Need to extract a .xip file? Maybe you’re trying to figure out what a .xip is that you came across on a Mac? The XIP (.xip) file format is an archive that is similar to zip, except that .xip files typically include a digital signature that can be verified on the operating system before the archive is expanded. Thus, the .xip signature serves as a means to verify that the file has not been modified since it was originally packed by the creator of the archive file, which can protect against problems related to file transfers, disk errors, and file tampering.

Most Mac users won’t encounter any .xip file, but advanced Mac users and Mac developers often do, especially since many versions of the Xcode developer suite are available to download from Apple as a verified Xcode .xip file.

This article will demonstrate two different easy ways to open and extract XIP files on the Mac.

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The iPhone and iPad now have the ability to make Group FaceTime video calls, where you can have up to 32 people participating in a group video chat.

Let’s walk through how to start a Group FaceTime video chat on the iPhone and iPad, and also demonstrate how to add people to an existing FaceTime video chat to turn that into a group video chat in iOS.

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Apple introduced the all new 2018 iPad Pro with a snazzy redesign, and as is often the case with new iOS hardware, the latest iPad Pro comes with a collection of all new wallpapers.

The latest batch of iPad Pro wallpapers feature colorful splashes, smears, and swirls of various paints, and the abstract art images make for excellent wallpapers for not just iPad but also for other iOS devices and Macs too (and probably Windows, Linux, and Android as well).

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Apple has released the first beta versions of iOS 12.1.1, macOS Mojave 10.14.2, and tvOS 12.1.1 for users enrolled in the respective developer beta testing programs.

Typically developer beta builds are released first, and public beta builds arrive soon after.

The latest beta builds of various Apple operating systems arrive just a day after the final releases of iOS 12.1 and MacOS Mojave 10.14.1 were made available to the general public.

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Apple has released MacOS Mojave 10.14.1 for Mac users running the Mojave operating system. The first major update to MacOS Mojave includes a few new additions, along with various bug fixes and resolutions to issues that existed in the first release.

For other Mac users, Apple has released security updates for Macs running MacOS High Sierra 10.13.6 and MacOS Sierra 10.12.6.

Additionally, Apple released iOS 12.1 update for iPhone and iPad, along with watchOS 5.1 for Apple Watch and tvOS 12.1 for Apple TV.

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Apple has released iOS 12.1 for iPhone and iPad. The first major update to iOS 12 includes various new features, bug fixes, and enhancements to the iOS operating system, making it recommended for all iPhone and iPad users running a prior build of iOS 12.

iOS 12.1 includes group FaceTime support for video chat with up to 32 participants, as well as over 70 new Emoji icons including a lobster, mosquito, kangaroo, bagel, head of lettuce, and various peoples and new hair styles. iOS 12.1 also brings real-time Depth Control to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR cameras, and support for dual-sim cards on those devices as well.

Separately, Apple has also released macOS Mojave 10.14.1, tvOS 12.1, and watchOS 5.1.
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Apple has announced notable updates to the MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and iPad Pro. The new MacBook Air features a Retina display and Touch ID, the Mac Mini features powerfully revamped internals, and the iPad Pro now features slimmer bezels and support for Face ID and a new Apple Pencil.

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Advanced Mac users can boot into Single User Mode, which loads directly into the command line of Mac OS and skips the familiar friendly user interface.

Booting into Single User Mode on a Mac can be helpful for some troubleshooting purposes and administrative tasks, but is generally best reserved for use by advanced Mac users with thorough knowledge of the command line.

This tutorial will show you how to boot into Single User Mode and how to exit Single User Mode on any Mac.

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Google has made it easier to delete all Google search activity data that is related to your Google account, meaning all the stuff you have searched google.com for and clicked on while logged into a Google account, you’ll be able to clear out and permanently delete if you feel the need to do so. This may be a welcome function for some security and privacy advocates, or even for users who’d just rather limit the kind of data stored on them by various online services, but using this capability is certainly not for everyone.

