Dorchester — Jun 10th 2025
Mick gave us an in-depth look at Apple’s Mail app, which most of us use but are unaware of many features. Having explained the differences between POP and IMAP accounts, the latter being the default for most new users, he showed the relatively recent added Privacy setting. On the Mac, you can change the way the emails browser window looks by selecting Column Layout. By double-clicking on an email in the list, it opens in a separate window, which can be very convenient when using a large screen. You can select to only have unread emails displayed, with a small round icon with three lines diminishing in width, blue if selected. The very latest version of Mail now allows the inbox to be displayed in categories. This can be selected in the View menu on the Mac and on iOS by touching the round icon with three dots top right of the screen. In the settings, you can choose which email address you wish new mail to be sent from, assuming you have more than one account. Again, on the more recent version, there is an undo send option in Settings, the Composing Tab on the Mac. Mick showed various other options in composing. The Mac has very flexible options for setting up Signatures under the Settings Signature tab, which can even be a lengthy document. You can have multiple signatures for any account. IOS is much more basic, allowing one signature per email account or sharing the same signature from all accounts. Finally, Mick showed us the most sophisticated Mac-only feature, Rules, which allows you to sort incoming emails , sending them to different folders or whatever. The last item of each set of rules is Stop Evaluating.
Ian Perry gave us a very intriguing presentation on Boots' Recycling Scheme with a fully developed smartphone app. Products for recycling, which are not covered by the domestic recycling system, are empty blister packs and beauty, health, wellness, and dental items. Ian showed us how the app is used, similarly for each group suitably designated by colour formats, green and pink respectively. Ian’s conclusion was that trying to claim cash back for recycling blister packs is not worth the trouble; it is easier just to drop them off in the appropriate bin. But recycling used beauty, health, wellness, and dental items at £5 for five items is worth the effort.
