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, September 18, 2018
How to make an Apple repair person happy-Make Frequent Backups!
You want to make the person you called to fix your Mac happy and smiling?
Answer “YES!” When they ask you, “Well, do you have a recent backup of your Mac?"
If not, well, the repair person can only do so much before they call it quits.
YOU, YES YOU! Have no excuse for not making backups.
A new 1 terabyte USB backup drive costs $50 at Frys.
If you don’t like Fry’s, try Costco. Or Best Buy or Walmart or Amazon or Staples or OfficeMax or Office Depot.
Just go and buy it.
Plug it into one of the USB ports on your Mac.
MacOS will recognize it and ask you if you want to use it as a Time Machine drive.
In this case, you say “Yes!” And let macOS guide you through the process.
Your Mac will automatically format the drive properly.
It will set up a schedule of a backup every 60 minutes.
Just keep the drive plugged into your Mac. Let Time Machine do the work.
AND DON’T UNPLUG IT!
Tom Briant
Editor, MacValley Blog
How to Restore Your USB Connection when it drops to your printer or camera
Just unplug the USB cable from the USB port you’ve used.
Now plug into another USB port on your computer.
If that doesn’t work, try another USB cable. Cables can fail. Get another one.
I once earned $30 just by switching a client’s USB cable to their printer from one port to another.
Now save yourself $30 and move the USB cable to another port.
Why does this happen? The digital “handshake” between your computer and the device you want to plug in fails.
Try another port. That’s all. You haven’t hurt your computer. It’s just one of those weird things in life, like hitting all the green lights in a row.
Tom Briant
Editor, MacValley Blog
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Weekly Web Wrap up for September 16, 2018
Want to watch the Apple Special Event. September 12, 2018? Here's the link.
Apple sets release dates for iOS 12, watchOS 5, tvOS 12, and macOS Mojave
iOS 12 release: September 17
watchOS 5 release: September 17
tvOS 5 release: September 17
macOS Mojave release: September 24
watchOS 5 release: September 17
tvOS 5 release: September 17
macOS Mojave release: September 24
Everything Apple announced at its Sept. 12 event
1. iPhone XS
2. iPhone XS Max
3. iPhone XR
4. Apple Watch 4
Here are the highlights:
• All the original Apple TV programming that's been announced so far. Plus, Apple just signed deals for two movies: They star wolves and elephants.
• Apple is about to ship its 2 billionth iOS device.
• The iPhone XS uses recycled tin and bio-based plastics (and more), part of Apple's clean and renewable energy push.
• Updates to the HomePod to make it more useful.
• Price drops on the existing iPhones, with the iPhone 7 starting at $449.
• You'll be able to update to iOS 12 on Sept. 17 and MacOS Mojave on Sept. 24.
iOS 12 release gives users more power, marketers more options
Marketers will find opportunities to connect with users through enhanced AR capabilities, new notifications options and more.
Marketers will find opportunities to connect with users through enhanced AR capabilities, new notifications options and more.
Changes to notifications make it easier for users to opt in — and opt out.
Apple's augmented reality (AR) becomes more accessible and easier for marketers to create.
What does "augmented reality" mean. Here's a link to Apple's definition.
Apple Releases Golden Master Version of iOS 12 Shortcuts App
For those unfamiliar with Shortcuts, it's an iOS 12 Siri feature designed to let you create multi-step shortcuts using first and third-party apps that can be activated by Siri voice command.
The golden master (GM) version of the app, which represents the final version of the app that will be provided to consumers.
MacOS Mojave: Everything you need to know about Apple’s Macintosh operating system
In this FAQ, we’ll give you the general details on macOS Mojave: When it will be release, what Macs are compatible, etc. We’ll add more details to this article as they become available.
Editor’s note: Updated 9/4/18 with the release of macOS Mojave developer beta 10.
Editor’s note: Updated 9/4/18 with the release of macOS Mojave developer beta 10.
Apple’s 3D Touch was doomed from the start
3D Touch was meant to unlock a new level of interaction with our iPhones: instead, it just added to the confusion. Now, with the iPhone XR arriving without Apple’s pressure-sensitive screens, it looks like the technology is finally being abandoned. Then again, the writing has been on the wall for 3D Touch for some time now.
It’s not hard to see how 3D Touch stumbled. As a concept, it wasn’t a bad idea: give access to extra features from a “different’ type of tap, whether that be contextual menus, previews, or something else. Problem was, actually figuring out where 3D Touch was available was always trial-and-error.
With no standardized way to flag whether an icon, dialog, or button supported 3D Touch or not, there was little incentive to try it.
The iPhone XR shows how unnecessary 3D Touch has always been
This seems to be the story of 3D Touch: it’s a fascinating idea with the potential to completely rework the basic user interface of a smartphone that has gone fairly unnoticed. And now, three years after it was introduced, Apple seems to be on the way to phasing it out.
I Invented the iPhone's Autocorrect. Sorry About That, and You're Welcome
I wrote the code for iPhone autocorrection based on an analysis of the words we type most commonly, the frequency of words relative to others, and the errors we’re most likely to make on a touchscreen keyboard.
More than 10 years after the initial release of the iPhone, the state of the art now is much as it was then. Even with recent advances in AI and machine learning, the core problem remains the same: Software doesn’t understand the nuance of human communication.
Opinion: Remember when Apple was struggling and Tesla was riding high? There’s a lesson in that for today
In the summer of 2016, Apple's stock went way down. Its stock was trading for a third less than where it had stood in mid-2015, just a year earlier.
Some openly began lobbying for Cook to be replaced by Tesla’s Elon Musk, on the grounds that he would be able to rekindle Apple’s innovative spirit.
Now fast forward to today.
Now fast forward to today.
