Monthly Mini-Bytes - April 2025

 

Regular, Pro, Max or Ultra? Which Chip is Right for You? So you decided on a new Mac, and if you have a machine that still has an Intel processor, then that is a good decision. But the array of choices out there is daunting. There's the M3 Ultra, M4 Pro, M4, M3, and every other variant in between. Choosing wrong can cost you money and productivity. The good news is that it's a lot easier than you think! Let's break it down... Typical Use If you use your Mac for basic functions like mail, surfing the internet, using Apple Photos, or even good old Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, then the standard M-series chip is more than enough to meet your needs. Whether you choose a Mac with a basic M3 or M4 processor it will be able to handle the daily grind of use for many years to come. More Demanding Apps If you use Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom then the Pro level chips would be the ones to consider. The M3 or M4 Pro can even handle video editing, but if you are looking at running intensive effects apps, then you may want to level up. If you are using Final Cut Pro, then this is the minimum processor. Video Editing and Graphic Design The Max series is the workhorse of the Apple chips. It is the one to get if you do intensive video editing with apps like Premier Pro and After Effects. It's also the one we recommend for design in Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD, or SketchUp. 3D Modeling, Game Design, AI Generative Processes The M-Series Ultra chips are two Max chips fused together. They are immensely powerful and can handle demanding 3D Modeling, AI Generative Work, 3D Graphics, and just about anything that runs on a Mac today. They are expensive, but if your workflow demands an Ultra then it's always best to have the right tool for the job. No matter what M-Series you choose, they all are much more powerful and capable than the Intel Macs of just a few years ago.

iPhone Battery Replacement: Is it Worth It?

Let's just all agree that the iPhone has been stuck in a rut. It hasn't changed very much since the iPhone X, and if you have a 12 or a 13 you may be wondering if it would be worth it to replace your weak battery, or just jump in on a new iPhone. Both Wendy and I have had batteries replaced by Apple with our older phones, and it was a flawless and relatively inexpensive experience. It generally costs less than $100 and sets the phone up for several more years of use.  We only recommend getting your iPhone battery replaced with Apple. To learn about the process and to figure our what it would cost, visit: https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/battery-replacement

The Heat is Coming! Protect Your iPhone

With Spring in full swing, the temperatures are climbing, and keeping your iPhone from overheating should be on your mind. Did you know that the iPhone is only rated to 95 degrees? That's it, and that's the low temperature for us in Phoenix in the summer... at least it seems that way. Check out this FAQ from Apple about what to do if your iPhone gets too hot: https://support.apple.com/en-us/118431

The Micro-Byte - April 2025

 

A.I. Voice Spoofing is Here

As if we didn't have enough to worry about with all the SPAM, phishing, spoofing, stuffing, cracking, hacking, and all the rest of the nefarious techniques that the bad guys have dreamed up to steal our money, identity, and sanity. Now we have to worry about A.I. Voice Spoofing. This new technique is especially scary as it only takes a short voice sample to build a model. With A.I. Voice Spoofing, the scammers build a model that sounds just like the voice of your son, daughter, aunt, uncle, boss, or co-worker. This A.I. bot calls you in a panic asking most often for money or a version of help that will send you down a rabbit hole that will compromise your data and security. The voice can interact with you just like a real person. It is a massive concern right now, but just like with the scams over text and email, there are ways you can protect yourself. Call the Person Back When you get a call from one of these A.I. Bots, they will try to scare you to react. The easiest thing to do is call the person back on their personal number. This is a number that you know and have used before for this individual. Do not call back the number this bot gives you. It's the simplest way to verify that you are talking with the actual person. Ask a Personal Question We've all seen this one in the movies. Ask this bot a question only the other person would know the answer to. It's not 100% since the bot may have scraped some info from social media, but at least it is another way to confirm that you are speaking with a real person. Have a Code Word This is easiest for family, but have a code word that is used to authenticate who the person is. You can ask for the code word very quickly even in a panicked phone call to verify identity. Ask a Question You can also ask a question expecting a wrong answer, like, "Is Erica okay?" For the person on the other line, supposedly, they don't know an Erica, so if you get a "Yes" you know it's a faker. The good news in all of this is that these A.I. Voice Spoofers are new. Building the models takes some time, so right now targets are very specific and high profile. But over the next few years it will be easier to pull a scam like this together. Still, being aware right now, and developing a plan to handle them is a good idea for all of us.