News

Hardware/accessory announcements for the week of May 11-15

Here are some of the latest hardware and accessory announcements: ° AULUMU has launched the G09 Ghost Infinite Rotation Dual-Mag Stand, a lightweight multi-functional magnetic smartphone stand designed for universal compatibility. It combines 3-axis infinite...

Software announcements for the week of May 11-15

Here are some of the latest software announcements: ° Multimedia software provider VidiKeep announced the release of its flagship Streaming Video Downloader, a desktop application designed to permanently capture content from top streaming providers, including...

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Opinion

Apple wants you to be able to calibrate your TV’s display via your iPhone or iPad

For years there were rumors that Apple would release its own HDTV. That never happened, but the tech giant has been granted a patent (number 11575884 B1) for a “display calibration system” with the goal of allowing you to calibrate your HDTV by using an iPhone or...

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Wednesday April 15
12:33 am
Journey Summit Ultra 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station review: sleek, speedy, and expensive | AppleInsider
Journey Summit Ultra 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station review: sleek, speedy, and expensive
JourneyiPhone 17's 3-in-1 charging station, the Summit Ultra, keeps your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch topped off and ready to go at a moment's notice — but you'll pay for that convenience.Journey Summit Ultra 3-in-1 Wireless Charging StationIf you're in the Apple ecosystem, chances are you've got at least two — if not three, four, or five Apple devices that need to be charged at any given moment. Journey knows this, which is why it's created its own take on a convenient multi-charger.The Summit Ultra is a three-in-one charger, designed to charge your MagSafe-compatible iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. And, as a bonus, it does so without needing any sort of wires going to or from your devices — everything is grab-and-go. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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12:07 am
9to5Mac Daily: April 14, 2026 – MacBook Neo competition, more | 9 to 5 Mac
9to5Mac Daily: April 14, 2026 – MacBook Neo competition, more
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card. more…
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Tuesday April 14
10:40 pm
Farewell to Mac Writers John Martellaro and Chuck La Tournous | TidBITS
Farewell to Mac Writers John Martellaro and Chuck La Tournous
The Mac community has lost two longtime writers in recent weeks: John Martellaro and Chuck La Tournous. John wrote once for TidBITS in 1996 before settling at The Mac Observer, where Chuck was also a contributing editor.
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09:59 pm
Apple pulls fake Ledger app and Freecash in rough day for App Store review | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple pulls fake Ledger app and Freecash in rough day for App Store review
Just as CoinDesk reported that a fake Ledger app had drained millions from App Store users, TechCrunch revealed that another app had been harvesting sensitive user data. Apple pulled both today. Here are the details. more…
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09:15 pm
Apple TV’s under-the-radar masterpiece ‘For All Mankind’ is still soaring – Empire | Mac Daily News
Apple TV’s under-the-radar masterpiece ‘For All Mankind’ is still soaring – Empire
Season five of “For All Mankind” picks up in the years since the Goldilocks asteroid heist. Happy Valley has grown into a thriving colony… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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09:10 pm
Apple holds the line while rivals jack up prices | Cult of Mac
Apple holds the line while rivals jack up prices
Rising Microsoft and Samsung prices are shifting the competitive landscape in the electronics market today. Here's how Apple benefits. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
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08:44 pm
Apple says Jon Prosser has only partially complied with subpoenas in iOS 26 leak case | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple says Jon Prosser has only partially complied with subpoenas in iOS 26 leak case
In a joint status report, attorneys for Apple and Michael Ramacciotti updated the court on the latest developments in the trade secrets lawsuit over the leak of iOS 26 design details. Here’s what’s new with the case. more…
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08:35 pm
OpenAI unveils GPT‑5.4‑Cyber, an AI model for defensive cybersecurity | 9 to 5 Mac
OpenAI unveils GPT‑5.4‑Cyber, an AI model for defensive cybersecurity
OpenAI has announced a new AI model called GPT-5.4-Cyber. Similar to Anthropic’s Claude Mythos, this new “cyber-permissive” variant of its GPT-5.4 is built for defensive cybersecurity and not public use. more…
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08:01 pm
Amazon Prime Video bundles Apple TV and Peacock for $19.99/mo. for a limited time | Mac Daily News
Amazon Prime Video bundles Apple TV and Peacock for $19.99/mo. for a limited time
Amazon is making it easier and more affordable for Prime members to access premium streaming content by introducing a new… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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07:50 pm
Apple chooses Amazon satellites for iPhone, years after rejecting Starlink offer | Ars Technica
Apple chooses Amazon satellites for iPhone, years after rejecting Starlink offer
Amazon announces $11.6B merger with Globalstar and satellite deal with Apple.
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07:47 pm
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community | AppleInsider
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community
