Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i Macworld

MacOS Sonoma is here and it brings a bunch of new features, such as desktop widgets, a new Lock Screen, Game Mode, pet recognition in Photos, Mail updates, and a lot more. However, several features that Apple showcased at WWDC this past June won’t be available in the first release of Sonoma. As is the case for iOS 17, some features won’t be available until a future update later this year or in early 2024. Here’s a list of features to look forward to in macOS Sonoma. APPLE MUSIC macOS Sonoma has plenty of Desktop Widgets you can use, but the Music widget isn’t available yet. It allows users to control playback from the Music app, as well as show a dynamic list of the top charts and recommendations. Other Music…

Intel has just announced Thunderbolt 5, a new update to the Thunderbolt specification that doubles the bidirectional bandwidth to 80 Gbps (Thunderbolt 4 supports up to 40 Gbps). A feature called Bandwidth Boost provides up to 120 Gbps for video content. The standard is built on USB4 V2, DisplayPort 2.1, and PCI Express Gen 4 and is fully compatible with previous Thunderbolt versions. This performance is achieved using a new signaling technology called PAM-3, which should enable today’s printed circuit boards and passive cables (up to 1 meter) to achieve this performance. Apple includes Thunderbolt 4 connectors on many Mac computers and the iPad Pro, and it’s expected that future models will support Thunderbolt 5. Intel’s press release says, “Computers and accessories based on Intel’s Thunderbolt 5 controller, code-named Barlow…

iOS 17 has arrived, and one of its coolest new features is the Contact Poster. It’s a large-screen visual you can customize—similar to your Lock Screen—that displays on other iPhone users’ screens when you call them or when they display your contact information. Apple’s making it easy to share it with others…you can swap Contact Posters just by holding the top of your iPhone next to someone else’s for a few seconds using Apple’s NameDrop feature. But first, you’ll need to get started by making your Contact Poster look just the way you want. Here’s how. 1. OPEN YOUR CONTACT CARD First, you need to open your Contact Card. There are several ways to do this—including tapping on the Contacts tab in the Phone app or opening the Contacts app.…

Many of us have bought wholeheartedly into the Apple ecosystem, with Mac computer, iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch. That can lead to a lot of different chargers and cables to keep under control on our desk, bedside table or backpack. A charging station that can power more than one Apple device is the taming solution to this mess of multiple chargers. We’ve reviewed the best iPhone chargers and best Apple Watch chargers, but some can tackle the charging demands of both, and handle an AirPods charging case and even a second phone at the same time. Twelve South makes some high-quality, stylish Apple accessories, and its HiRise 3 Deluxe is another premium hit. It is fully Apple certified, so can fast-charge any MagSafe iPhone (iPhone 12, 13, 14, or 15…

At WWDC 2023, Apple announced the watchOS 10 software update, which brings a complete rethinking of how we use and interact with the Apple Watch. A leak ahead of the event claimed the company was redesigning the famous Grid View of apps, but that didn’t happen. However, other fundamental aspects of the interface have received major revamps. “With watchOS 10, we’ve redesigned the interface, allowing users to experience Apple Watch like never before,” said Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design. The most striking change is the introduction of the new Smart Stack, a collection of widgets accessible from any watch face (with a turn of the Digital Crown) that adjusts the information presented to the user based on the context: weather information at the start of the day, for…

The ability to create a web app has been a feature in iOS and iPadOS for years and it’s finally coming to macOS with the release of Sonoma. While most Mac users work in dedicated macOS apps, it’s not unusual to use a web app, and the new ability to create a standalone web app can help users navigate software more efficiently. What is a “web app” in the first place? Basically, it’s software that is using web-based tech—most people just call them “websites.” If you’ve ever used a social network in a browser, you’re using a web app. Other web apps include services (Uber, DoorDash), stores (Amazon), any of Google’s services, or even iCloud.com. Web-based tools such as Microsoft Office 365 or Adobe Creative Cloud are more familiar as…

