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The Google Pixel 8a was just announced, here’s how to pre-order the new smartphone

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Google announced the Pixel 8a smartphone today, one week ahead of the company’s I/O conference on May 14. We no longer have to rely on leaked info, as Google has confirmed the Pixel 8a will start at $499, the same price as the Pixel 7a at launch, and will ship the same day as the event. You can pre-order it now from Google’s storefront or from Amazon. The sub-$500 price tag maintains the A-series position as the most affordable handset in Google’s lineup. We were able to spend a little time with the phone to get some initial thoughts, and our full review will be coming soon. In the meantime, here’s what’s new about the newest Pixel phone.

Google

You can pre-order the new Pixel 8a smartphone now and it will ship on May 14. It’s $499 for the model with 128GB and $559 for the 256GB model. It’s available from Amazon or directly from Google

$499 at Amazon

The Pixel 8a upgrades to the Tensor G3 chip, giving it the same processor as the standard Google Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro. The new phone carries the same 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as the previous generation, along with the option of 256GB of storage, that model is going for $559. The 6.1-inch OLED display is the same size and resolution as its predecessor, but the refresh rate is a smoother 120Hz. The screen’s got a little more dazzle too, with a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits, an increase from the Pixel 7a that now matches the Pixel 8.

The battery is very slightly (about 100mAh) bigger, leading Google to claim a 24-plus-hour battery life, instead of the 7a’s flat 24-hour promise. Speaking of promises, the new budget Pixel comes with seven years of promised security and features updates, putting it on par with the 8-series phones. That’s two years longer than the support offered with the 7a.

As we expected, the camera array remains largely the same as the prior generation, with a 64MP wide and a 13MP ultrawide lens in back and a 13MP selfie cam up front. Magic Editor and Best Take, two of Google’s AI-assisted photography features that impressed us on the Pixel 8, have come to the Pixel 8a, as well as the new Audio Magic Eraser, which automatically cuts out distracting sounds from video recordings.

The Pixel 8a comes in three of the same colors as the Pixel 8 Pro: Obsidian, Porcelain and Bay but the 8a swaps in an Aloe option instead of Mint. Pre-orders for Google’s new Pixel 8a are now open and orders will ship on May 14.

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Apple just announced a new Apple Pencil Pro, and it’s so much better than I expected

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Apple just announced a new iPad Air and iPad Pro, bringing in more powerful tablets and OLED displays for the Pro models. However, I’m more hyped about the accessories; in particular, the new Apple Pencil Pro. 

The Apple Pencil Pro offers a whole new range of features and upgrades that have me super excited to get back into digital art. The pencil now offers a new barrel sensor, which means you can squeeze the pen lightly to bring up a new tool panel (similar to how you pinch your AirPods to pause and play music). 

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Everything announced at Apple’s Let Loose iPad event

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Another Apple event is in the books and, as expected, the Let Loose showcase was all about iPad. We now have our first Apple device powered by an M4 chip in the iPad Pro, with the company surprisingly choosing to debut it there rather than in a Mac. There’s also an upgraded iPad Air that’s available in two sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches.

There are some accessory updates too, which isn’t a big shock given that an Apple Pencil was prominent in the event’s teaser image. So, without further ado, here’s a rundown of everything Apple announced at its blessedly brief Let Loose event.

It had been expected for a while that any updated iPad Pro would have an M3 chip, but Apple decided to upend the expectations of many by instead slotting the brand new M4 into its highest-end tablet. Apple says the new device delivers 50 percent faster performance than the M2 iPad Pro.

Rendering performance is said to be four times faster than on the M2 Pro as well. For the first time on an iPad, Apple is bringing support for dynamic caching, hardware-accelerated ray tracing and hardware-accelerated mesh shading to the Pro with the M4.

There are some power efficiencies here too. Apple says the M4 can deliver the same performance as an M2 using half the power. So, if you’re using the tablet for tasks that aren’t too strenuous, it stands to reason that the battery should last for longer.

The other major upgrade for the iPad Pro is new display tech called Tandem OLED. As the name suggests, it uses two OLED panels layered on top of each other. That means this tablet should have richer colors and deeper blacks on what Apple is calling the Ultra Retina XDR display. Apple says the brightness levels max out at 1000 nits for standard and HDR, and 1600 nits for HDR.

Despite the dual layer, the OLED panels are still thinner than an LCD display. To that end, Apple says the iPad Pro is now somehow thinner than an iPod nano (RIP, you beautiful thing), making it the company’s most slender product ever. There’s a nano-textured glass option for the first time on an iPad Pro too, but only if you opt for at least 1TB of storage.

