The MacValley blog
Welcome to the MacValley blog, your first stop for all the latest MacValley news and views.
|
The MacValley blog Editor: Tom Briant
|
|
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Weekly Web Wrap-up for Monday, 1-29-2018
We visited the flagship stores of Apple and Microsoft in New York City — and the winner was obvious
Apple's product strategy and aesthetic brilliance gave its store an edge over Microsoft's. Each of the items in Apple's Fifth Avenue store was intuitive, and the minimalist design never made me feel overwhelmed.
While Microsoft's store wasn't as coherent as Apple's, it gave customers more opportunities to be surprised by items they might not already own.
Apple is testing a new feature to give you access to medical records on your devices
The new tool will be stored in Apple's Health app, allowing the user to add a health provider in the health records section. A few taps and boom, you have access to your records, provided your health care provider has an agreement(more on that in a minute).
Of course, there's a big risk in having that much personal information available on a device, in an age where hacks and device theft are pretty commonplace. Apple says the information — which will include allergies, lab results, and medications — will be encrypted and protected through your personal passcode.
Apple wants to gather all your medical records in the Health app
Apple’s future Health Records feature is not available yet, but Johns Hopkins Medicine, Cedars-Sinai, Penn Medicine and others are already testing the feature with their patients.
What putting medical records on an iPhone means for your privacy
According to Apple, your health data does not touch Apple's servers (unless you want it to), and instead comes straight from your health provider. As far as protecting the data is concerned, the company insists that your medical records are encrypted both in transit and at rest.
This is important, because if Apple wants people to trust it with the details of their "allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures and vitals," as CNBC reports, then it needs to ensure that data is secure.
This is important, because if Apple wants people to trust it with the details of their "allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures and vitals," as CNBC reports, then it needs to ensure that data is secure.
While the benefits of having your medical history at your fingertips may be numerous, so are the potential pitfalls. After all, it's not hard to imagine what could go wrong. As the notorious 2014 hack of celebrity iCloud accounts made clear, Apple can't necessarily guarantee the safety of your data.
Sure, that incident involved targeted phishing, but for many people, a jealous ex is part of a valid threat model — and that's exactly the type of person who would be able to bluff their way into an iCloud account.
Sure, that incident involved targeted phishing, but for many people, a jealous ex is part of a valid threat model — and that's exactly the type of person who would be able to bluff their way into an iCloud account.
Essentially, like so many things in life, proceed with putting your medical records on your smartphone at your own risk.
I advised users to wait before upgrading. Given the extra time that has passed since, I’d reiterate this advice. Even its biggest core feature - HomePod support - is for a product that won’t be released for nearly two weeks. There is no rush.
Especially with Apple already beta testing iOS 11.3, an update Tim Cook has confirmed will be The Big One…
Especially with Apple already beta testing iOS 11.3, an update Tim Cook has confirmed will be The Big One…
Apple releases iOS 11.2.5 with HomePod support, minor macOS, tvOS, and watchOS updates
Apple today released iOS 11.2.5, macOS 10.13.3, tvOS 11.2.5, and watchOS 4.2.2 to the general public. Each of the new operating system releases includes bug fixes and stability improvements, following Apple’s rush to address Spectre and Meltdown processor vulnerabilities in an earlier release.
watchOS 4.2.2 is now available for Apple Watch
Release notes simply mention ‘improvements and bug fixes’ without noting any specific changes.
7 ways to use your Apple Watch to get fit
1. Improve your sleep
2. Stand and deliver
3. Use the calorie count as guide
4. Share the load — we run more when our friends do
5. Green means go
6. Create micro goals
7. Listen to your heart
iOS 11.2.5 out for iPhone and iPad, patches annoying 'text bomb’ bug
Time for the second iOS 11 update of 2018. Yes, iOS 11.2.5 is out.
Here's the brief rundown according to Apple's release notes:
iOS 11.2.5 includes support for HomePod and introduces the
iOS 11.2.5 includes support for HomePod and introduces the
ability for Siri to read the news (US, UK, and Australia only).
This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.
This upgrade will extend the life of your MacBook Air for years
If the only problem with your older computer is the battery, there's no reason to spend the money on a new one. Instead, you can buy a replacement battery and fix the problem yourself.
I'm recommending Egoway's battery replacement pack because it's positioned as a kit; instead of just selling a battery.
I'm recommending Egoway's battery replacement pack because it's positioned as a kit; instead of just selling a battery.
iFixit.com has a set of step-by-step guides for every MacBook Air battery replacement, and I cannot recommend their guides highly enough.
I had an Apple Store experience from hell — and it's clear there are larger problems with Apple's retail presence
One person’s misadventure of trying to get her iPhone repaired. In the end, she got a new iPhone, but only after problems and confusion and a lot of wasted time.
She wrote:
“ the overall problems with Apple's retail experience were too clear to ignore. The lack of signage indicating where to stand and who to talk to is extraordinarily frustrating. Having no clear points of contact or direction is confusing.
AppleCare+ for HomePod will cost $39, covers AirPort products
The coverage includes AirPort products and “adds up to two incidents of accidental damage from handling for HomePod, each subject to a $39 service fee”.
Just this morning Apple announced that HomePod will go on sale Friday January 26 for $349 in the US and starts shipping February 9.
After spending an hour demoing Apple's new HomePod smart speaker, I can say one thing with confidence: it sounds incredible.
Inside HomePod are seven tweeters spaced evenly around the base of the device and a woofer on top. Apple was aiming for a consistent sound all the way around.
Overall, HomePod is both louder and better-sounding than I expected. The bass was strong without being too heavy, vocals were crisp and clear, and the overall sound felt somehow bright and energized.
HomePod only works if you have an iOS device.
