Starting today, we’re rolling out a change that enables native support for the W3C WebAuthn implementation for Google Accounts on Apple devices running iOS 13.3 and above. This capability, available for both personal and work Google Accounts, simplifies your security key experience on compatible iOS devices and allows you to use more types of security keys for your Google Account and the Advanced Protection Program.
As long as your iPhone is running iOS 13.3 or later, you’ll find that your security key options are now a lot broader. You’ll be able to use USB-A and Bluetooth Titan Security Keys with your iPhone because those keys have built-in NFC support, meaning all you need to do is tap one of them to the back of your phone for authentication.
You also have the option of using a Lightning security key in place of the Titan – Google calls out the YubiKey 5Ci
Making the Advanced Protection Program and Titan Security Keys easier to use on Apple iOS devices, rolling out a change that enables native support for the W3C WebAuthn implementation for Google Accounts on Apple devices running iOS 13.3 and above. This capability, available for both personal and work Google Accounts, simplifies your security key experience on compatible iOS devices and allows you to use more types of security keys for your Google Account and the Advanced Protection Program.
More security key choices for users
Both the USB-A and Bluetooth Titan Security Keys have NFC functionality built-in. This allows you to tap your key to the back of your iPhone when prompted at sign-in.
You can plug a USB-C security key in directly to an iOS device that has a USB-C port (such as an iPad Pro).
We suggest installing the Smart Lock app in order to use Bluetooth security keys and your phone’s built-in security key, which allows you to use your iPhone as an additional security key for your Google Account.
In order to add your Google Account to your iOS device, navigate to “Settings > Passwords & Accounts” on your iOS device or install the Google app and sign in.
Account security best practices
We highly recommend users at a higher risk of targeted attacks to get security keys (such as Titan Security Key or your Android or iOS phone) and enroll into the Advanced Protection Program. If you’re working for political committees in the United States, you may be eligible to request free Titan Security Keys through the Defending Digital Campaigns to get help enrolling into Advanced Protection.
a USB security key if you’ve got an Apple Lighting to USB Camera Adapter. iOS devices with a USB-C port (hello iPad Pro) can use USB-C keys to secure Google accounts, and finally, Google recommends that users install its Smart Lock app, which will enable functionality with Bluetooth keys and let iPhone adherents use their phone itself as a security key for their Google accounts.
Google first introduced its Titan Security Key back in 2018 after requiring that all of its employees switch to hardware-based two factor authentication. Two-factor authentication, regardless of the form, is better than merely securing your accounts with a password, but hardware-based 2FA using security keys is one of the safer authentication methods.
Google also reminded users of its Advanced Protection Program, which can help keep safe the Google accounts belonging to people at risk of targeted attacks. Those who are working for political committees in the United States can request a free security key from Google, so if you are you might want to check out the Advanced Protection Program website.
Apple is moving quickly to release new software features that improve lives during the COVID-19 health pandemic. One new feature that’s aimed to help first responders will be useful for iPhone and Apple Watch users even after we reach the other side of the coronavirus outbreak. The change is coming in iOS 13.5 and watchOS 6.2.5 later this month.
Medical ID
Apple Watch and iPhone have supported a feature called Medical ID that lets you collect critical health data in one place. Medical ID can include your contact information, date of birth, medical conditions, blood type, and more.
Medical ID can be accessed from the Lock Screen on the iPhone without a passcode, or by holding the Side Button on an Apple Watch even if it’s locked. The idea is that anyone can see important health information about you in a time of need even if you’re not responsive.
Emergency SOS
iPhone and Apple Watch offer a separate feature called Emergency SOS. When you hold down the Side Button on an iPhone and Apple Watch for several seconds, the device can call local emergency services for you.
Emergency SOS also alerts your emergency contact when activated. This feature has been critical in saving lives by notifying first responders when an iPhone or Apple Watch user has an accident.
Medical ID in Emergency Calls
What’s new in iOS 13.5 and watchOS 6.2.5 is a new capability that connects Medical ID and Emergency SOS together. Starting later this month, customers can opt into a new Emergency SOS feature that automatically shares Medical ID information with emergency services.
This helps first responders by reducing the need to ask about allergies, medications, and medical conditions. First responders will automatically receive this vital information from Medical ID when Emergency SOS is activated.
