You are on page 1of 116

4K video: shoot and Speed up older Macs: Multi-room audio:

edit stunning movies make your own get awesome sound


on your devices p38 Fusion Drive p48 everywhere p84

MAC iPHONE

iPAD

A P R I L 20 1 6 N O.1 1 3

116
PAGES OF
ADVICE FOR
iOS AND
MAC

orgotten gems to get


df
New tips an m your Mac p22
more fro
HOW TO :
Rescue low-quality videos on iOS
Make better use of OS X’s Today view
Edit your images with Affinity Photo
Stay secure with iCloud Keychain
A P R 20 1 6 N O.1 1 3 W W W. M AC L I F E .CO M

22
New ways to use your Mac
38
Shoot and edit 4K videos
48
Make your own Fusion Drive
You might be a Mac user, but are you With iPhones shooting 4K, and iMacs The economic way to give your Mac more
getting the most out of your machine? boasting 4K and 5K Retina displays, now’s drive! We show you how to put together a
We bring you 63 tips and tricks to help the time to discover how to create movie DIY core storage unit to boost processing
push your Mac to its full potential. masterpieces with this new format. power without compromising on storage.

Anyone can make


their movies look
beautiful with 4K.

maclife.com APR 2016 3


>>> Contents

56 74 59 76

06 Digital|Life 54 MaxCurve 64 Canon G5x 84 Multiroom wireless audio


Head over to techradar.com. Get your home set up for
55 Proud 66 Stacks Task Manager sound with Wi-Fi speakers.
08 Consider
Matt Bolton on breaking 55 HeartWatch 67 Scheduler 92 Get smart
habits and making sure your Lifestyle enhancing gadgets
Mac reaches its potential. 55 Sidefari 67 Launchey for your home.

10 Share 56 Coda Game Premium 68 iMail 94 Apple TV


Email: letters@maclife.com. Apps and hardware
57 Quadro 69 Rocketcake for your Apple TV.
12 Start
Why the time is right for 57 Auxy 70 DxO OpticsPro
Apple to get into VR. And for Photos
smaller, faster chips for 58 BattleHand
smaller, faster devices… 72 Documents Pro
59 Blown Away:
14 Early Access Secret of the Wind 73 Arriving
96 Ask
Pre-release software and
Our Apple experts answer
multi-user support in 59 Power Hover 73 iCollections
your burning hardware
iOS 9.3.
and software questions.
60 Momoka: An 74 Synology RT19000ac
15 The Shift Interplanetary
100 Overhaul the Today view
David Chartier on educating Adventure 75 SugrCube
ourselves for the future.
102 Secure your Mac
61 6 best iOS apps for… 75 Transcend StoreJET 1TB
with the MacID
16 6 brilliant free games… Home Improvements
… for your Mac. Get playing! 76 Arcam MusicBOOST
104 Sign in with
62 The Hit List
iCloud Keychain
17 Game Loop 78 Logitech CREATE
Brianna Wu on the technical 63 Mapstr iPad Pro Keyboard
106 Master Affinity Photo:
difficulties facing Apple in a
Part 1
virtual reality future. 63 Trip Icons 79 STM Grace Deluxe
110 Rescue low-quality
18 Crave 79 iQunix Zand
videos in iOS
The gear we’re lusting aftter.
80 Thief
114 Random Apple Memory
20 $50 iTunes card
The computer that could
What would you buy…? 82 Tharsis
do it all – the Macintosh
IIfx… and what to expect
83 else Heart.Break ()
next issue!

93
Smarter
iKettle 2.0

4 APR 2016 maclife.com


Visit techradar.com EDITORIAL
EDITOR Matt Bolton
OPERATIONS EDITORS Jo Membery, Ed Ricketts
CONTRIBUTORS Adam Banks, JR Bookwalter, David Chartier, Amy Davies,
Emma Davies, Ian Evenden, Michelle Fitzsimmons, Craig Grannell, Kate Gray,
Kenny Hemphill, Hollin Jones, Cliff Joseph, Sarah LeBoeuf, Joseph Leray,
Gary Marshall, Nick Peers, Christopher Phin, Nik Rawlinso, Andrew Reid,
Dave Stevenson, Alan Stonebridge, Matt Thrower, Jordan Erica Webber, Brianna Wu
The march of technology never You’ll get all the latest news and
ART
stops, so neither do we. Mac|Life’s tutorials for Mac, iPhone and iPad, ART DIRECTOR Paul Blachford
ART EDITOR Mat Gartside
website is now part of the new and as well as other trusted reviews, DIGITAL ART EDITOR Seth Singh
CONTRIBUTORS Apple, iFixit, Thinkstock, Jonathan Zufi/shrineofapple.com
improved TechRadar, so you can news, and how-tos that have made
BUSINESS
grab your fix of Mac and iOS news TechRadar one of the world’s top VICE PRESIDENT SALES Stacy Gaines, stacy.gaines@futurenet.com
VICE PRESIDENT STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Isaac Ugay, isaac.ugay@futurenet.com
over at www.techradar.com. tech sites. We’ll see you there! EAST COAST ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Brandie Rushing, brandie.rushing@futurenet.com
EAST COAST ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Michael Plump, michael.plump@futurenet.com
MID WEST ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Jessica Reinert, jessica.reinert@futurenet.com
WEST COAST ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Austin Park, austin.park@futurenet.com
WEST COAST ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Brandon Wong, brandon.wong@futurenet.com
WEST COAST ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Tad Perez, tad.perez@futurenet.com
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Robbie Montinola
Read more news, reviews, and DIRECTOR, CLIENT SERVICES Tracy Lam
DIRECTOR, RETAIL SALES Bill Shewey
tutorials at techradar.com MANAGEMENT
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Paul Newman
GROUP ART DIRECTOR Graham Dalzell

PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION MANAGER Mark Constance
PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Fran Twentyman
PROJECT MANAGER Clare Scott
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Emily Wood

FUTURE US, INC.


One Lombard Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94111
Tel: 650-872-1642 www.futureus.com
GLOBAL CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Charlie Speight
VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING & OPERATIONS Rhoda Bueno
VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Bart Jaworski
FINANCE DIRECTOR Frederick Alfredo
SENIOR HR GENERALIST Mary Mauck

FUTURE PLC
Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1225 442244 (Bath) • Tel: +44 (0)2070 424000 (London)

Volume 10, Issue 4


MAC|LIFE (ISSN 1935-4010) is published monthly by Future US, Inc., One Lombard Street, Suite 200,
San Francisco, CA 94111 (650) 872-1642. www.futureus.com. Periodicals postage paid at San Bruno, CA,
and at additional mailing offices. Newsstand distribution is handled by Curtis Circulation Company.
Basic print subscription rates: 13 issues U.S. $24.95, Foreign: $39.95. U.S. prepaid funds only.
Subscriptions do not include newsstand specials.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PO Box 2024, Langhorne, PA 19047, USA. Ride-Along Enclosure
in the following editions: None. Standard Mail Enclosure in the following editions: None. Canadian returns
should be sent to IMEX Global Solutions, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada. Future US, Inc. also
publishes Maximum PC, Official Xbox Magazine, and PC Gamer.
PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE: Mac|Life Customer Care, PO Box 2024, Langhorne, PA 19047, USA.
Online: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/youraccount. Toll free: 1-844-779-2822 (Opening hours:
Mon- Fri 8am to 7pm; Sat 10am to 2pm EDT). Email: contact@myfavouritemagazines.com.
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/maclife REPRINTS: Future US, Inc., 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080.
GET SOCIAL TWITTER: twitter.com/maclife Phone: (650) 872-1642. Fax (650) 872-2207. Website: www.futureus.com.
AND NOW, A WORD FROM OUR LAWYERS: Entire contents copyright 2016, Future US, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Future US, Inc. is not affiliated with the companies or products
covered in Mac|Life. All information provided is, as far as Future is aware, based on information correct at the
time of press. Readers are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to products/
MAC|LIFE DIGITAL services referred to in this magazine. We welcome reader submissions, but cannot promise that they will be

OUR APP EDITION FOR IPAD


Apple Newsstand
published or returned to you. By submitting materials to us, you agree to give Future the royalty-free, perpetual,
non-exclusive right to publish and reuse your submission in any form in any and all media and to use your name
and other information in connection with the submission.

6 APR 2016 maclife.com


3KRWR 'UHD &XQQLQJKDP

*O B TFB PG DPPLJF DVUUFS CBHT BOE DBTFT UIF /PSUI $BSPMJOJBO


MFBUIFSTNJUIT $PMTFO,FBOF IBOEDSBĕ JT UIF LJOE PG IFBEUVSOJOH
CBH ZPVMM DPOTJEFS BO IFJSMPPN ăF /P  4BUDIFM IBOE
TUJUDIFE CFFGZ BHFE IJEF FJHIU IPVST PG BSUJTBOTIJQ DPQQFS SJWFUT
BOE GPVS IFBWZEVUZ CVDLMFT DPNQSJTF UIF MBTU CBH ZPVMM FWFS PXO
(VBSBOUFFE GPS MJGF ăF BDNF PG HSBTTSPPUT "NFSJDBO NBEF DVTUPN
MFBUIFS HPPET GPS UIF WJOUBHFNJOEFE JO UIF EJHJUBM BHF
&2/6(1.($1(
 ‡ ZZZ&ROVHQ.HDQH&RP
>>>THE TEAM
TRYING SOMETHING NEW
IT’S EASY TO become a slave to routine
– I know I’ve been guilty of it for long
periods over the years. When we know
how to do something (or even just think
we do), it’s common to fall into that rut
and just do it the way we always have.
And equally, it’s easy to not think about
the things we could do a little diļerently
to make our lives easier, because we’re
focused on what we do already. Jo Membery
Our big feature this issue aims to help Operations Editor
break those habits. Macs are incredibly Jo’s using more gestures
versatile machines, and gain new abilities when working. She’s got
all the time. Partly it’s about maybe one in mind right now.
re-learning tasks you already do, in
a way that’s faster and more eĿcient> partly it’s about picking
up new things that can just make your life easier.
Making things faster and more eĿcient is also the principle behind
our guide to making your own Fusion Drive. Flash storage is easily the
biggest upgrade you can make to an older hard-drive-based Mac – the
speed improvement is fantastic. But not all Macs can be upgraded
easily, and even if yours is, you might still want the high capacity the
hard drive oļers compared to ľash storage. What’s why a Fusion Drive
works so well – it keeps the large hard drive for long-term storage,
and just puts your most-used items on a smaller (and therefore
Mat Gartside
cheaper) solid-state drive. And if you’ve got a Mac with USB 3.0 or
Art Editor
Whunderbolt ports, you can add an e{ternal SSD to create your own
Mat’s been learning Mail’s
Fusion Drive, with just a bit of tinkering. Getting everything you need
markup tools to point out
will cost a little over $100, but getting a new Mac to replace one that’s
our horrific mistakes.
feeling a little slow would cost well over 10 times that, so you might
Ľnd it to be a bargain in the long run. Where’s a little bit of Werminal
magic going on, but don’t worry if you’re not conĽdent about that
kind of thing – our guide goes through it all piece by piece and, as
long as you’ve backed up to a separate drive Ľrst, you don’t need
to worry about losing any data in case anything goes wrong.
Of course, there’s lots more to learn about and see this issue – as
a video nut, I’m especially e{cited about our guide to shooting and
editing 4K movies. I hope you enjoy it!

Seth Singh
Digital Art Editor
Seth’s making scrapbooks
in the Notes app. His Josh
Groban one is… detailed.

MATT BOLTON, Editor


Twitter: @matthewbbolton

8 APR 2016 maclife.com


Your opinions, rants & raves

I’ve been a loyal subscriber since the early


MacAddict days. I love almost every issue of your
great magazine. One thing I’d like to see more
coverage on is safeguarding Apple users’ privacy.
As an American, I sometimes feel like I’m living
in East Germany with Stasi – AKA Google –
watching over my every online move. I’ve learned
a few privacy protection tricks over the last few months but I’d like
to see Mac|Life devoting more space to privacy protection. Apple has
Safari’s private browsing wasn’t as
pledged to never track its customers. I hope you can teach us more private as you might’ve hoped…
about how to protect our privacy and not feel like we live in the Soviet
bloc. For example, one product I now use is Disconnect.me; can you
tell us how safe such products are? We’re not sure if your Amazon
B. JUTU, PH.D. comparisons are quite fair, though:
Prime includes music, but only
You might have seen that we’ve included a few articles around encryption around a million songs, versus 30
recently, and there will be more, but you’ve actually touched on one million from Apple Music. In any
reason why it’s diĿcult= if we recommend something, we need to be case, the $9.99 cost appears to be
sure that it’s truly secure and private, and that’s not always easy – and largely set by the record labels.
sometimes just isn’t possible. We’ll always err on the side of your safety!
Not so secret?
In your February 2016 issue of
Radio gone-gone credentials to access a plethora of Mac|Life, on page 99, you have
I just concluded a conversation with channels. What about XM Radio at a short discussion entitled “Can
Apple Tech Support regarding Apple $6.95 per month, if you barter. I Keep a Secret”? You say that
Music. My biggest concern is iTunes It has taken me since 2007 to “… Safari doesn’t keep any logs
Radio, apparently it now costs $9.99 realize that Apple could not care to begin with, so there isn’t
per month, equating to roughly $120 less about their customers. People anything to recover.” You may
per year. Now the only service spend hundreds, if not thousands, want to rethink this answer. There
I listen to is iTunes Radio, nothing on Apple devices only to be offered are articles indicating that Safari
else. A bit of a background on Beats/ a shoddy music service. does, in fact, record every site
Apple Music… a service that was I myself have spent about $9,000 visited in a hidden library file.
once free now costs money. The on their products. I can truly say This file can be deleted, but will
only true service that Apple that Apple has lost touch with their re-establish and start from scratch
provides is music. customers. They’re acting more like every time you use Safari. You
Now let’s compare Apple’s crap Google day after day. would also have to delete every
Music to, say, Amazon Prime costing S/R copy of this file from your Time
$20 less a year, roughly. Amazon Machine backups.
provides movies, music and two-day It’s true that Apple has made the EUGENE PATTERSON
shipping… probably other services previously free iTunes Radio part
as well. Now let’s throw in Netflix at of Apple Music, which costs $9.99 We’ve tested, and this bug seems
roughly $9.99 per month… that’s a per month, and that’s a shame. to have been fixed in OS X 10.11 as
lot of movies. Total cost monthly is It’s worth noting that SoundCloud far as we can tell – but it was true
now, approximately, $18.50. Now and other services are picking up of 10.10 and earlier, so thanks for
Does Apple
let’s keep rolling, know a friend with that mantle – you can still get the warning, Eugene! You can read
Music represent
value for money? cable and you can use their login cool free internet radio stations. up about it at bit.ly/1xhBtKJ.

EMAIL: letters@maclife.com
SHARE WITH US! FACEBOOK: facebook.com/maclife TWITTER: twitter.com/maclife

10 APR 2016 maclife.com


     

   $! 
  
#  $  

 'N67K (Q E@0.FF@E 'F@> C 'KK.E2.<,





!# & 

+ 


  !  


AC @6>9K9O. .7'O9@E'< @N>,'K9@>F


G
MC N'>K92., .<08FF.FF=.>K 0@E 7.E'BQ
 


  %   LC .KK9>6 7.E'B.NK9) @'<F
5C 79E,8$'O. @6>9K9O. .7'O9@E'< 7.E'BQ
3C KE.FF '>, @B9>6
HC >P9.KQ '>, .'E
GC E.'K9>6 .BE.FF9@>
/C >6.E '>, '6.
?C ,O'>)., @6>9K9O. .7'O9@E'< 7.E'BQ
ARC @F9K9O. FQ)7@<@6Q
AAC .'<9>6 E'N='K9) >:NE9.F
AMC @E69O.>.FF '>, .KK9>6 @
ALC 9669>6 ..B '>, 9>,9>6 .'>9>6
A5C @6>9K9O. .7'O9@E'<
7.E'BQ '>, .,9)9>.
A3C K'Q9>6 @> K7. $'6@>
AHC 79>;9>6 .'<K7Q* $.967K '>, NKE9K9@>
AGC .7'O9@E'< 7.E'BQ 0@E
7.=9)'< ,,9)K9@>F
A/C .KK9>6 ' @@, 967KDF <..B
A?C 'FK.E9>6 7E@>9) '9>
MRC N9<,9>6 '>, ..B.>9>6 .<'K9@>F79BF
MAC @>FKEN)K9O. @>49)K '>, 967K9>6 '9E
MMC 7E9O9>6 'K $@E; K7E@N67
.7'O9@E'< .'<K7
MLC .O.<@B9>6 =@K9@>'< <.P9(9<9KQ
$ $  M5C 9>,9>6 K7. .FK .<B

$#!  
#! @6>9K9O. .7'O9@E'< 7.E'BQ*
"+5. $- 2-"" $5- -"
( ! # !  # ! &# !# !  !#
! $5-. "$) #/3%  4 25-. '3: !"52.0 25-(
 #( 
#! (  $! $
$# # !  !!$! %
 %  (  !  (   &  # # !#  
&# & (  '#(     
 !& ! # #! $!#!  #  # #  !#
   ($   #%
 %  # ( 
%   % $ #  $    " -MH?C?3 


 %  !   ! &#!#  #   #   -A??C?3 



# $!       #   $ ##  *%: &&" -$.." " 2! 2.2$" 5-"2
E9@E9KQ @,.* AML5A?
 # $! ! ($ # #   #      !#$ #
(!   !( !#   ##    & #  # $- $6- 4 9-.  -2 $5-.. . -$52
 !#    ($  2 7$- ,. $-!$.2 52$-. 2$ ! $". 7$
7"2 2$ $ &- "2$ 2 .52. 22 !22-
1.E .PB9E.F R5IRGIAH !$.2) $ 8!.) $ $!7$-) 5.2  7$-  $
"$7  6   "92! "97-) $7" $
   !CI5  $- .2-! 2$ 9$5- &2$& $-  $- 5. $5- -
!$  &&. $-    $" $- "-$)
6- :
A8/RR8/LM8M5AM $5-.. 6   2 777)-2$5-..)$!)
Has Apple been keeping
an eye on Microsoft’s
HoloLens…?

He’s right: VR is really cool, and it does have interesting

Why it’s time applications, but perhaps his most telling comment was that
it isn’t niche anymore. We could be reading too much into

for Apple to it, but perhaps Cook was preparing investors for what’s to
come. He made similar comments 18 months before the
Watch’s launch. Regardless of Cook’s intentions with his

get into VR comments, though, now is the perfect time for Apple to
get into virtual reality for a number of reasons.
A device like the Samsung Gear VR that uses the iPhone
Virtual reality is coming, and Apple could help reinvigorate Apple’s slowing handset sales. Or
can’t let the future pass it by if it does a standalone VR device, that would likely be put in
Apple’s small yet growing “Other Products” group, which
BY MICHELLE FITZSIMMONS
includes devices like the Apple Watch and Apple TV. Revenue
is paltry when compared to the iPhone, but it’s home to
WE’VE DONE THIS dance before: Will Apple enter the some of Apple’s most innovative products.
[insert whatever product category you like here] market,
or won’t it? It happened with the Apple Watch, and it’s VR IS STILL maturing, but it’s sitting on the cusp of breaking
happening right now with virtual reality. During Apple’s through in the public imagination. Microsoft’s HoloLens is
quarterly earnings call in January, CEO Tim Cook said this wowing people in demonstrations. We’re waiting for Oculus
about VR: “I don’t think [VR] is niche. It’s really cool and Rift, PlayStation VR and HTC Vive Pre to hit the market, and
has interesting applications.” though signs point to Google building its own VR hardware,

12 APR 2016 maclife.com


Feed your mind. Feast your eyes.

The tech behind


the A10 processor
How Apple could make its chips smaller
and faster yet again BY ALEX BLAKE

GO
See Mac|Life’s APPLE HAS MANAGED to deliver to be producing them in a few
latest subscription
offers big advances in its own processors years, while Intel is aggressively
p112 every year, pushing its iOS devices pursuing them. It’s possible that
ever closer to its desktops. This Intel may end up manufacturing
gets harder and harder to do over an Apple-designed processor.
time, but Apple does have options
to keep on the cutting edge. THE GRAPHICS POWER of the
TSMC is a chip-manufacturing A10 could also leap forward, with
company that currently makes PowerVR (the company behind
30-40% of Apple chips, but that Apple’s mobile graphics) unveiling
might increase in the future. It has a new, more powerful design at the
developed integrated fan-out start of 2016, known as Series 7XT.
(InFO) packaging, which allows The most interesting aspect of this
chips to be mounted directly on top design is how it might reduce
of each other, without requiring a energy use: it will include a
substrate. This takes up less space separate processing unit called
than the A9 chip, and so could lead the Image Processing Data Master,
to a thinner and lighter iPhone – which can handle 2D graphics at
the perpetual Apple dream. low power. This could mean less
However, it’s also possible that battery use when you’re just
Samsung – Apple’s primary chip flicking through iOS or browsing
it could be years before we see the fruit manufacturer – might take over all the web – a bonus for everyone.
of that labor. Apple could jump in soon of the A-series chip production if
with a premium headset to lead the it’s able to make chips at the
Ľeld. Tied to the rich iOS ecosystem, smaller size of 10nm. The A9X is
Apple would have a head start on Apple’s most advanced chip, and is
enabling those “interesting manufactured at 16nm. Making the
applications” Cook referenced. chip at the smaller size means that
At this year’s Sundance Film the components can literally be
Festival, VR was featured heavily. It’s smaller, so the chip’s overall size
where content creation is headed - can simply be reduced, or more
even Samsung is opening its own VR complex chips can fit in the same
Ľlm studio - and by sitting out, Apple space – we could see future iPads
is letting the future pass it by. go up to as many as six processor
We don’t doubt Apple is actively cores. Chips at 10nm would also
developing a VR headset. We’re not use less power than those at 16nm
expecting Apple to reveal its headset for equivalent tasks.
tomorrow, but WWDC in June would be Samsung isn’t the only game in
perfect for an unveiling of hardware town when it comes to making
and a development platform. 10nm chips, however. TSMC expects

maclife.com APR 2016 13


>>> Start Feed your mind. Feast your eyes.

EARLY
ACCESS

Pre-release games and


software available now

MAGICAVOXEL FREE
Voxels are pixels in 3D (so, cubes),
and this tool lets you build
sculptures out of them. You start
with a large cube of voxels, which iOS 9.3 brings multi-
you can remove or add smaller
cubes to, to make fun shapes. You
can add color to your creations,
user support to iPad
and then render them with Well, for schools. But is that just the beginning?
diļerent material eļects applied.
BY MATT BOLTON
Get it from ephtracy.github.io
VERSION TESTED: 0.97
FOR FAMILIES WHO their apps, with all their “Managed” IDs, which
share an iPad, one of data. The data is stored are unable to buy apps.
the most requested in the cloud, so they can This system may be
features for iOS is multi- use a different device a bit over-the-top for
user support, so your each time. home use, then, but the
kids can get to their On top of that access exciting thing behind it
games quickly and have and flexibility, teachers all is that the technical
age restrictions turned can monitor what apps foundation for multiple
on, while you can have the kids are using via users is in place –
easier access to just the their own iPad. On the everything else is an
GIFROCKET FREE
apps you use, and full face of it, it looks like implementation detail,
This is an easy, low-touch tool for
access to the App Store the ideal interface for and so the software side
turning your videos into GIFs, so
and so on. Intriguingly, home users too. could well be adapted
you can share them easily online.
iOS 9.3 includes a Inevitably, there’s a for home use.
Just drag a video into its window
feature similar to this, bit more going on in iOS 9.3 does bring
to start the conversion, or use the
but only for schools. the background than plenty of other features
conĽguartion tool at the top right
Children will be able that, though… too: a new Night Shift
before you start to specify only a
to pick up iPads with All these accounts mode to ensure the
small portion of the clip, the GIF’s
their accounts on, tap are managed from a screen doesn’t disrupt
size and its quality setting. It’s
an icon showing their new Mac portal that your sleep patterns;
prone to freezes, but works well.
face, enter a password makes it easy to create private notes; an
VERSION TESTED: 0.1.2
and then use the device new Apple IDs for the improved News app;
as if it were theirs – kids – but these Apple new Health options;
they’ll have access to IDs are special and more.

14 APR 2016 maclife.com


>THE SHIFT
DAVID CHARTIER believes we need to embrace
educational and training changes, and be able
to move, learn and adapt with the times

C
HANCES ARE, you and most of want to dive into entrepreneurship, learners, and we need these new
the people you know, think of Reboot for accelerated leadership education options in response.
adult education as a traditional training, and Mobile Makers Instead of students and aspiring
university. It’s probably an Academy to learn how to become employees cramming all of their
endeavor involving at least four an iOS developer. In just a couple education into a single period of
years, probably longer, but that’s of months, and for much less than four (or six or 10) years, you have
all changing these days. a four-year education, you can be a growing number of new options
A variety of schools and up and running with these and an to learn the skills you need to meet
“bootcamps” are drawing new lines increasing number of other skills. My new challenges, grow your career,
around teaching people new skills wife runs Mobile Makers Academy, or simply pick up a new hobby,
and education, and it’s going to and I’ve seen the diļerence these whenever and as often as your
change the way we learn, do kinds of bootcamps can make to journey calls for them.
business, and grow as a culture. people Ľrst-hand. These new options do not
Trade schools are nothing On one hand, a fast track to a new necessarily replace traditional
new, but they typically involve skill is a great way to improve your
a commitment of a year or two. job or kickstart a new career, if that’s Learn the skills to
A newer approach to skill training what you want. But the larger trend
are these bootcamps: short-form, going on here is the diversiĽcation
meet new challenges,
intense courses that focus on a of education and a renewed grow your career, or
speciĽc skill for a speciĽc industry. incorporation of skill-based training. pick up a new hobby
Some are part-time or online, while Think about it: the industrial
an increasing number are full-time revolution made skill-based training
periods of around 8 to 12 weeks, all the rage. But thanks in no small
usually learning from and working part to a new obsession with national education, they complement it. The
with practicing professionals. Some security after World War II and a call ability to be ľexible with learning
examples are Startup Institute if you to a greater good, a college education skills can fundamentally change
became our societal North Star. The the game for people at every end
problem is, after some time, many of the economic spectrum to enter,
developed a perception that they advance through, and stay current
were “done with education” after in their industries. And, of course,
getting their golden graduation ticket it gives them a way to enter new
– that their learning was complete. industries, and bring new viewpoints
to create diverse, original ideas for
BUT LIFE and most careers these everything from business to apps
days evolve too quickly for this and services. You never know who
mentality. Many industries now the next killer app might come from,
Education has moved on from the classroom,
with iOS development bootcamps, and more. call for their players to be life-long and that’s a great thing.

