Trending November 2023 # Use Iphone As An Escape Key On Macbook Pro Touch Bar With Escapey # Suggested December 2023 # Top 12 Popular

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OK so here’s a silly one, don’t take this too seriously… but as you may know, up until the release of the 16″ MacBook Pro, all MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models removed the hardware escape key along with the function keys and replaced it with the Touch Bar virtual screen. Sometimes they will show a virtual Escape key on Touch Bar and sometimes it won’t, depending on what app is active and what’s going on within the app. If you have a MacBook Pro model without the ESC key but rely on the Escape key often, this could be disappointing or frustrating, but not to worry, now you can use your iPhone as one big Escape key thanks to an app called ESCapey!

VIM users rejoice! Force quit away! All of your ESC key needs will soon be met again and without having to remap another button for the Escape key! You just need to use your iPhone! Uhh… wait, what?

Ok this is obviously sort of a joke and a bit tongue in cheek, but the ESCapey app actually does work as a virtual escape key on the iPhone for the Mac, if you happen to want to use such a setup for some reason. If nothing else, it’s a fun proof of concept and shows what creative minds can come up with.

To use ESCapey you’ll launch a little pairing application in Mac OS on the MacBook and then run the iOS client on the iPhone, which you’ll have to build yourself and side load the app onto iPhone using Xcode, not exactly convenient but is using an iPhone as an escape key convenient?

Once the Escapey app is up and running and paired together with the Mac and iPhone, the iPhone screen turns into one big “ESC” button that you can’t possibly miss.

It’s almost like having the Escape key on the Touch Bar, except it’s your iPhone and it’s a whole lot bigger, and it’s always present no matter what app is in use or what is going on with the Mac, sort of like the hardware ESC key that graces many of the best keyboards.

Again this app is kind of a joke, but you never know, it could actually be useful for some work environments or for some scenarios, particularly in a situation where the virtual Escape key isn’t displaying due to Touch Bar activity or if the app activated with the Touch Bar is frozen. And maybe you just love the escape key so much that you want to turn your iPhone into one just for fun? Who knows?

Hey, a goofy iPhone app beats an Escape key dongle, right? (And yes that is also a joke).

— Stefan Baumgartner (@ddprrt) October 27, 2023

Anyway, have fun with this, or don’t. It’s obviously a bit silly. Now we just need something equivalent for typing Escape key on iPad too, since that’s also a bit of a hassle (if not impossible, depending on the keyboard you’re using with iPad).

On a more serious note, if not having access to a physical escape key irks your MacBook Pro Touch Bar usage, then your best solution is to remap Caps Lock as Escape key on Mac which will allow Caps Lock to serve as an ESC button, this is sort of a frustrating workaround since it changes the location of the ESC key but some Mac Touch Bar users may get used to it. Otherwise, you’d need to get the newer 16″ MacBook Pro or other Mac models with a hardware escape key.

Thanks to Caroline for sending this goofy find in, and if you have any other humorous or interesting finds you stumble onto, feel free to send them our way!

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Logic Pros: Using Macbook Pro’s Touch Bar W/ Customizable Key Command Shortcuts

With Logic Pro X 10.3, Apple introduced support for the new MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar, the small touchscreen panel that debuted on the device last fall. Logic users might have had to wait longer than Final Cut Pro or even GarageBand users as one of Apple’s main apps that didn’t get support right at launch, but what it did end up getting is some of the best Touch Bar support yet. Let’s take a look.

The Touch Bar in Logic works a lot like you might expect if you’ve used it with other Apple apps. It borrows some of the features that first launched in GarageBand and Final Cut Pro, for instance, with an overview of the timeline and some buttons for making quick adjustments of various settings for the selected track. But it also includes fully customizable buttons that can be assigned to keyboard shortcuts!

How does it work?

A small icon to the left of the Touch Bar gives access to four main functions:

Smart Controls

Timeline Overview (an overview of the Tracks Area timeline)

Key Commands (Customizable banks of keyboard shortcut buttons)

Software Instrument/Track Controls (a virtual keyboard, drum kits, or audio track settings, and that small keyboard icon will change accordingly)

Smart Controls

Like GarageBand, the Touch Bar lets you control Logic’s Smart Controls, a feature that presents users with onscreen controls to quickly adjust various settings for software instruments and effects:

Timeline Overview

You’ll get a timeline overview by default that, like Final Cut Pro and other apps, gives an overview of Logic’s Tracks Area allowing you to see all the regions of your tracks even beyond what’s visible on your Mac’s display (a white box around regions on the Touch Bar represents what’s currently visible on your timeline on your Mac). That might be handy for a quick reference of where you are in your timeline if you happen to forget, but otherwise you won’t be able to see much detail vertically along the workspace, especially in a session with a lot of tracks.

But the real benefit is that you can use your finger to quickly scrub through the timeline, which is especially nice for long sessions and I find better than the traditional alternatives.

