Vivo V30e First Impressions: Similar Design, New Camera

The Vivo V30e comes equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC. Other notable features include a camera system that is capable of shooting videos up to 4K 30fps videos on the primary rear and front cameras, a 5,500mAh battery and uses Vivos Funtouch OS 14 Global that is based on the current Android 14. Heres our first impressions of the Vivo V30e.

Samsung Galaxy M55 5G Review: A Good Mid-Ranger

Samsungs Galaxy M55 5G is a mid-range phone that comes with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging, and a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup. It also gets an in-display fingerprint scanner, which is something uncommon in the M-series. After using it for about a week, heres our review of the Galaxy M55 5G.

Amazon Great Summer Sale 2024: Best Deals on 4K Smart TVs

Amazon Great Summer Sale 2024 kicked off for all users in India on May 2, at the same time as Flipkart's Big Saving Days sale. We have already told you about the best offers on Amazon you can grab on smartphones, tablets, laptops and more. Here we list some of the best deals you can explore on 4K smart TVs before the Amazon sale ends on May 7.

The best password manager for 2024

When were logging into our online accounts, it's usually with a purpose. We want to get in as quickly as possible to scroll social media or check a bank statement without interruption. Its easy to become impatient and let login security slip by using the same passwords for everything think the usual suspects like streets you've lived on or your kids' or pets' names. But thats a security nightmare: With just one leak , a malicious actor can access some of your most sensitive accounts. Password managers help mitigate this threat by giving you an easy way to store and develop unique, strong passwords for every account. Yet, these services are not all built the same. We tested out nine of the best password managers available now to help you choose the right one for your needs. 1Password remains our top pick for the best password manager, thanks to its zero-knowledge policy, numerous security features and general ease of use, but there are other solid programs out there to consider as well. How do password managers work? Think of password managers like virtual safe deposit boxes. They hold your valuables, in this case usually online credentials, in a section of the vault only accessible to you by security key or a master password. Most of these services have autofill features that make it convenient to log in to any site without needing to remember every password you have, and they keep your credit card information close for impulse purchases. But given that passwords are one of the top ways to keep your online identity secure , the real value of password managers is staying safe online. It's just not possible without a password manager to have unique, long and hard-to-guess passwords, Florian Schaub, an associate professor of information and of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan, said. Common guidance states that secure passwords should be unique, with the longest number of characters allowed and uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. This is the exact opposite of using one password everywhere, with minor variations depending on a sites requirements. Think of how many online accounts and sites you have credentials for its an impossible task to remember it all without somewhere to store passwords safely (no, a sticky note on your desk wont cut it). Password managers are more readily accessible and offer the benefit of filling in those long passwords for you. Are password managers safe? It seems counterintuitive to store all your sensitive information in one place. One hack could mean you lose it all to an attacker and struggle for months or even years to rebuild your online presence, not to mention you may have to cancel credit cards and other accounts. But most experts in the field agree that password managers are a generally secure and safe way to keep track of your personal data, and the benefits of strong, complex passwords outweigh the possible risks. The mechanics of keeping those passwords safe differs slightly from provider to provider. Generally, you have a lengthy, complex master password that safeguards the rest of your information. In some cases, you might also get a security key to enter when you log in to new devices. This is a random string of letters, numbers and symbols that the company will send you at sign up. Only you know this key, and because its stored locally on your device or printed out on paper, its harder for hackers to find. These multiple layers of security make it difficult for an attacker to get into your vault even if your password manager provider experiences a breach. But the company should also follow a few security basics. A zero-knowledge policy means that the company keeps none of your data on file, so in the event of an attack, theres nothing for hackers to find. Regular health reports like pentests and security audits are essential for keeping companies up to par on best practices, and other efforts like bug bounty programs or hosting on an open source website encourage constant vigilance for security flaws. Most password managers now also offer some level of encryption falling under the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). AES 256-bit is the strongest, because there are the most number of possible combinations, but AES 128-bit or 192-bit are still good. Who are password managers for? Given their universal benefit, pretty much everyone could use a password manager. Theyre not just for the tech-savvy people or businesses anymore because so much sensitive information ends up online behind passwords, from our bank accounts to our Netflix watch history. Thats the other perk of password managers: safe password sharing. Families, friends or roommates can use them to safely access joint accounts. Texting a password to someone isnt secure, and you can help your family break the habit by starting to use one yourself, Lisa Plaggemier, executive director at National Cyber Security Alliance, said. Streaming is the obvious use case, but consider the shared bills, file storage and other sites you share access with the people around you as well. Are password managers worth it? You likely already use a password manager, even if you wouldnt think to call it that. Most phones and web browsers include a log of saved credentials on the device, like the passwords keychain in the settings of an iPhone. That means youve probably seen the benefits of not having to memorize a large number of passwords or even type them out already. While thats a great way in, the downfall of these built-in options are that they tend to be device specific. If you rely on an Apple password manager, for example, that works if youre totally in the Apple ecosystem but you become limited once you get an Android tablet, Lujo Bauer, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and of computer science, at Carnegie Mellon University, said. If you use different devices for work and personal use and want a secure option for sharing passwords with others, or just dont want to be tied to one brand forever, a third-party password manager is usually worth it. How we tested We tested password managers by downloading the apps for each of the nine contenders on iPhone, Android, Safari, Chrome and Firefox. That helped us better understand what platforms each manager was available on, and see how support differs across operating systems and browsers. As we got set up with each, we took note of ease of use and how they iterated on the basic features of autofill and password generators. Nearly all password managers have these features, but some place limits on how much you can store while others give more control over creating easy-to-type yet complex passwords. From there, we looked at extra features like data-breach monitoring to understand which managers offered the most for your money. Finally, we reviewed publicly available information about security specs for each. This includes LastPass, which more experts are shying away from recommending after the recent breach. For the sake of this review, weve decided not to recommend LastPass at this time as fallout from the breach still comes to light (The company disclosed a second incident earlier this year where an unauthorized attack accessed the companys cloud storage, including sensitive data. Since then, hackers have stolen more than $4.4 million in cryptocurrency using private keys and other information stored in LastPass vaults.) These are the password managers we tested: 1Password LastPass Bitwarden Dashlane Keeper NordPass Enpass Norton password manager LogMeOnce Other password managers we tested LastPass For a while, security experts considered LastPass a solid choice for a password manager. Its easy to use, has a slew of helpful extra features and its free version gives you a lot. But we decided not to include LastPass in our top picks because of the high profile data breaches it has experienced over the past couple of years. Keeper Keeper met a lot of the basic criteria we tested for, like autofill options and cross-platform availability. We liked its family plan options, too, that can keep your whole household secure. But we didnt think its extra features, like the encrypted messaging app, added much value. Plus, it has a self-destruct feature after five incorrect login attempts which, despite adding extra protection, could be a recipe for disaster for casual users. Enpass Enpass works well as an affordable password manager. That includes an inflation-beating lifetime access pass instead of a monthly payment for users really committed to the service. Still, it was confusing to set up across devices and because Enpass stores data locally, as opposed to in the cloud, we struggled to get started with it on mobile. Norton A familiar name in security, we were excited to test out Nortons password manager . While its free, its features seem underdeveloped. It lacked password sharing, account recovery and complex form-filing tools that come standard in many of the other password managers we tested. LogMeOnce LogMeOnce comes with a wide range of premium tiers, from professional to family, that include different levels of storage and features. But when we tested, it lacked some basic cross-platform availability that other password managers had already, like compatibility with Mac and Safari. FAQs Why use a password manager? Using a password manager can enhance your online security. They store all of your complex passwords and autofill them as needed, so that you can have unique, strong passwords across the web without remembering each of them yourself. In many cases, unique passwords are your first defense against attack, and a reliable manager makes it easier to keep track of them all. Are password managers 100 percent safe? Password managers are a secure way to store your credentials. Experts in the field generally agree that the benefits of accessibility when storing complex passwords outweigh the possibility of attack, like what happened with LastPass. But with any service, it can vary from provider to provider. You should look out for zero-knowledge policies, regular security audits, pentests, bug bounty programs and encryption when choosing the right secure password manager for you. What if I forget my master password? Forgetting a master password wont necessarily lock you out for good, but the recovery process varies from provider to provider. Some services give you a security key at sign up to enter when you log into new devices. It can also be used to securely recover your account because its a random string of keys stored locally that only you have access to. Other services, however, have no way to recover your vault. So creating a master password that you wont forget is important. How can I make a good master password? A good master password should be unique, with the longest number of characters allowed and uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Experts often recommended thinking of it like a passphrase instead of a password to make it easier to remember. For example, you can take a sentence like My name is Bob Smith and change it to Myn@m3isB0b5m!th to turn it into a secure master password that you wont forget. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-password-manager-134639599.html?src=rss

Oppo Find X7 Ultra Review | Shapes up as a capable flagship

With its top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, impressive quad-camera system developed in partnership with Hasselblad, the Find X7 Ultra appears to provide a strong alternative to the flagship phones

Amazon Great Summer Sale 2024: Best Deals on Gaming Consoles and Handhelds

The Amazon sale brings lucrative discounts for gamers. We've already covered the best deals on monitors, including gaming monitors. Here, we'll take a look at the best deals on gaming consoles and handhelds. The Great Summer Sale brings deals on PS5, Xbox Series S/X consoles, Nintendo Switch and more.

Comfortably listen to music with these $40 open-ear headphones

Macworld Tiredof invasive earbuds or over-ear headphones that constantly fall off? Meet the Mezzo Bone Conduction Headphones. Theseheadphones make your listening experience safe and comfortablethanks to their open-ear design . Now, you can score them for only39.96(reg. $69) with code MEZZO! Unlike traditional headphonesthatdeliver sound waves directly intoyourear canal,thesebone conduction headphones rest outsideyourears and transmit sound by bypassing the eardrums completely and delivering audio vibrations directly to the bones of the skull. That means you can wear these headphones all day withoutanypain or discomfort. Youll also stay aware of your surroundings as you listen, whetheryourerunning outdoors or biking in the city. Whether youre a music lover or podcast fan, the Mezzo headphones provide deep, rich bass and a dynamic audio range , ensuring every beat or word comes out in crisp clarity. These open-ear headphones also have IPX5 water resistance, making them great for sweaty gym sessions and durable against rain. Plus, they have an impressive 6 hours of battery life and dual noise-canceling mics so you can hop on calls without background interference. Enjoy a more comfortable and safe listening experience with the Mezzo Bone Conduction Headphones, now just$39.96 whenyou enter code MEZZO at checkout! Mezzo Bone Conduction Headphones Only $39.96 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

Ubisoft's first-person shooter XDefiant is launching on May 21

Tom Clancy's XDefiant is almost upon us. Ubisoft is releasing the free-to-play first-person shooter on May 21 for the Xbox Series X|S, the PS5 and PC through Ubisoft Connect. The developer is kicking things off with the preseason version of the game, which is scheduled to last for six weeks before XDefiant's first season officially starts. Ubisoft announced the game way back in 2021, promising team-based matches with a focus on gunplay that will include elements from other games in the Tom Clancy universe. The preseason will offer five different game modes with 14 maps, 24 weapons and five playable factions inspired by Ubisoft's other franchises. Players will need to choose their faction before the match begins and before they respawn. They must also choose their primary and secondary weapon their options include assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns and sniper rifles and a grenade. To customize a weapon, they can add barrel and muzzle attachments, such as sights and grips. Each faction will give players access to two active abilities, one passive buff and another ultra ability that they have to charge up while the match is ongoing. Libertad, one of the available factions, puts a focus on healing, while members of the Cleaners faction can use fire to burn their opponents. Echelon players can reveal enemy locations with their stealth technology, whereas Phantoms' abilities can block damage. The last faction available, DedSec, is for those who want to play as hackers. When the first season launches, Ubisoft is adding four new factions, 12 new weapons and 12 new maps to the game. According to the Year 1 roadmap the developer shared last year, it expects to roll out four seasons with the game's first year, with each one adding more new content meant to keep players engaged, invested and more likely to come back and keep playing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ubisofts-first-person-shooter-xdefiant-is-launching-on-may-21-074940344.html?src=rss

iQoo Z9x 5G Listed on Company's India Website; Could Launch Soon

iQoo Z9x 5G, whichlaunched in China in April this year, could soon make its way to India. The phone was spotted on the country's official website recently. It is expected to join the iQoo Z9 5G, which was introduced in India in March. The Indian variant of the iQoo Z9x 5G may share similar specifications as its Chinese counterpart including the design.

