Consider
The editor reflects on Apple's 2018 strides.
This is a particularly quiet time of the year in many ways — for starters, the holiday season is wrapped up now and we’re just starting to slowly, cautiously, welcome in the new year. There’s not a great deal going on with Apple either, but that’s not surprising, though, since 2018 was a tremendous year for the company, what with the tandem release of macOS Mojave and iOS 12, three new iPhones, the Apple Watch Series 4 with its potentially life–saving, features, and in the latter portion of the year, a new MacBook Air, iPad Pros and — shock horror — a new Mac mini! Nobody could say 2018 was a boring year, or one that didn’t bring a few surprises that made us love Apple that little bit more.
A brand new year might, as ever, seem a little daunting, but fret not — we’ve got some great content this issue to help you get 2019 kick–started with ease. The first of these — our big feature, the best free apps (p16) — is dedicated to those of you who might have gone a little overboard at the checkout on Black Friday, or in the run up to Christmas. It’s ideal for getting more from your Mac or iOS device without spending a penny. Once you’re done there, why not head straight over to our round–up of the best apps to make the most of 2019 (p68)? Whether you want to be more organized this time round, manage your finances better or just get a little bit fitter, this essential list should give you a helping hand.
If you’re feeling a little more acclimated to the idea of the year ahead now, let me introduce this month’s cover star: the best Apple tech. If the recent product launches got your check book tingling, this issue has you covered. We’ve got a triple whammy, consisting of reviews of the Mac mini (p40), MacBook Air (p48), and iPad Pro (p54), and as requested by you, the reader, I’ve also included a group test of the best network Time Machine drives (p58). If that’s not enough, why not find out what’s in store for Apple in 2019? We’re predicating great things in the coming months, but I won’t spoil it here — turn to p30 for more on that one. Happy new year, and here’s to a great one!