• Meeting Intro and report with Ron
• "New iPhone" with Ron Sharp
• "Sonoma - First impressions" with Robert Elphick
• Q&A with "A" Team based on questions emailed prior to meeting
Location:
by ZOOM on-line
MAGIC Minutes for August 16, 2023
by Madelyn van der Hoogt, Secretary
Harry called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.; 14 members in attendance. He then presented the schedule for the next few months (the presentations listed will be short; questions from Magic members will follow each presentation).
Today, September 20: Gary McIntyre will talk about Health applications available on the computer, iPhone, and Apple Watch.
October 18: Ron Sharp will cover the new iPhone 15.
November 25: Robert Elphick will show how to use Search functions, both on the computer and on the Internet.
January 17: Ron Sharp will present Photos on iPhone/iPad and organizing photos.
There will be no meeting in December. The Board has discussed having an in-person meeting next year (perhaps at the Trinity Lutheran Church), in the form of a Swap Meet, where we bring things to sell, trade, or give away. Harry asked for a show of hands from those interested, and many went up.
Gary gave the Treasurer's report: $9080.11
Gary then presented the program on Health Apps for Mac
MAGIC Musings
Harry is out of town this month so there are no Musings.
If you have questions you would like answered at our October meeting, please send them in advance to our MAGIC email .
Harry Anderson
Robert Elphick
Note: This Software Update section of the newsletter lists the most relevant Apple updates. Not all updates are listed for all products. Additionally, I'll add other pertinent updates on occasion.
Apple releases iOS 17.0.2 for iPhone 14 and earlier, fixing setup transfer bug
by Jason Cross, macworld
Apple released iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 on Tuesday for all iPhone models, after making the update available only to iPhone 15 models on Friday, September 22. This update includes the important security fixes from 17.0.1, also released on September 22, but fixes another important bug for new iPhone buyers.
Some users who bought new iPhone 15 models discovered that they were not able to transfer data from their old iPhone during new iPhone setup process. They should have been prompted to update to iOS 17.0.2 on their new iPhone 15 or 15 Pro as part of the setup process, after which the transfer would work, but for some users, this didn't happen (or took an unusually long time) and they had to connect the iPhone to a Mac to download the update. Restoring from an iCloud backup always worked, but you get a faster and more complete transfer directly from your old device.
The iOS 17.0.2 update fixes this bug for iPhones, while iPadOS 17.0.2 fixes the same setup data transfer bug for iPads.
To update your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, then General > Software Update, and tap Update Now.
To accompany this update, watchOS 10.0.2 has been released for Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. That update can be installed through the Watch app.
iOS 17.0.3 fixes security breach that had been actively exploited
by Filipe Espósito, 9to5mac
Apple on Wednesday released iOS 17.0.3 for iPhone users. Although the update doesn't bring any new features, it fixes a bug that had been causing some iPhone models (especially the iPhone 15 Pro) to overheat more than usual. However, iOS 17.0.3 also comes with two important security fixes, including a fix for a breach that had been actively exploited.
iOS 17.0.3 patches two exploits
According to a document published by Apple on its website, iOS 17.0.3 and iPadOS 17.0.3 fix a Kernel exploit found in versions prior to iOS 16.6. The company explains that an attacker with access to the device could elevate their privileges to run malicious code. "The issue was addressed with improved checks," Apple details.
But that's not the only exploit fixed by today's update. It also fixes a WebRTC exploit where attackers could use a buffer overflow to execute code arbitrarily. The discovery of the exploit was attributed to Bugzilla, a bug monitoring platform developed by the Mozilla Project.
iOS 17.0.3 and iPadOS 17.0.3 are available for every iPhone and iPad model compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. This includes iPhone XR and later, and every iPad with an A10X chip or later. Keeping your device up-to-date is important to keep it safe from hackers and malware.
Here's how to update your iPhone or iPad:
Open the Settings app
Tap the General menu
Select Software Update
Wait until the update shows up and tap Update Now
We recommend backing up your device before installing software updates.
iPhone 15 overheating fix: Thermal imaging shows before and after iOS 17.0.3
by Ben Lovejoy, 9to5mac
The iPhone 15 overheating problem was both confirmed and visualized using thermal imaging, and now the same tech has been used to show the impact of Apple's software fix.
In our own poll, a full 57% of 9to5Mac readers with iPhone 15 models had experienced the overheating problem …
iPhone 15 overheating
We first started seeing widespread reports of the issue not long after people received their new iPhones. Some users, including our own Ian Zelbo, found that their phones were almost too hot to hold in same circumstances.
My iPhone 15 Pro Max is almost too hot to touch while fast charging right now. I thought people were exaggerating, but no, this isn't great.
