Malwarebytes

Malware, it's a thing. Even on our Macs. Adware, spyware, viruses. We stay diligent and Apple has our backs, but it's not always enough.

Even if you stay safe, it's likely a friend or family member maybe someone not quite a tech savvy or aware gets hit. As much as we try to help or protect them from themselves things happen.

You've likely heard me mention Malwarebytes on the show in the past. I really think is the best and easiest tool on the Mac for quickly scanning, removing, and preventing Malware.

One thing I really like is you can use it how best fits your situation.

Scan just when you need it or let it actively and proactively keep you safe.

Proven Malwarebytes technology crushes the growing threat of Mac malware.

Malwarebytes scans the average Mac in under 30 seconds, removing adware and unwanted programs that slow your Mac.

And when you need more active protection Malwarebytes detects and removes viruses, ransomware, and other malware in real time with advanced anti-malware technology. Catches dangerous threats automatically, so you’re protected without having to even think about it.

Finally, cybersecurity smart enough for the Mac. Visit Malwarebytes.com/mac for your free download and 14-day trial of their Premium offering.

Call for Screentime API

Last week we mentioned how Apple had removed several 3rd party screen time monitoring and parental control apps from the App Store

The issue was these apps were using enterprise Mobile Device Management "MDM" technology which was a violation of Apple's app store guidelines

The trouble is that MDM is designed for systems admins who manage and maintain multiple devices for larger enterprise and government deployments. The techniques used basically give the MDM server software almost unfettered access to the device a HUGE security and privacy concern in a consumer setting.

The trouble is, that the use of MDM was the only way many of the apps could offer specific functionality. Functionality that is similar to what Apple now offers with it's built in 'Screentime' app and parental controls.

After to ousting several of the developers behind parental control apps have issued open letters calling for Apple to create APIs to open up the Screentime and parental control features to third party apps.

I think Apple was/is already planning on having an API and Screentime is likely a first step in Apple real world testing it. Basically eating their own dog food.

I really like, and use, the Screentime and parental controls. I also think consumers having a choice in Apps would be great.

Apple Watch still smartwatch king

According to Counterpoint Research for the first three months of 2019 Apple Watch remained the world's most popular smartwatch.

They estimate Apple Watch had and almost 36 percent market share

That significantly beat out the next nearest manufacturer, Samsung, which had about and 11 percent share.

Counterpoint also estimated that Apple Watch shipments increased 49 percent year over year.

The big feature for Apple Watch 4 that consumers are responding to seems to be the ECG feature which has been expanded out side the US into 19 European countries and Hong Kong

Apple's "most historic" retail location

Apple is getting set to open a new retail location in Washington, D.C on May 11th

Tim Cook told The Washington Post that Apple Carnegie Library is Apple’s “most historic, ambitious restoration by far, in the world,”

Apple began plans to open the store and events center within the Carnegie Library in Mount Vernon Square back in 2016 and has reportedly spent more than $30 million to complete the project.

Coinciding with the launch of the new store Apple is also kicking off one of their most ambitious Today at Apple programs yet, the StoryMakers Festival

Six weeks of sessions featuring 40 creators

The building will also house the nonprofit Historical Society of Washington, D.C., rent free, and they will be opening a new D.C. History Center

New iPhone Antenna design

You know it's a slow news week when the big iPhone rumor is a new antenna design

Ming-Chi Kuo has looked into the 2019 iPhone supply chain and seen “vast changes” in antenna structures. Woo *shivers*

The changes he says are in suppliers and technology.

He says the 2019 iPhones will use a combination of the current liquid crystal polymer (LCP) antenna tech with a new modified-PI antenna structure.

Current models use LCP in both the two upper antennae and two lower antennae

2019 iPhones are said to use a single MPI and LCP unit for the upper antenna, and three MPI assemblies for the lower antenna.

The benefits of the shift in tech are that:

1. There are more antenna suppliers so Apple can negotiate better rates

2. It offers performance that is essentially the same as LCP when it comes to 4G LTE

He does also predict that in 2020 Apple will shift back to LCP because it would have better performance for 5G

Apple buying up companies

Tim Cook was at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting and sat down for an interview with CNBC.

In it he revealed that Apple had bought 25 companies in the last six months. That averages about one every two to three weeks.

Apple companies "from time to time" and usually doesn't comment on them. So Tim even mentioning this is rare.

