Indholdsfortegnelse for No. 203 i iCreate

Apple Card launches in the US Apple Card Apple’s first foray into the world of credit cards has been officially launched in the US. Potential users across the globe will have to wait for the time being though, with no official dates announced. However, we’ve heard that Apple has applied for Apple Card patents in the UK, Europe and Hong Kong, so we expect an announcement very soon. In the meantime, US users can sign up via the Wallet and start using it straightaway. Built on simplicity and privacy, Apple Card has no fees, offers an easy-to-understand view of spending and provides a new level of privacy and security. Apple’s US job footprint hits 2.4 million Apple news A staggering 2.4 million people are employed because of Apple in the…

Inspector panel The Inspector, situated left, has two tabs for Region and Notes. The first houses a Time Quantize menu that defaults to ‘off’ along with Strength and Transpose sliders. Notes tab has controls for performing individual edits including note insertion. Note selection Notes are plotted on the score, newly added or existing ones selected for editing. Clicking and holding a note highlights it green and sounds the tone of it, showing an indicator of position, length, pitch and articulation. The stave/staff This set of five horizontal lines and the four spaces between is the traditional device for representing musical pitch. Divided vertically into each bar, this is where each note or musical event is plotted. Grid pop-up The Grid pop-up menu is in the Score Editor menu bar above…

Mode – Relative Relative mode compares the levels of the original and filtered audio. When the filtered signal is louder than the original audio, the Detection meter lights up yellow and gain reduction takes place. The Threshold setting controls how much boost is applied to the filtered signal. Thin blue line The small blue lines on the meters represent the current value of the Threshold and Max Reduction controls. These also act as sliders – just grab and drag to adjust the levels. Mode – Absolute In Absolute mode, when the level of the filtered signal crosses the set threshold level, the Detection meter turns yellow and gain reduction is applied, shown in real time in the Reduction meter. Filter type These buttons switch between high-pass or peak filter shapes.…

The most common problem many people will have is finding enough disk space to upgrade macOS. Many MacBooks have been sold with just 128GB drives and they are easily filled. In fact, some people with big media collections struggle with 256GB drives. If your Mac’s drive is nearly full and is down to its last 20GB or so, use the apps here to help you free up sufficient space to upgrade macOS. They are both free to download and are very easy to use. 1 Use Cleaner-App Cleaner-App is a useful tool that scans the Mac’s drive for the biggest files, downloads, duplicates and same name files. Scan the drive and check each item before deleting. 2 Disk full? Fix it Startup Disk Full Fixer clears space on the drive…

Network locations Computers on the network that are sharing files and folders are listed under Locations. If you don’t see a Mac, click ‘Network’ to list computers and then click the shared folder to connect to it. Set the privileges Problems with permissions and ownership are common when setting up file and folder sharing in macOS. Select a file or folder and press Cmd+I, then set all the privileges to ‘Read & Write’. Enable file sharing Enable File Sharing here and it won’t work. You must also go to Users & Groups and enable the Guest User too. This is the simplest way to enable one Mac to access another Mac. Add shared folders The Public folder in your home folder is shared by default. Click the ‘+’ button below…

Add more actions Browse the list of Files & Folders actions and there are many more that can be automatically applied to files. For example, click and drag Label Finder Items to add a label to files. Move files automatically Filenames pass from one action to another and this last one moves files to another folder. Use it to automatically move files of a certain type to another folder to keep Downloads organised. Select a folder Any folder on the Mac’s drive can have a folder action attached to it. Click here, select ‘Other’ in the menu and then choose a folder like Downloads, Documents or any other folder you like. Customise the filter Filter Finder Items enables files to be selected that match certain criteria. Here we use Kind…

Here we look at a couple of security utilities from Trend Micro and one is a super-fast malware scanner, which from its speed, we guess just checks running apps in memory for security or adware issues. The other scans your network and displays a list of all the devices found. Are there unknown devices? Is your neighbour stealing your Wi-Fi? Could someone be trying to access your Mac via the network? Find out what devices are connected. 1 Quick malware scan Download Trend Micro Housecall from http://bit.ly/2YOUu5K and run it. It takes seconds to complete and tells you if there is anything suspicious running in the background. 2 Scan the network Unknown devices on the network are security threats to your Mac. Install HouseCall for Home Networks from the Mac…

