App guides in English
Practical guides for the Harmony Crafted iPhone apps, written in English.
Voice Clock
18 guides
A talking clock for iPhone and Apple Watch that says the time at the interval you choose.
What to look for in a talking clock app for iPhone
A talking clock is only useful if it keeps speaking with the screen locked. Five things to check before you pick one, and how Voice Clock does on each.
Read guideWhy is my iPhone saying the time out loud?
An iPhone that speaks the time on its own is usually VoiceOver, an Apple Watch setting, a Shortcuts automation or an app. How to find which one and turn it off.
Read guideHow do you use Taptic Time on Apple Watch?
Taptic Time taps the time on your wrist when you hold two fingers on the watch face. How Digits, Terse and Morse Code work, and when a spoken time fits better.
Read guideHow do you stop a talking clock from speaking at night?
A talking clock that speaks all day should stop at night without you remembering. How Quiet Hours in Voice Clock work and how they differ from iPhone Focus.
Read guideWhat is ADHD waiting mode, and how can you break it?
ADHD waiting mode can make the hours before an appointment feel unusable. Learn practical external time cues and how a talking clock may help.
Read guideWhy do alarms stop working for ADHD?
Alarms can become background noise when every alert feels the same. Learn how awareness cues, spoken time, and clear transitions work together.
Read guideHow do I stop hyperfocus from making me late?
A practical ADHD hyperfocus routine for noticing time, protecting your leave window, and using spoken cues without constant phone checking.
Read guideHow do you get your iPhone to announce the time every 15 minutes?
Hear the time every quarter hour on iPhone: interval vs clock-aligned mode, why iOS caps self-starting announcements at 64, and how Quiet Hours keeps nights silent.
Read guideTalking clock or visual timer: which helps with ADHD time blindness?
Talking clocks and visual timers solve different parts of time blindness. Compare when each cue helps and how to combine them.
Read guideCan your iPhone announce the time every minute or every hour?
iPhone has no setting that speaks the time on a schedule. Here are the options that do work, from Siri and Shortcuts to Apple Watch and a talking clock app.
Read guideHow to stop being late for work, starting with the twenty minutes before you leave
Most lateness happens before you open the front door. A plan built backwards from your leave time, plus a clock you can hear, fixes more of it than an extra alarm.
Read guideTime blindness: a practical setup for hearing time pass
If you lose an hour without noticing, a clock you have to look at won't save you. A spoken time cue every few minutes can. Here are the settings people use.
Read guideA talking clock for blind and low-vision iPhone users
VoiceOver and Siri tell you the time when you ask. A talking clock tells you without being asked. How to set one up with VoiceOver, and where it helps.
Read guideA talking timer for workouts, hangboard sessions and a bath that doesn't run long
Hear elapsed time out loud during sets and long baths. How Interval mode and second-by-second announcements work, and what to watch for on battery.
Read guideHow to get an hourly chime on iPhone and Apple Watch
Apple Watch has hourly chimes built in. iPhone doesn't. How to set up the watch chime, how to get one on iPhone, and when a spoken hour beats a sound.
Read guideStudy with spoken time and leave your phone face down
Checking the time while you study usually means picking up your phone. A spoken time every 15 or 25 minutes keeps you on track without that.
Read guideA speaking clock for kids learning time and older relatives
Children who can't read a clock yet and older people with poor eyesight both do better when they hear the time. How to set up an iPhone or iPad for them.
Read guideVoice Clock vs Siri, Shortcuts and Apple Watch chimes
Four ways to hear the time on Apple devices, compared on cost, setup time and what each one can't do. Including where Voice Clock is the wrong choice.
Read guide
Sky Map
61 guides
An AR sky map for iPhone: point it at the sky to name stars, planets and constellations.
When is the winter solstice 2026, and how short is the day?
The December solstice 2026 is on 21 December at 20:50 UT (3:50 p.m. EST). Day length for your city, earliest sunset, and what to see on the longest night.
Read guideWhen is the Mars and Jupiter conjunction in November 2026?
Mars and Jupiter pass 1.2° apart before dawn on 15-16 November 2026, in Leo near Regulus. Best mornings, times for five cities, how to tell them apart.
Read guideWhen are the supermoons in November and December 2026?
The last two supermoons of 2026: the Beaver Moon on 24 November and the Cold Moon on 24 December, the closest full Moon of the year. Times, moonrise, tips.
Read guideWhen is the Leonid meteor shower in 2026, and how do you see it?
The Leonids are expected to peak on 17-18 November 2026, with a half Moon that sets near midnight. Expected rates, best hours, and Mars and Jupiter in Leo.