Key Commands (aka Customizable Touch Bar shortcuts)

But most notably, Logic Pro is the first app I’ve seen that lets users set up fully customizable Touch Bar buttons by assigning keyboard shortcuts…

Like many pro apps, Logic users like myself use a ton of keyboard shortcuts. Logic gives you 16 banks of fully customizable Touch Bar buttons for these, with 8 buttons per bank, giving you 128 total customizable buttons. The 16 banks work by tapping into Logic’s Key Commands editor where you set normal keyboard shortcuts with modifier keys. So anything you have as a keyboard shortcut can now become a button on the Touch Bar…

Your usual modifier keys act as banks of commands on the Touch Bar. By default, Logic Pro has 5 banks already assigned that are enabled with no modifier, command, option, control and shift. For those Apple has set up transport controls and some commonly used tools and functions on the others:

But you have 16 banks in total including all the possible combinations of the modifiers together–CMD + Option, etc– each with 8 buttons to assign. A handful of the possibilities are pictured below:

Logic Pro not only lets you customize the 16 banks of 8 buttons, they are also contextually sensitive based on what window or editor you happen to be in. This works the same way it does for keyboard shortcuts in the Key Commands editor (pictured below), which is where you set up the Touch Bar-specific commands.

For example, if you setup the same command to work in different windows (like Logic’s Workspace or Mixer), it will automatically switch accordingly on the Touch Bar too depending on what window is active/selected. The key commands list is organized by these, with categories for Global Commands, and the various windows and editors that commands can be assigned to.

And just like other keyboard shortcuts, you can “Learn” commands for Touch Bar within the Key Commands editor, enabling you to quickly assign a custom Touch Bar button. Select a command, hit “Learn Touch Bar”, and tap the Touch Bar button you want to assign, with or without modifiers. You can also set custom text (and emoji) and colors for the buttons here.

Software Instrument/Track Controls

And if you have an audio track selected, Touch Bar will instead serve you up controls for your gain, level, inputs, Record enable, and more:

Outside of the four main functions, there are also contextual buttons that will appear (for example for a save dialog or other pop-up). But the real star of the show here is Logic’s implementation of customizable keyboard shortcut buttons that I hope other apps adopt.

The Logic Pros are: Justin Kahn and Jordan Kahn, who also front Toronto-based electronic/hip-hop group Makamachine.

Want more Logic Pros? Check out the archives here and stay tuned for a new installment each week in 2023.

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Poll: Would You Prefer An Oled Touch Bar Instead Of Traditional Function Keys?

Many people have been eagerly waiting for Apple to refreshed its entire MacBook Pro lineup with a thinner design, faster internals, Siri support, and more. A report yesterday said all of that is coming later this year in Q4, but added an additional detail: an OLED touch bar above the keyboard that would replace the row of function keys.

This is a new idea that hasn’t really been suggested for Apple’s MacBook Pro lineup before, but it has a variety of interesting possibilities. But with a significant change like that comes a steep, steep learning curve. The quick shortcuts we’ve all become accustomed to using throughout OS X would have an added twist, but could they potentially become easier to access in the long run? In the end, however, it would all come down to whether or not the OLED touch bar improved navigation enough to warrant a few weeks of relearning how to use your MacBook Pro’s keyboard.

It’s still early on, so specific details on how Apple plans to integrate the OLED touch bar are unclear at this point, but there are already a handful of ideas that come to mind. One of the biggest ones for me is app specific shortcuts. Ben outlined some potential ideas in his piece earlier today regarding this, so definitely be sure to check his article out as well.

For instance, if you were using Safari, commands like opening a new tab or taking a screenshot of the webpage could be added to the OLED touch bar and would only appear when you were in Safari. Of course, these functionalities can currently performed with the CMD key, but perhaps a single tap of a touchscreen would make it easier than having to use multiple fingers with the CMD key.

Many OS X users rely on keyboard shortcuts religiously, especially in apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. With a touch bar, however, the curve for learning those keyboard shortcuts would be much lower as Apple could intelligently detect what shortcuts were needed at any given time and display them in the touch bar. At the same time, however, those who have already learned the keyboard shortcuts would have to relearn using the touch bar.

Of course, traditional functions like controlling display and keyboard backlighting brightness would have to remain constantly in the touch bar, so that doesn’t leave too much room for app-specific shortcuts. But there’s still potential.

Another benefit of replacing the function row with an OLED touch bar is that MacBook Pros would be able to adopt new software features without Apple having to ship new hardware. Our own Mark Gurman noted of this, pointing to upcoming support for Siri as an example. Apple wouldn’t have to ship new hardware with a dedicated Siri button to add the feature. Instead, it could just rollout a software update that added a Siri button to the OLED touch bar.

This could also apply to Apple Pay. OS X could detect when you were on a webpage that supported Apple Pay and make an Apple Pay button appear in the touch bar. Tapping it could seamlessly allow for you to checkout without ever entering your billing or shipping information. This would be especially useful with Touch ID integration.

