Table of contents for No. 182 in iCreate

With millions of apps available for our Macs and iOS devices, it is easy to settle with those that we know and love and not look too much further afield for alternatives. But don’t forget that not every innovation in your device’s bolt-on apps comes directly from Apple. Sometimes exceptional features are incorporated from third-party apps – apps that have been readily available for months, even years, before the system update that embraces them. So we thought that it was the perfect time to mine for gold in the App Store and discover the best apps currently available for your Apple devices. Some may showcase the hardware perfectly and make exceptional use of the operating systems, others may look fairly bland at face value, but add brilliant additional functionality to…

Choosing the 100 greatest apps is a challenge of gigantic proportions because there are millions available and one person’s opinion will differ wildly to another’s. We will, however, give it a shot and garner you with what we believe to be a selection of wonderful apps that are available on all of Apple’s main platforms that showcase the hardware or perform tasks better than the bolt-on apps. From titles that stretch the boundaries of what is possible on a mobile device to those that simply offer an innovative approach to an age-old problem, you are sure to find exactly what you need for any task. Let the downloads commence… 1 Shazam Encore This app has been around for ages and has proved to be invaluable for millions of people. It…

TV shows such as The Walking Dead put their audience on edge from the start using their title sequence. Shots of abandoned houses and empty landscapes are graded to create a dark take on reality (especially when accompanied by a menacing theme tune). Thanks to iMovie’s suite of grading tools and effects we can give our pristine HD footage a rough and ready analogue look that will suit a spooky title sequence. ilable By default you can only add one effect to a clip in iMovie, whereas in Final Cut Pro X you can add multiple effect layers. We’ll show you how to work round iMovie’s one effect limit to add a range of effects to change the mood of your clips. Step-by-step Add multiple effects to your footage 1…

Create effect After combining multiple effects and manually tweaking their settings to improve our first GoPro clip, we can save the results as a new custom effect. We can also store that new effect in a custom category (such as GoPro Effects). Raw footage Here we have three GoPro sourced clips that were captured using a neutral picture style setting. This preserves shadow and highlight detail but creates clips that have a flat contrast and drab colours. Inspector properties We’ve adjusted a clip using a range of preset effects from the effects browser. These effects (such as Sharpen, Crisp Contrast and Hue/Saturation) can be fine-tuned by adjusting the appropriate sliders in the Inspector. Drag and drop Your custom effect presets can be located by clicking on your custom category in…

Logic’s Retro Synth instrument combines four vintage synths in one plugin, each with its own type of synthesis. It offers standard analogue subtractive synthesis, analogue synthesis with synced oscillators and wavetable and FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis. In this tutorial we’re going to focus on analogue subtractive synthesis, which featured in the first compact analogue synths like the Minimoog. It’s called ilable subtractive synthesis because it treats sound like a sculptor would treat a block of clay – chipping away and modifying the sound with filters and envelopes. So follow along as we craft a basic, monophonic lead sound from the scratch default preset. Step-by-step Subtractive analogue synthesis with Retro Synth 1 Open Retro Synth First, launch Logic and create a new Software Instrument track. In the channel inspector, click on…

If the Mac is running slowly and you want to know why, click Go>Utilities and open Activity Monitor. This is a general purpose tool for analysing the state of the system and the two most important tabs for discovering what is slowing down the Mac are CPU and Memory, which we look at here. Go to the ‘View’ menu and select ‘All Processes’ to make sure you are seeing all items. 1 Check CPU usage Select the CPU tab and click the ‘% CPU’ column header to sort the list with the highest usage items at the top. Here you can see that two URLs are using over 90% CPU. Close these Safari tabs. 2 Check memory usage Select the Memory tab to see what is causing the memory pressure…

As well as being able to make changes in your Account settings in eBay, you can also alter your preferences for creating a listing. This allows you to select your payment methods, dispatch time, the location your item is held in, whether or not you wish to auto-list, your preference for accepting returns and more. You can see your current preferences by looking at the bottom of your listing page but here is how you can change them. 1 Start a listing Click ‘Sell’ in eBay to start creating a listing. Then scroll to the very bottom of the screen where you’ll see a Settings icon and a list of preferences. Have a look at them and if you don’t like what you see, click ‘Change’. 2 Make the changes…

