All posts tagged: Mac

Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio Buyer’s Guide: 20+ Differences Compared

Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio Buyer’s Guide: 20+ Differences Compared

Published by skeptic

In 2025, Apple updated the Mac Studio with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. Apple last year refreshed the Mac mini with the M4 and M4 Pro chips, meaning that the ‌Mac Studio‌ faces a formidable competitor that offers “Pro” capabilities at a substantially lower price point. There are now two desktop Macs and four Apple silicon chip options for users who do not need the expandability of the Mac Pro. The ‌Mac Studio‌ starts at $1,999, overshadowing the $599 starting price of the M4 Mac mini and even the $1,399 starting price of the M4 Pro ‌Mac mini‌, so do you need the performance of the ‌Mac Studio‌, or is the humble ‌Mac mini‌ sufficient for your needs? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two desktop Macs is best for you. The ‌Mac mini‌ and the ‌Mac Studio‌ share some fundamental features, including a familiar, boxy silver aluminum design, two front-facing USB-C ports along with HDMI and ethernet on the rear, and Apple silicon chipsets. …

How to Get Windows Games Working on a Mac

How to Get Windows Games Working on a Mac

Published by skeptic

There are all kinds of reasons to prefer Macs over Windows-based PCs. Gaming isn’t one of them. That isn’t to say that you can’t game on a Mac—modern Apple Silicon computers are fairly powerful. The problem is that many popular games don’t offer downloads that will run natively on a Mac. Search the Mac App Store or Steam and you’ll find a bunch of games for Mac—just not necessarily the specific ones you want. And there’s another problem: Apple tends to break reverse compatibility faster than Microsoft does. For example, it’s currently impossible to run 32-bit applications on modern versions of macOS. If you have a Steam library full of games that ran just fine on the Mac you had in 2015, you’ll find that a lot of them won’t run at all on the Mac you bought last year. It’s frustrating. Before you give up and buy a gaming laptop, though, know that you’ve got options for getting PC games to run on the Mac. It’s possible to get many Windows games—even recent releases—working …

Apple Modular SSDs in M4 Pro Mac Mini: What It Means for Macs

Apple Modular SSDs in M4 Pro Mac Mini: What It Means for Macs

Published by skeptic

Apple has introduced a notable change with its latest M4 Pro Mac Mini, incorporating removable storage modules for the first time in years. This shift breaks away from the company’s long-standing reliance on soldered storage, a design that has historically limited user flexibility. While this development could signal a broader transformation in Apple’s hardware strategy, it raises an intriguing question: could this modular approach eventually extend to MacBooks? Examining the details of this innovation provides insight into its potential implications for Apple’s product lineup. Of course, it’s not as simple as snapping your fingers and seeing this innovation appear across Apple’s entire lineup. The Mac Mini’s modular design is a promising first step, but it raises plenty of questions about whether Apple’s laptops, with their razor-thin profiles and tightly packed internals, could follow suit. Still, the possibility of upgradable MacBooks is enough to spark excitement—and maybe a bit of cautious optimism. So, what does this mean for Apple’s hardware future, and could this be the start of a more user-friendly era? Luke Miani takes a …

Best MacBook Accessories We’ve Tested and Reviewed (2025)

Best MacBook Accessories We’ve Tested and Reviewed (2025)

Published by skeptic

The MacBook is a powerful machine. Whether you’re using a MacBook Air for web browsing and sending emails or a MacBook Pro for graphics-intensive projects like video editing and 3D design, Apple’s laptops can do the job. But I suggest throwing some accessories into the mix. A slew of peripherals can vastly improve your experience, like laptop stands, keyboards, charging bricks, and external displays. I’ve tested dozens over the years—these are the best MacBook accessories to streamline your workflow and unlock your machine’s full potential. It’s by no means an exhaustive list as there are an innumerable number of accessories out there, so we’ll always be on the hunt for more to test. Check out our Best Home Office Gear guide for other recommendations. Updated February 2025: We’ve added the Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse, BenQ 27-inch IPS Monitor, Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro with DockKit, Logitech Wave Keys keyboard, the NUIO Flow keyboard, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, and the Vera Bradley Original Tote Bag. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s …

How to Watch Super Bowl LIX Free on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV

How to Watch Super Bowl LIX Free on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV

Published by skeptic

Super Bowl LIX kicks off this Sunday, February 9. In the U.S., the game will be streaming for free in upscaled 4K on FOX’s ad-supported streaming service Tubi, which is available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, and many other devices. This year, the Kansas City Chiefs are facing the Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Chiefs are looking to win three consecutive Super Bowl championships, while the Eagles are looking for revenge after losing to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII two years ago, so the stakes are high for both teams. To watch Super Bowl LIX for free, simply install the Tubi app from the App Store on your Apple device of choice, create a free Tubi account, sign in, and start the stream. FOX’s pre-game coverage will begin streaming on Tubi at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, while the Super Bowl show starts at 6 p.m., ahead of a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. No subscription or trial is necessary. Tubi’s stream of Super Bowl LIX will …

