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Category: Entertainment

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.

Julio Ojeda-Zapata 5 comments

The Beats Go On: Apple Subsidiary Releases Studio Pro Headphones, Studio Buds+ Earbuds

No search for Apple earbuds or headphones is complete without weighing what’s on offer from Apple subsidiary Beats By Dre. Releases include flagship Studio Pro headphones and a modest update to its 2021 Studio Buds.

Adam Engst 5 comments

Recent macOS Update Fixes Multi-Display Screen Saver Bug

Annoyed by the bug in macOS 13.3 Ventura that prevented screen savers from working on multiple displays? Apple quietly fixed it at some point, so as of macOS 13.4.1, you can again enjoy your eye candy on all attached displays.

Adam Engst 13 comments

BookBITS: “Red Team Blues” by Cory Doctorow

Adam Engst recommends Cory Doctorow’s latest thriller. It’s an exciting read set in the tech world of today but populated by characters whose history dates back to the 1990s. It’s all fiction, but broad swaths ring surprisingly true.

Adam Engst 38 comments

How Do You Request Music Using Siri?

Frustrated by how he’s using Siri, Adam Engst explains his approach to requesting music from HomePods to see if others have techniques they feel are more successful. Is the eventual answer generative AI?

Adam Engst 6 comments

21 New Features Coming to Apple Services in 2023

Apple has released a list of enhancements coming to Apple services with the next versions of its operating systems.

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.

Kirk McElhearn 88 comments

Apple Music Classical (Mostly) Plays the Right Chords

People unfamiliar with classical music who want to discover new music will find the Apple Music Classical app more than sufficient. Classical music fans familiar with the genre and looking for uncommon recordings will find it somewhat frustrating.

Adam Engst 46 comments

Apple Music Classical to Debut This Month

Over a year and a half after it acquired Primephonic, Apple has finally announced the release of the dedicated Apple Music Classic app for iOS, scheduled for 28 March 2023. You can “pre-order” the free app now.

Adam Engst 14 comments

macOS Photo Screen Savers Still Don’t Properly Display Rotated or Edited Images

macOS has a long-standing bug that causes screen savers to fail to show edited or rotated images from Photos—only the original versions. Ventura still suffers from this problem, and although Adam Engst shares some workarounds, you’re not going to like them.

Adam Engst 37 comments

Second-Generation HomePod Supports Spatial Audio, Temperature/Humidity Monitoring, and Sound Recognition

Apple has unexpectedly revived the full-size HomePod, releasing a second-generation model that supports spatial audio, includes a temperature/humidity sensor for home automations, and promises a Sound Recognition feature to detect alarms.

Adam Engst No comments

Eddy Cue Looks Back on Apple’s 2022 Year in Services

Have you ever wondered just how expansive Apple's Services division has become? Apple SVP of Services Eddy Cue highlights the accomplishments of the company's various services in 2022.

Adam Engst 20 comments

LittleBITS: Apple Pay Date Quirk, Apple Music Sing

We have two quick things to share that don’t warrant an article: an explanation of why Apple Pay-using TidBITS members may see incorrect credit card expiration dates and the news of Apple Music Sing, which fills Adam Engst with dread.

Josh Centers 42 comments

Apple Releases macOS 13 Ventura, iPadOS 16.1, iOS 16.1, watchOS 9.1, and More

Today is the big day: Apple has released macOS 13 Ventura and iPadOS 16.1 alongside iOS 16.1, watchOS 9.1, tvOS 16.1, and HomePod Software 16.1.

Josh Centers 33 comments

Apple Raises the Price of Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple One

Apple has raised the prices of Apple Music, Apple TV+, and the Apple One service bundle by $1–$3 per month.