The crew this week:
Alan Perry
Host
Technology Tutor.
Alan.Perry@outlook.com
250-589-2926
Ricky Winter
Co Host
Tech Experience Manager at London Drugs Tillicum
RWinter@LondonDrugs.com
250-360-2753
Brian Pavlicicโฏ
Producer
Technology Tutor.
Brian.Pavlicic@outlook.com
250-634-8986
Security and Privacy Tech News
1. iOS/iPadOS 17.1.
If you have an iPhone or iPad made in the past six years, Apple has released iOS/iPadOS 17.1 which closes 18 security holes, some of them critical. It also fixes bugs and includes features that were missing from the original iOS/iPadOS 17 release. More here, and on the security fixes, here and here. To get the Update, go to Settings> General> Software Update. It's a big update -- about 1.3GB on most devices -- so it's going to take about 10 minutes to download and install. In order to install the Update, you'll have to either have at least 50% battery or be charging your device. When asked, choose Do Not Use Cellular Data unless you have no WiFi and have a big monthly data bucket!
2. iOS/iPadOS 16.7.2 and iOS/iPadOS 15.8.
Because of the significance of the security flaws, Apple has released two special security updates for older iPhones and iPads, to give them at least partial protection: iOS/iPadOS 16.7.2 and iOS/iPadOS 15.8. To get the Update, go to Settings> General> Software Update. In order to install the Update, you'll have to either have at least 50% battery or be charging your device. When asked, choose Do Not Use Cellular Data. If your device is too old to upgrade to iOS/iPadOS 17, please get a newer device to remain fully protected!
3. Critical security updates for macOS Sonoma, Ventura, and Monterey.
For Sonoma (macOS 14.1), Ventura (macOS 13.6.1), and Monterey (macOS 12.7.1)
To update your Mac, click on the Apple logo in the upper left, then choose System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update on the right. In older versions of macOS, click on the Apple logo (upper left) > System Preferences > Software Update.
4. Critical security updates for tvOS 17.1 and watchOS 10.1.
The updates also fix bugs and bring some new features, including the eagerly-anticipated double-tap feature on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. With "Double Tap" you can answer or end phone calls, stop alarms, and more by double taping the thumb and index finger of your watch hand together ๐. More on Double Tap is here.
If you have an Apple TV, you can update it manually by opening the Settings app then selecting System, followed by Software Updates, and lastly, Update Software.
Apple Watch owners can update their devices by opening the Watch app on a paired iPhone, and then on the My Watch tab, select General, then Software Update. The Apple Watch will need to have a charge of 50% or more for the update to install, and to be within range of the paired iPhone.
5. Scam emails supposedly from Microsoft Email Admin.
The email contains a Word document attachment which says you can't send or receive any more emails until you revalidate your account by clicking on a link, as shown in the screenshot belowโฆ
The emails are coming from @hotmail.com or @hotmail.co.uk accounts โ and even from @iCloud.com accounts -- and are addressed to "Dear User". Also, the ReValidate link in the attachment takes you to a fake identity-stealing Microsoft account log-in page hosted on Google Docs -- which is NOT Microsoft! NEVER open attachments like this, and NEVER click on links in emails like this!
Tech News
11. Virgin Radio Halloween House Map 2023.
Our friends down the hall at 107.3 Virgin Radio have once again created an interactive online map showing where all the places decorated for Halloween are. You're encouraged to add decorated homes and businesses, and to upload pictures to help people decide if they want to make the trek.
12. Apple's Scary Fast event Monday 5pm (PST)
Apple is expected to unveil new MacBook Pro and iMac models powered by its blazing-fast new M3 chip at an unusual time on Monday afternoon. The new Macs are expected to be unveiled during an online "Scary Fast" event at 5pm Pacific time on Monday, which is not only in the evening on the east coast, but also coincides with the start of Game Three of the baseball World Series. Pundits think the event will include a partnership with a big Japanese game developer, and 5pm PT will be 10am the next day in Japan.
13. Significant new features in iOS 17.1.
Apple's iOS/iPadOS 17 Update released this week includes several significant new features that were missing from the initial 17 release. They include the ability to complete large AirDrop transfers via iCloud without having to keep the two devices near each other, letting you control how long an iPhone stays on Standby mode, letting you "Favourite" albums and playlists as well as songs in Apple Music, and more.
14. Price hikes for Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+ and Apple One.
Prices are going up substantially for Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+ and Apple One subscriptions here in Canada (and in other countries, too). Apple TV+, for example, is going up to $12.99/month (previously $8.99) or $129/year (previously $89). The increases average about 44%, and come on the heels of price hikes by Netflix and Amazon Prime.
15. All-new, more affordable Apple Pencil.
Apple has unveiled an all-new, more affordable Apple Pencil model ($109 CAD) which has a USB-C port hidden behind a sliding cap. It'll be available next month.
16. Keep track of key info on your Windows computer with Belarc Advisor (free).
Belarc Advisor is an easy away to keep track of the key info on your Windows computer and all the gear connected to it (including licence keys). This tiny bit of software quickly builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware with serial numbers and manufacturing dates, any missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, security benchmarks, and licence keys, and displays the results in your Web browser. All of your computer profile info is kept private on your computer and is not sent to any web server.
To save your profile run the app (give it permission and check the "remember" boxes when asked), and then export it to PDF (Ctrl + P and change the printer to Microsoft Print to PDF) or print it.
www.belarc.com
Belarc Advisor Download - Belarc, Inc.
Belarc's products automatically create an accurate and up-to-date central repository (CMDB), consisting of detailed software, hardware, network and security configurations. Customers use our products for software license management, IT asset management, cybersecurity audits, information assurance, and more.