Smart Converter does more than just convert video files from one format to another and it can also convert audio file formats. It supports the main ones, Apple AAC, MP3, Windows WAV, and the popular free OGG format. It can also strip the audio from video files and save it in the selected audio file format. This could be useful if you want to edit the audio in a utility and then put it back in a video editor. 1 Add audio files The app works the same way as for videos. Use File, Open to select an audio or video file to convert, or open a Finder window and then enter ‘kind:audio’ or ‘kind:mp3’ and drag the file to convert. 2 Convert the audio Click the Music button or,…

Despite the fact that MarsEdit is different to the content management systems you would use directly from the main hosting providers, you will be able to preview your work as you create it in perfect clarity. You have every opportunity to ensure that what the world will see is displayed perfectly on your blog or website. The only change is that the MarsEdit interface is different; the content remains true to your creativity. 1 As you type The main panel displays your blog post accurately as you create it, but you still have to be sure that it will look how you want it to when it is published. You will get used to not previewing your work. 2 Preview the post When you click on ‘Preview’ at the top…

Some websites do not have suitable favicons that work when displayed on the Mac and many have none at all. There is, however, an easy way to personalise your new Fluid apps using icons that are readily available and mostly fine for personal use. Here we’ll demonstrate how to add your own icon. Remember to choose a name for your app that is recognisable as well and not too long. These are ‘your’ apps to play with. 1 Find an icon First up, open your favourite search engine and search for the service you want to use plus ‘icon’. Now look for a standard image file such as .jpg or .png and save it to a suitable location on your Mac. 2 Select and personalise Click the ‘Icon’ option and…

Last issue we showed you how easy it is to create custom ringtones for your iPhone that you can assign to specific contacts so that you’ll know who is calling without looking at your screen. But what if you don’t want to draw attention to yourself by having your iPhone blare out ringtones? No problem, you can set it to vibrate only and, as we will show you here, assign a custom vibration pattern to specific contacts so that you will know who is calling without even removing your iPhone from your pocket! The process is quick and easy and you can create as many custom vibration patterns as you want – so why not tap out the beats from your favourite tunes? The possibilities are endless. Step-by-step Create custom…

You may think that the only music offerings are Apple Music, Spotify and the other big players in the streaming sector, but that is not the case. Bandcamp lets you access and preview thousands of tracks and artists who haven’t hit the big time yet and, if you are into your music, you will be aware that the unknown artists are often just as good as the mainstream acts. While the service concentrates on streaming when it comes to music purchases, you can download anything you buy and use it on your iPhone or iPad following a simple transfer process. It is a manual setup in comparison to, for example, Apple Music, but you do get a choice of audio formats and you can purchase each track separately which you…

The Apple Watch has, since its launch, presented your apps in a hexagonal grid with the clock app positioned directly in the middle of the screen. This has served most Watch users very well indeed but that’s not to say that the arrangement can’t be a little fiddly at times. Certainly, if you have lots of apps, then finding the one you want among a sea of app icons is not always an easy task. So, for that reason, Apple has decided to add a second option, one which presents you with your apps neatly organised within an alphabetically ordered list. The great news is that you can switch between Grid View and List View in next to no time, allowing you to decide on-the-fly which of the two you…

Key information Aside from being told the age-rating and whether there are subtitles available, you can discover the running time, read a description and see what Prime and IMDb users think about a show. Select the episodes TV shows have multiple episodes so simply navigate to the one you wish to watch and select it. Amazon tells you how the content can be viewed – either through a subscription, purchase or rental. Suggested programming Want some ideas about what to watch next? Select ‘Customers Also Watched’ and see the related shows that other users have enjoyed. Cast details Want to know who is starring in a show? Just select the ‘Cast’ option at the top of the screen. You can then navigate the actors using the touchpad and read a…

