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.
Substantial update to the automation and clipboard utility gains the capability to display information and custom menus in the menu bar, supports subroutines, and adds a plethora of new triggers, actions, filters, tokens, and functions. ($36 new, $25 upgrade, 34.4 MB)
In the ongoing saga of things rattling around in Adam Engst’s head that don’t merit their own articles, Adam shares the fact of Apple’s new temporary iCloud Backup storage, passes on a story about Screen Time settings inexplicably changing, talks about moving TidBITS to a new virtual private server, and notes an upgrade to the TidBITS News app.
Getting an error when you try to play podcasts on your HomePod running HomePod Software 15.1? It’s not you, it’s a bug, and Apple has just released HomePod Software 15.1.1 to resolve it.
While our general advice to hold off on upgrading to macOS 12 Monterey remains in place, Adam Engst shares some thoughts on why Monterey may merit an earlier upgrade than previous versions of macOS. But he also points to some upgrade problems that suggest that we’re not quite there yet.
Frustrated by wanting to write about various topics that are either too big or too small (or too something) for a full article, Adam Engst resorts to sharing some short stories that may be enlightening, enjoyable, or just allow him to close a loop in his head.
Confused about what Device Support Update in Software Update is? Adam Engst was too, but he recently got the opportunity to confirm that it provides the same software as the pop-up “A software update is required to connect to your iOS device” dialogs.
It’s a terrible idea to share passwords with colleagues in email, and the solution for years has been sites like One-Time Secret and 1ty.me that embed a password in a link that can be viewed only once. 1Password has finally gotten into the game, letting users securely share passwords from within the app.
Apple has redesigned the MacBook Pro, with 14-inch and 16-inch models powered by new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, along with impressive new screens, improved battery life, and a welcome return to the era of ports, MagSafe charging, and F-keys. The only downsides? Weight and a camera notch that cuts the menu bar in half.
Faced with a panicking elderly neighbor who thought she had left her iPad Pro at a faraway hotel, Adam Engst saved the day with judicious use of Find My.
Multitasking on the iPad has been a mess for years, thanks to relying on obscure gestures. With iPadOS 15, Apple has added a new Multitasking menu that provides a visible interface along with a new center window option, a shelf for open windows, and a radically enhanced App Switcher.
If you’re unable to turn on Unlock with Apple Watch on your new iPhone 13, you’re not alone. Apple promises a fix in an upcoming software update.
There’s no question that Apple’s new iPhone 13 models are the best iPhones the company has ever made, but their evolutionary changes may be compelling mostly to those with older iPhones.
In Epic Games v. Apple, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has come down strongly in favor of Apple, rejecting nearly all of Epic’s claims and fining the company millions of dollars. But Apple suffered a blow too, with the judge determining that Apple’s in-app purchasing policies are anticompetitive.
After his 15-year-old Altec Lansing FX6201 speakers died, Adam Engst figured out how to bond the speakers in his 27-inch iMac and Thunderbolt Display to tide him over until he can decide on the best external replacement speakers.
In a brief statement to media organizations, Apple announced that it is delaying the launch of its CSAM detection technology to collect input and make improvements. Why are we not surprised?
