New Updates - iPhone, iPad and Watch

December 15, 2021 - Apple has released iOS 15.2 with important security features. 

This is an important release and we highly recommend that you install it at your earliest convenience. It contains a ton of security fixes which help further protect you from the bad guys…. and the bad guys are very active right now.

It also contains an important new feature called “Legacy Contact” that allows you to assign someone who will be able to access your device in the event of your passing. Without this all of your memories, photos etc would not be accessible to next of kin etc. After installing 15.2 go to “Settings” then click on your account (usually your name at the top), the click on “Password & Security” and towards the bottom you will see “Legacy Contact”. 

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READ Apple's article about Digital Legacy and begin to 1) THINK about it, 2) DISCUSS with other iPhone users, 3) discuss with potential designees (trusted family or friends), 4) RE-READ article and take the first steps…

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For other opinions on this new feature return to this post for new reports. Beginning with The Wall Street Journal has just published Joanna Stern's article The iPhone Feature to Turn On Before You Die - The new Legacy Contact setting in iOS 15.2 lets you specify who can access your Apple iCloud information after you die. Here’s how to set it up. Included in the WSJ article is a link to Joanna's documentary film that is a conversation starter - How Tech Can Bring Our Loved Ones to Life After They Die - Voicebots, Humanoids and Other Tools Capture Memories for Future Generations. 

Reminds me to talk with friends and family, tell stories and jokes. Live and love. 

Take care, be safe. Happy Holidays. 

Our team will not be running a full class during the spring semester, but we do plan to do a couple (or a few) pop-up classes during that period, focusing on changes to the IOS environment, hints and recommendations … and filling in some of the gaps from our fall classes. 

Accessibility - Explore the features

Accessibility is built into the Settings app. If you have visited this area to change font size or display contrast in the past, it is time to visit this area again. Many new features are here and you can expect more to arrive with every OS update. 

In researching the previous post on the Notes app I made a new discovery that is hidden in the long list. Here it is as a teaser and reason to explore other accessibility features that will help you enjoy your iPhone and iPad even more. 

Notes & Accessibility

Make the Notes app work for you by customizing how it appears on-screen. Settings > Accessibility > scroll down the page to Per-App Settings > Add App > scroll to Notes. Now tap on Notes to see options. I’ve changed Increase Contrast to ON; Smart Invert to ON. Try various option that improve your experience with Notes. [FYI: Accessibility > Per-App Settings DID NOT SYNC to my iPad.]

Stretching Class, Notes and more

This was a packed last meeting for this semester. Come back to read new articles posted to this site during our Spring Hiatus. 

