 Those of you who know me will know that I really love using Siri on my iPhone and iPad. Day in, day out, I use it to set reminders, sent texts, dictate notes, make phone calls, read my emails while I drive (hands free, of course), and so much more. This week, I found a Siri command that I have been needing for so long - one that can remind me later about something that I have received, seen, created, etc. What do I mean by this? Well, as an example, I so often get an email or a text that I can't action right at that point in time, but need to remember to action at a later time. I don't want to have to trawl through my long list of emails/texts to find it - if I actually do remember to do that! Flagging in the Mail app doesn't quite work - again, because this requires me to remember to go back and look at my 'flagged' emails. I had been using Evernote for emails that I needed to action later. I would forward my emails to my Evernote, and set a reminder there. An adequate solution, but I will now be using Siri instead because it is SO much easier. I now tell Siri to set a reminder (for a particular date/time) about whatever I am looking at on my iPhone (or iPad) screen. Siri will create that reminder WITH a link that allows me to go straight to that 'thing' (email, message, web page, calendar entry, note, etc), so that I have all the information I need in front of me. In the image I have shown in this article, tapping on the little Mail app symbol takes you straight to the applicable mail message. I am using this every day now and loving my reminders and the quick, easy access they give me to relevant information. Find out how to use this Siri feature in this week's Handy HintIf you are interested in finding out more about how to use this great Siri command that will help you to remember to come back to something important, check out this week's Handy Hint. You must be an iTandCoffee Club member to view this premium content. Joining our iTandCoffee Club costs a measly $30 a year, and gives you access to great tips like this, online class videos and slideshows, and other members-only offers. Your membership also helps fund iTandCoffee's fortnightly Handy Hint Newsletter for our subscribers and clients. Have you thought about joining? Hopefully today is the day! View more information and join here. Get even more great tips like this at this iTandCoffee ClassThe tip mentioned in this article is just one of a great set of incredibly handy tips that will be covered in the class series 'Bring your Busy Life Under Control using your iPad and iPhone' which runs in August and September at iTandCoffee in Glen Iris. This two-part class series will run on:
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24/3/2016 0 Comments My iPhone reads and sends emails and texts, sets reminders, calls the kids to dinner - all hands free! Save your voice! Get Siri to call the kids to dinner. If you have the newest of the iPhones or iPads, you will have a access to a great new feature that allows Siri to take and execute your commands without you even touching your device. This is great for when you are in the car and many other circumstances. The feature is 'Hey Siri' - where you can say these words to activate Siri, hands free. (On earlier older devices, the 'Hey Siri' feature is only available when the device is connected to a power source - for example, when it is charging in the car.) When I am driving between appointments or busily cooking in the kitchen (and, for those of you who know me, don't laugh at that mental image!), I can say 'Hey Siri, read my messages' - and Siri will read all the new texts and iMessages that I have received. To hear what emails I have received, I say 'Hey Siri, read my emails' or 'Hey Siri, read the emails from my husband'. I can say 'Hey Siri, set a reminder when I get home to take the meat out of the freezer'. It makes the time when I am on the road into productive time, and helps me to keep on top of a busy day. Siri can even save me from screeching at my kids! Here is one of my favourites ... When I want my family to come to dinner, I save going upstairs and downstairs to call them (or screaming DINNNNEEEERRR from somewhere in the middle) by saying 'Hey Siri, text my children dinner time'. They may not listen to me, but they DO read their texts! It's those small things that make for family harmony. But, sometimes Siri is 'listening' when I don't need 'her' Occasionally, Siri thinks 'she' hears me say 'Hey Siri' when I didn't really say it (or when I am describing the feature to someone else). She then interrupts my conversation to tell me that she couldn't understand me, or does something else I didn't intend. To stop Siri from 'listening' when 'she' is not required, all I have to do is put my iPhone (or iPad Pro) 'face down' - then I don't have this problem. Simple! Are you interested in finding out how Siri knows who my kids are? Are you curious to find out how Siri knows who my kids are? Check out 'Tell Siri about your relationships' handy hint, published way back in October 2015! (with the old logo still). Related handy hints (for iTandCoffee Club members only) and articles
 I have a friend called Sueanne, and Sueanne is someone who I call and text on a regular basis. However, Siri has never been able to understand me when I say 'Call Sueanne', translating this to 'Call Sue and' instead. This means that I am then asked with Sue I want to call - and Sueanne is not in the list that is provided. Normally, when Siri 'misunderstands' me, I get the chance to tap 'Edit' at the top right and correct 'her' translation of what I said. (By the way, if you would rather have a smooth-talking male Siri instead, check out this other Handy Hint about how to change Siri's voice.) Today, I finally took the time to sort out this Siri annoyance. It involved setting up some additional information in Sueanne's Contact record. Find out how in this Handy Hint for iTandCoffee Club members. (Sign in here first, if you are not already signed in.) Not yet a member of The iTandCoffee Club? Why not join today, for access to iTandCoffee's vast library of Handy Hints, special members-only information sessions and other special offers advertised from time to time. Related Articles and Handy Hints
 My daughter was using Siri over the weekend, and the friend who was with us at the time was surprised to find out that Siri can have a male voice instead of female.
