Apple Needs to Borrow a Google Maps Feature

Posted on by dudley228

By Jason Harris

I was going to Terrificon a couple of weekends ago. Usually, I would be using Apple Maps. In this case, I needed directions directly to the Winter Garage at Mohegan Sun since Terrificon was taking place near it. Apple Maps would give me directions to the casino, but not directly to the Winter Garage. Google Maps gave me directions instantly to the Winter Garage.

Apple Maps added in a version of iOS 14 the ability to report speed traps. I have been using it since it was added but have never seen any reports show up. I am wondering if the reason I haven’t seen it is that no one is using the feature on Apple Maps because they don’t know about the feature, or Apple is making sure it isn’t abused by waiting for a few reports.

Google Maps has the feature of reporting speed traps too. On my trip to Mohegan Sun, I saw a report of a police trap up ahead. It also mentioned how many people reported it and the last time it was reported. These are the two features Apple should add. I reported a speed trap and it showed up immediately. Apple needs to do this as well.

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Upgrade Your Apple Watch

Posted on by dudley228

By Jason Harris

I had to take my Apple Watch Series 4 in for repair on Saturday. The watch accidentally fell from my wrist as I was putting on my backpack before my hike.

One thing I have noticed by going back to my series 2 Watch is how less responsive it is to get to the notification screen. It also charges very slowly. It took me over an hour and a half for me to charge the Watch to 100%. It was only at 56% at the time. If you have a series 2, I suggest you upgrade. It will be a lot better and faster for you. I’m am glad I only have to use the series 2 until I get my series 4 back on Tuesday.

My visit to the Westfarms Apple store yesterday was my second visit to an Apple store during the Covid-19 pandemic. An employee at this Apple store asked me to put on one of their masks they offer customers without masks. This is only the second business to require a surgical type mask instead of the bandanna I was wearing. The other Apple store I had gone to a few months ago didn’t do this. It could be a new protocol Apple is requiring, or it just happens at the busier mall stores. I guess I won’t know this until I go back to the other Apple store.

A Few Things Learned on Saturday (updated 10/5/20)

Posted on by dudley228
By Jason Harris

The biggest thing I learned today was about a rip off subscription for the app, Cartoonme. It was advertised to me when I was on Instagram. It looked interesting. I have used similar apps like Prisma, which seems similar to Cartoonme. I liked trying out new apps, so I downloaded it. I quickly deleted it when I noticed it has a subscription model. I particularly don’t like subscriptions, but I have paid the subscription price for apps like Ulysses and Drafts, to name a few. The subscription price for Cartoonme is $8.99 a week. Let me say that again, $8.99 a week. That is $467.48 for the year. They have a three-day free trial, but I wasn’t taking a chance with this app, which is why I delete it.

My deletion brought me to the other thing I learned. It is about iOS 14. Last week, I decided to finally hide some of my app pages. I left a few open slots for new apps on the pages. I thought this is where I thought Cartoonme would go. It didn’t. I thought that was weird. I did find it in the app in the “Recently Added” folder in the App Library. This is where I was also able to delete it. So far, I don’t see how it’s possible to send an app to the pages you want to see without unhiding all the pages and moving the app to one of your pages you can see. It would be nice to be able to move an app to a page you want or to even move it to a folder you want it to go in.

Thanks to the AppleInsider podcast. There is a setting in Settings and under Home Screen where you can check off if you want a new app to go to the App Library or Add to a Home Screen.

A Few Thoughts on WatchOS 7

Posted on by dudley228
By Jason Harris

WatchOS 7 came out last week. With the new operating system, I feel like text dictation on the watch using Siri is better.

The new handwash detection feature works well. I have only had It not work only a few times.

I do feel like I’m taking longer than I did in the past to wash my hands. If you do wash your hands for the 20 seconds, you will receive this graphic.

The one thing that is worse in the new operating system is turning up the volume with the Digital Crown on the watch. It takes longer for the volume to go up or down.

Apple Needs to Add All Products to Their User Suggestions

Posted on by dudley228

By Jason Harris

I went to the Apple store last weekend to pick up the Twelve South PlugBug Duo. I needed a new charging cord for my 2013 MacBook Pro. My MagSafe Power Adapter cord had become loose from the leading brick. Even after taping it, I had to press the cable into the block just to make it charge the computer.

When going to Apple’s own Apple Store app, the only charging type device for the computer was the Twelve South product.

I know Apple announced the replacement of the MagSafe Power Adapter for the MacBook Pro models back in 2016. I knew I wouldn’t find that, but I figured they would have some type of replacement.

I didn’t think the Twelve South PlugBug Duo was right since it sure didn’t look like what I originally got with the computer. I decided to buy it anyway to test it. I choose the option to pick it up from the store.

I went on Saturday to pick it up, and it was my first time going to an Apple store since COVID-19. I had my temperature taken, and I had to wait in the line outside.

I am so glad I went to the store for my item. It turns out that Apple does sell the correct power adapter I needed for my computer.

I don’t understand why this wouldn’t be listed in the suggestions for my MacBook Pro on the Apple Store app. Apple should remedy this.

