Newsletter Archives

• The season of devices

  Posted on September 4, 2023 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  It’s the time of the year when PSLs hit the menu.

  What? You don’t know what PSL means? Of course you do, because Pumpkin Spice Lattes arrive at those coffee shops you find on nearly every street corner. You can’t miss them.

  As summertime fades into fall, it’s also the season of rumors about the new phones and tablets that will soon hit the headlines. And that means it’s time for me to take a hard look at all my devices in this category.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.36.0, 2023-09-04).

  On Security Android, Backups, Battery charging, Battery life, iOS, iPhone, Newsletters, Password managers, passwords, Patch Lady Posts

• How to manage your browser cookies

  Posted on April 17, 2023 at 02:44 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  INTERNET

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Browser cookies can be helpful or harmful, depending on how and why they’re used in your browser. The key lies in taking control of them.

  You probably already know that Web browsers use cookies to save certain information. Over the years, cookies have developed a bad rep because many websites and advertisers use them to track your online activities for the purpose of sending you ads and other targeted content.

  But cookies can also help you by storing key details at websites that you frequently use. The trick here is knowing which cookies are good and which are bad, and how to manage them in general.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.16.0, 2023-04-17).

  Internet Android, Chrome, Cookies, Edge, Firefox, iOS, Newsletters, privacy, Safari, security, Web Browsers, Windows

• When should you retire your Apple device?

  Posted on November 21, 2022 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.47 • 2022-11-21

  Look for our BONUS issue on November 28!

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Apple’s recent releases encourage new hardware.

  There are several people at my office who constantly purchase the latest iPhone or iPad, turning in their old devices in the process. I’m not that adventurous — I don’t recommend updating quite that fast.

  However, I do recommend an upgrade if your phone is an older model, such as iPhone 8. Why? Because the best security is provided on the newest hardware, and because Apple has become more like Microsoft in requiring newer hardware to protect against snooping, zero days, and other risks.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.47.0, 2022-11-21).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Patch Watch Apple updates, iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts

• Keeping out the bad applications

  Posted on September 26, 2022 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Both Microsoft and Apple are trying to tackle an ongoing problem that plagues us — keeping our systems secure and protected.

  But the vendors are not tackling the problem in the same ways.

  Apple has a huge user base of small devices, especially the iPhone, which provide the user with instantaneous access to real-time human interaction. Microsoft, on the other hand, has a huge user base of “traditional devices” (e.g., PCs) that certainly connect to the Internet but don’t involve phone calls, text messages, or anything else — such as FaceTime, the built-in visual medium.

  Although the companies share the overall security challenge, their approaches are different.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.39.0, 2022-09-26).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, On Security AskWoody Plus Newsletter, iOS, iOS 16, Patch Lady Posts

• iPhone/iPad users of Teams and To Do need to keep up to date

  Posted on September 6, 2021 at 02:45 CDT by Peter Deegan • Comment in the Forums

  ISSUE 18.34 • 2021-09-06

  MICROSOFT 365

  

  By Peter Deegan

  There are critical changes coming to the Teams, To Do, and Outlook mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

  Recent announcements from Microsoft mean some updates are necessary for Teams and To Do apps, and some Outlook mobile users are in for a nasty surprise within the next few weeks.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.34.0 (2021-09-06).
  This story also appears in the AskWoody Free Newsletter 18.34.F (2021-09-06).

  AskWoody FREE Newsletter, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Microsoft 365 AskWoody Plus Newsletter, iOS, iPadOS, Microsoft 365, Teams, To Do

• Take control of your privacy – iPhone & iPad

  Posted on April 5, 2021 at 01:02 CDT by Nathan Parker • Comment in the Forums

  APPLE

  Take control of your privacy – iPhone & iPad

  

  By Nathan Parker

  Apple heavily promotes its devices and services as being focused on your privacy, especially for those who heavily use Apple’s built-in apps and services.

  Apple has a prominent page on its site devoted to its view of privacy.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.12.0 (2021-04-05).

  Apple, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Privacy Apple, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, iOS, iPadOS, privacy

• Are your iPhone apps crashing this morning?

