Reader Robert Cullers, like many people, faces the bitter realities of streaming media. He writes:

You keep telling us how to use the Internet for entertainment, which results in more and more usage. I suddenly find that my provider has imposed a monthly data limit of 250GB. Three weeks into the month and I’m about 20 percent over this limit. Much of our use is streaming movies from Netflix although there are a number of other downloads like that of the entire Adobe suite. How can we more efficiently use the Internet since it may soon be impossible to download or upload many large files if these limits are rigorously enforced?

I wish I could simply reply “Use a different provider that doesn’t impose data caps” but that’s largely unrealistic if you want the kind of lightning-fast connections you can get from cable where an unmetered fiber connection isn’t available. Though not termed “monopolies” by those who should be watching over these things, that’s exactly the kind of stranglehold cable companies such as Comcast, Time-Warner, and Cox have in many markets. They each have data caps, which they claim are reasonable for all but the most extreme data hogs. But in the age of media streaming services and software distributed via download this is nonsense. The cynical suggest these companies impose caps simply to protect their media divisions.

Some have abandoned the “exceed XGB and you’re cut off” policies and have instead chosen to charge you for additional usage above the cap. And most now offer tiered services where the more you pay each month, the higher the data cap. But there are a few things you can do on your end to reduce data usage and avoid higher-priced plans and overage charges.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized to Chinese consumers over concerns about its warranty policies after government-run media attacked the company for its customer service.

Since mid-March, the state-controlled media has criticized Apple for alleged unfairness in its warranty policies, even calling the company “arrogant” for failing to address the problems. But on Monday, Apple’s CEO said in a statement posted online that the company would improve its customer service in China.

“We have become aware that our external communication was not enough and misled observers into thinking that Apple had an arrogant attitude,” Cook said. “For any concerns or misunderstanding we brought to our customers, we express our sincere apologies.”

Apple will now replace a faulty iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S under warranty with a new handset. Previously, the company would only replace the phone’s internal components, and leave the original back cover in place. In addition, Apple will restart the one-year warranty on faulty iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S devices that are replaced.

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You learn a lot after four months of working at a tech shop window.

Between October of 2012 and February of 2013, I was part of the University of California Berkeley’s tech repair window staff. The Apple certifications had been earned, the time had been put in, and it was time to see if a geek who pretty much lived to tinker with Macs could help the university’s 38,000-plus student body with whatever disasters happened—especially at the 11th hour with everything due at once.

The tech window is gone now (swept away as part of a mandatory building renovation and moved to a smaller store across the street), but over the course of more than 200 repairs for the wearied and panicked tides that crashed the tech shop window, I figured that there were three incredibly common Mac problems that you can easily fix yourself or at least limit the damage.

Click…click…click

That clicking noise from your Mac is probably the hard drive, the most-used component in your computer with the most moving parts, so there’s a higher likelihood that it’s going to fail. But it’s the one thing you don’t want to fail, since it stores all the work you’ve done. So, we’d get the drive out of the computer, plug it into a USB or FireWire external casing, and then hook that unit up to a known-good Mac.

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According to the proxy circular, all the directors and executives together own only about 600,000 shares of Apple’s common stock.

Of course, that’s before counting restricted stock awards that haven’t vested yet—like Tim Cook’s million-share bonus, designed to keep him in office until 2021.

Whether you’re cleaning out your closet, reselling items that you purchased at a sample sale, or selling your own original works of art, apps can help you stay on top of your online reselling ventures.

I run my own small reselling business. I purchase items at retail sample sales—giant sales that retail businesses hold to get rid of extra merchandise, usually at a significant discount—and then I sell them on eBay for a profit. My reselling business doesn't exactly pay the bills, but it does bring in a decent amount of extra income. Since I'm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, traveling to these sample sales (which often take place in Los Angeles or New York) puts me on the road a lot, with little more than my mobile phone for company.  Luckily, I can use my phone to check and manage my eBay auctions, track my expenses, log inventory, and even create listings.

Here are five apps that I use to stay on top of my reselling business.

eBay

eBay is a reseller’s most valuable resource, and its mobile app is pretty helpful, too. The eBay app lets you manage and track the items you’re selling, communicate with potential buyers through the eBay messaging system, and even sell items directly from your mobile phone.

