Apple : TechRadar Deals: Cheap MacBook deals in September 2015: the all the best prices |
- TechRadar Deals: Cheap MacBook deals in September 2015: the all the best prices
- Apple's next MacBook may be in for a powerful Skylake upgrade
- Buying Guide: 10 best wireless routers to make your internet fly
- Movie Week: The complete guide to watching movies on your iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Updated: Best free iPad apps
- OS X update fixes major Yosemite security flaw
- The only cure for new Apple malware is to trash your Mac
- Apple readies 21-inch iMac with Retina display
- Former Apple rival IBM could become the biggest buyer of MacBooks
- An OS X vulnerability could allow someone to hijack your Mac
| TechRadar Deals: Cheap MacBook deals in September 2015: the all the best prices Posted: /apple-macbook-althero-470-75.jpg) If you're looking for the best cheap MacBook deals, you've come to the right place. The decision of whether you should buy a new MacBook is a simple one: does it play to your strengths? Perhaps you need the lightest and most portable OS X machine out there today, one with good battery life. Maybe you appreciate an incredible, vibrant display that's equally as good at rendering your crisp documents as it is displaying the same amount of a spreadsheet as a 24-inch monitor. Or maybe you just don't like Windows? Whatever your reason, there are plenty of deals out there... Our system checks the prices of every model of MacBook on all major retail websites so you can be sure you're always getting the best deal. All you need to do now is work out whether it's a MacBook, a MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air that you want!
NEW! 13-inch MacBook Air 2015 dealsNow with faster storage and better battery life Like a pair of old trainers, Apple's 2015 MacBook Air is boring, familiar, reliable and more than up to the task. If you don't need tons of screen real-estate (or a half-decent screen for that matter), or prefer to hook your laptop up to an external monitor, it remains the most solid all-rounder out there today, whether you're desk-bound or frequently travelling.
MacBook 2015 dealsThe latest MacBook has only one port for maximum thinness The New MacBook is the future, but it isn't for everyone just yet. The lack of USB ports and the need to buy an adapter (if you have peripherals and a monitor) will likely be the first dealbreaker, followed by its price. If you're still onboard after those potential pitfalls, the new MacBook is one of the most luxurious, compact and fun notebooks to use today.
MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display (early 2015) dealsThe fastest small MacBook Pro yet is a force of nature The new MacBook Pro for 2015 hasn't undergone a dramatic reimagining like the one above, but then there wasn't anything particularly wrong with it in the first place. Improvements to its performance mean it's better value than before, and the noticeably improved battery life makes it even more of a mobile workhorse. As ever the cost of adding memory and storage soon sends the price tag into orbit, but even the stock MacBook Pro is an incredibly versatile computer and arguably Apple's best ever laptop. The new MacBook may be more portable, but the Pro has all the power.
MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display (2014) dealsLast year's best MacBook Pro is still a brilliant laptop There's plenty to like on the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina: from the still-impressive display to its excellent build quality, great keyboard and good (but not excellent) battery life. It may not be as portable as the MacBook Air, but it's far from cumbersome and its top notch build quality means you won't be worried about its welfare when carrying it around.
MacBook Air 13-inch 2013 dealsThe slimmiest, most powerful MacBook Air ever Apple's often imitated but never bettered ultra-portable laptop puts in a strong, though not faultless, performance with this mid-2013 release, the sixth-generation of the MacBook Air. It offers significant improvements in its solid state storage speed, graphical power, battery life and wireless capabilities, but the processor's clock speeds actually take a backward step. But as we'll see, for most real-world applications, the MacBook Air 2013 matches or out-performs its predecessor. More models of MacBooks coming soon |
| Apple's next MacBook may be in for a powerful Skylake upgrade Posted:  If you've held off on buying Apple's new 12-inch MacBook over concerns that Intel's Core M processor may be too anemic for your computing tasks, the second generation notebook could put those fears to rest. A recent leak suggests that Intel's Skylake architecture will be arriving in the next MacBook models, bringing improved performance to Apple's extremely thin and light laptop. Previously leaked Intel slides reveal that the Y series Skylake chip, which is the fanless architecture used on the MacBook, could deliver up to 17% faster CPU performance and 41% faster GPU performance. Intel revealed that the integrated Gen9 graphics of the Skylake processor can drive up to three 4K displays at 60 frames per second. Apple may use several different variants of Intel's Skylake-based Core M processors on the MacBook to target different price points. Like the Core i processors on the MacBook Air and Pro series, Intel may rebrand its Core M processor to target different tiers, with a Core M3, M5 and M7. What's newThe base MacBook is speculated to arrive with an Intel Core M3 processor when it gets refreshed. The Core M3 6Y30 CPU will be a dual-core CPU clocked at 900MHz that can go up to 2.2GHz with Turbo Boost. The chip will come with 4MB L3 cache, integrated Intel HD 515 graphics and a 4.5W design. It's believed that this chip will slot into the base $1,299 (£843, AU$1,812) price point of the current entry-level MacBook.
There may be two mid-tier MacBook models with Intel Core M5 processors. A lower configuration 6Y54 model will be clocked at 1.1GHz and can go up to 2.7GHz with Turbo Boost, while the higher-end 6Y57 can go up to 2.8GHz with Turbo Boost. Like the Core M3 model, both Core M5 configurations will come with Intel's integrated HD 515 graphics. It's expected that the higher-end configuration will be priced at $1,599 (£1,038, AU$2,231), according to MacRumors. A premium MacBook with a dual-core Intel Core M5 6Y75 processor clocked at 1.2GHz may fit in at the $1,749 (£1,136, AU$2,440) price point. The Skylake processor on that model could go up to 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost. The Intel HD 515 graphics is part of Skylake's Gen9 graphics. GraphicsEven though processor performance is getting a boost, the most impressive improvement that Skylake delivers over Broadwell is graphics performance. The leaked slide suggests that we should see a 41% improvement in performance. In fact, two Intel insiders with knowledge of the company's plans informed techradar in an interview outside of IDF 2015 that Intel's progress with improving integrated graphics performance is so good that Apple is considering ditching discrete graphics on its most expensive high-end MacBook Pro models.
Our sources would not reveal if this would happen for the MacBook Pro's Skylake refresh, however. Apple currently uses discrete AMD graphics on the MacBook Pro, but Nvidia was also used on earlier configurations. Improved integrated graphics will allow MacBook users to play more graphics-intensive games on their downtime, run 3D modeling and simulation, perform data analysis and more. A leaked Intel presentation claims that the chip could deliver up to 1.4 hours of additional battery life. Apple currently rates the MacBook at 9 hours of battery life. The power efficiency of Skylake could boost the MacBook to more than 10 hours, matching the stamina on bigger, but more powerful, notebooks like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Apple has not returned our request for comments about its reported MacBook refresh.
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| Buying Guide: 10 best wireless routers to make your internet fly Posted:  IntroductionJust about any household with broadband internet will have a wireless router supplied by the service provider – but there are plenty of good reasons to buy a newer, more powerful model. Your existing router may be a bit long in the tooth, and that means it doesn't have the latest hardware, or support all the modern wireless networking standards, such as 802.11ac, which can deliver much better network speeds and range thanks to directional beamforming, meaning faster downloads and quicker web browsing. Latest and greatestThe majority of new laptops, tablets and smartphones now support 802.11ac, so if you're still using a router from five years ago, you could be missing out. You may also be tempted by some of the other recent advances in router technology. Most routers now have powerful software which makes it much easier to manage a home network, for example to accomplish tasks such as creating rules for parental controls, or simply carrying out maintenance tasks. They also come with USB ports to share storage like a NAS, or share printers to any computer in your house. If you fancy upgrading, then here are the best 10 wireless routers you can purchase.