>>> David Chartier is a content strategist and writer with vast experience analyzing the tech world.
He runs the website Finer Things in Tech (finerthings.in) and hosts its podcast, The Finer Things In.

maclife.com APR 2016 15


>>> Start Feed your mind. Feast your eyes.

6 brilliant free
games for Mac
Want to have some fun on your Mac? You don’t need to pay to play these gems
BY MATT BOLTON

Team Fortress 2 is an old classic – but rightfully


so. Grab some crazy gun-toting, toontastic fun!

then join with


a team to battle
Hearthstone across arenas in
This smash hit card this action-strategy
game is easy to get hybrid. It’s available
into. You play in on Steam.
Calling all budding Han Solos… This Star Wars-esque space battle is intergalactic war at its best.
There’s endless modifying, genuine “multi” player action and great graphics in Star Conflict. two-player battles,
pitting decks of
spells and monsters
PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE can Ľnd a classes, each with (all chosen by you) Card Hunter
video game or two to love – whether different abilities, against each other. Play in a fun, jokey
you like battles of strategic wits, Team Fortress 2 and there are lots Download it from recreation of a
enjoying some arcade action, testing This is a cartoony of customization battle.net. tabletop fantasy
your tactical might, or just enjoying a team-based first- options. Basically, adventure – you
good story. But they can be expensive, person shooter you can play it your explore dungeons,
and you might be worried you’ll waste that’s still hugely way as you tussle level up characters
your money if you buy one you dislike. popular years after to hold territory or Star Conflict and battle enemies,
That’s not a problem with these its release. You can take down enemies. Want to be a part of turn by turn. Get it
games, which can all be played play as different Get it on Steam. frantic Star Wars- on Steam.
completely for free. Some of them oļer like space battles?
microtransactions if do you like them This massively
and want to invest in the experience, multiplayer online
but we’ve been sure to pick games that space dogfighting Battle for Wesnoth
don’t nickel-and-dime you – you can game is for you. Turn-based strategy
have great fun with any of these Grab it on Steam. full of depth, with
without reaching for your wallet at all. multiple campaigns
Most are available through the Steam – and all for free!
service (download its desktop client Control vast armies
from steampowered.com). Dota 2 and defeat all foes.
Choose from one of Download from
If you like action and strategy combined, then
try Dota 2 – there’s a lot to learn. hundreds of heroes, wesnoth.org.

16 APR 2016 maclife.com


>GAME LOOP
Is Apple ready for the virtual reality revolution?
BRIANNA WU has been talking to those in
the know, and the signs aren’t good

E
XPERTS SAY virtual reality will but something that’s frankly technology like Oculus. Oculus CEO
be an 150 billion dollar market embarrassing to wear. In contrast Palmer Luckey recently quipped,
by 2020. Augmented reality, Apple is best positioned to make VR “Mac support is on the Oculus
products such as Microsoft hardware that looks and feels great. roadmap, post-decent Apple
HoloLens that project 3D on top of But hardware alone is not enough hardware release, whenever that is.”
your Ľeld of vision, will only add to to compete in VR - you have to also With the power of the Mac Pro,
this number. Clearly – as discussed have development tools. The this seemed implausible to me, so
on page 12 – this is an area Apple intuitive, snappy feel of the average I reached out to macvidcards.com,
should be exploring, but how iOS app isn’t a coincidence - it’s a site that specializes in selling top-
prepared is it? because Apple currently has the of-the-line graphics cards for Macs.
The biggest challenge of VR is best development products in the They told me that while you can
getting hardware into consumers’ industry. Unfortunately, Apple 3D purchase hacked high-end graphic
hands. If people don’t have VR technology lags far behind the rest
devices, developers have no way to of the tech world. And this would
make money from making content. devastate its ability to compete in
Unfortunately, VR hardware that virtual reality and augmented reality.
doesn’t make you nauseous is
extremely expensive. The consumer I RECENTLY interviewed Dona Sarkar
version of Oculus will cost over $600 of the Microsoft HoloLens team.
and will require a $1,200 PC. The HTC She told me she welcomes Oculus
Vive is expected to cost more than developers working on HoloLens
$800 at launch, and Microsoft’s because the expensive part of VR/AR
HoloLens dev kit will cost $3,000. development is creating 3D assets
This is an opportunity for Apple, - while porting code is more trivial. Oculus Rift requires the graphics power of an
Nvidia GeForce 970 – way beyond Mac GPUs.
because its customers have always This is a smart strategy for Microsoft,
been willing to pay for top-notch but something Apple is not currently
hardware. The Oculus and Touch prepared to support. cards for legacy Mac Pros, it seems
controller are unwieldy, clumsy Porting 3D content to Apple to be accurate that no Mac CPU is
devices - excellent at what they do, devices is needlessly expensive, currently powerful enough. “There
ineĿcient and diĿcult. For the last is no way to hit both the GPU and
The biggest challenge three years, Apple has been playing CPU requirements,” they told me.
catchup with its 3D tools. Obviously, If true, this is a very serious barrier
of VR is getting technology such as Metal is a step in to developing VR content for Apple.
hardware into the right direction, but there’s plenty The iOS App Store may be the best
consumers’ hands of work left to do. around, but for Apple to compete in
Worse still, there is no Apple the developer marketplaces that are
hardware that can currently run VR yet to come, things need to change.

>>> Brianna Wu is the head of development at Giant Spacekat, developer of Revolution 60 on iPhone and iPad,
and is a regular speaker at industry events, as well as host on the podcasts Isometric and Rocket.

maclife.com APR 2016 17


>>> Start Feed your mind. Feast your eyes.

Kodak Super 8 Camera


a
kodak.com
$TBC

>>> For the 50th anniversary of 8mm film, Kodak is


bringing it back in a big way. Its new line of Super 8 film
cameras combine digital benefits with the sheer style of
old-school movie-making. You record onto 8mm film, but
Kodak is making sure you can still use a digital workflow:
when you’ve used a pack of film, just send it to Kodak
and it’ll be processed and digitized for free. The camera
also includes a 3.5-inch LCD display for seeing what you’re
recording, and has a microphone that records to SD
cards. Add to all that a great retro design from Yves
Béhar, and we’re happy to be back in the ’70s.

18 APR 2016 maclife.com


Acer H7
acer.com
$499

>>> This is one of the first USB Type-C monitors, making


it ideal for MacBook users. You can just plug the single
cable into the MacBook to power it, and show your
desktop on the monitor’s 25-inch, 2560x1440 display
(there’s also a 27-inch version available). There are two
USB ports on the back of the H7, so you can plug in
extra peripherals to connect to the MacBook. It has
other video connections too, of course, and boasts an
IPS display that supports 100% of the sRGB color
range, so is great for photos and video. Oh, and its
smart aluminum frame comes in silver, gold and black.

Audeze Sine
audeze.com
$499

>>> These headphones are not like normal headphones.


These are planar magnetic headphones, which use a
different mechanism to make noise compared to the
usual stuff. Instead of having speaker coils and cones,
planar magnetic tech uses a printed circuit on a thin
substrate, which interacts with a magnetic field to
move a diaphragm. The upside is that it can produce
sound with less distortion than normal headphones,
making for more precise audio. The Sine is the first
on-ear headphone model to use this tech, and Audeze
plans to release a Lightning cable connector for it, too.

G-RO
g-ro.com
$599

>>> For regular travelers, the G-Ro looks just fantastic.


For a start, it’s a really smartly designed carry-on bag.
It offers more capacity than most comparable bags, is
really tough, and comes with a longer than standard
extending handle, for extra comfort. It comes with loads
of dividers to keep things organized inside it, and has
separate pockets for notebooks, passports, liquids
and so on. The best part, though, is the optional
23,000mAh battery. You can plug a standard notebook
charging cable into this to keep your MacBook Pro
topped up, but the bag also has two USB ports for
charging iPads and iPhones.

maclife.com APR 2016 19


>>> Start

$50 iTunes Card


How would you blow 50 bucks on music,
movies, books, TV shows, and apps?
BY MATT BOLTON

THE MARTIAN BLACKSTAR AGENT CARTER SUPER HEXAGON


Matt Damon, Jessica David Bowie SEASON 2 Terry Cavanagh
Chastain, Jeff Daniels $9.99 Hayley Atwell, James $2.99
$14.99 David Bowie’s 25th album D’Arcy, Enver Gjokaj This iOS classic has arrived
It’s Ridley Scott doing science was released on his 69th $19.99 on the Mac App Store, giving
fiction! What could be better? birthday, just two days before Marvel’s ’40s-set series more people the change to
Promethe-what-now? he died of cancer. Though he continues to be one of the experience one of the purest,
Anyway, this is an adaptation had kept his illness secret, it most fun and fresh shows simplest, most attention-
of a hit book, following seems threaded throughout around. The second season grabbing games around. It’s
Mark Watney after he’s left this final record (intended as sees Agent Peggy Carter simple: you’re a triangle, and
stranded on Mars alone when a “parting gift” according to moving out of gray New York you can rotate around the
a storm forces his team to Bowie’s long-time producer): and over to sunny Hollywood, center of the screen to avoid
abandon their mission. At the from the obvious overtones investigating an unexplained hitting walls in a maze that’s
start, he’s left without any in Lazarus to imagery of phenomenon that leads to constantly moving towards
way to contact Earth – and mortality in many of the drama, intrigue, minor you. It’s faced-paced and
even if he could, he doesn’t songs (and direct imagery superheriocs – the usual brutal – games last seconds,
have enough food to last in the Blackstar video). Marvel stuff, but with that not minutes. But it works in
him the time it would take a The music itself is often gorgeous retro flair. The cars patterns you can learn, and
rescue mission to arrive. The melancholy too, but by no are beautiful, the outfits are though hard, it’s fair and fun.
film follows him as he thinks means are Blackstar’s seven rocking, the dialogue is sharp
and works around these tracks a downer. It’s often and funny, and like the first
problems, and is a great soulful smooth jazz-inspired season, it’s not afraid to
paean to ingenuity – though stuff, flowing into funkier, tackle the societal prejudices
we do think it loses a little tight, pulsing low-level rock in of the past head on. And
too much of the difficulty and other songs. And, of course, Hayley Atwell is just fantastic TOTAL
SPEND
effort presented in the book. it’s all very Bowie. as the lead.
$47.96

20 APR 2016 maclife.com


 



 




 
 

 




 
 



  

 



  



    


  
>>> Feature

WORDS:
NICK PEERS
N
NIK RAWLINSO

NEW
WA Y S T O
US E Y O U R
MAC
HOUGH THE MYTH that we only use a tiny former case, we’re thinking speciĽcally of Force

T percentage of our brain’s full potential is


false, it’s often true of our Macs. These
machines, even the oldest of which far
outstrips the computing power that put
Armstrong and Aldrin on the moon, spend their
Touch, which crops up in the latest MacBook and
– for desktops – Magic Trackpad 2.
We’ve pooled our writers’ expertise, and their
years of living and working with Macs, to bring
you 16 pages packed with the tips and Ľddles
days drifting about the web, processing your they use every day, whether at home or the
words and totting up columns on a spreadsheet. oĿce, to get more done in less time. We’ll also
In almost every instance, there’s a better show you how to Ľx some of the most common
way of achieving each task, too – whether it’s niggles in an otherwise Ľrst-class pairing of
employing handy keyboard shortcuts, Ľnding hardware, software and online services.
a workaround for a repetitive, tedious task, or Some of what follows requires El Capitan, but
employing some of the great innovations in not much, so even if you’re running an older
Apple’s latest hardware and software. In the edition of OS X there’s something for everyone.

22 APR 2016 maclife.com


63 new ways to use your Mac

5 things to
phrases such as “documents
I worked on this week” to
pull up recent Ľles.

do in El Capitan SILENCE SAFARI


Don’t like sites that
autoplay sound – especially
when you’ve got several tabs
FIND THE POINTER shrink back to its normal size open and can’t work out which
Lost the pointer? Don’t straight away. is the obnoxious one? In Safari
waste time scanning the screen 9, noisy tabs show a speaker
to spot the tiny arrow: give the EDIT IMAGES IN MAIL icon that you can click to mute
mouse a shake, or scrub your Place the pointer over it without having to close the
Ľnger back and forth on your an image in an outgoing mail page. If there’s more than one,
trackpad, and the pointer message and click the arrow click the speaker icon in the
balloons to its maximum size that then appears in the corner Smart Search Ľeld to silence
Spotlight can
so you can easily spot it. Stop of the image. You can edit and all of them.
now recognize
sentences. shaking or scrubbing and it’ll annotate the picture right
inside Mail before sending it. RELOCATE SPOTLIGHT
This neat change should be We use Spotlight to work
enough to save you a trip to out simple calculations, but its
an image-editing app before window frequently covers the
you click Send. numbers we need to refer
to. This was a problem in
SENTENCE SEARCH Yosemite, but not in El Capitan,
Spotlight has always because you can now drag the
been good at Ľnding Ľles based window (from its search bar)
on their names or contents, but to a new spot on the screen to
you can now use more abstract uncover your source material.

H OW TO U S E T WO A P P S S I D E BY S I D E
El Capitan lets you run a pair of apps in tandem in fullscreen

1 MAX YOUR APP 2 ADD YOUR SECOND APP 3 REAPPORTION SPACE


Start by clicking the green button Press Mission Control (F3); hold Alt As you drag the window, you have
at the top left corner of one of the and click the previous space in the a choice of dropping it onto the left
two apps you want to use to switch top bar (to show spaces when you or right side. Make that choice, and
it to fullscreen mode. Don’t worry put the pointer over it). Now you then click that space. The two apps
about the menu bar disappearing: can see the windows in that space, sit side by side in the fullscreen.
moving the pointer to the top of drag one from a second app on to Drag the black bar to adjust the
the screen will reveal it. the first app’s space in the top bar. amount of space allocated to each.

maclife.com APR 2016 23


>>> Feature

13 things you fonts include characters that


aren’t directly accessible this
way. Instead, add Character

forgot your Viewer to the menu bar; open


the Keyboard pane in System
Preferences, click the Keyboard

Mac could do
tab, and check the box beside
“Show Keyboard, Emoji &
Symbol Viewers in menu bar.”
Click the new menu bar icon
and pick “Show Emoji and
With every refresh introducing
Symbols”to call up the viewer,
great new features, it’s easy to Ľnd the character you want and
forget about some of OS X’s drag it into your document or
double-click it to enter it at the
existing and invaluable tools
insertion point’s location.

3. DETACH THE DOCK


1. DICTATE OFFLINE If you’re running Google
OS X Yosemite and Hangouts, or anything else that
El Capitan support oŀine pops up notiĽcations from the
dictation (Mountain Lion and bottom of the screen, you run
earlier require an internet the risk of dropping something
connection). You’ll have to – perhaps a Ľle destined for
download an additional batch the Trash – into Hangouts.
of data (for English-language To relocate the Dock, right-
It’s easy to relocate your Dock to avoid
users totals around 440MB). click its divider and select Left putting a file in the wrong place.
Press ƒ twice to start dictation or Right from the Position on
then select the option to enable Screen submenu.
Enhanced Dictation and press Settings A General A Handoļ &
OK to start the download. 4. SHARE WORK WITH Suggested Apps.
YOUR iOS DEVICE
2. TYPE SPECIAL If you’re using an iOS 8 or iOS 9 5. REINSTATE
Both OS X
CHARACTERS EASILY app that has an OS X Yosemite DASHBOARD
Yosemite and
El Capitan Holding Alt, ≈ or ß with or El Capitan equivalent (or Dashboard has fallen out
support
certain keys lets you type vice versa) you can hand oļ of favor of late (we’re still
offline
dictation. special symbols, but a lot of tasks between devices, as long hoping to see it reincarnated
as they’re signed in to the same as a place for running iOS
iCloud account. On the Mac, an apps). If you still want to
app’s icon appears to the left of use it and it’s not showing
the Dock, ready to be clicked, up in Yosemite or El Capitan,
while on iOS you’ll Ľnd a reinstate it by opening the
prompt at the bottom of the Mission Control pane in System
app switcher, waiting to be Preferences and turning on
tapped. Handoļ needs a Mac the Dashboard option.
and an iOS device listed at
apple.co/1I34axX, and to be 6. OPEN HIDDEN MENUS
enabled in System Preferences’ You’ll know that clicking
General pane and on iOS in the status icons on the right

24 APR 2016 maclife.com


63 new ways to use your Mac

of the menu bar opens drop- select the best connection


down menus for changing the among competing networks.
volume and switching Wi-Fi Alt-clicking NotiĽcation
networks, but doing the same Center’s icon toggles Do
while pressing Alt on the Not Disturb oļ or on.
keyboard opens up extra
options and hidden info. 7. REVERSE SCROLL
Alt-click Bluetooth, for DIRECTION
example, and you can see the OS X Lion introduced “natural
MAC addresses of your devices scrolling,” which scrolls
and create a diagnostics report contents so that it tracks
to help investigate problems; the direction of your Ľnger
on the volume icon, this lets movement. It’s logical, but if
you redirect the output to you switch between OS X and
alternative speakers; Windows or Linux you might
Alt-clicking the Wi-Fi icon want to reverse it so that all of
shows a raft of information your computers match. Click
about connection speed, Mouse or Trackpad in System
channel and so on, all of which Preferences and uncheck
Press Alt to discover a world of extra options and hidden info. helps when you’re trying to “Scroll direction: natural.”

maclife.com APR 2016 25


>>> Feature

crosshairs through that area.


The image will be snapped as
soon as you release the mouse
or trackpad button. To capture
a window, press ç+ß+4
followed by Spacebar and then
click what you want to grab.

11. FORCE QUIT


If an app freezes, open
the Force Tuit window by
pressing Alt+ç+œ. Select
the unresponsive app and
then click Force Tuit. If
you’re certain which app is
the problem, hold Alt+ç
and click its Dock icon,
then choose Force Tuit.

12. SWITCH SPACES


You can move apps from
one (work)space to another by
pressing the Mission Control
key (F3) to shrink their
windows and then dragging
them to another space to the
row at the top of the screen.
Not a fan of the default 8. TAP YOUR TRACKPAD (yes, we know!), open its If you only want to move them
applications? Just
change ’em!
Apple’s preference is for preferences, switch to the one space left or right of where
physically clicking a trackpad General tab and pick an option they already are, it’s easier to
(as such, it’s the only way you from the pop-up list of drag from a window’s title bar
can select a user account at the installed apps labeled “Default all the way to the left or right
login window). However, we email reader.” You can’t edge of the desktop, avoiding
prefer quiet tapping. If you’re specify a webmail service, so if Mission Control entirely.
like us, open the Trackpad pane you routinely use Gmail outside
in System Preferences and of an app, consider installing 13. VOLUME VARIATIONS
check the box beside Tap to something like Go for Gmail If you’ve unchecked the
click in the Point & Click tab. (free, Mac App Store). To switch option “Play feedback when
your default instant messaging volume is changed” in your
9. CHANGE YOUR app, open Messages’ General Mac’s Sound preferences,
DEFAULT APPLICATIONS preferences, and make a choice holding ß while pressing the
Don’t like Safari? Then don’t from the list labeled “Default volume keys temporarily
use it. Changing your default IM application.” re-enables the preview sound
web browser is easy: open until you release the key.
System Preferences, click 10. CAPTURE SHOTS Holding ß+Alt lets you make
General and pick one from the OF THE SCREEN smaller changes, moving up
list of browsers installed on Take a screenshot by pressing or down the scale by a
your Mac. If you want to use ç+ß+3. Capture an area of quarter-step rather than the
something other than Mail for the screen by pressing ç+ß usual full step you’ll jump with
handling email, launch Mail +4 and then dragging the the volume keys alone.

26 APR 2016 maclife.com


63 new ways to use your Mac

Improve your should you attempt to access


sites believed to be dangerous.

Mac’s security KEYCHAIN SAFETY


If you’re using Keychain
to store usernames and
passwords, be aware it is
DISABLE SIP Apple ID and password on an vulnerable to attack. Make sure
El Capitan’s System unrecognized device. If you you haven’t been compromised
Integrity Protection feature want to tighten security, look by installing and running
locks down your Mac’s System to enable two-step veriĽcation Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
folder for better protection. too, which will require you to from malwarebytes.org, which
If you need to temporarily enter a four-digit veriĽcation detects and removes adware
disable it, restart your Mac with code sent to a trusted device and other malware too.
ç+r held down, then choose each time you sign into key
Utilities > Terminal. Type services or make purchases ENCRYPT YOUR MAC
csrutil disable and press ®, from a new device. Go to Worried about sensitive
then restart. When you’re done apple.co/1N9SqsI. Ľles stored on your MacBook?
tweaking, return here and type Encrypt its storage to keep your
csrutil enable to switch SIP on. AVOID WEBSITES data oļ-limits in case the
Install a free browser MacBook is lost or stolen: open
TWO-STEP VERIFICATION add-on called WOT (Web of System Preferences, click
Apple is rolling out Trust, mywot.com), which Security & Privacy then click
two-factor authentication; provides traĿc-light security the FileVault tab. Click “Turn
where you enter a veriĽcation and privacy ratings for sites, on FileVault” and follow the
code the Ľrst time you use your and will pop up warnings prompts to keep your Ľles safe.

H OW TO E N C RY P T I N T E R N E T CO N N ECT I O N
Protect yourself when online by using a free VPN service

1 INSTALL CYBERGHOST 2 SIGN UP 3 BEEF UP SECURITY


CyberGhost’s free service is Open CyberGhost and install the You’ll be assigned a random
suited to free, unencrypted helper app when prompted. When location (you can specify a country)
Wi-Fi hotspots, though it works the main window appears, click the and once connected everything
elsewhere too. Go to bit.ly/cg_ml power button to connect via VPN you do will be encrypted and sent
and click “Free Download.” Open – you’ll have to wait in a queue, but securely. The connection will
the disk image and drag the app it only takes a few minutes before automatically close after three
to the Applications folder. you’re automatically connected. hours – just reconnect to go again.

maclife.com APR 2016 27


>>> Feature

Get more choose Notes to transfer that


content to a note. If you want
to add a speciĽc object or

from your passage of text to a note, select


it, then right-click and choose
Share > Notes (again, not all

Mac apps
apps have this). From the
Share sheet that pops up, you
can add the selection to a new
note, or you can tack it onto
the end of an existing note
Discover some neat tips
(you can then change its
and tricks that help you get position by editing the note).
more from Apple’s free apps Notes can store PDFs, movies
and audio recordings, and its
Attachments Browser lets
SOUPED-UP NOTES you view by type all objects of the app, then click the
Notes has been you’ve added: photos & videos, bulleted list icon at its top
reinvented in El Capitan, sketches, maps, website right corner. Drag items up
enabling you to incorporate links, audio, and documents. or down the list to tweak their
data from other apps into your order, or click the clock icon
notes, from selected text and CASUAL PLAYLISTS to reveal recent tracks played;
photos to maps and web page iTunes’ Up Next feature listen again by putting the
links. When you’ve found lets you line up tracks for pointer over a track, clicking
It’s easy to
set up a one- something you want to note, one-oļ playback. It’s easy to the “…” button next to it, and
off playlist
look for a Share button in its manage too: put the pointer then choosing “Add to Up
using Up Next
in iTunes. app; if it exists, click it and over the status area at the top Next” or “Play Next.” To turn
your set into a playlist, select
File > New Playlist. Name it,
then open Up Next. Select all
of the tracks in it (or its history
view) and drag them onto the
new playlist.

GROUPED
CONVERSATIONS
In El Capitan, you may Ľnd
that conversations in Mail are
no longer grouped. Many mail
apps automatically ad “Re:”
to the beginning of the subject
line when replying. If it’s
missing, Mail doesn’t
recognize the connection
between messages, even
if their subjects match.

MULTI-EDIT IN PHOTOS
The latest version of
Photos makes it easier to
work on multiple pictures
63 new ways to use your Mac

at the same time, allowing


you to perform the same edits THE LATEST VERSION OF
(such as adding a common PHOTOS MAKES IT EASIER TO
location) on them. To do this,
hold ç and click each photo WORK ON MULTIPLE IMAGES
in turn, then press ç+I to
access the Info dialog to apply
your changes. Photos itself. Early adopters of Extensions > Photos and turn
the feature include Pixelmator on its extension; then access
EVENTS FROM EMAIL (various Distort tools), Tonality its tools by clicking the
If Mail detects references (for black and white eļects), Extensions button when
to events and previously Noiseless (noise reduction), editing an image in Photos.
unknown contact details in a Snapheal (cloning and other
message, it alerts you to them healing tools), and BeFunky
at the top of that message. Express. The latter is the TEXTEDIT TIME SAVERS
So, if people include enough cheapest way to add additional Here’s two handy tips
If you’re running El pertinent detail in invitations, editing capabilities to Photos that use the Clipboard. First, to
Capitan, you can easily
access third-party
you can quickly add it to – it costs $4.99 and provides copy and paste styles between
image edtiing tools. Calendar or Contacts. you with six extra tools for passages of text, select the text
improving your snaps, containing your desired style
POWER UP PHOTOS including a highlights and and press Alt+ç+c. Now
El Capitan adds support shadows adjustment tool and select the text you wish to
for third-party extensions in various tweaks for brightening apply that style to and press
Photos – these allow you to skin, teeth and eyes. Alt+ç+v to make it so.
access selected image-editing Once you’ve installed an To do this with tab stops,
tools from supported app that plugs in to Photos, place the insertion point in a
applications from within go to System Preferences > row that contains the tab stop

H OW TO C U T O U T P H OTOS
Decorate Pages and Keynote docs with objects and characters

1 THE INSTANT ALPHA TOOL 2 SELECT AN AREA TO REMOVE 3 ERASE AND REPEAT
Place an image in your document Hold the mouse or trackpad button When you’ve selected the right
then select it. Open the Format and drag in any direction – the area amount, release the mouse or
inspector (click the paintbrush in that will be made transparent trackpad button to remove it. Now
the toolbar) and click the Image increases, and changes color. Drag click elsewhere on the background
tab, then “Instant Alpha.” First, put too far and the foreground will be and repeat until you’ve cleared the
the crosshairs over an area of the included; drag back in the opposite background. Click Done when only
background you want to remove. direction to fix it. the bit you wish to keep remains.

maclife.com APR 2016 29


>>> Feature

AppleMapsTransit). Zoom ROLL BACK A DOCUMENT


into the map and you’ll see In many apps, you can
the layout of a station in terms recover previous versions of
of its shape and entrances. In Ľles from your Time Machine
New York, you can get live backup. Open your Ľle, pick
travel information for rail, File > Revert To > Browse All
subway and bus routes. Just Versions, Ľnd the one you want
click on the station icon for and click Restore. Enter Time
a list of services that operate Machine while in Mail to
there, then click the “i” for recover messages.
live updates.
ANNOTATE BETTER
OPEN MULTIPLE El Capitan introduces
DOCUMENTS IN PREVIEW some neat new features that
To work with more than one make the Markup tool in Mail,
document in Preview – hold TextEdit and Preview perform
Using public setup you want to reuse and ç as you select Ľles before better. The most obvious
transport for
press ≈+ç+c, move the opening them. Thumbnails example is the Sketch tool,
your journey?
Transit view insertion point to another of each one will appear in which enables you to quickly
in Maps will
line and press ≈+ç+v to Preview’s sidebar. sketch a rough shape in
show you all
the options. apply them to it. Click the relevant thumbnail freehand, which Markup
to switch to that document, or will smooth out the shape
PUBLIC TRANSPORT click the triangle next to one to a rectangle or a circle, for
Maps’ Transit view to see thumbnails of its pages. example – a pop-up allows
makes it possible to plan You can add more Ľles by you to switch between this
journeys using public dragging them from the and what you actually
transport (bit.ly/ Finder onto the sidebar. sketched. If you possess

H OW TO A D D M I SS I N G A L B U M A RT I N i T U N ES
Fill gaps to make your iTunes library more beautiful

1 SET UP AN APP 2 ADD ARTWORK 3 ADVANCED TIPS


Download and open Album Artwork A new window will open to a list of You may need to tweak search
Assistant (bit.ly/albumartassist). potential image matches – use the terms. Try adding the artist name.
Choose Album Artwork Assistant > one with the largest dimensions Beware titles like “Greatest Hits,”
Install iTunes AppleScript. Switch (500x500 pixels), then click Add which will pull in matching tracks
to iTunes. Select the album with Immediately and it’ll be added to regardless of artist. If necessary,
missing artwork, choose Scripts > all the tracks that are listed, which select tracks you don’t want to
Find with Album Artwork Assistant. come from your selection in iTunes. change, choose Edit > Delete.

