IT General
Don't Get Duped: Spot 5 Common Crypto Scams Before It's Too Late
I remember the excitement of seeing my very first Bitcoin ATM in our local mall. Cryptocurrency was taking off, particularly Bitcoin and Ethereum. But with that rise, so have crypto scamsand no one is immune.
Microsofts Controversial Recall Windows Feature Is Delayed Again
Microsoft has once again delayed the rollout of its controversial Recall feature for Copilot Plus PCs. The feature was originally supposed to roll out in June, then was delayed again to October.
ChatGPT Is Now a Search Engine
It's been two years since the introduction of ChatGPTa deep learning chatbot that immediately called Google's search dominance into question. Today, the "AI search wars" are finally entering full gear as OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT Search functionality to paid subscribers.
M4 iMac vs. M3 iMac: What's New?
A streak of incremental Apple upgrades continues with the 2024 iMac. This time, Apple's all-in-one features the latest M4 chip and a couple of other upgrades that are worth your consideration. Here's what's new with the M4 iMac and how it compares with the previous-generation M3 iMac.
Microsoft Will Charge You $30 To Stay on Windows 10
Windows 10 is nearing its end-of-life date, currently set for October 14th, 2025. Microsoft has now confirmed how much it will cost to keep Windows 10 PCs secure after that passes.
Googles New Android Figurine Is Ready for the Holidays
Google has released a holiday-themed Android figure for its merchandise store. If you're looking for the perfect way to combine your favorite mobile operating system with the festive spirit, this could be it.
Why All Phones Feel the Same (And What Comes Next)
It's not just you. All smartphones feel the same and I have a hunch that one thing is going to change our smartphones in more ways than one. This is what I believe to be the catalyst for how our smartphones could evolve forever.
ChatGPT Search is now live. Here's how to use it.
OpenAI's ChatGPT long-awaited search engine is now live.
On Thursday, the company announced ChatGPT Search, framing it as a new ChatGPT feature to "get fast, timely answers with links to relevant web sources." Although it was rumored to be a standalone search engine, ChatGPT Search is integrated within the existing ChatGPT interface. You can access real-time search by manually clicking the web search icon, or entering your prompt and letting ChatGPT decide whether it needs to search the web for current results.
You can now search the web with ChatGPT. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / OpenAIChatGPT Search fills the competitive gap against Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, which have already been plugged into their respective search engines for a while now. Many users already prefer ChatGPT over Google Search, which has become cluttered with ads and increasingly filled with low-quality, spammy content. Until now, ChatGPT’s knowledge cutoff for newer models was October 2023. Now, with real-time search, ChatGPT returns up-to-date information, thanks to its media partnerships, for weather, stocks, sports, news, and maps.
When you search with ChatGPT search, you'll get the traditional conversational responses, with a button directing you to a list of sources. When you click on the sources, you're presented with a familiar-looking search engine format with headlines and links to each story.
citations show up in the sidebar in traditional search engine format. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / OpenAIChatGPT Search is currently available to ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Team users as well as SearchGPT pilot testers, and will become available to ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu users in the next few weeks. OpenAI also shared that it plans to bring ChatGPT Search to Advanced Voice Mode and free users in the future.
Saoirse Ronan responds to her viral 'Graham Norton Show' moment
Actor Saoirse Ronan has seen the reactions to her comment on The Graham Norton Show, where she spoke openly about the unique ways women experience the world.
If you missed it, Mashable has all the details for you. In short, Ronan was seated on a panel alongside actors Paul Mescal, Eddie Redmayne, Denzel Washington, and host Graham Norton.
SEE ALSO: Watch Saoirse Ronan stun male actors into silence on 'The Graham Norton Show'Mescal joked offhand about a phone being used as a defensive tool, and Ronan, after all the men laughed, pointed out that women are constantly considering how to defend themselves.
"That's what girls have to think about all the time," she said, which hushed the actors and audience alike.
Tweet may have been deletedThe moment quickly went viral. It was a good example of how men often don't understand how women experience the world.
"The reaction has been wild. It’s definitely not something that I had expected, and I didn't necessarily set out to sort of make a splash," Ronan said on The Ryan Tubridy Show on Virgin Radio UK on Wednesday, via The Irish Examiner. "But I do think there's something really telling about the society that we're in right now and about how open women want to be with the men in their lives."
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedRonan noted that the popularity of the Norton Show clip opened up folks to have a conversation.
