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How to Create a Mail Merge in Apple Pages (for Free)

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 19:30

Mail merge helps you generate personalized postcards, invitations, and more, using contacts from your address book or a spreadsheet. Here's how you can use the feature in Apple's free Mac word processor, Pages.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Fun and Useful Ways to Use Vocal Shortcuts on Your iPhone

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 19:15

Using Vocal Shortcuts, you can record specific phrases that trigger actions on your iPhone. In many cases, there's no need for a Vocal Shortcut when you can ask Siri to perform the same action, but there are some occasions where only a Vocal Shortcut will do the job.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Two-Factor Authentication Isn't Invincible: That's Why You Need a Backup Gmail Account

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 19:00

Google's 2.5 billion registered users make Gmail a big target for hackers, and hackers always working on new ways to bypass your security—even two-factor authentication isn't invulnerable now. That's why you should consider opening a second Gmail account.

Categories: IT General, Technology

8 Things Apple Keynote Does Better Than Powerpoint and Google Slides

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 18:30

Your Mac has many native apps that are underutilized, and Apple's Keynote presentation software is among them. So let's look at what Keynote does better than its biggest competitors, Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to contact Target customer service for Black Friday 2024

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 18:11

After the chaos of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (we're still recovering), you may need to reach Target for order issues, returns, or product inquiries. Stolen packages, missing items, damaged goods, cracked TV screens — problems like this can add extra stress during the holiday season.

So, if you need some help, here’s how to get in touch with Target customer service.

SEE ALSO: Last chance for these Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

1. Use Target’s Live Chat
For fast assistance, visit Target.com and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the "Contact Us" link. From there, you can start a live chat with a representative who can help with your issue.

Target's online customer support uses a combination of automated prompts and human assistance. Fair warning, during events like Black Friday, be prepared to wait.

Support times will be longer during peak shopping days. Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Target.com

2. Call Target Customer Service
You can also reach Target by phone at 1-800-440-0680. Customer service is available seven days a week, though expect longer wait times during this busy shopping season.

3. Reach Out on Social Media
Target is active on Twitter (@Target) and Facebook. A quick direct message or tweet can often get a swift response.

4. Visit a Target Store
If your issue is related to returns or exchanges, visiting a nearby Target location might resolve the problem faster. Bring the item and receipt for a smoother process.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I track laptop deals for a living. These are the 4 lingering Black Friday sales I keep coming back to.

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 17:57

UPDATE: Nov. 29, 2024, 11:30 a.m. EST This story has been updated with price and availability checks across the board. Good news: All of my top picks are still available (for now).

The best Black Friday laptop deals you can still shop: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB) $844 (save $255) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499 (save $500.99) Get Deal Best gaming laptop deal Alienware m16 R2 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,299.99 (save $600) Get Deal Best Chromebook deal Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus (Intel Core 3 100U, 8GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $599.99 (save $100) Get Deal

I’m Haley, a Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who tracks laptop deals on a constant basis. When Black Friday rolls around, my job gets incredibly easy.

Major tech retailers and brands like Amazon, Best Buy, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and Samsung took full advantage of the shopping holiday's unusually late timing this year, offering deep discounts on flagship laptops all month long. Black Friday proper may technically be in our rearview mirror at this point, but new and year-round lows on some of Mashable's best-reviewed machines are still up for grabs.

Black Friday laptop deals were (and continue to be) so competitive that even the famously stingy Apple Store gets involved. This year, it's doling out gift cards worth up to $200 with the purchase of select M2 and M3 MacBook Airs through Dec. 2 (aka Cyber Monday). I think most shoppers will prefer the "save money and go" approach of regular dollars-off discounts elsewhere, but this could be an option for someone who's deep in the Apple ecosystem or planning to buy other Apple gadgets.

SEE ALSO: Last chance for these Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

I realize that a new laptop is one of the biggest one-off purchases someone can make all year, even if they score a great deal, so I spend hours researching and vetting discounts. I steer clear of models that aren't reasonably future-proofed, as well as laptop deals that from third-party sellers at Amazon or Walmart. They may use different customer service or have different return policies than the sites they sell on, and I don't think expensive purchases mesh well with riskiness.

