iPhone J.D.

Podcast episode 63: Sharpening the Apple Pencil and Submerging the Apple Watch

This week's episode of the In the News podcast starts with a discussion of what might be coming in a future version of the Apple Pencil.  But after that, it is pretty much all tips in this episode.  First, we discuss how to get Apple TV+ free for a limited time, and provide some tips on some of the best Apple TV+ shows.  Next, we discuss tips for customizing an Apple Watch, tips for adjusting the microphone on an iPhone, tips for coming up with new uses for the Shortcuts app, and tips for taking photos. 

In our In the Know segment, the tips keep on coming. Brett shares tips for swimming with an Apple Watch.  I share tips for monitoring your battery use on an Apple Watch.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just use your podcast player of choice.  You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

In the News

One of my favorite Apple devices is the Apple Pencil.  I use it at work to highlight, underline, and annotate PDF documents.  I also use it to take handwritten notes in the GoodNotes app.  At home, whenever I have some old photographs that I have scanned to add to my Photos collection, I use the Pencil with a graphics app on the iPad such as Pixelmator Photo or Photoshop, or sometimes just the Photos app, with a spot healing brush tool to clean up specks of dust, stray marks, etc.  And sometimes I'll use it for various other purposes, such as doing a crossword puzzle.  The original Apple Pencil was released in 2015, and the second generation added significant improvements in 2018.  That release schedule makes me wonder if a third generation Apple Pencil might come soon, and if so, what might it contain. You can get some idea by looking at patents sought and obtained by Apple.  Of course, just because Apple gets a patent that doesn't mean that the feature will ever see the light of day.  Nevertheless, I was interested to learn from posts on the Patently Apple website (1, 2) about possible new features.  One idea is that sliding your finger up and down the barrel of the Pencil could trigger a function, such as changing color or thickness.  Another idea is that in addition to tapping the Pencil near the tip, you could get a different result by tapping near the back.  Another idea is that not only can you trigger an action by tapping the Pencil, but you can trigger a different action by pressing down on the side of the Pencil.  Another idea is that the Pencil could use haptic feedback or another method to provide a different feel at certain points, such as perhaps if you get close to the edge of an object on the screen.  Another idea is that you could circle a finger around the back of the Pencil to trigger certain actions, such as spinning a color wheel.  Incorporating all of these ideas seems like too much, but incorporating one or two good ones—I especially like sliding a finger up and down the side of the Pencil—could give folks a reason to want to upgrade to an Apple Pencil version 3.  Surely, another version of the Apple Pencil is coming; it's just a question of when.  And now, the news of note from the past week:

