u/slow__hand

I'm relatively new to the Mac world (though I've had an iPhone and iPad for a LONG time.) I'm looking for a simple but effective program to convert photos and videos. For example, when we want to watch a video on our Roku Ultra, it can be picking about the formats it will use in it's media player. On photos, I sometimes need to convert a photo to a different format or resize it.

Is there a consensus "best" app for this? Thanks.

Based on the new rules I cannot post a link to the news article, but Cornell Medicine just posted that they found that among patients in stage 3 using androgen receptor inhibitors who were being monitored, about 25% had cancer progress that was not causing an increase in PSA levels. They are recommending that patients receiving potent androgen receptor inhibitors such as enzalutamide may benefit from periodic imaging in addition to routine PSA monitoring, particularly during the first two years of treatment. They propose that future clinical guidelines should reconsider how PSA increase defines cancer advancement and provide clearer recommendations for imaging frequency.

Posting in case anyone here is undergoing this type of treatment; you may want to discuss this with your doctor. I can't post a link to the article but you can find it if interested by search for Cornell Medicine and the topic name.

I post this because it would be terrible to think everything is going great while being treated with these because your PSA is not moving yet have cancer progressing.

I'm sure this will get downvoted, but after searching this group and online, I'm still not sure I have an answer. And I don't think this can be easily done. But you guys are the pros, so I'll ask here.

There's the "What" and the "How." The What: I really would like to have one app on my iPhone that holds only photos that I can let my grandkids or anyone else look through, and another app for the photos I work with (I do a lot of photo and video editing for people, nothing NSFW but not for sharing.) I would love the second app to also use iCloud for storage so I could access them on my Mac or iPad when needed. I realize I could simply move all of those to the HIdden album, and I would if there was some way to create folders in the Hidden album, but there is not and I need the organization. So - the What I am looking for is a second app on my iPhone that I can move, not copy, photos and videos to that also uses iCloud to store and that is secure. I know that sounds like porn; it's not, fwiw. The How is what I'm looking for.

Thanks,

I've used DOS and then Windows for decades, since I moved from my Apple ][ to a PC. I recently retired and decided to try moving to a Mac Air M3 to go with my iPad Pro and iPhone 16 pro. Love the integration! But I KNOW I must be doing some things the "hard way" as I've never watched/read any "Mac for Windows users" articles. What am I most likely doing the wrong way? Thanks.

I've seen posts on this but the ones my search finds are a couple of years old. I am trying to figure out how to clear the storage space some apps use. For example: I use Videoleap quite a bit. It's showing 9.94 gigs in Documents and Data in the iPhone Storage area. I delete Videoleap, and that storage space is recovered, as you would expect. But if I reinstall it, even though the Delete option said it would remove the data, the 9.94 gigs is taken up again. I tried to delete it, then shut down my iPhone, then restart it. Then reinstall Videoleap. 9.94 gig again. It's like there's no way to clear that. In the Apps section, for Videoleap, there's no "Clear Cache" option. I've looked in the app, there are no projects, etc to delete.

Help! I need that space back. I see that Firefox takes up 4.31 gig on my iPhone, as another example. I know some will say just use a different video editor, but I use it every day and have tried most alternatives and I don't want to give it up for something dumb like this.

Thanks.

I'm 69, had my cataract surgery on my left eye and the right eye a week later. LAL lenses inserted. Very bad eyesight since around 10 years old and VERY severe astigmatism in the left eye. Asked to be able to have good distance vision and be able to read my laptop and maybe phone without reading glasses, fine with them for fine print. After the initial surgery I was surprised to find that I could read the very fine print on my watch, as well as the TV and everything in between. My first adjustment was used to remove much of the astigmatism in the left eye and all in my right eye. I went in for the second treatment yesterday. I told her that I was extremely happy with my intermediate and especially close up vision. It exceeded expectations. Removal of some of the astigmatism in the left eye made the laptop reading much sharper. My only issue was that, while the TV is sharp most of the time, it sometimes feels like I have a little blur that I have to blink away even after using drops, and my wife can see license plates and road signs from a bit further away than I can. And the sharpness and amazing colors weren't quite there now. I asked if it was possible to tune the distance just a touch without compromising the great intermediate to very fine vision? If not, my current vision exceeds my expectations and it is amazing to not need glasses for anything after 50 years of being unable to see anything without them (I still reach for glasses on my bedside table every morning when I wake up.)

