If you often seem prone to stress, then try spending more time in a rural environment. Research has found that doing so could help you to overcome anxiety, improve your focus and sleep better, among other benefits. Oh, and don’t forget to take your mobile Apple devices with you…
Work it out… and out of the house
Thanks to the smartphone revolution that has taken hold since the first iPhone’s arrival nearly ten years ago, we can now travel to loads of places with what is basically a feature-rich mini-computer. And, as tablets and smartwatches have entered the picture, the abilities of mobile devices to enhance our out-and-about experiences have grown and diversified yet further.
When wandering around rural scenery, you are likely to come across a pleasing variety of interesting sights. Now, whether you simply explore as you wish, perhaps with Apple’s Maps app or Google Maps for guidance, or follow a pre-decided route with the ViewRanger hiking app for iOS or Apple Watch, an iPhone with a step-counter could also help you keep track of exercise you are getting along the way.
It’s worth emphasizing the unique benefits of physical activity outdoors rather than indoors. A meta-analysis of ten studies revealed that, even in just five minutes, outdoor exercise can measurably enhance mood and self-esteem. It can also reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Have iPhone camera, will take amazing photos and videos
Don’t fret if our mention of exercise has left you feeling suddenly rather daunted! You can start your outdoor pursuits at a more leisurely pace, if you’d prefer – and, if you spot some really interesting sights, like a particular animal or piece of scenery, you could photograph or film it with your iPhone.
In fact, the ability to effectively capture scenes of nature with an iPhone is something that certain people have already been clearly demonstrating to Apple. In July, the company shared two ‘Shot on iPhone’ ads starring a nut-chewing squirrel and a leaf-carrying ant…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84lAxh2AfE8&ebc=ANyPxKoJzwIY0EHyU_hRQ5NfPC5fG5TNQsLRd2oe0-Ka06RJE0M8X6OzJEWwmTc4ePDCkQatOjzrYqcqIOA7zjxCPdaVYrynOg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVnBJMN6twA&ebc=ANyPxKoJzwIY0EHyU_hRQ5NfPC5fG5TNQsLRd2oe0-Ka06RJE0M8X6OzJEWwmTc4ePDCkQatOjzrYqcqIOA7zjxCPdaVYrynOg
You can be especially excited if you’ve got an iPhone 7 Plus. This iPhone is undoubtedly the most exciting for avid snappers at the moment, not least thanks to the Portrait mode introduced with iOS 10.1. As 9to5Mac scribe Zac Hall notes in an in-depth analysis of this feature, it relies on very good lighting and, therefore, can work especially well outside.
He’s also posted a few outdoor photos actually taken with the Portrait mode, to show how it can easily capture subjects in crisp clarity but to a beautifully blurred background. You might already be getting lots of great ideas for what rural sights to photograph with use of Portrait mode…
