Back to School: Breathe New Life Into An Old Mac
A New Machine, You May Not Need
I just bought this, you think to yourself. And yes, as we get older five years doesn't seem like that much time, but with technology it is a century... sort of. Sure, the kids at the Apple Store are more than willing to hook you up with a shiny new Mac with all the trimmings, but do you really need to spend the money right now, or is there another option.
"There is!" he exclaims, as he heads over to the Internet to get what he needs. But what? And where? And will it really help?
It can. If you have a MacBook Pro running an iSeries Intel Processor (Mid-2010 or newer) or an iMac (2009 or newer with the iSeries) than you can simply purchase more RAM and a Solid State Hard Drive. The bottleneck with these older machines is the Hard Drive, and with the Solid State (SSD for the hipsters) your old machine will be almost as snappy as a new one... almost. Keep in mind that the upgrade for the MacBook Pro is easier than the iMac, which is a bear to take apart.
How about you Mac Pro pros? If you have an Early 2009 or better you can pop in some Solid States for a jump on the fast lane of awesomeness. But, you will need to purchase an adapter to make them fit.
To peruse prices and options, check out Crucial.com: http://www.crucial.com
New iPhone Rumors
Here we go again!
Did you just step up and purchase an iPhone 6? Well, Apple is about to push you down to second string with the announcement and release of the newest iPhone which will probably be called the 6s. I recommended calling the new iPhone "Tony," but Apple hasn't returned my calls. Hmmm....
Here are the big facts that everyone seems to agree on:
- Force Touch - This technology first introduced itself on a display with the Apple Watch. Basically, it is a pressure sensitive screen with a tactile feedback rumble. You can see what CNET says about it here: http://www.cnet.com/news/what-force-touch-could-do-for-the-next-iphones-and-ipads/
- It Will Be Thicker - Rumors are about 2mm thicker to handle the Force Touch Display.
- Better Camera, Faster Processor... normal generational improvements.
Apple will be announcing the new phone in September. Me? I'm still rolling with my iPhone 5s and am hoping that they will come out with a smaller phone.
Oh yeah, to read more on the rumors, check out Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/iphone-6s-rumors-release-363648
Apple CarPlay
The Power of Your iPhone in the Car
If you are like Wendy and I, our built-in car tech is buggy and frustrating. Sometimes I think it would be faster and simpler to pull off the road, find a pay phone, and make a call that way. Music? I can't keep the turntable from skipping in the Jeeps.
Well now there is Apple CarPlay. It is available from a number of different car companies and can come in aftermarket head units. It gives you seamless access to the content and capabilities of your iOS driven iPhone. Read all about it here: http://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/