Medical ID data is encrypted to ensure the data is stored privately on-device. This privacy is maintained with the new capability by relying on Enhanced Emergency Data to securely share the data with first responders.
Apple WatchSeries 4 and later also feature Fall Detection which automatically calls emergency services when a fall is detected and a user is unresponsive. The new Medical ID sharing feature will be used for Fall Detection as well.
The new feature is currently available in the beta versions of iOS and watchOS. Update to iOS 13.5 and watchOS 6.2.5 when the software updates are available later this month.
Last week saw contradictory claims about iPhone Mail vulnerabilities, with a security company claiming that they had been exploited in real-world attacks, and Apple stating that it can find no evidence of this.
Two leading security researchers have now weighed in on this, agreeing with Apple on one point, while stating it remains possible that the bugs have been exploited …
Everyone now appears to agree with one of Apple’s statements: that the iOS Mail app vulnerabilities discovered by ZecOps cannot be exploited on their own. Apple said:
The researcher identified three issues in Mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections.
ZecOps accepts this, and it has been backed by other security researchers. However, as we noted last week, that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t have been exploited alongside other vulnerabilities in order to carry out a successful attack.
The denial is not a complete refutation of the claim. It may be the case that the specific vulnerabilities alone cannot bypass security safeguards, but that they can be combined with existing exploits in order to do so.
Wired reports that our take has now been echoed by two high-profile security researchers.
iOS security researcher and Guardian Firewall creator Will Strafach points out that while Apple and ZecOps are correct about the limited utility of the Mail bugs alone, it’s still important to take these types of bugs seriously.
“A zero-click like this is especially interesting because it is not a full exploit chain, yet due to the nature of how it works, it could enable something like a smash-and-grab for mailbox data. Even the prospect of copying emails then self-deleting the crafted ‘attack email’ is quite scary.”
Former NSA hacker Patrick Wardle agrees, making the point that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and saying it wouldn’t be surprising that Apple would be unable to detect these attacks even if they have taken place.
“It is unlikely that if this vulnerability was used in highly targeted attacks that Apple would find evidence of such attack,” Wardle says. “Either way, it would be helpful for Apple to articulate how they came to this conclusion.”
Even the crudest zero-click attacks leave little trace, which makes tracking them an issue. Security analysts say that in many cases, the very features that make software more secure often make zero-click attacks harder to detect […]
“We don’t see a lot of these zero click vulnerabilities exploited in the wild and that is because they’re so difficult to detect—it’s not because they’re not out there.”
If the iPhone Mail vulnerabilities have been exploited, however, this is mostly likely against specific, high-profile targets.
Apple and Google announced their partnership two weeks ago to develop contract-tracing via Bluetooth in iOS and Android. Last week we shared details about how it will work and roll out, and today we’ve got answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 contact tracing for iOS and Android as well as updates on the Bluetooth and cryptography specifications.
We learned last week how contact tracing will work and roll out as well as how people will be able to participate. Those details should also help to further qualm security and privacy concerns from US Senators as well as the public.
Today we’ve got more details from Apple and Google representatives that cover some of the most frequently asked questions about contact-tracing in iOS and Android, now called Exposure Notification.
How can contact tracing help slow down COVID-19?
Smartphones can be an important part of slowing down the pandemic as they offer an automated solution that scales to understand when people are exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus. This gives valuable anonymous data to public health authorities to make the best decisions to slow down COVID-19.
Contact tracing is being used by public health authorities and governments around the world.
How does the software ensure privacy and security?
Users have explicit choice whether or not to turn on and use COVID-19 contact-tracing
Users control all data and if they want to share it
No location data is tracked, the software works via Bluetooth-based rotating beacons
Contact-tracing from Apple and Google will only be available to be used by apps from public health authorities
Apple and Google can turn off COVID-19 exposure notification on a regional basis
Will the government have access to information through contact tracing?
Approved apps from public health authorities will have access to Bluetooth beacon data that retains user privacy and security.
Explicit user consent is required for their anonymous data to be shared
Where is contact tracing data stored and who can see it?
Contact tracing data is only stored on a user’s device
Contact tracing data is only processed on a user’s device
Public health authorities will be able to see anonymous Bluetooth beacon data for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and those that receive exposure notifications
Data will also include the day the contact occurred and how strong the Bluetooth signal was
Will Apple and Google monetize contact tracing data?