How much information would the touch bar be able to display? One thing that came to mind for me personally is having my Apple Music “Up Next” queue always appear in the touch bar, so I could rearrange it and delete songs without actually switching to the actual iTunes app. This may be a bit far fetched, but it’s something I would definitely use.

Personally, I’m very, very skeptical about replacing the function keys with an OLED touch bar. For one, the space is just so very limited that I think it would be nearly impossible for Apple to properly add shortcuts that would adequately make up for the learning curve that would come with removing the function keys.

You also have to consider the effect on battery life. With the new MacBooks Pros said to be thinner and lighter, I’m already concerned that battery life will jeopardized. Adding another screen, albeit small, definitely won’t help battery life at all.

Maybe Apple has something truly innovative up its sleeve that will make me less hesitant about such a dramatic shift in functionality. Maybe this will be the type of thing that once you switch to a keyboard with an OLED touch bar, you’ll never be able to switch back. There’s no doubt in my mind that Apple won’t do whatever it can to integrate the touch bar deeply into OS X, but I just don’t see it being worth it in the long run.

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The Escape Key Is Not Working (How To Fix On Windows & Mac)

Whether you’re using a PC or a Mac, the ESC is an indispensable key. But you don’t know how important it is until it stops working.

A non-functioning ESC key means navigating around programs or completing tasks can take much more time than usual as you have to use your mouse or trackpad instead of a simple keyboard shortcut. In addition, it can be challenging to locate a specific command that is only accessible using the ESC key.

Read on to understand why the escape key may not work and the steps to fix that for both windows and Mac.

The ESC key may not work for various reasons. The issue may be either software or hardware related.

Below are the most common hardware and software issues hindering the ESC key’s functioning.

Software issues can cause the escape key to malfunction on both Windows and Mac computers.

In particular, recently installed software may conflict with existing programs or operating systems, resulting in the escape key not working correctly.

This issue can also occur if you change the keyboard settings, such as the language or keyboard layout.

Additionally, malfunctioning drivers or outdated software can prevent the escape key from working correctly.

Additionally, it is essential to check the language and keyboard settings on the computer to ensure they are properly configured for use with the escape key.

Soon we’ll talk about how to go around all these causes and get your Escape key functioning again.

A broken keyboard is often a result of extensive use, such as heavy typing, or an accident, such as dropping the machine or subjecting it to extreme temperatures.

A damaged USB port can also cause the escape key not to work. This is because the connection between a computer and its peripherals relies on USB ports to function properly. You may need to replace or repair the USB port to fix this issue if that’s the case.

The ESC key may not also function if you do not fix the keyboard properly in the USB port.

Another common cause of malfunctioning escape keys is a faulty connection between components inside the computer. This could be due to loose wires, damaged cables, or even dirt underneath the ESC key. You need to identify and repair or replace the faulty component to fix the problem.

Regardless of the causes, it is important to take action when your escape key ceases to function properly. You can ensure that your computer is functioning optimally by taking the time to identify and repair the issue.

Fortunately, you can try to fix these issues by using various methods.

Below are some of the solutions you can use.

Most of the time, your Escape key won’t work because an app you have running responds to this key or a combination that includes the Escape key, even when another app has the focus. Most of these programs are screen recorders or tools for tunneling, like Microsoft Remote Desktop.

When you find the app that’s causing the problem, just close it, and your Esc keys should work again.

But I suggest you close all programs running on the computer to see if that fixes the problem. But if you have no idea how to close all programs on your computer, simply restart it, as shown in the next section.

It can be troubling when the Escape key isn’t working properly. Rather than buying new parts or calling technical support immediately, try restarting or shutting down the device first!

All you need is to follow three easy steps:

Tap ‘Power’, and choose either Restart/Shut Down as desired.

If you shut down the machine, wait for a few seconds before switching it On again – if no improvement occurs after that step, keep reading to try the other steps below.

When restarting or shutting down your Mac, it’s important to follow the proper procedure to avoid any potential problems.

To properly shut down your Mac

Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select Shut Down from the list of options.

Now press the power button to turn it on again.

Alternatively, to restart your Mac;

Your Mac will begin the restart process, and your machine will turn back on once it is complete.

It’s important to note that when restarting or shutting down your Mac, you should always save any open documents before you do so to prevent data loss.

Now try pressing the Esc key to see if it works.

NOTE: One of the easiest ways to find out if the problem is hardware related is to plug in a different keyboard to see if it works. If the Escape key doesn’t work on the new keyboard, just know it is not a hardware problem.

It is critical to determine if the issue is hardware or software related. It is time to look into potential software solutions if you establish the problem is software related.

You can take several steps to fix the issue of the ESC key not working if the issue lies within an operating system setting or a specific program.

Start by ensuring all your current device drivers are up-to-date. Outdated drivers can cause disruptions in the communication between your keyboard and the system.

