Smalldog Electronics has been a part of our community offering great deals and service to Apple fans for decades
They started out of a garage, but now you can get awesome deals everyday on their site
Make sure your checking frequently either there or on their Facebook because they put new stuff all the time.
A good place to look is their "Deal of the Day"
Right now for example they have a 27-inch 5K iMac CTO machine with 4.2GHzi7, 8GB of RAM, and a 3TB Fusion drive at $200 off just because of a dented carton. Otherwise a new machine ready for your desk.
Also look in their Refurbished & Clearance section for more great deals.
They also have HomePods in stock and ready to go.
And it's not just Apple gear. They have accessories, cables, and more. They have a great selection of rugged, outdoor, Bluetooth speakers ready for your summer camping trip or pool party.
Please do what you can to support those who support us.
Checkout http://smalldog.com for some really great deals on all the Apple gear and accessories you want and need.
Also, be sure to email them, post on their Facebook, or send 'em a tweet letting them know how much you appreciate them supporting the Maccast.
News
A USB-C iPhone?
I wouldn't hold your breath, but DigitTimes thinks Apple will do it next year.
While on the surface it seems to make sense given Apple's support of USB-C in their Mac lineup, I still don't see it happening.
Apple have built a very healthy Lightning ecosystem with a TON of third party support
USB-C would have to offer something significantly better and besides just being arguably more "open" it doesn't.
USB-C connectivity is solved with a cable that according to rumors will be included in the box THIS year. Along with USB-C 18W charger.
I feel Apple is more likely to dump the port all together before they go USB-C
And I don't think they will do this anytime soon either
And before you ask about "recovery", well that can already be done completely over the Air. As can backups and syncing.
There have also been reports that Apple plans to upgrade their charging circuitry from 5V 2A to 9V 2A and 5V 3A using new chips from Power Integrations
The updated circuitry would provide a much quicker recharge rate.
The supply chain rumors are up to their old tricks and as usual they are sending mixed messages across the Apple-sphere
We have the Wall Street Journal saying that Apple is tweaking production to put more focus on this years rumored lower cost LCD iPhone
In fact they claim Apple feels that consumers will so heavily gravitate to the lower priced option that they will produce as many of that model as the other two OLED, iPhone X and iPhone X Plus, models combined.
The also say the LCD model will remain in the line-up for 2019.
Apple has been expected to switch to all OLED or OLED/microOLED in the future.
A seemingly conflicting report from a Korean publication claims Apple ordered more screen panels for the 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus then for "any other" model.
45 million 6.46-inch panels, 25 million 5.8-inch and 30 million 6.04-inch LCD panels.
Keep in mind there are more LCD available suppliers, so that number could be much larger. Also, some rumors of production delays on the LCD model, so full orders might not be in yet.
Apple tightens Contacts rules for Apps
If you watched this years WWDC Keynote you no doubt caught Apple's not so subtle message about their focus on security and privacy
Something that was discussed on stage but that now has been reported on by Bloomberg is a tightening of some of the rules on what apps are allowed to do once you grant them access to your Contacts
They have always had to ask for permission, but once granted that access was somewhat of a free-for-all (you read the full privacy policy for the app before you said yes right?)
What's been happening is some apps after you said yes would use your contacts for marketing and even sometimes share/sell that info to third parties. That can't (or shouldn't) happen anymore.
The big issue is while you gave permission to access your contacts, all your contacts never gave ANY permission for the use or sharing of their data.
Developer can no longer make databases of address book information and they are expressly forbidden from sharing or selling that data with third parties.
They also cannot ask for access for one reason and then later change that reason without re-asking for permission again.
Punishment for getting caught breaking the rules is banishment from the App Store.
Keep in mind any data that you might have shared with any app could be already out there.
You can double check which Apps already have permission and turn off their access to future Contact data
Settings > Privacy > Contacts
I have taken a default posture to almost ALL requests by apps for data access of "No". I can turn stuff "On" in privacy later if I find an app truly needs access for a piece of functionality critical to the app.
Apple acknowledges USB lockout
Apple gave a statement to 9to5Mac saying the new USB Restricted Mode in iOS 12 is a response to trying improve the security protections in their products and not a direct response to new tools being used by law enforcement to access locked iPhones like Graykey.
In a statement an Apple spokesman wrote, "We have the greatest respect for law enforcement, and we don’t design our security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs."
USB Restricted mode, enabled in iOS 12, will disable any data access via the Lightning port an hour after the last successful unlock.
At that point only passthrough charging will work until there is a successful unlock.
Apple says they were working on the new security feature before they learned it was being used by law enforcement.
They did say after learning how the attack worked they reviewed the iPhone operating system code and improved security
Grayshift, the company who makes the Graykey, claims to already been able to workaround the new feature, claiming it has taken steps to "future-proof" it's technology
Best for each of use to take control and responsibility over our own security and privacy
Use AT least a 6-digit alphanumeric, really longer.
Some great things I learned in some GDPR talks I recently attended
We all need to be more careful and less callous with our information including the people who collect it.