Read on for a closer look at four of the best Black Friday laptop deals I wouldn't pass up, plus more options across the MacBook, Windows, gaming, and Chromebook categories. Bookmark this page and come back later if you don't see any models with the specs you need, as I'll be updating the list continuously with new deals and price checks as Cyber Weekend continues.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB) $844.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $255.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the M3 Apple MacBook Air.

Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon was impressed by the M3 Air's peppy performance, satisfying keyboard, vivid webcam, and dual-display support (if you close its lid), rating it a 4.3/5. It may not look all that different from its older M-series predecessors — there is a new midnight finish option — but we think it's the best MacBook for most people, especially now that Apple's bumped its base RAM from 8GB to 16GB.

The starting configuration with 256GB of storage is on sale on Amazon for only $844, which is 23% off its $1,099 MSRP, its biggest discount ever, and $5 better than Best Buy's Black Friday deal on the exact same MacBook. This also puts less than $100 between it and the M2 Air, so opting for the current-gen model over the cheapest model out there feels like an easier, more obvious choice. Just note that delivery times for all finishes are pushed into December and January.

More MacBook dealsBest Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499.00 at Amazon and the Microsoft Store
$1,999.99 Save $500.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

Microsoft's Copilot+ PC has an even longer battery life than the new M4 MacBook Pros — it lasted nearly 23 hours in our testing — and it comes with AI features that "make Windows fun again," Gedeon wrote. She gave it a 4.8/5; it's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our current favorite Windows laptop for most people, barring any ARM-related app compatibility issues.

The upgraded configuration that Gedeon tested is a 13-inch model featuring a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage, and its price fell several times throughout the month before it settled on a new all-time low this week. I'm calling this one the "Stop! He's already dead!" special.

In early November, Amazon put this Surface Laptop 7 on sale at its October Prime Day price of $1,699.99. A week before Black Friday, Best Buy decided to match that deal — only for it to drop an extra $100 at Amazon and the Microsoft Store. A few days later, Amazon added $50 to its discount, which Microsoft eventually matched. Finally, on Black Friday proper, Amazon and Microsoft hammered the last nail in the coffin by bringing it down to a record-low $1,499 (or 25% off). It was still stuck at $1,699.99 at Best Buy the last time I checked. Poor guy.

For what it's worth, the Microsoft Store offers price protection if you bought the Surface Laptop 7 there at one of its previous sale prices. Amazon does not, but you do have the option of returning it and rebuying it for cheaper. The retailer's extended holiday return policy applies to most purchases made between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31.

More Windows laptop deals

2-in-1 laptops

Best gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Alienware Alienware m16 R2 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,299.99 at Best Buy
$1,899.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Alienware m16 R2.

This premium 16-incher is the best gaming laptop we tried in 2024 (and another Mashable Choice Award winner), earning a score of 4.5/5 from Gedeon. She was impressed by its ample mid-range power, its "springy" keyboard, and its solid build quality, as well as its "seamless" support of Nvidia's Advanced Optimus feature. That lets it switch between its discrete and integrated GPUs "to handle both play and work," she wrote.

Our testing configuration featured an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, 16GB of memory, and a terabyte of storage. It's down to $1,299.99 at Best Buy, which is $600 off its usual list price there and a record-low.

If it sells out there — it briefly did on Black Friday — another model with a slightly better processor and a slightly worse GPU is on sale for the same price on Dell's website; it's typically $1,699.99 there.

More gaming laptop dealsBest Chromebook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus (Intel Core 3 100U, 8GB RAM, 256GB UFS) $599.99 at Best Buy
$699.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Announced in October, this 15.6-inch Samsung Galaxy machine is the thinnest, lightest Chromebook Plus model on the market and the only one with an AMOLED display. (Translation: It's super vibrant.) "As someone who got a chance to get some hands-on experience with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus, I can confirm that it is razor thin," Gedeon wrote. "I don't even know how they managed to pack any internals inside." It has an Intel Core 3 100U processor, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of UFS storage, and supports newer Gemini AI features like Live Translate.

Typically $699.99, Best Buy has it on sale for $100 off as part of its Black Friday sale — its first-ever discount.