1. AVM Fritz! Box 3490German engineering Speed: ADSL/VDSL modem, 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 450 Mbit/sec 802.11n | Connectivity: 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 2 x USB 3.0 port NAS-like management Ports Lacks some high-end features The Fritz! Box range from German engineering wizard AVM is known for two things – rock solid reliability and superb software to adjust your network and internet connection settings. While the 3490 may lack the support for DECT cordless phones and the landline telephony functions found in the high-end 7000-series Fritz! models, it's a lot more affordable while still offering good performance and plenty of useful features. With its built-in VDSL modem, the 3490 works with cable, fibre and DSL internet connections, with triple-stream 802.11ac support for wireless speeds of up to 1300 Mbit/sec. It has two USB 3.0 ports for the best possible transfer speeds from any storage device you connect to it, with NAS-like management functions built into the software. Read the full review: AVM Fritz! Box 3490
2. Asus RT-AC87URouter touts impressive Wi-Fi performance Speed: 1733 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 600 Mbit/sec 802.11n | Connectivity: 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, DD-WRT compatible Fast Wi-Fi speeds Ports More expensive than other routers Although it's not the most affordable router on the market, the Asus RT-AC87U is one of the best, as it offers ultra-fast 4x4 802.11ac wireless speeds, with the potential for record-breaking performance. In our tests we found it to be capable of some of the fastest speeds we'd ever seen over a wireless connection, with additional support for up to 600 Mbit/sec 5GHz 802.11n speeds (although this depends on your client adaptor, as with other routers). But it's the software that really makes the RT-AC87U stand out. It's easy to use, and packed with features for both novices and users with advanced networking knowledge. Among its many features are a comprehensive QoS (Quality of Service) system and parental controls that are a doddle to set up, along with a download manager and cloud file backup. Read the full review: Asus RT-AC87U
3. Linksys XAC1900Feature-packed router is nice... for a price Speed: ADSL modem, 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 600 Mbit/sec 802.11n | Connectivity: 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port Straightforward software Inbuilt DLS modem Expensive The software in the Linksys XAC1900 is perhaps the most straightforward to use of any router, with a really clear layout to take you around its various functions. It allows you to control the router remotely, so you can connect to your home network from any other location, anywhere in the world. The XAC1900 comes with a DSL modem built into the power supply, keeping cables neatly out of the way. Its wireless performance is adequate, with simultaneous dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz wireless support for 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac and all other standards, including 802.11n/g/b/a. There's also the usual four gigabit Ethernet ports, with a USB 2.0 port and a USB 3.0 port. Read the full review: Linksys XAC1900
4. TP-Link Archer D9 ADSL modem routerLong-range router can hook up to your phone line Speed: 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 600 Mbit/sec 802.11n | Connectivity: 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 x USB 3.0 port, DD-WRT compatible Built-in ADSL modem Long-range performance No status LEDS on ethernet ports TP-Link's routers are usually some of the most affordable around, providing a straightforward upgrade path to fast 802.11ac wireless speeds. Although the Archer D9 isn't quite as affordable as its predecessors, it adds a few extra features that make this model one of TP-Link's flagship products. The Archer D9 comes with a built-in ADSL modem, which means you can connect it directly to your telephone line, replacing whatever hardware your ISP provides. There's also a USB 3.0 port at the back for shared storage or printers, along with the standard array of ports. It supports 3x3 802.11ac wireless for speeds of up to 1300 Mbit/sec and 600 Mbit/sec 802.11n, and it was a great performer in our tests, especially at range. The software isn't quite as polished as some of the efforts on the really high-end models in this list, but it has plenty of features and is easy to use. Overall, this is a router that works superbly well. Read the full review: TP-Link Archer D9
5. Buffalo AirStation Extreme AC1900Affordable router was king a few years ago Speed: 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 600 Mbit/sec 802.11n | Connectivity: 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, DD-WRT compatible Ports Comprehensive software Open source software can be fiddly Buffalo's triple antenna AirStation Extreme AC1900 is capable of 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac speeds, with support for 600 Mbit/sec TurboQAM over 802.11n as well. It supports dual-frequency wireless with simultaneous 2.4GHz/5GHz. There's a USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 port, joining the standard four gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and single WAN port. The software is well featured too, with web filtering and parental controls fed with data from anti-virus experts Symantec, and a Priority Control QoS (Quality of Service) system. Read the full review: Buffalo AirStation Extreme AC1900
6. Trendnet TEW-818DRUUser-friendly model is also environment-friendly Speed: 867 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 300 Mbit/sec 802.11n | Connectivity: 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, DD-WRT compatible Performance Easy setup No wall mount Trendnet's book-shaped TEW-818DRU offers excellent performance with 1300 Mbit/sec 3x3 802.11ac wireless and 600 Mbit/sec 802.11n TurboQAM. It has the usual array of Ethernet ports, with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports for shared storage, and a small master power button to cut energy consumption when it's not in use. It's a doddle to set up too, with some fairly comprehensive software that includes parental controls, QoS (Quality of Service) management and Dynamic DNS support. Although if you don't like Trendnet's software, the TEW-818DRU is compatible with the open-source DD-WRT firmware. Read the full review: Trendnet TEW-818DRU
7. Belkin AC1200DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ GigabitWhere affordability meets performance Speed: 867 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 300 Mbit/sec 802.11n | 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 2 x USB 3.0 ports Affordable Ports Isn't the fastest router around If you're put off by the high prices of 802.11ac hardware, Belkin's more affordable AC1200DB router might be for you. It may only be capable of 2x2 MIMO 802.11ac for 867 Mbit/sec speeds, but currently, the overwhelming majority of 802.11ac wireless adaptors in Windows laptops can only handle that speed anyway. And in every other respect, it's a solid router. It supports older standards just fine, with dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz support for 802.11n/g/b/a devices, and it has a pair of USB 3.0 ports at the back for storage or printer sharing. Unless you're desperate for the very fastest wireless speeds, you're unlikely to be disappointed. Read the full review: Belkin AC1200DB
8. Netgear Nighthawk X4 R7500Tri-band router benefits from an upgraded interface Speed: 1733 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 600 Mbit/sec 802.11n | Connectivity: 4 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 2 x USB 3.0 ports, 1 x eSATA port Ports 802.11ac Requires compatible adaptors Shaped like a stealth bomber, Netgear's flagship Nighthawk X4 is one of the most powerful routers we've ever tested. Like the Asus RT-AC87U, it has four antennas, so it supports 1733 Mbit/sec 4x4 MIMO 802.11ac for the fastest possible performance, although it similarly requires a compatible wireless adapter or client to enjoy those speeds. This router also has plenty of support for external storage, with both a pair of USB 3.0 ports and an eSATA port. Although the software doesn't look quite as modern as you find on other routers, there are still plenty of useful functions within it, rounding off a solid networking product.
9. D-Link DIR-890-L Wireless AC3200The king of speed works with Windows and OS X Speed: Up tp 3200Mbps (600N on 2.4GHz + 1300Mbps + 1300mbps on 5GHz | Connectivity: 4x gigabit ethernet ports, 1x gigabit ethernet WAN port, 2x USB 3 port, DD-WRT compatible High speeds Intuitive interface Odd-looking With six antennas on the outside, and a red tent-like body, the DIR-890-L is possibly the weirdest looking router ever made. The six antennas allows for three concurrent wireless networks, two 5GHz 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac networks with a third for 600 Mbit/sec 802.11n speeds , brought together into one SSID with the SmartConnect feature. Behind the scenes, this lets the router work out the rough positioning of a device that's connected to it, then allocate the best speeds depending on its distance. D-Link has recently upgraded its software interface with a more intuitive design too, with a few extra features thrown in. It can be set up via a mobile app without needing to go through the hassle of logging in at a computer, and allows for remote monitoring via mydlink Cloud, along with media sharing directly from any connected storage too.
