Innehållsförteckning för August 2023 från Macworld

I get it. You’re excited and/or angry about the $3,500 headset Apple might sell you next year if you’re in the right country. It’s worth getting excited about. But in terms of real-world, right-now impact, the surprise winner of the Worldwide Developers Conference 2023 keynote in early June was…wait for it…the Mac! I would never have imagined it, but it’s true: Apple’s Mac announcements were huge news, despite being overshadowed by shiny future products and platforms that won’t let anyone do anything until 2024. MACBOOK AIR +2 While I’m acting all contrarian, let me double down. The most important Mac announcement wasn’t the upgraded Mac Studio or the Mac Pro, the final piece of the Apple silicon puzzle. It was the humble MacBook Air. As Apple enjoys pointing out, the 13-inch M2…

Apple only recently announced the launch of its M2-based 15-inch MacBook Air, but the company is already working on the machine’s successor. A 15-inch Air with an M3 processor is expected to launch sometime in 2024, according to prolific leaker Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his “Power On” newsletter, the Bloomberg reporter responded to speculation about the choice of processor in the new Air. The M2 chip, after all, is already a year old, first appearing in the 13-inch Pro and Air laptops announced at WWDC 2022. It seems like a strange choice for the machine Apple described in June as “the world’s best 15-inch laptop”. Realistically it was always possible that WWDC 2023 would come too soon for the M3, given that the M2 arrived more than…

THROWBOY CLASSIC DESKTOP KNIT COTTON BLANKET Throwboy’s blanket is a tribute to the history of the Macintosh operating system, featuring the original Finder, complete with throwback folder icons, a mounted floppy disk, and a Trash that needs to be emptied. The blanket measures 50 by 60 inches (127 by 152 centimeter), and it is made of recycled cotton and polyester materials. And it’s made in the U.S.—ROMAN LOYOLA UGREEN 145W POWER BANK The Ugreen 145W Power Bank has a massive 25,000mAh battery, enough power to fully charge a 13-inch M2 MacBook Air in 90 minutes. It can also charge three devices at the same time. The Power Bank measures 6.3 by 3.2 by 1.1 inches (16 by 8.1 by 2.8 centimeters) and weighs 18.1 ounces (23.3 grams), so it…

There was a roughly two-year gap between the second and third iPhone SE models, launched in April 2020 and March 2022, respectively, so it would be reasonable to hope that a fourth model might make an appearance in spring next year. But the latest word from the analyst grapevine is that it won’t be appearing until 2025 at the earliest. In a research note shared with MacRumors, Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O’Malley this week said that, based on multiple conversations with Apple’s supply-chain partners, the company is unlikely to release a new iPhone SE in 2024. The news will be a disappointment for some (although perhaps not as much of a disappointment as the third-gen SE) but there could be wider implications for Apple’s smartphone lineup. The analysts note that a…

I’m here to tell you the major details of my experience, but the overall impression I have is that the Vision Pro is the most impressive first-gen product I’ve seen from Apple—more impressive than the 1998 iMac or the 2007 iPhone. And I’m fully aware that other companies have made VR headsets, but Apple does that thing that it does, where it uses its understanding of what makes a satisfying user experience to create a new product in an existing market that sets a higher bar of excellence. Yes, it’s expensive, and yes, this market hasn’t proven it can move beyond being niche. Those are very important considerations to discuss in other articles. For now, I’ll convey my experiences and impressions here, from a one-hour demonstration at Apple Park. (I…

If you have multiple Macs you want to use, it can be a hassle to manage multiple keyboards, mice, and other pointing devices. What if you could use a single set of input devices to control multiple Macs—and sometimes even iPads? Since Monterey, Apple has offered Universal Control for Macs and iPads, a solution for sharing keyboards and mice between two Macs. Where Universal Control doesn’t fit, you can try a hardware or software KVM, which can share a set of input devices among multiple computers. WHAT IS UNIVERSAL CONTROL? Universal Control will let you use the same keyboard and mouse for all the Macs and iPads you are working on. All you have to do to switch devices is move the pointer until it crosses the edge of the screen.…

AirPlay lets you stream audio and video over a local network connection between an iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac to an Apple TV, a HomePod, and lots of third-party devices equipped with built-in AirPlay or AirPlay 2 support. When you first connect to an AirPlay destination, you may be prompted to enter a security code. This security code is not designed to protect you from hacking attempts. Rather, it serves as a buffer in situations where multiple users with their own devices are in close proximity (like in a dorm or apartment building) and could see and inadvertently select your AirPlay destination. (Someone might also try to play a prank by accessing your device and sending unwanted content to it.) You can see that it’s not an anti-hacking method…

The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 is aptly named. It will almost literally crush your ears with its thumping bass response, but its active noise cancellation is pretty weak sauce. Skullcandy says it’s targeting “tech-savvy audiophiles” with this headphone, but most audiophiles eschew active noise cancellation, and I don’t know of any who would seek out an audio product that so zealously overemphasizes a given frequency range the way the Crusher ANC 2 does the low end. But for those looking for a headphone with massive amounts of thump, this is the one to buy. Note: Walmart sells these headphones in a box labeled Crusher ANC XT 2, but the same product is inside. HOW DOES THE SKULLYCANDY CRUSHER ANC 2 SOUND? The Skullcandy Crusher ANC is equipped with 40mm drivers with…

