Improves imports from various Web sites (including the New York Times and specifying a more detailed Kind for text files. ($40 new, free update, 26.0 MB) | Continue reading
BitBar is an open-source menu bar app with a rich library of plug-ins that are easy to adapt to your needs. Don’t see what you want? You can even create your own plug-ins! | Continue reading
Major upgrade for the typography design app with new Spray Fill tool and font distortion effects. ($29.99 new, 19.99 upgrade, 722 MB) | Continue reading
Apple’s education-oriented ebook creation software will receive no further updates and will be pulled from the Mac App Store. The company is encouraging users to switch to Pages, promising that a future update to Pages will be able to import iBooks Author files. | Continue reading
Apple has unveiled the schedule for its first all-virtual WWDC, including the keynote, new developer forums, and one-on-one sessions with Apple engineers. | Continue reading
Did you know that Apple automatically deletes iCloud backups of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch 6 months after the last backup was made? Even when you continue to pay for iCloud storage space? Neither did we, and while it’s not a common problem, plenty of people have suffered fr … | Continue reading
You’ve been able to trade in old Macs while purchasing online for a while now, but Apple is reportedly planning to extend the program to in-store Mac trade-ins. | Continue reading
Rumors of ARM-based Macs continue to appear. Lower power and longer battery life are always cited. But even more important are the business advantages Apple would reap from switching from Intel to ARM. Former Apple engineer David Shayer explains what would be behind such a proces … | Continue reading
If you’re regretting not being able to hold an in-person celebration for a birthday, graduation, retirement, or other special occasion, check out the online service Kudoboard. It provides a multimedia version of the greeting card that’s passed around and signed by a group. | Continue reading
Addresses a bug introduced by Apple in macOS 10.15 Catalina that prevented CCC from creating bootable backups. ($39.99 new, free update, 14.6 MB) | Continue reading
Restores both the the transfer window Find command and the capability to adjust the font size of the transfer window. ($29 new, free update, 8.5 MB) | Continue reading
Performs automated group repair when a library is opened and improves visuals in Dark mode. ($59.99 new, free update, 71.7 MB) | Continue reading
Many TidBITS readers have requested the option to export Apple Card data to Quicken and QuickBooks, in addition to PDF, CSV, and OFX. Apple has finally added support for those formats. | Continue reading
Works around changes in macOS 10.15.5 Catalina that prevent the creation of bootable backups. ($49.99 new, free update, 67.2 MB) | Continue reading
Adds support for opening and exporting images in WebP format. ($39.99 new, free update, 194 MB) | Continue reading
Two preliminary studies have shown promise in using wearable health trackers as an early warning system for COVID-19 infections. | Continue reading
Still feeling lost at sea when you have to meet with others by video? “Take Control of Zoom” author Glenn Fleishman shares a host of tips that can help you tune your setup and improve your confidence. | Continue reading
Brings a long list of notable new features, visible changes to existing features, and bug fixes. ($49.99 new, free update, 14.2 MB) | Continue reading
In response to and in support of the protests surrounding the killing of George Floyd, Apple has dedicated the Apple Music user interface to a statement in solidarity with Black communities. | Continue reading
Apple has released updates to macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS to address a security vulnerability in the kernel that could allow an app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Update soon! | Continue reading
Updates the Audio Capture Engine for full compatibility with macOS 10.14 Mojave. ($29 new, free update, 12.2 MB) | Continue reading
Venerable relational database app is updated with a variety of new features to help developers build sophisticated custom apps. ($540 new, $197 upgrade, 376.2 MB) | Continue reading
Introduces Omni Automation to the Pro edition, enabling full support for running automation plug-ins written in JavaScript. ($39.99 new, free update, 39.1 MB) | Continue reading
The author describes his experience in setting up and using “Made for iPhone” hearing aids. The integration works, but in daily life not every usage aspect is obvious. | Continue reading
