QuickTip: Screen share with anybody via Apple ID

Remote troubleshooting in this day and age is all the more important, but it can definitely be tricky at times. The other day I learned a handy tip that might save you some grief: you can request to share the screen of anybody whose Apple ID you know.M... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Review: Brydge Pro+ iPad keyboard with trackpad

Back in January, Brydge—the maker of my favorite iPad keyboard—announced that it was going to make a version with an included trackpad. I’ve finally gotten a shipping version of the Brydge Pro+, and have been able to use it with a 20... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #341: The Fiddliest of Fiddly Fiddlers

This week, on the 30-minute show that steals your time, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Allison Sheridan and Devindra Hardawar to discuss remote troubleshooting tips, the most and least fiddly tech, how the open web benefited our learning, and ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #284: Google Meat

Dan can’t draw, Moltz still doesn’t have a new phone and Lex doesn’t care about web camera quality.... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #292: Don't Look Over There!

How will COVID-19 change the future of consumer technology? Why is Zoom the videoconferencing tool of the moment, and why has it had so many security and privacy issues? We ask the big questions this week, and also discuss Amazon’s ability to sell a... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Sponsor) SoundSource

My thanks to Rogue Amoeba’s SoundSource for sponsoring Six Colors this week. SoundSource is a utility that gives you powerful control over all the audio on your Mac, right from your menu bar. Dan wrote about SoundSource about a year ago here on Si... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #340: How Often Do I Have to Wash My Hair?

This week, on the 30-minute tech show that is trying to keep it down, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests newly-independent Rene Ritchie and up-and-coming podcaster Leo Laporte to discuss whether Fitbit’s new wearable can take on the Apple Wa... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #283: I'm Just a Regular Steve Martin

This week, on the irreverent tech show that’s always social distancing, Moltz is still waiting for a new phone, Dan is drinking and Lex is getting sassy. These and other ways to pass the time at home.... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Zoom's misleading encryption claims are just the latest problem for the popular service

Damning report from Micah Lee and Yael Grauer at The Intercept on Zoom’s misleading encryption claims: Zoom, the video conferencing service whose use has spiked amid the Covid-19 pandemic, claims to implement end-to-end encryption, widely under... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #291: The Ugly Potatoes Are Used for Fries

Myke has taken possession of a “new” iPad Pro, so he and Jason compare notes and enter the Conspiracy Room to ponder why it exists. While they’re there, they also revisit the possibilities of ARM Macs and iPad versions of Apple’s p... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Sponsor) SoundSource

SoundSource gives you powerful control over all the audio on your Mac, right from your menu bar. Get control of audio on a per-application basis. Now you can change the volume of any app relative to others, and play individual apps to different audio de... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Beyond Compare is the file-comparison tool you need

Throughout my isolation-induced technology shenanigans, I’ve come across one tool that has proved absolutely critical in scanning through old hard drives: Scooter Software’s Beyond Compare. If you’ve got a need to compare folders, text... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

How I vanquished my messy Desktop

My Desktop. Yep, that’s it.During WWDC in San Francisco some year, John Siracusa walked into my office at Macworld and needed to look at something on my computer. I remember him being appalled by how messy my Mac’s desktop was. There were ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #282: A Stack of Old Laptops

This week, on the irreverent tech podcast that’s always a little bit behind, there’s a new iPad in town and it’s going to have a crazy new keyboard. And how about that cursor? Plus, Dan’s isolation has driven him to perform mad exp... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Quick Tip: Customize your Terminal login with a message of the day

My adventure resurrecting my PowerMac G3 not only brought to light old files, but also some old computing habits, prompting a question from one Twitter user: I appreciate the subtle Cowboy Bebop reference in that terminal sceeenshot 😅Is that still a thi... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Talking to the Internet #1: Jason Snell

Cory Hixson had Jason on the first episode of his new podcast, Talking To the Internet. Topics include Jason’s various side projects over the years, how he got into tech journalism, lessons learned from his publishing-industry career, and becoming a... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #339: Hide and Don't Go Seek

