Table of contents for November 1, 2015 in Macworld UK

El Capitan adds some power under the hood, bringing Apple’s Metal APIs over from iOS, which lets apps take better advantage of your Mac’s graphics processor for increased performance. If that doesn’t sound very exciting, not to worry: Apple has tossed in some improvements for users like us, too. Here are the little changes that have made the biggest difference in our workflow – and how to put them to work for you, too. 1. Split View Split View in El Capitan makes full-screen mode twice as useful by letting you divide your screen between two apps. Here’s how to make it work. You need to have both windows open already. Pick one, and press and hold the green button in the upper-left corner – the same button you’d press…

Apple II The Apple II (pictured) debuted at the West Coast Computer Faire of April 1977, going head to head with big-name rivals such as the Commodore PET. It was a truly groundbreaking machine, just like its predecessor, with colour graphics and tape-based storage (later upgraded to 5.25in floppies). Memory ran to 64K in the top-end models and the image it sent to the NTSC display stretched to a truly impressive 280x192, which was then considered high resolution. Naturally there was a payoff, and pushing it to such limits meant you had to content yourself with just six colours, but dropping to a more reasonable 40 rows by 48 columns would let you enjoy as many as 16 tones at a time. Yes, the Apple II (or ‘apple ][’ as…

In these days of free operating-system updates, major OS X updates feel a whole lot more routine than they used to be. Apple has chosen not to roll out major features piecemeal throughout the year, though, which still makes this the biggest change your Mac will experience this year. El Capitan, named after the large granite rock formation inside Yosemite National Park, is very much a refined version of OS X Yosemite, a recognisable progression from its predecessor. (In iPhone terms, it would be Yosemite S.) Apple says this update is all about a refined experience and improved performance. But it’s traditional for Apple to take its no-big-deal updates and pour in a bunch of new features anyway, and El Capitan is no exception. This is a packed release, but…

i OS 9 has made its way on to iPads and iPhones around the world. Here, we talk you through everything you need to know about iOS 9 on your iPad, including which models will get the new features coming in Apple’s latest iOS, and tips on how to use those new features Compatible iPads iPad Air and Air 2, iPad 2, third- and fourth generation iPad mini, 2 and 3 Will my iPad get multitasking? While all of the above iPads are getting iOS 9, some of the best features require more power than the older models can offer. We are really excited about the Slide Over, Split View and Picture in Picture features, which means that productivity is much easier on Apple’s tablet. Here’s a breakdown of which…

Create a Slideshow A handy new feature is the Projects tab that allows you to create print products, manufactured by Apple itself, as well as slideshows that you can export as HD movie files. To create a new project, select the images you want to use via the Photos tab – you’ll need to hold down 1 or Shift to select multiple images – then click the ‘+’ button at the top right of the Photos program window and select the type of project you want. Once created, any new project will subsequently be listed when you click the Projects tab. A slideshow is perhaps the simplest kind of project because it doesn’t involve buying from Apple and the results are immediate. The first choice upon choosing to put together…

The iPhone 6s is finally here. Apple promised it would be faster than its predecessor, while boasting a feature that the tech giant compares to the introduction of multi-touch (the technology responsible for the touchscreen mobile boom) – 3D Touch. But has Apple succeeded in creating a new type of interaction that we’ll be seeing on other smartphones in coming years? Or has it fallen flat on its face? Find out in our review. Price Like its predecessor, the 6s is available starting at £539 for the 16GB model. The 64GB option is available for £619, while the 128GB phone is £699. We’re pleased to see that Apple hasn’t upped the price despite the introduction of 3D Touch. Design As expected, the design is in essence the same as the…

Just five months after Apple launched what it calls its “most personal device ever,” the company released watchOS 2, the second-generation OS that makes its smartwatch much more useful. From apps that run natively and third-party watch face complications to colourful Digital Touch sketches and deeper Apple Music integration, watchOS 2 packs in a variety of new features. If you weren’t already planning to buy an Apple Watch, watchOS 2 might not win you over, but the upgrade is a definite improvement for watch owners. 1. Apps gone native Apple Watches shipped with watchOS 1.0, which supports third-party apps but requires them to push all of the heavy lifting to your iPhone. Apps that don’t run natively (so anything other than Apple’s built-in watch apps) couldn’t tap into all of…

Use TouchID to authorize your purchases The settings for TouchID and Passcode are straightforward – which in itself is pretty remarkable when you think about the complex technology that’s being used here. However, there are a few options that are worth looking at in a little more detail. As you’re probably aware, TouchID uses your fingerprint(s) as an alternative to your normal passcode when unlocking your iPhone. But that doesn’t mean that you can forget about your passcode altogether – apart from anything else you’ll need it every time you want to enter the TouchID settings panel. Once you’ve got into these settings you can also tell your iPhone to use TouchID to authorize your purchases on iTunes or the App Store, which is a handy timesaver if you’ve got…

After just one, Apple reported that more than 50 percent of devices had adopted iOS 9. That means it’s on track to become Apple’s most popular software upgrade of all time. The story behind the story: It took nearly a month for Apple’s last major iOS upgrade to reach 50 percent of devices. Why? iOS 8 was huge. People with 16GB iPhones who wanted to upgrade over the air were faced with the problem of having to delete apps just to make room for the upgrade, which was a major hassle. Then there was iOS 8.1, released just a week later, which bricked some phones as soon as it launched. iOS 9 is much smaller than iOS 8, at 1.3GB versus 4.58GB, and adds a new feature where you can…

Use Time Machine to back up a Mac Apple’s Time Machine system is designed to safeguard your Mac’s data by backing it up to an external disk. If you’ve not done anything with Time Machine to date, the System Preferences pane will be in its default state. To the left is a massive on/ off switch (see above). On the right is a button that’s used to select a backup disk, some information about what Time Machine does, a checkbox that determines whether it is shown in the menu bar, and an Options button. Turn Time Machine on and it will list suitable disks for use. Generally speaking, the location you’re copying to should have more free space than the capacity of the disk you’re intending to back up. If…

The iPhone 6s Plus is Apple’s newest top-of-the-line phablet: a big, 5.5in smartphone with a super-fast processor and a new pressure-sensitive screen. Here are our early impressions of the latest Apple phablet. Design As is traditional with ‘S’-class updates, the iPhone 6s Plus has essentially the same physical design as its predecessor. Indeed, look at a 6 Plus and 6s Plus side by side and you’d struggle to tell them apart. The 6s Plus is fractionally wider and thicker, and a little heavier too; these changes are to accommodate the components needed to power the new 3D Touch screen. But you’re extremely unlikely to notice the extra volume, or to care much about the extra 20g. (The new screen tech more than justifies the compromises required to include it, as…