There will not be any monetization for contact tracing data
Apple and Google reiterate that the software relies on a user’s device for processing and data storage
Where can you find contact tracing apps for iOS and Android?
As public health authorities develop and update apps to work with Apple and Google’s contact tracing software they will be made available in the App Store and Google Play Store.
Apple and Google are partnering with public health authorities to see about ways they might be able to contact users about available apps
Apple and Google will highlight contact tracing apps when they become available on their app stores.
How will the software know if I’ve been exposed to someone who has tested positive?
Each public health authority will decide how each determines if someone has been exposed.
Apple and Google’s software supports data that includes how long someone has been in contact with someone who has tested positive
Health authorities will determine a minimum threshold for the time in contact with someone who has tested positive and Apple and Google will have a 30-minute maximum set to retain user privacy.
Apple and Google representatives highlighted that contact tracing is just one part of the solution for the coronavirus pandemic.
More resources can be found on Apple’s website. There are also updates today on the Bluetooth specification, Cryptography specification, and framework API for the iOS software. These include the API keys being randomly generated, changing the encryption algorithm from HMAC to AES, associated metadata is now encrypted, and more.
Whether you’re just getting going with Apple’s smart home platform or have been using it for a while but never needed to let others have access to it, follow along for how to share HomeKit access on iPhone.
HomeKit is a secure and handy smart home platform but it can be inconvenient for frequent friends and family that visit to control things like lights, fans, locks, and more if they don’t have access to the digital controls through their iPhone or your HomePod.
Keep in mind when you’re about to give someone else HomeKit access that it’s all or nothing, so they’ll be able to “control accessories, see when they are used, and receive notifications about them.” You can always remove someone as you see fit but especially if you have HomeKit accessories like locks and garage doors hooked up, knowing they’ll have total access may be an important consideration.
How to share HomeKit access on iPhone
On iPhone (or iPad) head to the Home app
Tap the Home icon in the top left corner
Under the People section, tap Invite
Enter a contact or someone’s phone number or email, then tap Send Invitein the top right corner
How to accept a HomeKit invitation on iPhone
Tap the notification that HomeKit access was shared with you
Tap Accept
If there is a HomePod in the home, you can choose to enable it to recognize your voice
Every so often, a bug in iOS emerges where a certain string of text will cause your iPhone or iPad to crash. This week, another such string of text is going viral, and a fix from Apple is not yet publicly available.
The string of text, which we aren’t going to share here, includes the Italian flag emoji and characters in the Sindhi language. When an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch receives a notification with this text string, things get wonky. Sometimes, your device will crash, while other times it completely stops responding to touch input, and much more.
Details of where this text string originated are somewhat unclear, but the original source seems to have been a Telegram group. It’s now going viral on Twitter and other social media platforms, though, so it’s worth being aware of. It can spread through theoretically any application, including Twitter, Messages, and more
These sort of bugs have surfaced at various times over the last few years. For instance, back in 2015 the “effective power” text string went viral. Essentially, when you sent the string to another iPhone user, it would cause their Messages app, and sometimes iOS as a whole, to crash.
What’s usually most important about these text string bugs, including today’s, is that it’s almost completely out of the end user’s control. What this means is that someone can send the text to you, and immediately crash your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch.
Other such stories include :
Receiving an Indian character crashes Messages and other apps in iOS 11
PSA: This link will crash Messages on iOS and macOS, cause resprings & more
iOS bug causes Messages to crash, iPhone to reboot when a certain text is received
Sending this text will crash almost any iPhone, but don’t expect it to become a major problem
The issue does appear to be fixed in the latest iOS 13.4.5 beta, but that update is not available to everyone just yet. Generally, Apple rolls out a fix for these problems quickly, so we should expect iOS 13.4.2 or even iOS 13.4.5 to be released to everyone sooner rather than later.
One temporary fix, until Apple releases software updates to resolve the problem, is to disable notifications on your devices. Thankfully, if you do receive a message with the text string in it, you can reboot your device and things should be back to normal.
Have you seen this bug in the wild? Let us know down in the comments! We’ll keep this post updated with the latest details as well.
A fix on Reddit claims to protect users with a jailbroken device from the bug :
A new string of characters is making the rounds similar to the Telugu text that would cause iOS to crash. CaptureTheFlag is similar in that it hooks CoreText to replace any occurrences of it with “REMOVED.”