Apple’s stock is up more than 150% from its mid-2016 low. Cook is riding high. And many no longer view Musk as a visionary but as a hindrance to Tesla’s future
It’s a mistake to believe there’s a superstar CEO who can ride into a company on a white horse and save the day.
Instead, salvation comes from within.
Instead, salvation comes from within.
Ramesh Khurana said “Large-scale statistical studies have failed to find any direct causal link between CEOs and firm performance.”
Changing a company’s internal culture isn’t easy. It takes hard work over a long time. It’s not glamorous work. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t the key to turning a company around.
No wonder the fairy tales about knights riding in on white horses to save the day are so tempting. But, in the real world of Wall Street, as Tesla shareholders these days know all too well, not everyone ends up living happily ever after.
No wonder the fairy tales about knights riding in on white horses to save the day are so tempting. But, in the real world of Wall Street, as Tesla shareholders these days know all too well, not everyone ends up living happily ever after.
Some Apple fans are building their own ‘Hackintoshes’ — Mac computers they build themselves. And they point to a weakness with Apple's computer lineup
Something to note off the bat: Legally and ethically, building a Hackintosh is kind of a grey area.
So far, Apple hasn't taken action one way or another on the Hackintosh community, and has let it be. Just be advised that this may not always be the case.
The only way to get Apple's MacOS operating system is to buy one of Apple's own Macs. That's pretty much the way it's always been. Or at least, that's the only official way.
The computer pictured in this article is running MacOS, but it's not a Mac. It's a so-called Hackintosh — a computer built by a hobbyist, made to run MacOS on non-Apple hardware.
The computer pictured in this article is running MacOS, but it's not a Mac. It's a so-called Hackintosh — a computer built by a hobbyist, made to run MacOS on non-Apple hardware.
YouTuber Snazzy Labs made a $350 Hackintosh that "manages to hang with Apple's current lineup" as of January 2018, he says.
The catch, of course, is that any Hackintosh you build will not be covered by technical support, anywhere. You're on your own.
Dozens of iOS apps surreptitiously share user location data with tracking firms
Applications don't mention that they're selling your precise location to third parties.
During preparation for a workshop at DEF CON in August on locating privacy leaks in network traffic, we discovered a number of applications on both iOS and Android that were broadcasting precise location data back to the applications' developers—in some cases in unencrypted formats. Research released late Friday by Sudo Security's Guardian mobile firewall team provided some confirmation to our findings—and demonstrated that many apps are sharing location data with firms that market location data information without the users' knowledge.
The 24 identified applications were found in a random sampling of the App Store's top free applications, so there are likely many more apps for iOS surreptitiously selling user location data.
In addition to these sorts of revenue-generating location-data leaks, Ars found some iOS applications using location data for legitimate purposes that were leaking location data in plain text API requests.
Mac and iOS apps stealing user data -- an enterprise take
While the news tarnishes Apple’s security model, it’s inevitable other platforms will also experience covert data grabbing through otherwise innocuous apps.
Phishing attacks are much more effective if they are precisely targeted according to user habits — and users are still the weakest link in the security chain.
Information concerning a person’s browsing habits can become a malware-infested message designed and personalized to that user, increasing the chance of successfully infecting a victim's computer.
The apps engaged in these practices should be seen as honey traps:
Adware Doctor, for example, promises something users want — to eradicate unwanted advertising online, but it fails to inform them that it will grab browser histories to covertly send to unknown servers based in China.
Adware Doctor, for example, promises something users want — to eradicate unwanted advertising online, but it fails to inform them that it will grab browser histories to covertly send to unknown servers based in China.
Top Apple Mac App Secretly Sends Your Browser History to China, Researcher Finds
Adware Doctor is one of the most popular paid apps in the App Store for Macs, and it’s on sale! Unfortunately, you probably don’t want to take advantage of the bargain because new research shows it’s essentially spyware and is periodically transmitting user data to a server in China.
Patrick Wardle is a respected security researcher who’s made some big discoveries of issues with Apple before.
The app claims to prevent “malware and malicious files from infecting your Mac,” and it offers the ability to remove adware that is already on your system. But according to Wardle, once the app has been downloaded, it asks for high-level access to your system files and begins a process of working around Apple’s normal “sandboxing” protections.
Additional Mac App Store apps caught stealing and uploading browser history
Today, we’re talking specifically about the apps distributed by a developer who claims to be “Trend Micro, Inc.”, which include Dr. Unarchiver, Dr. Cleaner and others.
We were able to confirm these reports, at least with the Dr. Unarchiver app.
Mobile app that spies on people leaked customer payment records, karmic balance restored
A mobile app that can help people spy on Android and iPhone users, whether they’re spouses or children, has leaked millions of sensitive records, including passwords, call logs, text messages, contacts, notes, and location data. What’s more disturbing is that mSpy, the app in question, just suffered the second major security breach in three years. So you’re probably better off not using it going forward.
Security researcher Nitish Shah first discovered the breach.
How to remove your FileVault recovery key from iCloud
Apple's FileVault feature offers the fantastic option in macOS to encrypt your entire drive.
To avoid losing your files forever if you forget your password or lose it from a stored location, macOS offers to either reveal to you a special Recovery Key that you have to make a record of, or—starting with Yosemite—lets you use iCloud to unlock your drive.
Macworld reader Ester set up iCloud as the option for their Mac’s FileVault recovery, and now wants to change it. What’s the process for doing this?
It’s tedious, but rightly so.
It’s tedious, but rightly so.
This article has step-by-step instructions.
Apple Music launches its own ‘Top 100’ song charts
Apple quietly launched a software update today to roll out the numeric charts that will show a global “Top 100” plus lists for the top-streamed songs in every country the service is offered.
How to transfer music between two iOS devices
Transferring files between two iOS devices—without using a third computer—is a little tricky
From top secret to best seller: the story of the Apple Watch
In reality, the Apple Watch project began with Jony Ive shortly after Steve Jobs's death in October 2011.