PlayStation Plus games for May unveiled

PlayStation Plus is set to get four new games on May 7.

Microsoft implements rigorous risk assessment for AI apps

Microsofts Responsible AI Transparency Report sheds light on the steps taken by the company to launch responsible AI platforms.

The best AirPods deals this month

Macworld Apples AirPods wireless headphones offer an iconic look, exceptional convenience, and strong audio quality. They come with a premium price tag, however, so its important to shop around for a good deal or find a bunch of tech experts wholl do this for you. Thats where we come in. In this article, we round up the best AirPods discounts and bundle deals to help you save money. Weve got the best prices on the 3rd-gen AirPods that were released in October 2021, the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro that launched in September 2022 as well as the updated 2nd-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C that launched in September 2023, and the premium AirPods Max over-ear headphones from 2020. Weve also got bargain deals on some older models, such as the early-2019 second-gen AirPods, where stock is still available. Here are quick links to the best deals; youll find more detailed advice and price comparisons for each model further down. U.S. Amazon, AirPods (2nd gen) : $89 ($40 off, MSRP $129) Amazon, AirPods Pro (2nd gen, USB-C) : $190 ($60 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, AirPods (3rd-gen, wired case) : $162 ($7 off, MSRP $169) Amazon, AirPods Max : $519 ($40 off, MSRP $549) U.K. At time of writing, there arent any savings to be had on Apples AirPods in the U.K.; there were some shortly before Christmas but these have now disappeared. In fact, wed advise readers to hold off on buying a set of AirPods, if thats an option, until decent discounts come back. You can check the automated price comparison tables below to see if any retailers have dropped their prices since we last updated this article. How much do AirPods cost? Some changes were announced at Apples September 2023 launch event, so make sure youre up to date with the latest prices. AirPods Max: $549 / 499 (was 549) 2nd-gen AirPods Pro with USB-C (2023): $249 / 229 (2nd-gen AirPods Pro with Lightning was $249 / 239) 3rd-gen AirPods with Lightning (2021): $169 / 169 (was 179) 3rd-gen AirPods with MagSafe (2021): $179 / 179 (was 189) 2nd-gen AirPods (2019): $129 / 129 (was 139) You should never pay more than the price above: weve seen unscrupulous retailers claim the MSRP/RRP is higher and work out savings based on that. Remember to take delivery and postage fees into account when evaluating deals; we include it in our list of prices but most retailers wont add it until youre at the checkout. And watch out for deals that seem too good to be true, but turn out to have no stock. We see this a lot. Good AirPods deals are rare and tend not to last long. If you see one (and youre sure the supplier is legit: look it up on TrustPilot if youve not bought from there before), grab it. Best AirPods deals Apple sells two sets of basic AirPods: the 3rd-gen model introduced in 2021 and the 2nd-gen model from 2019. Best Buy is worth a look for some worthwhile savings in the U.S., while U.K. customers can save a little money across the range. The 1st-gen AirPods have long been discontinued. You can buy direct from Apple , but youll find the best prices elsewhere in the automated tables below. AirPods (3rd gen, 2021, MagSafe) deals Apple updated the ultra-popular AirPods in October 2021, after a wait of more than two and a half years. The new models feature a more Pro-like design and a MagSafe-compatible charging case; they also have improved battery life and water resistance, and support for Spatial Audio. Get all the info you need in our AirPods 3 review . MSRP: $179 / 179 (was 189 in the U.K. prior to September 2023) New Refurbished Retailer Price $169.99 View Deal $179 View Deal $179.99 View Deal $201 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple AirPods 3rd gen (2021) MagSafe Charging case $179 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods (3rd gen, 2021, Lightning) deals There is also a cheaper version of the AirPods 3rd generation with a case that has to be charged via Lightning, rather than wirelessly. MSRP: $169 / 169 (was 179 in the U.K. until September 2023) New Refurbished Retailer Price $149 View Deal $161.99 View Deal $161.99 View Deal $169 View Deal $169 View Deal $169 View Deal $169.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods 3rd gen (2021) Lightning Charging case $169 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods (2nd gen, 2019) deals Apple still sells the older version of the AirPods. Note that this version of the AirPods comes with an Lightning charging case that needs to be plugged in, as opposed to the wireless MagSafe charging case. (You can buy a wireless charging case separately, however.) Check the automated table below for any deals that have popped up since we last updated this article. MSRP: $129 / 129 (U.K. price was 139 prior to September 2023) New Refurbished Retailer Price $89 View Deal $89.99 View Deal $99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal $129 View Deal $129 View Deal $129.99 View Deal $149 View Deal $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods 2nd gen (2019) Lightning Charging case $129 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best AirPods Pro deals The AirPods Pro came out in 2019, but a 2nd-gen version was released in September 2022. Rather than introduce the third generation in 2023, Apple instead tweaked the 2nd gen AirPods Pro in 2023 to support USB-C for charging (including charging via the iPhone 15) For a while both the Lightning and USB-C powered AirPods Pro will be on sale, so be sure to make sure you are getting the model you want. The comparison tables below gather the lowest prices on the AirPods Pro 1st and 2nd gen Lightning and 2nd gen USB-C, so you can be sure not to miss out on any appealing deals. AirPods Pro (2nd gen, 2023, USB-C) deals This is the 2023 version with USB-C charging. You can also use an iPhone 15 to charge the case. MSRP: $249 / 229 New Refurbished Retailer Price $179.99 View Deal $189.99 View Deal $239.99 View Deal $249 View Deal $249 View Deal $249 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods Pro 2nd gen (2023) MagSafe (USB-C) Charging case $249 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods Pro (2nd gen, 2022, Lightning) deals This is the older version with a Lightning port for charging the case. You may still find them on sale. MSRP was $249 / 249 New Refurbished Retailer Price $224.99 View Deal $249 View Deal $249.99 View Deal $269 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple AirPods Pro 2nd gen (2022) MagSafe (Lightning) Charging case $249 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket AirPods Pro (1st gen, 2019) deals You may still find the original AirPods Pro on sale at a discountmake sure you factor in if they are refurbished before you decide its a good discount. But stock is starting to run short. If you dont see a price-comparison table below, that means there are no deals at all in your region. MSRP was $249 / 239 New Refurbished Retailer Price $249 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple AirPods Pro 1st gen (2021) MagSafe Charging case $219.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best AirPods Max deals Right now, the AirPods Max are available to buy directly from Apple for $549 / 499 (they were 549 in the U.K. before September 2023). Find the latest prices in our automated table embedded below. For some time now, weve been seeing third-party retailers undercut Apple by a significant margin. New Refurbished Retailer Price $477 View Deal $519 View Deal $519 View Deal $529.99 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal $549 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple AirPods Max (2020) Sky Blue $549 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket For an in-depth look at your options here, read Where to buy AirPods Max . Other ways to save: AirPods Bundle deals The best way to get a good price on AirPods may be to bundle them with a phone, although this is mainly an option in the U.K. Phone network Three offers a variety of bundles that include the AirPods. Visit the companys accessories page to browse the best options for you. EE also lets you add AirPods to your plan for 16 a month spread over 11 months plus a 10 upfront fee. Thats the Lightning version, by the way. The AirPods Pro, including a MagSafe case, are 22 a month with a 5 upfront fee. In each case youll need to click Apple, then your choice of AirPods model. Vodafone and O2 arent currently bundling the AirPods with their iPhone plans, although O2 sells the 2021 AirPods , the early-2019 AirPods and the 2022 AirPods Pro on their own. Whichever bundle you go for, remember to check if youre getting the AirPods Pro, the early-2019 AirPods (sometimes called the second gen or AirPods 2) or the new 2021 AirPods (third-gen or AirPods 3). If youre getting the AirPods Pro, find out if they include the new MagSafe charging case. AirPods buying advice Wondering if a pair of AirPods is right for you? We have a guide to the Best AirPods , and you could read AirPods Pro vs AirPods to find out how the models compare, but lets quickly discuss the pros and cons. Apple has launched various AirPods versions, several of which are still on sale: 1st-gen AirPods (2016), discontinued 2nd-gen AirPods (2019) 1st-gen AirPods Pro (2019), discontinued 3rd-gen AirPods (2021), Lightning and Magsafe variants 2nd-gen AirPods Pro (2022/2023), Lightning and USB-C variants AirPods Max (2020) All four non-Max models are wireless, sitting in your ears and in theory staying there through snugness of fit alone. The advantages of this are clearthey allow you to go running or work out without worrying about snagging the cablesbut they may fall out once you pick up the pace. Our experience, however, is that the AirPods are among the best earbuds around in this regard. The AirPods Pro offer a snugger fit than the others because they have a choice of flexible ear tips, and are actually able to tell you whether youve selected the right tip or not. Sound quality is decent but not exceptional on the original and early-2019 models; the 2021 AirPods are better, while the AirPods Pro are a step above thanks in part to their better fit and implementation of active noise cancellation. What AirPods consistently do better than non-Apple headphones is coordinate with other Apple products, thanks to the W1 chip (in the 2016 model) and H1 chip (2019 and 2021) which makes pairing with an iPhone a breeze. Battery-wise, most non-Max AirPods will last around five hours, but thats not the end of the story: they come with a little charging case with its own larger battery, so you can pop them back in for a quick charge. The case should offer another 24 hours (give or take) before itll require charging. The 2021 AirPods, however, offer more in this department, with claimed figures of six hours out of the case and 30 hours in total. Weve got some advice on getting better AirPods battery life . Apples 2019 AirPods can respond to Hey Siri commands, charge wirelessly if you opt for the Wireless Charging Case, and offer more talk time than the originals. Those features are kept in the 2021 models, with Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ added to the mix. The AirPods Max are over-ear headphones and essentially a completely different product to the rest of the AirPods range. They are a lot more expensive and a totally different proposition to the other AirPods. Audio quality is almost universally considered to be exceptional, but its debatable whether its exceptional enough to justify that premium price tag. And many reviewers have pointed out that the case is oddly designed, given that the one part of the headphones that it doesnt protectthe mesh headbandis the one thats most vulnerable to damage. The AirPods Max are an appealing prospect, but may not be practical for most budgets. For more detailed advice and thoughts on the best alternatives to Apples three cheaper AirPods models, read our guides to the Best wireless earbuds and the best wired headphones . Apple Inc, Headphones, Home Audio

X briefly blocks Indian users account, Elon Musk responds

New Delhi: Elon Musk said on Thursday that he must respect the laws of a country or else his X platform will be blocked, as an Indian user criticised the billionaire for locking her account over a post. Anu Bishnoi (@Anitabishnoi09) posted that her account got locked for an hour and she had to delete Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Apple gives small developers a breather around new app store fee in EU

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) Apple on Thursday allowed small developers more ways around its alternative app store tax in the European Union (EU). The company [] The post Apple gives small developers a breather around new app store fee in EU appeared first on Sarkaritel.com .

Parched Philippine dam reveals centuries-old town, luring tourists

Parched Philippine dam reveals centuries-old town, luring tourists Ruins of a centuries-old town have emerged at a dam parched by drought in northern Philippines, giving residents a rare spectacle and an extra source of income in a region dependent on rice-growing. Following a prolonged spell with little rain, the dried-up dam has revealed parts of a sunken church and foundations of old structures from the old town in Nueva Ecija province in recent weeks. When I heard about the sunken church of old Pantabangan town resurfacing, I got excited and wanted to see it, said 61-year-old retired nurse Aurea Delos Santos. Some locals have cashed in on the attraction, ferrying tourists to the island. Back then, I was only earning 200 pesos ($3.50) from fishing, but when the tourists arrived, I'm earning 1,500 to 1,800 per day, said fisherman Nelson Dellera. The old town was relocated in the 1970s during the construction of a dam, which now serves as the main irrigation and water source for Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces, according to the local government. The Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia have been grappling with extreme heat, prompting schools to suspend classes and governments to urge people to stay indoors to prevent heat stroke.

