MacMost: Video Podcast

Learn 5 ways you can monitor the apps on your iPhone or iPad in iOS 8. You can check to see how much battery each app has used in the last 24 hours or 7 days. You check to see how much storage space each app is using, and even delete some content for some apps. You can monitor and adjust the privacy settings to control what information apps have access to. You can also adjust the notifications settings for apps and see what is new for recent app updates.

Learn how to sort tables in Numbers. You can sort by a single column, but also by multiple columns. See some techniques for making the tables look better once they are sorted.

In iOS 8 you can add extensions to the Photos app. One extension is part of the iMovie app. If you have iMovie installed, you can access a simple editor inside of the Photos app and add filters, titles and music to your videos without ever needing to leave the Photos app.

You can edit photos using the Photos app or the Camera app. The photo editor is a little more advanced in iOS 8, taking a few of the features from the now discontinued iPhoto app. You can adjust cropping, rotation, colors and apply filters. You can also use third-party apps to add more. These act as extensions so you never have to leave the Photos or Camera app to apply the effects.

Predictive text, also called QuickType, is a way to complete words when typing on an iPhone or iPad. The device tries to predict which word you are typing and gives you three possible options to tap to finish the word. In some situations, like in the Messages app, you'll get good suggestions even before you type the first letter, based on the message you are replying to. Other times, the options will depend on the words you have already typed.

You can use Keynote to build a simple multi-page website. When you export as HTML, the resulting files can be uploaded to a web host. To make a presentation behave like a website, you need to create buttons and link them to other slides. You can also turn off regular presentation navigation and add other web and email links. Sites created this way are relatively basic, but can be updated easily.

In a big media event today Apple announced the latest version of the iPhone and a new product called the Apple Watch. The iPhone 6 and 6 plus will both be larger than their predecessors and feature camera and processor upgrades. They will also both allow for a new Apple payment system that is expected to be supported by major banks and retailers. The Apple Watch will come out in 2015 as a support device for the iPhone. It will feature a small touch screen, biometrics sensors and a variety of apps.

One of the types of file views you have in the Finder is the List View. This displays more information about each file than either the Column or Icon view. You can sort files by any attribute, and change which attributes are displayed. You can also group files by date, size and other things. You can dig down into subfolders using the reveal triangles next to the folder icons.

You can highlight text in iBooks and add notes for each highlight. These can be used as study guides or simply reminders. Highlights and notes in iBooks textbooks will be added to the flash card study function as cards. You can also export the highlighted text using copy and paste. They also sync across your devices using iCloud.

Most documents have a default application that will launch if you open that document. You can also specify an application if you wish to open a document with something else. You can do this with drag and drop, or by using the context menu. You can permanently change which application is used to open a specific document. You can also change which app is used to open all of the documents of the same file type. If you want to find other apps that can work with a document, it is easy to search for them in the Mac App Store.

The Shape tool in Pages has many uses. You can put text or images in shapes. You can wrap text around shapes. You can also combine multiple shapes by grouping them together to create interesting graphic elements in your documents without needing to use a graphics program.

There are many things you can do in the title bar of a document window. You can rename and even move a file without ever having to switch to the Finder. You can also view the folder path to see the location of the file. With the proxy icon you can attach the file to an email or open a copy in another application.

It can be useful to remove unneeded contacts from your database every once in a while. Before deleting, you can export individual contacts as small VCF files. These can then be stored and accessed easily later if you need them. You also have a variety of other methods for exporting and archiving your contacts.

Many web sites feature multiple language options. If a site is not in the language you speak, try looking for a way to switch to another language inside the site. For sites that do not offer a translation in your language, you can use either Google or Bing to translate bits of text or entire web pages. You can simply copy and paste text or a URL in Safari, or use Chrome's special feature to do this quickly. The translation isn't always perfect, but it works well when no other option is available.

Learn the basic of using signatures in Apple Mail on your Mac. You can create multiple signatures and assign them to different email accounts. You can set a default signature for each account and also choose between signatures when you are composing an email message. You can also have a random signature appear each time. Best to keep signatures simple for greater compatibility. You can also customize a signature while composing an email.

Learn about Safari's private browsing mode. It will prevent pages you visit from being recorded in your search history, and erase cookies when you are done. But it will not hide your activity from your employer or ISP. It can be useful in some situations.

The menu bar is the most basic part of any app's user interface. But new Mac users may not look for commands there. More advanced users can use the Help menu to find menu items, and keyboard commands to navigate the menus without using the mouse or trackpad.

You can add subtitle tracks to your videos by using third-party software. This is different than imprinting a bottom-third title on to your video. Subtitle tracks can be turned on and off in QuickTime Player, iOS, Apple TV and elsewhere. You can also add more than one language. All you need to do is to create a simple text file with the subtitle information and then use the software to import it and add it to your video.

You can create both bullet lists and numbered lists in Pages. Bullets can be many different characters or even images. Numbered lists can use a variety of numbering systems. You can mix and match list types and even create your own styles.

Before traveling it is worth thinking about adding some apps to your iPhone or iPad. You can download maps apps, language apps, apps with reviews and suggestions and also travel books. While in Tokyo, Gary gives some suggestions of the types of apps to look for and add to your devices before leaving home.