iOS - Tech Tips

Learn a New Craft With the Creativebug App

We’ve previously written about Creativebug, a great app that allows to you view 1,000+ crafting how-to videos. You can take Creativebug on the go! Visit the Google Play store or Apple App Store to download the app on your mobile device.

Getting Started on the Creativebug App

If you have an existing Creativebug account, you can login to the app two ways: enter your email and password or log in with Facebook.

If you don’t have a Creativebug account you can create a free account by tapping on “Create Account.” It’s a good idea to create your account using a desktop computer browser. This allows you full access to all the videos in the app. You can create an account using your library card on a computer by going to Creativebug’s website. To create an account in the app, tap the create account button. From there, enter your email address and a password you’d like to use. Creating an account in the app only allows access to videos marked as “free.”

Explore on the Creativebug app

The home screen of the Creativebug app has the Creativebug logo at the top. Directly below the logo is a search bar. Below the search bar is a filtering option to sort the videos that are displayed below. At the bottom of the screen are four icons.

Screenshot of the tabs at the bottom of the screen of the Creativebug app.

The first icon is Explore. Classes on the Explore page can be filtered by class subject such as Jewelry, Knitting, Sewing, etc.

To filter by class subject tap on “All Classes” under the Filter by tab. Next, you’ll see a list of class types.

Screenshot of the Filter by options on the Explore page in the Creativebug app.

Within each class type, you can filter within that particular class to get more specific. You can tap on more than one subtopic. You will know it is selected when it has a check mark to the right of it.

Screenshot list of class subjects that can be filtered.

Once you have made your selections, tap on “Apply.” Your Explore page now shows the filtered class videos. You can tap “Remove All Filters” if you want to change your results.

Screenshot of the filtered results showing class videos that fit the chosen criteria.

You can also sort class videos under the “Sort by” option. Class videos can be sorted alphabetically, by release date, and popularity. The default sort option is by release date. You can change this by tapping on any of the other options.

Screenshot of the Sort by option on the Explore page in the Creativebug app.

Class Videos

Tapping on a class video takes you to that class’s page. The first tab in the class page is the “Description” tab. On the description page you will see the class video and the class title with the playing time. The Description tab gives you the option to add the class video to your watchlist. Classes can also be shared by text, email, or on social media by tapping on “Share” in the top right hand corner.

The second tab is the “Materials” tab. Under the Materials tab you can see the complete list of materials needed for the craft.

Screenshot of the Materials tab on the class page in the Creativebug app.

The third tab is “Chapters.” Chapters is where you can find the download and casting options. To download the class to your device, tap the button next to download to my classes. Please note that the ability to cast to another device is only available on Android devices.

Screenshot of the Chapters tab in the class page in the Creativebug app.

Please note that not all class videos have chapters.

The last tab is “PDFs.” This is where a PDF of the class with screenshots and descriptions can be viewed. Tapping on “View PDF” will open the class PDF. Please note that not all classes have an associated PDF.

Screenshot of the PDFs tab on the class page in the Creativebug app.

My Classes

In “My Classes” there are two tabs you can choose from. They are “Downloads” and “Watchlist.”

Screenshot of the My Classes page with the Downloads and Watchlist options in the Creativebug app.

Under the “Watchlist” tab there are two categories: “Watchlist” contains class videos that you have saved, and “Recently Watched” contains videos you have recently watched.

Screenshot of the Watchlist in the My Classes tab in the Creativebug app.

Screenshot of the Recently Watched in the My Classes tab in the Creativebug app.

In the “Downloads” tab, you can find any classes you’ve downloaded. These classes can be watched with or without an internet connections.

Instructors

Like the website, the Creativebug app has an “Instructors” tab. Tapping on the Instructors tab at the bottom of the screen will bring up a list of Creativebug instructors.

Screenshot of the Instructors page in the Creativebug app.

Tapping on an instructor will bring up that instructor’s page. Each instructor’s page has a photo or introductory video for the instructor, a written profile, and a list of links for that instructor.

Scrolling down the instructor’s page will also show the instructor’s class videos and a gallery of their creations.

Screenshot of the instructor's class videos and gallery on their instructor page in the Creativebug app.

Settings

The final tab at the bottom of the screen is “Settings.”

In Settings you will find your profile and the app settings.

Tapping on the profile icon will open an option for you to upload or capture a photo for your profile.

Tapping on the pencil and paper next to your name will bring up an option to change your profile name. Once you have changed your name tap on “Submit” to save your changes.

Offline Storage Usage refers to how much space you want to allow Creativebug to use for downloaded class videos.

Below your profile info are the other Settings options. At the bottom of settings, you have the option to log out of Creativebug or to delete your Creativebug account.

Screenshot of the Settings in the Creativebug app.

Have you tried the Creativebug app yet? Let us know in the comments!

Quick & Easy Tech Tip: Edit or Unsend iOS iMessages

Starting with iOS 16, you can unsend or edit a sent message when texting someone who also has an Apple device. An easy way to tell if you are messaging a person with iMessage is the color of the messages. If the person also has an iPhone or iPad, the messages are blue. If the person you are messaging is not using an iPhone or iPad, the messages are green.

