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
We’re taking a brief break from building an email issue of TidBITS next week for the Labor Day holiday in the United States, so look for the next issue in your mailbox on 8 September 2025, likely right before Apple's big iPhone announcement.| TidBITS
Brief maintenance update for the desktop-focused photo cataloging and editing app. ($9.99/$19.99/$59.99 monthly Creative Cloud subscription, free update, macOS 13.1+)| TidBITS
Brings official support for macOS 26 Tahoe, as well as a new "glass" icon. ($49.99 new, free update, 28.3 MB, macOS 13+)| TidBITS
Adds support for the new Liquid Glass user interface in macOS 26 Tahoe. ($49.99 annual subscription, free update, 12.4 MB, macOS 12+)| TidBITS
Introduces two new special sources to the wireless audio broadcasting app. ($35 new, free update, 34.2 MB, macOS 14.4+)| TidBITS
Document organization and archiving app adds compatibility with macOS 26 Tahoe. ($49.99 new, free update, 34.3 MB, macOS 10.13+)| TidBITS
Our latest reader survey confirms what you might expect: TidBITS readers are deeply committed to Apple’s ecosystem. From the Mac to the Vision Pro, discover which Apple products are central to our readers’ lives, where competing devices make inroads, and which categories haven’t captured our imagination (or dollars).| TidBITS
Maintenance update with a few improvements and fixes for the password manager. ($35.88 annual subscription, free update, 4.8 MB, macOS 12+)| TidBITS
Don’t miss this free presentation where former Apple executive Mike Shebanek—inventor of the VoiceOver screen reader—shares insider stories from his 19-year tenure developing revolutionary products like the original iMac, Rosetta, Boot Camp, and the first iPad.| TidBITS
Longtime Apple observer John Siracusa reports that Apple’s new AppleCare One plan has significant issues with multiple macOS user accounts, forcing him to pay more for individual device coverage.Read original article| TidBITS
Apple has raised the monthly Apple TV+ price to $12.99 while keeping the annual $99 plan unchanged. Prices are up across the industry, but Apple TV+’s smaller, originals-only library makes it a tougher sell for long-term subscriptions.| TidBITS
Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge of what makes for a legal email address.Read original article| TidBITS
Apple has finally brought its Self Service Repair program to Canada, though most Canadians other than Red Green will still find it easier to rely on a repair shop.Read original article| TidBITS
Apple has released emergency security updates for multiple operating systems to block a zero-day vulnerability exploited in sophisticated attacks targeting specific individuals.| TidBITS
Updates the open-source video conversion program with a few additions and improvements. (Free, 43.6 MB, macOS 10.13+)| TidBITS
Brings new screen recording capabilities, a lengthy list of bug fixes, and a change in system requirements. ($169 new, free update, 89.3 MB, macOS 14+)| TidBITS
Brings updates to Excel and Outlook. ($149.99 new for one-time purchase, $99.99/$129.99 annual subscription options, free update, macOS 12+)| TidBITS
After a question arose in TidBITS Talk, we wondered just how invested TidBITS readers are in the Apple ecosystem. Does everyone use Apple devices whenever available, or do many of us mix our Apple devices with those from other manufacturers?| TidBITS
A recent Slashdot comment from Steve Wozniak explains why he gave away his Apple wealth and reveals his lifelong philosophy of valuing happiness over accomplishment.| TidBITS
The cross-platform app TickTick does an excellent job of combining tasks and events into a single view, making it easy to see what you have on tap for the day. But it goes far beyond the basics, with a plethora of advanced features that answer most people’s “can it do this?” questions.| 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
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
Archive: Jun 2025| TidBITS
Archive: Aug 2025| 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
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
Looking for a free two-factor authentication app that works across platforms? Proton Authenticator offers broad import capabilities, iCloud sync, and thoughtful security features from a company you might actually have heard of.| TidBITS
Dropbox Passwords users (if there are any) must export their credentials before 28 October 2025, when the service shuts down permanently. 1Password offers the easiest migration option, but moving elsewhere is also possible.Read original article| 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.Read original article| TidBITS
Addresses a few bugs in the audio control utility. ($39 new, free update, 44.5 MB, macOS 14.5+)| TidBITS
Adds support for copying activity list items to the clipboard and brings back Screen Time integration. ($108/$132/$192 annual subscriptions, free update, 29.3 MB, macOS 10.15+)| 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
In his continuing search for apps that don’t let you forget something because you missed a single notification, Adam Engst looks at Due, which provides persistent notifications for reminders on all your Apple devices.| TidBITS
Apple quietly added a Medications section to the Health app in iOS 16 that lets you list all your medications, remind you when to take them, and log when you do.| 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
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
Archive: Jul 2025| 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
Just weeks after recalling 1.1 million power banks, Anker has expanded its recall to include six more models, including an iPhone-specific MagGo device.| 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
John Nemerovski| TidBITS
404 Media, KrebsOnSecurity, and other outlets are covering the exposure of Locate X, a tool that grants extensive access to smartphone location data. In the absence of strong legislation, Apple and Google need to do more to protect users.| TidBITS
