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Category: Mac & macOS

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 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 25 comments

OS 26.3 Updates Focus on Bug and Security Fixes

Don’t expect new features in Apple’s OS 26.3 updates, but be sure to install them soon. They patch dozens of security vulnerabilities and address an actively exploited flaw Apple says was used in sophisticated spyware attacks.

Adam Engst 15 comments

Apple’s Certificate-Extension Updates Continue for Older Operating Systems

Apple’s latest updates for older operating systems extend certificates so iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation continue to work after January 2027. Meanwhile, iOS 16.7.14 may address a Telstra network issue affecting older iPhones in Australia.

Adam Engst 25 comments

Make Finder Window Columns Resize to Fit Filenames

Tired of truncated filenames in Finder’s column view? macOS 26 Tahoe adds a checkbox that automatically resizes columns to fit filenames—and you can enable it in earlier macOS versions too.

Adam Engst 16 comments

Here’s to “Unreasonable Standards”

Seth Godin argues that the Mac’s success came not from the legendary 1984 Super Bowl ad but from the “unreasonable standards” of designers like Susan Kare and programmers like Bill Atkinson—a timely reminder as criticism of macOS 26 Tahoe’s design choices mounts.

Adam Engst 54 comments

How Tahoe’s Menu Icons Undermine Usability

Software engineer Nikita Prokopov uses Apple’s 1992 Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines to show how macOS 26 Tahoe’s menu icons violate fundamental usability principles—increasing visual search time and error rates, especially for users with low vision.

Adam Engst 41 comments

OS 26.2 Adds Reminder Alarms, Edge Light, Podcast Chapters, and Enhanced Safety Alerts

Adam Engst walks you through Apple’s OS 26.2 updates, highlighting new alarms in Reminders, auto-generated chapters in Podcasts, Enhanced Safety Alerts, and Edge Light for Mac video calls—along with urgent fixes for two actively exploited WebKit vulnerabilities.

Adam Engst 11 comments

Tahoe’s Terrible Icons, Another Take

Apple’s macOS 26 Tahoe icon overhaul prioritizes uniform “squircles” over personality. Paul Kafasis’s comparisons reveal softened, blurrier artwork that reduces at‑a‑glance recognizability.

Adam Engst 37 comments

OS 26.1 Updates Bring Small Improvements

Update to OS 26.1 for incremental improvements and security fixes across Apple’s platforms. Highlights include Tinted Liquid Glass, AutoMix over AirPlay, Slide Over’s return to iPadOS, and dozens of patched vulnerabilities.

Adam Engst 1 comment

New M5 Chip Accelerates the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro

Apple’s newest M5 chip debuts in three devices, bringing substantial performance improvements to the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro, and Vision Pro while leaving nearly all other features unchanged.

Adam Engst 57 comments

How to Turn Liquid Glass into a Solid Interface

Apple’s new Liquid Glass interface design can be hard to read in certain situations. If you encounter any issues, here’s how to adjust the transparency and other visual effects across macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS to suit your needs.