  Posted on July 10, 2020 at 08:19 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Looks like there’s a(nother) bug in the Facebook logon sequence.

  Spotify, Pinterest, Tinder and others may freeze – even if you don’t have the Facebook app installed. Why? Because those apps, and many others, use the Facebook logon code.

  There’s a solution – install a VPN, specifically Lockdown Apps.

  Details from Tom Warren at The Verge.

  The Facebook status report is here.

  Office Facebook, iOS

• New AskWoody support for Apple products

  Posted on September 25, 2019 at 11:10 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Nathan Parker has assembled, and PKCano has posted, a new AskWoody Knowledge Base article, AKB 2000014: Ongoing List of Apple Operating System Updates. It’ll keep you updated on the latest Apple patches, and our recommendations about installing or waiting on each. Given the recent problems, particularly with iOS13, it’s a must-read for anybody with an Apple product.

  Our approach to Apple is the same as our approach to Microsoft (and Google, too, for that matter): We calls ’em like we sees ’em. Don’t expect any pulled punches or marketing pablum.

  Thanks, folks!

  And while you’re at it, wander through the MacOS for Windows Wonks Forum. Nathan has added many interesting topics to the list.

  Apple AirPods, AKB 2000014, HomePods, iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, tvOS, watchOS

• iOS 13.1, tvOS 13, and iPadOS released — plus urgent news for Mac Pro and AVID users

  Posted on September 25, 2019 at 05:43 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  From Nathaniel Parker:

  Apple released iOS 13.1 yesterday for the iPhone and iPod Touch, adding additional features that did not make it in the iOS 13 release. Today also marked the release of the new iPadOS variant of iOS, which also happens to officially be at 13.1. tvOS 13 has also been released today as well.

  Before updating devices today, however, you might want to hold off until Apple releases a fix for third-party keyboards. For those of us who also use a Mac, it is also recommended to wait and upgrade all devices after macOS Catalina is released. AskWoody is launching an Apple Operating Systems Update list (an AskWoody Knowledge Base article) that will be continuously updated, along with guidance on when to install updates and what updates to wait on.

  Urgent news for users of AVID video editing software on the “trashcan” Mac Pro. There is a major issue causing some Mac Pros not to restart after shutting down. For those who use a “trashcan” Mac Pro and AVID, don’t shut down your Mac, and initiate a full-system backup immediately.

  Lastly, the new low-cost 10.2” iPad is shipping Wednesday, with in-store availability coming later this week.

  Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS Catalina, tvOS

• iOS 13 for iPhone, watchOS 5 released, Apple Arcade launches

  Posted on September 20, 2019 at 06:39 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  From Nathaniel Parker:

  Apple released iOS 13 for iPhone and iPod Touch on Thursday, as well as watchOS 5 for Series 3 and Series 4 Apple Watch models (older models are being delayed).

  Unless one wishes to be adventurous, my recommendation is to wait on updating Apple
  devices. I will have more details coming up this weekend, as well as AskWoody will be releasing
  a regularly updated list of Apple operating system updates with update guidance coming up.

  Apple Arcade, Apple’s $4.99/month (after one month trial) gaming service, also launched today
  (requires iOS 13). I personally don’t play games, so I’m not interested in it, but early reviews
  have been overall positive for some gamers who want the experience of playing games across
  Apple devices, as well as the unique titles and family sharing included with it.

  Lastly, iOS 13.1 and iPadOS will now be released on September 24 instead of September 30.

  From what I hear, iOS 13.1, in particular, has loads of bug fixes.

  UPDATE: From @PKCano, a pointer to a sobering article in CNN Business:

  A flaw in iOS 13, the new iPhone operating system Apple released Thursday, exposes contact details stored in iPhones without requiring a passcode or biometric identification. And Apple (AAPL) has known about the flaw since July, a person who reported the bug to Apple told CNN Business.

  A hacker would need physical access to a target’s phone to complete the hack — but once it is in their possession they could bypass Apple’s standard security features like facial I.D. Once they have done so, they can access the phone’s address book and see information for contacts stored on the phone, as well as indications of the most recent contacts with whom the phone’s owner had been communicating.

  It’s like deja vu all over again….

  Apple iOS, watchOS