My suggestion to everybody is if you are looking for something particular for your devices I suggest you go to the physical store.

A Beeping AirPod Saves Itself

Posted on by dudley228

By Jason Harris

I am so happy Apple installed the ability to make its AirPods beep. I was hiking in the woods yesterday when my AirPod fell out. It was easy to see where it fell. The problem arose when I picked it up, and it slipped from my fingers. I had no idea where it fell. It was like the ground swallowed it up. Even after I started it beeping, it took me a few minutes to locate it.

I’m so glad Apple included the beeping feature. If they didn’t, I would have to get a new AirPod

An App to Find Events in Your Community

Posted on by dudley228

Recently, I have had some life changes. During these times, I had the app, Meetup, suggested to me.

Meetup is an app that allows a person to find groups of interest. There are groups for hiking, sports, or just going to the movies to name a few.

I have been to one meet-up and I plan on joining this group for other events. It was a fun time meeting people.

I also have some other events scheduled with some other groups.

One downside is that some events have space limitations.

I would recommend downloading this app and meeting some new people.

Apple’s Noise App Works

Posted on by dudley228

By Jason Harris

When Apple’s Noise app first became available, I made some room on my dock to place it. I didn’t know when I would use it. I was thinking I would have to remember to try it at the next concert I would go to.

Once I placed it in my dock, I didn’t know if I would have to open it to test the sound in a location. Or if I should place it as a complication to see if it would do something on its.

Well, I found out today that I don’t need to do anything to get a warning from the watch. I was mowing the lawn when I got the notification on my watch about the noise level.

I am very happy that the Apple Watch gives a notification without me having to do anything.

Using Different Apps for My Trip to Macstock 2019

Posted on by dudley228

By Jason Harris

This year was my second year attending Macstock, which is in it’s fifth year.

Macstock is a conference for Apple enthusiasts. This year’s theme was create. It was a very inspiring conference. It’s a very fun, inexpensive conference that takes place in McHenry, Illinois.

I used a number of apps in the preplanning and during my travels to get there.

The first app I started using before my trip was Apple Notes. I created two notes for my trip. One note that contained the conference’s information was repurposed from last year’s Macstock note. I just added the pertinent information for this year. I called these notes “Trip to Macstock” and “Macstock Trip Information” and were started at the beginning of the year.

From Connecticut to Illinois, it’s a 16 hour trip. I left on the Saturday before Macstock. I made a number of stops on the way.

In my Trip to Macstock note, I had all types of information contained within.

I placed the information from the places I wanted to or potentially could visit if time permitted. The websites and admission prices of these places were included. If you want to see pictures of my trip, check out my Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/dudley228/

I also used a number of apps on a daily basis while I was there.

While in Chicago, I started using Apple Maps again. I had been using Google Maps until I missed a turn. I will admit I may have missed the turn because I read the map wrong, but I do know I never got a notification to turn either. Well, after that incident and I think there was one other one, I decided to go back to Apple Maps. It did quite well for me while I was there. I have stayed with the app once I was back in Connecticut. It has been over two months since I went back to Apple Maps and in that time I have had two wrong misdirects with it. That’s not a bad average when I use this app every single day.

AroundMe is another app I used while on my trip. This app allows you to search within your location. I used it mostly to find gas stations and restaurants. I have always enjoyed using this app instead of a map app because I feel it’s more exact over Google and Apple Maps.

The other two apps I used are the native camera app and the Camera+ 2 app. I love the presets on Camera+ 2 app. I used the macro, RAW, and Action presets. One of the pictures I took with the Action preset is right below this sentence.

I took over 1,000 pictures on my trip. More than 200 of those pictures were taken at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.

The iPhone 10s Max Battery Case

Posted on by dudley228

I received my iPhone 10s Max Battery Case last Friday. I’m enjoying it a lot.

If you have used other battery cases like me, you will have to get use to not having to turn the case on. It stays charging your phone until the case is completely drained. One way that helped me with this is thinking that with other cases, you don’t know if they are completely charged or even will work when you turn them on. This is one issue you won’t have to worry about with Apple’s new battery case.

The same widget that shows your iPhone battery’s percentage will also show the battery case’s percentage.

On Saturday, I drained the entire battery case within six to seven hours. As a merchandiser, I use my phone for GPS, inventory counts, taking pictures, and streaming podcasts with Overcast. My phone lasted until Sunday morning. It was at 20 percent when I started charging it.

I am in my car a lot so I could keep it plugged in at those times to keep everything charged.

The iPhone and battery case will both charge on my Qi charger, but the case can’t charge by itself on the charger. If you want to charge it by itself, you will have to plug a lightning cable into it.

I have a Qi charger phone holder in my car that this battery case doesn’t work with while the phone is in it.

There isn’t a bulge on this battery case like on the one for the iPhone 7 (which can also be used with the iPhone 8). The battery is tapered down the back of the case like other battery cases.

IPhone 7 Battery Case.
IPhone 7 Battery Case.

IPhone 10s Max Battery Case.

IPhone 10s Max Battery Case.

I do find it hard to pull back the top of the case to get the phone out of it.