• Massachusetts lawyer Bob Ambrogi of LawSites notes that New York is the first state to mandate that attorneys take CLE in cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection.  Given the increasing number of threats to lawyers and their clients, this seems like a good idea.
• Tim Brookes of How-To Geek recommends using an Apple Watch to record quick voice memos.
• Lisa Eadicicco and Jason Cipriani of CNet recommend some settings on the Apple Watch that you might want to change.
• Tatum Hunter of the Washington Post discusses the pros and cons of staying on a parent's cellphone plan even after marriage.
• Zac Hall of 9to5Mac notes that when NASA launches its uncrewed spacecraft to the moon in a few weeks, both an iPad and an Amazon Alexa will be on board for a tech demo.
• Chance Miller of 9to5Mac notes that the HBO Max app for iPhone and iPad is improved, adding support for SharePlay and stability improvements.
• John Gruber of Daring Fireball notes that the Netflix iOS app now has a button that lets you go to a website to sign up for Netflix.  This is the result of years of negotiations between Apple and other content providers and governmental entities.  In the past, Apple wanted people to sign up for a subscription from within the app, which means that Apple would get a percentage of that in-app purchase.  Now, for certain types of apps, the app can direct you to a website where you can pay money directly to the developer without Apple getting a cut.
• Gruber also discusses an interesting article by Nick Heer that examines whether Apple's App Tracking Transparency requirement—the recent change where apps have to ask you to do things like share your personal information with third parties—is the real reason that Facebook is not making as much money as it used to, or if instead the problem is simply that Facebook is less relevant today than it was before.
• Brenda Ramirez of Gadget Hacks recommends using microphone effects that are built-in to the iPhone (on certain models) to change the way that you sound on FaceTime, Google Meet, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Zoom.
• In an article for iMore, automation expert Matthew Cassinelli suggests tips for using Shortcuts on an iPhone.  The article discusses four types of shortcuts that you might want to use, with links to lots of sample shortcuts.
• If you use the Apple Card credit card, you can now get three months of Apple TV+ for free.  Click here for more details.  I think that this works even if you already subscribe to Apple TV+.  However, it does not work if you currently get Apple TV+ included as part of an Apple One subscription.
• One reason to subscribe to Apple TV+ is to watch the series For All Mankind.  The final episode of Season 3 just came out a few hours ago as I type this, and it is fantastic.  Season 1 is great, Season 2 is better, and Season 3 is the best one yet.
• There is a new limited series on Apple TV+ called Five Days at Memorial that starts today.  It is about a true event—the conditions at a hospital in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina—which was a big topic in the local news here in New Orleans many years ago.  According to Mike Scott of the local newspaper in New Orleans, The Times-Picayune, the show is "engaging and suspenseful" and "the epitome of prestige TV."  And in a follow-up article, he talks to some of the cast members about the show.  I know that the show will not be uplifting, and it is likely to bring back some rough memories for those of us who lived through Katrina, but I'm curious to check it out, so this is on my list to watch.
• Eight months ago, I linked to a funny Apple TV+ ad that featured actor Jon Hamm complaining that every other star was on the service except for him.  I figured that Apple running the ad would mean that we would see Jon Hamm on Apple TV+ in the future.  Sure enough, the Apple TV+ Twitter account announced this week that Jon Hamm will be on Season 3 of The Morning Show.
• And finally, a new video from Apple featuring photographer Eddy Chen includes a number of great tips for taking and editing photos on an iPhone to take advantage of natural light, such as how to take advantage of shadows, the golden hour as the sun sets, and night mode.  There are some great tips in this video:

Podcast episode 62: Buggy Betas and Apple Cubes

This week's episode of the In the News podcast starts with a discussion of the possibility that iOS 16 will come out sooner than iPad OS 16 and whether this is a good or bad thing.  Next, after a brief discussion of a new charging solution from Anker, we then discuss the iPhone as a replacement for a high-end camera.  We also discuss new HomeKit devices and the best shows on Apple TV+.  We end with a very fun discussion of Apple Store opening days, and I share some never before seen pictures of the opening day at Apple Store Fifth Avenue in New York back in 2006.  (You'll have to watch the video version of the podcast to see those!)

In our In the Know segment, Brett shares a tip for controlling access to information on the lock screen—the eternal debate between utility and privacy.  I share a tip for migrating from an old Mac mini to a new Mac mini when you don't have a second keyboard and/or a second mouse.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just use your podcast player of choice.  You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

In the News

There has been some hubbub this week about the possibility that iOS 16 will come out in September but that iPad OS 16 will not come out until October—perhaps when Apple announces new iPads.  This all stems from a rumor reported by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, so it may not be true, but there have been interesting discussions about whether, if true, this is a good or bad thing.  Jason Snell of Six Colors said that he's "glad Apple is apparently being patient with this update and not forcing it out the door when it doesn’t need to," and Federico Viticci of MacRumors said that a delay "is the right thing to do" because the new Stage Manager feature is still very buggy and iPad OS 16 needs "some design polish, too."  On the other hand, California attorney David Sparks says that the beta "feels stable to me," and software developer James Thomson (who makes the popular calculator app PCalc) warned that a staggered release is a problem for developers who make universal apps (apps that run on both the iPhone and iPad): "I can’t separate them, so it will be a case of not shipping anything until iPadOS ships, or shipping something early that’s potentially broken on iPadOS."  There is no easy answer here.  We have seen times in the past when Apple released a major system update that wasn't really ready for prime time, and that was no fun, so I generally prefer for Apple to wait a little longer to make things better.  But perfect is the enemy of good, and at some point, Apple needs to ship what it has so far.  It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds over the next two months.  And now, the news of note from the past week:

• I've mentioned before that the fabulous LIT SUITE apps, including TrialPad and TransriptPad, are coming out for the Mac.  The public betas became available this week so feel free to start putting them to use if you don't mind being an early adopter.
• California attorney David Sparks reviews the new Anker 65W portable hybrid charger.  It works as both a charger that you plug in the wall (with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port) and also as a portable battery.  Great idea for travel.  ($99.99 on Amazon.)
• Apple iMessage encryption has been in the news this week because it has been offered as an excuse for the Secret Service losing text messages that relate to the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.  Jason Snell of Six Colors looks into the possible validity of these claims.  In short, he finds that depending upon how the Secret Service was doing things, this might be a legitimate excuse, but it is unclear.
• For the last nine months, Harry McCracken of Fast Company has stopped using his fancy camera and relied only on the iPhone.  In this article, he shares six tips for iPhone photography that he learned from going all in, and all of them are great tips.
• I've recently shared many stories about people having difficulties with airline travel during the last few months.  My wife had a ridiculous experience last night with a flight from New York to New Orleans that was delayed over six hours.  Another issue is lost luggage, and this is causing many people to purchase AirTags to track their luggage.  Here is a series of tweets with people noting that AirTags are now sold out in many Apple Stores.
• What company might Apple purchase next?  In an article for Macworld, Jason Snell shares his thoughts.
• If you want a wall dimmer switch that is compatible with HomeKit, Lutron Caséta is always my #1 suggestion.  But if you don't want to have to purchase a Lutron hub—for example, you will only one a single wall dimmer, so the hub wouldn't be used for anything else—Michael Potuck of 9to5Mac reports that Wemo now offers a Smart Dimmer that works with HomeKit.  It supports Thread, and you don't need to have a neutral wire in your wall (which is missing in many older homes).
• I love using HomeKit to turn off outside lights.  Unfortunately, the iHome iSP100 Outdoor Smart Plug that I've been using for four years has been giving me connectivity issues for the past few weeks.  Before this week, every outside smart plug with HomeKit support that I had seen was simply an on/off switch.  But Jason Snell of Six Colors reviews the Meross Outdoor Dimmer Plug, and he says that it not only works well, but it allows him to dim his outdoor lights, which I cannot do with the iHome product.
• Andrew O'Hara of AppleInsider wrote a comprehensive review of the new Eve Motion 2, a motion and light detector that works with HomeKit.  ($39.99 on Amazon.)
• In the upcoming iOS 16, the Wallet app will provide order tracking information for purchases from certain retailers.  Benjamin Mayo explains how order tracking will work.
• Also in the upcoming iOS 16, you will be able to edit or unsend an iMessage after it has been sent.  John Gruber of Daring Fireball explains and shows how it works.
• Jace Lacob of Entertainment Weekly recommends the best shows to watch on Apple TV+ right now.  I agree with most of the suggestions, except that The Essex Serpent didn't appeal to me.  One show that isn't on the list is Black Bird, which I haven't started yet but I'm hearing good things about.
• The Apple TV+ animated movie Luck debuts today, and it is cute how it has taken over the homepage of Apple.com.  Make sure that you scroll down.
• One of the shows on the EW list is For All Mankind, which I have been loving this season.  I enjoyed reading this interview of Shantel VanSanten, who plays Karen Baldwin, by Amelia Walker of 1883.
• Impressionist Matt Friend shares what Apple CEO Tim Cook and Jony Ive might be saying about ending Ive's connection with Apple.
• And finally, ever since May 15, 2001, when Steve Jobs debuted the very first Apple Store in the Tysons Corner Center in Virginia, the stores have been something special.  But looking back over the past 21 years, they have changed substantially even though they have always stayed interesting.  Of course, a big change is that we now have the flagship stores, like the one in Milan that I mentioned a few days ago.  But even the simple stores in shopping malls look substantially different now than they did years ago.  To help you experience an Apple Store from the past, Michael Steeber created an amazing free app for the Mac called the Apple Store Time Machine.  Using the app, you can walk (or run, or jump) through four iconic Apple Stores as they appeared on opening day: (1) the first store at Tysons Corner in 2001, (2) the first mini-Apple Store, at Stanford Shopping Center in 2004, (3) the Apple Store Fifth Avenue, and (4) The Apple Store Infinite Loop on September 19, 2015.  I was living in New York at the time, so I attended the Apple Store Fifth Avenue opening on May 19, 2006.  There was quite a crowd for the opening, as you can see in this photo (I'm wearing the red shirt in the middle of that picture, taken by a camera placed by Apple), and I can vouch that the store looked just like Steeber shows it in this app back in 2006.  I took this picture inside the store that day, but it was so crowded that you see more people than products.  If you have a Mac, I strongly recommend that you download this free app to explore the stores (and some Easter Eggs) for a few minutes or so.  If you don't have a Mac, you can watch this clip from the MacBreak Weekly podcast in which they show off some of the app.  And for far more details, you can listen to Steeber himself discuss the app in a recent episode of The Talk Show with John Gruber.  What a cool project, truly a labor of love:

