MacFormatOctober 2025的目錄

It’s almost five years since the first Apple silicon Macs made their debut with the M1 MacBook Air, Mac mini and 13-inch MacBook Pro arriving in November 2020 – and what an incredible journey it’s been. In ‘5 years of Apple silicon’ (p70), we explore how and why Apple’s M-series chips have been such a game changer, and what might come next. With next-gen Apple silicon M5 Macs waiting in the wings, and rumours of many more developments to come (see p6-9), it seems that what we’ve seen so far is just the beginning. Exciting times! Even the latest, most powerful Macs need a little help from time to time, though, and on p20, you’ll discover 56 fast fixes that help you avoid a trip to the Genius Bar at…

While Apple Intelligence hasn’t covered itself in glory since being announced, there’s one area where Apple’s machine learning efforts could make a real difference, and that’s healthcare. According to the company’s own statements, we might see the effects of this in future Apple Watch models. That’s because Apple recently published a paper on this very topic. In the document, Apple detailed its work on an AI model that, it says, can predict ailments and health conditions more accurately than standard smartwatch sensors. It does this by spotting patterns in the way you exercise and uses them to identify potential issues. Because the model uses software-based analysis, its enhancements might not require any new sensors or hardware upgrades. That could mean that the AI model will be available on older devices…

Apple likes to keep its future plans firmly under wraps, which is why a huge leak detailing close to 20 upcoming Macs has come as such as big surprise. The list comes from AppleInsider, which says it sourced it from “our own data and information shared with us”. It gives a high-level view of every Mac we might end up seeing over the next generation of products. AppleInsider says Apple will launch four M5 MacBook Pro models this autumn: two 14-inch and two 16-inch devices with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Around that time, we’ll also see two new Mac Pro desktops, although the exact chips aren’t detailed. We’re also likely to see an M5 Pro Mac mini and an M5 iMac this year. In 2026, AppleInsider predicts two…

Bluetooth If you’re having trouble connecting to a Bluetooth device you’ve already paired with your Mac, go to Apple menu > System Settings and click on Bluetooth in the sidebar. Find the device that’s not connecting, click the ‘i’ icon next to it and in the window, click Forget This Device. Now put the device into pairing mode again (see the instructions, or look for them on the web) and pair it with your Mac in the usual way. Wi-Fi and network issues In System Settings, click Wi-Fi in the sidebar, and turn off the Wi-Fi switch in the top-right. Wait for a few seconds, then turn it on again. If this doesn’t work, turn your router off, count to 20 and then turn it on again. Wait for it…

Apple’s iCloud service lets you store files in the cloud and sync data between your devices. If, for example, you add a card to your iPhone’s Contacts app, it also appears in Contacts on your Mac and iPad. To do this, you have to be signed into your Apple Account on all your devices. To sign in on a Mac, open System Settings and look at the top item in the sidebar. If it doesn’t show your Apple Account, click and sign in. On an iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and do the same. Your data is stored online in your iCloud Drive. This should be accessible in a Finder window sidebar, but if it isn’t, in Finder go to Finder > Finder Settings, click Sidebar and tick…

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IT WILL TAKE 30 minutes YOU WILL LEARN To measure your Mac’s processor and graphics performance YOU’LL NEED Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, Cinebench, Geekbench By benchmarking your Mac, you can measure how well it performs. You can test its single and multi-core processor (CPU) performance, as well as its graphics (GPU) horsepower. You can also check its rendering performance, and how effectively it reads and writes to disk. Doing so lets you pinpoint problems, check the effectiveness of upgrades and even determine if a potential purchase will be an improvement. Regular benchmarking lets you track your Mac’s performance over time. But different apps do different things. Geekbench tests your Mac’s CPU and GPU. It scores performance relative to a baseline of 1,000, so a score of 2,500 means your Mac…

