Monthly Mini-Bytes - December 2023

 

Apple Stops Selling Apple Watches What? Yes, it's true. Apple will stop selling their latest versions of the Apple Watch beginning on December 21st. This means if you want an Apple Watch Series 9 or an Ultra 2 you better get over to Apple and pick one up.  The reason for the halt is a patent dispute for the blood oxygen sensor. Yes, other watch brands have had these for years, and Apple is not the first to the party -- they are actually the last, but somehow they infringed on a patent. To learn more, visit: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/18/apple-watch-import-ban-software-fix/

iOS 17.3 New Security "Feature" It seems that every time a tech company tries to make our devices more "secure" they just make it more difficult for us to use it. Enter Apple's Stolen Device Protection that will be an option in the upcoming iOS 17.3 release. On the surface it sounds like a good idea. Stolen Device Protection will require additional authentication to use certain features and access passwords when you are away from a "known" location. But Apple will need to know your "known" typical locations, leading to privacy concerns. How is that secure? And if you travel a lot or roam around the valley from place to place like we do, it could make it inconvenient at best to access content, change passwords, or whatever. Great... I guess in iOS 17.4 Apple will introduce a feature that disables our phones when we leave our houses. I mean that would be super extra secure. Or maybe you will have to change your password after changing your password before updating your passcode. It's an idea. I'll send Tim a DM. All of this is just whipped cream on you know what. Security is much more basic than this, and mucking up the works with more and more layers of double dutch authentication is just going to make life harder for the typical user. Adding complication makes it less likely that people will try any security measure, making their devices even less secure.  Here are three tips to keep your iPhone secure. They are simple, and anyone can do them: Put a Passcode on Your iPhone and enable TouchID or FaceID Maintain Physical Control of your iPhone - Don't just lay it around anywhere. Keep it in your hand, or in your pocket, or your purse. Don't lay it on the bar for people to steal. Lock Down Your iCloud Account - Have a strong password and two-factor authentication. You can use this as a back door to lock your iPhone if it is ever stolen. If you have to put in your passcode out in public, do it privately just like you would with your PIN at an ATM. The good news is that Stolen Device Protection is an optional feature in iOS 17.3 so you can make the decision if you want to enable it or not. To learn more, visit: https://9to5mac.com/2023/12/12/apple-stolen-device-protection-for-iphone-how-it-works/

Apple Shipping Delays

For the past several weeks we are aware of Apple orders being delayed. Some of this could be as a result of the holidays or production delays, but if you put in an order for a new Apple device, just know that delivery has been more tortoise than hare.

Monthly Mini-Bytes October 2023

 

Are Things Really Getting Easier? Since personal computing began there has been a push to make things easier and more accessible. If you sit down at an old Apple II compared to the Macs of today you will be amazed at how far things have come. Developers have been working hard to make computing less technical and more approachable, but has making things easier actually made them more difficult? For this I would have to say yes. In order to make things easier, programmers need to put more code and additional software between you and what you want to do on the computer. Installing a new printer now means downloading the manufacturer's app and struggling through that before you can get to installing and actually using the printer. On paper to an executive approving this garbage, it looks like a sensible plan, but this man-in-the-middle approach ends up adding additional complexity. For those engineers out there it is widely known that complexity introduces problems of reliability. Look at those Jaguar engines of the early 80s with all their moving parts. They were the most complex engines ever built, and wrought with problems. The same can be said about today's computers. We have asked our computers, phones, tablets, and all this other tech to do more and more things. Developers then pile on the functionality with little apps and features that you use to access them. And there is no way they can test every single iteration of what they are creating. It leaves us with a jumbled mess of looping login screens, one-time use apps that clutter our phones, and agreeing to terms and conditions just when we want to order something at a restaurant. And things are not going to get better anytime soon. Doing more than the other guy is the theme of the week and therefore we need to adjust our expectations so we don't get frustrated. Here are three tips for you: 1.) Begin With the End in Mind: Before anything, figure out what you are going to do. Determine your goal and set your path toward that goal. Do you need to send a picture? If the path seems too complicated, try to simplify the solution. You don't need a new app or login or any of that. It may mean using webmail or waiting until you get home to get on your computer.  2.) Seek Simplicity: None of this needs to be complicated. If it seems difficult then there is a better way. Apple cut its teeth on making things simple so "Think Different" and don't settle for a convoluted way to your goal. 3.) Just Say No: You don't need a new app. You don't need a new login. You don't need to give them your cell phone number. You don't need to commit yourself to another password. Go to Rules 1 and 2 and reset. ...and remember, you can always ask for a paper menu.

