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XLD can be used as a CD ripper. You can convert each track in your audio CD into the desired format. I use FLAC, which is supported nicely by PLEX. X Lossless Decoder(XLD) is a comprehensive tool for macOS that is able to decode/convert/play various 'lossless' audio files. The supported audio files can be split into some tracks with cue sheets. Also XLD supports the creation of a CD image with cue sheet (wav+cue, flac+cue, etc).
TL:DR— This is a lovely audio ripper. X Lossless Decoder(XLD) rips CD's to 'lossless' audio files such as FLAC files and is built for Mac computers with Apple silicon, as well as earlier Macs and the source code is published. Importantly it works well and outputs what I need - lossless audio versions of my CD's for PLEX.
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TL:DR— XRG is an open source system monitor for macOS. XRG allows you to monitor CPU activity, GPU activity, memory usage, battery status, machine temperature, network activity, disk I/O, current weather, and stock market data.
Just take me to the link
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I switched out of Adobe software in 2021 and have not missed a single thing about their tools. Adobe Creative Cloud was costing close to £700 per year for a single licence — a hard subscription to justify for functionality I used only occasionally. Since then the landscape for Adobe alternatives has shifted dramatically, and in 2026 the case for leaving Adobe behind is stronger than ever.
I replaced every Adobe Creative Cloud tool with fully featured Universal applications built to take advantage of Apple silicon. I am not a professional designer reviewing these apps from a power-user perspective — there are plenty of those reviews elsewhere. My needs are straightforward: I need graphics tools occasionally, for example to clean up an image or edit a scalable vector graphic. I need effective software designed and built for the latest Apple silicon technology. I do not need a full Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. So if you, like me, have an Apple silicon Mac and want tools whose developers are moving forward rather than falling behind, this article is for you.
TL;DR — I did it, and I have been genuinely surprised by the depth and quality of the alternatives. They are all fast, full-featured, and — crucially — they do not carry Adobe's subscription model or its increasingly sluggish pace of development. I standardised on Affinity products and cancelled my Adobe Creative Cloud subscription years ago. In 2025 Canva made the entire Affinity suite free to download and use, which removes the last remaining financial barrier to switching.
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Read more: Replacing Adobe Creative Cloud on Apple Mac computers
The Stationery Pad checkbox is a surprisingly under-utilised tool. Let's explore what Stationery Pad is, how you can leverage it to create templates, and the various scenarios where it can simplify your workflows. For many users, mastering this feature can significantly enhance your productivity as you navigate your document-centric tasks.
TL:DR – The Stationery Pad feature in macOS allows users to create template documents that ensure the original files remain unchanged. To use it efficiently, select a document, enable the Stationery Pad option, and whenever you open that document, Finder will generate a new copy that you can edit without the risk of altering the original.
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Google I/O 2021 was a landmark moment for Flutter — the conference where the framework genuinely announced itself as a serious cross-platform contender. Looking back from 2026, it's striking how much of what was seeded at that event has since grown into the Flutter ecosystem we rely on today. Flutter has gone on to power production apps across mobile, web, desktop, and embedded platforms, and the trajectory that began at I/O 2021 is now well and truly fulfilled.
TL;DR — Flutter's breakout moment at Google I/O 2021 set the stage for everything that followed. By 2026, it stands as one of the most widely adopted cross-platform UI frameworks in the world.
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This article provides a detailed guide on the wiring procedures for Cat6 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables, including essential tools, colour coding standards, and wiring diagrams. Whether you're a seasoned network technician or a DIY enthusiast, this tutorial will equip you with the necessary skills to create reliable and efficient Ethernet connections, ensuring you benefit from Cat6's superior speed and bandwidth capabilities.
Cat6 cables are pivotal in modern networking, facilitating data transfer rates of up to 10 Gbps. By the end of this article, you will not only grasp the importance of Cat 6 but also learn how to implement an effective installation process from start to finish.
TL:DR – This article outlines a comprehensive step-by-step process for wiring Cat6 UTP cables, highlighting the required tools, colour coding techniques, and troubleshooting measures for a successful networking experience.
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Android Studio fully supports Apple silicon (arm64).
There are significant improvements for developers working on Macintosh computers based on Apple silicon devices. As a leading integrated development environment for creating android apps, Android Studio now fully supports Apple’s M series of chip architectures, delivering a smoother and faster experience. This optimisation dramatically enhances performance, from compiling code to running emulators. Developers leveraging Apple Silicon can now expect reduced build times, better memory management, and more efficient multitasking. These improvements translate into a development process that is not only faster but also more responsive, ensuring that the focus remains on crafting exceptional android apps.
The update also extends to the emulator, which now runs natively on Apple Silicon. This ensures that developers can test their apps with minimal latency and greater accuracy, mimicking real-world scenarios seamlessly. The native support further reduces reliance on translation layers, such as Rosetta 2, providing an overall performance boost for the entire development workflow.
By fully embracing Apple Silicon, Android Studio empowers developers with cutting-edge tools. This ensures that whether you're building robust enterprise solutions or innovative consumer applications, your development environment operates at its very best.
TL:DR—Download and drag to /Applications to install, then complete the first-run setup, add an arm64-v8a system image and run the emulator. Marvel at how fast it is, or how slow it was before on Intel perhaps!
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