"[It allows] more women to just be like, 'Well, yeah, actually, let's talk about our experience,'" she said, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Halloween 2024 costumes embrace memes, DIY, and obscurity
All Hallow's Eve is upon us, and who would have thought that this year's biggest seasonal debate would be when exactly we should be celebrating Hallo-weekend?
Tweet may have been deletedWhile half of the country deals with the Halloween aftermath of last weekend and the other prepares for big plans at the end of this week, the holiday has already stoked a wide variety of clever and outlandish costumes, nods to one's inner child, and viral TikTok trends. And though most of the chronically online costumes abided by today's more careful social norms surrounding online posting, many continue to push the bounds what's considered appropriate on the holiday.
SEE ALSO: Halloween Google Doodle game has you fight ghosts as a cute, magical cat Obscurity and memes dominate once againChallengers trios and costumed salutes to brat summer conveyed one truth: Generic costumes remain out, with the most niche costumes commandeering attention away from even the most impressive celebrity ensembles. Modern Halloween is about being in on the joke, whether you like it or not.
The internet's favorite reaction memes, like "sad ant" and "she's so crazzzzzzy", made iconic party appearances, and the internet's favorite X posts, like "he wants that cookie so effing bad," got transformed into iconic couple outfits.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThe tongue-in-cheek "I hate gay Halloween" trend revived itself for another year, with an even greater flood of off-the-wall costumes than last season's obscurities. Maybe you spotted one of the choir of French children playing tribute to music legend Serge Gainsbourg in a now viral video from 1988? Or a melancholy Oompa Loompa from the disastrous “Willy’s Chocolate Experience”? Perhaps you spotted a pair of horses, but not just any horses, the horses from Beyoncé's duology album covers? Wait, maybe it was actually the carousel horse from Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield's We Live in Time…
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Everyone is in their DIY eraWhether it was an obscure meme only a select few would know or the year's biggest Hollywood character, users online were going all out on their homemade outfits, esoteric props included.
Some of the most random entries: Figures on a crosswalk sign made with just blood, sweat, and a hefty amount of black poster board. The carefully crafted car passenger seat mentioned in the Chappell Roan song "Casual." Multiple Dune sandworms made from sleeping bags, playtubes, and pipe cleaners capitalized on the franchise's current popularity.
Parents went all out for their children, as well, and documented the process, including lifesize Crocs sandas and alien abductions. Even dogs got in on the crafty action. Adults reinvigorated the spirit of their childhoods, too, from Spongebob and Webkinz characters to the Scooby Doo live action crew, iSpy Books, and Princess Diana Beanie Babies.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedIt suggests Spirit Halloween's prepackaged outfits just aren't serving the public's needs anymore — In fact, the company may be pivoting to the Christmas market now.
The cultural appropriation conversation is more complicatedStill, Halloween season isn't complete without some questionable costume choices. But where cultural appropriation was once a hotly debated faux-pas, its place in the cultural conversation has quelled. The nation's political environment and celebrity obsession continue to complicate the matter.
On X, users quickly spread an image of a young couple dressed as Sean "Diddy" Combs and a bottle of Johnson's baby oil — a reference to allegations of sexual abuse by the famous rapper, who is currently in prison, awaiting trial. The individual labelled "PDiddy" had painted his face dark brown, an egregious case of blackface. The baby oil theme was popular among others, as well.
When another user shared his costume from the previous Halloween season — a pun on the phrase "human trafficking" depicting him as a traffic light wearing a crown — a subset of users called out the post for making light of sex-based crimes.
Additionally, egregious instances of racism among Halloween posts enraged many online, reiterating to many that the holiday's historic issues aren't a thing of the past.
The environment is ripe for a renewed conversation about race and abuse as depicted in online media. Earlier this year, TikTok users went viral for resharing their old childhood costumes that were now deemed problematic, including Pocahantas and stereotypical "Indian" outfits. Years prior, users were ironically posting their "cancellable" costumes, most of which were clickbait posts to show off their favorite or funniest outfits.
While Indigenous "headdresses" are no longer the costume accessory of choice (despite the indie sleaze revival), some of the public's popular Halloween choices still hark back to complicated, problematic eras in humanity's history.
Earlier this month, TikTok user Chanci Culp, known as @allstyleschanceculp, stirred conversation about the ethics behind celebrity costumes, too.
