{"id":33970,"date":"2014-11-21T08:57:37","date_gmt":"2014-11-21T16:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/?p=33970"},"modified":"2017-03-14T06:40:25","modified_gmt":"2017-03-14T13:40:25","slug":"4-time-saving-tips-to-improve-your-ios-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/4-time-saving-tips-to-improve-your-ios-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Time-Saving Tips to Improve Your iOS Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Apple<\/a><\/p>\n

Have you got the\u00a0new iPhone 6? Did you get a slim, fast iPad Air 2? Or do you still have an older model? No matter which iOS device you have, you want to have the best possible experience with that device, saving time, and getting things done smoothly.<\/p>\n

To get the most out of your iOS device, here are four useful\u00a0tips that will help you become an iOS expert, in no time!<\/p>\n

Set up Touch ID<\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve got several iOS devices. I have an iPhone 5s (the iPhone 6 wasn\u2019t right for me), an iPad Air 2, as well as an older iPad mini and an iPod touch. Since getting\u00a0the iPhone 5s, I\u2019ve loved the ease-of-use that Touch ID offers. If you haven\u2019t set it up for your device, you should do so immediately, for two important reasons: it saves time, and it\u2019s more secure. But even if you have it set up, I\u2019ll show you how you can make Touch ID even better.<\/p>\n

First, to set up Touch ID\u2014if you haven\u2019t already done so\u2014open the Settings app, then scroll down to Touch ID & Passcode. Tap that, enter your passcode when requested, then toggle the two options, which let you use Touch ID to unlock your iPhone, and to authenticate when downloading or purchasing items from the iTunes Store and the App Store. Use both of these options\u00a0and\u00a0you\u2019ll save time not having to type your passcode or your Apple ID\u2019s password. \"how<\/a> Tap Add a Fingerprint, then follow the instructions to get your iOS device to recognize this finger. This takes a couple of minutes, because the device has to learn your fingerprint from different angles. When it\u2019s done, try out Touch ID. Turn off your iOS device, then press the home or power button to wake it up, and press your finger\u2014the one you recorded with Touch ID\u2014on the device. Pretty magical, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s go further with Touch ID. How many fingerprints have you recorded? When I first started using Touch ID on my iPhone 5s, I only stored the fingerprint for my right thumb, the one I use most. But I quickly realized that wasn\u2019t enough. When my iPhone is on my desk, it\u2019s easier to use my first finger. And when I\u2019ve got, say, a cup of tea in my right hand, I need to use my left hand.<\/p>\n

You can record up to five fingerprints; I suggest you record both thumbs and both forefingers. That way, you can quickly access your device if one of your hands is busy, or if it\u2019s not in a position where you can use your thumb. And you might want to use the fifth fingerprint slot for your spouse, partner or significant other, in case you want them to be able to use your device.<\/p>\n

Set Up a Long Passcode<\/h3>\n

Now that you\u2019re using Touch ID, that four-digit passcode seems pretty feeble, doesn\u2019t it? Well, you\u2019re not limited to just four digits. Why not set up a more secure passcode? To do this, you want to be in the Touch ID & Passcode settings, as above. Scroll down a bit, and you\u2019ll see a toggle that says Simple Passcode. Toggle this off, enter your passcode, then enter a new passcode. \"set<\/a> You\u2019ll see that you can use the entire keyboard; you can create a passcode with letters and\/or numbers, and one as long as you want. Don\u2019t make it too long, but anything is better than those four digits, even four letters is much more secure (as long as it\u2019s not an easy-to-guess word, such as the name of a child or pet).<\/p>\n

Put Apps in Folders<\/h3>\n

If you’ve had your iOS device for some time now, you have probably downloaded a lot of apps.\u00a0To better organize your device, it\u2019s a good idea to put them in folders.<\/p>\n

This is easy to do, but to best show you how it works, I\u2019ve made a short video (see below).<\/p>\n

Start by pressing and holding the home button until your app icons wiggle. Next, drag one app icon onto another; iOS automatically creates a folder. It even suggests a name; I accepted Productivity for the folder in the video below, but you can change that. When you\u2019re finished, press the home button again to exit the folder, then again to stop the apps from wiggling.<\/p>\n

To access apps in a folder, tap the folder; it opens. Then tap an app, and it launches. You can put lots of app in a folder, and they can even be on multiple “pages,” with nine apps per page. If a folder has more than one page, just swipe to see the next page.<\/p>\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.intego.com\/mac-security-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/apps-in-folders.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n

<\/center> <\/p>\n

\u00a0Use Dictation<\/h3>\n

One way I save time on my iOS devices is by dictating. I have big, clumsy thumbs, and it\u2019s a lot faster to talk to my iPhone than to type. You can dictate in most apps, but only if you use the standard Apple keyboard. (If you\u2019ve installed third-party keyboards, you need to switch back to the default; only Apple\u2019s keyboard is allowed to access the microphone.)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve made a video to show you how this works, below. I created a new tweet in Twitterrific on my iPhone, and I dictated a bit of text.<\/p>\n

Tap the microphone button at the bottom of the keyboard, and you\u2019ll see that the keyboard goes away and is replaced by a large area that shows a line. Start speaking; the line changes into waves that move as you speak, and your words are typed wherever the cursor is. When you\u2019re finished, tap Done and the keyboard comes back; you may need to correct some typos. But speaking a text message, tweet or email can be a lot faster than typing it; just make sure to proofread it, so there are no \u201cvoice-os,\u201d or transcription mistakes.<\/p>\n