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25 Articles

These 3 pieces of old Apple tech have overstayed their welcome

Apple has a reputation as an uncompromising driver of new technology. Look no further than the classic example of shipping the original iMac without a floppy drive or legacy ports, or designing the iPhone without a hardware keyboard, or even killing off the iPod mini to make way for the iPod nano. The company certainly puts forth an image of pushing technology forward without dwelling on the past. While those examples might get a lot of attention, the Apple of these days is a bigger, more ponderous organization, a battleship that can’t simply turn on a dime. As a result, the move to any new technology takes time, and often what came before isn’t excised in months, or sometimes even years. As much as Apple might like to see itself as an…

These 3 pieces of old Apple tech have overstayed their welcome

Revealed: How Apple creates your passwords

When you log into a new service or website on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the operating system will promptly suggest a ready-made password that you can accept or reject. This password will be quite long; it will not contain any recognizable words; and it will contain special characters such as hyphens and numbers. All of this fulfills the requirements for passwords so that attackers cannot crack them easily by brute force, simply guessing common combinations of characters. However, if you’ve adopted a few such passwords from iOS or macOS, you’ll probably have noticed a pattern emerging. They’re not just random. The character sequence is always divided into three sections, with hyphens in between, and the three short parts each sound a bit like words—just not words that occur in any…

Revealed: How Apple creates your passwords

How to keep an iCloud Drive file on your Mac while optimizing storage

iCloud Drive lets you have the best of both worlds: deep storage that provides a form of backup and syncs across all your devices. If you enable optimized storage in macOS in System Settings → Account Name → iCloud → iCloud Drive, your Mac automatically removes files in reverse order of the frequency in which you use them, if it needs to clear out space to avoid your startup volume from becoming too full. It leaves a placeholder file in the same location that you can access as if it were downloaded, and iCloud Drive automagically retrieves it when you try to preview or edit it. Before macOS Sequoia, if a file wasn’t locally downloaded, you could navigate to it in the Finder via iCloud Drive and Control-click or right-click to…

How to keep an iCloud Drive file on your Mac while optimizing storage

SAMSUNG M8 SMART MONITOR (M80D): AN AFFORDABLE 32-INCH DISPLAY WITH 4K RESOLUTION

Samsung’s M8 Smart Monitor has been on our list of the Best Mac Monitors ever since it first launched back in 2022, as it provides an attractive 32-inch monitor with 4K resolution at a far lower price than Apple’s expensive 27-inch Studio Display. The M8 has continued to prove popular since then, and Samsung recently launched an updated version, which also goes by the full model number of M80D to indicate that this is the monitor’s fourth-generation update (like the Enterprise D in Star Trek). However, Samsung is still selling the previous M80C model, while some online stores even have the older M80B as well, so make sure you check those model numbers before buying. The glass panel that provides the main display hasn’t changed much, still providing 4K resolution with…

SAMSUNG M8 SMART MONITOR (M80D): AN AFFORDABLE 32-INCH DISPLAY WITH 4K RESOLUTION

OWC EXPRESS 1M2: SSDS DON’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS

The OWC Express 1M2 makes a striking first impression with its cooling-fin design. The cooling fins alone account for around half of the overall height of this external SSD. Good cooling is extremely important, especially for fast NVMe SSD drives. We found out how well the cooling works by running the Blackmagicdesign Disk Speed Test over a long period of time. After 30 minutes, the cooling fins and the underside of the housing became noticeably warm. After an hour, the temperature increased significantly to around 40 degrees Celsius but was not hot enough to burn your fingers. The aluminum housing is quite large at 5.2×2.8×0.9 inches (13.2×7.1×2.3 centimeters), but the Express 1M2 can be used as both a stay-on-your-desk drive and a mobile storage device. The very high-quality metal housing also has…