More Chromebook deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to contact Walmart customer service for Black Friday and Cyber Week 2024

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 17:57

After the frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, issues with orders, returns, or questions about products are bound to pop up. If you've had problems with delivery, stolen packages, or a case of Black Friday shopper's regret, you have a few options for getting customer support from Walmart.

Here’s how to quickly get in touch with Walmart’s customer service to resolve any problems.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's Black Friday sale is still live — find all the best deals right here

1. Use Walmart’s Online Chat
The fastest way to reach Walmart support is through their live chat feature. For order-related problems, go to the "Purchase History" page, where you’ll find a "Chat with Us" button that connects you directly to a Walmart representative.

2. Call Walmart Customer Service
If you prefer speaking directly, you can call Walmart at 1-800-925-6278. They’re available 24/7, though wait times may be longer during busy periods.

3. Use Social Media
Walmart is active on Twitter (@Walmart) and Facebook. A quick tweet or message can often get a response in minutes.

4. Visit a Store
If you're dealing with a return or exchange issue, visiting your local Walmart can sometimes resolve things faster. Make sure to bring a copy of your digital receipt and the item in question.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Canadian publishers take OpenAI to court

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 17:32

In the newest legal battle between artificial intelligence and pretty much everybody else, OpenAI is once again on the chopping block.

A group of five Canadian news companies including the National Post, Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada filed a lawsuit against OpenAI alleging copyright infringement and breaching their online terms of use, Reuters first reported. The group is seeking up to $20,000 Canadian for each article used by OpenAI, The Guardian reported.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI Sora leak: What it was and what it wasn’t.

"Rather than seek to obtain the information legally, OpenAI has elected to brazenly misappropriate the News Media Companies’ valuable intellectual property and convert it for its own uses, including commercial uses, without consent or consideration," the filing, which The Verge published, reads.

The filing goes on to allege that OpenAI has "capitalized on the commercial success of its GPT models, building an expansive suite of GPT-based products and services, and raising significant capital — all without obtaining a valid license from any of the News Media Companies. In doing so, OpenAI has been substantially and unjustly enriched to the detriment of the News Media Companies." The news companies, they write, did not receive "any form of consideration, including payment, in exchange for OpenAI's use of their Works."

"Journalism is in the public interest," Torstar, Postmedia, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada said in a statement, according to Reuters. "OpenAI using other companies' journalism for their own commercial gain is not. It's illegal."

In response, OpenAI said that the data its models were trained on was publicly available and fair use.

"We collaborate closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution and links to their content in ChatGPT search, and offer them easy ways to opt out should they so desire," OpenAI spokesperson Jason Deutrom told The Verge in a statement.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dyson OnTrac ANC headphones are on sale for Black Friday, but are they any good?

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 17:26

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 30, Dyson's OnTrac active noise-canceling headphones are just $449.99 at Amazon, down from $499.99. That's a $50 discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson OnTrac active noise-canceling headphones $449.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

With Black Friday behind us, there’s just one shopping day left: Cyber Monday. And Amazon’s already offering some pretty hot deals.

Right now, you can grab the new Dyson OnTrac active noise-canceling headphones for just $449.99 — that’s a $50 discount and a new record-low price, according to our trusty Amazon price-checking tool, CamelCamelCamel. (Best Buy also matches this price.) This is also baby's first discount, as we've never seen these headphones on sale before.

At $449.99, you might be wondering if these headphones are worth it. Well, according to Mashable reviewer Timothy Beck Werth, the audio quality is superb. He was blown away by the immersive sound, calling it a serious competitor for the "best audio experience" he's ever had. "If you want to disappear into a bubble of sound and enjoy your music to the fullest, these headphones deliver a powerful experience," writes Werth.

A Mashable reviewer testing the Dyson OnTrac headphones. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Not only do these headphones sound good, but they also do a pretty good job of blocking out background noise. “During a test call, a friend was able to tell that I was calling on headphones, but they could barely hear the train passing in the near distance,” writes Werth.

SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday Dyson deals still live

On top of that, thanks to an ingenious Dyson design hack, these headphones have an insane battery life. Listeners can get 55 hours of playtime with ANC engaged. You also get an uber-comfortable fit.

