Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i MacLife

RESEARCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED an “unpatchable” vulnerability, dubbed GoFetch, in Apple’s M–series chips. The researchers say the problem cannot be patched directly because it is a fundamental design flaw in the micro–architecture of modern chips — including Intel’s 13th–generation Raptor Lake CPUs as well as Apple’s M–series family of processors. Such chips use data memory–dependent prefetchers (DMPs), which speed up operations by predicting the memory addresses that running code is likely to need next and pre–loading that data into the CPU cache. It turns out that in certain very specific circumstances, this can become a “side channel” revealing encryption keys (or parts of them) when the chips are running some widely used cryptographic protocols. Four such protocols are known to be vulnerable at this time, and more may be. The DMP…

Spotify and Apple Music are the two largest music streaming services in the world, attracting millions of listeners each day. For years, their parent companies have been locked in PR, political and legal battles. Essentially, Spotify thinks the iPhone–maker treats it unfairly and favors its own product. Apple says that Spotify has to play by the standard App Store rules. This includes paying Apple a 30% cut for payments made via the App Store and accepting that it has banned other forms of transactions. Spotify is classed as a reader app by Apple. This means that it is allowed to provide a link within the app that takes users to a website from where they can manage their account. But products like Spotify cannot show that it offers cheaper pricing…

Fix Bluetooth peripheral issues If your Bluetooth peripheral won’t connect to your Mac, turn it off and turn it on again. If that fails, click on the Bluetooth icon in your Mac’s menu bar, then click the peripheral name in question to see if you can connect it this way. If this doesn’t work, in the same menu, select Bluetooth Settings at the bottom. This opens System Settings, with Bluetooth already selected. Click on the “i” icon next to the device in question, and then click Forget This Device. Your Mac and the device are no longer paired. Pair it again (dig out its instructions if necessary). As your keyboard and Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse are likely Bluetooth peripherals, it’s a good idea to keep a cheap USB mouse…

REQUIRES Pixelmator Pro 3.5 Flare ($49.99, www.pixelmator.com/pro) YOU WILL LEARN How to edit and share images and clips in HDR format IT WILL TAKE 10 minutes TO CAPTURE MORE detail in shadows and highlights, your iPhone can shoot HDR (High Dynamic Range) images by automatically combining a series of rapidly shot exposures into a single Raw or JPEG image. This HDR format also produces photos boasting more color and tonal information than SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) images can. You can view and edit HDR shots within the Photos app on your iPhone’s Retina display but, thanks to the latest version of Pixelmator Pro, you can edit an iPhone – sourced HDR photo from the comfort of your Mac’s larger display (though older Macs may not support working in HDR). Pixelmator…

TECHNOLOGY IN THE computer industry tends to change so quickly that it’s often hard to keep up with all the latest developments. That’s not the case in other industries, though — it took almost a century for electric cars to provide an alternative to the gas–guzzling internal combustion engine. The somewhat stuffy hi–fi industry also tends to be quite resistant to change, using the same basic technology to produce headphones and speakers for almost 100 years (remember that a set of headphones is essentially a small pair of speakers that simply sit right over, or inside, your ears). Apple shook up the headphone market with the AirPods in 2016, creating an entirely new category of “true wireless” headphones. But while Bluetooth headphones allow you to cut the cord and listen to…

Find missing words in Spotlight search Why can’t Spotlight find words in the content of some of my PDF documents? PDF docs can contain two notional layers, the first containing images perhaps from printed pages that were originally scanned in, and a second containing laid–out text that might have been generated by OCR from those scanned images. Those created directly from Word and Pages normally only have the second layer, together with any images embedded in their text. Currently, when Spotlight indexes PDF documents, it only uses text from that second layer, where it’s present, and doesn’t try to perform on–the–fly OCR on any page images. It also faces the problem that both layers are intended to appear accurate visual representations of the document, rather than providing structured access to…

$99.99 From www.ikmultimedia.com Features USB–C audio and power, direct monitoring, aux input, Loopback internal mixing, bundled apps Needs macOS 10.6 or later, iOS device with USB–C port or Lightning via optional adapter ALONGSIDE ITS PRO audio gear, IK Multimedia produces a range of devices aimed at more regular consumers, like podcasters or those with home studios. The new iRig Stream Mic USB is compact, portable and well built, sitting on its own adjustable stand with an option to mount it on a boom or larger mic stand. The mic capsule is forward–facing, making it suitable for conventional voice or instrument recording. The mic has a 3.5mm stereo input to which you can connect a mixer, synthesizer or other device, and its signal will be mixed in to the output, with…

