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Adam Engst No comments

Apple Extends Australian Emergency Calling Fix to iOS 18.7.6

Apple’s release notes for iOS 18.7.6 simply say “bug fixes,” but the Australian support page tells a different story: the update fixes a Telstra network issue that could interfere with emergency services calls on certain older iPhones.

Adam Engst No comments

OS 26.3.1 Adds Studio Display Support, Fixes Bugs

The 26.3.1 updates for macOS Tahoe, iOS, and iPadOS add support for the new Studio Display models and fix a few bugs, while visionOS 26.3.1 fixes a flicker issue in the Apple TV app.

Julio Ojeda-Zapata Adam Engst 29 comments

The MacBook Neo’s Carefully Considered Compromises

With the MacBook Neo, Apple has introduced an entry-level laptop to complement its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lines. In an attempt to wrest market share from Windows and Chromebook competitors, the MacBook Neo makes numerous small compromises that bring the price down to $599, making it the most affordable Mac laptop ever.

Adam Engst 11 comments

Apple Introduces Studio Display XDR and Refreshes Studio Display

Apple has refreshed its Studio Display with minor improvements and introduced the Studio Display XDR at $3299. The XDR brings mini-LED technology and HDR capabilities from the $5000 Pro Display XDR to a 27-inch 5K display, making professional display technology accessible to more users.

Adam Engst 9 comments

MacBook Air Gets M5, MacBook Pro Gains M5 Pro and M5 Max

Apple has updated the MacBook Air with the new M5 chip, doubled base-level storage, and faster SSDs, while the MacBook Pro gains the new M5 Pro and M5 Max chips along with the same doubled base-level storage and faster SSDs.

Adam Engst 1 comment

iPad Air Gets M4 and More Memory

Apple’s new iPad Air features the M4 chip, 12 GB of unified memory (up from 8 GB), and the N1 and C1X connectivity chips for Wi-Fi 7 and faster cellular. Prices remain unchanged at $599 and $799.

Adam Engst 4 comments

New iPhone 17e Adds MagSafe to Apple’s Budget iPhone

The iPhone 17e brings MagSafe to Apple’s entry-level iPhone, doubles base-level storage to 256 GB, and adds the A19 chip, but the iPhone 17 may still be the better value.

Adam Engst 29 comments

Reading Doesn’t Fill a Database, It Trains Your Internal LLM

Many of us think of reading as building a mental database we can query later. But we forget most of what we read. A better analogy? Reading trains our internal large language models, reshaping how we think without providing accurate recall.

Adam Engst 5 comments

Critiquing iOS 26 App Interfaces on The Talk Show

If you enjoy hearing two longtime Apple observers geek out about interface details, Adam Engst’s conversation with John Gruber on The Talk Show offers hours of iOS 26 interface commentary.

Suman Chakrabarti 6 comments

Go Back to Basics When Troubleshooting Aging Hardware

Network connections like Wi-Fi and Ethernet don’t always work well for low-level tasks, such as installing firmware updates. Guest author Suman Chakrabarti had to ditch wireless entirely and return to the device’s simplest connection method—a USB 2.0 cable—to resurrect a nearly decade-old laser printer.

Adam Engst 101 comments

Should 1Password’s Price Hike Push You to Apple’s Passwords?

1Password is raising prices for the first time in ten years. With Apple’s free Passwords app maturing into a capable alternative, is it finally time to consider switching—or do 1Password’s features still justify its cost?

Adam Engst 6 comments

Apple in 2025: The Six Colors Report Card

Jason Snell’s annual Apple Report Card shows Hardware Reliability topping the list again, but the controversial Liquid Glass design dragged software scores to new lows, and Tim Cook’s relationship with the Trump administration caused Apple’s Impact on the World category to crater.

Adam Engst 10 comments

Dialed Game Tests Your Color Memory

Think you can accurately recall colors? Dialed, a simple browser game, reveals just how unreliable human color memory really is. It offers easy and hard modes, as well as multiplayer competition.

Julio Ojeda-Zapata 25 comments

Third-Party Gadgets Bring Find My Tracking to Wallets, Chargers, and More

Apple’s AirTags are indispensable for tracking down a missing purse or wayward suitcase, but the large lozenge shape isn’t ideal for all Find My scenarios. Third-party accessory makers have stepped in with a range of Find My trackers—Julio Ojeda-Zapata looks at a wallet, several wallet cards, a mobile charger, and a travel lock.

Adam Engst No comments

VidBITS: A Hookmark Walkthrough with Luc Beaudoin

Hookmark brings hyperlinking to your Mac, letting you connect files, emails, PDFs, and more. In this hour-long video demo, CogSciApps founder Luc Beaudoin shows how to copy links, create bidirectional hooks, and navigate your workspace efficiently.