Apple MacBook Air buying guide

It’s finally happened. Apple’s MacBook Air, the company’s least expensive laptop, has received an update. It’s still a 13-inch machine with a thin frame, but it now has a Retina display, Touch ID security, and a butterfly keyboard like other new MacBooks.

There’s a good chance you’re eyeing this slick new machine, but if so, what model should you buy. Is the least expensive version fine, or should you spend more?

Processor

As usual, Apple doesn’t list the exact processors found in the MacBook Air. We do know, however, that it’s an eighth-generation Intel Core i5 dual-core with a base clock speed of 1.6GHz and a maximum clock of 3.6GHz. It also has Intel UHD Graphics 617.

That last point is interesting. Intel doesn’t list any processor with UHD Graphics 617. It has only appeared once, in an August leak of a Core i7-8510Y processor. As mentioned, though, the Air has a Core i5 processor, not a Core i7. Whatever the model number, which we’ll know once it ships to owners, the processor is clearly a compromise to reduce the Air’s size. Most competitors have an Intel Core i5 quad-core processor.

The new MacBook Air does not offer an alternative processor. The older model is still available for $1,000, but its older fifth-generation Core i5 processor is woefully out of date, and we don’t recommend it – even though it’s $200 less.

Hard drive

The base model of the new MacBook Air comes with 128GB of solid-state storage. Remember that MacOS and default apps take up some space, so it’ll effectively have closer to 100GB of storage. That’s not much.

Upgrades are expensive. Most users will at least want the 256GB storage option, a $200 upgrade that bumps the final price to $1,400. Strangely, there’s no 1TB SSD available, but a 1.5TB SSD will be sold – if you’re willing to spend an extra $1,200 for it.

We think the 256GB drive is the best value for most people.

RAM

Apple ships the new MacBook Air with 8GB of memory, upgradable to 16GB for $200.

Most people won’t have need to spend the extra cash. While there’s certainly reasons why you might want more RAM in a MacBook, the Air’s relatively slow processor means it’s a poor fit for people who want to run demanding apps.

Stick with 8GB. If you think you need 16GB, frankly, you’re likely to need a MacBook Pro. We have a hard time imaging a scenario where 16GB of RAM is useful, yet a faster quad-core processor (like that in the Pro) wouldn’t help.

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Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The MacBook Air has few options. There’s just one processor available, so you can only change the storage and RAM. That means buying it is simple, but there’s a few other specifications you may want to know.

First, the new Air has a Retina display. That means 2,560 x 1,600 resolution or 227 pixels per inch, which is identical to the MacBook Pro. Given the Air’s lower price, the display is a nice feature.

The new Air weights 2.75 pounds and is a maximum of 0.61 inches thick. These specifications are solid but not remarkable. Competitors like the Dell XPS 13 and Asus ZenBook UX331UA are just as thin and light.

You should also know Apple has switched to the butterfly keyboard found in the MacBook and MacBook Pro. It’s been a controversial design because of the keyboard’s low travel and poor tactile feel. There’s no Touch Bar option. That’s still reserved for the Pro.

Buy the new Air. Not the old Air.

As a reminder, don’t buy the old MacBook Air. Apple still has it listed for sale, but it’s an antiquated model with a processor that’s several years out of date and a terrible display. It’s the least expensive option at $1,000, but we don’t think you’d like it.

If you think the MacBook Air isn’t the right Mac for you after all, no worries. Our complete MacBook buying guide will point you to the right machine.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple MacBook Air (2018) vs. Apple MacBook
• Surface Laptop 2 vs. MacBook Pro
• It’s finally here. Apple’s new MacBook Air has Touch ID and Retina for $1,199
• Apple could announce a new MacBook this week. Here’s what we want to see
• Score a professionally refurbished MacBook Air for less than 300 bucks

Apple’s MacBook Pro 15 gets an upgrade with AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics

Apple has new hardware configuration options with higher-powered graphics coming to its MacBook Pro 15 line of powerful notebooks. Those needing more graphical power for rendering or even gaming will be able to opt for AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 and Vega 20 onboard graphics chips instead.

Not to be confused with the rumored 7nm die shrink Vega 20 graphics chips expected to debut in 2019, these new graphics cores are nonetheless more powerful than the Radeon Pro 560X currently offered with the MacBook Pro’s top configuration. Built on a 14nm process, the new chips will sport 16 and 20 compute units as designated by their nomenclature, which should make them more powerful than the graphics cores used in AMD’s own desktop APUs the 2200G and 2400G — clock speed depending. They will also sport second-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM2).

