Intego Mac Podcast, Episode #321: Is Your iPhone’s Lockdown Mode Fake?

Fake loan apps aren’t getting removed from the Apple App Store fast enough, and scammers continue to prey on users. Push notifications can be hacked to grab your personal information; we explain how it’s being done by government agencies. And we take a look at a newly discovered technique that can fool users of Apple’s Lockdown Mode.

Episode 321: Is Your iPhone’s Lockdown Mode Fake? – Intego Mac Podcast

Follow the The Intego Mac Podcast, which I co-host with Josh Long. We talk about Macs and iOS devices, and how to keep them secure.

Write Now with Scrivener, Episode no. 33: Carl Zimmer, Science Writer

Carl Zimmer is a science writer, author of 14 books, is a professor adjunct at Yale University, and writes the Origins column for The New York Times.

Episode 33: Carl Zimmer, Science Writer – Write Now with Scrivener

Read the rest of the article on The L&L Blog.

To learn how to use Scrivener for Mac, Windows, and iOS, check out my book Take Control of Scrivener 3.

The Next Track, Episode #270: Timo Andres on Philip Glass’s Piano Études

Composer and pianist Timo Andres worked on a new edition of Philip Glass’s piano études. He talks about these works, about what piano études are, and about Glass’s music.

Episode #270: Timo Andres on Philip Glass’s Piano Études – The Next Track

Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We’re ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!

If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. Find out more at The Next Track website, or follow The Next Track on Twitter at @NextTrackCast.

How to Force Quit apps on a Mac when they freeze or hang

Sometimes, Mac apps get stuck and become unresponsive (i.e. they crash, but they “freeze” or “hang” instead of suddenly quitting). When this happens, you have to force quit the app.

There are several ways to force quit apps on a Mac. It’s good to know how to do this in case you have an app that displays a spinning beachball cursor and stops working.

Here is everything you need to know about how to force quit Mac apps. These tips will make your Mac force quit an app that’s not working on macOS Sonoma (and earlier versions of macOS and Mac OS X).

Read the rest of the article on The Mac Security Blog.

PhotoActive Podcast Episode 154: Lens Blur

It’s time to talk about the B-word again! Jeff couldn’t trick Kirk into saying “bokeh,” but this week we’re looking at a few ways to get background blur using Portrait mode in the iPhone and editing in Lightroom. Technology has improved quite a lot in the last couple of years, to the point where simulated bokeh can sometimes pass off as natural lens blur.

Episode 154: Lens Blur – PhotoActive

Find out more, and subscribe to the podcast, at the PhotoActive website. You can follow The PhotoActive on Twitter at @PhotoActiveCast to keep up to date with new episodes, and join our Facebook group to chat with other listeners and participate in photo challenges and more.

NameDrop, a Bluetooth Vulnerability, and a Chrome Zero-Day: Intego Mac Podcast Episode 320

The Chrome browser just got another update with security patches for serious vulnerabilities. A new Bluetooth vulnerability has been discovered that could allow hackers to listen in on your personal audio. And how much personal information are you actually transmitting when you share your contact info using Apple’s Name Drop feature?

Episode 320: NameDrop, a Bluetooth Vulnerability, and a Chrome Zero-Day – Intego Mac Podcast

Follow the The Intego Mac Podcast, which I co-host with Josh Long. We talk about Macs and iOS devices, and how to keep them secure.

How to Find Beta Readers

When you’ve finished the manuscript of your book, it’s a good idea to get some feedback. Just as beta testers try out pre-release software, beta readers look at manuscripts and give feedback. They look at your work as a reader – not as an editor or proofreader, looking to improve grammar – and tell you whether you have succeeded in keeping their interest and whether they think the story works. You need both positive and negative feedback, and good beta readers can help by providing this.

Read the rest of the article on The L&L Blog.

To learn how to use Scrivener for Mac, Windows, and iOS, check out my book Take Control of Scrivener 3.

Intego Mac Podcast, Episode #319: Epic Shenanigans, Nothingburger, and RCS

RCS, the messaging protocol used by Android, is coming to the Apple iPhone. How will it affect your messaging habits? The Nothing phone we talked about last week has failed miserably. And alarmingly. And new Apple patents suggest some interesting new iPhone features that can prevent spying.

Episode 319: Epic Shenanigans, Nothingburger, and RCS – Intego Mac Podcast

Follow the The Intego Mac Podcast, which I co-host with Josh Long. We talk about Macs and iOS devices, and how to keep them secure.

How to Find a Literary Agent

Whether you’ve been working on a book for years, or you just finished one after starting it in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), the next step is publication. If you wish to have your book published through a traditional publisher, you need to find an agent.

Literary agents have multiple roles. They seek out new talent, negotiate contracts, but also serve as gatekeepers for publishers. Most traditional publishers don’t accept unagented submissions, so it is essential to find an agent if you want your book to be handled by a large publisher.

Here are some tips to help you find an agent.

Read the rest of the article on The L&L Blog.

To learn how to use Scrivener for Mac, Windows, and iOS, check out my book Take Control of Scrivener 3.

PhotoActive Podcast Episode 153: M3 Macs

The photographer’s dilemma rears again. Not only are we sometimes struck by gear acquisition syndrome when new cameras are announced, we run into it when new computers that can process our images come to market. In this case, it’s the new M3 MacBook Pro and M3 iMac models from Apple. Will the M3 processor make a difference when working with photos? If you bought an M1 iMac when it came out, is it time to upgrade? Kirk and Jeff hash it out.

Episode 154: Lens Blur – PhotoActive

Find out more, and subscribe to the podcast, at the PhotoActive website. You can follow The PhotoActive on Twitter at @PhotoActiveCast to keep up to date with new episodes, and join our Facebook group to chat with other listeners and participate in photo challenges and more.