In order to unsend a message, it needs to be within two minutes from when the message was originally sent. To edit a message, it needs to be within 15 minutes of when the message was originally sent.

Unsending a Message

Screenshot of context menu that is shown when a message is long pressed.

To unsend a message, long press on the message you want to unsend. Next, tap on either undo send.

If you unsend a message, the message will disappear from the other person’s message view. Please note: the person you are messaging must have iOS 16 or higher installed on their device. Additionally, they will see a notification that you unsent a message.

Screenshot showing the view when a message is unsent.

If you edit a message, there will be a note next to your message saying it was edited. A video example of a message being unsent:

If the person is looking at their phone, they will see a message notification and be able to see the message, but will no longer be able to see or read it once the message is unsent (as long as they have iOS 16 or higher).

Editing a Message

Screenshot showing the view when a message is edited.

If the person who received the message taps on the edited text, they will be able to see a history of the edit or edits.

Screenshot showing how previous edits are displayed when a message is unsent.

The previously edited message or messages will display slightly faded. If there are multiple edits, they will all be shown.

Have you unsent or edited a message? Let us know in the comments!

A Quick Way To Name a Song With Your Smartphone

You’re listening to the radio or watching TV and a song comes on that you don’t know. You like the song, but how can you find out what it is? Luckily, there are built in features on your smartphone that allow you to name a song in seconds!

Apple

Screenshot of Shazam listening to identify a song

Starting with the release of iOS 14.2 in 2020, Apple devices offer built in song recognition, just by asking Siri, the built-in digital assistant. In your Siri settings, if you have “Hey Siri” enabled, simply say, “Hey Siri, what song is this?” when a song is playing. Another way to quickly activate Siri is to hold down the Home Screen button iPhones with a home button or hold down the power button on iPhone 9 and later.

You’ll get a screen that Siri is listening and then a screen will pop up with the name of the song.

To see a history of songs you have identified, download the Shazam app from the App Store. To see more detailed instructions, check out this helpful article from Apple.

Android

On Android phones, there is a similar method. Touch and hold the home button or say “Hey Google” and then ask, “What’s this song?”

Google Assistant will name the song and give you options to share the song, watch the video on YouTube, or add to a playlist on YouTube Music. Google has written a helpful article with more detailed instructions.

Use the Google App

You can also identify songs with both iOS devices and Android devices by using the Google app. The neat thing with the Google app is that in addition to identifying a song by playing it, you can also sing or hum it yourself. This is handy in case you have a certain lyric or melody stuck in your head.

Open the Google app and tap on identify song by listening. Another option is to tap on the microphone icon and then tap search for a song.

When I attempted to sing a song, I got a 48% match of the song I was singing.

Then again, my singing voice isn’t the greatest, so you may get better results. I only got a 34% match when I attempted to hum a song.

Have you tried identifying a song with your smartphone? Let us know in the comments!

Discover a Unique Way to Search with Google Lens

Have you ever been out and about and wondered what kind of flower or species of bird you spotted? Now there is a way you can find out, with the help of your smartphone’s camera.

Google Lens allows you to search for an item with your camera or with an existing photo. It is available on both Android and iOS (Apple) devices.

Android Devices

On Android devices, there are a few ways you can access Lens. On most new Android devices, Lens is enabled by default and can be accessed directly from the camera app. Open the camera app, aim at the item (be it a flower, animal, type of water bottle, etc), and then tap the Lens button. Next, tap the magnifying glass icon to search for the image in your camera’s viewfinder.

Depending on your device, you may need to tap the modes button to access Lens. To learn how to add more modes, check out this helpful video.

If you don’t have Lens within your camera app, you can download it from the Google Play Store.

Searching using the Google App

Alternatively, you can search a live photo view and a previously taken picture with the Google app.

Open the Google app and scroll down to Discover. Next, tap the Google Lens icon in the search bar. The Lens icon is shaped like a camera.

You can search for either a live view of an item in your surroundings or by using a previously taken picture. To search a live view, point to an object with your camera and tap Search To search with an existing image, tap Photo picker and select a photo. You’ll have the option to search the whole photo or part of a photo.

To search for a specific object in the image: If available, on the object, tap the Select icon . To search for part of an image, tap Select image area , then drag the corners of the box around your selection. Next, scroll to the bottom to see your search results. To refine your search, tap add to your search and add keywords.

Apple Devices

To use Lens on an Apple device (iPhone or iPad), download the Google app from the App Store.

Next, give permission for the app to access your device’s camera and if you would like to also photo search using pictures from your photo library, allow access to your photos as well.

Screen shot of first time open of Google app on iOS devices

Once you have granted the appropriate permissions, you can choose to search a live view or using a previously taken photo.

Screen shot on iOS devices after granting permissions

You can start your search by tapping the camera at the end of the search field . Once you have the item you want to search in view, tap the magnifying glass icon to search.

Example of Google Lens showing a blue tumbler

Next, you’ll see your search results. Scroll down to view more results.

The tabs (homework, shopping, places, etc.) will give you more specific types of results.

