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Snag a refurbished Lenovo tablet-laptop combo for only $111

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 11:00

TL;DR: As of May 6, this refurbished 2018 Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook with 32GB SSD is on sale for $110.99 — a 76% discount from the original price.

Whether for school, work, or personal use, having a reliable computer is essential these days. And while buying a brand new model might seem like the obvious choice, don't sleep on refurbished products like this Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook. Refurbished devices are cleaned and inspected to ensure they're in good working order, letting you get an attractive laptop at a mere fraction of the regular cost.

This Lenovo Chromebook is from the model year 2018, but it still has attractive features to get you through your daily grind. It has a grade "B" refurbished rating, which means it could come to you with some light cosmetic blemishes on the case or bevel.

The 2-in-1 design blends the functionality of a laptop with the portability and convenience of a tablet. It can switch between laptop, tablet, tent, and stand modes. It has a wide 11.6-inch immersive touchscreen that lets you compute with simple swipes and taps. You can also use the keyboard and trackpad if you need to write for longer periods of time. 

You'll get a 2.4GHz processor, 4GB RAM, and 32GB of storage, which you can utilize for smooth performance, multitasking, and more. It runs the Chrome OS, offering an intuitive interface and access to a variety of web-based apps through the Google Play and Chrome Web Store.

Weighing around two pounds, it's a lightweight option for taking on the go, whether you're a hybrid professional working out of multiple offices, a business traveler, or a student taking notes in class.

Don't miss this chance to take advantage of a terrific refurbished price point with this 2-in-1 Chromebook.

Originally $475, you can get this refurbished Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook while it's on sale for $110.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo 2-in-1 Chromebook 300e 2nd Gen 11.6" 4GB RAM 32GB SSD - Black (Refurbished) $110.99 at the Mashable Shop
$475.99 Save $365.00 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch 'Doctor Who': When does the new season premiere?

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 11:00
Watch 'Doctor Who' Season 14 online with these quick links: BEST STREAMING DEAL FOR MOST PEOPLE Disney+ Basic monthly subscription $7.99 per month Get Deal BEST BUNDLE DEAL Disney Duo Basic Bundle: Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) $9.99 per month (save 37%) Get Deal BEST FOR VERIZON FIOS CUSTOMERS Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free for 6 or 12 months with eligible Fios internet accounts (save up to $109.99) Get Deal BEST FOR TOTAL BY VERIZON CUSTOMERS Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan (save $13.99 per month) Get Deal BEST FOR VERIZON WIRELESS CUSTOMERS Disney Bundle: Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu, and ESPN (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $8.99 per month) Get Deal BEST FREE OPTION BBC iPlayer Free with VPN when logged into UK server Get Deal BEST VPN DEAL NordVPN $3.09 per month + 3 months free (up to 69% off 2-year plan) Get Deal

A new Doctor Who season is upon us — and it's the first-ever season to launch on Disney+ and release simultaneously worldwide. So whether you're a dedicated Whovian or you've never even heard the word Tardis before, it's an exciting time to dive into the Whoniverse.

The quintessentially British TV show is one of the longest-running scripted series in the world. The original series aired for 26 seasons beginning in 1963, while the revived series that premiered in 2005 has 13 seasons under its belt. That makes the upcoming release Season 14 (or Season One, or Season 40 — it's all very confusing). If you're wondering how to watch the new season of Doctor Who when it premieres, we've got you covered. Here's what you need to know about this epic sci-fi series.

When is Doctor Who Season 14 coming to Disney+?

Doctor Who Season 14 premieres on Disney+ on Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. ET with two initial episodes. In the UK, the season kicks off Saturday, May 11 at 12 a.m. GMT on BBC iPlayer, followed by BBC One later in the day. There will be eight episodes total, with subsequent episodes airing weekly.

Why is Doctor Who Season 14 also called Season 1?

Not only is this the first season to premiere on Disney+, but it's also the first season to star Ncuti Gatwa as the fifteenth doctor — though he already won over viewers in the latest Christmas special and a surprise appearance in the last of the 60th anniversary episodes. While technically Season 14 on paper, showrunner Russell T. Davies believes rebranding it as Season 1 can help attract new audiences and give the franchise a bit of a reset. After all, this season will make history with Gatwa as the first Black Doctor and explore more inclusive themes as well.

"Who is interested in Season 67, or whatever it is? It genuinely starts again. The reason why it’s survived for all these years is that every so often, Doctor Who stops, opens the door and refreshes itself, and gets a new audience in," Davies said in an interview with Rolling Stone.

How to watch Doctor Who: the best Disney+ streaming dealsBest Disney+ deal for most people Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ Disney+ monthly subscription $7.99 per month (with ads) or $13.99 per month (ad-free) Watch Now

The best way to watch Doctor Who Season 14 is to sign up for a Disney+ monthly subscription. Technically, you won't actually save any money, but you also won't continuously waste it either — so long as you remember to cancel your subscription immediately after the season ends (although you may want to stick around to watch Star Wars series like The Acolyte). If you don't mind a few ads, it'll only cost you $7.99 per month. Otherwise, the ad-free option will run you $13.99 per month.

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Disney Bundle Duo Basic (Hulu + Disney+) $9.99 per month (with ads) Watch Now

The Disney+ bundle is too good of a deal to pass up — especially if you're already a Hulu subscriber. For just $9.99 per month, you can bundle Disney+ with Hulu — that's only $2 per month more than paying for Disney+ or Hulu on its own or 37% savings compared to paying for each separately. If you're a sports fan, you can even throw ESPN+ into the mix and pay just $14.99 per month for all three — a savings of 44%. You'll have to watch a few ads during your viewing experience, but at this price, it's hard to complain. To eliminate ads, you'll have to pay an extra $10 per month.

Best Disney+ trial Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free for 6 or 12 months with eligible Fios internet accounts (save up to $109.99) Watch Now

If you're a Verizon Fios home internet user, check your plan to see if you qualify for a free year or six months of Disney+ Premium (no ads). Customers on the 2 Gig Streaming or 2 Gig Complete package can watch for free for an entire year, while those on the 1 Gig Streaming or 1 Gig Complete package can watch for free for six months. Either way, that's plenty of time to consumer the new Doctor Who season. Activate the offer and read more about eligibility terms on the Verizon website.

