Joe Rossignol, writing for MacRumors:

As noticed by @StellaFudge, and by other users who have installed the first macOS Tahoe beta, the Time Machine page in the System Settings app now indicates that the next major version of macOS — aka macOS 27 — will no longer support the AirPort Time Capsule or any other storage drives that use the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP).

When this change eventually ships, the only first-party way to backup a Mac without directly connecting a drive to it, is by sharing a drive/folder over the network from another Mac.

This can be done, of course, but is far more complicated for less tech-savvy users and means you’ll need to manage multiple Macs.

I wish Apple would just offer an elegant solution again — they never should have discontinued the Time Capsule.

➝ Source: macrumors.com

John Gruber, in reference to The New York Times’ piece on Apple, China, and user privacy:

It’s a big report, but the above is fundamentally true and gets to the heart of the conflict: physical access to the hardware in the facility is game over. But what’s missing from the whole piece is any serious discussion of what else Apple could do. Apple has no option other than to comply with Chinese law, or else stop selling products in the country.

Option A: Apple does what it did — store all Chinese users’ iCloud data on servers in China, under the ultimate control of the Chinese government.

Option B: Apple refuses to do so, and the Chinese government shuts down iCloud in China and probably bans the sale of Apple devices.

Is there an Option C? I don’t think there is.

There’s a very clear and obvious Option C — build Apple products that are less reliant on iCloud.

If access to the physical servers is the biggest privacy issue, then give users the tools to effectively opt-out of it entirely and take control of their own data.

Why can’t the iPhone backup to a shared Time Machine drive on the local network? Macs have been able to do this for years. It’s not as if iPhone’s have some sort of hardware limitation — the iPhone of today is significantly more capable than the Macs of 2008, when Time Capsule was first introduced.

Backing up your device to iCloud is actually the biggest point of failure of iMessage’s security. Despite the fact that iMessage is encrypted end-to-end when sending messages, Apple can access and view your messages within iCloud backups. If Apple offered a more convenient way to backup your iPhone locally, it would give users the option of better security if they prefer it.

Reintroducing Time Capsule would be the best way to do this, as it would be an easy, single-purchase solution for users that want to own their data.

But it could go beyond just device backups — Apple could pitch the Time Capsule as “iCloud at Home” and mimic many of the services that iCloud offers on a box that you physically control.

iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive, Notes, and any other service that syncs or stores data in iCloud could be stored locally on a Time Capsule. Apple’s servers would just be there to tell the device I’m using how to connect to the Time Capsule on my home network. In other words, Apple facilitates the connection and then my devices talk directly with the Time Capsule using end-to-end encryption.

This would seemingly eliminate offsite backups, leaving you vulnerable to data loss if there was a fire, flood, or something else that physically damages your Time Capsule. But this could be solved too. Apple could develop a system where you could pair a Time Capsule in your home with a Time Capsule in a friend or family members home giving them the ability to backup data to each other. Synology already offers this, actually.

But of course, there’s always the possibility that China pulls the rug out from these endeavors — enacting policies or practices that hamper these types of services or outlaws the sale of Time Capsules outright. But at least Apple would be making more of an effort. And a rising tide raises all ships — I imagine a lot of iPhone users would jump at the opportunity to buy an “iCloud at Home” Time Capsule to take greater ownership of their data.

And then there’s the issue of censorship in the App Store. This one is simple and I’ve advocated for it a number of times, even outside of the discussion of China — open up the platform to apps from outside the App Store. Make it more difficult to police iOS software by decentralizing.

This would almost certainly introduce the possibility of spyware on the platform, but given China’s relationship with large tech companies, one could argue that this is already happening. The difference is, if there was an app that the Chinese government didn’t want their citizens to have access to, instead of it simply being banned from the App Store, they would be be able to install it. Albeit through underground channels. But even that would be tremendously empowering.

Bradley Chambers, writing for 9 to 5 Mac:

When Apple was selling home routers for $199, they were ahead of their time. They had built a router that was high-end, easy to manage, and worked well. Around the rest of the industry, companies were selling home routers that were hard to manage (if step #1 is to log in to an IP address, you missed it), required rebooting, and couldn’t handle the load.

