MAGIC Newsletter - September 2020

MAGIC Moments

President of MAGIC retires

I am leaving Whidbey Island and moving to the mainland. I shall continue to help with the MAGIC website until a new webmaster can take over. I will also be available as an advisor to the MAGIC board. But I shall no longer run for office or be able to conduct classes. Members who need help can turn to other MAGIC mentors who are willing to travel for personal meetings - I shall only be available by email.

I have served the MAGIC community for a number of years and have enjoyed doing so. I have met many interesting people. I hope that I have been able help some to solve various Apple problems. It has all been fun.

I shall miss you all at meetings and classes.

The board of directors will be holding a meeting soon to determine the future of MAGIC with a new "wizard".

Also see the article "MAGIC News" at the end of this newsletter.

Classes

All classes have been cancelled until the Covid-19 pandemic is under control.

Covid-19

Stay Safe and have some fun!

If you need computer help through this time, see Getting computer help in coronavirus land by Ron Sharp in the May issue of the newsletter.

Also note that there are still mentors willing to help you out with Apple problems. Ron Sharp, Gary McIntyre, and I are only an email away - also see the mentors section of the MAGIC website. If you are going to meet with one of the MAGIC gurus, please wear a mask and respect the 6 foot distance rule.

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.

Apple releases macOS 10.15.6 update

Apple has released iOS 13.7 and iOS 13.7 to the public, an update to the iPhone operating system that includes changes to the Exposure Notification feature, removing the need to install a public health app beforehand. vAvailable to download just six days after the only betas were offered for testing and confirmed for release earlier on Tuesday, the over-the-air update for iOS 13.7 and iPadOS 13.7 can now be installed on iPhones and iPads. It is offered as an automatic installation for users who have set up their devices in that way, and can also be installed manually via the Settings app.

The key change for the version is a new feature to allow users to opt in to Apple's Exposure Notification system without needing to download an app produced by their country's public health authority. However, the feature will still require the relevant public health organizations to support it for it to work. Subscribe to AppleInsider on YouTube

A developer framework built by Apple and Google for both iPhone and Android devices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the system works by collecting anonymous Bluetooth identifiers from devices that get close to the user's own smartphone. The identifiers are stored locally on the device rather than on a centralized server, though that data will be used to help warn those other users with an alert if the user is infected.

The use of Bluetooth identifiers and decentralized storage is to help ensure user privacy, as is the lack of location recording.

Part of the changes is Exposure Notification Express, where Apple will present localized health instructions to users in the case of suspected exposure. Again, this is done without requiring an app to be installed, but it will require some involvement by public health authorities.

While the developer framework is only usable by a public health organization, the update will assist in cases to help collect data for areas that do not currently have an official app, or one exists but the user declined to install it.

Apple squashes bugs with iOS 13.6.1, iPadOS 13.6.1 and macOS 10.15.6 Supplemental Update

Apple slipped out collection of small system software updates for iPhone, iPad and Mac. These are all "bug fix" updates, without significant changes.

iPhone users can install iOS 13.6.1. And there's an equivalent version for iPad. It fixes a handful of issues.

According to the release notes, it takes care of the green tint some users have reported on their displays. Apparently, this was a thermal management issue.

Plus, it allows the system to automatically delete unneeded system data files to free up space. And fixes an issue that disabled Exposure Notifications for some users.

To install iOS 13.6.1 or iPadOS 13.6.1, go to Settings > Software Update on the appropriate device. Or connect it to a computer running iTunes.

As the release notes for the macOS 10.15.6 Supplemental Update state, it "fixes a stability issue that could occur when running virtualization apps." This problem has been bedeviling VMware users.

This small update also squashes a bug with the just-released 2020 iMac that caused the display to appear washed out after waking from sleep.

