Apple based system: How to profit from a Mac, iPhone, & iPad

This video introduction will help you to understand how I profit from using Apple devices.

How I profit from Apple devices?

1. More fun to use
   • Good looking devices
   • Intuitive to use and feel just right
2. Save time
   • Apps are working well together on all devices
   • 50% less system maintenance
3. Save money
   • Small Business without IT person and admin
   • Less downtime
   • Time is money (saving the cost of a laptop every 3 years)

Can you find any information in 30 seconds or less (within the time of this lecture)?

For example you should be able to find:

• a business card from your customer on your iPhone to call ahead and to navigate to the address
• an email from TripAdvisor on your Mac to book your next vacation
• the appointment with your lawyer on your Mac to prepare the discussion
• the guide map for your vacation on your iPad to understand your dining options

The most important principle is to update my software automatically. Learn why and see how easy it is on OS X and iOS devices.

1. Why update the operating system and the apps automatically?
   
   • First question from Apple support is which OS and app version are you using (must be important ;-)
   • Most bug fixes will improve the performance of my system
   • Newest features can enable faster workflows and save me time
2. How I update OS X and apps on my Mac (screencast demonstration)
3. How I update OS X and apps on my iPhone and iPad (screencast demonstration)
   

Get an overview why iCloud is so important for my system. Understand the difference between an Apple ID and an iCloud account.

1. What is iCloud?
   
   • cloud storage and cloud computing service from Apple
   • iCloud is the glue that creates a system out of individual devices
2. What can I do with iCloud?
   • save all types of digital assets in the cloud and access them with any device
   • share and send data to other users
   • locate a lost Apple device and swipe it remotely
   • family sharing avoids to pay double or triple for digital assets
   • iCloud drive to share all of my files, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
   • emails, calendars, contacts, notes, reminders and bookmarks are synchronized on all devices
3. How can I activate iCloud?
   • Log into the same iCloud account on all devices

My entire system needs to be ready to go at any time. Learn how I fix these little things to support 100% system availability.

1. How is this different from the first principle?
   
   • principle 1 focuses on the software from both Apple stores
   • covers only 80% of the standard system maintenance
2. 100% system availability includes
   • all software programs
   • all email accounts (including my own company accounts and own domains)
3. Examples:
   • Microsoft Office security updates
   • Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash
   • Screenflow
   • Skype
   • LastPass
   • SugarSync
   • Confluence
   • HipChat
   • etc.
4. I'm including the Apple support as my partner, I already paid for it!
   

Learn why I use the free software that comes with the Apple devices.

1. Reasons why I use them
   
   • already paid for them and they are installed on all devices
   • most of them are very usable
   • apps are contacted through iCloud
   • they work on a much smaller iPhone display
   • Apple has very high adoption rate of new OS X and iOS (improves support)
   • apps from Apple will be updated together with any new OS X or iOS
2. Some apps that I use on a daily basis
   • Mail
   • Calendar
   • Notes
   • Pages
   • Numbers
   • Keynote
3. Example: iCloud email account
   • one of the best email accounts
   • very good junk mail filtering
   • good confidentiality approach

Learn how to protect the data on your OS X and iOS devices, how to backup your data, and other key security settings.

1. Data security is important, especially if you access your
   
   • ...Bank information
   • ...health information
   • ...other sensitive private or business information through your devices
2. Three rule data security concept
   1. Secure password for every device
      • at least 15 characters, one special sign, one capital letter and two numbers.
      • Demonstration and details in the course
   2. Backup automatically through TimeMachine and Backup
   3. Additional cloud based backup storage as needed

This video shows you how to classify the different devices on the market and which ones you might want to consider for your own use.

1. Think system! One mobile device and one Mac.
   
   • increased speed
   • better functionality
   • instant communication
2. Device Pyramid
   • Class 1 (the bottom layer): not mobile (Mac Pro, iMac, or Mac mini)
   • Class 2: somewhat mobile (MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook)
   • Class 3: mobile (iPhone and iPad)
   • Class 4: ultra mobile (Apple Watch)

See which device is best for which purpose. Learn where to draw the line in the device pyramid when it comes to the two different operating systems (OS X and iOS).

1. Mobility vs. capability
   • important properties to recognize
   • excluding each other
2. OS X vs. iOS (the two Apple operating systems)
   • any Mac runs on OS X (a Linux based operating system)
   • iPhone and iPad runs on iOS (the mobile device operating system)
   • the Apple Watch runs on Watch OS (sub-part of the iOS system)

Learn how the Apple store is structured and what you should consider before you purchase.

• Main buttons of the Apple store
  
  • "Apple" (little Apple logo on the top left)
    • current new product
  • "Store"
    • accessories by product and ads
  • "Mac"
    • all OS X devices (shop here for your Mac)
  • "iPhone"
    • best product for your first mobile device (iOS based)
  • "Watch"
    • first ultra mobile device from Apple (Watch OS based)
  • "iPad"
    • nice to have addition to your system (iOS based)
  • "iPod"
    • music player and gaming
  • "iTunes"
    • go here to download iTunes or look for related information
  • "Support"
    • best source if you have any questions

Learn about the Apple devices that I own and for which purpose I am using them.

