Kalakshar US

Apple used to treat every public-facing announcement like an event. Even its keynotes — ostensibly for investors and press — were well-orchestrated circuses. If there’s any conclusion to be drawn from the sheer number of new products the company’s launched without any kind of event since the iPhone 16 series was introduced six months ago, the time for hanging on Apple’s every word has passed. 

Some of it can be chalked up to the company’s new preference for recorded, highly-edited video presentations rather than live shows. Some of it might also have to do with the fact that since Apple started making the chips that power its smartphones, tablets and computers, most of the “new” things it introduces amount to spec bumps. Apple’s managed to announce eight new products since the iPhone 16, nine if you count a new chip that debuted in one of the company’s updated desktop computers. Here’s a look at all of that new hardware, from Apple’s most recent releases to the new computers it used to close out 2024. 

M4 MacBook Air

The MacBook Air is one of Apple’s most popular laptops, so it’s only natural it should get the latest M4 chip. Luckily, that extra power didn’t come at the cost of a more expensive computer. A 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $999, with the 15-inch model coming in at $1,199, down from the $1,099 you used to have to pay to get an M3 MacBook Air. The new laptops also come with an improved 12MP Center Stage webcam, and a new metallic color option Apple’s dubbed “Sky Blue.” It’s not the most exciting announcement, but a new laptop that’s twice as powerful as Apple’s M1 computers for a lower price is welcome all the same.

Mac Studio

Apple’s update to the Mac Studio, announced alongside the MacBook Air, is even more of a pure spec bump. No cosmetic changes were made to the Studio: The short and stout computer still has USB ports and an SD card reader on the front, with even more I/O options available on the back. What’s different are the chips powering the Mac Studio on the inside. Apple offers either an M4 Max with a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU or new M3 Ultra chip, which gives the Studio enough wiggle room to handle most professional creative workloads. With the M4 Max you can get up to 128GB of unified memory but if you opt for the M3 Ultra, that can go all the way up to 512GB. All of that power will cost you, though. The Mac Studio with the M4 Max starts at $1,999, while the M3 Ultra version starts at $3,999.

M3 Ultra

The M3 Ultra is the truly novel part of the Mac Studio update. The late-arriving chip fills the top spot in Apple’s M3 lineup, with a 32-core CPU (24 of which are performance cores), up to a 80-core GPU and a 32-core Neural Engine. Apple claims the M3 Ultra is over two times as powerful as the M1 Ultra, likely because it’s technically two M3 Max chips connected together with the company’s “Ultrafusion” architecture. The new chip also supports Thunderbolt 5 for faster connectivity and specced with up to 512GB of unified memory. Currently, the M3 Ultra is only available on the Mac Studio, which oddly leaves the Mac Pro out of the loop. It’s possible Apple’s most expensive Mac will be updated soon, or maybe there’s an even more powerful chip waiting in the wings.

M3 iPad Air

The same week Apple updated the MacBook Air and Mac Studio, it also tweaked the iPad Air, giving the 11- or 13-inch tablet a new M3 chip, and an updated version of the Magic Keyboard with a function row and a slightly larger trackpad. The iPad Air was already capable of Apple Intelligence and plenty fast with the M2 chip it received in 2024, so Apple’s announcement mainly keeps it competitive, unless you’re interested in ray-tracing, which admittedly is offered in some console games that have been ported to the iPad. The new iPad Air starts at $599, while the new Magic Keyboard starts at $260, and strangely, only comes in white.

iPad

Apple’s changes to the entry-level iPad are even smaller. It’s been upgraded from an A14 Bionic chip to an A16, which means the tablet is faster, but still not capable of Apple Intelligence. The new tablet also starts with a larger amount of storage. Rather than the frankly dismal 64GB Apple used to offer at the low-end, you now can’t get an iPad without at least 128GB of storage. That’s not bad, even for Apple’s slightly expensive $349 starting price. Still, besides acting as the go-to option for families looking to buy a tablet for their kids or grandparents, Apple’s basic iPad mainly seems like a way to drive people to a more expensive option.

iPhone 16e

The wait for a replacement to the 2022 iPhone SE was long, and as it turns out, the direction Apple wants to take the idea is a little unexpected. The company started the year by turning the SE into the iPhone 16e, a new low-end for the company’s smartphone lineup. The iPhone 16e is an odd mixture of iPhones old and new. It features the A18 chip, which means it can handle the little Apple Intelligence currently has to offer, it looks like an iPhone 14, but with a singular camera. And for some reason it doesn’t have MagSafe. For $549, the iPhone 16e doesn’t exactly feel like a deal, but is cheaper, and more importantly, interesting, as the first of Apple’s phones to feature its custom C1 modem.

