Linode

Linode allows you to instantly deploy and manage an SSD server in the Linode Cloud. Get a server running in seconds with your choice of Linux distro, resources, and choice of 10 node locations.

They are giving all new Maccast customers a $20 credit.

I've been wanting to set up a Minecraft server and Linode offers One-click installs including gaming installs

They have Minecraft, Ark, Terraria, and more.

Also one-click installs for things like Wordpress, Drupal, GitLab, OpenVPN and more.

Plus a whole bunch of distros. If it runs on Linux, it runs on Linode.

Most Linux distributions available out of the box, but you can upload custom images or create your own

Basically you can build whatever server you want.

Featuring native SSD storage, a 40 Gbit network, with industry leading processors

Pick from any of our 10 worldwide data centers

They just opened their newest one in Toronto, Canada

Built using their most up to date hardware and their Next Generation Network backbone

Allows users to comply with in-country data protection requirements while taking advantage of all Linode's technology and tools.

Additional datacenter opening in Mumbai India by end of 2019

Pricing is simple with no surprise fees. Pay for what you use with hourly billing across all plans and add-on services

Can get what you need from a $5/month Nanodes plan to high power Dedicated CPU plans

Their dashboard makes it easy to manage your Linodes and upgrading your plan is easy.

Can add-on backups, large storage volumes, and load balancing

And if you need support they have 24x7 live customer support and a large documentation library which provides a great resource when you get stuck.

Visit: linode.com/maccast to set up your first Linode and get a $20 credit when you use promo code: maccast2019

Apple’s Q4 2019 earnings

Apple's revenue grew nearly 2% year-over-year to $64 billion with a profit of $13.69 billion beating analyst expectations

$33.36 billion from iPhone

$12.5 billion in Services

$6.99 billion Macs

$6.52 billion Wearables, Home, and Accessories

$4.66 billion iPad

The iPhone numbers only cover one week of iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro sales.

The full impact of the iPhone updates won’t really be known until Q1 2020

Cook did comment that iPhone 11, not the Pros, is now Apple's best selling phone.

iPhone revenue's did drop by about 9 percent year over year, but that rate is in the single digits for the first time since the end of 2018.

iPad revenue also grew 17 percent helped by the popularity of the iPad Pro.

As it has been Services revenue continues to grow, up 18 percent, and is being helped by the launch of Apple Arcade and now Apple TV+

The Wearables, Home, and Accessories business grew more than 50% year-over-year.

Apple is also predicting a pretty strong holiday quarter with guidence above the $84.3 billion at between $85.5 billion and $89.5 billion.

What’s next for iPhone

Many are expecting that it may be time for a redesign, or maybe a retro design.

Rumors of the 2020 iPhone returning to a more “squared off’ design reminiscent of the iPhone 4

Might finally be getting a 120Hz “Pro-Motion” display like the iPad Pro according to DigiTimes

iPads currently use LCDs while iPhone’s are OLED and have been limited so far to 60Hz.

OLED screens over about 90Hz are rare.

120Hz displays improve responsiveness and offer better video playback quality

2020 iPhone’s are also expected to adopt 5G and may have a smaller or no notch.

Ming Chi Kuo believes Apple will begin production on the iPhone 8 SE 2 in January with a possible release date sometime in March

Thinks Apple could sell between two and four million per month, which would be a similar sell through rate as the iPhone SE

Reminder that it is believed that it will be a device with the same design as the iPhone 8 with an updated A13 processor, 3GB of RAM and a possible updated antenna design

Will start at an entry level price of $399.00, like the iPhone SE, and come in 64GB and 128GB storage configurations.

Deep Fusion comes to iPhone 11s

Apple released iOS 12.4.3 which has added the “Deep Fusion” feature to iPhone 11 models

Enabled automatically when using the wide angle lens

Improve image quality

Apple says it, “uses the A13 Bionic Neural Engine to capture multiple images at various exposures, run a pixel-by-pixel analysis, and fuse the highest quality parts of the images together resulting in photos with dramatically better texture, details, and reduced noise, especially for mid to low light scenes”

Basically works like an enhanced version of HDR capturing and blending multiple exposures.

Adds Announce Messages with Siri feature. Will read messages back to you when connected to headsets that have an H1 chip.

You can enable the feature in the Settings > Siri & Search > Announce Messages

After Siri announces the Message you can say something like "Reply 'I'm on my way'" or "Tell her 'I'll meet you there.'"

Then Siri will read back and ask you to confirm the message before sending unless you enable the “Reply without Confirmation” feature.

The iOS update also has security updates and other bug fixes

It adds 60 new emoji

Also adds the option to opt out of sharing your Siri recordings with Apple to improve Siri.

If you have new AirPods Pro you’ll need this update.

Released the 13.2 update for HomePod too, but it did not go smoothly

Quickly there were reports of the update “bricking” HomePods to the point where Apple was offering replacements

Apple pulled the update and re-released later in the week as 13.2.1

Adds support for Handoff and ambient sounds. Also brings multi-user support with voice recognition.

Reports that iOS 13.2 may be too aggressive at killing off background apps and processes

This is coming from users and developers like Marco Arment

Allegations of poor RAM management causing apps to reload more frequently when launching

Effectively making multitasking useless

Arment also claims via Twitter that background downloads often hang forever and never run.

Have you notice any of these things?

Still waiting for AirTags

There is supposed to be an Apple product for tracking everyday objects likes bags, keys, water bottles, etc.

It was expected to be announced along with the iPhone 11s, but it never happened.

In iOS 13.2 there is a folder with the name “AirTag”

It has placeholder assets in it with images of AirPods,HomePod and other devices. Also a “BatterySwap” video file.

