One of the most relaxing times of day for me is when I’m in the shower. It’s a perfect time to contemplate and relax and having a great showerhead like the Quattro makes it even better.
Backed by some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley, including TimCook. The Quattro is the world’s best high-pressure water-saving shower
It’s designed by former Tesla, NASA, and Apple engineers who spent years researching and developing a superior shower experience.
Nebia offers four spray modes.
My favorite mode is called “Angel Hair” and it offers 150 streams of water. It gives me a great “high pressure” feeling while still saving water. In California that’s key for saving on my water bill.
The ”Soft Spray” is also great as it offers that spa like experience.
And the Quattro looks great too. We went with the Rainshower version in a softnickel finish
But it comes in 5 beautiful finishes, so you can get the one that fits your style and design. And while I went with the Rainshower versions it’s also available in a Handshower design.
The design and quality is amazing and I love how well engineered it is. The control slider is large and easy to adjust with each mode locking into place with a satisfying “click”
It’s also incredibly easy to install.
I had it done in just a couple of minutes from taking it out of the box.
Quattro allows you to save water without compromising on experience. Each mode saves 40-
50% of water compared to a traditional shower.
Nebia also offers awesome sustainable bathroom accessories such as their new Quick-Dry Earth Mat, shower shelves, shower curtains, hooks, bath mats, and more so you can easily upgrade your bathroom.
We have the Quick-Dry Earth Mat and it feels great and dries almost instantly.
Nebia by Moen Quattro starts at just $119 exclusively on nebia.com and Nebia gave us a special discount just for our community. Go to Nebia.com/MacCast and use code MacCast at checkout to get 10% off all Nebia products.
Even better? Nebia is offering Free Shipping on Quattro orders in the U.S. for just a few more days. So this is a great deal to jump on!
Again, go to Nebia.com/MacCast, that’s N E B I A dot COM slash MacCast to check out what they have to offer and save 10% with the code MacCast!
News
Next gen Apple Silicon
Here’s what the rumor mills believe is on the horizon.
A return of the iMac Pro according to Dylandkt
Running M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, just like the new MacBook Pros
I would suspect the GPU and memory options to be the same as well
Up to 32 GPU cores, up to 64GB RAM, up to 8TB SSD
27-inch Apple Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting and 120Hz Pro Motion variable refresh rates
Claims FaceID was considered, but abandoned
Similar design to the 24-inch iMac and Apple Pro display XDR
This confuses me as I don’t feel those two things are at all alike.
Some “legacy” ports like HDMI and SD Card might return. Plus Ethernet on the power adapter and of course the MagSafe, like on the 24-inch. I would assume 4 Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
He claims starting at “over USD $2000”, that’s far from the “Pro” price point of ~5K
Not sure there’s a need for the “Pro” moniker?
The display specs do correlate with earlier statements from Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants
Apple is continuing to expire the next generation of display technologies but we might be with miniLED on iPads and Macs for a while
The issue seems to be cost and Apple’s high standards.
New info from The Elec claims Apple is trying to work with Samsung and LG on OLED displays that use a two stack tandem structure
Basically two layers of red, green and blue emission layers, which doubles luminance and extends the panel’s life span
Because of the complexity it’s not expected that we’d see OLED panels in iPads until late-2023 or 2024 and not in Macs until 2025
Apple is also continuing to explore microLED panels
mini-LED displays share many of the same components as conventional mass-produced LCDs, which keeps costs down
Meanwhile there continue to seem to be little hiccups with macOS Monterey and the new M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pros
Some MacRumors readers are reporting getting kernel crashes on M1 Pro and Max MacBook Pro when attempting to watch 4K HDR video on YouTube on systems running macOS Monterey 12.0.1
The theory is that it might be and issue with AV decoding, but it’s not definitive and now everyone is having issues
Still MacRumors was able t replicate the issues.
Let’s hope that it’s software fixable and that Apple issues a patch soon.
Apple TV+ Levy Travel Series
Apple TV+ has landed a new travel series starring Eugene Levy who’s most recently know for his role in the comedy series Schitt’s Creek (but you may also know him from American Pie or just a few Christopher Guest films).
The show is called The Reluctant Traveler and Levy will also serve as an executive producer on the series.
The premise is simple as Apple puts it, “Levy will visit some of the world’s most remarkable hotels, as well as explore the people, places and cultures that surround them”
No word yet on when the first season will air, but if you’re into travel shows this one seems like it could be fun
Tom Hanks is proving to be a good draw for the Apple TV+ service
To date his film Greyhound was the biggest draw film for the service in it’s opening weekend
Now Apple has told Deadline that Hank’s new sci-fi film Finch has that title
Unfortunately Apple doesn’t share any numbers so it’s hard to put any context around what that means.
We’re also expecting the “Masters of Air” sometime in 2020 which is a followup to the Band of Brothers and Pacific series and is executive produced by Hanks and Steven Spielberg
When it comes to subscriber numbers as a whole we do have some estimates of where Apple sits within the world of streaming services
JustWatch numbers reported by 9to5 Mac show that Apple TV+ was the slowest growing service last quarter
They estimate that Apple TV+ has just 4 percent of the US streaming market up just 1 percent from the second quarter.