Since Apple took its eye off of the home router business (The AirPort lineup was dead for many years before the announcement), users have started to buy more expensive solutions. Solutions like Eero, Google WiFi, and AmpliFi have shown that people will invest in their home Wi-Fi. Even solutions from ISPs like Comcast have gotten into the business of upgrading your home Wi-Fi.

I’ve written about this idea before, but I’m glad Bradley is bringing it back to the conversation — AirPort was a huge missed opportunity for Apple. They could have integrated mesh networking into the HomePod and Apple TV, which would have increased their functionality in a meaningful way when compared to competing devices. I bet there are a lot of people that would have purchased an Apple TV or a HomePod to be used as their home’s primary base station.

But Apple could have gone further, releasing an updated Time Capsule that allowed for local backups of iOS devices. And even introduced a new AirPort Extreme with an integrated cable modem.

Between HomeKit devices, iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, your home’s Wi-Fi network has never been more important than it is today. And I think it would have served Apple well if they continued to offer a home networking solution that integrated with all of your existing devices in ways that only Apple could.

Stephen Hackett:

It used to be that to run a Time Machine Server, you needed to be running a copy of macOS Server on your host machine, but those days are now gone. Anyone running High Sierra or later on a Mac can now turn that Mac into a destination for remote machines to use for Time Machine.

Say you have a Mac mini on your network, and a MacBook Pro. You can hook up an USB hard drive to that Mac mini, and within a few minutes, be backing your MacBook Pro up across your network using Time Machine.

Saved for future reference, when I eventually retire our Time Capsule and buy an Eero kit.

It was a sad day when Mark Gurman revealed that Apple was discontinuing development of their AirPort routers. I could usually pass off a rumor like this as just a rumor, but considering the source, it’s likely true. Mark Gurman has an impeccable track record when it comes to Apple’s future plans and I doubt this particular news is any different.

But the home network is the foundation by which all of Apple’s products are built. And I think it would be foolish for them to completely abandon the market. I can see why the current lineup may be failing, though. They don’t offer much above and beyond what other manufacturers’ products do, but they’re much more expensive. Designing new, mesh-capable routers that offer modern functionality — like Siri support or a whole-home backup solution — would go a long way towards enticing new customers and would allow Apple to continue charging premium prices.

If Mark Gurman says that Apple has disbanded the AirPort team, I’m sure it’s true, but I can still hold out hope that Apple is halting development of their current router lineup in an effort to build something new to replace it with.

The first product in this new lineup would be an internet-connected speaker with a built-in microphone for Siri — let’s call it the “Apple Hi-Fi”. It would be built-on iOS, directly compete with Amazon’s Echo, and integrate with all of Apple’s services. There would be an app for iOS that handles the setup process — you give it your iCloud and iTunes credentials, alongside your existing Wi-Fi password (if you’re adding it to a network) and the Apple Hi-Fi takes care of the rest.

Of course, the Apple Hi-Fi’s Siri implementation would be able to respond to queries about the weather, set timers, and read Wikipedia articles, but Apple would have a big advantage over competitors by integrating their services. There’s dozens of potential opportunities here, but this is a handful of my favorite ideas:

• AirPlay functionality for playback from Macs and iOS devices.
• Apple Music integration for streaming music from the cloud.
• Reading the latest headlines from Apple News.
• Informing you about upcoming iCloud calendar events.
• Communicating over iMessage.
• Perform FaceTime audio calls.
• Telling you the location of friends and family with Find My Friends.
• Control HomeKit devices.

The thought of Apple building an Amazon Echo competitor is exciting, but once you consider the huge potential for unique functionality, this thing starts to sound like a real home run product. As long as Apple is willing to swing for the fences, this thing could be huge.

From a hardware standpoint, I don’t expect the Apple Hi-Fi would look too dissimilar from the Amazon Echo or Google Home. It would undoubtedly feature Apple’s own aesthetics, but would be more or less cylindrical in shape with ports on the back. The major change would be its ability to act as a home router in addition to its Siri functionality.