Both parties should be constantly asking "why" is this information needed and not collect or provide it, "just because"
Apple's worldwide video continues growth
They added some more major new players to their staff this past week
Kelly Costello, a former Broadway Video and Viacom executive, joined Apple as a business affairs executive.
While at Broadway Video she oversaw legal affairs, business deals and agreements for the popular series like “Portlandia” and “Documentary Now!”
Seems like she will continue those kinds of duties at Apple under Philip Matthys who was hired as Apple's head of business affairs for worldwide video last December
Apple has ordered a 10 episode series based on Lysiak (li-see-ack) a 10-year old journalist who publishes a paper in her hometown of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania called the Orange Street News.
The series will be based partially the story of a murder in Selinsgrove that Lysiak "broke". Her story garnered earned her national and international media attention.
The series Apple ordered will follow a young girl who moves from Brooklyn to the small lakeside town her father is from, where she unearths a cold case that everyone in town, including her father, has tried to bury.
Bloomberg reports Apple is possibly close to doing a deal for a new animated movie with Cartoon Saloon
Cartoon Saloon is an award winning Irish based animation studio know for their distinctive style and Academy Award nominated films like "The Secret of Kells," "The Song of the Sea," and "The Breadwinner."
They also create the Emmy nominated preschool series, Puffin Rock for Netflix.
Apple is looking to get distribution rights in the US and other countries for their newest movie, "Wolfwalkers".
It's not clear how Apple plans to handle distribution but some think the film would get at lease some form of a theatrical release so it could be considered for awards.
This deal is not finalized, but I think would mark the first movie deal we know of. To date Apple's worldwide video team has been focused on TV shows, specials, and documentaries.
And you don't get a show, and you don't get a show, because Apple does.
In an official announcement Apple says they have a unique, multi-year content partnership with Oprah Winfrey.
In one of the shortest press releases I've ever seen from Apple they say they will work with Winfrey to "create original programs that embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world."
They also state the projects will be released as part of a lineup of original content from Apple.
News of Apple placing an order for "Little America" confused me
We had already covered the fact that Apple began development on the series. Now they have actually placed an order for a season
It's inspired by the true stories featured by Epic Magazine and plans to "go beyond the headlines to look at the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring and surprising stories of immigrants in America"
The series will be produced and written by Lee Eisenberg, who worked on The Office for 5 seasons and will also serve as show running.
Kumail Nanjiami and Emily Gordon of ‘The Big Sick’ and Alan Yang (Master of None), among several others, will serve as executive producers.
Recode made some informed speculation with the help of “some industry observers” on how Apple might release their original content
make some or all of its content available through its existing TV app on iOS and tvOS for free
A combined "very bug subscription service" that would roll together the new video stuff, Apple Music, iCloud Services, and AppleCare into one big bundle. Let's call it the "Apple Prime" plan. ;)
A standalone TV subscription service priced blow Netflix
I'm assuming these would include licensed content in addition to Apple's own originals.
My vote is for an "Apple Prime" like service with maybe minimal "tiers", probably just "Basic", "Pro", and "Family".
Gene Munster points out that while it might seem like Apple is behind in original content they could catch up quickly
The currently have 17 shows known to be in development. Netflix launched with 13 in it's first year
Apple is expected to grow their $900M budget for original shows up to 4.2B by 2022
Apple wants to grow it's services business quickly
Apple is focused on quality, not quality. Netflix has over 1,000 original titles, but most outside the US and arguably only a small percentage of it worth watching.
Apple has serious advantages in bundling the hardware and services. We already see how quickly that advantage has allowed them to grow Apple Music.
I still maintain that Apple has a huge opportunity for gaining content from "indies" by creating a video distribution "App Store" likely they've done with Books and Apps. Indies could see all on subscription content or one offs. Apple would get their 30% cut of it all.
International news roundup
Apple is in preliminary talks to open it's first retail store in Israel
They are supposedly looking to open a store in the new Azrieli (az-re-elly) towers in Tel Aviv
Still early and no deal is in place at the moment.
HomePod now available in Canada, France and Germany
In France and Germany for €349, and $449 in Canada.
It also brings the ability to read the news in those countries too.
Canadians now have access to live sports and news sections are now available in the Apple's TV App on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV
Sports from CBC, DAZN, RDS GO, Sportsnet and TSN GO
News from Bloomberg, CBC TV, Cheddar, CNN and CTV News
Access to some content requires downloading the channel app and may also require and extra fee, subscription, or verification from your TV service.
Apple Pay launches in Poland
Customers can now add an eligible Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card from one of eight supported banks
This is one month after they launched in the Ukraine
Tim Cook
iWork gets audio annotations
Apple updated Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for Mac and iOS.
All three now have the ability to record, edit, and play audio.
They also support importing existing audio files via drag and drop.
Some other update highlights include:
You can now select and scroll using the Apple Pencil
Add mathematical equations using LaTeX or MathML notation
Edit or create new master slides in Keynote on iOS
Export a presentation as a movie or images in Keynote on iOS
Sponsor
Sponsor: Ulysses
Ulysses is a writing application for Mac, iPad and iPhone.
I am a big convert to Markdown and in fact will be doing a talk on it at this years Macstock Expo.