In our own poll, a total of 57% of readers with iPhone 15 models had experienced the issue:
During charging: 19%
During demanding use: 11%
During normal use: 27%
Apple's fix
Apple confirmed the problem, but denied reports that it had anything to do with Pro model chassis change from stainless steel to titanium. Indeed, said the company, the latest models actually have better heat dissipation than previous iPhones.
The iPhone maker told us that it was instead a mixture of a bug in iOS 17, and problems with apps like Instagram and Uber, which were hammering the phone enough to drive up temperatures.
Apple issued a fix in iOS 17.0.3.
This update provides important bug fixes, security updates, and addresses an issue that may cause iPhone to run warmer than expected
Some had worried that the company may have throttled the performance of the A17 Pro chip in order to achieve this, but benchtest results showed no sign of this.
Before and after thermal images
Objective data for the issue was provided using a Forward-Looking InfraRed (FLIR) camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera. This not only provided a visual representation of the heat, but also showed the specific temperatures measured - which were significantly higher than those measured with competing phones.
ZDNet used the same kit to take temperature readings before and after installing iOS 17.0.3. This confirmed that the update did indeed resolve the issue.
Before:
I used a thermal camera to measure the heat and found that the iPhone 15 Pro Max got as hot as 107.1 degrees Fahrenheit. This was much hotter than other iPhone and Android phones, which typically maxed out at 85 to 95 degrees when fast-charging in my tests. The hottest any other phone got when testing in the same conditions was the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5, which got up to 98.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
After:
I downloaded the iOS 17.0.3 update and allowed my iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max testing units to drain their power and then plugged them in for fast-charging using the same parameters and the same equipment in the same location as my earlier tests. This time they never got more than slightly warm to the touch, and they didn't get above 93.8 degrees Fahrenheit. They stayed between the high 80s and low 90s — a big improvement from before iOS 17.0.3 when the two iPhone 15 Pro models were consistently above 100 degrees Fahrenheit when fast-charging with the 35W charger.
You can see the visual results in the photos above.
Now that iPad users can update to iPadOS 17, have you done so? If not, you're certainly not alone, as a lot of people sit on the sidelines with no particular rush to install the latest system software versions. But iPadOS 17 offers some nice improvements, like interactive widgets, FaceTime Video Voicemail, new Messages features, the ability to put widgets on your Lock Screen, and more, making it a worthwhile update for most iPad users.
Let's review how you can install iPadOS 17 onto your iPad so that you'll be running the latest and greatest iPadOS in no time at all.
Is your iPad compatible with iPadOS 17?
You need to make sure that your iPad is compatible with iPadOS 17, meaning it must one of the following:
iPad Pro 12.9″ 2nd generation and later
iPad Pro 11″ 1st generation and later
iPad Pro 10.5″
iPad Air 3rd generation and later
iPad 6th generation and later
iPad mini 5th generation and later
You'll notice a few iPad models have been dropped by iPadOS 17, and are not able to run the latest operating system.
How to Update & Install iPadOS 17 on iPad
Upgrading your iPad to the latest iPadOS is simple:
Backup the iPad to iCloud, iTunes, or Finder to make sure that you can restore your data if something goes wrong
Open the "Settings" app on iPad
Go to "General"
Go to "Software Update"
Choose to "Update Now" when iPadOS 17 shows as available to download and install the iPadOS 17 system software update onto your iPad*
The iPad will restart to finish installation.
Once the iPad has started back up again, you can enjoy all the new features, like the new customizable Lock Screen that you can place widgets on, interactive widgets on the Home Screen, Live Activities on the Lock Screen, Safari Profiles, FaceTime video voicemail, new Messages features, Health app, autofill support for PDFs, Safari Private Browsing passcode/Face ID lock, and more.
If you don't have enough storage available to install iPadOS 17 on your iPad, you'll need to address that first. Aim to have at least 15GB of storage capacity available on your iPad.
* This will install whatever the latest version of iPadOS 17 is on your iPad. As of writing, that is iPadOS 17.0.2, with iPadOS 17.1 currently in beta.
MacOS Sonoma includes some great new features and beautiful refinements to the Mac operating system, and if you just downloaded and installed MacOS Sonoma 14 you may be curious about what to explore with the upgraded system software version, or what is new. We're here to help, covering the seven best new features of MacOS Sonoma.
1: Desktop Widgets
MacOS Sonoma allows you to add widgets directly to your Mac desktop, and they fade away to be more subdued visually when not in focused view.
Widgets on the MacOS Sonoma desktop
If you missed Dashboard, the feature that allowed widgets on the Mac for many years, then you'll be thrilled to experience widgets in Sonoma.