The next product would be a spiritual successor to their current AirPort Time Capsule — I’d call it “Apple Time Capsule”. Much like the current model, it would feature an integrated, multi-terabyte hard drive for use with Time Machine and simple shared storage. But it could also be a target for iOS backups as well. This would be perfect for users who want local backups of all of their devices to shrink the amount of downtime during hardware failures — restoring from a Time Capsule would be much quicker than from iCloud.

But iOS backups alone wouldn’t be enough. The Time Capsule could be given your iCloud credentials and, if enabled, would automatically encrypt and upload all data stored on its drive to iCloud. Whenever any of the files change, those changes would remain in-sync with the copies on iCloud. This would make the Time Capsule a whole-home backup solution that offers local and offsite copies.

Apple could continue offering their current prices for iCloud storage, but would treat Time Capsule backups as a separate entity, charging a flat monthly fee for the service. The amount of storage available to you would be tied to the amount of storage inside your Time Capsule — when you reach your limit, the oldest backups would be automatically deleted to make room for the new ones.

This new Time Capsule would be the device most-likely used as your main Wi-Fi base station. So although any of Apple’s new routers could be used this way, the Time Capsule would be the only one that features multiple Ethernet ports for a wired network.

The last product I’d have in Apple’s new router lineup would actually be the Apple TV. Apple could add the ability for their set-top-box to act as a home router or extend an existing network with mesh capabilities. The current Apple TV already has an Ethernet port, why couldn’t you connect that to your modem and setup the network on your television with the Siri Remote?

With the Apple TV, Apple Hi-Fi, and Apple Time Capsule, the company would be able to offer one complete thought around home networking. Each appliance would have the ability to be your main base station or contribute to a mesh network. But in addition to that, they’d each offer unique functionality that goes above and beyond the typical home router.

Each customer would be able to mix and match these products to fit their home’s needs. Maybe you want two Apple TVs and a Hi-Fi; a Time Capsule and an Apple TV; one of each; or just a Time Capsule — simply pick one to be your main base station and setup the others to connect to it. This is exactly the type of product lineup that I have come to expect from Apple — deeply integrated into all of their services and built to work together. I hope that disbanding the AirPort team was the first step towards a future lineup like this.

Peter Cohen and Lory Gil, writing for iMore:

If you’re using any one, individual technique to make sure your Mac is backed up, you may be wondering why you have to combine strategies at all. The main reason is redundancy: You don’t want a single point of failure in the system to keep you from gaining access to the files that you need.

My current backup system includes all of my Macs running Time Machine pointed at our Time Capsule and myself occasionally making clones with SuperDuper. I know it’s not as comprehensive as it should be. Here are the two main problems:

• I don’t have an offsite backup.
• There’s no system in place for regular SuperDuper clones — I do them when I think about it, which is less frequently than I should.

What I hope to do in the future is sign up for BackBlaze, which will give me an offsite solution, and setup a reminder system for cloning.

This Christmas was more hectic than most. Between the house fire at my fiancée’s parents’ and my busy work schedule, there wasn’t as much time for friends and family as there usually is. We did manage to get together a few times for food, games, and a bit of gift giving — I just wish we could have played a few more rounds of Puke (my new favorite card game).

My fiancée and I always enjoy exchanging presents with one another for the holidays, but we’re often able to figure out what each gift is before we even open it — our wishlists are fairly short. This year was no different. I bought her a Coach bag and a pair of Hunter rain boots, she bought me the Super Mario Maker Wii U bundle and Yoshi’s Woolly World.

She’s already moved all of her carry-along items to the new purse and absolutely loves it. And  I have spent several hours playing through 100 Mario Challenge and trying to beat a few of Dan Ryckert’s insanely difficult levels in Mario Maker. Seriously, this game is incredible. It’s no wonder Giant Bomb named it game of the year.

But there was a couple of other gifts I received this year that have me thinking. Two Apple Store gift cards, one from my future sister-in-law and another from my future mother-in-law, totaling $75. I currently plan on using it toward one of three options, but I’m having a bit of difficulty deciding which.

My first option is to use it toward the purchase of a new Apple TV. This would catch me up with the rest of the cool kids who’ve been using it for the past few months. It would allow me to transition my media server setup from iTunes to Plex — which seems to be what everyone else is using these days — and would let me experience the tvOS platform.

