In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to regain access to your device. Whether you’ve completely forgotten your passcode or accidentally locked yourself out, we’ve got the solutions to help you unlock your iPhone and get back to using it in no time.

Understanding the Situation

If you enter the wrong passcode too many times, you’ll have to wait longer before you can try again. If you keep entering the wrong passcode, your iPhone will eventually become disabled.

To unlock it, you’ll need to erase your device, which deletes all of your data and settings, including the passcode. You can then restore your data from a backup.

Method 1: Using Recovery Mode

If you don’t have a backup, Recovery Mode allows you to restore your iPhone.

Here’s how to go into Recovery Mode in your iPhone:

1. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC.
2. Enter Recovery Mode:

   For iPhone 8 or later: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

   For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down and Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously until you see the recovery mode screen.

   For iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously until you see the recovery mode screen.

3. Open iTunes (on Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later), then choose the option to Restore your iPhone.

Method 2: Restoring via iTunes or Finder

If you have previously synced your iPhone with iTunes or Finder, you can also use it to restore your device.

Here’s how:

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer you last synced with using a USB cable.
2. Launch iTunes (Windows users) or Finder and select your iPhone from the list.
3. In iTunes or Finder, click on the device or its icon, select “Back Up Now” to create the latest backup, then click “Restore iPhone.”

Method 3: Using iCloud to Erase Your Device

If you have Find My iPhone enabled, you can use iCloud to erase your device. To do that, follow the following instructions below:

1. Go to iCloud.com in a web browser.
2. Sign in using your Apple ID.
3. Click on “Find My” and select your iPhone from the device list.



4. Click “Erase iPhone” to remotely erase all data and settings, including the passcode, so you can restore from a backup.

Method 4: Contacting Apple Support

If none of the above methods work, or if you encounter issues, contacting Apple Support may be your last resort.

Apple technicians can provide additional support and may be able to assist you in unlocking your iPhone.

Preventing Future Lockouts

To avoid the hassle of forgetting your iPhone passcode in the future, consider doing the following:

• Enable Face ID or Touch ID: Skip memorizing a passcode by logging in using your face with Face ID or your thumbprint with Touch ID.
• Use a Memorable Passcode: Select a passcode that is both meaningful and secure yet easy to remember.
• Keep Backups: Ensure you have iCloud backup enabled, or regularly back up your iPhone to your PC via iTunes or Finder.

Final Thoughts

Forgetting your iPhone passcode can be highly inconvenient, but by following the methods outlined above, you can regain access to your device without much hassle.

It’s crucial to regularly back up your iPhone data and take preventive measures to avoid future lockouts, ensuring that your information is always safe and accessible.

The post What to Do If You Forget Your iPhone Passcode appeared first on Hongkiat.

Whether you are dealing with persistent glitches or planning to hand over your iPhone to a new owner, a factory reset ensures that all your personal data and settings are completely erased; think of it as returning your iPhone to its original state as you first got it.

This following guide will walk you through the process of a “clean reset” on your iPhone, ensuring you do it safely and efficiently.

When to Clean Reset Your iPhone?

• Resolving software glitches: If your iPhone is experiencing persistent software issues, a clean reset can often resolve these problems.
• Improving performance: Over time, your iPhone may slow down due to accumulated data and apps. A clean reset can help improve its performance.
• Selling or giving away your device: If you plan to sell or give away your iPhone, a clean reset ensures that your personal data is completely removed.
• Starting fresh: Sometimes, you might just want to start with a clean slate, free of apps and data.

How to Clean Reset an iPhone?

Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and effective reset of your iPhone.

1. Back Up Your Data

Before performing a factory reset, it’s essential to back up your iPhone data. This step ensures that you can restore all your important information later. You can back up your iPhone using iCloud directly on your device or use iTunes if you are using a Windows PC.

Check out our previous article for a more detailed guide on how to back up your iPhone data.

Using iCloud

1. Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
3. Tap iCloud Backup.
4. Ensure that iCloud Backup is turned on.
5. Tap Back Up Now and wait for the backup process to complete.

Using iTunes

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
2. Open iTunes and select your device.
3. Click Summary in the left sidebar.
4. Click Back Up Now and wait for the backup process to complete.

2. Sign Out of iCloud and Apple Services

Signing out of iCloud and Apple services ensures that all Apple-related apps and features that use iCloud, such as Find My, are disabled.

1. Go to Settings > [your name].
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.



3. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off.
4. Select the data you want to keep a copy of on your device and tap Sign Out.

3. Erase All Content and Settings

Now that your data is backed up and you’ve signed out of Apple services, you can proceed to erase all content and settings.

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.



3. If prompted, enter your passcode or Apple ID password.
4. Confirm that you want to erase your iPhone by tapping Erase iPhone.

4. Completion

Once the reset process is complete, your iPhone will restart and display the Hello screen. If your goal was to wipe all existing data and leave the phone as a new device, you are done here.

If you plan to set up your phone anew or restore it from a backup, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your iPhone.

The setup process will guide you through selecting your language, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and other initial configurations.

Additional Tips:

Here are some extra steps you might want to consider if your purpose is to completely wipe your phone for selling or handing it off to another person:

Ensure your iPhone is Fully Charged

Before starting the reset process, make sure your iPhone has sufficient battery life or is connected to a power source.

Update to the Latest iOS Version

If possible, update your iPhone to the latest iOS version before performing a clean reset. This ensures that you have the latest features and security updates.

Remove Your SIM Card

If you’re selling or giving away your iPhone, remember to remove your SIM card to protect your personal information.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, performing a clean reset on your iPhone involves a few straightforward steps: back up your data, sign out of iCloud and Apple services, erase all content and settings, and complete the setup process if necessary. This method ensures that your device is returned to its original state, free of personal data and settings.

If you’re resetting your iPhone for selling or giving it away, remember to double-check that iCloud is turned off. Failing to do so can prevent the new owner from using the device, as features like “Find My iPhone” will remain active and linked to your account.

The post How to Clean Reset an iPhone appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this article, we’ll cover several easy methods to download Instagram Reels, making it simple for you to save your favorite content.

