Do you know the name of your iPhone or iPad?  Is it correctly named?

So often, I see clients who are puzzled to see that, when they look for their device on 'Find my iPhone'. in iTunes or connecting to their 'Personal Hotspot, their device seems to be identified with another family member's name.

Quite often, this is symptomatic of family iCloud issues (where a device is, incorrectly, signed in to iCloud with an Apple ID that belongs to another family member - oops!).  Does each member of your household have a different Apple ID for iCloud?  They should.  (See below for articles about this topic.)

Regardless of what has caused the issue with your device name, it is quite easy to change the name of your iPad or iPhone.

Just visit Settings -> General -> About to see the Name of your device.

If it is not correct, tap on the name shown, and just change it to the correct name.  Easy!

From that point on, you will see that your device is correctly identified.

Have you been told by a helpful family member or friend that it is ESSENTIAL that you regularly 'close' your apps on your iPad or iPhone, to avoid draining your battery or over-using your internet data?

Every week, I see clients who, while they may know only a limited amount about their iPad or iPhone, will show me this key 'trick' that their kids or grandkids have shown them.

Well, here's one you can tell those kids and grandkids!  

​It is NOT necessary to do this.

While it is definitely necessary to keep the number of 'open' apps under control on a computer, iPads and iPhones (and other mobile devices) are quite different in how they manage your Apps.

When an app is not in use, it goes into a 'suspended' state, and is not consuming data or battery.

Instead, the kids and grandkids should be telling you to check that other more important settings, to ensure that you don't unexpected consume battery and data.

Find out what setting to adjust to conserve data and battery in these past iTandCoffee articles.  You will see, this topic features regularly in this blog!

• The myth about closing your iPad and iPhone apps regularly ..
• That regular article about how to improve your iPhone battery life!
  
• A change I made on my iPhone that has made a massive difference to my battery life             
• Apps that drain the life out of your iPhone and iPad battery ...             
• Yet another tip for how to improve your battery life      
  
• View your battery usage by App    
  

This week's newsletter will be delivered to a large number of new subscribers, those who attended the Women On Farms Gathering in Hopetoun on the weekend of 18-20th March.

The group who attended the iPad information session that was presented by iTandCoffee was such a great group - and I thoroughly enjoyed the hours spent with them, in which I presented and discussed 'The Wonders of the iPad'.

I have popped the powerpoint presentation from this information session up onto the iTandCoffee website, for any of the attendees who would like to watch it again - and for others who might be interested in discovering some amazing uses for, and features of, their iPad (and iPhone).  

Here is the link to the Wonders of the iPad page on the website.  

If you are interested in hearing this full presentation (which, in real life, has a great explanation of all the slides!), contact iTandCoffee on 1300 885 420.    It is a presentation that can be run at at your own venue or event - to (hopefully) inspire more people to 'get on board the technology train' through using these wonderful devices.

You have most likely heard the news this week, that Apple has released a couple of new products in its range of iPads and iPhones.

A new, small iPhone

The new iPhone 5SE replaces the iPhone 5S, and is targeted at those who do not want the larger sizes provided in the 6 and 6 Plus range.

Here is a MacWorld article with more information about this new iPhone.

• Meet the iPhone SE, which packs iPhone 6s performance in a 4-inch body - Macworld Australia 

A new iPad - an 'iPad Air-sized' iPad Pro

For me, the really interesting product announced on Tuesday was the newest iPad in the range, called the iPad Pro 9.7 inch (as distinct from the larger iPad Pro 12.9 inch, released late last year).  

Here is an article from The Age about this new iPad Pro: 

• Apple's smaller iPad Pro makes the original 12.9-inch one redundant

Here's another from Macworld:

• 9.7-inch iPad Pro first look: A worthy successor to the iPad Air 2 - Macworld Australia                                                                

Is the iPad Pro 12.9 inch too large?

