The MacValley blog
Welcome to the MacValley blog, your first stop for all the latest MacValley news and views.
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The MacValley blog Editor: Tom Briant
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Thursday, September 21, 2017
Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Weekly Web Wrap-up for Monday 9-18-2017
Apple announces 3 new iPhones, a 4K Apple TV, and the Apple Watch 3
Apple announced three new iPhones, a 4K Apple TV, and a new Apple Watch 3 with a built-in cellular connection on Tuesday at the newly unveiled Steve Jobs Theater.
This year's event celebrated the tenth anniversary of the iPhone with a brand-new model called the iPhone X, which features an all-new design, wireless charging, and a facial scannerthat unlocks your phone in place of a fingerprint sensor.
This year's event celebrated the tenth anniversary of the iPhone with a brand-new model called the iPhone X, which features an all-new design, wireless charging, and a facial scannerthat unlocks your phone in place of a fingerprint sensor.
This article has a minute-by-minute blog of Apple’s announcements.
Here's how Apple's new iPhone 8 and iPhone X compare with the top Android smartphones
The backs of the new phones are made of glass rather than metal, allowing them to support wireless charging.
This article has a table that compares Apple’s latest three iPhones with the four leading Android smart phones.
Video:
Apple announced an iPhone 8 and iPhone X — here are the most important differences
The iPhone X has an “edge-to-edge” screen.
The iPhone 8 has a screen similar to the iPhone 7.
The iPhone 8 keeps the Home button.
The iPhone X got rid of it.
Your fingerprint unlocks the iPhone 8.
Your face unlocks the iPhone X.
Just to name a few differences.
Video:
Hands-on with the new $999 Apple iPhone X
This video show off some of the newest features of the iPhone X.
I used the iPhone X, and I can already tell it'll be worth its $1,000 price
You should always get the very best phone you can afford. Your phone is the only thing you use all day, every day, and it's one of the few things in life where you shouldn't be thrifty.
The iPhone X offers:
Sounds as if it's worth $999 to me.
• A gorgeous screen and beautiful design.
• Great cameras, wireless charging, better battery life, and water resistance.
• The best mobile operating system.
• All on a device that you'll end up using several hours a day.
Video:
The Best Way to Buy a New iPhone
If you are planning on making monthly payments to finance your iPhone, it is better to go to Apple than to a wireless service.
AppleCare is the best warranty for your iPhone.
Apple’s official web page for the iPhone Upgrade program
Monthly payments allow you to upgrade your iPhone every year.
Apple’s official web page for trading in your old iPhone for a new one
Trade in your eligible smartphone, and then use the credit to lower the full cost of a new iPhone.
This web page lists eligible iPhones and how many dollars of credit for each model.
Video:
I’ve been using the new iOS on my iPhone — here are the new features that impressed me the most
13 things everyone is going to love about iOS 11
The 13 biggest ways your iPhone will change on September 19
You can buy the iPhone X without completely emptying your wallet through Apple's upgrade plan
Everything you need to know about buying the iPhone X through Apple's iPhone upgrade program
Forget the $1,000 iPhone X — Apple's best iPhone is now its least expensive, at just $350
millions of people will excitedly plunk down a full stack for the iPhone X. It's more than just a phone — it's a status symbol. I get it. It's a much more affordable version of a Ferrari. Fine.
But I'm a Honda Civic kinda guy.
I want something affordable, powerful enough, and long-lasting. I'm not trying to impress anyone, nor am I the kind of person who lives on the bleeding edge of tech gadgets. That's why I was excited to see that, alongside the announcement of the iPhone X, Apple quietly made the iPhone SE $50 less expensive.
But I'm a Honda Civic kinda guy.
I want something affordable, powerful enough, and long-lasting. I'm not trying to impress anyone, nor am I the kind of person who lives on the bleeding edge of tech gadgets. That's why I was excited to see that, alongside the announcement of the iPhone X, Apple quietly made the iPhone SE $50 less expensive.
Apple officially bans scammy antivirus apps from iOS App Store
Fake “virus scanning” apps have plagued the iOS App Store for a while, and Apple seems to finally be banning them once and for all in updated developer guidelines.
Apple did remove numerous fake anti-malware and anti-virus apps from the App Store earlier this year, but the new guidelines mark the first time the company has codified a ban on fake apps from its store.
New App Store guidelines crack down on iOS ‘virus scanners’, require alternatives to Face ID for under 13’s
There is new stronger wording regarding banning apps that have misleading functionality. For example, iOS apps that claim to remove viruses and malware from the system are now explicitly called out as not being allowed, as technically there is no way for them to perform those tasks.
This article also mentions several other new rules as to what apps will be allowed in Apple’s App store.
Apple's iTunes update removes the desktop iOS app store
You'll need to manage apps directly on your iPhone or iPad.
You'll need to manage apps directly on your iPhone or iPad.
Of course, if you absolutely need to restore a ringtone or app that's no longer available, Apple says that will still be possible if you plug the device into your PC with a USB cable.
Apple on Tuesday released iTunes 12.7 for Mac and Windows, an update that removes the iOS App Store from the desktop software. That means iOS users can no longer download iOS apps from their desktops, as Apple now pushes them toward the iOS 11 App Store.
"If you previously used iTunes to sync apps or ringtones on your iOS device, use the new App Store or Sounds Settings on iOS to redownload them without your Mac," Apple has notified users in an update prompt.
24 Things You Can Do in iOS 11 That You Couldn't Do Before
The price of AppleCare+ coverage for iPhone Plus models has increased
At $999, the iPhone X is Apple’s most expensive smartphone so far and if you want AppleCare+ for it, you’ll also be shelling out more money—$199 to be exact.
AppleCare for iPhone X is most expensive phone coverage ever. Is it worth it?
Leaked Apple warranty guide shows what it will and won't repair
Business Insider has unearthed a 22-page "Visual/Mechanical Inspection Guide," or VMI, that shows what qualifies as an "eligible repair." It's reportedly used to conduct a physical damage inspection and assess cost, "basically half the training for iPhone techs," an anonymous Genius told BI.
Face ID will work with Apple Pay, third-party apps
With the introduction of Face ID, and the removal of the Touch ID button ... You will now be able to buy goods using your new iPhone X, authenticating your identity with facial recognition.
Until the iPhone X is in security researchers’ hands for testing purposes, we won’t know the true extent of its hardened nature. But it is worth pointing out that Face ID’s system works locally on the device and stores data in a secure enclave – it’s not sending data to the server.
Opinion: Apple, what happened to you?
