Q. Can I screen incoming phone calls on my iPhone?
A. The simple answer is yes. But nothing is simple in tech, because it depends on which model iPhone and operating system version is on your device.
I’m going to first explain how to set this up on the newest models, and then I’m going to explain how anyone can search for info about their specific device.
Call screening only requires one setting. Go to Settings -> Apps -> Phone, tap “Screen Unknown Callers-Ask Reason for Calling”
Now, when someone calls and the phone does not recognize the number, it prompts the caller for a real response before alerting you.
Call screening offers other options, including sending unknown callers to voicemail and letting you see the voicemail live as text while the system records the message.
Here is what to do whenever you have a question, especially about a previous version of the device.
Consider an iPhone 16 running iOS 18. Go to support.apple.com/guide/iphone/welcome/ios, which takes you to the top level of the iPhone help system. Note that the “Select Version” pop-up menu allows you to focus your search on a specific iPhone version. Type “manage unknown callers” into the search box to see a list of help documents.
I wish the screening settings were simpler; however, you can configure your phone to serve you, rather than the other way around.
Q. My local library is not especially large, and it does not offer much in the way of eBooks. Are there intra-library loans for eBooks?
A. I adore libraries. Last year I wrote about Libby, an app that accesses thousands of eBook titles on behalf of local libraries. It is one of my most used apps.
Unfortunately, not every library system supports Libby. And for those who do participate, the inventory can be limited.
My personal fix was to get a library card from a different library. What started small has become an obsession. Now I collect library cards with the same zeal I once had for baseball cards.
The good news is that the Libby app supports multiple libraries. Searching for a desired title means repeating the search for each library card you hold.
Hopefully as this becomes more common the Libby app will search across all your library cards in one action.
Nevertheless, adding additional libraries is worthwhile.
This site is a search engine for a list of reciprocal library card offerings that offer Libby. (reciprocard.com).
While visiting that page, you can conduct a search to identify libraries that have reciprocal agreements, enabling access to various library systems. Not the same as those magical inter-library loans we used to know, but a great way to access more free eBooks and audiobooks. And support libraries everywhere.
Q. Can my smartphone help me get a better night’s rest?
A. That a great question with more answers than I can fit into limited space. Here are a few of my favorites:
Meditations. The big music services all have meditation-friendly recordings, including appropriate music and vocal guidance. If you subscribe, Apple Fitness+ offers hundreds of meditations on everything from sleep to resilience.
Sleep tracking. There are many different levels of tracking, from just using the phone to remind you to keep a regular bedtime all the way to hardware/app combinations that assess the quality of your sleep.
Bedtime stories. Humans have used bedtime stories for centuries to help quiet the mind and let go.
YouTube is a great source for bedtime stories, especially if you pay a monthly fee to disable advertising. You do not have to watch; the visuals are not the point.
There is so much material it can be a challenge to find titles that fulfill your desires. Start by searching in the YouTube search box for “Stephen Dalton Sleep Stories.” Stephen’s stories are aimed toward adults, but other searches will reveal stories appropriate for different ages.
Getting a good night’s rest can be a challenge, but your smartphone can help if you give it a chance.
Bob has been writing about technology for over three decades. He can be contacted at techtalk@bobdel.com.
Wander the Web
Here are my picks for worthwhile browsing
this month:
Browser privacy checkup
Visit this link to display a page that presents everything your browser quietly reveals about you. sinceyouarrived.world/taken
iPhone help online
Bookmark this URL today, and search here the next time you need help.
support.apple.com/guide/iphone/welcome/ios
Silly pudding
This whimsical site presents hundreds of visual essays about a wide range of topics. Something for everyone. pudding.cool