Apple Watch can only be looked upon as a great success. It's the most popular smartwatch and wearable electronics product in the world, and at least last year, it was the most popular watch in the world.
Steve Jobs may not have cared all that much about watches, but the Apple Watch showed that Jobs' successor could create a new product category and make it a key part of Apple.
The new Apple Watch 4 face is a design crime
It’s a nightmare of information density. It features seven slider graphics. Seven.
The Apple Watch 4, with handy new technologies like an FDA-approved ECG and fall sensor, could be incredibly powerful in medical monitoring–especially for the elderly. But grandma will have to wade her way through the pixel puke, first.
Ogle the beautifully redesigned Apple Watch Series 4 [Gallery]
Series 4 vs. Series 3: Which Apple Watch is right for you?
Apple Watch Series 4 is now available to preorder ahead of its official launch on September 21. It’s packed with new features, but considerably more expensive than its predecessors, with prices starting at $399.
Last year’s Apple Watch Series 3 is also still available. It’s not quite as impressive as the latest model, but it’s now more affordable at $279.
The biggest difference between Series 4 and Series 3 is that the new model will be capable of delivering on-demand electrocardiograms. With just a tap of the Digital Crown, it can read your heart’s electrical signals and produce an ECG waveform in just 30 seconds.
Series 4 also includes a new fall-detection feature. If the devices senses that you remain immobile for 60 seconds after a fall, it will call an ambulance and notify your emergency contacts.
Apple Watch Series 4 is by far the best smartwatch money can buy, and there are plenty of reasons why you should spend more on the latest model if you can afford it.
If you’re on a tight budget, however, Apple Watch Series 3 is well worth its cheaper price tag.
If you’re on a tight budget, however, Apple Watch Series 3 is well worth its cheaper price tag.
Apple Watch Series 4’s best new feature won’t work at launch
The only mention Apple makes that this feature is still in development is a note in tiny print on its website saying “ECG app coming later this year.”
The new electrocardiogram feature in Apple Watch Series 4 requires a watchOS application that won’t be available when this wearable hits store shelves. When the software will be released isn’t clear.
Apple Watch Series 4 — minus the ECG app — will be available in stores beginning September 21.
Apple Watch Series 4 includes a bigger display and a built-in EKG scanner
Apple says the Watch Series 4 will be the first EKG product offered over the counter directly to consumers, and you simply open an app and put your finger on the digital crown to trigger the EKG.
Watch OS 5: How to update your Apple Watch
Apple just released iOS 12 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Alongside that update, Apple has also released WatchOS 5 for the Apple Watch.
Starting Sept. 17, you'll be able to update your Apple Watch to get the new features.
For the first time, Apple is opting not to update all Apple Watch models. Only the original Apple Watch is left out, but that's potentially a frustrating omission -- depending on how much you spent on your Apple Watch.
Before updating your Apple Watch, update your iPhone to iOS 12; otherwise, WatchOS 5 will not show up as an available update.
How to back up your iPhone prior to installing iOS 12
During any software update, things can go wrong.
During any software update, things can go wrong.
You can use either iCloud or iTunes to back up your iOS device. Both choices have advantages and disadvantages, but at the end of the day having a backup of your device can prevent a lot of headaches (and potential heartache) should anything go wrong when updating to iOS 12.
Step-by-step instructions for both ways.
Don't Buy Any of the New iPhones Until You've Downloaded iOS 12 To Your Current Device
iOS 12 brings a ton of improvements to the iPhone, but the biggest changes will come in the form of speed and performance – even on older devices.
Holding onto your device is a good thing, generally speaking. Of course, owning the new, shiny gadget is always fun and exciting, but getting more mileage from your current iOS device means you're saving yourself money and helping the environment.
Apple’s iPhone XS looks terrific, but the iPhone you already have is about to feel brand new
For people who already have an iPhone X, there is pretty much no reason to upgrade to an iPhone XS. If you want a bigger screen, the iPhone XS Max is a fine upgrade. Otherwise, the performance and camera improvements in the iPhone XS definitely do not warrant spending as much as $1,400 to upgrade.
If you have any phone other than an iPhone X — and that includes the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus — then the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are phenomenal upgrades. Even still, you might want to wait before you pull the trigger on a preorder. Why? Because Apple’s new iOS 12 software will be released to the public early next week, and it’s going to make your phone feel brand new.
If you have an iPhone that can run iOS 11, it’s also compatible with iOS 12. Even the iPhone 5s from 2013 can run iOS 12.
AppleCare+ for Apple Watch Series 4 Costs $79, Up From $49 for Series 3
AppleCare+ for Apple Watch Series 4 extends warranty coverage up to two years from the date of purchase and it adds coverage for two incidents of accidental damage, each subject to a $69 service fee.
Forget the New iPhones. These Older Models are a Better Deal
Luckily, Apple had kept two classic iPhones in its lineup, and both are worth considering if you need an upgrade.
iPhone 8 ($599)
iPhone 8 ($599)
iPhone 7 ($550)
It no longer matters if you have the absolute latest smartphone.
Last Year's Apple Watch Series 3 is Also Still Great.
The Apple Watch stole the show from this year’s new iPhones
Apple’s smartwatch is now more exciting than its smartphone
The Series 4 stood out for how simple of a purchase it is for those who’ve been sitting on the sidelines of the wearable market.
What started as an underdog product arriving late to the wearable scene, the Apple Watch has since become not only the world’s best-selling wearable, but the world’s best-selling watch, period.
There are a number of reasons why the Apple Watch is outshining the iPhone these days. The first and most obvious is that the iPhone has become boring, trapped by the diminishing returns Apple can wring out of the device year after year.
Apple figured out last year with the iPhone X that customers would be willing to pay not for meaningful new features, but for design and aesthetic improvements.