“Radeon Vega Mobile graphics raise the bar for performance in notebooks,” Scott Herkelman, corporate vice president and general manager of Radeon Technologies Group at AMD, said in a statement. “They provide the best of both worlds: Amazing performance for creative applications and visually stunning, responsive gaming for today’s biggest titles in a mobile form factor.”

Apple talks up the new graphics options as being great for those who want to create on their MacBooks, with powerful capabilities for video editing, 3D rendering, and other creative applications. It also gives a nod to those who like to game on their MacBooks, suggesting the new chips will be capable of AAA gaming at 1080P, as well as high-speed gameplay in esports titles.

Although Nvidia may dominate the graphics market in both desktop and laptops for Windows users, Apple has had a long relationship with AMD graphics and currently offers even its high-end offerings like Vega Pro 64 graphics in its top-tier iMac Pro desktop all-in-one. It doesn’t look like that relationship is going to end any time soon, despite its increasing support for external GPUs which opens up all sorts of opportunities for the green team.

There’s no hard release date for the new MacBook Pro configurations just yet, nor any indication of what it will do to price. However, we would expect the new graphical hardware to come at a premium in excess of what the existing Radeon Pro 560X offerings are. The launch date is currently slated for late November.

Editors’ Recommendations

• MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar review
• Dell XPS 15 vs. MacBook Pro 15
• The best monitor for the MacBook Pro
• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme vs. MacBook Pro 15
• MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro

Smell like Skynet: IBM creates an A.I. that will design the perfect perfume

“I love your perfume.” “Thanks. It’s Skynet.” OK, so that’s not necessarily the most likely conversation for you to have in the near future, but it very well could be. That’s because IBM Research has teamed up with master fragrance maker Symrise to use its artificial intelligence expertise to develop next-gen fragrances, courtesy of IBM’s impressive machine learning technology.

Similar to its previous Chef Watson project — which used IBM’s Watson technology to create new recipes for delicious dishes — this collaboration uses data-mining algorithms to comb through masses of data to come up with unique scent combinations likely to appeal to humans. Hey, at least we know that Terminators will smell good for the inevitable rise of the machines!

“Fine fragrance is both an art and a science that takes people 10 years of training to master,” Richard Goodwin, a principal research scientist at IBM, told Digital Trends. “We’ve created a system, Philyra, based on IBM Research’s A.I. for Product Composition that, like a human apprentice, learns from the work of master perfumers to create novel and good smelling fragrances. Unlike human apprentices, the system can’t smell, but it can learn from 100,000s of formulas, created by hundreds of perfumers over many decades. The exciting part is that the system can create well-formed and balanced fragrances that combine the techniques of all the perfumes it has learned from to spur innovation and improve efficiency.”

IBM Research

In addition to perfume, Goodwin said that the same formula-finding technology could also be used formulate fragrance design for other consumer products, including shampoos, conditioners, laundry detergent, and even industrial products like adhesives and lubricants. That gives it a potentially enormous scope.

“For each of these products, chemists train for years to be able to design high performing, cost-effective formulas,” Goodwin continued. “For example, detergents that clean better or adhesives that hold the glass on the front of your phone or hold parts of an airplane together. We want to make the knowledge that these designers have developed and make it available in a way that allows it to be better used to create future products.”

Philyra is currently using the tech to help create perfumes for global beauty company O Boticário, which will be released in 2019. It also aims to distribute the A.I. to both its master perfumers around the globe and as a teaching aid to help train students.

Editors’ Recommendations

• IBM’s Holodeck-style classroom tech makes language-learning apps look primitive
• IBM’s drone concept knows when you want a coffee, and flies it to you
• Replaced by robots: 10 jobs that could be hit hard by the A.I. revolution
• As Christie’s auctions its first A.I. painting, the meaning of ‘art’ gets blurrier
• By studying patient data, A.I. can limit toxicity in cancer treatment

OnePlus 6T debuts in India for ₹37,999 ($515), sales kick off Nov. 1

With the 6T, OnePlus is getting aggressive in the Indian market.

India is OnePlus’ largest global market, with the Chinese manufacturer overtaking Samsung to become the largest player in the premium segment earlier this year. At a media event in New Delhi that featured over 1,500 fans, OnePlus unveiled its latest flagship, the OnePlus 6T, in the country.

The OnePlus 6T will be up for sale on Amazon India for ₹37,999 ($515), which is an aggressive move as the phone comes with 128GB of storage as standard. To put things into context, the 128GB variant of the OnePlus 6 retailed for ₹39,999 ($545). The version with 8GB of storage and 128GB of storage will cost ₹41,999 ($570), and the 8GB/256GB model will be up for sale for ₹45,999 ($625).

There are a few marquee features that makes the OnePlus 6T stand out. First up, there’s a narrower notch up top that leads to a much more immersive experience, and the 6T is the first OnePlus phone to offer an in-display fingerprint sensor. OnePlus says the in-display module is one of the fastest in the market, rivaling that of the Vivo NEX and the Vivo V11.

The OnePlus 6T also has a larger 3700mAh battery that should allow it to eke out slightly better battery life. And when you do need to top up, OnePlus’ charging solution continues to be one of the best around, letting you charge from zero to 50% in just over 30 minutes. On the software side of things, the OnePlus 6T comes with Android 9.0 Pie out of the box along with OxygenOS’ own set of customization options.

OnePlus 6T review: 90% of the phone for 60% of the price

OnePlus is launching a USB-C variant of its Bullets earbuds alongside the phone, which will be available for ₹1,499 ($20). The new Explorer backpack is also making its debut in the country for ₹4,990 ($67), but you won’t be able to buy it just yet. OnePlus will initially offer the bag via an invite-only system.

Unlike the last two launches, OnePlus isn’t debuting a special variant of the 6T as part of its ongoing collaboration with Disney. The OnePlus 5T Star Wars edition and the OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Edition were standout devices that were aimed primarily at Indian users, and while there isn’t a similar variant of the 6T just yet, we should hopefully see an update on this front in the coming months.

The OnePlus 6T will go up for sale in India from November 1, and this time around, the device will be available at Reliance Digital retail stores across the country. That’s a huge move for the brand that will allow it to boost visibility and cater to a more mainstream audience, all while solidifying its position in this category.

OnePlus 6T and OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6T review
• Latest OnePlus 6T news
• OnePlus 5T vs. 6T: Should you upgrade?
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus
T-Mobile

How to automate your evening routine with the Amazon Smart Plug

The Amazon Smart Plug is a helpful little accessory for making dumb things around your house smart. Here’s how to integrate one into your evening routine!

Products used in this guide

• Amazon: Amazon Smart Plug ($25)
• Amazon: Echo Dot (3rd Gen) ($50)

How to use a Smart Plug with your evening routine

For this guide, we’re going to assume you already have an existing evening routine and an Amazon Smart Plug connected to your Amazon account.

Open the Alexa app.

Swipe from the left edge of your screen to open the menu.
Tap Routines.

Tap your evening routine.

Tap Add action.
Tap Smart Home.

Tap your Smart Plug (in this example, it’s named Bedroom lamp).

Choose if you want it to toggle on or off.
Tap Next.

Tap the arrow at the top left corner.

With that done, you’ve successfully added the Amazon Smart Plug to your evening routine. Go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back!

Our top equipment picks

A smarter outlet

Amazon Smart Plug

$25 at Amazon

The best smart plug for Alexa users

The Amazon Smart Plug works mostly the same as its lower-priced competitors, but its tight integration with the Alexa ecosystem results in one of the smoothest setup processes you’ll find for any smart home product.

If you have an Alexa speaker or two, the Amazon Smart Plug offers one of the best experiences you can get with a smart plug. It’s a little bulky and doesn’t have the lowest price, but it performs well and doesn’t come with the added headaches of its competitors.

Best Dot yet

Echo Dot (3rd Gen)

$50 at Amazon

Vastly improved sound in a sleeker body.

The Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is the best Echo Dot yet. Its speakers are much better than its predecessors’ and the new fabric design looks 10 times better than the old glossy plastic.

Don’t let the small size and price tag fool you. The third-generation Echo Dot just may be one of the best smart speakers you can buy. It looks fantastic, the sound quality is perfectly adequate for casual music listening, and the low cost of admission makes it extremely accessible for just about anyone.

Farming Simulator 19: Everything you need to know

All of the new improvements and tips you need before the release

Farming Simulator was developed by Giants Software and originally released back in 2008. Basically, if you combined FarmVille and RollerCoaster Tycoon into one epic series, you would get Farming Simulator. This game is a very therapeutic way of allowing yourself to wind down from the day and enjoy some brain-numbing fun.

The newest addition to the family will be Farming Simulator 19, and it’s coming to you on November 20th of this year. This will come with the largest list of vehicles that have ever been released, upgraded mechanics and graphics, as well as a few more additions you have yet to see in a Farming Simulator game.

If you’ve been looking into getting Farming Simulator, or have been a longtime fan, check out below to see all the information we’ve collected before this release.

See at Amazon

What’s new about Farming Simulator 19?

