Last week, Apple released iPadOS 14.7 and macOS 11.5 Big Sur, completing the cycle of updates that began with iOS 14.7 and revealing fixes for Wi-Fi security issues. This week, Apple abruptly pushed out iOS 14.7.1, iPadOS 14.7.1, and macOS 11.5.1 to address a serious kernel vulnerability that’s in the wild—we recommend updating right away. Do you use Command-Shift-4 to take screenshots? Adam Engst shares a trick to help you take better screenshots of those tricky document-modal dialogs in macOS. He also takes a look at the just-released BBEdit 14, which brings order to your random unnamed documents with its new Notes feature. Finally, for those who were sad when the new Siri Remote didn’t include Find My support, Julio Ojeda-Zapata reviews two Siri Remote sleeves that include AirTag pockets, making it easier to find a lost remote. Notable Mac app releases this week include Security Update 2021-004 Catalina and 2021-005 Mojave, Safari 14.1.2, Zoom 5.7.3, and DEVONagent 3.11.5.
Apple has completed its latest cycle of operating system updates with the release of iPadOS 14.7 and macOS 11.5. Along with them come security notes for all recent releases. Apple later followed with iOS 14.7.1, iPadOS 14.7.1, and macOS 11.5.1 to address a serious security vulnerability that's being actively exploited in the wild.
Sometimes you want to take a screenshot of a dialog that’s attached to a window. It turns out you can do this by pressing Command-Shift-4, pressing the Space bar, and then holding down the Command key when you mouse over the desired dialog.
Bare Bones Software has released BBEdit 14 with a new Notes feature that recognizes the extent to which many users keep numerous untitled documents open in BBEdit at all times. The release also provides significant enhancements to source code editing thanks to support for Microsoft’s Language Server Protocol.
When Apple unveiled its AirTag tracker, many wondered why the company failed to build Find My technology into its second-generation Siri Remote, introduced at the same time. Now a couple of accessory makers are solving this issue with silicone Siri Remote sleeves that incorporate AirTag pockets. Julio Ojeda-Zapata tried both.
Watchlist
Patches security vulnerabilities in Catalina and Mojave. (Free, various sizes, macOS 10.15.7 and 10.14.6)
Patches three WebKit-related security vulnerabilities. (Free, various sizes, macOS 10.15+ and 10.14+)
Consolidates the Search and Jump To bars into a single unified search. (Free, 25.3 MB, macOS 10.10.9+)
Revises a large number of plug-ins to restore or improve their capabilities as well as renames some for clarity. (Free/$4.95/$49.95, free updates, various sizes, macOS 10.10+)