Update: A new video from EverythingApplePro shows that you dont necessarily even need the Italian flags, just the Sindhi characters.
The Most Affordable iPhone Features A13 Bionic, the Fastest Chip in a Smartphone, and the Best Single-Camera System in an iPhone
Introducing the second-generation iPhone SE, a powerful and compact new smartphone.
Cupertino, California — Apple today announced the second-generation iPhone SE, a powerful new iPhone featuring a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, paired with Touch ID for industry-leading security. iPhone SE comes in a compact design, reinvented from the inside out, and is the most affordable iPhone. The new iPhone SE is powered by the Apple-designed A13 Bionic, the fastest chip in a smartphone, to handle the most demanding tasks. iPhone SE also features the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone, which unlocks the benefits of computational photography including Portrait mode, and is designed to withstand the elements with dust and water resistance.
iPhone SE comes in three beautiful colors — black, white and (PRODUCT)RED — and will be available for pre-order beginning Friday, April 17, starting at just $399 (US).
“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 — including our best-ever single-camera system for great photos and videos — while still being very affordable,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone SE features the industry-leading performance of A13 Bionic that enables great battery life, takes stunning Portrait mode and Smart HDR photos, shoots amazing videos with stereo audio, is great for games and super fast web surfing, and is built with the same industry-leading security features our customers expect. We can’t wait to get iPhone SE into customers’ hands.”
iPhone SE features an aerospace-grade aluminum and durable glass design with an all-black front.
Popular Design with a 4.7-inch Display
iPhone SE features an aerospace-grade aluminum and durable glass design with an all-black front, and is available in black, white and (PRODUCT)RED. The rear glass finish includes a centered Apple logo and is made using a seven-layer color process for precise hue and opacity, delivering rich depth of color with a color-matched aluminum band. It is water- and dust-resistant with an IP67 rating for water resistance up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.1
The 4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone adjusts the white balance to match the ambient light for a more natural, paper-like viewing experience. The vibrant wide color gamut Retina HD display offers incredible color accuracy, and supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 playback. iPhone SE uses Haptic Touch for Quick Actions — such as animating Live Photos, previewing messages, rearranging apps and more — as well as contextual menus.
iPhone SE also features the familiar Home button designed with sapphire crystal to be durable and to protect the sensor, and a steel ring to detect a user’s fingerprint for Touch ID. Using Touch ID is an easy, private and secure alternative to entering a passcode to unlock iPhone, fill in passwords using iCloud Keychain, log in to apps, authorize App Store purchases, and make Apple Pay transactions.
iPhone SE comes in three beautiful colors, black, white and (PRODUCT)RED, and is designed to withstand the elements with dust and water resistance.
A13 Bionic — The Fastest Chip in a Smartphone
Introduced with iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, A13 Bionic is the fastest chip ever in a smartphone and provides unparalleled performance for every task iPhone SE handles. Perfect for photography, gaming and augmented reality experiences, A13 Bionic makes every action feel fluid.
A13 Bionic was built with a focus on machine learning, with a dedicated 8-core Neural Engine capable of 5 trillion operations per second, two Machine Learning Accelerators on the CPU and a new Machine Learning Controller to balance performance and efficiency. Together, A13 Bionic and iOS 13 enable new intelligent apps that make use of machine learning and Core ML.
Built for efficiency, the A13 Bionic also enables great battery life for iPhone SE. iPhone SE is wireless-charging capable with Qi-certified chargers and also supports fast-charging,giving customers up to 50 percent charge in just 30 minutes.2Lightning-fast download speeds are available with Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit-class LTE.3Dual SIM with eSIM provides the flexibility for users to have two separate phone numbers on a single device while traveling abroad or for use as a business line.4
A13 Bionic, the fastest chip in a smartphone, comes to iPhone SE enabling great battery life, power and efficiency.
New Camera Experience Powered by A13 Bionic
iPhone SE features the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone with a 12-megapixel f/1.8 aperture Wide camera, and uses the image signal processor and Neural Engine of A13 Bionic to unlock even more benefits of computational photography, including Portrait mode,all six Portrait Lighting effects and Depth Control.5 Using machine learning and monocular depth estimation, iPhone SE also takes stunning Portraits with the front camera. Next-generation Smart HDR comes to iPhone SE, intelligently re-lighting recognized subjects in a frame for more natural-looking images with stunning highlight and shadow details.
iPhone SE takes amazing photos with Smart HDR, stunning portraits with Portrait mode including all six Portrait Lighting effects, and with QuickTake, users can easily transition to video recording without switching out of Photo mode.
