April 2015 Edition - Monthly Mini-Bytes

Yes, Virginia, it's a new Photos App

There's no "i" in Photo... any more

Not only did the OS X 10.10.3 Update move your cheese, it whacked that big wheel of gouda with a selfie-stick. The venerable iPhoto that we have all grown to know and love has morphed into Photos. And although the change may have been jarring at first, I can say that I'm pleased with Photos and am not looking back to the old iteration.

Photos now appears much like the app of the same name that has lived on the iPhone and iPad since the iOS 8 update in the fall. If you have been using it on those devices, then the transition shouldn't be difficult. But there are some key changes to Photos that I think make it a welcome update.

It's Supposedly Faster, Especially with Large Databases

If you have a large iPhoto database, you know how slow it can be. It took a while once I converted to the new app, but now Photos seems to be snappier, at least for me, and I have a 75GB database.

Access Your Entire Database from All Devices

With iCloud Photo Library enabled, you can now upload your entire photo library to iCloud and then have it available across devices like your iPhone and iPad. Changes on one device sync to the others. The "Optimize Storage" option allows you to save space, too.

Videos Now Upload Wirelessly

Before, you had to sync your videos with a cable, but with iCloud Photo Library enabled, your videos will upload, too.

Here are a couple of things to remember with Photos:

1. To get the Sidebar back in Photos to mimic that iPhoto look, go to the View drop-down menu and select Show Sidebar.
2. Enabling iCloud Photo Library will most likely prompt you to purchase more iCloud storage. You'll need it.
3. On your Mac, in Photos -> Preferences -> iCloud, be sure to select "Download Originals to this Mac" so you have them for offline backup.
4. Always choose to "Optimize iPhone/iPad Storage" when turning on iCloud Photo Library on your mobile device, or you'll run out of space quickly.

There's so much to go over about the new Photos, but instead of going into detail here, The Vergehas a great article and video that should answer almost all of your burning questions. Check it out here: http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/5/7982517/apple-photos-mac-iphoto-replacement-explainer-faq

Three Tips for Better Passwords

Lock Out the Crooks with These Best Practices

I know that we all hate passwords, and even though my mother told me not to hate, I do admit that I hate passwords. If they filmed Monty Python's The Holy Grail today, I'm sure that the old man at the bridge would ask a password question as one of his three, versus that one about the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.

But we have to live with passwords, so follow these three tips to make yours tip top:

1. Use at least eight characters with a mix of numbers, letters, and capitals. (If you are 18 or younger, know that you make capital letters by holding the Shift key. #CapitalizationMatters)
2. Don't use the same password for everything. Once one is cracked, the bad guys would have access to all of your accounts. Varying passwords is something that helps with overall security.
3. Know your passwords: Whether you write them in a book, keep in a spreadsheet, or use a password utility, make sure that you keep them updated. The best method is whatever one you choose to use consistently. 

Follow these easy tips for good password karma.

Make Your Messages Pop with Emojis

They're Not Just For Texting Anymore

Apple has a vast array of Emojis, and now you can add them to the subject line of your messages in Mail on your Mac. It really makes your note pop when seen in your recipient's inbox. Here is how to do it:

Using the Keyboard

Put your cursor in the subject line and then hit the key combination Control + Command + Space Bar. The little Emoji window will pop up.

Using the Menu

Put your cursor in the subject line and then choose the Edit drop down menu, then Emoji & Symbols. Then smiley face away!

March 2015 Edition - Monthly Mini-Bytes

The Apple Watch is Coming!
Yes, It's Really Worth It

The much anticipated Apple Watch will be available for pre-order on April 10th. Also, Apple Stores will have floor models available so you can OOO and AHHH and choose the one that best fits your lifestyle. They will be on wrists by April 24th. Wendy and I already have two on our wish list.

So is it that big of a deal? You bet! With the advent of phones with huge screens, you are now going to witness the move toward miniaturization. And what more logical place than the wrist!

