Apple, Google, and Mozilla Team Up to Block Kazakhstani Surveillance

The major browser makers—Apple, Google, and Mozilla—have all taken measures to block an attempt by the Kazakhstani government to spy on its citizens. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Apple Card Now Available to All US iPhone Users

After a short period of restricting the Apple Card to those who signed up for early access, Apple has now opened the Apple Card to all iPhone users in the United States. Apple said nothing about when it might become available in other countries. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Real-World Observations about Mapping Apps

After spending several weeks using Apple Maps and Google Maps constantly while traveling in Switzerland, Adam Engst has a few thoughts and recommendations that could ease your future trips. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

The HomePod Is Slated to Debut in Japan

Apple’s HomePod smart speaker is headed to Japan, indicating that Apple is far from giving up on it, despite its small market share. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Please Vote in the TidBITS 2019 Reader Survey!

After nearly four years, it’s time once again for a reader survey to make sure we’re producing the kind of content you want to read. We’d appreciate it immensely if you would take a few minutes to give us feedback on our articles, Web site, and more. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Parallels Desktop 15.0

Addresses issues with Insider Preview beta releases of Windows 10 and Office for Windows. ($79.99 anual subscription for standard edition, $99.99 annual subscription for Pro and Business Editions, 204 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Microsoft Office for Mac 16.28

Monthly maintenance release brings new features to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. ($149.99 new for one-time purchase, $99.99/$69.99 annual subscription options, free update) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

How to Get the Most from Your Apple Card Benefits

Apple is slowly rolling out its new Apple Card across the United States. If you’re an early adopter, here’s how to maximize your cashback benefits. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

What It’s Like to Be Banished from Apple’s Garden

Can you imagine what life would be like if Apple locked you out of your Apple ID? Unfortunately, it can happen through no fault of your own and may not be easy to fix. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Lightroom Classic CC 8.4

Adds accelerated image editing with GPU support for smoother performance. ($9.99/19.99 monthly Creative Cloud subscription, free update) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

GraphicConverter 11.0.1

Major new release for the Swiss Army knife of graphics programs adds macros and improves RAW image editing. ($39.95 new, free update, 151 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

FAA Warns Airlines about 2015 15-inch MacBook Pros

You may have trouble flying with a recalled 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro due to its potential fire hazard. It remains to be seen how airline and airport staff will distinguish between affected and unaffected units and those whose batteries have been replaced. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Mailplane 4.1.4

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


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Keyboard Maestro 9.0

Major update for the automation and clipboard utility adds Dark mode support, OCR for text in images, and JSON. ($36 new, $25 upgrade, 25.8 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Why Can’t Users Teach Siri about Its Mistakes?

Apple took well-deserved flak in the press for having contractors listen to Siri conversations—and inadvertent initiations where people didn’t know they were being recorded. But Adam Engst suggests that we users should instead teach Siri about its mistakes. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

CES 2019 Reviews: iPhone/MacBook Battery, Mac Equalizer App, and AirPods Alternatives

Roaming CES reporter Jeff Porten reviews three products he picked up at 2019’s CES: a battery that can charge an iPhone or MacBook, an audio equalizer app for the Mac, and a cheaper alternative to Apple’s AirPods. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Buy the Best Lightning to USB Adapter for iOS 13

If you’re looking forward to USB drive and mouse support for your iPhone and iPad in Apple’s upcoming iOS 13, make sure you get the right Lightning adapter. You want the bigger one. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

DEVONthink 3.0 Public Beta 6

Sixth public beta with another round of extensive improvements and fixes for the information management app. ($99/$149/$499 new, free update, 90.5 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

1Password 7.3.2

Maintenance release focused on improving the password manager's stability. ($64.99 new, free update, 51.3 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

ChronoSync 4.9.4

Maintenance release for the synchronization and backup app with a smattering of bug fixes and improvements. ($49.99 new, free update, 66.8 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

BusyCal 3.6.9

Adds the capability to display an attached graphic on all days of a multi-day event in Day view. ($49.99 new, free update, 22.2 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Avoid Netflix AutoPlay Previews on the Apple TV with Reelgood and WatchAid

If you dislike being in the Netflix Apple TV app because of the autoplay previews or just because it’s constantly pushing new shows on you that you don’t want to watch, Apple TV apps from Reelgood and WatchAid provide a front end to your queue. Neither is ideal, though. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Apple Music for Artists Opens to All Artists

Apple has opened up its Apple Music for Artists program for all musicians who have music on Apple Music and iTunes. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Apple Starts Locking iPhone Batteries to Thwart Independent Repair

Apple has made it so that if the batteries in the latest iPhones are replaced by their owners or independent repair shops, iOS displays an ominous message questioning the battery’s authenticity, even if it’s a genuine Apple battery. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Disney Will Bundle Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for $12.99 Per Month

Disney says it will bundle Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for the same price as Netflix’s standard streaming plan. Is this essentially just an introductory rate to be followed by a price hike or is Disney setting a new low mark that competitors will have to match? | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Kagi Shuts Down After Falling Prey to Fraud (2016)