10. Apple Airport ExtremeWorks without fuss on Macs Speed: 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, 450 Mbit/sec 802.11n | Connectivity: 3 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 x gigabit Ethernet WAN port, 1 x USB 2.0 port Works with Airport Utility Powerful specs Lacks internal storage Apple's Airport Extreme router works with both PCs and Macs, but it's better suited to OS X users thanks to a nifty program bundled with every Mac called Airport Utility. Instead of having to go through on-board software via a web browser, you can set up and configure the Airport Extreme using this program, and on Macs at least, it works fantastically well. The AirPort Extreme is also a powerful piece of networking hardware. The latest 6th-generation model supports 1300 Mbit/sec 802.11ac, along with simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz support for 802.11n/g/b/a. It has three gigabit Ethernet ports, a WAN port and a USB 2.0 port to share printers or external storage. Apple also sells a variant with a built-in hard disk for over-the-air Time Machine backups. Called the AirPort Time Capsule, it offers all the same networking features as the AirPort Extreme, but with the addition of either a 2TB or 3TB hard disk, you'll be able to back up and restore your Mac's system files remotely. |
| Movie Week: The complete guide to watching movies on your iPhone, iPad and Mac Posted:  How to play video on your MacThe Mac was the first computer that supported digital video, its QuickTime architecture helping to ensure that for many years it was the platform of choice for digital video production. Later came video CDs and DVD playback, and of course iMovie and Final Cut. A consequence of all this support for video creation on the Mac is that it's always had excellent video playback capabilities for ordinary users too. So from the moment you turn on your Mac, it's able to play back digital videos and with a few tweaks and additions, play or convert any video format. There's no reason your Mac can't deal with even the most obscure video file. Since the release of the iPod Video many years ago, Apple's portable devices have allowed you to watch videos on the move as well, and in the latest versions of iOS there are a wealth of options for watching, recording and even editing videos on the move. iPhones, iPads and even the iPod touch are so powerful now that they can shoot and export in HD and you can rent, buy and stream HD movies directly on your device. The Apple TV is an affordable and amazingly versatile device, even more so if you use it to its fullest potential. And this being Apple, everything syncs together beautifully. So whether your movies are still on DVD and you need to get them into iTunes, you want to transfer a TV series to your iPad or you need to connect your iPad to your HDTV, our guide contains everything you need to know. Watching video on your MacYour Mac can play back almost any video format with a few tweaks…
Mac OS X has a whole layer of the operating system dedicated to playing video, not that you will ever actually see it. Core Video powers the QuickTime framework, which handles practically all aspects of video playback. In OS X 10.7 and 10.8 you get both QuickTime 7 and QuickTime X, though you may have to choose to install version 7 manually from your OS X installer. This is well worth doing since as a better established system it is often able to open files that X cannot. Both can perform audio and video recording using your Mac's camera and mics, and QuickTime X can even do screen recording. You can extend QuickTime's ability to play different movie formats by installing Perian, a handy little add-on from perian.org. Development has officially ended, but it still works well on OS X 10.8. The nice thing about Perian is that it's not a separate app, it just extends QuickTime. Spinning discs
If your Mac has an optical drive then it will be able to play DVDs and will come with the DVD Player app. In the System Preferences > CDs and DVDs section you can tell your Mac whether or not to open this automatically when you load a DVD disc. DVD Player is quite fully featured and supports HD, though not Blu-ray discs. If your Mac doesn't have an optical drive you can always add an external one connected over USB, and Apple's own is £65, with third-party models somewhat cheaper. You have another option, which is to share a remote disc drive. If there's a Mac on your network that does have a drive, open its Sharing preferences and turn on DVD sharing. Using the Remote Disc feature on your MacBook Air, new iMac or new Mac Mini, you will be able to connect to a disc in that drive. There's an important limitation however which is that commercial DVDs can't be played in this way; only data discs and home-burned DVDs without copy protection can be played. Of course you could rip a movie on the Mac with the drive and then access it via regular file sharing, a cloud-service such as Dropbox, or by way of AirDrop - you just have to think creatively. Buy or rent?Your Mac is able to access all kinds of movies online through purchase or streaming services, the biggest of which is the iTunes Store. This is really straightforward and simply involves signing in to iTunes with your Apple ID, locating the film or TV show you want and then choosing to buy or rent it. When you do, a copy of the movie will be downloaded to your Mac and you can start watching it inside iTunes before it has finished downloading. The movie's page in the Store will tell you the file size for SD and HD versions, and SD is generally cheaper than HD, though the resolution is of course lower. On smaller hard drives such as SSDs in the MacBook Air, downloading a few HD movies will start to use up space but the good news is that when you buy a movie and watch it, even after you have deleted the local copy it can be re-downloaded again at any time. So you do own the copy, it's just stored on Apple's servers until you want to watch it again. A purchased movie can also be downloaded to any iOS device signed in with your Apple ID. Renting is a little different, and although a copy of the film is downloaded, you get 30 days to start watching it and 48 hours from starting watching it to finish watching it. After this, it will be automatically deleted from your iTunes library. You can move a rented movie from your Mac to an iOS device though it can only exist on one device at once. If you rent a movie on an iOS device it can't be transferred to another device. You can also get your own movies into iTunes, of course: see the tutorial on the next page for how to do this. Other options
There are other streaming services that don't need iTunes, such as LoveFilm and Netflix, and these work in a regular browser window on your Mac, offering streaming but not downloads. The deal here is that you can watch anything as often as you like for a regular subscription, and both have iOS apps too. Netflix works on the Apple TV. You can preview any OS X-compatible movie file on your Mac simply by using the Quick Look command: select the file in Finder and click the 'eye' button in the Finder window or hit the Space Bar. This actually contains full playback controls and can be made fullscreen, as well as containing a link to open the movie in QuickTime Player or share it. Movies that you shoot on your iPhone or iPad can also be easily transferred back to your Mac and will of course work without the need for any format conversion. The quickest way to transfer movies is to connect your iOS device with its USB cable and open the Image Capture app that is part of OS X. This gives you direct access to the photos and movies and you can drag and drop them across. Of course you can import them using iMovie or iPhoto too, if you want them to be catalogued. iMovie is particularly useful as it can resize your movies on import as well as adding effects, image stabilisation and all sorts of other enhancements, though this does add more steps and some processing time to the transfer process. Alternative appsIf you're looking for third-party apps to help with video playback on your Mac, you can't go far wrong with the big two, currently VLC and Mplayer OS X, both of which are free and surprisingly fully featured and stable thanks to their avid developer base. These apps tend to be able to open most kinds of video file and also support things like subtitles a little more readily than QuickTime Player. They don't tie in with iTunes particularly, but if you're after an alternative player for weird and wonderful formats and codecs, they're well worth a download. How to rip DVDs and stream your moviesRip a DVD for iTunesRip your DVDs and convert them into an iTunes and iOS compatible format As Apple is phasing out optical drives on many new models of Mac, the DVD looks set to eventually go the way of the floppy disc. But in the meantime, many people have lots of DVDs that they want to view on their Macs and also on their iPads and iPhones. This can be done with a DVD ripper like Handbrake. But before you start, a word of warning. As it stands, you're not allowed to take a movie, even if you bought it in a shop, and rip it, even for your own use. The reason for this is that doing so involves breaking the copy protection, which is prohibited by a law called the EUCD in Europe and the DMCA in America. 'Fair use' ('fair dealing' in the UK) offers no exemptions for this. This is why every DVD ripper makes a point that you're only allowed to use it for unprotected, non-commercial DVDs. In some cases, they've enforced that rule. All that said, nobody has ever been dragged before a judge because they wanted to watch their own DVD on their own iPad, in much the same way that the recording industry has never prosecuted anyone solely for ripping their own CDs - also technically an illegal act in the UK. Downloading movies illegally, on the other hand, is a big no-no. Torrent sites especially are a potentially dangerous way to pirate because you're uploading bits of the movie at the same time as downloading others. Legally speaking, that means you're distributing illegal, copyrighted files as well as acquiring them. How to rip your DVDs using Handbrake1. Download Handbrake
