BBEdit 13.5 Offers Mid-Cycle Efficiency Improvements

The latest version of the powerful text editor from Bare Bones Software offers a wide variety of new features, refinements, and bug fixes. Adam Engst explores a few of the most notable. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Yojimbo 4.5.1

Maintenance update with a variety of enhancements and fixes for the information organizer. ($30 new, free update, 7.9 MB, macOS 10.13.6+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Microsoft Teams 1.3

Adds the capability to view meeting details from your calendar without opening the meeting. (Free, 92.9 MB, macOS 10.11+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

GraphicConverter 11.3

Adds several new features and enhancements to the Swiss Army knife of graphics programs. ($39.95 new, free update, 161 MB, macOS 10.9+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Can Sleep Tracking in iOS 14/watchOS 7 Help You Sleep Better?

Apple has added sleep tracking technology to iOS 14 and watchOS 7 that, when you wear your Apple Watch to bed, records when you’re in bed and when you’re asleep. In an ideal world, the data could help you identify factors that hamper your sleep, but the data is messy and may not … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

The iPhone 12: Here’s What You Need to Know

Apple has thrown back the curtains on the iPhone 12 lineup, which includes the tiny iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12, and the camera-focused iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. They’re impressive devices at roughly comparable prices to previous years’ models. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Apple Introduces $99 HomePod mini

Apple announced the HomePod mini, a smaller, less expensive, and more rounded version of its two-year-old HomePod. The expanded speaker line has little in the way of groundbreaking features as it competes with speakers from Amazon and Google, but at least it’s now more affordable … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

watchOS 7.0.2 Address Battery Life, ECG Bugs

Apple has released watchOS 7.0.2 to fix a bug that caused the battery to drain more quickly than it should and another that prevented access to the ECG app even in supported regions. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Firefox 81.0.1

Adds the capability to control audio or video playback inside Firefox via keyboard or Touch Bar. (Free, 72.9 MB, macOS 10.12+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Apple Extends Apple TV+ Free Trials to February 2021

If you received a free year of Apple TV+ last year, Apple is about to give you a few months more for free. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

House Judiciary Subcommittee: Apple, Other Tech Giants Wield “Monopoly Power”

A US House of Representatives subcommittee investigating the tech industry has released a report calling Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google monopolies, with company breakups as a possible solution. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Toast 19 Titanium and Toast 19 Pro

Major release for the venerable digital media suite brings a redesigned user interface and new audio editing tools. ($99.99/$149.99 new, $59.99/$99.99 upgrade, macOS 10.14+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Four Reasons Why We Won’t See Third-Party Apple Watch Faces (And What Apple Is Doing Instead)

Since the Apple Watch debuted, users and developers have wanted third-party watch faces. Sorry, but they’re not coming. Former Apple Watch engineer David Shayer explains why. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Microtargeted Ads Abuse Your Privacy for Nothing

If you’re cynical about the role of digital advertising on today’s Internet, a Wired article that reviews Tim Hwang’s new book, “Subprime Attention Crisis,” is worth a read.  | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Google Rebrands G Suite as Google Workspace

For those who need to keep track of these things, Google has rebranded its Google Apps, er…, G Suite collection of Web-based apps as services as Google Workspace.  | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Bookends 13.4.6

Improves handling of PDFs for faster downloading and better compatibility with proxy servers. ($59.99 new, free update, 70.3 MB, macOS 10.10+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Apple Announces “Hi, Speed” Event for 13 October 2020

What wonders await us at Apple’s next big event? New iPhones? Macs with Apple silicon? A HomePod that doubles as a flying security drone? Find out with us! | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

PDFpen and PDFpenPro 12.2

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 | 4 years ago

VMware Fusion 12

Adds support for macOS 11.0 Big Sur and introduces free VMware Fusion 12 Player for non-commercial use. (Free/$149.99/$199.99 new, $79/$99 upgrades, 612 MB, macOS 10.15+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Parallels Desktop 16.0.1

Major upgrade for the popular virtualization software brings speed enhancements and support for macOS 11.0 Big Sur. ($79.99 annual subscription for standard edition or $99.99 perpetual license, 199 MB, macOS 10.13.6+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Twitterrific 5.4.4

Brings a new main timeline tab with an added My Tweets view of recent tweets and a new Stay Safe custom app icon. ($7.99 new, free update, 19.9 MB, macOS 10.14+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

macOS 10.14.6 Mojave Supplemental Update Fixes Problems with an Updated Safari 14.0

After numerous problems cropped up on Macs with Safari 14.0 that later installed Security Update 2020-005 for Mojave, Apple pulled the updates and has now pushed out a supplemental update that replaces Safari 14.0 to fix the problems. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Function101 Offers an Apple TV Remote Replacement with Delightful Buttons

Do you hate the slippery, slidey Siri Remote? The Function101 Button Remote for Apple TV provides blessed relief, though it doesn’t offer Siri voice control. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

A Tour of New York State’s COVID Alert NY App

Adam Engst stumbled on New York State’s COVID Alert NY app before it was officially announced, and he takes you on a tour of the app, which is clear, clean, and polished. It’s a good example of an official app that relies on the exposure notification technology from Apple and Goo … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

