Macworld Australia August 2018

It was as absolute an answer as you could possibly get. Is Apple merging iOS and macOS? “No,” said Apple software chief Craig Federighi, with an animated accompaniment smashing down on the screen behind him. And yet…Federighi made that comment just moments before he unveiled a new system, being worked on by Apple over multiple years, that will allow the developers of iOS apps to bring those apps to the Mac more easily. And first up will be Apple itself, which is using this approach to translate the iOS Stocks, Voice Memos, News, and Home apps for macOS Mojave (go.macworld.com/nfmj), coming this fall. While the Mac and iOS might not be merging, major changes are in store for the Mac and the apps it runs. It’s hard to imagine how the Mac…

If you’re a student, the summer break is about re-evaluating the next year of your studies, whether that’s starting college or simply continuing the course you’re already on. One important thing to consider is the devices you’ll be working on to achieve your educational goals. And if your target is a new Mac or iPad, know that Apple has a dedicated Education Store (go.macworld.com/hdsh) that offers specific discounts for students. In this article we’ll tell you how to get these discounts and what’s on offer. It’s not just the ones paying attention in class that are eligible for getting the best deal, either—parents of students, faculty, staff, and home-school teachers can also buy from the Education Store. Apple clearly recognizes the opportunities that the education market offers—just look at the student…

Now that the WWDC 2018 keynote has come and gone, we’ll be spending the next several weeks breaking it all down. Apple had a lot to say (go.macworld.com/evap) over the course of its two-hour-plus keynote, but there were several apps, features, and products that were conspicuously absent from the main stage. Unlike prior years in which Apple execs spent gobs of time talking up features to death, there was a notable lack of filler during this year’s keynote. Apple had a lot to say about its four main OSs—so much so, in fact, that some of iOS 12’s most interesting features (go.macworld.com/12in) didn’t even make the cut. But even beyond longer Animoji messages and AutoFill passwords, there were a few missing announcements that point to something big on the horizon (and…

1Password 7 for Mac (go.macworld.com/1pw7) has a variety of small improvements and a fresher design that add up to a nice bump justifying the version number. But because its maker, AgileBits, switched to a subscription model as its dominant method of offering software, the company is clearly less obsessed with including the kitchen sink, as it tries to offer ongoing updates and new features between major releases to justify the cost to current subscribers. And that’s fine: a rush to cram features—some half-baked—into new versions of software where developers rely heavily on upgrade fees as part of their revenue cycle doesn’t benefit users. 1Password provides a secure, central place to store your password and account information, generate new strong passwords uniquely for every site and service, and retrieve or fill them…

To hear it from some people, Apple is the king of daily-wear conversation pieces, but I don’t think those people have ever seen a Saddleback Leather bag. Let’s put it this way: If you don’t like talking to people, you probably shouldn’t get one. As for me, I’ve made a bit of a game out of my past few days with the Saddleback Thin Front Pocket Backpack, counting down the moments to the next compliment, the next thumbs-up from a fellow Saddleback owner, or the earnest bus conversation from someone who’s eager to know how they can get one for themselves. (I’m currently sitting at nine hours.) It helps to know this admiration is justified. Much like an Apple product, a Saddleback bag delivers style and substance in equal measure. It…

If you shot home videos between 1995 and 2010, there’s a good chance you did so with a tape-based MiniDV camcorder. With its simple FireWire connectivity, the DV format had a great run prior to the advent of smartphones. For those who want to relive those taped memories, LifeFlix (go.macworld.com/lflx) is a Mac application that makes it simple to do. ATTACH YOUR CAMCORDER AND IMPORT THE VIDEO LifeFlix streamlines the process of capturing tapes in three easy steps. First, dust off your MiniDV, HDV, Hi-8, or Digital 8 camcorder and attach it to the Mac with a FireWire cable. This will be the biggest stumbling block for many, since Apple abandoned FireWire in 2012. You can overcome this hurdle by investing in a Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter (go.macworld.com/th2f; $29 at Apple); most…