Check Settings > General > About > Software Updates to see if your device is current. The reason for updating is to get the latest security protections. Sometimes the latest update might effect your battery-life or add new features. Anytime you update from 12 to 13 or from 13 to 14 then get the new User Guide and review the changes.
In the latest (free) update to the operating system, Apple has separated to iOS 14 on iPhone and iPadOS 14 for iPad. (Soon the MacOS Big Sur will bring mobile apps to our computers...) Now is the time to look into adding the latest User Guide for iPhone or User Guide for iPad in the Books app.
An app you might have overlooked is Tips. This app opens information curated by Apple specific to the device you are currently using - iPad Tips will be different from iPhone Tips! This is not a just read once app. The tips appear in Collections and there are multiple tips in each group. Tips also change every so often. Come back to this app from time to time to learn more.
We have been discussing how to save space on our iPhones & iPads. There are so many places to look for information on the "health" and "status" of our devices. At our April 6, 2019 get together I've handed out a draft iOS Device Worksheet. If you want to keep track of settings now and in the future, download and print this PDF document.
April 23, 2016 - Photography Playdate. Let's hope for another beautiful morning in Alpine County so we can practice smartphone photography and then share some editing techniques. No darkroom required! Alpiners with iPhones, Android phones and Windows phones (etc) are welcome to attend, explore and share app techniques.
March 26 - requested topic includes a PDF handout on Passwords and Security.
February 27, 2016: Email. Have you noticed your emails have automated text, like "Sent from my iPhone" or "Sent from my iPad?" This is the hint of an email signature. You can improve on this by adding your preferred sign-off. By the way, a signature does not have to be a few short words. A signature can be several paragraphs and include links to websites. This tip applies if you use the Mail app that is included on your device (ad-free) and you are not reading email using Safari.
Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Signature. This is where you modify the default signature. Tap the box and the keyboard will appear. Try adding your name or initials: -- MG above the Sent from my iPad line. But why stop there? Let you imagination and creativity show in your signature! A friend of my includes this:
Talking about "Sent from my iPhone" is a clue that some folks in your Contacts are iPhone users. Did you know that the Messages app can send text and pictures (and video) to other Apple devices (iOS and computers) for free? OK, you might have a cellular service and unlimited texting. But some folks did not signup for unlimited texting, so each incoming and outgoing message costs – say 20¢. But their signature will let you know they have an iPhone. When reading emails, you notice someone has that tell tale signature, open their Contacts page > Edit. Then tap on the Phone label to see other choices: Home, Work, iPhone, mobile ... Change their cellular number's label to iPhone to remind you that texting them is free. Try this with a friend or family member. Have you tried to FaceTime with your iPhone or iPad? FaceTime is video conferencing – the future is here!
Do you visit the Sacramento area every so often? I know, it's hard to do, all that traffic and hubbub. This might make it worth a trip. EmpowerMac teaches Mac computer and iPhone/iPad classes over weekends several times a year. Four classes are offered: Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. Your first class is Free! Bring a friend and their first class is free and your second class is free. They have posted some tutorials on their EmpowerMac YouTube channel and it is a good way to preview their workshops. Last month I attended the Photos for iMac class, paying $35 for 3 hour class. I highly recommend Pete Pozzi and Ken Spencer as Apple enthusiasts. Actually, they are both on the board for the Sacramento Macintosh User Group called MacNexus.
February 6, 2016: New faces today. K.C., Kathleen, Wanda and Sharon came to explore Apple technology. Kathleen demonstrated the extended hand - pinch gesture to close the current app, returning to the Home Screen.
Fun and free reading is available through the Library using the OverDrive app or checkout the long list of copyright-free books at the Gutenberg Project. Do you have the iBooks app? You can search for free books there. You can also add PDF (portable document file) to iBooks for on-the-go reference.
Many of the Apple apps for our devices (iPhone or iPad) are interconnected. On this day, we started with Contacts (fill in as much detail as possible) and then use this info in a Calendar event. Why? You will see estimated travel time. But the interconnection from event to Maps for turn-by-turn directions completes the cycle: Contacts > Event > Maps. When you have all your devices and computers connecting to iCloud, via your Apple ID, information flows from one to all when you have wifi. This "sync-ing" is magic! Apple has detailed support for Contacts and iCloud.
Some web pages will include address and phone number information that can be easily added to your Contacts. (Not all web pages, and this technique will save time.) Copy the URL to add to a business Contact.
Use Maps to find a business or location. If Pin appears with the name, touch the > to see details. Scroll down this pop-up screen to see links to Create New Contact and Add to Existing Contact.
