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
Windows 10 on the 15" MacBook Pro (Late 2016 Touch Bar)
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
Paradise Lost: My Mac2Win journey
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
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 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
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
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
Many iCloud users receiving spam Calendar & Photo Sharing invitations, here s how to fix
How to stop the wave of Apple Calendar invite 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
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)
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
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.
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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.
