Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2024 i Macworld UK

Since macOS is such a mature operating system, there’s no need to rush to upgrade to the latest version as soon as it’s released. But Apple does include features that you’ll want to use regularly as soon as you discover them, and macOS Sequoia is no exception in this case. Here are the top six features in the latest Mac operating system, macOS Sequoia. Sequoia has many more features, but these are the ones that will convince you to press that download button. 1. iPHONE MIRRORING SEQUOIA Mac users tend to also use iPhones, and while iCloud helps with syncing between the two platforms, there’s still a clear line of separation between the two. With iPhone Mirroring, that line blurs quite a bit, allowing users to access their iPhones directly…

For Apple enthusiasts, Apple events are a must-watch, not just because of the products involved, but also because of the little moments that happen. They’re just a few seconds or minutes of a larger presentation, but they stand out because of their profoundness—they’re an “ah-ha!” moment that opens your eyes to something bigger. We often refer to these pivotal moments when talking about Apple’s history or analyzing the company’s moves past and present. In many instances, they’re the moments that define the event—or a whole era. We could come up with a list of dozens of such moments, but we wanted to narrow it down to the 10 best. We decided to narrow the list down to standalone events, so we’re not including FaceTime, Apple silicon, or other Worldwide Developers…

Apple’s current keyboards are known for one thing: They’re flat, whether it’s a keyboard on the MacBook or an external Magic Keyboard for a Mac or an iPad. But long before the current Magic Keyboard, Apple’s keyboards had a more traditional, classic keyboard design. Those old Apple keyboards have almost achieved cult status—the devices were almost indestructible. Logitech’s approach with its Wave Keys keyboard harkens back to those old Apple keyboards: mechanical keys with a deep stroke and a characteristic clack. Apart from the ergonomic wrist rest at the lower end, typing feels just like typing on the classic Apple keyboard. But Logitech goes a little further: The keyboard is shaped according to hand position and finger length. The rows of keys follow a wave pattern, which is designed to…

Sometimes you wonder what you’re supposed to do with all the technology in your trouser pocket. The answer? Well, some developers have given it some very special thought. Here’s a selection of the most bizarre apps that turn your iPhone into a veritable marvel of uselessness. 1. IS IT DARK OUTSIDE? Have you ever desperately wondered if it’s dark outside—but just didn’t have the heart to get up and check? Is It Dark Outside? (fave.co/3TMaDIB) solves that problem. The app checks whether the sun has set—that’s it. It’s ideal for anyone who thinks windows are overrated or who wants to practice living in a bunker for potential zombie apocalypses. It’s also for those who can’t be bothered to look at the sunset time in the Weather app—or to just ask…

Password managers such as 1Password (fave.co/3xGI3QU) and LastPass (fave.co/3zwxOzH) are great. We maintain a recommended list of Password managers (fave.co/4bPSGza) for a reason—a good one makes it easy to use strong, unique passwords everywhere on the web, no matter what platform or browser you happen to use. But to get the most out of them, you need to pay a subscription fee. It only makes sense—there’s a cost to running these cloud services. Now that Apple is introducing a standalone Passwords app in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, I wondered if I could drop my 1Password subscription and save a few bucks a month. I also use Authy for two-factor authentication keys (fave.co/3QrUogI), and I love it, but since Apple’s Passwords app supports standard 2FA keys as well, I could…

ESR is bringing all of its charging solutions up to the Qi2 standard, starting with a revised 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set. At first glance, it resembles its MagSafe predecessor, but there are small improvements in the details. The most important feature: The Qi2 standard offers MagSafe compatibility with a 15-watt charging power. In addition to the MagSafe charging slot for the iPhone 12 and later, the charging station also has a charging slot for earphones such as the AirPods Pro 2, as well as a charging slot for all Apple Watch models. The special feature of the Apple Watch charging station is that it comes in the form of a USB-C dongle. This makes it easy to remove and take with you. The stand’s design is slim, which makes…

Once upon a time, rumors of an overhauled Apple Watch with a flat design circled the web around the time the Series 7 (fave.co/3ZNFCrs) was due to arrive. Despite that rumor’s persistence, it never materialized, and all we got at the time was a slightly larger Series 6. History tends to repeat itself, and Apple watchers will recall a similar rumor ahead of this year’s Series 10 (fave.co/3BmPWN3) launch. Reputable leakers had suggested that 2024’s Apple Watch would feature the most significant overhaul yet, only for the Series 10 to follow in the Series 7’s footsteps. So, what gives? WHAT WE EXPECTED Just like the iPhone X, the Apple Watch Series X—as it was rumored to be called—was expected to mark a major milestone for Apple’s decade-old wearable. It was…

