Monthly Mini-Bytes - March 2023

 

The Best Fix For Your Computer Woes Okay, it's true. Things have been a bit buggy lately. Even though macOS Ventura is a decent update to the Mac operating systems, bugs, quirks, and annoyances still abound not only for the current system, but also for Monterey and older. So the next question is why. Why are there so many bugs lately? Well, it's not just Apple. From streaming apps, to websites, to weather apps they are all chocked full of inconsistencies and odd quirks. While we can discuss at length the reasons, at the end of the day it's just important to get past the issues and continue on with your day. And the easiest thing that you can do to fix all of these issues is to just... shut it down. Turning off your computer, iPhone, or quitting out of an app will resolve 99.931% of most of these issues. And with the new Apple Silicon-powered Macs a full shut down and restart resets the System Management Controller. So those issues with sound, or bluetooth, or that incessant beeping can be easily fixed with a shut down and restart. Now to be clear I am talking about shutting down the computer or device. A simple reboot will not do the trick. Shut it down, wait a few seconds, and then start it back up. If it will not shut off then sometimes you will just need to hold in the power button until it does.

Trust No One - It's Just Easier That Way Trust needs to be earned. Well, the internet has never earned the trust of anyone. It has done nothing but take over our lives, scoop up our identities, and tried to sell us just about everything. Scams are all over the place. Personal data has become the biggest business out there and just about every company, legitimate or not, will want to get their hands on it. So the best way to protect yourself is not to trust anyone. If you get an email about resetting your password, a big purchase, or any super-scary thing, take a minute and breathe. Look over the email. See who it is from. That is the biggest telltale sign of a scammer. If it is from a trusted company you work with, give them a call. Never ever click on the links or call the numbers in the email. If it is from a website, open a browser, and visit that site directly.  If you get a pop-up in your web browser that you have a virus and you need to call Apple, then just quit out of your browser and ignore it. Those are always a scam. Apple doesn't provide a service like that.  If you get a phone call or text from an odd international number, be very wary. Just ignore it and don't answer. They can't "hack" you or do something to your phone (at least for now), but picking up or responding will let them know they "hooked a live one." Staying safe online is easy. It really is. Just be suspicious of absolutely everything online or in your email. Don't assume anything. It may be more work, but it is the best digital insurance you have.

Review Your Subscriptions

I use my AppleTV everyday and love it, but I did notice that the AppleTV app tried to get me to sign up for Paramount+ saying I didn't have a subscription. Well, I did for the Paramount+ app itself, not the Paramount+ channel within the AppleTV app. Confusing? Oh yes it is -- confusing to the point where unsuspecting mortals (and some immortals) could be "tricked" into dual subscriptions. Is this nefarious? No, it's just really bad programming. I was able to train the AppleTV app to look to the Paramount+ app for certain content. And there ended my struggle. But since it is so easy to subscribe to the same app in four different places, it makes sense to take a minute and do a self-audit. On your iPhone go to Settings -> [Your Name] -> Subscriptions. Here you will see all that you purchase under your AppleID. Go ahead and unsubscribe as needed. And while you are at it, don't stop there. From Amazon, to Peacock, YouTube, and HBO Max, you may be subscribing to services under those umbrellas, too. Each one has a different way to look at your subscriptions within those apps. It's confusing, but taking the time to do a self-audit can save you some real money.

Monthly Mini-Bytes - January 2023

 

Adventures in Systems Settings and Other Musings If you upgraded to macOS Ventura you may have noticed that the biggest change to the operating system was the end of System Preferences and the introduction of System Settings. Yes, all those familiar icons and their locations have been changed to a windows-esque compilation that reminds me of Control Panel. I know that Apple wants to have iOS, iPadOS, and macOS look similar so it is easier to jump between devices, but System Settings is such a jarring change that it has confused many. Some options are now buried clicks deep in menus so there is a learning curve even for the most experienced users. So, why is this done? Why do software developers monkey with the things that work, and introduce new methods, menus, or systems that just get in the way of getting things done? My assertion is that I don't think it should matter at all. Yes, it's frustrating, but the computer is a tool. That tool exists to help work get done faster and more efficiently even if that work is just play, email, or photos.  Instead of getting frustrated, think different. Yes, employ the old Apple adage of adjusting the way you think, and I also say feel about the changes. You still need to get your work done. You still need to send that email, or create that PowerPoint deck by tomorrow, so think differently about it. Try to see how to exploit this change to make work faster and easier.  Then when new changes come by, you can take a moment to grunt and huff, but then accept it, move on, and get it to work for you.