I have heard that it is possible to rename multiple files in batches on my Mac. How is this done? Christa Johnston 1 Highlight and select Select multiple files in a Finder window and then right-click to see further options. Click ‘Rename x items’ and a smaller panel will appear with options to select from. 2 Experiment a little You can now replace specific text in each file name to make them searchable or even change the format so that they can be processed as a single batch. 3 File management Once you have changed the file names as a batch you can now right-click and select ‘New Folder with Selection…’ to create a fully renamed batch of files to work on. Someone told me that I can share music…

Key features 2K QHD High Resolution • 100% Rec.709 and sRGB colour space Learn more vifa.dk Available from amazon.co.uk Named after European capital cities, Vifa’s range of portable Bluetooth speakers are a sleek and stylish bunch that really pack a punch in terms of sound quality. The audio company’s latest release, the Reykjavik, continues the theme on all counts. Ultra-compact, the Reykjavik’s pebble-like design is intriguing and understated – just like the Icelandic nature that inspired its design. The smallest unit in the Vifa range, the shape of the Reykjavik’s design allows for a 360-degree swirl of sound courtesy of its twin 19mm tweeters and 70mm woofer – and the quality of audio it produces is crisp, well-rounded and can be edged up to serious levels without cracking…

Key features 99% AdobeRGB, 100% sRGB • 1.074 billion colours • IPS Learn more philips.co.uk Available from amazon.co.uk Phillips’ 328P6AUBREB Brilliance monitor with HDR delivers a wide colour range for lifelike clarity in images and features an expansive crystal-clear QHD IPS display for full colours and wide viewing angles. Perfect for professional photographers, video editors and graphic designers, the High Dynamic Range delivers astonishing brightness combined with deeper, more nuanced darks, as well as a vast palette of colours – 1.074 billion of them to be precise. Supported by 12-bit internal processing, the colours look incredibly natural with smooth gradients and the IPS technology means that they can be viewed from an angle of up to 178 degrees without losing any accuracy. As well as stunning visuals, the…

“With its professional toolset there is always something new and cool to discover” Requirements macOS 10.11.5 or later • 64-bit processor • 460MB Learn more reallusion.com Available from Mac App Store You may have to rush to snap up CrazyTalk Animator 3.1 at its sale price, but even at its full price of £69.99 for the standard edition (or £179 for the Pro edition) it is well worth the money. This release builds on the solid foundations of CrazyTalk Animator 3 by adding a small selection of worthwhile enhancements, most notably the option to import PSD files for characters that you have drawn and then animate them inside the app. This is done by dragging the character’s body parts into corresponding folders ready to animate them. As well as…

Roland Waddilove This month Roland helps you tighten up your iOS security, stop apps from slowing down your Mac and shares ten of his best iOS keyboard tricks to speed up productivity. Shaun McGill Charged with the task of uncovering the 100 greatest apps, Shaun has spent the month mining down into the various sections of the App Store to showcase the best downloads. George Cairns Our creative expert demonstrates how to remove unwanted objects from your otherwise great shots and create a horror-style intro for your iMovie projects.…

Apple set to become the first trillion dollar company Apple Apple currently leads the way in the race to become the first ever trillion dollar company, and will get there in 2018 according to forecasters. At the turn of the year, Apple had a market valuation of $869 billion, $150 billion ahead of Alphabet, the parent company of Google. Apple will reach the trillion dollar mark if its share price increases 15 per cent in the coming 12 months. In 2017, Apple’s share price rose by 47 per cent. Let’s not forget, just 20 years ago, when Steve Jobs took over as CEO for the second time, Apple was on the verge of bankruptcy! Apple releases most powerful MNac ever iMac Pro  The long-awaited follow-up to Apple’s iconic Mac Pro,…

When shooting in a busy location it can be a challenge to avoid capturing ugly objects such as signs and lampposts. Take our supplied start image. We could have shot the Tower of London from a different angle to lose the cranes behind the landmark, but then we’d lose the foreground fountains. The sign at the right distracts us from the central subject. The shot is also slightly tilted. Fortunately the Retouch tool is capable of replacing the cranes with patches of blue sky and bits of building to create a cleaner composition. With the Crop tool we can lose the sign at the right, straighten the tilted verticals and make a quick snap look like a more considered composition. Step-by-step Create a cleaner composition 1 Import photo Go to…

