Nagged by the question of whether Apple still uses the term “Macintosh” anywhere, Adam Engst pores over targeted Google search results to confirm that the company has excised “Macintosh” from all modern uses, with a single odd exception. | Continue reading
Years after the FBI backed down from trying to force Apple to put a backdoor in the iPhone, it looks like the agency may be trying again by requesting that Apple decrypt iPhones related to the December 2019 shooting in Pensacola. | Continue reading
Benjamin Mayo of 9to5Mac has compressed the last decade of Apple history into a single long Web page. It’s a great reminder of just how much has happened in the last ten years. | Continue reading
Strengthens the Web browser's Enhanced Tracking Protection by blocking fingerprinting scripts. (Free update, 69.4 MB) | Continue reading
Maintenance release with several improvements and bug fixes for the text expansion tool. (€24.99 new, free update, 7.0 MB) | Continue reading
Adds support for syncing with Apple's Reminders app and brings several improvements to the calendar utility. ($49.99 new, free update, 22.9 MB) | Continue reading
Our roving reporter Jeff Porten heads into CES 2020 with coverage of the annual Trends to Watch presentation, which focused on (surprise, surprise) 5G, AI, streaming video, augmented reality, and well, a bunch of other things that seem less likely to become real. | Continue reading
Brings several updates for macOS 10.15 Catalina and adds the capability to import from Google Scholar in the Bookends Browser. ($59.99 new, free update, 50.9 MB) | Continue reading
Brings performance improvements and new technology additions for the recently upgraded AI-powered photo editing app. ($89 new, free update, 18.8 MB) | Continue reading
Adds the new ML Super Resolution feature, which makes it possible to increase the resolution of images while keeping them sharp and detailed. ($39.99 new, free update, 187 MB) | Continue reading
Adds the new ML Super Resolution feature, which makes it possible to increase the resolution of images while keeping them sharp and detailed. ($39.99 new, free update, 187 MB) | Continue reading
Adds support for cleaning up new groups of Chrome items in the Privacy module and ensures that Firefox items are displayed properly within Privacy. ($89.95 new, free update, 55.5 MB) | Continue reading
Adds the capability to capture audio from Siri and VoiceOver. ($49 new, free update, 14.1 MB) | Continue reading
If you’re looking at buying a new Mac now, it will likely ship with macOS 10.15 Catalina. If you’re not ready to upgrade from Mojave, it’s still possible to downgrade most new Macs, but it might not be easy. | Continue reading
Keeping an old Mac running Mac OS 8 or earlier around for the fun of it? Beware that early versions of the classic Mac OS won’t let you set a time after the end of 2019. Happily, a free utility lets you work around this limitation for another 20 years. | Continue reading
Apple has published an extensive guide to its varied security efforts, bringing vast amounts of information together in one easily accessible place. | Continue reading
The Swiss Army knife of graphics programs gains several new features along with a variety of improvements and bug fixes. ($39.95 new, free update, 154 MB) | Continue reading
Maintenance release for the task management app with a smattering of bug fixes and enhancements related to dropped items. ($39.99 new, free update, 60.3 MB) | Continue reading
Improves system warnings and fixes bugs in the synchronization and backup tool and its helper app. (49.99 new for ChronoSync, $14.99 new for ChronoAgent; free updates; 67 MB, 26.6 MB) | Continue reading
Apple has quietly added a year-in-review feature and playlist to Apple Music, but you won’t find it in iTunes or the Music app. Here’s the trick to accessing it. | Continue reading
Forget Big Brother. We have much more to worry about from the numerous “Tiny Brother” location data companies that track our every movement via software embedded in smartphone apps. | Continue reading
Apple’s Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone 11 series have a clever trick tucked away: a dedicated button to take photos. | Continue reading
Apple is teaming up with Amazon, Google, and the Zigbee Alliance to create an open-source, security-focused communication standard for smart home devices. | Continue reading
