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15/12/2021 0 Comments Another round of updates before Christmas - iOS/iPadOS 15.2 and macOS Monterey 12.1 For the Apple device users out there, there is a fresh round of updates to download and install in the leadup to Christmas.
On the iPad/iPhone, iOS/iPadOS 15.2 is now available. Not only does this new version deliver some great new features, it also includes some important security updates. Similarly, macOS Monterey 12.1 delivers equivalent changes for the Mac.
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31/7/2021 0 Comments More iPad/iPhone/Mac updates that you must install ASAP - plus is it time to move to Big Sur?
Image by wiredsmartio from Pixabay
Since our last newsletter, the updates for Apple mobile devices and Macs have been coming thick and fast.
iOS/iPadOS 14.7 and macOS 11.5 were released on 20th July 2021, only to be very quickly followed by further updates (iOS/iPadOS 14.7.1 and macOS 11.5.1) about a week later, on 27th July. While the new updates did include some new features (which you can read about in the articles below), the most important reason for installing these updates as soon as possible is security. In fact, it is a key reason for installing a large majority of the updates that are released. 
As reported in the last newsletter, Apple released iOS/iPadOS 14.5 on April 27th. Also released were major updates for the Mac and Apple Watch.
I did say to hold fire for a little while before downloading and installing those major updates, which include new privacy features, support for the new AirTags, unlocking your iPhone with your Apple Watch when you are wearing a mask (we'll cover that one separately), and more. Here are articles that provides a good summary of the new features on each platform: Should you update yet?
There is a really important reason now to install the latest updates to all your Apple devices as soon as you can.
 On Wednesday January 27th, Apple released iOS 14.4 for iPhones and iPadOS 14.4 for iPads.
While this new version of the operating system includes a few improvements and bugs fixes, it also includes an important security patch that should be installed as soon as possible. 7/11/2020 0 Comments Again! Another important update for your iPad and iPhone, one that you should install ASAP Groundhog Day! Once again, there is an update for our iPads and iPhones - iOS/iPadOS 14.2, released on Friday 6th November (AEDT).
This one is an important one and should be installed as soon as possible. Here's why.  The tech world was abuzz this week as Apple announced its new streaming service and more.
The announcements follow news over the preceding fortnight of new iPads (the new iPad Air and iPad mini) and updated AirPods.
Here are Apple's web pages about each of these new iPads: 
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. 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'.
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What's on at iTandCoffee ?Below is our list of videos, classes and other events that are coming up soon.
Videos shown are offered for eligible members of the iTandCoffee Club. If you have questions, why not join fun and informative 'user group' meetings, held once a month. All iTandCoffee classes are run as online classes (using Zoom), which means you can attend from anywhere. |
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Call 1300 885 420
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