M4 Mac mini

Small computers are always crowd-pleasers and the even more compact M4 Mac mini Apple released at the end of 2024 is no different. The updated Mac mini looks much more like a tall Apple TV than the flat DVD player shape of Apple’s older models and it has front-facing ports, too. For as little as $599, the Mac mini gets you access to the latest M4 chip and up to 64GB of unified memory, a pretty powerful little machine. With the option to slot in an M4 Pro, it can even be your workhorse, too. The Mac mini represents the other side of Apple’s recent focus on specs. A new chip isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but if it can lead to a radically smaller computer, it’s worth it.

M4 iMac

The iMac’s move to M4 was far less of an overhaul than the Mac mini. Apple changed some of the color options, added a 12MP webcam and introduced an optional nano-texture finish to the display, but it’s otherwise the same old 24-inch all-in-one computer. Funnily, the bigger news out of the iMac refresh might have been its accessories. After switching to USB-C ports on basically all of its devices, Apple finally got rid of the Lightning port on the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard. The mouse still charges upside down, but at least you can use the same cable for everything. That’s maybe representative of the new iMac as a whole: It has the same quirks, but it’s definitely better than before.

M4 MacBook Pro

The M4 MacBook Pros were released not long after Apple introduced the iPhone 16 and the new laptops were mainly a vehicle for the introduction of the M4 family of chips as a whole. Apple didn’t really change the design of the MacBook Pro, just gave it more RAM, more Thunderbolt ports and a slightly brighter screen. The MacBook Pro comes in both 14-inch and 16-inch varieties, with either an M4, M4 Pro or M4 Max chip. The cheaper side of things, the M4 chip has a 10-core CPU and 8-core GPU, while the high-end M4 Max has a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU. The M4 MacBook Pros started the cascading wave of spec bumps Apple’s introduced over the last few months, and also the company’s AI focus: The M4 chip has a larger NPU, or Neural Engine, for completing AI tasks, regardless of which version you get.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/everything-apple-announced-since-its-last-event-224536253.html?src=rss 

As promised, Volkswagen unveiled its upcoming entry-level electric vehicle at an event on Wednesday in Wolfsburg, Germany. The automaker describes the ID.EVERY1 concept car as a “smart, flexible and affordable” EV for the masses… as long as those masses live in Europe. The production version is expected to start at around €20,000 (US$21,583) when it arrives in 2027.

The car joins the ID.2all and sport version of the ID.GTI in using Volkswagen’s MEB modular platform, which is designed to be flexible enough to support everything from compact cars like the wee ID.EVERY1 to bulkier SUVs. The company plans to roll out four electric models (including this one) based on the front-wheel drive version of the platform by 2027.

In addition, Volkswagen says the ID.EVERY1 will be its first model to run on a “fundamentally new, particularly powerful software architecture,” which sounds like the fruit of its $5 billion partnership with Rivian, announced last year. The automaker describes the (unconfirmed but probably Rivian-based) platform as making the concept car more future-proof, allowing it to be “equipped with new functions throughout its entire life cycle.”

As a budget EV, its specs won’t make your jaw drop but could still hit a nice balance point for price-conscious buyers. The concept car can reach over 80 mph (130 km/h), thanks to its 70 kW (94 horsepower) electric drive motor. Volkswagen rates it for a range of at least 155 miles (250 km). The compact EV is a mere 12.7 ft. long, placing it between the automaker’s now-retired up! (11.8 ft.) and the ID.2all (13.3 ft.). The ID.EVERY1 has room for four and a cargo volume of 10.8 cubic feet.

As for its cute appearance, Volkswagen Head of Design Andreas Mindt said, “Our ambition was to create something bold yet accessible. The ID. EVERY1 has a self-assured appearance but remains likeable – thanks to details such as the dynamic front lights and the ‘smiling’ rear. These design elements make it more than just a car: they give it character and an identity that people can relate to.”

If this sounds like the budget car of your dreams, well, you’d better live in Europe, or you’re probably out of luck. Volkswagen describes the ID.EVERY1 as being “from Europe for Europe,” which sure doesn’t like it translates to America-bound.

You can get a better look for yourself in the gallery below.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volkswagen-previews-its-%E2%82%AC20000-ev-for-everyone-211053623.html?src=rss 

The first time you make anything, it probably won’t come out perfect, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when MSI’s debut gaming handheld struggled out of the gate. And that’s before you consider the unorthodox choice to go with an Intel chip instead of one from AMD like practically all of its rivals. However, MSI didn’t give up, and now it’s back with not one but two versions of its second-gen handheld, headlined by the Claw 8 AI+. Not only is it bigger than before, it has twice as many Thunderbolt 4 ports, a way bigger battery and some of the best performance we’ve seen from any device in this category. But more importantly, as the follow-up to a device plagued by lackluster software and unfinished drivers, it feels like the Claw got its bite back.

