iPad Air and iPad Pro launched in Apple event, know 5 features of both

In a much-anticipated Apple event, the tech giant has unveiled its latest offerings, the iPad Air and iPad Pro. These two devices are poised to set new standards in the realm of tablets, boasting cutting-edge features and powerful performance enhancements. 1. Stunning Display Technology iPad Air: The new iPad Air features a remarkable Liquid Retina display, offering users an immersive viewing experience with vivid colors and crisp details. With True Tone technology and P3 wide color support, the display adapts to ambient lighting conditions, ensuring optimal visual comfort in any environment. iPad Pro: Taking display technology to the next level, the iPad Pro is equipped with a stunning ProMotion display featuring a high refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This results in ultra-smooth scrolling and fluid animations, making interactions with the device feel incredibly responsive and lifelike. 2. Powerful Performance iPad Air: Powered by the groundbreaking A14 Bionic chip, the iPad Air delivers exceptional performance and efficiency. With its advanced neural engine, this chip enables seamless multitasking, smooth graphics rendering, and enhanced AI capabilities, empowering users to tackle demanding tasks with ease. iPad Pro: Setting a new benchmark for tablet performance, the iPad Pro is equipped with the M1 chip, the same chip powering the latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac models. With its desktop-class performance and advanced architecture, the M1 chip ensures unparalleled speed and responsiveness, making the iPad Pro a powerhouse for productivity and creativity. 3. Cutting-Edge Camera System iPad Air: The iPad Air features a sophisticated camera system, including a 12-megapixel rear camera with Focus Pixels for sharp and detailed photos, as well as support for 4K video recording at 60fps. Additionally, the front-facing 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera enables crystal-clear video calls and selfies. iPad Pro: Taking photography and videography to the next level, the iPad Pro boasts a groundbreaking camera system with a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera and a 10-megapixel Wide camera, along with LiDAR technology for advanced depth sensing. This enables immersive augmented reality experiences and professional-quality photography and videography. 4. Enhanced Connectivity iPad Air: With support for Wi-Fi 6 and optional 5G connectivity, the iPad Air ensures lightning-fast wireless speeds and reliable network performance, allowing users to stay connected wherever they go. Additionally, the inclusion of USB-C connectivity enables seamless integration with a wide range of accessories and peripherals. iPad Pro: Building on the connectivity capabilities of its predecessor, the iPad Pro features Thunderbolt support for high-speed data transfer and connectivity to external displays and peripherals. Combined with 5G compatibility, this ensures unparalleled versatility and productivity on the go. 5. Sleek Design and Advanced Features iPad Air: The iPad Air boasts a sleek and modern design, with a slim profile and lightweight construction that makes it highly portable and easy to carry. Available in a range of vibrant colors, including Space Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue, the iPad Air allows users to express their personal style. iPad Pro: Setting the standard for premium design and craftsmanship, the iPad Pro features a sleek and minimalist design with a precision-engineered aluminum chassis and edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display. The inclusion of Face ID technology enables secure and convenient authentication, while the new Magic Keyboard with Trackpad provides a seamless typing and navigation experience. The launch of the iPad Air and iPad Pro marks a significant milestone in Apple's ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence. With their stunning displays, powerful performance, cutting-edge camera systems, enhanced connectivity, and sleek designs, these two devices are sure to delight users and set new benchmarks for the tablet industry. Apple New iPad Pro Unveiled: Here Are the Top 5 Features Pixel 8a or OnePlus 12R? Deciphering India's Budget Phone Dilemma These Step-by-Step Meditation Techniques for Instant Anxiety Relief

Motorola Edge 50 Fusion Set to Hit Indian Markets Next Week: Here's What We Know

Get ready, India! Motorola is gearing up to unveil its latest smartphone, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, on May 16 at 12:00 pm IST, as announced by the company in a recent X post. The much-anticipated launch event will take place on Flipkart, with a dedicated landing page already up and running to give users a sneak peek at the phone's standout features. Originally introduced in Europe earlier this year alongside its siblings, the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and Edge 50 Pro, the Edge 50 Fusion is finally making its way to Indian shores. Boasting a 144Hz refresh rate display, a powerful 50MP dual-camera setup, and lightning-fast 68W charging, this smartphone is set to make waves. Under the hood, it's powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC for smooth performance. Excitingly, the Flipkart page spills the beans on the Edge 50 Fusion's color options: Forest Blue, Hot Pink, and Marshmallow Blue. Offering a maximum of 12GB RAM and running on Android 14-based Hello UI, the phone features a stunning 6.7-inch curved pOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, delivering a peak brightness of 1,600 nits alongside that impressive 144Hz refresh rate. Plus, it comes equipped with an in-display fingerprint scanner for added security. Catering specifically to the Indian market, the phone is expected to come packed with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM. Its dual rear camera setup comprises a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C primary sensor and a 13MP ultrawide macro lens, while a 32MP front-facing camera is on board for stunning selfies. Notably, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is primed to support 15 different 5G bands and Wi-Fi 6. With a robust 5,000mAh battery featuring 68W fast charging and an IP68-rated water-repellent design, it's built to withstand the rigors of daily use, offering durability against dust and water. While the official pricing for the Indian market remains under wraps, the phone debuted in Europe with a starting price of EUR 399, approximately Rs. 35,900. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates as the launch date draws near! Pixel 8a or OnePlus 12R? Deciphering India's Budget Phone Dilemma Apple's Next Flagship: What to Expect from the iPhone 17 Series Samsung's Newest Galaxy F55 5G Phone to Hit Shelves Soon: Here's What We Know So Far

After the launch of the new model, Rs 12,000 has fallen on this iPad, how can you buy it?

Start by researching the specifications and features of the iPad model you're interested in. Consider factors like screen size, storage capacity, processor speed, camera quality, and connectivity options to ensure it meets your needs. Compare Prices Once you've identified the specific iPad model you want, compare prices across different retailers. Look for discounts, promotions, or special offers that could further reduce the cost. Online marketplaces, electronics stores, and authorized Apple resellers are good places to start your search. Check for Financing Options If the upfront cost of the iPad is still too high, explore financing options such as installment plans or credit card offers with 0% interest. Many retailers offer flexible payment options that allow you to spread the cost over several months, making it more affordable in the short term. Consider Refurbished or Pre-Owned Models Another way to save money on your iPad purchase is by considering refurbished or pre-owned models. These devices are often significantly cheaper than brand new ones and may still come with warranties or guarantees, providing you with peace of mind. Look for Trade-In Deals If you already own an older iPad or other electronic devices, check if there are any trade-in deals available. Some retailers offer discounts or store credit when you trade in your old device, reducing the overall cost of your new iPad purchase. Wait for Seasonal Sales or Promotions Patience can pay off when it comes to buying tech gadgets. Keep an eye out for seasonal sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or back-to-school promotions, where retailers often offer significant discounts on electronics including iPads. Bundle Deals Finally, look for bundle deals that include accessories or additional services with your iPad purchase. These packages can offer great value for money and may include items like cases, screen protectors, headphones, or subscription services at a discounted price. By following these tips, you can make the most of the Rs 12,000 price drop on the new iPad model and purchase it without breaking the bank. The Role of Essential Nutrients in Thalassaemia Prevention Changing Lives. Shaping Tomorrow: How to Honor Nurses on International Nurses Day 2024 Mangoes are good... but if you eat more than this then there is a problem

NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Wednesday, May 8

The NYT Mini crossword might be a lot smaller than a normal crossword, but it isn't easy. If you're stuck with today's crossword, we've got answers for you here.

NYT Connections: hints and answers for Wednesday, May 8

Connectionsis the new puzzle game from the New York Times, and it can be quite difficult. If you need a hand with solving today's puzzle, we're here to help.

Matter 1.3 Specification Adds Energy Reporting, Electric Vehicle Charging, Water Management Support and More

The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) today announced the debut of a new Matter 1.3 specification that's available for device makers and platforms. Matter is a smart home protocol that allows smart devices to work across multiple platforms, including HomeKit . Matter 1.3 adds support for a range of new device types and features, including water management devices, electric vehicle chargers, kitchen and laundry appliances, and TVs. For smart plugs and other devices, the update includes energy management reporting, allowing users to see actual and estimated measurements of power, voltage, and current, both in-real time and over time. EV Charging manufacturers are able to include Matter-based features such as manually starting and stopping charging, adjusting charging rate, and optimizing charging times. Water management devices like leak and freeze detectors, rain sensors, and controllable water valves are supported in Matter 1.3, as are several new appliance types including microwave ovens, ovens, cooktops, extractor hoods, and dryers. For TVs, Matter 1.3 improves casting initialization and search, plus it adds support for push messages and dialog for ambient experiences, expanded interactivity for TV apps, and better interaction with other home devices. Scenes are supported with the new specification, allowing product makers and platforms to set, read, and activate scenes on devices. Scenes for Matter work like HomeKit scenes, letting users set a desired state for rooms and devices with one command. Matter controllers are also now able to batch multiple commands into a single message when communicating with Matter devices for less delay between command execution. Matter 1.3 devices and improvements will likely be available on the market later this year, with more information available on the CSA website . Tag: Matter This article, Matter 1.3 Specification Adds Energy Reporting, Electric Vehicle Charging, Water Management Support and More first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Your iPad can do so much more

Macworld Why your iPad is failing to meet its potential After a lengthy quiet period Apple has announced a raft of new iPads, and demand is sure to be hot among the companys loyal fans. Boasting insanely fast processors and all-new screen tech and sizes, the 2024 iPads are sumptuously designed and specced. Combining the work and entertainment capabilities of a laptop with the portability and convenience of a smartphone, the iPad has the potential to be the most versatile Apple device of all. Which makes it all the more disappointing that so many iPads end up as sofa computers with a very limited brief. If you feel that youre not getting the most out of your high-end tablet, or youve been holding off on upgrading because it doesnt seem worth it for something you use to check your emails while watching Netflix, were here to tell you that the iPad can be far more. The key to harnessing its capabilities is to select the right accessories. How to choose a great iPad accessory What you need to consider is how much an accessory can expand your iPads scope as a convenient computing tool, and whether that upgrade is worth the cost. We should be examining value for money and return on investment. The iPad, for example, has one obvious weakness as a work tool, and that is its lack of a hardware keyboard; onscreen keyboards are versatile but they arent suitable for fast, accurate typing. Similarly, its vulnerability to drop and scratch damage makes it less useful for use on the go. And no matter how nice the screen is, its not much fun watching a two-hour movie on an iPad that you have to hold. Accessories that cost a fraction of the price of the iPad can solve all of these problems. Its just a question of finding the right accessories. Luckily, were here to help you choose. Introducing ESRs accessories for the new iPad range If youre looking for accessories that will upgrade your tablet from sofa gadget to powerful all-round computing tool, youd be wise to check out ESR, a popular and well-established brand which has just unveiled its accessories for the new iPad range . Heres what weve picked out: Shift Magnetic Case: However you want to use your iPad, this clever and award-winning case/stand is here to help. It offers an astonishing nine different angles, six for viewing and a further three for working and writing, and its easy to switch between the various modes thanks to the innovative magnetic design. It even works in both portrait and landscape orientations. Available from Amazon. Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360: If you want to get work done on your iPad, this is a great choice. The backlit keyboardwith a choice of seven colours and three brightness levels so you can adapt to any working conditionsalso features a trackpad with support for Multi-Touch gestures. The cantilever stand is versatile and helps you position the iPad at your viewing angle of choice. Available for just $119.99 from Amazon. Premium screen protectors: What sort of protection are you looking for? One option is ESRs Paper-Feel Magnetic Screen Protector : it makes using your iPad feel like working on a physical page. The companys Armorite Screen Protector , meanwhile, is the toughest tempered-glass option out there, exceeding military-grade protection. Digital Pencil Pro: A premium iPad stylus that delivers smooth, precise input. It supports charging via both USB-C and wireless connection. Available for just $28.99 from Amazon. You can save money, too! Macworld readers can save money on their ESR purchases. Simply use the code 559HVZJZ for a 10% discount. This code will be live until June 30 2024. Tablet Accessories

Remedy cancels its multiplayer game project with Tencent

Tencent and Remedy, the developer of Control and Alan Wake , have completely scrapped their joint gaming project codenamed Kestrel, which they have been working on since 2021. The companies were originally developing a free-to-play co-op shooter until they decided to go in a different direction in November last year. They went back to the drawing board, renamed their project from Vanguard to Kestrel and had planned to make a premium game with a strong, cooperative multiplayer component instead. Back then, they said their game will lean more into Remedy's core strengths and will use repurposed versions of the company's assets and themes. Clearly, though, their partnership wasn't meant to be. In its announcement, Remedy said that the project's cancellation will allow it to give more attention to its other games in development. While it didn't list them out, the company is working on the sequel to Control that will be released for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, as well as on a franchise spin-off game currently known as Condor. It will reassign developers to its other game projects, and since it was going to co-finance Kestrel with Tencent, the project's cancellation means reduced investment and recruitment needs for the company. Codename Kestrel was still in its early concept phase, Remedy's CEO Tero Virtala said in a statement, while the company's other projects have already advanced well and are moving on to the next stages in their development. This is yet another means to ensure that our game projects continue advancing well, Virtala added. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/remedy-cancels-its-multiplayer-game-project-with-tencent-120037110.html?src=rss

Strap a 45mm Apple Watch Series 9 on your wrist at $100 off today, or a 41mm from $299

While all (most) eyes in the Apple world are fixed on the impressive new M4 iPad Pro, next-gen iPad Air, and the new pro Pencil pre-orders are now live on all of it, this morning is ushering in notable deals on Apple Watch Series 9 to go along with it all. Amazon is now offering the Apple Watch Series 9 45mm for$329 shipped in Midnight, Silver, and Starlight treatments. The regularly $429 latest-generation wearable from Apple is now seeing a straight up $100 price drop, marking a return to the Amazon low and a price we have only seen a few times before today. Those looking to strap on the smaller 41mm form-factor will still find those models starting at $299 shipped also a solid $100 price drop. Head below for more details and over at 9to5Mac . more

Delonghi Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine With Cold Brew Review: A Little Weird

The cold-brew feature is a letdown, but this De'Longhi makes great espressoif you help it out a little.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with S Pen hits one of its best prices ever from $1,050 ($250 off)

Today we have a particularly notable deal on the most popular Android smartphone of 2024. Amazon now has the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with 256GB of storage on sale for $1,049.99 shipped in four colorways. This model sells for $1,300 directly from Samsung and regularly goes for as much at Amazon. Today youre looking at a straight $250 in savings, landing $50 below our previous mention for one of the lowest prices we have tracked on one of the best Android handsets out there. The elevated 512GB model is also seeing a solid price drop, now starting from $1,169.99 shipped from the regular $1,420 it goes for at Samsung . All of the details are waiting down below. more

The Morning After: Apple's new iPad Pro is thinner than an old iPod nano

We kicked off our Tuesday with an early iPad event . And what a beastly iPad we got. Apple shook things up by slotting its brand-new M4 chip into its new highest-end iPad Pro. Apple says the new device delivers 50 percent faster performance than the M2 iPad Pro. It supports dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing and hardware-accelerated mesh shading so, better-looking games and faster graphic processing. Engadget But thats only half the story. The other major upgrade is Tandem OLED, which is a display of two OLED panels on top of each other. Expect richer colors and deeper blacks, but also brightness levels that max out at 1000 nits for standard and HDR and 1600 nits for HDRs brightest spots. This switch in display tech makes it thinner than previous iPads. Actually, it ensures the new iPad pro is (somehow) thinner than the iPod nano. The new iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch, each with 256GB of storage. Weve already got our first impressions right here . We also got new iPad Airs and an Apple Pencil Pro , for you professional scribblers. Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed Meta is testing cross-posting from Instagram to Threads Apples M4 chip arrives with a big focus on AI Nintendo to announce Switch successor before March 2025 What the heck is going on with Helldivers 2? You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! Google announces the $499 Pixel 8a early Flagship AI and a 120Hz OLED screen. Engadget The latest Pixel A-series phone typically gets announced at Google I/O. However, to avoid distractions from all the other news, Google broke cover early. Compared to the standard Pixel 8, which has a 6.2-inch screen, the 8a features a slightly smaller 6.1-inch OLED display with noticeably larger bezels. But aside from that, the Pixel 8 and 8a are almost the exact same size. The 8a uses the same 64-megapixel and 13MP sensors for its main and ultra-wide cameras as its predecessor, but the Pixel 7a was a great camera phone, so no major complaints here. Sales start next week on May 14. Continue reading. OpenAI says it can detect images made by its own software mostly Until someone tinkers with the images. OpenAI is trying to get ahead of the problem of these almost-real images circulating the internet by creating a toolset that detects images created by its own DALL-E 3 generator. The company says it can accurately detect pictures whipped up byDALL-E 3 98 percent of the time. While that sounds good, its loaded with caveats. The image has to be created by DALL-E, and it only successfully classified five to ten percent of images made by other AI models. It also struggles to spot generated images manually tweaked by a user. Continue reading. The M4 iPad Pro is literally lighter than Air Time for a name change. Wait, what? This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apples-new-ipad-pro-is-thinner-than-an-old-ipod-nano-111533601.html?src=rss