2: 120+ New Screen Savers
MacOS Sonoma includes over 100 new stunning screen savers of gorgeous landscapes, cityscapes, underwater scenes, Earth from space, and more.
I haven't enjoyed screen savers this much since After Dark!
These screen savers are genuinely incredible and well worth experiencing for yourself, and you'll want to show them off. Using the "Shuffle Aerials" feature is immensely enjoyable.
3: 121 New Wallpapers & Moving Wallpapers
The 121 new Aerial screen savers are in 4k, and they double as wallpapers!
new wallpapers in MacOS Sonoma
Furthermore, when you wake up your Mac from a screen saver and log in, the screen saver continues to move for a moment as you login to the Mac and it settles into the desktop wallpaper, offering a really nice moving wallpaper effect.
4: Newly Redesigned Lock Screen
The redesigned Lock Screen of MacOS Sonoma looks a bit more like something on an iPad or iPhone, and shows off the beautiful aerial screensavers or your wallpaper of choice.
new Mac Lock Screen in Sonoma
Plus, when you login with the new Lock Screen, the wallpaper continues to move for a moment, and it's a really nice touch.
5: Safari Profiles
Now you can create Profiles in Safari, for things like "Work", "School", "Personal", "Play", or whatever else.
Safari Profiles support in MacOS Sonoma
Each profile can have a separate set of windows and tabs associated with it, support for different cookies, history, and extensions, and makes it much easier to keep your Safari browser experience separate for things like work and personal life.
6: Add Your Favorite Webpages to Dock as Web Apps
You can turn your favorite websites into web apps, and place them directly in the Dock!
For example, if you open a new Safari browser window to the best Apple website in the world (osxdaily.com obviously), then go to the File menu > and choose "Add to Dock", an icon for OSXDaily will appear in your Dock. When clicked, the OSXDaily.com will launch as a separate web app (or any other website you choose to use this feature with).
7: Game Mode
Game Mode activates automatically on any Apple Silicon Mac running MacOS Sonoma whenever a game is ran in full screen mode, and it aims to improve game performance by prioritizing games for CPU and GPU usage. Open a game in full screen and soon see a little game controller icon in the menu bar, and from there you can turn off Game Mode, but you can't turn it on because it's already on.
If you're wondering how to enable and turn on Game Mode in MacOS Sonoma, it's handled automatically.
And if you search for "Game Mode" in the Help menu of MacOS Sonoma to try and get more information or help about the feature of MacOS, you won't find anything there either. Mysterious!
Game Mode is so well hidden in MacOS Sonoma that even the Help menu doesn't have any mention of it
How to use Safari Private Browsing in macOS Sonoma
by William Gallagher, appleinsider
Once more, Apple's updates to security in Safari are small, yet useful. Here's what's new in macOS Sonoma, and what Private Browsing can do.
Beth Dakin, Apple's Senior Manager, Safari Software Engineering, said during the WWDC keynote that Safari "was the first browser to introduce private browsing." She wasn't kidding - Private Browsing came in with Safari 2.0 in 2004.
After almost 20 years, the idea has remained the same, even as Apple has introduced new aspects as it has with the forthcoming macOS Sonoma.
Use Private Browsing now and Safari, as ever, does not add to your browser history, and it doesn't record your searches. Nicely, a private window on one of your devices will not automatically open up on your other devices.
How to use Private Browsing on the Mac
Open Safari on the Mac
Choose the menu File -> New Private Window, or
Press Shift-Command-N
That opens a new private window and any tab you create within that window will also be private.
That continues to be the case if you close one private among many. However, if you close a last remaining private tab, you're back to regular, non-private browsing.
Similarly, if you close the window — by clicking in the red traffic light icon at top left — you also shut down private browsing.
How to use Private Browsing on iOS 17 and iPadOS 17
Open Safari
Tap on the Tabs button (the overlapping squares icon) at bottom right
Tap on the center icon (three lines with bullets in front)
From the list of Tab Groups that appears, scroll to almost the bottom
On the screen that now says "Private Browsing is Locked," tap Unlock
Unlock with Face ID
On iPhone and iPad, Private Browsing is a specific Tab Group in Safari
Once again, you're now in private browsing and any tab you create will also be a private one.
You can close any private browsing tab by tapping on the Tabs button, then on the small X that appears at top right of each tab thumbnail.
To get out of private browsing on the iPhone or iPad, tap on the center icon at the bottom of the screen and switch to a different tab group.
Only the Private tab group can actually be private, no other one can.
What's new
"Private browsing now... completely blocks known trackers from loading on pages," continued Dakin, "and removes tracking from URLs as you browse in private browsing."
