How Tos

How to Block People From Sending You Mail in iOS 13

Monday June 17, 2019 1:55 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Unsolicited phone calls and text messages on your iPhone are annoying enough, but that frustration can quickly creep into your inbox when spammy messages start evading your junk email filters. In iOS 13, Apple has thankfully recognized the stress this can cause users and has included a way for you to block specific email senders. The new feature draws from the blocked list in your contacts, and extends this to Apple's Mail app. The steps below show you how to set up this option to prevent the same blocked contacts from reaching your inbox. First, make sure that the email address you want to block is linked to a contact in the Contacts app. To add an email to a selected contact, simply tap the Edit button and then tap the green plus symbol next to the email entry. Once you've entered it, hit Done. Next, launch the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap Mail. Under the Threading options, tap the switch next to Ignore Blocked Senders to toggle it to the green ON position.Note that directly below the Ignore Blocked Senders switch is an option to review the phone numbers on your blocked list and add new ones if
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How to Mute Email Threads in iOS 13

Friday June 14, 2019 1:59 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
When you're part of a busy group chat in a message app like WhatsApp, the notifications come fast, and can quickly become tiresome if you're not participating as actively as others in the same chat thread. The same can be said for email conversation threads, especially ones where each message gets copied into multiple recipients. That's why in iOS 13, Apple has introduced an option to mute an email thread in the Mail app, so you don't get a notification every time a new email in that thread is received. Using the mute feature in Apple Mail is easy – simply follow the steps below to enable it on the email thread in question. Launch the stock Mail app on your iPhone or iPad. Locate the email thread in your inbox that you would like to mute. Swipe left across the email and then tap More. Tap Mute from the pop-up menu. A bell icon with a line through it will identify the email threads in your inbox that are muted. Note that you can unmute a muted thread just as easily by swiping left across it, tapping More, and then selecting Unmute
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How to Reduce Your iPhone or iPad Network Data Usage With iOS 13's Low Data Mode

Friday June 14, 2019 1:56 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple understands that some iPhone and iPad users may prefer to keep tabs on their cellular network data usage, especially if they risk incurring charges by going over a certain limit. The same goes for users who have a bandwidth cap on their broadband network, or anyone who regularly connects to a public Wi-Fi network that charges per megabyte. That's why in iOS 13, Apple has included a Low Data Mode for apps that use cellular and Wi-Fi connections. The feature sends an explicit signal to apps to reduce their network data use by deferring non-compulsory tasks and disabling background app refresh. To turn on the cellular or Wi-Fi setting on your iPhone or iPad, simply follow these steps. How to Turn On Cellular Low Data Mode Launch the Settings app on your device Tap Cellular (or Mobile Data, depending on your region). Tap Cellular Data Options (or Mobile Data Options). Tap the Low Data Mode switch to toggle it to the green ON position. How to Turn On Wi-Fi Low Data Mode Launch the Settings app on your device Tap Wi-Fi. Tap the info button (an encircled 'i' icon) alongside the Wi-Fi network in question. Tap the Low Data Mode switch to toggle it to the green ON position.Note that a given third-party app must explicitly support Low Data Mode for there to be any change in its data usage, otherwise enabling the mode won't have any
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How to Save or Share a Safari Web Page as a PDF in iOS 13

Friday June 14, 2019 11:58 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
In iOS 13, Apple has extended the system's built-in screenshot feature to include the ability to save a full web page as a multi-page PDF. Don't expect this option to appear when using a third-party browser app like Firefox or Chrome, as it's only available in Safari, Apple's native web browser. With that said, here's how it works. Launch the Safari app on your iPhone or iPad. Navigate to the web page that you wish to save as a multi-page PDF. Press the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously to capture a screenshot. If your device doesn't have a Home button – if it's a 2018 iPad Pro, for example – press the power button located at the top of the device and the volume up button located on the right of the device at the same time. A preview of the screenshot will pop up in the lower left of the display. Tap it to open up the Instant Markup interface. You'll have about five seconds before it disappears. Tap the Full Page tab in the upper right corner of the Markup interface. To save the PDF, tap Done and then tap Save PDF to Files. To share the PDF, tap the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing out) and select how or who to share it with from the Share screen.Note that you can also use Markup to edit your PDF before saving or sending it.
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How to Silence Unknown Callers on Your iPhone in iOS 13