Just within the first three seconds of the trailer, I was already blown away. As you can see, for the first time in the history of the Farming Simulator’s series, you can play as a woman. Of course, the option to play a man is still available. It’s just refreshing to see games becoming more inclusive in the new age.

Another thing you’ll notice in the trailer is the ability to ride a horse as well. This was something you couldn’t do in any of the previous Farming Simulator games. But now you can enjoy exploring the land from the comfort of your own steed.

Gameplay you have to check out

Back in August 2018 at Gamescom, Giants Software released a new trailer for Farming Simulator 19 that included all the sneak peaks we’ve been dying to see. As far as the basics go, you can still take care of your crops, raise livestock, control farming machinery, and then sell what you created for a profit. In the end, all of your work will pay out by allowing you to use those profits to continue upgrading your farm with better crops, equipment, and livestock.

Better graphics and even more machines

Another thing you’ll notice is all the new types of machinery, with all new sets of mechanics, that has been upgraded with this new release. This includes big brand names, like John Deere, finally coming to Farming Simulator as a type of machine your character can buy. It doesn’t stop there either. The AGCO IDEAL Combine Harvester, which was an agricultural machine that was only revealed at the Agritechnica convention in November of 2017, will also be a machine that’s available to you.

That means you have the largest list of machines to buy, all new ways to take care of your crops, and you’re even up to date with the standards of the current farming life in the real world.

What you should know before jumping in

You don’t have to worry about being nickel and dimed to death with booster pack options. Giants Software has already stated that loot boxes and microtransactions won’t even be in this game. Your one and only purchase will be when you buy the game.

They even released the information that not only will there be new machines and horses, but there’s going to be new crops for you to plant as well. All of this comes with new missions and jobs to keep yourself entertained for quite some time.

Co-op options are compatible with the PlayStation 4 version

But if you start getting bored with your missions, don’t worry. The PlayStation 4 version allows up to 6 people to play together in a co-op mode. This means you can take care of the farm with your friends. Designate someone to the livestock, send someone out to the store, and then divide up the jobs between the rest of you. Regardless of your decisions, you can either play with your friends for the fun of it, or you can play with them to complete tasks.

The last and final thing you should know before grabbing your pre-order is the resolution options we’re expecting. While the PlayStation 4 will support up to 1080p, the PlayStation 4 Pro will support up to 1440p, and both of them will run at 30FPS.

Learn some helpful hints and grab your pre-order today

You should choose what kind of map you need based on how big of a farm you want. The American map comes with larger fields and bigger equipment. If you go for the European map instead, you’ll be met with smaller plots of land that are made to look more narrow.

Once you get started, make sure you strategically plan the types of crops you want to buy. You always want to start with the most profitable to get yourself going. Once you get a bit of money under your belt you should immediately invest in a fertilizer machine to start using on your farm. In previous games, this increased your profits by 30%, which is more than enough to start getting you better machines. When you reach a comfortable state where you can finish all your chores, and still have daylight to work with, then (and only then) is it time to start getting some livestock.

Regardless of how you play, Farming Simulator 19 looks incredibly promising, and you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. Remember, it releases on November 20, 2018. So get ready!

Pre-order options

Farming Simulator 19

$50 at Amazon

Take advantage of the bonus

You can enjoy all of the improvements to the graphics, mechanics, and missions with this newest addition to the Farming Simulator family. When you pre-order Farming Simulator 19 on Amazon you’ll also receive a Mahindra Retriever Bonus DLC, a super agriculture machine, to help in your goals of achieving the best farm.

Can the Echo Dot Kids Edition filter explicit songs?

Best answer: Yes, all Amazon Alex-enabled devices have an option to block explicit songs, and that setting is on by default on the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition. Not all music services compatible with Amazon Alexa work with the explicit filter, but Amazon Music and Spotify do.

Amazon: Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition ($70)

Automatically blocking crude ditties

There’s a lot of music out there in the world, and some of it is not safe for young ears. Amazon knows this, and on most of its devices, there is a setting somewhere to filter out explicit content. Parents shouldn’t have to go hunt this setting down on every device they allow their kids to use, and so on Amazon devices that are branded for kids — such as the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet and the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition — the setting to block explicit songs is turned on by default as part of the year-long subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited that the Echo Dot Kids Edition comes with.

With FreeTime Unlimited on the Echo Dot Kids Edition, only the parent can disable the explicit songs block on their child’s profiles and devices. If you’re using an Echo Dot Kids Edition with an older child who you trust and want to disable the explicit music block for, you can set them up on the Parent Dashboard.