The venerable digital commerce company Kagi, which has been providing payment processing and shopping cart services to Mac developers since 1994, has ceased operations after an unsuccessful attempt to work off debt incurred by supplier fraud. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

FileMaker Retakes the Claris Name after 21 Years

FileMaker Inc. has announced that it will once again be known as Claris, indicating a larger vision for the Apple subsidiary. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Sip: Smart Color Management for Your Mac

What if there was a single place to pick, store, and organize colors on your Mac that also made it simple to use those colors in design apps, for development, or however you want? Sip is a menu bar app that does just that. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Equifax Cash Settlement Backtracking Leaves a Bad Taste

It turns out that so many people signed up to receive $125 cash instead of credit monitoring in the Equifax breach settlement that no one will receive much money. There’s nothing we can do about it, and that has many of us fuming. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

A Look at the Health App in iOS 13

iOS 13’s Health app not only gathers more of our scattered health information but also helps us understand and use it in practical and potentially profound ways. Here’s what you can look forward to in a few months. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

BBEdit 12.6.6

Adds basic support for C++ raw strings and changing the alert behavior when searching for text and no appropriate match is found. ($49.99 new, free update, 13.7 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

TipBITS: Switch between Multiple Accounts in Twitter’s Redesign

Twitter’s Web redesign isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but at least it now lets you easily switch between accounts. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Apple Suspends Siri’s “Response Grading” Eavesdropping

Apple has temporarily suspended its Siri “response grading” program that had contractors listen in on Siri recordings. That’s good, but it’s unfortunate that it took media coverage to push the company to change its practices. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

macOS Mojave 10.14.6 Supplemental Update

Addresses an issue that could prevent certain Macs from waking from sleep properly. (Free, 954.8 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

DEVONthink 3.0 Public Beta 5

Fifth public beta for the recently upgraded information management app. ($99/$149/$499 new, free update, 90.5 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Typinator 8.1

Brings refinements and bug fixes to the recently updated text expansion tool. (€24.99 new, free update, 6.9 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Don’t Get Bent Out of Shape Watching iPad Videos with Tryone’s Gooseneck Tablet Stand

Tired of holding your iPad or balancing it on your chest to watch a video? You can bend the Tryone Gooseneck Tablet Stand to your will—or at least to whatever position is most comfortable. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Social Engineering for Fun and Profit. And Other Stuff

A search engine marketing consultant has shown that it’s simple to use Google AdWords and YouTube videos to further a specific agenda. That might be a good thing, such as by encouraging suicidal people to call a hotline, but it could equally as easily be used for evil. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Capital One Data Breach Reveals Information on 106 Million

Capital One has announced a security breach that affects approximately 100 million people in the United States and 6 million in Canada. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Apple Offering Augmented Reality Art Installations and Sessions

To promote its augmented reality technologies (and drive Apple Store traffic), Apple has announced a trio of augmented reality art initiatives that will launch in August. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

iPhone Down, Services and Wearables Up in Apple’s Q3 2019, Apple Card to Arrive in August

iPhone revenues now account for less than half of Apple’s revenues, but Services and Wearables more than made up the difference. And CEO Tim Cook announced that the Apple Card will become available this August. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Security Update 2019-004 (High Sierra and Sierra)

Patches vulnerabilities that could allow a remote attacker to cause arbitrary code execution or view sensitive information. (Free, various sizes) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

RIP AirPower, but Great Gadget Chargers Abound

Apple’s AirPower was supposed to revolutionize wireless charging for Apple users, but Apple killed it before it saw the light of day. However, lots of other wireless—and wired—chargers brim with personality and versatility. Some, as AirPower promised, can even charge your iPhone, … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Apple Workers May Be Listening to Your Siri Conversations

Apple has increasingly used its stance on privacy as a selling point, but The Guardian has revealed that, like Amazon, Apple lets contractors listen in on conversations held while Siri is active. The audio may be difficult or impossible to trace back to the individuals who are sp … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Toast 18 Titanium and Toast 18 Pro

Major release for the venerable digital media suite that adds the Roxio Akrilic digital art app. ($99.99/$149.99 new, free update, 270 MB) | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Amazon Using Police Departments to Sell Ring Cameras

Amazon subsidiary Ring is partnering with police departments around the United States to distribute security cameras to communities, but in return, police must agree to promote Ring’s products. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

Apple Buys Intel’s Troubled 5G Smartphone Modem Business

Apple seemingly squeezed Intel into an impossible position by negotiating for a purchase while working on a settlement with Qualcomm. Now Apple has control over a current steady supply of 5G smartphone chips and a path to make its own for future iPhones. | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago

You’re Entitled to $125 or More in the Equifax Breach Settlement

Equifax has reached a deal to pay up to $425 million to Americans in order to compensate them for the credit bureau’s massive data breach. But a large percentage of the fine will be paid only if its claimed by people whose data was exposed in the breach—learn how to get your shar … | Continue reading


@tidbits.com | 5 years ago