Try something new on your Mac or mobile devices…
Every year Apple introduces new features on their latest operating systems. They are always new and innovative, but every new feature is not for every user. Here are some of my favorites from this year. Hopefully you have upgraded your systems to iOS 17 and Mac OS Sonoma (see more about that here). Maybe my favorites will inspire you to try something new!
Widgets come to the Mac Desktop
If you have used a Mac for as long as I have you will probably remember Sticky Notes. They were literally icons that you added to your desktop that resembled paper sticky notes. I loved having them as quick ways to remember to access information. Mac widgets are not quite the same, but they allow you to personalize your desktop and get information at a glance while you work.
To add widgets to the desktop
On your Mac, Control-click the wallpaper, then choose Edit Widgets.
In the widget gallery, search for a widget. Or click a category to view its available widgets.
Some popular widget categories include: Contacts widget, Photos album widget, Music widget, Podcast widget, and the Stocks widget.
To add widgets to the desktop, do any of the following:
Automatically position a widget on the desktop: Click the widget (or click the + button ).
Manually position a widget on the desktop: Drag the widget to any position on the desktop.
To change the new widget’s location, drag it to another location on the desktop. If you decide you don’t want the new widget, Control click on it and select Remove .
When you’re finished adding widgets, click Done at the bottom-right corner of the widget gallery.
To customize your widgets, Control-click on one and you will see a few options under “edit widgets”.
Useful new Safari features
If you are anything like me you have a lot of open tabs in Safari. But now Apple has given us a new feature that has made my browsing more organized. It’s called Profiles.
You can keep your personal browsing separate from your work, school, and other browsing by creating a profile for each part of your life.
In the Safari app on your Mac, choose Safari > Settings, then click Profiles.
If this is your first profile, click Start Using Profiles.
Click the Add button + below the profiles list.
If this is your first profile, you can skip this step.
Enter a name for this profile, then choose an icon and color.
Choose a bookmarks folder for your favorite websites in this profile.
Click Create Profile.
Click Extensions to select the ones you want to use with this profile.
After you create Safari profiles, you can easily switch between them. In the Safari app on your Mac, choose File > New Window > New [profile name] Window. If you store passwords on iCloud Keychain, the passwords are available in any profile you create.
Live Voicemail is awesome on my iPhone!
Have you ever let a call go to voicemail and then wished you had answered it when you see the transcription in your voicemail messages? Live Voicemail lets you automatically see a real-time transcription as someone is leaving you a message. You can even pick up the call as they’re leaving their voicemail! This is a game changer for sure.
To turn on Live Voicemail, do the following:
Go to Settings > Phone > Live Voicemail.
Tap to turn on Live Voicemail.
When Live Voicemail is on, your iPhone answers an incoming call and displays the caller’s voicemail. The caller won’t be able to hear you and you won’t be able to hear them unless you choose to answer the call.
If your iPhone is turned off or is out of your carrier network’s range, the call is sent to carrier voicemail, if available.
If you have Silence Unknown Callers turned on, unknown numbers go directly to Live Voicemail without ringing you first. Calls identified as spam by your carrier don’t go through Live Voicemail and are instead instantly declined.
Have you made your own unique Contact Poster yet?
Maybe you have noticed a new image come up when your friends call you. Well now you too can create a unique screen that other people see when you call them. When you make a phone call, your Contact Poster appears on the screen of the person you’re calling.
Open the Contacts app on your phone
Tap My Card at the top, then tap Contact Photo & Poster.
Optionally, tap Name, enter your first and last name as you want it to appear to others, then tap Edit to pick a poster or create a new one. When customizing you can choose from Photos, Memoji, or just a plain monogram. Have fun!
Scroll to the bottom and turn on Name & Photo Sharing to start sharing your contact photo and poster with others.
You can share automatically with Contacts Only, or select Always Ask to be prompted before your name, photo, and poster are shared with anyone you’re communicating with.
I hope I have inspired you to try out some of the new features available to you if you have updated your devices. As always, I am here if you need more help.