The iPhone X release comes on the back of a number of growing issues I have had with Apple products. Each one is utterly brilliant on a technical level. But they also seem to lack an understanding that humans need to use them.
The name used to say it all. Apple. Warm, organic, friendly.
There are too many design issues now for a company that still sets out its stall as the design that everyone follows.
Where once Apple had a family, it now has a bunch of products.
The name used to say it all. Apple. Warm, organic, friendly.
There are too many design issues now for a company that still sets out its stall as the design that everyone follows.
Where once Apple had a family, it now has a bunch of products.
The new $999 iPhone X proves 2 important things about the future of technology
#1: The great slowdown
First, and most importantly, the iPhone X is a signal that smartphone innovation is slowing way down.
First, and most importantly, the iPhone X is a signal that smartphone innovation is slowing way down.
What Apple is implicitly saying is that the "future of the smartphone" is better screens and cameras, every year, forever.
#2: Smartphones rule everything
The second, related point is that the $999 price is a reflection of just how vital the smartphone has become to our everyday lives.
The second, related point is that the $999 price is a reflection of just how vital the smartphone has become to our everyday lives.
For lots of people at home and abroad, a smartphone is their first-and-only computing device. You may not be able to do everything with a smartphone you can with a PC, but that gap is rapidly narrowing.
The new Watch 3 and iPhone X interfaces are examples of a classic Steve Jobs insight
I’ve always thought of Jobs’ UI design as following a simple rule: create products that work for the user, don’t make the user work for the product.
Apple’s unveiling of the Watch 3 and iPhone X this week were notable advances toward that goal.
The moment that became clear for me was when Apple introduced the new Watch 3. In the demo, Apple’s Deidre Caldbeck talked on a phone call through her Apple Watch while paddling a standup paddle board. The audio was excellent. She didn’t need to speak differently, the Watch just heard her. The watch captured her audio seamlessly and evenly without her holding her wrist near her face. The watch was working for her, not the other way around.
Apple investors would be wise to consider that the company’s UI revolution—its pursuit of the magical user experience—is the primary driver behind the 150x stock appreciation over the past 15 years.
iPad Pro And iOS 11: The Walled Garden Opens Up
With the promise of even greater productivity friendly features in iOS 11, I had to jump in on the beta and give it a shot. What I found is a mobile OS which removed many of the primary productivity pain points iOS 10 presented.
iOS 10 was not user friendly when it comes to accessing files on your device unless you use iCloud Drive. Even then, it was only passable. That was always my primary issue with using iOS devices and why I kept an Android for my smartphone needs. The new Files app is one of the most functional improvements in iOS 11.
iOS 11 takes mobile multitasking to new levels of functionality with two new features: Slide Over Mode and the dock.
The Secret Message In The Apple Keynote For Entrepreneurs
Apple is notoriously secretive. So, if there was ever a coming out party on the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in my opinion, this week’s product launch event was it. Apple has staked its claim and its future on AI with a myriad of AI-powered features from facial recognition with its applications of neural networks in animated emojis to live lighting adjustments in photographs and the introduction of a new custom-built chip called A11–a neural engine that can process 600 billion operations a second.
AI is the future, and Apple (along with every other big company) knows it. And here’s the message to entrepreneurs: Apple may not be first with AI, but who says you have to be first to be best?
AI is the future, and Apple (along with every other big company) knows it. And here’s the message to entrepreneurs: Apple may not be first with AI, but who says you have to be first to be best?
Apple will sell 4K movies via iTunes, and upgrade your HD purchases
Apple is now selling and renting digital 4K movies via iTunes, in addition to its HD and SD resolution versions.
This is Apple’s incentive for getting users to upgrade to a new Apple TV.
How the iPhone X and its 'notch' will handle videos
We saw during Apple's September event on Tuesday how apps will look with the notch, and it doesn't look like it'll be much cause for concern. The iPhone X's large 5.8-inch display looks like it offers enough room for app content that the notch won't hide anything important.
And it doesn't look like video will be much of an issue, either.
iPhone X : How do I deal with The Notch?
The iPhone X’s notch sparked a conversation this week between designers, users, naysayers, and notch-lovers alike.
AW comment:
It took me a few minutes of looking at the pictures in this article to figure out what the author meant by “the notch”.
Turns out it’s actually very simple: A notch taken out of the visible screen area of the iPhone X. See for yourself.
A few clever artists reacted to “the notch” with humorous art.
Do you really need a new iPhone? My video report attempts to answer that question.
If you currently have an iPhone 6 or 7, probably not.
Meanwhile, Apple's new $399 Series 3 Watch adds cellular connectivity, meaning you're no longer tied to the iPhone for listening to streaming music or answering a call. But it will cost you $10 a month for an extra wireless plan once the promotions from the carriers end.
How long should a $999 iPhone last?
I usually spend about $1,300 on a new computer, and I usually expect it to stay in good shape for about four years — if not more. So if I’m spending over $1,000 on an iPhone, how long should I expect to use it for?
There’s almost an implication here that the iPhone X isn’t built to last. At $999, this is a phone for tech enthusiasts and people with large amounts of disposable income, who will buy this in part to have the flashiest phone they can get.
Chances are, the iPhone X won’t grow dated through the introduction of revolutionary new features within the next two or three years. But that doesn’t guarantee it’ll remain a snappy performer with all-day battery life that far down the road.
And that’s really the problem I worry about. Even if you want to hang onto an iPhone X for three or four years, I think there’s an open question of how well it’ll run at that point.
And that’s really the problem I worry about. Even if you want to hang onto an iPhone X for three or four years, I think there’s an open question of how well it’ll run at that point.
The iPhone X Isn't Overpriced, It's A Massive Bargain
One feature stood out for me - video. I'll explain. For some time now I've been making a portion of my income as a video producer. Video is massively expensive, cameras that perform well are still incredibly costly.
The video features of the new iPhone are incredible. The fact a phone can shoot 4K at 60 frames per second is insane. To give you an idea, for most TV applications you'd shoot 30 frames per second.
The video features of the new iPhone are incredible. The fact a phone can shoot 4K at 60 frames per second is insane. To give you an idea, for most TV applications you'd shoot 30 frames per second.
Even more remarkable is the phone's ability to record slow-motion video, at 1080p, with 240 frames per second. It's hard to explain just how mindblowing a feature like this is.
The iPhone X from an Android user’s perspective
It’s been almost a year since the Google Pixel made me put down my iPhone.
