Category: Tutorials

Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

It was a fun session adding Ringtones to your ringtones library in iOS 2026.

Let us know if you have questions, and remember to join us next week! I will be running the tutorial.

Good evening Techstravaganza friends,

Techstravaganza was so much fun today!

We looked at the Google Calendar service on the web!

You will enjoy the audio!

Here is the link to our tutorial on Fantastical on iPhone: https://techstravaganza.ca/2025/09/03

Meta AI and Messenger Demo

Siena demonstrated various features of the Meta AI and Messenger apps, including searching for messages, accessing Facebook, and using the Meta AI chatbot. She encountered some technical difficulties with screen sharing and audio, which were eventually resolved with help from Hans and Ali. The conversation ended with Siena successfully sharing her screen and audio with the group.

Meta AI Messenger Demo Challenges

Siena demonstrated the use of Meta AI within Messenger, exploring its capabilities to answer questions and provide information. She encountered some challenges with the interface, such as receiving attachments instead of text responses and issues with typing messages. Despite these difficulties, she was able to successfully send a message to Ali using various input methods, including typing and dictation.

Facebook vs Messenger Clarification

Siena explained the differences between Facebook and Messenger apps, clarifying that Facebook is a social media platform for sharing public content, while Messenger is a messaging app that allows users to communicate via text, voice chat, or video chat without incurring long-distance charges. She emphasized that users can access Messenger on both mobile devices and computers, and while linking a phone number to Messenger enhances security and allows contacts to find users easily, it does not make the number publicly accessible unless someone searches for the user specifically. Ali added that Messenger can be used without a mobile device, and Ivy expressed gratitude for the clarification, acknowledging that she was learning as the discussion progressed.

Meta AI Messenger Demo Session

The group demonstrated how to use the Meta AI Messenger app, focusing on searching for contacts and sending messages. Siena showed how to use braille screen input to type messages and navigate the interface, while Ali and Hans participated as testers. They successfully sent and received messages to and from each other, with Hans and Jackie agreeing to be additional testers for the app.

Schedule Updates and App Demonstrations

The meeting began with Siena announcing schedule changes, including modified session times on the last Wednesday of the month and the cancellation of Saturday sessions, with Techstravaganza 2.0 scheduled for September 11th. The group discussed the upcoming session on Facebook Messenger as part of their messaging apps series, and Siena demonstrated the Google Calendar app on iPhone, with plans to cover both iPhone and iPad versions, as well as the web version, in future sessions. Ali suggested showing differences between the iPhone and iPad versions to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Google Calendar Training and Updates

Siena demonstrated how to use Google Calendar, including adding events, tasks, and appointment slots. She explained the different types of calendar elements: events, reminders, and appointment schedules. Ivy expressed interest in learning more about appointment slots, and Siena agreed to arrange a tutorial. The group discussed switching back to Zoom from Meet due to technical issues, with Ali apologizing for the previous difficulties.

Calendar Event Creation Demonstration

Siena demonstrated how to add and edit events in a calendar system, focusing on creating a birthday event for Gina Clementina. She showed how to adjust the event date and time using various picker interfaces, including a date picker, time picker, and AM/PM picker. The demonstration revealed some unclear labeling in the interface, particularly regarding the event type selection, but Siena was able to successfully create an event with a specific start and end time after discovering the “more actions” menu.

Google Calendar Event Management Demo

Siena demonstrated how to schedule and manage events in Google Calendar, including adding guests, setting event details, and choosing video conferencing options. She encountered an issue with the Zoom add-on not being visible in the calendar, which Ali helped troubleshoot by suggesting it might need reconfiguration due to a recent email address change. Siena then scheduled a Techstravaganza workshop event and shared the Zoom meeting link with participants.

Google Calendar Recurring Events Setup

Siena demonstrated how to set up a recurring event in Google Calendar, starting at 1 PM on September 10th and ending at 3 PM, with a weekly recurrence. She showed how to adjust the settings for time zones, end times, and custom recurrence options. Samantha joined the meeting late and expressed interest in the Google Calendar app, while Ali was present but did not participate in the discussion.

Fantastical Calendar App Workshop

Ali conducted a workshop on the Fantastical calendar app, focusing on its iPhone version. He demonstrated how to navigate the app, including viewing and sorting events, jumping to specific dates, and declining calendar invites. Ali also highlighted differences between the iPhone and iPad versions of the app.

Event Creation with Language Parser

Ali demonstrated how to create events using a language parser feature available in the premium plan. He showed how to input event details like date, time, and calendar by typing natural language commands, which the parser automatically translates into the necessary fields. Ali also mentioned that some features might not work for users on the free plan.

Facebook Event Tutorial Demonstration

Ali demonstrated how to add a conferencing service to a pop-up menu and create a Facebook tutorial event. He showed how to set event details like location, time, and meeting options. Macara asked about selecting a calendar, and Ali clarified it’s done by typing a slash followed by the calendar name. Ali mentioned he would demonstrate how to invite specific attendees in the next part of the tutorial, but encountered a technical issue that he needed to resolve.