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If regularly use a Mac with an Apple SuperDrive or other DVD player, you may be wondering where the DVD Player app went in macOS Mojave, and perhaps you have arrived at the conclusion that it’s missing since it’s no longer visible in the /Applications folder or Launchpad. It’s not missing however, it turns out the DVD Player app has just been relocated to sit alongside some other buried system tools.

We’ll show you how to quickly launch DVD Player in MacOS Mojave, and also show you where the DVD Player app is located now.

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Are you not ready to upgrade to MacOS Mojave yet? If so, you may wish to disable and hide the “Upgrade to macOS Mojave” notification banner that comes up frequently in prior versions of Mac OS system software, as Apple pushes users to upgrade to the latest MacOS release.

Whether you’re avoiding the MacOS Mojave upgrade because you’re waiting for a future software update release, because your current system works just fine as is, because something on the Mac is not supported by Mojave, some other compatibility issue, or any other number of reasons, you’ll be happy to know that you can stop the “Upgrade to MacOS Mojave” notification alert from showing up on a Mac.

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Have you unintentionally used an Apple ID or logged into an Apple ID on a Mac that isn’t yours, or perhaps that you don’t want iCloud access on? If so, you may wish to remove that Apple ID and iCloud account from that Mac. Similarly, you may want to delete an Apple ID from a Mac if you’re intending on changing the Apple ID in use on that computer for whatever reason.

This article will show you how to remove an Apple ID and iCloud account from a Mac.

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The iPhone has an optional secret weather widget for the devices locked screen that can be enabled through an unlikely feature; Do Not Disturb mode. With this feature in use, you’ll see the days current temperature, weather conditions, and the forecast when you glance at your iPhone screen as you start the day. It’s a great feature, but if you haven’t stumbled into it yourself then don’t be surprised as it is fairly hidden and not labeled to indicate that a weather widget will display on the lock screen.

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Have you ever been so lost that you don’t even know where you are? Your iPhone and Siri can help!

Perhaps you were following someones bad directions to a destination and got wildly lost, maybe you’re in a new city and took a few too many wrong turns, or maybe you were the passenger in a vehicle that went to a destination you’re unsure of – whatever the reason, if you don’t know where you are and find yourself lost, then you can rely on your iPhone and Siri to find out exactly where you are located, including the address and precise GPS coordinates!

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Apple has released macOS Mojave 10.14.1 beta 5 for Mac users participating in the developer beta testing program. Typically the same build arrives as a public beta release soon after.

Separately, Apple released yesterday iOS 12.1 beta 5 alongside watchOS 5.1 beta 5 and tvOS 12.1 beta 5 for users beta testing system software on their iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.

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The Dock in modern MacOS versions includes a new feature that displays a trio of recently used applications alongside your regular Dock app icons. The Recent Applications section of the Dock adjusts and updates automatically as you launch and quit apps, and while it offers a convenient way to reopen apps you were using not long ago, some users may prefer to not have the feature enabled for whatever reason.

If you want to disable the Recent Applications section of the Dock in MacOS, perhaps to reduce clutter or to make the Dock footprint smaller, then read on to learn how to make the change in MacOS 10.14 or later.

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Apple has released iOS 12.1 beta 5 to users enrolled in the iOS developer beta testing program. Usually the same build as a public beta arrives soon after.

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If you’re currently running macOS Mojave, you can re-download a macOS High Sierra installer for whatever reason to macOS Mojave. Re-downloading older versions of macOS system software can be desirable for a variety of reasons, and in this case getting the older High Sierra release is most often to create a macOS High Sierra USB installer or for running an older macOS release in a virtual machine or something of that nature.

If you’ve searched the Mac App Store from Mojave, you’ve probably noticed the High Sierra installer is nowhere to be found. But not to worry, we’ll show you how you can download macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 from macOS Mojave 10.14.

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