Many people need to learn how to use a smartphone properly. After all, these all-rounder devices require regular maintenance and important updates in order to be optimally protected against wear and tear and attacks. Switching you phone off completely protects it Surprisingly, this includes a very simple function: switching off the smartphone completely. According to security experts at the NSA, this alone helps to protect the device from hacking attacks. It is now not only common to gain access to smartphones via malicious links, but also via so-called zero-click exploits. This involves bypassing the smartphone’s security functions step-by-step. Starting with a missed call, then the first installed files that gradually allow access to the system and tap into information. This usually goes unnoticed, but can fortunately be prevented by completely rebooting the device. So how often should I turn off my phone? The simple answer from security experts as to how often a mobile phone should be switched off completely is: at least once a week. In the best case scenario, however, you should remember to reset our phone even more often. This is because, in addition to eliminating the security risk, it also allows the smartphone’s operating system to run all functions smoothly. By the way: To see how long your device has had to go without switching off, you can easily check the system settings. On Android devices, this can usually be found under “Device” and then “Status.” The uptime is displayed there in hours. This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de. Smartphones
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Cloud storage is essential these days, as everybody has more data than they can fit on just their devices alone. Monthly fees add up, however, and it can be an annoying part of your budget planning to include cloud storage expenses. So, get them taken care of with a one-time payment. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to 20TB of Prism Drive Secure Cloud Storage for just $89.97. Prism Drive offers AES 256-bit and HTTPS encryption for your files both when in transfer and at rest, giving you powerful security for your files. It’s easy to upload to the cloud and stay organized with an intuitive user interface. If you need to share files, you can do so with shareable links in just a few clicks. Enjoy a better cloud storage experience for the web’s best price. Right now, you can get 20TB of Prism Drive Secure Cloud Storage for a one-time payment of just $89.97. Prism Drive Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (20TB) – $89.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Storage
Macworld While you may understand complex numbers or ideas for certain projects, the rest of your team may need a little help visualizing your findings to make informed decisions. If that’s the case, look no further than Microsoft’s top-rated diagramming software, Microsoft Visio Pro 2021. Designed for streamlined diagram creation and enhanced visualization, Visio is helpful for professionals in a variety of fields. Now, lifetime access is less than $20 until May 22. If you need help developing a visual presentation, Visio offers over 250,000 shapes to help users get started. There are countless shapes, stencils, and templates in Visio’s library, which can help you translate data into easier-to-understand concepts. With Visio, you can develop flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, and more. Architects and designers can even benefit from this software, as it allows for floor plan creation. If you’re a project manager or entrepreneur, Visio is helpful for brainstorming through problems and discovering solutions. Use fishbone diagrams or SWOT analysis to troubleshoot and plan ahead. For even greater accessibility, Visio can automatically generate org charts from Microsoft sources like Excel and Exchange. Enjoy easier diagram creation with lifetime access to Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows, now just $19.97 until May 22 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows Only $19.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories
If you're looking to start chronicling your daily life, you might want to consider a journal that's easy to use and offers some security.
Macworld If you spend hours typing each day, it’s important to find the keyboard that suits your needs – whether that’s a mechanical keyboard that provides satisfying tactile feedback or a keyboard packed with media controls and macOS shortcuts. There are plenty of options to choose from, and here we look at some of the best keyboards for Mac to help you decide. We have all sorts of Mac keyboards in this round-up, including Apple’s 2021 Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and the cheaper, and still-on-sale, Magic Keyboard. We have some wired keyboards (for those fed up with searching for new batteries every few weeks) as well as ergonomic solutions to help you avoid RSI, the best gaming keyboards for Mac, and some pretty stylish offerings that give Apple a run for its money. And, talking of money, there are quality Mac-ready keyboards out there that cost a lot less than Apple’s – and do more too. You might also be interested in discovering the best mice for Mac if you want to fully upgrade your workstation. Updated May 17, 2024: We’ve added the Logitech K950 Signature Slim. (Logitech MX Keys S, Satechi SM1 and SteelSeries Apex Pro were added earlier in May). 1. Logitech MX Keys S – Best for Power Users Pros Competitive price. Function keys and numeric keypad. Bluetooth or USB wireless adaptor. Cons Backlight drains battery. Can’t adjust tilt. Price When Reviewed: $109.99 Best Prices Today: $104.36 at Amazon$109.99 at B&H$109.99 at Best Buy It’s hard to keep up with Logitech’s ever-growing MX range of keyboards, but the Logitech MX Keys S is its latest top-of-the-range wireless keyboard, priced at $109.99/£109.99. Its slimline, low-profile design is very smart and attractive, and available in either black, pale gray or a Mac-like graphite. It’s solidly built, though, and capable of surviving some heavy-handed typing when it needs to. The MX Keys S is cheaper than Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but also a lot more versatile, as it includes a dedicated set of buttons that allow you to pair it with three separate devices, including Macs, iPads, Windows PCs, and even Linux and Chrome devices. You also have two options for connecting it to your Mac, as it can use ordinary Bluetooth or a separate USB wireless adaptor that provides greater range and reliability than Bluetooth (although it’s odd that this adaptor and the charging cable both have USB-A interfaces, so you may need to provide an adaptor if your Mac only has USB-C). The original MX Keys was launched a few years ago, so this updated MX Keys S includes a number of new features, such as Function keys that can be used to activate dictation on your Mac, open the emoji menu, or mute/unmute your microphone for video-calls. The backlighting has been improved too, automatically reacting as you first move your hands onto the keyboard, and adjusting to suit the ambient light in the room around you. The backlight does drain the battery though – the keyboard can last for up to[…]
If you want to get more artistic looks with your Android camera, it doesn't take a degree in photojournalism. Here are a few tips to help you achieve your goal.
