TidBITS: Apple News for the Rest of Us

Brings a variety of improvements and bug fixes to the password manager. ($35.88 annual subscription, free update, 4.8 MB, macOS 10.15+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/1password-8-10-50/

Maintenance update with a grab bag of improvements for the Open/Save dialog utility. ($39.95 new, free update, 17.5 MB, macOS 10.13+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/default-folder-x-6-1-1/

Apple has increased the base amount of memory in the M2 and M3 MacBook Air models, possibly to ensure optimal performance for Apple Intelligence.

https://tidbits.com/2024/11/02/apple-boosts-macbook-air-base-memory-to-16-gb/

Apple is using more of its excess cash to secure the future of its satellite services with Globalstar. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE

https://tidbits.com/2024/11/02/apple-to-invest-1-5-billion-in-globalstar/

What precisely will come of the acquisition, no one outside Apple knows. At a minimum, Apple will be acquiring top engineering talent in the image editing space, but it's an opportunity for the i...

https://tidbits.com/2024/11/01/apple-acquires-pixelmator-speculation-begins/

Apple set revenue records in its fourth-quarter fiscal results, thanks to strong numbers from the iPhone and Services segments and increases from the iPad and Mac. On the downside, revenue growth...

https://tidbits.com/2024/11/01/apple-sets-q4-2024-revenue-record-on-services-and-iphone-growth/

Improvements for the bundled calendar and contact apps, plus welcoming Fantastical to the Windows platform. ($56.99 annual subscription new, free update, 67.2/30.1 MB, macOS 12+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/fantastical-4-0-cardhop-2-3-2/

Maintenance update with improvements for the time and productivity tracking app. ($108/$132/$192 annual subscriptions, free update, 26.8 MB, macOS 10.15+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/timing-2024-5/

Web browser gains a couple of macOS-specific improvements. (Free, 153.2 MB, macOS 10.15+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/firefox-132/

With the release of new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models based on the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Apple has addressed every niggling annoyance in the previous generation—these are glori...

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/30/new-macbook-pros-gain-m4-chips-12mp-center-stage-camera-and-thunderbolt-5/

Apple’s new Mac mini models pack more power than ever into a case that has a smaller footprint but a taller profile than previous versions. The M4 Pro Mac mini also introduces the first Thunder...

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/29/smaller-mac-mini-powered-by-m4-and-m4-pro-chips/

Apple’s latest 24-inch iMac introduces the powerful M4 chip and enhances the user experience with a nano-texture glass option and a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera.

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/28/new-24-inch-imac-upgraded-with-m4-chip/

Apple has rolled out Apple Intelligence for compatible devices with macOS 15.1, iOS 18.1, and iPadOS 18.1, introducing new enhancements in Siri, Photos, Mail, and more. Adam Engst shares an overv...

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/28/apple-intelligence-arrives-in-macos-15-1-sequoia-ios-18-1-and-ipados-18-1/

Brings a new subscription online backup option. ($59.88/$83.88/$119.88 annual subscription, free update, 3.2 MB, macOS 11+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/quicken-7-10/

Major new release for the automation and cleanup utility brings new additions, numerous improvements, and support for macOS 15 Sequoia. ($42 new, free update, 27.5 MB, macOS 12+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/hazel-6-0-1/

Brings redesigned user interface and a new Dashboard control center to the Web browser. (Free, 207.6 MB, macOS 11+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/vivaldi-7-0/

Solves audio-switching and latency issues that affected AirPods and Beats headphones. ($39 new, free update, 42 MB, macOS 14.5+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/soundsource-5-7-3/

Introduces the updated AI Companion 2.0. (Free, 129.9 MB, macOS 10.13+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/zoom-6-2-6/

Recent revelations of unauthorized location tracking by Babel Street expose privacy vulnerabilities for iPhone users. Adam Engst offers actionable strategies to reduce the likelihood of having yo...

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/27/protect-yourself-against-location-tracking-abuses/

Document and information manager updated with a grab bag of improvements and bug fixes. ($99 new, free update, 126.1 MB, macOS 11+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/devonthink-3-9-8/

Mac maintenance utility upgraded with redesigned user interface and new scanning features. ($39.95 annual subscription, free update for subscribers, macOS 11+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/cleanmymac-5-0/

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 a...

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/23/expose-reveals-ongoing-smartphone-location-tracking-threats/

eM Client has acquired the longtime email app Postbox and discontinued sales and development. While Postbox users can still use the app and receive support for several months, it’s time to star...

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/22/postbox-acquired-by-em-client-ends-development/

Adam Engst shows how you can access your Apple purchase history to uncover when and for how much you purchased apps and content, providing insights into your past Apple transactions.

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/22/how-to-determine-what-apps-and-content-youve-bought-from-apple/

This Mac utility can monitor your Internet connection’s stability with minimal resource use, helping you track and respond to outages.

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/21/appbits-online-check-reports-internet-outages/

Brings several improvements to the calendar app. ($49.99 new, free update, 65.2 MB, macOS 10.15+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/busycal-2024-4-1/

Jameson Lopp has tracked physical attacks involving cryptocurrency since 2014. The list is far from comprehensive due to underreporting, but shows that public knowledge of crypto ownership can le...

https://tidbits.com/2024/10/18/yet-another-reason-to-avoid-cryptocurrency-physical-attacks/

Introduces a new Excluded Applications list to help troubleshoot issues and incompatibilities. ($39 new, free update, 42 MB, macOS 14.5+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/soundsource-5-7-2/

Improves the Rewrite feature for the Copilot AI assistant to support fonts, lists, and original formatting. ($149.99 new for one-time purchase, $99.99/$69.99 annual subscription options, free upd...

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/microsoft-office-for-mac-16-90/

Improves Quick Look's display plain text items in Clipboard History to use a larger font size. ($29 new, free update, 14.5 MB, macOS 10.14.6+)

https://tidbits.com/watchlist/launchbar-6-20-1/