• Meeting Intro with Harry
• "Using AirDrop / Figuring out which cords works with what" with Robert Elphick
• Q & A with the "A" Team based on questions emailed prior to meeting as well from the audience
Location:
by ZOOM on-line
MAGIC Minutes for August 21, 2024
by Secretary Wendy Shimada, MAGIC*
The meeting was called to order at 4:02 pm by President Harry Anderson, with 18 participants attending within a few moments. Treasurer Gary McIntyre provided a financial update, showing a $9,585.43 balance. As we are currently not collecting any dues, members are welcome to make a contribution (on our website: www.whidbey.com/magicmug.) Everyone was reminded to please mute themselves when not talking.
This month's presentation was "Syncing Our Devices" with Ron Sharp. The topic for next month's presentation on September 18 is "Airdrop and Which Cord for Which Device", with Robert Elphick.
Harry thanked everyone again for responding to our questionnaire, which helped us with planning future meetings. As there was no additional business to discuss and no questions from attendees, Harry turned the meeting over to Ron.
After the presentation, Ron, Robert and Gary answered the members' questions that were emailed in previously then answered the remaining questions from attendees. The meeting concluded at 5:15 pm.
MAGIC Musings
Nothing to report.
Harry Anderson, President
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 security releases
from Apple
This document lists security updates and Rapid Security Responses for Apple software.
About Apple security releases
For the protection of our customers, Apple doesn't disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are generally available. This document lists recent releases, including security updates and Rapid Security Responses.
If you need technical support for a security issue—for example, to reset your Apple ID password or to review a recent App Store charge—view the Get help with security issues article.
If you believe that you've discovered a security or privacy vulnerability in an Apple product, learn how to submit your research.
Get the latest software updates from Apple
Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your Apple product's security.
The latest version of iOS and iPadOS is 17.6.1. Learn how to update the software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
The latest version of macOS is 14.6.1. Learn how to update the software on your Mac and how to allow important background updates.
The latest version of tvOS is 17.6. Learn how to update the software on your Apple TV.
The latest version of watchOS is 10.6. Learn how to update the software on your Apple Watch.
The latest version of visionOS is 1.3. Learn how to update the software on your Apple Vision Pro.
Note that after a software update is installed for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS, it cannot be downgraded to the previous version.
Ahead of Apple Intelligence launch, Apple agrees to AI safety guidelines established by Biden administration
by Benjamin Mayo, 9to5mac
Apple has joined other tech giants like OpenAI, Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft in agreeing to a set of voluntary AI safety rules established by the Biden administration (via Bloomberg).
The safeguards are a first step in the US government having oversight of how artificial intelligence technology develops. Apple's cooperation comes ahead of the launch of its suite of Apple Intelligence features, starting with iOS 18 this fall.
Apple Intelligence is not yet available in the beta channels for iOS 18, iPadOS 18 or macOS Sequoia. However, the company has pledged for some Apple Intelligence features to be available in beta soon, with the first set of features launching to customers by the end of the year.
Other improvements, like an overhaul to Siri taking advantage of in-app actions and personal context, are expected to roll out in the spring of 2025.
Apple Intelligence will be supported by iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and is expected to include all iPhone 16 models launching this fall. For Mac and iPad platforms, if your device runs on an Apple Silicon chip, it will support Apple Intelligence.
The administrations safety rules outline commitments for the companies to test behavior of AI systems, ensuring they do not exhibit discriminatory tendencies or have national security concerns. The results of conducted tests must be shared with governments and academia for peer review.
At least for now, the White House AI guidelines are not enforceable in law. Congress has yet to pass a bill for formal AI regulation, but these tech companies are agreeing voluntarily in good faith.
Apple Intelligence will include features like proofreading and writing tools, priority notifications, emoji and photo image generation, and a more intelligent Siri based on a semantic index of personal information on your device. Apple Intelligence functionality is powered by a combination of on-device models, and private cloud server processing running on Apple's servers.
Apple is also integrating third-party AI providers into its operating systems, starting with ChatGPT this fall.
Everything Apple Intelligence can (and can't) do in iOS 18.1
by Jason Cross, macworld
In an unprecedented move, Apple released the iOS 18.1 beta more than a month before the release of iOS 18. The company is running two betas in parallel—iOS 18 for all devices, and iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1 for devices capable of running Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, M-series iPads, and M-series Macs).
