• President Harry will conduct a ZOOM meeting to include Q&A
• "Apple Watch" by Gary & Robert
Location:
Online with Zoom - Contact for inclusion in the meeting.
Minutes for MAGIC meeting June 16, 2021
by Penny Holland, Secretary
President Harry Anderson called the meeting to order shortly after 4:00.
Business
Our treasurer, Gary McIntyre, is not at this meeting, but Harry reported for him that we have over $8,000 in our bank account.
Note that these minutes will no longer include details of the presentation, as these can be viewed on the MAGIC WEBSITE (http://www.whidbey.com/magicmug/index.html) Magic now has is own Zoom account, so we no longer have to borrow somebody else's account.
September 15 will be our first face to face meeting back at the Freeland Unitarian Congregation Meeting House. Harry asked for input on having September meeting in person, and there were several cheers, but no dissensions.
Harry asked us all to put ourselves on MUTE for the presentation. Questions can be sent via CHAT. The rest of the meeting will be recorded.
Presentation
Board member, Ron Sharp, gave the presentation on HOT APPS (The most convenient and popular APPs, many of which are already on the Mac; or they may be obtained on line at the Apple App Store.
Answer: Several people have said they use Qwell or Venmo.
Qestion: Are these secure?
Answer: Yes because nobody has to ever see your credit card number if you use these.
Another comment by one of our members—ApplePay gets you out of a bind if you leave your wallet at home. You can tie this to your bank account or to a credit card. On a website you will see a button that says ApplePay. You don't have to use your credit card number.
Qestion: What are the things to look for in buying a new Mac? I can't update my current five year old Mac beyond Catalina.
Answer: Robert said it depends on what you do and the kind of data you are working with. For instance, movies or photos take a lot of memory. One big question is to figure out how much RAM and how large of a HardDrive you need. Robert suggested meeting with a local wizard at a coffee shop or using Zoom for a one hour meeting to talk about what you need. (see https://www.whidbey.com/magicmug/data/mentor.html). Ron also said we could set up a presentation on upcoming new Apple products.
Qestion: Is a presentation on iMovie editing still possible?
Answer: A one-hour presentation is somewhat limiting. We usually hold 3 day classes to give students time to try all the iMovie features. But it is possible to do a one hour version at a presentation. (Harry says when we are face to face we can kick around some of these ideas.)
With no further questions being posed, Harry adjourned the meeting at 5:05.
Our next MAGIC meeting is July 21, via Zoom.
It will be a presentation on the APPLE WATCH .
MAGIC Musings
by Harry Anderson, MAGIC President
Hopefully, all of us have managed to weather the great, 1,000-year heat wave in recent weeks. After living in Southern California and then Texas, I never imagined that I might need industrial-strength air-conditioning on Whidbey Island! Let's hope that kind of heat doesn't come back for another 1,000 years. It's not good for Macintoshes — or human beings.
As you know, we have been planning to resume our monthly in-person meetings at the Unitarian Church in Freeland beginning Sept. 15. Our idea is to have in-person gatherings but also continue to record the presentations so they can be posted on the web site for those who cannot attend.
I need to let you know about a couple of issues that have arisen with the church that may delay or change those plans. While our meetings were suspended during the pandemic, the church leadership formulated new policies for outside groups like ours that use their facilities.
Although our monthly fee to rent the main sanctuary will remain $40, the church has now added a mandatory sanitized cleaning charge of $30. So that would make our monthly outlay $70.
In addition, the church now requires all outside groups to carry a liability insurance policy equal to $1 million per event, with the church named as beneficiary. This is to protect the church from lawsuits or other claims from injuries, etc. This is a pretty common practice for venues that rent space to outside groups. We just were fortunate until now that UUCWI didn't require it of us. Our Treasurer Gary McIntyre is researching to find out how much a liability insurance policy would cost us.
At our July 21 general meeting, we will open up this topic for discussion among all those in attendance. Hopefully, we can find a solution that will allow us to resume in-person meetings without a huge increase in our cost. See you on July 21 at 4 p.m.!
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.
