Macworld https://www.macworld.com en-us Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:19:26 -0800 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:19:26 -0800 Best smart lock Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:40:00 -0800 Christopher Null Christopher Null Keys are yesterday’s tech, your smart home needs a smart lock. https://www.techhive.com/article/3212828/connected-home/best-smart-lock.html#tk.rss_all Connected Home Bluetooth Home Tech iOS 11.2: Beta 5 is now available Tue, 28 Nov 2017 14:56:00 -0800 Jason Cross Jason Cross

Updated 11/28/17: The fifth iOS 11.2 beta is available to developers and public testers.

iOS 11 is the biggest change to Apple’s mobile operating system in years. It’s so ambitious in scope that many of it’s promised features still haven’t shipped yet. iOS 11.1 mostly fixed bugs and brought us a bunch of new emoji, but iOS 11.2 is more substantial, with the addition of Apple Pay Cash. Hopefully, it will also introduce iMessage in iCloud, though that seems increasingly unlikely.

Here’s what we know about 11.2 so far. What’s in it, when it’s coming, and how you can grab the beta right now.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3235804/ios/ios-112-features-release-date-and-how-to-install.html#tk.rss_all iOS iPhone iPad
macOS High Sierra ‘root’ security issue allows admin access without a password—but there’s a fix Tue, 28 Nov 2017 13:50:00 -0800 Roman Loyola Roman Loyola

On Tuesday, a macOS 10.13.1 security issue was revealed—a flaw that allows root access to a Mac without the need for a password. Developer Lemi Orhan Ergin tweeted that anyone can log into a Mac by entering the user name root without a password. The first time you try to login, it won’t work. But if you try it again, you will be granted access. Here’s Erign’s tweet:

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238868/macs/macos-high-sierra-root-security-issue-allows-admin-access-to-your-macbut-theres-a-fix.html#tk.rss_all Macs OS X Security
Face ID on the iPhone X: Security firm fools Face ID with mask, but it's not as easy as it sounds Tue, 28 Nov 2017 10:02:00 -0800 Macworld Staff, Glenn Fleishman Macworld Staff, Glenn Fleishman

The upcoming iPhone X will use Face ID, technology that unlocks your iPhone X by using infrared and visible light scans to uniquely identify your face. The company says it will work in a variety of conditions and is extremely secure. Though no one outside Apple has yet been able to confirm how well it works.

Editor's note: This article was updated on Nov. 28, 2017, with a report that a security firm/smartphone manufacturer has fooled Face ID with a mask.

This brings up a lot of questions about Face ID. We'll work to get answers to you as you ponder whether you want to buy an iPhone X when it starts shipping November 3.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3225406/iphone-ipad/face-id-iphone-x-faq.html#tk.rss_all iPhone/iPad iPhone iOS Security Operating Systems
iPad 2018 rumors: Thinner bezels, Face ID, and a faster processor Tue, 28 Nov 2017 09:30:00 -0800 Jason Cross Jason Cross

When it comes to the tablet market, there’s the iPad and there’s everybody else. Apple dominates the market, especially in the premium price range. To hold on to its position, Apple has been kept things fresh with new models like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and new technologies like Apple Pencil and ProMotion.

But the fundamental design of the iPad hasn’t changed much in years. That could all change in 2018, as Apple gives use the first holistic new iPad design in a very long time.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238185/ios/ipad-2018-rumors.html#tk.rss_all iOS iPad
Apple TV 4K and tvOS 11: Everything you need to know about Apple's digital media streamer Tue, 28 Nov 2017 09:11:00 -0800 Macworld Staff Macworld Staff

Update 11/28/17: Added a note about limited availability of the 64GB model.

Apple TV has grown up a lot since its iTV days. It’s not just for iTunes rentals anymore—Apple TV handles just about anything we watch, from House of Cards to Game of Thrones and Major League Baseball games, and now that includes 4K content.

