August visit to DC
Great news: I'm back in DC from August 3 through 8. If you'd like me to stop in to see you in DC or Maryland, go ahead and grab an appointment time on my website (button below). Unfortunately, I only have a few open slots available right now, as it was mostly filled up with followups from my last visit and appointments that I knew were urgent.
If what you need to do can be done with a screen share I urge you to make a Zoom appointment instead. In-person appointments are best if you need help setting up new hardware, are having WiFi problems, or if you need help with Apple TV.
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Upcoming Apple releases and rumors
Over the past year, Apple has released a MacBook Air, basic MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac 24" with the new extremely powerful and energy-efficient Apple processor. And there are more things to come in the near future!
- Next-gen MacBook Air may be out soon, since the current M1 MacBook came out nearly a year ago. Rumors are that the new MBA will have a redesign, possibly with vibrant colors similar to the new 24" iMac. I'm hoping to see this by the end of the year.
- A redesign of the MacBook Pro is probably coming soon. Possibly with additional colors, new size options, and a smaller bezel around the screen, reducing the size of the computer without reducing the screen size. I'm hoping to see this by the end of the year.
- The large iMac will get the new Apple chip as well. Currently, the large iMac is 27", but there are rumors that it could go even bigger. I'm hoping to see this by the end of the year.
- iPhone 13 is likely to be announced and released in September. Rumors are that they will have the same four model levels as the iPhone 12. There may be an always-on screen component. We may get Touch ID embedded in the display for times when Face ID doesn't work (though that may be next year's model). And the Pro model may come in a new copper color.
- Apple Watch Series 7 will likely be announced alongside iPhone 13 in September. Some people say Apple is working on a redesign with thinner bezels, more color options, and a more squared design. But since these rumors are quite thin no one knows if this referring to this year's model or next year. So it's possible that this year we'll just see some minor updates.
- AirPods 3 have been rumored for some time. The latest is that they may be announced alongside iPhone 13 in September. The biggest rumor is that they will be redesigned to resemble AirPods Pro with soft tips, but unlike the Pro model will not have noice cancelling.
- iPad Mini may get an update with a new faster A14 processor, no home button, and possibly a switch to USB-C. This would be the first update in over two years.
- iOS 15 and macOS 12 Monterey will be out in the fall with lots of new features for sharing with friends and for exploring the world around you. Typically iOS gets released in mid to late September, and macOS gets released in late September to early October.
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Recent Blog Posts
As always, here are some of my blog posts published since the last emailing.
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Photos from around the Bay
Last month we took a vacation to Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks to see some of the most incredible views that California has to offer. Everyone raves about how majestic Yosemite is, and with good reason. Photos do it no justice. If you've never been, I suggest you make time for the trip at some point. Even if you aren't into hiking and rock climbing, many of the most amazing vistas are accessible by car. Here are a few of my favorite shots. Be sure to click any of the photos for a full quality version.
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Sequoia National Park is home to the famous giant sequoia trees. Their size is difficult to capture in photos since everything near the top looks smaller on camera. This is General Sherman, a 2,500 year-old tree that has the distinction of being the largest tree on earth measured by trunk volume.
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It's a damp and somewhat crowded hike to the top of Vernal Fall, but well worth it. This was taken with the Live Photo feature set to a loop.
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We pulled off into the meadow to gawk at the side of El Capitan, the namesake for macOS 10.11. The granite wall is so massive that it took a few minutes for us to realized that there were numerous climbers scaling the rock. I held the telephoto lens of my iPhone 12 Pro Max up to my binoculars to get this shot, and they are still so far away you can barely see them. Click the image and look near the center. In 2018 National Geographic produced the thrilling documentary Free Solo (available on iTunes and Disney+) about Alex Hannold, who scaled El Capitan without a rope.
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As you drive into Yosemite as soon as you come through a long tunnel pull into the parking lot on the left or the right for a wonderfully dramatic view from the aptly named Tunnel View. This was shot using the panorama feature of my iPhone, so if you click the image above you'll see an enormous amount of detail.
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From Sentinel Dome you can see nearly the entirety of Yosemite Valley. It's a one-mile hike from the road. On a clear day you can even see across the Central Valley to the mountains in Big Sur to the west. It's 4,100 feet above Curry Village in the middle of the valley which you see in bottom of my photo. To put it in perspective that's nearly 2.5 times the height of One World or about 1.5 times the height of the Burj Khalifa. If a hike is not for you, you can drive to Glacier Point which at 3,200 feet above Curry Village is still about 500 feet higher than the Burj Khalifa would be if it was on the valley floor. It really sounds ridiculous but that's why this valley is so awe inspiring.
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