Remember you have a personal assistant, Siri, to help you find ... almost everything. Check out Siri's ever expanding services. Wifi or cellular data are needed to access Siri.
For fun, add the Emoji keyboard to get all the fun little faces, animals and pictures. Keyboards look a little different from iOS 8 to 8 to 9.
The Share button is usually a box with an arrow. Visit a web page and find the Share button to send a message or email with a link to the web site. Open a photo and find the Share button to send it to a friend. Many other apps use the Share button.
It is a good idea to back up your data/devices. Here is one page of many at Apple Support called Archive or make copies of your iCloud data.
Next Time: (1) Let's talk about Email. You can access email using Safari (web browser) on your iPhone and iPad. Did you know there is a Mail app that can read most email services? The reason I use the Mail app is to cut down on the clutter of ads and nonsense on the page. (2) Photos - is a favorite topic and our site has hidden Photos details. We might need to look at our (3) iCloud settings. You want to know your Apple ID. (Your Apple user name - sometimes is looks like an email address. Maybe that is just me!) If time allows, let's look at (4) how to search in Safari and use the Reader view to minimize the distractions. Plus, your questions ... time to rock and roll.
I will bring a few stylus pens to try. This group might be fine with the touch screen gestures.
Use your voice to ask Siri, your personal assistant, for information, or Dictate text for iMessage, email or Notes. The trick is Siri and Dictate require a wifi (or cellular) connection to the Internet.
Have some fun, and giggles with (use this direct link to the App Store:) Talking Tom, he repeats what you say and can record short videos to your Photos > Camera Roll.
Are you fumbling for your keys in the dark? The iPhone includes a flashlight! For quick access, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Control Panel, the flashlight is on the bottom left. This works when your screen is locked, from a Home screen or from an open app. Be sure to turn the light off to save battery power.
How to extend battery life for iPhone or iPad? You can turn Brightness down (also in the Control Panel) and turn off GPS apps running in the background. To see what apps are running in the background, double touch the Home button. Your device can switch between apps for Multi-Tasking. Swipe up on any app to close it from any background processing. Often, your battery is drained when using a Map app for turn-by-turn directions because it is using the cellular antenna and GPS features.
Free App of the Week - PDF Expert 5 - Fill forms, annotate PDFs, sign documents by Readdle
https://appsto.re/us/nGcwS.i This offer will expire on November 18th, act now to save $10. Not sure you need it? You do, just don't know it yet.
One of the best apps to get is Apple's iBooks and you will want the User Guide for your device.
We have been discussing how to save space on our iPhones & iPads. There are so many places to look for information on the "health" and "status" of our devices. At our April 6, 2019 get together I've handed out a draft iOS Device Worksheet. If you want to keep track of settings now and in the future, download and print this PDF document.
April 23, 2016 - Photography Playdate. Let's hope for another beautiful morning in Alpine County so we can practice smartphone photography and then share some editing techniques. No darkroom required! Alpiners with iPhones, Android phones and Windows phones (etc) are welcome to attend, explore and share app techniques.
March 26 - requested topic includes a PDF handout on Passwords and Security.
February 27, 2016: Email. Have you noticed your emails have automated text, like "Sent from my iPhone" or "Sent from my iPad?" This is the hint of an email signature. You can improve on this by adding your preferred sign-off. By the way, a signature does not have to be a few short words. A signature can be several paragraphs and include links to websites. This tip applies if you use the Mail app that is included on your device (ad-free) and you are not reading email using Safari.
Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Signature. This is where you modify the default signature. Tap the box and the keyboard will appear. Try adding your name or initials: -- MG above the Sent from my iPad line. But why stop there? Let you imagination and creativity show in your signature! A friend of my includes this:
"-- this was sent from my iPad and it will make substitutions for words at any time. I am not responsible for these corrections. -- Lily"Again, your signature text could be several paragraphs. I've used it when the body of the message was short and unique to each person but details for everyone were the same and included links to websites. If you are working on a project with a team, this hint might come in handy.
Talking about "Sent from my iPhone" is a clue that some folks in your Contacts are iPhone users. Did you know that the Messages app can send text and pictures (and video) to other Apple devices (iOS and computers) for free? OK, you might have a cellular service and unlimited texting. But some folks did not signup for unlimited texting, so each incoming and outgoing message costs – say 20¢. But their signature will let you know they have an iPhone. When reading emails, you notice someone has that tell tale signature, open their Contacts page > Edit. Then tap on the Phone label to see other choices: Home, Work, iPhone, mobile ... Change their cellular number's label to iPhone to remind you that texting them is free. Try this with a friend or family member. Have you tried to FaceTime with your iPhone or iPad? FaceTime is video conferencing – the future is here!
