The new app called Journal is something I think you’ll enjoy using. It’s similar to a dairy but has a few more features.

I started using it, and the nice thing about it is I can go back to a few days and recount what I did and where I was. This app appears after you download the new iOS 17.2 on your iPhone. The only downside is that it won’t appear on my iPad.

The new Mac upgrade is iOS 14.2. So if you get a chance, download it for some new features.

One of the new feature for the iPhone allows it to read text while pointing your camera at a sign. Start off by pointing your iPhone camera at something with text on it. Then you’ll need to tap the Detect Mode icon on the bottom right corner. It looks like a square with a circle in it. Next, tap the Point-and Speak icon on the bottom left corner. It looks like a hand pointing to three lines. Be sure to keep your iPhone about 12 inches away from the text you want to read.

Well… big deal having the iPhone speak the text of, let’s say, a restaurant menu. But if you just had cataract eye surgery or lost your glasses, then it might come in handy. Give it a shot and see if you like it.

Another cool feature with 14.2 for the Mac is “Autofill for PDF files.” No more typing in all the contact information like your address, e-mail and phone number. Another new feature is the Translate option that can be initiated by pressing the new Action Button on the iPhone 15. When you press the Action Button, automatic voice to text translation will then kick off.

A friend of mine just bought a new MacBook Air with the M2 chip. I helped him set it up and transfer files from his old Mac to the new one. He uses Gmail, and when we set it up, he wanted to use his microphone to speak the text instead of typing the text. We searched all the features in set-up, and looked at all the icons, but found nothing. Then I remembered that you can use the Dictation feature, so you don’t have to type in any words.

To set this up, we went into Settings or System Settings, scrolled down to Keyboard and clicked on Dictation. Now to use it, all you have to do is press the Control key twice and the microphone appears. Now just start talking, and to turn it off, just press the Control key once. I use this all the time, especially when writing my articles.

Having a small wireless keyboard, I’m always mis-typing words. When I have a new ideal and start typing, about halfway through I forget the most important part. Using the Dictation feature, I can quickly get the subject written down just by speaking it. Try and set it up — you’ll be surprised how often you’ll use it.