Read guideWhat to check before you pick a sky map app for iPhone
Most star apps look alike in screenshots. Five things that separate them outside at night, and how Sky Map handles each one.
Read guideWhen is the Geminid meteor shower in 2026, and how do you see it?
The Geminids peak on 13-14 December 2026 with only a thin crescent Moon. Expected rates, the best nights for your region, and how to find the radiant.
Read guideWhen is the Orionid meteor shower, and how do you see Halley's Comet dust?
The Orionids peak around 21 October each year with 10 to 20 meteors an hour. What happened in 2026, what to expect in 2027, and how to find the radiant.
Read guideHow do you read a star map, and why does it look back to front?
Why east and west look swapped, what the dot sizes mean, and how to match a star chart to the real sky. Plus free monthly star charts and IAU maps.
Read guideWhat do altitude and azimuth mean?
Altitude is height above the horizon, azimuth is direction around it from north. How to read both and find the object with your hand at arm's length.
Read guideHow many constellations are there, and which can you see?
There are 88 official constellations, set by the International Astronomical Union. Where the list comes from, why you never see all of them, and good ones to start with.
Read guideHow do you find the Southern Cross?
Look for four bright stars in a kite shape next to two very bright pointer stars. How to find Crux, avoid the False Cross and use it to find south.
Read guideCan you see Mercury, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto?
Mercury needs a clear low horizon at twilight, Uranus a dark sky, Neptune binoculars, and Pluto a large telescope. What to expect for each.
Read guideWhat is a planetary alignment, and can you see it?
A planetary alignment or parade means several planets are visible at the same time along one arc, not in a straight line. What to expect and how to check dates.
Read guideHow do you use a planisphere, and is an app better?
A planisphere shows the stars for any date and time with no battery, but no planets. How to use one, and when a phone app does the job better.
Read guideHow do you find the Pleiades in the night sky?
Follow Orion's Belt up and to the right past Aldebaran to a tiny misty cluster of stars. How to find the Pleiades and tell it apart from the Little Dipper.
Read guideHow can you see the Milky Way?
You need a dark site, no Moon, clear air and 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust. When the bright core is up, where to look, and why city skies hide it.
Read guideCan you see the Andromeda Galaxy without a telescope?
Andromeda is visible to the naked eye as a faint smudge under a dark sky. How to star-hop to it from Cassiopeia or Pegasus, and what binoculars add.
Read guideWhat should you bring and check before a stargazing trip?
A stargazing checklist for dark-sky trips: check clouds and the Moon, bring a red light, warm layers and offline maps, and tell someone where you are going.
Read guideStargazing at Nobeyama Radio Observatory: what can you see and hear?
Stargazing at Nobeyama: the radio observatory is open by day only, free, 8:30 to 17:00. What its 45 m telescope listens for and how to plan a night nearby.
Read guideStargazing at Achi Village: how does the night tour work?
Stargazing at Achi Village: the Night Tour rides a ropeway to 1,400 m at Heavens Sonohara. Season dates, winter hours, booking and what to wear.
Read guideStargazing at Kiso Observatory: can you visit the 105 cm Schmidt telescope?
Stargazing at Kiso Observatory, Nagano: free daytime visits to the 105 cm Schmidt telescope April to December, the yearly open day with night viewing, and bears.
Read guideStargazing on Ishigaki and Iriomote: what makes the Yaeyama sky special?
Stargazing on Ishigaki and Iriomote: Japan's first DarkSky park since 2018, 84 of 88 constellations, the Southern Cross, and why the Hateruma tower is closed.
Read guideStargazing at Bisei: why is this Okayama town so dark?
Stargazing at Bisei, Ibara: Asia's first DarkSky Community (2021), Japan's first light pollution ordinance (1989) and the 101 cm telescope at Bisei Observatory.
Read guideStargazing at Rikubetsu: how do you visit the Ginga no Mori Observatory?
Stargazing at Rikubetsu, Hokkaido: the Ginga no Mori Observatory has a 115 cm telescope open to the public. Hours, closed days, fees and how to handle the cold.
Read guideStargazing at Kozushima: how dark is Tokyo's dark sky island?
Stargazing at Kozushima: Tokyo's first DarkSky park since 2020, about 180 km south of the city, 4 hours by boat or 30 minutes by air. How to plan a night.
Read guideStargazing at Mauna Kea: what can you do at the Visitor Information Station?
Stargazing at Mauna Kea: the Visitor Information Station at 9,200 ft is free and open 9 am to 9 pm daily. No nightly public telescopes since 2019; how to plan.
Read guideStargazing at Death Valley: where and when should you go?
