FEATURE

Written by Ian Osborne

Image credit: Apple Inc

T he flexibility of what you can do with your Apple gear is amazing. Apple kit is so versatile; there’s all sorts of things you can achieve with a Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. And that’s what this article’s all about. We round up some of the best tips and tricks that let you do things you might not have anticipated. Want to use your iPad as a drawing tablet? You can. Would you like to ask Siri to remember where you parked your car? We show you how. Ever wanted to write a novel or screenplay on your Mac? Our tips show you the best way to start, and what to use. You can get an ECG, blood oxygen test and loud environment report directly from your Apple Watch too.

For many of these tips, you already have everything you need bundled with your device’s operating system. For others, you might have to buy an extra app, though we’ve mostly concentrated on low-cost software.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our collection of interesting projects for all your Apple gear, and start to use your desktop or notebook Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch in a whole new way. And most of all, have fun.

On the Mac

Amazing things you can do on your desktop or notebook Mac

1 Learn a language

Launched in 2012, Duolingo has grown into the web’s most popular way to learn a language. In fact, in the US, more people are learning languages on Duolingo than in the entire public school system. Duolingo offers more than 100 total language courses for 42 distinct languages. These include endangered languages such as Hawaiian, Navajo and Scottish Gaelic, and ‘fictional’ tongues such as Game of Thrones’ High Valyrian and Star Trek’s Klingon. It’s accessible through a web browser on the Mac (duolingo.com), and there are apps for the iPad and iPhone for learning on the move.

Language students should also bookmark translate.google.co.uk, a great translation site.

2 Enjoy your sounds

The Music app can rip your CDs so you can play them on your Mac, or stream sounds from the Apple Music service. But did you know you can minimise its interface so it doesn’t get in the way when you’re working? Click on the Window option in the top bar and select Mini Player, or press Opt+Cmd+M. You open a small window showing what’s currently playing and giving you basic controls when you hover over it. You can also enjoy a light show that reacts to the sounds being played. Again, click on the Window menu and select Visualiser, or press Cmd+T. It looks great in full-screen – just the thing for a party. Visualiser Settings are also available under the Window menu.

3 Sync Notes

Are you using the Notes app to its fullest potential? As well as making notes on your Mac and storing them in folders, you can have them sync with your iPad, iPhone and the iCloud website by placing them in the iCloud section. You can also make a Quick Note (also synced) by clicking the bottom-right corner of the screen.

4 Art for free

If you’re looking for a powerful graphics editor but don’t have the money to spend on Photoshop, get GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). It’s opensource, free and available for most desktop/notebook platforms. It has a steep learning curve, but there’s plenty of online help available. Download from gimp.org .

5 Keep awake

Amphetamine is an excellent free app, available on the Mac App Store, that lets you stop your computer from going to sleep. The app is accessed from the menu bar, and it can be activated and closed with a single click. You can set your Mac to stay awake for a set time, while an app is running, while a file is downloading and more.

6 Install a VPN

Online security is increasingly important these days. A VPN – Virtual Private Network – can do much to keep your data safe and protect your privacy. By disguising your location, it can also get around geo-blocking restrictions. If a website is USA-only, for example, just point your VPN at a US-based server.