What iPhone Should You Buy? $1,700 for a phone is a lot of money. It's a lot of money for most things. With that much cheddar you can get a full blown Mac computer -- not just a phone. But Apple could probably charge $5,000 for the new iPhone 15 Plus Max Pro+ Extra. People would buy it. People spend $100K on pickup trucks these days. And why are potato chips $5 a bag? So, if you are on your way to the Apple Store in your $100K pickup truck, snacking on that $5 bag of chips, what iPhone is best? For years we have always recommended getting the newest, bestest, and pro-est iPhone available. This is no longer the case. There have not been massive evolutionary changes to the iPhone since the iPhone X, so there are a multitude of different options depending on your budget. Getting a newer model will mean it will run a supported system longer. It will be faster, and the camera slightly better, but I am right here right now telling you that you don't need to spend $1,700 on an iPhone if you don't want to. What phone do I use? I have an iPhone Xs and it's fine for me. It does everything that I need it to do, and more. I hope that is a bit freeing. The iPhone is great, and there are so many out there to choose from. Don't feel compelled to get the latest and greatest, because from the iPhone X in 2017, they are all pretty great.

M2 mini or Mac Studio? Which One to Choose?

Apple just released the M2 Pro chip in the Mac Mini and that machine is a beast! It's probably the best bang for the buck that Apple has going when it comes to power. But how does this brute stack up to the Mac Studios that still run the M1 Max and Ultra chips? It comes down to this: Are you editing 8K video or performing complex 3D graphics? Does your machine spend a good deal of time rendering? If so, then the Mac Studio will be the better choice not for the chipset, but for the cooling. The Mac Studio looks like a taller mini due to the way it cools the processor. A cooler processor is a faster processor. But the M2 Pro in the mini is so good, it will suffice for 90% of users out there. It's a great buy and will run Adobe Creative Cloud, Final Cut Pro, and whatever with ease. To learn more about the new Mac mini visit: https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/

Monthly Mini-Bytes - November 2022

 

My Instagram Mug Shot It's not a secret that I don't participate in social media. Twitter is just like two drunk college debate teams duking it out in a Circle K parking lot; Facebook exists so people can overshare personal info so that companies and advertisers can build profiles and sell that data all over the web; and TikTok is dancing nurses at best, but probably more like a psyop from an unfriendly foreign power that just seeks to turn our youth's brains into mush. So then you may be shocked to learn that I broke down and set up an Instagram account. Here is the backstory: Wendy and I were following some trail runners and through hikers attempting to do the whole 817 mile Arizona Trail in record time. The FKT, or Fastest Known Time, has several categories, but the swiftest to complete the course did it just shy of 14 days. Since it was such an epic effort there were no camera crews on the most recent attempts, so the participants updated via Instagram. I created an account and followed the runners, crew, and some other endurance athletes. All was well for a few days, but then I got a notice that my account was suspected of suspicious activity and I needed to verify my information. This struck me as odd since I had two-factor authentication enabled and a password that would have taken two supercomputers and a pre-Capaldi Dr. Who to crack. Still, I went through and verified my email, password, and phone -- no problem. Then it asked for what I can only call a "mug shot." Instagram wanted me to write down this code and my username on a piece of paper. Then I was to take a selfie and send it to them for "verification." Having been on the Internet for almost thirty years and having hundreds of accounts with various providers, I have never once been asked for a mug shot. It made me furious, and of course I did not provide it. As such they deleted my Instagram account, and good riddance to it. This leads me to today's point: You don't have to provide information just because a website or online store asks for it. It's your information. It's personal and you have the power to choose with whom and when you share it. There is no reason that JC Penny needs to know your birthday. You don't have to tell Facebook where you went to high school. Be selfish with your information. It's yours, not theirs, and you have the right to do with it as you wish. It's okay to say "no." And many times these days, saying no will go a long way to protecting your precious personal information.