Thursday June 13, 2019 12:30 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Unsolicited phone calls can become a regular annoyance and even a cause of stress for many smartphone users these days. Thankfully, Apple provides a feature in iOS 13 that can automatically silence calls to your phone from unknown numbers, which should help cut down on the number of spam calls that you receive. Whether it's messages from a debt collector looking for the wrong person, or a random number that keeps calling in the middle of the night, following the steps below will help to stop them from bothering you. How to Silence Unknown Callers in iOS 13 Launch the Settings app on your device Scroll down and tap Phone. Scroll down to the section titled Call Silencing and Blocked Contacts. Tap the Silence Unknown Callers switch to toggle it to the green ON position.With Silence Unknown Callers toggled on, people who call you that aren't listed in your contacts will have their calls sent straight to voice mail and your phone won't ring. Did you know that you can block nuisance messages as well as calls on your iPhone? Click here to learn how it's done.
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How to Create a Custom iMessage Profile in iOS 13

Wednesday June 12, 2019 5:54 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
In iOS 13, Apple allows you to create a standardized iMessage profile that includes your name and photo – or an Animoji/Memoji – which accompanies the messages you send to friends so that they know who you are. The idea behind the new feature is that contacts in the Messages become more easily identifiable, similar to the way WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger contacts have recognizable profile pictures. If you choose to use a Memoji as your profile pic, you'll be happy to learn that iOS 13 also provides options for customizing it, including pre-selected poses and background colors. How to Add a Custom Message Photo Profile in iOS 13 Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Messages. Tap Share Name and Photo. To use a photo in your new profile, tap the Camera button and take a picture of yourself. Alternatively, tap All Photos to choose an existing picture from your photo albums. Once you've selected a picture, you'll be given the option to move and scale it in the circular frame. Click Choose once you're done. You'll then be asked to select a filter to apply to the photo. Alternatively, tap Original to skip this step. Tap Done. Tap the empty fields alongside your profile picture to enter your first and second name. Make sure the Share Name and Photo switch is toggled to the On position. Choose from one of the automatic contact sharing options – Contacts Only, Always Ask, or Anyone. How to Add a Message Animoji/Memoji Profile in iOS 13 Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Messages. Tap Share Name and Photo. Select an
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How to Enable Dark Mode in iOS 13

Thursday June 6, 2019 3:31 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
In iOS 13, Apple has included a system-wide Dark Mode option similar to the one it brought to the Mac in 2018 with the release of macOS Mojave. Dark Mode is designed to be easier on the eyes by providing less harsh display brightness in situations where ambient lighting is lower, while maintaining contrast and vibrancy. If you have an OLED iPhone, such as an iPhone X, iPhone XS, or iPhone XS Max, enabling Dark Mode may also conserve battery life whenever true blacks are on screen, since black pixels in an OLED panel basically switch off and consume far less power. Enabling Dark Mode in iOS 13 is easy – simply follow the steps below. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Display & Brightness. Under Appearance, tap Dark to switch to Dark Mode.Note that the Display & Brightness settings screen also includes an Automatic switch that you can toggle – doing so will cause your device to automatically enable Dark Mode at sunset, and Light Mode at sunrise. Alternately, you can set a custom schedule for the display change by using the Options menu that appears when you toggle on the Automatic
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How to Pair Powerbeats Pro to Your Apple TV

