Mellel 5.0.3

Maintenance release follows major upgrade that brought support for ePUB export and DOCX import/export to the word processing app. ($49 new, free update, 92 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

iOS 13.6.1, iPadOS 13.6.1, and macOS 10.15.6 Supplemental Update Stomp Bugs

Apple has pushed out a trio of system updates to address bugs. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Setapp Subscription Service Adds iOS Companion Apps

The Setapp subscription service, which has so far focused on the Mac, now offers subscribers the option of adding iOS companion apps to Setapp-managed Mac apps for an additional monthly fee. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Celebrate Steve Wozniak’s 70th Birthday on August 11th

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is turning 70, and he’s inviting everyone to celebrate his birthday with him online. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Anecdotes about New Apple Fellow Phil Schiller and Marketing Chief Greg Joswiak

Apple has announced that it has made its longtime marketing head, Phil Schiller, an Apple Fellow and promoted Greg “Joz” Joswiak to senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. TidBITS publisher Adam Engst shares stories from his history with both men. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Bookends 13.4.4

Adds a new widescreen view and a Speech toolbar icon. ($59.99 new, free update, 71.6 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Timing 2020.9

The time and productivity tracking app adds the capability to track time on YouTube.com, improves performance, and reduces memory usage. ($42 annual subscription, free update, 21.1 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

SoundSource 5.0

Major new release of audio control utility brings a dramatically overhauled interface, automatic application management, and more. ($39 new, free update, 13.9 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Keyboard Maestro 9.0.6

Maintenance update for the automation and clipboard utility with several improvements and bug fixes. ($36 new, free update, 26 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Future Crunch: An Antidote to Negative News

Tired of the nonstop drumbeat of negative news? Science, technology, and even governments are doing amazing things that are actually improving the world in significant ways. To give your brain a break, Adam Engst recommends the Future Crunch newsletter’s weekly roundup of positiv … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

AirDrop Proved Handy on NASA’s Demo-2 Mission

The successful completion of the NASA Demo-2 mission recently made headlines, but it turns out there was an Apple-related twist during the mission. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Jason Snell Starts “20 Macs for 2020”

Six Colors publisher Jason Snell has started a series of essays, podcasts, and videos that will explore 20 notable Mac models. Adam and Tonya Engst will make guest appearances on the podcast, so be sure to tune in. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

The Co-Inventor of the Computer Mouse Has Passed On

Bill English, the co-creator of the computer mouse, has died at 91. Largely overlooked while he was alive, his contributions make him one of the most influential people in the history of computing. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

27-inch iMac Receives Significant Update, Other iMacs Get a Nod

At long last, Apple has updated the workhorse of its desktop Mac line, the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display. The new iMac features faster Intel processors, a higher RAM ceiling, next-generation graphics chips, more storage, and Apple’s T2 security chip. Also welcome will be a … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Understanding How Apple Security Research Devices Likely Work and Stay Secure

Apple’s new Security Research Device Program provides security researchers with special iPhones to help them find vulnerabilities in iOS for Apple. Former Apple engineer David Shayer examines how Apple might be tweaking iPhone hardware to make this work. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Ulysses 20.2

Brings a few helpful tweaks to the writing app. ($39.99 annual subscription, free update, 20.5 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

MarsEdit 4.4.2

Adds the Micro.blog platform as an officially supported publishing system and addresses a variety of bugs and crashes. ($49.95 new, free update, 15.9 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

A Quick Rundown of Big Tech’s Showdown with Congress

CEOS of four of the biggest companies in tech, including Apple’s Tim Cook, recently appeared before Congress to answer questions about their business practices. Here’s a roundup of the coverage. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Updated Apple Style Guide Available on the Web and in Apple Books

Apple has updated its style guide, both on the Web and in Apple Books, which triggers TidBITS publisher Adam Engst to discuss how TidBITS makes stylistic decisions in writing and editing. He also examines a few of the changes to the style guide that Apple has made recently. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Apple Q3 2020 Breaks Records While the World Burns, Next iPhone to Be Fashionably Late

For its third fiscal quarter of 2020, Apple reported quarterly record financial results that far exceeded consensus estimates, managing to show revenue increases in all of its product segments and geographic sectors. Chalk it up to people working and learning from home. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Surprise! Fujitsu Releases 64-bit ScanSnap Manager for Older Scanners

Since the release of Catalina, owners of older ScanSnap scanners have been scrambling to find a way to keep their devices functioning after Fujitsu refused to upgrade its software. In a surprising—and very late—move, Fujitsu has released the 64-bit ScanSnap Manager V7, which incl … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

20 Years Later, Steven Levy Looks Back on the Power Mac G4 Cube

The Power Mac G4 Cube was Apple’s most beautiful failure, a cutting-edge and memorable machine that sold fewer than 150,000 units. Wired’s Steven Levy looks back at it, 20 years after its introduction. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Apple Celebrates 25 Years of the Apple Distinguished Educator Program with Dr. Carl Owens

