Although it has been nearly three years since Apple introduced its version of a new standard format for highly compressed images and videos, the details remain hard to decipher. That’s partly due to Apple’s confusing labeling. | Continue reading
There are big changes coming to how you invoke various startup modes on Apple Silicon Macs, but the good news is that you won’t have to remember obscure keyboard combinations. | Continue reading
Significant update to the information organizer that now syncs data using Apple's iCloud service and adds support for Touch ID. ($30 new, free update, 8.0 MB) | Continue reading
Apple’s upcoming tvOS 14 and additions to the company’s HomeKit home automation framework won’t rock your world, but they offer some nice improvements. | Continue reading
Venerable audio utility makes the jump to the Mac App Store. (Free, 2.1 MB) | Continue reading
Don’t have nearly 2 hours to watch the WWDC keynote, fast-paced though it was? Former Macworld and iMore editor Serenity Caldwell narrates a highly edited summary that covers the key points in less than 90 seconds. | Continue reading
Apple unveiled macOS 11.0 Big Sur during the WWDC keynote, showing off overhauls of Messages and Maps, while improving Safari, Photos, and other apps. Mail was conspicuously absent for now. | Continue reading
iOS 14 promises a tight package of new features, many of which have existed in Google’s Android for years, while iPadOS 14 takes those features and mixes in a bit of Newton handwriting recognition. Egg freckles, anyone? | Continue reading
Described as being the biggest update to macOS since OS X, macOS Big Sur features streamlined design, more customizable controls, privacy enhancements, and increased interoperability with iPadOS and iOS. X hasn’t marked the spot for several years, but we’re now in Spinal Tap terr … | Continue reading
Updates in Apple’s just-announced watchOS are substantive if not groundbreaking. They include sleep tracking, a handwashing-detection feature suitable for the COVID-19 pandemic, and “dance” as one of several new workouts. Other improvements include watch face sharing, language tr … | Continue reading
The rumors finally came true. At the WWDC keynote, Apple announced that the Mac would be transitioning to custom-designed Apple processors along the lines of those that power the iPad Pro. The first such Mac should be available by the end of this year, with the full transition ta … | Continue reading
The Slow Mo Guys have published a YouTube video with slow-motion, highly magnified footage of an Apple Watch ejecting water. Well worth a look. | Continue reading
Backblaze’s annual poll asking how often people back up their data shows small improvements across the board. But the percentage of people who either don’t back up at all or back up once a year or less is still far too high. | Continue reading
Addresses a handful of failure conditions with Apple's APFS replication utility. ($39.99 new, free update, 14.6 MB) | Continue reading
Looking for something for your kids to do this summer with in-person camps limited or canceled? Apple is offering a free online camp this summer for kids to learn about art, coding, design, and video. | Continue reading
Adds support for Dark mode in macOS 10.14 Mojave. ($74.95/$124.95 new, $30 upgrade, 71.4/118 MB) | Continue reading
Adds the new Data from Picture feature to Excel for creating table data from images. ($149.99 new for one-time purchase, $99.99/$69.99 annual subscription options, free update) | Continue reading
Apple is about to kick off another WWDC on 22 June 2020, and with it will almost certainly come new versions of macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS for developers—and interested users, once the public beta starts—to test. Former Apple engineer David Shayer explains what you need to do … | Continue reading
In the unfortunate event that a family member dies without sharing passwords or other Apple account information, there’s still a way to get Apple to provide access. Read on for details. | Continue reading
Nisus Writer Pro 2.1.9 fixes a frustrating problem with trackpad usage that could sporadically trigger unwanted zooming and result in tiny zoom percentages. ($79 new, free update, 225 MB) | Continue reading
Update with a work-from-home focus adds automatic conference call detection and timed calendar sets. ($39.99 annual subscription, free update, 22.3 MB) | Continue reading
Boosts performance and brings an updated look and feel to the Sync, Tone Curve, and Color tools. ($9.99/$19.99/$52.99 monthly Creative Cloud subscription, free update) | Continue reading
Maintenance update with many detail enhancements and fixes for the information management app. ($99/$199/$499 new, free update, 97.6 MB) | Continue reading
Sony has recalled a number of its SD cards due to possible data corruption, and the company will replace them for free through 31 March 2022. | Continue reading
Apple has rolled out an ultra-high-end graphics option for the 16-inch MacBook Pro and do-it-yourself SSD upgrades for the Mac Pro. | Continue reading
Maintenance update with a grab bag of enhancements including stability improvements and updates to Live Loops. ($199.99 new, free update, 1 GB) | Continue reading
Essayist Craig Mod points out that the fit and finish of software isn’t on par with what today’s tech companies are doing in hardware. He suggests that developers need to refocus on their craft. | Continue reading
Fixes a bug that could cause the "Save all attachments" dialog in Apple Mail to get stuck. ($34.95 new, free update, 14.5 MB) | Continue reading
Maintenance release with improvements, bug fixes, and general revelry in recognition of the text expansion tool's 15th anniversary. (€24.99 new, free update, 7.1 MB) | Continue reading
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