Apple Stores in Milan and Bologna, Italy

A few weeks ago, my wife and I traveled to a few cities in northern Italy.  It was a fabulous vacation, and I cannot wait to see more of that amazing country.  During parts of our trip, we visited some of the more popular areas, and because Apple likes to put Apple Stores in well-trafficked areas, that meant that we happened upon some Apple Stores.  For those of you who don't regularly visit Apple Stores in Italy, here is some of what you are missing.  And if you do plan to visit these stores, I have some recommendations for you in this post.

Milan

Apple has a few stores in Milan, Italy, but the most impressive is the flagship store at Piazza Liberty that opened to much fanfare in 2018.  The store has similarities to Apple's iconic New York Fifth Avenue Store: a glass structure at street level next to a public area with the store itself underground.

Next to the glass entrance is a tiered public area—the "piazza" in "Piazza Liberty"—perfect for concerts or other public performances.

When I was there, they were packing up some equipment from one of the LGBTQ+ Pride Month "Love is Love" celebrations.

As you walk down the steps to the underground store, you see a wide open space with Apple's traditional tables and product displays.

The store features a huge screen for software demonstrations as part of the Today at Apple series. 

Because the store is under the tiered piazza, natural light can enter the store from between the tiers.

It is a beautiful and impressive Apple Store.  And like many of Apple's flagship stores, it contributes to and is a part of the surrounding community.

The Apple Store Piazza Liberty is a very short walk from the huge and impressive Duomo in Milan, a cathedral that took six centuries to build, from 1386 to 1965, and is one of the largest in the world. 

The Milan Duomo is one of the most amazing buildings that I have ever seen, and I recommend putting it on your bucket list of places to see.  There are 1,000 statues outside and another 2,000 inside.  There are fifty-two 100-foot tall pillars representing the weeks of the year.  It was built to hold 40,000 worshipers, which was the population of Milan when construction began.  And the roof—which was not originally intended for public viewing—is as impressive as the inside of the cathedral.  If you find yourself at the Apple Store in Milan, you should definitely visit the Duomo as well, which looks just as impressive during the day as it does at night.

How should you relax and take a break after visiting the Milan Duomo?  I'm glad you asked.  Next to the the Piazza del Duomo (the large area in front of the cathedral), and at the front of the Galleria high-end shopping center, you will find Camparino.  This bar opened in 1915 and has been voted one of the best bars in the world.  Featured cocktails include the Campari Spritz and the Aperol Spritz.  I personally prefer the Aperol Spritz, but I enjoyed them both.  This is a great place to people-watch all of the tourists visiting the Duomo and shopping at the luxury stores.

As you enjoy your cocktail, you can savor the yummy and generous snacks that they bring you with a drink order.  I'm not sure if they do this all day long or just as a part of the Italian tradition of aperitivo.  Apertivo is normally just for the hour or two before dinner, and we were there at 3pm.  Whatever the reason, the drinks and snacks were great, and if I find myself back in Milan, I will go back.

Bologna

If you visit Bologna, Italy—a city with some of the best food that I have ever tasted—you will surely see the Two Towers, a symbol of the city.  Like that more famous tower in Italy, at least one of these towers is definitely leaning.

As you approach the Two Towers in Bologna, you will walk next to the Apple Store Via Rizzoli. 

This is a traditional Apple Store, so it lacks the fancy features of a flagship store like the Apple Store Piazza Liberty in Milan.

Although this specific Apple store is nothing special on its own, it is interesting to see the latest technology from Apple right here in the old part of Bologna.  This part of town includes the University of Bologna, which is the oldest university in continuous operation in the entire world, founded in 1088.  Just think of how much more productive the students could have been back in 1088 with an iPad and an Apple Pencil.  Although I guess that there wasn't much Wi-Fi at the time.