In addition to Apple Music, Apple Podcasts is now available on Amazon Echo devices, showcasing Apple’s new commitment to services, even if that means supporting competitors’ devices and ecosystems. | Continue reading
Serves up a feast of fixes for the festive season to the long-form writing tool. ($45 new, free update, 94.1 MB) | Continue reading
Improves auto-save performance and fixes a few bugs. ($39.99 new, free update, 179 MB) | Continue reading
Adds support for Emoji 12 and provides a workaround for a Dark mode issue in macOS 10.15 Catalina. (€19.99 new, free update, 4.0 MB) | Continue reading
Adds a built-in layout for Emoji 12.0 and provides a workaround for a Dark mode issue in macOS 10.15 Catalina. (€29.99 new, free update, 4.8 MB) | Continue reading
Maintenance update for the contact manager with a smattering of bug fixes and improvements. ($19.99 new, free update, 12.4 MB) | Continue reading
Maintenance updates with bug fixes and improvements for Apple's trio of professional video editing apps. ($299.99/$49.99/$49.99 new, free updates) | Continue reading
Fixes a bug that prevented media from appearing in the Photos library browser when using iMovie in macOS 10.15 Catalina. (Free, 2.2 GB) | Continue reading
Apple has expanded upon its hit AirPods with new AirPods Pro models. They fit and sound better, courtesy of silicone ear tips, and add audio features like noise cancellation and a “transparency” mode. The previous generation AirPods aren’t going anywhere, though. | Continue reading
In keeping with our tradition, we’re going to take off the last few weeks of the year to spend with family and friends, so look for the next email issue of TidBITS on 6 January 2020. Thanks for your attention in 2019, and we hope you’ve found our content useful, accurate, and enj … | Continue reading
If you can read English and write in either Dutch or Japanese, we need your help in translating TidBITS! | Continue reading
What better day than Friday the 13th to check that your backups are actually working by restoring some critical files? | Continue reading
Looking for a wallet case for an iPhone 11 Pro? Adam Engst looks at a pair of wallet cases from Twelve South and Ekster that promise to protect your iPhone 11 Pro and let you leave your wallet at home. | Continue reading
If you have shared a file in Dropbox but now need to replace it without changing the previously shared link, don’t replace the file in the Finder. Adam Engst explains what to do instead. | Continue reading
Patches a pair of security vulnerabilities in Apple’s last two operating systems. (Free, various sizes) | Continue reading
Maintenance release for the recently upgraded hard drive and system repair-and-maintenance tool. ($129.99 new, free update, 180.4 MB) | Continue reading
Patches two WebKit-related security vulnerabilities. (Free) | Continue reading
As promised, Apple has released the powerful Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR before the end of 2019. Not by a lot, but if you get your order in soon, Apple will even deliver them before January. Just be prepared to pony up a chunk of change. | Continue reading
Apple’s getting ready to hunker down for the holidays, so the company has updated all of its shipping operating systems with bug fixes and a few features. | Continue reading
Brings full compatibility with macOS 10.15 Catalina to the simple audio recording app. ($19 new, free update, 9.6 MB) | Continue reading
Upgrades the venerable file transfer client to 64-bit for compatibility with macOS 10.15 Catalina. ($29 new, free update, 7.9 MB) | Continue reading
We’re coming up on our 30th anniversary in April 2020, but the only way TidBITS can keep bringing you the Apple news, advice, and technical details you need is if you chip in to make it happen. Join the TidBITS membership program today! | Continue reading
Apple TV users in Switzerland got so fed up with Apple’s remote control that Swiss telecom Salt made its own, with help from Apple. Alas, they’re not currently available outside the country. | Continue reading
Maintenance release focused on bug fixes for the long-standing text editor. ($49.99 new, free update, 13.9 MB) | Continue reading
Brings support for other email clients when sending messages via smart rules and improves clipping from browsers. $99/$199/$499 new, upgrades available, 94 MB) | Continue reading