30 APR 2016 maclife.com


63 new ways to use your Mac

Preview’s annotation tools have some very smart features.

a Force Touch trackpad, seconds. Click OK, right-click


press more Ľrmly on it when the song again and this time
drawing to produce a heavier, choose “Create AAC version.”
darker line. You’ll see a new version of
The Loupe tool isn’t new, the song appear in iTunes, its
but is often overlooked: click length 30 seconds or shorter.
the “a” in a circle in the shapes right-click it and choose
menu to create a magnifying “Show in Finder.” Change its
lens that you can drag over a Ľle extension to .m4r. Return
part of your image to draw to iTunes, right-click the song
attention to a detail. Click again, but this time choose
and drag on the two colored Delete (don’t send it to the
buttons on the circle’s edge Trash when prompted).
to adjust it: green for zoom, Return to Finder, and simply
blue for lens size. Place a drag the .m4r Ľle back into the
second lens over the Ľrst iTunes window – it won’t be
to zoom in even closer. added to your music library, but
you’ll Ľnd it under Tones, ready
MAKE iPHONE to sync to your iPhone.
RINGTONES
Why pay for ringtones when
you can easily convert any
song in your iTunes library
into a ringtone? One rule:
ringtones can be no longer
Turn every phone
than 30 seconds in length. call into a dance
party with a
Open iTunes, then locate the
snippet from your
track you want to use for your favorite tune.
ringtone. Right-click it and
choose Get Info. Switch to the
Options tab and set the Start
and Stop times to encompass
the snippet you wish to use –
remember, no longer than 30
>>> Feature

Make more right moves you through the


virtual desktops you’ve created
(shown at the top of Mission

of gestures Control), including Dashboard


if you’ve enabled it (see p24).

PUSH EVERYTHING
TO ONE SIDE
The swiping & pinching you
Place three Ľngers and your
already know from iOS also thumb on the trackpad and
helps you fly through OS X spread them out to move all
your windows out of the way
and reveal the desktop below.
You can now work with icons
on the desktop – for example,
dragging them into folders, or
onto Dock icons to open Ľles.
Reverse the gesture to bring
the windows back into view.
With your windows in view,
that reversed gesture –
starting with three Ľngers
and a thumb wide apart and
pulling them together –
opens Launchpad, which
shows your installed apps in
a grid across multiple pages
in a very similar manner to
the Home screen on iOS
devices. Click an app to open
Reaching WAYS TO REACH it, or perform the gesture in
Mission MISSION CONTROL reverse or press œ to close it.
Control
should be It can be diĿcult to keep track Learning this lets you reclaim
easy – and of things when you’ve got too space by removing Launchpad
it can be!
many windows, which is why from the Dock.
the Mission Control key is
useful (that’s the one that LOOK UP A WORD Open in Dictionary to
has several rectangles inside Press on a Force Touch open the dedicated app.
a larger one, and labeled F3). trackpad while the pointer
This spreads out your windows is over a word in a webpage or FORCE TOUCH
so that each is fully visible, and a document, then press harder With a Force Touch
you can quickly switch between to feel a second click and get trackpad, you press once to
them – or the diļerent virtual a deĽnition of the word. click and then harder to call
desktops (spaces) across which If applicable, you’ll see various up extra info and features in
they’re organized. options on the bottom of the compatible apps. You can
However, it’s often quicker pop-up window containing adjust the amount of pressure
to use a trackpad gesture; lay extra information retrieved that’s required to trigger the
three Ľngertips on the from resources such as web deeper click by going to System
trackpad and swipe up to videos, helping you to gain a Preferences’ Trackpad pane:
achieve the same thing. broader understanding. clicking the Point & Click tab,
Swiping three Ľngers left or For word deĽnitions, click and dragging the “Click” slider.

32 APR 2016 maclife.com


63 new ways to use your Mac

If you have a regular trackpad,


put a check mark next to
“Look up & data detectors”
to look things up with a
three-Ľngered tap.

TAKE A PEEK AT
NOTIFICATION CENTER
Clicking the bulleted list at the
far right of the menu bar opens
NotiĽcation Center, but if you
just want to take a quick peek
at what you’ve missed while
away from your Mac, you can
bring it in by sliding two
Ľngers left from the very right
hand edge of your trackpad.
You’ll be familiar with this
action if you have an iPad as
it’s a lot like sliding one Ľnger
in from the left to reveal the
mailbox list when using Mail
in portrait orientation. To
dismiss NotiĽcation Center
again, simply place two
Ľngers at any position on
the trackpad and swipe right.

FORCE TOUCH
IN OTHER APPS
Force Touch provides shortcuts
to many useful actions. When
you press harder on the
trackpad in TuickTime and
iMovie, you’re able to scrub
forwards and backwards more
Pinching in quickly. Do the same in Maps
four fingers to zoom faster. Force-click an
from the
desktop event in Calendar to see its full
will open details, or force-click an app
Launchpad…
icon in the Dock to see only
that one’s windows, spread
out, so you can quickly switch
to the one you need to use.
Check out apple.co/1XIMjG4
for more examples.
… while a
two-finger
SWIPE YOUR WAY
swipe from
the right AROUND THE WEB
opens
Browsing with Safari inevitably
Notifcation
Center. requires a lot of scrolling, but

maclife.com APR 2016 33


>>> Feature

gestures can help here, too. Ľngers again zooms back out. Trackpad pane, where you’ll
Swiping two Ľngers up or down Provided “Tap to click” and also Ľnd short but clear demo
moves the page up and down, as “Secondary click” are enabled videos that show how each of
with a regular document, but in Trackpad preferences, them works.
swiping left and right with two tapping a link with two Ľngers
Ľngers moves backwards and reveals a context-sensitive USE APP EXPOSÉ
forwards through your history menu, from which you can open Turn on App Exposé in
(pressing ç with [ or ] the linked resource in a new tab Trackpad > More Gestures, then
does the same if you don’t have if you don’t want to lose your swipe down with three Ľngers
a trackpad). Double-tapping with position on the page you’re to focus on the various windows
two Ľngers while the pointer is currently reading. of the foreground app. So, if
over an image or a column of text you have several Numbers
zooms the page to better Ľt that ADVANCED GESTURES documents and several Pages
content into the window’s width, If any of these gestures Ľles open, and Pages has focus,
after which you can pan in all aren’t working for you (or you’re this gesture will arrange the
directions by sliding two Ľngers inadvertently triggering some), Pages windows so they’re each
on the trackpad to move the select which ones are active visible, while hiding Numbers’
page). Double-tapping two through System Preferences’ windows away.

M AG I C K EY B OA R D
Common keyboard shortcuts and cross-platform controls

MAGIC KEYBOARD MULTIPLE ACUTE ADVICE SHARE YOUR BLUETOOTH


IN BOOT CAMP KEYBOARDS Alternatively, if you MAGIC KEYBOARD WAKE-UP FIX
If you’re running If you’ve bought two only occasionally You don’t need to buy If pressing a key on
Windows in Boot or more keyboards need to type an a Magic Keyboard for your Magic Keyboard
Camp or a virtualized with different accented character every device. When isn’t waking up your
environment, such as language layouts, rather than writing in you’ve finished using sleeping Mac, open
Parallels Desktop or switch between them a foreign language all your keyboard on one System Preferences,
VMware Fusion, use automatically by the time, hold down Mac, briefly connect it click the Bluetooth
ç for the Windows opening the Keyboard on the closest letter to another using its icon, and then click
key, Alt+≈ instead of pane in System and wait for the Lightning cable and, the Advanced button
Windows’ Alt Gr key, Preferences and accented options to so long as the Mac’s at the bottom-right
ƒ+œ for Pause/ putting a check mark pop up, then press Bluetooth is turned corner. Make sure the
Break, ƒ+® for next to “Automatically the number listed on, they’ll be paired “Allow Bluetooth
Insert, and ƒ plus switch to a below the one you and the keyboard will devices to wake this
the …, æ, “ or ‘ document’s input want to type. So, for forget all about the computer” option
arrow key for Page source” in the Input the German ß, hold last Mac it was used is checked.
Up, Page Down, Home Sources tab. Checking s, then press 1 to with. It’ll now stay
and End respectively. “Show Input menu in match its position paired to the new
menu bar” displays in the pop-up menu, Mac until you next
a national flag that, or for an ë, hold e briefly plug it into
when clicked, lets you and then press 4. another one.
switch manually.

34 APR 2016 maclife.com


63 new ways to use your Mac

Fixing Dragging either display here


lets you move it to whichever
side of its neighbor matches
to shut down without being
asked if that’s what you really
wanted, hold Alt while picking

annoyances their physical arrangement,


while dragging one higher or
lower than the other makes it
Shut Down from the Apple
menu. Likewise with the Trash,
hold Alt while picking Empty
so that when the pointer leaves Trash after right-clicking it in
one display and arrives on the the Dock.
As much as we love our Macs,
other, it does so at the same
there are some things that vertical position. WORKING WITH A
niggle, but a solution is WINDOWS KEYBOARD
STREAMLINE SPOTLIGHT If you’ve switched from
usually close to hand
If Spotlight is giving you Windows to a Mac mini, you
too many results, go to System might have been tempted to
Preferences > Spotlight > bring your old PC peripherals
DUAL-SCREEN Search Results and clear with you, in which case the
LIFE’S A DRAG the checkboxes next to the Windows keyboard might not
If you’re lucky enough to categories that do not interest behave in quite the same way
regularly work with two you to exclude them from as its Mac equivalent. You can
displays at once, but are having up-coming results. set the modiĽer keys, such as
trouble dragging windows from Ctrl, Alt, and the Windows key,
one to the other, open the SKIP ANNOYING to behave however you prefer
Displays pane in System CONFIRMATIONS in System Preferences >
Preferences and click the Where an action or a menu Keyboard > Keyboard and
If using a
second screen Arrangement tab. Your primary command invokes a clicking ModiĽer Keys.
is proving a
display is shown with a menu conĽrmation dialog, holding
little fiddly,
use the bar, which you can drag to the Alt while performing or FAULTY DEFAULTS
Arrangement
other one if you want to choosing it often skips the Want to open .docx Ľles
tab to make
adjustments. demote the current display. conĽrmation. So, if you want in Pages but Ľnd they’re
always grabbed by Word? To
change the default app for
any Ľle type, right-click on an
example of the Ľle you want to
reassign and choose Get Info
(or just click on it and then
press ç+I). Expand the
“Open with” section and
select the application you
want to use instead, then click
the Change All button to set
this app as the default for all
Ľles of that type on your Mac.

APPLICATION ERRORS
If an app isn’t working
and you haven’t found a
solution online, try repairing
Ľle permissions (on Yosemite
or earlier; El Capitan does this
automatically during software
updates). Permissions tell OS X

maclife.com APR 2016 35


>>> Feature

which accounts can access throw at it in high-end apps at Make sure you have Always keep
a few GB free
what. Open Disk Utility, select any one time. It therefore uses plenty of free storage for
on your Mac
a partition on a disk and click its storage as a temporary the operating system to play – keeping at
least 10%
First Aid, then Run to check staging post, brieľy swapping with – 10%, or at least as much
clear is a
everything is set as it needs to out data from its fast RAM to as you have RAM – or you’ll good level.
be. It’s also worth selecting the the slower hard drive or SSD. start to notice your Mac
drive on which the partition is When that information is slowing down.
located (even on El Capitan) required, something else You can also keep it running
and running First Aid to verify may be swapped out to disk well by regularly emptying the
the way the disk is conĽgured and it’s then read back to the Trash and archiving unused
has not become damaged. main memory. Ľles frequently.

CLEAN YOUR CLUTTER


Even a high-spec Mac
may not have enough memory
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF FREE
to hold all the data you might STORAGE FOR THE OS TO PLAY WITH
36 APR 2016 maclife.com
63 new ways to use your Mac

heavy-handed and delete all of


the data for a particular app en
masse – for example, removing
all of your Notes in one fell
swoop. For more Ľne-grained
control, open the applications
themselves and delete Ľles
from their built-in Ľle
manager – or archive speciĽc
documents to an external drive.
In Pages, Numbers and
Keynote, you can also open
Ľles to inspect them and then
use the Move To command in
Don’t overload your Dock, just populate it with apps you need quick access to. the File menu to shift them
from your online cloud storage
DOCK OVERLOAD you want to sync is ticked in to a location on your Mac. A
An overloaded Dock can the list of services and click third option, which lets you
actually make apps harder to “Manage” to see which of them skip a lot of these steps, is to
Ľnd. Keep only those apps onto is using the most storage space show iCloud Drive in the Finder
which you might want to drag when things start to get a bit sidebar, or choose Go > iCloud
a Ľle, such as Photoshop or tight on your account. Drive when Finder is the
Preview, in the Dock, and open A little spring cleaning here foreground app – and then
others using Spotlight (or by can save you shelling out for a drag Ľles from iCloud to If you’ve inherited a
Windows keyboard,
pressing ç+a when the monthly, paid plan, but many local storage in the Finder
you can customize
Finder is active to open the of the erase options are window that opens. the modifier keys.
Applications folder and Ľnd
the one we want). To remove an
app from the Dock, simply drag
it upwards, and let go when
the word “Remove” appears.

FINDER’S DEFAULT
LOCATION
By default, Finder windows
open with a view of all Ľles,
but if you routinely work in one
folder this isn’t necessary. Set
Finder to open new windows
on your favorite folder by
opening the Finder menu,
picking Preferences and
selecting your folder from
the “New Finder windows
show” menu, under General.

CLEAN UP iCLOUD DRIVE


Diagnose iCloud
problems through the iCloud
pane in System Preferences.
Check that each application

maclife.com APR 2016 37


>>> Feature

Shoot and edit

The latest iPhone can record ultra-detailed


4K video. Andrew Reid explains how anyone
can get the most out of it

ETINA DISPLAYS#ehqhĽw#iurp# \rx grqġw#qhhg#dq#;80lqfk#7N#WY#wr#


R kdylqj#ylghr#wr#vkrz#rļ#wkdw# dssuhfldwh#wkh#glļhuhqfh#lq#txdolw|1#
lv#dv#kljk0txdolw|#dv#wkh|#duh1# Wkhuh#duh#rwkhu#dgydqwdjhv#wr#7N/#dqg#
Wkh lSkrqh#9v#dqg#9v#Soxv# fuhdwlyh#whfkqltxhv#vlpso|#qrw#srvvleoh#
surylgh#d#vroxwlrq#zlwk#wkhlu#delolw|# zlwk#sodlq#rog#Ixoo#KG1#
wr uhfrug#7N ylghr1#Xqwlo#qrz/#prvw# Zhġoo#glyh#lqwr#wkh#fuhdwlyh#whfkqltxhv#
vpduwskrqhv#dqg#fdphudv#kdyh#vkrw# odwhu#rq#lq#wklv#duwlfoh/#exw#uhvw#dvvxuhg/#
d yhu|#sdoh#lplwdwlrq#ri#flqhpd#txdolw|/# wr pdnh#xvh#ri#7N#lv#vlpsoh#rq#wkh#
zlwk#pxvk|#rog#43;3s#ylghr#fuhdwhg#e|# vxuidfh1#Ilop0pdnlqj#lv#d#eurdg#vxemhfw#
vnlsslqj#rxw#kxjh#fkxqnv#ri#zkdw#wkh# dqg#zhġoo#fryhu#doo#wkh#lpsruwdqw#edvhv#
fdphud#vhqvru#dfwxdoo|#vhhv#lq#uhdolw|1# Ğ#qhyhu#kdv#lw#ehhq#pruh#dffhvvleoh1
Wuxh#7N#ylghr#lv#olnh#orrnlqj#wkurxjk#d# Khuhġv#rxu#jxlgh#wr#jhw#|rx#vwduwhg#
zlqgrz#zlwk#fu|vwdo#fohdu/#53=53#ylvlrq1 vkrrwlqj#jorulrxv#7N#prylhv1#Dv#Vwhyh#
Wkh#juhdw#wklqj#derxw#vkrrwlqj#7N# Mrev#rqfh#vdlg=#ģIru#|rx#wr#vohhs#zhoo#
ylghr#lv#wkdw#wkh#txdolw|#klnh#lv#hylghqw# dw qljkw/#wkh#dhvwkhwlf/#wkh#txdolw|/#kdv#
hyhq#rq#uhjxodu#KGWYv#dqg#\rxWxeh1# wr eh fduulhg#doo#wkh#zd|#wkurxjk1Ĥ

38 APR 2016 maclife.com


Shoot 4K video
>>> Feature

> What is 4K?


Four times Full HD

4K IS A VIDEO standard that offers dazzling levels


of detail. Although 4K cameras offer four times the
detail of Full HD (1080p), the term “4K” comes from
the fact that each frame of video is about 4,000
pixels wide. 4K cameras can shoot widescreen
eight-megapixel moving images at a resolution
of 3840x2160 pixels. Before 4K, we recorded and
viewed far less detailed two megapixel images.
The difference between two and eight
megapixels may not seem much if you’re used
to a stills camera with a 24MP sensor, but it makes
a phenomenal difference to video quality. When
you go beyond that for video, you start to get
diminishing returns – 4K is the sweet spot for
cinematic-looking video for the next decade.

> 4K-ready equipment

iPHONE 6S OR 6S PLUS 4K-CAPABLE CAMERA A MAC WITH A iMOVIE OR


Both of Apple’s latest Some photo cameras RETINA DISPLAY FINAL CUT PRO X
iPhone models are able offer better low light The Retina 5K or 4K iMacs For beginners, iMovie
to shoot the same quality performance and a can both display 4K (on iOS or OS X) offers a
of 4K video. However, the cinematic shallow depth videos’ detail in full, and simple way to cut together
6s Plus also has the of field for 4K video. Our are powerful enough to sequences and set video to
advantage of optical camera recommendations edit them. 15-inch models music. Final Cut Pro X is
image stabilization – this include Panasonic’s G7, of the MacBook Pro are a feature-rich alternative
enables much steadier GH4, LX100 and the also capable of smoothly used by professionals, yet
handheld shots. Sony A7S II. editing 4K video. it remains easy to use.

40 APR 2016 maclife.com


Shoot 4K video

4K tips for > How to


trim videos
iPhone 6s Easy edits in Photos
The best apps and cinematic settings

NE TIP FOR shooting video stands out above


O the rest: hold your iPhone in landscape
orientation when shooting video. Like
a widescreen TV, video is wider than it is
tall. Holding the phone upright as if taking a portrait
photo doesn’t suit the way a video is watched. In
portrait, the iPhone will capture FaceTime-style tall 1 GO TO PHOTOS
and thin video clips, which end up looking terrible If you have dead time or unwanted footage
on a widescreen Mac or TV screen, with big black at either end of a video, or you just want to
borders to the left and right. make it shorter to upload to Facebook, you
There are two ľavors of 4K. The frame dimensions don’t need a special app – you can trim it
of the Ľrst, the cinema standard (DCI), are 4096x2160 in the Photos app.
pixels. The other is the TV standard often called Ultra
HD, in which frames are 3840x2160 pixels. You can
shoot both resolutions on the iPhone, but the stock
Camera app shoots at the
latter resolution. To shoot
You don’t at the former quality, you’ll
need FiLMiC Pro ($9.99),
need a new which oļers the best quality
display to 4K recordings, though its
larger Ľle sizes eat up your 2 SELECT THE VIDEO TO TRIM
appreciate storage more quickly. In the Camera Reel, tap the video’s
the quality Shooting 4K video isn’t thumbnail and then tap Edit. If you’re
just about producing a having trouble picking out your video
gains of 4K sharper, more detailed clips, go to the top of the Albums view
image. It has interesting and select Videos to hide still photos.
creative advantages beyond
that. Your recordings can be shown on very large
displays without softness or fuzziness, especially
when the audience is at a close viewing distance –
in a living room or sitting in front of an iMac, say.
Still photographs good enough for a gallery print
of epic proportions can be extracted from 4K video
at leisure, so you only need one camera. You don’t
necessarily need a 4K display to appreciate quality
gains of shooting at the higher resolution, because 4K 3 TRIM AWAY IN EDIT VIEW
video makes for better picture quality even on a Full Drag either end of the yellow border around
HDTV or computer monitor – when it scales down, the your clip inwards to trim footage from the
picture is based on more detailed data, so looks great. corresponding end of the video, then tap
Finally, if you shoot 4K but intend to show it mainly Done. You can save the trimmed clip as
on existing Full HD displays, a smartphone screen or a new file or overwrite the original.

maclife.com APR 2016 41


>>> Feature

YouTube, its resolution oļers a way to reframe Obviously, it makes sense to regularly oŀoad
a shot by cropping into the image, much like a some of your recordings to your Mac to edit
digital zoom, but without loss of image quality. in iMovie (unless you use the iPhone version).

USING THE CAMERA APP USING FILMIC PRO


By default, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have 4K The basic Camera app only shoots 4K video
video turned oļ. To enable it, go to Settings > at 30 frames per second. The more frames per
Photos & Camera > Record Video and choose second you capture, the smoother the video
looks when played back at that rate.
The maximum frame rate for 4K video on
The more frames per second the iPhone is 30fps, while it’s 60fps for 1080p
you capture, the smoother video. The latter is useful for adding a smooth
slow-motion speed reduction of up to 50% during
the video looks when editing. (The iPhone also has a built in slo-mo

played back at that rate mode at reduced quality). When it comes to


viewing clips, 60fps isn’t actually very beneĽcial.
24fps is used by almost all Hollywood Ľlms, and
the “4K at 30 fps” option. Now when you select gives a more traditional cinematic feel to the
the Camera app’s Video mode and tap the record picture and motion. 30fps is “smooth” but more
button, you’ll be capturing 3840x2160 (Ultra HD) in keeping with a home movie or YouTube video
footage, rather than the iPhone’s default of than a cinematic masterpiece. On the newest
1920x1080. The app will show this in the corner. iPhones, FiLMiC Pro can record 4K video at 24fps,
Just be aware that Ľle sizes increase from and with lighter compression for an even clearer
about 130MB/minute for 1080p to 3:5MB/minute image. The trade-oļ is even larger 4K videos
for 4K. There’s enough space on a 64GB iPhone than Apple’s. FiLMiC Pro also gives you greater
6s for about 150 minutes of 4K video, as long as control of exposure and focus, so you can really
you have little else stored on the device. get an artistic look for your movie.

The iPhone can record 4K video at the standard 30fps – as indicated in the top-right corner here.

42 APR 2016 maclife.com


Shoot 4K video

> Edit your movie on an iPhone


Three simple steps to splicing a masterpiece

1 OPEN iMOVIE 2 CREATE A NEW PROJECT 3 SELECT YOUR CLIP


If the iMovie app isn’t on your iPhone, Tap the + icon and you’ll be given a Tap the icon that’s film and a musical
you can install it from the App Store – choice of creating one of two types of note to add videos and other media
it’s free when you buy a new phone. project: a new movie or a new trailer. to your project: tap an item, then the
4K editing is available on the iPhone Select the former and then choose downward arrow. It will move to your
6s & 6s Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro. a theme, then tap Create. at the gap nearest to the playhead.

4 EDIT YOUR FIRST CLIP 5 CHANGE THE ORDER 6 UNDO AND PREVIEW
Tap a clip to select it. You can drag its Press and hold on a clip and you’ll be Don’t worry if anything goes wrong – tap
ends to trim it. Alternatively, drag the able to move it around. You can drag the upside-down U-shaped arrow on the
clip so the white line is where you want it through the timeline to find a new right to undo anything, or tap and hold it
to cut, then tap Split at the bottom, and spot – other clips will move over to to redo. Tap the Play button above the
delete the part you don’t want. accommodate it. Let go to drop it. timeline to watch your edit as it is.

maclife.com APR 2016 43


>>> Feature

Editing 4K on a Mac
Ensure your Mac can cut through pixels like a knife through butter

long, made up of even shorter two- to


10-second clips or “takes,” and set the
whole piece to music. The objective is
to create a certain mood and a link
between the images, the tone of the
music, the content of any lyrics in that
music, and the timing of both the
videos and the sound. Try this and
you’ll discover that it’s a great way to
begin editing, as well as being a skilful
art form that needs a sensitive eye and
an emotional grasp of the content.
In iMovie and Final Cut Pro X, the
editing environment has four key
parts: two “monitors,’ one timeline,
and one project browser pane. The
project browser contains the raw,
unedited content you’ve shot. The
timeline represents the Ľlm in
progress as you edit – it’s here that
you construct sequences of clips.
The Ľrst monitor, on the left,
is for viewing the raw material and
If you’re short on space for Final Cut
Pro’s various panes, try shrinking the trimming it before taking it onto the
window furniture by picking a higher
timeline and building up your edit.
“looks like” resolution in OS X’s
Displays preferences pane. The second monitor (usually on the
right side of the screen) is for playing
back the timeline itself. In iMovie, you
HE AIM OF AN editing app is to build up only have one monitor that does both these jobs. Once
T a sequence of videos that have been shot a clip is added to the timeline, you can also add eļects
individually in a way that stitches them to its picture, changing the visual aesthetic in terms of
together with a narrative theme. Editing contrast and color. Bear in mind that it helps to keep
is an important part of the storytelling process in a consistency of color and feel between clips that
video production. Apple makes two big editing apps for will intercut one after another in a sequence.
videographers: iMovie is aimed at everybody, and Final The timeline accommodates editing a soundtrack,
Cut Pro X is aimed at advanced users and professionals. too. You can use the audio recorded by your iPhone,
On the surface, Final Cut Pro X appears quite simple, but do bear in mind that it won’t be very focused, as
and it bears a striking resemblance to iMovie, so it’s the built-in mic tends to pick up everything, including
a fairly straightforward transition. However, while unwanted noise from handling and the background.
iMovie is free with your Mac and iOS devices, Final Cut Adding a diļerent soundtrack on the timeline is an
Pro X will cost you considerably more at $299.99. appealing and simple edit, and then you don’t have
One of the best ways to learn about editing is to to worry about recording high-quality ambient audio
make a short video that’s about three to four minutes while shooting your video.