"Oh God, I'm nervous," she says to the camera in a now viral video, before explaining her hesitations about dressing up as a member of '90s R&B group TLC. Culp asks her followers and Black women at large if dressing up as a famous Black celebrity would still be considered offensive. The video's comment section was resoundingly, but not entirely, positive. In a follow up post generating more than 800,000 views, Culp explained her concerns further, pointing to her upbringing among overtly racist family members. "It's not your burden to teach me what's offensive and not offensive," she tells the camera. "That's my responsibility. I have to unlearn…" Halloween revelers, take note.
Team up with Sonic and Shadow for 20% off the just-released 'Sonic X Shadow Generations' on Switch
SAVE $10: As of Oct. 31, get 'Sonic X Shadow Generations' for Nintendo Switch for $39.99 at Woot. That's a 20% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Sonic X Shadow Generations' (Nintendo Switch) $39.99 at Woot$49.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal
Sonic fans have had it great over the past few years. Sure, there was a bit of a dry spell for a while, but the Blue Blur is back in a big way these days. His latest outing, Sonic X Shadow Generations isn't a new game, per se, as it's a remaster of a game called Sonic Generations with the addition of Shadow the Hedgehog as a new player character. But it's well worth jumping into whether you're an old or new Sonic fan, and it's even better if you can get it on sale. And you can, right now.
As of Oct. 31, you can get Sonic X Shadow Generations for Nintendo Switch at Woot for $39.99. That's $10 off and a discount of 20%. The game just debuted about a week ago, so you're still getting in on the ground floor here — not too shabby of a deal. This is for the Switch edition only, and you'll be getting a physical copy, not a digital code.
SEE ALSO: Save 42% on the Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed gaming keyboard and go ultra portableIn 2011, Sonic Generations introduced a new series of Sonic levels with both classic side-scrolling and modern 3D options that delighted fans. Now remastered and including Shadow the Hedgehog, it's an even larger game than before. Sonic and Shadow will be working together to take on an enemy called Black Doom throughout a varied selection of levels with open world gameplay like that seen in Sonic Frontiers. There are plenty of fun additional features for returning and new players to explore, but for many, Shadow will be the biggest draw.
The game is still quite new, so if you or someone you're buying gifts for over the holidays is a big Sonic fan, this is one to buy and stash away while it's on sale.
Dataviz of the Month – Sep 2024
» Water World – where is all the water in all the world?
» Per Second – interesting frequencies / cycles / rates / vibrations per second
» The Information is Beautiful Art Print Store – order high quality wall art of some of our most popular infographics & visualisations
» Rotated maps break our brain’s view of the world: Antarctica & The Mediterranean
» Who lived when? Some surprises in this mega graphic
» Incredibly revealing history lesson in this cross section of a road in England
» The world’s solar capacity reached 1,419 gigawatts in 2023, way beyond any predictions.
» Awesome? Fine? Brilliant? All superlatives graded and ranked
» Can’t stop looking at this beautiful 7 way venn
» Lord of the Rings characters: screen time vs mentions in the book
» Which is the best Mario Kart Deluxe kart combo out of 703,560 possible customisations?
» The Amazing Archaeology of the Word ‘Apricot’
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Save 42% on the Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed gaming keyboard and go ultra portable
SAVE 42%: The Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed gaming keyboard (black) is on sale at Amazon for $116.41, down from the list price of $199.99. That's the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Logitch Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed gaming keyboard (black) $116.41 at Amazon$199.99 Save $83.58 Get Deal
When fractions of a second make a big difference, you don't want a keyboard getting in the way of gaming. Instead of using a standard keyboard, upgrade to a model that's designed by professional gamers. Amazon is supporting our winter gaming hobby by offering a great gaming keyboard at a serious discount.
As of Oct. 31, the Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed gaming keyboard (black) is on sale at Amazon for just $116.41, down from the list price at Logitech of $199.99. That's a 42% discount or savings of $83.58. This sale price marks the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.
For starters, the Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed excels when it comes to a speedy response, either with a Lightspeed, Bluetooth, or USB connection. While that assists with gameplay, the keyboard's 50-hour battery life means you won't need to recharge for days.
The keyboard uses a standard layout but includes some great features specific for gaming like a volume roller for easy access and a game mode lock function so you won't accidentally hit anything that could impede with gaming.
This model is included in Logitech's Pro Series which is designed for competitive gaming, tested in tournaments, and refined with the help of world-class esports players.
For those who have gaming on the agenda this winter, get the pro-vetted Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed gaming keyboard and never worry about a lagging response again. As a Halloween treat, it's on sale today for just $116.41 at Amazon, the lowest price we've ever seen.
How to watch the campy body horror gem 'The Substance' at home
"Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?" So asks The Substance, Coralie Fargeat's sophomore feature and winner of the Best Screenplay award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. While it's still floating around theaters, the body horror romp is coming to a streaming service near you just in time for Halloween.
The Hollywood ageism satire stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid, and positive word of mouth has made the horror movie a surprise hit. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch The Substance at home and online, including when and where it starts streaming and the best deals to save some money.
What is The Substance about?The Substance stars Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister who's fired from her fitness TV program for the unforgivable crime of aging. Battling with crippling Hollywood ageism, she's introduced to a new drug known as "the Substance." A single injection is all it takes for Elisabeth to be reborn as the beautiful and youthful Sue (Margaret Qualley), who then begins her own rise through Hollywood.
Of course, there's always a catch. The Substance forces you to split time between your two bodies; Elisabeth must spend exactly seven days as herself, then seven days as Sue. When she messes with the balance, things get...bloody.
Check out the official trailer:
Is The Substance worth watching?The Substance has become the most successful box office release for arthouse distributor and streamer Mubi. The bold and bloody film has been creating a ton of buzz, with audiences giving it a 74 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics rating is even more impressive with a glowing 91 percent.
"Audaciously gross, wickedly clever, and possibly Demi Moore's finest hour, The Substance is a gasp-inducing feat from writer-director Coralie Fargeat," the critics consensus reads on Rotten Tomatoes.
While Mashable's own reviewer wasn't a big fan, writing that the "horror sci-fi plot of The Substance feels incomplete," most reviews are very positive. Culture writer Zach Schonfeld may have summed it up best, calling it a "B-movie with an A-list cast" — in a good way. Just be warned, many folks will be squirming in their seats over the amount of blood and gore. It is a body horror movie, after all.
How can I watch The Substance at home? Credit: MubiThe Substance made its digital retail debut on Oct. 31, meaning it's available for purchase at video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV+ for $19.99. The film will likely also be available to rent at a later date.
Here are some quick links to purchase the film on digital:
Prime Video — $19.99
Apple TV+ — $19.99
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — $19.99
In a rare turn of events, The Substance will also make its streaming debut on Oct. 31 for those who don't want to purchase the film. The only catch is that it won't be streaming on the usual services like Hulu or Max. Instead, you can watch The Substance on Mubi beginning on Halloween.
Mubi is built for cinephiles. Sure, it's yet another streaming service, but where it differs is quality. The Mubi library is brimming with the best of international cinema. The streamer showcases a vast array of films from America and abroad, mainstream and independent, classics, new releases, award-winners, and Mubi's own originals — like The Substance. Mubi subscriptions start at $14.99 per month, but we've rounded up a few ways to save some money on the streamer below.
Best overall: Get Mubi as a Prime Video add-on Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi / Prime Video Mubi add-on for Prime Video Free 7-day trial, then $10.99/month (save $4/month) Get DealA Mubi subscription on its own costs $14.99 per month, but Prime members can add it as a Prime Video channel instead and save some money. After a free seven-day trial, the Mubi add-on for Prime Video is just $10.99 per month. That means $4 kept in your pocket each month. Of course, this requires you to have a Prime Video account in order to add the channel. If you don't already have Prime Video, this isn't your best option.
If you remember to cancel after watching the movie, you could theoretically watch The Substance for free this way — just saying.
Best long-term deal: Save 33% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi logo Mubi annual subscription 7-day free trial, then $119.88/year (save 33%) Get DealIf you're a movie lover and want to stick around to enjoy more than just The Substance, you can save 33% by paying for a year of Mubi upfront. An annual Mubi subscription costs $119.88 per year, which breaks down to just $9.99 per month instead of the usual $14.99 per month. You'll still get a seven-day free trial to kick off your subscription as well.
Best for students: Save $5/month on Mubi student subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Mubi logo Mubi for students 30-day free trial, then $9.99/month (save $5/month) Get DealStudents really get the winning deal here. If you can prove your student status, you can sign up for Mubi for free for 30 days, then get a discounted subscription for just $9.99 per month. That's $5/month cheaper than a typical subscription. Plus, with 30 free days, you'll have plenty of time to watch The Substance and lots of other films before even paying a cent.