Stargazing at Death Valley National Park, a Gold Tier DarkSky park since 2013. Ranger-picked spots, new moon timing, summer night heat and what to bring.
Read guideStargazing at Big Bend: where are the best spots?
Stargazing at Big Bend National Park, Texas: Gold Tier DarkSky park since 2012 with the darkest measured skies of any lower-48 national park. Spots and tips.
Read guideStargazing at Cherry Springs: which area should you use?
Stargazing at Cherry Springs State Park: a 2,300 ft dark sky park with a public viewing area and a permit-only astronomy field where white light is banned.
Read guideStargazing at Bryce Canyon: when are the ranger programs?
Stargazing at Bryce Canyon, an International Dark Sky Park since 2019: summer ranger telescope nights at Sunset Point, the June astronomy festival, and the cold.
Read guideStargazing at Grand Canyon: is it a dark sky park?
Stargazing at Grand Canyon: an International Dark Sky Park since 2019, with an annual June Star Party on the rims. What to expect and how to prepare.
Read guideStargazing at Jasper: where and when to look up?
Stargazing at Jasper National Park: a Dark-Sky Preserve since 2011, over 11,000 km². Best spots, the October Dark-Sky Festival, aurora chances and cold nights.
Read guideStargazing at Mont-Mégantic: why was it the first dark sky reserve?
Stargazing at Mont-Mégantic, Québec: the world's first International Dark Sky Reserve (2007), with a 1.6 m research telescope and the ASTROLab visitor centre.
Read guideStargazing at San Pedro Mártir: can you visit Mexico's national observatory?
Stargazing at Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, Mexico: the UNAM national observatory sits at about 2,800 m. Free daytime visits, rules, and how to plan a night.
Read guideStargazing on La Palma: can you visit the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory?
Stargazing on La Palma: daytime guided visits to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory at 2,400 m, booked via the Starlight Foundation. Altitude, cold and rules.
Read guideStargazing at Teide: how do you see Tenerife's night sky?
Stargazing at Teide: Teide Observatory guided visits (closed December to March), free June open days, and night stargazing near the cable car base at 2,356 m.
Read guideStargazing at Alqueva: why is the Alentejo sky so clear?
Stargazing at Alqueva: Dark Sky Alqueva was the world's first Starlight Tourism Destination (2011), with about 286 clear nights a year and an observatory in Cumeada.
Read guideStargazing at Kielder: how do you visit the observatory?
Stargazing at Kielder Observatory in Northumberland's Gold Tier Dark Sky Park (2013). Ticketed sessions only, booking tips, no phone signal, and winter nights.
Read guideStargazing in the Brecon Beacons: how dark is Bannau Brycheiniog?
Stargazing in the Brecon Beacons: Bannau Brycheiniog became Wales' first International Dark Sky Reserve in February 2013, the fifth in the world. How to plan.
Read guideStargazing at Pic du Midi: what happens on a star evening?
Stargazing at Pic du Midi de Bigorre: an observatory summit at 2,877 m and France's first International Dark Sky Reserve (2013). Star evenings and how to prepare.
Read guideStargazing at Hortobágy: why does the Hungarian plain work so well?
Stargazing at Hortobágy: Hungary's great plain became an International Dark Sky Park in 2011. Wide horizons, the official star park site, and planning tips.
Read guideStargazing at Westhavelland: where is the darkest spot near Berlin?
Stargazing at Sternenpark Westhavelland near Berlin: Germany's first International Dark Sky Reserve (2014), with its core zone around Gülpe. How to plan a night.
Read guideWhat should you pack for an astrophotography trip when you fly?
What to pack for a stargazing photography trip by plane: camera, lenses and tripod in carry-on, lithium battery rules from the FAA and IATA, and gear protection.
Read guideHow do you back up night sky photos on a trip without a laptop?
How to review and back up astrophotography on a trip with only an iPhone: card reader into the Files app, a portable drive, cloud upload on Wi-Fi, and card habits.
Read guideHow do you plan a night to photograph the Milky Way?
Plan a Milky Way photography night: pick a dark site, a moonless window and clear forecast, scout the horizon by day, and check what will be up with a sky map app.
Read guideHow do you find the North Star?
Polaris is not the brightest star, which is why people miss it. Use the Big Dipper's pointer stars or Cassiopeia to find it, then use it to face north.
Read guideIs that a satellite moving across the sky?
A steady dot gliding across the night sky is usually a satellite. How to tell it from a plane or a meteor, why you see them near dusk, and how to catch the ISS.
Read guideWhat is the best time to stargaze tonight?
