Password management company LastPass has announced that it suffered a security breach in which attackers stole both encrypted customer account data (which is bad) and customer vaults containing encrypted usernames and passwords (which is much, much worse). On the positive side, the data of users who abided by LastPass’s defaults and created master passwords of […]
Monday, 02 January 2023 11:02
What Is Advanced Data Protection for iCloud? Should You Enable It?
Written by Adam Engst
In early December, Apple made a surprise announcement: Advanced Data Protection for iCloud. It’s not as though iCloud’s standard data protection is problematic, but it hinges on one architectural decision that makes some iCloud data theoretically vulnerable: Apple holds the encryption keys necessary to decrypt iCloud data. Because Apple controls those encryption keys, an attacker […]
Monday, 02 January 2023 11:01
Apple Delivers Promised Features in End-of-Year OS Updates
Written by Adam Engst
Every year at its Worldwide Developer Conference in June, Apple previews planned features in the upcoming versions of macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. However, not all of those features are necessarily ready for the initial releases of those operating systems. In part, that’s because iOS must ship in sync with the latest iPhone models […]
Thursday, 01 December 2022 10:08
Here’s How to Stop Getting Paste Permission Requests
Written by Adam Engst
In iOS 16, Apple tightened security by displaying a confirmation alert when you copy data from one app and paste it into another. More security isn’t bad, but these alerts can become annoying if you copy and paste frequently. In iOS 16.1, Apple added a setting to control the behavior for each app. If you […]
Thursday, 01 December 2022 10:07
Delete Contacts More Easily in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16
Written by Adam Engst
Deleting contacts on the iPhone and iPad used to be a pain, especially if you wanted to trash multiple contacts. You had to open the contact, tap Edit, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete Contact. Although you still can’t swipe left on a contact in a list, as you do when deleting in Mail […]
Thursday, 01 December 2022 10:06
You Can Now Use Siri to Reboot Your iPhone or iPad
Written by Adam Engst
Although iOS and iPadOS are extremely stable, there are times when rebooting your iPhone or iPad can eliminate odd or problematic behavior, and there’s no harm in trying it. In the past, you’ve had to remember which buttons to press or select Settings > General > Shut Down and then press a button to turn […]
Thursday, 01 December 2022 10:05
Need to Amuse Small Children During the Holidays? Try Slow Motion Video
Written by Adam Engst
If you find yourself at a family gathering with bored children over the holidays, allow us to recommend an activity that can keep kids engaged. Figure out something the kids can do that involves motion—knocking down a tower of blocks, rolling a ball or toy car down stairs, even just making silly faces—and record them […]
Thursday, 01 December 2022 10:04
Practice with the Emergency SOS via Satellite Demo, Just in Case
Written by Adam Engst
In mid-November, Apple launched its new Emergency SOS via satellite feature for the iPhone 14 lineup. If you have an iPhone 14 and find yourself in an emergency situation in the US or Canada without cellular or Wi-Fi service, you can still contact emergency services. Apple says the service will expand to France, Germany, Ireland, […]
Thursday, 01 December 2022 10:03
Two Ways to Manage Your Email So You Can Find It Later
Written by Adam Engst
We recently wrote about different ways to organize your files, which prompted some people to ask us about the best ways to manage email. Email may have competition from messaging services like Slack and Microsoft Teams, but for many people, it’s still where the most important communications take place. That’s especially true for anyone who […]
Thursday, 01 December 2022 10:02
Merge Duplicate Photos and Videos in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and Ventura
Written by Adam Engst
It’s all too easy to end up with duplicate photos and videos in your Photos library. The most common way is to use the Duplicate command, but we’ve seen duplicates appear due to accidentally repeated actions in other apps, repeated screenshots, multiple imports that include the same image (much as Photos tries to prevent this […]
Thursday, 01 December 2022 10:01
These New Year’s Resolutions Will Improve Your Digital Security in 2023
Written by Adam Engst
Happy New Year! For many of us, starting a new year means reflecting on fresh habits we’d like to adopt. Although we certainly support any resolutions you may have made to get enough sleep, eat better, reduce social media usage, and exercise more, could we suggest a few that will improve your digital security and […]
Tuesday, 01 November 2022 12:38
Text Flight Numbers to People You’re Visiting So They Can Track Your Flight
Written by Adam Engst
Next time you’re flying to visit your Apple-using family or friends, send them your flight number using Messages when you leave. Then they can easily track your flight in the air and see when you’re arriving. Just text them the flight number prefixed with the airline’s abbreviation, like AA for American Airlines, AC for Air […]
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Tuesday, 01 November 2022 12:37
Check the Weather on Your Mac and iPad, Finally!