I'm not sure if I have reported previously on this blog that I actually purchased the larger iPad Pro at the start of this year.  My main reason for purchasing was so that I could offer and informed opinion on it to clients (as well as the fact that just NEEEEEDED it).

At first it seemed that, like when I first got my iPhone 6 Plus, it was a bit too large to be practical.

However, after a couple of months of use, I have come to greatly appreciate the screen size and have fallen in love with it (as I did with my iPhone 6 Plus, and now the 6S Plus).

It is certainly large - about the size of an A4 piece of paper - but this doesn't bother me now, since is about the size of an A4 compendium that I might otherwise carry when going to see clients.  I no longer need to carry a notebook with me, and the large iPad Pro fits fine in my over-sized handbag (in which I also carry my iPad Air).  

While I can't say that it replaces my laptop for the majority of my work, it certainly has a place in my technology line-up for the following reasons:

• I use it as my notebook during client appointments, and to scribble notes from phone calls and innumerable other notes.
• I am absolutely loving the Apple Pencil that I can use to write and draw;
• I run my Powerpoint presentations from it during iTandCoffee classes;
• I view my photos on its amazing big screen, easy turning it from landscape to portrait (something that you don't really get to do with a laptop) - this is one of my favourite uses for it;
• I read the newspaper on it.
• I have it sitting on my desk as a second screen, allowing me to check my calendar an other important information while working on my main screen.

Which one would I buy now ?

The question I ask myself is, if I had waited until now to purchase this iPad Pro, which size would I purchase - the large version, or the 'iPad Air' sized version.

While the size of the iPad Pro has not caused me any real concerns, I do think that the smaller size is a lot more practical, light and portable for the majority of people - and perhaps will have a better resale value than the larger version (which most people are not too concerned about).

I think for most of my clients, I would recommend the smaller iPad Pro in preference to the larger.  

That is, unless the client is really looking for a laptop replacement that has the screen size of a laptop - around a 13in screen.  For those with eyesight issues and those who are not so concerned about slipping it in a handbag, the large version is a very good option.  

For school children using iPads, I think that the smaller version would be perfect, especially when teamed with the pencil so that they can write their notes.  (Although, be warned parents - the pencils are EXPENSIVE at $165, and very, very easy to lose!  I am speaking from experience here. I haven't yet found a iPad Pro case that houses my pencil, so need to stow it separately in my handbag.)

I would strongly recommend looking at the two size options 'in the flesh' to compare the sizes and weights, then making your decision based on what you are most comfortable with, and based on what you will be using it for.

You will discover that the iPad Pro (both versions) will be available with a new option of 256GB of storage - twice that of the previously largest storage capacity that was available (i.e. 128GB).   So the three size options will be 32GB, 128GB and 256GB.

What will the new iPad Pro cost?

At the time of writing this blog article, prices are not yet showing on the Apple Store website.  Online ordering opens 24/3/16, with the product available in store on 31/3/16.  

Below is a Choice article that outlines the cost of this new iPad (and the iPhone 5SE).  Presumably these are correct prices. 

• Apple announces smaller iPhone SE and iPad Pro - CHOICE

This Choice article is reporting the following prices for the Wi-Fi only versions of the new iPad.

• 256GB for $1399
• 128GB for $1149
• 32GB for $899

More information will be available on pricing once Apple opens up the online ordering system for this new product.  I will update this article with further pricing information when this is available.

Here's a question: What would happen to all your valuable photos, contacts data, document, texts, and more if your broke or lost your iPhone or iPad?

If you don't sync your device with iCloud, back your device up to iCloud, or use iTunes to sync and backup your device, all your important data that is housed on your device will, most likely, be lost.   It is devastating when it happens.  For kids, it can mean the loss of important school or uni work.

(Did your eyes just glaze over when I mentioned backups, iTunes and iCloud?  Don't worry - you are not alone!)

At the start of another school year, it seems like a good time to talk about backups again.