Apple’s transition to Apple silicon is complete, now that the Mac Pro has finally been unveiled. But the reality is, Apple met its deadline last year when it rolled out the Mac Studio—a computer that, for a lot of customers, filled the role of the Mac Pro as a Mac with the most processing muscle. In terms of mass market appeal, Apple was able to provide, within two years, Macs with its silicon for just about every use case. The Mac Pro is a computer that very few customers will actually consider buying. Apple could have probably dropped the Mac Pro from the lineup after the Mac Studio arrived and few would have complained. But after the 2013 trash can Mac Pro debacle, Apple is uniquely aware that the needs of those…

While the $3,499 Vision Pro won’t be available for sale until next year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple is already working on a cheaper version. The news isn’t exactly surprising—Gurman himself previously reported on Apple’s plans to initially introduce the pricey mixed reality headset meant for developers, with a device meant for the masses released sometime later. Gurman covers some of the ways Apple could cut costs—lower-quality screens, an older chip, and fewer cameras among them—though much of the core Vision Pro features, including the EyeSight eye tracking, will likely remain. The projected release date for this other headset is late 2025, only two and a half years from now. Gurman doesn’t mention a smaller design, but it’s hard to imagine that Apple could develop the tech in that…

It’s almost as if having your iPhone stolen is worse than having your house robbed. It’s not just losing an expensive device—your iPhone holds so much of your private life that criminals don’t even have to do the work of ransacking your place for cash, jewelry, credit cards, and electronics. Recent reports have detailed how criminals can use your iPhone to break into your iCloud and bank accounts to quickly drain your finances and steal your identity by permanently locking you out of your Apple account. That’s in addition to cutting off contacts, notes, emails, and photos. How? As long as a thief has your unlocked phone (either by snatching it out of your hand while you’re using it or surreptitiously observing you tap in your passcode), they can immediately…

We’ve all lost pens and pencils before. It’s annoying when it happens, but they’re easily replaceable, so you don’t give it much thought. But losing an Apple Pencil? That’s a real pain. Not only is it a specialized, unique tool—it’s costly, too. A recent patent application by Apple hopes to save users from that aggravation. Patently Apple reports on U.S. patent 20230161545, which describes how acoustic resonators can be used in the Apple Pencil so if it goes missing, it can alert a user as to its current location. Finding a lost Pencil could work in the same way a user can use Find My to locate a misplaced iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The user launches the Find My app and goes to the Devices section, and Bluetooth (which is what…

Last summer when I reviewed the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, I wrote, “For most of us, the new M2 MacBook Air is all the laptop we’ll ever need.” Well it’s a year later, and Apple has given those who prefer larger laptops what they want: the same thing, only bigger. This could be a shamelessly short review. It would be entirely accurate to say this 15-inch MacBook Air is exactly like the 13-inch MacBook Air introduced last year, only with a bigger display (and thus chassis) and better speakers. That’s it! Review over! But seriously, if you have some idea of the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, you know what to expect here. The M2 is no longer brand new, but it’s still an absolutely excellent processor for everyday computing in a…

You might think that connecting anonymously to a public Wi-Fi network doesn’t reveal much about you. You might be using a VPN (virtual private network) to protect everything you do. But even if you aren’t, the vast majority of websites and email servers (and pretty much all those run by companies) use client-to-server encryption. But what if you could be tracked anyway? Apple has a solution for this as it does for many tracking systems. The company’s trick lies in how Wi-Fi (and ethernet) adapters identify themselves over a local network when connecting wirelessly or via an ethernet cable. Every network adapter has a factory-assigned unique address baked in at the time of manufacture. It’s called a Media (or Medium) Access Control address; the abbreviation is MAC, confusingly enough, but…

The HomePod and HomePod mini are unique creatures in Apple’s lineup: Unlike nearly all other hardware Apple sells, these assistants and speakers are not permanently locked to your iCloud account nor are they paired to a iPhone or iPad. An iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Watch has Activation Lock enabled if you turn on Find My. Most Beats and Apple audio devices, as well as all Find My devices (AirTags and third-party), use what Apple now calls Find My Lock, which connects a device without a visible interface to your Apple ID and can only be disabled via an iPhone or iPad in the Find My app. (Audio devices can be used with other hardware, but they remain trackable by the original owner, as reporter Casey Johnston looked into when she…

In our review of the original Beats Studio Buds, we found they outclassed AirPods Pro in several ways but lacked some Apple-specific features. That, along with mediocre noise canceling, made them less desirable for Apple enthusiasts. The revamped version, Beats Studio Buds +, improves on the original in many important ways. But Apple also has a new model—the second-generation AirPods Pro—that seriously raise the stakes. Again, I enjoyed the design and usability of these Beats earbuds but find the latest AirPods Pro easier to recommend. These are earbuds made for both Apple and Android users, and they lack Apple’s homegrown H1 or H2 chip, which enables certain features within the Apple ecosystem. I’d take them over the AirPods any day, but they don’t quite match the AirPods Pro. PLAYFUL DESIGN…

Apple introduced the new Mac Pro in early June (see page 7), and much as with the Mac Studio, it’s hard to tell what’s changed. As is the case with the Mac mini, the outside of the Mac Pro is identical to that of its predecessor. The most obvious difference is the lack of a graphics card. The Intel Mac Pro shipped with an AMD Radeon RX 5500X MPX Module that took up one or two of the eight PCIe slots, depending on the configuration. Without that sizable module, the Mac Pro looks downright empty. You can also see the difference in the price. The Apple silicon Mac Pro actually costs a thousand dollars more than the Intel model, now starting at $6,999. The reason for the price hike: more…

While Apple’s Mac mini is a tiny powerhouse of a computer blessed with a range of ports on its back, its front face is unhelpfully bare, devoid of even one handy port or slot. There’s nothing but a little light to show that it’s on. Apple certainly put the “mini” in “minimal” when it came to the head-on looks of its diminutive desktop computer. The Mac Studio has the same width and depth as the Mac mini but is taller. The Mac Studio also boasts two 10Gbps USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4 on the M1 Ultra model) and an SD card reader on its front. At the back, the Mac Studio and M2 Pro Mac mini ports are the same, while the entry-level M2 Mac mini has two fewer Thunderbolt 4 ports. The…

When iOS 17 arrives this fall, it’ll bring a slew of new features to your iPhone, including personalized contact cards, live voicemail, and so many stickers. But not every iOS 16 phone will get it. As announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple is only supporting iPhones going back to the XS, which means the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, announced in 2017, have reached the end of the line and will only receive security updates going forward. If you own one of those phones you’ll probably want to upgrade—and you’ll want to get as much as you can for your old phone. If that’s the case, you should sell it as soon as possible. According to a report from SellCell, the iPhone 8 and X could lose nearly 50…

Apple has announced the long-rumored headset, the Vision Pro. That suggests that one day in the not-so-distant future we will see a cheaper Vision headset, rumored to arrive in 2025. Apple isn’t calling the Vision Pro a virtual reality headset. Rather, it’s referring to the headset as its “first spatial computer,” with a big emphasis on how a user will be able to stay present in the physical world while wearing it. Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke about how the Vision Pro ushers in “the beginning of a new era for computing.” Here’s everything we know about the Vision Pro headset so far. Want to know what it’s like to wear a Vision Pro? Macworld’s Roman Loyola has, and he describes what it was like on page 42! We also…

If you have a Mac laptop or iMac with a display that’s been damaged or no longer turns on, but you’re sure the computer is still functioning, a repair may not be required to extract all its data or continue using it. (In fact, without a paid AppleCare+ for Mac plan, repair costs for a display often far exceed a Mac’s value unless a repair shop can find a refurbished or salvaged display. It may be cheaper or not much more expensive to simply buy a used Mac of the same vintage with a working monitor.) USE AN EXTERNAL MONITOR TO KEEP IT ALIVE OR EXTRACT DATA All Mac laptops and iMacs of the last many years support an external monitor, though the particular adapter and type varies based on the…

A network is great, but what if you want to connect two Macs and transfer information as fast as you can? Using a gigabit ethernet cable or a Mac with 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) or later wireless networking hardware, you can transfer data between two devices at gigabit per second rates—but you can do better than that! Apple offers four built-in methods in macOS, none of which is obvious to set up. Each has different requirements, advantages, and tradeoffs. Once your Macs are connected, you use the same tools to transfer data between them as you would if they were connected to a network: SMB file sharing: In the Finder, choose Go → Connect to Server (Command-K) and click Browse. If the Mac doesn’t appear in the Network window, go back…

At WWDC 2023 in early June, Apple announced a surprising raft of new features coming to AirPods and AirPods Pro. These revolve around the ability to have your headphones adapt automatically to the sounds around you and adjust noise cancellation or transparency features to suit the situation. The 2nd-gen AirPods Pro get the bulk of the upgrades with three new features: Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness. Adaptive Audio is a new mode that sits midway between Transparency and noise cancellation. It reacts to different types of noise, knowing to mute some—such as leaf blowers and marching bands, based on the demo—and allow others through, such as the noise of incoming vehicles. In theory, at least this is a smart way to blend safety and convenience without requiring as…

HOW TO STOP SAFARI’S SMOOTH SCROLLING USING THE ARROW KEYS Jeff Johnson is the hero behind StopTheMadness, Link Unshortener, and other must-have browser and social-media utilities that let you override and defeat websites’ attempts to hijack control of your cursors, mouse, and Control-click. (I gave StopTheMadness 5 out of 5 stars in a Mac Gems review last year.) But what has he done for us lately? He’s figured out how to disable smooth scrolling, a surprise feature added by Apple in Safari 16.4 for macOS. If you didn’t notice, with this version of Safari, pressing and releasing the down or up arrow on a Safari page scrolls the page continuously until you tap a key or use a mouse to regain control. The change is baffling. Who asked for this?…