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macOS Mojave is Here! (For 2012 Macs Only)

Posted on September 24, 2018 by admin Posted in Software, User Interface Leave a comment

What it is: Apple released macOS 10.14 Mojave but older Macs may not be able to run it.

Hardware eventually falls behind and must be replaced. If you’re using a Macintosh 2011 or older, you won’t be able to run the latest version of macOS 10.14 Mojave. That means you’ll be stuck on macOS 10.13 High Sierra until you eventually get a new computer.

A Macintosh older than six years old can’t run macOS Mojave primarily because its graphics processor can’t handle the increased demands. Although older Mac Pro models may be able to run macOS Mojave if they have a current graphics card, older Macs with built-in graphics may not. After six years of support, older computers simply won’t be able to keep up any more. Apple can’t keep catering to older Macs because then they wouldn’t be able to take advantage of newer hardware and advances in graphics frameworks like Metal, which makes it easy for developers to access graphics capabilities on a Macintosh through macOS.

Of course, a 2011 or earlier Mac will still work just fine on macOS 10.13 High Sierra so there’s nothing to worry about. If you want to upgrade to macOS Mojave, then you’ll need to get a newer Macintosh.

The cheapest solution is to simply buy an older Macintosh that’s still newer than 2011 models. Then again, the next upgrade of macOS will eventually drop support for these older machines as well. Eventually the best bet is to buy the most current Macintosh model you can afford and hold on to it for five years. Then upgrade every five years or longer if you don’t mind falling behind.

For some people, upgrading to the latest macOS version isn’t crucial to doing their work. For others, it may be necessary. As a general rule, you want to stay current but since that’s not always possible, just keep using your Mac as long as it keeps working for you. The moment it can no longer do what you need, then it’s time to upgrade. It’s that simple.

Software and hardware will always keep improving so don’t expect your older computers to run the latest software forever. Your computer will become obsolete one day. It’s just a matter of using what you have as long as possible and then upgrading only when you need to. If you stick with this schedule, there’s no reason why an older Mac can’t work for you just fine for several years more.

To read how Metal is influencing how long Apple can keep supporting older Macs, click here.

Museums: The Next Frontier for Augmented Reality

Posted on September 21, 2018 by admin Posted in Business, Education, Hardware, Software, User Interface Leave a comment

What it is: Museums are increasingly turning to augmented reality to improve their exhibits.

Museums typically consist of exhibits and a few placards with a handful of detail describing what you might be looking at. That’s been the museum experience for decades but now augmented reality is starting to change that.

To remain relevant and keep today’s crowd weaned on computers entertained, more museums are turning to augmented reality to make their exhibits come alive. The Smithsonian lends visitors a HoloLens headset sot hey can walk through a space shuttle with a virtual guide. Of course, handing out virtual reality headsets is time-consuming and expensive, so the next leap will come when museums start offering augmented reality experiences for people to use on their own mobile devices such as an iPhone or iPad.

Not only will this save museums the expense of buying an doling out equipment that will inevitably break, but it will also give users the chance to use their own devices to view augmented reality exhibits. Eventually, augmented reality will appear in smart glasses too, but until then, it’s far cheaper and easier to use existing devices that visitors likely already have rather than require them to borrow a virtual headset like the HoloLens.

Augmented reality is the future of museum exhibits because this allows museums to tailor the information to each visitor. For example, instead of reading placards in English, visitors could use augmented reality to view exhibit information in any language they wish such as Japanese, Arabic, or Spanish. There isn’t enough physical space for museums to display information in multiple languages, but augmented reality makes this easy to do to accommodate almost anyone.

Museums also spend money with TV screens and videos. Augmented reality lets museums skip all that and display videos straight on the user’s mobile device. This cuts costs while increasing versatility.

Augmented reality is going to change the world and it starts one niche at a time. While businesses might be slow to find uses for augmented reality, museums are finding its advantages. Today you’ll likely find augmented reality in a museum. Tomorrow, it will be in your everyday world such as shopping malls and restaurants. Watch for how augmented reality is used in museums because this will show the world how it can be used for businesses as well.

To learn more about the use of augmented reality in museums, click here.

Adware Doctor App is Spyware

Posted on September 7, 2018 by admin Posted in Software Leave a comment

What it is: Adware Doctor, a utility for the Macintosh, was discovered to be stealing user browser histories.

Apple runs an App Store for all of their products such as the iPhone and iPad along with the Macintosh. The main goal of the App Store is to provide people with a one-stop shopping experience. A secondary goal is to give people security, knowing that all apps on the App Store have been curated by Apple.

Unfortunately, Apple can’t exhaustively test every app they approve. They simply test to make sure the app does what it says it will do and that it doesn’t crash. That’s why Apple sometimes slips up and lets apps into the App Store that violate their terms.