Parma

Just like in America, there are some places in Italy that may be too small to support an Apple Store, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a need for Apple technology.  When I visited Parma, Italy—part of a delightful tour of the places where Parmesan cheese and prosciutto di Parma are made—I walked past an Apple premium reseller that calls itself Juice.  This store copies some of the look-and-feel of a traditional Apple Store.

Apple 2022 fiscal third quarter -- the iPhone and iPad angle

A few days ago, Apple released the results for its 2022 fiscal third quarter (which ran from March 27, 2022, to June 25, 2022) and held a call with analysts to discuss the results.  This is typically not a big fiscal quarter for Apple; the important quarter for Apple every year is the first fiscal quarter (containing the holiday sales season).  But of course, every year is different.  Two years ago, with so many people buying laptops and other Apple products as they worked from home during the pandemic, Apple had a great fiscal third quarter.  Three months ago, Apple warned that the 2022 fiscal third quarter could be limited by a number of factors, especially supply constraints caused by COVID-related disruptions, and Apple said that this would likely result in third quarter revenue being $4 to $8 billion less than it otherwise would have been.  But a few days ago, Apple said that the negative impact turned out to be slightly below $4 billion.  As a result, Apple reported revenue of $83 billion for this past quarter, which Apple said was better than it expected and was an all-time record for the third fiscal quarter and up from the $81.4 billion in revenue for this same quarter one year ago.  Apple CEO Tim Cook said that "supply constraints were less than we anticipated at the beginning of the quarter, coming in slightly below the range we discussed during our last call."  If you want to get all of the nitty-gritty details, you can listen to the audio from the announcement conference call on the Apple website, or you can read a transcript of the call prepared by Jason Snell of Six Colors.  Apple's official press release is here.  Here are the items that stood out to me.

iPhone

• Apple's iPhone revenue for the quarter was $40.67 billion, up 3% from $39.57 billion this time last year.
• Cook said that Apple set a fiscal third quarter record for both revenue and switchers to the iPhone.
• Cook noted that Apple is now celebrating the 15th anniversary of the iPhone.
• Cook said that Apple is seeing a growth in iPhone sales in some places where there is currently a low percentage of iPhone users, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and India.

iPad

• iPad revenue was $7.22 billion, down 2% from $7.37 this time last year.
• Cook said that iPad saw strong demand during the quarter.  Because supply was so constrained, in large part because of factory shutdowns in China due to COVID outbreaks, Cook said that Apple does not know how high the demand might have been. 
• Apple CFO Luca Maestri added that both supply constrains and negative foreign exchange had an impact on iPad revenue.
• Maestri also noted that "the iPad installed base reached a new all-time high with over half of the customers during the quarter being new to the product."  It is interesting to see so many new customers to a product like the iPad that has been around since 2010.

Other

• Maestri said that over two-thirds of the people who purchased an Apple Watch during the past quarter were purchasing their first Apple Watch.
• Cook said that in its "two and a half years since launch, Apple TV+ has now earned 250 wins and over 1100 award nominations and counting."
• Cook also mentioned Apple's commitment to an industry-wide effort to get rid of passwords.  "Last month, we announced the introduction of Passkey, a next-generation credential that’s intended to replace passwords.  A Passkey can’t be phished, nor can it be stolen by hackers in a data breach, because the information is stored on your device and your device alone. "

Podcast episode 61: Sleepy Maps and Multi-Stop AirTags

This week's episode of the In the News podcast starts with a discussion of some of the best new features coming to iOS 16, iPad OS 16, and CarPlay this Fall.  We also talk about sleep tracking with an Apple Watch, new options for charging your devices, and clever uses for AirTags.  Finally, we discuss some great sales at Amazon on Apple products.

