Articles
Check In with Friends & Family using iOS 17’s New Feature
The new Check In feature of iOS 17 can provide peace of mind by letting you specify a safety partner who will automatically be notified if you fail to arrive at your destination or complete a timer.
Hey hey, goodbye: “Hey” Part of “Hey Siri” Is Now Optional
In Apple’s new operating systems for 2023, you can choose to invoke Siri with just “Siri” or the old “Hey Siri”—or turn the feature off entirely. We explain where to find the feature for each of your Apple devices.
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Let your Mac get “In Your Face” and Never Miss Appointments
Are you often late to online meetings or in-person appointments because you were too focused on your work to notice the time? The In Your Face app ensures you’ll never miss an important meeting again.
Privacy & Security: Want to Password-Protect a PDF? Follow These Best Practices
If you have a PDF with confidential information that you want to share, you can set a password to restrict opening, printing, or editing. We have instructions for Preview and Adobe Acrobat, plus advice on ensuring your document stays secure.
Quickly Open Control Center with This Keyboard Shortcut
Control Center brings together controls for a collection of core macOS features, but its menu bar icon is small, making it hard for some to click. Luckily, there’s a hidden shortcut to bring it up quickly from the keyboard.
Running Low on Disk Space? Try Deleting Unnecessary Files with These Steps
Is your Mac low on drive space? Learn how to use Apple’s built-in storage management capabilities—perhaps supplemented with a third-party utility—to find and delete gigabytes of unnecessary files.
Have a USB Keyboard and Mouse on stand-by for Troubleshooting
The minimalist approach with a wireless keyboard and mouse is good most of the time, but if things go wrong, it can be handy to have a wired USB keyboard and mouse available for troubleshooting.
New M3 Chip Family Powers Updated MacBook Pros and 24-inch iMac
Apple has unveiled the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips alongside new 14-inch and 16-inch models of the MacBook Pro that use the new chips. The company also refreshed the 24-inch iMac, replacing its M1 with an M3.
Privacy & Security: Voice Phishing Used in Recent Ransomware Attacks
Phishing isn’t limited to email and texts anymore—“voice phishing” or “vishing” was used recently in a major ransomware attack on MGM Resorts. The rise in such attacks means that requests over the phone will need much more verification.
Cookie Popups? Dismiss Them Automatically with These Extensions
If you’re as annoyed as we are by constant cookie consent popups on seemingly every website these days, check out our recommendations for browser extensions that can banish them for good.
Copy SMS Two-Factor Authentication Codes from Messages
Need to enter SMS-initiated two-factor authentication codes manually in Web browsers other than Safari? Try this hidden trick for quickly copying and pasting them instead of retyping all those numbers.
Networking Gear Does Wear Out—It might be the cause of Internet Slowdowns and Dropouts
If you’re suffering from Internet slowdowns and dropouts, remember that networking gear and cables can get flaky with age, so it’s worth checking your modems, routers, and switches when troubleshooting.
Don’t Remember Your “Just-Changed” iPhone Passcode? iOS 17’s Passcode Reset to the Rescue
If you change your passcode and can’t remember it (or it was changed for you by a prankster), iOS 17 lets you use your old passcode for 72 hours. It’s a helpful backstop for the results of a memory lapse or mischievous child.
Apple Announces iPhone 15 Lineup, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2
At its Wonderlust event, Apple introduced the iPhone 15 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 9, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. For the most part, they’re incremental upgrades, making them most compelling to those upgrading from much older devices.
Apple News
New M3 Chip Family Powers Updated MacBook Pros and 24-inch iMac
Apple has unveiled the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips alongside new 14-inch and 16-inch models of the MacBook Pro that use the new chips. The company also refreshed the 24-inch iMac, replacing its M1 with an M3.
Apple Announces iPhone 15 Lineup, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2
At its Wonderlust event, Apple introduced the iPhone 15 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 9, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. For the most part, they’re incremental upgrades, making them most compelling to those upgrading from much older devices.
Will Your Device Run Apple’s 2023 Operating Systems?
In September Apple will release macOS 14 Sonoma, iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17. Here’s the hardware you’ll need to run these operating systems—and to support some of the more powerful features.
Important Updates!
HPC: Legitimately Worried That You’re Being Targeted Online? Try Lockdown Mode
High-value targets like activists, journalists, and government employees with access to sensitive information should consider enabling Lockdown Mode on their Apple devices to protect against hacking or spying by sophisticated digital attackers.
Your iPhone Says “It’s Too Darn Hot!”
As many parts of the world struggle with record heat waves, remember that excessive heat—operating temperatures over 95ºF/35ºC—is harmful to portable electronic devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Keep your digital friends cool!
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