Is there a downside, besides the still-high sale price of $449.99. We can't deny it — these aren't the sexiest headphones you can buy in 2024. The design looks a bit "clunky," as our reviewer said. While they lack the cool vibes of the AirPods Max headphones, we think they deliver superior sound and battery life.

Categories: IT General, Technology

All of the top robot vacuums Ive tested are still at record-low prices after Black Friday

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 17:08

UPDATE: Nov. 30, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with current pricing on robot vacuums still on sale during the morning after Black Friday, including ones at Amazon that are now being called Cyber Monday deals.

A quick view of the best Black Friday robot vacuum deals still live Best non self-emptying deal Shark IQ Matrix 2-in-1 RV2402 $148 at Walmart (save $231.99) Get Deal Best budget self-emptying deal iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ $299 at Amazon (save $250.99) Get Deal Best premium deal Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 at Amazon (save $340) Get Deal

Yet another Black Friday is technically in the rearview, but we all know that the vibes will be alive and well through Cyber Monday. This chaotic shopping weekend often brings flashbacks to last year's frantic shopping — including the items that you didn't end up buying, and then wished you had all year. If a robot vacuum didn't make the cut last year, let Black Friday 2024 be the time to finally ditch your current clunky vacuum and treat yourself to a significantly shorter chore list.

Black Friday deals make high-end robot vacs super accessible

The robot vacs getting attention this Black Friday are packed with high-end features — ones you may have previously been fine to settle without just because, at full price, they're a really intimidating investment. I'm personally eyeing the number of options that bring home smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance (no more eaten phone chargers) and self-washing and drying mopping pads in the $500 to $700 range.

Considering the latter two features I just mentioned were once so newfangled that they were only available in the $1,000+ range, these sale prices are ones to hop on without hesitation. FWIW, most of the robot vacuums still on sale for Black Friday are the cheapest they've ever been. Many are even beating their previous record-low pricing that we just saw during October Prime Day — and unlike Prime Day, no membership is needed to access these deals, aside from a few random ones at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: I've tested over 20 robot vacuums and these are the best for every budget in 2024

Below, I'm tracking the best Black Friday robot vacuum deals still live through Cyber Monday and beyond. (Amazon is already officially referring to deals as Cyber Monday deals now, even if they're identical to Black Friday deals.) While nothing has really changed about the sales yesterday versus today, it's not unlikely for a few new robot vacs to go on sale as more retailers enter Cyber Monday mode — so if you've held out this long, I recommend waiting to see what deals the weekend brings.

Deals are organized into three sections: robot vacuums that don't mop, robot vacuum and mop combos, and vacuum and mop combos that also wash and dry their own mopping pads. Within each category, all robot vacuum deals are ordered by price from cheapest to most premium. (Need help deciding which robot vacuum to buy? I have some guidelines.)

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing. Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price at Amazon, or matches Amazon's lowest price.

Best Black Friday robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ $299.00 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250.99 Get Deal Why we like it

This nearly 50% off discount on the Roomba Combo j5+ is stellar at first glance, but it looks like an even sweeter deal when compared to the current deal on the cheapest self-emptying Roomba, the Roomba Vac 2. For $249.99, that bare-bones Roomba doesn't mop and can't smart map your house. For $299 — just $50 more — the Roomba Combo i5+ can mop and can smart map to clean specific rooms in your home on command. If $300 is your budget cap for a new robot vacuum, spending that extra $50 is a no-brainer.

The only downside to choosing the Combo i5+ over the more advanced Combo j5+ is that the i series Roombas don't have small obstacle avoidance technology, so they can't dodge things on the floor like charging cords or pet waste. However, if your home is already pretty tidy as it is, or you're down to deal with tidying up ahead of vacuuming, the Combo i5+ is a total steal at this price. Otherwise, the fantastic Black Friday deal on the Combo j5+ is also still live: grab it for 50% at $399.99.

More robot vacuums (that don't mop) on saleRobot vacuum and mop combos on saleRobot vacuum and mop combos with self-washing mop station on sale
Categories: IT General, Technology

Meta Quest 3S vs. Meta Quest 3: What are the differences?

