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Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 33 years
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Category: iPhone, iPad, & iOS

Adam Engst 2 comments

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus Now Available in Yellow

Apple has added a vibrant yellow option to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus lineup, just in time for those who are looking for a new iPhone to coordinate with their spring outfits.

Adam Engst 45 comments

How a Thief with Your iPhone Passcode Can Ruin Your Digital Life

The Wall Street Journal reports on a spate of attacks in which iPhone thieves obtain your passcode and then change your Apple ID password, disable Find My, make purchases with Apple Pay, and more. Some attacks are as simple as the miscreants surreptitiously watching you enter your passcode; others involve violence. Read on to learn how to protect yourself.

Adam Engst 20 comments

iOS 16.3.1, iPadOS 16.3.1, macOS 13.2.1 Ventura, watchOS 9.3.1, tvOS 16.3.2, and HomePod Software 16.3.2 Fix Bugs and Security Vulnerabilities

Responding to a nasty WebKit vulnerability that is being actively exploited in the wild, Apple has released updates to all its current operating systems. We recommend updating soon.

Adam Engst 17 comments

TipBITS: Restart Your iPhone or iPad Using Siri

If you need to restart your iPhone or iPad, you can now ask Siri to perform that task for you rather than pressing hard-to-remember button combinations. Alas, the feature doesn’t work on other Apple devices that could also use it.

Adam Engst 31 comments

Hunting for a Dead Mouse: AirPlay Receiver to the Rescue

Faced with an ever-worsening stench in his laundry room at Christmas. Adam Engst brings thousands of dollars of Apple gear and recent technologies into play to avoid ripping the entire room apart.

Adam Engst 31 comments

Apple Releases iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, and macOS 13.2 Ventura with Hardware Security Key Support

The latest versions of Apple’s main operating systems add Security Keys for Apple ID, celebrate Black History Month with a new Unity Lock Screen wallpaper and Unity Mosaic Apple Watch face, and fix bugs and security vulnerabilities.

Adam Engst 3 comments

iOS 12.5.7 and iOS/iPadOS 15.7.3 Provide Security Fixes

If you’re still using an iPhone or iPad that can’t update to iOS 16, Apple has released security updates for iOS 12 and iOS 15.

Adam Engst 53 comments

iPhones and iPads Now Require a Passcode on Every Backup/Sync

People who use their Macs to back up or sync their iPhones and iPads have discovered they must enter their device passcode for every connection. What’s up with that?!? Adam Engst explains: it’s Apple’s ham-handed response to a security vulnerability.

Adam Engst 20 comments

Use Live Text to Digitize Your Cookbooks

Faced with the desire to import recipes from his cookbooks into Paprika, Adam Engst discovers that iOS’s Live Text feature works wonders for scanning recipe text using his iPhone’s camera.

Adam Engst 11 comments

A Fix for MobileDeviceUpdater’s “Installation Failed”

Mac users sometimes see the prompt “A software update is required to connect to your iPhone/iPad” when connecting one of those devices. What should you do if the installation fails?

Adam Engst 10 comments

iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2 Block Exploited Security Vulnerability

Update to these versions of iOS and iPadOS to protect your older iPhone or iPad from malicious Web content that takes advantage of a now-fixed WebKit vulnerability.

Adam Engst 43 comments

Apple Releases iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1 Ventura, watchOS 9.2, and tvOS 16.2

Apple has updated all of its operating systems, adding the Freeform digital whiteboard app, support for Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, Apple Music Sing, Stage Manager on external displays, and various smaller improvements. A fix for a serious security vulnerability encourages updating soon.

Adam Engst 49 comments

iOS 16.1.2 Optimizes Crash Detection, Improves Wireless Carrier Compatibility

The latest version of iOS promises to improve compatibility with wireless carriers and do better at detecting crashes. But, we ask, did you need TidBITS to tell you that?

Adam Engst 7 comments

Get Rid of the Apple Pay Setup Badge on Settings

If you’re among those who dislike having notification badges permanently affixed to iOS apps, you may be frustrated by the badge on the Settings app that nags you to set up Apple Pay. Here’s how to get rid of it without enabling Apple Pay.

Adam Engst 10 comments

Testing Emergency SOS and Find My via Satellite

In which Adam Engst drives to a nearby deep valley where there’s no cellular connectivity to test Find My via satellite and run through the Emergency SOS via satellite demo in a real-world situation. It seemingly worked but revealed a gap in Apple’s approach.