Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2020 i Essential Apple User Magazine

* BDM’s Essential AppleUser Magazine usually costs £2.99 per issue, but a twelve-month subscription normally £35.88 is only £19.99, saving you £15.89! But that’s not all. You also get a six-month subscription to Setapp which at the usual price of $9.99 a month, would cost you $59.94. That’s around £48 at current exchange rates. So for a mere £19.99, you get magazines and software worth almost £85. That’s almost a whopping £65 discount. Wowzers! PLEASE NOTE: Prices, details and discounts may change based on digital magazine provider and application suppliers. How to Subscribe: To subscribe to BDM’s Essential AppleUser Magazine, tap one of the buttons at the foot of this page and follow the instructions. When you’ve paid, you get a receipt saying you’ve subscribed. Send this receipt to appleusersubs@bdmpublications.com…

There are several ways you can send us your letters. You can tweet it, send us a Facebook message, drop us a line on our web page, email the editor or write it out and send it by post. And don’t forget, our Star Letter wins a prize. Mouse Trap? After using various notebook Macs for years, I have just invested in my first desktop model, an iMac. I love it, with one exception. I just can’t get on with the Magic Mouse. After using a trackpad for so long, I can’t get used to dragging a mouse across a desk, and its gesture support is nowhere near as good as a trackpad’s. Is Apple’s Magic Trackpad any good, and should I get one? It’s a lot of money to…

You can send us your technical troubles and perplexing problems in many different ways. You can tweet it, send us a Facebook message, drop us a line on our web page, email the editor or even write it out and send it by post. Yes, some people do still use snail mail. Distributed Computing Q: Is it possible to get several Macs to work in some form of distributed computing setup? We have a number of very large images and animations to render, and to take time on a large cluster is too costly as time is limited. We do, however, have ten Macs available. So could we connect them all together, run some software (?) and they can share processing power to render the videos better than a single,…

Anyone who uses a computer, a smartphone or a tablet will need to create a password at some point. But are your passwords strong enough? It can be tempting to use the same or similar passwords for several different websites or apps. This can be a bad idea, particularly if your chosen password is something easy to guess, such as your name or date of birth. Here are a few tips to consider when creating passwords: 1. Make Every Online Password Unique Having a unique password for each website or app you're required to log in to is an excellent idea, particularly for things like email and online banking. Although security on a banking website is likely to be very good, if you use the same password on a website…

I t’s been a long time coming, but now it’s here. Apple’s latest 2019 Mac Pro abandons the unpopular 'drum' design used in the previous generation of the highend Mac and returns to a tower system. But it’s no blast from the past. The new Mac Pro is smaller and tighter than the old Pro towers, and it’s packed with some of the best technology in computing. It’s the most powerful Mac ever built. The new Mac Pro is highly configurable. There’s only one configuration available off the shelf, but you can customise just about every part of it if you order online at the Apple Store. It offers up to 28 cores of processing power, eight PCI Express expansion slots, an option for Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics…

It’s amazing how far notebooks have come over the years. Once a useful supplement to a desktop computer, they’ve long since grown sufficiently powerful to replace their desk-bound stable mates for all but the most high-needs user. And with the late 2019 MacBook Pro’s substantial leap in power, even extremely demanding Mac aficionados should find this notebook more than capable of meeting their requirements. Let’s start with the display. With the late 2019 release, Apple has given us an extra inch of screen space over the 15-inch models they replace, but without adding too much to the notebook’s footprint. The new Pro is 14.09 inches wide, 9.68 deep and 0.64 inches thick, up from 13.75/9.48/0.61 inches. Not a massive increase. It hasn’t gained much weight either, being 4.3 pounds, up…

These cabled earbuds are made with mobile gaming in mind. They feature vibration effects, a removable mic that plugs into the left earbud and an optional extension with two 3.5mm jacks so you can use them with devices that require dual inputs. Although primarily intended for mobile games with voice chat facilities, you can use them with your computer or home console too. Despite the size of the earbud units, they feel very comfortable in the ears. They look good too. There’s onboard controls for volume, pause, taking calls, skipping tracks and Siri, and a second mic in the control unit is used for phone calls when the main boom mic is not connected. When listening to music, the sound stage is crisp and lively, but not quite as expansive…