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I’m a cheapskate—within reason, of course. You won’t see me on Extreme Couponing, but when I buy something, I like to make sure I’m getting the best possible deal. Fortunately, smartphones make it easier than ever to be a smart shopper. Here are some iOS apps that can help you find deals on everything from a cup of coffee to a DVR, and stay organized while you’re at it. All of them are free.

Coupon Sherpa: This well-designed app offers coupons for discounts and deals at a wide variety of retailers, restaurants, service providers, and select grocery stores. Search for coupons (which are for in-store use only) by category or by retailer. Some can be scanned from your phone at checkout; others must be printed.

Decide: This app offers product information, reviews, and ratings on appliances, audio equipment, sports gear, computers and electronics, and more. The Price Predictor feature advises whether to buy now or wait, based on factors such as product updates, new releases, and likely price changes. You can set alerts for price fluctuations, rumors, and other info that might influence your purchase decision.

GeoQpons: Track down deals in your neighborhood at local and national retailers via this app, which provides coupons and gives directions to the nearest stores that accept them. Again, some offers can be scanned, while others require a printed coupon.

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Comparison-shopping for new electronics can be fun and addictive. With a bit of patience, some luck, and an eye for good deals, you can find everything from TV sets to hard drives at a significant discount. In fact, in our economy, discounts are one of the primary mechanisms that retailers use to compete against each other.

But all bets are off if you happen to be in the market for a product made by Apple: Both iOS devices and Macs seem to be impervious to the discount game. In fact it’s so rare to find a significant price variance between retailers that, when it does happen, the event usually draws considerable press coverage.

House advantage

With so many laws regulating competition among retailers, how does Apple pull off this amazing feat? It turns out that the company uses a fairly straightforward strategy, known as price maintenance, that takes advantage of the popularity of its products and exploits a quirk in the way retailers are allowed to advertise their merchandise.

Most products move from manufacturers to retailers through a network of distributors. Even though each product has a “manufacturer suggested retail price” (MSRP), each retailer is free to set its own sale price. Thus, a laptop with an MSRP of $500 might cost the retailer $250 to buy, and might carry a sticker price of $350, accompanied by a bold "30% Off!" announcement in the store’s weekly flyer. A different retailer might offer an even lower price to attract more store traffic, or conversely it finds itself in a weaker position due to lower sales volume and have to charge its customers more for the product.

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If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re thinking about buying a new Mac and in need of a little guidance. Fortunately, we’ve tested (almost) every standard-configuration Mac model currently in Apple’s lineup. We’re quite familiar with Apple’s Macs, and we’re happy to help you choose the right Mac for you.

This buying guide provides an overview of all the Mac models available, and what each model is best suited for. To get more details, you can read the full review for each Mac by clicking the “Read our complete review” links.

MacBook Air

Apple

What is it? The MacBook Air is Apple’s ultrathin, ultralight laptop. It comes in two sizes: 11 inches (2.4 pounds) and 13 inches (3.0 pounds).

Who’s it for? The MacBook Air is ideal for anyone who is always on the go, doesn’t want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop, and also needs a computer that’s more versatile than an iPad.

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Maybe you're a bit short on cash this year (like me), or you just want some ideas on what you can do for those special to you over the holidays. Here are some great Mac-centric gifts that won't cost you anything other than maybe your time and energy.

Without you, our audience, we at Macworld would just be a bunch of Apple nerds sitting around and talking to each other. Well, we do that too. But to make sure we’re creating stuff you want to read, watch, and listen to, we’d love to get your feedback. And so, we’ve put together a little reader profile survey to help us find out who you are and what you're interested in. Click here to take it.

Don’t worry, we won't ask you for your Social Security number or which side of the bed you like to sleep on—just demographic information like your age, gender, the technology you use the most, what you like about the site, what you don’t like about the site, and so on.

We understand that your time is valuable, so to thank you for your help, everyone who fills out the survey will be entered into a drawing to win a $500 Amazon gift card. That would cover the cost of that iPad mini you’ve been coveting. We’ll also throw in a free warm fuzzy feeling for helping us improve the quality of our content.

It’s the holidays and the special Apple fans in your life have their fingers crossed for some new gadgets to unwrap. But you’ve got a problem: The bank account isn’t quite robust enough to pay full price for an iPhone 5 or the latest Mac. What to do?

