Gemini 2.8.2

Introduces new Duplicates Monitor feature that notifies you immediately when a new duplicate file appears. ($19.95 new, free update, 47.8 MB, macOS 10.10+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Mailplane 4.3.1

Maintenance update for recently upgraded Gmail-specific email client brings performance improvements. ($29.95 new, free update, 62.9 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

PopChar X 9.1

Maintenance update for the character discovery and font exploration utility. (€29.99 new, free update, 5.1 MB, macOS 10.10+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

SuperDuper 3.3.1

SuperDuper 3.2 brings support for macOS 10.14 Mojave, including full disk access and automation prompting. ($27.95 new, free update, 17.1 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Zoom 5.5.1

Enables hosts to play a video file in a meeting as shared content and adds a blurred background option for all users. (Free, 24.1 MB, macOS 10.9+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Add AirPlay to Your Classic Stereo with an Old Apple TV

Ever wish you could hear what’s playing on your iPhone through your stereo system? Here’s a step-by-step guide to add AirPlay support to your stereo for less than $20 and about an hour of your time. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Pixelmator Pro 2.0.5

Maintenance release improves launch speed by around 20% and increases the maximum intensity of the Sharpen adjustment. ($39.99 new, free update, 225 MB, macOS 10.14.4+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

BusyCal 3.12.3

Adds support for using natural language input in the Go To Date window. ($49.99 new, free update, 31.9 MB, macOS 10.11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Carbon Copy Cloner 5.1.25

Brings a smattering of bug fixes and improvements to the drive-cloning and backup utility. ($39.99 new, free update, 19.4 MB, macOS 10.10+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

How to Give Presentations and Demo Apps in Zoom

Master the techniques necessary to present slide decks, images, and demonstrations in Zoom by sidestepping limitations in presentation software and learning how to configure some of Zoom’s more fiddly settings. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Class-Action Lawsuit Alleges Amazon Colluded with Publishers to Fix Ebook Prices

A class-action lawsuit filed by the same law firm that kicked off the eventual antitrust lawsuit against Apple and major publishers alleges something that was long suspected back then—that Amazon also engaged in collusion with publishers to restrain price competition. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Jeff Bezos to Move from Amazon CEO to Executive Chair

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has announced that he’ll be transitioning away from the CEO role to that of Executive Chair of the Amazon Board, with Amazon Web Services head Andy Jassy taking over as CEO. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

BlastDoor Hardens iMessage Against Malware Assaults

Apple has quietly revised some core elements of its message-handling system in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS to make it far less likely that a maliciously formatted text or attachment would succeed in bypassing other protections. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Down the Gopher Hole (2007)

Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Security Update 2021-001 (Catalina and Mojave)

Patches security vulnerabilities in Catalina and Mojave. (Free, various sizes, macOS 10.15.7 and 10.14.6) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

macOS 11.2 Big Sur Improves Bluetooth, Squashes Bugs

Apple has released macOS 11.2 Big Sur to stamp out a handful of miscellaneous bugs and close numerous security holes. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Apple in 2020: The Six Colors Report Card

Jason Snell of Six Colors has published his annual Apple report card, featuring ratings and quotes from a select group of Apple commentators, including many from right here at TidBITS. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Quicken 6.1

Adds a new menu item for accessing Quicken on the Web and fixes bugs. ($34.99/$49.99/$74.99 annual subscription, free update) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

SoundSource 5.3

Big update for the audio control utility that brings faster device switching with in-app keyboard shortcuts. ($39 new, free update, 24.2 MB, macOS 10.13+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Nomad Multi-Device Charger Aims to Be AirPower’s Heir

Apple’s AirPower never shipped, but the notion of a multi-device wireless charger with flexible positioning lives on. Julio Ojeda-Zapata tried Nomad’s Base Station Pro, a charging pad for up to three arbitrarily placed devices. It mostly works as advertised, but its high cost and … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Apple’s Data Privacy Day Touts Privacy Efforts

Apple has dedicated a day to celebrate some of its new privacy features. Meanwhile, Facebook is planning to sue over them. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Apple Weathers the Storm to Shatter Records in Q1 2021

Posting record results, Apple enjoyed double-digit sales growth for all of its product categories last quarter and tallied increased revenues in every geographic sector. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Apple Celebrates Black History Month

Apple is putting in maximum effort for this year’s upcoming Black History Month, celebrating it across many of its services and introducing a special Apple Watch and Sport Band. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

watchOS 7.3, iOS 14.4, iPadOS 14.4, and tvOS 14.4 Address Serious Security Exploit

Apple has updated watchOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS to fix a troubling security vulnerability that may have been actively exploited in the wild and deal with a few nagging bugs. Plus, watchOS 7.3 adds a new African-themed face for Black History Month. The HomePod mini also gets U1-e … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

CES 2021: Family Firewalls, Flying Cars, and Creepy Pet Robots

Jeff Porten reviews some of the offerings at a perennial sideshow at CES to tell you about AI-based lie detection, another flying car you can’t have yet, and how the robot revolution may be starting with Japanese “pets.” | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

SpamSieve 2.9.42

Adds native support for M1-based Macs. ($30 new, free update, 19.5 MB, macOS 10.9+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Why Are Webcams So Lousy?

