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Category: Problem Solving

Adam Engst 1 comment

Apple Extends Self-Service Repair to iPads

Apple has now added recent iPad models to its Self Service Repair program, giving people access to repair manuals, Apple parts, and rental toolkits. But how many are actually taking advantage of the program?

Adam Engst 34 comments

AppBITS: Jettison Solves macOS Disk Ejection Annoyances

Are you constantly fighting with macOS over your external disks, either forgetting to eject them before unplugging their cables or being unable to eject them due to some unidentified open file? St. Clair Software’s Jettison may be the solution.

Adam Engst 39 comments

AFP Support Disappearing: Another Nail in the Time Capsule Coffin

Enterprise release notes for the recent macOS 15.5 update reveal that Apple plans to remove AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) entirely in a future version of macOS. Howard Oakley explains how this impacts Time Capsule backups and network shares, while Adam Engst offers practical alternatives for Time Capsule users.

Adam Engst 15 comments

iPhone 16 Users Report Bluetooth Issues with the Toyota RAV4

Considering an iPhone 16? Toyota RAV4 owners beware: Bluetooth compatibility issues may force you to rely on CarPlay rather than using simple wireless connections for audio and phone calls.

Adam Engst 26 comments

New Organizational Features in Photos in macOS 15 Sequoia

Adam Engst explores Photos in macOS 15 Sequoia, detailing how new organizational features like Days, Trips, and People & Pets groups work (or don’t) in practice, along with practical tips for managing your photo library.

Adam Engst 5 comments

Beware Comcast Deleting “Inactive” Email Accounts

Concerned about losing your Comcast email account? New activity requirements could lead to closure. Adam Engst investigates Comcast’s recent actions surrounding email accounts that may not be as inactive as they seem to Comcast.

Adam Engst 1 comment

Google Translate Forks Up

A cascade of Web technology interactions—involving lightboxes, automatic browser translation, and a bizarre Google Translate bug—resulted in respondents to a Pew Research survey seeing “forks” instead of “yes.”

Adam Engst 29 comments

AppBITS: Hyperspace Reclaims Space Used by Identical Files

John Siracusa’s new Hyperspace app identifies and converts duplicate files into space-saving APFS clones, offering a safe way to reclaim drive space. The free download lets you scan before deciding whether to pay for reclamation.

Adam Engst 33 comments

Understand Calendar App Time Zone Support to Avoid Scheduling Mishaps

Scheduling across time zones can cause incorrect calendar reminders and missed meetings. Adam Engst explores the intricacies of time zone management in popular calendar apps and provides practical strategies to help users navigate common scheduling quirks.

Adam Engst 25 comments

You Can Now Migrate Purchases Between Your Apple Accounts

No, it’s not April Fools’ Day. After decades of requests, Apple has finally introduced a feature allowing users to migrate purchased apps, music, and other content between their Apple accounts.

Adam Engst 24 comments

TipBITS: Bring macOS Text Replacements Back to Life

Adam Engst explains how to troubleshoot when macOS text replacements mysteriously stop working in specific apps and shares a simple solution that’s often overlooked.

Adam Engst 149 comments

Do You Use It? What’s Your Backup Strategy

This week’s Do You Use It? poll asks how you could recover your data and get back to work in the event of a disaster ranging from a corrupted file to a house fire.

Adam Engst 153 comments

It’s Time to Move On from Bootable Backups

Adam Engst investigates how macOS 15.2 Sequoia introduced a bug in Apple Software Restore that breaks bootable backups of M-series Macs. He provides guidance for adapting your backup strategy to accommodate a world without bootable backups.

Adam Engst 3 comments

Sequoia Fixes App Store Update Notifications

With macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple has addressed a long-standing issue by letting update notifications open the App Store’s Updates screen. It’s a small improvement that improves the user experience when updating apps from the Mac App Store.

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.