Archive: Nov 2025| TidBITS
Upgraded synchronization and backup tools bring full compatibility with macOS 26 Tahoe and added features. ($49.99 new for ChronoSync, $19.99 new for ChronoAgent, free updates for previous licenses, various sizes, macOS 10.14+)| TidBITS
Updates the venerable Web browser with several handy improvements. (Free, 143.2 MB, macOS 10.15+)| TidBITS
Brings full macOS 26 Tahoe support to the audio control utility. ($45 new, free update, 38.7 MB, macOS 14.5+)| TidBITS
The dot-com bubble left us fiber and a Web‑savvy workforce; the AI bubble will leave behind chip fabs and power generation. Ben Thompson argues that bursting bubbles build foundations on which the next wave of technology can grow.Read original article| TidBITS
Want to make your iPhone’s Phone app and contact cards more visually appealing? Adam Engst walks you through the often frustrating process of customizing contact avatars and posters.| TidBITS
Introduces a new Apple-related AI feature to the reference management tool. ($74.99 new, free update, 126 MB, macOS 10.13+)| TidBITS
Brings a new Liquid Glass look to the automation and cleanup utility for macOS 26 Tahoe. ($42 new, free update, 27.9 MB, macOS 13+)| TidBITS
Apple’s new Digital ID lets US passport holders add an ID to the iPhone’s Wallet app for TSA identity checks, but it’s no replacement for your physical license or passport.| TidBITS
Apple’s iPhone Pocket collaboration with Issey Miyake might seem like the spiritual successor to iPod Socks, but it’s closer to luxury Hermès Apple Watch bands. Crafted in Japan and selling for as much as $230, it may reveal more about your opinion of the fashion world than anything else.Read original article| TidBITS
Adds full support for macOS 26 Tahoe and refinements to audio editor's recently updated color scheme. ($35 new, free update, 14.5 MB, macOS 14.4+)| TidBITS
Updates the image editor with a few improvements and bug fixes for the image editor. ($29.99 new, free update, 86.9 MB, macOS 14+)| TidBITS
Maintenance update for the recently announced free graphic design software. (Free, 981.4 MB, macOS 10.15+)| TidBITS
Text expansion utility adds a new Date Picker feature. ($40 annual subscription, free update, 47.9 MB, macOS 11.1+)| TidBITS
Two Rogue Amoeba audio apps bring full support for macOS 26 Tahoe. ($69/29 new, free update, various sizes, macOS 14.4+)| TidBITS
Apple redesigned the Phone app in iOS 26 with a new Unified view that combines Favorites and Recents—and, crucially, makes it much harder to call someone. Adam Engst walks through the differences between Classic and Unified views to help you decide which to use.| TidBITS
Our Do You Use It? poll reveals minimal engagement with most Apple Intelligence features, suggesting these AI-powered capabilities aren’t yet meeting user needs.| TidBITS
Although tariff hikes did not materially affect Apple’s revenues and profits for Apple’s second fiscal quarter of 2025, that may change next quarter. Most product categories saw higher revenues than last year’s, with only Wearables posting a decline.| TidBITS
Although the iPhone and Wearables segments were down slightly and the Mac up only slightly, Apple posted record third-quarter revenues thanks to yet another strong Services showing and pent-up demand for new iPads.| TidBITS
Archive: Aug 2025| TidBITS
Apple’s macOS 26 Tahoe icon overhaul prioritizes uniform “squircles” over personality. Paul Kafasis’s comparisons reveal softened, blurrier artwork that reduces at‑a‑glance recognizability.Read original article| TidBITS
Apple has quietly launched a unified App Store website that brings together all its platform stores into a single responsive, searchable interface—though downloading still requires native apps.| TidBITS
It can be hard to get the big picture from quarterly financial statements, but Jason Snell’s charts of Apple’s annual performance make it clear just how well Apple is doing.Read original article| TidBITS
Update to OS 26.1 for incremental improvements and security fixes across Apple’s platforms. Highlights include Tinted Liquid Glass, AutoMix over AirPlay, Slide Over’s return to iPadOS, and dozens of patched vulnerabilities.| TidBITS
Adds support for the ChatGPT Atlas Web browser and fixes a few bugs. ($35.88 annual subscription, free update, 4.8 MB, macOS 12+)| TidBITS
Adds support for renaming files larger than 5 GB in AWS S3. ($45 new, free update, 37.5 MB, macOS 12+)| TidBITS
New AI-powered browsers from OpenAI, Perplexity, and others promise to automate Web tasks but are vulnerable to prompt injection attacks that could manipulate the browser or steal private information through hidden instructions. While they are intriguing for occasional experiments, stick with your current browser for everyday usage.Read original article| TidBITS
The new Affinity app from Canva replaces Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, and Affinity Publisher, which already shared most of their core code. It’s free to use, requires a Canva account, and reserves integrated AI features for paying Canva customers.| TidBITS
