Guides

Protecting Your Privacy in Safari for OS X El Capitan

Friday August 5, 2016 10:27 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Every time you visit a website you are sharing information about yourself with the outside world. This article runs through a number of methods you can use to gain more control over what gets shared, and who it gets shared with, whenever you use Apple's Safari browser to access the web on a Mac. It also covers methods you can use to prevent traces of your browsing history from showing up on your computer. While you may trust friends and family not to go searching through your web history, it's possible for them to unintentionally discover what you've been looking at, just by using Safari or performing an innocent search on your Mac. If you're interested in a similar overview covering Safari on iOS, check out this guide. This guide assumes you are using the latest public release of OS X El Capitan (10.11.6 as of initial writing), which you can check by clicking the  symbol in the menu bar at the top left of your screen and selecting "About This Mac". The version number appears beneath the OS X version name. If you're not up to date, you can download and install the latest version of OS X via the Mac App Store located on the Dock or in the Applications folder. Cookies, Location Services, and Tracking Many websites attempt to store cookies and other web page data on computers used to access online content. Cookies are small data files that can include things like your IP address, operating system, web browser version, the date you last visited the site, as well as any personal information you may have provided, such as your name, email address, and any relevant
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Protecting Your Privacy in Safari for iOS

Thursday July 28, 2016 12:36 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick
Every time you visit a website on your iPhone or iPad, you are sharing information about yourself with the outside world. This guide runs through a number of methods you can use to gain more control over what gets shared, and who it gets shared with, whenever you use Apple's Safari browser to access the web on an iOS device. It also covers some methods you can use to prevent traces of your browsing history from showing up on your iOS devices. While you may trust friends and family not to go searching through your web history, it's possible for them to unintentionally discover what you've been looking at, just by using Safari or performing a simple Spotlight search on your iPhone or iPad. If you're interested in a similar overview covering Safari on OS X, check out this guide. The guide assumes you are using the latest public release of iOS 9.3 (9.3.3 as of initial writing). If your device is running an older version, a message should have appeared on the screen that an update is available. Connect your device to a power source and then tap "Install Now" on the message to download the update over the air, or open the Settings app and tap General -> Software Update, and then tap "Download and Install". Alternatively, connect your device to a computer with an internet connection and with the latest version of iTunes 12 installed. Open iTunes, select your device (a device icon should appear just below the playback controls), click "Summary" in the sidebar, and then click "Check for Update" in the Summary screen. Click "Download and Update" if an update dialog
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When Can AppleCare Replace a MacBook's Battery?

Monday May 2, 2016 1:41 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
MacRumors forum member MBP* posted this question about his 2014 MacBook Pro's battery under Mac Basics and Help:"I have a 2014 13" Retina MacBook Pro which I used extensively on a daily basis. I purchased AppleCare for the sole reason of protection against battery depletion over the coming years. It's hard for me to tell whether my battery has lost capacity, but I'm sure it has against the original figures when I first got the machine. My question is, when will AppleCare be willing to replace the battery due to loss of capacity? Is there a percentage? How can I test it?"The MacBook Pro's battery has almost certainly lost some battery capacity if it has been charged and depleted regularly over the past two years. A quick way to check is by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left menu bar and choosing About This Mac. Click on System Report… and select Power from the left-hand
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What to Do If Your iPhone is Lost or Stolen

Wednesday April 13, 2016 1:19 pm PDT by Juli Clover
iPhones are lost and stolen every day, but luckily Apple has robust tools built into iOS that will keep your data safe and your device unusable if it's misplaced or snatched by a thief. With Find My iPhone, you can locate lost devices, disable them, and even fully erase them, but unless you've been in a situation where you've needed these services, you may not know exactly how they work, what they do, or what information someone can access when they have your device. This guide covers the ins and outs of losing your iPhone (or iPad), including settings that should be enabled beforehand for security purposes, how to use Apple's tools to look for your device, and what happens when it's in someone else's hands.
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iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 6s Buyer's Guide

