Apple's Mac Mini M1 has gone on sale multiple times since it launched in 2020, but it's available now at the best price we've seen so far. The 256GB version has returned to an all-time low of $570, thanks to a $99 discount voucher that's applied at checkout.
The Mac Mini M1 is the most budget-friendly way to get into Apple's ARM-based M1 processor family of PCs. It comes with an eight-core CPU, eight-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of very fast SSD storage. You can expect speedy performance, even for content creation and iOS apps, along with nearly instant wake times and high energy efficiency.
It's largely unchanged on the exterior from past Mac Minis, so the small but sleek silver box can fit into cramped desktop spaces and look nice doing so. You won't be wanting for ports, either, as it offers a pair of Thunderbolt connectors, two USB-A ports, an HDMI connector, an Ethernet port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It keeps cool and quiet thanks Apple's "advanced thermal design," but has an active cooling solution with a fan that can kick in for demanding rendering and other chores.
The main negatives with the Mac Mini M1 are the lack of upgradeability (both the RAM and SSD are soldered in place), and poor access to the rear headphone port. However, the latter isn't a huge deal, and the M1 chip works just fine with 8GB of RAM. With Amazon's $570 price, it's one of the better desktop deals out there — just remember to apply the $99 voucher at checkout.
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You can grab a few Anker accessories at a discount today as part of Amazon's one-day sale. The discounted items include an assortment of powerbanks, chargers and cables, with prices marked down for up to 44 percent off. If you're looking for something to help tame all the wires in your home or office, one of the items you can get from the sale is Anker's power strip surge protector that's currently available for $44. That's 37 percent off its usual price of $70 and is the lowest price we've seen for the power strip on the website. It has three outlets on one side, as well as three USB ports and one 45W PowerIQ 3.0 USB-C port on the other. The USB-C port supports fast charging and can power even a 12" MacBook and other similar devices.
The Anker Nano Pro USB-C charger is also on sale for $30, which is $10 lower than its retail price. It was designed specifically for the iPhone and can provide full-speed 20 watt charging for the iPhone 13. The charger has the capability to adjust power output, ensuring the safety of the device that's plugged in, and comes with a three-feet USB-C to Lightning cable.
But if you're just looking for a UBS-C to USB-C cable for your devices, Anker also has 3.3-feet 100-watt cables on sale in packages of two. The cables support fast charging for up to 100 watts when used with a compatible charger and work with any USB-C device, including MacBook Pros, iPads and Samsung Galaxy phones. You can get the two-pack cables for $15, or $12 less than their usual price of $27.
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Following the likes of Samsung, Huawei (and Honor), Motorola, Xiaomi and Oppo, we have a new contender in the foldable smartphone market. As reported by Engadget Chinese earlier today, the Vivo X Fold is the first of its kind to pack not only Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, but also an under-display fingerprint reader — the ultrasonic kind — on both its main and external screens. Sadly, this device is only available in China for now.
When opened, a zirconium alloy floating middle plate rises up slightly to support the flexible AMOLED panel, thus rendering the seam less visible.
Vivo
Much like the Huawei Mate X2 and the Oppo Find N, the X Fold also adopted a water-drop flexion hinge design to achieve a gapless fold while minimizing its foldable AMOLED panel's seam. But Vivo took things one step further: when opened, a zirconium alloy floating middle plate rises up to gently push against the flexible panel, thus smoothing out the remaining seam. While this sounds impressive, we'll have to see it in person to believe it.
According to TÜV Rheinland, Vivo's X Fold can survive over 300,000 folds — 100,000 more than Oppo Find N's certification. Assuming an average user would open and close a foldable phone 80 times a day, the X Fold should be good for around 10 years of daily usage. That is, of course, assuming you can tolerate the 311g weight for that long; Samsung and Huawei's latest large-size foldables only weigh 271g and 295g, respectively.
The Vivo X Fold has a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP portrait camera and an 8MP periscopic camera with 5x optical zoom.