Archer Air R5 router $139.99, Archer Air E5 extender $119.99 From https://www.tp-link.com Features Wi–Fi 6, two Ethernet ports on R5 for cable or fiber connections, smart antennas THE MODERN HOME places far more demands on a domestic wireless network than before. Today, all sorts of devices demand internet access, such as tablets, televisions, games consoles, connected home gadgets and more. TP–Link’s AX3000 Archer Air R5 router and AX3000 Archer Air E5 extender answer these demands. The latest wireless protocol, 802.11ax, also known as Wi–Fi 6, is not only faster than previous standards but is also designed to cope with a greater number of simultaneous connections. By handling network traffic more efficiently, Wi–Fi 6 can give a reduction in latency of up to 75%. SEAMLESS NETWORKING The Archer Air R5 is fast.…

Andrew Cottle Art Editor Andy streams A LOT of indie rock on Spotify and is looking forward to reading about its scrap with Apple for audience and functionality over on p6. Rachel Terzian Production Editor Rachel is certainly wowed by what you can do with smart home tech (p52), yet she’s somehow just as enamored by a simple, yet satisfying app for making to–do lists (p69). David Crookes Contributor Just call him Rain Man; David has discovered an app that is designed to prevent him from getting wet when he’s outside. Check out if it works (p72).…

ONE OF THE reasons we love our Macs so much is they just work. In general, there’s no need to worry about clashing hardware, software compatibility, or a host of other irritations that plague users of other computers. You know exactly where you are with an Apple Mac. Yet this doesn’t mean they never give us problems. With a machine as complicated and advanced as a Mac, a few issues are bound to arise from time to time. Thankfully, they’re often simple — and inexpensive — to resolve. Mac problems are usually software issues, and can be fixed at home, without taking your computer to the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store. Likewise, problems with your files can be fixed quickly and easily, and if an individual file has…

Open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities. If you can’t start your Mac properly, use Recovery Mode. For silicon Macs, turn on and hold the power button until you see the startup options window. Click the gear icon labeled Options, then click Continue. For an Intel processor, turn on your Mac then press and hold Cmd+R until you see an Apple logo. Either way, you then enter your Password if asked, then from the Utilities window, select Disk Utility. Select the drive you want to check in the sidebar, then click First Aid in the Toolbar. In the window that pops up, select Run and the checks are made. If you’re offered a Repair Disk button, choose it and Disk Utility attempts to repair your drive. This might be as…

Free; full feature set $4.99/month; $19.99/year From www.rainbow.ai Needs iOS 15 or later RATHER THAN PROVIDE a detailed, all–encompassing forecast, this app primarily concentrates on the immediate likelihood of precipitation. It does so with the aid of advanced AI modeling that draws on a variety of data sources that includes meteorology stations, satellites, user reports and shared barometer information. You’re shown a hyperlocal forecast using an animated map. The passing of time displays on an advancing slider and you’re able to see any moving rain clouds to gain an idea of their size. The clouds’ color indicates the severity of the potential rain, with yellow being extreme (more than 30mm per hour) and light blue being drizzle. It’s an effective way of getting a speedy, at–a–glance view of upcoming weather…

$169.99 From https://us.soundcore.com Features Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC, LDAC; output — 40W; IPX7 water resistance; dimensions — 8.98 x 7.52 x 3.19 inches, 3.53lbs WE LIKED THE highly affordable Space One headphones that Soundcore released recently, and the company is now stepping into the speaker market with the Motion X500, which it describes as the “world’s most portable spatial audio speaker”. It’s certainly very compact and neatly designed. Available in a variety of colors, it’s sturdily built and has an IPX7 rating for water resistance. The X500 is a standard Bluetooth speaker, with support for Apple’s AAC codec, as well as LDAC for Android users. You can pair two X500 speakers via Bluetooth, but it’s a shame that it doesn’t also support AirPlay for streaming via Wi–Fi as well (as the…

THE UNITED STATES Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The DoJ lawsuit alleges that Apple illegally maintains a monopoly over smartphones by selectively imposing contractual restrictions on developers and “withholding critical access points” from them. It claims Apple undermines apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone, promote interoperability, and lower costs for consumers and developers. In particular, it accuses Apple of: > Blocking “innovative Super Apps” — apps with broad functionality that would make it easier for consumers to switch between competing platforms. > Suppressing cloud–streaming apps and services that would allow users to enjoy games or apps “without having to pay…

> iWORK APPS UPDATED Apple has released free updates to Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Alongside other enhancements in v14.0, you get new in–app notifications when a user joins a collaborative document, you can hold down the Command key to select noncontiguous words, sentences, or paragraphs, and the app will preserve quality when importing HEIC format photos taken on iPhone or iPad. > NEW SUPPORT PAGE A new page on Apple’s Support website makes it easier to find product manuals, guides, and other resources. Visit https://support.apple.com/docs and select a product or search for related documents and available downloads. > CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLED Apple has agreed to pay $490m to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that CEO Tim Cook deceived shareholders in an investor call…

ON TOP OF being an oft – insufferable Apple nerd, I am also a huge audiovisual nerd. I could talk in agonizing depth about the differences between the types of OLED TV screen, or what makes Dolby Atmos different from surround sound. One of the things I quietly appreciate about Apple is that it seems to be full of AV nerds too. Apple TV has long been a device for “enthusiasts”. You can buy streaming devices with many of the same features for less. But not ALL of the same features. You don’t get as high streaming quality for purchased movies, or future – proofed HDMI format switching for better 24fps movie support. Most people don’t care about those things, and Apple TV 4K is still a good product for…