Macworld It’s happened to you, probably many times over the years: you’re using Safari, and it starts to feel like molasses. You’re working among several apps, and you start to have to wait for seconds or longer as you switch between them, adding frustration. Or you touch your laptop, and say, “Yowch!”–it’s much hotter than expected. What’s going on? The complex interplay of Mac hardware, macOS software, third-party background utilities and add-ons, and foreground apps can result in unexpected outcomes, like CPUs running hot, memory crunches, and sluggish performance. You can’t always pull one thread and untangle the problem. But you can pursue a few straightforward strategies to make things better without wasting lots of time. Try these actions the next time your Mac acts up. We also have these articles that might be helpful: Why is my Mac fan so loud? How to fix an overheating Mac and How to check your Mac’s internal temperature and keep it cool. Quit and relaunch your browser Think back to the days in which browsers had windows only, no tabs, and didn’t automatically reopen tabs and windows after a restart. You could lose so much research progress. That’s far in the past, and now there’s essentially no penalty to quitting and relaunching. Browsers can experience memory leaks, in which they allocate some of your Mac’s volatile or active memory (RAM) and don’t release it when they’re finished. This can happen in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and others–Chrome was once a notable memory leaker and has gotten better, but Safari often swells, too. I’ve found sometimes that a single non-foreground tab might be burning 1GB, according to Activity Monitor, your best friend when it comes to examining system resource usage. Make sure you will have your tabs and windows reloaded: In Safari, make sure that Safari > Preferences > General has “Safari opens with” set to “All windows from last session.” In Chrome, go to Chrome > Settings > On Startup and choose “Continue where you left off.” In Firefox, go to Firefox > Preferences > General and check “Open previous windows and tabs.” Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser). Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser).Foundry Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser).Foundry Foundry If your browser is sluggish or you’re having a system-wide problem, quit and relaunch the browser and see if things get better. I’ve found that solves my problems a good three-quarters of the time. Find the culprit The Activity Monitor app takes underlying system technical data and presents it in a much more friendly fashion. (Find it in Applications > Utilities.) In Activity Monitor, I look primarily to the CPU, Memory, and Energy tabs to figure out when macOS or a single app is slow, or I’m having peculiar problems with responsiveness. Click a column head in each tab to sort by the worst offender. In CPU, click[…]
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If you want to learn a new language, there are many potential ways to go about it. But one innovative solution is making it especially fun. The Beelinguapp Language Learning App uses the power of reading and listening to help you learn a new language and, through 5/22, you can get it for $70 off. Beelinguapp shows you the same exact text in two languages, side by side. Then, it uses karaoke reading to help you follow the audio in the text on both sides, making connections and beginning to understand the new language that you’re looking at. You can read fairy tales, news, novels, and more, and delve into 14 languages, including Spanish, German, Korean, and French. Find out why Beelinguapp Language Learning App was a #4 Product of the Day on Product Hunt and has earned an Editor’s Choice ranking on the Google Play Store. From 5/13 through 11:59 pm PT on 5/22, you can get a lifetime subscription to this innovative language learning app for just $29.97 (reg. $100). Beelinguapp Language Learning App: Lifetime Subscription – $29.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories
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Customer relationship management (CRM) systems have been transformed through the power of artificial intelligence, providing businesses with a smarter way to manage customer experiences and drive customer loyalty at all stages. In this guide, learn more about how AI can be used in CRMs and how your organization can create AI-powered workflows that make sense […] The post AI In CRM: How AI is Reshaping Customer Experiences appeared first on eWEEK.
