How-To

Ultimate Guide to Updating Your AirPods: How to Easily Install the Latest Firmware Version 6A321

Apple has recently released a new firmware update for the third-generation AirPods, upgrading them to version 6A321 from the previous 6A317 firmware. This update, like many of Apple’s firmware updates for AirPods, primarily focuses on “bug fixes and other improvements” although specific details about the changes or new features are not typically disclosed by Apple.

To update the firmware of your AirPods, they must be connected to an iOS device. The update process is generally automatic and occurs over-the-air while the AirPods are connected to the iOS device. For successful installation, it’s recommended to put the AirPods in their case, connect them to a power source, and then pair them with an iOS device or Mac. This should initiate the firmware update.

If you want to check the firmware version of your AirPods or AirPods Pro, the process is straightforward. First, connect your AirPods to your iOS device. Then open the Settings app, tap General, and go to About. Here, select AirPods, and you’ll see the firmware version next to the relevant entry.

While Apple doesn’t provide detailed information on the specific enhancements or new features in each firmware update, some past updates have included significant improvements. For instance, a previous update (versions 6A300/6A301) introduced features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Volume, and press to mute/unmute on calls for various AirPods models, along with improvements to the Automatic Switching experience across Apple devices.

For the latest update, users might expect similar subtle improvements in performance and usability, even if they’re not explicitly listed. As with any firmware update, it’s generally advisable to keep your devices up-to-date to ensure the best performance and access to any new features or bug fixes that have been implemented.

YouTube Picture in Picture on Mac OS

A little-known trick in Safari is to get Youtube content into Picture in Picture (PiP) mode.

When you are watching a YouTube video in the browser, right-click on the video window. Then right click somewhere else on the video again, away from the first menu, and you will get a second menu that allows you to get PiP.

Secondary Menu Showing Picture in Picture Option

2 iOS Tricks That Will Make You a Pro

You may think you know iOS inside and out, but there are still tricks to be found that will make you a pro.

Custom Vibrations

Wouldn’t it be useful if you could create custom vibration patterns for a certain contact (calls and text) or for certain alerts so you could identify them without needing to touch your iPhone.

Settings -> Sounds -> 'Sounds and Vibration Patterns' section

Under this section you can enter any of the sections and enter the vibration menu. From there you can select ‘Create New Vibration’ and make vibrations to your hearts content!

Shut off Audio on your Device After a Certain Time

Have you ever been listening to music on your iPhone in bed and fallen asleep only to wake a few hours later with the music still playing? Well there is actually a way to shut off audio after a predetermined period of time not only allowing you to continue with restful sleep but also saving your battery life.

Clock App -> 'When Timer Ends' -> Stop Playing

Do you know any other tricks that others might find useful? How have these tricks worked for you? Post a comment so we know.

How to Clear All Apple Watch Notifications in a Swipe and Two Taps

I consider myself an advanced user of Apple products, but just yesterday I learnt a trick about clearing notifications on my Apple Watch that I never knew. When you see a red dot on the top of your watch face this indicates that you have waiting notifications. Swiping down with your finger you are presented with a list of all your notifications.

What if you don’t want to read them all but want to clear them ready for new notifications, how do you do that? Here’s how:

1. From the watch face swipe down from the top of the watch face showing all of your notifications.
2. Press on the watch screen and an icon will appear on your screen saying ‘Clear All’.
3. Tap ‘Clear All’ and you are all clear of notifications.

Below are photos in the correct order showing you what you will see stepping through the process.

Liked this article? Why not read about why I wouldn’t give up my Apple Watch.

How to Make an Online Backup with iCloud

In the wake of multiple updates from Apple this week, including iOS updates it is a pertinent time to remind everyone the importance of backing up. You should be backing up your iOS device both locally and online.

Apple has an excellent online guide that shows you how to backup both locally with iTunes and online via iCloud.

But here is a really important message I want to impart on you. iCloud online comes with 5GB of online storage, you need to be aware of this. For your average iPhone user snapping pics and videos this will be used up rapidly.

Apple has a range of very affordable monthly tariffs for iCloud storage, make sure you invest and upgrade. It will cover all of your iOS devices and ensure that your devices are backed up every night as they are plugged in to charge.

