Tag Archives: Anchorage

Episode 278, iOS 18.4 for iPhone brings many new features and improvements

Apple, Apple Music, Technology, Uncategorized, Vision Pro, , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss the new features and enhancements brought by iOS 18.4, Apple’s most recent update for iPhones. Whether you’re in Anchorage, Alaska or anywhere else, this update is packed with changes that aim to improve your device’s performance, privacy, and overall user experience.​

iOS 18.4 introduces significant advancements in Apple Intelligence, Apple’s suite of AI-powered features.
Once you’ve installed iOS 18.4, you can open the Control Center, tap and hold an empty part of the screen, and hit the Add a Control button near the bottom of the display. Scroll down until you see the Ambient Music tab and select one of the controls. Apple lets you pick one of four moods: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. In the Control Center, tap and hold any of these playlists to reveal more options. You can tap From Library to add your own playlists to any of these controls.
Go to the News app on your iPhone. Tap Following at the bottom of the screen, tap Food, then scroll down to see stories and recipes. The more food content and recipes you read, the more personalized your recommendations are. Tap Recipe Catalog at the top of the feed or the Recipe Catalog button in the top-right corner, then do any of the following: Search by recipe title, ingredient, or keyword: Tap the search field, enter a term, then tap Search. Filter by category: Tap a category, such as Vegetarian.

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Episode 276, ‘Friday Night Baseball’ returns to Apple TV+ on March 28

Apple sports, Apple TV, iPad, iPad Pro, MLB Baseball, software, Technology, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss Apple “Friday Night Baseball” returns to Apple TV+ on March 28.  Apple and Major League Baseball announced that “Friday Night Baseball,” a weekly doubleheader available on Apple TV+, is set to return for the 2025 regular season. Fans across 60 countries and regions can enjoy two marquee matchups over 25 weeks, featuring enhanced production quality, expert commentary, and no local broadcast restrictions.

“Friday Night Baseball” will be available to Apple TV+ subscribers throughout the 2025 regular season, beginning on Friday, March 28. Subscription required, ™/© 2025 MLB.

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Episode 274, Introducing Apple Invites, a new app that brings people together for life’s special moments

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In this episode, we will discuss Apple’s introduction of Apple Invites, a new app for iPhone that helps users create custom invitations to gather friends and family for any occasion. With Apple Invites, users can create and easily share invitations, RSVP, contribute to Shared Albums, and engage with Apple Music playlists.

With Apple Invites, bringing events to life is easy and fun. Users can create, share, and RSVP to invitations through the Apple Invites app, or on the web from any device.
Image Playground is built right into Apple Invites, giving users an easy way to generate original images that make their invitation even more unique.
Hosts can easily view and manage their events, share invitations with a link, review RSVPs, and choose the details they want included in the preview, like the event background or a home address.

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Episode 273, Celebrate Heart Health Month by earning an Activity Award on Valentine’s Day

Apple Health, cardiology, fitness, Fitness+, health, heart health, Technology, , , , , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss how Apple is celebrating Heart Health Month.  We wanted to get this out so Apple and fitness enthusiasts can plan ahead.   Let’s go to the show for this quick update.

2025 Heart Health Month Activity Award available on Friday, February 14. 
Sticker Pack available for those who complete their exercise ring on Valentine’s Day.

 

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Episode 272, Using Apple Intelligence to summarize meeting transcripts using iPhone

Apple, Apple Intelligence, iPhone 15, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

In this episode, we will discuss how you can use Apple Intelligence to summarize meeting transcripts using iPhone.  Apple Intelligence is built into your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to help you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly.  We will cover the features of Apple Intelligence which just recently became available to users.

:Apple Intelligence is available in iOS 18.1 or later on all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
When finished the recording is saved in the call recordings folder in the Notes application. Open the file and you will see the recording.  Press on the three ellipsis and Apple Intelligence will create a summary which you can review for content.

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

Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.2, Technology, , , , , , , ,

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 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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