No new updates this month
How to Implement Apple's Two-factor Authentication on a Mac, (for your Apple account)
by Dennis Sellers, Rocket Yard OWC blog
Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security for your Apple ID designed to ensure that you're the only person who can access your account, even if someone knows your password.
Here are the steps to enable two-factor authentication on a Mac:
Go to "Apple () menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security."
Click "Turn on Two-Factor Authentication."
Apple ID Password & Security
Some Apple IDs created in iOS 10.3 or macOS 10.12.4 and later are protected with two-factor authentication by default. In this case, you see that two-factor authentication is already turned on.
Once two-factor authentication is enabled, your Apple devices and the phone numbers you've designed as trusted are used to verify your identity when signing in.
A trusted device is a device you use frequently, such as your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can choose to designate a device as trusted by clicking a checkbox next to "Don't ask again on this computer" when/if it pops up.
Why use two-factor authentication?
With two-factor authentication, only you and you alone can access your account on a trusted device or the web. When you want to sign in to a new device for the first time, you'll need to provide two pieces of information—your password and the six-digit verification code that's automatically displayed on your trusted devices or sent to your phone number.
iPhone and iPad two factor authentication
By entering the code, you're verifying that you trust the new device. For example, if you have an iPhone and are signing into your account for the first time on a newly purchased Mac, you'll be prompted to enter your password and the verification code that's automatically displayed on your iPhone.
Here's Apple's explanation of why you should use two-factor authentication (this is from the tech giant's support page:
Because your password alone is no longer enough to access your account, two-factor authentication dramatically improves the security of your Apple ID and all the personal information you store with Apple.
Once signed in, you won't be asked for a verification code on that device again unless you sign out completely, erase the device, or need to change your password for security reasons. When you sign in on the web, you can choose to trust your browser, so you won't be asked for a verification code the next time you sign in from that computer.
Apple extends (RED) partnership with 100% of proceeds going to pandemic relief until December 30
by Jose Adorno, 9to5mac
As the pandemic is still a problem in many parts of the world, Apple is extending its partnership with (RED) and it will continue to redirect 100% of eligible proceeds of its PRODUCT(RED) devices and accessories to the Global Fund's COVID-19 relief efforts from now until December 30.
Last year, Apple extended this COVID-19 relief effort until June 30, 2021. As vaccines are slowly rolling out across the globe and new variants of the disease have been discovered, this fund is more important than ever.
Apple updated its PRODUCT (RED) page in the US and around the world to note that all donations from sales of its PRODUCT(RED) lineup that normally go to helping fight HIV/AIDS will be temporarily redirected to pandemic relief (which will actually help keep HIV/AIDS programs alive).
In April of 2020, Apple and (RED) starting giving a portion of eligible proceeds to the Global Fund for COVID-19 relief but now it's being bumped to 100% for about six months.
Here's the announcement that notes providing pandemic relief will help keep "lifesaving HIV/AIDS programs" going in Africa:
For 14 years, our partnership with (RED) has led to almost $250 million in donations to fund HIV/AIDS treatment programs. Now through December 30, Apple is working with (RED) to redirect 100 percent of eligible proceeds from (PRODUCT)RED purchases to the Global Fund's COVID‑19 Response. This will provide critical support to health systems most threatened by the outbreak and, in turn, help preserve lifesaving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa.
Apple highlights its range of PRODUCT(RED) devices and accessories including iPhone 12 and the rest of the current iPhone lineup, Apple Watch bands, iPad cases, Beats headphones, and more.
If you don't need any new Apple products, you can also donate directly to (RED) on the nonprofit's website here.
Digitimes: mini-LED 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro set to launch late in the third quarter
by Benjamin Mayo, 9to5mac
Digitimes today reported that Apple is bringing on suppliers ready for the production ramp of the highly-anticipated 2021 MacBook Pro lineup. The report says new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are currently scheduled to launch late in the third quarter of 2021, which presumably means September.
The laptops will feature mini-LED panels, similar to the screen technology seen in the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Whereas traditional LCD panels use a single large backlight, mini-LED screens features thousands of independent dimming zones allowing for super high peak brightness whilst delivering contrast levels similar to OLED displays.
