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Jeff Benjamin

JeffBenjam

Jeff is the head of video content production for 9to5. He joined 9to5Mac in 2016, producing videos, walkthroughs, how-tos, written tutorials, and reviews. He takes pride in explaining things simply, clearly, and concisely. Jeff’s videos have been watched hundreds of millions of times by people seeking to learn more about today’s tech. Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube to catch Jeff’s latest videos.

Jeff also produces a weekly podcast, alongside co-host Fernando Silva, entitled 9to5Mac Overtime. A video-first podcast, 9to5Mac Overtime airs weekly on our YouTube channel, but can also be enjoyed in audio form via Apple Podcasts, or your podcast app of choice.

Connect with Jeff

Connect with Jeff Benjamin

How to create a bootable macOS Monterey USB Install drive [Video]

In this hands-on video walkthrough, I’ll show you how to turn an eligible USB drive, one that you may already have laying around the house, into a handy macOS Monterey install disk. This is useful for facilitating upgrades to Monterey across multiple Mac computers. Be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Mac-centric guides, tutorials, and how-tos.

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Hands-on: iOS 15.2 beta 2 changes and features – Legacy Contact, Hide My Email, and more [Video]

Apple released the second developer beta for iOS 15.2 yesterday, and it contains several noteworthy enhancements. New is support for Hide My Email directly inside the default Mail app, along with the return of Legacy Contacts, which first appeared in the initial iOS 15 beta released at WWDC. Watch our hands-on video as we discuss the top iOS 15.2 beta 2 changes and features, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more hands-on walkthroughs.

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HomePod mini revisited: small, capable, and colorful [Video]

HomePod mini public beta

A few months ago my original HomePod died. Its early death was likely an unfortunate side effect of a bad software update. And since Apple no longer sells the original HomePod after discontinuing it early this year, the only option is to buy a HomePod mini, buy a used HomePod, or look elsewhere entirely.

Though it doesn’t possess the amazing sound quality of the original HomePod, the HomePod mini is a good smart speaker, and is better than the original in other ways. With last week’s release of three additional HomePod mini colors, I thought it was a good time to revisit some of the best HomePod mini features.

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OWC launches new Mac Pro-focused Accelsior 8M2 PCIe SSD with a ridiculous 64TB of storage

OWC, always on the forefront of third-party storage needs for Mac users, just launched its new OWC Accelsior 8M2 PCIE SSD, and it features some downright insane specs — with a price to match. The Accelsior 8M2 can be maxed out with up to eight 8TB NVMe M.2 SSDs for a total of 64TB of storage with up to 12,000MB/s real world PCIe Gen 3 speeds. The price? A mere $13,000.

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Apple updates Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro with advances in 8K video, motion graphics tracking, and spatial audio toolset

Apple just released amazing new updates to the MacBook Pro, and unsurprisingly, the company’s pro apps team has corresponding updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro ready to go. Particularly of interest are the new updates to Final Cut Pro, which focus heavily on 8K video workflows and bring new native support for tracked motion graphics, along with compatibility with Cinematic mode videos shot on the iPhone 13.

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Filmic Pro updated with support for ProRes video capture on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max

Today Filmic Pro version 6.17 is being released with full support for ProRes video for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, making it the first iOS app available with support for capturing ProRes. ProRes video, which is hardware-accelerated by the A15 Bionic chip, is one of the headlining features for the higher-end pro variants of the recently released iPhone 13.

Before Apple releases its upcoming iOS update with support for ProRes in the default Camera app, Filmic Pro’s developers have independently added ProRes support to compatible iPhone 13 Pro devices. Filmic Pro supports four ProRes variants. Included in the update is support for ProRes Proxy, ProRes LT, ProRes 422, and ProRes 422 HQ. Each flavor of ProRes features a higher bitrate, allowing users to make the trade-off between quality and storage space.

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How-to: Power off, force restart iPhone 13, enable recovery mode, DFU mode, etc. [Video]

Last week Apple released four new iPhone models: the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Like all iPhones that Apple sells these days, with the exception of the iPhone SE, feature “edge to edge” displays, and lack a physical Home button. For these modern devices, you’ll utilize the Volume buttons and Side buttons to facilitate force restarts, invoke recovery mode, enter DFU mode, and more. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for the details.

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Hands-on: Top iOS 15 sleeper features for iPhone [Video]

iOS 15

Every year, new iOS releases arrive with headline-grabbing features like SharePlay and Focus. Likewise, every year, iOS includes under-the-radar improvements that aren’t likely to generate headlines. In this hands-on video I consider the top hidden iOS 15 features that I’ve stumbled upon. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for even more iOS 15 coverage in the days and weeks to come.

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Hands-on with the top iOS 15 features for iPhone [Video]

iOS 15 Top Features

After eight betas spread out over three months, Apple today officially released iOS 15 to the public. If you have an eligible iPhone, you can download and install iOS 15 right now. In this hands-on video walkthrough, I showcase and discuss my top iOS 15 features that everyone should know about. Be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more iOS 15 content in the coming days and weeks.

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How to set up an iCloud Mail custom email domain [Video]

When Apple announced iCloud+ at WWDC 2021, it revealed that paid iCloud tiers would receive additional perks such as support for Private Relay, and Hide My Email. Another perk included with iCloud+ is the ability to set up an iCloud Mail custom email domain.

The new custom email feature, which is currently in beta, has been something that iCloud Mail users like myself have been wanting for years. In this hands-on walkthrough, I show you how to set it up.

