Powerful Mac apps that won't break the bank

There’s something of a misconception when it comes to the Mac. While powerful tools like Photoshop or Final Cut Pro certainly have price tags commensurate with their robust feature sets, many of the greatest Mac apps won’t cost you anything more than the time they take to download them.

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Even though more products than usual are already back-ordered past Christmas, it’s not too late to get some excellent tech gifts in time for this holiday. Here are some 9to5Mac recommendations for last-minute tech gifts for under $100.

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A bug in Apple's macOS software update process is causing issues for Mac system administrators and mobile device management deployments.Credit: AppleAs noted by microMDM, the issue surfaced after the release of macOS Big Sur version 11.1. There were widespread reports of system administrators not being able to see the software update, or not being able to download and install it.

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9to5Mac’s Benjamin Mayo and Zac Hall discuss the launch of Apple’s new MagSafe Duo charger, the upcoming launch of Apple Fitness+, new features in iOS 14.3, high-end Apple silicon Mac expectations, and the surprise debut of Apple AirPods Max.

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I'm sure this sounds familiar: You're trying to download and install the latest iOS release, or take some photos, or download that cool app your friend told you about, and your iPhone says the storage is full.

You’ve already deleted every app you don’t think you need, and there’s still not enough space. So you look at your iPhone storage in Settings page and, sure enough, your iPhone’s storage is full. Worst of all, a huge chunk of it is just listed as Other. What’s that supposed to mean? How do you get rid of it?

The Other storage section is mysterious and confusing, and there’s no one answer that works for everyone, but hopefully this guide will help you deal with this problem.

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It can be a challenge to find stocking stuffers for members of your family. This type of gift, which some people open on Christmas Eve and others on Christmas Day, might also be a last-minute purchase for most people since stocking stuffers typically...

Apple's latest iPhone operating system is here! In beta since WWDC in June, iOS 14 is available for every iPhone that is capable of running iOS 13.

When you update your iPhone to iOS 14, there will be a lot of new stuff to learn. This is a big update packed with new features. We have written guides, tips, and how-to articles describing the most important stuff, and to make your life easier, we've compiled them all here. Use this article as your roadmap to learning all the new features and changes.

iOS 14 FAQ

For a quick summary of all the new features in iOS 14, along with a list of compatible iPhones and how to update your phone, check our iOS 14 FAQ.

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Qualcomm has provided benchmarks for its Snapdragon 888 flagship system on a chip, and they show lackluster performance versus the iPhone 12, and even lose out to older iPhones running the A13.Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 benchmarkedQualcomm announces its new processors every year in mid-December to preempt their arrival in products at CES. In 2020, the announcements were made online, and benchmarks were provided by the company.

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Cyberpunk 2077 is a mess. When it works, it’s a solid role-playing game set in a classic, grimy sci-fi world — but the thing is, it often doesn’t work. Since launch, players on every platform have been sharing videos and images of the game’s ridiculo...

More apps have slowly been trickling in for Apple’s latest M1 machines. The latest addition is popular flight tracking app, Flighty, from developer Ryan Jones. The app is universal, so if you are already a Flighty user you can simply go to the Mac App Store listing and redownload it from iCloud.

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The U.S. government on Friday added drone maker DJI to a list of Chinese companies designated as national security concerns, and by doing so, banned the export of U.S. technology to the company.Credit: DJIDJI was added to the so-called Entity List by the Commerce Department on Friday, Reuters reported. The move bans U.S. companies from exporting technology to the drone maker.

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In a note to clients — as noted by MacRumors — Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis, Thomas O'Malley, Tim Long, and their associates said that an iPad with an OLED display does not appear likely until 2022. Previous rumors had pegged such an Apple tablet would arrive in the last half of 2021.

Apple already uses OLED displays for the iPhone X and newer and all Apple Watch models, so why no OLED iPad. The Barclays guys say at least one iPad Pro model will arrive in the first half of next year, so Apple may not want to release tablets with two different displays tech advances in the same calendar year.

The Barclays analyst have also expressed their expectations for the “iPhone 13.” To wit:

° They’ll support Wi-Fi 6E, a faster, more efficient version of Wi-Fi that allows wireless access points like routers to better manage networks crowded with lots of users and client devices. ...