She checked my eyes and told me that I had some scarring in the right eye (I think she said only the right eye) which she said is normal in about 60% of patients with this procedure. (BTW this is a superb eye surgery clinic.) It's called YAG laser capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacification ("secondary cataract") After cataract surgery, the thin membrane that holds the implanted lens can become cloudy. It isn't a cataract growing back—the cataract is gone—but the capsule behind the lens becomes hazy. She said it is not unusual and the senior doctor in the clinic (he did the initial surgery) has a routine laser procedure to remove it in minutes. She said it should make things even sharper and could help with some of the distance issues (which are very minor, TBH) and recommended we don't use my second adjustment until after that. I told her I'm in no rush and my vision is already great. The senior doctor is out so I will wait until July 6 for the laser removal of the YAG. I'm excited about seeing what my vision is like after that, because even if I had no other treatments, my vision FAR exceeds my expectations at this point. But I did want to make this post in case some people were not familiar with YAG.

Background: I have worn glasses since I was 10, my vision has always been extremely bad, as could not see the E on the vision chart, astigmatism in both eyes but VERY bad in my left eye. 69, cataracts finally bad enough for insurance to approve treatment. Went to a very high reputation eye surgeon who does a lot of cataract surgery. I told him my goal was good distance vision, I'd like to be able to watch TV and see my laptop without glasses, maybe my phone, and no problem with reading glasses for fine print. I chose Light Adjustable Lenses because I assumed the bad astigmatism in the left eye might require some tweaking to get where I want it. I've worn contacts with my right eye set for distance, my left eye for close, and the doctor said he'd set the left eye to intermediate and the right eye to distance.

Even though there was no treatment for the astigmatism in the first treatments (the initial implants, left eye then right eye a week later) my vision seemed remarkably good. The laptop was slightly "not sharp" but distance, as in TV, was good though variable. Amazingly, my close up was superb: I could read the fine small numbers on my watch that I'd always had to remove my glasses to see in the past. I did have occasional "smudges" watching the TV that appears to be due to dry eyes (using Refresh Mega 3 drops for that.) About 5 weeks after my right eye was done, I had my appointment, lots of measurements, discussions, and then my first of 3 adjustments (if needed) before the "lock in" treatment. In this one she removed all of the astigmatism in my right eye plus some slight adjustment, and removed much but not all of the astigmatism in my left eye (she said because it was so bad it would take a couple of treatments to get as much as they could of the astigmatism.)

Today is day 5 after that adjustment treatment (weird procedure, but that's another post!) After the adjustment my laptop is sharp, I still have amazing close up vision - no need for reading glasses! Distance is good, most of the time it looks like I have a new TV, the detail and color is so good. At times I feel like my left eye is "competing" with my right eye when watching TV but I am still in the stage of constantly evaluating my vision; last night when I just relaxed and watch TV, it was great! I have another appointment this Wednesday (day after tomorrow, one week after the first adjustment.) I don't know if they intend to treat the left eye again to try to remove as much as they can of the rest of the astigmatism or if they want to just check and do that later. I'm in no rush and neither are they. I have two "adustments" left. But if this was my vision, just as it is, it would be almost miraculous. I still reach for my glasses on my bedside table every morning when I wake up, I've done that for decades. My vision right now is better than it was with my contacts or glasses. The LALs were not cheap, but for eyes as bad as mine, I wanted to be the best it could be and this seems to have been a great choice. I'll post more when they make the next adjustment.

I've got a new Panasonic HC-X1600. I'm looking for an AC adapter that would allow me to power it from a wall outlet while recording, but the Panasonic adapter, the DMW-AC11 USB C adapter seems to be out of stock at every "name" online store I can search. Does anyone know of a quality option or a place to purchase the Panasonic one?

Here's the link:

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/jj-prostate-cancer-drug-reduces-risk-cancer-spread-death-late-stage-study-2026-05-31/

I've tried quite a few times to call and verify my identity after receiving an ID verification letter. LOOONG hold times. Last year I got one of these and was able to verify quick and easy online; not an option this year. So in case anyone else is as tardy as I was and still need to do it, here's what to expect.

Finally got through to someone this morning. She was pleasant and professional. I had both my 2025 and 2024 1040 forms printed out. Fortunately I did everything in Turbotax so EVERY form was accessible (both years) once I opened Turbotax 25 and TT 24. Started out with the standard give me the 4 digit number top right, full name, address, DOB, SS, etc. Then she went on hold for another 7 minutes. She told me you get one chance on the phone. If for any reason you get something wrong, or disconnected, you can't do this via phone again for this return.