Additionally, check if an update is available for your operating system or applications that you may be using and update them. This can help restore the program to its original settings and fix any issues related to improper configurations.

If these steps do not work, you may have a malware problem causing your ESC key to malfunction. Run an antivirus scan on your computer to detect and remove any viruses, worms, or other malicious programs that could be disrupting the performance of your system or applications.

These are just a few tips to help you identify and solve software-related issues with your keyboard. By following these steps, you can save time and frustration trying to figure out what is wrong. With some detective work, you can have your keyboard back up and running in no time!

After that, you can dip the cotton swab in the cleaning solution and dab it in any crevices filled with dust and debris. Avoid using too much liquid, as this can damage the interior of your keyboard. Finally, use a dry cloth or paper towel to remove any remaining residue.

Cleaning your keyboard regularly is an essential part of keeping it in good working condition. It not only helps to keep it looking new and functioning properly, but it also helps to prevent the accumulation of dust and debris that can cause damage in the long run. Make sure to take the time to clean your laptop keyboard regularly!

Cleaning your keyboard properly is essential. Following these steps will make the process successful.

Switch off your computer first before you start the cleaning process. Ensure you disconnect the machine from any power source for your safety and that of the machine.

Turn the keyboard upside down, allowing any debris to drop off. You can also use a vacuum cleaner or an air blower to blow off dust and dirt from all areas of the keyboard. Make sure you pay close attention to hard-to-reach areas, such as between the keys or in crevices, where dust and dirt can accumulate.

Once you have removed the visible dust, apply some rubbing alcohol onto a soft cloth and wipe through the entire keyboard. Use a reasonable amount of rubbing alcohol to avoid soaking the keyboard.

Allow it to dry off before using your laptop again. Make sure to do this in a well-ventilated area and avoid open flames.

Afterward, plug your keyboard back in and check if the ESC key is working properly.

Malware and viruses can disrupt the operation of the ESC key. The key may fail to function if infected by a virus or malware. You can scan and remove the malware or virus from your computer to eliminate this problem. Follow these steps to do so, especially on Windows:

Open the Windows Security application by Searching for it on the Search Bar next to the Windows Icon at the bottom left-hand side of your screen.

Scan your system for any potential threats and eliminate them if necessary.

Following these steps will help ensure that the ESC key is functioning properly without any interference from malware or viruses. You can also use various anti-virus software available for virus software free or at a fee. However, only use antivirus software you have sourced from a trustworthy source.

Once you have completed this process, it may be necessary to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. After restarting, you can test the ESC key to ensure it is working correctly. If it still does not function as expected, you may need to take further steps, such as replacing the keyboard or troubleshooting the hardware.

The ESC key may not be functioning due to software-related issues. The issue may sometimes be caused by problems with your keyboard drivers, which control all the keys, including the ESC key. The Problem may be caused by various issues but the most common include the following:

A recent installation of third-party software

Switching off your computer without following the proper procedure

You can fix the driver issue by following these steps.

Open the Device Manager

Check if a new driver is available for your device.

After updating the driver, reboot your laptop and press the ESC key again.

If all of these steps fail, you may have a hardware failure on your keyboard or laptop.

You can also fix the problem of the ESC key not working by using an external keyboard, especially if you are using a laptop. Although the laptop’s keyboard offers convenience, an external keyboard can help you proceed with your work. An alternative will give you time to try various ways to fix the ESC key. Using another keyboard will also help you determine if the problem of the ESC key not working is a software or hardware issue.

If the other keyboard works, then you can be certain the ESC key on your keyboard has a hardware issue. If the ESC key does not work on the other keyboard, you may have software issues. An external keyboard is an invaluable pointer to where your ESC key is not functioning.

Use the onscreen keyboard temporarily if your ESC key is not working.

Follow these steps to turn on the onscreen keyboard:

Open the Start menu. Select ‘Settings’ from the list of options.

Select ‘Ease of Access’ and choose “Keyboard” from the list.

Activate the toggle switch for the “On-Screen Keyboard.”

The onscreen keyboard will appear when you press any key.

For Windows users, the simplest fix for an unresponsive Escape key is to try and clean up any dirt or debris that may have gotten stuck beneath it. Additionally, pressing down on the key with firm pressure can sometimes restore its responsiveness. If cleaning or pressing down doesn’t work, you can use the “On-Screen Keyboard” utility to emulate the Escape key.

For Mac users, a quick solution is to simultaneously press down the left “Command” and right “Option” keys, which will act as an Escape command. If this doesn’t work, resetting your SMC and PRAM may be necessary.

The ESC key is vital whether you are using a Mac or Windows. However, you only realize the importance of this key once it stops functioning. A non-functioning ESC key means navigating around programs or completing tasks can take much more time than usual as you have to use your mouse or trackpad instead of a simple keyboard shortcut. In addition, it can be challenging to locate a specific command that is only accessible using the ESC key. Read on to understand why the escape key may not work for windows and Mac.