Tuesday May 28, 2019 3:36 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
When you pair Powerbeats Pro to your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac or Apple TV, the pairing information is synced across all the devices linked to your iCloud account. That means if you've already paired your Powerbeats Pro earphones to one of your other devices, then you shouldn't need to go through the process again when it comes to connecting them to your Apple TV. Of course, if you haven't paired your Powerbeats Pro to any devices yet then you'll need to pair them manually to your Apple TV. The pairing process described below is also useful if you want to connect the fitness-focused earphones to a shared Apple TV, if you're troubleshooting the Powerbeats Pro connection with your own set-top box, or you own a third-generation Apple TV or earlier. Here's how it's done. Note that to successfully connect, Powerbeats Pro require your Apple TV to be running tvOS 12.2 or later. How to Pair Powerbeats Pro to Apple TV Move close to your Apple TV set-top box, and if you aren't already wearing your Powerbeats Pro, make sure to at least flip the lid open on the charging case. On your Apple TV, launch the Settings app. Navigate to Remotes and Devices > Bluetooth. Select your Powerbeats Pro when they appear in the Other Devices list. Click Connect Device to initiate the pairing process. Once complete, your Powerbeats Pro will be connected to your Apple TV and ready to use.How to Quickly Connect Powerbeats Pro to Apple TV Now that your AirPods are successfully paired, you can connect them to your Apple TV quickly anytime quickly and easily. Simply navigate
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How to Unpair Powerbeats Pro Earphones From iPhone, Apple TV, Apple Watch, or Mac

Tuesday May 28, 2019 3:34 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
This article explains how to unpair Apple's fitness-focused Powerbeats Pro earphones from a number of different Apple devices. Bear in mind that when you unpair Powerbeats Pro from an iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, or Apple TV (fourth-generation or later), this also automatically unpairs the wireless earphones from all other devices linked to the same iCloud account. Other devices you may have paired them with that aren't linked to iCloud (older Apple TVs, Windows PCs or Android devices, for example) will remain unaffected unless you manually unpair them one by one via their respective Bluetooth settings. How to Unpair Powerbeats Pro From iPhone or iPad Launch the Settings app. Tap Bluetooth. Tap the "i" icon next to your Powerbeats Pro in the Devices list. Tap Forget This Device. Tap Forget Device in the pop-up message to confirm.Note that unpairing Powerbeats Pro from your iPhone also unpairs them from your Apple Watch, however you can also individually unpair Powerbeats Pro from Apple Watch without unpairing them from your iPhone. How to Unpair Powerbeats Pro From Apple Watch On your Apple Watch, launch the Settings app. Tap Bluetooth. Tap the "i" icon next to your Powerbeats Pro in the list. Tap Forget Device. How to Unpair Powerbeats Pro From Mac On your Mac, click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select System Preferences.... Click the Bluetooth icon in the preference pane. Right-click (or Ctrl-click) your Powerbeats Pro in the Devices list. Click Remove in the contextual menu that appears. Click Remove again to confirm. How to Unpair
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How to Pair Powerbeats Pro to Your Apple Watch

Tuesday May 28, 2019 3:21 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Once you've paired a new set of Powerbeats Pro earphones with an iPhone running iOS 12 or later, they should automatically pair with your Apple Watch as long as your watch's software is up to date. Powerbeats Pro require watchOS 5.2 or later. To check which version of watchOS your watch is running, open the Watch app on the iPhone and select My Watch -> General -> About and check the Version entry. If your watch needs updating, you can download and install the new software by selecting My Watch -> General -> Software Update. Once your Apple Watch software is up to date, your connected Powerbeats Pro earphones will automatically switch their connection between iPhone and Apple Watch, depending on which one is playing audio. However, you can also manually connect Powerbeats Pro to your Apple Watch whenever you like. Here's how it's done. On your Apple Watch, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Control Center. (If you're in an app, touch and hold the bottom edge of the screen, then drag up the Control Center pane with your finger.) Tap the AirPlay icon (the small triangle with concentric circles on top). Tap Powerbeats Pro in the list of devices.You can also open up the Settings app on the Apple Watch, go to the Bluetooth section, and choose your Powerbeats Pro earphones from the list of available devices. Tap to connect.
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How to Check Powerbeats Pro Battery Life on iPhone and Apple Watch