There's also the major, almost crippling, limitation on the music side: The device can work with any music streaming service as a typical Bluetooth speaker would, but the Siri part — the "smart" part — only works with Apple Music.
For Apple Music users, this is fantastic. But for anyone who isn't an Apple Music user, you'll have to control the music from your phone. You can still use HomePod for its other features, but you'll lose out on about half the device's capabilities.
For Apple Music users, this is fantastic. But for anyone who isn't an Apple Music user, you'll have to control the music from your phone. You can still use HomePod for its other features, but you'll lose out on about half the device's capabilities.
HomePod vs. Amazon Echo vs. Google Home Max vs. Sonos One: Speaker showdown
When it comes to speaker quality and privacy, HomePod has no competition.
When it comes to speaker quality and privacy, HomePod has no competition.
What really matters to me is how the music feels in the room — and the price I'll have to pay.
On those fronts, Apple has achieved a monumental feat.
Amazon's Echo retails for under $100 and its speaker-and-microphone array are built more for replying to spoken queries than blasting music. The HomePod retails for $350 and was built for audio above all else.
The Google Home Max is an embarrassment of a speaker for its cost: In isolation, the Max sounds decent enough, but when put in a ring against the cheaper Sonos One and HomePod, it's obvious just how much compression it puts on vocal and mid-tone tracks in the interest of big, booming sound.
The Google Home Max is an embarrassment of a speaker for its cost: In isolation, the Max sounds decent enough, but when put in a ring against the cheaper Sonos One and HomePod, it's obvious just how much compression it puts on vocal and mid-tone tracks in the interest of big, booming sound.
While the HomePod has the edge on being the superior speaker, there's no doubt that the Sonos One can hold its own.
In the battle between Sonos and HomePod, the latter is unquestionably the better speaker. But is it almost double-the-price better.
Read the article for the author’s opinion on what improvements HomePod needs.
Apple HomePod Hands-on: Sounds Great, But Siri Needs Work
When it comes to playing music, the HomePod excels, but in the demo I attended, Apple's speaker didn’t blow away the competition. The HomePod was set up on a credenza next to the Sonos One, the Google Home Max, and the second-generation Amazon Echo; the HomePod definitely sounded the best of the group, but the Sonos One — which costs half as much — kept pace.
On songs such as "Hotel California," the HomePod had a fuller sound, especially in the bass, but the Sonos had clearer and more present vocals. The same songs played on the Google Home Max sounded oddly muddy.
Up close with Apple HomePod, Siri’s expensive new home
If it were only a question of quality, Apple’s HomePod, which, after a months-long delay finally ships on February 9, should be an unqualified success. Its audio quality is excellent, especially considering its size.
It is, in all an excellent hardware package that, unlike most of the other smart speakers, uses its own microphones to adjust audio for each listening environment.
The HomePod setup process is as easy and fast as you would expect from an Apple device.
The combination of Siri and a smart speaker is quite compelling.
What Apple has here is an ultra-high-quality speaker and the first physical instantiation of Siri without a screen.
Apple's new $350 'HomePod' smart speaker is available to buy right now — here are 7 things you should know before buying it
The first ads for Apple’s HomePod are all about music
AW comment: I think these are some of the worst ads Apple ever made.
I’m not buying Apple’s HomePod for two main reasons
The problem with Apple's new HomePod for me boils down to:
• The HomePod is only intended for people who use Apple Music, Apple Mail, Apple Maps, and Apple everything else.
• Siri, as we all know, is not good. And Siri is the way you interact with HomePod.
Apple Macintosh Then & Now, How the ‘Mac-hine’ Has Evolved
An interesting historical summary of Mac Computers.
Apple's 8 years of iPad: a revolution in iOS computing
Sales of Apple's new "big iOS device" were far higher than analysts had expected. They looked at existing tablet customers, mostly a small niche of people drawn to various fragments of Microsoft's Tablet PC project, and saw very limited potential for a new tablet.
A primary reason why analysts are so frequently wrong about Apple is that they look at the company through the distorted lens of the status quo.
iPad was targeted expressly at iPhone users who wanted to expand their iOS experience. This strategy clearly paid off.
By keeping its iPad and Mac lines distinct, Apple has set clear expectations for each, and made each very good at different things.
At no point will iPad focus on trying to be a Mac for global iOS audiences who increasingly don't know anything about the Macintosh.
Video:
This 1983 Demo Says So Much About Apple’s Past, Present, And Future
The author wrote:
On the evening of January 26, 1983, as a technology-smitten Boston University freshman, I attended the monthly meeting of the Boston Computer Society, which included a demo of Apple’s brand-new Lisa system. Though I know that I came away enormously impressed, I don’t exactly recall the event like it was yesterday.
Now, thanks to the miracle of the internet, I can relive every minute of that 1983 meeting. It was videotaped at the time by BCS member Glenn Koenig, who–with the help of the Computer History Museum–has digitized his work and made it available, along with other vintage BCS meetings, on YouTube.
AW comment:
The presentation of the LISA (precursor to the Mac) begins at about 35 minutes into the video in this article.
The author continued:
What I didn’t realize until I watched the video is that seeing the meeting all over again wasn’t just an act of personal nostalgia. Between them, the IIe and Lisa, and the way Apple explained them to us BCS members, are full of lessons that remain resonant in the era of the iPhone.
One thing that doesn’t come up during the demo is the Lisa’s starting price: a daunting $10,000, or about $25,000 in current dollars.
More than three decades after its demise, the Lisa isn’t exactly forgotten, but it’s most famous for being unsuccessful and short-lived. That strikes me as being terribly unfair, especially after watching the BCS video. Though it was a commercial failure, it bulged with ideas that went on to transform personal computing and that remain as relevant as ever. Any of us who attended that 1983 meeting would have instantly recognized this century’s Macs–and, for that matter, its Windows PCs–as being, essentially, souped-up Lisas.