Blocking explicit songs on non-Kids devices

The block explicit songs setting is only turned on by default on devices that are branded as Kids devices by Amazon, but what about the other Amazon Alexa-enabled devices around your home? What about devices that are not using FreeTime? Well, turning on the explicit filter on regular Echos is a simple voice command:

“Hey Alexa, block explicit songs.”

This will filter out explicit music on supported music sources, but if a music source does not support Alexa’s explicit song blocking, then Alexa will not launch that music service while the explicit music block is turned on. If you need to turn off the explicit block, you can use the command, “Hey Alexa, Stop blocking explicit songs.”

What services work with Alexa’s explicit song block?

Spotify and Amazon Music are two music subscription services that Alexa’s explicit music block works with, but with FreeTime Unlimited, your child can also listen to dozens of playlists and live music radio stations from providers like:

• Radio Disney
• Nick Radio
• iHeart Radio
• Breakthrough Radio, powered by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

If you subscribe to a music service that doesn’t integrate with Alexa’s explicit music block, that music service will not launch when you ask Alexa for it on a device with the explicit music block enabled. It’s not optimal, but that’s how Amazon has set things up, erring on the side of safety.

Family-safe fun

Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition

$70 at Amazon

Exile explicit tunes, encourage endless entertainment

This bright little speaker is ready to rock your house with some family-friendly radio and music. FreeTime Unlimited’s robust parental controls and quality content ensure your kids can enjoy Alexa safely.

Should you buy Kingdom Hearts: The Story So far?

Best answer: Yes. Kingdom Hearts is a notoriously convoluted series, so much so that it’s become a running joke about how difficult it is to explain its plot. If you’re gearing up for Kingdom Hearts III, this is the perfect bundle to get you caught up.

Amazon: Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far ($40)

What’s included?

The better question is: What isn’t included? Because this bundle contains just about everything. Though some of the titles listed below are not full games and are instead only cutscenes, you’re getting the entire Kingdom Hearts narrative in one place.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX

• Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
• Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
• Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (HD Remastered cinematics)
• Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
• Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
• Kingdom Hearts Re:coded (HD Remastered cinematics)

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

• Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD
• Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage
• Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (movie)

Why should I buy The Story So Far over other Kingdom Hearts compilations?

Simply put: This bundle contains the most content. With The Story So Far, you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely. You’re getting nearly every Kingdom Hearts game to ever release, all remastered, for just $40. That’s less than the usual $60 retail for new games, so it’s a hell of a good deal. You can’t go wrong with The Story So Far if you’re looking to save money.

Similar compilations with less content can be purchased for $20 each. If you’re looking to buy another compilation anyway and already spend some money, it’s well worth it to purchase the best bundle possible.

Bottom line

When it comes to bundling up a series, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better compilation than this. Square Enix wants to ensure that no one is confused going into Kingdom Hearts III. And that’s a tall order.

Our pick

Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far

$40 at Amazon

The entire journey

When it comes to bundling up a series, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better compilation than this. Square Enix wants to ensure that no one is confused going into Kingdom Hearts III. And that’s a tall order.

Portable heaters, the new Echo Dot, and more are discounted today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

There’s never a shortage of deals available, but sorting through all of them can be difficult at times. We’ve handpicked all the best tech, and everyday essentials discounts that you can take advantage of right now and brought them to one central location. From space heaters to Fingerlings, these are today’s best deals.

Tech Deals

Everyday Essentials

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Apple Pencil 2 Not Compatible With Older iPads and Original Apple Pencil Won’t Work With New Models

The new second-generation Apple Pencil that Apple introduced today alongside new iPad Pro models includes support for tap gestures and inductive charging when attached to an iPad Pro via magnets, a major upgrade from the previous model that had a built-in Lightning port.

Given all of the changes introduced in the Apple Pencil 2, it only works with the new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models and it is not compatible with older iPad Pros or the sixth-generation iPad.

Likewise, the current Apple Pencil will not work with the new iPad Pro models and is limited to older iPad Pro models and the sixth-generation iPad.

That means if you’re upgrading to the new iPad Pro from an older iPad Pro model and already have an Apple Pencil, you’re going to need to buy a new second-generation model if you want an Apple Pencil to use with the upgraded tablets.

The new second-generation Apple Pencil is priced at $129 and can be ordered starting today, with the accessory set to be delivered on November 7.

Apple’s new Apple Pencil is $30 more expensive than the existing Apple Pencil, which is priced at just $99.

Related Roundup: iPad ProTags: Apple Pencil, October 2018 eventBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Buy Now), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Buy Now)
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