Newsletter Editor:
| Date | 21 June 2023 |
| Time | 4:00 - 5:30 |
| Presentations: | • Meeting Intro with Harry • "Ventura operating system" with Robert Elphick • Q&A with "A" Team based on questions emailed prior to meeting |
| Location: | by ZOOM on-line |
by Wendy Shimada, Secretary
The zoom meeting was called to order at 4:02 pm by President Harry Anderson; 17 Members were in attendance. Harry welcomed everyone to the meeting then invited Treasurer Gary McIntyre to provide a report on Finances: monthly expense of $14.95 for web hosting, & a generous contribution left a balance of $8914.83. Gary mentioned that the monthly web hosting expense would soon increase to $20.
Harry reminded everyone that due to the zoom format of the meetings, monthly dues are not being collected but as always, monetary support is welcome; (contributions can be made on the MAGIC website: www.whidbey.com/magicmug.) Harry requested that everyone please mute themselves during the presentation & submit any questions via ichat.
Gary McIntyre gave a presentation on the new iPhone 14. After the presentation, members' questions were answered by Robert, Ron & Gary. The presentation, along with Q&A is always recorded & available for viewing at: https://www.whidbey.com/magicmug/data/zoom.html.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:12 pm.
Following the meeting, Ron Sharp gave a short informative presentation on Passwords, which was recorded and can be found at the zoom page of this website.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 pm
No Musings this month.
Harry Anderson
Note: This Software Update section of the newsletter lists the most relevant Apple updates. Not all updates are listed for all products. Additionally, I'll add other pertinent updates on occasion.
by Filipe Espósito, 9to5mac
After months of beta testing, Apple has finally released macOS Ventura 13.4 to the public. The update, which is now available for macOS users, comes with new sports-related features, as well as a new system for installing beta software. Read on as we detail what's new with macOS Ventura 13.4.
One big change coming with macOS Ventura 13.4 is the new system for installing betas that was introduced with iOS 16.4. The operating systems now asks for the Apple ID to show and download beta software updates.
macOS checks whether the account is associated with a developer or user registered in the public beta program. It then shows the beta update available for that program. With this change, regular users will no longer be able to install developer betas, for example.
macOS 13.4 full release notes:
You can install macOS Ventura 13.4 by going to the Software Update menu in the System Settings app. It may take a while before the update shows up on your computer; make sure that your Mac is compatible with macOS Ventura.
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
Following over a month of beta testing, iOS 16.5 is now available to the general public. This update includes changes to Apple News, the addition of a new "Pride Celebration" wallpaper, and more. Head below for the full release notes with details on bug fixes, new features, and more.
What's new in iOS 16.5?
Here are Apple's official release notes on iOS 16.5 new features and bug fixes. The build number for today's update is 20F66.
Earlier iOS 16.5 betas included the addition of a new Siri command for starting and stopping a screen recording. Apple removed this feature in subsequent iOS 16.5 betas, and it's not included in the final version of the update.
iOS 16.5 will be the final major point-release update to iOS 16 before WWDC in June. This is where Apple will debut iOS 17 and release the first developer betas.
Apple is, however, expected to continue releasing updates to iOS 16 through the summer and likely even alongside iOS 17. iOS 16.6 is expected to enter beta testing soon.
You can update your iPhone by going to the Settings app, choosing General, then choosing Software Update.
by Stephen Warwick, iMore
Rejoice- a new MacBook Air was announced at WWDC 2023 on June 5, with a bigger display but with everything else unchanged compared to its 13-inch little sister model.
A bigger, lightweight machine could well be the best MacBook Apple has ever made, combining the potent portable processing power of M2 Apple silicon with a larger display and commensurate battery life improvements.
However, one major new feature we were expecting appears to be off the table. The M3 chip, which would have been a surprise given it was thought to be several months away, could have been a major boon to the laptop's power, but this wasn't meant to be.
15-inch MacBook Air: The headlines
Is there a new MacBook Air coming out in 2023?
Yes. Announced at WWDC 2023 for $1299, the only difference compared to the 13-inch model is its bigger display.