One other notable change is that the Ultra Wide 12MP front-facing camera is now on the landscape edge. The Magic Keyboard users out there may be pleased about that tweak.

The new iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch, each with 256GB of storage. Add $200 to each of you want 5G cellular connectivity via eSIM.

We’ve already had a hands-on with the iPad Pro and, at first glance, the display seems like the show stealer.

We have to chat a bit about what’s powering the iPad Pro: the all-new M4 chipset. The Pro is the first Apple product to use the M4, even before any Mac.

The M4 has a new CPU with up to four performance cores and six efficiency cores. There’s a 10-core GPU as well. Notably, the chipset’s neural engine is focused on machine learning and AI. Apple says the neural engine is capable of 38 trillion operations per second — it’s 60 times faster than the first neural engine that debuted in the A11 chip. AI features that the M4 will power on the iPad Pro will include real-time Live Captions, the ability to isolate subjects and remove backgrounds in videos in Final Cut Pro and automatic musical notation in StaffPad.

Odds are high that we’ll start seeing Macs with the M4 pop up later this year, which might put folks off from buying the M3 MacBook Air Apple started selling just a couple of months ago (though the company says the MBA is now the best-selling 13-inch and 15-inch laptop on the planet).

The main reason for Apple skipping a silicon generation with the iPad Pro is likely to start a transition into AI hardware ahead of its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Expect the company to talk much more about what it plans to do with AI across all its products next month.

iPad Air (2024) colorways.iPad Air (2024) colorways.

Apple

The iPad Air was well overdue for an update after being stuck with an aging M1 chipset for over two years. The latest model (or models) boast an M2 chipset. Still recent enough to make it a notable upgrade from the previous Air while keeping the more powerful iPad Pro distinct.

As I mentioned, the iPad Air now comes in two sizes, the existing 11-inch form factor and the new, larger 13-inch variant. That makes the Air the most cost-effective large screen iPad as things stand. Oh, and the front-facing camera is also positioned on the longer edge of the Air now. Thanks, Apple.

The company has doubled the base storage from the previous generation to 128GB. The 11-inch model starts at $599 and the new 13-inch Air is $799. For 5G cellular connectivity, you’ll need to pay $150 extra. As with pretty much everything else Apple showed off today, the new iPad Air will drop next Wednesday.

We’ve also had some hands-on time with the new iPad Air. With the combination of the price and the various hardware updates, Apple could be onto another winner here.

Apple Pencil ProApple Pencil Pro

Apple

There’s a new Apple Pencil around town and it has some nifty tricks up its sleeve, including haptic feedback. The Apple Pencil Pro supports a new squeeze gesture too. If you rotate the barrel, you can change the orientation of brush and pen tools, just as you would with a pen and paper.

Find My support for the first time in an Apple Pencil is very welcome, considering how easy it is too lose the dang thing if you don’t store it securely on the side of your iPad.

The Apple Pencil Pro costs $129. Preorders are open today and it ships on May 15.

Overshot keyboard.Overshot keyboard.

Apple

Meanwhile, there’s a new Magic Keyboard that’s only compatible with the iPad Pro. This one is made from aluminum to give it a more premium feel and perhaps help users believe that the iPad Pro is the laptop replacement Apple has long envisioned its tablets being.

The latest version has a larger trackpad with haptic feedback, while there’s a row of function keys, à la a more traditional keyboard.

The new Magic Keyboard also ships next week. If you want one for the 11-inch iPad Pro, it’ll run you $300, while the larger variant is $350.

Follow all of the news live from Apple’s ‘Let Loose’ event right here.

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.

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Apple Pencil Pro Announced With New Squeeze Gesture, Haptic Feedback, Find My, and More

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Apple’s “Let Loose” Event: Follow along with our live blog.

Apple today introduced the Apple Pencil Pro with a new squeeze gesture, haptic feedback, Find My support, and more.

Apple Pencil Pro
Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the new iPad Pro and iPad Air models announced today.

This story is being updated. Refresh for more details.

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iOS 18 Rumored to Add New Features to These 16 Apps on Your iPhone

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Apple ‘Let Loose’ event announced for May 7. What’s on agenda?