Head to handbrake.fr and grab the latest build of the Handbrake ripping app. It runs on OS X 10.6 or later. Open the downloaded disk image and copy the app either to your Applications folder if you intend to keep it, or to the Desktop for single-use. Double-click to open it. 2. Open the disc
Pop your home-burned DVD into the drive. You can also choose to open a disk image or a movie file from the Open browser. Once opened, Handbrake will analyse the disc and identify its contents. It should pick up chapters and display each section in the Title menu. 3. Choose a preset
The menu on the right contains a list of presets for all kinds of devices. If you click on the Devices tab you will see various ones listed; choose the one you need. Here we've gone for an iPhone 4 preset. You can make your own and save them using this menu too. 4. Tweak the settings
Handbrake analyses the source video and automatically set things like frame rate, though you can change this if you like. You can also enter a Constant Quality setting or an average bitrate if you are comfortable playing with this. If you're unsure, stick with the default settings. 5. Picture settings
The other options windows are pretty advanced and needn't trouble most users. Click the Picture Settings button at the top however and you can choose to crop the picture during conversion to make it a custom size. You can also add filters in this window to deal with blocking problems. 6. Add to queue
If you want to rip more than one video or chapter from the same disc you can set up your first encode then hit Add To Queue, then configure more encodes by selecting a new title from the Title menu. Use different settings for subsequent encodes if you like. 7. Start the encode
Press the Start button and Handbrake will create a movie based on your settings. Depending on the length of the video and the quality settings, this can take a while, though on modern Macs you shouldn't wait more than 10 minutes (for example) to encode a 10-minute video. 8. Drop into iTunes
When your encode is done, drag and drop your converted movie into iTunes. From there you can watch it or sync it to any iOS device that supports the frame size. This is why it's important to choose an appropriate preset before encoding - some devices only support up to a certain size. Streaming your mediaGet video to almost any device in your home with these streaming solutions
The Apple TV started life as a rather clunky box with a built-in hard drive, and to get content onto it you had to sync movies from iTunes. Despite still officially being described by Apple as a 'hobby' project, the Apple TV is now a remarkable little box, and tremendous value for the price of just £99. The Apple TV acts as a conduit between your Mac, your HDTV and the internet. Inside your house it can stream movies, pictures and music from iTunes to the TV and as well as having a physical remote, the Remote app for iOS provides excellent tactile control. There's even support for Bluetooth keyboards expected in an imminent update. If you use iTunes Match, your entire music library is available to stream on the Apple TV and you can buy and rent video content from the iTunes Store on it too, as well as using Netflix. Then there's the other apps, like Radio, Apple Events, YouTube, Vimeo and Podcasts amongst others, that let you stream stuff from the internet straight to your TV without using a Mac.
The third incredibly useful thing the Apple TV enables is AirPlay. With an Apple TV on your network, all your iOS devices gain the ability to send video and audio directly to it and hence to your TV, wirelessly. This applies to video and music files but also to photos, and apps like BBC iPlayer that don't have a native Apple TV version. Fire up iPlayer on your iPad or iPhone, activate AirPlay and you can view content on your TV, complete with automatic sizing to make sure everything fits properly. Some games even use AirPlay so your iOS device becomes a controller. Another nice thing about AirPlay is that as long as you're on a network you can stream stuff, so you could show photos or play music at a friend's house wirelessly without having to copy any files manually. Mirroring screensIt's also possible to mirror your iPad or iPhone's display to your TV via the Apple TV by turning on mirroring on the portable device. This is also possible with very recent Macs so you can use your TV as a monitor. Nonetheless you can still mirror your display thanks to third party apps like AirParrot (airparrot.com). If your Mac supports mirroring natively, you'll see an AirPlay icon at the top right of the menu bar. The most recent update to AirPlay is called AirPlay Direct, which enables you to stream audio to a compatible device without the need for a Wi-Fi network. AQ Audio's SmartSpeaker supports this. |
| Posted:  Best free iPad apps
On comparing iPad apps with iPhone equivalents, one thing rapidly becomes clear: apps for Apple's tablet are pricier. Many of the best free iPhone apps cost money in their iPad incarnations, and the quality level of what's still free is often ropey. But among the dross lie rare gems – iPad apps that are so good you can't believe they're still free. Of those we unearthed, here is our pick of the best free iPad apps. Note that apps marked 'universal' will run on your iPad and iPhone, optimising themselves accordingly. For a mix of free and paid apps, check out our amazing Best iPad apps chart or if you're more into a smaller form-factor or are considering an iPhone 6s / iPhone 7 later this year check out our list of the 50 best free iPhone apps. 1. AccuWeather (universal)
Annoyingly, some free iPad weather apps refuse to believe that the UK has any weather (or that the country exists), so AccuWeather gets props for merely working. Happily, AccuWeather also proves to be a decent – if quirky – weather app. The interface is odd (but fun) and there's a 'lifestyle' page that determines how your current local conditions might affect over 20 activities, including dog-walking and stargazing. 2. Facebook (universal)
The social networking giant has gone back-and-forth with its mobile apps, finally settling on this smart, native implementation. Much like the slightly simpler iPhone equivalent, Facebook on iPad is such that you won't want to use the comparatively clunky website again for seeing which of your friends really shouldn't have internet access after midnight. 3. Madefire Comics (universal)
The iPad has given new life to comics, providing the perfect digital home for them with its big, sharp, colourful screen and Madefire Comics makes the most of it by stocking motion comics. As the name suggests these include movement rather than just static panels and often feature music and sound effects too, bringing you into the story like never before. With big names and an ever growing library Madefire is essential for comic fans. 4. Beatwave (universal)
Beatwave is a simplified Tenori-On-style synth which enables you to rapidly build pleasing melodies by prodding a grid. Multiple layers and various instruments provide scope for complex compositions, and you can save sessions or, handily, store and share compositions via email. You can also buy more instruments via in-app purchases. 5. Bloomberg Business for iPad
It used to boast an eye-searing white-and-orange-on-black colour scheme that was a little like being repeatedly punched in the eyes, but now Bloomberg has grown up, discovered a palette (a subtler, serious 'things on black', for the most part), and has subsequently become a much more usable business news and stocks app. 6. Comics (universal)
On the iPhone, Comics is innovative, but zooming each panel and constantly rotating your device gets old fast. By contrast, the iPad's screen is big enough to display an entire page without the need to zoom or scroll. And with dozens of free comics available via the bundled store, comic book fans should lap this app up. 7. Dictionary.com - Dictionary & Thesaurus
We approached Dictionary with scepticism, since most free dictionary apps are sluggish interfaces to websites. That's certainly what this looks like, but it works offline, providing speedy access to over two million words and definitions. The app's search is also reassuringly fast. 8. Dropbox (universal)
Dropbox is a great service for syncing documents across multiple devices. The iPad client works like the iPhone one (hardly surprising, since this is a universal app), enabling you to preview many file types and store those marked as favourites locally. 9. Evernote (universal)
Like Dropbox, Evernote (a free online service for saving ideas – text documents, images and web clips – that you can then access from multiple devices) works the same way on the iPad as it does on the iPhone. It benefits from the iPad's larger screen, which enables you to see and navigate your stored snippets more easily. 10. YouTube (universal)
When the YouTube app presumably became a victim of the ongoing and increasingly tedious Apple/Google spat, there were concerns Google wouldn't respond. Those turned out to be unfounded, because here's yet another bespoke, nicely designed Google-created app for iOS. The interface is specifically tuned for the iPad, and AirPlay enables you to fire videos at an Apple TV. 11. Elevate (universal)
We could all use a bit of brain training from time to time and Elevate is a great way to do it. It aims to improve your writing, reading, speaking, listening and maths skills through a variety of daily challenges, which keep your brain active and test you in entertaining ways. A beautiful interface makes it a joy to use and the core app is free, but extra features can be added with a subscription. 12. iBooks (universal)
Going head-to-head with Kindle, iBooks is a decent ebook reader, backed by the iBookstore. As you'd expect from Apple, the interface is polished and usable, with handy cross-device bookmark syncing, highlighting, and various display options. It's also a capable PDF reader, for your digital magazine collection. 13. IM+ (universal)
