The 7 worst iPhone apps for your privacy

 Apple has written data protection in big letters on its flags. Every operating system tries to protect your data as best as possible, but some apps circumvent this in a tricky way. We would like to introduce you to some "bad" apps.

WhatsApp

The popular messenger has been under criticism not just since the new privacy policies, which at this point have been put on hold until further notice. The Facebook subsidiary has long been considered our apps that sometimes know your most personal information. Check out alternatives like Signal or Threema.

Facebook

In late 2020, Facebook rebelled when Apple announced the app tracking feature to allow users: ins to choose whether or not to be tracked across multiple apps. The company felt its advertising revenue was in jeopardy. That's because every time you open the app, it learns the latest news about you and can thus shower you with even more targeted advertising. By the way, the Facebook app also collects data when you are not actively using it.

Flashlight apps

Hand on heart, what do you need a flashlight app for on your iPhone? Apple has built the feature right into the system, and it can be activated both on the lock screen and from the control panel. As the website Wired reports, many of these apps have the purpose of fishing for your data.

Weather apps

Of course, Apple's weather app isn't perfect, but it's getting better with the gradual integration of Dark Sky. Nevertheless, there are many weather apps in the App Store that want to inform you about the current situation and collect your data at the same time. This includes names, ages as well as locations. In the meantime, the precise location can be replaced by a piece of approximate information, but your data is still not much safer.

Google Maps

It's hard to say, but Google Maps is also a real data octopus, which is also the best map app on the market. As the name suggests, the app comes from Google. This means that the company not only knows what you're doing and searching on the internet but also when you're moving where. If you are logged in, Google can link your data in the best possible way and create an even better advertising profile for you.

Free-to-play games

Free-to-play games are tempting. With their mechanics, they not only want to extract money from your pocket for in-game content, but they also like to go after your data to turn it into money with partners. To put it briefly, nothing is really free. In most free-to-play titles, you pay unnoticed with your data.

Delivery services

During the pandemic, delivery services experienced a particular boom, as restaurants were closed and many people spent time in quarantine. So ordering food quickly was a natural choice. However, the apps also learn a lot about you. In addition to addresses, location, phone number, email address, and payment data, some providers also collect usage data by tracking you across apps. They also help to show you targeted advertising.

There are people who voluntarily share their lunch, their clothes, their vacations, and much more with the whole world on social media. This makes people more and more transparent and traceable. Many others, therefore, stay away from such portals in the hope that third parties will have little insight into personal areas. Apple supports this approach by equipping iOS and the other operating systems with protective measures. With almost every update, new intelligent solutions are added to prevent unwanted tracking. Apple writes about this:

Privacy is a fundamental right. And privacy is one of Apple's core values. Your devices are important to you in so many ways. Which of your experiences you share, and with whom, should be entirely up to you.

Data in the wrong hands

Your data is not only valuable to you, but also to third parties. It can be used to create a comprehensive profile of you and then present you with ads for products that are likely to interest you. Advertisers thus increase the sales potential. It also allows social networks to make better suggestions based on your preferences, hobbies, or regular locations, for example. Of course, this has the advantage that you see personalized content, but at the same time, advertisers are rubbing their hands in the background because they can contact you specifically. 

With features like intelligent tracking protection, Apple wants to cover your footprints or make them anonymous. Meanwhile, the new privacy report should show you how many trackers are active on the websites you visit, so you can actively avoid them in the future. Since iOS 14.5, app tracking can also be prevented, as otherwise certain apps can track you through other apps to websites and thus know your activities. So you can see that Apple has its hands full to prevent dangers. You can help by avoiding certain apps.

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Apple's Craig Federighi explains why Stage Manager only appears for M1 iPads

 It is probably the biggest feature of iPadOS 16: Stage Manager. The new feature takes multitasking to a new level, catching up with the Mac as macOS Ventura also introduces Stage Manager. You can use multiple apps at the same time in customizable windows and even set up workstations for different tasks, so you can group apps directly. 

It's also supposed to allow for quick switching. However, there is a big catch: The function for the release of the new software will only be available to a few users. It requires Apple's M1 chip, which is currently only installed in the iPad Pro (2021) and the iPad Air (5th generation, 2022). Thus, not only the iPad (9th generation) as well as the iPad mini (6th generation) are left out, but all iPad models without the M1. 

That's why Stage Manager only runs on the M1 iPads.

Last week, industry expert René Ritchie had already asked Apple why only the latest models support Stage Manager. Apple replied: 

"Delivering this experience at the speed users expect from the iPad's touch-first experience requires large internal memory, incredibly fast storage capacity, and flexible external display output, all of which are provided by iPads with the M1 chip."

Now Apple's software chief Craig Federighi also spoke about the limitations with TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino. To this, Federighi said:

"It's only the M1 iPads that have combined the high DRAM capacity with very high capacity and high-performance NAND that allows our virtual memory replacement to be super fast. (...) Now that we give you up to four apps on one level, plus another four (and) up to eight apps that are instant, responsive, and have lots of memory, we just don't have that capability on the other systems."

He goes on to say that Stage Manager is designed to take full advantage of the M1 chip. This should be especially noticeable in animations, which bring smooth transitions and shadows. Meanwhile, the feature is also said to support multiple and especially large screens, necessitating the chip's graphical power. Because the performance of the old chips is not nearly enough for the overall experience, Apple decided against the implementation of older systems. After all, Apple claims that the M1 chip has a 40 percent higher graphics performance compared to the predecessor's A12Z, while the RAM has increased from 6 GB to 8 GB to 16 GB (depending on the model). 

Read on：iPads will no longer be HomeKit centers as of iPadOS 16

According to Federighi, the team would like to make the feature available to everyone, but the performance requirements, unfortunately, don't allow it. However, there will be more and more devices supporting it in the future. For now, the feature is limited to the iPad Air (5th generation,2022), the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (5th generation, 2021), and the 11-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation, 2021).

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65 new iOS 16 features. All innovations and changes

 Presented at WWDC 2022, the mobile operating system for the iPhone caused a lot of questions and complaints.

Some users did not appreciate the updated lock screen, attributing it to a feature of Android. Others praise the changes presented.

In July, a public test version of the system will be available, anyone can install it. In the meantime, we, in turn, study the system in detail and look for all the smallest changes and chips.

The article will be updated until the release of iOS 16 in the fall

Lock Screen and Control Center

1. Widgets. Perhaps the most notable innovation in the operating system. Dynamic widgets appeared on the lock screen.

They can be installed both from regular applications (Weather, Fitness, and so on) and from a third-party (support will appear later).

2. Customizable fonts. Now you can change the watch face visually. There are 6 different fonts available for three writing formats (Arabic, Indo-Arabic, and Devanagari).

In addition, you can change the color of the inscriptions, the entire digital palette is available.

3. Animated wallpaper. Now on the lock screen, you can set full-fledged animated wallpapers that work on their own.

For example, the Earth or the Moon, the weather, and so on. The animation continues on the desktop screen. It looks extremely impressive.

4. Quickly change the lock screen. With your finger on the center of the screen, the Quick-Lock Screen Selection menu opens. Just like on the Apple Watch.

There you can also configure a new screen.

5. Lock screen by Focus. In iOS 16, you can link a specific lock screen to a customized focus mode.

For example, you play sports, set focus to fitness apps, and the lock screen displays the weather and data from the Fitness app.

6. Notices. Now they are shown from the bottom for quick access to them.

7. Notification format. You can customize how notifications are displayed on the lock screen, and there are three formats available: quantity, stack, and list.

▪️ Quantity: shows the total number of notifications grouped by chats, messages, and so on

▪️ Stack: grouping notifications by

▪️ application List: the continuous display of all notifications

You can configure it in the Settings -> Notifications -> Display As menu.

8. What apps used. At the top of Control Center, you can now see a list of recent apps that used location, camera, or microphone.

Desktop

9. Updated Spotlight search. Now you can access it not only by swiping down but also by clicking on the Search icon at the bottom of the screen.

It appears after flipping through desktop screens instead of dots.

Safari

10. Select the Subject function. In the Safari app, you can now not only save a picture but also select a specific object on it.

How it works: Click Select Subject, and the cut large element of the image is saved to the Clipboard. You can then insert it with a transparent background into any app.

11. Updated tabs. The tabs interface has been slightly redrawn:

12. General tab groups. Share a set of tabs with your friends. Anyone can add their own tabs and instantly see a group of tabs updated while collaborating.

13. Pinned tabs in tab groups. Set up your tab groups with pinned tabs for each group.

14. Choose the format for sending the page. Some pages on the Internet can be sent to a person in the form of a PDF or web archive, or the system can make a choice on its own.

15. Translation of web page images. Added support for translating text into images using Live Text.

How it works: select the desired text in the picture, and click Translate. The browser shows a translation of the selected text.

Settings

16. Wi-Fi password. Now in the settings of the selected "Wi-Fi", you can see the saved password from it.

17. The Battery section shows the reason for disabling charging. For example, if the iPhone overheats, it will be indicated that the iPhone has stopped charging above 80% due to overheating of the case.