Suunto's new Race sports watch has a gorgeous AMOLED display and all the fitness metrics you could ask for.
Google has solved a fundamental problem with Chromebook gaming in a rather awesome way: How do you play Android touch games on Chromebooks without a touchscreen? For a long time, the answer was simply: you don’t. But Google has come up with a way to remap keyboard inputs to touch controls, for every game in the Google Play Store, along with several other helpful Chromebook tweaks. For whatever reason, Google left out ChromeOS and Chromebooks entirely from its keynote at Google I/O, which included AI-powered search enhancements and some rather interesting AI tweaks to Gmail. But in the ongoing debate over whether to buy a laptop or a Chromebook, factoring in the most recent advances to Chromebooks matter. This week, Google executives offered up a sneak peek of the cooler new Google technologies coming in the future. Google calls this Game Controls. The technology was first shown off in 2022 on a limited set of titles, according to Emilie Roberts, developer relations engineer for Google. But it’s been revamped with a better editor, and broader coverage across all of the apps in the Play Store. Game Controls is being tested in ChromeOS m125, currently in beta, and will be released to the stable channel “soon,” she said. The screenshot is a bit blurry, but essentially ChromeOS Game Controls allows you to specify a point on the screen and then make a keyboard key equate to a “click” on that region. The screenshot is a bit blurry, but essentially ChromeOS Game Controls allows you to specify a point on the screen and then make a keyboard key equate to a “click” on that region.Google / YouTube The screenshot is a bit blurry, but essentially ChromeOS Game Controls allows you to specify a point on the screen and then make a keyboard key equate to a “click” on that region.Google / YouTube Google / YouTube Likewise, Google is taking a page from other gaming platforms, and allowing gamers to capture clips from their favorite games. “Gamers can grab video and screenshots, share them on social media, all without interrupting their gameflow,” Roberts said. She did not say when the feature would be released. Google is also offering a pair of new features designed to make it easier for you to add apps to Chromebooks, as well as for developers to make them more discoverable. The first, and most prominent, will be an “Add to Chromebook” button that you may see on the websites of apps, letting you quickly add the app in launchable standalone form. It works with both PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) as well as Android apps, according to Sam Richard, a senior developer advocate for Google. Clicking on the button opens up the corresponding entry in the Play Store. It’s expected to launch in Chrome OS 125, which is rolling out over the course of the next few days and weeks. The “Add to Chromebook” button is live, though developers will have to implement themselves. Eighteen developer partners have already[…]
Picking up a brand new laptop can be a stressful experience. How much storage will I need? Which hardware is the best for my budget? The sight of the alphabet soup model numbers are enough to set your heart racing. If you’re not sure where to begin, don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a lightning fast gaming laptop, a Chromebook, or a lightweight 2-in-1 for office work, we’ve tested hundreds of laptops to identify the best option no matter what you need. Why you should trust us: It’s in our name. PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget. Looking for sweet discounts? Check out our regularly updated roundup of the best laptop deals available right now. Updated May 8, 2024: We’ve updated our list of recent laptop reviews, found below our top picks. The best laptops we’ve tested Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) – Best overall Pros Strong performance Exceptional battery life Wonderful typing experience Cons CPU throttles under heavy loads No user upgrades Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $999.99 at Dell Why we like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is one of the most well-rounded laptops money can buy. It offers strong performance, exceptional battery life, and a vibrant display. The best part is that it costs about $1,000, which is a reasonable price point considering the price to performance ratio. In fact, it performed exceptionally in PCMark 10’s benchmark, according to our review. With a PCMark 10 score of 7,061, it beat out the Acer Swift Go 14, which has similar specs to the Dell, and the more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. The Inspiron 14 Plus also lasted an impressive 17 hours on a single charge, which is definitely more than a full workday or school day. You don’t have to worry about finding a wall outlet to charge up. Who should buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus Anyone looking for a really good, well-rounded laptop. In addition to the impressive performance and battery life, it also has a lovely 14-inch 1400p display. According to our review, “the display is exceedingly well suited to office work and static imagery.” It has a peak brightness level of a stunning 418 nits as well as an anti-glare coating, which means you can use this laptop in different lighting environments. It may not have the prettiest design we’ve ever seen, but its hardware capabilities and astoundingly long battery life make up for the blah aesthetics. Alternative option: If you’re looking to save about $200, you should definitely consider picking up the Acer Swift Go 14.[…]
