Updates and More

You can access extras related to this ebook on the web (use the link in Ebook Extras, near the end; it’s available only to purchasers). On the ebook’s Take Control Extras page, you can:

• Download any available new version of the ebook for free, or buy any subsequent edition at a discount.

• Access the book in both PDF and EPUB formats. (Learn about reading on mobile devices on our Device Advice page.)

• Read the ebook’s blog. You may find new tips or information, as well as a link to an author interview.

If you bought this ebook from the Take Control website, it has been added to your account, where you can download it in other formats and access any future updates.

How to Activate Siri

Siri is often the fastest way to work with Apple’s Calendar and Reminders apps. You’ll see tips about when to use Siri and what to say throughout this book. (Siri always requires an internet connection.) Here’s a quick look at how to get Siri working.

Find Notification Settings

Apple has three distinct areas for notification settings in macOS—system-wide and for individual apps. Because these have varied so much, instead of citing them distinctly throughout the book, I’m providing this reference here that I will link back to as appropriate.

Here’s where to find notification settings by version:

• macOS 11 Big Sur and earlier: System Preferences > Notifications

• macOS 12 Monterey: System Preferences > Notifications & Focus > Notifications

• macOS 13 Ventura: System Settings > Notifications

For more on notifications, see Set Up Notifications.

What’s New in Version 4.1

In macOS 13.1 Ventura, iOS 16.2, and iPadOS 16.2, released Dec. 13, 2022, Apple added a new encryption option for improved data privacy and security of iCloud-synced and -stored data, available only for reminders. I discuss this in Secure Your Reminders in iCloud in Set Up Reminders, and explain why calendar entries don’t qualify in a note that follows that sidebar.

You can also now disable web app access to your iCloud.com data starting with those operating system releases. I explain how to disable access in Share & Subscribe to Calendars and Specify Where Your Lists Will Live.

What Was New in Version 4.0.1

This very minor update added small clarifications about notifications; see Notifications on Your Mac and Notifications on Your iPhone and iPad. It also corrected the extras link in Ebook Extras.

What Was New in the Fourth Edition

The fourth edition of Take Control of Calendar and Reminders was updated for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9.

Apple made significant changes in how macOS manages preferences, shifting from System Preferences to System Settings. You’ll see that reflected throughout the book, where we nearly always have to explain how to find a setting in macOS 11 Monterey and earlier releases and then separately in Ventura. For instance, you might see “go to System Preferences > Date & Time (Monterey and earlier) or System Settings> General > Date & Time (Ventura).”

Apple also changed the term Preferences across macOS apps to Settings. To avoid unnecessary repetition, when I refer to options you can change in Calendar and Reminders, I note something like “go to Calendar > Preferences/Settings > General.” Preferences will appear in Monterey and earlier; Settings in Ventura.

I also updated this edition to incorporate these major changes:

• FaceTime and video links: Apple added support for creating FaceTime links for videoconferencing directly within calendar events. Calendar also recognizes URLs that point to video services, like Zoom, and create a clickable link. See FaceTime and Other Video Call Links.

• Day of the week (Ventura): You can now change the first day of your calendar week via System Settings > General > Language & Region, as regions include an option for First Day of Week. See General Preferences.

• Notifications in macOS: Apple has migrated through three changes in managing and configuring notifications in macOS in just a few recent releases. See Notifications on Your Mac to understand how to access and configure notifications on the version of macOS you’re using or are about to update to.

• Reminders: Apple made significant changes to Reminders. I list the high points here and go into detail in Take a Tour of Reminders. Here’s what was added in Monterey and iOS 15/iPadOS 15:

  • Tags: Tags for Reminders lets you type freeform hashtag entries that can be used across reminders to find matches. See Add Tags to Reminders.

  • Custom Smart List: Create custom smart lists with criteria. See Manage and Create Smart Lists.

  • Delete completed reminders: Delete completed reminders, which removes them everywhere. See Manage and Create Smart Lists.

  • Smart completion in Reminders (macOS only): When creating a new reminder, you can type more sophisticated natural-language phrases, as previously available in Calendar. See Add an Item in the Reminders App.

  • Smart suggestions in Reminders: Reminders also lets you add tags, flags, priority, and people. See Add an Item in the Reminders App.

  And here’s what you can find in Reminders starting in Ventura and iOS 16/iPadOS 16:

  • Completed Smart List: A new Smart List shows all completed items. See Manage and Create Smart Lists.

  • Pinned lists: You can pin a list, which adds it to the smart list area. See Pin Lists.

  • Templates: Turn a list into a template that you can reuse and share with others. See Create a Template.

  • Reorganized Today and Scheduled lists: The revamped Scheduled list now breaks down upcoming reminders into near-term and far-term events. See Manage and Create Smart Lists.

  • Remind yourself of an email message: Apple now lets you create a reminder to review an email message within Mail. See Remind Yourself in Mail for how to work with this feature (or avoid it).