Category Archives: Technology

Episode 270, Apple Intelligence now features Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools enhancements, seamless support for ChatGPT, and visual intelligence

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In this episode, we will discuss Apple Intelligence now features Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools enhancements, seamless support for ChatGPT, and visual intelligence and more.  This came with Apple’s release this week of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, introducing a brand-new set of Apple Intelligence features that will elevate users’ experience with iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Happy Holidays from the Mac Minutes Podcast team.

This week’s release of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 brings new features to Apple Intelligence on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Image Playground allows users to easily create fun and unique images, with concepts like themes, costumes, accessories, and places.
Users can create their own unique emoji with Genmoji, making conversations with family and friends more fun and playful.
With Image Wand, users can transform a rough sketch into a polished image by simply circling it.
Describe Your Change in Writing Tools gives users even more flexibility and control by allowing them to specify the change they’d like to make to their text.

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Episode 269, Apple’s Find My enables users to share the location of lost items with third parties

Air Travel, AirTags, Apple, Identification, iPad, Technology, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss Apple’s Find My enables users to share the location of lost items with third parties. Now available in beta with iOS 18.2, users can share a secure link with the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with others — and soon, with airlines.

Share Item Location is a new iOS feature that helps users locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with third parties such as airlines.
After a user generates a Share Item Location link in the Find My app on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the recipients will be able to view a website that shows a location of the item on an interactive map.
Find My is built with privacy and safety at its core — the shared location will be disabled as soon as a user is reunited with their item, can be stopped by the owner at any time, and will automatically expire after seven days
Find My is built with privacy and safety at its core — the shared location will be disabled as soon as a user is reunited with their item, can be stopped by the owner at any time, and will automatically expire after seven days.

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Episode 266, iOS18, Satellite Messaging on your iPhone

Apple Health, Computers, Emergency SOS, fitness, iOS16, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, Satellite Messenging, Technology, , , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss Apple’ introduction of Messenging via satellite on your iPhone that is now available with iOS18.  With all model of iPhone 14 or later, you can send iMessages or SMS messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

Try the Satellite Connection demo — To learn how to connect to a satellite, open the Settings app > Apps > Messages, then tap Satellite Connection Demo.
When your iPhone detects that you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, it alerts you — on the Lock Screen, you get a prompt that you can send and receive messages via satellite. Otherwise, you get a notification to Use Messages via Satellite when you open the Messages app.
To send a message, just open the Messages app — you’ll be prompted start accepting messages, if you haven’t already, and your iPhone provides instructions to connect to a satellite to send a text. If you have iPhone 14 Pro or later, the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen has indicator dots that show the strength of your connection and, if your connection could be improved, arrows that direct you to turn left or right. You can tap the Dynamic Island to open Connection Assistant for more help.
If you have cellular or Wi-Fi coverage and you’re messaging with someone who is using Messages via satellite:  In iMessage conversations, you see an alert that your contact is accepting messages via satellite.  After you tap send, you need to also tap Send via Satellite underneath the message bubble. If you have cellular or Wi-Fi coverage and you’re messaging with someone who is using Messages via satellite: If you’re an emergency contact or a member of a Family Sharing group, you can send an SMS message before your contact sends you a message via satellite. They’ll receive the message once they start accepting messages via satellite.

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Episode 265, Apple launches macOS Sequoia with new and improved features

2024 Apple Event, Apple, Apple Event, business, Computers, iOS16, iPadOS 16, iPhone, Mac OS Sequoia, National Parks, safety, security, software, Technology, , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss Apple’ introduction of macOS Sequoia, now in the public format, bringing iPhone Mirroring, Apple Intelligence, and more improvements to Mac. We will talk more about these and other significant new features and upgrades to our desktop system. For a comprehensive list of everything that’s new in macOS Sequoia visit this link furnished from Apple.

macOS Sequoia now features iPhone Mirroring; new updates to Safari, video conferencing, and more; and starting next month, will mark the arrival of Apple Intelligence on Mac.
With iPhone Mirroring, users can now fully access and engage with their iPhone right from Mac while iPhone remains locked nearby.
Highlights in Safari make it even easier to discover information on the web, quickly pulling up relevant information about a site.
Easier window tiling lets users quickly drag windows into key areas on their screen to effortlessly arrange them into side-by-side tiles, or place them into corners to keep even more apps in view.
A new Passwords app makes it even easier to access passwords and organize credentials all in one place.
Users can select beautiful built-in backgrounds, while Apple’s industry-leading segmentation technology helps them look their best while video conferencing with macOS Sequoia.

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Episode 262, Apple celebrates America’s national parks with an Apple Pay donation campaign and new ways to explore with Apple Maps

Activity Awards, Apple, Apple Health, Apple Watch, education, fitness, health, heart health, medical, National Parks, Technology, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss how Apple is celebrating America’s national parks with an Apple Pay donation campaign and new ways to explore with Apple Maps.  We will also telll you how to earn an activity award on Sunday, August 25 by participating in a fitness activity.  (Graphics courtesy of Apple Inc.)