Oabout smart homes is the convenience it offers and that includes automating, well, everything… You can get lights to switch off when you leave the house, or have your coffee machine switched on and ready just before your HomePods wake you up – whatever you need to simplify your day-to-day. And if you have devices with sensors in them, such as motion sensors or temperature sensors, you can use automation to make things happen there too. All the magic happens in the Home app, which is the same on Mac, iPhone and iPad. You can create automations for a single device or groups of them – so a single smart plug or your entire home lighting system, for instance. You can automate multiple devices to create ‘scenes’ too, such as…

£354 FROM enabot.com FEATURES 3K Ultra HD video, 137° wide-angle lens, infrared night vision, 5MP camera, 5000mAh battery, 32GB microSD card (expandable to 256GB), 10mm obstacle crossing, 15° slope smoothing, 11cm clearance under furniture The robot can follow you around the house, capturing video as it goes According to Enabot, the new EBO Air 2 Plus Companion Robot is a means to connect to friends and family whatever the distance. An intimate smart pal; a mobile home security camera; and a great way of caring for pets. That’s a pretty wide brief. Can the EBO Air 2 Plus live up to it? Out of the box, you get an almost-spherical robot of around 10cm diameter and a charging dock. The robot has four wheels at the base, connected by rubber…

£249 FROM campfireaudio.com FEATURES Silicon dynamic drivers, 5Hz-20kHz frequency response, up to 32-bit, 384kHz audio, built-in digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), MMCX to USB-C cable, wired remote with microphone, multiple ear tips Connect the earbuds to your device, and the dedicated DAC takes over Campfire Audio makes bespoke earbuds with a variety of striking designs, the majority of which use a wired rather than wireless connection. While that might seem anachronistic in the wireless age, the benefits of a physical connection are several; they don’t need batteries, they’re capable of very high-quality, uncompressed audio, and there’s no latency. The Axion earbuds are the company’s most affordable and utilise a new silicon dynamic driver with a frequency range of 5Hz–20kHz. You get a selection of ear tips and a carry bag, as well…

£87.99 FROM majority.co.uk FEATURES Plays 33, 45 and 78rpm vinyl, Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge, integrated stereo speakers, Bluetooth 5.3, Aux in/RCA (phono) out, USB recording support with Split, USB flash drive support The turntable lets you digitise your vinyl without needing a computer or a separate audio interface Majority makes a range of home audio devices and the Moto Bluetooth is its most affordable turntable at just under £90. Unlike some others it feels like it’s been built with digital audio in mind rather than having it bolted on, though it’s no less capable a record player for it. In a walnut finish, its build quality is decent – there will always be the odd compromise at this price – and it comes with a dust cover, felt mat and 45rpm…

Could your next iPad Pro have two front-facing cameras? That’s the contention of Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who says the M5-equipped tablet might feature both landscape and portrait cameras for easier FaceTime calls and photography, no matter which way you hold the device. Apple originally put the front-facing camera on the iPad Pro’s top edge, but this was awkward to use in landscape mode. Yet having the lens on the landscape edge (as the current iPad Pro does) makes things harder to use in portrait. Hopefully the dual-camera setup will keep both camps happy.…

Rumours claim that this year’s iPhone 17 line will get a new horizontal camera bar on the back, but there are plenty of other changes expected. Recently, we’ve seen interesting claims relating to two different areas of Apple’s upcoming phones. The first is the colour selection. Citing an “internal document” from Apple, Macworld claims that the iPhone 17 will come in Black, White, Steel Grey, Green, Purple and Light Blue tones. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, meanwhile, will be available in Black, White, Light Blue and Light Gold, Macworld believes. Aside from that, Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station says the iPhone 17 range’s Dynamic Island will be updated, potentially becoming the smallest one yet. Similarly, leaker Majin Bu has argued that the Dynamic Island will soon undergo a…

