Mandar Apte

UI/UX Designer from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Articles

  • Add a mouse hover effect / UIPointer Interaction to any iOS or iPadOS app views.

    As Apple describes Pointer Interactions in its support document:

    Pointer Interactions: Support pointer interactions in your custom controls and views.

    iPadOS 13.4 introduces dynamic pointer effects and behaviours that enhance the experience of using an iPad with an external input device, like a trackpad or mouse. As people use an input device, iPadOS automatically adapts the pointer to the current context, providing rich visual feedback and the precision needed to enhance productivity and simplify everyday tasks.

    Note:
    UIPointer Interaction is only related to the iPad / iPadOS app

    Initial Step:
    Add ‘UIPointerInteractionDelegate’ in your View Controller’s Class Declaration

    For UIButton:

    Out-of-Box Implementation:

    button.isPointerInteractionEnabled = true

    UIView and Custom Implementation for UIButton:

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  • Get the iOS, iPadOS, and macOS operating system names, versions, and model identifiers programmatically.

    Programmatically get iOS, iPadOS, macOS Catalyst Operating System Name and Version and a model identifier of iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.

    Here is a simple way to programmatically get the operating system name and version of your iOS, iPadOS and macOS.

    The code below will also return the value of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac Model identifiers to help you determine whether the device is a MacBook or iMac in a Mac case, an iPhone 11 Pro, or an iPhone 13 Pro.

    Step 01:
    First, import IOKit. It is only required for macOS Catalyst app-specific code.

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  • Get iOS, iPadOS and macOS app Versions and Build numbers programmatically.

    Here is a small function I have written that you can use in your iOS, iPadOS or macOS Catalyst app to get your app’s current version, build number, and print it on the screen whether it will be on the app’s about or support view.

    Copy the below function in the Xcode project’s UIViewController Swift class file.

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  • Reset the Bluetooth module using the Terminal app on your Mac.

    Here is the simplest way to reset the Bluetooth module on your Mac if you face any issues using your Bluetooth mouse (Magic Mouse) or Bluetooth keyboard (Magic Keyboard).

    This command will reset Bluetooth on your Mac and then connect to all Bluetooth devices again after the reset.

    Step 01:
    Open the Terminal app from your Mac’s Applications > Utility folder.

    Step 02:
    Now copy-paste the below command in the terminal to reset Bluetooth on your Mac

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  • How to save your contact’s WhatsApp Profile Photo

    A few years ago WhatsApp was allowing WhatsApp Mobile / iPhone / Android and Mac app used to save any contact’s profile photo by clicking on the action sheet button and then tapping save.

    But then WhatsApp removed that button.

    But somehow one trick works.

    Assumption: We assume that you have connected WhatsApp iPhone & Mac apps. You have already added your WhatsApp mac app to your iPhone number by scanning a QR code.

    Step 01: Choose any of your WhatsApp contacts.

    Step 02: Click on their name or photo at the top header or navigation bar.

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  • Implementing Meta Theme Color modern HTML5 and CSS3 websites.

    Apple Safari has started supporting theme-color Meta Tag from the Safari 15 release.

    Here is how to Implement a theme-color meta tag in HTML.

    You have to copy-paste the theme-color meta tag into a section of your website. It will look something like this:

    <meta name="theme-color" content="#ff0000"/>

    You can use the following code to implement theme color specific to system light or dark modes.

    <meta name="theme-color" content="#ff0000" media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)">
<meta name="theme-color" content="#ff0000" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
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  • Here is how to locate downloaded Audio/Video Podcast app files on macOS. So that you can export or copy it to the new location on Macintosh HD.

    You may have been listing to or watching a great podcast on Mac’s Podcast app, and you may want to export it and store it elsewhere on your Macintosh HD for safekeeping.

    It seems Apple has disabled the functionality of dragging Podcast items to the desktop to store or export them elsewhere.

    So here is how to do it in an alternative way.

    Step 01: Click on Finder

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  • What is a suitable tool for UI/UX Work: Adobe Photoshop / XD / Sketch / Figma

    As far as I can remember, I have used Photoshop from version two. So I have used Photoshop for almost twenty years, less or more.

    I have been using the Sketch app for four years. And just now, because of team recommendations, I have to switch to Figma.

    The most problematic point about Photoshop or XD is Adobe’s pricing model. Adobe forces you to buy all Creative Cloud apps whether you choose them or not. In India, Adobe CC costs INR 45,000/- plus taxes.

    The best thing about the Sketch app is its pricing model, i.e. Annual Subscription, which costs you INR 7,500/- for a year, and after it ends, you use the same app as long as you want without buying another subscription. So yes, you will not get updates, but you have an app to work with.

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  • Uber Cabs Invoice Outstanding Payment Alert, A Technical Glitch or Accounting Error

    I just travelled from Mumbai to Thane using Uber cabs. They rounded my bill before tax by 46 Paise. My trip was a cash trip.

    My final cost of the trip after taxes applied was 160.05 INR.

    But when I completed my trip I got notification from the Uber app that I have not paid 5 paise out of 160.05 INR using cash.

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  • Different ways of sustaining as a Music / Video / Creative Content Creator on digital music platforms in today’s age.

    I just learned that Apple Music pays artists 1 cent (75 Indian paise) for one stream / one audience listens to your song for a single time.

    So if you want to earn $1 (75 INR), the artist should have 100 plays/views by his user/audience.

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