Kolide

Kolide sends employees important, timely, and relevant security recommendations for their Linux, Mac, and Windows devices, right inside Slack.

Kolide is perfect for organizations that care deeply about compliance and security but don’t want to get there by locking down devices to the point where they become unusable.

Instead of frustrating your employees, Kolide educates them about security and device management while directing them to fix important problems.

Kolide knows end-users are IT admins' most significant untapped resource and the key to solving the most challenging to fix security issues, including:

• Instructing developers to set pass-phrases on unencrypted SSH keys 

• Finding plain-text two-factor backup codes and teaching end-users how to store them securely

• Convincing employees to uninstall evil browser extensions that may sell their browser history

Those are just some of the many use-cases not solved by locking down devices.

You can try Kolide with all its features on an unlimited number of devices for free for 14 days; no credit card required. 

Visit kolide.com/maccast to sign up today. That's k-o-l-i-d-e, dot, com, slash maccast.

Enter your email when prompted to receive your free Kolide Gift Bundle after trial activation.

Try it out at kolide.com/maccast. That's k-o-l-i-d-e, dot, com, slash maccast.

Apple Tap to Pay already out

Just not for the rest of us

Apple announced their upcoming “tap to pay” feature back in February. This will allow an individual to use their iPhone to accept NFC tap to pay payments

Apparently Apple is already using the system to take payments at their Apple Park Visitor Center.

Any iPhone that is an iPhone XS or later would work.

Right now it’s not available to consumers, but will be for to businesses later this year through Stripe or Adyen point-of-sale commerce platforms

There are rumors that Apple may also add support for Apple Pay Cash in iOS 16 allowing us to transfer money from one iPhone to another by placing them close to each other

Apple also has announced a new subscription feature to developers that will allow them to, “under certain specific conditions and with advance user notice” increase the cost of a subscription without having to go through the "Agree to New Price" interface like they do today.

Currently you must explicitly agree to a pricing change when the cost of a subscription increases via the "Agree to New Price" interface

Under the new program a developer can increase the price of a subscription and have it auto renew by informing the customer in advance

There are limits as well… the price increase can’t occur more than once per year, cannot exceed US$5 and 50% of the subscription price, or US$50 and 50% for an annual subscription price, and must be permissible by local law.

Apple exploring e-ink for foldable

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple is looking into color e-Ink display technology likely for a secondarycertainty informational display for when the device is in a “folded” state

The use of the technology is not a certainty nor is Apple actually bringing out a foldable device, but there have been more rumors lately that Apple is looking into foldable technologies

Most recently in the form factor of a 20-inch foldable MacBook or iPad like design according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman

Kuo has also mentioned the possibility of a 9-inch foldable with a 2025 timeframe for launch

The use of eInk seems like a great choice from a battery life perspective especially for an outer display

Meanwhile current iPhone sales are looking pretty good at lest according to recent numbers from Canalys

They estimate that in the US Apple shipped 20 million iPhones in the first quarter of 2022

Up 20 percent from the 17 million they shipped in the same quarter last year.

They also predict that Apple’s US smartphone marketshare is up from 45 percent to 51 percent.

They attribute the popularity of the iPhone 13 models and, somewhat surprisingly, the release of the updated 5G iPhone SE as contributing to the growth

Apple TV+ get Cannes SciFi Romance film

In advance of the Cannes film festival Deadline is reporting that Apple has picked up the exclusive worldwide streaming film rights to one of films with a lot of buzz

It’s a sci-fi romance drama called, “Fingernails”

The basis of the story is that in the future there are institutes that have been setup to help couples succeed in marriage because testing has been developed that can measure whether married couples are truly in love.

The film will star Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed

Apple also announced a new kids series coming to Apple TV+, "Eva the Owlet”.

The show is based on a popular Scholastic book series, "Owl Diaries." written by award-winning author Rebecca Elliott.

“Eva the Owlet” stars Eva, a creative, cheeky owlet who lives next door to her best friend Lucy in the woodland world of Treetopington. With big ideas and an even bigger personality, Eva goes on high-flying adventures, expressing herself in her journal along the way!

