Innehållsförteckning för January 2025 från Macworld

As someone who has reviewed Macs for a long time, I’m often asked for shopping advice and whether now is a good time to buy a Mac. It’s an excellent question since Apple has been fairly sporadic with its Mac releases. Macs are expensive and people want reassurance that they’re making a timely investment. No one wants to buy something, start using it, and realize they just could’ve stuck with what they already had. Nor does anyone want to make a purchase only to have something better come along in a short time. When it comes to Macs, the decision to buy a new one is rarely a quick and easy one, but with the release of the M4 Mac lineup, there’s less hedging than ever before. As I reviewed…

The M4 Mac mini is…mini. It’s way more mini than the old mini, which wasn’t a very big desktop computer at all. At just 5×5 inches square and 2 inches tall, it’s less than a quarter the volume of the Mac Studio, which is also a small desktop computer, and only 1.33 inches bigger than the Apple TV 4K in length and width and not even an inch taller. But what does that really mean? How does that size compare to other everyday objects? Perhaps these photos will provide a better point of reference for just how mini Apple’s new Mac mini really is. Here’s something you may have already: A Magic Trackpad. Its footprint actually exceeds that of the new Mac mini (1). It’s thinner, of course, but just know that…

The 6-port 250W Anker Prime Charger offers a tidy way to charge multiple devices, plus customizable options to fine-tune what devices get charged fastest and an easy-to-read display showing how much power is going to each device. All digital devices require a charger, either integrated or via an external power supply, but most often they use a wall or desktop charger. Wall chargers plug straight into a power socket, and you connect it to your device using a charging cable (usually USB-C). Desktop chargers connect to the wall socket via a standard power plug and cable and are more convenient when charging multiple devices in the same place. While there are many great wall chargers with multiple charging ports, if you want more than three or four ports you are…

Apple Intelligence has hit the mainstream. Within the past several weeks, Apple has shipped iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, all bringing the first in the suite of features that Apple has been talking about since June. If you have any doubt, just go watch a TV show with ads, and I guarantee in 15 minutes or less you’ll see Snoop Dogg hawking it as a selling point of the new iPhone 16. Apple isn’t usually the first to enter a brand new market, but it does have a reputation for helping usher technologies into the mainstream, and for setting the bar for its rivals, including being often imitated. With millions of Apple Intelligence-capable devices already in customers’ hands, it’s sure to make a big splash. But as Apple…

I’ve been using an Apple Watch for almost the entire time there has been an Apple Watch, and since the big upgrade with the Series 4 I’ve worn one all day every day. But I’ve never gotten the cellular-equipped model, because I figured I probably didn’t need it. Yes, there are lots of things the Apple Watch can do without an iPhone, but it can of course do those things with an iPhone nearby as well, and many of them don’t require a cellular connection (only Wi-Fi or even no connection at all). So I conducted an experiment: I got a cellular-equipped version of the Apple Watch Series 10 (read my review) for a change, activated the monthly service, and spent a couple of weeks deliberately leaving my iPhone behind.…

Thanks to its use of GaN technology, the Ugreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port GaN Fast Charger is 45 percent smaller than the Apple 96W USB-C Power Adapter—the U.S. model of the Nexode Pro measures 2.8 by 1.7 by 1.3 inches (7.1 by 4.3 by 3.3cm). The U.K. and E.U. models are slightly longer due to the dimensions of the three-prong plug. The size isn’t all that’s different; the Nexode Pro has an angular look with dark gray housing, though it’s a bit scratch sensitive. It might be a better match for a MacBook than Apple’s white power adapter. The Nexode Pro has USB ports available for charging, labeled USB-C 1, USB-C 2, and USB-A. The more powerful USB-C 1 is specially labeled with a symbol for a laptop. A maximum of…

Apple’s approach to its most affordable MacBook Pro has been a little perplexing during the early part of the Apple silicon era. There were the M1 and M2 13-inch MacBook Pro, which were good laptops but with dated designs that seemed odd compared to the pricier and prettier 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Then Apple dropped it when the M3 came, but its 14-inch replacement had glaring compromises. It seemed like Apple had a different idea than customers of the role for the most affordable MacBook Pro in the laptop lineup. Apple seemed to think of the entry-level MacBook Pro as a tweener machine, a bridge from the MacBook Air. Customers, however, see that it’s a “MacBook Pro” and expect a pro-level laptop with few (or no) glaring compromises. That brings us…

