Maccast 2015.05.16 - Show #525
Links
V Opening
V Pre-roll
V Lynda.com
* This episode is brought to you by lynda.com, the online learning platform with over 3,000 on-demand video courses to help you strengthen your business, technology, and creative skills. For a free 10-day trial, visit lynda.com/maccast. That’s L-Y-N-D-A dot com slash MAC - CAST
V Casper
* And by Casper. Casper is an online retailer offering obsessively engineered mattress at a shockingly fair price. Get $50 toward any Casper mattress purchase by visiting casper.com/maccast and using the code 'MACCAST'
V Opening Music
* Music is Say Anything by Manda and the Marbles
V Sponsor: Lynda.com
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V Some of the courses I recommend are:
* Checkout the Playlist Center. Curated playlists by Lynda.com experts
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* Using Project Management Software
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V I just discovered a Business Storytelling with C.C. Chapman
* I love podcasts that use storytelling to deliver their content
* I’ve always wanted to get better at storytelling my self.
* This course, while somewhat business focused, still is proving me with outlines and techniques to become a better storyteller and I think that could help a lot with my Podcasting.
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* That’s L-Y-N-D-A dot com slash M-A-C C-A-S-T
V News
V New iMac config and 15-inch Macbook Pro update
V 15-inch Macbook Pro update
* Faster Intel processor
* Force Touch trackpad
* Faster flash storage. Up to up to 2.5 times faster (up to 2 GBps)
* 2.2-gigahertz Intel Core i7 chip for $1,999
V Upgradeable to a 2.5-gigahertz processor and dedicated AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics card for $2,499
* The AMD Radeon R9 M370X is capable of driving Dell's dual-cable UP2715K 27-inch 5K display.
* These are not "Broadwell" processors since Intel is not yet shipping those in quad-core configurations
V New entry level 5K iMac and price drop on the top-end model
* New model has a 3.3-gigahertz quad-core Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon R9 M290, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and 1 terabyte HDD (not Fusion)
* Top end model with 3.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon R9 M290X, 8GB RAM, and 1TB Fusion Drive is now $2,299.00 ($200 lower than before)
V Your discount might vary or be non-existent depending on which country you’re in
* Apple has adjusted prices for the strong US dollar in Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Finland and multiple other countries in the European Union.

* This is something Apple will do from time to time and while it upsets many international customers it’s part of their usual business practices.
* The new 5K iMacs for example have had price increases between €150 to €300 in Europe per configuration
* The Mac Pro configurations by increased between 400 to 600 euros.
V Apple Watch Updates and SDK
* “Find my Watch” for the Apple Watch, which as the name implies will allow a user to track a Watch’s location, as well as lock or remotely wipe it if it is lost or stolen.
* iPhone "Smart Leashing". Notify you if you leave your phone behind.
* Find my Watch and Smart Leashing features may require updated wireless chips not in the current Apple Watch.
* Apple hopes to add a blood pressure monitor and sleep tracking features in the near future,
* Apple Watch SDK for native apps is expected to be unveiled at WWDC in about a week.
* Apple also seem to want to open up third-party watch face "Complications" too.
* Jeff Williams told Walt Mossberg that third-party apps will get direct access to all of Apple Watch’s sensors.
* Fully native Apple Watch apps won’t come out until the fall
V Apple TV box will be unveiled in June with deep Siri integration and third-party application support.
* A new version of Xcode with "TVKit"
* Hardware is expected to use an Apple A8 or equivalent variant of that chip.
* Also reportedly will have a lot more storage than the 8GB of the current model, but nobody seems to be quoting a number yet.
* Siri is also expected to hit the living room on the new Apple TV and would be used to help remotely command HomeKit-enabled devices
* Current prototype hardware is said to be about twice as large as the current Apple TV hardware, but will be "slimmed" down before final release.
V Apple did release Apple Watch 1.0.1 update
* Some have found that the Heart Rate monitoring is now not happening every 10 minutes as it did before the update.
V Apple has now clarified the change is a feature, not a bug.
* ‘Apple Watch attempts to measure your heart rate every ten minutes, but won’t record it when you are in motion or your arm is moving’
* It’s unclear why the change and some feel the old method was just fine.
V Apple’s Live TV service plans may be stalled.
* Sounding like Apple might need to launch the new hardware without their new streaming TV service
V The main hold up might be the rights to stream local TV content according to Re/code.
