My highlights from latest Apple Event September 2024

Apple event © 2024 Apple Inc.

On Tuesday this week (Australian time) Apple held another of their special events, where they announced exciting new products such as iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, and new AirPods. Here’s some of my personal highlights.

iPhone 16

The iPhone 16 introduces several new features and improvements:

1. Camera Enhancements: The iPhone 16 boasts a new 48MP ultra-wide camera with enhanced low-light performance and macro photography capabilities. It can also capture 3D spatial photos and videos, designed for viewing on the Apple Vision Pro. A touch-sensitive Camera Control button allows users to adjust zoom levels and quickly access new AI-powered tools.

2. AI and Apple Intelligence: Powered by the A18 chip, iPhone 16 includes advanced AI features such as on-device photo and video search via natural language, and a Clean Up tool that removes background distractions from photos.

3. Wi-Fi 7 and Faster Charging: The iPhone 16 supports Wi-Fi 7 for faster download speeds and a more stable connection. Additionally, MagSafe wireless charging has been upgraded to 25W, faster than the wired 20W charging.

4. Enhanced Display and Durability: The iPhone 16 features more robust glass and display protection, with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen options. It also introduces the action button, previously exclusive to Pro models, which can be customised for different functions

These updates make the iPhone 16 more versatile for photography, AI integration, and overall performance.

For more detailed insights https://www.apple.com/au/iphone-16/

AirPods Pro 2

* The AirPods Pro 2 can now function as over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids after receiving FDA authorisation. With this update, AirPods Pro 2 can amplify sounds for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss. Users will be able to customise this feature through their device settings to suit their hearing needs. This development is significant as it allows a widely used consumer product to offer clinical-grade hearing aid capabilities without the need for traditional, more expensive hearing aids.

In addition to functioning as hearing aids, AirPods Pro 2 will also include hearing protection to prevent damage from loud noises, and an at-home hearing test feature that provides a personalised hearing profile.

* following approval in Australia but already FDA approved in the US (also pending update to activate this function later this year)

For more detailed insights https://www.apple.com/au/airpods-pro/

iOS18

iOS 18 introduces a variety of new features and enhancements designed to make the iPhone more customisable, capable, and intelligent:

1. Customisation & UI Updates: The home screen allows for more freedom, letting users move icons anywhere and tint them with custom colours.

2. Messages: iOS 18 brings richer features to Messages, including RCS support for better messaging between iOS and Android devices, scheduled texts, and customisable text effects like bold, italic, and animated effects.

Schedule a message with Send Later - whether it’s too late at night or too important to forget, you can now schedule a message to send at a specified time.

You can also send messages via satellite when cellular or Wi-Fi is unavailable.

3. Siri: The assistant now has enhanced context awareness, understanding follow-up requests, and a new design with a glowing ring when activated. There's also integration with ChatGPT for more complex queries.

4. New Apps & Updates:

- A new Passwords app consolidates Keychain, passkeys, and more into one hub for secure password management.

- Mail introduces on-device categorisation, and later this year ‌iCloud‌ Mail can help you unsubscribe from senders in bulk, sending future emails from those senders to Trash.

- Safari gets a Highlights feature that summarises key info from websites, along with an upgraded Reader mode for easier reading.

5. Privacy: iOS 18 includes new privacy features like locking or hiding apps behind Face ID and more selective sharing of contact information with apps.

These are just a few of the many new features that make iOS 18 a substantial update across various areas like customisation, communication, and privacy.

For more detailed insights https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-18/

In addition to above, Apple announced:

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple’s newest smartwatch has a larger, thinner OLED display and improved health features, including the ability to detect sleep apnea (pending FDA approval). It’s powered by the new S10 chip for enhanced power efficiency and intelligence .

Upcoming features in new Apple operating systems

© Apple

Just when you thought you were getting used to the current operating systems on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and other Apple devices there are brand new systems just around the corner!

That’s right, versions 17 and macOS Sonoma are about to be superseded most likely sometime in September 2024 by iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.

For some like myself this is very exciting as we get to see some amazing new features but for others it’s annoying as certain apps may look and operate a little differently. I guess one thing’s for sure and that’s technology is ALWAYS changing. There is no such thing as “set and forget” as there will be a time when you have to sign in to an account again, or be forced to do an update for an app to continue functioning etc.

