Top 10 Secret Features of iOS 7

by Adam Dachis

Apple released iOS 7 to the public this week, providing a new design and a handful of cool features to iPhone- and iPad-lovers everywhere, but some of the best stuff lurks beneath the surface. Apple failed to advertise quite a few awesome features. These are our top 10.

10. You Can Wipe Your Device After Too Many Failed Password Attempts

Want to protect your data on your phone? You need a password. People can crack passwords, however, so if you want to be extra safe you need to wipe the data from your phone after they fail to enter your password correctly too many times. 10 times, in fact. Jump into Settings -> General -> Passcode Lock to find and option called Erase Data all the way at the bottom. If you enable it, your phone will wipe itself out if someone tries to access it and fails 10 times.

9. Siri Can Handle Your Calls

In addition to her (or now his, if you prefer) new voice, Siri can manage your call log for you. Need to listen to a voicemail? Just ask. Want to call back whoever just rang and you missed? Siri can handle that, too. Just make the request and she (or he) will take care of the rest.

8. You Can Change Your AirDrop Visibility

AirDrop makes it super easy to share files with other iOS 7 users in your vicinity, but perhaps you don't want everyone knowing you're ready and willing. If you want to place restrictions on who can send you files, you can just bring up Control Center and click on the AirDrop section towards the bottom left. You can decide if everyone, no one, or only contacts can see you. That way you'll only get file requests from the people you want—even if that's nobody.

7. Night Mode for Maps Avoids Blinding You While Driving

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Sometimes you don't want a bright white screen in your face, like when you're driving somewhere at night. Apple's Maps app automatically adjusts based on the time and provides you with a darker interface so you don't blind yourself while driving. You get this feature whether you like it or not, so there's no need to figure out how to turn it on.

6. The Compass App Includes a Spirit Level

Got a few crooked picture frames? The built-in Compass app now has a secret second page with a spirit level. Just line it up against the wall until you get a balanced zero degrees and then you'll know you're hanging things straight.

5. Messages Provides Time Stamps

Ever need to know when a specific message arrived? You can now find out by checking its timestamp in the Messages app. Just swipe on over from the right side of any conversation and you'll see when each message came in.

4. iPhones Automatically Join Trusted Free Wi-Fi Hotspots

iOS 7 makes joining free, trusted Wi-Fi hotspots much easier because you don't have to do anything at all. If you come in contact with AT&T Wi-Fi, for example, your iPhone will connect automatically and save you the hassle.

3. Mail Can Mark All Messages as Read

Remember how you used to have to exploit an iOS bug to mark all your emails as read? Now you don't! You can just tap the "Mark All" text at the bottom of your mail list and tell iOS 7 what you want.

2. You Can Make Audio-Only FaceTime Calls

You don't have to make a call with just your face. If you want to reach another iOS or OS X user without burning up your cellular minutes, or you just look like crap and don't want anyone to see you, then you can ring them via FaceTime. Just initiate the call the same way you would with video but click the phone icon instead.

1. You Can Block Calls and Messages

For quite some time you couldn't block calls through iOS, allowing annoying people to bother you unless you could get your carrier to handle the task. Harassment sucks in any form, and we're very happy to see Apple taking measures to stop it. If you want to block someone from sending you a call or message, you just need to hop into Settings -> Phone and/or Settings -> Messages and find the Blocked section toward the bottom. Tap it and add any people you don't want. You can always remove them if you change your mind.

 http://lifehacker.com/top-10-secret-features-of-ios-7-1336967278@MelaniePinola

 

What is RFID?

 RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. By means of radio signals, RFID can realize a contactless and unique identification of persons and products on a short range.
To do this, RFID utilizes so-called transponders: electronic labels in which the unique information is saved digitally. This digital information can be read with a special reader unit.
Contrary to optical recognition (i.e. barcodes), transponders can be read invisible with the aid of radio signals.

Advantages of RFID

• Transponders last a very long time;
• Transponders are relatively cheap;
• Transponders don't need batteries;
• RFID Systems operate under extreme circumstances (i.e. cold / heat, pollution);
• Protection against vandalism;
• Transponders can be read from up until 1.5 metres (depending on the used reader & transponder types);
• Contactless recognition:
  • RF signals can reach through non-ferrous materials (like plastics, glass, wood etc);
  • The transponder can be placed so it's invisible to the user;
  • The reader unit can be placed behind glass;
  • There are no sparks, so this system can be used in areas with explosion danger such as petrol stations;

How does RFID work?

This is how RFID works, step by step (according to the diagram):

1. A processor controls the RFID sender / receiver controller;
2. An antenna sends high frequent energy with optional encoded information tot the transponder.
3. In the transponder, the high frequent energy is being converted to an electrical charge, which is saved;
4. This makes the transponder answer with its own, unique encoded information;
5. The reader unit receives the transponder's answer; This information can be processed depending on the application.

What can we offer?

In the past twenty years, Rotil has built a tremendous expertise in the area of RFID-applications. We have realized many solutions in the listed areas (see below).
We develop the devices and the software according to our customer's wishes and we adapt it to fit the operation circumstances (i.e. weather conditions, robustness, explosion-dangerous areas)

Applications:

Please click at one of the applications below to read how Rotil Communications B.V. applied these techniques successfully at previous projects.

• Vehicle start interruption
• Access control and identification
• Petrol stations
• Working hours registration system

Other possibilities to apply the RFID technique are for example:

Vehicle identification

Every vehicle will carry a transponder. Through the unique id number in the transponder it will be easy to ‘recognise’ the vehicle. This can expanded with the registration of technical vehicle information such as temperature, GPS location.

Logistic processes

Every container, box or crate has a transponder fitted to it. With each step in the process, the transponder is being read and the operation is saved in the central database. By this is, it will be very easy to find out which steps in the production process has already been made.

Service and maintenance

All products, devices or vehicles will get a transponder. The service or maintenance mechanic scans this transponder for each maintenance. The software on a computer, which is connected to a central database, enables him to register for example the product details, customer number, maintenance tasks, date/time. Now it will be much easier to find out which maintenance or service has been provided to a certain product/vehicle with just a click. This will be very (cost) efficient.

Example software

Screenshot database application

Transponder types

http://www.rotil.nl/communications/products/rfid.en.php