Although the iPad enables a certain amount of basic multi-tasking, anyone who constantly juggles a number of instant messaging services will soon be tired of leaping between apps. IM+ is a good solution, enabling you to run a number of IM services in a single app, and there's also a built-in web browser for checking out links. 14. Kindle (universal)
Amazon's Kindle iPad app for reading myriad books available at the Kindle Store is a little workmanlike, and doesn't match the coherence of iBooks (you buy titles in Safari and 'sync' purchases via Kindle). However, Kindle's fine for reading, and you get options to optimise your experience (including the ability to kill the naff page-turn animation and amend the page background to a pleasant sepia tone). 15. Movies by Flixster (universal)
One for film buffs, Movies figures out where you are and tells you what's showing in your local cinemas – or you can pick a film and it'll tell you where and when it's on. The app is functionally identical on iPad and iPhone, but again the extra screen space improves the experience. 16. PaperDesk Lite for iPad
Effectively a souped-up digital notepad, PaperDesk Lite for iPad enables you to combine typed words, scribbles and audio recordings in user-defined notebooks. Be mindful, though, that this free version restricts you to three notebooks, each of which can only have three pages, and there are no export options. 17. PCalc Lite (universal)
PCalc Lite's existence means the lack of a built-in iPad calculator doesn't bother us (in fact, we'd love to replace the iPhone Calculator app with PCalc Lite as well). This app is usable and feature-rich – and if you end up wanting more, in-app purchases enable you to bolt on extras from the full PCalc. 18. Reuters (universal)
Spurious anti-competition complaints meant the BBC News app took a while to come to the UK; in the meantime, Reuters offered the next best free news app for iPad. It's a little US-centric, but can be skewed towards UK coverage via the Settings app, and it's worth downloading for a more international take on news coverage than BBC News provides. 19. Airbnb (universal)
Airbnb makes travel affordable and social, as rather than staying in a hotel you can stay in someone's house. Options range from crashing on someone's sofa to renting a private island, or if you have a spare room you could even rent your own space out. The iPad app is one of the best ways to browse it too, letting you search and book using an attractive image-heavy interface. 20. Wikipanion for iPad
The Wikipedia website works fine in Safari for iPad, but dedicated apps make navigating the site simpler and faster. Wikipanion is an excellent free app, with a sleek iOS 7-style design, an efficient two-pane landscape view, and excellent bookmarking and history access. 21. eBay for iPad
Use eBay for iPad and you'll never touch eBay in a web browser again. It's fast and efficient, beautifully showcasing important details and images in its main results view. Gallery images can often be displayed almost at a full-screen size, which is particularly useful on an iPad with a Retina display. Speedy sorting options are also available. 22. Soundrop (universal)
Soundrop is a minimal generative sound toy that offers an endless stream of balls, which make noises when they collide with and bounce off user-drawn lines. The overall result is surprisingly fun and hypnotic. For more advanced features – save, multiple instruments and gravity adjustment – there's an in-app 'pro' purchase option. 23. Kickstarter (universal)
After a stint on the iPhone, Kickstarter has now arrived on Apple's slates and it's the perfect fit for it, giving you a big window into thousands of projects which you can back with a tap. Browse by categories and sub-categories, select how to sort projects or just search for a specific one. Just be careful. Last time we launched the app we emerged six hours later and hundreds of pounds poorer. We eagerly await delivery of our smart socks. 24. Google Earth (universal)
It's not the smoothest app in the world, and it lacks some elements from the desktop, but Google Earth is nonetheless a joy on the iPad. Touch gestures are an intuitive means of swooping around the planet, and the optional layers enable you to display as much or as little ancillary information as you wish. 25. Explore Flickr (universal)
Explore Flickr provides an engaging way to discover new photography. On launch, your iPad screen fills with a grid of thumbnails, drawn from Flickr.com's top daily images. Tap one to view (and, if rights permit, download to your device), or just leave the app lazily updating (every now and again, a thumbnail spins to reveal a new image) while your iPad charges in its dock. 26. Rj Voyager
One for budding iPad DJs, Rj Voyager enables you to choose from a selection of bundled tracks, turn parts on and off and edit parameters in real-time via an intuitive, futuristic interface. Play through headphones or a decent sound system and the result is infectious. 27. BBC News (universal)
Although the BBC News website works nicely on the iPad, BBC News is still worth downloading. Rather than trying to provide all of the news, it instead concentrates on the latest stories, with inline video. Categories can be rearranged, stories can be shared and the app's layout adjusts to portrait and landscape orientations. 28. Epicurious (universal)
Tens of thousands of recipes at your fingertips (as long as you have a web connection) ensure Epicurious is worth a download for the culinary-inclined. The app even composes a shopping list for recipes; it's just a pity it doesn't include measurements for those of us who use that new-fangled metric system. 29. WordPress (universal)
This official WordPress app has a reputation for being a bit clunky, but it's fine for authoring the odd blog post on the go, along with making quick edits to existing content and managing comments. It also offers both text-based and visual approaches to crafting posts, so you're not stuck with HTML. 30. Speed Test SpeedSmart (universal)
Truth be told, we're always a touch suspicious of apps that claim to test your connection speed, but Speed Test SpeedSmart seems to do a decent job. It's also handy to have installed for when your broadband goes all flaky and you need to record the figures for a subsequent moan at your ISP. 31. Adobe Photoshop Express (universal)
With people regularly moaning about bloat in Adobe's desktop applications, it's great to see the giant create something as focused and usable as Adobe Photoshop Express. Its toolset is strictly for basic edits (crop, straighten, rotate, flip, levels and lighting adjustments), and applying a few effects, but the app is fast, stable and extremely useable. Top marks. 32. Yahoo Weather (universal)
With weather apps, you're frequently forced to choose between lashings of data or something that looks lovely. Yahoo Weather combines both, offering a stunning interface that happens to be rich with information. The maps are a touch weak, but other than that, this is an essential weather app, especially considering Apple doesn't provide an iPad equivalent itself. 33. Find my iPhone (universal)
Find my iPhone would perhaps be better named 'Find my Apple stuff', because it's not just for figuring out where a missing iPhone is - it can also track iPads, iPods and Macs. The app is simple, elegant and, generally speaking, provides an accurate location for devices. It also enables you to remote-lock or wipe a device. 34. Flipboard (universal)
Initially, Flipboard looked like a gimmick, trying desperately to make online content resemble a magazine. But now it can integrate Flickr and other networks, beautifully laying out their articles, Flipboard's muscled into the 'essential' category – and it's still free. 35. Find My Friends (universal)
While perhaps less practical than on the iPhone, Find My Friends on the iPad nonetheless works well, enabling you to track any pals that are happy with you digitally stalking them. The iPad's large display improves the app's usability, simultaneously displaying your friend list and a map. 36. IMDB (universal)
IMDB might be a wee bit US-focused at times (much like the movie industry), but the app is a great way to browse more movie-related info than you could ever hope to consume in a single lifetime. Settings enable you to define which sites IMDB and Amazon info is taken from, and the show times finder works pretty well. 37. Pocket (universal)
Pocket and Instapaper have long battled it out for 'article scraper' king, but Pocket trumps its rival in appealing to iPad-owning cheapskates. Instapaper requires a purchase for iPad goodness, but Pocket is free. It's also very fast, offers tagging, includes a great original article/plain-text toggle, and has a vaguely Flipboard-like visual grid-based index. 38. TED (universal)
TED describes itself as "riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world". The app pretty much does as you'd expect – you get quick access to dozens of inspiring videos. However, it goes the extra mile in enabling you to save any talk for offline viewing, and also for providing hints on what to watch next if you've enjoyed a particular talk. 39. Twitter (universal)
The official Twitter app might lack some of the features found in certain third-party clients, but it does provide a sleek and simple means of using the service. It also rapidly rolls in new features from the website, such as the Connect and Discover views, along with expandable tweets that contain photos and videos. 40. LinkedIn (universal)
The business-oriented social network comes to the tablet that businesses love to love. As you might expect, LinkedIn gives you a focussed experience for finding out what your network's up to, and providing you with the tools to make it grow. The navigation also aims to adapt to how you interact with the app. 41. BBC iPlayer (universal)
BBC iPlayer is a must-have download for iPad users. The slick interface makes it easy to browse or watch recent shows and current broadcasts. You can choose from two quality settings and toggle subtitles, stream to an Apple TV via AirPlay, or download shows to your iPad, so you can watch them on the move. 42. Dolphin Browser