Apple sometimes closes retail stores. The company always has private and public reasons why, but the communities and workers that are impacted don't care much about what they are.Apple Trumbull - Image Credit: AppleOn April 9, it was revealed that Apple was preparing to close three of its stores in the United States in June. The group consists of Apple North County in Escondido, California, Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut.After the initial shock of the closures, people are still expressing their feelings about the store closures. However, as usual, nothing is straightforward in the court of public opinion. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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07:47 pm
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community | AppleInsider
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community
Apple sometimes closes retail stores. The company always has private and public reasons why, but the communities and workers that are impacted don't care much about what they are.Apple Trumbull - Image Credit: AppleOn April 9, it was revealed that Apple was preparing to close three of its stores in the United States in June. The group consists of Apple North County in Escondido, California, Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut.After the initial shock of the closures, people are still expressing their feelings about the store closures. However, as usual, nothing is straightforward in the court of public opinion. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Read more »
07:47 pm
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community | AppleInsider
Apple Store closures make sense to Apple, but not to the community
Apple sometimes closes retail stores. The company always has private and public reasons why, but the communities and workers that are impacted don't care much about what they are.Apple Trumbull - Image Credit: AppleOn April 9, it was revealed that Apple was preparing to close three of its stores in the United States in June. The group consists of Apple North County in Escondido, California, Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut.After the initial shock of the closures, people are still expressing their feelings about the store closures. However, as usual, nothing is straightforward in the court of public opinion. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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07:29 pm
iOS 26 has new Home Screen setting for app icons, here’s how to use it | 9 to 5 Mac
iOS 26 has new Home Screen setting for app icons, here’s how to use it
Apple has added a lot of new ways to customize your iPhone in recent years. One of my favorites is a Home Screen setting in iOS 26 for your app icons that tints the icon color to match that of your iPhone or its case. Here’s how to use it. more…
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07:28 pm
Apple Watch Activity badges: Earth Day and International Dance Day | Macworld
Apple Watch Activity badges: Earth Day and International Dance Day
Macworld Achievement badges are a funny thing. You know they’re just a simple little bit of visual flair, they don’t even do anything, and yet for some reason you just have to collect them. Gamification can be a great motivator, and the achievement badges for the activity tracking on the Apple Watch have inspired many users to get more exercise. If you want to maximize your badge count, you’re going to want to chase down as many activity achievements as you can. Most are available year-round, but there are also some time-limited special events to grab, too. Here’s a list of all the activity achievements for the Apple Watch and how to unlock them. Updated April 14, 2026: Earth Day is coming on April 22, and International Dance Day will be here on April 29. Apple Watch Series 11 Price When Reviewed: From $399 Best Prices Today: $299 at Amazon | $329 at Walmart | $377.73 at Best Buy US Standard achievements Most of the achievements can be earned year-round. If you open the Activity app on your iPhone, then head over to the Achievements tab, you’ll see some of them listed even before you earn them (in which case they will be represented by a grey outline). However, there are some achievements that are not shown until you earn them. Past and future monthly challenges, for example, won’t show up, nor do all the various individual exercise workouts. Here is a list of all the standard badges you can get. First [exercise] Workout The first time you perform a new exercise for at least 5 minutes, you’ll get a achievement badge. Every workout type that does not fall under the “Other” category is eligible for this badge: from walking to yoga to HIIT to hiking and more. Activities with both indoor and outdoor variants, like Cycling and Walking, are bundled together; you can do either activity to get the badge, and can only get it once. [exercise] Workout Record Every time you beat your previous best record for calories burned in any of the exercises listed above, you get this badge. There is one caveat: You must complete five workouts of that type first. If you want to game the system, make sure your first four workouts of each type are short and easy, so it won’t take much effort to beat them. You get a badge the first time you do each major exercise type, and when you break a record. 