Blind Bargains

Apple Rundown: The “Don’t Throw Away The Gift Receipt” Edition


The holidays are usually a fun and happy time. You sing carols around the Festivus pole or holiday tree. You countdown the hours until midnight during New year's Eve with that shiny new Apple Watch. And you reflect back on the year that was with a sense of reverence. Um, yeah, that is how it is meant to be unless you factor in the party pooper of all years 2016. Not even the company Steve Jobs built was immune to the harshest of years as you will see in the stories below. Moreover, and I cannot underscore this enough, I had to quit capturing links for this edition because it was frankly making me depressed. Dogpiling, kicking you when you are down or even opportunistic doesn t begin to summarize the wide array of sadness that comes from Apple watching these days. Here s hoping that 2017 brings us an Amazon Echo competitor, foldable iPhones plus self driving iCars!

Mac And Macbook Pro

I'll be upfront about this. In no conceivable way did I think the new Macbook Pro would supplant the iPhone 7 in the vortex of yearly Apple debate fodder. There are so many opinions, hit pieces, apologist posts and musings in between that I had to stop somewhere when collating this section. Below is just a smattering of what has been said about this new line of Pro models. But I warn you, it is a bumpy ride even if you decide to read the upbeat-sounding articles.

Review: Touch Bar MacBook Pros give an expensive glimpse at the Mac s future

Mossberg: New MacBook Pro is a fast, slim tweener

An Overview and Demonstration of the 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

"VoiceOver on New MacBook Pro With Touch Bar; First Impressions:"

Apple 13" MacBook Pro review: the best computer you shouldn t buy

The new MacBook Pro is more appliance than PC

Apple's newest MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not recommended by Consumer Reports

Apple's MacBook Pro Battery Problems Are Getting Embarrassing

Explaining the battery life problems with the new MacBook Pros

Why Apple is removing time remaining battery life estimates following MacBook Pro complaints

How to Bring Back a "Time Remaining" Battery Life Indicator To Your MacBook

The MacBook Pro is a lie

Windows 10 on the 15" MacBook Pro (Late 2016 Touch Bar)

Apple Updates Boot Camp Drivers to Fix Major Issue Causing Blown Speakers on New MacBook Pros [Updated]

My New $2,500 MacBook Pro Was DOA

Apple Tested Larger Battery and Gold Color Option on MacBook Pro, Lightning Port on MacBook

Touch Bar MacBook Pro teardown finds some unpleasant surprises

You can now add a virtual Touch Bar to your Mac with Duet Display

Comment: Apple selling a $79 MacBook Pro power adapter without a USB-C cable is a step too far

The complete guide to living a newfangled USB-C (and Thunderbolt 3) lifestyle

THE WIRECUTTER LISTS THEIR FAVORITE USB-C ADAPTERS, CABLES, AND HUBS

I have lived the USB-C #donglelife. Here s what you re in for

USB-C could kill Lightning, but Apple can t afford it

Apple extends USB-C accessory discounts until March 31st

The LG UltraFine 4K is a great MacBook monitor

Report: Apple s Mac team gets a lot less attention than before

Report: Marketing vs engineering tension compromised latest MacBook & MacBook Pro, minor iMac & notebook updates planned

"Saying Goodbye to the Mac:"

I Did Not Buy a MacBook Pro

Paradise Lost: My Mac2Win journey

Apple is lost

A world without the Mac Pro

How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

Apple to Obsolete Select 2009 to 2011 Macs at End of Year

Mac app licensing is the headache you don t want to DIY

Shazam Mac Keeps Your Microphone On

Setapp From MacPaw Enters Beta Testing

iPhone:

Remember the iPhone 7 and all those complaints? Well find some courage because they haven't died down any. Even iPhone 6 owners have something to read in this portion of the article.

The iPhone 7 may not be selling as well as Apple hoped

iPhone 7's Lack of 'Compelling' Features Convinced Most Galaxy Note7 Owners to Stay With Samsung

Apple set to reduce iPhone production by 10% in Q1 2017

iOS 10.2 includes new emoji, the TV app, and a big pile of other tweaks

Some are saying Apple s iOS 10.2 update made their iPhone battery problems even worse

How to fix iOS 10 and iPhone 7 battery life problems

Maybe this keychain will stop me from losing my iPhone 7 headphone adapter?