M3 Powered iMacs May Be Around the Corner The current 24-inch iMac is still running on the original M1 chip. If you have been waiting to upgrade the rumor is that Apple will be announcing a new iMac with the upgraded M3 chip on October 30th. They have posted an event link on their website. They should also be upgrading that one M1 MacBook Pro to the M3, but we will have to wait until the 30th to find out. https://www.apple.com/apple-events/

iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10

All three updates for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch have been out for over a month now and they are very good and probably the most stable updates that Apple has done for a long time. Your devices may have already auto-updated, but if you want to update things seem to be good from what we have seen and experienced. As always, make sure that you backup your devices before upgrading. Once you do upgrade, keep in mind that you cannot fall back to an earlier version, so make sure you are ready. To learn more about iOS 17 visit: https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-17/ For iPad OS 17 check out: https://www.apple.com/ipados/ipados-17/ watchOS 10 info is here: https://www.apple.com/watchos/watchos-10/

Monthly Mini-Bytes - September 2023

 

iPhone 15 or 15 Pro Well, it's September and that means it's time for new iPhones. Yes, the new models look a lot like the older phones. Apple didn't introduce a foldable or make any major change in form factor, but under the hood there are a decent amount of changes to make the iPhone 15 Pro a very attractive update for owners of older models. If you have an iPhone 14 Pro, the differences may be small, but if you are on a standard iPhone or something like an iPhone 8, etc., the iPhone 15 Pro could be a good choice. Recently since Apple went to the "Pro" models, it's been hard for us to justify the additional costs for most users, but this year it is different. The iPhone 15 Pro is $200 more than the regular 15, but hosts a bunch of features that cost way more than the price bump. First, the 15 Pros are made of titanium, which is a very expensive metal and very difficult to work with. Second, they boast a much better camera system, a faster next generation processor, and with the new USB-C port allow for data connections that match desktop computers. In addition, the Pros have longer battery life than the standard 15s. All of this makes the iPhone 15 Pro the best value in Apple's lineup, despite being the flagship phone. To learn more about the iPhone 15 Pro visit: https://www.apple.com/iphone-15-pro/

macOS Sonoma is Here, but Wait to Update The latest iteration of macOS has dropped. macOS Sonoma is out and even though your computer may be begging you to update, just wait. OS updates like this always have some type of annoying issues that usually get taken care of in a later release. Let everyone else be the guinea pigs, and just standby and wait a month or more until jumping in the pool. If you are on macOS Big Sur note that with the release of Sonoma it is no longer supported by Apple. You need to be running at least Monterey, Ventura, or Sonoma, but again wait for Sonoma. If you are on Big Sur, but would rather update to one of the other systems, they are still available from Apple. This support page has links to those versions of macOS in the App Store: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

iOS 17 and iPadOS 17

The number 17 updates for the iPhones and iPads are out. Despite my usual advice I went and updated since I have an older phone and at the time really didn't care. But I am here to tell you right now that iOS 17 is... okay. It has some interesting features and has been stable for me on my iPad Pro 10.5 inch and also my iPhone Xs. Your mileage may vary, but if you inadvertently updated, it doesn't appear as bumpy as the updates in the past.  To learn more about iOS 17 visit: https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-17/ For iPad OS 17 check out: https://www.apple.com/ipados/ipados-17/

Monthly Mini-Bytes - August 2023

 

Clutter in Your Photos Database Photos is a great app. It consolidates all of your pictures in one place, makes them searchable, easy to share, and with iCloud Photo Library takes the stress out of transferring photos and videos from your iPhone. But with convenience comes clutter. I took a look and I have 27,000+ photos in my Photos app. I don't take a lot of pictures, but WOW did that thing fill up. And a ton if it is garbage. Photos of cabinets, garage doors, broken gates, an old air conditioner, the shower before we re-grouted the tile, gas pumps, and all types of random uselessness fill it up. Sure most of what is in there are great memories, but so much is just junk. I bet I'm not the only one, so here are some tips to clean out the garbage. The Photos app has several different sorting features so you can quickly find photos that you no longer need or want. You can access these sorts from the left-hand column, or using the View -> Photos drop-down menu. Places: Select this sort to find photos by where they were taken. It's a simple way to drill down to those photos of a long completed construction site and just get rid of them. It also allows you to discover photos from trips and events that you can group into albums or share with family and friends. Duplicates: This sort is self-explanatory. This will show you all the duplicates and allow you to unburden your database of the additional clutter. People: Well, this one could be kinda harsh, but if you want to search and delete photos related to a specific person, this is where you can begin. But the good news is that digital clutter doesn't make your computer slower or your phone heavier. It's just clutter and sometimes cleaning it out can be a good thing.

System Updates Are On the Horizon Along with the announcement of new products, Apple will also be releasing the latest versions of its iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and macOS. That's a lot of OSes! As always we do not recommend being an early-adopter. Despite the desperate pleas of your computer and devices, wait a few weeks before updating.

New iPhones On The Way

It's that time of year again and Apple is set to announce a whole host of refreshed products on September 12th. This means if you are in the market for an iPhone or Apple Watch we would recommend waiting to see what they will have to offer. It will also mean that older models will still be available at a lower price. Outside of the new iPhones and Apple Watches, no one is expecting anything else, although I wouldn't be surprised if they announce the iMac with the M2 Chip.

Monthly Mini-Bytes - July 2023

 

You Don't Have a Virus The scammers are out in force and they want you to know right here right now that you have a virus and you need to call their fake Apple number right away or all of your data will be deleted, your car won't start, and all the food in your fridge will go bad. Pop-ups, emails, and texts are their weapons of choice and they desperately want you to think that you have a virus so that they can take your money. Yes, there are Mac viruses, but they are extremely rare as they are incredibly difficult to create and all involve granting permission to your computer or device. It's so much easier just to trick you into thinking that you have a virus. One of the most popular ways they can trick you is to get you to sign up for notifications in Safari. These notifications can then look like they are coming from your system and will keep popping up tempting you to click on them. At that point you can be lead to fake websites, offers for software, or any number of troubles. To remedy this, let's just get rid of all Safari notifications. Here is what to do: Open Safari and go to the Safari drop-down menu next to the Apple in the upper-left. Choose Preferences or Settings (it's different depending on the version). Select Websites and on the left column scroll down to Notifications. If you have any then remove them all. Uncheck the option at the bottom to allow websites to ask. They can mind their own business.

A Quick Word on A.I. The most powerful people in the world are those that work in marketing. They can bend, shape, and twist the truth until we all read from the same script as they pry us away from our money. A.I or Artificial Intelligence is just the latest case of calling something one thing that is merely something else. Good thing you found this article. The A.I. of today is not true Artificial Intelligence. First, all current A.I. is based on binary computers. That's right. The supposed A.I. of today can only see things as black or white, yes or no, one or zero, or any similar absolute. It cannot extrapolate based on the complex quantum possibilities that the human mind can do in a few milliseconds. Current A.I. is nothing more than a sophisticated search engine. It's just a data query that can only search and create output based on what a human has programmed into it. Yes, A.I. is limited to how it is programmed by a person, and people are fallible, biased, and oftentimes don't share the same perspectives as another sitting just next to them on a bus. Don't get me wrong. A.I. has some interesting applications and it is an advancement that can be ground breaking, but It's not the real deal. Not until we are able to perfect quantum computing will we even be in the realm of possibly creating a sentient machine. Until then we'll have to be happy with A.I. self-driving cars creating a traffic jam as they can't figure out what to do next as they weren't programmed that way.

The New M3 iMac May Be Here Soon

Apple is set to announce a whole host of new devices in September and one of them may be a refreshed iMac with the new M3 chip. This is a big deal, since the current iMac is one of the last machines to run the M1 processor. If you are in the market for a new iMac and you have the luxury of waiting, we recommend that you wait until September to see if the new machine is unveiled.

Monthly Mini-Bytes - June 2023

 

Let's Talk About Apple Vision Pro At this month's World Wide Developer Conference Apple introduced the most technologically advanced virtual reality headset ever made for public consumption. It is an astonishing device, well thought out, and offers features that no other comparable headset has. It is brilliant, but who is this for? First, the price puts this out of reach for most people. It starts at $3500, meaning there will be more expensive configurations. That is a lot of money, and with that money you could purchase a Mac, iPhone, and iPad if you are a savvy shopper. That's a full suite of Apple products. It is isolating by its nature. This is something only one person can use at a time. When technology is moving to be more collaborative, it is an interesting shift away from creating a community. The Apple Vision Pro only has about two hours of battery, and that battery is external to the headset, meaning it would need to be clipped to a belt or placed in a pocket. And it is heavy. One pound may not seem like a lot, but all that weight hangs off the front of your head. Early users noted that it does get tiring wearing it for more than an hour. But who is this for? What is it supposed to replace? Apple's presentation at WWDC didn't answer this. They did not present a use case for a device that starts at $3500. Wendy and I have talked a lot about the Apple Vision Pro and we can't honestly figure out what problem it is trying to solve. The iPhone expanded the way we use our phones. The iPad let us leave our laptops behind, and the Apple Watch extended the features of the iPhone and presented new ways to interact from fitness to ApplePay purchasing. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Apple Vision Pro. Right now it looks like a solution looking for a problem, and at such a high cost Apple won't get those who are simply curious and would purchase it on a whim. Of course, I could be wrong and maybe in 18 months everybody will be walking around Whole Foods with one of these things on their heads. Only time will tell. For more information about the Apple Vision Pro, visit: https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

The 15-Inch MacBook Air is Here! Apple did it! They released a super-sized version of their powerful M2 MacBook Air. The 15-Inch model was announced at WWDC and it's just as good as the 13-inch, only with more... And more is always better.  If you are looking for a new Apple laptop and are not involved in heavy video editing and complex 3D modeling, then the M2 MacBook Airs should absolutely be on your short list. There's no need to invest in the more expensive MacBook Pro for most folks. To find out more, visit: https://www.apple.com/macbook-air-13-and-15-m2/

Summer Time Is Hot! Protect Your Devices

All Apple products have an acceptable operating range with respect to temperature, and here in Arizona summer time temps go way beyond them. Talking outside in 110 degree heat on an iPhone is not a good idea. Don't leave MacBooks or other devices in hot cars, and even AirPods are sensitive to high temps. Linked below are three FAQs from Apple to help you out. MacBooks: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201640 iPhones and iPads: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201678 AirPods:https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211884

Monthly Mini-Bytes - May 2023

 

Do You Need a Password Manager? I want to break this conversation up between business and personal use. There is a strong case for the use of password managers in a business situation where multiple people need to access certain accounts. There is audit-ability and a good professional grade password manager can do a lot to save time and actually boost security. But if it is just you and only you and your stuff, then it is a totally different picture. First realize that you already have a password manager. It is you. Look in the mirror. There is your password manager. That password manager needs to have a system first and foremost before considering any third party solution. Whether it is a spreadsheet, notebook, or whatever, you need to have a system to record and save your passwords. Once that is complete and you have a good system, you can begin to consider a third-party password manager to use in parallel to your system. It has to be in parallel in the case you lose access to the password manager account. But there are some very important things to consider. By saving all of your passwords with one business, you are giving them all the keys to your entire online life. Do you trust them? They may wax poetic about security and encryption, but at the end of the day you are trusting them, their employees, and whoever eventually buys that company with all of your passwords. Needless to say we are not big fans of third-party password managers for individuals. There have been breaches and it seems just too risky. iCloud Keychain, which is built in to the macOS ecosystem, shares your passwords between your devices. It is secured behind your iCloud, but even with this we don't recommend saving bank, investment, or any other similar passwords. There is no easy way to deal with passwords. You just have to cope with them and have a good system that works for you. The easier it is for you the easier it is for the bad guys to get in to your accounts. Passwords are frustrating and just something modern technology users have to accept.

Tips for Using Maps and GPS It's summer, which means it's travel season, and maps and GPS will be used liberally over the next several months so we can all get to our destinations, But there are important things to keep in mind when using your GPS or maps to navigate. 1.) Trust But Verify - When choosing your destination don't trust the app to be correct. Cross reference by using something different. For example you can look up the address in Apple Maps and then compare in Google Maps. The data is only as good as the people programming it and mistakes are made. You can also call the destination to confirm their address, directions, and any nearby landmarks. 2.) Know Your Route - After picking your destination, don't just set out on your way. Look at the route. Oftentimes the one chosen for you may not be the best, can lead you down some iffy roads, or may be more stressful. Understanding where you are going is imperative. There are horror stories about people ending up stuck down dirt roads because they just followed the GPS directions. Be an active participant in your route planning. 3.) Go Analog - When traveling you absolutely must have a paper map or atlas. They don't need batteries, always work, and are an excellent backup to cross-verify your app or GPS unit.

