MacFormat March 2021
MacFormat is the UK’s best selling magazine for the home Mac user. Each issue brings you all the exciting developments from the world of Apple, including reviews of new Macs, iPads and Apple’s own apps like iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand. We’ll show you how to make the most of your Mac, OS X and all the creative things you can do with it. We also review all the latest 3rd party software and kit – so if you’re looking for a new hard drive, monitor or printer that works with a Mac, you’ll be well served. iOS users are also welcome and we review the latest iPad and iPhone apps. ***Note: This digital edition is not printable and does not include the covermount items or supplements you would find with printed copies***
in this issue
hello (again)
As thrilling as a new Mac is, at some point you’re going to have to work out how to move your data over from your old one – and that’s where our lead feature comes in. Starting on p20, you’ll discover the right way to back up all your apps and data and then migrate them over to your new machine – and if you’re coming to the Mac from Windows, we’ve got you covered too. Our second feature this month focuses on the world of widgets – the mini apps that live on your iPhone or iPad Home screen, enabling you to do all kinds of wonderful things before you open the main app itself. Turn to p60 for our top picks. In addition this issue, we’ve got two different takes on…
a feast of new macs in 2021
Contact us Email your queries to letters@macformat.com Join the conversation at facebook.com/macformat or on Twitter @macformat The upcoming year could be a huge one for the Mac, with numerous reports suggesting new products and features across almost the entire range of Apple’s computers. If they come to fruition, 2021 could be a watershed year for Mac users. The first report comes from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He asserts that Apple will overhaul the MacBook Pro this year, offering both 16-inch and 14-inch sizes, with the latter replacing the 13-inch MacBook Pro by thinning the bezels and increasing the screen size. As well as that, Kuo claims that the MacBook Pro will come with a new chassis. This body will have squared-off sides, much like the current iPhone and iPad Pro ranges. This will…
ios vulnerabilities shocks researcher
Security researcher Matthew Green has said his team were “shocked” by the vulnerabilities they discovered in both iOS and Android. Green, a cryptographer at John Hopkins University, said, “I came into this project thinking that these phones are really protecting user data well. Now I’ve come out of the project thinking almost nothing is protected as much as it could be.” According to Green, the problems begin as soon as you unlock your iOS device, which puts it into After First Unlock mode. This stores the device’s encryption keys in quick access memory, which makes them relatively easy to extract if you have the right tools. Before the device is first unlocked after a reboot it is in Protected Until First User Authentication mode, which offers far more robust defences. The…
the poll
WE ASKED… If your MacBook has a Touch Bar, do you use it? Log on and see next issue’s big question! twitter.com/macformat facebook.com/macformat iPhone cases to charge AirPods? > Apple is considering iPhone cases that can charge AirPods, according to a recent patent. This shows Apple has a lot of different ideas for how its cases could work, with illustrations showing AirPods slotting into the inside of a folio case flap, in the case hinge, on top of a case, on the back, and more. As well as offering charging capabilities, these cases might display info to the user. For instance, this might show the charging level of your AirPods if they are currently being powered up inside the case. Some of the cases would charge the AirPods using an integrated battery, while others would rely…
apple news roundup
HINGES FOR “FINGER DEVICES” FOR USE IN FOLDING iPHONES AND MORE > Apple looks to be researching hinges, per a new patent. This may not sound exciting, but it might hint at several rumoured devices, from MacBook lids and folding iPhones to wearable smart rings. Indeed, the patent repeatedly mentions use in “finger devices”. These speculative devices may enable you to control Apple devices with a simple wave or gesture, and Apple has patented them before. SMART GLASSES AUTO UNLOCK FAST ACCESS TO DEVICES > Apple’s rumoured smart glasses may automatically unlock other Apple devices once you are wearing them, much like how the Apple Watch currently works. The smart glasses would offer different unlock levels – picking up a device without looking at it might be more restrictive than looking at it and activating…
airtags on the horizon
Apple’s Tile-like AirTags tracking devices have surfaced again in a hidden Safari link. According to rumours, AirTags are small, portable trackers that you will be able to attach to your everyday valuables. They can then be tracked through Apple’s Find My app. Although they are unreleased, you can see how they might function right now. If you are on iOS 14.3 or iPadOS 14.3 or later, open Safari and type ‘findmy://items’ (without the quotation marks) as the URL and you would then be prompted to open the Find My app. Tap Allow and a secret Items tab would open in the app, with Add Item and Identify Found Item buttons present. The tab is currently unusable – you cannot add new items and it cannot be reopened once closed without the secret…
