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Adam Engst

Adam Engst

Adam C. Engst is the publisher of TidBITS. He has written numerous books, including the best-selling Internet Starter Kit series, and many magazine articles thanks to Contributing Editor positions at MacUser, MacWEEK, and now Macworld. His innovations include the creation of the first advertising program to support an Internet publication in 1992, the first flat-rate accounts for graphical Internet access in 1993, and the Take Control electronic book series now owned and operated by alt concepts. His awards include the MDJ Power 25 ranking as the most influential person in the Macintosh industry outside of Apple every year since 2000, inclusion on the MacTech 25 list of influential people in the Macintosh technical community, and being named one of MacDirectory's top ten visionaries. And yes, he has been turned into an action figure.

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 16 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!

Safari 16.6.1 Adam Engst 6 comments

Safari 16.6.1

Patches a WebKit security vulnerability in Monterey and Big Sur. (Free, various sizes, macOS 11+)

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 5 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 6 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.

Adam Engst 10 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 13 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.

Adam Engst 50 comments

Incremental iPhone 15 Improvements Focus on Photography and Connectivity

At its Wonderlust event, Apple unveiled its latest crop of iPhones, with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus enjoying a more significant feature jump from their iPhone 14 predecessors than the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Adam Engst 87 comments

Five Unexpected Announcements from Apple’s Wonderlust Event

Sure, Apple announced the iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 at its Wonderlust event on 12 September 2023. But we weren’t expecting these additional announcements.

Adam Engst 3 comments

2023 OS Release Dates

Apple has revealed the release dates of its next-generation operating systems: iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, HomePod Software 17, and macOS 14 Sonoma.