Macworld When you receive an iMessage from an unknown party, how does Messages identify that person for you if they’re not already in your contacts? Apple has a backchannel in its proprietary multimedia texting system that transmits your name and image to the recipient based on settings you can control. In iOS/iPadOS, go to Settings > Messages > Share Name and Photo; in macOS, open Messages and go to Messages > Preferences > General (Monterey and earlier) or Messages > Settings > General (Ventura or later). You can start by enabling or disabling sharing your name and profile image: use the Name and Photo Sharing switch in iOS/iPadOS and the Share Name and Photo checkbox in macOS. When disabled, these items…

Macworld The monitor might be the most important part of your Mac’s setup–after all, you can’t use any computer without one. Because you’ll spend a lot of time looking at it, you’ll want to invest wisely. Not only will you want a monitor that provides a pleasing experience, but the quality of the images on the screen can also affect your work. However, picking a new monitor can be daunting. Not only are there lots of manufacturers to choose from, but there are also lots of sizes, resolutions, and features to consider–and when we say lots, we mean lots. We’re here to help guide you while you shop, and we have some tips on what to look for in a…

Apple has been working of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for decades, but Apple-watcher Ben Bajarin believes that Apple is more cautious about publicly touting its own AI prowess in light of the recent controversies surrounding Microsoft’s Bing AI and Google’s Bard ChatGPT competitor. Apple M2 Pro Neural Engine Ben Bajarin for Fast Company: Apple’s largest computing-platform competitors—Microsoft and Google—have been showing their cards around their bets in generative AI. We can assume that, beyond their current applications, they will likely add AI to their Windows and Android operating systems. How Apple might compete is an open question. But Apple has some core differentiators when it comes to anything it does in AI, including generative AI. • SILICON • PRIVACY • DEVELOPERS…

Users of Apple products are characterized by a variety of factors that contribute to their unique demographics and preferences. While it is important to note that not all Apple users share the same characteristics, here are some common traits often associated with Apple product users: (more…)

Macworld Macs may be a far less tempting target for malware and viruses, but they’re not immune from attack. Even if you don’t care about adware or being used as means to infect users on other platforms, it’s still possible to fall victim to ransomware, or password theft. Accordingly, good antivirus for Mac software will protect your Mac on all of these fronts. It’ll catch malware that’s still spreading or in circulation; block ransomware; protect older systems with out-of-date software from security vulnerabilities; prevent your Mac from acting as a carrier for malware aimed at other operating systems; and keep infected files off of any virtual machines you’re running. As to the question of which Mac antivirus software you should choose,…

Macworld Following the release of the first-ever Rapid Security Response update, which brought important security fixes to billions of devices running iOS/iPadOS 16.4.1 and macOS 13.3.1, Apple on Tuesday issued a firmware update (5E135) to all AirPods models except the original earbuds from 2016. I’m willing to bet that most AirPods aren’t even on the previous firmware (5E133), let alone this new one. Even though AirPods have been out since 2017, Apple still doesn’t have a proper way to update its popular earbuds. Whereas every other device has some sort of a button that lets you download and install the update, AirPods don’t. You have to a) know there’s an update; b) put your AirPods into the case; c) charge…