Apple Tech Tips

10/26/23

THE APPLE WATCH’S DOUBLE TAP GESTURE POINTS AT A NEW WAY TO USE WEARABLES – Swipes and buttons are the norm, but Apple’s double tap gesture opens a future where your smartwatch could be even less dependent on your phone. The coolest Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 feature wasn’t actually available when the watches launched last month. Double tap, which arrived via the watchOS 10.1 update, lets you interact with the watch without ever needing to use the touchscreen. With a quick pinching motion, you can use it to scroll through the new smart stack of widgets, pause or end timers, skip music tracks, and answer phone calls. Read more at The Verge https://www.theverge.com/23928706/double-tap-apple-watch-series-9-ultra-2

9/23/23

DON’T MIGRATE TO YOUR NEW IPHONE 15 WITHOUT UPDATING FIRST – The initial version of iOS 17 has some bugs with transferring data. As you might already be aware, the iPhone 15 is now finally reaching the hands of buyers. The long-awaited successor to the iPhone 14 series was announced a few days ago, with pre-orders opening shortly after, and now it’s finally arriving at doorsteps and mailboxes everywhere. In preparation of you setting up your iPhone 15, however, you might want to install an update before you actually switch phones. Don’t Migrate To Your New iPhone 15 Without Updating First (howtogeek.com)

TRY THESE NEW IOS 17 FEATURES FIRST – iOS 17 is here and it brings new features to various iPhone models starting with the iPhone XR. Here are some things to try once you install the free update! Try these new iOS 17 features first | KTLA

HOW GOOD ARE OFFLINE MAPS IN IOS 17? – Apple’s Maps app has a major new feature in iOS 17: offline maps. With offline maps, you can download designated areas from your Maps app onto your iPhone. That way you can access maps when you don’t have a cell signal or if you want to save money by not using your data. Read more at How Good Are Offline Maps in iOS 17? – CNET

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE AND SWITCH IPHONE 15 PRO CAMERA FOCAL LENGTHS – the ability to quickly change between focal lengths with the main camera and set your own default. Let’s look at how to customize and switch iPhone 15 Pro camera focal lengths. iPhone 15 Pro camera focal lengths: Switch and customize – 9to5Mac

BEST APPLE CARPLAY RETROFIT OPTIONS FOR YOUR CAR [SEPTEMBER 2023] – You never need to touch your iPhone while driving – something you should never ever do anyway. Instead, you control navigation, communication, and entertainment with voice control and a simplified interface on your car’s screen. Read more at https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/22/best-carplay-display/

macOS 13 VENTURA SUPERGUIDE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW – Apple is still issuing updates to macOS Ventura. Here’s what you need to know including the latest version and what’s coming in the next update, problems, bugs, new features and compatibility. macOS Ventura: latest macOS update, beta news, problems and features | Macworld

7/20/23

APPLE INTRODUCES NEW FEATURES FOR COGNITIVE ACCESSIBILITY, ALONG WITH LIVE SPEECH, PERSONAL VOICE, AND POINT AND SPEAK IN MAGNIFIER –  Assistive Access includes a customized experience for Phone and FaceTime, which have been combined into a single Calls app, as well as Messages, Camera, Photos, and Music. The feature offers a distinct interface with high contrast buttons and large text labels, as well as tools to help trusted supporters tailor the experience for the individual they support. For example, for users who prefer communicating visually, Messages includes an emoji-only keyboard and the option to record a video message to share with loved ones. Users and trusted supporters can also choose between a more visual, grid-based layout for their Home Screen and apps, or a row-based layout for users who prefer text. Read more at Apple previews Live Speech, Personal Voice, and more new accessibility features – Apple

MAC AND WINDOWS TRICKS YOU’LL USE ALL THE TIME – There are some tech tricks that you only know if someone clues you in. Take the humble USB cord. If you’re constantly plugging it in the wrong way, here’s the secret: The symbol on one isn’t just branding or decoration. That symbol will point up if you’re plugging in horizontally. If you plug a cable vertically, the USB symbol will face you. Kim Komando could go on. She loves passing along clever tech tricks we’ll use time and time again. Here are a few goodies! Tech smarts: Windows and Mac tricks you’ll use all the time (msn.com)

7/15/23

YOU OFFICIALLY DON’T NEED APPLE PASSWORDS Anymore – Apple is already at the forefront of the passkeys roll-out, integrating passkey generation and syncing to its iCloud Keychain platform. You’ve already been able to create login passkeys for a service directly on iPhones, but it didn’t work on iCloud or on your own Apple ID. There’s a fix coming, but for that, you’ll need a device running iOS 17, iPadOS 17, or macOS Sonoma. Read this LifeHacker article for more information.
You Officially Don’t Need Apple Passwords Anymore (lifehacker.com)

4 NEW WAYS TO USE CHROME ON IOS – Some new and favorite Chrome features are headed to iOS as Google continues to bring the best of Google to iPhone and iPad users. On top of recently-launched features like Chrome Actions, check out four updates coming to Chrome on iOS to help you quickly get more done from your browser. Google Blog  4 new ways to use Google Chrome on iOS (blog.google)

Can My Phone Be Tracked With Location Services Switched Off? – All smartphones on the market today come with built-in location services that could be used to reveal location data. But what if you don’t want to share your location data with anyone? If you disable location services on your phone, is it still possible for it to be tracked? MakeUseOf Can My Phone Be Tracked With Location Services Switched Off? (makeuseof.com)

WAIT, WHAT? 5 AMAZING THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR PHONE CAN DO – Remember when a cell phone was for calls and a round or two of Snake? Today’s phones are pro-grade cameras, PDF scanners and even car keys.
Kim Komando keeps a digital copy of my driver’s license on my phone because it’s just so handy. Here’s how to do that.
Paying with your phone is so easy, too. Late to the party? I have a guide on setting that up.
There’s a ton more your phone can do. Many of these functions are found in the accessibility settings. Developers create them for people who need extra assistance using their phones — but they’re handy for just about anyone. Beyond the basics: 5 incredible iPhone and Android features (komando.com)

HOW TO SYNC YOUR IPHONE WITH A MACBOOK – In our modern, interconnected world, seamless integration between your devices has become an essential part of day-to-day life. This is particularly true for Apple users who rely heavily on their Macs and iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad. Luckily Apple makes it easy to keep all your Apple gadgets in sync. “Syncing” refers to transferring and maintaining updated content between your MacBook and iOS devices. For example, imagine adding a movie to your Mac; you can sync it so that this movie appears on both your Mac and iPhone. SwitchingtoMac How to Sync Your iPhone With a MacBook (switchingtomac.com)

WHERE TO RECYCLE OLD PHONES AND TABLETS – Whether you recently upgraded your smartphone or are moving and found a drawer full of old gadgets, you’ll want to dispose of or recycle them properly. With the never-ending cycle of upgrading phones yearly, you’re probably wondering where to recycle an old phone. It’s a good idea to update your phone software when available or repair broken screens, making them last as long as possible. Plus, there are a myriad of uses for an old phone you’ll want to consider before throwing it out. If you still want to get rid of an old phone or tablet, please don’t throw it in the trash. Instead, here’s what to do with it or where recycling is available. ReviewGeek Where to Recycle Old Phones and Tablets – Review Geek

WHAT’S NEW IN MACOS 14 SONOMA? – Apple announced macOS 14 Sonoma at its WWDC keynote on June 5, 2023. Available as a free download to Mac users in the fall, the new update delivers a handful of new features and improvements. Apple is big on widgets in 2023, with more useful interactive widgets announced during its iPadOS 17 showcase and now the ability to put widgets right on your Mac desktop. How-To Geek What’s New in macOS 14 Sonoma? (howtogeek.com)

