iTandCoffee - iPad iPhone Mac Classes and Training Melbourne - Handy hints, tips and tricks for iPad, iPhone and Mac users plus lots of useful information for your Tech-Life

One of the most important things to do to take a good photo

24/6/2017

Now, I know this one might be a bit too obvious. But it's amazing how often I forget to do it and miss out on getting the best photo I can.

Because we are constantly handling our iPhones (or other smartphones), it is so easy to end up with dust, dirt or fingerprints all over the camera lens.

Each of the photos shown in this article suffers from the effects of the lens being dirty. Sometimes, there is no opportunity to re-take them! Especially when the sun or lights are involved, the result can be a very 'washed out' photo.

Just give the camera lens a quick, gentle clean with a lens/screen cleaning cloth to remove any dirt, dust or fingerprints. You'll be amazed at the difference it will make to your photos.

An important warning about a new Snapchat feature that could put your child in danger

24/6/2017

If you have a child who uses Snapchat (which is rated as a 12+ app in the iTunes App Store), you should be aware of a new feature that appeared in this week's update to the app.

After the update is installed, the user (e.g. your child!) will be asked if they would like to use the new 'Map' feature, which will allow them to see their own location and that of their friends on a Map.

Read the article below, then make sure you check that your child is not giving away their location - even to friends. You just never know who might end up on their 'friend' list!

Police issue child safety warning over Snapchat maps update that reveals users' locations

Screenshots of new Map feature of Snapchat

Screenshots of the new 'Map' feature introduced to Snapchat on 23 Jun 2017

Related Handy Hints and Articles

Recent product announcements from Apple

16/6/2017

Just in case you missed it, Apple has announced MORE changes - both to their product lineup, and to the operating systems on Apple devices (iOS and MacOS). If you are thinking of getting a new iPad or Mac, it is worth checking out what has changed before heading for the shops. Here's a summary:

How to avoid using the keyboard on the iPad and iPhone

15/6/2017

In the 'Bring your Busy Life Under Control using the iPad and iPhone', we look at lots of tips about how to make the most of your Apple mobile devices.

One of my favourite tips relates to how to avoid typing on the iPad and iPhone! It's amazing what you can achieve without having to hit those sometimes tiny keys. If your fingers are as fat and crooked as mine, you'll really appreciate this one.

How to avoid typing on the iPad and iPhone

This tip is for iTandCoffee Club members only. Are you a member? Find out more about The iTandCoffee Club here.

Related Handy Hints and Articles

Handy Hints (for iTandCoffee Club members - find out more about The Club here)

Blog Articles

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We've done a bit of a 'renovation' - we'd love you to have a look

15/6/2017

We've renovated the iTandCoffee website

It's always good to 'freshen up' your home, to re-decoarate and incorporate some latest 'looks' and features.

Over the past few weeks, iTandCoffee has been undertaking a bit of a renovation of our website.

In particular, we have a great new feature that allows us to show 'what's happening' at iTandCoffee, and we have included this on our Home Page and various other pages including the schedule page.

We'd love you to take a look and let us know what you think.

Check out our renovation

Hotmail emails are not being received from a particular sender

15/6/2017

A client of iTandCoffee contacted us today about a problem she was having with her Hotmail email. A friend of this client had sent several emails, but none had been received in her Hotmail email inbox.

Our client and her friend had checked and double-checked to make sure that the email address was correct and that the email was in the sender's 'Sent' mail.

After a check of our client's Hotmail (Outlook) account, we discovered that the sender was in the list of 'blocked' email addresses. This was preventing any email from that person from reaching the client's inbox.

Removal of the 'blocked' email address fixed the problem.

Below is an article that describes how to look at and modify your 'junk' and 'blocked' mail settings for hotmail/outlook email addresses.

Can your child 'hide' their web tracks using 'Private Browsing'?

15/6/2017

Restricting kids on iPad iPhone and iPod Touch

A question asked at a recent 'Keeping your Kids safe on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch' session at a local primary school was "What effect does the limiting of Safari content in Restrictions on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch have on 'Private Browsing'".

The question relates to the feature of Safari that allows you to put your Safari browsing into a 'private' mode', where the history of your web browsing is not retained, and no 'website data' or 'cookies' are allowed.

This week's handy hint for Mac Users - lots of Mail tips

15/6/2017

Mac Mail app tips

This week, we have included a section from one of our user guides, providing lots of great tips about using the Mail app on the Mac.

This set of tips is for members the iTandCoffee Club - below is what we cover. (Not a member? Find out more about The Club here.)

View or hide the 'mailbox' list
Understanding 'conversations' and how to stop email grouping
'Send Again' - a handy way of sending the same email more than once
Different ways of sharing web page via email (as a link, PDF, or page)
Organising mail into folders
Setting up a mail 'signature
Working with multiple messages - when deleting, moving, etc
Searching your emails
How to ensure your email contacts are in your Contacts
Emailing a 'group' of recipients
Setting up mailboxes that are based on rules
and more.

View these Mac Mail tips

We also have a long list of other tips that we have published about Mail. Here are just some.

Some great news for travellers who want internet on the go

15/6/2017

Many of you have attended our 'Travelling with your iPad and iPhone (and other Technology)' class, in which we look at (amongst other things) the options for keeping in touch via phone and internet while you are away.

We talk about the risk of 'bill shock' from using mobile data while travelling, and the options that you have for avoiding this nasty experience.

One of the options discussed is purchasing and using a 'travel SIM'. These special SIMs provide you with relatively cheap call rates and, in many cases these days, also offer 'data packs' and 'bundles' that can give you access to reasonably priced mobile data.