Came back. Asked for a previous year return to start with. Told her 2024, she pulled that up, then asked for a source of income that year. I'm retired, no W2s, so gave her a 1099r I had pulled up on TT 24. She asked for income from that, and federal tax withheld. Easy, done with that.

Then back to 2025. Was I expecting a refund or did I need to make a payment? Refund. How much? No problem, gave her that. Then kind of randomly, my address on the tax form. No problem. Then my mother's full name including maiden name. Then my father's full name. My place of birth. Then how I entered to receive the refund. OK, direct deposit. Account number. Routing number.

Thought we were done, then she asked me: Did Turbotax charge you a fee for efiling? I said I THINK they did. Got on my computer trying to find the answer. Did a google search and it said TT Deluxe can charge between x and xx. Argh! I told her I can't find the amount but I know they charge a fee to file online and I chose to have it pulled from my refund. She said, that's good, that's all I need to know for that question.

Then done! She did something and said OK, you're officially verified, process has started to get you your refund, expect it in 9 weeks, gave me a number to call if I don't get it in 9 weeks, said the IRS web site or the app will have updates in about 3 weeks.

Last year I got a refund that was pretty large and when I got it it was a bit more than I expected. Turns out they paid me interest over the amount of time it would have normally been sent to me and the delay. I assume they'll do that again!

Anyway, you WILL need more than this and last years 1040 forms, so be prepared.

My understanding is that the AX3a has an improved lcd screen vs. the AX3. But I cannot find a new AX3a on Amazon only renewed. What’s the deal on Amazon with this?

I'll be making videos of a number of parties and similar events. I realize I can't really wirelessly connect the AX43A to a TV for a monitor, the ideal, and I'm resigned to using a wired connection. There are times where it would be useful to have the camera on a tripod and be able to use a remote not only for video start/stop and zoom, but also to pan the camera left and right, up and down.

Is there an option that I can purchase that will allow that? I'm willing to pay a few hundred dollars if needed. Thanks.

I have a very simple need/desire to connect a camcorder such as the Panny HC-VX3 to my TV as a monitor, avoiding cords. I know it is simple and "best" to just use, say, an HDMI cable (and I've done that in the past.) This is not for professional work. But I will be recording a variety of things with a lot of kids in a room, myself moving around the room, and would prefer to not have a cord for kids to trip over. I know there are basically no consumer level camcorders with built in casting or Airplay. Is there a simple and effective way to do what I want? I've looked at PTZ cameras like the Osbot Tail Air but those don't appear to be made for handheld use?

Back around January, I suppose, I posted here that I was freaking out and asking for help. 69, my PSA had moved from 3.5 to 4.2 in six months, my PCP (very good fwiw) told me I could either wait another six months and see what it does or go see a good urologist he recommended at a local Center of Excellence (which meant nothing to me at the time.) I posted that I chose to go ahead and see the urologist rather than just worry for 6 months. Got great advice here, read Walsh's EXCELLENT book (latest version, he regularly updates it) read a ton here, learned the lingo, what the mistakes look like, etc. Urologist was not as concerned with the PSA velocity as I was, said 4.2 is slightly elevated for my age, said my BPH could easily be a cause, DRE was normal, sent me to their top of the line MRI dedicated to prostate cancer scanning with a radiologist who pretty much is dedicated to decoding the results. After about 3 months from first scare and post here, the MRI results came in: unlikely prostate cancer, only things seen were consistent with prostatitis and BPH, free PSA number was good. Urologist called me and told me the results, said all good news, lets follow up for a routine follow up exam in six months (August.)

Today I have my first wellness exam with my PCP since the last one in December with the 4.2 PSA. I am REALLY hoping the number has stayed the same or even dropped under 4. Not super worried since I JUST had the MRI. But I am a bit anxious, hoping the PSA hasn't jumped up to, say, 5 or so. Just want another six months where I'm not researching all the treatment options!

Thanks to everyone here. Very best to all who are full fledged members of the group and in the invaluable sharing. And to anyone who is just new to the group due to recent diagnosis, or recent jump in PSA, etc. you've come to the right place; this is the most supportive, non-judgemental sub reddit in the reddit world!

