emoeller

All updated OK:without issues

3 Apple TV's
2 iPads
1 iPhone 
1 Apple Watch 
1 iMac (running Mojave so there were just Safari and security updates)
2 MacBook Pros
2 HomePods

Wow that brings back memories, as I was there for that keynote.  Here are some of my observations from the event:

1)  The iPhone didn't actually work and you couldn't play with it.  It was displayed behind a clear glass cylinder on a rotating pedestal under glaringly bright halogen lights.

2)  Macworld's (I routinely attended the ones in Boston and San Francisco) were unique in that it was the rare opportunity to meet and discuss Apple products with key managers and engineers (both hardware and software).  In the early years you could even meet Steve personally on the floor.  At this event, post keynote the crowd was intense and Steve was accosted by a local pro-sex advocate that resulted in a bit of a tussle involving security.  Steve increased security greatly following this incident.
     While Macworld provided the rare opportunity to interact with Apple, this was a two way situation that resulted in some leakage of info.   This along with Apple's wise decision to manage its own rollout schedule were the reasons Apple left Macworld, and a few years later it ceased to exist.

3)  I had the opportunity to discuss two new companies that I thought Apple should look into with some of the engineers:   Tableau (a data visualization program), and Dropbox (just starting up)   Both went on to become unicorns.  I increased my holdings in APPL and later when both these companies went public also purchased their stocks.

4)  I ordered the iPhone and months later  I received one of the first ones and found myself in Russia on a business trip.   It was the first commercial one in Russia and I drew a crowd at the St. Petersburg Apple (I don't believe Apple owned this store, but it was the only sanctioned one at the time) store when I dropped by.   No carriers in Russia supported the iPhone but it worked well over wi-fi.  Later in the trip in Murmansk I found a good wi-fi signal at a modern mall.   After a few minutes with my nose glued to my iPhone while checking mail I noticed a ruckus in the food court I was in and found the local teenagers, who even then were expert hackers, had located my iPhone while hacking the wi-fi network and they were all searching around to see who had the iPhone.  I pulled up my hoody and made for the exit.

fred1 said:

I've had mine charging and near my iPhone connected to WiFi for two hours and still no update to the firmware.  Any suggestions?f 

How to Force an AirPods Firmware Update

If you find that a new version of the AirPods firmware is available, but not yet installed, you can try forcing your AirPods to update.

To do so, put your AirPods into their Charging Case, start charging the case, and place it near your iPhone. Next, open the cover and then dismiss the on-screen battery display.

Aluminum is a very costly metal to produce due to the energy consumption needed during smelting.  This is why all aluminum smelters are located in the lowest electricity cost areas far from the mined sources of Bauxit, thus contributing to its carbon footprint due to high transportation costs per tonne.  On the plus side Aluminum is easily recycled and has a very high global recycle rate, something that is usually not accounted for when describing Aluminum's carbon footprint.

For a deep dive into Aluminum carbon footprint and processes:

https://blog.sintef.com/sintefenergy/energy-efficiency/aluminium-electrolysis-using-inert-anodes/

http://www.world-aluminium.org/media/filer_public/2018/11/22/carbon_footprint_technical_support_document_v1_published.pdf

Net, net is that Apple will be a key initial user for this new (and more costly technology), and as such is supporting  a new innovation for Aluminum production.

The entire process was a breeze.  I've already made some charges and received cash back.  I've set up autopay to pay off the balance each month so I won't incur any interest charges.  

Some things that are missing now, but I'm sure are on Apple's radar screen:

1)  Bill pay
2)  Allow sharing of data to Mint, Quicken, etc.   There is a way to export PDF reports, but this is not seamless
3)  Cross integration with iTunes accounts - why can't I simply use Apple Pay there?
4)  Cash advances (such as when traveling).   AMEX based their early business model on this and decades ago I never carried cash when traveling - only received local currency cash advances at an AMEX office in amounts I would spend in country.

There is no other credit card that I am aware of that combines all of the features now available in Apple Card.  But the items above are available in some other cards and they would be useful for Apple to adopt.