And Apple TV+ shows continue to show up in the JustWatch.com list of weekly top streaming shows

This week the Essex Serpent and Severence made the list, but just barely. Coming in at number 9 and 10 respectively

And if you’re looking to get a deal on your Apple TV+ (and a few other Apple services subscriptions) and you’re a Costco member you’re in luck

On their site you can save USD $5 on a yearly Apple TV+ subscription getting it for USD $44.99, instead of the usual USD $49.99

The deal is the same for Apple Arcade

But the real deal is a $30 yearly savings on Apple News+. You can get the Costco price of $89.99 for the year vs the roughly USD$120 normal yearly price.

You’ll find the subscription deals under the “Apple Movie Tickets & Streaming,” category

If you want access to ALL the Apple services then the Apple One bundles still may be a better deal, but if you’re looking to save on just a single service then Costco might have you covered.

New details on Apple’s AR/VR headset

The Information had a pretty [detailed report](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/the-inside-story-of-why-apple-bet-big-on-a-mixed-reality-headset) this week on Apple’s AR/VR headset project

The report claims that early on, back in 2016, prototype demos were given to Apple’s board of directors with system cobbled together from existing headsets, like the HTC Vibe, and using modified Windows software to try and gain support for the project internally

Technical delays and other challenges, like being away from Apple’s main campus and support, are also outlined in the report

The piece claims that while Tim Cook is supportive of the project he is not really involved actively in the development and rarely visits the teams offices

The story also says early on Jony Ive was also a blocker when the VR teams lead, Mike Rockwell, was looking for additional support from other teams inside Apple. Ive was critical of the “practical uses” of the technology and claimed it was unlikely consumers would want to wear headsets for extended periods of time.

But it’s what likely pushed the team to “mixed reality

They also mention a screen on the outside of the headset to display video images of the eyes and facial expressions of the person wearing the headset to other people in the room. (uh, creepy?)

There have been additional reports that Jony has continued to be involved with the products design as an external consultant

Batteries have also been a challenge. They considered removables at one point, but supposedly scrapped that.

Later in the week we started to get additional reports from sources like Mark Gurman that now the project is at an ‘advanced stage’ and that a public product launch is imminent.

Gurman said that Apple’s board recently saw demos of the AR/VR headset

He also said development of the headsets rOS have been “ramped” up

Recently we heard the device was being targeted for a 2023 release, but now Gurman claims we could see it “come within the next several months.”

The first version of the headset will likely be pricey. With predictions ranging from at least USD $1,000, but more likely in the USD $3,000 range

The device is expected to have two 4K micoLED displays, up to 15 camera modules, M1 like processors, eye tracking, hand gesture support, spatial audio, and more

The headset is expected to be a full standalone device, but Apple is oddly not focused on gaming as an application

Apple’s long term goal is supposedly a set of light weight augmented reality glasses

Some think it’s possible Apple could be wanting to make an announcement of the upcoming device at WWDC

That would be nice, especially for developers, but I don’t think likely

New HomePod possible this year

Ming-Chi Kuo said in a tweet that “Apple would release a new version of HomePod in 4Q22-1Q23”

He said don’t expect much in the way of a new hardware design though and failed to really comment on any features

We’ve been hearing some rumors, from sources like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, that Apple is exploring other HomePod options

We talked last week about the possible “convergence” product combining an AppleTV, HomePod, and FaceTime camera

Gurman has also mentioned the possibility of a new HomePod that would be bigger than the HomePod mini, but smaller then the original HomePod

We also heard more about a possible updated 27-inch Apple Display this week

Display analyst Ross Young claims Apple is still working on a mini-LED version of the 27-inch Apple Studio Display, but notes that according to his checks of the supply chain that it’s release has been delayed until October

SimpliSafe

You all know I love the break-in protection that my SimpliSafe home security systems give me... But it’s not always outside forces that you need SimpliSafe’s protection from.

This is Terri’s story, a SimpliSafe customer:

Terri was away for the weekend for her daughter’s wedding. The morning of the big day, she got a call from SimpliSafe’s 24/7 professional monitoring center. They let her know that her system had detected water in her basement. In moments like this, time is critical because even an inch of flooding can cause more than $25,000 in damages.

Thankfully, SimpliSafe had detected the water just moments after the leaking had started. After talking to SimpliSafe, Terri called her neighbor who quickly turned the water in her home off before the flooding got bad.

Protecting against floods is just one of the reasons more than 4 million people trust their home protection to SimpliSafe. With a comprehensive SimpliSafe system and 24/7 professional monitoring, you can have someone always looking out for you – just like Terri. Plans cost under $1/day with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Ever.