Ulysses is the perfect tool write and manage your Markdown
I love it because it allows me to write fast and beautifully. Displays all the markup in style.
Plus, I can add templates and themes from their Library.
With filters and groups I can also organize my stuff by project or task. To-dos, Presentations, Documentation, etc.
Easily add keywords to make filtering and finding documents fast and easy.
Ulysses just shipped out a new version with some awesome new update and enhancements:
Being a developer I'm biased but my favorite is revamped code blocks. Great for technical writers.
They are compatible with GitHub Flavored Markdown fenced code blocks, and they support syntax highlighting for over 40 programming languages, both in the editor and in export!
In the goals you can now set daily writing goals based on characters or words. You'll get a circular symbol to visualize your progress and it resets daily. You can monitor your progress over time and even export the data to CSV. A great motivator.
You have always been able to set a goal for desired length or reading time of text and then track your progress, but now you can now also set a deadline. Ulysses will then calculate the number of words that need to be written per day in order to reach that goal.
Finally, you can now add custom colors to keywords making them easier to spot in the library.
Of course these are in addition to all the great features, like iCloud sync'ing, organizational tools like nested groups, and the distraction-free writing environment, that make Ulysses one of the best apps for writers.
You can find it on the Mac App Store for USD $9.99
Why not subscriptions
Jill wrote in to share her thoughts on why she doesn't like App subscriptions
What happens when I can't afford the subscription anymore?
You lose access to proprietary formats.
With fully paid apps you might be locked at a version, but at least you can still use that as long as you have a machine and an OS that supports it.
You hope that the developer at least offers a free, "reader" version of the app or that there are alternatives that support the format.
Many apps will read and even edit other formats like Photoshop or Word.
I think it becomes very important in the age of subscription apps to look at data portability when deciding to purchase a subscription
A lot of apps might use proprietary formats, but still have some way to export data out in more standardized formats.
For a lot of things also remember "Print to PDF" is built into the OS.
I mentioned to Jill that my change in how I think about the subscription model doesn't mean I'm a fan, just that I've resolved to myself that like or not this is the future and fighting it in many cases is futile
It does have a lot of advantages most important in my mine being a more continuous and stable income for developers.
Plays into the larger discussion of data storage and portability
I still to this day have people ask about accessing old AppleWorks files.
Even without subscriptions there may come a day when that old Mac and old software break. Then what?
Also format shifting for older archived files. Still have stuff on floppies or Zip disks?
State of gaming on the Mac
Last show we discuss the deprecation of Open GL and Open CL in macOS High Sierra and concerns over what it could mean for Gaming on the Mac.
David wrote in to say that with Steam on the Mac he's seen more developers(including indy) supporting MacOS titles. That's caused him to have to boot less into Bootcamp to run the games he wants.
He does have concerns that anything Apple does to upset developers or reduce the tools that make it easier for them to support the Mac could erode some of the progress that has been made.
They point out the huge disparity between Mac an iOS gaming. iOS is king and the Mac kind of chump change.
Focus on creative professionals with integrated GPUs, but now have eGPU support (a pricey solution, but that typically won't scare off gamers).
Still no support for Nvidia cards
No eGPU support in BootCamp without serious hacks
Can now use an HTC Vive on macOS, so that helps.
Steam is great, but one look and the shallowness of Mac supported title is obvious.
Steam link will be great, once it gets approved, but it still only runs Mac based games.
Stream has been working with Apple since they rejected the SteamLink app for violating the App Store rules related to in-app purchases, among other things.
Purchases will need to be made on a PC or Mac.
While were at it let's talk about the relatively sad state of Mac hardware as well
Basically except for the iMac Pro not a single model in Apple's line up has been updated in the past year. The iMac, MacBooks, MacBook Pros are all 379 days old. The Mac Pro 441 days (and that's being generous considering it's not really been seriously updated since 2013), and the 1343 day old Mac mini.
So the debate laid out in the article is this:
"Rather than attempting to wow the world with “innovative” new designs like the failed Mac Pro, Apple could and should simply provide updates and speed bumps to the entire lineup on a much more frequent basis"
I'm not so sure. It's frustrating to have a lack of new models, but what are we really chasing?
iCal always wants password, ugh.
Play comment from Andrew
This is one of those things that can be really hard to troubleshoot.
Sounds like you already did the obvious which would be to go to System Preferences > Internet Accounts and remove and re-add your Google account
I read one thing that said to make sure Mail and Calendar where fully quit while doing this.
It also sounds like you're using 2-factor authentication?
It shouldn't be necessary, but maybe try generating and using an App-specific password?
Not sure if it will let you, but worth a try?
Could also check after you remove the account (or even before) that there is not extra, maybe older, entries in the keychain?
Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access
Search "google".
com.apple.account.Google.oauth-token-nosync
com.apple.account.Google.oauth-token
com.apple.account.Google.oauth-expiry-date
com.apple.account.Google.oath-refresh-token
Maybe remove the entries for all four of these that match your account before you re-enter the account or password?
Mine are all "—"(blank) in the "expires' column, I assume yours should be too, if not maybe that's a clue?
