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How-To - page 29

How to see the huge AR easter egg hidden in Apple’s Oct. 13 event invite

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The invite to the Apple October event 2020 offers an augmented-reality easter egg.
The invite to the Apple October event includes a bit of augmented reality.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Hidden in Tuesday’s invite to the October Apple event is a hint that the company is about to make a big push into augmented reality.

The graphic for the event invite is the Apple logo surrounded by bubbles. iPhone and iPad users can transfer that design to the real 3D world, and put it in motion.

How to leave the macOS Big Sur beta program before public release

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How to leave the macOS Big Sur beta
Don't be stuck with buggy beta releases.
Image: Cult of Mac

With the public release of macOS Big Sur right around the corner, it’s a good time to think about leaving the beta program — especially if you’ve been running the new release on your primary machine.

Dropping out ensures you get stable releases and quick fixes as soon as they’re available, and prevents potentially buggy future betas from being installed on your device. We’ll walk you through the process.

Fix battery drain, missing GPS data after updating to iOS 14, watchOS 7

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Fix GPS data loss iOS 14
It's not easy, but it's essential.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple has acknowledged problems with iOS 14 and watchOS 7 that can cause some users to lose GPS data and experience excessive battery drain on Apple Watch and iPhone — among other things.

There is a way to fix these issues and prevent future data loss, and it means resetting your devices. We’ll walk you through it.

How to use Smart Selection in iPadOS 14

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How to use Smart Selection in iPadOS 14
Smart Selection makes your iPad and stylus even more useful.
Graphic: Apple/Cult of Mac

Smart Selection in iPadOS 14 can be amazingly useful for anyone who takes notes with their iPad. This new feature lets you handwrite some words, then turn them into text at any point later on.

Here’s how it works.

How to prevent AirPods from automatically switching to different devices

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AirPods-Pro-how-to
Take care of switching manually like you used to.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple recently gave AirPods and AirPods Pro the ability to automatically switch between different devices depending on what you’re doing. Sometimes the feature is useful, but other times it’s really frustrating.

You may have noticed it after updating to iOS 14 on your iPhone or iPadOS 14 on your iPad. The good news is, it’s possible to disable the feature and take care of switching yourself.

We’ll show you how.

How to give your iPhone Home screen a new look with custom icons

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How to create custom app icons iOS 14
iOS 14 but with an entirely new look.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

It’s no longer necessary to jailbreak your iPhone to completely overhaul the appearance of its Home screen. All you need is the Shortcuts app in iOS 14, and you can use custom icons for any app you have installed.

With some simple tweaks and plenty of spare time, you can make your iPhone feel like a brand-new smartphone with a completely different operating system designed just by you. We’ll show you how.

How to enter handwritten text with Scribble on iPadOS 14

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How to enter handwritten text with Scribble on iPadOS 14
iPadOS 14 includes Scribble handwriting recognition for quick text entry with a stylus.
Photo: Killian Bell/Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPadOS 14 brings handwriting recognition to Apple tablets, at long last. The new system is called Scribble, and it’s easy to use, fast and flexible.

Here’s how to enter text on your iPad with Scribble.

How to change the iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 default email application

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How to change iOS default email application
Changing the iPhone or iPad default email application is now possible. And easy.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple just removed one of the biggest remaining restrictions from the iPhone and iPad. It’s finally possible to change the default email application in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 to something other than Apple Mail.

Making the change is easy. However, a current limitation will delay many people from taking immediate advantage of it.

How to use some of the best new features in iOS 14

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How to use the best features in iOS 14
Learn how to use widgets, the App Drawer, and more.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS 14 is finally out and packed full of awesome new features that make being an iPhone user even greater. We’ve got real Home screen widgets, a useful new App Drawer, Picture in Picture, and more!

If you were able to avoid the iOS 14 beta and all these things are still brand-new to you, you might be wondering how some of them work. Well, don’t worry — Cult of Mac has how-to guides on all of them.

Find out how to use some of the best new features in iOS 14 right here.