44 APR 2016 maclife.com


Shoot 4K video

> Import 4K video


WITH YOUR iPHONE connected to clever capture format, it requires a slow. The best app for converting
your Mac using USB, videos can be lot of computational power to edit. If iPhone videos to ProRes is EditReady
transferred to your Mac in two ways. you’re editing 4K on a slower Mac, ($50, divergentmedia.com). We
Firstly, you can open iMovie to import such as a 13-inch MacBook Pro or an recommend ProRes LT to strike
them directly into the editor using older model, it may help to convert a balance between image quality
File > Import Media, where the phone 4K videos from your iPhone to and storage space.
shows up as a camera so you can something easier for your Mac to
browse its contents. handle. Apple provides a codec for
Secondly, you can use Image this purpose: ProRes. This is an
Capture (in /Applications/Utilities) editing codec, and most Macs will
on any Mac to transfer your videos slice through it like butter, even in 4K.
to a folder. The resulting QuickTime File sizes for ProRes video are
files can then be dragged into iMovie much larger than for H.264. Apple
or another editor. describes it as “visually lossless.” You
The iPhone compresses video using can use iMovie to export videos to
the H.264 codec. While this is a ProRes one by one, though this is

One of the best ways to learn


about editing is to make a
four-minute video

ALL ABOUT COMPRESSION


As a sequence of many hundreds of still frames, video
compression is necessary to Ľt hours of video into the
iPhone’s internal storage, or onto memory cards on
other types of video camera. The most basic way this
is done is to store every frame and compress each one
like a static JPEG. However, the iPhone uses a more
advanced compression method, known as H.264.
This records whole frames at regular intervals, and
interpolates the frames between to conserve space.
An advanced algorithm is used to predict what has
changed between the two full frames. This means not
every frame has to be stored individually as it comes iMovie enables you to edit 4K videos easily on your Mac for free.

maclife.com APR 2016 45


>>> Feature Shoot 4K video

oļ the camera’s sensor – just the changes between


two points close together in time. This saves a
lot of space, but on top of that, H.264 uses
compression in terms of “bit rate” (a cap on
bandwidth that can be used), and also how large
the gaps are between full frames. The higher the
bit rate and the shorter the gap between full
frames, the more of the original details are
preserved, rather than blurred to save space.

UNDERSTAND FRAME RATES


Because video is a sequence of images, if you
capture frames at 5fps, there are not enough
frames of them to create the illusion of real
movement – such a slow frame rate would look too
jerky. A frame rate of 24fps is where the magic
happens. This isn’t so slow that it looks unrealistic
On the 5K or 4K
or staccato – and it isn’t so smooth that it looks iMacs, you can see
like a video game or a 1990’s camcorder. In fact, the full glory of 4K.

24fps is the standard frame rate captured by


Hollywood Ľlm cameras, both analog and digital
alike. 30fps is the standard for online video.

> Export your 4K movie


Show the world your pixel-packed flick

1 iMOVIE ON A MAC 2 CHOOSE WHERE TO EXPORT 3 CHOOSE A FILE FORMAT


When you’ve finished editing in Unless you want to send video to Your edited masterpiece will be
the Mac version of iMovie, choose a single, preset destination, such saved as one large file. Choose an
File > Share and take a look as Facebook, we suggest picking output resolution – for example,
through the list of places and “File” as it keeps quality, as well 4K, 1080p or 720p – on this
methods to which you can publish as flexibility to use that high- screen and click Next to start
your creation direct from the app. quality copy in multiple places. the export process going.

46 APR 2016 maclife.com


 

 




  
>>> Feature

M AKE
YOUR OW N

FUSION
DRIVE
BOOST A HARD-DRIVE-BASED
MAC’S RESPONSIVENESS
WITHOUT COMPROMISING
ON DISK CAPACITY

WORDS: ALAN STONEBRIDGE

48 APR 2016 maclife.com


Make your own Fusion Drive

maclife.com APR 2016 49


>>> Feature

The two parts of your Fusion Drive will show up as a single drive in Disk Utility, but you can verify your setup in Terminal.

JARGON >>> APPLE’S FUSION Drive technology is HOW DOES A FUSION DRIVE WORK?
BUSTER
intended to bring the beneĽt of fast ľash Fusion Drive is really just a friendly
Fusion Drive uses Apple’s Core storage to desktop Macs in an economical name for a technology called Core
Storage technology to pool way, and without compromising on the Storage – speciĽcally, it’s Core Storage
two disks together. One disk large storage capacity you would expect Logical Volume Group – which is
failing will affect the whole to be built into such a computer. available in OS X 10.8.2 or higher. As long
drive, so it’s more important
This is useful because even now, more as you’re brave enough to enter a few
than ever to back up.
than three years after Fusion Drive’s commands in Terminal, you can
introduction, ľash storage is still Ľguratively “fuse” your Mac’s internal
disproportionately expensive per hard drive and an external SSD
gigabyte compared to traditional hard (connected over USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt)
drives. If this weren’t the case and you together to combine their capacities into
had enough spare cash to throw at what looks like one drive. To the user,
upgrading your current Mac, you could this then appears as a single drive that’s
just buy a 1TB solid-state drive to both fast and capacious.
connect externally and run your Behind the scenes, OS X is smart
computer from that. enough to recognize that one part of a
Although a 1TB bare SSD will cost Fusion Drive is much faster than the
you far less than what Apple charges other. Whenever new information
for ľash storage, you’re still looking at needs to be written to a Fusion Drive,
GENIUS
TIP a price of anything between $200 and it’s written to the faster storage. This
$450 depending on the make and model makes your Mac feel more responsive
If you have a 2011 iMac, of the drive. So instead, we’ll look at the to use than one that’s equipped solely
you can use a Thunderbolt
more aļordable option of making a with a standard hard drive, even though
enclosure in place of a USB
3.0 one. However, they are home-made Fusion Drive for well in reality that still makes up a large part
a lot more costly. under that amount. of its storage capacity.

50 APR 2016 maclife.com


Make your own Fusion Drive

When free ľash storage falls to a Machine’s status icon in the menu bar –
$
certain amount – we’re talking a few turn this on in its preferences if you
gigabytes – OS X consults its long-term don’t see it – and choose Back Up Now.
assessment of which data you use most While that process takes place, you can BEST
often to determine what it can relegate prepare some other essentials. B U YS
to the hard drive without aļecting you The image over the page shows the
too much, if at all. (OS X itself remains three things you need. If you already This is the hardware we
on ľash storage to ensure top have a spare 8GB USB ľash drive, you’ll used to create our Fusion
performance.) A minimum amount of only need to buy an SSD and an enclosure Drive. You might be able
free space is maintained on the ľash to put it in (our recommended model in to save a few bucks on
storage so that the operating system Best Buys to the right here even includes the SSD price (different
always has space to store information. a USB cable). The USB ľash drive – the brand/capacity), but our
If you repeatedly use data stored on thumb drive, not the SSD – only needs to pick is a good deal.
the hard drive, OS X recognizes this be 8GB, because that’s all that’s required
and will move other data to the slower to store the OS X installer.
storage, replacing it on the faster storage Originally, Apple’s Fusion Drives
with the information you’re using more included 128GB of ľash storage (recently
often. For eĿciency, OS X doesn’t always reduced to 24GB on 1TB models).
move entire Ľles (which may be very big) However, the diļerence in price between
between a Fusion Drive’s two sections. a 120GB and a 250GB SSD is only about SANDISK CRUZER FIT
Instead, it works at a lower level to move $20 or so. Doubling up means more Any USB 2.0 or 3.0 flash
only the parts that are necessary. information can be kept on the faster drive can be used to
storage medium at any one time, create an OS X install
SENSIBLE PRECAUTIONS delaying the need for OS X to shift disc. Its capacity only
Before we get down to work, back up your data to the hard drive at all. needs to be 8GB; this
entire hard drive. Setting up a Fusion one cost us $7.
Drive requires temporarily erasing it, so LAY THE GROUNDWORK
save yourself any hassle by making a Disconnect all other external storage
complete backup of it. You’ll be able to from your Mac so you don’t accidentally
restore this to the Fusion Drive later. erase an incorrect drive at any point
Time Machine is the simplest way to do during this process. Now, connect the
this, of course. In its preferences, ensure USB ľash drive (the thumb drive, not the
system folders and others containing SSD) to your Mac and ensure it doesn’t SAMSUNG 850 EVO
important personal Ľles are not excluded contain anything you want to keep. Open The 250GB version of this
from its backups. Next, click Time Disk Utility, select the entire ľash drive drive sells for just $90.
That’s almost double the
flash storage capacity
used in Apple’s largest
Fusion Drives!

STARTECH
S2510BPU33
This USB 3.0 enclosure
requires no tools to open
and fit an SSD, for $19.
There’s also an option
with integrated cable
You can set up a Fusion Drive without affecting Boot Camp, but it’s sensible to back up OS X and Windows. for a mere $25.

maclife.com APR 2016 51


>>> Feature

3 4

E X P L A I N E D … | T H E H A R D WA R E YO U ’ L L N E E D

1. MAC WITH 2. 2.5-INCH SSD 3. USB 3.0 HARD 4. 8GB USB


USB 3.0 PORTS Apple’s Fusion Drives DRIVE ENCLOSURE FLASH DRIVE
USB 2.0’s slower contain either 24GB You‘ll need a drive There’s no need to
transfer rates or 128GB of flash enclosure to store the spend more on a
will negate the storage; however, SSD, and to be able to larger disk, as this is
advantages of a 250GB SSD costs connect it to your all you need to make
a Fusion Drive. little extra. Mac externally. an OS X install disk.

JARGON (not just the partition on it) and from the left pane into the Source
BUSTER
then click the Erase button on the box, and the partition on the USB
A Logical Volume Group is the toolbar. Use the OS X Extended ľash drive into the Destination
glue that binds a Fusion Drive’s (Journaled) format, and set its box. Click Restore and, if asked for
parts together. A Logical partition map type to GUID so your them, enter your account details. It
Volume is then created across Mac can start up from it. takes a while for the OS X installer
all drives in the group.
Download the installer for your to be copied to the ľash drive.
version of OS X from the Mac App With your OS X install disk
Store – it needs to be OS X 10.8.2 prepared, restart your Mac and
or higher. When it’s downloaded, hold down Alt from the moment
use it to create an OS X install disk, you hear the startup sound until
which will be your USB drive. For you see a list of partitions that your
OS X 10.9 or higher, follow Apple’s Mac can start up from. You should
guide at bit.ly/osxinstalldisk. For see the install disk you just created.
GENIUS
TIP OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion), right- Use the arrow keys to select it,
click the installer, choose Show press ® and then wait for a while.
On OS X 10.10.4 or higher, Package Contents, browse to You’ll eventually reach a menu
consider turning on TRIM Contents > SharedSupport and with four major options. Ignore
(bit.ly/trimforce) by entering
double-click InstallESD.dmg there. that and choose Utilities >
sudo trimforce enable
in Terminal. This helps maintain Open Disk Utility, click the Restore Terminal instead. We’re Ľnally
an SSD’s integrity over time. tab, drag “Mac OS X Install ESD” ready to build your Fusion Drive.

52 APR 2016 maclife.com


Make your own Fusion Drive

H O W T O | S E T U P YO U R F U S I O N D R I V E

1
Gather some 2
Protect partitions 3
Logical volume group
information To avoid wiping the partition that Type diskutil cs create Fusion
In Terminal, type diskutil list and press contains the Recovery system and, if it followed by a space, then the identifier
® to list partitions, grouped by disk under exists, one for Boot Camp as well, examine of your SSD, another space, and then the
rows starting /dev/diskX (where X is a the output for a row that lists the name identifier of your OS X volume. Press ®
number). Two rows below, use the Size of the partition that contains OS X. Note to create a logical volume group that
column to work out which disk identifiers its identifier to the right, which will be identifies the storage that will be used
refer to your internal HD and your SSD. in the format diskXsY. by the Fusion Drive.

4
Gather information 5
Prepare a volume 6
Finish, restore data
Next, type diskutil cs list and Type diskutil cs createVolume Press ® to make the volume.
press ® for a summary of what was then a space, then press ç+v to paste When done, look for a line that says
created. In the row that starts “+-- Logical the code you copied. Type another space, “Finished CoreStorage operation.” Quit
Volume Group” drag the pointer through then jhfs+ "Macintosh FD" and a space. Terminal. Your Fusion Drive, named
the long alphanumeric code to select it, Divide the capacity you noted by 1,000 Macintosh FD (or whatever you want to
then press ç+C. Make a note of the free three times and type the result (we’ve call it), is waiting for you to install a fresh
space listed five lines below that one. done to three decimal places) and then g. copy of OS X or restore your backup to it.

maclife.com APR 2016 53


APP LIFE
THIS MONTH’S MOST INTERESTING iPHONE & iPAD APPS

MaxCurve
If you like histograms, you’ll love MaxCurve
$2.99 Developer Wanman, maxcurve.net
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 7 or later

Editing an image Connections option, if your


using the Curves desktop and iOS devices are on
palette in Photoshop the same network. Exporting your image to Photoshop
is the sort of thing The Ľrst two tools are or social network sites is a cinch.
that can put people oļ doing it cropping and sharpness/grain/
again. In MaxCurve, however, vignetting, which are pretty beyond that of Photos (though it
almost everything is a curve, so standard. After these the does oļer an Extension), and the
you’d better get used to them. adjustments come in “kits.” The link to desktop Photoshop is
Curves let you tweak how images familiar color curve adjustment nice, although you could do it
look across a range (from blacks is referred to as an “RGB kit” with cloud storage, too.
to highlights, say) by raising or and this is complemented by This level of image editing is
lowering sections of a line – a Lightness Kit for exposure, great to have on an iOS device,
literally adding curves. gamma and color temperature and on an iPad screen the Curves
The app can open images from adjustments, an HSL Kit for color graph is large enough that
your photo library, access the saturation, and a LAB Kit for shifting points with your Ľnger
camera, or even take images edits in that color space. doesn’t become frustrating… But
from desktop Photoshop, via The kits are further broken you’re still doing Ľne color edits
Adobe’s little-used Remote down into channels, and each on an uncalibrated screen that
has its own histogram and tone probably has auto brightness
curve, with real-time previewing adjustment enabled – chances
of your changes. It’s impressive, are you’ll need to Ľne-tune the
especially for an iOS app, and the image in a desktop app anyway.
layout means you’ll never cover THE BOTTOM LINE. A strong
the image with your hand while color editing tool that can dig
editing. However, the developers deep into images, but which has
must have had the iPad in mind limited appeal. IAN EVENDEN
rather than the iPhone, since
turning the screen to landscape
mode to maximize the MAXCURVE
histogram’s leaves the image Deep color editing
trapped in a narrow box above it. Intelligent layout
MaxCurve is a well designed
Adding and Photoshop link
moving points is app, albeit with some mangled
easy, although it’s Limited by its platform
English in its tutorial tips. It
easier on an iPad
than an iPhone… oļers functionality that goes GOOD

54 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

Proud
The productivity app with “Superpowers!”
$4.99 Developer Peter Szwach, useproud.com
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 9 or later

Everyone could use more the second focuses only on what’s coming,
time in their day, but most the third shows everything accomplished so
productivity apps feel like they far. New tasks are added with a swipe down,
weren’t designed for people. and the app offers similarly convenient The Destress “Superpower” provides users with
Proud takes a more flexible approach, gestures acting on items as well. a brief but welcome break whenever needed.
encouraging downtime to catch your breath What really makes Proud unique are
when there’s too much to do. “Superpowers,” little productivity boosters doesn’t sync with iOS Reminders, but
That’s not to say Proud doesn’t work like tucked away beneath each view. In Lists, there’s iCloud sync with other iOS devices
traditional to-do apps, but here lists and Destress provides a bit of breathing room; and Apple Watch support; a Mac version
tasks work the same. Tasks can include under Reminders, users can move upcoming is currently in beta.
unlimited sub-tasks, so busy users can pile tasks to make room for last-minute THE BOTTOM LINE. Proud is the first
on as much as they want and trust Proud obligations; and History provides a “time task management app made with the user
will have their back. machine” to reflect on what’s done. in mind, encouraging productivity as well
Proud offers three views: Lists, Proud has a learning curve coming from as peace of mind. J.R. BOOKWALTER
Reminders, and History. The first shows a traditional to-do apps, although fans of
complete picture of what needs to get done, Clear will feel right at home. The app GREAT

HeartWatch Sidefari
$1.99 Developer Tantsissa, heartwatch.tantsissa.com 99¢ Developer Francisco Cantu, macrecon.com
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 8.4 or later Platform Universal Requirements iOS 9 or later

HeartWatch uses showing how long you’ve spent Split View on the apps. Sidefari works with
data collected by in each zone. Notifications warn iPad Air 2, iPad installed content blockers and
Apple Watch’s when your heart rate exceeds mini 4 and iPad retains its own history. There’s
sensors to keep or drops below a level you Pro puts two apps a “modal” view in apps that
track of your pulse. It splits specify. You can zoom out to side by side. Unfortunately, it support it, which loads a page
the day into four categories: a max of 12 weeks to see your doesn’t enable you to run two in an overlay window without
waking, workout, regular (for average heart rate, with daily instances of the same app next exiting the current app (even
most of the day) and sleep (if high and low figures. Health to each other, such as two on iPhone), though this is less
you wear your Watch in bed). data geeks will love the Safari tabs. useful than Split View mode.
Data is well presented, making visualizations. You can see how Sidefari gets round this Note: Sidefari isn’t Safari. It
it easy to detect “triggers” of beneficial your gym visit was, using Safari View Controller, lacks tabs, can’t access Safari’s
increased pulse. Commute to if a meeting was stressful, or the “in-app” browser Apple bookmarks, and doesn’t enable
work on the train? A quick look how your heart responded provides to developers. Fire you to edit its address bar.
will show how that journey during a football game. up Safari, then open Sidefari THE BOTTOM LINE. An
affects you, stress-wise. THE BOTTOM LINE. in Split View, activate Safari elegant and affordable way to
Workout data splits your Discover what’s stressing “Send to Sidefari” Share sheet view two web pages at once on
heart rates into four colored you out. KENNY HEMPHILL extension, and you can view your iPad. CRAIG GRANNELL
zones of increasing intensity two web pages side by side, as
(green, blue, yellow, and red), GREAT well as send links between the GREAT

maclife.com APR 2016 55


Change your
character, background,
weapons, enemy, and
more… There are
plenty of variations
for kids to tinker with.

it actually turns out to be more


like a bat on screen and the hero
character just bumps it oļ.
Obviously, you can then change
all this, you just need to work out
how. We also found it easy to
make the player jump, but not
to come back down… Setting the
gravity to lower meant he just
fell oļ the screen! Making the
“eļects” as clear as possible
would eliminate frustration and
prolong the enjoyment. There is

Coda Game Premium a mortar board icon in each mode


for a walkthrough reminder but
no one-tap quick guide.
Stop playing! Start creating… and then playing Fortunately, kids pick it all
$3.99 Developer Codarica, codarica.com up more easily than some adults
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or later (ahem) and the visuals are so
appealing they’re happy to keep
experimenting. Once you get the
Worrried about your thinking, problem solving, hang of what you’re doing and
kids playing too creativity and logic” – the have the base of your game in
many games and not fundamentals of programming. place, it’s great fun to play with
learning anything? In actual fact, there isn’t a great all the diļerent possibilities –
Well, why not let them combine deal of programming, but kids and it’s easy to remove any
the two? That’s the aim of Coda are introduced to placing game unwanted actions.
Game. Codarica, developer of the elements in and then discovering A nice touch is that once a
CodaQuest website building app what eļect they have. game is made, children can share
for kids, has realized that kids There are two game modes – it with other Coda Game kids.
love simple, repetitive action one is “Whack a Mole” style, THE BOTTOM LINE. The
games and that they are the other is side scrolling. appealing visuals and abundance
relatively easy to “self code” The options within each are of options draw children into the
given the right tools. impressively varied, and there world of game design, and it’s
It’s easy to play
other games and Developed with children aged are plenty of modiĽcations. great that they can show oļ their
search for what
6-12 in mind, the app aims to There is a basic introduction creations in a safe environment.
your friends have
created, too. teach kids about “computational but it’s pretty light. The icons are JO MEMBERY
easy to interpret – clear visuals
with brief explanation when CODA GAME PREMIUM
tapped – but what actually
Good interface – kids love
happens on screen is not always the look of the games
so easy to work out until you
Abundance of customizations
test it. For example, Jumping
Character + PacMan style ghost = Share games or play others’ creations
what? When the player jumps, More obvious instruction would benefit
will he hit the ghost, or will he younger kids (and some adults!)
eat the ghost…? In this example, GREAT

56 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

infltr – Infinite Filters


Ever wanted less control when tweaking photos?
$2.99 Developer Yooshr Ltd, infltr.com
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 8.1 or later

This photo-editing tool gives In practice, this is both freeing and


you both more and less than frustrating. Just scrubbing around to see
other apps. It claims to offer what looks cool means you’re likely to end
infinite filters you can apply to up stumbling on a look you wouldn’t have “My mama always said infltr was like a
your photos (which is impossible to verify chosen from a list, but that you love. box of chocolates…”
unless someone wants to give an infinite But you’re more likely to go through long
number of chimpanzees an infinite number spells where just nothing hits the mark. It may be a surprise, then, that infltr
of iPhones), which you can view just by When you do find one you like, you might actually has some good pro features – it
pressing your finger on the screen and find you end up moving past it accidentally, connects with Adobe Creative Cloud, makes
dragging it around. As you move, you go and there’s no way to get back, which is non-destructive edits, and can be used for
through random filters, from color casts to probably the most frustrating part. There’s very high-res DSLR images.
contrast tweaks to grain, and loads more. an argument to be made that this is the THE BOTTOM LINE. A cool idea, and
There’s a little button to activate a vignette whole point, and that we should embrace well executed, but comes with some
too, and this changes just like the filters. If unpredictability. And some people will love frustrations. MATT BOLTON
you don’t want to drag, you can just double that, for sure, but we tend to prefer doing
tap the screen to get a new filter. things quickly and definitively. GOOD

Auxy
Tap out your next chart-topper
$4.99 Developer Auxy, auxy.co
Platform iPhone, iPod touch Requirements iOS 9 or later

Auxy attempts to get more scale, octaves are restricted to seven notes.
people making music on Loops can be expanded from one to four
mobile, primarily by rethinking bars, and Auxy helpfully copies existing
interface design conventions. notes when you do so. Sounds can be A very welcome addition to mobile music
This results in an app that’s approachable switched and adjusted, and the selection making, offering a fresh and friendly approach.
and usable, whether you’re a relative is impressive, if very electronic in nature.
newbie or an old-hand to composing. Smartly, you can record an arrangement which don’t afford you precision control. It
New projects begin life as a blank grid, of your creation by tapping Record could do with more diverse sounds and the
comprising four tracks of 16 empty loops. and triggering individual loops live. option for a fuller note grid when editing
When editing loops, you tap out notes Alternatively, to use your Auxy work loops, but as an iPhone tool for songwriting
on a piano roll note grid, much like in as the start of something bigger on sketches, it’s a success.
GarageBand, but the playhead moves the desktop, MIDI export is an option. THE BOTTOM LINE. A nicely conceived,
vertically, which is optimal for an iPhone Much like its free iPad forebear, Auxy stable iPhone music-making app that’s a
in portrait. For bass and leads, this works is a pleasure to use on iPhone. It neatly real pleasure to use. CRAIG GRANNELL
well, although drums lack labels, which is fills a space between fully fledged studios
awkward. Also, while you can pick a key and like GarageBand and the likes of Figure, GREAT

maclife.com APR 2016 57


Monty likes to kill it with fire! He’s
not so keen on water, though…

and make the ones you own


better – this constant lure of loot
is a big part of the game’s
appeal. There’s fame and quests
and dungeons and lots of other
simple sub-systems, too.
After a few hours, however,
it becomes plain that all those
systems have an ulterior motive.
There are big, sudden spikes in
the challenge level; to go further,
you’ll need to grind for gold and
gems to get better cards and

BattleHand characters. To grind, you’ll need


the patience of an angel, because
the game limits play time with a
A hand in your pockets slow drip of “dungeon keys.”
Free Developer Kongregate, kongregate.com You can pay to make that pain
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or later go away, of course. Real money
can buy gems and gold instead of
grinding for it, or you can buy the
Fantasy settings are There’s some clever substance keys you need to keep playing for
ludicrous. You know under all the pretty pixels too. extended periods. But over each
it, we know it and You run a party of characters, soft paywall, you’ll just Ľnd
BattleHand knows it, much like an RPG, specializing another to climb.
so this card battling game throws in diļerent kinds of elemental It’s the basic free-to-play trap
on the slapstick with a spade. It damage. Each is especially we’re all familiar with, but
purposefully packs stereotypical potent against monsters of the BattleHand springs it with
characters into a stereotypical opposite type. Characters have a surprising level of avarice. It
world like mermaid sardines, all stats and abilities, plus a deck of would come as a shock in any
Cards can do a rendered in such slick cartoon attack and defense cards. free-to-play game, but doubly so
range of things,
visuals that playing is like falling Battles take place across a here, since the underlying game
including affect
multiple enemies. victim to a charm spell. series of turns, with powerful has the potential to be such a joy.
abilities taking longer to come THE BOTTOM LINE. BattleHand
into eļect. There’s lots of wraps some fun mechanics in
variety, from splash damage and lovely visuals, but there’s a
speed on the oļense to healing free-to-play rock hidden in the
and shields to defend. It’s easy water. MATT THROWER
to learn, but you’ll need to plan
your cards ahead and have party
members support each other. BATTLEHAND
As if that were not enough, Charming visuals and characters
everything is expandable and Fun blend of deck building and role-playing
upgradable. You can hire new
Brutal difficulty spikes
party members and build their
strength and powers. You can get Hard to enjoy without ongoing purchases
new cards to put in their decks SOLID

58 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings >>> App Life

Blown Away: Secret of the Wind


More “gust” than “hurricane”
$2.99 Developer Black Pants Studio, blackpants.de
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 6 or later

It must be disappointing to get as close as possible, to maximize the


have a superpower that comes juice refilling your tank – but not so close
with a big limitation. And, by that you get spiked or smashed or sent
that logic, Blown Away’s tumbling into oblivion. Is it worth doubling Blown Away’s hero lives life on the edge but
cartoonish hero – like a sinister greetings- back to collect an extra fragment of your this game doesn’t quite get the balance right.
card creation come to life – must be house (these are scattered throughout each
somewhat disheartened. Sure, he can level, with your rating at the end depending quite as thrilling as it might seem on paper.
teleport from ledge to ledge through his on how many you pick up), even thought it’ll Blown Away falls into somewhat of a
windblown surroundings like Mary Poppins take a battery to do so? You trudge hinterland: too dependent on quick thinking
on a cafferine high, but he needs to keep his unstoppably from left to right unless there’s to be a relaxing experience; too sedate to
batteries charged. We don’t mean that a block in your path – stationary, treadmill- be truly compelling.
metaphorically: each space-time shift esque plodding against one gives you more THE BOTTOM LINE. A mild-mannered
depletes a battery, which will only recharge time to charge, but will the still-moving but occasionally frustrating twist on the
while he’s in contact with the ground. screen overtake you? endless runner genre. EMMA DAVIES
This means that obstacles and gaps Unfortunately, all these exciting-
between ledges can be tricky. You’ll need to sounding parts add up to a whole that’s not SOLID

Power Hover
Marty McFly would be sick with envy
$3.99 Developer Oddrok Oy, oddrok.com
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 7 or later

If being a crime-fighting robot moment’s notice. Your primary aim – aside


on a hoverboard wasn’t your from surviving to see your next firmware
dream as an angsty teenager, update, of course – is to collect batteries to
you were clearly lacking in power your town, which have been stolen A nice take on the quick-reaction, runner-type
imagination. But if it was? This is the game by some despicable rapscallion who shares game – fast, fun and full of little surprises.
for you! The setup is simple: your avatar your preferred mode of transport. These
speeds around on his futuristic skateboard, batteries are sometimes left scattered smashingly tricky, and largely seriously
and all you need to do is press the left and about, but are often dropped by the very enjoyable. Power Hover may not feel
right side of the screen to steer him. villain whose tail you’re on. When this is the especially new or innovative, but what
Levels are labyrinths of ramps (off which case, you’re desperately weaving between it does is done well and with style. Those
you grab “sick” “air”), rails (along which you obstacles, your perspective often obscured teenage dreams have finally paid off, eh?
grind automatically) and spikes (upon which or slightly distorted, dodging the bombs THE BOTTOM LINE. A fun test of
you don’t want to become a metallic kebab). thrown out in your path. reflexes that’s likely to appeal to speed
There are also environmental hazards, such Essentially, it’s a souped-up, modern freaks. EMMA DAVIES
as the undulating bodies of giant sand version of those handheld racing games
snakes, or beach balls that inflate a of decades past. It’s pacy, often screen- GREAT

maclife.com APR 2016 59


Don’t play this game if you get
easily motion-sick. Seriously.

relies on traditional platforming


principles – you can walk, jump
and shoot, with your bullets
following the curvature of the
planet. Enemies start oļ fairly
tame and progress to larger,
scarier versions – but even these
can be cheated a little as the
environment usually has places
you can hide in safety.
Momoka’s most attractive
quality is its storytelling; one
encounter had us dashing

Momoka: An between two warring brothers’


households to relay messages
and bring them back together.