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 17:03
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Price and specs Meta Quest 3S (left) and Meta Quest 3 (right) Credit: Meta

As mentioned, the Quest 3S is cheaper with a starting price of $299.99. It comes with the following specs:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip

  • 128GB of storage

  • 8GB of RAM

  • 1,832 x 1,920-pixel display resolution

  • 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates

  • Fresnel lens

If you upgrade to 256GB of storage, you'll have to shell out $399.99. In my experience with the Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3, 128GB was sufficient, netting me about 60 games and apps with some storage left over.

The Meta Quest 3, on the other hand, has a price of $499.99. It comes with the following:

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip

  • 512GB of storage

  • 8GB of RAM

  • 2,064 x 2,208-pixel resolution

  • 72Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz refresh rates

  • Pancake lens

It has the same chipset and RAM as the Quest 3S, but you'll get better displays, greater storage, and more refresh rate options. (More on that later.)

Meta Quest 3S (128GB) $299.00 at Amazon
Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Quest 3 128GB - Breakthrough mixed reality - Powerful performance, White Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Design

The Meta Quest 3S appears to be bulkier than the Meta Quest 3 — similar to the Quest 2. The pricier Quest 3, on the other hand, has a sleeker, more comfortable appearance.

Meta Quest 3S Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The front part of the Quest 3S is different from the Quest 3, too. While both have a mostly-white body, the Quest 3S has its sensors arranged in a triangular pattern. However, the Quest 3, on the other hand, has its sensors arranged into larger, oval-shaped openings.

Both headsets have the same controllers.

Meta Quest 3S Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It's also worth noting that the Meta Quest 3 has a 3.5mm headset jack, but the Quest 3S does not. This, however, doesn't mean that you can't connect headphones to the latter. You can still use USB-C headphones or Bluetooth-supported wireless earbuds.

Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Display

The Meta Quest 3's displays have a higher screen resolution compared to the Quest 3S.

Meta Quest 3S displays Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

  • Quest 3S - 1,832 x 1,920-pixel resolution

  • Quest 3 - 2,064 x 2,208-pixel resolution

In my experience comparing the Quest 3S and Quest 3 side-by-side, the Quest 3's visuals are definitely sharper and more vivid.

Plus, the Quest 3 has a greater range of refresh rate options:

  • Quest 3S - 90Hz and 120Hz

  • Quest 3 - 72Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz

You may be wondering, "Why would anyone run their Quest 3 at 72Hz as opposed to 120Hz?" Well, for those who use PCVR, reducing the refresh rate may allow them to prioritize a higher resolution without taking too much of a performance hit.

Meta Quest 3 Credit: Meta

It's also worth noting that the Quest 3S has fresnel lenses as opposed to the Quest 3's pancake lenses. Both lenses have their pros and cons, but pancake lenses are generally better, allowing for a lighter and thinner design, less distortion, and better image quality.

As someone who owns a Meta Quest 3, I'd say that its resolution quite middling. They're simply OK. As such, with the Quest 3 already having mid-tier visuals, you might be disillusioned by the Quest 3S' displays.

Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Features

Both have the same feature set, including augmented reality (AR) with passthrough mode. Passthrough, which lets you see the world around you, relies on a 4MP camera and lets you enjoy AR experiences. For example, with Passthrough mode on, you'll have the opportunity to see the room you're standing in — even with your headset on.

Mashable's tech editor using the Quest 3S Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For the uninitiated, AR is a blend of digital artifacts with your real-world environment. For example, in an AR game, you can dodge virtual aliens while diving behind the sofa in your living room.

Announced at Meta Connect 2024, you'll also have an easier time with spatial computing with Quest 3S and Quest 3.

Spatial computing was always available on the Quest series (at least as far back as the second-generation Quest 2 because I've demoed the ability to use it with a laptop in 2021.) However, it appears that, with a new update, the experience should be a lot more seamless with the two Quest 3 models, particularly if you have a Windows 11 PC. You'll have the opportunity to work with numerous virtual displays for a more immersive workflow.

Meta Quest 3 Credit: Meta

"Quest is going to be a natural extension of your PC," Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.

To sum it up, on both the Quest 3S and Quest 3, you'll have access to AR and VR apps and games via the Quest Store, as well as support for PCVR with the Quest Link app. You can also play Xbox Game Pass games on both headsets.

Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Battery

The Quest 3 has a bigger battery: 5,060 mAh to be exact. The Quest 3S, on the other hand, sports a 4,324 battery.

According to our review, the Meta Quest 3 lasted one hour and 19 minutes with nonstop gameplay.

We also reviewed the Quest 3S, and as it turns out, according to our in-house testing, it lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge.

Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Which is the winner?

The Quest 3S is cheaper and delivers longer battery life, but has a clunkier, more unwieldy design.

The Quest 3 is pricier and less power efficient, but has better weight distribution for increased comfort. Plus, it offers better visuals, too.

The winner depends on what you value more: battery life and cost effectiveness or better picture and comfort?

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 9 Best iPhone Photo Editing Apps

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 16:30

Photo editing on your iPhone can seem like a daunting task, especially if you are used to editing your pictures from desktop apps. But it is not difficult to do if you have the right tools for the job. Here are the best photo editing apps for iPhone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 3: Whats the difference?

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 16:30

As holiday shopping kicks off in earnest, you've probably noticed that the new AirPods 4 come in two variants: one with active noise cancellation (ANC) and one without. But the question is, how do they compare to the AirPods 3?

It's time for a good ol' AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 3 face-off, which will help you decide how they differ and whether the fourth-generation AirPods are worth the upgrade.

Or perhaps you've never owned AirPods and you're wondering whether you should purchase the newest pair or grab its predecessor. No matter where you are in your purchase journey, we can help you through it with this in-depth comparative analysis of both the AirPods 4 and AirPods 3.

SEE ALSO: AirPods 4: The new active noise cancellation made ‘Espresso’ sound like it was performed in a soundproof café Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Price and availability

The AirPods 4, as mentioned at the outset, comes in two flavors: ANC and no ANC.

AirPods 3 Credit: Mashable

The non-ANC model normally starts at $129.99, tough it's on sale for $119.99 for Black Friday. However, if you want the model with ANC, you'll have to shell out $179.99, which is $50 more.

The AirPods 4 offers an affordable entry point compared to the AirPods 3 that launched in 2021 with a starting price of $179.99.

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Design

We interviewed two head honchos from the Apple team about the AirPods 4's design, specifically Eric Treski, Director of AirPods Product Marketing at Apple, and Kate Bergeron, the Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple. They acknowledged that the AirPods line has a fit inconsistency hurdle that Apple has been struggling to overcome. Some users say that their AirPods fit just fine, but others say that they keep falling out.

AirPods 4 Credit: Apple

That said, the AirPods 4 has a new design that has the best fit for most. How did the company manage to accomplish this? Apple said that it did extensive research on ear shapes. "We've come up with a relatively efficient way to scan people's ears through our own tools so we can build that database [and continue to find the 'best fit'] on an ongoing basis," Bergeron said.

As such, compared to other AirPods on the market, the AirPods 4 should be the most comfortable. The AirPods 4 have shaved-down stems and slimmer, more angular inserts compared to the AirPods 3. (The latter has larger, more bulbous inserts.) The new-generation AirPods are also slightly smaller than the AirPods 3, but they both weigh about the same (i.e., 0.15 ounces).

AirPods 3 Credit: Mashable

AirPods fit is subjective, but speaking anecdotally, the AirPods 4 fit very well — even better than the AirPods Pro that I own. No matter how much I shake my head, they don't fall out.

Additionally, unlike the AirPods Pro line, the AirPods 4 continue to not have silicone ear tips.

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: ANC, Transparency Mode, and Adaptive Audio

On the AirPods 3, you won't find support for ANC, Transparency Mode, nor Adaptive Audio whatsoever.

AirPods 4 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, Apple changed that with the AirPods 4. The base model doesn't offer any of the aforementioned features, but the pricier variant comes with all three.

In our interview with Apple, Treski explained that putting ANC in "open-air earbuds," meaning earbuds that don't have silicone tips like the AirPods Pro line, is quite tricky. The silicone tips act as passive noise cancellation tools because they're blocking your ear canal from external noise, and they work in concert with hardware (like the H2 chip) and software to cancel out incoming noise.