But even though I’m an Android user, I was definitely curious about the iPhone Xand the future it paints for the Apple ecosystem. As it turns out, though, the iPhone X really isn’t a phone designed to draw me back in; it’s more customer service to existing iPhone users than an appeal to new ones.
In summary, I’m glad the iPhone X exists, and I’m optimistic about it making positive waves in the wider smartphone market, but I am not myself attracted by it.
iPhone X: Forget the experts, here’s what real people think
The author interviewed two people at a local Starbucks. Neither of them were interested in the iPhone X.
The first said she couldn’t work her iPhone 7. The second was happy with her iPhone 4.
The author went to a restaurant and talked to the entire staff. Many expressed benign indifference.
The author’s entirely non-scientific research suggests that real people have no idea what all the fuss is about. They're not resentful, just faintly indifferent.
How Face ID Works On iPhone X
AW comment:
This article is a bit technical, but still a very worthwhile read.
Apple's iPhone X provides a nice little illustration of how sensor and processing technology has evolved in the past decade.
A very interesting article on how Apple’s Face ID came into existence.
Apple is eliminating a feature from the iPhone X that 55% of people say they use
No physical home button means no more "reachability."
Reachability was introduced three years ago with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple's first larger-screen devices. The feature lets you navigate the larger display with one hand by tapping on the home button twice. It pulls everything halfway down the screen so you can reach everything using just your thumb.
Reachability was introduced three years ago with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple's first larger-screen devices. The feature lets you navigate the larger display with one hand by tapping on the home button twice. It pulls everything halfway down the screen so you can reach everything using just your thumb.
Apple is still selling the iPhone 6s for a lower price, and it's a steal
Here are the prices from from Apple's refurbished store.
iPhone 6s:
$370, the 64GB model for $430, and the 128 GB model for $470.
iPhone 6s Plus:
$450 for the 16GB model, $509 for the 64GB model, and $550 for the 128GB model.
The chip inside the iPhone X and iPhone 8 makes them more powerful than a 2017 MacBook Pro
The latest official benchmarks from Geekbench (which we first saw via AppleInsider) are in, and the results show that Apple's A11 Bionic system on a chip — or SoC — is more powerful than this year's MacBook Pro models.
The A11 Bionic SoC powers the newly announced iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus.
The A11 Bionic SoC powers the newly announced iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus.
Apple has a surprisingly wide range of iPhones for all types of people right now
Do you feel that $1000 is to much to pay for a smart phone?
Apple has several lower priced options. Read about them in this article.
A list of iOS 11 compatible devices is provided at the bottom of this web page
Apple’s Official List of “Vintage” and “Obsolete” Products
Why I ordered an iPhone 8 Plus instead of the iPhone X
1. It will arrive sooner.
2. Plenty of new features
3. I like the Home button
4. Cheaper and more flexible — for example, SIM card options
Getting Apple's iPhone 8 or iPhone X? Here's your upgrade checklist
You do have an upgrade checklist, right? If not, let us help you prepare for the newest iPhone.
Wait until your
1. Research your upgrade options before you buy
2. After your get your new iPhone but BEFORE you use it, create an encrypted backup of your OLD iPhone.
You do have an upgrade checklist, right? If not, let us help you prepare for the newest iPhone.
Wait until your
1. Research your upgrade options before you buy
2. After your get your new iPhone but BEFORE you use it, create an encrypted backup of your OLD iPhone.
This is NOT the same as the regular automatic iPhone backup.
3. Move all old iPhone data to your new iPhone
4. After step 3, wipe your OLD iPhone clean — remove all personal info from it before you sell it.
5. Optional — repurpose your old iPhone
6. Optional — get some cash for your old iPhone.
7 Tips to Prepare Your iPhone and iPad for iOS 11
1. Verify that your device is iOS 11 compatible by checking Apple’s list
2. Back up your iOS device
3. Free up space (if necessary) by removing apps or photos or data.
4. Remove 32 bit apps — they are obsolete under iOS 11.
5. Update all your apps for iOS 11.
6. Check the iOS 11 release time in your time-zone.
7. Install iOS 11 — there are two ways to do it.
How to Get Your iPhone and iPad Ready for iOS 11
1. iOS 11 Compatibility Check
2. Reclaim Device Storage Space
3. Create an Archived iTunes Backup
4. Archive the Backup
5. Installing iOS 11
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/get-your-iphone-ipad-ready-ios-11/
1. iOS 11 Compatibility Check
2. Reclaim Device Storage Space
3. Create an Archived iTunes Backup
4. Archive the Backup
5. Installing iOS 11
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/get-your-iphone-ipad-ready-ios-11/
Reader Comment:
One more crucial step was omitted in the article above:
Wait at least 2 weeks after it becomes available to let the smoke settle before (maybe) installing it. Apple does not have a perfect track record of rolling out brick free OSes.
Wait at least 2 weeks after it becomes available to let the smoke settle before (maybe) installing it. Apple does not have a perfect track record of rolling out brick free OSes.
Prepare your iPhone or iPad for the iOS 11
Similar instructions to the articles above, but also a few additional steps.
Apple blocking ads that follow users around web is 'sabotage', says industry
New iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra will stop ads following Safari users, prompting open letter claiming Apple is destroying internet’s economic model
New iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra will stop ads following Safari users, prompting open letter claiming Apple is destroying internet’s economic model
iOS 11, the latest version of Apple’s operating system for mobile devices, will hit users’ phones and tablets on Tuesday. It will include a new default feature for the Safari web browser dubbed “intelligent tracking prevention”, which prevents certain websites from tracking users around the net, in effect blocking those annoying ads that follow you everywhere you visit.
The tracking prevention system will also arrive on Apple’s computers 25 September, as part of the High Sierra update to macOS.
The tracking prevention system will also arrive on Apple’s computers 25 September, as part of the High Sierra update to macOS.
Tracking of users around the internet has become crucial to the inner workings of many advertising networks.
the new Safari feature uses a “machine learning model”, Apple says, to identify which first-party cookies are actually desired by users, and which are placed by advertisers. If the latter, the cookie gets blocked from third-party use after a day, and purged completely from the device after a month, drastically limiting the ability of advertisers to keep track of where on the web Safari users visit.
Six major advertising consortia have already written an open letter to Apple expressing their “deep concern”, saying:
“Apple’s Safari move breaks standards and replaces them with an amorphous set of shifting rules that will hurt the user experience and sabotage the economic model for the internet.”
Apple responded to the letter saying: “Ad tracking technology has become so pervasive that it is possible for ad tracking companies to recreate the majority of a person’s web browsing history. This information is collected without permission and is used for ad re-targeting, which is how ads follow people around the internet.”
