I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to do this. I’ve always thought it would be nice to have emails from non-people go to a separate folder. I’m glad I finally figured this out.

The first time I created the rule I didn’t include the account Selection. After some further researching I found this option and am very happy that I did. Without it, having multiple email accounts with Rules would be confusing and potentially disastrous.

I created a SHORTCUT app, which is really just a shortcut on the Home Screen to make it easier to toggle SILENCE UNKNOWN CALLERS. And by “created”, I mean I googled it until I found it online. It’s very helpful when I’m expecting a number call from someone I don’t know. Normally this would be a call from Microsoft tech-support.

There are several different Shortcut “apps” out there if you google it. I’m not sure which one or approach works the best for me. I also found one that just quickly takes you to the appropriate pane in the SETTINGS app.

I’m really digging the built-in translation features on iOS. It’s easy to simply type something in English highlight it and then tap translate.

我真的在挖掘iOS上的内置翻译功能。简单地用英语键入一些东西，突出显示它，然后点击翻译。

Realmente me gustan las funciones de traducción integradas en iOS. Es fácil simplemente escribir algo en inglés, resaltarlo y luego tocar traducir



I upgrade some networking equipment so now my MacBookPro gets 1.1Gbps via wi-fi and 1.6Gbps via network cable. This was facilitated by

• upgrading AT&T fiber from 1Gbps to 2Gbps - This is obviously the most important upgrade. This was easily done via the myAT&T iPhone app.
• purchasing two small 2.5Gb switches. I needed one next to my AT&T modem and one in my wiring closet which is in a different part of the house.

The AT&T fiber modem only has one LAN port that supports speeds in excess of 1Gbp, a 5Gb port. But since I only upgraded to 2Gbp internet, I only needed a 2.5Gb switch. Also, I have CAT5e network cable in my walls which only practically supports up to 2.5Gb reliably or at least that’s my understanding. I’m quite new to this MGig world.

My wireless access points are a mix of Wi-fi 5 and 6 Plumes. I only recently learned that one of the two network cable ports on the Wi-fi 6 ones is 2.5Gb. So the hope is that they can take advantage of the 2Gbs internet speeds with newer computers with wi-fi 6 radios. I’m not convinced yet that this is happening because 1.1Gbps which I got is not quite high enough to convince me 100% it’s happening. It’s highly suggestive, though, because before upgrading I would usually top out at 900Mbps.

Apple recently released iOS 17.3 which makes it harder for thieves to use your phone even if they know your iPhone pin. This is relevant to a post I made a few weeks ago regarding reporting on bad people stealing iPhones after determining a person’s PIN code.

I recommend turning it on.

I decided to take a networking class at the community college. I wanted to have a Gmail account that I could use for the class so I created a new one. So the account is less than a day old, and when I went to log into it again I got this message. So this has me really freaked out. Not because I had any data in it but because what happens if they cancel my other accounts in which I do have data?

Follow up: the next day after I submitted an appeal Google re-activated my account. By then, though, I had already created another account.

I finally got around to installing HomeBridge on my Synology server. There are many smart home devices that don’t work natively with Apples iPhone Hone app. Homebridge is a program running on a server that bridges that gap. It talks to the devices and also talks to the Home app on my iPhone. 

It was easier than I thought it was going to be. I thought I was going to have to use Docker or some kind of container technology, but it was just an app that took a few clicks to install. The only thing I haven’t been able to get to work is my GE Cync lights. And those basically aren’t very reliable using the official GE app itself. So I’m not surprised. 

Back in the day, Google didn’t charge for storage for photos.google.com. So I configured it as “backup” for everyone in my family even though everyone primarily used Apple photos. And I even used it as my primary photo repository. Well since then Apple provided family sharing of iCloud storage which significantly reduced the cost of everyone going all in on Apple Photos for their photo storage and Google started charging for their photo storage.

So I made the decision a year ago to go all in on Apple Photos and delete Google photos. I have done everything needed except I haven’t been able to delete all the photos in Google photos which would allow me to stop paying for Google One for more storage. The hold up is that there is no way to easily delete all your photos. This extension which works well basically automates the process of selecting 1000 photos at at time and deleting them. So it’s still not 1 button and you are done. It’s more like 1 button and wait an hour or more. But done is done and I’m happy to have found this.

I use waveapps.com for my accounting and for the most part I think it’s great - certainly can’t beat the price. But I was beating my head against the wall because the balance for an account I had didn’t make any sense. I thought to myself certainly their software wouldn’t make a mistake adding and subtracting entries in an account - the most basic accounting functionality I can think of. But, alas, they were. It turns out there is a magic re-calculate button that forces a recalculation of balances and that did the trick.