iOS 13.5: The Pandemic Release

Today Apple released iOS 13.5. I can’t help but think of this as the pandemic release with several Covid-19 related changes and features:

If the phone detects you are wearing a face mask, it will go straight to passcode entry.
FaceTime now has the option to turn off those floating panels. How much you want to bet there where a bunch of Apple Executives working from home in the last two months saying, “what the hell is this?”
It’s also now easier to share your data with emergency services.

The Exposure Notification API

I’ve written a lot over the years about government intrusion on user privacy and my general preference that we be allowed to keep our device information private. So when I first heard about this feature, I was skeptical.

Since then, I’ve read the Apple/Google documentation and studied this new feature in greater detail. I’ve also watched the mounting global death toll as a result of this horrible disease.

I fully support the exposure notification API.

Apple and Google created this collaboratively. Because the companies have such different views on user data, I think this was a good thing.

As implemented, your phone will act as a Bluetooth beacon and generate a random identifier. It will then keep a list of other random identifiers you’ve come in contact with. If, for example, you ride up an elevator with a group of other iPhone and Android devices, the anonymous data will keep track of that. If a healthcare professional determines one of those devices was attached to a human that later is diagnosed with Covid-19, you’ll get a notification that you’ve been exposed and advised of the next steps.

There is no geo-tracking. It’s just a list of what random numbers saw what other random numbers. I think it’s a smart API that helps us deal with a massive health crisis and protects user privacy at the same time.

There are already too many people dead. Count me in.

What’s in My Bag? May 2020

I thought it was about time to check in with what goes in my backpack these days when I’m allowed out the front door. We cover all of this deeper with this week’s episode of the Mac Power Users.

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Mac Power Users 536: Our Bags

On this week’s episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I empty our bags to talk through our choices and how they’ve changed over the years.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

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Keyboard Maestro Script Using AppleScript to Create Contacts

Creating new contacts in Apple’s Contacts app takes entirely too much mousing, clicking, and typing. This Keyboard Maestro script combines the power of Keyboard Maestro with a little bit of AppleScript to automatically create Apple Contact cards. If you dig this, there is an offer code to get $5 off the Keyboard Maestro Field Guide, “KMMAY2020”. Enjoy.

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Eero in the Apple Store

Apple has now started selling Eero mesh networking hardware in the Apple Store. This is interesting for a couple of reasons.

Eero is an Amazon Product

I’m an Eero user. They sponsored the podcast years ago, and then I bought some more when they upgraded their hardware. They are substantially better than our prior AirPort WiFi. We all got a little nervous when Amazon bought Eero, but so far it seems they’ve left mainly Eero alone. Still, it’s surprising that Apple is willing to sell Eero in its store. Can we take this to mean that Apple is convinced Amazon is not going to be doing anything creepy with Eero data? I sure hope so.

Apple is Probably Not Getting in the Mesh Networking Game

I would love for Apple to get back into the WiFi router game. What if Apple TVs and HomePods could double as Mesh networking devices? Given Apple’s position on protecting consumer privacy and their ability to integrate their hardware and software, such a product could be great. Given the fact that Apple is instead now selling Eero devices, the possibility of an Apple mesh networking system seems unlikely.

Focused 99: Working From Home, with Dave Caolo

Dave Caolo joins Mike and me on this week’s episode of Focused to talk about games and productivity, how his bullet journal helps him stay focused, and working from home without going crazy.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

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Mac Power Users 535: State of the Platform: Apple Services

From iCloud to Apple TV+, Apple’s range of services is broader than ever, but how do they all stack up? Has this shift to services changed how users should view the company? Stephen and I discuss on the latest episode of Mac Power Users.

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.
The Uptake, from Microsoft: A new show on all things tech and community from Microsoft.

The Intentional Family Podcast

My pal, and fellow co-host on Focused, has a new podcast called the Intentional Family. This is a show made by Mike and his wife Rachel, and it is all about raising your family in a crazy world. Mike and Rachel have five children and a lot of good ideas.

Automators 49: Reusable Shortcuts with Scotty Jackson

In this episode of Automators, Rosemary and I are joined by Scotty Jackson to talk about his Shortcuts-based automations which cross into the web and beyond.

This episode of Automators is sponsored by:

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Jazz Friday: McCoy Tyner

In March we lost another jazz great, pianist McCoy Tyner (Wikipedia). McCoy first entered my orbit as the pianist in the John Coltrane quartet during its best years. McCoy played piano on some famous Coltrane recordings, including My Favorite Things (Wikipedia(Apple Music) and one of my all-time favorite albums, Ballads0 (Wikipedia(Apple Music). As John Coltrane’s music became more atonal, McCoy left the band in the mid-60s and continued to record as a solo artist and group leader for the rest of his life.

I’ve been doing a deep dive on McCoy Tyner in Apple Music all week. The album I keep coming back to is a big band he led. My favorite track is High Priest. I particularly dig the McCoy piano solo at the top. We’ll all miss you, McCoy.