Best iPad 2024: Compete and updated guide to which iPad to buy

Macworld Which iPad should you buy? There are a lot of choices and it can be confusing. There are four different varieties of iPad, listed below, and each is available with or without cellular (including 5G on certain models), which costs extra. Thats before we get into storage capacity, colors, and second-hand alternatives. Our in-depth buying guide assesses the whole range of iPads sold by Apple and explores all the factors that should influence your iPad buying decision such as value for money, how much storage you need, and whether or not to buy a cellular version. We also reveal whether an updated version of each device is likely to be launched soonanswering the question of whether now is a good time to buy an iPad. If youre thinking of buying an iPad for college or university you might also like to read our guide to the best iPad for students . You may also like to read our best iPad for kids guide. Update May 7: Added new iPad Air and iPad Pro models and new 10th-gen iPad pricing. The iPad mini price has also dropped outside the U.S. Apple iPad comparison chart The table below summarizes the main features of the iPads in Apples current lineup and highlights the price for each. We have more information about the individual iPads and buying advice below. Click the links in the table of contents to go to the section most relevant to you. Model (launch date) Key features + specs Storage + cellular options Price + buy link iPad 10.9-inch 10th generation (October 2022) Medium 10.9-inch screen Touch ID on the Power button A14 Bionic processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil 1 248.6mm x 179.5mm x 7mm 481g 64GB 256GB 64GB (5G) 256GB (5G) $349 / 349 $499 / 499 $499 / 499 $649 / 649 iPad mini 6th generation (September 2021) Small 8.3-inch screen Touch ID on the Power button A15 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil 2 195.4mm x 134.8mm x 6.3mm 293g 64GB 256GB 64GB (4G) 256GB (4G) $499 / 499 $649 / 649 $649 / 649 $799 / 799 iPad Air 11-inch 6th generation (May 2024) Medium 11-inch screen Touch ID on the Power button M2 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil Pro 247.6mm x 178.5mm x 6.1mm 462g 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB 128GB (5G) 256GB (5G) 512GB (5G) 1TB (5G) $599 / 599 $699 / 699 $899 / 899 $1,099 / 1,099 $749 / 749 $849 / 849 $1,049 / 1,049 $1,249 / 1,249 iPad Air 13-inch (May 2024) Largest 13-inch screen Touch ID on the Power button M2 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil Pro 280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.1mm 618g 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB 128GB (5G) 256GB (5G) 512GB (5G) 1TB (5G) $799 / 799 $899 / 899 $1,099 / 1,099 $1,299 / 1,299 $949 / 949 $1,049 / 1,049 $1,249 / 1,249 $1,449 / 1,449 iPad Pro 11-inch 5th generation (May 2024) Medium 11-inch screen Face ID M4 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil Pro 249.7mm x 177.5mm x 5.3mm 446g 256GB 512GB 1TB 2TB 256GB (5G) 512GB (5G) 1TB (5G) 2TG (5G) $999 / 999 $1,199 / 1,199 $1,599 / 1,599 $1,999 / 1,999 $1,199 / 1,199 $1,399 / 1,399 $1,799 / 1,799 $2,199 / 2,199 iPad Pro 13-inch 7th generation (May 2024) Largest 13-inch screen Face ID M4 processor 12MP/12MP cameras Supports Apple Pencil (USB) and Apple Pencil Pro 281.6mm x 215.5mm x 65.1mm 582g 256GB 512GB 1TB 2TB 256GB (5G) 512GB (5G) 1TB (5G) 2TB (5G) $1,299 / 1,299 $1,499 / 1,499 $1,899 / 1,849 $2,299 / 2,299 $1,499 / 1,499 $1,699 / 1,699 $2,099 / 2,099 $2,499 / 2,499 Every iPad Apple sells Apples iPad lineup is perhaps one of the most expansive product lineups presented by the company. Below we offer information about each model, but we also answer questions further down the article such as which iPad is the best value for money, which size is best, how much storage you need, and whether to get cellular (you can jump to these sections from the table of contents above). The iPad that is best for you will depend on what you need from an iPad. If you just want an iPad for reading books, watching movies and TV shows, email, and web browsing, then you dont need all the bells and whistles. An iPad or iPad mini might be best here. If you are looking for an iPad that will do everything that a laptop can, then you might want to consider a model that is more powerful and supports additional components, including one of Apples newer keyboards or the Apple Pencil, the iPad Air might suit you. And if you will be using your iPad for gaming, video editing, photo editing, or anything high-powered and graphic intensive, then you will probably be looking at an iPad Pro. Below we will run through every iPad you can buy so you can find the one thats best for your needs. Apple iPad (2022, 10th gen) Best value Price When Reviewed: Now: $349 (64GB) | $499 (256GB) [Was $449 (64GB) | $599 (256GB)] Best Prices Today: $349 at Apple $349 at B&H $349.99 at Amazon 64GB: $349 / 349 256GB: $499 / 499 64GB (cellular): $499 / 499 256GB (cellular): $649 / 649 The 2022 iPad (10th generation) is the cheapest iPadit was reduced by $100 in May 2024 from $449 ro $349. It offers a lot of features for the price and its available in an assortment of fun colors. It has a 10.9-inch screen, a USB-C connector, and supports the Apple Pencil 1 or the Apple Pencil (USB). Its also capable of 5G (if you were looking at the cellular model you wouldnt want the 4G-capable 9th gen). Pros: A14 chip will be powerful enough for a good few years. No more Home Button but there is Touch ID (on the Power button). Cons: Still feels cheap due to the unlaminated screen (will Apple ever update this?). Not as thin and light as the iPad Air. Best for: Anyone who needs a big screen (not a huge screen; theyll want the 12.9-inch iPad Pro) but is on a budget, and can cope without the latest in processing. Its a good option for anyone who likes the look of the iPad Air, but not the price. Is now a good time to buy? While the iPad is about two years old, Apple reduced its price in May 2024 and its a fantastic bargain. See : Best iPad (9th/10th gen) deal Read our full 10th-gen 10.9-inch iPad (2022) review Apple iPad mini (6th gen, 2021) Best for kids and travelers Price When Reviewed: $499 (64GB) | $649 (256GB) Best Prices Today: $399.99 at Amazon $399.99 at Target $469 at Walmart 64GB: $499 / 499 256GB: $649 / 649 64GB (cellular): $649 / 649 256GB (cellular): $799 / 799 This generation of iPad mini launched in September 2021. The iPad mini is available in four colors: silver, gold, Space Gray and purple. The iPad mini is Apples smallest iPad with an 8.3-inch display. The biggest draw of the iPad mini is probably its diminutive stature. This is the smallest and lightest iPad and as such is perfect for carrying around in a bag or handing to children when they need entertaining. Whichever version you go for, youll get an A15 Bionic processor chip, a Liquid Retina screen, and 12MP/12MP rear/front cameras. It might be small, but it is actually more powerful than the standard iPad thanks to its A15 processor, which is a generation newer than the A14 in the 10th gen iPad. Pros: Very portable and respectably powerful. The cheapest version has a decent amount of storage (64GB). Supports second-gen Apple Pencil. Cons: Small screen, which may not be great for those who get eyestrain or who like immersive films and games. Best for: The portability-conscious. Gamers on the go. Tablet photographers. Ebook readers. Kids. Is now a good time to buy ? Apple did not update the iPad mini during its spring 2024 event, but it did reduce the price outside the U.S. Its possible Apple could update it later in the year, but it probably wont be a major upgrade. Keep up with the latest speculation with our iPad mini 7 guide . See : Best iPad mini deals Read our full Apple iPad mini (6th gen, A15, 2021) review Apple iPad Air 11-inch (6th gen, 2024) Best for power in an affordable package Price When Reviewed: $599 (128GB, Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $599 at Apple 128GB: $599 / 599 256GB: $699 / 699 128GB (cellular): $749 / 749 256GB (cellular): $849 / 849 The 11-inch iPad Air has an M2 processor that is powerful and energy-efficient (you may remember it from its widely praised performance in the Mac). The M2 pushes the iPad Air far ahead of the iPad mini and standard iPads with their A-series chips. The M2 also makes the Air an appealing alternative to the more expensive Pro models, with their faster M4 processors. Like all recent iPads, the Air features an all-screen design with no Home button. As with the 10th-gen iPad and the iPad mini, biometric security is handled by a fingerprint sensor in the power button rather than Face ID, which is reserved for the Pros. It has superb cameras (the front-facing 12MP camera and Center Stage), supports a wide range of Pro accessories, and now features 5G. Pros: Beautiful design. Superb processing and graphics power. Cheaper than the iPad Pro. Cons: Screen doesnt feature ProMotion. Ideal for: Tablet gamers and anyone who wants to be able to run the most demanding apps now and in the future. Pro users (business, creative, design) who cant afford an iPad Pro. Is now a good time to buy? Absolutely. It was updated in May of 2024 and will be around for a while. See : Best iPad Air deals 11-inch iPad Pro (5th gen, 2024) Best for power in a small package Price When Reviewed: $999 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $999 at Apple 256GB: $999 / 999 / 128GB (cellular): $1,199 / 1,199 512GB: $1,199 / 1,199 / 256GB (cellular): $1,399 / 1,399 1TB: $1,599 / 1,599 / 1TB (cellular): $1,799 / 1,799 2TB: $1,999 / 1,999 / 2TB (cellular): $2,199 / 2,199 The current generation of iPad Pro models went on sale in May 2024. The iPad Pro comes in two sizes and a variety of capacities all the way up to a massive 2TB. The 2024 Pros feature M4 chips and are incredibly powerfulsome might say more powerful than it has any right to be. The 11-inch iPad Pro features a display it calls Ultra Retina XDR, which is an implementation of OLED technology that offers deeper blacks, better details in shadows and low light, and better response to motion. Apple uses two OLED panels in an implementation it calls Tandem OLED to address the brightness concerns of a single OLED panel. The Tandem OLED generates 1000 nits of SDR/HDR brightness and 1600 nits of peak HDR brightness. The front-facing camera is now on the longer side of the iPad Pro for use in landscape mode and the rear 10MP ultra-wide camera is gone. The 12MP main camera now has an adaptive True Tone flash that works while scanning documents, which uses AI to sense shadows when scanning and uses the flash to fill in the spot, and multiple photos are taken and stitched together to create the best scan. Pros: Slim and light; dual cameras; Face ID; devastatingly quick and power-efficient processor. Cons: Very expensive. Its power could be overkill for many. Ideal for: Creative types who dont need the absolutely largest screen. Its great for watching films and TV shows (and offers quad-speaker audio to match), but there are other screens in the range that are a similar size and a lot more affordable. Is now a good time to buy? The 11-inch M4 iPad Pro was released in May 2024, so its a good time to buy. Apple likely wont update it for a good amount of time. See: Best iPad Pro deals 13-inch iPad Pro (7th gen, 2024) The ultimate iPad power package for creative pros Price When Reviewed: $1,299 (Wi-Fi only) Best Prices Today: $1299 at Apple 256GB: $1,299 / 1,299 / 256GB (cellular): $1,499 / 1,499 512GB: $1,499 / 1,499 / 512GB (cellular): $1,499 / 1,699 1TB: $1,899 / 1,899 / 1TB (cellular): $2,099 / 2,099 2TB: $2,299 / 2,299 / 2TB (cellular): $2,499 / 2,499 The iPad Pro 12.9-inch, updated in May 2024, offers the biggest screen ever on an Apple tablet, squeezed into a relatively small and very thin chassis. In other respects its largely the same as the 11-inch Pro (above): super-fast processor (the M4) with lots of RAM, excellent cameras, and a user experience that looks more than capable of replacing a laptop. The 13-inch iPad Pro, like the 11-inch version, has an Ultra Retina XDR. This is based on OLED technology, but Apple uses two OLED panelsit calls Tandem OLED and it generates 1000 nits of SDR/HDR brightness and 1600 nits of peak HDR brightness. This is all thoroughly impressive. But on the downside, the 12.9-inch Pro is far less portable than the mid-size iPads (it remains admirably slim, but the sheer screen area makes it a handful) and ruinously expensive, particularly at those upper storage tiers. Pros: Largest screen (13-inch); extremely fast processor with lots of RAM; landscape camera with Face ID; four speakers; Ultra Retina display. Cons: Least portable iPad currently available (although it is very slim); very expensive; processor speed will be overkill for many prospective buyers. Ideal for: Creative types most of all, but anyone who needs a big screen will be interested. Gamers and those who enjoy consuming media on the go will like the combination of a sumptuous screen and a quad-speaker audio system. Is now a good time to buy? The current Pros came out in May 2024. Apple probably wont update it again for at least a year, maybe longer. See : Best iPad Pro deals iPad Buying Guide: What to look for when buying an iPad As you can see from the above there are a lot of iPads sold by Applethat doesnt even include the many previous-generation iPads that are still on sale at various resellers and at Apples Refurbished Store . When confronted by so much choice what should you consider when deciding which iPad to buy? For many the choice will be based on price and value for money. Some may be influenced by the screen size, others by the weight. The ability to get more than 256GB storage may be important, as may the inclusion of Face ID or Touch ID. Finally, the decision of whether to get a cellular version, which invites the assessment of the minefield of network contracts, will no doubt be a factor for some. We will look at each of those factors below. Which iPad is the best value for money? One persons value for money is another persons extravagance. You might be looking for the cheapest iPad. That would be the 10th generation iPad , launched in 2022. In May 2024, Apple reduced the price from its original $449 price to $349 (price drops were matched around the world). It has a 10.9-inch screen, a 12MP rear-facing camera, an A14 Bionic processor, and 5G as an option. If you are happy to buy an older iPad model then there are plenty of discounts available while they are still in stock. There are also some great savings to be had on refurbished models. We recommend you check the following deals roundups, where you can see the best prices right now on various iPads : Best iPad Pro deals Best iPad (9th/10th gen) deals Best iPad Air deals Best iPad mini deals If you have more to spend, what can you get for your money? The iPad mini more than justifies its slightly higher price tag of $499/499 (especially now that the price has dropped from the staggering 569 in the U.K.) with its faster A15 processor, True Tone flash, and a fully laminated, better quality, display, among other things.But its biggest draw will probably be its size for those who want a small iPad. The iPad mini is not much bigger than a hard-backed book making it the perfect size to carry around in a bag and a great size for kids. The 2022 iPad The 2022 iPad Apple The 2022 iPad Apple Apple Next up is the iPad Air , which starts at $599/599 for the 11-inch model. It might be worth every extra penny if you want a faster M2 processor. The iPad Air display is still superior to that of the iPad, fully laminated and with an antireflective coating (like the iPad mini). The iPad Pro , updated in May 2024 is the ultimate in this category. Starting at $999/999, the Pro has a lot to offer, with an incredible display and an M4 chip for starters. But we think these features are probably more than the average person needs. Those are the prices that Apple sells its iPads for, but you dont have to pay that much. Take a look at our regularly updated iPad deals page for the lowest prices and best discounts on iPads new and old. iPad screen size: Which size iPad to choose Size is a question of taste rather than simply going for the biggest iPad you can get your hands on. Bigger isnt necessarily better if what you need is small and light. The most obvious aspect of this decision comes down to screen size. All screens are measured diagonally from corner to corner, or from the place where the corners would be. Youve got four options: 8.3-inch iPad mini 10.9-inch iPad (10th gen) 11-inch iPad Air and iPad Pro 13-inch iPad Air and iPad Pro But how big a screen do you really need? You can think of the tablets in terms of print publications: the mini is roughly the height and width of a paperback book; the mid-size iPads are closer to a hardback (albeit much slimmer); and the 13-inch iPad Pro is like a magazine. The larger screen is obviously better for immersive entertainment. Whether watching films or playing games, its a more enjoyable, richer experience. But really this is a question of priorities. Are you more set on getting maximum screen space, or are you willing to compromise on that front in order to get a lower price tag and improved portability? iPad Pro 13-inch (2024): 281.6mm x 215.5mm x 65.1mm; 579g/582g (Wi-Fi/cellular) iPad Pro 11-inch (2024): 249.7mm x 177.5mm x 5.3mm; 444g/446g iPad Air 13-inch (2024): 280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.1mm 617g/618g iPad Air 11-inch (2024): 247.6mm x 178.5mm x 6.1mm; 462g/462g iPad 10.9-inch (2022): 248.6mm x 179.5mm x 7mm; 477g/481g iPad mini 8.3-inch (2021): 195.4mm x 134.8mm x 6.3mm; 300.5g/308.2g Also read: Every iPad display compared . Want the lightest iPad? As youd expect, the iPad mini is a lot lighter than the other iPads. Theres a big gap between that device and even the mid-size iPads. As well as its markedly lower weight the mini also has a smaller body, which slips easily into a rucksack or jacket pocket. If you plan to mainly use your iPad out and about, on vacation, or commuting, or perhaps youre buying an iPad for a child , the mini is your best bet. The iPad, 11-inch iPad Air, and 11-inch Pro are pleasingly portable, but they still cant match the mini for portability. The iPad has a similar length and width to the Air, but is thicker and heavier; the Pros are slimmer still. The 13-inch Pro and Air are considerably less portable than their smaller cousins, but we think Apple has done well to keep the weight down, especially with the Pro: it remains a slender, relatively lightweight, and portable alternative to a laptop. How much storage do you need? The five iPads offer anywhere from 64GB to 2TB of storage, but if you are looking at an old, refurbished, or preowned iPad you could be confronted with as little as 32GB storage, which isnt enough. But what storage capacity do you really need for an iPad? Well, first of all, remember that you cant upgrade the storage of an iPad at a later date: this is your limit from now until you buy another iPad, so aim high and buy as much storage as you can afford. Its better to spend an extra few pounds now than to buy an entire new iPad in six months time. Storage capacity is mainly used up by three things: music, photos, and videos, in increasing order of storage drain. If you want to keep lots of films or TV showsor even a few, to be honestthen you need high storage: probably 128GB or higher for video fans. (If youre buying an iPad with the kids in mind, remember that youll want storage space for multiple episodes of their favorite show on a long car journey.) The same applies to large photo or music libraries, to a lesser extent, although iCloud Photos and iTunes Match make it possible to keep your stuff in the cloud and access it remotely (if you pay the fees for iCloud storage). The other thing that will fill up your storage is apps, especially games which will use up a lot of space. For that reason gamers should aim high on storage: The iPad Ait starts with 128GB and the Pro has 256GB, while the mini and 10th-gen iPad both start at 64GB. We recommend getting what you can afford See: How much storage do you need on an iPhone or iPad? for more advice. Should you get the most powerful iPad? The iPad Pro models are, as you would expect, faster than their smaller and cheaper equivalents, next up is the Air, then the iPad mini and finally the iPad. You can get an idea of relative speed by looking at a few relevant specs: iPad Pro 13-inch (2024): M4; 8GB/16GB RAM iPad Pro 11-inch (2024): M4; 8GB/16GB RAM 13-inch iPad Air (2024): M2; 8GB RAM 11-inch iPad Air (2024): M2; 8GB RAM iPad mini (2021): A15 Bionic; 4GB RAM iPad 10.9-inch (2022): A14 Bionic; 4GB RAM The M-series chips have won widespread acclaim in the Mac range and produce outstanding performance in the iPads. But that doesnt mean the A chips are sub-standard or incapable of running modern apps; keep in mind that much of the software on the App Store was designed with A chips in mind, and even now most developers will want to make their software accessible for as many iPad owners as possible. There is a good reason to choose the M-series chips over the A-series though. Some of the best iPadOS 16 features will only work with the M-series iPads . These include features like Stage Manager , which is a new feature for organizing your windows. There are also rumors that one day Apple may make a cutback version of macOS available on the iPad but this will be probably be restricted to the M-series chip, if indeed it ever happens.. But speculation aside, how powerful you need your iPad to be will be based on your your requirements (and how long you intend to use your iPad for). The most demanding graphic-design, video-editing, and audio apps will see better performance on the M4 and even M2 processor, so if youre looking at high-level workloads multiple years down the line the M4 and M2 would be a better option. But for most users, the A15 will be comfortably fast enough for the mid- and quite long-term, and even the A14 (from 2020) performs perfectly well on todays apps. Another important factor to consider is memory. The iPad mini and iPad 10.9-inch have 4GB. The Air gets a jump up to 8GB, while the Pros have either 8GB or a whopping 16GB of RAM, depending on your storage tier: the 1TB and 2TB versions get the higher RAM allocation. Overall, we would advise those who want to use highly demanding apps, such as video and image editors and graphically advanced games, to choose an iPad Pro or Air. If youre going to be using your tablet for the odd bit of email and web surfing, youll find an iPad or iPad mini perfectly decent. With these general observations out of the way, its time to look at each device in more depth. For each iPad we record the essential information, its pros and cons, which buyer should pick it, and whether now is a good time to buy. Should you get a Cellular iPad? For most people cellular connectivity is a luxury, even if its a nice one to have. For an extra $100 or so, youll be able to access the web and email, and use connected apps, away from a Wi-Fi network. You need to factor in the cost of a data plan and find a network provider. Consider carefully how often youre going to do that: with an iPad mini theres likely to be more on-the-go use than with a full-size iPad, but its still a lot to pay for something you may only use from time to time. Have you got a regular (overground) commute where youd enjoy catching up on news headlines or e-mail? Then it could be worth the extra. We think the best option, if you want to be able to get data on your iPad when you are out and about, is to create a hotspot and share it from your iPhone. Then you can use your iPad as if it is on the cellular network. Read about how to create an iPhone hotspot to share your mobile web connection to your iPad. Just bear in mind that the cellular option also brings with it a GPS radio, meaning youll be able to input accurate location data when using your device on the go. The other concern when buying a cellular iPad is whether to buy your iPad on a contract. Network providers will allow you to pay for your iPad and the data contract over a number of months but after that term is up, and certainly not before, you may not be able to switch to a different data provider. Buying on contract may also mean that the iPad is locked to the original contract provider which can also be a problem if you want to sell it in the future. Heres how to unlock an iPad from its network , once youve fulfilled your contractual obligations. Should you buy a refurbished iPad? You can buy a refurbished iPad from Apple You can buy a refurbished iPad from Apple Apple You can buy a refurbished iPad from Apple Apple Apple Well mention this only briefly because its covered in detail here: Why a refurbished iPad could be the best tablet for you , but one option you should absolutely consider is Apples Refurbished Store . Its a sort of halfway house between new and second-hand: the devices are generally ones that have been returned within the 28-day period in which you are legally allowed to change your mind about a purchase, or they have been returned due to a fault that has been rectified, or they were ex-display or ex-demo units from Apples stores or marketing. You can rest assured that Apple has checked all the refurbished iPads that it sells thoroughly, replaced any problematic components, and rated them as good as new (and you get a full one-year warranty to prove it). Apples not the only place to buy a refurbished iPad, so beware that all refurbished iPads are not the same, so do check the small print before you buy. Look for refurbished models that have been fully checked out by Apple-certified engineers, especially those that come with a guarantee. Our best advice is to only consider the current or previous generation iPads when looking at refurbished models, then you are less likely to be caught out by a sub-par tablet. Buying a refurbished iPad from a reputable company is definitely preferable to buying a used iPad from someone on eBay. Its too often the case that secondhand iPads sold that way end up as useless bricks because the person selling it didnt properly log out of their account. Another way to save money is to buy from a reseller who is selling discontinued stock at a discount. We often see resellers significantly dropping the price on older iPad models that are usually just one generation out of datejust beware, they sell out quick! Should you buy the newest iPad generation? Speaking of older iPads, even if functioning perfectly right now, older models will reach the end of their useful life sooner than the newest models and that is a good reason to avoid buying an iPad that is more than one or two generations old. But keep in mind that iPads tend to start slowing down at around two to three years of age; at the four- or five-year mark you should expect noticable loss of performance and you wont be able to get all the latest software updates. The current iPad range was mostly updated in 2024 and included the iPad Pro and the iPad Air. The 10th-gen iPad was released in October 2022 but had its price reduced in May 2024. The iPad mini came out in September 2021. Another reason to buy a recent iPad is the operating system it runs. Apple only supports the most recent three versions of iPadOS with security updates, so that means that only iPadOS 15, 16. and 17 are currently supported. See How long does Apple support iPads? for more information. The following iPads can run iPadOS 17 : iPad Pro 12.9 and 13 (6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd gen) iPad Pro 11 (4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st gen) iPad Pro 10.5 iPad (10th, 9th, 8th, 7th and 6th gen) iPad mini (5th and 6th gen) iPad Air (6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd gen) The iPads that have been removed from support include: 2016 iPad Pro 9.7-inch with an A9X chip 2015 iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation) with an A9X chip 2017 iPad (5th generation) with an A9 chip So, while you dont have to buy the newest generation, we would recommend that you buy one that was launched relatively recently to be sure that Apple will support it for as long as you intend to own it. On that basis, any of the iPads listed above should be a safe bet because they support the iPadOS that Apple will support for the next three years, and for many the support will stretch on for more years. Buying advice: Which iPad should you buy? The iPad 10.9-inch is a good option for newcomers and those who will mostly use their iPad as a media consumption device with some light work. For most people, however, our recommendation is the iPad Air (2024) . The update in May 2024 brought it an M2 processor, which is more than enough for an iPad right now. Mind you, its still expensive compared to the standard iPad and the iPad mini, and to most rival tablets out there. The iPad mini is mainly recommended for those who see portability as their main priority. Its an excellent little device, although the smaller screen makes it less immersive for games and entertainment options. The remaining iPads will be too expensive for the average buyer. The 11-inch and 13-inch Pro models are amazingly powerful and well-made, and the arrival of the M4 is excellent news but probably more power than anyone really needs right now. But if youre a creative professional, the Pro is the iPad to get. Finally, before taking the plunge, have you considered if a laptop might suit your needs better? See iPad vs MacBook for more advice on that front. iPad

