August 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Two Device Security Tips for Back to School Keep Your Friends Close, but your iPhone Closer (or iPad) Let's face it: Kids lose stuff at school, but there are a few things that you can do with them to ensure that their iPads and iPhones don't end up in the lost and found... or worse. Put on a Passcode Putting a passcode on your iPhone or iPad is the easiest way to secure it. For iOS 7 users, simply go into Settings -> Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on the iPhone 5s) and create one. Make sure that you write down the code. If ever forgotten, the device needs to be completely wiped and set up from scratch -- all data will be lost. Enable "Find My iPhone/iPad" Go to Settings -> iCloud where you can toggle Find My iPhone/iPad on. This will allow you to log into iCloud.com from any web browser and not only locate your device, but also lock it, display a message, or even erase it completely.

Choosing a New Monitor Sometimes It Hertz Not long ago, I carried around a 17-inch MacBook Pro weighing in at almost seven pounds. It had a big screen and was a wonderful machine overall, but it was cumbersome.  Now, the new 13-inch MacBook Pros are light as a feather and can be easily hooked up to a quality monitor to expand your workspace at the office. I'm typing this article right now staring at my 23-inch Apple Cinema Display. You can have the portability and back-saving weight of a small but powerful laptop, yet the real-estate of the monitor of your choice. Plus, with AirPlay and an Apple TV you can also use your 90-inch 4K curved TV as a display, too. And why wouldn't you want to? But when selecting a monitor, the current myriad of choices can be daunting. There's Full HD, Ultra HD, 2K, 4K, and variations of flavors therein.  PCMag.com has put together an article for graphic designers on choosing the best monitor. Now, many of us don't need a monitor that a high-end designer may use every day, but the article can help you understand all that lies on the external display playing field these days. You can read it here: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2456236,00.asp Passwords, Data Breaches, and You Thoughts and Best Practices By now you all must have heard or read about the massive data breach of 1.2 billion or so usernames and passwords by a Russian hacker group. Unfortunately, news like this over the past year has become more commonplace, although what makes this instance so shocking is the sheer size of the theft.  There's a lot of advice out on the internet as to what you should do to protect yourself from these types of attacks. It boils down to a few common principles: Don't use the same Username and Password with every account. Create secure passwords of at least 8 characters with numbers, letters, and even symbols, if sites allow it. Write down your Usernames and Passwords and keep in a secure location. Change your Usernames and Passwords if you suspect that they have been stolen. Monitor your accounts and email for any funny business. Watch your financial accounts closely, reconcile statements, etc. This article from IT World shares 'Five Ways to Better Protect Your Passwords' that are very easy to implement: http://www.itworld.com/security/430802/russian-hacker-breach-five-ways-better-protect-your-passwords   CNET's Seth Rosenblatt has a different take on the matter, though I'd rather err on the side of caution. You can read his article here: http://www.cnet.com/news/why-you-shouldnt-be-scared-by-the-largest-data-breach/

July 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Extending Battery Life Shocking Tips to Get the Most Out of a Charge Every time I have attended ComicCon in San Diego, the numerous pictures, phone calls, and panel searches on their handy scheduling app drained my battery to zero not long after lunch. Diving for a free outlet to charge really put a crimp on the day, so I have learned different tricks to keep my device alive longer. This is especially of concern as the TSA is now requiring that all battery powered devices be turned on at international airports, prior to being allowed past security.  Kim Komando, who calls herself "America's Digital Goddess," has a really good article on 5 Tips to Extend Your Smartphone or Tablet's Battery Life. You can read the full article here: http://www.komando.com/columns/261736/5-tips-to-extend-your-smartphone-or-tablets-battery-2