You may be familiar with the NordVPN (fave.co/3KkiF6j) brand, as it’s one of the most popular VPNs around and features at the top of our best VPN chart (fave.co/3Ao3N0D). But that’s not the only string in the company’s bow, as a little while back it introduced a password manager called NordPass. So does the expertise in one field translate to another? Here’s how NordPass shapes up compared to the other Password Managers (fave.co/4bPSGza) we have looked at. SOFTWARE AND FEATURES NordPass (fave.co/3zuAPR7) may well be one of the newest password managers around, but it already feels like a mature product, with all the features you’d expect in a modern service. Once installed, you can import your existing passwords from Chrome or Firefox browsers or output a CSV file from your…

AirPods sure have come a long way in the eight years since their debut. So much so that their iconic status has waned a bit as the competition (including Apple’s own Beats product line) has caught up—some may even say surpassed them. What can Apple do to compete? Easy: Offer a model that delivers more with better design at an excellent price. That is what Apple has done with the AirPods 4 (fave.co/3Ne6MA5): They offer many of the features found in the AirPods Pro 2, have a better fit than their predecessor, the AirPods 3 (fave.co/3IrSfNP), and come at the same $179 price tag. Overall, Apple has made the AirPods 4 a better value than the version they replaced. How they literally fit, however, does play a major role in…

The marquee feature of macOS Sequoia (fave.co/3JCjJlw) is iPhone Mirroring. As part of Apple’s Continuity (fave.co/3zxQ8IF) feature set, iPhone Mirroring enables a user to access an iPhone through a Mac. Not only that, but notifications that usually appear on the iPhone also appear on the Mac, and you can even drag and drop files between the two devices. iPhone Mirroring creates a wireless connection between the Mac and iPhone, so Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are needed. Also, the iPhone must run iOS 18 and the Mac needs macOS Sequoia. (We have all the details about iOS 18 [fave.co/3Bk1PTU] and macOS Sequoia [fave.co/3JCjJlw] in our superguides.) The Mac and iPhone must be signed into the same Apple Account. Here’s a look at how to use iPhone Mirroring. The guide below uses an…

If you don’t want to spend the money on an Apple Studio Display (fave.co/3E5nXk4), be prepared to search for an alternative. Monitors that are well suited to the Mac and come with the appropriate software are few and far between. However, Dell recognized the need and released the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager for the Mac software (fave.co/4gDf3Lz). This makes many of the newer Dell displays viable Mac solutions. One particularly interesting model is the U2723QE: a 27-inch display with a 4K panel, powerful charging function, and plenty of connections. See how this monitor compares to others in our round-up of the best displays and monitors for Mac users (fave.co/435WyIB). SPECIFICATIONS Size: 27 inch IPS Resolution: 3840×2160 pixels Brightness/HDR: 400 nits Response time: 8 ms Refresh rate: 60 Hertz Color…

Eleven ports on a hub sounds like a lot, and it’s a number more often associated with a full Mac docking station (fave.co/3h1wVoY). The Anker 565 is a smaller, more portable solution, measuring 5.4×2.2×0.6 inches (13.7×5.7×1.4 centimeters). Its ports are distributed over three edges of its boxy design. On one side are two USB-A 2.0 ports for devices such as a keyboard and mouse; one USB-A 3.2 port and one USB-C 3.2 port each rated at 10Gbps and suitable for storage and other devices that need faster speeds. The USB 3.2 ports deliver impressive performance, with data transfer rates of 827MBps (write) and 864MBps (read) with a LaCie Rugged Mini SSD (fave.co/47H8IL0). It is important to know that the USB-A and USB-C ports don’t charge devices, but this does bring…