A photo editor that supports multiple layers is essential if you want to do more with photos than correct the exposure and they are capable of some fantastic effects. Layers are transparent, so they show the objects on them on top of layers below. Layers are created in the panel on the right and the way they are combined is selected from the first menu, which defaults to Normal. Add and delete layers with the icons at the bottom. 1 Add text layers Select the Text tool on the left, click in the image and start typing. Text is added on a new layer and the font and size is selected in the top toolbar. Set the opacity on the right. 2 Add layer effects In the Layers panel to…

Medical conditions Ensure that any medical condition or allergy is included so that you are not given the wrong medication. Also, enable ‘Show When Locked’ so that anyone can view it. Vital statistics Your height and weight is also very important in emergency situations or for ensuring that you take the right dosages of regular medication. Every piece of data will help. Enter your data Make sure you input as much information as possible and make sure that each entry is accurate. The more detail that is available will be helpful to emergency responders. Your contacts Your emergency contacts will be messaged when the Emergency SOS feature is used which means that all of the people you need should be on hand straightaway.…

Data should be obvious StepsApp is a good example of an app that changes how data is displayed on the Apple Watch. You can now view your steps from the main watch face. Don’t lose it The Sources tab also lists all of the uninstalled apps that were once connected to Apple Health. This is worth checking if you are missing some vital data. New features Some apps will offer hardware capability and health stats that are otherwise not available. SleepWatch is a good example when it is installed on the Apple Watch. Piggybacking As you will read elsewhere there are apps, such as Weight Diary, that can connect hardware to Apple Health. This really makes it a complete hub for your health stats. Check the list Tap the ‘Sources’…

Apple Health offers the ability to track medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes. The premise is simple in that you can manually add results and the key will be in monitoring trends to ensure that you are not seeing deteriorations in symptoms over long periods. This alone is a worthy feature, but it is one that is easy to miss. 1 Where to start? Tap the ‘Health Data’ icon at the bottom and then scroll down until you see ‘Results’. This is where you can manually record data points which will be collated to offer a guide to how you are coping with a condition. 2 Add some data Under the ‘No Recorded Data’ section you will see a list of options. Choose the one you need and then…

Key features 1.4GHz-quad-core Intel Core i5 processor • 8GB 2,133MHz memory • 128GB storage Learn more apple.com Available from currys.co.uk IF YOU’RE AFTER an entry-level MacBook with plenty of punch then Apple’s latest laptop provides the best of both of its previous starter models. No longer do you have to decide between a 12-inch model with a Touch Bar or a larger 13-inch model without, because this 2019 model combines them. Eighth wonder Replacing the seventh-gen dual-core Intel i5 dual-core processor of old is the eight-gen quad-core i5 plus Touch ID with the T2 Security Chip, a True Tone display and a meaner, beefier set of built-in stereo speakers. The base model features a 1.4GHz Intel Core G5, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645, 8GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 RAM and a…

Key features 30 hours playback • Bluetooth 5.0 • Touch control Learn more cleeraudio.com Available from amazon.co.uk CLEER’S ALLY TRUE Wireless Headphones are itching to get started with delivering crisp, defined sonics into your ears. Remove them from their jewel box-style charging case and they’re ready to pair with your device (and each other) without you having to do anything. Give them a little twist and they fit snugly thanks to an array of silicon tips and ‘Freebit’ earwings that keep them securely in place, and then they’re good to start piping your favourite sounds directly into your nodding skull. Auto stop/start Built around Qualcomm’s True Wireless technology, each earbud sports a touch-sensitive button on the top that you can tap to play or pause the music and long-press to…

