The Mac mini (M1, 2020) is the first Mac desktop to receive Apple’s new ARM-based M1 chip. It’s also the most affordable way to dip your toe into the brave new world of Apple Silicon, even though it’s powered by the exact same chip found in the much more expensive MacBook Pro. It can’t run Windows apps via Bootcamp like an Intel Mac, and there will be some growing pains as developers switch gears and start catering to the new hardware, but that hardware offers tremendous raw performance, excellent potential in the long term, and more than acceptable real-world performance in the short term....

A new series of emails between Microsoft and Apple has shed new light on the ongoing push to bring Xbox cloud gaming to the App Store. The emails, uncovered by The Verge, show Microsoft was willing to play by Apple’s rules—for the most part. Instead of following Apple’s demand to separate each app and include the streaming package within it, Microsoft wanted a singular app that offered access to all of its games inside....

For years, developers have been limited in how much they can charge for apps in Apple’s App Store. This is why app prices are all so similar, all coming in at $0.99. or $9.99, rather than $8.76, for example. This week, Apple has expanded the available range of prices massively, almost tenfold, to 900 options. Prices now run from $0.29 up to $10,000 (although higher prices are only available on request, subject to approval)....

When Apple first revealed its latest smartwatch at an event last month, the company simply said it would be available “this fall.” Now we know that it will be available for preorder at 5 a.m. PT/8 a.m. ET on Friday, with watches being shipped out October 15. If you miss the boat on preordering, the company says the watch will be available at retail locations that same day. The Apple Watch Series 7 brings some new features to the table....

Whether it’s PC gaming or working from home, having a reliable, fast internet connection that covers your entire home is a necessity. Investing in a home mesh WI-Fi network, specifically, the ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600, turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in terms of not only my gaming experience but also my work-from-home life. Read on for my thoughts on the Wi-Fi 6 speeds, compatibility, and connectivity over two weeks of testing....

The Brother MFC-J895DW is a light-duty all-in-one printer that’s designed for use in the home and small offices. It sports an attractive minimalist design that hides the paper tray and automatic document feeder (ADF) when not in use. It also has separate ink cartridges for magenta, cyan, yellow, and black, wired and wireless network connectivity, and near field communication (NFC) support for interfacing directly with smartphones. I set up a Brother MFC-J895DW in my office and put it to the test over the course of five days....

External Mic Connections The camcorder microphone you buy must interface with the external mic connection built into your video camera. Consumer camcorders use a stereo jack for attaching an external mic, while higher-end camcorders offer an XLR jack for connecting a mic. Before you buy an external microphone, check what kind of input your camcorder has, and pick out a microphone that will fit the jack. Types of Camcorder Microphones There are three main types of camcorder microphones to choose from: shotgun, lapel (or lavaliere) and handheld (like newscasters or musicians use)....

How Can a Router Get a Virus? A router can get a virus if hackers can get through the initial login screen and modify the router settings. In some cases, viruses can modify the embedded firmware that controls the router software. You don’t need to toss out an infected router—repair and then protect that device from further infections in the future. Two common router viruses that have infected thousands of routers in the past include the Switcher Trojan and VPNFilter....

As long as you have your iPhone, you can share its data connection with your iPad through a process called tethering. How to Set up Your iPhone’s Personal Hotspot You have to adjust a couple of settings on your iPhone to get your tablet online. Does Tethering Cost Money? Your telecom company may charge you a monthly fee for tethering your device, but most providers now offer the service for free on most limited plans....

How Do I Use Apple Music on a Mac? Accessing and using Apple Music on your Mac is straightforward. It’s preinstalled on Macs with macOS Catalina or later. Here’s how it works. How Do I Download My Previous iTunes Purchases? To replace iTunes files you may have lost or deleted, or if you don’t want to sync devices, you can download previous iTunes purchases on your computer. How Do I Import Music Into Apple Music?...

According to Comcast, the new device will have high-definition video with a 4:3 aspect ratio to see the surrounding area of the front door and two-way audio. Xfinity Home customers can interact with the Doorbell directly via the service’s app, serving as a lynchpin for the whole system. As a customer, you’ll get notifications on the app and the TV via the Xfinity X1 or Flex streaming box every time someone rings the bell....

In an ocean photography competition, photos from around the world showcase what amazing work photographers can do underwater with just a small amount of equipment. Gaetano Dario Gargiulo started out diving and taking photos as a hobby, but his winning photo brings out the hidden colors beneath the waves of the pools of Kamay Botany Bay National Park near his home in New South Wales, Australia. “If you are just starting you may want to start with an action camera or even your mobile phone,” Gargiulo, winner of Best of Show in the Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition, recommended in an email to Lifewire....

The Alexa App for Android Then, to begin using Alexa as your Android smart home control center, you’ll need to add smart home devices. You can choose any device that’s Alexa enabled, which can include smart plugs, smart bulbs, smart appliances, and even smart gadgets like smart scales or smart beds. How to Control Alexa Devices With Your Android Phone Each type of device might have different setup instructions, so be sure to read the included instructions before you begin this process....

Sure, you can play PC games with any computer keyboard—but if you’re a die-hard with a custom, souped-up gaming rig, then some plain old keyboard isn’t likely to satisfy. Corsair’s Strafe RGB Mk.2 MX Silent Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is a very good option if you’re keen on a mechanical keyboard with all the familiar bells and whistles but without the loud key clacking heard on some competing boards. It also has dedicated media controls, which are handy, not to mention swappable keycap sets designed for popular competitive game genres....

Get Ready to Create a New Virtual Machine With Fusion What You Will Need: VMware’s Fusion v1.1 or later. Available hard drive space. The amount of free hard drive space you’ll need depends on the OS you plan to install. Some Linux installations will work fine with just 8 GB of available space, while Windows Vista works better with at least 20 GB of space. An Intel-based Mac. Any Intel-based Mac, which includes most models from January 2006 on....

When DeepMind put its AlphaCode engine to work on coding challenges designed to test humans, it finished in the top 54 percent, making it as good as an average human. That might sound like it’s ready to be deployed for live use. You could fire the worst half of your human coders, then replace them with AI coding bots, right? Not yet. “With AI companies, writers are needed more than ever....

What Is a DM File? A file with the DM file extension is most likely a DRM Delivery Message file. It can be any file type but is usually an audio file used as a ringtone or media clip on a cell phone. They’re sometimes downloaded to a computer, too. Since these files are protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management) copy-protection software, a cell phone must be authorized in order to use them....

The short answer is, yes. Why Isn’t Windows Defender Good Enough? Windows 10 now provides built-in security in the form of Windows Defender, which includes both an antivirus and a firewall component. Many people opt out of installing third-party firewall software and only use Windows Defender. But is that really the best option? According to a study conducted by AV Comparatives, Windows Defender antivirus for Windows 10 performed well overall but fell short in a few important areas....

As both touch and non-touchscreen laptops have evolved, they’ve become incredibly lightweight and thin, making them more portable than ever. With an ultra-thin chassis, you can easily slip your new laptop into a backpack or tote for a work commute or carry-on bag for business travel without worrying about being worn down by weight. Another innovation for laptops is the inclusion of SSD storage and M.2 SSD compatibility. A solid state drive allows for faster boot times and file or program access than traditional hard-disk drives, and M....

Facebook Pay has been available as a means to send or exchange money across several Facebook-owned platforms for some time, but Facebook plans to expand its reach next month. In a recent announcement, the social media company says it will allow US-based businesses to use Facebook Pay as a new payment option, beginning with Shopify merchants. The Facebook Pay service boasts easy setup, fast checkout, and convenient access across various Facebook apps for things like retail purchases, money sharing, and donations to charities....