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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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
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