NOON TOPICS
2/3/17
USING 3D TOUCH
If you’re like me, once you find a
way to get to a function, you do it that way, even if it takes a circuitous
path of multiple clicks. With 3D Touch, a feature Apple introduced with iOS 9,
you can get a much quicker (and cooler) access to functionality by firmly
pressing and holding on various icons/files/screens.
Here are some nifty uses of 3D
Touch:
With native Apple apps:
Virtually all of the stock Apple
apps take advantage of 3D Touch. Try ‘em all, I say! Some of the ones that I
thought offered functionality that is pretty neat:
• Mail – A
firm touch gives you one-click access to 4 functions: All inboxes, Unread,
Search and New Message. It also offers you the opportunity to add the Mail
widget to your Notifications.
• Settings –
3D Touch allows you to access the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi screens to quickly
connect to a wireless device or hotspot.
• Phone – A
harder press on the Phone app gets you a pop-up menu with options to call one
of your designated favorites, create a new contact or search for an existing
one, and view the most recent call.
• Safari and Maps
– Quick Safari shortcuts include opening a new (private) tab and going straight
to your Reading List or Bookmarks, while the Maps app icon gives you a
destination preview and the ability send and mark your location or search
nearby.
• Try all of them!
With third party apps:
Many non-Apple native apps, e.g.,
Facebook, Twitter, Google, offer shortcuts with a firm press on the icon. Try
them, too!
Other 3D Touch tricks:
• Peek and Pop
– In Mail, 'Peek' and ‘Pop' essentially function as content preview functions –
letting you, say, look (peek) at the contents of an email without actually
opening it, simply by hard pressing on the message in your inbox. A firmer
press (pop) makes the same email open fully, while a swipe up reveals options
for replying, forwarding, and the like. Peek and Pop also let you view content
from other apps without opening them. This principle applies to web links and
attachments in emails. In fact, this action can be found throughout iOS 10, so
it's worth experimenting whenever you come across linked content that would
usually require you to switch apps.
• App switcher
– Next time you want to open a recent app you used, try hard pressing the left
side of the screen. The App Switcher should be activated, and the harder you
press, the more recently-opened apps you'll see. This action works from the
home screen, as well as a number of other native apps.
• Cursor control
– Lastly, next time you're using the onscreen keyboard, hard press on a letter
and you'll gain control of the cursor, enabling you to easily track back and
edit your text.
If you have trouble with the
sensitivity of 3D Touch, you can adjust it in Settings -> General ->
Accessibility -> 3D Touch.
PRESS ON!!