Face ID Is Unstoppable
Apple got it right, too. I can confidently say that Face ID is the best biometric security technology I’ve ever used, and I’d also argue that it’s the best on the market. Two months after getting my iPhone X, I’ve practically forgotten what it’s like to hold my thumb over a sensor or to type in a passcode to unlock my phone. Face ID is so fast and dependable, my phone is almost always ready to use when I glance at it. I could almost forget that this is because Apple is identifying and cross-checking the most minute details of my face every time I use it. If I thought facial recognition was creepy six months ago, I think it’s incredible now. Face ID works so well, I stopped thinking about the privacy implications last Thanksgiving.
Video:
Apple's iMac Pro vs 2013 Mac Pro (Part 2) - photo editing comparison
Video:
iMac Pro vs 2013 Mac Pro (Part 3) - video editing
Video:
iMac Pro vs 2013 Mac Pro (Part 4) - 3D rendering and thermals
Video:
Why I’m keeping the iMac Pro
The more that I use the iMac Pro, the more that I come to appreciate how good it really is for my workflow. In this post and hands-on video, I consider five reasons why I’ve decided to stick with Apple’s professional-grade all-in-one.
Making Lemons Into Lemonade
How a less than desirable situation for me this weekend turned into a chance to improve my business and my approach.
I somehow managed to actually lose my iPad.
The moment of realization that my iPad was ... lost for good is not a moment I would wish on my worst enemy.
Unlike many other purchases, the iPad almost instantly proved it’s worth. It truly did make the jump from “nice-to-have” to a business critical tool for my business. So, in addition to the pain and frustration of losing a perfectly well functioning device, I was forced to double down on that pain by going out to buy a replacement.
But, like most apparent setbacks in life, if one looks closely, there is always a silver lining.
When I lost my iPad, not only did I lose the physical device, but I also lost the incredibly detailed Foliobook layout I had built on the device. The countless hours and days I had spent putting together the perfect presentation all vanished in a puff of smoke. While I was able to replace the device, it also meant that I needed to rebuild my iPad presentation… from scratch.
But again, as annoying a way as this was to spend several non-returnable hours of my life, was it really all bad? Actually… no.
The point is that having to suffer through that little bit of pain, gave me a great opportunity to have a fresh look at every single image I am using to define my brand. It forced me to look with fresh eyes at how effective I am at relating my message to clients. And that is something we all need to be doing on a daily basis.
Remember to check this web site every day for new bargains on apps for iPhone and iPad.
http://bgr.com/apps-on-sale/
http://bgr.com/apps-on-sale/
iPhone X: The five worst features in Apple's best phone
There’s a lot to like, but Apple needs to rethink some things for 2018's iPhones.
There’s a lot to like, but Apple needs to rethink some things for 2018's iPhones.
Face ID needs improvement.
Battery life needs improvement.
Need to make it easy to check if the alarm is on like iPhone 8.
Apple made iPhone X more complicated to use, not simpler.
I'm a longtime MacBook user and tried Microsoft's new Surface Book 2 for a week — here's what I learned
The Microsoft hardware is spectacular.
Windows 10 is a great operating system that's both powerful and complex.
After using the Surface Book 2 for a week, I was left with the feeling that Windows 10 is an incredibly powerful, flexible, and capable OS that does much more than I need it to. This can be good at times, but it can also feel overwhelming.
It's a double-edged sword. The learning curve is steeper with Windows 10 than it is with macOS, which remains a relatively simple, straightforward OS.
It's a double-edged sword. The learning curve is steeper with Windows 10 than it is with macOS, which remains a relatively simple, straightforward OS.
Windows 10 gives its best only if you use Microsoft's software and services.
Microsoft’s suite of software products is the only one that takes advantage of all the hardware and software perks built into the Surface Book and Windows. If you're already using Microsoft's software, then by all means, go for it. But my attachment to Google software products prevents me from making the jump to Microsoft’s Surface Book 2.
The MacBook Air: A Decade’s Worth of Legacy
10 years ago, Steve Jobs introduced the MacBook Air. Here’s the history of the product.
Apple highlights project to teach film production skills using MacBook Pro, Final Cut Pro X
Apple supplied the teams with a variety of hardware to create their films, including the MacBook Pro, iMac, iPad, the RED Raven camera, while Final Cut Pro X was provided to edit together the final product. Apple Retail experts were also provided to help the filmmaking process.
A team of 10 students from Hollywood High School created the film 'The Box' for the project, a story where a boy is transported to another world when he climbs inside a cardboard box.
Four things my old MacBook Pro can do better than my newer model
Instead, my old MacBook Pro is making my new model feel less useful.
My old MacBook Pro has a better keyboard.
My old MacBook Pro has a real esc (short for escape) key, not the poor imitation on the touch bar.
My old MacBook Pro has the better MagSafe power connector.
My old MacBook Pro has more ports (see the photo in the article)
How to permanently display the function keys for certain apps in the MacBook Pro Touch Bar
It’s an option in Apple’s “System Preferences” app.
How to fix macOS Touch ID after High Sierra update
Some upgrades to macOS High Sierra have reportedly caused Touch ID to stop working. If that's happened to you, the author has the fix.
Some upgrades to macOS High Sierra have reportedly caused Touch ID to stop working. If that's happened to you, the author has the fix.
Apple Releases Minor tvOS 11.2.5 Update With Bug Fixes and Security Improvements
Steve Jobs Knew How to Write an Email. Here's How He Did It
How Apple Built a Chip Powerhouse to Threaten Qualcomm and Intel
For several years, Apple has been steadily designing more and more of the chips powering its iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches.
