Happy New Year, everyone! And aren't we glad that 2021 is finally in the rear view mirror! For all of us Macintosh appreciators in Island Country, among the few good things that occurred last year was our ability to use great technology to stay in touch and up-to-date.
We managed to have monthly meetings via Zoom from January through November, and thanks to our experts Robert, Ron and Gary we enjoyed some really great presentations. (Remember you can review them all on our MAGIC web site.)
It's too early to know how well 2022 will treat us. Covid and all its variants are still lurking everywhere and keeping us from resuming in-person meetings, at least through the first several months of this year. Let's cross our fingers and hope things look much better by summer. And, in the meantime, we'll continue to use Zoom and see each on our Mac or phone screens!
On Jan. 19, we'll gather at 4 p.m. for a presentation by Robert on iMovie techniques for all of us amateur cinephiles. Be sure to RSVP to Ron Sharp so we can send you the Zoom link.
Then on Feb. 16, Ron will give us a presentation on filing and identifying photos. Now that's something I really need help with! And on March 16, Gary will give us a presentation on how to understand preferences.
So, dear MAGIC friends, let's gather together virtually until we can once again gather physically. Either way, it's a pleasure to be in your company.
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.
iOS 15.2 includes critical FaceTime, Password Manager security fixes
by Jason Cross, Macworld
It's common for Apple to start beta-testing a new version of iOS just a day or two after the previous version is released. And sure enough, iOS 15.2 began its beta test period just a day after iOS 15.1 was released on October 25. Apple has released the final candidate for iOS 15.2 meaning the release is likely days away. Here's everything that's new.
Update 12/13/21: Apple has released iOS 15.2, along with iPadOS 15.2, watchOS 8.3, and tvOS 15.2.
Security updates in iOS 15.2
iOS 15.2 is loaded with more than three dozen security updates, including a few critical bugs to FaceTime, Kernel, and Password Manager:
FaceTime
Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation)
Impact: A user in a FaceTime call may unexpectedly leak sensitive user information through Live Photos metadata
Description: This issue was addressed with improved handling of file metadata.
CVE-2021-30992: Aaron Raimist
Password Manager
Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation)
Impact: A person with physical access to an iOS device may be able to access stored passwords without authentication
Description: An inconsistent user interface issue was addressed with improved state management.
CVE-2021-30948: Patrick Glogner
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation)
Impact: A malicious application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management.
How to use iCloud Keychain, Apple's built-in and free password manager
by Wesley Hilliard, appleinsider
Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac all have a free password manager made by Apple called iCloud Keychain. Here's how to use it, set up two-factor authentication, and never have to remember a password again.
Apple has stepped up its game in password management thanks to new features in iOS 15, macOS Monterey, and its other 2021 software releases. Previously, iCloud Keychain was a background password manager that popped up from time to time, usually to the user's confusion, to offer a strong password or autofill something. Now, it scans for password breaches, warns of repeated passwords, and offers two-factor authentication (2FA) keys in a dedicated Settings window.
Many iPhone and Mac users turn to third-party password tools without realizing Apple's is fully featured and may even be more secure than some of the market's popular options. Here's how to get iCloud Keychain up and running on your devices and how to keep your passwords up to date.
The magical feature you need to turn on if you use an iPhone and Mac
by Jason Cross, macworldC
One of the most useful features of the Apple ecosystem is something Apple calls Universal Clipboard, and yet many iPhone and Mac users don't seem to know it exists, mostly because Apple doesn't really advertise it.
The way it works is simple: When you copy something on your iPhone (text, an image, a link, whatever), you can select Paste on your nearby Mac and the contents will appear over just as if you were doing a copy/paste on the same machine. The same goes in reverse, from your Mac to your iPhone or iPad. Once you get used to Universal Clipboard, it quickly becomes one of your best productivity tools.
But it requires a little setup, and it can be hard to find because it's a feature of a broader technology called Handoff that allows you to resume working in supported apps between iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Here's how to enable it.
On your iPhone or iPad
To enable Universal Clipboard, you just have to turn on Handoff. To do that on your iPhone or iPad:
Open Settings
Tap on General
Tap AirPlay & Handoff
Enable Handoff
With this turned on, Handoff features will work with any other Mac or iPad logged in to the same Apple ID, as long as it's nearby (typically within a few feet).