Apple announces Apple Music radio

Apple Music 1 and two new stations, Apple Music Hits and Apple Music Country, feature exclusive original shows from the world's top music hosts and artists

Cupertino, California — Apple today announced two new live global radio offerings on Apple Music, now available to music fans in 165 countries. Beginning today, Beats 1, the flagship global radio station, will be renamed Apple Music 1, and two additional radio stations will launch: Apple Music Hits, celebrating everyone's favorite songs from the '80s, '90s, and 2000s, and Apple Music Country, spotlighting country music.

Since Apple Music's launch in 2015, Beats 1 has grown into one of the most-listened-to radio stations in the world, consistently delivering the best in-depth artist interviews, more global exclusives and premieres than anywhere else, and unique programming that produces culture-moving, news-making moments year after year. Throughout its evolution, Beats 1 has established an inherent camaraderie with the artist community and championed human curation and discovery — an approach that will continue across the three stations.

What to expect from Apple 'AirTags' tracking accessory in fall 2020

After a year of rumors, Apple's Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth "AirTags" tracking fobs are expected to arrive in 2020. Here's everything that we know about them so far.

The tracking accessory, expected to integrate with Apple's Find My app, could arrive as soon as October 2020. And although nothing is confirmed about the device thus far, there's been no shortage of leaked information, analyst predictions, and other data revealing possible features and details about the expected tracking tags.

Rumors of Apple's Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband tracking tags have been circulating since the beta testing period of iOS 13. "AirTags" was once a rumored name for the device, but Apple has since inadvertently leaked that the moniker could likely end up being official.

Code changes in an iOS 13.2 beta build included references to a device called "AirTags." An Apple support video in April 2020 also contained settings text confirming the name. Apple later removed that support video.

It's possible that Apple could change the final name before release, but "AirTags" is as good of a guess at the device's moniker as any.

Apple's tracking tag accessory has seemingly been just over the horizon since its discovery in early builds of iOS 13. Well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo even predicted that the device could arrive in March 2020, or over the summer. Both of those dates have come and gone.

It's likely that Apple had plans to release "AirTags" earlier, but was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic and other issues within the supply chain.

Now, it appears that "AirTags" could launch before the end of 2020, likely at an event alongside new "iPhone 12" or iPad models in October. In late August, Japan-based site Mac Otakara reported that "AirTags" would arrive in late October, citing a source within Apple's supply chain in China.

Apple investing in world's largest onshore wind turbines to power data center

Apple has announced that it is investing in the world's largest onshore wind turbines as part of its commitment to becoming 100% carbon neutral by 2030. The company's own operations achieved this back in 2018, but the expanded target incorporates Apple's entire supply chain and product lifecycle.

The wind turbines will power one of the company's data centers, with the excess power feeding into the national grid …

Today Apple announced it will invest in the construction of two of the world's largest onshore wind turbines, a source of clean, renewable energy that will bring its supply chain and products one step closer to carbon neutrality.

Located near the Danish town of Esbjerg, the 200-meter-tall turbines are expected to produce 62 gigawatt hours each year — enough to power almost 20,000 homes — and will act as a test site for powerful offshore wind turbines. The power produced at Esbjerg will support Apple's data center in Viborg, with all surplus energy going into the Danish grid.

"Combatting climate change demands urgent action and global partnership — and the Viborg data center is powerful proof that we can rise to this generational challenge," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. "Investments in clean energy deliver breakthrough innovations that bring clean energy and good jobs to businesses and local communities. This is an area where we have to lead — for the sake of our planet and future generations" […]

The Esbjerg wind project follows the recent completion of one of Scandinavia's largest solar arrays, located in Thisted, Northern Jutland, the first Danish solar project built without the use of public subsidies.

Germany-based supplier Varta committed this week to running its Apple production with 100 percent renewable power. Across Europe, Apple's suppliers are working toward clean energy solutions for their Apple productions — including Henkel and tesa SE, also based in Germany, DSM Engineering Materials based in the Netherlands, STMicroelectronics based in Switzerland, and Solvay based in Belgium.

These solutions include DSM's wind power purchase agreement in the Netherlands and STMicroelectronics's solar carport in Morocco. Companies like Solvay are now expanding their use of renewable energy to their broader operations after joining Apple's Supplier Clean Energy Program five years ago.

