For our October meeting, we had no planned program, but instead an extended Question and Answer (Q&A) session on almost anything concerning Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, etc. And we recorded it:
Apple has announced they are having an Apple Event on September 7, starting at 10 a.m. PT. Unlike previous streamed events, there is no special phrase or graphic to hint at what is to come. Instead, you get this sparkling star cluster,
An apple-shaped star cluster, or possibly a black hole. Hard to tell.
Presumably, the event will be the usual quarterly announcement of Apple iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches. But the lack of graphical and textual hints is something of a mystery. Maybe this is an unreleased photo of some section of the universe, captured with the James Webb space telescope. Maybe it is the patterned formed by throwing darts at an Apple sticker. Maybe it is a time-lapse aerial photo of an autonomously driven Apple car driving around the Cupertino campus.
You can stream the event on September 7 and find out.
This entry talks about useless clickbait, but there are some useful tips on screenshots at the end. First, the useless clickbait.
While reading news stories on my iPad, I was presented with two different advertisements offering bizarre suggestions for how to block advertisements on my iPad. Yes, advertisements on how to block advertisements.
These useless advertisements had one real purpose: they were designed to make me curious, and click on the advertisement — in order to see more advertisements. I did not click on the ads.
But I did take screenshots, because they were funny. The first ad:
Ad blocker? Carpet cleaner? Finger exercise pad? We may never know.
Let us give this some thought. This illustration is suggesting you can block ads by:
Turning your iPad screen down and pressing it into your carpet. This works: you won’t be able to see the ads! Or anything else, but yes, you won’t be able to see the ads!
Or another possibility: this is a still image, but it might require more action. You might want to rub the iPad back and forth across the carpet. If there is any sand or grit on the carpet, it might scratch up the screen, which will make the ads harder to see. This could be considered an ad blocker of sorts. Also: a great way to damage your iPad.
Yet another possibility: this could be part of a larger image, and if you were to zoom out, maybe you would see the user crouched down like a sprinter, waiting for the starting gun to fire. The iPad itself is serving as a starting block, or, to stretch a point, an ad blocker.
As it seemed unwise to click on the link (not to mention silly), we may never know exactly what was intended.
The second ad:
Here’s how to block ads on your iPad! Or is it even an iPad?
The first thing to note is that this is explicitly PAID CONTENT. Some entity paid to insert this advertisement into a news page, and again, is advertising a way to block advertisements. But consider:
Is this even an iPad? That looks like a USB-C port in the center, but none of the iPads with USB-C ports have a bottom edge that looks anything like this.
Exactly what is the Q-tip doing? Is it removing gunk from the USB-C port? Maybe the USB-C port has ear wax? It isn’t clear how that can block ads.
Maybe the Q-tip is inserting ear wax into the USB-C port to block ads? You wouldn’t expect iPads to promulgate ads through a USB-C port, but then you wouldn’t normally stick a Q-tip in them, either.
After giving this photo several days of thought, the ear wax removal explanation seems to work best, even though it makes no sense. Again, it seemed unwise to click on the ad, so the explanation will remain a mystery.
Screenshots? You can take screenshots on an iPad?
One question you might have: how do I take a screenshot on an iPad? Apple has a support document that describes the process (it is easy): https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT210781
Another question many people have: where does the iPad put the screenshots? The support document reveals this tidbit, too, at the bottom of the page.
While it is a little trickier (you need to make a change to the Watch settings on your iPhone first), you can even take screenshots on your Apple Watch: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204673
This Apple Watch screenshot shows the current time, including seconds, and (the four corners, top to bottom, left to right) a button for recording voice memos; a weather forecast with temperature range; a button for Strava, an app to record walks, runs, bike rides, etc.; and a button to display Activity (steps, exercise, stands). In the interior, the upper icon in the center will display blood oxygen level, the one on the right displays the current tide at Dungeness Landing, the bottom center shows the time in London, England, and the one on the left triggers the Breath app, which guides you through breathing exercises. There are millions of possible ways to customize the Apple Watch, most of them far less complex.A more simplified Apple Watch screenshot showing date, time, outdoor temperature and weather, location, and a view of what the earth would look like at that moment from space. The icon at the top is subtly suggesting that the wearer should be in bed.
One of our members suggested I post a link to Macworld’s 911 column. This has been an ongoing series where subscribers to the magazines ask common questions, and Macworld posts answers. The answers are well written, and (usually) very good. Here is a recent collection:
Sometimes the advertising gets in the way, but the writing is down to earth.
A tip: if you ever try to do something on your Mac or iPad or iPhone and can’t figure out how, back off a bit and try to think of the task more generically. In other words, don’t try and obsess over what you are trying to do at that particular moment but, rather, think of what other people might do with whatever tool you are using. Sometimes you may find that you are using the wrong tool, and another tool is a better choice. Or you might decide this is the right tool, but you are approaching the problem from the wrong perspective.
Such as: someone wrote to me a few weeks ago convinced that they had a virus. Their Mac wasn’t working, and everything was very slow. The answer was less scary and less intrusive: the hard disk was full. Not absolutely crammed, but too full to work reliably. (To even use a web browser, you need several gigabytes — sometimes tens of gigabytes — worth of free disk space). Copying stuff off to another drive freed up space, and the computer was faster and more reliable.
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
Layout of an Apple Watch with a bunch of apps. You can have a simple design, or something this complex; the watchface can be endlessly customized.
Can set up watches for other family members and use the watch as a health care monitoring device.
Tracks washing hands
Watch can track handwashing
Tracks falls
Can call 911 if it detects a fall. Will also call 911 if the “fall” is a crash in a car or on a bike.
Sleep tracking
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
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
Activity trackingActivity rings – not much detail, but good visual indicatorWill encourage you to complete your activities.
Apple Maps — feeds data to help you walk or bike, or run
Taps your wrist to indicate turns as well as shows an arrow to point the way
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.
Pick the type of activity you are doing. There is a long list of possibilities
Heart rate app — shows variability over time
Heart rate, at the moment and over time
ECGs — very good ECGs, collected on phone, and can be exported to PDF
The ECG is recorded as a PDF, which you can read on your phone, send to your computer, or email to your snoopy spouse.
Breathe to relax
Breathe to relax prompts you to take breaths by tapping your wrist
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
