We get more frequent questions about Apple IDs than almost anything else, so if you're not clear on what the Apple ID is, you are in good company! Your Apple ID is a username that identifies you to Apple (and all of their devices and services you use), and it is typically your email address. You will also have a password associated with your ID that is distinct to your Apple ID, and not the same as the password you use to log in to your email address (except in very rare cases).
iOS 13.3 for iPhone: We are now giving iOS 13 on iPhones a cautious green light for iPhone 7 and newer. I say cautious because some of the earliest adopters experienced a fair number of bugs. However, John, Sarah and I are not having any issues, and Apple has released several patches already. We all have newer iPhones, and that could be why we are faring better than some others.
Apple has released the next Mac OS Catalina (10.15) in early October. With the upgrade, Apple has finally pulled the plug on older "32-bit" apps, requiring all software (apps) you run to be 64-bit. This transition has been a long time coming and most current software complies. Here is an explanation about the difference and why Apple is doing this.
Dear clients,
With all that has happened in our beautiful county this fall it seems unreal that Christmas is on the horizon. Local businesses, wineries and restaurants are all decked out for the holidays. But the festivities seem to have a subdued quality to them this year. The over the top commercialism seems wrong when so many are still struggling to find their footing after the fires. For me personally I am shifting my focus to both what I see and that which is inside and unseen. My eyes and spirits rejoice as I drive around. I am struck by the contrast of what was and what is already renewing. We have had enough rain that grass is growing and burned areas are already regenerating. My spirit and heart want calming and soothing - both components of the Winter Solstice that falls on Thursday, December 21. The solstice invites us into the quiet for reflection, renewal (likes seeds after a fire) and then ultimately rejoicing for the coming light. I found this page to have some interesting heart felt readings if you are so inclined.
My wish for you this holiday season is to find those things that warm your heart and nourish your soul and celebrate them.
We are so grateful to you our clients for your continued referrals and support of our business.
Ronnie & Team
Please take note of our limited holiday hours. We want our team to be able to enjoy their holiday with friends and family!
Christmas
Friday, December 22nd CLOSED
Wednesday, December 27th RETURNING
New Year's
Monday, January 1st CLOSED
Wednesday, January 3rd RETURNING
I have never recommended upgrading to a new OS before several months have passed - the reason why has just been (sadly) justified by a very, very serious bug just discovered. NOTE: If you are NOT running High Sierra this issue doesn't affect you.
Major macOS High Sierra bug allows full admin access without password.
A serious bug in macOS High Sierra lets anyone log into an admin account using the username "root" with no password. This works when attempting to access an administrator's account on an unlocked Mac, and it also provides access at the login screen of a locked Mac.
By the time you read this Apple will have released a security patch. While bugs in new OS's are not uncommon this is one of the most serious security flaws I have ever seen. Shame on Apple. They really need to work on quality control before rushing OS's out to the general public.
You can check which version of the Mac OS you are running by clicking on the Apple Menu - and selecting 'About This Mac"
Apple is 'pushing' this upgrade - when you get the prompt at the upper right corner of your screen click on 'Details' which will open the App Store and then simply Quit the App store. Nothing will install. IF you want to be very sure High Sierra doesn't install accidentally you can go to your Applications folder and look to see if you have a file called "Install Mac OS High Sierra," then drag this to the trash. Don't worry you can download it again when it is safe to install.
I feel that it's now safe to install iOS 11 if you have an iPhone 6S or newer. On any model older than a 6S it significantly slows your phone down. On an iPad I recommend you have at least an iPad Air 2.
Remember we're happy to help you with any of this should you need it and/or have any questions.
Check your iPad version here.
Check your iPhone version here.
In iOS 11 the Control Center received a major upgrade / interface change. Too many nuances to list here, so here is a link to a good article. However, knowing how to access the Control Center is very important; to quickly access the home button on any iPhone other than a X, simply swipe up from directly above the home button toward the top of your screen. On an iPad, simply swipe up to the top of your screen from directly above your home button.
This is an oldie but goodie-- often it is helpful when something cannot be printed or you need to capture a dialog box message.
How to:
Gift a Stress Reduction Practice for Everyone! Even children!
The Daily Clean Your House Flow, an easy self-help acupressure flow that works for all ages.
Balancing your energy can make the difference when it comes to managing that "thing" called stress, letting go of overwhelm, having clarity and focus, increasing productivity and handling feelings. Sounds good for the holiday season right? Easy self-help acupressure can help you do all of that and more, no matter the time of the year.
You can see the first 90 seconds of the animated video of the Daily Clean Your House Flow. Go here to see why kids, parents and teachers are finding it so useful. And discover why so many people are using it during work and at home. The video and companion books make great holiday gifts!
Deborah Myers, acupressurist and Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, is passionate about showing others how we can help our bodies be healthier and happier. You can also read about her work here.
Ronnie says: "I use this process faithfully every day!!! It really works."
Greening our Planet - Trees For a Change
www.treesforachange.com
Give a tree gift that will grow for years to come... Help restore fire devastated forests and make a difference
Vacations are a wonderful thing, especially if you get to spend quality time with someone you love and have lots of fun together. This is what I did for two weeks in August. My sister and I spent time in Monterey, went to some fun events here in Sonoma county, and in both places we sat on the beach doing nothing but resting and listening to the ocean. Extremely rejuvenating and relaxing. I'd like to say that I stacked the rocks in this photo but they were just a gift left by some prior beach visitor.
Of course life goes on and change is a part of moving forward. Technology Simplified is saying goodbye to Rob Downard - he has made the decision to return to SRJC full time. Rob has been with us since 2014 and we will miss him. Please join us in wishing him the best as he explores and works toward the next phase of his life.
John will be increasing his hours to be sure all your consulting needs are met.
As a followup to last month's article on a digital assistanthere is a great article on what the various devices can/cannot do.
Apple is gearing up for some big announcements as I mentioned in last month's newsletter. Rumor has it the news will be released during September. We will keep you updated. In the meantime schedule your Tune Up appointment soon so you are ready to upgrade when the time is right. (See our Tuneup offer below!)
IF you are local, here is a great opportunity to learn more about security, ID theft, and safety in this fast changing world. Even better-it's free!! *This is an open to the public meetup.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Finley Center
2060 W College Ave
Santa Rosa, CA
A FREE presentation open to the public. Tell your friends!
John Guaraglia, 19 year volunteer from the Santa Rosa Police Department Community Outreach will present the latest in Identify Theft, Frauds and Scams, how to identify them and how to avoid becoming a victim.
Additionally, NCMUG will present on how computer users can spot computer threats and best practices to avoid them.
In the meantime please join me at the Windsor Senior Center for a brand new 'iPad Mastery' class!! Registration links are below.
This class is limited to 10 students and it is fully hands on.
iPad Mastery in Windsor
Wednesday, September 20th and Wednesday, September 27th
10:00am - 11:30am
Now that you know how to get around your iPad and use some of the built in Apps you are ready for more!! Topics covered will include an in depth look at customizing your iPad, tips and tricks for making your iPad easier to use. Take control of understanding iCloud and how it works with your Apple ID. See how Safari works as you learn to surf the web and find what you need. Learn how to take and share photos. We will also look at some favorite third party Apps that help in the kitchen, with travel, and more. This class will be taught in a lecture format as well as hands-on; participants are required to bring their own iPads to class. This class assumes a working knowledge of navigating your iPad, sending Mail, etc. Class content can be adjusted to the skill level of the attendees, based upon what works for the majority.
INSTRUCTIONS TO SIGN UP FOR THE CLASS
Scroll Down the list of Course Categories on the Right to:
"Senior Computer - iPad", click "Show Courses"
I am willing to bet you have a grandchild, child, or even spouse who seems to have their cell phone in their hand 24 hours a day. If they do happen to put it away for a few minutes - say during a meal - they will find an excuse to pick it up again before the meal is over. Cell phone addiction has become a real concern in today's over connected society. There are numerous studies about the topic and we have all read the news horror stories of accidents caused by people either texting or even just talking on their phones while driving or walking!! Numerous states have some sort of law on the books that prohibits texting and / or using a hand held cell phone while driving. However just driving around town I can see that the 'hands free' law that California has is nothing more than a bandaid and it's abused often. British Columbia has some of the strictest laws and largest fines in place and when we were there no one was on a cell phone!! Very refreshing!!
Here are a few more articles on the topic:
http://www.addictiontips.net/phone-addiction/phone-addiction-signs/
With iOS 11, Apple is adding a new safety feature called Do Not Disturb. When you're driving, just drive. Your iPhone can now sense when you might be driving and prevent you from being distracted by calls, text messages, and notifications. People trying to reach you can automatically be notified that you're driving. I can't wait to try this one out!! I have seen it in action in the beta version of iOS 11 - very cool.;
As technology becomes more entrenched in our lives it will be interesting to see what manufacturers of phones and cars will do next to keep us safe.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. You can head to my blog and make a comment or two!!
90 MINUTES FOR $90 ~ TUNE UP*
Your Summer Tune-Up includes:
Call Today
707.573.9649
to book an appointment with John, our Technology Simplified Tech/Trainer.
* Offer does not apply to troubleshooting / diagnostics or major Mac OS upgrades. Appointments must be booked by 9/21/2017 and completed by 10/12/2017. Limited to the first 20 appointments.
