• Meeting Intro with Harry
• "Passwords" - Ron Sharp
• Q&A with "A" Team based on questions emailed prior to meeting
Location:
by ZOOM on-line
Minutes for March 15, 2023
by Madelyn van der Hoogt, Secretary
Harry Anderson welcomed Magic Members to the meeting at 4:02 p.m.; there were 18 members in attendance.
Gary McIntyre gave the treasurer's report: our balance is $8,844.73. Harry reminded us that since we do not have dues, donations are always appreciated.
Harry then announced that we will have a Board meeting either at the end of March or early April to discuss future Magic programs and activities. Please let Board members know your thoughts.
The program this month is a Q and A (based on questions submitted by members prior to the meeting. Ron Sharp began the program.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:59.
MAGIC Musings
Hello, MAGIC members! I hope you are enjoying the arrival of spring — chilly and damp though it has been so far. I look forward to seeing many of you at our zoom meeting on April 19 at 4 p.m. If you have attended zoom meetings in the past, you will receive the link to this month's meeting via email.
Our board had a meeting last week to discuss what we might do for the rest of this year. As you know, in recent months we have made each meeting a general Q&A session with our three experts — Robert, Ron and Gary — answering questions that you have submitted in advance by email. Our board thinks the Q&A idea works pretty well, but we have decided to focus it a bit. For the next few months, we will begin each meeting with a short presentation (10-15 minutes) from one of our experts followed by questions on the topic they present, then general Q&A from members. Here is the short presentation lineup through June: April 19 — Passwords May 17 — The new iPhone June 21 — The new Ventura operating system.
I hope you will start thinking up questions related to those topics. Remember that you can mail your questions at any time to our email address: magicmug@whidbey.net
At our April 19 meeting, I will ask for your thoughts and comments on some other ideas the board discussed last week. (1) Would you enjoy an in-person meeting this summer, perhaps in August, to reconnect with those we used to see regularly when our meetings were always in person? (2) Does our regular meeting day and time — the third Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. still work or should we try another day and time? (3) Are you enjoying the Q&A monthly meeting format or would you like something different?
Finally, we are seeking some new board members to help us keep our organization going. It doesn't require much "heavy lifting," just attendance at board meetings and general meetings. If you are interested, please contact Ron Sharp.
Harry Anderson
Late Breaking News - Wendy Shimada has volunteered to join the Board as Secretary. Please join us in welcoming her to her new position.
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.
MacOS Ventura 13.3 and iPadOS 16.4 usher in new emoji and other improvements
by Ed Hardy, cultofmac
The wait is over for macOS Ventura 13.3 and iPadOS 16.4, which Apple released Monday. While not major upgrades, they do bring new emoji, a better way for devs to work with betas, and other changes (including security updates).
Apple also released iOS 16.4, as well as watchOS 9.4 and tvOS 16.4.
Tweaks as Apple looks ahead to WWDC23
Apple announces new operating systems each June during its Worldwide Developers Conference, then releases them in the autumn. Some features take a while to be implemented, but by the time spring rolls around, there's typically a lull.
Coming in March as they do, macOS Ventura 13.3 and iPadOS 16.4 are fairly minor updates. Anything major will go into macOS 14 and iPadOS 17.
What's new in macOS Ventura
The full release notes for macOS Ventura 13.3 say:
This update includes new emoji along with other enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac:
21 new emoji, including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard
Remove background option in Freeform automatically isolates the subject in your image
Photos duplicates album expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
Transliteration support for Gujarati, Punjabi, and Urdu keyboards
New keyboard layouts for Choctaw, Chickasaw, Akan, Hausa, and Yoruba
Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
Resolves an issue where Trackpad gestures may occasionally stop responding
Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent's device
Addresses an issue where VoiceOver may be unresponsive after using the Finder
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Mac models.
What's new in iPadOS 16.4
This update introduces 21 new emoji and includes other enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPad.
This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:
21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard
Apple Pencil hover adds tilt and azimuth support so you can preview your mark at any angle before you make it in Notes and supported apps on iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen
Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
Fixes an issue with Apple Pencil responsiveness that may occur while drawing or writing in the Notes app
Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent's device
Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222
Although it doesn't come up in the release notes, Apple added a new way for developers to deal with betas. "Beginning with iOS & iPadOS 16.4 beta, members of the Apple Developer Program will see a new option to enable developer betas directly from Software Update in Settings," the company noted back in February when beta testing began.
