This software enables playback of ProRes RAW and ProRes RAW HQ video files in compatible applications on Windows systems.
It works with beta versions of the following software:
Apple working to get its codec better supported across the industry is a smart move. Now we have to see how it performs. I suspect we’ll see real-world demos of this sooner rather than later.
via Mark Gurman
Apple today released a new screening tool and set of resources to help people stay informed and take the proper steps to protect their health during the spread of COVID-19, based on the latest CDC guidance. The new COVID-19 website, and COVID-19 app available on the App Store, were created in partnership with the CDC, the Coronavirus Task Force and FEMA to make it easy for people across the country to get trusted information and guidance at a time when the US is feeling the heavy burden of COVID-19.
The app and website are very easy to use and understand, and shows a recap of your answers on the screen where it gives you the CDC guidance based on those answers. This is one to send to your friends and family.
Binging stuff on Netflix is good; tackling a new creative project is better.
The macOS version of your app can now be included in a universal purchase, allowing customers to enjoy your app and in‑app purchases across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS by purchasing only once. Get started by using a single bundle ID for your apps in Xcode and setting up your app record for universal purchase in App Store Connect.
This is great in terms of giving developers more flexibility when considering branching out onto other platforms, but it could hurt their bottom lines when users come to expect this from every app.
Update: This may not be all rainbows and sunshine:
The result of this move from Apple means that developers have no choice but to abandon their existing Catalyst apps if they want to move forward to Universal Purchase, which screws over users and will make them even more upset about Catalyst. Thanks? ????♂️
— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) March 24, 2020
After the return of NetNewsWire to the Mac, Brent Simmons and gang have re-released NetNewsWire for iOS and iPadOS, as he writes on the NNW blog:
Just as the Mac version looks like a Mac app, this is very much an iOS app. It supports Dark Mode, context menus, multiple windows, Siri Shortcuts, and other iOS features.
Other features include searching, starred items, Today and All Unread smart feeds, Reader view, multiple accounts, hiding read articles and feeds, background refreshing, and more.
The app is designed to be stable and fast. (But note that an initial sync might take a while because there’s a lot of data to download.)
Currently, it sync with Feedly and my RSS backend of choice, Feedbin. The app is super clean, supports a wide range of keyboard shortcuts on the iPad, and is free. Be sure to check out John Voorhees’ full review over on MacStories.
Tot is a new Markdown-powered, iCloud-syncing scratchpad by the Iconfactory. The Mac app is comprised of a single window with seven colored tabs. Each tab can hold text, and syncs to its iOS companion for quick notes or easy sharing across devices.
The business model makes it clear that the Iconfactory views this as a Mac-first application. The Mac version is free, while the universal iOS version is a whopping $20. The mobile version is very nice, but I can’t help but agree with Federico Viticci’s take on things:
While I’m going to purchase Tot for iOS because it does exactly what I need and I personally want to support The Iconfactory, let me explain why I don’t like this approach and why I can’t easily recommend the app to everyone. The decision to make the Mac app available for free and lock the iOS version behind a $20 purchase feels unnecessarily punitive towards iPhone and iPad users who may not be interested in the Mac app at all. I understand how The Iconfactory may consider Tot for iOS a “satellite” version of the “real” Mac app (a line of thinking that, frankly, would be fairly shortsighted in 2020); even then, however, iOS users who may not be familiar with (or care about) the backstory will just see a $20 scratchpad app on the App Store, and they’ll probably balk at downloading it. Of course, everyone is free to adopt and experiment with the pricing model they prefer; as a reviewer though, it is my job to tell you that you can find more affordable plain text apps on the App Store these days.
Despite this, I really like Tot, and have it on all of my devices. For the last several years, I’ve used Apple’s Notes app to slingshot temporary text around to my devices, but Tot is far better for this — and much, much better looking.
Since last June I’ve edited just about every episode of The Incomparable on my iPad Pro using Ferrite Recording Studio and an Apple Pencil.
Since people are often curious about just how using the Apple Pencil to edit a podcast works, I thought I’d make a video to show you how I do it. (I had to suspend a camera above my desk to get some shots of what my hands are doing with the Apple Pencil.)
I’ve edited a few episodes of Ungeniused with Ferrite, and would love to be able to use it on the Mac.
John Siracusa has launched a second Mac app. This is one is named SwitchGlass, and this is how he describes it:
SwitchGlass adds a dedicated application switcher to your Mac. You can customize its appearance, size, and position on each attached display, including hiding it on selected displays. It pairs perfectly with Front and Center, supporting both click and Shift-click actions on app icons in the floating app switcher. SwitchGlass is available for $4.99 on the Mac App Store. To learn more, please read the FAQ.