Apple's upcoming MacBook Pro machines are expected to be new in almost every way. The computers will feature Apple's next-generation of Apple Silicon chip. The M1 excelled at consumer performance and the upcoming chip (colloquially referred to as 'M1X') will be aimed at leading the market in prosumer/professional workloads as well.
Bloomberg previously reported that the MacBook Pro chip will feature a ten-core CPU design, and up to 32 GPU cores. The laptops will be configurable with up to 64 GB RAM. Other restrictions about the M1 architecture, such as support for only one external display and a maximum of two Thunderbolt 3 ports, are also expected to be lifted.
We also expect to see a new industrial design, with the laptop chassis sharing design cues from Apple's recent iPad, iPhone and iMac designs featuring flatter sides. The laptops are also expected to include dedicated I/O ports for HDMI and an SD card reader, as well as see the return of a MagSafe power connector.
People talk about "the cloud" all the time these days, but what do they really mean? There's no agreed-on definition, which can render some conversations nearly inscrutable. We can't pretend to have the final answer—if there will ever be such a thing—but here's how we think of "the cloud." (And now we'll stop quoting it.)
At a basic level, many people seem to equate the cloud with anything that's online or with the Internet as a whole. That's not incorrect, since everything in the cloud does take place online and is on the Internet, but it's also not helpful.
Cloud Services Replace Local Hardware and Software
It's more useful to think of the cloud as a way of referring to services made available over the Internet as a replacement for hardware or software on your Mac. These services largely fall into three broad categories: storage and backup, data syncing, and apps.
Storage and backup: To add storage directly to your Mac, you'd connect an external hard drive or SSD. Cloud-based services like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, and OneDrive all provide the same basic function—more space to store data. Of course, they also go further, providing syncing between your devices and sharing with other people. Plus, just as you probably use Time Machine to back up to an external drive, you can use Backblaze to back up to the cloud.
Data syncing: Before the cloud was a thing, syncing your contacts, calendar, and email between two Macs generally required either special software (like ChronoSync) or going through the export/import dance. Cloud-based services for such bits of data—including Apple's iCloud syncing for Calendar and Contacts and Google Calendar—make it so the same information is available on all your devices all the time. They often provide a Web-based interface as well so you can access your data from someone else's computer.
Apps: An app like TextEdit runs on your Mac, but cloud-based apps like Google Docs provide app-like functionality while running in a Web browser. These days, many things that can be done directly on a computer can be done in a Web browser: word processing, spreadsheets, image editing, video streaming, video chat, and more.
Cloud Services Rely on "Cloud Computing"
Apps on your Mac use its processor and memory. You might also have used a network server; you use the apps on the server over the network, but they're running on that particular server. In contrast, cloud services run on massive clusters of computer resources spread across many computers and even multiple data centers. When you're typing into Google Docs, the processing resources that make that possible don't come from a single computer dedicated to you—they're provided to you and millions of others simultaneously by Google's worldwide computer clusters.
Pros of the Cloud
There's a lot to like about the cloud and what it makes possible:
It's accessible from nearly anywhere: As long as you have a high-speed Internet connection, you can access cloud-based services from anywhere in the world. And while not everywhere in the world has high-speed Internet access, it's becoming more widely available all the time. Heck, you can now use the Internet on many commercial airplanes.
It's somebody else's problem: That's not entirely true, of course, but using a cloud-based service means the staff of the data center deals with failing computers or hard drives, network problems, and other maintenance. You just need a functional computer and Internet connection.
It's easy to switch devices and even platforms: Moving to a new iPhone or iPad is nearly trivial these days, thanks to being able to restore from an automatically created iCloud backup. And if you use Gmail, for instance, it would work just the same if you wanted to switch from an Android phone to an iPhone.
It's more flexible: If you decide to try a cloud service, it's usually just a matter of setting up an account or signing in with an existing one. There's no need to download and install software, or to clean up after the installer. Plus, if you need more storage space or additional features, it's usually just a matter of upgrading an account and paying more—you don't have to buy another hard drive or a whole new app.
Costs are lower and more predictable: Many cloud services are entirely free, like Gmail and Google Docs, whereas others rely on monthly or annual subscriptions. Generally speaking, such subscriptions cost less than buying equivalent desktop software and all their upgrades. Whether or not a cloud app is cheaper, it's a predictable expense you can build into a budget.
Cons of the Cloud
Of course, not everything about the cloud falls into the silver lining category. Some problems include:
You can't control when apps are upgraded: With desktop software, you can pick and choose when to upgrade, at least to some extent. Cloud apps, on the other hand, are upgraded whenever the developer wants, sometimes at inconvenient times or in major ways that might be hard for you to use. On the other side of the equation, you don't have to spend time downloading and installing upgrades, or even thinking about whether to install them.
You have limited control over your data: Although well-run cloud services are significantly less vulnerable to failure, damage, or theft than your Mac is, there's no avoiding the fact that you can't do much to prevent such problems. Backing up cloud-based data can be challenging, as can exporting it for use elsewhere.
Subscriptions can add up: Any one cloud service may be reasonably priced, but if you end up with 10-15 subscriptions, the total annual cost may seem exorbitant. To be fair, major software packages used to cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and we all use many more apps and services than we did in the past.
Security is a concern: While cloud providers may do a better job than you could of guaranteeing uptime and even backing up data, the fact remains that everything on the cloud is protected by passwords. If you reuse passwords or rely on weak ones, you could be in for a world of hurt. That's why we always bang the drum for relying on a password manager for strong, unique passwords and turning on two-factor authentication whenever possible.
Privacy can be a problem: Many free and ad-supported cloud services—most notably Facebook and Google—make their money by collecting data about you and using it to sell advertisers access to you. One reason to pay for a cloud service is that then you're the customer, and as the saying goes, if you're not the customer, you're the product.
We're not here to sell you on the cloud in general or scare you away from using it. In today's world, there's almost no way to avoid it, nor should you try to do so. Hopefully, now that you have a better idea of what the cloud really is, you can make more informed decisions about which cloud services can improve your technological life and which ones won't.
The M1 chip and beyond: The present and future of Apple silicon on the Mac
by macworld staff
Macs have undergone a big change since last June. Announced at WWDC 2020, Apple is switching its internal architecture from one that uses Intel CPUs, third-party graphics processors, and other parts, to the company's own "system on a chip." The first Apple silicon SoC for Macs is called the M1.
It's a big step for Apple and the Mac. But what does it mean for you? In this article, we cover frequently asked questions about Apple's system on a chip, what it means to the user, how it affects what software you can use, and how fast it really is. We will regularly update this article with news, reviews, testing, and releases, so continue to check back.
Update 6/23: Added the latest rumors, news, and reviews pertaining to Apple's M1 chip and the Apple silicon transition.
The M1 chip: Reviews
We've tested and reviewed all of the M1 Macs and are very impressed with the results. Here are our reviews:
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Poll: Do you think Apple should remove the Touch Bar from the MacBook Pro?
by Jose Adorno, 9to5mac
Apple's controversial Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro is reportedly in its final days, according to some recent rumors. What do you think about the OLED bar on the Macs?
Introduced with the redesigned MacBook Pro in 2016, the Touch Bar was one of several very controversial Apple decisions on its MacBook line. For example, Apple removed all the ports, leaving only USB-C and Thunderbolt ones available, introduced a flawed butterfly keyboard, and removed all the Function keys and the ESC button for this OLED panel.
As for 2020, when Apple introduced its first silicon on the Mac, the M1, the company has already been reversing some of its controversial decisions. For example, a year before, in 2019, with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the company already brought back the scissor keyboard and the ESC button as well.
At the same time, Apple has always sold a more underpowered MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar. With the 2020 introduction of the M1 MacBook Pro, however, the company never gave an option of a MacBook Pro without this OLED panel.