Apple launched the program in October 2015 to help suppliers reduce their energy use and transition to 100 percent renewable electricity. Since its launch, 72 manufacturing partners in 17 different countries have committed to 100 percent renewable energy for Apple production. Once all of Apple's supplier projects are completed, these commitments will avoid over 14.3 million metric tons of CO2e annually — the equivalent of taking more than 3 million cars off the road each year.

How To Free Up Space On iCloud

The iCloud is Apple's proprietary cloud storage and computing service. It is available for free to all users of Apple devices, but it does have a limit as to the capacity. Properly managing your iCloud account is the best way to make sure that there's always space that's available if you want to save files to the cloud. In light of that, here are some tips and tricks on how you can free up space on iCloud.

The iCloud backup feature automatically uploads important information onto the cloud. Although this ensures that none of your important files can accidentally become lost, this can also lead to your iCloud storage filling up quickly. Many iOS apps have automatic backup turned on by default, even the ones that you no longer use. To choose which apps are allowed access to the backup feature, do the following:

Wizard sez: You do know that no cloud is safe, right? Please stop and think about what you put on any cloud, including iCloud..

Want to Make Your iPhone and Apple Watch Easier to Read?

If you have 20/20 vision or are still wondering why your parents have reading glasses, count yourself lucky. But if you're like many people—over 60 percent of the population by some estimates, including most people over 45—reading the tiny text on your iPhone or Apple Watch might be impossible if you don't happen to have the right pair of glasses handy. I just had cataract surgery and have one eye for close vision and one to see far, but I still find a need for reading glasses from time to time when the print is extraordinarily small.

What we (us "old" folks) really need is a screen that corrects automatically for its user's individual vision problems. Research into such technology has taken place at UC Berkeley and the MIT Media Lab, but real-world products are probably years off. Until then, those of us who need a little help seeing our screens will have to rely on features Apple has built into iOS and watchOS. Try these options:

Two Quick Tricks You Can Use with the iOS Space Bar

Sure, you know that the Space bar in the iOS virtual keyboard types a space character. But did you realize that if you tap it twice, it inserts a period? (Probably, but if not, now you do.) That's to make it easier to provide proper punctuation, which will have the added benefit of irritating your kids when you text them. Even better, if you touch and hold the Space bar in iOS 12 or later, that invokes the trackpad mode that lets you move the insertion point around in your text. It's way easier than previous methods of navigating in text and makes it so you can more easily edit what you write. Which, as a bonus, will also bug your kids.

How to use a USB drive with iPhone or iPad

The world is full of USB drives, from portable thumbdrives to full external SSDs. Happily, you're not closed off from these just because you use an iPhone or iPad. All you need is the right adapter.

And you'll have full read/write access to everything on the drive. You won't even need to install any software, as the app you need comes preinstalled on your device.

Some of you might be confused because iPhones and USB drives couldn't really work together for far too many years. You could get around the limitation, but it took effort and money. That all changed with iOS 13/iPadOS 13.

The drives you want to connect with have a USB-A connector. Your iPhone or basic iPad has a Lightning port, so you'll need an adapter. Fortunately, Apple makes just the one you need.

Plug the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter ($39) into your device, then plug the USB drive into the USB-A port. It's not rocket science.

Many drives take more power than your iPhone or iPad alone can provide, but Apple's adapter also includes a Lighting port. Plug a charging cable into it, and it'll provide all the power the drive needs. As a bonus, it'll also charge your handset or tablet.

I've tested Apple's Lightning/USB adapter with plenty of drives. I tested a bunch is thumbdrives from different companies and a range of capacities. And I tried the adapter with a Samsung T7 solid state drive. It worked perfectly with all of them.

iPad Pro uses have it even easier. This computer has a USB-C port, and you can get a drive that uses that same format. That extends from thumbdrives all the way to external SSDs.

