iOS 8, the operating system found on Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices, is packed with features. The new camera optics enable iOS 8 to shoot slow-motion videos at levels never before achieved on a smartphone. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus also have NFC chips that allow iOS 8 to communicate with credit card machines as a payment method for users lucky enough to have a bank that supports it. All the iOS 8 features that grab the headlines include upgrading iPhones. Except for one: Recommended Apps, which we’ll show you how to use.
Recommended Apps is a perfect example of Apple rethinking the frustrations of owning and cleaning a smartphone. With Passbook, Apple has made it easy for iPhone owners to clear their wallets or keychains from clutter by storing gift cards and loyalty cards on their phones. While opening cards from the Passbook was certainly more convenient than small plastic cards, sometimes limitations got in the way. Users pull out their iPhones, but they still need to peruse the apps on their home screen to find gift cards or find the coupon they have in the Kroger app.
Recommended Apps take care of this problem by using the information an iPhone collects in the background to find out where you are. In case there is an app corresponding to your location, it will show on the iOS 8 lock screen so users can simply swipe up and be ready in a jiffy.
Before we begin, it is important that you have the iOS 8 update. If you’re using an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, your device comes pre-installed. If you’re not on iOS 8 or haven’t updated your iPhone in a while, you need to update it now. iOS 8 is supported on iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5c. Connect your iPhone to the computer where you installed iTunes to get a free update to iOS 8. The first two versions of the third-generation iPad, fourth-generation iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini are also supported.
How to Open Recommended Apps
Get your iPhone with iOS 8 by swiping your finger across the bottom of the screen, entering your passcode, or using TouchID to unlock with your finger.
Now find the app on your Home Screen and open it. If you have customized your device, the Settings app can be buried in a folder or a second app page. Look for the silver gear.
Inside the Settings app, you have to scroll down until you find the option.
Scroll down until you see the entries labeled Recommended Apps. Turn the keys to and.
How to Use Recommended Apps
Recommended Apps is really an app shortcut. Using your GPS location, your iOS 8 devices keep track of where you’re going. When an app is available in the iTunes App Store that takes advantage of your location, that app is displayed on the lock screen where you can quickly enter that app.
By flipping My Apps and the App Store, you are inviting Apple to offer you apps based on your location, whether you have them installed or not. Not having the App Store open means your iPhone will only offer apps that are already installed on your lock screen.
In a short time, Suggested Apps about this feature have proven to be incredibly accurate. Entering Starbucks, we were able to quickly pay for a drink without having to find the app on the Home screen first. We’ve seen some good results with other large businesses, too, such as the Kroger chain of grocery stores. Support for small businesses remains a bit spotty though.
Recommended Apps didn’t download right away even though we installed the iPhone App for our local barber shop for example. Obviously, this will get better over time. App creators don’t seem to need to do anything for Suggest Apps to work in iOS 8. This is absolutely great news and it means that there is nothing stopping Recommended Apps from quickly becoming better and more common.
Since Suggested Apps uses location information to show apps on the lock screen, turning the feature on is likely to affect battery life a bit. However, we didn’t notice a big change in the usage time of our iPhone with Suggestion Apps turned on, and it’s been three days.
Unfortunately, Recommended Apps depend entirely on GPS location information. If for some reason you prefer not to be tracked, there is no way to use the feature. It looks like Apple does share location data with third parties, but security-conscious users should be equally careful.
