Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2025 i MacLife

BACKING UP YOUR EBOOKS FROM BOOKS ISN’T IMMEDIATELY APPARENT IF YOU’RE A voracious reader of ebooks, and have hundreds of them in your Books app library (including some from other sources), you may well want to back them up to external storage so that you don’t lose them, and also perhaps to free up some space on your Mac’s internal drive. How to do so isn’t immediately apparent, however. While Apple makes it easy to find and move (or copy) the media libraries from other first–party apps — such as Music, TV, and Photos — to an external drive, this isn’t the case with the Books app. HIDDEN BOOKS For Books, it’s not easy to find the files, as they’re secreted away inside a Containers folder inside a user’s Library…

WHEN WE THINK about traveling, we usually imagine jetting off on our annual vacation to enjoy a fresh, warm environment, our minds looking forward to days spent relaxing by the sea or exploring new lands. But travel can mean anything, from the mundane journey to the nearest store, to the daily office commute. It can also mean being a digital nomad, laying down your tech wherever you fancy working or being creative that day. In all such circumstances, you may want to think about the gadgets that are available to make work and play easier when you’re on the move. We’re talking about the truly useful devices and items that would make a difference to life away from your home. To that end, we’re thinking bags, power banks, external drives,…

$299 From https://ifi-audio.com Features Bluetooth 5.4 (AAC, aptX Lossless); RCA (phono), optical/coaxial and USB–C inputs; RCA (phono), optical/coaxial, 4.4mm outputs; 1.4x6.2x4.5in, 1lb MOST DIGITAL–TO–ANALOG converters (DACs) are designed for use with wired headphones or speakers, but iFi’s Zen Blue 3 casts its net wider. It’s pretty expensive, but along with a variety of wired audio connectors, it supports the latest Bluetooth features, too. That mix of features enables it to work in three main modes. “RX” mode allows it to work as a Bluetooth receiver so that you can stream audio to the DAC from your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, then use the RCA, 4.4mm, or optical connectors to connect wired headphones, speakers, or other hi–fi kit. “TX” (transmitter) mode lets it accept a wired audio input via RCA and…

$139.99 From www.keychron.com Features Metal and wood frame, magnetic switches, Gateron double-rail magnetic switches with adjustable actuation points, 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.2, connects up to three devices NOT EVERYONE FAVORS Apple’s low-profile keyboards. Some prefer old-school models with meaty keys and plenty of bounce. Keychron’s K2 HE keyboards, financed by a successful Kickstarter campaign and now available on general sale, offers the same quality and precision as an Apple device but in a beautiful large-key form factor. Two versions of the Keychron K2 HE are available; Standard (black only) and Special Edition (black or white). The keyboard is set up for Mac users, but Windows keys, and the tools to fit them (which include a key puller, a screwdriver and a hex key) are included. For wireless connectivity, there…

$14.99 From www.feralinteractive.com Needs iOS/iPadOS 17 or later, at least 11GB of storage, HD textures require 14GB of free space and 8GB of memory, iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max or later/iPhone 14 or later, iPad mini 7th gen, iPad Air and iPad Pro with M1 chip or later THIS GAME HAS fearsomely high system requirements, and takes a lot of space on your iPhone/iPad too. After a 4.03GB download on the App Store, there’s another download of just shy of 10GB before you can play; even more if you want the high–def vehicle textures (only available on devices with more than 8GB of memory). To run it on an iPhone, you need the Pro/Pro Max version of the iPhone 12 or 13, or an iPhone 14 or later. On an iPad,…

AT WWDC 2025, Apple introduced a new, unified interface design language across all its platforms. Along with Apple Intelligence features common to all (on supported devices), this brings iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple TV closer together in appearance and user experience than ever. As was widely leaked, the change is flagged with a new, unified naming convention based on the year — or at least, the year into which the Fall OS releases will take you — starting with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and so on. The design is based on a theme (Apple is calling it “a new material”, but it’s entirely virtual) called Liquid Glass, which it says was “inspired by the depth and dimensionality of visionOS.” Interface elements and controls are translucent,…

