SMUG meeting, November 17, 2020
Notes by Kathleen Charters
Q&A
What to do if machine does not show that an OS update is due and it should – you can force it; Apple certificate server had a meltdown on last Tuesday during Big Sur update, because of that people could not launch things, Apple was busy fixing that world-wide screw up; the process is clever and worked well for 20 years until last week; go to App Store and select What’s New – it will take a long time since it is 13 GB to download; Lawrence has Big Sur on 2 machines to try it out and when Lawrence understands it Kathleen allows Lawrence to put the new OS on her machine
Apple will tell you if the machine is too old to use the new OS, if did this last week try it again; does not work on non-retina display due to the graphics card processing, the screen is not the problem; OS off-loads work to graphics processing chips; i7 Machine with a good graphics card should be able to run Big Sur; Apple takes 1-2 weeks to roll out a new OS for over a billion devices
Lawrence got an Apple Silicon machine, which arrived today; he will experiment with the new silicon chip
Mohave to Catalina to Big Sur – when on the same network, talk protocol to protocol so can communicate even if 2 machines are not on the same OS; no issue to exchange files across a network; things in common on iCloud will work since on a website in common, an OS is not relevant
MacTraders is closed as of Friday, seeking new owners, and will complete repairs of devices in the shop; this was not an authorized Apple repair facility; technicians did go through Apple’s technical repair certification for individuals
Port Townsend place that did Apple repairs, lost Apple certification as an Apple repair facility; there were devices not covered; only Apple does warranty repairs and does not authorize this for out-of-house due to past fraud
If buy a new iMac, how to move current machine over backup to time capsule external hard drive, as new machine powers up tell it to restore from Time Machine; a superb back-up system for a machine; early versions were too efficient – even moved over the trash; AirPort Time Capsule back-up, most software will move, some things like Adobe do require a re-install
Sabrina – Greetings, some new people joined today – welcomed; former members coming back; in Lincoln City, OR
Treasurer Update – Thank you to 5 people who sent in checks; Total $973.55; no expenses
Bonita – how do you join information on the Website? Lawrence got the contact form and responded; SMUG $24 annual dues
Lawrence – Apple announced at One More Thing Event: Big Sur released, can download now (authentication server crashed last Tuesday); 3 new machine with same silicon chip; MacBook Air (very fast); MacBook Pro 13 inch; Mac Mini looks different and has the Apple silicon CPU which is very fast, screen repaints instantly; Lawrence will test Big Sur and the Apple silicon chips; will take 3-5 years to move from Intel-based to silicon-based world; safe to buy a machine Intel iMac is powerful and there is no silicon chip version yet, 15 inch MacBook Pros only Intel; 13 inch MacBook Intel version OK; caution about the Intel Mini – better to go with the silicon machine; MacBook Air used to do new things should be silicon rather than Intel-based; for some people do not get silicon if running Windows, Parallels is not compatible with the silicon machines
For the silicon machine, will existing software run or do you have to buy new software – this is supposed to be seamless since have an emulator so can run Intel program on silicon machine; Apple did this in the past and no one noticed that there was an emulator; current Intel programs should run; hold off if using Linux or ??
Costs more to cram more into a small space. Current Intel machines may be fine for a new machine right now, unless you are in a very specialized segment of the market
Elections – no one answered
Kathleen — Apple Watch and Health
Can set up watches for other family members and use the watch as a health care monitoring device.
Tracks washing hands
Tracks falls
Sleep tracking
Apple Watch can also be set to prompt you for bedtime, and tap your wrist to wake you in the morning, plus silence all but important calls during sleep
Activity – first major app for the Watch
Apple Maps — feeds data to help you walk or bike, or run
All this data is fed into the Health app on your phone.
Strava – can not only track activity but also map it
This is a paid app, but you can do a lot with it for free.
Heart rate app — shows variability over time
ECGs — very good ECGs, collected on phone, and can be exported to PDF
Breathe to relax
Translate: Where is the hospital? Who stole my emu?
Voice memo: When you are driving and you can’t take notes, you can send yourself a voice memo
Plus hundreds of other apps
Memory – do not get less than 16 GB due to way OS works, if less uses disk drive and this slows the machine down; 16 GB unless running a virtual machine e.g., virtual Windows, or need more if do sound editing, large video editing; if use Chrome may need more memory; new Mac Mini Lawrence got has 16 GB; caution cannot add memory to Mini, MacBooks; some iMacs; try to get this right at the time of purchase
Time to change Apple Watch – depends on what you set it up to do and using the correct charger; most people charge daily for just under an hour, may need 20 minutes if not using much; Apple Watch is a computer on your wrist; Dick Tracey watch – taking phone calls; ask Siri questions
Next month’s topic suggestions – just before Christmas
- Music libraries, Apple Music, playlists
- Mac Mini with Apple Silicon chip
- Big Sur features and annoyances