When it comes to picking the best cloud-based storage services for your Mac, it really is difficult to look past Google Drive. While the idea of using Google’s tools on Apple hardware will make some squirm, it’s such a powerful platform, with deep integration with things like Google Docs, Sheets, and more, that it’s hard to not appreciate it. That’s before you realize it comes with a whopping 15GB of free storage, triple what Apple offers for free on iCloud Drive, and some surprisingly powerful backup and sync features. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Before we start, it’s worth noting that you can use Google Drive on Mac through a dedicated app, or via the web interface. Whichever you pick, you’ll undoubtedly appreciate just how quick the system is. A handy setup wizard…

Apple just wrapped up its slate of 2024 devices, but it’s never too early to look ahead. And according to a new report, big things are on the way. As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is looking to launch a new “wall-mounted display that can control appliances, handle videoconferencing and use AI to navigate apps.” The device, which Gurman says could arrive as early as March, is “a priority” for Tim Cook, who is pushing to get it to market after more than three years of development. Gurman describes the device as a square iPad with a 6-inch screen, “about the size of two iPhones side by side, with a thick edge around the display.” He says it has a camera at the top front, a rechargeable built-in battery,…

As the cavalcade of M4 Macs rained down upon us last week, it became clear that Apple has established a solid rhythm for updates to its processor line. So far, it’s been four years and we’ve seen four generations of Apple silicon chips, each more impressive than the last. In everything from computational and graphics capability to power efficiency, the era of Apple-made processors has proven to be a ground change for the company. But even such an astounding success comes with challenges. As Apple has increasingly carved out its own category in the PC market, the company has left behind many of its classic competitors. It’s rarely compared to old rivals like Dell or HP; even its biggest counterparts, such as Meta and Google, don’t care about the same…

In September of 2023, Intel 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. About a year later, the Thunderbolt 5 has made its Mac debut in the new Mac mini and MacBook Pro models that include the M4 Pro processor. Macs that have the regular M4 processor still support Thunderbolt 4. The standard is built on USB4 V2, DisplayPort 2.1, and PCI Express Gen 4 and is fully compatible with previous Thunderbolt versions. The increased 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…

The Baseus Free2Pull Power Bank doesn’t appear to do anything special until you pick it up and take a longer look at it. It’s lighter than most power banks of the same capacity, but its brilliance is its integrated and retractable USB-C cable which means you don’t have to carry a spare charging cable everywhere you take the power bank. If you use a USB-C cable to tie up your shoes, this won’t matter to you—but to the rest of us, it is a massive convenience that really sets it apart from the competition. TECH SPECS Battery capacity: 74Wh Fastest power output: 60W Total power output: 65W Power input: 60W USB ports: 1× USB-C (60W PD 3.0) built-in cable; 1× USB-C (60W PD 3.0). Dimensions: 6.1×2.8×1.3 inches (15.5×7.2×3.4cm) Weight: 15.1 oz.…

Apple’s Messages app may have lost the global messaging wars, but in many countries—including the U.S.—it’s still an incredibly popular way of communicating. That’s why Apple keeps upgrading it. This fall’s Messages updates are some of the biggest ever, with the addition of RCS messaging, true emoji and sticker tapbacks, styled and animated text, Send Later, and support for texts via satellite. But as the people in my Messages group chats all upgraded to iOS 18 and started taking advantage of some of these new features, it all became too much for me. All these new features are good, yes, but they can also be spectacularly distracting. This is why Apple’s next big step in Messages needs to be to give users the power to control when and how we’re interrupted…

I have been using Apple Vision Pro on and off for the last nine months. When it was released in February, I described it as a device with a ton of potential but with huge challenges to overcome. Now, with its first major operating system update available and plenty of time for developers to get on board, I’m left with a more pessimistic view. For spatial computing to be a hit, it’s going to need more than the Vision Pro can deliver. The first major update fixed some issues and added welcome features, but too many problems remain—and some simply can’t be fixed in a software update. If Apple is going to make spatial computing (aka mixed reality) its next major software platform, it will need to drastically accelerate its…

