Macworldの September 2021 の目次

Apple rarely releases sales figures on particular models of products it offers, but I have to imagine it shipped at least hundreds of thousands of its two Apple LED Cinema Displays (24-inch, 2008 to 2010, and 27-inch, 2010 to 2013) based on the number of people who have reached out and want to connect them to a USB-C–equipped MacBook. I purchased several adapters and cables that can take the LED Cinema Display’s Mini DisplayPort (not Thunderbolt) and convert it into something that passes over USB-C in a compatible chain that allows you to connect to a USB-C equipped MacBook. My testing shows three affordable and viable options, plus a reasonable option for a full-featured USB-C dock that requires just a simple adapter. Apple made multiple generations of its displays: the first…

For years now, Apple has trumpeted its commitment to the privacy of its customers. Unlike most of its competitors, Apple’s business model (primarily selling products and services, not advertising) allows it to succeed without relying on collecting personal information from its customers. It’s a big advantage, and Apple knows it. But when I look at Apple’s product strategy, I’m surprised at all the ways that the company has failed to take advantage of its unique position. From operating-system features to new services, the company should double down on privacy—and widen the lead it has over its competitors. GET AGGRESSIVE IN OTHER APPLE APPS Apple has done a pretty good job of managing privacy inside Safari. Using the web leaks information in some fundamental ways, but Apple has done a lot…

Apple launched HomeKit in 2014, and for many users it remains a bit of a mystery—an outlier in the smart home space that is wound up with the iPhone, Siri, and an unintuitive corner of the smart home universe. What is HomeKit, and is it appropriate for your home? Let’s dig in and break down what it is and how it works today. WHAT IS HOMEKIT? While HomeKit is exclusive to Apple and its licensees, it is really just a communications protocol, a framework of technologies that lets your iOS device work with any number of smart home products. Apple currently claims that more than 100 brands of products are now included in the HomeKit universe, including all the usual smart home suspects, such as smart plugs and switches, light bulbs,…

Well-drawn type has been integral to the Mac since the very start. Steve Jobs, who famously adored a calligraphy course in college, insisted that the Mac use “real” fonts, something made possible by the company’s early partnership with Adobe Systems. From 1984 through the present day, Mac operating systems have always let you use typefaces that look great—as well as those designed poorly, to be fair—but the features associated with type aren’t always well exposed. Apple has over several years gradually and quietly added support for refinement available by accessing features in OpenType, the standard way in which font files are created for digital use. Cracking open the Fonts palette in Pages and other Apple software (as well as some third-party apps or their alternative controls) can let you make…

The 12-outlet Tripp Lite AVR900U is the wrong intersection of perfectly fine separate features in an otherwise well-made model. Its reasonable battery size could support a tricked-out computer system with multiple displays and peripherals for a few to several minutes during a power outage. The line-interactive approach incorporated in its design provides fast power switchover (as quick as a few milliseconds), along with constant power conditioning to correct for minor fluctuations without wearing out the internal battery. On the other hand, the AVR900U relies on simulated power switching instead of a “pure” sine wave. That means it’s not the right choice for computers with active power factor correction (PFC). A simulated, or stepped, sine wave fed into an active PFC power supply can cause a high-pitched whine and prematurely wear…

Rocksteady Audio aims for the higher end of the inexpensive Bluetooth speaker market with its new Stadium line. This speaker doesn’t compete with high-fidelity multiroom audio systems such as the Sonos Move or the Bluesound Pulse Mini 2i, but it mostly hits its mark. The all-black mini towers are deceptively demure, each measuring 6 inches tall with a 4.25-inch square base. Designed with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, each 30-watt speaker contains two drivers: a 28mm tweeter that gets 10 watts of power, and a 70mm mid/bass driven by 20 watts of amplification. These active drivers are augmented by a pair of 72mm passive bass radiators. The specified frequency response is 60Hz to 20kHz (no tolerance given). The bigger story, Rocksteady says, is that the Stadium is “powered by Bambu Tech’s AWSM,…

