Home//MacLife/October 2016/In This Issue
MacLife|October 2016BREAKING LIMITATIONSWhen a new device or platform launches, one of the words that gets thrown around a lot is whether it’s “mature.” It’s a phrase that doesn’t really mean anything in itself, but it’s evocative enough that we can easily understand what’s intended.We forgive exciting software early in its life for missing what seem like big features, because it’s not mature yet – we look forward to a time when it will have “grown up” and gained more rounded features. If it doesn’t get these features, it’s at risk of being left feeling immature, while its competitors become gray-haired and “distinguished.”The release of iOS 10 has got me thinking about where iOS is in its life cycle. Is it mature now? Certainly it’s very stable, and on iPhone has pretty much…2 min
MacLife|October 2016BREAKING LIMITATIONSWhen a new device or platform launches, one of the words that gets thrown around a lot is whether it’s “mature.” It’s a phrase that doesn’t really mean anything in itself, but it’s evocative enough that we can easily understand what’s intended. We forgive exciting software early in its life for missing what seem like big features, because it’s not mature yet – we look forward to a time when it will have “grown up” and gained more rounded features. If it doesn’t get these features, it’s at risk of being left feeling immature, while its competitors become gray-haired and “distinguished.” The release of iOS 10 has got me thinking about where iOS is in its life cycle. Is it mature now? Certainly it’s very stable, and on iPhone has…2 min
MacLife|October 2016THE SHIFTApple says Messages is the most popular iOS app, with billions of iMessages sent each day. iMessage has also become a tentpole of Apple’s mission, and marketing, around protecting our privacy. As significant as all this is, though, iMessage is far from the most popular messaging service in the world, and Apple finally seems to care enough to something about it.Apps popular around the world – WhatsApp, Line, and Facebook Messenger, to name a few – evolved messaging far beyond mere text, photos, and emoji. Come this fall with iOS 10, Apple will turn iMessage into a full-blown platform that might actually join the 21st century of messaging.A while ago, I wrote about all the things messaging apps now enable users to do, from paying for cabs and other services,…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Planet of the Apps: Apple’s first TV showFOR THE LAST few years, there have been lots of rumors of Apple getting into producing original content, in the same way that Netflix has. And indeed, Apple has started to fund video content – but in a kind of piecemeal way. As so many things do these days, it started with Taylor Swift. Apple released a documentary about Swift’s world tour for her album 1989 exclusively on Apple Music, available to subscribers of the service. In the last few months, Apple has bought the planned spin-off series of Carpool Karaoke, a popular segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden. This will also be available to Apple Music subscribers. In late 2016 and early 2017, the first show created by Apple will film: Planet of the Apps, a…2 min
MacLife|October 20166 tips to make you a Pokémon GO masterLast issue, we wondered if Pokémon GO was going to be a continued big hit, or just a short-term fad. Well, weeks after its release, it’s still going strong, with Pokémon hunters congregating in parks and key locations around towns and cities to catch the cute critters as they appear, while the developer has dropped hints about future updates. Though it appears to be quite a simple game, there’s a lot of hidden complexity you can take advantage of – tricks that make it easier to find and catch Pokémon, or to level up and gain the great rewards (and rare Pokémon) available to higher-level players. So whether you’re thinking of trying the game for the first time, or you’ve been hunting for a while, be sure to try out…2 min
MacLife|October 2016$50 iTunes Card1 THE JUNGLE BOOK Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley $19.99Just as Disney’s 1967 Jungle Book was a 2D animation tour de force, this new film is a CG one, putting Mowgli (Sethi, doing an impressive job as the only real thing that appears on-screen) on the run from the menacing tiger Shere Khan (Elba), with a little help from his animal friends and adoptive family. The animals look incredible, and the fact they speak doesn’t even look that out of place. You might argue the voice actors are too recognizable, but it’s worth it for Scarlett Johansson’s brilliant Kaa and Murray’s Baloo. It’s a kinetic, lavish family adventure.2 TRAIN KITStripey Design $2.99 This looks like one of those games where you need to lay rails to guide…2 min
MacLife|October 2016$50 iTunes Card1 THE JUNGLE BOOK Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley $19.99 Just as Disney’s 1967 Jungle Book was a 2D animation tour de force, this new film is a CG one, putting Mowgli (Sethi, doing an impressive job as the only real thing that appears on-screen) on the run from the menacing tiger Shere Khan (Elba), with a little help from his animal friends and adoptive family. The animals look incredible, and the fact they speak doesn’t even look that out of place. You might argue the voice actors are too recognizable, but it’s worth it for Scarlett Johansson’s brilliant Kaa and Murray’s Baloo. It’s a kinetic, lavish family adventure. 2 TRAIN KIT Stripey Design $2.99 This looks like one of those games where you need to lay…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Upgrade your Mac appsEver wondered if there’s something better than Apple’s Mail, more capable than Calendar, or superior to Safari? This feature looks at the most-used Mac apps and shows you how to power up OS X with better third-party alternatives. Some are free, but we don’t shy away from those with a price; our choices are genuine enhancements for your Mac. Preinstalled software has existed as long as there have been home computers, but the truth is that many people today rarely venture further. That’s not surprising when you think about it – after all, the modern Mac comes supplied with all the basics you need to perform all manner of tasks, from organizing your day to navigating files. However, as much as Apple has improved its apps over the years through…21 min
MacLife|October 2016Turn an old Mac into a Minecraft machineAssuming you’ve got younger children – say, from around the ages of 6 to 12 – or nieces, nephews, godchildren, or any combination of the above… well, chances are they’re into Minecraft. And by “into,” we mean “obsessed to the point of playing for hours or maybe days at a time.” That usually means a Mac or iPad being commandeered for the purposes of block-busting, usually at the most inconvenient times. Now obviously, you’re not going to want to shell out on a new Mac just to indulge the little one’s whims, no matter how much you love them. But an entire Saturday frittered away on video games is every child’s birthright, and playing Minecraft might set them up for a lucrative future career of 3D modeling or tree punching.…8 min
MacLife|October 2016klocki99¢ Developer Rainbow Train, klockigame.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or laterThis is puzzlement in its most minimalist incarnation. klocki offers up no menus, no instructions, no reasons for why you’re carrying out these tilearranging tasks. We’ve chosen to believe it’s something to do with aliens.Thankfully, it’s remarkably intuitive. Each puzzle presents you with a set of tiles – initially on 2D surfaces, but progressing to 3D shapes – with lines on them. You need to manipulate these so that the lines connect in satisfactory fashion, at which point they’ll light up and you’re on to the next one.Some tiles can be switched, while others (and indeed whole planes, at some points) can be spun around, and yet more need sliding about to fit. Each type or combination of these requires…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Super Stickman Golf 3Free (with IAP) Developer Noodlecake Studios, noodlecake.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or laterA long-time staple of the App Super Stickman Golf is a 2D golf game that’s all about zany power-ups, strange hazards, and clever shortcuts, rather than… almost anything actually related to golf. This sequel goes free, offering 20 nine-hole courses for nothing, but with an In-App Purchase to remove ads, unlock extra downloadable courses, allow for multiple multiplayer games, and more. You can buy more IAPs, but they’re not essential at all.It plays a lot like the previous games in the series: you aim an arrow for your shot, then start building a power bar, then hit the shot and hope it goes well. There are some new changes, though – most notably a spin option, so you…2 min