TOP 4 WAYS TO ACCESS THE CLIPBOARD ON YOUR IPHONE – The iPhone clipboard is an essential tool in the day-to-day lives of the Apple faithful, but you probably don’t think about it much. Yet, this unsung hero does a lot of heavy lifting while helping us manage and transfer data. Switching2Mac Top 4 Ways To Access the Clipboard on Your iPhone (switchingtomac.com)

STOP WASTING TIME ENDLESSLY SCROLLING UP ON YOUR IPHONE: HERE’S HOW – Stop Wasting Time Endlessly Scrolling Up on Your iPhone: Here’s How CNET Stop Wasting Time Endlessly Scrolling Up on Your iPhone: Here’s How – CNET

10 IPHONE SPOTLIGHT SEARCH FEATURES YOU SHOULD BE USING – The iPhone is chock full of handy features to make your life easier, but Spotlight Search doesn’t get the attention it deserves. This humble search bar is your gateway to finding almost anything on your iPhone. Are you using it? How-To Geek 10 iPhone Spotlight Search Features You Should Be Using (howtogeek.com)

HOW TO CONNECT AN IPHONE TO WINDOWS 11 – iPhone users who also use Windows 11 are finally getting some cross-platform functionality. They’ll soon be able to see iPhone notifications and text messages, and even make calls from the PC. Windows 11 has long offered a remarkable degree of integration with Android phones, with access to photos shot on the phone and the ability to run phone apps on the PC screen. For years, Microsoft has been promising similar abilities for iPhones, but Apple keeps such a tight grip on its closed ecosystem that these intentions have been thwarted—until now. Read more at this PCMag article
How to Connect an iPhone to Windows 11 | PCMag

HOW TO AUTOMATE YOUR LIFE WITH APPLE’S SHORTCUTS APP – You probably spend a lot of time on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac running one task after another after another across a variety of apps. Think how much time you could save if you automated those tasks or combined them into a single action. You can do all that and more with Apple’s Shortcuts app. Read this PCMag article to find out how to use shortcuts. How to Automate Your Life With Apple’s Shortcuts App | PCMag

IMPORTANT IPHONE SECURITY FEATURES YOU DON’T WANT TO OVERLOOK – Apple’s iPhone is an extremely popular device that’s increasingly safe to use. That’s because you can manage numerous iPhone security settings to reduce the chances of privacy violations, hacks, and other issues. Read this makeuseof article for some of the most recent security features Apple has added to iPhones, their benefits, and how to set up your phone to take advantage of the maximum safeguards. Important iPhone Security Features You Don’t Want to Overlook (makeuseof.com)

APPLE MAPS VS. GOOGLE MAPS: IS IT TIME TO SWITCH? – In the battle between Apple Maps vs. Google Maps, which one comes out on top? Is Apple Maps finally good enough to compete? Read this makeuseof article and decide is you should switch.
Apple Maps vs. Google Maps: Is It Time to Switch? (makeuseof.com)

GOOGLE WANTS TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR BAD ACTORS TO TRACK YOU. HERE’S HOW – Unknown tracker alerts, which will let you know if an unrecognized Bluetooth device appears to be traveling with you, are coming to Android phones this summer, Google said Wednesday at its annual Google I/O developer conference. While introducing updates to its Find My Device service, Google’s Sameer Samat said the company took a long time “to get this right,” ensuring the new feature wouldn’t compromise people’s location information. CNET
Google Wants to Make It Harder for Bad Actors to Track You. Here’s How – CNET

HOW TO MANUALLY ADD WORKOUTS TO APPLE WATCH – Did you fail to log a workout with your Apple Watch? Maybe your wearable ran out of battery while exercising and didn’t log your activity correctly. Luckily, you can manually add workouts to your Health app to make up for it. How-To Geek  How to Manually Add Workouts to Apple Watch (howtogeek.com)4 SIMPLE WAYS TO CUSTOMIZE

YOUR APPLE AIRPODS – Apple’s AirPods have many functions you may not know about. If you have a set of AirPods or are thinking of getting them, check out Kim Komando’s tips for getting the most out of your earbuds. Just make sure they are paired and charged first. Want to personalize your Apple AirPods? Try these 4 simple steps (komando.com)

3/26/23

HOW TO USE BACKTRACK ON APPLE WATCH – Do you need to retrace your steps in an unfamiliar place with little to no Wi-Fi or cellular signal? Using the Apple Watch Backtrack feature, you can track and trace your steps to get back to your starting point in the Compass app. This feature works even if your Apple Watch isn’t connected to the Internet, which makes it extremely convenient during emergency situations in remote locations. This tutorial examines which Apple Watch models and watchOS versions have this feature and how it’s used. Find the tutorial here https://tinyurl.com/3xcudwdv

HOW TO LOCK AND UNLOCK YOUR IPHONE SCREEN – hat can help you protect your privacy, prevent accidental touches, and conserve battery life. In this tutorial, you’ll learn multiple ways to wake up, unlock, and lock an iOS device. Learn from the tutorial here https://tinyurl.com/tx7zzcbb

SAFARI VS. CHROME FOR MAC: 9 REASONS YOU SHOULDN’T USE CHROME – Google Chrome’s overwhelming popularity on macOS is quite a feat for a non-default browser, but it makes sense. In its early days, Chrome had a reputation for being lightweight and fast. It was better than Safari and Firefox, people said. It may have been true then, but it’s not true anymore. In fact, Safari beats Chrome on the Mac because it’s more energy-efficient, better at protecting your privacy, and it seamlessly works with the Apple ecosystem. Here are all the reasons why you should avoid using Google Chrome on your Mac. Read more here https://tinyurl.com/4pwvf924

10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW GOOGLE MAPS COULD DO – Google Maps is one of the apps we probably use the most, whether it’s to get directions or virtually explore a faraway location. But Google Maps can do more than you might realize. You can rely on it to remember your car parking spot, check gas prices and check if a gas station is open, and even travel back in time, sort of. Read this article to find out how to use these features and more. https://tinyurl.com/us4fdjf5

OUTLOOK CALENDAR NOT SYNCING WITH IPHONE? 13 WAYS TO FIX – Do you have trouble getting Outlook calendars to sync with your Apple iPhone? It can be frustrating—not to mention unnerving—when important events and appointments fail to appear within Microsoft Outlook or the native Calendar app. In this troubleshooting guide, you’ll learn various methods to fix Outlook calendar synchronization issues on the iPhone. You can also use them to troubleshoot similar problems on the iPad and iPod touch. Read more here https://tinyurl.com/bdmjtebw

HOW TO RUN WINDOWS ON A MAC – Run Windows within a virtual machine if you have an Apple Silicon (M1, M2, or similar) chip in your Mac, at nearly native speed. Alternatively, install Windows 10 (or a custom Windows 11 ISO image) on your Intel Mac using Boot Camp Assistant. Read more at https://www.howtogeek.com/869687/how-to-run-windows-on-a-mac/

WHAT IS WPA3, AND HOW DO I GET IT ON MY WI-FI ROUTER? – WPA3 was introduced in 2018, but there’s still a bit of confusion surrounding what it is, what improvements it offers, and how to get it. Here’s what you need to know about WPA3 and how to use it with your home Wi-Fi network. Read more at https://www.howtogeek.com/339765/what-is-wpa3-and-when-will-i-get-it-on-my-wi-fi/

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A VPN SERVICE PROVIDER – Looking at a VPN service provider’s website can be overwhelming and sometimes misleading. With this guide, you’ll know exactly which features are important and how to navigate the technical jargon and hidden policies on a VPN provider’s website before choosing your VPN service. Find the guide at https://tinyurl.com/v8k99ub4

HOW TO CAT-PROOF YOUR LAPTOP OR COMPUTER: PROTECT YOUR DESK AREA FROM KITTY – Rebecca Spear absolutely loves her two cats and the various foster kitties we get in our home. Still, there’s no denying that they occasionally sabotage my workspace by stepping on my keyboard, chewing on my cables, knocking things off my desk, or even unwittingly pushing my power button. Since there are always new paws padding around my desk, I’ve been forced to adapt to each feline’s creative new ways of temporarily incapacitating my PC. I’m here today to share the cat-proofing computer knowledge I’ve gained from my experiences. Find the info here https://tinyurl.com/46wpp67a

