Apple Drops Prices on 512GB and 1TB SSD Upgrades for Older Mac Lineup
Following its “Hello Again” Mac event last week, Apple quietly dropped the prices on higher-capacity storage upgrades across its Mac lineup. 512GB and 1TB SSD build-to-order upgrade options for the MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, and 2015 MacBook Pro are now priced up to $200 less, bring the costs in line with upgrade options on the new MacBook Pro models.
Prior to the event, 512GB storage upgrade options were priced at $300-$400 for most entry-level machines, while a 1TB upgrade was priced at $800 to $900. With the price drop, upgrading to 512GB of storage costs an extra $200-$300, while upgrading to 1TB costs $600-$700.
On the higher-end 13-inch MacBook Air, for example, the default 256GB SSD option can be upgraded to 512GB for $200, $100 less than it cost earlier this year.
New Mac Pro storage prices. Previous prices were $300 and $800.
Upgrading the entry-level 27-inch iMac to 512GB of flash storage previously cost $500, but the price has dropped to $400. Upgrading the mid-range iMac 27-inch iMac to 512GB or 1TB of storage used to cost $400 or $900, respectively, but prices are now at $300 for the 512GB upgrade and $700 for the 1TB flash storage upgrade. On the most expensive 27-inch iMac, upgrading to 1TB storage now costs $100 less.
On the high-end Mac mini, prices have dropped to $200 for the 512GB flash storage option and $600 for the 1TB flash storage option, and the same prices are available on both Mac Pro models, a savings of $100 for 512GB and $200 for 1TB.
For 2015 MacBook Pro models, the 15-inch MacBook Pro storage upgrade options are also priced at $200 for 512GB and $600 for 1TB, down from $300 and $800. Upgrade options for the 13-inch machine are new and are priced somewhat higher at $200 for 256GB, $400 for 512GB, and $800 for 1TB.
Much to the disappointment of many Mac users, the MacBook Pro was the only machine to see an update at Apple’s fall event. The iMac, Mac Pro, and Mac mini have not seen a refresh, and no new machines are expected before the end of the year.
While an iMac refresh is rumored for the first half of 2017, there’s no word on when the Mac Pro and the Mac mini, both of which have not been refreshed in several years, could receive updates. Apple is also expected to phase out the MacBook Air, replacing it with the MacBook and the MacBook Pro.
(Thanks, Marek!)
Related Roundups: iMac, Mac Pro, Mac mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: iMac (Don’t Buy), Mac Pro (Don’t Buy), Mac Mini (Don’t Buy), MacBook Air (Don’t Buy), Retina MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Roku Premiere+ review – CNET
The Good The Roku Premiere+ can access more TV shows and movies in 4K and HDR than most rival devices. It has better features for the money than Roku’s other 4K streamers, and unlike the Chromecast Ultra it actually includes a remote (and an Amazon Video app). Roku’s ecosystem offers more apps, better search and more customization than any other.
The Bad Content in 4K and HDR is still uncommon, and your HDR TV probably already has compatible apps. Unlike some of those TVs, Premiere+ doesn’t work with with Dolby Vision HDR. There’s no voice capability on the remote. Some app interfaces are less polished than on rival devices.
The Bottom Line For 4K HDR TV owners fed up of using built-in smart TV apps, the Roku Premiere+ is my top pick.
Gadgets always precede stuff you can use them with. Today, there are plenty of TVs with 4K resolution and high dynamic range (HDR), but TV shows and movies you can actually watch in 4K and/or HDR are rare. That’s one reason why you shouldn’t feel any rush to buy a device like the Roku Premiere+. There just isn’t enough 4K stuff to watch, HDR or otherwise, to make it a must-have — yet.
For the proud owner of a new 4K HDR TV who wants to surround it with the best compatible gadgets today, however, the Premiere+ makes the most sense out of all the choices. The Google Chromecast Ultra beats it with HDR support, boasting both HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats, but it lacks a remote and Amazon Video’s substantial library of 4K and HDR content. Android TV devices like Nvidia Shield and Xiaomi Mi Box also miss out on Amazon, while the actual Amazon Fire TV handles 4K but not HDR. And among Roku’s own 2016 4K boxes, the Premiere+ provides the best balance of features for the price.