How to install macOS 13.3, iPadOS 16.4, watchOS 9.4 and tvOS 16.4
iPad users can install the new iPadOS versions directly by by opening the Settings app and going to General > Software Update. Alternatively, the update can also be accomplished by connecting the device to a Mac, or to a PC running iTunes.
To download the macOS Ventura update, go to Apple menu > About This Mac. Then click Software Update. Alternatively, you can install the new version from the App Store. (Note: At the time of this writing, Apple had not yet updated the version of macOS in the App Store. But it should happen soon.)
The watchOS update can be installed directly onto an Apple Watch, as long as the wearable is connected to Wi-Fi. From the Settings app just navigate to General > Software Update. Alternatively, it can be installed from an iPhone by opening the Apple Watch app and going to My Watch > General > Software Update.
Those eager to get the tvOS update immediately can do so by navigating to the Settings app on Apple TV. Then click through to System, then click on Software Updates, then click on Update Software.
Apple fixes security vulnerabilities and bugs with iOS and macOS updates [Updated]
by Ed Hardy, cultofmac
iPhone, Mac and iPad users got fresh operating system updates on Friday. iOS 16.4.1, macOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 fix a smattering of bugs on the devices — including some security vulnerabilities that Apple admits may have been exploited — but there are no new features.
At this time, there are no equivalent updates for Apple Watch or Apple TV.
Squash those bugs!
Apple introduced iOS 16.4 and the iPad equivalent, along with macOS Ventura 13.3, on March 27. These added new emoji, Voice Isolation for phone calls and other enhancements. As usually happens, significant OS upgrades are followed by bug-fix updates.
The official release notes for the iOS version released Friday fix a problem with the new Pushing Hands emoji, and Siri occasionally being unresponsive. It's not yet known if iOS 16.4 takes care of the battery drain problem in the previous version.
The release notes for the latest macOS update say it removes a bug where "Auto Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch may not work," and it takes care of the same emoji problem.
Despite the thin list of changes, iOS 16.4.1, macOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 are recommended for all users ASAP due to the security updates they include.
Security updates in iOS 16.4.1, macOS 13.3.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1
Apple's security notes on today's updates pinpoint problems with the company's IOSurfaceAccelerator and WebKit frameworks.
The IOSurfaceAccelator vulnerability meant "an app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges." And the WebKit problem meant "processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution."
Both security updates include the fact that "Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited."
A related update released today for Apple's Safari web browser also addresses the WebKit problem.
How to install iOS 16.4.1, macOS Ventura 13.3.1, iPadOS 16.4.1
iPhone and iPad users can install the new iOS and iPadOS versions directly by by opening the Settings app and going to General > Software Update. Alternatively, the update can also be accomplished by connecting the device to a Mac, or to a PC running iTunes.
To download the macOS Ventura update, go to Apple menu > About This Mac. Then click Software Update. Alternatively, you can install the new version from the App Store. (Note: At the time of this writing, Apple had not yet updated the version of macOS in the App Store. But it should happen soon.)
What's next for iOS, macOS and iPadOS?
Looking ahead, Apple already has iOS 16.5 and macOS 13.4 in beta testing. These aren't expected for weeks, though, and offer only a few tweaks. The focus is already on the major upgrades to be announced at WWDC23 in June.
iOS 16.4 and macOS Ventura 13.3 fix more than 30 security exploits
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
Apple on Monday released iOS 16.4 and other software updates to the public. While they come with multiple new features, such as new emoji, notifications for web apps, and accessibility improvements, today's updates also bring security patches. More specifically, they patch more than 30 security exploits.
iOS 16.4 comes with more than 30 security patches
According to Apple's website, iOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, and tvOS 16.4 fix dozens of security breaches that could be used by hackers. For example, one of the exploits related to accessibility features could lead to third-party apps accessing information about users' contacts. Another more serious exploit could let apps access sensitive user data.
Other exploits affected parts of the system like Apple Neural Engine, Calendar, Camera, CarPlay, Bluetooth, Find My, iCloud, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. Apple also fixed exploits found in the kernel, which could lead to arbitrary code execution without the user's knowledge.
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Description: A use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management.