Since Apple opened up its tiny streaming box to developers, it’s gone from fun to indispensable. With an extensive library of apps, Siri support, and a drop-dead simple interface, Apple TV is one of the underrated players in Apple’s lineup. Just like all those years ago, it’s still the device that “completes the story” of Apple’s entertainment ecosystem, and even without some of the bells and whistles of its competitors, Apple TV is still one of the best streaming boxes you can buy—from SD to HD to brilliant 4K.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3212210/consumer-electronics/apple-tv-tvos-specs-features-faq-tips-tricks.html#tk.rss_all Consumer Electronics Home Tech Streaming Hardware
Animal Crossing Pocket Camp review: Nintendo's latest is a charming distraction Tue, 28 Nov 2017 06:00:00 -0800 Andrew Hayward Andrew Hayward

After making a big splash a year ago with Super Mario Run, Nintendo has turned its attention to mobile versions of games that aren’t quite as iconic or widely known. But just like with Fire Emblem, Animal Crossing has its die-hard proponents—which is kind of funny, given how low-key and incredibly chill the actual experience is on Nintendo’s own devices. 

animal crossing friends IDG

Equip your campsite with cool stuff, invite new acquaintances, and watch the friendships flourish.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238511/ios/animal-crossing-pocket-camp-review.html#tk.rss_all iOS Games iOS Apps
Kwikset Obsidian touchscreen deadbolt review: Slim and sexy, but not entirely smart Tue, 28 Nov 2017 05:15:00 -0800 Christopher Null Christopher Null As electronic lock manufacturers up their design game, Kwikset gets to work. https://www.techhive.com/article/3238668/security/kwikset-obsidian-touchscreen-deadbolt-review-slim-and-sexy-but-not-entirely-smart.html#tk.rss_all Security Home Tech iCloud Photo Library: Finding a way to sort photos by the device they were created with Tue, 28 Nov 2017 05:00:00 -0800 Glenn Fleishman Glenn Fleishman

If you use multiple iPhones, iPads, and Macs, iCloud Photo Library is a handy way to keep photos from those devices in one place. However, all those photos are stored in one place, and Macworld reader Allan wants to know if there’s a way to separate out media brought in from all those devices in Photos for iOS and macOS.

Oddly, there’s not. In Photos 3 for macOS 10.13 High Sierra, Apple added a kind of perpetual Imports history, so you can see in which batches images were imported into the app in macOS. But that doesn’t distinguish by device.

The smart album feature is both very powerful and very limited, in that it allows you to specify many different kinds of parameters, but not the name of device or other embedded metadata.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3236056/data-center-cloud/icloud-photo-library-finding-a-way-to-sort-photos-by-the-device-they-were-created-with.html#tk.rss_all Cloud & Services Photography
Not cool for Yule: The AirPod-killing Pixel Buds Tue, 28 Nov 2017 04:00:00 -0800 The Macalope The Macalope

Pundits are wearing out their fake fainting couches over Apple missing the holiday gift-giving season with the HomePod. But what about devices other companies have shipped that probably should have missed the annual display of our collective avarice, uh, love, the Macalope meant love? Sometimes its actually better to finish a product before shipping it.

Let us go back to October when Google announced its Pixel Buds for your bud-holes. Writing for Mashable, Raymond Wong explained “How Google’s Pixel Buds will kill Apple AirPods.”

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238514/consumer-electronics/not-cool-for-yule-the-airpod-killing-pixel-buds.html#tk.rss_all Consumer Electronics Headphones Wearables
Best MacBook: Which Mac laptop should you buy? Tue, 28 Nov 2017 00:01:00 -0800 Roman Loyola Roman Loyola

It's the holiday season, and you're planning on buying that special someone a new Mac laptop. So you head over to your local Apple store, or you peruse the pages of Apple’s website, and you find yourself with money to spend but no idea on which MacBook to buy.

Don’t worry! That’s why we’re here. In this guide, we’ll go over Apple’s current MacBook lineup, point out their differences and similarities, and provide you with the information you need to pick the right MacBook for you. You can get more in-depth information in our reviews of the MacBook and the MacBook Pro.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3200690/macbook/which-macbook-should-you-buy.html#tk.rss_all MacBooks Macs Laptops
The iMac Pro might be the first ARM Mac, but it won’t be the last Mon, 27 Nov 2017 13:55:00 -0800 Dan Moren Dan Moren

In the latest in a long line of leaks lately, a recent report says that the upcoming iMac Pro will also include an A10 Fusion chip—the same processor that powers the iPhone 7 series. This is a shoe we’ve been expecting to drop for some time, and it’s fueled a lot of discussion of whether or not a Mac solely powered by an ARM processor might be in the offing. 

