Bob LeVitus recently started using a pair of useful and free utilities—Rocket and Vanilla—that he heard about on one of my favorite podcasts for nerds, Mac Geek Gab.
What We're Learning From the Army's Fitbit Affair
We’ve read the alarming story about how the Army’s Fitbit users can have their location and activities revealed. What’s the takeaway?
Apple’s HomePod Public Beta Starts February 9th, and That’s OK
If HomePod were released by Google, I think they would explicitly state that many of its features are available “in beta” and let customers know that they expect problems to occur, but that’s generally not been Apple’s way of operating. Apple prefers to communicate confidence and consistency, which means they often wait to roll out new features until they get the foundational platform stable.
8 Great iPad Launch Memories and 4 Reasons Why Apple Needs A New Steve Jobs
Bella Bongiorno tweeted eight memories from creating the iPad, and four of those memories were stark reminders of just how important Steve Jobs’s penchant for detail was to making Apple’s products great.
Here's How to Diagnose Apple's New HomePod
Opinions are going to be all over the map regarding Apple’s new HomePod. Here’s what to look for.
Apple Seemingly Kills macOS Server, Deprecates Many Essential Services
This is yet another blow for those, particularly small businesses, that were relying on Apple for Enterprise/IT services.
Confessions of a Printing Addict
Bob LeVitus revisits his printing obsession, with a focus on the new Epson WorkForce 4750 EcoTank printer. [Updated with current pricing information.]
Apple Retail Store Experience Hardly Needs Fixing
A bitter complaint about the Apple retail store notwithstanding, there’s no better place to experience Apple, its products and service.
Apple's Approach to Education Only Goes So Far
There are some fundamental issues related to education in an environment immersed in social media. What can Apple do better?
How Can You Not Love Clever Gadgets?
Dr. Mac’s 261st Rants & Raves column asks: “How can you not love clever gadgets?” before he describes two of his newfound favorites.
How the MacBook Air Changed the Course of Our Mobile Life
The MacBook Air, introduced by Steve Jobs at Macworld San Francisco in January, 2008, was limited in capability and outrageously expensive. We loved it.
Bitcoin Drops Below $10K, Rallies Back Above $11K
The price of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency fell below $10,000 Tuesday afternoon, only to immediately rally back to $11,000 moments later.
Alexa Mania at CES Has Observers Questioning Apple's Approach
In post-CES analysis, a theme has emerged. Is Apple losing consumer presence of mind in consumer electronics, or is it all just a mirage?
Apple Has Yet Another Password Bug in macOS High Sierra
Users of macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 can unlock Setting > Mac App Store (MAS) using any string of text for a password, allowing anyone to change your MAS settings.
Why Apple's HomePod Doesn't Play by Echo Rules
Some voices suggest the Apple HomePod will fail because it doesn’t go toe-to-toe with other smart speakers, like Amazon’s Echo. This is nonsense.
Smart Kitchen Gadget: Anova Precision Sous Vide Cooker
Dr. Mac got a smart kitchen appliance for Chanukah and he’s pretty impressed with it.
The Odd Thing Apple Does with Apple TV 4K in Several Stores
Apple is doing something unexpected with its Apple TV 4K demos in several of its Denver Metro retail stores.
Which iPhone Should I Get: The Thrilling Conclusion
Dr. Mac has been running around with an iPhone X in one pocket and an iPhone 8 Plus in the other. Here’s a spoiler: He says the iPhone X was the hands-down winner in every category that matters to him.
Meltdown and Spectre Flaws — What They Are and What to Do
The hot topic this week has been the CPU architecture flaws called Meltdown and Spectre. What are they, and what should users do?
Apple Could Bring $200 Billion to U.S., But Don't Start Spending it Just Yet
Wall Street analysts have a shopping list of things Apple could spend that money on, but I wouldn’t advise outside observers to start spending that money for Apple just yet.