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It feels like it wouldn't be a fortnightly iTandCoffee newsletter without news of another software update to iPads, iPhones and Macs. Wednesday morning (24/1) saw the arrival of iOS 11.2.5. The last update was 11.2.2, so who knows where 11.2.3 and 11.2.4 got to!
A bit later in the week, MacOS 10.13.3 was also released with security patches and a fix for the Messages app (to fix out of order conversations). A look at the iOS update I have been using iOS 11.2.5 since Wednesday with no detrimental effects and have not seen any negative reports online, so it appears safe to install. As always, make sure you do a backup first! iOS 11.2.5 heralds the imminent launch of Apple's HomePod - a new product to rival (and, says Apple, to outclass) Google Home and Amazon Echo.
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27/7/2017 0 Comments It's time for another update to your iPad, iPhone and Mac - and this one is important!
It's iOS and MacOS (or OS X) update time again!
Apple has released important updates to all its operating systems for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch. It contains a security patch that we should all install as soon as possible. The update blocks a potential vulnerability that could leave devices open to attack via the Wi-Fi chip in the device (as well as fixing some other 'bugs'). Known as Broadpwn, the bug affects the Wi-Fi chips found in both Android and Apple smartphones and allows an attacker to take over a device remotely while it searches for Wi-Fi.
How to apply the update
For instructions on how to update your Apple devices, see this article from Macworld.
Should you Update?
This may be the last iOS 10 update (with iOS 11 due for delivery in spring). If you have a device that is not going to be eligible for upgrade to iOS 11, this may be the iOS version that you are stuck with forever! There are some reported shortcomings of this release, which need to be weighed up against the advantages of applying the security patch on older devices.
What if your device won't allow you to update?
Something to keep in mind if you have an older iPhone that is 'stuck' forever on iOS 9 is that you won't be able to update your device to 'patch' this security vulnerability. This could leave your device open to attack when it is searching for a Wi-Fi network. It might be time to think about an upgrade to that old phone (or at least leaving your Wi-Fi turned off unless you really need to use it). Need help with your iPad, iPhone or Mac update?
iTandCoffee schedules regular 'Helping Hand' sessions, where you can do your updates to your iPad, iPhone or Mac at iTandCoffee, using our internet. We will have someone there to give you a hand if you get stuck. (You can even make your photo book at iTandCoffee during these session times.)
iTandCoffee Club member can attend these sessions FOR FREE*. For non-members, cost is $35 per session. See the upcoming dates below.
* The number of free sessions available to members depends on the membership plan.
 I had a call from my lovely Aunty V during the week, after the news came out about yet another 'ransomware' attack. She asked me if I could explain a term that was being used in news reports, about the need to 'patch' your computer to ensure that you are protected against attacks. What does 'patching' mean?Microsoft, Apple, Google (i.e. Alphabet) are constantly working on the software that runs our computers and mobile devices (know as operating systems), to ensure that evil-doers cannot gain access to our devices and lives via the internet. Microsoft's computer operating system is Windows. Apple's computer operating system is OS X or, more recently, MacOS. Apple mobile devices run iOS, and many other mobile devices run Google's Android operating system. All of these operating systems are, at times, targeted by hackers who try to find 'holes' in the security of these system, so that they can sneak in and steal stuff from computers that run the operating system - or even (in the case of ransomware) scramble all the information that is on the computer so that we can no longer use it. (I'll leave you to read up about ransomware in this article from Wikipedia: Ransomware - Wikipedia.) Most commonly, it is Windows that is the target of such attacks (as has been the case with the last two highly publicised 'ransomware' attacks). Microsoft, Apple and Google have, in most cases, already 'patched' the hole in their operating system security, and 'released' that patch as an 'update' to our computers' operating systems. Any computer on which the 'patch' is installed is protected if you, inadvertently, click on a nasty link or file in an email or on a website that might have otherwise taken advantage of the security hole. Are you patched?On some computers and mobile devices, these updates (patches) are automatically installed. The problem is that many computers have not been 'patched' because the business or individual user of the computer has not installed the updates that have been made available. This has left them at risk of falling victim to the ransomware attacks that seem to be getting more and more frequent. How to check and how to patchThe big question is how do you 'patch' your computer or device. To help you with this, we have included some 'how to' articles about below, that will (hopefully) help you ensure your computer or mobile device is up to date with all 'patches'. We are here to help if you need assistanceWe know that for many of our clients and subscribers, the information provided in the above articles will still leave them unsure how to proceed.
