Buried Apple feature turns an iPhone into the perfect kids' dumb phone

Post by Cider9986 » Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 3:49 AM UTC

sneak wrote: post #166

eigencoder wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've used MDM to make my iPhone dumb. It's great! I wish there was an easy way to publish my configuration so others could use it / adapt it, but it's a little involved because you have to wipe your phone the first time you set it up with configurator.

Supervised devices cannot be backed up and restored to supervised devices. You can only backup/restore to an unsupervised target. If you want supervision, you have to abandon your backup. It sucks.

Post by whycome » Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 3:58 AM UTC

650REDHAIR wrote: post #135

whycome wrote: post #132

There are so many features under “accessibility” that have wider usages.

I use the back tap feature for shortcuts and have my iPad auto-answer FaceTime calls when I’m out so I can check in on the dogs. Lots of neat features hiding beneath the surface!

Post by rescbr » Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 4:46 AM UTC

brookst wrote: post #179

rescbr wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume they can spy on anything, that's why I refuse to do any kind of BYOD that requires MDM enrollment. It's also one IT mistake away from wiping out my personal data from my own property. Company's Outlook, Teams, MS Authenticator and Slack on my personal phone? Ehhhh fine. The second IT requires a profile it's the second I'm uninstalling anything company related from my phone. They can give me a company phone,…

Your assumption is wrong.

Post by habi » Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 5:01 AM UTC

walrus01 wrote: post #131

hans_castorp wrote: post #128

> Maps and satnav require a web connection. No they don't require a network at all. The only drawback if there is no network is that the initial finding of the position takes longer. And maps can be downloaded so that they are available offline. GPS receiver have been working without a "web connection" for ages (e.g. Garmins outdoor devices). I use my smartphone in "airplane" mode but GPS enabled when hiking. No prob…

At least on Android there's a fair number of apps like "osmand" which can download an entire state, province or country vector/map data, in their own semi-proprietary data format derived from public openstreetmap, for truly offline use anywhere you have a GPS signal. It'll even work on a phone that has no SIM card in it.

Post by 650REDHAIR » Fri, Jul 10, 2026, 5:21 AM UTC

whycome wrote: post #183

650REDHAIR wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use the back tap feature for shortcuts and have my iPad auto-answer FaceTime calls when I’m out so I can check in on the dogs. Lots of neat features hiding beneath the surface!

I have the back tap trigger a shortcut to give me a list of my most used things. I’ve used gestures to let me use a remote keyboard turn the pages on an ebook and I’ve also used it to let me remotely swipe short videos. I’ve used the vehicle motion cues. I’ve set an action to bring up the TTS reader. I even had the eye tracking do stuff for me.