These days, you can never have too many USB device chargers. Macally’s Nightstand LED Light gives you four of them, set into the base of this handy lamp. A useful addition to your bedside table, the light has three levels of brightness; simply tap the metal ring atop the device to turn it on and advance through dim, medium and bright light, then again to turn it off. Much easier than feeling around in the dark for a physical switch. The lamp is white, with a false wood design at the base. It plugs into the mains to power both the lamp and the chargers. It’s well designed, if a little cheap looking, and its four USB ports will undoubtedly come in handy when you need to charge several devices…

iXpand Flash Drive URL: www.westerndigital.com Price: From £29.99, $22.99, 33.99€ iXpand Flash Drive is the easy way to free up space on your iPad or iPhone. With a USB 3 plug on one end and a Lightning connector on the other, it can automatically back up your camera roll, play videos directly from the drive and encrypt your files for added security. Moshi World Travel Adapter with USB-C Port URL: https://www.moshi.com Price: £54.49, $55, 59,95 € This useful travel adapter is compact, convenient and lets you power up in over 150 countries. The AC socket is perfect for charging your laptop, while a USB-C port and 4 USB-A ports recharge your phone, iPad and much more. Pocketalk Voice Translator URL: https://www.pocketalk.net Price: £219, $249, 249 € If you regularly travel,…

What a radical overhaul. If you already have Luminar 3, you’ll find the fourth iteration of this popular photo-editor a very different beast, but thanks to a user-friendly interface and useful video tutorials it won’t take you long to get up to speed. Luminar 4 can be used as a stand-alone app or a plug-in for existing editors such as Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Apple Photos or Apple Aperture. New features include Sky Replacement, Skin and Portrait Enhancers, Smart Contrast and a Structure feature that boosts detail without damaging the rest of the photo. The most important new additions are Skylum’s artificial intelligence-based tools, built on its machine learning technology. One such tool is Sky Replacement. It’s simple to use. The software identifies the sky in your photo, including all…

Did you know you could lay out and order books, calendars and cards, made from your own photographs, directly from the Photos app? Just download the free Motif app for iPhone, iPad or Mac and design away. It’s easy to use; you can choose from over 80 professional design templates to start you off, and it even selects your best photos for you. For more information, visit Motif’s website at www.motifphotos.com. Thanks to the folks at Motif, we have an exclusive offer for you. Save 20% on your order, with free standard shipping, by using the code MacManualMotif at the online checkout when you order. It’s as simple as that! You have until 29th February 2020 to take advantage of this offer, so don’t delay. 20% Off Code MacManualMotif…

Let’s start with the positives, of which there are many. This game really does feel like Mario Kart. The touchscreen controls are initially a little awkward, but with some practice become instinctive and responsive. Much like Mario Run, the concept for the game is the ability to play one handed, hence the seemingly ill-fitting portrait viewpoint. Again, like the controls, within a few plays this vertical camera view becomes less and less obtrusive, even feeling familiar and ultimately fresh. Mario Kart Tour follows the traditions of the core game well. The comic style power-up-based racing instantly catches your attention and locks on. Amiably backing up the core play style is a solid mix of drivers, karts, and tracks, with an online multiplayer mode still to come. Essentially this is Mario…

* BDM’s Essential AppleUser Magazine usually costs £2.99 per issue, but a twelve-month subscription normally £35.88 is only £19.99, saving you £15.89! But that’s not all. You also get a six-month subscription to Setapp which at the usual price of $9.99 a month, would cost you $59.94. That’s around £48 at current exchange rates. So for a mere £19.99, you get magazines and software worth almost £85. That’s almost a whopping £65 discount. Wowzers! PLEASE NOTE: Prices, details and discounts may change based on digital magazine provider and application suppliers. How to Subscribe: To subscribe to BDM’s Essential AppleUser Magazine, tap one of the buttons at the foot of this page and follow the instructions. When you’ve paid, you get a receipt saying you’ve subscribed. Send this receipt to appleusersubs@bdmpublications.com…

