| Cult of Mac

Apple ‘discussing’ plans to allow third-party browsers, email apps to be defaults on iOS

By

close all tabs
You might not be stuck with Safari for much longer.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is finally “considering” giving users the ability to set third-party web browsers and email clients as defaults on iOS, according to a new Bloomberg report. It could also open up HomePod to rival music streaming services.

iPhone and iPad owners can already install third-party alternatives, but iOS currently does not allow them to override Apple’s built-in services. That could change as Apple faces increasing pressure over the tight control it imposes over its mobile devices.

In rare warning, Homeland Security urges immediate Firefox update

By

Firefox
A Firefox security flaw needs to be patched as quickly as possible.
Photo: Mozilla

Everyone running the recently-released Firefox 72 on their Mac should install a patch immediately. The security vulnerability in this web browser is severe enough for a US Homeland Security agency to encourage users to install the update. Mozilla says it’s already aware of attacks that use this Firefox security flaw.

Firefox 70 draws less power, shows who’s tracking you

By

Firefox 70 Enhanced Tracking Protection report
Firefox 70 offers a list of tracking cookies blocked by its Enhanced Tracking Protection.
Photo: Firefox/Cult of Mac

Firefox fans can expect this web browser to be less of a drain on their MacBook’s battery. Plus, the latest version gives users a report showing the dozens of cookies attempting to track them across the Web.

Mozilla petitions Apple to boost privacy with rotating ad IDs

By

ipad-pro-smart-keyboard-safari
Rotating advertiser IDs make a lot of sense.
Photo: Apple

Mozilla, the company behind Firefox, is calling for Apple to boost user privacy on iOS by introducing rotating advertiser IDs.

Most iPhone and iPad users don’t know that they can block access to their unique ID, Mozilla says. Regularly rotating IDs would make it harder for companies “to build profiles of us over time.”

Sign the petition to pressure Apple into making a change today.

How to stop Google from tracking your clicks

By

Stop the madness
Stop! The! Madness!
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Whenever you click a link in a Google search, it replaces the URL of the site with a tracking URL. If you hover over a link with your mouse before you click it, Safari will show you the full URL of that link. It’s a great way to check where you’re about to get sent. Google plays along with this, showing you the proper URL for the link in question.

Only when you actually click on it, it swaps out that link, replacing it with its own tracking link.

Fortunately, there’s a way to block this sneaky, underhanded and totally unsurprising behavior.

How to make YouTube load up to 5x faster in Safari

By

YouTube in Safari on iMac Pro
It’s easy to give YouTube a kick up the backside.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Have you ever wondered why YouTube is so much slower than all the other websites you visit in Safari? Did you know that you could make it up to five times faster with very little effort?

YouTube’s new design doesn’t play nicely with browsers that aren’t Google Chrome, but with some simple tweaks, you can switch back to its previous design and enjoy much faster speeds.

Here’s how.

Mozilla’s new Lockbox app lets you use Firefox passwords anywhere

By

Firefox Lockbox app for iOS
Lockbox frees your passwords from Firefox.
Photo: Mozilla

You probably have a whole bunch of passwords saved in Firefox if it’s your web browser of choice. And now you can use those passwords anywhere in iOS with the new Lockbox app from Mozilla.

Lockbox is a password manager that promises strong encryption, syncing between multiple iOS devices, Face ID support, and more.

WWDC livestream will support Chrome and Firefox this year

By

At WWDC 2018, Apple will show us the future of iOS and its other platforms.
You're no longer limited to Safari or *shudder* Microsoft Edge.
Photo: Apple

There’s something a bit different about this year’s WWDC livestream. As always, you’ll be able to watch it using Apple’s Safari browser, the WWDC app or Apple TV. However, for the first time Apple is also supporting Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

In previous years, neither has been available to users, meaning that viewers were limited to either one of Apple’s proprietary options or, if they were using a Windows 10 PC, Microsoft Edge.