MacLife|October 20167 apps for doing something new with videoThe video-editing tools built into iOS and even Apple’s iMovie cover the basics farely well, but there is so much more than meets the eye in the world of video, so we got inspired to transform your tools of choice.Let’s start out with some basics. Videohance ($3.99, iPhone) feels like your favorite photo filter and “mood” apps, but for videos. It’s packed with effects and textures like light leaks, grit and grain, and blurs, but also adds elements like stylized frames and animated objects.STOP MOTION STUDIO (Free, Universal) is a comprehensive app that leapt over from the Mac. It packs powerful tools for getting started with stop-motion, such as overlaying your previous frame to help line up the next shot, and an automatic mode so you can focus on character…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Guild of Dungeoneering$3.99 Developer Gambrinous, guildofdungeoneering.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or later Fantasy gaming can seem to take itself too seriously. All those armored shoulder plates, stat counts and weirdly named wizards can seem a bit… po-faced to outsiders. Guild of Dungeoneering is aware of this perception, and does all it can to undermine it. You don’t have any friends, so you’ve decided to set up your own adventurers guild – that’ll show them. And you’re going to do so while accompanied by a number of entertainingly snide, bard-esque tunes. Rather than steering your characters through a dungeon with a certain number of moves per turn, you instead lay out the dungeon for them, placing down cards down to create corridors, position enemies and stash loot conveniently in their paths. You can…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Super Stickman Golf 3Free (with IAP) Developer Noodlecake Studios, noodlecake.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or later A long-time staple of the App Super Stickman Golf is a 2D golf game that’s all about zany power-ups, strange hazards, and clever shortcuts, rather than… almost anything actually related to golf. This sequel goes free, offering 20 nine-hole courses for nothing, but with an In-App Purchase to remove ads, unlock extra downloadable courses, allow for multiple multiplayer games, and more. You can buy more IAPs, but they’re not essential at all. It plays a lot like the previous games in the series: you aim an arrow for your shot, then start building a power bar, then hit the shot and hope it goes well. There are some new changes, though – most notably a spin option,…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Severed$6.99 Developer Drinkbox Studios, drinkboxstudios.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8.0 or later You awake in a strange, colorful world. You progress through the trees to a house. Your house. Your family is gone. Your arm is gone. You stare at the unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, and see behind you the silhouette of some eldritch creature. It informs you that you must save your family, and gives you a sword. Severed begins… Progressing through puzzlefilled temples is the main game, and various monsters attempt to hinder your adventure on a fairly regular basis. The concept behind Severed is perfect for touchscreens - you use your sword with directional swipes, and each monster can usually be defeated by taking advantage of their directional weaknesses The monsters change, level up and become stronger…2 min
MacLife|October 2016NavigonFree Developer Garmin Wuerzburg GmbH Platform Universal, watchOS Requirements iOS 9 or late The Apple Watch already has a pretty slick way to view turn-byturn directions from your wrist while navigating with the built-in Maps app, but should you prefer a third-party option, there’s now one available from the folks at Garmin. The free universal Navigon is a departure from the company’s usual paid apps aimed at new users. Let’s get the bad news out of the way right up front: Navigon is only “free” for the first seven days. After that you’ll need to pay $4.99 monthly or $29.99 annually for either North America or Europe, although unlimited options as well as maps for Australia and New Zealand are also available. As with Apple Maps, you’ll first need to…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Simon SaysElectronic games in the ‘80s had a little something for everyone: awesome playable fun priced at only a quarter per game at arcades, pared down cartridge versions for home use, and portable classics like Simon, which was little more than a black plastic box with four colored buttons on it. But oh, what a challenge it was! Simon’s diminutive CPU kept players busy by challenging them to repeat the order in which its buttons lit up, going from super-easy to maddeningly difficult within minutes. This memory twister can now be played from your wrist with the aptly-named Simon Says. Like the original, this unlicensed imitator provides the same basic thrill: Green, red, yellow, and blue buttons that light up and keep score as you attempt to remember the sequence and…1 min
MacLife|October 2016AOC Q2781PQ$339 Manufacturer AOC, aoc.comFeatures 27-inch, 2560x1440, DisplayPort, 2x HDMI, VGA AOC’s latest monitor is a good-looking display with a native resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. First impressions are of an unfussy, quietly stylish display; slim, metal-framed, and with a strong stand that’s a single leg of aluminum, bent into a half-closed rectangle. There are downsides to this voguish appearance, though: it has a tilt range of no more than 14 degrees, and – like many displays today – there’s no height adjustment option, so if you want it to be higher, get a stand. (Not a VESA mount, sorry; there’s no fitting for that.) Most of this monitor is a simple slim rectangle, with a slightly thicker section on the back where the circuitry and ports live. This is where you’ll…2 min
MacLife|October 2016BusyCal 3$49.99 Developer BusyMac, busymac.comRequirements OS X 10.11 or later We actually really like most of Apple’s built-in apps. They’re easy to use, get the job done, and work largely the same across iOS or Mac. But there are some, such as Calendar and Reminders, that we’ve shunned in favor of superior third-party alternatives. BusyCal 3 looks and feels a lot like Apple’s Calendar, right down to the nearly identical icons, but the former offers a number of improvements. Among them is a redesigned menu bar app which now includes a mini-month calendar and a scrolling event list similar to Fantastical; plus a detailed info panel in the lower-right corner of the main app, which can optionally be displayed in a floating window. Reminders are integrated into BusyCal 3 as to-dos,…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Disk Drill 3Free ($89 Pro upgrade) Developer 508 Software, cleverfiles.comRequirements OS X 10.6.8 or later, 64-bit processor Disk Drill 3 is a free Mac disk management utility that has added iOS and Android recovery tools to its comprehensive lineup. The basic version offers a host of features including disk cleanup, the ability to find duplicate files, byte-to-byte backups, a bootable recovery drive, and disk health monitoring, while the paid Pro upgrade adds even more. The good news for veteran Disk Drill users is that version 3 introduces a much-needed fresh coat of paint across the entire user interface, offering a flatter appearance and more intuitive layout. The new iOS data recovery feature is used to recover bookmarks, calendar events, call logs and chats, contacts, notes, and files (those stored within apps as…1 min
MacLife|October 2016LandscapeProFrom $79.90 Developer Anthropics Technology, landscapepro.picsRequirements OS X 10.7 or laterThis is a tempting alternative to the complexity of Photoshop for landscape enthusiasts. Click areas of your image to define grass, sky, water, people, and so on, then refine your masks by dragging the pointer. Next, choose your effects.The app’s presets – which have intuitive names such as Morning, Storm, and Sunset – offer instant, impactful results, and you can apply different effects to each area – warming up your foreground but not your sky, for instance. You can even drop in entirely new skies from the app’s built-in library. LandscapePro applies effects intelligently, so a fiery new sunset will cast a new color on the ground below.Getting good results often proves tricky, though – LandscapePro struggles to create accurate…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Paste – Smart Clipboard$9.99 Developer Dmitry Obukhov, pasteapp.me Requirements OS X 10.10 or later Paste is a clipboard manager than opens as a drawer at the bottom of your Mac’s screen. When you copy something, it’s automatically added to Paste, whether it’s text, a link, an image, or more (you can exclude apps in its preferences – Keychain Access is excluded by default). You bring up Paste by hitting ç+ß+v, though you can change this, too. Paste does its job well, displaying what you’ve copied in a clear view, with previews of images or text (and you can select one and hit spacebar to Quick Look for more), though we wish it gave you a web preview of copied links. You can search for things you’ve copied, and assign them to “pinboards” for…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Corel Painter 2017$399 Manufacturer Corel, corel.com Requirements OS X 10.9.5 or later The last few years have seen Painter keep its place at the top of the naturalmedia painting app pile, but it’s been hard to see where it could go forward. Fortunately, in the 2017 edition the developer has innovated with new tools, as well as improving existing ones. The app itself hasn’t changed much in feel or operation, which is a good thing and ultimately allows the new features to feel less like bolt-ons for the purposes of upgrades, and more like integral parts of the software. The toolset is pretty comprehensive, as well as very realistic. It’s very easy to get to grips with, especially if used with a tablet. Many tools respond to stylus angle and rotation, as…2 min