iPhone Secrets & Tricks Impress Your Friends and Amaze Your Pets! CNET has a slide show of 20 iPhone Tips You'll Wish You Knew All Along. Chances are that you probably already know many of them from experience, but pulling up time stamps for text messages and the handy level may surprise you. You can read the article here: http://www.cnet.com/pictures/iphone-ios-tips-tricks-hidden-features/ Wired is Not a Four Letter Word How a Wired USB Keyboard and Mouse can Save the Day! Yeah, those Bluetooth devices have such an allure to them. They can do magical things with stealth and invisibility, all wrapped up in a sleek form-factor that can make technology of only a few years ago look like ancient history. But the truth is that the old-school wire, like a handshake and face-to-face meeting, can go a long way to speed productivity and avoid the frustration of down-time. If you own a laptop, you have the benefit of an integrated keyboard and trackpad. But for those iMac, Mac Mini, and Mac Pro users, losing connection to the computer via a dropped Bluetooth connection can be frustrating and time consuming.  Well, the solution is a simple one: Have an old-school USB keyboard and mouse on hand. Many times a Bluetooth device will lose connection and it will need to be reconnected or re-paired. Having a wired USB keyboard and mouse available will make this a breeze. Wendy and I always carry both with us at all times, and they have helped us and our clients on countless occasions. Apple hasn't even abandoned USB keyboards. In fact, when you purchase a new desktop from them you have the option of selecting a wired USB keyboard. In our opinion, this is a very prudent choice as it has distinct advantages over it's Bluetooth counterpart. The USB keyboard never needs batteries, sports a full numeric keypad, and has two USB ports to plug in a USB mouse, flash drives, etc. The Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad can be seen here: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB110LL/B/apple-keyboard-with-numeric-keypad-english-usa  If you need a spare USB wired mouse, just about any one will work. So, go ahead and check the bargain bins at Best Buy or Fry's Electronics if you'd like. Apple does still sell it's USB Apple Mouse, too. And remember that in a pinch, even a USB keyboard from a PC can be helpful.

June 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

iOS 8 Releasing this Fall New Operating System for Mobile Devices Add me to the list of those who were excited for last year's release of iOS 7, but wary of the look and feel of the design. I didn't like the flat-looking icons. But after a few days and tweaking the system to my tastes, I grew to love iOS 7 and it's slick features. For me, the look of iOS 6 and earlier now seems dated and busy. Yes, I am a convert. So now that we all have gotten used to navigating around on our iPhone and iPads with iOS 7, Apple has announced that iOS 8 is on the horizon and due for release this fall. When? It will most likely coincide with the release of the new iPhone. Traditionally Apple has synced their introductions. What can you expect? The good news is that this is not a complete overhaul as they did last year. There are a multitude of tweaks and enhancements meant to make the interaction between your Mac and iPhone/iPad more seamless.  What do I like so far? In iOS 8, Photo Albums will sync between devices; the keyboard has been improved; Family Share now allows you to share Apps and Tunes across Apple IDs; and iCloud Drive becomes a real cloud storage solution. You can visit http://www.apple.com/ios/ios8/ to read more in detail at Apple's official preview page.

Your Mac is Going to Yosemite! The Next Mac Operating System Coming This Fall Also at this month's World Wide Developer Conference, Apple announced that the next iteration of it's OSX Operating System will be called Yosemite. Thank goodness that they didn't name it OSX Burbank! You can expect the operating system to be released later this year, although the exact date has not been shared as of yet. There are numerous enhancements, but the one that will strike most is that the flat icon look of iOS 7 now comes to the Mac. Again, after working with that style on the iPhone and iPad for the past ten months, I've grown to like it and welcome the change on the desktop. The design is a nod to the fact that OSX Yosemite allows your iOS devices to work in harmony with your Mac as never before. Want to answer your iPhone on your computer? You can do that. Tired of typing that email on your phone and want to finish it on your Mac? The new Handoff feature has you covered with a swipe.  For more, stop by the OSX Yosemite Preview Page at http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/.

Learning to Talk to Siri Getting the Most Out of Voice Commands I admit it. I don't always like to type, especially on my iPhone. I have big fingers, and it just gets to be a chore on occasion. Thank goodness for Siri, Apple's voice assistant. Yet, sometimes we just don't know all that this feature is capable of helping us with. Inspired by the announcement of the upcoming release of iOS 8, CNET has complied a list of twelve tips and tricks with Siri. You can read the article here: http://www.cnet.com/how-to/siri-tips-and-tricks-that-dont-require-ios-8/

May 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Microsoft Office for iPad is Here! If Productivity is Your Proclivity It's finally arrived. Microsoft has released Office for iPad, and from all the reviews that I've read it seems like they've done a good job. The truth is that we've always had the ability to edit or create MS Office compatible documents with our iPad iWork apps (Pages, Numbers & Keynote), but I know that many of you like MS Office and have been waiting for a solution that works on the iPad. But as with all things, there is a catch. In order to create or save documents you must have an Office 365 subscription, which many find to be pricey. Plans start at $6.99 a month. For only $2 more you get Netflix and House of Cards. I'm just sayin'... For a complete review of the new Office for iPad, check out this write-up from Engaget: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/27/office-for-ipad-review/  To read the announcement from Microsoft, see their blog here: http://blogs.office.com/2014/03/27/announcing-the-office-you-love-now-on-the-ipad/

