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March 11, 2011: How do you follow up your biggest product debut ever? That’s the question Apple needs to answer as it releases the iPad 2.
Apple’s second-generation tablet boasts a faster dual-core A5 processor inside a lighter build. It’s also the first iPad to feature VGA front-facing and 720p rear-facing cameras.
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iPad 2: A worthy upgrade
Although iPad sales today pale in comparison to the iPhone, the original iPad came out of the gate as one of Apple’s biggest successes. When introduced in January 2010, it immediately became the most exciting new gadget in the world.
When the original iPad went on sale, it took less than a month to sell 1 million units — half the time it took Apple to sell that many iPhones at the time.
In its first year, Apple sold around 25 million iPads, making the tablet the most successful new product category launch in Cupertino history. After six months, it already outsold the Mac.
Second Apple tablet brings advances in form and function
The iPad 2, therefore, had a lot to live up to. Did it succeed? In a word, “yes.”
Apple’s second-generation tablet maintained its predecessor’s display size, price and capacity, but packed more power into a one-third thinner body. Measuring just 0.34 inches thick, it even came in slimmer than the then-current iPhone 4.
The iPad 2 lineup also added a new color: It now came in black and white options. The speaker grille also wrapped around the back of the device, providing users with better sound quality.
Apple’s new magnetic Smart Cover arrived at the same time as the iPad 2, instantly making the bulky, rubber, third-party cases for the original iPad look terrible by comparison.
In the end, the iPad 2 hung around for an impressively long period. It outlasted both the iPad 3 and iPad 4. Apple sold the iPad 2 until 2014.
Sound off on iPad 2
Did you own an iPad 2? What was the first model of Apple’s tablet that you bought, and what were your initial impressions? Let us know in the comments below.
Apple CEO Tim Cook today appeared in Porsche’s video announcement for the Taycan Turbo GT electric performance car.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is the most powerful production car the brand has ever made. During its premiere video, Porsche briefly showed off its custom race engineer cockpit app for the Vision Pro that allows a spectator to view laps from the perspective of the driver accompanied by key statistics and a track map in 3D space.
Speaking to Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, Cook congratulated the automaker on the new vehicle and highlighted the potential of the Vision Pro headset to “reimagine track experiences.”
Good morning, Oliver. Congratulations to you and the Porsche team on the new record you’ve set with this incredible new vehicle. It’s these kinds of extraordinary milestones that show the world what can happen when a team of incredibly dedicated people come together to break new ground on a big idea. Porsche has always been known for excellence and we’re proud to see a number of our products play a role in what you do and it’s so great to see Apple Vision Pro helping reimagine track experiences.
I believe deeply that spatial computing has the potential to revolutionize virtually every industry and you’re showing one of the many ways Apple Vision Pro is going to make the impossible possible.
Apple has ordered an initial 8.5 million OLED display panels from South Korean suppliers for its upcoming redesigned iPad Pro models, which are expected to arrive as soon as this month. The refresh will mark the biggest design update to the Pro lineup since 2018. Apple is relying on different OLED display suppliers for the upcoming ~11-inch and ~13-inch iPad Pro models, with Samsung Display…
Earlier this week, Apple announced new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, the first Mac updates of the year featuring M3 series chips. But there are other Macs in Apple’s lineup still to be updated to the latest M3 processors. So, where do the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro fit into Apple’s M3 roadmap for the year ahead? Here’s what the latest rumors say. Mac Mini Apple announced …
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including some of the first notable M2 iPad Pro discounts in months, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get…
iOS 18 is still months away from being unveiled, but there are already several rumors and expectations for the software update, as outlined below. iOS 18 is rumored to include new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features for Siri and many built-in apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is…
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4 comes over a month after macOS Sonoma 14.3, an update that brought collaborative Apple Music playlists. The macOS Sonoma 14.4 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of…
Apple today released tvOS 17.4, the fourth major update to the tvOS 17 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 17.4 comes over a month after the release of tvOS 17.3. tvOS 17.4 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the Apple TV. Go to System > Software Update to get the new software. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to…
With celebrity endorsements from Elon Musk and Danny Green generating plenty of biohacking buzz, you may have heard of Eight Sleep’s Pod 3 Cover. It’s a mattress cover that can heat or cool your bed to help you sleep better. You can tweak the temperature in the Eight Sleep app or have the autopilot mode adjust it automatically, and the Pod 3 can provide in-depth, accurate sleep tracking.
