Bob's Tech Talk
Q. My iPhone just automatically updated to iOS 17.7. How do I get the new features advertised in iOS 18?
A. There are two kinds of system updates for iPhones, major and minor. Major releases that change once a year, and increase the first number. For example, from 17.0 to 18.0. Minor updates occur throughout the year, and increase the numbers after the decimal point. Your iPhone will automatically update itself with these “point updates” as long as it is plugged in and has a Wi-Fi connection.
Each autumn Apple releases a major new update to the phone software. This year it is iOS 18. (By the time you read this, the latest version will probably be 18.1.)
Major versions do not always install automatically. To update it manually, go to Settings -> General -> Software Update and scroll all the way to the bottom of the screen. If your phone supports iOS 18, which is nearly every model from the last five years, the update button will be visible.
Q. I would like to help a family member use an Apple Watch to track her medication, but setting it up is confusing. Can you help?
A. Medication tracking on the Apple Watch and iPhone is a fantastic feature, but it is confusing to set up initially. Nevertheless, the result is worth the effort. This is how I do it:
The first step is to record the medications along with the dosage and administration times in the Health app on your iPhone. When adding a medication, the camera can scan the bottle and capture at least some of the information. The best way to configure an Apple Watch is to use the Watch app on the iPhone itself.
Start by opening the Watch app on your iPhone. Tap the Face Gallery tab at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down until you see the Infograph faces. Choose one of the color choices. Any one will do, and they can always be changed later.
One tap on the chosen face will open a new screen with the face drawn at the top alongside a button that says “Add.” Do not tap that button just yet.
The Infograph face is very dense, with a tremendous amount of information in the form of Watch Complications. Scroll down to see a list of the Complications. Tap each one (except “Sub-Dial Top”) and set them to “Off.” Then set “Sub-Dial Top” to Medications. Finally, tap the “Add” button. The face will close and you will see the Gallery again.
Tap the “My Watch” tab on the bottom of the screen. Scroll to the far right of the Faces at the top of the screen and long press on the face you just created until a menu appears. Tap “Set as Watch Face.” When each dose is taken, tap the pill icon and tap the medication name to log it. A text banner on the watch face will display the time for the next dose if one is pending today.
I realize this is an intimidating number of steps. I described each step in detail so that nothing was left to chance. However, this article just explains the initial setup. I encourage you to search the Web for help tracking medications with Apple Watch. See the link in the “Wander the Web” box for more information. Once configured, tracking becomes easy in daily use.
Q. How do I install Android 15 on my Pixel phone?
A. Android 15 has been in beta since last spring, and it officially arrived for Pixel devices on Oct. 15, with support for other devices rolling out in the coming months.
Android 15 requires wiping the device and reinstalling the updated operating system. This means above all make sure your data is backed up.
Android 15 is also disruptive enough that you may just decide that the new features are not worth upsetting your digital world. Better to stay on version 14.
The specific steps will differ based on the manufacturer of the device. Be sure to follow their specific instructions when they become available.
In the meantime, remember that Android 15 is for Pixel phones only at this stage. See the link in the box for more.
Wander the Web
Here are my picks for worthwhile browsing this month:
Medication Tracking on Apple Watch
Learn more about tracking medication with iPhone and Apple Watch.
https://support.apple.com/guide/watch/medications-apd3dd24d78b/watchos
Android 15 Update How-To
Follow the guidance at this link to update your Pixel phone.
https://9to5google.com/google-pixel-android-15-how-to-install/
Lighthouse Map
All the world’s lighthouses on a single map. Each lighthouse is different so that mariners can tell them apart.
https://geodienst.github.io/lighthousemap/
Bob has been writing about technology for over three decades. He can be contacted at techtalk@bobdel.com.
