Apple updated many of its operating systems last week, not primarily for security vulnerabilities, but to fix some gnarly bugs. Glenn Fleishman dives into Contact Key Verification, a tweaky feature in the next version of Messages that helps anyone who’s a high-value target avoid falling prey to a compromised conversation. We report on the results of our poll about Finder tag usage and share a look behind the curtain at some of the server-side issues that have occupied our time of late. Finally, this week’s Do You Use It? poll asks which—if any—of Apple’s marquee subscription services you pay for and use. Notable Mac app releases this week include Retrobatch 2.0, Keyboard Maestro 11.0.1, BusyCal 2023.4.4, GarageBand 10.4.9, Lunar 6.4.2, ChronoSync 11 and ChronoAgent 11, and Logic Pro 10.8. 
We’ve been dealing with some server-side issues of late, and Adam Engst takes you behind the curtains to apologize for an email delivery failure and explain how we blocked an onslaught of spambot-created accounts.
If you have experienced issues with Apple Pay after wirelessly charging your iPhone 15 in your car, Photoshop tools, update problems with M-series MacBook Pros or the M3 iMac, Apple Watch battery drain, or Siri not paying attention on your HomePod, these updates promise to help.
The results of our poll asking how often you use Finder tags are in, and while tags aren’t broadly popular, being reminded of what they can do for you might encourage you to use them in appropriate situations.
Apple has released details about Contact Key Verification, an upcoming option in Messages that lets you manually verify an iMessage correspondent’s identity without relying on encryption data managed centrally by Apple. The feature also watches for anomalies, warning you when changes prevent it from guaranteeing a conversation is with the same person.
Watchlist
Upgraded bulk image processing app adds numerous new capabilities. ($29.99 new, free update, 51.2 MB, macOS 12+)
Fixes bugs following the automation and clipboard utility's recent major upgrade. ($36 new, free update, 37.3 MB, macOS 10.13+)
Adds natural language input support for Spanish, Italian, and Dutch to Quick Entry. ($49.99 new, free update, 57.7 MB, macOS 10.15+)
Maintenance release with a variety of improvements and bug fixes. (Free, 854.1 MB, macOS 13.5+)
Adds support for new M3 MacBook Pro and M3 iMac models. ($23 new, free update, 20.4 MB, macOS 11+)
Upgraded synchronization and backup tools gain new features and full compatibility with macOS 14 Sonoma. ($49.99 new for ChronoSync, $14.99 new for ChronoAgent, free updates for previous licenses, various sizes, macOS 10.14+)
Brings a bevy of new features to Apple's professional audio app. ($199.99 new, free update, 1.2 GB, macOS 13.5+)