Apple's 2025 M4 MacBook Air: What to Expect

Apple is working to introduce a new fourth-generation Apple silicon chip across the Mac lineup, and while the first M4 Macs are coming in 2024, the MacBook Air won't get updated until 2025. This guide highlights everything that we know about the next-generation MacBook Air so far. M4 Chips The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models were just updated with M3 chips in March 2024, so it's no surprise that they're not going to be the first devices to get the M4 chip. Apple plans to wait until 2025, so there will be about a year between the M3 and M4 chip lineups. Rumors suggest that the M4 chip will have a focus on artificial intelligence to support AI features that are coming with the next round of software updates. Most AI talk has been about iOS 18 , but Apple is expected to roll out AI integrations across its platforms. The M4 chip is expected to have a Neural Engine with more cores, with the Neural Engine handling AI and machine learning tasks. The M3 chip has a 16-core Neural Engine. While Apple is working on M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M4 Ultra chips, the MacBook Air models are expected to get only the standard M4 chip. There will likely be at least two variants of the M4, with the difference being the number of GPU cores. For the current MacBook Air, for example, the base M3 chip has an 8-core GPU, but there is also a 10-core GPU option. The M3 CPU is the same for all versions, and that should be the case with the M4 as well. The M4 will be built on Apples 3-nanometer process, much like the M3. There won't be as big of a performance improvement between M3 and M4 as there was between M2 and M3 because there's no change in node size, but we can still expect modest GPU and CPU speed boosts. Design Apple overhauled the MacBook Air design in 2022, and we're not expecting the design to be tweaked with the 2025 refresh. Apple often waits several years between design changes, and there are no rumors that there will be a refreshed look. Apple is likely to stick with the 15.3 and 13.6-inch size options, and we can expect to see the same flat, MacBook Pro-style body with Force Touch trackpad, and display with notch. As of now, it looks like the 2025 MacBook Air refresh will be focused on internal updates. Launch Date According to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman , the MacBook Air will get an update in the spring of 2025 . Spring starts on March 20, 2025, and ends on June 20, 2025. Related Roundup: MacBook Air Buyer's Guide: 15 MacBook Air (Buy Now) , 13 MacBook Air (Buy Now) Related Forum: MacBook Air This article, Apple's 2025 M4 MacBook Air: What to Expect first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apple: pay attention to emerging markets, not falling China sales

Apples chief financial officer Luca Maestri challenged investor worries over an 8% drop in China revenue, by noting that sales in other emerging markets are growing. When we start looking at places like India, like Saudi, like Mexico, Turkey, Braziland Indonesia, the numbers are getting large, and were very happy because these are markets where [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

X is changing how the block button works

Elon Musk has made no secret that hes not a fan of the block button. Now, X is changing how blocks work on its platform, though its (for now) stopping short of Musks wish of nuking the feature entirely. Instead, X is tweaking the visibility of replies in the context of a block. Previously, a user could block someone on X and still reply to their posts. And the person who was blocked wouldnt be able to view that reply or know the person who had blocked them was engaging with their posts. Thats now being rolled back so that users will be able to see direct replies even if the person posting has blocked them. In a post from Xs engineering team, the company said the change is part of our ongoing commitment to aligning the block feature with our principles as a public town square. We are making changes to how block works. If a user who has blocked you replies to one of your posts, you will now be able to see their reply. This change enables you to identify and report any potential bad content that you previously could not view, safeguarding both your Engineering (@XEng) May 2, 2024 The post also hinted that there may be more changes coming to blocks, which is one of the most widely used safety features on the service. Our goal is to allow users to control their experience while maintaining the public visibility of posts, the company said. That would seem to align with previous comments from Musk, who has said on multiple occasions that a public-facing block feature makes no sense and that block is going to be deleted as a feature, except for DMs. For now, the changes to blocking arent that drastic. In fact, they may even be welcomed by some users who want more visibility into what people are saying about them on the platform. But the fact that X is starting to change the visibility of previously blocked content could also be a sign of more significant changes to come. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-is-changing-how-the-block-button-works-225338769.html?src=rss

Apples Q2 2024 earnings reveal a drop in iPhone, iPad sales

Services growth looked rosy as Apple's hardware revenue in China slowed.

Apple iPad event: What to expect

So far, the biggest surprise about May 7s Let Loose event is that its happening at all. Were just over a month out from Apples annual Worldwide Developer Conference, and yet the company determined there was enough news to warrant a stand-alone event. iPads (including the iPad Pro and iPad Air) will be the focus, [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Apple's Q2 2024 Earnings Call Takeaways

Apple today held its earnings call for the second fiscal quarter of 2024 (first calendar quarter), with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri providing us with some details on Apple's performance, Vision Pro sales, services growth, AI plans, and other topics. We've highlighted the most interesting takeaways from today's earnings call. Next Week's Announcements Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple is prepping for an exciting product announcement that the company thinks customers will love. Generative AI Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is making significant investments in AI, and that it has some very exciting things to share with customers soon. Cook also said that he believes Apple has advantages that will differentiate the company, including Apple's hardware and software integration, Apple silicon with Neural Engine, and focus on privacy. There's a ig opportunity for generative AI across all of Apple's devices, and Cook said he is extremely optimistic about future consumer demand. Digital Markets Act Cook said that it's too early to determine the security risks and privacy implications of the changes that it has made to the app ecosystem in Europe. Apple is focused on complying while mitigating impacts to user privacy and security. Vision Pro Leading enterprise companies have been investing in Vision Pro, and Apple is seeing it used for things like aircraft engine maintenance, real-time collaboration for racing, and immersive kitchen design. Cook said that Apple couldn't be more excited about the spatial computing opportunity in enterprise. Services Apple's services segment set a new all-time revenue record of $23.9 billion, up 14 percent from $20.9 billion in the year-ago quarter. Transacting accounts and paid accounts reached a new all-time high, with paid accounts and subscriptions showing double digit growth. Apple has more than 1 billion paid subscriptions, more than double the number from four years ago. Mac Sales With the launch of new M3 MacBook Air models in March, Mac revenue saw growth, reaching $7.5 billion. Mac sales were at $7.17 billion in the year-ago quarter, for four percent growth. iPad Sales iPad revenue continued to drop with no new iPads released in 2024 as of yet. iPad revenue was at $5.6 billion, down 17 percent from $6.7 billion a year ago. iPad sales should see some improvement next quarter as Apple next week is planning to unveil new iPad Air and iPad Pro models. Wearables Wearables, Home and Accessories came in at $7.9 billion, down 10 percent compared to last year. Last year, Apple had launched the USB-C version of AirPods Pro , and there was a difficult compare this year. June Quarter Maestri said that Apple expects June quarter revenue to grow low single digits year-over-year, but Services is expected to grow double digits, as is iPad revenue. Tags: Earnings , AAPL This article, Apple's Q2 2024 Earnings Call Takeaways first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Cusinarts new pomodoro red indoor pizza oven falls to new $300 Amazon low (Reg. $400)

Amazon is offering the new Cuisinart Pomodoro Red Indoor Pizza Oven for $299.95 shipped. Down from its $400 price tag, this is the best price ever on this all-new colorway. Weve seen the other colorways drop lower in price since the start of the new year, with March seeing the biggest fall to the $200 Amazon low only beaten by a short-lived $150 all-time low at a lesser known site (that is now unavailable to purchase altogether). All-in-all, youll be getting a 25% markdown that lands at the fifth-lowest price overall. Youll also find the stainless steel at $300 , the black model at $300, and the matte black model sitting at a higher $353. more

Want to Buy a Decommissioned Supercomputer? Heres Your Chance

Theres still time left to bid for a 145,152-core Cheyenne supercomputer that was once the 20th most powerful computer in the world.

Apple Q2 2024 earnings: Analysts expectations exceeded but iPhone sales down

Macworld Apple on Thursday announced its second quarter 2024 earnings, posting revenue of $90.8 billion for the quarter, a 4 percent decline year over year, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $1.53, which is one cent higher than last year. The company reported $23.6 billion in profit. Apple beat the analysts predicted revenue of $90 billion and earnings per diluted share of $1.50. iPhone sales, which usually buoy Apples results, took a hit this quarter, posting $46 billion in revenue, which is a 10 percent decrease from the second quarter of 2023. Wearables, Home, and Accessories revenue was also down 10 percent. iPad sales were also down 17 percent. Apples Services set a record for the quarter and saw a jump in revenue YoY of 14 percent, while Mac sales increased about 4 percent. During the quarter, we were thrilled to launch Apple Vision Pro and to show the world the potential that spatial computing unlocks, said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a p ress release . Were also looking forward to an exciting product announcement next week and an incredible Worldwide Developers Conference next month. As always, we are focused on providing the very best products and services for our customers, and doing so while living up to the core values that drive us. How the quarter ended YoY for Apple: iPhone: $46 billion (down from $51.3 billion) iPad: $5.6 billion (down from $6.7 billion) Mac: $7.5 billion (up from $7.2 billion) Wearables: $7.9 billion (down from $8.7 billion) Services: $23.9 billion (up from $20.9 billion) Apple had revenue challenges in Greater China, Japan, and Asia Pacific, where revenue was down from those regions a total of 11 percent YoY. Apple declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share of common stock payable on May 16, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 13, 2024. Apple also authorized an additional program to repurchase up to $110 billion of common stock. Apple did not issue guidance for the third quarter of 2024, which ends this June. The company did say it expects double-digit growth in iPad and Services revenue, and low single-digit growth in total. Apple is holding its Let Loose event on May 7 and is expected to reveal new iPad models and accessories. Learn how you can watch the Let Loose event . Apple Inc

Microsoft bans US police departments from using enterprise AI tool for facial recognition

Microsoft has changed its policy to ban U.S. police departments from using generative AI for facial recognition through the Azure OpenAI Service, the companys fully managed, enterprise-focused wrapper around OpenAI technologies. Language added Wednesday to the terms of service for Azure OpenAI Service prohibits integrations with Azure OpenAI Service from being used by or for [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Apple earnings see 10% iPhone sales drop, massive buyback fuels stock jump

Apple on Thursday reported a 10% drop in iPhone sales for the second fiscal quarter, dropping from $51.33 billion to $45.96 billion, year-over-year. The slowdown was fueled, in part, by an 8% drop in China. Apples slow adoption of AI versus competitors like Google and Microsoft likely played a role in consumers decision to hold [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Apple Reports 2Q 2024 Results: $23.6B Profit on $90.8B Revenue

Apple today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2024, which corresponds to the first calendar quarter of the year. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $90.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $23.6 billion, or $1.53 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $94.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $24.1 billion, or $1.52 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter . Apple set an all-time quarterly record for Services revenue at $23.9 billion, but iPhone revenue dropped by over $5 billion compared to the year-ago quarter. Gross margin for the quarter was 46.6 percent, compared to 44.3 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple's board of directors also authorized an additional $110 billion for share repurchases and declared an increased dividend payment of $0.25 per share, up from $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable May 16 to shareholders of record as of May 13. Today Apple is reporting revenue of $90.8 billion for the March quarter, including an all-time revenue record in Services, said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. During the quarter, we were thrilled to launch Apple Vision Pro and to show the world the potential that spatial computing unlocks. We're also looking forward to an exciting product announcement next week and an incredible Worldwide Developers Conference next month. As always, we are focused on providing the very best products and services for our customers, and doing so while living up to the core values that drive us. As has been the case for over four years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in June. Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q2 2024 financial results conference call at 2:00 pm Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights. Conference call starts at 2:00 p.m. Pacific - No need to refresh Loading live updates... var reportinglive = new reportinglive_module;reportinglive.init(); Tag: Earnings This article, Apple Reports 2Q 2024 Results: $23.6B Profit on $90.8B Revenue first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Harber London debuts gorgeous new full-grain leather EDC Sling Bag with 15% launch deal