* "most broadcasters don’t own all their local stations, and have an affiliate, or franchise system"
* There is also some of the deals with content owners and of course money is the sticking point there.
* Right it’s clear Apple has had a lot of negotiations, but it’s not clear if they’ve been able to close any deals.
V CBS CEO Les Moonves told Re/code's Kara Swisher that CBS will "probably" sign a deal with Apple for the network to be included as a launch partner.
* Said he met with Eddie Cue as part of an "ongoing conversation" about the upcoming streaming TV service.f
* At this point it look unlikely that Apple will announce the new TV service at WWDC, but most industry watchers feel it will happen, it’s just unclear when.
V iOS 9 with more HomeKit
* A new "Home" app might possibly be debuted at WWDC according to a report by Mark Gurman from 9to5 Mac
V He claims the current app features are basic an include
* Wirelessly discovering and setting up compatible HomeKit devices
* Creating a virtual representation of rooms in the home to easily organize and connect HomeKit devices
* Utilizing the Apple TV as a hub connecting all of the HomeKit devices
* Offering a series of screens to help users find new HomeKit devices and apps
V The report also hints that the HomeKit device delays might be due to Apple’s release of the Home App
* HomeKit will rely in part upon the Home app to securely manage a connected home full of accessories and data
* Gurman hedges his bets at the end of his report saying that Home might not be ready and Apple could launch HomeKit with support in just Siri and the native 3rd party apps the would accompany HomeKit devices.
* Apple has already confirmed that HomeKit device would be hitting shelves in June and one big promise of HomeKit was device integration, so I imagine the Home app is a key part of making that happen.
* It’d be another misstep in my opinion if Apple lunched HomeKit devices without their integrated software support.
V Outside of Home it’s being said that iOS 9 will be more focused on stability, performance, and finish.
* But there are a handful of new and possibly powerful features
V Apple is said to be working on an iOS initiative called "Proactive," integrating features like Siri, Maps, Contacts, Calendar, Passbook, and third-party apps into an expanded Spotlight search
* Each moved back to the left of the home screen or at the top.
* Display contextual data released to your searches. If you have a flight listed in calendar and a boarding pass in Passbbok a search result for the calendar would provide a bubble within the new Proactive screen will appear around flight time to provide quick access to the boarding pass.
* Proactive will also learn to display apps based on usage patterns. If you always open the same app after waking up in the morning on the Proactive screen it would have that app already on screen.
* Proactive is also said to work with 3rd party apps and could provide access to limited Siri API called "Breadcrumbs". It would let Proactive and Siri index apps, but other access would be limited due to privacy concerns.
V Same is true of OS 10.11
V One possible new feature is Control Center which would slide in from the left of the screen.
* Quick access to music playback, volume, and networking.
* Pulling them out of the ever crowded menu bar.
V One feature on both iOS and OS X is a new kernel level security feature called "Rootless"
* Help prevent malware, increase extension safety, and preserve the security of sensitive data
V Trusted Wi-Fi, this might not be in early releases, but could come later in the year or next year.
* Trusted Wi-Fi would allow Macs and iOS devices to connect to authorized wireless routers without additional security measures, but would instate a more heavily encrypted wireless connection for non-trusted routers.
V iOS should run well on older devices going back to the A5 because they are reportedly now building a core version of iOS 9 that runs efficiently on a base level of devices. Then enabling additional features supported on higher level devices one-by-one.
* In the past is was more a build for the current model and turn off or remove features that didn’t perform well on older devices.
V Transit coming to Apple Maps
* It was supposed to come last year, but now Apple is thinking iOS 9 and this year might finally be the time to bring Transit directions back to iOS.
* It was supposed to be in iOS 8, but supposedly personnel issues, data inconsistencies, and coverage in only a few markets made Apple pull the feature at the last minute.
* A new Transit view alongside the existing Standard, Hybrid, and Satellite/Flyover views
* A trip planning feature
* Larger icons for users to more quickly spot airports, subway stations, and train stations
V Still it seems like the roll out will be slow even a year later. Reports that it will launch in just two cities in the U.S., one in Canada, and three across Europe.
* They will have the ability to roll out more cities with over the air updates.
* Boston, Massachusetts and Tokyo, Japan are already reportedly part of phase two.
* Apple is also supposed to still be working hard on an indoor mapping effort, but that might not go live this year.