But that doesn't help with all the legacy drives out there with larger USB-A ports. You'll need an adapter. Fortunately, there are a plethora. The iPad Pro can use almost any USB-C accessory designed for laptops, and that includes multi-port hubs with USB-A ports.

I've tested my iPad Pro plenty of these hubs with loads of USB drives. I've never had a problem.

Whether you have an iPhone, iPad or iPad Pro, the only software you'll need to access the contents of USB drives is Apple's Files application. Plug in the drive (with the appropriate adapter) and it'll appear in the this app, which comes pre-installed on every iOS and iPadOS device.

If you've accessed a drive on your Mac then you should be familiar with this process. To see the contents of the drive, go to the Browse screen in the Files application. In a list of available drives, like your local iPhone or iPad, you'll see the name of the USB drive you're trying to access. Tap on it and you'll open a window with all the files and folders.

From there, you can do whatever you want. Open files. Move them around. Put them on your iPhone or iPad. Copy files from your device to the drive. Whatever.

Even in the world with iCloud, there are still plenty of reasons to use USB drives. If you want to carry around a couple of terabytes of pictures, work files, movies, etc., and be sure you always have access to them, get an external dive and connect it to your iPad, iPhone or both.

With your files stored locally, you don't have to worry about the vagaries of internet access. Even on a plane, you can always pop in the drive and access your files. Plus, a thumbdrive can hold proprietary files that you don't want to risk sharing with anyone else.

And consider removable memory cards. Apple won't build SD or microSD card slots into its devices, but card readers all use the USB format. If you have a drone, it probably has an SD card full of images. You can easily move these pictures over to your iPhone or iPad.

How to secure sensitive Notes with a password on iPhone and iPad

You might be willing to share your iPhone's passcode with other people, but what if you have sensitive notes you don't want anyone else to see? Protect them with their own password.

It's common that an entire family might share the same user account on a Mac, or that you might let your partner use your iPhone or iPad. You would happily hand over your password in these situations.

That doesn't mean others should have access to everything, though. It's easy to prevent them from reading notes that you would rather keep to yourself by giving those notes their own password.

The password you use to secure your notes can be completely different to the one you use to secure your iPhone, iPad, or Mac itself. It should be easy to remember and short enough to type quickly.

When you're ready to proceed, start by creating a password for your notes using these steps:

You can use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock protected notes, but if you're using a Mac without Touch ID, and you're accessing protected notes a lot, you don't want to be typing lengthy passwords every time.

When you're ready to proceed, start by creating a password for your notes using these steps:

How to protect Notes with a password Create a password that's easy to remember. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Once a password is set, you can start protecting notes that you don't want others to see:

Your note is now protected, but it remains unlocked until you leave it. You can lock it manually and hide its contents at any time by tapping the padlock icon at the top of the note.

Before you start protecting your notes, it's important to remember that once they're locked, there's no way to gain access to them without your password. If you forget it, they're gone for good.

It is possible to reset or create a new Notes password at any time, but this won't change the password on notes that are already protected.

What to expect from the 2020 'Apple Watch Series 6' launch

Apple's fall releases are going to arrive soon, and with it, a new Apple Watch — the "Apple Watch Series 6" — is very likely. Here's what you can expect to see coming to Apple's flagship wearable.

When will the "Apple Watch Series 6" be announced? The Apple Watch is typically announced alongside the yearly iPhone release event in September. There is some speculation that the iPhone event may be delayed until October, which could delay the announcement of the newest Apple Watch.

Notable leaker Jon Prosser has suggested that the "Apple Watch Series 6" will be released in the week starting September 7, alongside next-generation iPad models.

Bloomberg confirms redesigned iPad Air, two new Apple Watch models coming this fall

In a new report published today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman runs down the list of products that Apple is expected to launch in the fall product season. In addition to the widely reported iPhone 12 lineup, the publication says that Apple will release an edge-to-edge iPad Air; an alleged instruction manual depicting the new design was leaked last week.