To unlock the smarts of this system, including autopilot and sleep tracking, you need an expensive subscription (from $15 per month), and that’s on top of the astronomical asking price (from $2,045). The UK Super King cover I tested costs £2,495 (around $3,175), which is far more than I could ever justify spending on a gadget like this. (The US equivalent is a Queen, roughly $2,145.)
High prices and billionaire endorsements are a turn-off for me, so I approached the Eight Sleep Pod 3 with a healthy dose of skepticism. Turns out rich people have nice things. Closing in on a month with the Pod 3, I’m a grudging convert. It is far too expensive, and I don’t need another subscription in my life; not to mention there are some quirks I’m not keen on. But my wife and I have both been sleeping better, and that kind of trumps everything else.
Make Your Bed
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 is a thick mattress cover with a network of rubber tubing inside and a soft, plush black material on top. It is elasticized for a snug fit on your mattress, but I’d advise enlisting some help to fit it. There’s a sticker to ensure you put it on the right way around with the connectors at the top. The brushed fleece top is soft, and I found the cover very comfortable. It doesn’t feel as though it’s filled with tubes with sensors.
Photograph: Simon Hill
A device that resembles a desktop PC with a big 8 on the front connects to the cover via a double tube. I slipped mine next to my bedside cabinet. This unit is the brains of the operation, with a quad-core CPU inside, and it pumps chilled or heated water through the mattress cover.
Hooking up the app and Wi-Fi was a five-minute job; the app walks you through every step. The first time you set it up, you need to fill the Pod 3 with water. A cylinder slides out of the top with a clear fill line. You have to do this a couple of times, and it takes around 90 minutes after each fill to pump the water into the system and calibrate, so don’t start the installation right before bedtime.
The cover has two distinct sides, so your partner can configure different settings, which is ideal if one of you runs cold and the other warm. It was easy to invite my wife from the app, so we could both control the Pod 3 from our phones. It took maybe four hours to prime the system, but most of that was waiting.
Logging Some Z’s
On my first night with the Pod 3 Cover, I slept like a log. My sleep score was 100. Like, actually 100. I fell asleep in less than five minutes and got seven hours and 55 minutes of blissful slumber. I woke refreshed and bounded out of bed, ready to tackle the day. This is rare for me. I usually take up to an hour to drop off and frequently wake through the night. But this auspicious start was not to last.
Edge Lighting used to be a Good Lock-exclusive feature, but it has since been simplified and added to One UI as a regular option. What is Edge Lighting? If the name didn’t give it away, Edge Lighting allows you to add visual effects on and around the edges of your Galaxy phone’s screen.
These visual effects show up when you receive notifications on your Galaxy phone and vary from simple effects at the edge of the screen to more intricate designs featuring fireworks, bubbles, and so on. Here’s all you need to know to add Edge Lighting effects to your Galaxy phone.
Beautify your Galaxy device with light effects
To enable Edge Lighting effects, first, open the Settings app on your Galaxy phone and access “Notifications.” Then, go to “notification pop-up style.” And finally, tap “Edge lighting style” to access the customization menu.
In total, you can choose one of eleven Edge Lighting effects. Some are just edge effects while others include extra elements, like ripples, spheres, and so on. Some are single-tone while other effects are multi-colored.
You can go one step further with these Edge Lighting effects by customizing colors (via the “Color” tab) and characteristics such as transparency, width, and duration (via the “Advanced” tab).
NOTE: The screenshot used in this article are based on One UI 6.1 for the Galaxy S24 series. Other One UI versions might offer different options.
The debate over whether 8GB of RAM is sufficient for a Mac has long been a topic of contention. The controversy goes back to at least 2012, when Apple launched the first MacBook Pro with Retina display, which started with 8GB of RAM. Apple still offers 8GB as the base configuration for its 14-inch MacBook Pro, not to mention its M3 iMac and the latest MacBook Air models. Coupled with the significant cost of upgrading to higher memory options, Apple’s decision has once again sparked discussions about the adequacy and value of this configuration.