A powerful virtue of GarageBand has always been its remarkable versatility. One such usage that isn’t necessarily obvious is the ability to work with movie files and compose synchronised soundtracks. This brilliantly powerful feature allows users to open a selected movie and place it within its own ‘Movie track’ along the top of the project tracks area. GarageBand also cleverly places the original audio track of the video in its own region below and includes a special pop-out viewer window for monitoring. The new soundtrack can then be built just like a song, with a few tools added for assistance and the option to export the final result. Step-by-step Create soundtracks with the Movie track 1 Open Movie Starting with a new empty project, navigate to File>Movie from GarageBand’s top…

Filter type There’s a wide selection of filter types to choose from, selected via this pop-up menu. These include four types of low-pass filter, band-pass and band reject filters and a high-pass filter. Add delay FX Monophonic synth leads almost always sound a lot better with a splash of delay added. We’ve sent the sound to a Stereo Delay plugin inserted across FX bus 1. Amp Volume Use this knob to control Retro Synth’s overall main output volume. This is useful for boosting the output level if the settings in the filter section reduce the output volume. Oscillator Mix Use this slider to blend the sound between the output of the two oscillators – a value of 0.00 equates to all Osc 1 and no Osc 2, a value of…

If your Mac is running slowly, what could be causing the problem? Old Macs suffer from slowing down more than new Macs because they have less powerful hardware. If you have a very old Mac, it might even have a hard disk drive instead of a solid state disk, and this makes problems even worse. When the Mac is running slowly it is often because of apps running in the background or loading on startup. In the main tutorial we show you how to use a free utility called KnockKnock to see what is loading. It can identify bad apps. We’ll also look at how to use Activity Monitor to see when apps use too much processing power and memory. Step-by-step See persistent apps that load with macOS 1 Install…

It is hard to believe that eBay is more than 20 years old. Over that time, millions of items have been bought and sold and it remains the go-to site for people looking to flog their unwanted stuff. Unfortunately, this does have its downsides: non-payers, scammers and timewasters are not uncommon. Thankfully eBay has a number of features in place to make selling less hassle. You can prevent people with negative feedback from bidding on items, put a ban on people who don’t have PayPal accounts, restrict the locations you’re willing to ship to and even put a ban on returns. It won’t stamp out every problem but it should raise the chance of a pleasurable transaction. Step-by-step Alter your eBay site preferences 1 Open eBay’s dashboard To see the…

The Mac plays a wide range of video file formats, but this is not true of all devices and sometimes you need to convert files to work on them. Will the 4K wedding video you shot on your iPhone X work if you send it to your granny who has a basic Android phone? Will it work on your friend’s iPad Air or iPhone SE? Even if the videos play, they may be unnecessarily large and take up too much storage space. Smart Converter is designed to take all the hard work out of converting video to play on other devices. It supports all Apple and a lot of non-Apple phones, tablets, TVs and game consoles. It even converts audio file formats and strips audio out of videos. Step-by-step Easily…

Choosing which blog or website host to use is now more difficult than ever with a plethora of choices available. Most important, however, is how efficient and conducive to creativity the content management system is and this is where MarsEdit 4 comes in. It offers a slick interface that feels at home on macOS and which could potentially save you a lot of money. Some providers concentrate heavily on ease of use and the system you use to the point that the pricing is higher than the competition, but with MarsEdit you can avoid the provider offerings altogether and use it to publish to Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr and many other popular services. Step-by-step Publish a blog with MarsEdit 1 Download and configure Once downloaded, you will be prompted to configure…

Many websites are so sophisticated that they would benefit from also offering app versions so that you can really immerse yourself in the experience. Of course, services such as Facebook and Dropbox already do this, but what to do when a service is website only? Well, you download Fluid and in seconds you can create apps of your own which genuinely do offer app-like features that feel completely at home on the Mac. You get to customise the icon, choose where the app is saved and specify a range of options that will make you feel as if you have developed part of the app yourself. Nothing here is difficult at all – read on for our step-by-step guide… Step-by-step Create new apps from websites 1 Download Fluid Go to…