Out of the box, the $130 PreSonus HD10BT Bluetooth headphone with active noise cancellation (ANC) impressed me with both its styling and its solid feel. I also appreciated its relatively flat frequency reproduction, which makes this headphone a better choice for home A/V studio use than many consumer cans. On the other hand, PreSonus’ otherwise effective noise-cancellation tech appreciably alters the HD10BT’s sound, and there’s no app you can use to change its EQ. DESIGN AND BUILD The Eris HD10BT are over-ear, closed-back headphones with 40mm drivers and a mic on each ear cup to facilitate the ANC and phone calls. The headphones are styled in black and silver, and as I said, they look good out of the box. The left cup is home to the ANC switch, as well…

Apple has added new service features for its Podcasts app that give users access to more content, thanks to the newly included ability to tie shows to in-app subscriptions, Apple Music, and Apple News+a. Apple is also offering Apple News+ Narrated, a new show that narrates articles in Apple News+. Available now, Apple Podcasts has over 60 podcasts for subscribers to Apple Music, Apple News+, and the Calm and Lingokids apps. When running iOS 17, iPadOS 17, or macOS Sonoma, users can launch the Podcasts app and subscriptions will automatically link to the app—a splash screen will display what subscriptions and apps have been connected. Users can also manually connect by visiting the app’s channel page in Podcasts. Apple is rolling out a number of app and podcast connections. Podcasts will be available…

The key new feature in macOS Sonoma is the ability to add widgets to the Desktop. They’re no longer banished to the notification shade that slides open when you click on the time in the menu bar. In Sonoma, widgets can exist anywhere on the Desktop, so you can see them all the time. This new widget implementation gives you instant access to the information you need. Let’s look at how to add widgets to your Desktop. Check out our macOS Sonoma guide for more information about the latest version of the Mac operating system. 1. EDIT WIDGETS When you first install macOS Sonoma, you can find your widgets as before by clicking the date and time in the menu bar. In the sidebar that appears, you’ll find a tab for…

While it is easy to connect external displays to your MacBook for expanded desk-based screen space, you can’t easily take this set up on the road with you or pack it neatly away in a drawer. The Limink Al Alloy Portable Triple Monitor (LK14) is a foldable package weighing 3.3 pounds (1.5kg) that physically attaches to your MacBook to add a 14-inch 1080p HD screen to each side of the laptop screen. DESIGN We’ve tested some screen extenders that hang off one side of the laptop and look rather strange and lopsided, like a motorbike with a dangling sidecar. The LK14 is a much more symmetrical screen setup and looks impressive sitting next to a standard one-screen MacBook. The aluminum looks don’t detract from the Apple aesthetic, and the whole…

Ah, autumn: The time of year when hot summer days turn to crisp fall ones, leaves are burnished in shades of red and gold, and pumpkin spice begins its inexorable creep back into all our lives. But if you breathe deep, you can just barely smell something else in the air: fresh Apple software updates. Yes, Apple in September dropped a slew of revisions to almost all of its major platforms. You’ve no doubt already read of contact posters, new widget interfaces, and FaceTime on the Apple TV 4K, but I wanted to take a few moments to wax rhapsodic about a few of my favorite overlooked features—and, specifically, features that help you not overlook things. Because this year’s updates all provide better ways to navigate the world around us,…

With iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, Apple News+ subscribers get a new perk: a daily crossword puzzle built right into the News app. In fact, they get two: a standard one and a 5×5 mini. It’s a nice addition and a mainstay of traditional newspapers, but it’s not front and center when you open the News app, so you need to know where to look for it. Here’s how to find the Crosswords in the News app on iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma. 1. OPEN NEWS AND SELECT THE FOLLOWING TAB When you first open the News app, you won’t see any mention of crossword puzzles or anything like that. Tap the Following tab. 2. SELECT PUZZLES At the top of the Following tab, select Puzzles. The only puzzles on offer are…