Bluesky plans to launch DMs for users

Bluesky is taking quite a few pages out of the social media handbook. The decentralized social app has announced it's working on new features like DMs , video and improved Custom Feeds. The company opened to the public in February and claims it grew from 40,000 to 5.6 million users in one year. DMs are an especially noteworthy edition as, currently, all posts on Bluesky are public, but the company's new DM option will integrate directly into the app. These messages should initially be available only one-to-one, and users can restrict who can reach out by choosing between the options open, followed users only, and disabled. The company uses an open-source framework, but the development of DMs will initially be off-protocol, so Bluesky can iteratively create them. Videos are in the works, with Bluesky projecting that clips up to 90 seconds long can be shared. The company is exploring a bunch of ideas for Custom Feeds, including a space for trending feeds, in-app feed creation and overall improved feed discovery. Bluesky is also getting OAuth and hopes users can one day Log In with Bluesky. None of Bluesky's impending updates have a release date yet, but the company expects to roll them all out over the next couple of months. The platform was notably backed by Jack Dorsey , co-founder and former CEO of Twitter. However, Dorsey recently confirmed that he was no longer on Bluesky's board. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bluesky-plans-to-launch-dms-for-users-105039310.html?src=rss

Hades 2 Doubles Hades' All-Time Peak Player Count on Steam Within Hours of Early Access Launch

Hades 2, the roguelike action-RPG from Supergiant Games, was released in early access on Steam and Epic Games Store Monday. The much-awaited sequel has since climbed the charts to become one of the most played games on Valves platform this week. In fact, the game has already more than doubled the all-time peak concurrent player count of its predecessor, Hades.

Hades 2 is nearly perfect, but theres one problem that needs tweaking

We're loving Hades 2 so far, but there's one thing we hope Supergiant hammers out before the sequel exits early access.

Apples iPad event: 5 unexpected details you may have missed

Macworld If youve been paying attention to the rumors leading up to Apples Let Loose iPad event, you knew what to expect: iPad Air and iPad Pro in 11- and 13-inch sizes with new processors, a new Apple Pencil, and an updated Magic Keyboard. Still, there were a few details during the announcement that hadnt been predicted, and which caught us a little bit by surprise. None of these are earth-shaking revelations, but they can be enough to slightly color our views of some of these products. Here are some of the things we hadnt expected going into the event. Prices that didnt go up The iPad Pro is $200 more expensive no matter which size you picka price you might justify with that fancy new OLED display and twice the storage, perhaps. But the 11-inch iPad Air did not get more expensive, which is a relief. This is the first year a 13-inch iPad Air is available, so we have nothing to compare it against, but $799 feels right. Also not more expensive? The new Apple Pencil Pro , which comes in at the same $129 price as the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, despite having several new capabilities. And the new Magic Keyboard , which has an aluminum deck, larger trackpad with haptic feedback, is slimmer, and has a function row, costs the same as the older Magic Keyboard ($299 for 11-inch iPads; $349 for 13-inch iPads). Its still too expensive, but its nice to see feature inflation without price inflation. The biggest surprise of all? The 10th-gen iPad actually got a $100 price cut , down to $349, which makes it just $20 more than the 9th-gen iPad that is no longer available. We always thought this should have been Apples move from the start: dont keep the 9th-gen model around, just replace it with the 10th-gen model with a very modest price increase (if any). The iPad Pros new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil dont cost any more than the previous generation. The iPad Pros new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil dont cost any more than the previous generation. Petter Ahrnstedt The iPad Pros new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil dont cost any more than the previous generation. Petter Ahrnstedt Petter Ahrnstedt Back to a single camera Where did the 10MP ultra wide camera on the iPad Pro disappear to? Its just gone! We dont know how often it was used, but for the first time since 2020, all thats left is a 12MP Wide camera. Apple could have at least upgraded it to the 48MP wide camera on the new iPhones, to give us that 2x optical crop zoom option. Also missing is mmWave 5G in the cellular modelsbut most people probably wont even know its gone. M4 missing a core If you buy an iPad Pro with less than 1TB of storage, you get 8GB of RAM. If you buy the 1TB or 2TB option, you get 16GB of RAM. Thats the same as it was with the M2 iPad Pro from 2022. But what isnt the same is that you get a lesser M4 processor too. Thats right, while both models have six efficiency cores, the < 1TB models have only three performance cores. If you want the full M4 processor, you have to spend a minimum of $1,599 for the 11-inch 1TB model or $1,899 for the 13-inch 1TB model. Yikes. More storage for the same price Given the price increase and 18-month timeframe since the M2 iPad Pro was announced, its a good thing the 128GB model is simply gone from the lineup and the iPad Pro now starts with 256GB of storage. It takes a little bit of the sting out of the $200 price hike, but not much. No tablet at this price should dream of giving you only 128GB of storage. The iPad Air loses its 128GB model as well and gains a new 2TB option on the high end, leaving the 10th-gen iPad as the only model with 64GB of storage. If you want more storage, rest assured that Apple still charges a ridiculous price for additional storage. Some things never change. The new iPad Air is thin and lightbut not as thin and light as the iPad Pro. The new iPad Air is thin and lightbut not as thin and light as the iPad Pro. Petter Ahrnstedt The new iPad Air is thin and lightbut not as thin and light as the iPad Pro. Petter Ahrnstedt Petter Ahrnstedt Lighter than Air The 11-inch iPad Pro used to be slightly heavier than the 10.9-inch iPad Airjust 5 grams but enough to justify the Air moniker. The new 11-inch iPad Pro is now 18 grams lighter . The difference is even greater with the 13-inch models. The 13-inch iPad Air is about 10 percent lighter than the old 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but the new 13-inch iPad Pro is a few percent lighter still. At 579 grams, its a whopping 103 grams lighter than the M2 model and 38 grams lighter than the 13-inch iPad Air. The iPad Pro is also about a millimeter thinner than the Air. Maybe Apple needs to rename the iPad Air? Accessories, iPad

Meta Introduces New AI Features to Help Create Ad Creatives for Businesses

Meta is introducing a new set of artificial intelligence (AI) features for businesses to help them automate and improve the process of creating ad creatives. Metas new AI features are powered by the third generation of its Llama (Large Language Model Meta AI) AI models and are designed to help its enterprise customers easily promote products and services on Facebook and Instagram.

OpenAI is reportedly working on a search feature for ChatGPT

OpenAI is reportedly working on a search feature for ChatGPT that could make the chatbot a veritable alternative to Google Search. According to Bloomberg , the company is currently developing the capability, which can scour the web for answers to your queries and spit out results complete with citations to their sources. ChatGPT could take information from Wikipedia or blog posts, for instance, and link to their original pages when you ask it questions. Bloomberg says that in one version of the experimental search function, ChatGPT can show you images along with its written responses whenever they're relevant. For example, if the chatbot deems illustrated instructions or diagrams useful for an inquiry, such as how to change a doorknob or how to clean a split-type AC, then it could include them in its responses. As Bloomberg notes, ChatGPT can already do searches for paying customers, but it could give faulty responses or replies with incorrect citations. Earlier this month, DataChaz on Twitter/X, reported that OpenAI had created a new subdomain with the address search.chatgpt.com . It apparently briefly rerouted to the main ChatGPT page over the weekend, though you'll get a Not found note if you try to access it now. While the company has yet to officially confirm this particular undertaking, working on AI search is a logical next step if it wants to keep competing with its staunchest rivals. Google recently expanded its AI-powered search results test and started showing them to users who didn't opt in. Then there's Perplexity, a startup currently valued at $1 billion, thanks to its AI-powered search engine that Rabbit uses to respond to inquiries made through the R1 device . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-is-reportedly-working-on-a-search-feature-for-chatgpt-101118170.html?src=rss

Penguin-inspired robot explores sea using AI

Quadroin AUV is an underwater research robot that mimics penguins' graceful and swift swimming, descending to depths of 492 feet at speeds up to 11.5 mph.

Get a lifetime of useful AI-powered content functions for $149.99

Macworld With social media posts, videos, blogs, marketing materials and more all expected to be part of any companys identity or any individuals personal brand, its easy to feel overwhelmed with the requirements of constantly feeding the digital beast. Thankfully, AI is here to help. With a lifetime subscription to a Unifire.ai Scale Plan on sale for $149.99, you can start leaning on the power of artificial intelligence to start pumping out all of that necessary content . The Unifire.ai approach is a unique one, employing a distinctive method for content generation by focusing on enhancing and transforming existing materials rather than starting over from the beginning like platforms like ChatGPT or Bard. Whether its articles, blog posts, or other written materials, this tactic applies advanced algorithms and natural language processing techniques to improve their quality, relevance, and effectiveness. You can shift content to help turn a webinar into a lead magnet, create text articles from a podcast recording, generate LinkedIn and other social media posts, turn a video into a newsletter or an e-book, and beyond. With a Unifire.ai Scale Plan , you can create up to 60 content assets from your source material per month. Regularly nearly $2,500, a lifetime subscription is now available for just $149.99 while this deal lasts. Unifire.ai Scale Plan: Lifetime Subscription (60 Generations/Month) $149.99 Curate content for $149.99 StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

iQoo Neo 9s Pro Tipped to Launch With MediaTek Dimesnity 9300+ SoC, 120W Wired Charging

iQoo Neo 9s Pro and Neo 9s Pro+ processor details have been leaked. The phones will soon be launched in China. The iQoo Neo 9s Pro is said to get the latest MediaTek Dimensity processor while the Neo 9s Pro+ will settle for the currently available Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon according to a tipster.

