Soundbyte 307 – September 2020

ChristopherNews, SoundByte

In this bumper end of summer issue:

  • September Meeting
  • Apple Special Event
  • The LMUG Podcast – your questions!
  • Coronavirus app is coming
  • MacOS secret boot commands
  • Speed up your old iPhone
  • Use your iPhone as your webcam
  • Accessories for the iPad Pro
  • Privacy changes in iOS 14
  • Apple increases renewables
  • Updated Google Maps
  • Folding phones update
  • Offers for members

September meeting

Join us on Monday in Zoom for our monthly meeting. This month our topic will be creativity on the Mac! We will start off with Newsbyte as usual. Look in the email this Soundbyte came with for the Zoom invite.

Apple Special Event

Apple has announced a Special Event on Tuesday. Rumours are that a new Apple Watch, Series 6 will be announced. Also expected is a refreshed iPad Air. But that’s speculation, this is usually the time Apple uses for iPhone announcements so other products could be unveiled.

The LMUG Podcast – your questions!

LMUG is starting a new podcast. This will be available on all major podcast apps and will cover news, and wider topics including answering questions from listeners. Please submit your questions to us on Twitter @londonmacgroup or send us an email over at Podcast@lmug.org.uk

Coronavirus app is coming

Following local trials, the UK’s coronavirus app will be made available to install on iPhones from September 24. To use the app, make sure you have updated your iPhone to iOS 13.7, which includes the appropriate technology from Apple (and Google) for the app to work. Read all the details on the BBC.

MacOS secret boot commands

Secret macOS Boot commands

The Mac has a number of keyboard commands that can be used during start-up to make your Mac do various things. These are commands that might be helpful if you are having problems with your Mac. Click the image above to learn what these commands are.

Speed up your old iPhone

If you have an older iPhone you might not know that Apple may slow down your phone in order to prevent unexpected shut downs. These shut downs can occur as the battery in your iPhone gets older and more worn out. But what if you don’t want to slow down? Well you can turn that function off. Read this article for IT Pro magazine to find out how.

Use your iPhone as your webcam

When joining online meetings, one problem some people have had is the quality of video coming out of the iSight cameras in our Macs. Essentially they are considered to be quite poor by modern standards.

The developers of an app called Filmic Pro (£14.99 on the App Store) have enabled Mac users to use their iPhone’s high quality camera as their Mac webcam. You will need to have the right adapters. Read the details on DP Review here.

Accessories for the iPad Pro

Do you have an iPad Pro? If so, have you bought any accessories? If not, have a look at the video below to see if there are any add-ons that could improve your workflow or let you do more on the iPad.

Privacy changes in iOS 14

Apple is making some welcome changes in iOS 14 to give you more control over what advertisers are tracking on your iPhone. They have made an advert (above) to show what the problem is, but advertisers are unhappy. Apple is delaying the change as a result, but John Gruber of Daring Fireball thinks the change can’t come fast enough. Read his thoughts here (warning: some expletives).

Apple increases renewables

Apple has committed to go completely carbon neutral by 2030. This includes all of its suppliers, a major commitment to help save the planet. You can read about Apple’s efforts in Denmark here.

Updated Google Maps

The new Google Maps

Google has updated the design of Google Maps with better textures and colours. Read what’s new here.

Folding phones update

I think the last time we looked over the garden fence at folding phones, it was a triple folding monster. Now Microsoft has released their first phone in years, (the Microsoft Surface Duo) and it also folds. Do these folding phones make any sense yet? What do these do better than a non-folding phone or an iPad does? Do the designs meet the imagination of what a folding iPad might look like? The answer for the Microsoft Surface Duo seems unclear. Have a look.

Offers for members

Find below this month‘s special offers. As usual these discounts are only available with paid memberships and can be accessed via the website in the members area.

  • Special Offer – Dan‘s Tutorials: 50% Discount + 30 Day Free Membership
  • Special Offer – Eve Products: 25% Discount
  • Special Offer – TechTool Pro 11: 50% Discount
  • Special Offer – AgileBits 1Password 7: 25% Discount
  • Special Offer – MacCleanse 8 Software: 20% Discount
  • Special Offer – Eltima Software: Up to 60% Off OS X Apps
  • Special Offer – EverWeb by RAGE Software: 50% Discount 
  • Special Offer – Opus ][ Complete Collection: 25% Discount
  • Special Offer – Que Publishing Products: 35-45% Discount
  • Special Offer – Take Control Books: 30% Discount on All eBooks
  • Special Offer – Teams ID, a Password Manager for Teams: 33% Discount
  • Special Offer – TidBITS Content Network for Apple professionals: Get a free month of tips and articles!