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Category: Problem Solving

Adam Engst 14 comments

LittleBITS: Crab Fit, Insta360 GO 2, myCharge MAG-LOCK, Windows on M1 Macs

Frustrated by wanting to write about various topics that are either too big or too small (or too something) for a full article, Adam Engst resorts to sharing some short stories that may be enlightening, enjoyable, or just allow him to close a loop in his head.

Josh Centers 13 comments

Cut Down on Junk Mail with iCloud+’s Hide My Email

The new Hide My Email feature of iCloud+ helps you avoid junk email by creating disposable forwarding addresses when you sign up for websites and apps. Here’s how to take advantage of it.

Adam Engst 8 comments

Device Software Updates Now Appear in Software Update Too

Confused about what Device Support Update in Software Update is? Adam Engst was too, but he recently got the opportunity to confirm that it provides the same software as the pop-up “A software update is required to connect to your iOS device” dialogs.

Adam Engst 24 comments

The Case of the Missing iPad Pro: Find My for the Win

Faced with a panicking elderly neighbor who thought she had left her iPad Pro at a faraway hotel, Adam Engst saved the day with judicious use of Find My.

Glenn Fleishman 44 comments

How You Can Lose a File Despite Three Layers of Backup (and How To Avoid It)

You’d think that three separate continuous file-archiving systems would have been enough to protect Glenn Fleishman from his own mistake after modifying a file whose original he wanted to see. Unfortunately, circumstances conspired. His cautionary tale offers a lesson.

Josh Centers 41 comments

How to Set Up Custom Email Domains with iCloud Mail

Want to rely on iCloud Mail as your email provider but use a custom domain for your email address rather than icloud.com, me.com, or mac.com? Apple has now opened up that feature for testing. Here’s what you need to know.

Adam Engst 1 comment

Chrome Extensions Disappearing? Click Repair

After his LastPass Chrome extension disappeared in Brave, Adam Engst discovered that it had been corrupted and was easily repaired.

Adam Engst 9 comments

Speedify Bonds Multiple Internet Connections for Speed and Reliability

If you’re putting up with slow or unreliable Internet connectivity and are willing to pay for better service, the Speedify VPN promises to combine multiple Internet sources into a single connection that’s faster and more reliable.

Adam Engst Josh Centers 15 comments

Apple Updates Advice Regarding Magnetic Interference with Implanted Medical Devices

Concerns about MagSafe in the iPhone 12 interfering with pacemakers, defibrillators, and other implanted medical devices surfaced earlier in the year. Apple now cautions that many of its magnet-using products could cause problems for such devices.

Adam Engst No comments

Steven Aquino Examines Accessibility in Upcoming Apple Features

In addition to the work Apple does in providing explicit accessibility features, Steven Aquino notes that many of the marquee features of Apple’s upcoming operating system updates provide notable benefits to users with disabilities.

Adam Engst 21 comments

Extracting Data from an Old iOS App Broken by iOS 14.5

iOS 14.5 has rendered some old apps inoperable that worked in previous versions of iOS 14. What options are available for recovering data from those apps if you can no longer launch them? Adam Engst spelunks through iPhone backups and numerous erase-restore cycles to see what’s possible.

Adam Engst 8 comments

Clear Space to Fix Catalina Update Restart Loop

After being flummoxed by updates to Security Update 2021-002 for macOS 10.15 Catalina and Safari 14.1 that required a restart but never installed, Adam Engst discovered that Apple’s installer will fail silently if there isn’t enough free space.

Josh Centers 20 comments

Prevent Apple’s Updated Podcasts App from Eating Your Storage

There are numerous complaints about Apple’s latest update to its Podcasts app, but its nastiest surprise may be gigabytes of unexpected downloads. Here’s how to turn off the downloads and recover your space.

Adam Engst 20 comments

Apple Watch Series 3 Update Workarounds

Some people with Apple Watch Series 3 models are having trouble installing watchOS 7 updates because they don’t have enough space available. Here are two ways to free up enough space to install the watchOS updates.

Adam Engst 10 comments

Stanford Research Explains and Helps Prevent Zoom Fatigue

Do you find it tiring to spend a lot of time on video calls? You’re not alone—pretty much everyone does. A Stanford University researcher has now figured out exactly why… and what you can do about it.