Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

We've bricked my Mum's iPad, she was signed out for some reason and couldn't remember her password. We tried to reset the password but the emails came through blank, now the account is locked so we can't access the iCloud recovery email and the recovery question isn't recognised. Finally, the iPad now has an activation lock on it. Big fails, Apple says we need to buy a new iPad. I had a look around at unlocking it myself but everything looks fairly dodgy and scammy. Any ideas?

Edit: forgot to mention, we have no proof of purchase needed to lift the activation lock, perfect storm!

You've taken it to an Apple store?

the 1st one, as it fits the mac mini perfectly

@dst2 £850, its refurb'd and under apple care till end of 2022, came with magic mouse and keyboard

I haven't no, I guess it's worth a shot. I assumed they'd just tell me same as the support.

I had a look around at unlocking it myself but everything looks fairly dodgy and scammy.

I unlocked a really old family iPad using Apple’s guidance and it was incredibly painless.

I have no idea how you’d get a blocked account re-activated based on your details, but resetting it that way means it could/should be possible to set a new user up on it.

Thanks, I'll take a look.

Can't speak for that one, but as mentioned i've had no issues with my portable one, and Satechi seem to have a fairly good reputation for the gear they make.

We had a similar issue and contacted Apple to get access. It was not a quick fix but they sorted it.

Yes, I’ve got it on one of my Mac minis and it’s good, the only annoying thing is the shades of space grey don’t quite match..

Thanks, there's still hope then. It was a no go with phone and online chat support so I'll try my luck in the store.

It took some weeks to sort it but it worked. Good luck.

Does anyone here have a late-model Bluetooth keyboard for sale please? My wired kbd has done a good few years' service and is starting to look and feel rather battered.

so the M1 mac mini arrived, its great, using with new magic keyboard, also good in comparison to the AA battery version I had

Does anyone use something like this to use keyboard buttons to control monitor brightness?
https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl/releases
Little worried about privacy with 3rd party apps like these

Just gonna say that the Mk1 Bluetooth keyboard is the nicest keyboard I've ever used

This one -

Ahhh yes, the filth museum. Loved working in offices with hand-me-down ones of those.

I missed the brightness controls too after switching to Mini + non-Apple monitor. Couple of weeks later barely thought about it. You might do more light-sensitive work though.

MiL needs a new phone and was thinking to give her my 12 and then buy a new one but is there a new iPhone on the horizon meaning I should just get her an older/cheaper model ?

New one in 6-7 months as usual. No real difference between the 12 and 13 though so I wouldn't bother giving away a 12 unless you want to get a mini or something.
I swapped my 11 Pro for a 12 Mini. Far prefer the smaller size.

Yep, I'll continue with my 2016 SE as long as possible and when I need to switch I'm hoping something like the 12 mini will still be around.

Yh there are a few kbds of that shape in the cupboard, but wired, not Bluetooth. They are all battered too.

Does anyone use something like this to use keyboard buttons to control monitor brightness?
https://github.com/MonitorControl/Monito­rControl/releases

Yes, exactly this one. It sometimes doesn't work well enough on my LG 5K2K, but most of the time I'm happy with it. Even assigned separate shortcuts (CTRL+F1/F2) for the laptop display, very practical to quickly dim it when watching something dark on the big monitor.

Little worried about privacy with 3rd party apps like these

It being an open source project with the code actually in GitHub I don't think there would be any issue, but you never know, and the binaries might not be clean/untouched... You could compile it yourself from the source but I don't bother.

I feel like I'm missing something ... using CTRL + Brightness keys changes the other monitors brightness, no?

Only for apple / LG monitors though, no?

Yes, checking the preferences of the app, looks like I didn't assign them but just started using them :)

has anyone managed to power their macbook pro through an external monitor?
I'm tying to get rid of the excess cables on my WFH setup, and the monitor I have HP EliteDisplay E243d 23.8", it seems you can power a laptop from it as it has this 1 USB Type-C™ (Alternative mode DisplayPort™ 1.2, power delivery up to 65 W); I tried it when I first got it, but nothing happened, was wondering whether I need to try a new cable, or if my 16in macbook pro requires more power than it provides, or if I've just been an idiot and not hit the correct input.
Any thoughts let me know