OWC EXPRESS 1M2: SSDS DON’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS

LEATHER SLEEVE FROM MANUEL DREESMANN: QUALITY, LUXURY LEATHER MACBOOK SLEEVE

In some ways the modern working-from-home trend means we don’t need to think about protecting our MacBooks as much, since they tend to stay put on a desk at home. But on those occasions when we need to cart a laptop into the office, pack it in a suitcase, or add it to carry-on luggage, the need to protect it from bumps and scrapes should be paramount. Too many times I’ve wrapped my laptop in a towel inside a suitcase, or dropped it into a rucksack and risked it not being protected. Sure, I could buy a bag designed for laptops, but they are often huge, bulky and heavy. So I end up slotting it in my usual bag and jumping on a train. What’s the worst that can happen, after…

LEATHER SLEEVE FROM MANUEL DREESMANN: QUALITY, LUXURY LEATHER MACBOOK SLEEVE

PATAGONIA REFUGIO DAYPACK 26L: GREAT ALL-AROUND EVERYDAY BACKPACKS

Studying in the morning, shopping in the afternoon, sports in the evening, traveling to your parents on the weekend—if a backpack can handle all of this, it’s perfect for a student. But the Patagonia Refugio Daypack 26L is great for anyone who’s always on the go, whether it’s for work or play. Made entirely from recycled polyester (it does not contain any perfluorinated chemicals), the Refugio Daypack 26L has good waterproofing for outdoor use on hikes or a bike trip. The back padding is well thought out and offers an air channel for the back, and the shoulder straps are very comfortable and easy to adjust. The pack lacks a lap belt, but there is a height-adjustable chest strap, important to ensure a proper fit when running or cycling. Patagonia cleverly provides…

PATAGONIA REFUGIO DAYPACK 26L: GREAT ALL-AROUND EVERYDAY BACKPACKS

CLIP This propulsion device can attach to a city, road, or hybrid bicycle with a 26- or 28-inch front wheel and turn your bike into an e-bike. The motor provides 250W-continuous and 450W-peak power for acceleration of up to 15 miles per hour. A remote control attaches to the handlebars and can be used whenever you need to kick in the Clip for a boost of pedal power. —ROMAN LOYOLA LOMO’INSTANT WIDE GLASS This Lomography instant camera features a 90mm multi-coated glass lens and four focus zones. It also as a bulb mode for motion blur, shutter speed from 1/250 of a second to 8 seconds, and an f/8 or f22 aperture. It uses Fujifilm Instax Wide film and requires four AA batteries. —ROMAN LOYOLA FENDER X TEUFEL ROCKSTER AIR 2 This Teufel Audio bluetooth…

iOS 18: All the details and hidden features you won’t want to miss

Apple has released iOS 18, and it’s full of big new features such as new Home Screen customization options, an all-new Control Center, RCS support and other Messages features, and a brand-new Photos app. Apple Intelligence is coming piece by piece starting with iOS 18.1, but there’s still a lot of great new stuff in this first iOS 18 release. After you download and apply the update, you’ll have your evening full just trying out and learning all the new major features, but sometimes it’s the little tweaks and changes that can have the most impact on how you use your iPhone. Here are some of the smaller, lesser-known features and changes that didn’t get a lot of hype but can make a real difference for you. 1. PHONE IMPROVEMENTS Recent calls search lets…

iOS 18: All the details and hidden features you won’t want to miss

Apple’s slow and steady approach to AI will once again win the race

If you, like me, skim through the technology headlines most days, then you’ve probably been bombarded with what feels like every other headline featuring some permutation of artificial intelligence and how it’s going to change everything. That includes Apple. Since announcing its Apple Intelligence pushback in June, the company hasn’t exactly been quiet about its AI goals. And it’s clear that the industry is likewise interested—every other question on Apple’s recent quarterly results call was about Apple Intelligence. But it’s only now that we’re getting our first taste of how these capabilities will really integrate into Apple’s platform. Late last month, Apple rolled out the first developer beta incorporating Apple Intelligence features, and even though they won’t arrive for all users until later this fall—and other Apple Intelligence features will continue to…