7-Workout Week Simply complete any workout of at least 15 minutes every day of the week. Note that the week is Monday-Sunday, and you have to do a workout on each of those days (you can’t simply do any seven days in a row). If you start a walking workout whenever you walk outside, you can achieve this easily. New Move Record Any day that your Move ring goes further than ever before (meaning you burned more calories in a day), you’ll earn this award. There’s one catch: you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days before you can complete this. New Exercise Record This is just like the Move Record achievement, only for the green ring. This one is based on minutes of exercise, not calories burned, so it’s really easy to get. Just like the Move Record achievement, you have to use your Apple Watch for 10 days first. Move Goal 200%, 300%, 400% You earn this when you exceed your calorie target (the red Move ring) by 2x, 3x, or 4x, respectively. In other words, it’s given for making the red activity ring go around two, three, or four times in a day. It’s easy to get if you just set your Move goal very low. Double, triple, and quadruple your Move ring goal. Reduce your goal if you’re having trouble. New Move Goal Every time you change your daily Move goal, and then exceed that new goal, you get this achievement. You can change your Move goal by opening the Activity app on your Apple Watch and force-pressing the screen. Longest Move Streak When you hit your Move goal (close the red ring) several days in a row, that’s a “streak.” You get this award when your streak finally ends, if it’s longer than your previous best streak. Perfect Week This is given out for four categories: Move, Exercise, Stand, and All Activity. For the first three, simply close the rings (red, green, or blue) every day of the week. To get the Perfect Week (All Activity) badge, close all three rings every day for an entire week. You can earn this multiple times, though it only shows one badge. Remember, one week in the Activity app is from Monday-Sunday! Close those rings every day from Monday to Sunday to earn a handful of badges. Perfect Month Unlike Perfect Week, there are not multiple different Perfect Month badges for the different color rings. The lone Perfect Month achievement is for closing the red Move ring every day of the month. There’s a separate Perfect Month badge for every month and every year, though. So you can earn this in February and again in March, and again in February in the next year. Monthly Challenge Each month has its own unique fitness challenge. If you have notifications set for the Activity app on our Apple Watch, you’ll see the goal presented at the beginning of the month, but you’ll also see the current month’s challenge in the Achievements tab of the Activity app on your iPhone. It will be a grey outline before it’s completed, but you can tap on it to see what the challenge entails. The monthly challenge may task you with burning a specific number of calories, working out a number of times, or traveling a certain distance. There’s no telling what each new month will bring, you just have to look! There’s a different challenge every month, so check your Activity app. 100, 365, 500, 1,000 Move Goals When you hit your daily Move goal (close the red ring) 100 times, you get an achievement badge. You get another for hitting it 365 times, 500 times, and 1,000 times. These do not need to be in a row; it’s just the total number of times you’ve ever hit the goal. Close the Move ring often to unlock a series of badges. Set the Move goal low if you want to make it easier. Apple Watch Ultra 2 Read our review Price When Reviewed: $799 (base) Best Prices Today: $649.99 at Best Buy US | $799 at Apple | $799.99 at Target Limited Achievements Apple offers multiple one-off challenges per year that are only available for a limited time. Often, they’re only around for one day or one weekend. Some are limited to the U.S. because they’re based on U.S. holidays. You’ll get a notification on your Apple Watch when one of them is coming up (make sure you have notifications enabled for the Activity app, using the Watch app on your iPhone). International Dance Day (April 29, 2026) Apple Show off your dance moves for International Dance Day. Earn this award by recording a Dance workout of 20 minutes or more on April 29. Record it with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health. Earth Day (April 22, 2026) Apple This Earth Day, April 22, record any 30 minute workout with the Workout app or any app that records workouts to Health to earn this award. The earth will think the world of you. Heart Month challenge (February 14, 2026) Foundry Close your exercise ring on Valentine’s Day, February 14, to earn this award. Your heart will love you for it. New Year 2026 (January 2026) Foundry Start the year strong and stay active! Earn this award by closing all three Activity rings for seven days in a row in January. World Meditation Day (December 21, 2025) Foundry Time to celebrate World Meditation Day! On December 21, record five mindful minutes or more with the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to Health to earn this special badge. Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2025) Foundry Earn this award on November 11 by doing any workout for 11 minutes or more. Record your time with the Workout app or any app that adds workouts to Health. World Mental Health Day Challenge (October 10, 2025) Foundry Record 10 minutes of mindfulness or meditation with any app that adds mindful minutes to Health to get this award. National Parks Challenge (August 24, 2025) Foundry The anniversary of the founding of the U.S. National Parks is on August 25. Every year, Apple celebrates this is a global National Parks badge (on the 24th this year, since the 25th is a Monday). Just do a workout of 20 minutes or more on August 24 with any app that records workouts the the Health app to earn this badge. Global Running Day (June 4, 2025) Apple Apple’s description says: “Let’s run this one together. On June 4, record a running workout and go at least 5K (3.1 mi) to earn this special badge. Record it with any app that adds workouts to Health.”
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07:21 pm
Bogus crypto wallet on App Store steals $9.5M | AppleInsider
Bogus crypto wallet on App Store steals $9.5M
Multiple cryptocurrency users have lost approximately $9.5 million after a fake Ledger Live app on the macOS App Store drained their funds.A fake version of the Ledger Live macOS app has stolen $9.5M in cryptocurrency.The world of cryptocurrency has always carried significant risks, and even iPhone and iPad users aren't immune to its dangers. Now and then, malicious actors find ways to steal money, be it via outright hacking or through a cams designed to drain cryptowallets.In April 2026, Mac users were hit with the latter after downloading a fake version of the Ledger Live app from the macOS App Store. The fake app was submitted by the publisher "Leva Heal," which has nothing to do with Ledger SAS, the owner and developer of the real Ledger Live app. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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07:07 pm
