My Favorite FREE naviagation app

I have become so reliant on GPS and mapping in my car. When I travel, and don't have my car, I panic. But I found the MapQuest app for iPhone to be awesome. And it is FREE!!

Mapquest works for driving and walking directions.



It automatically recalculates the route when you make a mistake!!



It speaks the directions to you, so you don't have to stare at the screen while driving.



I place my iPhone on my dashboard near my speedometer so I can easily look at it and it won't slide away.



Here's the link for you to check it out!



https://itunes.apple.com/app/mapquest-4-mobile/id316126557?mt=8



Please let me know if you want more instructions on how to use this app, in the comments.

How to trim a video.

So you took a video but really only 5 seconds is interesting.  You can easily cut off the beginning or end or both in the photos window.

Click on photos
Select Camera roll
Play the video

Now here is how you trim...
At the top of the page is a bar showing the length of you video.

Very carefully touch the beginning of the video, the band around the video will turn Yellow.  Then move the starting point to where you want your video to start.

Do the same for the end of the video by selecting the right side of the band.

If you make a mistake you can either keep moving the yellow band or click cancel at the top left corner.

Once you have your video to the length that you want just click trim at the top right corner.

Automatically turn on and off Do Not Disturb

One thing I love about iOS6 is the Do Not Disturb (DND) function.  I just learned you can set the iPhone to go into DND automatically every night so you can get a good night's sleep.  And turn off in the morning so you don't miss any calls.

Settings
Notifications (just under Do Not Disturb)
Do Not Disturb

Turn on 'Scheduled'
Set the times
Choose if 'Allow Calls From' - you can choose no one.
Also choose if you wanted repeated calls to ring through.

Now I just have to get my husband to configure his phone so I can get a good nights sleep.

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'.

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.