Calendar App Event Creation Demo

Ali demonstrated how to create and view events in a calendar app, focusing on Facebook and Google integration. He showed how to set up an event for September 12th at 2 PM, and explained features like selecting invitees and setting event locations. Ali also highlighted the weather feature available in the premium version of the app. During the demonstration, he encountered a sync error, but was able to resolve it by retrying.

Cambridge Weather and App Demo

Ali provided a detailed weather forecast for Cambridge, Ontario, predicting partly cloudy conditions with a high of 26 degrees and a low of 13 degrees on Wednesday, September 3rd. He also shared the forecast for Thursday and Friday, noting rain and cooler temperatures. Ali then demonstrated how to navigate and customize the Fantastical app on an iPad, highlighting differences between the iPad and iPhone versions, and explaining various settings and features.

Fantastical Calendar Setup and Customization

Ali demonstrated how to set up and manage accounts and notifications in Fantastical, highlighting the differences between the free and premium versions. He showed how to add various calendar accounts, including iCloud, Google, and other services, and explained the options for customizing notifications, including sounds and alert times. Macara requested a demonstration of the different calendar views, which Ali obligingly provided, showcasing the day, week, and month views with examples from future baseball games and other events.

Fantastical Calendar Features Overview

Ali demonstrated various calendar views and features in Fantastical, including DayView, MonthView, and QuarterView. He showed how to manage calendar sets, hide unwanted calendars, and unsubscribe from calendar subscriptions. Ali also explained the differences between using Fantastical for task notifications compared to the Reminders app. Macara found the tutorial helpful and engaging.

Have fun listening to this recording!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Siena Trigiani welcomed attendees to the first Tech Extravaganza 2.0 and announced a permanent transition to Zoom for all future sessions, effective August 20th, due to Google Meet issues, a move supported by Ali Moosa for its robustness and integration. Siena Trigiani then conducted a comprehensive tutorial on WhatsApp, covering features like status updates, editing “About” information, composing and sending messages (including dictation and reactions), sending stickers, and initiating voice and video calls. Discussions with Ali Moosa, Ivy Matouk, and Jeroo & Lionel Russell clarified WhatsApp’s privacy settings, its universal compatibility compared to iPhone-specific apps, and how it utilizes the Call Kit framework for ringtones.

Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

I hope you have had a fantastic Wednesday afternoon so far!

Please find the recording for today’s Techstravaganza workshop, in which we took a deep dive into customizing the VoiceOver commands, both touch gestures and keyboard shortcuts on the iPhone and iPad.

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you run into any difficulties accessing and playing the recording, and I’ll be delighted to help you troubleshoot.

I hope you have a wonderful evening ahead, and I look forward to seeing you on tomorrow’s Techstravaganza 2.0, which will take place tomorrow evening (Thursday, August 14) from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern!