Videos are even more immersive with stereo audio recording and cinematic video stabilization on the front and rear cameras. The rear camera supports high-quality video capture at 4K up to 60fps, and extended dynamic range comes to iPhone SE for more highlight details up to 30fps. Customers can also take advantage of QuickTake video on the front and rear cameras, allowing video recording without switching out of Photo mode.
With advanced Camera and Photo features in iOS 13, native editing is even more comprehensive and intuitive through powerful tools that were once available only for photo editing.
iPhone SE features the best single-camera system in an iPhone capturing high quality video up to 4K 60fps on the rear camera, cinematic video stabilization on the front and rear camera, and studio audio recording.
Everything Apple has to Offer
iPhone SE gives customers access to Apple’s robust ecosystem of products, services and accessories. Users can take advantage of the almost 2 million apps on the App Store, including the best third-party apps and AR experiences, stay up to date on current events with Apple News, enjoy original series, movies and documentaries from the world’s greatest storytellers with Apple TV+, stream over 60 million songs from their favorite artists on Apple Music, make secure and private purchases with Apple Pay, and store photos, files and contacts on iCloud with the ability to access content on all of a customer’s Apple devices. With a Lightning connector, iPhone SE is also compatible with more than 25,000 Lightning accessories, including camera accessories, audio and speakers, docks, CarPlay and more.
iPhone SE is built with the same industry-leading security features that customers expect from Apple — protecting privacy and giving customers control of their information. For example, Touch ID and the Secure Enclave protect fingerprint data, Intelligent Tracking Prevention on Safari helps stop advertisers that follow users from site to site, Photos uses machine learning to organize photos on device and more.
iPhone SE with iOS 13 delivers a seamless experience with software and hardware integration unlike any other smartphone. iOS 13 features a dramatic look with Dark Mode, a more private way to sign in to apps and websites with Sign In with Apple, and an all-new Maps experience that delivers faster and more accurate navigation and beautiful street-level imagery with Look Around.
iPhone SE integrates hardware and software for a seamless experience allowing access to Apple’s unparalleled ecosystem of products, services and Lightning accessories.
Pricing and Availability
iPhone SE will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models in black, white and (PRODUCT)RED starting at $399 (US). Customers can also get iPhone SE for $9.54 a month or $229 with trade-in from apple.com, in the Apple Store app and Apple Stores.6 iPhone SE is available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary).
iPhone SE is available to pre-order on apple.com and the Apple Store app beginning at 5 a.m. PDT on Friday, April 17, and will be available from Apple, Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers on Friday, April 24, in the US and more than 40 other countries and regions.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac and other platforms including online (tv.apple.com), for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. Customers who purchase iPhone SE can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free.7
Customers with questions about iPhone SE or which iPhone is right for them can contact a Specialist at 1-800-MY-APPLE or start a chat in Messages directly from the Apple Store app.
Anyone who purchases online from Apple will receive free no-contact home delivery and the option to trade in their current iPhone for credit toward the purchase of iPhone SE.8
Customers get 3 percent Daily Cash when they buy iPhone SE from Apple with Apple Card.
Customers can extend their limited warranty with AppleCare+ and AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, and get 24/7 priority access to technical support.
A portion of proceeds for iPhone SE (PRODUCT)RED purchases will go directly to Global Fund’s newly established COVID-19 Response — providing funding to countries in need of PPE, diagnostics treatment, lab equipment, public safety communications, supply chain support and more — as well as HIV/AIDS grants that provide testing, counseling, treatment and prevention programs with a specific focus on eliminating transmission of the virus from mothers to their babies.