The distinction between traditional computing methods has been slowly eroding during the last few generations of Apple products. The Mac has long been Apple’s go-to workstation, but with the introduction of the new M4 iPad Pro, there’s a viable option to consider for your serious tasks. The powerful M4 iPad Pro has overwhelming computing power, a gorgeous screen, and a MacBook-like Magic Keyboard. Consumers have always shown interest in having a touchscreen Mac, but since Apple won’t oblige, the iPad Pro is the next best thing. But can the iPad Pro be a competent Mac replacement? Considering the iPad Pro’s pure power, it looks like a slam-dunk, but outside that, the limitations of the platform linger. Let’s look at how close the iPad Pro is to being a workstation users…

With iOS 18, Apple is giving us unprecedented (for Apple) control over the layout of our home screens. A big part of that is customizable icon colors. That’s right, icons can have separate light and dark mode coloring, and you can even force all your app icons to use a custom tint. Here’s how it works. LIGHT, DARK, OR CUSTOM TINT To change the appearance of an icon, start with a long press on your home screen in an area where there is no app icon for a couple of seconds. Your apps will jiggle and show a minus-sign (–) remove button in the upper left corner of each icon. This is your home screen edit mode, where you can easily move or remove app icons and widgets. Tap the…

Remembering all our passwords is becoming impossible these days. There are too many sites and services we sign up for, all requiring different criteria for how passwords need to be constructed. RoboForm aims to cut through this stress by doing the work on your behalf, with only a single master password required to log into everything, all while upgrading the security of your online life. So, does it deliver? For more options, take a look at our roundup of the best password managers (fave.co/4bPSGza), plus you can upgrade your digital security habits by following our guide on how to make your passwords stronger (fave.co/3R1g5Wu). SOFTWARE AND FEATURES RoboForm has been around for a number of years now, gaining itself a solid reputation in that time. It works across iPhone, iPad,…

For 22 years, Bombich Software’s Carbon Copy Cloner has been one of the absolute go-to utilities for cloning data from one volume to another on the Mac. When the software first arrived in 2002, it was considered a bit tricky to use, but worth looking at. Over the decades, Carbon Copy Cloner’s feature set has grown, and it has become increasingly reliable in its core task: getting dead-on perfect copies of your files where they need to be. The software retails for $49.99/£40.10 for a Personal and Household license (an upgrade license is up to 50% off). There’s also an easy-to-start, full-featured 30-day trial with no account needing to be created or credit or debit card number sent along to the company to be charged later. If you like it…

There’s something to be said for creating a utility that focuses on a given function and does it well. This is the case with MacPaw’s Gemini 2, a duplicate removal tool that focuses not only on the infamous problem of one’s Photos library ballooning with thousands of duplicate photos but also handily hunts down duplicate files within Apple Music as well as across the macOS operating system. This, in turn, helps remove gigabytes of fluff that can chew up space on your hard drive (fave.co/3zID17x), which can come in handy. Gemini II, which retails for $19.99/£19.99 a year, and requires macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) to install and run, is currently available through Apple’s App Store (Gemini 2: The Duplicate Finder on the Mac App Store [fave.co/3BpdgK1]) as well as via…

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Sonos released the original Roam smart speaker back in 2021 (fave.co/3zH37I4), and it was one of the best portable speakers we’ve ever seen, providing very good sound quality in a highly compact design that also managed to squeeze in useful features such as wireless charging and even support for Wi-Fi and AirPlay for Apple devices. The new Roam 2 doesn’t attempt to tamper with that successful formula, but it fine-tunes a number of features such as its set-up and tuning process, and provides more straightforward controls. Available in a variety of colors—including red, green, blue, and plain old black and white—the Roam 2 looks virtually identical to its predecessor (and the original Roam and Roam SL models are still widely available online, so…

In macOS Sequoia and iOS and iPadOS 18, Apple is introducing a new Safari feature called Distraction Control, which allows users to select an element on a website and make it disappear. It’s not an ad blocker in that it doesn’t stop ad elements from loading in the first place; ads still load, but if you implement Distraction Control, you can make them go away temporarily. The feature isn’t just for advertisements—it can be used on any webpage element, including actual content elements such as headlines, paragraphs, images, video windows, and more. Anything that you deem distracting, you can use Distraction Control to dismiss. Distraction Control is part of the macOS Sequoia beta 5 that was released to developers in August, and also is included in the public release of…

