Smile! A quick and easy way to take a picture.

On the iPhone you can now access the camera from the swipe screen!  To get to the camera just 'swipe up' on the camera icon.  You do not need enter your password to get to the camera.

Once you are in the camera you can easily take a picture using the 'Volume Up' button on the side of the iPhone.  I find this much easier than pushing the little button on the screen as I always jiggle the phone and ruin the picture.

I hope everyone had a happy thanksgiving.

Hidden keys (or more keyboard shortcuts)

Did you know apple has many hidden keys? For example the keyboard has a "." button but you want ".com", if you just hold down the "." button a whole list of .com extensions will pop up!

With iOS6 the keyboards have a slightly different layout.  Here are some other shortcuts...

Another that I couldn't get the right keyboard to show is if you press the comma key and apostrophe comes up!  I think the reason I couldn't find it is because with iOS 6 the keyboard layouts are different.

If you like what I teaching please forward it on to your friends!  Have questions?  Just let me know!  I love figuring out new tricks!  Also this works on the iPad too!

Tip #5 - Create your own typing shortcuts

I know everyone is driven crazy by auto correction.  But did you know you can create your own shortcuts?  For example I always misspell my name dirithy and it never auto corrects it!  So I put in a shortcut of 'dor' and it autocorrects it to 'Dorothy'!  Here's how you do it.

Go to Settings...

Select General...

Scroll down to Keyboard...

Select Shortcuts...

Select Plus Sign...

Now start typing your shortcuts!

Remember not to pick shortcuts that are real words, like if your name is Adam Sandler you would not want to create the shortcut 'as' because as is a common words, but you create the shortcut 'ads' or 'asa'.

Also if you capitalize the shortcut it will capitalize the word.  For example I have the shortcut 'ty' for 'thank you'.  If I type 'Ty' it will change to 'Thank you', or if type 'TY' it will change to 'Thank You'.

Tip #4 Cost savings measures

Here are some websites I use to save money on things I buy:

For groceries: www.fabulesslyfrugal.com  Just an awesome website showing you how to stretch the dollar by matching coupons and sales at local stores.  Here I try to be an extreme couponer.  On this website I learned how to get black friday's deals at Wal-Mart but avoiding the crowd. Here is the link: http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/2012/11/start-your-black-friday-shopping-at-walmart-now-layaway-and-price-matching.html

For shopping online: www.bradsdeals.com  They find amazing bargains on the web and even have extra special discounts at stores.  I like getting the daily email showing the items they found.

Online Promo Codes: www.retailmenot.com  Before I buy anything on line I search for promotional codes for the online store.  Their don't always work but when they do cha-ching!

For shows and events: www.goldstar.com  Usually the tickets are half price and lots of fun things to do and see.

What else would you like to see in my blog?  What problems are you having with you Apple products.  Let me help you?  Do you want more chatter or just the tip?

And look now I have ads!  So click away if you see something interesting...

What to do when I grow up? Tips #1 & #2

I have been asking myself this question my whole life.  Now I finally think I have the answer write a blog about technology and gadgets for moms and regular people.  I am always helping people with their computers and gadgets and software.  So thanks to help of some amazing networking friends they suggested I write a blog.  That's when the light bulb lit up and I became excited!

Here's my background...I got a degree in electrical engineering and worked as a project manager for many years until I got married.  Then I got laid off and started a family and have been at home ever since.  I have always loved gadgets and computers and figuring them out.  So why don't I share some tricks...

I am an avid Apple user--iMac, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Airport Extreme, Powerbook...
So for now my blogs will focus on those but I will post things about Windows and PCs.


TIP #1 - Did you know you could have your iPhone flash when it rings or you get an alert?  This is really helpful if you are trying to find your phone in your purse and it is screen side down.  Also this really wakes you up in a dark room if you are using your iPhone as an alarm clock, like I do, Or to find an iPhone hidden in the furniture after the kids have played with it.

Go to Settings...
select General...
scroll down to Accessibility...
scroll down to LED Flash for Alerts and turn it on!

Viola!


TIP #2 - If you need some peace and quiet and the switch on the side isn't doing it for you, use the Do Not Disturb Mode.

Go to Settings...
Turn on Do Not Disturb

Now you can sleep in peace or watch a movie with out the buzzing of your phone.