The ESC key may not work for various reasons. The issue may be either software or hardware related. Below are the most common hardware and software issues hindering the ESC key’s functioning.

Software issues can cause the escape key to malfunction on both Windows and Mac computers. In particular, recently installed software may conflict with existing programs or operating systems, resulting in the escape key not working correctly. This issue can also occur if you change the keyboard settings, such as the language or keyboard layout. Additionally, malfunctioning drivers or outdated software can prevent the escape key from working correctly.

The best way to determine if a software issue is causing the escape key not to work is to check for any recent software updates that may cause conflicts with existing programs and operating systems. It may also be necessary to reinstall certain drivers or update outdated software. Additionally, it is essential to check the language and keyboard settings on the computer to ensure they are properly configured for use with the escape key.

Hardware issues are one of the most common causes for the escape key not working on either Windows or Mac computers. This can be due to a broken keyboard, a damaged USB port, or a faulty connection between components. A broken keyboard is often a result of extensive use, such as heavy typing, or an accident, such as dropping the machine or subjecting it to extreme temperatures.

A damaged USB port can also cause the escape key not to work. This is because the connection between a computer and its peripherals relies on USB ports to function properly. The ESC key may not function if you do not fix the keyboard properly in the USB port. Additionally, the key may fail to work if there is an issue with the port itself, resulting in the keyboard not working properly. You may need to replace or repair the USB port to fix this issue if that’s the case.

Regardless of the cause, it is important to take action when your escape key ceases to function properly. You can ensure that your computer is functioning optimally by taking the time to identify and repair the issue.

Fortunately, you can try to fix these issues by using various methods. Below are some of the solutions you can use.

It can be troubling when the Escape key isn’t working properly. Rather than buying new parts or calling technical support immediately, try restarting or shutting down the device first!

All you need is to follow three easy steps:

2. Tap ‘Power’, and choose either Restart/Shut Down as desired.

3. If you shut down the machine, wait for a few seconds before switching it On again – if no improvement occurs after that step, reach out to experts for help with further solutions.

When restarting or shutting down your Mac, it’s important to follow the proper procedure to avoid any potential problems.

To properly shut down your Mac

1. Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select Shut Down from the list of options.

To restart your Mac

Your Mac will then begin the restart process and your machine will turn back on once it is complete.

It’s important to note that when restarting or shutting down your Mac, you should always save any open documents before you do so in order to prevent data loss.

It is critical to determine if the issue is hardware or software related. It is time to look into potential software solutions if you establish the problem is software related. You can take several steps to fix the issue of the ESC key not working if the issue lies within an operating system setting or a specific program.

Start by ensuring all your current device drivers are up-to-date. Outdated drivers can cause disruptions in the communication between your keyboard and the system. Additionally, check if an update is available for your operating system or applications that you may be using.

If the software you are running is up-to-date, try resetting any programs causing the issue. This can help restore the program to its original settings and fix any issues related to improper configurations.

It is very easy to clean a keyboard. All you need is some compressed air, one or two cotton swabs, and a mild cleaning solution like rubbing alcohol. First, use compressed air to spray your keyboard and remove any visible dust particles. After that, you can dip the cotton swab in the cleaning solution and dab it in any crevices filled with dust and debris. Avoid using too much liquid, as this can damage the interior of your keyboard. Finally, use a dry cloth or paper towel to remove any remaining residue.

Cleaning your keyboard properly is essential. Following these steps will make the process successful.

1. Switch off your computer first before you start the cleaning process. Ensure you disconnect the machine from any power source for your safety and that of the machine.

2. Turn the keyboard upside down, allowing any debris to drop off. You can also use a vacuum cleaner or an air blower to blow off dust and dirt from all areas of the keyboard. Make sure you pay close attention to hard-to-reach areas, such as between the keys or in crevices, where dust and dirt can accumulate.

3. Once you have removed the visible dust, apply some rubbing alcohol onto a soft cloth and wipe through the entire keyboard. Use a reasonable amount of rubbing alcohol to avoid soaking the keyboard.

4. Allow it to dry off before using your laptop again. Make sure to do this in a well-ventilated area and avoid open flames.

Afterward, plug your keyboard back in and check if the ESC key is working properly.

Check For Any Virus Or Malware Attack

1. Open the Windows Security application by Searching for it on the Search Bar next to the Windows Icon at the bottom left-hand side of your screen.

3. Scan your system for any potential threats and eliminate them if necessary.

A recent installation of third-party software

Switching off your computer without following the proper procedure

You can fix the driver issue by following these steps.

1. Open the Device Manager

3. Check if a new driver is available for your device.

5. After updating the driver, reboot your laptop and press the ESC key again.

If all of these steps fail, you may have a hardware failure on your keyboard or laptop.

Use the onscreen keyboard temporarily if your ESC key is not working.

Follow these steps to turn on the onscreen keyboard:

Open the Start menu. Select ‘Settings’ from the list of options.