Friday May 24, 2019 2:58 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's Powerbeats Pro headphones offer around nine hours of listening time and six hours of talk time on a single charge, with up to 24 hours of playback using the charge case on a single charge. The earphones also come with a Fast Fuel feature that lets you get 1.5 hours of music playback after five minutes of charging, and 4.5 hours of playback after 15 minutes of charging. During use, you'll hear a tone when your Powerbeats Pro batteries are low, and another tone just before they run out. But you don't have to wait for these tones to know how much charge they have remaining. Here are a few other ways that you can keep a closer eye on your earbuds' battery life. On iPhone If you're not using your Powerbeats Pro earbuds, open the charging case lid with them inside and hold the case close to your iPhone. The charge status of the earbuds and case should appear separately on the device's screen, and if you take out an earbud, you'll see individual percentages for the two earpieces. You can also check the charge status of Powerbeats Pro using the Batteries widget in your iPhone's Today View, accessed by swiping right on the Lock screen or on your Home screen's first screen of apps. If you're wearing the Powerbeats Pro earbuds, the Batteries widget will show a single percentage for the two of them that's rounded down to the earpiece with the lowest battery. If you place one of them in their charging case, the widget will show you individual percentages, as well as the current charge level of the charging case itself. If you don't have it installed
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How to Share One Pair of Powerbeats Pro Earphones With a Friend

Friday May 24, 2019 2:46 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Splitting a pair of Powerbreats Pro earphones between two people is perfectly possible thanks to their integrated H1 Apple chip, and it's a neat way of using the wireless features of the earpieces to share your listening experience. Listen Together With One Pair of Powerbeats Pro Earphones There's nothing stopping you and a friend from each wearing a Powerbeats Pro earpiece to enjoy music or watch a movie together on your iPhone or iPad. Thanks to Automatic Ear Detection, both earphones sense when they're placed in an ear, regardless of whether they're attached to the same head. The only caveat to sharing Powerbeats Pro between two people is that you're effectively splitting stereo channels, so you'll want to convert to mono audio. You can do that by following these steps:Open up the Settings app. Tap General and then tap Accessibility. Scroll down to where it says "Mono Audio" and toggle it on.When you're done sharing your AirPods with a friend, make sure to turn the Mono Audio setting back off so you get regular stereo sound when you're using both of your AirPods. Share a Call With a Friend Using One Pair of Powerbeats Pro Splitting a pair of Powerbeats Pro earphones between two people to take a phone call is a different situation that has one important drawback. Although both earphones have built-in microphones, only a single mic can be active at any one time, so if you're sharing a pair with a friend, both of you can listen in on the call but only one of you will be able to talk back to the caller. If you want to get to decide who take part in
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How to Assign the Powerbeats Pro Microphone to Your Left or Right Ear

Friday May 24, 2019 2:39 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's fitness-focused Powerbeats Pro have built-in beamforming microphones in each earpiece that make it easy for you to take calls or interact with Siri when you're wearing them. For optimal performance and to make the experience as seamless as possible, the default setting is for the active microphone to switch automatically between one earpiece and the other. And if you wear only one earphone, then that one becomes the active microphone. If you want, you can change these settings so just one earbud is always set to be the active microphone. Setting One Powerbeats Pro Earpiece as the Active Mic Before continuing, make sure that the Powerbeats Pro are connected to your iOS device. On your iPhone or iPad, launch the Settings app. Tap Bluetooth. Under the My Devices list, tap the circled "i" icon next to your connected Powerbeats Pro. Tap Microphone. Tap Always Left Powerbeats Pro or Always Right Powerbeats Pro so that a tick appears beside the chosen setting.Bear in mind that the earphone you select as the microphone will continue to be set that way even if you remove it or insert it back in its
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How to Have Powerbeats Pro Announce Your Calls