CVE-2023-27969: Adam Doupé of ASU SEFCOM
The updates also include a patch for an exploit found in WebKit, the engine behind Safari and other web browsers on iOS. With this exploit, websites could track sensitive information from users. According to Apple, the problem has been fixed by "removing origin information."
It's worth noting that since all of Apple's operating systems share code, some of the patches are applied across iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Apple has also released updates for older versions of iOS, macOS, and Studio Display Firmware with security patches.
Update your devices right now
As you can see, these security exploits can be used by hackers to track and even collect your data without your knowledge. This is why it's important to always keep your devices updated with the latest version of the operating system.
You can install iOS, watchOS, and tvOS updates by going to the Settings app, while macOS updates can be found in the System Settings app.
Apple updates iWork apps with Apple Pencil Hover, better collaboration, more
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
Following the release of iOS 16.4, macOS 13.3, and more earlier this week, Apple is now rolling out updates to its suite of iWork apps. Updates to Keynote, Pages, and Numbers are now available with new Apple Pencil features, improved collaboration, and more.
Keynote for Mac
Export and send a copy of your presentation in a different format right from the Share menu
Includes improvements and bug fixes for collaboration activity
Viewing a Keynote Live presentation is now supported only in a web browser
Keynote for Mac is available on the App Store for download.
Keynote for iPhone and iPad
Apple Pencil hover makes it easy to navigate, write, sketch, and illustrate with greater precision on supported iPad models
Export and send a copy of your presentation in a different format right from the Share menu
Includes improvements and bug fixes for collaboration activity
Viewing a Keynote Live presentation is now supported only in a web browser
Keynote for iPhone and iPad is available on the App Store.
Numbers for Mac
Export and send a copy of your spreadsheet in a different format right from the Share menu
Improved performance for large spreadsheets on Mac computers with Apple silicon
Includes improvements and bug fixes for collaboration activity
Apple releases tvOS 16.4 with new 'Dim Flashing Lights' feature
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
Rounding out today's collection of software updates, Apple has released tvOS 16.4 and HomePod Software 16.4. For Apple TV users, there's a notable new 'Dim Flashing Light's feature for the first time.
Apple's release notes for HomePod Software 16.4 and tvOS 16.4 are both the same. "This update includes performance and stability improvements," Apple says. In a support document, however, Apple has a few more details on what's new in tvOS 16.4:
This update adds Dim Flashing Lights, an accessibility option to automatically dim the display of video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected, and includes performance and stability improvements.
Your Apple TV should automatically update to tvOS 16.4, but you can also manually initiate the update via the Settings app. tvOS 16.4 is available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD.
Your HomePod or HomePod mini should also automatically update to HomePod Software 16.4. You can also manually manage HomePod firmware versions via the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
The Apple Music Classical app appeared on the App Store for pre-order, with the iPhone maker confirming it would go live on March 28. Now that this date has arrived in some countries, the app is beginning its global rollout.
Apple confirmed the timing earlier in the month …
Apple says that Apple Music Classical will launch on March 28 and offer over 5 million tracks, thousands of exclusive albums, and much more.
The world's largest classical music catalog with over 5 million tracks and works from new releases to celebrated masterpieces.
Thousands of exclusive albums.
The ability to search by composer, work, conductor, or even catalog number, and find specific recordings instantly.
The highest audio quality (up to 192 kHz/24 bit Hi-Res Lossless) with thousands of recordings in immersive spatial audio.
Complete and accurate metadata to make sure you know exactly what work and which artist is playing.
Thousands of editorial notes including composer biographies, descriptions of key works, and more.
"Apple Music Classical is the ultimate classical experience with hundreds of curated playlists, thousands of exclusive albums, insightful composer biographies, deep-dive guides for many key works, intuitive browsing features and much more," Apple touts.
The good news is that there is no additional cost if you already subscribe to Apple Music. In its former Primephonic incarnation, the service cost $14.99.
The launch has been a long time coming: Apple first announced the acquisition back in 2021. It said at the time that the Apple Music Classical incarnation would launch "in the coming months" - which I guess is technically true.
Apple today announced it has acquired Primephonic, the renowned classical music streaming service that offers an outstanding listening experience with search and browse functionality optimized for classical, premium-quality audio, handpicked expert recommendations, and extensive contextual details on repertoire and recordings.
