Some questions you might also want answered - from last week's Free Friday

We covered a lot of ground in one hour at last Friday's 'Free Friday' session at iTandCoffee.  I figure that, if those attending were asking these questions, it is quite likely that other readers also have the same (or similar questions).  

iTandCoffee has published a huge number of hints on so many topics - so here is our collection of articles and hints that address the questions asked at the Free Friday gathering.

My iCloud is Full - what do I do?

This is a very common question, asked frequently by iTandCoffee clients.  Below are previous articles and Handy Hints published about iCloud.   (Some are for iTandCoffee Club members only.  Join here if you would like to see these tips.)

• What to do when your iCloud is full
• Will my iCloud Backup blow my data limit?
• Apple has increased iCloud 20Gb storage tier
• Removing unwanted backups from your iCloud                                                  
• Are you a bit (or a lot) bamboozled by iCloud?
• Don't get caught out by this screen on your iPad or iPhone!
• Was iCloud to blame for this family's sad state of upheaval?                          
• Be careful what you say in an iMessage.  Someone unexpected might be getting the message!
• Are you backing up your iPad and iPhone?  If not, read this!
• As the song goes, "Hey, you, get off of my iCloud!"  
• iCloud Photo Library - should you turn it on yet?
• Back to school with iPads:  Make sure you set up your kids with THEIR OWN iCloud  
• Backing up your iPad and iPhone in preparation for upgrade to iOS 9 or move to new device  
• Sending emails with large attachments - use iCloud Mail Drop
• Is iCloud Safe?  
• When your iCloud gets crowded!   The problem with sharing your iCloud ...                       ​                                             ​          ​

For anyone who wants to really gain a better understanding iCloud and what it does, the Understanding and Using iCloud class will be running again at iTandCoffee in April and May 2016 -  see here for further details or to book.

Alternatively, download the iTandCoffee guide on this topic - available in the iTandCoffee online store.

What is the iCloud Drive App?  What is iCloud Drive? Do I need it? 

Here are a couple of third-party articles on this topic.  Just make sure that you turn on iCloud Drive on all the devices that you use - which may mean that you need to upgrade the version of OSX that you run on your Mac.​

• Apple's web page describing iCloud Drive
• Apple iCloud Drive Explained

As for the previous question, iCloud Drive is covered in the Understanding and Using iCloud class, which will be running again at iTandCoffee in April and May 2016 -  see here for further details or to book.

Alternatively, download the iTandCoffee guide on this topic - available in the iTandCoffee online store

Should I upgrade/update?  On my Mac?  On my iPad/iPhone?

The latest release for the Mac is OSX 10.11.4. For iPad and iPhone, the latest version is iOS 9.3.

Both of these should be fine to install, as they are updates rather than 'upgrades' and here do not seem to be any issues being reported with them.

With Upgrades (e.g. later this year, when Apple will probably release OSX 10.12 and iOS 10), I would alway suggest waiting a while before 'jumping in', to allow early problems with the 'upgrade' to be resolved.

And, always make sure you backup your computer or i-Device before applying any upgrade or update - just in case!

• Are you seeing a red '1' on your Settings app?  Another software update has arrived on your iPad and iPhone.
• Another iOS update for our iPads and iPhones                          

How can I manage all my passwords?  Isn't it easier just to use the same one everywhere?

This topic has featured very regularly in the iTandCoffee Newsletter.  Do not use the same password everywhere - and store your passwords securely using one of the options offered in the below articles.

• How to make sure you don't forget your password/s!  
• If you don't yet have a password keeper on your i-Device ...  
• Do you use the same password for everything?
• Change or reset an Apple ID's password    
• Using the built-in password manager on your Mac  
• Can't remember a password?  It may be saved away in your  Mac's Keychain!  
• Another reason why 1Password is the perfect answer to your password woes
• A really good article about passwords.  Read it, and then change your passwords!    
• Client Question:  Where can I store all my passwords safely?    
• Is your iPad storing away all your Passwords for anyone to see?
• 1Password workshop - free video for iTandCoffee Club members                                                       ​                         ​          

How do I create groups in Mac Mail, and then email a group?

This one was covered very recently.   Here are articles covering how to create and use Contact Groups on both the Mac and the iPad/iPhone - plus some other 'Contacts' and 'Mail' handy hints.

• Contact Groups on the Mac - creating, then emailing a group of Contacts  
• Creating and emailing a Contact Group on your iPad or iPhone 
• Finding missing emails - how do I stop my emails from grouping together on my iPhone and iPad? 
• Printing addresses on envelopes is so easy on a Mac             

My Commbank 'App' just takes me to the website and is not an App

This client wanted to know why the Commbank App did not actually launch an App, but instead went to the Commbank web page in Safari.  The issue was that he was using a 'web clip' and had not actually download the App from the App store.

• Turning your favourite web page into an 'app' on your Home Screen             

If you would like to learn more about downloading Apps from the App Store - and what apps are worth getting - come along to this class in the Introduction to the iPad and iPhone class series.  

Or, download the guide from the iTandCoffee online store.

What about Siri!  What does it do?  How do you use it?

Siri can do so much and is one of my very favourite features of the iPad and iPhone

• Helping Siri understand your pronunciation of names  
• A heartwarming true story about Siri and a boy  
• My iPhone reads and sends emails and texts, sets reminders, calls the kids to dinner - all hands free!  
• Did you know your Siri can be male?
• Well, I just learned something new about Siri!  
• A couple of questions to try asking Siri
• Really quick conversions  
• Tell Siri all about yourself!

​
​Find out about all the great things that Siri can do for you in the 'Bring your Busy Life Under Control using your iPad and iPhone' classes.  

Or, purchase the guide on this topic from the iTandCoffee online store.                 ​                                               ​           ​          ​            .

What is Dropbox?

I have been a long-term user of Dropbox, for sharing all my files between my various computers and mobile devices.  If you are looking for a file sharing solution, definitely consider Dropbox - but also consider iCloud Drive, Google Drive and One Drive - which all provide similar features to Dropbox.

• How do I get Dropbox on my computer?             
• Are you using Dropbox yet?    
• Dropbox saves the day - again!             ​
• Selective sync'ing of Dropbox folders on your Mac (or Windows) computer  
• Is there a way to access two Dropbox accounts at once?