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Bradley C

Bradley C

Bradley started his career in telecommunications, working for the original IP TV provider in the US, and also was part of their fiber-to-the-home rollout. From 2009-2021, Bradley worked for a private school, running the information technology department and technology integration in the classroom. He manages a network of 15 switches, 100+ access points, hundreds of Macs and iPads, and multiple phone systems across four separate campuses across the city. He’s well-versed in enterprise Wi-Fi, macOS and iOS system management, school technology, and SaaS tools. Currently, he works at Cribl, where he runs content marketing, helping companies understand how to manage observability data best. At 9to5Mac, Bradley covers HomeKit technology, enterprise software, enterprise hardware, and how Apple fits into the enterprise environment.

If you have any tips, feedback, corrections, or questions, they can be sent to Bradley@9to5mac.com.

Connect with Bradley

Connect with Bradley C

HomeKit Weekly: Why the Google Nest doorbell might be the best HomeKit doorbell available

Google Nest Doorbell

As I was building my new house, I found myself struggling with the decision of which doorbell to go with. I have always been a fan of the privacy and security offered by HomeKit Secure Video, but I was also looking for a doorbell with 24/7 recording. I found myself torn between my love for the privacy of HomeKit and the need for 24/7 recording. After much research, I ended up on Google’s Nest Doorbell. It offered the 24/7 recording feature I was looking for, but I was hesitant about the lack of end-to-end encryption. But ultimately, I decided to go with the Nest doorbell because it’s not a camera inside my home, and the benefits of the 24/7 recording feature outweighed the concern about the encryption.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Microsoft Policies are just IT Policies

Apple at work podcast

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Jason Dettbarn from Addigy returns to the show to talk about System Updates, Conditional Access, and how Microsoft still runs the IT world.

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Aqara matter rollout

Aqara hub M2 firmware update adds Matter support, other hubs coming soon

Aqara is excited to announce the rollout of a new firmware for the Aqara Hub M2, Version 4.0.0 (beta), that adds Matter support to the hubs. Matter is a new standard for IoT devices that enables smart home accessories to work together across brands and ecosystems. This new firmware allows Aqara Zigbee devices to connect to third-party, Matter-ready apps over Wi-Fi. One thing to note, this firmware update does not include enabling of Thread.

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Apple @ Work: In praise of the M1 MacBook Air, and why I still recommend it for business users two years after its release

M1 Macbook Air

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

When it comes to laptops for business, there are a few key things businesses look for. These include reliability, security, performance, and flexibility. Additionally, businesses often prioritize laptops that have long battery life, a slim and lightweight design, and strong business-grade support. Apple, for many years, was struggling to deliver that. The butterfly keyboards, the fans that sounded like an airplane (thanks to Intel), and the uninspired designs had left many business customers struggling with the decision to use Apple.

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HomeKit Weekly: VOCOlinc smart LED floor lamp offers a modern way to light up a bedroom or office

VOCOlinc Smart LED floor lamp

VOCOlinc, a highly underrated HomeKit manufacturer, released a new addition to its portfolio in 2022 that I am excited to review: a smart LED floor lamp. This lamp is not just any ordinary floor lamp, it comes with HomeKit integration, making it a powerful tool for enhancing your smart home setup. In this post, I’ll take a closer look at the design and features of the VOCOlinc Smart LED Floor Lamp, how to add it to HomeKit, and potential use cases.

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HomeKit Weekly: Kasa EP40A sports double outdoor outlets with long-range Wi-Fi connectivity

Kasa EP40A

TP-Link is one of those brands that when you run across one of their product lines, you know you can count on it. I’ve used their switches in my home for as long as I can remember, and it’s as rock solid as you’d imagine. They’ve quietly been building out the Kasa product line, and in my experience, they’ve followed the same dependability as the networking hardware. The brand-new Kasa EP40A brings robust HomeKit control to outdoor outlets, giving you more control over how you use your outdoor lights and appliances than ever before.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Building a healthy password management ecosystem

Apple at work podcast

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Bradley chats with Gary Orenstein from Bitwarden about self hosting, FIDO, open standards, the acquisition of Passwordless.dev, and the role of healthy password management in the enterprise.

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Apple @ Work: Apple said no to business email to say yes to more important initiatives

Apple Business Email

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

As Apple has continued to grow in the enterprise, one area where the company has never ventured into is business email hosting through iCloud. Unlike Google and Microsoft, which offer popular email hosting solutions for businesses with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, Apple has never attempted to compete in this market. In the past, I said they were wrong to avoid an iCloud Email for Business strategy, but as the years have gone on, I am here to admit I was wrong, and Apple was right.

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HomeKit Weekly: Wemo Smart Plug with Thread might be the best value for smart outlet adaptors

Wemo Smart Plug With Thread

Smart outlet adaptors, like the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread, are a great smart home device for newcomers looking to bing some basic home automation to into their lives. Wemo is Belkin’s smart home brand, and they’re actually the very first smart home product I bought nearly ten years ago. Version 4 builds upon previous versions, but brings a HomeKit only focus to the device. Smart outlet adaptors are great devices to have in every room in your home, and here’s three reasons why:

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HomeKit Weekly: The current state of HomeKit door locks

HomeKit Door Lock

Are you tired of fumbling with keys every time you want to enter your home? Do you worry about the security of traditional locks, especially when you’re away from home? If so, it might be time to consider a HomeKit door lock. HomeKit door locks are smart locks that can be controlled and monitored through your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. With HomeKit, you can unlock your door with the tap of a button, or even just by using your voice. You can also set up automation rules to unlock your door at certain times of day, or when certain events occur, such as your arrival home.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: 2023 Apple enterprise predictions

Apple at work podcast

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Bradley chats with Tom Bridge about their 2023 Apple predictions for the enterprise.

