Glenn Fleishman
Glenn Fleishman writes about the past, present, and future. He’s been a technology journalist since the 1990s, contributing to TidBITS since 1993, and to publications like the Economist, Fast Company, the New York Times, Fortune, and many others (many of them long out of business). He’s also a printing historian, specializing in processes used between original artwork and typeset material and the final printed page, concluding flong. Glenn writes the Mac 911 column for Macworld, was the editor and publisher of The Magazine, and regularly appears on technology and nerd-culture podcasts.
The Music Modernization Act just signed into US law brings consistency to the rights of musicians and songwriters. More musicians will be paid, especially those who recorded songs decades ago or longer.
So long, 802.11ax. Hello, Wi-Fi 6! The Wi-Fi Alliance has simplified the names for Wi-Fi standards to make it easier to tell generations of equipment apart.
Apple streamlined two-factor login confirmations via text message in iOS 12 and macOS 10.14 Mojave. But using SMS to validate your login remains problematic because of phone number hijacking. Apple should lead the way to retire it.
Apple has posted a support article about how the decade-old Back to My Mac service—which enables users to access files on and share screens with on their Macs over the Internet—will not be in macOS 10.14 Mojave.
Until now, Internet backups required subscribing to a cloud-based backup service and using proprietary software to handle archiving and retrieval. Now, there’s a DIY alternative: Arq backup software and Backblaze’s B2 cloud storage system.
The domain name system is largely insecure, leaking information and subject to compromise. New services from Cloudflare and Quad9 could provide greater security and integrity than Google Public DNS, currently the best known public DNS service.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced WPA3, a replacement for its current local network encryption options. WPA3 both fixes an exploit and increases security for those using open networks, all while reducing the burden on users. But don’t expect it to take over from WPA2 soon.
iOS 11’s Camera app now automatically recognizes QR codes, those square sets of black rectangles that contain URLs, Wi-Fi connection details, contacts, and much more. Here’s how to create and deploy QR codes in practical and useful ways.
A security researcher found a fundamental flaw in the WPA2 security specification that underlies all Wi-Fi implementations. It lets an attacker decipher encrypted data between a device and a base station. However, the opportunity to exploit this flaw is limited and closing fast for hardware that can be updated.
Users who have Find My Mac enabled but are relying on weak iCloud passwords that have been stolen in mass breaches have had their Macs locked by extortionists. We need to change iCloud passwords immediately and, longer term, give up outdated password ideas.
In iOS 11, Apple slipped notable changes into its Control Center networking controls. They’re not obvious, but you can master them.
AppleInsider found a mismatch with certain Thunderbolt 3 cables and USB-C drives that support only USB standards. We checked it out and were able to confirm AppleInsider’s results.
Apps proliferate for sending and receiving that antiquated form of document transfer, the fax. Pick the right app to keep costs down.
A news report referring to AgileBits’s aggressive shift to subscription-based licensing for 1Password overstates a requirement to store passwords at its 1Password.com site.
To save storage space and bandwidth, and to provide additional capabilities, Apple is moving forward with image and video formats that boast higher compression ratios. Glenn Fleishman dives into the details of HEVC and HEIF to explain why they’ll be so useful when they debut in iOS 11 and macOS 10.13 High Sierra.