And she also pointed out the most visible change to the feature. Now when you have not been actively clicking or scrolling in a private window for a short time, the Mac, iPhone, or iPad assumes you've stepped away from your device.
Consequently, it locks the private window. So all anyone approaching your device can see is that you are using Private Browsing.
They can't see any of the content, and of course they can't unlock the Safari window without the right password, Touch ID, or Face ID.
How to switch users on the lock screen in macOS Sonoma
by William Gallagher, appleinsider
If you have to share a Mac, then macOS Sonoma has the potential to confuse because of an elegant yet easily missable design choice on the lock screen. Here's how to use the new user switch feature in the fall.
The change is to do with the new lock screen, easily the most immediately visible difference between macOS Sonoma and its predecessors.
It is specifically a change to the lock screen. To quick switch users from the menubar or Control Center, the procedure is as it was for macOS Ventura.
How it used to be on the lock screen
If you are the sole user of your Mac then when you start it up, you get a lock screen that now has a clock at the top, and an login area at the bottom. There's a picture of you in a small circle, if you bothered to add a photo of yourself, and — when you hover over the right area, or start typing — there is also a password field.
There's a small difference when you are currently logged in and want to switch to another user. In that case, if you choose the Apple menu and then Lock Screen, you get your regular login screen plus a Switch User button.
Pressing that Switch User button, or coming to the login screen from having restarted the Mac, you get a row of usernames and icons.
Functionally, it's very clear how to pick the user you want. But aesthetically, the icons do seem over-sized — and that's what Apple has changed.
The lock screen login has been revised but it's still possible to put Fast User Switching in the menubar or Control Center
The lock screen login has been revised but it's still possible to put Fast User Switching in the menubar or Control Center
Small but significant change
Now whenever you get to the user login page, most of the time you will see a much smaller, neater icon for the user. It's still in a circle, but now that circle is at the foot of the screen.
And there may not appear to be any other users at all.
If you catch the login screen waking up, though, you will see an icon for other users briefly pop up behind the current one. It looks like the other users are waving, in how they lean out to one side, then quickly slide back in behind the current one again.
It looks good, it looks oddly happy, but it is also easy to miss unless you tend to watch your Mac starting up.
Whether you miss it or not, though, what you have to do now is click on the current user.
Once you do that, the user icons pop back into view and arrange themselves into a vertical column. The bottom one is the current user, right underneath your cursor so that you can click it fastest, but you can click on any of them.
Click on a user and you then get the option to enter a password or use Touch ID.
iCloud․com just got its iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma feature refresh
by Zac Hall, 9to5mac
With iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma complete, Apple has turned its attention iCloud on the web. Apple's web apps for Mail, Calendar, and more have been updated to gain feature compatibility with the iPhone, iPad, and Mac versions.
iCloud on the web is useful for users who want to access their personal data on Macs or PCs without being signed in at a system level. Optionally, access to iCloud.com can be disabled for an Apple ID as part of Apple's Advanced Data Protection feature.
The website originally worked like a virtual Home screen of apps until last fall.
That's when Apple deployed a huge design overhaul that transformed it into a web-specific design. The current version is based on customizable tiles. The updated website pushes that approach forward while introducing iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma features. Here's what's new:
General
Customize What You See in Tiles
Choose a specific folder for Notes, a mailbox for Mail, display just your favorite Photos, and more. You can also configure your homepage to show multiple layouts of the same tile so you can see more content from your favorite apps. Access layout options in the menu in the lower-left corner of a tile.
Quick Actions From Tiles
Mark reminders as complete, flag an email, see a preview of a file in Drive, and more. Perform actions from tiles by hovering on content and selecting to reveal quick actions. If you're on a touch device, swipe to the left.
Browser Notifications
Get notified of new email or event invitations and updates with browser notifications on a PC for Mail and Calendar. You can configure browser notifications in iCloud Settings on the web.
Updated Design
New design and layouts across Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, Drive, and more.
iCloud Mail
Attach from iCloud
Attach photos and files to email messages directly from iCloud.
Undo Send
Easily unsend an email message that you just sent before it reaches the recipient's inbox.
iCloud Calendar
Calendar Identity Control
Control the email address others see in event invitations and even use your Custom Email Domain to unite your Calendar and Mail identities. Manage it all from iCloud Calendar settings.
iCloud Drive
List View
Switch between viewing your files as icons or in as a list with the toggle in the upper left corner.
Preview Your Files
Press the Space bar after selecting a file or photo to get a quick preview before opening or downloading it. You can also access quick view through the options menu.