Vivo
For a foldable phone, the Vivo X Fold packs a surprisingly powerful set of cameras. For one, this is only the second foldable phone to carry a periscopic zoom camera (8MP, 5x optical zoom, optical stabilization), after Huawei's Mate X2. The X Fold also comes with a 50MP main camera (Samsung GN5 sensor, f/1.75, optical stabilization), a 48MP ultra-wide camera (Sony IMX598, f/2.2, 114-degree field of view, low distortion) and a 12MP portrait camera (IMX663, f/1.98, 47mm equivalent focal length). And yes, you get Zeiss T* coating here for its anti-glare properties. It's a similar setup to the X70 Pro+, except for the lack of micro-gimbal and missing optical stabilization on two of the cameras.
Vivo
In terms of screen aspect ratio, Vivo has gone for a wider design than the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The external screen is a 6.53-inch 2,520 x 1,080 (21:9) panel, while the main screen features an 8-inch 2,160 x 1,916 (4:3.55) panel. Both are of Samsung E5 AMOLED nature and support up to 120Hz refresh rate, but only the bigger panel features adaptive refresh rate to further save power. These screens also pack their own 16MP f/2.45 selfie camera, though you can always open the phone and toggle the "rear selfie" mode to leverage the more powerful cameras instead.
Vivo
Like its competitors, some of the X Fold's built-in apps — tucked inside the Android 12-based OriginOS Ocean — take advantage of the foldable form factor. For example, the camera app offers a kickstand mode which is handy for time lapse videos and low-angle shots. You can also use the device like a laptop with the built-in Notes app, and likewise with third party Chinese apps like QQ for video calls and Youku for video streaming. Hopefully Vivo will extend these benefits to western apps ahead of a possible international launch.
There's still a list of features worthy of mentioning. The 4,600mAh dual-cell battery supports 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, along with 10W reverse charging to help your friends in need. In fact, the X Fold comes with an 80W USB-PD GaN charger with two USB-C ports, so you can charge your laptop with it as well.
The phone itself also packs a CS43131 Hi-Fi chip, three microphones, stereo speakers, a barometer, various heat dissipation features and an infrared port — a common feature on Chinese phones for controlling your home appliances. And for the first time, Vivo decided to add a physical silent mode slider, which is otherwise only seen on Apple and OnePlus devices these days.
Vivo
The Vivo X Play is already available for pre-ordering in China, with the 12GB RAM with 256GB storage version asking for 8,999 yuan (around $1,410), and the higher-end version with twice the storage going for 9,999 yuan ($1,570). You can pick either blue or grey, both wrapped with vegan leather on the back.
Roku support was conspicuously absent when CNN+ launched last month, but that won't be a problem after today. CNN+ is now available on the Roku platform in the US, including TVs and dedicated media players. You won't have access to the interactive Club community feature (that requires a PC, phone or tablet), but you'll otherwise get the same mix of live shows and on-demand programming. This includes the live CNN TV feed.
The service costs $6 per month or $60 per year. Anyone who subscribes within the first four weeks can get 50 percent off the monthly plan for life, dropping the cost to $36 per year (for now, at least).
CNN+ was already accessible through Android mobile devices, Apple hardware (including Apple TV) and Amazon's Fire TV. This still leaves significant gaps, such as consoles and multiple smart TV platforms. Even so, it's evident CNN wants to make its service relatively ubiquitous — virtually necessary if it's going to compete with Paramount+, Peacock and other streaming rivals.
Microsoft is ushering in the spring season with a new sale that discounts Surface devices, Xbox games, accessories and more through April 21st. A bunch of Surface gadgets are hundreds of dollars off right now, including the new Surface Pro X that's down to $700 for the base model, but you'll find an even better deal on the Surface Laptop Go. The entry-level Windows notebook is up to $200 off, so you can grab the model with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $700. The base configuration is $150 off, too, bringing it down to $400.