Apple admitted that the H2 chip has to work a little harder on the AirPods 4 to cancel out noise, but anecdotally, I can confirm that it works like a charm. Of course, no ANC headphones can completely eradicate noise, but in an airport, the AirPods 4 heavily subdued noises like chatty conversations and PA announcements. If I wanted to hear those PA announcements, I could turn on Transparency Mode. You can also use Adaptive Audio, which requires you to trust that the AirPods 4 can swap between ANC and Transparency Modes by intelligently determining whether the external noises are worth hearing. Sometimes it gets it right, sometimes it doesn't, so I prefer to swap between Transparency and ANC modes myself.

AirPods 4 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

On the plane itself, AirPods 4 with ANC worked well in getting rid of some of the higher-pitched sounds that emanated from the plane — a cacophonous sound that, if you'll permit me to use onomatopoeia, sounds like a "whishing" noise. But with the lower "humming" sounds of the engine, I could still hear them through the AirPods 4 with ANC. Overall, though, for a pair of open-air earbuds, the AirPods 4 with ANC does a great job at active noise cancellation.

It also helps that, as Apple told Mashable in an interview, the AirPods 4 with ANC borrows microphones from the AirPods Pro 2, which Apple says are "high quality" and contribute to the AirPods 4's success with ANC.

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Touch controls

With the AirPods 4 with ANC, you can press and hold the stem to toggle between ANC, Transparency, and Adaptive Audio modes. You can also finagle between the modes on your iPhone. (If you have an Android, you can't select ANC options on your phone; you'll have to rely on the touch controls.)

AirPods 4 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Touch controls you can find on the AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 include the following:

  • Play/pause: press the stem

  • Play next track: Double-press the stem

  • Play the previous track: Triple-press the stem

  • Answer calls: press the stem

Unfortunately, however, both models still lack on-bud volume controls, which is a common user complaint.

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Sound quality

According to our review of the AirPods 3, these buds are already pretty impressive.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, in my experience, the AirPods 4 takes it up a notch. I listened to my favorite song of the year, "Espresso," on AirPods 4 with ANC, and it felt as if Sabrina Carpenter was singing the song right in front of me in a soundproof cafe.

The AirPods 4 (ANC and non-ANC models) and the AirPods 3 have support for Personalized Spatial Audio, which means that, depending on your ears, the earbuds offer the best customized listening experience designed for you. However, the AirPods 4 takes it up a notch because it adds an improved amplifier and driver, which leads to better bass, and clearer mids and highs.

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Siri Interactions

The AirPods 4, whether they have ANC or not, support something called Siri Interactions.

AirPods 3 Credit: Mashable

Siri Interactions, which are not available on the AirPods 3, allow you to nod yes or shake your head no to questions or statements from Siri. For example, when Siri tells you there's an incoming call, you can nod to take the call or shake your head to reject it.

This allows you to have a hands-free experience wit your AirPods 4.

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Case

The AirPods 4 case got a slight makeover. It's the smallest AirPods case that Apple has ever produced. So if you've been dreaming of an even more pocketable pair of AirPods, the AirPods 4 is the one for you. This new AirPods 4 case ships for both models: ANC and non-ANC.

AirPods 3 Credit: Mashable

It's also worth noting that, on the AirPods 4 case, you won't find the same pairing button that was featured on the AirPods 3's case. I learned the hard way that it's not there anymore. (I was scratching my head trying to find it for far too long — until I discovered that there's a new pairing button that's now hidden.) The pairing button has been replaced with a capacitive touch feature on the front. So when you open the case (with the AirPods 4 in them), you'll see a green light, which indicates the battery status is in good standing. Double tap on that light until you get a blinking white light, which will allow you to initiate pairing mode, so you can connect the AirPods 4 to your device.

Another difference is that the AirPods 4 case now has a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) radio inside it, allowing you to find the case independently from the buds in case you lose them.

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Battery life

We don't have in-house testing for the AirPods 3, but according to Apple, they last up to six hours on a single charge.

AirPods 4 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

We did, however, test the AirPods 4; it lasted 5 hours and 12 minutes. (This almost matches Apple's own rating; the Cupertino-based tech giant said it can survive for up to 5 hours on a single charge.) In my experience, Apple's claims typically match Mashable's own runtime figures, so there's a good chance that you'll squeeze out more battery life out of the AirPods 3, which has a six-hour battery life rating, compared to the AirPods 4.