Wednesday March 2, 2016 9:49 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple's smartphones have been released on a "tick-tock" cycle since 2008. The iPhone 6 lineup represented a "tick" year, which involved a complete design overhaul, while the iPhone 6s lineup was part of a "tock" year, which generally focused on camera and processor improvements, new features such as 3D Touch and Live Photos, and incremental refinements like faster Touch ID, LTE, and Wi-Fi. From a distance, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s lineups look and feel like virtually identical smartphones. It is true that both models share several attributes, but the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have many features that are not included on the year-older iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. So, which one should you choose to purchase or upgrade to? What about the rumored iPhone SE and iPhone 7? Let's take a closer
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Guide to Buying Refurbished Apple Products

Tuesday February 2, 2016 11:58 am PST by Juli Clover
There's often a stigma against purchasing refurbished electronics because many companies don't have rigorous quality control programs for refurbished items, but that's not the case with Apple. Some companies may sell refurbished items with cosmetic defects and other issues, but Apple's refurbished products, available from its online refurbished store, are "as good as new" products, as Apple says. You can also get refurbished Apple products at steeper discounts from third-party retailers, but they don't offer the same benefits as buying directly from Apple. Every refurbished iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or Apple accessory Apple sells goes through a certification process that ensures full functionality, and with iOS devices, each one gets a new outer shell and a fresh battery. All refurbished products come with a 1-year warranty. As long as you can wait a few months to pick up an Apple product, there's virtually no downside to purchasing a refurbished model. The quality is superb and the price savings can be worth the wait. This guide covers all the ins and outs of refurbished products, from release timelines and prospective price savings to warranty information and stock information.
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Getting Started With HomeKit: A Beginner's Guide

Thursday January 28, 2016 11:21 am PST by Joe Rossignol
HomeKit is Apple's home automation platform for controlling smart home products with iOS apps and Siri voice commands. The platform was announced at WWDC 2014, and the first HomeKit-enabled products were released one year later. The software framework communicates directly with connected accessories within the home, securely encrypts all data and even works remotely over iCloud remote access with a third-generation Apple TV or later when you are away from
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4K and 5K Display Buyer's Guide for Macs

Friday January 15, 2016 12:42 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
4K displays are becoming increasingly popular as they come down in prices, and even some 5K displays have been released over the past year, but there are lots of variables to consider before purchasing one for your Mac. This buyer's guide will help you determine the ideal 4K or 5K display for your MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro or Mac mini, based on compatibility, price, display technologies and
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Getting Started With Apple Music and Beats 1 on iOS, Mac and PC

Tuesday June 30, 2015 8:26 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Today marks the official worldwide launch of Apple Music, a subscription-based streaming music service and Spotify rival for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC and, later this year, Apple TV and Android. Apple Music, arguably the company's biggest music initiative since opening the iTunes Store in 2003, requires updating to iOS 8.4 on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or downloading iTunes 12.2 for Mac and PC. Apple Music Apple Music is an all-in-one streaming music service, live global radio station and social platform for artists to connect with fans. The service costs $9.99 per month, the same price as virtually all streaming music competitors, although Apple is offering a free three-month trial period to encourage customers to try it out. Apple Music is available in over 100 countries, including the United States. Apple Music provides unlimited streaming of almost the entire iTunes Store catalog of music without needing to purchase songs or albums individually. Instead of paying $1.29 per song download, for example, subscribers have millions of songs at their fingertips for essentially the cost of an album. A family plan through iTunes Sharing for up to six members is also available for $14.99 per month. Built into the stock Music app on iOS 8.4 and iTunes on Mac and PC, Apple Music provides side-by-side access to both your downloaded iTunes songs and albums and streaming music library, which should prove to be a more convenient option than third-party apps such as Spotify, Google Play Music and Rdio for most Apple users. Apple succinctly describes it as "the
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Best iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Cases