Have you used Google Lens to search? Let us know in the comments!

How to Find Your Lost Device — Apple Edition

It’s a moment of panic we’ve all had at some point. You reach for your phone or device and it’s not there. You try to call yourself from another phone but you don’t hear your phone ring. Fear not! There is a way you can locate your device, even if it’s in a different location.

Apple has an app called Find My. By default, it comes pre-installed on all devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch).

Setting Up Find My on an iPhone or iPad

There are various ways you can access Find My. The first step is to make sure that it’s enabled on your device.

On an iPhone or iPad, go into the Settings app, and then tap on your name at the top.

Screenshot showing the selection of your name on the settings app.

From there, tap on Find My on the next screen.

Screenshot showing app list with Find My as the third item

Next, you can verify if Find My is on for that particular device. You can also choose to turn it off if you’d like. If you have more than one Apple device, it will show which device is sharing your location with friends and family you have chosen to share your location with. If you are sharing your location with anyone, they will be listed below underneath family (if you have set up Apple Family Sharing) or friends.

Tapping on Find My iPhone/iPad gives you more options, including the option to turn off Find My (note you will need to enter your Apple ID password if you want to turn it off). Find My Network lets you locate your device even if it’s offline. Send last location sends the location of the device to Apple if the battery is very low.

Screenshot showing advanced options in find my app settings.

Setting Up Find My on a Mac

To set up Find My on your Mac, click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of the taskbar and then click on System Preferences. Next, click on Internet Accounts. On the left panel, click on iCloud and then scroll down to Find My. Click on the Options button next to Find My. The options below apply to Mac OS Monterey and later.

Screenshot showing how to view find my options on a Mac.

Here you can see if Find My Mac is on and you can also choose the option to locate your Mac even if it’s offline. You have the option to turn both of these off. Keep in mind that to turn off Find My Mac, you will need to enter your Apple ID password.

Screenshot showing find my Mac and find my network are turned on.

Setting Up Find My on Apple Watch and Other Devices

By default, Find My is automatically set up on an Apple Watch when you pair it with your iPhone for the first time. For more information on using Find My with your Apple Watch, Apple has written up a great how-to article.

Additionally, Find My is automatically turned on when you pair your AirPods with your iPhone or iPad for the first time.

Using Find My

Now that it’s been set up, you can easily locate your missing devices in several ways. On an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can open the Find My App, which has an icon that looks like this:

On a Mac, the Find My app is located in the Launch Pad by default.

When you open the app, you will see a map, along with a dock on the bottom. On the bottom dock, tapping the people icon shows friends and family who have shared their location with you and their locations. The devices tab shows mini icons of your devices and their locations on a map. Your family’s devices are also displayed if you have set up Apple Family Sharing. The items tab is for Find My compatible items such as AirTags. The Me button (on an iPhone and iPad) shows your location and from which device the location comes, as well as the option to turn off sharing your location. On a Mac, these tabs are located on the top left.

Screenshot of Find My App showing a map and bottom dock.

Finding a Device on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac

To find a device, tap on the devices tab and then tap on the name of the device you want to locate. It will zoom into the device’s location on a map and give you the address of your device. You’ll have the option to play a sound, which may help if you are near your device’s location.

Screenshot showing find my app detail for a particular device.

Finding a Device with a Web Browser

If you only have one Apple device, don’t worry, there is another way you can locate your lost device. Go onto a web browser on a laptop, desktop computer, or another mobile device, and navigate to iCloud.com. Next, click or tap on sign in. Log in with your Apple ID and password. Don’t worry if you have two-factor authentication enabled, simply click or tap the Find Devices on the lower left.

Screenshot showing how to log in without having access to a second device for two factor authentication.

Enter your password again, and then a map will appear. Click on all devices in the top center, and select a device to locate. A map will zoom into the location of your device. There are options to play a sound, put the device into lost mode, or remotely erase the device in the case of an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch.

Screenshot showing device detail on iCloud.com in a web browser.

Putting a Device into Lost Mode

If you cannot find your device, or if it has been stolen, there is also the option to mark the device as lost or remotely erase it. Marking the device as lost causes the following to happen: you will receive a notification on your other devices when its location is available, the activation lock will be enabled so no one can reset your device and link it to their account, a passcode will be required if they try to turn it on, any payments (such as Apple Wallet or Apple Pay) will be suspended, and you will have the option to leave a message on your device displaying a phone number where you can be contacted.

Screenshot showing the option of what happens when you put a device into lost mode.

A device can be put into lost mode from any of the Find My apps or on iCloud.com.

Finding a Device with Apple Watch or with Siri

To find a device with your Apple Watch, check out this helpful article from Apple. If you are in the same location as your device but aren’t sure where it is, you can ask Siri to find it if you have a second Apple device. Simply say, “Hey Siri, where’s my [device name]?” If it’s nearby, she will respond, “your [device name] is nearby, pinging it now” and she will play a sound on the device you’re looking for, including AirPods. If your device is not within range, she will say she can’t find it and suggest that you use the Find My app.

Have you used Find My to locate a device? Let us know in the comments!