Xbox App Is Going to Have a Big Update for iOS, Here Is Everything You Need to Know

Microsoft is always looking to enhance the user experience by rolling out new features and functions to its products. This time Microsoft has decided to make things easier for the gaming community associated with the brand as the Xbox app is going to have a big update for iOS. This update will enable users to stream games from their Xbox consoles to their iPhones and iPads. This feature is already available for Android users in beta, and now iOS users will also be able to stream their games remotely as this update is supposed to be rolling out soon.

The new update in the Xbox app is going to be useful as it will enable users to launch their Xbox console remotely just with the Xbox app on their iPhone or iPad. You will be able to switch on your Xbox console remotely, which will be indicated by a sound or a flashing light. Users will be able to access this feature when their iPhone and Xbox console are connected to the same Wi-Fi network as well as mobile networks, including LTE and 5G also. This feature will let users browse their Xbox content on the iPhone and stream the games available on their Xbox console. This feature does not give you access to xCloud, but you can only stream those games which are already available on your console. The Xbox console will be back to the standby mode when you disconnect the console from your phone or after some period of inactivity.

You will be able to access the remote play feature from the My Consoles section in the app. There have been some changes also made in the redesigned app, which include a new home screen, friends tab, search interface, and My Library tab. This updated app will allow you to download and share the game clips or screenshots captured on your Xbox console. The Xbox app will also allow you to manage the space on your console as you will be able to delete the games which you don’t play longer.

New Xbox consoles are said to be launching this November, and the new updates in the Xbox app are to keep it compatible with those. The new Xbox apps work faster on iOS than the previous version, and the remote play feature is exciting as it gives you the control of your console on your iPhone. Sony has already provided the Remote play feature on Android and iOS, and now Microsoft is also making it easier for the users as they will not have to sit with their console for every little thing. Microsoft is still testing the new Xbox app with TestFlight members, and we can expect this exciting app to be rolling out soon on the Apple Store.

Microsoft has already been providing the best gaming experience with the Xbox consoles, and this latest update is surely going to enhance your experience of gaming as you will be able to stream your games on both console and your iPhone.

Source:-  Xbox App Is Going to Have a Big Update for iOS

 

        Hacks to Use Zoom Like a Pro

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the world, millions of people throughout the globe took to the Zoom app. This service allowed people to get going with their work from home. It might be a video call related to work, school or just casually catching up with friends and family, Zoom has all the amazing features to make the app more interesting. You might know how to use some of these features but maybe you aren’t aware of some of the other useful features. So, here we are with this guide to turn you into a Zoom pro.

Change Your Background 

Zoom has an interesting feature that allows you to change your background. So next time you make a Zoom call, your background can be set anywhere from a beach to outer space to Disneyland maybe. You might like to skip making over your messy living room because, with Zoom’s virtual background, your actual background won’t be visible anymore.

 To do so, all you need to do is, open Settings > Virtual Background and choose from the default images or upload the image you want as your background. However, to do so, there are a few requirements for your system to fulfill.

Mute Your Audio and Turn Off Your Camera by Default

Has it happened to you that the very moment you connect a video call, your dog starts barking around, or maybe your kid lands into your lap? And then, after the awkward show, you would dive to mute the audio and camera buttons. To save yourself from this trouble, you can simply turn off your camera and audio by default. You just have to go to Settings > Audio > Mute microphone when joining a meeting, and then similarly for video go to Settings > Video > Turn off my video when joining a meeting. 

Mute and Unmute With the Space Bar

You can very easily mute and unmute your mic by pressing and holding the spacebar from your keyboard. So, the next time your name is called out to speak, you don’t have to rush to enable the mic button.

React With Emoji on the Screen 

You can send emoji reactions to the meeting host while you are on mute. You can send a thumbs up or a clapping emoji, by doing this, you can keep acknowledging the speaker without interrupting in between. To send such reaction emojis during a meeting, you will have to click on the Reaction tab at the bottom right of the meeting screen and a box with a lot of emojis will appear. Select the one you want to send and it will disappear automatically after 5 seconds.

Turn on Gallery View

The gallery view allows you to see everyone in the meeting at once, rather than moving between multiple pages. Know that if your meeting has less than 49 attendees, only then all the screens will be displayed on a single page. Otherwise, your screen will multiply into pages to accommodate all the little screens displaying the attendees. To turn that on, look for a tab named “Gallery view” in the top right corner and click it.

Hide Nonvideo Participants

While using the Gallery view, your screen tends to get cluttered with participants, and this includes the ones who aren’t even using their cameras. So why to put their screens on your display when it’s just a dark blank screen with nothing to look at. You have the advantage to hide these participants to lessen the cluttering. You can do this by going to Settings > Video > Meetings, and check to Hide non-video participants.

Share Your Screen

The screen sharing feature on Zoom makes this app all the more useful. This particular function allows you to share your screen for a Zoom meeting with other participants. This can be done very easily by clicking the Share screen icon on the toolbar at the bottom of the meeting screen. For your convenience, you can choose to share your entire desktop or just one of the windows you have opened.

Record the Meeting to Your Computer

Both free and paid Zoom subscribers have the advantage to record their meetings using the desktop application. Note that this feature can only be availed using a laptop or a computer. These recorded files can then be used for later references or maybe to upload on a video streaming service such as YouTube or Vimeo. To enable local recording, navigate to Settings > Recording, and toggle the slider to on position. If you are the host of a Zoom meeting, you will find the Record icon on the bottom toolbar. 

We hope these tips and tricks were able to make your Zoom calls more interesting and productive.

