Innehållsförteckning för No. 212 från iCreate

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent enforced lockdown, many of us are being forced to work from home. To some, this is nothing new and business tick-tocks on as usual. But for others, it was a shock to the system. A combination of unfamiliarity with the tools needed to work remotely and seclusion from workmates – a reliable and trusted source of ideas and encouragement – left many of us feeling more isolated than ever. But there are many great apps and online services available to make remote working and keeping in contact with your teams seem effortless – and we’ll help you become an instant expert on the leading ones in our ‘working from home’ feature starting on page 14. Once again, thank you for continuing to…

When you’re off work and the sun is shining it’s the perfect opportunity to master some creative Final Cut Pro X editing tricks and techniques. In this walkthrough, we’ll demonstrate how to make a friend or family member ‘magically’ hide behind thin objects such as a pole or lamp post. This illusion works thanks to a classic splitscreen editing technique that’s as old as cinema itself. We’ll also demonstrate how to use Final Cut’s mighty morphing Flow transition to help a ‘magician’ swap two playing cards between his hands by simply blowing on them. After masking and morphing footage using our supplied source clips, you can film and edit your own friends to show off their digitally assisted ‘magic’ skills on social media. Step-by-step It’s a kind of magic! 1…

The Mac’s keyboard has 26 letters, ten numbers and a handful of symbols, but there are actually hundreds of characters, including accents, umlauts and more. There are sometimes eight or nine different variations of a single vowel, for example. There are hundreds of emoji characters and pictographs, too. Currencies from around the world use special symbols, there are maths symbols, Greek letters and many more. So how do you enter all of these characters? There are a couple of ways and one is to use the keyboard viewer, which shows how modifier keys like option/alt can change the character typed. Another way is to use the Character window to select characters and symbols. Here we’ll show you both ways. Step-by-step Learn to type different characters 1 Typing accents Suppose you…

When you have lots of memory-intensive apps open on your Mac it will inevitably start to feel sluggish and unresponsive, but does this persist after you have quit the apps? If so, then you can use the free Memory Diag app to force the system to empty caches, lower compressed memory and restore the system’s memory state to that akin to a fresh system restart. Through a simple menu bar item, Memory Diag will monitor all aspects of your Mac’s memory, including the amount of physical RAM installed, the RAM being used and not immediately available, the virtual memory, the wired memory (the stuff that can’t be cached to a disk), and the file cache (temporarily stored files that are not currently being used). Here we’ll show you how to…

Name and location Set the filename here, but do not change the file extension. This is automatically set to .sparseimage, which is a special type of Mac file. Set the disk location to save it in Where. Set the encryption Click Encryption and select one of the types from the menu, such as 128-bit encryption, which is secure and fast. Select any of the encryption options and you are asked to set a password. Create an image Select File>New Image> Blank Image In Disk Utility to create an encrypted container to store files and folders you don’t want others to be able to access. It is your own password-protected storage. Sparse disk image There are several options when creating disk images, and selecting sparse disk image has the advantage of…

Making and receiving calls on the iPhone is easy and there is nothing to it, but it is possible to customise the settings and tweak them a little. In both the iPhone settings and Accessibility settings there are a few features that you can play around with. For example, you can enable auto-answer and direct incoming calls to the speaker, and you can get Siri to call people. These are great when your hands are dirty and you don’t want to transfer that grime to your device. You can also hide your phone number when calling people, listen to your own music when on hold, create custom responses for when you can’t take calls, flash the light with calls and more. Let’s dive in to the iPhone’s settings. Step-by-step  Customise…

Have you ever scrolled through your Facebook news feed and seen shared videos or posts that you would like to watch or read but aren’t currently in a position to do so? And when you try to find these posts later when you are in a position to properly appreciate them, you can no longer find them in the vast swathes of posts in your feed? Then there is a very simple solution: you can save them to a collection which you can then access straight from your personal profile menu. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of setting up a new collection to save content to, and then how to access your collections to enjoy your saved content at any time. We also champion some…

The Dock at the bottom of the screen on the iPad looks straightforward – it has icons and when you tap them they open apps. What else is there to it? Quite a lot actually, as the Dock can be used to start multiple apps and it enables you to use two or even three apps a time, which is very useful when you are researching, making notes, checking the calendar along with your email, and so on. In this guide, we show you all the different tasks you can perform using the Dock, from adding and showing recent apps, to running multiple at the same time. Most of the examples work on most iPads, although an iPad Air 2 or newer is needed for Split View. Get more from…

