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Adam Engst 10 comments

How to Identify iPhone Apps That May Contain Location-Tracking Ads

Adam Engst explains how to determine whether any apps on your iPhone may have been unintentionally sharing your location with data brokers by relying on ads from the real-time bidding ecosystem.

Adam Engst No comments

Apple Updates Keep Malicious Web Content in the Sandbox

Apple has released operating system updates to address a serious WebKit vulnerability that surfaced 14 months ago. The latest version of this vulnerability also affects Google Chrome.

Adam Engst 20 comments

Apple Delays “More Personalized” Siri

In a rare move, Apple said it is delaying enhanced Siri features that would have offered awareness of personal context and the capability to perform complex actions across apps. Adam Engst argues that Apple should instead prioritize ensuring Siri works more reliably and consistently across devices.

Glenn Fleishman No comments

Apple Aims to Boost Child Privacy with New Age-Related Controls

Upcoming changes from Apple will give parents greater control over what children with Child Accounts in a Family Sharing group can access while reducing the potential for disclosure of kids’ birthdates or other private data to developers. The company is trying to balance child safety, parental control, and new government age-verification requirements. 

Adam Engst 19 comments

Apple Updates Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips

Apple has updated the Mac Studio for the first time since 2023, replacing the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra. The new models offer significant performance gains, increase maximum memory from 192 GB to 512 GB, boost storage limits from 8 TB to 16 TB, and add Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.

Adam Engst 22 comments

M4 MacBook Air Cuts Price, Boosts Performance, Camera, and Display Support

Apple has unveiled the M4 MacBook Air, featuring a more powerful M4 chip, a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, true dual-display support, and a lower price. Adam Engst explains how it sets a new standard for Apple’s lightweight laptop.

Adam Engst 2 comments

Apple Speed Bumps iPads: iPad Air Goes M3, iPad Gets an A16

Apple’s latest iPad updates focus on processor upgrades. The iPad Air moves from the M2 chip to the M3 and receives a redesigned Magic Keyboard, while the base iPad jumps from the A14 Bionic to the A16 and doubles its starting storage to 128 GB.

Adam Engst 2 comments

AppBITS: Visualize Clicks and Keystrokes with KeyCastr

Struggling to make your software demos clear? KeyCastr, a free, open-source utility, displays your keyboard shortcuts and highlights mouse clicks with customizable visuals, making it easier for viewers to follow along during presentations.

Adam Engst No comments

Listen Later Returns as TidBITS Sponsor

Please welcome Listen Later, our latest long-term TidBITS sponsor. Listen Later converts any text into an episode of a personalized podcast feed, making the service ideal for catching up on your reading while commuting, exercising, or doing chores.

Adam Engst 80 comments

Microsoft to Shut Down Skype in May

After years of dwindling relevance, Skype will finally shut down in May 2025. Microsoft is directing users to Microsoft Teams, although it remains unclear if Teams will provide all of Skype's calling features.

Adam Engst 11 comments

I Don’t Understand Quantum Computing Either

Amidst fantastical announcements from tech giants about quantum breakthroughs, Adam Engst explores his struggle to grasp quantum computing. It’s hard not to view quantum computing claims as teetering on the edge of science fiction.

Adam Engst 15 comments

Comparing Audio Transcription in Notes, Audio Hijack, and MacWhisper

Wondering which transcription tool works best? Adam Engst tests Notes, Audio Hijack, and MacWhisper against an NPR podcast, discovering accuracy differences, platform variations, and key features to help you choose the right solution.

Adam Engst 3 comments

ProVUE Celebrates 40 Years Since Exhibiting at the First Macworld Expo

Congratulations to Jim Rea of ProVUE, who is celebrating the 40th anniversary of exhibiting his database OverVUE (which has evolved into today’s Panorama X) at the very first Macworld Expo.

Glenn Fleishman 56 comments

Tailscale Gives You Remote Access to Your LAN from Anywhere

Remember Back to My Mac, which let you access your network from afar? There’s a new game in town. Tailscale creates a secure virtual LAN for your devices that lets you access your own resources and share that access with groups, working around NAT connections that often make inbound connections fragile, erratic, or impossible.

Glenn Fleishman 79 comments

Apple Disables Advanced Data Protection in the UK

The United Kingdom has secretly demanded that Apple enable backdoor access to all iCloud data stored by any user worldwide. In apparent response, Apple has disabled its higher-grade iCloud protection for UK users, although it is illegal for the company to admit that.