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  • Utilizing Klarna for Authorization Holds: Discussion on MacRumors Forums

    My iPad screen is broken, and since I have AppleCare, I want to utilize the express replacement option. However, I’ve encountered an issue: I do not own a credit card. While navigating the process for the replacement order, I reached a point where I could see the costs for the authorization hold and the service fee. I noticed that when I selected Apple Pay, Klarna appeared as a payment option.

    I often use Klarna in tandem with Apple Pay for various transactions. I would like to know if it’s acceptable to use Klarna as a line of credit for the authorization hold. My understanding is that this hold should be reversed or canceled once I return the device as planned. Has anyone had experience with this situation?

    I’m particularly interested in whether using Klarna in this context has worked for others. Any insights or advice shared would be highly appreciated. In summary, I’m hoping to clarify if Klarna can be utilized in this manner and if the process aligns with Apple’s policies for device replacement.

  • Comparing Cheap MacBook and 13-inch iPad for $499: 2026 iPad Lineup Talk on MacRumors Forums

    I’m contemplating whether to start a discussion about the iPad lineup for 2026. The recent news about an anticipated low-cost MacBook has sparked both excitement and confusion in me. From what I understand, Apple is unlikely to incorporate the A18 Pro chip with a 64-bit memory bus into the MacBook, especially considering that even the M1 MacBook featured a 128-bit memory bus. Shifting my focus to the iPad lineup for the upcoming year, I believe I’ve grasped what Ming-Chi Kuo may be implying.

    It appears Apple might introduce a 13-inch iPad positioned below the iPad Mini, rather than debuting a low-cost MacBook. Both the iPad Mini and iPad Air are expected to receive OLED displays in 2026, and it’s reasonable to anticipate a price increase for those models. This creates a gap in pricing between the standard iPad and the iPad Mini, which could be filled by the new 13-inch iPad utilizing the A18 Pro chip. By the time this launch occurs, Apple should have a sufficient supply of laminated displays for the standard iPad.

    Consequently, the future iPad lineup will likely comprise various display types—LCD, OLED, and Tandem OLED—across different sizes, including the iPad Mini. While I may not be completely accurate in my predictions, this scenario seems more plausible to me than the concept of a low-cost MacBook, which would conflict with the existing MacBook lineup. I welcome your thoughts on this—agree or disagree, I’d love to hear your insights.

  • Experience Eye Strain with iPhone X and Later Models

    Hello everyone,

    I wanted to share an issue I’ve been experiencing with my phone and see if anyone else has noticed something similar. Lately, I’ve been feeling eye strain while using my phone, as if my eyes are working hard to focus on the screen. It has become increasingly uncomfortable, and I’ve found that when I look away from my device to focus on something else, my vision feels a bit blurry and I need to blink frequently. I’m uncertain why this is happening to me.

    I’ve tried adjusting several display settings, including TrueTone, Night Shift, and the white balance, but none of these changes seem to make a significant impact. For the record, I’m not using a screen protector, which could be a factor, but I’m not sure if that would make a noticeable difference. Has anyone else experienced something like this? I’m curious to know if there are any solutions or adjustments that have helped others.

    Eye comfort is essential, especially since we spend so much time on our devices these days. If you have any tips or explanations for this issue, I would appreciate hearing from you. Looking forward to your thoughts! Best regards.

  • Strange iPhone Storage Problem: 160 GB Allocated to Photos, Only 45 GB of Real Images

    Hello everyone,

    I’m facing a perplexing storage issue with my iPhone 15 Pro, which I’ve also observed on previous iPhone models, dating back to the iPhone 8. At present, I have around 5,500 photos on my device. Recently, I’ve undertaken significant measures to clean up my photo library by deleting duplicates and unnecessary images, and I’ve made sure to completely empty the Recently Deleted folder. I even transferred all my remaining photos to my computer, where their actual uncompressed size is only about 45 GB.

