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1,982 'How-to' stories September 2011 - March 2016
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A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Mac team helping you fix and get the most out of your favorite gear.

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9to5Toys Last Call: Retina iMac $1,300, Samsung 50″ 4K UHDTV $639, iPad Bluetooth Keyboards $26, more

Avatar for Trevor Daugherty Mar 30 2016 - 9:30 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

iOttie Car Mounts for iPhone/Android Devices: Easy One Touch 2 $13 (Reg. $20), w/ Qi Charger $40 (Reg. $55)

Apple 21-inch Retina 4K iMac 3.1GHz/8GB/1TB (newest version): $1,300 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Smart 120Hz LED HDTVs: Samsung 50-inch 4K $639 (Reg. $950+), Sony 55-inch 1080p $700 (Reg. $800), more

Smart 4K 60Hz LED UHDTVs: Samsung 60-inch $949 (Reg. $1,200), LG 49-inch $499 (Reg. $600), more

Samsung 50-inch 4K 3D 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV w/ 4 HDMI inputs: $749 shipped (Reg. $1,400)

Anker Bluetooth Keyboards for iPad Air/2, mini 3/2/1, more: $26 Prime shipped (Reg. up to $36)

MacID for iOS: Unlock your Mac with your iPhone/Apple Watch for $1 (Reg. $4)

Apple offers Day One 2 iOS journal app for free ($10 value)

App Store Free App of the Week: Motorsport Manager goes free for the first time ($2 value)

Buy a refurbished Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi router w/ 1-yr warranty for $49 shipped (Orig. $99)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Games/Apps: Hundreds $1, Bayonetta 2 $24, Sony Metal Gear PSN sale w/ titles from $5, freebies, more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/715213432371302402 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $27 Prime shipped (Reg. $35)

Samsung 850 EVO 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive $260 shipped (Orig. $470)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

QWERKYWRITER is a mechanical Bluetooth keyboard that takes us back to simpler times

Build an Alexa-enabled device using a Raspberry Pi

How-To: Set up and use password-protected Notes on iOS 9.3 [Video]

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 29 2016 - 6:35 am PT
7 Comments

Along with Night Shift mode, having the ability to password-protect notes in the default Notes app is one of the big new features in iOS 9.3. Individual notes within the Notes app can now be secured with a password, and Touch ID users can gain even faster access to password-protected notes.

Securing notes in iOS 9.3 is a simple exercise on the surface, but it’s not always entirely straightforward. Have a look at our full video walkthrough and tutorial for all of the details.
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How-To: Create a free Apple developer account for sideloading apps

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 27 2016 - 4:51 pm PT
15 Comments

Starting with Xcode 7, Apple made it possible to sideload apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV using a free Apple ID. Although a paid developer account is still required to deploy apps to the App Store, users wishing to sideload open source apps on a personal device can do so with relative ease. In this post, we’ll show you how easy it is to create a free Apple developer account for sideloading apps using Xcode.
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9to5Toys Last Call: Samsung 50-inch 4K 3D UHDTV $849, Lara Croft Go $1, iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cell (Refurb) $360, more

Avatar for Trevor Daugherty Mar 25 2016 - 9:30 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

Best Buy offers $50 gift card w/ iPhone SE purchase & up to $350 off the new iPad Pro 9.7 on Verizon

Samsung 50-inch 4K 3D 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV w/ 4 HDMI inputs: $849 shipped (Reg. $1,400)

Lara Croft Go for iOS drops to its lowest price ever: $1 (Reg. $5)

Daily Deals: iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular (Refurb) from $360, Logitech Wireless Laser Marathon Mouse $24, more

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (newest version): $790 shipped (Reg. $999)

Travel light w/ Apple’s 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB for $710 shipped (Reg. $899)

Save big on Apple’s newest laptops: Retina MacBook Pro $1,000 (Reg. $1,299)

Apple offers Day One 2 iOS journal app for free ($10 value)

App Store Free App of the Week: Motorsport Manager goes free for the first time ($2 value)