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Hands-on: iOS 15 beta 4 changes and features – more Safari tweaks [Video]

Alongside new betas for macOS, watchOS, etc., Apple today released the latest developer betas for the iPhone and iPad in iOS and iPadOS 15 beta 4. The fourth developer beta includes quite a few new Safari tweaks, full support for Apple’s recently launched MagSafe Battery Pack, and several additional changes. Watch our hands-on iOS 15 beta 4 changes and features video for the latest details, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5mac on YouTube for more videos like this.

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Hands-on with iOS 14.7.1 changes and features [Video]

iOS 14.7.1 was released earlier today, and it’s important that everyone with eligible iPhones and iPads update due to the update’s contents. As noted in our initial post, iOS 14.7.1 includes an important security fix and is recommended for all users. The update also includes something that will be of particular interest to Apple Watch users paired to Touch ID-enabled iPhones. Watch our hands-on video as we take a look at the latest iOS 14.7.1 changes and features.

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Hands-on: 100+ macOS Monterey changes and features [Video]

Now that the macOS 12 Monterey public beta is available, it’s a good time to consider whether or not you’ll make the jump to Apple’s latest beta update for Mac. Although I definitely don’t recommend running Monterey on a production machine used for work, you can install Monterey on a spare machine or a separate APFS volume. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough as I step through over 100 macOS Monterey changes and features.

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ScreenFlow 10 released with multi-app recording, automatic background remover, and more

Screenflow 10

Telestream’s ScreenFlow, the highly capable screen capture app for Mac, was just updated to version 10. Over the years, ScreenFlow has grown into a powerful video capture, composition, and editing suite, and ScreenFlow 10 continues on this path. The update includes new lower thirds title options, multiple simultaneous recording streams, multi-app recording, automatic background remover, and big performance improvements, among other enhancements.

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iOS 15 beta hands-on: 300+ changes and features [Video]

The initial iOS 15 developer beta has been available for two weeks, and I have a lot to share after some extended hands-on time with this massive release. iPhone users are in for a treat thanks to such features as tag support for the Notes app, Focus modes with customizable Home screens, and major updates to Accessibility. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough as we explore more than 300 of the top iOS 15 features, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for lots of additional iOS 15 coverage in the coming days and weeks.

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iPad Pro (2021) review – Apple’s most impressive (and most frustrating) computer [Video]

M1 iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard

The 2021 iPad Pro models have arrived, and while they aren’t a huge departure from their predecessors, they include several compelling new features that largely appeal to pro users. In this iPad Pro (2021) review, we’ll discuss how these new tablets are driven by the same M1 chip that powers today’s Macs, affording greater performance than the A12Z chips found in last year’s 2020 iPad Pro models.

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VanMoof S3 impressions: A ridiculously good-looking e-bike with Apple Find My support [Video]

VanMoof first came on my radar when Apple announced the first few products that were compatible with the Find My network. Of course, this announcement came a few weeks prior to Apple unveiling its long-awaited AirTag tracker, which also utilizes the Find My network. The VanMoof S3 and X3 joined the likes of Belkin’s SOUNDFORM Freedom True Wireless Earbuds and the Chipolo ONE Spot item finder as the first third-party with built-in Find My integration.

And while I was initially most excited to learn how Find My would work with a bike, the VanMoof S3, with its sleek black exterior, simple lines, and uber-clean weld seams, had me wanting one to call my own. Watch my hands-on video as I take the VanMoof S3 for a ride around the block, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5mac on YouTube for more.

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What’s new in iOS 14.6 RC? A look at forthcoming Apple Music settings [Video]

As documented in its release notes, iOS 14.6 includes support for Apple Card Family and Podcasts subscriptions, two service enhancements that will go live once the release goes public. But iOS 14.6 includes several other noteworthy updates, including our first look at updated Music settings for the just-announced Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio and high-quality Lossless audio for Apple Music. The release also gives us our first look at the upcoming Beats Studio Buds, among other things. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough as we consider what’s new in iOS 14.6 RC.

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What’s new in iOS 14.6 beta 3? Bug fixes, ‘Find My’ Lost Mode update, more [Video]

Yesterday Apple released iOS 14.6 beta 3 to developers and public beta testers, and although there aren’t a ton of new features, there are several interesting points of note surrounding this release. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for a rundown of what’s new in iOS 14.6 beta 3, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more hands-on videos.

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The Rewind: revisiting the iPhone 12 – purple edition [Video]

Last week Apple officially released its new purple colorway for the iPhone 12, and while nothing has changed internally about the device, it presents an ideal opportunity to revisit Apple’s current baseline iPhone while exploring an interesting new color.

If you’re an older iPhone user, should you consider upgrading to the iPhone 12 mid-cycle? Watch our purple iPhone 12 edition of The Rewind for more details, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more videos.

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The super-easy guide for installing Windows on M1 Macs using Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac [Video]

Although M1 Macs lack support for traditional Boot Camp x86 Windows installations, it’s super-easy to install Windows for ARM on your M1 Mac. Parallels recently released Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac, and with it comes out-of-the-box support for M1 Macs.

Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for step-by-step instructions for installing Windows 10 for ARM on your M1 MacBook, Mac mini, or iMac, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple-centric guides and tutorials.

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iOS 14.5 walkthrough – new emoji, Apple Watch Unlock, AirTag support, and more [Video]

Yesterday Apple released the final version of iOS iOS 14.5 to the public. If you’ve been following 9to5Mac‘s beta coverage for the past few months, you know that iOS 14.5 is a huge release that’s jam-packed with lots of new features and changes. Be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more videos, and watch our hands-on video as we discuss what’s new in our iOS 14.5 walkthrough.

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