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Apple @ Work: How Apple could solve one of the biggest challenges with remote work

Apple Home Wifi

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe.

As I was setting up the technology in my new house, I was going through the process of configuring my new eero Pro 6E Wi-Fi network. I took the time to wipe away everything related to my existing HomeKit network, took the time to deploy a new SSID, a new password, and generally set everything up as new. As I was going through this process, I discovered eero now has an eero Internet Backup, and I again thought of how Apple could have provided a great home Wi-Fi solution and even include mobile device management integration.

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Yeelight Cube Lamp

Yeelight debuts a new Cube Smart Lamp that’s compatible with HomeKit through the Matter Standard

At CES 2023, Yeelight introduced a new product for the Matter Standard that will work inside Apple’s HomeKit: the Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp. This lamp, part of the Yeelight Fun portfolio, is the first Matter-supported product from Yeelight. It consists of three units – Spot, Matrix, and Panel – that can be assembled like bricks on users’ desks and offers multidimensional fun and flexible interactions, thanks to Matter.

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SwitchBot adds HomeKit support to multiple products through the new Matter-compatible Hub

Switchbot HomeKit Matter Hub

One of the promises of Matter is to create an open ecosystem of smart home products that you can use with your preferred platform, meaning products won’t have to be designed for HomeKit, but rather all Matter-compatible products will work with HomeKit. The SwitchBot Hub 2 is designed to work with Matter and will enable other products in the SwitchBot ecosystem to integrate with HomeKit. The first product to be released with this capability will be the SwitchBot Curtain. Read on to learn more about SwitchBot’s HomeKit integration.

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HomeKit Weekly: A beginner’s guide to your Apple smart home

HomeKit

Are you new to using HomeKit, Apple’s smart home platform, thanks to a well-timed Christmas gift? So, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll be sharing some tips and tricks to help you get started with HomeKit and make the most of your smart home setup. From setting up your first HomeKit-compatible device to creating automations and using the Home app, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started with HomeKit. We’ll also delve into some of the more advanced features of the platform, such as setting up HomeKit secure video and using the HomePod as a hub. Whether you’re a seasoned smart home user or new to the game, these tips and tricks will help you get the most out of your HomeKit setup.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: A unified theory of Apple device management

Apple at work podcast

Sponsored by Addigy: The ONLY real-time Apple device management platform that combines MDM with live agent capabilities to manage and secure your Apple ecosystem — regardless of your Mac-spertise. Visit addigy.com/9to5Mac for a free 14-day trial to see how Addigy helps you manage your Apple devices in real-time. Because IT problems can’t wait.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Bradley chats with Rich Trouton and Charles Edge about their Apple device management book.

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9 apps to try to unlock the full potential of your new Mac

Best Mac Apps

Did you unbox a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for Christmas? As you unbox your shiny new Mac and set it up, you might be wondering what apps you should install first. Although Apple includes some great apps built into macOS, several third party options are worth checking out. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Mac apps to help you get the most out of your new computer along with some helpful tips and tricks so you can get the most out of your new Mac.

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Apple @ Work: New survey from HP Teradici highlights the challenges and benefits of using virtual desktops at work

Hybrid Work

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Addigy, the ONLY real-time Apple device management platform that combines MDM with live agent capabilities to manage and secure your Apple ecosystem — regardless of your Mac-spertise. Visit addigy.com/9to5Mac for a free 14-day trial to see how Addigy helps you manage your Apple devices in real-time.

In recent years, the use of virtual desktops has become increasingly popular among remote organizations. This is because virtual desktops offer several benefits over traditional desktop environments, particularly for remote teams. As COVID-19 permanently shifted to shape the way we work, hybrid work models have become increasingly popular. This trend is set to continue well into 2022 and beyond, according to a new report from HP Teradici. HP Teradici is the inventor of the PCoIP remote display protocol used by companies like MacStadium.

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HomeKit Weekly: Why 2023 is the time for Apple to release its own smart home products

HomeKit

Google, Apple, and Amazon are three of the biggest technology companies in the world, and both have a strong presence in the smart home market. However, their approaches to this market differ in some key ways. After spending years fully in the camp of HomeKit, I’ve spent the last few weeks with some first-party Google products, and I think it’s worth asking the question: Why doesn’t Apple make its own smart home products?

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Not waiting on Apple

Apple at work podcast

Sponsored by Addigy: The ONLY real-time Apple device management platform that combines MDM with live agent capabilities to manage and secure your Apple ecosystem — regardless of your Mac-spertise. Visit addigy.com/9to5Mac for a free 14-day trial to see how Addigy helps you manage your Apple devices in real-time. Because IT problems can’t wait.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, Bradley chats with Alcyr Araujo, founder and CEO at Mosyle about its new OneK12 platform.

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Apple @ Work: A look back at the release of Apple Configurator 1.0, and why the app is still important today

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Addigy, the ONLY real-time Apple device management platform that combines MDM with live agent capabilities to manage and secure your Apple ecosystem — regardless of your Mac-spertise. Visit addigy.com/9to5Mac for a free 14-day trial to see how Addigy helps you manage your Apple devices in real-time.

Apple Configurator 1.0, released back in 2012, did away with the need for thousands of iTunes accounts, but it also revolutionized the device management capabilities of supervised iOS devices. Previously, device deployments were limited to manual configuration and supervision by someone on-site, but Apple Configurator brought a new vision for mass deployment to educators and businesses.

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