We need your help—please follow TidBITS in Apple News so its algorithm will be more likely to recommend our articles to new readers. The new MacBook Pro figured prominently in the headlines last week, with Apple releasing an update to address performance problems caused by thermal throttling and the discovery that these Macs lack a data recovery port on the logic board. We also focus on smart home topics, with Josh Centers reviewing the Wyze Cam Pan rotating security camera and Adam Engst examining the Wireless Sensor Tag system, which monitors temperature, motion, moisture, light, and more. Notable Mac app releases this week include Airfoil 5.8, KeyCue 9.0, BusyCal 3.3.10 and BusyContacts 1.2.15, Quicken 2018 5.7.2, and Moneydance 2017.8.
It’s possible to read TidBITS in Apple News, but until about 10 days ago, almost no one did. After Adam Engst had a call with Apple’s Publisher Relations team, traffic has increased, but we need your help to get Apple News to recommend TidBITS to new readers.
Apple has released macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 Supplemental Update for MacBook Pro (2018) to address the performance problems experienced by early adopters of the latest MacBook Pro models when they were running under heavy thermal loads.
If you own a 2018 MacBook Pro, maintaining regular backups is even more important than ever because there’s no port on the logic board for Apple Authorized Service Providers to use to recover data from a dead Mac. DriveSavers says that the lack of the port does not hamper their ability to recover data from these Macs.
The latest entry in the Wyze Cam line, the Wyze Cam Pan, can cover an entire 360-degree area for an absurdly low price. It’s well worth checking out if you’re looking for an interior security camera, but sadly, it doesn’t support HomeKit.
If you’ve ever worried about losing food due to a freezer breaking or a refrigerator door being left open, the Wireless Sensor Tags system could save your bacon by monitoring temperatures and reporting significant changes on your iPhone. Other available features include motion detection, moisture monitoring, light sensing, and even locating lost items.
Watchlist
Adds support for streaming to Sonos's AirPlay-compatible devices. ($29 new, free update, 12.3 MB)
Major new release introduces new Emoji picker for quickly selecting Emoji characters. (€19.99 new, free update, 4.1 MB)
Improves sync detection for iCloud accounts for both apps. $49.99 new for each, free update, 11.8/5.6 MB) ($49.99 new for each, free update, 13.7/7.8 MB)
Improves launch performance and cuts down on the time it takes to display the portfolio view chart. ($34.99/$49.99/$74.99 annual subscription, free update)
Brings multiple improvements and bug fixes to the personal finance manager. ($49.99 new, free update, 103 MB)