The best time to stargaze is after astronomical twilight ends, with the Moon down and a clear, dry sky. How to check all three for tonight in a couple of minutes.
Read guideWhat are the Chinese and Indian constellations?
The 88 Western constellations are one map of the sky. Chinese astronomy uses the 28 mansions and Four Symbols, Indian astronomy the nakshatras. How they differ.
Read guideWhat can you see in the night sky without a telescope?
The Moon, five planets, bright stars, satellites, meteors and, from a dark site, the Milky Way. What the naked eye can show you and how to find it.
Read guideDoes a sky map app need your location?
A sky map needs to know roughly where you are to draw the right sky. What location, compass and camera access are for, and which iOS settings to choose.
Read guideHow should you plan stargazing around the seasons?
The evening sky changes through the year. Which constellations lead each season in the Northern Hemisphere, and how to plan a night around them.
Read guideHow to find constellations: start with three you can't miss
Learning the sky works best from a few bright anchors. Start with Orion, the Big Dipper and the Summer Triangle, and use them to find the rest.
Read guideWhat planets are visible tonight, and how to tell a planet from a star
Five planets are easy to see without a telescope. How to check which are up tonight, when to look, and the quick test that tells a planet from a star.
Read guideWhat is that bright star in the sky tonight?
Most of the time the answer is Venus, Jupiter, Sirius or a satellite. How to tell them apart in under a minute, with or without a phone.
Read guideHow to find your zodiac constellation in the real night sky
Your star sign is a real constellation, but you can't see it on your birthday. When to look for each zodiac constellation and how to find it.
Read guideStargazing with kids: a 20-minute plan that holds their attention
Kids lose interest fast in the dark and the cold. A short plan with the Moon, one planet and one constellation, and how to use a phone without it taking over.
Read guideWhen your sky map app points the wrong way: fixing compass and AR drift
If the labels sit beside the stars instead of on them, the compass is usually to blame. Six fixes, from magnetic cases to iOS compass calibration.
Read guideStargazing in the city: what you can still see through light pollution
From a city you'll see the Moon, the planets and a few dozen stars. How to make the most of that, and where a phone helps.
Read guideHow to keep your night vision when you're using a phone to stargaze
Eyes need 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the dark, and one bright screen undoes it. How to set up an iPhone so it barely affects your night vision.
Read guideMeteor showers, Moon phases and eclipses: a year of sky events to plan for
The main meteor showers, why the Moon matters for every one of them, and how to watch an eclipse safely. Plus how to keep track without missing dates.
Read guide
Voice Calculator
19 guides
A calculator you talk to: say the numbers, check each one on the tape, hear the total.
A voice calculator for iPhone that shows you what it heard
Most voice math on a phone hides what it heard. Voice Calculator puts every number on a tape you can check and fix, then reads the total out loud.
Read guideHow do you split a bill with tip?
Add the tip to the total first, then divide by the number of people. Worked examples for even splits and for paying for what you ordered.
Read guideHow do you count a cash drawer quickly?
Count by denomination, multiply each stack, add the lines, then subtract the starting float. A method that leaves a written trail when the drawer is off.
Read guideHow do you work out which pack is cheaper?
Divide the price by the amount to get the price per unit, then compare. Worked examples for grams, ounces and count packs, plus the shelf-label traps.
Read guideHow do you calculate a percent-off price?
Multiply the price by what you still pay: 20% off means times 0.8. Formula, a quick table, and how to stack a discount with sales tax.
Read guideWhy does my calculator give a different answer for 1 + 2 × 3?
Basic calculators work left to right; scientific ones follow PEMDAS. How to tell which one you're using, and how to check homework answers without traps.
Read guideHow do you keep a running total while grocery shopping?
Add each item as it goes in the cart, round up, and add tax at the end. A simple method for staying on budget, plus how to do it hands-free.
Read guideHow do you count inventory quickly without losing track?
Count full cases, multiply by units per case, add the loose items, write each line down. A stock count method that leaves a trail when numbers don't match.
Read guideHow do you add up measurements in feet and inches?
Convert everything to one unit, turn fractions into decimals, add, then convert back. Worked example for boards and trim, plus a cut-waste allowance.
Read guideCan you have a floating calculator on iPhone?
iPhone apps can't float a calculator window over another app. What you can do instead: Control Center, iPad Split View, or a total in the Dynamic Island.
Read guideA talking calculator for blind and low-vision iPhone users
Say the numbers, hear the result. How Voice Calculator works with VoiceOver, what it reads out, and what to set up first.
Read guideScaling a recipe with flour on your hands: a hands-free calculator for the kitchen
Halving, doubling or turning 4 servings into 6 means multiplying every line. How to do it by voice without touching your phone.
