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Category: Problem Solving

Adam Engst 15 comments

ChatGPT Atlas Digitized Book Tables That Stymied Other OCR Tools

What started as a simple need—digitizing training pace tables for a workout app—became a test of OCR tools. ChatGPT Atlas won where others failed, autonomously processing five photos into perfect CSV data despite page curl and dense columns.

Adam Engst 55 comments

How to Turn Liquid Glass into a Solid Interface

Apple’s new Liquid Glass interface design can be hard to read in certain situations. If you encounter any issues, here’s how to adjust the transparency and other visual effects across macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS to suit your needs.

Adam Engst 15 comments

macOS 26 Tahoe Won’t Install on the M3 Ultra Mac Studio

The title says it all—if you have a Mac Studio powered by an M3 Ultra chip, you cannot upgrade to macOS 26 Tahoe at this time. macOS 15.7 Sequoia will install, or you can wait until Apple resolves the issue.

Adam Engst 7 comments

AppleCare One Stumbles Over Multiple macOS User Accounts

Longtime Apple observer John Siracusa reports that Apple’s new AppleCare One plan has significant issues with multiple macOS user accounts, forcing him to pay more for individual device coverage.

Adam Engst 55 comments

Apple Unveils AppleCare One for Multiple-Device Protection

Apple has introduced AppleCare One, a new protection plan that allows you to bundle multiple devices under a single monthly subscription that starts at $19.99 per month. While the simplified coverage may appeal to many Apple users, the financial benefits aren’t as straightforward as they might appear.

Adam Engst 9 comments

How to Keep the User Library Folder Visible in macOS

Apple hides the user’s Library folder by default, but an obscure method to show it permanently lets you avoid pressing Option to access it in the Finder’s Go menu.

Adam Engst 17 comments

Anker Recalls 1.1 Million PowerCore 10000 Power Banks

Anker is recalling over 1.1 million PowerCore 10000 power banks due to fire and burn hazards following 19 reports of fires and explosions. If you own one, you can receive a free replacement or a $30 gift card, but proper disposal is necessary.

Adam Engst 23 comments

Backblaze Update Shrinks Bloated Logs

A recent Backblaze update dramatically reduces the backup service’s storage footprint by shrinking log files made excessively large by eliminating errors associated with unreadable cloud-based files.

Adam Engst 4 comments

Guilherme Rambo Explains the Dave & Buster’s Messages Anomaly

A peculiar iOS mystery has been cracked: why audio messages mentioning “Dave & Buster’s” disappear into the digital ether. Guilherme Rambo’s investigation reveals the ironic twist that Apple’s transcription system works so well that it breaks itself.

Adam Engst 1 comment

Apple Extends Self-Service Repair to iPads

Apple has now added recent iPad models to its Self Service Repair program, giving people access to repair manuals, Apple parts, and rental toolkits. But how many are actually taking advantage of the program?

Adam Engst 34 comments

AppBITS: Jettison Solves macOS Disk Ejection Annoyances

Are you constantly fighting with macOS over your external disks, either forgetting to eject them before unplugging their cables or being unable to eject them due to some unidentified open file? St. Clair Software’s Jettison may be the solution.

Adam Engst 39 comments

AFP Support Disappearing: Another Nail in the Time Capsule Coffin

Enterprise release notes for the recent macOS 15.5 update reveal that Apple plans to remove AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) entirely in a future version of macOS. Howard Oakley explains how this impacts Time Capsule backups and network shares, while Adam Engst offers practical alternatives for Time Capsule users.

Adam Engst 15 comments

iPhone 16 Users Report Bluetooth Issues with the Toyota RAV4

Considering an iPhone 16? Toyota RAV4 owners beware: Bluetooth compatibility issues may force you to rely on CarPlay rather than using simple wireless connections for audio and phone calls.

Adam Engst 26 comments

New Organizational Features in Photos in macOS 15 Sequoia

Adam Engst explores Photos in macOS 15 Sequoia, detailing how new organizational features like Days, Trips, and People & Pets groups work (or don’t) in practice, along with practical tips for managing your photo library.

Adam Engst 5 comments

Beware Comcast Deleting “Inactive” Email Accounts

Concerned about losing your Comcast email account? New activity requirements could lead to closure. Adam Engst investigates Comcast’s recent actions surrounding email accounts that may not be as inactive as they seem to Comcast.