• Meeting Logistics and Agenda Changes Siena Trigiani welcomed attendees to the Tech Extravaganza on Wednesday, August 6th, 2025, noting the rapid passage of time (00:23:49). Siena Trigiani also announced a change in the agenda, stating that Amanda, originally scheduled to present on “Be My Eyes” and “Inner Search,” would be absent for two weeks and would conduct their tutorial at a later date. The session would instead focus on the iPhone and iPad Control Center, with an iPhone being used for demonstration due to a non-functional iPad (00:24:40) (00:27:33).
• Accessing the Control Center Siena Trigiani demonstrated how to access the Control Center, explaining that one method involves swiping down from the top of the screen with one finger until two blips are heard (00:26:07) (00:30:33). Hans Last inquired about the one-finger swipe, and Siena Trigiani clarified that one slides their finger down from the earpiece until hearing the second blip (01:11:52). Siena Trigiani also explained an alternative method for accessing the Control Center by placing a finger on any status bar item on the home screen and then swiping up with three fingers (01:07:45) (01:10:31).
• Exploring Control Center Features Siena Trigiani guided participants through various Control Center features, including the “Add Controls” button for customization and the “Power button” to view battery information (00:30:33). They also highlighted the status bar information, such as cellular signal and Wi-Fi connection, and the ability to lock screen orientation (00:31:51). Siena Trigiani also discussed Airplane Mode and AirDrop functionality, demonstrating how to toggle them on/off and access their settings (00:33:10).
• AirDrop Control Issues and Solutions Siena Trigiani encountered difficulties changing AirDrop settings using the “Open controls” option, leading them to discover that a double-tap and hold action was necessary to access the desired options, such as “Contacts Only” (00:37:37). Ali Moosa suggested trying to touch the bottom of the device’s screen when using “Open controls” (00:39:19). Siena Trigiani confirmed that the “Open controls” function worked for “Focus” settings but not consistently for other controls like AirDrop (00:48:11).
• Wi-Fi and Cellular Data Controls Siena Trigiani demonstrated how to toggle Wi-Fi on and off by double-tapping the Wi-Fi icon in the Control Center (00:46:38) (00:51:06). They also showed that a double-tap and hold gesture on the Wi-Fi icon would disconnect the Wi-Fi and provide access to Wi-Fi settings (00:49:35) (00:52:48). Similarly, Siena Trigiani explained how to turn cellular data on and off with a double-tap, noting that a double-tap and hold action provided no additional controls (00:54:09) (00:56:58).
• Bluetooth and Personal Hotspot Siena Trigiani explained that to toggle Bluetooth on and off, one must navigate to the “More controls” section (00:56:58). They also demonstrated that a double-tap and hold on the Bluetooth setting would reveal a list of paired devices and provide access to Bluetooth settings (00:58:31). Siena Trigiani also showcased the personal hotspot feature, explaining that a double-tap makes it discoverable and a double-tap and hold toggles its discoverability and off status (01:00:01).
• VPN and Satellite Connectivity Siena Trigiani briefly touched upon the VPN (Virtual Private Network) option, explaining its function of hiding IP addresses and allowing location changes, but noted it was beyond the scope of the tutorial (01:01:24). Siena Trigiani also explored the “Satellite not available” option, which, upon double-tapping, indicated “Satellite available soon” and presented a “Satellite connection demo” option (01:03:04). Hans Last provided additional context on the satellite feature, confirming it as a new and sporadically introduced capability in Canada, designed for use when cellular or Wi-Fi services are unavailable (01:05:41) (01:21:24).
• Customizing VoiceOver Gestures Siena Trigiani elaborated on additional ways to navigate their iPhone using custom VoiceOver gestures, such as a triple-tap for the home screen, a quadruple-tap for the app switcher, a two-finger triple-tap for the notification center, and a two-finger quadruple-tap for the Control Center (01:13:51). They emphasized that these customized gestures make accessing different parts of the screen easier, especially for those who find traditional methods challenging (01:15:17).
• Rotation Lock and System Capture Siena Trigiani demonstrated the “Lock Rotation” feature, explaining how it prevents accidental orientation changes when moving the phone (01:18:35) (01:21:24). They also briefly activated the “Hi-Fi speaker” option, which redirected to “System Capture,” indicating that the phone’s audio was routed through the computer (01:17:03). Siena Trigiani also showed that if music were playing, the Control Center would offer options to navigate tracks (01:18:35).
• Control Center Overview Siena Trigiani provided a comprehensive overview of the iPhone’s Control Center, demonstrating various features such as screen rotation lock, screen mirroring, and brightness adjustment. She explained how to adjust brightness and volume by swiping up or down with one finger, noting that brightness adjusts by 5% increments when swiping up and 10% when swiping down (01:27:54).
• Focus Feature Siena Trigiani detailed the Focus feature within the Control Center, explaining that users can set different focus modes like “Do Not Disturb” or “Work,” which sync across all connected Apple devices (01:30:49). She also showed how to set a specific duration for a focus mode, such as “until 5:00 p.m.” or “until the end of this event” (01:32:25).
• Satellite Service for Connectivity Jeroo & Lionel Russell inquired about connecting to messages or emergency services without Wi-Fi. Siena Trigiani explained that a new satellite feature enables this, and Ali Moosa clarified that Rogers is currently offering this service as a trial, with a monthly fee expected after the beta period (01:34:48). Hans Last added that this feature is likely only available on newer iPhone models, such as the iPhone 14 or 15 (01:39:06).
• Rogers Satellite Beta Trial Details Ali Moosa provided specific details about the Rogers satellite service, stating that it is currently in beta and is free during the trial period (01:40:04). After the beta, it will cost $10/month for the first 12 months, then $15/month, unless included in a user’s plan (01:41:26) (01:47:54). The service supports text messaging in Canada south of the 58th parallel and is open to all Canadians on any mobile carrier (01:46:23).
• Website Recordings Accessibility Ali Moosa asked attendees if they were able to listen to the recordings posted on the website. Siena Trigiani confirmed that recordings are now uploaded directly to the website for easier access after workshops, and Jeroo & Lionel Russell stated they found them very clear and easy to access (01:51:22).
• Control Center Tools Demonstration Siena Trigiani demonstrated various tools accessible from the Control Center, including the flashlight, timer, and calculator (01:54:07) (01:56:41). She showed how to set a timer by adjusting hours, minutes, and seconds, and how to perform calculations using the calculator function (01:55:26) (01:58:05).
• Music Recognition and Watch Pinging Siena Trigiani attempted to demonstrate the music recognition feature, noting that it had not been working recently on either their phone or watch (01:59:49). She successfully demonstrated the “Ping My Watch” feature, which helps locate a lost Apple Watch by making it ring (02:01:12).
• Customizing Control Center Siena Trigiani showed how to customize the Control Center by navigating to Settings and then the Control Center section (02:04:04). She demonstrated how to add and remove controls, explaining that users can fine-tune what appears in their Control Center, including options like “Dark Mode,” “Text Size,” “Magnifier,” and various accessibility shortcuts (02:08:10) (02:10:56).
• Upcoming Events and Schedule Changes Siena Trigiani announced that Techstravaganza 2.0 would be rescheduled to the second Thursday of the month from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern (02:18:51). She also informed attendees that the next week’s session would focus on customizing voice-over gestures (02:20:45).
• Rogers: https://www.rogers.com/mobility/satellite