One Week in with the Public Betas
I’m about one week in to using the iOS and iPadOS 15 beta along with the watchOS 8 beta. This post will...
1. Touch on what I’m doing with Focus Modes and Shortcuts
2. Provide a brief take on the Mindfulness app
3. Share a few glitches I’ve noticed since installing all of the betas
Focus Modes and Shortcuts
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is setting up a few custom Focus Modes with Shortcuts that are doing some pretty cool things. The one I am the proudest of is my Writing Focus Mode. The Focus Mode itself is not as interesting as what I’ve figured out how to do with Shortcuts and automation. I’ve created a Shortcut that I’ve titled: Focus on Writing. When I initiate the Shortcut it...
1. Asks me to pick from 3 different writerly tasks I want to engage in
2. Starts the task I want to engage in...say...Morning Pages
3. Opens Safari and Ulysses in split view 1/3+2/3
4. My Timery timer with appropriate tag opens in slide over view
I have an accompanying automation that recognizes that when I am in Writing Mode my Apple Watch face switches from Meridian to Numerals Due (a face that I thought would be the least distracting while I write). When I’m finished writing all I have to do is go to my Home Screen and initiate my Stop Writing Shortcut which gets me out of the Writing Focus mode, turns off the Timery timer, and switches my watch face back to Meridian. And the coolest thing of all; it works every time I do it!!
I’m experimenting with some other Focus Modes too. One is going to be for Work which will allow the appropriate people and apps to “break through.” I’ve also set up a Home Screen (which I have otherwise hidden) that will initiate with only the apps I feel I will need handy during the day along with a Fantastical Calendar widget. This weekend I created a Listening to Music Focus mode that too will pull up an otherwise hidden Home Screen on my iPhone XR with my Music Hub widget, allowing me to access music and start my Timery Music timer. I also included a Shortcut that will stop the timer when I’m done listening to music. I have a Drafts widget with the Draft I use to put albums I want to purchase on it just in case what I’m listening to “blows me away” and I want the album. And I have a Headlines widget with music feeds on it to read while I’m enjoying the music I’m listening to. These are all in various states of iteration and I am giving myself permission to be open to revision when I notice that it is required.
Mindfulness app
I have notifications turned on and the Mindfulness Reminders toggle switches turned on for “Start of Day,” and “End of Day.” I also created a time to be reminded for “Every weekday,” and “Every weekend.” The reflections are really cool and I very much like the psychedelic screen that comes on while you are supposed to be reflecting. I have the haptics set for prominent but must be “so in the weeds” with whatever I’m doing or thinking that I’ve missed most of the reminders to stop and pause.
Glitches I’ve noticed
Unless I’m doing something wrong or am missing something obvious, I’ve been really disappointed with the Driving Focus mode. I have it set up to “activate automatically based on detected motion” and have yet to see and or feel this happen. I even tried toggling on the “Activate With CarPlay” option all to no avail. On the bright side of things, I can report that I can activate the Driving Mode, or any other mode for that matter, by swiping up on my Apple Watch and pressing the Do Not Disturb icon. This has worked every time I do it but the whole point of this particular mode is to activate it automatically. Before installing the betas Do Not Disturb While Driving worked seamlessly whenever I got in and out of the car. If anyone has had similar problems and has figured out what to do; let me know in the Comments section. If I’m doing something wrong or have missed something...I’d love to know that too.
Another potential glitch comes from my Apple Watch. I charge my watch every night before bed so I go to sleep with a fully charged device. This morning when I woke up I noticed the battery had drained to 55% when it is usually at 90%. I’m going to keep my eye on that. Maybe I didn’t have it fully on the charger when I placed it there the night before. I did restart the watch and phone as well...just as a precaution.
Overall I’m really enjoying the betas and will continue to document my experiences with them here. If you are trying them out and have some cool things to share...leave a comment...I’d love to hear what you are experiencing.
