O'Grady's PowerPage

  • Developer Nick Ustinov releases Itsytv, a free Apple TV Remote app for the Mac

    Developer Nick Ustinov releases Itsytv, a free Apple TV Remote app for the Mac

    This is nifty.

    While Apple offers an Apple TV Remote app for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, it doesn’t offer one for the Mac. As such, developer Nick Ustinov stepped in and built Itsytv, a free macOS app for controlling your Apple TV.

    The application functions as a menu bar app that allows you to control your Apple TV and offers volume control, playback control, application launching, and other features.

    Here’s an overview of features:

    • Native macOS: Built with Swift and SwiftUI — no Electron, no web views. Runs silently in your menu bar.
    • App launcher: Browse all installed Apple TV apps in a grid with App Store icons. Launch any app in one click.
    • Navigate with keyboard: Arrow keys, Return, Space, Escape — control your Apple TV without touching the mouse.
    • Text input: Type search queries and passwords on your Mac keyboard instead of pecking letters on the TV screen.
    • Now playing: See what’s playing with album artwork, title, artist, and a live progress bar in your menu bar.
    • Multi-device: Pair multiple Apple TVs on your network and switch between them instantly.
    • Secure: End-to-end encrypted communication with your Apple TV. Pairing credentials stored securely in Keychain.

    Itsytv requires macOS 14 Sonoma to install and run.

    If you’ve had a chance to try Itsytv, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via 9to5Mac, Itsytv.app, and Itsy Github

  • Apple Watch SE 3, other models marked down in week-long Amazon sale

    Apple Watch SE 3, other models marked down in week-long Amazon sale

    Once again, a good deal’s a good deal.

    Amazon this week has discounted $30 off the Apple Watch SE 3 model, bringing it to a starting price of $219 for the 40mm GPS model. This marks one of the best prices to date for the smartwatch.

    In addition to this, the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE 3 is also on sale for $249, marked down from $279. Both the 40mm and 44mm GPS models are available in Midnight and Starlight Aluminum at these prices.

    Finally, Amazon has knocked $100 off the entire Apple Watch Series 11 models for the time being, bringing the devices to a record low price point for the wearables.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Amazon

  • Seven additional U.S. states look to add driver’s licenses, state IDs to Apple Wallet app

    Seven additional U.S. states look to add driver’s licenses, state IDs to Apple Wallet app

    Once again, a number of U.S. states are looking to add support for a driver’s license or state ID to be added to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, which can then be used to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.

    The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.

    The feature can be set up by opening the Wallet app and then tapping on the plus sign in the top-right corner. Next, select Driver’s License and ID Cards and follow the steps.

    The currently supported states are as follows:

    • Arizona (since March 2022)
    • Maryland (since May 2022)
    • Colorado (since November 2022)
    • Georgia (since May 2023)
    • Ohio (since July 2024)
    • Hawaii (since August 2024)
    • California (since September 2024)
    • Iowa (since October 2024)
    • New Mexico (since December 2024)
    • Montana (since August 2025)
    • North Dakota (since September 2025)
    • West Virginia (since October 2025)
    • Illinois (since November 2025)
    • The feature is also available in Puerto Rico.

    Apple and local DMV offices have announced that the following U.S. states have signed on to adopt the feature, although no timeframes were disclosed:

    • Connecticut
    • Kentucky
    • Mississippi
    • Oklahoma
    • Utah
    • Arkansas
    • Virginia
    • Participating Airports

    Apple Wallet IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports in the U.S., for domestic travel. Given that Apple Wallet IDs are not accepted by law enforcement and lack many other use cases, carrying a physical ID is still necessary.

    This feature requires iOS 26.1 or watchOS 26.1 and later.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple

  • Rumor: iOS 27 to focus on bug fixes more than new features

    Rumor: iOS 27 to focus on bug fixes more than new features

    This year’s iOS 27 release may not focus on flashy new features as much as bug fixes.

    Following last year’s iOS 26 updates, which were dominated by the somewhat less-than-splendidly received Liquid Glass UI update (which some users found confusing, if not illegible), Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has noted that “Apple will be focused on improving the nuts-and-bolts performance of the software.”

    As such, Apple may focus on fixing what’s there as opposed to adding new things. That should, hopefully, mean fewer bugs and speedier performance for iPhone owners. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard iOS 27 will be more of a maintenance release skin to Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

    Even so, Apple is rumored to be developing new features to announce at WWDC in June. This includes the next version of Siri, which will hopefully offer contextual capabilities first advertised at WWDC 2024 and based on Google Gemini AI tech. This update is also expected to debut with the iOS 26.4 update, which could follow within a few weeks of WWDC. It’s also been rumored that Apple is developing a chatbot version of Siri, codenamed “Campos,” which could be part of the iOS 27 announcements at WWDC 2026.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Macworld and Bloomberg

  • FBI struggled with bypassing Apple’s Lockdown Mode following the raid of Washington Post reporter’s home, capture of devices

    FBI struggled with bypassing Apple’s Lockdown Mode following the raid of Washington Post reporter’s home, capture of devices

    Apple’s Lockdown Mode may be more impressive than initially thought.

    Per 9to5Mac, following a recent raid into a Washington Post reporter’s home, the FBI was apparently unable to retrieve data from the reporter’s iPhone.

    As reported by 404 Media, the FBI raided the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson earlier this year, “as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information.”

    Natanson’s profile, per the Post’s profile page, states that she has been “covering Trump’s reshaping of the federal government and its effects,” and that “was part of a team of Post journalists awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.”

    During the FBI’s raid last January, agents seized multiple electronic devices at Natanson’s home, including a MacBook Pro and an iPhone 13.

    Still, the FBI’s Computer Analysis Response Team (CART) is reported to have been unable to extract data from the iPhone thanks to the system’s Lockdown Mode, which “helps protect devices against extremely rare and highly sophisticated cyber attacks,” per Apple’s description.

    The court record mentioning Lockdown Mode was filed on January 30th, around two weeks after the FBI raided Natanson’s residence, indicating the FBI has not been able to access the iPhone during that time.

    It’s unknown whether the FBI’s CART unit has been able to access the device since it was taken in the raid.

    Apple has offered the following explanation as to Lockdown Mode, which is available in iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, watchOS 10 or later, and macOS Ventura or later:

    “Lockdown Mode is an optional, extreme protection that’s designed for the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats. Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.

    When Lockdown Mode is enabled, your device won’t function like it typically does. To reduce the attack surface that potentially could be exploited by highly targeted mercenary spyware, certain apps, websites, and features are strictly limited for security and some experiences might not be available at all.

    Lockdown Mode limits a wide range of system features and connections, including blocking most message attachments, restricting certain web browsing technologies, limiting FaceTime calls from unknown contacts, preventing device connections unless the device is unlocked, and turning off configuration profiles and device management enrollment.”

    In short, Lockdown Mode may be a stronger form of protection than initially thought.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac, Reddit, 404 Media, and support.apple.com