from Jim H
I just read this article about a tip for the iPhone. I've not tried it yet, but thought I'd pass it on and await
your implementation and response/comments of the feature first...☺️...Jim
MacBook Pro
From Jim H:
If you might be looking for a Mac, the following looks to be quite interesting...Jim
Macworld Deals
From Jim H
Macworld Deals
May 23, 2025
Get back to basics with MS Office 2019 for $43
It's the best time to get the Apple Watch Series 10 in the best color for the best price
Save $100 on the Apple Watch, the best discount we've seen.
Save hundreds on lifetime access to 20TB of cloud storage
Organize your projects (and sanity) with this lifetime AI assistant, now 75% off
Apple's four-pack of AirTags drops to $75
You can keep track of all your keys and gear for less with this 24% discount.
Your clunky smartphone is done—the NanoPhone fits in your pocket and is less than $90
Apple's cheapest iPad is back down to its best-ever price
You can get the 4-star A16 iPad for $299.
Who needs Terminal when this app lets you customize your Mac to perfection?
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iPad Updates
From Jim h=H
If you use an Apple iPad, there's some improvements headed your way. The link in the following article has more detail. Not mentioned in the article, though, is whether the age of your iPad may affect its ability to get the update. My two iPads are fairly old, so dunno!....Jim
OK, iPad: Apple's iPads will see a big change in functionality with the upcoming iPadOS 26 software update. Amanda Silberling argues this new operating system will allow iPads to function more like computers and become the work tool they've long aspired to be. Inspirational!
Mac Attack
from Jim H
If you use a Mac, the following article will be of interest:
Macs under threat from new malware campaign impersonating major ISP — how to stay safe | Tom's Guide
https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/malware-adware/macs-under-threat-from-new-malware-campaign-impersonating-major-isp-how-to-stay-safe
One tip which I picked up from the article is, if you do a Google search for something -- which I do often -- don't click the first links that come up in a list. Google likes to use these as ads. Instead, scroll down a bit to perhaps get a link that isn't loaded with ads. I plan to check into this suggestion a bit further...Jim
Tidbits
iPhone Tip
From Jim H.
If you might be having an issue with your iPhone, the following tip might be helpful. I wasn't having any issues with my iPhone, but I took a look at the article, and followed the instructions or a bit, just to see. I didn't clear all my browsing history and data, as I wasn't having any issues.
But something to consider if you are having any issues...Jim
How to clear your iPhone cache for a quick and easy performance boost:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-clear-your-iphone-cache-for-a-quick-and-easy-performance-boost/
SMS Two-Factor Authentication Codes Intercepted
From Frank C
If you are still using 2FA instead of biometrics (touchID or FaceID), it is time to use the biometrics!!
https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/17/a-million-sms-two-factor-authentication-codes-were-intercepted-heres-what-to-do/
A million SMS two-factor authentication codes were intercepted; here’s what to do
A new report found that around a million two-factor authentication codes sent by text message appear to have been intercepted.
A tech industry whistleblower revealed that the 2FA security codes passed through an obscure foreign company with links to government intelligence agencies and companies engaged in digital surveillance …
SMS 2FA codes
Two-factor authentication (2FA) codes are intended to protect your accounts even if your login details have been obtained by hackers. If you have 2FA enabled, then after your password has been confirmed you’ll be prompted to enter a 6-digit code to prove your identify.
That code can be provided by an authenticator app with a rolling code linked to your account, or the website or app can text it to you on your registered mobile number.
The problem with the latter option is that SMS comms is completely unencrypted, so these codes are vulnerable to interception in the telecoms network.
A million codes intercepted
A whistleblower has come forward to report an interception program, providing Bloomberg with evidence to support the claim.
An industry whistleblower provided Bloomberg Businessweek and the investigative newsroom Lighthouse Reports with nonpublic phone networking data related to a batch of about 1 million messages carrying two-factor authentication codes sent during June 2023.
Each one passed through the hands of an obscure Swiss outfit named Fink Telecom Services. The company and its founder have worked with government spy agencies and surveillance industry contractors to surveil mobile phones and track user location […]
Senders include Google, Meta and Amazon.com, several European banks, popular apps such as Tinder and Snapchat, the cryptocurrency exchange Binance and encrypted chat platforms Signal and WhatsApp. The intended recipients were located in more than 100 countries across five continents.
That means a hacker – including a government agency – with access to your username and password could successfully login to your accounts even when 2FA is enabled.
Fink’s CFO claimed that the company simply provides “routing capabilities” and “no longer works in surveillance.” However, security experts have linked Fink to cases where texted 2FA codes were used to break into accounts.
9to5Mac’s Take
This is yet another example of why you should always opt to use an authenticator app rather than text messages for your 2FA codes. Safer yet are passkeys, where Face ID or Touch ID is used to locally confirm your identity and no password is sent to the site or app.
Note that Apple uses its own proprietary 2FA system in which the codes are sent to your other Apple devices. This method is safe.