GOOGLE SEARCH TRICKS: 7 SIMPLE WAYS TO FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR – Google is the world’s most popular search engine. Indeed, “Google it” has become part of our lexicon. But that’s not always so straightforward, is it? No matter how long you’ve been using Google, there are better ways to find what you’re looking for that you may not be aware of. Here are a few ways to get more out of Google search. https://tinyurl.com/4k3xprw7

RICK’S TIPS Q&A: HOW DO I REOPEN A BROWSER TAB I CLOSED BY ACCIDENT? – I close the wrong tab ALL THE TIME, and I’d really like to know how to open it back up! Find out from Rick how to open it back up. https://tinyurl.com/bd5tfkke

THIS NEW GOOGLE MAPS FEATURE IS LIKE NEXT-GEN STREET VIEW – AND IT’S ROLLING OUT NOW – Immersive View, the interactive Google Maps feature first announced at Google I/O 2022, is finally rolling out. The feature will initially be available for London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo, and is set to go live for more cities in the coming months. Immersive View uses a combination of Street View and aerial imagery to present digital, real-time representations of cities in Google Maps, and Google has confirmed(opens in new tab) that users in Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence, and Venice will soon be able to access the innovative navigational tool. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/522bn45t

GOOGLE’S BRILLIANT TOOL FOR SEARCHING FOR THINGS ONLINE – How do you search for a specific dress if you don’t know the designer? There might also be times when you can’t accurately put what you are looking for into words. That usually leaves you with two options: give up or resign to spending too much time searching numerous search results. Thankfully, Google has a third option to make your searches faster and more effortless. With multisearch in Lens, you can look up text and images simultaneously. Find out how here https://tinyurl.com/4vymjk35

11/8/22

SHOULD I SHUT DOWN MY MAC EVERY NIGHT? – What are the advantages of putting a Mac to sleep rather than shutting it down? We explain what each method has to offer. Should I shut down my Mac every night? | Macworld

MACCLEANER PRO REVIEW: RID THE JUNK CLOGGING UP YOUR MAC – A good interface and good set of utilities for your Mac. Check them out here.
MacCleaner Pro review: Rid the junk clogging up your Mac | Macworld

THIS CHROME FEATURE IS SO GOOD IT MIGHT MAKE ME SWITCH FROM SAFARI FOR GOOD – Google lets you easily compare search results and it’s fantastic.
Check out the feature here. How to compare search results in Google Chrome | Macworld

GOODBYE, LIGHTNING CABLE: HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST USB-C IPHONE – Apple’s Lightning Connector may finally be dead. Thanks to European Union regulators, all phones, tablets, and cameras will be required to use the USB-C charging standard, meaning the iPhone will be dragged kicking and screaming into USB-C port adoption. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, begrudgingly admitted that “we have no choice” but to move away from a proprietary charger to take up the more universal USB-C plug. While we are still a long way off from a fully USB-C-compatible iPhone, it’s never too early to prepare for the switch and learn how you’ll be charging your phone when it happens.
Goodbye, Lightning Cable: How to Prepare for Your First USB-C iPhone | PCMag

APPLE MIGHT BE CHANGING THE ‘HEY SIRI’ WAKE WORD ON YOUR IPHONE – Apple wants to make asking Siri a question a little easier by removing the need to say “Hey Siri” – it’s reportedly planning to shorten the wake phrase to just “Siri”. The smart assistant, which can be summoned on Apple devices like the iPhone 14, iPad Pro 12.9 (2022), and HomePod mini speaker, can be activated in a few ways, but one of the simplest is to use the wake phrase. Uttering “Hey Siri” before your question or command alerts the smart assistant to list for your instruction or question. Learn now…
Apple might be changing the ‘Hey Siri’ wake word on your iPhone | TechRadar

HOW TO ACCESS FACEBOOK DESKTOP VERSION ON IPHONE AND IPAD – Facebook’s mobile version is optimized for mobile devices and provides a similar interface to the Facebook mobile app. The desktop or web version offers more features and a robust experience. Mobile browsers load Facebook’s mobile version by default, but you can force them to load its desktop version. Follow the steps in this article.  How to Access Facebook Desktop Version on iPhone and iPad (switchingtomac.com)

HOW TO TURN OFF POWER RESERVE ON YOUR APPLE WATCH – If your Apple Watch runs watchOS 8 or earlier, it enters Power Reserve when the battery gets too low. In this mode, Apple Watch only displays the time when you press the Digital Crown or Side button. You can also activate Power Reserve manually in the watchOS Settings menu or Control Center. If you accidentally put your Apple Watch in Power Reserve, here’s how to turn it off. How to Turn off Power Reserve on Your Apple Watch (switchingtomac.com)

WHY DO SMARTPHONES NO LONGER COME WITH REMOVABLE BATTERIES? –There are several reasons, learn about them here.
Q&A: Why do smartphones no longer come with removable batteries? (ricksdailytips.com)

HOW TO VERIFY THAT A LINK IS SAFE BEFORE YOU CLICK ON IT – As you probably know, the Internet is home to a lot of scammy and fraudulent websites. While there is no 100% fool-proof method for detecting every single dangerous website you might encounter, there’s a very easy way to find out with a high degree of certainty whether a given page is safe to visit. Here’s a little reminder for you…  How to verify that a link is safe before you click on it (ricksdailytips.com)

IOS 16 CHEAT SHEET: YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE IPHONE UPDATE – iOS 16 Cheat Sheet: Your Complete Guide to the iPhone Update – CNET

HOW TO SPEED UP YOUR TIME MACHINE BACKUPS – Get a faster backup drive, avoid slower network backups, and ensure Time Machine isn’t backing up unimportant files. You can also increase Time Machine’s priority so it works faster in the background. Bear in mind that Time Machine’s first backup will take the longest and future backups will be faster. How to Speed Up Your Time Machine Backups (howtogeek.com)

HOME INTERNET CHEAT SHEET: YOUR GUIDE TO BROADBAND BASICS AND BEYOND – Home Internet Cheat Sheet: Your Guide to Broadband Basics and Beyond – CNET

WHAT TO DO AFTER A DATA BREACH AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF – If you find your data has somehow been compromised, you need to act fast. Here’s what to do. What to Do After a Data Breach and How to Protect Yourself (makeuseof.com)

5 COMMON SMARTPHONE SECURITY MYTHS, DEBUNKED – Virtually everyone has a smartphone, but that doesn’t mean they understand the security in place on devices. Here’s the truth about mobile security.  5 Common Smartphone Security Myths, Debunked (makeuseof.com)

8 WAYS TO STOP YOUR LAPTOP FROM MURDERING YOUR BACK – Use these tips to skip the neck and back pain. 8 Ways to Stop Your Laptop From Murdering Your Back (howtogeek.com)

10/2/22

HOW LOCKDOWN MODE PROTECTS VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE FROM HACKERS – If you have an iPhone 8 or newer, you may want to update to iOS 16 if you haven’t already. Apple’s latest operating system comes with some cool new features, such as the ability to unsend and edit text messages and lock screen customization. iOS 16 also introduced essential security features that protect your identity and let you know who has access to information stored on your phone. Tap or click here for new iPhone security features to turn on now.