June has swept in with glorious weather and a bit of green remains on our golden hills. Local schools let out last week and traffic is already lighter - hurray!! June is the month the world seems to melt into summer mode - a slower pace, longer days and permission to be lazy. All of which I classify as a good thing in this crazy, hectic world today. I'm doing my best to comply which is often easier said than done.
This newsletter is a bit late because I elected to send it AFTER Apple's World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) which kicked off this week. Jillian has some highlights of the WWDC keynote below, and there will be more information and news in our July Newsletter. The tech world of course never seems to slow down which is a good thing. I always feel that the benefits of technology outweigh the drawbacks. My personal love is teaching technology to my clients - helping people learn to use and enjoy their technology is fun! With all this new tech I'm thinking business looks good.
By Jillian Dorman
At their annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 6, the opening keynote was full of exciting news! It was the biggest display of product advances that I can remember in a long time! Apple announced new operating systems for both computers and mobile devices that will power new and more advanced iMacs, Mac Book Pros and iPads/iPhones. There was also fresh information about the Watch, Apple TV, and a robust new iMac Pro. Also, the HomePod, a totally new and exciting device was introduced. Below you will find just a few highlights of the products announced and we will offer more details soon to come. The HomePod, Apple's home smart speaker with Siri, warrants an article of its own, so look for an article from our tech John Wentworth next month!
MAC OS 11 will be the force that takes Apple into the augmented reality work of the future. But there are improvements we will enjoy now in the aptly named follower of Sierra, High Sierra. One of the most welcome updates will be the addition of a side bar in Photos for greater ease of use. There are changes to Safari that will help with ad spam, and a more efficient way to store video data, just to list a few.
For our mobile iPads and iPhones, iOS 11 will similarly be full of improvements in cluding a new capabilities for the "dock," a redesign of the Control Center, and a brand new App Store that should make searching for or learning about apps a cinch, and finally, I know many of you will welcome the ability to organize and store files in a spiffy new app. You will use it like files and folders on your computer. This article tells you more about the tips and tricks coming your way.
Both iOS 11 and MAC OS 11 are now in beta test. Apple is predicting a fall release for both, but we'll keep you posted as they near availability, with our usual recommendations on upgrading.
The new version of the iMac will benefit from more powerful processors (Intel 7th generation), better built-in graphics, the ability to expand RAM (21" to 32GB, 27" to 64 GB) and 27" displays up to an impressive, brighter, 5K resolution with up to a billion colors. These machines will have outstanding performance and will smoothly run High Sierra. These new computers are built for the imminent work ahead in virtual and augmented reality. It is exciting to know the machines are available for order now. You can learn more here. The MacBook and MacBook Pro line received similar improvements.
Have you been waiting to get a new iPad? The 10.25 iPad Pro looks amazing. A great size, it can double as a note pad because the ability to write with the pencil is very much like the real thing. In fact, the on-screen keyboard is the size of a conventional keyboard. It is powered by the same chip as the larger iPad Pro. It is faster that previous iPads in processing and graphics, has four speaker audio, 4K video recording, and optical image stabilization to improve your photos. Ronnie has already ordered hers and she will provide a complete review in the months to come.
Again, this is just a brief of some of the announcements from a very big collection of news. If you'd like to read more comprehensive information about everything, here is more information if you want to look it over. Check out this article, too.
Finally, although a full compliment of changes were announced across almost the full line of Apple products, there was not a peep about an new iPhone. Apple traditionally announces iPhones in the fall, so we'll have to wait and see about the iPhone 8.
I am using this email from our local bank, Redwood Credit Union, for this month's tips-- both computer and iOS. We are still getting several calls weekly about folks who have been compromised. The indicators are these attempts to cause havoc in our computing life is only going to increase. The is a great article with easy to follow steps.
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Improve your online security with a digital spring cleaning!
Spring is here, which means it's time to clean up those digital dust bunnies and keep your information safe online. Here are some helpful online security tips:
Change your passwords
Update your login information for sites you use frequently. Long, complex passwords that use a combination of letters, numbers, and other characters are best. Don't use your kids' names, birthdays, or any information that can be readily found on social media. Read more tips on creating a strong password.
Declutter your device
Review your apps and delete the ones you don't use. Then review the privacy settings of the apps you do use to ensure you're only sharing the information you choose.
Purge your digital files
Take stock of your online files, including those in the cloud. Delete documents you no longer need that could contain private information.
Tidy your privacy settings on social media
Assume anyone can see your social media posts. Remember, your personal information can help hackers uncover your passwords, so you may want to limit sharing to friends and family.
Give your software a safety makeover
Software updates are critical because they fix flaws that make your devices susceptible to hackers. This applies to not only your computer's operating system, but also popular browsers and media players.
Following these steps will help ensure your online privacy and keep your accounts safe! For more security tips, visit redwoodcu.org/security.