But the biggest downside to jumping on the Apple TV this early is that there just doesn’t seem to be a killer app for it. There’s plenty of entertainment apps and games, but nothing I feel like I need to have. I currently have a third-generation Apple TV in my living room and it works just fine. It already supports all of the streaming services I want and I can take or leave the gaming features.

I’ve already gone several years without my streaming box having the ability to play games and I’ve been able to get by just fine without it. And now that I have a Wii U, any desire to play games can be solved by switching my TV’s input to HDMI 2 and playing some Mario Maker. The new Apple TV is neat and I definitely want to purchase one at some point, but there just isn’t enough right now to justify purchasing one.

The second option is to expand my collection of Apple Watch bands. I wear a white sport band everyday and plan on purchasing a midnight blue leather loop in the next few months for more formal events (like my wedding), but I wouldn’t mind having a couple more sport bands in different colors.

Buying another sport band was my immediate thought when I was given the first Apple Store gift card, though it seems a little lackluster when compared to buying a new Apple TV. I’m sure I’ll purchase a few more watch bands at some point, but probably not from this set of gift cards.

The final option, and most sensible of the batch, is to purchase a new Time Capsule for my home network. The one I’m currently using is a first-generation model and was has recently added to Apple’s list of obsolete products. It still gets the job done and I’m not seeking faster speeds on my Wi-Fi network — the primary bottleneck is still my broadband connection. But I am worried about how much longer the backups I’m making to its hard drive will continue to be reliable. The drive’s about seven years old at this point and I don’t want to chance it much longer.

The nice thing is that Apple currently has refurbished Time Capsules with 2TB of storage for $179. That’s a pretty great deal when you take into account the cost of 2TB hard drives and nice routers these days. It was originally released in 2013, so it’s entirely possible that Apple is working on a updated version to be released sometime this year. And of course, it is refurbished, which means it could have a shorter lifespan than a brand new product. But nearly everything I’ve read about Apple’s refurbished store has been positive.

I’m clearly leaning towards using my Apple Store gift cards to purchase a refurbished Time Capsule. But there’s still the possibility that some clever developer could come up with the tvOS app or Apple could release new Watch bands that I just need to have. I don’t plan on pulling the trigger for another few weeks — there’s still plenty of time for me to be swayed in a different direction.

A week or two before Thanksgiving I always end up getting the same email from family and friends — “what do you want for Christmas this year?” To which I generally reply with “I don’t know, I’ll try to come up with a list for you.”

I’m a terrible procrastinator and my girlfriend typically ends up having to give everyone suggestions on what gifts I would like each year — which I really appreciate. But this year, and every year before it, I go into the holidays determined to come up with a list of stuff I want. And, I always end up unsuccessful in my list making endeavor. Each year there’s less and less stuff I actually want. Especially since I’ve been so particular about the things I’ve wanted for so long that I can’t even ask for upgrades to things I already have, because I still have the one I want.

So I’ve decided to compile a list of the things I own and love, intermixed with a few things I want or always want more of, in hopes of helping someone out there get their family off their back or help someone get an idea of what to purchase for the geek in their life.

Electronics

Jawbone Jambox: I received one for my birthday this year and I use it even more often than I thought I would. I’ve tinkered around with various speakers for my iPhone and this is by far the best. The long battery life and the ability to use it wirelessly are among it’s best features. But, I also love the charming voice it uses to tell me it’s in “pairing mode” or what the current battery charge is.

Apple TV: I’ve been using the Apple TV since the first generation and it’s been the core of my media setup (which I will continue to write about soon) for just as long. An AirPlay receiver, a Netflix streamer, a YouTube viewer, and more content providers added often enough to say so. It really is the most elegant internet-connected media device I’ve ever had the opportunity to use. I’ve been pounding the Apple TV drum for years and don’t see any signs of stopping. It’s my favorite thing in the living room.

iTunes Gift Cards: If you’re not using an Apple device by now you’re probably doing something wrong. And, what better way to make use of that Apple device than by purchasing apps or media for it. Everyone can always use an iTunes Gift Card.

Twelve South Compass: I’ve had the Compass for years and it’s my favorite iPad stand. I’m sure other, more “hip” stands have been released since then, but the Compass is still my go to. It’s compact and has two different heights depending on how you’d like to use it (of which I regularly use both) and comes with a soft case for travel.

Tom Bihn Ristretto: I have the older version of the Ristretto for my 11-inch MacBook Air and I really love it. It’s compact, stylish, and spacious enough to carry all of my gadgets while traveling. The older version I had did have some issues because contents could fall out if the bag was ever turned upside down (even while snapped closed). But, the latest version of the bag prevents that from happening by including a zipper to contain items in the smaller compartment. It’s a little bit more expensive than a lot of other bags but there’s a lot to be said about the quality of the materials used and the good feeling from knowing that your bag was made in the US.

Apple EarPods: I know they aren’t cool-guy headphones that audiophiles want, but they fit my ears well and sound good enough to me. I really enjoy having the in-line controls and microphone and mine have even lived through a few trips in the washer and drier without skipping a beat. I keep my iPhones for two years before I get a new one but always have to replace the headphones after about one year of use. So, they usually end up on my wish list at some point during the year.

Apple Lightning Cables: I have dozens of iPad and iPhone chargers laying around the house but I only have two Lightning cables (the one that came with my iPhone 5s and the one that came with my girlfriend’s). The iPhone 5s’ battery life is incredibly good but I do find myself at times wishing I had a charger nearby that could actually charge my current iPhone, which usually results in heading into the bedroom to take the cable from the charger next to my bed. Which I later have to search for when I head to bed because I forgot where I left it. Having a few extra Lightning Cables in the house would come in handy.

Logitech Harmony One: I can’t imagine running my home theater setup without a universal remote. And, that’s a considerable statement coming from someone who typically watches all of his media with an Apple TV. But, a universal remote makes everything so much easier. Having to switch inputs on both an audio receiver and the television whenever you use a different device is just far too much fiddling around. Especially if I want the ability to hand a houseguest the remote and trust that they’ll be able to figure things out without the need to ask a bunch of questions. And, the Logitech Harmony line of remotes is by far the best universal remotes available. The Harmony One is the model I have but Logitech also makes other, cheaper models if you interested in going that route.

Apple Time Capsule: Let’s face it, backing up is important and no one does it. The Time Capsule makes it easy. Just turn on Time Machine and stop thinking about it. In the past there has been some question about the reliability of Time Capsules but I’ve had mine for years and never had a problem accessing a backup.

Kitchen and Home

Chicago Cutlery Knives: Everyone needs a good set of knives and my recommendation is Chicago Cutlery. Their relatively inexpensive, durable, well balanced, and sharp. There’s nothing like dicing an onion with a Chicago Cutlery knife. I almost always reach for their Santoku — its a great general purpose knife. So, if you’re just going to buy one I’d suggest their 7-inch Ashland Santoku knife.

Kitchen Aid Toaster Oven: It’s no Breville, but I’ve used this toaster oven for two years and it’s my favorite appliance in the kitchen. It’s much quicker at pre-heating than our full-sized oven and helps keep the heat in the kitchen down during the summer months. The reviews on Amazon aren’t overwhelmingly favorable but I’m not quite sure why. In terms of price compared to performance I think this toaster oven is on par or better than the vast majority of it’s competitors. I’m firmly opposed to the use of microwaves in kitchens — I think that they make food rubbery and unevenly cooked. And, the typical extra 15 minutes that it takes to cook is well worth the better tasting food that comes out of it. If I was to suggest one thing to purchase to upgrade your kitchen I would snap-suggest a toaster oven.

Life Factory Water Bottle: I bring a water bottle with me to work everyday and this is the one I use. It does have a bit of a problem where some water will get around the edge of the bottle while traveling with the standard cap. But, Life Factory has released two new caps that should help eliminate that problem. I own one of the flip caps and have been considering one of the straw caps because drinking with a straw is so much better for your teeth when drinking things other than water.

SodaStream: This is the one item in this list that I do not own. But, if you’re a fan of Merlin Mann you know that you should probably own one. Who wouldn’t love home-carbonated water?