Today, Apple packs its devices with custom components that process artificial intelligence tasks, track your steps, power game graphics, secure Face ID or Touch ID data, run the Apple Watch, pair AirPods to your phone and help make Macs work the way they do. The result: a chip powerhouse that could one day threaten the dominance of Qualcomm Inc. and even, eventually, Intel.
Mike Olson says that by designing its own chips, Apple cuts component costs, gets an early jump on future features because it controls research and development and keeps secrets away from frenemies such as Samsung.
Apple’s push into the complicated and pricey chips business makes sense so long as the company is selling 300 million devices a year.
Apple watchers believe it’s just a matter of time before the company designs the entire CPU, at which point Intel would lose its fifth-largest customer.
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
— Pablo Picasso
I’ve tested over 100 headphones in the past year, and I keep coming back to this $25 pair
Of the many inexpensive, beater-level earphones I’ve had lying around, the Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro have emerged as a personal favorite. They have a few clear flaws, but they still feel and sound better than I’d expect from a $25 earphone.
I compared the Xiaomis to Apple’s EarPods , which are the closest thing most people have to beater headphones today. As expected, the tighter-fitting Xiaomis sounded much more aggressive, with deeper bass response, a wider soundstage, and more space to capture fine detail. That bass was boomier with more subdued tracks, but again, if you fit the same niche as me, you’ll probably enjoy how hard-hitting the whole thing is.
Coincheck: Stolen $534 Mln NEM Were Stored On Low Security Hot Wallet
Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck, one of the largest in the country, was the victim of a massive hack resulting in a loss of 523 mln NEM coins, worth approximately $534 mln.
The coins were stolen via several unauthorized transactions from a hot wallet at 3:00 am local time on Friday, Jan. 26.
The coins were stolen via several unauthorized transactions from a hot wallet at 3:00 am local time on Friday, Jan. 26.
According to the exchange’s representatives, the hackers have managed to steal the private key for the hot wallet where NEM coins were stored, enabling them to drain the funds.
It has come to light that the funds were being stored on a simple hot wallet rather than a much more secure multisig wallet.
Hackers Invade YouTube Ads To Mine Cryptocurrency
Ads over YouTube carried a sneaky surprise: a cryptocurrency miner.
The mining software briefly invaded the video platform in an attempt to secretly siphon the computing power from any YouTube viewers who encountered the ads.
The mining software briefly invaded the video platform in an attempt to secretly siphon the computing power from any YouTube viewers who encountered the ads.
The culprit? Hackers who decided to abuse Google's ad network. The bad actors seeded the advertisements with web scripts that'll run over your browser to mine the digital currency Monero.
My Pacemaker Is Tracking Me From Inside My Body
Cloud-connected medical devices save lives, but also raise questions about privacy, security, and oversight. An Object Lesson.
Cloud-connected medical devices save lives, but also raise questions about privacy, security, and oversight. An Object Lesson.
Despite the growing number of pacemakers, not to mention the recent introduction of wireless cardiovascular devices like mine, their long-term effects, risks, and proprietary design are rarely discussed with new patients or their family members.
First, let’s save your life, the medical establishment might surmise, and later we can chitchat about how having a wireless, subdermal implant for the rest of that life might expose you to hacking, infections, and other health hazards.
to me, the idea that my hidden chest box “talks” to others in my sleep is the stuff of nightmares. It is impossible to know for sure whether my data is protected.
In 2013 Dick Cheney told CBS’s 60 Minutes that his doctors disabled his wireless pacemaker to thwart hacking and to protect him from possible assassination attempts.
Health providers can review my data from afar, and unauthorized hackers might have access to it, too. But it proved surprisingly difficult to access these medical records myself.
Data monitoring is threatening because those subject to it don’t know what information is being collected, for what reason, and by whom. And unlike iPhone or Amazon Echo users, I cannot just choose to stop using my connected pacemaker. In a way, my heart is no longer entirely mine: I share it with both Medtronic and with the U.S. hospital in which it was implanted.
In the future, will it be possible to “deactivate” my pacemaker — and me — from afar?
Facebook’s crushing blow to independent media arrived last fall in Slovakia, Cambodia, Guatemala, and three other nations.
The social giant removed stories by these publishers from users’ news feeds, hiding them in a new, hard-to-find stream. These independent publishers reported that they lost as much as 80 percent of their audience during this experiment.
The social giant removed stories by these publishers from users’ news feeds, hiding them in a new, hard-to-find stream. These independent publishers reported that they lost as much as 80 percent of their audience during this experiment.
At the heart of this change is Facebook’s attempt to be seen not as a news publisher, but as a neutral platform for interactions between friends. Facing sharp criticism for its role in spreading misinformation, and possibly in tipping elections in the United States and in the United Kingdom, Facebook is anxious to limit its exposure by limiting its role.
Facebook doesn’t talk to you because Facebook already knows what you want.
Facebook collects information on a person’s every interaction with the site—and many other actions online—so Facebook knows a great deal about what we pay attention to. People say they’re interested in a broad range of news from different political preferences, but Facebook knows they really want angry, outraged articles that confirm political prejudices.
Facebook collects information on a person’s every interaction with the site—and many other actions online—so Facebook knows a great deal about what we pay attention to. People say they’re interested in a broad range of news from different political preferences, but Facebook knows they really want angry, outraged articles that confirm political prejudices.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Weekly Web Wrap-up for January 18, 2018
A man's life was saved by his iPhone after he used the Siri feature to tell his fiancée that he was having a stroke.
When Rob Belt began seeing double and felt 'like he had downed 10 pints', he managed to muster the strength to ask his smartphone to call for help.