For Sonos, 2020 began in dramatic fashion. While the tech world was focused on CES, the company made a splash by suing Google for allegedly infringing five of its wireless speaker patents. Sonos said this was just a small portion of Google’s overall...

Boston's RR Auction held an Apple-themed auction, in which they sold both a fully operational Apple-1 computer as well as a 23-page handwritten document by Steve Wozniak detailing notes and diagrams for the Apple II breadboard.The work-in-progress documents were penned in 1975 and included five pages of circuit schematics, six photocopied pages headed "Bus Sources," "System Timing," "Display," "Sync Timing & Adr. Gen," and "Timing," and a 12-page handwritten programming instruction guide consisting of 28 steps.Wozniak also provided a letter of provenance, which reads:

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We’re officially one week away from Christmas, even though it may not feel like it, which means these are truly the final days to snag last-minute holiday gifts. Believe it or not, there are still sales you can grab and some of those gadgets could st...

Apple has published a new support guide this week that offers users an in-depth guide at managing their data and information on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. The new document is entitled “Device and Data Access when Personal Safety is At Risk.”

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Did you know that Siri can make animal sounds? With a new update, the voice assistant can help you with that. Dave and I also talk about the latest information on the AirPods Max, as well as Facebook spewing garbage about Apple and privacy.

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CleanMyMac X: CleanMyMac X is an all-in-one cleaning and optimizing software for your Mac. Learn more about CleanMyMac X and download it for free at macpaw.app/dalrymple.

You just got Apple's AirPods Max, but it may not be readily apparent how to connect them to Apple TV hardware. Here are three simple ways to connect them.How to connect your AirPod's Max to your Apple TVThe AirPods Max have an auto-switching feature when using iOS and iPadOS devices, but it doesn't work with your Apple TV. This is due to outdated processors in use on the Apple TV, so users have to manually connect their AirPods Max via AirPlay when desired.

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A long-running FaceTime patent infringement battle isn’t over yet, despite Apple paying VirnetX the full $454M awarded against it when the US Supreme Court rejected the iPhone maker’s appeal.

We noted at the time that the two sides were still arguing over a recalculation of the damages, and it seems the worst case could see Apple paying more than a billion dollars in total …

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A coalition of more than 150 activist groups have penned a letter to Apple urging it to address human rights concerns and to stop "suppressing" criticisms of its current actions.Credit: AppleThe group alleges that Apple has failed to adopt the human rights policies that it announced earlier in 2020, and has actively taken steps to suppress human rights critics.

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An updated “Entity List” is bad news for the world’s largest drone manufacturer. DJI has been put in the company of Huawei and others, a move that will have consequences for the firm.

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There was much talk about an iPhone 12 supercycle – a year in which dramatically more people than usual upgrade to the latest models. Apple’s adoption of 5G was said to be the likely driver of the extra sales, and one firm of analysts says that this is happening on an almost unprecedented scale.

The last true supercycle was in 2014, when Apple finally moved to larger displays, tapping into strong pent-up demand. The big question was whether sales of the iPhone 12 could match the pre-launch hype, and Wedbush believes that the answer is yes…

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Serious violations of labor laws were taking place at the iPhone manufacturing facility in India where a workers’ protest on Saturday turned violent and caused US$7 million worth of damage, a report by the Karnataka state government has found, according to the South China Morning Post.

The article adds that exploitative practices such as underpayment of wages, irregular hours and poor working conditions were common at the Wistron Corporation assembling and manufacturing unit in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, as detailed by its Department of Factories, Boilers, Industrial Safety and Health.

The iPhone manufacturing plant at Naraspura, India, run by Taiwan-based tech giant Wistron Corp., came under attack on Saturday from its employees over salary payments (or, rather, lack thereof),...

The MacBook Air had become the de facto laptop for many years for many users. However, Apple ignored the MacBook Air for a few years but then introduced a radically new model in 2018. But it just was not as revolutionary as the previous generation and it suffered from major issues such as keys not working, heating up, and many more.

The 2020 M1 MacBook Air completely changes the scenario. It brings in a very efficient processor made by Apple – the M1 – the first consumer Apple silicon for Mac. Apple previously released a Mac Mini with the A12Z chip but it was only for developers. The MacBook Air now does not have a fan as the chip can execute heavy operations without generating a lot of heat.