MacLife|October 2016LandscapeProFrom $79.90 Developer Anthropics Technology, landscapepro.pics Requirements OS X 10.7 or later This is a tempting alternative to the complexity of Photoshop for landscape enthusiasts. Click areas of your image to define grass, sky, water, people, and so on, then refine your masks by dragging the pointer. Next, choose your effects. The app’s presets – which have intuitive names such as Morning, Storm, and Sunset – offer instant, impactful results, and you can apply different effects to each area – warming up your foreground but not your sky, for instance. You can even drop in entirely new skies from the app’s built-in library. LandscapePro applies effects intelligently, so a fiery new sunset will cast a new color on the ground below. Getting good results often proves tricky, though – LandscapePro…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Sketches Pro$19.99 Manufacturer Tayasui, tayasui.com Requirements OS X 10.10 or later SKETCHES PRO Slick and unobtrusive user interface Excellent tool selection and quality Photoshop compliant Limited blending styles for layers Tayasui’s Sketches Pro is a popular iOS art app, and the fact that it’s made its way to the Mac App Store is a welcome one. But can it deliver on the same streamlined yet versatile experience the mobile version offers? In a word, yes. This is one of the cleanest, slickest, and most intuitive painting applications you will find, and does away with the need to break from your creativity to figure out how to achieve something. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the layout, though; the selection of tools cater for just about everything you could need. Each…3 min
MacLife|October 2016Meem$90 Manufacturer Meem, meemmemory.comFeatures Lightning connector, 32GB capacityiCloud is the backup solution for your iOS devices and Apple wants to keep it that way. Yes, you can still use iTunes and your Mac, but that’s become a bit of a manual chore in the days of the cloud. So why on Earth would you want another offline solution for backing up your data?Well, the designers of Meem think there’s a gap in the market for a travel backup solution while you’re away from Wi-Fi or a mobile network signal. We can see the point, and as you need to charge your iPhone every couple of days, it’s good to know there’s a cable out there that backs up while you’re doing so.As you charge, Meem backs up your contacts, calendars,…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Starbound$14.99 Developer Chucklefish Games, chucklefish.orgRequirements OS X 10.9 or later, 64-bit Intel CPU, 2GB RAM, internet connectionSTARBOUNDRandomly generated worlds are consistently surprising and funDeep crafting and building systemsCombat is rudimentary and side quests sameyMechanics can be overwhelming and not always explained wellFor a game called Starbound, you spend a lot of time planetside – underground, exploring labyrinthine corridors and mining coal, copper and gold. This is a terraforming game of surprising ambition, wonder, and charm.Procedural generation provides Starbound’s heft: dozens of solar systems created uniqely for you, ripe for plunder, each with unique flora, fauna, and inhabitants. There are forest planets and desert worlds, of course, but also horrifying biomes of fleshy tentacles and neon slime.You’ll find cannibal tribes living in decrepit ruins, or a village of anarchist chimps opposing…2 min
MacLife|October 2016NEXT-GEN WI-FIBACKWARD COMPATIBILITYEach new version of Wi-Fi is backward-compatible. So, a Mac or iPhone with 802.11n Wi-Fi will work with an 802.11ac router, but at 802.11n speeds. That’s still enough for most home broadband services, so you don’t need a new Mac too.we’ve looked at a wide range of home automation devices in the last few months, from smart lightbulbs to security cameras and thermostats. The one thing all these devices have in common is their reliance on Wi-Fi to connect them to the Internet of Things (IoT).This explosion of devices means that there’s more and more pressure on our home Wi-Fi networks, whether it’s streaming video on Netflix, online gaming, or the kids vlogging their teenage fun to the world on YouTube. Wi-Fi technology has to evolve to take the…5 min
MacLife|October 2016Starbound$14.99 Developer Chucklefish Games, chucklefish.org Requirements OS X 10.9 or later, 64-bit Intel CPU, 2GB RAM, internet connection STARBOUND Randomly generated worlds are consistently surprising and fun Deep crafting and building systems Combat is rudimentary and side quests samey Mechanics can be overwhelming and not always explained well For a game called Starbound, you spend a lot of time planetside – underground, exploring labyrinthine corridors and mining coal, copper and gold. This is a terraforming game of surprising ambition, wonder, and charm. Procedural generation provides Starbound’s heft: dozens of solar systems created uniqely for you, ripe for plunder, each with unique flora, fauna, and inhabitants. There are forest planets and desert worlds, of course, but also horrifying biomes of fleshy tentacles and neon slime. You’ll find cannibal tribes living in…2 min
MacLife|October 2016APPLE TVAdobe Photoshop LightroomBig-screen photosFree (Creative Cloud subscription required)One of the benefits of subscriptionbased software is that new features can be rolled out at any time. If you happen to be a photographer or designer with a Creative Cloud membership, there’s now one more reason to be happy, with the arrival of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Apple TV.Unlike the desktop and mobile versions of Lightroom CC, the Apple TV app isn’t about editing photos, but rather sitting back and enjoying them in all their big-screen glory, either one at a time or as a slideshow. Thanks to cloud sync, edits and new uploads made on one device will appear on the Apple TV app as well, always in the best quality.It’s easy to navigate collections and photos to find the one…4 min
MacLife|October 2016NEXT-GEN WI-FIBACKWARD COMPATIBILITY Each new version of Wi-Fi is backward-compatible. So, a Mac or iPhone with 802.11n Wi-Fi will work with an 802.11ac router, but at 802.11n speeds. That’s still enough for most home broadband services, so you don’t need a new Mac too. we’ve looked at a wide range of home automation devices in the last few months, from smart lightbulbs to security cameras and thermostats. The one thing all these devices have in common is their reliance on Wi-Fi to connect them to the Internet of Things (IoT). This explosion of devices means that there’s more and more pressure on our home Wi-Fi networks, whether it’s streaming video on Netflix, online gaming, or the kids vlogging their teenage fun to the world on YouTube. Wi-Fi technology has to evolve…5 min
MacLife|October 2016FIVE OF THE BEST1 APLE AIRPORT EXTREME $199 apple.com The AirPort Extreme is very easy to use, but it’s only an 802.11ac Wave 1 router, so we hope for a Wave 2 model soon. You also have the option of buying a version with a hard drive included, called Time Capsule, which can be used for wireless Time Machine backups from all the Macs in your home. 2 ZYXEL AV 2000 HOMEPLUG PLA5456 $85 zyxel.com This is a really well-priced powerline package to help your internet reach the Wi-Fi “not-spots” in your house, at speeds of up to 1800Mbps. It offers two Ethernet ports for connecting wired devices, and has MIMO technology for keeping the streams flowing even for multiple demanding uses. 3 TP-LINK AC1200 WI-FI RANGE EXTENDER RE355 $60 tp-link.com If you…1 min
MacLife|October 2016LETTER OF THE MONTHAs a subscriber to Mac|Life, I’m waiting on an article about how to work around two missing functions in El Capitan: 1) We no longer have Secure Empty Trash, a vital feature for any serious user; 2) Erase unused space on an HD/SSD, which used to be a function in Disk Utility. These two features are vital for security. Windows 10 has both. I can’t believe Apple’s programmers can’t figure out how to erase files on an SSD, if that’s the problem. There must be an app for erasing files/folders… but do these apps have a problem with SSDs? With regard to erasing unused space on a HD, I have no idea what to do. George RossSSDs manage data differently to hard drives, which made the two features you’re talking…3 min
MacLife|October 2016LETTER OF THE MONTHAs a subscriber to Mac|Life, I’m waiting on an article about how to work around two missing functions in El Capitan: 1) We no longer have Secure Empty Trash, a vital feature for any serious user; 2) Erase unused space on an HD/SSD, which used to be a function in Disk Utility. These two features are vital for security. Windows 10 has both. I can’t believe Apple’s programmers can’t figure out how to erase files on an SSD, if that’s the problem. There must be an app for erasing files/folders… but do these apps have a problem with SSDs? With regard to erasing unused space on a HD, I have no idea what to do. George Ross SSDs manage data differently to hard drives, which made the two features you’re…3 min
MacLife|October 201610 years of Intel MacsIn 2006, Apple made a huge change to its Macs, one few people would have anticipated just a few years before – it switched from using Motorola’s PowerPC processors to Intel chips. Apple and the PowerPC chips were a long-term pairing, and seemed inseparable. Sadly (for nostalgics, at least), expectations of what a processor would do were moving on, and Motorola’s silicon was struggling to keep up. When it came to single-core processors, the PowerPC units were brutes, and Apple made blisteringly fast machines with the G4 and G5 at the helm. But the PowerPC architecture was starting to look like a dead end. The G5 chip was hugely powerful, but it was also large and power-hungry, and getting it into an inch-thick notebook (because a notebook being an inch…4 min
MacLife|October 2016>GAME LOOPSquare Enix has been betting big on iOS since the beginning of the App Store. Yes, its ports of core Final Fantasy games have been big sellers, but it hasn’t been afraid to experiment. 2011’s Imaginary Range was a bold interactive comic book, and Lara Croft Go was called the best mobile game of 2015 by many.Square is a company that understands iOS, delivering far better games than its competitors. This month, Square unveiled Mobius Final Fantasy, its latest title in the famous and long-running Final Fantasy franchise. It’s probably the most gorgeous Square game yet on iPhone. It has a classic Final Fantasy job system, the animation is amazing, and the soundtrack sounds like it came from the great Nobuo Uematsu himself.And yet, Mobius Final Fantasy is a disappointing…3 min
