TidBITS

Major upgrade for hard drive repair and system maintenance tool introduces new Techtool Monitor. ($159.99 new, upgrade pricing available, macOS 10.11+)

Renames Zoom Chat to Zoom Team Chat and updates the app's icon. (Free, 86 MB, macOS 10.10+)

Adds support for macOS 13 Ventura and now requires a minimum of 10.13 High Sierra. ($34.95 new, free update, 15.1 MB, macOS 10.13+)

The group that creates USB standards listened to feedback and has released a reduced set of logos that make it easier to figure out the capabilities of your ports, peripherals, and cables. But changes to USB4 also mean the return of active cables to provide…

With a new iPhone comes a new case. Adam Engst has become fond of iPhone wallet cases that store a few cards and a couple of bills, so he explored some new options for his iPhone 14 Pro.

Maintenance update adds Day of Year support as an alternative calendar. ($49.99 new, free update, 59.4 MB, macOS 10.12+)

Adds support for meetings from chorus.ai and improves the reliability of time-to-leave alerts. ($39.96 annual subscription, free update, 58.4 MB, macOS 11+)

Updates the three editions of the research software with many under-the-hood improvements. (Free/$4.95/$49.95 new, free update, various sizes, macOS 10.14+)

Brings a variety of improvements, including a native OCR engine optimized for M-series Macs plus new menu commands and smart rule triggers. ($99 new, free update, 135 MB, macOS 10.14+)

Major upgrade for the image editing app introduces over 200 built‑in design templates and customizable mockups. ($39.99 new, free update, 516 MB, macOS 11+)

Oak is a free alternative to subscription-based guided meditation apps. It offers a simple menu of meditations that should be more than enough for most people.

iOS 16.0.2 fixes early bugs related to paste permissions and camera shake, along with a few other issues.

iOS 16’s marquee feature is the option to create multiple custom Lock screens, each with its own wallpaper, clock font, and widgets. Here’s how to take advantage of it.

Adds official support for macOS 13 Ventura. ($39.99 new, free update, 22.6 MB, macOS 10.15+)

Updates the backup software's user interface and enhances its Safety Freeze feature. (Free with Backblaze subscription, 32.5 MB, macOS 10.9+)

Apple has announced that the Dark Sky weather app it purchased several years ago will cease working at the end of the year. Happily, iOS 16’s bundled Weather app has appropriated Dark Sky’s best features. But Adam Engst still prefers CARROT Weather.

To take advantage of Rogue Amoeba’s return as a TidBITS sponsor, we’re sharing a few amusing use cases of Rogue Amoeba apps, ranging from hardware hacks and TV show cameos to marine research.

Adds support for Apple's RoomPlan technology for creating accurate 3D room models by scanning with an iPhone or iPad. ($29.99 new, free update, 465.9 MB, macOS 10.14+)

Adds several new features to the virtual-camera system, including adjustable frame rate controls and Smart Zoom. ($39.99 annual subscription, free update, 30.4 MB, macOS 10.13+)

Apple has confirmed that a bug in iOS 16.0 is causing problems during activation for new iPhone 14 buyers. Workarounds involve connecting to a Mac or PC during the process or upgrading to iOS 16.0.1, which also requires using a Mac or PC before activation.Read…

Josh Centers unexpectedly received an iPhone 14 to test for several days. His overall sense in comparison to his iPhone 11 Pro? The iPhone 14 might be the best model in its class, but there’s nothing particularly special about it other than its crash…

Adds support for Focus Filters in macOS 13 Ventura, plus initial support for Shortcuts. (Free with $24.99 premium purchase option, 71.5 MB, macOS 10.14+)

Brings improvements and bug fixes to the calendar and contact management apps. ($39.96 annual subscription, free update, 58.4/29.4 MB, macOS 11+)

Updates the Web browser's Tab Groups feature and provides several security updates. (Free, various sizes, macOS 11/12)

Security patches for Monterey and Big Sur. (Free, various sizes, macOS 11 and 12)

Apple has released iOS 16, watchOS 9, tvOS 16, and HomePod Software 16. Here’s how to get the updates, a brief summary of what’s new, and our advice on when to upgrade.

After spending two days writing about Apple’s latest releases, Adam Engst spent some time on the order pages for the iPhone 14 Pro and the Apple Watch Ultra and came away with a few observations.

Enables you to choose how often your account password is required when you unlock with Touch ID. ($35.88 annual subscription, free update, 2.9 MB, macOS 10.15+)

Updates the popular automation and clipboard utility with enhancements and bug fixes. ($36 new, free update, 34.5 MB, macOS 10.13+)

Updated with enhancements, accessibility improvements, and bug fixes. ($49.99 new, free update, 59.3 MB, macOS 10.12+)