Interplanetary Adventure The last issue is the controls


– the left/right buttons are too
close together. It’s not a huge
Defying gravity
problem until more precise
$6.99 Developer Felwig Games, felwig.com levels, where deft movement is
Platform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or later required. If the right button was
on the right of the screen, it
might be much easier.
Momoka mixes Super Unfortunately, its planetoids, Momoka is certainly fun and
Mario Galaxy-style while charming at Ľrst, are the challenging, but it’s let down
planet-hopping with game’s weakness. The rotating by Ľddly controls and baŀing
elements from point of view when you’re trying navigation. The former is a
classic platform-adventure to get from A to B on them - with small, ignorable problem; the
games such as Metroid: Ľnd a B being directly above you - can latter could be solved by making
key, unlock a door, get a new be disorienting, which leads to a the game more linear, but at the
power to Ľnd another key, and feeling of never quite knowing cost of its core mechanic.
so on. The game takes place in a where you are. This isn’t helped THE BOTTOM LINE. A game
colorful low-poly world, which by the planets all looking very reminiscent of The Little Prince,
A confusing map
screen makes seems to be the next step in similar. It’s hard to remember with a ton of heart but a few
this simple game
Retro Cool after the pixel games what you’re supposed to be doing issues. Worth playing if you can
seem far more
complicated. resurgence died down. when you’re not sure if that overlook them. KATE GRAY
green planet is the one you came
from or one you’re meant to go
to. The game works from one MOMOKA
central hub rather than a more Planet-hopping is always fun
linear path, so it’s easy to get
Little touches here and there show depth
lost – and the map is confusing
in itself. Relatively long gameplay,
for a plot-based game
Despite these problems of
disorientation and confusion, Far too easy to get lost
the core game is pretty fun. It GOOD

60 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

ROUNDUP

The 6 best iOS apps for home improvements


From apartments to mansions, transform any home with these great apps
BY GARY MARSHALL

From the smallest apartment to the screen so it’s more blue in the
biggest mansion, every home can do daytime and more yellow in the
with a bit of TLC. A few little changes evening, and of course that will
can make an enormous diļerence to aļect the way colors appear on
your home, and a few little apps can your screen – as will artiĽcial
make an enormous diļerence to how lighting or dark days. It’s still
much fun you’ll have doing it. worth getting a tester pot when
HOUZZ (Free, Universal) is a good you’ve found the colors you want.
place to start. It’s packed with design So that’s the interior covered.
ideas ranging from the sensible to Let’s move outside… Do you want
the spectacularly unrealistic, and you to improve your garden? iSCAPE
can use it to scrapbook your favorites ($4.99, Universal) enables you to
and Ľnd products that’ll look just visualize the perfect garden. Its
great. It’s a fantastic app for Ľnding library includes not just plants and
Floor plans without measuring? MagicPlan
design inspiration. uses your phone’s camera to make its maps. trees but features such as swimming
If you’ve ever ordered furniture pools, lighting and even yard art.
only to discover that it was too big to enables you to try out light Ľttings, You can start your design from
Ľt in or just looked plain weird with rugs and mirrors too. scratch or overlay items on a
the rest of your furnishings, you’ll One of the best ways to ensure photo of your existing space.
appreciate the value of the excellent everything Ľts is to draw up a ľoor Once you’ve decided what you
HOMESTYLER INTERIOR DESIGNER plan, but of course that can be a real want inside or out, the next step is
(Free, Universal) from Autodesk. pain involving endless measuring to actually do it – and there’s an app
The app enables you to take a photo and scribbling. Use MAGIC PLAN for that too. Sadly, SNAPGUIDE
of your room and then digitally (Free, Universal) instead: it enables (Free, Universal) doesn’t actually
remove existing items and/or add you to create your plan by taking a do the work for you, but it oļers the
3D models of real furniture items bunch of photos and letting the app next best thing: user-created how-
to see how they’ll look. It’s not just piece them all together. Once the to guides for DIY projects and
about furniture, either. The app plan’s done you can use it in the home improvement tasks.
app or export it in a range of
standard Ľle formats for use
in desktop apps or online.
Now for some color. TAPPAINTER
($2.99, Universal) is one of the most
user-friendly ways to Ľnd colors,
enabling you to take a photo of your
space and try out diļerent ideas
without going anywhere near a
paintbrush. It has various paint
Ľrms’ color swatches to help you
Ľnd the right colors for your room,
but we’d suggest using it as a guide
rather than an oracle, especially if
Looking for inspiration? Houzz has several
you’re on iOS 9.3: iOS’s Night Shift Try colors without reaching for a paint brush:
million images to give you great ideas. changes the color gamma of your TapPainter can “redecorate” in virtual vision.

maclife.com APR 2016 61


>>> App Life

WATCH APPS AND GUIDES TO GET MORE FROM YOUR WATCH

The Hit List


To-do: praise this powerful, smart, useful app
$19.99 Developer Karelia Software, karelia.com
Platform Universal, watchOS Requirements iOS 9.1 or later

To-do apps are everywhere, but and your tasks that need
since this one costs signiĽcantly actioning now will show up
more than most others, and in a Today view, while others
especially since the App Store will be in Upcoming. Usefully,
is stuļed with apps like the tasks can have sub-tasks
powerful, free Wunderlist, it assigned to them (and they
had better be pretty special. can have sub-tasks assigned
Happily, it is. to them, and so on) – though
A quick overview of the the fact that ticking oļ all
iPhone app Ľrst. You can have sub-tasks marks the main task
multiple lists, grouped into as done automatically might not
folders, jobs can be tagged (as always be welcome. It syncs with
you go, or by assigning them to the Mac equivalent too.
tag trees you’ve already built), On the Watch, you get more
and you can view jobs by tags. than just some dumb, check-
Set due dates and start dates oļ-able list of tasks. Launching There’s a Glance, which
it shows you Today, and tapping shows progress through to-dos
one task lets you mark it as in Activity-style rings (a bit of
completed, shunt it to tomorrow, coarse approach, granted, but
WATCH TIP
or get more information. This it may well work for some).
Clearing notifications screen shows you notes, sub-
tasks, and a clever, Ľnger-
Annoyingly though, there’s
no Complication – yet.
Clearing of notifications, friendly system for changing THE BOTTOM LINE. A really
notifications from then press firmly the start and due dates. useful addition to your Apple
your Watch one for a Clear All “X”. New events can be added Watch. CHRISTOPHER PHIN
by one is a pain, using dictation, though only
especially if they’ve to the Inbox; you can set dates
been stacking up afterwards on the Watch, but THE HIT LIST
for a while. Happily, not assign to tags or lists. You Can do lots from the Watch app
you can nix them have to switch to iPhone for Simple adding of new tasks with dictation…
all at once; swipe these – but that’s kinda okay
… but limited options for adding metadata
down the Watch since you wouldn’t want to be
face to get the list Ľddling with the Watch for No Complication
ages to do that anyway. GREAT

62 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

How to
Mapstr Play music from
Build a personal map of important locations
your Watch
Free Developer Hulab, mapstr.com
Platform iPhone, watchOS Requirements iOS 7 or later

Building a list of information (including opening times,


locations and plotting where supported), and Maps-powered
them on a map – directions. Or, on the Watch, tap to save
restaurants you want your current location; a little annoyingly,
to try in your home it won’t just drop a pin – there has to be
town, spots you want a point of interest nearby to add.
to visit in the city This and some other small irritations
you’re vacationing at next month, client irk (we’d like to able to switch between SYNC PLAYLIST
locations for work – is hardly an original “sets” on the Watch, or tags) but it’s To play music from your
idea, but Mapstr does it well. You can add overall a great app. Watch to Bluetooth speakers or
locations on your iPhone by searching THE BOTTOM LINE. A couple of headphones, sync a playlist from
around you, by typing (or photographing!) gripes, but we really like Mapstr’s the iPhone using the Watch app;
an address, or importing from contacts, approach to personalized mapping. note options for limiting size.
Foursquare or even .csv or .kml files. CHRISTOPHER PHIN
Then, on your Watch, you can quickly
pull them up and get pics and useful GREAT

Trip Icons PAIR SPEAKERS


Pointless. Inútil. Sinnlos. . . . Put the speakers/
Free Developer Edmund Mai, edmundmai.wordpress.com headphones into pairing mode
Platform iPhone, watchOS Requirements iOS 8 or later and then go to the Settings >
Bluetooth section of your Watch;
tap them to connect.
The theory here is there’s no way of manually selecting the
laudable. The language – for rehearsing ahead, or just
developer has for countries where multiple languages
identified the nine are spoken. Indeed, the developer doesn’t
most common phrases even tell you what languages are included.
you might need if stuck Would be good to have spoken audio
abroad, presenting phrases too, even on the Watch. Plus,
them on your iPhone as a grid of icons. there’s an ad on the iPhone, with no way
Tap one and it shows the appropriate to pay to remove it.
translation, after detecting your location; THE BOTTOM LINE. A concept
it’s all preloaded, so no data connection that could have been worked into a very CHOOSE SOURCE
needed. And having this on your Watch useful app. Unfortunately, though, the Launch Music on your
– which you’re likely always to have with limitations leave it far from that. Watch; it will default to your
you – would be a boon. CHRISTOPHER PHIN iPhone, but press Ľrmly and tap
Unfortunately, all the Watch shows is Source or scroll to the top of the
the icon and a word, not the phrase, and AWFUL screen to reveal a source toggle.

maclife.com APR 2016 63


VISIT MACLIFE.COM FOR ONLINE-EXCLUSIVE REVIEWS, UPDATED DAILY

TOUGH TESTING, TRUSTED RATINGS

Canon PowerShot G5 X
A high-end compact cam with an impressive sensor and screen
$749 Manufacturer Canon, canon.com
Features 20.2 megapixels, f/1.8-2.8 lens with 4.2x zoom, Wi-Fi, vari-angle flip-out touchscreen

T
he G5 X offers enthusiast-oriented controls aperture range of f/1.8-2.8, which ensures
in a pocket-size camera with an electronic reasonable control over depth of field.
viewfinder. Its styling is pretty old-school Meanwhile, the OLED electronic viewfinder has
and retro, with an angular design that probably 2.36 million dots and shows 100% of the scene,
won’t be to everybody’s taste, but the dials with a 120fps refresh rate making it easy to
and buttons feel sensibly arranged and thus follow moving subjects. There’s also a three-
within easy reach. inch, 1,040,000-dot touch-sensitive screen
Pushing the retro theme is a control dial mounted on a vari-angle hinge. The screen is
around the lens. This can adjust a number of very responsive and moving your way through
different settings, which you can customize menus with it feels natural, especially if you’re
within the main menu. There’s also a dedicated used to using an iPhone or iPad.
exposure compensation dial on top of the For those who want to dip into video shooting,
camera, within easy reach of your thumb. Just there’s Hybrid Auto mode, which shoots two
below the shutter release is another smaller seconds of video before each shot is taken,
dial, which can also be customized for different compiling them together as a “digest” movie.
settings such as aperture, ISO or white balance. There’s also a Creative Shot mode which shoots
Once you have the controls set up, they allow an image and then applies five different crops,
quick and fluid settings changes. digital filters, or a combination thereof, although
The one-inch sensor, covering 20.2 million weirdly you can’t actually specify which of these
pixels, is larger than can be found in most you want to use.
compact cameras, and it’s coupled with a fast Tiny niggles aside, the G5 X has a fantastic
f/1.8-2.8 lens which is great for creating shallow sensor, and the lens is versatile with a wide
CANON depth of field effects with wide apertures, and maximum aperture throughout its range. It
POWERSHOT G5 X in low-light shooting. Directly from the camera, boasts raw format shooting and manual control,
Large sensor JPEG images display a lovely amount of and the screen, being fully articulating and
saturation and warmth. Raw files can be touch sensitive, is great for shooting from
Built-in Wi-Fi
opened in Adobe Camera Raw/Photoshop, or awkward angles.
Lack of control over you can download Canon’s free Digital Photo THE BOTTOM LINE. The G5 X is an excellent
Creative Shot filters
Professional software to open and edit raw files. compact camera for anyone looking for a first
Fairly short zoom range The lens offers a 4x zoom with a focal range “serious” camera, or as a backup to an existing
AWESOME equivalent to 24-100mm and a maximum SLR or CSC. AMY DAVIES

64 APR 2016 maclife.com


maclife.com APR 2016 65
>>> Reviews

Stacks
Welcome to the gentle organization art of Kanban
$9.99 Developer Cristian Barlutiu, stacks.one
Requirements OS X 10.10 or later

Aside from a search Ľeld for quickly combing


through even the largest of groups, the toolbar
is practically non-existent. A hamburger button
(left) opens a sidebar for creating or switching
between groups (along with a toggle for
archived tasks), while the gear icon (right)
works as a shortcut to app preferences for
activating notiĽcations, adjusting background
color, or changing where new tasks are added.
Everything else happens in the main window.
Image previews are impressive. When
clicked, they open to Ľll the entire window from
edge to edge, and can also be used with items
that include documents or locations, which can
be entered as addresses or map coordinates.
Aside from the preview, the only other interface
elements displayed are the close, minimize, and
fullscreen buttons – the latter can be used to
enlarge the preview, but Stacks doesn’t actually
support OS X’s fullscreen mode.
Although Stacks doesn’t currently have an
iOS equivalent to sync to, the software allows
users to save library data anywhere you like,
Stacks for Mac brings If you organize tasks using a whiteboard, which can include local folders for cloud
drag-and-drop and
simplistic style to
Post-it notes and three columns, you’ve already services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or
the Kanban method mastered the basics of the Kanban board, where iCloud Drive; optional backups can also be saved
of task management.
sticky notes are moved across To-Do, Doing, in the same place, or assigned to a completely
and Done categories as each task is completed. diļerent location for additional peace of mind.
This is exactly the same approach adopted by THE BOTTOM LINE. For Kanban fans, Stacks
Stacks, a new Mac task management application delivers, and makes task management almost
that builds upon the Kanban paradigm in a far fun in the process. J.R. BOOKWALTER
more powerful and customizable way. For
starters, items can be sorted into groups and
include tags with color coding, attachments
(documents, web links, or maps), and text
formatted using Markdown. (Try that with
STACKS those tired old Post-it notes!)
The bright, clean user interface takes a breezy
Drag-and-drop
user interface approach to organization, allowing items to be
moved between stacks via drag and drop; text is
Gorgeous image
preview mode edited by simply double-clicking on the entry that
needs to be changed. There’s no limit to the
No OS X fullscreen support
number of stacks or groups that can be added,
Currently Mac only so users aren’t strictly bound to a traditional
Features such as groups, color tags, and attachments
GREAT three-column workľow. make short work of tasks when using Stacks.

66 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

Launchey
Who needs the Dock?
$2.99 Developer Nice Apps, getniceapps.com
Requirements OS X 10.10 or later

Launchey has a simple purpose: it enables you to


launch apps on your Mac from the menu bar. And
with a bit of setting up (and with the right frame
of mind), you might find that a great thing.
To start with, we found Launchey not that useful.
You can click its icon to bring up a list of all the apps
in your Application folder, in alphabetical order – not
great if you have loads. But you can change which
folder it looks in, so you could add a subfolder of only
your most-used apps, and then have it only show
those. But the really nice bit is its Top 5 feature.

Scheduler This tab in Launchey’s preferences enables you to


add icons for five apps directly to the menu bar, so
can launch them with single click. You can also easily
Inexpensive, but also pretty ineffective assign them keyboard shortcuts, to launch them
99¢ Developer iLifeTouch, ilifetouch.com without clicking anything. If you mostly only use a
Requirements OS X 10.10 or later, 64-bit processor few core apps, this is a cool way to be minimal – you
could hide the Dock, and rely solely on the menu bar.
We encountered a small bug when choosing these
There are plenty of apps available for managing tasks and apps, but it should be fixed by the time you read this.
to-dos on OS X, with varying degrees of success. While THE BOTTOM LINE. A smart and useful utility. It
Scheduler isn’t ľat-out awful, it’s not particularly good. The doesn’t totally remove the need for the Dock, but it
interface is clean and easy to use: click + to add tasks, enter lets you keep it hidden more. MATT BOLTON
optional duration and custom repeats. While a timed task is in
progress, the top half of the window turns brown until you
mark it completed. Oddly, you can’t click the digits to key in the LAUNCHEY
time; instead, you adjust with vertical sliders, then select AM or Add apps to your Menu bar
PM. This is where things get weird, because the list view only Nice customization options
displays time in Euro-centric 24-hour mode – 1:30pm appears
Not everyone will find it useful
as 13:30, and so on. The month and day also appear ľipped, and
there are no preference settings to change this behavior. Even Top 5 bug at time of writing
for a buck, Scheduler adds little value compared to OS X GREAT
Reminders, aside from the ability to color-code tasks.
Scheduler can’t even sync via iCloud…
THE BOTTOM LINE. Scheduler may be more colorful than
Reminders, but it’s ultimately less useful. J.R. BOOKWALTER

SCHEDULER
Easy-to-use task manager for Mac
Icons and color tags for individual entries
No iCloud sync
Offers little over built-in OS X Reminders
WEAK

maclife.com APR 2016 67


>>> Reviews

iMail
iMail makes email simple. Too simple, we think
Free Developer Eltima Software, eltima.com
Requirements OS X 10.8 or later, 64-bit processor

on some of the basics. There’s no CC or BCC


options when you compose a message – it’s
more like sending iMessages, where every
recipient is given the same priority – and you
can’t change the formatting of your message;
you can’t use Gmail aliases or labels, so
anything automatically moved from your inbox
– potential junk mail, for example, or auto-Ľled
messages using Ľlters you’ve set up in Gmail –
is invisible to you; and in Person View the
emails you’ve sent to others are listed under
your name, not theirs, which makes navigation
confusing. There’s no undo, so if you accidentally
archive a message it’s gone forever as far as iMail
is concerned, and the fullscreen view doesn’t resize
email snippets so you end up staring at an expanse
of blank gray space.
Overall iMail feels like an attempt to apply
a messaging interface to email and, while
simpliĽcation is an admirable goal, iMail has
thrown too many babies out with the bathwater.
The attachment view iMail is an alternative to Apple’s own Mail app, You don’t need to be a power user to want Gmail
is useful, automatically
sorting audio, images
but if you’re looking for something packed with labels, email formatting or a fullscreen view
and links. power features, this isn’t for you: it’s designed that uses the full screen. If you want to achieve
to make everyday emailing simpler, not to email zen, you’d be much better oļ with an app
automate enormously complicated inboxes or such as Unibox, which also takes a people-
handle multiple accounts. It works with iCloud, centric approach but does it much, much better.
Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook/Hotmail and AOL, THE BOTTOM LINE. We love simplicity, but
and it’s designed for use with a single account. unfortunately iMail is a little too simple for
iMail can display your messages in three most email users. GARY MARSHALL
diļerent views. People View is a traditional
view with senders’ names in the left sidebar
and messages grouped into conversations in the
main window; Conversation View shows emails
by subjects instead of senders; and Attachment
View shows only the attachments and links
from your emails. By default, the app
iMAIL downloads the most recent 50 messages,
Attachment view is useful but you can change that to 100.
The app looks nice, and there are some useful
Gmail support is very poor
touches, so for example you can right-click on
It’s too easy to lose emails an attachment and upload it to your Dropbox
Feels too simple, even account if you have one, and the attachment
for basic use view distinguishes between images, audio,
iMail essentially makes email look more like Messages,
WEAK documents and links. However, iMail falls short with a simple two-panel layout.

68 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

No templates or even

RocketCake typical CSS here –


you merely create
blank pages or clone
existing ones.
A free WYSIWYG web design app! Too good to be true? (Yes.)
Free/$39.99 Pro version Developer Ambiera, ambiera.com
Requirements OS X 10.9 or later

RocketCake is a WYSIWYG app for creating The app ignores many Mac text-editing
responsive websites – those that optimize conventions, such as using modiĽers and
for varied viewport sizes. If you’ve ever arrow keys for jumping to words and
narrowed a browser window and watched paragraphs, or using ç+B to bold. There’s
web page content shift about, chances are it also an Internet Explorer logo for the
was responsive. And so RocketCake helps browser preview button, and the app oļered
you to make your own. to publish our work to the C: drive…
Unfortunately, RocketCake won’t open RocketCake also falls short on the claim
existing sites, so you’ve got to start from it “spits out clean HTML/CSS code.” On
scratch or select from a handful of uninspiring opening exported documents in BBEdit, we
themes. Either way, it’s daunting to found overly complicated mark-up, a lack of
newcomers; although the interface initially attention to semantics, and separate CSS
appears user-friendly and feature-rich, it docs for every page, making for slow sites,
has problems. The Toolset and Properties and designs that are hard to keep consistent. ROCKETCAKE
panels are Ľne, enabling you to drop All this makes us wonder who RocketCake A few good interface
components onto the page, and update a is for. Beginners will Ľnd it complex, and elements
selection’s property values. Meanwhile, a should head for RapidWeaver or WordPress. Ignores many
slider provides a quick means of changing Pros won’t Ľnd anything here to better Mac conventions
the page’s width to judge how it might Dreamweaver or BBEdit and Coda. Has a tendency to
appear in various viewports. THE BOTTOM LINE. We can’t fault create messy code
But dragging elements around doesn’t RocketCake’s ambition, but unfortunately Won’t work with
work as you’d expect, and RocketCake we can fault a lot else about this existing websites
appears oblivious to marking up typography. disappointing program. CRAIG GRANNELL POOR

maclife.com APR 2016 69


>>> Reviews Tough testing, trusted ratings

DxO OpticsPro for Photos


Plugin, tune up, print off
$9.99 Developer DxO Labs, dxo.com
Requirements OS X 10.11 or later

E
xtensions for Photos are pretty few and far between, a search of the App
Store only turning up enough to fill a single row. While apps such as Affinity
Photo add their own, it’s good to see a big name like DxO getting involved.
Don’t go expecting too much, though: unlike last year’s DxO OpticsPro 10, this
Extension doesn’t feature palettes and ranks of sliders, but just five quick settings.
First off is Optical Corrections, which fixes distortion and chromatic aberration
(“and more,” although there’s no clue as to what this might be – vignetting
perhaps) in a similar way to Lightroom’s Lens Corrections palette in its Develop
module. That is, if it can detect the make and model of camera and lens from the
image metadata and find the appropriate DxO Optics module to perform the
correction. As with the rest of the Extension, there’s no manual control.
Next is White Balance, which bucks the trend by offering a slider, and also a
dropper tool for sampling whites and neutral colors in your image. The As Shot
button allows you to snap back to your original color balance at any point. Moving
down, we get to something more interesting: DxO Smart Lighting attempts to
maximize the dynamic range of an image and, while the Extension will happily edit
JPEGs, is best applied to raw image files. It analyzes your image, and its effect can
be applied in three strengths, depending on which looks most realistic to your eye.
We found Strong was able to be used in most circumstances, boosting photos well,
only stepping back if we were pushing into unnatural HDR-style territory.
Noise Reduction, the next item on the toolbar, is equally impressive. You’re
given a choice between the faster “HQ” option or the better-quality “PRIME.” In
our tests there isn’t a lot between them, but even the slower option isn’t that slow.
DXO OPTICSPRO Modern Macs are powerful enough that waiting for PRIME to finish is hardly taxing
FOR PHOTOS – and the results are excellent. Finally, DxO Clearview is a dehazing tool aimed
Good image quality at landscape photos, parts of which may be softened or understaurated by the
Easy to use scattering of light. It’s a local contrast enhancement, essentially, and is actually
worth a go on any kind of photo if you like the effect.
Excellent noise reduction
THE BOTTOM LINE. If you’re a Photos user who wants editing sessions to
Very few options be over within a minute, then OpticsPro is a good choice, but look elsewhere
GREAT for high levels of manual control. IAN EVENDEN

70 APR 2016 maclife.com


maclife.com APR 2016 71
>>> Reviews

Documents Pro
More of an amateur approach than a Pro solution
99¢ Developer Candles Inc., candle-inc.lofter.com.com
Requirements OS X 10.6.8 or later; 64-bit processor

Oddly, document windows have a max size


of 1280x800 (they can’t be expanded further),
which is too small on a 15-inch MacBook Pro
with Retina display, let alone a 2:-inch
Thunderbolt display. Documents Pro also oļers
two diļerent fullscreen views: the OS X
method, which merely centers the Ľxed window
inside a sea of black, and a distraction-free
“Write Mode” that actually works as expected.
There are a few unique touches here and
there: a Float button allows the current
document window to hover over everything else
on your desktop, while Alternate Colors allows
writers to switch from a white background to
aqua blue. (Sadly, there’s no setting to change
to a custom color.) The handy File > Special New
option enables users to create plain or rich text
documents using the clipboard contents, a trick
that also works with copied images.
Documents Pro can also insert common Ľles
like JPEG and PNG, but formatting options are
limited to resizing, so don’t expect to do any
real page layout work. The rest is pretty
Write Mode is the better For Mac owners, there are basically two ways to standard – bulleted or numbered lists, table of
distraction-free fullscreen
solution in Documents Pro,
choose a new word processor: stick with free contents, headers and footers – but nearly all of
an otherwise unimpressive options like OpenOĿce, or shell out hard- these unpolished features lack the Ľt and Ľnish
Mac word processor.
earned money for Microsoft Word or one of the of Word or even free options like OpenOĿce.
countless imitators available from the Mac App THE BOTTOM LINE. Save the dollar you’d
Store, few of which are worth the asking price. spend on Documents Pro and stick with a
For less than a buck, Documents Pro sounds too free alternative instead. J.R. BOOKWALTER
good to be true; the description checks oļ a
long list of features coveted by wordsmiths.
The software can open or save just about any text
DOCUMENTS PRO format you want, including Word, OpenOffice, .rtf,
or XML; formatting wasn’t always particularly
Inexpensive Microsoft-
compatible word faithful to the original, however.
processor The user interface is an odd mashup of
Special New mode creates conľicting aesthetics: instead of a Word-style
document from current ribbon, Documents Pro relocates most of the
clipboard contents formatting options to a Ľxed-width sidebar
Fixed maximum with oversized, ľat buttons and at least one
window size glaring typo (“Pragraph”). The toolbar at top
Contradictory utilizes colorful Pages-style icons instead for
fullscreen modes Find, View, Table, and a very small, very
Word documents can be opened in Document Pro, but
WEAK feature-packed Inspector window. anything more than basic formatting won’t look the same.

