In 2016, I posted Downloads: A Digital Wasteland. The article includes insights about why files tend to accumulate in the Mac’s Downloads folder, wisdom about what types of items don’t need to stick around, and best practices for how to manage this experience. It’s time to update this with the same theme as other [...]
As an efficiency maven, I have always been attuned to keyboard shortcuts as a way to increase productivity on a Mac. For starters, they keep my hands on the keyboard rather than shifting to mouse or trackpad, input devices that I find overall less efficient. Previously, in Efficiency Dexterity, I shared a brief history [...]
My lifestyle is in no way short on exercise, even if tracking workouts wasn’t always part of my experience. I use my bicycle as my primary means of personal transportation, including visiting clients, shopping for food, and doing other errands. Plus, I have a daily stretch routine that I started October 23, 2023, and [...]
In a nightmarish world of political upheaval and declining social welfare, you might be called to participate in public protest. If you find yourself concerned about your safety or end up in a dangerous situation of your own, you can quickly and/or discretely make an emergency call using a simple gesture. As I mentioned [...]
I’ve previously recommended using the System Information utility to look up MacBook battery usage details. Both Battery Health & Repair and Maximize Battery Life made reference to this. However, the application aggregates a wealth of additional information about your Mac, from details about connected audio, video, and storage hardware; to applications that have been [...]
Time Machine is backup software built into your Mac that copies all of the information on your computer to a connected storage drive. This feature is the easiest way to initiate a backup strategy. Apple introduced it in 2007 and its functionality remains largely unchanged. Next Monday, March 31, is World Backup Day! If [...]
How often do you speak with friends about Internet security and wonder if you need to install an antivirus utility on your Mac? Your workplace might even require this of you. There aren’t really any “viruses” on Macs as self-propagation requires administrative approval. However, there’s malware, which may seem more agreeable to folks, especially [...]
Apple makes it easy to see the warranty status of all of your devices signed into the same Apple Account. Since most of our modern Macs do not have upgradable storage, yet may have longer lifespans than their predecessors, it’s important to consider whether an extended warranty such as AppleCare might be worthwhile. In [...]
An ancillary security feature in the Apple ecosystem involves Apple Watch and its ability to authenticate a Mac. With a few prerequisites, the device has the power to serve as a secure token in place of your password or other biometrics. As I mentioned in Biometric Boons, Part 2 — Face ID, Apple Watch [...]
iOS 18 makes much of the prior data in Keychain Access, including website logins and Wi-Fi networks, more accessible in a new app called Passwords. This app also makes it easy to help others join Wi-Fi networks by sharing a QR code. As I wrote in iOS 17 Hot Tips #3, it’s so simple [...]