Six weeks after iPhone 7 s release, let s take a look at life without the headphone jack [Poll]

"Thoughts About My Experiences With a New iPhone 7 Without a Headphone Jack:"

iPhone SE Unlikely to Receive Refresh in Early 2017

bye bye iphone SE

Apple could make iPhones in US in future: sources

China: We ll block iPhone sales if Trump imposes tariffs

Web of tax breaks and subsidies keeps iPhone production in China

Google Drive can now back up iPhones to make Android switching easier

Apple begins selling refurbished iPhones through its online store for the first time

Apple says iPhone 6S battery issue bigger than first thought

Air exposure responsible for iPhone 6S battery problems, more fixes coming

Apple addresses iPhone 6S battery problems on its Chinese website

Waltr 2 Simplifies Sending Any File Type to Your iPhone or iPad Wirelessly

Air Pods:

If you were lucky, and I mean you wore out your finger hitting the Refresh Button kind of luck, you landed a pair of AirPods for the holiday season. If you weren't, then you will have them in time to give to your sweetie as a Valentine's Day gift. Or, perhaps Easter? ooooo, inside one of those el'cheapo plastic eggs under the fake grass that never vacuums up no matter how many times you roll the machine over it. yeah, that could be the cool way to give those out. peanut Butter eggs are like the best Easter candy. Wait, where was I? Oh, AirPods. Here is some info about those accessories.

Apple s AirPods to likely miss 2016 holiday shopping season due to manufacturing issues

Apple AirPods finally go on sale after delays

Apple s AirPods manufacturer expanding capacity to meet strong demand, says report

Review: The AirPods are fine wireless headphones for a certain type of person

AirPods Review: 3 ways Apple can make them better

DAVID POGUE S AIRPODS REVIEW: YOU RE WORRYING ABOUT THE WRONG THING

First Impressions of AirPods

First play around with the new AirPods from Apple

Apple will charge you $69 to replace a lost AirPod

iFixit tears the AirPods apart, doesn t like what it finds

Some AirPods Users Facing Battery Drain Issues With Charging Case

Literally sticking Apple AirPods in your ear is one way to stop them from falling out

How to Fix Connection Problems with the AirPods

A.T. And "How To's:

Shout out to BBQ Regular Shelly Brisbin who is making the rounds promoting her book. I was lucky enough to appear on another one of her podcasts where Apple might have been mentioned once or twice. Also, if you found yourself with a new Apple watch for the holidays, might I suggest you nab the excellent tutorial from Mystic Access. Here are a few more suggestions you may wish to read as well.

The AppleVis Community Names the Apps and Developers that were its Golden Apples of 2016

Accessible Spotify for macOS

Apple's guiding voice(over) helps the blind create software

iOS 10.2 Fixes Two Issues With 'Made for iPhone' Hearing Aids

Braille on IOS 10.2 is it me, or is this VERY BAD?

VFO, Focus Blue Compatibility with iOS 10.2 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

APH Braille Badges on the App Store

Apps for Studies: 3 Free and 1 Not But well worth it.

Some thoughts on the current state of iOS audio games

My Experiences Switching to Android, Part 2: Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned

Farewell to the Apple Watch

11 Apple Watch tips every owner should know

How to use Speak Screen on an iPad

The Most Common Problems in iOS 10 and How to Fix Them

iPhone or iPad Shuts off Randomly Even When There Is Charge Left? Here s How to Fix It

How to Enable the Debug Menu In a Bunch of Apple's Mac Apps

Speed Up Apple Mail with a Database-Cleaning Automator Task

Sort Folders and Files on Mac Just Like Windows With a Single Setting Switch

Security:

As with the new Macbook Pro, I had to hit the "Stop" button on the number of links I gathered. The volume of exploits is growing, or at least the coverage of them is, and the hits are not localized to one particular operating system or program. The good news here is that many of the holes have been plugged thanks to aggressive updates. That has its own "Boomerang Effect" however. Welcome to the world of a successful and mature computing platform everyone. Ignore that snickering from the Microsoft campus though.