Of course, Macs have changed a lot over the last decade. For one, Apple no longer relies on Intel processors to power its machines, having developed its own Apple silicon, which is faster and more power efficient. This is because Apple’s custom chips use “system-on-a-chip” (SoC) architecture, which integrates several processing cores (CPUs), graphics cores (GPUs), cache memory, and several other components within a single physical package.
Apple’s M-series of chips also use something called “unified memory,” which sits alongside the SoC. Apple’s adoption of this high-bandwidth, low-latency memory means the main chip avoids having to communicate data between different memory locations, and it makes the memory pool available for both the CPU and GPU, allowing it to be allocated dynamically depending on the task at hand.
While the overall result of this integrated SoC architecture is better performance and efficiency, the downside is that Apple’s unified memory is fixed at the point of purchase and cannot be upgraded at a later date.
Opting for more unified memory is not cheap either. For instance, going from the base 8GB of unified memory to 16GB or 24GB costs an extra $200 and $400, respectively. Therefore, it’s important when buying a new Mac that you choose the right amount for your individual needs. User opinions on this topic are diverse, with some finding 8GB adequate and others feeling constrained. Ultimately, it comes down to what you want to do on your Mac. Here are the main factors to keep in mind.
8GB or More RAM?
Daily Tasks and Light Usage: For basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, 8GB of RAM generally suffices. Modern Macs use features like memory compression and intelligent allocation, which help macOS run smoothly even during multitasking.
Professional and Creative Workloads: For more intensive tasks such as video editing, 3D modeling, or software development, 8GB may be limiting, and can cause slower performance and reduced efficiency, as independent tests have shown. This is especially true if you work on advanced projects that require enormous files and content libraries.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, when buying a Mac, opting for 8GB of unified memory is a cost-effective option if you have light usage requirements, and it offers adequate performance for everyday tasks. However, if you intend to use more demanding applications, it may be worth paying the extra for more memory. This will reduce the risk of the memory acting as a system bottleneck, and allow the Apple silicon in your Mac to perform at its maximum potential.
Starting at $1,599, Apple’s 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro comes with 8GB of unified memory, and choosing 16GB or 24GB costs an extra $200 and $400, respectively. However, it’s worth noting that after factoring in the extra $200 for 16GB, an M3 Pro model with 18GB and several other extra features is only $200 more at $1,999.
Of course, if your main concern is affordability and/or portability, it may be worth considering a MacBook Air instead. Starting at $1,099, the new 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip has a 16GB configuration option for $200 extra, totaling $1,299. If you’re looking for a bigger display, the 15-inch MacBook Air starts at $1,299, with the 16GB option taking the price up to $1,499.
Bear in mind that the M3 version of the MacBook Pro has a HDMI 2.1 port and SDXC card slot, while the MacBook Air models do not. The entry-level MacBook Pro also offers 22 hours of battery on a single charge, compared to 18 hours on the M3 MacBook Air. In addition, the M3 MacBook Air models have an LCD display, whereas the M3 MacBook Pro uses a superior mini-LED display.
How you’re sleeping affects how you feel the rest of the day. If your sleep is suffering, and you’ve already tried putting your smartphone in another room to keep the distractions at bay, well you’re in luck. National Sleep Awareness Week runs from March 10 to March 16, and that means some of our favorite sleep accessories are on sale right now. You can get a whole new mattress or maybe a fresh pair of sheets to keep you cool. All the prices listed are for queen sizes wherever relevant.
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Use code MADNESS20 at checkout to get 20 percent off our favorite mattress. It was slightly cheaper during President’s Day, but it’s a great mattress if you can splurge, and it works well for all sleeping positions. We tried the medium-firm Midnight Luxe model, but there are a few other versions to choose from.
Leesa’s Sapira hybrid is our runner-up pick. This bed is firm but still feels soft, and we kept coming back to it during our testing. It was also cheaper during its President’s Day sale, but it doesn’t usually have great discounts. The $1,699 price it usually is just went up on Amazon to $1,719. We’ll keep checking to see if it stays there.
Use code MADNESS20 to get this discount. The Elite is even more expensive than the other Helix we like, but it is very luxurious with nine layers of foam packed into its 16-inch thick body. Like the Luxe, there are various options depending on what firmness level and sleep position you prefer.