Best Disney+ deal for Verizon Wireless customers Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon / Disney+ Disney Bundle: Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu, and ESPN (with ads) $10 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $8.99 per month) Watch Now

Verizon Wireless customers can score a sweet deal on Disney+ through Verizon myPlan. Just add a Disney Bundle to your account through myPlan, which includes Disney+ Premium (no ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN (with ads). The bundle would regularly cost you $18.99 per month, but by signing up through this myPlan deal, it'll only cost you $10 per month.

Best way to get Disney+ for free Opens in a new window Credit: Total by Verizon Disney+ Premium (no ads) Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan (save $13.99 per month) Watch Now

If you're a Total by Verizon customer on the $60/month prepaid unlimited plan, then you get Disney+ Premium (no ads) for free. No terms or trial periods — just be sure to keep your account in good standing and you can stream as much as you desire on Disney+. If you decide to cancel or switch your plan, your subscription will end as well.

Those on the $50/month prepaid unlimited plan can also enjoy six free months of Disney+, which is plenty of time to watch the new season of Doctor Who. However, you can extend those six months by switching over to the $60/month plan instead.

Other ways to watch Doctor Who: BBC iPlayer via VPN

If you're based in the UK, traveling to the UK, or simply cannot fathom adding Disney+ to your already crowded streaming service collection, you can watch the new season of Doctor Who via BBC iPlayer. You can access the entire season without hassle from the UK, but if you're based anywhere else in the world, you're going to need a VPN to unlock the geographical barrier. The good thing is BBC iPlayer is free, so you'll only have to pay a small monthly fee for a VPN if you don't already have one.

A VPN can hide your real IP address and allow you to connect to a secure server in the UK, which makes BBC iPlayer think you're connecting from a local network. Then, you can watch not only the new season of Doctor Who, but tons of other content from the Whoniverse from right here in the United States.

Follow these quick steps to watch Doctor Who via BBC iPlayer from the U.S.:

  1. Sign up for a VPN (peep our top picks below)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

  3. Open up the app, sign in, and choose a server in the UK

  4. Navigate to BBC iPlayer and visit the Whoniverse

  5. Watch Doctor Who for free from anywhere in the world

Best VPN deals

Of all the VPNs we've tested and recommend, only two consistently unblocked BBC iPlayer when connected to a UK-based server: NordVPN and ExpressVPN. In other words, not all VPNs are created equal. Here are the details on our top picks.

NordVPN Opens in a new window Credit: NordVPN NordVPN $3.09 per month + 3 months free (up to 69% off 2-year plan) Get Deal

A top contender and probably one of the most well-known VPNs on the market, NordVPN is one of our favorites for a few reasons: an unrivaled suite of top-notch security features, a Threat Protection feature, more than 5,000 obfuscated servers, and a sweet deal on a 27-month Standard plan. You'll be able to unlock BBC iPlayer and plenty of other geo-blocked websites and apps. It has some lingering transparency concerns, but has made great strides to repair its reputation with network upgrades, boosted security standards, and a bug bounty program. It'll only cost you $3.09 per month for your first two years, plus you'll get an additional three months for free.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

ExpressVPN Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN $6.67 per month for 1-year plan + 3 months free Get Deal

It may be a bit pricier, but ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN for streaming. It offers a massive network of more than 3,000 servers across 94 countries, a user-friendly app, and a strong commitment to data protection. Per Mashable Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel, "Skirting geo-restrictions and playing shows on ITVX was a cinch when I connected to one of ExpressVPN's British servers. (Netflix UK and the BBC iPlayer were also easily unblocked.)" You can sign up for a 15-month plan for just $6.67 per month at the time of writing, which is still cheaper than a Disney+ subscription.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch the 2024 Italian Open online for free

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 10:27

TL;DR: Stream the 2024 Italian Open for free on RaiPlay. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The attention of the best tennis players in the world will be firmly set on the French Open and Wimbledon, but you can't just turn up at those tournaments and expect to win without proper preparation. Fortunately, tournaments like the Italian Open exist to provide players with the opportunity to build momentum before Grand Slams.

If you want to watch the 2024 Italian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Italian Open?

The Italian Open is an annual professional tennis tournament held in Rome, Italy. It is played on clay courts at the Foro Italico, and is usually held during the second week of May.

The defending singles champions are Daniil Medvedev and Elena Rybakina.

When is the 2024 Italian Open?

The 2024 Italian Open is the 81st edition of the competition. This year's event takes place from May 6 to May 19.

How to watch the 2024 Italian Open for free

The 2024 Italian Open is available to stream for free on RaiPlay. This free streaming service will broadcast 11 singles matches of the men's tournament, plus the women's singles final or the men's or women's doubles final.

RaiPlay is geo-restricted to Italy, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy. This process makes it look like you're connecting from Italy, so you can access RaiPlay from anywhere in the world.

Unblock RaiPlay by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

  4. Visit RaiPlay

  5. Stream the 2024 Italian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can gain access to RaiPlay without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream the 2024 Italian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RaiPlay?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on RaiPlay, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Italy

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the 2024 Italian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Build Work Habits That Support Your Mental Health

Havard Management Tip of the Day - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 06:01

When you’re struggling with your mental health, getting through the workday can feel more difficult. Tending to your mental health at work is critical—whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with a specific condition. Here are some ways to make your workday work for your mental health. First, establish strong habits around deep work. Building a […]

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Categories: Management

Get a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard ad blocker for just £13.59

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: For a limited time, get an AdGuard lifetime subscription for £13.59 or a family plan for £18.40.

The internet is such a great tool. Instant connection to tons of information and people worldwide has changed our world irrevocably. However, it's not all roses and rainbows. Excessive ads and annoying pop-ups can really ruin your online experience. And, of course, you have to worry about cybersecurity.

AdGuard was designed to solve both problems with a single tool. And as of this week, a lifetime subscription to AdGuard is currently on sale for as low as £13.59 for a Personal Plan and £18.40 for a Family Plan.

AdGuard will block those ever-present ads, including display ads, pop-up ads, and video ads. A subscription to AdGuard also includes privacy protection to help keep your information safe from trackers. You can also rest assured that the service's data privacy tools will help block fake websites, malware attacks, and phishing. It also features a no-logging policy, which means your information is never saved anywhere.

