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Adam Engst No comments

SetShot Tracks macOS Settings Changes

Have you ever suspected macOS of silently changing your settings during an update? Adam Engst’s free SetShot captures and compares snapshots of your Mac’s configuration so you can catch those changes—and maintain a journal of your own customizations.

Adam Engst 7 comments

Testing Jetpack Search’s AI Answers Feature on TidBITS

The TidBITS search engine now sports AI-generated summaries above the usual results, courtesy of a beta feature from Jetpack Search. The question is whether these AI Answers are worth the screen real estate—what do you think?

Adam Engst 20 comments

Apple Backpatches Beta Security Fixes into macOS 26.6.2, iOS/iPadOS 26.6.1, and iOS/iPadOS 18.7.10

Four new Apple security updates bring macOS 26.6.2 Tahoe, iOS/iPadOS 26.6.1, and iOS/iPadOS 18.7.10 into sync with fixes from the OS 27 betas. AI-assisted research contributed a notable share of the discoveries.

Adam Engst 39 comments

Decades After HyperCard, AI Is Democratizing Development Again

HyperCard once let non-programmers build real software, but nothing since has matched it—until now. Adam Engst discovers that AI development tools like Claude Code and Codex finally let him create the apps he has always imagined.

Adam Engst 14 comments

Mac Delivery Times Stretch to Months for Some Models

Need a new Mac? The global chip shortage means some configurations now take months to arrive. We look at Apple’s current delivery estimates and offer strategies for those who can’t afford to wait that long.

Adam Engst No comments

AppBITS: TerminalWidget Turns Scripted Output into Visual Widgets

Tired of checking Terminal to see if your script finished? TerminalWidget displays command line output, Shortcuts results, and AppleScript data as customizable widgets that sync across your Apple devices, giving power users a visual dashboard for their automations.

Adam Engst 29 comments

Apple Fixes Screen Sharing Vulnerability in Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma

Apple has released updates to macOS 26.6.1, 15.7.9, and 14.8.9 to fix a Screen Sharing vulnerability that could let an attacker “on the network” connect without valid credentials. Update soon.

Adam Engst 126 comments

SuperDuper 4’s Radical New Interface Explains Itself as You Use It

SuperDuper 4 might be the first backup app that tells you in plain English exactly what it’s going to do and what it has done. Developer Dave Nanian’s new “narrative” interface embeds documentation directly into the interaction model.

Adam Engst 28 comments

Apple’s Q3 2026 Earnings—Record Revenue and Marketing to the Street

In Tim Cook’s final earnings call as CEO, Apple posted a record $109.4 billion quarter, but behind Apple’s AI hype and “phenomenal” reviews lie supply constraints driven by poor predictions, skyrocketing memory costs, and a Siri AI that’s still finding its feet.

Adam Engst 27 comments

Apple Upgrade Replaces and Extends iPhone Upgrade Program

Apple’s new Apple Upgrade program, run through Klarna, lets US customers lease iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs for monthly fees. It replaces the iPhone Upgrade Program, but unlike that program, it doesn’t include AppleCare, which must be purchased separately. Be sure to read the FAQ and fine print for all the details!

Adam Engst 31 comments

OS 26.6 Delivers Massive Number of Security Fixes

Apple’s latest updates patch an unprecedented number of security vulnerabilities while optimizing the Spotlight index in preparation for OS 27 and fixing bugs affecting Messages screenshots, Intel-based app notifications, and HealthKit data. None of the vulnerabilities is being exploited in the wild.

Adam Engst 6 comments

Snap Grip Solves a Problem You May Not Have

The ohSnap Snap Grip is a cleverly designed MagSafe accessory that helps you hold your iPhone more securely. After months of testing, Adam Engst found it most useful for one specific situation: reading in bed at night.

Adam Engst 27 comments

Simon Willison Breaks Down OpenAI’s Sandbox Escape Incident

An OpenAI model being tested for cybersecurity capabilities decided to cheat rather than solve its assigned test, breaking out of its sandbox and hacking into Hugging Face to steal the answers. Simon Willison calls it “science fiction that happened.”

Adam Engst 7 comments

How to Pitch Apps to TidBITS in the AI Era

AI has made it vastly easier to build apps and pitch them to publications like TidBITS for review. But we don’t have the time or brain space to look at everything, so here’s how developers can improve their chances of catching our attention.

Adam Engst 12 comments

Apple Opens Public Betas for OS 27

Ready for a glimpse into our future as Apple users? Public betas for macOS 27 Golden Gate, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and other major Apple operating systems are now available—but beware of bugs and be sure to back up your devices first.