Microsoft is in the process of finalizing yet ANOTHER version of Windows called Windows 10 1809.  This is the second new version of Windows to come across our desks this year. (Enough is enough right?) Some of you haven’t even received the previous version yet, 1803.  If you set the 120 day delay, as I instructed before, 1803 should get pushed out to you soon.  By keeping that delay in place, you will get version 1809 sometime in late 2018 / early 2019.   I think Microsoft is learning something from these upgrades.  Don’t worry, even if you are still on 1803 (or the previous 1709 for the time being), you will continue to get routine monthly security updates.    (Note:  I’m trying to delineate the language I use with you.  I’m using the word “update” to refer to minor patches or fixes and “upgrade” to refer to new versions.)

I’ve deciphered yesterday’s news from Bloomberg and the corresponding commentary.  It looks like some consumer focused Macs are coming our way soon.  By soon, I mean between any day now and October.   First I want to share that a new Mac Mini should be available in the near future.  It’s about time.  Apple hasn’t released a new Mini since October 2014.  The Mac Mini was the gateway into the Mac family.  It was sold as a small desktop computer only, about the size of a cigar box.  Customers could then plug in any keyboard, mouse, and monitor they wish.  An overpriced monitor from the Apple store was not required.  A $150 monitor from Amazon or a big box store was perfect companion.  It’s great to read that the legacy of the Mac Mini is continuing.  I doubt that the pricing will be as low as the previous generation ($499 to start), but even in the $700-999 range it will be aimed squarely at the typical client that I serve.  More importantly, it seems that Apple is going to keep the Mac Book Air line going.  I honestly think that the Air (which hasn’t changed in design since 2010) is the greatest laptop of the past 10 years (with the Lenovo Thinkpad T being a close second).  According to Bloomberg, it will continue to be 13 inches and will sport slimmer bezels.  It should be a big hit for Apple.  I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts at $999.  I think it would be a very appropriate choice for my clients.  I will provide more information down the road.

(Hope this doesn’t read like one of those “Chose Your Adventure” books.)   I have a good number of clients who are Apple all the way.  If that is you, you probably allow the iPhone to automatically upload your photos to iCloud.  Then you manage your photos in the Photos app on the Mac (while certainly using the iPhone or iPad for smaller management tasks).  A few may still choose to do things the long way, connecting your iPhone (or camera) with a cable to your Mac and then importing them into Photos or the photo manager of your choice.  The same can be done in Windows, into the photo manager of your choice as Photos is a Mac only app.  Windows and Mac users may also choose to back up their photos in duplicate to Google Photos or Amazon’s Prime Photos.   Both of these options are automatic and free with the proper apps installed.  Having an additional copy of those previous memories is never a bad idea.   However, you may wonder — what is the easiest way to manage and share my photos if I am an iPhone and Windows user?

Naturally, you could do some of this from the iPhone itself.  However, you will inevitably want to do some management tasks on the computer.  If you are backing up those photos to iCloud  Photo Library (the default option), you can best access those images at iCloud.com in your browser.  That should be your go to interface.   Of course, everyone’s use case is different.  Not all of my clients use iCloud Photo Library and I am flexible enough to support clients with varying “what works best” scenarios.

Happy computing!!