A couple of days ago I wrote about a video Apple posted to Twitter on using 2FA with Apple devices. Really, it was an excuse to write about security, because it’s important. And that’s cool, because Apple has a new and MUCH better video on the same subject, and I’m going to write about it for the same reason. So, watch the video, make sure you have 2FA enabled on your Apple devices if you haven’t already. Then share a link to the tweet, or this article, or Apple’s KnowledgeBase article with all the people in your life who don’t already have 2FA activated.
With two-factor authentication, evil-doers need more than just your password to sign in to your Apple ID.
Check out the Classic C1, an iPhone X case inspired by the iMac G3. Why? Apparently getting an iMac G3 from his mom when he was a kid was this huge and awesome moment for the company’s founder. That’s great inspiration! The company—Spiegen—has already raised more than $112,000 on Indiegogo, blowing past their $5,000 goal with a month left to go. The $100,000 milestone was to add a model for iPhone 8, too. It has a two-layer design that looks like you’re peeking into the device, and I think it’s cool. Funding options that include a case start at $35, with shipping in June of 2018.
We have a deal on the CASA Hub PDC601 USB-C Power Adapter, a USB-C power adapter for your MacBook that also has 6 ports, including: USB Type-C PD port, three USB 3.1 Type-A ports, SD Card slot, and a microSD Card slot. It’s small, too, at 3.6″ x 1.6″ x 0.7″, and 100 grams. It’s $49 through us, 16% off retail.
I was going to write a rant—OK, another rant—about how stupid Twitter is being its APIs and third party apps. The company announced a change that will effectively render third party clients useless without change—this after the company killed its own Mac client. Twitter has confused its ^#%$ desire for me to use its service on a browser with my desire to do so. Because I do not want to. At all. Anyhoo, enter John Gruber, who already wrote the rant. It’s a good one.
To me this is like finding out you’re now required to access email entirely through a web browser. Sure, lots of people already do it that way and either prefer it or think it’s eh, just fine, who cares — but a lot of others hate it and find it completely disruptive to longstanding workflows.
The U.S. Senate passed legislation that would restore Net Neutrality in the country, but Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet explain why they don’t think it will go any further. They also break down Ralph Nader’s kind-of-weird whiff in complaining about Apple’s share buyback program. They cap the show with a look at how Sir Jony Ive is a watch-man, though Steve Jobs wasn’t involved with Apple Watch.
We have a deal on the CINEMOOD portable movie projector, a 3-inch device that streams Netflix and YouTube content. You can also download Netflix content for offline projecting. It’s $349 through our deal, 12% off retail.
Check out this Apple video on using 2FA to secure your Apple devices. I won’t pass up an opportunity to promote device and service security. For instance—and while I’m here—DON’T REUSE PASSWORDS! So, anyway, Apple has this short (only 6 seconds) how-to video that gives you the quick run-down on using 2FA to protect your Apple ID. Really, it’s a pointer to a more in-depth piece on using 2FA, and that article has a lot of good information. TMO has somegreat articles on 2FA, too, and too, and too, and too. Many of our readers already know this stuff, but we all have friends and family who don’t. Pass it to them. Post a link in social media. Help the people who count on you for tech stuff learn more about protecting their digital #^%$!
Keep your personal information secure, even in your sleep. With two-factor authentication, you can protect your Apple ID with more than just a password.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is backing the the Secure Data Act, proposed legislation the EFF says would stop government-mandated backdoors.
Check out this wonderful presentation from Susan Kare, a member of the original Mac team who designed the icons and typography for those early Macs. This movie has been around for years, but I just saw it in a piece at Testedabout the Command Key icon. That story is part of the presentation and involves Steve Jobs. In fact, it includes all kinds of anecdotes and lore, and if you’re interested in Apple or Apple products, you will enjoy watching this presentation. And the reality is if you use a modern computing device, you owe Susan Kare a debt of gratitude. She’s done a lot of work for many other companies, too, and she touches on that in this preso. It’s great!
We have a deal on a pair of TREBLAB X11 earphones. These wireless earphones use Bluetooth 4.1 CSR, and are designed for active people. They features 6 hours of play time with a charge time of 2 hours. They’re $32.99 through us.
Apple has a new commercial for iPhone X called Studio in Your Pocket. It pitches the idea that iPhone X’s Portrait Lighting mode is essentially a photography studio in your pocket. It does this by showing a young woman taking a selfie in a train station when studio lights and reflectors start popping into being all around her. As she snaps away, the camera switches to views of those selfies on her iPhone X with darkened backgrounds through Portrait Lighting. It’s a solid pitch in my opinion, and one that will resonate with young people. Check it out.
We have a deal today on a ZinCable Ultra-Strong MFi-Certified Lightning cable. It features scratch-resistant connectors made from a zinc alloy, with reinforced stress points and a strain-resistant core. It’s $19.95 through us, 20% off retail.
Watch Apple CEO Tim Cook’s commencement speech for the graduating class of 2018 of Duke University. Topics include lessons he learned from Steve Jobs, including the important of “never [being] content.” He encouraged the class to “think different[ly],” and to seek change on important issues such as global warming, privacy, fighting racism, and other areas. Other topics include channeling his heroes Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Mr. Cook is an alumnus from Duke, making this address a return to his alma mater. He also praised the Parkland shooting survivors for getting involved in change, and also those who spoke up in the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns. “If you hope to change the world, you must find your fearlessness,” he said. It was one of the more impassioned speeches I’ve watched Mr. Cook deliver. Those who disagree with social justice elements of his speech will likely pan it, while those who agree will give high marks. (Time has the transcript, in case you can’t watch the video).
SAN FRANCISCO – Catalyst launched two new products for Apple Watch at Pepcom in San Francisco on Thursday. I visited with the company at the event, and got a look at both. The first is Impact Protection Case for Apple Watch, in both 42mm and 38mm versions. It pops right on and off your Apple Watch and works with different Apple Watch straps. It’s drop proof up to 9.9 feet (3 meters), and comes in a variety of colors, including the blue shown on the left side of the image below. The Catalyst Sports Band for Apple Watch comes in gray, black, green, or the same blue. It’s made with a triangular truss structure to be both strong and lightweight. It also allows the strap to be closed anywhere along it’s length to fit you exactly where you want it (plus it has a double locking clasp). They’re both priced at $39.99, and are available now.
Hey Mac gamers, Aspyr Media has Command & Conquer: Generals Deluxe Edition for Mac on sale for $5, which is now downloading on own Mac even now. That’s right, I took the time to buy it before alerting you, because what if it turned out to be a mistake and the price went up!?! 😱 But for reals, who doesn’t love Command & Conquer? Unfortunately, it’s a single player game these days because Apple has mostly abandoned Game Center, but it’s a great (though old) single player game, so giddy up! This version includes Command & Conquer: Generals and the Zero Hour expansion.
This company has been making a product used throughout the Mac community, and has been able to stay in business while updating this software all this time, an amazingly rare success story