If you have a family with children and decide to go with the Family Plan, you can also activate parental controls. This means you can block your little ones from accessing sites and information, images, and videos that they shouldn't be seeing. 

This AdGuard offer is for new users only. The Personal Plan gets you access on three devices. The Family Plan covers up to nine devices. The software works on both mobile and desktop devices.

Don't miss this chance to stay protected and ad-free for life.

Pick up one of the following lifetime subscriptions:

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard Lifetime subscription to AdGuard Personal Plan £13.59
£48.04 Save £34.45 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard Lifetime subscription to AdGuard Family Plan £18.40
£64.06 Save £45.66 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants online for free

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL for free on JioCinema. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2024 IPL season is in full swing, and as we approach the fifth week of matches, the next fixture will see the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants head to the pitch.

Hooked on the action? Don't worry, you can watch all the IPL games including Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants for free from anywhere in the world. Scroll on to find out how.

When is Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants?

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants starts at 3 p.m. BST on May 8. This fixture will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, India.

How to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants for free

Want to watch free live streams of the IPL? Look no further. JioCinema is offering live streams of every IPL cricket match this season. Just use the app to catch the games in 4K resolution.

Technically, JioCinema is geo-restricted to India. However, you can unblock this free streaming service with a VPN. VPNs allow you to hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can access JioCinema from anywhere in the world.

Unblock JioCinema to stream the IPL 2024 by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in India

  4. Visit JioCinema (you will need an Indian phone number to subscribe)

  5. Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Lucknow Super Giants for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

Most of the best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch IPL live streams without committing with your cash. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select IPL fixtures for free.

What is the best VPN for JioCinema?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking JioCinema, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including India

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream the IPL for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get organized with this project platform for $30

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: As of May 6, Pagico 10 is an organizing platform hub for all of your work, school, or personal projects that's on sale for $29.99 (reg. $65).

We all have a lot going on. From juggling multiple projects at work to what feels like a thousand moving parts at home, it can be a lot to keep in your head. It can be helpful to find some support. This Pagico platform acts as a central hub for you to manage all of it so you can stay efficient and on-task. It's currently on sale for $29.99 (reg. $65) for a limited time.

This offer is for new Pagico 10 users only. Once you sign up, you'll get updates for one year. After that, you can use the platform and its current features for life.

Use this platform to organize tasks, notes, checklists, documents, projects, and clients from one central place. You can also keep track of and manage your schedules. If you are more of a visual person, you can utilize interactive flowcharts to stay on top of everything and visualize project status for efficiency.

Create custom dashboards, see your daily schedule easily, and quickly go through all your tags to find the project you need. And if you need to collaborate with others on the team or household, Personal Cloud and the public share option allow you to sync across computers and mobile devices to make it happen.

With this platform, you can say goodbye to scattered sticky notes, cluttered calendars, and multiple to-do lists. Check it out for yourself and see if it can help streamline your life and keep you on task.

Pick up the Pagico 10 organizing platform for $29.99 (reg. $65).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Notes 17 Pagico 10: Lifetime License $29.99 at the Mashable Shop
$65.00 Save $35.01 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Get this graphic design software for only $40

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: As of May 6, check out this lifetime subscription to Design Wizard Pro for $39.99 (reg. $179) if you're looking for help with graphic design.

Those who have creative visions sometimes find it challenging to create the content they need to realize them. This is especially true if you own a small business or you're just starting out with graphic design. If you need help bringing your designs to life, Design Wizard Pro could be of service. A lifetime subscription is on sale for $39.99 (reg. $179).

According to Forbes, visuals are essential to branding and storytelling. However, getting access to affordable (or free) high-quality images poses an issue for many. This software gives users access to over a million quality images, illustrations, and graphics that are licensed to be used commercially. This means you don't have to worry about copyright issues while you're busy being your most creative self.

You don't need to be a professional designer to use Design Wizard. It's made to be easy to use for beginners and seasoned creators alike. Use it for logos, eye-catching social posts, website pages, and more.

The Pro Plan allows you to create stunning graphics, marketing materials, social media posts, and more. Using the vast library of images, 30,000 design templates, and 120 free fonts, users can have fun creating just the visual they imagine. You can also set color palettes to further customize the look.

You can even upload images and fonts to use in the software. Tools like the instant resize feature make for efficient creation. You can publish your designs straight to social media to make things even more streamlined.

Don't miss the opportunity to get this design tool at a reduced price.

For a limited time, a lifetime subscription to Design Wizard Pro is on sale for just $39.99 (reg. $179).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Design Wizard Design Wizard Pro: Lifetime Subscription $39.99 at the Mashable Shop
$179.82 Save $139.83 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 8

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 01:34

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for May 7's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Crimson hues

  • Green: Sip

  • Blue: Gold medal

  • Purple: Keeping clean

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: SHADES OF RED

  • Green: LITTLE BIT OF A BEVERAGE

  • Blue: CHOICEST

  • Purple: ___ BATH

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to Connections #331 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Yellow - SHADES OF RED - BRICK, CHERRY, ROSE, RUBY

  • Green - LITTLE BIT OF A BEVERAGE - DROP, SPLASH, SPOT, SPRINKLE

  • Blue - CHOICEST - BEST, CREAM, PICK, TOP

  • Purple - ____ BATH - BIRD, BUBBLE, MUD, SPONGE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 8

Mashable - Wed, 05/08/2024 - 01:26

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for May 6's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

How you smell after the gym.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1054 is...

PIOUS.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Categories: IT General, Technology

AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile declare legal war on FCC

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 21:56

The U.S.'s major wireless carriers are preparing to challenge the FCC over a fine totaling $200 million.

In statements provided to Mashable, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile signaled their intent to appeal the FCC's fine, which was doled out to the companies for allegedly mishandling customers' sensitive location-based data. 

SEE ALSO: The FCC is reviving net neutrality. But what does that mean?

Earlier this week, the FCC announced that it was fining AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile for allegedly selling access to its own customers' location data to "aggregators." The aggregators then resold this access to other third-party, location-based service providers. 