Friday June 5, 2015 12:39 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are the two most popular smartphones Apple has ever released thanks to their larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes. Given that nearly nine months have passed since the devices were launched in September, there are now a variety of cases and accessories available for both. As such, we have rounded up some of the best iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases based on pricing, quality and features. Many of the cases featured below were brought to our attention within the MacRumors discussion forums by users who participated in a Ask MacRumors thread earlier this year or in other forum discussions. A few other accessory makers included in this roundup were originally highlighted in our Buyer's Guide of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases last September. All testimonials were obtained by MacRumors forum members with minor editing for spelling and grammar purposes. Apple Leather Case Look along the back walls of most Apple Stores and your eyes will be treated to a colorful array of Apple Leather Cases for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Available in black, red, midnight blue, olive brown and soft pink, this Apple-designed case has a thin, protective design with a soft microfiber lining on the inside and premium leather on the outside. Available for iPhone 6 ($45) and iPhone 6 Plus ($49), the case is more expensive than some others but a tried and trusted option nevertheless.
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MacBook Buyer's Guide: Which MacBook is Right for You?

Wednesday April 22, 2015 2:14 pm PDT by Juli Clover
With the recent introduction of the 12-inch MacBook, Apple's added a whole new product to the existing MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineup, making it more difficult than ever to decide which MacBook is right for you. If you're planning a purchase and you just aren't sure which Apple notebook suits your needs, read through this guide, which will walk you through all of the options and give you the pros and cons of each machine. You can basically think of Apple's product lineup as meeting two different needs: power and portability. If you're looking for a machine that's going to handle whatever you can throw at it, you're going to want the MacBook Pro. If you're looking for something that's portable and more than capable of handling every day tasks, you're going to want to look at the MacBook Air. And if you want the newest technology, the latest form factor, the ultimate in portability, and you don't mind the price tag, the MacBook is the machine for you. Retina MacBook Pro The Retina MacBook Pro is Apple's workhorse MacBook, with the fastest processors, the best graphics, and the most available RAM (via upgrade). If you want to do things like serious photo, video, or audio editing, this is the Mac for you. Use Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, or Logic Pro X on a regular basis? You probably need a MacBook Pro. You're also going to want to choose a MacBook Pro if you want a machine capable of playing modern system-intensive games. Don't care about games and just want to do things like browse the Internet, write papers, and answer emails? The MacBook Pro may be more
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Apple Watch Buyer's Guide: Which One Is Right for You?

Tuesday March 31, 2015 12:21 pm PDT by Roman Loyola
After announcing the Apple Watch in September of 2014, launch time has finally arrived. Apple in March announced that pre-orders for the Apple Watch will begin on April 10, with an official launch taking place on April 24. Apple product lines for its iOS devices and Macs are relatively simple, consisting of a few models from which to choose. Picking an Apple Watch is a little more complicated, with the different models, a couple of watch sizes, and multiple band options. The prices start at $349 and go all the way up to $17,000 -- a very wide range. This guide walks you through the considerations you need to make when buying an Apple Watch. If you're not sure which one to buy, this guide will lead you in the right direction.
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iCloud Photo Library: What You Need to Know

Monday March 2, 2015 1:10 pm PST by Eric Slivka
With today's launch of the public beta of OS X 10.10.3 and the new Photos app for Mac, a number of users are now getting their first tastes of Apple's replacement for iPhoto and Aperture. The release will also complete the rollout of Apple's cross-platform iCloud Photo Library service, offering users an easy way to keep all of their photos stored in the cloud and synced across their devices. Various pieces of the service have been in beta since iOS 8.0 was made available to developers last June. What Is iCloud Photo Library? While Apple has offered some iCloud photo services such as Photo Streams for some time, iCloud Photo Library is a new service still in beta that moves the user's entire photo and video library into the cloud. The service is part of Apple's push to make it as easy as possible for users to switch among Mac and iOS devices throughout the day, making the user's photos are available on all of their devices and ensuring any changes get quickly synced across devices. Initially planned to launch as part of iOS 8.0, Apple pushed the service back to beta ahead of the public release as the company continued to refine the service and work on cross-platform capabilities. The Mac portion was also not ready for the public release of OS X Yosemite last October, but with the new Photos app for Mac ready for launch, all of the pieces are falling into place for iCloud Photo Library.
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Mac Pro Buyer's Guide: Which Model to Choose