Macworld For those of us who are always on the go and always on our phones, having a portable power bank is essential. The Anker Magnetic Power Bank is not only a fantastic solution, but it’s also on sale for its best price yet, down to $31.49 from its MSRP of $40. Picture this—you’re out and about, you’ve been scrolling through social media all day, taking calls, playing some games, and your battery is already low enough that you know it won’t last those few hours until you reach home. Plugging in your phone isn’t always an option, so the Anker Magnetic Power Bank will definitely come in handy. Sure, Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack is a great choice if you can still find it—Apple discontinued it in 2023—but it costs three times more than Anker’s and holds a lot less power. With a significant 10,000mAh capacity, the Anker Magnetic Power Bank extends your phone’s playtime by two full charges, meaning you won’t have to worry about As with everything MagSafe, you just have to pop this battery on the back of the phone and go about your day. Designed with portability in mind, the sleek dimensions of 4.2 × 2.7 × 0.72 inches allow the power bank to fit seamlessly into your pocket or bag. At its new price point of $31.49, the Anker Magnetic Power Bank is a noteworthy investment for everyone who hates seeing battery levels drop. Since it only costs as much as a few coffees, it would be a shame to miss out on this cool portable battery for your iPhone. Don't miss out on this Anker Magnetic Power Bank for just $31.49 Mobile Phone Chargers
Macworld If you’ve ordered a new iPhone recently, you’ll notice that the box is a whole lot slimmer than in previous years. That’s because the bulkiest accessory is gone: the power charger. Apple has removed the power adapter from all iPhones it sells, so you need to bring your own. If you’ve been using Apple’s feeble old 5W adapter, it’s a perfect time to upgrade. Apple now supplies a cable in all iPhone boxes to allow for fast charging, so all you need is the right charger. Here we list our favorite trusted iPhone chargers—many of which do more than the plain Apple-branded charger, and nearly all of which are much smaller. Lightning or USB-C for iPhone? When we talk here about USB-C chargers, we mean the port on the charger, not on the iPhone. Starting with the iPhone 15 family, Apple has switched the port on its iPhone from Lightning to USB-C. But iPhones older than the 15 with the Lightning port should still hunt out a charger with a USB-C port as only these offer fast iPhone charging. Older phones will use a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, while the iPhone 15 series will have USB-C at both ends. Which wattage charger for iPhone? It’s important to consider the amount of wattage a charger will provide to your device. For years, Apple supplied “good-enough” 5-watt chargers in the iPhone box, which take about 2.5 hours to fill up your iPhone. The newest iPhone models require a charger that can handle 20 watts or greater for fast charging—30W will charge recent iPhones even faster. You can fill up about 50 percent of an iPhone 15’s battery in about 30 minutes with the right adapter. Wired and wireless iPhone charging? From the iPhone 8 on, iPhones have the ability to be charged wirelessly. The iPhone 12 and later also feature Apple’s superior MagSafe wireless charging technology that uses magnets to make the connection with the wireless charging pad more efficient; check out our roundup of the best MagSafe chargers, most of which require one of the USB-C wall chargers tested here. However, charging with a cable plugged into the iPhone will always be faster than wireless. Below our chart of the best iPhone chargers we recommend our favored charging cables. Count the ports Many adapters offer multiple ports on a single wall charger. If you’re going to be regularly charging more than one device at a time, buy an adapter with at least two ports—some have as many as four ports. You can even get a mix of USB-C and USB-A, depending on your needs. Plugs: To fold or not to fold Some chargers have folding pins to protect the adapter as well as other items if you toss it in a bag, but Apple’s 20W charger and a few others have less flexible protruding prongs. It’s a small thing, but it could make a big difference in your travel bag. As any traveler knows, plugs come in all shapes and sizes around[…]
Private cloud infrastructure company SoftIron, in a move to try to displace VMware’s vSphere suite, just announced its VM Squared virtualization platform. Recently, I discussed this development with Jason Van der Schyff, Chief Operating Officer at SoftIron. “Our raison d’être has been to deliver a new type of on-premises infrastructure, which we call True Private […] The post SoftIron To Simplify Virtualization With VM Squared appeared first on eWEEK.