MacLife|October 2016CRAVE1 Star Wars Battle Quadspropelsw.com Pre-order from $200>>> Okay, this new Millennium Falcon from won’t help you send Darth Vader spinning off into the depths of space, but it can fly at a speed of 50 mph (the Speeder Bike, X-wing and TIE Fighter versions will be a little slower, with an average speed of 35 mph), do 360-degree tricks and have laser fights with up to 24 other pilots. Yep, with other pilots. Each of these drones is a quad-copter with translucent plastics used to hide the propellers fixed beneath each vehicle, and uses on-board sensors for an aerial game of laser tag. Pre-order now to feel the Force in the fall.2 i.dime idime.us From $48>>> We were disappointed when Apple persisted with a 16GB base model for the…2 min
MacLife|October 2016CRAVE1 Star Wars Battle Quads propelsw.com Pre-order from $200 >>> Okay, this new Millennium Falcon from won’t help you send Darth Vader spinning off into the depths of space, but it can fly at a speed of 50 mph (the Speeder Bike, X-wing and TIE Fighter versions will be a little slower, with an average speed of 35 mph), do 360-degree tricks and have laser fights with up to 24 other pilots. Yep, with other pilots. Each of these drones is a quad-copter with translucent plastics used to hide the propellers fixed beneath each vehicle, and uses on-board sensors for an aerial game of laser tag. Pre-order now to feel the Force in the fall. 2 i.dime idime.us From $48 >>> We were disappointed when Apple persisted with a 16GB…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Upgrade your Mac appsEver wondered if there’s something better than Apple’s Mail, more capable than Calendar, or superior to Safari? This feature looks at the most-used Mac apps and shows you how to power up OS X with better third-party alternatives. Some are free, but we don’t shy away from those with a price; our choices are genuine enhancements for your Mac.Preinstalled software has existed as long as there have been home computers, but the truth is that many people today rarely venture further. That’s not surprising when you think about it – after all, the modern Mac comes supplied with all the basics you need to perform all manner of tasks, from organizing your day to navigating files.However, as much as Apple has improved its apps over the years through various updates…22 min
MacLife|October 2016FolioscopeFree Developer 1Button, 1button.co/folioscopePlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8.0 or laterFrom the minds behind App Store best-selling puzzle game Quetzalcoatl, in which you trace snakey shapes with your finger, comes Folioscope. Unlike its predecessor, though, Folioscope is not a game – it’s a pocket-sized animation studio.If you’re an animation wizard who requires billions of buttons to press and all the artistic range of Photoshop, you might find Folioscope a bit lacking. However, it does offer a surprising range of tools, such as onion-skin layers that let you trace over your last frame, and various pen sizes and styles that give you an impressive range of looks to work with.You can’t make the next Studio Ghibli film, but that’s not in the spirit of Folioscope anyway. On an iPad, with a stylus…1 min
MacLife|October 2016ReelgoodFree Developer Reelgood, reelgood.comPlatform iPhone Requirements iOS 9 or laterKeeping track of every film you want to see can feel like a Herculean task. After all, superhero movie fans alone have nearly 70 movies planned between now and 2020 to look forward to. And there’s probably almost as many Star Wars films planned now…Reelgood keeps track of all the movies you want to see from one convenient iPhone app, sending a notification when they hit theaters. But that’s not all: Reelgood also knows where the cheapest legal places are to rent, buy, or stream flicks. The app offers a clean, simple user interface with a focus on poster artwork.Across the bottom are three tabs. Discover is where users search past or upcoming content, marking titles they’ve already seen. You can…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Guild of Dungeoneering$3.99 Developer Gambrinous, guildofdungeoneering.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or laterFantasy gaming can seem to take itself too seriously. All those armored shoulder plates, stat counts and weirdly named wizards can seem a bit… po-faced to outsiders. Guild of Dungeoneering is aware of this perception, and does all it can to undermine it.You don’t have any friends, so you’ve decided to set up your own adventurers guild –that’ll show them. And you’re going to do so while accompanied by a number of entertainingly snide, bard-esque tunes.Rather than steering your characters through a dungeon with a certain number of moves per turn, you instead lay out the dungeon for them, placing down cards down to create corridors, position enemies and stash loot conveniently in their paths. You can place up to three…2 min
MacLife|October 2016FolioscopeFree Developer 1Button, 1button.co/folioscopePlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8.0 or later From the minds behind App Store best-selling puzzle game Quetzalcoatl, in which you trace snakey shapes with your finger, comes Folioscope. Unlike its predecessor, though, Folioscope is not a game – it’s a pocket-sized animation studio. If you’re an animation wizard who requires billions of buttons to press and all the artistic range of Photoshop, you might find Folioscope a bit lacking. However, it does offer a surprising range of tools, such as onion-skin layers that let you trace over your last frame, and various pen sizes and styles that give you an impressive range of looks to work with. You can’t make the next Studio Ghibli film, but that’s not in the spirit of Folioscope anyway. On an iPad,…1 min
See Also
kivandopulus - Fuwanovel ForumsMacLife|October 2016ReelgoodFree Developer Reelgood, reelgood.comPlatform iPhone Requirements iOS 9 or later Keeping track of every film you want to see can feel like a Herculean task. After all, superhero movie fans alone have nearly 70 movies planned between now and 2020 to look forward to. And there’s probably almost as many Star Wars films planned now… Reelgood keeps track of all the movies you want to see from one convenient iPhone app, sending a notification when they hit theaters. But that’s not all: Reelgood also knows where the cheapest legal places are to rent, buy, or stream flicks. The app offers a clean, simple user interface with a focus on poster artwork. Across the bottom are three tabs. Discover is where users search past or upcoming content, marking titles they’ve already…1 min
MacLife|October 2016VisualRuler$1.99 Developer Altaibayar Tseveenbayar, visualrulerapp.comPlatform iPhone Requirements iOS 9 or later How many times have you needed to quickly measure something, only to find you didn’t have a measuring tape on hand? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. That’s where VisualRuler comes in – it’s a handy app that turns your iPhone’s camera into a functional ruler. To use VisualRuler, you’ll have to place a credit card (or any card at the same standardized size of one) near the object you want to measure. The app should automatically recognize the card. You can then trace around the object you want to measure, using preset shapes or connected lines. Because it knows the size of the card, the app can do some quick math to figure out the size of the object…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Simon SaysElectronic games in the ‘80s had a little something for everyone: awesome playable fun priced at only a quarter per game at arcades, pared down cartridge versions for home use, and portable classics like Simon, which was little more than a black plastic box with four colored buttons on it.But oh, what a challenge it was! Simon’s diminutive CPU kept players busy by challenging them to repeat the order in which its buttons lit up, going from super-easy to maddeningly difficult within minutes. This memory twister can now be played from your wrist with the aptly-named Simon Says.Like the original, this unlicensed imitator provides the same basic thrill: Green, red, yellow, and blue buttons that light up and keep score as you attempt to remember the sequence and repeat it.…1 min
MacLife|October 2016MetaMovieFree Developer Giacomo Nazzaro, metamovie.itPlatform Universal, watchOS Requirements iOS 9.2 or laterYou might love movie trailers, but can you imagine watching them on a tiny Apple Watch display? That’s not quite what MetaMovie does, but you can use the app to explore cast and synopsis information or even view photos from favorite movies, all with your iPhone safely nestled in your pocket or purse.As a Universal app, MetaMovie offers several improvements over Apple’s Trailers, notably popular movie quotes while YouTube-hosted content is buffering, and the ability to navigate cast and crew information while viewing by swiping right during playback. The developer’s native language clearly isn’t English, as evidenced by the occasional button text, in-app map, and news tab, which is entirely in Italian.The situation is similar on Apple Watch, which…1 min
MacLife|October 20167 apps for doing something new with videoThe video-editing tools built into iOS and even Apple’s iMovie cover the basics farely well, but there is so much more than meets the eye in the world of video, so we got inspired to transform your tools of choice. Let’s start out with some basics. Videohance ($3.99, iPhone) feels like your favorite photo filter and “mood” apps, but for videos. It’s packed with effects and textures like light leaks, grit and grain, and blurs, but also adds elements like stylized frames and animated objects. STOP MOTION STUDIO (Free, Universal) is a comprehensive app that leapt over from the Mac. It packs powerful tools for getting started with stop-motion, such as overlaying your previous frame to help line up the next shot, and an automatic mode so you can focus…2 min