Apple responded to the letter saying: “Ad tracking technology has become so pervasive that it is possible for ad tracking companies to recreate the majority of a person’s web browsing history. This information is collected without permission and is used for ad re-targeting, which is how ads follow people around the internet.”
Apple is releasing macOS High Sierra on September 25
As usual, macOS High Sierra is a free update. It’ll be available in the Mac App Store.
If you’re a Safari user, my favorite change is that there is a new feature in the settings that lets you automatically block autoplaying videos around the web. Many websites have abused autoplaying video, it’s time to stop it.
14 Things You Can Do in macOS High Sierra That You Couldn't Do Before
Lots of new features.
Attackers Can Bypass SKEL Protection in macOS High Sierra
AW comment:
This article was written before the official release of MacOS High Sierra.
Hopefully, this issue will be fixed before the official release.
Siri Therapy: Coming to an iPhone Near You
A study by Stanford University last year found that people are asking Siri about mental health and domestic violence issues, and the assistant couldn’t provide the necessary information.
So now Apple is looking for new employees who understand both writing software for Apple products and psychology.
Reader Comment:
No. Despite the headline Apple does not want Siri to be your therapist. Apple wants Siri to be smarter at dealing with questions posed by troubled people and people who have been victims of violence.
People are using Siri as a therapist, so Apple is seeking engineers who understand psychology
The position requires a unique skill set. Basically, the company is looking for a computer scientist who knows algorithms and can write complex code, but also understands human interaction, has compassion, and communicates ably, preferably in more than one language. The role also promises a singular thrill: to “play a part in the next revolution in human-computer interaction.”
Apple assures us that Face ID on the iPhone X is as reliable and secure as Touch ID
Craig Federighi unequivocally stated that all of the face print data used by Face ID will never leave the iPhone X.
“We do not gather customer data when you enroll in Face ID,” Federighi explained. “It stays on your device, we do not send it to the cloud for training data.”
How to disable Face ID on the iPhone X
Don't worry, Apple made a shortcut to quickly disable Face ID in emergency situations.
Don't worry, Apple made a shortcut to quickly disable Face ID in emergency situations.
Face ID can be completely disabled if you'd prefer to use a standard passcode instead. The article has detailed instructions.
Apple states Face ID is even more secure than Touch ID, allowing only a 1 in 1 million chance for someone to be able to unlock your iPhone with their face, versus a 1 in 50,000 chance with Touch ID. It's so secure, in fact, that Apple is confident enough to use it as an authentication method for Apple Pay.
Apple’s clever strategy for forcing partners to use Face ID
To make sure companies use Face ID in their apps, Apple simply didn't give them any practical choice.
To make sure companies use Face ID in their apps, Apple simply didn't give them any practical choice.
No, Apple's Face ID Is Not A 'Secure Password’
No authentication system is unbeatable, and new ones are especially vulnerable. A hacker group defeated Touch ID within weeks of its release.
Apple can't rest on its laurels if it's to stay ahead in the cat-and-mouse game. Although Face ID has only just been announced, strategies that could potentially beat it already exist. Some security researchers aim to unlock iPhone X by 3D-printing a head.
It's easy to change a passcode but not your identity, so it's a bad idea to return to face authentication once your features have been compromised.
Sen. Al Franken has questions for Tim Cook about the iPhone X’s FaceID
The lawmaker wrote a letter to Apple querying how it would protect users’ privacy and comply with requests from law enforcement authorities
Since being elected to the Senate, Franken has positioned himself as a keen defender of consumer privacy.
Apple Gets Mixed Reactions To New iPhone's Facial Recognition Technology
In Russia, face recognition has been used to scan anti-government or anti-corruption protests, identify and then publicly name the people at those anti-government protests. What this means is these people will be subject to intimidation, if not arrest, for their political beliefs. Now, before someone says, well, wait, that's Russia. Why should we in the U.S. care about that?
The fact remains in the U.S., it's very much a rules-free zone when it comes to face recognition. Law enforcement across the country use this technology in various ways without any laws governing its use.
As face recognition becomes normalized, we may stop worrying about the very real concerns that we should be worrying about as we increasingly are subjected to face recognition that we can't opt out of.
Apple's iPhone Facial Recognition Technology Is Nothing Special to These People
Apple's new iPhone facial identification feature has made headlines. But for some in China, it's old news.
Facial identification is old hat, at least for customers of China Merchants Bank and the Agricultural Bank of China.
Apple's new iPhone facial identification feature has made headlines. But for some in China, it's old news.
Facial identification is old hat, at least for customers of China Merchants Bank and the Agricultural Bank of China.
Merchants Bank has enabled 1,000 of its automatic teller machines (ATMs) in 106 Chinese cities since 2015 to dispense cash by scanning their customers' faces.
For now, facial verification remains a novelty that's kept to selected locations among a small group of banks that are more eager to get the start on their competitors.
It remains to be seen whether the feature will expand to become the norm.
So you thought two-factor authentication is secure, did you?
Hackers have discovered that one of the most central elements of online security — the mobile phone number — is also one of the easiest to steal.
In a growing number of online attacks, hackers have been calling up Verizon, T-Mobile U.S., Sprint and AT&T and asking them to transfer control of a victim’s phone number to a device under the control of the hackers.
Once they get control of the phone number, they can reset the passwords on every account that uses the phone number as a security backup — as services like Google, Twitter and Facebook suggest.
“My iPad restarted, my phone restarted and my computer restarted, and that’s when I got the cold sweat and was like, ‘O.K., this is really serious,’” said Chris Burniske, a virtual currency investor who lost control of his phone number late last year.
Once they get control of the phone number, they can reset the passwords on every account that uses the phone number as a security backup — as services like Google, Twitter and Facebook suggest.
“My iPad restarted, my phone restarted and my computer restarted, and that’s when I got the cold sweat and was like, ‘O.K., this is really serious,’” said Chris Burniske, a virtual currency investor who lost control of his phone number late last year.
Here’s a good editorial on insecure two-factor authentication.
The author mentions one case when hackers made 13 requests to transfer a victim’s phone number and the cell carrier did NOTHING.
Federal agents can search your phone at the US border — here's how to protect your personal information
The Supreme Court decided in 1976 and 2004 that people have fewer claims to their Fourth Amendment privacy rights granted by the Constitution when entering the country, because the government has to protect its borders.
While the court has ruled that police can't search peoples' phones inside the country without a warrant because they contain troves of personal information, it hasn't yet decided on a case about phone searches at the border.