Highlighted accessories
Photo by Gilles Lambert on Unsplash
Tariff Surcharge on Apple Products
From Jim H
While I certainly like and use Apple products, they can be a tad on the pricey side. Is a price increase on Apple's products possibly in the offing? Take a read on the following....Jim
Trump threatens Apple with 25 percent tariffs
President Trump on Friday threatened to hit Apple with 25 percent tariffs if he does not move the company’s manufacturing to the U.S.
Read the developing story: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5315631-trump-targets-apple-tariffs/?email=bdbf31093b25e45d3d248b972b504f3db85b2de5&emaila=b1890b3c3ccc5f8f34c2db9cd7e216fa&emailb=e4c487d0e5c3ca88728615e6051363e04e9f9d990dcd4ffdd2122d995a182e40&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=05.23.25%20News%20Alert%20TS%20KB
Apple's World Wide Development Conference Announcements
If this should be of interest, the link in the following blurb has info on what Apple announced Monday
in their WWDC. My opinion? A bit underwhelming!....Jim
A little of everything: Apple didn't hold back on the first day of its WWDC event. The company announced a major rebrand to its operating systems, a dedicated mobile gaming app, and more. Here's everything that was announced at WWDC 2025.
Apple Airplay
from Jim H
I don't use Apple Airplay, but if you do you might want to read the following article on a vulnerability therein. While I no longer use a Kaspersky app, such as AV, I do subscribe to their blog, which has useful and helpful security tips.....Jim
https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/airborne-wormable-zero-click-vulnerability-in-apple-airplay/53443/
iPhone 13
If you should have an iPhone 13, the following announcement will be of interest...Jim H
Apple to the rescue: Apple released iOS 18.5, which, among other things, gives iPhone 13 owners emergency satellite features for the first time. This system allows people to contact emergency services via satellite when there is no cell phone service or Wi-Fi available.
Chromebook
From Jim H
If you're running Windows 10 on a PC that can't upgrade to Windows 11 when support for Win 10 ceases this coming October, you may be wondering what to do? Buy a new PC running Windows 11, or a Mac, or an iPad, or perhaps a Chromebook? The following comments on a Chromebook are from the Prescott Computer Society newsletter: https://pcs4me.com/
About 6 months ago I bought a Lenovo Chromebook, and must say I'm very much impressed with it, for a variety of reasons, including a very reasonable purchase price. In a word, it is 'snappy' in performance,
and worth considering, in my opinion....Jim
Advantages of using a Chromebook:
Security
Automatic Updates: Chromebooks update automatically, ensuring security patches are always applied.
Built-in Virus Protection: ChromeOS has built-in security features that protect against malware and viruses.
Verified Boot: The system checks itself for corruption or security threats every time it starts.
Ease of Use
Simple Interface: ChromeOS is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate.
Fast Boot Time: Chromebooks start up in seconds, reducing waiting time.
Cloud-Based Storage: Files are stored in Google Drive, making them accessible from any device.
Cost
Affordable Pricing: Chromebooks are generally cheaper than Windows or Mac laptops
No Need for Expensive Software: Most tasks can be done using free web apps like Google Docs, Gmail, and YouTube.
Lower Maintenance Costs: No need for antivirus software or frequent repairs.
Other Advantages
Long Battery Life: Many Chromebooks last 10-14 hours on a single charge.
Lightweight & Portable: Easy to carry around, making them ideal for seniors.
Seamless Integration with Google Services: Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Meet make communication and entertainment effortless.
Touchscreen & Convertible Options: Some models can be used as tablets, making navigation easy
New Mac Phishing Attack
From Frank C
Remember, the Mac will NEVER, EVER tell you about a virus (it just removes it without your intervention), nor will it give you a window to “log in” when it freezes. If your Mac freezes, you either hit Option-Command-Esc to bring up the Force Quit pop up window, or long press the power button to reboot.
Apple Manufacturing
From Jim H
The following news blurb discusses one step Apple is taking to move production away from China, trying to avoid the tariff tiff, if possible. While it would be nice to have the manufacturing move to the U.S., one has to wonder about the economics of such a move? While Apple's products are nice and of good quality, they are already on the expensive side. If costs go up, then price goes up, then what happens to demand? Somewhat of a conundrum, it seems...Jim
Apple x India: New Delhi has approved Foxconn to build a new $435 million semiconductor plant with the goal of eventually making chips for Apple as the iPhone maker aims to reduce its reliance on China. However, Trump today said he’s asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop building in India and start building in the U.S. Read More
This Little-Known iPhone Gesture Makes for a Great AirDrop Alternative
from the Lifehacker Newsletter
Quickly copy and paste a picture from your iPhone to your Mac.