Written by Adam Engst
At long last, Apple has plugged one of the most inexplicable holes in its app library—the lack of a Weather app for the iPad and Mac. In iPadOS 16 and macOS 13 Ventura, you’ll now find a large-screen version of the iPhone’s iOS 16 Weather app. Locations you enter on one device automatically sync to […]
Thursday, 20 October 2022 07:35
Apple Releases New iPad, iPad Pro, and Apple TV
Written by Adam Engst
In a series of press releases—no big video event this time—Apple has announced upgrades to the iPad, iPad Pro, and Apple TV. The new models are largely evolutionary, with changes that are welcome but unlikely to change your iPad or Apple TV experience. All are available to order now, with the new iPads arriving on […]
Monday, 03 October 2022 12:08
Add Haptic Feedback to the iPhone Keyboard in iOS 16
Written by Adam Engst
The iPhone has long been able to play clicking sounds when you tap the keys on the virtual keyboard, but that feedback, while sometimes welcome, can become annoying when you’re trying to be quiet. A new feature in iOS 16 provides haptic feedback—tiny taps you can feel in your fingertips as you tap keys on […]
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Monday, 03 October 2022 12:07
Bring Back the Battery Percentage Indicator in iOS 16
Written by Adam Engst
Back in 2017, when Apple added the notch to the iPhone X for Face ID, the resulting loss of usable screen real estate caused the company to remove the battery percentage indicator from the status area. Since then, you’ve only been able to estimate how much battery life you had left from the icon; you […]
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Monday, 03 October 2022 12:06
watchOS 9’s New Low Power Mode Could Help Older Apple Watches
Written by Adam Engst
Until watchOS 9, Low Power Mode on the Apple Watch turned the smartwatch into a dumb watch that only told the time. With watchOS 9 on an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, however, a new Low Power Mode reduces the watch’s capabilities while keeping it largely functional. It turns off the Always-On display, heart […]
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Monday, 03 October 2022 12:05
Are You Paying Too Much for Internet or Cellular Connectivity?
Written by Adam Engst
We’ve recently worked with a few clients who were paying too much for their Internet or cellular service. Internet service providers (ISPs) and cellular carriers occasionally adjust their service plans to account for new technologies, economies of scale, changing competitive landscapes, and marketing efforts. Sometimes they’ll increase speeds or capabilities across the board, but more […]
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Monday, 03 October 2022 12:04
The Many New Lock Screen Customizations in iOS 16
Written by Adam Engst
iOS 16 has been out for a bit now, and it’s likely safe to upgrade as long as you don’t rely on obsolete apps that might not be compatible. When you take the plunge, the first new feature to check out is the capability to create, customize, and switch among multiple Lock Screens, each with […]
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Monday, 03 October 2022 12:03
New Messages Features in iOS 16: Mark as Unread, Edit Messages, Undo Send, Report Junk, and More
Written by Adam Engst
After years of user requests, Apple has finally beefed up Messages with a few welcome features—options to mark conversations as unread for later reference, edit messages after they’ve been sent, and undo sending entirely. Plus, when you delete junk texts in Messages, you can now report them to Apple and your carrier, and you can […]
Monday, 03 October 2022 12:02
Security Questions Your Organization Should Be Asking Itself
Written by Adam Engst
We’re increasingly hearing from organizations that need to establish that they have sufficient security policies in place, either to meet the requirements of a larger client or to qualify for cyber insurance that insures against breaches and similar losses. Details vary, and we’re happy to work with you on the specifics, but here are some […]
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Monday, 03 October 2022 12:01
Five Best Practices for Organizing and Naming Computer Files
Written by Adam Engst
We’ve had decades to get used to organizing computer files, but it’s still hard for many people. Part of the problem is imagining how you—or your colleagues, if you’re in a workgroup—will need to find the files in the future. Another part of the problem is mustering enthusiasm for renaming and reorganizing existing files to […]