Some file optimization and application removal programs on the Mac reach for the stars, trying to perform every possible task of optimization, file cleanup, operating system customization, and malware removal the developers can think of as part of an overarching package. Other apps have been more streamlined, seeking to perform fewer functions and executing them well. DaisyDisk, the brainchild of developers Taras Brizitsky (who programmed the original idea, interaction, and graphic design) and Oleg Krupnov (who now handles the code and technical support), as well as a large group of translators and contributors, belongs to the latter group. The application (version 4.20.3 reviewed here) focuses on locating file clusters, groups them by size, and offers a quick and easy means of dragging them to a delete icon and getting rid…

Messages is likely the most used app on Apple’s platforms—especially iOS—and with our inability over the past year and a half to meet up with people in person, it’s probably become even more popular. iMessage, the Apple-created system that powers the modern day Messages app, is coming up on its tenth birthday this fall and it’s had quite the decade. In 2016, Apple said users sent roughly 200,000 iMessages per second; it’s not hard to imagine that, five years later, in a world more technologically connected than ever, that number has grown immensely. But for all of the popularity of iMessage, and the company’s repeated addition of new features and capabilities, there are some places where Apple’s messaging system remains somewhat frustrating or even lackluster. For obvious reasons, Apple has…

Got an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro and always seem to be running out of battery? Apple has a new accessory to help you out: The MagSafe Battery Pack is available for $99. As the name of the product implies, the battery connects to the iPhone 12 via MagSafe, the magnetic connector located on the back of the phone. According to the product description on Apple’s website, the MagSafe Battery Pack “automatically charges, so there’s no need to turn it on or off.” However, you can’t use two MagSafe products at once, so if you’re using the wallet, you will need to swap it out. Apple does not list the capacity of the battery in the specs—though the image says 1460mAh with a 7.62 voltage and Wh rating of 11.13—and…

The Mac is one of the most reliable PCs you can buy, which is probably why there’s a heightened sense of anxiety when you press the power button and nothing happens. But take a deep breath. When your Mac won’t start, there are a number of reasons why, and most likely it’s an easy fix. Apple has a support document with advice on what to do when your Mac won’t turn on, but we’re going to give you a little more detail and a few more things to check. So be sure to hold onto this article for when it inevitably happens again. Before we start, let this be a lesson to keep a backup. Whether you use a cloud service, store important files on iCloud Drive, or use Time Machine…

Apple’s relatively new M1 Macs that rely on Apple silicon have a number of usability differences from previous Intel-based Macs. One difference that’s tripped up some readers is how to start up or boot the M1 Mac from an external drive. Intel Macs generally make this easy. You might want to use a bootable external drive to have a higher-capacity SSD than is offered or affordable via Apple’s pricing. Or you may want one for backup in case something goes very pear shaped with your M1 Mac. Testing indicates that the following are required to start up from an external volume: > A Thunderbolt 3 drive. That’s not just one that uses the USB-C connector, but one that is a native USB 3.1 or 3.2 drive. Nor can you use…

The KANN Alpha is the third model in Astell&Kern’s acclaimed KANN series, following the KANN (reviewed in 2018) and the KANN Cube (reviewed in 2019). These are high-end, high-resolution digital audio players (DAP) designed to deliver pristine audio to just about any set of headphones you might decide to pair it with—regardless of impedance. The Alpha continues the KANN line’s superlative pedigree, but only a select audience will be willing to hand over $1,099 to attain its drool-worthy feature set and very high performance. This player is perfect for owners of difficult-to-drive headphones; music lovers who demand the latest advancements in wireless audio, including Bluetooth 5.0; people who demand broad high-res codec support; audiophiles who want to take full advantage of 4.4mm balanced audio support. CUTTING-EDGE FEATURES, UNRIVALED CODEC SUPPORT Having…

The iLive Tailgate Party speaker (model number ISB380B) looks heavy but is startlingly light. In fact, it looks so much heavier than it is that I almost launched it the first time I picked it up. Knowing that heavy magnets generally mean better sound, it was a bit of an uh-oh moment. Learning it goes for a street price of just 50 bucks didn’t do much to dispel that notion. But you know what? While the sound is strictly mediocre (it’s no Mackie Freeplay Live), it’s workable for casual occasions and because of the look, it’s fun. Okay, camp might be a better word, but it’s also decent low-cost, low-volume, superportable party speaker and PA. DESIGN AND SPECS Basically, the model ISB380B (iLive has a whole series of Tailgate speakers)…

