I did something I swore I’d never do again.

Apple iOS18 icon 1505066260.I updated all my Apple machines to the latest IOS, WatchOS, and Mac OS versions yesterday. 

I was perhaps foolish because while my IOS devices were updating. I was working on a project dealing with some photos. However I needed a break, and my laptop battery needed recharging, so I initiated the MacOS update while the computer was recharging.

This worked out perfectly since I couldn’t get the computer into a comfortable location to work on it while it recharged. The update is completely automatic so the computer didn’t need me. An hour or so later I came back to a fully charged battery and a new operating system. Neat!

The iPhone and iPad both took a while to do their thing.

Oddly, it was the Apple Watch that was the most tedious to update.

I use the IOS 18 logo generically. 

I was kind of ambivalent about doing it. But I’m evacuated from my home and honestly… It was sort of a “Klytus, I’m Bored,” situation. 

680full ming the merciless.Fans of the movie “Flash Gordon” will recognize the reference.

Emperor Ming, The Merciless, starts the movie with that line. Beginning the travails of Earth.

For those interested, the upgrades went very smoothly. Now I’m re-evaluating some of the applications that I have subscriptions for. At least a couple of them may be superseded by Apple native versions with similar functionality.

Not that I’m complaining. The less money I have to spend with silly subscriptions the happier I’ll be.

I haven’t noticed any bugs yet, but I’ve only been working with the new systems for less than 24 hours.

My results with upgrading my devices may differ from yours. I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to software on my devices. I’ve only recently begun to wonder if that minimalism has been dictated by where I live more than by choice.

There are very few services like food deliveries, mass transit, or some of the more well known eateries where I am. As a result, I don’t have any of the usual apps because they’re useless in my particular situation.

I suspect that my lack of applications contributes to the generally successful OS upgrades I enjoy.

Were I to live someplace where transit cards, or food delivery, or any of the well known conveniences existed It’s more likely that problems would occur.

Well Today is the Apple Announcement day.

I’m tuning in. I just want to know when the new OS stuff will be available.

I might be interested in a new set of AirPods.

I’ve also been playing around with dictation via the current Siri. It’s not too bad, I’m really getting interested in how the AI stuff enhances dictation.


IPhone 16 Pro Max 1.After watching the event, I have to say I like the iPhone 16 Pro, but not enough to ditch my iPhone 15 Pro.

Maybe I’ll wait for the iPhone 17 or 18.

I wasn’t impressed with anything else.

New color on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Ehh. My Ultra Version 1 still supports the O2 data that Apple had to remove due to a patent infringement case. The changes to the Ultra 2 last year weren’t enough to make me want to buy a new watch and adding new color to the Ultra 2 this year isn’t going to make me run out & buy an new one either.

Apple Watch 10, is nice but again Ehh.

New colors on AirPods Max? But no changes other than making them USB-C which they had to do because of the EU requirements.

AirPods 4 okay… but nothing more than my current AirPods Pro 2 provide. 

So Wow! Just kind of disappointed. 

New OS should be available next week but not with the Apple Intelligence features. Okay, there are some things about the various OS versions that intrigue me even without the Apple Intelligence. 

I guess the real interest will be the various OS changes across the product line.

I’ve made a decision regarding California Mobile Driver’s Licenses.

Once they become available, I’m going to go ahead and load it.

The government, for a variety of reasons knows who I am. Since I’m a pretty stable individual and haven’t changed addresses or phone numbers for at least a decade It’s highly likely whatever information associating my Driver’s license and phone would give the state or Federal government will be redundant.

In addition to the TSA check in, potentially a bar with reader technology carding me, (I’d be so overjoyed at being carded at my age I’d probably have a heart attack,) there is one other oblique reference I’ve seen and I don’t know what they’re meaning.

Some of the literature makes reference to age verifications on websites and as required for purchases. This implies to me that the data might be requested by certain sites. This would negate having to make a photo copy of your Driver’s license then email it to someone you don’t know. I’ve always hated having to assume that they’re going to handle the data properly and delete the copy of the driver’s license when it’s no longer necessary. The implication is that somehow the relevant data only, will be presented to the requestor thereby minimizing security risks.

I have a real problem when medical facilities, or insurance companies, or banks make copies of my social security card and driver’s license. I’ve said often to these people their procedure is just begging for fraud and id theft. In recent years a number of medical office breaches have proven my point.

It’s possible that the digital ID could curb or at least add a stumbling block to ID theft and I’m all for that.

I have no idea what sites they’re talking about. I’ll perhaps try looking at an adult site first.

Funny thing about adult sites, is that their security is pretty damn impressive and they are also among the first folks to adopt new technology.

My adoption of this technology may, (likely will,) result in nothing much different in my daily, weekly, or even yearly life. It might be that until a substantial number of states adopt the technology it will largely be a nothing burger.

Additionally, should I leave California, there are very few states that have adopted the technology that I’d choose to move to.

Based on the current list, Ohio? They don’t have a lot of favorable policies towards retired folks. So it’s likely that I’ll have it, then lose it.

Maybe Arizona? That would depend on where. Phoenix is right out. Flagstaff? Wilson? I’m not 100% convinced, but trying to keep an open mind.


Update: Apologies!  I just found out that Auto correct isn’t working in the Title Field in my blogging application.