shownotes_20190828

Opening
  Opening Music
    Music is Say Anything by Manda and the Marbles
Sponsor: Linode
  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
News
  Sept iPhone 11 Expectations
    OLED screen models rebranded as "iPhone Pro"
      Feature the tri-lens camera system with wide angle, telephoto, and ultra-wide lenses
        Dual lens on the updated iPhone XR model
      Will be able to take three images simultaneously from each of the lenses and combine them together to create higher-resolution pictures according to Bloomberg
      New image processing element in the A13 called the "AMX" or "matrix" internally.
        A math co-processor tuned for augmented reality applications and computer vision tasks .
      Video is also expected to upgraded with video editing inside Photos and ability to apply live video effects while recording.
    Some matte finish color options and new shatter-resistant technology
      Green color option for the iPhone XR (11R?)
    3D Touch out. Haptic Touch in.
    Improved water resistance
    Bilateral wireless charging
    New multi-angle Face ID sensor that captures a wider field of view
      Read FaceID even when device is flat on a table.
      Ming Chi Kuo had mentioned a more powerful flood illuminator to limit interference from environmental infrared sources.
    iPads
      Spec bumps to the iPad Pro line
      Tri-lens and update TrueDepth camera systems
      New 10.2-inch iPad to replace the entry level 9.7-inch model
    Other stuff
      Apple Watch, new finishes. Ceramic and Titanium
        One leaker claiming the new watch will be able to take blood pressure readings.
      New AirPods are "in the works". Improved water resistance and noise cancellation.
        No timeframe
      A "cheaper" HomePod ls also in development for release possible early next year
        two tweeters vs. seven
      16-inch MacBook Pro, no timeframe.
  Irish Siri "listeners" lose their jobs
    Remember the great Siri recording "scandal" of 2019? The one where Apple had a contractor listening to 0.2 percent of Siri recording that were anonymized and without personal data?
    The one that Apple never hid and openly talked about in interviews? Yeah that program.
    Well because of the press coverage Apple immediately suspended the program designed to help them improve Siri functionality
    Now the Irish Examiner reports that the 300 workers who were tasked with listening to about 1,000 recordings per shift are laid off.
      Their job was to transcribe the recordings and grade Siri's response according to various criteria, such as whether Siri was invoked accidentally.
    They were hired on fixed-term contracts as data analysts for Globetech and now aren't needed.
    Apple plans to add a way to opt-out of the listening program in future versions of iOS but for now they have stopped the practice entirely leaving these folks without a job. Kind of sucks.
    Apple also posted an FAQ to answer questions about the recent coverage and changes to the Siri "grading" program
      When grading resumes again Apple says it will happen only with Apple employees and that they will only have access to the minimum data needed to do the job
      They also plan to delete and not use recordings that are the result of "accidental" triggers.
      The program will be opt-in for grading (as it should have been from the beginning), but Apple does emphasize that computer generated "transcripts" will be used to help train the AI system and that the only way to opt out of that is to not use Siri or Dictation at all
        Transcripts are retained for 6 months.
      All grading content is "anonymized" with a random id that is not traceable back to the device, user, or their iCloud account.
  Apple releases iOS security fix
    iOS 12.4.1 fixes a vulnerability that allowed jailbreaking that was introduced with the release of iOS 12.4
    Apple accidentally unpatched a vulnerability that was originally fixed in iOS 12.3.
    Apple also updated tvOS 12.4.1, watchOS 5.3.1, and a new build of macOS Mojave 10.14.6.
    Apple also updated the beta version of Apple Music for Android to support Chromecast.
      Means Android users can stream to Chromecast-enabled devices like the Google Home.
  Apple cans 'Walkie-Talkie' for iPhone
    This is from "The Information"
    Apple was reportedly working on the feature with Intel
    Would have used the 900 MHz radio spectrum and long distance radio waves to send messages directly to other iPhone users
    Would have been cool right?
    Supposedly Apple had to ice it because the guy running the project, Rubén Caballero, left Apple.
    Also the tech enabling it was integrated with Intel modems and Apple is moving back to Qualcomm.
    Anyone use Walkie Talkie on Apple Watch?
      On Apple Watch it uses cellular data or wi-fi
Sponsor: MasterClass
  MasterClass
    One of my favorite things about Masterclass is the amazing depth and variety of the courses taught by the masters in their fields.
      No place else do you have access to this kind of talent.