Safari for iPad is a great mobile browser, but if you hanker for more features, Dolphin is a decent alternative. The browser has an Opera-like 'speed dial' that provides one-touch access to favourites, and you can create personalised action gestures. There's also a distraction-free full-screen mode for when you really want to get into a website. 43. Skyscanner Flights (universal)
Skyscanner's website is pretty good, but the iPad app's another great example of how an app's focus can really help you speed through a task. You use the app to search over a thousand airlines, and it provides straightforward competitive journey lists and comparison graphs. If you're planning a flight, it's an indispensable download. 44. Dragon Dictation (universal)
There's always something slightly spooky about voice recognition software, as if Skynet's listening in or something, but such tools had for years been out of most people's reach. Now, Dragon Dictation is free for iOS. It's eerily accurate, trainable and, despite the dev recommending you use an external microphone, the app works fine with the iPad's built-in one. And unlike Siri, Dragon Dictation works on any iPad running iOS 4 or later, and it also has a bigger buffer than Apple's service. 45. Remote (universal)
Although pretty basic on the iPhone, Remote is akin to a stripped-down iTunes when it comes to accessing network libraries and playing music. It's also indispensable if you have an Apple TV and want to control it with something other than the hateful metal chewing-gum stick that ships with the device. 46. LinkedIn Pulse
When unveiled, RSS reader Pulse was divisive, with an unresponsive oddball interface. But it's evolved to become free and fast, and is now a tactile, enjoyable way to catch up on news. The image-oriented interface, with slider-based RSS feeds (akin to those in the BBC News app) and configurable tab groups, makes it particularly suitable for anyone who subscribes to image-heavy sites. 47. Autodesk SketchBook (universal)
We tend to quickly shift children from finger-painting to using much finer tools, but the iPad shows there's plenty of power in your digits — if you're using the right app. Autodesk SketchBook provides all the tools you need for digital sketching, from basic doodles through to intricate and painterly masterpieces; and if you're wanting to share your technique, you can even time-lapse record to save drawing sessions to your camera roll. The core app is free, but it will cost you $3.99 / £2.99 to unlock the pro features. 48. Yell
If you're in an unfamiliar place or travelling somewhere new, Yell is a great app for figuring out what amenities are available locally. The interface is responsive and efficient, and you can handily add any business you find as a favourite for easy access later on. 49. XE Currency for iPad (universal)
It's as ugly as they come, but XE Currency is the best free currency app you'll find. You define which currencies you want to see, along with the number of decimals to show. Double-tap a currency and you can set it as the base currency by tapping 1.0 in the calculator, or do bespoke conversions by typing any other value. 50. Airport Utility (universal)
With apps like Airport Utility, it's increasingly clear Apple now sees the iPad as an independent unit, not merely an accessory to a PC or Mac. The app provides an overview of your Wi-Fi network, and enables you to view and change settings, restore or restart a base station, and get terribly angry at a flashing orange light that denotes your ISP's gone belly up. 51. Skype for iPad
In theory, we should be cheerleading for FaceTime, what with it being built into iOS devices, but it's still an Apple-only system. Skype, however, is enjoyed by myriad users who haven't been bitten by the Apple bug, and it works very nicely on the iPad, including over 3G. 52. Skitch for iPad (universal)
Skitch is a screen-grab and annotation tool that was snapped up by Evernote. In its iPad incarnation, it enables you to scribble on grabs, photos, maps and web pages and then fling the result to Twitter, email or Evernote, or fire your work at an Apple TV. 53. Readability (universal)
The latest of the major read-it-later systems, Readability brings with it a clean interface and a lovely set of fonts. As with the likes of Instapaper, Readability strips junk from web pages, leaving only the content. As you'd expect, you can also send on anything particularly interesting to Twitter and Facebook. 54. iTunes U (universal)
If you're still convinced the iPad is only a device for staring brain-dead at TV shows and not a practical tool for education, check out iTunes U. The app enables you to access many thousands of free lectures and courses taught by universities and colleges, thereby learning far more than what bizarre schemes current soap characters are hatching. 55. All 4 (universal)
Despite what we said in the previous entry, the iPad is, of course, a great tool for TV. (After all, once you're done studying, you need some downtime, right?) Channel 4's All 4 enables you to view a selection of recent shows, along with a handful of classic programmes. 56. Google (universal)
Google might seem redundant - after all, the iPad's Safari app has a built-in Google search field. However, Google's own offering provides a superior search experience that's been specifically designed for iPad. Highlights include a tactile image carousel, visual search history and Google Goggles integration. 57. TuneIn Radio (universal)
Output your iPad's audio to an amp or a set of portable speakers, fire up TuneIn Radio, select a station and you've a set-up to beat any DAB radio. Along with inevitable social sharing, the app also provides an alarm, AirPlay support, pause and rewind, and a 'shake to switch station' feature - handy if the current DJ's annoying and you feel the need to vent. 58. audioBoom (universal)
audioBoom is essentially a podcast app, but as well as letting you listen to podcasts and other spoken-word audio you can also record your own clips, follow other users and send messages to friends. So there's creation and social networking in there too, making it more of a podcast community than just a player. But even if you stick to listening there's plenty of content here. 59. Netflix (universal)
Netflix has been described by some in the UK as the perfect way to experience everything a DVD bargain bin has to offer. We do agree there's a lack of content compared to the US library, but Netflix is cheap and fine for catching up on older shows. And the iPad app includes AirPlay support and a resume function, so you can pick up where you left off on another device. 60. SoundCloud (universal)
SoundCloud is a popular service for sharing sounds, and the iPad app enables you to search and play myriad snippets and music tracks hosted on SoundCloud's servers. If you're a budding musician or oddball loudmouth, you can also record and upload sounds from your iPad, or record to upload later. 61. 30/30 (universal)
It's easy enough to ignore a to-do when it's lurking somewhere in the background on your Mac or PC, but on an iPad, 30/30's crystal-clear events (including optional repeating loops for work/break cycles) can't be so easily dismissed. Fortunately, it looks great and the tactile interface makes creating and removing items a joy. 62. Paper By FiftyThree
There's a certain train of thought that apps shouldn't ape real-world items, but we dismiss such talk. They just shouldn't ape real-world items badly! Paper by FiftyThree gets this right, with beautiful sketchbooks in which you can scribble, then share across the web. Books and the pen tool are free, and other tools are available via In-App Purchase. 63. Adobe Slate
Need to make a newsletter, invitation, or report? Then you need Adobe Slate. The app lets you combine text and images into a visual story that flows like the best digital magazines. It's simple to use, letting you effortlessly create a professional story and it's easy to share too, giving you a link which allows your readers to open it on phones, tablets and computers. 64. Sticky (universal)
If you're a fan of sticky notes, but not the sticky nor the waste, Sticky provides you with the means to bung colourful rectangular notes on your iPad's screen, even dictating the text should you wish. Just don't have someone think they can't get the note off and then attack your device with a scourer. 65. 1Password (universal)
Although Apple introduced iCloud Keychain in iOS 7, designed to securely store passwords and payment information, 1Password is a more powerful system. It can also hold identities, secure notes, network information and app licence details. Your stored data can then be accessed on more than just Apple's platforms. The core app is free, but you'll need to pay $9.99 / £7.99 to get access to all its features. 66. Pinterest (universal)
Social network Pinterest is one of the very few to challenge the big guns in the industry. It provides a means to find and share inspiration, working as a place to collect and organise the things you love. The iPad app has an elegant interface that pushes inspirational imagery to the fore, just as it should. 67. National Rail Enquiries for iPad
For anyone commuting by train, National Rail Enquiries is a handy app to have installed. There's journey planning, timetables and a location-aware 'next train home' option, along with progress tracking, so you can see when a train's likely to show up. Note that you'll need a 3G iPad or Wi-Fi to use the app. 68. Quark DesignPad
One for the graphic designers out there, desktop publishing giant Quark's DesignPad is an astonishingly useful app for figuring out layouts on the move, or knocking about ideas in meetings. Plenty of ready-made documents can give you a head-start, and your finished work can be exported as a PNG or emailed for use in a QuarkXPress document. 69. Gmail (universal)
Because of its single-app nature and big screen, the iPad's become a tool many people prefer to a PC or Mac for email. However, if you're reliant on Gmail, Apple's own Mail is insufficient, not providing access to your entire archive nor Gmail's features. Google's own app deals with such shortcomings and looks as good as Apple's client. 70. Solar Walk: Saturn (universal)
