How to enable AirDrop file transfers between unsupported Macs and over Ethernet

Joaquim Barbosa ∙ December 5, 2016

The AirDrop file transfer protocol, introduced with Mac OS X Lion and iOS 7, is a fast and convenient way to transfer files between Apple devices. The current version of the service is interoperable between iOS and macOS, but requires both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to be active in order to work. It also requires Mac OS X Yosemite or newer and a hardware model from 2012 or later.

However, the version of AirDrop that shipped as standard with OS X between 10.7 (Lion) and 10.9 (Mavericks), whilst unable to send files to iOS devices, works without Bluetooth and on Mac models going back as far as 2008. Luckily, alongside the newer version, this legacy mode is still included on all Mac models to date, and as this guide will show, can be modified to have an even broader functionality.

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Wallpapers of the week: Apple’s demo Photos app images

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Every Sunday, the iDownloadBlog Wallpapers of the Week post aims to bring you photo quality wallpapers for your Apple devices. Different genres pop up throughout the year, but our most popular posts always have direct connections to Apple media events and official advertising images.

Today, I present a set of official Apple images AirDropped straight off the new MacBook Pro at my local Apple Store. The images in this set are used in the display demo Photos app to highlight the screen resolution and give users the chance to play with the photo editor. Consequently, you will find the original Apple files and they have been formatted for your devices. Step inside for the downloads. 

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Jailbreak tweaks of the week: Columba for iOS 9, Force Delete, & more…

Anthony Bouchard ∙ December 4, 2016

These past few weeks have felt pretty stale for the jailbreak community, but this week has seen a slight resurgence. Unfortunately, with no public announcements from reputable jailbreak teams at this point in time, there's still no news as to when a public jailbreak for iOS 10 may drop.

Regardless, developers continue to make tweaks for iOS 9. In this roundup, we'll show you everything that was released this week, starting with our favorites.

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The best apps for the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro

Andrew O'Hara ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

If you just picked up a new 2016 MacBook Pro, you may be wondering: aside from the stock apps, what are other great apps that take advantage of that shiny new Touch Bar? While apps are constantly being updated, we've gone ahead and picked out some of our favorites that are currently available.

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Space, Capsule, Listables and other apps to check out this weekend

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

It's the weekend again, and you know what that means. It's time for another one of our Apps of the Week roundups. This week we've selected some great titles for you including a new interactive app for exploring space, an AI service for documenting your life experiences, and an app for creating and viewing shareable todo lists. And as usual, we've picked out two great new games for you to try.

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On the universe of negativity Apple now lives in…

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 2, 2016

Stop me if you've already heard this one: Apple is doomed, doomed, DOOMED. Didn't you get the memo? Investors have been displeased with Apple's slowing growth since the dawn of time, saying iPhones and other Apple gadgets ought to be even more expensive than they already are.

Analysts think the company is embarked on a “decade-long malaise” because it supposedly “lacks the courage to lead the innovation”. And biased media with its collapsing ad revenues continue churning out click-friendly headlines which accuse Apple of anything you could think of, from falling behind Google in artificial intelligence to Donald Trump winning the U.S. presidential election.

I guess that's one way of looking at things.

Here's what Apple's world looks like from my vantage point.

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Analyst: Apple poised for a “decade-long malaise” as it “lacks the courage to lead innovation”

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 2, 2016

Apple's reliance on the iPhone is well documented, but that didn't stop analysts at Oppenheimer from issuing an unusually scathing investor memo describing “strategic issues” at the Cupertino firm.

In the note, a copy of which was obtained by Business Insider, analyst Andrew Uerkwitz and his team charge Apple for being too reliant on the iPhone and headed in the wrong direction, saying the company “lacks the courage to lead the next generation of innovation”.

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Apple issues iOS 10.2 beta 5 to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 2, 2016

Apple on Friday released a fifth beta of iOS 10.2 (build 14C89) to its registered developers enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. The updated beta software can be deployed over-the-air through Settings → General → Software Update on an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad which has installed a prior iOS 10.2 beta and an appropriate configuration profile. The full installer can be downloaded from Apple's dedicated portal for developers at developer.apple.com.

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Apple: unexpected iPhone 6s battery shutdowns caused by a manufacturing issue

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 2, 2016
iPhone 7 battery

Two weeks ago, Apple issued a global battery replacement program to address a problem where some iPhone 6s handsets manufactured between September and October 2015 may unexpectedly shut down (see if your phone is eligible for a free battery via Apple's web tool).

While the company originally did not say why these devices are shutting down when the battery indicator drops below the 30 percent mark, MacRumors points us to a message posted in a support document on Apple's website in China which blames the problem on a manufacturing issue.

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