Same design, newer internals

The new MacBook Air starts at the same price tag of $999 (USD) and $899 for students (and people in the field of education). However, the price tag makes much more sense than it has made in the last two years since the last major update. The...

Apple asked a Texas federal judge Thursday to reduce a US$502.8 million jury verdict for VirnetX in a network security patent case, reports Law360 (a subscription is required to read the entire article).

The tech giant argued that VirnetX introduced evidence at trial of other licensing agreements that didn't involve comparable technology, causing the jury to award an inflated royalty price per device.

This is part of a years-long legal battle between the two companies. In January 2014 VirnetX Holding Company, an Internet security software and technology company (and, by most considerations, a “patent troll”) filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas...

Apple is hitting the weekend with a new TV show sale featuring some of the biggest names out there like Seinfeld, The Office, Schitt’s Creek, and more. You’ll also find a selection of movies discounted from $5 this weekend, too. All of which will become a permanent part of your library of content. Head below for our top picks.

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Apple introduced the touch sensitive Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro in 2016. Initially, the company offered a non Touch Bar model as well, however, soon went all Touch Bar on the Pro MacBooks. However, not many find it easy to use as it’s a variable display with no feedback whereas a key press gives a physical feel.

To make the Touch Bar feel more natural, Apple is reportedly working on adding haptic feedback to the Touch Bar. The company calls the technology of haptic feedback Force Touch on the trackpad of the MacBook. On all the latest MacBooks, a click on the Trackpad essentially activates a vibration motor.

Touch Bar with Force Touch

Patently Apple spotted a patent filed by Apple and published by the US Patent & Trademark Office. The patent suggests a future where MacBook models could have a “Touch Bar with Force Touch Feature”. 

A pictorial diagram attached with the patent throws some light on how the Force...

Apple began phasing in the use of its SSD-friendly APFS file system with High Sierra for SSD-only Macs, and then upgraded Fusion Drive-based Macs in Mojave. In Big Sur, Time Machine volumes can finally be formatted with APFS, too. But in this transition, one capability was quietly lost: APFS volumes cannot be shared for network access via Apple’s relatively ancient Apple Filing Protocol (AFP).

AFP dates to the pre-OS X days, with a version appearing in System 6 in the late 1980s. As with most older protocols, it got long in the tooth, and Apple went from just supporting the Windows and Linux world’s SMB to shifting to it as the only built-in sharing method. Way back in OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Apple began moving away from AFP in favor of the industry-standard SMB, although it still hasn’t removed support.

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As noted by iMore, Apple has adjusted the trade-in values of many of its products on the Apple Trade In webpage. For example, iPads are now actually worth more than they were previously, but other devices like Mac have dropped in value.

The iPad Pro is now worth up to US$525, up from $500. The iPad Air has gone from $210 to $250, the iPad from $200 to $240, and the iPad mini from $175 to $205. Apple has also boosted the price of its Apple Watch models ever so slightly. The Series 4 is now worth up to $150 (up from $140), the Series 3 is now worth $95 (up from $85), and the Series 1 is worth up to $35 (up from $30).

Alas, the MacBook Pro is down...

In a note to clients — as noted by AppleInsider — Webush lead analyst Daniel Ives  predicts that Apple has a good shot at shipping 250 million iPhones in 2021.

Apple has not had a "launch uptrend such as this in a number of years,” he adds. Ives notes that that the only similar iPhone trajectory would be the iPhone 6 in 2014.

The analyst says the supply chain is now expecting December quarter iPhone unit assemblies of up to 95 million. That's about a 35% increase from the initial Wedbush and Wall Street forecasts.

AppleInsider motes that, if that trajectory holds out in a bull case through the holiday quarter, Ives predicts that Apple could ship "north of 240 million" smartphones in 2021. The analyst adds that Apple could ship a peak of about 250 million...

Future iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and even Macs may adjust audio output if they detect unwanted, distracting sounds such as wind. Apple has filed for a patent for “speaker emulation of a microphone for wind detection.”

In the patent filing, the tech giant notes that acoustic noise may be any unwanted (or unpleasant) sound that is produced in an acoustic domain. Such noise is unwanted when it interferes with a person's ability to listen to other sounds (such as music) that are being produced simultaneously by playback on an audio device. To reduce the effect of noise, active noise cancellation (ANC) systems may be utilized. 