When Rob Belt began seeing double and felt 'like he had downed 10 pints', he managed to muster the strength to ask his smartphone to call for help.
Apple iOS 11.2.2 Release: Should You Upgrade?
Apple iOS 11.2.2 Verdict:
Install If You Run iOS 11, Hold If You’re Running iOS 10
Apple iOS 11.2.2 Release Has A Nasty Surprise
iOS 11.2.2 is throttling performance by as much as 50% ... users were not just subjectively reporting their iPhones and iPads felt slower, but were able to demonstrate it with before and after benchmark scores.
Is Apple slowing down your old iPad or MacBook too? Tech giant reveals whether ALL of its old gadgets are at risk.
Apple says: "This power management feature is specific to iPhone and does not apply to any other Apple products.”
That means your old iPad, MacBook or Apple Watch won't be impacted by any of the processor-throttling software updates currently targeting old iPhone models.
Apple made a section of the App Store to highlight apps that offer free trials
Be sure to double check if a subscription is annual, monthly, or weekly
Be sure to double check if a subscription is annual, monthly, or weekly
For those who want to test out an app before making a purchase, Apple is now promoting a new section in the App Store, “Try it for Free,” that highlights apps that offer a free trial period before you have to pay for a subscription.
As of this writing, there are only four apps being offered in the section.
There is also the usual peril of free trials — accidentally forgetting to cancel the trial before it starts charging you, if you don’t end up wanting the service.
24 hidden iPhone settings you should know about
Apple iMac Pro review – this superbly designed workstation is most powerful Mac ever
iMac Pro Review – Is It Worth the Money?
This review was written by a power user who really needs a powerful computer for the kind of work he does.
His new iMac Pro — WAY — outperforms his MacBook Pro. He spends much less time waiting for it to complete tasks.
He wrote:
“Rather unscientifically, I started editing a project I had logged on my MacBook Pro to see if I would immediately feel the difference. I did. Oh, boy, did I feel it! The iMac Pro is designed for exactly my types of workflow.”
“As you may have heard, the iMac Pro can’t be opened up by the end user. This seems to have got some people rather cross, which I must say I find amusing. The last thing I am interested in is ripping apart my computer and swapping out components. Upgrading is of no concern to me, nor to most small businesses. Besides, it’s not 1977 and I don’t spend my evenings at a home brew computer club!”
iMac Pro vs 27-inch iMac
Should you buy a 27in iMac, or the iMac Pro? We compare the two machines on design, features, specs and value for money
Should you buy a 27in iMac, or the iMac Pro? We compare the two machines on design, features, specs and value for money
This article gets into the technical details when comparing the two computers.
Verdict:
The iMac Pro is a far more powerful machine. But do you really require that much power? If you're editing 8K RED video, H.264 4K footage, or 50Mp RAW stills, perhaps you do. If you're just looking for a superfast Mac, even if you're a gamer, the iMac Pro is probably overkill.
The Pro machine is seriously expensive, and you need to think long and hard about how much processing power you really need.
Apple ID login now required to check AppleCare warranty coverage for your devices
What happens when an iPhone X is dropped
It holds up surprisingly well when dropped from 3 feet high (pocket high) or 5 feet high (selfie high)
Android makers want to copy the iPhone X’s Face ID, but it’s not that easy
Android Smartphones Try — and Fail — to Mimic Face ID
Apple’s star presence no longer overshadows Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
The Apple ecosystem is no longer the star of CES — instead, things like Amazon’s Alexa voice platform, and now Google’s assistant voice platform, are the clear ecosystem winners of CES.
It is easy, and correct, to say that CES was not, or never was, a measure of the health of Apple’s products. It is, however, incorrect and dangerous to miss that CES had been, for some time, a barometer for the health of Apple’s ecosystem.
We can’t ignore the fact that Apple’s ecosystem, which used to be on display at CES, is no longer, and that competitors’ ecosystems are now the ones that dominate the show. How this plays in the market, we aren’t sure, but we need to keep a close eye on these new dynamics.
Apple today has shared a revised version of its iOS Security Guide, dated January 2018. The new document, which comes in at 78 pages long includes new details on Apple Pay Cash, Face ID, and more…
The document explains in detail how Apple features work and how they're protected.
Apple releases new iPhone and Mac updates to help protect against Spectre
• Apple has released security updates for iOS, MacOS, and Safari that help protect against Spectre.
• Spectre is one of two security flaws that were discovered in chips last week, which affect numerous devices running Intel and ARM components.
• Amid releasing updates for both the Spectre and Meltdown flaws, Apple urges users not to download applications from sources outside of the App Store.
New MaMi macOS malware is hijacking DNS settings
• A new macOS malware called MaMi can hijack DNS settings, install root certificates, and otherwise compromise macOS machines. Its attack vector is currently unknown.
• Not all antivirus engines can detect MaMi yet, so keep your definitions up to date and run regular scans to ensure none of your machines are infected.
When initially discovered, there wasn't a single anti-malware app that recognized MaMi as malicious. As our sister site ZDNet points out, that number has changed: As of this writing 27 of the 59 antivirus platforms on VirusTotal recognize MaMi.
DNS-hijacking malware sneaks past anti-virus and creeps into Apple macOS
At the time of writing, it doesn't look like anti-virus tools will defend Macs against the malware. However, now that it's been brought to light we would expect updates to be pushed put for macOS security tools to defend against the malware.
Macs are generally less vulnerable to malware than Windows machines but as they grow in popularity we can expect malware to keep trying to pry open Cupertino's slick software.
Meltdown and Spectre CPU flaws: How to protect your Mac and iOS devices
Spectre affects all iOS, macOS, and tvOS. WatchOS is unaffected by the Meltdown and Spectre flaws.
