Read Without Distractions with iPhone’s Reader Feature

by ·0 Comment  

We hate them: Chunky headlines, brand logos, annoying ads or social media widgets. As much as we sometimes like viral content or funny ads, we really just want to read an online article without all the unnecessary clutter. Thankfully your default browser on your IPhone, Safari, contains a killer feature that does just that.

Since iOS 5, Apple has introduced a Reader feature on its Safari browser on iPhone and iPad. Though it’s been a few years, this killer feature has gone unnoticed because it’s located at the top of Safari browser and as soon as you scroll downwards, it disappears. In earlier iOS 5 & 6 versions, it used to be an icon that said ‘Reader’ at the right top. From iOS 7 onwards, Apple has made it into a tiny inconspicuous icon at the top left corner.

To use the Reader feature, simply click on the Reader icon at the left top corner, beside the address bar. If you don’t see it, make sure you scroll all the way to the top of the page.

iPhone Reader Feature (Before)

In IOS 7, the Reader feature icon is located at the top left corner beside the URL input field.

 

Once actviated,  Safari immediately strips away all unnecessary clutter,  enlarges your text to fill the whole screen, displays it in a clean and neat black & white format. The images in the article also stay in-tact. To view the page again in its original format, just click on the Reader icon to revert back.

iPhone Reader Feature (After)

After clicking on Reader, your article is shown in a clean, easy-to-read format. Read with no more distractions!

 

 

Besides the iPhone, this Reader feature is also available on Safari for iPad and Mac OS X too.

Safari OS X Reader Feature

Safari on Mac OS X also supports Reader feature. Located at the top right, to the right of the address bar

Reader feature on Safari Mac OS X

After activating Reader feature on Safari browser on Mac OS X

 

 

 

Killer Shortcuts: Dock Windows Side By Side

by ·2 Comments  

Have you ever needed to compare the content of 2 Windows and just used the Alt + Tab  shortcut in Windows to constantly swap to and fro? Or perhaps, you had to manually use your mouse to drag the corners of the 1st window to fit nicely on the left and then drag the other window to fit on the right. Thankfully, there’s a power shortcut key in Windows 7 and later versions that lets you dock Windows side by side within seconds: Windows Key + Left / Right Arrows

How-To:

Simply, select one window and  press Windows Key + Left Arrow  to dock the window to the left. And for the 2nd window, just press Windows Key  + Right Arrow. And abacadabra, you get windows perfectly docked side by side!

So below, you see Windows all over the place  and want it docked nicely.

Before

 

Assuming I want my web browser on the left, so I select it and press Windows Key + Left Button. And for my Word processor window, I want it on my right, so I just press Windows Key + Right Arrow. And there you have it, beautifully docked windows side by side. You can read content on your web browser while writing notes down in your Word file. You can use this powerful feature to compare pdf files, excel files or even surf the web while keeping a video window open at the side too.

 

After

This current shortcut only works for Windows. For Mac users, there’s no such power shortcut in Mac OS, but because I love this feature so much. I’ve managed to find an equivalent app that simulates the shortcut key feature for Mac OS. It’s  called ShiftIt. Just download and install it. I personally use it and it works perfectly.

If you’re curious to also explore the power of the Windows key, here are some other power shortcuts that I use all the time.

  • Win Key + Up Arrow = Maximize Window
  • Win Key + Down Arrow = Minimize Window
  • Win Key  + M = Show Desktop