1. Download on Desktop via Browser

Follow these steps to easily download Instagram Reels directly to your desktop using any web browser and an online tool:

1. Open your browser and visit instagram.com, then log in.
2. Locate the Instagram Reel you want to download. Click the three dots in the top right corner and select “Copy Link.”



3. Go to snapinsta.app, paste the copied link, and click “Download.”



4. On the next page, click “Download Video” to save the video to your desktop.

2. Download on Mobile Phones via App

The easiest and fastest way to download Instagram Reels on your mobile device is by using an app.

Here’s how to do it on both Android and iOS.

Android

1. Download and install the Video Downloader for Instagram app from the Google Play Store.



2. Open the Instagram account that posted the Reel you want to save, and locate the desired Reel.
3. Tap on the three dots in the bottom right corner of the screen.



4. Select Copy Link from the menu.



5. Return to the Video Downloader app and paste the URL into the top search bar.



6. Tap Download and wait for the process to complete.

The Reel will now be saved on your phone.

iOS

1. Download and install the InSaver app on your iPhone.
2. Find the Instagram account with the Reel you want to download and open the Reel.
3. Tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of the screen.
4. Select Copy Link from the menu.



5. Return to the InSaver app and paste the URL in the search area.
6. Tap Download and wait for the process to finish. The Reel will be saved to your phone.

3. Download via Screen Recording

Screen recording while playing an Instagram Reel is another effective technique to download the video.

Android

You can use either a built-in screen recorder or a third-party Android screen recording app.

To do this, open the screen recorder tool you want to use, then launch Instagram and start playing the Reel you want to save. Once finished, tap stop to save the recording. This ensures the recording ends exactly where you want it to, without capturing unnecessary content.

iOS

1. Open the Settings app and scroll down to the Control Center.
2. In the Customize Controls section, find Screen Recording and tap the green plus button to add it to your Control Center.
3. Launch the Instagram app, play the Reel you wish to download, and swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open the Control Center. Tap the Screen Recording button to start recording.
4. The recording will continue until you stop it, so be sure to tap the red bar at the top of your screen to stop recording once the video is finished.

4. Download via Stories

Downloading Instagram Reels through Stories is a simple and convenient method that doesn’t require any additional apps or tools.

1. Play the Instagram Reel video and tap the Send/Receive icon.



2. Select Add Reel to your Story.



3. A preview screen will appear. Tap the Save button at the top, and the video will be saved to your phone’s photo gallery.

5. Bookmark Instagram Reels

If you prefer not to download Instagram Reels directly, you can save them by bookmarking. To do this, simply go to the Reel you want to save and tap the Bookmark button located in the bottom-right corner.

The video will be saved to your “Saved” folder, which you can access by tapping on the Profile tab and then selecting Saved.

From your “Saved” folder, you can easily share the video or repost it as desired.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we’ve covered several methods to download Instagram Reels, including using desktop browsers, mobile apps for Android and iOS, screen recording, and even leveraging Instagram’s Stories and Bookmark features. Each approach has its benefits, but for most users, mobile apps offer the most convenient and straightforward way to save Reels directly to their devices.

While these methods make it easy to download and keep your favorite Reels, it’s important to remember that the content on Instagram typically belongs to the original creators and may be subject to copyright. Always seek permission from the content creator before downloading or sharing their videos to ensure you’re respecting their rights.

The post 5 Simple Ways to Download Instagram Reels appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this post, you’ll get basic information about everything there is to know about boards on Monday.com.

Get Monday.com for free.

Add a New Board

Adding a new board is super easy. Just click on the “+” icon in the left panel and in the following menu select “New Board.” If you already have a board on Excel, Google Sheets, Trello, or any other platform, you can import it from the same menu or even use a readymade template.

Note: At the time of this writing, it’s not possible to print a board directly from Monday.com. You can rather export the board and then print it.

Anatomy of a Board

Board Structure

The board is made up of four main elements: Groups, Columns, Items, and Subitems. Here is a brief explanation of each element:

• Groups: Organize and categorize information.
• Columns: Customize how your data is displayed.
• Items: Individual rows for managing any type of data.
• Subitems: Add an additional level of information within items.

Board Types

There are three types of boards that Monday.com offers. These include main, shareable, and private. While the basic structure of each of these boards is the same, they differ on the basis of access level.

If you’re the owner of a board, you’ll have the option to change the board type.

To change a board type:

1. Go to the three-dot menu on the top right corner of your dashboard.
2. Scroll down to “Settings” and then “Change Board Type” where you can select from the options available.

Delete a Board

To delete or archive a board, click the three-dot menu at the top right corner of your dashboard and select “Delete Board.” Deleted boards are retrievable from the Trash within 30 days.

You can also archive the board through the “Archive Board” option on the same panel. Archived boards can be accessed indefinitely from the archives section.

Communication on the Board

Monday.com offers the feature to not only communicate with team members on specific tasks or subtasks using the update section, but you can also communicate across the entire board using Board Discussions.

To do this:

1. Go to the three-dot menu on the top right corner of your dashboard.
2. Scroll down to “Discussion.”
3. A new panel will appear with a text box where you can add your message and then click “Update” and the message will go to all board members.

Board Owner

It’s important to know the dynamics of a board owner. A board owner is either the person who created the board or any subscribers the creator designates as co-owners. Only the initial owner and account admins can add other owners.

If a board owner leaves the team, you can transfer ownership to recover the board.

Adding Board Description

At times, you may have to add a short description of the board to help members get a better understanding. You can add a description to your board by clicking the dropdown arrow next to your board’s name and type in or edit the board’s description.

You can also find here other relevant information related to your board like the ownership, board type, and date created, etc.

Sorting and Filtering Your Board

It’s really easy to sort and customize your board through filters. Sorting and filtering helps you get to a specific task.

To sort your board, click the “Sort” icon at the top menu and sort your board through different parameters like Name, Status, or Due Date. You can add multiple sorting parameters through the “+Add New Sort” option and then click “Save as New View” to apply the changes.

Similarly, you can apply different filters to drill down to the specific information you’re looking for. To filter your board, go to “Filter” in the top menu and apply any of the given filters to narrow down specific information. There’s also an option to apply advanced filters.