Well, what can you do with the Apple Watch? Answer the phone like Dick Tracy? Yes. Unlock your hotel room with your watch? Starwood Hotels is making it happen. Monitor your fitness? Of course. Use Apple Pay? Roger. Contact alien intelligences via sub-space to get time travel equations for cats? Not yet, but...

You will need an iPhone 5 or later to use the Apple Watch. The iPhone works as a conduit to the watch for system updates, App Store purchases, and phone calls. The Apple Watch will come in several different flavors from the $350 base Sport all the way north of $10,000 for the gold Edition. 

To learn more, and see the presentation keynote, visit Apple at: http://www.apple.com/watch

A New MacBook that Comes in Gold

It's So Thin, It Disappears When Turned Sideways

Do you want a gold MacBook? Go ahead... admit it. It's okay. How much more blingy can you get! Apple surprised everyone by announcing a new MacBook that not only comes in the traditional silver, but also space gray, and .... wait for it ... GOLD! Plus, it's only 1.31 centimeters thick when closed and weighs only two pounds. That makes the MacBook Air look almost like a boat anchor.

How did Apple do it? They ditched the fan and implemented new battery technology. All in all it equals a beautiful new option for mobile computing.

But, it is a specialty laptop. If you need the ultimate in mobility, it does the job. It only comes in an 12-inch screen size and has a single USB-C port. USB-C is a new standard, so if you get a new MacBook be prepared to purchase adapters to connect your old peripherals. For someone who just does email and web surfing, it's perfect, but the MacBook Pro is still the benchmark for business use.

You can find out more about the new MacBook at: http://www.apple.com/macbook/

HBO Now is Soon and only on Apple
Cord Cutters now get Game of Thrones

Apple has dropped the price of it's awesome Apple TV to $69 in anticipation of the release of HBO Now. Beginning in April, for $15 per month you can have access to HBO's massive content library all on demand on your Apple TV. In the past you had to have a subscription to HBO on cable or satellite to take advantage of HBO streaming content. This means that shows like True Blood, The Wire, and Game of Thrones are ripe for your binge watching agenda.

Also, Apple is in negotiations with networks to offer a Pay-TV service on the Apple TV. This would make cord cutting more practical for many. You can see what Time has to say about it here: http://time.com/3749020/apple-tv-discovery-viacom/

For more information on the Apple TV: http://www.apple.com/appletv/

To learn about HBO Now: http://www.apple.com/appletv/hbo-now/

February 2015 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Check Your iCloud Storage No More Running Out of Space iCloud is great and makes the iPhone, iPad, and Mac work together seamlessly. The only problem is that they only give you a scant 5GB of free storage. That was a lot of space a decade ago, but can quickly be taken up if you have multiple devices on the same iCloud account. The best thing to do is to learn how to manage your storage. To check, grab your iPhone or iPad and go into Settings -> iCloud. On the third line down you will see Storage and a representation of how much space you have available. Select this level to drill down further. From this Storage window you can go one level deeper to manage your storage. You can also upgrade or downgrade your plan. The plans are much more affordable for additional storage. The 20GB is only $0.99 a month and other plans go all the way up to 1 TB, which I don't think anyone needs at this point. I have the 20 GB plan and never get the out of space emails from Apple. For $0.99 I think that's a good deal. Wendy manages hers in the 5GB free zone, which takes some doing, but can be done. Despite all your best efforts to effectively manage your storage, keep in mind that if you back up your devices to iCloud, you will need more storage eventually.

iTunes Match: Carry Your Music with You Keep Your Friends Close and Your Bieber Closer For a long time, despite all the advancements with iTunes, iCloud, and the iPhones/iPads, music syncing worked much like it did way back a decade ago. You had to physically sync with your iTunes library to carry your music along, but this is no longer the case with iTunes Match. For around $25 per year (plus tax) iTunes will scan your entire music library and make it all available from the cloud to all your devices. Yes, this means no more syncing. With the service you even get the bonus of listening to iTunes Radio commercial free. To get started, open your iTunes, select your Music and choose Match. Or for more information visit Apple's page at: https://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/