Netgear Orbi 370 Series > From £209.99 > From netgear.com/uk While the iPhone 16 series are currently the only Apple products to support the faster Wi-Fi 7 standard, that’s bound to change, with both Mac and iPad likely to adopt the technology in the near future. All of which makes the arrival of Netgear’s new Orbi 370 Series timely. Not only does this mesh Wi-Fi system have Wi-Fi 7 baked in, it’s also pretty affordable, with a 2-pack – comprising a mesh router and a satellite – available for just £209.99 and a 3-pack with a router and two satellites costing £299.99. The result is faster Wi-Fi for everyone across your entire home with fewer dead spots and dropouts to spoil your enjoyment of video streams, gaming, surfing the web…

Enter a search query into Google these days, and you don’t necessarily have to wade through the results and click through to a website. At the top of the screen, you’ll likely see an AI Overview which gives you all the information you need. It can save you a heap of time, preventing the need to trawl through websites, and it’s a prime example of how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we both look for answers and consume the ever growing amount of data at our fingertips. AI Overviews launched in the US in May 2024 and the feature has had a huge impact on the number of visitors received by websites. Quite aside from such summaries taking up valuable space where results would normally reside, a report by…

Problems with your iPhone do not always require a trip to your local Apple Store’s Genius Bar. If, for example, an app is frozen or not behaving as it should, swipe upwards from the bottom of the screen to access the App Switcher. Find the app that’s not working, and swipe it off the top of the screen to close it. Open it from the Home Screen again and it it should be fixed. If it’s your iPhone that’s not working properly, press and hold the Volume Up and side buttons, until the slider that powers off your iPhone appears on the screen. Slide it to turn your phone off, then restart it in the usual way. If you can’t do this, try a forced restart. Press and release Volume…

Master Apple shortcuts macOS > Cmd is the Command key. > Alt or Opt is the Option key. > Ctrl is the Control key, also shown as ‘^’ in shortcuts in the menu bar. > The thick, outlined up arrow is the Shift key. > The thin, left arrow or outlined pointer with ‘X’ inside is the Delete key, which deletes to the left. Pressing the Function key (Fn) and the Delete key deletes to the right. > The thin, right arrow key with a small vertical line at the end is the Tab key, which shifts the focus between some controls. iOS > A tap is a brief contact of (usually) one finger on your device’s screen. To drag is to move a finger across the screen to scroll…

IT WILL TAKE 15 minutes YOU WILL LEARN The key features of the Apple TV app YOU’LL NEED macOS 10.15 or later The Apple TV app for Mac connects to three things: the Apple TV+ streaming service; the iTunes Store for TV shows and movies; and locally stored or shared videos you’ve added to its library. Unlike the version for Apple TV hardware, the Apple TV app on Mac doesn’t integrate with other streaming services such as BBC iPlayer or Disney+. To use those services on your Mac you need to access them via Safari or another web browser. The Apple TV app can share media if the people you’re sharing with have access to the same things – so, for example, you can set up a SharePlay session to…

Apple’s entry in the spatial computing market has been a success – from a technical perspective, at least. While take-up has been on the low side (with around 500,000 units sold so far – fewer than Apple’s projections), Vision Pro has nonetheless given us a glimpse of the future, and one that many more consumers might soon tap into soon. For some time, Apple has been rumoured to be working on augmented reality (AR) smart glasses which, to the untrained eye, will look much like an ordinary pair of specs. If current estimates hold, we could be wearing them as soon as 2027, by which time the smart specs (possibly called Apple Glass) would be rivalling similar products in what’s shaping up to be a new tech battleground. Google, for example,…

Tthings that smart-home kits can do, but moving music and movies from one device to another without wires is the one that feels most magical. You can stream wirelessly over AirPlay from your iPhone to your Apple TV 4K, group a bunch of HomePods together for a more immersive Apple Music experience, and have different things playing in different places – all controllable via speaking to Siri or from inside the app you’re currently using. There are plenty of third-party audio and video devices that work with Apple Home and AirPlay, for you to send video to a TV or set-top box or audio to an amp, headphones or speakers. But as you might expect, Apple’s own options tend to offer the best user experience. Setting up a HomePod, combining…