In one specific case, one of these aggregators, a prison communication service company called Securus, provided access to a Mississippi sheriff who in turn used this data to track the location of people through their cell phones.

AT&T, Verizon, & T-Mobile challenge the FCC

According to the three big mobile carriers, the FCC is wrongly holding the big telecom companies responsible for the improper use of their customers' data.

"The FCC order lacks both legal and factual merit," said an AT&T spokesperson in a statement provided to Mashable. "It unfairly holds us responsible for another company’s violation of our contractual requirements to obtain consent, ignores the immediate steps we took to address that company’s failures, and perversely punishes us for supporting life-saving location services like emergency medical alerts and roadside assistance that the FCC itself previously encouraged."

Verizon echoed AT&T's statement in an email correspondence with Mashable.

"In this case, when one bad actor gained unauthorized access to information relating to a very small number of customers, we quickly and proactively cut off the fraudster, shut down the program, and worked to ensure this couldn't happen again," a Verizon spokesperson said. 

T-Mobile, which has since merged with Sprint, also provided a response to Mashable's inquiry.

"We take our responsibility to keep customer data secure very seriously and have always supported the FCC’s commitment to protecting consumers, but this decision is wrong, and the fine is excessive," T-Mobile said.

It should be noted that each of the companies did appear to confirm that a third-party misused the location-data that T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T had shared with aggregators. The disagreement on the part of the telecommunications companies seems to be over whether they should be held responsible. The FCC's decision clearly states that the government's position is that they should be.

In their statements to Mashable, both T-Mobile and Verizon also mentioned how they no longer run the program that FCC is fining them over. According to Verizon, "FCC's order concerns an old program that Verizon shut down more than half a decade ago." T-Mobile stated that the "industry-wide third-party aggregator location-based services program was discontinued more than five years ago."

AT&T also told Mashable that the program was "terminated in early 2019."

All three companies told Mashable that they intend to appeal the fine.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iPad Pro 2024 now has 'Tandem OLED': 5 reasons this is a big deal

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 21:33
Where to preorder the Apple iPad Pro (2024): 11-INCH MODEL Apple iPad Pro Starting at $999 Get Deal 13-INCH MODEL Apple iPad Pro (2024) Starting at $1,299 in the Apple Store Get Deal

The new iPad Pro got announced at the May 7 "Let Loose" event — and it's got the highly anticipated OLED display that Apple is calling "Tandem OLED" for an "Ultra Retina XDR" screen.

Why is it called Tandem OLED? It's got two OLED displays put together, which outputs a super high contrast screen for true, deep blacks. Plus, the Tandem OLED display yields incredible brightness, too (1,600 nits peak brightness, to be specific).

If you're not a screen snob, you may be wondering, "Why should I care about an OLED display?" That's a fair question, so let's run down the benefits of an OLED display so that you can make a decision on whether the new iPad Pro is right for you.

SEE ALSO: iPad Pro 2024 now has 'Tandem OLED': 5 reasons this is a big deal What is an OLED display?

OLED, which stands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes, consists of organic electroluminescent materials that glow when electricity passes through them. Each pixel on an OLED display has its own individual light source. In other words, as PCWorld puts it, each pixel can be turned off completely, "providing a deep, inky, perfect black level."

This is what makes an OLED display more advantageous than, say, the mini-LED display featured on the previous-generation iPad Pro. Instead of per-pixel lighting, mini-LED displays have about 3,000 lighting zones (compare that to the OLED's eight million).

TechRadar explained it perfectly:

"Imagine the whole screen entirely black, save for a single pixel out of eight million in pure, bright white – because that’s totally doable on an OLED. On a Mini LED set, it’s not even close: in a 4K panel with around 3,000 lighting zones, each backlight zone would actually drive around 2,700 pixels."

As you'll find out in the next section, this provides OLED displays with more benefits compared to the mini-LED screen on the last-generation iPad Pro (and the LCD panel on the iPad Air).

New OLED iPad Pro: 5 benefits

Streaming is one of the many reasons people purchase an iPad. It's a comfortable way to cuddle up at night and watch your favorite shows without an uncomfortable keyboard jutting out in front of you.

As such, if streaming is a use case for you, there's a good chance that having a tablet that's the equivalent of eye candy is important. If so, you'll appreciate the benefits of an OLED display on an iPad.

Featured Video For You Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro 1. No 'halo effect'

Some users of the iPad Pro 2022, which features a mini-LED display, experienced something called "blooming" or the "halo effect."

You can see it happening around the Apple logo in Josh Teder's X post below.

Tweet may have been deleted

To put it succinctly, blooming is light leakage. This phenomenon occurs when non-black UI elements are illuminated from behind via a backlight, causing the light to seep into the surrounding black UI, as 9to5Mac explained.

New iPad Pro with "Tandem OLED" display. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, with OLED, this shouldn't be an issue because, again, when something needs to be black, those pixels will be turned off entirely — not dimmed.

2. True blacks The new iPad Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As aforementioned, OLED displays can completely extinguish light from pixels, allowing the screen to achieve perfect black levels when it's appropriate — something mini-LED and LCD displays can't do.

3. Better contrast

Thanks to self-lighting pixels that, again, can be totally turned off independently, OLED displays should deliver better contrast than mini-LED screens.

New iPad Pro with the new Magic Keyboard Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This provides a stark distinction between the true blacks and the other colors that are being emitted on the screen.

4. Better viewing angles

This won't matter much when you're using an iPad for yourself, but if your partner is peering over to see what you're watching, they may get a better viewing angle on an OLED display compared to mini-LED and LCD screens.

New 13-inch iPad Pro with Apple Pencil Pro. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Why?

According to PCWorld, an LCD screen, for example, can control specific pixels by using liquid crystals to block their light. This can cause images to look different from different angles because liquid crystals do not obstruct light evenly.

Plus, they "require a few milliseconds to respond to a charge, causing blur or ghosting in rapidly changing image."

5. Superior motion performance

With the new iPad Pro, we expect better motion performance. OLED displays offer smoother, more seamless transition between frames compared to LCD technology. As such, they're known for delivering zippier response times and better motion-blur management.

We don't know whether the OLED iPad Pro, indeed, has a leg up over its predecessor in these five areas, but we'll let you know when we get the tablet in for review.