A handful of iOS and iPadOS updates address unspecified bugs, and the update to macOS 14.2.1 Sonoma fixes a bug that could share random windows via Screen Sharing.| TidBITS
Apple has released iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, macOS 14.2 Sonoma, watchOS 10.2, and tvOS 17.2 with notable improvements and several features promised early in the year. HomePod Software 17.2 received only unspecified bug fixes. Apple also published security updates for iOS 16.7.3, iPadOS 16.7.3, macOS 13.6.3 Ventura, and macOS 12.7.2 Monterey.| 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
Archive: Mar 2025| TidBITS
Apple may have discontinued the Time Capsule, but many Mac users still need a network-based Time Machine backup. This article reviews what options exist and weighs their pros and cons.| TidBITS
Long a mainstay of wireless networking for Mac users, Apple’s line of Wi-Fi routers — the AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express, and AirPort Time Capsule — have been officially discontinued.| TidBITS
Are you afraid of Big Brother? Are you concerned that secret spy satellites monitor your every communication, from greeting the first person you see in the morning to shutting down your Mac after a long day of using email and the Web? I'm not, though some people are| TidBITS
Archive: Feb 2025| TidBITS
With another WWDC behind us, that means it's beta season, with new versions of macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS for developers brave enough to test them. Former Apple engineer David Shayer explains what you need to do to increase the chances that Apple will fix the bugs you report.| TidBITS
Archive: Mar 2024| 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
Last year, Google Docs gained document tabs that let you break long documents into more manageable sections, making it easier to organize and navigate complex content. Adam Engst explains how to use these tabs, document types where they are especially useful, and some usage quirks.| TidBITS
Mark your calendars—Apple has announced that its Worldwide Developer Conference will kick off on 9 June 2025. Last year’s question if WWDC would bring an AI-powered version of Siri remains open.| TidBITS
A cascade of Web technology interactions—involving lightboxes, automatic browser translation, and a bizarre Google Translate bug—resulted in respondents to a Pew Research survey seeing “forks” instead of “yes.”| TidBITS
In partnership with researchers from Harvard University and the University of Oxford, Garmin is launching an ambitious academic study to investigate happiness through wearable tech and smartphone-based surveys. Unlike Apple’s health research, this study is entirely grant-funded and offers participant rewards.| TidBITS
Apple’s AirPods Max will gain support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio through a firmware update in April, but only the USB-C model and only when physically connected to devices.| TidBITS
On the Chit Chat Across the Pond podcast, Adam Engst discusses the accuracy of AI-powered transcription and suggests that AI-powered search engines represent a fundamental shift in how we access and interact with information.| TidBITS
Scheduling across time zones can cause incorrect calendar reminders and missed meetings. Adam Engst explores the intricacies of time zone management in popular calendar apps and provides practical strategies to help users navigate common scheduling quirks.| TidBITS
Storyteller and former Take Control author Scott Knaster has launched a Substack newsletter featuring true stories of the Silicon Valley of yesteryear from his time at Apple, General Magic, Microsoft, and Google.| TidBITS
Looking for an affordable way to extend audio from your HomePod to other rooms in your house? The Dio Node AirPlay 2 speaker provides easy setup at a lower price than a HomePod mini, though with some audio quality compromises.| TidBITS
Adam Engst explains how to determine whether any apps on your iPhone may have been unintentionally sharing your location with data brokers by relying on ads from the real-time bidding ecosystem.| TidBITS
Apple has released operating system updates to address a serious WebKit vulnerability that surfaced 14 months ago. The latest version of this vulnerability also affects Google Chrome.| TidBITS
John Siracusa’s new Hyperspace app identifies and converts duplicate files into space-saving APFS clones, offering a safe way to reclaim drive space. The free download lets you scan before deciding whether to pay for reclamation.| TidBITS
The iPhone 16e debuts as Apple’s least expensive model, displacing the iPhone SE. Adam Engst examines how it measures up to the iPhone SE and iPhone 16.| TidBITS
If you want to ensure that someone using your iPhone can’t peek into private apps, read on to learn about a new feature in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that lets you require Face ID or Touch ID authentication before the app opens.| TidBITS
Adam Engst and Allison Sheridan discuss writing, editing, and how modern tools can improve the process and the results.| TidBITS
Apple’s ambitious new health study seeks to enroll 500,000 participants to explore the connections between technology use and various aspects of physical and mental health.| TidBITS
No, it’s not April Fools’ Day. After decades of requests, Apple has finally introduced a feature allowing users to migrate purchased apps, music, and other content between their Apple accounts.| TidBITS
Apple’s Machine Learning Research group has published a paper and a corresponding video showcasing the importance of expressive qualities in robots created for human interaction. Adam Engst wonders whether this could signal a revival of Apple products displaying some personality.| TidBITS
Apple’s latest updates for macOS, watchOS, and visionOS focus on resolving undisclosed vulnerabilities. Install them sooner rather than later.| TidBITS
Apple has released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 to patch a vulnerability that disables USB Restricted Mode. While the risk is low for most users, high-profile targets like activists and journalists should update immediately.| TidBITS