Apple wants to beef up its devices’ abilities to use one or more microphones to sense ambient sound, from which the ANC system produces an anti-noise signal that is similar to the noise but opposite in phase. This signal is then outputted through a speaker to cancel the noise through destructive interference. 

Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200393881) for “structural thermal solutions for display devices” that shows it wants the rumored “Apple Glasses” — an augmented reality/virtual reality head-mounted display (HMD) to be comfortable and cool when worn.

In the paten filing, Apple notes that certain display panels, such as OLED and uOLED panels, for example, can operate at high temperatures. In known systems, such as wearable HMDs, for example, display panels are usually supported by a carrier, bezel, or other such structure, which is often formed from a lightweight material (e.g., plastic) to reduce the overall weight of the systems. 

However, these structures offer little benefit in terms of thermal regulation. Without proper cooling and heat dissipation, the panels (which Apple says are expensive and difficult to replace) can degrade over time, often resulting in irreparable damage or system failure. To manage and offset the heat...

The AirPods Max Smart Case has almost received more attention than the headphones themselves. While Apple says that the design is with good reason, reviewers have almost universally hated it – made worse by the fact that it appeared necessary to fully switch off the headphones.

But an updated Apple support document reveals that, in fact, using the case makes very little difference to battery life …

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iOS gaming has expanded, as Google Stadia can now be used via the web for iOS devices. Roughly a year following the launch of Google Stadia, Google’s cloud-based gaming service, the system can now be used via iOS and is headed to the iPhone and iPad with its latest mobile web beta. Per The Verge’s […]

Home for the holidays takes on a whole new meaning this year. These movie picks will help you celebrate the season.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook has tweeted in response to Facebook's claims that forthcoming ad tracking in iOS 14 will be "devastating" for small businesses.Tim CookFollowing Facebook's blog post and two newspaper ads claiming Apple's privacy features will irrevocably damage the internet, Tim Cook has tweeted about Apple's position.

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The MacBook Air has not been the “recommended” laptop in the past few years. From 2011 to 2015, the MacBook Air was the best no nonsense laptop because it got all the important things right. However, Apple did not update the MacBook Air for three years after 2015, until 2018.

Things turned even worse with the 2018 MacBook Air, as it packed the non-reliable butterfly keyboard and suffered from thermal issues. Same was the story with the 2019 version; the 2020 Intel MacBook Air packed a better keyboard but it still suffered from major thermal issues.

New internals redefine the Mac

The 2020 M1 MacBook Air changes the story completely as it brings a very efficient processor to a thin and light body. Yes, the design of the MacBook Air is slightly outdated when compared to other Windows ultrabooks. It’s important to note that Apple uses a design for (around four) years while improving every single aspect of it.

Apple promises 15 hours of web usage with the new...

iLounge has a special deal on the Magnetic Wireless Charger for iPhone 12, which allows you to continue using your smartphone in landscape or portrait mode without tangles.

iPhone 12 owners should definitely take advantage of the phone’s wireless charging mechanism, and what better way than to get a wireless charger for it? Presenting the Magnetic Wireless Charger, a convenient and portable way to get much-needed juice for work or play throughout the day.

The smart chip recognizes your iPhone 12’s capacity and offers up to 15W fast charging aspects. The cable length is 3 feet long and should be enough for placing on a desk, side table or nightstand. Security protocols include overcharge, foreign body detection, overvoltage, short circuit and more.

The Magnetic Wireless Charger for iPhone 12 normally costs $39 while we at iLounge are giving it away for just $29.99. You get 23% off with our deal.

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Apple has recently shared its iOS adoption rate and gives the viewers a glimpse of how many iPhones have the latest Apple operating system.

According to the report, iOS 14 has been installed on 81% of iPhones that have been introduced over the past 4 years. 17 percent run iOS 13 and about 2 percent use older versions. As for all iPhone devices, 72% of all owners use iOS 14.

For iPads users 75% run iPadOS 14, while 22% use iPadOS 13 and 3 percent use older versions for devices introduced over the past four years.

The data was collected on the App Store on December 15, 2020. It’s worthy to note that Apple hasn’t released the data when it first outed the iOS 14. However, sources say adoption rate for iOS 14 was at around 50% during October which means a significant number of users opted to get Apple’s newest system update over the past few months.

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The Look Around feature, which was introduced in Apple Maps in iOS 13 has expanded to more US cities, including Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Detroit and Denver.