Website stuck on Feb 12 entry	iPhone or iPad device??? Refresh the page. Find the link called HOME. Will look different on iPhone than on iPad.
Website	RS iOS Basics website will continue to be available with occasional posts. https://rsiosbasics.blogspot.com RECENT posts are about scams.
More Junk Mail after iOS update	To me, more junk mail was not caused by an iOS update. Read the article Identify and filter junk mail in iCloud from Apple for clues.
Google Voice?	What do you know about voice.google.com? Has anyone in the group tried this land line alternative? Google Voice was mentioned at MacNexus class last week. This could be a privacy issue because Google will know all your contacts and the numbers you call. One of the twists in our digital lives these days.
Bundled Services	Tom has a great tip - if you have BUNDLED service of TV, Internet and Phone calls - but he does not connect the phone. Give this number to all the solicitors you really don’t want to talk to.
Contacts	How do I add my addresses from my iMac to my iPhone? Laura - your iCloud settings would SYNC contacts
Senior Planet Morning Stretch class	Jane shared this online Zoom class @ 7 am, M-F. Afternoon class 1 pm Tu & Th. Free classes. http://seniorplanet.org click on Upcoming Events button then Fitness & Wellness Events … Review list of events … and join in. The Morning Stretch/Afternoon Stretch class begins in a chair then progresses. Many resources available for seniors on this site.
Google Lens is part of the Google app	Find the Search box but look for the Camera icon to Search by Camera! (Translate, Text, Search, Homework, Shopping, Places, and Dining). Use the Google app - and UPDATE it - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google/id284815942
Read User Guide	The free Apple iPhone User Guide and the iPad User Guide have chapters on the Notes app. Review for new tips not covered during class.
Notes app	Many uses for Notes - keep a website. Open Safari use the Share button > tap on the Notes icon above the list. Add your own text details about this website. Move photos to Notes; Paprika recipes as text to Notes. View Notes with Attachments or as a Gallery (thumbnail view). Share button to Send or Print to WiFi printer. Read about Smart Folders in the User Guide. Create a checklist using the buttons above the keyboard. Scan a document - WOW - make a new Note and click on the Camera icon to open it and position the page under the camera. The scan will be automatic - tap Done.
Memo app on Android	How to import from Gmail account to Apple Notes? Try a Google Search with this prompt: how to import Android Memo to Apple Notes
Notes icons are hard to see	The action buttons for Notes app are gold on white screen. Maybe your Control Center has the INVERT button to change from white screen to black screen. Then the gold buttons will show up better.
Navigation in Notes	Sidebar on the left on iPad. Read the User Guide to see the buttons you want to find in the various views.
Notes & Accessibility	Make the Notes app work for you by customizing how it appears on-screen. Settings > Accessibility > scroll down the page to Per-App Settings > Add App > scroll to Notes. Now tap on Notes to see options. I’ve changed Increase Contrast to ON; Smart Invert to ON. Try various option that improve your experience with Notes. [FYI: Accessibility > Per-App Settings DID NOT SYNC to my iPad.]
Notes and Siri	Use Siri to make a new Note. Use the dictation feature (microphone icon on keyboard) to speak and have the text appear in the note.
Notes to Mail	The first line of your Note becomes the title of the note. If you share a note via email, the title becomes the subject line of the email message. This is a great way to consistently create email to a group of people.
Move Notes from Exchange to iCloud Notes	If your device has been setup to have multiple Mail Accounts, then there are options to turn on Notes from different sources like Exchange and Google. Open a note and look for the (…) button to see Move Note option.
Notes - Organize	Can make a custom folder to collect related notes manually.
Notes - Find Scans	Look for ( …) button and tap View Attachments to see a section named Scans.
Record a conversation	Use free Apple Voice Memo app to record audio. Read Use the Voice Memos app and then explore what you can do.
Search function is powerful	Carol does not make folders, she uses Search that can even find scanned documents (OCR stands for optical character recognition).
Pin Notes used frequently	Pin to the top of the list for easy access. Swipe to set Pin on/off.
iCloud - Settings	Sync all your Notes on devices.
Notes does not take up much space on your device	If your notes are mostly text then the Notes database does not take up much space on your device. If you are scanning documents as attachment then more space is used. Occasionally review scanned attachments and delete if no longer needed.
Turn off iPhone and reboot	Clean up gremlins when apps misbehave
Spring 2022	We hope to announce pop-up sessions. We will announce via email and on our website. Registration for pop-ups will be through the CCE Registration System.
iOS 15.2 soon	Expected new feature will be Digital Legacy designee to manage your digital resources and life. More security features. Read Forbes article Apple iOS 15.2: The Next iPhone Software Has 1 Awesome Upgradefor a preview.
iCloud lists devices associated with Apple ID	Look at list, see device details - make a screen snapshot then delete OLD devices.

Protect Yourself - Let's Discuss

We need to crowd-source best practices on how to protect our information, bank cards and be prepared for online purchases. The time you take now will be short compared to the fix-it-time after the scam. 

To start off - 

Know your Apple ID and password, the One account for everything Apple. Keep this information safe and do not share with others. Do not give this information away to anyone on the phone. Do you need help with your Apple ID, read If you forgot your Apple ID password where you can learn how to to use a family member's device to update your Apple ID password. 

If you do not have Two-Factor Authentication, 2FA, turned on - DO IT NOW! Read Two-factor authentication for Apple ID you will also want to use a PASSCODE to unlock all your Apple devices. 

Other articles to read are Security and your Apple ID and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams. 

Review your Apple Trusted devices on the Apple ID Support site. Remove devices if you trade-in, sell or give away. 

... there will be a test after reading this material. No, just kidding. But read now and come back and read these articles again. When you need help from Apple Support you will have some background for the questions they ask and the answers they provide. 

It is helpful to have more than one email account. You will have a primary email that is used for connecting with friends and family and many others. The fall-back email is one you do not share widely - and it will be used for your Apple ID Notifications or as an alternative way to contact you. The fall-back email can be used for other online accounts as well. You need to know the strong password given to this account. 

Make some time to record how your credit cards are used. Keep track of the cards, issuing bank and the customer service phone number. What reoccurring payments are made and the annual or monthly schedule for payments. Print and file recent account statements. Review for unusual charges. 

An Apple Credit Card from Goldman Sachs does not have an embossed number. There is a chip and behind the scenes there is a credit card number. Look in Apple Wallet on your iPhone to see it. Make a screen snapshot of this information and file it in a secure location. If you experience a security breach and this card is involved, you can request a new credit card number from GS. On an iPhone or Apple Watch, credit cards registered with Apple Pay / Apple Wallet send tokens from each point-of-sale, not your credit card number. 

Scams - afoot!