Select ‘Ease of Access’ and choose “Keyboard” from the list.

Activate the toggle switch for the “On-Screen Keyboard.”

The onscreen keyboard will appear when you press any key.

Wrapping Up

Use Calvetica As An Alternative To Ios Calendar App

The Calendar and Reminders apps in the iOS software definitely work better since the release of iOS 5, but is there something better out there? If you go to the App Store, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices of To Do List apps and Calendar apps. Where do you start?

Like most calendar apps, Calvetica syncs up automatically with the native Calendar app, and does this without any work on your part. Upon opening the app, after giving you the option to read the FAQs, it gives you a showing of the current month, with the current day’s events highlighted in a two-column view. Many of the other Calendar apps have added abilities that just seem to make the apps more confusing. Calvetica doesn’t. It just gives you the basics that you need, just like the Helvetica typeface it’s based on. This makes it very functional, yet easy enough to get up and running very quickly.

Calvetica supports multiple calendar views. It shows a whole month in one view, with a day’s events laid out in a second column to the right, and also supports a weekly view that makes it much easier to see it all laid out visually.

Creating a new event is easy enough. Instead of scrolling through months, days, and hours to get the right time and day for the start and end of the event, it’s simply a matter of tapping individual choices. Once again, it’s a very visual process, exactly how it should be with an iPhone, iPad, or iTouch.

While adding the event, you can also choose the repeat frequency and any attendee you want to invite to the event. You can then get Calvetica to notify the attendee a notice by email or phone call.

The settings menu has many options that can be changed to suit your needs, including changing defaults and alarms. Alarms can be set for your events to work along with the alarms from Apple. The people at Calvetica have thoughtfully engineered this so that their alarms go off about fifteen seconds after Apple’s. There is also a way to set a snooze. Additionally, the alarm sounds are meant to be louder and sometimes even longer than the Apple alarms to allow you to differentiate between the two.

Signing up for a “Pocket Lint” account will keep all your data synced with their site, so that if your device goes down and you lose your data, you can get your Calvetica info back. They only need your email and a password.

Signing up for a Pocket Lint account also helps keep your data synched throughout your devices. I added Calvetica to my iPhone, and it automatically came up with all the same events. The display is a little more compact, but works just the same. Because of its compactness, examining your events by month can’t be read, although you can see that there is data there. You will have to read your events in the display at the bottom.

However, my events didn’t sync up. I tried everything to figure out why this wasn’t working. I read through the FAQ, the Known Bugs, checked all the settings in both the Settings app and Calvetica on both the iPad and iPhone, Googled my issue, checked the developer’s website, etc., and still my events I set up on the iPad wouldn’t appear on the iPhone. What I eventually realized is that Pocket Lint set me up with two task groups called “My Tasks”. Changing from one to the other did nothing. I found a setting in the Settings menu of Calvetica that allows for the management of task groups. Once I added a new task group and assigned my tasks to the new group, they synced.

Once everything was set up in the Settings of Calvetica on both the iPhone and iPad, it worked exactly as it should, giving me alerts where and when I wanted them through the Notifications.

While it may seem like this is a lot to go through, it isn’t more so than any other calendar app that does this much. It’s the easiest-to-understand display and also has all those functions attached to it. The good thing is that it syncs automatically with the native Calendar app so you don’t have to switch away from the default. Rather than an alternative, I would think it more of a complement to the default Calendar app.

Which Calendar app do you use?

Laura Tucker

Laura has spent nearly 20 years writing news, reviews, and op-eds, with more than 10 of those years as an editor as well. She has exclusively used Apple products for the past three decades. In addition to writing and editing at MTE, she also runs the site’s sponsored review program.

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M2 Pro Macbook Pro One Month Review: A Mobile Powerhouse

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro saw a major redesign with the M1 varieties, but far fewer changes with the upgrade to M2. Still, these machines have seen some changes from the previous generation, including most notably that processor upgrade, to make the M2 Pro MacBook Pro worth considering. Here’s everything you need to know.

14″ MacBook Pro one month review [Video]

M2 MacBook Pro Specs

Before I go into my thoughts on the laptop, I want to get the specs out of the way so I can focus on the user experience. The 14” MacBook Pro starts off with the M2 Pro chip, with a 10-core CPU and a 16-core GPU. It can be configured up to the M2 Max chip with a 12 core cpu and 38-core GPU. On the RAM and storage side of things, it starts with 16 GB of ram – configurable up to 96GB – and ranges from 512GB of storage up to 8TB. The larger 16-inch version of the laptop has all those same configuration options, with the M2 Pro chip starting off with a 19-core GPU, but a higher starting price of $2,499 compared to the 14-inch versions $1999 starting price. The Pro laptops are available in either silver or space gray, and this time around the color of the MagSafe cable is matched to the laptop.

Throughout most of the machine, not much has changed from the previous generation. When the M1 chips first arrived for the MacBook Pro the device saw a major redesign to strike a better balance of form an function, and that balance thankfully continues here.

