LittleBITS: Apple Pay Date Quirk, Apple Music Sing

We have two quick things to share that don’t warrant an article: an explanation of why Apple Pay-using TidBITS members may see incorrect credit card expiration dates and the news of Apple Music Sing, which fills Adam Engst with dread. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Microsoft Office Updates Now Require macOS 11 Big Sur or Later

The October 2022 update to Microsoft’s Office apps was the last one for users running macOS 10.15 Catalina. Upgrade to at least macOS 11 Big Sur to continue receiving enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Boom 3D 1.4

Audio enhancement utility gains 5.1 multichannel audio support. ($49.99 new, free update, 50.4 MB, macOS 10.10.3+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Fantastical 3.7.5

Maintenance update for the calendar app with improvements and bug fixes. ($39.96 new, free update, 59.5 MB, macOS 11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Pixelmator Pro 3.2.2

Adds video editing capabilities using familiar image editing tools. ($39.99 new, free update, 523 MB, macOS 11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

EagleFiler 1.9.10

Adds support for Live Text for selecting and copying text in scanned PDFs. ($49.99 new, free update, 32.7 MB, macOS 10.13+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

1Password 8.9.10

Brings improvements and bug fixes to the password manager. ($35.88 annual subscription new, free update, 2.9 MB, macOS 10.15+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

ChatGPT: The Future of AI Is Here

Chatbots have just progressed to the next level with OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT. Programmer David Shayer explains what’s behind ChatGPT’s curtain and ponders how we’ll deal with AI-driven chatbots that sound confident and reasonable but may be entirely wrong. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Apple’s Advanced Data Protection Gives You More Keys to iCloud Data

Apple has announced Advanced Data Protection, an optional switch that enables end-to-end encryption for more types of iCloud data, including iCloud Backups, iCloud Drive, Photos, Notes, Reminders, and more. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

iOS 16.1.2 Optimizes Crash Detection, Improves Wireless Carrier Compatibility

The latest version of iOS promises to improve compatibility with wireless carriers and do better at detecting crashes. But, we ask, did you need TidBITS to tell you that? | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Apple Lets App Store Developers Set Prices Using More Numbers

You can look forward to App Store prices containing different numbers now that Apple has introduced 700 more price points—from $0.29 to $10,000—from which developers can select.Read original article | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Consider Switching from Creative Cloud to Affinity V2

Serif launched the next generation of its Affinity layout, design, and photo apps in conjunction with a 40%-off sale through 14 December 2022 that drops the one-time price of all three to just $99.99, less than the cost of two months of an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. Adam … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Help TidBITS Evolve in 2023 by Becoming a Member

It’s time for TidBITS to learn new tricks in the wake of managing editor Josh Centers leaving, while continuing to bring you the Apple advice and technical details you’ve come to rely on over the past 32 years. Will you help us start a fun new chapter in our long history? | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Carbon Copy Cloner 6.1.4

Preserves space savings of pure "cloned" files when copying from an APFS volume to another APFS volume. ($39.99 new, free update, 22.7 MB, macOS 10.15+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

BusyCal 2022.4.6

Calendar app updated with a few handy new features and improvements. ($49.99 new, free update, 56.6 MB, macOS 10.13+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Eufy Home Security Cameras Caught Uploading Footage to the Cloud

For Anker's Eufy brand, secure design apparently takes a back seat to empty privacy promises. The Verge confirmed the finding by security consultants that Eufy cameras can stream encryption-free video through the cloud, all in violation of the company's claims.Read original artic … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Get Rid of the Apple Pay Setup Badge on Settings

If you’re among those who dislike having notification badges permanently affixed to iOS apps, you may be frustrated by the badge on the Settings app that nags you to set up Apple Pay. Here’s how to get rid of it without enabling Apple Pay. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Agenda 16.1

Brings new features, improvements and bug fixes to the date-focused note-taking app. (Free with $24.99 premium purchase option, free update, 69.6 MB, macOS 10.14+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Mimestream 0.40.1

Adds support for joining Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Skype events with a single click from the calendar. (Free, 11.8 MB, macOS 11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Oceanic+ App Turns the Apple Watch Ultra into a Dive Computer

Scuba aficionados, take note! The Oceanic+ app has shipped for the Apple Watch Ultra, turning Apple's beefy adventure watch into a full-fledged dive computer that's good down to 40 meters.Read original article | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

How to Eliminate the Google Hangouts Migration Dialog

Annoyed by an “It’s time for Google Chat” dialog displayed by Brave on every launch, Adam Engst spent more time than he should have figuring out how to prevent the dialog from appearing. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Airfoil 5.11.3, Piezo 1.7.11, and Audio Hijack 4.0.6

The three Rogue Amoeba audio apps add full compatibility with macOS 13 Ventura. ($35/25/64 new, free updates, various sizes, macOS 10.15+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

Default Folder X 5.7.2

Ensures the Open/Save dialog enhancement utility works correctly with Stage Manager in macOS 13 Ventura. ($34.95 new, free update, 13.7 MB, macOS 10.13+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 1 year ago