Luckily, Macworld has you covered with a variety of suggestions for getting Apple gear in a cost-effective fashion, along with the pros and cons of each approach. Most of these ideas probably won’t satisfy the early adopter in your family, but to get the very newest gear under your tree, you usually have to pay full price. So, for everybody else, here are a few options:

Refurb

You can actually buy used Macs and iOS devices directly from Apple—and in a condition that’s almost as good as new. The “refurb” category includes both preowned devices and those returned for defects, although Apple says that only “some units” have been returned for technical issues. Before resale, Apple cleans the machine, replaces any defective or substandard parts, reinstalls software that originally shipped with the unit, tests the Mac for quality-control issues, then repackages it with fresh cables and a user’s manual. The company even stamps the machine with a new serial number.

Pros: You get Apple-certified quality machines at a reduced price. (Prices are usually at least ten percent off what you’d pay for a brand-new device.) You even get the free year of AppleCare that you’d get from purchasing a new device.

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A visit to your local Apple Store during the holiday season can be maddening. The stores are overrun with other shoppers, there’s a mob around each gadget table, and waiting for your turn to be helped by an Apple Store employee takes eons. The walk-in line to purchase an iPhone 5 alone can take upwards of an hour, depending on how many people are in front of you. While we generally like the Apple Store’s “no register” system, it can be a real headache during busy periods.

This year, there are a few ways to avoid waiting in a long line. It just takes a little planning ahead.

Check yourself out

Bring your iOS device to the Apple Store, because the Apple Store app is a handy guide for holiday shopping. The app shows you where the nearest Apple Store is, lets you search for product availability at specific stores, and allows you to purchase items yourself.

The Apple Store app also has a feature called Express Checkout that lets you directly purchase items from the online Apple Store by quickly entering your Apple ID and password. Designate whether you’d like to pick the item up in a store or have it shipped. The app bills the card on file that’s linked to your Apple ID and will ship to the address on file as well; you can adjust these settings by selecting Edit in the app itself at checkout.

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Apple’s warranty offerings could be pulled in the European Union in the wake of inquiries the E.U. Justice Commissioner is making into possible misleading sales practices, also known as misselling.

On Tuesday the international tech giant announced that it had stopped selling AppleCare in Italy as of Nov. 9. Earlier this year, the company was handed a €900,000 (US$1.15 million) fine by the Italian Antitrust Authority for not providing consumers with information regarding their E.U.-protected warranty rights and instead pushing their own paid-for warranty, AppleCare.

Now it has emerged that Commissioner Viviane Reding wrote to all 27 E.U. countries on Sept. 21, asking them to “examine closely Apple’s advertising of product warranty practices” for any similar misleading behavior.

In Italy, Apple was warned for not putting E.U. mandates on its retail packaging. A disclaimer was finally added to the boxes following an unsuccessful appeal of the ruling in March.

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Apple's much-maligned iPhone exclusivity agreement with AT&T Mobility, started in 2007 but now ended, is once again the target of a class-action suit.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks for Apple to be barred from selling "locked" devices, or those that only work on a certain operator's network, and pay monetary damages.

Apple violated the section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 when it agreed to work only with AT&T Mobility for five years since consumers were not aware or asked if the contractual arrangement, where they could not switch providers, was acceptable, the lawsuit said.

The class-action suit, filed by Zack Ward of Los Angeles and Thomas Buchar of Chicago, addresses devices purchased between October 19, 2008, and February 3, 2011. Ward bought his iPhone in October 2009, and Buchar bought one around June 2009.

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Apple’s EasyPay service promises Apple Store shoppers a fast way to conduct business at the company’s retail outlets, letting them buy items without even talking to a store employee. It’s fast and convenient—but one New Jersey teenager claims he got more than he bargained for, after he was accused of trying to walk out of the Apple Store on New York’s Fifth Avenue without paying for a pair of headphones.

Eighteen-year-old Eric Shine insists that he did try to pay, using the mobile Apple Store app’s EasyPay option on his phone, but that the purchase didn’t go through. A New York court will hear his case in October.

However Shine’s case pans out, his claims provide an important reminder about EasyPay and its promise of simplified shopping: With great convenience comes great responsibility for making sure that you’ve followed every step in the process—right down to confirming that your purchase has gone through.

How EasyPay works

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