Content Consumption – 14″ MacBook Pro Audio

The 14” MacBook Pro has a six speaker array with force-cancelling woofers, and they sound excellent. It has much better bass than the MacBook Air, and the proper speaker grates and ports provide good stereo separation to make for a surprisingly good music listening experience. Apple also talks about the Dolby Atmos and spatialized audio support with the speakers, but the laptops built in speakers definitely don’t compare to the directionality and immersion you can get from a true surround setup. If you want good spatial audio with the laptop, you’re better off using the HDMI out to get multichannel audio or using AirPods. With modern AirPods, the 14” MacBook pro supports not just spatialized audio, but also head tracked spatialize audio. This lets the direction the sound is coming from seem to stay in place even as you turn your head. It can be cool, especially with movies, where sound is such an important part of the storytelling experience.

I can understand why some people like to have spatialized audio enabled, but for me the extra processing done to emulate a surround sound experience doesn’t lead to a sound that I prefer, and I even find the head-tracked audio a bit jarring; things like FaceTime using spatialized audio definitely seem more annoying than helpful for me. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy either disable headtracking or just disable spatialized audio altogether when you have your AirPods connected. I certainly won’t complain about extra features being available for those who want them, even if I won’t find myself using them, cause your experience using spatialized audio with AirPods could be different!

Display

Continuing with the media consumption experience, you have the screen. It may not be a 4k or 8k panel, but in a laptop of this size that resolution isn’t necessary anyway. The screen on the 14″ MacBook Pro is 3024 by 1964 pixels, for a total of 254 pixels per inch. That is a plenty high enough pixel density for a screen of this size, but it is just a 14” screen. If you’re in a dorm room and intend to use your laptop as one of your only content consumption devices, skipping out on a TV, stepping up to the larger 16” MacBook Pro could be worth it. To feel immersed in a movie like you would at a theater you have to be pretty close the the screen – but you could find that worth the trade-offs, as the screen on the MacBook Pro is very good.

HDR

Its a MiniLED type display, so unlike the more typical LCD’s which have a backlight that illuminates the whole screen at once, it has thousands of tiny LED’s that can illuminate different sections of the screen different amounts. This lets brighter elements on screen get extra bright – up to 1600 nits with HDR content – while allowing dark elements on screen to be darker. The whole screen Max HDR brightness is 1000nits, and with SDR content it’ll top out at 500.

ProMotion

Additionally, the MacBook Pro has the variable refresh rate technology Apple refers to as ProMotion, so the built in display supports refresh rates up to 120Hz to offer a smoother experience when using the machine. It also allows the refresh rate to match that of the content you’re watching. Normally, if your watching 24fps content like movies on a 60Hz panel without variable refresh rate, it has to display one frame twice and the next frame three times in order to fit the 24 frames per second into the 60Hz of the screen. The uneven amount of time each frame is displayed will result in judder. With this display, it can just run at 48Hz so that each frame is displayed for an identical amount of time. This difference isn’t something most people will notice, but if you’re particularly susceptible to noticing it, the reduction in judder on the MacBooks display is nice to have. All in all, the MacBook Pro is an excellent content consumption device. The screen looks great and the speakers sound great, with the biggest downside just being the size of the display – but it’s what you’d expect from a laptop and it has excellent portability, so it can hardly be considered a drawback.

Creative workflows

Now, while most people consume content – being a professional focused laptop – plenty of people choose to upgrade to the MacBook Pro to produce content, so how does it hold up there? Pretty well! I’ve been doing all my video editing on the MacBook Pro, and it has done an excellent job. With Apple’s M2 Pro chip inside, and a fantastic media engine that supports hardware acceleration for H264, H265, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, whatever media type you’re working with, the laptop will handle it incredibly well. Even on the base spec, with a 512GB SSD and 16GB of ram, I haven’t had any major slowdowns. Only twice so far have I actually heard the fan ramp up to keep the chip cool while under a heavy load – and I work in Premiere, so people working with Apple’s own Final Cut Pro may have better optimization and an even smoother experience due to that close integration.

Now, when editing video or photos, color accuracy is pretty important. While by no means is the built-in display a reference monitor, it’s plenty accurate video and photo work, with different profiles depending on the colorspace you’re working in. In addition to the display modes for XDR and standard Apple displays, you have BT.709, sRGB, PC-DCI and more. If you’re really worried about color accuracy, you can grab a calibration tool to adjust your built in display and any external displays to match.

The M2 Pro MacBook Pro also supports two external displays simultaneously. You can output 8K 60Hz or 4K 240Hz from the HDMI port, or connect two 6K 60Hz displays from the Thunderbolt ports. If you choose to upgrade to the M2 Max chip you can output to three displays at once for an even more impressive multi-monitor setup. I’m a big proponent to the value of multiple monitors, so the native support for more displays, as well as the improved HDMI 2.1 port for higher resolutions and faster refresh rates, is really valuable for me. Similarly, the power of the laptop and its excellent screen will make it a good fit for photo editing in Photoshop or Lightroom, even working with high-megapixel raw photos.

