Newsletter Editor:
| Date | 16 August 2023 |
| Time | 4:00 - 5:30 |
| Presentations: | • Meeting Intro with Ron • "Using the MAGIC website" with Robert • "Using the Apple website" with Ron • Q&A with "A" Team based on questions emailed prior to meeting |
| Location: | by ZOOM on-line |
by Wendy Shimada, Secretary
The zoom meeting was called to order at 4:03 pm by Ron Sharp; President Harry Anderson & Treasurer Gary McIntyre were not in attendance but Gary did provide the current MAGIC Account Balance of $8,875.11.
12 Members were in attendance to hear Ron Sharp's presentation on what Apple's announcement of the upcoming My Photo Stream shutdown means for users. After the presentation, Ron also provided another short presentation on shortcuts and general tips.
A few questions were answered by Ron & Robert. At this time, there is not a topic selected for August's presentation so please stay posted for further information. As always, questions may be submitted.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 pm.
None this month.
Harry Anderson
Note: This Software Update section of the newsletter lists the most relevant Apple updates. Not all updates are listed for all products. Additionally, I'll add other pertinent updates on occasion.
by Michael Simon, macworld
Apple has pushed out a series of updates that contain several fixes for high-risk vulnerabilities.
It's still going to be a few weeks until we get the next round of new products, but Apple is hard at work on the software running on our existing devices. This week alone, Apple released new betas for iOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and the rest of the software updates coming this fall, as well as a slew of updates to the current operating systems.
On Monday, Apple released numerous updates for both new and old devices going all the way back to the iPhone 6s. They are free of new features, but they include numerous security updates, several of which are critical:
Across the various updates, there are several patches for high-risk vulnerabilities affecting all of the operating systems. Specifically, two of the flaws may have been actively exploited and one is a new zero-day. The WebKit flaw was previously addressed in the Rapid Security Response updates for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura, but is new to the other OSes:
Kernel
WebKit
In addition to those two bugs, there are several other WebKit patches that address flaws that "may lead to arbitrary code execution" or disclose personal information to hackers. So it's fair to say these are among the most important updates of the year, so if you have an Apple device made after 2015, you should update it ASAP.
To update your device, head over to the Settings app (or System Settings/Preferences on a Mac) and select General > Software Update, then Install and follow the prompts.
WIZARD SEZ: If this sounds too techie, just ignore the tech stuff and make sure all your devices up to date.
by Roman Loyola, macworld
Ahead of the arrival of macOS Sonoma later this fall, Apple has released macOS Ventura 13.5 to all users with bug fixes and nearly 30 security fixes. According to Apple's release notes, the update includes small bug fixes and performance optimizations. More importantly for most users are nearly 30 security updates that patch several vulnerabilities spanning Safari, Shortcuts, FindMy, and various system resources.
macOS Ventura 13.5: New features and fixes
The macOS Ventura 13.5 update doesn't include any known new features. Apple's release notes merely state the update "provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users." The update includes several high-risk security patches that could lead to arbitrary code execution, as well as fixes for system apps, including:
Find My
Shortcuts
Apple Neural Engine
macOS Ventura 13.5: How to install the update
To install the latest update on your Mac, head over to System Settings, then click Software Update, and Download and Install. Then follow the prompts and restart your Mac. It should take approximately 15 minutes.
by Ed Hardy, cultofmac
Here's how to be sure you have the latest HomePod software update. Or stop your smart speaker from updating.
Your HomePod is a lot more than a simple speaker — it's a whole computer. And like any computer it has an operating system that needs occasional updates. Here's how to make sure your Apple smart speaker has the software version released on Monday.
Version 16.6 is minor "bug fix" update the promises performance improvements. It is one of a string of small updates waiting for new features coming in autumn.
If you depend on automatic updates, it's possible your smart speaker hasn't yet installed either update. Here's how to do so manually.
A bit of background on HomePod Software
Apple offers macOS, iOS, tvOS and more. You might think the operating system for HomePod has a similar name. Internally, Apple employees call it audioOS, but that name is never used publicly. For everyone else, it's "HomePod Software."
And new HomePod Software versions come out when Apple TV is updated. (iPhone and iPad updates are usually introduced at the same time, but not always.) And the version numbers are generally in lockstep.