VPNs aren’t just useful for keeping your online activities private and safe, they’re also a great way to bypass restrictions on streaming content in different countries. The top VPN providers are winning out in the cat-and-mouse game with streaming services to make sure you always have access to your favorite content no matter where you are. Given the restrictions that services such as Netflix put in place against VPNs, you need to choose a service that has active compatibility with that streaming site. It’s also a good idea to choose a VPN with generous overall server spread so that if one server is down in the country you are trying to access, there are other options available. The PCWorld staff have thoroughly tested the top VPNs on the market to see how they fare at unblocking the top streaming sites and we’ve curated our favorites in the list below. Why you should trust us: Here at PCWorld we’ve been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. We’re continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. For a more in-depth guide, you can check out our article on how we test VPN services at PCWorld. Below you’ll find our favorite VPNs, and below those, helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN on your own. We highly recommend that you use a VPN not only to access location-restricted content, but also to provide one of the best possible upgrades to your online security. So, if you’re looking to use your VPN for more than streaming, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup of the best VPNs in all categories. Updated May 10, 2024: Check out our latest review of ProtonVPN. From the makers of ProtonMail, ProtonVPN is a great choice due to its privacy, speeds, and streaming specific servers, which still keeps it as our top pick for Mac users. NordVPN – Best overall for Netflix Pros Great feature set Excellent speeds No-logs policy Attractive and intuitive interface Cons Expensive Price When Reviewed: $3.49 per month Best Prices Today: $3.49 at NordVPN Why we like NordVPN For our money, the best option for streaming Netflix is NordVPN. From the start, it has been challenging the Netflix VPN ban. It’s also had a goal of making all of its servers work with the streaming service. As of our latest review, Netflix works without a hitch on all servers tested. No matter which Netflix catalog you want, NordVPN promises to deliver it. NordVPN has more than 5,000 servers and offers locations in 60 countries around the world. It also allows you to choose your specific server so that you can switch around if you need to if Netflix’s ban hammer ever comes down. In addition to top-notch speeds, and Netflix compatibility, NordVPN offers double-hop connections and Meshnet. NordVPN also uses the WireGuard protocol by default,[…]
Macworld Now that the iPhone 15 lineup is on shelves, and now we can officially start thinking about the iPhone 16. Naturally, any rumors or leaks you see this early are going to be fluid at best–even if they are accurate now, plans can and do change and there’s still plenty of time to do so before the iPhone 16 enters production. With all that said, here’s what the most prolific leakers and tipsters say we can expect about the iPhones coming in the fall of 2024. Update May 16: A mock-up of the iPhone 16 Pro Max shows that it could be bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. When is the newest iPhone coming out? The iPhone lineup is always announced at an event in September and usually ships a week or two later. There have been times when a particular model or variant will ship in October because of supply chain shortages, however. The typical day for the iPhone and Apple Watch event is the second Tuesday in September, which this year is September 12. So we can expect the iPhone 16 line to be announced on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, with preorders starting likely on Friday, September 13, and at least some models shipping on September 20. iPhone 16 price For reference, the most recent iPhone lineup (iPhone 15) is priced as follows: iPhone 15: $799/£749 iPhone 15 Plus: $899/£899 iPhone 15 Pro: $999/£999 iPhone 15 Pro Max: $1,199/£1,199 There’s no new information about the pricing of the iPhone 16 line, so it makes the most sense to assume it will cost the same as the iPhone 15 line, at least until we hear otherwise. That means the standard size iPhone 16 for $799 and the larger Plus model for $899, while the iPhone 16 Pro may cost $1,099 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max might go for $1,199. There are also some reports that say Apple will introduce a higher-end Ultra model with a larger screen than the Pro Max, which would obviously have a higher price tag. The iPhone 16 may have a smaller Dynamic Island. The iPhone 16 may have a smaller Dynamic Island.Artur Tomala / Foundry The iPhone 16 may have a smaller Dynamic Island.Artur Tomala / Foundry Artur Tomala / Foundry iPhone 16 colors When Apple launched the iPhone 15, it introduced an entirely new color palette. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus come in familiar Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink options, but with much more muted hues than their predecessors. The only rumor we’ve heard about iPhone 16 colors concerns the iPhone 16 Plus, though we expect its smaller sibling to have the same colors. It says it will be available in the same five colors as the iPhone 15, with the addition of White and Purple. For the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, Apple uses four titanium-inspired colors: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. For 2024, Apple is rumored to introduce two new colors—Desert[…]