The 5 best cordless vacuums for 2024

Cordless vacuums offer a lot of improvements over their corded counterparts. Theyre typically more lightweight and easier to maneuver around your home than upright vacuums, and now that these devices have gotten better over time, you typically dont have to sacrifice suction power when choosing a cordless model over one with an old-school design. But just like the robot vacuum space, there are dozens of cordless vacuums to choose from now. Dyson isnt your only option anymore, which will be a good thing for your wallet but it also means that deciding which will be the best cordless vacuum for you can be confusing with all of the players out there. We at Engadget can help make that decision a bit easier. After testing a bunch of the most popular cordless stick vacuums available today, weve come up with our top picks, plus loads of buying advice to help you figure out which cordless stick vacuum is right for you. Factors to consider before buying a cordless vacuum Design and bin capacity Most of the cordless vacuums youll find today have stick designs, with a handle at the top attached to a debris bin, which has a space to connect different attachments at one end. These designs are more versatile than old school vacuums of yesteryear because, while you may use the long stick attachment most of the time to clean your floors, many cordless vacuums come with other attachments as well. Some allow you to clean hard to reach spaces like the interior of your car, while others make it easier to vacuum furniture and clean inside crevices. Bin volume is worth keeping in mind when youre choosing a cordless vacuum. The larger the bin, the more debris it can hold, but it might also mean a heavier machine. All of the cordless vacuums we tested had a bin size between 0.1 and 0.8 gallons and all were able to handle cleaning an entire one-pet home (roughly 2,000 square feet) in a single run without needing to be emptied. Anything smaller and you may have to deal with more frequent emptying during each cleaning session. Some cordless vacuums also have removable, replaceable battery packs, which is super handy. That means you can buy a replacement battery and install it easily, without needing to seek out professional assistance. Also, these extra batteries cost around $150-$200 a pop expensive, yes, but nowhere near as costly as buying a whole new cordless vacuum. Suction and power modes Cordless vacuum suction power is typically measured in air wattage (AW), but youll see some that list the power of the motor in wattage (W) instead. Typically the higher the air or motor wattage the stronger the suction power, and often strength is proportional to price more expensive cordless vacuums tend to have stronger suction power. A general rule of thumb is that those with precocious pets or mess-making children would benefit from a cordless vacuum cleaner with stronger-than-average suction power. Most cordless stick vacuums will have two different power modes: a normal or default power mode that balances suction power with battery life, as well as a max or stronger mode that kicks suction strength up a notch. Some vacuums, like those from Dyson, also have an eco mode, or one that prioritizes run time over strength. Separate from power modes you can select yourself, some cordless vacuums will automatically adjust motor strength depending on the detected floor type or the amount of mess in its wake. Not only is this convenient, but it also ensures that the machine is working its hardest only when you need it. Battery life Obviously, battery life is important since youll probably want to clean more than one room in a shot. All of the cordless vacuums we tested had a battery life of at least 40 minutes in standard cleaning mode. I tested each by cleaning all three floors of my home (upstairs, downstairs and basement) on a single charge with the machine running in its standard (auto) mode and none of them ran out of juice before I could finish the third floor. That said, extra battery life can come in handy if youre switching between power modes since max or high-power programs use more energy. Base style Most cordless stick vacuums come with some sort of base or mount where the machine lives when youre not using it. Wall mounts are the most common, but some have free-standing bases where you dock and charge the vacuum. Consider the space in your home where you want the cordless vacuum to live, since it will have to have an outlet or another power source nearby. Some high-end cordless vacuums come with self-emptying bases that act much like those included with expensive robot vacuums. After cleaning and returning the vacuum to the base, it will automatically empty the dustbin into a larger dustbin that you can then detach from the base when you need to empty it. This kind of base adds an extra layer of convenience into the mix, since you typically will only have to empty the larger dustbin every month or two. Smart features Yes, some cordless vacuums have smart features like Wi-Fi and app connectivity. But before we get into those, lets talk about the extra perks scattered among these devices. Some models, like the latest from Dyson, include particle sensors that show you how many different sized pieces of debris its sucking up in real time. Dysons, for example, is a piezo acoustic sensor that detects particle size and frequency and displays that information on the vacs LCD screen. Tinecos iLoop sensor is similar, controlling its vacuums automatic suction power adjustment and changing a circle on the display from red to blue as you fully clean an area. Higher-end cordless vacuums may also have companion apps that show things like battery level, filter status and cleaning logs. Its an added level of convenience, but by no means necessary. Unlike robot vacuums, which rely on their apps to set cleaning schedules, manually control the machines and more, cordless vacuums that you operate yourself really dont need Wi-Fi or an app connectivity. Price Cordless stick vacuums range in price from $150 all the way up to over $1,000. The best ones for most people lie in the middle, in the $400 to $700 range. Youll notice most of our picks land in the higher end of that range, but for good reason: More expensive machines tend to have more sucking power, which means less time wasted going over the same spots over and over. But does that mean everyone needs the most premium cordless vacuum? Definitely not. Weve come up with top picks at various price points that should work well for people with different budgets, lifestyles, home sizes and more. How we test cordless vacuums Engadget doesnt have a dedicated lab in which we can test cordless vacuums, but I used each model in my home for weeks. I ran them over hardwood and tile flooring, as well as low-pile carpet. And my first runthrough consisted of cleaning all three floors of my home on a single battery charge. I performed the same cleaning job as many times as possible, but also intermittently cleaned a single floor as needed, or sucked up isolated messes like crumbs, cat litter spills and tufts of pet fur. Over the course of many cleanings with each model, I made note of how loud the machine was, how easy it was to maneuver around my home, how easily it sucked up pieces of large debris (or if it pushed it around my floor instead) and if they got warm or hot. Best cordless stick vacuums for 2024 Other cordless stick vacuums we tested Dyson Gen 5 Detect The Dyson Gen 5 Detect has a single-button start and stronger suction power than our top pick, but its otherwise quite similar. However, since the Gen 5 Detect is more expensive at $950 (although it does receive discounts at Dyson online), the V15 Detect still provides greater value for your money. The Gen 5 Detect is arguably best for those who want the latest Dyson, or care about getting a more future-proof machine, since it came out just last year. Shark Detect Pro The Shark Detect Pro provides a lot of value for the money, but it was ultimately beat by the Tineco Pure One S15 Pet for our runner-up slot thanks to the Tinecos stronger suction power. The kicker for the Detect Pro is that it includes a self-emptying base in its $450 price, which is super handy. Itll automatically dump the contents of the vacuum into the larger bin in the base after every cleaning, and you only need to empty the bases container every month or so. The Detect Pro did a good job cleaning up messes across different types of flooring, and itll auto-adjust suction power depending on the amount of debris and whether youre cleaning hard or carpeted floors. However, its not as smooth to use as any of our top picks and its main cleaner head is a bit tall, making it difficult to use to clean under low furniture. FAQs How long does the battery last on a cordless vacuum? Most cordless vacuums will run for at least 30-40 minutes on a single charge, but you can find cordless vacuums with battery lives of up to 60 or 70 minutes. Manufacturers will outline an estimated battery life for each model, and theyre usually based on using the vacuums standard power mode for the entire runtime; if you switch between modes or prefer to use a higher-powered program for improved suction, youll drain the battery faster. Can cordless vacuums be as powerful as corded ones? Cordless vacuums do sacrifice a bit in overall power when compared to corded models, but that doesnt mean they cant handle everyday messes just as well. If suction power is your biggest concern, we recommend springing for a high-powered, high-end cordless vacuum since, typically, the more expensive a cordless vacuum is, the stronger the suction. Also, cordless vacuums have the edge over corded models when it comes to weight and convenience: cordless vacuums are much lighter than their corded counterparts, and youll never have to worry about placement or picking a fight with a cord while cleaning your living room. Are cordless vacuums effective on pet hair? Yes, cordless vacuums can handle pet hair well, but we recommend getting a model with strong suction power to get the best results. Its also wise to get one with a larger bin, since pet hair can quickly fill up smaller bins, which may force you to stop cleaning to empty the vacuum before finishing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-cordless-vacuum-130007125.html?src=rss

Vivo X100 Ultra Live Images Leaked; Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, 200-Megapixel Camera Tipped

Vivo X100 Ultra will be unveiled on May 13 in China alongside the Vivo X100s and Vivo X100s Pro. Vivo is actively teasing their design and camera sample showcasing the image editing capabilities. Now, a tipster has posted alleged live images and specifications of Vivo X100 Ultra on the Web. The renders show a circular camera module on the rear that is said to include three Zeiss-branded cameras.

iPad 10th Generation Gets a Price Drop: Apple Unveils New Cost for iPad, Flipkart Offers Even Better Deals

In a recent event dubbed 'Let Loose,' Apple made waves by not only introducing the 2024 iPad Pro OLED and iPad Air but also by slashing the price of the iPad 10th Generation. Originally kicking off at Rs 44,900, the 10th Gen iPad now starts at a pocket-friendly Rs 34,900 on the Apple website. Let's delve into the revised pricing details for the different variants of the 2022 iPad. Price Breakdown for Apple iPad 10th Generation in India Perusing through Apple.com, you'll find the 64GB Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular editions of the iPad 10th Gen priced at Rs 34,900 and Rs 49,900 respectively. Meanwhile, the 256GB Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular versions start at Rs 49,900 and Rs 64,900. Color choices are aplenty with options like Blue, Pink, Silver, and Yellow. However, don't forget to explore the offers available during the Flipkart Big Saving Days event if you're eyeing this device. Fantastic Flipkart Deals on iPad 10th Generation Right now, Flipkart is serving up enticing discounts, making the iPad more affordable in the mid-range segment. As part of the Big Saving Days promotion, you can snag the base iPad 10th Generation (Wi-Fi) for just Rs 32,999, a sweet Rs 2,000 markdown compared to Apple's official pricing. Plus, keep an eye out for additional offers such as bank discounts and exchange cashback to maximize your savings. Quick Look at iPad 10th Gen Specs The iPad 10th Gen boasts a 10.9-inch LED IPS display with a peak brightness of 500 nits. Powering it up is the formidable A14 chipset, ensuring smooth performance. It's also set to receive the iPadOS 17 update. On the camera front, you'll find a 12MP wide rear camera and a 12MP ultrawide front camera. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and a handy USB-C port. In other news, Flipkart didn't stop at iPad discounts; they also unveiled the iPad Pro OLED, iPad Air, Apple Pencil Pro, and Magic Keyboard at the 'Let Loose' event. For more insights into these key announcements, check out our detailed roundup. Apple New iPad Pro Unveiled: Here Are the Top 5 Features Apple's Pursuit of AI Dominance: Developing Custom Chips for Data Centers Apple Launches 2024 Pride Collection in India: Here's What You Need to Know

Catch the T20 World Cup Live for Free on Disney Plus Hotstar!

Cricket enthusiasts in India are in for a treat as Disney+ Hotstar announces free streaming of the ICC Mens T20 Cricket World Cup on its platform for smartphone users. This move comes after the success of a similar model during last year's ODI World Cup and Asia Cup, attracting record-breaking viewership. The highly anticipated ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 is slated to kick off on June 2 in the USA and the Caribbean. With 20 teams vying for glory, matches will be spread across three venues in the United States and six in the Caribbean. Following the adrenaline rush of the Indian Premier League, fans can look forward to cheering for the Men in Blue, led by Rohit Sharma, as they aim for victory. Of particular interest is the India-Pakistan clash on June 9, a fixture eagerly anticipated worldwide. Additionally, matches such as Australia vs. England and West Indies vs. New Zealand promise thrilling encounters, sure to draw large audiences. This initiative by Disney+ Hotstar not only ensures wider accessibility to cricket but also provides advertisers with a vast viewership base for enhanced reach. Sajith Sivanandan, Head of Disney+ Hotstar India, emphasized the aim to unite people through the sport and expand its reach across the country. The T20 World Cup matches will be available for streaming on handheld devices via Disney+ Hotstar, while Star Sports remains the official TV broadcaster. India's T20 World Cup Squad boasts Rohit Sharma as captain, with Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper and Hardik Pandya as vice-captain. Noteworthy inclusions are all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube, alongside spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Yuzvendra Chahal, who returns after a hiatus. India's journey in the T20 World Cup begins with a match against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. This match sets the stage for their subsequent encounters with Pakistan, USA, and Canada, leading up to the Super 8s stage, where they will vie against other group leaders. The tournament's excitement peaks with the semi-finals on June 26th and 27th, culminating in the grand finale on June 29th in Bridgetown, Barbados. India's T20 World Cup 2024 Jersey Images Stir Up Social Media Frenzy T20 World Cup Security Top Priority: Cricket West Indies Responds to Terror Threat India T20 World Cup Squad: Ajit Agarkar-Led Selection Committee Faces Crucial Decisions

Maximize your Macs abilities with MacPilot, only $30 for life

Macworld The power, capacity, and look of Macs and MacBooks are impressive, but certain features are left to be desired. Want a more powerful and customized Mac experience? MacPilot is a platform offering 1,200 features to optimize your user experience . Now, lifetime access is only $29.97 (reg. $99). With MacPilot, users can unlock these features to enhance their computing. Customize your dock by adding spacers and sleek smart stacks and menus, repair your Macs system by running maintenance scripts like launch services, display hidden files in Finder, and more. You can even adjust your Mac so you can view all contents of the graphics card and RAM bus speeds , as well as full lists of network ports, error codes, and even key combinations. From UI settings to total system optimization, MacPilot is a standalone tool that can effectively help you craft a more personalized Mac experience. Customize your Mac to your liking and unlock its potential with lifetime access to MacPilot, now just $29.97 for a limited time. MacPilot Lifetime License Only $29.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

Apple M4 Chip With On-Device AI, Ray Tracing and Ultra Retina XDR Display Support Launched

Apple M4 chip has been launched as the latest Apple Silicon chip, built on the firm's second-generation 3nm technology with up to 10 CPU cores. The new M4 chip powers the latest iPad Pro (2024). It boasts improved on-device AI performance with an upgraded Neural Engine and support for hardware accelerated ray tracing on the latest iPad Pro (2024).

The 2023 Echo Show 8 is on sale for $100 right now

Last year Amazon upgraded its Echo Show 8 to make it look better, sound better and respond more quickly to Alexa commands. It made our best smart display list , and if you've been eyeing one, it's on sale at a steep discount. The third-gen, 2023 Echo Show 8 is 33 percent off , bringing it down to just $100 ($50 off), only $10 off the all-time low. Amazon also has stellar deals on the Echo Dot and Echo Pop , offering them for $28 and $20 respectively. The 2023 Echo Show 8 has a new design with edge-to-edge glass and softer curves that help it blend into your decor. Inside, it comes with new spatial audio with room calibration that allows for fuller sound than previous model. Meanwhile, video calling benefits from crisper audio and a 13-megapixel camera. The new Adaptive Content feature changes whats shown on the screen based on where you are in the room. If youre standing far away, itll display easily digestible information in large font, like the weather or news headlines. As you get closer, itll switch to a more detailed view. It can also show personalized content for anyone enrolled in visual ID, surfacing your favorite playlists and other content. It also boasts 40 percent faster response times for Alexa thanks to its upgraded processor. For privacy-conscious buyers, it has a physical camera shutter thats controlled with a slider on the top of the device. Theres also a button to turn off the mic and camera. As mentioned, the Echo Show (3rd gen) is on sale for $100 in either charcoal or glacier white. If you only need a small Echo speaker device for an extra room, Amazon is also selling the 5th-generation Dot for just $28 , a steep 44 percent off the regular $50 price. That device has the best sound yet for a Dot device, while offering Alexa, smart home features and more. Amazon's smallest device, the Echo Pop, also offers Alexa features and is on sale for just $20 . 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/the-2023-echo-show-8-is-on-sale-for-100-right-now-071949479.html?src=rss

Microsoft Shuts Down Hi-Fi Rush Developer Tango Gameworks, Redfall Maker Arkane Austin, Other Bethesda Studios

Microsoft has shuttered several Bethesda-owned game studios, including Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and Redfall maker Arkane Austin, in a move to shift focus on its priority games. The Xbox parent is also closing Alpha Dog Games, makers of the mobile game Mighty Doom, while Roundhouse Studios, which also contributed to Redfall development, will be absorbed by ZeniMax Online Studios.

Google Threat Intelligence With Gemini AI Capabilities Introduced for Cybersecurity Professionals

Google introduced its newest cybersecurity-focused threat detection and analysis product dubbed Google Threat Intelligence on Tuesday. The tech giant is offering the product as a part of the Google Cloud Security portfolio, and said it will assist cybersecurity professionals gain better visibility of global threats. The threat intelligence platform will leverage the capabilities of the companys artificial intelligence (AI) model Gemini.

Crypto Price Today: Bitcoin, Ether See Small Losses, Most Altcoins Reflect Price Dips

The overall crypto market cap slipped by 0.76 percent in the last 24 hours. Bitcoin and Ether saw losses on Wednesday, May 8. Solana, Ripple, Dogecoin are among other popular cryptocurrencies that recorded price dips in the last 24 hours.

Apple Pencil Pro Unveiled With Haptic Feedback, Find My Support, New Gestures

Apple took the wraps off its Pencil Pro at the 'Let Loose' event on Tuesday (May 7) alongside the newest iPad Pro and iPad Air lineup. The latest generation of Apple's handy stylus has several new features like a squeeze function, gyroscope and custom haptic feedback. It offers the company's native Find My technology. The Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the latest iPad models with iPadOS 17.5 or later.

Pixel 8a or OnePlus 12R? Deciphering India's Budget Phone Dilemma

Fresh Smartphone Showdown: Google Pixel 8a, OnePlus 12R, and Nothing Phone 2 Battle for Best Budget Buy in India! Google has just rolled out its long-awaited Pixel 8a in India, kicking off at a modest Rs. 52,999. Loaded with Google's cutting-edge Tensor G3 chip, this phone boasts a stellar promise of 7 years of OS updates, Gemini AI integration, and a slick dual-camera setup. Pixel 8a Specs Unveiled: The Pixel 8a rocks a spacious 6.1-inch Full HD+ OLED HDR display, sporting a dazzling 120Hz refresh rate. It's armored with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, ensuring durability. Running on Google's powerful Tensor G3 chip, it supports up to 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. This sleek device runs on Android 14 OS, with Google's pledge of 7 years of OS updates and security patches. The camera setup flaunts a 64MP primary sensor with OIS, accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide lens. Plus, there's a sharp 13MP front camera for selfies and video calls, delivering crisp 4K videos at 60fps from the rear and 30fps from the front. Starting at Rs. 52,999 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage version, SBI bank credit card holders can snag a cool Rs. 4,000 discount. OnePlus 12R in the Ring: Meanwhile, OnePlus unveils its contender, the 12R, boasting a massive 6.78-inch AMOLED ProXDR display with LTPO 4.0 tech for seamless transitions from 1-120Hz. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, coupled with the Adreno 740 GPU, it's a powerhouse for gaming and multimedia. With up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, this device is a storage behemoth. Fueled by a hefty 5,500mAh battery, fast charging is a breeze with the 100W SUPERVOOC charger. On the optics front, the OnePlus 12R packs a punch with a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor, complete with OIS and EIS. Complementing this are an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens. And for selfies and video calls, there's a crisp 16MP front camera. The battle for the best budget smartphone in India rages on as tech giants Google and OnePlus unveil their latest offerings. With powerful specs and promising features, these devices are set to redefine the mid-range smartphone market. Apple's Next Flagship: What to Expect from the iPhone 17 Series Samsung's Newest Galaxy F55 5G Phone to Hit Shelves Soon: Here's What We Know So Far

Pre-orders for Apples new M4 iPad Pro, iPad Air, and Apple Pencil Pro now live at Amazon

Apples Let Loose event was let loose on the masses this morning with the M4 chip powering the thinnest and most powerful Apple tablet to date, the all-new AirPads (yes, Im calling them this for the time being), and Apple Pencil Pro the only Cupertino stylus that works with its latest iPad (properly anyway). While pre-orders on all of the new gear were exclusive to the official online Apple storefront earlier today, Amazon is getting in on the action this evening with Prime shipping and official pre-order listings for all of todays new releases. All of the details are waiting down below. more

NYT Strands: answers for Wednesday, May 8

Strands is a tricky take on the classic word search from NYT Games. If you're stuck and cannot solve today's puzzle, we've got help for you here.

C'mon, Why Isn't the New Apple Pencil Pro Backward Compatible?

Apple's latest stylus will only work with its newest iPads. The long-running second-gen Apple Pencilwhich the company still sellswill not.

Meta is testing cross-posting from Instagram to Threads

Meta is testing a new way to boost engagement on Threads using Instagram. The company is now testing the ability to cross-post photos from Instagram to Threads. Meta confirmed the experiment after a handful Threads users noticed the setting crop up in Instagram ( TechCrunch was first to report the change). According to the company, cross-posting from Instagram to Threads is optional, though users can opt to have automatically all new photo posts shared to their Threads account as well. (Those who are part of the test can tweak cross-posting settings in the Instagram app.) Meta has been testing a number of features to boost the growth of Threads, which currently has 150 million users. The company has also experimented with cross-posting from Facebook to Threads and promotes Threads posts directly in Facebook and Instagram feeds, regardless of whether they use the app. Its also encouraging creators to be more active on the app. Meta has been offering bonuses to creators in exchange for high-performing posts on Threads. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-testing-cross-posting-from-instagram-to-threads-234245961.html?src=rss

Auto-Voxs CS-2 wireless backup cam with 4.3-inch monitor and night vision returns to $71 low

Amazon is offering the AUTO-VOX CS-2 Wireless Backup Camera with 4.3-inch Monitor for $71.20 shipped, after clipping the on-page $32 off coupon and using the promo code ZT3VGIMI at checkout for an additional 14% off . Down from its $120 price tag, this device saw the same recurring discount throughout 2023 down to the same $90 low. We didnt see it fall below $80 until the new year the first time since 2019 and todays deal comes in to repeat the trend with a combined 41% markdown off the going rate. It matches our previous mention from the first week of March, returning costs to the all-time low. more

Campluxs 18kW tankless electric water heater lowers costs by 60% for $300 ($50 off)

The official Camplux Amazon storefront is offering its 18kW Tankless Electric Water Heater for $299.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $50 off coupon. Down from its $350 price tag, this model has only seen a handful of discounts since its release in June, most of them only dropping costs by $50 and the greatest among them dropping costs to the $250 low in September before prices began climbing for the last few months of 2023. Since the new year began weve seen a few discounts taking things down to $270 in January and $290 in March at the most. Todays deal comes in as a repeat $50 markdown off the going rate that lands at the fourth-lowest price we have tracked. The 6kW and27kWmodels are also seeing discounts to $84 and$400respectively, after clipping the on-page coupons. more

Save over $200 on LGs beloved new 120Hz 2024 OLED evo C4 smart TVs from $1,397

Okay, here we go folks, one of the more popular OLED TVs out there was refreshed for 2024 and we are now tracking solid Amazon deals at over $200 off on the new LG Class OLED evo C4 Series Smart TVs . Starting with the 42-inch model right up to the 77-inch variant, prices have now come down on the 2024 C4 series for the first time at Amazon since the pre-order phase. Sporting the LG OLED-exclusive next-gen 9 Gen7 AI processor, AI-assisted deep learning analysis, an almost invisible bezel, and a whole lot more, youll want to head below for a closer at the feature set and the now discounted prices across the entire lineup. more

Raspberry Pis get a built-in remote access tool: Raspberry Pi Connect

Reach your little Pis from nearly any browserand free up your RealVNC slots.

