The title says it all: we held a virtual meeting on May 19 at 7 p.m., hosted on Zoom, on how to use your Mac, iPad, and iPhone to stay connected. Normally, we’d meet at the Sequim Public Library, but the world is busy with other things at the moment, and the library is closed.
Notes by Kathleen Charters
Review of options: phone calls, SMS or messages (kill off what is no longer needed); one-to-one video calls: FaceTime, many-to-many: Google Hangout.
Message: phone capable?, limits depend on type of phone, can enter type of phone in contacts in edit mode, gives the option to specify if an iPhone so can send text messages as digital data and this reduces cost – see if recipient has an iPhone; non-Apple device limitation is 160 characters and may not see anything but text; if send non-test may be costly for the person’s data plan; downside: messages are ephemeral, hard to find again.
5GB data monthly using iCloud, storage shows how much is due to messages, clear off to get the space back; you can delete after 1 year or after 30 days automatically if you set this under settings.
Can use a message to remind someone to read their e-mail.
E-mail started in 1971, a file transfer, better organized than SMS, can take up large amount of space, should clean out e-mail messages; periodically review and then delete “Junk Mail”; Google and Apple Mail have different ways to identify spam; Apple Mail can be set to handle Junk Mail by selecting options, do not recommend automatically delete Junk Mail as might want something that is sent there by mistake; e-mail can be sorted and sorting makes deleting easier and finding things easier; designed to carry attachments; sort by size and save attachments then delete and then empty the trash to free up space; large blocks deleted by sorting by “From”; if reputable source can unsubscribe from subscription e-mails; can select all messages and save all at once.
Most often used: messages (younger people) and mail (older people).
Additional options
FaceTime – only works with Apple devices, very secure; can make an audio call if you cannot get video; if you identify an iPhone in Contacts makes it easy to do a FaceTime call and just charged for data not for phone call; limit is adding one person at a time; not practical for large numbers of participants.
Zoom- long history of security issues, popular because up to 40 minutes with multiple participants is free, only need Web browser to participate, only host has to have Zoom; have meeting ID and password to limit who can join; do not post on site because robots will find and allow disruptive actions; Zoom can use Information for marketing – no privacy guarantee.
Any video meeting: watch lighting, sound in background, consider a room divider to decrease distraction, camera at eye level is best for others to see you.
Q&A
Checking iPad/iPhone settings – under media: if listening to a podcast, it is downloaded to the mobile device, and this takes up space, so delete media when no longer needed; also, message with photo if select to see a large size photo will transfer the image to the device.
Feedback – like having a Zoom meeting, because easier to see what is going on.
Export a thread of messages from one person – takes 3rd party tools; easier to do this for e-mail.
Facebook Messenger – Lawrence hates it, Facebook tags interactions so wants interactions to stay in Facebook, may trigger algorithm-based advertising; cannot read in other messaging apps; must read in Facebook Messenger’s narrow window.
Google Duo – Google Phone video call similar to FaceTime.
Sabrina experience in Europe – option on iPhone for WiFi calling, can accept calls and get voice mail, cannot make calls; can get international calling plan for short period to decrease costs – sign up before go overseas; may see prompts to use international plan when near Canada; trick for Canada maps – can download Google Map to device and use just GPS without a phone connection; can do this for Germany as well; South Korea has least expensive phone service; U.S. has most expensive phone service.
Next month
Photography
When to hold elections?