Really, this is a promotional app for Solar Walk, but what a piece of promotion it is! There's a ton of information and interactive components that concentrate on perhaps the most fascinating of planets in our solar system, and it looks particularly impressive on a Retina iPad. 71. SynthMaster Player
If you're into electronic music creation you need to get into SynthMaster Player. The core app is free and comes with 100 factory presets plus 100 more once you register. But that's just a starting point, as you can edit the presets to create your own sounds, gradually building electronic soundscapes using the included 2 octave keyboard. If you get really into it there are in-app purchases to unlock even more features, but there's plenty here to be getting started with. 72. Cloze (universal)
If you ever have one of those conversations where a friend swears blind they did reply, you say you didn't get the email, and they sheepishly mutter "on Facebook", Cloze is for you. It bungs all your social communications (email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) into a single inbox and also prioritises people who you most often deal with. It's a great time-saver. 73. Haiku Deck (universal)
If we're honest, we rather liked the original version of Haiku Deck, which stripped back presentations, only enabling you to add to each slide a single image, a heading and a sub-heading. The minimalism's gone (Haiku Deck now includes charts, graphs, bulleted lists and other 'improvements'), but it's still fun and easy to use, which is the main thing. 74. Tumblr (universal)
Tumblr has a perfectly serviceable mobile presence, but the Tumblr iPad app gives you a more tablet-oriented interface for using the site. It's therefore a cinch to manage your blogs, post new entries and reply to messages on your iPad. Additionally, there's also offline support, enabling you to queue posts, likes, replies and reblogs without a web connection. 75. Homestyler (universal)
In the professional world, Autodesk is best known for high-end 3D products: Maya, 3ds Max, AutoCAD. On the iPad, the company's been using its 3D smarts to churn out interesting consumer-focussed 3D tools. Homestyler enables you to photograph a room, then paint colours on the walls and add furniture, light fittings and accessories. 76. Podcasts (universal)
Podcasts was once one of those Apple apps that people looked at in disbelief, wondering whether anyone at the company had ever really used it. Now, it's a different beast: the interface is slick, and you can create custom stations that auto-update across iCloud, and on-the-go playlists with custom episode lists. 77. Calorie Counter and Diet Tracker HD
The iPhone version of Calorie Counter is a great way of ensuring you're not eating for several, but the HD iPad release takes things to a whole new level. The extra space enables the interface to breathe, providing plenty of room for charts, calorie breakdowns and interaction with fellow dieters. 78. Google Drive (universal)
It's curious to think how rapidly Microsoft made Office irrelevant to so many. Most people just want a simple app for documents and spreadsheets, and that (along with a storage repository) is precisely what Google Drive provides. Like Dropbox, it's also possible to store documents locally, for when you've no web connection. 79. HowStuffWorks (universal)
Modern life is full of interesting contraptions but beyond phones and tablets the workings of many of them are a mystery to us. That's where HowStuffWorks comes in, doing exactly what it says on the tin through an attractive interface. As well as explaining how various machines work though it also goes further, with interesting nuggets of history and culture as well as podcasts, videos and quizzes. 80. PlainText 2 (universal)
The iPhone incarnation of PlainText 2 is good for the odd bit of note-taking, but on the iPad PlainText 2 is transformed into a minimal but highly usable writing tool with Dropbox sync. The lack of clutter provides a real sense of focus - even the single iAd is hidden from view once the on-screen keyboard appears. 81. Box (universal)
There's no traditional file system in iOS, but the likes of Box can act as a close equivalent, along with enabling cross-device/platform sync. Here, you get 10 GB of free storage, albeit less direct integration with iOS apps than rival Dropbox provides. Still, files are easily shared and opened, and there's a photo-upload option from the iOS Camera Roll, handy for getting snaps from your shiny new iPhone 7 (when it launches) to your iPad. 82. Been (universal)
Been only really does one thing but it does it well, presenting you with a map of the world and allowing you to shade in the countries you've been to, so you can see at a glance how much of a globetrotter you are, or share the map with friends. You can also go deeper and see what percentage of the world or each continent you've been to, to truly quantify your travels. 83. Amazon Music (universal)
It seems every major player in media must have a cloud music service these days, and Amazon's no exception. The Amazon Music app is smartly designed, enabling you to easily switch between content stored on your Amazon account and music stored on your device. You can also download from the former to the latter. 84. Mailbox (universal)
If the Gmail app isn't doing it for you, Mailbox is a more than capable alternative. It's clean and efficient, and boasts plenty of time-saving tools. Messages can be swiped to archives and the trash, or snoozed until later, automatically returning to your inbox when asked. You can also attach files from a Dropbox account. 85. Hanx Writer (universal)
There's no shortage of word processors available for iOS, but few as unique as Hanx Writer, as it aims to emulate a typewriter and it's surprisingly successful, getting the look and sounds right while adding modern conveniences like a delete key. It's not as full-featured as some word processors, but you can save and share documents and there's just something compelling about writing on a typewriter, even if it is a virtual one. 86. Amazon Instant Video (universal)
Much like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video enables you to subscribe and then stream TV shows and movies from the cloud. Quite a lot of them are bargain-bin fodder, but the range continues to grow. Pleasingly, Amazon also enables you to stream whatever you're watching to an Apple TV via AirPlay. 87. Sequential
We've elsewhere mentioned Comics, but Sequential has a slightly different take on the medium. It's an altogether more upmarket affair, aimed at graphic novels and collections of sequential art that are supposed to be taken seriously. Therefore, this isn't so much everything but the kitchen sink, but a repository for a carefully curated selection of some of the best comics ever created. 88. Snapseed (universal)
Apple's Photos app has editing capabilities, but they're not terribly exciting — especially when compared to Snapseed. Here, you select from a number of effect types and proceed to pinch and swipe your way to a transformed image. It's a fun tool, but there's plenty of control for anyone determined to get their photos just so. 89. Concepts: Smarter Sketching, Design & CAD
Anyone can be a digital artist with the help of an iPad, but while there are numerous drawing apps focused on art there isn't such a selection for technical drawings of the type carried out by architects and engineers. But thanks to Concepts there's at least one. With vector brushes, size guides, graph paper, the ability to adjust and fine-tune anything and easily export your finished design there's a lot here and the core app is free. 90. GroupMe (universal)
Although it's technically an instant messaging app, GroupMe comes across more like a mini-Facebook, but just for your friends. It has feeds, the means to 'like' posts, and private messaging. It's media-savvy, too, enabling you to post videos and photos, the latter being automatically turned into galleries you can browse from a sidebar. |
| OS X update fixes major Yosemite security flaw Posted:  An OS X patch to Apple's Yosemite operating system released on Thursday brings a number of improvements to Mac users. The most important component of the update is the security fix, which patches the DYLD vulnerability uncovered by a security researcher last month. "The OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 update improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, and is recommended for all users," Apple said in a statement. Apple's patch resolves a privilege escalation flaw in OS X that allows a remote hacker to take control of a user's Mac without needing an administrator password. The Guardian reports that this flaw has already been exploited by at least one known adware. In its release notes, Apple credited security researcher Stefan Esser for discovering the flaw, and claimed that the security issue "was addressed through improved environment sanitization," in the OS X 10.10.5 update. The patch is available for users running OS X Yosemite versions 10.10 through 10.10.4. Apple did not provide any additional details. Other patches and fixesIn addition to fixing the privilege flaw, Apple also patched a number of security vulnerabilities in its latest OS update, including vulnerabilities related to Apple ID, Bluetooth and more. Complete details of the security patches can be found on Apple's support site. Given the seriousness of these security flaws, Yosemite users are advised to download and install the OS X 10.10.5 update as soon as possible. Esser, who initially discovered the DYLD vulnerability, took to Twitter to complain that there are still issues with Apple's patch. "Hmm so Apple released 10.10.5 fixed some bugs and made another security problem worse than before," said Esser. He did not elaborate on any additional problems created by OS X 10.10.5 and has not responded to our request for comment. Additionally, Apple's latest update also fixes issues with the Mail, Photos and QuickTime Player apps.