What is new in HomePod software 16.6
To be current, your Apple smart speaker should be on HomePod Software Version 16.6. This is true whether you own an original HomePod, HomePod 2 or HomePod mini. The new version debuted on July 24, on the same day as tvOS 16.6.
Apple's release notes indicate there are no feature changes: "This update includes performance and stability improvements."
Bug fixes are always welcome, but new features are even more so. HomePods will soon be able to play music from a wide range of streaming services. And Apple is dropping the "Hey" from the Siri wake word, making it easier to trigger the voice assistant. Plus, Siri will be able to understand follow-up commands without you having to repeat the hotword. But these features are waiting on some future HomePod update.
Continue reading for how to update etc.....
by Glenn Fleishman, macworld
Apple supports the full range of Unicode, but it can be hard to find the symbol you need.
Unicode is a massive, sprawling effort that pairs a number to every unique character in a language, every punctuation mark, every math symbol, and much more. And nearly all of it is available within macOS but not always easy to find.
If you are trying to type unique characters such as the Euro sign or a pound sign see this separate story: How to type Æ, €, #, @, © and more special characters on a Mac.
There's a semi-hidden way to access special symbol sets in Unicode, and a somewhat obscure method of searching for specific symbols across all of macOS's included Unicode characters.
First:
Now, in the menu bar, click the tiny palette that has a command (⌘) key in it and select Show Emoji & Symbols. The Character Viewer that appears shows emoji by default, and with an input cursor in any app or form field that lets you type in text, you can double-click emoji to insert them or drag them into a document.
But that's not the semi-hidden part. Click the gear icon (Monterey or earlier) or More … icon (Ventura or later) in the upper left and choose Customize List and expand the Symbols section. You can now check boxes next to any commonly used Unicode sets you might want to use in documents or email. This can be handy for dingbats (typographic frills and pre-emoji symbols), universal signs (like for plastics and recycling), or currency symbols.
The obscure part of this process offers even more options once you understand how to access them. You might notice a Search field in the upper-right corner of the Character Viewer. It's not immediately obvious what you can search for. The viewer lets you match against characters you type, but also against any part of any name of a Unicode entity.
For instance, type "recycling" and you'll see all the recycling symbols; type "heart," and the viewer matches all the emoji hearts, dingbat hearts, and hearts in playing card symbols. (You can also find all variants of h, e, a, r, and t across the written form of different languages.)
This can be particularly useful if you're trying to find something slightly obscure or elegant, like a one-half ½ mark (search on "half"), and don't want to scroll through the endless Unicode set.
Note: If you're sending files or email to other people who aren't using a Mac or iOS, some of the symbols may not appear depending on the configuration of their system: they need a font installed that includes the special characters, or they may see what user-interface and type people call "tofu:" an unfilled upright rectangle that indicates no character in the font is available to display the symbol.
by Roman Loyola, macworld
Apple's most popular laptop could be be getting an update soon. Here's when the M3 MacBook Air is coming, including Apple's plans for the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air.
In July, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple could release an update to the 13-inch MacBook Air this fall. This new laptop will likely replace the current M2 13-inch MacBook Air that's $1,099. Gurman didn't mention the 15-inch MacBook Air, which was introduced in July 2023, but it would be unusual if both Macs are on the same update schedule.
Here's everything you need to know about the next generation MacBook Air, including the latest rumors, speculation based on current information and Apple's history, and confirmed data.
by Ben Lovejoy, 9to5mac
The battle of Apple Maps versus Google Maps was once a very one-sided one, thanks to the disastrous launch of the Cupertino company's own map app. But analysts say that is now changing - even though most US iPhone owners have Google Maps installed. Ironically, one weakness of Apple Maps is considered a strength by some users …
Background
The launch of Apple Maps was one of the company's most embarrassing episodes. It made many areas of the world look like they'd been hit by a major earthquake, had countless errors, and some of its routing was so bad that Australian Police warned that it could put people's lives at risk.
Indeed, things were so bad that CEO Tim Cook was forced to not only issue a public apology, but actually recommend that iPhone owners install competing apps. It was also the primary (though not the only) reason for then-head of iOS software Scott Forstall being fired.