My Green Mattress Kiwi Children’s (Twin) Mattress
Photograph: My Green Mattress
The twin size of this mattress is reasonably priced, so we recommend it as an organic option for kids. We saw it drop to $679 during the President’s Day sale, but this is the usual sale price. It’s made using certified organic cotton, wool, and latex.
WIRED readers can use code WIRED100 to get an additional $100 off the sale price. Technically this deal is $975 off, but we’ve only rarely seen it hit its $2,499 MSRP. When it was available on Amazon, it hovered between $1,625 and $1,700 most of the time. Still, it did occasionally reach peak price, and it is a discount on a great mattress for side sleepers. It needed a full two weeks to break in, though, so give it time. There’s a 120-night sleep trial, but it’s an extra $100.
This DreamCloud bed is the runner-up in our Best Mattresses You Can Buy on Amazon guide. Its eight layers of foam, coiled springs, and cashmere-blend quilted pillow top make it feel luxurious. The medium-firm feel is great for side and back sleepers, but it does lack edge support. We’ve seen it drop lower than this, but it’s steadily $1,399.
Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress
Photograph: Awara
The Awara is a more affordable organic choice, and it is both supportive and bouncy, with little motion transfer. But we could feel the springs a bit more. As a nice plus, it has less off-gassing odors than other beds in boxes we’ve tried.
This is our favorite organic latex mattress. Latex beds are usually very heavy and hard to ship nationally. Turmerry solves this by shipping its bed in four boxes—the three or four separate layers zip into an organic cotton cover.
Enter code DEALS at checkout to get this discount on our favorite side-sleeping mattress. It’s 14 inches thick and firmer than most options geared toward side sleepers. But the layer of springs of varied rigidity allows your hips to sink in comfortably. The Elite occasionally reaches its $2,305 price, but we usually see it around this sale price.
Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress
Photograph: Saatva
The base price for this bed has risen from $1,995 to $2,095. We haven’t tracked it reaching $1,995 until the end of February, so $400 off is a generous estimate. Still, this innerspring mattress is great if you’re dealing with back pain. The luxury firm option has a quilted organic cotton pillow top that’s zoned to promote lumbar support. A layer of high-density foam helps achy lower backs.
Most cheap mattresses are not going to be great options, but this one is fine if you absolutely need the cheapest bed right now or just want to outfit a guest room. Just know that the edge support is uneven, and the springs are a little creaky.
We liked the Linenspa better, but this is another super-cheap bed that typically costs $252. We’re impressed that its foam is CertiPUR-US certified, which means it doesn’t use formaldehyde or problematic flame retardants. We wouldn’t want to sleep on it every night, but younger people who have yet to face back problems might not mind it. It’s perfect for a guest room.
Sheets, Pillows, and Weighted Blankets Deals
See more info about fabrics and all our favorite picks in our Best Bedsheets guide.
If you have an organic mattress, you should pair it with organic sheets. And if you don’t have one, organic bedding is a more affordable step toward relinquishing chemicals. These Brooklinen sheets are the best organic sheets we’ve tried. They’re soft but not overly silky; crisp but not too tight. They’re made of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton. They’re also Oeko-Tex certified, which means they’re tested for and do not contain any known toxic chemicals.
Buffy’s sheets feel warm and cozy to snuggle into, but they are still light and airy, so you’re not sweating through the night. They’ve held up through many washes, too, with no dreaded pilling. The fabric is eucalyptus Tencel lyocell, which is sustainable and biodegradable.
The Company Store Legends Hotel Velvet Flannel Sheet Set
Use code FAMILY24 to get this discount. These were the softest flannel sheets we tested, though it did take a few washes to get there. If you want warm flannels to cuddle under in the winter, these are a good bet.
Coyuchi’s flannels are another set we liked. They’re still warm and cozy, but a little lighter than the Company Store sheets. If you sleep hot, you may want to splurge on these.
This price is not for the faint of heart, but these were the softest sheets WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell has slept on. They’re silky and cooling, and Farrell says it was nice to slip into a cool bed that warmed up a little once you’re settled.