Apple releases revamped Business app with Apple Vision Pro support | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple releases revamped Business app with Apple Vision Pro support
Last month, Apple announced plans to unify its enterprise tools into a free suite called Apple Business. The unified Apple Business platform officially arrives today, and it includes a revamped Business app. more…
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07:03 pm
Apple boosts foldable display orders by 20% ahead of iPhone Fold launch | Mac Daily News
Apple boosts foldable display orders by 20% ahead of iPhone Fold launch
Apple is showing strong confidence in its upcoming foldable iPhone by ramping up orders for foldable display panels. According to a… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.
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06:57 pm
Apple Watch getting two new Activity challenges later this month | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple Watch getting two new Activity challenges later this month
Apple Watch has two new challenges coming this month that encourage users to hit certain Activity goals on Earth Day and International Dance Day. Here are the details. more…
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06:55 pm
AirPods Pro 3: Better today than at launch [Video] | 9 to 5 Mac
AirPods Pro 3: Better today than at launch [Video]
Apple released the AirPods Pro 3 back in September of 2025. I have been living with them and using them every single day since then. I have used them for everything from workouts and runs to Zoom calls, travel, and just everyday listening. What has truly stood out to me isn’t how good they sound for the size, or how they are just about as good as their $550 AirPods Max 2 counterpart, but how Apple has actually improved them over the last 7ish months of owning them. Here is how they have held up, how they’ve improved, and what Apple can still add to them. more…
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06:32 pm
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining | 9 to 5 Mac
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining
Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch? more…
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06:32 pm
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining | 9 to 5 Mac
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining
Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch? more…
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06:32 pm
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining | 9 to 5 Mac
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining
Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch? more…
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06:32 pm
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining | 9 to 5 Mac
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining
Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch? more…
Read more »
06:32 pm
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining | 9 to 5 Mac
This fall’s iPhone 18 launch lineup has one big wildcard remaining
Rumors about this fall’s new iPhone 18 lineup keep coming, but there’s one key detail that’s still a big question mark: how many iPhones will Apple launch? more…
Read more »
05:55 pm
Apple Business tools are now available to download for free | AppleInsider
Apple Business tools are now available to download for free
Apple has made its newly refurbished business tools available for download, giving businesses ways to manage company devices, employees, and more.The newly refurbished Apple Business| Image credit: AppleIn late March, Apple announced that it would be releasing a consolidated version of its business tools. Formerly spread across three apps, the Apple Business platform aims to provide helpful tools to businesses of any size.As promised, Apple has released Apple Business to the App Store on April 14. To download, you'll need a Mac with macOS 12.0 or later, or an iPhone or iPad with at least iOS 15 or iPadOS 15, respectively. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
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05:34 pm
Apple TV users get $2/month Peacock, as bundle expands to new places | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple TV users get $2/month Peacock, as bundle expands to new places
Apple TV lets subscribers add Peacock Premium for just $2/month, and now a similar bundle offer has just launched through Prime Video for anyone who prefers to subscribe directly through Amazon. more…
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05:20 pm
Google announces ‘Skills’ for Gemini in Chrome to quickly run custom workflows | 9 to 5 Mac
Google announces ‘Skills’ for Gemini in Chrome to quickly run custom workflows
Gemini in Chrome on desktops is getting a new Skills feature that lets you quickly run frequently used prompts. Besides saving time, this capability helps educate users about what Gemini can do when given a webpage. more…
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05:19 pm
Apple seems confident that folding iPhone will be a hit | Cult of Mac
Apple seems confident that folding iPhone will be a hit
Apple apparently increased orders for a critical folding iPhone component, signaling confidence in future consumer demand. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)
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05:19 pm
Apple releases public beta 2 for iPadOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and more | 9 to 5 Mac
Apple releases public beta 2 for iPadOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and more
Yesterday Apple released beta 2 of iPadOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and more for developers, and now today the public beta version has arrived too. more…
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Reviews & KoolTools