James Gale Managing Editor To finally pick between light and dark mode and stick with it! I change my mind on which I like best more than Ian changes his socks! Martin Smith Group Senior Designer To try properly streamlining my use of Dropbox and storing less on external drives that fill up Time Machine back-ups so quickly. Bob Canning Staff Writer I'll buy no more video games until I've completed the pile on my desk first. Will I keep it? I doubt it. I didn't last year or the year before that… Alison Drew Sub Editor To manage my online security better and change passwords regularly, using iCloud Keychain across all my devices. Ian Osborne Editor I'm going to upgrade my iPad. Finally. I've promised myself a new one…

Geoff via Twitter Editor Says: We've heard that rumour too, but as Apple hardly ever releases information on products that are still in development, we’ve no reliable information and can but guess whether it’s true. We can see it happening for a lower-priced iPhone, where Bluetooth headphone connectivity and QI charging seem quite sufficient for most users. We doubt it will happen in a pro-level iPhone, which is used by audio professionals and music creators who couldn't tolerate the lag you get with wireless connections.…

Computing is fun, but it’s not without its hazards. The Internet sometimes seems like a breeding ground for nasty things that can ruin your day (and your computer) such as viruses, malware, ransomware, trojans and worms. We must learn to recognise and avoid online threats while discovering simple ways to avoid them or fix things before the damage is done. Let’s take a look at the main threats online and what we can all do to make sure we don't fall foul of them. Installing a VPN on your iPhone Viruses are bits of malicious code that hide within software or electronic files, waiting to be unknowingly installed onto a computer. The aim of a virus is not always obvious and not always the same. Some viruses are created and…

The number of public places where free Wi-Fi is available has exploded in the last few years. From airports and shopping centres to coffee shops and restaurants, there are few places where you can't now find a wireless connection for your phone, tablet or laptop. And while this is great for those of us that want/need to stay connected day and night, accessing Wi-Fi in a public place does bring with it some dangers you won't generally encounter on your home network. What Makes Public Wi-Fi Unsafe? Let us start by saying that not all public Wi-Fi is equally unsafe. A coffee shop that has a new Wi-Fi password chalked up on the board every day is probably safer to use than a cafe where the password has been the…

“A reliable VPN, such as NordVPN, reroutes your Internet data through an encrypted virtual tunnel.”…

Instead of fitting directly into your ear while the cables dangle underneath, Shure’s SE215 earbuds loop the cable over the ear and let the body of the buds rest in it. The body of the device clips neatly onto your shirt, and it has controls on the right-hand cable. It’s a little awkward at first, but when in place, it makes for a comfortable fit and a decent degree of sound isolation. The sound quality is excellent, as you’d expect from Shure. The balance is just right, with a rich bass underpinning a detailed mid-section and well realised vocals. A common criticism of Shure audio devices is they can be a little clinical and lacking in warmth. This is certainly not the case here. Your music loses none of its…

YubiKey 5Ci is an encrypted dongle that provides two-factor authentication for web services. In a nutshell, this means you have to plug it into your Mac or mobile device in order to log on. Even if a hacker breaks or steals your password, they still can’t get in without also connecting your dongle. It has a Lightning connector on one end for iPhones and iPads, and a USB-C plug on the other for Macs that have this facility. It’s not yet compatible with iPads that use USB-C and it’s not compatible with all sites and apps. For example, you can’t use it with the mobile version of Safari; you need to switch to a browser such as Brave. It’s compatible with several password management apps, such as 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane…