With the addition of Primephonic, Apple Music subscribers will get a significantly improved classical music experience beginning with Primephonic playlists and exclusive audio content. In the coming months, Apple Music Classical fans will get a dedicated experience with the best features of Primephonic, including better browsing and search capabilities by composer and by repertoire, detailed displays of classical music metadata, plus new features and benefits.
"We love and have a deep respect for classical music, and Primephonic has become a fan favorite for classical enthusiasts," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats. "Together, we're bringing great new classical features to Apple Music, and in the near future, we'll deliver a dedicated classical experience that will truly be the best in the world."
The main advantage of the new app will be much better organization and searching, allowing searches for recordings of specific performances, a key weakness of Apple Music.
The Apple Music Classical app can be downloaded now if it's already Tuesday in your time-zone - otherwise, you can pre-order and get a notification of when it is available to you.
Wizard sez: you need to sign up to Apple Music for this to work.
iOS 16.4: Here's everything new with Apple Music
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
iOS 16.4 is officially here and in addition to the headlining changes, the app also makes a few improvements to the Music app. There are new animations, easier access to your profile page, and more. Head below for the full details.
Less intrusive animations
Arguably the biggest change in the Music app in iOS 16.4 is a new set of animations for things like adding songs to playlists and adding songs to your queue. In previous versions of the Music app, these actions would present a full-screen pop-up confirmation.
In iOS 16.4, however, Apple has redesigned these confirmation messages to be much smaller notifications at the bottom of your screen. This means your view of the Music app is no longer obstructed by the full-screen pop-up. There's also a small haptic feedback confirmation as well.
Easier access to your Apple Music profile
Another change in iOS 16.4 is that Apple has made it easier to quickly get to your Apple Music profile. Previously, your profile picture only appeared in the "Listen Now" and "Browse" tabs of the app. In iOS 16.4, however, you'll now be able to access your profile via the "Library" tab.
You can tap on your profile picture to quickly jump to your account, where you can manage your settings and view your full profile information.
Whether or not this is a hint at future features for Apple Music remains to be seen. One could speculate, however, that easier access to your profile could mean more social features are coming to Apple Music relatively soon.
Other interface tweaks
Finally, Apple has made a few other minor interface tweaks to Apple Music with iOS 16.4. Various icons throughout the app have been updated to be a bit more modern. Apple has also reduced the size of the album artwork that shows on the "Playlists" page, which makes it easier to see more playlists without scrolling.
How To Set Up MacOS Ventura Mail to Automatically Delete Junk Mail
by Dennis Sellers, macsales
If you're like me, youreceive a lot of junk eMails daily. You probably scan them to make make sure that they really are junk. Then you delete all that are. It's a cumbersome process. However, with macOS Ventura Mail, you can configure your Mail accounts to auto-delete junk mail:
Open the Mail app,
Click Mail > Settings on the menu bar.
Graphic: Mail > Settings
Select the Accounts tab.
Select an account and click Mailbox Behaviors. (I've chosen my Comcast account in the graphic below.)
Click the Junk Mailbox.
Below Junk Mailbox, you'll see Erase junk messages. This is probably set to "Never." However, you can click the drop-down box and choose when to delete junk email automatically. You can choose from "after one day," "after one week," "after one month," or "when quitting mail."
Select the Accounts tab.
Select an account and click Mailbox Behaviors.
Click the Trash Mailbox.
Below Trash Mailbox, you'll see Erase deleted messages. This is probably set to "Never." However, you can click the drop-down box and choose "automatically."
You'll have to repeat the process for all your email accounts.
Next, do the same steps as 4 and 5 above to confirm the mailbox and automatically erase your Trash Mailbox messages (deleted emails).
Do this for each account in the Mail app, and you're set. Keep in mind that the options may differ depending on the type of email account you have. For instance, if you have an exchange account, you won't get to select the junk or trash mailboxes described above. But you can still set the timeframes to erase the messages.
Rest Your Eyes: How to Set Up Night Shift in MacOS Ventura
by Dennis Sellers, macsales
MacOS's Night Shift is a feature brought over from iOS starting with macOS High Sierra. It helps you reduce the amount of blue light you're exposed to during the evening by shifting the display of your Mac to a more yellow tone.