1. iMac
   
   • Main computer, use it daily in my office
2. MacBook Pro
   • substitutes my iMac when I'm traveling
3. iPhone
   • best mobile device I ever owned, my main phone, use it at least 20 times a day
4. iPad mini
   • I bought it to replace my lost iPad, use it daily
5. Apple Watch
   • brand new device class, had to have it, (more details later)

After reviewing my decision guide, you will have a much better understanding what you should purchase next and why.

1. Main computer mobile or desktop?
   
   • choose e.g. an iMac for your desk (OS X)
   • opt for e.g. a MacBook if you are on the road a lot
2. What is your budget for your system?
   • low (up to $2,000)
   • mid ($2,000 - $6,000)
   • hight ($6,000)
3. Best choice
   • iPhone 6
   • 27" iMac
   • optional for travel: MacBook or MacBook Pro
4. AppleCare
   • Don't forget to add AppleCare to all of your devices! It will reduce the downtime of your system.

Let's have an honest review about how often you should purchase a new computer and mobile devices. You will also learn about Apples lease options.

1. What is the typical lifecycle of a device?
   
   • Most Apple products are updated yearly
   • Desktop: 2-4 years
   • Laptop: 1-2 years
   • Mobile: 1-2 years
2. When will I buy?
   • leasing (Mac): 3 years or less
   • purchase (Mac): 4 years or more
   • iPhone: 2 years
   • iPad/Apple Watch: as needed
3. Consider lease options
   • Two main Financing programs
     • Education Finance Program
     • Commercial Credit Program
   • Three main lease principles:
     • $1 Purchase Option Lease
     • Fair Market Value Lease
     • 10% Purchase Option Lease or Leases that fit your technology budget

I hope you still have some money left. Otherwise how will you print, scan, and backup your data? You will learn what additional hardware makes sense and why.

1. Devices from an Apple store
   
   • AirPort Extreme (802.11 ac technology!)
   • AirPort Time Capsule
   • external hard drive with Thunderbolt support
   • Apple TV
   • speaker for your desktop computer
2. Devices from any online or office store
   • second monitor (HDMI or Thunderbolt connector!)
   • printer (with AirPrint technology!)
   • scanner (Fujitsu ScanSnap iX 500 for direct PDF scanning)
   • UPS and surge protector

I added the two key slides in this lecture. This might come in handy next time you visit an Apple store.

To use your system of Apple devices as intended, you must have an iCloud account. iCloud synchronizes your data from many apps like Mail, Calendar, Contacts etc. to all of your devices. Even Windows user can benefit from an iCloud account in many ways.

In the following lectures you will learn how to set up and use and iCloud account including basic use cases.

Learn how easy it is to get an iCloud account.

We will review the look and feel of the iCloud settings on a Mac computer. Learn how to find it and what you are able to adjust.

A closer look at an iOS device reveals how to find the iCloud settings on your mobile device. Let's review what you can modify.

Learn how Family Sharing and Photo Sharing works with several iCloud accounts.

We will review some typical use-cases of the iCloud functionality. You will learn what the most common ways are to use your iCloud account.

You could argue that you don't need to purchase any other software at all if you use a Mac. The amount of free software that comes with it is a little overwhelming and free does not mean cheap in this case. Learn how I ended up using the free Apple apps.

This is the longest lecture in this course. Finder is probably the most underestimated application of a Mac. Learn how you to use Finder properly to really speed things up.

Learn how powerful search can be.

Safari is a very good choice when it comes to internet browser. However many of us need to use Chrome or Firefox sometime or exclusively. Learn when to make the switch.

Experience the ease of use of the Mail app from Apple. There is really no need to use anything else unless you want to.

Learn the key benefits to these standard applications and how you can use them on all of your devices through iCloud.

Google Maps is still a very good choice when it comes to Map software, however the Maps app from Apple is so well integrated that I will use it first. Learn more about Maps, Messages and FaceTime.

Learn how to manage your photo's and video's inside of the Apple system

Learn why it pays to use these standard Apple tools for your office

The free Apple software covers many areas. However sometimes you will need to add other software to work more efficient. I found this often the case when I'm working together with another people who do not have the corresponding Apple application (e.g. Pages vs. Microsoft Word etc.). Get an overview of the apps that you might want to add to your system.

PDF files are still the golden standard for exchangeability. I will show you the most efficient way to read them and how to install Adobe Flash and why.

Microsoft offers the suite of their Office software also for Mac users. This includes the applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. I use Word and Excel on a regular basis and I will show you why I ended up that way.

Learn why I'm still using Skype on a regular basis.

Learn why Apple's Keychain can cause problems and how LastPass or RoboForm can help.

Learn how this section is structured and what you can expect going through the lectures.

Could not find the serial number when the Apple support was asking for it? Well it's easy and always at the same location.

You are using a cell phone but don't know your own number? Sounds familiar. Learn where to look and how to send it.

Are you really annoyed about how Apple switched the mouse and trackpad to natural scrolling by default? Let me show you why this actually makes sense and how to switch it off in case I can not convince you.

Learn why it makes sense to duplicate a Pages, Numbers, or Keynote file before you start working on the copy.