Ever been embarrassed or interrupted by your Apple Watch lighting up or playing a sound, such as when you’re in a movie or play, reading to your toddler, or enjoying a romantic interlude? It’s easy to make your Apple Watch chill out quickly with Theater Mode. Swipe up on the watch face to display Control…
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iOS 11 brings us a hefty dose of “New and Improved!” and dramatically changes the iPad experience. Let’s look at the most interesting of these changes. A new feature worth checking out immediately helps you save precious storage space. Choose Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage and you can offload unused apps (while keeping settings…
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It’s the time of year when Apple rolls out major operating system upgrades, and we know it’s tempting to push the “update” button when it appears on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad right away. Before you install, though, make sure you have a solid backup in place. If you should happen to be among the…
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At its highly anticipated product announcement event at the new Steve Jobs Theater, Apple didn’t disappoint. The big news was the revolutionary iPhone X, which eliminates the Home button and unlocks by recognizing your face. Apple also announced the evolutionary iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus; a cellular-capable Apple Watch Series 3; and the Apple…
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Backing up your Mac is like flossing: everyone knows they should do it, but too many people never get around to it. Unlike flossing, once you set up backups, they don’t require daily attention. And turning on Apple’s Time Machine backup feature is easy—simply open System Preferences > Time Machine, click Select Backup Disk, and…
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Worried that your Mac’s drive might be filling up? Or perhaps you want to see how much space you’re using as you research buying a backup drive or a new Mac. Regardless, Apple provides a quick and informative way to see how your drive is being used. Click the Apple menu, choose About This Mac,…
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You’ve probably heard of Apple Pay, but have you taken the time to set it up and use it to pay for purchases at checkout? Apple Pay is one of those living-in-the future Apple technologies that feels like science fiction every time you use it. Simply put your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch within an…
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Most Apple Watch users charge their watch every night, placing it on the charger as part of their bedtime routine. If you just lay it flat on the charger, however, you’re missing out on one of the Apple Watch’s best features: Nightstand Mode. To use Nightstand Mode, set your watch on its side, buttons up,…
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Quitting apps can help your Mac run better by freeing memory, but the opposite is true on an iOS device. On an iPhone or iPad, quitting apps usually makes the device run slower and consume more power. Here’s why quitters seldom win. When you’re using an iOS app—say, Safari—it’s accessing the CPU and radios and…
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