Apple and technology news with Setup Sync & Learn in Sydney and Perth.
Please note: BLOG articles below were relevant and correct at time of posting, but due to technology changing so quickly these features and instructions may no longer be relevant in current operating systems and app versions. Please contact us if you have any questions here
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!
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.
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.
iOS 13 is here and so is Dark Mode! You can switch from Light to Dark Mode straight away, automatically or schedule it. To set this go to Settings > Display and Brightness.
iOS 13 is finally here! Are you ready to experience a new level on your iPhone? Check out some of these features that you will find in iOS 13…
Dark Mode - See your iPhone in a new light! Dark Mode is finally here, designed to make screen viewing a little easier on your eyes. You can simply turn it on in your Control Centre or have it automatically turn on at night.
Portrait Mode - Yes, there’s new updates to make your portrait photos even more beautiful. The new update allows you to have more control over your light intensity with the new Portrait Lighting controls. You’ll also be able to create beautiful black-and-white portraits with the new High-Key Mono filter in Portrait Mode.
New tabs in Moments - A new way of organising your special moments into days, months and years.
New powerful editing tools for Photos and Video - Refine your photos a videos further with new and updated editing features. Need to rotate a video? You can finally do it with iOS 13!
Privacy and Security - Apple has always taken its Privacy and Security seriously so be prepared for a few upgrades here. One of the biggest updates is the introduction of "Sign In With Apple” which simplifies the way you can sign in to apps and websites with your privacy in mind.
These are only a few of the many new things in iOS 13. You can find out more here on Apple’s website. Don’t forget to make sure your phone is backed up before the update. Not sure if it is or how to? Go to your Settings > ‘Your Name’ > iCloud > iCloud Backup - check that this is on.
Here’s a quick Mac OS tip for you today to keep your desktop looking tidy.
Automatically hide the top menu bar by following these instructions…
Now whenever you bring your cursor to the top of your screen your menu will appear, and then disappear when you move away from it.
I want to talk about some of my favourite technological advancements that are increasingly becoming functional and fun! Of course other companies have their own take on this, but I’m particularly focused on how Apple is doing it.
Read MoreHaving 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!
Here’s a quick tip from Apple to have all your photos on all your devices. To see all your photos sync on your iOS device and Mac (via Photos app) go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Photos and turn on iCloud Photos.
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!
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!
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!
Do you find yourself anxiously waiting for a reply to an important email? Well, there’s no need for constant checking and refreshing of Mail. Here’s a quick tip on how to be notified of a reply. When you are viewing a message tap on the flag icon at the bottom then tap on “Notify Me…” Voila!
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.
Did you know the Screen Time feature on your iPhone and iPad does more than just track how long you spend on various apps? Here’s a little hack on how you can use Screen Time as a way to password protect your apps…although I admit it just has one wee flaw.
Firstly, you’ll need to make sure you have Screen Time enabled by going to Settings > Screen Time and then set a passcode by tapping on Use Screen Time Passcode.
Now you’ll need to set a time limit for the apps you want to lock. What we are trying to do is set a minimum time limit so that the app will lock straight away (the minimum limit is 1 minute - this is the one flaw, as you’ll be “unprotected” until the app has been used for 1 minute).
To add a time limit to to an app, tap on the bar graph that shows your current day’s usage. Find the app you want to add a limit to in the list and tap on it. Next, tap on Add Limit and enter the passcode you set earlier in Screen Time. Set it to 1 minute and make sure you have enabled Block at End of Limit. Now tap on Add. Voila! Now after using your app for 1 minute it will lock - the icon will be greyed out on your home screen. When you tap on the greyed out icon you’ll get this message, “Ask For More Time” which you just tap on and enter your Screen Time passcode to unlock.
So, there you have it! A little Screen Time hack to “Password Protect” your apps!
If you haven’t already, it’s a good time to update your Mac to Apple’s latest OS X Mojave (check if your Mac is compatible here). One of my favourite features is Mojave’s dynamic desktop. Now, it’s not a “life-changing” feature, but more of a fun novelty. Based off your location, your desktop background will change accordingly to the time of the day - so you’ll see a progression from day to night. Pretty cool right?
Curious? Here’s how to enable Dynamic Desktop for you Mac…
…and you’re done!
You can also find and download more dynamic desktops online, or if you’re adventurous enough, make your own. I hope you find this feature just as interesting as I do!
Okay, let’s be honest here, we’re all a little bit aware that we tend to forget our passwords especially with so many multiple logins. The good thing is that Apple has made it easier for us by giving us iCloud Keychain, which helps to store our usernames and passwords safely.
If you want to view your stored passwords in your Keychain simply go to your Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords. Once you’ve confirmed your ID with either Touch/FaceID you’ll be able to see your full list of login info.
If this isn’t working for you, check that you have Autofill Passwords enabled. Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Autofill Passwords. Check that you have iCloud Keychain enabled as well.
How easy is that? No more trying to scramble your brain remembering multiple logins and passwords. There are many other apps that can help you with password management. I myself personally use 1Password. It’s a great little app that stores not only just your login details, but also other things such as your bank details, membership card details, credit card details. The sky’s the limit with what you want to store in it. You can check it out here on the app store. If you’re not a fan of a paid subscription though, there are also free alternatives. Explore Apple’s App store and see what you’ll discover!
At Setup, Sync and Learn your security and privacy is always important. It’s always good housekeeping to change your password at least once or twice every year. It does seem straight forward, but at times you might find yourself getting numerous notifications on your devices to sign-in again. So to make it a little less stressful for you here’s a short list of what to check after you’ve changed your Apple ID or Password…
Update your Apple ID and password on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC.
Go to Settings > (your name) > iTunes & App Store.
If you're signed out, enter your updated Apple ID and password.
If you're signed in with your previous Apple ID, tap your Apple ID, then tap Sign Out. Then enter your updated Apple ID and password.
Go to Apple’s website.
Click on the Shopping Bag icon, then click Account.
In the Account Settings section, click Apple ID and password.
Enter your updated Apple ID and password.
You will also have to update your login details by Signing Out then Signing back in to other apps such as FaceTime, iCloud, Find my iPhone, etc.
Click on this link to see a full list and instructions from Apple Support on what to do…
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