iOS 14

If you've upgraded to iOS 14 on your iPhone or iPad, here is a video, courtesy of tech blog "macmost", that shows 25 features you may want to try out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_kifjcolp8

If that isn't enough, you've also got a new App Library to play around with. Here is a short video that explains how to use this new feature, again, courtesy of "macmost":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLPR1EaX1Y&feature=youtu.be

All this should keep you busy for awhile.

Jim Hamm

Mac Sales

If you're a 'Mac' person, you may enjoy the following two articles. The first one describes how Apple had a strong quarter on Mac sales, even with the pandemic. The second one is a transcription of Apple's quarterly conference call with analysts, and may be a bit lengthy to read for some of us. To summarize on Mac sales: strong.

Jim Hamm

https://www.macworld.com/article/3586160/the-mac-has-its-best-quarter-ever-and-tim-cook-teases-the-future.html

https://sixcolors.com/post/2020/10/this-is-tim-apples-q4-2020-call-with-analysts-transcribed/

5G Cellular

As you are probably already aware, Apple has updated their new iPhone releases so that all the new iPhone12's have 5G capability, whether you wanted it or not. Does it matter? Not really, according to this article. When/if 5G is available in your area, the iPhone 12 will handle it just fine, but it will also work well with the existing 4G network, which probably is what most of us have now.

If your only reason for a phone upgrade is just to get 5G capability, it probably isn't worth it, according to the article. But the iPhone 12 has other new features which may make this an attractive purchase right now, 5G notwithstanding.

Jim Hamm

Is Your VPN Really Secure?

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/barnes-noble-restores-nook-services-after-notifying-customers-about-cyberattack/

Recently, Barnes & Noble had a ransomeware attack that disabled access to customer’s books and exposed their email address, phone number, and shipping address.

From techrepublic:

'Millions of Barnes & Noble customers received a worrying email around 1 am on Thursday morning notifying them that the company suffered from a cyberattack on Oct. 10, which brought down its Nook services and led to the "unauthorized access" to "certain Barnes & Noble corporate systems."'

The attack seems to have centered around the use of VPN. A cybersecurity firm, Bad Packets, also shared even more details with BleepingComputer that indicate the attack may have originated from the CVE-2019-11510 vulnerability, which can be found in the Pulse VPN servers that Barnes & Noble uses.

Jeff Hussey, CEO of Tempereed, had this to say about VPN: "Visibility is not security, and VPNs are brittle, 25-year-old technology. They weren't built to scale to the connected world of 2020 and beyond. And using a security approach based on location, instead of identity, is a bad idea. These outdated approaches need to be modernized and recognizing that is the first step,"

HuH? VPN is outdated, 25-year-old technology? So maybe we’ll be seeing some new VPN technology now that Barnes & Noble has been hit - no one wants to know that their VPN isn’t really secure.


John R Carter Sr

iPhone Shortcuts

If you have the iPhone and would like to add a shortcut to it, the following article explains how. Although the article is a bit dated (January 2019), hopefully the app and shortcut method outlined in this article still work. As for me, with iOS 14 installed, with a new 'tap' shortcut feature, I set up a single tap and a double tap for two shortcuts that work well for me, so I haven't needed to try the shortcut app feature mentioned in the article.

If you do decide to try the shortcut app, good luck.

Jim Hamm

https://www.howtogeek.com/368465/what-are-siri-shortcuts-and-how-do-i-use-them/

Apple Event

FYI, here is a notice of an Apple event on October 13th.

Jim Hamm

At long last, Apple has sent out invitations Tuesday to a “special Apple event from Apple Park” on October 13, when the long-awaited iPhone 12 is almost certain to make an appearance along with a few other surprises. Like all of Apple’s 2020 events, the event will be virtual and streamed to everyone via Apple's YouTube channel, Apple TV, and Apple's Events website at 10 a.m. Pacific.

iPhone 5G Capability

It is rumored that perhaps soon Apple will announce the iPhone 12 with 5G cellular capability. What does that mean, you might ask? Here is an article discussing 5G, its capabilities and limitations. Although 5G will be faster than the 4G wireless transmission most of us are probably using now, I, personally, don't care so much for 5G. More cell towers will be needed, closer to one's home, and the 5G signal is easily blocked. But, I suspect it is coming whether I like it or not.

Jim Hamm

iPhone Claim

Here's an article describing how Apple has set aside $500 million (wow!) to settle a class-action lawsuit on diminished performance on the iPhone 6, 7, and SE. If you owned one of these iPhones you can get $25 from Apple. Is it worth the effort? Read the article, and see what you think.

Jim Hamm

Apple Engineers Designed a Custom Face Mask for Employees

Although it is presently only available for Apple employees, Apple has designed a face mask for their employees to wear.


Apple engineers designed a custom face mask for employees — take a look
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/28/apple-engineers-designed-protective-face-mask-for-employees.html

It appears to be quite effective. Apple is trying to help in these trying times, and here's a quote from the article:

"Apple has announced other Covid-19 prevention measures recently. For example, the latest software update for the Apple Watch includes a handwashing feature that automatically detects when the wearer is washing their hands, and starts a 20-second timer. And the new Apple Watch Series 6 announced on Sept. 18 includes a blood oxygen monitor."

My wife, Zee, has an Apple watch, and she found the timer on the hand washing feature to be quite handy.

Jim Hamm

iOS 14: 25 Things to Try

If you're not tired of messing with the new features of iOS 14, here is a YouTube Video by MacMost on 25 new things to try with this new OS update. Lots of 'stuff' to learn. One thing Apple took away in a prior iOS update was the battery % always showing on the screen. I missed that feature. One could find the % charge by placing a finger in the upper right corner of the screen and swiping diagonally to the left. Messy and awkward, I thought, and didn't like that at all. Now I can just double-tap the back of my iPhone and the battery charge % is displayed. Nice. One can also install a widget to the home screen to show the battery charge %.

Jim Hamm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_kifjcolp8

iOS 14 Settings

If you've updated to iOS 14, there's a bunch of new settings you might want to take a look at. The following video shows 17 settings you might consider. Whew! You'll either be quite pleased or dismayed at all the settings. Your iPhone or iPad is becoming quite a complex device, as you'll see if you watch the video. Well, OK, maybe it has been complex for some time, but it is not backing off.

I found the tips to be quite helpful, and maybe you will too.

Jim Hamm

https://youtu.be/kIWRBz8o9W0

Tips for iOS 14

If you've updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS 14, this article contains ten tips that might be of interest. Note that in Tip 5 you can change the browser of choice to something other than Safari, should you want to do so. Note, however, once the device resets the browser of choice will revert back to Safari.

Jim Hamm   

iPhone Back Tap

If you've updated to iOS 14, here's a new feature for the iPhone you may want to check out: Back Tap. As the article below explains, you can set your iPhone to enable several functions by two or three taps on the back of the phone. 

I've looked at the feature on my iPhone, but haven't decided yet what function I'd like the taps to enable. Ah, a weighty decision.

Jim Hamm

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hidden-iphone-feature-launching-fall-200708155.html