Would be able to track your “AirTagged” devices in Apple’s FindMy app and it would likely leverage the new UWB technology in iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pros to give even more accuracy in locating devices within short range.

iOS 13.2 also seems to have assets that show Apple will soon have a Smart Battery Case for iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pros.

Scissor switch in question

There is debate about an image that was discovered in macOS 10.15.1 Catalina beta 2

Some claimed it was the alleged 15-inch MacBook Pro. I was then removed in the latest beta

What was also discovered was an image that showed a TouchID / power key separated from the TouchBar

This could mean that the rumored scissor switch keyboard design might also come with a TouchBar that has not only a independent TouchID, but possibly also a physical ESC key.

Still the fact that we have not yet seen the 16-inch MBP and a new note from Ming Chi Kuo, may call into question how soon we might see the redesigned keyboard.

new scissor keyboard MacBook may launch in mid 2020.

Taiwanese manufacturer Wistron will reportedly supply the new scissor mechanism

It’s not definitive but I think it does cell into question if Apple would use the new design in the rumored 16-inch MBP rumored to still be coming this year.

FCC approval for Mac Pro

Another event that makes it feel like the Mac Pro’s actual release could happen any day now

It’s received FCC approval

Apple still only has given a “coming this Fall” date.

The machine is not for everyone, but with Intel Xeon processor configurations with up to 28-cores, up to 1.5 TB of ECC RAM, AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics and a case design that allows for modular expansion via eight PCIe expansion slots this is exciting.

The PRO price starting at $6K and likely extending to $10 to $15K in some configurations is crazy, but welcome for those how have been waiting for this kind of raw performance and expand ability in a machine that runs macOS.

The macPro continues to be assembled and produced at apple Austin, Texas facility.

So are you excited? In the market?

Possibly ship with new silver and black Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard (with and without number pad)

Native

Native creates safe, simple, and effective products that people use in the bathroom everyday.

Their products are made with ingredients found in nature, such as coconut oil, shea butter, and tapioca starch and formulated without aluminum, parabens, or talc.

They are also never tested on animals.

I've been using their deodorant for a few weeks now and it's great.

They have a selection of scents for both men and women. I choose the Cucumber & Mint.

One thing I really enjoyed was that the scent was pleasant and effective with out being over powering. Something that I worry about.

And if you have sensitivities they also offer an unscented formula and baking soda free formula.

For 20% off your first purchase, visit [nativedeodorant.com](https://nativedeodorant.com) and use promo code MACCAST during

checkout!

There's no risk to try it out because they offer free returns and exchanges in the USA.

That's [nativedeodorant.com](https://nativedeodorant.com) and use promo code MACCAST during checkout to save 20% off your first purchase.

New Apple stuff. First impressions

AirPods Pro

So far I love the fit and experience

Set-up was amazing and I loved the “test fit” feature.

Helps you make sure you have the right ear tips.

Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the “i” next to the AirPods and tap “Ear Tip Fit Test”

Be careful with the mesh in the ear tips

Ear trip replacements will be just USD $4 according to a statement made by Apple to John Gruber

Sound is good.

I really like the “Hey Siri” functionality, but had that with my AirPods 2

Case is roughly the same size just a bit “wider”

Noise cancellation is interesting

Muffled external sounds like talking etc.

Sounds “distant”, but you’ll still hear some sound.

Does seem to “fade” in which might be the adapting 200 times per second?

Squeeze + hold to activate transparency mode.

Shorter stems

The “squeeze” to control feature of the stems is taking a bit to get used to

One “click” to play/pause (or answer a call) Two “clicks” to skip forward. Three clicks to skip back

AirPod Pro replacements are bit more expensive at USD $89.00 for each AirPod and same for the Wireless Charging case.

USD $29.00 for AppleCare which will get you two accidental damage incidents fore $29.00

Apple TV+ service

When I launched the App on November 1st it offered me my 1 year free trial

Need have purchased a qualifying product on or after September 10th

Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV

One listener said he was offered the one free year, but had only purchased an Apple Watch Series 5 in the qualifying time frame.

I watched the first two episodes of See and an episode of Snoopy in Space so far

See has me intrigued enough to want to keep watching it.

It has some scenes with situations, but it’s mild. Still not appropriate for younger children or pre-teens. Might even be inappropriate for teens depending on your own sensibilities and family.

Violence is moderate. There is blood shown, but much more mild then stuff shown in shows like Game of Thrones.

Overall feels somewhere between prime time network TV and cable networks like HBO and Showtime.

Looking forward to checking out Dickinson and For All Mankind

Without the free year, you can get a 7-day free trial and then it’s $4.99/mo for up to 6 people in a family.

Included with a USD $4.99/mo Student Apple Music Plan.

Apple plans to be adding at least one new TV show or movie each month to the service.

Installing macOS Catalina on unsupported Macs

Play question from Justin

[DosDude1 macOS Catalina Patcher](http://dosdude1.com/Catalina/)

Be sure to check your Mac model number for compatibility

I’m not sure how good performance would be and I would full expect some, if not many quirks when running on older non-supported systems

You’re pretty much on your own if you do this and it’s going to be much harder to troubleshoot any issues.

Hard to know if the cause is something in the OS or due to having an unsupported configuration.

I know that Maccaster’s have used his patchers in the past for macOS Mojave and had some success

Can you share some of your experiences?

Any recommendations?

If you do end up using his patcher, please make a donation because what he’s doing is amazing.

Using Ambient Sounds on HomePod

Update to iOS 13.2.1

In the Home app from the main screen tap the “Home” icon

Tap “Software Update”

Apple offers White noise, Stream, Rain, Ocean, Night, Forest, and Fireplace

“Hey Sir play X sounds” or play ambient sounds (random)

After starting the sounds playing you can say, “hey Siri set a sleep timer” and then say how long you want it to last.

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