It's also a pretty crazy pace even for Apple.

The other insights Cook offered were that in deciding what to buy Apple "acquire(s) everything that (they) need that can fit and has a strategic purpose to it." and that they are usually eyeing “talent and intellectual property”

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

Feedback: Apple Watch water resistance

Ali points out that Apple's recommendation of not using the Apple Watch when scuba diving is likely for doing that activity at ANY depth, not just 50m.

I may have confused the issue when i read the copy from Apple's site that said, "Apple Watch Series 4 has a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means that it may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, Apple Watch Series 4 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth."

The reality is that only experienced "deep divers" would venture below about 40m or so.

Neil also wrote in to remind folks that different Apple Watches have different water resistance ratings and that none are "waterproof".

He also points out that water resistance can, and does, degrade over time and that once lost it doesn't come back.

There are many factors that can degrade that water resistance including chemicals (including lotions, soaps, and shampoos).

Heat and humidity also, so saunas or steam rooms can be an issue.

If you do use an Apple watch in water you may also want to make sure you enable "water lock" mode

Activated automatically with a swimming workout or from control center with the "drop" icon.

When enabled it stopped screen touches from working (or being activated by the water)

Turn it off by rolling the digital crown up which will make the speaker activate with loud audible beeps expelling the water from the speaker.

Pool water or salt water could eventually corrode the speaker.

All plugged up.

Play comment from Paul

Paul wasn't the only person reporting to me having issues with this recall program.

Specifically the bit about the serial numbers.

My guess is that things are getting sorted, but yeah they might not have been prepared enough day one.

If you do have trouble and are in the UK maybe you can ring up Paul for a replacement since he's got a few extras now. ;)

"Saltine" cracker bump?

Just doesn't have the same ring, but as Preston points out is more geometrically accurate.

I've been calling the new "Square" camera bump the "Ritz Camera" bump.

Mostly because Ritz is a cracker and also a Camera Shop here is some parts of the US.

The two go together in my mind and it rolls off the tongue

But… as Preston wrote in to rightfully point out. Ritz crackers are actually round.

A more correct cracker to reference would be the Saltine, possibly a Triscuit, or even a Wheat Thin

Just doesn't quite have the same ring though.

iOS App Update Overload

Dan wrote in with the rhetorical question of "What app do you use most"? along with the pithy answer of "Update"

He was basically making the commentary that apps are constantly requiring updates and that it can get to be annoying.

I argued that really isn't that a good thing? Apps are being kept up to date with bug fixes, security patches, and enhancements.

Dan seems to be a bit more pessimistic respond that I could be correct or it could be:

"a sign of incompetent programming with poor QA"

"Or perhaps they are slipping stuff past us as we blindly apply updates"

I don't think that's the case most of the time, but can really understand Dan's point.

I can also think of a few ideas/ options for dealing with the issue.

Turn off App Updates

Settings > iTunes and App Store

Toggle off "Updates"

You'll still have updates in the App Store, but you'll need to launch the App Store manually and got to the updates tab

Turn off App Store notifications

Settings > Notifications > App Store

Set "Allow Notifications" to Off.

Clean up old apps

Maybe it more the case we just have too many apps on our devices.

Fewer Apps means fewer apps to updates.

You can get a list of how often an app is uses

Settings > General > iPhone Storage

Wait for the app list to load.

You will see a "last used" value.

Find ones that you haven't opened in a long time or "never"

Tap on them

You can see how much storage they are using.

Options to "Offload" or "delete"

Offload removes the app, but not it's data. If you re-download the App (if it's still in the App Store) it will be like you never deleted it.

You can use similar techniques on the Mac.

Listener Thing of the Moment: Print Selection

I asked for some of your recommendations for the stuff you like and Mark wrote in with a handy print utility app.

[Print Selection](http://chimpstudios.com/printselection.html) - USD $4.99 direct from the Mac App Store

It's a menubar app that allows you to select part of a web page or a long document to print.

You make a text selection and then copy and paste the text into the Print Selection window

Can also access it from a right click and the "Services" menu.

Can also be invoked via a hotkey

You can get just the article content from a webpage

Leave out the banner and sidebar ads, footers, and comments.

You can also add a note to the selected content you're printing out.

When the print dialog comes up you can also export/ print to PDF

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