iOS 11 "likes" and "not likes"

I admit, my title is misleading. This is a list of mostly “not likes” with iOS 11. Why few “likes”? Because there is enough written elsewhere singing the praises of iOS 11 and detailing “what’s new”. Maybe my dislikes will help you decide if (when) you want to upgrade… ...

27 Sep 2017

Verse contacts missing and sync not working in iOS 11

I upgraded my iPad to iOS 11.0.0 last night - and this morning realized that my IBM Verse contacts had disappeared from my iPhone! I didn’t update my iPhone, nor did I make any changes of significance lately. Most upsetting! Here’s a guide to restoring your contacts. ...

26 Sep 2017

Workaround for YouTube PiP using iOS Safari with a Workflow.is Action Extension

It’s pretty easy to get Picture in Picture (PiP) in Safari on macOS - just a right-click twice - and if that didn’t work, I described simple workaround by disabling JavaScript. Here I have a Workflow.is App based workaround to enable PiP in YouTube in Safari on iOS. This allows me to surf (or work) while having a video running in a tiny floating window on my iPad. ...

29 Apr 2017

Workflow is a great start to learning to code

In August 2016, GE’s CEO said he wanted every new hire to learn to code. And I must say, I do agree! In today’s digital, data-driven, self-service world, everyone should learn to code. But, to clarify, I’m not necessarily referring to programming in C# or Swift (like I do), but rather “coding” for automation. ...

23 Apr 2017

Using Google Maps in Workflow

By now you have realized that the latest version of the Workflow App no longer has deep integration to Google Maps. That’s not too big a deal, since you can make do with the Workflow Open URLs function. Here’s how… ...

10 Apr 2017

New iCloud Settings in iOS 10.3 fixes iCloud for Numbers

Apple has noted that a number of users may experience an issue with iCloud setting being enabled after upgrading to iOS 10.3. For me, I had quite the opposite experience, as iOS 10.3 finally enabled some iCloud applications that I had never gotten working for a long time! ...

9 Apr 2017

Workflow Action to add cheap IDD call prefix

Does your service provider differentiate between standard or “premium” IDD and “budget” IDD like mine does? Typically, the standard + international call prefix will default to the premium option, but to use the the cheaper option, usually via voice-over-IP (VoIP), one has to specific a different carrier-defined prefix, e.g. 12300 (I just made this up, check with your telco). I can’t find a built-in way to do this on iOS… enter the Workflow App! ...

9 Apr 2017

Numbers has a new STOCK trick

Remember the time I waxed lyrical about using Google Sheets to track my stock portfolio? Well, it’s going to be a “standard feature” of spreadsheets soon, with the introduction of the capability to retrieve stock data with today’s update of Numbers on iOS (3.1) and macOS (4.1). ...

28 Mar 2017

Retrieving an Exchange Rate with Workflow

Here’s how to retrieve and display the latest exchange rate for two currencies with the Workflow App (though one could just use Numbers on iOS or macOS too). ...

28 Mar 2017

Scanning a Contact via QR Code using Workflow

I’ve been playing with the Workflow.is App recently, and this one is pretty cool - using Workflow to scan and generate a QR Code with Contact information. ...

27 Mar 2017