MacOS

There’s been a lot going on recently with Google Chrome (and Microsoft Edge) browser extensions.

Things really heated up when new requirements were introduced, dictating how Chrome extensions are built and what they can do – Manifest V3.

Think of Manifest V3 as a blueprint or set of guidelines for extension developers, with a strong focus on boosting security, privacy, and performance.

While the shift to Manifest V3 is a whole other story, the PayPal Honey scandal prompted Google to take a much closer look at how Chrome extensions behave, especially those involved in affiliate marketing.

Recently, I wrote about giving my friend’s MacBook Air from Mid-2013 (A1465) a new life by installing macOS Ventura (13.4.1) on it.

Although this laptop was still working well, it was not compatible with the latest macOS from Apple. However, the OpenCore Legacy Patcher gave it a new lease on life by allowing it to run the latest macOS.

After installing any OS updates on unsupported hardware, you should be prompted to install post-install volume patches (also known as root patches) on your first boot.

By installing Rapid Security Response Update 13.4.1 (c), the system froze at the Apple logo and progress bar at approximately 35% of the loading process during the first reboot.

Thankfully, the solution was not too complicated.

Probably some of us have friends who have MacBook computers. Some of them purchased them some time ago and, despite still working, have been made obsolete and stopped from further support from Apple.

When the device is out of support life, it does not receive any further software updates. This is putting their users at risk of unpatched variabilities but also causing problems using outdated software like Internet Browser.

I got friends who purchased MacBook Air 11th-inch Mid-2013 (A1465) at a very similar time when I purchased my first MacBook Pro. Since then I updated and I am currently on my 3rd with an M1 processor.

I used to use Parallels Desktop and with my hand on my heart, I can tell that this is one of the best software to run Windows 11 on Mac with Apple Silicon.

There is a big problem for me, however. Parallels Desktop is a bit expensive in long term. As expensive the life become recently, everybody is trying to save some pennies, even me. I cut unnecessary subscriptions by some and Parallels has been one of them (along with Bitdefender in favour of free Avira). I recalculate the use of Windows on my macOS device and the conclusion was that I am paying and not using it.

If you follow my page, you’ve probably already come across my post Blocking Ads in Safari on iOS, iPadOS and macOS. In it, I described how to use the built-in Firefox Focus feature to block trackers and ads without unnecessary configuration.

This method won’t work for everyone. Others may opt for AdBlock Plus, which can be set to block ads in Safari similarly to the method described using Firefox Focus. Daily I use Firefox Focus and AdBlock Plus in my Safari browser on my phone.

No matter what you choose, every solution is good with one but…

In a searching for Windows 11 designated to arm64 based processors, (like Apple M1 and newer) I found, on UUP Dump, a version Windows 11 arm64, which was marked as designed for Retail. I decided to try to install it in UTM on macOS and my MacBook Air with M1.

I have been using Parallels Desktop since 2014. Initially, I purchased a full licence which I upgrade roughly every year. The upgrade was a bit necessary as related closely to the macOS updates and new functions introduced.

Over the years the business model of the company behind this software changed.

Introducing the subscription model, Standards and Pro versions put a bit of confusion. At the time I stuck with version 15 for some time until I upgraded to MacBook Air M1 in 2021.

I was forced to move into version 17 to get the support for Apple Silicon however I found a good deal at the time (a bundle deal) so was happy with it. Once my subscription was up for renewal I was greeted with a renewal fee of £79.99!

For the last few months, I haven’t been using this software often enough, so I start thinking, do I need it? Is there any alternative that offers Windows OS on macOS with an M1 chip that is finally worth considering?

Do you watch YouTube a lot? Are you addicted to it, or just need it for your work?

Do the ads cause you a headache?

There is nothing better than suddenly showing an Ad in the middle of streaming from YouTube to a bigger audience (possibly on a bigger screen and using bigger, much louder audio equipment). This may ruin a lot and put distraction in time when you need people to concentrate on presented material (either video or just audio).

This may annoy you and others to the extent that you will think to pay this £11.99 per month for YouTube Premium only to get rid of this annoyance.

But what if I will tell you there is a better (and cheaper) way?

For years, various speed dials or fast dials have been popular among users who wanted to start browsing the internet with something other than the Google search engine.

Trends have changed, along with the browser add-ons people used. Since Chrome became the dominant force on computers, fast dials haven’t evolved enough to fit into society.

Some time ago on my blog I touched on the topic of storing and managing a collection of photos. With the development of Picasa coming to an end, I decided to use Lightroom.

My adventure with Lightroom lasted for some time, but I always felt insecure when it came to storing photos.