OpenAI partners with People publisher Dotdash Meredith

OpenAI is partnering with another publisher as it moves towards a licensed approach to training materials. Dotdash Meredith, the owner of brands like People and Better Homes & Gardens , will license its content for OpenAI to train ChatGPT while the publisher will use the AI companys models to boost its in-house ad-targeting tool. As part of the arrangement, ChatGPT will display content and links attributed to Dotdash Merediths publications. It also provides OpenAI with fully licensed training material from trusted publications. Thats a welcome change after the company got in hot water for allegedly using content for training purposes without permission. The New York Times and Alden Capital Group (owner of The Chicago Tribun e, New York Daily News and the Orlando Sentinel ) have sued the ChatGPT maker, accusing it of using its content without permission. Comedian Sarah Silverman and a conspiracy-mongering car salesman (the latter for different reasons) have, too. We have not been shy about the fact that AI platforms should pay publishers for their content and that content must be appropriately attributed, Neil Vogel, Dotdash Meredith CEO, wrote in a press release. This deal is a testament to the great work OpenAI is doing on both fronts to partner with creators and publishers and ensure a healthy Internet for the future. Before the Dotdash Meredith deal, OpenAI struck an agreement with The Financial Times . It is right, of course, that AI platforms pay publishers for the use of their material, the papers CEO, John Ridding, said in a statement last month. Dotdash Meredith, which also owns Investopedia , Food & Win e, InStyle and Verywell , will use OpenAIs models to supercharge its D/Cipher ad-targeting tool. The publisher says its advertising system connects advertisers directly to consumers based on the context of content being consumed, without using personal identifiers like cookies. Thats an industry-wide shift on the horizon, as Google is moving to a cookie-less future albeit later than initially advertised . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-partners-with-people-publisher-dotdash-meredith-212832821.html?src=rss

Amazon Pet Day takes up to 50% off robot vacuums, mops, stain cleaners, more from $98

Amazons annual Pet Day sales event is in full swing for today and tomorrow, with plenty of deals taking up to 50% off all manner of pet supplies and gadgets. Some of the most convenient of these devices is vacuums, mops, and stain cleaners both robot and stick models alike that can handle the large amount of shed hair and accidental messes from your fur babies. Youll find cleaning solutions from Roborock, ECOVACS, Yeedi, Bissel, iRobot, Hoover, and Anker Some of these models have seen regular discounts at higher rates, while others are returning to long-awaited all-time lows with releases starting at $98 . Head below for our top picks. more

The best Android phones for 2024

Theres one clear perk that Android has over iOS and thats variety when it comes to the phones you have to choose from. Apple has made the iPhone is the only game in town for iOS, but with Googles operating system, there are dozens of choices out there from manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus and others. But that also means it can be difficult to decide which device is best for you when it comes time to upgrade, or if you want to switch from iPhone to Android in the new year. If youre looking for a new phone and dont know where to start, weve got you covered with a selection of the best Android phones for every budget. Editors note (5/7/24) : Google has announced the Pixel 8a, its latest midrange smartphone. The 6.1-inch handset starts at $499 and, as expected, takes many of its cues from last years flagship Pixel 8 series . Well have a full review in the coming days and will update this guide accordingly. For now, you can check out our hands-on preview for more details on what to expect. Google says itll continue to sell the Pixel 7a , our current budget pick, at a reduced price, so it may continue to be worthwhile. Most should hold off until we put the new Pixel through its paces, though. What to look for in a new Android phone Performance When it comes to picking our favorite Android phones, the main things we look for are pretty straightforward: good performance (both compute and AI), a nice display, solid design, sharp cameras, long battery life and a significant commitment to ongoing software support. For performance, not only do we look at benchmarks and other metrics, but we also evaluate phones based on responsiveness. Regardless of whether youre reading, text messaging, scrolling through social media or playing a game, no one wants a gadget that feels sluggish. Display Sam Rutherford/Engadget When it comes to displays, we generally prefer OLED panels that can produce rich, saturated colors with at least 600 nits of brightness, though many of our top mid-range and high-end phones can hit 1,000 nits or more. And more recently, most of our favorite devices also support screens with fast refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz, which adds an extra level of smoothness and fluidity. Design Now we will admit there is a bit of subjectivity when deciding which phones look the best, but there are other design aspects like dust and water resistance or screen durability that can make a big difference to long-term survival. Its also important to consider things like support for wireless charging, power sharing (aka reverse wireless charging) and UWB connectivity, which can have an impact on how your phone interacts with your other devices. Cameras Obviously, for photos were looking for sharp, colorful shots in both bright and low-light conditions. And we want video clips with high dynamic range, rich audio and smooth image stabilization. Extra cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are a plus. The best cameras should also include features like dedicated night modes, support for various video recording resolutions, and additional photo modes like timelapse, slow motion and more. Battery and software Finally, in terms of longevity, were looking for all-day battery life on devices that also delivered great results on our local video rundown test (at least 16 hours on a charge, but more is obviously better). Wireless charging capabilities have become almost ubiquitous over the past few years, and most of our top picks have this extra perk. Fast-charging is available on some Android phones, too. Finally, with people holding onto their phones longer than ever, we like to see companies commit to at least three years of software support, upgrades and regular security updates. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-android-phone-130030805.html?src=rss

Best dash cam deals: Protect your ride from just $39

Want a dash cam? We've rounded up the best deals, along with tips on making the right choice for your needs.

Hello Again! Spigen debuts new vintage iMac G3-style MagSafe wallets [Launch deal]

Remember last year when Spigen debuted its epic vintage iMac-style cases for iPhone 15? Well its back with new matching MagSafe wallets for folks looking to bring the Jony Ive design-inspired translucent Apple vibes to the back of your iPhone. The new Spigen Classic C1 (MagFit) Magnetic Wallet Card Holder is now available for purchase on the brands official Amazon storefront with a series of perfectly matching colors at $28.99 shipped each, down for the $33 launch price. Check them out here and youll find more details below. more

iPad Pro 2024 vs. 2022: Whats changed

You may have heard Apple updated its top-of-the-line tablets at its Let Loose event on Tuesday. The 2024 model has some big improvements, including the new M4 chip , a noticeably thinner and lighter build, a superior OLED display and upgraded accessories . We broke down the key differences between the latest iPad Pro and its 2022 predecessor to help you figure out if its worth the (hefty) investment. Display and dimensions iPad Pro: 13-inch (2024) vs. 12.9-inch (2022) Apple / Will Shanklin for Engadget In Engadgets hands-on at Apples Let Loose event , Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham said the new iPad Pros thinner and lighter build and its Tandem OLED display are the first big changes youll notice when you pick up the latest model. In Apples extremely bright demo area, the iPad Pro screen showed its quality everything was extremely clear, blacks were pitch-black and colors really popped, he said after using it at Apples event. After looking at the iPad Air display, it was obvious how much better these screens are. iPad Pro: 11-inch (2024 vs. 2022) Apple / Will Shanklin for Engadget Another change youll notice when you compare the two iPad Pros side-by-side is camera positioning. The 2024 model moves its front-facing camera to the top-center when viewed in landscape orientation. The older model used Apples original iPad configuration, where the camera was centered above the screen when holding it upright in portrait mode. The new iPad Pro is also noticeably lighter and thinner than its 2022 predecessor. The 13-inch model is a mere 5.11mm (0.2 inch) thick and weighs only 579g (1.28 lbs), making it 20 percent thinner and 15 percent lighter than the 12.9-incher from 2022. Meanwhile, the new 11-inch variant is 5.3mm (0.21 inch) thick and weighs 444g (0.98 lb), making it 10 percent thinner and five percent lighter than the older one. Considering the 2022 model was already a svelte machine, its no wonder we found the new iPad Pro surprisingly thin and light relative to its processing power. Speaking of which Processor Apple / Will Shanklin for Engadget The iPhone maker unveiled a new Apple Silicon version on an iPad instead of a Mac for the first time. The all-new M4 chip has up to a 10-core CPU configuration (four performance cores and six efficiency cores), which the company says translates to one and a half times faster performance than the M2 silicon in the 2022 model. I say up to because, similar to MacBooks and some older iPad Pro models, Apple is shipping different chip variants depending on your pricing tier. The 1TB and 2TB versions of the 2024 model have that 10-core chip, while the 256GB and 512GB models drop down to a nine-core M4 with three performance and six efficiency cores. The lower-tier and high-end M4 variants include a 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a 16-core neural engine, 120GB/s memory bandwidth and 16GB of RAM. So the different models dont sound dramatically different you just get an extra performance core in the more expensive tiers. Well have to wait until we get some extended time with them to see how that translates into real-world experience. By comparison, the M2 in the 2022 iPad Pro has an eight-core CPU with four performance and four efficiency cores. It also has a 16-core Neural Engine (of course, an older version than the one in the M4), 100GB/s memory bandwidth and either 8GB or 16GB of RAM. Accessories Apple / Will Shanklin for Engadget The new iPad Pro also has some new accessories you cant use with the 2022 model. That includes a new Magic Keyboard that Apple claims makes the entire experience feel just like using a MacBook. You can thank its bigger trackpad with haptic feedback (like on modern MacBooks ) and an aluminum palm rest. The older model used a microfiber-esque material and physically clicking trackpad, so the new one should feel more solid underneath your hands and aligned with MacBooks look and feel. The new Magic Keyboard also adds a new 14-key function row (also similar to a MacBook) with shortcuts for things like brightness, Spotlight search, Siri / dictation and media controls. Meanwhile, the Apple Pencil Pr o exclusively compatible with the 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air looks much like its predecessor but adds some extra goodies. Those include a new sensor in its barrel that lets you squeeze it like the lovely little stylus it is. The new squeeze gesture can bring up tool palettes or activate shortcuts. Third-party developers can even customize the actions for individual apps. For the first time, it also adds haptic feedback to let you know if your squeeze was accepted or if something you moved has landed in its intended spot. The new Apple Pencil also works with Find My (another first), so you can check on its most recent location in Apples location app if you lose it. Both models also work with the cheaper ($79) USB-C Apple Pencil from 2023. Price Well, it cant all be good news. With all those upgrades, Apple is once again asking you to consider paying more for a high-end tablet. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and the 13-inch model starts at a whopping $1,299. Those are each $200 higher than the starting prices in the 2022 model (when it was available). But wait, it gets worse. Those prices dont take into account the $299 (11-inch) or $349 (13-inch) youll pay if you want to add the new Magic Keyboard, nor does it factor in the $129 for the Apple Pencil Pro. Youll have to pony up to make the new iPad Pro as much like a MacBook as possible: It will cost you almost what youd pay for an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 chip. On the slightly brighter side, you get more storage this time around. The 2024 iPad Pro starts with 256GB, double the 128GB in the 2022 model. Moving up from there, the other storage tiers are identical to its predecessor (ranging up to 2TB for those with Scrooge McDuck bank accounts). Full specs comparison Heres a table showing the full specs comparison between the 2024 and 2022 iPad Pro models, including separate charts for the 13 / 12.9-inch and 11-inch variants. 13-inch iPad Pro (2024) vs. 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2022) 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2024) 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2022) Price $1,299, $1,499, $1,899, $2,299 $1,099, $1,199, $1,399, $1,799, $2,199 Dimensions 281.16 x 215.5 x 5.1 mm (11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 inch) 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4 mm (11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inch) Weight 1.28 pounds / 579 grams (Wi-Fi) 1.28 pounds / 582 grams (cellular) 1.5 pounds / 682 grams (Wi-Fi) 1.51 pounds / 685 grams (cellular) Processor M4 M2 Display 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR 2752 x 2064 (264 ppi) 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR 2732 x 2048 (264 ppi) Storage 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB Battery 38.99 Wh 10 hrs (Wi-Fi), 9 hrs (cellular) 40.88 Wh 10 hrs (Wi-Fi), 9 hrs (cellular) Camera Back: 12MP, /1.8 Front: 12MP, /2.4 Back: 12MP wide, /1.8 / 10MP ultrawide, /2.4 Front: 12MP, /2.4 Compatible Apple accessories Magic Keyboard (2024) Apple Pencil Pro Magic Keyboard (2020) Apple Pencil (2nd generation) 11-inch iPad Pro (2024) vs. 11-inch iPad Pro (2022) 11-inch iPad Pro (2024) 11-inch iPad Pro (2022) Price $999, $1,199, $1,599, $1,999 $799, $899, $1,099, $1,499, $1,899 Dimensions 249.7 x 177.5 x 5.9 mm (9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 inch) 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm (9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inch) Weight 0.98 pound / 444 grams (Wi-Fi) 0.98 pound / 446 grams (cellular) 1.03 pound / 466 grams (Wi-Fi) 1.04 pound / 470 grams (cellular) Processor M4 M2 Display 11-inch Ultra Retina XDR Tandem OLED 2420 x 1668 (264 ppi) 11-inch Liquid Retina LED 2388 x 1668 (264 ppi) Storage 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB Battery 31.29 Wh 10 hrs (Wi-Fi), 9 hrs (cellular) 28.65 Wh 10 hrs (Wi-Fi), 9 hrs (cellular) Camera Back: 12MP, /1.8 Front: 12MP, /2.4 Back: 12MP wide, /1.8 / 10MP ultrawide, /2.4 Front: 12MP, /2.4 Compatible Apple accessories Magic Keyboard (2024) Apple Pencil Pro Magic Keyboard (2020) Apple Pencil (2nd generation) Stay tuned for Engadgets full review of the 2024 model. In the meantime, you can recap Nathan Ingrahams initial impressions of the new iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro , Devindra Hardawars recap of the new models features and Sam Rutherfords run-through of the new M4 chip . Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Let Loose' event right here . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ipad-pro-2024-vs-2022-whats-changed-202056821.html?src=rss

Everything Announced at Today's Apple Event

Apple today held the first event of 2024, debuting new iPad Air and iPad Pro models and accompanying accessories. While the event was faster than normal and took 40 minutes, we've condensed it down even further for those who want a quick overview of everything that was announced. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've also got a full recap of all of the coverage that we did today for those who want a deeper dive into what's new. iPad Pro Apple Announces New iPad Pro With M4 Chip, OLED Display, and More Apple Debuts Next-Generation M4 Chip iPad Pro's $100 Nano-Texture Glass Option Only Available With 1TB and 2TB Models iPad Pro With 1TB+ Storage Has 16GB RAM, Other Models Have 8GB New iPad Pro With All Options Costs Over $3,000 Apple's New iPad Pro Models Weigh Less Than iPad Air Models New iPad Pro Lacks mmWave 5G and Ultra-Wide Camera Hands-On With iPad Pro in Space Black: Apple's Thinnest Product Ever New iPad Pro Supports Lower Refresh Rate, But Still Lacks Always-On Display iPad Pro 2022 vs. iPad Pro 2024 Buyer's Guide: 25 Differences Compared iPad Air Apple Announces New M2 iPad Air Models in 11-Inch and 13-Inch Sizes From $599 New 2024 iPads Still Have 10 Hours of Battery Life iPad Air 2022 vs. iPad Air 2024 Buyer's Guide: 19 Differences Compared Magic Keyboard Apple Announces Redesigned Magic Keyboard for New iPad Pro Starting at $299 Apple Pencil Apple Pencil Pro Unveiled With New Squeeze Gesture, Haptic Feedback, Find My, and More Here's the Apple Pencil Lineup With New Pro Model Other Announcements Apple Event Live Blog: New iPad Pro, iPad Air, and More Here's Apple's Full iPad Lineup With New iPad Pro and iPad Air Models Apple's New Cellular iPad Air and iPad Pro Models Are eSIM Only iPad 9 Discontinued, iPad 10 Now Starts at $349 Apple Introduces Logic Pro 2 With New AI Features Apple Debuts New Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera App Apple Launches New Smart Folio Cases for M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air The iPad Air and iPad Pro models are can be ordered as of today, with deliveries set to begin on Wednesday, May 15. Pricing on the iPad Air starts at $599 and pricing on the iPad Pro starts at $999. Tag: May 2024 Apple Event This article, Everything Announced at Today's Apple Event first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Meta is expanding its paid verification service for businesses

Meta is expanding its paid verification service for businesses, adding three new tiers to the program that offers extra perks to companies willing to pay a monthly subscription. The company began testing the service, called Meta Verified, with businesses last fall after rolling out a paid verification for individuals. With the new plans, which are coming first to Australia, and New Zealand, Meta is offering a much wider range of services to business owners that rely on its platform. Under the new structure, the basic standard plan is $14.99/month. It offers a verification badge, higher ranking in search, impersonation protection, the ability to add links to images and access to customer support. (Each subscription covers a single Facebook or Instagram account, the program is expected to roll out to WhatsApp soon.) While that base plan is now the same price for businesses as it is for individuals, companies will pay a hefty premium for the extra perks. There are three additional tiers for business owners to choose from: the $44.99/month plus plan, the $119.99 premium plan and $349.99/month max plan. Each of these includes additions like the ability to add links to a Reels posts, fast-tracked customer support and more profile customization options. Meta The most expensive plan also expands impersonation protection to up to five employees as well as extra customer service perks. It includes a semiannual account review, which will consist of personalized guidance on their content strategy. And it allows account owners to request a phone call from a Meta customer service representative for help with account issues and other problems. During a briefing with reporters, Metas VP of new monetization experiences Pratiti Raychoudhury said the expansion of Meta Verified is meant to meet businesses where they are in their journey on our apps. She said Meta will continue to tweak its offerings as more companies sign up for verification. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-expanding-its-paid-verification-service-for-businesses-200412634.html?src=rss

New iPad Pros Support Lower Refresh Rate, But Lack Always-On Display

The new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models are equipped with OLED displays that support a refresh rate as low as 10Hz, but the devices still lack an always-on display option like the iPhone and Apple Watch have, according to Apple's tech specs . While the iPad Pro has supported ProMotion since 2017, the device only supported refresh rates between 24Hz and 120Hz until now. The new iPad Pro models use low-power LTPO technology, according to display industry expert Ross Young , allowing the display to ramp down to 10Hz for static content. This change will contribute to lower power consumption, but advertised battery life is unchanged overall compared to the previous iPad Pro generation. The same situation happened a few years ago with the iPhone 13 Pro models, which also support ProMotion down to 10Hz, but lack an always-on display option. The feature finally arrived on the iPhone with the iPhone 14 Pro models, which can ramp down to 1Hz, and Apple Watch models with an always-on display also reach 1Hz. All in all, the iPad Pro is unlikely to get an always-on display option until if and when it too supports a 1Hz refresh rate. Apple says the iPad Pro now features state-of-the-art tandem OLED technology that uses two OLED panels and combines the light from both to provide phenomenal full-screen brightness. The new iPad Pro models can achieve up to 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness for SDR content, compared to 600 nits for the previous-generation models. The new iPad Pro models are available to order starting today and launch on Wednesday, May 15. Related Roundup: iPad Pro Tag: ProMotion Buyer's Guide: 11 iPad Pro (Buy Now) , 12.9 iPad Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPad This article, New iPad Pros Support Lower Refresh Rate, But Lack Always-On Display first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Pencil Buyer's Guide: Which Model Should You Choose?

