Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i MacLife

For many years now, artificial intelligence (AI) has been viewed with a mix of excitement and trepidation. On the one hand, AI is being used to make sense of large datasets, speed up patient diagnoses, and make light work of dull tasks. On the other hand, there are fears it’s going to take over the world, rule our future, destroy our jobs, and spark the end of civilization as we know it… So when Apple announced its own take on AI — which it’s named Apple Intelligence — the mixed reaction was, for the most part, predictable. For while it’s set to revolutionize how we use the iPhone, iPad and Mac by providing new, faster and easier ways to get things done, there remain some big concerns, primarily surrounding privacy…

CLIPPING ON A pair of goggles and a suitably coiffured helmet, Apple’s Craig Federighi declared “It’s showtime!”, before promptly jumping out of an airplane and parachuting into Apple Park to the sound of Mötley Crüe’s Kickstart My Heart. We wonder if anyone at Apple knew that song is about the band’s bass player overdosing on drugs, forcing medics to literally restart his heart with an adrenaline injection? Adrenaline was certainly the order of the day as the Apple team opened their parachutes, which were emblazoned with the names of the operating systems being discussed in the keynote. This wasn’t a real stunt, of course, but it was a great bit of theater and it set the scene for the presentation well. Naturally, artificial intelligence (AI) played a big part. Apple…

Calculator and Math Notes At long last, the Calculator app is coming to the iPad, and it’s gaining a few new features that take advantage of the tablet’s larger screen. It’s gained a few new tricks like a history sidebar and unit conversions, but its main advance is its ability to do mathematical formulae. A new feature called Math Notes lets you write a sum or expression with your Apple Pencil, and have it calculated for you. Change a variable and the calculation is automatically updated. New in Freeform The new iPad 18 version of Freeform adds Scenes, an all–new way to select sections of a virtual whiteboard. This makes it much easier to navigate your way around a board when things get full. The Scenes menu is available from…

REQUIRES macOS 10.4 or later YOU WILL LEARN How to find characters and make changes to accomplish tasks more easily IT WILL TAKE 10 minutes YOUR KEYBOARD MAY feel fixed, but it’s more adaptable than you might imagine. With a few tweaks, you can put a host of extra functions at your fingertips, making it easier to type and navigate applications. Maybe create your own macOS keyboard shortcuts and edit any of the existing ones. Or assign specific functions to keys and go beyond the character set you see printed on the keyboard, even making use of different language layouts. By investing a small amount of time exploring the options, you can use your Mac like a pro. It’s even possible, via System Settings > Keyboard, to effectively use your…

REQUIRES iOS 17 or later YOU WILL LEARN About various iOS security options IT WILL TAKE 20 minutes TOUCH ID AND Face ID are hard to fool, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add more security to your iPhone — and iOS 17 makes it fairly easy to make your iPhone more secure. We’re saying “fairly easy” because as you’ll see, the settings aren’t all stored in the same place, so you need to go on a bit of a security safari to use them all. The bulk of these features are designed to limit the information that others can access, but some are specifically for preventing a lost or stolen iPhone from becoming an even bigger nightmare. So what should you do if your iPhone gets misplaced? Using another Apple…

HOW IT WORKS YOU WILL LEARN How the Vision Pro creates and displays three–dimensional “spatial” video IT’S BEEN A bit of a roller–coaster ride for the Vision Pro over the last year. Months of feverish speculation were followed by near–hysteria when Apple finally revealed its new VR headset at WWDC in June 2023. There were rave reviews when the Vision Pro went on sale in February this year, followed by a backlash over its high price and reports that sales were falling short of Apple’s targets (which slightly overlooks the fact that the Vision Pro still has only recently gone on sale outside of the US). But Apple has always been playing a long game with the Vision Pro, realizing that it needs to put a lot of technologies into…