Read guideHow to add up a pile of receipts by reading them out loud
Typing 40 receipt totals into a calculator is where mistakes happen. Reading them out, with each number shown on a tape, is faster and easier to check.
Read guideHow to calculate sales tax, add it, and back it out of a total
Adding tax is one multiplication. Getting the pre-tax price out of a total is the step people get wrong. Both, with examples, and how to do them by voice.
Read guideWhen digits swap places: a calculator setup for dyscalculia and number mix-ups
For people who swap digits or lose their place in a column, hearing and seeing each number can help. What a voice calculator can and can't do here.
Read guideVoice calculator, Siri or an AI chatbot: which to use for everyday math
Siri is fine for one quick sum. AI chat can explain a problem. For a long list of numbers you need to trust, you need to see what was heard.
Read guideAdding up figures from a bank statement, invoice or spreadsheet without switching apps
Copying numbers between apps is slow and error-prone. Read them out while you scroll and watch the running total in the Dynamic Island.
Read guideWhy a voice calculator should show you what it heard
Speech recognition mishears numbers: fifteen and fifty, a missed decimal point. A visible tape is how you catch it before it reaches the total.
Read guideA calculator with a tape: review every entry, fix one, export the lot
The paper roll of an adding machine was an audit trail. How Voice Calculator's tape works, how to correct an entry, and how to export to CSV or text.
Read guide
Batchly
25 guides
Resize, compress, watermark and convert hundreds of photos at once, on the device.
How to batch resize photos on iPhone
Resizing photos one at a time is slow. Two ways to resize many at once on iPhone: the free Shortcuts route and Batchly, with the long-edge trick photographers use.
Read guideHow to batch rename photos on iPhone
iPhone's Files app renames one file at a time. How to batch rename photos on iPhone: Shortcuts, or Batchly, which renames every selected photo in one go.
Read guideHow to rename photos by date and number on iPhone
How to name photos on iPhone so they sort: YYYY-MM-DD dates, numbers with leading zeros, prefix or suffix. Then rename a whole batch at once with Batchly.
Read guideWhat photo size should you use for Poshmark, Vinted and Depop?
Resale apps crop photos differently: Poshmark now frames covers in 3:4, Depop is square, Vinted and Facebook Marketplace publish no pixel size. How to prep a batch.
Read guideWhat size should Shopify product images be?
Shopify recommends 2048 × 2048 px square product images, with uploads up to 20 MB. How to crop and resize a whole catalogue shoot on iPhone to match.
Read guideWhat are Amazon's product image requirements?
Amazon main images need a pure white background, the product filling about 85% of the frame, and at least 1000 px on the longest side for zoom. Batch them on iPhone.
Read guideWhat size should real estate photos be?
There's no single real estate photo size: each MLS sets its own limits. How to find yours, why horizontal 3:2 or 4:3 is the norm, and how to resize a shoot.
Read guideWhat size in pixels is a 4x6 photo?
A 4x6 print at 300 PPI needs 1200 × 1800 pixels. Pixel sizes for common print sizes, what DPI and PPI mean, and how to crop a batch to 2:3.
Read guideShould you use PNG, JPG or TIFF for photos?
JPG for sharing and uploads, PNG for graphics and transparency, TIFF for print and archiving. How the formats differ and when to convert iPhone HEIC photos.
Read guideCan you rotate multiple photos at once on iPhone?
The Photos app rotates one picture at a time. How to rotate or mirror a whole batch on iPhone, for scanned documents, sideways shots and selfies.
Read guideWhat size should images be for a website?
Size images to the largest width they display at, doubled for sharp screens, then compress. Practical widths for blogs, shops and hero images.
Read guideHow do you remove location from photos on iPhone?
Three built-in ways to keep GPS location out of iPhone photos you share or sell: share sheet Options, the Photos info panel, and Camera location settings.
Read guideHow do you crop multiple photos at once on iPhone?
The Photos app crops one picture at a time. How to crop a whole set to 1:1, 4:3, 16:9 or a custom ratio in one go, and which photos to check afterwards.
Read guideWhat is a fast bulk photo workflow for creators?
Same edits, every batch: how creators can chain resize, crop, watermark and compress into one saved workflow on iPhone or iPad, and what to check before posting.
Read guideWhat is a private offline batch photo editor?
An offline batch editor processes photos on your iPhone instead of a web server. What that protects and how to share edited photos without your location.
Read guideHow do you edit multiple photos at once on iPhone?
Two ways to apply the same edit to many iPhone photos: Copy Edits and Paste Edits in Photos, or a batch editor that adjusts, resizes and exports a whole set in one run.
