December 2022

PSA

With the holidays upon us, while flu and Covid are looming and gathering steam, you might consider building a Corsi–Rosenthal box. And Science in Action: How to Build a Corsi-Rosenthal Box

iOS & Apple news

This just in, from earlier today, Tim Cook in Arizona:

Tim Cook Confirms Apple Will Buy TSMC Chips Manufactured in Arizona. `Cook was in Arizona at the announcement of TSMC's investment in the state, which was also attended by U.S. President Joe Biden. "And now, thanks to the hard work of so many people, these chips can be proudly stamped Made in America," said Cook. "This is an incredibly significant moment." Watch:

Apple announced launching Self Service Repair in Europe. Customers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK can purchase genuine Apple parts and tools.

Apple announced Emergency SOS via satellite is now available on the iPhone 14 lineup in the US and Canada. `iPhone 14 users can now connect with emergency services when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are not available; the service extends to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December.'

It's the end of 2022, and Apple is announcing `best of'.

Apple Podcasts Award winner Slate’s narrative nonfiction series Slow Burn . The recipient of the Apple Podcasts Award is Slate’s critically acclaimed narrative history series, Slow Burn, for its latest season, Roe v. Wade, hosted by Slate executive editor Susan Matthews. Published throughout June 2022, the four-episode season explores the events leading up to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision, offering listeners an in-depth perspective.

[ RUMOR ] Blomberg News has a rumor or `scoop': Apple Scales Back Self-Driving Car and Delays Debut Until 2026. Also Macrumors reports on this: Apple to Charge Under $100,000 for Apple Car, Launch Planned for 2026.

iOS apps

As it's the end of the year, Apple has announced the best apps of 2022, including BeReal, GoodNotes, and more.

Our own Roger S. made an excellent video to demonstrate how to get Dew Point data from the native iOS Weather app. Look at our iPUG Homepage.

Roger S. also notes that the weather complication on the Apple Watch can show humidity and dewpoint also. Whatever it shows, you can click on it, then scroll to see information.

our data: use and abuse

This section has always covered data privacy and security, and now grows also include other forms of data use and misuse, including information & misinformation.

Much has been discussed about Apple, Twitter, and Elon Musk. There is a lot of noise about this. If you want a thoughtful discussion of the topic, Kara Swisher's interview of Yoel Roth, ex-executive from Twitter and chief of trust and safety is worthwhile. Roth offers his perspective in a fair-minded and informative way. Here it is:

Why Twitter's Former Safety Chief Left Elon Musk. Description: "Elon Musk's Twitter is a spectacle, and the drama and meaning of the last six months is perhaps best unpacked by Yoel Roth. The company’s former head of trust and safety survived the early flood of firings and resignations — in fact, he was ascendant, in the early days of this new Twitter, and he became the face Musk presented to advertisers. Kara asks Roth whether he felt “used” by Musk and why — having been embraced by Elon’s inner circle — he ultimately decided to abandon Elon.  Before the interview, Kara and Nayeema weigh in on Elon Musk’s seeming needling of Tim Cook, and they discuss whether Apple has too much power. Stay tuned until the end for Kara’s rant on this very topic."

podcasts

Comedian and actor Tig Notaro has her very successful podcast `Don't ask Tig', a funny advice podcast. Her most recent episode, with Roy Wood Jr. as guest answers listener questions and interviews Roy Wood, actor, comedian, and late night comedy correspondent. They also discuss who might take over as host of the Daily Show, and overall late night talk shows.

Also mentioned above, a very interesting podcast interview: Why Twitter's Former Safety Chief Left Elon Musk. Description: "Elon Musk's Twitter is a spectacle, and the drama and meaning of the last six months is perhaps best unpacked by Yoel Roth. The company’s former head of trust and safety survived the early flood of firings and resignations — in fact, he was ascendant, in the early days of this new Twitter, and he became the face Musk presented to advertisers. Kara asks Roth whether he felt “used” by Musk and why — having been embraced by Elon’s inner circle — he ultimately decided to abandon Elon.  Before the interview, Kara and Nayeema weigh in on Elon Musk’s seeming needling of Tim Cook, and they discuss whether Apple has too much power. Stay tuned until the end for Kara’s rant on this very topic."

tips & tricks

This song & video shows the confusion some iPhone users feel when receiving a call while on another call:

As a reminder, this article shows the iOS screen options.

