Last week, Apple released a supplemental update for macOS 10.14.6 Mojave to fix serious bugs introduced with the Safari 14.0 update and revealed by Security Update 2020-005. Apple and Google have baked their joint COVID-19 exposure notification technology into iOS and Android, but relatively few public health authorities have taken advantage of it so far. New York State just hopped on the bandwagon with its COVID Alert NY app, so New York resident Adam Engst gives you a look at how the app works and what information it provides. In other pandemic coverage, Julio Ojeda-Zapata examines how the Apple Watch has helped him stay safe and launches an experiment to get his wife to try one. Finally, Adam shares five tips that simplify rearranging your iOS apps. Notable Mac app releases this week include Downcast 2.9.55, FileMaker Pro 19.1.2, Twitterrific 5.4.4, Parallels Desktop 16.0.1, and VMware Fusion 12.
After numerous problems cropped up on Macs with Safari 14.0 that later installed Security Update 2020-005 for Mojave, Apple pulled the updates and has now pushed out a supplemental update that replaces Safari 14.0 to fix the problems.
Adam Engst stumbled on New York State’s COVID Alert NY app before it was officially announced, and he takes you on a tour of the app, which is clear, clean, and polished. It’s a good example of an official app that relies on the exposure notification technology from Apple and Google.
Is the Apple Watch even more attractive than normal during the pandemic? Julio Ojeda-Zapata has been pondering its utility in the coronavirus context, and he’s increasingly using his watch so he doesn’t have to keep digging out—and later disinfecting—his iPhone. He’s trying to talk his wife into doing the same—we’ll see how that goes.
iOS 14’s App Library might make it easier to find apps, but if you want to clean up your existing Home screens and folders, these tips will make it easier regardless of what version of iOS or iPadOS you may be running.
Watchlist
Brings a minor user interface refresh and adds support for AirPlay on macOS 10.15 Catalina and later. ($4.99 new, free update, 22.7 MB, macOS 10.13.2+)
Brings nine JavaScript-enabled add-ons, including a calendar, kanban organizer, and rich text editor. ($540 new, free update, 178 MB, macOS 10.14+)
Brings a new main timeline tab with an added My Tweets view of recent tweets and a new Stay Safe custom app icon. ($7.99 new, free update, 19.9 MB, macOS 10.14+)
Major upgrade for the popular virtualization software brings speed enhancements and support for macOS 11 Big Sur. ($79.99 annual subscription for standard edition or $99.99 perpetual license, 199 MB, macOS 10.13.6+)
Adds support for macOS 11.0 Big Sur and introduces free Fusion 12 Player for non-commercial use. (Free/$149.99/$199.99 new, upgrades available, 612 MB, macOS 10.15+)
