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Julio Ojeda-Zapata No comments

Two Laptop Stands Appropriate for a 15-inch MacBook Air

The new 15-inch MacBook Air with its large screen awakened Julio Ojeda-Zapata’s interest in laptop stands. He wants one that is robust but portable, and adjustability is a must. He found two stands that qualify in different, ingenious ways.

Adam Engst 14 comments

Do You Use It? iPhone Always-On Display Popular but Not Universal

The results of our poll of iPhone 14 Pro users are in, with two-thirds of respondents saying they keep the Always-On enabled. The remaining third cited distractions and reduced battery life as their reasons for turning it off.

Adam Engst 16 comments

macOS 14 Sonoma Now Available

Apple has released macOS 14 Sonoma, and you can upgrade compatible Macs now. The features aren’t likely life-changing, but nor are they causing significant compatibility issues. Read on for more details and upgrade advice.

Adam Engst 3 comments

NewClimate Institute Reacts to Apple’s Carbon Neutral Apple Watch Claims

While noting that Apple is doing a better job than most multinationals with regard to the transparency and integrity of its climate pledges and strategies, the NewClimate Institute finds that Apple’s claims of carbon neutrality somewhat exaggerated.

Adam Engst 7 comments

iFixit Puts Apple’s FineWoven Case Under the Microscope

Curious about Apple’s FineWoven fabric? iFixit looks at the FineWoven iPhone case under a high-powered microscope before and after subjecting it to scratches, liquids, and more.

Adam Engst 19 comments

Update a New iPhone 15 to iOS 17.0.2 Before Transferring from Your Old iPhone

A bug in iOS 17 can cause a hang while transferring data from an old iPhone to a new iPhone 15. Update to iOS 17.0.2 first!

Adam Engst 3 comments

How to Restore the Slack Workspace Sidebar

Has your Slack interface changed recently, dropping the workspace sidebar in favor of another one that replicates capabilities available in the channel sidebar? Read on for the trick necessary to bring back a permanent sidebar of your workspaces.

Adam Engst 12 comments

OS Security Updates Address Three More Exploited Vulnerabilities

Updates for macOS 13 Ventura, macOS 12 Monterey, iOS 17 and 16, iPadOS 17 and 16, and watchOS 10 and 9 fix a trio of security vulnerabilities likely being used to install the NSO Group's Pegasus spyware. Install the updates soon.

Adam Engst 9 comments

Orion Turns a USB-C iPad into a Portable HDMI Monitor

In a brief break from working on their Halide camera app, the developers at Lux have come up with Orion, which turns a USB-C–equipped iPad into an external HDMI display for any device that outputs HDMI video.

Adam Engst 11 comments

AirPods Firmware Updates Add Features, Improve Automatic Switching

New AirPods firmware updates promise to improve the Automatic Switching experience for all AirPods, add a new press-to-mute feature for most models, and bring new Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume features to the second-generation AirPods Pro.

Adam Engst No comments

iFixit Retroactively Reduces iPhone 14 Repairability Score Due to Parts Pairing

Repair company iFixit has dropped the iPhone 14’s repairability score after community pushback thanks to Apple's reliance on parts pairing, which requires that new parts be cryptographically paired with the devices in which they're installed. Does Apple’s recent support for California’s Right to Repair Act hold out hope for change?

Adam Engst 7 comments

Apple Updates AirPods Pro with USB-C Case and Improved Dust Resistance

If you’re making the jump to USB-C, Apple has updated the second-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case (and a few other minor changes). The company also released a USB-C version of the wired EarPods.

Glenn Fleishman 44 comments

Avoid Overspending for iPhone 15 USB-C Cables and Chargers

With USB-C replacing Lightning across Apple’s new iPhone 15 series, shun expensive Apple cables and adapters in favor of third-party alternatives.

Adam Engst 11 comments

iPhone 12 Sales Blocked in France over Radiation Levels

A French watchdog has ordered that Apple stop selling the iPhone 12 in France unless it reduces the amount of radiation emitted to meet European standards. Apple says it already complies.

Adam Engst 14 comments

2023 Apple Watch Models Add Double Tap Gesture

The new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 extend the wearable experience mostly through a double tap gesture that activates the primary button in an app. They also have brighter screens, on-device Siri, and Precision Finding for the iPhone 15.