Tis the season for trouble in the middle of connections, laughter, joy and spending. So watch out! 

The scammer might send you a text message. Or email. Someone might call your landline or mobile phone. The scammer might report a big charge on your account. 

There is NO URGENCY TO ACT. 

If you pickup the phone, get a call-back number, get a case number, get a name. Jot down the day, time and phone number from the list of Recent calls on your iPhone. 

DO NOT take an incoming call from a bank or from Apple at this time. You want to make the call based on your records / bill to the company phone number for such communication. 

If this was a report about a credit card charge, look for the charged amount by calling the number on the back of your credit card or use the credit card app on your iPhone to check on recent activity. If you use Apple Pay or have credit cards apps on your iPhone, check for activity. Set notification alerts for spending over  ... $100 (any amount you choose) so you are always in the loop and not surprised by a scammer. If needed, make an appointment to visit the Apple Store to get things straightened out. 

After your research tells you a charge has been made then YOU make the call to your credit card company and report the wrong payment, the case number, and the name of the "employee" you spoke with. 

Report any scams to your credit card company. 

If someone calls you pretending to be from Apple, get a call-back number, get a case number, get a name. Jot down the day, time and phone number from the list of Recent calls on your iPhone. You want to call the Apple Support team, available 24/7. If someone asks you to change your Apple Wallet settings/cards or asks for your password - HANG UP IMMEDIATELY. 

If you get a phone call or message or email reporting a family member or friend is in need of financial help - DO NOT buy any gift cards to pay off bail or debts, etc. There is no urgency to act. Call a friend to discuss this report. Call your family to confirm there are no problems. Sleep easier. 

Incoming calls and incoming messages or emails are how scammers draw us in. When in doubt (and be skeptical all the time) YOU MAKE THE CALL - based on information on a bill or receipt. 

Health apps - iPhone

Tom introduced us to the many ways our iPhone and Apple Watch can give us insight into our health and changes over time. 

Most health and fitness apps will be on your iPhone. Your vaccine record cannot be added to the Wallet app until you have updated your iPhone to iOS 15.1. 

Health - iPhone	Remember to use Spotlight Search to find apps on your devices. Swipe down on any Home Screen to see the Search field at the top of the screen. Or Ask Siri - just say “Open the Health app”
Health app	Set up your Medical ID in the Health app on your iPhone https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207021 and Use the Health app on your iPhone https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203037 also View health records on your iPhone https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208680
Call Apple	When you purchase an Apple Watch from Apple Store you will get an email offering to help set it up. Take advantage of this offer! If you didn’t buy the watch from Apple. contact Apple Support anyway!
Fitness app - Apple Watch required	Apple Fitness app tracks in RINGS - Move, Exercise & Stand. Workouts tracked. Mindfulness (Breathe app) and Trends on Summary page. Tap Rings to see specifics for current day.
Fitness app	Fitness app is installed when you connect an Apple Watch to your iPhone. Setup Activity options on Apple Watch app.
Fitness+ subscription	Apple Fitness+ is subscription $80 annual or $10/mo - requires Apple Watch.
Fitness goals	How-To Geek article How to Change Apple Watch Move, Stand, and Exercise Goals https://www.howtogeek.com/694028/how-to-change-apple-watch-move-stand-and-exercise-goals/
Apple YouTube app on Health app shown in class	Get to know the Health app on your iPhone https://youtu.be/IGsRxmC40Bw in 2:35 minutes
Blood Pressure Monitor - Bluetooth	Each device will need an app to capture information and then you allow it to share info with Apple’s Health app.
Connect to health care provider	Upload options to share health data. This is a one-way information flow - from your provider to the Health app on your iPhone. Health app information can be exported (to PDF) and then you can share to your doctor as email attachment.
Record data manually	Record consumption or analog readings by using the Add Data feature in each category in the Health app.
Apple Watch	info on features available; buy at Apple Store, Best Buy or Costco (other). Size & fit. Bands.  Best Buy has a nice way to compare models Choose Apple Watch models to compare Tom’s Guide offers Apple Watch: Top 10 Featuresfrom 2015 Wareable offers 67 Apple Watch tips and features: become a smartwatch ninja from 2021
Devices	After iOS upgrades and purchase of new devices, check, double-check and re-check that devices are reporting as expected to Health app
Network changes and upgrades?	Check that your devices are reporting to the Health app as expected. You might need to un-pair and re-pair Bluetooth devices or update the network password on wifi devices.
Medical Devices - read about what is available	C|Net Wellness lists many articles Medical - Learn how tech is changing how we care for everyone, young and old. including Best medical alerts of 2021 and 6 devices to keep tabs on your aging family members without invading their privacy