One such 'travel SIM' is actually called TravelSIM, and is available from Australia Post outlets or online.

Just today, I received an email from TravelSIM (as we have used this SIM previously in our travels), advising that there have been some changes to their 'Data Packs' - changes that are really worth a look!

See below for the content of that email, which I thought many iTandCoffee subscribers and clients would find of interest.

How to add a link to some text in an email in Mac Mail

9/6/2017

When you want to sent a hyperlink to a web page as part of an email, it is nice to be able to put some text like "Click here to view the article" instead of what might be a very long-winded URL (i.e. the address of the web page).

Let me explain what mean. As an example, I have an link to a web page that has an interesting article about Women in Technology, and I want to send this article to a friend.

I could just copy and paste the following link into the email.

https://timeline.com/women-pioneered-computer-programming-then-men-took-their-industry-over-c2959b822523?gi=e05845aed6d7.

Alternatively, I can type the "Here is a good article about women in technology" and add a link behind the text so that it looks like this

Here is a good article about women in technology

Here is how to add the link to text in the email.

Some information for travellers about iMessage and safe internet usage

7/6/2017

tips for travellers

At the 'Travelling with your iPad and iPhone' class held in June, we discussed some issues that you may incur with Messages and iMessage when you travel.

We also discussed the issue of how best to protect yourself when travelling, and the option of using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when accessing the internet while away.

The information provided to attendees at this class is provided below, just in case anyone else has plans to use Messages to communicate with those back home or wants to learn how ensure safe online browsing

Some answers to questions from parents about Clash of Clans, Minecraft, Youtube, Netflix and other apps that kids use

3/6/2017

Youtube app on iPhone

During term 2 of 2017, iTandCoffee is running free school information sessions for parents. These sessions are on the topic "Keeping Kids Safe on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch".

We look at the specifics of how to use the in-build parental controls on these devices to restrict what kids can do and see.

Each time we run this session, there are questions that arise about specific apps that kids are using.

Below are some answers to some of these questions. (Thanks to the parents who have turned up for these sessions!)

Make sure 'Airdrop' is secured on your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Mac

2/6/2017

How to control Airdrop settings

In the article published just this week, we highlighted how the 'open' settings of Airdrop on a client's iPad resulted in an unexpected an disgusting message appearing on her device.

(See When a disgusting message or photo pops up on your iPhone or iPad!)

I just want to make sure that all subscribers are alerted to check their Airdrop setting, to make sure that 'Airdrop' is set to 'Receiving Off' or 'Contacts Only' (and not set to Everyone).

This should also be done on each child's device, to protect the child from the potential for receipt of nasty content.

If you are not sure how to do this, check out these iTandCoffee Club Handy Hints for iPad/iPhone and Mac. (You will need an iTandCoffee Club login to to view this tip - find out more about The iTandCoffee Club here.)

I just got sent a big 'love heart' balloon with a message! How did they do that?

2/6/2017

Recently, I sent a Message (using the Messages app) to a group of friends, from my iPhone to theirs, adding the screen effect shown on the right before sending.

They had never seen a Message like that before, and asked how I achieved that effect!

It's actually very easy, using a feature added to the Messages app as part of iOS 10. It's a lovely way of making a message extra special.

Here's a really short clip showing the effect in action - tap/click ▶︎ to view.

We have created a Handy Hint that provides a 'how to' for this feature. Members can click/tap the below link to view this hint. (You will need an iTandCoffee Club login to to view this tip - find out more about The iTandCoffee Club here.)

Sending a special animation with your Message - a heart, balloons, fireworks and more

Related Handy Hints and Articles

Handy Hints. (You will need an iTandCoffee Club login to to view Handy Hints - find out more about The iTandCoffee Club here.)

Articles

Travel and your technology - ‘Don’t leave home without it’, but make sure you know the traps!

2/6/2017

Travelling with your technology

(Contributor: Jim Coulston)
When I think of travel and my technology, I find myself reminded of the iconic catch-phrase from the ‘80’s AMEX advertisements; “Don’t leave home without it”.

We have all become more reliant on technology to manage our daily work and private lives.

In an increasingly connected, on-line world, the relentless pull toward ‘mobile’ technology, whether in the form of the almost ubiquitous smartphone or tablet, seems unstoppable.

For the traveller, the attraction of staying connected with loved ones at home is obvious but the pleasure that comes with the freedom of being relieved of all those bulky paper itineraries, maps, guidebooks and the feeling of empowerment that comes with having the internet at your fingertips adds to the joy of modern travel.

Of course, these feelings are reserved for the well-informed and well-prepared traveller.

Like me, you probably know of travellers who’ve returned home to a horror phone bill because they didn’t have an appropriate phone or data plan for their travels. Unfortunately, it's not necessarily a simple matter of taking your device with you!

Don’t let that happen to you, come along to iTandCoffee's 2-hour Travel with your iPad and iPhone session to find out about the best (and cheapest) options for staying connected while you travel, for both phone and internet.

If you’re planning a trip, whether for business or pleasure, Travel and Your iPad and iPhone offers great tips about using your iPhone and iPad to plan, hold your itinerary and plans, then all the things you need to know about using it when you are away - including great apps that are 'must-haves'.

Find your way around, find out what to see, book tickets, learn how to ensure that your carefully laid plans are stored and accessed securely and STAY SAFE while you’re on-line.

Here are details of upcoming 'Travel with your iPad' sessions at iTandCoffee. Just choose 'Sign up' to book!

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