The Anker Prime 67W Charger is smaller than Apple’s original 67W charger, which is a popular charger among MacBook owners. Apple’s new 70W charger is as compact as the Prime 735, though the 67W Prime has a few features that make it more appealing. What gives the Prime 67W an advantage over Apple’s 70W charger is that it offers a total of three charging ports that can be used at the same time. The two USB-C ports support Power Delivery 3.0, and each USB-C port can handle a maximum of 65 watts. The 67W Prime’s USB-A port has a maximum of up to 22.5 watts. However, if more than one port is used at the same time, the Prime 735 divides the power between the devices. The charging times (using a…

Software—good software, at least—is in a continual state of evolution. It’s one of the most impressive things about the current state of affairs in technology, even if it’s something most of us take for granted. Once upon a time, you bought a device, and how it was at that point was basically how it was for the rest of its lifetime. But software can change and improve. Case in point: A recent story in The Wall Street Journal suggested that opinions on Apple Maps have changed in the decade since its tumultuous release. Once the (rightful) butt of jokes, it’s now become a respectable piece of mapping software in its own right, a worthy competitor to Google Maps. And it’s not the only piece of Apple software to follow such a…

Despite the existence of the metric system and an increased reliance in recent years on decimal fractions to write partial amounts (such as 2.5), we often find ourselves wanting to drop in a true fraction. We know that ½ or ¾ looks snazzier than 1/2 and 3/4, like making sure you’re using curly or typographer’s quotation marks instead of straight typewriter ones. But you can easily be stymied when typing in Microsoft Word or Apple’s Pages: Not all fractions appear to be available. You can simulate them by using font styling to choose superscript (for the top number, or numerator) and subscript (for the bottom one, the divisor called the denominator), but then doesn’t the slash look wrong? There are two cascading issues: > First, does your software identify when…

Final Audio has delivered one of the best-sounding noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy: the ZE8000. Buy a set and you’ll also get one of the more outrageous designs in the earphone market, a look that will enchant some and completely turn off others. Final is based in Japan, a country that fully embraced the Brutalist architectural movement that seems to have inspired the sharp corners and concrete-textured finish of the ZE8000. They’ve created an earphone that has no real parallels in the consumer audio world, so buyers will stand out from the white earbud hordes. HOW DO THE FINAL ZE8000 SOUND? The ZE8000 have an impressive soundstage and excellent detail, comparing favorably to the Astell&Kern AK UW100 and Campfire Audio Orbit earbuds, two models that ditch active noise cancellation in pursuit of…

HOW TO FIND A PICTURE THAT APPEARS IN A PHOTOS MEMORY Apple’s algorithmically generated Memories collections in the Photos app in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS can surface some great images and videos from the past, even if the themes are sometimes erratic. I understand why it might remind me of Independence Day 2008 or various trips, but sometimes a collection of eating pictures across many years is baffling. As you view a memory, you might want to jump to an individual photo and see it in context in your Photos library or share it with someone else. There’s a way to do this with a few taps and holds. iOS or iPadOS: How to find a picture that appears in a Photos memory 1. While the memory is playing, tap…

Apple’s built-in browser might be the most frequently used app on your Mac (yes, even more than the Finder, super Mac geeks). So Apple always adds helpful new features to Safari, its browser. In version 17, available with macOS Sonoma or as a separate download for macOS Ventura and Monterey, Safari helps you be more productive and secure, and it’s available for macOS Monterey, Ventura, and Sonoma. Let’s take a look at the new features. WEB APPS Safari for Mac has finally caught up with iOS and iPadOS, which have had this feature for a while. A web app is basically a website saved as a self-contained app that appears in the Dock. Just click on its icon to launch it. We have a separate guide to web apps in…

For years, the name McAfee has been synonymous with antiviral and security software. Its Total Protection suite for the macOS continues to be steadily updated (currently version 4.19.0.0) and offers a good suite of anti-viral, anti-malware, identity protection, VPN, and scheduling tools. As expected, Total Protection’s bread and butter of antiviral and anti-malware tools remains ever present, and it’s easy to download the software, install it, give it its requisite access to your hard drive through the macOS Privacy and Security settings, update the virus definitions, and go from there. The software allows you to perform a full scan of your hard drive as well as scan custom locations such as external volumes, schedule scan times, and control the actions of what Total Protection does when it finds suspect files,…