17. Update to iOS/iPadOS 17.0.3.
If you have an iPhone or iPad made within the past six years, we recommend you get the free upgrade to iOS/iPadOS 17.0.3, which comes with a myriad of useful new features.
18. Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 2024
Adobe has unveiled the 2024 versions of its popular Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements photo- and video- editing software. Both have a completely revamped user experience, and a lot more AI-powered tools.
If you're interested in buying this software, we suggest you wait till Black Friday when it normally goes on sale at multiple outlets for 35-40% off!
19. Detailed analysis of Freedom's coverage and speed in Ontario by MobileSyrup.com.
Many of you have asked about the coverage and speed of Freedom Mobile, which was owned by Shaw and is now owned by Quebec-based Vidรฉotron. Here in Victoria, Freedom customers (which include myself and Brian and our wives) get coverage from Freedom towers, and from Rogers towers when beyond the reach of Freedom towers. Freedom has just started installing new 5G towers in this area, and those will replace Rogers towers for Freedom customers as they come on line.
20. Competitors are slowly starting to respond to the cut-rate service plans which Freedom Mobile has been offering.
Bell-owned Virgin+, Rogers-owned Fido, and Telus-owned Koodo are now all offering $45/month plans which include 40GB of data plus unlimited calling and texting. That's just $5/month more than Freedom's 40GB plan.
21. Apple now says it supports California's "Right To Repair" legislation and will honour it across the USA.
This means Apple will make parts, repair tools, and guides available for its phones, tablets, and computers for at least seven years, and for at least three years for accessories costing less than $100 USD.ย
22. Google Maps will be rolling-out an update this coming week which will show detailed EV charging station info.
Including whether the nearest charger to you is compatible with your vehicle, and whether it's a fast, medium, or slow charger. The update will also let you see when a charger was last used, to help you avoid wasting time heading to a broken charger. The update will be for Google Maps on both Android phones and iPhones.
23. Ford says EV's are too expensive.
Ford says its postponing $12 billion in spending on expanding its electric vehicle manufacturing capacity, because it says EVs are currently too expensive and that demand is slowing. Other automakers are also cutting EV investment and abandoning manufacturing targets.
24. Microsoft wants to know why you're switching to Chrome.
If you try to download Chrome on a Windows PC, Microsoft will point out Edge runs on the same technology as Chrome but with Microsoft privacy. If you proceed anyway, Microsoft will pop-up a poll asking you why you want to switch to Chrome.
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25. Microsoft's CEO says getting out of the mobile phone business was his biggest mistake since taking-over the tech giant.
Satya Nadella said "there could have been ways we could have made Windows Phone work".
26. Businesses have found a crafty way to jump to the top of Google search results.
They add "Near Me" to the name of the business, such as naming their restaurant, "Thai Food Near Me", or "Notary Public Near Me".
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27. Handwriting-to-text conversion in Windows 11.
Microsoft now lets you write with a stylus (or your finger) anywhere you can type in Windows 11. After months of previewing the changes, the handwriting-to-text conversion now works inside search boxes and other elements of Windows 11 where youโd normally type your input. If you don't have that option, go to Settings, Windows Update, and turn on the "Get the latest updates as soon as theyโre available" switch and then "Check For Updates". (It comes via the KB5031455 non-security update.)
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28. Paramount+ adds reduced-cost ad-supported streaming option.
Paramount+ is the latest Canadian streaming platform to announce plans offer a reduced-price subscription tier that has unskippable ads. That'll come next year. In the meantime, Paramount+ -- which is the exclusive home to all the various Star Trek movies and TV series here in Canada -- will be adding a Premium tier next month, which includes support for 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision and DolbyโฏAtmos and up to four concurrent streams (versus two for the standard $10/month or $100/year membership). Paramount+ Premium will be $14/month or $125/year. Netflix, Amazon Prime and Crave all have reduced-rate tiers with ads here in Canada.
29. Tubi adds 40 more ad-supported streaming channels.
Fox-owned Tubi is adding 40 more ad-supported streaming channels to its free lineup here in Canada. The additions include Deal or No Deal, MrBeast, Dr. G: Medical Examiner and the PGA. Tubi is available on the web at TubiTV.com, as an app on Android, iOS, Amazon Fire and Roku devices, and on many smart TVs.
30. Banking on the app formerly known as Twitterโฆ
Elon Musk wants X to become the center of your financial world by the end of next year, handling everything in your life that deals with money. Musk says he's not just talking about sending a friends $20 -- he's talking about banking, securities, insurance, everything money. Analysts say its not a question of whether Musk can transform the platform formerly known as Twitter to do this, as it is about whether he can get people to put all their finances into a platform owned by Musk.
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31. Texts messaging app sold for $50M USD.
Automattic, the company that owns WordPress and Tumblr, is spending $50 million USD to buy the universal messaging app, Texts. Texts is an app for all your messaging apps. You can use it to log in to WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, Signal, iMessage, and more and see and respond to all your messages in one place.
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32. Leica camera has built-in defense against misleading AI.
Leica has released the first digital camera that can take pictures with automatically encrypted metadata and provide features such as an editing history. Leica says it believes this system, called Content Credentials, will help photojournalists protect their work and prove authenticity in a world riddled with AI-manipulated content. The camera isn't cheap -- it starts at $9125 USD -- about $12,655 CAD!
Lastly:
It's that time of year again: Panettone (Christmas fruit bread made in Saronno, Italy) arrives at Costcoโฆ
โฆand finallyโฆ
โฆand so it goesโฆ