Buy a refurbished Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi router w/ 1-yr warranty for $49 shipped (Orig. $99)

Don’t jump on Apple’s $50 Watch price drop, you can do better! Deals from $249 shipped

Apple iPad mini 4 prices trimmed by $100, 16GB Wi-Fi models now start at just $300 shipped

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Smartphone Accessories: Aukey 3-Port USB-C/A Car QuickCharger $16, iPhone 6 Wallet Case $13, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (Photoshop CC + Lightroom): $8/month (save $24/yr)

Apple TV Deals: 4th Gen 64GB $175 (Reg. $200), 3rd Gen $49 (Reg. $69), more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

TCL’s new 4K Roku-enabled UHDTVs hit every price point

How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator

How-To: Create and use app folders on Apple TV with tvOS 9.2 [Video]

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 24 2016 - 10:34 am PT
6 Comments
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The ability to create Home screen folders on the Apple TV is one of the biggest new features to appear in the recent tvOS 9.2 update. On previous versions of tvOS, apps couldn’t be organized in folders, which made for a cumbersome experience for those with lots of apps.

If you’re an iOS user, then using folders on the Apple TV will be a largely familiar experience. In this post, we’ll show you how to create folders, move apps in and out of folders, rename folders, and more.
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How-To: Jailbreak the Apple TV 4 using Pangu 1.0 for free

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 23 2016 - 10:04 am PT
56 Comments
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As we noted earlier, the Pangu team has released a jailbreak for the Apple TV 4. This jailbreak allows Apple TV 4 owners running tvOS 9.0 and 9.0.1 to jailbreak their devices.

Although it is possible to jailbreak the Apple TV with a paid developer account, it’s also possible to do so with a free account as well. In this tutorial, we’ll show you step by step how to jailbreak the Apple TV 4. Watch our video walkthrough inside to see how.
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9to5Toys Last Call: AirPort Express (refurb) $49, iTunes $10 movie sale, Adobe CC subscription $8, more

Avatar for Trevor Daugherty Mar 23 2016 - 9:30 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (newest version): $790 shipped (Reg. $999)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/712708061698396162 align=’center’]

Buy a refurbished Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi router w/ 1-yr warranty for $49 shipped (Orig. $99)

iTunes $10 HD movie downloads: Sicario, Spotlight, Creed, The LEGO Movie and many more

Save 75% on any movie rental including new releases: The Big Short, Sisters, Revenant, more

Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan (Photoshop CC + Lightroom): $8/month (save $24/yr)

Adobe Photoshop + Premiere Elements 14 for Mac/PC: $70 downloaded/shipped (Reg. $100)

Best Buy 2-Day Sale: Beats Solo2 headphones $100 (Orig. $200) or Studios for $150 (Orig. $300), more

Don’t jump on Apple’s $50 Watch price drop, you can do better! Deals from $249 shipped

Apple iPad mini 4 prices trimmed by $100, 16GB Wi-Fi models now start at just $300 shipped

Travel light w/ Apple’s 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB for $710 shipped (Reg. $899)

Save big on Apple’s newest laptops: Retina MacBook Pro $1,000 (Reg. $1,299)

App Store Free App of the Week: Sputnik Eyes puzzler goes free for the first time ($2 value)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

AcuRite Indoor/outdoor Color Weather Station w/ Barometer/Forecast/Temperature: $35 Prime shipped

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

iPhone 6/s/Plus and Galaxy S7/Edge cases in a variety of styles/colors: $6 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)

HoverDock is a minimal upright charging stand for your iPhone or Apple Watch: $28 (Orig. $35, CA Tax only)

Dock and charge your iPhone + Apple Watch in one place for $8 Prime shipped

Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $27 Prime shipped (Reg. $34)

Apple TV Deals: 4th Gen 64GB $175 (Reg. $200), 3rd Gen $49 (Reg. $69), more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

VIZIO’s new $999 P-Series 4K Ultra HDTV w/ Google Cast and HDR may be this year’s top release

How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator

How-To: Set up and use Night Shift mode on iPhone and iPad [Video]

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 23 2016 - 6:03 am PT
9 Comments
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iOS 9.3’s headlining new feature is called Night Shift mode. By adjusting the color temperature of your iPhone or iPad’s display, Night Shift mode makes using your iOS device at night and in dark settings easier on your eyes.