M2 Pro MacBook Pro Benchmarks Geekbench CPU & compute

Running a Geekbench 6 compute benchmark through the Metal API, it gets 73,287, while running it through OpenCL it gets a score of 43,209. The scores may not beat out all the other CPUs and GPUs out there, but as with all things, it’s a balance. Apple’s ARM-based processor has a low power consumption and excellent efficiency leading to excellent battery life.

Blender & Cinebench rendering

Finally, running Cinebench R23, running a multi-core test, the 14” MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro chip received an 11,723, and in a single core test it got a 1,631 – not reaching the scores of Xeons and Threadrippers, but beating out the Core i5-11600KF and Ryzen 5 5600X.

SSD speed General usage

As I said before, the laptop carried over the design from the previous generation. When the 2023 MacBook Pro came out, it switched from a design-focused wedge shape to a slightly more boxy shape that I think strikes a better balance between performance and style. The efficiency improvements from Apple silicon allow the 14″ MacBook Pro to last me all day on battery life, such that I don’t think about bringing a charger when I’m leaving the house. The 16” version will last even longer, but whether I was on a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, any of the Apple’s laptops with their own silicon last long enough on battery.

Ports

The wider sides let Apple bring back some ports they previously removed, and this generation saw some improvements to those. On the left side, we’ve got the MagSafe 3 connector for charging up, two Thunderbolt ports, and a headphone jack with support for high impedance headphones. Over on the right side of the machine there’s a full size SD card slot, another Thunderbolt port, and an HDMI 2.1 port. As I touched on previously, this upgrade to HDMI 2.1 brings higher resolutions and refresh rates, supporting up to 8K 60Hz or 4k at 240hz. While there are certainly other laptops that have more to offer in terms of ports, this is the first time in more than five years that I’ve had a laptop with an HDMI port and an SD card slot built it, and I’m so glad to have them back. It seems minor, but its one more adapter I would have to keep track of.

Camera and microphone

One negative from the identical design is the continued existence of a large notch for the 1080P FaceTime camera. The MacBook Pro still hasn’t gained FaceID or other features to help justify the large cutout, but one you start really using the machine you basically forget its there. The top bar helps hide it and the slightly taller aspect ratio prevents content from being covered by it.

As far as the camera goes, an average person definitely won’t run into any issues with it – it’s perfectly adequate for video meetings or FaceTime calls. Still, opting to use a separate webcam or using your iPhone’s camera through continuity camera will be a big step up in quality. The microphone on the laptop, however, is pretty outstanding. Apple refers to the three-mic array as studio quality, and uses directional beam forming to get good, clear audio from the user while blocking out other nearby sounds. I’ve been impressed with the microphone – it really does have a studio-type sound to it, blocking out pretty much any of the room tone.

Keyboard

The keyboard continues what you’d expect from a MacBook keyboard. There isn’t too much travel distance, and a mechanical keyboard can certainly offer a more tactile experience, but as with so many things, there’s a lot of personal choice in what makes a good keyboard. I like the typing experience on the MacBook Pro, and it’s certainly much better than the butterfly keyboards Apple phased out a few years ago. I also quite like the styling of the black background behind the keys, rather than bare metal. And finally, the Touch ID built into the keyboard is very handy to unlock the computer, if for whatever reason I’m not wearing my Apple Watch.

Gaming

I was going to try to talk about gaming here, but there really isn’t too much to talk about. It isn’t the power of the MacBook Pro holding it back, but the operating system.

You can play Minecraft, League of Legends, and other games, but there is just no way to see Mac as a gaming machine until more modern triple A games start supporting MacOS. If you want to play some retro games you can always emulate the system, and older games could work if you’re playing through a virtual windows machine using software like parallels, but Macs just don’t compare with Windows machines or consoles for the time being. For now, your best bet will be using a game streaming service like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia’s GeForce NOW to play your favorite games.

9to5Mac’s Take

While I’ve stayed pretty focused on the 14″ M2 MacBook Pro here, of course it doesn’t exist in a bubble. The MacBook Air, while it’s less powerful and has less connectivity, is still a great laptop – and packs a great punch for its size. At its base price, it’s also $800 less expensive. If you think that could be a good option for you, check out my comparison video. The previous generation MacBook Pro could also be a great option, especially if you’re willing to go with a used laptop from somewhere like eBay, the M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro could be a fantastic value – outperforming the more modern M2 MacBook Air – in the same form factor as the current MacBook Pro.

But the 14″ M2 Pro MacBook Pro is the right laptop for me. It’s a powerful and portable machine with a very efficient processor and GPU to keep it running all day, whether I’m at home or on the go. I’ve truly enjoyed using the laptop over the past month and am pleased to continue using it.

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