Apple actually rolled out a stunning new MacBook Air design just last year. As you can read in our 13-inch MacBook Air review, Apple added a notch, some hot new colors, and a brand new squarer chassis design.
by Ben Lovejoy, 9to5mac
Apple today formally introduced macOS 14, alongside iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 - and Apple is dropping support for almost all Intel Macs.
The company has provided a list of the Macs able to run macOS 14 &hellipse;
macOS 14 key features
Apple highlighted the following features:
Apple today previewed macOS Sonoma, the latest version of the world's most advanced desktop operating system, bringing a rich set of features that elevate the Mac experience. Stunning screen savers and powerful widgets unlock an entirely new way to personalise. Users can now place widgets right on the desktop, interact with them with just a click, and through the magic of Continuity, access the extensive ecosystem of iPhone widgets on their Mac. In macOS Sonoma, video conferencing also gets more engaging with great new features to help users present remotely, like Presenter Overlay, which places a presenter on top of the content being shared, and Reactions, which enables fun gesture-triggered video effects in cinematic quality. Significant updates come to Safari, taking the web experience to the next level. Profiles keeps browsing separate between multiple topics or projects, and web apps provide faster access to favourite sites. And gaming gets even better, with the introduction of Game Mode, exciting new titles, and a new game porting toolkit that makes it even easier for developers to bring more games to Mac.
"macOS is the heart of the Mac, and with Sonoma, we're making it even more delightful and productive to use," said Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "We think users are going to love macOS Sonoma and the new ways it enables them to personalise with widgets and stunning new screen savers, see new levels of gaming performance, and gain powerful productivity for video conferencing and browsing with Safari."
Which Macs support macOS 14?
You can install macOS 14 on all of the following models:
How to identify your Mac model and macOS version
If you're unsure of the exact model and year of your Mac, it's easy to check with the menu > About this Mac
The model name and year will be shown at the top, and the macOS version at the bottom of the key specs.
Check our WWDC 2023 News Hub, live from Apple Park, for all the latest news from the event.
Photo: Dominik Hofbauer/Unsplash
by Karen Haslam, macworld
We gaze into our crystal ball to predict the upcoming Apple launches: here are all the new Apple products we expect to come out in 2023.
The past few years might have been overshadowed somewhat by the pandemic, but that hasn't stopped Apple from overhauling most of its product range, including getting almost all the way thorough transitioning the Mac from Intel to its own processors.
In 2022 we saw Apple launch the iPhone 14 series, three new Apple Watches a new set of AirPods Pro, a new-look 10.9-inch iPad, the Mac Studio, and the M2 MacBook Air and M2 13in MacBook Pro, among other updates.
In this article we take a look at what we expect Apple to launch in 2023 and what has already arrived. We've investigated every rumour and trend we could find to bring you our predictions. Read on to find out what could be in store.
by Ben Lovejoy, 9to5mac
As part of a flurry of new accessibility improvements announced by Apple today, the company says that Made for iPhone hearing aids can pair directly with Macs for the first time. Previously, pairing was only available with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
Compatible products already support pairing with more than one Apple device, so this move should make it much easier for people who use both Macs and iOS devices …
Made for iPhone hearing aids
Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing devices effectively combine the functionality of hearing aids and AirPods. They allow people with hearing impairment to switch seamlessly from listening to their environment, to listening to their devices. Phone calls, FaceTime, Music, Siri, and other content is all supported.
In some cases, MFi hearing aids will switch automatically from ambient listening to your Apple device, such as when you receive an incoming call on your iPhone, or starting to play a movie on an iPad.
Settings allow you to configure your MFi hearing devices on your iPhone, and now on your Mac. This includes choosing an audio preset, adjusting volume levels, and turning on Live Listen.
MFi pairing with Macs
Apple doesn't provide much detail on this, including just a single bullet point in its accessibility news release:
However, the reference to the "customizing" feature does suggest that connecting to a Mac will allow greater control over the audio experience. While an iPhone allows you to choose between different audio presets, this wording indicates the ability to fine-tune the audio output to your own needs and preferences.
Mac compatibility
The small print says that users will be able to pair Made for iPhone hearing devices with "select" Mac devices with an M1 chip, and all Mac devices with an M2 chip.