One thing, however, we must warn you about when it comes to OLED displays is that they are known for causing burn-in, a permanent issue in which a faint image from the screen is "burned" into the panel — even though the image isn't being displayed anymore.

Let's hope that Apple has found a way to mitigate this risk by employing some clever techniques.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iPad Pro 2024 hands-on: How the new 'nano-texture glass' looks next to one without it

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 21:25

The new 2024 iPad Pro got unveiled at Apple's "Let Loose" event on May 7. Coming in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch models, the new iPad Pro made a splash with an M4 chip that jumps a generation (i.e., from the predecessor's M2 chip to the current M4 processor).

Apple boasted that the new iPad Pro is really thin — like "iPod Nano" thin. I got a chance to briefly play around with the new iPad Pro models — and yeah — these tablets are surprisingly slim. And they're very featherlike, too.

iPad Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

But what really caught my eye was the nano-texture glass model, but more on that later.

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro The new iPad Pro's slimness blew me away

When Apple said that the iPad Pro is "impossibly thin," pointing out that the 11-inch and 13-inch variants are 5.3mm and 5.1mm thick, respectively, I couldn't wrap my mind around it — until I held them for myself.

While being showcased on display, I walked around the iPad Pro models and they seem to disappear as I looked at their sides.

You see that iPad Pro in the middle? You can barely see it. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

And then I held them in my hands. How could something so powerful be such a featherweight?

The new iPad Pro in my hands Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The 13-inch iPad Pro is only 1.28 pounds while the 11-inch variant is just under a pound (i.e., 0.9 pounds).

The new nano-texture glass model

If you're sick and tired of dealing with your iPad display not cooperating in challenging lighting situations, you can grab the nano-texture glass model for a nice matte finish.

I was standing in a brightly lit area and noticed that the nano-texture glass model, only available in the 1TB and 2TB storage options, significantly reduced glare.

Here are two iPad Pros, but the nano-texture glass model is on the right Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Keep in mind, though, that this model is best for users who need to have a highly visible screen at all times while they're on-the-go. As such, the nano-texture glass model targets professionals (hence why you'll have to shell out at least $1,699 for the 11-inch model and $2,099 for the 13-inch variant).

The nano-texture glass model is on the right in this shot. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As you can see in the photo, there are trade-offs with the nano-texture glass model. The one without it has a richer panel.

The 'Tandem OLED' iPad Pro is gorgeous

The iPad Pro has a new "Tandem OLED" display, which means that Apple layered two OLED displays on top of each other. The result? A super high-contrast, immersive display with top-notch brightness (1,600 nits peak brightness, to be exact).

11-inch iPad Pro on the Magic Keyboard Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Called an "Ultra Retina XDR display," the iPad Pro's screen was pure visual candy in person.

The 'Space Black' iPad Pro is stunning

When I saw the Space Black MacBook Pro in all of its glory last October, I was crossing my fingers that this gorgeous, rich onyx color would come to more Apple devices.

iPad Pro in Space Black Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Answering my prayers, there's now a "Space Black" iPad Pro. (Now, I just need Space Black to come to the iPhone 16.)

There's a "Space Black" Magic Keyboard, too, by the way, which now has a larger haptic trackpad, a full function row, and an aluminum palm rest.

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts $999 while the 13-inch model will set you back $1,299. As mentioned, they come in Space Black, but there's also a Silver colorway.

Featured Video For You Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPad Pro $999.00 at Apple
Get Deal

Categories: IT General, Technology

TikTok sues the U.S. government over ban

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 21:19

TikTok fired back at the U.S. government's ban with a lawsuit.

Today, it was reported that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has sued the federal government to constitutionally block the new law from going into effect.

SEE ALSO: Here's how the TikTok ban will likely play out in the courts

TikTok's court filing says, "For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than one billion people worldwide." It calls the ban "unconstitutional" under the First Amendment.

The law requires ByteDance to divest TikTok within 270 days or face a ban in the U.S. App Store. It passed as part of a foreign aid package sending 95 billion dollars to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

The lawsuit argues that selling TikTok isn't "commercially, technologically, or legally feasible," saying that the law will result in a shutdown. It details how TikTok and its competitors are global in nature, how it's impossible to transfer the social media platform's "millions of lines" of code to a new owner, and that the Chinese app will not sell its recommendation algorithm.

Congress sees TikTok as posing a national security threat, arguing that its ties to the Chinese government put American user data at risk. TikTok denies that it shares American user data with the Chinese government. Ultimately, the lawsuit will require Congress to back up its claims.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: What are the differences?

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 21:14

It's time for an iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air face-off.

In the last couple of years, Apple's been strongly positioning its most powerful tablet as a capable laptop replacement. Now that the new iPad Pros are here, it's time to once again take a closer look into the inevitable comparison: iPad Pro or MacBook Air?

Before we begin, we need to set the stage a little bit. Yes, the iPad Pro is primarily a tablet, and by default, it comes without a mechanical keyboard. But Apple's Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro is getting better (more on that in a bit), and the iPad does have a touchscreen and Pencil, whereas the MacBook Air does not, which makes it a little more powerful in certain workflows.

Finally, the iPad Pro comes with Apple's new M4 chip, making it more powerful (in theory) than the MacBook Air.

Big caveat here: Until we thoroughly test the new iPad Pro, we won't know exactly how well it behaves as a laptop replacement. Keep in mind that this article merely compares specs based on publicly available data.

SEE ALSO: How to pre-order the new iPad Air

Regardless, the last iteration of the iPad Pro wasn't a good replacement for the MacBook Air, due to price, minor bugs, and numerous workflow issues. Has this changed with the new iPad Pro? Let's dive in.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Price

The MacBook Air is considerably cheaper than the new iPad Pro. It starts at $1,099, while the 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,299. The iPad comes without a keyboard, and for a fair comparison, we must add the Magic Keyboard, which costs an additional $299, bringing the total costs for the iPad Pro to $1,598. A pretty big win for the MacBook Air.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Specs

Here's where it becomes complicated. No matter what Apple or anyone else says, the MacBook Air is probably more suited for laptop tasks. But when it comes to pure processing power and display prowess, it's lagging behind.

