Apple Newsletters
Hello again. As you have probably noticed, Apple has been busy releasing major updates to its operating systems in the last couple of months, so we’re here to tell you what’s new in iOS and iPadOS 13. But before we dive into that, a few things: Don’t update to CatalinaIf you haven’t yet updated… Read more
Happy back to school and work! It’s that time of year again, when Apple unleashes new iPhones (and a few other things) upon the world. Here’s what’s coming. But first, a word of caution The latest version of macOS, called Catalina, is going to be released in October. We do not recommend you install… Read more
Hello everyone. Enjoying the summer heat? We’re here with the latest updates in the world of Apple. A lot has happened. Hardware: MacBook Air: Apple just updated their 2018 modernized MacBook Air by adding “natural” color to the screen, and lowering the starting price to $1,099, or $999 for college students. They now also… Read more
Apple announced a ton of stuff in March, so let’s get up to speed. This is gonna be a long one, so grab a sandwich (or low-carb alternative). First off, new hardware iPad Mini: If you like a very small iPad, you’ll be happy about the long-overdue update to the iPad Mini, starting at… Read more
First off: If you want to go ahead and install macOS Mojave, it appears to be safe and fine to do so. Make sure, as always, that you have a Time Machine backup first; and, if you use backup software such as CrashPlan, Backblaze, or Carbon Copy Cloner, you will need to take an additional… Read more
iOS 12 and macOS Mojave (10.14) are here! Our guidance has always been to not rush into major upgrades until problems have been found and fixed. While we stand by that advice, this round of new operating systems from Apple appears to be pretty solid, and we haven’t heard about or seen any real problems… Read more
After months of rumors, Apple released their new iPhone models. Here’s the rundown. iPhone XS (pronounced “ten s”) This is a replacement for the iPhone X, released last year, at the same prices ($999 and up). Externally, it appears identical, except for a new gold color option to augment the existing “space grey” and… Read more
Reminder: it’s safe to update to macOS High Sierra, and iOS 11 We have many clients running these now without issues. As always, we recommend you confirm you have a backup before upgrading; ask us if you need help checking. Apple WWDC Announcements Apple just held their annual developers conference, known as WWDC, and… Read more
Hello and greetings from IvanExpert! Here’s a bit of news from the world of Apple: Email Scam There seems to be a never-ending variety of new internet scams. Lately we’ve seen one that looks just like an email from Apple, suggesting that you need to re-verify your information to prevent your iCloud account from… Read more
Hello from IvanExpert. We hope your computers are working well for you through the winter. Various events have been happening in and around Cupertino, so we thought we’d round them up for you. CrashPlan Home cloud backup is going away — second warning We’ve set a lot of clients up with CrashPlan cloud backup…. Read more
Here is our annual list of cool tech gifts for the holiday season. Don’t forget, Chanukah starts this year on the evening of Tuesday, December 12th. Apple AirPods The best wireless headphones out there. Just be aware that they don’t fit in everybody’s ears, which is the only reason they’re not the perfect gift for… Read more
I got Apple’s latest baby, the iPhone X, and I’m going to share what I think about it. In short: I think it’s great, but possibly not worth the expense to everyone, especially those who already like the “Plus” iPhone models. The iPhone X (starting at $999) was announced at the same time as the… Read more
Apple had some big announcements today, made for the first time from the Steve Jobs Theater at their new headquarters. Here are the highlights. The original space for the Apple Store 5th Avenue is reopening “late next year,” with the glass cube coming back, and glass skylights allowing natural light to filter down from the… Read more
You may have received an email from CrashPlan, informing you that they are no longer offering CrashPlan backup for Home. You need to take action to keep your backups running. If you didn’t get an email – check whether you are running CrashPlan for Home by going into your Applications folder and looking for the… Read more
Yesterday Apple announced some new hardware and software. Here are the highlights. First the hardware: HomePod Apple’s first truly new piece of hardware in a while (other than the AirPods), the HomePod is a wireless speaker that is 7” tall and can play all your Apple Music; it also has Siri built in to answer… Read more