While you can spend $700 and get either the Surface Pro X or the Laptop Go, we think the latter is the better option. The Surface Pro X is a gorgeous machine, but we found that buggy software held the 2-in-1 back from being truly great. While the Laptop Go has its compromises, it makes a great basic notebook thanks to its stellar hardware and speedy performance. Coming in at 2.45 pounds, the Laptop Go is lighter than its predecessor and looks sharp with its anodized aluminum top portion. Its 12.4-inch touchscreen gives you just enough room to multitask easily and its 3:2 aspect ratio makes it better for reading long articles and documents.
All of the Surface Laptop Go configurations run on Core i5 processors, which means you'll get solid CPU performance regardless of the one you pick. We recommend opting for a model with 8GB of RAM because it'll serve you better over time than a measly 4GB will. As far as other features go, you're getting a 720p webcam, a fingerprint-toting power button, one USB-C port and one USB-A port on the Laptop Go. Microsoft didn't pack this machine with a lot of extra perks because it's designed to be an affordable Surface option — just good enough to give those with basic needs a solid laptop experience, and it does deliver on that.
The price of the Apple TV 4K with 64GB of storage has dropped back to the lowest price we've seen for the device to date. It's currently available for $170 on Amazon. That's $29 less than the regular price, and the best deal we've seen for this version of the set-top box since December.
While there are far less expensive streaming devices on the market, we think Apple TV 4K is the best premium option around. It has support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, and it runs on an A12 Bionic chip (which is also used to power the third-gen iPad Air and iPhone XS). You can use AirPlay to share video, photos and more from your other Apple devices to your TV. There's the option to see a live feed of HomeKit-enabled cameras and to control smart home devices through Apple TV 4K.
Of course, the main reason most folks will pick up an Apple TV 4K is so they can watch shows and movies. The device supports a plethora of streaming services, including Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, Disney+, Sling TV, Hulu and Twitch.
You'll get three months of free access to Apple TV+ if you pick up the device. The service has an increasingly impressive collection of original shows and movies, including sitcom and Emmy powerhouse Ted Lasso, sci-fi office thriller Severance and CODA, the first movie from a streaming platform to win the Oscar for Best Picture. You'll also be able to play Apple Arcade games through the device and there's support for Apple Fitness+ and Apple Music.
What's more, Apple TV 4K comes with a revamped Siri Remote. It has a redesigned, touch-sensitive directional pad that makes navigating menus a breeze. You can use the voice assistant to play a specific show or movie or display a list of options for your favorite genre.
If you don't yet have YouTube picture-in-picture on your Apple device, you will soon. YouTube has told users PiP should be available "in a matter of days" across all devices running iOS 15 or later. As with other apps that support PiP on iOS, this will let you keep a floating video window pinned to your screen while you shift your focus to other activities.
The feature has been a long time in coming. YouTube said it was first rolling out PiP to Premium subscribers in June of last year, with plans to eventually bring the perk to all viewers. Some users found workarounds (such as using the mobile website) shortly after Apple enabled PiP with iOS 14, but that functionality quickly disappeared.
YouTube is relatively late when Disney+, Netflix, Twitch and others enabled PiP within months. Nonetheless, it remains a large upgrade. You won't have to confine yourself to YouTube's app just to catch up on your video queue, and it should be that much easier to use the service as a jukebox without subscribing to YouTube Music.
Are you using an iOS smartphone? If so, the Picture-in-Picture feature is still rolling out & will be available in a matter of days across all iOS 15+ devices. Tweet back @ us if needed.
We saw both the AirPods Pro and the second-generation AirPods drop to near record-low prices last week, and now the third-generation AirPods have followed suit. Apple's latest version of its popular wireless earbuds are down to $150 right now, or $30 off their normal rate and only $10 more than their all-time-low price. We last saw them at this price at the end of March, so now's a good time to grab them if you missed the previous sale.
