iOS 10 is here, and Federico has written the definitive review of it.
My thanks to our sponsors for this very special episode:
iOS 10 Adds macOS Server Account Setup ⇢
Apple released iOS 10 today. This update brings all sorts of upgrades and features. There is one particular that is quite useful if you are running a Mac server to host your mail, notes, calendars and other features in macOS Server.
In past versions of iOS, you can easily setup with services like iCloud, Exchange, and Yahoo. Logging in will let you activate all their services like calendar and mail. With iOS 10 you can do this same thing with macOS server. Thanks to The Brooks Review for finding this new option.
Very cool. While I’m using iCloud and Google Apps, it’s about time macOS Server customers have an easier time connecting to their server for these data types.
Kbase Article of the Week: Back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch ⇢
Something useful this week, for once:
Learn how to back up, restore, or move your content to a new device with iCloud or iTunes.
The MacStories iOS 10 Review ⇢
Even without a clean slate, and with a release cycle that may begin to split across platforms, iOS 10 packs deep changes and hundreds of subtle refinements. The final product is a major leap forward from iOS 9 – at least for iPhone users.
At the same time, iOS 10 is more than a collection of new features. It’s the epitome of Apple’s approach to web services and AI, messaging as a platform, virtual assistants, and the connected home. And as a cornucopia of big themes rather than trivial app updates, iOS 10 shows another side of Apple’s strategy:
Sometimes, change is necessary.
Federico has published the definitive review of iOS 10. I’ve had the pleasure of reading it a couple of times now, and watching it evolve as he’s worked on it every day since WWDC.1
Even though I’m the resident Mac guy on our podcast, I do love and use iOS every day. iOS 10 brings a lot of new things to the platform, and Federico does an amazing job at not only explaining them, but offering analysis and insight into why so many fundamental things have changed this year.
Call in sick to work and dive in.
- Ticci works harder than anyone I know in the business. I’m super proud of what he’s done with his site and his work. Don’t tell him I got all emotional in this footnote. ↩
Liftoff #29: Solar System Sawdust: OSIRIS-REx & Asteroids ⇢
OSIRIS-REx, NASA’s asteroid sampling mission, recently launched. Live from the XOXO Festival, Jason and I talk about the mission, its objectives and all about asteroids on the most recent episode of Liftoff.
My thanks to our two sponsors:
September: Research ⇢
Instead of running RSS sponsorships this month, I’m raising money in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Click here to learn more and donate.
In addition to the fully-paid care that St. Jude provides for its patients and their families, St. Jude is a world-class research institution:
The research resources and core facilities at St. Jude are truly extraordinary. From state-of-the-art technologies to expert support, our shared resources are designed to expand the capabilities of each research group, freeing investigators to pursue innovative ideas.
Talented staff work with St. Jude investigators as expert hands, consultants, or full collaborators. In-depth training is available for researchers interested in adopting new technologies. Our unique funding model allows costs to be kept low.
This research means that the doctors who have been treating our son’s cancer for eight years have the world’s best knowledge at their fingertips. What they know about his disease comes from the work done at St. Jude and her research partners.
This is evident when on St. Jude’s campus here in Memphis. Most of the buildings are research facilities. They have a supercomputer on-site and countless labs. It’s all to not only help the kids at St. Jude, but kids around the world.
It’s inspiring, and amazing to be a part of something so big.
This month, I’m raising money for the hospital instead of selling sponsorships here on 512. I’d love if you would donate.
Upgrade #106: I’ve Reached Acceptance ⇢
I joined Myke and Jason on this week’s Upgrade to talk about iPhones, AirPods and a whole lot more.
Mac OS 9 Today ⇢
But as hard as it may be to believe in light of yet another macOS update, there are some who still use Apple’s long-abandoned system. OS 9 diehards may hold on due to one important task they just can’t replicate on a newer computer, or perhaps they simply prefer it as a daily driver. It only takes a quick trip to the world of subreddits and Facebook groups to verify these users exist.
Certain that they can’t all be maniacs, I went searching for these people.
A Quick Thanks
I just got an email that my original St. Jude fundraising goal of $8,000 has been met in just nine days!
My goal was to raise $1,000 for every year of our oldest son’s life, to honor what he has been through and the progress he continues to make. I think it’s awesome that we hit the goal so quickly.
A deep thank you to everyone has donated so far. It’s humbling and encouraging to see so many names on that fundraising page.
It means the world to me, my family, and family like ours. That’s why I want to keep going. Last year, we raised nearly $20,000. I’d love to do it again. I’m raising money as part of a team, and we have a ways before we hit the group goal.
Every dollar is a symbol of hope in the fight against childhood cancer.
The 128 GB iPod Video
I have an iPod classic that I keep loaded with music, but there’s something about the 5th generation “video” iPod that really speaks to me. I have both a white and a black one in my collection, so I thought it’d be fun to upgrade one of them.
In addition to a new battery, I replaced the 30 GB hard drive with a 128 GB SD card via a third-party part called the Tarkan iFlash.
The iFlash is a small black card that holds an SD card inside the iPod. It plugs into the cable used by the standard hard drive, and is shaped to snap directly into the iPod’s case.
Opening iPods is unpleasant. Even with previous experience and the tools iFixit shipped with the battery, I ended up cutting across the back of one of my fingers. Patience is a virtue here.
Replacing the battery involved prying the old one out of the case slowly. The adhesive used is made of some type of ancient magic. Once the battery was in, I unplugged the old spinning hard drive and placed the iFlash into the case, SD card pre-installed. It’s shaped to fit into the chassis cleanly, and once the data cable was set, I buttoned everything up by popping the iPod closed again.
I powered up the iPod and plugged it into iTunes. After a quick restore, it showed up as a regular iPod and synced music and photos without any issues.
The finished product is a stock-looking iPod that weighs a noticeable amount less than the other 5th generation I own. With no moving parts and a new battery, it should be in good shape for years to come.
Of course, in a world of 256 GB iPhones and streaming music services, this is all a little silly, but it was a fun way to spend an afternoon, and now I have a cheap, reliable iPod with all of my music on it I can leave wired up in my car.
On ‘Courage’ ⇢
I’d still argue it was the wrong word.
Alphabet and Chipotle Launching Burrito Drone Delivery ⇢
This is the peak of what humankind will accomplish. Shut it down, folks.