    I also love the cinematic quality and presentation of the courses. They're each unique in their style and really well produced
      Plus presented in small chunks, typically 10-15 minutes so I can fit then into my schedule
      That's made easier by the fact I can access them on any device iPhone, iPad, Mac, and best of all my Apple TV.
    I currently really enjoying their "Playlists" feature
      Playlists are a way for you to explore the entire catalog and learn from more instructors.
      What I like is they offer short segments from a variety of instructor but on a common theme
        THE IDEA STORE is a great one on ideas. Where they come from, how to cultivate them, and how to build up ideas. Keep in mind this is advice from people like Steve Martin, David Mamet, and Malcom Gladwell
    While you can get courses individually I really love having the all-access pass.
      With it you could use it to develop the creative skills to make an entire film
        Screen writing with Aaron Sorkin
        Film Making from Martin Scorsese
        Directing from Ron Howard
        Scoring from Hans Zimmer
    They have over 60 classes and they are constantly adding more, so I think it's a great investment in learning.
    Now you can have unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, and as a Maccast listener, you’ll get $30 off!
    Go to MASTER CLASS dot com slash MACCAST for $30 off your MasterClass All-Access Pass! Be sure to act now because this offer is available for a limited time. https://masterclass.com/maccast
Feedback, commentary, opinions
  Setting a "floating" timezone
    After our question about how to add an event to the Calendar app without it adjusting for your current timezone i got a lot of the same feedback
    On the Mac when you enter an event when picking the event timezone choose the "floating" option.
    With this set the event stays at the time it was entered regardless of which timezone your Mac is in.
      Set a 1:00 PM appointment in California and when you arrive in NYC it's still set for 1:00 PM.
      This seems "static" to me and not really "floating", but whatever.
    This is great except for one small issue…
      Apple's Calendar app on iOS, as near as I can tell, has no "floating" time zone option.
      So you're stuck entering ALL your events on the Mac if you want to use this feature (actually iCloud.com seems to offer the option also)
      It will sync and be "floating" when it's in iOS, you just can't choose "floating" in Calendar on iOS.
    Luckily there are third party apps, like Fantastical and Busy Cal, on iOS that will let you enter "floating".
    Thanks to all of you that emailed in with this tip.
  Single Mac wifi knockout
    Todd had an iMac that suddenly would just lose Internet connectivity after about 2 minutes
    Was using an Eero system for his home networking and all his other Macs and devices could connect fine.
    I asked if there was a new USB3 HDD anywhere near his Mac.
    Also thought that he could have a failing WiFi antenna or AirPort card in the Mac.
      If you don't want to get an internal replacement card from a source like [OWC](https://eshop.macsales.com/search/?q=WiFi)
      You can find USB WiFi Adapters relatively cheaply. I use a [Bear Extender](https://www.bearifi.com) 802.11ac on my 2006 Mac mini.
    Todd wrote back to say he discovered the culprit being that somehow the SOCKS proxy was checked "on" in the Network settings on his Mac.
      SOCKS is an Internet protocol that exchanges network packets between a client and server through a proxy server.
      Typically you might use SOCKS to route your traffic through a Proxy server to have your traffic come from a different location from your physical location
      It's like a VPN, but without the encryption. Advantage of this is speed
      Some VPN apps offer SOCKS as an option.
        Todd confirmed he used NordVPN which does have a SOCKS feature.
    But here's the concern Todd. If something is setting this up automatically and you don't know what it is, you could have malware on your machine
      Run a tool like [MalwareBytes](https://www.malwarebytes.com)
  Single iPad low volume
    Ben wrote in with an issue that had even the crew at his local Genius Bar stumped
    His iPad Pro 11” had extremely low audio output with wired headphones and Bluetooth headphones.
    He was using a USB-C 3.5mm adapter.
    Restarting, different headphones and adapters, no luck.
    Could barely hear with the volume at max in music, YouTube, apps, system sounds.
    Audio through the built-in speakers was fine.
    The one thing i could think to check
      Go to Settings > Music. Swipe down to the “Playback” settings and look and see if “Volume Limit” is set to “On”. If so, tap that and adjust it up to max.
      Didn't work.
    In the end another set of Genius' "fixed" it by doing a "Reset All Settings:
      Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings
    Unfortunately that means having to reset up a lot of stuff, but at least the headphones were working again.
    Also one step better than a backup, full erase, and restore.
  Keeping your Apple Card clean
    Play tip from David
    Yup as I mentioned on the last show there are cases and skins for Apple Card popping up. Crazy.
Closing
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