iOS Tip: Answer a message with a touch and tap!

Did you know that you can answer a text without having to type a whole reply out? Well, it depends what the text is, but iOS has the smarts to give you options for an appropriate answer. Here’s how!

In your Messages, tap and hold down on the conversation you’d like to reply. You’ll then see a pop-up with suggestions on what to apply. Tap on the reply you want to use. Voila! Done ☺️

We hope you liked that useful tip from Apple’s Genius Picks. You can like and follow our Facebook page for more handy tips!

iOS TIP: Share using AirDrop

Recently I’ve found myself doing quite a bit of sharing photos and Safari links from my iPhone to another iPhone or to a Mac. If you’re still trying to share files by iMessage or Mail to other Apple users you may not be aware of Apple’s sharing feature, AirDrop! So here’s how to use AirDrop thanks to Apple’s Genius Picks.

All you have to do is tap on the Share Icon (a square icon with an arrow pointing up out of it) and then tap on AirDrop. Select the name of the person’s device and the transfer will begin.

iOS TIP: Sorry running late! How to share your ETA

Here’s a quick iOS TIP for you in case you’re running a little late and you have friends who want to know how far away you are.

Open APPLE MAPS > Input your destination > Directions > GO > Tap on the bottom anchor which shows the ARRIVAL/MIN/KM > Tap on Share ETA > Select the contact you want to share it to.

Security: Spotting a fake email from Apple

It’s always a good habit to read something before clicking on anything. That’s usually the best first defense for yourself against any potential dangers to the security and privacy on your computer or iDevice. Majority of these scammers will usually try to gain access to your account via your email or even through an SMS. Let’s just be honest here, there is no privacy when it comes to how people can contact us. The days of having an unregistered number in the White Pages is long gone!

While going through my Apple Mail I so happened to come across this wonderful email that should’ve ended up in my spam/junk folder. Let’s see if you can determine whether it is fake or not…

Here’s the breakdown…

1. Apple would NEVER send you an email asking for your details or to change them

2. This was sent to an email which I don’t even have an Apple ID associated with

3. Count the spelling and gramatical errors

4. Lastly, as the subject line says…I don’t even own a Microsoft Edge, I’m 100% Apple!

So, this is quite an obvious fake email whose purpose is to gain access to your Apple ID. I can’t stress this enough, but to say READ THINGS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU CLICK!

iOS Quick Tip: Undo/Redo

Here’s a quick tip from Apple if you’ve made a mistake in Notes or in iMessages, etc. With three fingers, swipe left to UNDO. Swipe right if your want to REDO.

iOS Quick Tip: Saving Email Drafts

Here’s a quick tip for you and your iPhone or iPad when sending emails from the geniuses at Apple. Need to quickly save an email draft? While writing an email, simply swipe down on the little anchor point at the top of that message. To retrieve it again just tap on the draft at the bottom.

iOS Quick Tip: Scroll Bar

If you’ve updated to the new iOS you might’ve noticed a new scroll bar while navigating through a page in Safari. Not only is it useful for seeing where you are on a page you can now use it to scroll faster! Have a crack at it by normally scrolling through a page, then tap and hold the scroll bar on the right and drag it up or down to scroll through the page. Also the faster you move the scroll bar the faster you will scroll through the page!

Your iPhone can help you in an emergency!

It’s hard to dial an emergency number in an emergency! But there is actually a quick way to make an SOS call on your iPhone. Here’s how you do it…

Access SOS on your iPhone by pressing and holding down the side button and either volume button. Your iPhone will then contact emergency services and also send a message to your emergency contacts in your Medical ID and Health app.

iOS Quick Tip: It's all about that Battery Health

Once again, Apple is working on our iPhone battery woes! Now that iOS 13 is a little more ironed out with a few multiple updates to fix a few bugs, let’s talk about the changes they’ve made to help us with Battery Life.

We all get a little confused when it comes to charging our phone overnight, but look, you’re not going to overload your phone while your sleep and charge. So Apple has done this thing with your trickle-charging. Usually once our batteries charge to 100% it switches to trickle charging. What is trickle charging, you ask? Well, let’s ask Siri…

Hey Siri…

What’s trickle charging?

Using it’s AI magic your iPhone will learn your routine. Yes, your iPhone is stalking you, but it’s for the good of your battery! It will set up a routine of only charging your iPhone to 80%, switch to trickle charging, and then by learning your wake up time, it will charge up to 100% just as you wake and hit snooze.

Here’s how to activate it…

Settings > Battery > Battery Health > Turn ON Optimised Battery Charging.

Quick iCloud Tip: Family Sharing

Having extra iCloud storage is great, but it’s greater when you can share it with family! To share a single iCloud plan with your family go to Settings > Your Name > Family Sharing, choose a plan and members from your fam!

Quick iOS Tip: Feeling reminiscent?

Did you know you can use Moments to reflect on photos taken a year ago? What to know what your were doing a year ago on this day? In Photos tap on Search then tap on One Year Ago. Try it now!

Quick iOS Tip: Access your favourite app with a swipe!

Here’s a quick tip straight from the essentials of iOS! You can access your favourite App with just a swipe to the right and view its widget in your Today view. To add an App, find its icon, press down on it (with the 3D Touch), then tap on Add Widget.

Now you’ll be able to quickly view the App from your Lock Screen by swiping right!

Quick iOS Tip: I’m still listening!

Sometimes you’re on a call and then someone else might walk in and want to start discussing something important, but then you may not want whoever is on the phone listening. Or you could be listening to that friend of yours venting, but secretly you’re watching Netflix in the background so you don’t want them to hear that background noise…okay, I’m kidding. We’re not that kind of friend. A friend must always be actively listening! But here’s how you mute yourself in a call. Just tap the mute button!

Quick Tip: How to stop those pesky rate and review requests

We all have opinions, but sometimes we just want to enjoy ourselves without having to give feedback. So here’s a quick tip on how to stop those annoying rate and review pop-ups from apps that you’ve been using.

Here’s where to go to disable those feedback requests!

Settings > iTunes & App Store and then tap the switch to toggle off In-App Ratings & Reviews.

iWork/iLife Balance

The power of lightness

Hot on the heels of the iPhone 5S & 5C launch, Apple held a special event on 22 October 2013 to announce iPad Air, making this the 5th generation iPad.  The new iPad is “Dramatically Thinner, Lighter & More Powerful” and has been redesigned from the ground up. 

“Apple® today announced iPad Air™, the latest generation of its category defining device, featuring a stunning 9.7-inch Retina® display in a new thinner and lighter design. Precision-engineered to weigh just one pound, iPad Air is 20 percent thinner and 28 percent lighter than the fourth generation iPad®, and with a narrower bezel the borders of iPad Air are dramatically thinner—making content even more immersive.”

Apple also announced a new iPad mini, an all new Mac Pro & updated MacBook Pro with Retina Display. You can find out more about the new iPad here

iWork iLife Balance

 Apple also introduced the next generation of iWork (Apple's version of Microsoft Office) & iLife (for all your media-music, photos, videos). 

“This is the biggest day for apps in Apple’s history,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.  “These new versions deliver seamless experiences across devices that you can’t find anywhere else and are packed with great features like iMovie Theater, Drummer and a new unified file format for iWork documents across all your devices.”

And to help you get up and running with these new versions of iLife & iWork, you can find all the user guides here 

Tips & Tricks

And if you're in need of even more iOS 7 Tips, you'll want to check out the iPhone 5S tips & tricks page over at Apple’s website - they're almost as good as our tips ;-)