Roku Premiere+ does 4K HDR streaming right
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You may already own other 4K streaming options, such as a 4K game console, 4K Blu-ray player or the smart TV system built into your TV. If you’re fine using those for now, feel free to skip the Premiere+. On the other hand, no other single device can match Roku’s selection of 4K and HDR apps and services, and no smart TV system is as simple to use or updated as regularly.
If you have a 4K HDR TV and want a single device to handle all of your streaming needs, Roku Premiere+ is my go-to recommendation for 2016. Here’s why.
Your premiere Premiere+ questions, answered
So what’s 4K HDR streaming anyway? New here, eh? No problem. Many Internet video services, including Netflix, Amazon Video, Vudu and YouTube, stream some of their TV shows and movies in 4K resolution, which promises higher video quality than their other streams. A few of those services offer an even smaller amount of content in high dynamic range (HDR), promising even better quality — better contrast, with more nuanced shading and brighter whites. We say “promise” for a reason: often the differences are tough to discern, even for trained eyes like ours.
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Amazon and Netflix stream in HDR on select shows and movies, often original series like “Goliath.”
Sarah Tew/CNET
Should I get it if I don’t have a 4K HDR TV? No. Unless you anticipate buying a new 4K HDR TV very soon, my advice is to get the Roku Streaming Stick or another non-4K device and save the money. If your TV has 4K but not HDR, the Roku Premiere (without the “+”) might be worth getting instead.
Why shouldn’t I just stick with my smart TV system? You can, but it might be annoying. Every 4K HDR TV we’ve seen has apps that support 4K and/or HDR. Depending on the TV you have, and what services you enjoy, you might be perfectly fine streaming without an external box. On the other hand, Roku in particular has more streaming apps that offer 4K, HDR and standard video streams, and makes those apps and streams easier to find and use. It’s also updated more often than most smart TVs, and provides a single, convenient source for all your internet video.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
Why do you like Premiere+ better than the competition? The main reason is the selection of 4K HDR apps. Roku devices like the Premiere+ offer 4K from 15 apps: Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Vudu, Plex, Roku Media Player, Fandango Now, UltraFlix4K, 4K Universe, Curiosity Stream, Toon Goggles, Tastemade, Smithsonian Earth, Picasa, Flickr and 500px. That’s more than any other streaming device. Roku also streams HDR from Netflix and Amazon, two of the three biggest services that offer it today. (The third, Vudu, doesn’t yet deliver HDR streams to Roku, only to smart TV systems with Dolby Vision.)
Why is it better than the Roku Premiere or Roku Ultra? Unlike the $80 Premiere, which is 4K-only, the $100 Premiere+ streams in HDR too. It also includes a better remote: you can point anywhere instead of having to aim (allowing you to stash the box out of sight), and connect headphones for private listening. Finally it adds an Ethernet port for wired connections, which can be more stable than Wi-Fi in some situations. Those extras are easily worth another $20 for most buyers.
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The three new 4K Roku boxes. Top: Premiere, Middle: Premiere Plus, Bottom: Ultra
Sarah Tew/CNET
The $130 Ultra is even better equipped than the Premiere+, adding a remote finder function, a USB port for playback of video files from connected drives and an optical digital audio output. It also has a remote you can use to search via voice (with other Rokus you have to use the phone app for that). Otherwise the two have the same features and processor, however, so we don’t think it’s worth spending another $30 for most people.
Valet Charger Power Pack 6700 mAh for Apple Watch + iPhone Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The Belkin Valet Charger Power Pack will be available this month.
Belkin
Earlier this year Belkin launched a new, more affordable dual-charging dock, the Powerhouse Charge Dock for Apple Watch + iPhone ($100). Now it’s got a new portable dual-charging that will hit stores soon: The Valet Charger (also $100), which has a built-in Magnetic Charging Module to recharge the Apple Watch, as well as USB out port for charging your iPhone — or any phone. (No word yet on international pricing, but we’ll add it as soon as we get it).
Alas, no Lightning cable is incorporated into the design (or included), but the 6700 mAh portable battery is able to charge your iPone and Watch simultaneously.
Here are the key specs:
- Built-in Magnetic Charging Module for Apple Watch
- 1A USB port
- 1x Micro-USB Cable
- MFi (Apple Watch)
- 6700 mAh battery
- 4 ft. Micro-USB Cable
In other Belkin news, the company has announced it’s developed a line a premium line of Mixit DuraTek cables built with DuPont Kevlar fiber “for extreme durability.” The cables cost $30 and will be available on belkin.com on November 15.
Belkin has a new line of tough Lightning cables coming soon.
