Monthly Mini-Bytes - September 2022

 

Know Where Your Stuff Is Before the cloud, before every device synced with everything else, before your car sent you texts, or your refrigerator notified you that you were low on oat milk, knowing where your information lived was easy. You could point to the computer in the corner and there it all was, on hard disk, floppy disk, tape backups, and stacks of external drives. Your data was with you and within your sphere of control. You knew where your pictures were. You knew where all your documents and files sat. No matter how disorganized you were, it really didn't matter, because it was all there somewhere in your physical control. Then came the cloud. The cloud is hungry. The cloud likes to eat your information and throw it all over the internet with iCloud, Google Drive, Box, DropBox, OneDrive, and any multitude of storage platforms that litter cyberspace.  Looking for a picture? Is it on iCloud, on your phone, copied up to DropBox, or just living in a text thread on an old iPad? Need those financial spreadsheets, and which version? Is your accounting software living online or backing up to the cloud? What happened to that manifesto you've been working on since graduate school? Don't point to the computer. It all may not be there, but sitting in a server in who-knows-where and maintained by strangers with little regard for your precious files. Fine, but how do you fight back? How do you wrangle control of your data, files, and life back from Mr. Cloud and his hungry appetite. Well, it's as easy as knowing where your stuff is. Here is how to start: Check Your Subscriptions - Most cloud services want to charge you, so take a look at ones that you subscribe to. Check iCloud, DropBox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, as they are the biggest. Log on and see what is up there. Take Inventory of Your Computer - How your computer is organized and what applications are installed is a good place to start, as even though all your data may not be there, it most likely was at one point. It was the nexus, so take inventory, see what you are using, and make some decisions on how to organize things and what you may or may not need. Verify Your iCloud Settings - Mr. iCloud will sign you up for all types of storage. Go to your iCloud settings to see exactly what you are pushing up online.

Which Apple Watch is Right for You? Apple just announced three new watches: the Apple Watch Series 8, a new Apple Watch SE, and the big Apple Watch Ultra. Trying to decide between these three can be difficult, but here are some tips to help. First, it's important to note that all three Apple Watches are smart watches. They are not sport watches. They have some sport tracking features, but all are dependent on the iPhone and are not designed to ultimately operate by themselves. They are an extension of the iPhone. They are also packed with "smart" features where you can text, read email, and even talk on the phone.  Sport watches like those from Garmin, Polar, and Coros, are laser focused on battery life, workout data, and the ability to connect to just about every workout sensor imaginable. They also give you the ability to drill down to your workout data and even export it to a coach. These sport watches do not need a phone to operate as they work independently. Many have battery life of up to a month of use, which is far beyond any Apple Watch. So understanding that, it makes it easier to narrow down which Apple Watch would work for your situation. First, the Apple Watch SE is excellent, and if you don't need all the sensors, then it can be a fine option. Most will opt for the Apple Watch Series 8, but if you want a bigger screen and more battery life, the Ultra does really well. With regard to activity, it's important to choose wisely, and gathering workout data with GPS on the Apple Watch really chews through the battery. If you participate in activities of 2 hours or less, then the Apple Watch Series 8 or SE will serve you well. If your activities approach 4 to 6 hours, then the Apple Watch Ultra is a must, as the others will not have the battery life over the long haul. And if your efforts go over 6 hours or multiple days, then you may want to look into a dedicated sport watch from the likes of Garmin, Polar, Coros, or Suunto. To learn more about the new Apple Watches visit: https://www.apple.com/watch/

Apple Introduces Emergency Satellite SOS on iPhone 14

Apple has found a way with the new iPhone 14 to connect to satellites in emergency situations where cellular coverage is not available. This is an emergency-only feature and requires an iPhone 14 (Pro, Max) and only works in the U.S and Canada below 62 degrees latitude.  This is a really neat upgrade, and for those of us who live out West among big swaths of poor phone reception, it's a great idea. Please keep in mind that this is not the same as the SPOT devices or the InReaches from Garmin. They are full-featured satellite communicators, where Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite is only for specific situations. To learn more visit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426