Let’s face it: External portable HDDs such as the WD My Passport Ultra for Mac offer slow speeds by today’s SSD standards. That said, they still provide by far the most storage capacity for the smallest outlay, to the tune of 6TB for only $200 in this case. As to the performance I referred to at the start of this review, faster is of course better, but the 110MBps reads and writes the My Passport Ultra delivers are fine for media streaming as well as Time Machine backups running in the background. It’ll get the job done. FEATURES The My Passport Ultra for Mac (could we have a longer name, please?) is a 2.5-inch external USB hard drive sporting a USB-C port that’s on the same end as the small…

Apple unveiled the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, fave.co/3XGSzkb (alongside a new Apple Watch [fave.co/3BmPWN3] and AirPods [fave.co/4epXFso] models) at an action-packed press event in September. The company focused heavily on new AI features, but we knew quite a lot about Apple Intelligence already; many company watchers, including this one, were more interested in the iPhone getting a second new button in as many years. As had been rumored ahead of the event, all four new iPhone models for 2024 (fave.co/3zqvASt) feature a new capacitive, gesture-sensitive button called Camera Control. This sits in a slight recess low down on the righthand edge, below the power button; hold the device in landscape mode and it lines up conveniently with your right index finger, like the shutter on a camera. It works…

The Ugreen 48,000mAh 300W Portable Power Bank boasts a larger-capacity battery than any other power bank we have tested. At 48,000mAh, it is built like the missing link between a laptop power bank and a full-scale portable power station. It’s small and portable enough to be designated a personal power bank, but it has the miniature look of something you might connect with your solar panels and keep in the garage. With its 140W PD 3.1 USB-C port, it’s a nice fit with Apple’s top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro (fave.co/41w6LOh), which can be fast-charged at 140W using Apple’s USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable. TECH SPECS Battery capacity: 99.56Wh Fastest power output: 140W Total power output: 300W Power input: 140W USB ports: 1× USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 2× USB-C (100W PD 3.0);…

We are now well into the era in which yearly smartphone updates have become rather ordinary. Where the Apple Store lines would once stretch around the block and attract local news crews, today the first question everyone asks is, “Should I upgrade this year?” The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max fit into this zeitgeist neatly. Yes, they’re better. They’re faster, they have better cameras, and they include one new feature (the Camera Control button). But for most of the things most people use their iPhones for, many of these improvements won’t make much of a difference over last year’s model or the one from the year before. Enter Apple Intelligence. When hardware fails to excite, it’s up to slick new software to make you feel like you just have…

Finding the best PDF editor for your Mac can be a challenging task. After all, countless companies offer all sorts of different apps that cater to various budgets and workflows, and things can get confusing really fast. However, there are a few options that stand out in terms of features, performance, and design. Readdle’s PDF Expert is one of my personal favorites, as, in my opinion, it has mastered the PDF editing format. PRICE AND AVAILABILITY PDF Expert offers two payment options on macOS. For a one-time $139.99/£139.99 fee (if you are in the U.K., it’s cheaper to buy it from the Mac App Store [fave.co/47Ji353], where it’s £129.99 a year), you could own a lifetime license of the current Mac edition, but you’d miss out on future updates, mobile…

With its silky performance and razor-sharp video resolution, the Apple TV 4K has been my streaming box of choice for years, but it has some quirks that drive me up the wall. For instance, why does the TV button on the Siri Remote send you to the Apple TV app rather than the main Apple TV Home Screen? What’s with those Apple TV+ video promos that start playing automatically, complete with sound? And don’t get me started on trying—fruitlessly—to pinpoint a particular moment in a video by clumsily swiping the remote’s navigation pad. Luckily, you can nip these Apple TV 4K annoyances in the bud with a few simple tweaks in the Settings menu. Read on for five tips and tricks that will change your Apple TV experience for the…

DON’T BUY LOCKED APPLE HARDWARE WHEN SHOPPING FOR USED GEAR When purchasing used Apple hardware, make sure that it’s unlocked before you hand over funds. Otherwise, you’ve bought something akin to a fancy brick. A number of people have written to Mac 911, and you find the problem constantly on online buying and Apple forums. After thefts of iPhones and other mobile hardware skyrocketed in the early 2010s, regulators and legislators made noises about forcing Apple and other companies to provide additional anti-theft protection. Apple released Activation Lock in 2013 for the iPhone, quickly extending it to the iPads, Mac, and Apple Watch. (Macs have to be running Catalina or later and be either an Intel model with the T2 Security Chip or any Apple silicon M-series model.) A similar…