In our In the Know segment, Brett shares a useful tip for using Focus mode when you are exercising.  I share a non-useful, but fun, tip about figuring out how many of you there are.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just use your podcast player of choice.  You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

In the News

Throughout this Summer, we have seen reports of features that will come this Fall when Apple updates all of its operating systems.  Most of the reports have been about the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but this week, I saw a report from attorney John Voorhees of MacStories about the next version of CarPlay and related updates to the Maps app.  There is some great stuff coming.  For example, although you can currently use the Maps app to go to more than one destination, it works so poorly that I find that it makes more sense to just use Maps to go to the first destination, then start over again to get to your second destination, etc.  Voorheees shows that the Maps app in iOS 16 and the next version of CarPlay will have a sophisticated new interface for multi-stop routing, and it looks like a great improvement.  CarPlay also features a new chime for Siri, the ability to send your response to a text message without first asking "Ready to send it?", and support for upcoming third-party apps that relate to refueling (I can imagine an Exxon app to get to the nearest Exxon station) and driving tasks (road assistance, towing assistance, etc.).  It will be nice to use the new CarPlay in just a few months.  And now, the news of note from the past week:

• Apple Maps may be improving, but so is Google Maps.  In a blog post, Amanda Leicht Moore, Google's director of Google Maps, explains how Google is moving towards much more immersive maps.
• Jason Cross of Macworld explains why dictation in iOS 16 will be substantially better.  He also provides dictation tips.
• Using the Music app will be different in iOS 16 when you control volume or scrub through a track.  Jason Snell of Six Colors explains what is new.
• M.G. Siegler identifies three features that he really likes in iOS 16, including haptic typing.
• If you wear an Apple Watch while you sleep, the built-in Sleep app can track data associated with your sleep.  But third-party apps offer additional sleep-tracking features, and Chance Miller of 9to5Mac identifies some of the best options.  The idea of sleep-tracking appeals to me, but when I have tried it in the past, I haven't found the data to be all that relevant to me.  Nevertheless, I feel like there could be a point in the future when this data seems more important and useful to me, and obviously there are lots of folks who already find the information interesting—which is why these third-party apps exist.
• Apple has three high-capacity USB-C power adapters to choose from.  While designed for computers, that also work with the iPad, iPhone, etc.  Jason Cross of Macworld provides advice on which power adapter to choose.
• Allison McDaniel of 9to5Mac came up with seven interesting ways to use an AirTag that might not have occurred to you, such as placing one in a jacket or coat that you might lose track of at a party or when you check it.  It is so hot this Summer that I've almost forgotten what a jacket is, but now that I am reminded, that is a pretty good idea.
• Juli Clover of MacRumors reviews the newest version of Belkin's Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Charger that charges an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.  The new version adds fast charging for an Apple Watch Series 7, and costs $150.  This looks like a great charger to use on a nightstand next to your bed.  Note that the version currently being sold on Amazon, also for $150, appears to be the 2021 version—which you can tell because it doesn't mention Series 7 fast charging.  I presume that the 2022 version will show up on Amazon soon.
• Francesco Rizzato of OpenSignal compares enhanced 5G on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
• Alex Sherman of CNBC reports that starting Monday, the NFL is launching a new service called NFL+.  It costs $5/month, and it will let you stream live football games—both local and out-of-market—but you have to watch on a mobile device.  You can get more information on the NFL website.  One of the big questions for NFL fans is who will take over the NFL Sunday Ticket service that has been on DirecTV since 1994, but this upcoming season will be the last year on DirecTV.  The rumor is that this service is coming to Apple TV+.
• The Apple TV 4K is once again on sale on Amazon for $129.99, a $40 discount.  Here is my review of this second generation Apple TV 4K from last year, and here is my post describing how great the Apple TV 4K works with a modern 4K HDR television like the incredible LG OLED C1.
• The iPad Pro 11" with 1TB is on sale for 25% on Amazon right now, $1,117.14 instead of $1,499.  1TB is a ton of space and perhaps more than you need, but with this sale, it is only barely more than the 512GB model.
• And finally, Apple released two short videos to show off the durability of iPhone 13.  The one called Edge addresses the durability of a dropped iPhone; the one called Shake addresses water resistance.  Both are funny and made me smile.  Here is the Edge video:

Podcast episode 60: Minnie Mouse, Search Warrants, and Arcade Expirations

This week's episode of the In the News podcast starts with a short discussion of the release of iOS 15.6 and a related discussion on AirTags.  Next, we discuss iPhone privacy: should the government be allowed to force users to unlock their iPhone?  Next, we discuss a large number of HomeKit home automation topics, and then we end up with a discussion of how the Apple Watch and iPhone can save your life.