Friday February 20, 2015 12:47 pm PST by Roman Loyola
Apple's Mac Pro is quite an impressive machine. It doesn't look like any other computer; it's a work of art with its sleek, cylindrical body. It's fast, fast, fast. And it's expensive. The Mac Pro isn't for everybody, and not just because it's Apple's highest-priced computer. It is made to excel with a certain type of app: professional software that uses multiple processing cores, like software commonly used by videographers, photographers, animators, designers, scientists, and musicians. If that describes what you do on a daily basis, then you'll benefit from a Mac Pro -- you'll make your money back in time saved. This guide takes a look at the Mac Pro's specifications, design, and performance. If you're in the market for a Mac Pro and you're not sure which model to buy, this guide will help you sort it all out. Specifications Apple offers two standard configurations. You can pick one of the standard configurations, but the Mac Pro is all about custom configurations. Think of the standard configurations as a starting point, and you can then customize your order to better suit your needs. The $2999 Mac Pro: 3.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon E5 processor 12GB 1866MHz DDR3 ECC memory Dual 2GB AMD FirePro D300 graphics cards 256GB PCIe-based flash storage The $3999 Mac Pro: 3.5GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon E5 processor 16GB 1866MHz DDR3 ECC memory Dual 3GB AMD FirePro D500 graphics cards 256GB PCIe-based flash storage Apple offers the following upgrades for the Mac Pro: 3.0GHz 8-core processor or 2.7GHz 12-core processor ($500 to $3,500 extra)
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iMac Buyer's Guide: Is the 5K iMac Right For You?

Tuesday February 10, 2015 9:36 am PST by Roman Loyola
The new Retina iMac, also known as the iMac with 5K Retina display, came at a time when the iMac line needed an infusion of something new, something dramatic -- after all, it's difficult to get really excited about another speed bump. The last time Apple made a major change in the iMac was in late 2012, and that was when Apple shrank the iMac to 5mm at the edge, a change that was nice, but a thinner iMac wasn't on most people's wish list. The Retina iMac is the change in the iMac lineup we've all been waiting for, but it's not quite the computer for everyone -- yet. This buyer's guide, and the video below, take a look at what needs to be considered when deciding to buy the Retina iMac. What is the iMac with 5K Retina display? The Retina iMac looks like your typical iMac from the outside. The key difference is the screen; you'll notice that it shows amazing detail, and images look crisper and cleaner on the Retina iMac than on a standard iMac. Apple calls a display "Retina" when a user, at a typical usage distance, can't discern the individual pixels on the screen. The Retina iMac achieves this with a 5120-by-2880 pixel resolution. A standard 27-inch iMac has a resolution of 2560-by-1440. That's a lot more pixels (four times, to be exact) on the Retina iMac. Screen resolutions compared with the Retina iMac If you're still trying to wrap your head around the enormity of the Retina iMac's resolution, Apple provides a sample 5K image that you can look at on your Mac. The Retina iMac can show this complete image on its display.
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MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro: Which Apple Notebook to Choose