MacLife|October 2016WinZip Mac 5$29.95 Developer WinZip, winzip.comRequirements OS X 10.8 or later, 64-bit processorFor many Mac owners, OS X’s built-in Archive Utility is perfectly suitable for tackling occasional downloads from the internet. But WinZip offers a more comprehensive arsenal of tools for crunching or extracting content from ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, LHA, 7Z, JAR, and WAR archives.The previous version integrated cloud services iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and Google Drive while introducing ZipShare, a free service for files up to 500MB. Version 5 builds upon that foundation by automatically generating links when uploading to connected cloud services. Paste the resulting URL into another app and you’re ready to share in seconds.Our favorite new feature is the Actions pane, where you can add frequently used features, such as encryption or link sharing, prior to saving. Actions also…1 min
MacLife|October 2016MetaMovieFree Developer Giacomo Nazzaro, metamovie.itPlatform Universal, watchOS Requirements iOS 9.2 or later You might love movie trailers, but can you imagine watching them on a tiny Apple Watch display? That’s not quite what MetaMovie does, but you can use the app to explore cast and synopsis information or even view photos from favorite movies, all with your iPhone safely nestled in your pocket or purse. As a Universal app, MetaMovie offers several improvements over Apple’s Trailers, notably popular movie quotes while YouTube-hosted content is buffering, and the ability to navigate cast and crew information while viewing by swiping right during playback. The developer’s native language clearly isn’t English, as evidenced by the occasional button text, in-app map, and news tab, which is entirely in Italian. The situation is similar on…1 min
MacLife|October 2016HoudahGeo 5$39 Developer Houdah Software, houdah.comRequirements OS X 10.10 or later; active internet connectionHoudahGeo 5 imports images from cameras or SD cards as well as the folders and photo libraries already on your computer, uses a variety of methods to determine where pictures were taken, then adds the appropriate EXIF, XMP, and IPTC metadata to JPEG or RAW files. It’s ideal for photos taken with a DSLR.Geotagging works automatically when used in conjunction with supported GPS track loggers, but there’s another method if you don’t want to invest in such accessories. Simply take a photo at each location as you travel with your iPhone or cellular-equipped iPad, then load those images into the same HoudahGeo project as your DSLR files. Click the “Geocode from Reference Photos” button on the toolbar, and…1 min
MacLife|October 2016WinZip Mac 5$29.95 Developer WinZip, winzip.comRequirements OS X 10.8 or later, 64-bit processor For many Mac owners, OS X’s built-in Archive Utility is perfectly suitable for tackling occasional downloads from the internet. But WinZip offers a more comprehensive arsenal of tools for crunching or extracting content from ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, LHA, 7Z, JAR, and WAR archives. The previous version integrated cloud services iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and Google Drive while introducing ZipShare, a free service for files up to 500MB. Version 5 builds upon that foundation by automatically generating links when uploading to connected cloud services. Paste the resulting URL into another app and you’re ready to share in seconds. Our favorite new feature is the Actions pane, where you can add frequently used features, such as encryption or link sharing, prior to…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Mail Designer Pro 3$89.99 Developer Equinux AG, maildesigner.equinux.comRequirements OS X 10.9 or laterMAIL DESIGNER PRO 3Really easy to useTemplates are greatPurely a design toolApple Mail doesn’t support mobile designsEmail marketing can be very effective, but it can also be very expensive: crafting something that looks good not just on a Mac but on Windows and on every conceivable kind of mobile device can be a big job with big bills attached. If you’re a small business or organization without in-house designers, Mail Designer Pro could be a better option.Mail Designer Pro is designed for small businesses, individuals, clubs, and groups who need to create good-looking and effective emails such as promotional emails or newsletters. It’s a template-based system offering 72 different designs that you can tweak by using text blocks, buttons, banners, photos,…2 min
MacLife|October 2016HoudahGeo 5$39 Developer Houdah Software, houdah.com Requirements OS X 10.10 or later; active internet connection HoudahGeo 5 imports images from cameras or SD cards as well as the folders and photo libraries already on your computer, uses a variety of methods to determine where pictures were taken, then adds the appropriate EXIF, XMP, and IPTC metadata to JPEG or RAW files. It’s ideal for photos taken with a DSLR. Geotagging works automatically when used in conjunction with supported GPS track loggers, but there’s another method if you don’t want to invest in such accessories. Simply take a photo at each location as you travel with your iPhone or cellular-equipped iPad, then load those images into the same HoudahGeo project as your DSLR files. Click the “Geocode from Reference Photos” button on…1 min
MacLife|October 2016ASWY Ondo Air Speaker v2$199 Manufacturer ASWY, aswyshop.comFeatures 360-degree sound, wireless charging, LED touch controlsASWY ONDO AIR SPEAKER V2A conversation piece…Impressive looksCumbersome plastic holderUnderwhelming soundFloating speakers are a sure sign that we’re finally living in The Jetsons – either that, or manufacturers are running out of ideas to cram into their equipment.Sure, when you see the Air Speaker in action for the first time, you can’t help but be mesmerized by how it hovers above its base unit (powered not by The Future, but simple repelling magnets). In fact, it’s quite easy to become distracted by the speaker’s constant rotation. However, we never warmed to the Air Speaker beyond it being anything other than a conversation piece.It isn’t meant to be just for show, however. Its maker says the its levitating, 360-degree sound projection…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Freecom mHDD Slim143 Manufacturer Freecom, freecom.comFeatures 1TB/2TB (tested), USB-A and USB-C cablesHigh-capacity 2.5-inch hard drives can feel thick, but this one is just a third of an inch tall. It weighs only 5 oz too, even though its body is metal.Two USB cables are bundled with it: one to connect to a USB-A port, found on most Macs, and a USB-C for 12-inch MacBooks and any future Macs with it – though that’s only expected at this price.As for performance, the drive is what we’d expect from a 2.5-inch hard disk, though a few things stood out. While minimum rates for sequential transfers on drives of this kind aren’t stellar, the mHDD managed respectable 30.4MB/s and 27.8MB/s rates for reading and writing, respectively. Its mean sequential rates of 120.4 and 121.6MB/s are…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Sony DSC-RX10 III$1,498 Manufacturer Sony, sony.comFeatures 24-600mm (25x) zoom lens, 20.1 megapixels, 4K video, 2.95-inch LCD, 4.41 lbsSONY DSC-RX10 IIIExcellent and fast 24-600mm lensSuperb stills and video qualityPoor autofocus at longer focal lengthsLarge and heavyLike its predecessor the Mk II, the Sony RX10 III is aimed at the serious enthusiast end of the photography market: anyone looking for ultimate image quality and telephoto reach in a bridge-style package.The RX10 III has the same 20.1-million-pixel Exmor CMOS sensor, and offers the same excellent 4K video functionality, as the Mk II. In fact most features and functions are identical, so the main talking point is the large and impressive Zeiss 24-600mm lens.There’s no getting around the bulk of the Sony RX10 III. It’s very well made and comfortable in the hand, but more casual…2 min
MacLife|October 2016ASWY Ondo Air Speaker v2$199 Manufacturer ASWY, aswyshop.com Features 360-degree sound, wireless charging, LED touch controls ASWY ONDO AIR SPEAKER V2 A conversation piece… Impressive looks Cumbersome plastic holder Underwhelming sound Floating speakers are a sure sign that we’re finally living in The Jetsons – either that, or manufacturers are running out of ideas to cram into their equipment. Sure, when you see the Air Speaker in action for the first time, you can’t help but be mesmerized by how it hovers above its base unit (powered not by The Future, but simple repelling magnets). In fact, it’s quite easy to become distracted by the speaker’s constant rotation. However, we never warmed to the Air Speaker beyond it being anything other than a conversation piece. It isn’t meant to be just for show, however.