18. Vibration alert of the keyboard. In the Sounds, Tactile Signals -> Keyboard Response menu, you can turn on the vibration for each keyboard press.

Cool feature, try

Live Text

19. Live Text for videos. Text is completely interactive in paused video frames, so you can use features like copy and paste, search, and translate. Live Text works in Photos, Quick View, Safari, and more.

20. Quick actions. Data detected in photos and videos is available with a single tap. Track flights or departures, translate foreign languages, convert currencies, and much more.

21. Languages for Live Text. Added support for Ukrainian, Russian, Japanese, and Korean languages.

22. Currency converter. Highlight the currency in the text or in the photo, the system shows the converted currency in the desired one at the current rate.

Siri

23. Reset calls. Now the voice assistant can be asked to end the call. The corresponding toggle switch is activated in the Settings menu -> Siri and search -> End calls with Siri.

24. Emoji in messages. Insert an emoji when sending messages using Siri (doesn't work in Russia).

25. Auto-sending messages. From the Settings -> Siri and Search menu, you can activate this feature. It allows you to send a message immediately without the need for additional confirmation from the user.

House

26. Completely new interface. The Home app has a brand new design that makes it easy to navigate, organize, browse, and manage all your accessories.

Rooms and favorite accessories are integrated into the app's main tab, making it easy to access the accessories you use most often.

27. Categories. The categories for Lighting, Climate, Security, Speakers, and TVs & Water allow you to quickly access all relevant accessories organized by room, as well as more detailed information about the status of the devices.

28. Cameras on the home screen. Directly on the main page, you can see images from installed video surveillance cameras (4 types of the display).

29. Lock screen widgets. New iPhone lock screen widgets let you see the status of your home and quickly access your favorite accessories right from the lock screen.

Accessibility

30. Mirror your Apple Watch. Now you can fully control your Apple Watch from your iPhone and use Switch Control, Voice Control, or any other assistive features on your iPhone.

31. Siri ads in hearing aids. Now the voice assistant can read out notifications, as in AirPods.

32. Time Siri was suspended. In Accessibility, you can now configure the interval at which Siri waits for your requests to be answered.

33. Import audiograms into Health.

Photo

34. Duplicates in the Photos app. iOS 16 scans your entire library of photos and suggests merging duplicate photos, choosing the best option.

35. Recommended photos. iOS intelligently offers photos from your library that look great on the lock screen according to the operating system.

36. General library of photographs. You can now share a separate library of iCloud photos with up to five other people in the family.

37. Smart photo sharing offers. iOS 16 has smart features that let you make sharing seamless: switching in the camera, automatically sharing with Bluetooth devices nearby, and sharing suggestions in the For You section.

38. Share your photo collection. Each family member can add, edit, sign, highlight, and delete pictures.

Messages

39. Edit and cancel iMessage messages. Within 15 minutes after the message is sent, you can edit or cancel it.

40. Mark as unread. Mark messages as unread when you don't have time to reply, but you want to reply to the sender later.

41. Recover deleted messages. In the new OS, you can return deleted messages within 30 days from the date of deletion.

42. SharePlay through messaging. Share synced activities like movies, music, workouts, games, and more with friends while chatting in Messages.

43. Collaboration Invitations. In iOS 16, you can send a project collaboration invitation in Messages, and everything on the topic is automatically added to a document, spreadsheet, or project. Compatible with Files, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, Notes, Reminders, and Safari, as well as third-party applications.

44. Scrolling through voice messages. You can now rewind and rewind voice messages sent to iMessage.

Mail

45. "Smart" fixes in the search. Smart search improves your results on its own by correcting typos and using synonyms for search queries. Advanced search query options are also available, the system itself suggests words and phrases.

46. Cancel sending a message. In the Mail app, you can now stop sending messages that haven't reached the user yet.

47. Delayed sending. Now the service allows you to send messages at a specific time, which will be convenient for you personally.

48. Reminders. The app will remind you of an incomplete draft or an unsent email.

Apple Music

49. Full-screen cover. It will appear later - the track being played will be shown on the full lock screen while playing music.

50. Add an artist to your favorites. In the upper right corner, an asterisk appeared on the screen with the artist - so you can subscribe to updates on this artist.

Security

51. New Security Check feature. It is located in the Privacy section.

Allows you to reset all your data to people and apps in the event of an emergency, as well as quickly change your Apple ID password, people will not receive a notification that you have blocked their access to your information.

Health & Sports

52. Medicines. Now you can specify the medications that you take: names, frequency of use, reminders, compatibility with others, and so on. The iPhone itself will monitor the correctness of the application.

53. The Fitness app is immediately available on iPhone. It no longer requires a clock.

And on the little things

54. "Configure eSIM". Now, in iOS 16, Add eSIM has changed the name. But that's not all. You can transfer the eSIM from one device to another, for this you will be prompted. In Russia, it does not work yet.

55. Personalized Spatial Audio. Now you can customize the 3D sound for yourself, works with AirPods 3, Pro, and Max.

The iPhone camera scans your face and ears from all sides to subtly adjust the surround sound of your headphones.

56. New audio and video player. In the audio player, the circles on the playback bar disappeared, and the interface of the video player was completely redrawn: it became fatter and richer.

57. Support for "joy-cons" from Nintendo Switch.

58. Face ID on iPhone now unlocks the smartphone horizontally. You no longer need to turn your head if you accidentally block the screen.

59. Duplicates in Contacts. Identical iOS 16 numbers will be combined into one contact. To do this, a special notification will pop up.

60. New toggle switch in the Software Update section. Now you can disable the loading of system files and data.

61. Complete redesign of the Tips app. It has become more convenient and informative. Lots of dynamic hints.

62. In Settings, the connected AirPods are now displayed on the home screen. The headphone menu has not changed much, but there is a section with improved spatial sound.

63. In the Photos app, the Hidden section is now actually hidden. It can now be accessed via Face ID or a password. The same goes for recently deleted ones.

64. Short Notes appeared. They are available in the Control Center: click, a small window pops out, and write. The saved note will then be in the Notes -> Short Notes app.

65. The camera in iOS 16 now translates text from any object into Russian.

Works in two modes:

▪️ Instant translation of small texts or phrases, as in Google Translate. That is, in the viewfinder, you will see the modified image.

▪️ For large texts, you must first open the scan by tapping on a special button, and then click Translate. The adapted version will appear in a separate window.

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Why does an iPhone with Touch ID sometimes ask for an unlock code?

 To improve the security of user data, Apple has developed a special protocol to store Touch ID fingerprints. These data are not transmitted to Apple's servers and are stored only on the user's device.

Of course, they are "hidden" in encrypted form and the decryption key is stored only in the iPhone's RAM. To prevent saved fingerprints or encryption keys from being read when you turn off your device, the system wipes them when you turn off your iPhone.

With a new open, the smartphone generates a new key to access the fingerprint, for which it needs an unlock code.

The decryption key is also deleted if the device is left unlocked for a long time or if several consecutive unlock attempts fail. In these cases, you also need to enter the passcode.

It is not possible to disable such checks and it is in the interest of the user to enable it. On the one hand, you turn off and restart your iPhone infrequently, and on the other hand, regular reminders do not make you forget your passcode.

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iPads will no longer be HomeKit centers as of iPadOS 16

 Apple has unveiled iPadOS 16 and already presented the first beta for developers. The final version will be released in the fall. But those who want to install it should think carefully beforehand: Although Apple has completely revamped the Home app, the iPad will no longer be able to perform one important function: It will no longer be able to serve as a HomeKit control center.

Until now, Apple has made it possible for HomePods, the Apple TV, and iPads to serve as home hubs. However, with the release of iOS and iPadOS 16 this year, iPads will no longer be supported as Home Hubs.

This means that users will need an Apple TV or a HomePod if they want to use HomeKit and perform automation or use the system on the go.

Why Apple is pruning the iPad of this feature is unknown. There are definitely users who attached an old iPad to the wall with a mount and used it as a control center for the smart home. The Home app still runs on iPadOS, so at least the interface is preserved.

Of course, using an Apple TV or HomePod as a HomeKit hub is much more reliable than an iPad that isn't constantly plugged in and taken away once in a while.

HomeKit will get a major overhaul this year. Support for the Matter standard will make it possible to connect devices from all sorts of manufacturers. Apple has also changed the Home app, which now looks cleaner and offers a new view that displays rooms and accessories on a single page.

iPadOS 16 does away with iPads as a HomeKit hub. Have you used it for that?

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iPadOS 16 preview: Rumored features could bring Mac-like capabilities to the tablet

 If there’s one announcement during Monday’s WWDC keynote address that everyone is anticipating, it’s iPadOS 16. After Apple added a Thunderbolt port and M1 processor to the iPad Pro and upgraded the iPad Air and mini with 5G and Center Stage, all eyes are on iPadOS to finally bring Apple’s vision of the tablet to fruition.