Read guideHow to compress photos on iPhone before you email or upload them
A 12 MP iPhone photo is often 2 to 5 MB, and email limits fill fast. Three ways to shrink a batch: Mail's built-in option, Shortcuts, and a batch app.
Read guideHow to watermark many photos at once on iPhone
Adding a logo to 50 photos by hand takes an evening. How to batch watermark on iPhone, where to put the mark, and the honest limits of watermarks.
Read guideHEIC to JPG on iPhone: convert many at once, or stop HEIC at the source
iPhone photos are HEIC by default, and some websites and Windows PCs still choke on them. Three fixes: camera settings, automatic transfer, and batch conversion.
Read guideEtsy and eBay photo sizes: what each asks for and how to prep a batch
Etsy recommends at least 2000 px; eBay wants 500 px minimum and 1600 px for mobile. The numbers, the shapes, and a one-pass workflow for a whole shoot.
Read guideInstagram photo size in 2026: which shape to post
The profile grid now shows posts as 3:4 tiles. What that means for 1080 × 1440, 1080 × 1350 and square posts, and how to resize a whole shoot to match.
Read guideHow to reduce photo file size on iPhone to hit a limit like 1 MB
Forms often say 'max 1 MB' or 'max 200 KB'. What decides file size, how to get under a limit without guessing too much, and how to do a batch.
Read guideA sports photographer's iPad workflow: camera to team's social media during the game
A working sports photographer explains how he gets photos to a team during an event using an iPad: camera app transfer, a quick edit, then one batch pass.
Read guideBatch photo editor apps for iPhone: what actually matters when you compare them
Shortcuts, the Photos app's copy-edits feature, and dedicated batch apps each do part of the job. A checklist of the things that differ, and where Batchly fits.
Read guideCan compressing photos free up iPhone storage? What works and what doesn't
Compressing a camera roll only saves space once the originals are gone. The built-in options to try first, and when batch compression makes sense.
Read guide
Kanji Mnemonics
29 guides
Picture-book mnemonics for every JLPT kanji, N5 to N1, with a Today's Kanji widget.
Kanji mnemonics: how a picture and a short story make a kanji stick
A kanji mnemonic links the shape to a meaning with a small scene. How they work, examples, when to write your own, and who they don't suit.
Read guideAre kanji and Chinese characters the same?
Kanji came from Chinese characters, so many look and mean the same. But shapes were simplified differently, readings differ, and some meanings drifted.
Read guideWhat's the difference between hiragana, katakana and kanji?
Japanese mixes three scripts in one sentence: kanji for meaning, hiragana for grammar, katakana for foreign words. What each does and which to learn first.
Read guideHow many kanji do you need for JLPT N2 and N1?
N2 is usually put at about 1,000 kanji and N1 at about 2,000, close to the full jōyō list. Why there's no official list, and how to study at the top levels.
Read guideShould you learn the jōyō kanji or follow JLPT levels?
The jōyō list is Japan's official 2,136 kanji for general use; JLPT levels are learning stages. How they relate, and which order suits which learner.
Read guideWhat do the JLPT levels N5 to N1 mean?
The JLPT has five levels, N5 easiest and N1 hardest. What each level tests, section times and how they map to CEFR, from the official JLPT site.
Read guideHow many points do you need to pass the JLPT?
Official JLPT pass marks: overall 100 for N1, 90 for N2, 95 for N3, 90 for N4, 80 for N5, plus a minimum in every section. What that means for kanji study.
Read guideHow are kanji tested on the JLPT?
The JLPT tests kanji through kanji reading at all levels, orthography at N2 to N5 and word formation at N2. What each task asks and how to practise it.
Read guideHow do you learn kanji compounds?
Most kanji you meet on the JLPT sit inside two-kanji compounds. How jukugo work, why they usually use on'yomi, and a simple way to study them.
Read guideWhat is okurigana?
Okurigana are the kana written after a kanji, like the る in 食べる. What they do, how they differ from furigana, and why they matter for JLPT spelling questions.
Read guideWhat are phonetic components in kanji?
Many kanji pair a meaning part with a sound part. Learn to spot phonetic components like 青 in 晴, 清, 精 and use them to guess on'yomi, with honest limits.
Read guideHow should you review kanji before JLPT test day?
What to review in the final week before the JLPT, how kanji questions look on the day, and official test-day facts: multiple choice, set section times.
Read guideHow do you make your own kanji mnemonics?
A practical method for writing your own kanji mnemonics: fix one keyword, name the parts, build a short vivid scene, and test it. With worked examples.
Read guideAre kanji mnemonics better than writing kanji over and over?
Writing a kanji 20 times or remembering it through a story? What each method is good at, where each fails, and how to combine them for the JLPT.
Read guideHow many kanji do you need to know?
There are 2,136 jōyō kanji, but you do not need all of them to start reading. What each stage lets you read, and why vocabulary matters as much.
Read guideHow do you tell similar-looking kanji apart?
人 and 入, 土 and 士, 未 and 末: why look-alike kanji trip you up and how to tell them apart with one distinguishing detail and a story built around it.
Read guideWhat is the difference between on'yomi and kun'yomi?
On'yomi is the reading that came from Chinese, kun'yomi the native Japanese one. How to guess which one a word uses, the common exceptions, and how to learn both.
Read guideShould you learn kanji reading or writing first?
For most adult learners, reading first is the faster route: the JLPT doesn't test handwriting and your phone types kanji. When writing still matters, and how to add it.
Read guideWhy do I recognize kanji but forget the reading?
You know what a kanji means but can't say how it's read. Why meaning sticks faster than sound, and how to attach readings through words you actually meet.
Read guideHow do you study kanji without burning out?
Review piles grow, motivation drops, and the app icon starts to feel like homework. Why kanji burnout happens and how to cut the load without losing progress.
Read guideHow to learn kanji as a beginner
Where to start with kanji, how many a day, and why meanings first works for most beginners. A simple plan you can keep up with a busy week.
Read guideJLPT N5 kanji list, grouped by theme
The JLPT N5 kanji, grouped into numbers, days, people, verbs and more. Why there is no official list, and how to learn the set in a month.
Read guideJLPT N4 and N3 kanji: how many there are and how to study them
N4 adds roughly 200 kanji to N5, N3 another 350 or so. What changes at these levels, how to pace them and how to handle look-alike kanji.
Read guideRemember the Kanji: the method, the criticism, and the alternatives
Heisig's Remember the Kanji teaches a keyword and a story for each kanji before any readings. What it does well, the common complaints, and other options.
Read guideKanji flashcards: how to use them well
Flashcards help when you test yourself in both directions and keep sessions short. What to put on a kanji card, how often to review and app options.
Read guideWaniKani alternatives, free and paid
WaniKani is popular but fixed-pace and paid after level 3. The alternatives learners actually recommend, what each does differently and who it suits.
Read guideKanji of the day widget: a small daily habit
A Home Screen or Lock Screen widget shows a new kanji each day. How to set it up on iPhone, and how to turn a glance into something you remember.
Read guideKanji radicals and components: learn the parts, then the kanji
Most kanji are built from a few hundred recurring parts. Which components to learn first, how they hint at meaning or sound, and how they help mnemonics.
Read guideJLPT kanji prep: how long each level takes
How many months to plan for each JLPT level's kanji, what to do in the last six weeks and how the test checks kanji. Built around the July and December dates.
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Flight Mode Chat
19 guides
Encrypted chat with people nearby over Bluetooth, with no internet or cell signal.
Is there a walkie-talkie app that works without internet on iPhone?
Most walkie-talkie apps need Wi-Fi or mobile data. What still works with no signal on iPhone, and why voice notes over Bluetooth are not live push-to-talk.
Read guideHow to send photos, voice notes and files without internet on iPhone
Yes, you can send photos, voice notes and files on iPhone with no internet, using a Bluetooth chat app with someone nearby. Steps and limits.
Read guidePublic channels versus private chats with people nearby
Flight Mode Chat has public channels for everyone nearby and private chats for one person. When to use each and what both can and cannot do offline.
Read guideHow to chat on a cruise ship or ferry with weak or paid Wi-Fi
Ship Wi-Fi can be slow or paid. A Bluetooth chat app lets you message travel companions nearby without it, but only people who run the same app.
Read guideHow to message on a train, subway or underground with no signal
Tunnels and underground lines cut your signal. A Bluetooth chat app can message people nearby without it, if they run the same app. What to expect.
Read guideWhy texts fail in a stadium or festival crowd, and what still works
Crowded networks stall your messages at stadiums, concerts and festivals. Why it happens and how Bluetooth chat helps, with nearby app users only.
Read guideHow to share a contact with someone nearby without internet
You can send a contact to a person next to you with no internet on iPhone using a Bluetooth chat app. How it works and what the other person needs.
Read guideDoes Flight Mode Chat work on iPad, and does it need a SIM or data plan?
Flight Mode Chat runs on iPhone and iPad and needs no SIM, data plan or internet to chat with nearby people. What that means in practice.