…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Buffalo LinkStation LS520DE$100 Manufacturer Buffalo, buffalo-technology.com Features 1GHz dual-core CPU, 256MB memory, 2x SATA II bays This is a no-frills, two-bay network drive with RAID (0 or 1) support. The base model is diskless – we tested it with Seagate drives. It’s much smaller and lighter than other two-bay drives we’ve tried, and while the plastic casing seems durable, the drive caddies are a tad flimsy. It’s rounded out by a USB 3.0 port at the back for adding more storage. Functionality is similarly stripped back. Highlights are a private cloud and BitTorrent, along with AFP, Time Machine, DLNA, and an iTunes audio server. The drive is mostly easy to set up, with a Mac app that takes you to its web interface. The drive’s performance is disappointing. Tests drew attention to…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Sony DSC-RX10 III$1,498 Manufacturer Sony, sony.com Features 24-600mm (25x) zoom lens, 20.1 megapixels, 4K video, 2.95-inch LCD, 4.41 lbs SONY DSC-RX10 III Excellent and fast 24-600mm lens Superb stills and video quality Poor autofocus at longer focal lengths Large and heavy Like its predecessor the Mk II, the Sony RX10 III is aimed at the serious enthusiast end of the photography market: anyone looking for ultimate image quality and telephoto reach in a bridge-style package. The RX10 III has the same 20.1-million-pixel Exmor CMOS sensor, and offers the same excellent 4K video functionality, as the Mk II. In fact most features and functions are identical, so the main talking point is the large and impressive Zeiss 24-600mm lens. There’s no getting around the bulk of the Sony RX10 III. It’s very well…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Withings Body Cardio$180 Manufacturer Withings, withings.com Features Measures weight, fat, muscle, bone and water mass, Pulse Wave Velocity WITHINGS BODY CARDIO Extra measurements over its predecessor Good all-round health checking Good integration with app Integrated battery Withings’ new scale (replacing the WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer) sports a leaner physique of its own, and measures more about yours. It also retains the WS-50’s clear display, which warns if you’re leaning during a weigh-in. The Body Cardio, and the cheaper $130 Body scale introduced alongside it, checks your water percentage (a disappointing omission on the WS-50), together with muscle and bone mass. Results appeared consistent and reliable, and we saw only 0.2 lb variation between the Cardio and the WS-50 – which is the smallest amount they log. For whatever reason, fat mass…1 min
MacLife|October 2016POWERLINE ADAPTERSWi-Fi is a really quick and convenient way of connecting devices to your home network. Even so, many of us find “dead spots” in our homes that the signal can’t reach, away from the router. This is where powerline gear can be a lifesaver. Powerline adapters connect devices to your network via your existing electrical sockets.You need one adapter to connect your router to a nearby power socket, and an additional adapter that plugs into a socket in the room where you have that pesky dead spot. You then connect your device to the powerline adapter using an Ethernet cable.Prices start at around $60 for a two-adapter set that provides theoretical speeds of up to 500Mbps, but for a little more, you can get models that achieve speeds of up…2 min
MacLife|October 2016GET SMART1 Logitech POP Home Switch Starter Setlogitech.com$99Logitech first branched out into the smart home market with its Harmony Hub, which can be used to control your home entertainment setup as well as some smart home devices – including Philips Hue lights, smart locks, smart thermostats and more – from your iPhone with great automated options. Now Logitech is taking that home technology control further with its POP buttons, which are simple, big buttons you can press to trigger your smart home devices to do various things.They work with a range of accessories, including those mentioned above, as well as Belkin WeMo switches and Insteon’s full home automation systems. Each button is battery powered – so it can be placed anywhere – and connects to the POP Bridge, which actually sends…3 min
MacLife|October 2016LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens$39.99 Developer TT Fusion/Feral Interactive, feralinteractive.com Requirements OS X 10.10.5 or later, 1.8GHz Intel processor, 4GB RAM, Intel HD 5000/AMD 4850/NVIDIA 130 graphics, 18GB storage At this point, there could be a LEGO video game of any franchise and people would play it. Of course, not all sagas are Star Wars, and the latest LEGO adaptation has been treated with special care. LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens adds a few new elements to the tried-and-true formula, but it’s the extra story content and humorous Easter eggs that make it a special treat. The main beats of the story follow the film’s plot, though some events have been fudged to fit LEGO’s quirky brand of storytelling. Jakku, the Millennium Falcon, and even Endor have been bricked, with players taking the…2 min
MacLife|October 2016ASKHOW DID BITDEFENDER GET ON MY IMAC?I erroneously opened an email that appeared to be from a friend. In it was a link to a site promoting a weight loss product. A little later, I inadvertently ran an app called Bitdefender that had appeared on my Mac. Does this mean my Mac is now infected?Bitdefender is intended to clear out iffy software, rather than being malware itself, but it’s controversial and designed to extract money from you. We strongly recommend you remove it, and avoid doing anything that could bring you to install other unwanted apps on your Mac: the next one could be malicious.Mercifully, Bitdefender has its own removal tool, which you should use as soon as you can. If you are looking for tools that are completely free…10 min
MacLife|October 201610 years of Intel MacsIn 2006, Apple made a huge change to its Macs, one few people would have anticipated just a few years before – it switched from using Motorola’s PowerPC processors to Intel chips. Apple and the PowerPC chips were a long-term pairing, and seemed inseparable. Sadly (for nostalgics, at least), expectations of what a processor would do were moving on, and Motorola’s silicon was struggling to keep up.When it came to single-core processors, the PowerPC units were brutes, and Apple made blisteringly fast machines with the G4 and G5 at the helm. But the PowerPC architecture was starting to look like a dead end. The G5 chip was hugely powerful, but it was also large and power-hungry, and getting it into an inch-thick notebook (because a notebook being an inch thick…4 min
MacLife|October 2016Planet of the Apps: Apple’s first TV showFOR THE LAST few years, there have been lots of rumors of Apple getting into producing original content, in the same way that Netflix has. And indeed, Apple has started to fund video content – but in a kind of piecemeal way.As so many things do these days, it started with Taylor Swift. Apple released a documentary about Swift’s world tour for her album 1989 exclusively on Apple Music, available to subscribers of the service. In the last few months, Apple has bought the planned spin-off series of Carpool Karaoke, a popular segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden. This will also be available to Apple Music subscribers.In late 2016 and early 2017, the first show created by Apple will film: Planet of the Apps, a reality show…2 min
MacLife|October 20166 tips to make you a Pokémon GO masterLast issue, we wondered if Pokémon GO was going to be a continued big hit, or just a short-term fad. Well, weeks after its release, it’s still going strong, with Pokémon hunters congregating in parks and key locations around towns and cities to catch the cute critters as they appear, while the developer has dropped hints about future updates.Though it appears to be quite a simple game, there’s a lot of hidden complexity you can take advantage of – tricks that make it easier to find and catch Pokémon, or to level up and gain the great rewards (and rare Pokémon) available to higher-level players. So whether you’re thinking of trying the game for the first time, or you’ve been hunting for a while, be sure to try out these…2 min
MacLife|October 2016THE SHIFTApple says Messages is the most popular iOS app, with billions of iMessages sent each day. iMessage has also become a tentpole of Apple’s mission, and marketing, around protecting our privacy. As significant as all this is, though, iMessage is far from the most popular messaging service in the world, and Apple finally seems to care enough to something about it. Apps popular around the world – WhatsApp, Line, and Facebook Messenger, to name a few – evolved messaging far beyond mere text, photos, and emoji. Come this fall with iOS 10, Apple will turn iMessage into a full-blown platform that might actually join the 21st century of messaging. A while ago, I wrote about all the things messaging apps now enable users to do, from paying for cabs and…2 min
MacLife|October 2016>GAME LOOPSquare Enix has been betting big on iOS since the beginning of the App Store. Yes, its ports of core Final Fantasy games have been big sellers, but it hasn’t been afraid to experiment. 2011’s Imaginary Range was a bold interactive comic book, and Lara Croft Go was called the best mobile game of 2015 by many. Square is a company that understands iOS, delivering far better games than its competitors. This month, Square unveiled Mobius Final Fantasy, its latest title in the famous and long-running Final Fantasy franchise. It’s probably the most gorgeous Square game yet on iPhone. It has a classic Final Fantasy job system, the animation is amazing, and the soundtrack sounds like it came from the great Nobuo Uematsu himself. And yet, Mobius Final Fantasy is…3 min
MacLife|October 2016Turn an old Mac into a Minecraft machineAssuming you’ve got younger children – say, from around the ages of 6 to 12 – or nieces, nephews, godchildren, or any combination of the above… well, chances are they’re into Minecraft. And by “into,” we mean “obsessed to the point of playing for hours or maybe days at a time.” That usually means a Mac or iPad being commandeered for the purposes of block-busting, usually at the most inconvenient times.Now obviously, you’re not going to want to shell out on a new Mac just to indulge the little one’s whims, no matter how much you love them. But an entire Saturday frittered away on video games is every child’s birthright, and playing Minecraft might set them up for a lucrative future career of 3D modeling or tree punching.The answer?…9 min