When it was introduced, the Touch Bar was meant to be useful for the user's everyday tasks. From cutting a video while editing it to use typing prediction, adjusting brightness settings, etc. The problem is that this feature is seen more as a gimmick than a revolutionary feature that only Apple could do.
A few years back, my colleague Ben Lovejoy wrote about his experience with the Touch Bar, and it was basically irrelevant for his usage:
Number one, some 80-90% of my usage of the machine is sat at my desk, using a separate monitor, trackpad and … keyboard. So the built-in keyboard with its fancy tech is over there to my left.
(…) That brings me to the second thing: there are times when it is actively counterproductive. There are a number of ways it can slow me down. For example, if I want to use the music controls, and the Touch Bar isn't expanded, it's two touches in two places rather than one keypress. Or if the bar is expanded and I instead want to mute the machine, it's again two touches in two places.
Then there are the mistakes. I can't count the number of times I've reached for the backspace key and either hit the Siri button instead, or caught it with the edge of my finger so I get both the backspace and Siri popping up. I then have to touch it again to close the window.
Taylor Hall, meanwhile, believes it's problematic for Apple to just kill the Touch Bar since it was a major investment, even though he sees no point in this feature:
"Even a Touch Bar that saw regular enhancements with macOS updates and MacBook Pro upgrades would not be preferred by all Mac users. A build-to-order version without it would satisfy Mac users who truly prefer function keys.
When Touch Bar debuted, I compared the utility of it to physical function keys — most of which I never use — and Touch Bar still wins for me. Today, I'm an M1 MacBook Air user because I rank the lack of a fan over the inclusion of the Touch Bar (…) My issue with it in 2021 isn't that it's no longer better than a static row of function keys. It's that Apple shipped the Touch Bar then never touched it again."
Wrapping up with the latest rumors, not only reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg reported the company would kill the Touch Bar, some analysts indicated yesterday that Apple will "cancel" it with a future MacBook Pro:
Touch Bars continue to be the #3 application with a 18% unit share and 1.2% revenue share in Q1'21. We expect it to be exceeded by tablets when Apple starts the adoption of the 10.9" AMOLED iPad. Further, our sources suggest that Apple may cancel the Touch Bar in the future.
What about you? How do you feel about the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro? Should Apple cancel it or continue to bring it as an option for Pro users? Vote in the poll and tell us in the comments section below.
Do you think Apple should kill the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro?
Experts warn of drive failures impacting users of Apple's AirPort Time Capsules
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
Experts are warning of a potential flaw that could affect Mac users who still rely on Apple Time Capsules for backup. Even though Apple discontinued the Time Capsule in 2018, the product is still in use by many Mac users, and a flaw in the Seagate drive inside could put data at risk.
The news was first reported by the German data recovery company Datenrettung Berlin (via Golem). In the Time Capsules, Apple used Seagate Grenada hard drives. These drives are now suffering from an apparent design flaw that is leading to abnormally high failure rates, according to Datenrettung:
We must assume that this is an error in the design1 of the Seagate Grenada hard drive installed in the Time Capsule (ST3000DM001 / ST2000DM001 2014-2018). The parking ramp of this hard drive consists of two different materials. Sooner or later, the parking ramp will break on this hard drive model, installed in a rather poorly ventilated Time Capsule.
The damage to the parking ramp then causes the write/read unit to be destroyed and severely deformed the next time the read/write unit is parked. When the Time Capsule is now turned on again or wakes up from hibernation, the data disks of the Seagate hard drive are destroyed because the deformed read-write unit drags onto it.
Datenrettung says that this failure in the Seagate drive design is the cause behind nearly every Time Capsule failure it has seen. It says that while data recovery is sometimes possible, it requires "very high effort," and in some cases, the data is not fully recoverable.
Datenrettung recommends that users with a Time Capsule with 2TB or 3TB of storage look for an alternative backup solution. The folks at iFixit have a detailed guide on how you can swap the hard drive in an AirPort Time Capsule for something more reliable.
iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro: Which should you buy in 2021?
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
On the surface, the iPhone 12 vs iPhone 12 Pro are very similar phones. They both feature 6.1-inch OLED displays with flat-edge designs and Apple's A14 Bionic processor inside, but look a little closer, and there are several notable differences worth exploring.