When Apple acquired PA Semi for $278 million in April 2008, few imagined the true impact the purchase would have. At the time, it was suggested Apple was more interested in the fabless, PowerPC chip design company talent and that they would, in all likelihood, primarily work towards the creation of an Appleowned chip for the iPhone. No-one really thought it would eventually lead to Apple creating superpowerful chips that would outstrip those of established manufacturers. But that is exactly what happened. Apple did indeed mainly concentrate on the mobile market at first. The A4 chip made its debut in the first generation iPad in 2010 and, since then, Apple has scaled up and branched out. Drawing on the expertise of a growing number of engineers across the world, it has…

The more we work from home, the more important email has become to our daily lives. After all, it’s a lot harder to discuss things with your colleagues when you’re no longer in the same room. But email is just as important for your personal life, with birthday wishes, vouchers and coupons, travel plans and so much more emailed over the web. That means it’s important to have a good email app in place on your Mac. For many people, that might mean Apple’s Mail, and it’s true that it’s come on leaps and bounds since our last email apps group test in MacFormat #MF403. But the world is wide and exciting, and where’s the fun of just sticking to the defaults? So, while we’ll be putting Mail through its…

£199.99 FROM razer.com FEATURES Twin-stick game controller for iPads with USB-C, adjustable size, USB-C passthrough charging, 3.5mm audio jack The Kishi handled high speed action in Diablo Immortal with no trouble at all Razer’s Kishi game controllers have proved pretty successful over the last few years, and have spawned a variety of models designed for smartphones and tablets of various sizes. The latest V3 range includes two updated models, with the Kishi V3 designed for the iPhone 15 or later (and some Android phones), while the Kishi V3 Pro can also fit the iPad mini (6th gen or later). However, the Kishi V3 Pro XL is an entirely new model that is specifically designed for larger iPads that have USB-C, with screen sizes ranging from 10.3 to 13 inches. Getting…

About £350 FROM en.fritz.com FEATURES Wi-Fi 7 (includes new 6GHz band), mesh Wi-Fi, Zigbee hub, DECT telephone system, fibre optic and DSL connections supported; up to 11,530Mbps (6GHz)/5,760Mbps (5GHz)/1,200Mbps (2.4GHz) wireless speeds AVM’s FRITZ!Box range has a reputation for performance and versatility, and this one’s no exception Wanting all the advantages of Wi-Fi 7, but reluctant to upgrade your DSL model in case you decide to upgrade your internet to fibre optic? The FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro Wi-Fi 7 router is a way out of the dilemma. It offers DSL connectivity for your current connection, and also fibre optics for when you want to upgrade. Both AON and GPON standards are covered. Whether you use it in DSL or fibre optic mode, the 5690 Pro is a capable router. It has…

These days, you can buy a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, but not a plain old MacBook. Ever since Apple discontinued the diminutive 12-inch model in 2019, that part of the Mac roster has remained unfilled. Although that might be set to change in the next year or so… According to a report from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the belief is that Apple is planning to launch a new model in the next few months. And while the idea of a triumphant return for the humble MacBook might sound enticing, there are a lot of questions surrounding its potential relaunch. Let’s start with some of the key details. Kuo believes this device would come with a 13-inch display and be available in Silver, Blue, Pink and Yellow. It will…

Building a website needn’t be a hassle. Made by the team at RapidWeaver, Elements is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web design editor that makes things easy. Images can be dragged and dropped into place, grids controlled with simple sliders, colours adjusted visually, and more, all without needing to input a line of code. But if you want to go deeper, Elements has plenty on offer for pros. From custom components and code templates to developer APIs and an extensive template library, there’s everything you need to create modern, responsive websites that work on any platform. Elements has finally emerged from early access and is now available as a v1.0 release, with new builds arriving regularly, along with new features. There are paid plans for personal…