See Views on Your Board

You can check who among your members has last viewed your board by going to the top right of your board and clicking on your profile icon. Clicking on the icons opens the activity log of your board with all the recent board activities.

Saving Board as a Template

If you’ve created a perfect board that you find may be useful in all your succeeding projects, you can turn it into a template to reuse later.

To save a board as a template, click the three-dot menu at the top right, scroll down to “More Actions,” and then select the “Save as a Template” option.

Using AI Assistant for Generating Items

Monday.com offers a cool AI Assistant to help you generate items on your board based on the topic you input. To use this option, click the “AI Assistant” button at the top left corner of your board, choose the group to add items to, and input your information.

If you’re not happy with the results, you can deselect irrelevant items or edit your prompt to try again.

Get Monday.com for free.

The post Everything You Need to Know About Monday.com Boards appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this post, we’ll explore the essential Apple Notes keyboard shortcuts every user should know. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, these shortcuts will help you get the most out of this note taking app.

General

Edit Notes

Navigate in Tables

The post Essential Apple Notes Keyboard Shortcuts to Boost Your Productivity appeared first on Hongkiat.

Get Monday.com for free.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click your Avatar icon on the top right corner, go to the “Import data” option.



2. Select Asana as your source for importing data.



3. Alternatively, click on the “Add +” button on the left and scroll down to “Import data.” You’ll see Asana as one of the options.



4. Once you click on Asana, it will ask you to connect your Asana account to Monday.com. Click “Connect” and continue.



5. Enter your account credentials, click “Allow” to grant permission, select the projects you want to import to Monday.com, and click “Next.” Your selected project and its related tasks will be added to your Monday.com dashboard.

You can also keep both platforms as your project and workflow management tools and sync the two accounts together.

Related:

• Monday.com vs. Slack for Team Collaboration
• 5 Monday.com Apps for a Better Workflow
• 5 Best Monday.com Templates for Content Production
• Monday.com Keyboard Shortcuts

The post How to Import Data from Asana to Monday.com appeared first on Hongkiat.

This issue can lead to an error message when you attempt to cut your project: “Connect machine: No device found.“

In this post, we will attempt to solve this issue.

Get Mac and Cricut Design Space Updated

First, make sure your Mac and Cricut Design Space are up to date.

To update your Mac, click the Apple icon, then go to System Settings > Software Update.

To update Cricut Design Space, click on your profile icon on the top right, then go to Settings.

Under the General tab, click “Check for updates.”

Steps to Reconnect Cricut to Mac

1. Turn off the Cricut machine.
2. Quit the Cricut Design Space app and restart your Mac.
3. On your Mac, forget all Cricut devices in Bluetooth settings.
4. Turn off Bluetooth on your Mac.
5. Turn on the Cricut machine.
6. Turn Bluetooth back on and re-pair the Cricut machine with Bluetooth.
7. Open Cricut Design Space. It should now be able to reconnect with your Cricut machine.

The post Fixing Cricut Won’t Connect to Mac via Bluetooth appeared first on Hongkiat.

Luckily, there are several fantastic free online PDF tools that can save the day. In this post, I’ll introduce you to the top five free PDF editors that are user-friendly, efficient, and perfect for all your document editing needs.

Whether you need to add text, images, or signatures, these PDF tools have got you covered. Let’s explore which one suits you best!

HiPDF

First, we have HiPDF, an incredibly user-friendly online PDF editor that simplifies your document editing needs.

To get started, simply upload or drag your PDF files into the HiPDF interface. Once your file is uploaded, you can easily add text, images, shapes, or even signatures with a variety of intuitive tools.

After making your changes, click the “Apply” button to save and download your edited PDF.

What sets HiPDF apart is its straightforward approach; anyone can use it without needing technical skills. Plus, all features are free with no usage limits, making it a versatile and cost-effective solution for anyone needing to edit PDFs regularly.

Whether you’re adding text, inserting images, or drawing shapes, HiPDF offers a seamless and unlimited online PDF editing experience.

Visit HiPDF

PDF Guru

PDF Guru is an efficient online PDF editor designed to make modifying your PDF files quick and easy.

Simply drop the PDF file you want to edit into the PDF Guru interface, and you’re ready to start. You can effortlessly add text, images, and other elements to your document.

One of the standout features of PDF Guru is its focus on security. The tool uses advanced encryption to ensure your data remains protected throughout the editing process, providing peace of mind that your privacy is safeguarded.

PDF Guru also offers the ability to convert scanned documents into editable formats, saving you time and effort.

Visit PDF Guru

Sejda

Sejda offers a versatile online PDF editing experience that emphasizes user privacy and convenience.

You can easily edit and sign PDF files, fill out forms, and make various changes to your documents.

Sejda ensures your files stay private by automatically deleting them two hours after processing. This free service allows you to edit documents up to 200 pages or 50 MB and offers up to three tasks per hour.

You can upload files from your local computer, Dropbox, or Google Drive. The interface is intuitive, with tools for adding and changing text, inserting images, creating links, and more.

Sejda also supports advanced functionalities like text search and replace, adding form fields, and annotating PDF pages.

After making your changes, simply click "Apply changes" to save and download your edited document, ensuring a secure and efficient editing experience.

Visit Sejda

Smallpdf

Smallpdf is a straightforward and accessible online PDF editor. It allows you to edit text, add images, shapes, highlights, and annotations to your PDF files.

What sets Smallpdf apart is its user-friendly interface and the fact that you don’t need to create an account or provide an email address to use its editing features.

You can organize and edit your document online just like you would in a Word document. Smallpdf offers 21 different tools available for free with a daily document download limit.

For those needing more advanced capabilities, Smallpdf provides a Pro plan with additional features like strong compression, converting scanned PDFs to Word, unlimited downloads, and more.

With its range of tools and easy accessibility, Smallpdf makes online PDF editing both efficient and convenient.

Visit Smallpdf

PDF2GO

Last but not least, we have PDF2GO, a convenient online PDF editor that allows you to modify your PDF documents directly.

Whether you need to add text, insert images, or draw shapes like boxes, circles, and arrows, PDF2GO provides all the necessary tools.

