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Adam Engst 8 comments

Google’s .zip Provides Another Reason to Beware of Wacky Top-Level Domains

Google's new .zip top-level domain has raised concerns from the security community due to the ease with which it enables ambiguous URLs that could be used in phishing attacks.

Adam Engst 1 comment

watchOS 9.5.1 Probably Fixes Some Problem

It's hard to get excited about a watchOS update that lacks descriptive release notes or even an indication that it might address security vulnerabilities. Install it sometime.

Adam Engst 28 comments

Apple to Shut Down My Photo Stream on 26 July 2023

Apple has announced that My Photo Stream will shut down in 2 months. If you find its syncing capabilities useful, consider switching to iCloud Photos, which may require paying Apple for iCloud+ storage.

Adam Engst 14 comments

TidBITS Arrives on Mastodon, Continues (Reluctantly) on Twitter and Facebook

After Twitter put a  $42,000-per-month API fee for enterprises into effect, the WordPress Jetpack service dropped its Twitter connections, ending automatic posting of TidBITS articles on Twitter. Curious if he could sort out a free replacement, Adam Engst dug around and pieced one together. 

Adam Engst 15 comments

Why I Use Mimestream for Gmail

The Gmail-specific email app Mimestream has emerged from a multi-year public beta with a 1.0 version that’s familiar, fast, and fluid. Adam Engst explains why he has chosen Mimestream as his preferred email client.

Adam Engst 9 comments

Sports and Bugs in tvOS 16.5, macOS 13.4 Ventura, iOS 16.5, iPadOS 16.5, watchOS 9.5, and HomePod Software 16.5

The latest updates to Apple’s operating systems increase the visibility of sports in Apple News and bring four-up multiview sports games to the Apple TV 4K. Otherwise, there are just a few bug fixes and a new Pride Celebration wallpaper and watch face. Most important are the security updates, which explain the Rapid Security Responses and address another zero-day exploit.

Adam Engst No comments

iOS 15.7.6 and iPadOS 15.7.6 Incorporate Rapid Security Response Fixes

Apple has now released iOS 15.7.6 and iPadOS 15.7.6 to address a bunch of security vulnerabilities, three of which are actively being exploited in the wild and two of which were fixed in the new operating systems' Rapid Security Responses. Update immediately.

Adam Engst 22 comments

TidBITS Doesn’t Cover Rumors. Here’s Why

An online poster who leaked accurate Apple corporate secrets says they received them from a family member but have now been found out by Apple. Both face possible legal repercussions, and Apple reportedly fired the family member. Adam Engst explores the enticing but corrosive nature of both providing and consuming rumors.

Adam Engst 5 comments

StorCentric and Drobo in Chapter 7: Start Looking for Drobo Replacements

StorCentric and subsidiary Drobo have recently converted their mid-2022 Chapter 11 bankruptcies to Chapter 7, implying that it's unlikely they'll recover. If you use a Drobo storage device, it's time to look for replacements.

Adam Engst 5 comments

Apple to Expand Accessibility Options in 2023

Apple has announced a slew of new and improved accessibility features that it plans to bring to the next versions of its operating systems in 2023.

Adam Engst 20 comments

iPhone COVID-19 Exposure Notifications Shut Down

The little-used COVID-19 exposure notification system built into iOS is being shut down. It's a shame that it wasn't adopted broadly enough to make a more significant difference in the infection numbers and death toll to date.

Jeff Carlson 3 comments

Filling Out Your Cookbook Shelves with ckbk

Do you want the experience of cooking from a cookbook alongside the convenience of pulling up recipes online? ckbk’s collection of 700 books and 120,000 recipes makes that possible. And a new collaboration with Eat Your Books expands the offerings.

Adam Engst 3 comments

Explain XKCD Is a Black Hole

If you've ever found yourself unable to understand one of Randall Munroe's xkcd comics, run, don't walk, to explain xkcd, a wiki that does just what it claims for every xkcd comic so far.

Adam Engst 27 comments

A Call to Alarms: Why We Need Persistent Calendar and Reminder Notifications

Frustrated by how easy he finds it to ignore notifications for important events and timed reminders, Adam Engst proposes alarms that continue to go off until stopped manually, creating a third notification type alongside banners and alerts.

Adam Engst 20 comments

Apple Introduces Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the iPad

Apple is bringing its high-end media creation tools Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro to the iPad. Will they be companion apps for the Mac versions, less-capable alternatives for those who don't need the power of the Mac versions, or both?