The idea behind Night Shift is that, by making colors warmer, it won't disrupt your body's circadian rhythm, or the body clock that controls them, at least to the same degree. This can be useful if you use your Mac right up to bedtime. I imagine most of us don't, but it's a nice feature to have. And the iOS/iPadOS version of Night Shift is probably even more useful as those are devices folks are most likely to use right up to bedtime — or even in bed.
To schedule Night Shift to turn on automatically in macOS Ventura:
On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings.
Click the Displays icon in the sidebar.
Click the Night Shift button on the right.
Click the Schedule pop-up menu, then choose an option.
Off: Prevent Night Shift from turning on automatically.
Custom: Specify the times you want Night Shift to turn on and off.
Sunset to Sunrise: Use Night Shift from sunset to sunrise.
If you select "Sunrise to Sunset,"your Mac uses your location to determine when it's nighttime for you. To use this option, you must turn on Location Services:
Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
Click Location Services.
Scroll to the bottom of the pane and click System Services.
Click Details.
A pop-up menu will appear enabling you to customize the System Services settings.
Turn on Time Zone & System Customization, then click Done.
Even if you set a schedule for Night Shift, you can turn it on or off any time you want. Here's how:
On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar.
Click the Night Shift button on the right.
Turn on "Turn on until tomorrow."
Night Shift remains on until the next day or until you turn it off.
Scary 'MacStealer' malware goes after iCloud passwords and credit card data
by Roman Loyola, macworld
Security researchers have published a report detailing the arrival of new malware that goes after sensitive data that's stored on your Mac, including passwords and credit card data. According to the security team at Uptycs, the "MacStealer" malware can attack Macs running macOS Catalina or later, with either Intel or Apple M-series chips.
Uptycs found that MacStealer can get passwords, cookies, and credit card data from Firefox, Google Chrome, and Brave browsers. It can extract several different file types, including, .txt, .doc, .jpg, and .zip, and it can extract the KeyChain database. According to information Uptycs gathered from the dark web, MacStealer's makers are working on the ability to harvest Safari passwords and cookies, as well as data in the Notes app.
"The bad actor uses a .DMG file to spread the malware. After a user executes the file, it opens a fake password prompt to gather passwords using the following command line," according to Uptycs' report. MacStealer appears to propagate through a "weed.dmg" executable file. When the "weed" app launches, a pop-up appears, stating that "MacOS wants to access the System Preferences" and a box below that is for the user to enter the account password.
After that, MacStealer goes to work, gathering the data, compressing it as a Zip file, sending it to the MacStealer maker, and then deleting the stolen data to hide its tracks. The maker then hands the data off to whoever contracted MacStealer.
Uptycs found MacStealer through "dark web hunting," where the maker posted about MacStealer's abilities and its availability to bad actors for $100 per build. It's unknown how the "weed.dmg" is distributed by the bad actor, but the DMG file only needs to be launched for a Mac to be infected. Why the app described here is fairly easy to avoid, it's not hard to imagine a hacker using a more popular app for dissemination.
It's unclear if MacStealer has been logged in the CVE.report database that tracks vulnerabilities and exposures, and Apple has not commented on the malware. Apple released updates for macOS Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura on Monday, but based on the security notes, those updates do not appear to include patches for MacStealer.
Wizard sez: This malware also attacks passwords in iCloud - I suggest not keeping any passwords in any cloud.
How to make text larger on iPhone or iPad
by Ed Hardy, cultofmac
Maybe your eyes aren't as good as they used be. You can increase the text size on your iPhone or iPad so don't have to put on reading glasses.
The process is easy. And a new video from Apple walks users through the process of enabling even larger text size on these devices.
Make iPhone and iPad text bigger with a couple of clicks
Are you constantly squinting at your iPhone? Is the text in emails on your iPad too small? There's an easy fix.
Or maybe you want to pack for words onto the screen. You can decrease the text size, too.
How to make text larger on iPhone or iPad
The setting to increase text size is in Display & Brightness.
Screenshots: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS and iPadOS let you change the text size across applications with a single setting. A couple of clicks, move a slider and you're done.
Open the Settings app then scroll down to Display & Brightness. Tap on it.
On the resulting page, tap on Text Size.
That will open a page with a slider that allows you to pick the size that's best for you.
Also in Display & Brightness is the option to make all text bold, which makes it easier to see. If this sounds appealing, tap on the Bold Text toggle.