The latest example of this flaw is Adware Doctor, which claims to stop unwanted popup ads, but which really spies on the user’s browser history. Most likely, this isn’t the only malicious app in the App Store so the lesson is to be careful anyway. The App Store can block obvious malware, but they can’t always weed out the trickier ones that appear to work but do something else unexpected.

This isn’t Apple’s fault since there’s no way anyone can possibly examine all apps given the number of apps submitted for approval everyday. This just means the user has to be careful, even when downloading apps from the App Store. The bottom line is that nothing is absolutely safe, but at least the App Store helps limit the chances of finding and installing malware. Ultimately, security depends on you.

Why People Switch Between Android and iOS

Posted on August 29, 2018 by admin Posted in Software, User Interface Leave a comment

What it is: PC Magazine surveyed Android and iPhone users to see why they might switch to a rival operating system.

PC Magazine recently took a survey to find out why people switched mobile operating systems (Android and iOS). Not surprisingly, the results reflected the general consensus about both operating systems.

Android users often switched to iOS for a better user experience (47%). On the other hand, iPhone users often switched to Android to get better prices on a smartphone (29%). As a general rule, iOS and the iPhone is less of a hassle to use while Android devices offer greater variety and lower prices.

Basically, if you value money and don’t mind putting up with inconvenience, pick a rival product. If you can afford it and don’t want to deal with annoying nuisances, then pick an Apple product.

This general finding works for smartphones and computers. Most people choose Windows PCs because they’re cheaper and upgradeable. Most people choose a Macintosh even though they cost more and have fewer expandability features because they prefer the simplicity and reliability of the Macintosh over Windows.

Most people choose Android because of cost and variety. Yet that same cost and variety means Android users need to be more knowledgeable about hardware to get the best deals. For people who don’t want to hassle with researching different devices and simply want a smartphone, it’s easier just to choose an iPhone since most Android devices mimic the iPhone anyway.

Apple continues targeting the high-profit end of the market while rival products (Android and Windows) are more attractive to bargain hunters. Generally, computers and smartphones work mostly alike so it’s largely a matter of personal preference which one you like best.

iOS 12 Beta 11 Out

Posted on August 27, 2018 by admin Posted in Software Leave a comment

What it is: Apple released iOS 12 beta 11 just three days after releasing beta 10.

Want to know when the next iPhone is coming out? It’s as simple as tracking Apple’s iOS beta program. On Friday, Appel released iOS 12 beta 10. Now on Monday, just three days later, Apple released iOS 12 beta 11. With such a rapid uptake in beta versions, it’s safe to say that Apple is readying iOS 12 for the public after ironing out the major bugs.

Since Apple is releasing iOS 12 betas so rapidly, it might be tempting to install the beta. Don’t, unless you have a spare device. Just because a beta is getting close to release doesn’t mean that it’s actually stable. You don’t want to lose your current data such as photographs or messages. Backup your iPhone or iPad and then install the beta if you must, but with so many betas coming out in rapid succession, that means the final release is due soon, possibly as early as the first week of September.

Therefore it pays to wait and not rush into using iOS 12 beta just to get a week’s advance notice before the final version comes out. If you’re really tempted, simply read about the latest features and then install the final version of iOS 12 when it’s available. You’ll spare yourself heartache by skipping the betas but even then, always make backups. Your backups are the only lifeline you have keeping you from total disaster.

Numbers – the Forgotten Spreadsheet

Posted on August 24, 2018 by admin Posted in Software Leave a comment

What it is: Numbers is Apple’s spreadsheet available as part of the iWork office suite.

Most companies use Microsoft Office, which means you need to edit and create Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents. For people who need to do this regularly, they might as well use Microsoft Office. For people who don’t need Microsoft Office compatibility but still want to use an office suite, they might as well try the free iWork office suite instead.

Hardcore spreadsheet users will always rely on Excel, but although Numbers may not be as powerful as Excel, it can actually be easier to use. One huge advantage of Numbers is that Excel creates an entire screen of rows and columns. When you design a spreadsheet, you wind up with numerous empty rows and columns cluttering up the screen.

Numbers, on the other hand, lets you create spreadsheets only as large as you need them. Then the rest of the screen can be filled with charts or even other spreadsheets. Where Excel forces you to work within the fixed widths of columns, Numbers let you create separate spreadsheets on a single page that can have wildly different column widths.

If you’ve never used a spreadsheet before and don’t need to use one professionally at work, then Numbers can be more than enough. It makes creating and using a spreadsheet simpler than Excel. You can always import and export Excel spreadsheets if necessary, but Numbers will never be an Excel clone.

The bottom line is that if you need Excel, use Excel. If you don’t need Excel, try Numbers before buying Excel. With Numbers, you might find a free spreadsheet that’s easier to use than Excel.

To learn more about the features in Numbers, click here.