For its fiscal fourth quarter of 2025, Apple set numerous records, with revenue of $102.5 billion, led by an all-time Services revenue record of $28.8 billion, and profits of $27.5 billion—so many billions.| TidBITS
Can a browser that navigates the Web for you handle basic data analysis without making mistakes? Adam Engst tested Brave, ChatGPT Atlas, Comet, Dia, and Edge on a straightforward task of counting minors in three event registration lists. Only one succeeded, and the results were… educational.| TidBITS
Contact management app updated with improvements and bug fixes. ($57 annual subscription, free update, 28.8 MB, macOS 12+)| TidBITS
Brings several new features and performance updates to the desktop-focused photo cataloging and editing app. ($9.99/$19.99/$59.99 monthly Creative Cloud subscription, free update, macOS 14+)| TidBITS
Maintenance update with bug fixes for the CSV manipulation app. ($Free/$39/$59, free update, 27.1 MB, macOS 11+)| TidBITS
Voicemail messages are stored on your iPhone, but deleting them might not reduce the amount of space the Phone app uses. But investigating may reveal voicemails you want to preserve.| TidBITS
Updates the calendar and contact apps with additions, improvements, and bug fixes. ($49.99 new for each, free update, various sizes, macOS 11.5+)| TidBITS
Adds support for tracking the billing status of your time entries. ($108/$132/$192 annual subscriptions, free update, 32.2 MB, macOS 11+)| TidBITS
After analyzing macOS release patterns over the past two years, Howard Oakley provides a calendar showing when we can expect macOS 26 Tahoe updates throughout the upcoming year.| TidBITS
Calendar app improves sync reliability with iCloud accounts. ($57 annual subscription, free update, 76.3 MB, macOS 12+)| TidBITS
Thanks to a U.S. Customs ruling, Apple has found a technical workaround that restores blood oxygen monitoring capabilities to recently purchased Apple Watches in the U.S. by processing the sensor data on the iPhone instead of the watch.| TidBITS
Apple Intelligence’s visual intelligence feature helps you learn more about or interact with anything you see through the iPhone’s camera or on its screen. It’s quicker to access than dedicated apps, but suffers from reliability issues and Apple restrictions.| TidBITS
The group that creates USB standards listened to feedback and has released a reduced set of logos that make it easier to figure out the capabilities of your ports, peripherals, and cables. But changes to USB4 also mean the return of active cables to provide maximum throughput for a new 80 Gbps data rate over distances beyond 0.8 meters.| TidBITS
USB-C was supposed to make connectivity easier. Instead, it has acquired a profusion of footnotes, exceptions, and labeling that can leave average users frustrated—and with the wrong cable. USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 are our last best hope.| TidBITS
Adam Engst| TidBITS
If you haven’t yet upgraded to OS 26 (and most people shouldn’t), you should instead install the other security updates that Apple released for older operating systems. Apple even fixed a zero-day exploit that could still impact iOS and iPadOS 15 and 16.| TidBITS
Archive: Oct 2025| TidBITS
Apple’s new Liquid Glass interface design can be hard to read in certain situations. If you encounter any issues, here’s how to adjust the transparency and other visual effects across macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS to suit your needs.| TidBITS
Adam Engst stumbled across an Accessibility setting that ensures that window proxy icons—those little icons that appear next to window titles—show at all times, rather than after a 1-second hover. This setting returns proxy icons to their former utility, and if you’re not clear what that was, Adam explains that too.| TidBITS
Why did Sierra change the modifier key necessary to reveal your Library folder from Option to Shift? Or did it? Adam Engst delves into a minor mystery that takes place deep within the Finder.| TidBITS
Apple has decided that the user-level Library folder should be hidden from view in Lion. But you don’t need to let that decision slow you down, and if you’re a developer, you shouldn’t let it cause you to put application support files in the user’s Documents folder.| TidBITS
Archive: Jul 2025| TidBITS
Archive: Jun 2023| TidBITS
Archive: May 2023| TidBITS
Archive: Sep 2025| TidBITS
Adam Engst investigates whether his choice to downgrade from a triple-camera iPhone 16 Pro to a dual-camera iPhone 17 was justified by analyzing a year’s worth of photos using EXIF metadata.| TidBITS
Apple issued a statement arguing that the EU’s Digital Markets Act harms user experience and safety, but the core issue may be competing mandates: a democratic regulator representing all EU residents versus a platform owner advocating for its users. As Big Tech’s power grows, expect more of these clashes—with no clear heroes.| TidBITS
