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  • Apple M4 iMac review The best all-in-one gets a lot faster

    Apple M4 iMac review The best all-in-one gets a lot faster

    The 2024 iMac looks the same as ever, but there’s one update that promises to change the lineup dramatically. It’s not the M4 processor, although that’s nice. No, I’m talking about the increase in base memory that finally takes the entry-level model from a poor 8GB to 16GB. This, along with the new chips, promises to finally make the $1,299 iMac cost-effective for most buyers.

    There are a few other changes, like an optional nano-coated display, an updated 12-megapixel webcam, and an assortment of new colors. Otherwise, things are pretty much the same as last year, which might leave you wondering if it’s worth the upgrade. After testing one for content creation, gaming, and productivity, I can tell you the answer is definitely yes.

    Apple iMac M4

    Apple’s 2024 iMac comes with the powerful M4 chip and starts with 16GB of RAM, making it a better value than previous models.

    What’s new in the latest iMac

    The 2023 and 2024 iMacs look pretty much the same. The 24-inch 4.5K 500-nit display and the computer itself are housed in the same thin 0.43-inch (11.5mm) thick frame. It’s still sitting on a petite stand that tilts but doesn’t have an adjustable height setting.

    While tilt-only is a common setup on all-in-one PCs, at this point it would be nice to see Apple also do the simplified height adjustment it does on the Studio Display.

    On the plus side, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the base model and four on the more expensive versions, plus a magnetic power connector and 3.5mm headphone jack on the left side — all the same as before.

    What’s new is a higher quality 12MP webcam that’s a huge change from previous models. It finally delivers sharp and color-accurate video on par with the rest of the computer, so you can look your best on FaceTime or Zoom.

    It supports Apple’s Center Stage feature that auto-centers the subject during video calls, even if you’re moving around. The new webcam also works with the new Desk View feature that lets you show objects below your screen.

    You can now get the iMac with optional nano-textured display glass that prevents glare, even if the light is directly on it. Although it does reduce sharpness a bit, I’d recommend it if you can afford the extra $200.

    Otherwise, it’s the same clear and colorful display with 500 nits of brightness, a wide P3 gamut, and a resolution of 4,480 x 2,250, all of which are the same as before.

    The 24-inch size might be too small for some people, but I found it to be adequate for most tasks, and I’m used to using dual 32-inch screens. Still, given that the iMac is Apple’s only desktop model with integrated displays, it would be nice to see a 27 or 32-inch option on a future model, even if it does make it less compact and portable.

    The iMac M4’s color palette has also been refreshed a bit. Although it still comes in the same seven colors as before, they’re now in slightly lighter shades that Apple calls “refreshing.” In fact, the model I tested is a very light green that’s so subtle it’s hard to see even in low light. I’m a fan of light colors, but anyone expecting bright colors may be disappointed.

    Accessories have also been updated. Both the new Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard (with optional Touch ID) now charge via USB-C rather than Lightning like the iMac M3, which negates a major complaint in our last review. As always, all accessories, including the cable, are colour-matched to your iMac – a lovely touch.

    I love the feel of Apple’s keyboards for speed typing, as I don’t use mechanical keyboards. The Magic Mouse is a familiar one, but the slightly firmer click pressure and accuracy suits my tastes and I like the ability to scroll side-to-side as well as up and down.

    Yes, the charging port is on the bottom, which is a bit of a design letdown, but it can hold a charge for up to a month – and you just need to plug it in for a few minutes to get enough power for a workday.

    The main updates are inside with the M4 processor, which is available in two variants. The base $1,299 model comes with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. All other versions have a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and four Thunderbolt ports, starting at $1,499 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There is no M4 Pro option, and therefore no Thunderbolt 5 port on any 2024 iMac. Every version except the base model also has Gigabit Ethernet (on the power brick) and Touch ID on the Magic Keyboard.

    The model I’m testing shows that Apple’s upgrades are still very expensive. It has a 10-core M4, 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and four Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as a nano-textured screen. These three options (an additional 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and an updated screen) raise the $1,299 price to $2,299. However, the good news is that not buying them won’t cost you an unacceptable amount of memory like before.

  • One of our favorite Anker power banks is 41 percent off

    One of our favorite Anker power banks is 41 percent off

    Anker makes a lot of our favorite charging gear, not only because their products perform quite well, but also because there are options for every kind of budget. Black Friday tech deals can provide great opportunities to get some of Anker’s expensive gear for less, and we’re already starting to see Black Friday Anker deals. For example, the 200W Prime Power Bank is currently 41 percent off and priced at $110 — and that includes the power brick and its dedicated charging base.

