Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

I'm not a computer expert at all - I just google/youtube things and hope i can muddle though.

Umm...

I’m assuming they are fdr’s but I cant for the life of me remember which version I was using.
I’ve sent an email through to final draft and am awaiting a response..

97 was before Macs routinely used filename extensions to denote file type. It's quite common for unidentifiable files to be shown as unix executables on new Macs.

What is peoples go to note taking app for the iPad? Also should I be putting a screen protector on it or will that affect the pencil?

I've converted to Notion after recommendations here. Really happy with it.

Broken screen on MacBook Pro - Apple Covent Garden quoting £469 for replace & repair. Should I just suck it up?

I predominantly use the included notes app on my phone, currently upto 1,850 over the last decade.
I used to use Evernote, but not so much anymore as they keep changing how many devices you can use it across, if you're still on the free version.
I've downloaded notion, onto my phone but haven't started really using it yet, probably because I'd want to import all my previous notes from notes.

Sorry that was a badly phrased questions - I’m meaning with the pencil what is best for note taking. The notes app is ok but doesn’t seem to convert to text or work perfectly with the pencil.
I use notion already but haven’t tried it with the pencil, will have a check

Doesn’t the new iOS convert scribbles to text automatically? Irregardless of app?

Edit: https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/enter-text-with-scribble-ipad355ab2a7/ipados

for note taking there are many apps - find one that works with your workflow. E.g. if you're using MS products then OneNote is excellent

Question: Anyone know of an app that will let me display a second time zone in my menu bar?

iStat Menus is pretty great. Sensors for all the processors and as many clocks as you can fit on your screen.

I'm thinking of getting a Mac mini M1, but I also need to run multiple screens. There's a load of stuff on the interweb about the issues with extra displays on m1 machines, but I can't find a definitive answer for my specific set-up. Basically I currently use 2 displays, and then a Cintiq tablet which mirrors one of the displays. I know I could just get a fuck off great wide display to replace the current 2, and that would work native with an m1 Mac mini, but I wondered if my current set up would too with some adaptors thrown at it.

M1 Macs can only output two video signals at once, so your options are splitting one of them using an external box, or generating a third signal using a USB graphics card.

The latter are mostly (always?) based on DisplayLink, which has spotty support by Apple, though some people seem happy with it.

If you want two monitors from an M1 Mac mini, then you can have one over hdmi and one from the thunderbolt (usb c) port.

Ok so that sounds like I could have main display to the hdmi port, then get a splitter to plug in to a usb-c and have the two displays (2nd screen plus cintiq) mirrored using the splitter?

I kind of want three displays. Two and a half? Basically two standard displays, then a third that mirrors one of those

What do people use iPads for?

Mine has become the device shoved down the side of the sofa that will order deliveroo. That's it. And even then usage is rare as we cook so much.

Pretty sure I should sell it, or relegate it to it's box so it can slowly age in a dust free environment.

Been looking into this for my father in law. Don’t think m1 plays nicely with usb video splitter. I could be wrong though as he hasn’t tried it yet.

Colleague just bought one to take notes in meetings but doesn't use a stylus, he types them on a keyboard. So he now brings a 12.9" ipad instead of a 13" laptop to meetings. Feels pointless.

Everything I’d use a computer for (when at home). General netting, ebooks, radio/music to wireless speakers, messaging, (very) simple monthly accounting. Only use old iMac for when want to watch net based stuff on a bigger screen (no actual TV set here).
Sounds like it’s a waste for you so I’d suggest selling it to someone who might use it more.

This is my experience too.
I keep wanting an iPad, buy one, dont use it, sell.

I'm after an older, cheap ipad for my daughter rather than her wrecking our laptops. Anyone?

Different people seem to get wildly diffferent use out of them. My parents and my MIL use them as pretty much their sole home machine (although 90% of that is probably web browsing/listening to music/watching stuff). Personally I just can't get along with tablets and want a keyboard and touchpad and my girlfriend is halfway inbetween and uses a laptop but uses the touchscreen far more than I would.

I have a surface go for my sofa/travel device which is nice and light for shoving down the side of the sofa and using on your lap but does actually have a keyboard/touchpad. A pretty average tablet though.

I have a feeling the best option for me is to put any extra money I'd spend on adaptors towards as obnoxiously wide new display as I can afford. My only gripe with that is that I like being able to have the cintiq mirroring the display that my workspace goes on. I only use the Cintiq some of the time, so having to shunt the canvas over to it's separate screen and back is a bit annoying.