What's the Deal with macOS Ventura? Upgrade? macOS Venture is out and I have installed it on one of my computers. It's not on my main work machine, but just on the laptop I carry about to clients. The question is if you should upgrade. But as I think about it, the answer is much more nuanced than it has been in the past. A computer or any technology exists to make our lives easier. It allows us to work faster and more efficiently, along with giving us the tools to stay organized. That's all. That's the whole point. So, when choosing to upgrade an operating system it comes down to whether or not we can benefit from its new features to make us better, faster, and more efficient. But these days technology has gotten so good that many of the upgrades whether to iOS or macOS just introduce what I call fluff -- changes that make things look prettier, but don't really help with functionality. I was watching a video from this tech channel about problems their staff were having with Macs and what Apple could do to fix it. I was disappointed to find users complaining about not having the ability to snap windows to the side, two clicks instead of one. or any number of superfluous things that did nothing to fix some of the core problems. There was nothing about the search in Mail being wonky for several years; nothing about the constant pop-ups asking to re-login to iCloud; or problems with Photos down-sampling images. These are things that are important. These are things that come to the core of macOS functionality, but as long as users just ask for "shiny object" we will unfortunately just get "shiny object." So what do you do? Take a look at how your Mac is working today. Are you able to do your work? Are things functioning the way you want them to? As long as you are on Big Sur or Monterey, you are currently supported by Apple. If you'd like to jump in the pool and update to Ventura just make sure that you have a current Time Machine backup. To learn more about the new features in macOS Ventura visit: https://www.apple.com/macos/ventura/

Does "The Cloud" Own Your Data?

Everything is up in "The Cloud" these days, but when storing your stuff on other people's machines what terms and conditions do you really agree to? Is the data still yours? Does the cloud service provider have any rights to your data that you unknowingly agreed to give away? There is a difference between business, paid, and free accounts, but it has been reported in the past that companies like Google and DropBox scan the data that is uploaded to their servers. It's a fair deal, as you are uploading information to their property, but it's important to carefully review the Terms of Service and understand them especially if you plan on putting a whole bunch of data up online. I know it's time consuming, but if you are planning on going in on cloud storage, then take the time to read the Terms of Service, ask questions, and be clear that you are putting your data on someone else's servers. That's the Cloud after all, and knowing how it works, where your stuff is, and what you agreed to is an important step in taking advantage of these services.

Monthly Mini-Bytes - October 2022

 

The November Analog Challenge! So, Wendy and I were driving along and there was a mountain that we didn't know the name or height. We pulled up Google Maps and it could show us the closest Starbucks, but no info about the mountain. We launched Apple Maps and after asking for our Apple ID, shoe size, and locker combination from high school it thought we were in Toledo. Awesome.  Then we did the unthinkable. It's really hard to imagine anyone doing this in 2022, but we did, and we don't feel bad about it. We broke out the paper map, and lo and behold there was the name of the mountain, the height, and detail on roads and trails that encircled it. This then began our renewed love affair with paper maps and atlases. The amount of detail and information about routes, the size of roads, and attractions along the way was astounding after being tied to the electronically served versions for years. There are countless horror stories of mapping programs taking people down 4x4 routes in winter, right through heavy traffic, or even locations miles away from their destination. In one case a group of people were routed off Mount Lemmon in Tucson down the old control road, which is a Jeep only passage at the best of times. Maps have routed me through the 202 between Priest and Rural at 4PM on a Tuesday noting that it is the fastest route. Fastest compared to what? There's always a massive slowdown there in the PM. It is a 100% proven undeniable scientific fact that we have become overly dependent on technology. Trying to break that cycle of dependance is hard, but can be done with some small steps. And one of those steps can begin with maps. This Holiday Season as you travel about the country try bringing along an atlas or good old gas station paper map. Plan your route on the map first, and only then employ one of the Apple or Google Maps to assist with routing. And don't trust the route. Compare it to the map. Don't just drive down some darkened corridor just cuz the Googles told you to. Take back control of your routing and join with us in this November Analog Challenge!

Chrome Destroys Your Privacy Let's talk for a minute about Google's Chrome web browser. A lot of people use it. A lot of people like it, and you know who likes it the most? Yes, Google. And how does Google make their money? Is it by gathering as much information about you and your family as possible then selling it for fat stacks of cash to whoever is buying? You bet. So why use their web browser? You invested in Apple's ecosystem for a reason, and one of those is privacy and security. It's true, Apple isn't perfect in this regard, but it is 1000% better than the Googles. Using Chrome compromises that privacy and security. Apple's Safari browser is the better choice, and even though it is not perfect, because of the integration within your Mac, iPhone, and iPad it goes a long way to helping plug up some of those security and privacy issues.  "But, Mike! Some websites don't work that well with Safari." That's true, and in those cases using an alternative browser like Firefox or Chrome becomes necessary. In fact, some of the features in Firefox leans us more toward it as an alternative to Chrome, but for a Mac user, Safari should be your go-to web browser.

