November 2022 - The Digital Life from Lökwest - interesting news, Apple upgrade time, the return of Clippy, and more
November 2022 - The Digital Life from Lökwest - interesting news, Apple upgrade time, the return of Clippy, and more
With only two issues to go in 2022, we've got another good one for you! It seems like the holidays started earlier than ever this year. Retailers are trying to downsize excess inventory and fight the recessionary trends. Holiday sales have been going on for a full two weeks already. Rather than cover the holiday deals, we're sticking with other technology topics you'll find useful. Of course, if you have any holiday shopping questions, drop us a line!
In the news - for the first time ever, hearing aids are now available without a prescription. This is exciting news for many, as hearing aids could cost thousands prior to law changes. Also, check out an article about TikTok that may make you think twice about using it.
In interesting things - read about Apple's crash detection and what to do before you get on the next rollercoaster. Also, learn about cybersecurity terminology and how to avoid digital hoarding.
Switching gears, it's Apple upgrade time, and we've included two articles to help you make sure your devices are up to date.
Rounding up with tech history - do you remember Clippy?
And, it's holiday card and calendar time. Make sure you're on the mailing list!
Have a wonderful November and start to the holiday season.
In the news...
Cheaper hearing aids hit stores today, available over the counter for the first time — arstechnica.com
Often thousands of dollars and prescription-only, aids now start at $199 at Walmart. This is an exciting and sensible advancement, following the recent law changes. Audio technology has improved SO MUCH over the past decades, everyone should have access to good hearing.
TikTok accused of plotting to track specific US citizens — www.theregister.com
This isn't the first time that TikTok has been accused of tracking users. This is a new angle, however, with TikTok supposedly plotting to track "high-value" US citizens. TikTok (and all social media for that matter) is "free and fun". However, remember that under the hood these apps are just huge data mining operations. They make money off of ads shown to you, so YOU are the product.
That's interesting
A glossary of terms about cyberattacks, from ransomware to DDoS — blog.mozilla.org
If you're unfortunate enough to become entangled in a cyberattack, you'll need some basic terminology. This is a good article to read and bookmark in case you ever need to talk security with the pros.
5 things we learned about Crash Detection on iPhone and Apple Watch — mashable.com
This is an interesting read on how the new Apple crash detection features work. There's more magic and logic to it than meets the eye. And yes, theme parks now have additional warning signs. 😯
With seemingly endless data storage at our fingertips, 'digital hoarding' could be an increasing problem — techxplore.com
Are you a digital hoarder? I have to admit, as organized as I am, parts of my life are a digital hoard. And MANY of my clients are in this boat. As data storage has become more accessible than ever, the amount of digital "stuff" we all have stashed away is on the rise, too—for many of us, it's becoming more unwieldy by the day.
The annual Apple update is here
You Can Now Download macOS 16 Ventura and iPadOS 16 — www.howtogeek.com
Apple already released this year’s big updates for the iPhone and Apple Watch, but we were still waiting on the Mac and iPad. Now the day has finally arrived. Make sure you update your devices when you can (AFTER reading the next article 😉) If your device no longer is eligible for updates, it may be time to go holiday shopping. We're always around for advice!
How to update macOS as unsafely as possible — thenextweb.com
You're going to want to update your Mac or Macbook to the newest version of macOS — here's how to do it in the worst way possible. This article is written in a humorous and attention-grabbing manner. You'll definitely know what NOT to do after you read it!
In tech history...remember clippy?
If you were a computer user in the 90s, you most certainly had this guy pop up in the middle of your day to "suggest" things (most of which weren't very useful at all). After some backlash, Microsoft created a cartoon paperclip that it quickly retired. However, its developers never imagined the virtual assistant would become a cultural icon. Read on about the twisted life of clippy as a cultural icon.
In closing...It's holiday card and calendar time!
It's the start of the season, and I'll be sending out my annual holiday card and 2023 beach calendars soon. If you've been a paying client in the last year, you're automatically on the list! If you haven't seen me recently, and would still like a calendar, drop me a line. I'd love to hear from and include you.
Speaking of Cards...
Really Nice Cards Mailed For You
Speaking of cards - if you struggle going to the store, picking out a card, filling it out, and taking it to the post - a solution! I've used Postable several times over the past year. It's reliable, fast, easy, and reasonably priced. Pick a card, write a note, and it's mailed - BOOM! One thing off the list.