Apple will address iPhone 13 screen hardware lock
When iFixit did their teardown of the iPhone 13 models they discovered that a simple replacement of the iPhone screen, even with another Apple component, wasn’t possible to do without breaking FaceID
The issue is a small microcontroller that pairs the iPhone 13 to its display.
They were able to successfully do a screen replacement and maintain FaceID by removing the chip from the old display and transferring it to the new one. A process that requires a microscope and micro-soldering tools or access to Apple's Independent Repair Provider Program
Apple made a statement to the Verge that they would be issuing a future iOS software update that would allow screens to be replaced without needing to move the chip or having access to Apple's Independent Repair Provider Program
More Chinese Music coming to Apple Music
Tencent Music Entertainment Group is bringing its content to Apple Music.
Labels and artists on its TME cloud are now able to distribute their content on Apple Music
The announcement didn’t specific how many new songs might be coming but Tencent claims to have “hundreds of thousands of Chinese musicians” on their TME cloud platform.
Netflix Games now on iOS
And you can get them via the App Store
Available gaming titles include "Stranger Things: 1984," "Stranger Things 3: The Game," "Shooting Hoops," "Card Blast," “Bowling Ballers,” and "Teeter Up.
While anyone can download the games playing them does require that you have a Netflix subscription
Just like Apple Arcade games the games have no ads, additional fees, or in-app purchases (except for a Netflix subscription if you don’t have one)
iOS 15.2 beta brings new features
Legacy Contact, which allows you to designate people as Legacy Contacts so they can access your account and personal information in the event of your death.
That includes photos, messages, notes, files, contacts, calendar events, apps you’ve downloaded, device backups, and more.
Data will not include your iCloud Keychain data or any licensed media.
It also includes the new communication safety features to the Messages application.
Update to the Find My App that lets you scan for “Items That Can Track Me” and will show any “unknown” AirTags that might be nearby
You can now manually toggle the Macro mode for iPhone 13 Pros right inside the Camera app.
Apple maps updated 3D experience
At WWDC back in September Apple announced enhancements to Apple Maps to add more detail and custom-designed landmarks in select cities.
It rolled out in Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and London
This week for Memorial Day they added monuments and landmarks in Washington, D.C
They also added San Diego.
Cool more detailed 3D models with colors and accents
For example there’s a SR-71 Blackbird outside out Air and Space museum and that’s now part of the 3D model for that location in Apple Maps
Sponsor: Hunter Douglas
Hunter Douglas
Who doesn’t love to live well? To be perfectly at ease, in comfort and style?
Hunter Douglas can help you do just that with their innovative window shade designs, gorgeous fabrics, and control systems so advanced, they can be scheduled to automatically adjust to their optimal position throughout the day.
Perhaps it’s the way the shades diffuse harsh sunlight to cast a beautiful glow across the room.
Or being able to enjoy the view outside the window, while protecting your privacy inside.
Maybe it’s the superior insulation the shades provide, keeping you warmer in winter, cooler in summer and lowering utility bills.
Or is it simply that Goldilocks moment when you walk into a room and everything about it looks and feels just right.
And when you tap into Hunter Douglas’ PowerView technology, your shades can be set to automatically reposition for the perfect balance of light, privacy and insulation...morning, noon, and night.
What’s great about Hunter Douglas’ PowerView technology is it’s HomeKit compatible. That means you can easily integrate it with the Home app and your iOS devices, Mac, and HomePods
Then you can build automations to full control your Hunter Douglas window shades
So cool
So ‘Live Beautifully’ with Hunter Douglas – enjoying greater convenience, enhanced style and increased comfort in your home throughout the day.
Visit Hunter Douglas dot com slash MACCAST TODAY to take advantage of the Season of Style rebate savings event.
That's Hunter Douglas dot com slash MACCAST for limited-time savings.
Offer expires December 6th, 2021.
Sponsor: Zocdoc
Zocdoc
You know I am overall a pretty healthy person. I don’t get sick all that often which is why I find it so incredibly frustrating that when I am sick and I actually really need to see a doctor it’s impossible to get an appointment.
You call or go online only to be told that to be seen it’ll take weeks or worse a month or more. I’m sick and I’m calling I need to see someone now.
If you too have experienced this the good news is I have a solution for you. Zocdoc
Just download the FREE Zocdoc app, the easiest way to find a great doctor and instantly book an appointment.
With Zocdoc, you can search for local doctors who take your insurance, read verified patient reviews and book an appointment, in-person or video chat. Never wait on hold with a receptionist again.
Whether you need a primary care physician, dentist, dermatologist, psychiatrist, eye doctor, or other specialist, Zocdoc has you covered.
Go to Zocdoc dot com slash MACCAST and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE.
I’ve used the Zocdoc app to find physicians and dentists who take my insurance and have appoints available in days, not weeks. It’s great. And it also let’s me see reviews and comments from other patients so I feel confident that they will be the right fit for me too.
Zocdoc makes healthcare easy.
NOW is the time to prioritize your health.
Go to Zocdoc dot com slash MACCAST and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor. Many are available as soon as today.
