apple id

How to add, manage multiple Apple IDs on the same Apple TV

The recent software update to the Apple TV, version 5.1, allows users to add more than one Apple ID to the little black box. Access to multiple Apple IDs makes it easier for family members to view movies and TV shows purchased by family members.

To add another Apple ID to your Apple TV, you'll first need to make sure it's running software version 5.1 (Settings > General > About). Once you have verified it's running the latest software update, you can then go into Settings and select iTunes Store. At the top you'll … Read more

Q&A; MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed in by our readers.

This week readers wrote in with questions about whether or not the Maps app from iOS 5 could be installed and used on iOS 6, how best to use an Apple ID for business purchases, if you can back up multiple internal hard drives to Time Machine, and how to tackle PDF files appearing black in Web browsers. We welcome views from readers, so if you have any suggestions or alternative approaches to these problems, please post them in the comments!

Question: Using Maps from … Read more

New hints of possible iOS 6 feature tweaks

With the release of iOS 6 highly likely in September (concurrent with the expected iPhone 5 announcement), the rumors around unannounced feature changes at tech sites are reaching an all-time high, so I decided to round up some of the big ones here. We already know about the main features in iOS 6 Apple announced at WWDC in June, but this list is more about leaked info that other sites are talking about. Obviously, we can't know for sure if any of these will be true at launch, but it's always fun to talk about what might be … Read more

Apple freezes AppleID password resets requested over the phone

Apple has reportedly stopped taking AppleID password resets requests over the phone, following the account hack of a technology reporter over the weekend.

An unnamed Apple employee told Wired that the ban would remain in effect for at least 24 hours and speculated that the freeze was instituted to give Apple more time to determine what security policy changes, if any, were necessary.

That information was apparently corroborated by an Apple customer representative who said Apple had halted all AppleID resets requested over the phone. The explanation came as Wired was attempting to replicate a hacker's exploitation of the … Read more

How to share your iTunes account with multiple iOS devices

Before the launch of iCloud, sharing an Apple ID linked to iTunes or the App Store was straightforward -- you would simply log in to the same account across all devices and you'd avoid having to purchase an app more than once.

With the launch of iCloud, users are still able to share one main "iTunes account" (if you will) and still have their own iCloud account linked to the rest of the iOS services. Although, not many people realize how straightforward it is.

When initially setting up a new device, go ahead and log in using … Read more

Apple to let multiple Apple IDs merge, report says

As the chorus of complaints grows over Apple's unwillingness to merge Apple IDs, it appears the company might soon change its stance on the matter.

According to MacRumors, two of its readers have contacted Apple CEO Tim Cook to see if Apple will eventually allow users to merge their Apple IDs. Those readers, MacRumors says, received word from an Apple executive relations employee, who said that the company is planning to allow for that functionality.

Apple has long denied customer calls for merging IDs. However, with the launch earlier this year of automatic downloads, complaints about that policy started … Read more

How to install App Store purchases on multiple Macs

The Mac App Store has changed the way most OS X users discover and buy apps for their Macs. One of the best features of the Mac App Store is that it follows the same rules of the iOS App Store, allowing users to install a any downloaded app on up to five different devices.

Follow along as we show you how to install purchases on multiple machines, as well as reinstall apps you have uninstalled.

… Read more

Tackling an inability to sign in to the App Store

Apple's new Mac App Store is clearly a work in progress, and as a first release the current version, sometimes has a few quirks with handling installed applications, among other issues like handling authentication and account sign-in. A few people have recently contacted us regarding the ability to sign in to the App Store, with problems from the store refusing passwords, to the login window not accepting any input.

If you are having troubles logging in to the Mac App Store, first try testing your Apple ID. This can be done a variety of ways, including logging in to … Read more

Security concerns revolve around FaceTime

The new FaceTime for OS X application that allows for videoconferencing with iOS devices has come with a couple of security concerns involving the way account information is handled by the new program.

When the program is run and you've logged in to your account, the program will show information about you in a window next to the video display. This will make it easier to change account information for that user, since it shows birthdate information as well as the security question and answer needed to change the account information. All this can be shown without requiring a … Read more