This week, on the 30-minute show that you can wash your hands to, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Heather Kelly and Paul Kafasis to discuss how we deal with old tech and data, what we do to entertain ourselves (and friends) via Zoom and Skype, ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Wish List: Activity Pause for Apple Watch

Earlier this year, before the world found itself in the grips of a pandemic, I had a nasty bout of the flu. It laid me flat for a solid week, and even after I’d mostly recovered, it took a while for me to ramp back up to my normal activity.That o... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Unpacking, hacking, and cracking a Power Mac G3

How do you access a Mac built in 1999 and last used in 2008 when you have no compatible display and barely any ports in common? No, this isn’t a riddle. Well, I guess, it’s sort of a riddle.Like many of you, I’ve been trying to fin... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

In praise of the iPadOS 13.4 cursor

I want to take a moment to appreciate the delicate and whimsical animated appearance of the cursor in iPadOS 13.4, which was released today.It’s delightful. It’s like a little cartoon character, the plucky dot who is up to any challenge, e... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #290: You Are The Button

Jason’s got the new MacBook Air and iPad Pro, so it’s time to dig in. But the most exciting new Apple development is an iPad accessory we won’t see until May—and an iPadOS software update we all get to see this week. Plus, Myke giv... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

iPad Pro 2020 review: Small steps

The 2018 iPad Pro was a great leap forward, with a stylish new design, support for a new Apple Pencil, a USB-C port, and a powerful processor that was more than a match for PC laptops. In fact, you could make the argument that the 2018 iPad Pro was so... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

How to stream games with your friends (and other things too)

Even in this age of social distancing, we still need human contact. As someone who’s worked from home for 14 years—and lived alone for much of that time—I’m more than familiar with having to come up with ways to stay in touch with friends even... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

2020 MacBook Air review: No news is good news

Here’s what you need to know about the 2020 MacBook Air: It’s everything that was great about the 2018 MacBook Air, but it’s cheaper and faster, with more customizable specs and—perhaps most importantly—the same Magic Keybo... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #338: Am I Allowed to Say Whisk(e)y?

This week, on the 30 minute tech podcast that’s alway here for you, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Georgia Dow and Matteo Doni to discuss how technology has helped us with social distancing, how we’re coping with media anxiety, our... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

The iPad cursor is here, no wait required

Support for mice and trackpads on iPadOS is real. In a world that’s gotten awfully used to disappointment lately, it’s far better than I imagined. And we don’t even have to wait until the fall to use it, because it’s going to arr... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #281: Remember Restaurants?

This week, on the irreverent tech show that’s always a little bit behind the curve, we have some ideas on how to amuse yourself while under quarantine and then we get to some Apple news later. (Note: This show was recorded before Apple’s annou... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Apple updates MacBook Air with new processors, keyboard, and boosts Mac mini storage

The iPad Pro isn’t the only Apple device to see a notable keyboard-based update today. The MacBook Air, which Apple dubs “the world’s most loved notebook” 1 has received a notable boost today, with not only the new Magic K... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Apple's brand new iPad Pro has LiDAR and a trackpad

New iPad Pro models have arrived and, as predicted, they’re shaking things up with the addition of a better processor, new camera technology, and, yes, trackpad support. It’s the last one that much time and attention has been spent on in... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #289: Not So Fast, Uma Thurman

This week we discuss how the global pandemic has affected Apple, from retail to TV shows to Apple Park workers, and potentially even product launches. Your hosts, experts at working at home, offer some advice to new homebound workers. And to lend a little... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Fun With Charts: The pace of macOS updates

My friend and former Macworld colleague Rob Griffiths keeps a record of macOS releases, which is exactly the kind of thing I’d expect from the guy who created Mac OS X Hints. Prodded by Stephen Hackett, who is apparently now the official Six Colors ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Quick Tip: Customize Apple Watch workouts

How long have I been doing workouts with the Apple Watch? A long time. And yet until today when I was walking my dog, I had never really considered that some of the information that appears on the face of my watch when I’m walking or hiking is c... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #280: I Am the Networking Wizard