Do you visit the Sacramento area every so often? I know, it's hard to do, all that traffic and hubbub. This might make it worth a trip. EmpowerMac teaches Mac computer and iPhone/iPad classes over weekends several times a year. Four classes are offered: Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. Your first class is Free! Bring a friend and their first class is free and your second class is free. They have posted some tutorials on their EmpowerMac YouTube channel and it is a good way to preview their workshops. Last month I attended the Photos for iMac class, paying $35 for 3 hour class. I highly recommend Pete Pozzi and Ken Spencer as Apple enthusiasts. Actually, they are both on the board for the Sacramento Macintosh User Group called MacNexus.
February 6, 2016: New faces today. K.C., Kathleen, Wanda and Sharon came to explore Apple technology. Kathleen demonstrated the extended hand - pinch gesture to close the current app, returning to the Home Screen.
Fun and free reading is available through the Library using the OverDrive app or checkout the long list of copyright-free books at the Gutenberg Project. Do you have the iBooks app? You can search for free books there. You can also add PDF (portable document file) to iBooks for on-the-go reference.
Many of the Apple apps for our devices (iPhone or iPad) are interconnected. On this day, we started with Contacts (fill in as much detail as possible) and then use this info in a Calendar event. Why? You will see estimated travel time. But the interconnection from event to Maps for turn-by-turn directions completes the cycle: Contacts > Event > Maps. When you have all your devices and computers connecting to iCloud, via your Apple ID, information flows from one to all when you have wifi. This "sync-ing" is magic! Apple has detailed support for Contacts and iCloud.
Some web pages will include address and phone number information that can be easily added to your Contacts. (Not all web pages, and this technique will save time.) Copy the URL to add to a business Contact.
Use Maps to find a business or location. If Pin appears with the name, touch the > to see details. Scroll down this pop-up screen to see links to Create New Contact and Add to Existing Contact.
Remember you have a personal assistant, Siri, to help you find ... almost everything. Check out Siri's ever expanding services. Wifi or cellular data are needed to access Siri.
For fun, add the Emoji keyboard to get all the fun little faces, animals and pictures. Keyboards look a little different from iOS 8 to 8 to 9.
The Share button is usually a box with an arrow. Visit a web page and find the Share button to send a message or email with a link to the web site. Open a photo and find the Share button to send it to a friend. Many other apps use the Share button.
It is a good idea to back up your data/devices. Here is one page of many at Apple Support called Archive or make copies of your iCloud data.
Next Time: (1) Let's talk about Email. You can access email using Safari (web browser) on your iPhone and iPad. Did you know there is a Mail app that can read most email services? The reason I use the Mail app is to cut down on the clutter of ads and nonsense on the page. (2) Photos - is a favorite topic and our site has hidden Photos details. We might need to look at our (3) iCloud settings. You want to know your Apple ID. (Your Apple user name - sometimes is looks like an email address. Maybe that is just me!) If time allows, let's look at (4) how to search in Safari and use the Reader view to minimize the distractions. Plus, your questions ... time to rock and roll.
I will bring a few stylus pens to try. This group might be fine with the touch screen gestures.
Use your voice to ask Siri, your personal assistant, for information, or Dictate text for iMessage, email or Notes. The trick is Siri and Dictate require a wifi (or cellular) connection to the Internet.
Have some fun, and giggles with (use this direct link to the App Store:) Talking Tom, he repeats what you say and can record short videos to your Photos > Camera Roll.
Are you fumbling for your keys in the dark? The iPhone includes a flashlight! For quick access, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Control Panel, the flashlight is on the bottom left. This works when your screen is locked, from a Home screen or from an open app. Be sure to turn the light off to save battery power.
How to extend battery life for iPhone or iPad? You can turn Brightness down (also in the Control Panel) and turn off GPS apps running in the background. To see what apps are running in the background, double touch the Home button. Your device can switch between apps for Multi-Tasking. Swipe up on any app to close it from any background processing. Often, your battery is drained when using a Map app for turn-by-turn directions because it is using the cellular antenna and GPS features.
Free App of the Week - PDF Expert 5 - Fill forms, annotate PDFs, sign documents by Readdle
https://appsto.re/us/nGcwS.i This offer will expire on November 18th, act now to save $10. Not sure you need it? You do, just don't know it yet.
One of the best apps to get is Apple's iBooks and you will want the User Guide for your device.