Pfft, the keyboard doesn't even come off. Credit: Apple

This is because the MacBook Air comes with Apple's M3 chip, whereas the new iPad Pro has Apple's latest and greatest M4 chip. We can't be sure how it performs, though. Spec for spec, the M4 is more powerful. The 13-inch iPad Pro with 256 GB of storage (starting model) has an M4 chip with a 9-core CPU, with 3 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural engine. The starting MacBook Air comes with an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU (with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores), an 8-Core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Starting storage is the same for both models, at 256GB.

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro

The display on the MacBook Air is also a distant second here. The Air has a 13.6-inch IPS LED display with a 2,560x1,664 pixel resolution and 500 nits of brightness. The iPad Pro's display blows it away: It's a Tandem OLED display with a 2,752x2,064 pixel display and 1,000 nits of max brightness (1,600 nits when watching HDR content).

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Design

Well, one is a tablet, the other one is a laptop. Easy, no?

In reality, if you deck the iPad with Apple's new Magic Keyboard, it's quite laptop-like. And here is where we have to give an advantage to the iPad Pro, which can be turned into a beautiful, uninterrupted slab of...well, content. It can also be had in Apple's cool new Space Black color, though MacBook Air does have a wider option of colors, with four on offer - Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver.

Could fool you for a real laptop...from a distance. Credit: Apple

If we dove into functionality, we'd probably get very different opinions from users: Some would prefer the iPad's versatility, while others (me included) like the fact that the MacBook is just a laptop that cannot be turned into anything else.

Still, based purely on aesthetics, we must give this one to the iPad Pro.

Oh, and you should also take into account just how lighter the iPad Pro is than the MacBook Air: 0.98 pounds vs. 2.7 pounds. We don't know the exact weight of the Magic Keyboard, which you must add to the weight of the iPad, but we're pretty sure it doesn't weigh 1.7 pounds.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Features

We're sorry, Mac lovers, but the iPad Pro wins this one, too. It has a touchscreen display, Apple Pencil Pro support, and a 12-megapixel camera on the back. The MacBook Air has...well, it has an attached keyboard.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Battery life

We don't have real-life figures for the iPad Pro, so we won't stray further than Apple's official figures: Up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing for the MacBook Air, and up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video for the iPad Pro.

iPad Pro 2024 vs. M3 MacBook Air: Which is best for you?

We'd like to give you a definitive answer, but for that we'd need to test the iPad Pro (we will), and we'd have to know what kind of user you are. If you need the touchscreen and if you like to jot things down with a Pencil, you should consider the iPad Pro (if you don't mind the additional cost).

For a lot of users, it boils down to one thing: Whether it has an always ready, attached keyboard or not. Oh, and the software. Credit: Apple

Based on specs, design, and features alone, the iPad Pro is a pretty clear winner here: It has a more powerful chip, more features, a far more advanced display, and is just overall a cooler device to have.

The elephant in the room when it comes to comparisons like these is always the software. So far, Apple's iPadOS isn't as good for most work-related tasks as the macOS. Maybe, just maybe Apple will change that with the next iteration of iPadOS...but we'll have to wait until June and Apple WWDC to find out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

With new $3,000 iPad, Apple proves its evil genius

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 20:20

My 2019 iPad Pro had a pretty good run, all things considered.

Outwardly, the nearly 5-year-old Apple tablet is in good shape. The Magic Keyboard still makes for a useful mini-laptop, especially with the magnetic Pencil. Yet on the inside, its heart seems heavier (literally heavier with that Magic Keyboard, compared to the 2019 iPad Pro keyboard). The battery is still functional, but drains out overnight if I don't plug it in, even with the power hog "background refresh" feature turned off.

This doesn't feel like planned obsolecence, not exactly. More like a tired workhorse whispering in my ear: "I've had a good life. It's OK if you put me out to pasture now. You'd probably get a good trade-in price, you know."

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro

And right on time, here comes Apple with its slimmest, lightest, most powerful iPad Pros yet (unveiled, mercifully, in the company's shortest event yet). Now here I am, lusting after the iPad Pro 13-inch, which just got significantly lighter than its 12.9 inch predecessor, and way faster. I'm wondering just how many digital comics I could store in a 2 TB version. I'm intensely curious about the new squeezable Pencil Pro. Who doesn't want to squeeze their Pencil?

Here I am, in other words, seriously contemplating an iPad Pro package that will top out at more than $3,000 (including Pencil Pro and the newer, lighter Magic Keyboard). For comparison, that's $2,000 more than you'd pay for a 13-inch Macbook Air, and $700 more than the last time we called Apple brilliant jerks for their high-end iPad package plan. Oh, and it's less than $500 away from Vision Pro territory.

Some owners might balk at such an upgrade, no matter what the trade-in credit. (For the record, Apple's trade-in estimator says I can have $285 for my old workhorse). But let us just say that creating and feeding such owners is not how Apple became the wealthiest tech company on the planet.

The iPad's best ally is and always has been aspirational creativity — what I described in that previous iPad Pro analysis as "living your best life." You may not actually use this tablet to make movies at a climbing gym, as we saw in that 40-minute Apple event, but you could. If you're using an audio editor like Logic Pro it probably makes more sense to do so on a Mac, but you'd look cooler walking around the home studio, editing your future hit track on a tablet.

You may not always use the top-notch art app that got star billing at the event, Procreate, but surely when you do, the Pencil Pro will squeeze the Picasso-like genius out of you. And you may not actually need that super-powerful M4 chip for a device most often used to read digital comics or magazines, or a new Magic Keyboard if you're already toting a Macbook Air in your bag, for Pete's sake. (No, I'm not calling myself out here, why do you ask?)

But you might! Maybe the extra screen real estate and faster load times will be all it takes to tip you over into finally finishing that novel, and wouldn't you feel bad if inspiration struck and all you had was your iPad and you had to type on an actual screen? The horror!

And there's the rub: Apple knows our income is always a little more disposable if it can appeal to our wannabe genius. Life is short; who doesn't want to unleash their inner artist/musician/climbing gym videographer? Credit card debt is nothing next to living your best creative life.

Whisper it low, but the old workhorse doesn't stand a chance.