Check the Apple Mail app to see whether text in emails is large enough for you to read comfortably.
Notice the warning that "Apps that support Dynamic Type will adjust to your preferred reading size." Not all applications pay attention to this setting. All Apple's do, but some third-party apps don't.
Get access to even larger text
Display & Brightness gives you access to a range of text sizes, but a couple of other taps and you can choose from even larger text.
It's an Accessibility feature of iOS and iPad OS. Apple support created a video that demonstrates the process.
How to enable Voice Isolation for iPhone calls in iOS 16.4
by Ed Hardy, cultofmac
The Voice Isolation feature that's been making FaceTime and Zoom video chats better for over a year is finally available for regular iPhone voice calls. With it, the people you're on a phone call with can't hear noises going on around you.
Here's how to activate one of the best new features of iOS 16.4.
Use the iPhone's Voice Isolation to block the kids, dogs or traffic noise
It happens to all of us. You're on a call with a client, your boss, etc., and your children get into a squabble or your dog begins barking furiously and you have to apologize to the person you're speaking to about all the noise.
Not anymore. Turn on Voice Isolation on your iPhone and that background ruckus goes away. I tested it with my iPhone 14 Plus, and the feature proved remarkably successful at preventing my co-workers from hearing my cat meowing to be fed.
Just understand the limitations: It's a one-way feature, and only works on what you say — it can't remove noise coming from the background of the other participant(s) on the call.
How to enable Voice Isolation on your iPhone
Open the Control Center and Mic Mode is on Standard. Tap on it to switch to Voice Isolation.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
You access sound settings for iPhone voice calls in the Control Center. It's not in the Phone app, which would make more sense. Also, you have to be in a phone call to turn on Voice Isolation — you can't do so beforehand. Still, activating the feature isn't difficult once you know where to look.
Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (or up from the bottom if you have an iPhone with a Home button) to open Control Center.
Tap the Mic Mode button.
Select Voice Isolation.
And that's all it takes.
I'm happy to say that this setting "sticks" — turn it on once and it'll stay that way. And that's almost certainly what you want. It's rare that you'll think, "I wish the people on this call could hear what else is going on in my house."
And there's good news for iPad users. You can turn on Voice Isolation when making a phone call through your tablet, too.
No Wide Spectrum support, yet
This feature debuted this week in iOS 16.4 but Apple didn't make a big deal about it. Possibly that's because the related Wide Spectrum support for voice calls is not yet available.
That feature does the opposite of Voice Isolation: It intentionally picks up the person speaking as well as all the sounds around them.
Perhaps Apple will highlight the release of Voice Isolation for cellular phone calls when Wide Spectrum becomes available.
Already available for FaceTime, Zoom, etc.
It's possible you missed the news that Voice Isolation for FaceTime debuted in iOS 15 back in early 2022. Even better, the feature also works on Zoom, Google Meet and other video chat applications. And even better than that, it's also available for iPad.
You activate it the same way you do the version for regular phone calls.
Start using Voice Isolation for iPhone calls today
You can begin blocking unwanted background noise from your phone calls immediately. But doing so requires iOS 16.4 or later. Apple released version 16.4 on March 27 for all iPhone models introduced in the past several years. It's free.
Wizard Sez: This feature is only available on recent models with the A12 Bionic chipset or above.
Apple Watch Series 9: Everything we expect and hope to see in 2023
by Martyn Casserly, macworld
The Apple Watch has been a huge success for the company, pretty much tying up the wearables sector at the first attempt. With 2023 underway, we're looking forward to seeing what Apple will do with the next generation of its digital timepiece. So, here's all the news, rumors we've discovered so far about the Apple Watch Series 9 as well as our expectations for the new device.
Apple's CEO Tim Cook is highly enthusiastic about AR and VR, a new profile reveals, a far cry from calling the technology a "flop" in his previous comments.
Cook has often been the subject of interviews from a wide variety of publications. As the cover star of GQ's Global Creativity Awards 2023 issue, he discusses how he works and his legacy at Apple, but also revealing more about himself.
In his conversations, he is viewed as channeling the "slightly wide-eyed" kid from Alabama who's surprised at becoming the world's most powerful businessman.
"I've never been described as normal," Cook tells the publication. "I always hate the word normal in a lot of ways, because what some people use to describe normal equals straight. Some people would use that word in that kind of way. I don't know— I've been described as a lot of things, but probably normal is not among those."
