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Don’t miss these bargains on SSDs and memory cards on World Backup Day

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Rugged new Samsung T7 Shield SSD survives rain, drops and dust
The Samsung T7 Shield is one of several SSD on sale for World Backup Day.
Photo: Samsung

Several companies, including Samsung and Western Digital, have cut prices on SSDs and memory cards for World Backup Day. Save up to $80 on the rugged Samsung T7 Shield, while the SSD that’s WD’s closest rival is also on sale.

A 1TB SanDisk microSD card is surprisingly affordable. And the JetDriveLite specially made for MacBooks card readers is available at a discount, too.

Some of the deals are only available on March 31, so don’t procrastinate.

A Mac mini, a PC and a G4 walk into a podcasting primer … [Setups]

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See the G4 peeking out from under the desk? Ah, nostalgia.
See the G4 peeking out from under the desk? Ah, nostalgia.
Photo: omgaporksword@Reddit

It sounds like the setup to a punchline: A strapping young Mac mini, a yoked gaming PC and an elderly Power Mac G4 walk into a podcasting primer. Then what happens?

Well, if we’re talking about Redditor omgaporksword’s recent setup post, you learn a few OS-switching tricks, share some old-school Mac nostalgia and see how to position your USB microphone using a boom arm.

There is no punchline and there are no laughs. But please, people. Not everything is about humor. Except maybe omgaporksword’s Reddit handle.

SanDisk Luxe flash drive uses Lightning and USB-C to support all Apple devices

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The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe debuted on Wednesday
Securely share a collection of files between your iPhone, Mac and iPad with a new 2-in-1 flash drive from SanDisk.

The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe lets you access its files on all your Apple computers, no adapters needed. It supports Lightning and USB Type-C, so it can plug into an iPhone, Mac or iPad. The same goes for many Windows and Android devices.

Sleek new WD My Passport SSD offers 2 TB of storage, blazing-fast speeds [Review]

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WD My Passport SSD review
Western Digital’s redesigned mobile SSD is an ideal companion for MacBook or iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Even in a world where everything can be stored in the cloud, there’s still a role for an external drive. Especially if it’s high-performance, and can go anywhere. Western Digital’s new solid state drive is slim and light, but also rugged. And the WD My Passport SSD holds up to 2 TB of data, and is far faster than a traditional hard drive.

Here’s how this newly-released peripheral stands up to real-world use with a range of computers.

Add 4TB of portable storage to your Mac with $40 off this WD drive

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WD portable storage drive for Mac
Bag yours before this discount ends.
Photo: WD

Constantly running out of storage on your Mac? Add a whopping 4TB with the brilliant WD Elements drive, which is now $40 less on Amazon.

The portable HDD uses super-speedy USB 3.0 connectivity for fast data transfers, and it’s backed by a two-year WD warranty. Bag yours today before this discount disappears.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Speedy new My Passport SSD plants 2TB of storage in your palm

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WD My Passport SSD is compatible with a range of Apple computers.
WD My Passport SSD is tiny but adds up to 2TB of storage to Mac or iPad.
Photo: Western Digital

Western Digital introduced on Thursday an updated version of the My Passport SSD. It offers dramatically faster data transfers, plus a new sleeker design.

The external storage device is available in capacities up to 2TB, and offers prosumers an easy way to carry around fairly large collections of images, movies or other files.

What 35 million days of real-world use tell us about which hard drive to buy

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Backblaze shares data it’s collected on failure rates of over 104,954 hard drives running continuously.
Backblaze shares data it’s collected on failure rates of over 104,954 hard drives running continuously.
Photo: Backblaze

Statistics on hard drive reliability just released by data-storage company Backblaze would seem to indicate it’s not a good idea to buy a Seagate hard drive. Of the 104,954 drives it uses, Seagate’s are the least reliable by a wide margin.

On the other side of the coin, this company has found drives made by Western Digital’s HGST to be much more reliable.

Best Mac accessories for gift-giving [2017 Gift Guide]

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These best Mac accessories are perfect for any Mac owner on your gift list.
These accessories are perfect for any Mac owner on your gift list.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

2017 Gift Guide bug Christmas creeps up on you quickly, so if you haven’t already started your shopping, it’s time to do something about it. Cult of Mac can help! In this guide, you’ll find a selection of stellar gifts that are perfect for the Mac lover in your life.

We have killer keyboards, stunning stands, super speakers and more!

Apple joins last-ditch bid for Toshiba’s chip division

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Toshiba
Toshiba is ready to go public.
Photo: Toshiba

Acquiring Toshiba’s chip-making business could still be in play for Apple after all, even though the company’s previous attempts to secure the coveted division with Foxconn fell through.

According to a new report, Apple is part of a “last-ditch” bid to acquire Toshiba’s chip-making ability along with Bain Capital and a few other players. If successful, the acquisition could give Apple a serious weapon in its battle with Samsung for smartphone supremacy.