Get the new Mac Mini with M4 chip from $275 with qualifying trade-in
SAVE UP TO $425: The Mac Mini with M4 chip is now available for preorder. Save on your order with a qualifying trade-in at Best Buy and get the Mac Mini starting at $275.
Preorder the Mac Min with M4 chip Best Buy Apple Mac Mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599 at Best Buy Preorder Now Best Buy Apple Mac Mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $799 at Best Buy Preorder Now Best Buy Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 at Best Buy Preorder NowMac Week has given us a whole bunch of upgrades on Apple computers — for less. The iMac and MacBook Pro are getting the M4 chip, while all MacBook Air models now start with 16GB of RAM. The Mac Mini is joining the M4 chip crew, too. All models start with 16GB of memory and are available for preorder now, expected to be released on November 8. Prices start at $599, but Best Buy is offering a better price with select trade-ins.
You can score the Mac Mini starting at $275 at Best Buy when you trade-in an old device. The models available for trade-in include the Mac Mini with M2 and M2 Pro chips, as well as the iMac with M3 chip, and estimated trade-in values range up to $575.
To take advantage of this offer, estimate your old Mac's trade-in value. After purchasing the new Mac Mini M4 for M4 Pro and your trade-in is complete, the confirmed value of your trade-in device will be refunded to your purchase of the new Mac Mini. This deal is available exclusively at Best Buy and a solid opportunity if you're ready to upgrade your Mac.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac Mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $599.00 at Best BuyPre-Order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac Mini (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.00 at Best Buy
Pre-Order Here
New 'Nintendo Music’ app lets you listen to 40 years of video game tunes — here’s how to get it
For years, some Nintendo die-hards (me) have been frustrated at the company's refusal to officially release music on streaming services. The company just fixed that in a very Nintendo-like manner.
Meet Nintendo Music, a new Android and iOS app that is like Spotify, but for Nintendo music. You can listen to high-quality recordings of Nintendo tracks from across the company's four-decade history of making game consoles, from the NES to the Switch. There's just one catch: You need to pay.
Specifically, you have to pay for a Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) account, which also allows Switch owners to play games like Splatoon 3 online. An NSO membership will set you back $20 a year. Unfortunately, there's no way to buy a membership to just listen to music. If you don't own a Switch, you'd essentially be paying for multiplayer services you can't even use, just to listen to music.
There's also a major caveat right now in that there's barely any music on the app on launch day. Nintendo has promised to steadily release new music over time and it wasn't lying about that, as there are only 23 games total represented in the app right now. The current selection is unusual; it includes two different versions of the Metroid for NES soundtrack and a library of every menu song from the Wii, but nothing from Super Mario 64.
Still, the UI is clean and every game has several built-in playlists for things like level music, boss fight tunes, and so on. The bones of a cool app are here, as long as Nintendo keeps its promise to add music over time.
M4 MacBook Pro vs. M3 MacBook Pro: What are the differences?
Like the M3 MacBook Pro at launch in 2023, the 14-inch M4 version starts at $1,599.
Credit: AppleHere are the basic specs that you get for that price:
14.2-inch Liquid Retina display with 3024x1964 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate
M4 chip
16GB RAM
512GB storage
Rated for 24 hours of battery life
The biggest difference between M3 and M4 that should be noted immediately is the RAM. Last year's MacBook Pro offered 8GB RAM in the base model, putting it behind some competitors. This year, there are no 8GB models; you get 16GB at minimum, which can go up to 24GB if you feel like paying more. Storage options have not changed from last year to this year, however.
On top of that, the new M4 chip should give performance boosts to the 2024 MacBook Pro, but since we haven't tested it yet, it's impossible to say for sure.
M4 MacBook Pro vs. M3 MacBook Pro: DisplayThese two displays are nearly identical:
3,024 x 1,964-pixel resolution
16:10 aspect ratio
254 pixels per inch
ProMotion (i.e., up to 120Hz refresh rate)
Similar to the M3 MacBook Pro, the new M4 MacBook Pro continues to sport a notch (that still doesn't have Face ID).
M3 MacBook Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableHowever, there are two differences to note. The peak SDR brightness on the M4 model is 1,000 nits, while the same metric came in at 600 nits on the M3 MacBook Pro. Plus, the M4 MacBook Pro offers the nano-texture display option that's also available on the iPad Pro, Pro Display XDR, Studio Display, and iMac.
What's a nano-texture display? It's designed to dramatically reduce glare. As such, this option is best for users who often contend with challenging lighting conditions like sun-drenched offices.