The Apple Watch can do a lot of incredible things beyond checking the time or sending messages. We've collected together our top 30 amazing tips and tricks to try with your Apple Watch Series 8, the latest Apple Watch SE, or any other model on your wrist.
Type "do a barrel roll" into Google, and hit enter.
One of China's most popular apps has the ability to spy on its users
From CNN
'I've never seen anything like this:' One of China's most popular apps has the ability to spy on its users, say experts.
By Nectar Gan, Yong Xiong and Juliana Liu, CNN
Updated 5:16 AM EDT, Mon April 3, 2023 - CNN
It is one of China's most popular shopping apps, selling clothing, groceries and just about everything else under the sun to more than 750 million users a month.
But according to cybersecurity researchers, it can also bypass users' cell phone security to monitor activities on other apps, check notifications, read private messages and change settings.
No, the IRS isn't calling you. It isn't texting or emailing you, either.
Scam email.
Do not call the number
This is a SCAM Note the senders address. Also, How can you win if you do not enter?
Anything to "undisclosed-recipients" is usually false
No, this is from UPS. See the from address and the lack of a logo This is SPAM
An iPhone message. DO NOT CLICK Easy for me as I do not have Netflix. But any request for money with a suspicious link should be check by going to the website of the genuine article.
Another one! See 2 above.
Again!
Again!
Again!
Again!
Persistent, arn't They!
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.
We had a briefly confusing conversation about passwords in our last Zoom meeting. So I want to go over some options for dealing with passwords. In the end, everyone has to decide for themselves how to handle their own passwords. Being aware of the options and the risks will help.
Here are four ways to deal with your passwords:
You can allow the Safari browser to store passwords for you. Safari will ask you if you want it to save your password each time you create a new one for a website. You can accept, or choose not now, or "Never for this site." When you update a password for a website Safari will ask if you want to update the saved password.
You can save passwords yourself in a text document such as the Pages app and set a password for the document. So you need to enter one password to see them all.
You can use a password manager. There are many password manager apps that you can find on the App Store. You'll have research to see which one you like. Check the ratings for each app, then download and try one. Once it is set up it can be very handy and secure way for storing and using your passwords.
You can write your passwords on a piece of paper. You have to keep it updated every time you change a password and also keep it in a safe place. Each time you use a password for a website, you have to manually enter it. But one advantage of this option is that the list is not on your computer.
Some people don't like to use Safari to save their passwords because they don't trust it. It is basically Apple's password manager. I don't have an answer for why someone would trust an unknown app developer over Apple to develop a password manager!
Lets compare the differences.
I've tried all of these methods at one time, and I tried to be very fair about this information, but I couldn't think of anything negative about Safari's password manager, and it is by far the easiest to use. I can only think someone may not trust it but I don't know why.
We hear in the news of companies that have gotten hacked and peoples information and sometimes passwords gets stolen. That's from a companies database that stores your password and not from your own computer. In the last year there have been breaches of password manager companies including Norton Life Lock and LastPass. As far as I know, Apple's Safari password manager has not been breached. With Safari, your passwords are stored only on your computer unless you choose to sync your passwords with your other devices via iCloud. And Apples iCloud uses the same encryption standard as banks.
One security research company found flaws with several password managers when used with the Chrome browser. So be aware when using a browser other than Safari the password storage system may not be as secure.
Keeping passwords with pen and paper offers the advantage of the list not being stored on your computer. Although those lists can get very confusing when changing passwords frequently. I see people thumb through their password lists and not only have trouble locating a password, since they are not in alphabetical order, but have several passwords for one website and don't know which is the current one.
For the average user who doesn't want Safari to store their passwords, a password protected document is decent option. If you create a Pages document for instance,
under the "File" menu is an option to set a password for that document. Their are a couple different ways to encrypt your own passwords, but I won't go into that in detail, other than to say you might find an app to encrypt.
Tech companies that deal with security are aware of password issues and the future with no passwords is being initiated. The Apple, Google, Microsoft joint venture uses "Passkeys."
What are Passkeys?
"Passkeys are a new way to sign in without passwords. With Touch ID and Face ID, passkeys are more secure and easier to use than passwords and any two factor authentication methods."
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.