For an extreme level of protection, there’s Apple’s Lockdown Mode. The company says this feature is intended for people who face serious, targeted threats to their digital security. But anyone can find benefit here — if you’re caring for family members with diminished capacities, you may want to look at Lockdown Mode. Here’s what it does and what it limits. We’ve also got the rundown on Google’s Lockdown Mode for Android phones. Apple’s Lockdown Mode protects vulnerable people from hacks (komando.com)

DID YOU GET AN EMAIL SAYING YOUR PERSONAL INFO IS FOR SALE ON THE DARK WEB? – Before you act, read this Consumer Alert from the FTC.
Did you get an email saying your personal info is for sale on the dark web? | Consumer Advice (ftc.gov)

WHAT IS RFID, AND IS IT REALLY A SECURITY CONCERN? – RFID is a technology that surrounds us every day. It’s in our credit cards, passports, and some of the products we buy. Even many of our pets have RFID chips in them! RFID is essentially a form of electronic bar tag — one that can be much smaller. A nearby reader can use radio waves to read the RFID tag without any visual contact.
What Is RFID, and Is It Really a Security Concern? (howtogeek.com)

STOP CHANGING YOUR (STRONG, UNIQUE) PASSWORDS SO MUCH – Good cyber hygiene means creating new, robust passwords every few months, right? Not so fast. Federal guidance that likely fell under the radar for many of us says you can cool it with the frequent passcode changes. Last week, I wrote the words “Another reason to use password managers is they make it very easy to change passwords into something stronger, which you should do frequently.” Because that’s the advice everyone gives about passwords, along with make them strong and unique to every service and account you create. Thankfully, I had our resident security expert, Neil. J. Rubenking, read the story before it published. He pointed out that the “should do frequently” part is now outdated advice.
Stop Changing Your (Strong, Unique) Passwords So Much | PCMag

BRUSHING SCAMS: HERE’S WHY YOU’RE GETTING RANDOM PACKAGES – Across the United States and other countries, millions of people are surprised to receive packages they never ordered. In most cases, the source is a scam called “brushing.” Here’s why you’re getting free loot.  Brushing Scams: Here’s Why You’re Getting Random Packages (howtogeek.com)

ONLINE PRIVACY IS A MYTH: WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO ABOUT IT – We all want to recover (and maintain) our online privacy. There are lots of features and industries built around fighting for privacy, from private-browsing modes and tracker blockers to private VPNs. But online privacy is a myth—and offline privacy might be one, too. Myths are stories (or narratives) that are often foundational to a society’s beliefs. The myth of online privacy is like that: Privacy feels foundational in our society. To the extent we accept we don’t have privacy online, it feels like something we’ve lost—something that we can perhaps recover with the right software tweaks, behaviors, or perhaps regulations. When you think about it, the myth of online privacy is even beneficial to those industries that benefit from the lack of it. We all might agree that there’s no privacy online, but leave us to a search engine, and we’ll search an endless list of everything that comes into our minds, including potentially sensitive topics like medical questions. Police even dig through those search histories to look for criminals.  Online Privacy Is a Myth: What You Can and Can’t Do About It (howtogeek.com)

CAN YOUR IPHONE BE HACKED? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT IOS SECURITY – Let’s be clear: if your iPhone or iPad is connected to the internet, there’s a risk it might get hacked. Sure, statistics seem to support the idea that your iOS device is pretty safe (and Apple keeps adding new safety features), but your security largely hinges on how you actually use the device. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common ways for malware to compromise iPhones, some warning signs your own phone may have been hacked, and how to ‘fight back’.
Can your iPhone be hacked? What to know about iOS security | WeLiveSecurity

9/22

8 REASONS WHY YOUR IPHONE CHARGING PORT IS LOOSE (AND HOW TO FIX) – There are few things worse than plugging in your Apple iPhone and not hearing that familiar ding to indicate it’s charging. Or, maybe you hear the chime over and over again as the cable repeatedly disconnects. If it seems that your iPhone charging port is loose, preventing headphones, chargers, and other accessories from working, there are several causes and fixes you’ll want to consider. 8 Reasons Why Your iPhone Charging Port Is Loose (And How to Fix) (switchingtomac.com)

HOW TECH CAN HELP REDUCE THE OVERWHELMING FEELING OF EVERYDAY TASKS AND CHORES – If you constantly worry about household chores but neglect them because you’re busy or tired, these apps can help reduce the stressful mental burden. How Tech Can Help Reduce the Overwhelming Feeling of Everyday Tasks and Chores (makeuseof.com)

FACEBOOK PICTURES NOT LOADING? 10 WAYS TO FIX – Facebook is one of the oldest, and most widely used social media platforms. We always expect it to be available, just a click away, ready to work, and display everything on our News Feed. But Facebook isn’t free from bugs and glitches, so sometimes we can’t post comments, send messages, or view images. It can be frustrating when Facebook fails to load images in the News Feed, and they appear as empty or black boxes. These are also known as broken images and broken can be fixed. Facebook Pictures Not Loading? 10 Ways to Fix (online-tech-tips.com)

SHIELD YOUR INTERNET HISTORY: HOW TO CLEAR YOUR CACHE ON ANY BROWSER – Don’t let your internet history fall into the wrong hands. It’s a good idea to delete your browser history and internet cache on occasion. Here’s how to do it on the desktop and mobile. Shield Your Internet History: How to Clear Your Cache on Any Browser | PCMag

HERE’S WHY YOU’LL NEVER SEE MOVIE VILLAINS USE IPHONES – Apple products are extremely prevalent in TV shows and movies, but the company doesn’t pay for product placement. Apple is more than happy to provide MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones to studios, but there’s one unique stipulation. Here’s Why You’ll Never See Movie Villains Use iPhones (howtogeek.com)

SHOULD YOU PLUG A UPS INTO A SURGE PROTECTOR? – In the quest for the ultimate combination of battery backup and surge protection, the UPS-in-surge protector question has been asked for years, with no clear-cut answer. Many recommend plugging a UPS into a surge protector; yet, many others don’t. But which is correct? Read on to find out.
Should You Plug a UPS Into a Surge Protector? (howtogeek.com)

8/22

HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR PHONE – Looking to save money by holding onto that phone you’ve already paid off? You’re not alone. In recent years, Americans have been bucking the trend of switching to a new phone every couple of years, in part due to the rising costs and minor improvements in flagship phones. Here are the easy ways to extend the life of your smartphone.
How to Extend the Life of Your Phone – Techlicious

HOW TO USE THE MAGNIFIER ON IPHONE AND IPAD – Your iPhone and iPad have all sorts of features for calls, texts, emails, games, apps, and everything else you do with your device. However, the Magnifier might be the best feature you’re overlooking. This handy built-in tool lets you zoom in on anything you need a clear view of— from reading small print to threading a needle. The Magnifier also gives you features to adjust your view, apply a filter, and save photos of what you’re magnifying. How to Use the Magnifier on iPhone and iPad (switchingtomac.com)

HOW TO DISABLE THE HOME SCREEN SEARCH BUTTON ON IPHONE – Starting with iOS 16, the iPhone home screen includes a small “Search” button located just above the dock. If you find the addition annoying, Apple makes it easy to remove the search button in Settings. Here’s how. Apple likely added the new search button in iOS 16 because launching Spotlight Search on an iPhone had previously been a mysterious process (you swipe downward with one finger in the middle of the home screen.) With the new button, all you have to do is tap it, and Spotlight opens instantly.
How to Disable the Home Screen Search Button on iPhone (howtogeek.com)

10 HIDDEN IPHONE FEATURES THAT WILL MAKE YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE – With the iPhone, Apple has created an operating system with different layers. On the surface, it’s pretty simple to use. But look around a bit, and you’ll find a whole new world of useful features that’ll help you boost your productivity. But, rather than spending hours poking your nose into the nooks and crannies of iOS to find out the best settings to use, we’ll show you everything you need to know right here.  10 Hidden iPhone Features That Will Make You More Productive (makeuseof.com)

SAFARI NOT WORKING ON YOUR IPHONE? HERE’S HOW TO FIX IT – Although iPhones and iPads support other apps to reach the Web, Safari remains the most favored and frequently used browser for iOS users. Troubleshooting on Safari can be frustrating, especially if its issues prevent you from searching for a solution online. Here are a few common reasons why Safari may not be working on your iPhone and how to fix the problems.  Safari Not Working on Your iPhone? Here’s How to Fix It – Make Tech Easier

7/6/22

IOS 16 IS MORE ANDROID THAN THE IPHONE HAS EVER BEEN – The new features coming this fall could be a sign that Apple will continue to let us personalize our phones. When iOS 14 came out, TikTok was filled with videos of extreme iPhone interface customization techniques, courtesy of custom widgets and icon replacement via Shortcuts. Everyone’s aesthetic is different, and you might have considered those customizations silly or gaudy, or even ugly, but the success of those videos sent a powerful signal: people want to customize their devices. Read more iOS 16 is more Android than ever | Macworld

HOW TO TAKE A SCROLLING SCREENSHOT ON YOUR IPHONE – A regular screenshot on your iPhone captures exactly what’s on your screen — nothing more, nothing less. Unfortunately, that may not always be enough, especially if you’re trying to capture anything that extends past the screen.