We haven’t tried these yet, so we can’t say for sure that they’ll be great. However, this 50 percent off deal was too good not to share, and you can return them within 30 days if you end up not liking them. We’ve heard great things and will be testing this bamboo set and the sateen organic set for a future update to our sheets guide.
Buffy Wiggle Pillow
Photograph: Buffy
I love sleeping with this gigantic pillow or curling up with it on the couch. It’s meant to be floppy so you can curl it or tie it, but you can still comfortably lay your head on it. It’s also made using 55 plastic bottles. It’s perfect on its own, but you can get a cover for $81 ($14 off), and there are now more color and fabric options than when we tried it.
Most colors are already sold out, but if you can grab one, Brooklinen’s weighted blanket is one of my favorites. It looks nice, with one satisfyingly textured side and one of washed cotton. It’s a good size too. It’s not too small to snuggle under on the couch, but I could still sleep under it without it covering my husband, who doesn’t like weighted blankets.
This price is for the black and oak colors. WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey says these slippers are like clouds for your feet with a nice beaded design. Manitobah is Indigenous-owned and staffed with Indigenous designers.
This sale price is also only for select colors. L.L.Bean’s Wicked Good slippers are a classic beloved by most who try them. I’ve gifted them to family members, and WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu bought these for his wife. He says they’ve held up over the three years she’s used them. The brand has a few other Wicked Good styles to choose from too.
Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe
Photograph: Brooklinen
This is a classic robe for lounging in while drinking coffee or throwing on after a shower. It feels a bit like a towel, but not scratchy, and it’s held up in the wash. There are great new colors as well as a nice rotating list of limited-edition colors and prints.
We tried the adult version of this robe, and this one is made for 7- to 11-year-olds. It’s 8 pounds, which is just enough to feel like a nice hug but not so heavy that your little one can’t get off the couch. However, it’s pricey even on sale.
Hatch makes great sound machine/night light combos, and the Rest is one of the cheaper models in its lineup. Adults and kids will like it as a bedside companion, but there are time-to-rest and time-to-rise beacons designed specifically for kids. You’ll get a few nice sleep sounds as is, but if you subscribe to the Hatch membership, it unlocks a ton of bedtime stories, lullabies, and mediations.
This isn’t a mask you’d wear to sleep, but Gravity’s eye massager (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great addition to a wind-down routine. Using air pressure, heat, and vibration, this mask gently massages your temples, helping to soothe sore eyes and headaches. I’ve tried a lot of fun things as a WIRED gear writer, but eye massages are among the top five.
Enter code REST25 at checkout to apply this discount. Breathing exercises can help fight insomnia or ward off panic attacks. You don’t need a device to do them, but if you’re having trouble controlling your breathing, this little thing works. Hold it in your hand with your thumb on the heart rate sensor, and match your breath to the device as it expands and contracts. It connects to an app, but if you set your default breathing exercise, you can just grab the device and use it without opening your phone.
These earbuds are half headphones, half sleep tracker. They’re not for everyone, and our tester found it tricky to get comfortable while wearing them, but he loved that you could layer a meditation or sleep story over a nice soundscape like rain. If it’s in your budget and you’ve exhausted other sleep headphone options, these may be worth a shot.
No Apple TV+ film won an Oscar on Sunday, despite for Martin Scorsese’s historical epic Killers of the Flower Moon earning ten Oscar nominations — including Best Picture — and Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon earning three noms.
Despite the final results, Apple made it clear that it is honored to be nominated. And both films have drawn large audiences since they debuted on Apple’s streaming service.
Apple TV+ gets 10 Oscar nominations for Killers of the Flower Moon and 3 for Napoleon
From the start, Apple TV+ execs set their sights on winning industry awards to garner attention for the upstart streaming service. This year, Apple Original Films received 13 Academy Awards nominations in total for the two Apple Original Films — ten for Killers of the Flower Moon and three for Napoleon.
And two other indigenous artists got nominations — the late guitarist and arranger Robbie Robertson for Best Original Score and Osage member Scott George for Best Original Song “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People).”
Also of note, Scorsese’s nod for Best Director makes him the most-nominated living director in history with 10 nominations, Apple said.
