THE FLEXIBILITY OF what you can do with your Apple gear is amazing. Apple tech is so versatile; there’s just so much you can achieve with a Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. In this in–depth guide, we round up some of the best tips and tricks that enable you to be more creative, productive, solve problems, and features you might not have anticipated. Want to use your iPad as a drawing tablet? You can. Would you like to ask Siri to remember where you parked your car? We show you how. Ever wanted to write a novel or screenplay on your Mac? Discover the best way to get started. You can get an ECG, blood oxygen test, and loud environment report directly from your Apple Watch too.
For many of these tips, you already have everything you need bundled with your device’s operating system. For others, you might have to buy an extra app, though we’ve mostly concentrated on low–cost software.
So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our collection of interesting projects for all your Apple gear, and start to use your desktop or notebook Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Watch in a whole new way.
On the Mac
Amazing things you can do on your desktop or notebook Mac
Learn a language
1 Launched in 2012, Duolingo has grown into the internet’s most popular means of learning a language. In fact, in the US, more people are learning languages on Duolingo than in the entire public school system. Duolingo offers more than 100 total language courses for 42 distinct languages. These include endangered languages such as Hawaiian, Navajo, and Scottish Gaelic, and fictional tongues such as Game Of Thrones’ High Valyrian and Star Trek’s Klingon. It’s accessible through a browser on the Mac (www.duolingo.com), and there are apps for the iPad and iPhone for learning on the move. Language students should also have https://translate.google.com bookmarked, a great translation site.
Install a VPN
2 Online security is increasingly important these days. A VPN — Virtual Private Network — can do much to keep your data safe and protect your privacy. By disguising your location, it can also get around geo–blocking restrictions. If a website is UK–only, for example, just point your VPN at a UK–based server.
Enjoy your sounds
The Music app can rip your CDs so you can play them on your Mac, or stream sounds from the Apple Music service. But did you know you can minimize its interface so it doesn’t get in the way when you’re working? Click on the Window option in the top bar and select Mini Player, or press Opt+Cmd+M. You open a small window showing what’s currently playing and giving you basic controls when you hover over it.