72 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

Arriving
This app hasn’t quite arrived
$4.99 Developer It’s About Time Products,
helloiat.com
Requirements OS X 10.8 or later, 64-bit processor

Arriving is a Mac application with support for nearly


100 worldwide carriers, including USPS, FedEx, UPS,
and DHL. But it’s not necessary to select a carrier,
because Arriving will parse and auto-detect tracking
numbers copied to the clipboard, so all that’s required
is to optionally name the package.

iCollections The interface looks familiar… Arriving is a


shameless copy of Junecloud’s Deliveries, right down
to the list-and-map layout. Arriving does offer a few
Organize your desktop and access files unique touches, such as the ability to expand entries
$12.99 Developer Naarak Studio, naarakstudio.com for tracking info, or preview entries from the menu
Requirements OS X 10.8 or later bar. But overall, it lacks the fit and finish of Deliveries.
Deliveries color-codes package entries by carrier;
packages look the same in Arriving, and sometimes
Ever wish you had easy access to a folder’s contents without display the wrong map location. There’s no direct
having to keep a Finder window open? iCollections is a utility support for Amazon or Apple shipments (tracking
that enables you place movable windows on your desktop, each numbers must be added manually), nor the ability to
of which displays Ľles or folders. This gives you a quick route to forward confirmation emails to create new entries.
open Ľles you might need often, or to keep app shortcuts The absence of an iOS companion app also makes
organized by task, say. It’s really ľexible – just use the menu Arriving quite a bit less useful than Deliveries.
bar assistant to create a new Collection, then drop anything you THE BOTTOM LINE. Gets the job done, but a
want into it. You can interact with the Ľles as you would with pale imitator of Deliveries. J.R. BOOKWALTER
Finder, including Quick Look and contextual menu options. The
downside is that each new Collection is a new folder (inside an
iCollections folder in Documents), so unless you use aliases or ARRIVING
symlinks, using it could mess up your Ľling system. It also Package tracking for nearly 100 worldwide carriers
oļers the ability to put images or slideshows into one of its Auto-detects carrier from copied tracking number
windows, which is a nice personalization option, and there’s a
Shamelessly copies Deliveries for Mac
smart Drop Well window type – basically, a temporary storage
space, which only displays the last couple of items placed in Occasional inaccurate map display
there. There are good visual customization options in the app OKAY
too, though its design doesn’t quite sit perfectly with OS X’s –
the corners are too rounded, and there’s no frosting eļect.
THE BOTTOM LINE. A potentially useful app for organizing
hectic desktops, but with room for improvement. MATT BOLTON

iCOLLECTIONS 2.5
Easy to create and organize Collections
Smart Drop Well feature
Can’t make Collections in existing folder structures
The look isn’t quite 100% OS X
GOOD

maclife.com APR 2016 73


>>> Reviews

Synology RT1900ac
A powerful router from a surprising source
$225 Manufacturer Synology, synology.com
Features 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, USB and SDXC ports

P
reviously known for its network-attached your most important devices always get the
storage devices, Synology has branched into bandwidth they need.
new territory to launch its first ever wireless Another standout is the Synology Router
router – and it’s a good one too. It’s robustly Manager software, which is similar to Finder in
designed and setting it up couldn’t be simpler. layout, making your router’s configuration tools
The router has all the top-notch specs you’ll easy to navigate and tweak. There’s even an app
SYNOLOGY want, with four Gigabit Ethernet ports together center, allowing you to add extra goodies including
RT1900AC with the latest 802.11ac wireless standard, plus media, VPN and DNS servers.
Top-of-the-line a USB 3.0 port for printers, 3G/4G modems or The RT1900ac is an expensive solution, but
performance extra storage, and an SDXC card slot, too. you will at least feel the benefit from its blazing
Good-looking interface Our tests showed excellent wired transfer performance and extra features.
rates up to 950MB/s, and wireless rates of 140MB/s THE BOTTOM LINE. It’s expensive, but the
Useful app center
and 420MB/s on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, RT1900ac checks all the right boxes with its
Expensive respectively. A feature called beamforming claims performance, feature set and ease of use.
GREAT to prioritize wireless traffic, so that up to six of NICK PEERS

74 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

Transcend
StoreJet 500 1TB
Exposes a Thunderbolt weakness
$590 Manufacturer Transcend, transcend-info.com
Features Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 ports

Transcend’s StoreJet 500 portable SSD has both USB


3.0 and Thunderbolt ports, and can be powered over
either connection. We tested both interfaces using
QuickBench, and while Thunderbolt was quicker by
up to 40MB/sec in the small files tests, the USB port

Sugr Cube not only matched its write speeds (289MB/sec), but
actually outperformed Thunderbolt in the read tests
(421MB/sec and 435MB/sec versus 387MB/sec and
A tiny, pretty, portable AirPlay speaker 391MB/sec, respectively).
$229 Manufacturer Sugr, sugrsugr.com We’ve seen this difference between the two port
Weight 1.3 lb Dimensions 4.1x4.1x4.3 in types before, with a portable drive from Elgato.
However, this just serves as encouragement to avoid
the Thunderbolt premium if your Mac has USB 3.0,
This little portable speaker is really nicely made, and comes and to buy or build a USB-only SSD.
packed with features. Its wood-Ľnished shape mimics iOS app These speeds are much quicker than traditional
icons (and its own app matches the look of the speaker), it hard drives, but are eclipsed by our 2012 Mac mini’s
connects to Wi-Fi networks for wireless audio streaming, and it 256GB SSD. And that’s the rub: performance is good
has cute gesture controls: when music’s playing, you can tap its enough to run apps and even virtual machines, but
top to pause or play, or tilt it 45° to skip tracks. It’s easy to set it’s not worth the hefty premium just for Thunderbolt.
up via its accompanying iOS app, which also gives you access to THE BOTTOM LINE. Fast, but most people could
some of the streaming services it supports, including Pandora go for a less expensive USB-only SSD. NICK PEERS
and internet radio station options. These are Ľne – the app
works well enough (though we’re not sold on swiping to
navigate through its services), but won’t win any design awards. TRANSCEND STOREJET 500 1TB
But the key thing is that it supports AirPlay, so you can play Smart, sleek, sturdy design
pretty much anything to it. (It also supports Spotify Connect.) Fast transfer speed
All this combines into a seemlingly great package, with one
A premium price over USB options
problem: the sound isn’t impressive. It’s good in the mid-
range, and especially for speech, so works well for talk radio, Performs less well over Thunderbolt
but the bass is weak, and the treble is severely lacking in detail. SOLID
You simply don’t get the most out of your music when listening
on this – and that’s a problem when you’re spending over $200.
THE BOTTOM LINE. A Ľnely made, well featured speaker,
but best if you stick to voice playback. MATT BOLTON

SUGR CUBE
Lovely design and finish
Great range of features
Music quality isn’t very good
Not cheap
OKAY

maclife.com APR 2016 75


>>> Reviews

The Arcam case does


boost the audio output
from your iPhone, but by
a pretty neglible degree.

76 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

Arcam MusicBOOST
Improve your iPhone’s music output. A bit
$189 Manufacturer Arcam, arcam.co.uk
Weight 3.6 oz Connectivity 3.5mm jack, micro-USB, Lightning (to iPhone)

T
his is two products in one, really. It’s $150 mark up to the $1,000+ Oppo PM1s –
a battery pack case for the iPhone 6 (or to both lossless music (in the Apple Lossless
6s, at a squeeze, which we’ll come to), as format) and standard tracks from iTunes and
well as a headphone amp and digital-to-analog Apple Music. And while we could discern a
converter for your music. Stick your iPhone in difference, we were really listening, and testing
(it connects via the Lightning port), then plug for it in optimal conditions, and we just didn’t
your headphones into it, and it aims to make feel like we were missing out without it.
your music sound better – and acts as a You do hear a bit of extra punch in the bass
headphone amplifier. and percussion, and there’s a tad more richness
As a battery pack, it’s fine. It claims and warmth to the overall sound – but the
to supply 120% of an iPhone charge – we difference is minimal, and only discernible
measured a 95% charge (over the course of in some songs. If you’re someone who cares
about two hours), but while lightly using the about wringing every possible drop of sound
phone, so you’ll certainly get one full charge quality out, though, then you might be happy
from it. You can charge the case (and your with that improvement.
phone, while it’s in it) using micro-USB. But Our bigger issue was that the case is
you can buy battery cases that do this for incredibly tight on the 6s – getting it off is
much less money. No, it’s the music part an ordeal. We’ve been told it relaxes over time
that might make you buy this. (which seemed to start happening for us), but
The idea is that the iPhone’s digital-to- better is that a dedicated 6s version is coming.
ARCAM analog converter chip is okay, but a better However, while the case’s soft-touch matt
MUSICBOOST one offers more precise audio reproduction, material is very pleasant and well finished, it’s
Full charge of an iPhone allowing for more faithful playback of lossless a bit too slippery for us, and it’s not really that
Small audio boost… music especially – and the amplifier supports protective as a case. It also stops in-line mics
headphones the iPhone doesn’t on its own. and controls working on headphones.
… but emphasis on “small”
So, is the effect worth it? THE BOTTOM LINE. Just about does what it
Very tight on iPhone 6s We’d have to say: not really. We listened with sets out to do, but we think most people simply
OKAY different headphones – ranging from around the won’t find it worth the money. MATT BOLTON

maclife.com APR 2016 77


>>> Reviews

Logitech Create Keyboard Case


Can Logitech beat Apple’s own iPad Pro keyboard?
$149 Manufacturer Logitech, logitech.com
Dimensions 9x0.8x12.4 in Weight 1.6 lb Features Smart Connector, backlighting, function keys

W
e had high hopes for Logitech’s iPad Pro screen, and so on, which are absent from Apple’s
keyboard case – Logitech’s other iPad keyboard. The last of those is better than the
products are great, and it’s a first-class Pro ç+H shortcut, because it can also return you
citizen thanks to its use of the Smart Connector. to the first Home screen when you’re on a later
Between it and Apple’s Smart Keyboard, it has by one. Three-level backlighting is also welcome,
far the more traditional feel to its keys, and so despite being uneven across the keys.
you can just start using it without retraining your It’s not all good, though. Compared to the Smart
muscle memory. There’s not as much travel and Keyboard, it’s notably heavy and bulky. Worse, it’s a
bounce as from Apple’s non-Magic Mac keyboards, pain to fit and remove from the Pro, though it does
but it’s eminently useable. The layout is pretty cover the iPad’s back, too. It’s fine if you always
LOGITECH CREATE similar between it and the Smart Keyboard – both want to have a hardware keyboard attached to the
Great typing action use the extra size to avoid having to squeeze in Pro, but tiresome if you want to be more flexible.
Useful function keys punctuation keys – but we like that the Create has It covers the speakers as well, which isn’t ideal.
its arrow keys in an inverted “T,” while Apple’s THE BOTTOM LINE. We want to love this comfy,
Awkward to fit and remove
keyboard just fits them into an awkward rectangle. feature-packed keyboard, but it’s a hassle to fit.
Covers the Pro’s speakers Perhaps the biggest advantage the Create has is Good if you’ll use your iPad Pro more often as a
GOOD its dedicated keys for playback, volume, lock, Home laptop than a tablet. CHRISTOPHER PHIN

78 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

iQunix Zand
A sticky iPad stand
$29 Manufacturer iQunix, iqunix.com
Dimensions 3.9x3.9x7.1 in

This is a simple idea that works surprisingly well.


It’s a very well-made aluminum iPad stand that
holds your tablet using a sticky pad. But it’s not a
chemical adhesive – it uses micro-suction-cups to
hold the smooth back of your iPad tight just using
physics, so leaves no residue afterwards. All you do
is press the iPad to the black pad (fairly firmly, but it

STM Grace Deluxe doesn’t take much effort) and it will stay right there
– and this means it works with any iPad, including the
Pro. Getting your iPad off easily requires learning a
A sharper notebook sleeve bag bit of a technique (pulling from one corner first,
$59 Manufacturer STM, stmbags.com basically), but is no hassle. It’s also got a pad on the
Sizes 13-inch, 15-inch Weight 0.68 lb stand’s base, keeping it firmly in one place on your
desk (this takes a solid pull to dislodge, resulting in
a pleasing/alarming ringing sound). The stand can
There are loads of nice, functional and aļordable notebook bag also lie with the main pad down to hold the iPad in a
options for men, but women have been rather underserved if flatter position, for typing and so on, again with the
they want something that’s practical and looks good, but isn’t sticky area keeping it stable. You will find that the
from a designer name. STM is one of our favorite bag brands, pads becomes less sticky over time as they pick up
and the Grace is its attempt at redressing this balance. dust, but just a wipe with a wet cloth fixes that.
It’s a fairly minimal bag - it has a main section for a 13-inch THE BOTTOM LINE. A really nice iPad stand
notebook (15-inch version available), and a zipped pocket that option – smart looking, well made, secure and
runs the length of the bag’s side. The notebook section is lined versatile. MATT BOLTON
with a soft non-scratch material, and is well padded against
bumps. Its top ľap is only held closed by magnets, so might not
seem that secure, but if you have the straps over your shoulder, iQUNIX ZAND
they eļectively make the ľap inaccessible. The zipped section Great aluminum build
has a few little pockets for pens and your phone, and can take Sticky pad works well
your laptop charger cable, but it’s not very big, so taking the
Good price
cable will spoil the bag’s clean lines. It comes in a range of cool
colors, though we have concerns about keeping the light suedey Needs wiping every so often
material clean over time… As in, we’re pretty certain it would EXCELLENT
be impossible. But it looks great until then!
THE BOTTOM LINE. A nice notebook bag that oļers more
color and style than most - but not the most practical option
out there in terms of material and storage. MATT BOLTON

STM GRACE DELUXE


Good notebook protection
Attractive design
Limited pocket space
Some colors may end up scuffed
GOOD

maclife.com APR 2016 79


>>> Reviews

80 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

Thief
Robbed of its potential
$29.99 Developer Eidos Montreal, eidosmontreal.com
Requirements OS X 10.10.5, 1.8GHz processor, 4GB RAM, Nvidia 6xx series/
AMD HD 5000 series/Intel Iris Pro graphics with 1GB VRAM

E
ven without this series’ legacy looming like of trinkets and baubles to snatch – silver cutlery
a specter – the astonishingly atmospheric in birds’ nests, candlesticks in the gutters –
original pair of Thief games almost quickly becomes tedious, but they finance
singlehandly kicked off the stealth genre 18 Garrett’s arsenal of poison bombs and
years ago – this reboot of the first-person steampunk flash-bangs, as well as the upgrade
sneaking and stealing sim would be under-tuned, purchases that improve his stealth abilities.
cobbled together, and incohesive. The game’s While Thief’s larger structures never gel, the
po-faced seriousness is undercut by the arch game fares much better in its main missions, set
silliness of its plot and the absurdity of its pieces that give players more freedom while
interactions: in Thief, you can pummel a man limiting the scope to one particularly important
five feet from his sleeping daughter without artifact. Garrett is almost always outgunned, but
disturbing her. Guards have farcically short tête-à-têtes against enemy soldiers provide the
memories, too – even a crashing chandelier only bulk of Thief’s creative spark. Stealth is the
warrants a few seconds’ investigation. most obvious option, but Garrett can also set
These may be acceptable quirks of the fires, snuff out lights, and pick off stragglers
so-called “immersive sim” genre, but Thief’s (so long as he hides the bodies).
worst offender is the City, a grimy shantytown There is a giddy thrill in flitting through the
covered in industrial murk and comprising shadows, snuffing out candles, and snatching
dead-end alleys and tightly packed buildings. coin purses. Garrett’s swooping dash gives him
THIEF As hub worlds go, the City is cramped, a feeling of lithe athleticism, and even simple
Missions have a variety claustrophobic, and a chore to navigate, navigation is satisfyingly lively. The alternate
of stealth, navigation, and some districts arbitrarily restricted by transfer routes through each level are perhaps too
combat options points and loading screens. Storyline missions clearly marked – a rope arrow here, a ventilation
Mods and customizations (and some of the larger quests) are quarantined duct there – but that doesn’t diminish the fun of
can fine-tune difficulty into discrete areas, however, being replayable actually using them.
The hub world is and scored for thoroughness and efficacy. THE BOTTOM LINE. Thief suffers from tonal
a chore to navigate Unsurprisingly, Thief involves all manner of dissonance, an obstructionist structure, and
Enemy AI and combat pilfering and plundering. You play as Garrett, a abundant busywork, but provides a suite of
are fairly rudimentary begrudging Robin Hood figure who spends most engrossing and variable tactical challenges.
OKAY of his time stealing from the poor. The avalanche JOSEPH LERAY

maclife.com APR 2016 81


>>> Reviews

Tharsis
“Yahtzee in space!” Only quite a bit harder. And bloodier…
$14.99 Developer Choice Provisions, totallychoice.com
Requirements OS X 10.10 or later, Intel Core i5, 2GB RAM, Intel HD 5000/Nvidia GeForce 400/AMD HD 5000
series graphics, 2GB storage

This is what you need to beat on your dice rolls


while hopefully avoiding the unlucky numbers
that deplete health or void the die entirely. You
can use any combination of characters on any
event, but everyone only gets one turn, and
events carry over from week to week. Spend too
much time on one damaged module in week
Ľve and that secondary problem might be the
diļerence between failure and success next
time. On top of fixing the ship, you’ll have to
manage the characters’ health and stress levels
while prioritizing food, the Iktomi’s integrity,
research, the number of dice available, and
eventually, your own humanity. When resources
are scarce, eating fallen teammates may be
your only option. It’s a lot to take in at Ľrst,
but once it clicks, it feels wonderful.
However, even the best-laid plans can be
decimated by bad luck. Rolling a 3 instead of a
4 can be the diļerence between life and death.
A major system failure randomly spawning at
the wrong time can end it all. Even in moments
of victory, it’s hard not to feel like luck played
Welcome to the Iktomi. Tharsis is a tough game. Your crew, struggling as much a part as skill. That doesn’t make
Everything is on fire.
to survive after a mission to Mars goes terribly landing on Mars feel any less glorious, though.
wrong, will die, one by one. Your ship will blow THE BOTTOM LINE. As challenging and
up a lot. You may resort to cannibalism in a sometimes absolutely maddening as Tharsis
desperate attempt to last one more week. You is, it’s also compelling, intense, and addictive.
will watch as the dice fall short and you fail once SARAH LEBOEUF
again. And you will keep coming back for more.
Described by its developer as “Yahtzee in
space,” Tharsis uses dice-based, turned-based
gameplay to call to action the remaining crew of
the shuttle Iktomi. With eight modules, several
THARSIS of them usually facing catastrophic failure, it’s
The simple concept is no easy task staying on target – that target
surprisingly strategic being Mars. The action itself consists of clicking
Keeps you coming diļerent rooms to move crew around and
back for more rolling dice to Ľx these “events,” but don’t
Enhanced by lovely visuals be fooled by how easy that sounds.
and a chilling story In fact, Tharsis requires a lot of careful
Luck can wipe out strategy. Each round, representing one of the
progress instantly 10 weeks it takes to get to Mars, two or three
In an effort to survive, resorting to cannibalism will leave
EXCELLENT disasters will crop up, each with a number. blood on your hands… and dice.

82 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tough testing, trusted ratings

Incompetence abounds in

else Heart.Break() the city of Dorisburg.

Hack an entire city (and learn some programming on the way)


$24.99 Developer Erik Svedäng, eriksvedang.com
Requirements OS X 10.7 or later, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM

else Heart.Break() is a game about hacking The game’s programming language –


a city, using a programming language Språk – is relatively simple, with clearly
anyone can learn written by the developer – labeled functions listed in the bottom of the
though it looks initially like a point-and- modiĽer and a tolerance for errors. But it
click adventure with an intentionally boring still allows for some complex code, which
premise: you are Seb, a novice soda salesman may leave some players overwhelmed, but
in an unfamiliar city called Dorisburg. will give those with the patience for it the
The problem is that only those who have opportunity to learn real-world techniques.
a clear idea of the great stuļ that lies within The story takes Seb through scenarios
this game are likely to get through its dull that the player can solve through hacking. ELSE
introduction. Even if you know that Those not keen on the “good hackers vs evil HEART.BREAK()
programming is the goal, the path to follow corporation” premise still have an entire A world full of things
is unclear. Once you’re through that intro, city with which to tinker, learning through to program
it becomes so much more interesting. Soon experimentation, checking out the code Programming language
after you’ve get “modiĽer” that allows you written into each object and changing it to is relatively easy to
to program, you learn that you can hack into see what happens, Ľxing what’s broken understand
more than just computers. You can rewrite and breaking what works. Teaches applicable
the code for the behavior of bins or water THE BOTTOM LINE. This game wouldn’t be techniques while still fun
fountains, or make a door transport you to worth it for the story and characters alone, Story feels like an
a diļerent room, hack drinks machines, but the coding oļers hours of fun for an unfortunate necessity
and create cigarettes that speed up time. inquisitive mind. JORDAN ERICA WEBBER GREAT

maclife.com APR 2016 83


HOME LIFE BETTER LIVING THROUGH SMARTER TECHNOLOGY

> GET STARTED WITH…

MULTIROOM
WIRELESS
AUDIO
Music has long driven Apple tech, and now
multiroom sound makes more of your tunes
BY CLIFF JOSEPH

luetooth is a great way to steam audio. SOUND ADVICE


B but has its limitations, both in terms Before we get into the Ľner points of Wi-Fi and
of range and audio quality, and the other technical details, it’s important to remember
need to “pair” your Mac or iOS devices that sound quality is still the most important aspect
with individual speakers means that your music is of any music system.
usually stuck in one room at a time – unless you The speakers that we look at here (see p88) range
pick up the speaker and carry it around with you. from $130 to $500, and the good news is that
The next step for true musical ľexibility in there’s not a single dud among them. Of course,
the home, therefore, is the addition of Wi-Fi you can’t really expect the little Philips Izzy costing
connectivity, which allows you to connect multiple just $130 to compete with more powerful rivals such
speakers to your home network. This means that
you can stream music to any room in your home
– or even to several rooms all at once. T H E G R E AT E R B A N D W I D T H
The greater speed and bandwidth of Wi-Fi also
provides much better audio quality, as well as the
O F W I - F I P R OV I D ES M U C H
ability to connect to online music services such as BETTER AUDIO QUALITY
Spotify (and potentially Apple Music – but we’ll
come to that later). THAN BLUETOOTH DOES

84 APR 2016 maclife.com


maclife.com APR 2016 85
>>> Home Life

and want to play the same music in diļerent rooms.


Alternatively, you can stream diļerent music to
individual speakers, perhaps playing dance music
downstairs at a party, and more chilled-out tunes
upstairs. The Bose SoundTouch app works particularly
well when grouping diļerent speakers together, with
options such as separate volume controls for individual
speakers, or a master control that adjusts the volume
for every speaker in a group.
These apps can also use your home network to
connect to the internet, allowing them to plug into
popular music streaming services such as Spotify,
as well as a huge selection of internet radio stations.
Pure’s own Connect app even links up to a good
selection of podcasts too.

