The Matter connectivity standard helps different devices and smart-home platforms like Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa work together. And with an update Monday, it added nine home-appliance types and got other improvements, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) behind it said.
Matter specification 2.1 adds support for refrigerators, dishwashers, laundry washers, robot vacuums, air-quality sensors, air purifiers, fans, stand-alone room air conditioners, and smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
Perhaps you’ve heard an expression often used in sports commentary — “so-and-so is running a clinic on this,” meaning showing anyone and everyone how it’s done.
Today’s featured computer setup comes from an Apple administrator who clearly knows how it’s done, if “it” is setting up a rock-solid and highly functional workstation.
★★★★☆
EZ Internet Solutions is a rural internet service provider that can give you a solid cellular internet connection that’s truly unlimited — no data cap, no speed throttling. If you live in a spot without any internet infrastructure, but you do have a cell connection, it is a solid option you should consider.
EZ Internet Solutions offers cellular home internet in places AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile don’t. Contrast that with HughesNet, a popular satellite internet provider, which charges an arm and a leg only to give you a fraction of the speed.
I truly live in the middle of nowhere, and yet I’ve been using EZ Internet to live stream a video podcast every week for months without a hitch.
If you want to see just how far drone technology has come, here’s a shining example that went on sale just in time for the holidays. The Ninja Dragons Blade X is a dual-camera 4K drone that hits all the marks whether you’re flying for fun or looking for Hollywood-quality aerial footage — and it’s only $80 for a limited time.
But this deal won’t last long!
The Chinese government began multiple investigations into Foxconn, the Taiwanese company that assembles the iPhone, MacBooks and other Apple devices in China.
There are suspicions that the investigations are politically motivated: Foxconn founder Terry Gou is running for president of Taiwan.
In this week’s Awesome Apps roundup, we have a major update to Dungeon Hunter, a beloved RPG game; an RSS reader that can keep track of pretty much everything online; and a handy app for seeing what’s playing next in Apple Music.
Update: This report has now been confirmed. On Tuesday, Apple invited the world to watch a product event on October 30. The theme is “scary fast.”
Fresh MacBooks and an iMac might be the highlights of an Apple event the last week of October, according to a high-profile tipster.
Exactly what’s on the agenda isn’t yet clear, but there are a number of strong possibilities, including some potential surprises.
AI is all the hype currently. And while Google, Amazon and Microsoft have gone all-in on generative AI, Apple has not made any notable announcements.
This could change next year, as the Cupertino giant is working on adding several AI features to iOS 18.
If you know someone on the job hunt or are in this process yourself, it may be a smart idea to gift them and yourself Resoume, an AI-powered resume, portfolio and cover letter builder. Through October 23rd, you can get a lifetime subscription for only $29.97 (reg. $180).
Alleged photos of a HomePod prototype with an LCD screen on top have surfaced online. They showcase the smart speaker with a big touch-based LCD panel on top.
Apple’s current-gen HomePod has a small touch surface on top for controlling music playback and volume.
★★★★★
As far back as I could remember, Martin Scorsese has been synonymous with the movies. Now Apple TV+ has financed his latest work, an adaptation of David Grann’s true crime novel The Killers of the Flower Moon about the death of a native American community and the birth of the FBI to the tune of $200 million.
Killers of the Flower Moon will go down as one of the director’s boldest and most furious statements in a career full of them.
Brie Larson as a frustrated scientist with a love of cooking is a recipe for a hit series on Apple TV+. After premiering earlier this month, Lessons in Chemistry is already the second most popular series or film on streaming, according to a market analysis.
New episodes debut every week on Apple’s streaming service.
AI-driven technology can be super helpful and time-saving. Those who know how to develop and manage it are in high demand worldwide, and with this bundle, you and whoever you gift it to could harness the power of AI to boost productivity.
To get ahead of the holiday shopping season, consider hopping on this deal for the 2023 Ultimate Artificial Intelligence and Automation Developer Bundle, which is only $49.97 (reg. $234) through October 23rd.
If you or someone you know has an interest in IT, the field of cybersecurity is something to consider. Since our world has become increasingly digital, it makes sense that the demand for cybersecurity professionals and IT experts is soaring. In fact, videos about cybersecurity have over 1.2 billion views on TikTok alone (per ExplodingTopics.com).
Dungeon Hunter 6, the new installment in the long-running RPG series, offers heaps of fantasy-themed battle. It’s a mix of real-time fighting and strategy, and offers a fun look to its characters and many, many monsters.
It’s a free to play game for iPhone and iPad, with in-app purchases.
If you’re in the market for a MacBook Pro, a bunch of deals currently at B&H Photo are too good to pass up — like $1,900 off a 2021 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro. And other laptop deals range from a couple hundred bucks off to more than a thousand bucks off regular prices.
Remember when those MacBook models seemed beyond your financial reach? Well, all you had to do is wait a couple years. See below, and we threw in some newer M2 models, too.
Who says an 8-year-old MacBook Pro is too old? Today’s featured setup relies on a new M2 MacBook Pro for most of the real work, but a 2015 Retina model still contributes regularly.
“Used it for school but recently graduated in May, only use for it now is YouTube/visuals until it dies,” graphic designer and Redditor izzyontheweb said. “Could you believe it’s a 2015 model and still works amazing?”
Ever find your Apple devices running on empty while you’re on the go? That’s when you need a power bank or battery pack small enough to fit easily in your bag, so you can charge up devices without a power outlet.
The Momax AirBox Go is a 3-in-1 charging station that will keep your gadgets going wherever you are. This unique Apple accessory is on sale, cutting the price drastically.
The Apple TV+ commentary series The Problem with Jon Stewart reportedly has abruptly been canceled. The reason is supposedly creative differences between the host and Apple over covering China and AI.
The decision was made before filming of the third season could begin.
One thing is guaranteed: you’ll eventually run out of space on your devices. Many of us have gotten a “low storage” notification while trying to capture a special moment on our iPhones. Inventions are made out of necessity, and Prism Drive is here to deliver a cloud storage solution for your files, documents, videos, photos and audio files so you can free up space and keep moving. Now, lifetime access to Prism Drive’s 20TB cloud storage plan is only 89.97 (reg. $1,494) through October 23rd.
★★★★☆
The Samsung T9 solid-state drive is small enough and tough enough to go almost anywhere. And it’s available in capacities up to 4 terabytes.
I put the recently launched SSD to the test with a range of Apple devices and came away pleased with the design and performance. That said, Mac users can’t take advantage of one of its best features.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to allow unregulated devices to use the 6 GHz band to wirelessly communicate over short ranges. Apple could use this to enable fast communication between its Vision AR headsets and other computers, like an iPhone.
Apple is one of several companies that asked the FCC to make the change back in 2019.
Through October 23rd, you can purchase a pair of lifetime licenses to Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac for only $59.97 (reg. $439) with no coupon required. That’s two for the price of one!
Netflix raised the price of two tiers of its streaming video service by up to $3 a month. This comes a week after subscription fees for Disney+ and Hulu went up.
The changes make Apple TV+ one of the lowest-priced streaming services.
Video streamers with a lot to say know that working without a script can be challenging, and most teleprompters TV hosts use to read while maintaining eye contact are pricey. But the new Elgato Prompter brings the technology to the masses for $280, the company said Tuesday.
So you can look like a pro on your YouTube video or Zoom call. And Promter’s screen serves as an extra monitor for Mac or PC, too.