Here’s everything we know about iPadOS 16 ahead of the keynote at 10 am PT on Monday.

iPadOS 16: Rumored features

According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up to make “significant changes” to the way we interact with our iPads. Gurman says the new iPad interface will be “one of the biggest upgrades” at WWDC.

Among the rumored changes are several interface tweaks that are long overdue. Gurman reports that Apple will revamp the iPad’s multitasking and app interface, and add features that will make the tablet “more like a laptop and less like a phone.” Among the expected new features are:

• A redesigned multitasking interface that makes it easier to see what apps are open and switch between tasks
• Resizable app windows
• New ways for users to handle multiple apps at once

Of note, Gurman reports that Apple will “expand” on the current multitasking interface, which cobbles together several methods for viewing two or three apps at once. There’s Split Screen for viewing apps side by side, Slide Over for viewing smaller app windows, and Picture in Picture for videos. Apple also introduced Quick Notes in iPadOS 15 which adds a floating window for taking notes.

iPadOS 16: iOS features

Among the features specific to iPadOS, Apple also brings iOS features to its tablet. In iOS 15, for example, the iPad gained the App Library, desktop widgets, and a redesigned Safari, along with Messages, FaceTime, and Spotlight changes. Here are the features rumored for iOS that could also come to the iPad:

• Lock screen widgets.
• Notification improvements.
• Updates to existing apps, including Messages.

Apple is also rumored to bring improvements to the Health app on iOS, which could mean that it is finally coming to the iPad.

iPadOS 16: Compatability

iPadOS 15 supports the iPad mini 4 and later, 5th-gen iPad and later, iPad Air 2 and later, and all iPad Pro models. It’s possible that Apple drops support for one or more of these models with the launch of iPadOS 16.

iPadOS 16: Release

Apple will release a beta of iPadOS 16 for developers immediately following the keynote, with a public beta several weeks later. The general release of iPad OS 16 will likely be in September.

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Apple ad leak seemingly confirms major iPhone 14 Pro design change

We’re still several months away from the iPhone 14 launches, but the iPhone 14 Pro’s new screen design appears to have been confirmed by artwork in a leaked Apple Pay advert.

The video, uploaded to YouTube by the channel Apple Archive Thai, lasts for just 15 seconds and demonstrates the basic process of using Apple Pay in a shop. But the stylized image of the handset quite clearly has a pair of smaller screen apertures in place of the notch, following the hole + pill configuration widely expected to feature on the iPhone 14 Pro in September. Leakers have suggested that the Face ID sensors will sit in the more elongated lozenge on the left, while the front-facing camera will occupy the pinhole on the right and the video suggests Apple will use it as an identifying characteristic like the notch.

It’s hard to say for sure if the video is legitimate, especially as Apple Archive Thai is a little-known channel with relatively few subscribers and not much track record to speak of. But it certainly looks legit, and if it’s a fake, the fakers have done an excellent job in capturing Apple’s visual and musical aesthetic.

It also makes sense for the video to exist. The company will want a full portfolio of marketing materials ready to go the second the 14 Pro is revealed, so as to familiarize customers with the new design, and updating everything to show the 14 Pro instead of the 13 Pro is an enormous job. With less than four months until the launch, plenty of finished or nearly finished videos like this will be in circulation at Apple Park, and we know the company has not completely solved its leaking problem.

Keep up with the latest news about Apple’s upcoming phone launch with our iPhone 14 rumor roundup. If you don’t want to wait until September, check out the lowest prices for the current handsets with our guide to the best iPhone deals.

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Apple’s iPhone 14 Lineup Is Getting All-New, ‘High-End’ Front Camera Systems

This year’s iPhone lineup may finally include a nice upgrade to the selfie camera. A new report revealing that Apple has stepped up to a higher quality supplier adds weight to last month’s rumors of upcoming front camera improvements.

In April, the venerable Ming-Chi Kuo predicted the coming of autofocus and a wider aperture to the iPhone 14 TrueDepth camera system. Today, a report from Korea IT News seemingly corroborates this with news that Apple has stepped up to a better class of camera supplier, reclassifying the front cameras as “high-end” components.

For years, the iPhone front camera modules have been supplied by an unnamed Chinese manufacturer and Japan’s Sharp. At roughly one-third of the cost of the rear camera, the Chinese and Japanese-made components had been considered low-cost parts.

However, this year Apple is going with LG Innotek to supply the front camera. This South Korean company has been providing high-end rear-facing cameras to Apple for a while but has recently increased its supply of front camera modules.

• These are said to be comparable in quality to the rear-facing versions.
• This also means Apple is now paying about three times more for the front camera system.

LG Innotek will supply about half of these modules, while Sharp in Japan will make up the other half. LG is expected to make trillions in sales from the iPhone 14 front camera modules alone.

According to the report, LG Innotek wasn’t expected to supply the new camera modules until next year’s “iPhone 15” lineup. However, Apple was unhappy with the quality of the components coming from its previous Chinese manufacturers, so it accelerated the timeline to move over to using LG’s components this year.

What’s Coming to the iPhone 14 Front Camera?

Korea IT News corroborates Kuo’s claim that the iPhone 14 TrueDepth camera will gain autofocus. This is one of the main features driving the price of the components up.

Kuo has also mentioned that the new camera would gain a wider f/1.9 aperture for better low-light performance and that the new camera will come to all four new iPhone 14 models, pro and non-pro alike.

If this comes to fruition, it will be the first time the iPhone’s front camera has gotten any upgrades since 2019 and the first time Apple has increased the front camera’s aperture in eight years.

Over the years, the iPhone’s selfie cameras haven’t even nearly kept pace with the rear cameras. As the primary cameras received year-over-year improvements, the front cameras generally went 2–3 years with few to no significant changes.

Although the TrueDepth camera delivered improvements like Portrait Mode and Animoji, the 2017 iPhone X still featured the same 7-megapixel (MP) sensor introduced with the iPhone 7 the year before. It wasn’t until the release of the iPhone 11 in 2019 that this was bumped to the current 12MP resolution.

However, even more significantly, the last time the front camera aperture was increased was in 2014, when the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus bumped that to f/2.2 — the same aperture used on today’s iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 5s and first-generation iPhone SE had an f/2.4 aperture. Apple has used at least an f/1.8 aperture on the primary rear camera since the iPhone 7 was released in 2016.

Of course, the iPhone 14 lineup is also expected to feature some pretty significant rear camera improvements this year too, with a 48MP sensor that’s rumored to be doing to at least iPhone 14 Pro models; it’s not yet clear whether the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will gain that larger sensor also, as Apple has started increase the camera gap between the pro and non-pro iPhones. However, it’s fair to say that the standard models will still see at least some camera improvements, even if they’re not as impressive as what the iPhone 14 Pro gets.

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Work smarter: Connect your Mac to an extra monitor

 The more screen space you have the more efficiently you work apparently. So why not connect a second (or even a third) display to your Mac? In this article, we help you identify which adapter you need to plug your Mac into an extra, external screen (or even more than one), and how to get everything set up.

While it’s generally easy to set up an additional screen, there are a few issues that might cause your display not to be detected by your Mac, so we will also offer solutions for these problems below.

It is also possible to use an iPad as a second screen – an option that Apple added in macOS Catalina and then enhanced in macOS Monterey. This may suit you if you don’t already own an external screen, but note that you do need a supported Mac and iPad. We look at how to use your iPad as a screen for your Mac in a separate article, along with which iPads and Macs support the feature. In Monterey, Apple added the ability to use one keyboard and mouse with two Macs, or a Mac and iPad, which could suit your new way of working. To find out more see: How to use the same mouse and keyboard with two Macs.

Another thing to bear in mind if you were hoping to add two external displays to your Mac is that while some Macs can support up to five additional displays, the M1 Macs, including the MacBook Air and 13in MacBook Pro can only support one additional display – although there is a workaround, read: How to connect two or more external displays to Apple M1 Macs. You may also be interested in how to use an old iMac as a second display.

How to connect an external monitor to a Mac

This is one of those things that should be easy, but because over the years Apple has changed the ports on Macs it can be difficult to know what connectors you actually need in order to connect a monitor to your Mac. That’s even before you have studied the ports on the back of the display to work out what connector is required there.

Luckily once you know what wire you need to connect your MacBook to your monitor it should be plain sailing.

The steps are relatively simple, but as you will see the first step is the hardest!

1. Identify which Apple adapter and cable you need to connect the Mac and the monitor by following the guidance in the Which Port section below.
2. Plug it in.
3. Open System Preferences > Displays.
4. Click the Arrangement tab. 
5. Do not select the Mirror Displays tickbox (unless you want the second screen to show the same content as your original screen).
6. Drag the illustrated displays into the arrangement you require.
7. A white menu bar will be shown at the top of one of the screens. Drag this white bar to the screen you wish to be dominant. 
8. If you want to mirror the display on both (or multiple) displays go to System Preferences > Displays > Arrangement and choose Mirror Displays.
9. You can also select ‘Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available’ and you will see a status menu in the menu bar making it easier to turn this off and on again.