In our In the Know segment, Brett recommends an app called AllTrails for folks who like to hike.  I provide a number of tips for using AirPods or AirPods Pro with a Windows computer.

Click here to listen to the audio podcast, or just use your podcast player of choice.  You can also watch the episode on YouTube:

In the News

I don't discuss the Apple Arcade subscription service much because I rarely use it myself although my kids use it, but it is $5/month or it is part of the Apple One subscription bundle.  The service provides high-quality video games without having to pay to download the app and, better yet, without have to pay any in-app fees.  It is also included as a part of the Apple One bundle.  If you use the Apple Arcade subscription service, you have seen new games added since the service debuted in 2019.  José Adorno of 9to5Mac notes that, for the first time, Apple is retiring some games from the service.  Presumably, these are less-popular games.  When Apple removes a game, you have two weeks to continue to use it, and then it disappears—although the developer may decide to offer a new version of the app in the App Store, and it may be possible to load your saved game progress, if the developer enables that feature.  And now, the news of note from the past week:

• The debate over whether and when the government can compel a person to unlock an iPhone is far from over.  Thomas Brewster of Forbes discusses an incident in which the FBI forced a man use his face to unlock encrypted messages in an app called Wickr as part of an investigation of child abuse sexual material. 
• Apple released iOS 15.6 this week.  As José Adorno of 9to5Mac reports, it is mostly bug fixes and security improvements.
• iOS 15.6 changes the way that the Find My app alerts you to AirTag battery status, as noted by José Adorno of 9to5Mac.  In the past, you would always see an icon indicating the amount of battery life.  In iOS 15.6, you only see a red battery icon if the battery is low and needs to be replaced.  The new system makes sense to me since the old battery indicator was never very precise, but you should be aware of the change if you use AirTags.
• Glenn Fleishman of Macworld explains how to use the built-in Home app to monitor specific zones using a HomeKit-compatible security camera.
• Although there is a lot that I like about Apple's HomeKit Secure Video platform, it does have some disadvantages.  Rachel Cericola of Wirecutter explains all of the reasons that she does not trust HomeKit Secure Video.  I agree with some of her complaints.  For example, it is a shame that the service does not use 4K or 2K (only 1080p) and it often forgets to record.  But she does not mention that you can use both HomeKit Secure Video and other platforms—for me, for example, I use the Eufy platform too—and I sometimes find that the Eufy failed to record but the HomeKit Secure Video did so.  The article also ignores some advantages such as cost (free), the fact that it lets you view your camera on an Apple TV, and security.  Nevertheless, if you are trying to decide whether to rely solely on HomeKit Secure Video, whether to use that in connection with another platform, or whether to ignore HomeKit Secure Video completely, you should read this article to learn about the cons as you consider the pros.
• Ben Lovejoy of 9to5Mac discusses a new product from Eve: the second generation Eve motion sensor.  The prior version of the Eve motion sensor, which I reviewed in 2018, does a nice job of sensing motion and triggering HomeKit actions.  For me, when I walk into my home theater after not being in there for at least three hours, it turns on the lights for me.  The second generation of this product uses Thread, and Lovejoy's article includes an excellent description of what that means and why you might want it.  The new version also includes a built-in light sensor that can trigger actions based on sensing light.  This looks like a great product if you want a motion detector.
• In another Macworld article, Dan Moren explains how parts of the next version of the iPhone operating system are laying a foundation for big changes coming down the road.
• Ken Macleod of CBS News Boston shares the story of a woman who was told by her Apple Watch that she was in atrial fibrillation.  The woman didn't believe it at first, but after being told three nights in a row, she went to the hospital and discovered that the culprit was a fast-growing tumor near her heart.  The tumor was removed in a surgery, and her doctors say that this saved her life.
• Michael Potuck of 9to5Mac shares the story of a Ukranian soldier whose life was saved because the iPhone in his vest stopped a bullet.
• Rosy Cordero of Deadline reports on what the actors on the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso had to say about the series coming to an end soon after three seasons.
• In this TikTok video, comedian Becca Bastos impersonates the Apple Watch, and does so rather effectively.
• And finally, in a 15 second video released by Apple UK, Apple quickly shows why ApplePay is more secure than using a credit card.  There are two other even shorter videos in this series: one called Contactless and one called Exposed.