Apple has stepped it up a notch with the new MacBook Pros announced at the October 18 'Unleashed' event. It seems like user feedback was heavily considered with the return of fast MagSafe charging, an SDXC card slot among the many ports, and full-sized function keys rather than a Touch Bar. Other changes include a controversial notch in the screen, a Liquid Retina XDR display, ProMotion, new M1 chips, and many other features!
Mac
Everything Apple Announced at October Event: New MacBook Pros, AirPods 3 & Colorful HomePod Minis
By Sarah Kingsbury
Apple introduced new MacBook Pros at its October 18 'Unleashed' event, with the option to purchase with the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip. While the latest iterations of the M1 chip are impressive, Mac fans will probably be just as excited about all the new ports, the 1080P FaceTime camera, mechanical function keys in place of the Touch Bar, and the return of MagSafe to MacBooks. While the MacBook Pro was the main event, Apple also unveiled third-generation AirPods, additional color options for the HomePod mini, and a voice-only Apple Music subscription tier. Here's everything you need to know about the latest MacBooks, AirPods, and HomePod minis, including when you can get your hands on them!
Apple’s Impressive M1 Pro & M1 Max Chips for the MacBook Pro
By Amy Spitzfaden Both
On October 18, in its second event of the fall, Apple announced the new generation of its own in-house processing chips: the M1 Pro and the M1 Max. The chips build on the already impressive M1 processor released last year, which was the first to feature System-on-Chip (SoC) architecture, meaning all the different processing parts of a computer is included on one chip. This leads to faster processing, more efficiency, and reduced space taken up. The M1 Pro and M1 Max both feature many improvements over the original chip, which all mean good things for processing power. Let's take a look at what exciting improvements we'll be seeing.
How to Convert Pages to Word in Three Clicks
By Amy Spitzfaden Both
If you're a Mac user who needs a file to be compatible with Microsoft Word, converting a file from Pages to Docx might seem daunting. Turns out, it's actually super easy to do! File converters might vie for your attention, but all you need to do is click three times when your Pages document is open, and you'll be good to go. Let's learn how to convert a Pages document to Word.
Everything We Might See at the October 18 Apple Event
By Amy Spitzfaden Both
Apple announced its second event of the fall with a peppy graphic and the word "Unleashed!" While we didn't get any details beyond the time and place—October 18 at 10 a.m. PDT—there are a few significant releases we've been expecting for this year that we haven't yet seen. Most predominant among these are new MacBook Pros and perhaps a new generation of AirPods. Let's take a look at everything we might see on Monday.
Follow Our October 2021 Apple Event Coverage
By Erin MacPherson
Apple will hold a second fall event on October 18, when we hope we'll hear news of the products we didn't see in the September event, such as AirPods 3 and possible AirPods Pro 2, plus a new MacBook and maybe even a Mac mini. Our editorial team will be watching the Apple event live stream, and we'll post our in-depth coverage of the event in our Facebook group as we publish expert reviews and reactions to the things Apple reveals during the event. We'll also record a special podcast episode after the announcement, where we’ll discuss everything just announced. Read on to learn more about how to be a part of our event coverage.
October 2021 Apple Announcement: When & How to Watch
By Erin MacPherson
Apple's second fall event of 2021 will broadcast digitally Monday, October 18,
at 10 a.m. PDT. We may get confirmation of rumored new products we didn't see in the September event, such as AirPods 3 and possible AirPods Pro 2, plus a new MacBook and maybe even a Mac mini. Will this be the year to splurge on the hottest new MacBook? We'll bring you our expert analysis and reactions for everything announced at the event, so check out our Facebook page for event coverage and tune in to our post-event podcast to get the scoop!
MacBook Pro & MacBook Air Rumors: MagSafe chargers, Ports Galore & an Apple M1X Chip?
By Elisabeth Garry
There have been rumors circulating about new MacBook Pros for a while now. Many of us were disappointed to see that they were not among the many announcements made at WWDC 2021. So, what can we expect from the new MacBook Pros? Will they be announced at the upcoming Apple event on September 14, 2021? And what about a new MacBook Air? Let’s dive into the rumors.
How to Save a Text Conversation on Your Mac
By Cullen Thomas
Text message conversations may contain evidence of important memories, and if you’re like me, you probably want to download your iMessages, save your messages, print your messages, or do something, anything, to make those exchanges more secure and accessible. One useful trick to save those interactions is to use the Messages Mac application to download your message history as a PDF file. This will let you keep that conversation on your computer and share it as you like, whether it was a conversation with a friend who isn't around anymore, or with a landlord and you need a record. Read on to find out how to turn an Messages conversation into a document you can save on your computer, or print later.