    Anker’s 200W Portable Charger is our pick for the best premium power bank, as it has features like charging an iPhone in an average of one hour and 48 minutes. The best part of the power bank is its sleek screen, which shows if power is coming or going and how much battery is left in the accessory. This feature is much more accurate than the four dots on my cheaper (but still favorite) Anker Nano Power Bank.

    Both the power bank and charging base feature one USB port and two USB-C ports, so there are multiple ways to charge your devices. The base uses magnets to secure its pins to the power bank and charge it straight away. Our biggest complaint with the power bank was its high price, but with this sale it’s definitely worth a look.

    But there was a small group of new products that rose above the rest. Our list of CES 2025 winners covers a variety of categories, from common areas like home entertainment, transportation, and smart home to themed topics like sustainability and accessibility. After our team shortlisted the nominees and voted on the best for various categories, we conducted another round of voting to decide on the best product of the show.

    The ASUS Zenbook A14 feels impossibly light, weighing between 2.2 and 2.4 pounds, and has a gorgeous 14-inch OLED screen and a nice array of ports (USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI)! What else could you need in a MacBook Air competitor? After years of copying Apple’s MacBooks, ASUS has proven it can outperform Apple without resorting to gimmicks like dual screens or bright lights.

    The Zenbook A14 is a compact little laptop that feels great in your hands, thanks to ASUS’ unique CeraAluminum case material. ASUS claims it can last up to 32 hours when playing video, which is way more than the 18 hours Apple estimates for the MacBook Air. It might seem strange that the least bright laptop at CES 2025 is one of our favorites, but sometimes pure practicality can’t be denied.

  • Snapchat will let parents track their kids through Family Center

    Snapchat will let parents track their kids through Family Center

    Snapchat is adding new location tracking capabilities to its parental controls feature. These changes will give parents new visibility into their kids’ Snap Map settings and allow them to keep track of their whereabouts.

    The new features, which will be available “in the coming weeks,” will be added to Snapchat’s Family Center, the app’s portal for parental control features. With the update, parents will be able to see their child’s location or request to share their own. Parents can also choose to receive “travel notifications” when their child leaves a specific location, like school or home.

    In addition, Family Center, which already allows parents to see who their kids are chatting with, will also allow them to see who their teen has shared their location with in the app’s Snap Map.

    The feature could help address some of the criticism the company has faced about the role its app’s location sharing capabilities have played in significant security issues. Snapchat’s location sharing has been particularly scrutinized by safety advocates, who have alleged that it has enabled teens to connect with strangers, including drug dealers and potential predators. The feature was criticized in a lawsuit filed earlier this year by New Mexico’s attorney general over alleged security lapses at the company.

    In its latest update, Snap notes that it prevents all users from sharing their location information with users who are not already their friends. And the company says it plans to send users additional reminders about their Snap Map settings to prompt them to “be extra thoughtful about their choices.”

  • The Morning After Xbox considers a handheld gaming PC

    The Morning After Xbox considers a handheld gaming PC

    Xbox is thinking about future hardware, and it might not be just another box connected to your TV. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer told Bloomberg that the team is considering its own gaming handheld – but that it will take years.

    In an earlier interview with IGN, Spencer mentioned a hypothetical “Xbox Gaming Handheld PC Device”, which now appears to be in the early research and prototyping stage. The Xbox boss said that if Xbox designs a handheld console it would be important to include local play. Compared to existing devices like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Legion Go, it’s unclear what unique features the Xbox handheld could offer.

    Amazon Haul will be the company’s new discount storefront designed to compete with Temu and Shein. It will be mobile-only and sell goods at “insanely low prices”. Unlike the fast pace of Amazon Prime, Amazon promises that its Haul orders will arrive in less than two weeks. Previously, CNBC mentioned that Amazon is exploring storefronts to sell goods directly from China to US customers.

    The Lightfoot is a roughly $5,000 solar scooter built by San Francisco-based R&D outfit Otherlab. Two 120W panels mounted on either side will slowly charge a battery parked on the street or outside. Otherlab claims this passive solar charging will deliver three miles of charge per hour, or 18 miles of charge if left in daylight for a full day.

    The ASUS Zenbook A14 feels extremely light, weighing between 2.2 and 2.4 pounds, and has a gorgeous 14-inch OLED screen and a nice array of ports (USB-C, USB-A and HDMI)! What more could you want in a MacBook Air competitor? After years of copying Apple’s MacBooks, ASUS has proven it can outdo Apple without resorting to gimmicks like dual screens or bright lights.