Start by uploading your file and selecting the page you want to edit from the thumbnails on the left side of the interface. Use the menu above the preview to choose your editing tool and make changes directly on the full-size image of your PDF.

You can zoom in and out, undo changes, and customize edits by changing colors, fonts, and stroke sizes. Once you’re satisfied with your changes, click “Save” to download your edited PDF.

PDF2GO’s straightforward interface and comprehensive editing options make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to edit their PDF documents quickly and efficiently.

Visit PDF2GO

Conclusion

In conclusion, these five free online PDF editors – HiPDF, PDF Guru, Sejda, Smallpdf, and PDF2GO – each offer unique features that make editing your PDFs a breeze. Whether you’re adding text, images, or annotations, or ensuring your documents are secure and private, there’s a tool here to meet your needs. Their user-friendly interfaces and range of functionalities make document editing accessible and efficient for everyone.

Personally, I’ve found online PDF editors to be incredibly convenient. Recently, I needed to edit a PDF on the go and didn’t have access to my usual software. Using Smallpdf, I was able to quickly add text and annotations without any hassle, saving me a lot of time and stress. These tools have truly simplified the process of working with PDF documents, making them an invaluable resource for both personal and professional use.

The post Best 5 Free Online PDF Editors for Easy Document Editing (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

First, launch Spotlight by pressing the Spacebar + Command keys, then type in Digital Colour Meter.

When the app is open, you’ll see that as you move your cursor around the screen, it shows the colors that your cursor is pointing to.

If you want to save and use the color elsewhere, go to View > Display Values > As Hexadecimal.

Now, find the color you are looking for on the website or somewhere else, then hit Command + L to lock your cursor on that color.

Then, go to Color on the top menu bar and select Copy as Text, or use the shortcut key Command + Shift + T.

Now the color’s hex code is copied to your clipboard, ready for you to paste into any file or app.

You can also copy the selected color as an image instead of text by selecting the Copy as Image option, or Command + Option + T. This copies the color as a 72x72px image, which you can paste into a photo editing app like Photoshop.

The post How to Get Color Codes on Mac Without Third-Party Tools appeared first on Hongkiat.

One of the biggest perks of using Apple Notes is its ability to sync seamlessly across all your Apple devices. This is super handy if you juggle between several Macs or iPhones.

So, before you dive into exploring other note apps, why not give Apple Notes a closer look? You might find that it has everything you need and more, saving you the hassle of downloading and switching between different apps.

In this post, I’ll share some tweaks and settings you can adjust in Apple Notes to make your daily note-taking smoother and more efficient, really boosting your productivity.

1. Add Lines or Grids to Your Notes

While a blank background is perfectly fine for typing text, those who use the Apple Pencil or prefer handwriting might benefit from some additional guidance. In Apple Notes, you can easily add lines or grids to your notes to help structure your writing.

To customize your note background with lines or grids, navigate to Settings > Notes, and select ‘Lines & Grids’. Here, you can choose from six different styles to suit your needs. However, it’s important to note that these changes will only apply to new notes you create; existing notes will remain unchanged.

2. Add Media to Your Notes

One of the standout features of Apple Notes is its ability to seamlessly integrate media into your notes. Whether it’s photos, videos, or documents, you can quickly add these directly from your device. Utilizing your device’s camera, you can take a photo or record a video on the spot and attach it directly to your note.

To add media, open the note you want to enhance, click on the triple dot icon, and then select ‘Camera’. Choose ‘Take Photo or Video’ to capture new media, or select ‘Scan Documents’ if you want to scan a document. The ‘Scan Documents’ option provides a clear, black-and-white version of the document, making it easy to read and incorporate into your note.

3. Password Protect Your Notes

Some of the notes you create may contain sensitive information that you want to keep secure, ensuring that even if someone has access to your phone, they cannot open these notes without your permission. Apple Notes offers the ability to lock your notes using either your device’s passcode or a custom password of your choice.

To set this up, go to Settings > Notes, and under Passwords, you can choose to either ‘Use Device Passcode’ or ‘Use Custom Password’.

Then, to lock a specific note, simply go to the note, click on the triple dot icon at the top, and select the Lock icon. This extra layer of security helps ensure that your private information remains confidential.

4. Customize How Your Checklist is Sorted

When you create a checklist in Apple Notes, any item you check off automatically moves to the bottom of the list, keeping unchecked items at the top. This setup is great for focusing on what’s left to do, but it might not work for everyone.

If you prefer to keep checked items in their original position instead of moving them to the bottom, you can change this setting. Head over to Settings > Notes, look for ‘Sort Ticked Items’, and switch it from ‘Automatically’ to ‘Manually’. This adjustment means that when you check an item off, it stays right where it is, helping you maintain the context of your list.

5. Change How Notes Are Sorted

In the Apple Notes app, notes are usually sorted by the date they were last edited, which means if you revisit and modify an older note, it will automatically move to the top of your list. This setup is usually convenient as it allows you to easily access the most recently updated notes.

However, if this sorting method doesn’t suit your preferences, Apple Notes offers alternative options. You can also sort your notes by the date they were created or by their title. To change your sorting preference, go to Settings > Notes, tap ‘Sort Notes by’, and select the option that works best for you.

6. View All Notes in Gallery View

Typically, all your notes in the Apple Notes app are displayed in a list view, organized line by line. If this isn’t quite your style, you might prefer the gallery view. In gallery view, each note is presented as a small thumbnail, providing a quick visual preview of what’s inside each note.

To switch to this view, open the Notes app, click on the triple dot icon at the top, and then select ‘View as Gallery’. This visual arrangement can make navigating through your notes faster and more intuitive.

7. Keep Some Notes on Your Device Only

If you have iCloud enabled, typically, notes created on one device are accessible across all your devices. However, if you prefer to keep certain notes confined to a specific device, you can easily set this up.

To do so, navigate to Settings > Notes, and then enable the “On My Device” account. Once activated, new notes created will automatically be stored locally on that specific device—be it an iPhone or iPad—in a separate folder that will not be visible on your other devices.