V There’s also the Apple Vans, which many hope will bring "street view" to Apple Maps
* Apple is reportedly working hard on collecting their own making data to reduce their reliance on 3rd party providers for that data.c
V Apple Pay Rewards Program according to the New Yourk Times
* Offering "perks" for customers who use Apple Pay.
* Could tie into iAd, delivering targeted ads to consumers via iBeacons and Bluetooth LE with coupons for free or discounted products.
* Target plans to support Apple Pay at retail stores.
V Jony Ive now "Chief Design Officer"
* Promoted from SVP of Design to a new position called Chief Design Officer
* The new role is said to free Jony up from a lot of the administrative and management work he has as Apple’s VP of Design.
* It also will let Ive travel more and focus completely on design. Including design in Apple’s retail stores and offices, product packaging, hardware and software UI.
V Richard Howarth, who led the iPhone project, will take over industrial design duties and Alan Dye, who was responsible for the Apple Watch UI, will become Apple’s head of User Interface
* Howarth was lead designer of the titanium PowerBook G4, the original iPhone, the iPod, iPad
V Sponsor: Casper
V Casper
* I think that going to a mattress store to buy a mattress for me ranks up there with going to buy a car.
* You know you’re going to walk in and by the time you leave you’ll have not quite the right mattress and feel like you’ve over paid.
* That’s why I was excited when Casper became our newest sponsor. They revolutionizing the mattress industry by cutting the cost of dealing with resellers and showrooms and passing that savings directly to the consumer.
V They sent me one to try out and it’s been amazing
* The shipping was fast
* Unboxing was amazing and easy.
* Sleeping on it has been wonderful. It firm enough for back sleeping, but has just enough give and support when you’re on your side.
V With Casper you buy direct and benefit by getting an obsessively engineered mattress at a shockingly fair price.
* You can get a twin-sized mattress for just $500 and it’s just $950 for a king-sized mattress. Comparing that to industry averages, that’s an outstanding price point!
* Casper’s mattress is one of a kind: a new hybrid mattress that combines premium latex foam with memory foam.
* Giving it just the right sink, just the right bounce and giving you a great sleeping experience for better nights and brighter days.
* And your Casper mattress is made in America.
V Casper has turned the buying process into a risk free experience, with free delivery and painless returns.
* You get to try sleeping on a Casper for 100 days and is somehow it doesn’t suit you can return it.
* I was actually wondering how that worked. And they arrange to pick up and donate the mattress to a local charity.
* Best of all Maccast listeners can get $50 toward any mattress purchase by visiting www.casper.com/maccast and using the code ’MACCAST’. Terms and Conditions Apply.
* I really think you should give them a try.
V Feedback, commentary, opinions
V mDNSresponder to save us from Discoveryd
* It was noticed in the latest beta build of OS X 10.10.4 that 'discovered' has been replaced by the old trust mDNSresponder.
* As I covered in the past there had been numerous reports that many of OS X Yosemite’s issues like 100% CPU utilization, draining battery life, and Wi-Fi issues were being traced back to problems with discoveryd.
* There was also slow wake from sleep, failures to resolve DNS names, duplicate machine names, and more.
* What’s not clear is why was it in there in the first place. Many though it was to add Handoff functionality, but mDNSResponder’s sudden return puts some question on that.
* Regardless, I would assume that the mDNSResponder is NOT quite the same one we had in OS X Mavericks.
V Until the fix comes if you’re having issues Dan sent me these Terminal Commands:
* sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.discoveryd.plist
* sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.discoveryd.plist
* I put these into an Automator Workflow
V Color shift in Photos migrated from iPhoto
* Robert sent me a disturbing screenshot of his images that were migrated from iPhoto to Photos.
* In it all his images in Photos were appearing washed out when compared to the same images in iPhoto.
* If he opened them in the editor in Photos and clicked the "Enhance" option then it was a little better, but still way off.
* But, when he clicked 'Revert to Original' after applying the 'Enhance' option then the restored image came back to it’s original quality and matched the image that had been in iPhoto.
* I did not have the same experience with my migration Bob and so I’m not sure what’s happening.
V I did have Bob try 'Repairing' the Photo Library.
* Make sure you backup the current library file in ~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary
* Then hold the Command+Option keys while opening Photos
* Click the 'Repair' button
* That didn’t work.
V Now I’m wondering if the issue might just be with specific cameras and related to their profiles. Specifically if the images in the library are in RAW format.
* Apple is constantly using updates for various cameras and their RAW profiles.
* Anyone else experience this issue Bob has and know of a better fix than opening each image, enhancing, and then reverting to original?