Apple AirPods 4 vs AirPods 3: Which should you buy?

If you’re looking for the best value, the AirPods 4 offers more bang for your buck, particularly the ANC model. You get Siri Interactions, a more findable and compact charging case, and improved bass, mids, and highs.

However, the AirPods 3 — while lacking ANC — still delivers solid sound quality and reliable battery life. So, if you’re all about advanced features and noise cancellation AirPods 4 is the way to go. But if you prefer a simple, proven pair of earbuds, the AirPods 3 will still hold up.

Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile AirPods 4 with ANC $179.99 at T-Mobile
Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile Apple AirPods without ANC $129.99 at T-Mobile
Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable AirPods 3 $179.99 at T-Mobile
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Categories: IT General, Technology

How I Quickly Edit Photos and Images Using Dropbox

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 16:15

Dropbox is great for data backups, from preserving documents from your computer to pictures and files from your phone. However, there's more to it than just being a cloud storage solution. Did you know that you could also edit photos on Dropbox?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Black Friday may be over, but there are still tons of STEM toys on sale at Amazon

Mashable - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 16:01
Best post-Black Friday STEM toy deals Best deal overall National Geographic Ultimate Crystal Garden $13.49 (save $3.50) Get Deal Best runner-up deal MAGNA-TILES Metropolis 110-Piece Magnetic Construction Set $89.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best budget deal Creativity for Kids Grow 'N Glow Terrarium Kit $9.34 (save $8.65) Get Deal

Black Friday may be “officially” over, but there are still tons of deals worth grabbing before they’re gone. Amazon, in particular, has a wealth of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) toys on sale that are perfect for kids, teens, and even adults who love to tinker and experiment.

SEE ALSO: Finding a gift that kids actually like is tricky. This guide will make it easier.

Sure, you could just pop the latest video game into your cart and call it a day, but where’s the fun in that? With a STEM toy, you can encourage problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and a genuine love of learning. (Plus, your giftee will most likely want to build or create whatever it is immediately, so you can make a memory of it.)

From solar robots to one-of-a-kind growing kits, here are the best STEM toy deals you'll find on Amazon right now.

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Blue Marble Store National Geographic Ultimate Crystal Garden $13.49 at Amazon
$16.99 Save $3.50 Get Deal Why we like it

The National Geographic Ultimate Crystal Garden is a prime example of a STEM toy that offers hours of educational entertainment. (As soon as I saw this, I added it to my cart for my nephew.) With this NatGeo kit, your little ones can grow a crystal garden in six hours. It comes with everything you need to get started, including five watercolor pens so they can choose the colors of their crystals.

And the best part? You’ll be giving the gift of magic for the small price of $13.49.

Early Cyber Monday STEM toy deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to Type to Siri on iPhone and iPad

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 16:00

Type to Siri lets you type your commands, queries, or conversations to Apple's voice assistant without speaking them. Here's how it works, which phones support the feature, and how to enable it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Will Never Download These Apps on My iPhone

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 15:30

While iPhones come with powerful built-in features, many third-party apps claim to enhance your device's performance. Most of these apps are unnecessary and potentially harmful. Here are the ones I avoid.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Installed Ubuntu on My Old MacBook Air and I Wish I'd Done it Sooner

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 15:01

If you’re eyeing a shiny new Apple silicon Mac but don’t know what to do with your old one, installing Linux can transform what you thought was obsolete tech into a capable machine.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to Capture Fast Action Photos on an iPhone

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 14:30

Capturing fast-moving action with your iPhone camera can be a challenge. The Burst mode feature can help, by taking a continuous stream of high-speed photos. By taking multiple shots, your chances of capturing the image you want are much higher.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nintendo Switch Online Is a Great Deal, Even If You Don't Play Online

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/30/2024 - 14:15

Nintendo Switch Online has been a hard sell to Switch owners who don’t play online games. This is doubly true for the relatively pricey Expansion Pack, which had paltry offerings at launch. However, over time, these services have become juggernauts worth considering even if you aren’t into multiplayer.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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