The one-stop column for Genius advice My iPhone is stuck in ‘headphone mode’. When I play audio on my device there is no sound coming out, and when I try to adjust the volume it says headphones are connected, even though they definitely aren’t! This can be frustrating, but thankfully there are some reliable fixes to try. First, try plugging in your headphones and then unplug them again, as there is a possibility that the port that they’re connected to didn’t register that they had previously been disconnected. You should also check the audio settings on your device. Swipe up to access your Control Centre and then tap on the media controls pane. You should see an airwaves icon in the top-right corner, so tap on this and then select…

David Crookes Our iOS expert shows you how to add audio to your iOS screen recordings so that you can record calls on your iPhone, and reveals a host of secret features in your Phone app. Shaun McGill Our tech expert shows you how to troubleshoot your home Wi-Fi network and provides ways in which you can improve those erratic connection speeds. George Cairns Our creative expert shows you how to master the metadata of your photos, enhance your iMovie videos using slow motion and use masks and morphs to make Final Cut magic. Facebook iCreateMagazine Twitter @iCreateMagazine Instagram icreate_mag Email icreate@futurenet.com…

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us out of our usual working environments and into our home offices during the prolonged lockdown period. While this was a seamless transition for those accustomed to working in isolation, for many it proved a shock to the system with all kinds of self-discipline and software-related hurdles to overcome. At the time of writing, lockdown is still very much in effect, but hopefully by the time you read this we will have returned to some degree of normality. However, with social distancing still having to be observed for some time to come, you may wish to continue working from home if the option is available. This is why we have put together this handy survival guide to help you get accustomed to the best…

One second of video footage usually consists of 25 or 30 still frames, and when viewing the footage back the action appears to unfold in real time. If you want to inject drama into your clips, though, you can re-time your footage in iMovie to slow it down. However, creating a slow motion clip in this way involves adding extra frames that makes playback jerky. Fortunately, you can create a smoother slow motion clip using your iPhone camera’s ‘Slo-mo’ mode. This captures the action at a much higher frame-rate, enabling you to savour a sporting moment or add gravitas to a clip. In this walkthrough we’ll demonstrate how to adjust a variety of slow motion settings with your iPhone and show you how to import the slo-mo footage into iMovie…

Logic Pro is constantly evolving and boosting its extensive sound libraries with new professional-sounding components to take your compositions to the next level. One of our favourite sets were introduced back with the 10.4 update that introduced the Studio Horns plug-in, a comprehensive library of sampled brass instruments covering a range of playing styles or ‘articulations’. Thanks to the constant bolstering of better-sounding and more versatile sample libraries such as these, programming a convincing-sounding horn section is a lot easier today than it used to be. So let’s see what the Studio Horns instrument can do… Step-by-step Get started with Studio Horns 1 Create a new track There are two main ways of working with the Studio Horns. The first uses preset ‘sections’, or combinations of instruments. To begin, create…

Like Pages and Numbers, the Keynote update also provides a welcome batch of cosmetic enhancements to really make your slides pop! You will find all-new slide templates and a new ‘Recents’ section within the template chooser to help you find your work-in-progress presentations more easily, new shapes to embellish your slides and, as we will outline here, a cool new Keyboard-style build-in/out effect. Here’s how to use it. 1 Select your text Start off by clicking on a text box within a slide and then click on the ‘Animate’ button to the right of the toolbar and then choose either the ‘Build In’ or ‘Build Out’ option. 2 Add the effect Now click on ‘Add An Effect’ and choose the new ‘Keyboard’ effect. This will appear as though the slide…

There comes a time, during all of this uncertainty of isolation, when you just want to kick back and have a bit of fun. So what better way of doing this than firing up a fun game from yesteryear on your Mac? You may not know that you already have many retro titles at your fingertips, thanks to your Mac’s built-in Terminal app. From Tetris to Pong, and from Solitaire to Snake, you’re bound to love the nostalgia and instant pick-up-and-play experiences these classics provide. Here we look at how you can not only access these free games, but discover what you actually have to play. It is worth pointing out, though, that the Emacs have been removed in macOS Catalina, so they no longer work with the latest operating…

Being able to record the screen of your iOS device is very useful, and before it was introduced with iOS 11, the process had to be carried out using the QuickTime Player app on your Mac (which you can still use). The screen recording feature is particularly useful if you are producing tutorial videos on how to carry out specific functions on your device but, by default, the recordings that you make are muted with no sound. So what if you want to add voice-overs, or you need to capture the audio of a game or app along with the video? Well, there is a simple trick you can perform to add sound to your recordings, which we will also demonstrate in this tutorial, alongside setting up the screen recording…

