Author

Sydney Butler

GendoWasRight

Sydney Butler is a social science guy who writes about people, technology and the places they intersect.

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GendoWasRight

Mac
Basics

Mac switch from x86- to ARM-based CPUs is imminent: What’s the difference?

Sydney Butler Apr 23 2020 - 12:43 am PT

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In 2005 Apple shocked the Mac community when it announced that Macs would be moving from IBM PowerPC CPUs to Intel processors. In retrospect, it was the only way to keep Macs relevant in a red-hot PC market, even given the substantial teething troubles. Now it seems Apple may be making another shift, but when it comes to considering ARM vs Intel CPUs, what are the key differences on the horizon for Apple users?

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iPad
Basics

How to pick a hard drive for video editing on iPad

Sydney Butler Feb 13 2020 - 4:00 pm PT

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Video editing on an iPad? Yes, the idea of doing any sort of serious content creation on Apple’s popular tablet may seem a little ambitious, but the truth is that these thin and light mobile computers are now capable of some serious video work. Unfortunately, they can sometimes also be short on storage!

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How to determine which Apple Watch model you have

Sydney Butler Feb 6 2020 - 8:34 pm PT

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Apple’s smartwatch is undoubtedly the market leader in the wearables world, but telling each model of Apple Watch apart can be tough, given how consistent the design language of these watches have been. If you’re trying to figure out which Apple Watch model you’re dealing with, there’s a straightforward way to do that.

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How to cancel Apple TV Plus on iOS and the web

Sydney Butler Jan 21 2020 - 12:16 pm PT

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You’ve reached the end of For All Mankind, have finished your second run of The Morning Show, and it seems like there isn’t much to watch on Apple TV Plus. So how do you cancel your subscription?

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iOS
Basics

How to offload apps in iOS to save space without deleting their data

Sydney Butler Jan 21 2020 - 12:09 pm PT

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With ever-growing apps, better cameras and high-resolution video there’s always plenty of competition for the precious storage space on your iOS device. Deleting apps is one solution, but it might be better to simply offload your iOS apps instead.

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How to replace your iPhone’s dying battery — and whether it’s worth it

Sydney Butler Jan 13 2020 - 12:27 am PT

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Modern lithium ion batteries are brilliant. They’re energy-dense, charge quickly, and rarely explode. However, they’re not perfect by a long shot. Unfortunately, modern smartphones such as the latest iPhones don’t have everlasting batteries. So if your iPhone battery has given up the ghost, is it worth the hassle and expense of replacing it and getting a new one installed?

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What is iPhone throttling and why does it happen?

Sydney Butler Jan 12 2020 - 12:18 pm PT

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When your iPhone was still shiny and new its speed seemed unreal. Now, just a few years later it feels sluggish and unpleasant to use. Is this just your imagination? Maybe, but you also may be experiencing iPhone throttling.

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How to add more storage space to an iPad

Sydney Butler Jan 12 2020 - 11:30 am PT

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Modern iPads have plenty of storage space for most people, but if you buy a smaller model now, can you add iPad storage later? The short answer is “no,” but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story. There are some ways you can extend the practical storage space you have to work with on your iPad — here’s how.

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How to use YouTube in picture-in-picture mode on iOS

Sydney Butler Jan 6 2020 - 9:04 am PT

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The iPad is a real multitasking beast these days, with simple split-screen app functionality and a super-handy picture-in-picture mode for apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV. Sadly, the YouTube iOS app doesn’t support this feature, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a workaround.

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How to play Apple Arcade with a game console controller

Sydney Butler Dec 16 2019 - 11:28 am PT

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iOS has some of the best games this side of the mobile OS divide, but there are plenty of games that just don’t play well with touch controls. Apple’s MFi controller standard was a brilliant way to overcome this, but in practice most of those controllers, well, suck.

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Can you use Apple Watch without an iPhone?

Sydney Butler Dec 16 2019 - 10:19 am PT

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The Apple Watch is widely considered to be the best-looking and most functional smartwatch on the market today, but it’s very much a part of the tightly-knit Apple ecosystem. Is it possible to use an Apple Watch without an iPhone?

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Should you buy a standard iPad or an iPad Pro?