    However, there is a baffling discrepancy when I check the storage settings. In Settings > General > iPhone Storage, the Photos app is reported to be using 160 GB. This indicates a staggering surplus of over 110 GB of “ghost” photo data that I am unable to locate or delete. This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced such an issue.

    In fact, the only two so-called “solutions” that have worked for me in the past involve either completely erasing the iPhone and setting it up as new (even restoring from backups returns the bloat) or purchasing a new iPhone. Both solutions are not only time-consuming but also unacceptable for a high-end device. My theory is that I often collaborate with shared albums from other iOS users. I suspect that these images are getting cached locally but are not visible in the Photos app, making them impossible to delete.

    Alternatively, could iOS be storing hidden caches, previews, or RAW duplicates that could contribute to this excessive storage use? Has anyone else encountered this issue? If so, do you have any reliable solutions?

  • Switching from iPhone 15 Pro Max to 16 or 16 Pro: Who’s Made the Change?

    I’m currently debating whether to keep my Pro Max or switch to a smaller model. I’ve noticed that the iPhone 16 series has slightly increased in size, so I’m curious about the experience of those who have transitioned from a Pro Max to either a regular iPhone 16 or a 16 Pro. Did you find it to be a significant adjustment? Additionally, my daughter is in need of a phone, and I’m considering passing my Pro Max on to her while I opt for a smaller version.

    I would appreciate any insights or experiences from anyone who has made a similar move. It’s important for me to understand if the smaller phone would still meet my needs, especially considering how accustomed I’ve become to the capabilities of the Pro Max. Would I miss the larger screen and features, or would the regular 16 or 16 Pro provide a satisfactory experience? If you have transitioned from a larger phone to a more compact model, your feedback would be invaluable.

    I’m looking to make the best choice for myself and ensure that my daughter will benefit from having my Pro Max. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts!

  • RM2000 Tape Recorder: A MacOS Audio Sampling Solution

    I am excited to announce that after five months of hard work, my first app, RM2000 Tape Recorder, is now available on the Mac App Store! RM2000 Tape Recorder simplifies audio sampling.

    Users can easily record sound, assign a title and tags, and the file is instantly saved for use in any Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or production software. The idea for the app came to me one night while making music.

    I wanted to capture a sample from a YouTube video, but the process was cumbersome. I had to configure Screenflow, set up desktop recording, crop the audio, export it as an mp4, and then convert it to mp3.

    I realized there had to be a more efficient way, so I created this app to streamline the process. The app has been a game-changer for my workflow, especially when I listen to college radio and hear something that sparks my creativity.

    I often want to quickly record a snippet for future reference, and with RM2000 Tape Recorder, I can do just that. It functions similarly to the tools and services I often use, such as PureRef, Are.na, and Pinterest, but for audio.

    I dedicated a significant amount of time to the app’s design. My first computer was an iBook G4 running Tiger when I was in first grade, and that nostalgia influenced my design choices.

    I believe that user interface design peaked during that era, and I wanted to reflect that in RM2000 Tape Recorder. Thank you for your time!

    I welcome any questions, concerns, or feedback. I look forward to sharing more about my project, and I have included some screenshots for you to check out!

  • Free Battery Optimizer for Mac Now Available: Join the Discussion on MacRumors Forums!

    BatteryOptimizer for MAC is a simple Command Line Interface (CLI) tool that functions similarly to AlDente, allowing users to set battery charge limits and schedule battery calibration for MacBooks. The key difference is that this tool is entirely free and open-source.

    One of the standout features of BatteryOptimizer for MAC is its lightweight design. It not only provides functionalities comparable to AlDente and coconutBattery but does so with significantly lower memory usage, approximately 1/20th that of AlDente and 1/30th that of coconutBattery.

    This tool is a fork of the original battery utility, incorporating numerous new features and enhancements. It supports both Apple and Intel CPU Macs, and includes a sail mode that allows the battery to maintain a target percentage without charging.

    Users can also schedule automatic calibration on specific days each month or on a recurring basis, enhancing usability. Notably, the charging limiter remains functional even when the MacBook is asleep or powered down.