There has been talk recently of Apple enabling you to switch default apps on the iPhone, and the EU may force this user choice issue through as it has done on other devices running Windows and Android. If or when it happens, would you switch to alternative apps for browsing the web, email, reminders, contacts, messaging, music, calendars and more? Everyone has an opinion on this, but here are our favourite alternatives to Apple’s default offerings. Would you consider any of these apps? Our choices include several Microsoft products, but these days the company makes great software for the iPhone and iPad. We have also suggested a few alternatives in case you aren’t a Microsoft fan. However, you might find Microsoft apps useful for work where Office dominates. 1 Firefox:…

“This soundbar doesn’t just embrace the wireless streaming of music, it offers it inside for a full-on orgy” Key features 2.1-channel soundbar and wireless subwoofer • Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS • AirPlay 2 Learn more denon.com Available from richersounds.com IF YOU’RE AIMING HIGH with your audio equipment and your preferred setup doesn’t punch the air from your lungs and cause the complex network of nerves around your solar plexus to radiate in a frenzied manner due to the sheer power that it projects, then it’s probably not worth bothering with. Denon’s DHT-S516H wireless soundbar and subwoofer combo produces these sensations and is a formidable all-rounder that is capable of handling thumping, textured music and the intricate swirls of your favourite movies with fine precision. And it definitely…

APPLE HAS RELEASED ITS LONG-AWAITED BUDGET iPHONE, THE NEW iPHONE SE. The brand-new 2020 edition of the budget iPhone boasts some impressive features like an A13 Bionic Processor, 12MP rear-facing camera and a 7MP front-facing camera with Portrait mode. But its best feature is its price, it starts at just £419. The original iPhone SE was discontinued way back in 2018, and a budget model hasn’t featured in Apple’s line-up since, although it has continued to sell the iPhone 8, which shares many design similarities with the new iPhone SE. “The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way…

When you snap a shot on your iPhone, a host of information is stored inside the image file. This data can be very useful. Metadata contains information that Apple’s Photos app can use to display images chronologically or by where they were captured. It is also used to categorise images as specific media types such as Slo-mo, Panorama, Portrait, etc. Metadata can be customised in the Photos app to help you find files faster, and by adding keywords to a file you’ll make it easier to locate in searches. You can also add location information to files imported from cameras that don’t have a GPS system. This enables you to view the image’s location on a map within the Photos app. Step-by-step View and edit metadata 1 Making memories In…

Learning to play an instrument is an incredibly rewarding struggle. Practice makes perfect, and most people begin by attempting to master the fundamental techniques before advancing. Aside from merely recording and mixing your compositions, GarageBand acknowledges this vital learning stage by providing exercises for guitar and piano. As part of its Learn To Play feature, the app offers 38 free modules ranging from beginner to more advanced. Budding guitarists can learn basic chord shapes and fundamental progressions, while practising pianists can learn classical and pop styles. Beyond basic tutelage, the Play chapter invites you to perform and record to monitor your progress. During lockdown, why not grab your instrument and give it a go? Step-by-step Learn an instrument in GarageBand 1 Finding lessons You will find guitar and piano lessons…

Passwords are a pain to use, and beyond a few favourites they are hard to remember. However, they are also useful for protecting your Mac and your files. For example, they prevent other people from accessing things and perhaps seeing something you wouldn’t want them to see, like personal emails, financial information, web browsing habits and so on. Here we take a look at some of the ways to protect your Mac and files, such as setting a password to lock your Mac when you step away, protecting work documents, encrypting not only the disk but also your backups and external drives, as well as safeguarding the ZIP files you email and more. Step-by-step Add passwords and encryption to everything! 1 Encrypt external drives Encrypt external USB drives and flash…

Keeping score Many of the arcade games let you keep score and this is displayed on the screen, usually just outside the playing area itself. Quitting a game To stop playing a game you must press escape and X. This allows you to type in the name of another game. You can also quit Emacs in Terminal by holding the ctrl key and then pressing X, then C. Small screen What these versions of age-old classics lack in size and graphical prowess, they make up for with immediate, addictive gameplay. This is certainly the case with Pong! Simple controls Depending on the game you are playing, typically you will be using the cursor keys and the spacebar to control what is happening onscreen. Knowledge base Text-based games As well as…

Data rate This graph displays the data rate of your wireless network in Mbps. Monitor this graph over the course of a few hours and if you see noticeable dips or a complete drop of signal then it indicates that there is a problem somewhere. Signal quality The middle chart, labelled ‘Quality’, displays the ratio of signal to noise. All being well, this line should be relatively straight with slight spikes and dips. If it frequently dips then it indicates that something is interfering with your Wi-Fi signal. Keep monitoring Monitor all three graphs over time to get a clearer picture of how your Wi-Fi is performing. In the lower graph, the two lines should be close together if all is good. If they’re not then try to eradicate the…