Research has shown that by reducing the blue light emitted from a backlit display, it can become easier to fall asleep at night. Apple was very careful in its wording during yesterday’s iPhone SE event, letting us know that not everyone would enjoy similar results. That said, I’ve personally had good experience with like-minded utilities. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to get started with Night Shift on iOS 9.3.
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How-To: Set up and use Bluetooth keyboards with the fourth-gen Apple TV and tvOS 9.2

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 22 2016 - 3:49 pm PT
4 Comments
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Apple yesterday officially released tvOS 9.2 to the public. The update includes a variety of new features, such as folder support, Siri Remote dictation, iCloud Photo Library, and more. One thing that was added, however, that was originally expected to be included when the fourth-gen Apple TV initially shipped is support for Bluetooth keyboards. With tvOS 9.2 users are now able to pair Bluetooth keyboards with their Apple TV to more easily make search queries and the like. Read on as we tell you how to go about setting this up..


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Security How-To: Enable two-factor authentication on iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan

Avatar for Greg Barbosa Mar 22 2016 - 1:27 pm PT
27 Comments
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Three years ago to the day, Apple added in two-step verification to help improve user security. The verification method relied on the user having another device readily available to help authenticate a sign-in. As of today, Apple has taken that security further by now offering two-factor authentication to all users running iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan.

Both methods strive to increase a user’s foothold in security practices, but both go about doing so in very different ways. Luckily, Apple has chosen to make sure that the end user experience is phenomenal no matter what method they choose.

Getting started, or switching to the new two-factor authentication is not without it’s questions. Let’s dive in and resolve them.


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9to5Toys Last Call: Milanese Loop Apple Watch Bands from $16, Beats Solo2 $100, Nest 3rd Gen. $205, more

Avatar for Trevor Daugherty Mar 22 2016 - 9:30 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

Buy a refurbished Apple AirPort Express Wi-Fi router w/ 1-yr warranty for $49 shipped (Orig. $99)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/712311983207550976 align=’center’]

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Third-party Apple Watch Milanese Loops in black for $17 (Reg. $37) or silver for $16 (Reg. $37)

Best Buy 2-Day Sale: Beats Solo2 headphones $100 (Orig. $200) or Studios for $150 (Orig. $300), more

Daily Deals: Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation $205, Stem Izon Wi-Fi Video Monitors two pack $49, more

Don’t jump on Apple’s $50 Watch price drop, you can do better! Deals from $249 shipped

Apple iPad mini 4 prices trimmed by $100, 16GB Wi-Fi models now start at just $300 shipped

Travel light w/ Apple’s 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB for $710 shipped (Reg. $899)

Save big on Apple’s newest laptops: Retina MacBook Pro $1,000 (Reg. $1,299)

App Store Free App of the Week: Sputnik Eyes puzzler goes free for the first time ($2 value)

Apple TV Deals: 4th Gen 64GB $175 (Reg. $200), 3rd Gen $49 (Reg. $69), more

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

iPhone 6/s/Plus and Galaxy S7/Edge cases in a variety of styles/colors: $6 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/712295110554357760 align=’center’]

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MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

HoverDock is a minimal upright charging stand for your iPhone or Apple Watch: $28 (Orig. $35, CA Tax only)

Amazon’s best-selling headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Over-Ears $100 shipped (Reg. $123+)

How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

SpotCam’s latest IP surveillance camera offers records 24-hours of footage in the cloud for free

How-To: Use Night Shift and Low Power Mode at the same time on iOS 9.3 [Video]

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 22 2016 - 6:07 am PT
19 Comments
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There are tons of new features included with yesterday’s release of iOS 9.3, and Night Shift — the new feature that automatically adjusts the screen’s color temperature to reduce blue light — is arguably its best new addition.

