iOS 17 Hot Tips #2

Offline Maps

One of the early advantages of Apple Maps was that it was built using vectors, whereas Google Maps produced images that were blurry and pixelated until the app could load fresh images at a given zoom factor.

Meanwhile, Maps would download a given section of territory while a device was on Wi-Fi or Cellular. Then, one could freely zoom in and out of a large surrounding area, even in Airplane Mode. This was a boon in a world of small batteries, slow networks, and data caps.

In iOS 17, Maps joins Google Maps with the ability to select a particular area to download and have the device periodically update the stored map data.

Especially for an area you frequent or a place where you know you have limited reception, you can store the place offline, give it a recognizable name, and use it to look up place details, turn-by-turn directions, and estimated arrival times.

Beyond Google’s capabilities in this domain, such as providing turn-by-turn directions for driving, Maps also provides directions for walking, transit, and bicycling.

I recommend you open Maps and search for an area you where are regularly located. In the information card, tap Download. Drag the handles to select the specific area you want to capture. Maps will indicate how much space is required for the offline map before you download it.

For additional settings, tap your profile and choose Offline Maps. You can permit Maps to automatically update the offline map version, use only Wi-Fi or also Cellular for downloads, optimize storage, and even restrict Maps to the offline versions.

This can be a great way to conserve battery and/or cellular data while on the go, especially when traveling beyond your carrier’s coverage area.

Multiple Timers

For two years now, Apple’s watchOS has been able to set multiple simultaneous timers and optionally give each a name. This has left the Mac world wondering why iPhone, iPad, and Mac, which all seemed to have greater performance capability than Apple Watch, were left without this feature.

iOS 17 finally brings this feature to iPhone and iPad! What used to be the Timer section of the Clock app is now called Timers. Like with Apple Watch, you can open the app and set a timer, and another and another. Or you can use Siri to start a timer.

In fact, using Siri, you can simply say a length of time, e.g., “20 minutes,” and the device will start a timer of that length. Or, if you say, “20 minute pizza timer,” your device will start a 20 minute timer called “Pizza” — and you may end up with a smoky kitchen or a perfectly well done pie.

Multiple timers still seem to be MIA on the Mac. Only a year ago in Ventura did macOS finally get a dedicated Clock app, and according to Apple’s release notes for macOS Sonoma, this app also got the ability to set multiple timers. However, users report not being able to do it and Apple’s own documentation still refers to a single timer. Maybe the next software update will help? Hmm…

[Update: Multiple timers in macOS Sonoma arrived in 14.2 and article linked above now reflects this. A ＋ in the top right corner permits adding timers to excess.]

Scroll Edit Menus

On iPhone and iPad, when you tap on the cursor or double-tap to select text, an Edit menu appears with various actions. If there isn’t enough room for all the available commands to appear at once, there is an angle bracket button as well.

I always thought I had to tap this button to see additional commands. However, I recently discovered that it’s possible to swipe the Edit menu left or right, scrolling to reveal other actions. I don’t know how long this has been possible nor how to look it up, but I’m grateful for the ease this feature promotes.