The Apple Watch as a Pandemic Peripheral

Is the Apple Watch even more attractive than normal during the pandemic? Julio Ojeda-Zapata has been pondering its utility in the coronavirus context, and he’s increasingly using his watch so he doesn’t have to keep digging out—and later disinfecting—his iPhone. He’s trying to ta … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

FileMaker Pro 19.1.2

Brings nine JavaScript-enabled add-ons, including a calendar, kanban organizer, and rich text editor. ($540 new, free update, 178 MB, macOS 10.14+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Downcast 2.9.55

Brings a minor user interface refresh and adds support for AirPlay on macOS 10.15 Catalina and later. ($4.99 new, free update, 22.7 MB, macOS 10.13.2+) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

MinuteHound Sponsoring TidBITS

We’d like to welcome as our latest long-term sponsor MinuteHound, a company that provides a zero-contact biometric time and attendance tracking solution.  | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Do You Need a Security Drone in Your Home?

Amazon will soon offer an indoor security camera drone, but does anyone need such a thing, or do these products just instill fear in the public? | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Third-Generation Apple TVs Suffering from Apple TV Software Update 7.6

If you’re having problems with your third-generation Apple TV, you’re not alone. Apple TV Software Update 7.6 seems to have some issues. You may be able to downgrade, but regardless, be sure to tell Apple of your woes. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

AirPlay 2 and HomeKit Coming to 4K Roku Devices

Apple may not be doing all that much with the Apple TV and tvOS, but it’s looking to extend its influence in the streaming media device world. Later this year, AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support are coming to the Roku platform to complement the Apple TV app. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Security Update 2020-005 (Mojave and High Sierra)

Patches security vulnerabilities in Apple’s last two operating systems. (Free, various sizes) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Fantastical 3.2

Calendar app adds options to search only title, location, or attendees. ($39.99 new, free update, 23.1 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

SoundSource 5.0.5

Wide-ranging maintenance release for the audio control utility. ($39 new, free update, 14.0 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Final Cut Pro X 10.4.10, Compressor 4.4.8, and Motion 5.4.7

Addresses an issue in which XAVC media from the Sony PXW-FX9 camera was not recognized by all three apps. ($299.99/$49.99/$49.99 new, free updates) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Zoom 5.3

Maintenance update for the videoconferencing app with a variety of improvements and bug fixes. (Free, 22.6 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

TunnelBear 4.0

VPN private Internet browsing app now requires macOS 10.12 Sierra or later. (Free with subscription options for unlimited data, 28.4 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

NetNewsWire 5.1

Brings a variety of improvements and new features to the revived RSS reader. (Free, 6.3 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Pages 10.2, Numbers 10.2, and Keynote 10.2

Brings a variety of new, editable shapes that can be added to documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. (Free, various sizes) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Oliver Habicht Dies of Pancreatic Cancer at 53

Of all the people whose deaths we’ve memorialized in TidBITS, no one was as close to us as Oliver Habicht. His name probably isn’t familiar to most, but he has written for TidBITS, commented on articles, and helped with software and hardware testing. He even played a key role for … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Mimestream Brings Gmail Features to a Mac Email App

You can access Google’s Gmail in desktop email clients, but its IMAP support can be awkward. Enter Mimestream, a native Mac app that uses Google’s Gmail API to more faithfully bring Gmail’s features to the desktop. Mimestream is still in beta and the developer has much to do, but … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

How to Change Your Default Email and Web Clients in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14

For the first time since the introduction of the iPhone, iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 let you choose the apps that serve as your default email client and Web browser. “Take Control of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14” author Josh Centers shows you how. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

macOS 10.15.7 Catalina, iOS 14.0.1, iPadOS 14.0.1, watchOS 7.0.1, and tvOS 14.0.1 Squash Bugs

Apple has released macOS 10.15.7 Catalina, iOS 14.0.1, iPadOS 14.0.1, watchOS 7.0.1, and tvOS 14.0.1 to address minor bugs. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

iOS 14’s Back Tap Feature Provides Interaction Shortcuts

Deep in the Accessibility settings of iOS 14 is a new feature called Back Tap that lets you assign a variety of system and accessibility actions—and anything you build in the Shortcuts app—to a double or triple tap on the back of your iPhone. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Five Tips for Easier Rearranging of iOS Apps

iOS 14’s App Library might make it easier to find apps, but if you want to clean up your existing Home screens and folders, these tips will make it easier regardless of what version of iOS or iPadOS you may be running. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Why Posting Boarding Pass Photos Is a Bad Idea

In a long, amusingly written blog post, the hacker known as “Alex” outlines how he discovered former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott’s passport number and phone number from an ill-advised Instagram post, got Qantas to fix the security hole, and avoided going to jail. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Agenda 11

Major upgrade for the date-focused note-taking app with a lengthy list of new features and improvements. (Free with $24.99 premium purchase option, free update, 52.3 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Pixelmator Pro 1.8

Brings support for AppleScript with an extensive and full-featured scripting dictionary. ($39.99 new, free update, 200 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago