Key points are highlighted below.

Soundpacks

The GarageBand 10.4.9 update installs for OSX users the following sound packs:

• 8-Bit Legends – Retro 80s sound pack.
• Vox Melodics – Vocals with harmonies from selected singers.

UI Refresh

While not mentioned in Apple’s release notes: the GarageBand UI has been touched up: new icons and more consistent naming terminology will be readily apparent to GarageBand users whenever they create a new GarageBand file.

Bugfixes & Stability

Read the full 10.4.9 Release notes here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208660

Here are some of the better free online repositories for you to check out.

Mobile Music Pro

First check out the high quality samples available from mobile music pro.

From collections for: guitar, cyberpunk and FX, each of them are ready and waiting for users to download.

Music Radar

Next, head on over to music radar to browse through their free loop library.

The Music radar loop samples page includes categorises from A to Z, with loops grouped in zip files for easy downloading.

Freesound.org

While Freesound.org is a much larger collection than those above: users should be prepared to spend some time searching before you turn up the quality loop that you are looking for.

As with all public internet community efforts, the loop quality varies tremendously: but searching will uncover the gems from amongst the dross and clutter.

Read on if this is something you are interested in.

Three step process

There are essentially three steps to saving downloaded streaming audio to your HDD:

1. Record screen (using Screenflick)
2. Separate audio stream from video container (using iMovie)
3. Edit the audio (using GarageBand)

1. Record screen

To record the screen, you will need a screen recorder. While any screen recorder will do: for the purposes of this post, I achieved excellent results using Screenflick version 2 (later versions are available from the Screenflick home).

Use Screenflick to record and then export the video to your HDD (instructions on using Screenflick here).

(iOS does have its own inbuilt screen-recorder: but NB this app will automatically stop recording if it cannot detect user activity.)

2. Separate audio stream

Open the video file (saved above) with iMovie: export the audio stream (use the share-audio only option).

3. Edit audio

Open the audio file (exported above) with GarageBand: edit out all unwanted segments and re-export edited audio file.

Wasn’t this just another instance of over-hype reporting followed by solid under-delivery?

Somewhat surprisingly: no. ChatGPT really is nearly as good as the hype.

ChatGPT is a natural language generation tool: using user-provided seed-text.

So what else can we expect at the moment in this brave new AI-driven world?

AI generated text

ChatGPT – developed by OpenAI – is a generative AI tool that provides natural-language and human-comprehensible answers to natural-language user-queries.

TechTarget have a useful overview here.

While alternatives to ChatGPT exist around the web, I recommend that interested users start by opening their own free account via the OpenAI website.

AI – images

Another use of generative AI tools is to create images from a user seed-text.

Craiyon is an excellent example for users to experiment generating free AI generated images.

Other AI-generated image tools are reviewed by Analyticsinsight here.

AI – video

A final use of generative AI tools is to create video, also from a user seed-text. Wondershare have an useful overview here.

A variation of the above is to input a script for a video-avatar to speak. To try this out, users can experiment with Synthesia’s video-AI here.

The Contacts app is syncs across iCloud: and provides users a way to easily edit, maintain and arrange groups of contacts.

Using Contacts is completely intuitive: except when it isn’t.

Users who have ever wanted to delete a Contacts-Group – and been unable to – are invited to read on.

Deleting a Group (=List)

Deleting a group appears to be undocumented by Apple: probably because it is assumed to be “intuitive & trouble-free”.

However, when users actually attempt this: be prepared for Contacts to refuse to cooperate. Without providing any reason.

Through trail & error, I have discovered that the key point is simply this: a group cannot be deleted until all contacts are removed from the group first.

In other words, to delete a Contacts-Group/ list:

1. First remove each contact from the Group: using delete (or command-delete). When Contacts requests confirmation, select the remove from group option.
2. After all contacts have been removed: select the group in the sidebar using command-delete (or use Edit-Delete Group option from the menu).

Want to know more?

Check out Apple’s Contacts User Guide.

The remainder of the update included bug and stability fixes, which are detailed here:

iPhone

Under recents, tap the info button next to the phone number and select Block This Caller.

iMessage

Open the relevant conversation, tap the contact (at the top of the conversation), tap the info button and select Block This Caller.

FaceTime

Tap the info button next to the unwanted caller, and select Block This Caller.

Read More:

• Apple Support – Block unwanted callers

For the desktop, users can choose between using a browser with built-in ad-blockers, or installing an ad-blockers extension/ add-on.

For iOS on mobile devices, users will need to download and install an ad-blocker app.

Read on to find out more.

Desktop – Browsers

Some browsers already have ad-blockers built-in, including: Brave and Opera.

Other browsers require users install an ad-blocker extension / add-on. Try:

• AdBlock Plus for: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, iOS
• AdBlock for: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge

iOS

iOS devices will need an ad-blocker app. Try:

• AdBlock Plus or
• AdBlock

Want to know more?

• Tom’s Guide – Best ad blockers in 2022

This post introduces two solid, alternative browsers to Safari: for use either in addition to, or instead of, the OSX Safari default.

Brave

Feature list:

• built-in security: users can open either an incognito tab or a TOR tab
• built-in privacy ad-blocker

Chrome

Feature list:

• currently fastest Mac browser
• huge extension library

NB: users should remember that Google will mine all of their activity using Chrome.

Safari is still OK…

Feature List:

• tightly integrated with OSX (including keychain passwords & texted passcodes)
• solid security & performance

Want to know more?

• cloudwards.net – Best Browser for Mac

Something to suit almost everybody really: most users being unaware of and uninterested in the majority of higher functions provided by (let’s say) Microsoft products.

This post lists some the better freeware options available: with links for further reading and download (where applicable).

Google Docs

• browser-only
• basic features
• real-time group collaborative tools
• all documents auto-saved in the cloud (Google Drive)

Microsoft Office Online

• browser-only
• basic features
• real-time group collaborative tools
• all documents auto-saved in the cloud (Microsoft OneDrive)

LibreOffice

• full-featured
• free & open-source
• no online collaboration tools
• enthusiastic user-community online

OpenOffice

• full-featured
• free & open-source
• no online collaboration tools

Calligra

• full-featured
• free & open-source
• no online collaboration tools
• bundles with mind-mapping & project-management apps

Notes:

1. Zoho also provides a browser-only basic suite via its Forever Free option. Group Collaboration is however limited to 5 users max.
2. FreeOffice & OnlyOffice also provide offices suites for download: but their free versions provide only basic-functionality unlike their LibreOffice & OpenOffice competitors.

Further Reading:

• Tech Radar: Best Free Office Software