Category: TidBits

Use Fake Contacts to Improve Dictation Accuracy
Productivity

Use Fake Contacts to Improve Dictation Accuracy

Apple’s Dictation feature is a great way to avoid slow typing on the iPhone and iPad, and it can be welcome on the Mac as well. But it struggles with proper nouns—it guesses wildly at unfamiliar names and often fails to capitalize common words that are part of a name (so you get “New York Public library”). Apple doesn’t provide

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Office 2019 for Mac Goes Read-Only on July 13, 2026
TidBits

Office 2019 for Mac Goes Read-Only on July 13, 2026

If you’re still using Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac, on July 13, 2026, an expiring certificate will cause your copies of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook to enter “reduced functionality mode,” meaning you can view and print documents but cannot edit or create new ones. To check if you’re affected, open Word and choose Word > About Microsoft Word (or

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Not Sure If You’re Presentable for a Video Call? Try Hand Mirror
TidBits

Not Sure If You’re Presentable for a Video Call? Try Hand Mirror

Since the pandemic, video calls have become a fact of life for many of us, so much so that it’s now possible to sit down for a meeting without thinking about whether you’ve changed out of your pajamas or brushed your hair. (No judgment; we’ve all done it.) To ensure that you’re presentable before you connect, use the Mac app

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Use Your AirPods as a Camera Remote
Productivity

Use Your AirPods as a Camera Remote

Have you ever wanted to activate the shutter button for your iPhone’s camera—for either a still photo or a video—when you’re not holding it? Selfie sticks often come with Bluetooth buttons that can do that, and starting in iOS 26, you also can use your AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro as a camera remote. While you’re wearing your AirPods, turn

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When Should You Upgrade Your Apple Devices?
TidBits

When Should You Upgrade Your Apple Devices?

The simple answer to “When should you upgrade?” is when your device no longer does what you need, or when you want something new. But that’s not helpful if you’re trying to make an informed decision—is there a sweet spot when it makes more sense to upgrade rather than squeeze another year out of your current device? The answer is

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How AI Vulnerability Detection Changes Software Security
AI

How AI Vulnerability Detection Changes Software Security

The latest generation of AI models has fundamentally changed how quickly security vulnerabilities can be found in software, for both defenders and attackers. Understanding what’s happening helps explain why we keep emphasizing the importance of keeping your devices updated. In April 2026, AI company Anthropic announced Mythos Preview, an AI model with unprecedented capabilities for finding security flaws in software.

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Choosing the Best Mac for a College-Bound Student in 2026
TidBits

Choosing the Best Mac for a College-Bound Student in 2026

If you have a college-bound student, it’s time to think about whether they need a new Mac. Perhaps their current computer is showing its age, or it was a high school loaner, or it would be better handed down to a younger sibling. Whatever the reason, navigating Apple’s current Mac lineup can feel overwhelming, especially given the wide range of

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Never Run AppleScripts from Untrusted Sources
Security

Never Run AppleScripts from Untrusted Sources

The latest scam to watch out for is fake websites that try to get you to open Script Editor directly from your browser with a pre-filled AppleScript. Don’t do this! Security researchers at Jamf Threat Labs documented an attack where a convincing Apple-themed page claiming to help “reclaim disk space” prompted users to allow Script Editor to open, then used

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Safari’s Compact Tab Bar Returns in macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4
Productivity

Safari’s Compact Tab Bar Returns in macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4

Safari’s compact tab bar option, which saves vertical space by placing the address bar in the current tab, went missing in the initial releases of macOS 26 Tahoe and iPadOS 26. Only Apple knows why this helpful option disappeared (Liquid Glass?), but as of macOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4, it’s back! On the Mac, select it in Safari > Settings

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Today’s Fire Prevention Tip: Avoid Cheap Lithium-Ion Batteries
News

Today’s Fire Prevention Tip: Avoid Cheap Lithium-Ion Batteries

We always recommend buying from reputable manufacturers rather than no-name brands, especially for products with lithium-ion batteries, such as power banks, Bluetooth speakers, flashlights, power tools, e-bikes, and more. In a 2025 study, industrial scanning company Lumafield CT-scanned over 1,000 lithium-ion battery cells from ten different brands, including reputable manufacturers like Samsung and Panasonic, as well as low-cost and outright

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