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE


However, reliance on speaker manufacturers’ apps
can also be a weakness. Despite their many advanced
features, the iOS apps used by the Samsung and
Sonos speakers often feel a bit rough around the
edges. The Mac version of the Samsung app also
Philips’ Izzy uses proved particularly clumsy, and makes it diĿcult
Bluetooth to stream
audio, so it works to play music stored on the Mac, which is far from
with iOS devices back ideal! Also, none of these apps currently supports the
to the iPhone 3G.
Apple Music subscription service either, although
Sonos is currently testing Apple Music on a new
beta version of its Controller app, which it hopes
as the Samsung R6 or the Sonos Play:5, which cost to release early in 2016 (we look at a possible
three or four times as much. The price diļerence is workaround for using Apple Music on some of
partly because the Izzy just uses Bluetooth for its these speakers on p89). If you subscribe to Apple
multiroom connection, though its audio quality is still Music, or you like listening to music broadcasts from
Ľne for a bit of background music. The Pure Jongo T4X other audio apps, make sure that you check which
adds Wi-Fi for a bit more money, but it also provides a speakers include support for those options before
hefty 50W output and quite respectable bass. buying. The best way around this is AirPlay, but only
The Bose SoundTouch 20 and Samsung R6 are the Sonos Play:5 supports it here. The others support
good mid-range options, costing $349 and $369 Bluetooth audio, though, which can work just as well.
respectively. Each speaker is capable of producing Finally, we have to tip our hat to the Philips
clear, detailed sound, along with room-Ľlling volume. Izzy, the least expensive option in our selection.
The $499 Sonos Play:5 oļers the best all-round sound It somehow manages to do without an app altogether
quality in our selection, courtesy of six Ľnely tuned and magically boils down the entire process of
drivers that ensure great balance. grouping speakers and streaming music to just
The inclusion of Wi-Fi in these multiroom systems two little buttons. Very neat.
has several advantages over simpler Bluetooth
speakers. The Wi-Fi signal has a longer range than
Bluetooth (less than 100 ft compared to up to 300 ft), A P P S A L LOW YO U TO G R O U P
so you can stream music from your Mac or iOS devices
to speakers all around your home.
T O G E T H E R M U LT I P L E
The apps that come with these speakers allow you to SPEAKERS IN DIFFERENT
group together multiple speakers in diļerent rooms
in your home, which is ideal if you’re having a party R O O M S I N YO U R H O M E

86 APR 2016 maclife.com


Wireless speakers

THESE APPS CAN ALSO


U S E YO U R H O M E N E T WO R K
TO CONNECT TO POPULAR
MUSIC STREAMING SERVICES
SUCH AS SPOTIFY

< Pure’s
Connect app
works with
MP3, AAC,
WMA and
RealAudio
streams, and
it provides
bass and
treble control.

> Bose’s
SoundTouch
20 Series III
can even
receive Apple
Lossless
audio, and it
has a built-in
OLED display.

maclife.com APR 2016 87


>>> Home Life

FIVE OF
THE BEST
Our best buys in multiroom sound systems

1 2 3 4
BOSE SOUNDTOUCH 20 PHILIPS IZZY PURE JONGO T4X SAMSUNG WIRELESS
SERIES III $129 $329 AUDIO R6
$349 philips.co.uk pure.com $369
bose.com samsung.com
> The Bluetooth-powered > Pure’s “caskeid” audio
> This compact speaker Izzy’s sound quality is syncing system, which > This gorgeous space-pod
still manages to produce respectable rather than combines Bluetooth and Wi- design sounds just as good
a big, room-filling sound. It impressive, but if you want Fi, is a little confusing to set as it looks, producing 360°
features Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to buy several speakers for up, but it works well and audio that really lives up to
streaming, so you can play different rooms then it’s the allows the speakers to play a that billing. It’s also portable,
music from most apps and most affordable option in wide range of music services with six hours of battery life.
services. The Mac version of this group. It’s also the – including Apple Music, The iOS app works well, but
the SoundTouch app works easiest to set up and use, happily. Its 50W output isn’t there’s no support for Apple
well too, and there’s even a thanks to its simple two- subtle, but it’s sufficiently Music, and the Mac version
30-day free trial. button control panel. loud for most rooms. is pretty poor.

88 APR 2016 maclife.com


Wireless speakers

> WHAT ELSE SHOULD


I THINK ABOUT…

APPLE
MUSIC
When you use Bluetooth to connect to
a single speaker, that connection allows
you to stream audio from most apps,
including Apple Music and rival services
such as Spotify and Deezer
nfortunately, the Wi-Fi
U connections used by
multiroom speakers are
a bit more complicated
than the well-established wireless
standard of Bluetooth audio.
The Wi-Fi link has to be controlled
by the apps provided by each individual

5 manufacturer, which means that you’re


dependent on the features that are built
into those apps. Most manufacturers
SONOS PLAY:5 include Spotify in their apps, but none
$499 of them currently works with the Apple
sonos.com Music service. Bose, Pure and Philips get
around that problem by cleverly using
> It’s admittedly expensive, Bluetooth (in some cases, combined with
but the Play:5 sounds great, Zl0Il,#Ğ#zklfk#fdq#eh#d#elw#Ľggo|#wr#vhw#
and it can even scan the up, but allows you to listen to Apple Music
room you’re in and adjust on their multiroom speaker systems.
its audio to match the Sonos speakers don’t have Bluetooth,
acoustics. Sonos is working so that route is not an option. However,
to add support for Apple Sonos is planning to update its Controller
Music soon, and there’s a app early in 2016 with full support for
generous 100-day return Apple Music (it’s in beta testing now).
policy if you decide you don’t But, of course, Samsung and Apple are
like the unit. arch-rivals, so while you can still use
Bluetooth to play Apple Music on
individual Samsung speakers, you
possibly shouldn’t expect to see
multiroom support for Apple Music
from Samsung anytime soon. Expect
more support from other manufacturers.

maclife.com APR 2016 89


>>> Home Life Smart thermostats

> HOW TO
GR O U P MULT I ROOM S P EAK ERS
BLUETOOTH
OPTION

Don’t forget that most


multiroom speakers have a
Bluetooth option, which means
that you can connect them to
an Apple TV in order to boost
the sound for films and
TV programmes.

Getting started Wireless setup


With the exception of the Philips Izzy, The app automatically detects the
all these speakers use an app on your iOS device Wi-Fi signal from the Play:5, which allows
to set up and connect to your home network. you to connect your iOS device directly to the
Here we’re using the Sonos Controller app to speaker. The app then locates your network
set up the Play:5 in our living room. and asks for the password to connect to it.

JARGON
BUSTER

Dual-band Wi-Fi routers such


as Apple’s AirPort range can
transmit on the 2.4GHz and Room to room Solo sounds or group
5GHz frequencies. The 2.4GHz We’ve put the powerful Play:5 in our The app allows you to stream different
signal has greater range but living room, so next we’ll set up one of Sonos’ songs to each speaker, but you can also group
is more susceptible to
smaller Play:1 speakers in our kitchen. The app speakers together so that they play the same
interference, such as microwave
ovens. Check to see which already knows our Wi-Fi password, so all we music in every room. Just tap the Group button
speakers also connect at 5GHz. have to do is tell it where the Play:1 will be used. next to each speaker to link them.

90 APR 2016 maclife.com


YOUR PERSONAL GUIDE
TO THE UNIVERSE

OUT
NOW!

DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR


2UGHURQOLQHDWwww.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk
RU¾QGXVLQ\RXUQHDUHVWVXSHUPDUNHWQHZVDJHQWRUERRNVWRUH
>>> Home Life Better living through smarter tech

GET SMART CONNECTED GADGETS TO ENHANCE YOUR LIFESTYLE

DoorBird D101
doorbird.com
$360

>>> The DoorBird can be installed using the The video camera boasts night vision, and
wiring from an existing doorbell or intercom, there’s a 180° motion sensor that can scan the
but includes a microphone and video camera. area around your front door and alert you if
The DoorBird also includes Wi-Fi and Ethernet someone’s hanging around. Accessories include
so you can connect it to your home network. It the BirdGuard camera, which enables you to
can use the DoorBird app to link the intercom remotely open the door so that couriers can
to up to eight iPhones or other mobile devices, drop parcels – but which sounds an alarm if
allowing you to speak to the visitor even when they step beyond the doorway. The company is
you’re away, and if your iPhone has an internet even working on a software update that will add
connection that’s fast enough, the DoorBird can face-recognition, so that it knows to trust your
send a video image of the caller as well. postman when he needs to drop something off!

92 APR 2016 maclife.com


Hunter Symphony
hunterfan.com
$329

>>> We covered smart heating in depth


last issue, so it’s about time we got
some smart cooling! This ceiling fan
works with HomeKit, so you can control
it remotely with Siri, in connection
with other HomeKit gadgets. It uses
Hunter’s WhisperWind motor to stay
quiet while keeping you chilled. Its
built-in light is dimmable too, and it Mind-bending
comes with a normal remote for easy
control for non-Apple users.
technology
Smart devices get
even smarter with
sensors…

Osram Lightify THE APPLE Watch can be


led.osram.com
$60 used to control other apps and
devices, but we’re now starting
>>> The Osram Lightify starter kit to see a new generation of
includes a “gateway” – a Wi-Fi adaptor wearable tech that lets you
that can control multiple Lightify control devices with your
devices – along with one of the body – or even your brain.
power-efficient Lightify bulbs. You A company called Myo
can control the bulb via an iOS app, has developed an armband
and can even tune it to 16 million containing sensors that can
different colors. Additional color bulbs detect the movement of your
cost $40 each, or $30 for a basic white arm and hand. The Myo can
bulb, and Osram is also working on pair with your Mac, PC or
flexible strip-lighting too. iOS devices using ordinary
Bluetooth, allowing you to
control apps such as iTunes
with a quick wave flick of your
wrist. Other developers are
producing their own apps for
Myo too, including Parrot,
Smarter iKettle 2.0 which has released an app that
smarter.am
$TBC lets you guide its flying drones
with the movement of your
>>> This Wi-Fi electric Kettle can check arm! But the ultimate in remote
on traffic reports before you wake up in control will be devices such as
the morning. If the traffic’s bad and the MindRDR headset, which
you need to leave early, the app can monitors brain activity and
wake you and tell the kettle to boil translates it into simple
some water for you at the same time. commands. The developers
It can’t fill itself with water, but there’s can currently use it to control
a Water Level option that can tell you if videos on YouTube, but it’s
it’s running empty! It’s not available in early days yet, so it’ll be a while
the US yet, but Smarter says that it’s before we see anything like it
coming later. for controlling our devices.

maclife.com APR 2016 93


>>> Home Life

APPLE TV THE LATEST tvOS APPS AND THE HOTTEST HARDWARE

Zinc
Bookmark videos, watch later
$2.99

If watching online also a Safari for Mac extension


video is what you along with bookmarklets for
crave, Zinc makes Chrome and Firefox, making
it super-easy to bookmark it easy to bookmark from
content from all over the whatever platform you happen
A really neat idea for Apple TV’s coming of age party. Just be
prepared for some “Oh no, quick, delete that one… please!” internet, then watch them from to be using at the time.
the comfort of your Apple TV. It’s A universal app for iOS and
sort of like an Instapaper for tvOS, Zinc automatically sorts

PhotoWall+ videos — forget about saving


YouTube links or trying to
remember where you saw a
videos into New, Watched, or All
categories, making whatever you
want to watch a snap. At any
The party’s on your TV funny video, because Zinc wants time, you can mark a video as a
$4.99 to become the only app you’ll favorite or change the watched/
ever need to watch them all. unwatched status, and the
There are a few different ways iPhone app (also works on iPad
Next time you have guests coming to bookmark videos: on your but doesn’t offer native display
over for a party, make sure they bring iPhone, use the sharing extension support) features a sharing
their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to add videos from Safari and extension for sending videos to
along, then Ľre up your Apple TV and let the fun other supported apps. There’s friends. J.R. BOOKWALTER
begin. Together with a free iOS companion app
(sorry, Android users), PhotoWall+ allows
partygoers to capture photos of the event and
throw them up on the big screen for all to enjoy.
When guests aren’t adding new pictures,
PhotoWall+ automatically generates a slideshow
of everything taken thus far, complete with your
choice of transition. New images get added as
they’re taken, but you can pause the slideshow
at any time using the Siri Remote and manually
browse photos at your own pace.
After everyone has gone home, simply log into
a web app from any browser to download JPEG Ľles
of everything guests shared as a permanent archive
of the evening’s fun – all without having to worry
about chasing them down and nagging to share Zinc brings ease and clarity to the cluttered world of video bombardment.
their photos with you. J.R. BOOKWALTER Just bookmark a video, let Zinc categorize it and then… well, just watch it!

94 APR 2016 maclife.com


Better living through smarter tech

Zen Pinball HOME


THEATER
Full tilt boogie
Free

Make the most of


Featuring pinball tables home entertainment
licensed from high-profile
entertainment properties
such as Marvel, Star Wars, The Walking
Dead, and others, Zen Pinball has made
the leap from mobile devices to the big
screen — and all those In-App Purchases
you’ve already made will carry right over.
While the action is more traditionally Load up your pinball purchases and start
flipping out on the big screen.
vertical on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch,
PANASONIC TX-65CZ950
Zen Pinball has adapted rather nicely to physics of abusing a real-world pinball
£8,000 (US release TBA)
the horizontal HDTV screen. Naturally, table by shaking the Siri Remote. Best
panasonic.com
instead of moving your device around to of all, it works with your existing Game
4K may be overkill for Apple
shift your silver ball, here the Siri Remote Center leaderboards, challenges, and
TV, but excess is exactly what
acts as a stand-in to get things rolling. achievements. And did we mention there
Panasonic is going for with the
Tap on the Touch surface to get those are now tables available for Star Wars:
TX-65CZ950. This 65-inch
flippers moving, and you can simulate the The Force Awakens? J.R. BOOKWALTER
model throws perhaps the best
OLED display ever onto your
wall, but at the moment it’s not
available in the USA, and if you
have to ask how much, you
probably can’t aļord it.

ISS SpaceWatch
Live from space, it’s planet Earth!
99¢

Those slick Apple TV


screensavers may look
PHILIPS FIDELIO B5
great on the big screen,
$899 usa.philips.com
but they pale in comparison to a live
At Ľrst it looks like just another
feed of Earth beamed directly from the
soundbar, but Philips Fidelio B5
International Space Station. And that’s
has some serious, Transformer-
exactly what you get with ISS SpaceWatch
level skills. Within seconds, this
— nothing more and nothing less.
It’s a small world, so why not try to squeeze curvaceous piece of hardware
Actually, there is a little more: in
it into your lounge with ISS SpaceWatch. goes from 2.1 to 4.1 surround
addition to a bird’s eye view of this big
thanks to detachable Bluetooth
blue marble 24/7, there’s a separate Naturally, it’s all presented in glorious
speakers at each end. It’s pricey
live feed of the HDEV Earth Viewing 1080p, and for under a buck, it’s the best
and stereo sound may be on
Experiment. If that’s not enough, you can entertainment value you’re likely to find,
the weak side, but this is
tune into NASA TV’s Public NTV-1 channel, assuming you’re into outer space. If we
seriously cool stuļ.
which is usually a bunch of science nerds had the time, we could honestly tune in
sitting around doing something way more and sit on the couch all day binging on
important than you are. this. J.R. BOOKWALTER

maclife.com APR 2016 95


ASKTECH SUPPORT & TECHSPLANATIONS
and reinstall them, as it recommends,
then you risk losing access to those
which can no longer run on older
versions of OS X.
Restoring a copy of the app from your
backup will not help either, as that will
not work with the new certificate, and
you will see the same alert if you try to
run it. All you can do is contact Mac App
Store Support (apple.co/10rs3yk) and
press for a refund.

How do I use the


El Capitan system font?
I really love the new system font in
El Capitan. I have tried to find it in font
selection dialogs in various apps, so
that I can use it in my own documents,
but cannot see it anywhere. Am I
missing something?
El Capitan’s new font, San Francisco,
is one of the first to be designed
specifically for use on modern, high-
resolution displays. It’s also the system
font in iOS 9 and watchOS 2. However,
Apple stresses that this is not a general-
purpose font and has not been designed
for use in printed documents. It is
actually only licensed for use as the
system font, and using it elsewhere
would be a breach of that license.
There is also a bigger and more
practical problem: the only systems
App Store apps which are reported as damaged might not always be telling the truth.
which can use San Francisco are devices
running one of those operating systems.

DAMAGED APP PROBLEMS No font foundry or vendor can offer it for


others. So, if you used it in documents,
almost everyone viewing them would
Three apps I bought from the Mac App Store will no longer
open, as they are reported as being damaged. Two reinstalled
fine, but the third no longer supports my version of OS X, and
cannot be reinstalled. How could three have been damaged,
when others were not?

The unfortunate truth is that there was used to check it, and some apps could
probably nothing wrong with them. When not cope with that. Unfortunately,
you start an app bought from the App sporadic problems continued, but these
Store, it checks an Apple security should have settled down by now.
certificate. Late last year the certificate The problem with that alert is that it is
expired, and a new one replaced it. incorrect, as the apps were not damaged
However Apple changed the type of hash in any way. But if you ignore it, you You can’t make the system font bolder – but
key (a component of the encryption) cannot run them. If you trash the apps Finder can be set to use it at a larger size.

96 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tech Support & Techsplanations

have to substitute another font for


it. Apple has cunningly hidden San
Francisco from normal font dialogs by
giving it a name starting with a period, > Deprecated Disk Utility?
a standard trick to make it clandestine.
You will find the San Francisco font in After I had upgraded to files and folders to have robustly using System
/System/Library/Fonts, in several files El Capitan, I discovered their permissions damaged, Integrity Protection (SIP),
with names such as .SFNSText-Regular. that it has dropped Disk usually during software and their permissions
otf. Perhaps that makes it all the more Utility’s ability to create installs and updates, and cannot go awry.
frustrating that you can’t use it! and burn DVDs. I used to it was valuable to be able Instead, permissions are
burn about five DVDs a to check and repair them. now checked when you start
… and how I can read it? week using Disk Utility. Unfortunately this became up or restart your Mac. Due
My eyesight with glasses is still El Capitan has also lost the perceived as a panacea for to SIP, you can no longer run
reasonably good, but now that I have ability to check or repair all sorts of other problems an ordinary utility which can
upgraded to El Capitan I find that I am permissions. How can I do too, whether helpful or not. either check or repair the
having trouble reading its new system these things now? In El Capitan, Apple has most important permissions
font. Is there any way to make its Disk Utility can no longer protected those files more in El Capitan.
characters a bit blacker? I have tried burn disk images to optical
the Increase Contrast setting in the media, but Finder can.
Accessibility pane, but that did not Create a disk image as you
do the trick for me. did before using Disk Utility
There is no easy way to fix this, as (instructions are at apple.
you cannot currently change the weight co/1QGPvfG). Once done,
of the system font to make it heavier, for right-click the image file,
example. You can alter the size used, say and then choose the option
to 13 or 14 point, by choosing Show View to “Burn Image [filename]
Options in the Finder’s View menu and to disc.”
setting your choices as new defaults. Repairing permissions
However, that only affects Finder is a bit more complex. In
windows, and there is no option to earlier versions of OS X, it
use a heavier weight. was common for system
If you continue to find San Francisco
a struggle to read, you could revert to
the previous system font, Lucida Grande,
using the free Automator app from
bit.ly/lucidaelcap. As that comes without
a secure signature, in order to run it you that analog signal first needs to be from a digitizer. Your best solution is
will have to right-click it in Finder converted into digital form. Such therefore an integral package of
and then choose Open in the contextual conversion used to require chunky hardware and software, such as Video
menu to get it past Gatekeeper’s security external boxes, or expensive internal Capture by Elgato ($100), which is
check. The developers also admit that boards, but can now be performed by detailed at bit.ly/elgatovidcap. If you
it doesn’t work perfectly in El Capitan much smaller, inexpensive gear.
due to changes made to the operating Once the video has been digitized,
system, but it’s really your only choice. it must then be delivered to your iMac
through a port that makes it accessible
Video, streaming to video-editing software. The automatic
I have a Canon Hi8 camcorder and choice used to be FireWire, but with few
a bunch of old videos recorded with it. cameras now using that, and modern
How can I connect the camcorder to Macs preferring USB 2.0 or 3.0, the
my iMac to access and edit my videos? answer is less clear-cut these days.
Your camcorder can only deliver Apple lists cameras supported by
analog video through its S-video port. iMovie at bit.ly/imoviecams, but that Elgato’s Video Capture kit consists of a video
For your iMac to be able to read from it, app does not support this type of input digitizer to convert analog signals.

maclife.com APR 2016 97


>>> Ask

connected to a large display, but


sometimes I use it without a display
and with a different mouse and
keyboard. I found that I wanted
different pointer tracking speed and
sensitivity for these situations.
Because the standard Mouse
preferences pane cannot control
sensitivity, I use SteerMouse to
support that. Is there any way to
automate switching its settings
according to location?
SteerMouse (bit.ly/steermse) uses a
substitute mouse driver, implemented as
a kernel extension, to accomplish this.
There are two ways to modify settings
like these. The preferred route is to
Better flatbed
scanners come with alter the file that stores SteerMouse’s
plastic carriers to
preferences. You could write a script to
mount and scan
multiple slides. swap one version of that file for another
when you move between locations.
However, to make that swap take
effect, you would have to log out and
>>> only want to transfer a limited quantity With that in mind, they should probably back in to force SteerMouse to read its
of old movies, it often works out both be your first choice. settings again. That would ultimately
cheaper and simpler to send your tapes If you have your a digital camera with involve more effort than manually
off to a service bureau, which will digitize a suitable screw mount at the front of changing the settings.
and return them on DVD – see scancafe. the lens, you could consider an Ohnar Alternatively, you may be able to
com, for example. These normally charge (or similar) slide copier, costing around script the change using AppleScript,
about $20 per tape to standard DVD- $60. With a uniformly bright source using a line such as:
Video format, ready to play, or more to of light, such as bounced flash, and a
convert to QuickTime movies which you 16-megapixel digital camera, this can tell application “System Events” to
can then edit yourself. produce superb digital images of most tell process “System Preferences” set
monochrome and color transparencies. value of slider 1 of window 1 to 5.0
Sliding in If you can, try each option using some
I have inherited my dad’s large sample slides first. That would produce an immediate
collection of photographic slides. switch, as if you had manually changed
How can I scan them into a Photos Mouse wrangling it in the pane. However, this does not
library on my Mac? I usually use my MacBook Pro with always work, and may well not do so with
The wonderful old Nikon and Canon an external mouse and keyboard SteerMouse. It would be so much easier
pro slide-scanners are still available on if all settings were covered by a Location
eBay, but they will not work with modern option, as network settings are. We can
Macs. Their less expensive, unbranded only hope this is one of the thing being
equivalents are available from considered for the next version of OS X…
photography equipment retailers, but
they lack the same quality and efficiency, Bypassing passwords
and they may not have proper software I recently unearthed a fairly ancient
support for OS X. Mac of mine (in computing terms,
Higher-quality flatbed scanners such anyway), which I know still has data on
as those from Canon and Epson come it – some of which might be important
with slide carriers, can scan multiple to me. The only problem is that it’s
slides at a time, offer as good resolution, secured with a password which I’ve
Most system preferences, except Network,
and have excellent software support. cannot be configured for different locations. long forgotten. I’m not even sure what

98 APR 2016 maclife.com


Tech Support & Techsplanations

version of OS X it’s running. Is there


any way of resetting the password or
do I just have to bite the bullet,
reformat and reinstall? > Emoji on a Mac
There may be. On a pre-Lion Mac,
which won’t have a Recovery system, you How can I use emoji on my Viewers in menu bar.“ Click
can use Terminal to trick the Mac into Mac? Also, I sometimes the new icon in the bar and
thinking it is being set up for the first struggle to distinguish use the Emoji Viewer to
time. Shut down the Mac, then power it them on an iOS device. Is insert the one you want.
on and immediately hold ç+s to start there any way or setting to In iOS, emoji which are
up in “single-user mode.” Type enlarge them? embedded in regular text are
Some apps offer an Emoji displayed at the same font
mount -uw / & Symbols command in size as the surrounding text.
their Edit menu. Otherwise, The only way to make those
and press ®. Follow that command with go to System Preferences > emoji larger in most apps is
Keyboard and select “Show to increase the font size in
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone Keyboard, Emoji & Symbol the app’s preferences.

(There’s no space between the period


and AppleSetupDone.) Press ®, then
restart. You’ll see the welcome screen
that allows you to create a brand new
administrator account. that information online. I am tempted There are two other significant factors
to buy an Apple Watch Sport for its which you should take into account.
Watch: fit for purpose? heart rate sensor. Is that a good Acquiring this data at sufficiently
As a keen cyclist and hillwalker, I am choice, or are third-party devices frequent intervals will shorten iPhone
interested in using my iPhone 6 to better supported? and Watch battery endurance
track my performance and routes Until Apple shipped watchOS 2 in considerably, so you will need to charge
completed, but I do not want to post September 2015, apps were essentially both before exercising, particularly over
unable to access the Watch’s own heart longer periods. You may also find Apple’s
rate data, so third-party sensors were the Sport Band rather sweaty during
only real option. Since then, developers exercise, and may prefer to look for
have been steadily adding better support a third-party replacement.
for the Watch and its sensors to their
apps. Some, such as Runtastic, can load Optical media
heart rate data once you have completed How can I tell which types of optical
a session, but none seems able to display media my Mac supports?
them in real time yet. When using an external drive, check
The Watch’s built-in apps are also of the manufacturer’s documentation to
very limited use: Health gives only the find out the types of media it supports.
most basic information, including hourly You can find out the supported types for
heart rate ranges, or you can view all the an internal drive provided by Apple by
individual timed measurements. Apps choosing About This Mac from the Apple
such as Cardiogram and Heart Graph will menu, then clicking the Storage tab in
give you proper graphical displays of that the window that opens for a complete
data, which should prove a valuable aid in listing of those it can write to – which it
Study heart rate data from an Apple Watch
with an iPhone app such as Heart Graph. assessing your performance. can read too, of course.

EMAIL: letters@maclife.com
SHARE WITH US! FACEBOOK: facebook.com/maclife TWITTER: twitter.com/maclife

maclife.com APR 2016 99


CREATE
HOW TO DO ANYTHING ON YOUR MAC, iPHONE & iPAD

Overhaul the Today view


Make Notification Center work better for you with these widget tips

THE TODAY VIEW in NotiĽcation become a repository for all kinds of widgets
REQUIRES Center was Ľrst introduced in OS X from Apple and third parties. To some extent,
> OS X 10.10 or higher Yosemite to mirror the one that’s it’s taken the place of the deprecated (but not
become so useful and popular in iOS. yet defunct) Dashboard, which, while no longer
LEVEL Not a lot has changed in El Capitan, but are shown in Mission Control by default, can be
> Easy you using it properly? reinstated in System Preferences.
The Today view is reached by clicking on The broad range of widgets that have found
IT WILL TAKE
NotiĽcation Center’s icon, which is right-most a home in the Today view means its name is now
> 15 minutes in the menu bar, then clicking the Today tab a little misleading, though we doubt it will change
at the top of the slide-out pane that appears. any time soon. Among the widgets that keep
While originally intended as a place to go to within the name’s remit are options for checking
Ľnd out what’s happening today, it has the weather, Reminders, and your Calendar.
Others, such as Calculator and World Clock are
very useful but not really about today’s agenda.
Some of the best widgets for the Today view are
made by third-party developers. These include
one for James Thomson’s venerable PCalc app,
one for the to-do manager Wunderlist, and one
for Deliveries, the Mac version of Junecloud’s
excellent delivery tracking tool.