Apple is also said to be readying hardware updates to the Apple Watch. There will be a successor to the Apple Watch Series 5 and a successor for the Series 3, which will target the lower-end of the market.

The new high-end Apple Watch is expected to feature a blood oxygen sensor, according to 9to5Mac coverage and recent supply chain reports.

The cheaper model would likely adopt some of the features seen in Series 4 and Series 5 — like a faster chip and fall detection — without getting the more expensive full-screen industrial design. Apple currently sells the Series 3 Apple Watch for $199. We recently saw new Apple Watch model identifiers turn up in regulatory filings.

The Bloomberg report does not detail the iPad Air beyond describing it as having an edge-to-edge design, like the iPad Pro. The leaked manual suggested the product would get a Touch ID power button, and replace the Lightning connector with a USB-C port. This would represent a major upgrade for the iPad Air, which currently uses the older chunky bezel iPad design.

Bloomberg says the iPhone 12 lineup will be released in stages, with the lower-end models coming out first in October. Like the current distinction iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, the cheaper phones will feature aluminum sides whereas the 'pro' models will use stainless steel. Apple employees reportedly describe the larger 6.7-inch screen as this year's biggest new feature, alongside faster performance thanks to the A14 chip.

In terms of sales performance, Apple appears to be expecting results in line with last year, having told suppliers to produce about the same quantities as the iPhone 11 cycle. These are rough guides and Apple frequently revises orders (positively or negatively) as it gets more insight into consumer demand patterns.

The report also discusses the state of Apple TV hardware, with a new model in the works but may not launch this year.

Again reiterating a previous Bloomberg report, the publication also expects Apple to debut a cheaper HomePod smart speaker before the end of 2020. New Apple-branded high-end over-ear headphones are also on track for the holiday season.

Everything we know so far about Apple's rumored 'AirPods Studio' over-ear headphones

Rumors about Apple's plans to make its own pair of over-ear headphones have been circulating for more than two years. More details about what to expect have emerged recently, including news that a release in 2020 is still likely. Read on as we round up everything we know so far about Apple's next push into the headphone industry with AirPods Studio.

Right now, there are two key components to Apple's lineup of audio accessories: AirPods and Beats. In 2020, Apple has continued to update its Beats brand, while also expanding the AirPods lineup with new models and new features.

Whereas the Beats collection already includes a few different pairs of headphones, Apple's AirPods lineup thus far has been limited to earbuds. According to a variety of reports, however, this will change in 2020 as Apple prepares its own over-ear headphones.

These headphones will complement the existing Beats and AirPods accessories, but there are a few key ways Apple is reportedly planning to differentiate them.

Malware Examples

Perpetrators of misinformation are having a field day with the Covid-19 virus. The internet is awash with rumors and wild claims that have NO scientific credibility. Be very careful where you get your information from and stay safe.

Regrettably there are evil people praying on our fears about coronavirus covid-19. Avoid all emails about the subject except the reliable ones that you have subscribed to - many are trying to scam you.

Internet Crime

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.

About Text Messaging *

Here are a few tips about text messaging. One of the first things I want to talk about is who and how you text message? When someone sends a message, you can simply hit the reply button. When you initiate a new message and tap the "New Message" button, you type a name but that person may have more than one phone number and an email address. What do you choose. The answer is you choose the the phone number that is a mobile phone. That means when you create or edit a contact card in the Contacts app, you should label the number as "Mobile" or "Home" or whatever. You can even choose "Custom" and create a new label. Of course if you use gmail or other mail service from a website via a browser, then all your contact info is in your online mail account and not in your Contacts app on your computer. In that case some of this doesn't apply and, I might add, you have fewer convenient options to use with your messaging app. In most cases, however, you can set your Contacts app preferences to show gmail addresses.

You can send a text message to an email address but it most likely will not work. Sending to an email address may work if the the person you're sending to has their phone settings set to accept messages sent to their email address. I'm not sure if this option is even available on Android phones.