Here are some new features coming that I like the sound of:

iPhone iOS 18

• Photos “biggest redesign ever” - I look forward to seeing more ways in which my photos are organised automatically and easier ways to manage them.

• Messages - new ways to change text, and schedule messages to send later.

• New Passwords app - “All your credentials in one place. From passwords to verifications and security alerts, find them all securely stored in the Passwords app.” Securely synced across devices and apps.

• Also many new features within Mail, Maps, Notes and Wallet.

iPadOS 18

All of the above from iOS along with:

• Calculator for iPad - yes, I know it’s ridiculous that the iPad has never had a native calculator like the iPhone, but that’s about to change.

• Remote control in screen sharing - handy for helping friends and family with their devices.

macOS Sequoia

Again, many of the same features listed above, along with:

• Use your iPhone from your Mac - “with iPhone Mirroring, you can view what’s on your iPhone and control it too, without having to reach for it.”

• Presenter preview - “See exactly what you’re going to share in video-calling apps — your whole screen or a single app — before displaying it for everyone.”

© Apple

Then there’s the all new Apple Intelligence! This is huge of course, but will only be available on certain devices, so if you’d like to find out more please contact us or take a look here:

https://www.apple.com/au/apple-intelligence/

New features coming in iOS 17

Apple's upcoming iOS 17 is set to unleash a wave of new features, bringing a fresh and enhanced experience to iPhone users. The operating system boasts a completely revamped home screen, allowing for improved customisation and widgets. Users can now personalize their device like never before, effortlessly organizing and accessing their favorite apps and features.

iOS 17 introduces a new advanced multitasking experience, enabling users to seamlessly switch between apps and even have multiple instances of the same app open simultaneously. With the addition of enhanced privacy features, such as app privacy reports and expanded control over app permissions, users can enjoy a heightened sense of security.

Alongside these exciting updates, iOS 17 also brings improved messaging capabilities, an upgraded Siri with enhanced natural language processing, and refined Face ID functionality. With its innovative features, iOS 17 sets the stage for an even more seamless and intuitive user experience.

For more detailed info check here

Apple announce new operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch

© Apple

Apple’s WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) 2022 was this week, and as usual there were some big announcements. It would take too long to talk about all of them here, and would bore most people (except me 🤓). If you are interested you can always watch the event video here:

https://www.apple.com/apple-events/

Some of my favourites

Sometimes you think of a feature that would be awesome to have, or someone brags about being able to do something special from their non-Apple device )-:

Apple are often not the first to come out with a feature, but when they do they generally do it really well. Some of these features I've listed are things I’ve been hoping for, and/or my clients have wished for:

iOS 16 (iPhone)

• Reimagined Lock Screen

  “Make iPhone your own with all-new ways to personalize your Lock Screen. Showcase favorite photos, customize font styles, and display a set of widgets to get information at a glance.”

• iCloud Shared Photo Library

  “The best way to share photos with your family.”

• Everyday messaging enhanced

  “You can now edit a message you just sent or unsend a recent message altogether. And you can mark a message as unread if you can’t respond in the moment and want to come back to it later.”

• New mailbox features

  “Undo send.
  Schedule send.
  Follow up.”

• Passkeys - a step towards doing away with passwords online!

  “Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in.”

• Matter support

  “Coming later this year

  Choose and connect even more smart home accessories with Matter compatibility.”

• Handoff in FaceTime

  “Easily switch devices during a FaceTime call without missing a beat. Move your call from your Mac to your iPhone or iPad with just a tap, and your connected Bluetooth headset switches over too.”

iPadOS 16

• Most of the new features in iOS 16 above are part of iPadOS 16

• Introducing Stage Manager

  “A new way to multitask and get things done with ease. Resize windows to look the way you want. And for the first time on iPad, see multiple overlapping windows in a single view.” (Available on certain models)

• Weather on iPad (how long did that take!)

  “The Weather app is now on iPad. Explore full‑screen maps with beautiful animations on the large iPad display.”

MacOS Ventura (computers)

• Many of the same features listed above will be available on the Mac as well.

