This month we looked at Siri which is the voice assistant for Apple devices.

After viewing a website that gave explanation of the Siri function and how it works, we all enabled Siri on our iPads.

In settings - (General - Siri and Search) you can also choose whether or not you want a male voice or a female voice.  Then after that, you can choose the accent you’d like Siri to use.   We each asked Siri a question and often the reply came with a visual link. 

For people who don’t like typing, Siri can take on the role of personal secretary and you can dictate your message or email.   If enabled on your phone Siri can make phone calls and give you map directions.

So, Siri can save you time - you just speak and Siri can set a timer, check sport scores, check the weather, check your calendar, make calculations, check cinema showings ................ And the list goes on. 

Jenny Sawyer

Once we got everyone connected to the U3A wi-fi we introduced ourselves and our devices.

We then watched two YouTube sites introducing iPads showing how to set up and how to customise your Home Screen.

My favourite tip was the diagonal swipe down from the top right corner. You can adjust your volume and your screen brightness.

We also looked at Settings and adjusted the display font and app layout. 

​Jenny Sawyer

We revisited the Settings App and checked out our data capacity (number of GB), iCloud usage, the model and the software version.

Then the class was given a problem to solve……How to show the degrees symbol.

Yes, we all managed to solve this and email reports were sent with a report of the current temperature.

As I write this - it is 17°C    📱

Jenny Sawyer

After COVID Restrictions and Lockdowns have curtailed the U3A program this month,
Tech Savvy Apple completed three sessions; Sessions 12, 13 and 14.

We discussed how computing technology is becoming increasingly more evident and
important in our lives. This seems to have been accelerated by the pandemic.

This month we have explored the FaceTime, Zoom, MyGov, Emails, AppleNews, ABC
News, BorrowBox, and AppleBooks.

When emailing we learned how to attach a news article and also just part of an article by
using the Select, Copy and Paste functions.

​In Session 5 we really got into the Camera App. Participants were challenged to complete 8 camera tasks including taking videos. Also, we screen mirrored a favourite photo each person had taken recently.
​
In Session 6 we finally began exploring the Photo App. The App already does a lot of sorting and classifying of your photos automatically. When your photo collection reaches a few thousand it is very handy to be able to search for a particular photo by honing firstly to years, then months, then days.
​
We played with the photo editing tools, after we had made a duplicate copy of a photo just in case our editing plans went amiss. 
​

Jenny Sawyer

In Session 3 we explored the Bookmarking function which enables you to save a website. When tapping on the Bookmark symbol you get three choices:  Bookmark, Reading List and Search History.

We looked up the program for The Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre 2021. And yes, there are lots of interesting shows coming up. E-tickets are becoming more commonplace having your phone linked to your tablet will make things easier.

We also entered data into our Contact List and our Calendar.

In Session 4 we watched a You Tube video explaining iCloud. There are many to choose from and if you would like to know more, try watching one. Bookmarking is a tricky function to use at first, so we practised again by choosing a favourite iPad stand.

Finally, we began exploring the Camera App and will be moving on to some photo editing next time.
​
Jenny Sawyer

During our first session we spent our time acquainting ourselves with all the buttons ports and camera lenses on our iPads.

​Then we fired up our devices and explored inside the Settings App. Each person could see how much iCloud storage they have and how much they have used. On the bar usage was colour coded and most of the used storage was for photos and videos. Newer devices usually have larger storage capacity.  All Apple devices come with 5GB of iCloud storage.

The next session was devoted to searching the Internet. What a great website Benalla U3A is.  Lots and lots of information accompanied by fabulous photos. Everyone was able to put the Benalla U3A weebly website onto our home screens for quick and easy access. In our searching we found out that there is a bus service from Benalla to Bendigo (which is a lot quicker than train) and that to walk from Benalla to Bendigo would take us 33 hours.  I’m definitely going to catch the bus. 

​Jenny Sawyer

​Tech Savvy Beginners is on again for anyone who has an Apple phone or iPad or is thinking about purchasing one.  Each session we will explore different functions with a hands on approach; or I should say fingers on approach. 

Classes in the U3A meeting room are held on the third, fourth and fifth Wednesdays of the month from 2 to 3.30 pm and will commence on Wednesday 17 February. 

Jenny Sawyer 0409 545 182

This month we revised researching the internet through the Safari App. Two of the best links in helping you with operating your device are:

• Stating the problem in the Google search bar and then choosing a site.
• Be Connected - Topic Library

We revised entering events into the Calendar App and also discovered that birthdays were automatically listed from your Contacts List.

But the birth date has to first be entered in the Contact List Mickey Mouse was our practice contact-

He is going to turn 92 on May 15th 2020!
 
A great discovery was being able to put the U3A Benalla website directly onto the home screen of an iPad or iPhone. It really was very easy!
​
We all had great fun discovering many of the features in the Camera App. This is a 10 second time lapse photo of the group taken with the ‘front camera’.

Our last session was spent looking at the Email App focussing on writing, attaching photos and sending.


​Jenny ​