Mac error codes We’ve all seen them. Those irritating error windows that pop up while you’re trying to do something on your Mac are never welcome, but if you know how to read them, they can tell you much about what’s gone wrong. Error code – 36, for example, occurs when copying files, and Error code – 500 means that there’s a problem with an App Store download. There’s a great article on error codes and what they mean at https://bit.ly/3xygau9. Force–quit a misbehaving app If an app has crashed with the spinning beachball, or simply isn’t behaving as it should, quit it and relaunch. If Cmd+Q doesn’t work (which is highly likely if it’s crashed), click the Apple icon in the top–left corner of your desktop window and select…

Store in iCloud If a file is stored on your iCloud Drive, you can access it using all of your Apple gear that’s signed in to your Apple account, and from any computer or mobile device with a web browser by logging into www.icloud.com and signing in. To access your iCloud Drive from your Mac, open a Finder window and click iCloud Drive in the sidebar. There are already folders in there, for apps such as Pages, Numbers and Keynote. You can also create new folders and drag files into and out of iCloud Drive just like any other Finder window. I can’t access a file If a document won’t open, it might be corrupted. If this is the case, you might have to delete it and obtain a working…

REQUIRES macOS Sonoma or later, Bartender 5 ($16, www.macbartender.com) YOU WILL LEARN How to use Bartender 5 to reorder and reorganize your menu bar IT WILL TAKE 10 minutes YOUR MAC’S MENU bar is a good place for apps to store icons providing quick access to their settings, but it can quickly fill up with macOS features and third–party apps. When that happens, your menu bar goes from ordered neatness to unruly bedlam, overflowing with tiny icons and with no way to hide them. The problem is compounded if your Mac has a notch, which can end up obscuring icons if they get pushed behind it. Enter the recently updated Bartender 5. The popular Mac app automatically hides surplus icons and shows them only when you choose to reveal them. Its…

REQUIRES ChatGPT (free, IAPs), iPadOS 16.1 or later YOU WILL LEARN How to use an AI chatbot to make life easier IT WILL TAKE 5 minutes ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) has taken the world by storm, and ChatGPT is the best example of the capabilities of an AI chatbot with seamless integration on iPad thanks to a well–built dedicated app. ChatGPT gives access to GPT–3.5, which is perfect for most everyday tasks, allowing you to do everything from creating a workout plan to finding you info on any topic in a matter of seconds. ChatGPT will change the way you use your iPad, allowing you to process tasks quicker than you can imagine or gain knowledge on the fly like never before. With an almost unlimited amount of capabilities, ChatGPT is…

What can replace a Time Capsule? What should I replace my two Time Capsules with, to store all the Time Machine backups for our four different Macs? Apple made its last Time Capsules in 2018 and even that late model is now approaching the end of its support period. At the very least both of yours should have their hard drives replaced before they fail, taking all your backups with them. There’s no direct replacement that integrates Wi–Fi with networked storage in the same way, so you’ll need to make separate provision for Wi–Fi if you don’t already. There’s a wide range of well–supported Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems if you really do need your backup storage to remain networked. Locally attached storage is invariably quicker, cheaper and simpler to…

WHAT CAN YOU do to bring an old Mac back to life? Can you make it useful again? If the hard drive is failing, or maybe just too small, you can boot your computer from an external drive. Older Macs might have user–serviceable storage or memory, so you can give your ageing machine a boost this way. What files and data do you have on your old Mac? Have a root around. Could it be hosting photos and videos from a near–forgotten vacation or event, precious pictures that really bring back some memories? There could be documents you put together for a since–abandoned work project. Could your efforts be revisited, rekindled and renewed for something in the future? And what about those MP3s of your old college band? You never…

$149.99 From https://us.creative.com Features Bluetooth 5.3, AAC, aptX Lossless; wireless charging case; IPX5 water resistant THEY SAY THAT “the only constant in life is change”, and that’s certainly true when it comes to digital technology. However, some technologies can be a little more resistant to change, and devices such as headphones and speakers have been using essentially the same tech for many years. Just recently, though, new technology has come along that could give the audio industry a bit of a shake–up. The technology is called MEMS — micro–electro–mechanical systems — and rather than designing traditional headphones with “dynamic drivers” that contain copper wires, magnets and other components, this new technology creates the entire driver out of silicon, just like modern computer chips. (Find out more on page 44.) The MEMS…

ALSO INSIDE… ISSUE 220 21 MAY on sale 2024 Shoot and edit your own movie masterpiece Grab your iPhone and get ready to turn those clips into slick movies, with our expert shooting and editing tips The best Apple Watch apps to upgrade your wrist Enhance the capabilities of your Apple Watch and improve your health, fitness, audio, and organization Contents subject to change …and much more…