Thursday January 29, 2015 12:30 pm PST by Roman Loyola
From Apple's Mac lineup, the company sells many more laptops than desktop computers, part of a trend that has been in place for years. Apple's laptops are well made, they offer more than enough performance for a majority of users, and you can take the laptop with you wherever you go. Apple's laptop lineup consists of two models: the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air. There are some obvious and nuanced differences between the two models that you need to consider while shopping for a Mac laptop. In this guide, we'll take a look at the specifics, the differences, and the performance of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air to help you decide which laptop is best for you. Why you should pick a MacBook Pro Of the two laptop lineups, the MacBook Pro is the one outfitted with a Retina display. These displays have many more pixels than the MacBook Air displays, which means images and text will look very sharp and clean -- it's a pleasing aesthetic if you're spending all day at the computer. The high resolution is also great for anyone who's working in HD video, allowing you to work in actual size and still have room for your app's interface. Apple's definition of "Retina" is when a user, at a typical usage distance, cannot see the individual pixels on the screen. The 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro has a resolution of 2560 x 1600, while the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro has a resolution of 2880 x 1800. In comparison, the non-Retina MacBook Air has a 1366 x 768 (11-inch) or 1440 x 900 (13-inch) resolution, so you can see there's quite a difference between the displays of Apple's two
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iPad Buyer's Guide: Which Model is Best For You

Wednesday January 14, 2015 10:18 am PST by Roman Loyola
So you want to buy an iPad? Great. Would you believe Apple actually offers five different iPad models? Sure, the company only touts two of them -- the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 -- but Apple continues to carry two older models that could be right for you, depending on your circumstance. In this guide, we'll take a look at the different iPads Apple offers to help you decide which model is best for you. iPad models Apple has two current iPads, with the most obvious difference being size. Here's an overview of what each line offers: iPad Air: The bigger of the two models. The current version is the iPad Air 2. Key specifications: Measures 9.4 by 6.6 by 0.24 inches and weighs less than a pound Fully laminated 9.7-inch LED backlit Retina display with an anti-reflective coating 2048‑by‑1536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch 64-bit A8X processor and M8 motion coprocessor 16GB, 64GB, or 128GB of storage 8-megapixel iSight camera and 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera Sensors include Touch ID, gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, and ambient light Apple also offers the original iPad Air in its current lineup. When comparing the 16GB models (the iPad Air is available with 16GB or 32GB storage), you save $100 if you go with the iPad Air, but it lacks the Touch ID, iSight burst mode, and the anti-glare screen that is found in the iPad Air 2. It's also a little thicker and uses an older and slower 64-bit A7 processor with an M7 motion coprocessor. The iPad Air 2 is worth the extra money, even if only for the laminated anti-reflective display that makes
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iPhone Buyer's Guide: Which Model to Choose

Tuesday January 13, 2015 10:59 am PST by Roman Loyola
It's been over eight years since the iPhone made its debut, and it's still the most popular smartphone on the planet. For years, Apple's iPhone offerings were very straightforward: one expensive top-of-the-line model, a more affordable iPhone with fewer features or slower specs typically identical to previous year's flagship model, and maybe even a cheap model based on the flagship model from two years' prior. And they all had the same screen size. Your choices aren't so simple now. Apple now offers four different iPhone models with different screen sizes and different prices. Confused as to which iPhone to get? Use this guide to help you decide. iPhone models overview Let's go over the key specifications and differences between the iPhones, starting with Apple's priciest offering. iPhone 6 Plus: Apple's biggest iPhone. If you've always wanted the biggest screen possible on your iPhone, this is the model to get. Some might see the iPhone 6 Plus as a viable alternative to an iPad mini 3, but keep in mind that you'll be using the iPhone version of apps, not the iPad versions. That means the app UIs will be designed with a smaller screen in mind. Key specifications for the iPhone 6 Plus: - Measures 6.22 by 3.06 by 0.28 inches and weighs 6.07 ounces - 5.5-inch screen with a 1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 pixels per inch - 64-bit A8 processor with M8 motion coprocessor - 8-megapixel iSight camera with optical image stabilization; 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera - Siri voice-activated interface - 16GB, 64GB, or 128GB of storage - Apple Pay support
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