Hidden within iOS is a scrolling screenshot feature that allows you to capture multiple pages with only a single screenshot. There are third-party apps you can use to stitch together individual screenshots and create a longer one, but a scrolling screenshot makes the process easier. How to Take a Scrolling Screenshot on Your iPhone – CNET

HOW TO USE STAGE MANAGER ON MAC AND IPAD – Stage Manager is an innovative new way to multitask with dynamically organizable windows on Mac computers running macOS Ventura and iPad models equipped with the M1 chip running iPadOS 16. Learn how to get the most out of Stage Manager on your iPad and Mac in this tutorial. How to Use Stage Manager on Mac and iPad – Make Tech Easier

HOW TO RESET AN IPHONE OR IPAD – If you’re planning on selling your old iPhone or just want to give it a fresh start, resetting is the way to go. Here are the simple steps for wiping your iPhone or iPad. How To Reset iPhone & iPad: Factory Reset an iPhone | Macworld

PARALLELS DESKTOP REVIEW – If you want to run a full Windows system on an Intel Mac, Parallels Desktop is the best choice for individual and small-business users. It’s also currently the only practical choice for running Windows on Apple Silicon machines. Parallels is fast, features tight integrations between host and guest machines, and gets frequent updates that keep it compatible with the latest Windows and macOS systems. Read more at Parallels Desktop Review | PCMag

IOS 16 TO ADD VIRTUAL CARDS SUPPORT IN SAFARI FOR ONLINE SHOPPING – iOS 16 brings some new features to Apple Pay, such as a payment API for CarPlay apps, order tracking in the Wallet app, and even Apple Pay Later. However, it seems that Apple has been working on some other changes as iOS 16 beta 3 hints at support for virtual cards in Safari for online shopping. Read more at iOS 16 to add virtual cards support in Safari for online shopping (9to5mac.com)

WINDOWS, MACOS, CHROME OS, OR LINUX: WHICH OPERATING SYSTEM IS BEST? – You don’t have a great many choices when it comes to your computer’s operating system, but the choice that you make can have wide-ranging consequences. The five OSes included here are your most viable options. That’s not a huge number, but these operating systems differ distinctly in strengths and weaknesses. Four come from commercial tech giants, while one, the Linux-based Ubuntu, is a free and open-source option. Windows and macOS are generally the most powerful in terms of hardware and software selection as well as interface conveniences and utilities, while Chrome OS is more lightweight and runs on inexpensive hardware. But why run just one operating system? Read more at Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, or Linux: Which Operating System Is Best? | PCMag

HOW TO UPSCALE AN IMAGE OR INCREASE ITS RESOLUTION – A photo you want to upload or print for some purpose might be considered too “low resolution” to meet the needs of a site, printing, or online photo service. What options do you have? You can change an image’s resolution to solve the problem. There are two aspects of a digital image that are often described as “resolution” – read more here How to upscale an image or increase its resolution | Macworld

IPHONE LOCKDOWN MODE COMING IN IOS 16 TO PROTECT AGAINST TARGETED CYBER ATTACKS, HERE’S HOW IT WORKS – Apple says that the opt-in iPhone Lockdown Mode is the first feature of its kind and will provide an extreme level of security. And truly isn’t meant for the average person. It’s made for the very very small percentage of users who might be specifically targeted by highly sophisticated threats such as nation-state-sponsored mercenary spyware, like the Pegasus attack.

With Lockdown Mode enabled on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, device functionality is limited to greatly reduce the “attack surface” of potential exploits and harden defenses. Read more here iPhone Lockdown Mode coming in iOS 16 for extreme security – 9to5Mac

MASTER THE MACOS COMMAND LINE: HOW TO COPY AND MOVE FILES THROUGH TERMINAL – Wish you could move a bunch of folders all at once or instantly move every file of a certain type into a new folder? The command line may be the answer. Read how here How to copy and move files through Terminal | Macworld

MASTER THE MACOS COMMAND LINE: HOW TO NAVIGATE FILES AND FOLDERS IN TERMINAL – Learn how to perform functions using your Mac’s Terminal commands. How to navigate files and folders in Terminal | Macworld

6/20/22

WHEN WILL YOUR MAC DESKTOP COMPUTER BECOME OBSOLETE? – Apple is rumored to be launching a few desktop lines and new models this year and, with that, support for some of the older computers has got to go. Is your Mac about to become obsolete? Or does Apple still consider it to be “vintage?” What does any of this mean?! What about your old iPhone that’s barely hanging on.

Fret not! Mashable will help break it all down for you and let you know if you should start thinking about upgrading your Mac soon.
A new group of desktop Macs will soon become obsolete. Is yours listed? | Mashable
Which iPhone models are obsolete? | Mashable

THE 7 BEST NEW MACOS VENTURA FEATURES FROM WWDC 2022 – Apple announced plenty of new changes coming to macOS at WWDC 2022. The new iteration of macOS is called macOS Ventura and will be released in fall 2022. Read this article about some of the new features coming in the update. The 7 Best New macOS Ventura Features From WWDC 2022 (makeuseof.com)

HERE’S EVERYTHING 9TO5MAC KNOWS SO FAR ABOUT THE 2022 IPAD PRO – Apple is set to release another generation of iPad Pro in 2022. A year after the model with the M1 chip, miniLED display, and 5G support was first introduced, the company is rumored to launch an even better iPad Pro this year with the upcoming M2 chip. Read more here Here’s everything we know so far about the 2022 iPad Pro – 9to5Mac

IOS 16 BRINGS NEW FEATURE FOR BYPASSING CAPTCHAS – This new iOS 16 feature will rid the web of pesky CAPTCHA verification puzzles – With the release of iOS 16 this year, Apple is taking steps towards eliminating the need for those pesky CAPTCHAs around the web. A new feature called Private Access Tokens will use a combination of details about your device and your Apple ID to inform a website that you are a legitimate user rather than a robot. In turn, this allows you to completely bypass the CAPTCHA step. Read more at iOS 16 brings new feature for bypassing CAPTCHAs- 9to5Mac

HOW TO RECONNECT YOUR APPLE WATCH AND IPHONE – A red phone icon (or X icon) at the top of your Apple Watch’s screen means the watch isn’t connected to your iPhone. So when the icon appears on the screen, your Apple Watch won’t get call or message notifications from your iPhone.

How you reconnect your Apple Watch and iPhone will vary depending on the cause of the disconnection. This article shows you 11 different ways to make the iPhone icon green again on your Apple Watch.
How to Reconnect Apple Watch to iPhone (switchingtomac.com)

HOW TO FIND YOUR HIDDEN MESSAGES ON FACEBOOK MESSENGER – Did you know that Facebook Messenger hides some messages from you by default? While you’ll see messages from your friends and contacts immediately, the service hides lower-quality messages you might not want to see.