“Clear and easy play-along lessons to help you learn chords and strumming patterns” Requirements iOS 10.0 or later • 144.1MB Available from App Store Learn more uberchord.com A FAST TRACK to learning guitar is as coveted as the Holy Grail because everyone wants to become an accomplished axesmith to emulate their rock heroes, but few are prepared to put in the finger-stinging hours to master the instrument. There are many apps designed to help you learn how to play, but Uberchord is definitely one of the best, providing clear and easy play-along lessons to help you learn chords and strumming patterns. The app includes a tuner to ensure your instrument sounds like it’s supposed to (and that your iOS device can detect that what you’re playing is correct) and an…

When Apple introduced iCloud in 2011 as a replacement for its MobileMe service, we had a robust system for syncing email, contacts, calendars, bookmarks, notes, reminders and more. Once activated, it just does its thing in the background without you having to think about it. Except for the times when it isn’t working in the way it should be. As iCloud has developed over the subsequent software updates, more and more features have been added which, while innovative and incredibly useful, can be somewhat befuddling. So we thought it was time to clear up your iCloud problems once and for all. Over the following pages we have neatly lined up all of the brick walls that Apple users commonly run into when using iCloud and attempt to break through them…

Lower thirds Final Cut Pro X has a collection of lower third titles that you can customise to introduce your interviewee in a slick and professional way. They are in the Titles sidebar. Cutaways A cutaway on an upper layer helps hide a cut in the interview. Cutaways illustrate points being made by the interviewee. They also help add visual variety to the programme. Make a move A statically framed subject is boring to watch. After splitting the end of the interview with the Blade tool you can then slowly zoom in on your subject courtesy of the Ken Burns Crop tool. Flow transition If you don’t have any cutaways to hide jarring jump cuts then you can try a Flow transition. This uses a morph to blend the end…

The Score Editor allows us to not only edit but also print the musical notation for a selected software instrument track. This is hugely useful if you perhaps compose an orchestral or piano part that you want to share for classical performance. GarageBand thoughtfully includes things like pedal markings and tempo in the standard letter-sized printout, along with adding project, composer and instrument names. In these two steps we’ll focus on this print option, how to do it and what it looks like. 1 File>Print First you need your chosen track selected with Score Editor active, showing the desired notation. Go to File>Print or press Cmd+P and select your preferences before clicking ‘Print’. 2 Music sheet On the notation printout the stave or staff runs continuously for the duration and…

Export file formats Images can be exported in different file formats, but some formats are hidden. Hold down the Alt/Option key as you click here to see an extended file formats list and select the one you want. Store signatures If you want to sign PDF documents and images, why not use your real signature? Click this toolbar button and then ‘Create Signature’. Draw on the trackpad or hold a paper signature to the camera. Selection options The rectangle and ellipse selection tools have two hidden features. Hold down Shift for perfect circles or squares. Hold down Alt/Option to expand the selection from the centre instead of the edge. Load and sort Select multiple files in Finder and then double-click them to load them all into the sidebar. Ctrl+click one…

Although file and folder sharing have been set up, as it stands, files can only be transferred from one Mac to another and you cannot see or access items in another Mac’s shared folder. This is not true file sharing. However, we can easily tweak the settings so that you can browse shared folders, and open and edit files in them. It is all about setting permissions and who is allowed to do what to a file or folder. 1 Read/write folders macOS often reports you can’t do this or that with folder sharing. Select the folder in Finder and press Cmd+I to open the info panel. Set all privileges to ‘Read & Write’. 2 Read/write files Anyone can now save files to the shared folder, but macOS complains if…

1 Track it all day The trick with monitoring your heart rate is to let your Apple Watch or fitness tracker do the hard work in the background and to forget about it. Health will keep all of the data stored for when you need it. 2 Your resting rate Tap the ‘Resting Rate’ panel at the bottom to see how your heart rate varies over time when at rest. It is generally considered that a slower heart rate is more beneficial, but look out for unusual spikes. 3 Behind the scenes You can view ‘All Recorded Data’ in every section to check the numbers over extended periods of time. This level of tracking can be useful for medical professionals assessing your overall health. 4 Heart Rate Variability A higher…

