How iPhone will improve your State of Mind

New iOS feature helps track and manage moods and emotions.

Author

Leander Kahney
July 25, 2023

There’s an old chestnut that to fix any problem you’ve first got to track it.

Apple is attempting that with mental health, via a new feature in iOS 17 that allows you to log your moods and emotions.

State of Mind prompts you to record your emotions throughout the day, along with any activities you engaged in. The idea is to help identify patterns and activities that help — or don’t — like exercise, friends, work and sleep.

I just turned it on myself and am very curious to see if it’ll help with my own emotions and moods. Here’s how to get started.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • Tim Cook grew Apple into a $3 trillion powerhouse partly by focusing on China, which rapidly ballooned into one of Apple’s biggest markets. India is next. It’s already bigger than Germany and France.

  • You might want to watch the new Strange Planet trailer so you know to avoid it. This review of the original book on which it’s based nails it: “This is a short book of ironic humor. The author provides a common sense point of view of common experiences... Moderately humorous.”

  • On the other hand, Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn, the upcoming Apple TV+ documentary about the fugitive Nissan executive, looks great.

  • We just extended this fantastic deal on Kodak’s Slide N Scan, a device that makes it easy to digitize old film negatives and slides.

  • I really like iPhone chargers with built-in batteries that can be used on the go. We review a new one from Pitaka, and find it worthy of four out of five stars.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Use Apple Health to track your mental well-being

Simply log how you feel throughout the day, and your iPhone will help you identify what’s causing you trouble or what works for you.

‘Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn’ documentary tells amazing story of the millionaire fugitive

An Apple TV+ docuseries explains how Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO of Nissan, ended up fleeing authorities in Japan hidden in a box. Watch the trailer now.

Apple supposedly still investigating folding iPad options

Apple has its eye on making a folding iPad, according to a new report out of Asia.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Preserve photographic memories with the Kodak Slide N Scan scanner [Deal extended]

The Kodak Slide N Scan can preserve film negatives and slides, and even restore them with a few easy button presses.

India becomes Apple's fifth-largest iPhone market

For the first time ever, India has become the fifth-largest iPhone market for Apple, surpassing Germany and France.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

AirPods Pro 2 deal knocks 20% off the best wireless earbuds for iPhone

If you need a new pair of earbuds for your iPhone, look no further than the AirPods Pro 2, which are a no-brainer with a 20% discount.

Trailer takes first trip to Apple’s whimsical ‘Strange Planet’ comedy series

Anyone eager for the Apple TV+ adaptation of Nathan Pyle’s “Strange Planet” graphic novels should be thrilled by the trailer.

This clever MagSafe iPhone stand holds a sleek power bank [Review] ★★★★☆

The Pitaka MagEz Slider 2 is both desktop stand for your iPhone and MagSafe power bank, so your handset can get juiced up on the go.

Today in Apple history: Windows scores big victory over Mac

On July 25, 1989, Apple suffered a major setback in its lawsuit against Microsoft for allegedly stealing the Mac's graphical interface.

Tweetz o’ the day

One more thing ...

❝

There’s an old Hindu saying that goes, ‘In the first 30 years of your life, you make your habits. For the last 30 years of your life, your habits make you.’

— Steve Jobs, 1985, sent to friends on his 30th birthday.

Today’s poll

Will you try iOS 17's new State of Mind feature?

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