1 iPhone SE is splash-, water- and dust-resistant, and was tested under controlled laboratory conditions with a rating of IP67 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 1 meter up to 30 minutes). Splash, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions, and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge a wet iPhone; refer to the user guide for cleaning and drying instructions. Liquid damage not covered under warranty. iPhone SE is resistant to accidental spills from common liquids such as soda, coffee, tea, beer and juice. In the event of a spill, rinse the area with water and wipe your iPhone, and dry it. 2 Up to 50 percent charge in 30 minutes with 18W adapter or higher (sold separately). 3 Speeds vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on LTE support, contact your carrier and see apple.com/iphone/LTE. 4 Use of Dual SIM requires two wireless service plans (which may include restrictions on roaming). Certain restrictions apply to use. 5 Portrait mode on iPhone SE has the ability to recognize people. 6 Trade‑in values vary. iPhone SE promotional pricing is after trade-in of iPhone 8 in good condition. Additional trade‑in values require purchase of a new iPhone, subject to availability and limits. Must be at least 18. Apple or its trade-in partners reserve the right to refuse or limit any Trade In transaction for any reason. In‑store trade‑in requires presentation of a valid, government-issued photo ID (local law may require saving this information). Sales tax may be assessed on full value of new iPhone. Additional terms from Apple or Apple’s trade-in partners may apply. Monthly pricing: Available to qualified customers and requires 0 percent APR, 24-month installment loan with Citizens One or Apple Card Monthly Installments and iPhone activation with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon. Taxes and shipping not included. Additional Apple Card Monthly Installments terms are in the Customer Agreement. For additional information on iPhone Payments terms, visit apple.com/legal/sales-support. 7 One subscription per Family Sharing group. Offer good for three months after eligible device activation, starting April 24, 2020. Plan automatically renews until cancelled. Restrictions and other terms apply. 8 Online Trade In is not available in Mexico, Brazil and Turkey.
During these days of working from home and possibly having some extra spare time, we have some useful tutorials for you that can help build your skills. One of these skills makes use of the Forms feature in Apple’s free Numbers spreadsheet app to capture data wherever you may be. Grab your iPhone or iPad and join in as we create a sample form in Numbers.
Make A Spreadsheet For The Data You Wish To Analyze
You’ll need to know what data you want or need to capture. We’ll create a spreadsheet in Numbers that has the data fields in individual columns, with each row being a separate record. For example, we’ll make a spreadsheet for tracking credit card expenses. Our fields, or data points, are:
Date and Time we made a credit card purchase
Card Used (this assumes that we have more than one credit card)
Vendor (where we made the purchase)
Amount of purchase
Category (if we want to see how much we’re spending on certain items)
Notes (general comments on a purchase)
Launch Numbers, then tap the + button in the upper right corner of the screen to make a new spreadsheet (or table, as it’s referred to by Numbers), and select “Blank” from the list of templates provided by the app.
Starting at the top of the spreadsheet in row 1, we’ll enter the field names. Tap on cell A1 (the upper left corner of the table) and type the field name. To start with, we’ll enter Date and Time, then Card Used, Vendor, Amount, Category and Notes. The basic spreadsheet table looks something like this :
We now need to add the correct format for each column. Formatting allows us to enter data in the proper way – a date and time will have a specific format, the amount will have a dollar sign and two numbers to the right of the decimal point, etc…
Column A is our Date and Time column, so tap the A at the top of the column to highlight it, then tap the Format button — it looks like a paintbrush. Select Date & Time as the format to be applied to the column, tap the info button ( a circled “i”) to select a date format (I selected M/D/YY, like 4/3/20) and a time format (H:MM, like 4:32).
Other formats are easier. The Vendor and Notes columns are just Text, and the Amount column is formatted as Currency. To make entering information fast and easy, I selected “Pop-Up Menu” as the format for the Card Used and Category columns. This lets me create a pop-up menu containing a set of common entries. For Card Used, I entered Visa, Amex, and Apple Card. By doing this, when I go to the Card Used field on my form, a pop-up menu lets me select one of those three credit cards with a tap. I did the same for Category, adding pop-up menu items for Automobile, Groceries, Entertainment, Restaurant, Taxes, and so on.
THE POP-UP MENU FOR CARD USED, CONTAINING VISA, AMEX AND APPLE CARD AS MY CHOICES
Once formats have been set for all of the columns on the spreadsheet, it’s time to create the entry form. Note that if your spreadsheet shows more columns that you have fields, you should delete those extra columns by tapping the column letter, then tapping “Delete”.