The options are a little different if you are attaching a desktop Mac, such as a Mac mini, to a monitor as it doesn’t have its own display. If you are adding a second monitor to a Mac mini you will see something like this:

As with the options for connecting a monitor to a MacBook, if you connect more than one monitor to a Mac mini you will notice the white block at the top of one of the displays. You can click on this and drag it onto the display you wish to be the main display.

You can also adjust the position of each display to reflect how they are positioned on your desk so that when you drag your mouse from one screen to the other you know where it will appear.

If you have an Apple TV, or any TV that supports AirPlay, you can also use AirPlay to send a second screen output to your TV screen. Here’s how to do that: How to view your Mac screen on a TV.

If you are using your Mac with an external screen and want to close the lid on your MacBook read: How to use MacBook with the lid closed, stop closed Mac sleeping.

Which port has my Mac got?

As we said above, the hardest part of connecting a display to your Mac is working out what cable you need to plug into your Mac and the monitor.

The cable you require depends on the model of the Mac and the type of monitor. Apple has implemented quite a few different port types over the years, and your Mac desktop or MacBook might feature any of the following: HDMI, USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, 4, 2, or Mini Display. We help you identify which port you have below.

HDMI

There are a few Macs that ship with an HDMI port – including the 14in and 16in MacBook Pro introduced in 2021 and the Mac mini with M1 chip from 2020. HDMI ports are often found on TVs, making those Macs a popular choice for those setting up a media center PC.

Macs with an HDMI port include:

• Mac mini
• 14in MacBook Pro (2021)
• 16in MacBook Pro (2021)
• Mac Studio (2022)

You’ll also find HDMI ports on older Mac mini models and the MacBook Pro from mid-2012 to 2015.

Thunderbolt 3 (and USB-C)

Thunderbolt 3 is a supercharged version of USB-C, with a bandwidth of 40Gbps compared to USB-C’s 5GBps to 10GBps.

The Thunderbolt 3 connection looks and acts exactly the same as USB-C, and it supports USB-C, so you will be able to use any USB C-equipped monitor, or a Thunderbolt 3 monitor, with your Mac. You’ll also be able to use any USB-C cable to connect your Mac to your monitor.

• 13in MacBook Pro (2020)
• MacBook Air (2020)
• 24in iMac (2021)
• Mac mini M1 (2020)

You’ll also find Thunderbolt 3 on Macs from around the end of 2016 and onwards.

Thunderbolt 4 (and USB-C)

In some modern Macs, Apple includes Thunderbolt 4, which as with Thunderbolt 3 shares the same port as USB-C (and USB 4, which we discuss next). The port looks identical to the Thunderbolt 3 port (above) and is completely backward compatible.

In fact, Thunderbolt 4 isn’t actually all that different from Thunderbolt 3. The main reason why there is even a Thunderbolt 4 is that some PC laptops lacked the ability to support the full 40Gbps bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3. 

There are a few benefits to Thunderbolt 4 that Mac users can enjoy though: every Thunderbolt 4 port can support two 4K displays or one 8K display.

Macs with a Thunderbolt 4 port include:

• 14in MacBook Pro (2021)
• 16in MacBook Pro (2021)
• Mac Studio (2022)

USB 4

There isn’t a huge difference between USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 4 devices support USB 4. Thunderbolt 4 will always have a full 40Gbps bandwidth, while USB 4 starts at 20Gbps, but can also reach Thunderbolt 4’s 40Gbps. A USB 4 port can only support one display, while Thunderbolt 4 can support two 4K displays. Learn about Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4.

• Mac mini M1 (2020)
• MacBook Air (2020)
• 13in MacBook Pro (2020)
• 14in MacBook Pro (2021)
• 16in MacBook Pro (2021)
• 24in iMac (2021)
• Mac Studio (2022)

Thunderbolt 1 or 2

Thunderbolt first appeared on Macs in around 2011, then in 2013 Apple introduced Thunderbolt 2. The Thunderbolt port looks the same as Mini DisplayPort (below) and is backward-compatible with that port. If you see a Thunderbolt symbol besides what looks like a Mini DisplayPort, your Mac has a Thunderbolt port.

If your Mac is from 2011 to around 2016, chances are it offers Thunderbolt 1 or 2 rather than Mini DisplayPort, although the two are compatible.

Mini DisplayPort

Mini DisplayPort was announced by Apple towards the end of 2008. With an adapter, the Mini DisplayPort can drive displays that feature VGA, DVI, or HDMI interfaces.

For more information about ports, here’s a rundown of some of Apple’s different port types.

Which port does my display have?

Now that you’ve identified which port your Mac has you need to check the port on your display, we run through all the options below. You also need to confirm one more thing:

Is the port male or female?

You need to check whether the connection on the back of your display has female or male endpoints. The NEC MyltiSync E243WMI we used had a female connection, for example, so we needed to make sure that the adaptor we bought had male endpoints.

HDMI

HDMI supports up to eight channels of audio. HDMI 2.1 brings support for resolutions up to 8k and higher. HDMI is the most common connector you’ll find on the back of a TV.

As we noted above, there are a few Macs that ships with an HDMI port in which case you just need an HDMI to HDMI cable to connect your display to your Mac. If your Mac doesn’t have an HDMI port then you just need an adapter.

Thunderbolt 4 or USB 4

There are monitors, like the Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20 that feature Thunderbolt 4 docking abilities. This port won’t look any different from the Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port.

Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, or USB 3

More monitors are likely to be featuring USB-C ports than Thunderbolt 3 ports, although Thunderbolt is faster and can take more power. USB-equipped displays are likely to be cheaper than Thunderbolt options, too. Sometimes you’ll find a USB 3 or USB 3.1 port, which is the same port, but the predecessor to USB-C.

Because the Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports are identical, if your Mac has one, you will be able to use a USB-C cable to connect the monitor to your Mac.

Thunderbolt 1 or 2

If you purchased the Apple Thunderbolt Display, which was discontinued in 2016, then your monitor has a Thunderbolt 2 port, as seen above.

VGA

A VGA connector requires a three-row 15-pin DE-15 connector. VGA connectors transmit analog signals.

Old CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors were VGA but there are flat displays that use VGA – they just convert the VGA connector’s analog signal back to digital. This conversion from digital to analog and back again can cause degradation of video quality. VGA will carry HD video but only analog audio.

DVI

DVI offers a higher-quality signal than VGA because it’s a digital signal. You will see a marked difference when looking at HD video as compared to VGA.

A DVI connector has the potential for 24 pins, depending on whether it’s DVI-A, DVI-D or DVI-I, there are different connectors with a different number of pins in use. There is also a long pin which may be surrounded by four other pins (which are required for audio in older models).

Mini DisplayPort

If you have one of Apple’s LED Cinema Displays, introduced back in 1999 and replaced in 2011 by the Thunderbolt display, your display has a Mini DisplayPort connection, as seen above.

Best cable, adapter, or dongle for connecting a Mac to a monitor

Now that you have established which port your Mac and display have, you will need to find a cable to connect your Mac to the monitor. This cable doesn’t need to be from Apple, but it will need to have the right connections. Another thing that may be important to you is the length of the cable. It’s no good trying to hook up your Mac to a monitor if the cable or adapter is too short. Remember you will need enough cable to go from the back of the display to the port on the Mac. 

Below are our recommendations for the best cables and adaptors for connecting a display to your Mac.

If the number of ports on your Mac is limited, and if you want to connect an additional two 4K displays to your Mac, you will benefit from a dock. A dock will also give you more ports, such as USB, Ethernet, and card readers. We have a number of recommendations for the best docking stations for MacBooks, such as the CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 mini dock below.

Of course, a cable doesn’t have to cost that much. If you don’t want to buy a dock, you need to work with the ports you have available. Depending on what port you have on your Mac and your display, we recommend the following:

HDMI to HDMI display

As we noted above, there are a few Macs that ship with an HDMI port in which case you can use an HDMI cable to connect an HDMI display to your Mac, such as this Belkin UltraHD High Speed 4K HDMI cable that costs £29.95 from Apple US or $29.95 from Apple US.

USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 to USB-C display

We recommend Apple’s own USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 cable if you have a Thunderbolt 3-compatible monitor. It’s £39 in the UK Apple Store and $39 in the US Apple Store.

Apple sells a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C cable here for £39 in the UK Apple Store and $39 in the US Apple Store.

USB-C/Thunderbolt to HDMI display

Among other things, the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (£75/$69) lets you connect a Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac to an HDMI display. You will still need a separate HDMI-to-HDMI cable (such as this one from Belkin) to do so. Apple also sells a number of HDMI adapters on the UK Apple Store and on the US Apple Store.

If you have a standard HDMI-compatible monitor, we recommend the Six-foot USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI cable from Uni. ($17/£16.99)

USB-C to VGA display

Apple’s USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter lets you connect to a VGA display or projector. This is an analog connection so it will not support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) content. This would include the HD movies found on the iTunes Store.

The USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter is available for £75 at the Apple UK store or $69 at the Apple US store.

Apple sells a number of VGA adapters (Apple UK or Apple US), including a USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (£75 and $69) and a Belkin USB-C to VGA Adapter (£27.95 and $29.95).

USB-C to DVI display

Apple doesn’t sell one, but you’ll be able to find a USB-C to DVI adapter on Amazon, such as this Benfei USB-C to DVI cable (£12.99 on Amazon UK or $11.85 on Amazon US). We can’t confirm whether it works, but it says it’s for the MacBook, so we assume it does.

USB-C to Mini DisplayPort display

Apple doesn’t make a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter, so you won’t be able to connect a 2016 or later MacBook Pro to the old Apple Cinema Display, or any other monitor that uses a Mini Display Port. However, you may be able to find a cable or adapter on Amazon.

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI display

Apple does not manufacture a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter, but it does sell Belkin’s 4K Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter for £29.95 on the Apple UK Store and $34.95 on the Apple US Store.

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter can be used to connect to a Thunderbolt display to a new Mac. It costs £49 from the Apple UK Store and $49 from the Apple US Store.

How to connect a third monitor to a Mac

Theoretically, you shouldn’t be able to attach a monitor to a USB port, but a few companies have treated this as a technical challenge. The Matrox DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go let you connect up to two or three external displays respectively. They do this by augmenting the standard DVI/HDMI video output of a Mac or PC with data provided via a USB 2.0/3.0 connection.

To learn if your Mac is compatible, check out Matrox’s Mac compatibility listing, where you’ll also learn the maximum possible output resolutions – it’s unlikely you’ll be able to run all three displays at 1080p, for example.

Diamond MultiMedia’s BVU range lets you run a separate external display via nothing more than a USB 2.0 port. By connecting one to a MacBook Pro, as one example, you could utilize up to three displays: one built-in, one via the existing DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort, and one more via USB.

There are also some no-brand devices on eBay and Amazon that offer the same functions as the Diamond product and are cheaper to boot – although be sure to check for Mac compatibility. Just search for something like USB to DVI HDMI.

All the above solutions are somewhat hacky. We haven’t tested any but we’re certain performance won’t be as good as with a monitor attached directly. 3D gaming is definitely out of the question and video playback in anything other than standard definition will probably be choppy. Still, to put your email or Twitter app on a separate screen, as one example, they should suffice.

Troubleshooting problems with a second display

There are a number of issues you may experience with your display setup. Here we address some of them. Let us know of any further solutions or problems.

Mac not detecting the monitor

When you connect your display and your Mac the display should automatically be detected. But what should you do if it isn’t?

If your Mac isn’t working with your monitor there are a few things to try: 

1. Check the cable – make sure it is properly connected.
2. Make sure the monitor is plugged in.
3. Make sure your software is up to date.

If the above doesn’t work, try these steps:

1. Connect your monitor and Mac and open System Preferences > Displays.
2. Press the Alt/Option key: This should make the Detect Displays button appear.
3. Click on Detect Displays: This should cause your Mac to see the external monitor.

Still not having any luck? There is one other reason that could stop your Mac from working with an external display: In the past, Apple has made changes to macOS that have stopped some third-party adapters from working with extra displays. For example, when Apple introduced macOS Sierra in September 2016 many had issues getting a second display to work with certain adapters. On that note, if your display won’t work with your Mac then the first thing to check is your adapter.

The external display is not working with a Mini DisplayPort adapter

If your adapter is not made by Apple, that might just be the issue here. Prior to macOS Sierra, it was possible to use a third-party Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter with a Mac, but when Sierra launched in 2016 Mac users who were reliant on that setup found their monitors stopped working with their Mac.

The only solution, if this is the case, is to purchase an Apple adapter like one of those listed above.

If you have an Apple adapter and your external display isn’t working, try the following:

1. Disconnect your adapter for a few seconds.
2. Reconnect it and see if the issue persists.
3. Disconnect the adapter again and power off the monitor.
4. If it’s still not working, connect the cable again and power off the display.
5. If when you turn the display back on it’s still not working, click on the Apple logo and choose Sleep.
6. Wait a few minutes and then move your mouse or tap your keyboard to wake your Mac.
7. If that doesn’t work, restart the computer.
8. Try adjusting the display’s brightness or contrast just in case it’s turned down.
9. Go to System Preferences > Display and try selecting a different resolution.
10. If that still doesn’t work, try restarting your Mac in safe mode and then reset the display resolution to defaults.
11. Another option is to reset the Mac’s NVRAM and SMC.

DVI adapter doesn’t fit in the connection

There are a few possible reasons why the Apple Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter might not be compatible with your monitor.

There is more than one kind of DVI adapter and the likelihood is the one you have is different from the adapter you are using. For example, you may require space for four analog ports around the flat blade.

If your problem is that you have two female or two male connections then the solution is to buy a male-to-female adapter.

Cable too small between the two devices? You should be able to hook up your adapter to the screen via a third-party cable. Just make sure it has the correct port type.

iPad won’t work as a second display

Thought you’d use an iPad as a second display with your Mac having installed macOS Catalina and found it doesn’t work? This is most likely because your iPad or Mac doesn’t support the Sidecar feature.

iPads that work with Sidecar include:

• 12.9-inch iPad Pro
• 11-inch iPad Pro
• 10.5-inch iPad Pro
• 9.7-inch iPad Pro
• iPad (6th generation)
• iPad (5th generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad mini 4
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Air 2

Macs that work with Sidecar include:

• MacBook Pro (2016 or later)
• MacBook (2016 or later)
• MacBook Air (2018 or later)
• iMac (2016 or later, as well as iMac 5K, 27-inch, late 2015)
• iMac Pro
• Mac mini (2018 or later)
• Mac Pro (2019)

We have more information about using an iPad as a second screen for your Mac here. Plus, we run through What Universal Control is and how Universal Control works separately.

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Five Ways to Free Up Space on Your iPhone You Didn’t Know

 Not everyone wants to pay a premium to store stuff on their iPhone. Many people opt for the entry-level model with the lowest storage capacity figuring it will be enough. Unfortunately, this guesstimate is often incorrect. Instead of ample space, these iPhone owners scramble daily to find additional space for photos, messages, and more. Most people know how to delete pictures to liberate space. Five Ways to Free Up Space on Your iPhone You Didn’t Know.

Clear Safari Cache

If you browse the web on your iPhone, you may not realize how much space each site you visit takes up on your iPhone. Over time, Safari website data can occupy a surprising amount of storage. To free up this space. You need to go to Settings > Safari. Scroll to Clear History and Website Data and follow the prompts to confirm the removal. Next time you open the browser, you may be required to re-enter passwords, addresses, and other site-specific information.

Remove Messages Automatically

The Messages app can be a giant data hog. All the photos and videos people send you to take up an incredible amount of space on your phone. The solution sounds simple -- just remove the messages, but It can be a huge pain to comb through your texts and pick which ones to delete and which ones to save. Let Apple do all the work for you by automatically cleaning your Messages inbox.

Open the Settings app and go to Messages. Then find the Messages History section. Here you will find the option to Keep Messages for a selected amount of time. You can choose between 30 days, one year, or forever. Chose 30 days to keep your Messages as streamlined as possible.

Offload Apps

Most people delete an app when they stop using it, losing all the data that is deleted alongside the app. You don't have to take such a drastic approach to save space. Apple has the option to remove an app without removing its associated data. This ability to offload apps is great for apps and games that you often don't use. You can delete the app to save space without losing valuable information like your profile details or gamer scores.

To offload an app, you need to go to Settings > General and find the iPhone Storage entry. Scroll until you see the app section and select the app you want to offload. Select the Offload app and then follow the steps to confirm you want to remove the app while preserving the personal data.

Delete and Reinstall Apps

Another way to save storage space is to delete the apps you use infrequently and reinstall them only when you need them. For example, I am planning a backpacking trip this summer and have a slew of hiking apps on my phone right now. Once my planning is done, I will delete these apps to free up space and keep them off my phone until I am ready to plan another trip.

Delete Downloaded Media

Remember when you downloaded YouTube videos for offline watching or songs on Spotify for listening to music without a data connection? Yeah, I forgot about those media files, too. Take it from someone who has made this mistake in the past. Don't start deleting precious photos or important messages without first looking at your media storage.

To find colossal media files, you need to open the Settings app and find General > iPhone Storage. The resulting list will make it easy to find the offending apps. Once you know which apps are hoarding offline media, you can choose what to do with the media. Within the Settings app, you can offload the app while saving the data or delete both the app and data in one fell swoop.

Not everyone wants such a drastic solution. If you still want to keep the app on your phone, you can exit the Settings app and open the app directly. You can then find the downloaded files and delete them individually.