We'll need to wait for further details on M1 Mac support.
Hearing device compatibility
Around 200 devices are supported, from 40 different brands.
Those marked with an asterisk additionally support bidirectional streaming, which allows users to talk hands-free through their hearing aid microphones. This feature requires iOS 15.2 and later on iPhones and iPads; Macs will require some version of Ventura.
Continue reading and get the full list of compatible hearing aids....
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
Sometimes, you need to turn a piece of paper into a digital file. Maybe you need to include a receipt, registration, or other form of proof in an online form. Or, you want to keep copies of your important documents in the cloud, so they're always accessible and safe from being lost or destroyed. Such documents are often digitized as Portable Document Format files (or PDFs).
It used to be that you needed to use either dedicated hardware or a third-party iPhone app to take a photo of a document and convert it to PDF. Apple has added a very handy document scanner into the Notes and Files apps, and it does a surprisingly good job of capturing most documents and converting them to PDF. Because it's not very obvious, you'd be forgiven for not even knowing it exists. Here's how you scan, convert, and store the documents using Notes or Files.
How to scan a document and save it as a PDF with Notes or Files
You can scan a document into Notes and then save it as a PDF (if you want to), or you can directly scan a document into the Files app as a PDF.
At a glance:
1. Create a new note and add scan
2. Export scan from Notes to Files as a PDF
3. Scan directly into Files
If you don't want to save your scan in Notes, you can directly scan into Files, where your document will be saved as a PDF. You can then share it to other cloud services if you wish.
We also have a round up of the best free PDF editors for Mac and How to edit a PDF on a Mac. You may also be interested in How to save a page from a PDF as a separate file and How to create a PDF on an iPhone.
by Ed Hardy, cultofmac
An upcoming software update will add multiple new listening modes to AirPods Pro 2. These are designed to make it easier for the user to listen to music while also hearing what's going on around them.
Apple also announced at WWDC23 that all AirPods will get better at switching connections between devices, plus a change intended to make conference calls easier.
New features only for AirPods Pro 2
While many of the enhancements announced Monday are only for AirPods Pro 2, Apple isn't requiring everyone to buy new wireless earbuds to get them. They'll come via a free software update to existing earbuds.
These premium AirPods already support Active Noise Cancellation. They also offer Transparency mode, which allows the user to hear what's going on around them. The upcoming software update will merge these into Adaptive Audio.
"This new listening mode will seamlessly tailor the noise control experience while users move between environments and interactions that are constantly changing throughout the day," says Apple.
Conversation Awareness will detect that an AirPods Pro 2 user is speaking and automatically lower the volume of playing music and enhance the voices in front of the user, while reducing background noise at the same time.
Apple's top-tier wireless earbuds will also get Personalized Volume, which will use AI to tweak the wearer's listening experience based on their environmental conditions and listening preferences.
Improvements for all AirPods Other AirPods aren't getting completely left out. Apple also promised at WWDC23 on Monday that it's working on improving Automatic Switching, the system that lets a pair of earbuds easily move between iPhone, iPad and Mac. After the update, "the connection time between a user's Apple devices is significantly faster and more reliable," the company promised.
Also, a new Mute or Unmute feature will enable users to press the stem — or the Digital Crown on AirPods Max — to quickly mute or unmute themselves on calls.
The latter feature will be available for AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generations), AirPods (3rd generation), and AirPods Max.
Apple didn't give a specific date for the release of the firmware updates that will make these changes, just promising they'll be available this autumn.
by D. Griffin Jones, cultofmac
Apple Maps is now a fully featured competitor with the likes of Google Maps and Waze. Despite its bumpy start, Apple has mapped significant parts of the world and added tons of sweet features you probably don't know about.
I put together a big list of the best eight features hidden in Apple Maps. Learn them all in the post (or our video) below.
Secret features in Apple Maps
You can watch these features in action in this video:
No. 1: Navigate a city in AR
Walking directions aren't always as easy to follow as driving directions. But you can flip the script on that — navigating with augmented-reality directions in Apple Maps couldn't be more foolproof.