Sydney Butler Dec 10 2019 - 6:56 am PT

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Apple sells a bewildering array of iPads these days, but the iPad Pro line is easily recognizable as the best iPad that money can buy. Does that mean it’s the right choice for you? When it comes to the standard iPad vs iPad Pro, which one should you buy?

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iPad
Basics

Which iPad model do I have?

Sydney Butler Nov 22 2019 - 12:06 am PT

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Apple has released a lot of iPads since the first model released in April of 2010. It’s also been rather inconsistent when it comes to naming them. At least with the iPhone we more or less have a straightforward numerical number system. So it’s understandable to have a bit of trouble trying to figure out which iPad you’re actually looking at.

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iPad
Basics

How to stream Steam games to your iPad

Sydney Butler Nov 15 2019 - 1:40 am PT

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Steam has had an in-home streaming feature for ages. Now referred to as “Remote Play” it allows you to stream games from a powerful gaming PC to another Steam client. At first this meant streaming to a laptop or HTPC, but Valve have created Steam apps for mobile devices as well. Including the iPad!

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iPad
Basics

How to use Chrome Remote Desktop on an iPad

Sydney Butler Nov 14 2019 - 2:44 pm PT

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The iPad is already mature enough to be the main computer of most average users, but many people still have a Windows, MacOS or Linux machine for work or serious productivity at home. Wouldn’t it be great if you could use your iPad to tap into that power, no matter where you are? Luckily, Google Chrome Remote Desktop makes that incredibly easy to set up.

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iPad
Basics

How to use your iPad as a PC monitor with the Duet Display App

Sydney Butler Nov 13 2019 - 12:15 am PT

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Long before Apple introduced Sidecar in macOS Catalina, the paid Duet Display app has provided a lag-free way to use an iPad to extend the desktop of a Mac or PC. While Sidecar has largely rendered Duet Display unnecessary for Mac and iPad owners, it’s still useful for getting the same functionality from your iPad paired with a Windows PC.

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Disney Plus discount offer adds to Apple TV+ pressure

How to watch Disney+ on iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple TV, and more

Sydney Butler Nov 11 2019 - 1:40 am PT

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The House of Mouse has spent the last few years buying up almost every entertainment brand and franchise worth mentioning. Now, it’s poised to unleash what is quite probably the most formidable content library in the world upon the masses. Yes, Disney Plus is here and if you’re champing at the bit to dig into it, we’re here to help you get started on iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple TV and more!

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Apple TV Plus vs Amazon Prime Video: Pricing, content, apps and more

Sydney Butler Nov 11 2019 - 12:04 am PT

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Apple TV+ is finally here, which means that we can finally get hands-on time with this new streaming service’s launch offerings. With so many streaming services to choose from, it makes sense to do some comparative shopping. We’ve already pitted Apple TV Plus against Netflix and now it’s Amazon Prime Video’s turn to step up.

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What’s the difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt 3?

Sydney Butler Nov 10 2019 - 12:55 pm PT

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Thunderbolt is the result of Apple and Intel working together to create a high-speed peripheral interface to replace FireWire. Now in its third generation, there’s some confusion among users thanks to the adoption of USB Type-C as its connector of choice. If you’re not sure what the difference is when it comes to USB-C vs Thunderbolt 3, now’s the time to set it all straight.

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Apple TV+ vs Netflix: Pricing, content, apps, and more

Sydney Butler Nov 7 2019 - 6:05 pm PT

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Apple launched its Apple TV+ service on November 1st, 2019, taking on established juggernaut Netflix at a game it practically invented (not to mention the half-dozen or so other streaming services). So comparing Apple TV+ and Netflix, how exactly does Apple’s new service stack up?

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What is MacBook ‘thermal throttling’ and what can I do about it?

Sydney Butler Nov 4 2019 - 12:19 am PT

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You might have heard that the latest MacBooks are a hot item. Literally. The controversy surrounding CPU thermal throttling in recent MacBooks may have cooled down, but there are probably more than a few still asking what “thermal throttling” is in the first place. Is it a big deal? Does it even affect you? Surprisingly, the answer isn’t black and white. The (rather touchy) topic of MacBook thermal throttling requires a slightly deeper look at the inner workings of your laptop to fully understand.

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