Before you can move ahead, it’s always fun to look back. That’s the idea behind our annual review of Macworld’s top stories of 2012, based on page views.
If there’s a trend to be found among our most read stories, it’s that whatever product Apple announces—Mountain Lion, the iPhone 5, iOS6, one of many new iPads—is usually followed by a rush to find out more information about the new hardware or software coming out of Cupertino. How-to articles explaining how to do more with your Macs, iPads, and iPhones also dominated our story list. (Note that more than few stories from 2011 are in this list as well; their placement on the list below reflects how much they traffic they got in 2012, though.)
So here’s our look at the stories that you flocked to in 2012.
1. Drawing on the iPad: 12 touchscreen styluses reviewed
This May 2011 overview of iPad-friendly styluses was so packed with information, many of you were still reading it by the time 2012 rolled around.
2. Mountain Lion: What you need to know
Nothing piques our readers’ interest like a new operating system from Apple. This overview originally appeared after Apple first previewed OS X 10.8 in February, with an update following the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote in June.
3. iCloud: What you need to know
Speaking of overviews, many of you are still trying to wrap your brain around Apple’s cloud-based services. Thankfully, this June 2011 article was updated frequently enough to take on whatever questions you might have about iCloud.
4. How to make a bootable Lion install disc or drive
Not everyone’s made the leap to Mountain Lion, which is why this OS X 10.7-related tip remains popular. (And if you are upgrading, be sure to read up on how to do the exact same thing with Mountain Lion.)
5. How to use an unlocked iPhone 4 with T-Mobile
Another timeless classic proves that people are still hungry to escape the tyranny of the iPhone’s assorted carriers—at least when it comes to iPhone 4 models that are still perfectly functional.
6. Hands on with Apple’s new OS X: Mountain Lion
Editorial director Jason Snell got an early look at Mountain Lion in February and shared what he knew with all of you. Because he’s a giving fellow.
7. How to upgrade your iOS device to iOS 5
To be fair to this not-as-relevant-as-it-used-to-be-article, iOS 5 was the up-to-date mobile operating system for roughly two-thirds of 2012. And don’t fret that everyone’s clinging to the past here—the iOS 6 installation guide will be making an appearance on this list shortly.
8. Get started with the iPhone 5
Serenity Caldwell’s guide helped you get up close and personal with Apple’s latest smartphone.
9. Editing Word documents on an iPad
No Word for iOS? No problem—at least not if you read Joe Kissell’s advice.
10. iPad Power: How to transfer files
Another 2011 article lingers into 2012 because it was so darn helpful.
11. iPad Power: How to print
Hey, you read one iPad tips article, you might as well read them all, right?
12. How to install iOS 6
See? We told you back at No. 7, that people were upgrading to the latest mobile OS. (Especially since there are now alternatives to that pesky Maps problem.)
13. What you need to know about Thunderbolt
It may be two months shy of its second anniversary, but Thunderbolt remains a mystery to many people out there. Maybe if there were more peripherals…
14. How to rip a DVD with Handbrake
This one’s a mainstay of every year-end list. We can also show you how to rip the correct DVD title with Handbrake, create custom presets, and fix Handbrake DVD ripping if you’ve installed VLC 2.0.
15. AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon: The plans compared
This comparison of iPhone data plans remains relevant, I suppose, at least until T-Mobile enters the mix, as is widely expected next year.
16. 10 cool things to do with Instagram
Contrary to popular belief, No. 11 is not “Watch as your photos are sold to advertisers without your consent.”
17. What you need to know about the Flashback trojan
Malware on the Mac isn’t as common as it is on other platforms, so when a noteworthy incident occurs, Mac users are understandably curious to learn more.
18. Review: Refined iOS 6 highlighted by stunning Maps overhaul
We’re guessing if you stared reading Dan Moren’s extensive review back when iOS 6 arrived in September, you’re just finishing it up now.
19. iOS 6: What you need to know
The main thing you need to know is that you should probably line up an alternative for that Maps app, as it turns out.
20. Review: iPad (3rd generation)
Apple called this model “the new iPad” because it wasn’t like the company was going to release another version of the tablet just six months later.