13 nominations, but no wins
Apple TV+ snatched just one win off 14 nominations in the Golden Globes. These are often seen as a predictor of Oscar awards, and that held true once again in 2024.
But Apple made it clear it’s proud of the nominations.
“Thank you to the Academy for these nominations that celebrate both Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese’s powerful film that has moved and inspired audiences across the globe, and Ridley Scott’s spectacular epic Napoleon, two stories that illuminate the human experience,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video.
“From the dynamic and complex performances of Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro, and the gorgeous cinematography, design, editing, and soundscape that immersed viewers in the world of the Osage Nation, to the majestic costumes, sets, and visual effects that brought Napoleonic France to vibrant life on screen, it is wonderful to see so many members of these brilliant creative teams recognized today,” he added. “We applaud you all.”
Apple historical epics faced stiff competition
Killers of the Flower Moon was recognized with 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese), and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Lily Gladstone). Photo: Apple TV+
Scorsese’s film, based on Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, the 2017 nonfiction book by journalist David Grann, also got a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Robert De Niro as well as a best director nomination and nods for film editing, cinematography, music and more.
Napoleon, a biopic about the rise of French conqueror and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, received nominations for production design, costume design and visual effects.
The competition at the Academy Awards was stiff for Best Picture and other categories. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, most notably, racked up 13 Oscar nominations and took home the 2024 Best Picture Oscar. (It won the same award at the Golden Globes.)
Nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon:
Best Picture
Directing: Martin Scorsese
Actress in a Leading Role: Lily Gladstone
Actor in a Supporting Role: Robert De Niro
Film Editing: Thelma Schoonmaker
Cinematography: Rodrigo Prieto
Production Design: Jack Fisk, Adam Willis
Costume Design: Jacqueline West
Music (Original Score): Robbie Robertson
Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People), Music (Original Song): Scott George
Nominations for Napoleon:
Ridley Scott’s Napoleon received three Oscar nominations. Photo: Apple TV+
Production Design: Arthur Max, Elli Griff
Costume Design: Janty Yates, David Crossman
Visual Effects: Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco, and Neil Corbould
Apple has ordered an initial 8.5 million OLED display panels from South Korean suppliers for its upcoming redesigned iPad Pro models, which are expected to arrive as soon as this month. The refresh will mark the biggest design update to the Pro lineup since 2018. Apple is relying on different OLED display suppliers for the upcoming ~11-inch and ~13-inch iPad Pro models, with Samsung Display…
Earlier this week, Apple announced new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, the first Mac updates of the year featuring M3 series chips. But there are other Macs in Apple’s lineup still to be updated to the latest M3 processors. So, where do the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro fit into Apple’s M3 roadmap for the year ahead? Here’s what the latest rumors say. Mac Mini Apple announced …
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including some of the first notable M2 iPad Pro discounts in months, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get…
iOS 18 is still months away from being unveiled, but there are already several rumors and expectations for the software update, as outlined below. iOS 18 is rumored to include new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features for Siri and many built-in apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is…
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4 comes over a month after macOS Sonoma 14.3, an update that brought collaborative Apple Music playlists. The macOS Sonoma 14.4 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of…
Apple today released tvOS 17.4, the fourth major update to the tvOS 17 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 17.4 comes over a month after the release of tvOS 17.3. tvOS 17.4 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the Apple TV. Go to System > Software Update to get the new software. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to…
It hasn’t been long since your Galaxy A52 received its third and likely last major firmware update. Samsung rolled out Android 14 and One UI 6.0 for the Galaxy A52 earlier this month, and now, the company has turned its full attention to its latest Galaxy A55 model. And maybe you should, too.
Samsung announced the Galaxy A55 today, and it might be the perfect upgrade for Galaxy A52 users who are ready to move on. Granted, your Galaxy A52 barely received Android 14, so it’s not out of the game yet, but the clock is ticking fast and the Galaxy A55 looks very appealing for many reasons.
Galaxy A55 — Better everything
Whether or not you think it’s time to upgrade the Galaxy A52, there’s no other way to put it: The Galaxy A55 is plain better in virtually every way.
Samsung’s new phone has a metal frame, which is a first for the series. It also has Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection for the front and back panels, and it looks like a modern device with flat surfaces, rounded corners, and independent camera cutouts instead of a camera housing.