1 A basic view Even most of the dedicated dietary apps offer a view which could be considered too simplistic for serious dieting. If so, try connecting the app to Apple Health. 2 A proper breakdown The data from the third-party app is presented in a completely different way, one that is much easier to read, immediately understandable and pure Apple. 3 Manage the carbs As an example, restricting carbohydrates is very difficult, but Apple Health will help you understand exactly how many you are consuming every day.…

1 Just breathe The Breathe app on the Apple Watch is so simple that it’s hard to believe it can offer any real benefits. Start it up and follow the instructions – just breathe. 2 Just one minute After the minute is finished you will see a small summary screen which details your heart rate during the exercise. The lower the better to help you relieve some stress. 3 Long-term tracking The key to reducing stress is to use Breathe every single day, and multiple times if you can. Your usage will be recorded in Apple Health alongside your other data.…

Not all devices, especially those from serious competitors, will work natively with Apple Health. There are obvious business reasons for this, but there are also a number of apps that will work as a bridge between Apple Health and the unsupported device, giving you the synchronisation you need. At times you may not even realise they are connected. 1 Locate an app Apps such as Weight Diary support the Fitbit Aria scales and Apple Health, and this gives you the opportunity to connect the two together. You can still use the app normally, but can view Apple Health stats. 2 Enable both options Go to settings in Weight Diary and make sure that you enable Apple Health and that you also enable the Fitbit Aria scales. That is literally all…

Use the arrows When you enter a word that is on the webpage, it will be highlighted in yellow. Use the arrows to work your way though the text for other incidences of the word being used. Input your words Enter your search query into the box. You can type a single word or a phrase. If you make a mistake or want to start over, just tap the ‘X’ icon to clear the whole box. Look for a name To use the search box, you need to browse to a website and tap the action button that is usually bottom centre of the screen. Select ‘Find On Page’ from the bottom row of icons. Get more room If you tap the Search button, then the keyboard will leave the…

Decline content Unless you are expecting a message, be wary of accepting AirDrops. Indicate that you don’t want to receive incoming content by tapping ‘Decline’. Look for a name If someone who is AirDropping an image or document is not listed in your contacts, the notification you receive won’t include the sender’s name. Preview the image Unless you restrict non-contacts from AirDropping you (or prevent anyone AirDropping you), whatever is sent to you is instantly displayed – and that includes any dodgy content. Accept an AirDrop If you have asked a non-contact to AirDrop content, however, then simply accept it. But maybe consider adding them to your contacts first and keeping ‘Contacts Only’ active. Knowledge base Why can’t I send and receive AirDropped files? If you are expecting a file…

Key features 125mm bass unit • 22mm treble unit • 2-way reflex enclosure Learn more qacoustics.com Available from amazon.co.uk ALTHOUGH YOU CAN’T hook your Mac or iOS device up to these passive speakers directly, we felt that they were worth bringing to your attention for the supreme sound quality that they deliver for a bafflingly low price. They can be hooked up to your favourite AirPlay 2 compatible amp for a rich, warm sound and their stunning Arctic White aesthetics would look great in any home. Braced to impress Each cabinet houses a 22mm soft dome tweeter and a 12.5cm mid/bass driver and the meticulously designed enclosures feature the same Point to Point (P2P) bracing first employed by Q Acoustics’ high-end Concept 500 loudspeakers to provide internal stiffening to reduce…

Requirements macOS 10.9 or later • 64-bit processor • 20GB Learn more ikmultimedia.com Available from ikmultimedia.com SETTING A NEW standard for virtual instruments, IK Multimedia’s MODO DRUM uses model synthesis and advanced sampling to offer the most deeply customisable virtual drum kits ever seen. And thanks to its comprehensive physical modelling engine you can adjust every parameter for every drum in real time instead of rooting through the presets to find something that roughly matches the sound you’re after. “We’ve never experienced a virtual instrument this deep before” Ten kits are included that represent a particular style, genre or time period and you can fine-tune every aspect, including the size, tension, shell profile and playing style. It is even possible to tune the cymbals and adjust their damping and select…

