FAQ/Tutorial – What Does the New Apple Vision Pro Do?

QUESTION: I’ve heard buzz about the new Apple Vision Pro. What exactly is it and what does it do?

ANSWER: The new Apple Vision Pro is described as a spatial computing headset, which means it blends digital content with your physical space. So, for example, if you’re wearing the Apple Vision Pro headset, your FaceTime video tiles will be life-size and appear to be floating in the room, along with screens showing selected apps like Safari or Prime Video. You navigate everything simply by using your eyes, hands, and voice.

Want to feel like you’re somewhere other than your home or office? Apple Vision Pro lets you transform the space around you. Choose from a selection of landscapes including Yosemite and the Moon, or turn your living room into a personal movie theater with the Cinema Environment.

OpenAI’s CEO and co-founder Sam Altman posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he considered Apple Vision Pro to be the “second most impressive tech since the iPhone launched in 2007.” (Presumably, behind OpenAI’s own ChatGPT.) Even though most of us won’t be in the market for the $3,500 device any time soon, the technology is fascinating and something to watch in the years ahead.

CUSTOMER ALERT — CHARITY SCAMS EXPLOIT COMPASSION

A global crisis — from a natural disaster to a humanitarian emergency — will evoke a powerful urge to help. Scammers exploit this compassion for their own gain, weaving elaborate webs of deceit disguised as charitable efforts.

Here are the most common types of fraud used by scammers after such tragedies:

• Fake websites or social media pages that look like they belong to a legitimate charity – Scammers will use the same name or logo as a legitimate charity, or a similar name or logo. They may also copy the charity’s website design or create a fake website that uses a similar web address as the real charity.
• Crowdfunding scams – We’ve all seen people ask for donations on social media to help fund someone’s medical bills or provide aid following a natural disaster. Keep in mind that scammers also use sites like Go Fund Me with fake stories to solicit donations.
• Direct contact with people to ask for donations – This can be done in person, by mail, by phone, or via email, text message, or social media messaging. The scammer may claim to be a representative of a legitimate charity, or say that they’re raising money for a specific individual or family in need.

To protect yourself from these scams, always verify before donating to any charity by using independent resources like Charity Navigator or GiveWell. One rule of thumb that works consistently is to ignore unsolicited pitches. If you didn’t call, text, or email the organization, don’t respond. You’re better off sending money directly to the charity of your choice.

Short Tutorial/FAQ – How do I browse more privately in Chrome or Safari?

If you don’t want Google Chrome to remember your browsing history, you can browse the web privately in Incognito mode. This same type of feature is known as Private Browsing in Safari on Apple devices, and it prevents your browsing from being recorded and stored on your device.

How to Use Icognito Mode in Google Chrome

1. On your computer, open Chrome.
2. At the top right, click the stack of three dots, then select New Incognito Window.
3. A new window appears. In the top corner, check for the Incognito icon (hat and glasses).

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to open an Incognito window:

• Windows, Linux, or Chrome OS: Press Ctrl + Shift + n.
• Mac: Press Command + Shift + n.

You can switch between Incognito windows and regular Chrome windows. You’ll only browse in private when you’re using an Incognito window.

How to Use Private Browsing in Safari

1. Open Safari and click on File in the menu bar at the top.
2. Choose New Private Window, and you will get a new window to browse privately in Safari on Mac.
3. Alternatively, you can use the Mac shortcut Command + Shift + N to access Private Browsing.
4. You will see a dark Smart Search field with white text.
5. If you open multiple tabs within a Private Browsing window, they will work as individual private sessions and Safari won’t share any data between the tabs.

Stay Alert – DON’T FALL FOR ROMANCE SCAMMERS

A romance scam occurs when a criminal creates a fake profile — on social media or through a dating app — and feigns romantic interest to create a feeling of trust and scam the victim out of money. To spot a romance scam, watch for these red flags, which identify what scammers typically do:

• Pretend to be heroes in faraway places. They may claim to be Marines, soldiers, admirals, generals, diplomats, or surgeons.
• Say they’ve “fallen in love” quickly. They’ll often use endearing terms such as “darling” and “love of my life” and attribute the budding romance to destiny or fate, making the victim feel as special as possible.
• Post a profile with vague or few images across platforms. These scammers will usually impersonate someone else and have only one or two images of the person they’re pretending to be.
• Try to move to a more personal communication platform. Dating sites and apps have parameters in place to help spot scammers and ultimately remove them. That’s why scammers may try to quickly get you to move to a more private communication platform, such as emailing or texting.
• Ask for money. If a love interest you’ve met online asks for money before you’ve met in person, you’re being scammed.

If you think someone is a scammer, cut off contact immediately and tell the dating app or social media platform about your concerns.

Short Tutorial/FAQ – What is Extended Reality?


QUESTION: What is Extended Reality and how is it being used?

ANSWER: Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term encapsulating Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and everything in between. XR offers an experience for the senses, where the line between reality and the simulated world becomes blurred as you dive into another world visually, acoustically, and through tactile sensations.

XR is revolutionizing everyday consumer experiences and transforming manufacturing and other industry segments. Here are a few examples:

Retail: XR lets you try out a product before you buy it. For example, IKEA is giving customers the opportunity to place furniture and accessories in their homes using their smartphones.

Training: XR can provide hyper-realistic training tools to help soldiers, medical personnel, pilots/astronauts, chemists, and others to find solutions to problems or learn how to react to dangerous circumstances.

Remote Work: Employees can connect to their home office or to professionals around the world in a way that makes both sides feel like they are in the same room.

Entertainment and Gaming: Consumers can virtually experience live music and sporting events from the comfort of their VR headsets. Gamers can intimately feel what their selected scenes would resemble in the flesh, whether crossing into another era, place, or exploring fantastic futuristic worlds.

Health Care: Medical imaging technologies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans now make extensive use of XR. It gives staff full 3D representations of human bodies rather than traditional 2D imaging.