Any avid 9to5Toys reader will know how big a fan I am of Harber Londons tech-focused carriers and EDC bags. Its certainly not the most affordable out there, but if youre talking quality, premium materials, and wonderful design, youre talking Harber London. Its gear is easily among the best I have ever Tested out in the category, from its new business-meets-EDC tech carrier for MacBook and iPad, to its gorgeous leather desk mat , and the utterly beautiful leather iPhone 15 covers . And today, the brand is launching its new leather Everyday Sling Bag with a notable 15% launch deal in tow. All of the details are down below. more

Microsofts latest Windows security updates might break your VPN

Microsoft says the April security updates for Windows may break your VPN . (Oops!) Windows devices might face VPN connection failures after installing the April 2024 security update (KB5036893) or the April 2024 non-security preview update, the company wrote in a status update. Its working on a fix. Bleeping Computer first reported the issue, which affects Windows 11 , Windows 10 and Windows Server 2008 and later. User reports on Reddit are mixed, with some commenters saying their VPNs still work after installing the update and others claiming their encrypted connections were indeed borked. We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release, Microsoft wrote. Theres no proper fix until Microsoft pushes a patched update. However, you can work around the issue by uninstalling all the security updates. In an unfortunate bit of timing for CEO Satya Nadella, he said last week that he wants Microsoft to put security above else. I cant imagine making customers (temporarily) choose between going without a VPN and losing the latest protection is what he had in mind. At least one Redditor claims that uninstalling and reinstalling their VPN app fixed the problem for them, so it may be worth trying that before moving on to more drastic measures. If you decide to uninstall the security updates, Microsoft tells you how. To remove the LCU after installing the combined SSU and LCU package, use the DISM/Remove-Package command line option with the LCU package name as the argument, the company wrote in its patch notes. You can find the package name by using this command: DISM /online /get-packages. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsofts-latest-windows-security-updates-might-break-your-vpn-202050679.html?src=rss

Lectric offers up to $570 off e-bikes with 5 free accessories in celebration of 5-year anniversary

Lectric eBikes is currently celebrating its five-year anniversary , and wanting to extend the celebrations to its customers, has launched a new limited-time sale that is offering five free accessories along with your purchase of either an XP 3.0, XPedition, or XP Trike e-bike. A standout amongst the bunch is the XPedition Single-Battery Cargo e-bike for $1,399 shipped . Down from its usual $1,933 price tag, we only saw it fall to this price for a short-lived period in March before rising to stay at $1,475 since, but todays deal is bringing things back to the all-time low once more. Youll find the dual-battery model down to the second-lowest $1,699 rate .It should also be noted that youll automatically see the discounted rate once the e-bike and the accessories have been added to your cart. more

Alliance DAO is attracting more Asia founders amid US crypto crackdown

The graduates of Alliance DAO are often useful indicators of investor appetite and user adaption trends within the crypto space. The latest batch of the stage-agnostic crypto accelerator, unveiled today, comes at a moment of great excitement for the recovering market. Just two months ago, Bitcoin hit its all-time high; though the value of the [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

iOS 17.5 beta feature makes sending in your iPhone for repair a lot friendlier

Macworld Sending your iPhone in for repair was always a little nerve-wracking. Not just because you no longer have access to what may be the most important gadget in your life, but because you never know if its safe. Apples recommended procedure for preparing your device for service is to back up your phone, turn off Apple Cash, remove all cards from Wallet, and then remove your iPhone from Find My. This also removes Activation Lock. The fine print says, Apple might not be able to service your device if Find My isnt turned off. Its all very worrying and not the smooth and seamless experience were used to from Apple. Thats about to change, it seems. MacRumors found a new feature in iOS 17.5 (currently in beta) that allows you to set your iPhone to a Repair State in which it remains fully functional and has Find My and Activation Lock enabled but still does whatever Apple needs to repair your iPhone. When you go to Find My, then your Devices list, and choose Remove This Device on your iPhone with iOS 17.5, youll get a message that says Cannot remove iPhone. Prepare this device for repair? Choosing Continue will retain your devices functionality and it can be tracked via Find My. It will have a stethoscope icon next to it in the device list. Foundry Foundry Foundry The feature is currently limited to iOS, but it makes sense that Apple would expand it to other devices, including the Apple Watch and Mac. Allowing users to track their devices as theyre sent in for repair, and keeping Activation Lock enabled, should hopefully give users a lot more piece of mind that it wont get stolen. iOS

Unreleased Beats Pill Speaker Teased by F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo

Following this past weekend's sighting of NBA superstar LeBron James carrying an unreleased Beats speaker reminiscent of the former Beats Pill, F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has also been seen teasing the unreleased speaker at this week's Grand Prix stop in Miami. Details on the unreleased speaker remain unknown, but it features a similar pill-shaped design to the rest of the Pill family and includes a lanyard that has not been present on previous models. The most recent model in the Pill family was discontinued in 2022 , and this new one will likely include a USB-C port, updated Bluetooth specs, and other improvements. Beats has yet to officially announce the upcoming Beats Pill, so a release date similarly remains unknown. The Beats Pill teases come as part of a busy week for Apple's speaker and headphone brand, as Beats this week introduced the Solo 4 on-ear headphones and announced the all-new Solo Buds earphones that will be launching in June. Tag: Beats This article, Unreleased Beats Pill Speaker Teased by F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

One and done: Elden Rings first DLC expansion will also be its last

But the studio is leaving some possibilities for a sequel that continues the story.

Audible is testing a cheaper plan in Australia

Audible is testing a cheaper subscription tier in Australia that sounds like an answer to Spotifys audiobook push . Like the more expensive plan, the new Standard membership gives you one free title per month. But, similar to gaming services like PlayStation Plus , you lose access to the books you claimed under the plan if you cancel. As reported by Bloomberg , the Audible Standard plan costs AUD 8.99 (US$5.90) per month, significantly lower than the AUD 16.45 monthly cost of the Premium Plus plan in Australia ($14.97 in the US). Despite the lower cost, Audible Standard subscribers down under can still claim one audiobook per month to add to their library, which they can download and listen to online or off. But the catch is, unlike Audible Premium Plus, Standard members free audiobook credits dont roll over to the next month if they dont use them. (So, if you forget to claim a book in May, youll still only have one credit to use in June.) In addition, the audiobooks you chose on the Standard plan will have a lock icon next to them after you cancel. To listen to them after canceling, youll have to buy them at full price or resubscribe. Another difference between the plans is Audible Standard members wont get full podcast access. Audible Standard members can listen to many podcasts for free, an Audible FAQ about the plan reads. Some Audible Original podcasts arent available with Audible Standard membership though. Spotify launched an audiobook feature last year that challenged Audibles established model. Spotify Premium subscribers in the US can stream 15 hours of books monthly through their ad-free music plan. The service also offers an audiobooks-only tier (with the same 15-hour cap) for $10 monthly. If the allotted time isnt enough, Spotify users can buy a 10-hour top-up. A single audiobook often lasts around seven to 11 hours. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audible-is-testing-a-cheaper-plan-in-australia-191347871.html?src=rss

AI expert: ChatGPT prompts youll wish you knew sooner

ChatGPT is an industry game-changer here are a few simple prompts that can easily come in handy as personal and professional life hacks.

Maximum-severity GitLab flaw allowing account hijacking under active exploitation

The threat is potentially grave because it could be used in supply chain attacks.

Rivian wins $827M incentive package to expand Illinois factory for R2 production

Rivian is getting $827 million in incentives from the state of Illinois to support building its next-generation electric vehicle, known as the R2. Rivian announced Thursday that the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will dole out the funds, which will be used to expand the automakers existing factory in Normal, Illinois, [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Two of our top Anker power banks are back on sale at all-time low prices

Some of the best and brightest Anker power banks are on sale via Amazon and directly from the company . These deals include the 20,000mAh Prime portable charge, which is down to $90 from its usual price of $130. Thats a discount of 31 percent and matches a previous record low . Anker products are all over our list of the best power banks , and we named the Prime charger as the best ultra-premium product on the market. Unfortunately, ultra-premium also means ultra-expensive, though $90 is a whole lot better than $130. We admired the slick aesthetics, as power banks dont tend to turn heads. The case is a textured metallic plastic with a nice polish. Theres a built-in screen and rounded corners, all of which work to give this bank a luxe feel. The screen is useful, displaying the remaining charge within the battery and the watts flowing out to each device. The charge times and capacity were in line with other 20K batteries we tested. Its easy to use, which is made even easier if people pony up for the companion base. This base includes magnets to align the pins, so users can just plop the battery down and move on to something else. The base does offer additional ports, one USB-A and two USB-C, which turns the whole package into a fairly decent power hub. However, the base costs $70 and isnt currently on sale. We did notice that the Prime charger can be sluggish to wake, which isnt a huge deal. The power banks sleek and shiny finish also tends to pick up fingerprints. Theres a faux-suede pouch to carry it in, which is a nice touch. The Anker Nano Battery is also on sale for $16 with an on-page coupon, which is $14 off the device's list price. This cute little thing boasts a foldable USB-C connector, so as to better integrate with smartphones. It also made our list of the best power banks and we heartily recommend it for anyone looking for a quick partial charge of an Android device. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/two-of-our-top-anker-power-banks-are-back-on-sale-at-all-time-low-prices-185125271.html?src=rss

Android game and app deals: Meganoid 2, Rush Rally 3, Screenshot Pro, and more

Thursday afternoon has arrived and so has your fresh new collection of deals on Android games and apps. Alongside the Google Play offers, we are also tracking notable discounts on Google Pixel Buds Pro with ANC , the OnePlus 12R handset , and Samsungs 11-inch Galaxy Tab S9 tablet , not to mention Googles original Pixel Watch , but for now its on to the apps. Highlights of todays collection include titles like Meganoid 2, the Gunslugs games, Residual, Rush Rally 3, Screenshot Pro, and more. Head below for a closer look at the rest of deals. more

Microsoft bans U.S. police departments from using enterprise AI tool

Microsoft has changed its policy to ban U.S. police departments from using generative AI through the Azure OpenAI Service, the companys fully managed, enterprise-focused wrapper around OpenAI technologies. Language added Wednesday to the terms of service for Azure OpenAI Service prohibits integrations with Azure OpenAI Service from being used by or for police departments in [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Huawei has been secretly funding research in America after being blacklisted

Chinese tech giant Huawei has been secretly funding research in America despite being blacklisted, as reported by Bloomberg . The cutting-edge research is happening at universities, including Harvard, and the money is being funneled through an independent Washington-based research foundation, along with a competition for scientists. Bloomberg found that Huawei was the sole funder of a research competition that has awarded millions of dollars since 2022 and attracted hundreds of proposals from scientists. Some of these scientists are at top US universities that have banned researchers from working with the company. Whats the big deal? The fear is that this research could lead to innovations that give China a leg up with regard to both defense contracting and commercial interests, according to Kevin Wolf, a partner at the business-focused law firm Akin who specializes in export controls. Optica, the foundation behind all of this, has posted online that it is interested in high-sensitivity optical sensors and detectors, among other categories of research. Its a bad look for a prestigious research foundation to be anonymously accepting money from a Chinese company that raises so many national security concerns for the US government, said James Mulvenon, a defense contractor who has worked on research security issues and co-authored several books on industrial espionage. Its worth noting that this money funneling operation doesnt look to be illegal, as research intended for publication doesnt fall under the purview of the ban. Huawei operates similar competitions in other parts of the world, though openly. People who participated in the US-based research competition didnt even know that Huawei was involved, believing the money to come from Optica. The competition awards $1 million per year and Optica didnt give any indication that Huawei was supplying the cash. A Huawei spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company and the Optica Foundation created the competition to support global research and promote academic communication, saying that it remained anonymous to keep from being seen as a promotion of some kind. Opticas CEO, Liz Rogan, said in a statement that many foundation donors prefer to remain anonymous and that there is nothing unusual about this practice. She also said that the entire board knew about Huaweis involvement and that everyone signed off on it. Bloomberg did note that the Huawei-backed competition was the only one on Opticas website that didnt list individual and corporate financial sponsors. Huawei has been wrapped in a web of US restrictions these past several years. We cant buy the vast majority of Huawei products in America , as the companys been effectively banned. This all started in 2019 when President Trump signed an executive order that banned the sale and use of telecom equipment that posed unacceptable risks to national security. At the time, Trump said that foreign adversaries were exploiting security holes that would eventually lead to potentially catastrophic effects. Wait, Trump used the words potentially catastrophic effects? Wild. To that end, the company has faced numerous claims that it installs backdoors in networks for the purpose of data theft, though theres no proof of actual theft and the company denies the accusations. Huawei has also been accused of employing Chinese spies to influence an investigation and documents seem to indicate Huaweis involvement in Chinas surveillance efforts . Some expected President Biden to reverse Trumps executive order when it expired in 2021 , but he headed in the opposite direction. Not only does the order stand, but Biden signed a law that blocked Huawei from obtaining an FCC license and he banned American investments in Chinas high tech industries. We arent cozying up to China anytime soon, so Huawei will continue to be persona non grata on this side of the pond (the company still does booming business in Europe.) This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/huawei-has-been-secretly-funding-research-in-america-after-being-blacklisted-182020402.html?src=rss