There will be a time when the Apple Watch, like the iPhone, becomes a stagnant product that simply becomes more exorbitant and expensive.
I don't wanna give Apple my face
As I sized up the arguments for and against, I've begrudgingly come to the conclusion that my fear of Face ID is just the teensiest bit irrational.
... But no way in hell does that mean I'm going to use it.
With Face ID, my face IS my passcode. There is absolutely nothing secret about it!
Law enforcement cannot legally obtain permission to open your phone with a passcode at ALL, because it's considered a form of self-incrimination. However, cops can actually get warrants for you to produce your fingerprint or your face. Which is a pretty dumb loophole.
Safety with Face ID will always depend on Apple's word.
What app-specific iCloud passwords are and when Apple forces you to use them
Sometimes, an app wants your iCloud credentials for legitimate reasons, and Apple has app-specific passwords to keep your data safe —but, there are limits to them that Apple doesn't mention. AppleInsider shows you what they do, plus how and when to use them.
There are two measures that give us a balance between functionality and security.
The first is two-factor authentication which should be set up on your iPhone. If it isn't, do set it up now.
Second, you can grant certain apps a password of their very own (after you have two-factor authentication switched on).
You don't choose the password, Apple does. You can have a maximum of 25 app-specific passwords.
Why you shouldn't rely on iCloud Drive as your only backup
It’s not that I worry that Apple will have some massive iCloud storage failure. Apple has their own backups for iCloud.
But I don’t like the idea of having all my eggs in one basket.
I regularly get email from readers who lost access to an old email address, and wind up with that address being the only way they can apparently recover their Apple ID account, and not being able to provide Apple with sufficient proof to regain use of it.
To make sure you have copies of everything, you need to use local backup software that clones the entire drive, like Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner, or SuperDuper.
Everything You Should Do Before—And After—You Lose Your iPhone
1. Turn on "Find my iPhone".
2. Protect the Lock Screen
3. Back up your data
4. If you lose your iPhone -- Contact Your Carrier
5. If it's stolen -- Call the Police
6. Use Apple's "Find my iPhone" feature to remotely locate your iPhone
7. Check your on-line accounts -- to make sure the thief isn't using them.
Logitech’s cheaper alternative to the Apple Pencil is finally available to everyone
While the Crayon can do a bunch of interesting things, it’s not meant to work with any other tablet than the new affordable iPad, which is rather strange.
If you want to use the Crayon with a 2018 iPad Pro, you’d better wait until next week, when Apple is expected to announce its new tablets. Once they’re out, we’ll know whether they work with the Crayon or not.
How to Roll Back Changes (and Undo Your Mistakes) in Any App
This article discusses rolling back changes in several different apps, but the process is pretty much the same:
1. Repeatedly press Cmd + Z (Ctrl +Z on Windows machines). This works with almost all apps.
This works only as long as your document remains open.
Once you close your document, your Mac forgets the change history.
2. MS-Word has a "View and restore previous versions" feature.
3. Apple iWork has a "Browse All Versions" feature -- provided you set up iCloud correctly.
4. Adobe Photoshop has a "History" feature (NOT the same thing as a versions feature).
It lets you undo several small changes in one mouse click instead of undoing them
one at a time by repeatedly pressing Cmd + Z.
This feature works only as long as you keep your document open.
Whenever you close your document, Photoshop forgets the change history.
5. This option is NOT mentioned in this Gizmodo article:
Apple's Time Machine feature can sometimes be used to retrieve past
versions of a document. Learn the rules that Time Machine follows for
preserving past versions of ALL documents.
Stop Misusing Autocorrect
There’s a right way and a wrong way to use your phone’s autocorrect, says Ken Kocienda, the person who invented it.
Autocorrect tries to learn about the way you normally write so that any corrections are the ones you want.
The learning process works best if you don’t stop to fix every word. It’s much more efficient to type a whole sentence or message, then proofread at the end. That’s what the learning system was designed for, and what works best in Apple’s user testing.
And this will get even truer as autocorrect and predictive text become more sophisticated, says Kocienda.
The more advanced autocorrect gets, the more it can fix things without you constantly watching it. So learn to trust autocorrect. (Or turn it off.)
What it was like working at Apple to create the first iPhone
Mike Murphy interviews Ken Kocienda about his experiences writing iOS for the iPhone and working very closely with Steve Jobs.
How Apple Watch apps’ death spiral nearly killed my iPhone app
A very interesting article on how difficult it is to write apps for the Apple Watch, how Apple's changes to Watch OS created even greater problems for app writers, and what Apple can do to improve the situation.
The 10 most important iPhone apps of all time
An impressive list of apps.
Slide Show:
The iPhone's 21 most important apps
This slide show includes the 10 apps in the impressive list mentioned above.
Today in Apple history:
September 11, 2009: Steve Ballmer freaks out and stomps an iPhone
Ballmer spotted a Microsoft employee using an iPhone to take a photo during a company-wide meeting.
The CEO responded by grabbing the Apple device while the audience booed. Then he put it on the ground and pretended to stomp on it before walking away.
While an unprofessional move, Ballmer’s iPhone freakout was part of a bigger story with Microsoft and Apple at the time.
Ironically, Microsoft founder Bill Gates predicted doom for Apple in 2005, suggesting that a smartphone would kill the iPod cash cow. In some ways it did, but Microsoft clearly didn’t expect Apple to build the phone in question
Today in Apple history:
September 8, 2003: Apple reveals that it has sold its 10 millionth iTunes song download.
Today in Apple history:
September 7, 2005: Steve Jobs unveils Rokr E1, the first iTunes phone
Apple and Motorola launch the Rokr E1, the first Cupertino-sanctioned cellphone to run iTunes.
It proved disastrous from Day 1.
Today in Apple history:
August 18, 2007: A video goes viral on YouTube when 23-year-old internet personality Justine Ezarik, a.k.a. iJustine, posts a 300-page iPhone bill mailed to her in a box by AT&T.
