MacDirectory Magazine

Stephen Hanson

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1299064

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simple design and is easy to use. But don't let its simplicity fool you, the Translate app is no slouch. It can translate across 11 different languages and even supports on-device translation for when you don't have an Internet connection or just for privacy. Translate's conversation mode lets you easily translate bet ween two languages. Simply rotate your device and press the microphone, it will detect which of the two languages is being spoken and provide a translation. 6. Use Siri Without Losing Your Train of Thought Have you ever gone to ask Siri about something you're viewing within an app and then forget information important to your question because it takes up the whole screen? Well, with iOS 14's new compact Siri, you can now see exactly what you were working on and still speak with Siri. This is because Siri will now pop up as an animated sphere at the bottom of the display. There are some limitations, though. Unlike compact calling, you can't interact with items on the screen while Siri is up. So there's no scrolling to look for content or switching between apps, but it's a step in the right direction and is sure to make the use of Siri a better experience. 5. Take Control of Your Home in All New Ways If you have a smart home that supports HomeKit, there are new features in the Home app you'll want to try right away. The app now supports native adaptive lighting on supported devices, allowing you to set your lights to change temperature or color as the day progresses. If you have a supported camera device, you can now set trigger areas and even face recognition right from the Home app. Finally, suggested automations and home status icons at the top of each page, make it easier than ever to control your home with just a tap. 4. Plan Your Route and Take a Trip (by Car or Bike) Maps in iOS 14 also got a refresh. While the interface is mostly the same, you can now choose cycling directions or even electric vehicle routing. Cycling routes let you check your elevation and even help you know when you'll need to take stairs to reach your destination. Electric vehicle routing helps you find the best route with charging stations along with it so you can make it to your destination successfully and quickly. But that's not all. Apple has been busy adding guides for major cities and is even looking to add ratings and reviews right from within the app, rather than utilizing third-party sources. 3. Keep Track of Your Favorite Conversations in Messages The Messages app in iOS 14 gets some cool new features. Thanks to iMessage, Messages has been an important selling point of iOS devices, and it seems to get better and better with each iteration of iOS and iPadOS. The latest version of messages lets you easily pin up to nine conversations at the top of the conversation list, allowing you quick and easy access to your favorite message threads. In addition to making these conversations easily accessible, it hides the last message's text from the list-making for more intimate conversations with those you love to speak with most. You can even see when their typing and a little text bubble will display new messages as they arrive. 2. Start a Group Chat In these uncertain times, quarantine, masks, and physical distancing are a part of daily life. But, they don't have to keep us from connecting with the people that are important to us. In addition to new Memoji with masks and group FaceTime calls, you can use iMessage/ Messages to keep in touch with groups of family and friends. Group messages in iOS can now be pinned just like other message threads. In both group and individual messages, you can reply to a specific message or mention a participant by name to grab their attention. To reply to a specific message, just long-press the message bubble and select "reply." The specific message will appear above the reply, so it's clear which message you were replying to. This is especially helpful in large groups or when replying to an older message. Apple calls these inline replies as they stay within the thread while helping the conversation as a whole stay intact. To mention someone, simply tap their name and tap the person when they appear. This will help grab the attention of someone who has muted the thread. 1. Check Your Settings This should be something you do anytime you purchase a new device or update to a new version of the software. Apple often has many new settings you can configure in iOS, and you might find options you were unaware of. By checking the Settings app, you can make sure your setup is customized to your liking, creating an overall better user experience. In iOS 14, you can use a double or triple-tap on the back of your device to trigger multiple actions, including taking a screenshot. You can customize the volume buttons to do different things in the Camera app. You can even take advantage of many of the new privacy tools within iOS 14 to limit tracking and even set up access to specific photos so that apps can't access your entire media library. Checking your settings is a great way to learn more about what your device is capable of and ensure it works the way you expect. You may find things you didn't even know your device was capable of. Have Fun iOS 14 brings so many new features, so go tr y them out! Using these new features is the best way to get the most out of your phone or tablet, and it can make you more productive and save time with some simple tasks. What are your favorite iOS 14 features? Are there other features you recommend that users try out right away? Let us know in the comments and on social media. Your opinions and feedback are always welcome.

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