You can't send to a home "landline" phone number. And by the way, when you send a message to another Apple device then the message bubble looks blue. When the message goes to a non Apple device the message bubble is green. And you can send messages from your phone and also from the Messages app on your Apple computer. When a message is sent, the app will say "Delivered" or "Not Delivered" in small text below each message.

If someone sends a message and you want to get information about the sender, tap on the name listed at the top of the iPhone screen to get options. Then tap the info icon, a small i. Tap on the name that comes up and it'll show the contacts info and it'll say "Recent" next to the phone number that was used to send the last message. Tapping the movie camera icon will initiate a Face Time chat.

To add an emoji to a message simply tap the emoji icon in the lower left corner. After making your selection, or not, tap the ABC button where the emoji icon was, to get back to the keyboard.

To send a photo, select the photo in the Photos app and then tap the Share button and choose Messages. Or you can copy an image and then open the Messages app, start your text message then tap and hold for the "paste" option to paste the image into the message.

You can differentiate a contacts messages alert by giving them a different texting alert tone. When you edit a contact in the Contacts app, you can set the default text tone or a unique tone. Same applies to setting the phone ring tone for different contacts.

Safari or Chrome or Firefox, which browser should you use? *

There is a news article in todays news about a Chrome "feature" that is causing an overload on global root DNS servers. I know that might not mean much to you but what it mean is the system for locating website addresses is being overloaded. Not a good thing. So I decided to discuss some browsing issues.

I often see people using the Chrome browser on their Macs and wonder why. Chrome is Google's browser while Safari is Apple's browser and comes on your Mac already. All I can imagine is that some people think that Chrome is a faster browser than Safari, but it is not. When comparing browsers Chrome and Firefox both have many more background processes consuming much more of the computers processing capabilities and draining the battery faster on laptops.

As a test I played a YouTube video on each browser separately and looked at the CPU(computer processor) activity for comparison. Safari used 6% of the CPU while Firefox used 48%. Huge difference. Chrome also uses much more than Safari. In an article I read one user compared browsers on his MacBook and found he had an extra hour to hour & a half use from the battery when using Safari.

Other benefits are obvious as well. While Chrome / Google tracks and sells information from your use, such as websites you've visited, Safari offers much more privacy. There is also the fact that Safari integrates with many of the other apps on your Mac, such as Keychain for password storage and Siri and others.

You can find more extensions for the Chrome browser if you happen to need extra functions, like creating computer code for instance. Or shopping apps that often add another layer of tracking. Yes, I am being a bit negative but the facts are accurate.

At least Firefox is an open source browser which I prefer to Chrome. I do use Firefox on occasion, and it's not a bad idea to have another browser installed for this very reason, because a function of a website that I use doesn't display one page correctly. This may happen with any browser and it's because of the way the webpage was created.

And the answer is yes, if you decide to switch from Chrome or Firefox to Safari, Safari will be able to import your bookmarks and history. So, obviously, Safari is my choice and my main browser.

MAGIC News *

For about 20 years, maybe more, I've been involved with the impressive Mac Users' Group here on Whidbey. I've participated in giving presentations, helping to lead classes, and being on the board. Most recently I've worked with another Board Member, Madelyn van der Hoogt, unofficially sharing the job of Secretary.

We've recently learned that our talented and revered Wizard, Robert Elphick, is moving to "America." That will be a huge loss for MAGIC. Madelyn and I have talked, and we think we can continue to share the job as Secretary, However, I (Penny) no longer have the steam to keep up all the support that I've given to this worthy group. We believe that there are many MAGIC members who are very capable of helping us all carry on.

We need some people to come forward and help support and lead this group. Since the pandemic, when we had to cancel our programs, MAGIC has maintained at a limited level, but is surviving thanks to the fantastic job Ron Sharp has done keeping us informed through the newsletter; but now it's time to rethink and rebuild. We encourage you to step up to the plate, or keyboard, and help us keep a good thing going. I promise you will find our MAGIC Board is made up with people willing to help you get onboard. Please think about getting involved to preserve MAGIC.

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.

Newsletter

September 2020

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