How Tos - Page 47

In iOS 14.5, Apple added the ability to answer calls using Siri when headphones or a car with Bluetooth is connected. Keep reading to learn how it works. If you receive a call on your iPhone (or an Apple Watch with cellular) when you have a pair of AirPods or some Beats headphones connected, you'll notice the ringing tone interrupt whatever it is you're listening to. You don't have to...

In iOS 14.5, Apple added a much-requested feature to the Reminders app that arguably should have been there from the get-to: The ability to print your reminders lists. It's unclear why Apple left it so late to bring a printing option to its native reminders app, but what matters is that it's finally available. Now you can make hard copies of your reminders to use as a backup, for...

In iOS 14.5, Apple introduced two new Siri voices that are available in English, and also added a setup selection option that lets new users choose their preferred ‌‌Siri‌‌ voice rather than defaulting to a female voice in the United States. The new voices, which Apple says add more diversity in speech sound and pattern, run voice recordings through Apple's Neural Engine to make them flow...

With the release of iOS 14.5, Apple made a number of minor tweaks to the Apple Music app that together make for a much-improved user experience for subscribers to the streaming service. Alongside interface changes and the added ability to send lyrics and song clips to others, Apple also added a collection of new "City Charts" that offer access to playlists featuring the most played songs in ...

In iOS 14.5, Apple has made some notable changes to its native Podcasts app. Some of these changes reflect the fact that Apple announced an optional paid podcast subscription service (beginning May 2021), while others are interface improvements to make it easier to find, follow, and listen to new episodes. One example of these changes is the new Smart play button, which is designed to help...

With the release of watchOS 7.4 and iOS 14.5, Apple has added AirPlay 2 support to the Apple Fitness+ app. That means Apple Fitness+ workouts can be streamed to ‌‌AirPlay‌‌ 2-compatible television sets from an iPhone or iPad, allowing workouts to be viewed on a larger screen without requiring an Apple TV. ‌AirPlay‌ 2-enabled TVs are available from a variety of brands, including Samsung,...

With the release of iOS 14.5, Apple added a new Apple Music feature that lets subscribers of the streaming service share lyrics as text as well as audio clips containing the sung lyrics. Read on to learn how it works. ‌Apple Music‌ features real-time lyrics for many songs that you can sing along to while the track plays or use to skip to specific parts of a song. In iOS 14.5 and later...

With the release of iOS 14.5, Apple introduced a new process for recalibrating the battery health reporting on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. The update recalibrates the maximum battery capacity and peak performance capacity on ‌‌‌iPhone‌ 11‌‌ models to address inaccurate estimates of battery health reporting that some users have encountered. Symptoms of this bug include...

If your Mac is running macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later, you can use a HomePod stereo pair as your Mac's system audio output. This article explains how to set up two ‌HomePod‌ speakers as a stereo pair and then connect them to your Mac. Dedicated stereo speakers are always going to provide a better listening experience than relying on your Mac's built-in speakers for audio, so it makes sense that...

With the release of iOS 14.5, Apple introduced a feature that lets users select a specific music service to use with Siri, with the options including third-party services like Spotify in addition to Apple Music. When this feature first came to light in beta versions of iOS 14.5, many early reports interpreted it as Apple allowing users to select a default streaming service, similar to the...

In iOS 14.5 and later, Apple has added a Waze-like feature to its native Maps app that lets you report accidents, hazards, and speed checks along your route when getting directions. Keep reading to learn how it works. Driving on public roads can throw up all sorts of hazards, but if you're given prior warning then you can be better prepared to deal with them. Apple recognizes this, which is...

With the launch of iOS 14.5, apps are no longer allowed to access the IDFA or tracking advertiser on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV without your express permission, keeping your app data more private. Apps use your IDFA to track you across different apps and websites, keeping tabs on your preferences and app usage habits. When an app wants to use your IDFA, you'll see a popup that says...

iOS 14.5 is now available, and a key new feature is the ability to unlock an iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask, so long as you are wearing an Apple Watch. Read on to learn how this feature works. Apple introduced its ‌Face ID‌ facial recognition system in November 2017 with the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ X, offering users an even simpler way to unlock their smartphone than traditional...

In April, Apple introduced an iPhone-based color balance feature for Apple TV that can improve the overall picture quality of your television set when you're using Apple's set-top box. Using the iPhone's light sensor, the feature compares the color balance to industry-standard specifications, and automatically adjusts your ‌Apple TV‌'s video output to deliver more accurate colors and improved ...

Apple's new AirTag item tracker lets you easily track things like your keys, wallet, purse, backpack, luggage, and more. AirTags have a small, circular design with a white side and a polished stainless steel side with an Apple logo. AirTag has been designed to discourage unwanted tracking. If you are an iPhone or iPad user, the built-in Find My app will notify you if an unknown AirTag is...

Facebook has introduced a tool that lets users export notes and text-based posts to third-party services, making it easier than ever to leave the social network without saying goodbye to your content. The new "data portability types" mean people can now directly transfer their notes and posts to Google Docs, Blogger and WordPress. The updates are extensions to Facebook's existing tool that...

Whenever you browse the web in Firefox, the browser stores website data including cookies so that it doesn't have to do so again each time you revisit a site. In theory this should speed up your browsing experience, but there are some scenarios where you might want to clear the cache and start anew. Keep reading to learn how it's done on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. There are a couple of...

Apple Event Happening Now April 20 Event Day! Follow along with our live blog for the latest updates, and we're also live tweeting the event on Twitter. Apple is planning to hold its first media event of 2021 tomorrow on Tuesday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through a live stream. The event is expected to see the unveiling of updated iPad models, likely some information related to...

With the release of Chrome 90, Google is rolling out a new browser feature that lets you create a shareable link to a section of text you've highlighted on a webpage. Here's how to use it. Sometimes when you share a webpage link with someone, you just want to bring their attention to a specific passage or sentence to make your point, rather than have them read through the entire article. ...

Whenever you browse the web in Google Chrome, the browser stores website data including cookies so that it doesn't have to do so again each time you revisit a site. In theory this should speed up your browsing experience, but there are some scenarios where you might want to clear the cache and start anew. Keep reading to learn how it's done on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. There are a couple of...