Read this article to see hidden messages on Facebook Messenger, plus give tips on controlling how you see them. How to Find Your Hidden Messages on Facebook Messenger (makeuseof.com)

THESE HIDDEN BANDWIDTH VAMPIRES ARE EATING UP YOUR DATA CAP AT HOME – If you’re laboring under the burden of an ISP-imposed data cap, tracking down the “bandwidth vampires” using up all your precious data will save you from overage fees and hassles. Read this article to find where to look. These Hidden Bandwidth Vampires Are Eating Up Your Data Cap at Home (howtogeek.com)

YOUR PHONE CAN DOUBLE AS A PC – Phones have become increasingly more powerful over the years. Nowadays, even a low-end smartphone has more power than a standard PC or laptop from a decade ago. So why can’t you use your phone in place of a computer?

The good news is you can. There are several ways to use your phone as an alternative to a traditional computer and plenty of reasons you should consider doing so. Phones are far more portable, you’re likely to always have one with you, and if your phone meets all your computing needs, it may even save you a few hundred dollars. Your Phone Can Double as a PC – Review Geek

EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE APPLE’S IOS 16 REMAKE OF THE IPHONE’S ICONIC LOCK SCREEN – Your iPhone’s Lock Screen is the first thing you see when you pick up your phone. It’s also the face you present to the world and those who might glance at the phone in your hand, its screen temporarily lit up by your touch.

The Lock Screen is the thing you interact with more than anything else on your phone – it’s the most personalized part of the phone, and yet with iOS 16, Apple is offering fundamental changes to the iconic screen; Apple SVP of Engineering Craig Federighi described it to TechRadar this week as “a massive step forward.”

The roughly two-year-long journey from early Home Screen personalization efforts in iOS 14 to the rich and surprisingly expressive tools in iOS 16 is, in some ways, obvious: a joint effort between engineering and design to offer customization without muddying what people know and love about the iOS interface. But it’s also a story full of surprises and, yes, innovation. Exclusive: inside Apple’s iOS 16 remake of the iPhone’s iconic Lock Screen | TechRadar

Need to be reminded to drink water? APPLE EXPANDS ITS ACCESSORIES LINEUP WITH … SMART WATER BOTTLES – The water bottles, dubbed HidrateSpark, are now available on Apple’s website and in its retail stores. Both of the two large-capacity water bottles feature a colorful LED sensor puck at the base, which lights up throughout the day, reminding you to drink more water. You can customize the lighting colors and patterns of the puck, and it will also track your water intake through the free HidrateSpark app. Apple Expands Its Accessories Lineup With … Smart Water Bottles? – Review Geek

3/22/22

43 COOL NEW iOS 15.4 FEATURES FOR iPHONE — APP UPDATES, HIDDEN CHANGES, AND MORE! – The iOS 15.4 software has been available to developers since Jan. 27, 2022, and public beta testers since Jan. 28. The release candidate, the last stage in beta testing, was released after Apple’s Peak Performance event on March 8 where the company revealed its new iPhone SE, among other things. Apple pushed out the final iOS 15.4 build, as well as iPadOS 15.4 for iPad, on Monday, March 14. You can download and install the update manually via Settings –> General –> Software Update, or you can wait for it to auto-update at night if you have that set up. If you’re not quite ready yet, check out the features to see what you’re missing out on! 43 Cool New iOS 15.4 Features for iPhone — App Updates, Hidden Changes, and More! « iOS & iPhone :: Gadget Hacks

SEAMLESSLY USE YOUR MAC’S KEYBOARD AND MOUSE ON YOUR iPAD OR ANOTHER MAC – With the release of iOS 15.4, iPadOS 15.4, and macOS 12.3, Apple unleashed a ton of new features. We saw a preview of one of the most anticipated new features way back in June 2021 when it was announced at WWDC, and now it’s finally available for everyone with an iPad and Mac. How to Seamlessly Use Your Mac’s Keyboard and Mouse on Your iPad or Another Mac « Mac Tips :: Gadget Hacks

HOW TO SHOW BATTERY PERCENTAGE ON iPHONE 13 – How much juice do you have left? If you’re using an iPhone 13 (or iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max), the exact answer isn’t always obvious at a glance. Luckily, there are two ways to quickly see a precise battery percentage on your iPhone 13. Here’s how. How to Show Battery Percentage on iPhone 13 (howtogeek.com)

HOW TO BURN A CD OR DVD ON A MAC – If you own a Mac and need to transfer files between machines, make a temporary backup, or share files with others, sometimes burning a CD or DVD still does the trick. Luckily, macOS makes it easy. Here’s how to do it. How to Burn a CD or DVD on a Mac (howtogeek.com)

7 NEW iPHONE SECURITY AND PRIVACY FEATURES YOU MUST USE – Smartphone developers are constantly working to introduce patches and updates for your device. You shouldn’t hesitate to update as soon as one rolls out, as it could contain important security features to protect you from hacks, malware, viruses and more. In addition to protecting your phone and information, software updates can also introduce cool new features, though you may not always be immediately aware of them. Did you know that you can stop iPhone apps from asking you to rate and review? Tap or click here to check out this useful setting. Keep reading for details on the latest security updates from Apple and how to get them. 7 new iPhone security and privacy features you MUST use (komando.com)

HOW TO CHANGE THE IP ADDRESS ON iPHONE – To change your iPhone’s IP address, you can either request your router to get you a new IP or manually assign a specific IP address to your phone. We’ll show you both ways to do the task. How to Change the IP Address on iPhone (howtogeek.com)

 QUICK MAC TIP FROM RICK’S TIPS – The easiest way to migrate to a new Mac

Are you planning to buy a new Mac to replace the computer you have right now?

If so, you won’t need to manually transfer all of your files to the new Mac because a handy Apple utility called “Migration Assistant” can handle the grunt work of the move for you.

What’s more, if the machine you’ll be migrating from is another Mac you won’t even have to install your apps on the new Mac because Migration Assistant will transfer those too.

If your current computer is a Windows PC you’ll have to manually install the apps you want to use onto your new Mac and make any desired settings changes, but the Migration Assistant will still save you a ton of time by transferring all of your user-created files over for you. Sound good? If so, you’ll find instructions for using the awesome Migration Assistant tool right here.

HOW TO STOP MICROSOFT EDGE FROM OPENING AUTOMATICALLY – Microsoft Edge—the stock web browser in Windows 11 and 10—sometimes launches even if you have a different browser set as default. It could load alongside the operating system at startup, preload various background-related processes during the login phase, or show up on its own after a restart. This post details multiple ways to stop Microsoft Edge from opening automatically on your PC. If you use Edge on a Mac, you will also learn to prevent the browser from loading without permission in macOS. How to Stop Microsoft Edge From Opening Automatically (helpdeskgeek.com)

 iPAD AIR (2022) VS iPAD PRO (2021): WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? – The new iPad Air and last year’s iPad Pro are more alike than ever. So, what’s different? Glad you asked. Let’s take a look. iPad Air (2022) vs iPad Pro (2021): What’s the difference? | ZDNet

FACEBOOK IS BANNING PEOPLE WHO MISSED AN EMAIL NOTICE – DID IT HAPPEN TO YOU? – Your credit card details are always in danger of being stolen by hackers and scammers. But while they can cause a lot of personal damage with it, your social media login information could be more valuable to them. Of the most valuable online accounts to criminals, a hacked Facebook account can regularly sell on the Dark Web for around $65. An associated Instagram account can easily fetch upwards of $45. So, to protect users from getting hacked, Meta rolled out a function to some users called Facebook Protect. But it’s not exactly going according to plan. Read on to see how Meta secures accounts so well that the owners can’t even get in. Facebook is locking people out of their accounts – Did it happen to you? (komando.com)

iOS 15: BACKGROUND SOUNDS FEATURE IS HERE TO HELP YOU FOCUS – Listen to some ocean waves or a light rain from the comfort of your home with this iOS feature. iOS 15: Background Sounds Feature Is Here to Help You Focus (cnet.com)