Unfortunately, Night Shift is automatically disabled when you enable Low Power Mode on your iPhone. Thanks to a clever workaround, however, it’s possible to use Night Shift in combination with Low Power Mode. In the brief tutorial that follows, we’ll show you how.
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Night Shift automatic Sunrise/Sunset schedule missing in iOS 9.3? Here’s the fix

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 22 2016 - 3:19 am PT
24 Comments

With the release of iOS 9.3 yesterday, Apple included a major new feature that may help you sleep better at night: Night Shift. Night Shift works by changing the color temperature of your screen gradually as the day changes. In Control Center, you can toggle this feature on and off manually. In Settings, you can setup iOS 9.3’s Night Shift so that it automatically shifts the blue light of your iPhone or iPad screen with a schedule. The schedule options are either preset times set by the user or an automatic schedule based on sunrise and sunset.

However, after updating to iOS 9.3, some users have complained that the automatic Sunrise/Sunset option is not available for their devices. It turns out this is not a bug, or limited to certain countries as people suggest. In fact there is a simple fix …


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9to5Toys Last Call: Apple Watch from $249, iPad mini 4 $300, 11-inch MacBook Air $710, more

Avatar for Trevor Daugherty Mar 21 2016 - 2:05 pm PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Don’t jump on Apple’s $50 Watch price drop, you can do better! Deals from $249 shipped

Apple iPad mini 4 prices trimmed by $100, 16GB Wi-Fi models now start at just $300 shipped

Travel light w/ Apple’s 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB for $710 shipped (Reg. $899)

Save big on Apple’s newest laptops: Retina MacBook Pro $1,000 (Reg. $1,299)

Amazon Gold Box – Adobe Photoshop Elements 14 for Mac/PC disc or digital download: $50 (Orig. $100)

HoverDock is a minimal upright charging stand for your iPhone or Apple Watch: $28 (Orig. $35, CA Tax only)

App Store Free App of the Week: Sputnik Eyes puzzler goes free for the first time ($2 value)

Apple TV Deals: 4th Gen 64GB $175 (Reg. $200), 3rd Gen $49 (Reg. $69), more

Affinity Photo: Apple’s Mac App of the Year 2015 is now matching its lowest price ever: $40 (Reg. $50)

Buy or upgrade Parallels ($49-$79) & get 7 Mac apps free: 1Password, Parallels Access, & more (Reg. $269)

2016 All-Star Mac Bundle brings together 11 high-quality apps: $20 (Orig. $263)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/711981616198000640 align=’center’]

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Amazon’s best-selling headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Over-Ears $100 shipped (Reg. $123+)

Go hands-free w/ iOttie’s incredibly popular iPhone 6/Plus car mounts, now just $11 Prime shipped

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

This clever iPhone 6/s case packs 10 useful tools: $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)

How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

SpotCam’s latest IP surveillance camera offers records 24-hours of footage in the cloud for free

You can now mow your lawn via Apple Watch w/ Husqvarna’s new Automower app

How-To: Safely backup and update iOS on your iPhone, iPad, & iPod touch

Avatar for Sarah Guarino Mar 20 2016 - 9:00 am PT
14 Comments
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With Apple’s Special Event being live tomorrow, and with iOS 9.3 most likely being released shortly after, it’s worth taking a look at how you should prepare your device for the feature-packed update. Before installing the update, it is recommended that you have a backup of your data. This tutorial is going to walk you through backing up your iOS device and how to perform a software update when available.


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How-To: Reduce iPhone screen brightness beyond what’s possible in Control Center or Display & Brightness settings

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 18 2016 - 9:33 am PT
26 Comments
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My iPhone 6s is not jailbroken, but there are still a couple of tricks that I employ that make it closer to that of a jailbroken phone. For example, getting rid of animations — a feat normally reserved for users willing to jailbreak — is now available to all iOS 9 users via the handy SpringBoard animations glitch.