How to leave the iOS 14, iPadOS 14 beta programs

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How to iPadOS 14
Now that the beta program isn't necessary, it's a good time to leave.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

With iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 on its way to all, you no longer need to be enrolled in Apple’s beta program to get your hands on them. In fact, it’s a good idea to leave the program now that it’s not necessary.

While you have a beta profile still installed on your device, you will miss out on public releases that could include important fixes and security patches. We’ll show you how to easily remove it.

How to translate web pages with Safari in iOS 14

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Apple makes it a snap to translate web pages with Safari in iOS 14.
Converting a web page into your preferred language is built right into iOS 14 Safari.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

We live in a multicultural world, but a translation feature built into Safari in iOS 14 will make it just a bit easier for us to understand one another. Converting a web page from an unknown languages into your preferred one is as easy a couple of screen taps.

The same holds true for iPadOS 14, too.

Discover the secrets of the Apple Watch Workout app

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Have you found the right Workout app layout for you?
Have you found the right Workout app layout for you?
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

At first glance, the Apple Watch Workout app seems pretty simple. You just tap the start button and get all sweaty. But there’s more to it than meets the eye. A lot more.

You can customize its layout in hundreds of different ways, changing the text size, position, metrics and even adding a chart of your progress. Even if you use the app every day, chances are you still haven’t discovered all its secrets.

So check out our top 10 Workout app tips and get set for a more effective workout.

Act now to save your Fortnite account if you use ‘Sign in with Apple’

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Fortnite on iPad with SteelSeries Nimbus
Don't let yours disappear.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Epic Games’ ongoing battle with Apple has made it so that you will no longer be able to log into your Fortnite account using “Sign in with Apple” from September 11, 2020. If you don’t save your account today, you could lose access to the game — and all your data.

Fortunately, salvaging your account is simple, and it only takes a couple minutes. We’ll show you how.

How to see the AR easter egg hidden in Apple’s Sept. 15 event invite

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Augmented reality could play a part in the September Apple Event
The logo for the September Apple Event is more than just a simple graphic. It’s an AR object.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Hidden in Tuesday’s invite to the September Apple event is a clue that might confirm rumors that the company will make a major push into augmented reality.

The graphic for the invite is an apple sketched out with blue swirls. iPhone and iPad users can put that design in motion, with it seemingly appearing in the real world.

Why you should add a second screen to your iPhone

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Connect your iPhone to a second screen for fun... and maybe even productivity.
Connect a big screen to your iPhone to watch movies and play games. And maybe even be productive.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Your iPhone is already one of the most useful things you own, but it can do even more if you hook it to a large second screen. Making the connection simply requires an adapter, and doing so opens up quite a few entertainment — and even some productivity — options.

iOS and iPhone are surprisingly powerful, and are being held back by the small display. Here’s what you get with a bigger one.

How to quickly find out if an iPhone is unlocked in iOS 14

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How to quickly find out if an iPhone is unlocked in iOS 14
No need to swap SIM cards.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you’re looking to pick up a used iPhone and you want to be sure that it’s unlocked before handing over your cash, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a quick and easy way to find out in iOS 14.

There’s no need to call any carriers or swap out any SIM cards. Just take a quick dive into the Settings app and you’ll find all the information you need. We’ll show you how.

Too many Chrome tabs open? Tame browser chaos with tab groups.

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Use Google Chrome Tab Groups to declutter your browser.
If you've got too many tabs open in Chrome, you can declutter things with the new Tab Groups feature.
Photo: Luca Bravo/Unsplash CC

Hey there, all you tab hoarders: Google Chrome just gave you a handy tool to bring some order to the nightmare lurking at the top of your web browser. A new Chrome feature lets you group tabs together with custom names to tame the chaos.

Unfortunately, it’s not completely obvious how to get in on the tab-grouping action. Here’s how to make it work for you.

How to use the redesigned iPhone Magnifier in iOS 14

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The iPhone Magnifier is easier to find in iOS 14.
The iPhone Magnifier gets a big upgrade in iOS 14.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

A handy digital magnifying glass to replace reading glasses has been buried in the iPhone for many years. With iOS 14, it becomes a lot easier to find. And there are some fantastic new features.

Here’s how to use the Magnifier on iPhone. And iPad, too.