Google Pixel Buds Pro with ANC and convo detection land at $140 in all six colors (Reg. $200)

Amazon is now offering thelatest Google Pixel Buds Pro for$139.99 shipped. Todays offer drops all six of the different styles including the all-new Bay and Porcelain colors down from the usual $200 price tags. Youre looking at $60 in savings as well as the third-best price to date. We last saw these earbuds at $1 less, but now theyre down to the second-best offer of the year. You can read all about how compelling of a package that combines into in our hands-on review . more

Rare deals hit Skylights smart touchscreen home hub and picture frame from $120

Some of you might remember when we featured the latest Skylight Calendar Max , an intelligent home hub of sorts that comes in the form of a tablet where you can organize your calendars, to-dos, and much more in one central place in the home. While that oversized model is still in the pre-order phase , the brand is now offering some notable Mothers Day deals on its more modest 10- and 15-inch Skylight Calendars alongside some deals on its equally as attractive Skylight smart digital picture frames as well. Head below for more a closer look. more

Wear OSs big comeback continues; might hit half of Apple Watch sales

Counterpoint Research projects 27 percent market share this year to Apple's 49.

EU plan to force messaging apps to scan for CSAM risks millions of false positives, experts warn

A controversial push by European Union lawmakers to legally require messaging platforms to scan citizens private communications for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) could lead to millions of false positives per day, hundreds of security and privacy experts warned in an open letter Thursday. Concern over the EU proposal has been building since the Commission [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Your AI-native startup aint the same as a typical SaaS company

It's not building any startup, but building a defensible AI startup presents its own set of unique challenges. 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Snapcycles 2024 R1 Pro all-terrain e-bike sees first discount to $1,699 (Save $300)

Update: Snapcycles R1 Pro All-Terrain e-bike just fell another $100 to $1,699 shipped . The bundle option with the free Vintage Leather Bag has also dropped to $1,699 shipped , with the discount now being automatically applied at checkout without a promo code. Snapcycle is offering its all new 2024 R1 Pro All-Terrain e-bike for $1,799 shipped , after using the promo code SNAP200 at checkout for $200 off. Down from its $1,999 price tag, this is the very first chance to save on this all-new e-bike model. There is also a bundle option that gives you a free Vintage Leather Bag along with the $200 off discount for $1,908 shipped . The new R1 Pro e-bike comes equipped with a 750W brushless geared motor (1,200W peak) alongside a 48V Samsung battery that propels the bike up to a max speed of 28 MPH for up to 60 miles on a single charge. It has five levels of pedal assistance (that is configurable up to 9 levels) that are monitored by a torque sensor with a throttle available as well for pure electric action (at 20 MPH max), but keep in mind mileage will vary. It also features a headlight with high/low beam functionality, 4-inch fat tires with fenders over both, a rear cargo rack, a 7-speed SHIMANO derailleur, dual-piston hydraulic brakes with meatal-ceramic brake pads, and an integrated color LCD display for real-time performance data. Youll also get smart controls through the companion app via Bluetooth for performance monitoring and keyless unlocking. more

LGs all-new gram 14-inch 2-in-1 Laptop with Intel Core Ultra 7 chip hits $1,387 (Save $231)

Amazon is now offering the new 2024 LG gram 14-inch 2-in-1 Laptop for $1,368.99 shipped. This is down from its usual $1,600 for one of the first times. It just launched earlier in the year after being revealed at CES 2024. This is $231 off and a rare chance to save on one of the new Intel Core Ultra 7 machines. more

Amazon all-time low hits PowerAs minimalist official Series X|S controller charger at just $16

We spotted a few deals on Xbox Series X|S controller chargers today, but the most notable of the bunch is arguably the first discount we have seen on the officially licensed PowerA Solo Charging Stand. While the white model is still up at full price, you can now land a notable price drop on the black variant down at $15.99 . Shipping is free for Prime members or in orders over $25. This is a straight up 20% price drop and the lowest we have tracked on Amazon since it launched there last summer. While certainly not the most flashy of the models on sale here today, it does deliver a clean, minimalist, and mostly branding-free solution that will slide in nicely with your Series X setup at a particularly affordable price. Head below for more deals and details. more

Amazon CEO's anti-union comments broke federal laws, labor judge rules

Continuing the long American tradition of wealthy corporate overlords making union-busting comments, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy went on a media blitz in 2022 to warn of the workplace-altering terrors of labor unions. (Surely, its an unfortunate happenstance that his urgent PSA coincided with an uptick in organizing efforts at Amazon .) Sadly for Mr. Jassy, the US still has a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and CNBC reports that the board ruled Wednesday that his anti-union comments broke federal labor laws. Jassy popped up on CNBC in April 2022 to say that if employees voted for and joined a union, they would become less empowered and could expect things to become much slower and more bureaucratic. In an interview with Bloomberg , he added, If you see something on the line that you think could be better for your team or you or your customers, you cant just go to your manager and say, Lets change it. He capped off his union-busting trifecta at The New York Times DealBook conference, where the CEO said that a workplace without unions isnt bureaucratic, its not slow. Its the latest in Amazons long history of union-busting behavior . Amazon NLRB Judge Brian Gee said Jassy violated labor laws by suggesting employees would be less empowered or better off without a union. However, Gee said the CEOs other comments about worker-employer relationships changing were lawful. According to the judge, the difference is that the more aggressive quotes went beyond merely commenting on the employee-employer relationship. Gee added that the comments threatened employees that, if they selected a union, they would become less empowered and find it harder to get things done quickly. The judge recommends that Amazon cease and desist from making similar comments in the future. The company is also required to post and share a note about the judges order with all of its US employees. In December, Jassys Amazon shares were valued at $328 million, making him one of Americas wealthiest CEOs. In a statement to CNBC , an Amazon spokesperson said the judges ruling reflects poorly on the state of free speech rights today. Because, hey, what kind of free country do we even have if a retail magnate cant tell low-income workers scary bedtime stories about the perils of voting to empower themselves in the workplace? This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-ceos-anti-union-comments-broke-federal-laws-labor-judge-rules-171809699.html?src=rss

Hades IIs new combat options enhance an already great game

New magic system shines in the game's early Technical Test period.

New Amazon lows hit Razers latest BlackWidow V4/X gaming keyboards from $91

While youll also find the latest entry-level BlackWidow V4 Xsitting at its best Amazon price, we are now tracking an Amazon all-time low on the mid-range Razer BlackWidow V4 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard down at $131.52 shipped as well. This is a regular $170 gaming keyboard that is now 23% off the going rate for the lowest price we can find. It also undercuts our previous $140 mention to deliver a new Amazon all-time low in the process. While todays deal is on the clicky green switches, you will also find the silent yellow Switch model back down at $140 as well. There are more details in our launch coverage , but youll find some below alongside more deals too. more

Hyundai is spending close to $1 billion to keep self-driving startup Motional alive

Hyundai has agreed to spend nearly $1 billion on Motional, an investment that will give the automaker a majority stake while providing the self-driving startup with the necessary capital to keep operating. The Korean automaker invested $475 million directly into Motional as part of a broader deal that includes buying out joint venture partner Aptiv. [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Upgrade moms audio with Bose holiday deals: Ultra earbuds, speakers, more up to $100 off

After featuring a series of Mothers Day sale events from the likes of Nike , Journey , Amazon , and others, its now time for Bose . The popular audio brand has already made headlines today with the launch of its brand new SoundLink Max speaker (full details on that right here ), but it has also launched a notable Mothers Day sale event . Featuring deals on everything from a range of its latest Ultra QuietComfort headphones and earbuds to its portable SoundLink Flex (including the new Chilled Lilac colorway), this is a notable chance to upgrade moms audio game with sweet new buds, cans, or Bluetooth speakers. The entire collection of Bose Mothers Day deals are waiting on this landing page and youll find our top picks waiting after the jump. more

Siri on HomePod Seems to Have Forgotten How to Give the Time

At some point in the last 24 hours, Siri on the HomePod and the HomePod mini seems to have forgotten how to relay the time. When asking Siri what time is it? Siri is unable to answer and directs users to the iPhone . I found some web results, I can show them if you ask again from your iPhone, is Siri's full response to the time question. If you ask what time it is in a specific location, Siri is able to respond, and Siri on iPhone, iPad , and Mac provides the time as usual when asked. This is a bug that Apple will be able to fix server side, so it will likely be addressed quickly. In the meantime, to get the time from Siri on the HomePod without having to swap to an iPhone, include your location. Siri has long been ridiculed for failing to understand requests and not providing the expected information, and small bugs like this are a bit embarrassing as Apple prepares for a major AI update. For the last several months, Siri has also been struggling with HomeKit commands, and there have been many complaints from smart home users. Asking Siri to urn off the lights in the living room, for example, often results in the lights being turned on or turned off in another room entirely. Hopefully some of these issues will be solved with a Siri overhaul in iOS 18 and its sister updates. (Thanks, Ben!) Related Roundups: HomePod , HomePod mini Tag: Siri Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Buy Now) , HomePod Mini (Neutral) Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology This article, Siri on HomePod Seems to Have Forgotten How to Give the Time first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

TechCrunch Minute: Where CZs sentencing leaves the state of crypto

Four months behind bars and a massive fine, thats what CZ is getting from the government for his crypto exchanges misdeeds. Regardless of how you view the verdict too much, too little, just right his sentencing is a big deal for web3. Potentially in a positive way. Theres effort by some in crypto [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Google will now show labels in Play Store to denote official government apps

After months of testing, Google is today rolling out labels in the Play Store to denote official state and federal government apps in more than 14 countries. This new label will help users rule out apps that masquerade as official apps to steal money or data. The company said that these badges currently cover more [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

1 month left to submit nominations for Startup Battlefield 200

Heres your shot across the bow theres a little over one month left to nominate your startup for Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt. Join this elite group for a new and awesome opportunity at TechCrunch Disrupt. Its positively packed with perks and possibilities to get your company to the next level. Dont delay:Apply to [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Nick Bostrom Made the World Fear AI. Now He Asks: What if It Fixes Everything?

Philosopher Nick Bostrom popularized the idea superintelligent AI could erase humanity. His new book imagines a world in which algorithms have solved every problem.