I've had some experience with the nano-texture display on the iPad Pro, and while it does, indeed, significantly reduce glare and manages bright lighting conditions like a champ, there's a chance that you may notice a drop in the panel's vividness.
M4 MacBook Pro vs. M3 MacBook Pro: DesignAs far as visual design, the biggest difference between these two MacBooks is that you can get the new one in Space Black as well as silver.
M4 MacBook Pro Credit: AppleBy contrast, the M3 model is silver or bust. Here are the physical dimensions of the new M4 MacBook Pro:
Height: 0.61 inches
Width: 12.31 inches
Depth: 8.71 inches
Weight: 3.5 pounds
Those are, in fact, the exact same dimensions as the M3 model. You may be thinking, "So they really just changed some internals, added a new color, and called it a day, huh?" Well, not exactly.
M4 MacBook Pro vs. M3 MacBook Pro: PortsAnother physical differentiator between the M3 and M4 MacBook Pros is the addition of a third Thunderbolt 4 port.
M3 MacBook Pro ports Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / MashableThe M3 model only had two, while the M4 model has three, giving users more flexibility with external displays. Aside from that, the port selection is the same across both devices: an SD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an HDMI port, and a MagSafe port for charging.
No, there are no USB type-A ports.
M4 MacBook Pro vs. M3 MacBook Pro: PerformanceWe tested the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro's Geekbench score, which tests for CPU performance, and it notched a multi-core score of 11,998, which offered an 18% performance uptick over the M2 chip.
M4 MacBook Pro Credit: AppleApple didn't reveal performance delta figures between the M2 and M4 chips, but it did compare the M4 chip to the M1 chip. The Cupertino-based tech giant claims that the M4 chip is 1.8 times faster than the M1 chip for tasks like "editing gigapixel photos." When it comes to rendering complex scenes via Blender, the M4 chip is reportedly 3.4 times faster.
For AI workloads (e.g., Apple Intelligence), the M4 chip is 3 times more powerful, according to Apple.
M4 MacBook Pro vs. M3 MacBook Pro: Battery lifeAs noted earlier, the M4 MacBook Pro promises 24 hours of battery life on a single charge.
M4 MacBook Pro Credit: AppleThis is a rating by Apple that can't be verified yet, as we haven't gotten the new MacBook in for testing at the time of writing. However, Apple rated last year's model for 22 hours, meaning the M4 MacBook Pro should theoretically beat the M3 model in terms of battery longevity.
We tested the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro and it lasted 16 hours and 23 minutes. Once we test the battery life of the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro, we'll update this face-off.
M4 MacBook Pro vs. M3 MacBook Pro: Which should you buy?Battery life is an important aspect of making a purchase decision regarding buying laptops. We don't know the runtime of the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro just yet, but even without this figure, the M3 MacBook Pro is impressive at 16 hours and 23 minutes.
If snagging a nano-texture display, getting three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and having a minor boost in power isn't enough to sway you, the M3 MacBook Pro should be sufficient enough to meet your needs.
Here's where you can preorder Apple's new MacBook Pros with M4 chips
UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2024, 11:30 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with new preorder listings at Amazon and Best Buy.
Where to preorder the M4 MacBook Pros: The Apple Store Apple MacBook Pro (M4 chip series) Starting at $1,599 to $3,199 Preorder Here Amazon Apple MacBook Pro (M4 chip series) Starting at $1,599 to $3,199 Preorder Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Pro (M4 chip series) Starting at $1,599 to $3,199 (Save up to $150 with a paid My Best Buy membership) Preorder HereApple's "Mac week" continues with the launch of new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros powered by M4-series chips (M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max). Starting prices range from $1,599 to $3,199, and preorders are now live through the Apple Store, Amazon, and Best Buy. Note that paid members of the My Best Buy program (Plus and Total) save $50 to $150 on their preorders, depending on the configuration.
The M4 MacBook Pros will begin shipping on Friday, Nov. 8.
What's newAnnounced Wednesday (Oct. 30) following a brief leak on Apple's website, the new models include a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, plus 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. They all come in space black and silver.
The M4 MacBook Pros are all equipped with Liquid Retina XDR displays that offer up to 1,000 nits of SDR brightness (a bump from 600 nits for SDR in their predecessors), and buyers have the option of upgrading them with a new "nano-texture display" for $150 more. This "dramatically reduces glare and distractions from reflections," says Apple. It throws in a free polishing cloth worth $19.