Access File Options
Easily access actions like renaming a file or downloading a copy through the options menu.
iCloud Photos
Memories
See your Memories and play them in a full-screen view by clicking on the memory.
Slideshow
To view your selection in a slideshow, select Play Slideshow from the menu in the upper right corner.
Notes
Linked Notes
Create links to other notes by typing >> or Command + K as a shortcut to add links while writing in your note.
Shared Folders
Collaborate with others on an entire folder of notes.
Enhanced Search
Use suggested search to refine your search against categories like shared notes, checklists, tags and more.
Reminders
Customize Your Reminders
Add dates, locations, flags, and more using the edit details button.
How to use the updated text magnification in iOS 17
by William Gallagher, appleinsider
It's perhaps the very smallest improvement in iOS 17, but that's appropriate because what Apple has done is increase text magnification to help you see more clearly. Here's how to use it.
You may never have noticed that this is even a feature of iOS, but this is the tenth anniversary of when Apple got a patent for what's sometimes called a loupe.
It's actually much longer since Apple introduced the loupe, which is a tool for magnifying text immediately beneath the user's finger. It's named after the word for jewellers' or artists' small magnifying glass.
How to use the loupe in iOS 17:
On iPhone, open any website, email, or other text document
Press and hold on a word or a line
When the loupe appears, drag your finger slowly over the line
Let go when you've read what you need
Watch the Latest from AppleInsider TV
As well as greater magnification for the text under the loupe, the whole feature is now highlighted where before it was hard to even determine the border. Nicely, the color of the loupe highlight changes to be clear against whatever the background is.
Left: the loupe in iOS 16. Right: in iOS 17 it magnifies more and has a clear border
This could all be the very easiest iOS feature to use, but it has limits. While the text shown in the loupe is significantly larger than before, it's still only a small selection of text that is being magnified.
So almost certainly, you are going to need to keep holding down and slowly moving your finger around to read more.
When you do that, though, you inevitably start selecting items at the same time. Plus if your finger grazes close to an image, that image won't be magnified and will get selected.
When that happens, instead of helpfully magnifying a couple of words to make them more visible, now a whole page is selected and you need to tap to clear that before you magnify anything else.
How to use Check In to share location in Messages in iOS 17
by Andrew Orr, appleinsider
Check In is a new safety feature introduced in iOS 17 that automatically informs your selected contacts about your location when you arrive at a specified place. Here's how to use it in the Messages app.
Check In is a safety feature. It's designed to inform your loved ones about your whereabouts, when you want them to.
Instead of manually sending a message to inform someone that you've reached a destination, "Check In" makes the process easier by including location data, ensuring that your iPhone communicates essential details on your behalf.
One of the primary benefits of "Check In" is the safety assurance it provides. Personal safety is paramount, whether navigating the streets late at night, venturing into unfamiliar territory, or heading home, "Check In" serves as a digital guardian. It offers security, letting your contacts know you've safely arrived at your intended destination.
The feature can trace your route in real-time and send alerts to your contacts if there are any deviations or delays. It ensures that your loved ones are always informed, even if your journey doesn't go as planned.
However, the recipient will also need to be running iOS 17 for the feature to work.
How to Check In with Contacts in iOS 17:
Open the Messages app. Tap on the conversation where you want to use Check In.
Next, tap the plus (+) button, choose More, and select Check In.
If it's your first time, follow the on-screen instructions. You must decide between "Limited" or "Full" data-sharing access. These options give you control over the level of location access.
Tap the Continue button as you read through the on-screen explanations until you see the Send a Check In button.
How to use Check In in Messages in iOS 17
After that, if you don't reach your destination within the set time or place an Emergency SOS Call, your iPhone will prompt you to check if everything's okay. If you don't respond within 15 minutes, "Check In" will alert your contact.
As technology continues to evolve, it's nice to see features like "Check In" that prioritize personal safety, along with other features in Apple's products.
How do you create a Contact Poster in iOS 17? Contact posters are a brand-new feature that lets you customize how your contact card looks to other people. If you call someone — and they have your contact info in their address book — your Contact Poster appears on their screen. It looks great; way better than the old thumbnail that was displayed. You set it up once, and everyone with your matching phone number and/or Apple ID will see your chosen contact picture and personalized poster.
It's really easy to turn an ordinary picture into a gorgeous-looking contact poster. Let me show you how it works — the process might look familiar if you've set up a custom Lock Screen.
How to create a Contact Poster in iOS 17
iOS 17 is out now. If you bought a new iPhone 15, you've got it already. Otherwise, head over to Settings > General > Software Update to get it. Upgrading may take about 20 minutes after downloading, so make sure you don't start it at a bad time.