If you need assistance with this area, iTandCoffee is available for one-on-one appointments at the shop in High Street Glen Iris, or in your own home (depending on location). Over-the-phone support can also be provided if required. Just call 1300 885 420 or email bookings@itandcoffee.com.au to make an appointment. 19/5/2017 0 Comments Another update iPad, iPhone - and to your Mac and Apple Watch. We can help you with that! This week has seen another set of updates to the operating systems for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch. All of the updates - iOS 10.3.2, MacOS 10.12.5, watchOS 3.2.2, and tvOS 10.3 - bring some fixes and security updates, but no new features. As usual, it is best to download and install these updates, as they keep you safe from security breaches. Here is a Macworld article on this topic: How up to date is your device? Is it protected from malicious attacks?Apple's regular updates of operating systems iOS and MacOS can be hard to keep up with. Microsoft also regularly updates the Windows operating system. For many iTandCoffee clients, limited internet plans makes it almost impossible to 'afford' the data required by these updates. Added to that issue is that updates / upgrades can sometimes go wrong - what do you do if this happens. All of the above mean that many users of technology are hesitant about proceeding with updates on their own. Unfortunately, this can leave them vulnerable to malicious attacks like those described in the press recently, where downloading of a file from and email (or clicking link in an email) led the thousands of computers being infected with 'ransomware'.
21/5/2016 0 Comments Updates galore this week - for the iPad, iPhone, Mac, iTunes, Apple Watch and Apple TV (including a warning about iTunes)You may have already seen that little '1' appear on your Settings app on your iPad or iPhone - indicating to you that there is an Apple iOS update, ready and waiting for you to download and install. Perhaps you have seen that message appear on your Mac, advising of an available update to your Mac. What's changed on the iPad and iPhone, and is it safe to update? Here is a 'screenshot' of the updates listed for the latest iOS update for our iPads and iPhones, iOS 9.3.2. I have not seen issues reported for the majority of devices. However, problems have definitely been reported for the new iPad Pro 9.7in, with some users reporting that their devices have been 'bricked' by the update, rendering them un-usable. Hopefully this hasn't impacted any iTandCoffee clients. Apple has overnight 'pulled' the update for these devices (so you shouldn't see any update available to you at the moment on these devices). I have already updated to iOS 9.3.2 on my own devices, and not encountered any issues. So, unless you have a new iPad Pro, go ahead with your update - by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update, and choosing Download and Install or Install (depending on which you see there). What has changed on the Mac, and is it safe to update? I have to confess that I haven't yet updated my Macs to OS X 10.11.5. I will do so during next week and will report next time on my findings. I have not seen any major issues reported online in the last few days since this was update released. I'll leave it with readers to decide if they want to 'take the plunge'. Major potential issue with using the new iTunes version, 12.4There have been reports that a bug in this new version of iTunes has caused some users' entire iTunes libraries to be wiped. Here is an article about this.Unfortunately, my iTunes has automatically updated - so I already have this version of iTunes installed. Here's hoping I don't lose my own library. Apparently it has not happened widely, but the article says that Apple has actually acknowledged that there is a problem - something that is very unusual for Apple, and meaning that the problem may be occurring for quite a few users.
If it does impact you, here's hoping you have a backup! Apple is busily working on a fix for this problem, so hopefully we will see this soon. Little consolation for those who have lost their library and don't have a backup.  Apple has today released software updates for both iOS (ie for iPhones and iPads), and for OS X (ie for Mac computers running Yosemite).
If you are not in a rush to try out these new updates, perhaps wait a couple of days - just in case there are any gremlins not ironed out before the release! It is safer to let others (like me!) find these issues, and then decide if you want to proceed with the update - once you hear the feedback. Here are the articles I have just 'scooped' about the upgrades to iOS and OS X |
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