Apple’s Distinguished Educator program has hit the quarter-century mark, and the company noted the occasion by highlighting one of its first participants. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Woz Sues YouTube Over Bitcoin Impersonation Scam

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is suing YouTube over a Bitcoin-related scam. A similar scam made headlines recently with a mass Twitter attack. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Hong Kong VPN Services Found to Log Connections and Leak User Data

If you use a VPN service based in Hong Kong to secure your Internet traffic and protect your privacy, you may wish to switch, given what security researchers have discovered. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Turn Your iPhone into a Powerful Webcam with Camo

A new system from Reincubate lets you use your iPhone’s camera as a virtual camera for your Mac, giving you a higher-quality option for videoconferencing services and other video apps. Plus, Camo provides unprecedented control over the iPhone camera’s settings and features. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Apple Releases Dedicated Security Researcher Device

In an effort to encourage more security researchers to look for security vulnerabilities in iOS, Apple will provide approved researchers with a Security Research Device, a custom iPhone with key security controls disabled. It’s a good way for Apple to engage more fully with the s … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Feeling Paranoid? Micro Snitch Tells You If Your Mac Is Spying on You

If you’re afraid that your webcam may be spying on you, Micro Snitch from Objective Development monitors your Mac’s webcam and microphone, alerting you when an app activates them and maintaining a log of all activity. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Unless You Are a Masochist, Do Not Buy QuarkXPress

If you’re entering into a book layout project and considering QuarkXPress, don’t. Author Charles Maurer shares just a few of the horror stories from his experience using QuarkXPress to lay out his most recent book. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Carbon Copy Cloner 5.1.20

Drive-cloning and backup utility reverts to using its own file copier for establishing new bootable backups after macOS Catalina 10.15.6 update. ($39.99 new, free update, 14.6 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Fantastical 3.1.2

Maintenance release with numerous improvements and fixes for the calendar app. ($39.99 new, free update, 22.6 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Luminar 4.3

Adds a new Search tool, improves performance, and optimizes memory usage for the AI-powered photo editing app. ($89 new, free update, 18.8 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

BBEdit 13.1.2

Brings a lengthy list of improvements and bug fixes for the long-standing text editor. ($49.99 new, free update, 14.2 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Pixelmator Pro 1.7

Adds a much-requested text-on-a-path feature with new Circular Type, Path Type, and the Freeform Type tools. ($39.99 new, free update, 194 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

CleanMyMac X 4.6.9

Brings improvements and bug fixes to the all-purpose cleaning and maintenance app. ($89.95 new, free update, 57.4 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Safari 13.1.2

Patches a variety of security vulnerabilities for those running Apple’s last two operating systems. (Free, various sizes) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Security Update 2020-004 (Mojave and High Sierra)

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


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Five Homeschooling Apps for Young Children

Do you or a loved one feel compelled to homeschool in the coming year? With a year of homeschooling under his belt, Josh Centers suggests five apps that might help. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Apple Expands Partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Apple is expanding its partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, creating more coding centers that will teach communities how to program. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Fig Brings iOS Push Notifications to Discourse Forums

Discourse-based discussion forums have become increasingly common, but until now, there has been no way to map Discourse notifications to iOS push notifications. Fig, a free Discourse client for iPhone and iPad, now provides that feature, along with a browsable catalog of Discour … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

The Most Twisted (Pair) Adapter Cable You’ve Ever Seen

Dongles get a bad rep, but as this video shows, they can accomplish some pretty impressive things. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

PDFpen and PDFpenPro 12.1.2

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

iOS 13.6, iPadOS 13.6, macOS 10.15.6, watchOS 6.2.8, and tvOS 13.4.8 Add News Features, Car Keys, Symptom Tracking

Late-cycle updates for Apple’s operating system let you (theoretically) use your iPhone as a Car Key, add local news and audio stories to News, help you track symptoms, and more. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Microsoft Office for Mac 16.39

Adds support for animated GIFs to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. ($149.99 new for one-time purchase, $99.99/$69.99 annual subscription options, free update) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Ulysses 20

Introduces a new sidebar dashboard and comprehensive grammar and style checker in over 20 languages. ($39.99 annual subscription, free update, 20.5 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Don’t Close Your MacBook with a Webcam Cover Attached

If you use a physical webcam cover on a MacBook, Apple wants you to know that shutting the lid with the cover attached could damage your screen. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Alfred 4.1

Major update bringing new and refined features to the keyboard-driven launcher. (£23 new, free update, 3.1 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago

Pages 10.1, Numbers 10.1, and Keynote 10.1

Updates all three iWork apps with new video capabilities and more. (Free, various sizes) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 4 years ago