How to set up Apple Pay

How to set up Apple Pay

Apple pay is a very convenient way to purchase items. It allows you to have your credit cards virtually on your phone so that you can make in-store purchases with only your iPhone. It also allows you to make online purchases with just a touch of your finger to your iphone or ipad. All you need to do for it to work is to set up!

How to add a card to Apple Pay

  1. Open the Wallet app from your homescreen
  2. In the right hand corner of the app there is a button. Tap that button.
  3. Hit Next on the Apple pay screen
  4. You can take a photo of your card to add it or manually enter the information
  5. Hit Next again as long as your information is correct
  6. Manually enter your card’s expiration date and Security code 
  7. Agree to the terms and conditions
  8. Select your verification method this could be an email, text, or call
  9. Tap Enter Code and enter verification code that was given to you.
  10. Hit Done 

You did it! Now your credit card is connected to Apple Pay. If you ever want to add more credit or debit cards just go back and repeat these steps.

Setting up Medical ID on iPhone

Setting up Medical ID on iPhone

Phones can be a valuable tool in an emergency especially since we are always carrying them. In an unfortunate event that you get in an accident or something happens to you, having information that allows responders to vital information about you as well as have an emergency contact is incredibly important. The iPhone now has a built-in system for this exact reason. It is called Medical ID. It is a good idea to take a few minutes and fill it out. Here is a step by step guide on where to find it and fill it out.

Your medical Id can be found in your health app. If you haven’t opened the health app yet you will be immediately prompted to fill it out. If you have opened the health app but haven’t set up the ID yet here are the steps to do so.

  1. Open the Health App and select the Medical ID tab
  2. If prompted, tap Create Medical ID
  3. Otherwise, tap Edit
  4. Enter any information you want to be available to emergency responders.
  5. Make sure Show When Locked is turned on. This will allow your Medical ID information to be accessed from your iPhone’s lock screen. This is important so that first responder can access your information without a passcode
  6. At the bottom of the Medical ID, there is a section to add emergency contacts. These contacts need to already be listed in your contacts and then you will be able to add them. The health app will then prompt you to add your connection to them.

Also if you use the IOS 11 SOS feature your emergency contacts will get a message saying that it was triggered and will have your current location. 

If you are ever in a situation where you need to see someone else’s emergency information, go to the lock screen and swipe up or on older iPhones, you need to double-tap on the home button to get the screen to enter a pin code and then hit the emergency button in the bottom left. That button will then be replaced with a medical ID button.

No more iTunes in the New Mac Fall Software Update

No more iTunes in the New Mac Fall Software Update

The newest version of the Apple operating system was just announced to be released in the fall. It is called Catalina based on the Catalina Islands off of the South Carolina coast. One of the big changes coming to the mac in the fall is the separation of the iTunes application based on function. The app will now be split into three apps: Music, Podcast, and TV.  The iTunes app has been available to the mac since 2001. Device management capabilities will now be housed in Finder which was different than before where it was controllable through iTunes.

Apple Music

This app will now hold everything to do with the music and also has adopted the same logo as the old iTunes. The music app has been designed for apple music but still retains the older features for non-subscribers. Your iTunes music library will be accessible through the Music App.  Now all of your Music will be in one spot, organized by artists, albums, songs, playlists, and recent additions via a new menu in the sidebar.

Apple Music subscribers will also see “For You”, “Browse”, and “Up Next” .

The Itunes Store to purchase music will still be available. You can also still import music from third-party sources like from CDs.

Apple Podcasts

The standalone Podcast app will replace the podcast function in iTunes. The “Listen now” feature will be how you continue to listen to podcasts as well as see if a new episode was released, and a spot for new recommendations.

There will be a Browse Tab that shows picks from Apple Editors plus podcasts focusing on current events, New & Noteworthy selections, Curated Collections, Categories, and more.

The Library will contain all the podcast you have subscribed to as well as episodes you’ve downloaded for offline listening. The podcasts will be sorted into Recently Updated, Shows, Episodes, and Downloads.

Apple TV

This new app will include a “Watch now” feature offers personalized recommendations of things that you might want to watch along with keeping track of shows that you’re currently watching through an “Up Next” feature.

You can start a show on any other Apple device and then pick it up on any other device now that the  TV app is available on your Mac. The app has a Channels feature, that allows you to subscribe and watch subscription content right in the Apple TV app, and later this year, the app will also house Apple TV+ content.

Another feature houses all of the TV shows and movies that you’ve purchased from iTunes, along with Movies, TV Shows, and Kids tabs for both discovering new content and making movie and TV show purchases or rentals.

 

AirPower Trademark Secured to Apple

AirPower Trademark Secured to Apple

On Thursday, March 21, Apple has finally secured the AirPower trademark since their first attempt in summer 2018.  Advanced Access Technologies had filed an earlier application to trademark the term.  However, Apple opposed their application in the trademark of AirPower in January 2019 because it would result in confusion with already existing products, such as AirPlay, AirPort, AirPods, and AirPrint.

After acquiring the AirPower trademark, there are more rumors suggesting the launch for their long-awaited charging accessory. AirPower is a charging mat that has been designed to charge Qi-based iPhones, the Apple Watch and AirPods, using a specially designed  wireless compatible AirPods Charging Case, which has also been expecting a soon release. The new mat is big enough to charge all three devices at once, with the AirPower being connected to an external power source.  It also has a feature that lets the iPhone display the battery level of each device on the charging mat.

Although the AirPower charging mat was initially to be released in 2018, it has been reported that they are still working out manufacturing issues for the product, such as software bugs and potentially overheating. As far as pricing for the AirPower charging mat, there has not been a given price except for rumors saying it will be between $130-$200. Based on existing Apple products and wireless accessories,, this sounds like the right price range for this new release.

App Store offers 10% more

App Store offers 10% more

If you are an Apple user, adding money to your iTunes and App Store accounts may end up benefiting you in the long run. On Sunday, March 10th, Apple launched a promotion allowing customers to obtain a 10% bonus when adding to their Apple Funds. This bonus will be valid until March 14th, 2019 and is being offered to customers adding between $1 and $200 to their accounts.

The promotion can be found on the iPhone by visiting the app store and clicking on the account icon in the top right corner. After clicking on the“AddFunds to Apple ID” tab located right above the“SignOut” tab, customers will be brought to a list of possible dollar amounts to add to their accounts ranging anywhere from $10 to $100 including the option to choose an unlisted amount by clicking on the tab labeled“Other”.All preset amounts include information regarding how much of a bonus would be received if the amount was added to their accounts(by adding $10 a $1 bonus is added, by adding $25 a $2.50 bonus is added etc.) and the same information is added to the“Other”option once it is picked and a dollar amount is added. The process works similarly on a MacBook with the main differences being that customers seeking out the promotion need to click on their icon at the bottom left corner of the app store and click on the link entitled“ViewInformation” in the upper right hand corner of the screen in order to add additional funds to their Apple accounts and get the bonus. 

This promotion is beneficial to Apple customers who find themselves generally spending a decent amount of their money on apps and music through both the App store and iTunes store considering it allows customers to buy more with less of an impact to their own personal funds. 

The promotion is available to Apple customers only in the United States, however similar promotions have been offered in various countries including Germany where Apple is offering a 15% bonus with the addition of funds to Apple accounts instead of a 10% bonus.  

 

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Replace Your iPhone Battery for $29

Replace Your iPhone Battery for $29

Usually, the cost to replace your iPhone battery is $79. However, last year Apple announced the price drop to $29 for users of the iPhone 6 or later. If you are fall into this category, now is the time to take advantage of this low price – you have until December 31!

Last December, Apple acknowledged the fact that iPhone users’ device performance had been lowering on its older models. Apple said the goal was to preserve battery life on those older phones and prevent them from shutting down unexpectedly, although many users believe it was make them purchase the latest model that came out that year.

Here are some tips to improve battery life in the mean time!

Low Battery Mode – turning on low battery mode in settings will help to preserve your battery a little longer, especially if your phone is on the verge of dying and you’re nowhere near a charger.

Close All Apps – pretty simple, right? Yet, most of us forget! If you’re not using an app, swipe to close it and see much longer your phone lasts you.

Don’t Overcharge – overcharging your phone can actually drain your battery quicker; always be sure to unplug as soon as it hits 100%, or even beforehand. And NEVER charge it overnight as your phone can be fully charged for hours!

 

Apple’s Next Big Event

Apple’s Next Big Event

Well, it’s about that time of year again for Apple’s event, where we’re all excited to find out about the latest version of Apple’s hottest product – top being the iPhone. On September 12th, we’ll hear about the redesigned version of last year’s iPhone X, new Apple Watch, and upcoming software.

iPhones: First up, the iPhone XS is an updated version of last year’s iPhone X,  having the same size 5.8-inch screen, but with improved internal specs, such as the other -S class updates Apple has had in the past. Next, the iPhone XS Max, also rumored as the iPhone XS Plus, is a larger, 6.5-inch version of the XS that offers a bigger screen and larger battery. Both XS phones will have the same features as last year’s X, with the new changes coming internally. There is, however, the chance that Apple will have some new feature for the XS models as previous -S class updates. Lastly, the new iPhone is said to be a cheaper, 6.1 inch version of the iPhone X/XS, and would still offer the bezel-less display and Face ID. Instead, it would possibly cut some of the X and XS phone’s more premium features like the OLED screen, stainless steel frame, and possibly the 3D Touch system. 

Watch:  It has been rumored that Apple will be offering a bigger display on the new Series 4 Watch for a nearly edge-to-edge design, along with a slimmer size than the previous versions since it had been introduced in 2015. Similar to last year’s Series 3, the new version will also have LTE capability, with a more subtle red ring on the digital crown to indicate the cellular status. The new version will come with watchOS 5, which adds automatic workout detection, a walkie-talkie mode, and better notifications.

Software: Although we’re all looking forward to seeing Apple’s latest products at this year’s event, we will also likely to be getting some final release dates for iOS 12, watchOS 5, tvOS, and possibly macOS Mojave. New features to be seen this year include Screen Time for tracking your time spent on your phone, better notifications, and a new custom emoji called “Memoji”.

We all know anything can happen at an Apple event, so we’re ready for some surprises too!

Why You Should Install The iOS 12 Update

Why You Should Install The iOS 12 Update

Apple iPhone
https://www.macrumors.com

 

The iOS 12 Update is said to help improve and speed up the way your smartphone operates.  This is why Apple users are saying that the iOS 12 update is one of the best software updates that Apple has had in years!

Getting The Beta Installed Is Made Simple: 

The steps of setting up the software are simple. The first step involves backing up your phone or tablet to ensure that all of your previous data remains protected. Protecting the data you had while using iOS 11 requires a full wipe and restoration of your Apple product. This process requires the following steps:

  1. Go to the Apple beta site on your iPhone or iPad, then sign in with your Apple ID.
  2. Download the beta settings profile and use your pin code to install it .
  3. Make sure you are connected to wifi.
  4. Look for updates in the settings app under General > Software Update.
  5. Download and then install the iOS 12 Public beta system.

Once you install the software, iOS 12 will make an automatic update as the new beta versions get released. Since older versions are no longer supported, this step is crucial to protecting your Apple device from any bugs.

The iOS 12 beta also includes new Screen Time tools, which is what makes the software update so great! This is used for monitoring how many times you use apps, how often you pick up or put down your phone, and other information that may be useful. This will also give you the ability to set app and device time limits for your children’s iPhones or iPads through the parental controls. Other exciting features consist of Apple’s new personalized Memoji. Memoji stacks notifications within the app so it is easier to process. This allows for speed improvement even for older iPhones.

If you want an iPhone that will guarantee you faster service, then update to iOS 12! For more information, click here.

 

Rumors Of New Apple ARM-Based Mac

Rumors Of New Apple ARM-Based Mac

According to DigiTimes , Apple is releasing a new ARM-based Mac product. This new ARM-based Mac product will likely be manufactured by Apple’s long time supplier, Pegatron. This rumor came  from a report on project “Kalamata.” “Kalamata” proposes that Apple is expecting to release ARM-based Macs in the future. The new Mac will include the use of a touchscreen, SIM card, GPS, compass, and water resistant feature that differ from the previous Macbook and Macbook Air.

http:/https://www.apple.com/mac/

 

The rumor, however, fails to comment on the use of the screen size, processor design, format, or keyboard, which implies that the new ARM-based Mac is similar to an IPad. The new Apple product, recently code-named as “Star,” will possibly be the project name under which Apple will release it’s ARM-based product. This ARM-based Mac will likely be similar to an IOS notebook. 

Pegatron’s Mac Prototypes 

Furthermore, prototypes for the new ARM-based product are underway. They will reveal the use of an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), similar to Apple’s Intel-based Macs. This suggests that an IOS ARM-powered Macbook will be Apple’s next move. Although DigiTimes did not release details  about Apple’s new project, it is likely that Pegatron will continue manufacturing these products. Pegatron will also ship these products to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. 

http://digitimes.com/pegatron

Rumors about Apple’s ARM-based products, however, started speculating in 2010. Apple made efforts to expand their CPU design group in 2010. Expanding the CPU design group involves poaching and new acquisitions for Apple. Nonetheless, Apple’s efforts to launch new products like the ARM-based product continued until 2017. In 2017, Apple released a report that they were planning to cut back on Intel. Therefore, other reports show a similarity in performance between the MacBook Pro of single-core performance and the multicore performance. However, the multicore performance includes the original 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display. 

With new rumors speculating about the release of an ARM-powered Mac manufactured by Pegatron, it should be exciting to see if Apple will be introducing this new product soon.

 

For more information, click here

Everyone Can Code: Bringing Coding To Everyone

Everyone Can Code: Bringing Coding To Everyone

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 17, Apple is hosting events nationwide to promote inclusive design and to show how beneficial technology can be for people with disabilities. One of these programs include working with blind and deaf communities across the US in order to bring accessible coding to schools. Starting in the fall, schools supporting disabilities will start teaching the Everyone Can Code curricula for Swift, Apple’s powerful new programming language.

Apple created the Everyone Can Code curriculum so students of all ages could learn and write code using Swift. Teachers could guide young students using iPads with Swift Playground installed, allowing them to use simple code to solve puzzles and control animated characters, whereas older developers could use the same program for app development within iOS.

The Everyone Can Code curriculum is also compatible with VoiceOver, the most advanced screen-reading technology available for people who are blind or low vision. This program describes nearly everything occurring on the screen, and is 

the most popular screen-reading technology of any mobile platform. Other accessibility features available to people who are deaf or hard of hearing include Type to Siri, closed captions, LED Flash for Alerts, Mono Audio, and Made for iPhone hearing aids. iPad and Everyone Can Code can also be used by students that have physical motor limitations by using Apple’s Switch Control, which allows devices such as joysticks and switches to control what is on the screen.

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, states “Apple’s mission is to make products as accessible as possible. We created Everyone Can Code because we believe all students deserve an opportunity to learn the language of technology. We hope to bring Everyone Can Code to even more schools around the world serving students with disabilities.”


For more information, click here