Another trick, one that I haven’t been shy about sharing in the past, involves reducing iPhone screen brightness beyond levels that are possible with the standard brightness slider controls. Like the animations glitch, this too uses iOS’ deep accessibility features to pull off the job. If you’re someone who likes to use an iPhone or iPad at night, then your eyes will thank you for this trick.
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9to5Toys Last Call: Retina MacBook Pro $1,000, Tweetbot 4 $5, Pebble Time $95, more

Avatar for Trevor Daugherty Mar 18 2016 - 9:30 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

Full 1080p 55-inch 120Hz HDTVs: LG $450 (Reg. $599), Insignia w/ Roku built-in $430 (Reg. $580)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/710929886936891392 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/710912166279434240 align=’center’]

Save big on Apple’s newest laptops: Retina MacBook Pro $1,000 (Reg. $1,299), 256GB 11″ MacBook Air $870 (Reg. $1,099)

Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,200 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Tweetbot 4 for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch is now 50% off: $5 (Reg. $10)

Daily Deals: Pebble Time Smartwatch $95, Hisense 55-inch 1080p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV $370, more

App Store Free App of the Week: Sputnik Eyes puzzler goes free for the first time ($2 value)

iPad Pro Wi-Fi 128GB in all three colors: $790 shipped (Reg. $949)

Fresh iPad Pro discounts: 32GB Wi-Fi $650, 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular $890, all other models $100 off

Apple iPhone 6s/Plus Factory Unlocked up to $100 off, 16GB just $579 shipped (Reg. $649)

Apple TV Deals: 4th Gen 64GB $175 (Reg. $200), 3rd Gen $49 (Reg. $69), more

Buy or upgrade Parallels ($49-$79) & get 7 Mac apps free: 1Password, Parallels Access, & more (Reg. $269)

2016 All-Star Mac Bundle brings together 11 high-quality apps: $20 (Orig. $263)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Affinity Photo: Apple’s Mac App of the Year 2015 is now matching its lowest price ever: $40 (Reg. $50)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/710857590926909440 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/710823800863125504 align=’center’]

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Dock and charge your iPhone + Apple Watch in one place for $8 Prime shipped

Apple Watch 42mm Space Gray Milanese Loop Band + Aluminum Dock: $26 Prime shipped (Reg. $34)

Take home the Lexar JumpDrive 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive for $50 shipped (Reg. $80)

How-to: Use your car and an inexpensive inverter to replace the need for a home generator

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

Nike’s self-lacing prophecy finally comes true with the HyperAdapt 1.0

This NES-inspired backpack is the perfect carryall for any gamer

How-To: Remap Windows keyboards to match the Mac keyboard layout

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 17 2016 - 12:24 pm PT
39 Comments
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Over the last few days I’ve been finding myself using a keyboard designed for Windows users on my Mac. The reason behind such a change was that my MacBook Pro’s keyboard was causing wrist pain. The shallow key travel of the MacBook’s keyboard is partly to blame.

I just so happened to have an AmazonBasics wired keyboard available thanks to my recent Hackintosh build, so I decided to use it with my Mac. Immediately, I could sense relief in my wrists, but because this was a keyboard designed for Windows and not for Mac, the switch presented a whole new problem.
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Building a (sub-$1000) Hackintosh that meets the Oculus Rift hardware requirements – Part II

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 15 2016 - 2:24 pm PT
44 Comments
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In part I of our Hackintosh tutorial, we discussed our choice of hardware and the reasons behind those decisions. The main goal was to create a machine that had enough power to meet the Oculus Rift hardware requirements.

In this follow-up tutorial, we’ll show you the entire software install process needed for completing the build. Watch our 18+ minute step-by-step tutorial and witness this Hackintosh come to life.
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Review: Synology NAS, a solid backup solution and great home media server with Plex

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 15 2016 - 10:49 am PT
39 Comments

I’ve recently been testing the brand new Synology DS-216+ NAS ($299), a network-attached-storage product meant for consumers. Although Synology products include a variety of features, I will be focusing on two primary functions that I consider most essential and most useful to people today: Mac backup and home media management (TV shows and movies).

