Looking back on 2022: Favorite hardware, software and features

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Many new titles are released every year, and this year was no exception. There was a new Mac Studio, a new iPad Pro lineup, and more Apple-compatible accessories than you could shake a stick at. Here’s what we thought was worth a look.

It feels like a lifetime ago and I had the chance to review Mac Studio. At the time, my own computing needs had changed over the years, but I said I was happy to have a fellow engineer who needed that power.

“But periodically, out of my hours Apple Insider, that huge database, the problem of confounding fluid flow, some kind of weird stoichiometric calculation, or a picture of them is presented again and I’m asked for help. I’m glad the people I work with have that option while also running macOS. And I’m sure AppleInsider’s multimedia team appreciates their team now. ”

After all, I got some short-term jobs right after I wrote this. absolutely I needed strength. So I got it.

A calculation that took an hour on my M1 Max MacBook Pro and over two hours on a colleague’s $6000 Intel Mac Pro configuration took about 13 minutes on the high-end M1 Ultra Mac Studio. A fixed-fee job he completed in 1/5th the time, so time was literally money.

It’s still not for everyone. As I write this, it’s waiting for the next big job.It’s my home server job and the kids are playing at Disney Dreamlight Valley Moreover.

I don’t feel anything about the processor, I can’t hear the fan, and it’s consuming all 45W of power. The RAID attached to it is doing its draw twice as much as he. When the Intel Mac Pro did the job, the computer itself was drawing 655 watts.

It doesn’t get any better than this. Well, maybe until the Mac Pro ships, but let’s see how much it costs. And the M1 Ultra Mac Studio might do what I need .

Growing up mostly in an ultra-rural setting, there was always a very real fear of getting stuck somewhere with no help available.

When I was six years old, a minivan squealed to a halt at the foot of an icy hill on a dirt road in western Pennsylvania. My mother and I were stranded three people away from the closest living person and the sun had already begun to set. We were forced to walk her three miles to our grandparents’ house for help.

When I was just 20 years old in the Black Hills area of ​​South Dakota, a sleet storm caused a flat tire, which caused me to spin off-road and over an embankment. After getting out of the car and over the hill, I had to pray that someone would drive and help me through the terrible weather. An hour later someone finally did.

Both times it was fine, but it was a great reminder that only one problem can arise before a situation can be life-or-death.

Giving iPhone owners the ability to call for help when service is unavailable is a great tool. Where I live, there are still large tracts of land where cell phone signals do not reach.

If the iPhone 14 can save one life, I think the feature is worth it, and I’m sure we’ll hear more about it in the future.

Apple has released a lot of great hardware in 2022, but my top pick is the AirPods Pro 2. The iPhone 14 Pro Max looks great with its new camera, and Studio Display has finally given us a new Apple-made monitor. I got my first e-bike, and the AirPods Pro 2 made the biggest impact.

I’ve had Apple’s AirPods for 6 years now and can confidently say they’re the most used Apple product I’ve ever used. I listen to podcasts and music every day and at least he spends hours with one earbud in his ear. They changed the way I think about audio.

Just as Apple finally unveiled the second generation, the original AirPods Pro day one was starting to show its age. Somehow these are an improvement over the first in almost every aspect.

Audio is significantly improved, ANC works twice as well, and the new Adaptive Transparency is like augmented reality to your ears. That’s why it’s my number one pick for 2022.

I can certainly expect most of my colleagues to pick products, but my choices are oddly specific. Release of iOS 16 and macOS Ventura software feature called Continuity Camera.

This feature takes advantage of your iPhone’s high-quality camera and uses it as a wireless webcam for your Mac. This means you have a webcam at your fingertips, easy to reach, and you can even move around because you don’t have to connect cables.

Webcams were a must during the pandemic, and while the technology has improved a bit on the high end, quality is still an issue today. You can, but not everyone wants to use their $1,000 imaging device as a webcam half the time.

Continuity Camera is great for pinch situations and should have been introduced two years ago for everyone.

My absolute favorite new release for 2022 is Hookmark for Mac. I was using the previous incarnation as a hook in 2021 and that was good, but somehow with the new features plus the reboot, rebrand and now available in Setapp, The hook mark has become revolutionary.

That’s a big exaggeration, but it’s accurate so far. I had a way of working that I used to use before Hookmark and now I have a completely different way of working.

Hookmark lets you collect related items, from documents and emails to websites and folders on your Mac. So, not just Numbers or Excel, but if you’re using a specific account his spreadsheets, you can go straight to Safari and your bank account with the press of a key.

Or when editing a magazine, there are article submissions, rejection emails, client notes, spreadsheets, the magazine’s online content management system, Affinity Publisher documents, and multiple folders. With a keystroke, I’m jumping between them all in no time.

Developer Luc Beaudoin would say that finding the right folder or the right email isn’t difficult or time consuming, but it’s enough to break your thoughts. so i know he will tell you that.

Hookmark is now available on Setapp, a subscription service that includes over 200 Mac and iOS apps. You can also get it directly from the official website with a trial version, the price of the basic version is $29.99.

Apple only released it in early December, but Advanced Data Protection is already my favorite of the year.

It’s an umbrella term for three technologies: iMessage Contact Key Verification, Apple ID security keys, and iCloud end-to-end encryption. iCloud Enhanced Encryption released in iOS 16.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, and other recent updates.

For later software versions, Apple plans to release security keys and iMessage verification in 2023.

With optional iMessage Contact Key Verification, users who have it enabled will receive alerts if their servers are compromised and an intermediary is inserted between iMessage communications. Apple ID security keys allow users to extend two-factor authentication for her account using hardware security keys.

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud expands the end-to-end encrypted Apple services list from 14 to 23 categories. This is a great upgrade that protects Apple users from data breaches and surveillance, and greatly enhances privacy and security.

A lot of exciting and fun products were released this year as well. The Apple Watch Ultra is incredibly cool and I love my new GoPro Hero 10 Black. But if I had to pick a favorite, which I obviously do, I’d settle for Level Lock Plus.

Level Lock Plus was co-developed by Apple and fits neatly inside your door. Mimicking a run-of-the-mill deadbolt, it’s quite unassuming from the outside. Still, it packs more tech than most other smart locks on the market: physical keys, companion keypad, Level app, Apple Home, NFC key card, automatically based on location, or You can unlock it using your Apple Key. The one that got me particularly excited was the last one.

The lock works really well, just walk up to your Apple Watch or iPhone and tap it to unlock instantly via NFC. You are magically authenticated easily and provided access to your home. The ability to opt for Level Lock Plus has had some damaging press, but it’s so famous in the industry that it’s no different than locking down the aisles at Home Depot.

Plus, you can still get alerts that the door has been manually unlocked, and the doorbell should ward off anyone trying to pick the lock.

Currently, it’s our go-to lock and one of only two on the market that supports Apple Home Key so far. Between its good looks, numerous entry options, and home key support, this is an easy product to recommend.