I know LAL lenses is redundant. ;) Just discovered this group, been reading, thought I'd try to contribute a little fwiw. I'm 69 (hard to believe!) recently retired, in pretty good health, and I've had TERRIBLE eyesight since I was about 10 years old. Without glasses, everything is a blur. Took a long time to find a doctor who could fit me with contacts because I have really bad astigmatism in my left eye which is also a lot weaker than the right eye; right eye is also bad (can't read the E on the chart) and has some astigmatism. Very nearsighted. Of course, as I aged, I developed the need for bifocals, so my contacts were left eye for close, right eye for distance. Worked pretty well. Nothing was super sharp but pretty good. Mostly wore my no-line bifocal glasses (and would have to take them off to read really small print.) Wore the contacts once in a while, and once I got used to them the one eye near/one eye distance worked well enough.

I realized that even with my glasses I wasn't seeing very well out of my left eye, watching TV at night in bed I kept trying to adjust my glasses to get a really clear vision. My eye doctor (very technical guy, which is cool as I'm a Ph.D. scientist) told me I had bad cataracts in my left eye. He works with a very good eye surgeon in the area. He said the problem is my right eye had not really developed enough cataracts for surgery on that eye and they don't like to do it on one eye only, especially with the difference in my eyes. So finally my right eye got enough cataracts that, with the right answers during the exam at the surgeon, my insurance would pay for cataract surgery for both eyes.

I did a lot of research. I had avoided any kind of lasix or such earlier in my life because of friends who had it done who weren't really happy with the result and there was no way to really adjust it enough. We're retired and fortunate enough to have a nice sized retirement account so I decided on the Light Adjustable (I believe the trade name is RxSight) lenses because even though they were more expensive, I think the ability to tweak them to exactly what I want is worth it. Talked to the surgeon (who has a great reputation) and told him my goal was sharp distance to medium vision, the ability to read my laptop while watching TV, hopefully use my phone, and fine with reading glasses for fine print.

Left eye (the REALLY bad one) was done May 4, so a bit over two weeks ago, and the target for that is "medium" vision. Right eye was done a week later, last Monday (May 11th.) Got the set of UV resistant glasses. I'm used to wearing glasses so no big deal, except the clear ones seem to be REALLY easy to smudge and hard to clean and since I was trying to judge my vision that was a pain. I know from my science background that the amount of UV light coming off devices, TVs, light bulbs, etc. indoors is minimal, in spite of the paperwork saying wear one of the sets of glasses non stop until you lock in the lenses. I asked the doctor about it on my follow up day after my right eye was done, and he said no need for the glasses indoors, today the lenses have built in protection and the amount of UV light indoors is minimal anyway, but he said just to be extra careful do wear the sunglasses outdoors.

Soooooo. (sorry this is so long!) 15 days in. Using the 3 in 1 eye drops pretty religiously. I noticed a couple of days ago I could read the small numbers on my wristwatch, my laptop is clear, distance was OK but some things a touch blurry, especially watching TV from a distance in a low light room. But pretty good, I assume I'll need to lose some of the close up in the left eye to get better distance vision. One thing bugging me, my right eye (which was done a little over a week ago) kept looking like I had a smudge once in a while that I had to blink away - I have some floaters in my right eye so I am assuming it may be those? I feel like I need to blink sometimes like I would with my contacts in my right eye to get it to sit right. Speaking of floaters, I had a BAD one in my left eye that started about a year ago, like a black curly thread, drove me crazy, but it seemed to have lightened up or something because I didn't really see it much. My doctor said the cataract surgery may let it show back up by letting a lot more light in, but nothing so far! Definitely still there in the right eye but no worse than they were before.

So as I type this, I am noticing that distance vision seems sharper than yesterday? Laptop still readable but not super sharp now? Kindle on my iPhone readable, not super sharp but very readable. I know I am not supposed to expect the ultimate results so soon, eyes are steal healing, but honestly if this was my vision without any further tweaking I'd be pretty happy. I am still getting used to not having glasses on or contacts; it feels weird to turn out the lights to go to sleep and not take off glasses or contacts. I still find myself reaching for my glasses when I first wake up. Follow up with my eye surgeon is tomorrow (May 20) so I'll be interested in what he says. I assume no adjusting for another week or so to let both eyes completely heal. I don't know that I have seen the "color pop" people talk about here. The floaters in my right eye are more of a pain now because I'm so focused on trying to judge my vision non stop! But it seems like a miracle to be able to see without glasses or contacts for the first time since I was about 10 years old!