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Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 36 years
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Category: Mac & macOS

Adam Engst 21 comments

macOS 15.2 Sequoia Breaks Bootable Backups in SuperDuper

If you rely on a bootable backup of your Mac and haven’t yet updated to macOS 15.2 Sequoia, hold off. Those who have already updated can protect their work with a data-only backup.

Adam Engst 53 comments

OS X.2 Updates Boost Apple Intelligence and More

Apple’s December 2024 updates bring substantial changes across the company’s ecosystem, from new Apple Intelligence features to Mail categorization, enhanced Find My item sharing capabilities, and natural language Apple Music searches.

Adam Engst 35 comments

Apple Updates Block Two Zero-Day Security Vulnerabilities

Apple has released updates for its primary operating systems—including the previous versions of iOS and iPadOS and two previous versions of macOS—to address a pair of critical security vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the wild. Update soon.

Adam Engst 31 comments

How to Tame Sequoia’s Window Tiling

Struggling with window resizing surprises in macOS 15 Sequoia? Adam Engst guides you through configuring Sequoia’s new tiling features to improve your Mac window management.

Adam Engst 10 comments

Apple Boosts MacBook Air Base Memory to 16 GB

Apple has increased the base amount of memory in the M2 and M3 MacBook Air models, possibly to ensure optimal performance for Apple Intelligence.

Adam Engst 48 comments

Smaller Mac mini Powered by M4 and M4 Pro Chips

Apple’s new Mac mini models pack more power than ever into a case that has a smaller footprint but a taller profile than previous versions. The M4 Pro Mac mini also introduces the first Thunderbolt 5 ports in the Mac world.

Adam Engst 16 comments

New 24-inch iMac Upgraded with M4 Chip

Apple’s latest 24-inch iMac introduces the powerful M4 chip and enhances the user experience with a nano-texture glass option and a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera.

Adam Engst 42 comments

Apple Intelligence Arrives in macOS 15.1 Sequoia, iOS 18.1, and iPadOS 18.1

Apple has rolled out Apple Intelligence for compatible devices with macOS 15.1, iOS 18.1, and iPadOS 18.1, introducing new enhancements in Siri, Photos, Mail, and more. Adam Engst shares an overview and early impressions of the Apple Intelligence features.

Adam Engst 10 comments

AppBITS: FileUtils Turbocharges the Finder

If you want more from the Finder, check out FileUtils. It offers options for immediate and secure deletion of files, support for more compression formats, more powerful batch renaming, file checksums, and more path formats.

Adam Engst 9 comments

Quick Bug Fixes in macOS 15.01 Sequoia, iOS 18.0.1, iPadOS 18.0.1, watchOS 11.0.1, and visionOS 2.0.1

Apple has released updates for its five most prominent platforms, fixing a bug that caused Messages to crash when replying to a conversation with a shared Apple Watch face, along with other high-profile bugs on specific devices. 

Adam Engst 8 comments

How to Avoid Sequoia’s Repetitive Screen Recording Permissions Prompts

Despite online criticism that continued through multiple betas of macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple has maintained the monthly permissions prompts for screen recording permissions. Adam Engst explains why these prompts reduce security and are examples of poor interface design before suggesting a way of eliminating them for a period of time.

Adam Engst 23 comments

macOS 14.7 Sonoma, macOS 13.7 Ventura, iOS 17.7, and iPadOS 17.7 Provide Security Fixes

If you aren’t making the jump to Apple’s just-released major upgrades for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, you can install these security updates instead.

Adam Engst 48 comments

When Should You Upgrade to Apple’s 2024 OS Releases

Apple has released the initial versions of its 2024 operating systems—macOS 15 Sequoia, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, tvOS 18, and HomePod Software 18. You might want to upgrade immediately, but Adam Engst recommends that most people wait at least a bit. Or even longer, for macOS.

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 10 comments

This Year’s Crop of OS Upgrades Scheduled for 16 September 2024

Apple has revealed that the initial versions of its 2024 operating systems—macOS 15 Sequoia, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, tvOS 18, and HomePod Software 18—will ship on 16 September 2024.