Friday May 24, 2019 2:33 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
If you receive a call on your iPhone (or an Apple Watch with cellular) when your Powerbeats Pro earphones are connected, the ringing tone will interrupt whatever it is you're listening to. To find out who's calling, normally you'd have to take out your iPhone or look at your Apple Watch, but you can actually have your Powerbeats Pro (or any connected headphones) announce who it is, saving you the trouble. To enable this feature, simply follow these steps. On your iPhone, launch the Settings app. Tap Phone in the list. Tap Announce Calls under the Calls heading. Tap Headphones Only so that a tick appears alongside the option.That's all there is to it. The next time someone in your contacts tries to get in touch with you, you'll know who it is before you even accept (or decline!) the
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How to Change the Name of Your Powerbeats Pro Earbuds

Wednesday May 22, 2019 6:50 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Once you've successfully paired your Powerbeats Pro earbuds to an iPhone or iPad, they'll be given the default name "[Your Name]'s Powerbeats Pro." If you want, you can change this name by following the simple steps below. How to Change the Name of Powerbeats Pro on iOSOn your iOS device, launch the Settings app. Tap Bluetooth. Tap the "i" icon next to your Powerbeats Pro in the My Devices list. At the next screen, tap Name and then input a new name for your earbuds using the onscreen virtual keyboard.How to Change the Name of Powerbeats Pro on Mac You can also rename your Powerbeats Pro earbuds on your Mac. Simply follow these steps to do so. On your Mac, launch System Preferences. Click the Bluetooth pane. With your Powerbeats Pro connected to your Mac, right-click them in the Devices list and then select Rename in the pop-up menu. Type in a new name for your Powerbeats Pro. Click the Rename button to confirm.Note that the custom name you assign to your Powerbeats Pro earbuds will stay with them, so you'll be able to recognize them as such on any other devices you connect them to in
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How to Activate Siri With Your Powerbeats Pro Earbuds

Wednesday May 22, 2019 6:18 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple announced Beats-branded Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds in April 2019, adding a number of new features that set them apart from its wired fitness-oriented Powerbeats 3 earbuds. One of those features is the ability to summon Siri entirely handsfree, allowing you to speak a variety of commands and ask questions. Like with Apple's second-generation AirPods, all you have to do is say "Hey Siri" when you're wearing your Powerbeats Pro buds and the digital assistant will be ready to respond to the words that follow. If you prefer not to have to say "Hey Siri", you can trigger the assistant be pressing the Play/Pause button on the Powerbeats Pro buds for three seconds. That said, you should find the immediacy of using the "Hey Siri" invocation a lot more convenient if you're in the middle of a workout. Siri can be used with Powerbeats Pro to control music, ask queries, make phone calls, and check the status of your earbuds. At the bottom of this article is a quick list of commands to get you started. "Turn volume up/down" or "Raise the volume by 50 percent." "Play" or "Pause music." "Resume music." "Play [Song Name]" or "Play [Podcast Name]." "Play my Favorites List." "Play my New Music List." "Skip back/forward" or "Skip back/forward X seconds/minutes." "Skip to the next song." "How is the battery life of my Powerbeats Pro?"Note that these commands won't do anything if your iOS device doesn't have a network connection. It's an odd requirement, but unlike Voice Control, Siri needs an internet connection even for basic playback commands.
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How to Set Up and Connect Powerbeats Pro Earbuds

Wednesday May 22, 2019 5:55 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple in April 2019 debuted its completely wireless Powerbeats Pro headphones, featuring multiple improvements over the original Beats-branded wired Powerbeats 3. If you've purchased a pair of Apple's fitness-focused earbuds, you'll be eager to use them to listen to music, take phone calls, use Siri, and more. Keep reading to learn how to set up and connect them to your devices. Update Your Software As mentioned, Apple's second-generation AirPods include new features not seen in the Powerbeats line of headphones, but to use them you'll need to make sure your devices are running the latest software. On iOS devices: If you want to use your new AirPods with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, make sure you're running iOS 12.2 or later. To check that your device's software is up to date, launch the Settings app and then select General -> Software Update, and download any available updates if necessary. On Mac: To use your new AirPods with your Mac, it needs to be running macOS 10.14.4 or later. To check that your machine is up to date with the latest software, select System Preferences... from the Apple () menu in the top-left corner of the screen, and then click Software Update in the preferences window. If your Mac finds an update is available, click the Update Now button to download the software and allow the software to install when prompted. Set Up Powerbeats Pro on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Before you can begin using your New Powerbeats Pro with your iOS devices, there are a few quick steps you need to perform. Unlock your iPhone,
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How to Use Powerbeats Pro With Android Devices