It's also notable that the majority of US iPhone owners have installed Google Maps, even though Apple Maps comes preinstalled.
Apple Maps versus Google Maps today
But a Wall Street Journal report says that things are changing.
The company then spent years trying to fix the service. Now, according to customers and user-experience analysts, it has. Some users are finding reasons to switch to Apple Maps.
The main reason suggested is that Apple has managed to beat Google when it comes to public transit directions. As an example, it cites New Yorker Jason Rabinowitz.
The 37-year-old airline-industry analyst moved back to an iPhone in 2015. As a New Yorker, he relies more on transit directions than driving directions. A few years ago, after Apple promoted some new transit features, he gave Apple Maps a try and the results surprised him.
He now thinks Apple Maps suggests creative, faster routes and manages the unpredictability of subway outages better than Google does. He recommends it to friends and family who visit.
Rabinowitz also likes Apple Maps' cleaner transit view versus the more cluttered design of Google Maps. He calls Google's transit layer "sinfully ugly to look at."
User experience consultant Peter Ramsey says that Apple Maps used to be so bad that people would proactively open Google Maps, even though map links within other apps would open Apple Maps by default. But fewer people do so today.
One Apple Maps weakness can be a strength
Although Apple has been working hard on increasing business listings among other things, the fact that it is still behind Google does make for cleaner-looking maps. Former Google Maps user Jane Natoli says this helps when navigating using the app.
On Google Maps sometimes it's difficult to figure out the street name, no matter how closely you zoom in, she says. "Google is showing me restaurants, bars and other things, but I'm not necessarily looking for that," she says.
9to5Mac's Take
While it's undoubtedly true that the new Apple Maps experience is a massive improvement over the previous generation, the piece seems to be making pretty bold claims based on quotes from just a handful of people.
by Zac Hall, 9to5mac
Apple Maps started rolling out an awesome interactive feature called "detailed city experience" as part of iOS 15 in 2021. After launching in just four cities, the feature has reached more than 20 locations around the globe.
At launch, this is how Apple described the detailed new Maps feature:
Apple Maps introduces a new way to navigate cities with a visually stunning 3D map that offers unprecedented detail for neighborhoods, commercial districts, marinas, buildings, and more.
Now users can see elevation details across a city, new road labels, and hundreds of custom-designed landmarks like Coit Tower in San Francisco, Dodger Stadium in LA, the Statue of Liberty in NYC, and the Royal Albert Hall in London, with more to come.
A beautiful nighttime mode with a moonlit glow activates at dusk.
Apple currently includes these cities on its list of locations that support the detailed city experience in Maps:
However, it appears that at least two additional cities have gone live. One confirmed location is Houston, Texas, where Apple Maps now includes a rich 3D with custom-designed views including NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and Shell Energy Stadium. Apple has also introduced the detailed city experience feature to Dallas, Texas. For an example of what being a detailed city experience in Apple Maps means, compare these screenshots of Houston versus Denver:
You can find the official list of cities with the detailed city experience in Apple Maps here. For clues on which cities could be coming soon, this blog tracks which cities are likely coming based on specific data.
Thanks Nick!
WIZARD SEZ: I might be a while before we get the Coupeville Wharf in the Maps!
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
One of the more interesting features recently added to iPhone is something called Clean Energy Charging. Apple says that this feature aims to "reduce your carbon footprint" by charging when lower carbon-emission electricity is available. In a support document, Apple has more details on how this feature works…
Apple says:
When Clean Energy Charging is enabled and you connect your iPhone to a charger, your iPhone gets a forecast of the carbon emissions in your local energy grid and uses it to charge your iPhone during times of cleaner energy production.
Clean Energy Charging is available only in the United States and is on by default when you set up your iPhone or after you update to iOS 16.1.
Clean Energy Charging is enabled by default, but you can manage the setting by going into the Settings app, choosing Battery, then Battery Health & Charging. Here, you'll see a new toggle dedicated to the Clean Energy Charging feature.
Clean Energy Charging works together with Optimized Battery Charging to learn your charging habits. Clean Energy Charging engages only where you spend the most time and regularly charge your iPhone for long periods of time, such as your home and place of work. The feature doesn't engage if your charging habits are variable or you're in a new location, such as when you travel.