If some of this sounds familiar, it’s because SwitchGlass was written to replace DragThing’s application switcher, a mainstay for many Mac users for many years. I’m not sure this app is for me, but I think John is absolutely okay with that.
Casey Liss has a new app, named Peek-a-View and the idea for it is brilliant. He writes:
Peek-a-View is, at its core, a read-only photo browser.
It is designed to be safe to hand to anyone, and know that you’re not going to need to worry about the safety of your photos.
[…]
Peek-a-View can be used for other reasons though. Perhaps you’re showing off a series of screenshots to a client. Perhaps you want to share your vacation pictures with a friend, but only your vacation pictures. Peek-a-View also lets you select a particular album to view, thus limiting inquisitive eyes to only the photos you know are safe.
Some of my favorite iOS apps are the ones that solve a single problem, and do it well. Peek-a-View is in that category for me.
Marco Arment, writing about the newest version of Overcast, which includes an updated version of Voice Boost and now supports AirPlay 2:
When I wrote the original Voice Boost with only a rudimentary understanding of audio processing, it was a single configuration of Apple’s AudioUnits that applied a fixed set of parameters to all podcasts, regardless of their audio characteristics. It was an effective but blunt tool, relying on aggressive level compression and a strong EQ to make the compression less noticeable.
Since then, I’ve edited over 500 podcasts, learned a lot more about how to master them properly, and developed a much better understanding of audio signal processing.
I’ve been really impressed with this in beta. If you listen to podcasts with just your iPhone speaker, I think you’re going to be surprised how much louder and clearer shows will sound now.
Apple today announced that all users in the United States can now experience a redesigned Maps with faster and more accurate navigation and comprehensive views of roads, buildings, parks, airports, malls and more, making it easier and more enjoyable to map out any journey. Apple completed the rollout of this new Maps experience in the United States and will begin rolling it out across Europe in the coming months.
“We set out to create the best and most private maps app on the planet that is reflective of how people explore the world today,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “It is an effort we are deeply invested in and required that we rebuild the map from the ground up to reimagine how Maps enhances people’s lives — from navigating to work or school or planning an important vacation — all with privacy at its core. The completion of the new map in the United States and delivering new features like Look Around and Collections are important steps in bringing that vision to life. We look forward to bringing this new map to the rest of the world starting with Europe later this year.”
This new data showed up here in Memphis over the last week or so, and so far, it’s way better than the old Maps data. I’ve put the Maps app back on my home screen instead of Google Maps, and so far, so good.
Fantastical 3 has been released, and I have really enjoyed using it during the beta period. For years, Fantastical has been a really solid iPhone calendar app, built around fast natural language processing. Generally, entering a calendar event involves tapping a lot of buttons and hoping for the best, but with Fantastical, you didn’t have to leave the keyboard.
Over the years, Fantastical spread, making its way to the Mac and iPad. The latter in particular left a bit to be desired, but this new version takes much better advantage of the iPad’s larger screen.
The app is now free, with a premium subscription that costs $4.99/month or $39.99/year. If you live and die by your calendar as I do, I think the cost is well worth it. This support page on the Flexibits website breaks the features down, and while the free version is totally usable, a bunch of the cool stuff like the ability to combine duplicate events, use the app as a full Todoist client and a feature to propose multiple times when scheduling are all part of the premium level.
As Fantastical was a paid app before, there’s a way forward for previous customers, as explained by Chris Bowler on The Sweet Setup:
If you are a current Fantastical 2 user but not a fan of the switch to subscription-based pricing, Fantastical 3 actually installs over Fantastical 2 and gives you access to every feature you previously had. That means that you can still do things like access the different views using the new UI and can add invitees to calendar events. But if you want access to new features like templates and meeting proposals, you’ll need to upgrade to Fantastical Premium.
To power a bunch of this, Fantastical 3 now syncs directly with a bunch of cloud providers including Google, iCloud, Microsoft Exchange, Office 365 and more. You can use it as a client to see your local calendars already on your device, but in my testing, the direct sync seems faster and more solid. Plus, you can use Sign in with Apple, which is neat.
All in all, I’m impressed with this release, and Fantastical 3 has been on the home screen of my iPhone and iPad for a while, as well as the Dock on my Macs. Go check it out.
For bonus points, check out some other coverage of the release: