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Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 34 years
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Weekly Issues

Adam Engst

#1687: Feature-rich OS updates, recovering from a crashing bug in Contacts, Zoom for Apple TV, how much do you use widgets?

The bulk of our coverage this week revolves around Apple’s just-released updates to iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, macOS 14.2 Sonoma, watchOS 10.2, and tvOS 17.2, all of which deliver improvements and features Apple promised earlier…

Adam Engst

#1686: Please support TidBITS, OS security updates, Apple services poll results, biking with an iPhone

We seldom make a fuss about this, but TidBITS memberships provide the revenue that enables us to continue publishing each week. Will you support TidBITS today? Content that members made possible this week includes coverage…

Adam Engst

#1685: Hidden secrets of the Fn key, Emergency SOS via satellite free access extended, RCS support in Messages, Rogue Amoeba icon evolution

We’re taking next week off for the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US, so look for your next email issue on 4 December 2023. Apple announced that iPhone 14 users will receive another free year…

Adam Engst

#1684: OS bug fix releases, Finder tag poll results, Messages identity verification, blocking spambots, which Apple services do you use?

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…

Adam Engst

#1683: New M3 chips in updated MacBook Pros and iMac, record Apple Q4 profits on lower revenues, no more 27-inch iMacs

The big news of the week is Apple’s release of the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips to power a new crop of 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and a speed-bumped 24-inch iMac.

Adam Engst

#1682: Apple’s “Scary Fast” announcement, X.1 updates to 2023 OS versions, Microsoft Word’s 40th anniversary, 5G wireless Internet

By the time you read this, Apple will have announced something—new Macs with an M3 chip?—at its nighttime (for us) “Scary Fast” event. We’ll have coverage of that on the TidBITS website on Tuesday. We’ve…

Adam Engst

#1681: Take Control Books 20th anniversary, USB-C Apple Pencil, Kini motion detector monitors access, topical social spaces

We’re thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Take Control Books, the ebook imprint that we founded in 2003 and sold to Joe Kissell back in 2017. Apple has introduced a third Apple Pencil model…

Adam Engst

1680: iPhone recommendations for seniors, unsticking iCloud Drive sync, iOS bug turns off devices at night, iOS 16 security fixes

We lead off with news of a weird bug causing iPhones and iPads to power down at night and restart in the morning, potentially causing users to miss alarms and calls. Those still using iOS…

Adam Engst

#1679: iOS 17’s Check In, iOS 17.03 addresses overheating, Mac browser popularity, Arc adds AI features, do you use Finder tags?

Apple has released iOS 17.0.3 to address overheating in the iPhone 15, which can also be triggered by buggy apps like Instagram and background housekeeping after moving to a new phone. We report on last…

Adam Engst

1678: macOS 14 Sonoma available, two portable laptop stands, iPhone Always-On display poll results, which Web browsers do you use?

As promised, Apple has released macOS 14 Sonoma, and while we urge caution for everyday Mac users, eager early adopters are busy installing it and playing with the new features. On the iPhone side of…

Adam Engst

1677: iOS 17.0.2 for iPhone 15, OS security updates, new AirPods features, restore Slack sidebar, Orion HDMI display app, Apple carbon neutrality reactions

Apple has pushed out yet another set of security-focused updates to its operating systems to block a full exploit chain—install them soon! If you’re getting a new iPhone 15, note that you need to update…

Adam Engst

1676: OS dates, iPhone 15 lineup, Apple Watch Series 9 & Ultra 2, USB-C AirPods Pro, USB-C cable advice, more from Wonderlust

It’s harvest time! Last week, Apple plucked from its trees the iPhone 15 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and slightly tweaked AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case. Also…

Adam Engst

1675: Apple “Wonderlust” event, OS security updates, Apple CSAM pullback, Mozilla car privacy report, iPhone weather apps, bike tour iPhone photos, do you use the iPhone 14 Pro Always-On display?

Welcome back! After our week off for Labor Day, we have an abundance of articles for you, starting with the announcement of Apple’s “Wonderlust” event on 12 September 2023—watch it with us in SlackBITS. Apple…

Adam Engst

1674: Proxy icons boost productivity, Arc 1.5 tab syncing, Backblaze price increase, which iPhone weather apps do you use?

We’re taking a break from the email issue of TidBITS next week because of Labor Day—expect our next issue on 11 September 2023. The online backup service Backblaze will be raising its prices soon while…

Adam Engst

1673: macOS 13.5.1, watchOS 9.6.1, copy data from Web tables, what Spotlight is used for, do you use Apple’s Weather app?

This week brings two highly focused operating system updates from Apple: macOS 13.5.1 Ventura, which restores location services permissions, and watchOS 9.6.1, which fixes a bug affecting Parkinson’s disease apps. If you’ve ever wanted to…