Phew it was a scorcher, welcome to SoundByte! In this issue:
- August Photowalk
- Aperture redux?
- Why so blue? Understanding iMessage and RCS
- Why did USB win over FireWire?
- Some tips to try out this summer
- Metric is just better, but habits are hard to change
- Apple 1 auctioned at Sotherby’s
August Photowalk
The most important news is that there is no regular monthly meeting this month. We are taking a break and will instead be hosting a Photowalk near Kings Cross, London, UK on Saturday evening, August 9. If you can make it, come and join us for a great evening of photography, tips and socials.
Once a Victorian-era hub for coal storage and transport, Coal Drops Yard has transformed into a vibrant destination blending heritage architecture with modern design. Expect a visual feast: industrial ironwork, striking lines, reflections, street art, and a buzz of cafes and independent shops. As golden hour rolls in, this area truly comes alive – making it a dream for photographers.
- We will be meeting at 6pm, Saturday, August 9 in Battle Bridge Place outside Kings Cross Station.
- This location is famous for having a large caged swing in the middle (IFO Bird Cage, public art).
- what3words: number.digs.loses
- We will be walking around the newly revamped Coal Drops Yards behind Kings Cross Station.
- (Coal Drops Yards can be seen in Slow Horses Ep6, Season 4).
- Bring your iPhone, let’s test the power and creativity of the new cameras on the recent models!
- We plan on stopping for refreshments en route, and finishing by dusk.
We will also have a competition for the best photo. Details for entry are in the SoundByte email. If you can’t attend in person you can still take part in the competition:
- Coal Drops Yard is a redevelopment of some old architecture that was previously derelict.
- This has given it a new lease of life, with vibrant bars, markets and businesses.
- Does this sound like something in your own area?
- Take an artistic photo of it and send it in (details in the SoundByte email)!
Aperture Redux?
Last year, Apple purchased a fairly popular photo-editor. Those of us with longer memories know that Apple used to make a popular photo editor and manager called Aperture. Aperture was pulled when Adobe made a strong competitor called Lightroom. Apple then focused on the simpler iPhoto which was infamously not a replacement. Some former Aperture users still rue the day of its cancellation, but maybe not for much longer? Unlike other Apple acquisitions, Apple has maintained and recently updated the Pixelmator Pro app it purchased. Does this mean a rebirth for Aperture fans? Some hope so and below someone tries out the Photocentric part, Photomator. What do you think?
Why so blue? Understanding iMessage and RCS
You may know that Apple now supports the same messaging system used by Android phones. But there are still some differences and different experiences depending on who you’re texting. Apple explains here.
Why did USB win over FireWire?
The latest standards for wired peripherals on Mac are USB 4 and Thunderbolt 5. Super fast and versatile with plug-and-play capability. But before that was FireWire. Why did FireWire disappear? Have a look at this retrospective from 8 years ago about what happened via ArsTechnica.
Those at the last meeting will have seen our discussion around a popular use for USB – external battery charging for our devices. Our Chairman has summarised the recommendations for Anker batteries below – well timed as many of us are off travelling.
Pocket Size
Pocket Magnetic Size
Medium Size
Vacation Size
Some tips to try out this summer
Here’s a quick compendium of things to try or think about over the rest of summer:
- Did you know you easily access special characters by just pressing the key? Apple explains here.
- If you have a new Mac, is your back-up plan in place? Revisit Time Machine here via Macworld.
- Do you have a Samsung or LG TV? You might want to turn off tracking. Read more here.
- Do you like calligraphy? How about some Arabic style official Apple Wallpaper – try it here.
- This month is also a good time to run your Software updates to get the latest security fixes ahead of the big changes coming next month.
Metric is just better, but habits are hard to change
1, 10, 100, 1000. Simple. But for some reasons, there are a few hold out countries in the world which haven’t yet adopted the metric system. The main one being the US. This has had consequences, but even big ones haven’t prompted any change. There are numbers articles on this anomaly or tradition, depending on your point of view. Here’s an entertaining one.
Apple 1 auctioned at Sotherby’s
A bit of history to end with. A recent auction included a rather special Apple Computer. This Apple 1 was apparently assembled by the late Steve Jobs. They made a video about the device that you can watch below:
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