My First Sketch Book is a hum drum digital drawing pad for kids

The My First Sketch Book is an US$99.90 portable drawing pad with instant digitalization. It’s aimed at children for introducing technology into their lives and is easy to use. However, it has designs issues. You pair it with an iPhone app. The artwork your child...

Kool Tools: Fantastical for macOS

Be a patron to read this exclusive content!To view this content, you must be a member of Apple's Patreon at $5 or moreAlready a qualifying Patreon member? Refresh to access this content.

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Showcase

Another look at more iPad cases

So, you’ve got a shiny new iPad. And you want to protect it. But you didn’t want to spring for the US$40 Apple case. Especially since it seems like everybody and their brother is making some sort of case for the iPad. At MacNews World Headquarters, Dennis is getting them by the box-load. And he sent a few on to me to take a look at.

Review: Dual redundancy storage array offers peace of mind

The DroboPro (big brother to the popular Drobo storage system) has eight drive bays that can hold 3.5-inch SATA drives. Currently, 2TB is the limit of a single drive (although 3TB is right around the corner), so a DroboPro can hold 16TB total.

Review: Kanex XD a must-have for iMac/Blu-ray fans

I’m a major fan of Blu-ray discs, and one of my favorite possessions is my 27-inch iMac. Apparently if it’s up to Steve Jobs, never the twain shall meet. Which is why the Kanex XD from Kanex (http://www.kanexlive.com) joins EyeTV’s hardware and the Sanyo VPC-HD2000A Dual Camera as two can’t-do-without peripherals for my super-sized iMac.

Category Review: veterinary software for Mac OS X

This MacNews Category Review looks at veterinary software for Mac OS X. Products covered include ANIMAL-office, Chincilla, CHS Vet, DV Max, MacRepertory, VetFM and VetScope.

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