With Apple no longer shipping optical drives in most of their products, I think now is a great time to convert your home movie collection of DVDs and Blu-rays to digital files, which a NAS is great for storing. The Apple TV 4 was another big factor: with an app, I can now view all the TV shows and movies, stored on my NAS, from my TV.

Before I owned a NAS, I was worried about two things: whether the features would be useful and how much hassle would be necessary to get everything up and running. Hence, my review starts with an explanation of the setup steps involved …


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How-To: Watch March Madness 2016 on your iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple TV

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 15 2016 - 10:46 am PT
0 Comments
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Update: Games airing on CBS are not available for streaming on Apple TV as of right now. The company’s reasoning for this is unclear, but we’re looking into it and will update further if we’re able to get to the bottom of it. CBS games are streaming via iOS devices and the web, so you can AirPlay to the Apple TV.

Furthermore, TruTV, TNT, and TBS games require a cable login for streaming on Apple TV.

Original Post:

Every basketball fan’s favorite time of year kicks off later today with the play-in round of the NCCA March Madness tournament. After tonight, we’re looking at non-stop basketball for the rest of the month and it really doesn’t get much better than that.

Earlier this month, the NCAA announced that it would be live streaming all of the 2016 March Madness games on various platforms, and even teased an exclusive feature for Apple TV users. With games commencing this evening, it’s time to make sure you have everything setup so you’ll never run the chance of missing a game this year…


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How-To: Prepare for the Apple TV 4 jailbreak

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 14 2016 - 10:44 am PT
16 Comments
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Last week, it was revealed that an Apple TV 4 jailbreak is scheduled to be released in the very near future. That’s great, but the news comes with an asterisk: the jailbreak will only work with devices running tvOS 9.0 or 9.0.1. If you’ve updated to tvOS 9.1, 9.1.1 or any of the new betas releases, there’s no way to downgrade back to 9.0 or 9.0.1.

Thankfully, there are still plenty of fourth generation Apple TVs available in the wild that come installed with one of the first two versions of tvOS. In fact, in preparation for the upcoming jailbreak, I was able to easily purchase a new Apple TV running tvOS 9.0. 
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Building a (sub-$1000) Hackintosh that meets the Oculus Rift hardware requirements – Part I

Avatar for Jeff Benjamin Mar 12 2016 - 10:39 am PT
39 Comments
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Back at the beginning of March, Oculus CEO Palmer Luckey made controversial statements about Apple’s hardware, specifically the inability of any Mac in Apple’s entire lineup of computers to handle the graphics needs of the upcoming Oculus Rift. At one point in time, Oculus had support for OS X in the pipeline; in fact previous Rift dev kits supported Macs. As time went on, however, it was decided that the Oculus Rift would be Windows-only, at least initially.

It’s with Luckey’s comments, and the lack of initial OS X support in mind, that I’ve decided to put together a Hackintosh machine that meets the minimum requirements outlined by Oculus, yet can still run OS X. In theory, this machine could support the Oculus Rift if the necessary software was made available for OS X. It can run the Rift now if you install a Windows partition on it…
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How-To: Get a Sonos-like whole-home speaker setup on a budget

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 8 2016 - 5:40 pm PT
28 Comments
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Sonos speakers offer some of the best features in the game, but they come with one drawback: it’s expensive to get the whole-home setup that people love so much. The cheapest speaker, the Sonos Play:1 comes in at $200, while the Play:3 runs $299, and the Play:5 goes for $499. And remember, to get that whole-home setup, you’ll have to buy at least two speakers. While the Sonos speakers definitely offer the added benefit of being easy to use, it’s hard to justify spending so much if you’re living on a budget. Thankfully, there are a couple of other ways to get a whole-home speaker setup at a fraction of the cost…


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