Holiday Time Again!

Festive greetings to all my readers. If you are still stuffed full of turkey then this is the time to sit down and relax with your new technology and find out just what it can (and can’t) do.

Like all new stuff, there are things you think it should do but which it was never designed to do. So if you’ve just got a new desktop computer, don’t be surprised when you find it difficult to carry it around! Conversely and not surprisingly, your new tablet doesn’t have a hardware keyboard so now is the time to make the most of what you have and just see where your new toy’s limits are.

Try not to get too frustrated - just chill out and learn how to make the best of it - it is time for relaxation after all!

There are several Youtube videos you can search for quick training on particular subjects, like “what are the keyboard shortcuts” or “how do I change the colour of the text” and the individual manufacturer always provides training videos on their own site.

If you really get stuck, then call MACUK Computers on 07714 016830 for over-the-telephone help.

Remember, finding out yourself really does make it easier to learn!

‘Til the next time - have fun!

The Holiday Will Soon Be Here!

Apple’s launch of a raft of new products had the usual effect of dividing the Apple-sphere into those that “did” and those that “didn’t” like the new kit. My take is that these things are such a personal choice that, like Brexit, we have several million people with several million perceptions of what is right or wrong.

It all comes down to a few parameters such as the amount of money made for the shareholders and whether the latest widget improves your life in some way - making your work easier or giving you more leisure bang for your buck.

One new benefit is that you now have the ability to call more than one person on FaceTime. Up to 32 of your friends, staff or clients can join a Group FaceTime call. The first time I saw this I thought that this will only be for the worker bees in a company who are used to very expensive teleconferencing systems but soon came to realise that, come the holiday season, it will be to easy to call Aunt Jemima in London and Uncle Fred in Norwich at the same time, which is something you couldn’t do before, to have a truly family call.

How much will this cost you say, after all teleconferencing has always been very expensive, to the extent that only a very few large companies could afford it? According to Apple it will depend on your carrier and your wifi and mobile data plan so be careful! It could be very cheap but don’t try ringing all your relations in Australia as that could cost you a bit!

Note that according to the Apple Support pages “To make and receive FaceTime calls with multiple people, you and your friends must be using macOS Mojave or later for Macs or iOS 12.1 or later for iPads or iPhones. Group FaceTime may not be available in all regions.”

Here is the URL for more information on the Apple Support Page for Group FaceTime:-

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT209022

Let me know how you get on but (there’s always a but, isn’t there!) make sure you know what you’re spending.

Have a great Holiday Season and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!

New Hardware for the Holiday Season

Apple have announced several updated products at a noisy new York Venue this week. I’m sure the Apple team are now used to a responsive audience but it soon becomes clear in this Keynote for October 2018 that New York is even more enthusiastic than Cupertino!

There are lots of interesting stuff that Apple would like us to buy but behind all the razzmatazz, the new version of iOS 12 has certainly taken my 6S iPhone and latest iPad to a new speed level. You may find the same performance lift for your kit as this latest version is already in over 60% of current hardware showing that this time around, Apple have got the right idea.

For those of you who are thinking about or who have just installed the new operating system for Macs, macOS 10.14 Mojave, don’t hesitate to speak to us on 07714 016830 to get the best out of the new power it offers you. I find the new Dark Mode very restful on the eyes and there are several Mac Apps that can already take advantage of the new layout.

So if you need any kind of assistance, contact us HERE or ring us on

07714 016830

New Season - New Photo

You may have noticed the Home screen has been updated with a more up-to-date seasonal picture!

Bearing that in mind, it could also be the season of tidying up your computer after summer, the leaves are pretty well gone now so thoughts turn to making sure your systems are “Autumn-cleaned”!

Preparing your machine for the extra work it will be doing when the new games come along at Christmas and all the thank you letters you’ll write, is a very good idea!

For our Windows PC users one of the most useful apps is the kind that cleans out all the temporary files you and the internet no longer use and makes your system more sprightly.

If you happen to have a Apple MacOS system, there are apps that do a similar thing - they sort out all the misplaced files and grunge that accumulates over the months, leaving you with a sparkling machine that is not only faster but more responsive.

However, before you attempt anything that you are unsure of, read the instructions!

If you want your system in tip-top condition and you are not confident in doing it yourself, we will be more than happy to advise or to visit and do it for you, quickly and inexpensively.

Don’t forget, call us on 07714 016830 to get your computer back to its normal self!

What a Year!

As I mentioned last week, Apple announced a slew of new goodies last Wednesday with all the operating systems being seriously upgraded. This means there are new versions of iOS for the iPhone and iPad, tvOS for the Apple TV, watchOS for the Apple Watch and macOS for all the flavours of MacBooks, iMacs and Mac Pros. The talk of a new Mac Mini failed to live up to expectations though so there will be much moaning among the Mac mini’s friends that this will be another year of stagnation to add to the four that have piled up so far!

iOS 12 for iPhone and iPad arrived on September 17th to compliment the three new iPhones just launched - the Xr, Xs and Xs Max to add to the current iPhone 7, iPhone 8 with iPhone X disappearing from the list completely.

macOS Mojave for all the desktops and laptop Macs will be released on September 24th with Dark Mode and Dynamic Wallpaper - yes, the mind does boggle at that, I must admit!

tvOS 12 arrived on September 17th with Dolby Atmos support to add to the sound options on the Apple TV 4K.

Last but not the least, watchOS 5 has now been released. This is suitable for all Apple watch releases from Apple Watch Series 1 upwards, including the newly released Apple Watch 4.

Unfortunately the only watch that won’t be able to take advantage of the new OS is the very first Apple Watch released in 2015 as it just doesn’t cut the mustard hardware-wise. But don’t worry, your Apple Watch series “0” will carry on working fine on it’s current OS - mine’s certainly still works as well as it did 3 years ago!

From a technical standpoint the new Apple Watch 4 is really pushing the boundaries between telling the time and all the other sensor-generated information, as it now has ECG capability which helps to identify a whole range of diseases! At the moment this function is only allowed in the States so if you are in the UK and have any ongoing heart conditions, it is likely to be sometime yet before we see the benefits this side of the water. After all, NICE will have something to say about a device which can record the tiny variations your heart is making for you and which then can be passed directly to your doctor!

Apple are also working on the problem of getting your watch to record your sugar levels dynamically for diabetes sufferers without invasive blood extraction - amazing stuff coming out of these tech giants these days!

There’s lots more to say but that’s it for the moment - speak soon!

Summer!

I'm still about five degrees hotter than I normally am after all this sun we've had! You know how pots and pans are still too hot to touch after about half an hour out of the oven? Well that's how I feel after several weeks at +30º. At least we've had some rain and the fields behind us are getting ready for the autumn crop after a summer of beans.

Apple are about to annouce a slew of new goodies next week with all the operating systems being seriously upgraded. This means there will be new versions of iOS for the iPhone and iPad, tvOS for the Apple TV, watchOS for the Apple watch and macOS for all the flavours of MacBooks, iMacs and Mac Pros. There is even talk of a new Mac Mini!

So, if you are planning to get a new device or even test the Apple water for the first time, make sure all your data is in a safe place before you even think about upgrading. For Apple users this will probably be in iCloud and for PC users, it will be in Google or Amazon Cloud. A cheap external portable drive, the kind of thing you can get from Tescos will do the trick, as long as you have made sure that your data is not in just one vunerable place.

I know I bang on about it but I was always told that data, including your precious photos, does not exist unless it is in three, yes 3, separate places!

Speak to you after next week's "Gather Round" event in Cupertino.