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Apple's May 7
We’ve got an iPad event coming in hot!
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The surprise Apple event on May 7 looks like an iPad and Apple Pencil extravaganza. What’s on Cupertino’s agenda? We discuss all the latest iPad rumors.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Apple might finally fix one of the iPad’s most glaring omissions. Can you say iPad calculator app?
  • iOS 18’s big push into artificial intelligence leaves some of us hopeful and others of us skeptical. Same goes for the iPhone 16’s rumored move away from physical buttons.
  • Some new Apple Watch Series X concept art gets our hearts pounding. (Better check that ECG!)
  • Plus, an instant tangent where we hear all about Erfon’s failed attempt at buying his dream camera.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

The CultCast live stream archive: Apple’s May 7 event announced

Watch the video version of our podcast where we talk about the Apple “Let Loose” event:

Our sponsors: CultCloth and The CultCast subscriptions

This week’s top Apple news

On the show this week: Your host Erfon Elijah (@erfon), Cult of Mac managing editor Lewis Wallace (@lewiswallace) and Cult of Mac writer D. Griffin Jones (@dgriffinjones).

Here are the headlines we’re talking about on this week’s show:



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Apple Announced the 24-Inch iMac Three Years Ago Today

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Today marks the three-year anniversary of Apple’s announcement of the 24-inch iMac, a transformative redesign featuring the first integration of Apple silicon in the product line.

iMac 24 Apple Newsroom Gray bg
Apple unveiled the new 24-inch ‌iMac‌ on April 20, 2021, almost nine years after the previous ‌iMac‌ redesign debuted. It replaced both the 21.5-inch and the 27-inch Intel iMacs, and represented a recommitment to the long-standing desktop product line.

The highly anticipated redesign offers a much thinner and more compact body compared to its predecessors, available in an array of vibrant colors reminiscent of the original iMacs released in the late 1990s. The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display boasts 11.3 million pixels and support for 1 billion colors.

The new model was not only notable for its updated design but also as the inaugural ‌iMac‌ to incorporate Apple silicon, one of the last Macs to make the transition away from Intel. Apple claimed that the M1 chip delivered up to 85% faster CPU performance and up to two-times faster GPU performance compared to the previous 21.5-inch ‌iMac‌ models. The new ‌iMac‌ also offered a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, studio-quality microphones, and a six-speaker sound system, as well as a color-matched Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.

Apple refreshed the 24-inch ‌iMac‌ with the M3 chip, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 in November 2023. Rumors suggest that a larger-screened ‌iMac‌ that could be positioned as an ‌iMac‌ Pro will launch in 2025. In June 2023, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said that the high-end ‌iMac‌ was a year or two away from launching as work on the device was still in the early stages.

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For All Mankind spinoff Star City announced as show is renewed

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Apple TV+ renewed its hit alternative-history sci-fi show For All Mankind Wednesday for a fifth season and, while it was at it, threw in a whole new spinoff series. For All Mankind spinoff Star City will delve further into secrets of the Soviet space program.

Apple TV+ renews For All Mankind and spins off new series Star City

Award-winning space drama series For All Mankind — which rewrites the history of the space race — will return for season five, Apple TV+ finally revealed.

But that’s not all. The show’s creators, Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi, will launch a brand-new spinoff series, Star City. It’s named after the Soviet/Russian space program’s longtime HQ outside of Moscow.

“Our fascination with the Soviet space program has grown with every season of For All Mankind,” said executive producers and showrunners Wolpert and Nedivi. “The more we learned about this secret city in the forests outside Moscow where the Soviet cosmonauts and engineers worked and lived, the more we wanted to tell this story of the other side of the space race.”

Here’s how Apple TV+ describes the new show:

A robust expansion of the For All Mankind universe, Star City is a propulsive, paranoid thriller that takes us back to the key moment in the alt-history retelling of the space race — when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a man on the moon. But this time, we explore the story from behind the Iron Curtain, showing the lives of the cosmonauts, the engineers and the intelligence officers embedded among them in the Soviet space program, and the risks they all took to propel humanity forward.

Wolpert, Nedivi, and Moore created the new show. Along with showrunners Nedivi and Wolpert, Moore and Maril Davis of Tall Ship Productions serve as executive producers. Sony Pictures Television produces the show as well as For All Mankind.

For All Mankind season 5

Apple TV+ pointed out that For All Mankind has been called “one of the best shows on television.” And its fourth season holds a perfect 100% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

“With each new season, For All Mankind continues to build out a fascinating world and capture global audiences through high quality storytelling that has been so skillfully developed by Ron, Matt and Ben,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+.

“There is so much to explore, and we, along with our partners at Sony, can’t wait to dive into this next chapter of the engrossing For All Mankind universe,” he added.

If you missed season 4 of the show, here’s a description (and be sure to check out Cult of Mac‘s recaps, too):

The latest season of For All Mankind rocketed the series into the new millennium. In the eight years since season three, Happy Valley has rapidly expanded its footprint on Mars by turning former foes into partners. It’s now 2003, and the focus of the space program has turned to the capture and mining of extremely valuable, mineral-rich asteroids that could change the future of both Earth and Mars. But simmering tensions between the residents of the now-sprawling international base threaten to undo everything they are working toward.