More importantly, the Galaxy A55 has a brighter screen (1000 nits HBM) with Vision Booster technology for improved visibility and color accuracy. And as you know, the Galaxy A52’s display can’t go higher than 90Hz if it’s not the 5G variant, whereas the Galaxy A55 can go up to 120Hz.
Samsung’s new mid-range phone also has a bigger 5,000mAh battery and improved connectivity features, including Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 instead of version 5.0. The newer Bluetooth standard is faster and more reliable, offers better location-based features, and improves audio quality.
In terms of cameras, the Galaxy A55 exemplifies why more megapixels aren’t always better, especially when it comes to mid-range phones. Even if your Galaxy A52 has a 64MP primary shooter, the Galaxy A55’s 50MP camera is bound to take better photos and videos thanks to improved processing and nightography.
And if you feel like your Galaxy A52 is not powerful enough or doesn’t offer a smooth One UI experience, the Galaxy A55 might just fix that. The new model sports a minimum of 8GB of RAM instead of 4GB and can go as high as 12GB.
In addition, the Galaxy A55 has an Exynos 1480 chip, which is based on a 4nm process and boasts an AMD RDNA-based GPU.
So, what do we make of Samsung’s new phone? It’s pretty good! Nevertheless, maybe you could squeeze one more year of usage out of your Galaxy A52 if you really want to and try to enjoy the last Android 14 update. Maybe you can even push it to the launch of the Galaxy A56 next year.
On the other hand, if you are looking for worthwhile improvements right now, the Galaxy A55 is here and offers plenty of upgrades inside and out. It’s in a different league.
ADP extends that protection pretty considerably to also cover your iCloud backups, iCloud Drive, and the information in Photos, Notes, and Reminders. Without ADP enabled, this data is still encrypted, which adds a strong layer of protection from third parties or bad actors. But Apple can still access this data and turn it over to the cops.
End-to-end encryption closes that loophole. If an Apple employee decides to go rogue, or Apple gets hacked and your files get leaked—and neither of those scenarios have happened, to our knowledge—ADP will ensure your data is still safe. It also means Apple can’t get your files back if you lose access to them: The passcodes and passwords on your Apple devices are the only route through which end-to-end encrypted data can be unlocked. Apple has a full and comprehensive explanation of iCloud’s security and privacy features.
ADP does make iCloud on the web harder to get into.
Apple via David Nield
So, do you need ADP? If you want the most complete level of security and privacy possible, then yes. Just make sure you have backup methods for recovering your account (more on this in a moment), as Apple won’t be able to help you unlock your encrypted files if your account becomes inaccessible. While the default, standard encryption Apple puts in place is already very strong, ADP covers more of your data, which is reassuring in the slim chance Apple’s data centers suffer a breach or the FBI wants to take a look at your iCloud files.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that all this extra encryption restricts iCloud access in your web browser (the web portal where you can get at your emails, photos, and so on). You can still log in to iCloud on the web, but you’ll need to confirm the connection on a trusted device (like an iPhone or Mac) every single time you log in—and you’ll need to reauthorize the link every hour while you browse your files. If you use iCloud on the web a lot, you might find life more convenient without ADP enabled.
How to Enable Advanced Data Protection
If you’re ready to enable ADP, you can do it right from your iPhone—as long as all the devices associated with your Apple ID are running the latest software, and your Apple ID has two-factor authentication switched on. (If you haven’t yet done this, you’ll find instructions on the Apple website.)
If you’re using an iPhone or an iPad, open Settings, then tap your name at the top. Choose iCloud, then Advanced Data Protection: You’ll see a screen briefly explaining how the feature works, and you can tap Turn On Advanced Data Protection to do just that. At this point you’ll be told if there are any devices connected to your Apple ID that aren’t compatible with ADP, and you’ll be given the option to “remove” them. If you do remove a device, it will no longer be linked to your Apple ID, and it won’t sync to your iCloud account, so it’s not recommended you “remove” any devices you’re still using. A better option would be to update the software on these devices to make them compatible with ADP, or replace the devices with newer versions.
March 11, 2011: How do you follow up your biggest product debut ever? That’s the question Apple needs to answer as it releases the iPad 2.
