Apple’s iOS 14 introduced widgets, a new app library and a bunch of new privacy and security features. Some of the biggest changes, though, are all around messaging. In this Komando DIY, three new iPhone texting and messaging tricks you need to try.
Mac and Windows how-to: Add widgets to your desktop
Right on my Mac desktop, I can check my mouse battery (38% and dropping), see where my son Ian is (at work), get the latest weather update (hello, sunny Phoenix!), and even keep track of time with a world clock.
Widgets are like mini windows into your favorite apps, giving you instant info without the hassle of opening them up. Want to set yours up? I’ve got you covered!
For all my Windows pals
These steps may vary if you’ve already played around with widgets. Windows displays widgets in a board you can access by hovering over the weather icon in your taskbar or pressing Windows + W.
- Click the + (plus) at the top to add new widgets, then Pin any you like. To see more options, follow Find more widgets.
- Click the three dots (top left) on any widget to remove or customize it. For the stocks widget, for instance, you can pick which stocks are shown.
⭐ Photos and Shopping are useful, but look around and see what works for you. To put widgets on your actual Windows desktop, not a pop-up panel, you’ll need a third-party app, like the freemium Widget Launcher.
If you’re using macOS
On your desktop, click the date and time in the top right corner. The notification center pops up. That’s where you’ll find widgets.
- Click Edit Widgets at the bottom of the panel to add new ones. You can also hit Cmd + click on the desktop, then pick Edit Widgets to add them directly. You’ll get lots of choices, from news feeds to sticky notes.
Drag widgets down from the notification center to the desktop to move them. macOS will arrange them in a grid to keep your desktop tidy.
Pro tip: If you’ve got a MacBook, you definitely need the battery widget. It’ll remind you how much juice is left in your laptop aka how quickly you need to find a charger.
🤣 Why’d the pirate update his MacBook? His matey told him he needed an iPatch. (Sorry, had to.)
Your iPad just got its biggest upgrade in years - 7 new features try now
© Hakan Can Yalcin | Dreamstime.com
Typically with the changing of seasons from summer to fall comes a slew of new Apple devices. This year is no different as the Cupertino company updates its line of iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches.
Along with four models of iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7, a new entry-level iPad and a redesigned sixth-generation iPad Mini are being released. Tap or click here to check out some features on these updated Apple devices.
MacBook battery widget: It’ll regularly remind you how much juice is left in your laptop. On your Mac, click the date and time in the top right corner. In the notification center pop-up, click Edit Widgets. Search for “batteries” and pick your favorite options.
Stack iPad widgets: Want weather for two locations? Add the Weather widget twice: Tap and hold the Home Screen, hit Edit, then Add Widget. Drag one onto the other to stack them. Tap and hold the stack, select Edit Weather and set a location for each. Now just swipe through to view both.
Speed up your Android: If your phone feels sluggish, your home screen might be the problem. Too many widgets, like weather or news feeds, can put extra stress on the system each time you wake it up. Ditch the ones you don’t need: Long-press a widget and tap Remove.
🖥️ Clear taskbar clutter on Windows 11: You can remove most apps by right-clicking them and choosing Unpin from taskbar. But some, like Widgets and Chat, need extra steps. Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and toggle them off under Taskbar items. Finally, room for the stuff you actually use.