    The Zenbook A14 is simply a compact laptop that feels great in your hands, thanks to ASUS’ unique CeraLumin case material. ASUS claims it can last up to 32 hours when playing video, which is way more than Apple’s MacBook Air’s estimate of 18 hours. It might seem strange that the least attractive laptop at CES 2025 is one of our favorites, but sometimes pure practicality can’t be denied.

  • Google’s live scam detection for phone calls is now out for Pixel devices

    Google’s live scam detection for phone calls is now out for Pixel devices

    One of the Gemini AI-powered features Google introduced at I/O this year was a solution for the never-ending scam calls. It has the ability to detect if a call is suspicious while it’s still ongoing and alert you so you can drop the call as soon as possible. This live scam detection feature for phone calls is now available for Pixel 6 and newer devices, provided you’re part of the Phone by Google public beta program in English.

    “[S]cam calls are evolving, becoming increasingly more sophisticated, harmful, and harder to identify,” the company said in its announcement. Scam detection uses on-device AI to determine if a call is a potential scam in real time.

    For example, if the caller tells you it’s your bank and asks you to transfer funds to another account because your account has allegedly been breached — a common scam tactic — you’ll get an audio and a haptic alert.

    When you look at your phone, you’ll see a visual warning, as well as a button to easily end the call. If the AI ​​makes a mistake, you can tap the “Not a scam” button instead.

    Scam detection is off by default, and it’s up to you whether you want to activate it. Google says it doesn’t send your calls or their transcripts to a remote server, as the feature processes phone calls on the device.

    On the Pixel 9 series, it’s powered by Gemini Nano, which Google describes as “the most efficient model for on-device tasks.” On Pixel devices older than the Pixel 9, it’s powered by the company’s other machine learning models.

    Google didn’t say when live scam detection would come out of beta, but it promised it would be coming to more Android devices soon. In October, the company also introduced advanced scam detection for Messages, which also uses on-device machine learning models to identify scam texts.

  • AMD lays off 4 percent of its global workforce

    AMD lays off 4 percent of its global workforce

    AMD has confirmed that it’s laying off about four percent of its global workforce, according to reports from TechCrunch and others. It’s not entirely clear how many people will be affected by the move, or what departments the laid-off employees will be drawn from.

    We can do some math, though. According to annual filings by AMD, the company had about 26,000 employees last year. Four percent of 26,000 equates to about 1,000 people. That’s a lot.

    So that tells us why. You already know the answer. This is a bunch of corporate nonsense. “As part of aligning our resources with our biggest growth opportunities, we are taking a number of targeted steps,” an AMD spokesperson told CRN.

    Don’t worry. The company also said it is “committed to treating impacted employees with respect and helping them during this transition.” Engadget reached out to AMD for more details on what that respect and help will be like. We’ll update this story if we find out anything.

    This news comes after a fairly mixed Q3 earnings report. According to Wccftech, the company grew revenue and profit, but the gaming division saw a massive 69 percent drop year-over-year. The company has also struggled to compete with NVIDIA in the world of AI chips.

    Experts still predict that AMD will earn around $33 billion in 2025, thanks to its upcoming next-generation GPUs. That’s not enough for investors, though, as that’s “only” an increase of around $7 billion compared to 2024. The company’s stock is down around four percent this year, and fell even more today. Capitalism demands massive and endless growth.

    Rival (and sometimes best friend) Intel has faced similar challenges. The company announced more than 15,000 layoffs earlier this year.

    AMD’s Ryzen AI Max chips came as a huge surprise at CES 2025. They’re basically super-powered versions of the company’s Ryzen AI hardware, with up to 16 CPU cores and 50 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores, plus up to 128GB of integrated RAM. AMD claims the Ryzen AI Max chips will deliver up to 2.6 times faster 3D rendering than Intel’s Core Ultra 9 288V, as well as up to 1.4 times better graphics performance.

    Looking a little closer, you might think AMD was taking a little inspiration from Apple Silicon with its powerful CPU cores, graphics, and integrated memory. But according to VP Joe Macri, AMD was working in this direction long before Apple.

    “We were building APUs [chips that combine CPUs and Radeon graphics] when Apple was using discrete GPUs. They were using our discrete GPUs. So I don’t give Apple credit for coming up with this idea.” AMD also had experience stuffing too much memory into its Instinct data center GPUs.

    Still, Macri credits Apple with proving that you don’t need discrete graphics to sell people powerful computers. “Many people in the PC industry said, well, if you want graphics, it has to be discrete graphics because otherwise people will think it’s bad graphics,” he said. “Apple showed that consumers don’t care about what’s inside the box. They really care about what the box looks like. They care about the screen, the keyboard, the mouse. They care about what it does.”