Apple's new nano-texture display option for M4 MacBook Pros should make their screens easier to view outdoors. Credit: AppleThe top bezel of these displays contains a new 12MP Center Stage camera with support for "Desk View," a feature that adds a top-down view of the user's desk during video calls; the previous MacBook Pros had 1080p webcams.
Apple also claims that the new MacBook Pros offer up to 24 hours of battery life, which would make them the longest-lasting Macs ever made. (The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro lasted nearly 17 hours per charge in Mashable's testing, for what it's worth. A 24-hour battery life would put Apple's laptops on par with fresh Copilot+ PCs like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.)
SEE ALSO: MacBook Pro M4 is finally here: 3 new features that may make you upgradeOn the connectivity front, the M4-series MacBook Pros all have an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, a MagSafe 3 charging port, a headphone jack, and support for WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The M4 model tacks on three Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the M4 Pro and M4 Max versions have three Thunderbolt 5 ports that promise faster-than-double transfer speeds.
M4 configurationsGeared toward "entrepreneurs, students, creators, or anyone doing what they love," Apple's new starter MacBook Pro comes with 16GB to 32GB of memory and 512GB to 2TB of SSD storage. (That first number is a welcome bump from the M3 generation's 8GB of base RAM.)
It starts at $1,599 and maxes out at $2,749 if you tack on the nano-texture display option. It's only available in a 14-inch size.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M4), 14-inch Starting at $1,599 Pre-Order Here M4 Pro configurationsThe M4 Pro MacBook Pro is aimed at "researchers, developers, engineers, creative pros, or anyone that needs even faster performance for more demanding workflows." It can be configured with 24GB to 48GB of RAM and 512GB to 4TB of storage.
The 14- and 16-inch sizes start at $1,999 and $2,499, respectively; if you max out the latter and add a nano-texture display, it'll cost you $4,249.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro), 14- or 16-inch Starting at $1,999 Pre-Order Here M4 Max configurationsApple's beefiest MacBook Pro to date is "[designed] for pros like data scientists, 3D artists, and composers who constantly push workflows to the limit." The 14-inch model has 36GB of RAM, while the 16-inch version comes with 36GB to 128GB of RAM. Both have 1TB to 8TB of storage.
The 14- and 16-inch sizes start at $3,199 and $3,499, respectively, and maxing out the bigger one works out to $7,349.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Max), 14- or 16-inch Starting at $3,199 Pre-Order HereFor more information about Apple's big week of refreshed devices, check out our Mac announcements hub.
Every Apple Mac announcement so far
Last week, Apple promised a week of new Mac announcements in the near future. Well, the future is now, and Apple has unveiled a new Mac device and released Apple Intelligence.
Let's not waste any time. Here are all of the announcements Apple made this week.
SEE ALSO: Remember the legendary iMac G4? Apple's smart display might look just like it Apple Mac week: Every announcement madeApple isn't disappointing with its week of announcements. Here's what we know about so far.
Apple Intelligence It's here. Credit: AppleHey, remember earlier this year when Apple announced its suite of AI features? Some of those are out now.
Apple confirmed on its Newsroom blog that the first wave of Apple Intelligence features are now available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you have a device in one of those product families made within the last two years or so, you now have access to features like Rewrite and Proofread, which can help you craft the perfect email. Siri has also become more conversational, while a new Photos app feature lets you erase unwanted objects from the frame using AI.
Journalists should also take note because the Notes and Phone apps now allow users to "record, transcribe, and summarize audio," per Apple's blog post. If you want to make custom AI-powered emoji, though, you'll have to wait until the next batch of features drops.
M4 iMacSurprise! There's a new iMac, starting at $1,299.
Pink! Credit: AppleIt runs on Apple's latest in-house M4 chip, which Apple claims gives it big performance boosts over the M1 iMac. No word on how it compares to the M3 model, though. Regardless, Apple claims it's up to 1.7x faster than the M1 model. It also comes in seven colors: silver, blue, purple, pink, green, yellow, and orange.
Apple also updated the included peripherals, such as the keyboard and mouse, with USB-C ports. Here are some other noteworthy specs:
24-inch 4.5K display
12MP front camera
16GB starting RAM, up to 32GB
Four USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports
Apple Intelligence features
All of that sounds great, but the big selling point is obviously the pink model.