If you're shopping for a new iPhone 12 in 2021, here's everything you need to know about the iPhone 12 vs iPhone 12 Pro. Plus, should you wait for the iPhone 13?
In this comparison, we focus specifically on the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro. While the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 are largely the same phones, there are some key differences in terms of display size and resolution. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max also share many of the same features, but there are notable differences in display size and camera technology.
11-inch iPad Pro vs 12.9-inch iPad Pro: Is the XDR display worth the expense?
by macworld
Since the iPad Pro debuted in 2015, Apple has offered two sizes of its high-end tablet. One is about the size of a regular iPad or iPad Air (first 10.5 inches and now 11 inches), and one a giant 12.9-inch version, a size you can only get in the iPad Pro.
The two sizes have traditionally been essentially the same, with the larger version costing $200 extra for more screen. The choice was simple: Pay more for If you want a bigger display. But the new M1-powered iPad Pro is a different animal. For one, the price gap has stretched to $300, but that's because the 12.9-inch model has a really significant difference—a new HDR display with mini-LED backlights. Here's how the two Pros stack up and whether it's worth it to spend so much money on the flagship iPad.
Apple Music's Zane Lowe explains how Spatial Audio will transform music
by Zane Lowe, apple
With Spatial Audio launching on Apple Music today, Zane Lowe, the streaming service's co-head of Artist Relations and radio host, explains what the new technology will mean for fans and artists
First there was mono, then stereo, and now there's Spatial Audio. Spatial is an immersive experience with sound moving around you in different directions. We have only had that kind of experience before in cinema. Have you ever wondered how that would work with music? I have.
I first got the opportunity to listen to Spatial Audio on AirPods; I was confused at first. "Does this really work on AirPods? When do I get my car and go to some kind of listening room with special speakers?" And they were like, "No, no — just press play."
Among the first songs I listened to were Lady Gaga's "Rain on Me" and Kanye West's "Black Skinhead." It was hard to put into words because I've spent my whole life in a two-channel environment; I was born into stereo. It dawned on me that there are a lot of artists in the past and present who would have loved to be able to lean in with this kind of technology — to make their songs come to life, make them bigger, and just take them to levels no one had even thought of yet. But they only had two stereo channels to play with. Now they can go beyond that. So, to be able to hear parts of these songs coming from behind and around me? I was like, "I'm all in. I get it." TV got HD — now music gets Spatial.
What I immediately thought was, "How are artists going to use this? How is Lil Baby going to use this? How are Olivia Rodrigo or Peggy Gou going to use this? How is Frank Ocean going to use this? Are they going to start creating music with the idea of a three-dimensional environment, as opposed to this two-channel environment?"
I'm fascinated to know how I might be emotionally moved by my favorite songs in a different way with Spatial Audio. Because it's all going through my ears and triggering something, right? That's what dawned on me when I was listening to these songs in Spatial: I was listening to these songs that I knew really well, but I was feeling something different. So, it's not even just about the way it's going to end up sounding, it's very much how songs are going to feel.
Roundup: Expand your Apple Health data with these smart blood pressure monitors
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
Over the years, Apple has vastly expanded the Health app on iPhone with ways to track weight, fitness, and much more. Earlier this year, we broke down the best smart scales for syncing weight with iPhone. Another measurement that can integrate with Apple's Health app is blood pressure. Here are some of the current options on the market for syncing blood pressure with the Health app on your iPhone.
How it works
HealthKit is a framework offered by Apple that allows third-party developers to integrate data into the Health app. For example, calorie tracking apps can share data to the Health app for nutrition tracking, smart scales can sync data to the Health app for monitoring your weight, and more.
The goal of the Apple Health app is to be a one-stop shop for all of your health-related data, including putting Apple Watch data alongside data from third-party apps, your healthcare provider, and more. This makes it easy to view trends over time, improvements, and more for all of your health data.