While the court has ruled that police can't search peoples' phones inside the country without a warrant because they contain troves of personal information, it hasn't yet decided on a case about phone searches at the border.
First, Wessler says, travel only with the data that you need. That may mean using burner phones or laptops for traveling.
Federal agents can search your phone at the US border — and the ACLU is now suing over it
http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-lawsuit-targets-searches-of-electronic-devices-at-us-border-2017-9
Part I of Dealing with the Equifax Hack
$4 Trillion in Profit Potential when “Big Data” Becomes Too Big…
Equifax announced last week that the intensely private personal data it had in its possession for 143 million Americans had been hacked.
That’s 1 in every 2 people — — even if you NEVER did business with Equifax and NEVER became their customer. Not a single American signed up for this and there is not a single regulatory body that is likely to put the company out of business.
That’s 1 in every 2 people — — even if you NEVER did business with Equifax and NEVER became their customer. Not a single American signed up for this and there is not a single regulatory body that is likely to put the company out of business.
And the breach is vastly worse than other hacks. Equifax maintained the financial equivalent of the “Holy Grail.” Social security numbers, driver license numbers, addresses, bank accounts, date of birth, and more. Everything needed to create a “new you.”
What really chaps my hide is that criminals can now use this information to file tax returns, claim refunds, access medical records, rent apartments, buy houses, take out loans and more – all without you knowing for years to come.
This goes waaaaaaay beyond simple identity theft.
Part II of Dealing with the Equifax Hack
What's happened to Equifax's databases goes far beyond simple data theft.
It is extremely important you protect yourself and your money NOW.
Equifax, unfortunately, doesn’t want to make this easy.
The company’s website stinks. What’s more, it’s clearly written by corporate lawyers who appear more interested in protecting Equifax’s interests than yours.
You can’t change your social security number so that’s out.
But you can “freeze” your credit.
Equifax, unfortunately, doesn’t want to make this easy.
The company’s website stinks. What’s more, it’s clearly written by corporate lawyers who appear more interested in protecting Equifax’s interests than yours.
You can’t change your social security number so that’s out.
But you can “freeze” your credit.
If you’ve never heard the term before, that’s a process that creates a permanent hold on your credit files that prevents the credit bureaus from releasing your credit to any company except those that you specifically designate (or those that already have you as a customer), law enforcement and the court system, or specific government agencies under the terms of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
This article has four links to help you get started.
A few more data thefts a la Equifax is all it’ll take to bring Big Data to the forefront.
The problem will get worse before it gets better. It also means that individuals, companies, and entire countries will spend whatever they must to protect themselves.
Companies that profit by selling computer security products will be good investments. Equifax is only one of dozens of attacks to come and, as nasty a thought as that may be, it’s also a sign of tremendous opportunity.
Here’s a simple way to protect your kids from cyberbullying
Cellphone owners in third and fourth grade are significantly more likely to fall prey to cyberbullying. It gets worse: Third, fourth and fifth graders with cell phones are more likely to admit having cyberbullied others.
“Parents often cite the benefits of giving their child a cell phone, but our research suggests that giving young children these devices may have unforeseen risks as well,” study author Elizabeth K. Englander, a professor of psychology.
“Parents often cite the benefits of giving their child a cell phone, but our research suggests that giving young children these devices may have unforeseen risks as well,” study author Elizabeth K. Englander, a professor of psychology.
A “Wait Until 8th” campaign currently urges parents to hold off until their kids reach at least the eighth grade, blaming kids’ smartphone ownership for distraction, difficulty sleeping, exposure to sexual content, risk of anxiety and depression, and cyberbullying.
Monday, September 11, 2017
Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth's Weekly Web Wrap for Sunday, 9/10/2017
Use this little-known iPhone feature if you're dealing with a poor cell signal
There's a somewhat hidden feature in iOS called WiFi Calling, which lets you use WiFi to make and receive calls and text messages instead of relying on your carrier's cellular network.
WiFi Calling is great when your iPhone is out of reach of your carrier's cell signal at home or at your workplace where you have access to WiFi, and it'll even work when you're connected to public hotspots, like at coffee shops.
The feature isn't turned on by default, so you have to go into your iPhone's settings to do so: Go to Settings > Phone > WiFi Calling.
WiFi Calling is great when your iPhone is out of reach of your carrier's cell signal at home or at your workplace where you have access to WiFi, and it'll even work when you're connected to public hotspots, like at coffee shops.
The feature isn't turned on by default, so you have to go into your iPhone's settings to do so: Go to Settings > Phone > WiFi Calling.
Video:
Here's what the symbols on the back of your iPhone mean
Opinion: A hearing implant is about to get the iPhone treatment
Unlike hearing aids, cochlear implants are covered by Medicare as well as many insurance plans and typically Medicaid.
The latest product from Cochlear Ltd. (an Australia-based company) dubbed Nucleus 7 Sound Processor, is the world’s first made-for-iPhone cochlear implant sound processor that allows users to stream sound wirelessly directly to their hearing device, and it’s compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
So what exactly can Nucleus 7 do? Not only can users listen to music and videos, and make phone calls, but they can also control, monitor and customize their hearing settings via their iPhone without having to use a special app or an intermediary device. This makes Cochlear’s processor unique.
Both hearing aids (devices that amplify sound so it can be detected by damaged ears) and cochlear implants (devices that bypass the ear and stimulate the auditory nerve) on average cost more than $1,000, with prices going up to more than $4,000 for top-tier hearing aids and even more for cochlear implants. Cochlear implants are covered by Medicare and some insurance policies.
This app uses selfies to see whether you have pancreatic cancer
Researchers developed an app to diagnose pancreatic cancer by looking at the whites of your eyes.
The technology that wants to replace your smartphone is going to be everywhere in just a few weeks
Today, it's augmented reality (AR) that has the tech world hyperventilating. This is the concept that puts digital images on top of the real world.
In a few weeks, Apple will release iOS 11, the new version of the iPhone and iPad operating system. The key feature: ARKit, which includes new tools that make it easy for developers to add AR to their apps. Before ARKit came along, developers needed a lot of resources to make AR work well on the iPhone.
Apple isn't alone. On Tuesday, Google announced its own AR developer tool for Android called ARCore.
Apple Pay FAQ: The ultimate guide on how and where to use Apple's payment platform
Here's everything you need to know about Apple Pay, including how to use it on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, and what stores and apps accept it.
the iOS 11 golden master software leaked out, revealing a wealth of details about Apple's unreleased devices just days ahead of their official unveiling.
