Hardware takes center stage in this week’s issue of TidBITS, as Adam Engst examines the new iMacs, including a 21-inch 4K Retina model, and Apple’s new lineup of Magic accessories: mouse, keyboard, and trackpad. Continuing our look at Apple’s competition, Julio Ojeda-Zapata surveys the new hardware from Microsoft, including the Surface Pro 4 and the intriguing new Surface Book. On the software side, Apple Music seems to confuse everyone, and Josh Centers describes some unusual steps Apple is taking to help befuddled Apple Music users. Finally, Michael Cohen reviews the iBooks-exclusive “enhanced editions” of the Harry Potter series — are the enhancements worth buying new copies? Notable software releases this week include Tweetbot 2.1.1, Quicken 2015 for Mac 2.6.2, Audio Hijack 3.2.1 and Airfoil 4.9.1, DEVONthink/DEVONnote 2.8.7, Sandvox 2.10.3, Fantastical 2.1.1, iMovie 10.1, Dropbox 3.10.8, Pixelmator 3.4, 1Password 5.4, and Pages 5.6, Numbers 3.6, and Keynote 6.6 for Mac.
Find Apple Music confusing? You aren’t alone, so Apple is taking some unusual steps to help users with the service.
Retina is on the roll for iMacs, as Apple adds a 21.5-inch iMac with 4K Retina display and drops the non-Retina 27-inch iMac model. The 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display gets a better screen with a wider color gamut, and lower prices. Also new are the rechargeable Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2, and Magic Trackpad 2.
Microsoft has historically rivaled Apple in the software universe, but it has mostly stayed out of the hardware business. That’s changing in a big way as the Redmond tech giant releases PCs intended to compete with the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. It also has new smartphones and an updated fitness band.
Apple’s iBooks Store now offers enhanced editions of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels. A look inside reveals that the enhancements come courtesy of iBooks Author.
Notable software releases this week include Tweetbot 2.1.1, Quicken 2015 for Mac 2.6.2, Audio Hijack 3.2.1 and Airfoil 4.9.1, DEVONthink/DEVONnote 2.8.7, Sandvox 2.10.3, Fantastical 2.1.1, iMovie 10.1, Dropbox 3.10.8, Pixelmator 3.4, 1Password 5.4, and Pages 5.6, Numbers 3.6, and Keynote 6.6 for Mac.
In this jam-packed edition of ExtraBITS, Apple at last addresses “Staingate,” Adam Engst discusses Apple Music on The Committed podcast, Apple takes a nostalgic look at the first iMac, Discover tempts Apple Pay users with hefty bonuses, Apple’s ebook price-fixing imbroglio draws to a close, Apple is offering prorated AppleCare refunds, we learn that Steve Jobs tried to bring Woz back to Apple, and you can find out how to make your iOS device’s screen extra dim.