  • Google now offers a standalone Gemini app on iPhone

    Google now offers a standalone Gemini app on iPhone

    Google now offers a dedicated Gemini AI app on iPhone. First spotted by MacRumors, the free software is available for download in Australia, India, the US, and the UK following a soft launch in the Philippines earlier this week.

    Prior to today, iPhone users could access Gemini through the Google app, although there were some notable limitations. For example, the dedicated app includes Google’s Gemini Live feature, which allows users to interact with the AI ​​agent from their iPhone’s dynamic island and lock screen.

    As a result, you don’t need to have the app open on your phone’s screen to use Gemini. The software is free to download – although a Gemini Advanced subscription is required to use every available feature. Gemini Advanced is included in Google’s One AI premium plan, which starts at $19 per month.

    The app is compatible with iPhones running iOS 16 and above, meaning those with older devices like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X can use the AI ​​agent. I’ll note here that the oldest iPhone running Apple Intelligence is the iPhone 15 Pro. Of course, that’s not exactly a fair comparison; Apple has designed its suite of AI features to rely primarily on on-device processing, and when a query requires more computational horsepower, it goes through the company’s private cloud compute framework.

    Either way, Google bringing a dedicated Gemini app to the iPhone isn’t surprising. Prior to WWDC 2024, Apple was reportedly in talks with the company to integrate the AI ​​agent directly into its devices.

  • EU fines Meta $842 million in a Facebook Marketplace antitrust case

    EU fines Meta $842 million in a Facebook Marketplace antitrust case

    The EU’s executive branch is not shying away from imposing heavy fines on major tech companies. The European Commission has fined Meta €797.12 million ($842 million) for violating antitrust regulations.

    The EC says Meta “abused its dominant position” in the social networking space by linking Facebook Marketplace to Facebook and “imposing unfair trading conditions on other online classified ad service providers.” Regulators determined that all Facebook users are “regularly exposed” to the Marketplace, even if they do not wish to be.

    To this end, the link between the two services gives Meta “a substantial distribution advantage that competitors cannot match.” In addition, the EC found that third-party classified ad services that advertise on companies like Facebook and Instagram were subject to unfair trading conditions.

    “This allows Meta to use advertising-related data generated by other advertisers for the sole benefit of Facebook Marketplace,” regulators argued. The fine was determined based on the duration and extent of the violations as well as Meta’s revenue. The Commission also told Meta to end the practice and to refrain from repeating such conduct or attempting anything similar. Meta said it would appeal the decision.

    It claimed, “This decision ignores the realities of the thriving European market for online classifieds listing services and protects large incumbents from a new entrant, Facebook Marketplace, which meets consumer demand in innovative and convenient new ways.” The company is trying to appease European regulators on other fronts.

    The EC said in preliminary findings of an ongoing investigation that Meta violated the Digital Markets Act with its approach to ad-free subscriptions, as it requires EU users to consent to or pay to avoid highly targeted advertising. This week, Meta reduced monthly subscription fees and said it would offer an advertising option that would not use as much user data, although it would include some unskippable ads.

    This was quite a challenge, as the landscape was filled with countless contenders. As expected, most of the things we saw at this CES had an AI component, with a notable increase in AR glasses, hearing aid earbuds, solar-powered tech, robot vacuums, and even emotional support robots. (Apparently people really like robovacs that can pick up socks.) Our team also found more growth in tech designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities and mobility issues.

    Along with all the new variations we saw on traditional tech like laptops, TVs, and soundbars, we also saw a lot of weird off-beat tech at the show. And we were pleasantly surprised to see that some of the recently announced CES 2025 products were actually already available for sale or preorder.

  • Bluesky surges to 15 million users after getting a million sign-ups

    Bluesky surges to 15 million users after getting a million sign-ups

    BlueSky may still be the laggard in the race for an alternative to X, but the once Twitter-connected service is gaining momentum. The company said in an update that the app has passed the 15 million user mark after adding more than a million new users last week.

    While BlueSky is still significantly smaller than Threads, its biggest rival with 275 million users, there are signs that Threads users are becoming increasingly curious about this new product.

    “BlueSky” has been a trending topic on Threads in recent days and in-app search suggestions show there are more than 19,000 posts about “BlueSky.” BlueSky has also attempted to win over Threads users by posting regularly on the Meta-owned service in recent weeks.

    This effort appears to be working. In September, Engadget noted, the service had about 9 million users. A month later, it neared 11 million. Its mobile app holds the top spot in Apple’s App Store, followed by Threads and ChatGPT. Its current success seems to have been driven, at least in part, by frustration with Elon Musk and X following the US presidential election.