After you get your directions set and running, just tap the AR button on the right of the Maps app. You'll need to scan your surroundings so your phone can get your bearings. If it works, you'll see upcoming turns superimposed through your iPhone's camera.
by Rajesh Pandey, cultofmac
iOS 17 will bring major improvements to the Phone app, FaceTime and Messages on your iPhone with new customization options. In the Phone app, you can now set personalized contact posters or memoji to make the call screen a lot more vibrant.
"Our next release iOS 17, delivers more expressive communication, simplified sharing, more intelligent input and all new experiences for your iPhone," said Craig Federighi on stage during the WWDC23 keynote.
Phone app gets personalized contact posters
The Phone app in iOS 17 will show personalized contact posters or memoji paired with stunning typography. You can set your own contact poster or memoji that will appear when you call your friends or family. It is also a part of your contact card so that it will appear across different apps and services.
With Call Kit support, developers can hook into contact posters for their apps to deliver a consistent experience.
There's also Live Voicemail transcription. As the name indicates, the feature will automatically transcript voicemails in real time. And if needed, you can pick up the call midway.
iOS 17 brings big changes to Phone, Messages and AirDrop
by osxdaily
Apple describes the headset as their "first spatial computer", and the device offers both augmented reality and virtual reality experiences on a screen that "feels 100 feet wide" and includes a spatial audio system for fully immersive experiences.
Trying to describe the device or it's experience is difficult, but while it looks like a pair of fancy ski goggles, the interactive virtual interface itself looks like something straight out of a science fiction movie. Users interact with the device through eye tracking, and flicks, swipes, and pinches of their fingers.
Running the all-new visionOS as an operating system, Vision Pro offers a three dimensional user interface where your apps and Home Screen are floating in space, which Apple says offers "infinite screen real estate".
The Vision Pro headset can also run Mac apps seamlessly, projecting a virtual Mac display - the size of your choosing - into your field of vision. Vision Pro also supports Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, so you can use the device just as you would a Mac, except with a portable and private 4K display.
Apple Vision Pro, a Spatial Computer Headset, Revealed
Apple Vision Pro with battery pack
Apple Vision Pro user interface
Apple Vision Pro interface experience
Truthfully, no amount of writing is going to adequately explain the Vision Pro, so it's highly recommended to watch the product video from Apple, which offers a visual look at various features and capabilities of the device.
Vision Pro interface
If you're curious about the Vision Pro, check out the Apple Vision Pro website for more infVision Pro starts at $3499, and will be available sometime early next year.
If you're curious about the Vision Pro, check out the Apple Vision Pro website for more information.
by Roman Loyola, macworld
My first hour with Apple's new headset was emotional, immersive, and completely captivating.
At Apple's WWDC23, I think I saw the future. [Pausing to ponder.] Yeah, I'm pretty sure I saw the future-or at least Apple's vision of the future of computing. On Tuesday morning, I got to try the Apple Vision Pro, the new $3,499 mixed-reality headset that was announced this week and ships next year.
I'm here to tell you the major details of my experience, but the overall impression I have is that the Vision Pro is the most impressive first-gen product I've seen from Apple-more impressive than the 1998 iMac, or the 2007 iPhone. And I'm fully aware that other companies have made VR headsets, but Apple does that thing that it does, where it puts its understanding of what makes a satisfying user experience and creates a new product in an existing market that sets a higher bar of excellence.
Yes, it's expensive, and yes, this market hasn't proven that it can move beyond being niche. Those are very important considerations to discuss in other articles. For now, I'll convey my experiences and impressions here, from a one-hour demonstration at Apple Park. (I was not allowed to take photos or record video; the photos posted here were supplied by Apple.) The device I used is an early beta, so it's possible—likely even—that the hardware or software could change before next year.
by Chance Miller, 9to5mac
Apple will officially announce its next major software update for Apple Watch in just a few days. Coming at WWDC on June 5, watchOS 10 is rumored to pack a number of major changes and new features, including a major rethink of how users access information from different apps and services.
watchOS 10: What new features are coming?
watchOS 10 is expected to pack a number of significant changes, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The ace Apple reporter has described the update as being a "fairly extensive upgrade" focused on "notable changes to the user interface."