Contact Posters work hand-in-hand with NameDrop, a faster way to swap contact info with someone new. You hold your phones together to exchange the name, number and email of your choosing. More on that here.
Set up your Contact Poster
Find your contact in Contacts or the Contacts tab of the Phone app. Your contact card will be at the very top..
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
iPad mini 7 still on track for the coming months along with two new iPad Air models
by Filipe Espósito, 9to5mac
Apple hasn't released any new iPads for quite some time, since the last ones - the M2 iPad Pro and the iPad 10 - were introduced in October last year. Rumors have been conflicting about when Apple will announce new iPads and which models the company plans to update first. Now 9to5Mac has learned from sources that there are multiple new iPads on track for the coming months, including iPad mini 7 and two new iPad Air models.
iPad mini 7 and 11th generation iPad
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in December 2022 that Apple has been working on a new iPad mini expected to be released in late 2023 or early 2024. The information was later corroborated by leaker ShrimpApplePro. 9to5Mac's sources revealed that Apple still has plans to introduce the iPad mini 7 soon, although the exact timing is still unclear.
Most likely the new iPad mini will keep the same design as the current generation, but this time with a faster chip. For context, the current iPad mini 6 was launched in September 2021 and is still powered by the A15 Bionic chip, the same as the iPhone 13.
Apple has also been running tests with an updated version of the entry-level iPad, codenamed J126b. The 10th generation iPad was introduced last year with a similar design to the iPad Air and USB-C port, but with the A14 Bionic chip inside. It's also likely that the new entry-level iPad will only get spec upgrades compared to the current model.
New iPad Air and M3 iPad Pro
When it comes to the iPad Air, Apple may have more ambitious plans for its mid-range tablet. That's because 9to5Mac's sources have told us that the company has been experimenting with two new versions of the iPad Air. Codenamed J507 and J508 (also for Wi-Fi and cellular versions), iPad Air 6 is likely to replace iPad Air 5 with a new chip.
iPad Air 5
These models are in line with what Bloomberg reported back in June. But Apple has also been working on other iPads identified as J537 and J538 that are based on the iPad Air. For instance, the only iPad that currently has more than one version is the iPad Pro, as it comes in 11 and 12.9 inches, so there are two models for each version.
Details are vague at this point, but this suggests that Apple may be considering introducing a larger version of the iPad Air, or a more expensive model with better specs. Of course, Apple's plans may change and this second version of the new iPad Air may never see the light of day.
Unsurprisingly, there's also a new generation iPad Pro with an M3 chip on the way. These are identified as J717 and J718 for the 11-inch models and J720 and J721 for the larger-sized models.
A redesigned Magic Keyboard
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported last month that Apple has been developing a new Magic Keyboard for the iPad that makes it look more like a laptop. The structure would be made of aluminum instead of plastic, and the trackpad would be larger.
9to5Mac's sources corroborate this report. The new Magic Keyboard for the iPad is identified as R219 (the current version is codenamed R1x) and is equipped with new sensors, including an accelerometer. It is expected to be unveiled alongside the new iPad Pro.
11-inch iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard
When it comes to the new iPads, they're all on track to be released with a future version of iPadOS 17, which means they should be announced between now and WWDC 2024 in June.
Apple offers two possible fixes for watchOS 10 Weather app complication woes
by Michael Simon, macworld
If you own an Apple Watch Series 4 or later and have installed watchOS 10, you've probably noticed things are a lot different. But there's one change that's been irking users since day one—and Apple doesn't appear to know how to fix it.
Ever since watchOS 10 arrived, many people have noticed that the Weather app complication isn't loading, delivering dashes instead of temperature, AQI, or precipitation numbers. We assumed that it would have been fixed with the release of the watchOS 10.0.1 and 10.0.2 updates, but people are reporting that the issues persist.
Apple has offered two solutions, but the suggestions aren't all that helpful. The first is to toggle the Allow Location Access setting on your iPhone, which will help the watch reconnect to your local weather. The second is to reset Location & Privacy completely, which resets all of your location settings to the factory default.
Some people have reported that Apple's suggestions work at least temporarily before reverting to the same behavior. Other people have reported success with switching between the 12-hour and 24-hour clock in the Clock app settings.
At any rate, it appears as though the issues will persist until Apple pushes the watchOS 10.1 update, which began beta testing this week.
What's on Apple TV+ this week: 'Flora and Son' and 'Interrupting Chicken' S2
by Jason Cross, macworld
What's new on Apple TV+
Best shows on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ shows and series
Apple TV movies and short films
Apple has planted its own flag in the streaming wars with Apple TV+, its in-house streaming service that focuses almost entirely on original programming rather than an extensive library of existing TV shows or movies.