EcoSmart ECO 11 electric tankless under-sink water heater falls 31% to $179 (Reg. up to $299)

Amazon is offering the EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater for $179.42 shipped. Down from $205 and as much as $260 as of late, with a higher $299 MSRP, this water heater has regularly bounced between its lows and highs over the last few years, never staying for too long at a particular price. Todays deal comes in as a 31% markdown off the going rate that beats our previous mention by $5, giving you $81 in savings ($120 off its MSRP) and landing it among some of the lowest prices we have seen recently. This is the second-lowest price we have tracked in the last year, sitting $27 above the all-time low from 2019. more

Amazon offers Kendra Scott jewelry up to 25% off thats perfect for Mothers Day gifting

Amazon is currently offering up to 25% off Kendra Scott jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, rings, and more. Prices are as marked. A standout from this sale is the Chantal Beaded Bracelet thats currently marked down to $40 shipped, which is $20 off the original rate. This bracelet easily elevates any outfit and the layered look is very on-trend this season. It would make a perfect gift for Mothers Day and you can choose from a gold or rose gold design. Find even more deals by heading below, and be sure to check out the entire sale here . more

How Far-Right, Extremist Militias Organize On Facebook

In the aftermath of the Capitol riot, far-right militia groups are using Facebook to organizeand they're not worried about getting banned by Meta.

The Apple Studio Display is finally down to the price it always should have been

Macworld The Studio Display is more than a pretty monitorits also loaded with high-end features you wont find anywhere else, including a FaceTime camera, spatial audio, and three built-in USB-C ports. All that comes at a price, but today its cheaper than its ever been: Amazon is selling the 27-inch Apple Studio Display for $1,300 , a savings of $299 and the best price weve ever seen. The Studio Display is a fantastic monitor with a 5K Retina display sporting 600 nits of brightness, True Tone, and a P3 wide color gamut. Inside its thin bezels, youll find a built-in 12MP ultra-wide camera with Center Stage support, as well as a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio, and three USB-C ports with 96W of power delivery for fast-charging a MacBook. In our 4-star review , we liked the Studio Display as an affordable alternative to the Pro Display XDR, but didnt love its high price. This deal fixes that and at this price, it gets our full recommendationespecially if you want to pair it with a Mac mini, which is also on sale for $499 ($100 off). So go grab one before the price shoots back up. Mac

Spotify quietly moves lyrics behind a paywall

Following various reports citing frustrated posts from users on Reddit, Spotify is quietly confirming the change. 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Amazon Mothers Day tech sale up to 50% off: Echo smart speakers, Fire TV, more from $15

Moms big day is fast approaching and Amazon has now gathered up a host of its in house gear with some notable price drops. The new Amazon Mothers Day section is offering up to 50% off a wide range of its smart speakers, Fire TV displays, routers, smart home gear, and accessories for its Echo lineup. This is a great chance to land mom some sweet smart tech with Alexa voice command action for listening to tunes around the house, checking the weather, mounting Echo speakers with official Made for Amazon stands, landing a new smart TV, or even automating electronics with smart home gear. Pricing kicks off from around $15 with free shipping for Prime members or in orders over $25 with plenty of time left to ensure it all arrives for moms big day this year. You can find all of the gear on sale right here , but we have also included some highlights down below as well. more

Pelotons pandemic-era fairy tale is officially over

The pandemic sucked. Four years ago we were all stuck at home, and would continue being stuck at home for months on end. With all of us trapped in our houses, some products experienced a serious COVID-19 bump. Grocery delivery services absolutely blew up, as did Zoom and the perfectly-timed Animal Crossing: New Horizons . The same goes for Peloton and its line of exercise equipment. People were buying bikes and treadmills in droves, ballooning the companys market cap from $6 billion to $50 billion. However, what goes up must come down, and Pelotons market cap shrank to $10 billion by 2022 and now it rests at around $1 billion. The companys pandemic-era success story has officially ended, and now it's focused on cutting costs. So that means layoffs. Peloton is laying off 15 percent of its workforce, according to TechCrunch , which amounts to 400 people. Aside from those massive cuts, the company is continuing to shut down brick-and-mortar showrooms . Barry McCarthy, the CEO, president and board director, is also stepping down after two years in the job. He was previously CFO at both Spotify and Netflix. Peloton says it's currently in the process of finding a successor, with current chairperson, Karen Boone, and director, Chris Bruzzo, to serve as interim CEOs. However, it is expanding international reach, announcing a more targeted and efficient marketing strategy overseas. Peloton hopes all of these steps combined will reduce annual expenses by $200 million by the end of its fiscal year 2025. The rise and fall of Peloton $PTON earnings will release today. Remember the times (pandemic) when many were convinced we would never return to the gym. #stocks #fallenangels pic.twitter.com/sfmmZTptB6 ArmChair Analyst (@peWhispers) May 2, 2024 All of this comes after the company reported some really bad Q3 2024 revenue and loss numbers, with a 21 percent decline in paid subscriptions compared to 2023. Unfortunately, Q2 wasnt much better . Not that the stock market really means anything, just look at Tesla or that bizarre Trump stock, but Pelotons shares have gone from $156 in 2021 to, uh, less than $3 today. These arent just people going outside again numbers, as the company has experienced its share of controversies that have nothing to do with the pandemic. The Tread+ treadmill was recalled after being linked to 90 injuries and the death of a child. Peloton also recalled over 2 million bikes over a safety issue. It's been a bad few years. All of this doesnt mean that Peloton cant turn things around, as it's a fairly iconic brand in the space. It sure has some work to do, however, to reverse this decline. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pelotons-pandemic-era-fairy-tale-is-officially-over-153619110.html?src=rss

New all-time low takes $70 off the affordable OnePlus 12R at $530

We are now tracking only the second-ever discount on the new OnePlus 12R. Courtesy of Amazon and directly from OnePlus , the new mid-range smartphone drops to $529.99 shipped in both Iron Gray and Cool Blue colorways. The unlocked 256GB handset is $70 off the usual $600 going rate and a new all-time low. Back during the launch in February, we saw it for $30 off. Todays offer is on the elevated capacity and not the entry-level 128GB model. We dive into how OnePlus managed to deliver more flagship-caliber specs at a midrange price over in our announcement coverage . more

Maya used hallucinogenic plants in ensouling rituals for their ball courts

eDNA analysis found traces of xtabentum, as well as lancewood, chili peppers, and jool.

5 Best Rain Jackets (2024): Cheap, Eco-Friendly, Hiking, and Running

When it rains, it pours. Here are our picks for cold, wet daysplus expert tips on deciphering product specs.

Bose brings that big-speaker energy with new boombox-style SoundLink Max, pre-order now

After the debut of its new open buds and notable price drops landing on its latest Ultra QuietComfort headphones , today Bose is introducing the latest entry to its Bluetooth speaker lineup with the Bose SoundLink Max Portable Speaker . The brand describes its latest as a combination of big-speaker energy [and] grab-and-go convenience, which sounds a lot like what its speakers have been known for in the past, just with a hefty price tag and a fresh new design that sits somewhere between the smaller SoundLink Flex and the cylindrical flagship offerings. Now available for pre-order ahead of the May 16 shipping date, head below for more details. more

Denago Earth Month Sale is taking up to $500 off e-bikes for limited time starting from $999

Denago eBikes Earth Month Sale is still going on, taking up to $500 off a selection of the brands e-bike models for a limited time more, like the City 1 High-Step Commuter e-bike for $999 shipped . Regularly $1,299, this model is often at the front of holiday sales, dropping to the same $999 low that we see again today. This deal comes in as a 23% markdown off the going rate and returns costs to the all-time lowest price that we have tracked. The City 1 High-Step is equipped with a 500W hub motor and a 48V battery that propels the bike to top speeds of 28 MPH. It features five levels of pedal assistance and a travel range of up to 60 miles on a single charge 30 miles when using the throttle alone. It comes with a variety of accessories tailored to make your ride as effortlessly comfortable as possible like the wide padded seat, puncture-resistant tires, a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and an LCD display that gives you all the information you will need during your journey. more

LGs StanbyME Go portable briefcase monitor sees $200 discount to $997 low

Amazon is now offering LGs incrediblyunique StanbyME Go portable monitor for$996.99 shipped. This is only the second-ever discount from the usual $1,197 MSRP since it launched for the first time back in August of last year. Todays offer saves you $200 and matches the all-time low set once before. Youll also find it on sale directly from LG as well as over at B&H . We take a closer look below the fold and over in our launch coverage . more

Google expands passkey support to its Advanced Protection Program ahead of the US presidential election

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, Google is bringing passkey support to its Advanced Protection Program (APP), which is used by people who are at high risk of targeted attacks, such as campaign workers, candidates, journalists, human rights workers, and more. APP traditionally required the use of hardware security keys, but soon users can enroll [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

TikTok expands its premium ad slots despite potential US ban

TikTok is adding new ad products that will allow marketers to better control what sort of content their ads appear against. 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

First look at the Sony Honda EV: More than a PlayStation on wheels

The AFEELA concept previews an EV from the joint venture, due in 2026.

Apple Confirms iPadOS Will Get Same EU App Changes as iOS This Fall

Apple today confirmed that it will be bringing all of the app ecosystem changes made to iOS in the European Union to iPadOS in the fall. Earlier this week, the European Commission said that iPadOS is also a gatekeeper platform under the Digital Markets Act. EU developers will be able to distribute iPad apps outside of the App Store using alternative app marketplaces or websites, and all of the same terms will apply. The Core Technology Fee will be charged for apps that are distributed outside of the App Store and have more than one million first annual installs, though there are exceptions for small developers, which Apple also announced today. With iPadOS being added to the mix, Apple has also confirmed that users who install the same app on both iOS and iPadOS in a 12-month period will only generate one first annual install for that app rather than two, which should help developers keep below the CTF threshold. As with the changes to iOS, the upcoming changes to iPadOS only apply to developers who distribute apps in the European Union and iPad users in the EU. For the rest of the world, there are no changes and apps will continue to be available only from the App Store. Tags: App Store , European Union This article, Apple Confirms iPadOS Will Get Same EU App Changes as iOS This Fall first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The best noise-canceling earbuds for 2024

Whether its blocking the noises of your daily train ride, trying to be productive at a coffee shop or just needing to tune out the world for a while, noise-canceling earbuds can provide solace. But, as is the case with all audio gear, the effectiveness of active noise cancellation (ANC) can vary greatly from model to model, even with products from the same company. We test dozens of sets of wireless earbuds every year, and Ive shortlisted a selection of the absolute best in terms of pure ANC performance. You might find better sound quality or all-around choices elsewhere, but if blocking out unwanted sounds is your primary concern, this list has everything from high-end to budget options, in addition to those with the best battery life. Looking for new ANC headphones but don't like the feeling or style of earbuds? Check out our picks for best noise-canceling headphones , which focuses on full-size models. How to choose the best noise-canceling earbuds for you Design Most true wireless earbuds these days have a traditional design thats a round bud that fits in your ear. However, there are some variations on the formula in terms of shape, size and additional fitting elements. Some companies include fins or fit wings to help hold their earbuds in place while others opt for an over-the-ear hook on more sporty models . Youll want to pay attention to these things to make sure they align with how you plan to use them. Also consider overall size and weight since those two factors can impact the fit. A less-than-ideal seal due to a weird fit will affect the performance of active noise cancellation. Type of noise cancellation Next, youll want to look at the type of ANC a set of earbuds offer. Youll see terms like hybrid active noise cancellation or hybrid adaptive active noise cancellation, and there are key differences between the two. A hybrid ANC setup uses microphones on the inside and the outside of the device to detect ambient noise. By analyzing input from both mics, a hybrid system can combat more sounds than regular ANC, but its at a constant level that doesnt change. Adaptive ANC takes the hybrid configuration a step further by continuously adjusting the noise cancellation for changes in your environment and any leakage around the padding of the ear cups. Adaptive ANC is also better at combating wind noise, which can really kill your vibe while using earbuds outdoors. For this best wireless earbuds list, Im only considering products with hybrid ANC or adaptive ANC setups because those are the most effective at blocking noise. Customization Youll also want to check to see if the ANC system on a prospective set of earbuds offers presets or adjustable levels of noise cancellation. These can help you dial in the amount of ANC you need for various environments, but it can also help save battery life. Master & Dynamic, for example, has ANC presets that either provide maximum noise-blocking or prioritize energy efficiency. Other companies may include a slider in their companion apps that let you adjust the ANC level. How we test noise-canceling earbuds The primary way we test earbuds is to wear them as much as possible. I prefer to do this over a one-to-two-week period, but sometimes deadlines dont allow it. During this time, I listen to a mix of music and podcasts , while also using the earbuds to take both voice and video calls. Since battery life for ANC earbuds is typically 6-10 hours, I drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent). When necessary, Ill power the headphones off during a review without putting them back in the case. This simulates real-world use and keeps me from having to wear them for an entire day. To test ANC performance specifically, I use the earbuds in a variety of environments, from noisy coffee shops to quiet home offices. When my schedule allows, I also use them during air travel, since plane noise is a massive distraction to both work and relaxation. Even if Im not slated to hop on a flight, I simulate a constant roar with white noise machines, bathroom fans, vacuums and more. I also make note of how well earbuds block human voices, which are a key stumbling block for a lot of ANC setups. I also do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as I work through the software. Any holdovers from previous models are double-checked for improvements or regression. If the earbuds Im testing are an updated version of a previous model, Ill spend time getting reacquainted with the older set, and revisit the closest competition as well. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-noise-canceling-earbuds-150026857.html?src=rss