How to Fix the Mac Spinning Wheel of Death
By Emma Chase
Why is my Mac so slow? As a Mac user, you’re probably familiar with the spinning wheel of death—even if you call it something else. Fortunately, there are a few things you can try that could help resolve the issue. That way you can spend a lot less time looking at the Mac wheel of death and a lot more time successfully using your Mac.
Will There Be Another Apple Event This Fall? New AirPods & MacBook Pros Could Still Be Announced in 2021
By Elisabeth Garry
The Apple Event California Streaming came and went on September 14 without any word on new MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, AirPods 3, or AirPods Pro 2. Might these devices and more be coming in an October or November Apple Event? We'll have to wait and see. While we wait, let's dive into rumors about what we can expect from these new devices, whenever they arrive.
Every fall, Apple's events shake up the tech world with exciting product releases! This year, we expect several events, announcing a series of new iPhone 13, Apple Watch 7, AirPods 3, two new iPads, a new MacBook Pro, and maybe some brand new devices. Let's dive right in!
Follow Our iPhone 13 Event Coverage on September 14
By Leanne Hays
Apple will hold a fall event, called California Streaming, on the 14th of September at 10:00 a.m PDT. We'll finally find out if the rumors are true about the new iPhone 13 line, as well as other devices such as the Apple Watch 7, new AirPods Pro and AirPods 3, new iPad mini and iPad ninth generation, and a possible new MacBook Pro. Our team will be watching the Apple event livestream, and we'll host a conversation in our private Facebook group as the event happens; you're invited to join in, ask questions, and share your opinions. We'll tape a special podcast episode after the announcement, where we’ll discuss everything just announced. Read on to learn more about how to be a part of our event coverage.
MacOS Monterey Blurs Line between iPad & Mac
By Amy Spitzfaden Both
Expect macOS Monterey to further blur the line between your Mac and your iPad. A new Universal Control feature Apple announced at its WWDC keynote allows you to control a Mac and iPad simultaneously using the same keyboard and mouse and drag and drop files easily between devices. Aside from opening up this hybrid work option, macOS includes new iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 features, like media sharing in FaceTime and notification controls tailored for different activities. Other macOS updates include redesigned tabs in Safari and an organization option called Tab Groups, which lets you sort your tabs into—you guessed it—groups that you can revisit later. And let's not forget that your Mac is now an AirPlay destination! The macOS Monterey beta is available for those who want to try the new features now, while more cautious users can update to macOS Monterey in September when the finished version is released.
How To Check Storage on Your Mac
By Ashleigh Page
Whether you're simply curious about how much storage space you've used or you want to free up space to help your Mac run more efficiently, checking the computer storage on your Mac is a very easy process. We'll show you how to view used memory so you can manage storage on your Mac.
Big Sur to Monterey: Should You Take the Leap?
By Amy Spitzfaden Both
Should I upgrade to Monterey? The new Mac software update certainly looks appealing, but there are reasons some people might not want to upgrade to it, at least not yet. Bugs, compatibility issues, and the fact that only the beta profile is currently available contribute to the hesitancy, but there are also many benefits to the update. Let's take a look at whether it's time to upgrade MacOS.
How to Customize Stacks on Mac
By Ashleigh Page
Mac desktop organization tips are always handy for those who eschew clutter. Mac stacks make desktop organization simple, and customizing stack titles, order, and appearance makes using them even more fun. We’ll show you how to customize stacks on your Mac to suit your needs.
You want your Mac to be in great shape before you sell it or give it away, so you'll need to know how to restore a Mac to factory settings (including how to reinstall macOS afterward), plus a few other important skills. Follow these simple steps to help you get top dollar for your old device and ensure your private data isn’t accessible to the new owner.
How to Move Your Mac or MacBook Dock
By Ashleigh Page
One great Mac customization option is to change your Mac or MacBook Dock's location on the screen so that it appears on the bottom or the side, according to your preference. This is useful whether you want to create a fun and aesthetic desktop, or are hoping to learn how to organize your Mac desktop in a different way.
How to Create a Smart Folder on a Mac
By Ashleigh Page
What is a smart folder? A smart folder is just a folder with filters added. These filters allow the folder to automatically pull in certain files according to your set criteria, which helps you to save time and stay organized. We'll show you how to create a new folder on a Mac using smart folder options.