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How to manage notifications in macOS Monterey

 You've still got all the tools to manage Mac notifications in macOS Monterey, but the introduction of Focus Mode means they've been rearranged - and improved.

It's still brilliant that your Mac can tip you off when there's a new email, or message, or really anything that you need to know. It's still extraordinarily annoying when your Mac keeps telling you things you don't want to know — and seemingly does so every ten seconds.

The answer has always been to tame what notifications you allow through, and when. Previously, though, that was tied to Do Not Disturb — and now in macOS Monterey, we have Focus Mode.

That's a kind of superset of Do Not Disturb and in implementing it, Apple has moved some familiar notification tools to new places. They're all still in System Preferences, but now the general controls are changed.

Instead, the overall controls like scheduling when you will allow any notifications have been moved into the new Focus Mode. The options for each app on your Mac have stayed where they are.

How to set notifications per app in macOS Monterey

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac
2. Go to the newly-renamed Notifications & Focus section
3. If it isn't already, click on Notifications to select it
4. Chose one app by clicking on it in the list to the left
5. Set your options through the panel now on the right

There's an overall Allow Notifications on or off, which could be just what you want if one single app is particularly bothersome. There are some fewer brute-force options, though, which means you can cut down notifications from that app, without losing them entirely.

How to cut down notifications per app in macOS Monterey

Just under the Allow Notifications section, there is one for the alert style. Every app gets three options — nothing, banners, or alerts.

Even when you allow notifications, you can still set it to nothing so that you don't get that little graphic sliding in from the top right of your screen. That's not as counterproductive as it sounds, either, because you can still be notified in other ways.

With this alert style set to none, or either of the others, you can choose to:

1. Show notification on the lock screen
2. Show notifications in Notification Center
3. Set that red badge on the app's icon in the Dock
4. Play a sound

Each of these can be turned on or off. They default to on, though, so if you have

Allow Notifications

on for any app, that app will automatically have all four of these.

Do Not Disturb is now in Focus Mode

Focus Mode lets you set up your Mac — and at the same time, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch — so that you are only notified or interrupted in ways you choose. And by people you choose.

To get into it, click on the Focus button next to Notifications at the top of the Notifications & Focus window. The old Do Not Disturb has moved in here.

You can, as before, turn on Do Not Disturb. Now you do it by clicking on an on/off toggle, but there are still options for doing it on a schedule.

Turn on Do Not Disturb, and you get options about who can disturb you. By default, no one can, and no app can send you an alert notification. But that's too broad a brush for most of us.

So instead you can say that no one may contact you, except these people, or that app.

It's as handy but also potentially time-consuming as that. You have to pick the people, you have to pick the apps, and the default for everything is to block all interruptions.

This means it can take you time to set up Do Not Disturb in such a way that it helps you, but doesn't prevent your boss from calling to give you a raise.

Coping with emergencies

Your boss will call back. But you can still have the situation where you've blocked everyone using Do Not Disturb, and now there's an emergency.

By default, Do Not Disturb handles this by leaving two optional settings on. Allow repeated calls means that if someone phones you two or three times in quick enough succession, the iPhone will let them through.

Similarly, there are Allow Calls from... which lets you set up a whole group of Contacts who are allowed to interrupt you.

Choose your times

You can benefit more from Do Not Disturb by picking what times it is active. This is getting close to how you use Focus Mode, because, really, Do Not Disturb is one of those modes.

In the Focus pane, with Do Not Disturb selected, you can set any number of scheduled times for it to run.

Customizing your notifications

If it sounds like a chore to go through your contacts specifying who can interrupt you, it is. If it sounds like a chore having to go set up notification options for every app on your Mac, it truly is.

In practice, though, you will build up your fine-tuning on these as you go, and as you see how it can all help you concentrate.

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Is Your iPhone at Risk of Catching Fire?

 You’ve probably heard stories about iPhones unexpectedly catching on fire. A few years back, an Australian surfer couldn’t surf the waves or the internet because of his self-combusting iPhone 7. More recently, an iPhone exploded into flames while being fixed at a repair shop. Though the cause of the fireball isn’t always discovered, most often the culprit is ultimately found to be the battery. So here are five things you can do to lower the risk of your iPhone going up in smoke.

Don’t use a knockoff charger or cable

Don’t use a cheap knockoff charger or charging cable. Buy a quality charger or cable from Apple or a trusted brand like Belkin or Anker. Knockoff chargers and cables are not built with the same quality material and safety standards as the name brands. As a result, they are more likely to break, overheat or experience other electrical issues that could lead to a fire.

Charge on a safe surface

More than one iPhone caught fire while its owner was charging the phone in their bed. Unfortunately, a phone trapped underneath blankets or pillows can overheat and catch on fire. While in most cases, the fire is detected before anyone is injured or property is damaged. But A family from Wales was not so lucky. A teen in the house was charging her iPhone overnight in bed, when the iPhone overheated, caught fire, and burnt down the whole house. In another instance, a teen girl from the UK suffered facial burns when her iPhone began smoldering.

Check your battery health

You should periodically check the health of your battery to make sure it is functioning correctly. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to check the capacity of your battery and turn on optimized battery charging that reduces the wear and tear on your battery. The lower the battery capacity, the older it is, and the more likely it will fail. Replacing the battery will reduce the risk of a battery bursting into flames, and it will extend your battery life.

Avoid excessive heat or direct sunlight

Apple designed the iPhone to turn off when the phone overheats for a good reason. This feature protects the battery and sensitive components from heat-related damage. As an added bonus, it also prevents fire. But don’t just rely on this failsafe feature. Be proactive, and don’t leave your phone in your car during the summer. Keep your phone in the shade and use it only in Apple’s recommended temperature range of 32° to 95° F. You remember that surfer who lost his car when his iPhone burst into flames? It was probably due to excessive heat from being in a hot car while buried under his clothing.

Check for swollen or leaking batteries

Have you ever pulled out an older iPhone from your junk drawer and noticed it is swollen? Please do yourself a favor and bring it to Apple immediately. A battery that is swollen or leaking poses a significant hazard. Store the iPhone with the defective battery outside your house and car. You don’t want to be near the phone or have it in your home if it bursts into flames.

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Steve Jobs Wanted the First iPhone on Verizon to Avoid a SIM Card Slot

 The story of the iPhone may have unfolded very differently had Apple’s engineers not convinced Steve Jobs to abandon one of his design principles.

According to “iPodfather” Tony Fadell, Apple’s legendary co-founder, and CEO as opposed to the original iPhone having a SIM card slot, as he felt it would detract from the device’s elegant design.

Fadell recounted the story to journalist Joanna Stern during an interview at a special event for The Computer History Museum, where he was promoting his new book, Build An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making.

When the original iPhone was still in its nascent design stages, Fadell was heading up Apple’s iPod division and was involved in many high-level conversations among engineers and designers.

According to Fadell, Jobs was firmly against having a SIM card slot in the original iPhone. The oft-mercurial CEO told the group working on the device that “we don’t need another hole” in it.

[Steve] was such a reductionist. He didn’t want a SIM card slot on the first iPhone. “We don’t need another hole in this. Look at Verizon. They don’t have SIM cards. Why do we need SIM cards? We’re not going to have SIM cards on our iPhones.”

The original iPhone used a full-sized SIM card, and it was inserted at the top, beside the power button and headphone jack. This was before the days of even the Micro SIM cards used in the iPhone 4/4S, much less the smaller Nano SIM introduced with the iPhone 5. The original iPhone was also much smaller than the iPhones we use today, so the slot was conspicuous enough that it’s not hard to see why Jobs wasn’t a fan of it.

Jobs suggested designing the original iPhone for Verizon, as it was a CDMA carrier at the time and therefore didn’t rely on SIM cards the way GSM phones did.

CDMA phones were instead provisioned directly by the carriers through a process that generally required customers to bring their devices to a store to have them directly programmed by an employee or representative of the carrier.

Fadell and the rest of the engineering team knew that this would be a bad idea for the future of the iPhone. Although CDMA was somewhat popular in North America and parts of Southeast Asia at the time, most of Europe and the rest of the had adopted GSM almost exclusively.

In other words, releasing a CDMA iPhone would have effectively torpedoed the global market for the device. Apple may have been able to successfully launch the first iPhone on Verizon and a couple of Canadian carriers. Still, it would have needed to eventually create a GSM version if it planned to sell it in Europe.

Steve, that doesn’t work. Verizon is a special case. Look at the rest of the world. So we had to bring him all the cell phone data. Almost 95% of all cell phones at the time had SIM slots, and if we want to go to other markets, that’s what you have to do because no one had the technology for eSIM that now finally is out. But that took 12–13 years to get there. Tony Fadell

Interestingly, Fadell notes that Apple had already picked AT&T to partner with at that point, so the SIM card slot was already required for that partnership. However, it wouldn’t have been unlike Jobs to scrap that deal entirely if he thought he had a better idea.