Apple has created an all-new “charging stand” experience for iPhones with iOS 17. Branded StandBy, this new feature turns your iPhone into a pseudosmart-home hub whenever it is connected to power and turned to landscape orientation. You can view a digital photo album, see the time and date, and access widgets for weather, Home, and more. The feature works with any iPhone that runs iOS 17—all you have to do is turn it landscape (sideways) while connected to power, either plugged in or using wireless charging. On iPhones without an always-on display, your StandBy experience will be limited as the screen goes black after a few minutes, just as it always does. So this really seems like a feature aimed at those who have a Pro iPhone with an always-on…

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to bid goodbye to a titan of technology, a revolutionary among rebels, a connoisseur of connections, taken from us—well, perhaps not too soon. I speak, of course, of our friend and colleague, the Lightning cable. When Apple unveiled its latest iPhone in September, the Lightning port was finally supplanted by one of its eternal rivals, the USB-C connection. But let us not simply mourn what is being taken from us: Let us instead remember and celebrate what Lightning did with its life, the joy and happiness it brought to an entire ecosystem and its many users. Its presence will not soon or easily be forgotten. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE Lightning was born on September 12, 2012, ushered into this world by Apple senior…

Apple’s latest, most expensive, best iPhone is better than last year’s model. It is a little lighter, a little faster, a little more convenient, and has a slightly better camera. And yet it’s hard not to feel decidedly underwhelmed. After days of use and a battery of tests, I can’t help but feel bored with it. All the improvements are welcome, but they’re largely uninspired. It’s as if Apple is out of ideas, or the iPhone is just too important to take any risks with, or all the company’s best efforts have been spent working on Apple Vision Pro. The best case one can make for the latest iPhone is that it’s an iPhone—it runs iOS, it runs iPhone apps, it’s fairly privacy minded, and it works great with all…

Apple is undergoing some staffing changes that include the elimination of social media support staff. As a result, Apple will soon no longer provide customer support through X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and its Apple Support Community, according to MacRumors. MacRumors cites anonymous sources that state that on October 1, @AppleSupport on X, which has 1.5 million followers, will provide automated replies that explain other ways to get support from Apple. Also, comment replies to the Apple Support YouTube channel, which has 1.55 million subscribers, will cease. Most concerning is that Apple will no longer have officials who post to the Apple Support Community forum, which launched 12 years ago. It is a very active web resource for users to discuss issues with Apple products. MacRumors’ report does not state if the…

When I heard Sonos was working on a second generation of its first portable speaker, the Move, I wondered how they could make it better than the first, which I raved about in my 2019 review. I clearly suffer from a lack of imagination. The Sonos Move 2 is superior to that excellent speaker in nearly every way. It’s also $50 more expensive than the original, which remains on the market at $399. Yes, Sonos expects to fetch $449 for the Move 2. Outfitted with dual angled tweeters, the Sonos Move 2 is a stereo speaker where the original delivers mono performances. What could be better than stereo? A less-directional sound stage that doesn’t ignore listeners sitting behind the speaker, as might happen if a group of partygoers are gathered…

Crossfading between tracks—fading out the end of the current track while fading in the start of the next one to eliminate gaps in playback—has been a feature of most mainstream music apps for many years. It has been a feature in Apple Music’s biggest competitor Spotify for ages, and has been a feature of the Mac version of Apple Music since…well, it even goes back to the iTunes days. But for some reason, Apple Music on iOS and iPadOS has never offered a crossfade feature, despite consistent outcries from the community. With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, that finally changes. Here’s how to enable or disable Crossfade and adjust the length of the transition. 1. OPEN SETTINGS AND SELECT MUSIC Most of the settings for Apple Music are found in…