OpenAI has traced ChatGPT’s bizarre goblin fixation to training gone awry, but the creatures keep escaping—as Adam Engst discovered when goblins popped up in a conversation about a conference presentation.
Remember Lego’s old computer bricks? Designer Paul Staal has supersized the concept into the M2x2, a working Mac mini enclosure that combines retro Lego charm with a 7-inch display.
Apple lets you export and import text replacements by dragging them to and from the Text Replacements dialog. It’s great for backups and sharing, but if you try to import thousands of entries, such as from the TidBITS AutoCorrect Dictionary, things may fall apart unpredictably.
Apple reported record financial results for what it described as its “best March quarter ever,” with over $29 billion in profits and double-digit growth across every geographic segment as the Tim Cook era approaches its end.
A poll of 668 readers confirms what we’ve always suspected: TidBITS readers stick around. Fully 64% have been reading for over 30 years, 87% for more than 20 years, and 94% for at least a decade.
Tech journalist Joanna Stern has left The Wall Street Journal to launch an independent media outlet called New Things, promising columns, videos, and the same blend of technical accuracy and entertainment.
Glenn Fleishman has cataloged the surprisingly diverse ecosystem of Find My-compatible products—now numbering over 70—and built a comparison website to help you navigate the options.
Adam Engst’s 711-mile round trip from Ithaca to Virginia became an education in EV charging—from unplanned charging stops to mysterious range variations. Here’s what he learned and what he’ll do differently next time.
The FBI extracted Signal messages from an iPhone by exploiting a notification database flaw. Apple has now released iOS 18.7.8 and iOS 26.4.2 to fix a bug that allowed deleted notifications to persist on devices.
Apple’s leadership transition puts hardware chief John Ternus in the CEO role while Tim Cook moves to executive chairman, where he’ll continue navigating the company’s complex political landscape.
TidBITS is celebrating 36 years and 1800 issues of continuous publication. Rather than rehash past anniversary themes, Adam Engst uses this milestone to focus on the importance of community and invites readers to share how TidBITS has affected their lives.
When Matt Sephton told me he was releasing 18 apps on the same day, I knew I had to talk to him. Our two-hour VidBITS conversation covers everything from his tiny utilities—most of which would fit on a 1.44 MB floppy disk—to classic Mac preservation to AI coding experiments.
A convincing impersonation of TidBITS contributor Glenn Fleishman on our public Slack group fooled an experienced IT professional into installing the OSX.Odyssey infostealer. Because Slack is designed for internal groups, its identity controls and logging aren’t sufficient for safe public use, so we’re shutting down SlackBITS and moving to Discourse Chat.
The Mac community has lost two longtime writers in recent weeks: John Martellaro and Chuck La Tournous. John wrote once for TidBITS in 1996 before settling at The Mac Observer, where Chuck was also a contributing editor.
David Pierce at The Verge makes the case for vertical browser tabs, echoing advice TidBITS has offered since 2023. Google Chrome users can now easily try them.