In this case, though, he didn’t, and fortunately, Fadell and the team were able to convince Jobs that a CDMA iPhone was not the way to go. However, Fadell notes that it took digging up solid data to present to Apple’s co-founder, and they had to confront him as a team.

When you work with a highly opinionated person, especially when they can get V1 so right, and you’ve got to go against them, make sure you bring data. And it had to be a team of us, couldn’t be just one. Tony Fadell

History has proven that Fadell was right. As 3G technology emerged, SIM cards became necessary anyway, and many carriers shut down their CDMA networks and adopted GSM as it was easier.

Verizon was one of the few that held onto the older CDMA technology, even as it rolled out its 3G and LTE services. Apple eventually did release one iPhone without a SIM card slot — the Verizon iPhone 4 that came along eight months after the GSM version.

However, by 2011 when the iPhone 4S rolled around, even the Verizon version gained a SIM card slot. It wasn’t necessary for folks using the iPhone on Verizon, but it did allow owners to take their iPhones to other carriers and was particularly useful for roaming on GSM networks in other countries.

Ironically, the rise of eSIM technology means that an iPhone with no SIM card slot may soon be a reality. Somewhere, Steve Jobs is smiling.

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Apple Is Finally Testing USB-C iPhones

 Evidence is mounting that Apple is finally at least considering a switch to a USB-C connector on next year’s iPhone lineup.

Although rumors about this have circulated for years, information from typically reliable sources now suggests that it’s a much more realistic possibility.

It all started earlier this week when the venerable Ming-Chi Kuo said that the 2023 iPhone would abandon Lightning and switch to USB-C. Kuo’s information came from surveying his usual supply chain sources, which appear to be ramping up for a significant increase in USB-C components for next year.

Now Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has weighed in with independent confirmation that Apple is conducting internal tests of iPhones with USB-C ports.

Gurman’s sources indicate that Apple has yet to make a final decision on whether it’s going to make the switch. There’s no way it’s happening with this year’s iPhone, which already entered trial production months ago, and Gurman confirms that it wouldn’t occur until 2023 “at the earliest.”

Not surprisingly, Apple is also said to be working on an adapter “that would let future iPhones work with accessories designed for the current Lightning connector.” Apple did something similar when it shifted from its original 30-pin Dock Connector to Lightning in 2012 with the iPhone 5. Apple also provided a Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone adapter when it removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in 2016.

It’s too early to say if Apple plans to bundle the proposed Lightning to USB-C adapter with the “iPhone 15” next year. However, with the company’s penchant for removing as many accessories as possible from the iPhone’s box, we’re not holding our breath.

Lightning vs. USB-C

Such a transition isn’t something Apple is taking lightly, which is probably why it’s taken so long to come to this point in the first place.

A cynical take is that Apple has stubbornly stuck with the Lightning port to avoid giving up the licensing fees it collects from its Made-for-iPhone (MFi) partners. While that may have once been a significant revenue stream for Apple, the dwindling number of wired accessories that connect to an iPhone makes it hard to believe it accounts for much more than a rounding error on its books.

Money aside, Apple can also use its MFi program to exert a level of control over the accessory market that it couldn’t accomplish as easily with USB-C. While Apple could still require the use of its authentication chips for certain specialized accessories – more common ones like chargers, headphones, and speakers would need to be open for everyone.

More significantly, many long-time iPhone users are already heavily invested in the Lightning ecosystem, with an existing collection of chargers, docks, speakers, and other accessories that use the Lightning connector. A switch to USB-C would break direct compatibility with these. Apple’s USB-C to Lightning adapter would offer a smoother transition, but some users would still be upset.

We saw the same thing years ago when Apple first adopted the Lightning port, making it much more complicated the use Dock Connector accessories that once just worked with iPhones, iPads, and iPods. The only saving grace this time around is that fewer people are using these kinds of accessories today. Speakers are more likely to be wireless than using a Dock Connector, and wireless chargers have replaced charging docks.

The wired accessory market has become so secondary that many believed that Apple would simply ditch the wired ports entirely, forcing users to rely on MagSafe for charging and data transfer. While we still think that’s Apple’s long-term plan, the world isn’t ready for it yet.

However, Apple doesn’t have the luxury of waiting for that day when wireless connectivity is ubiquitous. The European Union has finally mandated that all electronic devices switch to USB-C for charging, and while the deadline for that hasn’t yet been formally set, most are expecting it to be a requirement by 2024.

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Best Apple Pencil Hidden Features You Should Use

 Your ideal iPad experience is incomplete without Apple Pencil and keyboard accessories. If you don’t plan to type a lot on your iPad, you are completely fine without a keyboard. But for the majority, investing in Apple Pencil is essential to enjoy a flawless iPadOS experience. Apple has packed the Pencil with useful add-ons to take advantage of the big screen. Best Apple Pencil Hidden Features You Should Use.

If you are still not convinced about getting Apple’s stylus for your iPad, the Apple Pencil’s hidden features below will push you towards hitting the buy button. Let’s talk about them.

1. TAKE QUICK NOTES

This is quite useful for Apple Notes users. Starting with the iPadOS 15, you can take quick notes with the Apple Pencil without opening the default Notes app.

If you take notes on the go frequently, follow the steps below to write down notes with an Apple Pencil.

Step 1: Hover the tip of the Apple Pencil over the bottom-right corner of the iPad’s screen. A pop-up menu will appear indicating to take notes. Tap on it.

Step 2: A quick notes window will appear to write down things to remember.

The good part is quick notes window comes with a feature-rich text editor and allows you to add tables as well.

There is only one disadvantage. The quick note trick is limited to the Apple Note app only. If you are using an Apple Notes alternative like OneNote or Evernote, you can’t take quick notes in it using the same trick. We hope to see Apple allowing third-party developers to implement the same in iPadOS updates.

2. TAKE SCREENSHOTS AND PERFORM QUICK ANNOTATIONS

This is another neat add-on for those who take frequent screenshots on their iPad. Apple has implemented a screenshot gesture in the bottom left corner.

Use your Apple Pencil and slide it from the bottom-left corner to take quick screenshots. iPadOS will open the screenshot editor with annotation tools like pen, highlighter, and others. Make necessary changes, hit the Done button at the top, and save it to Photos, Files, or delete the screenshot.

3. TAKE NOTES FROM THE LOCK SCREEN

The quick note gesture mentioned above is only useful when you have the iPad display turned on in the first place. What about taking notes from the lock screen? Apple Pencil has got you covered as well.

Turn on the lock screen and double tap on the Apple Pencil tip. iPadOS will take you to the Notes app to jot down thoughts. Those using iPad Mini (easy to carry around) will find this trick handy to get the job done.

4. SCRIBBLE WITH AN APPLE PENCIL

Using Scribble, you can convert your handwritten notes into text in any app. For example, you can open Twitter and start composing a Tweet with Apple Pencil. iPad’s Scribble function will convert your messy handwritten tweet into text to share on social media.

Similarly, you can use the same trick in any note-taking app or text field on an iPad.

5. MASTER SCRIBBLE GESTURES

If you plan to utilize Apple Pencil’s Scribble function a lot, it’s time for you to learn some of the neat gestures to improve your writing experience.

For instance, you can create a circle around the text and select the whole sentence, and scratch out the text to delete embarrassing typos. You can even touch and hold the place where you want to add a word and insert text.

If you want to add a space between two words, draw a middle line between words and separate them.

6. REPLACE THE APPLE PENCIL TIP

This trick applies to Apple Pencil power users. Over time, due to heavy use, you might have worn down the Apple Pencil tip. You may face issues with writing and especially drawing, where pressure sensitivity plays a major role in creating eye-catching designs.

Your Apple Pencil does come with extra tips to replace. Unscrew the current tip and replace it with a new one. If you have run out of tips to use, you can buy one from the Apple website for $19 (for 4 tips).

7. UTILIZE APPLE PENCIL PRESSURE SENSITIVITY

The support for pressure sensitivity separates Apple Pencil from other standard stylus on the market. While drawing a sketch, you can press for drawing thicker lines, tilt the Pencil for drawing shades, and more. In short, your Apple Pencil will perfectly mimic the standard pencil experience while drawing.

8. USE A DOUBLE-TAP GESTURE

Instead of constantly using the erase tool to fix your drawings, you can double-tap the surface to switch to eraser mode and wipe out the error. If the double-tap gesture is disturbing your workflow, you can disable it from the Accessibility menu.

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPad.

Step 2: Go to the Accessibility menu and select Apple Pencil.

Step 3: Disable the Double Tap Gesture toggle or slow down the double-tap gesture duration.

EXPLORE APPLE PENCIL ON IPAD

As you can see from the list above, the Apple Pencil isn’t limited to navigating the iPadOS only. It’s much more than that, and we can’t wait to see how Apple further improves the whole experience in the next generation of Apple Pencil and iPadOS updates.

