Mobile menu toggle

How-To - page 77

How to use your iPhone keyboard as a trackpad

By •

iPhone trackpad
Edit text easier by transforming your keyboard into a trackpad.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS has come a long way over the years, but trying to place your cursor accurately when writing and editing text is still a little awkward because you’re covering the text with your finger while trying to swipe across with the magnifying glass.

Well, thanks to 3D Touch, there’s a hidden trick within iOS that makes this easier. Check out this week’s Quick Tips video below to see it in action.

How to customize and swap Apple Watch faces

By •

cult of mac
Switching to a new watch face is almost too easy.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is making it a lot easier and faster to switch up the look of your Apple Watch thanks to some new features in watchOS 3.

 Starting this fall, Apple is adding a bunch of new faces that can be customized like never before. All the faces can be added via the Watch app for iPhone, and there are so many great options you’ll be swapping all the time. If you’re an Ultra user, check out the best Apple Watch Ultra 2 faces to maximize your experience.

Here’s how to do it:

How to use Universal Clipboard to copy on one device, paste on another

By •

macOS
Your iPhone and Mac now talk to each other even more closely.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The ability to seamlessly hand off web pages or emails from your Mac to your iPhone (or vice versa) has been around for a couple of years now. However, in macOS Sierra and iOS 10 it’s taken to the next level — courtesy of a Universal Clipboard feature which lets you easily copy and paste content between your Mac and iOS devices.

Here’s how to use the feature when running Apple’s next-gen iOS and macOS, which are currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to use Siri to search, drag and drop images on macOS Sierra

By •

siri
Siri on Mac makes finding images a whole lot quicker.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The Mac debut of Siri on macOS Sierra opens up a ton of intriguing new use-cases in terms of functionality. One of the most useful? The ability to use Apple’s virtual assistant to search for photos either on the web or your own computer — and then drag them into directly into apps.

Here’s how to use the feature when running Apple’s next-gen macOS, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to add, delete and rearrange apps in the new Apple Watch dock

By •

apple watch
The new Dock is one of watchOS 3's best features.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch is getting a UI makeover with watchOS 3 which completely changes how you interact with apps, making them faster and easier to access thanks to the all new Dock feature.

Now when wearers press the side button on Apple Watch, instead of bringing up your favorite contacts, the watch brings up the dock providing a quick view of your favorite apps that are now updated immediately, so you spend less time staring at the spinning wheel.

Here’s how to make the most of the new Apple Watch dock:

How to set up multilingual typing in iOS 10

By •

QuickType
Apple's QuickType keyboard is even better in iOS 10.
Photo: Apple

Apple has made a bunch of improvements to its QuickType keyboard for iOS 10, and one of those is support for multilingual typing. This lets you type in multiple languages simultaneously, and it’s super simple to set up. Here’s how.

How to use Apple Watch to unlock your Mac in macOS Sierra

By •

cult of mac
Hey, presto! No more typing in passwords.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The devices in Apple’s ecosystem always work really well together, and macOS Sierra doesn’t buck that trend. In fact, the upcoming desktop operating system lets Apple Watch owners automatically unlock their Macs using the wearable device — no lengthy password needed.

It’s a small, but incredibly useful, new feature that rewards Mac owners who have taken the dive and invested in an Apple Watch. Here’s how to use it when running macOS Sierra, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to search your photos by objects and scenery in macOS Sierra

By •

Cult of Mac
Searching your photos just got easier!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is giving its Photos app a massive overhaul for macOS Sierra, adding cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to make searching for individual pictures far, far smarter than it’s ever been before.

The Photos app can now search upward of 4,432 scenes and objects, letting you pull just the pictures shot in your backyard, for instance, or only those that include your car. Although the feature’s not working in Apple’s beta releases just yet, the finished version of macOS Sierra also promises to recognize seven different facial expressions — including greediness, disgust, smiles, neutral, surprise, screaming and suspicious.

Here’s how to use Apple’s smart photo search when running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to send stickers in Messages in iOS 10

By •

Messages iOS 10
Messages is getting stickers in iOS 10.
Photo: Apple

Messages is getting much more creative in iOS 10, and for the first time, users will be able to download and send all kinds of awesome stickers. Apple is already offering four sticker packs, and many more iMessage stickers will become available from third parties later.

Here’s how to download and send iMessage stickers to your friends.

How to use Apple Music inside iTunes with macOS Sierra

By •

Cult of Mac
Get the most out of your music with macOS Sierra.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple Music has had a nice clean refresh in macOS Sierra — making it far easier to search for and discover the best Apple’s streaming music service has to offer.

Here’s what tune-lovers need to know when running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to get macOS Sierra to display your photos on a world map

By •

Sierra Maps
A new way to scan through your photos!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

One of the neatest new additions to macOS Sierra is the increased focus on photos. Using the in-built Photos app, it’s now easier than ever to relive your most cherished memories with nifty features like the ability to display all your photos on a world map — presenting a different way to access your pics.

Here’s how to do it using the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to watch the Olympics on Apple TV

By •

x
Get ready to binge on the Summer Olympic games.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio are set to be the most streamed event in sporting history thanks to NBC’s plan to live-stream all 34 sports. Apple TV users can get in on the 4,500 hours of coverage that starts on August 5th even if you don’t have a cable subscription.

Here’s how to watch all the action using Apple TV:

How to swap words for emoji in iOS 10

By •

iOS-10-QuickType-keyboard
iOS 10's improved QuickType keyboard is big on emoji.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

We hope you like emoji, because you’re going to be seeing a whole lot more of them when iOS 10 makes its public debut this fall.