Source:-  Use Zoom Like a Pro

 

Google Maps Will Now Allow You to Pay Parking Fee Within the App

Do you live in Austin or Texas? Well, if you do live there, then we have got some good news for you. Google is rolling out a new feature on the Google Maps app for its users in Austin and Texas that will allow them to pay their Parking fee directly from the Google Maps app without leaving the app. Amazing, right?

This new feature is a part of the partnership between Google and Passport, a transportation software company, and will help the drivers in Austin and Texas pay their parking fees without any problem at this time of the Coronavirus pandemic. The new feature is currently rolling out for the people who live in Austin and Texas. However, it is expected that Google will roll out this feature to more areas in a few weeks.

Here’s a step by step guide that you can use to pay your parking fee using the Google Maps app.

How to Pay Your Parking Fee Using the Google Maps App?

Following are the steps that you can follow to pay your parking fee using the Google Maps app:

1. Navigate to the app (Google Maps app).
2. Now when you reach your desired destination, hit the “Pay for parking” option.
3. After that, submit your parking zone number, parking space number, and your vehicle details.
4. Next, select the time duration for which you are parking your car.
5. Now select the payment method you want to use to pay your parking fee and then click on the “Continue” button. Once the payment is successful, you will receive your receipt on your Google account. Note: if you haven’t configured your Google Pay app, then you will be asked to do it before you can pay your parking fee.
6. You have successfully paid your parking fee using the Google Maps app.

Besides this, you can also pay your parking fee on your mobile’s web browser by visiting the following URL: “Pay.google.com/parking” and clicking on the “Pay for parking” option. You can also track and extend your existing parking session from here.

Conclusion

Allowing Google Maps users to pay their parking fees using the Google Maps app is a great move by Google, which will surely make the life of its users a little easier at this time of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, this feature is only available for people who live in Austin and Texas. But it is expected that Google will roll out this feature to more areas very soon. Do you like this new feature of the Google Maps app? Do share your opinion with us in the comment section. We will love to hear your views about the same.

Source:-  Pay Parking Fee With Google Maps App

 

How to Back up Your Mac With the Time Machine App

Time Machine is a phenomenal macOS inbuilt tool which allows Mac users to create a backup of their system’s data and important files on an external drive. This drive can then be used by them to restore their important data or files on their Mac computer system if it gets infected by a virus. Amazing, right? Here’s how you can quickly set up and configure the Time Machine app on your Mac computer system.

How to Enable Time Machine Backups on Your Mac Computer System?

Following are the steps that you can follow to enable Time Machine backups on your Mac Computer System:

1. Open the Apple menu by tapping on the Apple icon and then tap on the “System Preferences” option from there.
2. Now locate the Time Machine icon and tap on it to open the app.
3. Now tap on the “Select Backup Disk” option.
4. After that, select the disk that you want to use with the app.
5. Next, select the “Back Up Automatically” option.
6. You have successfully enabled Time Machine backup on your Mac computer system.

How to Exclude Certain Files From Time Machine Backups?

Following are the steps that you can follow to exclude certain files from Time Machine backups:

1. Open the Apple menu by tapping on the Apple icon and then tap on the “System Preferences” option from there.
2. Now locate the Time Machine icon and tap on it to open the app.
3. Next, tap on the “Options” button.
4. Now tap on the “+” button.
5. After that, select all the files and folders that you wish to exclude from the Time Machine backups.
6. Now tap on the “Exclude” button.
7. Finally, tap on the “Save” button to confirm your changes.

How to Restore Certain Files or Folders From a Time Machine Backup?

Following are the steps that you can follow to restore your desired files or folders from a Time Machine backup:

1. Open the Apple menu by tapping on the Apple icon and then tap on the “System Preferences” option from there.
2. Now locate the Time Machine icon and tap on it to open the app.
3. Next, select the “Show Time Machine in the menu bar” option.
4. Now go to the menu bar and tap on the “Enter Time Machine” option.
5. Locate the file/folder that you want to restore.
6. Next, tap on the “Restore” button to restore your desired file/folder.

How to Completely Restore Your Hard Drive From a Time Machine Backup?

Following are the steps that you can follow to restore your hard drive from a Time Machine backup:

1. Start your Mac computer system.
2. Next, press and hold Command and R keys together to visit your computer’s recovery partition.
3. Now tap on the “Restore from Time Machine Backup” option.
4. Next, tap on the “Continue” button.
5. Now go through the info that is available on the “Restore Your System” page.
6. Next, tap on the “Continue” option.
7. Now choose your Time Machine backup and then tap on the “Continue” option.
8. Finally, select the most recent Time Machine backup of your hard drive and then tap on the “Continue” option to restore your hard drive from the Time Machine backup.

How to Encrypt a Time Machine Backup?

Following are the steps that you can follow to encrypt a Time Machine backup:

1. Open the Apple menu by tapping on the Apple icon and then tap on the “System Preferences” option from there.
2. Now locate the Time Machine icon and tap on it to open the app.
3. Next, tap on the “Select Backup Disk” option.
4. Now select/tap on the disk that you want to use for your Time Machine backups.
5. Next, select the “Backup Automatically” option.
6. Now select the “Encrypt backups” option.
7. Next, enter a strong password to encrypt your backup disk.

Conclusion

Time Machine is a phenomenal app that can be very helpful if your system gets infected by a virus, or you accidentally delete an important file from your Mac computer system. So, do use this app to create backups if you have important data and files on your Mac computer system.

Source:-   Backup Mac With Time Machine App