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How to Enable iOS Night Shift Mode and Why you Should

Review: Verbatim MediaShare Wireless – Stream Files, Movies and other Data Wirelessly to Your Tablet and Smart Phone

How to Enable iOS Night Shift Mode and Why You Should

EDIT: Apple has just released iOS 9.3.2 which now allows night shift mode to operate in low power mode.

Night Shift mode in iOS is a system setting that allows you as a user to vary how your iOS device handles the blue light that its screen emits and varying times of the day.

Why Would I Want to Reduce Blue Light?

In short, blue light is the same light that reaches your eyes when you step outside. Biologically speaking it signals to your brain that it’s day time and hence your body reduces the production of melatonin, the hormone that makes you fall to sleep and that is critical for the synchronisation of your circadian rhythms. When using your iOS device during the day, this isn’t an issue but if you are using it at night time the blue light interferes with your circadian rhythm and hence your ability to sleep as well as your ultimate sleep quality.

There are some added benefits besides the blue light reduction, such as the reduction in being blinded when you wake in the middle of the night and look at your screen! The warmer temperature on the screen will be much easier on your eyes.

How Do I Use It?

Here is how you enable Night Shift mode:

Settings -> Display & Brightness -> Night Shift -> Scheduled (Toggle On/Off)

From this menu you have several options, I recommend you toggle ‘Scheduled’ on which will present you with new menu options. Again, I’d personally recommend that you set it to ’Sunset to Sunrise’ but if you want to, you can choose a ‘Custom Schedule’. ’Sunset to Sunrise’ will use your location and enable the ‘Night Shift’ to occur at exactly the right times for maximum benefit.

If you find yourself wanting to disable it, say because you are watching a movie, then from the iOS home screen you can swipe up from the bottom. This will bring up a menu where there is a new icon which looks like a sun icon thats half black and half white. Tapping this during the day will enable and disable the Night Shift. Toggling this when your phone is in scheduled night shift will present you some menu options for temporary disablement.

The final settings are for colour temperature, personally I set it to the most warm to remove as much blue light as possible but you should set it to whatever you feel comfortable with.

Conclusions

Applications to reduce blue light on electronic devices have been used for years on many other devices via apps like F.lux, however, this is the first time this has been possible on iOS (after F.lux was removed from the app store). Whilst it may take a little bit of getting used to you will soon notice the health/sleep benefits of minimising blue light around bed time. Indeed, this looks to be the way Apple is going as a default after the release of the new iPad Pro (9.7”) with True Tone display which adjusts the amount of white light dependant on the ambient light to make the display appear more natural.

What are your thoughts on ‘Night Shift’ mode? Leave a comment below.

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How to Remove Connect from Apple Music

When Apple Music launched back on June 30th 2015, Apple also announced Connect, their social media style interaction with music artists located in the Apple Music app. Connect was a second attempt at the artist social networking after the failed Ping, which was launched September 1st 2010.

However, it doesn’t appear that Connect is a success for Apple Music with widespread consent online and many many people looking for a way to remove the Connect button from their Apple Music app. It’s rumoured that Apple will allow its users to remove the button in iOS 10 but in the meantime there is a way to remove it and replace it with ‘Playlists’.

To remove the Connect button from Apple Music you need to go through the following menu’s:

Settings -> General -> Restrictions -> Apple Music Connect

For the majority you will need to enable the ‘Restrictions’ section then toggle the Apple Music Connect button. When you switch back to Apple Music you will now see your Playlists button where Connect used to be. Enjoy!

How to Name Locations in Apple’s Find My Friends App

Do you share your location with your friends, family or spouse? Well here is a little trick that you can use to name frequent locations such as ‘Home’ or ‘Work’ so that you can quickly see from notification centre where your contacts are with friendly names.

Here are the simple steps to follow:

If you haven’t already, install Find My Friends app from the App Store it’s a free app. Many people don’t know this exists as it’s possible to share your location without it.
Open the Find My Friends app and tap on the contact who’s locations you want to name. Note: They need to be in one of these locations to change its name.
You should be looking at a map screen showing your contacts location. Along the top bar, blow their name, should be three menu options. Tap ‘More’.
It should show an address just below the map with a little piece of orange text just above, tap that and a menu will appear with a list of location names such as ‘Home’, ‘Work’ or ‘Custom’. Make your choice based on the label you want to add.
Go back to your phone home screen and swipe down from the top of the screen to bring up the ‘Today’ and ‘Notifications’ tabs. Scroll to the bottom and hit edit and add ‘Find My Friends’ if it isn’t already. Now when you view the today tab it will use your friendly names for your contact.