Using Two-Step Verification with Your Apple ID If you like passwords, you can have another one! For the past several years, many of the major banking sites have enabled two-step verification. Using this process you cannot access the bank's secure site without both a password and a code sent to a mobile phone or email address. It's yet another barrier of passwords between a hacker and your account... and you and your account. Apple has implemented the same option with Apple IDs. If enabled, you would have to enter both your password and a four digit PIN code every time you make a purchase, sign into iCloud, or manage your Apple ID.  If you are interested in setting this up, visit Apple's FAQ at: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204152

January 2015 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Are You Ready for Ultra HD TV? Things to think about before spending 4K on 4K If you followed any of the buzz at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that just wrapped up in Las Vegas, you couldn't help but notice all the new Ultra HD (UHD) or 4K capable TVs. They were everywhere, and streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video announced plans to offer more Ultra HD titles. But here are a few things to know before you run out and pick one up for yourself. Go Big or Go Home Size does matter with regard to Ultra HD TVs. The jump from standard definition TV to HD was a significant step up in image quality, but going from 1080p to 4K Ultra HD is more subtle. The general rule is, at comfortable viewing distances, 720p is indiscernible from 1080p on TVs under 50 inches. In order to get the best bang for your Ultra HD dollar, the advantage really shows up at 70 inches or larger. Ultra HD or 4K is a theater sized standard so think big when you shop. Check Your Internet Connection For HD video (1080p) your internet connection must support a constant stream of 5 Mbps. In real terms this means having a service in the 20 Mbps range for reliability. 4K or Ultra HD content requires a minimum of 25 Mbps! You can do the math, but if you are not subscribing to at least a 50 Mbps package you may run into buffering and the slow spinny wheel of boredom. A robust connection is a must!

Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad Delete, Manage, Sync and Be Happy! Are you running out of space on your iPhone or iPad? Well here is how to check what's clogging the drain.  Go into Settings -> General -> Usage -> Manage Storage. Be patient as it all calculates.  If you are like most, Photos and Messages are the two biggest storage hogs. Make sure to transfer photos to iPhoto and delete them from the device. The iPhone/iPad is a temporary holding location. The iPhoto database on your Mac is where they should all live to be kept, cataloged, and backed up with Time Machine. This spring, Apple will be announcing an "iPhoto in the Cloud" where you can have access to all of your photos all the time from any device. But for now, copy them into iPhoto and delete the photos from the iPad or iPhone to free up space. Also, Photo Stream actually downloads a copy of the photos onto your device. These will accumulate over time. If you are sure they are synced in your iPhoto, toggling Photo Stream on and off will clear out the old ones. To do this go to Settings -> Photos & Camera; then toggle My Photo Stream off and on. For Messages, remember that they can grow large and at the end of the day, texts are not considered archival. So go ahead and delete old conversation streams. To do this go back to the top level in Messages, select Edit, choose the conversations you'd like to delete, and click Delete in the lower right.

Our Printer Picks for Home or Small Office Narrowing Down the Field It's always tough picking a new printer. The salesman at Office Superplex is usually quick to name whatever he has on sale as an incentive that week, but you deserve better. We want to take "100% Off" of your worry today by helping you narrow down the field. Color Inkjet Printer - Epson WorkForce The Epson WorkForce model printers are very Mac friendly and we have found them to be reliable and easy to set up. They come in several different models and all have AirPrint, which allows you to print from your iPhone or iPad. As a general rule: Never spend more than $150 on an inkjet for home or small office use. $125 is the sweet spot, which will get you a solid current model, but sometimes you can find them on sale for around $99. B&W Laser Printer - HP Laserjet There are probably still HP Laserjet 4 printers circa 1992 chugging away in offices and homes across the country. HP builds a solid black and white laser printer and they tend to last. If you need to print and print a lot, a black and white laser printer can have many advantages over a color inkjet. Color Laser Printer - Xerox Phaser We don't usually recommend a color laser printer for home or small office use. They are expensive and don't have the resolution of comparable inkjet printers. If you are considering one and are willing to spent $400-$500, then take a look at the Xerox Phaser series. The more you spend, the better the image quality. If you really really really (x1000) want a color laser printer then break out the Benjamins and either lease or buy a Cannon ImageRunner.