macOS 26 Tahoe marks the end of an era as Apple removes support for FireWire, the high-speed connection technology that preceded today’s USB and Thunderbolt standards. Those who still rely on legacy FireWire devices through adapters will need to delay upgrades and make alternative plans.| TidBITS
The title says it all—if you have a Mac Studio powered by an M3 Ultra chip, you cannot upgrade to macOS 26 Tahoe at this time. macOS 15.7 Sequoia will install, or you can wait until Apple resolves the issue.| TidBITS
In macOS 26 Tahoe, Apple automatically enables FileVault during setup when users sign in with an Apple Account, and it changes how Recovery Keys are stored to protect against government overreach. You can turn FileVault off, but we recommend using it.| TidBITS
Apple’s new Memory Integrity Enforcement feature, available only on iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air, represents a significant advancement in preventing memory-based security exploits used by mercenary spyware.| TidBITS
Apple has quietly extended free satellite features for iPhone 14 and 15 users for another year, suggesting that the company continues to view satellite connectivity as an ecosystem enhancement rather than a revenue source.| TidBITS
Although there’s much to look forward to in macOS 13 Ventura, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16, there are also some features that had us scratching our heads, wondering what had gotten into the Cupertino drinking water.| TidBITS
Despite unsettling times, the 35th anniversary of TidBITS demonstrates how a commitment to clear communication and mutual respect can elevate individual capabilities and foster lasting communities.| TidBITS
In Epic Games v. Apple, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has come down strongly in favor of Apple, rejecting nearly all of Epic’s claims and fining the company millions of dollars. But Apple suffered a blow too, with the judge determining that Apple’s in-app purchasing policies are anticompetitive.| TidBITS
Apple’s App Store policies continue to incite ire from developers and face increasing scrutiny from government regulators. We outline the most common complaints against the company, evaluate them, and propose potential solutions.| TidBITS
T-Mobile’s new T-Satellite service brings Starlink-powered satellite communications to both iPhone and Android users, but Apple’s free satellite features likely already satisfy most iPhone users’ needs.| TidBITS
The latest Apple Watch lineup arrives with updates across all three models. The Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 gain health monitoring improvements, the Ultra 3 adds satellite connectivity, and the Apple Watch SE 3 inherits several premium features while maintaining its more affordable price point.| TidBITS
In which Adam Engst finally hops on the HomeKit bandwagon for real and gets totally sucked in, installing smart outlets, controlling motorized shades, and adding some Flic buttons.| TidBITS
Archive: May 2025| TidBITS
Looking for better search results? Adam Engst explores how AI-powered answer engines are transforming online research by providing direct answers rather than just links.| TidBITS
The high point of Hypertext '93 was of course the talk given by Ted Nelson after the reception in his honor. Nelson is a thoroughly engaging speaker, and he devoted much of the first half of his talk to providing the audience an overview of the 32-year history of Xanadu, Nelson's electronic publishing world view| TidBITS
With GPT-5, OpenAI moves away from requiring users to choose between many different models in ChatGPT, instead allowing the system to automatically pick the right tool for each job. In an ideal world, this general approach would enable AI companies to enhance performance and reasoning internally while maintaining consistent interaction methods and AI personalities.| TidBITS
The Browser Company has launched a paid subscription for its AI-powered Dia browser, even though it’s still in beta. But with increasing competition from Microsoft, Google, and others, Dia faces an uphill battle for user adoption.| TidBITS
With its new study mode, ChatGPT becomes less of an answerbot and more of an interactive tutor, helping users understand concepts rather than just giving them answers.| TidBITS
Apple posted double-digit revenue growth year-over-year for its third fiscal quarter of 2025, with Services scoring an all-time revenue high. iPhone and Mac revenues were also up year-over-year, but Wearables and iPad revenues failed to match up to last year’s Q3.| TidBITS
Ready for a glimpse into our future as Apple users? Public betas for macOS 26 Tahoe, iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and other major Apple operating systems are now available—but beware of bugs and make sure to back up your devices first.| TidBITS
Apple hides the user’s Library folder by default, but an obscure method to show it permanently lets you avoid pressing Option to access it in the Finder’s Go menu.| TidBITS
Our recent tab management poll revealed that many readers don’t fully understand pinned tabs and thus aren’t taking advantage of them. Adam Engst takes a deep look at the history and goals of Web navigation to explain where pinned tabs came from, why many people don’t use them, and how usage varies by browser.| TidBITS