Why does the image quality from computer webcams compare so poorly to even the front-facing cameras on old iPhones? Jeff Carlson explores the economics of webcams and points out all the ways they’re bad. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Keep the iPhone 12 and Other Magnet-Bearing Consumer Electronics Away from Implanted Medical Devices

Since the iPhone 12 or any other consumer electronics device with strong magnets can interfere with implanted medical devices like pacemakers and defibrillators, Apple has issued more specific safety guidance. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

New Apple Fitness+ Perk Encourages Users to Take a Hike

Apple has introduced a new Apple Fitness+ feature called Time to Walk, in which celebrities tell stories, share photos, and play songs to encourage you while you go for a walk. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Bookends 13.5.1

Reference management tool adds support for running on M1-based Macs. ($59.99 new, free update, 94.8 MB, macOS 10.13+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Agenda 12

Date-focused note-taking app adds the capability to insert tables into your notes. (Free with $24.99 premium purchase option, 64.6 MB, macOS 10.12+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

SoundSource 5.2.1

Updates the Audio Capture Engine to work around a macOS issue on M1-based Macs. ($39 new, free update, 23 MB, macOS 10.13+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

PDFpen and PDFpenPro 12.2.2

Adds support for Dark mode in macOS 10.14 Mojave. ($74.95/$124.95 new, $30 upgrade, 71.4/118 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Tracking Down “Apple Beige”

If you’ve ever been curious about the distinctive beige of the Apple II, a bottle of original touch-up paint prompted Ben Zotto to research the color’s origins. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

NOVID Provides COVID-19 Early Warning System

We’re drowning in data about COVID-19—infection rates, hospitalizations, and fatalities. But none of that data can answer the question of what your personal risk of infection is. With the NOVID app—and sufficient uptake in your community—you can know just how close infections are … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

HomeKit on the Range: Hue Lightstrips

Have a dark place in your home you’d like to light up, such as under the range in your kitchen? The HomeKit-compatible Hue Lightstrips are flexible (literally), easy to install, and bright. So, so bright. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

The Repair Association’s CES “Worst in Show”

The Digital Right to Repair Coalition has published its picks for “Worst in Show” at CES, calling out products with terrible security, repairability, privacy, and more. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Signal Provides Secure Cross-Platform Replacement for WhatsApp

Privacy-focused messenging app Signal has been exploding in popularity, and it’s a surprisingly competent replacement for WhatsApp for those Apple users who have been forced to use the Facebook-owned messaging service for cross-platform communications. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

KeyCue 9.9

Improves compatibility with macOS 11 Big Sur and updates user interface elements. (€19.99 new, free update, 4.0 MB, macOS 10.7+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

CES 2021: Tech Trends to Watch

The Consumer Technology Association predicts the tech trends of the year to come in its annual opening of CES. Jeff Porten shares the thrust of the talk and provides commentary. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

HomeKit for the Holidays (And Home Troubleshooting Tips)

In which Adam Engst finally hops on the HomeKit bandwagon for real and gets totally sucked in, installing smart outlets, controlling motorized shades, and adding some Flic buttons.  | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Apple Launches New Racial Equity and Justice Initiative Projects

Apple has announced some of the ways it will be using the $100 million it committed toward projects in its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which will invest in education and businesses for people of color. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Airfoil 5.10.1 and Piezo 1.7.1

Adds full compatibility with M1-based Macs. ($29/$19 new, free updates, various sizes, macOS 10.13+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

CES 2021: Pre-Show Virtual Events Feature Game Cubes, Telepresence Robots, and Disinfecting Alarm Clocks

CES launches into unknown territory by holding its first-ever entirely virtual event, leading Jeff Porten to wonder whether it’ll be a disappointment compared to in-person. But the first batch of gadgets he has seen have some interesting contenders for your attention. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Keyboard Maestro 9.2

Maintenance update for the automation and clipboard utility with several improvements and bug fixes. ($36 new, free update, 34.3 MB, macOS 10.11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

BBEdit 13.5.4

Changes the default location for the BBEdit Backups folder. ($49.99 new, free update, 18.7 MB, macOS 10.14.2+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

Default Folder X 5.5.4

Fixes a bug that could prevent the Open/Save dialog enhancement utility from launching correctly. ($34.95 new, free update, 15.7 MB, macOS 10.10+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago

BusyCal 3.12.2 and BusyContacts 1.5.1

Adds support for M1-based Macs and Office 365 Hybrid Authentication. ($49.99 new for each, free updates, 23.1/12.7 MB, macOS 10.12+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 3 years ago