• Spotlight - making it even easier to find things on your Mac: New search design:

  “Richer search results bring together all the information you need for contacts, albums, musicians, movies, TV shows, actors, sports, and businesses. View large, scrollable previews of your files in Quick Look by pressing the Space bar.”

• Continuity Camera - Use iPhone as your webcam

  “Use the powerful camera system of iPhone with your Mac to do things never before possible with a webcam. Simply bring iPhone close to your Mac and it automatically switches to iPhone as the camera input. And it works wirelessly, so there’s nothing to plug in.9”

• Desk View

  “Collaborate virtually using Desk View, which mimics an overhead camera, showing your desk and your face at the same time.10”

• Notes

  “Lock a note using just your Mac login password, eliminating the need to remember a separate password. New, customizable filters in Smart Folders enable organization based on creation date, attachments, checklists, and more.”

WatchOS 9

• Reminders for medications and vitamins

• Log your meds right from your wrist

  “The Medications app1 helps you discreetly and conveniently keep track of your medications, vitamins, and supplements. And lets you log them from reminders.”

• Sleep stages

  “See how much time you spent in REM, Core, or Deep sleep, as well as when you might have woken up.”

• Calendar app

  “Create new events directly from your Apple Watch and easily navigate to specific days or weeks.”

Oh…and new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13” models with the new Apple M2 chip!

More info on these here:

• https://www.apple.com/au/macbook-air-m2/

• https://www.apple.com/au/macbook-pro-13/

As usual, any questions, pick my brain here

© Apple

© Apple

© Apple

Stage Manager on ipad © Apple

weather on ipad © Apple

new search design © Apple

Log your meds right from your wrist © Apple

calendar app © Apple

Wow! Great line-up of new Apple products announced.

I don’t get excited by every new Apple product, well most, but the latest product line-up looks SO good.

Today Apple announced the following:

• Purple iPhone 12 (not my favourite colour but I’m loving the iPhone 12)

• AirTags - finally they appear! Track almost anything through Find My app

• Updated Apple TV 4K with new remote

• iPad Pros with M1 chip

• iMacs with M1 chip (in different colours)

If you’d like to find out more, visit the Apple website, an Apple store, or don’t forget we offer free Apple product advice at Setup Sync & Learn - call Reece on 0412 422 820 or email info@setupsynclearn.com

We don’t sell the products, so you’ll get an honest opinion from someone you know and trust 🤓 - this could be advice on how to extend the life of your existing products without spending any or not much $$ (if you can resist buying the new ones!).

NEW: iPhone 12

Apple has announced its next iPhone lineup - the iPhone 12, Mini, Pro and Pro Max. Curious about its look and features? Check out this video by Apple, introducing the iPhone 12…

Hello 5G. A14 Bionic, the fastest smartphone chip ever. Night mode on all cameras. Super Retina XDR display. The first camera ever to record in Dolby Vision....

iOS 14: Scribble

Apple has finally added a handwriting-to-text feature on iPadOS 14! This makes it easier for users to continue using their Apple Pencil when the need to “type” arises. To use this feature you need to make sure that your iPad and Apple Pencil are compatible.

Here’s a list of compatible iPads…

Photo by Dose Media on Unsplash

• iPad (2018-2020)

• iPad Air (2019-2020)

• iPad Mini (2019)

• iPad Pro 11 (2018-2020)

• iPad Pro 12.9 (2015-2020)

• iPad Pro 9.7 (2016)

• iPad Pro 10.5 (2017)

If you have any of these compatible iPads, an Apple Pencil (Scribble not compatible with any third-party styluses) and the latest iPadOS 14 update, you’re ready to start scribbling away!

Turn Scribble on by opening SETTINGS > APPLE PENCIL > Enable SCRIBBLE.

To start using Scribble, touch your Apple Pencil in the text input area of an app (such as a text field in a search box) and start writing straight away. After writing you will see it convert into text! If it’s not reading your handwriting well, a tip is to write a little slower and a little more carefully.

Check out this video from CNET on Apple’s full reveal on Scribble for Apple Pencil…

What's new in iOS 14?

Apple iOS 14.0.1

iOS 14 has just been released and it comes with a plethora of new features!

