Hi!
One of the most powerful features in the Apple ecosystem is one that not everyone knows about. Or maybe you know about it, but you’re not using all of its possibilities. I’m talking about Focus.
Focus is not just about muting notifications. It can change your entire iPhone (or iPad) Home Screen and which apps you see. Connect Shortcuts to it, and you get a fully automated machine that changes your device exactly when you need it.
So today, I want to show you how I use Focus modes together with Reminders, Notes, and the other apps I use every day.
***
This Week
How to Use Apple Focus: Modes, Home Screens & Automations
Set up your iPhone so it switches to the right apps and Home Screen on its own, at the right time.I Taught My Mac to Name Screenshots and Sort Downloads
For anyone whose Desktop is full of unnamed screenshots and whose Downloads folder is chaos.Apple’s Journal App Has Changed How I Organize My Life — Again
A look at using the Journal app for more than a diary: a simple way to organize your thoughts and everyday life.
***
Quick Tip: How I Updated My iPad Without Enough Free Storage
My iPad Air (5th generation) has only 64GB of storage. When I tried updating to iPadOS 27, I couldn’t install it because there wasn’t enough free space.
Fortunately, there’s a simple workaround using a Mac. Here’s how I did it:
Connect your iPad to your Mac using a USB-C cable.
Open Finder on your Mac.
Select your iPad under Locations in the sidebar.
Click Trust, then tap Trust on your iPad and enter your passcode if prompted.
Open the General tab and click Check for Update.
Select Download and Update, and follow the instructions.
Keep your iPad connected until the installation is complete.
Why this works: Your Mac downloads the update, so your iPad doesn’t need to store the entire download itself. The iPad still needs some free space to install it.
I used this method to update my 64GB iPad Air without deleting any apps or files. One recommendation: back up your iPad before updating, just in case.
***
Why I’m not buying the iPhone Duo
Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of hype around the new iPhone Duo. I understand why. It’s a great piece of hardware that Apple users have been waiting for a long time. But will I review it? No. I’m not even thinking about buying it, at least for now.
Look, my core philosophy is simplicity. That’s why I talk so much about using Apple’s built-in apps, like Reminders, Notes, and Calendar, instead of installing third-party apps. Apple’s built-in apps are not perfect, but with a few tweaks, you can build something that works for you. I know there are many fans of apps like Notion or Evernote, and that’s totally fine! But for me, mastering complex templates is a waste of time compared to focusing on simple systems that just work.
And every week, I get proof from my readers that this approach works. Like this message:
“For many years, I used the Things app—and Todoist before that—but I could never quite find a system that truly suited me. Then, recently, I stumbled upon your article about setting up Reminders, Notes, and Calendar. It was a revelation! It was exactly what I needed. I purchased your templates, switched entirely to Reminders, and so far, I’m thrilled. For the first time in I don’t know how many years, someone has shown me a system that actually works for me—with a few minor tweaks, of course.”
I apply the same simplicity to my devices as to my tools. I’m happy with my iPhone 16 Pro, and I don’t need to upgrade it. I don’t feel the urge to get every new Mac, iPad, or iPhone model each year. But again, that’s just me. I know there are people who love the latest gadgets, and that’s totally fine too.
So instead of buying the new iPhone Duo, I made a small upgrade to my daily setup: I bought a Magic Trackpad. I asked about it on Threads here, and the real experiences shared by the Apple community confirmed it was the right move.
And how about you? Did you buy the iPhone Duo? Or did you upgrade something else? Hit reply and let me know!
***
See you next time!
-Robin
P.S. You can find all past newsletter issues on my website here.