Apple’s slow and steady approach to AI will once again win the race

The iPhone 16’s biggest competitor is the other version of itself

One of Apple’s greatest fears has come to pass: Fragmentation has come for the iPhone and iPad. By the end of the year, users in part of the world will be able to harness the power of Apple Intelligence for various tasks—while users in the European Union will be able to set default apps, delete stock Apple apps, buy from alternative App Stores, play Fortnite, use a clipboard manager, and more. Get ready for the debates over which flavor of iOS is better—the EU version or the AI one. But that debate isn’t what Apple should be concerned about. No, it’s that after years of insisting on locked-down iOS policies, users will see what’s going on in the EU, and rather than feeling grateful that Apple keeps a close watch on…

The iPhone 16’s biggest competitor is the other version of itself

RIP Android 2008–25

Like a soft-hearted boxer trying to give the crowd value for money, Apple has done its best for years to keep Google standing in the smartphone ring. If it truly exerted itself, we always felt, the Cupertino Crusher could put the Mountain View Mangler on the canvas in short order. But the company could never quite bring itself to apply the coup de grâce. The reason, of course, has nothing to do with charity—Apple simply doesn’t want to release an iPhone that’s better or more expensive to manufacture than it needs to be. It has numerous advantages over the various Android hardware vendors: It has more money to spend on research and development; it can control and optimize hardware and software together; it has better customer trust and brand recognition; and…

RIP Android 2008–25

From the iPhone X to the iPhone 16: Apple’s battery life visualized

Premium smartphone manufacturers have been steadily improving battery life for years, and Apple is no exception. In fact, if you only look at the improvement of the current iPhones compared to last year’s models, you may not realize just how far they’ve come. The battery in today’s new iPhones lasts several times longer than that of the iPhone X introduced just seven years ago! Fortunately, we have been testing iPhone battery life in the same way since then, so we wanted to illustrate just how much better iPhone battery life has become. iPHONE BATTERY LIFE OVER THE YEARS We have tested battery life using the Geekbench 4 battery life test going all the way back to the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. We perform the test the same way each time, setting screen…

From the iPhone X to the iPhone 16: Apple’s battery life visualized

ANKER MAGGO 10K SLIM POWER BANK: THIN YET POWERFUL iPHONE MAGNETIC BATTERY PACK

At just 0.58 inches (less than 1.5cm) thick, this 10000mAh magnetic power bank rivals even some of the 5000mAh magnetic battery packs for slimness. It’s also lighter in weight than any other 10K wireless power bank that we have tested, performed best for recharging power, and can wired-charge an iPhone at 30W. The Anker MagGo 10K Slim Power Bank uses fast Qi2 magnetic tech, so it can wirelessly charge at an impressive 15W. Only Apple’s wired MagSafe Charger can charge faster wirelessly at 25W, and using that you’ll need a separate power bank to carry with you on the go. If you have a spare cable with you, the Anker power bank can charge even faster at 30W via its USB-C port. This makes it a faster wireless charger than the Baseus…

ANKER MAGGO 10K SLIM POWER BANK: THIN YET POWERFUL iPHONE MAGNETIC BATTERY PACK

MOKIBO FUSION KEYBOARD FOR iPAD PRO: AFFORDABLE AND WELL-BUILT KEYBOARD COVER

There are several versions of Mokibo’s Fusion keyboard available, including one that’s designed for Windows and Android devices, but it also makes a couple of models that are specifically designed for use with iPads. The company’s website refers to these as the Fusion Keyboard For iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch, but they may also work with other models as well—for instance, the 12.9-inch Fusion Keyboard that we review here seemed to fit my new 13-inch iPad Air with no problems. Unfortunately, the information on Mokibo’s website is often vague and unclear, so you should pay close attention to the compatibility list that is provided for each version of the keyboard. A good example is the fact that the iPad version of the Fusion Keyboard acts as both a keyboard and a…

