Maybe you can get away with a single Wi-Fi basestation, if you have modest needs, but with the arrival of 4K media streaming, home network bandwidth demands are growing quickly. AppleInsider shares a few tips on how to build out your network, and points out some problems to avoid along the way.
Apple has just launched its Data and Privacy portal, enabling users to download a copy of their personal data held on Apple's servers. AppleInsider walks you through the process of requesting the data archive through the new online tool.
If your Mac is running hot and is consuming its battery at a higher rate than expected in recent days, you may be affected by 'mshelper.' AppleInsider explains how to check for the resource-consuming malware, and how to stop it from slowing down macOS.
If you need to combine multiple PDF files into a single document, the Preview application in macOS can do the task. AppleInsider explains how to transfer sections between PDF documents to create a single compilation from a variety of sources.
If you regularly visit one or a group of websites multiple times a day, one idea is to add bookmarks to those online destinations in the macOS Dock. AppleInsider explains how to place shortcuts to websites on the Dock, allowing them to be quickly accessible at almost any time.
If you have a long text document and need a much shorter version that basically covers the core concepts in the full version, the Summarize service built into macOS may be worth examining. AppleInsider explains how to get started using the tool to create short summaries of files that are simply too long to read.
Practically everyone has files or folders they keep on their Mac that they don't want anyone else to access. AppleInsider explains how to keep these files secure by turning a folder into a protected disk image, one that keeps the documents encrypted and requiring a password to read.
You may be closer to getting rid of your wallet than you realize. Here are a series of tips on how we've managed to replace most of our everyday wallet items with their digital counterparts.
If you have a large collection of images that you need to resize, an easy way to change all of the files quickly is to use Preview, included within macOS, instead of using a dedicated utility or an image editing program's functions. AppleInsider walks through how to batch process the photographs and other graphics to fit a certain size.
The end the AirPort product line could cause some issues in the future, when users want to back up their Mac's data using Time Machine but find their Apple network appliance has died completely, with no immediate replacement available. Here's how to set Time Machine to use a NAS or another Mac's storage elsewhere on a home network.
Want to quickly take notes on your iPad or iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil? AppleInsider explains how to set up Instant Notes on your iOS device, allowing you to scribble important items and drawings on the screen without needing to unlock the iPad beforehand.
If you have a problem with your Mac, iPhone or iPad that needs examination by the Genius Bar or another tech support member, it's usually handy to check if the hardware is still covered by warranties or one of the AppleCare programs, or if you can expect a heftier repair bill. AppleInsider details how to find out if you are still covered before you contact Apple's support teams.
At times when websites take longer than needed to load up on an iPhone or iPad, the problem could be caused by your Internet provider's slow DNS server. AppleInsider advises how to update your iOS device's network settings to use a different DNS service than the one provided as part of the Wi-Fi connection settings.
Unwanted phone calls are a part of everyday life, but the iPhone offers a number of ways to stop them from being a nuisance. AppleInsider explains how to block phone numbers on iOS, as well as other ways to keep those calls and messages from coming through to your mobile devices.
Wi-Fi passwords can be hard to remember, and sometimes difficult to reacquire if the router or the information is not easily accessible by users. If you have previously accessed the wireless network via a Mac, AppleInsider explains how you can rediscover the Wi-Fi password using Keychain Access.
If you need to help someone use an app on an iPhone or iPad, it is sometimes better to show where or how to perform an action than to verbally explain it. AppleInsider explains how to take advantage of the Markup tools built into iOS to illustrate to another person what to do via annotated screenshots.
New estimates from a security researcher suggest GrayKey, a digital forensics tool in active use by U.S. law enforcement agencies, is capable of cracking Apple's standard six-digit iPhone passcode in an average of 11 hours. Longer codes, however, could take years to process. Here's how to beef up your handset's security.
The volume and overall sound settings in macOS are straightforward and easy to use, but some users may want more control over their Mac's audio. AppleInsider reveals a few tips and tricks that give Mac users more ways to improve their audio experience.
Mac desktop and MacBook owners are used to living without a CD or DVD drive, but there are occasions where access to one could be handy. AppleInsider explains how to remotely access the CD or DVD drive of another Mac or Windows PC from a Mac without the drive, across a network.
There are many ways to organize files in folders within Finder, but possibly one of the handiest is to sort files by the application that will open them. AppleInsider shows how to enable this Finder view, as well as a similar option that can be used to group applications by function.
While personalized ringtones can be created on the Mac version of GarageBand and exported to the iPhone, producing a custom tone can also be done from within iOS. AppleInsider shows how to turn GarageBand recordings into a ringtone using an iPhone or iPad, without using a Mac.
This week, Facebook has started to alert the estimated 87 million users affected by the Cambridge Analytica scandal, advising in the News Feed if personal data for an account was obtained by the company. For users of the social network who haven't yet seen a notification, there is a second way to manually check if their privacy was violated as part of the affair.
While Apple's tone store is stocked with a huge collection of sounds an iPhone could play for a ringtone, it is also possible to customize an iOS device with a unique ringtone of your own creation. AppleInsider explains how to get a ringtone out of a Mac's GarageBand project and into your iPhone's tone collection.
Apple has always offered assistance to iPhone and iPad users typing on their devices using the onscreen keyboard, automatically fixing some common mistakes and providing spelling and next word suggestions. AppleInsider shows how some of these features are also available to use in macOS.
Many Safari users will be familiar with tabs, a way to have multiple webpages open within a single browser window, but Safari is not the only application to offer this handy organization option. AppleInsider tells you how to start using tabs away from the browser, to help reduce the number of windows on the Mac desktop.
Providing children and others access to your Mac can be an issue if left unmonitored, as giving free reign could cause the younger users to see inappropriate material or perform unwanted actions that could drastically affect the Mac's performance. AppleInsider explains how to use the Parental Controls already built into macOS to limit what can be done on accounts.
AirDrop is one of the quickest and easiest ways to transfer files between macOS and iOS devices, but performing a small change in macOS can make it even simpler to start using straight away. AppleInsider shows how to add this handy file-sharing tool to your Mac's dock, ready to initiate transfers at a moment's notice.
In situations where a visitor wants to use your Mac for a task, providing them access via your personal account may be an unwise move, especially if it isn't someone you completely trust. AppleInsider explains how to set up a guest account in macOS that provides access without endangering your personal data.
While iOS 11 introduced a built-in screen recorder that allows users to quickly capture video of their iPhone or iPad's display, it is worth remembering that it is also possible to make a similar recording by connecting it to a Mac. AppleInsider explains the process of screen capturing an iOS device through macOS' QuickTime Player.
Facebook tests the limits of people's tolerance for use of private information, as well as over regular changing of privacy settings for their users with little or no notice. Obviously, you can delete your Facebook account, but what if you're not ready to purge everything?
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Mike Wuerthele
Malcolm Owen
Andrew O'Hara
AppleInsider Staff
Victor Marks