Apple users are very well catered for when it comes to getting help with their gear. Every Apple Store has a Genius Bar where you can take your Apple device and have it looked at by experts. Help and advice there is usually free, unless they have to make physical repairs that involve disassembly. Point your web browser at apple.com/retail/geniusbar and make an appointment, or for software help, arrange a phone call or a real-time chat from your Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. There’s also plenty of help available online. Forums – including Apple’s own – are full of helpful tips and tricks. But not every problem requires a trip to the Genius Bar. There’s lots you can do yourself to fix issues with your Apple gear, quickly and…

These days, backing up your computer is a essential. Whether you use your machine for work, leisure, entertainment or a range of uses, you don’t want to lose your precious files because of a drive failure, corruption or accidental deletion. macOS has its own built-in app for backing up your Mac. Time Machine was introduced in 2007 with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. It creates incremental backups, which means the first time you use Time Machine it copies everything on your Mac. After that, it only backs up files that are new or changed since the last backup. It backs up automatically every hour, keeping hourly backups for the last 24 hours, daily backups for the past month and weekly backups for everything older than that. When your backup volume…

Apple Intelligence & Siri issues The hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence on the iPad are pretty stringent; running iPadOS 18.4 or later isn’t enough. Your tablet has to have an A17 Pro chip or an Apple silicon M-series chip. The device and Siri language must be set to a supported language such as English, and you need 7GB of storage too. If you can’t get Apple Intelligence working, then check that your iPad meets these requirements. If your iPad meets the minimum specs but Apple Intelligence isn’t there, check it’s on. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and switch it on. If you can’t find it, your iPad is probably too old to run it. Remember also that Apple Intelligence is still in beta. It might not work…

IT WILL TAKE 20 minutes YOU WILL LEARN How to use the Stem Splitter on existing recordings YOU’LL NEED Logic Pro 11.2 or later, Mac with Apple silicon Apple has upgraded Logic Pro by beefing up its clever Stem Splitter, which enables you to remove parts of existing mono or stereo recordings or take those recordings and separate their instruments ready for editing, processing or effects. As before, Stem Splitter takes a normal audio track and breaks it down to individual components, or stems, so you can split the song into separate tracks for vocals, drums and bass. But now it’s even better quality, and it can also separate guitar and piano tracks, and its new submix feature enables you to quickly export only the audio you want – so…

One of the most fun ways to illuminate your home is with smart lighting. Philips’ Hue is the best known system but there are other options from Govee, IKEA and more. To connect IKEA or Hue lights to Apple Home and use the features, you’ll need a Hue Bridge or a TRÅDFRI or DIRIGERA bridge for IKEA. The bridge links the Apple Home app with the smart bulbs and lights, for you to control everything from Home or Siri. You can still use the Hue or IKEA apps, but Home/Siri is more convenient. Smart home tech is also good for home security, letting you create a security system at an affordable price. There are stacks of cameras and sensors, with more and more supporting HomeKit Secure Video. This uses your (paid)…

IN PRINT ON iPAD & iPHONE ISSUE 420  SEPTEMBER 2025 Take a first look at macOS Tahoe What’s next for iOS and iPadOS 26? In-depth guide: boost your passwords 6 best AI apps for your iPhone ISSUE 419 AUGUST 2025 Be an expert photo editor WWDC 2025 news special Become a podcast superstar! 6 best camera apps for iPhone ISSUE 418  JULY 2025 iCloud superguide – 108 tips & tricks 27 must-have travel gadgets 20 essential Mac utilities 6 best outdoor speakers To order back issues of the print magazine, go to bit.ly/mf_backissues or phone +44 (0)330 333 1113 and we’ll post them out to you. Download back issues onto your iOS device at any time and keep them forever in your personal library.bit.ly/macformatipad NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! SUBSCRIBE TODAY!…

£399 FROM sony.co.uk FEATURES 30mm carbon fibre drivers, 20Hz-20kHz frequency response (wireless audio)/4Hz-40kHz (wired audio), multimode active noise cancelling (ANC), spatial audio upmixing, Bluetooth 5.3, up to 40 hours’ playback (ANC off) Although the battery life has not changed, this model features a processor that Sony says is seven times faster than its predecessor Sony’s WH-1000XM series of headphones has consistently been rated among the best in the business since its release. Now three years on from the previous generation, the MX6 adds significant new tech. The price remains comparable with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (£449.95, bose.co.uk) and still less than Apple’s ageing AirPods Max (£499, apple.com/uk)but is still a moderate investment at circa £400. Available in three colours – Black, Midnight Blue and Platinum Silver – the design has…