MacLife|October 2016Camera+ for iPad$4.99 Developer tap tap tap, camera.plusPlatform iPad Requirements iOS 8 or laterCamera+ is one of the best iPhone photography apps, but its iPad version had lagged behind in terms of the latest and greatest tools – but no more! Version 2 of Camera+ for iPad updates the app’s look to be more modern (though still eschewing the standard iOS style for its own interface), and crucially includes a new set of tools called “The Lab.”This includes high-quality adjustments ranging from sharpen and blur tools, to color and tone tweaks, to effects such as film grain. It also includes Clarity Pro, the special filter that has always been the app’s ace in the hole. The basic version of this filter boosts contrast and vibrancy to turn even the roughest phone photo…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Marvel - Design Apps on Your PhoneFree Developer Marvel Prototyping, marvelapp.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 9 or laterLots of people have had a moment when they’re suddenly struck by that One Great App Idea – maybe you have too! But unless you have prosumer or professional tools, your best shot at articulating that idea to someone is usually a bar napkin or ineffectual hand gestures. Fortunately, there’s Marvel (nothing to do with comic books), part of a relatively new, niche wave of apps that aim to bring the art of the “app mockup” to the rest of us.Marvel is a purpose-built diagramming app with a few clever perks that help bring your app ideas to interactive semi-life. You have simple tools to draw shapes, add text and photos, and even bring in a handful of stock icons…2 min
MacLife|October 2016VisualRuler$1.99 Developer Altaibayar Tseveenbayar, visualrulerapp.comPlatform iPhone Requirements iOS 9 or laterHow many times have you needed to quickly measure something, only to find you didn’t have a measuring tape on hand? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. That’s where VisualRuler comes in – it’s a handy app that turns your iPhone’s camera into a functional ruler.To use VisualRuler, you’ll have to place a credit card (or any card at the same standardized size of one) near the object you want to measure. The app should automatically recognize the card.You can then trace around the object you want to measure, using preset shapes or connected lines. Because it knows the size of the card, the app can do some quick math to figure out the size of the object you want to…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Camera+ for iPad$4.99 Developer tap tap tap, camera.plusPlatform iPad Requirements iOS 8 or later Camera+ is one of the best iPhone photography apps, but its iPad version had lagged behind in terms of the latest and greatest tools – but no more! Version 2 of Camera+ for iPad updates the app’s look to be more modern (though still eschewing the standard iOS style for its own interface), and crucially includes a new set of tools called “The Lab.” This includes high-quality adjustments ranging from sharpen and blur tools, to color and tone tweaks, to effects such as film grain. It also includes Clarity Pro, the special filter that has always been the app’s ace in the hole. The basic version of this filter boosts contrast and vibrancy to turn even the roughest…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Marvel - Design Apps on Your PhoneFree Developer Marvel Prototyping, marvelapp.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 9 or later Lots of people have had a moment when they’re suddenly struck by that One Great App Idea – maybe you have too! But unless you have prosumer or professional tools, your best shot at articulating that idea to someone is usually a bar napkin or ineffectual hand gestures. Fortunately, there’s Marvel (nothing to do with comic books), part of a relatively new, niche wave of apps that aim to bring the art of the “app mockup” to the rest of us. Marvel is a purpose-built diagramming app with a few clever perks that help bring your app ideas to interactive semi-life. You have simple tools to draw shapes, add text and photos, and even bring in a handful of…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Severed$6.99 Developer Drinkbox Studios, drinkboxstudios.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8.0 or laterYou awake in a strange, colorful world. You progress through the trees to a house. Your house. Your family is gone. Your arm is gone. You stare at the unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, and see behind you the silhouette of some eldritch creature. It informs you that you must save your family, and gives you a sword. Severed begins…Progressing through puzzlefilled temples is the main game, and various monsters attempt to hinder your adventure on a fairly regular basis. The concept behind Severed is perfect for touchscreens - you use your sword with directional swipes, and each monster can usually be defeated by taking advantage of their directional weaknessesThe monsters change, level up and become stronger as you make…2 min
MacLife|October 2016NavigonFree Developer Garmin Wuerzburg GmbH Platform Universal, watchOS Requirements iOS 9 or lateThe Apple Watch already has a pretty slick way to view turn-byturn directions from your wrist while navigating with the built-in Maps app, but should you prefer a third-party option, there’s now one available from the folks at Garmin. The free universal Navigon is a departure from the company’s usual paid apps aimed at new users.Let’s get the bad news out of the way right up front: Navigon is only “free” for the first seven days. After that you’ll need to pay $4.99 monthly or $29.99 annually for either North America or Europe, although unlimited options as well as maps for Australia and New Zealand are also available.As with Apple Maps, you’ll first need to establish a destination…2 min
MacLife|October 2016klocki99¢ Developer Rainbow Train, klockigame.comPlatform Universal Requirements iOS 8 or later This is puzzlement in its most minimalist incarnation. klocki offers up no menus, no instructions, no reasons for why you’re carrying out these tilearranging tasks. We’ve chosen to believe it’s something to do with aliens. Thankfully, it’s remarkably intuitive. Each puzzle presents you with a set of tiles – initially on 2D surfaces, but progressing to 3D shapes – with lines on them. You need to manipulate these so that the lines connect in satisfactory fashion, at which point they’ll light up and you’re on to the next one. Some tiles can be switched, while others (and indeed whole planes, at some points) can be spun around, and yet more need sliding about to fit. Each type or combination…1 min
MacLife|October 2016AOC Q2781PQ$339 Manufacturer AOC, aoc.comFeatures 27-inch, 2560x1440, DisplayPort, 2x HDMI, VGAAOC’s latest monitor is a good-looking display with a native resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. First impressions are of an unfussy, quietly stylish display; slim, metal-framed, and with a strong stand that’s a single leg of aluminum, bent into a half-closed rectangle. There are downsides to this voguish appearance, though: it has a tilt range of no more than 14 degrees, and – like many displays today – there’s no height adjustment option, so if you want it to be higher, get a stand. (Not a VESA mount, sorry; there’s no fitting for that.)Most of this monitor is a simple slim rectangle, with a slightly thicker section on the back where the circuitry and ports live. This is where you’ll find a…2 min
MacLife|October 2016BusyCal 3$49.99 Developer BusyMac, busymac.comRequirements OS X 10.11 or laterWe actually really like most of Apple’s built-in apps. They’re easy to use, get the job done, and work largely the same across iOS or Mac. But there are some, such as Calendar and Reminders, that we’ve shunned in favor of superior third-party alternatives.BusyCal 3 looks and feels a lot like Apple’s Calendar, right down to the nearly identical icons, but the former offers a number of improvements. Among them is a redesigned menu bar app which now includes a mini-month calendar and a scrolling event list similar to Fantastical; plus a detailed info panel in the lower-right corner of the main app, which can optionally be displayed in a floating window.Reminders are integrated into BusyCal 3 as to-dos, which show up…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Disk Drill 3Free ($89 Pro upgrade) Developer 508 Software, cleverfiles.comRequirements OS X 10.6.8 or later, 64-bit processorDisk Drill 3 is a free Mac disk management utility that has added iOS and Android recovery tools to its comprehensive lineup. The basic version offers a host of features including disk cleanup, the ability to find duplicate files, byte-to-byte backups, a bootable recovery drive, and disk health monitoring, while the paid Pro upgrade adds even more.The good news for veteran Disk Drill users is that version 3 introduces a much-needed fresh coat of paint across the entire user interface, offering a flatter appearance and more intuitive layout.The new iOS data recovery feature is used to recover bookmarks, calendar events, call logs and chats, contacts, notes, and files (those stored within apps as well as photos…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Boinx mimoLive$199 per year for personal/education use, $699 per year for commercialDeveloper Boinx Software, boinx.comRequirements OS X 10.10 or laterBOINX MIMOLIVETrigger and combine a wide range of assets on the flyCustomize template layers to create sophisticatedlooking showsProduce and share live content quicklyToo expensive for an individual