It's been clear since WWDC in June that Apple Intelligence is coming in hot, with a phased rollout of features. Now, the timeline has changed, with none of the features coming in the iOS 18 release, some coming in iOS 18.1, some coming later this year, and some coming early in 2025. If you have a device capable of running it, here are the Apple Intelligence features you'll find in iOS 18.1, and how they work in the current beta release:
Apple is finally ready to unleash the full potential of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac
by Jason Snell, macworld
The future of technology sometimes goes in surprising directions, taking an obvious path and then suddenly doubling back to go down a road less traveled. There was a time when The Future was underpowered client devices powered by remote servers until it wasn't-and then (thanks to cloud services and AI) it was again.
The rise of AI as a force in the tech industry-for good or ill, be it snake oil or world-changing (it's probably in between on both counts)-has upended a lot of assumptions about how tech works and where it's going. The conventional wisdom has held that Apple is behind, and AI puts it at a disadvantage. That might be true, but… maybe it isn't.
The power of the device
AI is generally thought of as a job for cloud computing. Want to train or deploy AI features? Build or rent more servers in more data centers, loaded with power-hungry GPUs.
Apple's strength is (and has always been) building consumer products, not servers in data centers. And yet just because AI is seen as being a concept that lives in the cloud doesn't mean it'll always be that way.
When Apple deploys Apple Intelligence, it will do so on millions of Apple devices scattered all over the world. Its investment in the Neural Engine and Apple silicon, in general, means that Apple can deploy AI features that run on the devices people already own. (And, in another boost for Apple's bottom line, it'll provide a motivator for people to upgrade their hardware to models that support Apple Intelligence.)
Some Apple Intelligence features will require cloud servers using Apple's Private Cloud Compute system, but many of the features will happen on the devices themselves. While local devices might not be as powerful as cloud servers, they are local-no data transfer over a potentially slow network is required—and as a result, they should be faster and more responsive.
But it's more than that. It's a matter of sheer numbers: the computing power of millions and millions of iPhones can't be underestimated. It's an enormous amount of power, but not in the data center. And that unlocks a lot of potential-for Apple and its app developers.
Distributed computing
Doing AI work on cloud servers is expensive, but doing it on an iPhone (or Mac or iPad) is relatively cheap. (Though I will point out that by moving AI to the device, Apple is having users pay for that computing power on their own electric bills as they charge their devices!) The company has already adapted several popular AI frameworks to run efficiently on Apple silicon, with more undoubtedly to come.
Apple Intelligence could shift the world of AI from the cloud to the device.
Image: Apple
So consider this: A developer is writing an app that can benefit from AI functionality, but they can't afford an enormous cloud infrastructure. Imagine a podcast app that needs to generate episode transcripts, for example. Apple Podcasts does this today, but it does it by consuming every podcast in existence and throwing massive cloud server tech at the problem. That works, but it's expensive for Apple and cost-prohibitive for independent podcast apps.
Now consider the alternative: Apps that don't use the cloud but rely on user devices to do the work. A podcast app could download an episode and then check to see if there's an available transcript. If there is, it would download it-job done. If there isn't, it could use a transcription engine like Whisper to transcribe the episode on the fly itself-and then upload that transcript back up to the podcast app's database. A developer (including Apple itself!) could use this approach to use the combined computing power of its user base as an alternative to an expensive set of cloud servers.
Over time, as the devices get more capable and the models get more efficient, things could get really interesting. Imagine that enormous array of cloud servers being bested by a million Macs, iPhones, and iPads working together toward a common goal. Right now it seems a little weird, but if any company can bend the arc of technological progress away from the data center and back toward personal devices, it's Apple.
How to use predictive text to speed up typing in MacOS Sonoma
by Dennis Sellers, macsales rocketyard
macOS Sonoma boasts a helpful feature called "predictive text," which you can use in a variety of apps —or disable if you feel like it just gets in your way. Here's what you need to know.
What is predictive text?
The purpose of predictive text is to streamline word processing by suggesting words or phrases as you type. It uses machine learning algorithms to predict and suggest the next word you're likely to type. The prediction is based on your past typing habits and patterns. Apple such as TextEdit, Mail, Messages, and Notes support predictive text.
Predictive text appears right in line with whatever you're typing. Suggestions appear in a lighter shade of gray. If the suggestions are what you want, tap the space bar and the predicted text is entered. It turns black, and your cursor jumps ahead to after the last word.
