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iMessage Tips and Tricks

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I’ve been a loyal Apple cult member product user for many years, and hands down one of my favorite features is iMessage. Each software update improves its usability, but at the end of the day, it’s iMessage’s clean interface that makes it the simplest way to exchange texts with my family and friend iOS and Android users alike. 

One of my favorite features is QuickPath, which – to be fair – is a feature that Android users have had for almost a decade. QuickPath is a swipe keyboard that you can access directly from the iMessage screen. Previously, users had to open the keyboard options and toggle to swipe instead of type, but with iOS 13, QuickPath is native. Instead of tapping each key, simply drag your finger from one character to the next to spell out the text. Stop when you get to the end of a word, then start the next word. To insert a period, tap the space bar twice and start a new sentence. 

If you want to share your name and photo, Go to Settings > Messages > Share Name and Photo, then tap Choose Name and Photo. You then have a choice to select a photo to use or tap the ellipsis icon (…) to select an image from your library. Or, if you prefer, you can create your custom memoji – simply strike a (facial) pose and snap your photo as you would with any selfie. You can even add color or filter to your image of choice. You then choose if you want to use the image with your Apple ID and contact card and whether you want to automatically share this image with contacts only or have the app always ask whether or not to share it. If you select Name and Photo Sharing to Contacts Only, your new image is automatically shared with anyone you text but if you choose Always Ask, each time you compose a message a notice will appear at the top of the screen asking if you wish to share.

If you want to run a search for something within your text history, it’s easy. From the main Messages screen, swipe down to reveal the search field at the top of the screen. Tap the box and the app will display several suggested items such as contacts, photos, locations, links, and attachments. Type a search term in the field and the results will list any related photos, conversations, etc.

The Info icon at the top of a conversation is linked to related content about that contact. Simply open a conversation, tap the individual’s name at the top of the screen, then tap Info. Then, swipe down to see photos, links, and other content associated with that person. To see it all, tap See All Photos or See All Links.

You can also ask Siri to announce your incoming text messages to you through AirPods (second generation), AirPods Pro, and certain supported Beats headphones. To turn this feature on, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Announce Messages and then tap Messages. Select whether you want messages announced from favorite contacts, recent messages, all contacts, or everyone.

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

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Create and Customize Your iPhone’s Memoji

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By Tracey Dowdy

Back in June, Apple introduced Memoji stickers you can use in your messages, comparable to those available from Snapchat’s Bitmoji. The stickers work in iMessage, as well as other services, like WeChat and work with any device with an A9 chip or later.

With the iOS 13 update – available now for iOS – user’s Memoji’s get even more diverse skin colors – including green – piercings, makeup, and you can customize your teeth with gaps, braces, or even missing teeth. You’ll also notice more accessories options, like hats, glasses, earrings, braces piercings, and AirPods.

Memojis are another attempt by Apple to personalize your device in an attempt to make it stand out among the competition.  While Samsung phones also have AR Emoji avatars users can create, the 3D renderings were off-putting to some users, and Samsung downplayed the feature when it launched its Galaxy S10 phones. Google has yet to come out with its own competitor for Memojis, though many customers use third-party apps like Bitmoji. Memoji avatars are embedded into the new iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Max Pro, and with the update, you can use your Memoji in iMessage, FaceTime, Notes, and Mail, and many other of your favorite apps.

To personalize your Memoji, in your Messages app, tap the Memoji icon, select the three-dots and then tap New Memoji. If you already have a Memoji, you can edit, duplicate or delete it. Plus, users now have the option that instead of using an emoji when messaging friends, you can use personalized Memoji stickers. Once you design your Memoji, your iPhone automatically creates a sticker pack for you.

You can find your Memoji stickers in the Messages app, Mail app or if you’re using another app, tap the emoji icon and your Memoji stickers will show up on the left.

To create your Memoji:

  • Open Messages and tap the textbox to start a new message, or go to an existing conversation.
  • Tap, then swipe right and tap New Memoji
  • Customize the features of your memoji — like skin tone, hairstyle, eyes, and more
  • Tap Done

For more complete instructions on how to create your Memoji, click here or here.

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.