Getting started with playing your own music in iTunes on the Mac
If Apple won't chop iTunes up into separate apps, we will. AppleInsider takes each element of iTunes and shows you how to get the best out of it.
MacPaw releases CleanMyMac X
Indie app maker MacPaw updated its Mac cleaning software with a new major version called CleanMyMac X (which is different from MacKeeper). It’s hard to believe, but CleanMyMac currently has 5 million users.
Most people don’t need this kind of app. But if you know what you’re doing, it can speed up your maintenance process.
The app is now divided into four maintenance tasks.
First: Find and remove unneeded cache files – especially if they are large files – and gain megabytes of hard disk space.
Second: Malware scanning
Third: Utility functions such as rebuild Spotlight index, repair disk permissions and flush DNS cache.
Fourth: Help with updating apps – even if they're not in Apple's app store and help with removing any unwanted apps.
The iPhone XR just killed the Pixel 3 and every other 2018 Android flagship
We have now the cheaper version of the iPhone X we’ve been waiting for.
The iPhone XR is going to be a real nightmare for all Android phones.
The iPhone XR isn’t some dumbed down “Lite” version of a flagship phone, which is what Android phone makers do on a regular basis.
iPhone XR will deliver performance far beyond what most Android rivals can offer, whether they’re iPhone X clones or not, for a price that will beat Android for a change.
In 2018, it makes way more sense to buy a $1,000 Apple iPhone than a $1,000 Apple laptop
It almost always makes sense to buy the most powerful phone you can afford. Given how much time most of us spend with our smartphones, all day every day, you're way more likely to regret going for a cheaper option.
Unless you're a gamer, a creative professional, or a high-powered user, the excuses for buying an expensive laptop are vanishing.
Android Police talks Apple: The biometric gap, shifting affordability, and Watch envy
Are Android device makers just slavishly copying Apple? Maybe in part, but it's also about letting Apple take the PR hit. Apple removes the headphone jack, people complain, but Apple gets away with it because it's Apple. A year later, Android OEMs feel confident they too can drop the headphone jack.
The Apple Watch isn't the prettiest device (in my opinion), but it nails the health features.
Apple Is Deleting Bought Films From iTunes Accounts - And Don't Expect A Refund
You know how some people like to say that physical media is dead and streaming is the future? Well, Apple is doing a pretty good job right now of proving that theory well and truly wrong.
Reports have started to emerge of Apple completely deleting films from iTunes accounts even when they’ve been bought, not merely rented. And when people complain about this, they’re receiving an astonishing message from Apple telling them that iTunes is just a “store front,” and so Apple isn’t to blame if a film studio decides it no longer wants to make its titles available on iTunes.
The bottom line in all this is that Apple appears to be openly saying that if you buy a film on iTunes, you don’t really own it at all. It may only stick around in your iTunes account for as long as the studio who really owns it decides it wants it to stick around in your iTunes account.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2018/09/13/apple-is-deleting-bought-films-from-itunes-accounts-and-dont-expect-a-refund/
Reports have started to emerge of Apple completely deleting films from iTunes accounts even when they’ve been bought, not merely rented. And when people complain about this, they’re receiving an astonishing message from Apple telling them that iTunes is just a “store front,” and so Apple isn’t to blame if a film studio decides it no longer wants to make its titles available on iTunes.
The bottom line in all this is that Apple appears to be openly saying that if you buy a film on iTunes, you don’t really own it at all. It may only stick around in your iTunes account for as long as the studio who really owns it decides it wants it to stick around in your iTunes account.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnarcher/2018/09/13/apple-is-deleting-bought-films-from-itunes-accounts-and-dont-expect-a-refund/
HomePod adds new features and Siri languages
For example – Find My iPhone: The popular Apple Watch feature comes to HomePod, so users can ping any of their nearby devices to find them.
Tipping Point: 48% of Consumers Will Own An Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple HomePod By 2019 – according to Adobe
A third of American consumers now own an Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomePod, according to new research by Adobe.
HomePod finally gets much-awaited, long-overdue features
At this year’s WWDC, Apple introduced Siri Shortcuts, perhaps the biggest leap the smart assistant has made in recent memory. It allowed for tasks to be chained together and even lets users create their own voice command for routines. Now those are coming to the HomePod as well, finally opening up the speaker to a bigger connected home ecosystem.
But wait, there’s more! The HomePod has finally gotten the ability to make or take calls, no hands required.
But wait, there’s more! The HomePod has finally gotten the ability to make or take calls, no hands required.
Apple finally adds multiple timers to HomePod
HomePod is finally adding one of the most used features found on the Amazon Echo and Google Home devices: multiple timers.
Multiple timers are especially useful in the kitchen.
HomePod will now also let users search by song lyrics, meaning that you can still find the song you want, even if you can’t remember its name.
Learn app development for iOS 12 in just 10 days [Deals]
Google Assistant beats Amazon Alexa & Siri at understanding non-native English speakers
Virtual assistants work the best when you can just speak normally.
Google Assistant is good at understanding multiple languages and a new report found it to be the best at understanding accents.
My Experience With Apple as a Photographer and Creative Pro: In Short, Not Good
My name is Pye Jirsa, and I’m a wedding photographer and the co-founder of SLR Lounge.
In the past, I respected and held Apple in high regard. However, I am by no means a “fanboy” of anything.
I was always a fan of Apple’s iPhone and iPad, but up until a year ago, I was by and large a PC user.
I wasn’t particularly married to either side of the PC vs. Apple fence.
Less than a year ago (late 2017), I had enough motivation and justification to completely make the switch.
When jumping into the Apple universe of products, we each have to accept the fact that we’re going to spend significantly more money.
Almost after buying an iPhone X, I still find the iPhone 7/8 to offer a better user experience.