Predictive Text
How to turn on Predictive Text
Some folks find Predictive Text more annoying than useful since it sometimes suggests a word that you're not planning to type. The good thing is that you can turn it off. Here's how you do it:
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your Mac's screen.
Launch the System Settings app.
In the sidebar on the left, scroll down to the bottom of the list and click Keyboard.
System Settings > Keyboard
Go to Input Sources, and click Edit.
On the right side of the window, click the toggle next to Show inline predictive text to enable it.
Enable Show inline predictive text.
Show inline predictive text
Click the Done button to save the changes.
How to turn off Predictive Text
Some folks find Predictive Text more annoying than useful since it sometimes suggests a word that you're not planning to type. The good thing is that you can turn it off. Here's how you do it:
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your Mac's screen.
Launch the System Settings app.
In the sidebar on the left, scroll down to the bottom of the list and click Keyboard.
System Settings > Keyboard
Go to Input Sources, and click Edit.
On the right side of the window, unclick the toggle next to Show inline predictive text to turn it off.
Be careful of Artificial Intelligence. Many remarkable claims are being made. It is certainly Artificial but it is NOT Intelligent. It cannot think, it only appears to imitate thought - an impressive illusion.
There is a lot of hype about something that is very limited. AI can help solve very specialized problems and has proved valuable in certain applications, but expectations for it helping in general applications is overblown.
Remember the great ".com" bubble when people got overexcited? Well I am looking to see an AI bubble - do not invest in it unless you have spare "throw-away" cash (I do not!)
Excerpt From You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane describing her AI experiences:
The Five Principles of AI Weirdness:
The danger of AI is not that it's too smart but that it's not smart enough.
AI has the approximate brainpower of a worm.
AI does not really understand the problem you want it to solve.
But: AI will do exactly what you tell it to. Or at least it will try its best.
And AI will take the path of least resistance.
The book is worth reading if you are interested in Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Insanity?).
I shall be evaluating Apple's new AI, but with caution and some suspicion.
Be careful!
Noise cancelation in the next AirPods Pro might be getting even better
by Roman Loyola, macworld
Among the announcements at Apple's "Glowtime" event on September 9, we expect Apple to talk about AirPods. The 3rd-gen AirPods AirPods are a strong possibility for an update, as well as the aging AirPods Max, but not AirPods Pro. Reports have stated that the AirPods Pro won't get upgrades until next year-the current 2nd-gen model with a USB-C case was released in September 2023, so they're not even a year old and should stay on shelves for a bit. Or will they?
According to an X post by Kosutami, the active noise cancelation is going to get better in the AirPods Pro. Kosutami has a history of being accurate with past reports on Apple products. Still, when asked to clarify when the "AirPods Pro is coming," Kosutami responded only with a vague "Soon."
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in March that active noise cancelation will expand to at least one non-pro model. If Apple has made changes to its ANC implementation, the company may want to release it with both the non-pro and Pro models at the same time. It's also possible that the 4th-gen AirPods have the same noise-cancelation as the current AirPods Pro, while Apple improves it on the 3rd-gen AirPods Pro. Either way, we might see an AirPods Pro update at Glowtime.
When Apple released the 2nd gen AirPods Pro in September 2023, the company improved the ANC, touting "2x more Active Noise Cancelation" than the original AirPods Pro, so we're not sure how much better the new model would be. Our guide to the new AirPods has the latest news and rumors. If you're in the market for new AirPods and don't want to wait until the "Glowtime" event, check out the best AirPods deals.
How to control the brightness of your iPhone or iPad
by Glenn Fleishman, macworld
iOS tries to create the optimum brightness setting for you. What if you don't want that?
We've come a long way in adjusting the brightness setting on our iPhones to strike a balance between legibility (especially in sunlight) and battery life. Modern iPhones and iPads have bright enough screens to remain clearly viewable in summer while also consuming much less power despite the larger size.
But brightness isn't everything. iOS/iPadOS generally adjusts the brightness of a device's display to match its analysis of the lighting conditions you're currently amid. You may not always want that. You can disable default settings and use manual controls to keep brightness where you want it.
Adjust brightness manually
Even with automatic brightness adjustment enabled, you can always swipe to display the Control Center and drag the Brightness slider up or down. That provides an override to the current setting until your iPhone locks after a specified delay, or you press the side or top button. (You can adjust the Auto-Lock duration in Settings > Display & Brightness.) You can also go to Settings > Display & Brightness to access the slider there.