What’s Apple doing to fix it?
Well, there isn’t really a real fix. These exploits rely on flaws baked right into the very design of the CPUs themselves. The best Apple or anyone can do is mitigate the risk, and Apple is already taking steps to do so. In December, Apple released macOS 10.13.2, iOS 11.2, and tvOS 11.2 with mitigations to lessen the risk, and iOS 11.2.2 also "includes security improvements to Safari and WebKit to mitigate the effects of Spectre." Additionally, Safari 11.0.2 includes mitigations against Spectre on macOS. Apple says more mitigations are on the way.
Well, there isn’t really a real fix. These exploits rely on flaws baked right into the very design of the CPUs themselves. The best Apple or anyone can do is mitigate the risk, and Apple is already taking steps to do so. In December, Apple released macOS 10.13.2, iOS 11.2, and tvOS 11.2 with mitigations to lessen the risk, and iOS 11.2.2 also "includes security improvements to Safari and WebKit to mitigate the effects of Spectre." Additionally, Safari 11.0.2 includes mitigations against Spectre on macOS. Apple says more mitigations are on the way.
How can I protect my device from attack?
Update your OS
This is the obvious answer, but it’s also the best one. As we said, there is no real fix for Meltdown or Spectre, just ways to make exploits harder to pull off. Apple has already begun taking steps to protect users, but they will only be effective if they’re installed.
Update your OS
This is the obvious answer, but it’s also the best one. As we said, there is no real fix for Meltdown or Spectre, just ways to make exploits harder to pull off. Apple has already begun taking steps to protect users, but they will only be effective if they’re installed.
If you receive this link, DON’T click on it — DON’T even point at it: Terrifying ‘text bomb’ is causing Apple devices to crash
A malicious link being sent around will freeze your iPhone — even if you don't click on it
• A software developer discovered a bug that lets anyone send you a malicious link on iMessage that can crash your phone.
• Because the bug lies in the link preview, it can freeze the iMessage app without you even clicking on it.
• Called "chaiOS," the bug affects phones running iOS 10 or later.
The bug is capable of crashing iMessage altogether, and in some cases, forcing you to restore your phone to factory settings.
Another macOS password prompt can be bypassed with any password
In System Preferences, you can unlock the App Store preference pane by typing any password. Apple has reportedly already fixed the bug in beta versions of the next macOS High Sierra update.
While this bug is nowhere as serious as the infamous root login bug, as John Gruber wrote, this one is quite embarrassing. What’s wrong with password prompts and macOS?
While this bug is nowhere as serious as the infamous root login bug, as John Gruber wrote, this one is quite embarrassing. What’s wrong with password prompts and macOS?
How a researcher hacked his own computer and found 'worst' chip flaw
This article is not nearly technical enough to explain “how”. But it’s still some interesting history.
Intel recalled a major chip in 1995 and turned them into keychains inscribed by the CEO — and the message speaks to Intel's current crisis
Intel recalled the Pentium P5 chip in 1995 that produced errors for certain calculations.
The recalled chips were turned into keychains for Intel employees.
The keychains had an inscription from former Intel CEO Andy Grove that became the company's mantra, and also applies to Intel's current chip crisis.
The mantra is:
"Bad companies are destroyed by crises; good companies survive them; great companies are improved by them."
Here's When Apple Will Hand Over Chinese iCloud Data to Comply With Local Laws
In an e-mail to affected customers on Wednesday, Apple said that it will hand over Chinese iCloud data center operations to Guizhou on the Cloud Big Data (GCBD) on February 28. The move will ensure iCloud data owned by Chinese users will remain inside the country’s borders. But Apple was quick to note in the e-mail, which was obtained by 9to5Mac, that it will maintain the same security and encryption protocols and will not build a “backdoor” that would allow a third-party to access user data.
Apple transfers iCloud operation in China to a local government-backed firm
US technology giant Apple confirmed last week that iCloud services in mainland China will soon be operated by a Chinese company in a move to comply with the cybersecurity law enacted in June last year.
Apple's move was made to comply with the newly enacted cybersecurity law in China, which came into force in June last year and demands that data belonging to Chinese citizens and organisations shall be stored within the country and operated by local Chinese companies.
Apple will be one of the first US companies to comply with the Chinese law. Other US companies with business exposure in China, including Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM, have also entered similar agreements
Apple will be one of the first US companies to comply with the Chinese law. Other US companies with business exposure in China, including Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM, have also entered similar agreements
Facebook will now show you more posts from friends and family than news
Facebook said it plans to alter its algorithm to favor content from friends and families over publishers and brands. In a post published yesterday (Jan. 11), CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote the company’s objective was no longer primarily to surface “relevant content” for Facebook’s 2 billion users, but to prioritize meaningful social interactions that benefit them.
Video:
Twitter Engineer Admits to Banning Accounts that Express Interest in God, Guns, and America
Twitter direct messaging engineer Pranay Singh admitted to mass-banning accounts that express interest in God, guns, and America, during a Project Veritas investigation.
How the legal battle around loot boxes will change video games forever
Just a few weeks ago, Belgium’s Gambling Committee took up the most controversial gaming question of the season: are loot boxes gambling? Yes, they said.
Loot boxes are, in short, virtual boxes with random contents that you purchase through video games with real money.
Loot boxes are, in short, virtual boxes with random contents that you purchase through video games with real money.
The debate over loot boxes has been one of the most divisive and furious that gaming has seen in years, and certainly one of the most important stories for the industry in 2017. Billions of dollars are on the line here — especially as legislators and regulators in more countries have started to speak up.
For years, microtransactions have become more and more prominent in gaming as a way of supplementing income for developers, or replacing the revenue gained by selling units — hence “free to play” games that are free to download and play, but make money by selling you small-ticket items or downloadable content in the game itself.