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How to set screen time on iPhone and iPad for parental control

 Nowadays, children are spending more and more time using iPhones and iPads. iPhones and iPads are also learning and entertainment tools for children, and there are thousands of great apps for children on them. However, it also brings new challenges for parents to manage their children's use of iPhone and iPad and control their time of use. Today let's talk about how to set screen usage time on iPhone and iPad to achieve parental control to manage electronic devices.

What is screen time?

Apple has added a new "Screen Time" feature in the iOS 12 update. Screen Time is a feature that allows you to restrict and monitor the use of apps on iPhone and iPad; helps you manage the time your kids spend on iPhone and iPad to prevent them from getting addicted to games and control the length of time you use iPhone and iPad to prevent myopia.

If your iPhone or iPad is still on iOS 11 or earlier, you need to consider upgrading your system because Apple has added the "Screen Time" feature in iOS 12.

Setting a password for screen time

We can turn on the screen time by clicking "Settings" > "Screen Time".

After the screen time is turned on, we can set up the application accordingly. However, if you don't set a password for screen time, your child can cancel the restriction at any time, and we can't manage the length of time your child uses the iPhone or iPad.

• Click "Settings" > "Screen Time" and slide the screen to the bottom.
• Click "Set screen time password", and then enter a 4-digit password.
• Note that the password here is not the iPhone or iPad lock screen password, which is easy to forget and you need to record it.

Set screen time for individual apps

Say your child needs to use the iPad for Internet classes and also for playing games. The "Screen time" allows you to set the time and duration of individual apps.

You can manage learning apps and entertainment apps separately. It does not interfere with your child's use of learning applications, but also allows you to manage your child's use of entertainment applications.

• Click "Settings" > "Screen time" > "Deactivation time".
• You can set a deactivation time, or set the deactivation time by a week.
• Click "Settings" > "Screen time" > "App limit".
• Click "Add Limit" and enter the screen time password you set in the above step.

In the list, select the category, or click the category, and in the list, select the individual app.

Set the usage time.

Setting the screen usage time for individual apps separately and setting the usage time for individual apps separately brings you trouble in setting, but the one-time setting also makes your management more humanized, more rational, and more technological.

Always need a password

If your child knows about downloading apps and can download apps at any time. You may really need to do the above settings. Because after entering the password once when downloading the app, by default, you need to enter the password every 15 minutes or even without the password to download the app. How to set always need the password?

• Click "Settings" > "Screen time" > "Content and privacy access restrictions".
• Open "Content and Privacy Access Restrictions", if it is already on, please
• Click on "iTunes Store and App Store Purchases"
• Under the "Require password" option, select "Always require".

This will prevent your child from downloading apps without your knowledge. Of course, you need to keep the password for yourself and not tell your child.

Close the App Store to restrict your child from downloading apps

At the same time, you can also close the App Store to completely restrict your child from downloading and installing apps. Continue with the above steps.

• Click on "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "Content and Privacy Access Restrictions".
• Click on "iTunes Store and App Store Purchases".
• Under "Store Purchases and Redownloaded Items", click "Install App" and select "Do not allow".
• Then, the App Store on the home screen of your device will disappear, and the App Store will be restored when you select "Allow".
• You can also set "In-app purchases" and disable in-app purchases by selecting "Disallow".

Set content access restrictions

If your child often uses Safari to search for information or pictures, you need to set "Content Access Restrictions". This is because Apple classifies content.

• Click "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "Content and Privacy Access Restrictions".
• Click on "Content Access Restrictions" > "Web Content"
• Under the "Web Content" option, select the option you want.

Of course, you can also disable safari apps.

Disable Safari apps

If you don't want your children to use the Safari app, you can also disable it. You can disable (delete) and restore Safari by following the steps below.

• Click on "Settings" > "Screen time" > "Content and privacy access restrictions".
• Click "Allowed Apps", and the list of apps in it is all Apple's own apps.
• Select the apps you want to disable.

The above settings are our suggestions, you can set them according to your actual usage. You can also create a child account for your child. Through the "Family Sharing" feature, you can set up your child's Apple ID to make it easier to set screen time on iPhone and iPad and achieve parental control management. If you think the article is helpful, please forward and share it with us.

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How to set screen time on Mac for parental control

 Today, let's talk about how to set screen time on Mac. Screen time can effectively prevent your child from seeing unhealthy content when surfing the Internet, and screen time can also control the length of time your child uses electronic products to effectively protect your child's eyes and prevent myopia. It can also control the length of time your child uses electronic devices, effectively protect your child's eyes and prevent myopia. It can help parents control electronic devices and help you manage their children.

In macOS Mojave and previous versions the feature name is Parental Control, in macOS Catalina and newer versions parental control is achieved through the screen time of use feature, the purpose is the same.

Creating an account on a Mac

First, we create a dedicated account for our child, who will then use the newly created account to log in to the Mac to browse websites or use applications. The macOS version we are using is macOS Big Sur, and the steps to create it differ slightly from version to version.

For macOS Catalina and newer versions.

• Click on the menu in the upper left corner of the screen - System Preferences
• Click on "Users & Groups", click on "Tap the lock button to change" and enter your password
• Click on "+" under the Login option and select General Member for the new account
• Fill in the account name and password and click "Create User"

For macOS Mojave and earlier versions.

• Click on the menu in the upper left corner of the screen - System Preferences
• Click on "Parental Controls".
• The next step is similar to the one above.

Currently, newly created accounts are only used to log in to your Mac computer.

Setting up Family Sharing

Invite others to join your family, up to 5 people. And using Family Sharing is the best way to protect your children.

Each family member must be signed in to their Apple ID to use Family Sharing. Here, you can create a child account and invite your child to join if they already have an Apple ID.

Create a child account

• Tap Menu - System Preferences in the top left corner of the screen
• Click on "Family Sharing" in the upper right corner
• Click the "+" under "Family"
• Click on "Create a child account"
• Click on the next step
• You will need to sign a parental consent form.
• Click "Agree"
• Enter your child's account information (you can get a free iCloud email for them)
• Follow the prompts, go to the next step and click "Agree"
• Since your child is using your payment method, you will need to confirm the "Ask before you buy" here, click "Continue"
• In the "Do you want to see your child's location?" In the "Do you want to see your child's location?" setting, you can click "Set up later" if you haven't decided whether you want to agree to share your location.
• Complete the settings.

Related: How to set screen time on iPhone and iPad for parental control.

Turn on screen time

Set your child's screen time through family sharing

After you have completed the above steps to create a child account for Family Sharing, you can now set up your child's screen time.

• Click on the menu in the upper left corner of the screen - System Preferences
• Click on "Screen Time"
• Click on the drop-down menu below the avatar and select your child's account.
• Click on "Options" in the bottom left corner to open "Screen Time", which is turned off by default.
• Select "Set password for screen time" and enter the password.
• Complete the settings.

Set up separate screen time for your child's Mac account

By setting up your child's screen time through family sharing, you can manage screen time for multiple children's accounts more easily.

To set screen time for your child's account individually, you need to log in to the account you created for your child in the "Create an account on Mac" step above on your Mac computer.

For macOS Catalina and later.

• Click on the menu in the upper left corner of the screen - System Preferences
• Click on "Screen Time"
• The "Screen Time" settings are the same as the steps above.

For macOS Mojave and earlier.

• Click on the menu in the upper left corner of the screen - System Preferences
• Click on "Parental Controls" instead of Screen Time. Older versions of macOS do not have the Screen Time option yet.
• The setup method and steps are the same as those for Family Sharing.
• It is not recommended to turn on "Share between devices". It is not recommended to turn on "Share between devices" because everyone uses the device at different times.

Set screen time for parental control

After we turn on the screen time function, we need to set the detailed functions, including General Time, App Limit, Communication, Always Allow, Content and Privacy.

Deactivation time

Turn on deactivation time and set a certain time period to deactivate the device, which can keep your children away from the screen. During the deactivation period, there is an hourglass icon in front of all app names, and a "time limit" is displayed when you click on the app. How to set.

• Click the menu on the top left corner of the screen - System Preferences
• Click "Deactivate Time" to open
• In the "Set Time" option, select "Daily" or "Custom".
• Your child will not be able to use the app during the time period you set.

App limits

You can control the total amount of time your child can use an app by setting a time limit for one or more of the apps individually. If your child likes to play "My World", you can set a limit of half time for the "My World" app. Then your child will only be able to use My World for half an hour in a day.

• Click on "App Limit" and
• Click the "+" button below
• You can select an app, or a category, and adjust the time, daily or custom.

Always Allow

If your child is using a Mac online class and the app for the online class does not need to be restricted, then you can use "Always Allow" to add the app to the Always Allow list.

The apps in the Always Allow list will not be restricted by screen time or app limit.

Content and Privacy

In "Content and privacy settings", you can restrict games, web content, app store purchases, app installation, and deletion, password changes, and other operations. You can also restrict the display and search of adult content.

• Click "Content & Privacy" and set "Content, Store, App and Others" separately.
• For example, in web content, choose to restrict adult websites. Turn off allow friends in-game center, etc.
• Click the "Store" option, you can set it according to the actual situation. 

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