Hi all,
Just had a question about the new focus mode in ios 15. I like the idea it's across all apple devices, and like you can choose different situations and hear from certain people depending on the focus, say for me if I was writing and only wanted to hear from my publisher and editor. I like the idea of allowing certain apps, but can't think when I personally may benefit from allowing certain apps and what apps I might allow. I'd be interested to hear how other people use this feature. What apps they allow and why? what focus situations they use this feature and what apps they allow depending on the feature? I'm curious and wish to be educated as at present, I like the sound of the feature, but the point of focusing is to block out most notifications, so can't think of when allowing apps would be useful. Hearing from certain people yes, but as for apps, I'm not so sure. Thanks and I look forward to being educated and reading replies.
By Andrew90, 27 September, 2021
Forum
iOS and iPadOS
Comments
Allow appropriate apps for your focus
Hi! Allowing apps can work in two ways: allowing them to send you notifications and allowing the focus to start automatically when certain apps are opened. To give you an example, I have a focus for reading, where I allow phone calls and messages and weather alerts from the relevant apps, and that focus is set to automatically start when I open reading apps, such as Apple Books, Kindle or Audible.
Working with the Personal Focus: reading and video
I decided to work with the Personal focus (at least that’s how it says in Spanish Mexico), using it for reading,and video consumption. I have it automatically invoked upon launching those apps which the screen cannot be locked (Youtube, Prime Video and Netflix), and manually launch it for the rest (including Bard Mobile, Voice Dream Reader etc). I’ve my family as allowed contacts as well as my Favorites; allowed notifications I’ve Whatsapp and Voice Clock. All I can say it’s such an awesome experience! For years I’ve wished for something like this on Ios! This has allowed me to finally make use of my IPHone SE2020, as in all-in-one device! Hope these experiences help some, in giivng ideas on what other focus could be used and/or set up.
While I don't have 15, I do have plans
Hi!
First off, I don't have 15 yet. But, I've been psyched to try this new feature out ever sstce reading about it, and, listening to the demos on Mosen at large, and Thomas's podcast. I do have plans for this, but, I've got a couple questions of my own.
I plan on creating focuses for reading, listening to podcasts, and, one called Meeting. I might create one for music but, not sure yet.
So, reading will have Kindle Voice Dream Reader, BARD Mobile, Hoopla, Libby, and Overdrive. It'll open automatically. I plan on having all notifications silenced. Except for maybe my parents emails, or, my family's messages through Messenger.
Another one will be for podcast listening. It'll have all my podcatchers, open automatically, and, it'll have the perameters as the previous one.
I'll have a custom focus called Meeting. I go to meetings with Hadley, Braille Institue, and sometimes, ACB and also APH. I'm only allowing Teams, Zoom, and emails and weather alerts maybe through. I go to a lot of meetings, some scheduled, some spontaneously on a whim. Here's where another question comes into play.
Here's where my plans go a bit off. I thought about creating a focus for Music, where I'd have all my radio and music streaming apps, and only alerts from Calendar, and Messenger get through. Because sometimes I listen to music before a meeting. Also, just because of a BT. speaker that we have that Voiceover only comes through the speaker, not the Ipad and so do notifications, so... I might use it for that too.
Thought about creating one for Clubhouse, but, not quite sure about that one. Maybe just have that app and the important ones come through, like Calendar, and Messenger.
So, now, here come my questions.
1. I know you can allow or disallow contacts from messaging you, via iMessage. But, can you do the same thing with mail? Because if possible, I'd just have the people I select let me know if I get emails from them. Because, for the 1st 2 focuses, I'd use them when I'm sleeping, or trying to sleep.
2. Again, I know that they can be allowed or disallowed in Messages. But, can the same be said for Messenger? My family and I and my friends, do not use Messages. My parents and I are Apple, but, some family and friends have Android. So, it makes sense. Partlus, my Dad uses Messages for work. But, put it simply, it works good for every one.