Apple made a lot of improvements to these AirPods — most notably, giving them a total redesign that makes them fit better than the second-generation wireless buds. They still don't quite match the AirPods Pro when it comes to fitting into different ear shapes, but they're much better than the classic AirPods. Apple also dramatically improved the audio quality on these buds by pairing a custom driver with a high-dynamic-range amplifier. You'll get crisp highs and a rich, consistent bass out of these buds, and if you're upgrading from a pair of second-gen buds, you'll immediately notice the difference in sound quality from the moment you put the new AirPods in your ears.
On top of that, the latest AirPods support Adaptive EQ, spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, plus they have a longer battery life, too. You'll get up to six hours of listening time before they need a recharge, and when use with their MagSafe case, you'll get up to 30 hours of total use. And as with other Apple earbuds, this model has the H1 chip inside, which enables convenient features like hands-free Siri access and quick pairing and switching between Apple devices. Overall, these are a solid pair of wireless earbuds that will be a good first pair for iPhone users who have yet to pick one up, or a great upgrade for those running their existing buds into the ground.
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Apple has started manufacturing one of its latest phones in India. Reutersreports the tech firm has begun producing iPhone 13 units in the country. While Apple didn't say which factory was responsible, a Reuters source claimed a Foxconn plant in the Tamil Nadu town of Sriperumbudur would assemble devices.
This is the fourth iPhone Apple has built in India. The company started domestic production in 2017 with the original iPhone SE.
The decision isn't surprising. The Indian government has used multiple tools to pressure companies into manufacturing locally, including investment rules that require local sourcing for 30 percent of parts. Rising import duties have also played a role. If Apple didn't make the iPhone 13 locally, the device might be prohibitively expensive compared to rival equivalents made within India's borders.
Apple has also been diversifying its production away from China to avoid trade disputes and other issues that might come with a heavy reliance on that country. Indian production could help Apple weather temporary disruptions at Chinese plants. The company was also reportedly set to move some AirPod and MacBook manufacturing to Vietnam, although Nikkeiclaimed the pandemic delayed those plans.
The expansion also comes despite labor trouble in India. Rioting erupted at Wistron's iPhone plant in the Narasapura industrial area in late 2020 as workers complained about unpaid wages, excessive hours and rough working conditions. Apple put Wistron on probation until the contractor addressed the issues, but it's safe to say the crisis wasn't going to help Apple's manufacturing expansion in the country.
GoPro has unveiled Player + ReelSteady, a replacement for the GoPro Player app with added technology from GoPro's acquisition of ReelSteady. The new app introduces ReelSteady tools that let you stabilize most GoPro footage, including HyperSmooth shots. It works in real time, with "the ability to view the full-quality stabilized shot as soon as your video loads," GoPro wrote in a press release.
ReelSteady Go has been a popular app with the FPV drone crowd, which used it to smooth out flight videos and add cinematic effects. GoPro purchased the company in March 2020, promising to integrate the tech "across the GoPro App ecosystem to enhance the cinematic output of your content." GoPro initially sold ReelSteady Go separately, but it's now been discontinued and replaced by the Player + ReelSteady app.
Rather than using scene analysis like other apps to stabilize shots, ReelSteady uses gyro data directly from GoPro cameras. Previously, ReelSteady did not work with HyperSmooth footage (the setting needed to be disabled) but the Player + ReelSteady app now supports it. On the Player + ReelSteady product page, GoPro shows that you can achieve even smoother stabilization by combining the two (above).
Along with the stabilization features, the app lets you remove wide-angle lens curvature using ReelSteady, GoPro said. It also comes with a batch export feature to queue "hundreds of files" for export, the ability to reframe 360 MAX content, a player for regular and 360 content, the ability to do frame grabs and a trim function for editing.
It's now available for Mac and PC, with a $100 in-app purchase required to unlock the ReelSteady and Lens Correction features. However, existing ReelSteady Go customers "can use their existing activation key to redeem a free upgrade to the new GoPro Player + ReelSteady," the company wrote.