Within roughly two weeks of using my new iPhone X, the smartphone started having issues. It would often freeze and crash. Very soon after, it completely died. They replaced the iPhone X without hassle. The Apple store is wonderful in that department.
In late 2017, I purchased a new MacBook Pro, which represents my first major step into the Apple ecosystem. It was an expensive piece of hardware.
I am now on my third MacBook Pro, and it’s still not without problems. But, wait, you’ll find out that it gets even worse.
In January 2018, I made the final switch of upgrading my workstation to the iMac Pro.
In less than two weeks from the time I received the iMac Pro, I started experiencing the same exact stutter issues that I had with my MacBook Pro.
My third MacBook Pro is now experiencing the same issues that lead up to each of the previous logic board failures
Conclusion:
Apple, as I once knew it, no longer exists in my mind today. In my opinion, the company that we all looked at as the pinnacle of innovation and quality control, is quickly vanishing.
Today, I buy AppleCare on every Apple Product I purchase. It’s not because I want it, it’s because I’m fearful that everything I’m going to buy is going to fail. This is a deceptive consumer practice. Apple has made each of us pay $300-$500 more for each product we buy because like me, other people are afraid that a day past their warranty they will fail, and they do!
New CSS Attack Restarts an iPhone or Freezes a Mac
The attack works by simply by visiting a bad web page.
A new attack has been discovered that will cause iOS to restart or respring and macOS to freeze simply by visiting a web page that contains certain CSS & HTML. Windows and Linux users are not affected by this bug.
Note: CSS and HTML are codes that tell your computer how to display web pages and information on the screen of your computer.
This new attack was discovered by Sabri Haddouche, a security researcher at Wire, who was able to devise a way to quickly use up an Apple device's resources so that it crashes when visiting a web page.
This attack affects all web browsers on iOS, as well as Safari and Mail in macOS, because they all use the WebKit rendering engine.
Pitfalls of Artificial Intelligence Decisionmaking Highlighted In Idaho ACLU Case
As our technological train hurtles down the tracks, we need policymakers at the federal, state, and local level who have a good understanding of the pitfalls involved in using computers to make decisions that affect people’s lives.
One of the biggest civil liberties issues raised by technology today is whether, when, and how we allow computer algorithms to make decisions that affect people’s lives.
Each year disabled people go to an assessment interview with an assessor who is a contractor with the Medicaid program, and they ask you a bunch of questions. The assessor plugs these into an Excel spreadsheet, and it comes out with this dollar figure amount, which is how much that you can spend on your services that year.
But when we asked them how the dollar amounts were arrived at, the Medicaid program came back and said, “we can’t tell you that, it’s a trade secret.”
And so that’s what led to the lawsuit.
But when we asked them how the dollar amounts were arrived at, the Medicaid program came back and said, “we can’t tell you that, it’s a trade secret.”
And so that’s what led to the lawsuit.
In a ruling from the bench the judge said it’s just a blatant due process violation to tell people you’re going to reduce their health care services by $20,000 in a year for some secret reason. The judge also ruled on Medicaid Act grounds—there are requirements in the act that if you’re going to reduce somebody’s coverage, you have to explain why.
Later, independent experts found big problems with what the state Medicaid program was doing.
‘Five Eyes’ Nations Quietly Demand Government Access to Encrypted Data
At the core of the dispute is whether Apple, Facebook, Google and others should be compelled to provide a “back door” to their products that would allow government investigators to gain access to all communications, with a legal order.
It is far from clear that Congress is ready to take on the technology companies on this issue, especially because more companies and citizens are turning to encryption to protect sensitive conversations and financial transfers.
It is far from clear that Congress is ready to take on the technology companies on this issue, especially because more companies and citizens are turning to encryption to protect sensitive conversations and financial transfers.
“Cybersecurity experts have repeatedly proven that it’s impossible to create any back door that couldn’t be discovered — and exploited — by bad actors,” Facebook said in the blog post. “It’s why weakening any part of encryption weakens the whole security ecosystem.”
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Weekly Web Wrap-up for Saturday, 9-1-2018
How Apple’s push to subscriptions could save the App Store and cost you money
Recently, Business Insider reported on a “secret” meeting last year between Apple and some iOS app developers. Apple apparently encouraged the developers to switch from one-time, standalone purchases to a subscription-based model.
The move is reportedly intended to give developers a more stable source of recurring revenue. It would also, of course, provide that recurring revenue to Apple as well, which takes a 30 percent cut on the first year of subscriptions, and 15 percent thereafter.
The subscription model has been gaining popularity among some developers for several years now, with many moving away from the traditional model of one-time pricing with paid upgrades. Some say the stabilty of revenue from subscriptions keep them afloat and counters the downward pricing pressure and “freemium” models that have been pervasive in the App Store. They also say it gives them the incentive to maintain and keep improving their apps.
Daring Fireball’s John Gruber said the writing is on the wall. “Up front paid apps are going the way of the dodo. Whether you think that’s good or bad, it doesn’t matter. That’s where things are going.”
Others aren’t so sure. CodeKit developler Bryan Jones tweeted, “Subscriptions aren’t the future; nobody wants 26 subscriptions.”
The Business Insider article is for paid subscribers. If you are a subscriber, click the link below.
Netflix Doesn't Want to Pay Apple's "App Store Tax" Anymore
Netflix isn't the first company to revolt against OS-based app store fees.
Apple faces an ongoing lawsuit from developers who claim that the company abuses the App Store's dominant position to take an unfair cut of developers' revenue. The Supreme Court is expected to eventually rule on the case.
Netflix's decision to redirect payments is clever, but it won't cripple the App Store model. Apple faces pressure to lower its fees, but most developers cannot afford to pull their apps off iOS. Therefore, investors should keep an eye on this story, but they really shouldn't fret about its impact on Apple's long-term growth.