This guide will list all the Apple TV+ content you can watch today, divided into episodic shows or series and movies. There's also a ton of new content in the works for Apple's $6.99-a-month service. If you want to know what's on the way, check out our list of upcoming Apple TV+ shows and movies.
Apple Watch Series 9 review: Solid upgrade even with features still coming
by Wesley Hilliard, appleinsider
Quality of life updates like Double Tap and a brighter display makes Apple Watch Series 9 a worthwhile upgrade, but Series 7 and newer owners shouldn't bother.
Apple Watch launched in 2015 and has dramatically transformed as a product since. The latest updates are pretty impressive when viewed with a long enough scope, but year-over-year comparisons won't be as exciting.
Apple Watch Series 9 has an identical design to the previous three generations of Apple Watch. It has the same health sensors as Apple Watch Series 8 but can do more thanks to an updated CPU.
Apple has stuffed every corner of the Apple Watch with sensors, elongated battery life as much as possible for the size, and improved processing speeds so everything is fluid. That means Apple has boxed itself in a developmental corner for this particular device, but the 2023 model may still be worth considering.
Once a year Apple rolls out a major update to tvOS, the operating system software that runs on the 2015 and later Apple TV models. These (free) full-version updates introduce new features, as well as tweaking the interface and fixing bugs. The latest of these is tvOS 17, and it will be available to install from September 18, 2023!
In between the yearly updates, smaller point updates roll out, such as (in the near future) tvOS 17.1. These tend to have fewer eye-catching features but they are important too, because they often include security fixes. It's a good idea to keep your Apple TV up to date with the latest tvOS updates.
In this article, we explain how to update tvOS on your Apple TV - which, as of today, means installing tvOS 17. (If you'd like to try out forthcoming versions of the software before they launch, you need to install a tvOS beta.) We also address any issues you might encounter with the update process.
Me: "Hey Siri ... Is my password safe from Russian hackers?"
Siri: "Da"
However stole my Microsoft Office, I'm coming after you. You have my word!
I got my iPad from a Chinese friend. I love homemade gifts.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Malware Examples
by Ron Sharp and Robert Elphick, MAGIC *
This is a SCAM Delete it.
This is a SCAM in my iPhone Delete it.
From a MAGIC member: Norton Crooks. Got this and did not reply so they kept sending one and rising the price.When I Saved them to the desk top to compare with original bill they would not copy with full invoice, So I checked my original and saw that they were phony. The one from Maria Cruz was the $ 399.00 one the other was Bertha Garcia for 499.00 Better let every one know. They almost got me if I had not saved the original to check it with I would have bitten to complain.
This is SPAM Note the address of the sender. Also not the WhidbeyTel will NEVER send a message to multiple users in the "To:" section
This poped up one day in my browser. It is Malware DO NOT CCLICK or call the phone number.
Another one! DO NOT CLICK
But I do not use Norton! - It looks very real though does'nt it? 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.
The FBI Is Warning About 'Juice Jacking'
Are Public Charging Stations Safe?
by Rob Pegoraro, AARP
Published April 28, 2023
You can easily protect your smartphone, other devices from malware that's not widespread
If you've ever been anxious about your phone running out of battery power in an airport, recent advisories from two government agencies added to the concerns: Using a public USB charging port could get your device hacked, they said.
"Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers," the FBI's Denver field office tweeted April 6, an echo of a news release from the FBI's Portland, Oregon, office in November 2020. "Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices."
The Federal Communications Commission followed April 11 with an update of its 2019 advisory.
"If your battery is running low, be aware [of] juicing up your electronic device at free USB port charging stations," the notice says. "You could become a victim of 'juice jacking,' yet another cybertheft tactic."
What is juice jacking?
Like carjacking and skyjacking before it, juice jacking is a catchy phrase that plays on words — juice as the slang for battery power and jacking for hijacking. The concern is you could unknowingly download malicious software that can siphon off your files and passwords or lock a device until you're forced to buy a bogus cure for the problem.
The alliterative juice-jacking label prompted myriad media outlets to jump on the story, many without noticing that something was missing in the agencies' warnings: actual case counts or complaints.
Asked if its April 6 warning came from knowledge of a specific threat, the FBI's public affairs office calls it "a general reminder for the American public to stay safe and diligent, especially while traveling."
The FCC also can't point to new information or document cases of juice jacking. Nor can the agency that runs the capital's Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and
Washington Dulles International Airport.