Notably, the focus on Apple Watch software comes during a year in which Apple Watch hardware is mostly expected to stay the same. While the Apple Watch Series 9 coming this fall might feature improved performance for the first time in several years, there are no other major hardware changes rumored. This suggests Apple's goal for this year is to keep Apple Watch users excited with changes to software rather than hardware.
As for what exactly is in store for watchOS 10 this year in terms of new features, one area of focus will be a new reliance on widgets. According to Bloomberg, watchOS 10 will include a newfound focus on widgets as a "central part" of the Apple Watch's interface.
As part of this focus on widgets, Bloomberg has said that watchOS 10 might even change the function of the Apple Watch's Digital Crown. In the current version of watchOS, pressing the Digital Crown takes you to the Apple Watch's home screen. In watchOS 10, however, Apple is testing having the Digital Crown open up the new widgets interface instead.
If this new widget system sounds familiar, it's because it's similar to the "Glances" feature of the first Apple Watch. The idea of Glances, which Apple removed in watchOS 3, was to give users easy access to bits of information from different apps and services. The feature, however, was killed off as Apple tried (and failed) to push standalone apps instead.
So, why is Apple once again trying to make widgets on the Apple Watch a thing? The reasoning is likely two-fold:
Looking beyond widgets, there are a couple of other things that Apple is working on this year that will likely have an impact on watchOS 10. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is working on a new journaling app for iOS 17. This app will likely have at least some sort of integration with Apple Watch.
One leaker on Twitter, who has since deleted their account, also claimed that watchOS 10 will include support for folders on the Home Screen.
Also according to Bloomberg, Apple is planning to redesign many of its watchOS apps as part of this year's update. The focus of these new designs will be on taking better advantage of the Apple Watch Ultra's larger display.
At WWDC this year, Apple is also expected to preview its new mixed-reality headset after years of development. The headset is expected to offer a number of features, including fitness and meditation, that could tie in nicely with existing Apple Watch features.
Finally, Bloomberg has also reported that Apple is developing new mood and emotion tracking features. One would think that these features will be available on Apple Watch, even if it's just in the form of rich notifications of some sort.
One thing that remains unclear is which Apple Watch models will support watchOS 10. Last year's release of watchOS 9 dropped support for the Apple Watch Series 3. Whether or not Apple has plans to drop the Apple Watch Series 4 this year remains to be seen.
Wrap-up
watchOS 10 is set for an official announcement at WWDC, which kicks off on June 5. The company will release the first developer beta that same day, followed by a public beta sometime in July, and a release to the general public in September. We've got more details on the specific timelines in our dedicated watchOS 10 roundup.
by Penny Holland, MAGIC*
Why shouldn't you tell a joke to a windows computer?
It might crack up!
by Ron Sharp and Robert Elphick, MAGIC *
Any one bothered by internet criminal activity should report it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at this web page. This includes phishing, malware, spoofing, any demand for money.
by Ron Sharp, MAGIC
Vision Pro is Apple's new headset they presented at the developers conference this month, calling it the introduction to "Spacial Computing." For starters, I, along with many others, are not so sure wearable devices are going to become a big thing. After watching their introduction though, I do think it is technically amazing.
It's like using your Mac anywhere, having apps and windows show up like they are right in front of you in the room you're in. And you simply look at the app icon you want and tap your fingers together to open it. The headset tracks your eyes. You can make a window or document as large as you want or have multiple windows open around you.
You will be able to watch movies on whatever size screen you want with better than 4K resolution. Spacial audio included for amazing sound. And there's that word "spacial" again. It means it interacts with your surroundings. Supposedly it reads your room acoustics and responds accordingly.
The headset also displays your eyes when anyone is near you so others can see your eyes when talking to you. Unlike talking to someone with dark glasses on feeling a little distant not being able to see their eyes.
The headset won't be available until next year and the price they said would be $3500. That's big bucks but how much would you pay for a wall sized 4k TV with a sound system? With all the other features packed into something you can use anywhere, I'm surprised it's not more.
You'll have to go to Apples website or read more in depth articles as there are more details than I can relate at this time. Apple has not invited me to try the Vision Pro! 🙁
by Ron Sharp, MAGIC
Apple's Vision Pro:
Avalanche caught close up:
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.