Apple is about to unveil a brand new iPhone on September 12. For the first time, the company is likely going to switch from LCD displays to OLED displays, a newer technology that is causing some challenges. In particular, according to a new report from KGI Securities and obtained by Apple Insider, Samsung is going to be the sole supplier. Samsung is taking advantage of that by charging a ton of money for those displays.
5 Apple Pencil Tips & Tricks All iPad Pro Users Need to Know
8 tips and tricks for iOS 11's Notes app
Though it once felt like an app that was going nowhere, Notes will get much better in iOS 11.
Though it once felt like an app that was going nowhere, Notes will get much better in iOS 11.
Includes a video.
Apple iBooks Best Sellers by Category
There are 11 categories in this article, and a list for each.
Tell Your Grandparents: Don't Pay Bills With iTunes Gift Cards, It's A Scam
We've warned you before, but it's still happening - the ACCC says during 2017 alone 1,236 people have lost nearly $540,000 to people calling up and asking for Apple iTunes gift cards as payments for tax bills, Centrelink fees and Telstra scams.
And the biggest victims are the elderly.
"Scammers are increasingly getting their victims to pay with iTunes gift cards as they can quickly on-sell them and pocket the money," ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
And the biggest victims are the elderly.
"Scammers are increasingly getting their victims to pay with iTunes gift cards as they can quickly on-sell them and pocket the money," ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
Opinion: The new iPhone is a sign Apple needs a big iOS rethink
Apple makes great products. If you look back, the first iBooks and iMacs completely redefined what computers could look like. The beige boxes were gone, replaced with colourful designs that made our computers feel more like furniture than simply a device … a design philosophy that something could look beautiful and still be useful.
Today, it seems to me that the great design has been relegated to the background.
… a continuing quest to pack more features in. But the cost has been usability While it remains easy to make calls, send texts and carry out basic functions, many commands are no buried under an impenetrable layer of interface complexity.
I’ll bet you that, while the new features will be “revolutionary” and “world changing”, a bunch of useful, everyday tasks will be camouflaged and almost inaccessible under an increasingly complex and messy interface.
Interesting reader comments to this article.
Watch the path of Hurricane Irma and the next hurricane coming right after.
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/us_comp/movie-large.php
How iOS has evolved over the years
iPhone X: Apple’s latest iPhone name leaks ahead of official release
Apple’s latest iPhone will be called the iPhone X, according to a leak.
According to 9to5Mac, the 8 and 8 Plus will be basic upgrades on the 7 and 7 Plus .
“Someone within Apple leaked the list of URLs to 9to5Mac and MacRumors,” wrote John Gruber of Daring Fireball. “I’m nearly certain this wasn’t a mistake, but rather a deliberate malicious act by a rogue Apple employee. Whoever did this is the least-popular person in Cupertino. More surprises were spoiled by this leak than any leak in Apple history.”
iOS 11 GM leak confirms D22 ‘iPhone 8’ features: Portrait Lighting, True Tone Display, revised AirPods, much more
There are a lot of details here, if the leak is for real.
A global black market awaits the iPhone 8 launch
Why would somebody be willing to pay double the price to own an iPhone a few weeks early? For one thing, it’s status symbol.
Consumers are willing to pay a premium to be one of the first owners.
How to switch from Android to iPhone, and what you lose if you do
While Android has come a long way, iPhone is simply easier to use. Those who don’t like technology (or don’t want to wrestle with it) will find iPhone just, well, works.
Generally speaking, iOS, as an operating system, is also more secure than Android.
But moving from Android to iPhone comes with some downsides you should know about.
iOS is a lot more restrictive than Android.
Apple plays favorites with its own apps.
While moving from Android to iPhone can be done, and without much consequence, there are some features you’ll gain – and perhaps miss – in the switch.
How to stop your iCloud and Apple ID getting hacked
If you have a lame password, then your iCloud account will eventually get hacked. You might not think a hacker is interested in you, but you’re wrong. The good news is that there are several easy steps you can take to lock your Apple ID down and make it safe.
If you don’t think it’s important, consider this: Your photos, your email, all your browsing history, your credit card information, all of the files you have in iCloud, your contacts, notes, calendars, and all your personal messages will all be open to anyone that hacks your account. Not only that, but you can then be impersonated on social media, so that all your other accounts can be hacked too.
If you don’t think it’s important, consider this: Your photos, your email, all your browsing history, your credit card information, all of the files you have in iCloud, your contacts, notes, calendars, and all your personal messages will all be open to anyone that hacks your account. Not only that, but you can then be impersonated on social media, so that all your other accounts can be hacked too.
Many people think that hackers still target individuals. But those attacks are rare. Most hackers try to hack MILLIONS of accounts at a time (using automation), not just one at a time. After the hackers get enough information to hack millions of accounts, they can make millions of dollars by selling their info to less wealthy hackers for one dollar each.
You do not have to be a person of interest in order to be a target: You are already a hacking target simply by being on the internet.
This article has the steps you need to take to prevent your accounts from being hacked.
You might think you know which iPad you have. The new one. The big one. The rose gold one. The mini. But when you need to know exactly which model you have, or better yet, which generation, it can get a little trickier.
You don't have to be an Apple Store Genius to figure it out, though you do have to know where to look... and what to look for.
You don't have to be an Apple Store Genius to figure it out, though you do have to know where to look... and what to look for.
The back of every iPad has a model number. Once you find that, you can refer to the list in this article that tells you which model number corresponds to which iPad name.
Apple Terminates Service For Sixth-Generation iPod Nano Ahead Of Sept. 12 Event
Apple has made its sixth-generation iPod nano officially obsolete. The Cupertino giant announced last week that it will no longer service or repair the device moving forward.
Apple’s decision should not come as a surprise though, knowing that the digital media player was already discontinued back in September 2012. Besides, Apple only provides services and repairs to its discontinued products up to five years after they are no longer manufactured.
How Apple’s New Files App Works in iOS 11
Apple’s solution — a new app called Files — is baked into the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 11.
For Mac users, the interface will be recognizable as it’s similar to the Finder application on macOS.
How to Downgrade iOS 11 Back to iOS 10.3.3 on Your iPhone
There's lots of new stuff in iOS 11, but just because things have changed doesn't mean they're better. So if you've updated to Apple's latest OS and decided it wasn't for you, you'll be happy to know that you can still go back to iOS 10.3.3.
But this window of opportunity for downgrading won't last forever. Shortly after iOS 11 goes official, Apple will stop signing old firmware versions, meaning you won't be able to roll back unless you've saved your SHSHS2 blobs.