Withings
Knowing that high blood pressure runs in my family, I knew that it was something I needed to start monitoring. And knowing myself, I knew I needed something that was as frictionless as possible, where data would be recorded automatically with a minimal amount of futzing. For this reason, the Withings BPM Connect has become my go-to.
The Withings BPM Connect is available on Amazon for $99 and features integration with the Withings Health Mate application and with Apple Health. It syncs data to your iPhone via WiFi or Bluetooth and is rock solid in terms of reliability, and I've been using it for a long time. It recharges via microUSB and lasts up to six months on a single charge.
Withings says that the BPM Connect is FDA-cleared and compliant with European medical device standards. I've found it to be accurate, reliable, and intuitive in all of my testing. It can also support multiple users with the Health Mate application for whole-family use.
Live in the Future by Using Apple Pay on Your Apple Watch
by Lewis Wallace, cultofmac
With mask wearing over the past year rendering Face ID ineffective at cash registers, we've become fond of using the Apple Watch for contactless payments with Apple Pay. We recommend it highly since it's so fast and convenient. Once you've set up a credit card in the Wallet app on your iPhone, switch to the Watch app, go to My Watch > Wallet & Apple Pay, and tap the Add button next to the desired card. From then on, to pay for a purchase, double-click the Apple Watch's side button and put it very close to the reader. (We generally turn our arms so we can put the Apple Watch face flat on the reader.) It takes just seconds and tends to wow cashiers who haven't seen it before.
Apple Watch Series 7: Better battery life could be the best feature of all
by Macworld staff
The next Apple Watch could be a massive change.
It's been six years since the first Apple Watch hit the market, and the device has seen some important changes in its time with cellular, larger displays, and more powerful sensors. Lately, however, it seems as if we've hit the part in a product's life where the upgrades are incremental, but that could change this year with the Series 7. This article keeps track of the most creditable reports of the upcoming Apple Watch, so keep coming back for the latest news.
Apple Watch Series 7: The latest rumors
Building on a report of a new S7 chip design, the Economic Daily News reports that Apple is freeing up space inside the Apple Watch to add a larger-capacity battery.
According to a DigiTimes report, Apple is expected to use a new double-sized packaging technique for the S7 SiP (system-in-package) to help further reduce its size. The packaging process will apparently be supplied by ASE Technology, which outlines its process and its benefits here. The reduced size could make way for a larger battery or other components or simply used to make the Apple Watch Series 7 smaller or thinner.
Apple Watch Series 7: Design and colors
Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech reported that the Apple Watch Series 7 could feature a new design, one that has flat edges like the iPhone 12 and iPad Pro. Prosser created renders of the watch based on the information he has seen. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said back in November 2020 that the Series 7 watch will feature an "improved form factor," while Mark Gurman recently reported that the Apple Watch could have thinner bezels and a slightly thicker case.
Prosser also said that Apple is experimenting with colors and the Series 7 may come in a variety of colors, like the 24-inch iMac. It's not clear if the current blue and red colors would be sticking around.
Apple Watch Series 7: Display
The Apple Watch Series 7 will likely have a different display. According to Gurman, Apple "has tested thinner display borders and a new lamination technique that brings the display closer to the front cover," which could mean a slightly larger display. Apple last increased the display from 38mm and 42mm to 40mm and 44mm with the Series 4. It's possible that Apple could increase the screen size gain by trimming the bezels further and adding a millimeter or two.
Apple Watch Series 7: Health and fitness features
A recent report by The Telegraph said that Apple is a customer of a company that specializes in next-gen health sensors, fueling speculation that the next Apple Watch will have blood pressure, glucose and alcohol level monitoring. However, Bloomberg reported that while Apple is working on such functionality, it won't be ready for the Series 7 and made not be ready "for several more years."
Also on the backburner is a body temperature sensor. According to Bloomberg, Apple wanted to put this feature into the Series 7 watch but has decided to push it back until at least 2022. Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that the Series 7 watch could have new swim-tracking features, but details of these features were not provided. The Apple Watch already measures distance, laps, and splits, but Apple could implement stroke detection and other higher-end tracking features.