Widgets

It’s all about the Widgets this update. You can expect the following…

1. Redesigned widgets

2. Widgets for everything

3. Widgets on the Home Screen

4. Widgets in different sizes

5. Widget Gallery

6. Widget stack

7. Smart stack

8. Siri Suggestions widget

9. Developer API

App Library

So much customisability, developers are going wild! There is also now the added App Library which is a new space located on the Home Screen. It automatically categorises your Apps into categories such as Social, Productivity and Entertainment. Not only does it organise your Apps by category, but it also organises them based on your usage on them. How smart!

1. App Library on the Home Screen

2. Automatic categorisation

3. Suggestions

4. Search

5. Hid Home Screen pages

6. Recently Added

Compact UI

The minimalist movement is truly making its move and so you’ll see that the user-interface has changed quite a bit in iOS 14. Everything is a little more stream-lined. Rather than taking up your whole screen when receiving a call, it pops up just as a banner so you can continue viewing what was on your screen while taking the call.

1. Compact Phone Calls

2. Compact UI available for Third-Party VoIP Calls (ie. Skype)

3. Compact FaceTime calls

4. Compact Siri

5. Picture-in-Picture

6. Resize Picture-in-Picture window

7. Move Picture-in-Picture window to any corner

8. Minimise Picture-in-Picture window off-screen

These are just a few of the new features and updates in Apple’s new iOS 14. There’s even a built in Translation app now too! Check out these best iOS features by 9to5 Mac to find out more.

Need a gift this Father's Day?

Still looking for a gift for dad this Father’s Day? Don’t forget we offer GIFT VOUCHERS too! Follow this LINK to get one for your dad this Sunday!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

HOW TO: Protect you private Notes with a password

Got a secret you need to keep in your Notes on your iPad, iPhone or Mac? Or maybe just a place to store your not so super-secretive passwords and login details? There’s no need to download any fancy vault-keeping type app if you’re looking to keep a few simple notes private since in Apple’s Notes app you can assign a password to any individual note! There’s two ways to achieve this, so here’s how…

1. Locking notes on your iPhone/iPad:

1. Navigate to your Settings

2. Select Notes

3. Tap on Password (select the account you want to have a password on if you have multiple accounts)

4. Enter a password and be sure to give yourself a hint just in case you forget (you can also use Face/TouchID if you have a compatible device)

5. Tap on Done

2. Locking notes in the App

1. Navigate to Notes

2. Select the Action/Share icon

3. Select Lock Note

4. Enter a password and be sure to give yourself a hint just in case you forget (you can also use Face/TouchID if you have a compatible device)

5. Select Done

To learn a little more about it you can visit Apple’s Support page here.

iOS Quick Tip: Share your favourite podcast

During the lockdown I admit that I found myself not just working from home, but also listening to so many more Podcasts, majority of the True Crime nature. Here’s a quick tip on how you can share your favourite Podcast episodes to your friends from your iPhone!

Is your Macbook's battery healthy?

Recently my MacBook Pro’s battery hasn’t been the best. While doing some work my fans started running at high-speed and I was afraid my MacBook Pro was about to lift-off and head to space. Thankfully it didn’t, instead I had a little pop-up warning about the excessive energy being used. This prompted me to check my battery health. So how does one check the health of their battery?

Make sure that you’ve updated your OS X to the latest - Catalina 10.15.5. Navigate to your System Preferences, click on Energy Saver, then click on Battery Health.

For my Mac, I had an alert that my battery needed to be serviced. After a short call, a quick online diagnostic, I was able to book in a work appointment to my local Apple store and got my battery replaced under warranty! Happy days! I could get back to work.

Photo by iabzd on Unsplash

There is more that you can do to help preserve the life of your Macbook’s battery. You can find out more from the good folk here.

Everything new that's coming to Apple

So Apple just held their annual World Wide Developer Conference and made it available online via streaming. If you, like me, couldn’t be bothered staying awake to watch it (I am not that crazed an Apple follower, good sleep comes first!), here’s a comprehensive list of new things coming to Apple that was announced!