On your Mac
Once Handoff is enabled on your iPhone or iPad, you'll have to enable it on your Mac, too.
Open System Preferences
Open General
Enable the checkbox next to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices
With Handoff enabled, you'll get Univesal Clipboard as well as seeing new icons in your Dock for apps like Safari, Mail, Maps, Calendar, and others when you have them open on your iPhone or iPad. Clicking on one of those icons will open that app to the same place or page as it is on your iPhone/iPad.
Supported Devices
Different Handoff features have different system requirements, which Apple lists here. But Universal Clipboard in particular is one of the best-supported features. All you need is:
Any iPhone 5 or later or or iPad 4th generation or later, running iOS/iPadOS 10 or later.
Any Mac from 2012 or later running macOS Sierra (10.12) or later.
In other words, almost any hardware from the last eight years, with software from the last five, will work.
It can be a little finicky at times. If you find it stops working, just go back to Settings and System Preferences, turn Handoff off (on both your iPhone/iPad and Mac), wait a few seconds, then turn them back on. That usually clears up any problems.
If you lock a file in Notes, don't lose your password
by Glenn Fleishman, macworld
The Notes app, particularly paired with iCloud syncing, provides an easy way to jot down shopping lists, share information with other people, and record your private thoughts. But because some people might feel a little exposed by that, Apple lets you set a password for Notes on your devices and selectively lock notes for which you want extra protection. This password syncs across iCloud if you use have Notes enabled in iCloud settings on your devices.
But set that password carefully! The password is not stored in iCloud Keychain, nor can it be retrieved from anywhere else. If you can't remember and haven't stored it manually in a password manager, the notes locked with it are unrecoverable forever. Apple can't unlock them.
That's a bit of a scary thought because locking items with a password in Notes works differently than nearly all other password entries across the entire Apple ecosystem.
Create and use a locking password
You can create a password for locked notes on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac:
In iOS or iPadOS, go to Settings > Notes > Password; if multiple accounts appear, select the one for which you want to set a password. Enter a password. If either is available, you can opt to enable Face ID or Touch ID; it's not required.
In macOS, go to Notes > Preferences and click Enter Password. You can choose to enable Touch ID to unlock notes on Macs with built-in Touch ID or M1-series Macs with a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.
Set a password for locked notes—but beware! You need to make a record of it.
In all of those operating systems, you can set a hint. This may be vitally important if you ever reset the password, as explained below in the reset section.
With a password set up, you can now choose to lock individual notes. Setting a password has no automatic effect. Here's how to lock a note:
In iOS or iPadOS, press and hold a note entry and tap Lock Note; within a note, click the More (…) button in the upper-right corner and tap the Lock icon. (Remove the lock later by tapping Remove Lock in either location.)
In macOS, right-click an item in the Notes list and choose Lock Note or, with a note selected, click the lock icon in the toolbar and choose Lock Note. (Remove the lock later by choosing Remove Lock in either location.)
I found in testing that behavior is a little erratic, particularly in syncing notes and their locked status. Synced notes often don't have their locked status updated immediately. And enabling biometrics on one device when the password was initially set on another doesn't seem to work correctly. For instance, I enabled Touch ID on my Mac with the Notes password, locked some notes, and then enabled Face ID for Notes on my iPhone. However, I continued to have to type in the password on my iPhone. At some point—and I don't know what triggered it—Notes in iOS put up a prompt asking if I wanted to enable Face ID for Notes. I already had! Nevertheless, I agreed, and then Face ID unlocked notes from that point on whether they were locked on my Mac or iPhone.
Immutable password that can be reset
Enabling Face ID doesn't always immediately let you unlock notes locked on your Mac!
Enabling Face ID doesn't always immediately let you unlock notes locked on your Mac!
Once created, you can never disable the password for Notes. Instead, you can reset it in the same place in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that you turned it on, as above. If iCloud sync for Notes is enabled, you're prompted for your Apple ID password to proceed.
Resetting the password encrypts all notes from that point on using the new password. If you unlock notes that were locked before you reset the password, you will either:
Be prompted to enter the old password with Touch ID and Face ID aren't enabled for unlocking notes. If you have reset your Notes password multiple times, you may be unsure which password applies to a given note. Enter a password incorrectly twice and Notes displays the hint you set—if you set one.
Use Touch ID or Face ID, if they were enabled at the time the password was set for that note.
If you forgot your Notes password without enabling Face ID or Touch ID or never enabled either of those, there's no way to recover it.
With Face ID or Touch ID enabled for a given password, you can unlock those notes without knowing the associated password as long as you can enable those biometric methods of unlocking your phone.
However, should you ever be unable to use Face ID or Touch ID and you couldn't remember the associated Notes password or passwords, you would be unable to unlock those encrypted notes ever.
This all seems a bit more complicated than it should be. Apple passes your most secure passwords and codes through iCloud Keychain without relying on such a fragile system. Thus, if you must lock individual notes, use a password manager to store the password you pick, including adding an entry by hand to Settings > Passwords (iOS/iPadOS); Safari > Preferences > Passwords (macOS), or the Password preference pane (Monterey)
Got a new M1 Mac this holiday season? If this is the first Mac you've ever owned, a hearty congratulations! Your new Mac is easy to use and more powerful than it's ever been. As easy as the Mac is, doing some things may not be instantly obvious, and you owe it to yourself to make sure you're getting the most out of your new investment.
Here are 10 things that you can do right away that will help you get started down the path towards being a Mac power user. Most of these will cost you absolutely nothing except a bit of time to set up.
If you've recently become a first-time iPad owner, or you have a family member who just got one, here are the essential things you need to know to get started with Apple's much-loved tablet.
The holidays are a prime time for tablet acquisition, with it often being gifted or becoming the main use of monetary gifts from relatives. If you're lucky enough to get one, congratulations!
There is also the chance that it's someone else in your family that's now an iPad or iPad Pro owner, and that you've suddenly become family tech support. In that case, you need to brace yourself for what you're going to be asked.
From the outset, Apple has made the experience of becoming an iPad user relatively easy, from initial setup to day-to-day usage.
50+ iPad multitasking tips for iPadOS 15 - do you know them all? [Video]
by By Jeff Benjamin, 9to5mac
In this hands-on tutorial, we showcase some of the basics of iPad multitasking and also discuss some of the more advanced iPad multitasking tips and tricks to get the most out of your device. Whether you just received a new iPad or you're a longtime iPadOS user, it's likely that you'll learn something. Be sure to watch the full video for an in-depth look at how to master multitasking on iPadOS.
Going from getting your iPhone out of its box to having it fully set up and usable is not hard — but it is surprisingly involved. Here's what to do.
Interestingly, there are enough steps in setting up an iPhone that if you've ever had one before - or certain other Apple devices - Apple tries to help you skip as many of the steps as it can. But these steps are all important, and they do all matter.
And they do all directly improve how well the new iPhone works for you.
How to stop AirPods automatically switching between devices
by Jason Cross, macworld
Having your AirPods, or AirPods Pro switch from your iPhone to your Mac as you sit down at your desk is a brilliant idea, and really frustrating in practice. Here's how to stop it.
Sometimes it does seem as if Apple staff live in a slightly different world to the rest of us. It's definitely a world where the Wi-Fi is always on and always working at the speed of light, but now it's also a world with perfect Bluetooth.
Introduced with iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur, AirPods and can tell over Bluetooth what devices are nearby. And they will switch to the one you want to listen to.
It is a marvellous idea and truly exemplifies all that isAirPods Pro great about Apple's determination to make everything work. Unfortunately in practice, it's really about all that is far from great with this idea.
So yes, if you are listening to music on your iPhone when you walk up to your Mac, your AirPods can automatically switch. It doesn't seem to have occurred to Apple that you were enjoying that track and nothing is playing on the Mac.
And if we are being unfair, if we are sounding frustrated, we're now — this moment — also a little embarrassed. For our iPhone rang, the AirPods switched over to it and we took the call without even realising what we were doing.
So, okay, it's a good feature, but it uses Bluetooth and that is equal parts technology and alchemy. Consequently, we've equally had situations where we've not been able to use AirPods for a Zoom call on our Macs because something kept making it switch to the iPhone.
Most of us switched this off some time ago. To go back to switching devices entirely manually, you need to do this on all your devices.
10 incredibly useful iPhone tips hand-picked by Apple
by Michael Simon, macworld
To help get the most out of their devices, Apple has posted a video spotlighting 10 helpful iPhone tricks that might not be obvious. Even if you're not a novice, you might find a couple here that are new. We've explained each one below, but watch the whole video for a complete description of each tip.
In case you haven't heard, there's a new iPhone coming at Apple's "California Streaming" event and that means two things: You want one and you need to sell your old one. If you buy your iPhone outright every year or two, you can usually recoup a good amount of the new cost by selling your old model every time you upgrade to a new one. Even if you're in the iPhone Upgrade Program, you might have an older iPhone languishing in a drawer somewhere unused. Here's what you need to know about selling or trading in your old iPhone for top dollar.
How to get Apple TV's stunning new screen savers on your Mac
by Killian Bell, cultofmac
Apple's new tvOS 15.2 update adds a bunch of stunning screen savers to Apple TV, including three from Scotland's picturesque Isle of Skye and Loch Moidart, and another six from Iceland. And you can enjoy them all on Mac.
Thanks to a simple app built by developer John Coates, all tvOS wallpapers can be installed on macOS. We'll show you how.
Get Apple TV's new Aerial screen savers on Mac
Coates' open-source Aerial app, which is maintained by Guillaume Louel, is a free download for macOS 10.12 and later. It offers a number of handy features, like the ability to show the date and weather forecast on your screen saver.
Aerial also brings all of Apple TV's screen savers to your desktop, including its aerial shots of cities like New York and San Francisco, its earth videos from the International Space Station, and its gorgeous underwater expeditions.
The screen savers are periodically pulled directly from Apple's servers, so an Aerial update isn't required to enjoy Apple TV's newest additions. And unlike tvOS, Aerial on Mac lets you choose the screen saver you want to see.
Once the package is downloaded, open it and drag the Aerial Companion app to your Applications folder.
Open Aerial Companion from the Applications folder, then follow the steps onscreen to complete the installation.
Open System Preferences.
Select Desktop & Screen Saver.
Select the Screen Saver tab, then choose Aerial.
Click Screen Saver Options… then choose the screen saver you want to see.
Once you get to step seven, there are other customization options you can play with, like adding overlays to display messages, the time, the date, the weather, or a timer. You can also add filters, specify display brightness, and more.
In addition to all of Apple TV's wallpapers, Aerial also features Community Videos — a collection of 20 screen savers that are offered free of charge. However, if you like Aerial and want to support it, you can make a donation.
What's the most ambitious watch band Apple ever made?
by David Snow, cultofmac
One of the many things that set an Apple Watch apart from traditional watches is the massive selection of inexpensive straps. Cupertino made installing Apple Watch bands so easy that you can change up your look on a dime — and for almost that little money.
While seemingly millions of options exist for a mere $10 or so, Apple makes some of the best bands in the business. They cost a little more than most, but they may be worth it.
And one band, in particular, stands as the "most ambitious" watch band Apple ever made, according to Evans Hankey, Apple's VP of industrial design.
What makes Apple Watch bands more than what they seem?
As Apple's chief designer, Hankey succeeded the influential Jony Ive, in June 2019 (along with Alan Dye, the company's VP of human interface design on the software side). She's the first woman in the role. At the time of her promotion to VP of Industrial Design, she'd been with the design team for two years.
Hankey and Stand Ng, Apple's VP of product marketing, spoke about what makes Apple Watch's range of bands "more than what they seem at first sight" with HypeBeast on Friday. The interview sheds some light on the magic of Apple design.
"Our goal has always been to create something that is beautiful, comfortable, and functional, and both pays homage to the rich history of watchmaking but also reflects the distinct individuality of the wearer," Hankey said. "For us, the band is not at all about technology — each band expresses our love for materials, craft, and the process of making."
What's the most ambitious watch band Apple has ever made?
Evans referred to several Apple Watch bands in the interview, but singled out one in particular for being "the most ambitious" band the Cupertino tech giant's design team ever created.
"The Clover Solo Loop is without a doubt the most simple and most ambitious watch band we have made. For possibly the first time in the history of watchmaking, we have eliminated all buckles, clasps, and the excess material necessary for size adjustment."
She referred to the "Clover Solo Loop," but we figure she's not really specifying the dark green one as the be-all, end-all band, above and beyond the six other colors of the Solo Loop. In addition to the choice of seven colors, the $49 liquid silicone loop comes in nine sizes for a super-custom fit.
And it does, indeed, have no parts. It's just soft and durable coated rubber that fits like a glove.
"We have found that Solo Loop is the most comfortable band we've made," Hankey said.
Here's Apple description of the Solo Loop:
Made from liquid silicone rubber, the Solo Loop features a unique, stretchable design with no clasps, buckles, or overlapping parts, so it's ultracomfortable to wear and easy to slip on and off your wrist. Each band is specially treated with UV to give the band a silky, smooth finish. It's also swimproof and sweatproof, so it can go just about anywhere you want to wear it.
An interesting alternative
And if you don't care for silicone, you can get the Braided Solo Loop, which Hankey said is similar to the Solo Loop but made of soft polyester.
"The Braided Solo Loop shares the same fundamental architecture, but this one is created by braiding 16,000 recycled polyester yarn filaments around thin silicone threads," she said.
So there you have it. The most ambitious watch band Apple ever made is the Solo Loop — in dark green ("clover") or six other colors.
With The Tragedy of Macbeth, something wickedly inventive this way comes [Apple TV+ review]
by Scout Tafoya, cultofmac
The Tragedy of Macbeth is probably the most experimental thing to stream on Apple TV+ so far.
On its face, the film doesn't seem all that odd. It's an adaptation of one of Shakespeare's most well-regarded and most frequently performed plays, starring the biggest male lead on earth. It's directed by a multiple-Oscar-winner and features his similarly lauded (and extremely popular and talented) wife in a lead role.
So, while Apple TV+'s most exciting feature film since Wolfwalkers might not sound like much of an experiment, the devil's in the details. This adaptation is both expected and unexpected — in frequently thrilling ways.
This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought her cat understood her.
I came into my house and told Siri. We laughed!
Malware Examples
by Ron Sharp and Robert Elphick *
Here is one to a client (MAGIC) who do not have a Google account. Very Suspicious! 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.
If you're thinking about buying a new iPhone, and who isn't, then here is some information about the cameras that you should consider. These considerations will help you decide on what iPhone to buy. The last iPhone I purchased was the iPhone 11. I balked at paying $1000 for a phone and that was my reason for purchasing the 11 instead of the 11 Pro. And guess what. I wished I had bought the Pro.
My thinking was that I was buying a phone, which is basically correct. However, as we all know these devices are much more than phones. To me, one of the important functions is the camera. The cameras have become so good in the phones that they have replaced our digital cameras. I realized later how much I wished I had the telephoto lens that comes with iPhone Pros.
So in thinking about buying a phone, consider the camera as well. I rationalize the cost by thinking how much I would spend on a digital camera. Adding that to the phone purchase makes the $1000 phone price more acceptable.
So here are some iPhone camera statistics to consider. The current iPhone on the market is the iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 has 2 lens, what they label as a wide angle and an ultra wide. The iPhone 13 Pro has 3 lens, the two wide angle lens and the telephoto lens. The difference is 2 times optical zoom versus 6 times optical zoom.
You can still buy an iPhone 11 new, as well as the 12 and the 13, and the iPhone SE, and Apple offers an iPhone 12 and 13 mini. If you're considering the mini for the smaller size, the good news is that the mini has the same quality cameras as the their larger counterparts. Although they do not have the telephoto lens that the Pro offers.
The mini, at this time, looks like it's about $100 less than the regular size phone, and has the same quality "Super Retina XDR Display", measuring at 5.4 inches diagonally versus the 6.1 inch standard size. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7 inch display. The iPhone Pro and Pro Max are the more popular iPhones according to statistics, but more people are buying the mini than the regular iPhone 13 just for the size. They say really fits their hands better.
The new iPhones have additional camera features such as "cinematic mode" and Macro photography for ultra close ups and advanced low light performance.
Another consideration, particularly if you are a professional photographer, is the option for RAW photo format which they included on the iPhone 12 and 13 Pro models only. The RAW format is the photo data before its processed to a more useable format like jpg. The advantage, as I understand it, is that you get a larger file that can be enlarge without loosing as much detail. But, of course, that means it takes up much more storage space on your device.
The other main consideration is storage space. You can get the iPhone 13 with 128, 256, or 512GB of storage space. My iPhone 11 has 64GB and it works for me so the new larger storage means you rarely have to think about running out. The more photos, and videos in particular, that you take will consume more storage.
I hope this helps a bit in your phone/camera purchasing decision. Spend some time on the Apple website to get full details and prices.
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.
