When Apple introduced Fusion Drives back in late 2012, they were an attractive option for many iMacs and Mac minis. At a time when SSDs of 1 TB and greater size were expensive, the Fusion Drive seemed to offer the best of both worlds, with a capacious hard disk and a smaller but much faster SSD working in tandem. Since Apple discontinued the iMac 21.5-inch 2019 in April 2021, no Mac has offered a Fusion Drive option, and most significantly they’ve never been available in any model with a T2 or Apple silicon chip. This article considers whether the Fusion Drive was such a good idea, and why they have gone.
Apple Announces Event for May 7
I think it’s finally iPad time:
The event is scheduled for 7 AM Pacific.
Logitech’s Mouse Software Now Includes ChatGPT Support, Adds Janky ‘ai_overlay_tmp’ Directory to Users’ Home Folders
I recently noticed a new folder in the root level of my Home directory, named ai_overlay_tmp:
In preparation for a future Mac Power Users episode, I’ve been playing with a bunch of AI software, and I assumed something I downloaded generated this folder. I deleted it, just to be frustrated when the folder reappeared on its own.
Adding a new folder to the Home directory is a Cardinal Sin of Mac Programming, so I was on a mission to root out the cause. After some searching online, it seems that this folder was generated by Logi Options+, the software that came with my mouse, the Logitech MX Master 3S.1
Version 1.70 of Logi Options+ launched last week with — I kid you not — AI tools you can launch anywhere your cursor is located:
In today’s fast-paced, technology-enabled world, everyone is learning to work differently with breakthroughs in Generative AI.
Mastering prompt building enhances your efficiency and creativity. That’s why we developed the Logi AI Prompt Builder, a time and click-saving solution. Rephrase, summarize, and create custom-made prompt recipes with ChatGPT faster, with virtually no disruption to your workflow.
I cannot tell how little I want THE SOFTWARE FOR MY MOUSE to include features tied to ChatGPT … let alone a mouse with a built-in button to start a prompt.
These features are spun up into their own process named “Logi Al Prompt Builder” as you can see here:
Best I can tell, there’s no way to disable these features, and they are automatically loaded with the Logi Options+ software is running. Some people have suggested running the “Offline” version of Options+ to avoid these features.
Update: You can also jump through these hoops to disable the AI features in the regular versions of Options+.
That seems to have done it for me, but only after I nuked everything Logitech off my system, including a 700 MB support folder buried in my Home folder. (Thanks, Hazel!)
Of course, you don’t need Logitech software to use a Logitech mouse once the initial settings are in place. For future tinkering, I’ve decided to check out SteerMouse and keep Logitech software off of my system.
As you can see, it can be used to adjust parameters on my MX Master 3S just fine, without any AI-powered bloatware:
I know AI is all the rage right now and having a deal to bring ChatGPT into your software is trendy, but including a tool like this in what is basically a mouse driver is ridiculous. I’m not opposed to using AI in software. I’m just opposed to when it shows up as an unexpected, poorly-implemented feature in software that doesn’t need it.
At least Logitech’s Mac developers did such a bad job with it, that it was easy to spot.
- That’s an Amazon affiliate link. Despite its garbage software, Logitech does make good mice! ↩
Voyager 1 is Back Online →
Robert Lea, writing about our far-flung friend:
NASA’s interstellar explorer Voyager 1 is finally communicating with ground control in an understandable way again. On Saturday (April 20), Voyager 1 updated ground control about its health status for the first time in 5 months. While the Voyager 1 spacecraft still isn’t sending valid science data back to Earth, it is now returning usable information about the health and operating status of its onboard engineering systems.
Charles Edge Passed Away on Friday →
Adam Engst, writing at TidBITS:
This one is way too close to home. News started to spread this morning on the MacAdmins Slack, Rich Trouton’s Der Flounder blog, and Tom Bridge’s site about how our friend and Take Control author Charles Edge died suddenly and unexpectedly on 19 April 2024.
I spoke to Tom and Charles a couple of times over the years about their podcast, and he had a way of explaining technical details that few do. Charles was a giant in the Mac Admin community, and he will be missed.
Mac Power Users #741: In the Apple Trust Zone →
On this feedback episode, the guys catch up on listener feedback, share some unique uses for Freeform, discuss some good Apple Watch apps, and talk about the Mac’s startup sound.
FineWoven is Unraveling →
Hartley Charlton, writing at MacRumors:
Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories, according to the Apple leaker and prototype collector known as “Kosutami.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kosutami explained that Apple has stopped production of FineWoven accessories due to its poor durability. The company may move to another non-leather material for its premium accessories in the future.
As he points out, Kosutami has published correct leaks on FineWoven for months. I suspect that Apple is going to be changing direction yet again when it comes to its accessories.
Widgetsmith 6.2 →
Earlier today, David and I shipped version 6.2 of Widgetsmith. This release is for both iOS and visionOS, and packs some cool goodies:
Widgetsmith 6.2 brings a brand-new widget type: Background Sounds!
Beyond the standard White and Brown Noises, this release includes sounds from nature, including various intensities of rain, forest sounds for both daytime and nighttime and waves at the beach. These sounds are high quality and uncompressed, creating seamless loops for a rich soundscape. Create an immersive ambiance right from your home screen with the following sounds. All users have access to White Noise and Stream.
My favorite element to this new feature is being able to build a photo widget that doubles as a background sound widget. When David sent me a note about building that, I was pretty pumped.
I humbly suggest you give Brown Noise a test run. It’s my background noise of choice.
Connected #498: He Sees You When You’re Sleeping →
This week’s episode of Connected got weird:
The guys try AltStore and the Delta game emulator live on the show before discussing reviews of the Humane AI Pin and the response to those reviews. Then they judge their picks in the first-ever scoring of the EUies.
Soulver 3 for iOS →
I adore Soulver for Mac, and am so glad version 3 is now out for iOS.
Mac Power Users #740: “From The Beatles to The Libertines,” with Lee Garrett →
Lee Garret is the new owner of ScreenCastsOnline. He joins Stephen and David to discuss his background in technology, his Apple gear, and how clear communication and processes are key to any successful endeavor.
Humane AI Pin Reviews Are Here →
David Pierce has reviewed the Humane AI Pin, and it seems pretty, pretty, pretty bad. We already knew — from Humane’s recent video — that the device could be quite slow to respond. That was after the initial video, which was full of examples of the Pin giving downright incorrect information in response to requests.
Product videos (even bad ones) are one thing; reviews are another. Here’s Pierce, writing for The Verge:
I came into this review with two big questions about the AI Pin. The first is the big-picture one: is this thing… anything? In just shy of two weeks of testing, I’ve come to realize that there are, in fact, a lot of things for which my phone actually sucks. Often, all I want to do is check the time or write something down or text my wife, and I end up sucked in by TikTok or my email or whatever unwanted notification is sitting there on my screen. Plus, have you ever thought about how often your hands are occupied with groceries / clothes / leashes / children / steering wheels, and how annoying / unsafe it is to try to balance your phone at the same time? I’ve learned I do lots of things on my phone that I might like to do somewhere else. So, yeah, this is something. Maybe something big. AI models aren’t good enough to handle everything yet, but I’ve seen enough glimmers of what’s coming that I’m optimistic about the future.
That raises the second question: should you buy this thing? That one’s easy. Nope. Nuh-uh. No way. The AI Pin is an interesting idea that is so thoroughly unfinished and so totally broken in so many unacceptable ways that I can’t think of anyone to whom I’d recommend spending the $699 for the device and the $24 monthly subscription.
Don’t miss the part where he describes it as a hand warmer, which others noticed as well.