8. Not Every Note Requires a Title

Apple Notes assumes the first line of any new note will be the title, displaying it in a larger font size. However, not every note you make needs a formal title.

If you prefer your notes to begin directly with the body text rather than a title, you can easily change this setting. Just go to Settings > Notes, find the ‘New Notes Start With’ option, tap it, and select your preferred starting point for your new notes.

9. Change Your Note’s Background

By default, the background color of your notes in Apple Notes matches your device’s settings. If your device is set to a dark background, your notes will appear dark as well. However, if you prefer a different look, such as a white background regardless of your device’s settings, you can customize this.

To make this change, go to Settings > Notes, then tap on ‘Note Backgrounds’. Here, you can select your preferred background color. This flexibility allows you to have a dark background on your device while keeping your notes in a bright, white background, or vice versa.

10. Share Notes with Friends and Family

Lastly, but not least, did you also know that you can share specific notes with friends, family, or even coworkers using Apple Notes? You have the option to either give them a copy of the current note or invite them to collaborate and edit the note together, similar to co-editing a document on Google Docs. Please note that the recipient needs to be using an Apple device to participate.

To share a note, simply go to the note you want to share, click on the share button at the top, and choose either ‘Collaborate’ to work on it together or ‘Send Copy’ to give them a static version of the note. You can then share it via AirDrop, Messages, Mail, or other available options.

The recipient will need to accept the note to view or edit it, ensuring both convenience and security in your collaborative efforts.

The post 10 Apple Notes Tips to Maximize This Note-Taking App appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this article, we will guide you through creating a simple custom AI assistant that can analyze and calculate data from stock market reports in PDF form, sourced from Yahoo Finance. You’ll learn how to pose any question and receive detailed analyses and calculations directly from your custom assistant.

Let’s begin.

First, ensure you have an OpenAI account. This is necessary to access the assistant creation tools. Once ready, go to platform.openai.com/assistants and click on the “Create” button.

Next, provide a name for your assistant and enter the instructions you want it to follow.

In this tutorial, we will build an assistant that helps us answer questions about Apple’s stock price.

Next, you can choose the Language Learning Model (LLM) that suits your needs. These models are available on a pay-as-you-go basis, allowing you to select the best fit for your budget and requirements. I will be using gpt-4-turbo for this example.

After setting everything up, you can test your assistant. Go to the right-hand panel, enter any question or message for your assistant, and then click “Run“.

For instance, I asked the assistant, “What is Apple’s stock opening price on 18th of June 2024?” Unfortunately, it couldn’t provide a useful answer because we had not yet uploaded the necessary data for it to use. Let’s get that fixed.

If you want your assistant to be more effective than just using ChatGPT, you should consider adding custom data or knowledge specific to your application. This could be a text file, a PDF, or even a CSV table containing data not typically accessible to ChatGPT by default.

For our project, I’ve downloaded historical stock price data for Apple from Yahoo Finance. This dataset includes opening, high, low, and closing prices from June 24, 2023, to June 24, 2024, and will serve as our custom knowledge source.

If you are following this tutorial and want to download the same data, visit this page and click the “Download” button. Feel free to use any data you prefer if you have different requirements.

To add this to your assistant, navigate to the “Tools” section, activate “File Search“, and then click “+ Files“.

Upload the file, and once it’s uploaded, click “Attach“.

Let’s test our assistant again to see if it can now access our data. I’m going to ask it the same question again and make sure to click the down arrow on the “Run” button and select “Require tool call“.

This time, the response is much more informative. It provided me with Apple’s stock opening price on June 18, 2024, retrieved from the file I uploaded earlier.

If you look at the response, you’ll notice a small numbered annotation. Hovering over this annotation will show you a snippet of the data source from where the information was retrieved.

As you can see, the assistant performs well with our data, delivering accurate information through a user-friendly interface.

Now, you can ask more complex questions to save time. For instance, I asked it to find out which day in 2023 Apple had the highest opening price.

Alternatively, you can ask it to provide a list of the highest opening prices throughout 2023.

With the provided data, you can ask all sorts of technical questions, enabling the assistant to sort and calculate information quickly, saving you considerable time compared to manual calculations.

The post How to Build a Custom AI Assistant to Analyze Stock Market Data appeared first on Hongkiat.

If you want to learn more about the application’s basic functions, you can check out our previous post. This article, however, will cover the updated version called VideoProc Converter AI.

With the addition of artificial intelligence, this version brings new capabilities including Super Resolution, Frame Interpolation, and Stabilization. These tools help upscale videos to 4K and images to 10K, smooth out videos, and stabilize footage to improve overall video quality.

Before we discuss the AI enhancements in detail, here’s a quick re-cap of what this app can do:

Video Conversion

VideoProc supports over 320 video codecs and formats like MP4, HEVC, and AVI, optimizing videos for devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Androids, as well as platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

Video Enhancement

This feature smooths out and enhances video quality by removing defects like shake and fisheye effects, correcting colors, and reducing noise, keeping the original quality intact.

Editing Tools

VideoProc also provides 29 tools for quick video editing tasks, including cutting, merging, cropping, and adding effects, alongside advanced options for color adjustment, audio edits, and speed modifications.

Media Downloads

The Media Downloads feature allows downloading from over 3,000 websites, including video, music, and subtitles. It also allows batch downloads and converts media into various formats and resolutions.

Screen and Webcam Recording

Capture your computer screen or webcam with options for picture-in-picture and green screen effects. Useful for creating videos for gameplay, tutorials, and more, with tools for marking and highlighting important segments.

New AI Features

Now, let’s explore the latest AI features added to VideoProc Converter.

1. Super Resolution

Super Resolution in VideoProc Converter AI improves and upscales videos to 4K and images to 8K/10K. It enhances the quality of AI-generated images, old films, reality videos, and animations, providing high-quality output with maintained detail.

This feature supports upscaling by up to 400%, suitable for AI art, personal footage, or historical archives, enabling viewing or printing at higher resolutions with improved clarity.

Digiarty Software has unveiled VideoProc Converter AI 7.0, its largest update to date. This update introduces new AI models designed to enhance videos and images, offering super-resolution for greater detail:

• Gen Detail: Generates more details, clarity, and sharpness in videos and images, significantly improving perceptual quality.
• Real Smooth: Provides video and image restoration, smoothing, flaw elimination, and enhanced fidelity.