If you have an iPhone or iPad with True Tone, the Display & Brightness settings also show a True Tone switch. True Tone uses multiple sensors to determine the ambient lighting and then adjust the hue and intensity. This can make images, videos, and flat colors onscreen appear visually the same in different lighting conditions. If you find that distracting, you can disable it. (True Tone appears in the iPhone 8 and later, iPhone SE 2nd generation and later, and many iPad models.)
You can manually adjust brightness from the Control Center (left), or opt to disable automatic brightness adjustment altogether (right).
Disable automatic brightness
You may find that your iPhone or iPad changing the brightness level automatically is less useful to you than letting you set a fixed brightness and adjusting it to your liking. If so, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and disable Auto-Brightness.
Apple uses Auto-Brightness as part of the way it manages battery life on your device. After disabling the feature, you may notice faster battery consumption during normal usage. You can check how the battery's power drains over a day using the chart in Settings > Battery.
How the iPhone 16's camera will usher in a new era of 'Shot on iPhone' photos
by Mahmoud Itani, macworld
The camera upgrades to the iPhone 16 line may be some of its most enticing new features.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Capture button
Sharper ultra-wide camera
Spatial video recording for all
Revamped Photos app
An Apple Intelligence boost
...
iPhones have long been the go-to camera for most users as they output exceptional shots and are always on hand. Apple also encourages iOS users to capture and share their special moments by actively highlighting their best photos on its Instagram page. While the existing models already pack highly capable hardware, Apple could change the mobile photography game yet again with the iPhone 16 series.
Here are some of the reasons why the iPhone 16 can make #ShotoniPhone a big thing again.
iPhone 16, Apple Watch X, iOS 18, and everything coming in Apple's biggest month
by Jason Cross, macworld
This is it, the biggest month of the year for Apple fans.
September is when Apple releases new iPhones and Apple Watches, as well as the major updates to its operating systems that we've been hearing about since WWDC in June. That means iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 3, and iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia, and watchOS 11.
This September might be a little extra special, as we're hearing about some new AirPods on the way and maybe a new iPad mini, too. On top of that, there are all the usual service releases for Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. So strap in—here's everything we expect Apple to release in September 2024.
New hardware releases
Apple is set to release updates to some of its most popular products in September, with a special event planned for September 9 (see how to watch the Apple event). Here's what's on tap:
iPhone 16: Larger screens for the Pro models, A18 processors, Apple Intelligence, new camera capabilities, a new Capture button, and more. This is going to be a big upgrade for a lot of people. Read everything we know about the iPhone 16.
Apple Watch Series 10: This may be called Apple Watch 10, X, or Series X, in honor of the 10th anniversary of Apple Watch (which was first unveiled on September 9, 2014) and looks to be the first significant design change ever. Rumors point to a larger display and a slimmer profile, with the possible addition of some new health sensors or features. Read what we know about the Apple Watch Series 10.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: The 3rd-gen Apple Watch Ultra is expected to be more or less the same as the current model, only with the same new processor (and maybe new sensors) found in the Apple Watch Series 10.
Apple Watch SE 3: The 3rd-gen Apple Watch SE should resemble an Apple Watch Series 7, more or less. One rumor suggested Apple may use a rigid plastic chassis to trim costs and aim this model very much at kids/parents.
AirPods: There are two sets of AirPods expected. One is a new entry-level model to replace the hopelessly outdated 2nd-gen AirPods, with a new design and USB-C case. The other is a mid-tier update to the 3rd-gen AirPods, which will get active noise canceling for the first time. New AirPods Max are supposedly not far off, but not rumored to be announced at this September event. Read more about the upcoming AirPods.
iPad mini: This isn't the first time we've heard that an iPad mini refresh is on the way. But the current model can't support Apple Intelligence, which will be a big push for Apple, and the Apple stores and retailers are running out of stock on the current model without replenishing it—that usually points to an imminent upgrade. If the iPad mini does get an upgrade, we don't expect much to change other than the processor.