This is so easy to change if you prefer a male voice. You can even choose 'British Male' if you prefer that to an 'Aussie' voice. Find out how in this Handy Hint for iTandCoffee Club members. (Sign in here first, if you are not already signed in.) Not yet a member of The iTandCoffee Club? Why not join today, for access to iTandCoffee's vast library of Handy Hints, special members-only information sessions and other special offers advertised from time to time.  While with a client this week, I was showing the various things that Siri can do for you, and the sort of questions that Siri can answer in a flash.
Here are a couple that I thought I'd share with you - questions I hadn't thought to ask previously, but that will come in useful in future. For when you are wanting to call someone overseas but need first to check their local time:
For when you are about to travel to somewhere, and wondering what the weather outlook is at your destination.
This is so much quicker than going into the Clock app and looking for the required city, or visiting the Weather app for the forecast. Not sure how to use Siri? Check out the below handy hints and articles about Siri to find out more. Related Handy Hints (for iTandCoffee Club members only - join the club!)
Related Blog Articles (free for all readers)  Have you found your very own Personal Assistant on your iPhone or iPad? If not, I highly recommend that you do so soon.
Introducing yourself to Siri really can your make life so much easier, saving you lots of typing and tapping. Siri can remind you, guide you, notify you and provide all sorts of information. I would be lost without 'her'. Don't be afraid to try to get to know 'her' (or 'him'!). Find out here how easy it can be to get Siri working for you >>
I would have found this very useful yesterday, when I was trying to get Siri to understand my request to 'Call Anne Watts'.
'She' could not understand, and thought I was saying 'Call and what' - so kept asking me for more information. So I was forced to ditch Siri and look up the contact to make the call! Do you want to learn more about using Siri? Members of The iTandCoffee Club can view the below handy hints and tips about Siri.
 I told my 11 year old son about this article, and it obviously struck a chord with him.
Later that night I found him trying out having a conversation with Siri - and he was have such a fun time with 'her'! (Hopefully he won't read this, because It would probably cause a great deal of embarrassment!) Read about how Siri actually became a bit of a lifesaver for the mother of an autistic child - 'scooped' on the iTandCoffee Scoop.it page. I wanted to do a handy hint that provides some great tips for using Siri. Well, MacWorld has this week published an excellent article and video on this very topic! So I figure 'why reinvent the wheel'!
Check out this MacWorld article for 16 of the best things that Siri can do for you. It includes written instructions and a really good video. Just excuse the ad at the start!  Oh my goodness, the Tooth Fairy has really been slow to respond this week to #4 child's lost tooth! A week has gone by and still no sign of the $2 coin in the tooth jar. She's never been this bad!
So what to do? Well, I have just set a Reminder to deal with the Tooth Fairy tonight. It will make a sound and pop up a message up on my screen at 9pm tonight - a suitable time for dealing with Tooth Fairies! Have you discovered Reminders on your iPad and iPhone? Telling Siri what you want to be reminded about is a really quick and easy way to create Reminders without having to type a thing! Just hold down the Home button for a second or two and then tell Siri what you want to be reminded about (eg. "Remind me to put the bins out at 8pm tonight."). (If you have upgraded to iOS 7.1, you can keep the Home button held down while you give your instruction.) You will then be asked to confirm the Reminder details and voilà - a reminder is added to your reminder list. What a great tool for those of us who can't always rely on our memories any more! (Note. Siri is only available on iPhone on 4S and newer, and from iPad 3rd generation and newer. To turn on Siri, go to Settings -> General -> Siri. You will see there that you can choose for Siri to be either male or female - a new feature of iOS 7.1.) |
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