Apple has reversed course on moving iCloud+ Hide My Email addresses to a dedicated private.icloud.com domain. Sign in with Apple is still moving there, but Hide My Email addresses will remain on icloud.com. This does not solve email privacy; it merely preserves one relay feature in an email system that still needs reworking.
Tagged Apple
Is HomePod Dead?
HomePod is truly a product of its time. Its core feature is to stream Apple Music with Siri. Some side hustles it can pull off: AirPlay smart speaker, or wireless home hub, but I tend to agree with the community consensus the wireless hub only works in principle. None of these features are unique to HomePod, let alone the most polished.
How to Change Apple ID Region
Region-changing on old systems has become something of a quiet craze — remote work and streaming have made it a growing necessity that cannot be ignored anymore. Apple was relatively late to the game; as far as I know, the region-change program didn’t gain real traction until 2020. Now in 2026, the documentation is conflicting, even from Apple itself, on where the program actually stands.
AirPods Pro 3 Spiel
I’ve tried AirPods, AirPods Max, and AirPods Pro. Of them three, AirPods Pro grew on me recently as I began to use my prescription glasses more often — headphones, no matter how comfortable it sits around the head, still has some force on the legs of the glasses. Since the release of AirPods Pro 2 in 2022, noise canceling earbuds came long way. Some of the reviews from 2024 and earlier this year openly recommend to take a risk with lesser known brands for better bang for the bucks.
First Party Apple Apps are “Sherlocking” Subscriptions
Back in late 2000s, back when I was considering to move to OS X as my primary system, one of the big appeal —albeit it’s not always up to the level— was that Macintosh was bundled with first party softwares that are often exorbitantly expensive on the other side. And let me tell you, the time and time again, Time Machine alone saved my skin several times; and I had the liberty to tell other people to do the same with their Macs and PCs, always have a backup.
When Nokia Downplayed Touchscreen on iPhone
Back in 2007, when Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone on stage, there were mixed responses to Apple’s new product. “Smartphones” weren’t around to capture the every historic moments, —and frankly, the PR nightmares tech companies faced— but with recently released Nokia Design Archive’s internal iPhone launch presentation, it seems the Finnish company decided to have their analysts take a look at iPhone launch. It’s an interesting read of its own, but I want you to to focus on page 12:
Benchmarks, dGPU, and Apple Silicon
When I bought my Mac Pro in 2019, I was running under the two assumptions: a. Apple may not be able to deliver competent SoC until later iterations, b. Apple will surely support Pro models for non-ARM works. I was sorely mistaken on both parts. Apple did deliver its M1 with huge success, and now Mac Mini —that Mac Mini— is on the list for cheapest and most cost-effective workstations. What really caught me off guard was how Apple showed no hesitance to throw away its AMD graphics card support, the last of its kind on Mac front.
ChatGPT, App Spamming, and App Store
iOS App Store has problems. I’m not talking about new EU regulations, or the lawsuits against Epic, or even 30% Apple tax on all apps. I’m talking about ChatGPT. With all the media attention to the new AI tech, both major app stores, Apple’s and Google’s, are plagued with unofficial ChatGPT apps. Have you checked the App Store recently? There is no way of telling which supposed ChatGPT app is from OpenAI.
App Store, Refund, and DLCs
I didn’t think to see the remains of the wild west of App Store in 2024. I had bought an app that is working rather well with a minor glitch, and the developers’ response to the glitch was that the feature is actually part of the “pro” version. The pro version of the same app was sold at $9.99. I went ahead and bought it, and surprisingly I saw the same glitch again. After some googling, I found out they are actually identical apps only that the free version of the app has $9.99 in-app purchase to unlock the pro…
Apple Intelligence, PCC, and M4 Macs
Apple Intelligence is in beta still. Some articles I’ve read unfortunately did not understand Apple Intelligence is to be deployed gradually, and while I would argue Apple’s ‘sell now, build later’ tactic to be disingenuous, I would simply disagree current Apple Intelligence is what will be for the remainder of fiscal year. But let us not dwell on the features that are promised or still in beta; let us discuss the hardwares that are supposedly powering Apple Intelligence.
How to Fix HomePod Setup Failed (401)
1st gen. HomePod is officially classified a “vintage” by Apple. I, for one, who benignly thought HomePod’s role in HomeKit is also depreciated, had to re-add the HomePod back to the home app.
Why Apple Vision Pro Launched without Physical Controllers
Ever since the launch of iPhone back in 2007, I’ve seen my fair shares of analysts losing their jobs —or losing their employers’ business prospect— over misconceptions on one thing, and one thing only: physical controllers. Be it may keyboard, stylus, mouse, there were always analyses on new products based on unfounded belief that it lacks a traditional physical input device.
GM to Replace Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with “Ultifi”
Yes, the air-quote is real. GM is planning to replace Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both smartphone based infotainment systems on cars, with GM’s own flavor of Android Automotive. Tim Babbitt, GM’s head of product for infotainment, says one of the factors behind the decision was safety.
Apple TV, VPN, and Geoblock Spiel
Anyone who is old enough to live through DVD era of human history and before that Paleolithic VHS period would recall something called region locks. It is an ancient ritualistic practice where contents holders would artificially divide the regions and lock the consumers out from playing them outside of said region. Historians believe the practice was to sell the same movie at a different price in a different market. I call it ritualistic, because with enough consumers agonizingly annoyed, most DVD players were willing to appease the buyers by dropping the region lock. Not to mention some consumers went the…
Running Time Machine Backup Server on macOS
Time Machine backup is a MUST in this time and age, especially after you just paid couple thousands in Mac. Ultimately, no matter how ridiculous issue you just encountered on your machine, if you have a complete backup of the system, there should be no concern. I can’t believe I have to say this in 2019, Time Machine has been around since Leopard, and still provides better options than of its competitors. Make sure you are using a separate drive (e.g. external HDD, NAS) that is at least 1.5 times bigger than the target drive.