How to stop incoming iPhone calls from ringing on all your other devices.

gadgets & accessories

Olga reported on PenTips and PenMatthese Apple pencil tips, a successful project on Kickstarter:

Shane Whatley reviews the Eve Light Switch. It's a smart switch that supports HomeKit over Thread. Shane discusses the features, installation, pros and cons, and views.

You can find the Eve Light Switch on Amazon and many other places online.

Pay and Apple card

Apple Card will soon let users grow daily cash rewards while saving for the future, Apple announced. `In the coming months, Apple Card users will be able to open the new high-yield Savings account and have their Daily Cash automatically deposited into it — with no fees, no minimum deposits, and no minimum balance requirements.2 Soon, users can spend, send, and save Daily Cash directly from Wallet.'

watch

As promised, Apple has announced the Oceanic+ app and Apple Watch Ultra. `The Oceanic+ app on Apple Watch Ultra turns Apple’s most rugged watch into a powerful and easy-to-use dive computer.' Download Oceanic+, and give it a try. The app has free features, plus some optional paid features.

Revisiting some info we did not have time to cover in our last iPUG meeting:

The new Series 8 overview by Macrumors provides highlights and details.

Mary Anne gave her initial thoughts on the Series 8.

Apple Watch Series 8 Review, by The Street:Best-in-Class Smartwatch. They praise the watch for all its capabilities and safety features. They note it's a more appealing upgrade from a Series 4, 5, or 6, less so for a 7 owner.

Men's Health reviews Series 8. They write:

`The Series 8 is put in a bit of an awkward spot. Yes, the flashy new Ultra has the momentum going out of Apple’s rough and tumble presentation, but that doesn’t mean the Series 8 was just a second thought. I gave the Series 8 a wear test for a just under a week after the big reveal at the Keynote, and I found that consistency ruled with the new device.'

(cont'd) `Should you upgrade? If you want access to the most recent Apple tech, with its most powerful health sensors, safety features, and battery life, yes, especially if your current device is more than a few years old or you've never owned an Apple Watch. If you have an Apple Watch that's only one or two years old, however, you might want to sit this release out (or wait for the super-powered Ultra if its adventure specs are more appealing to you).'

Read: Testing an Apple Watch Ultra in the Scottish Highlands, by David Smith, iOS developer and avid hiker. He took it on a 50-mile hike and tested it over 3 days. He took a regular Apple Watch along as well. His video review is chapterized and worth watching. And watch his summary:

Wondering about the new bands introduced with the Ultra? Here is a great and informative overview which also helps answer the frequently asked questions:

Olga reported on testing & using bands interchangeably between Ultra and non-Ultra Apple watches.

Testing the Ultra in a dive chamber, showcasing the new dive interface and explaining the differences between the max depth the hardware can handle (certified to 100 meters) vs. the watchOS cutoff for casual dives (40 meters):

Sometime later this fall, the Ultra will work with the 3rd party app Oceanic+. `The new Oceanic+ app for Apple Watch Ultra turns the watch you wear every day into a fully capable dive computer for recreational diving and snorkeling. It includes all the core features divers need, and is refreshingly easy to use.' This will require a subscription of $79/year. It will include all the dive-related functions offered by a dive computer. Including: dive planning, water type, ascent warnings, safety stops, mixed gas options.

An excellent and very thoughtful review of the new Ultra, by John Gruber.

next iPUG meeting

Thank you for another year of monthly fun and gatherings. As we bid goodbye to 2022, have a very happy and healthy holiday season. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.