Apple Breaks FaceTime... then Fixes It Performing Updates is a Good Thing On April 16th, just a breath after Tax Day, many happy FaceTimers fell off-line and were unable to connect to friends and family. Apple acknowledged the issue as related to expired certificates and offered a fix: Update your iOS device to the latest release, and for the Mac version, run all OSX system updates. This will resolve the problem, but keep in mind that your FaceTimees must also perform their updates. For Apple's Explanation and Solution click here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5419 For more depth, OSX Daily has you covered: http://osxdaily.com/2014/04/29/fix-facetime-stuck-on-connecting-fail/

iPhone 6 Rumor Mill Your 411 before the WWDC We get asked all the time about when the next iPhone is due to come out, and we always give the same answer: We just don't know. But we are happy to participate in rumor and idle chatter because the iPhone 5s is so last Fall.  Apple's World Wide Developer Conference is coming up and will be held on June 2nd through the 6th. Anticipation is high that there will be an announcement with details about the iPhone 6. Some expect a larger 4.7 inch screen, while others believe there will be two versions of the new phone. Brian Tong hosts a video blog over at CNET called The Apple Byte. He has some solid pictures of the new phone supposedly taken at the Apple factory. You can watch and see for yourself here: http://www.cnet.com/videos/alleged-iphone-6-photos-leak-online/

April 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Action to Take: Heartbleed Bug Passwords You Should Change to Protect Yourself You've probably heard about the Heartbleed Bug on the news. In short, security software that was supposed to protect you with a secure connection to a web server wasn't as secure as it should have been, which left data open to mining by the bad guys. You can read more about it at KrebsOnSecurity. The bottom line is that it has been recommended that you need to change your passwords for websites and services that have been impacted. And, if you use the same or a similar password for other services, those should be changed, too.  So, if you access Google Accounts, Gmail, DropBox, Yahoo Mail, Netflix, Facebook, Flickr, or Instagram, you will need to change your passwords. Mashable has been keeping a running list on the major sites that have been affected and what action needs to be taken. You can read the article here: http://mashable.com/2014/04/09/heartbleed-bug-websites-affected/ CNET has been keeping their own list at: http://www.cnet.com/how-to/which-sites-have-patched-the-heartbleed-bug/

Windows XP and Boot Camp... or Parallels After 12 Years, It's Over When Apple moved to the Intel chipset the good news was that it became possible to run Windows on a Mac. The bad news about Apple's move to the Intel chipset was that it became possible to run Windows on a Mac. Whether it was for work, certain proprietary municipal websites, or a form of self-flagellation, many of us had installed Windows over the years. Chances are that if you did, it was Windows XP. Well, on April 8th after a 12 year run, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows XP. This means that the operating system will no longer get any security updates, leaving it potentially open to viruses, malware, or any other myriad of exploits.  What should you do? Even though no new vulnerabilities have been reported since support ended on the 8th, moving forward, when you do run Windows XP either in Boot Camp or as a virtual machine in applications like Parallels, it will be a good idea to avoid going on line. That means not surfing the web in a browser, accessing mail, or using any application that calls on services across the Internet.  Regardless, it is time to plan your move from Windows XP. When you do, Windows 7 is a better and more stable choice than Windows 8. You can still find copies of Windows 7 on Amazon and at select stores in the valley like Fry's Electronics.

Automatic App Updates in iOS 7 On or Off.. It's Your Choice With the introduction of iOS 7 you now have the ability for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to perform App Store updates on its own in the background. Wendy doesn't like this feature; she prefers to be in control of what gets updated and when. I, on the other hand, enjoy having my devices do work for me and consider the automatic updates a concierge service. Thanks Apple! And I don't even have to tip. To set this feature to your liking, go into Settings -> iTunes & App Store and toggle your preference under the Automatic Downloads section. If you do choose to turn this feature on, I'd turn off the Use Cellular Data option. You don't want to burn through your data plan pulling down Minecraft updates. For a detailed tutorial on this feature, here is an article from 9 to 5 Mac: http://9to5mac.com/2013/09/20/ios-7-how-to-set-up-automatic-app-updates/

