Everything Apple (the Mac heads thread)

How long is this likely to be good for (general question for this thread)?
Also any pics? Could be good for me mam

It's frustrating, because it's a great computer and runs everything you'd want - within reason - nice and speedy still. It's just not supported anymore so you can't get software updates, or security updates.

I have found this spec M2 Air, for £1119...

M2 chip with 8-core CPU
10-core GPU
512GB ssd
8GB ram

Do I need to upgrade to 16GB of ram? That puts the price around £1650 mark. My 2011 macbook only had 8gb and did everything I needed.

Edit - after watching some YouTube reviews/test it seems the 10 core GPU isn’t worth it.

The latest iPad Pro range seem pretty spendy, I mainly want the big screen and the most intensive thing I will likely use it for is Shapr CAD, which generation is the sweet spot would people say?

To put it another way is the fancy screen and M1/M2 worth it?

Just got around to updating to Ventura. I highlight and drag a Chrome webpage address onto the desktop and it creates a .webloc file. These used to open in Chrome on a double-click. Now they open in Safari and I can't change it in the 'get info' window. Anyone have any idea how to force these to open in Chrome again? It's only a small thing, but I don't want your damn Safari Apple, stop insisting.

‘Right click’ ‘open with’ should probably do it.

Yeah it does, but I'm trying to change the default open, sorry should have been clearer!

The open with> view all, will give you an application list with the checkbox to ‘always use xxx’

Can’t remember the exact menu item names and no OSX in front of me sorry, but whatever the ‘more’ option is called instead of the quick list of default/compatible apps.

Thanks, but it was still refusing. Found a github workaround here so all good.

Looking into refurbished iPhones to replace a Samsung S8 that is on the way out.

Was aiming towards 12 Pro but it seems to have an overly small battery. Is an 11 Pro 'too old' (?) - what do people think is the best value point, outside of the latest SE?

A bit of research suggests 13's did a lot better on battery life than 12's - any anecdata to support ?

I use my 12 pro a lot, not had any issue with short battery life. Mind you fast charging is so good now.

I don't believe there've been massive leaps in battery life in the last few generations. My 11 Pro (heavily used, bought on day one, with original battery) still does just fine.

If you're looking at older models (i.e. used) you also need to factor battery wear into account.

If you're looking at older models (i.e. used) you also need to factor battery wear into account.

Or add on roughly £70 to the cost of the second hand phone for Apple to fit a new battery.

I have an XS - 4 years old and no issues with battery. Might be worth a look?

Latest iPad OS update is buggy as hell.

Christ, I’ve made the mistake of by a pair of HomePod mini’s as an office speaker, I’ve gone through the process of setting them up and connecting them to my iTunes etc.

How to I stop them from just paying any old random shit off my iTunes and play the SoundCloud track that’s playing on my phone the thing that’s really easy to do with blue tooth. Whenever I click on the speakers in the home app they just start paying stuff from iTunes.

You should be able to Airplay straight from your phone to the HomePods. The control within the HomeApp isn’t really great to use (I’m not even sure it’s supposed to be used), it’s better to use Siri, or just Airplay from the device you want to stream from.

From soundcloud, or by swiping into control centre, tap on airplay icon, then choose which speakers you want it on.

1 Attachment

I like a stereo pair of HomePod Minis a lot, however, the software is buggy and confusing . They often get confused between the home app and the music app on the same phone, and thinks they’re different sources. Often best to just use the AirPlay thing in sources rather than faff around with home, or placing your phone next to the speaker to transfer music.

Yeah something really odd is going on, I think part of the problem is our internet is not very stable. we’re waiting for the phone line to be replaced. Every time it goes off the only way to get the speakers working again is to unplug them. At which point they revert to playing the same song on iTunes I played when I first set them up. If I try and change that song via my phone it tells me I need to sign up to iTunes family because the account can’t be used on multiple devices. That’s odd because I’ve only used the speakers via my iPhone, I’ve never tried using Siri.

I have managed to get to this point but the SoundCloud track will never load and just starts playing on my phone again.

1 Attachment

Yeah I have tried that but for some reason the speakers don’t show up to be selected. There on and I can play iTunes stuff also podcasts. But SoundCloud and audible don’t work it’s like the speakers aren’t on.

1 Attachment

It’s nice to hear that I’m not going nuts at least.

Please can you elaborate on this ?

or placing your phone next to the speaker to transfer music.

They often get confused between the home app and the music app on the same phone, and thinks they’re different sources.

I’m not sure HomePods are meant to be directly controlled by the Home App? On the ones I’ve got the Home App, just lets me pause/stop or change volume or select different sets of speaks. I can’t select a different source or change what’s playing on them, unless it’s switching the source from one set of HomePods to the other, eg, if my partner is playing the radio in the kitchen and I’m playing an album in the bedroom, I can switch the kitchen set to play the album too, replacing the radio.

I think the overall control of HomePods is meant to be through the Control Centre on your iPhone, iPad or AppleTV etc, to stream etc. Just get to what you’d like to play on your device and then in Control Centre (down swipe from the top of the screen on iPhone/iPad) choose the speakers etc. Or hold your device next to the HomePod for Handoff.