Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

Isn't there a simple Nokia that you can access twitter / WhatsApp /etc?

I bet using the Internet is shit, so as long as she doesn't install any of the bad stuff and then gives you her password for apps that should work.

Camera would be the big thing for me. As well as Internet access.

I'd get the phone she wants moving forward and then have a simless iphone to deal with the rest, connect to wifi to deal with 2factor etc.

apple watch or garmin will work for running you can sync it from a laptop or ipad.
whatsapp you can use on browser.
banking having it setup on a phone is handy for if you're not at home but can be done on ipad and laptop

there is a desktop version of whatsapp but it links to a phone, and every so often you have to reverify it using your phone (smartphone). Might be easier if you get an ipad with a sim card to run whatsapp, banking stuff on, and then a "dumb" phone for everything else.
Or use the sim ipad as the "phone" for whatsapp and then only have it on the desktop. Be aware you can't make any calls using the desktop version of whatsapp, just message..

Or maybe not
https://youtu.be/Os1LDm27xVM

she doesn't have the capacity to just uninstall distraction apps

yea ok, but that would just be the way to go, sorry 💁‍♂️

how about you uninstall all the distraction stuff and then change her apple id password so she can't install them again?

there's also parental controls if it's really necessary -
https://support.apple.com/en-us/105121

The patriarchy is real.

Appreciate that this kind of addictive behaviour can be hard to fight. There are some less drastic things that you could try to help reduce screen time/phone use if that’s the main goal. The first I’d suggest is turning on greyscale for the device screen. The lack of colour can make a real difference to how much one wants to use a device. Settings > accessibility > display and text size > colour filters > turn on greyscale.

Thanks all - some good bits of info here. From the sounds of it an iPad with simcard and apple watch combo sounds like it'll do most things.

For photos, she's trying to get back to using her actual cameras and then editing photos on iPad. So if she can do banking and WhatsApp on that via a SIM then that'll be plenty. She's got a laptop as well for email and web stuff. Think just during the day she wants to be a bit more present which is fair.

She doesn't do any banking out and about. Doesn't use maps etc. will look into simcard on iPad/whether you can change numbers etc.

If you’re looking at dumbphones Jose Briones on youtube covers all comers.

I dont think whatsapp works on ipad but could be wrong

Just to add - setting up different focus/personal/work modes has made a massive difference to me in cutting down screen time. And I used the Forest app too as a carrot/stick for when I’d pick up my phone without even thinking. https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/forest-focus-for-productivity/id866450515

pretty sure you do need an iPhone to use Apple Watch. Don’t think it works with just an iPad.

Thanks all - having spoken to her, whatsapp is something she's happy to forgo which was one of the biggest hurdles, so I think a simple phone and an ipad for photo editing/email/banking will be the winner. Still missing a music solution for running but am sure we can figure something out.

Quite a few of the Garmin devices/watches have music/podcasts, sync via iPad

Thanks, think I saw Garmin somewhere upthread as well so will check them out.

I always used to use a ipod shuffle. Idk what sort of compatibility they still have or if Apple brick them as soon as you connect to iTunes.

But tbh I think they're great.

Hi guys,
I’m in the market for a laptop for the first time in years.
I currently use my iPad for illustration.
I’m trying to decide whether I need a Pro or Air for graphic work (nothing heavy weight), also I will do minimal amounts of video editing but I’m very new to that so again basic.
I’m guessing I’d be fine using an Air but just wanting some confirmation (or not) before spending money.
Also M2 , m3 chip has me confused.
Thank you

Sounds like an air will do the trick. Get the best you can afford

I recently bought going from an intel to a M2 Max for editing photo and video and its massive step up.

I just bought a 13" M3 air with 24g of ram.
I'll be carrying from home to studio often, so tiny is great.
My thinking was latest chip generation, longest support. And it was a refurbished one for 1800€, that also played a role.
My impression is that it will cope with everything. And if I start becoming a blender master or color grading 5k it'll just let it render on while I do something else.

Thank you all ✨🙏✨

I would like to rip a video of a music track from a commercial DVD band performance however I am fairly computer illiterate. What would be the go to piece of software to allow such shenanigans?

1. HandBrake

HandBrake is a popular, open-source video transcoder that can rip videos from DVDs and convert them to various formats. It's known for its simplicity and effectiveness.

Steps to Use HandBrake:

1. Download and Install: Download HandBrake from the official website and install it on your computer.
   
2. Insert the DVD: Insert the DVD you want to rip into your DVD drive.
   
3. Open HandBrake: Launch HandBrake and select your DVD drive as the source.
   
4. Select the Title and Chapters: HandBrake will scan the DVD and display a list of titles (tracks) and chapters. Select the title that corresponds to the music track you want to rip.
   
5. Choose Output Settings: Select an output format (e.g., MP4) and adjust the quality settings if necessary.
   
6. Start Ripping: Click the “Start Encode” button to begin ripping the video.
   
   

2. MakeMKV

MakeMKV is another straightforward tool that can rip DVDs and Blu-rays. It saves the video in the MKV format, which preserves the original quality.

Steps to Use MakeMKV:

1. Download and Install: Download MakeMKV from the official website and install it.
   
2. Insert the DVD: Insert your DVD into the DVD drive.
   
3. Open MakeMKV: Launch the program, and it will automatically detect the DVD.
   
4. Scan the DVD: Click the big “Open DVD” button, and MakeMKV will scan the DVD for available titles.
   
5. Select Titles: Choose the title that contains the music performance you want to rip.
   
6. Save the File: Click the “Make MKV” button to rip the selected title and save it as an MKV file.
   
   

3. VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a versatile media player that also has DVD ripping capabilities. It’s slightly more complex than HandBrake or MakeMKV but still manageable.

Steps to Use VLC:

1. Download and Install: Download VLC Media Player from the official website and install it.
   
2. Insert the DVD: Place your DVD in the DVD drive.
   
3. Open VLC: Launch VLC and go to Media > Convert/Save.
   
4. Open Disc: In the “Open Media” dialog, go to the “Disc” tab and select your DVD.
   
5. Choose Convert/Save: Click “Convert/Save” at the bottom of the window.
   
6. Select Profile and Destination: Choose a profile for conversion (e.g., MP4) and set the destination file path.
   
7. Start: Click “Start” to begin ripping the video.
   
   

Summary

For ease of use, HandBrake and MakeMKV are highly recommended. HandBrake is great for converting to various formats, while MakeMKV is excellent for preserving original quality. VLC is a good option if you already have it installed and are comfortable with a slightly more complex interface.

Choose the one that best fits your needs and follow the steps to rip your desired music track from the DVD.

Gf has got water in her MacBook. She's got a Genius appointment on Thursday but anything she should be doing between now and then?

I left mine on a hot sunny windowsill, that might be tricky now it’s winter