MakeUseOf - Apple

Microsoft and Apple give opposite advice for naming Wi-Fi networks — but only one makes more sense

Brady Snyder — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:01:14 GMT

Most people either pick a quirky name for their home Wi-Fi network or never change the one that came with their router in the first place. However, the name you choose for your Wi-Fi network matters, and Microsoft and Apple give completely different advice on how to pick one. Your Wi-Fi network's name is technically called a Service Set Identifier (SSID), and you can customize it using your router's admin panel. A router uses multiple Wi-Fi bands — 2.4GHz and 5GHz for most routers, plus a 6GHz band for Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers — but you might never see them.

The $599 MacBook did something I didn't expect: it made Windows laptops obsolete

Brandon Miniman — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:00:12 GMT

I used to be an enthusiastic Windows user going all the way back to Windows 95. I've owned multiple Windows laptops and have even custom-built multiple PCs over the years.

A glass company shelved this invention for 40 years — then Steve Jobs called

Brandon Miniman — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 17:01:12 GMT

You're reading this article on a screen, likely a phone but maybe a tablet. Covering that screen is an invisible piece of technology that you probably don't think much about, but that piece of glass can trace its journey all the way back to the 1800s when a company called Corning set out to hack glass and extend its uses way beyond just windows.

The real story behind Jobs' 1979 PARC visit is way stranger than the theft narrative

Rob LeFebvre — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 12:01:12 GMT

In December 1979, 24-year-old Steve Jobs walked into the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center and, according to the version of the story everyone tells, stole the future of computing in an afternoon. The real story is both stranger and perhaps a bit more prosaic than that. Jobs didn't actually steal anything, as Xerox went into the transfer of tech openly and willingly.

Why do phones have smaller batteries in the US vs international models?

Nirave Gondhia — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:00:16 GMT

One of the most interesting factoids about smartphones is that battery capacity varies significantly depending on where you are based. You may not be aware, but smartphones in the US are often limited to around 5,000 mAh (although this is slowly changing)and are usually made with lithium-ion rather than the newer, denser Silicon-carbon technology.

COSMIC's new design might just give Apple a run for its money

Dipan Saha — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:00:24 GMT

Liquid Glass changed things, for better or worse. While I’m personally not a fan of Apple’s implementation, there is definitely something to be had here, which makes it a bit appealing when implemented properly, that is.

These two browser engines aren't controlled by Google or Apple — and that matters more than you think

Abhijith N Arjunan — Sun, 31 May 2026 14:30:19 GMT

At first glance, you'd think there are too many web browsers to choose from. It's true for the most part, too. From Google Chrome to Brave and Edge to Firefox, there are more options. It is also why people are always searching for the best web browser for their workflow. Given how every web browser labels itself "brand new," you'd think you are moving to a new world.

4 ways Samsung’s old Galaxy S22 camera still beats my iPhone

Brandon Miniman — Sat, 02 May 2026 22:00:17 GMT

You would think that the iPhone camera is better than most, given Apple's reputation for making class-leading cameras now going on almost twenty years. Logic would have it that when compared to an older Android phone, like my 2022 Galaxy S22 Plus, the Galaxy would be inferior.

I tried ChatGPT on Apple CarPlay, and now I'm absolutely spoiled

Shimul Sood — Fri, 01 May 2026 22:00:19 GMT

I don’t need much convincing to try something new on Apple CarPlay, so when the ChatGPT app icon appeared on my car’s infotainment screen, ignoring it was never really an option. I was instantly curious to see how it would actually hold up during a drive. A few drives later, I can say this with complete honesty: I got used to it far quicker than I expected.

6 CarPlay apps that make it far more useful than Apple's default setup

Shimul Sood — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:00:16 GMT

I’ve spent a long time using Apple CarPlay, and there’s a lot it gets right. The interface feels clean; the animations are smooth, and setting things up the way I like feels absolutely wonderful. For me, it’s an experience I don’t really have to think about once it’s up and running.