Creating The Form
Numbers for iPhone and iPad is smart — it is designed to automatically create a form for easily entering information into our fields. By tapping the gray + button on the top left of the spreadsheet, we’re asked if we want to create a new sheet or a new form. Select New Form, and Numbers immediately creates the entry form.
A SAMPLE DATA ENTRY FORM FOR OUR CREDIT CARD CHARGE DATABASE EXAMPLE, WITH THE DATE AND TIME ENTRY KEYPAD SHOWN AT THE BOTTOM.
What you see is a simple form that’s easier to enter data info — particularly without a keyboard — than typing into a spreadsheet table. The 3 of 19 indicates that this is record 3 of 19, and there’s a field at the top of the unfilled form that says “Tap to add title”. That’s actually our Date and Time field (Column A), and since it was formatted as date and time, tapping it brings up a time and date entry keyboard (see image above). Tapping “now” automatically enters the date and time of the entry.
Now tapping on Card Used reveals the pop-up menu created earlier, from which I selected Visa. Tap on Vendor, and here I can use the keyboard to type the name of the store. Tap Amount, and a numeric keypad appears for entering the dollar amount for my charge. Category displays another pop-up menu with my different categories listed, and Note shows a text field that I can type a short note into (like “bought ground beef”).
Tap Done at the top of the screen, and the entries made on the form are added to a new row on the spreadsheet. Each entry I make is added as a separate row to the spreadsheet.
You might notice that the spreadsheet is listed as Sheet 1 and the form as Table 1. To make this look a bit nicer, I tapped and held those default titles to change them to “Charges” and “Enter Charges”.
USE THESE BUTTONS TO NAVIGATE TO A PREVIOUS ENTRY, ADD A NEW ENTRY, DELETE AN ENTRY OR MOVE TO THE NEXT ENTRY IN A FORM.
Our form is useful both for making new entries and for editing existing entries (see image above). Using the left (<) and right (>) arrows on the bottom of the form, you can navigate to earlier or later entries. To delete an entry, tap the Trash Can button, or tap the + button to add a new entry.
Analyzing The Data
With a real database like this, there’s a lot you can do once you’ve entered information. Now, my wife and I use the same credit cards and accounts, to I want to share this database with her. To do that, I tap the “Add People” button on top of the spreadsheet. Now we can both make entries into the database, even at the same time. Perhaps I need to share the database with my accountant. Tapping the More button (…) on the top of the sheet, I select Share, and have the option of sending the spreadsheet via AirDrop, Mail, or Messages. To save the Numbers sheet as an Excel .xlsx spreadsheet file or a PDF, I tap the More button and select Export.
This post isn’t meant to be a full tutorial on Numbers, but there are a few handy things I’ll tell you about. You can use Filters to further organize your data. Tapping the Filters button gives me the options of sorting my data, filtering it (in other words, only showing rows that match rules I specify), or group rows into categories.
If I want to see my data grouped by the type of credit card I used, I can tap Filters, Categories, Add a Category, and select Card Used. Sorting the Date and Time column, looking at my Charges spreadsheet shows the entries grouped by card (see image below) :
VIEWING THE CHARGES SPREADSHEET BY CREDIT CARD, SORTED BY DATE.
Now, can you use this spreadsheet on the Mac or iCloud versions of Numbers? You can, but you won’t see the form! Only the charges spreadsheet will be visible. With any luck, Apple will rectify this issue in the future!
Want to set a time limit for app usage on iPhone or iPad? Screen Time lets you do just that.
At a time where we all perhaps use our iPhones a little too much, knowing exactly how long we spend with it in our hand can be useful. Knowing which apps we use most can inform our decisions around usage habits, too. But if all that fails simply setting a time limit might be the only way to go. Apple makes it easy to do exactly that by setting time limits on specific apps and how long they can be used for on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Setting an app time limit is a great way of preventing yourself from spending all day watching Netflix, YouTube, playing games, using too much social networking like browsing Twitter or checking out what your friends are doing in Instagram. It can also be really useful to enable on a family device or a kids device if you want to limit their usage of particular apps to a specific time. And if you’d rather avoid the news, that’s an option as well. You can limit any apps you want with Screen Time as you’ll see.
How to Add a Time Limit to an App on iPhone & iPad
Setting up Screen Time limits for apps on iPhone and iPad is easy :
Open the Settings app and then tap “Screen Time” to get started.
Tap “App Limits.”