This week, Apple celebrates the 108th birthday of the U.S. National Park Service with an Apple Pay donation campaign and new ways to explore with Apple Maps. Photo by Jude Allen. Shot on iPhone 14 Pro.
On August 25, Apple Watch users can earn a limited-edition award and animated stickers for Messages to celebrate national parks.
This fall, Apple Maps users can explore thousands of hikes in U.S. national parks and save them for offline use.
On August 25, Apple Watch users can earn a limited-edition award and animated stickers for Messages to celebrate national parks.

On August 25, Apple Watch users can earn a limited-edition award and several animated stickers for Messages to celebrate national parks.

 

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Episode 261, watchOS 11 brings powerful health and fitness insights, and even more personalization and connectivity

Apple, Apple Health, fitness, Fitness+, health, heart health, medical, safety, software, Technology, watchOS 11, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss the newest operating system watchOS 11.  watchOS11 brings powerful health and fitness insights, and even more personalization.  Apple is introducing the Vitals app, training load, pregnancy health and new ways to tailor Activity rings.  We will discuss these and more.

watchOS 11 offers breakthrough insights into users’ health and fitness, and more personalization than ever.
With the new Vitals app, Apple Watch users can quickly view key overnight health metrics, receive alerts when two or more metrics are out of their typical range, and gain better context when it comes to their health.
With the new Vitals app, Apple Watch users can quickly view key overnight health metrics, receive alerts when two or more metrics are out of their typical range, and gain better context when it comes to their health.
When users log a pregnancy in the Health app on iPhone or iPad, the Cycle Tracking app on Apple Watch will show their gestational age and allow them to log symptoms for things frequently experienced during pregnancy.
Training load is an insightful new way to measure how the intensity and duration of workouts is impacting a user’s body over time, established using effort ratings available after each.
Apple Watch will establish a 28-day training load, a weighted average taking into account both the effort ratings and duration of users’ workouts over this period.
With the new Vitals app, Apple Watch users can quickly view key overnight health metrics, receive alerts when two or more metrics are out of their typical range, and gain better context when it comes to their health.

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Episode 259, Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Apple, Apple Event, Computers, Developer, iPad, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, software, Technology, Uncategorized, WWDC 2024, , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss news on Apple Intelligence and its ability to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant.  It will be the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Apple Intelligence — the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac — combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that’s useful and relevant to the user.

With Priority Messages in Mail, a new section at the top of the inbox shows the most urgent emails.

Priority Notifications surface what’s most important, and summaries help users scan long or stacked notifications to show key details right on the Lock Screen.

In Messages, users can use Image Playground to quickly create fun images for their friends, and see personalized suggested concepts related to their conversations.

Users can pick someone from their photos and create a Genmoji that looks like them.

The new Clean Up tool in Photos can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.
The new Clean Up tool in Photos can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

 

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Episode 258, New features come to Apple services this fall

Apple, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Music, fitness, Fitness+, Technology, Uncategorized, Vision Pro, , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss news of Apple announcing new services coming to customers this fall. Users can explore hikes in Apple Maps, redeem rewards and access installments with Apple Pay, enjoy a redesigned Apple Fitness+ experience, and more.

Apple is enhancing the services users love with all-new features coming this fall with the release of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and tvOS 18.
Apple Maps introduces even more ways to explore the world, like the ability for users to create their own custom walking routes.
Users get new ways to pay with Apple Pay, including the ability to redeem rewards and access installments from their eligible credit or debit cards.
Tickets in Apple Wallet bring fans a richer experience, including stadium details, recommended Apple Music playlists, and more.
Mail introduces new ways to manage an inbox with categorization that includes Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions.

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Episode 256, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference to kick off Monday, June 10 with Keynote address

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In this episode, we will discuss Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.  The annual online conference takes place June 10-14 and promises an incredible week of technology and innovation.

Apple announced the winners of the 2024 Apple Design Awards. You can find out more about the apps at: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/06/apple-announces-winners-of-the-2024-apple-design-awards/

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Episode 254, Apple Watch can make your golfing experience better

Apple, Apple Health, Apple sports, Apple Watch, fitness, Fitness+, health, Sports, Technology, watchOS 10, WWDC 2024, , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss how Apple Watch is the perfect golfing companion. We will learn more how Apple Watch proves itself as a versatile device for golfers to stay connected, active, and healthy.  We will also cover a suite of great golfing apps offers users course information, as well as tools and insights to keep track of and help improve their game.

Apple Watch is a versatile device for golfers to stay connected, active, and healthy, and with a suite of great golfing apps, users can access course information, tools, and insights to improve their game. Golfshot users can set the pin on each hole to get accurate Strokes Gained statistics on their putting and identify which part of their game needs more improvement.

Apple Watch sensors combined with Golfshot’s Swing ID feature offer a comprehensive analysis of a golfer’s swing from the beginning to the end of the motion.
The API released in watchOS 10 helps detect rapid changes in velocity and acceleration to help users improve their golf swing and performance.
The API released in watchOS 10 helps detect rapid changes in velocity and acceleration to help users improve their golf swing and performance.
Using machine learning, Golfshot offers Auto Shot Tracking on Apple Watch to automatically track every shot.

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