Possible 15-Inch M2 MacBook Air

The MacBook Air used to be Apple's entry-level computer, but with the M2 chip and the total redesign it is far from entry-level in performance. In fact the M2 MacBook Air is incredibly powerful and enough computer for most normal users, and can even handle light video-editing and graphics. The big news is that Apple may be announcing a 15-Inch version, which would be fantastic. The larger screen at a lower price-point then the 16-Inch MacBook Pro would be a great option for those looking for something with more real estate. The announcement, if it does happen, will be at the World Wide Developers Conference on June 5th

Monthly Mini-Bytes - April 2023

 

The Trinity of Security We get asked a lot: "Is it safe?" Well, no. It's not. Not really. The Internet is a seedy place and it mainly has three functions: to steal your money, your time, and your sanity. It is filled with scammers and crooks, and is akin to the worst neighborhood that you wandered into at one-thirty in the morning. But we need the Internet. It's how we do business, keep up with current events, pay our bills, and connect with friends and family. We can't just disconnect completely. It's not reasonable, so we all need to take common sense precautions. Security is not automatic. It takes work and discipline, but knowing the three biggies of the so-called Trinity of Security you will go a long way to protecting yourself and your data. #1 - Your Phone Your iPhone is not just a phone, it is the master key to all of your passwords. It allows you to confirm your identity, reset passwords, and proves to apps far and wide that you are who you say you are. The Wall Street Journal has been covering the latest scam where crooks observe you entering your phone passcode. Then they swipe your phone, and since they have the passcode, get in and lock you out of everything. With the phone unlocked they can now use it to complete multi-factor authentication and gain access to bank accounts and the like. What do you need to do? Keep your phone secure. Use FaceID or TouchID and have a passcode. Also, don't enter your passcode in a public place. Be discreet about it. If you'd like to watch the Wall Street Journal reports, here are the YouTube links: https://youtu.be/QUYODQB_2wQ https://youtu.be/tCfb9Wizq9Q #2 - Your Email Just like your iPhone, your email is a big dangly ring of keys that can be used to prove your identity, reset passwords, and complete multi-factor authentication. Lock it down! Use a reputable email provider Enable Two Factor Authentication Setup recovery options (passkeys, other phone number and emails) And if you haven't changed your password in 10 years, then change it right away. Don't make it easy to remember, because if it is, it will be easy for the crooks to guess. #3 - Bank & Investment Account Passwords You need to keep your bank and investment account passwords secure. They need to be complex and hard to guess. You also should enable two-factor authentication, setup recovery options, and enable all the alerts that you can. If your bank account gets breached, banks are not super helpful. You must be vigilant, and those passwords need to be complex and hard to guess. If you can remember them, they are too easy. Being safe and secure takes work and commitment. It requires good, strong passwords with a method to record and keep them safe. It means keeping your iPhone secure, and changing that email password if it is too simple, too old, or both.

Which Streaming Device is Best for You? When it comes to streaming, there are a multitude of devices out there. There are smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, AppleTV, and others. But the biggest question is which one is best for you, or moreover, which one just works the best? Hey, we are all Apple people here. We are invested in the ecosystem with the iPhones, iPads, and computers. It just makes sense to stream using the AppleTV. It adheres to all the rigid standards that Apple puts on its products. The apps need to adhere to the same processes for testing and coding as does anything else at the App Store. The AppleTV out of all of the devices is the one that will work hand and hand with your iPhone, and that alone makes it easier to set up and log into apps. To find out more about the AppleTV, visit: https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-4k/

Spring Cleaning Your Downloads Folder

It's not just you. Most people neglect to clean out their Downloads folder. It gets cluttered with pictures, documents, receipts, memes, and old installers. It can take up a lot of space on your hard drive, so this April get in there and clean it out. We'd recommend sorting through the contents to make sure there aren't any pictures or important documents. If there are, move them to somewhere else on your hard drive. To get to your Downloads folder, open a Finder window and choose if from the list on the left.