Here are some examples of what the app can do for low-resolution images and videos:

3. Frame Interpolation

Frame Interpolation in VideoProc Converter AI uses deep learning to improve video fluidity by increasing frame rates up to 480FPS. It generates additional frames to convert low-FPS videos to higher FPS, ensuring smoother motion and more refined slow-motion effects.

This feature is useful for enhancing old footage, unifying frame rates for editing, or creating special effects, delivering precise and smooth video transformations.

Watch the following video to learn more about this feature:

3. AI Stabilization

The AI Stabilization feature in VideoProc Converter AI effectively reduces camera shake, enhancing the stability and clarity of video footage.

This tool adjusts stabilization intensity and cropping to accommodate different filming conditions, ensuring maintained video quality. It works well for videos with complex movements or notable jitters, stabilizing footage without affecting the original resolution.

Watch the following video to learn more about this feature:

Putting Its AI Feature to a Test

To assess the AI features, we decided to conduct a quick test, specifically using the Super Resolution feature to see how it handles upscaling a low-resolution image.

Below is the original image at 1920×1434 pixels, which you may notice is slightly blurry even at full scale.

After downloading and installing the app, we selected the “Super Resolution” icon from the app’s main interface.

We then dragged our image in, chose to scale it up by 2x using the default settings, and clicked the Run button.

The process of upscaling and processing the image then began and took a while to complete.

Here is the upscaled image once it was finished:

You can download both the before and after images to compare their quality, or see the image below for a direct comparison.

Following the upscale with Super Resolution, the image appears clearer, with elements like rocks, clouds, and mountains looking sharper, even when zoomed in.

Additionally, the noise present in the original image has been significantly reduced.

How Much Does VideoProc Converter AI Cost?

One important note: at the time this review is written, the AI features are only available for the Windows version of the app; the Mac version is not available yet.

VideoProc Converter AI can be downloaded for free, and its AI features are available in the free version, albeit with certain restrictions.

Here’s what you can do with the free giveaway version:

• Access all features in V6.4
• Convert, resize, download, edit, and record
• AI video/image enhancement with old models
• Latest AI models are disabled
• Free updates are disabled

For the full version, which has no restrictions, the costs are as follows:

1. $25.95 per year for 3 machines
2. $29.95 one-time payment for 1 machine (62% off)

The post VideoProc Converter AI: One-Stop AI Video/Image Enhancer for 2024 appeared first on Hongkiat.

Here are some solutions you might find helpful.

Why Isn’t Apple CarPlay Working?

Several factors could prevent Apple CarPlay from functioning properly in your vehicle. From software glitches to hardware malfunctions, understanding these issues can aid in effective troubleshooting. Here are the most common culprits:

1. iPhone Not Detected: A frequent problem where the car’s system fails to recognize the iPhone, often due to a defective USB port, a damaged cable, or certain iPhone settings that need tweaking.
2. Compatibility Issues: Not all cars or aftermarket systems support Apple CarPlay. Moreover, older iPhone models might lack CarPlay support, leading to connection problems.
3. iOS Update Issues: Occasionally, a recent iOS update may introduce bugs that affect CarPlay compatibility with your car’s system.
4. App Integration Problems: Some apps, especially third-party ones, may not integrate well with CarPlay, disrupting its functionality.

Is Your Car Compatible with CarPlay?

Before troubleshooting, verify that your vehicle supports CarPlay. Apple’s compatibility page provides a comprehensive list of compatible car brands and models.

Check the Basics

Start by ensuring your iPhone’s iOS is up to date. Try unplugging and replugging your iPhone to see if CarPlay activates. A simple loose connection could be the culprit.

If that doesn’t work, reboot your iPhone and try connecting to CarPlay again.

Consider Changing Your Cable

Use the original USB cable that came with your iPhone or a high-quality certified alternative, then repeat the basic steps. Non-certified third-party cables often cause compatibility issues.

If opting for a third-party cable, choose one that guarantees quality. Recommended options include:

• ANKER USB-C to Lightning (for iPhone 13 and below)
• ANKER USB-C to Lightning (for iPhone 14)
• ANKER USB-C to USB-C (for iPhone 15)

Last Resort Before Contacting Support

If possible, test your iPhone with another vehicle’s CarPlay system to isolate the issue further. If CarPlay functions correctly in another vehicle, the problem could be with your vehicle’s system or your iPhone itself.

Once you’ve tried all these steps, you may contact Apple Support for further assistance.

The post How to Fix iPhone CarPlay Issues appeared first on Hongkiat.

These apps we’re talking about are more than just tools. They’re like friendly nudges to help you think differently, have fun, and try new things. They’re all about letting your creativity flow. So whether you like to paint, write, make music, or just come up with cool ideas, these apps are made for you.

Procreate

Offers a wide array of features for professional artists and hobbyists, including handmade brushes, advanced layering, and ultra-high-definition canvases on iPad.

Procreate is designed exclusively for the iPad. It’s a tool loved by both professional artists and hobbyists, offering a wide array of features to create expressive sketches, rich paintings, gorgeous illustrations, and beautiful animations.

The app provides hundreds of handmade brushes, an advanced layering system, and is powered by the Valkyrie graphics engine, allowing for ultra-high-definition canvases up to 16k by 8k on compatible iPad Pros. Procreate’s interface is designed for the iPad and Apple Pencil, and it includes innovative features like QuickShape for perfect shapes, 3D painting, animated export, and more. Users can also import and export custom brushes, including Adobe Photoshop brushes.

iOS

Adobe Fresco

Tailored for artists of all skill levels, it provides three types of brushes and integrates with Creative Cloud, allowing art synchronization across devices.

Adobe Fresco is a free drawing and painting app (with subscription options available) designed for artists of all skill levels, specifically tailored for the iPad with Apple Pencil and iPhone.

The app offers three types of brushes: Live brushes that mimic watercolors and oils, Pixel brushes that replicate mediums like charcoal and pastel, and Vector brushes for crisp, scalable designs.