This charming behind-the-scenes story reveals how Apple’s whimsical crayon color picker was born from one engineer’s creative impulse—and how hiding poetry in the code nearly ended his career.| TidBITS
John Nemerovski joins us to mark the passing of Tim Robertson, founder and publisher of MyMac.com and a long-time member of the Apple media ecosystem.| TidBITS
As AI threatens traditional publishing business models, Cloudflare proposes a solution that could ensure content creators get paid when AI crawlers ingest their work—and potentially revolutionize how we pay for online content.| TidBITS
Please welcome our latest long-term sponsor, SaneBox, a powerful email filtering service that works within your existing email setup.| TidBITS
After more than a decade using a 27-inch iMac and a 27-inch Thunderbolt Display, Adam Engst shares his experience transitioning to a 14-inch MacBook Pro, exploring how differences in input devices, cloud storage, and modern display options shaped his approach to setting up his new Mac.| TidBITS
How many browser tabs do you keep open? This week’s Do You Use It? poll explores tab management habits and examines how different browsers handle the challenge of tab overload.| TidBITS
After becoming a convert to vertical tabs thanks to Arc, Adam Engst is now seeing and hearing about vertical tabs support all over the place. Though none are luring him away from Arc, he runs down the options in Brave, Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Orion, Safari, SigmaOS, and Vivaldi. So many browsers!| TidBITS
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.| TidBITS
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that Apple will switch its operating system version numbering scheme from the current mess to identifying them by years. It’s about time.| TidBITS
Are you constantly fighting with macOS over your external disks, either forgetting to eject them before unplugging their cables or being unable to eject them due to some unidentified open file? St. Clair Software’s Jettison may be the solution.| TidBITS
The results of our poll about how you use VPNs reveal widespread VPN usage, with most respondents using VPNs for security, privacy, and bypassing access restrictions.| TidBITS
Enterprise release notes for the recent macOS 15.5 update reveal that Apple plans to remove AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) entirely in a future version of macOS. Howard Oakley explains how this impacts Time Capsule backups and network shares, while Adam Engst offers practical alternatives for Time Capsule users.| TidBITS
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have announced a partnership to create AI devices valued at $6.5 billion in stock. The collaboration highlights Apple’s ongoing struggles with AI, potentially signaling a shift in who will define our technological future.| TidBITS
Science fiction author Neal Stephenson offers a fresh perspective on AI by pointing out that we have long figured out how to coexist with non-human intelligences: animals.| TidBITS
Join Adam Engst for a free online presentation about creating an effective modern backup strategy at the Naples MacFriends User Group meeting on 21 May 2025.| TidBITS
Adam Engst reviews the SmartWings Hazel shade and finds it a worthy addition to his HomeKit setup, despite minor issues with motor noise.| TidBITS
Nearly three years after its initial announcement, Apple has finally launched CarPlay Ultra—a deeply integrated, next-generation version of CarPlay—with ultra-luxury automaker Aston Martin. Despite claims of broad industry interest, only Hyundai Motor Group brands have committed so far.| TidBITS
A detailed analysis demonstrates that individual ChatGPT use has minimal environmental impact compared to other everyday activities.| TidBITS
This week’s Do You Use It? poll asks if you use a VPN, what you use it for, what type of VPN you use, and which one you prefer.| TidBITS
Apple’s latest operating system updates deliver security fixes, Screen Time notifications for parents, and a few minor improvements and bug fixes.| TidBITS
Despite Apple positioning itself as a force for good, the company’s App Store policies and grudging compliance with court orders reveal a company prioritizing profits over developer partnerships. Now is the time for Apple to realign the less attractive aspects of its corporate behavior with its values of excellence and care.| TidBITS
After years of litigation, WhatsApp has won a nearly $170 million judgment against the Israeli company NSO Group, maker of the Pegasus spyware. The ruling follows Apple’s quiet abandonment of a similar lawsuit in late 2024.| TidBITS
Apple’s latest operating system updates bring Apple Intelligence to more languages and regions, improve Photos organization, expand Mail categorization to the Mac and iPad, and address what must be a record number of security vulnerabilities.| TidBITS