 IF YOU DON’T ALREADY WANT AN IPHONE SE, THESE HIDDEN HOME BUTTON TRICKS MIGHT TEMPT YOU – The new 2022 iPhone SE is a thoroughly modern phone, but it’s still mostly an old soul. Compared with other current iPhone models, it has a smaller screen, thicker bezels, a single-camera system — and of course, the Touch ID home button. And if you’re a big fan of the physical home button, you might be interested in learning what it can do for you. If You Don’t Already Want an iPhone SE, These Hidden Home Button Tricks Might Tempt You – CNET

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR PHONE IS TAPPED: 7 WARNING SIGNS – How can you tell if your phone is tapped? Like it or not, most of us have grown used to our phones being spied upon—not at least by governments! But other parties can tap into your smartphone. This includes hackers, your employer, an ex-partner, or even the press. They might be listening to your calls, reading and sending messages and emails, or altering information on your interface. But how do you know if your phone is tapped? Learn how to tell if your cell phone is tapped. How to Tell If Your Phone Is Tapped: 7 Warning Signs (makeuseof.com)

5 WARNING SIGNS YOUR SSD IS ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN AND FAIL – Worried your SSD will malfunction and break down and take all of your data with it? Look for these warning signs. 5 Warning Signs Your SSD Is About to Break Down and Fail (makeuseof.com)

HOW TO CHECK HOW MUCH FREE GOOGLE STORAGE YOU HAVE LEFT – Go to this page, and you’ll see a breakdown of how much storage you’re using and how it’s been divided between Google Drive, Gmail, Google Photos, and your device backup. (Note: how the page looks may vary, depending on the type of Google account you have.) How to check how much free Google storage you have left – The Verge

HOW TO PASSWORD PROTECT YOUR USB DRIVE: 7 EASY WAYS – Learn the best ways to password protect your USB drive and keep your files secure. Windows—Mac—Linux How to Password Protect Your USB Drive: 7 Easy Ways (makeuseof.com)

2/26/22

APPLE MAY SOON TURN iPHONES INTO CREDIT CARD PAYMENT TERMINALS – Rumor mill: We see many businesses using a Square terminal to accept payments made using iPhones, but it seems Apple also wants a piece of that pie. Rumor says Apple will turn iPhones into credit card payment terminals without needing extra hardware or third-party devices. Read more at Apple may soon turn iPhones into credit card payment terminals | TechSpot

iOS 15.4 — THE NEW FEATURES COMING TO YOUR IPHONE – The newest update — iOS 15.4 — arrived in beta form last week, and it’s already shaping up to be a noteworthy refresh for iOS 15. While there’s no individual feature as significant as SharePlay or a noticeably MIA feature like App Privacy Report finally arriving, iOS 15.4 does introduce a number of tweaks and fixes. And one in particular will be especially welcome by masking-wearing iPhone users who haven’t been able to unlock their phones with Face ID since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more at iOS 15.4 — the new features coming to your iPhone | Tom’s Guide (tomsguide.com)

iIPHONE TIMELINE: iOS & iPHONE EVOLUTION 2007-2022 – 14 YEAR HISTORY OF THE RELEASES – At the Macworld convention in January 2007, Steve Jobs came on stage to announce they were about to launch a phone, a few months later on June 29th, 2007 the original iPhone was born and released to the public. The iPhone was the first touch screen phone to have a build in MP3 player (iPod) and a fully working web browser, it really was a fantastic innovation. The iPhone sold over one billion phones in the first 9 years and made up 53.89% of Apple’s revenue in 2019. Read the infographic or timeline at iPhone Evolution Timeline 2007-2022 / iOS Evolution [Graphic] (bankmycell.com)

YOUR IPHONE EXPERIENCE COULD BE BETTER. JUST CHANGE THESE SETTINGS – Whether you have a newer iPhone 13, iPhone 12, the value-packed iPhone SE or an iPhone 11 (you could also be waiting for the iPhone 14 or iPhone SE 3), one thing is likely: Your iPhone runs iOS 15 — Apple’s most recent major mobile operating system. There have been minor updates with iOS 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 and soon 15.4, which could arrive in time for Apple’s rumored March event. Read more at Your iPhone Experience Could Be Better. Just Change These Settings (msn.com)

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REPAIR? – I’m sure many of you remember when getting something repaired was a fairly simple process, you just took it down to the repair shop. Even as computers gained in popularity, you could still take your PC down and have a local tech look at any problems. These days it’s not so simple. Read more at Do you have the right to repair? – Cyn Mackley

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR PHONE – Whether or not you believe reports that your smartphone is germier than a toilet, there’s a good chance it could benefit from a cleaning, especially if you don’t use a case. Thankfully, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes and standard household cleaning products to clean your phone properly. Find out how to clean your iPhone and Android phones. How to Clean Your Phone | Reviews by Wirecutter (nytimes.com)

iPHONE CELLULAR DATA NOT WORKING? 11 WAYS TO FIX – These factors will affect cellular data connectivity on your iPhone: poor network coverage or service outage, outdated operating system, bug-ridden system update, incorrect date & time settings, etc. Find out more at iPhone Cellular Data Not Working? 11 Ways to Fix (switchingtomac.com)

USE THE SHORTCUTS APP TO SHARE ALMOST ANYTHING ON IPHONE, IPAD, AND MAC – If you’re someone who shares often, you can make the process easier than ever. Using the Shortcuts app for Mac (new with macOS Monterey), iPhone, and iPad you can share just about anything; this how-to shows you the way. Use the Shortcuts App to Share Almost Anything on iPhone, iPad, and Mac (switchingtomac.com)

iPAD KEYBOARD NOT WORKING? 15 FIXES TO TRY – Do you have trouble using the onscreen keyboard on your iPad? Or does your Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard, or external third-party keyboard fail to work with iPadOS? This tutorial will help you fix on-screen and external keyboard issues on iPad. Most of the troubleshooting tips also apply to the iPhone. iPad Keyboard Not Working? 15 Fixes to Try (switchingtomac.com)

WHY YOU SHOULD DELETE YOUR YOUTUBE HISTORY OFTEN (AND HOW TO DO IT) – Good news: You can delete some or all of your YouTube watch history to better curate your recommended video feed. Here’s more on why you should do it often—and how to do it in a few quick steps. Why You Should Delete Your YouTube History Often (and How to Do It) (lifehacker.com)

WHAT TO DO IF GMAIL IS NOT WORKING? 11 QUICK FIXES – This article covers troubleshooting fixes for several Gmail issues on mobile devices (Android and iOS) and desktop computers. What to Do If Gmail Is Not Working? 11 Quick Fixes (online-tech-tips.com)

DID YOU KNOW YOUR iPHONE HAS A BUILT-IN DICTIONARY? HERE’S HOW TO USE IT – Follow this guide to start using the dictionary and thesaurus built into your iPhone software. Did You Know Your iPhone Has a Built-in Dictionary? Here’s How to Use It (makeuseof.com)

9 iPHONE APPS THAT TURN PHOTOS INTO ART – Bored with some of the photos you have on your iPhone? Or maybe, you want your photos to stand out? Tons of photo-editing apps can quickly turn your photos into works of digital art. You can make any photo more interesting to catch someone’s eyes. Learn more at 9 iPhone Apps That Turn Photos Into Art (switchingtomac.com)

HOW TO ATTACH A FOLDER TO AN EMAIL – Do you want to attach an entire folder to an email instead of individual files? If so, you’ll have to first turn your folder into a ZIP file, as email services don’t allow attaching folders to email. Find out how to do this at How to Attach a Folder to an Email (howtogeek.com)

10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WI-FI ROUTER SPEED – Internet connection too slow? These simple router tweaks could make a world of difference on your home Wi-Fi network. 10 Ways to Improve Your Wi-Fi Router Speed (makeuseof.com)