Pitaka has updated its classic MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 for fast charging according to the Qi2 standard with 15 watts for iPhones. There are two versions of the MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2, one for one specifically for Tesla 3 and Tesla Y cars and another universal mount for ventilation grilles on other cars. The version for the ventilation grille has a hook that is screwed to a ventilation lamella using a rotary wheel. This is easy to do if the ventilation grille is large enough. The magnet with an adhesive force of 1.2 kilograms ensures that the iPhone is securely attached to the holder. A long USB-C cable is included for the power supply, which is connected directly to the power supply in modern cars. If you don’t have…

Plugable has radically redesigned its popular UD-6950PDH docking station, which now comes to the attention of owners of the M1 and M2 (and to a lesser degree M3) Macs. With this docking station, Macs with the plain (non-Pro or Max) M1 and M2 processor can connect two extra displays, whereas in default mode these Macs are limited to just one external display. As we explain in our feature on how to connect two or more displays to an M1 and M2 Mac, this bonus functionality requires the user to install a DisplayLink software driver to get around Apple’s frustrating limitation. While plain M3 (and soon M4) MacBooks can connect to two external displays, the laptop’s own screen must be off with the laptop’s lid closed. A DisplayLink dock allows that M3…

Intego’s Washing Machine X9 functions as a handy cleaning utility for the Mac and focuses on reclaiming disk space via the Reclaim tool, removing duplicate files on your Mac’s hard drive with the Duplicates tool, and organizing folders using the Organize tool. Washing Machine currently retails for $19.99/£19.99 for one Mac for one year, $26.99/£23.99 for three Macs for one year, or $33.95/£30.99 for five Macs for one year, their prices having been discounted from $49.99/£49.99, $66.99/£66.99, and $84.99/£84.99 per year, respectively. The software is also available for a trial period, with a 30-day money back guarantee, albeit you’ll initially pay for it with your debit or credit card, PayPal, or Apple Pay. Like most utilities on the current macOS architecture, the software (compatible with macOS 13 High Sierra or later)…

A class-action lawsuit filed this month accuses Apple of misleading AirPods Pro customers and failing adequately to address an audio defect reported shortly after the product’s launch in 2019. The suit (via ClassAction.org) focuses on two seemingly widespread problems with the 1st-gen AirPods Pro: unwanted crackling sounds, and the failure of Active Noise Cancellation to work correctly. These issues were publicized within months of release, but it took Apple almost a year to address them with a service program offering to replace units made before October 2020, free of charge. Apple’s own support document acknowledges that affected units could exhibit “crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise or while talking on the phone” and “Active Noise Cancellation not working as expected, such as a loss of bass sound,…

Whenever Apple drops a new product, certain netizens rush to online corners like Reddit, Threads, and X to complain about the latest design choices. The case with the new Mac mini is no different. Despite the device featuring a competitively miniature, sleek build, many loud critics have fixated on the repositioned power button that now lives on its bottom side. It’s classic Apple—design something gorgeous and impressive, but all everyone wants to talk about is one head-scratching decision. I’m here to tell you that these complaints are completely baseless. Let me explain. HIDDEN BY DESIGN Believe it or not, the power button is mostly useless on modern Macs. Yes, you do need it to power it on when you first unbox it. However, if you’re operating your computer correctly, you’ll rarely…

WD’s G-RAID Mirror is an external enclosure housing two 3.5-inch hard drives. It provides up to 48TB of storage with the drives in striped (RAID 0) mode, or half that in mirror mode RAID 1. It also provides a Pro Blade SSD port for SanDisk’s modular NVMe SSDs. What you may not realize if you haven’t been around a 3.5-inch HDD in a while: They’re a whole lot faster than they used to be. In RAID 0, the G-RAID Mirror can deliver data at over 400MBps. This is not your father’s RAID box. G-RAID MIRROR FEATURES The G-RAID Mirror is a handsome, dark gray, Thunderbolt 3, two-drive external enclosure available in capacities up to 48TB/24TB (striped/mirrored). The unit measures 5.24×8.27×4.06 inches (13.30×21.00×0.21 centimeters). It can weigh up to 7 pounds (3.17…