Damn you autocorrect! There you are tapping merrily away, composing a message to a friend. Then you press send only to find that you need to write a second message correcting a couple of words in the first – while sighing with relief that iOS didn’t convert them into something rude and embarrassing. Only it doesn’t need to be like that… You actually have more control over the autocorrect feature than you may have imagined and there are a few ways you can get the suggestions back on the straight and narrow. So here we show you how to train your autocorrect… Step-by-step Fix your device’s autocorrect problems 1 Start typing When typing in iOS, a built-in dictionary checks your words. If it spots a potential mistake, it will make…

There is a secret set of features built into the iOS 11 Safari app that you can use to manage all of your open tabs, quickly browse through your internet history and bring up secret option menus that make accessing, managing and saving your pages much easier, and it’s all done by long-pressing. Not to be confused with pressing down hard and initiating the 3D Touch features on selected models of iPhone, long-pressing just means holding your finger on the screen with no force until the desired feature is initiated or menu displayed. Here we will guide you through some of Safari’s best-kept secrets to make browsing the web a much more straightforward experience. Step-by-step Using Safari’s secret features 1 Instantly see your history To drill down to see all…

Bandcamp does not allow you to download tracks directly onto an iOS device, but there are some ways to tweak the settings so that you can play music when your mobile signal is sparse. 1 Stream instantly By default you get to play your purchased Bandcamp tracks by streaming them from within the iOS app. The performance is very quick, but you need a mobile signal to play. 2 A semi-download If you go to the settings in the Bandcamp app you can change the ‘Audio cache’ option to ‘Max’. This will allow some often played songs to be stored on the iPhone. “You can tweak Bandcamp’s settings so you can play music when your mobile signal is sparse”…

There is a lot more to the keyboards on the iPhone and iPad than just the keys you see and there are hidden features that can save you time when typing emails, messages, notes, URLs, and so on. For example, it is impossible to reach all the keys on the huge iPad keyboard, but you can split it so you can hold the screen sides in your hands while typing with your thumbs. On the iPhone you can shift all the buttons to the left or the right to make it easier to type one-handed. Foreign characters, currency symbols, alternative quotes, and many more characters can be accessed by long-pressing on certain keys. Abbreviations can be defined that expand into full sentences when typed. You can even replace the whole…

Most of the time, Apple Watch apps work like a dream, causing you no problems at all. Every now and then, however, an app may cause a problem. Maybe it will freeze or perhaps it will refuse to work in the way that it should. If this is happening, then you may want to consider force quitting the app. For those unaware, this is akin to pulling the plug on an app, effectively resetting it so that you can start over afresh. It should sort out those freezing apps or those that are not refreshing data as they should. It also means that when you restart the app, it will do so as if it is loading for the first time rather than simply by picking up from where it…

There is no natural way to take a screenshot of Apple TV’s display, or to make a recording direct from the Apple TV interface. But you can do both of these by hooking your device to your Mac. All you need is a USB-C to USB cable and the QuickTime Player, which is built into the Mac. By following the method below, you can mirror the screen of your Apple TV within a QuickTime Player window. From there you are able to use the usual keypresses to grab a screenshot or press the record button within QuickTime itself to produce a video. It is a great way to highlight something from the interface, take a snap of a high score or show how a process works. Step-by-step Video the Apple…

3D Touch Touchscreen technology first introduced with the iPhone 6 and 6s Plus that lets you access new features depending on how hard you press down on the screen. 4K This is a new type of TV and monitor standard that is replacing HD and is so-called because it will have around 4,000 horizontal pixels. Passcode Usually four-digit, passcodes are a means of securing your device and add an extra layer of security to other methods of unlocking your device, such as TouchID. Widget These are accessible by swiping right from your iPhone’s home screen and provide access to certain features from built-in and third-party apps that you have installed.…

