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Time for October's Newsletter! Read on for:
• Best Features of Mac OS Sequoia!
• Dealing With Apple AirTags!
• When is Free not Free?
• Quiz of the Moment!
- and, of course -
• The Links Everybody Loves!
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Happy October!
It's that time of year again - Q4 - when the days get shorter (and colder) and holidays (Halloween first!) start racing up on us.
But this time of year also brings us new stuff from Apple, including new versions of Apple Watch and iPhone, along with software upgrades. Which I'll be going over this month (just the stuff you're interested in!).
Also this month - a little something on AirTags, a quick tip concerning the App Store, news tidbits, fun and/or useful (hopefully) links, and the quiz of the moment!
Thanks for reading, enjoy the great fall weather. Hopefully I’ll see you this month, but if not, on November 1st, when you'll see me right here!
-CC
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What Are the Five Most Important New Features in macOS 15 Sequoia? | |
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(This month I called an audible: I had planned to write about passwords but decided to go over some of the new features of Sequoia macOS. Passwords will be the lead piece in November’s newsletter.)
Released in mid-September, macOS 15 (Sequoia) has the most useful features of any Mac OS version of the last few years. The good news is that it delivers an entire host of useful features (plus some non-essential ones), but on the flip side, it’s only compatible with fairly recent Mac models, making it a non-issue for users with older Macs. If your Mac supports macOS 14 (Sonoma), it will run Sequoia (with the notable exception of pre-2020 MacBook Air laptops).
And, as expected, there are plenty of “cute” additions, bells and whistles, things that nobody ever uses (or cares about – new emojis, I’m talking to you!), but c’est la vie, these have become expected from our friends over in Cupertino. But all the fluff is outweighed by the addition of the useful new features.
Want to learn more about the five best features of Sequoia are? Then click here!
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Dealing With Apple AirTags | |
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I’m sure you’ve heard of Apple’s AirTags – small discs (about the size of a 50¢ coin) – Bluetooth-enabled devices that can be attached to valuables (suitcases, keychains, backpacks, water bottles, etc.) that can help you locate misplaced (or missing) items. You can elect to play a sound (great for the keys that fell between the couch cushions) or use your “Find My” app on your iPhone. (Or Siri, if you’re into talking to your devices.)
But setting up (and using) AirTags have a few snags. They seem intuitive to set up – simply remove the tab from the battery, hold the AirTag near your iPhone (or iPad), and tap CONNECT. Then, like naming a child, you give your AirTag a name (you can rename if you have any regrets), and then you’re off to the races. (FYI - AirTags use a standard 2032 lithium 3V coin battery.)
But what Apple DOESN’T tell you – that when you launch the Find My app, your AirTags are NOT listed in the DEVICES tab (along with your other enabled Apple products), but in the ITEMS tab. So the moral of the story: Sometimes you hear from people like me the things that big tech fail to communicate!
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October's Quick Tip: Free Doesn't Always Mean Free! | |
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Ahh, the App Store – the place where you can download all sorts of neat stuff, on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Some useful, some frivolous, while others are simply baffling. Some are free; others will cost you – but beware, as some “free” apps aren’t free. I’ve had two instances recently – one with a weather app that I was looking to replace the mighty WeatherMan Lite app for my Mac, another with an interval timer for my iPhone.
Turns out that they were free – for a few days anyway. After that, I ran headfirst into the paywall. Turns out that after the free trial, there was no more functionality, only an offer to subscribe.
The tell? Look for the words “In-App Purchases” next to the GET button. If you’re willing to pay, no harm, no foul. But if you don’t think it’s worth your hard-earned money, then you’ll end up disappointed.
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When you see "in-app purchases," check your wallet! | |
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Happenings in the Apple and tech world that will no doubt impact you!
It's the end of an era: If you buy one of the new iPhones, you WON'T get any Apple stickers! Word on the street is that Apple stickers are a status symbol in Cuba, a country where there are no Apple Stores. But - if you buy your iPhone at an Apple Store (but not a reseller like Best Buy), you can request an Apple sticker which you can use as currency on your next jaunt down to Cuba. (If you plan on heading down there, I'll give you a few stickers I've accumulated!)
💰 If you use CoinStar machines (found locally in Stop & Shop stores, among other places), and use it to exchange your coins for gift cards, you'll notice that Amazon is no longer listed as an option. Boo! And to add insult to injury, the option to transfer the balance to your bank account hasn't worked for me, using two different debit cards. Go figure.
🤨 What’s in a name? As if the entire Apple ID and iCloud ID thing wasn’t confusing enough, there’s now a NEW name for the service: Apple Account. So, when you’re trying to find your Apple ID (or iCloud) credentials, remember now it’s called Apple Account. Hopefully, it’ll be third time lucky for this entire mess. (And the final change as well!)
📈 It's up! It's down! Where is it going next? NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) continues to pogo on an almost-daily basis. The bellwether of the AI movement gives no indication on whether it's a fad or the real deal. Check out its chart here. (Nothing in this newsletter constitutes professional and/or financial advice, etc. etc.)
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Let’s go back to August 1993: Reggie Jackson is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; Howard Stern is fired from WLUP-AM in Chicago; the Dow reaches a record high of 3638 points; “The Late Show With David Letterman” debuts; and Apple releases its highly-touted PDA. What was the name of this (failed) Apple device?
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No winners on the mouse quiz: "February, 1984: San Francisco Examiner tech columnist John C. Dvorak famously said "The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a ‘mouse’. There is no evidence that people want to use these things.” That said, the first computer mouse was introduced in what year?"
The correct answer: 1968.
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Once upon a time, humans freely roamed the earth, willingly carrying pieces of plastic that contained their Social Security numbers embossed upon them. How times have changed! | |
Nine Helpful and (Hopefully) Fun Links for September 2024! | |
What The Crystal Ball Has In Store For Next Month | |
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Next month, I’ll throw out some tips about your passwords and how they're stored; more thoughts on junk mail; plus my Quick Tip, as well as the quiz and fun and fascinating links!
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No End in Sight: Links to My Past Six Newsletters! (They're Not Locked Up in Fort Knox, They're Available Here…) | |
🦌 This month's background picture: Deer family, Norwalk River Valley Trail, September 16, 2024 | | |
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Like what you're seeing here? (Or not?) Learning something new, or simply being entertained? Want to see more (or less) things here? Then send me your thoughts - the good, bad, and the ugly. And don’t forget to forward this others who might find it useful. Thank you! | |
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Chris Capelle
Macintosh Computer &
Apple Products Expert
P.O. Box 7512
Wilton, CT 06897
203.451.1377 (cell/text)
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Don't forget to follow me on social media! | | | | |