Categories: IT General, Technology

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro: What are the differences between the new 2024 models?

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 20:08

Let's dive into an iPad Air vs. iPad Pro face-off. Apple showed off two new iPads on Tuesday at the May 7 "Let Loose" livestream, but you're unsure which is best for you.

We're more than happy to give you the deets to help you make a decision. The new OLED iPad Pro and the new iPad Air are different products that serve different audiences. However, the differences aren't that self-explanatory. One is more expensive with more features, and the other is cheaper, but also has a couple of benefits of its own.

Here's how the two new iPads compare to each other.

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Specs and price The Air can do almost as much as the Pro. Credit: Apple

As I said earlier, these two device serve slightly different audiences, so their specs are going to look a little different. Before we get to that, though, let's talk about price. The iPad Air starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model. The iPad Pro comes in the same two sizes, but at price points of $999 and $1,299, respectively.

Here are the iPad Air's basic specs:

  • M2 processor

  • LED Liquid Retina display with 2360x1640 resolution

  • Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

  • WiFi 6E

  • 5G LTE support (optional)

And here are the specs for the iPad Pro:

  • M4 processor

  • OLED Ultra Retina XDR display with 2420x1668 resolution

  • Up to 120Hz refresh rate

  • Storage options: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB

And interestingly, the iPad Pro has a slightly hidden difference under the hood depending on how much storage you get, per Apple's specs page. The 256GB and 512GB variants have one fewer CPU core than the 1TB and 2TB variants. It's hard to say what, precisely, that means in a practical sense, but hey, it's worth noting.

Anyway, the iPad Pro clearly wins on specs, but that's because it's more expensive. You get what you pay for.

Winner: iPad Pro

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Design Look at how thin that thing is. Credit: Apple

There isn't a ton to say about the designs of these two iPads. They look like iPads.

If you want to get down into the nitty-gritty, though, there are a few things to comb through. For starters, the iPad Air has a more varied and frankly better selection of colors. Here's what's on offer for the Air:

  • Blue

  • Purple

  • Starlight

  • Space Grey

While iPad Pro customers only get the measly choice between silver and black. Boring!

One other thing worth pointing out here is that, despite the "Air" part of the iPad Air's name, both new versions of the Pro are actually thinner and lighter. Both new models of the Air are 6.1mm thick, while the 11-inch Pro is 5.3mm and the 13-inch Pro is even smaller at 5.1mm. The difference in weight is less than a tenth of a pound, though, so that doesn't matter all that much.

Oh, and both iPads got a repositioned front-facing camera. It now sits on top of the device when placed in landscape mode, for more natural video calls.

Winner: iPad Air for color choices

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Features Multiple cameras, one tablet. Credit: Apple

This category isn't super fair, but let's talk about it anyway.

Obviously, the Pro has more features than the Air. It's more expensive and has better hardware inside of it. That doesn't mean the Air doesn't bring anything new or interesting to the table, though. Apple's in-house M2 chip enables some AI features, like Live Text, which recognizes and even translates text in images.

The only problem is that the Pro can do all of that and more. A new version of the Final Cut Pro app for iPad Pro allows for seamless blending of multiple camera angles from different devices, for example. It can also use AI to more easily scan documents using the rear-facing camera. Neither of these devices blow the doors off the tech world with amazing new features, but the Pro can do a little bit more than the Air, so it wins.

Winner: iPad Pro

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Battery life

We can't definitively tell you which device has better practical battery life until they're in our hands, but we can at least look at the specs. Here are the battery sizes for each new iPad model:

  • iPad Air: 28.93-watt-hour battery (11-inch model) or 36.59-watt-hour battery (13-inch model)

  • iPad Pro: 31.29-watt-hour battery (11-inch model) or 38.99-watt-hour battery (13-inch model)

Those numbers tell us what we could have already guessed, which is that the iPad Pro generally has a bigger battery than the Air. However, Apple's specs pages rate both devices for "up to" 10 hours of general use, so it's hard to say which has a distinct advantage right now, if any.

iPad Air vs. iPad Pro 2024: Which should you buy?

It all comes down to cash.

Do you have money to spend on a new iPad Pro? Then you should get the Pro. It has a better display, a better processor, a bigger battery, and more features. That was always going to be the case, so no surprises here.

That said, maybe you have the cash but don't have the desire to do serious workflow stuff on an iPad. Maybe the iPad exists for doing crossword puzzles and watching YouTube videos in your life. If that's the case, go with the Air.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The iPad 10th Generation now starts at just $349

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 19:04

PRICE DROP: With the release of the 2024 iPad Air and iPad Pro, the iPad 10th Generation now starts at $349. Shop the tablet at its new price today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (10th Generation)
The Apple iPad 10th Generation now starts at $349. Shop Now

At Apple's "Let Loose" event on Tuesday, May 7th, the company debuted their new iPad Air and iPad Pro in addition to an upgraded Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil Pro. But among the exciting new product launches is the news that the Apple iPad 10th Generation now starts at $349. This is no temporary deal — the Apple iPad has a new affordable price.

SEE ALSO: Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro

The base iPad model comes with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. It's outfitted with the A14 chip and a landscape ultra-wide front camera. It comes in four different color ways: Blue, pink, yellow, and silver. For $349, the iPad starts at 64 GB of storage but is also available in 256 GB for $499.

Our friends over at PC Mag (owned by Mashable's parent company, Ziff Davis) tested the iPad 10th generation, saying it's an excellent model for most people. While the iPad Air and Pro may be the more suitable option for creatives with its superior processing speeds, the 10th generation iPad handles HD content for all your daily streaming needs.

PC Mag's managing editor Eric Zeman's main complaint about the iPad 10th generation was its price jump to $449 at its time of release. With its updated starting price of $349, the iPad solidifies itself as the best tablet under $500.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to pre-order the Google Pixel 8a ahead of Google I/O

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 18:50
Google Pixel 8a preorders 128GB model Google Pixel 8a $499 at Google Store (Get $100 credit to the Google Store) Pre-order now 256GB model Google Pixel 8a $559 at Google Store (Get $100 Google Store credit) Pre-order now

It looks like Google isn't waiting for its I/O conference next week to make all its big announcements.