Executive Leather Laptop Briefcase URL: https://www.sfbags.com Price: £345, $449, 399,50 € If you’re looking for a bag for your new 16-inch MacBook Pro, this one from WaterField Designs blends the look of an old-world briefcase with the modern functionality professionals need in this digital age. The Executive Leather Laptop Briefcase is crafted from a single full-grain American bison or cowhide for a consistent tone within each unique bag. Leather Sleeve for 16‑inch MacBook Pro URL: www.apple.com Price: £199, $199, 219€ After spending a small fortune on your new 16-inch MacBook Pro, you need a really good laptop case to keep it in. This beautiful sleeve, crafted from high-quality French leather with a soft microfibre lining, costs a small fortune too but it’s the last word in style. iVisor for MacBook…

WiWhen it comes to communication, the faster your merry missives are delivered, the better, right? Not according to this highly original social media app. The idea behind Slowly is to encourage more extended writing by introducing a delay into the conversation. Your messages take time to be delivered; the further they travel, the longer they take to get there. As a result, instead of the more conversational interactions made possible by Twitter, Messages and Facebook Messenger, a Slowly message is more like an electronic letter to a pen friend. As you know you're not getting an instant reply, you set down everything you want to say in one go instead of as a series of soundbites. After entering your birthdate, sex and nickname, you make an avatar (options for this…

Over the next few pages we look at the very best games we have had the pleasure to play on mobile and desktop devices in 2019. From battling dragons and hi-octane first-person shooters to retro classics reborn and naughty geese, 2019 has been a fantastic year for gamers. Do you agree with our top games, is there one or two you think we have missed? Or send us your top tens and we could put together a reader’s game of the year too. Let us know by emailing us at iosmag@bdmpublications.com or catching us on our socials Twitter @BDMpubs and Facebook BDM Publications We will look forward to hearing from you.…

Wow – James Gale was extremely harsh on Apple TV+, wasn’t he? I’m a subscriber (I got a free year when I bought my iPhone a month or so ago), and while I think he’s right about there not being much in the way of content at the moment, I can’t help feeling he’s being a little near-sighted. OK, there’s not much on there, but what there is consists of wholly original content of a very high quality indeed. Surely that’s worth a fiver a month of anyone’s money? William Addison, Middlesborough, Cleveland. Editor Says: James was clear that the content is high quality, but with so little there at the moment, is the service worth sticking with for the long haul? Remember, Apple TV+ is a new frontier for…

How Will You Know? You may hear about a big data breach in the news, or from friends and colleagues, and if the company hacked is one you have accounts with, it is worth following all of the steps below just in case. Often, the first you will know about being hacked is a call from your credit card company or bank about unusual activity, or from friends/relatives suddenly receiving strange requests for money from you. Many of the large email providers, such as Gmail, will alert you if there is a new login to your account from an unrecognised location or device. Or you may simply find that you have been logged out of an account and your password is no longer working. The most important thing is not…

Essentially, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a server or group of servers in a remote location that you can connect to through a client. The VPN servers then hide your Internet-bound IP address with their own, so if you connected to a VPN that’s located in Australia then your IP address would be as if you were actually sat at a desktop down under. The benefits of this are many but mainly a VPN will allow you to access region restricted websites, protect you from tracking and shield your browsing activities from those who want to find out where you are personally based. Obviously there comes a negative side, in the form of being able to access content that your country has deemed illegal for some reason but on…

“…besides providing users with protection from online hackers, a VPN itself is a safe connection to use” Q: What is a VPN, and what does it do? A: A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, a connection method used to add security and privacy to private and public networks such as Wi-Fi Hotspots and the Internet. A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your device, such as Mac, and a VPN server. Once you connect to a VPN, it encrypts your Internet traffic and protects your data from hackers. Your online activity becomes invisible to third parties. Q: Why do we need a VPN? A: A reliable VPN, such as NordVPN, reroutes your Internet data through an encrypted virtual tunnel. Thus, it provides Internet users with security while accessing social…

