Tips

TikTok lets its users choose both a username and a display name. When first signing up for the video sharing service, TikTok provides a username right away. This initial name can be customized on the spot, but subsequent changes require a 30 day waiting period. Follow these steps if you're interested in refreshing your identity on TikTok with a name change.

Apple offers a new option to iOS 14 users this fall with the release of iOS 15. Instead of pushing all compatible iOS devices to upgrade to the latest firmware, Apple will let users decide whether to upgrade to iOS 15 or stay with the current version. Fans of iOS 14 still get ongoing security updates and bug fixes.

Apple's 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off next week with Monday's Keynote presentation at 10 am PDT (1 pm EDT). Apple also offers its State of the Union starting four hours later. The events typically showcase the future of Apple's mobile and computing platforms, including iOS and macOS. Watching the 32nd annual keynote is free and does not require a subscription to the Apple Developer Program.

Fans of Google services are not locked into using iCloud Photos to backup their images. Google Photos offers 15 GB of free storage and many features such as Google Lens, facial recognition, and image compression options. The iPhone can be configured to automatically upload pictures to Google Photos instead of the iCloud Photo Library.

Apple offers many new privacy options in the latest version of iOS. One of these is better transparency when it comes to apps tracking your activity between apps and on the web. Now thanks to App Privacy cards, developers must reveal what personal information is collected. Apps can also be granted permission to track activities on a case-by-case basis.

For those not interested in allowing any apps to track their information between other apps or in web browsers, tracking can be switched off completely.