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Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 34 years
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Category: Mac & macOS

Josh Centers 9 comments

Apple Issues kill -9 on macOS Server

Apple has officially discontinued macOS Server, the software product that originally brought together a wide variety of Internet servers and has been losing capabilities for years.

Josh Centers 24 comments

iOS 15.4.1, iPadOS 15.4.1, macOS 12.3.1 Monterey, and Siblings Fix Bugs and Security Vulnerabilities

Apple has updated all its operating systems to fix bugs and block security vulnerabilities that are actively being exploited in the wild.

Josh Centers 30 comments

Using Universal Control in macOS 12.3 Monterey and iPadOS 15.4

At long last, Universal Control is here, and it lets you control up to three additional Macs and iPads using one Mac’s keyboard and pointing device. It’s remarkable, but how are you going to use it?

Josh Centers 18 comments

Clarifying the Lack of Mac Studio SSD Upgradability

Some repair enthusiasts have accused Apple of deliberately preventing SSD upgrades in the Mac Studio. That isn’t the case, though the truth is complicated.

Josh Centers 7 comments

macOS 12.3 Monterey Bricking Some Repaired 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros

There are multiple reports of the macOS 12.3 Monterey bricking Macs that have had their logic boards replaced. If that describes your Mac, hold off on the update for now.

Josh Centers 44 comments

Apple Releases iOS 15.4, iPadOS 15.4, macOS 12.3 Monterey, watchOS 8.5, tvOS 15.4, and HomePod Software 15.4

Apple has finally rolled out its Universal Control feature for Macs and iPad, albeit in beta form, and newer iPhones let you use Face ID even if you’re wearing a mask. The company’s latest operating system updates offer a variety of other enhancements, bug fixes, and security fixes.

Adam Engst 70 comments

Which Mac Will Replace the 27-iMac for You?

When Apple unveiled the new Mac Studio and Studio Display, it also quietly dropped the venerable 27-inch iMac from the product line. Those who have been waiting for an Apple silicon 27-inch iMac are disappointed, but as Adam Engst shows (with lots of charts), there are plenty of other good options in the Mac lineup.

Adam Engst 96 comments

New Mac Studio and Studio Display Change Mac Buying Calculus

Apple has introduced a new Mac model—the Mac Studio—powered by its most powerful chips yet, the M1 Max and new M1 Ultra. But for Adam Engst, the most exciting announcement of the day is the new 27-inch Studio Display, which pairs well with any of Apple’s M1-based Macs.

Josh Centers 5 comments

Apple Releases macOS 12.2.1 Monterey, iOS 15.3.1, iPadOS 15.3.1, and watchOS 8.4.2

The latest maintenance updates to Apple’s core operating systems fix a couple of serious bugs and a major security flaw.

Josh Centers 15 comments

Apple Releases iOS 15.3, iPadOS 15.3, macOS Monterey 12.2, watchOS 8.4, tvOS 15.3, and HomePod Software Version 15.3

Apple has updated all of its operating systems with bug fixes and security updates but no new features apart from Siri on the HomePod learning to recognize two new languages.

Adam Engst 80 comments

Apple’s New Focus Feature May Be Overkill

Apple’s Do Not Disturb feature has evolved into the ecosystem-wide Focus, which provides so many options and capabilities that it may be impossible to predict when notifications will work and when they won't. Adam Engst shows you how to use Focus and suggests that you stick to the basics.

Adam Engst 14 comments

LittleBITS: New Year’s Resolution, macOS Upgrades, Ad Hoc Wi-Fi Networks

Feeling overwhelmed by negativity? Adam Engst shares some 2021 wrap-up posts showing that even in a pandemic-ridden year, a lot of good stuff happened that didn’t make the headlines. He also looks at the solution to a macOS upgrade problem and explains how to bring back the menu command for creating an ad hoc Wi-Fi network.

Josh Centers No comments

Decorate Your MacBook Pro with Notchmeister

Notchmeister is a free utility that lights up your MacBook Pro’s notch when the pointer is hidden behind it. It even provides a genuine replacement notch if you don’t have a new MacBook Pro.

Josh Centers 28 comments

Apple Releases iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, macOS 12.1 Monterey, watchOS 8.3, and tvOS 15.2

Apple has released iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2, with delayed features like App Privacy Report and Digital Legacy. Apple also dropped watchOS 8.3, tvOS 15.2, and HomePod Software 15.2.

Adam Engst 66 comments

macOS 12 Monterey Upgrade Issues

While our general advice to hold off on upgrading to macOS 12 Monterey remains in place, Adam Engst shares some thoughts on why Monterey may merit an earlier upgrade than previous versions of macOS. But he also points to some upgrade problems that suggest that we’re not quite there yet.