Zac Hall

Screens, the excellent VNC remote desktop app for Apple devices, has finally gone universal with Screens 5. The new version launched this week, making Screens easier to discover on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Screens 5 also introduces new toolbar controls on iPhone and iPad, Mac lock screen enhancements, and better ways to organize remote desktops.

Apple’s Podcasts app appears to be coming to Tesla infotainment systems as an independent app in an upcoming software update, according to a new leak. This officially puts the Apple Podcasts app experience everywhere but Android.

New M3 iPads are almost upon us, and according to Mark Gurman, the launch may see new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories introduced as well.

So here’s a cool thing. Yesterday, I rejoined my old gym at the YMCA. It’s $64/month instead of $10/month at Planet Fitness, but that includes two hours of childcare – must-have for a single parent.

Anyway, it also has GymKit equipment. As an Apple nerd first and a person who wants to workout second, GymKit equipment is super encouraging. For everyone else with an Apple Watch, it’s the best way to sync up workout data, like heart rate, distance, and calories, that might not otherwise be available or accurate.

Don’t ask me what any of this means, but it might be of interest for some of you real Mac users. Apple has released MLX, “an array framework for machine learning on Apple silicon, brought to you by Apple machine learning research.”

Apple has issued release candidate beta versions of iOS 17.2, watchOS 10.2, macOS 14.2, and tvOS 17.2. The final versions are expected to be ready this month. We’ll update you with any changes we discover.

Apple Podcasts has honored renowned podcaster Julia Louis-Dreyfus with its coveted Show of the Year award for 2023.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who took on the role of Elaine in the little-known TV sitcom Seinfeld, finally reached her full potential in 2023 when Wiser Than Me premiered.

Ever wish the awesome Halide camera app could shoot video like the iPhone’s Camera app? Never gonna happen. Instead, the developers behind Halide are embarking on a whole new project called Kino.

How’s this for a blast from the past? Last night, I fired up the good ol’ iPad 1 and came across this gem of a relic. The original iPad beautifully encapsulates legacy Twitter as if it were written in stone on a cuneiform tablet.

The Amazon Alexa app isn’t just for configuring Echo speakers and managing service integrations. It’s also a smart home controller akin to Apple’s Home app. Amazon is putting that front and center with the redesigned Alexa app launching today. There’s also a new smart home mapping feature that’s exclusive to iOS devices.

Here’s something I noticed recently. Despite the hoopla around Apple’s leather-replacing FineWoven iPhone cases settling, there does seem to be one lasting effect.

Apple has released the iOS 17.1.2 software update for iPhone. Apple has also released macOS Sonoma 14.1.2. Both updates are described as security updates in the release notes.

The ongoing back and forth between Apple and a UK antitrust watchdog will go on, London’s Court of Appeal has decided. For those keeping score at home, this particular antitrust case is over whether Apple should be investigated for two things.

In 2021, Apple committed to investing $430 billion in the US economy over a five year period. Now the company has detailed plans to bring Apple silicon packaging to Arizona as part of that investment. The announcement seems to refute an earlier report that Apple silicon fabbed by TSMC in the US would still need to be packaged in Taiwan.

Despite Apple’s reliance on Arm as the instruction set for iPhone chips, Arm earns less than 5% of its annual revenue from Apple. A new report details how this has been a heated point for Arm, especially now that the company is publicly traded and looking for growth. However, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son has proved unsuccessful at forcing Apple to pay more in licensing fees.

The fourth iOS 17.2, macOS 14.2, tvOS 17.2, and watchOS 10.2 developer and public betas are now available. The final version is expected to be ready in December. We’ll update you with any changes we discover. (Update: Here’s what’s new.)

As we approach the end of 2023, Apple is taking a retrospective look at the last year in media. After recently naming Taylor Swift artist of the year for being the “most-streamed female artist in Apple Music history,” it’s time to check in with Apple Books and Podcasts.

Can you really call yourself a Mac power user without mastering the new Reactions feature in macOS Sonoma? Apple has been tinkering with software features for improving webcam video quality for a few years. macOS Sonoma takes a more fun approach with the introduction of frame-filling 3D augmented reality effects.

I think a lot about trying to find a healthy balance with notifications from the Apple Watch.

Some are useful because they reach you when your iPhone isn’t around. Others let you decide you can respond to something later without getting distracted by your phone. Many have no benefit and risk making you more distracted by your watch or numb to notifications altogether. Apple Watch alerts from iPhone are all on by default currently. You can turn them off app-by-app, but you’ll need to repeat this for every new app download.

I think notifications on Apple Watch should be off by default, even if they’re on for the iPhone app. With the current default, Apple should at least include a toggle to disable watch notifications and turn them back on individually. A new system could be much more sophisticated, allowing watch alerts for certain contacts and specific types of alerts from apps. In the meantime, reversing the current behavior or adding an off toggle for all apps would help.

I’d like to think of myself as someone who never loses things. Sure, I misplace things all the time, but the things always turn up. On paper, however, I’ve actually lost two things in the last two years. I knew where the things were both times, but recovery was not an option and replacement was costly. I vow to never let this happen again.