Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Apple’s Big Week…Much, Much Bigger Than Expected

A Quick Look at iOS 9.3

Yes, Apple held their annual March event yesterday. And yes, Apple vs the FBI in court was supposed to be today. But that has been postponed! The reason? The FBI claims they have found a way to hack into the iPhone in question without Apple’s help! Last week, we told you that Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA had a way to hack an iPhone. Turns out he was right. After more reading, I believe the FBI would have lost in court anyway.

But wait…there’s more! The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Apple vs. Samsung case. That could be real big as the high court has not heard a design patent case since the 19th century. This could set a precedent for most patent violation cases that now permeate the tech world. It will rock the tech industry…one way or the other.

But let’s take a brief look at yesterday’s Apple event. I was a bit underwhelmed, probably because I don’t need, or in some cases don’t want what they announced. Here are the highlights:

  • A new iPhone, the SE, that brings back a 4” iPhone, but with all the “guts” of the latest iPhones. Apparently there is still a market for a small 4” phone and Apple intends to fill it.
  • A new 9.7” iPad Pro that has all the features of their big 12” pro model. This does look good as it can use the Apple Pencil and has the ability to match the screen color to ambient light of your current location. Much more, of course. Oh yes…and the price starts at $599.
  • An upgrade to iOS (9.3) that fixes several issues and adds a couple of new features. It is available now and I already downloaded it on my iPad and iPhone.
  • New watch bands (yawn) and a price drop of $50 for the Apple Watch. Nylon watch bands for $50? Not for this kid.
  • Upgrade for the Apple TV  OS.

There is more of course, and our first story covers the event and each new item in depth. Be sure and check it out if you are an Apple user or are just curious. One other bit of Apple news…today they released an update to OSX operating system for MAC’s without any announcements. Its mostly a fix.

Whew! Apple has been busy, so be sure and read all our news and computer tips included here. Thanks for being a reader. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Highlights of the Apple Event

A more petite iPhone and a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro stretch out Apple's family of products.

 

If the FBI found its own iPhone backdoor, should it show Apple?

Analysis: Using a zero-day flaw to bypass an iPhone's security is still a backdoor. With the potential to affect hundreds of millions of iPhone owners, will the FBI keep the flaw to itself?

 

Supreme Court steps into Apple v. Samsung fray

The Supreme Court, which hasn't looked at a design patent case since the 1800s, could set a precedent with ripple effects throughout the tech industry.

 

Opinion: Apple's transition into 'just another tech firm' is almost complete

Anyone who watched yesterday's iPhone SE unveiling can't have failed to notice something - how boring and predictable the entire thing was. Like it or not, Apple is becoming just another tech firm.

 

Twitter keeping 140-character limit on tweets after all

Despite rumors to the contrary, it looks like Twitter won't be letting users bloviate endlessly via tweets. The 140-character limit isn't going anywhere, says CEO Jack Dorsey.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Note-Taking Showdown: Evernote vs. OneNote (2016 Edition)

Evernote and OneNote are two of our favorite tools, but both have changed substantially since we last compared these two apps—in some ways, not for the best. Here’s where these two stand today.

 

26 Hidden Chrome Features That Will Make Your Life Easier

While Chrome's abilities multiply greatly when you consider the near-bottomless library of extensions, there's a bounty of stock functionality embedded all throughout Chrome's guts that you may not even know about.

 

Sticking with Windows 7? The forecast calls for pain

For small businesses and consumers without enterprise deployment tools, a clean install of the aging Windows 7 can take a full day. And the problem's getting worse. Here's why.

 

Free Music Streaming. More Than 250 Orchestral Pieces.

If you like classical music, check out the web site of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, based in Minnesota. Onn its site is a "listening library", which offers free streaming of more than 250 pieces played by the SPCO.

 

How to clean install Windows the right way

Performing a Windows reinstall can make your PC feel like new, but you'll want to do some prep work first to avoid losing precious data and software.

 

Mobile Computing

The Best Ebook Readers of 2016

Whether you're considering joining the digital book revolution, or just want a new device to replace an older one, here are the best ebook readers on the market today.

 

Do not touch this one Android setting and most malware will leave you alone, mostly

Android is a security mess, with malware lurking behind every corner, but simple common sense can avoid many of the hyped threats.

 

How to manage your iCloud storage on iPhone or iPad

If you're limited on iCloud storage space, you can manually decide what app data you want, and what you don't.

 

How to format Notes for the iPhone and iPad

Don't just take Notes... take them with style!

 

A Quick Look at iOS 9.3

While it’s not a major update by any measure, iOS 9.3 ships on the new iPhone SE and iPad Pro, and is now available as a free update for existing iOS 9 devices. Here is a quick look at what is new.

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