March 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Ansel Adams Probably Would Have Used an iPhone Some of the Best iOS Photo Apps Could you imagine being Ansel Adams, trudging deep into the wilderness with pounds of camera equipment, miles away from any Starbucks? I know that I can't. If only he had an iPhone. He could have snapped away and still had access to his Facebook page. Maybe in a century our ancestors will be purchasing some of the best "selfies" of 2014 to hang in their homes. To that end, as you snap away with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you'll want to take the best photos possible and attempting to navigate the App Store to find just what you need is most often a lesson in frustration. Luckily the folks over at GeekSugar.com have put together a list of '31 iOS Apps That Unlock the Photographic Power of Your Device.' It's a quick list to look through and find what you need to satisfy your photographic muse. You can view the full article at: http://www.geeksugar.com/Best-iPhone-Photo-Apps-22708988

iPhone 4 Owner? iOS 7.1 is Your New Hero! Speeding up your old, reliable phone Apple released the latest update to it's iOS operating system for mobile devices last week. That means that iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users have some more upgrading to do. The silver lining in all the enhancements is the fact that iOS 7.1 has sped up the venerable iPhone 4!   For more details, ArsTechnica.com has you covered with this writeup: http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/03/ios-7-1-on-the-iphone-4-as-good-as-its-going-to-get/

Waiting for the AppleTV TV... Well Fahgetaboutit! The Apple rumor mill has buzzed for years about the potential of Apple entering the TV business. But a new book by Wall Street Journal reporter Yukari Iwatani Kane will crush the dreams of those waiting for that 72-inch AppleTV. Steve Jobs was never a fan of the TV business, so it's unlikely that an integrated unit will come out in the near future. What may happen is that Apple could partner with TV manufacturers to integrate the AppleTV operating system as the "Smart" component of their Smart TVs. We don't know for sure, but in the meantime you can read more about it in the article at The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/03/17/new-book-crushes-hopes-for-apple-branded-television/

February 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Breathing New Life into an Old Mac The Solid State Fountain of Youth Macs are not cheap, and when the time comes to replace your beloved machine, sometimes the piggy bank is a little light. But thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can make that old iMac or MacBook Pro last a few more years. What's the key? More RAM and a Solid State Drive. RAM is your machine's workspace and the more RAM the faster it can access and keep information at hand. A Solid State Drive, or SSD, doesn't spin round and round like a record player -- there are no moving parts. Data is accessed virtually immediately, making your machine seem like it found a way to turn back the clock! So where do you start? Visit Crucial.com and enter in your machine's specifications. You can also download their handy app that will scan your computer. You'll be presented with options for an SSD upgrade and RAM. If you do upgrade the RAM, max it out, but for the SSD, you can gauge the size based on how much hard drive space you currently use.

Data Security, Passwords, and You Tips To Help Keep Away the Bad Guys With high profile data breaches at Target, Neiman Marcus, and Yahoo over the past two months, just about everyone is asking about how to keep personal information safe. The bad news is that in today's digital society no one is 100% secure, but there are things that you can do to hedge your bets against the bad guys. Change Your Password: Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. If you hear about a system being breached, and you have an account with that specific company, go ahead and change your password. It won't help with the information that was already taken, but it may make it harder for those evildoers to access your account further. Vary Your Passwords: Don't use the same password for every account. Once that one is stolen they potentially can access all your other accounts that have the same credentials. Also, make sure that your passwords are at least eight characters long with a mix of numbers, capital letters, small letters, and special characters. Credit Monitoring Services: Another thing that you can do is sign up with a credit monitoring service like the ones offered by LifeLock or one of the three credit agencies like Experian or Equifax. They provide different types of active monitoring, and offer a way to review your credit reports. Reconcile Your Statements: Every month make sure that you reconcile all your bank and credit card statements. If you see anything that looks funny, you will be able to react to it quickly.

Using Your iPhone 5s as an Activity Monitor Look Mom! It's a Fitbit!  If you have an iPhone 5s and you want to get in on the Activity Monitor craze, you'll be very happy to know that you can use your phone to get started. The M7 Motion Co-Processor Chip is the key, and only the iPhone 5s has it. So if you have a 5c or a 4s, you're out of luck. But for you iPhone 5s owners who want to track your steps, you can! Wendy and I have been using the Fitbit app, which is available in the App Store. It's a lot of fun and very easy to setup. We have the whole family using it! Here is the link: Fitbit app You can also read this article on how to set it up over at CNet.com: http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57616460-285/use-the-fitbit-app-iphone-5s-to-count-steps-without-a-tracker/ Happy Stepping!