Design and display: The desert cat

With its 8-inch screen, the Claw 8 AI+ is bigger than its predecessor and a number of its rivals like the ROG Ally X, though it’s still smaller than Lenovo’s chunky 8.8-inch Legion Go. MSI also zagged by giving it a two-toned black and sandstone chassis. Ergonomics are generally fine, but if I’m nitpicking, I would prefer slightly larger grips for increased comfort. But aside from that, the handheld features a relatively straightforward mix of premium components strewn across a familiar blueprint.

It has Hall Effect sensors for its joysticks and triggers along with some embedded RGB lighting, the latter of which has become sort of an unspoken requirement among portable gaming PCs these days. You also get two Thunderbolt 4 ports that support both data and charging — which are especially handy if you ever plan on using this thing for productivity — and a microSD card slot for expandable storage. I appreciate that unlike Lenovo’s handhelds, MSI included a built-in fingerprint reader that makes unlocking Windows-based devices like the Claw a lot more convenient. That said, you don’t get a touchpad, though MSI’s software does let you control your cursor with the joysticks, so it’s not a complete pain in the butt anytime you have to switch between games and apps. And finally, around back, there’s a single pair of paddles.

As for the display, while it’s an IPS panel instead of the super-rich OLEDs on some handhelds, the Claw’s screen offers above-average brightness (up to 500 nits), a solid 120Hz refresh rate (with VRR) and the perfect resolution for a system this size (1,920 x 1,200). So all told, there’s very little to gripe about when it comes to its visuals. Plus, thanks to some surprisingly punchy front-facing speakers, it has solid audio too.

Performance and software: A low-key beast

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that after lackluster results from MSI’s first attempt, the Claw 8 AI+ pumped out strong performance that was easily able to keep up with and sometimes surpass what I’ve seen from its competitors. Some of that is assuredly due to more polished software and recent driver updates from Intel, but still, between its Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chip, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, the Claw produced framerates that were often 10 to 15 percent higher than what we got from the Ally X.

For example, when set to its 30-watt preset, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p on medium settings the Claw hit 75 fps versus 65 fps for the ROG Ally X at the same TDP (thermal design power). Meanwhile, in Returnal at 800p on medium, the Claw also bested the Legion Go by reaching 56 fps compared to just 46 fps for the Lenovo. Now it’s important to note that MSI’s midrange power for the preset on the Claw (which is what I used to get those figures in Returnal) is 17 watts instead of 15 watts like on most of its rivals, which may be MSI’s attempt to skew benchmarks in its favor. But even after you account for that, the Claw still comes out ahead.

Another nice thing about the Claw is that if you don’t want to fiddle around with settings all the time, there’s what MSI is calling its AI Engine mode, which will automatically adjust things to optimize performance or battery life depending on what you want. It’s a nice option for quickly changing how much horsepower you need, though as always, you’re going to need to tweak things manually for the best results.

The rest of the MSI Center app feels somewhat spartan. There are sections for launching games, performing software updates, changing the RGB lighting and more. You can even install game stores like Steam directly inside the program. But aside from that, the app isn’t very fancy or all that pretty to look at. All the important stuff is there though, which is what really counts since Windows 11 as a whole still feels way clunkier to use than more bespoke platforms like Valve’s SteamOS.

Battery life: Surprisingly good

The Claw 8 AI+ features an 80Whr cell, which is one of the largest battery packs in this category and allows for prodigious longevity. In Elden Ring on medium settings, the handheld lasted just over three hours on a single charge. That ain’t too shabby, especially after my recent testing with the Lenovo Legion Go, which only lasted for two and a half hours at best, and that was when playing a much less demanding game in Metal Slug Tactics.

Wrap-up

After the original bombed, a lot of companies would have simply called it quits. Sure, a lot of the first system’s issues may have been caused by Intel’s chip and unpolished drivers more than anything MSI did (or didn’t do). But with the Claw 8 AI+, MSI came back and totally redeemed itself. Not only is it a very competent gaming handheld, this cat offers a solid design, great performance and above-average battery life.

However, even though it pushes out slightly fewer frames, the $800 ROG Ally X remains a better value (especially if you can find it on sale) and its smaller screen makes it a more portable pick for people planning to game on the go. When it comes to larger competitors, Lenovo’s Legion Go offers similar horsepower for even less money with starting prices of $700 (or less, now that it regularly receives discounts). But if you’re looking for top-notch performance from a portable PC with an assortment of premium components, the Claw 8 AI+ makes an interesting case as an upgrade pick among gaming handhelds.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/msi-claw-8-ai-review-this-cat-got-its-bite-back-184526430.html?src=rss