M4 Mac miniApple just dropped the new M4 Mac mini, a step up from its predecessor's M2-based configurations. M4 Mac Mini Credit: AppleIt's smaller, too, with dimensions of 5 x 5. Thanks to the M4 chip, the M4 Mac mini's CPU is reportedly 1.8 times faster compared to the M1 model. GPU-wise, it's 2.2 times faster. In terms of ports, you're getting Thunderbolt 5 for the first time, but only for the M4 Pro model.
It starts at $599 with 16GB of memory. It's available for pre-order now and it will officially hit store shelves on Nov. 8.
M4 MacBook ProApple rounded out its week of announcements with the M4 MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,599 for the 14-inch model and the 16-inch model starts at $2,499.
Same looks, new internals. Credit: AppleThe follow-up to last year's M3 model has nearly identical physical dimensions and looks (new Space Black color notwithstanding), but a couple of key upgrades. Obviously, the new M4 chip promises better performance and battery life, but you can also spend more to get more expensive M4 Pro and M4 Max models if you really need a boost. Aside from that, a third Thunderbolt 4 port has been added for extra display versatility, and the M4 Pro and M4 Max models get Thunderbolt 5 ports, instead.
Lastly, the default RAM has been juiced up from 8GB to 16GB. It may not look like much, but this is a better MacBook than before, at least on paper.
This article will be updated as more announcements come in.Amazon deal of the day: Snag an Echo Show 5 and a smart color light bulb for under $50
Start your Halloween celebration on Oct. 31 by shopping some scary good deals at Amazon. Whether you're looking to kick off your holiday shopping a bit early or treat yourself for the sake of Halloween, we've found some great discounts on top brands like Echo, Samsung, and Ninja.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Make sure to check out our picks from Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 if you missed them as well. Plenty of those are still live — including the Beats Solo 4 back at their Prime Day price and an $80 gaming bundle that include the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, wireless Xbox controller, and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Echo / Energetic Echo Show 5 with Energetic Smart Color Bulb $49.99 at Amazon$103.98 Save $53.99 Get Deal
The third-generation Echo Show 5 boasts an upgraded speaker system with double the bass of the previous generation and clearer sound for music, audiobooks, podcasts, video content, and more. It also features the AZ2 Neural Edge processor and a reengineered microphone array. The display is still on the small side at 5.5 inches, but that's what makes it a good fit for a nightstand or desktop. Paired with the Energetic smart color bulb, you'll be on your way to a smarter home without breaking the bank. A $104 value, you can snag both on Oct. 31 for just $49.99. That's a savings of 51%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja DT251 Foodi 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fry Oven $179.99 at Amazon$329.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal
If your kitchen space is scarce, investing in one all-powerful countertop appliance is the way to go. The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Smart CL air fryer oven is the appliance to rule all appliances. As the name suggests, it has 10 built-in functions, including air fry, roast, bake, whole roast, broil, toast, bagel, dehydrate, reheat, and pizza. In other words, it serves as an air fryer, a convection oven, a toaster oven, a pizza oven, a classic toaster, and beyond. Its capacity is large enough to feed the whole family. It can fit a five pound chicken and a sheet pan of veggies at once, or two 12-inch pizzas. As of Oct. 31, it's on sale for just $179.99 instead of $329.99. That's a savings of 45% and its lowest price to date.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (64GB, WiFi) $169.99 at Amazon$219.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal
Not everyone is looking for a tablet that can practically double as a computer. Some shoppers just want a reliable tablet that can handle the basics without breaking the bank. That's where Samsung's Galaxy Tab A9+ comes in. Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) called it the "best low-cost Android tablet you can buy," noting that it "succeeds at everything a low-cost tablet should." Basically a lite version of the S9+, the A9+ sports an 11-inch screen, quad speakers powered by Dolby Atmos, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, and expandable storage up to 1TB. The 64GB model with WiFi is usually $219.99, but as of Oct. 31, you can pick it up for only $169.99. That's a savings of 23% and just $10 away from its lowest price ever.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 10 Kids $109.99 at Amazon$189.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal
Our favorite tablet for kids, the Amazon Fire 10 Kids is geared towards little tikes between the ages of 3 and 7 years old. The 2023 version introduced a better front-facing camera, better battery life, and a bump in processing power compared to its predecessor. It still features the same built-in intuitive parental controls that make Amazon's kids tablets our favorite, plus a case that can handle drops and spills, a year's worth of access to Amazon Kids+, and a two-year worry-free guarantee. As of Oct. 31, it's on sale for just $109.99 instead of $189.99. That's a savings of 42% and matches its all-time low.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.