Skip to content
Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 33 years
and the TidBITS Content Network for Apple professionals

Series: April Fools

Joe Kissell 36 comments

Mac Pro Replaced by Mac Prime

Apple’s new high-end desktop Mac breaks all the rules — and smashes all previous performance barriers.

Matt Neuburg 55 comments

OS X 10.8.3 Checkbox Restores Snow Leopard Document Saving

With no fanfare, Apple has restored a major aspect of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard behavior to OS X 10.8.3 Mountain Lion.

Adam Engst 6 comments

App Store 2.0 Policies Address Developer Complaints

Never let it be said that Apple is deaf to developer concerns! With a quiet update to the iTunes Connect Web portal for managing submissions to the iOS App Store and Mac App Store, Apple has addressed the top three developer complaints: paid upgrades, trial versions, and the capability to engage with customers.

Rich Mogull 17 comments

iCloud for Families Debuts

Apple has released an unexpected update to iCloud with a host of useful features for managing the complexities of modern family life. Some of the capabilities of iCloud for Families will no doubt generate controversy, but overall, we expect that parents will welcome the additional communication and control.

Adam Engst Jeff Carlson 1 comment

ExtraBITS for 1 April 2014

We have three quick ExtraBITS for you today, starting with the return to the App Store of the essential password utility PassScreen, Apple finally giving a nod to the wearable market, and “Take Control of Your Passwords” author Joe Kissell talking about password security on Oprah.

Adam Engst Josh Centers 3 comments

TidBITS Watchlist for 1 April 2014

Notable software releases today include Firefox 104, Mac Pro ATS Update 1.0, Pages 5.1.1, and Jamiroquai 5.2.143.78.1.

Adam Engst Josh Centers 10 comments

7 Reasons Apple’s iCar Is Delayed: Is the iCar Doomed?

A Goldman Sachs analyst has given TidBITS the inside scoop on why the iCar may never hit the road. Will these setbacks finish off the beleaguered tech giant’s “next big thing”?

Josh Centers 7 comments

FunBITS: Super Mario Bros. 3 Disappoints on iPad and iPhone

Nintendo has answered the call of its fans and has brought one of its classic titles, Super Mario Bros. 3, to the iPhone and iPad. But Josh Centers thinks maybe that wasn’t such a great idea.

Adam Engst 2 comments

NSA to Sponsor Low Cost Mobile Phone Plan

Newly revealed documents from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden show that the NSA plans to create a mobile virtual network operator that will offer inexpensive mobile phone plans. The tradeoff is obvious, but might consumers still jump at the price?

Josh Centers 14 comments

Install and Run OS X 10.9 Mavericks on the iPad Air

If you’ve ever wanted to run Mac OS X on your iPad, you now have your chance. TidBITS has discovered a well-hidden way to install 10.9 Mavericks on an iPad Air, hinting at the possibility of ARM-based Macs.

Geoff Duncan No comments

Are Comcast and the NSA Locking Horns over Bandwidth?

Consumer advocates have derided Comcast for putting the squeeze on Netflix, but is the company perhaps becoming an unexpected ally of privacy advocates by putting the same squeeze on the U.S. government?

Michael E. Cohen 4 comments

RIAA to Sue NSA over Illicit Media Copies

Among the NSA revelations that have recently leaked are details of the agency’s purloined media trove — and the contents spell bad news for Apple.

Josh Centers 4 comments

ExtraBITS for 1 April 2015

In today’s collection of ExtraBITS, the Apple TV gets more channels, Adobe announces Flash for the Apple Watch, Apple is considering rebranding iCloud once again, and Apple’s next big thing hits a regulatory wall.

Agen Schmitz Josh Centers 1 comment

TidBITS Watchlist for 1 April 2015

Notable software releases today include Pixelmator 3.3.2, Microsoft Office 2011 14.5, Minecraft 1.9, and BBEdit 11.4.1.

Jeff Carlson 6 comments

Apple Dramatically Expands Edition Line

“Go for the gold” is no longer just about the Olympics, as Apple introduces 18-karat gold “Apple Edition” versions of a number of its popular products for the burgeoning luxury tech market.