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| The only cure for new Apple malware is to trash your Mac Posted: /hero-470-75.JPG) If your Mac is infected with malware as a result of a new vulnerability, security researchers say that there is no remedy. Even if you wipe your hard drive or reinstall OS X, your computer will be permanently infected, and the only cure is to throw away your hard drive. In the past, Apple claimed that its Macs are not vulnerable to the known PC firmware attacks, but researchers claim that Thunderstrike 2 exposes MacBooks to similar vulnerabilities. Unlike the PC-based attacks, infections on a Mac "required physical presence to perform," said researcher Corey Kallenberg and his team in a statement about the Thunderstrike 2 session at Black Hat. "People hear about attacks on PCs and they assume that Apple firmware is better," security researcher Xeno Kovah said in an interview with Wired. "So we're trying to make it clear that any time you hear about EFI firmware attacks, it's pretty much all x86 [computers]." Kovah and his team found that five of the six PC vulnerabilities could affect Mac firmwares. Vulnerability at the firmware"It turns out almost all of the attacks we found on PCs are also applicable to Macs," Kovah said. "Most people and organizations don't have the wherewithal to physically open up their machine and electrically reprogram the chip" to get remove the malware. The attack happens at the BIOS level and is targeted at the computer's firmware. When you power on your computer, the EFI firmware boots up and launches the operating system. Often times, the firmware is vulnerable because it's not signed by the manufacturer, and sometimes there is nothing preventing users from loading illegitimate firmware files. Because the firmware remains even if the machine is wiped or restored, the attack is persistent. "What we also found is that there is really a high likelihood that the vulnerability will also affect Macbooks. Because Apple is using a similar EFI firmware," said Kovah. The researchers will demo their findings at the Black Hat and Def Con security conferences, and they note that the malware is tough to detect because malware detectors typically don't look at the firmware. Thunderstrike strikes againTo infect a Mac, researchers said that the firmware malware can be delivered as a phishing email or when users visit a malicious website. Once infected, the firmware will examine the Mac for connected peripherals that contain Option ROM. This could include Thunderbolt accessories. Once these accessories are infected, they can spread to other Macs once plugged in. Once the new computer boots up, the infected accessory will write the malware to the BIOS. While this method of delivery is similar to malware delivered over USB ports, Thunderstrike 2 goes a step further by infecting the BIOS rather than the OS, making it difficult to detect and next to impossible to remove. RecommendationsResearchers suggest that manufacturers, like Apple, sign their firmware with a digital signature and build in write protection so that only authorized firmware could be loaded.
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| Apple readies 21-inch iMac with Retina display Posted:  Apple is ready to bust out a range of new iMac models with better displays and CPU components under the shiny hood. First reported by Trusted Reviews, trusted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that souped up iMacs will be on the way in the third quarter of 2015 and rumors are rife it could be the first 21-inch Retina model. Kuo stated that the iMacs will have "key selling points such as more powerful processors and much better display quality." The screen will use an LED phosphor material called KSF that will "notably boost colour saturation." Broadwell updateThe hope is that this will allow Apple to finally bring a Retina model with a 21-inch to the range alongside the 27-inch models that have been out for some time. When it comes to CPUs, the new iMac will also get an uplift in the shape of new Intel Broadwell processors that are now available. Apple last updated its iMac range when it introduced the iMac with a 5K Retina display towards the end of 2014 and the 5,210 x 2,800 pixel resolution that is four times that of the regular 27-inch iMac achieved an almost perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars in TechRadar's review. |
| Former Apple rival IBM could become the biggest buyer of MacBooks Posted:  In addition to its partnership with Apple to build enterprise apps for iOS devices, IBM could also be making a big leap and make a significant switch to Macs internally. The former Apple rival was said to adopt as many as 50,000 MacBooks for employee use by the end of 2015, but that number could be much higher. If accurate, and if plans pan out, up to 75% of IBM employees could make the switch from Lenovo-branded ThinkPad notebooks to MacBook laptops. The planJeff Smith, IBM's Chief Information Officer, said in an interview that he had spoken with Apple's Chief Information Officer to increase Mac adoption at IBM. "I'd like to be able to offer these to everyone that can use it," Smith said during the videotaped interview. "We've got to find a way to make the overall cost the same or lower than PCs to make that happen." According to Smith, Apple said that its largest corporate customer orders 25,000 MacBooks a year. Smith said that he told Apple that IBM alone could consume 150,000 to 200,000 Macs annually, or up to eight times the number of MacBooks Apple sells to its biggest enterprise client currently. The adoption of 200,000 MacBooks is also four times the initial number that was leaked from an internal IBM memo. In another segment of the interview, Smith said that he had spoken with Apple CEO Tim Cook of the potential switch, noting that between 50% to 75% of IBM employees could ditch their ThinkPads for MacBooks. We've reached out to IBM for comment on Smith's interview, and we'll update the post when we hear back. Walking away from a legacyIf these plans play out, IBM would be walking away from systems that it had once built to compete against Apple's computers. In 2005, IBM shed its hardware business and sold its ThinkPad and PC business to Lenovo. Most recently, Apple and IBM laid the past to rest and began collaborating on enterprise apps. IBM committed to building 100 enterprise apps as part of the partnership, and the companies are working together on HealthKit and ResearchKit data. Apple benefits as it's able to push more of its hardware to enterprise users, and IBM gets to promote its cloud, analytics and business services. Via: MacRumors
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| An OS X vulnerability could allow someone to hijack your Mac Posted:  A researcher uncovered a security exploit in Apple's latest OS X operating system that allows your Mac to grant privilege escalation to attackers. In turn, attackers can gain control and hijack your Mac. The exploit affects systems running OS X Yosemite. Security researcher Stephan Esser discovered that the vulnerability was not present in the early OS X 10.11 El Capitan betas, but remains unpatched in OS X10.10.4 and the beta of OS X 10.10.5, so it remains unclear if Apple is aware of this vulnerability. The vulnerability is the result of the way that errors are logged in OS X. Changes to OS X that enables the vulnerabilityApple made changes to the dynamic linker dyld with the release of OS X Yosemite, allowing the DYLD_PRINT_TO_FILE to write errors to an arbitrary file. Under normal circumstances, the dynamic linker would reject environmental variables passed to it for restricted files, but Apple didn't implement any safeguards in Yosemite. Because there are no restrictions, dyld will accept the error logging files, even for restricted root binaries. The result, if exploited, would give hackers easy privilege escalation in Yosemite to hijack your Mac and take over control of your system. The fixEsser says that the vulnerability is no longer present in OS X 10.11 beta, but that the patch may have been accidental on Apple's part. A fix for this vulnerability has been created by Esser, which you can download and install if you don't want to wait for Apple to release an official patch. The fix has been posted to GitHub.
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