If not, I guess I can allow Messenger notifications to get through, but, I'd rather not have to. I would have to turn off Mail too. And, I'd rather not do that, since I do communicate with people that I'd like to know if I get an email from. Such as my parents, Grandmother, and a couple good friends. Not sure how any of these will work, but, ca't wait to set them up, and give them a try. The autoactivate ones will be the hardest and longest because I've got so many apps in those categories.
I almost forgot, my last question! If you schedule a focus, can you turn it on when you want or need to also? Also, can you schedule a focus like a calendar? So, you would have the following:
focus Meeting Mode activates on the 1st and 4th Tue. of the month at 8 PM. but, then, you find out about a meeting that's being held on a particular topic that you're interested in, or that applies to you and you heard about it a few hours before it starts and decide to go, can you turn that focus on manually? Even though it've scheduled it? Basically, can you override the scheduling, if need be?
For anyone who plans to use…
For anyone who plans to use Focus, just remember that you can't lock the screen. I was told it isn't supposed to work that way, but the fact of the matter is, it does, and to me, that makes the whole thing next to useless.
audible
I created a focus for do not disturbed when I open audible. It work well when I was looking for a book but later when I open audible to play a book, it close and did not work. VO could not let me use it. I did switch close of the app but did not work. Also in Bard mobile the issue is that do not disturb does not go on. Not nice.
I have mine to turn on with…
I have mine to turn on with the books app, and it worked fine until I would switch back and forth between books and notes.
I don't know why but using…
I don't know why but using an app on my phone to trigger a focus mode does not work.
apps
It works well with music as it belong to apple Apps that are not apple do not work well or is consistent.
Playing games
I am using focus mode when I am playing Sonar Islands for example. Because the time limit on the islands I don't want to be canceled of incoming calls, sms etc. The focus automaticaly turns on when I start the game and turns off when i exit it.
can't lock the screen?
I'm confused by this statement. I have 2 focuses I use regularly, do not disturb and one I've called bed, as the sleep focus relies too heavily on input from the health app, which I don't use as they would like me to for the purpose. I lock my screen all of the time, and my focuses still work as I've set them to. Can you elaborate more on what you mean by this?
music
I setup focus to be able to play music and the first time it work. Second time did not. It looks like it is not consistent all the time. Nice feature but if it does not work what is the point?
App in focus
When an app automaticaly activates by a focus it will inactivates when the screen is locked.
I've never had the lock…
I've never had the lock screen issue happen here.
I've never had the lock…
I've never had the lock screen issue happen here.
Focus
I have setup a do not disturb in iOS 14 and below. I did the sane with iOS 15. Question, if I open kindle to read a book, I created a focus for it. If I get up earlier and want to read or listen to an audiobook in bard mobile which also has focus will it interfere with the do not disturb? Do I need to turn off do not disturb?
please elaborate more on what you have setup in your music focus
You have set up a music focus you say. What perameters have you set? is it automatic when you open the music app? what people or apps have you set? Would be interested to know more.
Very helpful guys :)
Thanks everyone, this has got me thinking. Thank you. Please keep the examples coming. :)
work focus query time verses location
I have set up a work focus to automatically come on when it hits 9 AM and turn off at 5 pm on my work days. I have also set it to come on when I arrive at work and turn off when I leave. I wanted this when I first tried the old do not disturb via location feature a few ios versions ago and was disappointed when It stayed on even after I had left work, so this is a great improvement. My question is, at the moment, here in locked down Sydney Australia, I am working from home so the focus only obeys the time setting. Once we return to the office, I'm guessing it will obey the location setting over time? for example, if I arrive at 8 30 it will turn on and leave at 5 10, it will turn off?
focus
When I open music, focus goes do not disturb. I have 3 people to let in. Nothing else.
I have one set for music and…
I have one set for music and podcasts and the like, and my screen goes on autolock. I have the focus set to open when I launch the app, and I understood it would stay open until I closed the app from the app switcher. If you schedule your focus, then it works properly, but I didn't want to schedule.
Focus
I notice if I set a focus on music and do not disturb comes up and If I go to the home page with the music playing focus says do not disturbed off.