Users can create digital art, experiment with Photoshop brushes, and enjoy features like motion tools, Snap to Shape, and live brushes. Fresco also integrates with Creative Cloud, allowing artists to sync and take their art anywhere.

iOS

Linearity Curve

Designed for marketing teams, it offers AI features, customizable templates, and advanced vector tools to create captivating content.

Developed by Linearity GmbH, Linearity Curve is an app designed to empower marketing teams to create captivating content. This app offers a wide range of features to bring your stories to life.

Whether you’re crafting social media posts, brand visuals, print materials, or intricate marketing illustrations, this tool can be all you need. It includes time-saving AI features like single-tap background removal and Auto Trace for vector paths, over 800 customizable templates, and access to over 1 million royalty-free images.

The app also offers convenient shortcuts, intuitive gesture controls, and powerful tools for drawing, shaping, and painting. You can create custom color palettes, import color palettes from third-party tools, and utilize advanced vector tools to simplify your design flow.

It supports various file formats and is compatible with Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, and Creative Cloud.

iOS

Concepts

A flexible sketchbook app with an infinite canvas and realistic pens, pencils, and brushes, allowing every stroke to be editable and scalable.

Concepts is a sketchbook app designed to take your ideas from concept to reality. It offers a flexible and dynamic workspace where users can sketch plans, make notes, doodles, mind maps, draw storyboards, product sketches, and designs. With an infinite canvas and various paper types and grids, Concepts provides realistic pens, pencils, and brushes that respond to pressure, tilt, and velocity.

The app is vector-based, allowing every stroke to be editable and scalable.

iOS Android

Pret-a-Template

A fashion design app offering thousands of templates and a “Puzzle Look” feature for personalized fashion sketches.

Pret-a-Template is a fashion design app designed specifically for the iPad. It has been a favorite among fashion designers and enthusiasts, offering a dynamic and minimalist interface that brings life to creations. Users can access thousands of fashion-related templates, including bodies, garments, shoes, bags, and accessories, and create sketches with realistic brushes, fabric patterns, and custom color palettes.

The app also features a “Puzzle Look” that allows users to select from various outfits, hairstyles, and accessories to create personalized templates. The app’s features include a fashion sketchbook with unlimited pages, over 1,000 templates, organization and labeling of projects in custom folders, support for Apple Pencil, and SharePlay for group projects.

iOS

ibis Paint X

A painting app with over 15,000 brushes, materials, and fonts, and features like stroke stabilization and social networking for learning.

ibis Paint X is a painting app that offers an extensive range of features that surpasses many desktop drawing applications. With over 15,000 brushes, materials, and fonts, 80 filters, 46 screentones, and 27 blending modes, users can create intricate and professional artwork.

The app also includes stroke stabilization, various ruler features, and clipping mask features. Users can record their drawing process as a video and learn from other users through the app’s social networking feature. The app offers a smooth drawing experience with OpenGL technology and provides advanced layer and manga features, including layer duplication, inversion, rotation, and advanced text tool functions.

There are free and paid versions, with the latter removing ads, and a Prime Membership option that adds extra features like 20GB of cloud storage and premium filters.

iOS Android

Morpholio Trace

A design and architecture app ideal for professionals, allowing layered sketching, drawing markup, and designer tools.

Morpholio Trace is a design and architecture app that serves as a unique drawing tool, allowing users to develop ideas in layers, communicate through drawing markup, and work seamlessly through all phases of the design process.

The app is ideal for professionals like architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and others in creative fields. Users can sketch buildings, layout renovations, markup construction site photos, draw floor plans, and more to scale using designer tools, brushes, and pens. It also offers features like sketch recording, instant scale, scale ruler, and color palette maker.

iOS

Canva

A digital content creation tool with features for professional use, social media design, and live collaboration, with additional Pro features for customization.

Canva is a well-known tool among digital content creators. It offers a variety of features for professional use. For instance, Canva provides Workplace Templates to maintain brand consistency. It also has Talking Presentations, which are ideal for remote-friendly presentations. Additionally, it offers Charts and Infographics to help visualize complex data. Plus, it has live collaboration tools to work together in real-time.

For those who are active on social media, Canva has a lot to offer as well. You can use it to create and schedule posts, ensuring your content is always timely. It’s also great for designing banners to make your profile stand out. Furthermore, you can use Canva to make cards, invitations, and collages, adding a personal touch to your social media presence.

iOS Android

Mojo

Enhances social media content creation with animated templates, video editing, and customization, suitable for influencers and small businesses.

Mojo is useful when it comes to enhancing social media content creation, particularly for Instagram Stories, Reels, and posts. With over 500 unique animated templates, original text styles, background music, and more, users can create professional-looking content effortlessly.

The app offers a wide range of features including video editing with special effects and filters, unique text styles with text overlay effects, a royalty-free audio library, the ability to add personal photos and videos, animated stickers, and multi-page story creation. For e-commerce, branding, and personalization,

Mojo Pro offers additional functionalities like background removal, e-commerce templates, and customization with fonts, logos, and brand colors. Mojo is suitable for influencers, content creators, small businesses, and e-shops, aiming to provide top-quality content that captures attention across various social media platforms.

iOS Android

Sketchbook

Designed for professional and hobbyist sketching, offering customizable tools and a Premium Bundle for additional functionalities like custom brushes and exporting to PDF.

Sketchbook is designed for sketching, painting, and drawing, catering to both professional artists and hobbyists. The app offers a professional-grade feature set with highly customizable tools, including various brush types like pencils, markers, airbrushes, and more, that mimic their physical counterparts.

Users can also enjoy features like guides, rulers, stroke tools for precision, layers with blend modes, and an elegant interface that provides a natural drawing experience free of distractions. The Premium Bundle unlocks additional functionalities such as importing and exporting brushes, creating custom brushes, additional color harmonies and gradients, layer grouping, masking blend modes, and exporting to PDF.

iOS Android

The post Top 10 Creativity Apps for Your Mobile Phone appeared first on Hongkiat.

But first, you must know why ‘Windows was unable to complete the format SD card‘ problem happens in the first place. For your convenience, we’ll discuss the reasons behind this issue and then spell out 6 proven ways to fix it accordingly. So, don’t stop scrolling!