Belkin
Roli Blocks Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
London-based technology company Roli wants to change the way people make music. And its latest creation, Blocks, is unlike any instrument you’ve seen before.
You don’t need years of lessons — or frankly, any musical experience — to create your own beats with Blocks. Packed into a simple 4-by-4-inch touchpad is an entire music studio, designed to be friendly enough for anyone to play, even if you’re intimidated at the thought of creating your own music.
Roli Blocks is a modular music studio, with each individual Block attaching magnetically to any of the four sides.
But this isn’t just for musical newbies — the system is scalable to serve as a professional tool for advanced musicians. Multiple Blocks can be attached magnetically to any of the four sides. Optional smaller control pad Block accessories have built-in buttons to change settings and build beat loops quickly during a performance.
It all starts with the Lightpad Block ($179, or £169.95). The pressure-sensitive silicone pad displays lights on a grid, with each light square representing a different note. But you don’t just tap the light squares as if they were keys on a piano. The real art in a performance lies in how you press your fingers on the pad. Dragging a finger can glide between notes, bending the pitch as you slide into the next note. You’ll also get different sounds depending on how long and hard you press down.
But what if you don’t know what notes sound good together? Simply let the lights be your guide. Blocks can be set to only light up parts of the pad that are in the same scale. Stay in the lights, and you can stay in harmony.
As someone who took piano lessons for 10 years, I found the light system one of the most interesting parts of the Blocks design. In a brief demo, I could quickly see how experimenting with corresponding lights could be a way to teach yourself musical theory without even realizing it — all while removing the fear that you’ll sound bad if you improvise.
But one can not perform with Blocks alone. You need the accompanying smartphone app, Noise, to change settings, such as the scale or instruments. The app is also the only way you’ll hear your music — there’s no audio output on Blocks. All the music is played through a phone via a Bluetooth connection.
Blocks requires the iOS app Noise, which connects over Bluetooth.
Dependency on the app is why more professional users would want to buy the extra control Block accessories, the Live Block and Loop Block, each $79 (£69.95). Those come with preset buttons to quickly switch settings. And at launch, the Noise app is only available on Apple’s iPhones or iPads, but the company says an Android app is in the works.
There’s another downside for professionals: The only way to save and share your music creation is through Roli’s online network, Noise.fm. Roli says additional sharing and saving functions are planned.
That network happens to be the key to keeping Blocks feeling fresh. At launch, 128 sounds are available to download through Noise.fm, and it’s where artists can share their tunes for others to tinker and build upon. Even well known artists including Grimes, Steve Aoki and RZA are contributing and making their own downloadable soundpacks.
Composers have been working with Roli for a few years now. Previously, Roli put a new spin on the keyboard with another silicone instrument, the Seaboard Rise. Blocks is almost a compact concept of the Seaboard Rise, replacing the pressure-sensitive keyboard-like surface with the square light grid.
Apple stores are the only retail outlet you’ll find Blocks at launch. If you’re not ready to drop $180 to experiment with this new music-touchpad system, you can try playing on the lightgrid for free through the new Noise iOS app — but only iPhones with 3D touch can perform with pressure sensitivity.
Tesla makes its case for buying SolarCity
Tesla’s been busy with more than the Model 3 in recent months. In August, founder and CEO Elon Musk announced that Tesla would join with his other company, SolarCity, in a $2.6 billion merger. Musk said at the time that the melded company would serve as an “end-to-end clean energy” solution. And just last week, he unveiled the company’s new solar roof and Powerwall 2 home battery which, taken together, would harness and store the sun’s energy to both the house and the electric car in its garage. On Tuesday, Tesla clarified what it expects to come from the merger and how the two companies will function as one.
Simply put, Tesla figures that SolarCity has a lot to bring to the table. “We also expect SolarCity to immediately account for 40% of the assets of the combined company on a historical cost basis,” the company wrote in a Tuesday blog post, “to contribute $1+ billion in revenue in 2017, and to add more than half a billion dollars in cash to Tesla’s balance sheet over the next 3 years.” What’s more, the combined companies will reportedly save on marketing and sales costs, overhead and R&D efforts. Whether those changes will result in layoffs has yet to be determined.
Tesla also defended SolarCity’s balance sheet, citing the latter’s $5.2 billion in assets and pointing out that the 300,000-plus solar roofs it has already installed will generate over $8 billion in customer payments over the next two decades. This rosy outlook is based on a number of societal and regulatory factors, specifically the American people’s willingness to adopt solar power. The fact that Congress extended the Investment Tax Credit, which gives homeowners a tax credit for 30% of the roof’s installed cost, to 2021 doesn’t hurt either.