Why app developers are so mad at Apple and Google
If you need proof that giant technology companies behave a lot like borderless governments, look no further than the brewing “app store taxes” debate.
For the past decade, we’ve come to accept that Google and Apple’s digital stores collect an up to 30% slice of the money developers receive when someone purchases their app, pays for a subscription or buys in-game currency. Critics argue that Google and Apple, the mobile operating system duopoly, are the ultimate rent seekers. Years after the companies really delivered anything new when it comes to selling or delivering apps, the pair are only tightening their grip on apps' income, and cracking down on anyone who tries to skirt the rules.
Understandably, app developers are getting sick of it.
https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2018/08/27/why-app-developers-are-so-mad-at-apple-and-google/
For the past decade, we’ve come to accept that Google and Apple’s digital stores collect an up to 30% slice of the money developers receive when someone purchases their app, pays for a subscription or buys in-game currency. Critics argue that Google and Apple, the mobile operating system duopoly, are the ultimate rent seekers. Years after the companies really delivered anything new when it comes to selling or delivering apps, the pair are only tightening their grip on apps' income, and cracking down on anyone who tries to skirt the rules.
Understandably, app developers are getting sick of it.
https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2018/08/27/why-app-developers-are-so-mad-at-apple-and-google/
Video:
My AirPods Are Staying in My Ears Thanks to This Dead Simple Video
Don’t hang the AirPods from your ears; rather, press them in firmly, then screw the stem forward about 30 degrees.
Video:
Apple AirPods totally change the game
Don't buy a new iPhone right now. You'll probably regret it in a couple of weeks.
Apple is expected to announce three new iPhones in September: an upgraded version of the iPhone X, a larger version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen and a more affordable iPhone with a 6.1-inch LCD display.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/24/dont-buy-a-new-iphone.html
Apple is expected to announce three new iPhones in September: an upgraded version of the iPhone X, a larger version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen and a more affordable iPhone with a 6.1-inch LCD display.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/24/dont-buy-a-new-iphone.html
Video:
Play with old Apple computers at the Media Archaeology Lab (So Retro)
The Media Archaeology Lab at the University of Colorado at Boulder lets you get your hands on iconic old computers.
What Are the Best 'Back to My Mac' Alternatives?
Wave goodbye to “Back to My Mac.” As of macOS Mojave, Apple is officially removing the helpful file- and screen-sharing utility baked directly into the operating system.
If you’ve never used Back to my Mac before, it lets you accomplish two things: copy files from a remote system (that you’ve also set up with your Apple ID and Back to my Mac) and control that system remotely. Thankfully, that’s not very hard to do with a number of other apps, especially those that are just as useful (if not more so) than what you’ll find in Back to my Mac.
How the HomePod has found its place in my home, and what the future holds
The HomePod has been one of the most polarizing Apple product releases in recent memory, with many praising its sound quality and integration with the Apple ecosystem, but many also knocking it for its high price and feature parity to devices like the Amazon Echo.
I was an undeniable HomePod skeptic at first, but over the last six months, it has become a reliable and integral part of my smart home setup.
I was an undeniable HomePod skeptic at first, but over the last six months, it has become a reliable and integral part of my smart home setup.
Almost three months after the HomePod’s initial release, Apple pushed iOS 11.4 with AirPlay 2 support. At the time of AirPlay 2’s release, I had a single HomePod – meaning I couldn’t take advantage of features like multi-room and stereo. Sure enough, my colleague Zac Hall had several HomePods and was ready to test AirPlay on day one, and quickly convinced me to join the club.
How to secure dispose of old storage media, like hard drives and SSDs
Video:'
Top 5 Macs and iPads for Students
This free app solves a small but annoying issue with Mac computers — and it's incredible Apple hasn't released a tool like this yet
If you own a Mac computer, look at the top right corner of your screen. You'll probably see several little app icons.
Some of the most popular apps, like Google Drive or the Adobe Creative Cloud, load up your menu bar with icons. But maybe you don't want to bother with deleting those apps, or trying to find a setting to turn off those icons.
Enter Vanilla, the easiest way to manage all of those annoying app icons in your menu bar.
Some of the most popular apps, like Google Drive or the Adobe Creative Cloud, load up your menu bar with icons. But maybe you don't want to bother with deleting those apps, or trying to find a setting to turn off those icons.
Enter Vanilla, the easiest way to manage all of those annoying app icons in your menu bar.
Apple Expanding Pilot Program Allowing Repairs of Select Vintage Macs Worldwide, Starting With 2012 MacBook Air
Apple will add 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air models released in Mid 2012 to its vintage and obsolete products list on August 31, according to an internal document distributed to Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers and obtained by MacRumors from a reliable source.
Apple says 2012 MacBook Air models will remain eligible for service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers worldwide through August 31, 2020, a full two years after the notebook is classified as vintage.
If parts are unavailable for a specific repair for these vintage Macs, Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers are instructed to decline service. This is also a pilot program to begin with, so it is subject to change or end at any time.
Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs and Bill Gates talk ‘future of the PC’
August 26, 1991:
In their first joint interview, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates trade barbs and debate “the future of the PC” in Fortune magazine.
It’s a great reminder of how bitter the rivalry between Jobs and Gates was.
One of only two interviews the pair ever gave together, it makes for a compelling read. Particularly when compared with the pair’s chummier sitdown interview at the D5 Conference in 2007.
Today in Apple history: FireWire wins Apple its first Emmy
August 22, 2001: Apple takes home a technical Emmy for developing FireWire, the high-speed serial port that allows users to transfer data quickly between a Macintosh and another device, such as a digital camera.
Today in Apple history: iMac G5
August 31, 2004: Apple launches the iMac G5, the last iMac to use a PowerPC processor.
It was also the last iMac to be easily upgradeable by an average user.