“Lacks the sense of scale that made its big-screen counterparts so compelling” Requirements iOS 11.0 or later • 1.2GB Available from App Store Learn more playblades.com SEEING AS WE have ploughed well over 400 hours into Skyrim across the various home consoles we naturally jumped at the chance to explore Bethesda’s mythical world of swords and sorcery on iOS. So how do the expansive worlds and epic adventures that we have immersed ourselves in for years translate to the small screen? A bit of a mixed bag, actually. Whereas the character customisation and interaction with a wide and varied ensemble of characters is present and correct, the small screen hampers the sense of scale that made Blades’ big-screen counterparts so compelling. You can still undertake quests, but in this game…

Check the space If the disk has less than 20GB free, use utilities like Startup Disk Full Fixer to clear caches and logs, and use Cleaner-App to find duplicates and other unnecessary files. Use Time Machine Make sure Time Machine runs just before upgrading to Catalina. Firstly, it backs up your files for safety and secondly, it frees up drive space used when the backup drive is not plugged in. Check for errors Major changes are made to the Mac’s filing system and thousands of files are added and deleted during a macOS upgrade. Make sure it is in good health by running First Aid in Disk Utility. Clone the disk Make a duplicate of the Mac’s internal drive for an extra safety net just before Catalina is installed. You…

Shared folders Files placed in the shared Resilio Sync folder appear on other peoples’ computers. They can add files you can access if it is set to Read & Write. Shared files are saved to Downloads. Share a file Files are shared in the same way as folders. Click the icon and then drag a file from Finder to the window. Shared links to files can have expiry dates to prevent them being reshared. Share with others More people can be invited to access the shared folder by Ctrl+clicking it and copying a Read Only or Read & Write key. Paste it in an email or message and send it to them. Add shares Click to add a shared folder on your own drive and invite other people to access…

Scan results The results of the scan show items found and the action taken, which is determined by the settings in Preferences. Suspected malware should be investigated. Select it and click ‘Reveal in Finder’. Check the log Click ‘View log’ to open the log window which shows every event, such as when the system was last scanned, what was found, if anything, and what action was or wasn’t taken. View the Quarantine Some malware is deleted immediately, but some is moved to a secure quarantine area. Click this button to view quarantined items. Delete them or restore them if you are sure they are safe. Scan options Three types of scan are available. The first button checks the most likely locations for malware, a deep scan checks everywhere, and the…

Select a tool The tools are in the left toolbar and include red-eye removal, various selection tools, smudge, eraser, clone stamp, painting, drawing and more. Everything you need to edit the photo is here. Filter Gallery Select Filter>Stylize>Filter Gallery to open this effects browser. Select the type of effect in this menu bar at the top. Click the thumbnail preview you want and use the slider controls below. Tool settings After selecting a tool in the left sidebar, the toolbar at the top of the window has the tool options. Configure them before using the tool on the image. Use Edit>Undo when needed. Use layers Layers have all sorts of uses and you can build up a complex image from multiple layers containing effects, adjustments, selections, text, objects and so…

Encrypted zips The encrypted zip can be sent or shared over the internet and only people with the password can extract the files. Double-click the zip in Finder and then enter the password to save the files. Disk Utility encryption Use File>New Image>Blank Image to create an empty encrypted store you can add files to, or select File>New Image>Image From Folder to create an encrypted store from a folder. Encryption level Two levels of encryption are available. Choose between 128-bit AES and 256-bit AES. The first is fast and good enough for most purposes. The second is slow, but extremely secure and virtually uncrackable. Encrypt archives Finder creates zip archives from files or folders, but cannot encrypt them. To do that, you must use a Terminal command. Enter ‘zip -er…

1 Give Fitbit permissions Download and install the Sync Solver app and tap ‘Sync Now’. You will be asked to enable permissions which you need to do to allow the app to work properly. 2 A few seconds It only takes seconds for the synchronisation to complete and you may be surprised at just how much data is passed to Apple Health. It is a very effective solution. 3 It’s all there Almost all of the data that your Fitbit tracker collects will now be stored in Apple Health. It adds even more useful data to your one-stop health shop.…