Watch For All Mankind on Apple TV+

While waiting for the fifth season, you can stream the first four seasons of For All Mankind on Apple TV+.

The service is available by subscription for $9.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.

After launching in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 471 wins and 2,090 award nominations and counting,” the service said.

In addition to award-winning movies and TV shows (including breakout soccer comedy Ted Lasso), Apple TV+ offers a variety of documentaries, dramas, comedies, kids shows and more.

Watch on Apple TV

Source: Apple TV+

 



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People laughed when Google announced Gmail on April 1 2004 — but nobody’s laughing now

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Gmail wasn’t the first email service provider, but 20 years on from its launch, it’s certainly one of the most popular ones out there today.

If you exclude the Apple email client, which dominates due to the prevalence of iOS, macOS and iPadOS devices, Gmail is number one across the world with a 31.2% share of users as of 2024, accoridng to Litmus. Its closest competitor, Microsoft’s Outlook, only enjoys a little under 5% of all users, by comparison. 



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Motorola just announced two new budget phones, the Moto G Power and Moto 5 5G

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Motorola just announced a couple of new budget-friendly smartphones, which are set to be released in the near future. These are refreshes of the popular Moto G Power and the Moto 5 5G phones. The upcoming handhelds don’t reinvent the wheel, as they are iterative updates, but there are some decent specs worth sharing.

The 2024 Moto G Power boasts a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz display, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers and a 50MP camera system with image stabilization tech. There’s a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chipset, 128GB of internal storage with a microSD slot, 8GB of RAM, 5G connectivity and a 5000mAh battery complete with 30W fast-charging. This will certainly get the job done when it comes to streaming media, light gaming and browsing the web.

The new Moto G Power even features a fingerprint-resistant back cover made from vegan leather, which the company says provides a “stunning, premium design and comfortable feel.” This phone is coming to Cricket first, on March 22, before an unlocked version hits traditional retailers on March 29. It’ll cost $300.

A smartphone front and back.

Motorola

The Moto G 5G includes a slightly smaller 6.6-inch 120Hz display, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers and a 50MP camera system complete with a macro lens. As the name suggests, this is a 5G-capable phone with a Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor and 4GB of RAM. Just like the G Power, there’s a 5000mAh battery with quick-charging. It ships with 128GB of internal storage, but there’s an expandable microSD slot.

The updated Moto G 5G will be available at T-Mobile and Metro on March 21, with wider availability starting on May 2. It costs just $200. Motorola also recently released a , which is priced at $150. The company sure .

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STEVE Martin documentary announced by Apple Original Films

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STEVE Martin documentary

Get ready to step into the shoes of a comedy legend. Apple Original Films is about to unveil a captivating documentary that will take you on a journey through the life of Steve Martin. “STEVE! (martin) a Documentary in 2 Pieces” is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on March 29, 2024. This film, directed by the Oscar-winning Morgan Neville, is a deep dive into the world of a man who has made millions laugh.

Imagine sitting down to a film that splits Steve Martin’s life into two distinct chapters. The first part, titled “Then,” whisks you back to the early days of Martin’s career. You’ll see the raw, unfiltered climb of a young comedian striving to make a name for himself. The second part, “Now,” shifts to the present, showcasing Martin’s current life, filled with achievements and contentment. This unique structure allows you to witness the transformation of an ambitious performer into a celebrated and satisfied artist.

STEVE Martin documentary

The documentary doesn’t just rely on archival footage or a single narrative. It brings together a cast of famous faces who have worked with or been influenced by Martin. You’ll hear from the likes of Finn Wittrock, Martin Short, Tina Fey, Jerry Seinfeld, Eric Idle, Diane Keaton, and Selena Gomez. Their personal anecdotes and insights add layers to the story, painting a rich portrait of Martin’s influence on comedy and culture.

Behind the scenes, the partnership between A24 and Tremolo Productions ensures that the documentary is a visual and storytelling masterpiece. These companies are known for their ability to craft films that are both thought-provoking and aesthetically stunning. Their involvement promises a documentary that not only entertains but also resonates on a deeper level.

This film is more than just a biography; it’s an invitation to understand the man behind the laughter. Whether you’ve followed Steve Martin’s career for decades or you’re just discovering his genius, this documentary is a must-watch. So, remember the date, March 29, 2024, and prepare yourself for an intimate and enlightening experience with one of the true masters of entertainment. Some other articles you may find of interest on the subject of  Apple TV :

Filed Under: Entertainment News, Top News





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