The unparalleled outcry from players, fans, press, and politicians about loot boxes in Star Wars Battlefront II signaled that we were at a breaking point. A flagship title of perhaps the world’s most profitable and famous IP was monetizing through microtransactions and loot boxes so pervasively that it felt openly exploitative.
What caused the game industry to charge so recklessly toward this precipice? Why risk doing something that would invite legal battles and government scrutiny above and beyond anything that the industry endured during the darkest days of the last generation’s culture wars? Inescapably, the answer is money.
US government pushed tech firms to hand over source code
Obtaining a company's source code makes it radically easier to find security flaws and vulnerabilities for surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations.
Obtaining a company's source code makes it radically easier to find security flaws and vulnerabilities for surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations.
It's not uncommon for tech companies to refer to their source code as the "crown jewel" of their business.
Given to a rival or an unauthorized source, the damage can be incalculable.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), created in 1979 to oversee the government's surveillance warrants, has authorized more than 99 percent of all surveillance requests.
FISA orders are so highly classified that simply acknowledging an order's existence is illegal, even a company's chief executive or members of the board may not be told. Only those who are necessary to execute the order would know, and would be subject to the same secrecy provisions.
Last year, antivirus maker and security firm Kaspersky later found evidence that the NSA had obtained source code from a number of prominent hard drive makers -- a claim the NSA denied -- to quietly install software used to eavesdrop on the majority of the world's computers.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Weekly Web Wrap-up for Friday, 1-5-2018
Phone Users Suing Apple Over The Battery Issue Have A Tough Case To Prove
Dynamic power management is nothing new. It’s a technology that attempts to control the charge and discharge of Lithium-ion batteries according to the power required of them by the device. Apple actually implemented the technology on iPhone 6/Plus and 6s/Plus last year via an iOS update.
But Apple changed the performance of people’s devices without telling them directly that they were doing so.
Apple probably should have known better than to secretly mess with the performance of the central computing hub in most people’s lives. Many users are very sensitive to the speed at which their phone launches apps and renders video. And Apple knows that; note that in its statement the company did not apologize for throttling down phone performance, but did apologize for not telling consumers.
So score that one for the plaintiffs.
So score that one for the plaintiffs.
Curious how well the battery inside your iPhone is doing? Here's how to check it.
By far the easiest way to check on your battery's health. Install the official Apple Support app and sign into your Apple ID if required.
Start a chat session with Apple Support, selecting the phone you want to have tested as the device in question. Once you're connected with a technician, inform him or her you want to know the status of your battery's health.
You will then be walked through the process, which requires going into Settings > Privacy > Analytics. A few seconds later, a report is sent to the representative.
My iPhone X battery passed with flying colors, as expected.
Start a chat session with Apple Support, selecting the phone you want to have tested as the device in question. Once you're connected with a technician, inform him or her you want to know the status of your battery's health.
You will then be walked through the process, which requires going into Settings > Privacy > Analytics. A few seconds later, a report is sent to the representative.
My iPhone X battery passed with flying colors, as expected.
Keep in mind, Apple isn't actually requiring your battery to fail its test to make you eligible for the $29 replacement. Checking your battery is more for peace of mind than anything else.
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/iphone-battery-health-how-to-check-it-on-your-own/
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/iphone-battery-health-how-to-check-it-on-your-own/
How to Tell if You Need a New iPhone Battery
The easiest thing to do is download an app like Battery Life (there are multiple apps with that name, but this version, by RBT Digital, seems to be the most robust).
If you've got anything older than an iPhone 7, get the $29 battery change next time you're anywhere near an Apple Store.
If you've got an iPhone 7 or newer, check the Battery Life app infrequently and see where things are headed. If your iPhone battery is headed to just 80 percent then look into the replacement options stat, hopefully before Apple's battery deal runs out at the end of the year.
Apple says its batteries are good for 400 to 500 charge cycles. That usually takes a year or two—or around the time you'd upgrade iOS and see it all slow down when the new iOS detects an aging battery and reduces processor output to "help" you. It doesn't hurt that Apple would also prefer you purchase a new phone around that time, too.
Apple says its batteries are good for 400 to 500 charge cycles. That usually takes a year or two—or around the time you'd upgrade iOS and see it all slow down when the new iOS detects an aging battery and reduces processor output to "help" you. It doesn't hurt that Apple would also prefer you purchase a new phone around that time, too.
Run, don’t walk, to replace your iPhone battery for $29
Apple shaved $50 off its standard battery fee in an extraordinary — but limited-time — effort to get back in our good graces.
Rarely is tech advice this cut and dried: If you bought an iPhone in 2016 or earlier, make an appointment at a Genius Bar as soon as possible. Apple just started a program that can make old iPhones feel new again — for just $29.
An Apple store or repair shop will pop the hood of your iPhone 6, 6s, SE or 7 and swap out the battery. Like a jalopy after a Jiffy Lube, a three-year-old iPhone with a fresh battery will not only run longer, chances are it will also run faster.
It takes 17 hours for an image to burn in on the iPhone X, test shows
Samsung phones didn't perform as well, but their owners shouldn't worry either.
None of these three phones performed poorly enough in this test that owners should be worried.
Samsung phones didn't perform as well, but their owners shouldn't worry either.
None of these three phones performed poorly enough in this test that owners should be worried.
Five simple steps to keep your Mac safe from hackers
Apple is updating its software to combat chip security holes
Apple said it will be releasing more software updates to protect against recently disclosed security vulnerabilities.
This marked the first time that the company had made a formal statement about the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities, which were reported to affect phones, servers andPCs.