£279.99 FROM edifier.com FEATURES 110W (RMS) output, 46Hz-40kHz frequency response, Bluetooth 6, SBC and LDAC support, Balanced XLR, Balanced TRS, RCA (phono) and Aux inputs, 1x headphone output, physical EQ controls The speakers have a wide sweet spot meaning they are not overly directional, producing a well-rounded stereo image Edifier continues to expand its speaker range with the MR5 Studio, tri-amped desktop monitor speakers. Available in black or white, the elements of copper colouring saves them from looking too much like dull computer speakers. The speakers are designed to sit either on a desktop or on stands, weighing just over 10kg in total. One speaker contains all the electronics and connects over a single cable to the other speaker which acts as a passive unit. Each cabinet contains three drivers:…

Free (IAPs) FROM pasteapp.io NEEDS macOS 13 or later While macOS Tahoe is bringing a clipboard manager to the table, Paste is all you need for your copying and pasting needs. It looks gorgeous, comes with powerful extras, and is full of smart features that make it seamless to use, including collaborative tools and Shortcuts integration. Everything you copy on your Mac is added to Paste’s clipboard log. When you press Cmd+Shift+V, Paste’s toolbar pops up along the bottom of your screen – here, you’ll see everything you’ve copied. It’s then as simple as copying and pasting (or dragging and dropping) an item into your app of choice. It’s easy to browse through your clipboard history, and Paste’s search functionality is activated simply by typing. You’re meant to be able…

£159.99 (11-inch)/£179.99 (13-inch) FROM logitech.com FEATURES Wrap-around case, separate Bluetooth wireless keyboard with Function key row, magnetic attachment, two-year battery life (replaceable CR2016 coin cell batteries) You can place the iPad in either landscape or portrait mode Logitech makes a wide range of all-in-one keyboard cases for the iPad, but its new Flip Folio consists of a separate keyboard and case that can be used individually or packed together. It’s designed specifically for the iPad Pro and Air, and costs £159.99 for the 11-inch model, or £179.99 for the 13-inch version. Available in a variety of colours, the folio case section looks fairly conventional, with a sturdy wrap-around design that provides protection for the front and back of your iPad. When you’re using the iPad you can fold the front…

iMac From £1,299 In October 2024, Apple updated its 24in iMac with the M4 chip, and the iMac now has the wonders of Apple Intelligence built in. You can choose between an 8-core CPU/8-core GPU at entry-level, or an 10-core CPU/10-core GPU on the mid-range and top-tier versions. The entry model now comes with 16GB of memory as standard, configurable to 24GB; the mid- and toptier versions are configurable to 24 or 32GB (32GB only available with 512GB or more of storage). The solid-state drive (SSD) storage starts at 256GB on entry-level and mid-range versions, and 512GB on the top-tier iMac, although you can add up to 1TB on the entry-level model and up to 2TB on mid-range and top-tier models. You still get a 4.5K (4480x2520) Retina display, with…

The highlight feature of the new Apple Watch software, watchOS 26, which was previewed at WWDC this year, is Workout Buddy, an AI-powered coach designed to motivate you to hit your targets, exceed your goals and generally get you moving. Workout Buddy analyses the data from previous workouts and vast amounts of your fitness history like paces, miles logged, activity rings closed etc to identify real insights on your performance in real time. It then hits you with all your latest achievements by whispering sweet motivational messages in your ear (assuming you’re wearing Apple AirPods). Speaking to TechRadar, Jay Blahnik, Apple’s VP of Fitness Technologies, said, “We think of this not as a coach pushing you, but about motivating you based on what you have done and what you’re about to…