1. Apple will start running their Macs on Apple-made chips instead of Intel

2. iOS 14 is coming and it will give you more options to customise your phone

3. Apple is re-inventing the car key fob

4. iPadOS 14 is making your iPad more like a computer

5. MacOS along with Safari is going to get significant upgrade as Big Sur comes into development

6. Seamless device switching when it comes to using your AirPods

7. Sleep and handwashing features for WatchOS 7

PHOTOGRAPH: BROOKS KRAFT/APPLE

You can read more about these announcements thanks to the good folk at Wired - “Here’s everything Apple announced at WWDC.”

iOS Tip: How to disable Touch ID and Face ID

As much as I love the convenience of Touch ID and Face ID, there are times when I like using the good-old passcode way of unlocking my iPhone. This may be suitable for your situation too! Especially with winter coming around and your face is snugged up inside a warm scarf and your hands are hidden in a warm tech-friendly glove. Here’s how you can disable Touch/Face ID on your iPhone…

Navigate your way to your Settings > Touch ID & Passcode (alt. Face ID & Passcode) and then toggle off the little switches that enable Touch/Face ID for the different functions.

How To: Export your Pages document as a Word document.

Not everyone owns a Mac and when it comes to sharing documents it can become quite a hassle if you’re sharing it with someone who only has Microsoft Word. The good news is, Pages is Word friendly! Unlike Microsoft Word that can’t open Pages documents, Pages can both read and export .docx files! Here’s how you can export a Word friendly document for your Windows wielding friend thanks to the smart fellows at Cult of Mac.

Optimise your home internet set up

It’s not always our Internet Service Provider’s fault when it comes to slow internet at home. Sometimes it makes a big difference by making a little change, such as where you put your WiFi router in the house. Check out these tips from NBN Co. that may help you improve your internet at home.

1. Upgrade your modem

2. Check for objects that can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal

3. Connect to the right Wi-Fi band

4. Move your modem away from brick or complex walls

5. Assess the number of multiple connected devices

6. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your high definition television

7. Check your cabling

8. Consider upgrading older devices

9. Ensure your device is compatible

Photo by Stephen Phillips - Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash

To read more of the details of these tips, check out NBN Co’s article here as well as to read up on other things about your home internet.

iOS TIP: How to quickly nest your lists in notes

It’s not just ‘swipe right’ for a particular social app, but you can also use this handy shortcut to nest your lists in Notes! I love how quick and simple it is to keep my plans and thoughts organised. Here’s how easy it is to sort your list out with just a swipe…

1. Make your list in Notes as you would normally do, either using bullets, dashes or numbers, etc.

2. When you reach the line on the list entry you want to nest just do a quick swipe on the bullet-point, dash or number to the right!

3. Et voila! You’re now an organised, list-making pro

GIF: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

We hope you enjoyed this quick tip! If you want more, just give us a follow on our Facebook page. Got bigger questions or would like to learn more about your Apple device? Give us a shout to see how we can help you!

iOS TIP: Turn off Location Sharing

The team at Setup, Sync and Learn hope that you all are fairing well and are safe at the current time. Right now, we are so happy about the lightening of restrictions as Australia has successfully been flattening the curve. You may have heard that the government recently launched a new app called COVIDSafe. Prior to its release, it brought up many conversations about privacy. The thought of being “tracked” worried many people, but hopefully, the most recent news on the app has helped clear any misunderstandings, as the app doesn’t track your location. But, did you know there could be other apps on your phone that are tracking your location? Here’s where you can find out which apps have location sharing on, and how you can change their permissions…

Settings > Privacy > Location Services

HOW TO: Look good in a video call

Many of you may be finding yourselves working from home, posting all those selfies on social media with the hashtag #WFH (Working From Home). With social distancing having being implemented we find ourselves turning to virtual meetings via video calls. Despite not being able to be with one another physically, we do still want to look somewhat presentable! So here’s a fun article from Cult of Mac on 5 ways to look great on a video call. They bring up 5 tips to think about it…

1. Lighting

2. Camera Angle

3. Your background

4. Make-up?

5. How to dress

Check out their article here.

HOW TO: Video-call using Group FaceTime

With the whole community in isolation it’s no wonder many people are turning to video-calling apps to keep in touch with one another. We know that Apple has FaceTime where we can do video and audio calls to our loved ones, but did you know you can also do GROUP FaceTime video/audio calls? Here’s a helpful guide from Apple Support on how to use Group FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad or iPod. If you own a Mac, they also have a learning guide here too. So get together with the family with a virtual gathering via. FaceTime. There’s also many fun things you can do with the Camera Effects.