May 8, 2025
Credit: Tada Images/Shutterstock
If you've had your Apple devices for a while, you probably think you know them pretty well. You have your various routines, habits, and hacks and you do what you need to do. But over the years, Apple has added a lot of features to its flagship products—including plenty of hidden gestures you might not know about. As MacRumors reminded us this week, one of those gestures is actually well-suited for sharing photos and videos across your various Apple devices, and in some cases, is probably faster than AirDrop.
https://lifehacker.com/tech/copy-paste-gesture-between-iphone-mac?utm_source=email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=lifehackerdaily&zdee=gAAAAABk5tncotgp5geFrrIPQj9cYo8MsRegqzS5r2m5ly3qLBMGoMrKohvH2y9Z-FPP4QH88L9Qw0oJZdQyjy_KKmBTkKACy0K9yF0IVhLDWJWUvXdnzCQ%3D&lctg=44818486017
Device End of Support List
From Jim H
If you'd like to know how long company technical support exists for your electronic device, the following might be helpful. My iPhone "X" is so old that it probably qualifies as a museum
antique piece!...☺️...But, it still works just fine, so I'll keep using it...Jim
Head to endoflife.date. This handy site lists the end-of-life (EOL) dates for devices, software programs and others. Some quick links for you to check your phone’s EOL:
The links below aren’t for phones, but I thought you might want to check the EOL for your other tech:
This is an excellent site to check before you buy any used tech. If it’s about to hit its EOL date, don’t buy it.
A.I. Is Getting More Powerful, but Its Hallucinations Are Getting Worse
From Mary Ann and The NY Times
A new wave of “reasoning” systems from companies like OpenAI is producing incorrect information more often. Even the companies don’t know why. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/technology/ai-hallucinations-chatgpt-google.html?unlocked_article_code=1.FE8.8oR5.JQvPGZdvUC6t&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Apple Recycling for ALL computer products
From Frank C
Hi,
I had two old phones that could not be reused due to one of several reasons, so I happened to log into Apple on Earth day and they had this great report on their products and the environment. One thing that grabbed my attention was that instead of getting a trade-in for a useless device, they would take it and recycle it. So, I tried it.
At this link, (https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in#recycle) you can choose to send it to them for recycling. You can see all the different items they will take, and the name used is NOT Apple specific! The will take any smartphone, and any computer, as well as all the old cables that we have been hoarding! Once you choose the device, they ask for you address and send you a pre-paid label to ship it to a third party who does the recycling. So, anything we can not reuse next week, we can send it to Apple for recycling.
Frank
Amazon Prime
From Jim H
If you have an Amazon Prime membership, this article has some tips that might be helpful...Jim
Are you taking advantage of your Amazon Prime perks? Whether you’re already a Prime member or considering signing up, here are 9 Prime member benefits you should be using!
Once upon a time we had to make lists with paper and pen and physically go to stores when we needed things. Sometimes we’d have to go to several stores or even shopping malls for what we needed. Then one day, out of the heavens, came Amazon. For many of us, the free shipping perk and access to exclusive shows and movies is enough reason to fork over the $14.99 per month to get Prime. But if those reasons haven't been enough to entice you to join Prime, maybe some of these lesser-known incentives will tempt you to sign up. Here are 10 of those perks.
Unlimited photo storage.
Three words: Unlimited photo storage. I filled up my cloud eons ago, and while I could buy more storage, I’ve instead opted to move my pictures to Amazon Photo Storage. You’ll also get 5GB of video storage for free.
Free release-date delivery.
Prime members also get free release-date delivery on video games, movies, books, music, and more. Just pre-order eligible items, then select release-day delivery. Most orders are delivered by 7:00 p.m. on the day of release.
Early access to lightning deals.
Get early access to lightning deals. These bargains are only available for 4-12 hours and tend to sell out fast. But with Prime, you get a 30-minute jumpstart on these offers.
Free shipping with select merchants.
Did you know that Prime members get free shipping at Woot! and shopbop? Plus Zappos will give you a free shipping upgrade when you checkout using your Amazon account.
Free access to podcasts and music.
Amazon Prime members also enjoy free access to top podcasts and over 100 million songs when using shuffle. If you prefer your music on-demand, try a free 30-day trial of Amazon Music Unlimited. The cost goes to $8.99 per month if you decide not to cancel it.
Free delivery options.
Prime members can also have their finds delivered to an Amazon locker location for free. Would you rather save the trip and have your packages delivered in your garage? No problem, Prime offers that too. With the Amazon Key program, vetted drivers will have one-time access to your garage. This service is totally free once you pay for the initial start-up costs.
Need generic medications? No insurance or poor coverage? Prime members have access to RXPass. Subscribers will get all eligible medications for the flat monthly fee of $5. This program includes over 50 generic drugs. If your meds are on this list, run, don’t walk.
Whole Foods discounts.
Unfortunately the cost of groceries continues to rise. The advantages of Prime don’t end when you leave the online world. Whole Foods offers special in-store prices to Amazon Prime members who download the app.
Still not sold? There are a couple of ways to get Amazon Prime for free. Existing Prime members can share their Prime benefits with one member of their household at no additional cost. Also, if you haven’t been a Prime member for the past 12 months, you can sign up (again) for a free trial! Lastly, you may qualify for a discounted membership with Prime Access if you are receiving government assistance. College students who are currently enrolled may also qualify for a discounted membership with Prime Student. These memberships cost between $6.99-$7.49 per month.