped Dynamic Island window at the top of the screen. Tap the Dynamic Island once to display a fullscreen view of the Apple Music app.
2 Get more control
If you press and hold the Dynamic Island instead, an expanded view appears at the top of the screen. Here you’ll see playback controls, AirPods options (if you have any AirPods connected), plus an AirPlay button on the right.
3 Go AirPlay
Tap the AirPlay button in the Dynamic Island, and you’ll be able to choose where you want to send the currently playing track to – all without having to dive into either the Control Centre, or the full Apple Music app.
CONTINUED… Make the most of the Dynamic Island
4 More media playback
The Dynamic Island doesn’t just work with Apple Music – it offers identical controls when enjoying Apple Podcasts as well as some third-party apps. It’ll even work with a paired Apple TV box, displaying artwork and play controls.
5 Dynamic routing
Fire up the Maps app and plot a journey, and you’ll find the Dynamic Island comes in useful here too. Switch away from Maps and brief instructions will appear in the Dynamic Island. Press and hold for