I think it’s pretty clear that if this report is true—and the evidence is solid enough to believe it is—that this first Mac with an ARM chip won’t be the last. But at the same time, it doesn’t mean that Apple’s about to throw the x86 architecture to the side and put all its chips—if you’ll pardon the expression—on ARM.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238644/macs/the-imac-pro-might-be-the-first-arm-mac-but-it-won-t-be-the-last.html#tk.rss_all Macs
Cyber Monday Steal: Get 120+ Hours of iOS 11 Dev Training for $15 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 13:07:00 -0800 DealPost Team DealPost Team

From Siri upgrades to AR technology, iOS 11 brings a treasure trove of new features to the iPhone, and developers are scrambling to create apps on the new platform. You can stay ahead of the curve and create your own smash hit applications with the Definitive iOS 11 Developer Bundle. It normally costs over $1000, but today, you can get it for just $15 with code CYBER70 at checkout. 

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238513/ios/cyber-monday-steal-get-120-hours-of-ios-11-dev-training-for-15.html#tk.rss_all iOS Macs Software Development
Cyber Monday: The best software deals Mon, 27 Nov 2017 12:42:00 -0800 Ian Paul Ian Paul

Cyber Monday isn't just a good time to stock up on tech devices. There are also quite a few good sales on software kicking around the Internet right now, too.

We've dug around and found the top deals on productivity and security software for today. The list includes antivirus subscriptions, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Photoshop Elements: All the type of thing that get regular use but aren't nearly as exciting as, say, a $100 Android tablet.

For sales on PC games, check out the top 5 gaming deals for Cyber Monday.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238473/software/cyber-monday-the-best-software-deals.html#tk.rss_all Software
Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals: The best discounts on Apple gear Mon, 27 Nov 2017 12:20:00 -0800 Leah Yamshon Leah Yamshon

This article was updated on Monday, November 27 to add in new deals and to remove expired deals.

Apple products on the cheap are hard to come by, even on mega shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But this year, we’ll be able to score some major deals on lots of different Apple goodies—including the iPhone 8, iPad Pro, Apple Watch, and MacBook Pro. (Yes, seriously.) If you’re ok with slightly older stuff, the savings are even better.

Apple’s Black Friday-only one-day shopping event with gift card givebacks may be over, but third-party retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Amazon have their own discounts and gift card deals on Apple gear as well. Take a look at what we’ve found so far—and keep an eye on this page through the end of Cyber Monday as we add more deals. 

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3144645/consumer-electronics/black-friday-deals-the-best-discounts-on-apple-gear.html#tk.rss_all Consumer Electronics Holiday Gift Guide Black Friday
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides updates add support for iPhone X, iOS 11 drag-and-drop Mon, 27 Nov 2017 11:08:00 -0800 Jason Cross Jason Cross

Millions of people rely on Google’s productivity tools for their daily work, and the last few months have been frustrating for iPhone and iPad users. Even though iOS 11 was released back in September—and was in beta for months before—Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides did not support the drag-and-drop feature for iPad users. Such a critical productivity feature, ignored in some of the most popular productivity apps in the world!

And while the iPhone X may have been released just a few weeks ago, the emulator has been available since September for developers, and yet Google has been slow to support the new display size in many of its apps.

Today, Google fixes both of those problems with big updates to Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. You now get proper formatting on the iPhone X and drag-and-drop on the iPad with iOS 11.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238510/ios/google-docs-sheets-and-slides-updates-add-support-for-iphone-x-ios-11-drag-and-drop.html#tk.rss_all iOS Productivity Software
Cyber Monday Exclusive: Save Hundreds on a Lifetime Subscription to Windscribe VPN ($30) Mon, 27 Nov 2017 10:03:00 -0800 DealPost Team DealPost Team

Surfing on public Wi-Fi is certainly convenient, but what most users aren't aware of is the risk they take when they log on to an unsecured network. These networks can be home to snoopers and hackers eager to take a look at your browsing movements and personal information. That's why it's important to protect your privacy with a VPN like Windscribe. For Cyber Monday, they're offering a lifetime subscription (normally $900) for just $30 with code CYBER40 at checkout. 

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238454/security/cyber-monday-exclusive-save-hundreds-on-a-lifetime-subscription-to-windscribe-vpn-30.html#tk.rss_all Security
Best smart home system Mon, 27 Nov 2017 09:13:00 -0800 Christopher Null Christopher Null Your home is only as smart as the hub that orchestrates everything behind the scenes. These DIY tools are the best of the bunch. https://www.techhive.com/article/3206310/connected-home/best-smart-home-system.html#tk.rss_all Connected Home Home Tech Pay What You Want For The Cyber Monday Mac Bundle ($469 value) Mon, 27 Nov 2017 06:10:00 -0800 DealPost Team DealPost Team

If you're looking for a good deal on Mac software, you're in luck. The Cyber Monday Mac Bundle features 10 highly rated Mac apps including Pathfinder 7, Photolemur, and Live Home 3D. It has a combined value of over $468, but right now, you can get all 10 apps for a price you pick.