Backing up your iPad and iPhone can be so easy - as easy as turning on a 'switch' in your iCloud settings.   Do you know if you have done this?

Many people choose not to do this, perhaps because they don't even know that the option exists, but often because they are worried about using iCloud - worried that it is something tricky, worried about their privacy and security, worried that they just don't know what it is or what it does, worried that it might cost them lots of money.

If this sounds like you, why not come along to iTandCoffee's 2-hour session called 'Understanding and Using iCloud' on Wednesday 17th February, 10am-12pm. 

We will unravel that 'glorious mystery' that is iCloud  and help you make sure that you don't lose any important contents of your Apple Mobile device/s.  It can all happen seamlessly for you - a 'set and forget' that gives you great peace of mind.

Those who attend this session will receive iTandCoffee's digital guide on the topic for FREE.  

Select the button below to find out more about this session, and to book your place.  There are very limited places, so don't delay.

If you would rather book by phone, call 1300 885 420.  Or email [email protected].

Some of the below tips are accessible only by iTandCoffee Club members.  Find out more about the iTandCoffee Club here.

This week, iTandCoffee ran a couple of classes where the Notes app was used to teach Typing and Editing skills (part of the Introduction to the iPad and iPhone and ​ Bring your Busy Life under control using your iPad and iPhone class series).

This highlighted that many users of iPads and iPhones have not updated their devices to make use of the new, improved Notes app - which became available in iOS 9.

The new Notes app has a variety of new features that have, for me, made it a much more useful app:

• format your text (easy titles, headings, bullet lists, and more).
• create 'to do' (or 'tick' lists) - great for shopping lists, task lists
• insert photos, maps, links,
• draw a picture (using your finger or a stylus),
• and organise your notes into 'Folders'.
• Notes are now stored in iCloud Drive, meaning that they can be accessed from any computer, using icloud.com.

If you are an iTandCoffee Club member, read more about how you can upgrade to your Notes app, and watch a video showing how you can use its great new features (and witness some very bad typing/drawing by me!).

Here is the members-only article:

• Have your upgraded your Notes app on your iPad and iPhone?  Here's how to use it.

Not yet a member of the iTandCoffee Club?

Join today for access to a huge list of handy hints and tips, and for other members-only offers.

If you want to know more about the iTandCoffee Club, email [email protected].

It's been a busy time for iTandCoffee over the summer break.  

During that time, there has been a lot of time spent working on a great new set of products that are now available from iTandCoffee - with more to come soon.

The Introduction to the iPad and iPhone set of nine guides - which complement the 5-class iTandCoffee series of the same name - have been published and are now available as individual booklets, or as a full set of 9 booklets.

Coming in the next couple of weeks will be the published guides for Bring your Busy Life Under Control using your iPad and iPhone and Understanding and Using iCloud, with more to follow very soon after than.

These guides are a great way of learning more about your iPad and iPhone, and make a wonderful gift for beginners and seniors.

If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these guides, email iTandCoffee at [email protected] or call
​1300 885 420.

(They will be available online at the iTandCoffee online store in the near future.)

For those who might have missed some of the Handy Hints published by iTandCoffee about your iPand and iPhone during 2015, here is a handy summary!

If you are an iTandCoffee Club member, you can view tips like these at any time.  Here is a list of lots more iPad and iPhone Handy Hints.

If you are not yet a member, here's how to join!

My 12 year old youngest child completed primary school this week -  a momentous occasion for our family, after 4 kids and 17 consecutive years at the same primary school.

I decided today that I wanted to put a together collage of a few photos of him from the time he was 3 up to this week - to show just how much this beautiful boy has changed.

Co-incidentally, my daily reading of tech articles highlighted a particular app that is temporarily available for free - a photo collage creation app

So I grabbed it, and was impressed with how easy it was to create my collage, as shown.

For those of you who are interested, the app is called Moment Mix.  

Get Moment Mix from the App Store by selecting this link.