The new MacBook Pro is kind of great for hackers

99 percent of fake Apple chargers are unsafe

This $300 Device Lets You Steal A Mac Encryption Password in 30 Seconds

Don t Be Fooled: The Mac App Store Is Full of Scams

macOS Sierra 10.12.2 fixed vulnerability that let attackers obtain disk encryption password

Apple extends developer deadline for mandatory App Transport Security support

Masque Attack Abuses iOS s Code Signing to Spoof Apps and Bypass Privacy Protection

Fake iPhone Apps Are Another Sign of Apple s Slipping Standards

Stop Using iCloud

Many iCloud users receiving spam Calendar & Photo Sharing invitations, here s how to fix

How to stop the wave of Apple Calendar invite spam

Apple rolling out Report Junk feature for iCloud Calendar invites from unknown senders to address spam

Google Pixel Gets Hacked in Less Than One Minute, Apple's Safari in 20 Seconds

iPhone security is so good that police had to 'mug' a suspect to get his data

Congressional report sides with Apple on encryption debate

This is why you should really encrypt your iPhone

How a Grad Student Found Spyware That Could Control Anybody s iPhone from Anywhere in the World

Watch out for the iPhone s 911 bug

iPhone 'prank' video crashes Apple smartphones

Buffer overflow exploit can bypass Activation Lock on iPads running iOS 10.1.1

Apple TV:

so, there was an update to the 4th Gen Apple TV. Not that you would know that unless you owned one as all the other news drowned out the little box that just celebrated a first birthday milestone.

Apple Releases tvOS 10.1 With New TV App

With the Update to TVOS 10.1: The Behavior of the Home Button on Your Apple TV Remote Has Changed.

Apple Debuts New 'iBooks Storytime' tvOS App With Read-Aloud Books for Kids

Amazon releases new shopping app on tvOS Apple TV for Prime members, still no Prime Video

Facebook is gearing up to serve ads on Apple TV and Roku

Other:

Finally, the section that is the most diverse in subject matter. Okay, it is really because these links do not fit in other sections. And that is why we call this area the "Other" section.

Apple s new Support app is a one-stop shop for appointments and advice

Apple may have finally gotten too big for its unusual corporate structure

The Void Left By Apple

Microsoft: more people are switching from Macs to Surface than ever before

Three members of Apple's PR team have left for car companies in recent weeks

Could you get a job at Apple? It depends on your answers to these 25 questions

Q&A: Shigeru Miyamoto on 'Mario', 'Minecraft' and Working With Apple

This is how Apple Music plans to steal everyone from Spotify

Apple tax case: Ireland to formally appeal against EU state aid ruling

Every US taxpayer has effectively paid Apple at least $6 in recent years

Nonprofit Organizations Now Able to Accept Apple Pay Donations

You can now send people money on PayPal by shouting at Siri

Inside the secret meeting where Apple revealed the state of its AI research

Apple will break with tradition and start publishing AI research

Tim Cook disputes analyst report that Apple Watch sales have tanked

Apple Considers Wearables Expansion With Digital Glasse

[Apple working on Google Glass-style AR glasses, says report](http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/14/13631010/apple-wearable-smart-glasses-ar-vr-google-glass via)

Siding with Samsung, Supreme Court reverses decision on $339 million owed to Apple over iPhone design dispute

Smartphone patent wars redux: Nokia sues Apple, big time

Apple Pulls All Withings Accessories From Apple Online Store Following Nokia Lawsuit

David topples Goliath: Danish man defeats Apple in court

Apple Had Tech To Prevent Fatal Crash On FaceTime: Lawsuit

You can now scan and measure your entire home with an iPad attachment

iPad mirror

This creepy iPhone accessory lets you kiss someone over the internet

Apple isn t ruining emoji sexting after all, so you can keep sending butts

Hopefully our next look at the big A will contain more fun and positive stories. However, momentum is an unpredictable thing and that is why I keep compiling these links into articles. Perhaps the new Mac event, rumored for March, will be the wave that turns the tide? We'll see as I'm going to let it all simmer on the back burner until the next hardware announcement is finalized.

Category: Articles

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Joe Steinkamp is no stranger to the world of technology, having been a user of video magnification and blindness related electronic devices since 1979. Joe has worked in radio, retail management and Vocational Rehabilitation for blind and low vision individuals in Texas. He has been writing about the A.T. Industry for 15 years and podcasting about it for almost a decade.


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