Record options You can access this screen of recording options by long-pressing on the Screen Record button in Control Centre. App access As you can see, Facebook apparently has access to your screen recordings and we figured that was a means to broadcast to the platform. However, this will yield an error message when tapped. Toggle mic on To turn on the Screen Recording microphone and get sound to accompany your recordings, simply tap on this button. Start/stop You can start and stop the recording process from this screen too, just tap on this option to commence or halt the recording. Knowledge base Edit your recordings All of your screen recordings are saved to the Photos app and you can quickly edit the videos from there. Find the video that…

You’d find it would take you some time to count all the photography-editing apps that grace the App Store. It is one of the most popular sections and it feels as if new solutions are released every day; but there are apps that have proven themselves to be worthy of your attention over time, and Snapseed is one of them. It does not claim to offer the most advanced features, or indeed to do anything particularly innovative, but it offers a near-perfect balance between usability and effectiveness in a package that takes little time to learn. It is particularly adept at producing eye-catching edits that shine on services such as Instagram, and even if at times the quality is not top level, it really can greatly enhance your favourite photos…

Apple hasn’t yet included its Notes app on the Watch but that doesn’t mean you’re left with no means of capturing ideas on the go. There are numerous note-taking apps available which bridge this gap and Google Keep’s recent availability on Apple Watch is the latest. To install it, you simply need to download the Google Keep app on to your iPhone before popping over to the Watch app where, under the ‘My Watch’ tab, you can ensure the wearable version will be made available in watchOS. When you launch it, you’ll find you can display the ten most recent notes you create on your iPhone or on your Watch, showing a couple of lines of text or an image preview. You can also make use of lists and manage…

Terminal This is a command line interface (CLI) app that comes on all Macs and allows users to modify various characteristics of their Macs, including fonts, files and certain aspects of the desktop. USB-C This is a relatively new type of connector for delivering data and power to and from devices. Because the plug is symmetrical in shape it can be inserted any way up, and the latest versions of USB-C are capable of delivering superfast data transferral speeds. Xcode This Apple-developed application is free to download from the Mac App Store and is essentially a suite of tools used for developing software for macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS. It is designed to support source code for a wide range of programming languages, including C++, Java and Swift.…

Key features Biometric entry • Supports up to ten prints • Weather resistant Learn more masterlock.eu Available from amazon.co.uk DITCHING KEYS IN FAVOUR OF DIGITS, Master Lock’s new Biometric Padlock is super-durable, highly secure and can be effortlessly opened by scanning stored fingerprints. This means that it can’t be picked and you don’t have to worry about misplacing the key. Touch security The padlock can be initially opened and removed from its packaging by inputting a preset code found within the instruction manual. This code consists of directions (up, down, left, right) and can be inputted using the secondary keypad button that surrounds the central biometric scanner. This preset code can be reset to whatever you want and acts as an alternative means of opening the padlock. You can also…

“Create stunning projects utilising image editing, graphic design and layout without ever leaving this app” Price £23.99/$23.99 Requirements macOS 10.7 or later • 64-bit processor • 571.5MB Learn more affinity.serif.com Available from Mac App Store IF YOU FIND YOURSELF FRUSTRATED by the limitations of Apple’s own Pages app and aren’t quite at the level of expertise needed to get the most out of an Adobe CC subscription, then Serif offers the perfect solution – an entire suite of competitively priced creative apps (made up of this, Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer) all linked together so that the toolsets of each can be accessed from within this app. The payoff is that you can create stunning projects utilising image editing, graphic design and document layout without ever leaving Affinity Publisher. The…

Price Free Requirements iOS 11.0 or later • 31MB Learn more freeview.co.uk Available from iOS App Store RATHER THAN FLABBERING our ghasts with original features, the Freeview app serves mainly as a handy time-saver to let you browse the TV listings across all of the free channels in your area at once without you having to open the viewing portal app of each station individually. You will still need to download those portals (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, etc), however, so this app certainly won’t be saving you space on your iOS device. By drawing everything together under one umbrella app, though, Freeview makes streaming TV more accessible. You can view the listings across all channels, set reminders for things you want to watch and browse the collective library of on-demand…

Price £4.99/$4.99 Requirements macOS 10.15 or later • 64-bit processor • 2.9MB Learn more hypercritical.co Available from Mac App Store AT FIRST GLANCE, IT IS TRICKY to see how SwitchGlass, a dedicated app switcher, provides more productivity benefits than your Mac’s standard Dock. It can’t even expand open apps reduced to your Dock, for instance – it only switches between the windows of open apps on your desktop. However, it does have some useful shortcuts tucked away (all fully customisable to meet your needs). For example, if you hold down cmd and then click on an app icon, the location of the app on your Mac will be displayed in Finder. You have full control over the position of the app switcher on your desktop and its appearance, and you…