OS X

The ultimate guide to protecting your private information in Notes from the prying eyes

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 27, 2019

According to Apple, Notes is one of the most popular and most-frequently used stock applications on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

People use Notes for everything from memorizing recipes to keeping track of errands, creating shopping lists, storing inspirational quotes and even passwords, codes and medical data.

Not all notes contain sensitive information, but many do. Beginning with iOS 9.3 and OS X El Capitan 10.11.4, you can protect your notes with a password or Touch ID.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to set up Notes protection, secure items on a note-by-note basis so no one can view their contents and more.

OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 is out with full Live Photos sharing, password-protected Notes and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 5, 2018

After spending more than two months in beta, OS X 10.11.4, a fourth major update to OS X El Capitan, today released for public consumption. The software update is now available and recommended for all OS X El Capitan users.

Even though it comes with a few noticeable outward-facing changes, OS X 10.11.4 does pack in some newsworthy improvements—namely in stock Messages, Notes and Photos apps. Full sharing of Live Photos via iMessages has been implemented throughout the system, too. Like other major OS X releases, 10.11.4 includes a handful of under-the-hood changes and tons of bug fixes and performance optimizations.

How to watch Apple’s ‘Let us loop you in’ event live

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple will be streaming its 'Let us loop you in' media event live on the company's website. The Cupertino-based company is expected to unveil a number of new products related to iPhone, iPad, and the Apple Watch, but we'll have to wait and see to know for sure.

If you'll be tuning in to watch the Apple event live on your computer, there are some requirements you'll have to meet, and we'll touch on those requirements in this piece so you're prepared for it.

Chrome Handoff: a new tweak that enables Handoff for Chrome

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated September 10, 2019

Google Chrome fans that enjoy using Handoff to create a seamless experience between their iOS device and their Mac have been long disappointed in the third-party web browser's inability to support such a feature.

Fortunately, those sporting a device with a jailbreak can now take advantage of a new free jailbreak tweak called Chrome Handoff, which will enable Handoff for Chrome between your iOS device(s) and Mac. In this piece, we'll show you how it works!

Apple seeds OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 beta 7 to developers

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 15, 2016

Just 24 hours after seeding iOS 9.3 beta 7 to developers and public testers, Apple on Tuesday released a seventh beta of the forthcoming OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 software update.

The new version with a build number of 15E64a is available as an over-the-air update through the Mac App Store's Purchased tab on Macs authorized for software development through the Apple Developer Program and on computers enrolled into the Apple Beta Software Program.

How to turn off auto-correct on Mac for one or all apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 13, 2023

In this post, you will learn how to disable your Mac's built-in auto-correction feature and regain control of what you type.

‘Other’ storage on your Mac explained

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 14, 2019

We recently detailed 'Other' iOS storage, an iTunes-reported section that includes various caches and temporary system files on you iPhone, iPod touch and iPad along with device settings, high-quality Siri and Voice Over voices and other system data.

Not many people know that macOS reports 'Other' storage on Macs, too. Unlike its iOS counterpart, the 'Other' Mac storage basically counts non-media files that don't fit any other category.

In addition, files not recognized by Spotlight are classed as 'Other' storage, among other items. Here's precisely what files are included in the 'Other' storage section, how to see its size, why your disk's used space appears as 'Other' storage when you startup up your Mac in Safe Mode and more.

Little-known Mac feature lets you watch window minimizing animations in slow motion

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated April 10, 2019

Mac OS X comes with a little-known function that lets you slow down the Dock's window minimization animation just for the fun of it.

Since Apple spends a lot of time creating quality animations with sleek and buttery-smooth transitions, it's only fair that they should give users a way to enjoy them in slow motion.

In this tutorial, we'll show you how you can view your Dock's window minimization animation in slow motion.

‘Ask to Buy’ lets you control what your kids buy in iTunes, iBooks, or App Store

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated July 31, 2018

After a period of Apple being under fire because kids were running up their parents' credit card bills with App Store and in-app purchases, Apple decided to do something about it. Apple's answer was to create a parental control system for the App Store so parents could approve or deny purchases that would otherwise have an impact on their credit card.

This parental control system is known as 'Ask to Buy' and it's available on both iOS and OS X in the latest releases of the operating systems, and in this tutorial, we'll tell you a little bit about how to configure and use Ask to Buy.

How to recycle your old tech with Apple’s Recycling Program

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated August 6, 2018

If you have old tech sitting in your closet or attic that you don't use anymore because you've got something better, Apple will gladly make sure that tech is recycled properly free of cost via the Apple Recycling Program. In some instances, the company will even give you an Apple Store gift card as credit towards a new Apple device or accessories.

The Apple Recycling Program has been around for ages, but is often overlooked as an option. Although better deals can often be had elsewhere, the urge to trade in your device can come at inopportune times, and when you want quick money for your old Apple devices, or a quick and easy way to get rid of your junk tech, Apple can come in handy in a pinch.

In this tutorial, we'll show you how you can use the Apple Recycling Program to make better use of your unused tech.

OWC launches SSD Upgrades for Mid-2013 and later Mac Notebooks

Anthony Bouchard ∙ Updated May 23, 2016

Other World Computing (OWC) has announced on Tuesday a major new step forward in upgrading the flash storage of your 2013 or later MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with Retina display.

Now available are the OWC Aura solid state drives (SSD), which come in flavors of 480GB and 1TB. These storage drive upgrades are direct PCI-e drop-ins for any of the supported computers.

Apple Maps adds 23 new Flyover locations

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 8, 2016

Apple continues to expand availability of the Flyover feature in its mapping service with today's backend update having enabled a total of 23 new landmark locations all over the world where three-dimensional Flyover view is available.

Select new cities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain and Taiwan have gained support for Flyover, such as Spain's A Coruña, Australia's Newcastle, England's Nottingham and more.