CARPE DIEM - If you Ľnd yourself using Today


view a lot, it’s worth spending time organizing
it so that it works as well as it can for you. If you
use a MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro,
for example, the relatively small vertical screen
space that’s available means you’ll be limited
to viewing only a few widgets at a time. You can,
of course, scroll down to see more, but as Today
view is supposed to be an “at a glance” feature,
keeping your most-needed widgets at the top
of the list makes sense.
Fortunately, rearranging widgets, as well as
customizing their content, removing them, and
adding new ones, is straightforward and doesn’t
take long at all. KENNY HEMPHILL

100 APR 2016 maclife.com


How to do anything on your Mac, iPhone & iPad

JARGON
BUSTER

Widget is the name


given to the individual
elements in the Today
view, just as it is for
windows in Dashboard.
It remains to be seen
whether they will
eventually replace their
Dashboard counterparts
altogether in OS X.

Reorder widgets Delete widgets


Click Notification Center’s icon and then click At the bottom of the Today view, click Edit
on the Today tab. The default view has some of Apple’s (“New,” if apps you’ve added include widgets) to reveal
widgets, such as Calendar and Reminders, already in a list of unused widgets on the right. To remove a
place. To reorder them, click on the title of one and widget from Today, click the – (minus) next to it. It
drag it up or down the list. will join the unused list.

Add widgets Customize widgets


If you click the + (plus) next to an unused Some widgets, such as Stocks and Weather,
widget, it will be added to the list; you can then drag can be customized. Put the pointer over a widget; if
it up or down, as in Step 1, to place it where you want an “i” then appears to the right of its name, click that.
it. To find more apps that include widgets, click the Click – (minus) to remove an item or + (plus) at the
App Store button at the bottom of the view. bottom of the list to add one.

TAKE
CONTROL

You can create your


own widgets. A Reddit
user (bit.ly/1lLOgjB) has
made available a widget
that displays the output
of a shell script in Today
view. So, for example,
you can view the
contents of your
An eye on battery health Count down to an event Clipboard, headlines
If you use a MacBook, keeping an eye on Countdowns (bit.ly/mlcntdwns) is available for from an RSS feed, or
the time elapsed since
its battery’s health is essential. Battery Monitor free from the Mac App Store (and can be unlocked with
your last restart. You
(bit.ly/mlbatmon) allows you to do just that in the an inexpenisve IAP). It enables you to specify an event, can find some example
Today view. Download it free from the Mac App Store its date, and its time. It then shows you in the Today scripts to try at
and add its widget, as in Step 3. view how long is left until the event begins. bit.ly/mlextnotif.

maclife.com APR 2016 101


>>> Create

Secure your Mac with MacID


Discover this versatile Mac and iOS app for keeping out prying eyes

NOT EVERYONE USES password in the app’s settings. It can also wake the Mac up
REQUIRES protection to lock their Mac, but when you come back to it, again with a setting for
> OS X 10.10 or higher, everyone should. With so many distance. Another clever option is the ability to
iOS 8 or higher, sensitive details like bank accounts tap out a unique pattern on a Mac’s trackpad in
Bluetooth 4.0 in accessed online, the last thing you want is anyone order to unlock it. This is handy if you don’t have
both devices, peeking at your private data. The only bugbear your iOS device with you, and tapping a pattern
Touch ID
about locking and unlocking your Mac repeatedly takes only a second or so.
LEVEL is that you end up typing your password over and MacID can do other useful things, such as
over again. Apple’s newer iPhones and some iPads control iTunes or Spotify playback or copy the
> Easy
have Touch ID, a Ľngerprint scanner that you can contents of a clipboard between devices, which
IT WILL TAKE use to unlock the device and authorize actions, is something Apple should really bake into its
> 10 minutes such as Apple Pay. MacID is a clever app that operating systems.
harnesses the power of Touch ID to streamline If you own an Apple Watch, MacID provides you
the process of securing your Mac. with a convenient way to lock or unlock multiple
Macs or start screensavers from your wrist. You
CUSTOMIZE YOUR LOGIN - MacID makes things can add MacID’s Glance to the Watch to easily see
simply by pairing over Bluetooth and then giving how many Macs you are connected to, which could
you the option of remotely locking or unlocking be handy if you manage a number of computers at
the Mac’s screen from your iPhone, iPad or even home or in an oĿce. You’ll need a Mac and an iOS
Apple Watch. Even more usefully, it can be set up device with support for Bluetooth LE, which
to trigger automatically. You can, for example, includes iOS devices as old as the iPhone 4S and
make it lock the screen as soon as you move away MacBooks from 2011; if your gear is recent you can
from your Mac, with distance being conĽgurable probably run MacID okay. HOLLIN JONES

How to Pair your Mac and iPhone

Download Mac app Pair the devices Lock from iPhone


Go to macid.co and download MacID Open the iOS app and the two In the iOS app, tap the Mac’s name
for Mac, as well as MacID for your iPhone devices should see each other. The Mac to lock the Mac’s screen. Tap again to
($3.99, App Store), which includes a Glance helper app will ask for your user account unlock it; this time you will need to place
for Apple Watch. Open the Mac app and password and then store it securely. Once your finger on the Touch ID sensor to
choose “Add iOS Device.” Both devices paired, the app appears among the icons authorize the unlock. You need to have
need Bluetooth turned on. on the menu bar’s right-hand side. set up Touch ID already for this to work.

102 APR 2016 maclife.com


How to do anything on your Mac, iPhone & iPad

How to Use MacID’s proximity features

Auto-lock your Mac Auto-unlock Mac Wake by proximity


In MacID’s menu, choose In the Proximity Wake menu, From the Proximity Wake menu,
“Auto-lock when away from Mac.” Then, select Unlock Automatically if you want switch on the eponymous feature. Under
from that submenu, select a distance that to have your device unlock the Mac as Custom you can set a specific distance
will trigger locking: “medium” is a good soon as you come within range. The at which the Mac will wake up, based on
starting point. Now when you walk far combination of these two distance-based Bluetooth signal strength. Experiment
enough away, the Mac will lock itself. settings automates access to your Mac. to tweak this distance to your needs.

How to Control your Mac using your Apple Watch

Activate Watch app Lock from Watch Unlock from Watch


Installing MacID’s iPhone app Since the Watch shares the Swipe left in the Watch app to
makes its companion app available on iPhone’s Bluetooth connection, it can talk reveal shortcuts. Here are buttons to
your Apple Watch. In MacID on your to the Mac via the phone. In the Watch lock or unlock your Mac, to start its
iPhone, go to the Settings section and app, tap the computer’s icon to lock the screensaver, and also to disconnect the
make sure the option to allow unlocking Mac’s screen. You also have playback Watch from the Mac. The Watch remains
from Apple Watch is switched on. controls for iTunes or Spotify here. authorized as long as you’re wearing it.

> Tap to unlock with your trackpad


From the Mac app’s menu, choose Tap To Unlock > Setup. Put the pointer
over the box in the window that appears, then enter a pattern by tapping
several times, potentially with more than one finger per tap if you like.
The app will remember the pattern and add it to the list of methods that
will unlock your Mac. It’s probably not quite as convenient for you as
proximity unlocking, but it’s still faster than manually typing a password
(you’ll see the password fill in when the correct taps are pressed). It’s
also very useful if you don’t have your iPhone with you.

maclife.com APR 2016 103


>>> Create

Sign in with iCloud Keychain


Make your online life easier to manage across all of your Apple devices

PASSWORDS, BANK CARD numbers,


REQUIRES email account settings… living in
> OS X 10.9 or higher. the modern world requires us to
iOS 7.0.3 or higher. memorize more obscure info than
ever. No wonder so many of us pick a single,
LEVEL
easy-to-remember password and use it across
> Easy every service, from webmail to online banking.
While that might make life easier, it certainly
IT WILL TAKE
doesn’t make it secure, as a breach of any one of
> 20 minutes those systems leaves every site you ever sign in to Apple will send a four-digit code to any device you want it to
– as well as your Mac – potentially vulnerable. trust when administering your account.
Fortunately, iCloud Keychain can help. This
feature, built in to OS X and iOS, syncs your journey between your devices, so even if they’re
account credentials between each of your Apple intercepted in transit they should be uncrackable.
devices, so you can set obscure, less memorable How can we be so sure? Because Apple’s opted for
passwords that are unique to every site you use, the strongest variant of the same cypher used by
and then forget about having to remember them the US government for secure communications
yourself. Safari is even able to Ľll in the details on (called 256-bit AES encryption), and further
your behalf. iCloud Keychain can also store your scrambles the data in transit using a complex
bank card details and the credentials for your piece of algebra, based not on numbers but on
email accounts and Wi-Fi networks, making those imaginary points located on a theoretical shape –
available on all your devices. Turning it on an elliptic curve – drawn within an inĽnite space!
automatically moves details you’ve already saved As a Ľnal level of protection, iCloud only
to your Mac or iOS device to iCloud, and any new shares your synced keychain with Apple devices
additions or amendments you make are added to that you’ve explicitly authorized to access the
the online keychain over time. keychain’s contents – so-called “trusted”
devices – and it doesn’t store the security code
ALL IN SYNC - Your details are encrypted before from the back of your bank card, eļectively
being passed through Apple’s data center on their building in a Ľnal wall against anyone making
unauthorized purchases.
Once you’ve set up iCloud Keychain, you can
largely forget about it, provided you keep three
essential elements secure: your password, your
trusted devices, and the Recovery Key for your
iCloud account. The latter of these is used to reset
your account’s password if you forget it after
setting up two-step veriĽcation, in which Apple
will send a passcode to your iPhone that you’ll
need to enter at appleid.apple.com to prove that
you have that particular trusted device.
Losing any two of these three parts of the
system at once will lock you out of your account
– perhaps permanently! If you can’t memorize
your password and Recovery Key, consider storing
them in a Ľreproof safe along with any important
While you can forget about numerous passwords, you need to keep your Recovery Key
legal documents, passports and so on, that you
safe as you’ll need to use it to unlock your account if you forget your password! need to protect. NIK RAWLINSON

104 APR 2016 maclife.com


How to do anything on your Mac, iPhone & iPad

How to Get the most from iCloud Keychain

Set up Add a security code Where’s your data?


OS X will have asked if you want You’ll be asked to set a security Your existing data (site accounts,
to set up iCloud Keychain during initial code, which is used to authorize other Wi-Fi networks, and internet accounts) is
setup of your Mac. If you said no, open devices to access the information in your copied to iCloud and, from there, to other
the iCloud pane in System Preferences iCloud Keychain. Entering it wrong too devices using the same iCloud account.
and select Keychain. Enter your Apple many times will wipe your keychain from Manage it in the Keychain Access app, or
ID’s password when prompted for it. Apple’s servers, so be wary of that! under Passwords in Safari’s preferences.

Keep Keychain local Bank card details Keychain on iOS


If you opt not to set a security Safari offers to save credit card Go to Settings > iCloud > Keychain
code, data you add to your keychain is numbers when entered into online forms. and tap the switch to turn it on. Enter
stored on your device, and updated on They’re then stored in your iCloud your Apple ID password when prompted,
other devices, but it isn’t stored in iCloud. Keychain, too. To add others, open then opt to authorize from another
Beware that this prevents Apple helping Safari’s preferences, click AutoFill, then device (so, your authorized Mac), or
you recover the keychain’s contents. Edit beside Credit Cards, and then Add. tap “Approve with Security Code.”

Permit new device Security code Remove Keychain


If you opted to authorize from If you opted to use a security To clear your keychain data from
another device, notifications will pop up code, confirm the phone number Apple iCloud, go to System Preferences’ iCloud
on those you’ve already authorized – click has on its records of you, then watch for pane, click Options next to Keychain, then
or tap one. Next, click Continue and enter a text message containing a six-digit clear the box next to “Allow approving
your Apple ID’s password to grant the iOS code. Enter this code into the dialog on with security code.” Finally, on each of
device access to your keychain. the iOS device to complete the process. your devices, turn off iCloud Keychain.

maclife.com APR 2016 105


>>> Create

Master Affinity Photo


The first of our five-part guide to Serif’s Photoshop-challenging editor

FOR SOME TIME, photographers with AĿnity’s diļerent “personas” to open a


REQUIRES tempted by Photoshop were faced raw Ľle and give it a Ľrst pass, in preparation for
> OS X 10.7.5 or higher with a stark choice: stump up for a more in-depth edit.
Adobe’s ľagship image editor, with
LEVEL the attendant $10-per-month subscription price, PIXEL PERFECT - At its heart, AĿnity Photo is a
> Medium or hunt desperately for an aļordable alternative. per-pixel image editor. That means, unlike Adobe
Other options were thin on the ground to say the Photoshop Lightroom or Apple’s Photos, it’s
IT WILL TAKE
least – until Serif arrived with AĿnity Photo. designed to allow you to alter an image a single
> 1 hour BeneĽting from a vast range of professional- pixel at a time, if that’s what you want to do. You
grade features, as well as a simple-to-understand can do things that are particularly tricky in other
$49.99 price (including, according to Serif, free apps, such as removing objects that you don’t
updates for two years), photographers who want want in your photographs, or those which would
more than the simple editing options on oļer be impossible, such as selecting an area of one
from OS X’s Photos app without the expense of image and cutting it out for use in another.
Photoshop have an excellent, powerful tool here AĿnity Photo oļers you an incredible amount of
– one so good, it was Apple’s App of the Year. power: with a bit of patience you’ll be able to get
Over the next few issues we’ll be running a your images looking precisely how you want.
series of AĿnity Photo tutorials, covering all the That isn’t to say that editing photos with the
main editing tasks. If you’ve got experience with app needs to be laborious. If you want to quickly
Photoshop you’ll Ľnd that AĿnity Photo does a change how an image looks – say, its exposure,
few things a bit diļerently, but it’s easy to get the white balance or saturation – you can do so
hang of it; and if you’re looking to get started with without trawling through endless menus. This
a more powerful editor, this is also the perfect ľexibility means you could quickly Ľnd AĿnity
place to begin. First, we’ll look at getting started Photo becoming a one-stop-shop: get an image

106 APR 2016 maclife.com


How to do anything on your Mac, iPhone & iPad

Visual guide Affinity Photo’s main window

Personas Toolbar Preview Adjustments


Each reveals a different Tools such as the It often helps to work This panel enables you
set of tools. You’ll find the paintbrush, eraser and clone on images very close up, so to make wholesale changes to
Photo, Develop and Export stamp live here. Photoshop’s this preview can help you to your images. You’ll end up
personas the most helpful. shortcuts work here, too! navigate your way around. using it a lot.

looking how you want it to with a few quick the image below. For example, you might want JARGON
BUSTER
clicks, then use the app’s more powerful tools to insert a human Ľgure into a landscape, or
to remove elements, add objects from other drop a car onto a photograph of a sweeping
images, touch up individual areas of a shot road. Alternatively, you might cut out the
and, Ľnally, export your Ľnished work in sky from a landscape and add a more dramatic
a multitude of diļerent formats. one from elsewhere.
AĿnity Photo enables you to use thousands
LAYERING IT UP - AĿnity Photo’s other big of layers to build up your compositions. As with A per-pixel editor is
improvement over apps such as Lightroom Photoshop, whether these layers are preserved one that allows you to
and Apple’s Photos is its ability to work with when you save your Ľle depends on which format move and edit individual
layers. Layers are just as they sound: “sheets” of you use. If you choose not to “ľatten” an image pixels, unlike Lightroom
or Apple’s Photos app.
extra pixels that can be overlaid or blended with before saving it – that is, merge all its layers into
the layers beneath them. You might use a layer one – you’ll end up with a very large Ľle size, and
to superimpose text, or to add a component to can’t open the image in other software.

maclife.com APR 2016 107


>>> Create

JARGON Adjustment layers will be familiar to anyone It’s a little non-obvious that AĿnity Photo
BUSTER
who’s used Photoshop. They work in a similar provides Ľve “personas,” each designed to help
way to standard layers in that they sit on top of you with speciĽc jobs. Of these, the default is
your original image, but instead of containing Photo, which is the closest to Photoshop.
new components, they change elements of Liquify enables you to pull pixels around, while
the layer below. For example, you might use the Develop persona is akin to Photoshop’s
an adjustment layer to change the exposure or Camera Raw plug-in, and is the perfect place
Lossless images, such saturation of an image. Of course, you could to start, particularly if you’re dealing with raw
as those saved in always change exposure or saturation on the Ľles straight from your camera – enabling you
Affinity Photo’s native original image itself, but the adjustment layer to correct things like exposure or sharpness
format, don’t throw doesn’t permanently aļect the information it before beginning more advanced work.
away any information
changes. This is known as non-destructive The Export persona lets you generate Ľnished
when they are saved,
preserving their quality. editing: no matter what you do to your original versions of your Ľles. It’s worth pointing out
shot, you’ll always be able to remove those that the app can open Photoshop’s PSD Ľle
changes wholesale. format, including its layers, as well as oļering
its own format. Your Ľnal format for most images
LEARNING CURVE - If you’re coming from will be JPEGs – small, high-quality Ľles used
Photos, Lightroom, or another one-hit-Ľx app, by most commercial photo printers. If you’re
AĿnity Photo, like Adobe Photoshop, seems working on images with lots of layers, it makes
fairly daunting at Ľrst. Not only are the tools sense to use AĿnity’s own format, which will not
somewhat abstractly arranged in the toolbar, but only preserve those layers but is also lossless, so
there are hundreds more options buried in the that the image quality is not degraded. You should
menu bar. Some of these tools – such as Levels only create JPEG Ľles when you’re sure you’ve
and Curves – you’ll use all the time, while others Ľnished working on a picture, and even then,
will see only the most occasional use in general storing a high-quality backup is a great idea.
photo editing, if you use them at all. Don’t be A recent, free update to AĿnity Photo added
put oļ, though: AĿnity Photo’s tools hide a a Ľfth persona, Panorama, but you won’t Ľnd
vast amount of power and ľexibility, and that with the others. Instead, it’s activated when
learning to use them will quickly yield some you’re stitching together multiple pictures
incredible results in sprucing up your photos. as a panorama. DAVE STEVENSON

QUICK
TIP

Most of Photoshop’s
keyboard shortcuts
work in Affinity Photo
too, so moving over
from Adobe’s software
should be a relatively
smooth transition. Affinity Photo uses its own file format, but it can also import and export layered Photoshop files.

108 APR 2016 maclife.com


How to do anything on your Mac, iPhone & iPad

How to Make edits in the Develop persona

Import a file Develop a persona First edits


Before you can switch between Choose the Develop persona from Scroll down the list of options and
Affinity Photo’s personas, you need to the top left corner. This adds commonly you’ll find a few basic color-correction
open a file. We’ve opted for a raw file used options to the left-hand toolbar. features. We’ll add a small amount of
generated by a Canon DSLR here, The basics of this image – composition contrast, a decent thwack of clarity, and
although you find that most other and exposure – are already pretty good, then some saturation. These options
cameras are supported, too. but there are other sliders to use, too. add punch and contrast to our picture.

Fix purple fringing Tone curves Final fixes


Click the Lens tab above the basic Finally, choose the Tones tab and Changing the tone curve has
tools. Lens correction allows you to fix check curves. Changing the tone curve of darkened the image, so return to the
things such as barrel distortion. Switching an image changes how dark shadows are Basic tool panel and add a third of a
on chromatic aberration reduction will and how bright highlights are. Clicking stop of exposure. Voila! At the top left
repair purple fringing on the edges of the tone curve and shaping it into an “S” corner of the app, click the blue Develop
high-contrast areas of your image. will generally add a bit of drama. button and your changes will be written.

maclife.com APR 2016 109


>>> Create

Rescue low-quality videos in iOS


Use VideoGrade to improve the color and quality of your home movies

ONE PROBLEM WITH shooting Find videos to add in the Videos album, found
REQUIRES videos is that the world can be within the Albums tab. In Photos for OS X, instead
> An iOS device uncooperative. You might capture start by selecting a video. Click the share button
running iOS 9 or a perfect moment, only to later and choose iCloud Photo Sharing. You can then
later, VideoGrade discover it looks like your video was Ľlmed in add your video to an existing album or create a
4.0.3 or later, some a cave, or that a serene living-room scene was new one. Again, a Videos album is found in
video clips
set on the surface of the sun. Albums, in the toolbar or sidebar.
LEVEL VideoGrade (Universal, $5.99) is a color editor If a video imported this way produces an
for HD video, for applying color grading that can error message when you export it, there is an
> Medium
radically alter your clips. But along with going all alternative import method. Upload said video
IT WILL TAKE “Hollywood,” you can use the app for subtler from your Mac to Dropbox. Select it in Dropbox on
> 30 minutes changes: brightness, contrast and vibrance your iPad and tap the share button, Save Video,
settings, removing color casts, and improving and OK. It will export to your Camera Roll, which
footage by way of adjustments to shadows, can then be accessed by VideoGrade.
highlights and sharpness. Note that regardless of how you get videos
This is a Universal app, but you’ll most likely on to your iPad, sharing and downloading them
shoot video on iPhone and edit on iPad. That can take time when they’re longer than a few
means you’ll need to transfer videos between seconds, especially if you don’t have a fast web
devices. One way of doing so is shared iCloud connection. Don’t throw a load of videos to a
albums. Create one in Photos for iPhone: tap + cloud service and expect them to be immediately
(plus) in Shared, choose a name, and tap Create. available to work with. CRAIG GRANNELL

Quick look VideoGrade’s interface

Main menu
On the left are buttons to export/
cancel, load and save presets, and
toggle the video navigator.

Preview menu
On the right are buttons for
toggling the histogram, clipping areas
and comparison previews.

Filters
There are 13 filter buttons. The selected
one is yellow; used ones get a green marker.

Filter settings
Tap a filter and controls appear
above. (For some, a reset button for
the settings appears at the right.)

110 APR 2016 maclife.com


How to do anything on your Mac, iPhone & iPad

How to Improve your videos

Load a video Test the video Choose a frame


Open VideoGrade and tap Start Change the exposure setting of Whatever clip you’re working
Editing. The app finds local and shared the video – increase it if your video is too with, you need to select a broadly
videos. Choose an album to see its videos dark – then tap the tick, then Export. If representative still frame. Tap the Video
and their times and resolutions. Tap one the video processes (which is very likely), Navigator button (fifth down on the left)
to load it. (If the video is on iCloud, it great. If you get an error, use the Dropbox and drag the video strip until you see
must download first.) transfer method from the intro. something you can work with.

Adjust sharpness Remove color casts Improve lighting


Low-resolution older footage can If your footage has a color cast Outdoor shots can be washed
benefit from being less sharp. Select (blue is common in snowy shots), select out, with problematic color. Tap the sun
Sharpness (triangle icon). Tap the drag the Channel Mixer (three circles icon), option in Temperature (thermometer
handle, and move it left. Low-light videos select the relevant channel and very icon), reduce Highlights in Recover
can benefit from having their sharpness carefully move the sliders to make the (plaster), and boost Saturation (crayons)
increased – just move it right. colors more natural. slightly to make colors more vivid.

Get creative Save and preview Compare and export


Some footage will be too low- If you make a lot of changes, At any point, see how your effects
quality to rescue, but you can still make save them as a preset (fourth icon down compare with the filtered version by
it interesting. Try using Monochrome on the left), in case something goes turning on a comparison preview (third
(chequerboard icon) and Effects wrong during preview or export. To and fourth down on the right). When
(photograph) to turn grainy footage preview your video with effects, tap happy, export, ideally at the original
into charming black and white or sepia. Video Preview (the play button). resolution and frame rate.

maclife.com APR 2016 111


Subscribe to
MAC iPHONE

iPAD

Ahead of the curve, and endlessly entertaining…

Choose your
perfect package
GET THE DIGITAL EDITION GET THE PRINT EDITION

INTERACTIVE
iPAD EDITION -
INCLUDES EXTRA
IMAGES AND
INTERACTIVE
FEATURES

Instant digital access on your iPad, Every issue delivered to your door
iPhone, and Android device. at a fraction of the cost.

Only $18 Only $28


Every Year Every Year

112 APR 2016 maclife.com


GET THE COMPLETE PRINT & DIGITAL BUNDLE

Get both the Print &


Digital editions for only

$40 Every Year

Get the print edition of Mac|Life


delivered direct to your door, plus
SAVE
instant access on your iPad,
iPhone or Android device. 72%
“Mac|Life is the premier
magazine for Apple lovers,
designed to be as beautiful
as an Apple product while
packing in excellent features,
reviews and tutorial guides.”

MATT BOLTON,
Editor

It’s easy to subscribe…


myfavm.ag/MacLifeSubs

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Savings compared to buying 13 full-priced issues from US newsstand. This offer is for new US subscribers only. You will receive
13 issues in a year. If you are dissatisfied in any way you can write to us to cancel your subscription at any time and we will refund you for all un-mailed
issues. Prices correct at point of print and subject to change. For full terms and condition please visit myfavm.ag/magterms. Offer ends: 04/05/2016

maclife.com APR 2016 113


>>> RAM

RANDOM APPLE MEMORY

Macintosh IIfx
Adam Banks remembers when the Mac went pro

©Jonathan Zufi iconicbook.com


With a IIfx on your desk in
1990, you were announcing
your role as a “creative.”

IN 1984, THE Mac was launched as a Quietly, engineers Michael Dhuey $8,970. (For comparison, the average price
personal computer for everyday tasks. and Brian Berkeley were working on an of a car in the US that year was $8,691.) A
By the end of the decade, it was the basis IBM-like two-piece system. After catalyzing 40MHz Motorola 68030 32-bit CPU with
of industries. Aldus PageMaker and the boardroom coup that ousted Jobs, floating-point coprocessor arrived with up
QuarkXPress in publishing. Macromind their manager, Jean-Louis Gassée, took to 128MB of RAM and an 80 or 160MB hard
Director in multimedia. Mark of the over the Mac team, and in 1987 the disk. NuBus cards from the likes of Radius,
Unicorn’s Performer in music sequencing. Macintosh II appeared. RasterOps, SuperMac and Pro Tools added
Pro Tools in digital audio. 3D modeling and The modular interior allowed for various video and audio input and output.
animation from Silicon Beach and Strata. RAM and storage options, and of the six There was nothing a IIfx couldn’t do,
In 1990, Photoshop. NuBus expansion slots, one came occupied and designer Hartmut Esslinger’s neatly
Much of this would have been impossible by a color graphics card, making this grooved cuboid became a staple of the
within the original sit-up-and-beg all-in-one the first personal computer to display creative workplace. With a IIfx on your
design. Steve Jobs had been unwilling to photographic images as standard. desk, you’d arrived.
depart from the vision of a computer that The iconic Macintosh 128K had promised
just worked: users shouldn’t have to open a new age in computing. The Macintosh II
the box. But the Mac was opening up too delivered it. The series peaked with the
Contents subject to change

many possibilities to stay closed. IIfx, released in 1990 at a starting price of

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE


NEXT >>> The best free >>> 40 ways Apple >>> Turn an old Mac
MONTH iOS apps changed the world into secure storage
APRIL 5

114 APR 2016 maclife.com



& &

      '


 
    
%,$,"#-, ,#$!$0 #/)
#%, (./) $ , !,), ,)
#,#). $/,$ -) $( 0$-( ,

///&,((&$"
,/,,(&$"*,(( $$ &$"*,((
9000
9012

You might also like