There are countless third-party apps that will connect to Apple Health and many of them will read and write data as required to increase the completeness of the data you are tracking. No device or app can do everything and in some cases these apps fill the gaps that devices like the Apple Watch currently do not support. Sleep is a good example and so are apps that track your calorie intake. Connecting them to Apple Health only takes seconds to do. Let’s connect a new app. 1 Find an app Take time to find the right app for the activity you want to track and install it as normal. Make sure that it is Health-compatible option. 2 Accept the permissions Expect to be presented with a screen asking for…

Apple should be given credit for opening up the Health APIs so that they are not purely focused on the Apple Watch. This has led to the creation of multiple devices that can be used for very specific health tracking and in some cases tools that can help to manage serious illnesses. No matter what you want to track there is likely already a device available, but the trick will be to not go overboard and try to track every single aspect of your life. Keep time for enjoying the benefits of the new healthy you. 1 Check your weight With a tool like the Withings Body+ Body Composition Wi-Fi Scales you can check your weight and see it automatically synced to Apple Health. 2 Sleep well The Apple Watch…

Track those steps Steps are presented at the top which is very useful because it is a data-point that the Apple Watch does not present on a front screen as a priority. Work it out Your very recent exercise will also be detailed to include walking and running distances, active energy and resting energy. These are especially useful if you are on a diet. What is happening today? The ‘Today’ tab offers a running update on how you are performing throughout the day. Everything is presented obviously ready for you to check at any time. Check your sleep If you have a sleep tracker connected to Apple Health your sleep stats will display. Tap any of the panels to see more detailed information for today and the past. Your consumption…

Set the order Should contacts be sorted by first or last name? Should they be listed first name, last name or last name, first name? This is just personal preference, so choose which works best for you. Siri and Contacts It is great when Siri and Contacts work together. Tap here to allow information in Contacts to appear in Siri searches and to set whether Contacts information can appear on the lock screen. Use short names In some circumstances there is little space for long lists of contacts on an iPhone screen, so names are shortened. Tap here to choose the short name form. Also enable nicknames here. Set the default A personal phone may be set to use iCloud by default, but a work phone is best set to…

Is there an easy way to cycle through and close open apps on my Mac? Rather than using the Dock? Jennifer Zaeglein 1 Open switcher If you hold down the Cmd+tab keys on your Mac then you’ll open the app switcher which displays all of your currently open apps in a handy strip in the middle of the screen. 2 Cycle apps Keep the Cmd key pressed down but take your finger off the tab key and then press the tab key to cycle through and highlight a particular app in the app switcher. 3 Close or hide You can then press the H key to hide an open app or alternatively press the Q key to quit the open app and free up RAM on your Mac to make…

Key features Graphene-enhanced drivers • Bluetooth 5.0 • 45 hours playtime Learn more cambridgeaudio.com Available from amazon.co.uk WE SERIOUSLY TRIED everything to expose a flaw in the sound quality of Cambridge Audio’s Melomania 1 True Wireless In-Ear Monitors but in the end, with a shake of the head and a wry smile, we had no choice but to declare their brilliance. From the shuddering bass and whispery delivery of Billy Eilish’s Bad Guy (always a great yardstick) to the snappy crackle of Dua Lipa’s IDGAF, every vocal detail is flawlessly conveyed and every instrument pops with such crisp clarity that you almost feel as though you’re sat in the control room of the recording studio as the tracks are being laid down. Inside each earbud is a 5.8mm graphene driver,…

iOS 7 Release date September 2013 • New features: AirDrop, Control Centre, improved Notification Centre, all-new Camera app, new Newsstand app, smarter multitasking, improved Safari app, redesigned Music app with iTunes Radio, iOS in the car, a smarter Siri, new Security features, redesigned App Store, Maps, Weather, Calculator & Calendar apps As Apple bids adieu to long-term collaborator and the creative brain behind its most iconic designs, Jonathan Ive, we thought we’d take a look back at the awe-inspiring facelift he gave to iOS back in 2013. At a time when Apple’s mobile operating system was a bit of a mishmash of styles and lacking a solid identity, Ive binned the fake linen and leather textures in favour of a more uniformed interface that used blur, transparency and layering to…