Preparing for iOS 10 & macOS Sierra - Part 3
Preparing for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra - Part 3
by Guest columnist August Flassig
Last time we did a brief overview of Siri for the Mac and new and exclusive things she can do. Today, I want to talk about an App that many people have a love-hate relationship with and that is Maps.
Before we get into some new features, we should have a brief history lesson on Maps. It released on iOS 6 in 2012 to a wave a criticism and bugs, having a senior Vice President be “let go.” So after four years, has Apple stepped up their game with Maps? I think so and I’m confident in some new features it offers. Some people still use Google Maps, and while it recommends the lane to be in (a feature we have yet to see) we have other features that I find handy that you will enjoy.
The first thing you will notice about Maps is the redesign. It changes from the traditional top to bottom with bottom to top where the information and search function slides up. This makes entering directions easier, especially on the “Plus” versions of the iPhone.
Updated Search and Information Field
As you pan around and tap on points of interests they are large and easy to see. You can see the results field come from below revealing new information as you slide it up.
An updated feature is “Useful to Know” which replaces the individual sections of “Reservations, kids, and etc.”
Parked Car
When I travel to a city with friends like Wilmington, for example, we leave the car and I’ll drop a pin to remember where we parked. If we are in a hurry and I forget to drop a pin, then we hope someone remembers. in iOS 10, I don't have to drop a pin because Map’s will do it automatically! When you exit a car with CarPlay or Bluetooth, Maps automatically will remember where you parked. But that is just the beginning. You notice that I can add notes and a personal photo to help me remember. Maybe you flying out for the week and leave your car in the parking garage at the airport. Now you can add a note and a photo to help you remember where you left it.
Updated Real Time Directions
When using the iPhone as a GPS, it will only show you the distance around you in mile increments and in iOS 9, what you see on screen is what you get. Not anymore with iOS 10 with the ability to pan and zoom during real time directions! Included with those directions is traffic conditions as seen in our route to 1 Infinite Loop. The orange bar above I-280 shows traffic at the time is congested, a feature only available before starting directions.
This is only a taste of what is to come in Maps and iOS 10 as a whole. Transit directions, lock screen widgets, and weather information are additional features to look out for with Maps. The look and function of these features can change up until the final release. We want to give you a heads up on what is to come later this year so you can be ready for all the changes in store.
Please consider dropping me a line if this article helps you by filling out the form here. Thanks!
Preparing for iOS 10 & macOS Sierra - Part 2
Preparing for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra - Part 2
by Guest columnist August Flassig
Last time we talked about how iOS 10 removed slide to unlock and changed how we interact with iPhone on the home screen. Today, let’s talk about a feature Apple is adding to macOS Sierra, and that is Siri. The voice assistant you use to compose text messages and set timers comes to the Mac. But she does more than that, much more.
Siri can be activated by a dock icon or in the menu bar at the top of the screen. She offers up the usual suggestions like stock quotes and creating calendar entries. What makes Siri unique on the Mac is the searches are interactive. If I’m writing a document (much like this one) and I want an image from the internet, I can ask Siri “Show me Siri icons on the web.” A grid of images will appear and I can drag and drop that image into my document from Siri.
Siri also works with the redone notification center by pinning results from searches (much like widgets from iOS 10 which we will cover at a later time). If I ask when the Cubs play next she will give me who they play against and when. Other things Siri can do is pin Finder search results to Notification Center.
This is a small look at what Siri can do in macOS Sierra that I think will become useful for many people. From composing a message, playing a song, or looking for the right files, Siri does it all. Remember, this update will be released later this year and this is pre release information. The look and function of these features can change up until the final release. We want to give you a heads up on what is to come later this year so you can be ready for all the changes in store.
Please consider dropping me a line if this article helps you by filling out the form here. Thanks!
Preparing for iOS 10 & macOS Sierra - Part 1
Preparing for iOS 10 and macOS Sierra - Part 1
by Guest columnist August Flassig
Apple's new mobile operating system, iOS 10, was announced last month at WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) and released yesterday. With that announcement comes a bunch of new changes to how you use your iPhone. At Tech Me Back, we want you to be ready for the major changes ahead. This week we will be talking about a feature that's going away with the new update that has been around since the first iPhone, and that is "slide to unlock."
Touted as being a feature that prevents your phone from accidentally turning on, slide to unlock is going away and being replaced with "Press home to open."
So what happens when you attempt to slide to unlock? Sliding from left to right shows the widgets/today view. Sliding right to left instantly activates the camera. This new view is available on the lock screen giving you an overview of important information. Widgets like stocks, upcoming destinations using calendar entries, transit maps, news headlines, and more.
What does this mean? Big changes in how you get into your iPhone that will be frustrating for the first few days. You will have to break a habit you have been using since learning how to use an iPhone. This change is happening because more people are using Touch ID to access their iOS devices with the increased use of a passcode. A new feature "raise to wake" (iPhone 6S, 6S+, and SE only) will have the phone screen turn on when it detects it being picked up. This will show you notifications at a glance without pressing a button. We will continue you show new features up until the release of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra.
Please consider dropping me a line if this article helps you by filling out the form here. Thanks!