macOS Ventura is Out - Wait to Upgrade

Apple has a new release of macOS developed in that work-from-home incubator that brought us so many great new products and software updates. Was that sarcasm? Oh, yes. Ventura has a lot of new features, but as always it is best to wait until at least the .1 update, which will be in a month or so. The current 12.6.1 version of Monterey is very good, so if you are on that or Big Sur, then please wait until all the bugs get chased out of macOS Ventura before upgrading. For more information about Ventura, or to see pics of the developers working in their pajamas, visit: https://www.apple.com/macos/ventura/

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

Monthly Mini-Bytes - August 2022

 

New iPhones and Apple Watches Expected Well, it's that time of year! Apple is gearing up to announce a whole host of new products on September 7th. You can expect them to announce the iPhone 14s along with the Apple Watch Series 8, if the rumors are correct. Right now no one is expecting major changes to the devices, and since Apple has yet to return to the office, it is almost impossible to develop anything, let alone new and interesting products, over the phone or on a video call.  But! One of the most interesting rumors is of a larger Apple Watch "Pro" that should have better battery life, but may clock in at over $1,000. Ouch! To learn more about the event on the 7th, visit: https://www.apple.com/apple-events/

LastPass has a Data Breach Yes, LastPass was hacked! According to the company no customer data or master passwords were access. And they go on to state that no action is required by their customers with relationship to their password vaults.  If you are a LastPass customer you should have received a communication from them on this and what to do. To read more, check out these articles: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2022/08/25/lastpass-hacked-password-manager-with-25-million-users-confirms-breach/?sh=5be1fa1b7d5a https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lastpass-reports-security-breach-but-says-no-passwords-taken-11661502415

macOS Ventura and iOS 16

Very soon Apple will be releasing major updates to macOS, iOS, watchOS, and iPadOS. Phew! That's a lot of OSess. We have one simple piece of advice: PLEASE WAIT ABOUT 30 DAYS BEFORE UPDATING. These are major updates to all your devices -- updates that were developed over Zoom sessions, phone, and chats, because Apple has yet to return to the office. Seriously. That's not the best development model as we saw last year with Monterey and iOS15. So, just wait 30 days. Early adopters will find all the issues out in the wild, Apple will fix them, and it will be happy days and less stress for you. A wise philosopher once said: "Why rush headlong into the fray, when you can wait, drink wine, and see how many return first." Wise words. Wine is not needed, but we think the waiting is.

Monthly Mini-Bytes - July 2022

 

Hey, is that Apple calling? No, it's not. Apple doesn't call people, and neither do Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, the Tooth Fairy, or Tito Vellasco (but he will send a card). Scams are as hot and heavy this summer as the weather. Bad analogy? Sure. Hard fact? Yes! And it's not just the fake phone calls. Late bill alerts from software you never purchased and spoofed emails from Cox, Verizon, and the banks are flooding inboxes all over the country. It's bad, and falling for one of these schemes can range from a minor inconvenience to a major impact to your finances. So, how do you protect yourself: Trust No One: Mulder and Scully got it right. We want to be friendly, open people. We want to trust that we are all in this together, and in the end, high ideals will prevail. It makes a great Hallmark card, but the reality is there is a great number of people who only look out for themselves. They want your money, and an easy way to get it. Don't let them in. You are in control. Let the phone roll to voicemail, hang up on the obvious scammer, and delete that fake email. Monitor Your Accounts: The best way to detect a fake purchase is to log in and check your orders, but not from the links in the email. If you get a fake call from Amazon that you spent 3.2 trillion dollars on knock-off Telletubie costumes, hang up, log into your Amazon account and check your purchases. Remember you can cancel an order or open a dispute with your credit card company. Check for yourself. Again, trust no one. These two simple steps can go a long way to alleviate stress, protect you from these scams, and put you back in control. They want your stuff. Don't make it easy for them.

The New M2 MacBook Air is Excellent Apple just started shipping the fully refreshed MacBook Air with the M2 processor. And before you ask: Yes, it is faster than the M1, but doesn't come close to the M1 Pro, M1 Max, or M1 Ultra processors. So, the 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pros are still the kings of speed. That being said, if you need a basic laptop, the new Airs are a huge leap in form-factor and usability. Check them out here: https://www.apple.com/macbook-air-m2/

Ouch! The iPhone is Hot!

It's July, which means it's summer, and here in Phoenix that means it's hot. And did you know that the iPhone is only rated to be used up to 95 degrees? That makes it difficult for them to function outdoors this time of year. The temperature rating is a real thing. The iPhone and iPad do try to protect themselves from overheating, but being aware of their functions and limitations can help you understand how best to take care of your device. To read more from Apple on what to do and how your device handle's high temperatures, visit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201678