This marked the first time that the company had made a formal statement about the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities, which were reported to affect phones, servers andPCs.
Apple says the patches will have "no measurable effect" on performance.
Apple confirms all Mac and iOS devices are affected by Meltdown and Spectre bugs
“All Mac systems and iOS devices are affected, but there are no known exploits impacting customers at this time,” the company writes in a blog post. “Since exploiting many of these issues requires a malicious app to be loaded on your Mac or iOS device, we recommend downloading software only from trusted sources such as the App Store.”
Apple Watch devices are not affected by Meltdown in any way, Apple confirms.
9 reasons you should buy an iPhone 8 instead of an iPhone X
The T2 chip makes the iMac Pro the start of a Mac revolution
Sure, it's the fastest Mac ever made, but the T2 chip is what really makes it different.
AW comment:
Presumably, that chip will be coming to regular iMacs in the future.
iMac Pro Teardown
For those of you who are technically inclined, here is a detailed, step-by-step disassembly of the iMac Pro, with pictures.
Must-read iOS 11 Control Center tips and tricks
Here are our top tips for making the most out of Control Center in iOS 11. These tips apply to iOS 11 specifically, so if you haven't upgraded yet be sure to do so in order to gain these great new features on your iOS devices.
Why on Earth did I wait so long to disable Siri on my iPhone X?
I’ve been dealing with accidental Siri activations ever since I first got the Apple Watch in 2015. Workouts aside, I would activate Siri at least a few times every week simply by pushing a door open or doing something similar. So I finally decided to completely disable Siri on my iPhone, since that’s the only way to disable Siri on the Apple Watch.
Why didn’t I do this sooner!?
Not having false alerts every 2 seconds while I exercise is wonderful, but there’s another benefit I wasn’t expecting. The battery life on my iPhone X has gotten a huge boost since disabling Siri.
Why didn’t I do this sooner!?
Not having false alerts every 2 seconds while I exercise is wonderful, but there’s another benefit I wasn’t expecting. The battery life on my iPhone X has gotten a huge boost since disabling Siri.
Angela Ahrendts says it took years to figure out the key to success — here's how she has stuck to her values while becoming Apple's highest-paid employee
There’s a reason using a period in a text message makes you sound angry
Now that text messaging and social media have given their users an outlet for casual written language, differences between writing styles can be seen.
When using a period in a text message, it’s perceived as overly formal. So when you end your text with a period, it can come across as insincere or awkward, just like using formal spoken language in a casual setting like a bar.
Some educators are even beginning to incorporate lessons about formal and informal writing into their classrooms, which can help students identify those situations that require the use of different styles.
We change how we talk depending on where we are, who we’re talking to or how we’re communicating.
A common example is the way we talk in a job interview versus at a bar with friends. Typically, a speaker will use much more formal language in an interview than when hanging out with peers. If you talked to your friends the same way you talked during a job interview, it would probably give a stilted, distant feeling to the conversation.
Facebook Dumps 'Fake News' Patrol After Spectacular Backfire
Facebook has abandoned it’s fake news ‘fact checkers‘ program to label articles reviewed by Snopes and Politifact as ‘disputed,’ after the program backfired a little over a year after inception.
The company pointed to a slowdown in news flow, the fact that stories were required to be deemed “false” before earning a “disputed” label, and
The company pointed to a slowdown in news flow, the fact that stories were required to be deemed “false” before earning a “disputed” label, and
because many people were instead drawn to clicking on the articles in question.
Two Calendars from NASA for 2018
Note:
The APOD calendar begins with December 2017. Turn the page and January 2018 will appear.
Everything You Need to Know About Blockchain But Were Too Embarrassed to Ask
Blockchain is the technology that underlies BitCoin. But it’s being used for many other purposes as well.
Blockchain technology breaks the database into a million tiny pieces, which are then spread across thousands of computers. “Instead of breaking into a house,” Smith says, “you now have to break into an entire town.”
Intel speaks out on fixes for ‘Meltdown’ and ‘Spectre’ CPU exploits, their impact
A so-called bug initially ascribed solely to Intel CPUs is actually a pair of exploits that, taken together, impact many of the CPUs being used in PCs, mobile devices, and data centers. The bugs now have names — Meltdown, which affects Intel processors, and Spectre, which is more widespread and affects CPUs from Intel, AMD, and ARM.
The issue is related to how programs access memory, specifically information that should only be accessible to the operating system kernel that maintains the highest level of privileges. The exploits are ones where malicious programs can access the protected kernel memory space and “see” information that should be locked away.
The full details, which are not yet available, are quite technical and relate to how a CPU moves in and out of protected kernel mode.
The fix for Meltdown has to be implemented by the operating system in a process labeled Kernel Page Table Isolation (KPTI), which puts the kernel in an area of protected memory space that cannot be accessed by other programs. That creates extra processing steps — dumping and then reloading kernel data — that can slow things down, although, according to Intel, the impact is limited to specific workflows and typical users will not notice much impact.
Spectre will take longer to resolve but is also much more difficult to exploit.
All operating systems will need to implement some form of KPTI in order to bypass the bug and improve security.
This story isn’t about one manufacturer’s problems but apparently more about the industry’s rapid response to a widespread issue.
Intel now says it has a fix for the Spectre bug that Google found to be unfixable
Intel says that it's already sending out fixes for the massive "Meltdown" and "Spectre" security bugs, with 90% of recent processors getting the patch by the end of next week.
"By the end of next week, Intel expects to have issued updates for more than 90 percent of processor products introduced within the past five years," Intel said in a press release.
That still leaves a long way to go: The Meltdown and Spectre attacks are believed to present a threat to almost any Intel processor made since 1995. But safeguarding the last five years' worth of chips is a good start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