Apple is introducing a new feature for its built-in QuickType keyboard that makes it easy to swap words for relevant emoji characters as you type. Here’s how to use it.

How to use Tabs in macOS Sierra to get your docs in a row

By •

macos_sierra_tabs
Tabs will help keep your desktop clutter free!
Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Imagine if every time you opened a new tab in your web browser it instead opened an entirely new window on your desktop. It would basically mean living like an animal, right?

However, while we have long since gotten used to being able to easily switch between tabs while browsing the internet, things aren’t always so straightforward if you’re using other apps — be it Maps, Keynote, Pages, or some other third-party app.

Fortunately that’s all changing thanks to the new tabs feature on macOS Sierra. Here’s what you need to know if you’re running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to use Messages to play videos and preview links in macOS Sierra

By •

iMessage Messages on Mac
Sharing videos and webpages just got a bit easier.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

macOS Sierra has a ton of neat features that’ll change the way you work using your Mac. The ability to play videos inside Messages probably isn’t one of them, but it’s certainly a nice touch that makes chatting to your friends and sharing content that much better.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to share, compare and compete with watchOS 3’s Activity rings

By •

Get set to test yourself to the limit with your Apple Watch.
Get set to test yourself to the limit with your Apple Watch.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch is getting a ton of new features this fall for fitness freaks, giving wearers the ability to not only track their own fitness better than ever, but also go head-to-head with other Apple Watch-loving friends.

With iOS 10 and watchOS 3, Apple Watch owners can share their Activity rings to view each other’s progress and compete to be fittest person in the clique. Here’s how to get started:

How to get fit with Pokémon Go

By •

Catching them call could help get you in shape
Catching them all can help get you in shape
Photo: Graham Bower / Cult of Mac

Unless you’ve been snoozing like a Snorlax, you can’t have escaped the phenomenon that is Pokémon Go. The smash hit instantly revolutionized mobile gaming (and rejuvenated Nintendo’s fortunes), and it’s also helping Pokéfans around the world get in shape.

You see, Pokémon Go is more than just a game: It is actually a fitness app in disguise. And with the help of these top tips from a Pokémon Master, you can ensure you are maximizing your fitness gains while you pocket the best Pokémon at the same time.

How to use macOS Sierra’s ‘Picture in Picture’ feature

By •

Picture in Picture macOS Sierra
One of macOS Sierra's most longed-for features, surely?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

While I’m watching a YouTube instructional video or keeping half an eye on a TED Talk while answering emails, the ability to keep a small video window open on my screen while I switch between apps is something I’ve wanted for ages.

That’s exactly the purpose of the new Picture in Picture (PiP) feature found on macOS Sierra. So long as it’s been implemented by web developers, the feature works with video sites such as YouTube and Vimeo — and more are sure to be added over time.

Here’s how to use it when running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

How to use Optimized Storage in macOS Sierra to make more space

By •

Optimize Storage macOS
macOS Sierra wants to stop you running out of space. Here's how to let it help you.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

With macOS Sierra, Apple makes it easier to free up space on our computers without having to undergo the time-wasting indignity of trawling through files and deleting them manually.

The new “Optimized Storage” feature helps you deal with junk like duplicates, old email attachments and downloads — and automatically sifts through them to delete the files or move them to the cloud. It’s one of macOS Sierra’s best features.

Here’s how you can use it to your advantage if you’re running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released this fall.

Pokémon Go hacks and tips to help you catch ’em all

By •

Pokémon Go
Niantic Pika-chooses to freeze out old iPhones and iPads.
Photo: The Pokémon Company

The entire U.S. has contracted a serious case of Pokémon Go fever, with millions of would-be Pokémon trainers hitting the streets in hopes of becoming the very best like no one ever was.

Becoming a Pokémon Master ain’t easy, but if you know what you’re doing you don’t even have to leave the house to do stuff like hatch eggs, lure in Pokémon and toss a wicked curve ball.

Here are the Pokémon Go tips you need to know to dominate the hottest game in the world.

How to send an emergency SOS on Apple Watch

By •

Apple Watch Emergency SOS
Emergency SOS isn’t always useful.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

When Apple launches watchOS 3 to the public later this fall, Apple Watch wearers will be able to automatically call for help if they find themselves in an emergency situation.

The new SOS feature in watchOS 3 will make Apple Watch even more of a lifesaver for wearers by placing a 911 call within 10 seconds, even if they don’t have their iPhone.
Here’s how it works:

3 easy ways to use your cellphone abroad (without going broke)

By •

iPhone on the beach
Are you ready to take your iPhone on vacation?
Photo: Samer Chidiac/Pixabay CC

Most of us have heard nightmare stories of friends who traveled abroad only to come home with a horrific cellphone bill. Either they forgot to put their device in Airplane Mode, or didn’t consider an international plan. Those types of mistakes have cost people hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in international fees for phone calls and data usage abroad.

Stories like these are becoming less common, however, as technology improves. One of the best and most recent advancements are new plans that make it easier for folks to travel to another country and still be able to use their current phone.

We tell you about three options for using your phone while traveling abroad, so you can keep in touch with friends and family back home — and not spend too much in the process.

How to get more news in your Facebook feed

By •

the Facebook logo on an iPhone 6 Plus
You Facebook feed doesn't have to be all about family and friends.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

If you’ve noticed a serious lack of actual news in your Facebook News Feed since the beginning of July, you’re not alone.

The social network recently made big changes to its News Feed algorithm to emphasize posts from friends and family, and fewer posts from the sites and pages you’ve liked. The end result has transformed many users’ feeds into an endlessly scrollable collection of baby pics, birthday posts and political drama no one wants to touch.

Thankfully, there’s a way to take back some control of your page so that important posts from news sites show up more frequently.