But this window of opportunity for downgrading won't last forever. Shortly after iOS 11 goes official, Apple will stop signing old firmware versions, meaning you won't be able to roll back unless you've saved your SHSHS2 blobs.
Killer Deals: Apple's 15" MacBook Pro for $1,799 ($600 off); high-end model $2,099 ($700 off) plus free JBL headphones, no tax in 48 states
How to Change the way macOS Displays Date and Time
You can use the System Preferences app to easily make the change.
How to Create Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts
This article has step-by-step instructions.
MacOS High Sierra preview: The invisible update that you need to download
The follow on from Sierra is more about what's under the hood rather than offering you noticeable differences, and that brings both an air of familiarity and a whiff of disappointment that there doesn't appear to be anything new.
Waves of enhancements are to be found, though. There is a new file system, a new way of treating image saves, support for VR, an update to the way graphics are handled with Metal 2, and a handful of small updates to apps like Safari and Photos.
Waves of enhancements are to be found, though. There is a new file system, a new way of treating image saves, support for VR, an update to the way graphics are handled with Metal 2, and a handful of small updates to apps like Safari and Photos.
It's not all behind the scenes, thouh. There are a few visual changes, although you'll have to look hard to spot them in specific apps. The Photos app, Mail, Safari, and Notes all get small upgrades.
macOS High Sierra: Office for Mac to fully support High Sierra GM
From a new file system to powerful graphics improvements, to how to perform an installation, here’s all you need to know about Apple’s new desktop OS, including info on whether Microsoft Office will work.
From a new file system to powerful graphics improvements, to how to perform an installation, here’s all you need to know about Apple’s new desktop OS, including info on whether Microsoft Office will work.
The next version of Apple’s operating system for the Mac is called macOS High Sierra. While the OS is mostly about software refinements, it also lays the foundation for future innovations in the worlds of VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality).
Apple Leak Confirms Cellular Connection for Next Apple Watch
The trusted analysts at 9to5Mac have uncovered very strong evidence that the new Apple Watch will have LTE connectivity.
Why I still wear the Apple Watch
Interesting article.
One chart shows Apple dominating the smartwatch market
Interesting chart.
An exec who worked with Steve Jobs for 26 years says everyone got it wrong about him
"I worked closely with Steve Jobs for twenty-six years," Catmull wrote. "To this day, for all that has been written about him, I don't believe that any of it comes close to capturing the man I knew.
"I've been frustrated that the stories about him tend to focus so narrowly on his extreme traits and the negative, difficult aspects of his personality."
"I've been frustrated that the stories about him tend to focus so narrowly on his extreme traits and the negative, difficult aspects of his personality."
Why the internet is much less democratic than you think.
The web is no longer the free and open space it was a decade ago. It’s now a feudal system run by a handful of ultra-large and ultra-sophisticated monarchs. The rest of us are just serfs handing over a percentage of our crop to the lords and ladies who have the power to grant us access to the digital world of meaningful commerce. Our chances of actually becoming web royalty are about the same as retiring from that scratch-off lottery ticket.
Right now, the net is in a consolidation phase. A few big players are gobbling up niche providers and creating enormous storefronts and networks. Sure, there's still infinite variety on the web, but good luck finding it.
the web has become a glorified phone book. We can’t watch you because we can’t find you. Regrettably, those that are most adept at finding us are commercially or ideologically motivated. Don’t believe me? Well, I’m posting this to a web site where, as you know, everything you read is true.
A List of Cryptocurrencies So Bizarre You'll Think We Made Them Up
Video:
John McAfee: "Pandora's box has been opened" (Crypto currency security)
Some people carry $100,000 on their smart phones. No, this is NOT an exaggeration.
Many people have a “Bitcoin Wallet” on their smart phones.
The value of one Bitcoin rose to $5000 not long ago.
If you EVER visited a porn site with your smart phone, it ABSOLUTELY installed spyware on your smart phone.
John McAfee explains how, when you give your smart phone the password to open the BitCoin wallet in your smart phone, the spyware automatically sends that password to a hacker who can then steal all the BitCoins in that wallet.
He then says that, someday, a hacker will steal ALL the Bitcoins on almost ALL the smart phones in the world in one fell swoop.
Only those people who have the technical knowledge to prevent spyware from getting installed on their smart phones will keep their BitCoins.
When this happens, it will be one of the biggest news stories of all time.
There will NEVER be a software wallet that is secure. It cannot happen. Not as long as you’re using mobile devices. Why is that? Because mobile devices were NOT designed to secure you. They were NOT designed to hide your location, or your friends, or your voice, or your image. They WERE designed for the opposite. They were designed to spy on you — not for bad purposes — but to make your life easier and more convenient, and so people can sell you s***.
Hardware wallets are the only hope for real security. And even that will be difficult.
John McAfee Just Announced The Most Private Smart Phone Ever: Here’s How It Works
McAfee’s privacy phone will also include an “anonymizer” function that prevents search engines like Google from seeing what users are looking for. Additionally, the phone will have a detector for Stingrays — devices that disguise law enforcement departments as legitimate cell towers and can even send pushes to connected phones, something McAfee considers a form of malware.
The phone will even include a function that will randomize your location. This could come in handy in a slew of situations, says McAfee, such as for someone trying to escape an abusive spouse or — if you’re like him — someone who trashes the F.B.I. and the corporate media on a regular basis.
Do you want to live in the dark? And if you do, then Edward Snowden was a traitor, and we should collect Julian Assange and do something. But if you want to live in the light, how will you do it without people like Edward Snowden and Julian Assange?
Equifax hacked, putting 143 million Americans’ data at risk
Hackers used a website vulnerability to breach credit-reporting firm Equifax Inc., possibly accessing personal data from up to two-thirds of the adult population of the U.S., the company disclosed late Thursday.
The hackers had access from mid-May until July of this year, and the breach may have compromised data from 143 million Americans including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and credit card numbers.
The hackers had access from mid-May until July of this year, and the breach may have compromised data from 143 million Americans including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and credit card numbers.
What to do now if you’re among 143 million Americans affected by Equifax data breach
Equifax created a website consumers can check if their data was breached, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com.
There have already been some glitches.
The company said it would offer a free year of service from its subsidiary, TrustedID, which monitors credit reports from Equifax as well as Experian
A good editorial on the Equifax hack
Watch the path of Hurricane Irma and the next hurricane coming right after.
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/us_comp/movie-large.php
Friday, September 8, 2017
Public Service Announcement about the Massive Equifax hack and what you can do about it
You, yes you, have been hacked!