1Password Previews Prospective Passkey Plans

Passkey promises from password-manager 1Password, brought to you by the letter P.Read original article | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

VMware Fusion 13

Adds support for Windows 11 virtual machines on both Intel-based Macs and Apple M-series Macs. (Free/$149.99/$199.99 new, upgrades available, 672 MB, macOS 10.12+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

OmniFocus 3.14.1

Resolves a few annoying bugs in the task management app. ($39.99 new, free update, 67.4 MB, macOS 11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Mactracker 7.12

Adds detailed information about all recent hardware and operating system releases, including the iPhone 14 and tenth-generation iPad. (Free, 182 MB, macOS 10.12+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

SoundSource 5.5.6

Adds a new Background Sound special source and updates the Audio Capture Engine to improve performance. ($39 new, free update, 29.4 MB, macOS 10.15+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

No TidBITS Issue on 28 November 2022

We’re taking the next email issue of TidBITS off to celebrate Thanksgiving, although we’ll continue to publish articles on our website. You can look forward to the next email issue on 5 December 2022. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Testing Emergency SOS and Find My via Satellite

In which Adam Engst drives to a nearby deep valley where there’s no cellular connectivity to test Find My via satellite and run through the Emergency SOS via satellite demo in a real-world situation. It seemingly worked but revealed a gap in Apple’s approach. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Bring Yourself Recurring Joy with Apple’s New Lock Screen Photo Shuffle

Technology has a hard time delivering happiness. Apple has cracked the code with how it uses machine learning to populate the Lock Screen Photo Shuffle feature and Featured Photos widget with images you’ll like. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Apple Announces MLS Season Pass Launch for February 2023

Starting in February 2023, the MLS Season pass will give soccer fans access to every Major League Soccer match, the entire playoffs, and the Leagues Cup.Read original article | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

AirPods Pro Compete Fairly Well Against Full-Fledged Hearing Aids

Are you starting to have a little trouble with hearing loss? Don't put off seeing a healthcare professional, but it's worth seeing if the Live Listen feature of the AirPods Pro can help you hear better. One study suggests it might.Read original article | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Ensure Sufficient Free Space before Upgrading to Ventura

After hearing about Ventura upgrade problems from a reader, Adam Engst did some research to determine that you should try to have at least 37 GB free before upgrading to Ventura. And how you determine that 37 GB might matter. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Josh Centers: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish

After nine years, TidBITS Managing Editor Josh Centers is moving on. He reflects on what he’s done and where he’s going. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Zoom 5.12.8

Brings a variety of additions and bug fixes to the video conferencing app. (Free, 82.7 MB, macOS 10.10+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Lunar 5.8

Maintenance release with improvements for the display brightness control utility. ($23 new, free update, 19 MB, macOS 11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Apple Says More about Emergency SOS via Satellite Technology

How did Apple enable the iPhone 14 lineup to communicate with satellites in low-earth orbit? Through extremely complex engineering and the investment of large quantities of money in satellite company Globalstar. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Visiting an Apple Store: The Value of In-Person Impressions

Adam Engst made his first visit to an Apple Store since before the start of the pandemic and came away with some changed opinions after getting a chance to lay his hands on some recent (and not-so-recent) products. Online ordering is great, but can’t provide the full picture. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

LaunchBar 6.16

Adds support for macOS 13 Ventura plus a new built-in Dark Mode Off/On action. ($29 new, free update, 16.3 MB, macOS 10.14.6+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Parallels Desktop 18.1

Brings a few fixes for macOS 13 Ventura to the virtualization software. ($99.99 standard edition, free update, 321.2 MB, macOS 10.14.6+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

iOS 16.1.1, iPadOS 16.1.1, and macOS 13.0.1 Ventura Plug Two Security Holes

iOS 16.0.1, iPadOS 16.0.1, and macOS 13.0.1 Ventura close a couple of concerning security vulnerabilities related to libxml2. Update soon to protect yourself. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Ventura Bug Disables Real-Time Security Software

A macOS 13.0 Ventura bug revolving around Full Disk Access permissions is preventing real-time protection features in security software from operating. Thomas Reed of Malwarebytes shares a workaround until Apple fixes the bug in macOS 13.1.Read original article | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

e3 Software Sponsoring TidBITS

Please welcome our latest long-term sponsor, e3 Software, makers of the powerful Mac-native email newsletter and marketing app Direct Mail.  | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

HoudahGeo 6.3.3

Photo geotagging app brings added support for macOS 13 Ventura and Adobe Lightroom Classic 12. ($39 new, free update, 27.3 MB, macOS 10.14+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Fantastical 3.7.3

Adds support for Beacon and Gong conferences and for syncing custom colors with Fastmail. ($36.96 new, free update, 62.4 MB, macOS 11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

Regain Control of Your Inbox with SaneBox

Drowning in unimportant email, despite your best efforts at filtering? The SaneBox service is a power tool that can help clean up even the messiest of inboxes. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago

1Password 8.9.8

Maintenance update with improvements and bug fixes for the password manager. ($35.88 annual subscription, free update, 2.9 MB, macOS 10.15+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 2 years ago