Microsoft’s PC Manager is a cool, useful, and free tool for PC users who want to optimize Windows quickly and easily. But using PC Manager apparently can also have unwanted side effects. Since the latest space-saving update, PC Manager has also been searching for very specific optimization requirements on Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers. If PC Manager recognizes that you’ve preset Google or another non-Microsoft search engine on Windows 11’s native Edge browser, it recommends switching to Microsoft’s Bing search engine, as Windowslatest reports. get windows 11 for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 199.99 Best Prices Today: $59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store PC Manager says that the default settings for Edge have been changed and recommends restoring the original settings specified by Microsoft, with Bing as the default search engine. The whole thing seems a bit intrusive, as hardly any users are likely to have accidentally set Google as their search engine — especially as the suggestions appear under the heading “Repair tips.” That’s almost cheeky. So don’t be put off by this repair tip. Apart from that, the PC Manager is definitely worth a look, though you can also use CCleaner or other tuning tools. Please note, however, that tuning tools can sometimes lead to undesirable consequences and even damage the operating system. Use them at your own risk. Further reading: How to use Microsoft’s free PC Manager for a digital spring cleaning Windows
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsExcellent cleaning tools Large toolsetEasy to useConsUpdater feature still missed some app updatesMalware Removal still produces mixed resultsOur VerdictCleanMyMac X performs most of its functions admirably and provides an excellent means of clearing gigabytes of unused system detritus/gunk off your Mac. Unfortunately, the antivirus elements still aren’t up to scratch. Price When Reviewed$89.95 for 1 Mac (one time purchase); or from $34.95/a year 1 Mac Best Prices Today: CleanMyMac X Retailer Price MacPaw (annually) $34.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket For years, MacPaw’s CleanMyMac X has been a good multi-purpose utility for the macOS operating system, and its bright, friendly user interface lends easy access to several handy utilities to clear up disk space, protect user privacy, optimize performance, update applications, uninstall software, and help prevent malware and adware. And while handy and worth keeping around, version 4.15.3, continues to suffer from the same overreach we mentioned previously when reviewing this software. Compare CleanMyMac to other Mac cleaner solutions – visit our round up of the Best Mac Cleaner software. What’s good Similar to past versions, CleanMyMac X 4.15.3 is as easy to download and install as ever, and it’s simple to either purchase the software for $34.95 for one Mac (usually $34.95), $54.95 for 2 Macs (usually $79.90), or $79.95 for 5 Macs (usually $199.75), or set up a seven-day trial in which MacPaw keeps your credit or debit card number on file. Once installed, simply assign permissions, allow the software and its modules to access various sections of your hard drive, and you’re off. The catch-all utility offers an assortment of modules with its core focus centered around identifying and cleaning out gigabytes upon gigabytes of unused system garbage. The modules are Smart Scan, System Junk, Mail Attachments, Trash Bins, Malware Removal, Privacy, Optimization, Maintenance, Uninstaller, Updater, Extensions, Space Lens, Large & Old Files, and Shredder. Each module performs various tasks. The Smart Scan is the overarching umbrella feature, hunting down extraneous files that can be deleted to clear drive space, performing a quick malware scan, and executing a speed test to look into optimization functions, such as freeing up RAM or quickly clearing system caches. The results from a CleanMyMac X Smart Scan. The results from a CleanMyMac X Smart Scan.Foundry The results from a CleanMyMac X Smart Scan.Foundry Foundry The other modules perform the functions they’re named after and offer a good level of customization. Still, CleanMyMac X’s standout features remain file cleanup, malware removal, privacy cleanup, easy access to system extensions, the app uninstaller, and the Large & Old Files locator, which helps hunt down multi-gigabyte files you forgot to delete and offers a quick means of deleting them to recover drive space. CleanMyMac X’s handy Large & Old Files module offers easy access to large files munching up space on your hard drive. CleanMyMac X’s handy Large & Old Files module offers easy access to large files munching up[…]
Nanoleaf has some of the coolest smart lighting panels around. Here’s how to choose the right one for your home.