Any American Apparel Shirt: I’ve been a fan of American Apparel shirts for several years and they’re wonderful. More specifically their Tri-Blend t-shirts are the most comfortable shirts I’ve ever owned. They’re basically the only kind of shirt I want to wear for the rest of my life. If you’re looking for shirts with nifty designs I regularly feature shirts on Geek Tees that are printed on American Apparel.

Pens: I’ve carried a pen in my pocket every day of my life since I was 14-years-old. It’s a habit I picked up from my father that I continue to this day. I personally have been using the Zebra F-301 in blue for the past few years and have been more than happy with it. The ink refills last about 6-8 months for me and can be found for about $2 online.

Holstee Upcycled Wallet: For the past two and a half years I’ve been using the Upcycled Wallet by Holstee and it’s held up incredibly well (especially considering it’s made out of newspapers and plastic bags). It’s thin and holds exactly what I need — nothing more, nothing less. Which is what I looked for in a wallet. I didn’t want something that was unable to hold everything I needed but also didn’t want something that would encourage me to carry too much junk with me at all times. I wrote about my Holstee wallet on minimal wallet earlier this year and what I said then still holds true: “As long as I’m still able to purchase them, I don’t expect myself to want a different wallet ever again.”

Braun Cruzer Face: I hate shaving, I think most men do. It’s time consuming and the cost of shaving creams, razors, etc. add up over time. So, when I “shave” I typically just trim down to stubble, I think it looks better than clean shaven and takes me quite a bit less time in the morning (you don’t have to go quite so slow when your not running a blade across your face). I’ve used the Braun Cruzer Face as my go to shaver for nearly two years and haven’t found anything I dislike about it.

Board and Card Games

Ticket to Ride: One of my favorite board games. It’s easy to learn and fun to play. It has enough strategic depth to keep hardcore board gamers happy while still being easy enough to allow newcomers to enjoy the game as well. If you’re interested in dipping your toes into euro-style games I suggest starting with Ticket to Ride. And, with several expansions available I’m sure you’ll be playing Ticket to Ride for years to come.

A Good Deck of Cards: There’s nothing more versatile in the world of card and board games than a simple deck of cards. Queens, Rummy, and Spoons are a few of my favorites but there are countless games to play with a simple deck of cards.

Skip-Bo: This is one of my favorite games this year, and it’s a game that everyone knows how to play. But, did you know there are team rules? Your partner sits across from you and during your turn you can play cards from their discard piles or stack as if they were your cards. The winning team is the first to use all of the cards in both of their starting stacks. It’s incredibly fun and changes a lot of how you play (like deciding to discard a different card then you normally would in order to give your partner more options on their turn). Learning the team rules was really what made me want to start playing this game again, a game that we always had laying around but I was never excited about playing. Now, I want to play it all the time.

Sorry!: Another game that had a lot of life added to it by learning a new variation. Growing up the version of Sorry that we played simply involved flipping over the top card on your turn and doing whatever the card said. But, this past year I learned about playing Sorry with a five card hand and play in teams. Similar to Skip-Bo, playing on a team basically allows you to move your partner’s pawns as well as your own with the winners being the first team to get all of their pawn into each of their color’s home base. Because of the new variation that I learned this year, Sorry was probably my second most played game behind Skip-Bo. I even went out and purchased a Sorry board after midnight on the night I learned how to play the new variation. I didn’t even have any more time to play that night, but I couldn’t wait any longer to have a Sorry board at my house to play whenever I wanted to.

Dutch Blitz: The first time I played Dutch Blitz I was hooked. It’s like playing a game of Skip-Bo with up to three other players in which each player’s turn is happening at the same time. Saying that the game is fast paced is an understatement, it’s the quickest game I’ve ever played. Which is not to say that the games don’t last long — each round could last anywhere from 1-5 minutes — but the speed at which you have to flip through your wood pile, build on your post piles, and build on the table’s dutch piles is faster than any other game I’ve seen. You have to move quick to win and if you blink you’ll find yourself losing in a hurry. That might not sound like a raving endorsement but each round is exhilarating and leaves you wanting to play more. I’ve been playing Dutch Blitz for nearly ten years and I’m always up for a game.

Electronics, kitchen, home, board games, and card games. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a gift on my wish list that didn’t fit into one of those categories. So, get shopping or find something to ask for from your friends and family.