Category: TidBits

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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Get to Your Files Faster by Choosing the Best Finder View
Productivity

Get to Your Files Faster by Choosing the Best Finder View

If you can work comfortably with the Mac’s four Finder views, you’ll enjoy an easier experience when you try to get to your folders and files. Each view has its pros and cons, so using the best view for the job at hand will make you more productive. Here’s a look at the Icon, List, Column, and Gallery views, plus

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Customize the Camera Control on Your iPhone
Productivity

Customize the Camera Control on Your iPhone

The Camera Control on iPhone 16 and later models lets you open the Camera app and take a photo with the press of a button. But it’s more than just a simple button—it features a touch-sensitive surface that lets you adjust a variety of settings without having to tap the screen. To access the controls, you either lightly press the

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Speed Up Mac and iOS Typing with Text Expansion
Productivity

Speed Up Mac and iOS Typing with Text Expansion

Silicon Valley thinks everyone wants to delegate writing to AI, which is why Apple Intelligence constantly suggests replies for you in Messages and Mail. But there’s an excellent way to supercharge your typing speed without sounding like a chirpy chatbot or resorting to teenage texting abbreviations: text expansion. Text expansion speeds up typing words or phrases that you use regularly,

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