December 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Use Reminders for Those Holiday Lists She's Checking it Twice, So Don't Forget the Milk! Ah, the Holidays... A time for family, friends, and running around like crazy people trying to get it all done before the new year clobbers us like an underdone turkey. Well, good thing that Apple has our back with Reminders -- a powerful app where we can share lists to make all of that shopping and doing a seamlessly synced symphony of efficiency. With all the iCloudedness, Reminders is deployed across the Apple universe on both the Macs and mobile devices. Since you will most likely be interacting with the iOS version, here is how to set up a list for sharing. But first, go into Settings -> iCloud and make sure Reminders is turned on. To create a shared list (sharing is good): Open Reminders Close out of any open Reminders Scroll to the top of the list Click the plus (+) next to "New List" Select your iCloud account Name the List and click Done Select the List and click "Edit" Choose "Sharing" and "Add Person" Add the iCloud/Apple ID of those who you want to share the list with The invitees must, of course, accept the share. Then, when you or the sharee adds items or checks them off, the list syncs! Happy Listing!

Turning Off the Digital Noise with iOS 8 Tweet me no more! The great thing about the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch is you can now be connected 24/7 via email, text, Twitter, Facebook, etc., etc., etc. The bad thing is, of course, you can be bothered 24/7 via email, texts, Tweets, and pokes. But you can give yourself some relief from the Digital Noise through these three nifty tweaks in iOS 8. 1. Do Not Disturb You can use Do Not Disturb settings to control phone calls and notifications at specific times or when the phone is locked. To see the How To visit http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT5463 2. Notification Center You have the power to determine if you want to be bothered by specific apps. Go into Settings -> Notification Center to change your preferences to how you want to be notified by each app.  3. Hide Mail Boxes Don't want to see your work email on the weekend? You can hide it! Go into the Mail app (make sure that you are in the "Mailboxes" view). Click "Edit" and then you can un-select mailboxes you don't want to see. To add them back to the list, just reverse the process.

Get Into the Holiday Spirit with iTunes Radio A Free Holiday Treat iTunes Radio is Apple's answer to streaming services like Pandora and Spotify. The great thing is that it's free! And now for the Holiday's they have a plethora of stations to choose from to get you in the spirit. Also remember, you iTunes Match subscribers get to listen ad free!  To access iTunes Radio from your Apple mobile device: Launch the Music App (Red with Two Eighth Notes) Select "Radio" on the bottom right Click the plus to add new stations Listen Away!

November 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

OS X Yosemite is Good to Go! New Operating System for Macs After having worked on OS X 10.10 Yosemite for the past few months we can honestly say that we like the new operating system. Instead of going into all the new features here, you can see what Apple has to say about it: https://www.apple.com/osx/ But... as with all new operating systems, there are some things to consider before upgrading: Check Your Software If you are moving from OS X Snow Leopard, keep in mind that things like AppleWorks, MS Office 2004, and certain older software programs will not work in OS X Yosemite. Check carefully with the software company's website on any business critical applications that you may use to ensure that they will function in OS X 10.10. Check Your RAM OS X Yosemite uses RAM more efficiently, but the more the better. If you have 2 GB of RAM consider upgrading to at least 4 GB for a better experience. You can stop by Crucial.com to see what upgrades are available. http://www.crucial.com Check Your Backup Only brave people upgrade without confirming that their backup is working. Double check that you have a good backup of your system before going to the App Store and downloading Yosemite.