This week, on the irreverent tech podcast that isn’t yet canceled, we talk the effects of the coronavirus on Apple, potential iOS 14 feature leaks galore, Apple’s foldable display patent, and the return of the great NetNewsWire. Plus Lex tries... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #337: Blue Bubble Betterment

This week, on the tech podcast that only springs half an hour ahead, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Rosemary Orchard and Lex Friedman to discuss the rumored iOS 14 features we’re most anticipating, what we’d like to see on the next... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Quick Tip: Make Safari tabs open at the end

Change! It’s the worst, isn’t it? Case in point: When Apple adjusted the behavior of Safari tabs on the Mac to always open after the current tab, I—a die-hard always-put-new-tabs-at-the-end lifer—was bereft. For a while, I subsiste... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #288: Are We Being Punked?

The COVID-19 virus continues to upend tech industry conference plans, product roll-outs, and supply chains, but we’ve still got new about new displays on future Apple hardware and a series of major stories from 9to5 Mac about the future of iOS, iPad... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Fun With Charts: Vanishing ports

This week’s chart once again originates from a request from Stephen Hackett, who asked me to measure the number of ports on the 15-inch Apple laptop through the years. This chart covers the era of 15-inch laptops, from the original Titanium PowerBoo... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Wish List: More transparent iMessage contacts

That little ‘Recent’ tag is the only way to see which contact method you’re messaging with.It was somewhere between the video of Elizabeth Warren’s dog stealing a burrito and a tweet about cheese that my wife broke it to me: | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #279: The Luke Skywalker

Dan, Lex and John discuss the coronavirus, WWDC, sketchy rumors, hoarding and Apple not making the things we want.... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #336: The Best Kind of Answer: Yes & No

This week, on the 30-minute show that’s always got time for you, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Daniel Bader and Philip Michaels to discuss our feelings on electric scooters, how podcast listening has affected our music listening, the po... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Adios, MacSurfer

The venerable Apple news aggregation site MacSurfer has ceased operation: Dear MHN Readers:Not seeing a viable future with subscriptions, MacSurfer and TechNN will cease operations effective immediately. Please allow a few weeks to process forthcom... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Upgrade #287: Constant Applause

So is Apple really releasing a Smart Keyboard with a built-in trackpad? That’s the latest report, and Jason and Myke have a lot of questions about it. Is iPadOS 13 good enough to support a trackpad? Would a trackpad only for text editing and gesture... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Project xCloud Preview impressions: More than playable, less than perfect

I’d probably shock twelve-year-old me if I went back in time and told him that for the last thirteen years I’d been an avid user of a game console built by none other than Microsoft. 1 But here I am, on my second Xbox, and I remain pretty... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Fun With Charts: For immediate release

Some charts are dumber than others. Stephen Hackett asked me to ponder the volume of Apple press releases over time, and the Apple Newsroom has helpfully archived every Apple press release from 2000 onward. (Sample 2000 Apple press release: “Apple U... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

9 questions about the rumored iPad Smart Keyboard with trackpad

Brydge’s iPad keyboard with trackpad.Wayne Ma of The Information is reporting that a Smart Keyboard for iPad is coming that will include a built-in pointing device: Apple is planning to release an iPad keyboard accessory later this year that w... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Rebound #278: Does That Performa Spark Joy?

Eeros now support HomeKit.Does the over-the-air recovery feature in the iOS beta mean a portless iPhone might be coming?Ming-Chi Kuo says ARM Macs are coming in 2021.John Gruber has thoughts on that.The Mac Pro’s wheels have no brakes. That&... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

Review: Audio-Technica ATR-2100x microphone

The new ATR-2100x microphone (right) replaces a Mini-USB connector with USB-C.For a while now my go-to podcast microphone recommendation has been the Audio-Technica ATR-2100. At around $100 it’s relatively cheap, sounds great, and thanks to its ... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago

(Podcast) Clockwise #335: Some Sort of Dongleage

This week, on the 30-minute tech show that takes up just 1/48th of your day, Dan and Mikah are joined by special guests Jeff Carlson and Shelly Brisbin to discuss the debate over standardizing smartphone charging ports, how we feel about HomeKit Secure Vi... | Continue reading


@sixcolors.com | 4 years ago