Key features 46dB of digitally controlled preamp gain • PureDIGITAL Connection Learn more apogeedigital.com Available from amazon.co.uk In the age of the vlogger it is important to get the right gear for the job – equipment that offers professional quality without costing the earth (not until you rack up your first million YouTube hits anyway). Apogee’s new Mic+ USB microphone is just such a peripheral that is ideal for music production, voice recording, YouTube or live streaming. An upgrade on Apogee’s original USB mic, the Mic+ boasts a new design and features improved sound quality, dynamic range and a built-in headphone output for latency-free monitoring while recording on any device. The pro-quality cardioid capsule coupled with the high sensitivity and ample gain give the Mic+ a sound that…

Mamba Sleeve £35/$45 booq.co.uk This stylish sleeve from Booq is designed to fit 13-inch MacBooks with Touchbar and is made from 100 per cent natural fibre. The soft plush lining offers premium protection for your treasured possession and dual YKK high-quality zippers provide quick and easy access when you need it. Available in black or grey, the Mamba Sleeve provides an effective means of keeping your Mac safe in transit and comes highly recommended. Formula iPhone X Case £99.95/$99.95 elementcase.com As your iPhone X undoubtedly posed quite a financial outlay, you will want to provide it with the best protection money can buy – well this is probably it. This case features impact-absorbing corners, a chassis reinforced with aerospace-grade carbon fibre and a machined aluminium bezel – all of which…

“If you have ever craved a game that is completely different in style and execution then here it is” Requirements iOS 9.3.5 or later • 583 MB Learn more annapurna.pictures Available from App Store This curiously-titled adventure is the only game that’s kept us awake at night for quite some considerable time. It wasn’t due to excessive screen flicker (this is as mellow as they come) – more the concepts it asks you to ponder and explore, and, ultimately, trying to fathom the thought processes that lead to many of its staggeringly diverse puzzles. If ever you have craved a game that is completely different in terms of style and execution then here is it, lovingly gift-wrapped! The tale centres around a boy (and later a man) who is chasing…

Release date July, 2000 • Movement speed: 400dpi • Movement detection technology: Optical • Connectivity technology: Wired • Connector type: USB Type A Original price £59/$79 Price now £10.99/$11.50 When you have been with Apple long enough to remember having to unclip the ball from the Mac mouse every few weeks to scrape off the fluff and restore a fluid, onscreen response, the arrival of Apple’s Pro Mouse at the turn of the millennium was heaven-sent. Designed to connect to the built-in USB hub of the Apple Pro Keyboard, the Apple Pro Mouse featured a much shorter cable than its predecessors and a minimalistic, buttonless design that was apparently something of a fluke. During a design review, then Apple CEO Steve Jobs was presented with six mouse designs to evaluate,…

One of the most-used apps on our Macs and iOS devices will likely be Safari. It’s testament to the intuitiveness of Apple’s default web browser that you can jump straight in and surf without necessarily knowing too much about the app itself, so we figured we would remind you of some of Safari’s best hidden features. The following three quick projects will help you get the most out of Safari to make your web browsing experience quicker and cleaner. 1 Restore closed tabs If you keep a lot of open tabs in Safari then the chances are that you may close one by accident. If this occurs, don’t panic because there is a simple way to restore closed tabs quickly and easily. Read on to find out how. 1 Open…

Crop tool Click here to access the Crop tool. This enables you to remove unwanted objects at the edge of the frame, zoom in for a closer look at your main subject and create a more balanced composition. You can also counteract titled verticals with the rotate dial. Crosshair By default, the Retouch brush automatically samples adjacent pixels then places them into the brush tip. This lets you spray sky over sensor spots or unwanted objects such as this crane. To manually choose which pixels to sample hold Option and click. The cross hair indicates which sampled pixels are being placed into the brush tip. Retouch tool Activate the Retouch tool in the Adjust panel by clicking this brush icon. Drag its adjacent slider to use a small or large…

Video editing can be time-consuming, especially when it comes to grading your footage. You may need to fix problems with exposure, boost weak colours and sharpen soft subjects to make a clip look better. Alternatively you might want to adjust a clip’s properties in more creative ways to emulate various Hollywood looks. Final Cut Pro X boasts a collection of drag and drop preset effects that can change the look of a clip in an instant, but they still may not produce the particular look you’re after. Fortunately you can make multiple manual adjustments to a clip and store them as a custom preset effect, so that other clips can be adjusted instantly using the same settings. Step-by-step How to create custom preset effects 1 Import raw footage Chose File>Import>Media…

