Skip to content
Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 36 years
and the TidBITS Content Network for Apple professionals

Category: Entertainment

Adam Engst 8 comments

AirPods Max 2 Gain H2 Chip and AirPods Pro Features

After more than five years, Apple has updated its premium over-ear headphones with the H2 chip, bringing features like Adaptive Audio and Live Translation to the AirPods Max while maintaining the $549 price point.

Adam Engst 22 comments

How the Music App’s “Skip When Shuffling” Option Can Help (or Hinder) Holiday Playlists

After 30 frustrating minutes trying to fix a broken holiday playlist, Adam Engst finally found the culprit: a “Skip when shuffling” option he had enabled last year and forgotten about. Is there a better way to silence seasonal music when the holidays end?

Adam Engst 31 comments

Apple TV and Peacock Bundle Feels Wrong

Apple has announced a discounted bundle of the Apple TV and Peacock streaming services, but the move doesn’t feel like Apple in its focus on price over premium positioning.

Adam Engst 44 comments

AirPods Pro 3 Improve Noise Cancellation, Add Workout Tracking and Live Translation

Apple’s latest AirPods Pro 3 expand the boundaries of what wireless earbuds can do, adding significantly improved noise cancellation, heart rate tracking, and real-time language translation.

Adam Engst 12 comments

Apple TV+ Monthly Price Increases to $12.99

Apple has raised the monthly Apple TV+ price to $12.99 while keeping the annual $99 plan unchanged. Prices are up across the industry, but Apple TV+’s smaller, originals-only library makes it a tougher sell for long-term subscriptions.

Adam Engst 12 comments

AirPods Max to Support Lossless Audio and Ultra-Low Latency Audio

Apple’s AirPods Max will gain support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio through a firmware update in April, but only the USB-C model and only when physically connected to devices.

Adam Engst 8 comments

Extend Your Audio with Dio Node AirPlay Speakers

Looking for an affordable way to extend audio from your HomePod to other rooms in your house? The Dio Node AirPlay 2 speaker provides easy setup at a lower price than a HomePod mini, though with some audio quality compromises.

Adam Engst 88 comments

Apple Releases AirPods 4, Adds Hearing Aid Mode to AirPods Pro 2

The new AirPods 4 introduce an updated industrial design that Apple says will fit more ears and include a more expensive model with Active Noise Cancellation. However, the more exciting news may be the addition of hearing tests and a Hearing Aid mode for the current AirPods Pro 2.

Adam Engst 15 comments

Comparing Blogtrottr, Feedrabbit, and Follow.it for Receiving RSS Feeds in Email

For those who prefer to receive their news and information in email, an RSS-to-email service lets you follow blogs, newsletters, and other services that publish RSS feeds without using a newsreader app. Adam Engst compares Blogtrottr, Feedrabbit, and Follow.it.

Adam Engst 1 comment

Apple Podcasts Now Available in Any Web Browser

Apple has unveiled a Web-based version of its Podcasts app. It’s available to anyone, but those who sign in with their Apple IDs can access their existing podcast subscriptions.

Adam Engst 1 comment

AirPlay Now Available in 60+ IHG Hotels in North America

If you stay in one of the 60+ appropriately equipped hotels on your next trip, you may be able to use AirPlay from your iPhone or iPad to share content with the big-screen TV in your room.

Adam Engst 7 comments

Do You Use It? TidBITS Readers Prefer Overcast to Apple Podcasts

The results of our poll asking which podcast apps TidBITS readers prefer reveal that Marco Arment’s Overcast is by far the most popular, well ahead of Apple Podcasts. No other podcast app broke double digits.

Adam Engst 11 comments

Text-to-Podcast Service Listen Later Sponsoring TidBITS

Please welcome our latest long-term TidBITS sponsor, Listen Later. Email an article URL to this innovative Internet service, and it cleanly converts the article text into a custom podcast episode in your favorite podcast app.

Adam Engst 39 comments

Apple Launches iPhone Sports App

Apple has released a free Apple Sports app for the iPhone with schedules, scores, and standings for a handful of professional and college sports. It's only available the in US, UK, and Canada, and shows betting odds by default.

Adam Engst 24 comments

iOS 17.3 Stands Out from Other OS Updates with Stolen Device Protection

Apple has released a large set of operating system updates, including iOS 17.3, iPadOS 17.3, macOS 14.3 Sonoma, watchOS 10.3, tvOS 17.3, HomePod Software 17.3, macOS 13.6.4 Ventura, macOS 12.7.3 Monterey, iOS 16.7.5 and iPadOS 16.7.5, and iOS 15.8.1 and iPadOS 15.8.1. New features include Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3 and Apple Music collaborative playlists.