HOW TO BENCHMARK YOUR iPHONE (AND WHY YOU MIGHT WANT TO) – Benchmarks have only a few use cases when it comes to smartphones. The first is to check performance to see if the device is running as you’d expect. If you are experiencing performance issues you can use benchmarks to see if this issue is reflected in the numbers. You can then try and further diagnose your slow iPhone and hopefully fix the issue. Read more at How to Benchmark Your iPhone (and Why You Might Want To) (howtogeek.com)

1/22/22

SAFETY TIP: HOW TO USE SIRI TO CALL 911 – Last year, a new app was launched that allows you to contact fire, police, or EMTs in just two taps. You can use it in an emergency and dispatch help to family and loved ones. Emergency services can be reached on Android and iOS devices by pressing the power button five times. But read on to see how one Apple user credits the tech giant for saving her life. Changing one setting could help save yours someday, too. Safety tip: How to use Siri to call 911 (komando.com)

HOW TO SET UP A RECOVERY CONTACT ON iPHONE, iPAD, AND MAC – If you forget your Apple ID password or device passcode, you’ll be in deep trouble. Luckily, Apple now lets you add a recovery contact to regain access to your Apple account. Here’s how to set it up. How to Set Up a Recovery Contact on iPhone, iPad, and Mac (howtogeek.com)

Apple explains how to clean its Polishing Cloth (without buying a new Polishing Cloth) – One of the most popular products from Apple in 2021 was certainly its polishing cloth. With stock gone for weeks, the product only recently reappeared, but a question remained: how to actually clean it without the need to buy a new polishing cloth? Apple has explained. According to the company’s support page on “how to clean the nano-texture glass on your Apple Display,” which includes the Apple Pro Display XDR and the 27-inch iMac with nano-texture glass, Apple has specific details on how to clean its own Polishing Cloth. Get those details here Apple explains how to clean its Polishing Cloth (without buying a new Polishing Cloth) – 9to5Mac

21 HIDDEN SMARTPHONE SUPERPOWERS – An Android phone or iPhone can help you scan documents, get better sleep, alert loved ones of an emergency, and more. Here’s how. 21 Hidden Smartphone Superpowers – Consumer Reports

STILL RUNNING IOS 14 ON YOUR iPHONE? APPLE BRINGS SUPPORT TO AN END – Remember when Apple promised to continue to offer iOS 14 updates alongside iOS 15? Well, that’s just come to an end. To be honest, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNet Contributor, expected Apple to offer iOS 14 updates for a year, but I also realized that by offering to allow people to stick on an older version, the company was setting up users to expect this. Would Apple offer a year’s support for the older version of iOS? Was it time-limited? Or was it going to allow users to stay on iOS 14 indefinitely?
Still running iOS 14 on your iPhone? Apple brings support to an end | ZDNet

WHAT IS ICLOUD DATA RECOVERY SERVICE AND HOW TO SET IT UP? – Losing access to your iCloud data is a nightmare scenario. Still, in iOS 15, Apple has added a new feature called iCloud Data Recovery Service, which can get (some) of your data back when the worst happens. It’s easy to set up on iOS or macOS, and if you take the time, you’ll be thanking yourself one day.
What Is iCloud Data Recovery Service and How To Set It Up? (switchingtomac.com)

ATTENTION MAC AND iPHONE USERS – YOUR BROWSER MIGHT BE LEAKING GOOGLE SEARCH HISTORY – Every time you visit a website or search for something in your Safari browser, it keeps a record of your actions. Apple’s Safari browser saves a copy of your browsing history with website cookies. Your browsing history is supposed to remain private to you. But a newly discovered flaw shows that Apple’s Safari browser can leak your data to websites you visit. Read more at  pple users – Your browser might be leaking Google search history (komando.com)

GET INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR iPHONE – Get information about your iPhone – Apple Support

FORGOT MAC ADMIN PASSWORD? HERE’S HOW TO GET BACK IN – If you don’t use your Mac often, it’s easy to forget the admin password and get stuck at the login screen. Apple understands that, which is why you’ve got multiple options to reset the password and help you get back in. The instructions in this tutorial will walk you through each feasible way of resetting it if you forgot your Mac admin password. Just pick the method that suits you the best. Forgot Mac Admin Password? Here’s How to Get Back In (switchingtomac.com)

HOW TO AUTOMATE YOUR LIFE WITH APPLE’S SHORTCUTS APP – You probably spend a lot of time on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac running one task after another across a variety of apps. Think how much time you’d save if you could automate those tasks, or combine them into a single action. You can do all that and more with Apple’s Shortcuts app. Learn how at How to Automate Your Life With Apple’s Shortcuts App | PCMag

EASIEST WAYS TO CONNECT YOUR SMARTPHONE TO YOUR TV – The line between your various gadgets is blurring by the day. You can connect your tablet to your surveillance system and your smart speaker to your refrigerator. You can see who’s at the door from your computer and adjust the thermostat from your phone. Wouldn’t it be great to bring the content from your smartphone to your big-screen TV? It’s possible. You can livestream video from your phone to your TV, view files and photos and also play games. Virtually anything you can do on your phone can be cast to your TV. Here’s how.
Easiest ways to connect your smartphone to your TV (komando.com)

HOW TO SPEED UP A SLOW iPHONE – Since “upgrading” your iPhone isn’t possible without buying another one, it can be frustrating when your smartphone begins to slow down. So how do you know if it’s the natural aging process or not, and what exactly can you do about it? Find out at How to Speed Up a Slow iPhone (howtogeek.com)

TRADING IN YOUR IPHONE? HERE ARE 9 REASONS TO TRADE IN WITH APPLE – Whether you found an old iPhone in your drawers or are ready to upgrade to a newer model, there’s a chance that your old iPhone may still be worth something. Old iPhones hold their value well because they contain parts that can be used for repair, refurbishment, or resales. Although you are likely to get a lower price from Apple than third-party companies, there are numerous benefits to trading in your iPhone with its original manufacturer. Here are some of them.
Trading In Your iPhone? Here Are 9 Reasons to Trade In With Apple (makeuseof.com)

HOW TO FIND HIDDEN PHOTOS ON YOUR iPHONE – Did you hide some photos on your iPhone but you are now not sure where those photos are? It’s easy to see those hidden photos on an iPhone, and we’ll show you how. How to Find Hidden Photos on iPhone (howtogeek.com)

HOW TO DISABLE PREDICTIVE TEXT ON YOUR iPHONE – Most folks seem to love the Predictive Text feature and consider it to be a huge time saver, but every now and then Rick’s Tips receives a request for instructions for turning it off. How to disable Predictive Text on your iPhone (ricksdailytips.com)

 HOW DO YOU CHECK A SITE IS SECURE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE? – Shopping online or checking your bank account via your Apple or Android device? Here’s how to check the site you’re visiting is real. How Do You Check a Site Is Secure on Your Smartphone? (makeuseof.com)

WARNING: THESE ARE THE TACTICS SCAMMERS USE TO FOOL OLDER PEOPLE ON THE PHONE – While scammers have embraced the digital age to target victims through social media, fake websites and landing pages, don’t think that they forgot their roots. A simple phone call is still an effective tool for criminals to practice their crooked trade. Did you know that your phone has built-in tools to silence spam calls? These types of calls can range from annoying to downright dangerous. You can set it up whether you have an Android or iPhone, so these calls are blocked and sent to voicemail. Warning: Tactics scammers use to fool older people on the phone (komando.com)

HOW TO ACCESS YOUR MAC’S HIDDEN FILES – Your computer has backend directories, libraries, and files that help keep the operating system running smoothly. If you were to delete or move any of these files, something could go seriously wrong. It’s why we don’t recommend you playing around with them unless you know what you’re doing. Windows users can find these files in File Explorer, where it’s easy to make changes and mistakes. In order to prevent Mac users from doing the same, Apple hides many of these files by default in macOS. That means you don’t have to worry about ruining your computer, but it makes things a bit harder when you do need access. Find out where they are at How to Access Your Mac’s Hidden Files | PCMag