Are you aware that your location is being tracked by your Mac? If you travel with a MacBook it records where you go, the time you arrive at a destination, when you leave and how long you spent there – and this information goes back months. Some people see this as a useful feature. Companies can track their employees and it would be possible to locate a stolen Mac. However, other people may see this as an invasion of privacy. To see where your Mac is right now, on any computer, iPhone or iPad, go to the iCloud website and click ‘Find iPhone’. Select your Mac from the All Devices menu at the top. Let’s see how it works… Step-by-step See your Mac’s tracking information 1 Open System Preferences All…

The internet is a brilliant resource but there is a dark side to it and malware, phishing, scams and adult content can ruin your enjoyment and make it unsafe to use. Fortunately, there are ways of blocking the bad stuff and making the internet a safer place. DNS servers convert the URLs we type in, like apple.com, into the IP addresses that phones and computers use to communicate with each other. Many DNS servers allow everything – good and bad. However, a few are designed to filter out bad sites and bad content so you are never affected by it. Switching to one of these makes the internet safer and more secure. There is an app for that, of course, DNS Override. Step-by-step Set a custom DNS server 1 Go…

The Voice Memos app has served us well over the years but now it’s time for it to make way. Just Press Record, a paid-for app, does everything Apple’s offering does but with a few bonuses. When you record, your voice files are stored in iCloud Drive ensuring they’re available across your iDevices and your Mac. The words you’re recording are also transcribed. As if that wasn’t enough, you can share your files and record on your Watch too. And if you delve into the settings, you can add an external mic, choose between audio file types, allow longer recordings to be transcribed and even switch to a dark mode. Step-by-step Record and view your notes 1 Launch the app Install Just Press Record from the App Store. Now launch…

Special toolbars Some apps display toolbars just above the keyboard. This one is unique to the Notes app and it provides quick access to a range of functions, such as inserting tables and drawing tools. Emoji menu Press this emoji button to show the emoji collection. Holding this down displays a menu and on the iPhone you can choose left or right-handed keyboards to make one-handed typing easier. Long-press keys Many keys on the keyboard hide alternative characters, such as the quotes key. Press and hold a key to see the alternative characters and then slide your finger over them to select them. iPad keyboard options This key is found on the iPad keyboard and it enables the keyboard to be split so you can use your left and right…

“Amazon Prime Video also has the bonus of 4K HDR viewing for those with the right television set” When Amazon Prime Video was released for Apple TV in December, it broke records for the highest number of first-week downloads on tvOS. But then it’s easy to see why. For, while the app requires an Amazon Prime subscription, it has lots of original content with top shows such as Transparent and Man In The High Castle. It also has the bonus of 4K HDR viewing for those with the right television set. Here we look at how you can get to grips with it, starting with downloading the app to fourth or fifth generation devices (those with an updated third-gen Apple TV should see it automatically appear). We will also look…

“You can record game footage, most apps or the Apple TV menus” Saving the video Go to File at the top of the screen and you can export your video in a variety of ways from audio only to 480p all the way up to 4K. You can also open previous videos. Onscreen information As the screen records, you can see just how long you have been recording for and the amount of space the video is taking up. Crank it up You can turn the volume up and down using this slider, depending on the kind of video you are looking to capture from your Apple TV display. Record button When you are ready to take a video of what’s on screen tap the red Record button, turning it…

Someone said that my iPhone has a built-in torch – how can I access it? Just swipe up from the bottom of your screen to access Control Centre and then tap on the torch icon to use your iPhone’s camera flash as a torch. If you own an iPhone 6S or above then you can also press and hold on the flashlight icon to change the brightness. I don’t like the new way to unlock my iPad in iOS 11. Is there any way that I can change it back to how it was? Sort of. Go to Settings> General>Accessibility> Home Button and then turn on the ‘Rest Finger to Open’ option. How do I add new locations to my iPhone’s Weather app? Open the app and then tap on…