For Clean Energy Charging to work, Apple says the following settings must be configured:
Finally, if you enable Clean Energy Charging but want to override it, you can do so directly from your iPhone's lock screen. When Clean Energy Charging suspends charging, you'll see a notification on your lock screen. Long press on this notification then choose the "Charge Now" option to override.
by D. Griffin Jones, cultofmac
The side button does much more than you think. Who needs an action button?
Rumor has it the iPhone 15 will replace the mute/silent switch with a customizable button that can do a number of actions you pick, much like the Apple Watch Ultra's Action button. However, there's already (sort of) a feature like that you can use right now on any iPhone. After you set it up, you can simply triple-click the iPhone side button to turn on up to 25 advanced accessibility features.
You can't do things like launch a shortcut or turn on your iPhone's flashlight, but a lot of people can benefit from these features. Here are all 25 of the features you can assign to your iPhone's side button — and what they do.
You can turn on any or all of these iPhone side button shortcuts by going to Settings > Accessibility, scrolling down all the way to the bottom, and tapping Accessibility Shortcut. Tap any of them to turn them on. (A checkmark will appear.)
If you enable more than one of these shortcuts, triple-clicking the iPhone's side button will bring up a menu where you can pick. You can reorder your choices by holding the grabber to the right and dragging each item up or down. (Also note that on older iPhones, you click the Home Button, not the side button.)
These are listed in descending order of usefulness for someone who doesn't need any accessibility accommodations, but as with all accessibility features, that's subjective. One of these farther down might be an absolute essential for you.
by Ed Hardy, cultofmac
Apple aggressively added to its catalog of original films and TV shows between June 2022 and June 2023. The Apple TV+ total hit almost 200, and has since surpassed that milestone.
And some of the shows are very popular, appearing near the top of the ratings list always every week of 2023.
Much more to watch on Apple TV+
Apple refused by buy any movie studio's back catalogue, and instead put a focus on original content for its streaming service. That makes its selection of streamable film and series is smaller than its rivals' — it launched in 2019 with only a handful of shows. But the streamer worked steadily to bulk up its offerings since then.
"The Apple TV+ catalog remarkably grew, expanding by 51% year over year (June 2022 vs June 2023), from approximately 130 titles to nearly 200 movies and TV shows," said Isabel Riofrío, an analyst with Reelgood, which tracks streams and engagement among millions of users in the United States across all SVOD and AVOD services.
Apple TV+ film and series catalog grew over 50% in the last year:
A growing audience, too
The catalogue of content includes a number of indisputable hits that have helped push up Apple's viewership numbers.
"The success of Apple TV+ in 2023 can be attributed to the exceptional performance of several new releases," said the Reelgood's Riofrío. "The show Shrinking was on our ranking for four consecutive weeks, while Silo has held strong for eight consecutive weeks on the list, always among the top 5 most popular titles. And Ted Lasso was there for four consecutive weeks. The Movie Tetris also contributed to Apple TV+'s success."
Apple TV+ film and series catalog grew over 50% in the last year
The Apple TV+ catalog grew strongly between mid 2022 and mid 2023.
Photo: Reelgood
by Stephen Warwick, imore
Apple Watch Series 9 is just a few weeks away, with rumors stating the company will unveil a new flagship watch alongside the iPhone 15 in September. Rumors aren't abundant, but we are expecting one of the first big improvements to the Apple Watch processor for several years.
The Series 9 sits above the Apple Watch SE and below the Apple Watch Ultra. We're not expecting a new Apple Watch SE this year, but the impressive Apple Watch Ultra could get an upgrade alongside the middle child.
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
We've seen Apple's AirTag item tracker be used for tracking down lost luggage, over a million dollars of cash, stolen cars, and even a giant bull statue that was stolen from a taco restaurant. If you thought the story about the bull statue was out of left field, we have an even better one for you.
A couple in Philadelphia turned to AirTags after they repeatedly had their potted plants stolen from their front porch…
As reported by local news outlet Fox29, Jennifer and Kevin Bagby were growing increasingly frustrated that people kept swiping plants from their front porch, and they decided to put AirTags in each of the pots. The couple got the idea after posing a question about how to handle the situation in a local Facebook group.