ON THE PREVIOUS pages, we explored tips, tricks and techniques to make your shots look great from the comfort of your Mac. If you’re working on your photos on macOS, you can spot and fix artifacts like digital noise or soft focus more easily on the larger screen than on your iPhone or iPad. However, editing with Photos on iOS and iPadOS offers other unique strengths, such as the ability to counteract perspectival distortion — where a tall building’s vertical lines converge inwards towards the top of the frame instead of running parallel with the frame’s edge. It can be a bit fiddly to swipe an iPhone’s screen to straighten a tilted horizon, but you’ll find a one–tap Auto Straighten tool in Photos on iOS that is lacking in the…

NO MATTER HOW large or small your outdoor space is, technology can make it even more inviting. It can turn a lush green lawn into a comfortable living space packed with entertainment, and it can convert even the most spartan of backyards into a dining area for hosting hazy summer evening barbecues. The right tech can also make your space more appealing to wildlife while deterring potential intruders. It can take away the hassle of maintenance, leaving more time for you to chill. By installing some lighting, you could even extend the days long into the night. In fact, with all of the tech we’ve uncovered, you’re unlikely to want to venture back indoors. 1 Nebula Mars 3 > $1,099.99 > https://us.seenebula.com Easy to set up and offering up to…

Andrew Cottle Art Editor Andy enjoys the time that AI saves you for creativity in Adobe design software, so is interested to read about the potential of Apple Intelligence on the iPhone (p6). Rachel Terzian Production Editor iPhone Mirroring is one of Rachel’s favorite new features to be announced for macOS Sequoia — it looks so seamless, especially dragging and dropping photos and files! Howard Oakley Contributor Problems with your Mac, iPhone or iPad? Luckily, Howard’s waiting on p42 to answer all your hardware and software questions.…

SO THE NEXT version of the Mac’s operating system, macOS 15, is to be called Sequoia. Found in northern California and southern Oregon, the sequoia is a giant redwood tree, the tallest trees on Earth. Before logging took its toll they could be found in many parts of California, but many that remain today are protected in the Sequoia National Park. macOS Sequoia has some great new features. As well as benefitting from Apple Intelligence, a new AI platform integrated into the next releases of Apple’s operating systems, it offers iPhone Mirroring, Image Playground, and a new Passwords app. But what are these exciting tools? Let’s take a look. Passwords app The Passwords app is coming to Apple mobile devices, Vision Pro and even Windows as part of the iCloud…

NATURALLY, THERE’S SOME great features coming to Apple’s other key operating systems, such as tvOS, watchOS and visionOS. For example, in tvOS 18, you can enhance the dialogue in a movie, so it doesn’t get drowned out when things get noisy, and you'll be able to see more on–screen info about your favorite Apple TV+ shows. There are some great new Home & Audio features on the way, and Siri has had a boost thanks to Apple Intelligence. Let’s look at some more great treats we have coming in the autumn. Canon STM DUAL Lens It’s already easy to create spatial videos on your Vision Pro using the iPhone 15 Pro. For a real pro touch, however, Canon is to release a dedicated spatial lens for its EOS R7 digital camera…

REQUIRES macOS 13 or later, iOS/iPadOS 16 or later YOU WILL LEARN How to create reflowable and interactive books IT WILL TAKE One hour IF YOU’RE CURRENTLY only using Pages to write letters and craft resumes, you’ll be pleased to discover that it can do so much more than that! In fact, if you’ve ever fancied writing a book, Pages gives you all the tools you need to create a professional–looking tome. You can then share it with friends and family or even put it up for sale on Apple Books. Pages is nothing if not flexible. You can create pages with fixed layouts, or allow the app to take care of the formatting so that you don’t need to worry about text looking messy on multiple devices. And since you’re…

