Focus, introduced in iOS 15 and macOS Monterey, is a way to specify which people and/or applications may notify you during various activities. This is more powerful than Do Not Disturb, which by default permits no notifications. Create a Focus You can create a Focus from scratch or choose from one of Apple’s templates [...]
In preparation for my Trans America bike ride, I’ve identified three ways to keep track of my exercise, location, and stories during my journey across the United States. This will satisfy my drive to measure my physical activities, share my discoveries along the way, and enable friends and family to answer the question, “Where’s [...]
Did you know you can use your iPhone or iPad to scan documents? Rather than taking photos, you can capture multipage paper documents straight to PDF files. Open Files Oddly, Apple’s only documentation on this feature directs users to open Notes, where you can embed a document in a note. I prefer to use Files. I’m [...]
Do you have a box of cables, cords, chargers, and the like that you’ve accumulated over the last decade or more? What about old computers and other electronic devices? I can help you consolidate and declutter your collection. I briefly mentioned this service in Mac Mondays: Random Benefits in 2018 and expound on it today. [...]
One of the likely least used keys on your keyboard is Escape, abbreviated “esc” in the top left corner. Here are some ways to add it to your workflow and maybe increase efficiency when the going gets tough. Cancel a Dialog In many dialog boxes and modal windows, one of the button choices [...]
macOS Monterey adds the ability to change the color of the cursor. You can now specify the color of the fill as well as the outline and your choice carries over to all cursors, including arrow, text, hand, and pointer. The location of this setting might surprise you, though. Enter Accessibility I previously [...]
Do you use Tapback reactions in Messages? You know, the six iconic responses: heart, thumb up, thumb down, haha, exclamation, question. Well, you can use keyboard shortcuts to react to the last message you received. Tapback Without a Tap No more must you long-press on a message you just received and then precisely [...]
Many digital channels are insecure, so I discourage you from sharing passwords and other sensitive information via email or SMS. iMessage and some other texting apps are encrypted end-to-end and therefore safe for this sharing activity. However, it may be inconvenient to copy and paste a bunch of separate details into a message. Instead, [...]
Do you have an Apple Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse with a built-in rechargeable battery? Ever need to pair it with a different Mac? It’s really easy! Just Plug It In To change the Mac paired with one of Apple’s “Magic” input devices, just connect any Lightning cable between the device [...]
On this 38th birthday of the Mac, we interrupt your normally scheduled Mac Mondays for a special telling of the dream I lived over the last eight weeks… It’s December 1 and I’m ordering a new iMac to replace my seven year-old MacBook Pro. Kimberley and I think ahead that during its lifetime this [...]