Jennifer Bagby acknowledged that AirTags "seemed like a bit of overkill for plant," but the couple pressed ahead with the idea anyway. "I was like 'if you think about the cost of the pot, all the plants, and the time, the love and care, and yeah, the principal' it was like 'we're doing this,'" she said.
Sure enough, days after putting the AirTags in the pots, one of the plants was stolen from the front porch yet again. The Find My app revealed that the AirTag was around a mile and a half away. The couple followed the location of the AirTag and ended up spotting a "man wheeling a cart full of plants" down the street.
"Honestly, it was such a quick interaction, we were like 'Thanks, bye!' and [the person with the cart] was like 'I didn't steal it!' and I was like 'Ok?' and we just went on our merry way," Jennifer said to Fox29. "I think it's just one of those stories we'll have in our pockets for when we're sitting on the porch when we're 90, we're going to laugh about this."
You can file this one under the category of "stories I never thought I'd write," but here we are. I have to say, the ingenuity we've seen around AirTags is impressive. Apple's little $29 item tracker never fails to impress.
If Apple ever wants to do an entire marketing campaign dedicated to AirTags, they sure have a lot of material from which to choose.
by Penny Holland, MAGIC*
I spent all day on the Internet looking at mufflers
And now I'm exhausted!
Microsoft has shut down Internet Explorer today.
It is still gonna take a while to realise that.
by Ron Sharp and Robert Elphick, MAGIC *
Any one bothered by internet criminal activity should report it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at this web page. This includes phishing, malware, spoofing, any demand for money.
by Ron Sharp, MAGIC
You may be using a Mac computer that is working fine, then you find out it's obsolete. It seems to happen so fast. So when do you replace it. Some of the obvious reasons to replace a computer are when web pages don't open properly. You get the warning that the website is not secure. That's because the old browsers don't work well with the newer security certificates that websites use.
Other reasons for a new computer are that you run out storage space, your Macs hard drive is full. Or maybe your Mac is just running very slow. These are the usual signs it's time for a new Mac.
As far as Apple's designation, if your Mac is older than 5 years it's vintage, fewer parts and services are available for it. If it's older than 7 years then it's obsolete. A good running Mac can be used longer but it won't be able to update to the newest operating system. The advantage to keeping up to date with operating systems is better security and functionality with other Mac apps and devices.
You can check the year of your Mac by clicking the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen and selecting "About this Mac." However, I think using a Mac for 7 years is reasonable. I wouldn't want to get too far behind, but these computers can be very functional for a few years after they are labeled vintage.
If you have an old Mac and need to decide which model of Mac to replace it with, you can look over and compare models on Apple's website. A list of options are below.
You should list what you use your Mac for and what your storage requirements are. If you have tons of photos or any amount of videos, you'll want a large storage drive. To see what's available you can go to Apple's website and browse their computers. You can click on the "Buy" button and see the options for a Mac model and how much each option will add to the base price. You can see the prices without committing to buy. Also, note there is a new 15 inch MacBook Air.
If all you do is play Solitaire on it then it's not too important to have the latest, fasted computer. However, many times we're browsing the web, interacting with email and text messages, sharing images, using spreadsheets and saving and editing photos, and much more.
You can buy a new Mac at stores other than directly from Apple, but make sure of the year of computer they are selling. Some online sales of Mac computers sell computers that several years old.
Here is a list of Mac computers:
Keep in mind you also may have to upgrade some accessories. Your printer is one item that may have to be replaced if it's old. And if you're buying a MacBook laptop you'll probably need USB to USB-C adaptors to connect your backup drive or other accessories. The new MacBooks only have USB-C connections. No old style USB.
by Ron Sharp, MAGIC
Five Secret Airpods Features:
How Apple Maps Fixed Its Hated Navigation App:
MAGIC, the Macintosh Appreciation Group of Island County, serves people who use Macintosh computers, software and peripherals. Our goal is to share information and get answers to questions to make us more productive with our use of technology. Our monthly meetings give us a chance to discuss computer problems and share ideas with other Mac users, feature speakers on specific topics, and to keep apprised of Apple news.