Mac

Stay up-to-date on the latest Mac news, and tutorials. Get expert tips and tricks to optimize your Mac’s performance and learn about the latest Apple products and software updates. Discover the best Mac apps and accessories to enhance your user experience.

OS X 10.10.3 with Photos for Mac dropping today

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 8, 2015

Get your Macs ready for a major software refresh as Apple gears up to release the OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 software update with the long-awaited Photos for Mac app and other improvements.

Associated Press, which ran a review of Photos for Mac earlier this morning and first reported that the software update is due today, praised the software's professional-level and advanced fine-tuning tools such as granular color correction.

“Apple’s new Photos app for Mac computers, available Wednesday as a free software update, makes it easy to organize and edit your pictures,” the news organization wrote.

Read More

How to pair Android Wear without an Android Phone using a virtual machine on Mac

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

I know, it may sound fairly niche, but hear me out. Recently, there's been a lot of buzz about using Android Wear devices with the iPhone, and that's the reason why I started exploring this topic to begin with.

As it turns out, when you buy an Android Wear device, you need an Android device to "activate" the smartwatch (go figure). Since I don't currently own an Android phone, my LG G Watch was stuck at the pairing screen.

Yes, there are more "in-depth" ways to go about getting passed this screen, but not everyone is up to that task. With this in mind, I've created a video tutorial that shows you how to run an Android virtual machine on your Mac with Parallels, and how to then pair an Android Wear device with the virtual machine.

Read More

1Password for Mac gains 2-factor code generation

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

After releasing a massive update to its freemium iPhone and iPad password-keeping application back in January, developer AgileBits on Tuesday posted a matching update on the Mac App Store, bringing support for two-factor authentication codes and a bunch of other improvements to its 1Password for Mac utility.

In addition to two-step verification, the app has gained the ability to email and start a FaceTime Audio or Skype call by clicking numbers in the Identities section and given some existing features “a big power-up.”

Read More

Apple wants customers to buy Apple Watch and new MacBook online

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 7, 2015

In an interesting break from the publicity Apple normally gets for free whenever customers line up outside its stores to be the first to get their hands on latest new gizmos, the company is now instructing its retail employees to suggest customers buy the Apple Watch and the new twelve-inch MacBook through the Online Apple Store.

According to an internal memo Apple's retail chief Angela Ahrendts sent to Apple Store employees entitled 'Get in line online', obtained by Business Insider, Apple suggests that “the days of waiting in line and crossing fingers for a product are over”.

Read More

Latest behind-the-scenes Foxconn report depicts improved worker conditions

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Ahead of its upcoming Code Asia conference, Foxconn granted tech publication Recode guided access to its manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, China where it assembles iPads, Macs and other products. We've seen similar behind-the-scenes reports in the past, but today's piece offers a current look at employee conditions inside one of Foxconn's largest factories.

During their tour, Recode says that it observed both the remnants of past tragedies and several signs of improvements. For instance, there are still nets atop of buildings to help prevent suicide jumps, and many buildings are still covered in rust and grime. But Foxconn has added several college-like amenities such as a track, multiple swimming pools and an Internet Cafe.

Read More

Did LG inadvertently leak an iMac with 8K screen?

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 6, 2015

In a somewhat bizarre move, Apple supplier LG Display may have inadvertently leaked Apple's unannounced iMac whopping an 8K Retina screen, writing on its website last week that, I'm quoting, “Apple has also announced that they will release the ‘iMac 8K’ with a super-high resolution display later this year”.

Apple, of course, has not publicly announced plans for a new iMac update. LG Display is Apple's important supplier of desktop and mobile screens and the Cupertino company is known to have cut off suppliers who pre-announced its products. Neither LG nor Apple commented on the matter at post time.

Read More

How to run Android apps like WhatsApp and Instagram on Mac

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 19, 2019

ARC, or App Runtime for Chrome, is a tool that allows you to run many Android apps right on a desktop machine. For the most part, the apps look and function like they do on an Android phone or tablet.

Why is this so cool? Well, it means that you can now have access to whole variety of new apps. Some apps, like WhatsApp, have no native desktop counterpart, so it's especially nice for apps like these.

While it isn't a perfect 1:1 solution, and some apps outright don't work, it's worth trying if there's an app that you want that isn't otherwise available on the desktop. In this post and video, we'll walk you through the steps of configuring Google's ARC Welder tool, and show you how to run multiple applications as well.

Read More

Tweetbot for Mac adds support for Twitter-hosted GIF and video image previews

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

To make the wait until a massive (and way overdue) Yosemite overhaul of Tweetbot, the most purchased Twitter alternative on the Apple platform, developer Tapbots on Thursday pushed a small yet important update to Tweetbot for Mac.

This new version at last added official support for Twitter-hosted animated GIFs and video image previews. In addition to these enhancements, this edition of Tweetbot saw improvements in storage and memory usage.

So now when someone attaches an animated GIF to their tweet or records a video in Twitter's native video format, you'll see the video thumbnail inline. Previously, it wouldn't show any thumbnail at all, leaving you with clickable URLs that opened in a browser.

Read More

TweetDeck for Mac gains group DMs, inline video and GIFs and other goodies

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 1, 2015

TweetDeck for Mac, the popular Twitter-owned desktop client, on Wednesday received its first significant update since August 2014.

Available free of charge, the refreshed application now displays native Twitter video and animated GIF files inline and allows you to exchange direct messages with multiple users in group conversations, in addition to half a dozen other improvements.

Read More

Foursquare for iOS enables Handoff with Mac, brings Citymapper directions

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 1, 2015

Foursquare, the world's top crowd-sourced local search and discovery service and mobile app, has pushed a refresh to its iPhone and iPad places-discovery application available at no cost in the App Store.

Among other new features, Foursquar 8.1 enables Handoff support between iOS and the Mac and lets you easily access Citymapper from the app. For those wondering, Citymapper is a fast-growing, real-time transit service available on the iPhone and coming to the Apple Watch next month.

Read More

EA debuts ‘Get To Work’ expansion for The Sims 4 featuring three career paths and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 1, 2017

Publisher Electronic Arts on Tuesday launched the first major expansion pack for its popular life simulation game for Mac and Windows PCs, The Sims 4. “It's time to take your career to the next level,” says EA, revealing that the add-on is all about different career paths your Sims can take.

In addition, entrepreneurial types can now build and manage their own retail stores and earn money by selling all sorts of items. You can set prices yourself, hire and manage employees, customize uniforms and work to make the final sale.

EA says there's no limit to the type of retail business that can be created, from clothing boutiques to art galleries, or bakeries to bookstores.

Read More