Read guideChatting abroad without roaming or a local SIM: what an offline chat can and cannot do
An offline Bluetooth chat needs no roaming or local SIM, but it only reaches nearby people running the app. What it can do abroad and what it cannot.
Read guideHow to chat without internet on iPhone
No Wi-Fi, no signal, still need to message someone nearby? What iPhone can do on its own, where Bluetooth chat apps fit and their real limits.
Read guideCan you text on a plane without Wi-Fi?
SMS won't send at 10,000 metres, and in-flight Wi-Fi costs money. What does work: free messaging plans, and Bluetooth chat with people on the same flight.
Read guideBluetooth chat on iPhone: how it works
How a Bluetooth chat app sends messages without a network, what affects range, what happens with battery, and how to set one up before you need it.
Read guideChatting with other passengers on a plane
Split seats on a group trip, a friend in another row, or an open channel for the cabin. How offline chat works on a flight and the etiquette that keeps it pleasant.
Read guideMessaging with no signal at festivals, on trails and at sea
Signal disappears when 80,000 people arrive or the trail drops into a valley. How to plan offline messaging for festivals, hikes and cruises, with realistic expectations.
Read guideBluetooth mesh messaging, explained
In a mesh, phones running the same app pass messages along. What that means for range, why crowds help, what can slow it down, and how it differs from normal chat.
Read guideEncrypted offline chat: privacy without servers
No servers means no message copies stored in a data centre. What end-to-end encryption protects in an offline chat app, and what it can't protect.
Read guideAirplane mode on iPhone: what still works
Airplane Mode cuts cellular, but Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can come back on. A clear list of what works, what doesn't, and why messages say not delivered.
Read guideOffline communication in emergencies: a realistic backup plan
When networks fail after a storm or blackout, nearby offline messaging can help families and neighbours coordinate. What to prepare and where its limits are.
Read guideOffline messengers compared
Bluetooth apps, mesh radios and the apps that came and went. How Flight Mode Chat, Bitchat, Meshtastic and others differ, and which suits which trip.
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Cowboy Duel
15 guides
A quick-draw reflex game: hold the phone like a holstered revolver, flip on the signal.
Quick-draw duel games for Red Dead fans
Liked the duels in Red Dead Redemption 2? How its duel works, how a phone quick-draw game differs, and what Cowboy Duel offers if you want more standoffs.
Read guideWhat is a normal reaction time for drivers?
Road design assumes reaction times far longer than a tap test shows. Why, what it means for stopping distance, and what a phone game can't tell you.
Read guideHow does an F1 reaction time test compare with a phone flip test?
Online F1 start-light tests time a click when five lights go out. How that compares with a motion test on a phone, and why your scores won't match.
Read guideWhat is a false start in a reaction test?
In athletics a reaction under 0.100 seconds counts as a false start. Why that line exists, and how reaction games catch people who guess.
Read guideHow does reaction time change with age?
Reaction time is fastest in early adulthood and slows gradually after that. What studies found, why practice still matters, and how to compare yourself fairly.
Read guideTesting your reaction time on a phone
Tap tests, sound tests and motion tests measure different things. How phone reaction tests work, what skews the numbers, and how to get a fair reading.
Read guideWhat is a good reaction time?
Simple visual reaction time for adults usually lands around 200 to 300 ms. What affects it, how gamers compare, and why motion games show higher numbers.
Read guideHow to improve your reaction time
Sleep, practice on the specific task, focus on the signal and warm-ups make a measurable difference. What helps reaction time, what doesn't, and a short routine.
Read guideA quick draw cowboy game you play with your phone
Hold the phone like a holstered revolver, wait for the signal, flip it to shoot. How the quick draw game works, its three modes and tips for a faster draw.
Read guideGames to play with friends on one phone
One phone, a group of friends, no setup. Pass-and-play formats that work for reaction games, quizzes and drawing, and how to run a quick tournament.
Read guideParty games for your phone
Phone party games that work with a mixed crowd: no long rules, short rounds, something to watch. A few formats and how a reflex duel fits in.
Read guideReaction time for gaming: what's good, what matters more
Competitive players often sit in the 150 to 200 ms range on click tests. Why that matters less than you'd think, what else decides fights, and how to measure fairly.
Read guideReflex games for kids and the whole family
Reaction games kids enjoy, how to keep them fair across ages, and safety tips when the game involves moving the phone. Plus a family tournament format.
Read guideMotion controls vs tapping in phone games
Tapping measures a finger, motion measures your arm and body. Why motion games feel more physical, why their times are higher and when each kind of control works best.
Read guideQuick draw duel apps compared
Several phone games use a quick-draw duel. How they differ in controls, multiplayer, free features and ads, and what to check before you pick one.
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