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How to Know if Someone has Blocked you on iOS

UPDATE JULY 2016: It appears Apple may have made a change to how Messages appear when you are blocked. It used to be that they showed as ‘Delivered’, now they don’t show anything. So if you send a message and it returns no status at all you are either blocked, or the persons phone is off.

Have you ever got yourself in a situation where you are wondering why someone isn’t replying to your FaceTime calls or iMessages? How do you know if you have been blocked or if you are just being plain ignored?

There are many articles on the Internet, all stretch the topic out far more than it really needs to be. Here is the simple answer.

How to Know for Certain

To be 100% certain, the person you are trying to contact has to have an iPhone and you need to make a cellular call to their phone on more than one occasion. If the phone goes straight to voicemail you are either blocked, or their phone is off. To confirm this step you need to disable your caller ID and call them back straight away.

Switch Off Caller ID

Tap on ’Settings’
Tap on ‘Phone’
Tap on ‘Show My Caller ID’ and switch it to ‘Off’
Call them straight away.

If the phone now rings you can confirm you were blocked.

What About Messages?

Messages is a cloudy way of telling. It used to be that when you were blocked your messages still showed as ‘Delivered’, this gives no definitive indication. However, per the notice at the top of the post, I’ve noticed that when you are newly blocked the message receives no status. A few days to weeks later. I’ve noticed it then changes back to ‘Delivered’. Remember though, showing no status could also mean the phone is off. So really, two calls is the only real way to know.

What About FaceTime?

FaceTime calls will just ring and ring and then eventually fail, in short they will act as though they are going through but the person is simply not answering.

What Else?

If you were once sharing locations with the person via ‘Find My Friends’ then this will be a massive clue. If you see ‘XXXX XXXX is no longer sharing their location with you’ in your iMessage conversation, where ‘XXXX XXXX’ is the person name, then you have a good indicator they have blocked you. If it says ‘Location Unavailable’ then this IS NOT an indicator of being blocked, merely that they are out of reception, their phone has died or they have turned it off.

So in conclusion, the only sure fire way is via a cell call with an iMessage as a belts and braces check. It should be noted that the user must have iOS7+ to be able to block a caller, so check this as well. The information in this article is valid up to (and most likely beyond) iOS 10.2.

Have you noticed any other behaviour? Reading this long after iOS 10.2 and wondering if this article is still valid? Leave me a comment below or on Twitter.

Calibrate Your iPhone and iPad Battery

Is your battery percentage not reporting correctly or acting erratically? This post gives you a guide on how you can recalibrate your device battery.

Have you ever noticed that one moment your iPhone or iPad is reading a certain battery percentage, then all of a sudden it drops 5 or 10%? Have you noticed that it sits at 1-2% for a very long time? Have you noticed that as soon as you plug it in that it suddenly jumps up by tens of percent?

All of these symptoms give an indication that your device is no longer able to accurately predict the amount of juice that it has in its battery. This doesn’t necessarily mean there is anything wrong from a hardware point if view, more that you need to teach it to present the correct level of power to you – this is called recalibrating the battery.

You can recalibrate your iPhone and iPad battery with a few simple steps:

Use the device until it powers down of its own accord
Leave the device off over night or for at least several hours
Plug the device in and wait for it to start of its own accord
As soon as it has started up and you are at the iOS home screen, power off your device
Leave the device off whilst it charges to 100% and let it charge for a good few hours after it is full
Unplug the device
Power the device on and monitor how the battery percentage fairs, if it still isn’t quite right, repeat these steps again. If several attempts fail to resolve the issue then a clean install of iOS (not a restore) would be an appropriate step before you have to admit that it is an actual hardware issue

Why does your battery get like this? I’m not sure, but I would assume that plugging the device in for partial charges doesn’t help. It would be helpful to carry out these steps on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.