Reasons Behind ‘Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format’ Error

Before we discuss how to fix the ‘Windows was unable to complete the format SD card‘ error, let’s consider why it might happen in the first place. Understanding the reasons behind its occurrence can help you find a suitable solution. Here are some common causes of this error:

• The storage drive might be write-protected to prevent changes.
• Viruses or malware infecting the drive can disrupt formatting.
• Trying to format a drive without any partitions can also cause issues.
• Physical damage to the drive, such as bad sectors or corruption.

What to Do Before Fixing the Error

Some USBs and memory cards come with a switch on them referred to as “Write Protection.” When it’s enabled, it makes the drive read-only, leading to the ‘Windows was unable to format USB/SD card’ error. This is because you can see files on the drive, but you can’t change them; you can’t add new files, delete old ones, or edit anything.

Therefore, before trying any solution, you must find out whether your storage drive has read-write protection turned on. If it has, switch it off. For example, if you have a mini SD card, put it into an SD adapter and switch the write-protection switch to the off position.

6 Ways to Fix the Error

Here are 6 ways you can try to fix the ‘Windows was unable to complete the format’ error and format your SD card or USB successfully. Attempt each method individually, based on its cause and your skill level:

Fix 1: Format with 4DDiG Partition Manager

When you get the ‘Windows was unable to complete the format flash drive‘ error, it could be due to corruption. If that’s the case, you can try a reliable third-party tool like 4DDiG Partition Manager to format the drive properly. This tool can also restore formatted partitions, recover deleted partitions, and repair RAW partitions. Additionally, it offers a variety of features such as:

• Resize, shrink, split, merge, create, delete, or format partitions.
• Clone your whole hard drive to save your data.
• Fix damaged EFI/MBR and disks that won’t boot.
• Move Windows to SSD without reinstalling.
• Change MBR to GPT and upgrade to a bigger hard drive without losing data.
• Change drive letters, and create a bootable WinPE media.

Here’s how to use this tool to fix the ‘Windows was unable to format USB/SD card‘ error by completely formatting your drive:

1. Download and install the partition manager tool on your computer. Then, connect the SD card or USB to your PC and launch the tool.
2. Choose “Partition Management.” Next, right-click the partition you want to format. Select “Format” from the left.



3. Adjust the volume label, file system, and cluster size for the storage partition. Hit “OK.” Then, press “Yes” to confirm the formatting process. Wait, then click “Done” when the formatting finishes.



4. Preview the formatting result. If you’re fine with it, hit “Execute 1 Task(s).” Click “OK” to proceed with the formatting process.

Fix 2: Use CHKDSK to Repair Disk Errors

Faulty sectors in your storage drive can cause the ‘Windows was unable to complete the format flash drive‘ error. You can run Windows’s built-in CHKDSK tool to scan and repair those bad sectors. To do so:

1. Type cmd in the Windows search bar. Then, choose “Command Prompt” and run it with admin privileges.
2. Type the following command: chkdsk [drive letter]: /f /r /x. Press “Enter.”



3. Open “File Explorer.” Right-click on the storage drive you want to format. Select “Format.”
4. Choose “NTFS” as the file system, and tick “Quick Format.” Click “Start.”

Fix 3: Format with Command Prompt

Besides running CHKDSK from Command Prompt, you can also use the “format” command to fix the ‘unable to format pen drive/SD card’ error. Here’s how to do that:

1. Type cmd in the Windows search bar. Then, choose “Command Prompt” and run it with admin privileges.
2. Type one of the following commands with the specific drive letter and the type of file system you want: e.g. format /FS:FAT32 [drive letter] or format /FS:NTFS [drive letter]. Then, press “Enter.”

Fix 4: Format with Disk Management

You can also use Windows’s built-in Disk Management utility to format a drive that’s giving you a ‘Windows was unable to complete the format SD card‘ error. It enables you to allocate drive letters and create, remove, format, and organize partitions on your drives. You can also see details about all your storage devices, like their health, capacity, and free space. To do so:

1. Right-click the “Start” menu. Then, choose “Disk Management” and open it.
2. Select your SD card or USB drive you want to format. Right-click on it and press “Format.”



3. Pick the “volume label,” “file system,” and “allocation size” for your SD card or USB. Next, make sure to tick the box next to “Perform a quick format.” Hit “OK.”

Fix 5: Scan for Viruses

Sometimes, the ‘Windows was unable to format USB‘ error doesn’t happen due to your drive but because of your computer. Your PC might have a virus or malware infection that’s preventing formatting and causing an ‘unable to format pen drive/memory card‘ error.

If that’s the case, run a full scan with Microsoft Defender Antivirus. It’s a built-in Windows tool for finding and eradicating any viruses or malware. Follow the steps below to fix ‘Windows was unable to complete the format‘ with Windows Defender:

1. Type “Windows Security” in the Windows search bar, then click on it to open it.
2. Choose “Virus & threat protection” from the left and then click on “Scan options.”



3. Select the “Full Scan” option. Then, click “Scan now.”

Fix 6: Use SD Memory Card Formatter

Usually, the formatting tools that come with Windows can work on different types of storage, but they might not be the best for SD cards. Using them could make your memory card work slower. To fix the ‘Windows was unable to complete the format SD card‘ error completely, use the “SD Memory Card Formatter.”

It’s a special tool made by the SD Association, an organization that sets rules for SD cards. This tool does a more detailed job at formatting than what Windows does. Here is how to use it:

1. Download “SD Memory Card Formatter” on your computer and plug in your SD Card into your PC.
2. Open “SD Memory Card Formatter” and choose the memory card you want to format. If the program doesn’t recognize the card, click “Refresh.”



3. Decide between “Quick format” or “Overwrite format.” Overwriting files is safer but takes longer, especially if you’re giving the card to someone else.



4. Turn on CHS format size adjustment if needed. This can fix issues with unrecognized SD cards and make them work better with different devices.
5. Give your SD card a name. Then, press “Format” and confirm.

The post How to Fix ‘Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format’ (6 Ways) appeared first on Hongkiat.