"We have not received reports of malware being detected in airport USB ports," says Rob Yingling, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Juice jacking is technologically possible
Perhaps the earliest warning came at a 2011 Def Con hackers conference when cybersecurity company Aries Security built a charging kiosk to educate attendees about the risks. In 2013, researchers compromised iPhones using malicious USB ports during a demonstration at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference, and in 2016 researchers confirmed a similar vulnerability in some Samsung Android phones.
But several security experts say they have yet to see the threat at public charging stations.
In contrast, the FBI estimates that another type of data hijacking, credit card skimming, costs consumers and financial institutions more than $1 billion every year. Thieves can steal your credit or debit card information by attaching tough-to-see gadgets on ATMs, gas pumps and other locations where you insert your magnetic card into a machine.
"I got annoyed by the FBI announcement [on juice jacking] because it lacked any evidence that this is a widespread problem, let alone a problem at all," says Chris Wysopal, cofounder and chief technology officer at the software-integrity firm Veracode in Burlington, Massachusetts. His conversations with other security professionals have yet to surface cases of juice jacking.
Your best defense? Updated software
With up-to-date smartphone software, experts consider the real risk minimal.
"What the attacker is actually doing is exploiting a vulnerability on your phone," says Melanie Ensign, a security adviser who helps run the Def Con and Enigma security conferences. The vulnerability doesn't live inside the USB port.
7 ways to keep your electronics safe from juice jacking:
Tote your own charging cables.
Plug your own charger into an electrical outlet.
Carry a backup battery pack.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date.
Lock your phone or turn it off before plugging it in at a public charging station.
Don't allow your device to share data while charging.
Consider using a USB data blocker cable if you need a public charging station.
"The most important thing to do is keep your software and firmware updated," she says. That means the apps that let you find bargains, listen to music, navigate around town, play games or share on social media and the operating system that runs your devices.
vThe first choice for both Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating systems is to use a new Lightning or USB connection only for charging. If you plug an iPhone into a random computer, it will display a dialog asking if you want to trust that device with Don't Trust highlighted in bold. Android phones show a Charging this device via USB dialog, which you have to tap through to allow file transfers.
The FCC warning gets that right, advising: "If you plug your device into a USB port and a prompt appears asking you to select 'share data' or 'charge only,' always select 'charge only.'"
Wysopal offers an additional tip: Lock your phone before you plug it into a public USB port.
"Locking your phone shuts off data over the USB port so that attacks are pretty much impossible," he says. Turning the phone off completely before charging will also work.
Or you can buy a USB data blocker for about $7. The adapter has pins to transfer only power, not data, on its phone end. Spending a little more will get you a charger with multiple USB ports that works with any power outlet and will top up your battery faster than most public USB stations.
Other issues are more of a concern
It's important to remember that attackers who want to steal information from random phones don't need to tamper with faraway chargers or even leave their homes. They can ship "free" apps that quietly collect and share data.
"I still use public USB ports when I need to," Ensign says, knowing her best defense is updated software. "Consumers have enough things to stress about. This really shouldn't be one of them."
Original article: https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2023/public-charging-protection.html
Here we are again, updating software and trying to figure out how to do the things we used to do or how to set up the new stuff to work the way we want.
The change that has rather annoyed me are the changes to the Contacts app. The Contact card information is generally the same but the visuals, the new contact Photo and Poster setup is confusing. It's just selecting a photo and setting up a poster, you would think that wouldn't be so hard. But if you are selective at all it's frustrating. Changing the look of the Contacts app is fine if the setup was simpler.
First of all, the poster color choice is always something that takes me a few minutes, and several times because after setting it once I decide a day later I want to change it. Then the font choice, yes even a font choice for contact cards, hardly seems worth the trouble they look so similar. And for your poster you can choose an image instead. Another decision. Or again, you could choose a memoji. And you can create your own memoji. Whoa, stop already.
You can also choose a portrait image in addition to the poster. The portrait can be your initials or a photo or memoji. Can you change a portrait image without changing the poster? I haven't figured that out yet. It seems possible but I haven't been successful at it.
How much time have I spent setting up a contact card info? Well, you have to do that for everyone in your Contacts app if you don't like the default contact poster. Is there a way to set a default contact poster. Not that I have found.
I'm guessing the Contact poster setup could be a complete non issue if you don't really care what a contact card looks like as long the information is there. I am being a bit particular.
There are also changes to the camera settings. Such as changes to the default formats. HEIF and ProRAW 48 MP and ProRAW 12 MP are default formats to choose from. And a bunch of options to preserve camera settings or not. Such as camera mode, depth control, portrait zoom, etc. Well, that'll be another rant.
In reference to my last months article about having fun, I'm must really be staying young with all this learning! Apple, thanks for keeping us mentally healthy!
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.