One of the most common questions we get asked is “What is iCloud, and how do I use it?” Let’s run through it. iCLOUD VS THE CLOUD So iCloud is not the same as “the cloud.” “The cloud” is a general term which just means a place out there on the internet where your… Read more
As you might know, when Apple first announced their wireless headphones, called AirPods, I was skeptical, because they’re a) $160 and b) easily lost. It seemed like a poor justification for ditching the headphone jack on the iPhone 7. I now have a pair. And I can say that a) and b) are still both true…. Read more
I got the new MacBook Pro 13-inch, with Touch Bar, and maxed out options, I thought I’d review it for you. It’s my first truly new Mac design in seven years, when I purchased my first MacBook Air 11-inch model, followed by several newer versions of the same. It’s a very nice computer, if very… Read more
One of Apple’s more controversial recent decisions has been to remove all of the familiar ports from the new MacBook Pro and the 12-inch MacBook. They’ve replaced them with USB-C ports, which in my opinion is a positive change, but it’s also confusing. Here’s the deal: Your old-fashioned USB port that you’ve known and loved since the… Read more
Here are the coolest new tech items we’ve found for holiday giving this year. Reminder: Chanukah starts on December 24th; Christmas is, as always, on the 25th. Griffin Guitar Sidekick, $20Attach your phone to the neck of your guitar so you’ve got your lyrics, videos, and charts in the right place when you’re playing…. Read more
Another day, another Apple announcement! This week Apple announced the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display. This is a lot like the existing MacBook Pro, except that it’s notably slimmer and lighter. It’s got a gigantic trackpad, and the higher-end models have a novel “Touch Bar” which replaces the row of function keys at the top… Read more
Hello, and happy post-summer to you! Here we are at IvanExpert world headquarters, and we notice Apple said something at Apple’s world headquarters. iPhone 7 The much awaited iPhone 7 is here, and…well…it’s a lot like the iPhone 6 and 6s. It’s sleeker, not that it wasn’t sleek before. It’s capable of faster internet and… Read more
Apple made a whole bunch of announcements this week at WWDC, their annual developer conference, in which far-flung app developers converge in San Francisco to learn, network, and geek out. I’ve been a few times. It’s fun. Apple Opens Software to DevelopersHere’s how software is written in 2016: you don’t program a computer at its… Read more
Apple had a product announcement event, and here’s what they had to say: First off, Apple boasted that they have sold *one billion* computing products since their inception 40 years ago. A billion. They touted their progress in and commitment to environmental concerns in their product design and their energy use. Apple also took a… Read more
One of the unwelcome side effects of Apple’s success in the last five years has been the scourge of sneaky software that sleazily sidles into your Mac. It often changes your search engine, puts ads over your web sites, and makes your computer perform poorly. Similarly, Mac, iPhone, and iPad users are now targeted by… Read more
Chanukah has crept up on us this year (yes, it starts the evening of December 6th) so we’ve quickly put together our list of top 10 tech gifts for 2015. And be sure to check out two sites with other great gift ideas: The Wirecutter Holiday GuidesThey have guides to the best gifts for home… Read more
Hey everybody! Apple just announced a big pile of stuff. Here’s what they had to say: iPad Pro This is an all-new iPad that blurs the line between tablet and notebook computer. It’s got a big screen, but it’s extremely slim, with a weight similar to the original iPad. It’s twice as fast as the… Read more
Singing the Praises of T-Mobile Some of you know that I frequently sing the praises of T-Mobile. No, their network isn’t as extensive as Verizon’s or AT&T’s, but it is so much cheaper, and never more so than when you’re traveling internationally. It’s almost ridiculous, and it bailed us out more than once when we… Read more
Or, more specifically, on my wrist. I confess that I was an Apple Watch skeptic; I don’t wear a watch, and I didn’t really feel the need to start, since my iPhone does a perfectly capable job of keeping the time, and I always have it on me. But every time Apple would demo the… Read more
So, Apple had a big event this week. What do you need to know? Apple Watch Apple Watch will be available for pre-order, and store display, on April 10, and will ship on April 24. It will be available in a plethora of colors, materials, and watch bands (and we have to imagine there will… Read more