MacLife Spring 2022

I started writing this month’s ed’s intro with the intention of talking about all the new Apple devices that may or may not be coming in Apple’s March event, but as I put pen to paper, so to speak, I realized that I seem to be saying the same thing every other issue. So, instead of trying to look into the future when you’ve probably already seen it anyway, let’s talk about what’s happening this issue that I actually know about! We’ve got a pretty heavy emphasis on safeguarding your online activity this month, thanks to a triumvirate of features that have a slant on security. The first of these is a comprehensive roundup of antivirus apps for your Mac on page 52. Though Macs are well–known for being relatively secure,…

ONLY A FOOL would try to predict what Apple will do, especially in this time of uncertain supply. Well, as Gomez Addams said in the best film of 1991: “With God as my witness, I am that fool.” I don’t want to look at the whole range, though — I want to narrow down into some things I’m especially looking forward to, starting with the new bigger iMac. It seems obvious this iMac will feature the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips from the new MacBook Pros, and I’d bet that Apple will include the miniLED XDR display too. I think there’s a good chance Apple brings back the iMac Pro name for this one — the new bigger 24–inch size of the smaller one makes me think that’s the computer…

I migrated to macOS from Linux and Windows. There are things to like about Macs: Finder, Photos, Notes, and sharing between devices. However, I don’t like the 13GB updates. I bought my computer when it was installed with macOS Catalina; less than three years later it’s been updated to Big Sur and now Monterey, and there’s no doubt something else is on the horizon. I’ve grown used to industry standards. A delete key that actually deletes. A restart command sequence that doesn’t require two hands. Instead of making it new, how about making it better? No operating system is perfect, but sometimes manufacturers get it right. For example, why can’t I click on an application to maximize it and click on the same application to minimize it? Why not make it a…

RESPONDING TO CONTINUING concerns that AirTags could be used for such improper purposes as tracking people without their consent, Apple has announced features to combat “unwanted tracking.” Every AirTag has a unique serial number, and paired AirTags are associated with an Apple ID. Apple is making clear that it can provide the paired account details in response to a subpoena or valid request from law enforcement, and says it has done so, leading to wrongdoers being apprehended and charged. To clarify the privacy implications of this policy, Apple is introducing new warnings during AirTag setup: In an upcoming software update, every user setting up an AirTag for the first time will see a message clearly stating that AirTag is meant to track their own belongings, that using AirTag to track people without…

IT WILL SOON be possible to accept contactless payments on iPhone as well as make them. Apple has announced Tap to Pay on iPhone, coming later this year, which will enable sellers to accept Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards — including American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa — and other digital wallets on their iPhones, with no additional hardware or payment terminal required. All they’ll need will be a supporting iOS app on an iPhone XS or newer device. Tap to Pay on iPhone will be available for payment platforms and app developers to integrate into their iOS apps and offer as a payment option to their business customers. Stripe will be the first to offer it to their business customers, including the Shopify Point of Sale app this…

56% iPhone’s share of smartphone shipments in the US in Q4 2021, up from 47% in the previous quarter. (Counterpoint Research) #1 iPhone was the top–selling smartphone brand in China in Q4 2021, for the first time since 2015. Apple’s market share reached a record 23%, and unit sales grew 32% year–over–year in the quarter, while total smartphone sales in China fell 9%. (Counterpoint Research) 745 million iPhone’s global market share in the “premium” category (smartphones priced at $800 and above). (IDC) 30% Proportion of respondents in a January survey in the US, UK, China, and India who plan to upgrade their smartphones in 2022. That’s up from 23% in March 2020. (BofA Securities, reported by Investor’s Business Daily)…