The Extended Keyboard Wins

For years now, my primary keyboard has been an Apple Extended Keyboard. I fell into it, to be honest. I bought a Mac with an extended keyboard and found myself using those extra keys not so much as a keypad, but as a mechanism to launch automation. Those extra keys came in handy with seven additional function keys, proper arrow keys, and all those number keys. The addition of a Touch ID button sealed the deal.

On the downside, it sometimes looks like you have a battleship parked on your desk. My right hand has to move 10 inches from the keyboard to the mouse. Lately, I’ve put so much of my macro triggers into my various Stream Decks I’ve been thinking about downscaling.

So I purchased an Apple Magic Keyboard with TouchID sans Numeric Keypad last week to see if I could turn the battleship into something smaller. This is an excellent comparison because it is so close (but not identical) to the same keyboard I’ve been using with the right 5 inches chopped off.

When the keyboard arrived, I thought it would be a no-brainer. But it turns out that adjusting was more challenging than you’d think. I’ve given it the better part of a week, and I’ve discovered that I like the layout of the battleship. The smaller keyboard has the Function key where the left control key is on the bigger keyboard. I also use the arrow keys and additional function keys more than you’d think. While I could adjust to the smaller keyboard, I feel the inconvenience of it way more than I enjoy the shorter trip to my mouse.

In the end, this is a clear choice for me. You can get a keyboard that takes less space and makes the trip to the mouse shorter, or you can get the bigger one with more buttons. There isn’t a right answer, but in my case, the battleship won.

iCloud Gets a Security Upgrade

Today Apple announced some nice updates to the iCloud security features. The following features now have end-to-end encryption on iCloud:

  • Device Backups
  • Messages Backups
  • iCloud Drive
  • Notes
  • Photos
  • Reminders
  • Safari Bookmarks
  • Siri Shortcuts
  • Voice Memos
  • Wallet Passes

End-to-end encryption means your data can’t be viewed on the server in these categories (if you opt in). Put simply, Apple will no longer be able to see the above categories of data. If Apple gets hacked in the future, the bad guys can’t see your data either.

Apple has very publicly stated an interest in protecting user privacy. I believe them. What is impressive about this is how they’ve added the encryption at Apple’s user-base scale. That can’t be easy.

At this point, it’s opt-in. You must go into the iCloud settings and click on Advance Data Protection. I will be opting in. Advanced Data Protection is in the latest iOS 16.2 beta. It will be available to all U.S. customers by the end of the year and rolling out to the world in early 2023.

One note of caution, however, is that this means if you ever lose passwords, the data is gone. Apple can’t help you. So get your password security sorted out before you push the button.

Craig Federighi did an interview with Joanna Stern on these updates. She did a great job explaining end-to-end encryption in the process.

AirTag Battery Replacements and Remotes

It seems that time for early adopters concerning their AirTag batteries. I’ve been slowly replacing them as I get the battery alerts. Ben Lovejoy suggests biting the bullet and replacing them all when the first warning appears. I wish I’d done that.

Changing the batteries is easy enough. Give it a twist, and it separates. Put the new CR2032 battery in (I use these), then twist it back together. 

On the subject of AirTags, I recently bought a few Apple TV remotes with built-in AirTag holders. I love these. I can find the remote via sonar, and they double as NFC tags so I can trigger “Movie” lighting by holding them to my phone.

The Monday Brief (MacSparky Labs)

I hope you had a great weekend. Today, I’m hitting the ground running with a planning session for the Early Access members. It’s a busy week for me with three podcast recordings, two live events in the Labs, other videos getting recorded for the Labs, and Field Guide work.

Following up on my glass board question last week, I got lots of good advice in the forums. I’ve decided to try it this week as a sort-of daily list…

This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? Or perhaps do you need to sign in?

Mac Power USers 669: Drowning Out the Noise with Charlie Chapman

Charlie Chapman is the developer behind Dark Noise and the host of the Launched podcast. On this week’s Mac Power Users, Chapman talks with Stephen and me about his experience as an iOS developer and what it’s like when Apple adds OS features that compete with something you’ve built.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

  • 1Password: Have you ever forgotten a password? You don’t have to worry about that anymore. 
  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
  • Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.

The Nonprofit Productivity Summit

As someone who values productivity and efficiency, I am thrilled to endorse the upcoming Nonprofit Productivity Summit December 6-7. If you’re interested in learning more about how to be productive, reserve a spot today and join us. It’s free and virtual.

This innovative event brings together leading experts and practitioners in the nonprofit sector to share their knowledge and insights on how organizations can improve their productivity and achieve their goals more effectively.

At a time when the challenges facing the nonprofit sector are greater than ever, the Nonprofit Productivity Summit provides a crucial platform for learning, networking, and advancing the cause of social good. By attending the summit, nonprofit professionals can gain valuable insights and strategies for increasing their productivity and making a bigger impact in their communities.

One of the key highlights of the Nonprofit Productivity Summit is the wide range of expert speakers who will be sharing their knowledge and experiences. From seasoned leaders in the nonprofit sector to up-and-coming innovators, the summit will feature a diverse range of voices and perspectives on how to increase productivity in the nonprofit world. I’ll be one of this year’s speakers where I cover the importance and pitfalls of task management.

This summit is a labor of love from Michael St. Pierre. He does an excellent job and if you work in non-profit or know anybody that does, you’ll want to pass this along.