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    How to save your most-used web links for quick sharing on iPhone and Mac

    Learn about a few different methods to permanently or temporarily save important website or app links for quickly pasting in an email, message, or document on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

    If you sell a product online, share the link to your website or app, or have any other URL that you need to send multiple times each day via Messages, WhatsApp, Mail, Slack, Teams, etc., you can use these methods to enter the site address quickly and correctly.

    Add the URL to Text Replacement

    The built-in Text Replacement feature is hands down the best way to save your web links for quickly entering in a text field. You can assign the URL to a shortcut, and then when you type that shortcut, it will automatically change into the full URL.

    For instance, I can assign my iDB author link https://www.idownloadblog.com/author/ankur/ to a shortcut like “idba.” Then, whenever I need to send someone my author link, I will just type idba and hit the space bar. “idba” will automatically turn into the full URL.

    Using Text Replacement on iPhone to quickly enter URL

    Text Replacement works with all types of text, including special symbols (, ©, ™, ®, —, etc.), email addresses, phone numbers, and, of course, website links. You can configure it on one of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and it will be available for use on all your Apple devices. Simply go to:

    • iOS: Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement
    • macOS: System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacement

    Then, hit the plus button (+), enter the phrase (i.e., your website link), the desired shortcut (i.e., idba), and save it.

    Adding website link to iOS Text Replacement

    Save the link to a third-party keyboard clipboard

    The Apple keyboard on iPhone and iPad doesn’t have a clipboard section like the stock keyboard on most Android phones. However, if you’re willing to switch from Apple’s iOS keyboard to the wonderful SwiftKey (which I have been using on my iPhone for the last 11 years), then you can save your frequently used text, like important web links, to its own clipboard and access it in just a few taps when typing.

    1) Download and set up SwiftKey on your iPhone or iPad.

    2) Copy the website address you want to save to the keyboard’s clipboard. Then, open the SwiftKey app and tap Settings > Clipboard > Add a new clip. Now, paste the URL here and tap Done.

    Adding new website link to SwiftKey clipboard on iPhone

    3) In the future, when you’re typing and need to enter this website address quickly, tap the text field to open the keyboard. Then, touch and hold the globe key on the Apple keyboard to switch to SwiftKey if not already.

    4) Now, tap the four-square icon in the SwiftKey keyboard, select Clipboard from the bottom, and tap the URL to enter it in the typing field.

    Using SwiftKey Clipboard on iPhone

    Add to a pinned note and share it

    You can add the website link to a note in the Apple Notes app and then pin it to the top. When you need to share this URL, touch and hold the note, tap Share, make sure it says ‘Send Copy‘ on the iOS Share Sheet, and choose Messages, Mail, WhatsApp, or some other option as needed.

    Pinning and sharing a note from iPhone

    Leave the web page always open in a web browser

    This one is obvious. You can leave that webpage open in Safari and copy the link from there whenever needed. But note that the open tab may get lost among other website tabs. So, what I do is:

    • Pin the important website in Safari. And copy its link by touching and holding the pinned strip.
    • Leave the website open in a secondary Safari Tab Group so it’s not hidden by other websites you visit.
    • Leave the website open in another, rarely used browser, such as Google Chrome or Firefox.
    Copying pinned website in Safari on iPhone

    Add it to the browser start page so you can copy it quickly

    I’ve also added the important website to the Start Page in Safari and Chrome. Whenever I need to grab its link for sharing, I just touch and hold the website icon to copy its URL.

    Favorite websites in Safari and Chrome start page on iPhone

    Add the link to the Notes app widget on the Home Screen

    The next best way to quickly save and access your frequently used website or other text is to add it to the Apple Notes app, and then show that specific note as a Home Screen widget. The widget will allow you to open that note with one tap, which is handy if you have a large number of notes. Once you’re inside the note, copy the URL as you normally would.

    Custom note in Notes app Home Screen widget on iPhone

    Look for link-saving options in specific apps like WhatsApp Business

    The final method to save your most-used links for quick access on iPhone is to check if such an option is available in the app you use.

    For instance, if you often send your product or website link to potential customers on WhatsApp, use the ‘Quick replies’ feature in the WhatsApp Business app. Then, you can enter the link by typing a small two- or three-letter shortcut.

    Quick replies in WhatsApp Business app on iPhone

    If you’re on a Mac

    Using the built-in Text Replacement keyboard feature (already mentioned above) is one of the best ways to save and enter a link quickly in Messages, Mail, Slack, Teams, web browsers, or other documents on your Mac.

    The next best method is to use a menu bar note-taking app, such as Tyke, Quick Draft, or Side Note. This will allow you to copy the website address directly from the top menu bar, without having to switch apps.

    Tyke app on Mac

    And finally, you can leave the website URL open in an app like Apple Notes, Klipped, or Antinote, and then copy it from there when needed. Just remember to open this note each time you restart your computer. In case you decide to use the Antinote app (also available with Setapp), go to its settings and enable “Auto-copy selected text.” This will allow you to copy the URL simply by selecting the text – no manual copying required.

    Auto-copy selected text in Antinote app on Mac

    Which method will you be using to save and access your important web links quickly?

    Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/08/22/how-to-save-links-for-quick-access-ios-mac/

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    Why pay $20 to rent when $25 buys you “F1: The Movie” forever?

    Apple is charging high prices to purchase or rent its “F1: The Movie” blockbuster hit, which makes theater popcorn look like a bargain, but that’s actually nothing new.

    You can purchase or rent the movie in the TV app on the iPhone, iPad and Mac; just use the in-app search function to find the title and land on its page, then use the prominent “Buy” and “Rent” buttons. These high prices may return to normal levels once the theatrical run is over, at which time “F1: the Movie” may be available to stream on Apple TV+ for free. Apple also released the official soundtrack to the film on Apple Music.

    This isn’t the only Apple Original Film available to purchase or rent through the TV app. A few older Apple TV+ titles, including “CODA,” “On the Rocks” and “Greyhound,” are also available to purchase or rent at standard prices ($15 purchase, $4 rental).

    And we’re calling it “premium video on demand”

    Apple charging theater prices (without theater popcorn) to stay home is nothing new. This has been the company’s approach when it comes to early releases for theatrical films offered on the iTunes Store for years now. Back when digital movie distribution hadn’t really taken off in a big way, it was Steve Jobs who predicted that the industry would eventually offer at-home access to movies that are still playing in theaters at a high premium.

    At the 2010 AllThingsD conference (Jobs’s final public appearances), the legendary Apple co-founder told moderator Walt Mossberg: “I even think that there’s going to be a way to watch a first-run movie at home before it comes out on DVD if you’re willing to spend a bunch of money.” When Mossberg asked, “A bunch of money?”, Jobs repeated: “A bunch of money.”

    Apple has since offered early home rentals of blockbuster films at premium prices. Typically, Apple charges anywhere from $25–$50 for early-release rentals, depending on the title and provider, and “F1: the Movie” is the latest flick to join that trend. The flick starring Brad Pitt generated more than $500 million at the box office worldwide, becoming Apple’s most successful original film to date.

    The company may also be looking to capitalize on the “F1” success by potentially moving to secure the rights to stream Formula 1 on Apple TV+ in the United States starting with the 2026 season.

    Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/08/22/apple-purchase-rent-f1-movie-early-release/