Macworld After installing the iOS 17.5 or iPadOS 17.5 update, you may find a surprise or two (or three or four…) in your Photos. According to several user reports online, the 17.5 update may restore photos that you have deleted long after the 30-day restore period has expired. Which could make for an embarrassing situation. A post on Reddit said that some of the resurrected photos had “nsfw material,” and another post said, “my photos appeared on my OLD iPad I gave to a friend.” One user in the Reddit thread claims to be an Apple QA employee and says that what’s happening is that photos that have been sent through Messages are being saved to the Photo library, and the solution is to delete the old Messages. However, a separate user replied that their restored photos were not messaged to anyone. Also, some users with this problem are using iCloud Photos, while others aren’t. As others have pointed out (in the Reddit thread and in other reports), when you delete a file–including a photo–the file isn’t really wiped out. What happens is that the reference to it is gone, but the file is still there until another file is written over it. Though you’d think that if a photo was deleted years ago and you’re regularly shooting new ones, there would be many opportunities for that old photo to be overwritten. Apple has not commented on the issue, but you can probably expect a point-one update to address it soon. Several users have reported that this issue existed in the 17.5 betas, but it’s not known if this is a widespread issue. I installed the iOS 17.5 update after its release on Monday and have not had any old deleted photos come back to haunt me, thank goodness. iOS, iPad, iPhone
Technology giant Microsoft recently released its sustainability report for the 2023 financial year, and it didn’t exactly have positive numbers. Microsoft set a climate goal in 2020 to become carbon negative by 2030, sequestering more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits, but the company seems to be on the wrong track to achieve this goal. Microsoft’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 30 percent in the 2023 financial year — and it’s all Copilot’s fault. The big culprit is the company’s huge AI investments. It takes huge amounts of energy to train and use AI models. The International Energy Agency expects energy consumption for data centers worldwide to increase from 460 TWh in 2022 to between 620 and 1,050 TWh by 2026, due to AI and cryptocurrency use. For context, Sweden’s total energy consumption in 2022 was approximately 508 TWh. Microsoft CEO Brad Smith confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that the previous climate goals are now much harder to reach, precisely because of AI. “In 2020, we unveiled our ambitious carbon target. That was before the explosion in artificial intelligence. In many ways, we are now five times further away from reaching them than we were in 2020, if you just think about our own forecast for the expansion of AI and its electricity needs,” Smith said. Further reading: Copilot Pro: What can Microsoft 365’s premium AI do? Business, Robotics
At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsFastest external storage we’ve tested (at 40Gbps)Affordable for the ilkStylish enclosureAvailable up to 4TBAlso fast on the MacConsPricier than USB 3.2×2 (20Gbps)Our VerdictAdata’s handsome and unique USB 4 SSD is the fastest we’ve tested at 40Gbps, and is also relatively affordable. Recommended. Price When Reviewed1TB: $140 I 2TB: $200 I 4TB: $380 Best Prices Today: Adata SE920 EX USB4 SSD Retailer Price Adata $139.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Adata SE920 is our second look at a 40Gbps USB 4 SSD and to be blunt, we like what we see. It’s handsome, stunningly fast, and has a clever enclosure featuring a micro-fan you can turn on and off according to need. Cool stuff. What are the Adata SE920’s features? I’ll get to the specs in a second, but the SE920 has one of the more unique features I’ve run across — half of the latched, spring-loaded outer shell slides out about half an inch to activate an internal fan. Said fan was very quiet, so I opted to leave the drive in the open position the majority of the time. You can see it in the open position in the photo up top and closed in the image below. Beyond that, the SE920 is a USB 4 (40Gbps) external SSD that weighs about 7 ounces and measures 4.13-inches long by 2.52-inches wide by 0.62-inches thick — closed. Sliding the case/switch open ups the length to 4.82-inches. Either way, it’s quite a bit thinner than the finned OWC 1M2 — another very fast USB 4 SSD. Further reading: See our roundup of the best external drives to learn about competing products. The Adata SE920 with its spring-loaded fan-switching outer shell closed. See the lead photo for it in the open state. The Adata SE920 with its spring-loaded fan-switching outer shell closed. See the lead photo for it in the open state. The Adata SE920 with its spring-loaded fan-switching outer shell closed. See the lead photo for it in the open state. Judging from the huge fins on the 1M2, and the micro-fan inside the SE920 — USB 4 generates almost as much heat as Thunderbolt. At least at the full 40Gbps. As you know, heat is unavoidable with electronics, but getting rid of it is essential to stability and longevity. Adata provides a five-year warranty for the SE920. It’s a limited warranty, which means it’s mitigated by the amount of data written to the drive as well as physical abuse. The amount of data written can’t exceed a reasonable amount, which is likely 600TBW per 1TB of NAND if Adata follows the industry standard. How much is the Adata SE920? According to Adata, the 1TB SE920 will cost $140, the 2TB model will run $200, and the high-capacity 4TB is $380. More than 20Gbps USB SSDs, but not significantly, and miles cheaper than the OWC 1M2 — the only other external USB 4 SSD we’re aware[…]
This digital fretboard is a unique standa-lone instrument and affordable intro to MIDI polyphonic expression (MPE).