V Unicode bug and crash iOS
* A text message with a single line of Arabic script can cause your iOS device to reboot.
* Then if you open Messages again and have not received a new text it will crash again.
* Apple is aware of the bug and is working on a fix.
V They also posted a workaround should you receive a text with the offending message
* Ask Siri to "read unread messages."
* Use Siri to reply to the malicious message. After you reply, you'll be able to open Messages again.
* In Messages, swipe left to delete the entire thread. Or tap and hold the malicious message, tap More, and delete the message from the thread.
V Add Digital time to analog Apple Watch face
* Here’s a great tip Cult of Mac found via a Reddit post.
* Apple Watch has a bunch of great looking analog faces, but if you’re like me you’re out of practice reading an analog time.
* I also like a "simplified" look without numbers so it can take a bit longer to read the time.
* If you want an analog face with the option to get the time at a quick glance use the complications.
* One of the options in World Time and those are displayed digitally.
V You can define which city options you have for the Word Time complication in World Clock tab Clock App on your iPhone
* If you don’t want to see the abbreviation you can just enter a space
* Open the Apple Watch app and go to Clock > City Abbreviations to edit it.
V Throttle a stuck Apple Watch install
* One frustration I’ve had with the Apple Watch is installing apps
* Also Apps installing when I don’t want them to.
* If you see a stuck App you can try a couple things
V Reboot the Watch.
* Press and hold in the Digital Crown and Side Button at the same time and hold until you see it reboot and see the Apple Logo.
V Toggle the app in the Apple Watch App
* Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
* Find the app that is stuck installing in the My Watch tab and tap on it.
* Turn Off the option for Show on Apple Watch.
* Wait for the app to finish uninstalling. (Confirm this by making sure it's gone on your Apple Watch.)
* Turn On the option for Show App on Apple Watch.
* Verify the app installed successfully on your Apple Watch.
V Experience with AppleCare
* Play comment from Wayne
V I’ve almost always had ultimately a good experience with AppleCare but your experience points out a few tips.
* Be polite, but persistent
* If you’re not happy with the answer clearly, but politely, tell the Genius what you expiated the outcome to be and why.
* Also know that they may not have the authority or ability to meet your request. You sometime might have to take no for an answer.
* Be willing to try again or try another location (if possible).
* Take pictures or video. If they can see an issue then you’ll have better luck getting service.
V When Accessibility Attacks
* Received an email from Alvin who was having issues with his extended keyboards number pad.
* Alvin told me he uses a lot of keyboard shortcuts and occasionally the keypad would stop working for a while, but then magically start up again.
* He was considering buying a new keyboard, but luckily made a connection between his use of keyboard shortcuts and the keypad going out before he bought a new keyboard.
V See, pressing Option key 5x in OS X can enable an accessibility feature called 'Mouse Keys'
* Alvin said he has a habit of starting a shortcut using the option key, but then never pressing the second key. If you do that 5 times in a row then Mouse Keys might turn on.
* It lets you move the cursor using the number pad on an extended keyboard.
V You can turn off the feature in System Preferences > Accessibility > Mouse & Trackpad
* Click on 'Options…' and be sure 'Press the Option key five times to toggle Mouse Keys' option is off.
V But this isn’t the only Accessibility feature that you might accidentally enable.
* Command + F5 will turn on VoiceOver.
V Zoom can be enabled in a few ways
* Command+Option+8 will turn it on.
* Control+Scroll
* Sticky Keys, which enables the modifier key to be set without holding it down, can be turned on by pressing Shift 5 times.
* Luckily most of these option need to be turned on by default, but you’ll want to check all the various settings and options in System Preferences > Accessibility
V Also look in System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts and check the 'Accessibility' category.
* Command+Option+Control+8 for Invert Colors has caused many to think their monitors has failed.
V Command+Option+5 (Show Accessibility Controls) can be handy if detecting if an Accessibility Control is enabled
* It shows an Accessibility Window and you can see what’s turned on or off and you can enable or disable features.
V You can also enable the 'Show Accessibility status in menu bar' option in System Preferences > Accessibility
* It adds an Accessibility icon to the menu bar and you can see what, if any features, are turned on.
V Closing
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V RadTech Giveaway
V They sent me a bunch of stuff to give away.
* Urban Armor Gear cases for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
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* WaveJamr Bluetooth Wireless Audio Receiver
* Enter at maccast.com/radtech
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