Apple Watch Series 7: Extreme athletes
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported that Apple could release an Apple Watch with a "rugged casing," which could appeal to users who participate in extreme events and sports. Such a watch could have an exterior that's more scratch- and impact-resistant to better compete with Casio and Luminox rugged watches. Gurman initially said that Apple could decide to cancel or delay the plans for the rugged watch and more recently reported that plans were likely pushed to 2022.
Apple Watch Series 7: Processor and specs
Reports of the processor in the Series 7 watch have not come up, but based on the S6 system in package in the current Apple Watch Series 6, we can expect to find an S7 in the next watch. The S6 in the Series 6 is up to 20 percent faster than the S5 SiP, so similar gains are likely for the S7. It's also possible that greater efficiency brings better battery life.
Bloomberg also reported that the Series 7 watch could bring updated ultra-wideband functionality. Apple first introduced the ultra-wide band U1 chip with the Apple Watch Series 6 and since has expanded the tech's usefulness with AirTag trackers, and digital keys in Wallet. It's not clear how Apple would upgrade the tech in the Apple Watch Series 7, but it will likely mean a U2 chip.
A DigiTimes report claims that Apple will use a new double-sided chip packaging process to further shrink the size of the S7 chip, which could allow room for more battery or other components, or to shrink the overall thickness of the watch. A follow-up report from the Economic Daily news out of China suggests that Apple is freeing up space to make room for a larger capacity battery. The Apple Watch has historically had a battery around 300mAh, so a boost to 350mAh or 400mAh could dramatically extend the duration.
Apple Watch Series 7: Bands
Apple has supported all previous bands with each model of the Apple Watch, but a new design could mean that newer bands aren't backward compatible. Of note, the Solo Loop bands aren't compatible with any model before the Apple Watch Series 4, when Apple introduced the larger display models.
Apple Watch Series 7: watchOS 8
Apple announced watchOS 8 at WWDC, which has several new features, including digital keys, a new Mindfulness app, and a Portraits face. All of these features will be available on the Apple Watch Series 7 as well as any new features that are specific to the new device.
In addition everyone in my household owns an iPhone, iPad or both. We are pretty diligent about keeping all of the devices synchronized with each other. All, except for some reason, the kitchen.
I guess you could say, everything but the kitchen's synch'd.
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My friend told me that paper is useless since he carries an ipad
When he asked for toilet paper i gave him his iPad.
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Apparently 30 percent of under-6's in the U.S know how to use an iPad.
Whereas 100 percent of under-6's in China know how to make one.
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Why the new Apple Pencil isn't included with the new iPad Pro.
There is no point.
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There has been some controversy regarding priests delivering sermons using an iPad instead of the traditional bible.
I think its perfectly fine. After all, Moses delivered the ten commandments using two tablets.
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I'd rather have a laptop than an iPad.
At least you can slam it shut when your lady walks in.
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We had a outage at my place this morning and my PC, laptop,TV, DVD, iPad & my new surround sound music system were all shut down.
Then I discovered that my iPhone battery was flat and to top it off it was raining outside, so I couldn't play golf.
I went into the kitchen to make coffee and then I remembered that this also needs power, so I talked with my wife for a few hours.
She seems like a nice person.
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Malware Examples
by Ron Sharp and Robert Elphick *
Someone pretending to be with Microsoft
Delete the email, do not call the number.
Malware! DO NOT CLICK!
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.
You can increase the size of your Desktop and Finder window text if you find it difficult to read. Here's how: We'll start with the Finder window text so open the Finder window by clicking the finder icon in the Dock. It's the first one that looks like the Mac smiling face.
Then click on "View" in the menu bar on the top of your screen. Select "Show View Options." A small window will open and you'll see where it says "Text Size." Click on the number and you'll see you can set it from font size 10 to 16.
Now with that window still open, click anywhere on the Desktop rather than the Finder window. Now you can change the font size of text on the Desktop. You also see options for changing the size of the Desktop icons and for sorting the desktop items by name or kind or date opened or date created as well as snapping the icons to a grid or leaving them where you put them.
So much fun!
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.