Here's what's included:

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238469/macs/pay-what-you-want-for-the-cyber-monday-mac-bundle-469-value.html#tk.rss_all Macs Software
Play these 10 awesome, optimized games on your iPhone X Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:00:00 -0800 Andrew Hayward Andrew Hayward
The X factor
iphonex games lead

Image by Andrew Hayward/IDG

There’s nothing more frustrating than firing up your luxurious new smartphone, tapping one of your favorite apps or games from your last device, and finding that it just doesn’t look right. In the case of the iPhone X, apps not updated for the new extra-tall, notch-adorned OLED display have black bars bookending the experience on the top and bottom.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]> https://www.macworld.com/article/3238287/ios/play-these-10-awesome-optimized-games-on-your-iphone-x.html#tk.rss_all iOS Games iOS Apps Gaming Amazon Echo, Echo Plus or Echo Spot: Which Alexa smart speaker is right for you? Mon, 27 Nov 2017 04:30:00 -0800 Michael Brown Michael Brown The answer was easy when there were just two models. Now Alexa is all over the place. https://www.techhive.com/article/3229105/hubs-controllers/amazon-echo-which-alexa-smart-speaker-is-right-for-you.html#tk.rss_all Speakers Home Tech Holiday Gift Guide HomePod is looking more and more like the return of iPod Hi-Fi Mon, 27 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0800 Michael Simon Michael Simon

When HomePod was announced at WWDC in June, it seemed like Apple was finally jumping head first into the smart speaker race. Introduced as a coveted “one last thing,” Tim Cook and Phil Schiller extolled the devices music playback abilities, saying HomePod was going to “reinvent the way we enjoy music in the home” in a device that combined the fidelity of Sonos with the fun of an Amazon Echo.

Like many others, I wanted to believe that pristine music quality was just one of many features Apple was bringing to the smart speaker space. But as more details begin to trickle out about Apple’s plans for HomePod, it’s becoming clear that the new device is more of a voice-controlled speaker than a true Echo competitor. While HomePod will work with HomeKit to control smart home devices and respond to general knowledge queries, it doesn’t appear as though it will break any ground that Google Home and Amazon Echo hasn’t already broken.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238135/smart-appliance/homepod-is-looking-more-and-more-like-the-return-of-ipod-hifi.html#tk.rss_all Speakers iOS iPhone
Cyber Monday deals: 14 tech bargains that truly save you serious money Mon, 27 Nov 2017 00:25:00 -0800 Jared Newman Jared Newman
The sales aren't over yet
bf cyber monday doorbuster

Cyber Monday is still a day of second chances for holiday tech shopping. If you missed Black Friday, you have a final opportunity to snag deals on new TVs, tablets, phones, PCs, and other gadgets.

As with previous years, some retailers are keeping their most popular gadget deals active from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. We’re also seeing some completely new offers worth checking out.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]> https://www.macworld.com/article/3144990/hardware/cyber-monday-deals-tech-bargains-that-truly-save-serious-money.html#tk.rss_all Hardware PCs Laptops Home Tech iPhone/iPad A big complaint: The iPhone X’s major flaw Sat, 25 Nov 2017 04:00:00 -0800 The Macalope The Macalope

Are you ready? Ready to read the horrible secret about the iPhone X? The secret that Apple doesn’t want you to know?

Turns Out™… it’s a big phone!

And writing for the very lovely people and twisted homunculi and sausage-fingered headline writers at Business Insider, Dennis Green says enough is enough.

“I’ve been using my iPhone X for nearly a month, and I’ve decided I hate it.” (Tip o’ the antlers to Nathan and Nick.)

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238192/iphone-ipad/a-big-complaint-the-iphone-x-s-major-flaw.html#tk.rss_all iPhone/iPad iPhone iOS
Amazon Black Friday deals: The best tech at killer prices Fri, 24 Nov 2017 19:14:00 -0800 Jon Phillips, Alaina Yee Jon Phillips, Alaina Yee

Amazon is ground zero for Black Friday shopping, but not all of its deals are worth your attention. That’s where we come in: We’ve sifted through Amazon’s staggering amount of Black Friday deals, and cherry-picked the very best deals in the tech categories you care about most.

