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How to shut down your computer using the keyboard
Want to turn off your computer more quickly? Try these keyboard shortcuts.
Whether you're using a Windows 11 PC or a Mac, shutting down your computer is a simple action, and something we all do every day. Typically, you'd do this using the Start menu on Windows or the Apple menu on a Mac. But you can also use your keyboard to shut down your computer faster or if something else goes wrong where you can't access the normal menu. Let's take a look at how it works.
How to download YouTube videos on a Mac
Technically, you can only download YouTube videos for offline viewing with a Premium subscription, but there are ways around it and some exceptions.
It can be frustrating if you want to watch a video on your Mac but don’t have Internet connectivity, like on a plane or in a public place without a free, secure, or fast Wi-Fi connection. Technically, you can download a video from YouTube for offline viewing just like you could with a streaming service like Netflix (with the appropriate subscription). However, there are some legalities to consider, and doing so faithfully requires a YouTube Premium subscription. Here’s what you need to know.
Unprecedented deal knocks $550 off iMac 24-inch as it falls to all-time low
One of the best deals we've seen on Apple's iMac, so get it while you can.
If you're looking for an all-in-one PC with a lot of power, there's no better option than Apple's iMac. The computer is slim and has a striking display, along with a powerful M1 chip. Right now, you can score the iMac 24-inch with M1 processor for $550 off its retail price, bringing it down to just $899.99 for a limited time.
Apple's M3 MacBook Air is an impressive machine, and the M2 MacBook Air is still an exceptional computer in its own right. These are sleek, well-designed Macs that come in different sizes and sport powerful chips. However, they aren't always cheap, so you'll want a solid case to keep yours safe and sound from drops and scratches.
Apple’s planned macOS redesign could be a disaster if it becomes more like iOS
Apple is rumored to be redesigning iOS this year and macOS next year. That might not be as good as it sounds.
macOS users have long appreciated that the operating system, in their view, is more visually appealing than Windows. While Microsoft took a big step forward in modernizing the OS with Windows 11, macOS fans likely still prefer the look of macOS Sonoma. Although the macOS graphical user-interface has been colorful and well-designed for decades, there's always been a core level of intuitiveness and functionality below the surface. That is, until recent versions of macOS. Apple shifted macOS to look more like iOS in the Apple Silicon era, and the OS has become less intuitive as a result.
Apple announces new MacBook Air with M3 chip, Wi-Fi 6E, and more
The laptops still start at $1,100, and the outgoing M2 MacBook Air will stick around at the $1,000 price point.
Apple announced a new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air equipped with the M3 system-on-a-chip, and it is available to order starting today. Aside from the upgrade to the M3 chipset, the new MacBook Air includes Wi-Fi 6E support and can power two external monitors. The 13-inch M3 MacBook Air starts at the same $1,100 price point as the outgoing model, and the 15-inch version similarly starts at $1,300. Besides the aforementioned upgrades, the M3 MacBook Air is virtually identical to the prior M2 MacBook Air, coming in the same Silver, Starlight, Space Gray, and Midnight colorways.
How to install Android apps on macOS
Apple's macOS can actually run Android apps, but not by default.
Apple's latest Macs, including the MacBook Pro (2023), are some of the most powerful consumer computers on the market. macOS Sonoma users can take advantage of some advanced features, such as better widgets, video conferencing tools, gaming mode and more. However, what many aren't aware of is the ability to run Android apps on a Mac. While you can't install an Android application on macOS by default, there are some steps you can follow to unlock this capability.
4 things I want to see Apple add to the M3 MacBook Air
Apple already announced the M3 chipset, so a MacBook Air refresh is likely inevitable. Here's what I want to see on the new laptops.
Since the Apple Silicon transition, the MacBook Air lineup has been filled with impressive laptops. Both the 13-inch and 15-inch variants of the M2 MacBook Air can still keep up with the best laptops on the market, and they're the default laptop recommendations for Mac users with a light or moderate workflow. However, Apple released a new M3 system-on-a-chip last year, and has shipped an M3 MacBook Pro and M3 iMac already. It's likely only a matter of time before the MacBook Air lineup gets a boost to Apple's M3 chipset. As someone who has used both M2 MacBook Air models extensively, these are the four things I want to see from the next MacBook Air upgrade.
Best places to buy a refurbished MacBook Air in 2024
If you're looking to save some money, going with a refurbished MacBook Air might just be the ticket. These are some of the best places to buy and save
Apple's MacBooks are some of the best laptops you can buy. And while they are great, you're going to be spending quite a bit on one, even if you opt for the more affordable MacBook Air models. With that said, if you're dead set on getting a MacBook Air but don't want to pay top dollar for one, then going with a refurbished model is going to be a fantastic option. Although there are plenty of different places to purchase one, we recommend sticking with a retailer you know like Best Buy, or even Apple.
A monitor with a KVM switch was exactly what my dual PC setup needed
If you use two PCs as part of the same desk setup, a KVM switch could be the way to simplify your workstation.
There are a handful of reasons that one great PC might not be enough for every user. Some people might have a personal computer and a work computer at the same desk, and others might want to use one of the best Macs in tandem with a PC workstation. I'm in the latter group, since I like to daily drive a mix of Macs and PCs to meet my computing needs. However, using two PCs — whether they be macOS systems, Windows machines, or a combination of the two — at the same desk can be a clunky experience. I've had at least a few computers on my desk for years, but I got to try a monitor with a KVM switch for the first time while reviewing Dell's UltraSharp 34 Curved Thunderbolt Hub. Put simply, it was a game-changer.
