Bluetooth

MacID price drops 75% in the App Store for a limited time

Anthony Bouchard ∙ March 28, 2016

MacID, the popular app for iPhone and iPad that lets you use Touch ID or your Apple Watch (and yes, even your Pebble) to unlock your Mac over a Bluetooth connection, is on sale in the App Store this week for 75% off the usual price.

The app received an important update over the weekend with support for new features found in iOS 9.3 and watchOS 2.2, giving users the ability to configure multiple Apple Watches with MacID and use them to unlock their Mac.

Marked at just $0.99 for a limited time, you can grab MacID and start using your iOS device's Touch ID sensor or Apple Watch to unlock your Mac instead of typing in a password each time it locks itself.

MacID update adds multi-Apple Watch support, improved battery life, pairing reliability, & more

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated June 22, 2018

The popular MacID app for iOS and OS X has received an update on Friday that adds support for new features in the newly-released watchOS 2.2 and iOS 9.3 firmware.

MacID has been made popular for its ability to unlock Mac computers with Touch ID or from an interactive notification on the wrist of the app's user by way of their Apple Watch, rather than having to type a pasword to unlock the Mac from a sleep.

Version 1.3.3 of MacID is now available in the App Store for iOS devices and Apple Watches, and version 1.3.3 of MacID for the Mac is available from the developer's website.

tvOS 9.2 is here: Dictation, folders, Live Photos, wireless keyboards, iCloud Photo Library & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 11, 2023

tvOS 9.2, a new update for the operating system which powers the fourth-generation Apple TV, is now available for public consumption. The new firmware, released alongside iOS 9.3, OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 and watchOS 2.2, is a very interesting update for the cool new features it brings to the table.

tvOS 9.2 enables several features missing from the initial tvOS release, including long-awaited support for wireless keyboards, dictation, Siri support for App Store searches, app folders on the Home screen, a revamped app switcher, Siri Remote improvements, support for Live Photos and iCloud Photo Library and more.

Google launches experimental hands-free payments app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 6, 2018

Hands Free, a new Google app for iOS and Android, allows you to pay for in-store purchases without even pulling a smartphone out of your pocket. The Internet giant said that they're piloting the new app so for the time being it's available to South Bay residents.

Those who would test the app shall be treated to up to $5 off their first Hands Free purchase at participating stores, which include a small number of McDonald’s, Papa John’s and local eateries in the area.

Using your iPhone to diagnose your car’s check engine light

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

All the do-it-yourself mechanics out there love being able to troubleshoot their own check engine light (CEL) to see what's going on under the hood of their own cars. Typically, doing so requires an expensive OBD II scanner tool that plugs into the OBD II port underneath the dash.

But, with an app on your iPhone and a tiny accessory that plugs into the OBD II port, you could save some money and you'll still have access to a lot of the information the scan tool would give you. In fact, because of how advanced your iPhone is, you may even get more information than a lot of the scan tools will offer.

In this review, we'll be taking a look at the LELink Bluetooth Low Energy OBD II car diagnostic tool, which can be had for about $35 on Amazon, as well as the $9.99 OBD Fusion app, which can be had from the iOS App Store.

Major MacID software update now available for iOS and OS X

Anthony Bouchard ∙ February 23, 2016

Popular for letting users unlock their Mac with the Touch ID sensor on their iPhones and/or iPads, MacID comes with a slew of other useful features as well that take advantage of a Bluetooth connection between these devices.

A massive update to the $3.99 MacID app for iOS devices and the free software for Macs is now available that provides a slew of improvements and new features for users.

Elgato Eve Energy review: a HomeKit-enabled wireless sensor & switch

Andrew O'Hara ∙ February 23, 2016

Apple’s HomeKit has had a bit of a rocky start. The home automation platform that was meant to tie all of your smart home devices together was plagued by delays from Apple, as well as manufacturers. Devices started to hit the market in the middle of last year, and this year at CES, we saw many new options that are slowly starting to trickle out. Today, we are going to take a look at one of those devices, Eve Energy from Elgato. It is a simple solutions for those who want to start or grow their smart home, without breaking the bank.

This tweak lets you control your Home screen with a Bluetooth keyboard

Anthony Bouchard ∙ February 18, 2016

If you use a Bluetooth keyboard with your iPad, or even with your iPhone or iPod touch (although less likely), then you might enjoy a new jailbreak tweak called Keyhook, which is now available in Cydia for $1.99.

Keyhook will allow you to control your Home screen with your Bluetooth keyboard; this includes selecting apps, launching apps, and moving between Home screen pages.

My top 5 accessories for the iPhone

Anthony Bouchard ∙ February 11, 2016

There are seemingly endless choices for iPhone accessories out there, and I've got to tell you, I go through iPhone accessories like candy. One day I like something I'm using, and another day I find it to be a nuisance and I end up leaving it at home and buying something completely different to suit my needs.

Regardless, there are still some accessories that I still use on a day-to-day basis, and in this piece, I'll show you my top 5 favorite iPhone accessories that I actually use on a daily basis and why.

Experiencing Bluetooth problems on your Mac? Try this

Ankur Thakur ∙ Updated June 12, 2025

Try these tips if you're having Bluetooth problems on your Mac and can't connect accessories, AirPods, or other wireless devices, or send files to an Android phone or Windows PC.

Several House of Marley Bluetooth speakers and headphones are on sale right now

Cody Lee ∙ January 15, 2016

We are big fans of House of Marley gear here at iDB. I recently reviewed the Chant Mini Bluetooth speaker, praising it for its sound and portability, and we have highlighted several of their other products over the years. So naturally, when we found out that many of their Bluetooth speakers and headphones were on sale, we just had to share it with you.

In my Chant Mini review, I noted that House of Marley products are unique in that they are built using earth-friendly materials like Hemp, bamboo and recycled plastic, and thus look very different than other consumer electronics. But, if you can get past the unorthodox aesthetics, my experience with HoM gear is that it sounds great and is very well made.

MacID’s ‘Tap to Unlock’ makes logging into your Mac even faster

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated April 12, 2019

Probably one of my most-used applications on my Mac is MacID, which I use on a daily basis to unlock my Mac without ever using the keyboard to enter a password. The application works in two ways – these include allowing you to use your iPhone or iPad's Touch ID sensor to log into your Mac, or using a secret 'Tap to Unlock' gesture on the multi-touch trackpad (or Magic Trackpad/Magic Trackpad 2) to log into your Mac.

Both ways can save a ton of time, and reduce wear and tear on your keyboard, but in this tutorial, we'll focus on how you can set up 'Tap to Unlock' in MacID on your Mac.