domestic userThis app is like a TV studio that enables you to create and broadcast shows directly from your Mac. It helps you gather assets (such as photographs, graphics, and video clips) and then trigger them as and when needed.For example, you might want to create a short video sequence that showcases the highlights of your recent vacation. You could record the live feed from your Mac’s FaceTime HD camera and host your show as its presenter, and just tap a keyboard shortcut (or click…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Paste – Smart Clipboard$9.99 Developer Dmitry Obukhov, pasteapp.meRequirements OS X 10.10 or laterPaste is a clipboard manager than opens as a drawer at the bottom of your Mac’s screen. When you copy something, it’s automatically added to Paste, whether it’s text, a link, an image, or more (you can exclude apps in its preferences – Keychain Access is excluded by default). You bring up Paste by hitting ç+ß+v, though you can change this, too. Paste does its job well, displaying what you’ve copied in a clear view, with previews of images or text (and you can select one and hit spacebar to Quick Look for more), though we wish it gave you a web preview of copied links.You can search for things you’ve copied, and assign them to “pinboards” for grouping relating stuff,…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Corel Painter 2017$399 Manufacturer Corel, corel.comRequirements OS X 10.9.5 or laterThe last few years have seen Painter keep its place at the top of the naturalmedia painting app pile, but it’s been hard to see where it could go forward. Fortunately, in the 2017 edition the developer has innovated with new tools, as well as improving existing ones.The app itself hasn’t changed much in feel or operation, which is a good thing and ultimately allows the new features to feel less like bolt-ons for the purposes of upgrades, and more like integral parts of the software.The toolset is pretty comprehensive, as well as very realistic. It’s very easy to get to grips with, especially if used with a tablet. Many tools respond to stylus angle and rotation, as well as position, so…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Boinx mimoLive$199 per year for personal/education use, $699 per year for commercial Developer Boinx Software, boinx.comRequirements OS X 10.10 or later BOINX MIMOLIVE Trigger and combine a wide range of assets on the fly Customize template layers to create sophisticatedlooking shows Produce and share live content quickly Too expensive for an individual domestic user This app is like a TV studio that enables you to create and broadcast shows directly from your Mac. It helps you gather assets (such as photographs, graphics, and video clips) and then trigger them as and when needed. For example, you might want to create a short video sequence that showcases the highlights of your recent vacation. You could record the live feed from your Mac’s FaceTime HD camera and host your show as its presenter,…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Sketches Pro$19.99 Manufacturer Tayasui, tayasui.comRequirements OS X 10.10 or laterSKETCHES PROSlick and unobtrusive user interfaceExcellent tool selection and qualityPhotoshop compliantLimited blending styles for layersTayasui’s Sketches Pro is a popular iOS art app, and the fact that it’s made its way to the Mac App Store is a welcome one. But can it deliver on the same streamlined yet versatile experience the mobile version offers?In a word, yes. This is one of the cleanest, slickest, and most intuitive painting applications you will find, and does away with the need to break from your creativity to figure out how to achieve something.Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the layout, though; the selection of tools cater for just about everything you could need. Each has a selection of options, such as a round…3 min
MacLife|October 2016Buffalo LinkStation LS520DE$100 Manufacturer Buffalo, buffalo-technology.comFeatures 1GHz dual-core CPU, 256MB memory, 2x SATA II baysThis is a no-frills, two-bay network drive with RAID (0 or 1) support. The base model is diskless – we tested it with Seagate drives. It’s much smaller and lighter than other two-bay drives we’ve tried, and while the plastic casing seems durable, the drive caddies are a tad flimsy. It’s rounded out by a USB 3.0 port at the back for adding more storage.Functionality is similarly stripped back. Highlights are a private cloud and BitTorrent, along with AFP, Time Machine, DLNA, and an iTunes audio server. The drive is mostly easy to set up, with a Mac app that takes you to its web interface.The drive’s performance is disappointing. Tests drew attention to its old SATA II…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Mail Designer Pro 3$89.99 Developer Equinux AG, maildesigner.equinux.com Requirements OS X 10.9 or later MAIL DESIGNER PRO 3 Really easy to use Templates are great Purely a design tool Apple Mail doesn’t support mobile designs Email marketing can be very effective, but it can also be very expensive: crafting something that looks good not just on a Mac but on Windows and on every conceivable kind of mobile device can be a big job with big bills attached. If you’re a small business or organization without in-house designers, Mail Designer Pro could be a better option. Mail Designer Pro is designed for small businesses, individuals, clubs, and groups who need to create good-looking and effective emails such as promotional emails or newsletters. It’s a template-based system offering 72 different designs that you can…2 min
MacLife|October 2016Withings Body Cardio$180 Manufacturer Withings, withings.comFeatures Measures weight, fat, muscle, bone and water mass, Pulse Wave VelocityWITHINGS BODY CARDIOExtra measurements over its predecessorGood all-round health checkingGood integration with appIntegrated batteryWithings’ new scale (replacing the WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer) sports a leaner physique of its own, and measures more about yours. It also retains the WS-50’s clear display, which warns if you’re leaning during a weigh-in.The Body Cardio, and the cheaper $130 Body scale introduced alongside it, checks your water percentage (a disappointing omission on the WS-50), together with muscle and bone mass.Results appeared consistent and reliable, and we saw only 0.2 lb variation between the Cardio and the WS-50 – which is the smallest amount they log. For whatever reason, fat mass always showed as a few percent less on the Cardio…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Freecom mHDD Slim143 Manufacturer Freecom, freecom.com Features 1TB/2TB (tested), USB-A and USB-C cables High-capacity 2.5-inch hard drives can feel thick, but this one is just a third of an inch tall. It weighs only 5 oz too, even though its body is metal. Two USB cables are bundled with it: one to connect to a USB-A port, found on most Macs, and a USB-C for 12-inch MacBooks and any future Macs with it – though that’s only expected at this price. As for performance, the drive is what we’d expect from a 2.5-inch hard disk, though a few things stood out. While minimum rates for sequential transfers on drives of this kind aren’t stellar, the mHDD managed respectable 30.4MB/s and 27.8MB/s rates for reading and writing, respectively. Its mean sequential rates of…1 min
MacLife|October 2016LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens$39.99 Developer TT Fusion/Feral Interactive, feralinteractive.comRequirements OS X 10.10.5 or later, 1.8GHz Intel processor, 4GB RAM, Intel HD 5000/AMD 4850/NVIDIA 130 graphics, 18GB storageAt this point, there could be a LEGO video game of any franchise and people would play it. Of course, not all sagas are Star Wars, and the latest LEGO adaptation has been treated with special care. LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens adds a few new elements to the tried-and-true formula, but it’s the extra story content and humorous Easter eggs that make it a special treat.The main beats of the story follow the film’s plot, though some events have been fudged to fit LEGO’s quirky brand of storytelling. Jakku, the Millennium Falcon, and even Endor have been bricked, with players taking the roles of the…2 min
MacLife|October 2016FIVE OF THE BEST1APLE AIRPORT EXTREME$199apple.comThe AirPort Extreme is very easy to use, but it’s only an 802.11ac Wave 1 router, so we hope for a Wave 2 model soon. You also have the option of buying a version with a hard drive included, called Time Capsule, which can be used for wireless Time Machine backups from all the Macs in your home.2ZYXEL AV 2000 HOMEPLUG PLA5456$85zyxel.comThis is a really well-priced powerline package to help your internet reach the Wi-Fi “not-spots” in your house, at speeds of up to 1800Mbps. It offers two Ethernet ports for connecting wired devices, and has MIMO technology for keeping the streams flowing even for multiple demanding uses.3TP-LINK AC1200 WI-FI RANGE EXTENDER RE355$60tp-link.comIf you want to extend the range of your wireless signal, this repeater is excellent value…1 min
MacLife|October 2016Meem$90 Manufacturer Meem, meemmemory.com Features Lightning connector, 32GB capacity iCloud is the backup solution for your iOS devices and Apple wants to keep it that way. Yes, you can still use iTunes and your Mac, but that’s become a bit of a manual chore in the days of the cloud. So why on Earth would you want another offline solution for backing up your data? Well, the designers of Meem think there’s a gap in the market for a travel backup solution while you’re away from Wi-Fi or a mobile network signal. We can see the point, and as you need to charge your iPhone every couple of days, it’s good to know there’s a cable out there that backs up while you’re doing so. As you charge, Meem backs…1 min