The expandability and flexibility of SimpliSafe for me is one of the things that make it great.

I don’t have a basement, but we do have a pretty large yard, so the ability easily add additional wireless outdoor cameras is perfect for my monitoring needs

It let’s me keep an eye on my property even when I’m not there and even if mostly all I see is the rabbits and squirrels.

You can customize the perfect system for your home in just a few minutes at SIMPLISAFE dot com slash maccast.

Go today and claim a free indoor security camera plus 20% off with Interactive Monitoring. Go to SIMPLISAFE dot com slash maccast.

Even more Finder tips

Our community is amazing and has come back with even more cool Finder tips

From Ali

Close All Finder Windows

Hold the option key while clicking the red “stoplight” button

Or type Command+Option+W

Can also work within some Apps to close all open app windows

Expand Widow to screen

Normally click the green stoplight button will put the window into full screen

If you prefer to have it just maximize to your screen size hold the option key while clicking the green icon

Enable “Zoom”

This is more a general OS accessibility feature, but great for those of us with aging eyes

Open System Preferences. Go to Accessibility and click on the Zoom tab.

Check on the option for “Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom”

Default key s Control, but you can change it to option or command

Then simply hold down the modifier key and scroll to zoom the screen in and out

The default zoom style is “Full screen”, but you can also change that in the settings to “split scree ” or “picture in picture”

Listing all the files in a directory

This one is from John and is handy if you want to save out a text list of all your files

Select files in a folder (Command + A)

Copy

Open TextEdit

In the Format menu choose Make Plain text

Paste

Expand the column

In column view if you want to expand the column to fit the contents you can double click on the divider line

Can’t find your iCloud files?

About a week or so ago Apple completed their shutdown of their iCloud Documents and Data service

If you’d already made the transition to iCloud Drive you probably didn’t notice.

But some out there may be wondering where their iCloud files went. Well they are safe and sound, but Apple has moved them to iCloud drive, and the amount of storage space your saved files use in iCloud doesn't change.

But… if you haven’t turned on iCloud Drive yet you won’t see your files.

You can access iCloud Drive on devices with iOS 8 or later, Macs with OS X Yosemite or later, PCs with iCloud for Windows 7 and later, and on iCloud.com.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Go to Settings > your name.

Tap iCloud.

Turn on iCloud Drive. 

You can then use the Files app to access your files.

On your Mac

Go to Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Apple ID. If you’re using macOS Mojave or earlier, you don’t need to click Apple ID.

Select iCloud.

Sign in with your Apple ID, if you need to.

Select iCloud Drive.

You can find your files in the Finder under iCloud.

On iCloud.com

Sign in to iCloud.com.

Select Pages, Numbers, Keynote, or iCloud Drive.

Select Upgrade to iCloud Drive.

You can find your files on iCloud.com in iCloud Drive.

Preserving your Macs battery

For any device, like your iPhone, iPad, or Mac that has a lithium ion battery it’s recommended for the batteries general health that you “keep the ions moving” and avoid long periods at the totally full or totally empty states

Meaning optimally you keep your battery somewhere between 40 and 80 percent charge most of the time.

Now in reality for most of us that probably not realistic or easily done.

The reason I bring this up is Rick emailed me this week asking if there was a way to prevent his Macbook Pro from ever charging above 80 percent since he mostly keeps it always connected to power

Rick found a command line tool on GitHub[BCLM](https://github.com/zackelia/bclm) that is a wrapper for setting the battery charge level max (BCLM) values in the Macs System Management Controller

This is cool and an option I guess… but please only use it if you know and understand what you’re doing

It changes the Apple intended behavior of the operating system

If you’re really worried I think the easier thing to do is to just unplug your Mac and plug it back in when it gets down to around 30-40 percent once in a while

Also the OS, since Mac OS Big Sur, has a built in mechanism to try and help your Mac basically do the same thing.

It’s called “Optimized Battery Charging”

This feature helps to reduce the wear on your battery and improve its lifespan by learning your daily charging routine. It delays charging the battery past 80% when it predicts that you’ll be plugged in for an extended period of time, and aims to charge the battery before you unplug. You can change this option in Battery preferences.

To check and change the setting

System Preferences > Battery

Click the “Battery” tab

Set the Optimized Battery Charging to on

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