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Adam Engst 3 comments

Explain XKCD Is a Black Hole

If you've ever found yourself unable to understand one of Randall Munroe's xkcd comics, run, don't walk, to explain xkcd, a wiki that does just what it claims for every xkcd comic so far.

Adam Engst 27 comments

A Call to Alarms: Why We Need Persistent Calendar and Reminder Notifications

Frustrated by how easy he finds it to ignore notifications for important events and timed reminders, Adam Engst proposes alarms that continue to go off until stopped manually, creating a third notification type alongside banners and alerts.

Adam Engst 20 comments

Apple Introduces Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the iPad

Apple is bringing its high-end media creation tools Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro to the iPad. Will they be companion apps for the Mac versions, less-capable alternatives for those who don't need the power of the Mac versions, or both?

Adam Engst 4 comments

Howard Oakley Lists Apple System Updates

Trying to remember when macOS 13.2 came out? Turn to Howard Oakley's new System Updates page, which lists all macOS updates by version, sorted chronologically and with links to his coverage.

Glenn Fleishman 2 comments

AirTag in the News: NYPD Recommends, Apple and Google Propose Industry Tracking Standard

In response to a surge of car thefts, the New York Police Department recommends the city’s car owners install an AirTag to help with stolen vehicle recovery. Meanwhile, Apple and Google have partnered on a new industry standard to provide consistent anti-tracking protection for devices that can track object locations persistently.

Michael E. Cohen Adam Engst 4 comments

Apple’s Q2 2023 Slightly Down on Exchange Rates and “Macroeconomic Conditions”

The one-two punch from foreign exchange rates and “macroeconomic conditions” rocked Apple’s profits in the just-concluded quarter below last year’s results, but only by a little.

Adam Engst 15 comments

What Are Rapid Security Responses and Why Are They Important?

Apple has released the first Rapid Security Responses to iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1. Adam Engst explains what a Rapid Security Response is and why they should see significantly faster adoption than traditional updates.

Adam Engst 10 comments

Did You Know That the Option Key…

Check out Apple consultant Guillaume Gète's list of eighty actions that are modified in intriguing ways by the Option key.

Adam Engst 125 comments

Arc Will Change the Way You Work on the Web

The Web browser Arc has made a larger difference in jaded tech reviewer Adam Engst’s digital work life than any app in decades. Read his deep dive on what sets Arc apart from other browsers.

Glenn Fleishman 5 comments

PowerPhotos Enables Ventura Users to Migrate iPhoto and Aperture Libraries

With Apple dropping support for migrating iPhoto and Aperture libraries to Photos in macOS 13 Ventura, Fat Cat Software has thrown a lifeline to people who still have old photo libraries.

Adam Engst 54 comments

How a Passcode Thief Can Lock You Out of Your iCloud Account, Possibly Permanently

A follow-up to the Wall Street Journal’s investigation into Apple’s problematic iPhone security design reveals that victims are being locked out of their iCloud accounts.

Adam Engst 63 comments

The 46 Mac Apps I Actually Use and Why

What third-party apps would you install on a clean Mac to restore your preferred working environment? Adam Engst recently had the opportunity to learn just what apps he really uses—here’s the list.

Adam Engst 52 comments

New Apple Card Savings Account Offers 4.15% Interest

Apple Card users can now direct their Daily Cash rewards to a new Savings account that earns competitive interest rates instead of the interest-free Apple Cash card. But will it be easy to integrate into your personal finance app?

Adam Engst 36 comments

33 Years of TidBITS: Handcrafted Content from Humans

In honor of the 33rd anniversary of TidBITS, Adam Engst explains the last six months of changes, including the departure of managing editor Josh Centers and an increased focus on sharing solutions to personal tech problems.

Adam Engst 27 comments

As Twitter Turns: Six More Stories from Pixel Place

Unable to avert his gaze from the train wreck that is Twitter, Adam Engst shares a few examples of the latest bouts of insanity instigated by Elon Musk.