Apple History:
August 24, 2011: Steve Jobs Resigned and CEO of Apple, named Tim Cook as his successor.
Despite his illness, Steve Jobs reportedly remained closely involved with Apple's strategic decision-making until passing away October 5, 2011.
Tim Cook says working for Steve Jobs was ‘liberating’
Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac Offers Speed and Storage Gains, macOS Mojave Support
Has new features, occupies less hard disk space.
How to Add a Dock Shortcut for Any macOS System Preference Pane
If you frequently access the same System Preferences pane on your Mac, you can add a shortcut directly to your Dock.
This article explains how.
The most interesting smartphone innovations in the last year (or so)
The notch [first seen in Apple's iPhone X] goes mainstream
Advancements in facial recognition
In-screen fingerprint sensors
How to use iCloud with Windows
If you have an Apple ID, you can use iCloud with Windows.
If you have an Apple ID, you can use iCloud with Windows.
There are two ways to use iCloud with Windows.
1. From your web browser.
2. Download and install Apple’s iCloud for Windows software on your PC.
This article has detailed instructions.
Apple's iPhone 8 Logic Board Replacement Program
Apple launches repair program for defective iPhone 8 logic boards
Apple quietly announced the launch of a free repair program for the iPhone 8 this afternoon, revealing that a “very small percentage” of units need replacement logic boards due to a manufacturing defect.
Apple begins logic board replacements for iPhone 8, claiming 'very small percentage' of defects
iPhones with the faulty boards may freeze, reboot, or outright fail to turn on.
The issue doesn't affect the iPhone 8 Plus, Apple noted.
Apple Is Making All Apps Include a Privacy Policy
All new apps as well as app updates are required to have a privacy policy beginning October 3 of this year. This applies to apps submitted both through Apple’s App Store as well as TestFlight, a mobile app testing service owned by Apple.
How to Revisit Every Version of Mac OS X From Your Browser
It's interesting to be reminded of how Mac OS X has evolved over the past 17 years.
Office 2019 will force procrastinating Mac owners to upgrade
Siri will show you your passwords if you ask
Siri will show me any of the passwords I have saved to my iCloud keychain, which saves me from needing to remember my passwords.
Just ask Siri, "Show me my passwords" or "Show me my password for [insert account name here]" and Siri will deliver the goods.
Don't worry, in either example, you will be required to prove your identity via Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode before your password is coughed up.
Woz got scammed out of $70,000 worth of bitcoin
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has a cautionary tale for people hoping to strike it rich off bitcoin.
He said:
“I had seven bitcoins stolen from me through fraud. Somebody bought them from me online through a credit card and they canceled the credit card payment. It was that easy!.”
Making matters worse, the purchase was made with a stolen credit card number so Woz had no recourse to get his bitcoin back.
Connecticut man George Garafano has been sentenced to eight months in prison for his role in the 2014 iCloud hacks that saw many celebrity photos illicitly shared on the internet.
Garafano was accused of hacking the iCloud accounts of more than 200 people over the course of 18 months, including multiple celebrities.
Garafano was accused of hacking the iCloud accounts of more than 200 people over the course of 18 months, including multiple celebrities.
$13,000 iPhone bill nearly puts sad ending on family trip
A family from San Jose, California, returned from an overseas trip with several memories. But the strongest may be the one that greeted them at home — an iPhone bill with more than $13,000 in data charges.
The Chung family prepared for their trip to Vietnam with a firm rule that the iPhones would be on Airplane Mode to avoid roaming and internet fees. So it appeared son Nicholas Chung was in trouble when the T-Mobile bill showed the sky-high data charges coming from his number over a 30-minute period.
The Chung family prepared for their trip to Vietnam with a firm rule that the iPhones would be on Airplane Mode to avoid roaming and internet fees. So it appeared son Nicholas Chung was in trouble when the T-Mobile bill showed the sky-high data charges coming from his number over a 30-minute period.
Nicholas Chung admitted he played games on his iPhone during the flight to Vietnam, but the games were offline, he told KGO-TV, the ABC affiliate in San Francisco.
“I was confused and scared,” Nicholas Chung said. “Because $13,000 is a lot of money. I was like, ‘What? I didn’t do anything.'”
“I was confused and scared,” Nicholas Chung said. “Because $13,000 is a lot of money. I was like, ‘What? I didn’t do anything.'”
If he actually kept his plane in Airplane Mode for the entire trip, the charge seems outrageous and unbelievable. If he switched off Airplane Mode, whether intentionally or inadvertently, all bets are off.
Nicholas’ mother, Vivian Chung, contacted T-Mobile about the $13,470.19 bill and the service provider reduced the bill to $3,800. Feeling the bill was still too much, she contacted the KGO-TV investigative team, whose reporting led to T-Mobile dropping all data charges.
Want to ensure you don’t get dinged for excess data charges? Apple points out that you can stop individual apps from using cellular data. You do this by going into Settings > [App name]and toggling off Cellular Data. This limits the app to using Wi-Fi for all updates.
Hackers Are Exposing An Apple Mac Weakness In Middle East Espionage
Apple Macs are rarely the target of digital espionage. But in recent years, a mysterious hacker crew called WindShift has targeted specific individuals working in government departments and critical infrastructure across the Middle East. And they’re exploiting weaknesses believed to affect all Apple Mac models.
Security News This Week: You Should Delete Facebook's VPN App
AW comment:
This web page discusses several news items. Scroll down to see the next headline:
Apple Kicks Facebook’s Creepy VPN Out of the App Store
Don't Trust the VPN Facebook Wants You To Use
All VPNs, by definition, have access to all of your browsing data. VPNs that prioritize privacy, though, reassure users that they will never log or store any browsing information. Some have even proven in practice that they delete all logs, after subpoenas for records during law enforcement investigations turn up nothing.
But NOT facebook's VPN.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