Confused by President Trump’s executive order aimed at rolling back liability protections given to online forums? The Verge’s Adi Robertson gives the order a line-by-line read to provide context, background, and a reality check. | Continue reading
If you have a recent Touch ID iPad but have been lusting after a new iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard, the $150 Logitech Combo Touch might make you fall in love with your iPad all over again. | Continue reading
If you’ve seen some strange behavior on your iPhone or iPad lately, like a message that an app is no longer shared or large numbers of apps updating at once, it was a bug that Apple has now fixed. | Continue reading
If you’ve upgraded to macOS 10.15.5 Catalina, note that Apple has licensed a number of lovely fonts you can use for free. | Continue reading
Enables you to use templates to create notes with pre-filled content and improves Dropbox sync. (Free with $24.99 premium purchase option, free update, 48.5 MB) | Continue reading
Patches security vulnerabilities in Apple’s last two operating systems. (Free, various sizes) | Continue reading
Patches a variety of security vulnerabilities for those running Apple’s last two operating systems. (Free, various sizes) | Continue reading
Apple has released macOS 10.15.5 Catalina with a new battery health management feature for Mac laptops, along with a necessary option for Group FaceTime, calibration for the Pro Display XDR, and a smattering of bug and security fixes. | Continue reading
At long last, Spotify has removed the restriction that prevented subscribers from adding more than 10,000 tracks to their libraries. If Apple opens the HomePod up to third-party music apps in iOS 14, Adam Engst might take another look. | Continue reading
iFixit, the purveyor of repair tools and free repair guides that many computer users have relied upon for years, has now compiled a massive database of repair manuals for medical devices and made it freely available to everyone. | Continue reading
Apple adopted the space-saving HEIC image-package format early. That choice, coupled with a poorly coded test submission site from the College Board, caused problems for students taking Advanced Placement tests this year. Here’s how to avoid trouble. | Continue reading
A surprising number of people continue to force-quit iOS apps and restart or shut down their iOS devices as a matter of habit. Except when recovering from a frozen app or misbehaving device, those behaviors will reduce battery life and hurt performance. Here’s why. | Continue reading
Apple has released the iOS 13.5 and iPadOS 13.5 updates with COVID-19-focused changes, including a new Exposure Notification API and fixes to help make Group FaceTime and Face ID less painful. | Continue reading
Maintenance update for the contact manager that adds an option to filter by job title in smart groups. ($19.99 new, free update, 12.4 MB) | Continue reading
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
Enhances performance when exporting long lists to PDF and improves accessibility of material sheets. ($39.99 annual subscription, free update, 20 MB) | Continue reading
The FBI has cracked the iPhone at the center of the Pensacola naval base shooting case, but the agency still slammed Apple’s stance on encryption. This time, Apple didn’t pull any punches in its rebuttal. | Continue reading
Adam Engst was recently turned on to the VintageApple.org site, which has full archives of Macworld, MacUser, and Byte, along with hundreds of vintage books about the Mac and Apple. Check it out! | Continue reading
Apple has released watchOS 6.2.5, a highly focused update to bring the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications to Saudi Arabia, along with as-yet-unspecified security fixes. | Continue reading
After closing most of its stores earlier this year in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, Apple has announced how it plans to reopen them. | Continue reading
Improves support for macOS 10.15 Catalina and fixes for video rendering on macOS. (Free, 49.4 MB) | Continue reading
Ensures that creating new tasks via the menubar application now works more consistently. ($39.99 new, free update, 14.5 MB) | Continue reading
Major release for the information management app with a lengthy list of new features and improvements including an enhanced sidebar and new automation options. ($99/$199/$499 new, free update, 106.5 MB) | Continue reading
Eggtronic’s Power Bar cuts down on clutter by charging all your Apple mobile devices in one tidy location. It’s a power bank with a USB-C port for MacBook and iPad charging, and it has wireless charging pads for an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. | Continue reading