Apple Futures and Backups
by Tom Piper, Coordinator
This Apple World User Group University online gathering of Apple user group leaders was held at 5:00pm CDST, on August 16, 2021, via Zoom. We had 31 participants for the topic of “Apple Futures and Backups” (see attached PDF image and attendance list). The 65-minute video can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/LBzbYiXEN58 (unlisted on YouTube).
This session opened with my welcome, plus a quick review of the meeting protocols. Doug Smith, Chair of the Apple User Group Advisory Board (AUGAB) members was present to support this call.
The format for this meeting was an open discussion about Apple’s new devices with M1 chips, initiated by an explanation by Dan Wassink about the new Mac computers and iPad Pros early experiences since their November 2020 introduction. Numerous others joined in this discussion, and to describe a variety of different backup devices and methods, noting that Carbon Copy Cloner now works with M1 Macs for bootable clones, but that Time Machine and cloud storage is also best for restorable storage. It was also noted that March 31 is now recognized as World Backup Day (http://www.worldbackupday.com/), and that “Friday the 13th” might also be a good reminder too. The following links were offered for further information on this meeting’s topics:
• Dan Wassink: https://eclecticlight.co/m1-macs/ and https://mjtsai.com/blog
• George Brooks: https://eclecticlight.co/2021/05/28/why-cloning-big-sur-isnt-as-useful-for-an-m1-mac/ and https://www.backblaze.com/ and https://www.banktivity.com/webinars/
• Ann McKay: http://www.worldbackupday.com
• Steve Walsh: https://tidbits.com/2021/08/13/international-verify-your-backups-day/ and https://nationaltoday.com/world-backup-day/
• Tom Piper: OWC/eshop.macsales.com/EnvoyExpress
This was followed by a generous offer described by Chita Hunter of Naples MacFriends User Group for all members of AWUGU-affiliated MUGs to attend their five September meetings for free (to register, email registrar@naplesmug.com, and in the message subject field include September and the affiliated AUG name, see website naplesmug.com > Meetings for September meeting details).
We are very pleased with this seventh meeting of 2021. Files related to this meeting are available on our AWUGU shared folder: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0kF7XwYI98VG0fqvL86PJm02g#AWUGU.
Concerns about returning to face-to-face or mixed format user group meetings was agreed as the topic for our next meeting, to be called “Zoom to Hybrid Meetings”, which is tentatively scheduled for September 20, 2021, at 5:00pm Central Daylight Savings Time. This may also include some discussion about the release of the new iOS, macOS and other operating systems.
All AWUGU previous registrants will receive an invitation to all future meetings. To become a participant, any interested Apple User Group leader must first register with the AWUGU Coordinator by emailing their name, location, and user group name and web link to macquest@mac.com. Registration must be received by June 19 in order to receive a Zoom Meeting invitation (a download of the free Zoom app in advance is also necessary, and an update will be important for existing users).