BACK IN THE old days, most of us limited film camera use to holiday snaps and family milestones. A handful of photos would get printed, and a few might make it into an album. Managing photos in those days was relatively easy; the only editing we did was to bin prints that came adorned with a quality control sticker if they suffered from flash–induced red–eye or a finger over the lens. Today, we digitally document many more of our activities via the always–to–hand Camera app on iPhone. This leads to the very different issue of managing thousands of photographs, many of which run the risk of rarely being seen! Fortunately, Apple’s Photos app has plenty of tools to enable you to store photos safely, organize your collection so that nothing…

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) image generation is all the rage, and even Apple is getting in on the act with Apple Intelligence and the Image Playground app. But right now, we have to say there’s another, better option: Microsoft Copilot. Copilot is more capable than Image Playground, yet it’s just as simple to use. There’s no need for additional plug–ins or complicated settings; just open it up and start typing your prompts. You also don’t need to tell Copilot that you want it to create an image; simply enter your prompt, and it will know that you want a picture. Microsoft says there are three important aspects when generating images: subject, context, and details. It’s also a good idea to think like a photographer and consider lighting, framing, and the lens…

IN iOS 18.4, Apple updated the Shortcuts app with a whole range of new actions. Many of them affect the Safari app, giving you a new degree of control over the way your web browser works, and providing interesting possibilities over how it can be incorporated into your shortcuts. These new shortcuts might be laying the groundwork for Apple’s long–overdue Siri upgrade. After all, Apple previously promised that the new version of Siri will be able to take actions within apps for you. The new powers that the fresh shortcuts bring will enable Siri to delve deeper into Safari and perform tasks that it couldn’t manage before. And it’s not just Safari that’s got the treatment — there are new settings shortcuts for Maps, Reminders, Calendar, Apple TV, Books, Notes,…

APPLE’S RECENT FLURRY of product launches has left a few people wondering about the logic of the various product upgrades, but none as much as the launch of the new Mac Studio. The 2025 update for the Mac Studio is now available with two main options that use either an M4 Max or M3 Ultra chip. Now, we all know that each new generation of Apple silicon processor is faster than its predecessors, so logic might suggest that the fourth–generation M4 Max would be faster than the third–gen M3 Ultra. However, the price of the Mac Studio tells a different story, as the M4 Max option starts at $1,999, while the M3 Ultra is twice that, weighing in at a whopping $3,999. But as always, the devil is in the…

FROM SUN–DRENCHED CREEKS AND FORESTS TO DINGY CAVES AND SWAMPS, NAIAD IS BEAUTIFUL $19.99 From https://hiwarp.com Needs macOS 10.12 or later NAIAD ELEGANTLY CAPTURES the serenity of floating downstream on a warm summer’s day, feeling at one with the water. Here, you’re a river guardian, and you flow through the waterways, helping plants and animals along the way. Naiad’s beautiful bird’s–eye–view graphics, tranquil gameplay, thoughtful sound design, and soothing melodies all make this the ideal game to play after a long day at work. As you progress, you rescue lost ducklings, help guide frogs to lily pads, and show birds back to their nests. Completing these puzzles offer heartwarming rewards, but they’re mostly optional. Everything is slow and steady, but it’s beautifully relaxing when combined with gorgeous visuals and audio.…

APPLE TV+ IS Apple’s only loss-making division. Current estimates are that Apple is losing a billion dollars a year to bring you quality TV entertainment like Severance, Ted Lasso and Slow Horses. In fact, Apple is so uninterested in making money from Apple TV+ that it gives you free access to it for a year if you purchase an Apple product. Currently I pay for Apple TV+, but I don’t even notice it as it’s all wrapped into my Apple One Family plan, which includes storage and Apple Music. You could say that Apple can afford it. According to its last quarterly earnings statement, Apple is still wildly profitable, making revenue of $95.4 billion, up 5% year over year, and quarterly diluted earnings per share of $1.65, up 8% year…

