iOS software
GENIUS TIPS
EDITED BY HOWARD OAKLEY
EXPERT ADVICE
Our resident genius solves your Mac and iOS problems
Contact us
Email your queries and your questions to genius@macformat.com
A Facebook fiasco and AI
For those of us that recall that F July day in 2023 when a macOS update abruptly stopped Facebook loading its desktop website in Safari, you’ll be happy to learn that helped deliver Apple Intelligence. It had been part of a three-month experiment using Rapid Security Responses (RSR), patches to macOS Ventura that fixed vulnerabilities without a full update.
Apple abandoned those more than two years ago, but now uses the same technology to deliver Safari, vital system support caches, and key components for artificial intelligence (AI) across macOS, iOS and iPadOS. Those RSRs were a failed trial of Cryptexes, cryptographically verified disk images that can be grafted into the main System. A total of around 24 of those now deliver parts of the features for Writing Tools and more to Macs and devices with AI enabled.
Image credits: Apple Inc, Hypercritical LLC
Are they clones?
Q How can I tell whether two files are identical copies, or just clones?
by MATT GRAHAM
A Most methods of copying or duplicating a file within the same volume now result in clone files, with their own separate file info but sharing exactly the same data. That not only saves storage space, but also reduces ‘wear’ on the SSD. To be clones, though, both have to be in the same APFS volume, and none of this works in HFS+, which can’t handle cloning at all.
In Finder, there’s no way to tell whether two files are really clones or just completely separate files, each with their own stored data. Because of the way they work, changing one of them doesn’t help, as the rest of their data could still be either shared or separate.
You can now turn two or more identical files in the same volume into clones using Hyperspace (Free, offers IAPs, hypercritical. co). Use this to scan folders where you suspect there may be multiple copies of the same file; the app works out whether they could be safely replaced by clones. You only need pay for the app if you want it to perform those conversions, so you can discover how much space could be saved before deciding whether it’s worth paying the money to do so.
Hyperspace scans your files to see if any copies can be replaced by clones, so saving storage space.
Quick-fire questions
How to call a friend using Siri on my iPhone?
> Check your friend is in your Contacts, with their correct phone number and first name, and that Siri is enabled in Settings. Attract Siri’s attention by saying “Siri” or “Hey Siri”, then say “Call Richard” using their first name. You can qualify that with the number to use, such as “Call Richard’s mobile”.
How to find my nearest iPhone repair service?
> Download and open Apple’s free Support app, and tap Locations at the foot, then move the area shown to cover your region. Tap Show List at the foot, select iPhone in the list of services at the lower left, and authorised centres are given and shown on the map.
Image credit: Apple Inc