Apple Honors Jimmy Carter With Homepage Tribute

Apple Honors Jimmy Carter With Homepage Tribute

Published by skeptic

Apple today updated its homepage to honor former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who passed away yesterday at the age of 100. The longest-lived president in U.S. history, Carter served in the position from 1977 to 1981 and was known for redefining the post-presidency with his focus on human rights and diplomacy through the Carter Center, for which he won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter was also a prominent advocate for and participant in the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity. Apple CEO Tim Cook also honored Carter in a tweet on Sunday. Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts. Popular Stories RIP, CarPlay 2? Apple’s website continues to state that the first vehicle models with next-generation CarPlay will “arrive in 2024.” With less than three days remaining in the year, however, that …

Today’s the Last Day to Order From Apple for December 24th Delivery in the U.S.

Today’s the Last Day to Order From Apple for December 24th Delivery in the U.S.

Published by skeptic

If you haven’t wrapped up your holiday shopping, Apple is still offering free two-day delivery for many products from its online store. Orders placed for in-stock items before 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight will deliver by December 24. Orders placed after that time may not make it. iPhone 16 models, new Macs, iPads, HomePods, AirTags, the Apple TV 4K, Apple Watches, AirPods, and many accessories from both Apple and third-party companies are eligible for free two-day delivery in the United States. Last year, after the two-day delivery window expired, Apple offered a free two-hour courier delivery option for select products, but courier delivery is only available in certain areas, and on a more limited number of products. Courier delivery typically costs $9. Apple is offering extended holiday returns right now, and devices purchased between November 8, 2024 and December 25, 2024 can be returned through January 8, 2025. Popular Stories 20 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2 Apple released iOS 18.2 in the second week of December, bringing the second round of …

Time Machine Tutorial: Back Up Your Mac in Minutes

Time Machine Tutorial: Back Up Your Mac in Minutes

Published by skeptic

Time Machine, the built-in backup tool in macOS, provides a straightforward and reliable way to protect your valuable data. Whether you’re safeguarding critical work files, cherished family photos, or your entire system, Time Machine ensures your information is secure and easily recoverable. The video guide below from Apple will walk you through the process of setting up, managing, and customizing your Time Machine backups, empowering you to keep your data safe without hassle. The Importance of Regular Backups In today’s digital age, our lives revolve around the data we store on our computers. From irreplaceable personal memories to essential professional documents, losing this information can be devastating. That’s where Time Machine comes in. This powerful tool provides a reliable, automated solution for backing up your Mac, ensuring you always have a safety net against data loss. Time Machine saves hourly, daily, and weekly snapshots of your data, including applications, system files, user preferences, and more. As your backup drive fills up, Time Machine intelligently deletes the oldest backups to make room for new ones, maintaining …

Get a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Mac or Windows for 85% off with this deal

Get a Microsoft Office 2019 license for Mac or Windows for 85% off with this deal

Published by skeptic

Score a Microsoft Office license now at a big discount. StackSocial Whether you’re setting up your new laptop or using a machine you’ve had for years, access to Microsoft Office is a necessity for many of us to get things done. Right now, you can buy a lifetime license to the 2019 version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus for either Windows or Mac from StackSocial for $33 — that’s 85% off.  Also: The best Black Friday deals: Live updates The only major difference between Office 2019 and later versions is that it doesn’t include Microsoft Teams. However, it does include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access — so if that’s all you need, it’s a great deal for the price. (If you do want a version of Microsoft Office with Teams, you can check out this deal for Microsoft Office Professional 2021.) A caveat: While StackSocial is an authorized Microsoft partner and offers “lifetime” access to Office, it is possible that Microsoft could end the license. But the site has been running these Microsoft deals for years …

Affordable Third-Party Mac Studio Storage Upgrades Coming in 2025

Affordable Third-Party Mac Studio Storage Upgrades Coming in 2025

Published by skeptic

French company Polysoft has successfully reverse-engineered Apple’s proprietary storage modules for the Mac Studio and plans to offer more affordable upgrade options starting in January 2025, following a successful Kickstarter campaign. The company’s “Studio Drive” modules will be available in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, with pricing starting at €399 ($420) for 2TB, €799 ($843) for 4TB, and €1,099 ($1,158) for 8TB – roughly half of what Apple charges for comparable storage upgrades at the time of purchase. Unlike traditional SSDs used in PCs, Apple’s storage modules require specialized engineering because the actual storage controller is built into the M1 and M2 chips rather than being part of the removable module. To develop compatible modules, Polysoft conducted extensive reverse engineering, sacrificing an original Apple module for detailed analysis. The company removed all its small components one by one using a laser station, inventoried them and measured their characteristics, then scanned every layer with a flatbed scanner. From this work, the company then made its own schematics and designed different boards, using the same Kioxia and …