For its part, Tesla touted its own impressive growth over the past few years, including Q3 2016’s whopping 145 revenue growth over the previous year. Furthermore, the company reports that it is sitting on $3 billion of cash plus another $750 million of liquidity as working capital. Together, Telsa hopes to strengthen its position within the $12 billion American solar energy market and maintain an annual 15 to 20 percent growth rate over the next five years.
Source: Tesla
This quick hack prevents your laundry soap from making a mess – CNET
Catch those drips before they make a mess.
Alina Bradford/CNET
If you buy large bottles of laundry detergent with a button-operated dispensing spout, then you’re probably constantly wiping up drips and spills. It seems like no matter how careful you are, those spouts just keep dripping long after you’ve stopped pressing the button. Snapping the measuring cup back in place over the spout is no good because when you take the measuring cup off, the detergent drips down the side of the bottle.
There’s a quick and easy solution. All you need is a soda bottle, a marker and a pair of scissors to make a drip catcher.
First, rinse out a 2-liter soda bottle, let it dry and remove the label. Then, get to cutting:
Cut the top off of the bottle, just below the curve of the neck.
Next, cut a horizontal line across the side of the bottle. You want your cut to go about halfway around the bottle, about two-thirds down the bottle. On either side of this cut, make a vertical cut. You should end up with a bowl that has a long piece of plastic on one side.
Place the measuring cup from your laundry detergent on the long piece of plastic and trace around it. Cut out the traced area. Placement isn’t really important as long as you have a cut out circle on the long piece of plastic.
You don’t need to be exact with your cuts, but it should look something like this.
Alina Bradford/CNET
Slip the spout of your laundry detergent bottle through the hole in your drip catcher and put the measuring cup in the bowl area. Now when the spout drips it will go in the measuring cup, ready for another load.
15 genius uses for salt: Clean your appliances,…
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4 things to know about Black Friday – CNET
November has arrived, and that can mean only one thing: non-stop Black Friday hype between now and Black Friday (otherwise known as November 25).
For those new to these United States, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, so named for its unofficial start to the Christmas shopping season, but today better known as the day department stores try desperately to remind people there are still department stores.
As CNET’s resident Cheapskate, it falls to me to give you a Black Friday primer, to share the secrets of this big day while simultaneously helping you avoid the hype. With that in mind, here are four things you should know about BF:
1. Every day is Black Friday
I’ve been writing the Cheapskate blog for nine (!) years this month, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that every day is Black Friday. That’s why, on any given day, you can buy a Bluetooth speaker for $10, a Pebble smartwatch for $50, an HP Spectre x2 laptop for under $400 or — one of my recent favorites — a 3DR Solo quadcopter bundle for $379.99. (Less than a year ago, that same bundle would have cost you around $1,500. Seriously.)
Granted, Black Friday brings out a much larger volume of deals, but the deals themselves don’t always beat what I share every day. And if they, do it’s often by just a few dollars.
Bottom line: Don’t get caught up in the Friday frenzy. If there’s something you want to buy and you spot a great deal before BF, grab it. If you miss a great deal on BF, don’t sweat it: Chances are good you’ll see it again before long. Trust me on this; I speak from experience.
2. It pays to do your homework
Suppose you’re in the market for a new TV. You’ve heard that Black Friday routinely brings good deals on them, which is true. So when the big day rolls around, how can you decide whether it’ll be worth standing in line outside a big-box store at 4 a.m.?
Do your homework. And a great place to start is with price-history site Camelcamelcamel, which shows you the highs and lows for just about every product Amazon sells. You should also check the Slickdeals Price Tracker, which provides a basic price history for several dozen stores — just paste in the URL of the product.
The more you know about any product’s price history, the better prepared you’ll be on Black Friday. Just keep in mind that those histories don’t always include refurbished items, which frequently prove to be even better deals. Speaking of which…
3. Don’t overlook refurbs
Black Friday is almost always about new products. Not new to market, but new condition. And that tends to distract buyers from potentially better deals in the form of refurbished items.
Apple products are a great example. Black Friday is often the one day of the year when Apple itself discounts Macs, iPads and the like, though you’ll often see particularly good deals from the likes of Best Buy and Walmart.