Online course platform Kajabi allows creators to build their own branded apps

Kajabi, the video and web hosting platform for content creators to sell online courses, announced Thursday the official launch of its no-code branded mobile app offering, letting users host their own customized native app through the App Store and Google Play. Kajabi already has a mobile app for hosting online courses, however, this new product [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Apple Tweaks EU Core Technology Fee to Avoid Bankrupting Unexpectedly Viral Apps

Apple today announced that it is tweaking the terms of the 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee (CTF) that apps distributed using the new EU business terms must pay, introducing a solution that would keep small apps that go viral from being bankrupt. First, independent and small developers who earn no revenue at all will not have to pay the CTF. Students, hobbyists, and freeware app developers who distribute free apps and earn no money will not be charged the fee. Developers will need to declare their non-commercial status on an annual basis, and to maintain this status, developers must have no revenue in or out of the App Store for their app product. Second, to address fears of the CTF causing outrageous fees for an app that suddenly goes viral, Apple has implemented a three year on-ramping process for small developers. The three year period begins when a developer agrees to the new App Store business terms, and during this time, if an app goes viral and exceeds the one million annual install threshold that triggers the CTF, the CTF won't be charged if the developer earns less than 10 million euros in global business revenue, and the fee is reduced after that. Under 10 million euros: No CTF during the three year period. Between 10 million and 50 million euros: CTF must be paid, but it is capped at one million euros per year for the three year period. Beyond 50 million euros: Benefit is no longer available, and the full CTF has to be paid. After three years: Developers will pay for each first annual install after the initial one million first annual installs per year. Note that this ramp up period is only available to small developers who have not previously exceeded one million first annual installs, and it is calculated based on global business revenue rather than just App Store revenue. Apple says that 99 percent of developers will not be subject to the CTF to begin with, but the new ramp up period will go further to make sure that small developers who get a breakout hit will have time to scale their businesses before having to pay fees. Back in March, developer Riley Testut spoke with Apple officials at a workshop on the Digital Markets Act, and he asked what would happen if a young developer had an app go viral and unwittingly racked up millions in fees. Testut asked the question because when he was a high school student, he released GBA4iOS outside of the App Store. It was unexpectedly downloaded more than 10 million times, and that would have bankrupted him had he been subject to the Core Technology Fee. In response, Apple VP of regulatory law Kyle Andeers said that Apple was working on a solution because the company is not trying to stifle innovation. Apple believes that a free app going viral and being subject to exorbitant fees will be a rare occurrence, but the changes will keep that from happening. The CTF update will also be a welcome change for those who want to release entirely free apps outside of the App Store. The CTF is only applicable to apps that have opted in to the new App Store business terms in the European Union. Apps in the EU are now able to be distributed through alternative app stores and developer websites without having to rely on the App Store. Apple has more information about the new changes to the CTF on its updated CTF support page . Tags: App Store , European Union This article, Apple Tweaks EU Core Technology Fee to Avoid Bankrupting Unexpectedly Viral Apps first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

7 Best Digital Photo Frames (2024): High-Res and Natural

Get your pictures off your phone and in front of your friends and family with these connected displays.

Google pays Apple more than most companies make in a year for its prime iPhone slot

Macworld Its no secret that the iPhone is a valuable device, not just to Apple but also to many of its biggest competitors. According to unsealed court documents revealed in the antitrust trial between theJustice Department and Google, we now know exactly how valuable. As reported by Bloomberg , Apples senior vice president of servicesEddy Cue admitted that the deal with Google to be the default search engine in the Safari browser netter Apple $20 billion in 2022, a staggering increase of over the roughly $15 billion in 2021. Figures for last year werent disclosed in the trial but theyre likely higher than $20 billion. It was also revealed in documents and testimony that Microsoft tried to usurp Googles position by offering a staggering 90 percent of its advertising revenue with Apple to make Bing the default in Safari as well as other concessions including hiding the Bing brand. Microsoft CEO said default status on Safari is a game-changing position. But the deal is also lucrative to Apple. The document claims that Googles payments to Apple for default search accounted for nearly 20 percent of Apples operating income in 2020 when payments were likely about half of what they are now. The government is expected to wrap up its case against Google with closing arguments this week and a decision in the case will likely arrive later this year. iPhone

Amazon Discounts Popular Accessories From Anker, Eufy, and Jackery

Today we're tracking a few deals offered by Anker , Eufy , and Jackery , including a wide array of wall chargers, Bluetooth trackers, and other USB-C accessories. All of the products in this sale can be found on Amazon, and some will require you to clip an on-page coupon then head to the checkout screen before you see the final sale price. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. This week Eufy has a pair of discounts on its Find My-compatible SmartTrack Bluetooth tracker accessories exclusively for Prime members, including the SmartTrack Card for $19.99 , down from $29.99. You can also get the SmartTrack Link in multiple pack options if you have Amazon Prime, starting at $15.99 for the 1-Pack, down from $19.99. $10 OFF Eufy SmartTrack Card for $19.99 $21 OFF Eufy SmartTrack Link 4-Pack for $48.99 Switching to the Anker deals, you can get the 20,000 mAh Prime Power Bank with Smart Digital Display for $89.98, down from $129.99. If you need a bigger battery, you can get the Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light for $109.99 with an on-page coupon, down from $149.99. Additionally, below you'll find more Anker accessories including speakers and USB-C products. $40 OFF 20,000 mAh Prime Power Bank with Smart Digital Display for $89.98 $40 OFF Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light for $109.99 Anker is also hosting a BOGO sale this week on Amazon, allowing you to save 15 percent on select charging accessories when you purchase two at once. You can find the full lineup on this landing page , and it includes the MagGo 10,000 mAh Power Bank with Smart Display , Nano 10,000 mAh Power Bank with Built-in USB-C Cable , and more. Highlights of Jackery's deals include the Explorer 100 Plus Portable Power Station , available for just $119.99, down from $149.00. This is a miniature-sized portable power station that can fit in the palm of your hand and weighs just 2.13 lbs, while featuring a 31,000 mAh capacity and 128W output. Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout. $29 OFF Jackery Explorer 100 Plus for $119.99 Eufy SmartTrack Link 1-Pack - $15.99 for Prime members, down from $19.99 SmartTrack Link 2-Pack - $26.99 for Prime members, down from $35.99 SmartTrack Link 4-Pack - $48.99 for Prime members, down from $69.99 SmartTrack Card - $19.99 for Prime members, down from $29.99 Anker Audio Soundcore Motion 300 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - $64.99, down from $79.99 Portable Batteries Nano Power Bank with Built-In USB-C Cable - $39.99, down from $49.99 Prime Power Bank 20,000 mAh with 100W Charging Base - $139.99, down from $184.99 Power Stations Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light - $109.99 with on-page coupon, down from $149.99 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Cube - $129.99, down from $149.99 SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station - $1,499.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,999.00 Wall Chargers 20W USB-C Charger - $9.99, down from $16.99 100W 3-Port USB-C Charger - $42.99, down from $74.99 6-in-1 Nano Charging Station - $49.49, down from $65.99 Prime 67W 3-Port Charger - $59.99, down from $65.99 Hubs 4-Port USB-C Hub - $15.99, down from $19.99 10-in-1 USB-C Hub - $74.99 for Prime members, down from $149.99 Jackery Explorer 100 Plus Portable Power Station - $119.99 with on-page coupon, down from $149.00 Solar Generator 300 Plus Portable Power Station - $499.00, down from $579.00 Expansion Battery Pack for 1000 Plus - $599.00, down from $799.00 Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station - $649.00 with on-page coupon, down from $999.00 Explorer 2000 Pro Portable Power Station - $1,299.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,899.00 Expansion Battery Pack for 2000 Plus - $1,259.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,599.00 Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station - $2,499.00, down from $2,799.00 If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Related Roundup: Apple Deals This article, Amazon Discounts Popular Accessories From Anker, Eufy, and Jackery first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Pair your new M3 MacBook Air with Ankers PowerExpand 6-in-1 USB-C Hub at $30

Ankers official Amazon storefront is now offering its PowerExpand 6-in-1 USB-C Hub for $29.99 shipped. This is $25 off the usual $55 price tag and matches the lowest price of the year. Its the second-best offer to date at within $2 of the all-time low from back in December. But now for spring, its on sale just in time to pair with your shiny new M3 MacBook Air or any of Apples other newest Macs, for that matter. more

Backcountry Pre-Summer Sale takes up to 50% off: The North Face, Patagonia, more

Backcountry Pre-Summer Sale takes up to 50% off hundreds of styles . Prices are as marked. Customers receive free delivery on orders of $50 or more. Inside this sale you can find deals on the North Face, Patagonia, Helly Hansen, Columbia, and more. A standout from this sale is the Patagonia R1 Air Full-ZIp Jacket thats currently marked down to $125 and originally sold for $179. This jacket is a perfect layering piece for spring weather and its available in seven color options. It also has an attached hood and the material is infused with stretch to give you full range of motion. Find even more deals by heading below, or you can shop the entire sale here . more

iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Proving Less Popular With Buyers This Year

Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models were its most purchased smartphones in the U.S. in the first quarter of this year, according to the latest Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) report . The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max accounted for 22% and 23% of all iPhones sold in Q1 2024, for a 45% combined share. The iPhone 15 Plus took a 9% share of all iPhones sold, while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 were the third most popular, each taking 14% of the share. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max share hardly changed compared to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max the same quarter a year ago. However, Apple saw sales of the base model iPhone 15 decline relative to a year ago. The overall mix of iPhone 15 models was lower, accounting for 68% of all iPhone sales. By contrast, in Q1 2023 the iPhone 14 series had a 7% higher share of all iPhones sold, taking 75% combined. The percentages suggest that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus were more popular than the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus over the equivalent quarter the previous year. Noting the change, CIRP comments: We see this as a continuation of a trend from the past couple of quarters, as the lower- priced current models give up some share to older models. The once flagship, now base iPhone 15, is no longer the leading-edge choice, as the Pro and Pro Max models take that role. Last week, CIRP released a report indicating that new iPhone activations are down to a low not seen in the U.S. smartphone market for the last six years . CIRP said that Apple's installed smartphone base was higher than recorded activations, but Apple's share of new iPhone activations fell from 40% to 33% over the past year, suggesting a shift away from the higher market shares Apple enjoyed in previous years. Tag: CIRP This article, iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Proving Less Popular With Buyers This Year first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

April updates for Windows 10 and 11 break some VPN software, Microsoft says

VPN connection bug affects all supported versions of Windows 10, 11, and Server.

