Apple news, tips, tricks, thoughts, and opinions.
I Finally Bought the AirPods Max. Here’s Why.
I once said that justifying purchases was my superpower, and never has that been more true than with my latest splurge. After months of saying I didn’t need them, I was finally able to justify the purchase of a pair of Space Gray AirPods Max. Here are my top reasons.
The New Apple TV Siri Remote: An Instant Upgrade
Today was a big day for us Apple nerds as a slew of new products started making their way to early adopters: The M1 iMac, M1 iPads Pro, and the refreshed Apple TV 4K. They’re all pretty exciting in their own right, but while a regular consumer would need a pretty good reason to purchase any of them, there’s one new product that makes for an easy no-brainer upgrade for a lot of Apple customers: the redesigned Apple TV Siri Remote.
HomePod Home Theater
I’ll come right out and say it: I love the HomePod. Sure, it was expensive and Siri isn’t quite as good at answering questions as Google’s Assistant, but when considering the overall package, there isn’t another smart speaker on the market that can compete with the HomePod. It’s incredibly easy to set up, it does a great job controlling smart home devices, its microphone can hear your commands from freaky distances, and it sounds incredible, especially when two of them are set up as a stereo pair.
The new iMac: Who’s it for?
The rumors were true. Last week, Apple announced the first complete redesign of the iMac since roughly 2009 (or 2007, depending on who’s counting). As with most new Mac announcements, you might be wondering if this is a good time to upgrade or if you should keep waiting for the next thing.
Spring has sprung - Apple announces April event
You can usually count on Apple to release new products in March each year, either through a full-fledged event or, at the very least, a press release. March 2021 brought no such announcements, and I started to worry that we might have to wait until summer for anything new. Thankfully, Apple finally announced their “Spring Loaded” event, which will take place on April 20th. Here’s a quick rundown of what we should expect to see.
60-Something Days With the M1 MacBook Air
I’ve posted a bit of information about the new M1 Macs but I hadn’t yet shared my own personal experience. My M1 MacBook Air arrived the day after Thanksgiving, so I’ve had just about 2 months with it. Now that the honeymoon phase is over, here are my impressions.
M1-Based Macs Have New Startup Modes: Here’s What You Need to Know
For many years, Macs have relied on sets of keys held at startup to enable specific modes, but that’s all changed with the new M1 Macs.
5 New Year’s Resolutions That Will Improve Your Digital Security
For many of us, the start of a new year is an opportunity to reflect on fresh habits we’d like to adopt. Get enough sleep, eat healthy, exercise…things you’ll try for a few days and almost certainly quit. Rather than spin your wheels with the typical resolutions, why not make more of an effort to improve your digital security? Here are a few tips.
Flash Is Dead—Uninstall Flash Player to Keep Your Mac Secure
Since Adobe will no longer be addressing security vulnerabilities in Flash with updates, I strongly recommend uninstalling it from your Mac.
PSA: No, hackers can’t take over your iPhone...anymore
There’s a story going around about google researchers finding a flaw in iOS that would allow someone to take over and control your iPhone through its WiFi connection with very little effort. It’s easy clickbait, but here’s why it’s not something you should worry about.
What is MDM and Why Is It Useful for Organizations?
For anyone who manages a team or runs their own business, regardless of size, you know how much effort goes into managing technology. The solution is MDM, or mobile device management.
Apple Unveils New M1-Powered MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini
Continuing its pandemic-driven approach of short, focused announcements, Apple once again took to the Internet to stream its “One More Thing” event. On center stage this time was the Mac, or specifically, three Macs, all of which replace the longstanding Intel chip with Apple’s new M1 chip.
The Best Apple-Related Gifts for 2020
Not sure if you noticed, but 2020 is almost over…which means it’s time to start buying gifts for everyone you love and maybe a few people you just kinda like. Considering the effect the pandemic has had on fulfillment, distribution, and delivery systems, I recommend you start thinking about your holiday gift-giving sooner rather than later.
New Back Tap Feature in iOS 14 Provides Two Customizable Shortcuts
We all have things we do regularly on our iPhones, and Apple has long provided ways of making your most common actions easier to access. With iOS 14, Apple has opened up a new and customizable way of triggering actions: Back Tap.
Apple One is now available, but you shouldn’t subscribe yet
Apple’s new services bundle is live and is offering a 30 day free trial. If you’re interested in any of the included services, it ends up being a great value, but now is not the right time to sign up. Here’s why.
iPhone 12 Pro Impressions
Now that I’ve had a full weekend with the iPhone 12 Pro, I thought I’d offer some of my initial thoughts and impressions. Let’s dive right in.
Don’t upgrade your iPhone just for 5G
Apple held its third virtual event of 2020 today, announcing the iPhone 12 series along with some other goodies. One of the marquis features of the new iPhones is 5G connectivity, but as this article from The Verge correctly points out, 5G shouldn’t be enough to convince you to upgrade to a new phone.
iPhone 12 is here!
Apple announced the new iPhone 12 lineup at today’s “Hi, Speed” virtual event. If you’re considering upgrading your iPhone, here’s a roundup of what’s new.
New iPad Air vs. 11-inch iPad Pro. Which should I buy?
I’ve heard from a few people who are confused by the latest iPad Air update and how it encroaches on the 11-inch iPad Pro’s territory. Why would anyone buy the more expensive Pro when the Air seems to be so similar and less expensive? If you’re in the market for a powerful and compact tablet but aren’t sure which way to go, I can help you decide.