IT’S COMMON TO FEEL overwhelmed by an overflowing inbox, so any help with regaining control over your messages has to be worth considering. When iOS 18.2 arrived, assistance came in the form of a new feature that sorts emails into one of four categories. Now, that function has come to macOS 15.4 (Sequoia) as well, and it should mean you don’t miss anything of importance amid a sea of spam. It can take a bit of getting used to, and in the early stages, you may feel as if you could struggle to find specific messages — there have already been complaints about “disappearing” emails. But with priority messages enabled on devices that support Apple Intelligence, the ability to reassign any misplaced emails to a more relevant category, and with…

AS YOU WORK and play on your Mac, the desktop inevitably fills up with files and folders. It’s no great problem (although we should be filing as we go!), but there are times when you want a clean desktop with no distractions. When you’re making a tutorial video, for example, or showing your desktop during a video call or for screen sharing. Or when you’re taking screenshots for sharing with others. If the desktop isn’t clean, the boss rejects them and makes you do them again! With DeskMat, you can clean up your desktop in an instant, without moving files and folders and then forgetting where you put them. It works by placing a new image over the top of your current desktop and its icons, covering them up. You…

IF YOU’VE RECENTLY upgraded your iPad to iPadOS 18.4, you’ll be pleased to discover new music features tucked away in Control Center. Those features give you multiple ambient music playlists that you can use to relax or to provide a soundtrack for whatever you’re doing — and while they’re Apple Music playlists, you don’t need an Apple Music subscription to listen. Ambient music is all about creating an atmosphere; its job is to help you relax or concentrate, or to set a mood, rather than grab your attention. That means you’ll rarely hear vocals or surprising musical shifts. CONTROL THE CHILL The four playlists are Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing, and the music they play reflects their purpose — so, for example, you don’t get the beats and guitars of…

THE NEBULA X1 QUICKLY GIVES YOU THE LARGEST PROJECTION FOR THE SPACE Projector $2,999; accessory pack $999.99 From www.seenebula.com Features Wi–Fi, Bluetooth, 2x HDMI 2.1 (1x with eARC), 1x USB–C, 1x USB–A, Google TV OS, 2x 15W + 2x 5W speakers, cinema–grade lens, auto calibration, optional satellite speakers and mics, liquid cooling system, Dolby Vision and surround sound, AI spatial adaptation, motorized internal gimbal, retractable carry handle NEBULA’S NEW FLAGSHIP projector claims to be the world’s first cinema–grade outdoor entertainment system. The projector weighs just over 13lbs, with a retractable carry handle on the top, and there’s an optional carry bag ($199). For such a powerful device, it’s pretty easy to carry around. The projector sits flat, but has a clever motorized internal gimbal that can tilt the lens by…

$169.99 From www.soundcore.com Features Four beamforming mics, Bluetooth 5.4, USB–C, multiple ear grips, IPX4; 8/32hr battery life THE IDEA OF open earbuds is that they provide better awareness of your surroundings than regular earbuds or headphones, while being secure enough to exercise with. The AeroClip, available in Midnight, Champagne Mist and Rosy Brown, is the latest and most advanced member of the Soundcore open–ear family, with more tech than the C30i or C40i models, though at a higher price. The earbuds’ design fits securely enough to stay in place, but is not hard enough to cause discomfort; two extra ear grips are provided for different ear sizes. Unlike conventional earbuds, there isn’t one exact position, so you can move them around. The earbuds offer eight hours of playback, and 32…

$399.99 From www.anker.com Features 3x Thunderbolt 5 ports (2x downstream, 1x upstream), 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 1x DisplayPort 2.1, 2x USB–C, 3x USB–A, 3.5mm audio in/out port, 1x 2.5G Ethernet port, SD and TF card readers, dock manager software, configurable light system, GaN internal power supply ANKER’S FLAGSHIP DOCK uses the latest Thunderbolt 5 protocol to provide a one–cable solution to expanding your system with lots of ports and power. It’s a similar form factor to Apple’s new incarnation of the Mac mini. Anker’s dock management software keeps it updated, while its internal GaN power supply has ability to send up to 250W of power to connected devices, including 140W to the main upstream port. It comes with a dedicated Thunderbolt 5 cable for the main connection. There are 14…