Apple now offers four different Apple Pencil models at $79, $99, and $129 price points, each with different feature sets and compatibility. Our guide helps you decide which Apple Pencil is best for you. Which Apple Pencil you should buy is firstly determined by which iPad model you have. Some iPad models are only compatible with one kind of Apple Pencil, while others are compatible with two. If your iPad model only supports one kind of Apple Pencil, your buying decision is straightforward. Use the table below to find out which Apple Pencil models your iPad supports: Apple Pencil (first-generation, 2015) Apple Pencil (second-generation, 2018) Apple Pencil (USB-C, 2023) Apple Pencil Pro (2024) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (first- and second-generation) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (third-, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, and seventh- generation) iPad Pro 13-inch (seventh-generation) iPad Pro 9.7-inch and 10.5-inch iPad Pro 11-inch (first-, second-, third-, and fourth-generation) iPad Pro 11-inch (first-, second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-generation) iPad Pro 11-inch (fifth-generation) iPad Air (third-generation) iPad Air (fourth- and fifth-generation) iPad Air (fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation) iPad Air (sixth-generation) iPad mini (fifth-generation) iPad mini (sixth-generation) iPad mini (sixth-generation) iPad (sixth-, seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-generation) iPad (tenth-generation) Simply put, if your iPad features a Lightning connector, it is only compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, providing it has Apple Pencil support at all. It will not work with the second-generation Apple Pencil or the Apple Pencil with USB-C. If your iPad features a USB-C port, it is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil with USB-C, except the tenth-generation iPad, which supports the first-generation Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil with USB-C, and the M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro, which support the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil with USB-C. It is worth noting that the first-generation Apple Pencil is only compatible with the tenth-generation iPad using a USB-C cable and USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter. It is not possible to use the first-generation Apple Pencil this way with any other iPad model that has a USB-C port. All four Apple Pencil models feature pixel-perfect precision, low latency, and tilt sensitivity, but feature different designs, pairing and charging methods, pressure sensitivity capabilities, and more. The below table lists all hardware and feature differences between the different Apple Pencil models. Apple Pencil (first-generation, 2015) Apple Pencil (second-generation, 2018) Apple Pencil (USB-C, 2023) Apple Pencil Pro (2024) Glossy finish Matte finish Matte finish Matte finish Weighted to prevent rolling Flat edge to prevent rolling and snap to the side of an iPad Flat edge to prevent rolling and snap to the side of an iPad Flat edge to prevent rolling and snap to the side of an iPad Attaches magnetically for storage, pairing, and charging Attaches magnetically for storage Attaches magnetically for storage, pairing, and charging 6.92-inch length 6.53-inch length 6.1-inch length [Currently unknown] Removable cap Non-removable sliding cap Lightning connector USB-C port Pair and charge via Lightning port or USB-C cable and USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter Pair and charge wirelessly Pair and charge via USB-C cable Pair and charge wirelessly Pressure sensitivity Pressure sensitivity Pressure sensitivity Barrel roll Supports Apple Pencil hover Supports Apple Pencil hover Supports Apple Pencil hover Double-tap to change tools Double-tap to change tools Squeeze control Haptic feedback Find My support Free engraving option Free engraving option $99 $129 $79 $129 First-Generation Apple Pencil vs. Apple Pencil With USB-C Most users should choose the Apple Pencil with USB-C. For a price of just $79, the Apple Pencil with USB-C provides a good balance of features with a more modern design. It also has the added advantage of being compatible with a wide range of models and will likely work with all new iPad models for many years to come. It is only worth opting for the first-generation Apple Pencil if you specifically want pressure-sensitivity for activities like illustration, since the Apple Pencil with USB-C does not have this feature. Buyers should be aware that this model comes at a $20 premium, requires a USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter with the tenth-generation iPad, and will not be compatible with any future iPad models. It also cannot be magnetically attached to an iPad for storage, features a larger and older design, and has a removable cap over the Lightning connector that's easy to lose. Second-Generation Apple Pencil or Apple Pencil Pro vs. Apple Pencil With USB-C If choosing between the second-generation Apple Pencil or Apple Pencil Pro and the Apple Pencil with USB-C, the second-generation and Pro models are a better choice on account of their superior feature set, but this requires spending an additional $50. Double-tap to change tools and pressure-sensitivity may be particularly useful additions for illustrators, while the easy pairing and charging on the side of an iPad provides a much better experience than a wired connection with a USB-C cable. If you have only basic needs for activities like handwriting notes and marking up documents, the Apple Pencil with USB-C is still a great option at a much more affordable price point. It even supports Apple Pencil hover on the newer iPad Air and iPad Pro models. Tag: Apple Pencil Related Forum: iPad Accessories This article, Apple Pencil Buyer's Guide: Which Model Should You Choose? first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The New iPad Air Comes With 11 And 13-inch Screens, M2 Chip And Improved Spatial Audio

Aside from the new iPad Pro , the Cupertino giant just unveiled the 6th generation iPad Air representing Apples latest entry into the intermediate tablet market, focusing on delivering high-performance hardware within a sleek and lightweight design. Key among its features is the introduction of a new 13-inch display variant alongside the traditional 11-inch model, providing users with more screen real estate options. In terms of design, the iPad Air adopts a sustainable approach with its construction, utilizing 100% recycled aluminum. This aligns with Apples commitment to environmental responsibility, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality for all its products by 2030. Unlike some other models, the iPad Air forgoes Face ID in favor of Touch ID for biometric unlocking , utilizing the users fingerprint as the access credential. The device incorporates notable enhancements in its camera system. The front-facing 12 MP camera now supports landscape orientation and features Center Stage technology, which intelligently adjusts the frame to keep the user centered during video calls or recordings. Similarly, the rear camera boasts a 12 MP sensor , contributing to overall imaging capabilities. Audio quality receives attention as well, with stereo speakers now positioned in landscape orientation for improved spatial audio. The 13-inch model further enhances sound reproduction with double the bass, providing a more immersive listening experience. Under the hood, the iPad Air receives a performance boost courtesy of Apples M2 processor . This chip offers an incremental increase in CPU power compared to its predecessor, the M1, enhancing overall processing capabilities. Coupled with a 10-core GPU for enhanced graphics performance and a 16-core Neural Engine for AI tasks, the device aims to deliver a seamless user experience across various applications and tasks. Storage options have been updated, with both size variants starting at 128 GB and offering configurations up to 1 TB. Additionally, the tablet supports Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and offers versions compatible with 5G networks, which can be activated via eSIM technology for added convenience and security. Availability and Price The new iPad Air models can be found in 4 different colors (Space Gray, Blue, Purple and Starlight) are available for pre-order, starting from $599 (11-inch, 128 GB) and $799 (13-inch, 128 GB). The first orders will start to be delivered from May 15th. The New iPad Air Comes With 11 And 13-inch Screens, M2 Chip And Improved Spatial Audio , original content from Ubergizmo . Read our Copyrights and terms of use .

Apple Debuts New Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera App

Apple today introduced a new version of the Final Cut Pro software that's designed to run on the iPad , introducing capabilities designed specifically for the M4 iPad Pro . A new Live Multicam feature allows users to capture up to four different angles of a single scene using connected iPhones and iPads. To make this feature work, Apple has created a Final Cut Camera app that captures video from each of the devices and feeds it into Final Cut Pro. Users can get a director's view of each camera in real time, and the settings can be adjusted from the Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 app. There are options for tweaking exposure, focus, white balance, ISO, shutter speed, and zoom to get the perfect shots. Preview clips are passed through to Final Cut Pro and then replaced with full-resolution files so users can quickly move from production to editing. Final Cut Camera is available as a standalone app and in addition to feeding footage to Final Cut Pro, it can be used as a video capture app for recording video with precise manual controls. The updated Final Cut Pro for iPad app supports external projects, so users can create or open projects on an external device and import media without taking up iPad storage space. Apple added additional customization options to Final Cut Pro, including 12 color-grading presets, eight basic text titles, 20 soundtracks, and new dynamic backgrounds. With the M4 chip, final rendering with Final Cut Pro is up to 2x faster, and it supports up to 4x more streams of ProRes RAW than the M1 chip. Final Cut for iPad works with the Apple Pencil Pro, adding support for barrel roll and squeeze, improving access to and control over tools. Apple has also updated Final Cut Pro for the Mac, adding Enhance Light and Color, an AI feature that improves color, color balance, contrast, and brightness in one step. Smooth Slo-Mo, another new feature, blends frames of video intelligently to provide higher-quality movement. Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 will be available this spring as a free update for existing users, with new users able to purchase it for $4.99 per month or $49 per year. Final Cut Camera will come later in the spring as well, and Final Cut Pro for Mac 10.8 will be available as a free update for existing users. This article, Apple Debuts New Final Cut Pro for iPad and Final Cut Camera App first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Grab a copy of Fallout 76 on Xbox Series X|S for only $6 today

Millions of viewers have been following the new Fallout TV show, and if youre one of them then youre likely already familiar with its video-game roots. For those who enjoyed Fallout 3 and 4 and have yet to jump into Fallout 76, we have the prequel for a remarkably low price today. more

Nintendo Switch OLED has a $66 discount, but theres a catch

The Nintendo Switch OLED is available from Walmart for just $284, for $66 in savings. There's a catch, but it won't stop you from enjoying the console's games.

Android game and app deals: Roundguard, No Place for Bravery, Stardash, Zenge, more

This afternoons roundup of Google Play app and game deals for your Android devices is now ready to go. On your way down, stop by todays up to $200 in savings on unlocked Samsung Galaxy S24/+ smartphones as well as the Samsung GalaxyTab A9+ Android tablets now starting from just $170 . As for the apps, highlights include Roundguard, No Place for Bravery, Stardash, Zenge, Scalak, Bleentoro, and more. Head below for a closer look at all of todays best Android game and app deals. more

Record gameplay with UGREENs 1080p/60fps capture card at $42.50 (First price drop)

UGREENs official Amazon storefront is offering its 1080p/60fps Video Capture Card for $42.50 shipped once the on-page 15% off coupon has been clipped . Launched roughly six months ago, todays discount marks the first price drop on this capture card from UGREEN. With a retail price of $50, this offering was already a good deal and now its even better thanks to the on-page coupon. It doesnt matter if you have a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, this capture card from UGREEN is ready to work with any of them. It accepts a 4K input, and outputs to your computer in 1080p at 60fps using software such as OBS, XSplit, PotPlayer, and more. This unit affordably paves the way towards your own YouTube channel and Twitch stream. Ports include USB-C, 2x HDMI, and 2x 3.5mm/AUX. Continue reading to find yet another model on sale. more

This $65 iPhone 15 Plus leather wallet folio case is unbelievably just $5 today

Macworld A new iPhone case doesnt just bring protection, it can bring style, class, and functionality too. Todays deal brings all that at an insanely low price: Amazons Woot is selling the Case-Mate Leather Wallet Folio for the iPhone 15 Plus for just $5 , a ridiculous $60 off the MSRP and the lowest price youll ever find for a case this good. This case doesnt just look good with soft genuine pebbled black leather, it also adds space for 3 credit cards, an ID card, and cash that doubles as a stand for watching movies. It also has built-in RFID shielding to protect your card information from identity theft with innovative blocking material. Its also MagSafe compatible so you wont lose easy charging. On the protection side, it has 12-ft drop protection with soft cushion corners to safeguard your iPhone 15 Plus against drops, bumps, dirt, or scratches. It also has raised bezels around the corners to keep your screen safe after a drop. This case comes with a 90-day Woot warranty and includes free shipping for Amazon Prime members. We havent tested it ourselves, but it has 4.5 stars with more than 400 ratings on Amazon , where it still sells for $65. iPhone

The Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds are on sale for $160 right now

Beats might have some new audio gear to blab about, but its older models are nothing to sniff at, especially when you can score solid deals on them. Take, for instance, the Beats Fit Pro . Those true wireless earbuds have dropped by $40 to $160 . That matches the Black Friday price and it's just $10 more than the all-time low. The Beats Fit Pro are our pick for the best workout headphones as well as our top choice for headphones for running . They're rated for IPX4 water resistance, which is always welcome to have while you're working up a sweat. They're comfortable to wear and have solid battery life (six hours plus an extra 21 hours from the charging case). None of that would matter if the Beats Fit Pro sounded terrible, but they deliver great sound quality with the help of Adaptive EQ. Spatial audio is always a nice feature to have, while the active noise cancellation and transparency modes are solid. Multipoint connectivity is a plus too. On the downside, we thought that the charging case felt cheap with a poor build quality. We also found it too easy to accidentally press the onboard controls. Still, if you're looking for a pair of earbuds for your workouts, you can't get much better than the Beats Fit Pro right now. Elsewhere, the Beats Studio Pro are also on sale. At $180, they're effectively half off and just $10 more than the record low of $170. 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/the-beats-fit-pro-wireless-earbuds-are-on-sale-for-160-right-now-190035110.html?src=rss

You can now buy a Pixel Tablet without a dock for $400, if thats your bag

Google has made the 128GB Pixel Tablet available as a standalone device , without the charging dock. It costs $400, as compared to around $500 at most outlets with the dock. This is a great deal on paper, but theres one elephant-sized caveat. We had some issues with the tablet on its own and were mostly enamored by that dock. You cant cast streaming content to the device without the dock, which is one major negative. We also found the camera placement to be slightly awkward, particularly when participating in video calls. The 2,560 x 1,600 LCD panel isnt as vibrant as an OLED panel, but it gets the job done. All of the specs of this device are just fine but, at $400, thats probably to be expected. The dock brings some nifty stuff to the table, like a durable stand, fantastic speakers and, of course, charging. However, there are some things that the Pixel Tablet excels at, even without that charging dock. The battery life is superb, lasting well over 21 hours per charge at 50 percent brightness. Thatll handle even the longest international flight. We also found the tablet to be useful as a smart display, particularly if youve fully bought into the Google smart home ecosystem. This price drop is part of a larger announcement that includes a brand new smartphone. The Pixel 8a is a budget-friendly way to get involved with Googles robust suite of AI tools , like Gemini, Best Take and Audio Magic Eraser. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/you-can-now-buy-a-pixel-tablet-without-a-dock-for-400-if-thats-your-bag-185329549.html?src=rss

Apple Pencil comparison: 1st-gen, 2nd-gen, USB-C, or Pro which is best for your iPad?

Today, Apple unveiled the new Apple Pencil Pro to make the Apple Pencil lineup a crazy mess. Still, there are actually two accessories you should The post Apple Pencil comparison: 1st-gen, 2nd-gen, USB-C, or Pro which is best for your iPad? appeared first on BGR .

Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks have been shut down

Microsoft has shuttered three ZeniMax teams: Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks and Alpha Dog Studios. The company is also folding Roundhouse Games into Zenimax Online Studios. Arkane Austin is the home of Prey and Redfall , while Tango is responsible for The Evil Within , Ghostwire Tokyo and Hi-Fi Rush . Alpha Dog is the creator of Mighty Doom and Roundhouse was a support studio for ZeniMax projects. In an email to employees, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty outlined the upheaval, stating that some workers would transition to other teams under ZeniMax's purview. Most employees, however, will be let go. Here's Booty's breakdown of the layoffs for each affected studio: Arkane Austin This studio will close with some members of the team joining other studios to work on projects across Bethesda. Arkane Austin has a history of making impactful and innovative games and it is a pedigree that everyone should be proud of. Redfalls previous update will be its last as we end all development on the game. The game and its servers will remain online for players to enjoy and we will provide make-good offers to players who purchased the Hero DLC. Alpha Dog Studios This studio will also close. We appreciate the teams creativity in bringing Doom to new players. Mighty Doom will be sunset on August 7 and we will be turning off the ability for players to make any purchases in the game. Tango Gameworks Tango Gameworks will also close. We are thankful for their contributions to Bethesda and players around the world. Hi-Fi Rush will continue to be available to players on the platforms it is today. Roundhouse Games The team at Roundhouse Games will be joining ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS). Roundhouse has played a key role in many of our recent game launches and bringing them into ZOS to work on The Elder Scrolls Online will mean we can do even more to grow the world that millions of players call home. Additionally, a small number of roles across select Bethesda publishing and corporate teams will also be eliminated, Booty's email says. In summary, at least when it comes to the games: Redfall development has been stopped completely and people who spent $100 on the game's Bite Back edition will be eligible for a partial refund to compensate for the DLC they never received . Sign ups for the refund are right here . Hi-Fi Rush will remain playable. Mighty Doom will shut down on August 7. The remaining studios under ZeniMax Media, which is owned by Microsoft, are Arkane Lyon, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, MachineGames, ZeniMax Online Studios, and the Bethesda publishing and corporate teams. Arkane Lyon is currently building Marvel's Blade and it's the home of Deathloop and the Dishonored franchise. The co-creative director of Arkane Lyon, Dinga Bakaba, shared his reaction to the layoffs on X with the following thread: This is absolutely terrible. Permission to be human : to any executive reading this, friendly reminder that video games are an entertainment/cultural industry, and your business as a corporation is to take care of your artists/entertainers and help them create value for you. Don't throw us into gold fever gambits, don't use us as strawmen for miscalculations/blind spots, don't make our work environments darwinist jungles. You say we make you proud when we make a good game. Make us proud when times are tough. We know you can, we seen it before. For now, great teams are sunsetting before our eyes again, and it's a fucking gut stab. Lyon is safe, but please be tactful and discerning about all this, and respect affected folks' voice and leave it room to be heard, it's their story to tell, their feelings to express. Microsoft purchased ZeniMax Media including Bethesda, id Software, Arkane and Tango in 2021 for $7.5 billion. The acquisition marked an escalation of Microsoft's efforts to eat the entire industry : The company acquired five mid-size teams in 2018, including Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory, and by February 2019, there were 13 studios under the Xbox Game Studios banner. The ZeniMax purchase cleared regulators in 2021, setting the stage for Microsoft to buy Activision Blizzard, one of the largest game producers in the world. The Activision Blizzard acquisition was the most expensive in Microsoft's history, costing around $69 billion. After nearly two years of regulatory negotiations, the purchase was cleared in February 2023. It's not just Microsoft making the video game industry smaller. Sony, Take-Two Interactive, Tencent, Epic Games and publishers of all sizes have been gobbling up talent in a rash of post-pandemic corporate consolidation, and this has led to an avalanche of mass layoffs in the industry. In 2023, an estimated 10,500 people in video games lost their jobs, breaking previous annual layoff records. Prior to today's studio closures, roughly 9,400 video game workers had been fired in 2024, setting a pace that should outstrip last year's figures. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/arkane-austin-and-tango-gameworks-have-been-shut-down-183913558.html?src=rss

iPad Air 2022 vs. iPad Air 2024 Buyer's Guide: 19 Differences Compared

Apple's new iPad Airs arrive almost a year and a half after the previous models, offering almost 20 changes and upgrades. The 2022 iPad Air was a minor upgrade that added features such as the M1 chip and a 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera with Center Stage. The 2024 refresh is more substantial, headlining with a larger size option for the first time, bringing it in line with devices like the iPad Pro , MacBook Air , and MacBook Pro, which are available in two sizes. The 2022 iPad Air models have now been discontinued by Apple, but they may still be found refurbished and with third-party resellers for lower prices. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to buy the 2022 iPad Air or the new 2024 models. The iPad Airs from 2022 and 2024 share most of their key features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the older model to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to clearly see all the differences that the new iPad Air brings to the table. iPad Air (2022) iPad Air (2024) 10.9-inch display 11- or 13-inch display M1 chip (5nm, N5) M2 chip (5nm enhanced, N5P) 3.2GHz CPU clock speed 3.49GHz CPU clock speed 8-core GPU 10-core GPU 68.25GB/s memory bandwidth 100GB/s memory bandwidth Neural Engine 40% faster Neural Engine Media engine for hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC Media engine for hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW Video decode engine Higher-bandwidth video decode engine ProRes encode and decode engine Image signal processor (ISP) New image signal processor (ISP) Smart HDR 3 Smart HDR 4 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera Wi-Fi 6 connectivity Wi-Fi 6E connectivity Physical SIM card slot eSIM only Apple Pencil hover Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil (2nd generation) Supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro Supports Magic Keyboard for iPad and Smart Keyboard Folio Supports Magic Keyboard for iPad 64GB or 256GB storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage Available in Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, and Blue Available in Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, and Blue The most important part of the new iPad Air is the larger display size option, which provides a way for customers who don't need features like ProMotion and a LiDAR scanner to obtain a bigger screen that's better for productivity and content consumption at a lower price point. Beyond this larger new model, the M2 chip, Apple Pencil hover and Apple Pencil Pro support, and landscape front-facing camera are valuable improvements. That being said, it is certainly not essential to upgrade from the previous model to the new iPad Air. Unless you have an entry-level iPad or an iPad Air from before 2020, or explicitly want a 13-inch model, it is likely not worth upgrading. Related Roundup: iPad Air Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPad This article, iPad Air 2022 vs. iPad Air 2024 Buyer's Guide: 19 Differences Compared first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

All Incantations and how to unlock them in Hades 2

Melino is a witch, so she can concoct some special Incantations in her cauldron. Here are all the ones we've found and how to unlock them in Hades 2.

Apple Plans Apple Watch Activity Challenge for World Meditation Day on May 21

Apple's next Apple Watch activity challenge will launch on Tuesday, May 21 to celebrate World Meditation Day. This marks the first time that Apple has hosted an activity challenge for the occasion. To complete the challenge, Apple Watch owners will need to record five or more mindful minutes using the Mindfulness app or any app that adds mindful minutes to Health app. Apple Watch owners who earn the Meditation Day award will unlock a dedicated badge in the Fitness app, plus they will get a series of animated stickers that can be used in the Messages and FaceTime apps. The Meditation Day challenge follows the April Earth Day and Dance Day challenges . Tag: Activity Challenge This article, Apple Plans Apple Watch Activity Challenge for World Meditation Day on May 21 first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

The incredible 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 gaming monitor is $500 off

The 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor is an excellent display for PC gaming. It's available from Samsung for $800, following a $500 discount.

Skip brand names and cash in on this adjustable aluminum laptop stand at $17 (Save 37%)

OMOTONs authorized Amazon storefront is offering its LA09 Adjustable Laptop Stand for $16.99 Prime shipped. If you arent a Prime member, you can still score free shipping by checking out with $35+ of items that are shipped by Amazon. This laptop stand has only been on the market for a matter of months and first sold for as high as $40. Over time it has settled closer to $27, making todays offer a notable 37% discount that has only happened once before. Its time to streamline your desk and boost ergonomics with this affordable laptop stand. It costs a fraction of name-brand solutions and sports a plethora of additional features. One obvious example of this is the ability to tweak its height and angle. This is a huge perk in terms of ergonomics, which should help reduce neck strain by allowing you to keep the top of your screen aligned with your eyes. Youll also benefit from a collapsible design that makes it much easier to travel with. Continue reading for more. more

Pre-order the Google Pixel 8a from Amazon or Best Buy and get a free $100 gift card

Just moments after Google announced its latest smartphone , both Amazon and Best Buy swooped in with deals to convince you to get yours from one of them. Right now, the Pixel 8a is open for pre-orders at Google's storefront , but if you go through Amazon, you'll get a physical $100 Amazon gift card once the phone ships. Purchase through Best Buy and you'll get a$100 gift card for its store, plus a one-month membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Whichever way you go, your new phone will ship May 14, the same day as Google's I/O developer conference . On both Amazon and Best Buy, the offer apples to the 128GB model in any of the four colorways, including the new Aloe hue. The model with a larger 256GB capacity , a first for A-series Pixel phones, goes for $559 and also includes the $100 gift card, but only if you order it in Obsidian. New for this latest generation of Google's most affordable smartphone is a screen that's a little brighter and smoother thanks to a higher peak brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate. The battery is slightly larger than it was on the Pixel 7a and software improvements should help it last longer. The camera array stayed the same as with the previous generation, but a few more of Google's AI tricks, like Best Take and Magic Editor should help you get more out of what the lenses pick up. Engadget's Sam Rutherford had a chance to check out the new Pixel 8a ahead of its release and, while a full review is still forthcoming, he said the new handset is shaping up to once again be the mid-range Android phone to beat. And if a $100 gift card sweetens the deal for you at all, now might be a good time to pre-order. Amazon says its deal will run through 5/19 or until supplies run out, so if you want to wait to see what we think, you may have some time. 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/pre-order-the-google-pixel-8a-from-amazon-or-best-buy-and-get-a-free-100-gift-card-181519020.html?src=rss

Michelle Yeoh just got cast to lead Amazon's Blade Runner show

Its been a while since weve had an update on Blade Runner 2099 , the sequel series heading to Amazon Prime Video. The cast list is starting to take shape, as Oscar-winner and all-around icon Michelle Yeoh is set to play a lead role, as reported by Variety . Plot details are being kept under wraps, but Variety has a source that says Yeoh will play a character named Olwen, who has been described as a replicant near the end of her life. Thats pretty much all we know about the story, aside from the fact that it's set 50 years after Denis Villeneuves critically acclaimed Blade Runner 2049 . This is likely due to the fact that well be nowhere near the level of tech shown in that film when we actually hit the year 2049. The original Blade Runner , after all, was set in 2019. Franchise creator Ridley Scott is involved in some capacity, but not as showrunner. That duty falls to TV writer Silka Luisa, who recently ran the Apple TV+ adaptation of the book Shining Girls . The show was great, so color me optimistic. As for Yeoh, what more can be said? She won a long-deserved Oscar for her work in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once and has been involved with classic films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , Sunshine and Tomorrow Never Dies , among many others. She spent a few seasons hamming it up on Star Trek: Discovery , and her character is getting a spinoff film that will likely release later this year. The actress also just received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, so this has been a big month. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/michelle-yeoh-just-got-cast-to-lead-amazons-blade-runner-show-180312046.html?src=rss

New Beats Pill Spotted in iOS 17.5 Beta

Images of a new version of the Beats Pill speaker are in the iOS 17.5 beta, giving us our first clear look at the device that's been spotted with a number of sports stars. We don't know much about the new speaker, but it has the same pill-shaped design as other Pill speakers, and it has a lanyard that we have not seen on prior models. iOS 17.5 adds support for an upcoming Beats Pill! pic.twitter.com/cm8s2ClLe6 Aaron (@aaronp613) May 7, 2024 Beats has not yet announced the Beats Pill, and a release date remains unknown. NBA superstar LeBron James and F1 Driver Daniel Ricciardo have both been seen carrying the speaker. This article, New Beats Pill Spotted in iOS 17.5 Beta first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

SanDisk just debuted it highest-capacity external desktop solid-state drive yet

Today, SanDisk is debuting its highest-capacity external desktop solid state drive yet. The new SanDisk Desk Drive a sort of desktop hard drive-like product, but with a solid-state storage system on the inside. WD is marketing the new drive as such, delivering a desktop SSD that forgoes the compact form-factor of the mainstream portable SSDs for a large capacity solution that requires a power cable. Now available for purchase at select retailers, you can dive into the details down below. more

Disney+ will start showing some live sports from ESPN this year

Some live sports and studio shows from ESPN will start appearing on Disney+ this year. Disney CEO Bob Iger told investors on an earnings call that this follows an encouraging start for Hulu programming on the company's namesake streaming service . By the end of this calendar year, we will be adding an ESPN tile to Disney+, giving all US subscribers access to select live games and studio programming within the Disney+ app, Iger said . We see this as a first step to bringing ESPN to Disney+ viewers, as we ready the launch of our enhanced standalone ESPN streaming service in the fall of 2025 . Iger also noted that ESPN+ subscribers will also be able to access content from that service through the new Disney+ tile, so Disney bundle subscribers will more or less have everything in one app. Iger didn't reveal exactly what sports Disney would make available to everyone on Disney+, but made it clear that it would only bring a modest amount of programming over from ESPN. The company is also working with Fox Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery on another sports streaming service that's slated to arrive later this year and will include games from the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA. Meanwhile, Disney+ just had its first profitable quarter in its four and a half years of existence. The service had been expected to lose $100 million in the first three months of 2024, but it actually posted a $47 million profit surely aided by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert film debuting on the platform in March. However, Disney's streaming business as a whole (which also includes Hulu and ESPN+) lost $18 million during the quarter. That's still a vast improvement over the $659 million that side of the business lost a year earlier as Disney edges toward overall profitability in streaming. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/disney-will-start-showing-some-live-sports-from-espn-this-year-173524610.html?src=rss

Hands-On With iPad Pro in Space Black: Apple's Thinnest Product Ever

There are two notable design changes for the new iPad Pro models introduced today: they are the thinnest Apple products ever released, and they are available in a new Space Black finish that debuted on the MacBook Pro last year. Apple gave the media some hands-on time with the new iPad Pro models, and we have rounded up real-world photos and videos of the devices below. The new 11-inch iPad Pro is just 5.3mm thick, and the 13-inch model is even thinner at 5.1mm. There is also a new Magic Keyboard for the new iPad Pro models that features an aluminum palm rest and a larger trackpad. The keyboard is available in Black and White color options, which have Space Black and Silver palm rests, respectively. Last, the new Apple Pencil Pro looks very similar to the second-generation Apple Pencil. First Look at the New M4 iPad Pro! It's so freakin THIN! #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/oIBpWSoaox Brian Tong (@briantong) May 7, 2024 FIRST LOOK at the NEW M4 iPad Pro OLeD Display with Nano Texture and the NEW Magic Keyboard #AppleEvent #iPadPro pic.twitter.com/oNtkRQIc2R Brian Tong (@briantong) May 7, 2024 Hard to overstate how thin and pretty these iPad Pros are. Feel like a movie prop. #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/79o7isPkaP Avi Greengart (@greengart) May 7, 2024 Hands-on with the new iPad Pro: yeah, its really thin https://t.co/HS51dsZ6Rd The Verge (@verge) May 7, 2024 iPad Pro M4 hands-on: Absurdly thin and light, but the screen steals the show https://t.co/1QfwuzbUJm Engadget (@engadget) May 7, 2024 Related Roundup: iPad Pro Tag: May 2024 Apple Event Buyer's Guide: 11 iPad Pro (Buy Now) , 12.9 iPad Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPad This article, Hands-On With iPad Pro in Space Black: Apple's Thinnest Product Ever first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

ESRs feature-packed Geo Wallet has MagSafe, Apple Find My, a stand, more at $30.50 (New low)

An official ESR Amazon storefront is now offering the companys MagSafe Geo Wallet with Apple Find My for $30.59 shipped once the on-page 10% off coupon has been clipped . Generally youd have to spend $40 to score this wallet, but stacking a direct discount with the on-page coupon takes nearly $10 off. With 24% of savings in tow, this deal marks the very first time weve seen it go this low. If youve been on the hunt for a new wallet, this feature-packed offering shouldnt be overlooked. Its made with iPhone users in mind, wielding support for MagSafe (a feature thats built in to every iPhone 12 and later). Youll also stand to benefit from full Apple Find My support. This means that not only will you be able to spot it on a map, but youll also be able to make it play a sound and even receive automatic notifications if your iPhone detects that is has been left behind. Several more features are in tow as well, so continue reading to learn more. more

Apple Seeds iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 Release Candidates to Developers

Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the fourth betas . Registered developers are able to opt into the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the Beta Updates option, and toggling on the iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 Developer Beta. An Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta. Apple has also released an RC version of iOS 16.7.8 for devices that are unable to run iOS 17. Most of the features that Apple promised would be coming in iOS 17 have now been released, but iOS 17.5 adds additional app ecosystem changes in the European Union. App developers can offer apps for download on the iPhone directly from their websites , in addition to through app marketplaces. There are also code changes that hint at new Apple Pencils and a Battery Health feature for the iPad , with more information on what's new available in our iOS 17.5 beta features post . Related Roundups: iOS 17 , iPadOS 17 Related Forums: iOS 17 , iPadOS 17 This article, Apple Seeds iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 Release Candidates to Developers first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Seeds visionOS 1.2 Beta 5 to Developers

Apple today released the release candidate version of an upcoming visionOS 1.2 update to developers, allowing them to test new features ahead of the software seeing a public launch. The fifth visionOS 1.2 beta comes one week after the release the fourth beta . The visionOS beta can be downloaded by going to the Settings app on the device and toggling on developer betas. A registered developer account is required, and Apple recommends making a backup before installing new software. Apple may make further improvements to Personas, EyeSight, and other features with visionOS 1.2, but no major new additions were found in the first four betas. Related Roundup: visionOS Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro This article, Apple Seeds visionOS 1.2 Beta 5 to Developers first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

iPad Pro 2022 vs. iPad Pro 2024 Buyer's Guide: 25 Differences Compared

Apple's new iPad Pro models come almost a year and a half after their predecessors, offering 25 significant changes and upgrades. The 2022 iPad Pro was a minor upgrade that added the M2 chip and Apple Pencil hover, as well as support for Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Smart HDR 4. The 2024 refresh is much more substantial, with more than two dozen changes and generation-over-generation improvements. The 2022 iPad Pro models have now been discontinued by Apple, but they may still be found refurbished and with third-party resellers for lower prices. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to buy the 2022 iPad Pro or the new 2024 models. The iPad Pros from 2022 and 2024 share many of their key features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the older model to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to clearly see all the differences that the new iPad Pro brings to the table. iPad Pro (2022) iPad Pro (2024) 11- or 12.9-inch display 11- or 13-inch display Liquid Retina or Liquid Retina XDR display LED or mini-LED backlit display with IPS Ultra Retina XDR display Tandem OLED SDR brightness: 600 nits max SDR brightness: 1000 nits max Nano-texture display glass option on 1TB and 2TB models M2 chip (5nm, N5P) M4 chip ( 3nm enhanced, N3E) 8-core CPU 9- or 10-core CPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW Hardware-accelerated 8K H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW ProRes encode and decode engine ProRes encode and decode engine AV1 decode 100GB/s memory bandwidth 120GB/s memory bandwidth Improved thermal design with graphite sheets and copper 10MP /2.4 Ultra Wide camera 2x optical zoom out and digital zoom up to 5x Digital zoom up to 5x ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording True Tone flash Adaptive True Tone flash Rear ambient light sensor 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera Sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G support Sub-6GHz 5G support only Physical SIM card slot eSIM only Depth : 5.9mm or 6.4mm Depth : 5.3mm or 5.1mm Weight : 1.03 pounds (466 grams) or 1.5 pounds (682 grams) Weight : 0.98 pounds (444 grams) or 1.28 pounds (579 grams) Supports Apple Pencil (USBC) and Apple Pencil (2nd generation) Supports Apple Pencil (USBC) and Apple Pencil Pro Supports Magic Keyboard for iPad and Smart Keyboard Folio Supports Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro (M4) Available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage Available with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB storage Available in Silver and Space Gray Available in Silver and Space Black Overall, the new iPad Pro is an unusually significant upgrade over the previous generation, offering a large number of improvements that meaningfully improve the hardware experience with the device. The move to a high-end OLED display, thinner and lighter design, Adaptive True Tone flash, and landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera are noticeable improvements that almost all users will benefit from. Features like the M4 chip, nano-texture display option, and Apple Pencil Pro support have the potential to enhance specific tasks and processes with the device, which could be particularly important to the likes of content creators and digital artists. However, it is important to note that the new iPad Pro does not have any software advantages over previous versions of the device. Upgrading to the latest model is unlikely to dramatically change workflows, but it should offer a better overall experience. Users with an older iPad Pro, such as a 2018 model or older, have considerably more to gain by upgrading. Related Roundup: iPad Pro Buyer's Guide: 11 iPad Pro (Buy Now) , 12.9 iPad Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPad This article, iPad Pro 2022 vs. iPad Pro 2024 Buyer's Guide: 25 Differences Compared first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Adobe's full Creative Cloud suite is 40 percent off in a rare deal