Wednesday May 22, 2019 5:46 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Though designed for iOS devices, Apple's Beats-branded Powerbeats Pro are also compatible with Android smartphones and tablets, so you can take advantage of Apple's wire-free tech even if you're an Android user or have both Android and Apple devices. The downside to using Powerbeats Pro with Android is that you do lose some functions, like Apple's unique H1 chip pairing features and its Siri handsfree virtual assistant. Powerbeats Pro do, however, work like any other Bluetooth headphones on an Android device. Pairing Powerbeats Pro to an Android Device Powerbeats Pro pair to an Android smartphone like any other Bluetooth device, but there are some specific steps to follow. Open up the Powerbeats Pro case (with the earbuds inside) next to your Android device. Go to the Bluetooth settings on your Android device. Tap Powerbeats Pro in the Bluetooth devices list to connect them.If you don't see the Powerbeats Pro appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices, try resetting the earbuds. Open the Powerbeats Pro charging case and press the case's button until the little white LED starts to blink. Wait a few moments, then refresh your available devices list and it should appear. Powerbeats Pro Features That Don't Work on Android When paired with an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac, Powerbeats Pro offer a rich set of features thanks to the integrated H1 chip, the accelerometer and other sensors, as well as deep integration with Apple's devices. Here's a list of AirPods features you lose out on when using the Powerbeats Pro with Android: Siri. On
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How to Use Apple's Live Listen Feature With Powerbeats Pro

Wednesday May 22, 2019 5:42 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Since 2014, Apple has included a little-known feature in iOS called Live Listen that allows an iPhone or iPad to serve as a remote microphone for an MFI-compatible hearing aid. In iOS 12 and later, Live Listen supports Powerbeats Pro, Apple's sporty Beats-branded earphones, making it possible to use your iOS device as a directional mic and have the audio relayed to your ears. As an accessibility feature, the idea behind Live Listen is for it to be used by people who are hard of hearing or need extra help separating voices in a loud environment, but it can be useful in other ways, too. If you're on a family vacation, for instance, you could use your iPhone or iPad as a makeshift baby monitor for when the baby's napping and you're in another room with the TV on. All you'd need to do is put the iOS device near the baby's crib and wear a single Powerbeats Pro earbud, which should have a strong enough Bluetooth range to allow you to listen in from afar. Live Listen will work even when other audio is being played on your iPhone or iPad – so you could listen to a podcast, say, and still be keeping tabs on the baby. Just note that whatever it is that you're listening to will switch to mono output to match the Live Listen stream. Live Listen is easy to set up and use once you know how. The following steps show you how it's done on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 12. How to Set Up Live Listen on iPhone and iPadLaunch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Control Center. Tap Customize Controls. Scroll down and tap the green plus (+) button next to
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How to Answer and Decline Calls With Powerbeats Pro

Friday May 24, 2019 2:33 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's Beats-branded Powerbeats Pro earbuds feature integrated buttons and include beamforming microphones that allow you to answer incoming calls when you're wearing them and carry on a handsfree conversation. You can also hang up the call by using the physical buttons when the conversation is over, or even decline a call altogether. Here's how it works. When you hear a ringing tone indicating an incoming call, simply press the multi-function "b" button on the outside of either earbud to answer. When you're finished, the action is the same -– just press the same button again to hang up the call. If you want to decline an incoming call – if you're in the middle of an intense workout, say – simply press and hold the "b" button for a moment and then carry on as you were. That's all there is to it, though you may also want to enable a setting to have your Powerbeats Pro announce who is calling. Instructions are available here
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