But even those deals don’t often match up to what you can get on refurbished Apple stuff. I’m not saying you should always choose refurbished over new, merely that you shouldn’t overlook the former when looking at discounts on the latter.
4. Seek out ‘leaked’ store ads
One reason I’m so sour on Black Friday is it’s no fun anymore. In recent years, pretty much every store (online and retail alike) has taken to “leaking” its Black Friday ad beforehand — sometimes weeks before. For the bargain hunter, this is actually a good thing, as it helps you plan ahead and satisfies item No. 2, above. It just means that come Nov. 25. there won’t be any surprises.
When you’re ready to scope out the ads, head to sites like Bfads.net and Blackfriday.com. Just make sure not to get sucked in by the likes of Newegg’s “Black November,” which is little more than the company’s usual batch of daily/weekly deals. Likewise, Sam’s Club is touting a splashy “One Day Only” sale — for November 12. It’s all hype, people! (See No. 1.)
Stay tuned for more Black Friday tips and tricks as the day draws closer!
VR porn: The Ultimate Guide [NSFW]
VR porn isn’t a thing of the future. It’s here now, and easier to find and access then you may have thought.
When it comes to watching videos on VR, one of the first questions many people asked was whether or not you’d be able to watch porn or other adult content. From apps that let you speak with camgirls, to full blown 360 degree adult videos, porn in VR is here and it’s making it’s mark. Whether you’ve got a Gear VR, Oculus Rift, or even Playstation VR, there is plenty of adult content just waiting for you out there.
Read more at VR Heads!
Best Cases for LG V20 (so far)
What are the best cases for the LG V20?
Life is full of unfortunate surprises, which is why you want to be prepared in case you drop your sparkling clean LG V20 onto the ground. Protect your new smartphone with one of these affordable insurance plans.
Note: The LG V20 is still a new phone, and cases are still being designed and released for it. We’ll be updating this list when more cases are released.
- Otterbox Defender Series
- Incipio Dualpro
- Ringke Defensive Case
- Tridea Power Guard Leather Bumper
Otterbox Defender Series
Your smartphone use may not be harsh enough to warrant the double-duty protection offered by the Otterbox Defender Series. But like my second-grade teacher used to say: You’re better off safe than sorry.
Since the V20 is positioned as the kind of smartphone you want to take with you to document a trip or a family reunion, you might as well consider this triple-layer, drop-proof case. The Defender Series features a built-in screen protector to keep the V20’s display crystal clear, and there are port covers to block out dirt, dust, and lint from getting into the headphone jack and charging port. There’s also a holster that doubles as a kickstand.
The Otterbox Defender for the LG V20 is only available in black.
See at Otterbox
Incipio Dualpro
Whether you’re looking for a plain black case or a bright pink one, Incipio is worth considering for its veteran case-making status. The DualPro Case for the V20 features an impact resistant plastic frame on top of a shock absorbing rubber sleeve. You can choose it in four colors, all of which will keep your shiny new smartphone protected while you’re out making mobile movies.
The Incipio Dualpro is available in black, champagne, rose gold, and pink.
See at Incipio
Ringke Defensive Case
If the Otterbox is just too much protection for you, the considerably more affordable Ringke Defensive Case will do just fine. The case is made of durable plastic material and features a textured look that adds a bit of James Bond-style personality to the V20. That textured pattern helps provide a but of grip to the phone’s chassis, too.
The Ringke Defensive Case is available in black, blue, and gray.
See at Amazon
Tridea Power Guard Leather Bumper
Class up your LG V20 with the Tridea leather case. Though it’s not real leather, the inside is lined by a carbon fiber frame to help the V20 against impact. There’s also a recessed card slot on the inside which works for attaching a metal plate for a magnetic mound or placing a transit card for tapping at the turnstiles.
The Tridea Power Guard Bumper is available in carbon black, too.
See at Amazon
LG V20
- LG V20 review: Built for power users
- LG V20 specs
- All LG V20 news
- LG V20 vs. Galaxy Note 7
- Discuss the V20 in the forums!
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How to get the best PlayStation VR stream on Twitch
Share your PlayStation VR adventures with the world! We’ll show you how.
While you’re fully immersed inside your virtual world with PlayStation VR, there’s no reason you wouldn’t want to share it with everyone else, right? Twitch is the biggest platform on the planet for gamers to broadcast their adventures to friends, family, and complete strangers.
Read more at VR Heads!
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