Apps and software updates
September is also a huge month for software. Apple is set to release its yearly major updates of all its operating systems. The Apple Intelligence features won't arrive until later updates, starting with the point-1 releases in October, but there are still loads of great new features in the initial release.
iOS 18: New Home screen customization options, an all-new Photos app, new features for Messages including RCS support, and much more. Read all about iOS 18.
iPadOS 18: You get all the features of iOS 18, including the awesome new Math Notes capability that really shines on the tablet. Read more about iPadOS 18.
tvOS 18: tvOS isn't getting a major overhaul, just a few tweaks. There's InSight, enhanced dialog support and subtitles, and a few new Home features.
Powered by Taboola
macOS 15 Sequoia: With macOS 15 Sonoma, you'll be able to mirror your iPhone to your Mac! There are a bunch of other nice features too, like the Passwords app, easier window tiling, a new calculator, and more. Read all about macOS 15 Sequoia here.
Services
Apple TV+
Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in September. If you want to know what's coming later, check our guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.
Slow Horses (season 4): This darkly funny espionage drama follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve in a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes. Led by their brilliant but irascible leader, the notorious Jackson Lamb, they navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces. September 4
La Maison: High fashion meets high stakes in this realistic behind-the-scenes look at how an iconic fashion house is thrown into scandal and reinvention by a viral video featuring star designer Vincent Ledu, leaving his family's iconic and legendary haute couture house, LEDU, hanging by a thread. September 20
Midnight Family: Apple's first all-Spanish-language series, with an entirely Hispanic cast and crew. The story follows Marigaby Tamayo, a medical student by day who spends her nights saving lives throughout Mexico City aboard her family's privately owned ambulance. September 25
Apple Arcade
Apple releases most Apple Arcade games on the first Friday of each month. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Occasionally, games are released with no forewarning, but you'll usually see next month's releases listed in the Coming Soon section.
Monster Train+: An excellent deck-building roguelike makes its way to Apple Arcade, but it's the only game listed for release in September. September 5
Coming to Apple TV+: All the upcoming shows, series, movies, trailers, and more
by Macworld Staff
Apple's list of currently available content for Apple TV+ continues to grow, and so does the list of upcoming projects in the works. Films, limited series, specials, and multi-season series—Apple's got lots of irons in the fire.
Some of these projects have been officially announced and acknowledged by Apple, while others have been reported by the Hollywood press, which always has its ear to the ground about what projects actors, directors, and producers are involved in.
We've divided this list in two: Coming Soon is a list of shows for which Apple has given an official release date or release window, and Further Out compiles content that is still in production or perhaps haven't even begun yet.
Updated August 30, 2024: We have updated our list with the latest release dates and trailers.
New Apple Watch 2024: What's coming to Apple Watch Series 10, SE, and Ultra 3
by Martyn Casserlyh, macworld
Want to know all about the newest Apple Watches? They are coming soon! Apple is set to unveil new Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3 at the iPhone event on September 9, 2024.
In this article, we gather up all the news and rumors that give us some clues about what we might find in the Apple Watch Series 10 (Apple Watch X), Ultra 3 and a new Apple Watch SE in 2024.
During the event we will update this article with the latest info, but you can also follow along with our Glowtime event live blog.
New Apple Watch 2024: Release date
Apple updates at least one of the Apple Watch models every year, but in 2024 all three models could get a refresh. We expect to see a new Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and a third-gen Apple Watch SE.
Apple has a pretty set release schedule when it comes to the Apple Watch range. Usually, the new devices are announced at the September events (alongside the new iPhones - see How to watch Apple's iPhone 16 'Glowtime' event). The new Watch models then go on sale soon after. The only divergence from this pattern was in 2021 when the Apple Watch Series 7 didn't arrive until October due to pandemic-related production delays. Learn more about Apple's event plans for new Apple products.
My wife asked me why I spoke so softly in the House.
I said I was afraid Mark Zuckerberg was listening!
She Laughed.
I Laughed.
Alexa Laughed.
Siri Laughed.
Hackers are using fake banking apps on iPhones to steal your data
by roman Loyola, macworld
The apps are presented as updates from the banks themselves.
Evil on an iPhone
Security researcher ESET has posted a report about a new phishing attempt by hackers to get your login information for your bank. The attack involves a method used to bypass Apple's App Store and its gatekeeping methods and security checks.
The phishing campaign involves a phone call that a user gets that is supposedly from a bank, informing the user that the banking app they are using is out of date. After being instructed to select an option on a pop-up that appears, a phishing link is sent through an SMS message. When the user taps the link, a screen appears that mimics app store installations-ESET observed installation screens that imitated the Google Play Store but not the Apple App Store and ESET could not confirm that the scam involved fake Apple App Store installation screens, though iOS users are being targeted in this attack. An X post shows what the screens look like.