    For Intel CPU Macs, the charge limit can be set at a maintenance percentage, while Apple CPU Macs have a fixed limit of 80%. Additional features include a daily battery log, notifications for calibration steps, reminders to open the MacBook lid before calibration, and alerts for software updates.

    For Intel Macs, the charge limit works across all models, but discharge and calibration features are only effective for models from 2014 or earlier. Efforts are ongoing to find a discharge method for newer Intel models.

    The installation and usage details can be found on the GitHub page. BatteryOptimizer for MAC is free, but support to enhance its functionality is always appreciated.

  • How to Clear Cache and Delete Temporary Files on MacOS

    Hello everyone,

    A question recently came up that I think many Mac users might find relevant. Just like in Windows, where you can delete temporary files and clear cache to improve system performance, is there a similar option in macOS? Additionally, is it really necessary to perform such actions on a Mac? The answer is yes; there are ways to free up space and enhance your Mac’s responsiveness.

    While macOS typically manages storage effectively on its own, occasional maintenance can still help optimize performance. Clearing cache files and temporary files can lead to a snappier experience, especially if you have not done it in a while. If you’re looking for applications to help with this task, there are several options available. The most popular choices include CleanMyMac, which offers a comprehensive suite of tools for cleaning up system junk, and OnyX, a free utility that provides more in-depth maintenance features.

    These apps enable users to safely remove unnecessary files and optimize their systems. In conclusion, while macOS generally handles storage and performance efficiently, utilizing third-party apps can still aid in maintaining your device. Regularly reviewing and clearing out unnecessary files could lead to a more responsive system and ultimately improve your overall experience. If you have any recommendations or experiences with such apps, feel free to share!

  • Time Machine: Backing Up Your Old Drive – MacRumors Discussion

    It appears that Time Machine is retaining outdated backups of a device that I no longer use, raising concerns about storage space on my backup drive. Currently, I have Time Machine configured to back up my main internal drive, labeled as **Media**, and my external media drive, referred to as **iMac**.

    A few months ago, I upgraded my media drive to a larger SSD. However, Time Machine is still showing backups of the previous drive, marked as **Media 1**.

    This particular backup has not been updated since early April, and I initially thought that once Time Machine purged the last backup that included the old Media drive, it would free up storage space. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, and I find myself with only about ten days’ worth of backup versions remaining.

    The backup drive has a total capacity of 4 TB, while the combined data from my iMac and Media drive amounts to roughly 2 TB. I suspect that the lingering **Media 1** backup is consuming valuable space, which contributes to the limited history of my backups.

    I am wondering if there are steps I can take to resolve this issue. Do I need to wipe the backup drive completely and initiate a fresh backup to eliminate the old **Media 1** backup?

    Any guidance on how to fix this situation would be greatly appreciated.

  • NVME RAID Drives Not Mounting on Mac Pro 2019

    Hello everyone,

    I’m experiencing an inconsistent issue with both of my NVME drive adapters on my 2019 Mac Pro running Monterey 12.6. The drives intermittently fail to mount, and I find myself having to restart the machine repeatedly to get them recognized. When I try to mount the drives manually, I encounter an ‘Invalid Disk’ error, yet Disk Utility shows no issues or failures with the drives. I’ve also recently returned the Sonnet Flex J3i for a replacement; the RAID setup was failing to mount after each restart via the USB-connected SSD.

    I’m uncertain if this problem is related. Additionally, I have upgraded my MPX module to include two RX 6900 XTs. For context, I have the following setup:

    1. Sonnet’s M.2 4×4 PCIe card with four Samsung 980 Pro 2TB drives configured in an 8TB HFS+ RAID0.

    2. OWC Accelsior 4M2 PCIe card with four Sabrent 1TB drives, creating a 3TB HFS+ RAID0 and a separate 1TB Windows installation. Interestingly, the 1TB Windows SSD consistently mounts without issue, while only the 3TB and 8TB RAID drives present problems. I have attached my system report to provide any additional insights that may assist in diagnosing the issue.

    Any advice or suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance for your help!