Between killer hurricanes in the South and Southeast and the latest shenanigans out of Washington, you should know that Equifax, the credit-reporting company, has had 143 million files stolen by hackers. This isn’t just your name and e-mail password, as was the case with Yahoo! No, it’s your Social Security number, your driver’s license, and other facts and figures that can be used to set up new accounts in your name or stick you with expensive purchases.
What can you do? I suggest you sit down and read Brad Chacos’s article at PCWorld.com on this topic. He tells you about Equifax’s Web site to check to see if something occurred to you.
At the very least, request your credit reports from annualcreditreport.com not those phony-baloney sites that charge for this service. annual credit report. com is the only authorized one that will send you annually a free report from the three credit reporting companies.
If you really want to send your blood pressure and/or blood sugar soaring, read Sascha Segan’s editorial at PC Magazine.com. Usually, Sascha sticks to cut and dry technical issues. But today, he’s steamed!
For more reporting about this issue, go to arstechnica.com Start with Sean Gallegher’s report.
Don’t just sit there, do something proactive about this! Unless you want to pay for some hacker’s new bedroom furniture and big-screen TV! Prayer isn’t going to do the trick.
Tom Briant
Editor, MacValley Blog
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Potpourri! Editor's thoughts on various issues and links to them
10 best word processors for the Mac. Macworld UK listed their selections for the best word processors for the Mac. I will add my own favorite, MacJournal by Mariner Software. It’s a simple editor allowing me to make daily entries that I can refer to later. I love it.
Apple Watch involved in Yankees-Red Sox argument. Apparently, the Red Sox used Apple Watches to steal the Yankee’s pitching signals.
Apple bidding for rights to James Bond franchise distribution. Apple wants to jumpstart its media business. I would just warn Tim to watch out for any executive who says, “But what I really want to do is direct…” And I’m going to ask my readers to nominate their favorite Apple executive, living or dead, as a Bond villain.
PSA-Zello is not really a walkie-talkie suitable for disaster areas! Don’t think you can use your iPhone as a stand-alone 2-way radio with just the right app! Not going to happen!
11 over-hyped tech items. Not everything needs to be digital and networked.
Best PC wireless keyboards As I’ve written before, you can use a PC keyboard with a Mac. This advice also applies to PC wireless keyboards. Even the media keys that let you stop and start a song and adjust the volume work the same with iTunes as they do with Windows Media Player.
Tom Briant
Editor, MacValley Blog
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Apple's new file system APFS won't support old hard drives, you CAN run High Sierra on your hard drive, and MS Office 2011 for Mac comes to the end of support
Appleinsider reports that Apple’s nifty new Apple File System (APFS) that replaces the 20 year old Hierarchical File System Plus (HFS+) won’t support legacy hard drives. You know, that stock 500 GB 5400 rpm hard drive that came with your Mac Mini or iMac? Nope, it’ll still run HFS+ . Slower than a SSD running APFS, but it will still work just fine until...you spring for a SSD.
“Did he just say that I can’t update my old Mac to 10.13?!!!” (Panic and spit takes ensue) No, I DID NOT SAY THAT! I’m running 10.13 beta on a stock 5400 rpm 500 GB hard drive. It doesn’t run as fast as it does on my MacBook Air with its SSD. Let’s keep things in perspective.
It’s clear that Apple wants you to get a New Mac. They’d like you to get a new one Every Year. I expect 10.13 will cause many users to look at their machines, as I did in 2012, and decide to get a new Mac.
Let’s review our options:
1. Just stay put. You might have software that works fine now, but that would cost too much to upgrade. For example, Microsoft put out the word that support for Office 2011 for Mac stops this year. They haven’t tested Office 2011 on the beta of 10.13. They don’t intend to. They want you to buy Office 2016.
Should you upgrade from Office 2011 and macOS 10.12 if it works for you? No, I see no reason to if you have to pay full retail price for it. You might investigate your options, such as joining the Office 365 program for a monthly subscription. That would automatically offer you an upgrade to Office 2016.
And you might want to finally break down and learn how to use iWork ‘15!
My Senior Correspondent, Arnold Woodworth, always advised us at meetings to wait until the 3rd version of the new OS came out before installing it. This avoids installing bugs that Apple forgot to squash before shipping it out. So you have time to think and gather funds for the next steps.
2. Survey the situation. Could your Mac receive a new SSD? As always, it depends on the Mac. On older Macs, you could even do this yourself. On some of these newer Macs that they soldered and glued together, it’s not an option for the faint-of-heart. Which brings me to option #3
3. Boot from an external SSD. Glenn Fleishmann of Macworld suggested this. He has an older Mac Mini that he didn’t feel like opening to install a faster hard drive or SSD.
He only had the four USB 2.0 ports and a single Firewire 800 port. So he looked for an external SSD with a Firewire 800 connection. He found it at Macsales.com. He reports satisfaction.
If you have USB 3.0 or 3.1, you have more options for an external SSD. Samsung and Western Digital make well-reviewed units. In any event, read Glenn’s article for advice on how to do this without borking your machine.
4. Open your Mac up to install a new SSD. This is the heart-stopping measure. I have some advice in this, having installed a second hard drive in my late 2011 Mac Mini.
A. Backup, backup, backup! Make one backup using a cloning app such as Super-Duper or Carbon Copy Cleaner. Make another one, just to make sure. Now make sure you’ve got a Time Machine backup, too.
C. Read the instructions and view the videos. You’ll find instructions on iFixit.com You’ll also find kits with all the parts and tools you’ll need at iFixit, too.
I got my tools, parts and instructions for upgrading my Mac Mini from MacSales.com. They provided me with printed instructions with lots of pictures. They have videos on their YouTube channel. They provided a full set of specialized tools that you won’t find in your regular toolbox.
D. You could split the load, as it were, between a smaller SSD for macOS and your apps; with another hard drive for your User folders. M. Christopher Stevens of Macsales wrote an excellent tutorial detailing how to do this.
To recap, Don’t Panic over High Sierra. It will run on a 5400 rpm 500 GB stock Apple hard drive. It just won’t run as swiftly as it does on an SSD formatted with the new APFS.
Microsoft will cease support for Office 2011 for Mac this year. They haven’t tested it on High Sierra. Iwork ‘15, anyone? NeoOffice, LibreOffice, or Google Docs? Even Office.com?
You have options with an SSD, ranging from an external SSD that just plugs in to opening up your system to install a new SSD.
So relax, sip a refreshing cold beverage and review the links I put in this post.
Tom Briant
Editor, MacValley Blog
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