On May 7, the day of Apple's iPad event, Google swooped in and put the Pixel 8a up for preorder, starting at $499 for the 128GB model. Google has also released a 256GB Pixel 8a for $559, but at the time of writing, it was only available in the Obsidian colorway. Fans have been waiting for the more affordable phone to drop since the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro were released last fall, and once again, it looks like Google has made the budget Android to beat.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro: Every single thing we know so far

When the Google Pixel 7a hit the market in 2023, we thought the rumors that it could be the last of the A-Series Pixels made sense: it was a pretty darn close recreation of the Pixel 7 for about $100 cheaper. We're glad Google didn't decide to throw in the towel, and instead is offering even more of an attractive deal — while the Pixel 8's price increased $100 over its previous generation to $699, the Pixel 8a is available at the same $499 starting price as the Pixel 7a started at. Basically, the Pixel 8a gets you a similar product to the Pixel 8 for $200 less.

Price-wise, that's not the only exciting news. Google is offering $100 of Google Store credit through May 19 when you buy a Pixel 8a. The official release date for the 8a is May 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 8a (128GB) $499.00 at Google Store
Pre-Order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 8a (256GB) $559.00 at Google Store
Pre-Order Here How the Pixel 8a compares to the Pixel 8

Based on its spec sheet, the Pixel 8a shares quite a bit in common with the Pixel 8, including:

  • Tensor G3 chip

  • 24+ hour battery life

  • Magic Editor and Magic Take camera tools

  • 128 and 256GB options for storage

  • 8 GB RAM

  • Up to 120Hz refresh rate (up from 90Hz on Pixel 7a)

The Pixel 8a will come with a slightly less powerful battery than the Pixel 8, one less microphone, and no spatial audio. It also comes in the same colorways as the Pixel 8 Pro: Obsidian, Bay, and Porcelain, plus one additional color, Aloe (there's less overlap with the Pixel 8, which comes in Obsidian, Rose, Mint, and Hazel).

SEE ALSO: New iPad Air announced — here's everything you need to know

The Pixel 8a is barely smaller than the Pixel 8, with just a 0.1-inch difference in the display size. It also houses the same 64 MP Quad PD wide camera, 13 MP ultrawide rear cameras, and 13 MP front camera that the 7a does. Considering the 7a marked a significant improvement over previous generations, it isn't surprising that Google didn't opt for big changes just one year later.

Categories: IT General, Technology

See what the dogs are up to when you're away with up to 35% off these pet cameras

Mashable - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 18:35

Look in on your pets when you're away with a reliable pet camera. Here are some of our top picks on sale during Amazon Pet Day as of May 7:

Best Pet Camera Deals Best Pet Camera Deal Eufy Security Pet Camera $129.99 at Amazon (Save $70) Get Deal Best Treat-Dispensing Pet Camera Deal Furbo 360° Dog Camera $69 at Amazon (Save $30) Get Deal Best Pet Camera with Laser Pointer Deal Petcube Play 2 $63.99 at Amazon (Save $16 ) Get Deal Best Budget Pet Camera Deal Petcube Cam 360 Camera $33.58 at Amazon (Save $8.41) Get Deal

What are your pets up to when you're away? If you leave your dog or cat to roam the house when you have to step out, that's probably a frequent question on your mind. Are the cats shredding the sofa cushions? Is the dog sneaking treats from the treat stash? Put all those questions to rest with a pet camera. Whether you want to check in here and there to let your pup know you're on your way home, or you need peace of mind that your pets aren't destroying your home, these cameras are absolute necessities for pet owners.

It's a great time to grab one right now, too. During Amazon Pet Day, you can save up to 35% off top pet camera brands to help you stay in the loop with what your furry friends are doing at any given time. We've chosen some of our favorites during the sale that you can bring home today without spending a paw or a tail. Below, find different pet cameras for different needs and budgets that you can shop through Amazon Pet Day depending on availability.

Best pet camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Eufy Security Pet Camera $129.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Eufy Security Pet Camera is a feature-rich camera that comes with on-device AI tracking, a 360-degree field of vision, and 1080p video quality. It also has plenty of local storage to keep all the footage of your pets on board should you need it for any reason. Fortuitously, it doesn't require a monthly fee for all of those goodies. It can follow your pet automatically so you don't have to deal with looking at the side of your fur baby or a sliver of them off-screen, and you can toss treats to them from time to time as well. Set up notifications when motion or noise is detected and get them on your phone via app, and you're set to keep track of every single move your pet makes.

Best treat-dispensing pet camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Furbo 360° Dog Camera $69.00 at Amazon
$99.00 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Furbo 360° Dog Camera is a treat-dispensing camera that tosses treats like you would, far enough from the device so your dog or cat doesn't come sniffing around where they don't need to be. It also comes with a variety of other goodies, like a 360-degree wide angle lens, 4X HD zoom, selfie alerts, and more – though you do need a paid subscription for all of these extras, which starts at $6.99 monthly. But it's a sleek and simple pet camera that packs everything you need into one easy-to-use device, with motion and sound detection, app alerts, and more, including a video history to check what your pet was up to anytime during your absence.

Best pet camera with laser pointer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Petcube Play 2 $63.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $16.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Petcube Play 2 is one of our favorite pet cameras, especially if you have cats. Its built-in laser toy will keep them busy when you can't, and that means a lot fewer opportunities for your feline friends to get into mischief. Beyond that, this affordable camera has built-in support for Alexa in its compact frame, so you have plenty of options when setting it up to align with your smart home devices. It records in 1080p with a 160-degree ultra wide angle view, and it also has night vision. It's the perfect mix of affordable and functional, and no subscription is required.

Best budget pet camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Petcube Cam 360 Camera $33.58 at Amazon
$41.99 Save $8.41 Get Deal Why we like it

The Petcube Cam 360 Camera is a budget-priced camera that you won't have to spend too much on to get quality out of – it offers full 1080p video and a 360-degree view with pan and tilt rotation. With its 8x zoom and night vision, there isn't much that'll get past you, either. It offers real-time AI alerts to your phone as well with an optional Petcube Care subscription if that's important to you, and its ultra-fast setup means you can be out of the house with a mechanical nanny for your pets in minutes.

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