MOKIBO FUSION KEYBOARD FOR iPAD PRO: AFFORDABLE AND WELL-BUILT KEYBOARD COVER

APPLE WATCH SERIES 10 REVIEW: MODEST IMPROVEMENTS TO A PROVEN FORMULA

For the last several years, the Apple Watch has undergone a relatively modest series of yearly upgrades. It has more or less looked and felt the same since the Series 4, that huge upgrade that gave us a much larger display area (with rounded corners), a big leap in performance, and the impressive ECG feature. Since then, the watch has gotten just a tiny bit better each year. Maybe just a touch faster. Maybe there’s a new sensor, like blood oxygen. Maybe the display is a little brighter. We had hoped the rumors of a iPhone X–style overhaul with the Apple Watch Series 10 were true. They weren’t. This year’s update once again takes very modest, measured steps to improve Apple’s winning formula. The Apple Watch Series 10 is my favorite Apple…

APPLE WATCH SERIES 10 REVIEW: MODEST IMPROVEMENTS TO A PROVEN FORMULA

iPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS REVIEW: THE PHONE FOR EVERYONE CREEPS INTO PRO TERRITORY

Those familiar with Apple’s iPhone lineup understand that the company puts out two sets of phones: one set with “Pro” in the name to denote that they have advanced features. Those are not found in the other set of phones, which go by the iPhone name and version number—in this case, it’s the iPhone 16 (and iPhone 16 Plus for the larger screen and battery). Before this release, choosing between the Pro and non-Pro iPhones was a bit of a brain twister. The Pro has the fancier camera setup, and you could convince yourself you don’t need it, but then you start to look at the other features that the Pros have (Action button, ProMotion, 5× zoom, newer chip). You could start to develop a fear of missing out. With that in…

iPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS REVIEW: THE PHONE FOR EVERYONE CREEPS INTO PRO TERRITORY

pdfFiller: An overpriced, half-baked PDF editor for macOS

In an increasingly digital world, the need for PDF editors continues to grow. One of the Mac apps you may come across when hunting for a PDF editor is pdfFiller. The software offers a decent set of document manipulation tools, but is it any good for everyday use? The short answer is no. pdfFiller offers apps on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, Android, and the web. So no matter what device you’re working on, you likely will be able to access your documents just fine. Notably, a single subscription works across all platforms. The company offers a 30-day free trial if you’re signing up from the web or a 7-day one if you opt for Apple’s App Store billing. Beyond the longer trial and having to set up a payment method, pdfFiller’s web…

pdfFiller: An overpriced, half-baked PDF editor for macOS

Wombat Willow: A solid typing tool with some quirks

The Wombat Willow keyboard is KSI Holding’s mechanical keyboard offering for the Mac market. Overall, it’s a solid keyboard, ideal for anyone who prefers the feel of mechanical keyboards over Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but the Willow does have some quirks that the user will have to adjust to. BUILD, DESIGN, AND FEEL The Willow is a hefty 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram), which helps anchor it in place on the desk. It might be too heavy for use as a mobile keyboard—though it’s not designed as one in the first place. While the weight does play a part in portraying the keyboard as a solid product, the construction overall is well done. It’s put together nicely and its parts meet a standard of quality. Measuring 14.45×6.33×1.73 inches (36.7×16.1×2.98 centimeters), the Willow is between the…

Wombat Willow: A solid typing tool with some quirks

Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger: Clever and compact

The Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) has a lot to like: three charging ports, 100 watts maximum charging power, and travel-friendly dimensions. It has recently been updated from a very similar model and is slightly smaller than its predecessor. A maximum of 100W is distributed across the three connections. It doesn’t matter which of the two USB-C ports you choose. If you only connect one device, 100W of charging power is always available—this makes the Anker GaN Prime 100W suitable for fast-charging all recent MacBooks except for the 16-inch Pro, which requires a 140W charger for fast charging. This charger is still fine for the top-end MacBook Pro, only not for the fastest charging. For the MacBook Air models and 13- and 14-inch Pro models, it will fast-charge…

Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger: Clever and compact

Ugreen Revodok Pro 210: Decent speeds at a nice price

For $60/£65, you get a pretty good set of ports with the UGreen Revodok Pro 210 USB-C hub: It offers 10 ports, enough for most people whether they’re working remotely or at the office. The Revodok Pro 210 has four USB ports. Two are USB-A 2.0 ports that can be used with a keyboard, mouse, trackpad, printer, or graphics tablet. Then there’s another USB-A port and a USB-C port that offers 5 gigabits per second speed for data storage devices. We measured the speed with a Lacie Rugged Mini SSD at 348MBps (write) and 387MBps (read). This is typical for a hub in this speed class and is around 50 percent lower than directly on the Mac. With the two HDMI connectors, users can connect two displays at 4K/60Hz. However, Mac limitation…

Ugreen Revodok Pro 210: Decent speeds at a nice price

Apple’s true hit of 2024 isn’t the iPhone 16

As a long-time iPhone mini fan (insert your own “THERE ARE DOZENS OF US!” gif here, I’m too bitter to find one), I have sat out a number of new iPhone purchasing opportunities over the last few years. The rent is too high and the phones are too big. This year, however, knowing that I would have to eventually give in to Big Phone™, the addition of the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 got me. I ordered an iPhone 16. It’s nice. I like it. Is it too big? Yes, it’s too big. It’s also not the most exciting thing I bought that came out of Apple’s September event. NOW HEAR THIS The other thing I bought was the jauntily named AirPods 4 with ANC. (What’s wrong with AirPods 4+, Apple?)…

Apple’s true hit of 2024 isn’t the iPhone 16

AirPods versus AirPods Pro: How they compare

Apple changed its AirPods lineup by introducing the AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. The update makes it a little easier than before to decide whether you get the standard AirPods or step up to the AirPods Pro 2. Let’s look at the differences between the three models—there’s a lot more than just the shape and fit. This guide will help you make the proper buying decision for yourself or the person you’re shopping for. DESIGN AND FIT The most obvious differences between the AirPods 4 and the AirPods Pro 2 are the designs and how they fit in your ears. The AirPods 4 do not have ear tips. They sit at the opening of the ear canal. This design leave a little bit of space between the earbuds and…

AirPods versus AirPods Pro: How they compare

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Great-sounding headphones that support aptX

It’s been quite a few years since Apple devices stopped supporting the high-quality aptX codec (compressor-decompressor) that is now used with many Bluetooth headphones and earbuds. That’s probably due to Apple’s long-running—and seriously expensive—legal battle with Qualcomm, the company that purchased the aptX technology in 2015. Whatever the reason, this means that Apple’s AirPods have to rely on the older AAC codec for Bluetooth audio, even though many audiophiles feel that aptX provides better sound quality—especially for listening to the high-res audio formats that are now available on Apple Music and other streaming services. It also means that owners of Macs, iPhones, and iPads don’t always get the best quality when using headphones and earbuds from other manufacturers that do support aptX. The Pi8 earbuds from Bowers & Wilkins do support AAC,…

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Great-sounding headphones that support aptX

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU CAN’T OPEN AN APP YOU JUST INSTALLED IN MACOS SEQUOIA In macOS Sequoia, Apple has added another stumbling block to launching software that has not gone through Apple’s baseline vetting process for apps. Generally, this can be a good thing, preventing naive users from accidentally installing malware or privacy-invading software. However, for users who rely on software created by people who don’t work within the lines painted by Apple and its App Store, here’s what you need to know. The Gatekeeper feature in macOS is something you never see called by that name. It’s designed to ensure that only certain apps can run on your Mac, even though macOS can execute any correctly constructed software for the platform. The only visible control is in System Settings →…

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