MacBook Pro 16" Has the MacBook Pro come of age at last? Power and performance like never before in a laptop! Fabulous Photo Offer! See Page 63 for details Device Guide While most of our reviews cover most devices, we have added these icons to give you a quick reference to what device is best suited for the product or software. Scores// Our ratings explained: 5 - excellent 4 - good 3 - average 2 - poor 1 - avoid…

What an awesome set of earbuds. They’re for far more than just music. In fact the Jabra Evolve 65t is aimed at business professionals who spend most of their time on the go, taking phone calls and teleconferencing as well as listening to their tunes on the train or in their hotel room. With its four-microphone technology, phone calls are crystal clear. It sounds like the other person is sitting right next to you. They’re great for video chat with Skype or FaceTime too. They’re good for five hours on a single charge, with two full charges in the case. Naturally, these true wireless earbuds are Bluetooth-paired, but they also come with a USB dongle for your Mac or PC, so all you have to do to switch from your…

Bluetooth headphones and earbuds are fabulous. You can listen to your music anywhere, without being hampered by annoying cables. But not every audio player has Bluetooth; this is where AirFly comes in. A small dongle that comfortably fits in the palm of your hand, it connects to the headphone socket of a non-Bluetooth device, from where it acts as a wireless transmitter. Just pair your headphones or earbuds with AirFly, and you can use them with anything that plays audio. Its onboard battery gives up to 16 hours of life on a single charge. The new AirFly Pro brings several new features. For the first time, you can pair two sets of headphones so that you can listen in with a friend; Just the thing for watching TV, for example.…

Here’s a wireless charger with a difference. Install the iXpand Charger App and as well as charging your iPhone it also backs up your photos, videos and contacts. It’s available in 128GB and 256GB capacities, so there’s plenty of space for your snaps, and it isn't much more expensive than a regular QI charger. Obviously, it only works with iPhones that can charge wirelessly, but as it’s QI certified, you can charge your AirPods or other QI-compatible devices too. After Bluetooth pairing the charger with your phone and connecting it to your local network, it’s simple to use; just place your phone on the pad and, as long as the battery is at 20% or more, it backs up your data. If you want to share the charger with more…

Slidepad is basically a web browser that sits off the desktop until you drag your mouse pointer to a user-defined edge of the screen. It can be as large or as small as you like, and when you’re done with it, you click an icon to hide it again. You can add as many ‘spaces’ as you like to the Slidepad window, either from the app’s list of popular web apps or by entering a URL. The advantages are clear. If you use services such as Gmail, Microsoft OneNote or One Drive, Google Calendar, Evernote and more, you can have them at your fingertips in a single mouse click. Or you could keep your social media and entertainment apps, such as Facebook, Netflix, Messenger and Readly on Slidepad, out of…

There’s more to this child safety app than you might think. At first glance, it’s an electronic diary that lets your offspring record their moods and emotions; functional, but unremarkable, you could say. But Own It’s real strength is its keyboard, which can be used across any iPhone or iPad app that requires one. Not only is it packed with emoji, gifs and other fun stuff, but it also recognises signs of cyberbullying, depression and more. If you type something threatening or offensive, you’re urged to reconsider. Enter personal details and you’re asked if you trust the person you’re messaging. If you seem to be having problems, you’re shown where to get help. Machine learning technology at the heart of the app analyses what’s being said, and learns the owner’s…

If you like headphones that do an excellent job of reproducing your music without over-processing it, AIWA’s Arc-1 Headphones are for you. They hardly process the sound at all, so what you get is a very balanced, detailed and comprehensive sound stage that doesn’t emphasise one aspect over another. They support various high-definition codecs too, so if you prefer less compressed digital music, you get a wonderfully clear sound. Where most headphones use a one-piece, non-rigid speaker cone, the Arc-1 incorporates a two-piece, stiff biocellulose composite speaker cone with a flexible surround, further boosting the sound quality. They're Bluetooth and you can pair two devices, just the thing for your Mac and your iPhone. There’s also a 3.5mm cable supplied so that you can use them as cabled headphones with…