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Neat tricks to use with your Mac laptop

By BY GEORGE GORDON/Computer Guru - | Mar 4, 2022

I’ve mentioned before that your camera can be used to scan QR codes, but did you know that there is also a hidden app on the iPhone?

Swipe from the left side of the iPhone screen to the right side and the Search box appears. Type in “Scanner,” and an icon “Code Scanner” appears. Click on it, and you can begin to scan a QR Code.

Did you know that you can receive phone calls on your computer? On the iPhone, go to Settings, Phone, click on Calls on Other Devices, and click on all the white dots until they turn green. Now when your phone rings, you’ll hear a sound coming from your Mac, too. You can click on it to receive the call.

Here is a neat trick that you can try using your Mac to edit a photo, and at the same time, the same photo appears on the iPhone… and everything you do on the Mac will also happen on the iPhone! Open up the Photo App on your iPhone, then open up the Photo program on your Mac and choose a photo. At the top of the page, choose Edit — at the very top is a tiny circle with three dots in it that is called Markup. So, go ahead and click on it.

Wow! Double wow — now the iPhone has the same photo on it that’s on your Mac. After the initial shock, try drawing with your finger on your iPhone and watch what happens on the Mac.

Everything you do on the iPhone will now appear on the Mac screen. But wait… try drawing something on the Mac screen. Guess what? It also appears on the iPhone screen. You can use your finger or a Mac pencil and choose all kinds of colors, different styles, add text and crop.

Using the Markup tool versus the Mac Photo tools is much easier and less confusing.

Let’s say you want to write a letter to Pepe in Tijuana asking him where to find a good bar to drink tequila, but he doesn’t read English. No problema.

Open up the Pages program on your Mac and type in: “Hi Pepe, where is the best bar to drink tequila?” Next, highlight the sentence with your mouse, right-click on the sentence and choose Translate. In the center of the box is an up and down arrow key where you can choose the language.

I chose Spanish, and in the center it shows: “Hola Pepe, ¿dónde está el mejor bar para beber tequila?” It appears in orange. So click “Replace with translation” and go ahead and send it off to Pepe.

With your iPhone, you can measure anything without a yard stick. Swipe from the left to the right side of the iPhone screen, and in the Search Box type in MEASURE. Just position the white dot, then press on the plus sign. Now raise it to your height and tap on the plus sign to get the measurements.

I just found out Apple will be adding a new feature to the iPhone. Soon, you’ll be able to use your iPhone as a credit card reader. That means merchants and businesses will be able to process transactions with credit cards and debit cards.

Send your computer-related questions to MauiMist@aol.com.