    A recent report from web analytics company SimilarWeb found that “more than 115,000 US web visitors deactivated their accounts” on November 7, “more than any previous day of Elon Musk’s tenure.” The report also mentions that “web traffic and daily active users for BlueSky increased dramatically in the week leading up to the election, and then increased again after election day,” with BlueSky seeing more web traffic than Threads. (Threads’ mobile usage, however, is still “far ahead” of BlueSky.)

    “In the US, BlueSky received more web visits than Threads immediately following the election,” the report states. “For context, it’s important to note that both services are app-focused, even though they support a web user interface.”

    For its part, BlueSky seems intent on differentiating itself from its larger, billionaire-controlled rivals. The company, which began as an internal project at Twitter before being spun off into an independent entity, has experimented with new features like custom feeds, user-created moderation services and “starter packs” for new users. “You’ve probably grown accustomed to being stuck in a single algorithm controlled by a small group, but that’s not the case anymore,” BlueSky COO Rose Wang shared in a video for new users on Tuesday.

    “On BlueSky, there are about 50,000 different feeds… These feeds provide you with a comfortable place to meet people with similar interests. And you can actually make friends again, because you’re no longer tied to a dominant algorithm that promotes either the most polarizing posts or the biggest brands, and that’s BlueSky’s mandate.”

  • The 13 best gifts for moms

    The 13 best gifts for moms

    We’re not talking about all moms, but a brief and unscientific survey confirmed that there’s one gift most moms everywhere would love: time. Time without saying, without any structure, without any obligations. Though we didn’t find extra hours on sale anywhere online, we did find some gadgets and gizmos that help save time and some that make precious free time even more fun.

    Our recommendations include some gifts we’ve given the moms in our lives as well as what moms on staff would like. Most people think of technology as a must-have, because that’s just who we are, but all should appeal to any mom who wants to make the most of her time.

    Levoit Core 400S Air Purifier

    When I tested air purifiers for our guide, I found that the best way to clean the air is to open the windows—but if the mom in your life struggles with allergies or lives in a place where air quality can be poor, an air purifier might be the next best thing.

    The Levoit Core 400S Smart Air Purifier was one of the quietest models I tested and performed on par with models three times more expensive. It has a three-stage filter (including an activated carbon layer and particulate filter), and the internal particulate matter sensor can automatically adjust the fan speed as dirt in the air increases.

    The companion app shows historical air quality readouts and makes it easy to control and schedule the unit. Plus, replacement filters aren’t as expensive as other units.

    Ember Mug 2

    Take your mom’s morning coffee routine up a notch with the Ember Mug, a self-heating smart mug that keeps beverages at the perfect temperature for up to 1.5 hours or all day if the mug is placed on a charging coaster. Its temperature ranges between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit, letting your mom decide how hot she wants her coffee.

    There’s also a companion app that lets her save preset temperatures for her favorite drinks, track her caffeine intake, customize the color of the LED light on the front of the mug, and more. The latest version also comes in a beautiful rose gold color as well as white, black, gold, silver, and copper.

    Mpix Photo Book

    Many of us take hundreds of photos with our phones and then never do anything with them. They’re left to rot in our camera rolls, only to be exposed when you have to scroll back months to find that one image you’re looking for. If you want to give mom another great way to view her favorite photos, an album from Mpix will do the trick.

    You can customize your photo book from the start, choosing the best pictures of her family and friends and arranging them neatly on each page. You can also choose from a variety of cover options and paper weights, making the final product as premium as you want it to be. With options starting at $30 per book, it’s pretty easy to give mom a gift she’ll want to reread long after the holidays are over.

    Pura Smart Scent Diffuser

    I’ll be the first to say that the Pura Scent Diffuser surprised me. Before trying it out, I didn’t believe such a small device could actually spread strong fragrance throughout my home. But it didn’t take long to prove me wrong. The one I have stays plugged in near the front door in the family room of my house, and as soon as I walk in when the Pura is on, I smell the lovely scent of Amalfi Lemon, Lavender Fields or whatever other scent I’ve chosen.

    The Pura can hold two different proprietary fragrance capsules at a time, so you can create very different vibes depending on the time of day, the occasion or anything else. The Pura app also makes it easy to set a per-scent diffusion schedule, and it can pause diffusion altogether if you’re away from home. Are you going to create ambiance throughout the house with this CD-sized gadget? No (maybe try the new Pura Plus for that), but it will make whatever part of your house it’s in feel a lot more luxurious.