Look Around allows Apple Map users to get to street-level views and 3D imagery where available. The feature is similar to Street View by Google.

Look Around was initially limited to a few cities when it launched on iOS 13 but has slowly expanded to cover more cities over time. Currently, it’s available in twenty-two cities around the globe.

Before the expansion to Detroit, Denver, Miami and Fort Lauderdale Look Around had been added to Southern Canada along with a redesign of the app. 

To get a full list of the cities and regions that already have ‘Look Around’ you can visit the official Apple website. To see Look Around in the...

Repair specialist iFixit on Thursday began its customary teardown of Apple's latest piece of hardware, AirPods Max, to find logic boards and large drivers fighting for space in crammed aluminum ear cups.As with prior Apple device disassemblies, iFixit kicked the process off with an X-ray of the new headphone model. Conducted by Creative Electron, the resulting image reveals what at first glance appears to be a spacious interior with electronics arranged in each shell's outer periphery. Upon closer inspection, however, allotted space within the svelte aluminum cups is at a premium.Apple opted to incorporate both battery cells in one ear cup. How engineers counterbalanced the added weight is at this point unknown. The X-ray also shows the drivers' massive dual-ring magnet motor, Apple's "revolutionary" ear cup positioning mechanism, an array of alignment...

Over time, your Mac probably accumulates a lot of cruft. Old applications you no longer use, data you have no use for, a desktop full of icons (only four of which you actually ever use)...you know what I mean. With so many people working from home lately, the problem has only gotten worse.

Now is as good a time as any to tidy up your Mac, freeing up storage space and probably CPU cycles and RAM in the process. Here are a few tips to make quick work of your Mac “spring cleaning.”

Optimize Storage

Open the Storage Management app, either by using Spotlight (Command-space) or by clicking the Apple logo in the upper left of the menu bar, choosing About This Mac, clicking the Storage tab, then Manage.

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Google has made a progressive web version of its cloud gaming platform, unlocking the ability for iPhone and iPad owners to play on their devices.

A dedicated web app through Safari bypasses Apple’s cloud gaming service restrictions and makes the public beta service available to iOS users. To access Google Stadia users can visit Stadia.com and choose popular games such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Red Dead Redemption 2, DOOM Eternal, NBA 2K21 and more.

The web version of Stadia can be placed in the Home screen by going to the site, accessing the Share options and choosing ‘Add to Home Screen’.

Google says the cloud gaming platform is still in beta stages and performance improvements and additions can still take place as the company collects data.

Google Stadia is $10 a month and allows users to access games in the cloud on their tablets, phones, Macs, PCs and laptops. It...

Apple has rolled out its new iOS app privacy labels (the nutrition label equivalent for apps) for both first-party and third-party apps. Read along for how to check iOS app privacy details for apps in the App Store as well as those that come preloaded on iPhone and iPad to fully understand how your information is being used.

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We recently reported that Shazam is offering up to five months of free Apple Music subscription to new users, but it seems Apple has been getting even more aggressive in its marketing strategies. The company partnered with TikTok to offer four months of free Apple Music in a new special offer.

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Josh Centers chronicles the latest battles revolving around the App Store, including Facebook joining Epic Games’ lawsuit against Apple, a group of big-name publishers signing on to the Coalition for App Fairness to pressure Apple and Google, and Apple making the Brave browser put its crypto wallet away.

Samuel L. Jackson is set to star in the limited series “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” for Apple TV+, according to Variety.

Here’s the description of the series: The six-episode series is based on the novel of the same name by Walter Mosley, who will adapt the book for the screen. Jackson stars as the titular Ptolemy Grey, a 91 year old man forgotten by his family, by his friends, by even himself. On the brink of sinking even deeper into a lonely dementia, Ptolemy experiences a seismic shift when he’s given the tremendous opportunity to briefly regain his memories, and uses this precious and fleeting lucidity to solve his nephew’s death and come to terms with his past.

Jackson and Mosley will both executive produce the series, along with David Levine and Eli Selden of Anonymous Content and Diane...

Parallels has released a Technical Preview Program for running Parallels Desktop 16 on M1-powered Macs. The company says that it created a “new virtualization engine that uses the Apple M1 Mac chip hardware-assisted virtualization” to allow users to run ARM-based operating systems, including Windows, in a virtual machine.

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