If you have any limits already set, you’ll see them here. Tap “Add Limit” to set a new one.
Tap the circle beside an app category to set a limit for all apps that fall under that category. You can see which apps those are by tapping the category itself. You can do that If you’d rather set a time limit for a specific app, too.
Press “Next” when all of the apps you want to set time limits for have been selected.
Now it’s time to set the limit. Use the time picker to select the hours and minutes that you’d like to limit the app to. You can also customize which days the limit takes affect by tapping “Customize Days,” too. Tap “Add” when ready.
Once the Screen Time limit is in effect for that app, say for an hour, when the time limit is over a message on the screen will appear notifying the user of the screen time limit being reached. You can override it at any time if you know the passcode.
By the way, if you are adding time limits to apps and need to change the Screen Time passcode on iPhone or iPad to one that someone else using the device doesn’t know, you can do that too.
How to Add a Time Limit to a Child’s iPhone or iPad via Family Sharing
You can set a time limit for an app on any child’s device that is part of your family, too. This is possible with the Family Sharing iCloud feature available for iPhone and iPad.
The process is the same as above, except you should tap the person’s name at step 2 above. The steps are identical from there on out.
Open the Settings app, then tap on Screen Time
Tap on the persons name
Now tap on “App Limits.”
Tap “Add Limit” to create a new limit for an app
Tap the circle beside an app category to set limits for app categories, recall you can see which apps are included by tapping the category directly. If you wish to set a specific Screen Time Limit for a particular app it’s done there too.
Tap “Next” once you have select the app(s) or category to set screen time limits for
Next, set the limit itself by using the time picker choose hours and minutes to limit the app usage to, for example 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc, you can optionally choose what days to set the limits for by selecting “Customize Days”
Tap “Add” when finished configuring to set the screen time limit
Alternatively, if you don’t use iCloud Family Sharing then you can set the time limit on their device directly instead, using the same instructions as shown earlier.
Using Family Sharing to set screen time limits is particularly useful for parents and caregivers though, because if you set them from your iPad or iPhone, you can do it without them knowing, which is even more fun!
What Happens Next with Screen Time App Limits?
Whenever an assigned time limit has been reached your iPhone will tell you.
At that point it’s up to you whether you want to continue using the app, or not.
If you do, tap “Ignore Limit” and select how long you want the limit to be out of action for.
Ultimately a lot of this comes down to your own willpower. If you really want to use the app you’ll just override the timer.
You can also remove the Screen Time limits on iPhone or iPad if you wish.
At least if you set a timer for a child they’ll need to know the Screen Time PIN to override it, though. Speaking of Screen Time PINs, remember that you can change the Screen Time password on iPhone and iPad at any time.
Of course if you disable Screen Time at any time too if you decide you don’t want to use the feature.
Apple has released iOS 12.4.6 for older model iPhone and iPad devices that are not able to run iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4.
The iOS 12.4.6 is said to include important security updates and thus is recommended for eligible users to download and install onto their devices. No new features are expected to be included with iOS 12.4.6.
Devices eligible for the iOS 12.4.6 update include iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 6th generation, iPad Air 1, iPad Mini 2, and iPad Mini 3. Newer iPhone and iPad models are able to download iOS 13.4 and iPadOS 13.4 instead.
How to Update to iOS 12.4.6
Before anything else, backup the iPhone or iPad to iCloud, iTunes, or to MacOS before beginning any system software update. Failure to backup could lead to data loss.
The easiest way for most users to download iOS 12.4.6 is through the Software Update mechanism in Settings app on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch :
Open the “Settings” app
Go to “General” and then choose “Software Update”
Choose to “Download and Install” iOS 12.4.6
iOS 12.4.6 will download and install automatically, requiring a device reboot to complete. When the installation has finished, the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will automatically boot itself back up and be usable again as normal.
Release notes accompanying the iOS 12.4.6 update download are very brief stating that it “provides important security updates” and is therefore recommended for all users who are eligible for the update.
More advanced users can also choose to update iPhone or iPad manually by using IPSW as detailed here.
Separately, Apple has also released macOS Catalina 10.15.4 for Mac, along with Security Update 2020-002 for macOS Mojave and High Sierra, iPadOS 13.4 for newer iPad, iOS 13.4 for newer iPhone, along with updates for tvOS and watchOS.