REQUIRES Flighty app (free, offers IAPs), iOS 16 or later YOU WILL LEARN How to keep an eye on incoming/outgoing flights IT WILL TAKE 10 minutes TRAVELING BY PLANE can be stressful, particularly if flights are delayed or canceled. Likewise, figuring out if a friend or family member’s flight is going well can also cause frustration, especially if you’re picking them up from the airport or waiting on their arrival at home. To help you better deal with air–related uncertainties, Flighty provides highly accurate flight–tracking data which comes into its own when predicting delays. Whether you are tracking your own flights or checking in on someone else’s, you can check the exact whereabouts of planes even up to 25 hours before takeoff. You can also receive notifications and sync data…

YOU DON’T HAVE to stick with Photos’ built–in editing tools; you can also use third–party apps to enhance your images, either by using them as Extensions within Photos itself (with apps such as Pixelmator Pro) or as stand–alone apps. Photos has many limitations compared to third–party options. You can’t use Photos to creatively combine different images together via layers as you can with Pixelmator Pro. Photos is also limited when it comes to removing unwanted objects (especially if they are larger than spots and pimples) compared to third–party apps, such as Photoshop, which can seamlessly remove and replace much more complex objects using AI–powered tools. Photos is capable of correcting typical problems with color, tone and composition, but if you want to take your edits in a more creative direction…

WHEN YOU’RE TRAVELING by air to a beautiful far–flung destination, cycling to an event, or hitting the highways for the ultimate road trip, tech can be your best companion. By being well prepared, you can prevent your devices running out of juice, and even avoid going without sufficient water yourself. You can screen out background noise and relax, or crank up the sounds during stops to get everyone in a party mood. If you have to work while traveling, you can make life more comfortable and, if you’re making your own way to places, you’ll want a sense of direction and the comfort of knowing you’re prepared should something go wrong. Let’s check out a selection of the best travel technology. 1 Peak Design Out Front Bike Mount V2 >…

$199 From https://ifi-audio.com Features Portable, rechargeable DAC/amp, 3.5mm/4.4mm connectors, up to 12 hours battery (max) THE HIP DAC from iFi has been one of the most popular portable DACs (digital–to–analog converter) of recent years, thanks to its attractive and compact design that looks like an old–fashioned hip flask. It’s not the cheapest DAC you can buy, but this updated Hip DAC 3 boasts a few extra features that will particularly appeal to audiophiles who own more than just one pair of headphones. The Hip DAC 3 has its own volume control on the front panel, along with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors. There’s also a PowerMatch button that can boost the power output for larger, over–ear headphones, along with an “XBass” button that adds a bit of weight to the…

$199.99 From www.edifier.com Needs Bluetooth 5.3, USB–C or 3.5mm input; supports Apple Home; 52Hz — 40kHz frequency response EDIFIER’S D32 SITS somewhere between its hi–fi and portable ranges. Compact but well–built, it plugs into a wall outlet and also has a rechargeable internal battery that can provide up to 11 hours of playback. Despite this portability, there’s no weather sealing so you’ll want to keep it indoors or at least away from any moisture. The design is pleasingly retro and there’s a choice of two colors, with a row of buttons on the front for playback, power and input selection. These are mostly also available via the Edifier app, which also lets you manage updates and provides a six–band EQ together with presets. We didn’t find it necessary to use this…

REQUIRES AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Max YOU WILL LEARN How to access some of your AirPods’ best features IT WILL TAKE 10 minutes YOUR AIRPODS, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max aren’t just great–sounding headphones. They’re very clever too, with lots of customization options and some very smart features. That’s particularly true of the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3, which have spatial audio for more immersive sound — something that’s great for live and acoustic music, TV and movies. AirPods Pro 2 and Max add noise cancellation into the mix, and that’s where things get even smarter. In addition to noise canceling, you can use Transparency mode to let some outside sound in — useful in cities so you can hear traffic and public transport announcements. All…