Israeli cyber startup Apex gets initial investment from OpenAI's Altman

Apex said it had been running trials with a number of Fortune 500 companies and investment firms and was close to finalising paid contracts

How to clear cache on a Mac

Macworld Maybe your Mac isnt running as well as it used to. Maybe one or more of your apps are behaving strangely. Perhaps you are concerned about your privacy online or what companies and app developers know above you. All these are good reasons to clear the cache on your Mac. We are here to answer the question: How do I clear my cache on my Mac? So if you want to know how to clear cache on a Mac youve come to the right place! But before we run through how to do that well explain what cache is, why you might benefit from deleting it, what cache you shouldnt delete, and how you can delete your cache. What is cache? A cache is where data is stored to help your Mac speed up various processes. You have probably heard of the cache associated with web browsers. This cache contains the data that gets downloaded to your Mac and is saved so that the next time you visit the same website some of the data is already downloaded and it wont take so long to load up the page. PROMOTION CleanMyMac X | Clear your Macs disk Use CleanMyMac X to find hidden junk and free up the unseen cache files. Locate large old folders, background apps, and heavy memory consumers. Tune your Mac for maximum speed, and keep it malware-free and secure Download Free Edition Among other things, browser cache means you can browse the web faster, which sounds like a good thing, but there are quite a few disadvantages too. One disadvantage is the fact that you could find yourself browsing an old cached version of a webpage and another is that your browser cachewhich includes cookies and trackerscan give websites and advertisers information about you as you browse the web. The latter may be a concern for privacy reasons. There are two other kinds of cache: system cache and application cache. Application cache, sometimes referred to as user cache, includes data associated with your apps that is saved so that it doesnt have to be loaded up every time you use the application, this means your applications can work faster. Again, this sounds beneficial, but there are disadvantages. For example, if you work with high-resolution images, or large video files, your computer could be storing a lot of data related to the edits you make. Similarly, if you play games on your Mac you could find you are losing space to game saves. App data can take up a lot of space and if you are no longer using the app you are unlikely to require the cached data that could still lurk on your Mac. System cache, as youd probably expect, is where the data created by macOS that helps your Mac run smoothly is stored. Because its connected to the operating system we would recommend against deleting anything from your system cache, unless you are using a specific tool to do so. Deleting data from any of your Macs caches is a risky business if you dont know what you are doing, but even more so when it comes to system cache as you could accidentally erase files that ensure your Mac runs smoothly. There is another kind of cached data that is the result of sandboxing between apps, but this data is removed when you restart your Mac (which you should do regularly: see Should I shut down my Mac every night? ). Should you clear cache on a Mac? There are a few reasons why you might want to delete or clear cached data. Most commonly Mac users want to delete data from a cache because they are running out of space on their Mac and assume that clearing their cache could recover a few gigabytes. Perhaps youve been looking at whats taking up the space on your Mac (System Settings > General > Storage > Storage Settings in macOS Ventura and beyond, About This Mac > Storage in older macOS versions) and wondering what Other and System Data are and why so much of your space is given over to these categories of data. One thing to note in this case is that deleting data from the cache wont necessarily free up space as your Mac will recreate many of these cached files. Another reason to clear your Macs cache is for troubleshooting purposes. Perhaps your Mac, or just a particular app, is running poorly and you want to see it deleting data from the cache fixes the issue. This is probably the last case scenario after restarting the troublesome app, restarting your Mac, and possibly deleting and reinstalling the app. You may also be concerned about your personal data and how an app or website might be using it, which is a good reason to clear your browser cache from time to time. Another reason to clear browser cache is if you are finding that a website you use isnt up to date. If you dont clear the cache you may find you are loading up the version of a webpage as it was the last time you visited. The cache you can, and cant, delete Under no circumstances should you delete all of the data in your cache if you are thinking of doing something that drastic you would probably be better off wiping your Mac and doing a clean install of macOS . The reason not to delete all your cached files is that some of these files are needed by your Mac to run normally. If you delete cache files willy-nilly you might break something. Deleting cache thats related to an application can also be asking for trouble. Some apps keep important user information in cache folders and may not work without it. It can also be pretty inconvenient for you if you are in the middle of a big project in say Photoshop or Premiere Pro and you delete your cache associated with that. These are both good reasons to back up your Mac before you clear your cache, at least then you can recover your Mac to the state it was in before you started meddling, or at the least copy the cache files back to the folder you deleted them from. Thats what you shouldnt delete or at least you should be cautious about what you delete. How about what you can safely delete? Wed suggest that you can delete cache files that relate to apps you no longer use. In particular, if there is data in cache that relates to an app that you have removed from your Mac you should be able to confidently remove the associated files from the cache. In fact, a good app uninstaller, such as MacPaws CleanMyMac X , MacCleaner Pro from Nektony, or DaisyDisk from Software Ambience, will remove the associated data from your cache. For more of our Mac Cleaner recommendations see our round-up of the best Mac cleaner apps . Browser cache is a type of data you can be pretty confident about removing, but the advantages of keeping it may well be greater than any advantages of removing it. Deleting data from your browser cache can become an annoyance when afterwards you discover that you now have to re-enter your logins and other data that used to autofill. How to delete cache on a Mac Well look at each kind of cache separately since the process is different. Well cover how to delete data from your cache manually and well also look at some of the third-party tools you can use if you are concerned about making a mistake. Before we start, you may be wondering whether Apple provides you with the necessary tool to quickly delete cached files. If you are using macOS Sonoma, Ventura or later you can access the information via About This Mac > More Info. This takes you to System Settings where you go to General > Storage > Storage Settings. In macOS Monterey and older you can click on the Apple in the menu at the top of your screen and go to About This Mac > Storage. Whichever way you get there you will see a breakdown of the kind of storage on your Mac that indicates where there are files that you might want to delete, or move to iCloud, in order to free up space. For example, if you click on the i beside the section (in Ventura or later) then you can see all the files or applications you might want to delete. Foundry Foundry Foundry You might also see a large section called Other, or System, or System Data, depending on the version of macOS you are running. The kind of cached files you want to delete may well lurk in this section of your storage, so you may wonder if you can easily delete it from here. Unfortunately, you cant easily delete files from any of those sections from this view. But there are lots of other ways to free up space from these sections and elsewhere on your Mac. We discuss how to use this here: How to free up space on Mac and address the question of How to delete Other on the Mac and How to delete System on the Mac separately but read on for tips for clearing the cache on your Mac. How to clear browser cache The method here depends on which browser you use, be it Safari, Chrome, Firefox or something else. If you are a Safari user then the process is as follows: In Sonoma or Ventura Open Safari. Click on Safari > Settings in the menu. Click on the Advanced tab. You need to turn on the Developer view, so click on Show features for web developers (or Show Develop Menu). Now you will see a new Develop option in the menu at the top of your screen. Click on that. Click on Empty Caches. (You could also press on Option/Alt + Command + E.) In Monterey or older Open Safari. Click on Safari > Preferences in the menu. Click on Advanced. You need to turn on the Developer view, so click on Show Develop Menu. Now you will see a new Develop option in the menu. Click on that. Click on Empty Caches. You could also press on Option/Alt + Command + E. That method will delete your Safari cache. You may also want to clear your browsing history. To do that follow these steps: Click on History in the Safari menu. Click on Clear History. Finally, you can remove cookies by following these steps: In Sonoma or Ventura Click on Safari > Settings. Click on the Privacy tab. Click on Manage Website Data. Click Remove All (or go through the different sites and choose whether or not to allow them). Select Block all cookies to stop cookies in the future. In Monterey or older Click on Safari > Preferences. Click on Privacy. Click on Manage Website Data. Click Remove All (or go through the different sites and choose whether or not to allow them). Select Block all cookies to stop cookies in the future. Just note that removing this data can mean you are logged out of websites that you used to be able to automatically log on to so make sure you know your passwords. How to clear system cache Next up well run through how to clear system cache: A word of warning before you start: Back up just in case something goes wrong! If you delete something that turns out to be important you can at least return to the way things were before. If the thought of making a mistake fills you with dread take a look at one of the options below that will do it for you safely. Open the Finder. Click on Go > Go to Folder Type in Library/Caches/ Enter or click on Go. Open each folder and choose what to delete. You could sort by Data Modified to see what hasnt been added recently. Drag caches into the Trash/Bin. Dont forget to delete your trash. This is a long and boring process that also happens to be really risky so if you would rather reclaim your afternoon and not risk deleting something you shouldnt, we recommend using one of the apps below. How to delete application cache files Along with gaining back some space, clearing files from application cache is something you might want to do if an app isnt working properly, or if you want to speed a particular app up, but note it could have the opposite effect if you remove cached files that are required. For that reason, we again recommend that you back up your system before you start to delete. Open the Finder. Click on Go > Go to Folder Type in ~/Library/Caches/ (note that you need a ~ this time, its next to the Z). Enter or click on Go. Open each folder and choose what to delete. Drag caches into the Trash/Bin. Delete your trash. Again, if you arent 100 percent sure you know what you are doing, we recommend that you use a dedicated app to remove you application cache. Best Apps for removing data from cache We have a round-up of the best Mac cleaner apps where we run through some of our favorite options for deleting files and memory hogs. Among them, you will find some excellent solutions for removing cache files from your Mac. Below are three options that we recommend. How to use CleanMyMac X to clear cache Get CleanMyMac X CleanMyMac X from MacPawclaims to clear your cache safely, it refers to a Safety Database to do so. CleanMyMac X can be downloaded from MacPaws website . It costs 34.95/$34.95 for a one-year subscription, although from time to time the company offers discounts. Alternatively, you can buy the software for 93.95/$89.95 if you dont fancy forking out every year. You can download it for free , but if you want to delete anything you will need to pay up. Open CleanMyMac X and click on System Junk. Click on the Scan button. The app will start analyzing your system. Once the scan is complete you will see a message indicating how much space can be freed up. This includes User Cache Files, System Log Files, Language Files, Document Versions, User Log Files and System Cache Files. Click on Review Details to see more information. Here you get more details of the various cache files the software is offering to delete. So you could deselect anything you would rather not delete. (For example, you might prefer not to delete Document Versions, or you might want to keep some languages and not others. Plus you might prefer not to delete the cache associated with a particular app). If you are happy to go ahead just click Clean. You may need to enter your password and install a helper tool. Now wait while CleanMyMac X cleans your system. How to use MacCleaner Pro 2 to clear cache Get MacCleaner Pro MacCleaner Pro from Nektony is another option that is visually quite similar to CleanMyMac X. There is a free trial that is pretty much fully functional. To upgrade to the pro version costs 40.95/$44.95. Download it from Nektony . Open MacCleaner Pro. Click on Clean up Mac. Here you will see various types of files you can delete, including Caches, Installation Files, Language Files and Downloads. You can deselect any you dont wish to delete. Click on Clean Up. You will be asked to confirm that you are happy for the files to be deleted. Click on Review. You can click on the down arrows to see more information about each. Deselect any you dont want to delete. Click on Clean Up. Enter your password. The great thing about MacCleaner Pro is that it functions in trial mode, rather than just showing you what you can delete and then asking you to purchase the software. The trial is time-limited though. How to use CCleaner to clear cache CCleaner for Mac costs $29.95/29.95 for the Professional version. There is also a free version of CCleaner which you can download from the CCleaner website . Get CCLeaner Open CCleaner. Click on the Applications tab. Youll see which apps have files you can remove. Click on Analyze and wait for the software to examine what you can delete. It will then show you the files that can be removed. If you are happy to go ahead click on Run Cleaner. You will see a warning that the process will permanently delete files from your system. Confirm that you wish to proceed. You may need to install a helper tool, in which case: enter your password. Wait while the app removes the cache files. If youre on a budget, DaisyDisk which has a one-off cost of $9.99/9.99 is another solid choice for Mac cleaning, ranking #3 in our Best Mac Cleaners chart. For more advice read our tips for cleaning up your Mac to make it run faster. Cleaning and Data Recovery Software, Mac, MacOS, Personal Software

May PlayStation Plus FREE games: Tunic, Ghostrunner 2, EA Sports FC 24, more

As we all anxiously await what has started to seem like an imminent announcement for PS5 Pro and the PlayStation Summer showcase, Sony has now taken to the official PlayStation Blog to detail the May PS Plus FREE games. Last month it was all about action-platforming, block strategy games, and a first-person magic shooter, but this month we are hitting the pitch, embarking on an unforgettable puzzle adventure, and fighting back against the Darkness. Head below for all of the details ont he May PlayStation Plus FREE games. more