GOCHESS MINI This chessboard has a built-in light system and works with an iPhone app so you can play games online through a Lichess or Chess.com account. You can also play against an AI opponents and gets tips and hints to help refine your game. —ROMAN LOYOLA OWC THUNDERBOLT 5 HUB With the new Thunderbolt 5 support in M4 Pro and M4 Max Macs, you need the proper gear to take advantage of the new throughput, and that can start with a OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub. It offers 80Gbps data transfers and 120Gbps support for high-resolution displays. —ROMAN LOYOLA CORSAIR K65 PLUS This gaming keyboard is offered exclusively in Glacier Blue only in the Apple Store. It uses Corsair MLX Red linear switches, offers sound dampening for the keys,…

The ButterFly MagSafe Charger is one of our favorite 2-in-1 Apple Watch and iPhone chargers, and Twelve South has now released a new, more affordable, colorful SE version that uses MagSafe-matching 15W Qi2 wireless charging technology. The ButterFly Charger is a beautiful piece of design. Apple is so impressed with it that you can find it on sale in the Apple stores. DESIGN It’s called the ButterFly because its round shape unfolds to display its two wireless charging wings: one 15W wireless charging pad for iPhone or AirPods, and one 5W adjustable pad for charging an Apple Watch. It is compact and lightweight: 0.9 inches (2.35cm) high and 2.4 inches (6cm) wide and deep. It weighs just 4.2oz (104g), which is about 15g lighter than the metal ButterFly. Folded, it’s…

Apple told us the new Mac mini was smaller. It showed us photos and videos. And still, when I took it out of the box, I was somewhat unprepared for just how small it actually is. In this mighty little microcomputer is Apple’s new M4 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The performance and value in this base configuration, for just $599, are quite good. This is a desktop computer that will serve the average user well for years at a very affordable price. But then you start to look at what it takes to do just a little more, and the value vanishes. Apple hasn’t changed its memory or storage pricing structure in years and it stands out even more now with a better base model. Higher…

A second screen makes your MacBook more useful and turns a laptop into a real alternative to a desktop computer. Adding one or more external displays to your MacBook is easy and recommended for a home office or indeed an old-fashioned real office setup. But you can’t—or at least shouldn’t—lug a 32-inch monitor around to meetings or the local coffee shop. Having a second screen alongside your MacBook’s built-in display gives you more space for viewing open windows at the same time—for instance, for supporting documents or apps while you’re on a video call or giving a presentation. Or if you want to watch a movie in more visual comfort than a 13-inch laptop offers, a larger second screen gives you more display flexibility. A properly portable display is a more…

With the iOS 18.1 release (and a corresponding AirPods firmware update), you can use your AirPods Pro 2 to take a “clinical-grade” hearing test, and then optionally use them as over-the-counter hearing aids or just adjust media playback to match your hearing loss. It’s a fantastic new feature that we recommend everyone make use of. Hearing loss is more common than most people realize, and even if you don’t suffer significant loss of hearing, you can use your AirPods 2 as hearing aids. WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO TURN AIRPODS PRO INTO HEARING AIDS To run the hearing test and use your AirPods Pro 2 as hearing aids (or just adjust media playback to match your hearing profile), you’ll need three things: 1. An iPhone running iOS 18.1 or later 2.…

HOW TO BLOCK ANNOYING TEXTS WITH A FEW TAPS ON YOUR iPHONE While it’s relatively easy to stop spam calls on the iPhone, Apple hasn’t yet provided a consistent way to mark unwanted incoming text messages and block and delete them. Nor does it identify texts for patterns—as the Mail app and iCloud.com do to mark commercial and fraudulent emails—to see if they look like something that should go right into the bit bucket. Here are a few things you can do to block annoying texts on your iPhone. Option 1: Delete and Report In some cases, iOS may display an option that says Report Junk or Delete and Report Junk for SMS messages from unknown senders. This depends on whether your wireless carrier supports the option and other configurations…