APPLE DESIGNED YOUR iPhone so that you can point, shoot and share your shots with the minimum of editing. In effect, your iPhone edits a photo in–camera to create a well–exposed, correctly colored and sharply focused image. However, there are times when you’ll want to take manual control over the look of your photographs, so we’ll show you how to use macOS Photos’ editing tools to give your shots a more creative makeover. Adjusting multiple sliders to create a particular look can take time, but you can copy every adjustment that you’ve made to one shot and paste it onto others. After snapping a shot, a good springboard to the editing process is to click on the Auto Enhance (magic wand) button to boost contrast and create more vibrant colors. Both…

CAN IT BE TRUE? Is it really finally summer? Yes! And that means you can now head out into the yard, or venture further afield, with the latest tech in tow. After all, with the days now longer and warmer, there’s simply no excuse to stay in your home and, since there’s a wide range of great tech designed to accompany you in the great outdoors, you’re certainly not going to be missing your gadget fix. As you’ll discover over the next few pages, there are devices to suit pretty much every situation. There are portable, battery–powered projectors that can turn your outdoor space into a pop–up cinema, for example, and HomeKit–compatible smart lights that can be controlled from your phone and alter the outdoor vibe in seconds. You can…

WHETHER YOU’RE EMBARKING on an adventure or simply looking to hit the beach with a stack of books and an abundance of games, you’re more than likely going to create many new memories when on vacation. First, make sure they’re good ones by protecting your belongings when away from home and, if you’re going somewhere remote, take your own source of power so you’re not left high and dry. Next, look to capture your fun experiences forever by exploring various ways of taking the very best videos and photos — on land or in the water. Here we look at some vacation essentials depending on your trip. And don’t worry about taking too much tech with you — a spacious bag is all you need. 1 GoPro HERO12 Black > $399.99…

$99.99 From www.anker.com Features Up to 15W Qi2 wireless iPhone charging, 5W to the Watch and AirPods, adjustable phone and Watch stands, 40W USB–C wall charger Needs iPhone 12 or later with MagSafe ANKER’S LATEST THREE–IN–ONE pad is very portable and easy to slip into a bag, and is powered from a bundled 40W wall charger, with a 5ft USB–C cable also supplied to link the two. It charges an iPhone 15 Pro to 25% in just 21 minutes, and an Apple Watch S9 to 30% in 20 minutes. The Watch Series 7 or later and the Ultra also support fast charging. The pad incorporates algorithms to make charging smarter, according to Anker, and also “pioneering cooling solutions” which do seem to work, with the pad not getting overly warm…

$59.99 one–time purchase (for three devices); $39.99/year (for five devices) From https://imazing.com Needs OS X 10.11 or later; supports iPhone, iPad, iPod, iPod touch, Vision Pro LET’S BE HONEST. However much we love our Apple mobile devices, iTunes often frustrates. Whether in the olden days as a stand–alone app or on more modern versions of macOS, where it was integrated into the Finder, there’s plenty that Apple’s own tools simply can’t do. That’s where DigiDNA’s iMazing comes in. This handy mobile device manager for Macs and Windows PCs puts you in control of your iPhone, iPad, iPod and even Vision Pro in ways which Apple would never allow. On a Mac, iMazing 3 requires macOS El Capitan or later. With it, you can manage iPhones and iPads going right back…

$149.99 From www.razer.com Features 15W passthrough charging, 3.5mm audio socket, clickable thumb sticks, six shoulder buttons, four face buttons, weight — 9.38oz KISHI ULTRA IS Razer’s new top–of–the–range smartphone controller, and it makes significant advances over the Kishi v2 and Kishi v2 Pro. Simply pull the handles apart, plug your phone or tablet into its USB connector, and then let it spring back into place. Three sets of sizers are included in the box, so you can find one that fits your phone case. There’s a USB–C port on the bottom so you can connect it to a Windows 11 PC or a full–sized iPad and use it as a cabled joypad too (but at the time of writing, not a Mac), though the cable isn’t included. The companion app,…