Do you really need that?

I really appreciate my new MacBook Pro. Except for two things. The latest software update has eliminated all support for 32-bit software. Now for most people, the response is Huh? What is a bit, as apposed to a byte, as apposed to wallaby? But for me, it turns out that the only difference it makes is significant and probably for the better. Big Fish Games (yes, those folks) don’t have 64-bit Mac games. All the games I have wasted time with over the years are 32-bit. I have emailed them, they say they are “working” on getting the games updated.

I don’t believe it for an instant. There is no money in updating old games. It is not likely to sell most of them. Far better to continue to produce new ones. The problem, of course, is that everything in the pipeline is 32-bit. It is saving me money, so that is probably a good thing. However it leaves me with only one game (free from the Apple store) with which to waste my time. Back to the iPad I guess.

The much more irritating change is Apple’s desire to require 2 step identification. On the surface it seems like a good idea, make your device more secure and less likely to be jacked, should it be lost or stolen. But, tell me please, exactly WHY I should have either my face or fingerprint on file with Apple? Especially the fingerprint.

I know that I have fingerprints on file, that is what you have when you spend 33 years in the US military. No sweat. I don’t care if those fingerprints are in law enforcement databases or the FBI because of contributing to the US military. But, I really, really don’t see why a commercial entity such as Apple needs to have my fingerprint. And if any of you really believe that Apple (altho better than FB, Twit, SnpCt, Instawhatever) is not going to use your information, I have beach front property in Scottsdale to sell you.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!
This entry was posted in Computers & Software. Bookmark the permalink.

18 Responses to Do you really need that?

  1. Ron says:

    My Jigsaws Galore still runs on my new iMac which I’m pretty sure is 64 bit. At the very least, there is a free version. The full version lets you easily create your own jigsaws just the way you like them.
    I tried doing a physical jigsaw on the ship today. After spending an hour getting the outside border of a difficult 1000er put together, I took a break. When I returned, it was all back in the box.

    • Holly says:

      What pain. It seems like you need a sign on it say – HEY! I am working on this.

      I do have one of the Jigsaw programs. But I would rather work Jigsaws by hand. Solitaire? No way. Nor can I really do Match3 or Bubble Poppers by hand. Sooner or later, the game site will get fixed….

  2. Ron says:

    I hope George is now sleeping in his own bed again.

    Give him my best in any case.

    • Holly says:

      yes! and had a restful night. No vitals at 0200, no blood draw at 0400, no check 0630 check before shift change!

  3. Ferguson Forensics says:

    Wanted: Beach Front property in Scottsdale! Must come with excellent wi-fi service for MacBook Pro. Wanted: Fake face and fingerprints!

    • Holly says:

      Exactly.

      Or the start of a horror story where Siri sucks off your face and your finger prints

  4. Valerie says:

    Haha – even I know where Scottsdale is!

    I have given up on fingerprint sign in. Mine are now so ‘degraded’ with age that they don’t work! Back to the PIN.

  5. Donna says:

    I disabled two factor authentication . When you have 5 Apple devices, it wants to send 4 different codes, and then also, while traveling, when I have only paid for one device on a cruise, it shuts me down. I agree with the fingerprint. But, don’t worry, the latest greatest is worse. Facial recognition . I have relegated myself to word games. At least I have to think a bit more.

  6. Holly says:

    George did that – which means that it has to cycle through the fact that I am not the expected face, then offer me the four digit option. Perhaps it is ok for men, but WHY?

  7. Mark says:

    It’s turning into ‘Big Brother’ by the mega companies. The mil has enough of info including our DNA. I’d refuse to allow them to have it.

    • Holly says:

      Exactly. I can live with the military and Pathology having samples of me. But Apple? FB? devices in general?

      Beam me up, Scottie

  8. Pat says:

    Snerk. Indeed. My brother just phoned me in a panic because he is in the middle of the California fires, trying to fly out, can’t print a boarding pass because no internet (long story), and he wanted to learn how to organize boarding passes in Apple Wallet…..suggested that just using the app for the specific airline he’s using will be sufficient, and grab a screenshot in case connectivity for the phone is also lost. Keep it simple, and plan backups. We talked about a LOT of different ways in which to make travel easier and less stressful, backups for if this or that happens. I never ever though of myself as being an expert in any of this, but I guess I am compared to most of my family!

    • Holly says:

      I do use Apple Wallet. Which doesn’t seem to make sense given the rest of my attitude – but there is something deeply satisfying about having one location to find all of my tickets and boarding passes from the last six years regardless of airline or event

  9. Chere' says:

    Agreed, & I refuse that nonsense every time. Secondary “recovery email/ phone #s” too.
    The minimum is all they get on me and every search starts with a nontracking site. My spam and junk email are so much better now.

  10. Cheryl says:

    What a mess! I was wondering if you guys were being affected.

Leave a Reply to Mark Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.