Family Sharing on iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite Mr. Rogers Told Us to Share With iOS 8 for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, along with OS X 10.10 Yosemite, Apple has announced a new service called Family Sharing over iCloud. It allows a family to share App and iTunes purchases between members. It also creates a shared calendar and Photo Stream.  You can initiate the setup right from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch under Settings -> iCloud. Remember that you will want the "Master Sharer" to be the person (parent) under whose iTunes Account most of the content is purchased. For more information check out: http://www.apple.com/icloud/family-sharing/ For detailed instructions and Apple's FAQ, visit: https://www.apple.com/support/icloud/family-sharing/

When to Upgrade Your iPad Three Things to Ponder Yeah, Apple came out with all these new shinny iPads, so many of us wonder if we should run down to the Apple Store and replace our aging iPad 2s. I've been asked this question many times in the past month, so here are three things to consider to see if you are do for an update. 1.) Do You Have An iPad 1? If you do, you should upgrade. They don't run the current iOS 8 and were even out of date a year ago. If you have an iPad 1 (if no camera, it's an iPad 1) you should consider updating. 2.) Can you run all of your Apps? If all the apps that you use run and run well on your iPad, then there's no real reason to update unless you want to. Even the iPad 2s can still run the current operating system. If the apps that you use run slowly or you are running out of space, then upgrading is a consideration. 3.) Is it cracked, broken, or loses charge? The older the device gets, the less efficient the battery is. If you only get an hour or so out of a charge, or if it's cracked, chipped, or otherwise mangled, upgrading isn't a bad idea.

October 2014 Edition – Monthly Mini-Bytes

Apple to Announce More Apples 10/16 Will See New iPad and Etc. Apple is having another event! They are titling it "It's been way too long," although we can only speculate about what this means. What we can expect is the official launch of Apple Pay for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, a new iPad, and the release date of OS X 10 Yosemite. There is also speculation around the Apple TV. The Mac Mini is due for a refresh, and with the Mac Pros being a year old, we could see hardware upgrades there, too. But as with all things Apple, we won't know until Thursday. If you want to watch the event you can see it live here: http://www.apple.com/live/

Get Ready for OS X 10 Yosemite From the Oceans to the Mountains Did you just finish your upgrade to OS X Mavericks? Well, there's a new operating system for Macs on the block and it looks like Apple is set to announce the official release date this Thursday the 16th. I got my hands on an early release and have been working with it for a while now. There is a lot I like about the new operating system. It follows the look and feel of iOS 8 on the iPhones and iPads, has even tighter integration with those devices, and iCloud Drive is a great step forward for iCloud, as it improves on Apple's former iDisk offering. A word of advice: If you use your computer for business everyday, or if you don't have a compelling need to upgrade right away, I'd wait a few weeks before moving to Yosemite. It's always best to see how things shake out when a new major operating system is introduced. To find out more about Yosemite, you can click here: http://www.apple.com/osx/preview/

Three Tips for Better Videos Shaky Cam is the Easy Part Okay, so you either waited in line, bribed an elected official, or traded your house for one, but you secured a brand new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. Congrats! Well, one of the best features of both new phones is their ability to take astonishing videos -- the only limitation being the budding cinematographer holding the phone. Now, we can't all be a Jan De Bont or Janusz Kaminski, but these three little tips can get your videos higher on the watchability scale. Hold it Sideways Take a look at a modern HD TV or movie screen. They are longer on the top than on the sides. It confounds me how many people take videos holding their phones vertically. Countless "eyewitness reports" featured on the news tend to be from folks shooting videos that appear as if we are peeking through a cracked closet door. If you hold the phone sideways not only can you capture more action, but it's easier to control the head space. Plus, your final product will look smashing on your TV, computer, or other device. Light Your Subject The key to great filmmaking is great lighting. It can be difficult to sort out, but you want to light your subject so that he, she, or it stands out from the background. This may mean moving to a different spot to get a better angle, but the subject is the reason for the video, so make sure that your subject can be seen. Want to add a touch of Hollywood? Try lighting the background, too. It adds additional separation. More Hollywood, you ask? Introduce a back light behind your subject. It helps add a three dimensional effect in a two dimensional space. Give Yourself Room to Edit Roll a couple of seconds of film ... uh ... video before and after the action. If you want to edit in a tool like iMovie or one of the versions of Final Cut it will make it much easier to splice in transitions and avoid abrupt changes in action.