You already know your Apple Watch has awesome health and fitness features, but you might not know that it can also help you use and control your Mac. From unlocking the Mac to controlling apps and music, you can enlist the aid of your watch when your mouse isn’t within reach. UNLOCK YOUR MAC To unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch, your devices must meet certain hardware and software requirements. To check whether your system is compatible, hold down the Option key, click the Apple menu icon in the top left corner, and select System Information. Select the Wi-Fi tab under Network. Then find Interfaces and make sure it says that Auto Unlock is supported. Next, make sure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on your Mac, that your…

Apple’s feature-packed Logic Pro software gets the lion’s share of attention from the musically oriented Mac media—and with a gigantic feature set and comparatively affordable $200 price, that’s rightfully so. However, Logic, like nearly all Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), follows a design bent more on accommodating studios and audio engineers than creatives. Ableton Live, on the other hand, is a DAW that was designed by musicians for musicians, and is likely a better fit for the average Mac-wielding musical type. Programs such as Logic, Pro Tools, and Cubase trace their lineage back to the 1980s. Ableton Live is a relative newcomer, appearing around 2000. As its name implies, Ableton (the company) designed Live at the outset for live performances and quick composition using audio samples. To Ableton’s credit, the initial keep-it-focused…

If you’re concerned about recent reports of the Pegasus spyware reportedly installed by the Israeli NSO Group to hack journalists and world leaders, there’s a tool to check if it’s hidden on your iPhone. But you probably have nothing to worry about. According to a report in the Washington Post, in conjunction with nonprofit groups Forbidden Stories, Amnesty International, and several others, military-grade spyware developed by an Israeli firm was used to hack some 40 smartphones “belonging to journalists, human rights activists, business executives and two women close to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.” The phones appeared on a list of more than 50,000 phone numbers, according to the Post. NSO has denied the allegations. There’s a good chance your iPhone isn’t on that list. While the legality of the operation…

One of the most powerful features Apple added years ago to macOS and iOS was Find My iPhone—and iPad and Mac. The iCloud-connected service lets you track an accidentally misplaced item and potentially recover one that has been stolen. With the service active on a device, you can use Find My for macOS, iOS, or iPadOS or via iCloud.com to erase your computer, phone, or tablet or to queue an erasure signal for the next time the device is on the Internet. iPhones and iPads with a Secure Enclave and Macs with FileVault enabled simply delete the encryption keys for storage. This renders the data irretrievable. (It doesn’t affect your local or iCloud backups, so don’t worry.) On a Mac with a T2 Security Chip or M1 Apple silicon, disk…

When Apple TV+ launched in the fall of 2019, Apple really tried to generate a breakout hit for its streaming TV service. It loaded up the premiere with big-budget shows featuring big-name talent. The opening slate was solid, but nothing really caught fire with the public. Then along came Ted. Ted Lasso, which seemed like a “second-tier” show, is headlined by Jason Sudeikis (not exactly a huge star). It’s all about a popular Midwestern football coach who goes to the U.K. to serve as head coach for a Premier League soccer team. You know, the other kind of football. The one Coach Lasso knows nothing at all about. It’s a pretty standard fish-out-of-water concept that had plenty going against it. “American in Britain” tropes are old and stale. Feel-good sports dramas…

MacOS is Unix at its heart, and Unix thrives on “ownership” and “permissions.” These are attributes attached to every file and folder that describe which users and groups have the right to perform what actions on them: read or view, modify, delete, or, in the case of folders, also see the contents, remove items, and add items. The Finder mediates access to permission (it calls them Privileges in some places), and manages a number of Apple-specific attributes we rarely need to know about. But sometimes things go out of joint, and the Finder can help set them right. One reader noted that after several transitions, they had a mass of files marked as “Read only.” Even though their user account “owned” these files, it was still a one-at-a-time override situation…

Eoz Audio was founded on the belief that style and technology are not mutually exclusive. As the company website proclaims, “We design our earphones to be as stylish and elegant as they sound…We don’t manufacture, we craft them. We use premium materials because we want our products to last, because we want them to be an expression of our personality and style.” The company’s latest offering is the Arc wireless Bluetooth headphone. While the build quality and comfort are top notch, I’m afraid the sound quality is not. This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the best noise-cancelling headphones, where you’ll find reviews of the competition’s offerings, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping for this type of product. The Eoz Arc is a…