Monday, October 29, 2018

October 2018 - Technology Mini-Bytes

macOS 10.14 Mojave is a Good Update
The latest version of the Mac operating system was released about a month ago, and of course I downloaded and installed it a few microseconds after it was released. Wendy and I have been on it for the past several weeks, we are very impressed. Apple did a very good job with this update and the stability so far has been excellent. If you are thinking about updating your Mac, here are a few things to know:
  1. Do a Backup First: Always, always, always do a backup before updating your operating system. If you are not backing up, now is the time to start.
  2. Check Your Computer's Compatibility: Here's the bad news... if your computer is older than mid-2012, you will not be able to update, unless you have one of the pricier Mac Pros (most don't). If this is the case, then it may be time for a new machine.
  3. Check Your 3rd Party Software: Not all software has been updated yet to work well with macOS Mojave. If you rely on a piece of software, just check with the developer at their website to see if macOS 10.14 is supported.
  4. Microsoft Office 2011: Microsoft ended support for Office 2011 with respect to it running in macOS 10.13, and Mojave is now one generation newer. It may work, but it has broken for many. If you do decide to update to Mojave, you will need to get a new version of Office, or switch to Apple's built in suite of productivity apps -- Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

To learn more about Mojave: https://www.apple.com/macos/mojave/
To learn more about updating to Mojave: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201475
The iPhone XR is a Real iPhone!
The new 6.1 Inch Apple XR (10 "R") was just released on Friday. There has been a lot of initial criticism that this is a "cheap iPhone." I think any phone that starts at $750 is far from cheap, and by the time you add AppleCare and a case your wallet will be light close to $1,000. But here is the real truth: It's good... actually better than good and the reviews have all echoed this sentiment.

The iPhone XR differs from the iPhone XS in a few distinct areas:
  1. The screen is LCD vs. OLED. This is not a deal-breaker. Every iPhone before the iPhone X had the same screen, and at 6.1 inches it is larger than the one on the iPhone XS.
  2. It only has one rear camera. The camera is very similar to the iPhone 8, but it uses software to mimic the dual lens units on the iPhone XS.
  3. Size: If fits in between the iPhone XS and XS Max.

As for processor, etc., all the internals are similar, which means the iPhone XR at $750 to start is a very good option for someone looking to update to a full screen iPhone with facial recognition.

To learn more about the iPhone XR: https://www.apple.com/iphone-xr/
New Apple Stuff: October 30th Event
On the heels of the iPhone event last month, Apple is holding another on October 30th in Brooklyn. From the rumors they will be possibly announcing new iPad Pros with the iPhone XS form factor, new Mac Minis, and a replacement for the aging MacBook Air. It is hoped they will also announce a new Mac Pro and a refreshed 12-Inch MacBook.

There's not much there, but if you want a link to the event page, here it is: https://www.apple.com/apple-events/
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