That’s Z-O-C-D-O-C dot com slash MACCAST
Feedback, commentary, opinions
Shared iCloud Contacts
Last time we had a listener questions from a couple who moved from sharing an iCloud account to Family sharing, but missed the ability to have a shared set of contacts
Rob has the answer and it’s so simple.
You can have multiple iCloud accounts attached to your Mac
Only one is “primary” and only that one can be used for iCloud for Notes, Safari, Photos, iCloud Drive, Keychain, or Find My Mac
But, you can sync Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders , and Notes
You go into System Preferences > Internet Accounts and add the iCloud account.
Then you can check on which services you want to enable on that Mac
Within each app you’ll now see that account (in a section in the sidebar)
You can even set the “default” item that new contacts will go into, so if you want the “shared” account to be the default you can do that.
This works for supported 3rd party services, like Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, etc as well
Improving Apple Maps
We talk quite a bit about Apple Maps.
I’m really enjoying a lot of the recent improvements including the navigation enhancements and updates
Apple has been on a mission for a few years now to make Apple Maps better.
Play comments from Gary
One feature I noticed recently was the ability to confirm if an accident or hazard had been cleared or not
The issue was it pops-up too early, long before you get to the hazard.
You can tap the hazard icon to re-access the menu, but if you’re driving that seems unsafe.
Traveling with a Home PodMini
Joe in the Maccast Patreon supporter slack came up with a questions having to do with traveling and connecting Apple devices
Specifically he had a HomePod mini, but this could also apply to an Apple TV
Using the Home App he tried to connect and configure the HomePod mini on his hotel wifi connection, but it was never able to configure and he got an error that said, “Wi-Fi Incompatible”
The issue is that it may or may not work depending on the set-up of the hotel wi-fi. Specifically if the hotel uses a captive portal
“HomePod doesn’t support public or subscription networks with sign-in requirements. These networks are often in places like businesses, schools, dorms, apartments, hotels, and stores.”
It offers a “Hotspot” mode for sharing a wireless access point
If the router has the ability to “Clone” the MAC address, then you could also possibly use the MAC address for a device that you’ve already connected through the captive portal and it might allow you to bypass the portal.
MacOS Monterey Dictation
Play comment from Graeme
In the dictation tab you can actually set the shortcut key for activating dictations I think by default it's a double tap on the Fn key.
Actually you can use dictation on non-M1 Macs as well, the difference is that M1 systems, because of the neural engine, can process everything offline and have no time limit.
On non-M1 systems you can dictate about 30 seconds of text at a time
You can speak punctuation, enable caps, dictate some symbols, and formatting (like new lines or paragraphs)
To insert a punctuation mark or perform simple formatting tasks, do any of the following:
Say the name of the punctuation mark, such as “exclamation mark.”
Say “new line” (equivalent to pressing the Return key once) or “new paragraph” (equivalent to pressing the Return key twice). After you say “new line,” the dictated text appears when you’re done dictating.
Kevin has had an issue that Apple Photos where it’d been creating “memories” out of the screenshots he takes for work
He asks if there is a way to turn off memories.
I have not found a way to completely disable the feature.
But there are some things you can do:
Tap the “…” icon on a Memory (right click the memory on a Mac) and then tap “Feature Less” (Suggest Less on Mac) button.
Some memories around dates, locations, people or holidays have the additional option to “suggest” those items less
You can rule out specific people in a memory.
You can also “Delete” a memory though Kevin noted he tried this and they often came back.
When playing a memory (on iOS), tap the photo and tap the photo grid icon to see all the photos in the memory. Tap and hold on a photo from the list and choose “Hide from memory”
When i the photo grid you can tap the “…” icon again and choose “Manage Photos” to select the specific photos in the memory.
You can also remove items from the “Featured Photos” widget on iOS.
Tap the Photo to bring it up in the Photos app
Tap the “Share” button and tap “Remove from Featured Photos”
You can also go to the “Featured Photos” section in photos, find the photo, and Tap and hold the photo and then choose “Remove from Featured Photos”
M1 MacBooks and double power
Play question from Neil
I assume you’re referring to a powered Thunderbolt dock that could supply power (PD) to the MacBook Pro via the Thunderbolt (USB-C) connector.
Thunderbolt (USB-C) Power Delivery ports can supply up to 100W of power
I have the [Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock](https://us.anker.com/products/a8396) and it delivers up to 87W to my MacBook Pro
Apple’s new M1 MacBook Pros with MagSafe connectors also support charging via any of the Thunderbolt / USB-C ports.
As you mention though it will only support charging from one source at a time. MagSafe or USB-C
The Mac charges only from the adapter providing the most power. Which would typically be the MagSafe. The exception would be if you have the 8-core with a 67W MagSafe adapter vs. say a 100W USB-C adapter. Or even the 67W vs say a hub like my Anker which would deliver 87W of power.
So if your Thunderbolt / USB-C hub can deliver more than 67W or 96W for a 10-core (which you have with the M1 Max) then you won’t even need the MagSafe since it won’t be used.
Worth noting that I’ve only come across a few docks that can deliver up to the full 100W of power supported by USB-C
