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Category: Problem Solving

Adam Engst 6 comments

Ensure Sufficient Free Space before Upgrading to Ventura

After hearing about Ventura upgrade problems from a reader, Adam Engst did some research to determine that you should try to have at least 37 GB free before upgrading to Ventura. And how you determine that 37 GB might matter.

Adam Engst 52 comments

OneWorld 65 Combines International Adapter with 65W USB-C Charger

Thanks to gallium nitride technology, OneAdaptr was able to create a svelte 65W USB-C charger that can plug into any international power outlet and lets you charge up to six devices at once.

Adam Engst 17 comments

Messages Becomes More Flexible and Forgiving of Mistakes

For many people, Messages gains some of the most welcome new features of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS 13 Ventura. You can now mark messages as unread, edit messages, unsend messages, and more.

Ivan Drucker 10 comments

Recovering Google Workspace: A Detective Story

Google announced that it would require payment for legacy G Suite accounts earlier this year before relenting in May, albeit with a short deadline. One of consultant Ivan Drucker’s clients nearly lost her long-standing G Suite email address—and all stored email—due to not knowing who had set up the account many years ago. With the application of lots of electronic elbow grease and a dose of luck, he was able to recover her account.

Adam Engst No comments

iOS 16 Bug Tripping Up iPhone 14 Activations

Apple has confirmed that a bug in iOS 16.0 is causing problems during activation for new iPhone 14 buyers. Workarounds involve connecting to a Mac or PC during the process or upgrading to iOS 16.0.1, which also requires using a Mac or PC before activation.

Josh Centers 37 comments

Here’s Why Your AirTag Battery Replacement Is Not Working

Is your AirTag still not working after replacing the battery? The most common cause is that certain batteries from Duracell have a bitterant coating that renders them unpalatable to small children and AirTags.

Glenn Fleishman 77 comments

Tune Find My for Travel Tracking to Avoid Annoying AirTag and Apple Device Alerts

Apple’s AirTag and other Find My trackers—along with Find My-tracked Apple devices—may be too aggressive about telling you where they are—or aren’t. They can be useful for tracking luggage and other valuables while traveling, particularly with others, but you will likely need to tune your settings to reduce notifications.

Adam Engst 23 comments

GraphicConverter 11 Rescues Ancient QuickTake 150 Photos

After a mention on a mailing list reminded him of old QuickTake 150 photos he had in Photos, Adam Engst went looking for a way to convert them. Unsurprisingly, the answer turned out to be GraphicConverter, though he had to get the right version first.

Josh Centers 5 comments

Photos Bug Could Share Albums with the Wrong People

A longstanding bug in Photos for the Mac could lead you to inadvertently share albums with the wrong people. Here’s how to avoid the bug and work around it.

Josh Centers 13 comments

Use ChronoSync to Move Large Folders

Moving large folders with the macOS Finder can become an exercise in frustration if it doesn’t gracefully handle errors. In such situations, ChronoSync Express from Econ Technologies can move your data more successfully.

Adam Engst 38 comments

Not Receiving SMS Text Message 2FA Codes? Call Your Carrier

After failing to receive SMS text messages from five financial services websites that use them for two-factor authentication codes, Adam Engst resolved his problem with a quick call to T-Mobile to remove an automatically created system-level block on those numbers.

Adam Engst 24 comments

Picking a Power Station for a MacBook Pro (And More)

After a 2016 MacBook Pro failed to provide sufficient battery life for a track meet, Adam Engst started researching alternative ways of powering it, only to realize that he had something in the car all along that would have solved the problem.

Adam Engst 9 comments

TipBITS: Disable Live Text for Easier Selecting in Preview

Having trouble dragging selection handles in Preview because Live Text wants you to select text in the image instead? Here’s how to turn off Live Text if necessary.

Adam Engst 87 comments

Helping Senior Citizens Reveals Past Apple Lapses and Recent Improvements

After spending several days helping some elderly friends with their Macs, Adam Engst came away with a new appreciation for how difficult some aspects of Mac use are for older people. Some Apple efforts are a step in the right direction but may not be available to today’s users. And there’s plenty of room to improve.

Adam Engst 2 comments

macOS 11.6.7 Big Sur Fixes Email Attachment Bug

If you’re still running macOS 11 Big Sur, it’s worth updating to the quietly released version 11.6.7, which fixes a problem that prevented email apps from opening attachments. It may also help clear Time Machine blockages, but it could also introduce problems by removing Rosetta from M1 Macs.