A note about Amazon Prime deals: You can sign up for a 30-day Prime membership if you’re not already a member. This also gives you earlier access to some of Amazon’s limited-time Lightning deals—which we won’t be covering in this article. We’ll be eating turkey instead.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238028/black-friday/best-amazon-black-friday-deals.html#tk.rss_all Black Friday Consumer Electronics
iPhone 8 Plus vs. iPhone X: Which one should you buy? Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:55:00 -0800 Susie Ochs Susie Ochs

This article was updated on November 24, 2017 with info on the iPhone X’s availability and general buying advice. 

For the first time, Apple has not just two sizes of its newest iPhone, but two distinctly different iPhones. There’s the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus, which keep the same form-factor we know and love, Retina display, Home button, and all. And then there’s the new hotness, the bleeding-edge iPhone X, with an OLED display and a TrueDepth camera that unlocks the phone when you look at it.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3230926/apple-phone/iphone-8-plus-vs-iphone-x-spec-showdown.html#tk.rss_all iPhone iPhone/iPad
Black Friday Exclusive: Save Over 50% On The RevolCam Multi Lens Kit for Smartphones Fri, 24 Nov 2017 11:45:00 -0800 DealPost Team DealPost Team

Sometimes your smartphone's built-in camera isn't enough to snap that breathtaking sunset or capture the dew drops on a lone flower petal. Therein lies the utility of RevolCam: The Multi-Lens Photo Revolution for Smartphones. With three high-quality camera lenses, an adjustable brightness LED, and a selfie mirror all on the same device, RevolCam has completely reinvented smartphone photography. It normally costs $60, but you can get it for an exclusive Black Friday price of $27.99 with code BFRIDAY20 at checkout. 

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238020/gadgets/black-friday-exclusive-save-over-50-on-the-revolcam-multi-lens-kit-for-smartphones.html#tk.rss_all Gadgets Consumer Electronics iPhone Accessories Mobile Accessories iPhone/iPad
Best DVR for cord cutters Fri, 24 Nov 2017 10:19:00 -0800 Jared Newman Jared Newman TiVo Roamio OTA vs. Tablo vs. Channel Master vs. HDHomeRun with Plex: None are ideal, but one might work for you. https://www.techhive.com/article/3173175/streaming-hardware/best-dvr-for-cord-cutters.html#tk.rss_all Streaming Hardware Consumer Electronics Black Friday Exclusive: Save Over 40% On The Nix Mini Color Sensor - Deal Alert Fri, 24 Nov 2017 08:45:00 -0800 DealPost Team DealPost Team

Color matching shouldn't be a guessing game, and with the Nix Mini Color Sensor, it doesn't have to be. Whether you're painting a room, coating car, or designing a website, this pocket-sized sensor matches colors with extreme precision, and it's on sale at a Black Friday price—only $55.20 when you enter code BFRIDAY20 at checkout.

With the Nix sensor, you can simply scan any color critical surface, save it to your phone or tablet, and match it to an existing color library of more than 28,000 brand name paint colors, as well as RGB, HEX, CMYK, and LAB colors. It's the size of a ping pong ball and fits comfortably on your keychain. Plus, it's engineered with solid-state technology for added durability when you're on the move.

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238150/software/black-friday-exclusive-save-over-40-on-the-nix-mini-color-sensor-deal-alert.html#tk.rss_all Software iPhone/iPad Gadgets
Black Friday Deal: Save 80% On The FRESHeBUDS Pro Magnetic Bluetooth Earbuds Fri, 24 Nov 2017 05:45:00 -0800 DealPost Team DealPost Team

Nowadays, Bluetooth earbuds exist in two forms: powerful and expensive or cheap and quiet. New and improved, FRESHeBUDS Pro Magnetic Bluetooth Earbuds are looking to bridge the gap by delivering crisp, wireless sound that won't break the bank. Today, you can score these earbuds for over 80% off their normal $120 retail price when you plug in the BFRIDAY20 coupon code at checkout, taking the final price down to $23.95!

To read this article in full, please click here

]]>
https://www.macworld.com/article/3238188/consumer-electronics/black-friday-deal-save-80-on-the-freshebuds-pro-magnetic-bluetooth-earbuds.html#tk.rss_all Consumer Electronics iPhone/iPad Audio