5 features in the Preview app on macOS you need to use
Preview is the native photo and file viewer in macOS, but it has a lot more features that you probably didn't know about.
macOS ships with a bunch of pre-installed applications that are incredibly useful to some users, and insignificant to others. But an app that's pre-installed on all the best Macs that nearly everyone will use is Preview. It's a jack-of-all-trades app, offering functionality as a photo viewer, document viewer, and an editor for both file types. Power users might change their settings and make a third-party app the default for opening images and documents, and casual users might just use Preview for viewing files. However, macOS users of all skill levels can make use of the Preview app's hidden features. These are five things that the Preview app can do, and you might not know about them yet.
5 things you should do before getting rid of your Mac
Have a Mac desktop or laptop you want to trade, sell, or throw away? Don't forget to do these five things first.
One of the great things about owning the best Macs is that they'll hold their resale value over time. macOS machines that are years old still go for hundreds or thousands of dollars on sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. There are even systems older than a decade that will fetch over $100 on the resale market in 2024, and that's downright impressive. Even the best PCs from that era have likely headed to a landfill or recycling center rather than a secondhand site. If reselling isn't your style, you can still get a fair bit of credit for your Mac by trading it in. Or, you can always throw it away (safely and responsibly, of course).
Hands-on: I used dual Mac virtual displays in Vision Pro, but they don't fix the underlying issue
Apple doesn't let you use dual Mac virtual displays in visionOS, but the Splitscreen app does.
Apple Vision Pro, which is Apple's first mixed-reality headset, is shaping up to be an entertainment device rather than a productivity device. That's partially due to how excellent content consumption can be on the headset, like watching 3D movies or reliving Spatial Videos. However, it's also true because the Vision Pro's primary input method — hand and eye tracking — lacks precision in productivity applications. There are other limitations, too, such as how you can only use one Mac virtual display with Vision Pro.
Best Mac games in 2024
Mac computers don't have the best reputation for gaming, but they've come a long way with Apple Silicon. Here are our favorite titles on macOS.
Macs aren't the best gaming computers out there, mainly because only a small number of games support macOS. Nonetheless, many depend on the latest Macs for their work or studies, and users will be happy to learn that macOS Sonoma is the best macOS version for gaming in years. Aside from Apple's big bet on Apple Arcade, macOS Sonoma also includes an optimization feature called Game Mode just for gaming. While you will likely enjoy a superior gaming experience and a larger library on other platforms, there are still plenty of excellent games on macOS. To help you with your hunt, we've compiled a list of the best Mac games currently available.
AirDrop not working on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Here are 10 ways to fix it
AirDrop not working? Here are some tips to fix it.
I use AirDrop almost daily between my iPhone and MacBook Pro. It’s such a simple way to get photos, videos, and other content from the mobile device to my computer for editing or adding to a presentation, article, or gallery. Chances are you might want to use it, too, either between your own devices or to AirDrop something, like contact information, to someone else’s device. It’s a fairly foolproof feature, but sometimes, you might run into an issue where AirDrop doesn’t work. Chances are, there’s an easy fix.
Best Mac external hard drives and SSDs in 2024
Newer Macs lack user-accessible storage, and these external hard drives and SSDs are here to the rescue.
Most of the latest Macs, including the MacBook Pro and Mac Studio, don't offer user-accessible storage. So, once you make the purchase, you're stuck with the configuration you've got. While many users aren't affected by this, it certainly gets problematic if your storage needs increase down the road. You would either have to buy a new Mac, rely on cloud solutions, or buy one of the excellent Mac external hard drives and SSDs we've listed below. They can also come in handy for data redundancy, so you can have a safe copy of your files in case something happens to your computer.
How to install and use fonts on an Apple Mac
macOS allows users to install third-party fonts to utilize in certain applications. Here's how to use them on your Apple Mac.
Apple Macs are excellent devices for productivity. The company's MacBook Pro lineup strikes the perfect balance between power and portability and doesn't compromise battery life. Whether you are a writer, programmer or creator and type text a lot, you may have run into several built-in fonts to switch between.
Best MacBook Pro cases in 2024
A case can shield your expensive MacBook Pro from scratches and other damage.
Investing in a great case for your MacBook Pro just makes sense. These laptops, which have gone through a number of size and configuration changes over the years, have remained high-end hardware available at an elevated price. The unibody aluminum design deserves to remain pristine, and besides, you don't want an accidental drop to cause a crack in the screen or other internal damage to performance parts.
How to install Windows on a Mac
Apple is phasing out Boot Camp, but you can still get Windows on a Mac with a VM
Many people use Mac computers due to macOS, which is Apple's proprietary operating system. It looks great and is optimized specifically for Apple's hardware, which means it'll run quickly and smoothly on your Mac. However, there might be times when you need to use Windows. Instead of going out and buying a new computer, you can run Windows on your great Mac by using a virtual machine (VM). We've tried Parallels Desktop 19 for Mac, and we've found it to be our favorite way to virtualize Windows 11 within macOS. You can follow this guide to install Windows on your Mac.
Belkin iPhone mount for Mac desktops review: Use Continuity Camera for unlimited webcam angles in macOS
Belkin has a Continuity Camera mount for Mac desktops and displays, but its killer feature is the built-in tripod screw.
Continuity Camera is one of the most useful features to debut on macOS in recent years. It uses your iPhone's rear camera system as your Mac's webcam, which improves video quality and adds features. However, the tricky part can be finding a way to mount the best iPhones in a way that'll work with a Mac. For reference, Continuity Camera only activates when your iPhone is locked, mounted horizontally, and near your Mac.