Designers, photographers and other creators may want to check out this deal from Adobe. From now through May 13, first-time subscribers can save 40 percent on the monthly cost of the Creative Cloud All Apps plan for a full year. That brings the price down from a hefty $60 per month to a slightly more palatable $36. To get the deal, you'll need to agree to a 12-month subscription commitment. After the year is up, the plan will automatically renew at the regular price, unless you cancel. If you want to pay for the whole year at once, it'll run you $396, which is also 40 percent of the standard $660. Creative Cloud All Apps includes online access to Adobe stalwarts like Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and InDesign, plus about 20 additional apps including Firefly , the text-to-image generative AI tool and the social-content-focused Adobe Express. The plan also comes with 100GB of cloud storage, tutorials, Adobe Fonts and 1,000 credits per month to use towards generative AI creation in Firefly and others. Adobe doesn't often run discounts on their service, so this is a rare opportunity to catch a break on the tools that, for some creative pursuits, are tough to replace. The $36 monthly price tag is likely the closest most of us will get to the enviable student and teacher pricing of $20 per month. 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/adobes-full-creative-cloud-suite-is-40-percent-off-in-a-rare-deal-170847284.html?src=rss

Apple Seeds tvOS 17.5 Release Candidate to Developers

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming tvOS 17.5 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a week after the release of the fourth beta . Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 17.5 update by opting in to the beta through the Settings app on the Apple TV . A registered developer account is required. tvOS software updates are often minor in scale compared to other operating system updates, focusing primarily on smaller improvements rather than outward-facing changes. We don't yet know what's included in tvOS 17.5. Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document , which is updated after each tvOS launch, but Apple does not provide notes during beta testing. Though we don't always know what's new in tvOS betas, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download new software upon release. Related Roundup: Apple TV Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Caution) Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater This article, Apple Seeds tvOS 17.5 Release Candidate to Developers first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

New sleeker, aluminum Magic Keyboard makes iPad Pro even more Mac-like

Macworld One of Apples best accessories is its keyboard case for iPad Air and Pro, called Magic Keyboard . To go along with the newly-designed, thinner iPad Pro, Apple introduced a new sleeker Magic Keyboard. Its got almost everything we loved about the old Magic Keyboard like pass-through USB-C charging and quality backlit keys (sadly the high price tag comes with it), but makes the following improvements: Its thinner. Theres a half-height function row to control quick settings like brightness, volume, and media controls. The trackpad is larger and has haptic feedback. The keyboard deck is aluminum. Apple Apple Apple Between the aluminum keyboard deck, larger trackpad with haptic feedback, function row, and all-around thinner package (together with a thinner iPad Pro), the whole thing feels more like a MacBook than ever before. Of course, the price is still sky-high: The new 13-inch iPad Air starts at $1,299 and the Magic Keyboard at $349. So youre up to $1,650 for the base model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage before you even begin looking at Apple Pencil Pro or other accessories. Thats a lot more than a 13-inch MacBook Air and even a little higher than a 14-inch MacBook Pro. The new Magic Keyboard supports only the new M4 iPad Pro; the slimmer design is made to fit the new slimmer iPad Pro specifically. If you have the new M2 iPad Air, youll have to use the older Magic Keyboard. Accessories, iPad

Jackery flash sale takes up to 42% off power stations, bundles, and accessories from $100

Jackery has a short-term flash sale currently going through tomorrow, May 8, that is taking up to 42% off a selection of power stations and bundles. One of the notable standouts among the offers is the Explorer 2000 Pro with two 200W Solar Panels for $1,899 shipped , after using the on-page coupon/promo code MAY1400 at checkout for $1,400 off. Down from $3,299, this particular combo usually only sees discounts on occasion during big sales and holiday events, with 2023 never seeing it fall below $2,000. In the new year weve seen prices fall lower, first to $1,999 in January and February and then to $1,899 since March. Todays deal comes in as a repeat 42% markdown off the going rate and lands as a return to the all-time lowest price we have tracked. more

Netflix subscribers are getting five games, including Sonic Mania Plus

Sonic Mania Plus, Katana Zero, Braid: Anniversary Edition, and more are all coming to the Netflix Games catalog this month.

OpenAI says it can detect images made by its own software mostly

We all think were pretty good at identifying images made by AI. Its the weird alien text in the background. Its the bizarre inaccuracies that seem to break the laws of physics. Most of all, its those gruesome hands and fingers. However, the technology is constantly evolving and it wont be too long until we wont be able to tell whats real or not. Industry leader OpenAI is trying to get ahead of the problem by creating a toolset that detects images created by its own DALL-E 3 generator. The results are a mixed bag. OpenAI The company says it can accurately detect pictures whipped up by DALL-3 98 percent of the time, which is great. There are, though, some fairly big caveats. First of all, the image has to be created by DALL-E and, well, its not the only image generator on the block. The internet overfloweth with them. According to data provided by OpenAI , the system only managed to successfully classify five to ten percent of images made by other AI models. Also, it runs into trouble if the image has been modified in any way. This didnt seem to be a huge deal in the case of minor modifications, like cropping, compression and changes in saturation. In these cases, the success rate was lower but still within acceptable range at around 95 to 97 percent. Adjusting the hue, however, dropped the success rate down to 82 percent. OpenAI Now heres where things get really sticky. The toolset struggled when used to classify images that underwent more extensive changes. OpenAI didnt even publish the success rate in these cases, stating simply that other modifications, however, can reduce performance. This is a bummer because, well, its an election year and the vast majority of AI-generated images are going to be modified after the fact so as to better enrage people. In other words, the tool will likely recognize an image of Joe Biden asleep in the Oval Office surrounded by baggies of white powder, but not after the creator slaps on a bunch of angry text and Photoshops in a crying bald eagle or whatever. At least OpenAI is being transparent regarding the limitations of its detection technology. Its also giving external testers access to the aforementioned tools to help fix these issues, as reported by The Wall Street Journal . The company, along with bestie Microsoft, has poured $2 million into something called the Societal Resilience Fund , which hopes to expand AI education and literacy. Unfortunately, the idea of AI mucking up an election is not some faraway concept. Its happening right now. There have already been AI-generated election ads and disingenuous images used this cycle, and theres likely much more to come as we slowly, slowly, slowly (slowly) crawl toward November . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-says-it-can-detect-images-made-by-its-own-software-mostly-170012976.html?src=rss

Apple reveals new AI-enhanced versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro

Macworld Along with new iPad hardware at its Let Loose event, Apple announced new versions of its professional media creation apps, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. The iPad versions are updated to version 2, while the Mac versions get AI enhancements. Final Cut Pro for iPad and Mac Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 now has a new Live Multicam feature that allows users to connect and preview up to four cameras at once. Apple also announced Final Cut Camera, a new iPhone and iPad app that works with Live Multicam and provides adjustable settings such as white balance, manual focus, ISO, shutter speed, and zebra monitors and audio meters. Final Cut for iPad 2 can now work on projects saved to an external drive, and those projects can be brought into Final Cut Pro on the Mac. Other features include 12 new color-grading presets, eight basic text titles, 20 new soundtracks, and the ability to add additional dynamic backgrounds to create effect overlays and title sequences. The new Final Cut Pro 10.8 for Mac has new AI-based features. The new Enhance Light and Color feature offers one-step color improvement on SDR, HDR, RAW, and Log-encoded media. The new Smooth Slo-Mo feature blends frames together to create high-quality slow-motion effects. Other features include custom naming of color corrections and video effects, the ability to search clips with missing media or effects in the timeline, and text-based timeline search with information on reels, scenes, and camera angles. Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 is free to current users of the app. Its free for a month to new users and then $4.99 per month. Its also available for a $49 annual fee. Final Cut Camera will be available for free later this spring. The 10.8 update for Final Cut Pro for Mac is free to current users; new users can get a 90-day free trial, after which the app is $299.99 (one-time fee). Both the iPad and Mac apps will be available later this spring. Logic Pro for iPad and Mac Logic Pro for iPad 2 and Logic Pro for Mac 11 boasts new AI features to assist in the music-making process. The announced new features are in both the iPad and Mac versions. The new Session Players feature uses AI to create a backing band that responds directly to feedback, according to Apple. It implements the current Drummer and adds a new Bass Player and Keyboard Player. Stem Splitter allows the producer to take any audio file and separate it into four parts: Bass, Drums, Vocals, and Other Instruments. Then the producer can edit and apply effects to each track. ChromaGlow uses AI to adjust the tone with five different saturation styles to add ultrarealistic warmth, presence, and punch to any track. Logic Pro for iPad 2 is a free update to current users, while new users get a free trial for a month and then pay $4.99 monthly or $49 annually. Logic Pro for Mac 11 is free for current users, while new users get a free 90-day trial. After that, its a one-time purchase of $199.99. Both new versions of Logic Pro will be available on May 13. L earn more about the products announced at Apples May 7 Let Loose event . iPad, Mac, Professional Software

The M4 iPad Pro is literally lighter than Air

Apple refreshed its iPads in a major way today with new launches in both the iPad Pro and iPad Air lineups. Both have significant hardware updates, but somehow the iPad Pro now weighs less than all of its Air equivalents. The 11-inch iPad Pro is 0.98 pounds (444 grams for the Wi-Fi model and 446 grams with cellular), while the same size version of the iPad Air is 1.02 pounds (462 grams with no difference between the Wi-Fi and cellular models). The weight difference is more evident in the 13-inch tablets the iPad Air comes in that size for the first time. The 13-inch iPad Pro starts at 1.28 pounds (or 579 grams) for the Wi-Fi model, with the cellular version coming in three grams heavier. Meanwhile, though the Wi-Fi and LTE variants of the 13-inch iPad Air are only one gram apart, they both weigh 1.36 pounds, which is noticeably heavier than the iPad Pro. Apple says the latest iPad Pro is the thinnest product it has made, with a switch to dual OLED panels helping make the tablet more slender than ever. On the flip side, that makes the name of the iPad Air a little janky at this point. Sure, it's just a name and it doesn't matter that much. But at 1.03 pounds, the original Air was nearly half a pound lighter than the iPad 4 . The latest model is essentially the same weight, but it's now heavier and chonkier than the iPad Pro, making Apple's premium tablets literally lighter than Air. Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Let Loose' event right here . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-m4-ipad-pro-is-literally-lighter-than-air-164942372.html?src=rss

Satechis Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub just fell to the best price of the year at $150 (Reg. $200)

The official Satechi Amazon storefront is now offering its Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub for $149.99 shipped. Regularly $200, this model is now seeing a solid $50 price drop to deliver the lowest price we can find. Todays offer clocks in as the lowest price we have tracked all year and is a match for the second-best total we have seen on Amazon since its debut there in 2023. Only once have we seen it go for less, and that was a short-lived Black Friday offer at $140 in late November. Satechi, as any avid 9to5Toys reader will know, is one of our favorite Apple gear and tech accessory makers out there, and nows your shot to land one of its Thunderbolt 4 hubs on your work surface. Head below for more details. more

Keep your desk and keyboard free of debris with Ankers eufy HomeVac H11 at 40% off, now $36

eufys official Amazon storefront is now offering its HomeVac H11 Cordless Handheld Vacuum for $35.98 shipped. Typically sold for $60, todays offer slashes 40% off, making this a great time to strike. Need more convincing? Well, it just so happens that this markdown is a match for the best price weve tracked since 2022. If youre anything like me, a dirty desk can be a huge distraction. I try to keep clutter to a minimum, but sometimes crumbs, pet hair, and other types of debris end up on my desk and creep towards my keyboard. Thats where a handheld vacuum like this one comes in handy. I use one every day or two to keep things looking great, and for a little bit of cash, you can have this eufy unit always within reach too. Continue reading to learn the specifics about this model. more

What the heck is going on with Helldivers 2?

In the last five days, Helldivers 2 was removed from the PC market in 177 countries and the games Steam reviews collapsed under the weight of more than 200,000 negative ratings, dropping from Positive to Mixed. Its now Tuesday and the Helldivers 2 Steam page is overrun with people ranting against Sony and celebrating democracy, and for anyone taking their first glance at the game, its all a bit confusing. Heres whats going on. Helldivers 2 is a third-person co-op shooter developed by independent team Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It went live on PlayStation 5 and Steam on February 8, marking a rare instance of cross-platform parity from Sony. Immediately, Helldivers 2 was a hit on PC it clocked more concurrent players on Steam than any other PlayStation game, beating God of War , Spider-Man Remastered , Horizon Zero Dawn and The Last of Us Part I . Helldivers 2 was so popular in its first few weeks that Arrowheads servers had trouble meeting demand and had to be capped at 450,000 players. I am completely exhausted by the success, Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt tweeted one week post-launch. So is the team, many, many late nights, on-calls, emergency meetings, discussions around server capacity, shards, capacity units, CPU utilization, login rates and CCU. Tired, but very, very pleased. Sony Interactive Entertainment Helldivers 2 is one of the first tests of Sonys long-term multiplatform goals. While Pilestedt was taking stock of Helldivers 2 s launch week, Sony executives were telling investors about their fresh plans to aggressively chase revenue streams on PC. Sony president Hiroki Totoki said the objective was to proactively work on releasing first-party games on PC alongside PlayStation, a shift from the companys longstanding console-first approach. Helldivers 2 isnt a first-party Sony game, but its console-exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Sony has been supporting its development as its publisher. As long as Helldivers 2 has had a Steam page, its also had a dijon-yellow notification box alerting players that theyll need to link up a PlayStation Network account in order to play. According to Sony, account linking is all in the name of security and cross-platform play, but of course it also helps boost the studios PSN monthly active user numbers. Due to the games early network issues, Sony decided to postpone the account-linking requirement when Helldivers 2 went live on Steam on February 8. It hit the digital PC storefront for $40 with no notable region or account-linkage restrictions. For nearly three months, Helldivers 2 had its moment in the sun. And then it started to burn. On Thursday, May 2, Sony announced that all Helldivers 2 Steam players would be required to log into their PSN accounts in order to continue accessing the game on PC. The requirement would go live for new players on May 6, and existing players would start seeing a mandatory login prompt at the end of the month. Due to technical issues at the launch of Helldivers 2 , we allowed the linking requirements for Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account to be temporarily optional, Sonys announcement said. That grace period will now expire. Usually this wouldnt be a massive issue, since PSN accounts are free and its relatively painless to link one to Steam. However, Helldivers 2 had been sold around the world, and PSN is only available in 73 countries. That would leave well over 100 countries and territories in the lurch, with those players unable to play a game they'd already paid for. Refunds were also out of the question for most players especially the most dedicated ones since Steam generally limits those to games thatve been played for less than two hours. The bad reviews started pouring in. Sony Interactive Entertainment Neither Arrowhead nor Sony seemed to know what to do next. Sony published an FAQ in the Helldivers 2 Discord that didnt offer solutions, and instead seemed to advise affected players to create PSN accounts in different countries, a violation of the platforms terms. It became readily apparent through tweets and Discord updates that while Sony was the driving force behind the PSN requirement, Arrowhead developers kind of hated it. They even encouraged the review riot. I want people to make their displeasure known in a place where it might actually make a difference, Steam reviews and refund requests will do that, angry posting in the Discord wont, Arrowhead associate community manager Spitz posted in the games Discord server on Friday. Im not happy about this decision either. Over the weekend, more than 200,000 people posted negative reviews of Helldivers 2 on Steam, tanking its overall rating. On Sunday, May 5, Sony silently removed Helldivers 2 from Steam in 177 countries and territories that dont have access to PSN. That same day, Arrowhead CEO Pilestedt tweeted , We are talking solutions with PlayStation, especially for non-PSN countries. Your voice has been heard, and I am doing everything I can to speak for the community but I don't have the final say. Sony Interactive Entertainment On May 6, the day the PSN requirement was set to go live for new players, Sony backtracked . The company tweeted that its account-linking plans would not be moving forward. The message continued, Were still learning what is best for PC players and your feedback has been invaluable. Thanks again for your continued support of Helldivers 2 and well keep you updated on future plans. Helldivers 2 is now available in every region that has Steam, with the option to link a PSN account. Its PC review score is slowly recovering as the rioters return to adjust their rankings, now alongside cheeky messages about the power of democracy. On Monday, Pilestedt quoted Sonys reversal tweet and added , Firstly, I am impressed by the willpower of the @helldivers2 community and your ability to collaborate. Secondly I want to thank our partners and friends at @PlayStation for quickly and effectively making the decision to leave PSN linking optional. We together want to set a new standard for what a live game is, and how developers and community can support each other to create the best game experiences. With Helldivers 2 , the account-linking issue was easily avoidable. Sony was knowingly selling a game to people who wouldnt be able to play it but first, it gave them a paid trial and three months of false hope. At best, it looks like Sony was completely unaware of the logistics that would support its bold new PC strategy. At worst, it all feels mildly diabolical. Sony Interactive Entertainment Its unclear what the 2024 Helldivers 2 Steam riots will mean for future Sony games on PC, but theres another test coming up soon with the release of Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut on May 16. Just like Helldivers 2 , the games Steam page contains a little yellow rectangle warning players that it requires a PSN account for online multiplayer and the PlayStation overlay. According to SteamDB , Ghost of Tsushima is currently on sale in a handful of countries that dont have PSN. As the Helldivers 2 drama began to kick off on May 3, Ghost of Tsushima developer Sucker Punch Productions responded to a concerned fan on X with the following account-linking clarification: Just so you are aware, A PSN account is required for Legends online multiplayer mode and to use PlayStation overlay. It is not required to play the singleplayer game. As long as the terms of engagement are clear and Sony doesn't attempt to pull the rug out from under players three months after the game comes out, that all sounds just fine. Account linking isn't a new or even rare scenario in gaming Microsoft (including Activision Blizzard), Ubisoft, Riot, EA and most other major video game studios require a proprietary sign-in to access their games on Steam and other third-party storefronts. The issue with Helldivers 2 wasn't account linking. The issue was Sony's short-sighted execution of a high-profile PC rollout and its poor communication with upset players after the fact. Most gaming fans want to see PlayStation titles on PC, and Sony wants to wring as much money out of its core franchises as possible by putting them on additional platforms this plan should be win-win. With Helldivers 2 , it's been more like win-lose-win, but at least we got there in the end. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-helldivers-2-163829512.html?src=rss

The best Arcana Cards in Hades 2

The Arcana cards in Hades 2 will determine your fate, but thankfully you can pick which ones you want. Here are the best ones and what effects they provide.