The app that is installed is a Progressive Web Application (PWA), which is essentially a website presented as an app on your phone. (They're often called "web apps.") The web app is designed to look like the bank's app, and when the user enters their username, password, and any other info, it is sent to a server maintained by the attacker.
How to protect yourself from an attack
Progressive Web Applications themselves are not unique and generally harmless-in fact, before Apple opened the iPhone to third-party apps and created the App Store, Apple encouraged developers to build web apps. Even in today's App Store, many apps are basically repackaged web apps, especially apps for financial institutions and retailers.
This attack was observed by clients of a bank in Czechoslovakia and ESET reports the attack appearing in the countries of Georgia, Hungary, and Poland. ESET did not mention the attack occurring in the U.S. or U.K.
If you are an iPhone user with a bank app, the safest way to get app updates is through the App Store. The App Store posts update notifications in your account profile, where you can install updates. You can also check the app's entry in the App Store. Do not open links that you get through text messages. Learn more about iPhone malware and viruses. We also have tips on how to protect your phone from hackers.
WOW! I'm rich! This one is a fairly obvious fraud - DO NOT CLICK!
Phishing - DO NOT CLICK! I do not have McAfee so this cannot be true. Note the From address.
Note the From address. Not from Whidbey. At the bottom it says it is from Atlanta!!
An example of an adversarial attack that's targeted at humans with touch screens:
Some advertisers have put fake specks of "dust" on their banner ads, hoping that humans will accidentally click on the ads while trying to brush them off.
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.
Should I have a bagel this morning, or an english muffin? We're always making decisions. Some are easy, but sometimes we don't know what to do. Often, in that case, the decision is put off. If time is involved, then eventually the decision is made for us. But for the other occasions, the answer may be to get more information.
If you're deciding whether to buy a new computer, or upgrade to a new operating system, or which browser or app to use, more information will make the decision easier.
If you're still having trouble, then compare the benefits of each decision. If it's a big decision, you can examine how you feel about each choice, and why you might have those feelings. Then put those feelings aside and examine the facts. Now make the choice.
You can get help and ask others opinions, but the choice is ultimately yours. So get opinions but rely on yourself.
Now I'll tell you what to do! Buying a new computer? Why not? Upgrading to a new operating system? Yes. Unless you have applications that won't work with the newer system and are not upgradeable, but then you may as well switch to newer applications as well. Bagel or english muffin? I can't decide! Maybe english muffin today and bagel tomorrow.
Should I volunteer to lead the MAGIC Group? Yes, it's energizing, gets you involved with others, and keeps you up to date on your digital devices.
Email is a regular fact of life. Just like a street address. Email has nearly overtaken the USPS as the standard mail service. Only the government doesn't officiate email, so you're a little more on your own and without battle armor.
It's generally not too difficult to deal with, and fairly easy to set up an email account. However, it's important to realize the particulars about each email service you choose.
There are free email services, and paid email services. If you get a free service, realize that it's not really free. Gmail addresses means you have a Google account. Therefore Google, an advertising company, has your information and uses it freely. They also bombard you with all their other services.
Other email services, such as with Hotmail, now Outlook, is a Microsoft service. They do offer a free service, but be sure to read the details.
If you have a website, paying the server to host your site, then you usually get a free email address with the account. But of course, you are paying for the website.
You can get just an email service from WhidbeyTel, but they charge for it. Then there's Apples email service. It's free because if you have purchased a Mac computer you most likely have an account with Apple. So you'll receive information on all their services, which you probably do anyway. But since you are using their device then at least you are keeping within the brand. And Apple has the best record of privacy of any company I can think of. They will not be selling your data.
Now if you have gotten fed up with your current service you may consider switching. If you have had your email hacked or just overwhelmed with junk you might consider switching. Be aware that while it's a good thing in the long run, it can be very time consuming to update all the accounts you may have set up with your old address. And in the mean time you may miss many important emails. I know. I've been there. So if you do change to a new address, here's a tip. Check your junk and spam folders frequently for a while to make sure important mail is not being missed. You may still miss some email until you get your accounts all updated, but hopefully the reason you changed has been resolved.
I changed my website host because of a huge price increase. So that eliminated by old email address. The consequences of the change are finally coming to an end.
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.