A career in artificial intelligence involves supporting the practice of using AI algorithms to simulate human intelligence, clearly a growing sector. AI continues to dominate the tech industry. Because of AI’s growth, many organizations are striving to quickly hire qualified — or even semi-qualified — experts, so an AI career will offer enormous opportunity for […] The post 10 Best AI Career Path Considerations for 2024: Securing a Future in AI appeared first on eWEEK.
Macworld Some research says that a cluttered desk can be bad for your productivity, so we’re here to help by eliminating most of those cables strewn over your desk and replacing them with a simple, elegant solution. The 3-in-1 MagSafe Belkin wireless charger stand is available for $110 at Amazon, down from its usual $150 MSRP. With the Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand, you can bid farewell to the tangle of charging cables on your desk. This single device effortlessly charges your phone, Apple Watch, and earbuds, leaving you with an elegant stand and just one discreet wire. Equipped with fast-charging technology, the charger offers up to 15 watts of charging power for iPhones, ensuring your phone is ready when you are. What’s more, it delivers a 33 percent faster charging experience for those with an Apple Watch Series 7 or newer models, giving you peace of mind that your devices will be ready to go when you are. Since this Belkin uses MagSafe technology, your iPhone or Apple Watch aligns perfectly on the stand, making it easy to use. You can snap your phone into place without looking at it and leave it to charge. For Apple enthusiasts looking to declutter their desks and make the charging process less of a chore, the Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand is a perfect solution. Its current price of $110 is the best we’ve ever seen, so if you want one go grab this limited deal before it’s gone. Get a 3-in-1 Belkin MagSafe wireless charger for $110 at Amazon Mobile Phone Chargers
SVS reimagined its Ultra series speakers for premium style and sound.
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6 Best Machine Learning Certificate Programs to Master AI, 2024 The post 6 Best Machine Learning Certificates 2024 appeared first on eWEEK.
Google is introducing new AI-powered safety tools in Android 15 that can lock down your phone if thieves nab it.
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Our top picks of the best AI project management tools will give you key insights on choosing the right one. The post 10 Best AI Project Management Tools 2024 appeared first on eWEEK.
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Unlock sales potential with predictive analytics. Discover strategies and AI applications for predictive sales success. The post Predictive Sales Analytics: Using AI to Drive Sales appeared first on eWEEK.
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ITEM solutions play a key role in managing IT costs, but organizations need to choose a holistic solution The post Study: IT Expense Management Drives FinOps Maturity appeared first on eWEEK.
On Tuesday, May 14th at 11 AM PST, eWeek will host its monthly #eWEEKChat. The topic will be Optimizing Generative AI, and it will be moderated by James Maguire, eWEEK’s Editor-in-Chief. In this TweetChat, held on the X platform, experts will share practical advice about how business users can derive the most competitive advantage from […] The post eWEEK TweetChat, May 14th: Optimizing Generative AI appeared first on eWEEK.
I spoke with Anna Pobletts, Engineering Director at 1Password, about the advantages of passkey technology, and the possibility that cybersecurity will evolve past the challenges of traditional passwords. The issue, as Pobletts explains, is that legacy password technology relies too much on users for security – and we’ve seen the many problems with this. In […] The post 1Password’s Anna Pobletts on Passkey Technology appeared first on eWEEK.
Curious about OpenAI Sora? Discover the future of text-to-video in our latest overview. The post OpenAI Sora: Revolutionary Text-to-Video Tool appeared first on eWEEK.
Watch out for suspicious interview requests. 'The main focus of this phishing campaign was stealing email account information of the victims, and finding information about their contacts/networks,' the cybersecurity experts at Certfa Lab warned on Wednesday.
Buy a universal purchase app for macOS or iOS and use it across all your devices on all Apple platforms including iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS devices.
Verizon reportedly used Huawei technology in computer networking, download security, and video communications, with the Chinese company seeking compensation and royalties.
To celebrate 15 years of Google Maps, the popular mapping program gets a redesign, a host of new features, and an installation in New York's Madison Square Park.
Malware on an air-gapped computer can transmit data like Morse code by changing screen brightness in a way that's invisible to the naked eye but easily recorded with a camera.
Grab a pair at Amazon right now for just $199.95. Unlike Apple's second-gen AirPods, which failed to impress us, the Powerbeats Pro earned an excellent rating in PCMag's review.
Frozen II ices out the competition and skates to the top of the list.
The march of Marvel off of Netflix continues and this month a few DC films join in, too.
Fans of Star Wars, Star Trek, and superhero fans have plenty to stream this weekend.
Wondering if your taste in binging matches the rest of the country? Here's a look at the most-watched shows on Netflix and beyond, according to Reelgood.com.