Tech

Review of Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro or Max 2023

Published

4 months ago

January 24, 2023

Review of Apple MacBook Pro M2 Pro or Max 2023

Apple updated its MacBook Pro lineup in early January, and while the design remains the same as the 2021 models, the latest machines have had some internal improvements with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chipsets running the show for 2023.

With 14-inch and 16-inch options, configurable up to a 38-core GPU and a huge 96GB of unified memory, the latest MacBook Pro models firmly live up to that ‘Pro’ name. They don’t come cheap though, so should you invest, and if you have the M1 Pro or M1 Max model, should you upgrade? Here’s our review.

Familiar but great design

Both: Aluminium, Space Grey or Silver
Both: 3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI, 1x SDXC, 1x 3.5mm audio jack
14-inch: 155 x 312.6 x 221.1mm, 1.6kg
16-inch: 168 x 355.7 x 248.1mm, 2.16kg

The MacBook Pro (M2 Pro/Max, 2023) shares an identical design to its predecessor, but that is by no means a bad thing. In fact, we’d have been very upset to see it change. The 2021 model ditched the Touch Bar at the top of the keyboard and reintroduced the physical line of function keys but more than that, it also reintroduced ports.

The Touch Bar we could take or leave – we never had a particularly strong opinion on it except for that it probably never realised its full potential – but the ports? Oh we love ports. While MacBook users have probably got used to having more adapters on them than change these days, there is so much to be said for the simplicity of being able to just pop your SD card in the SDXC card reader or a monitor into the HDMI port.

There’s a MagSafe 3 charging port on the left edge, coupled with two of the three Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack, while the right edge has the HDMI 2.1 port, the third Thunderbolt 4 port and the SD card reader.

Like the 2021 models, the MacBook (M2 Pro/Max, 2023) model comes in a choice of 14-inch and 16-inch options. Both have the same exceptional build quality, with a solid aluminium body. It’s weighty but it’s still more than portable. The lid is completely flat – as it is on the 2021 models, as well as the redesigned MacBook Air (M2, 2022) – giving it a modern but retro look that we are huge fans of.

Open that flat lid and the same layout we have seen on MacBook Pros for years is present. Speakers flank the keyboard on either side, which sees 78 (US) black keys with 12 full-height function keys, four arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement and a Touch ID key sunken into a black background. The keyboard is the same layout as the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) but for some reason the black background is really quite striking (as it was on the 2021 models too) compared to the highlights of aluminium in between they keys.

Beneath the keyboard – which we should add is a delight to type on, offering the perfect amount of click and pop – is the large, glass-covered Force Touch trackpad. The trackpad is great too – which is clear as you don’t notice it, delivering precise control and a lovely experience overall, as is typical for MacBooks.

Stunning display

MacBook Pro 14-inch: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, 3024 x 1964 pixel resolution, Up to 1600nits, ProMotion, True Tone
MacBook Pro 16-inch: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, 3456 x 2234 pixel resolution, Up to 1600nits, ProMotion, True Tone

Whether you opt for the 14-inch MacBook (M2 Pro/Max, 2023) or the 16-inch model, you get a Liquid Retina XDR display, which is quite simply stunning. It’s not a new display – it was on the 2021 MacBook Pro models and it’s on the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, but it continues to be worth shouting about.

There’s still a notch at the top in the centre, housing the 1080p FaceTime HD camera – just like the MacBook Air does. There is also still no Face ID sadly, but the notch design is something you barely notice, and the camera itself is more than capable meaning you shouldn’t need an external option. Continuity Camera is supported in macOS Ventura though, so you can use your iPhone instead if you wish. There are slimmer bezels around the display compared to the Air too, meaning whatever size model you pick, you get a lot of screen in the space available.

We’ve never had an issue with the brightness of the MacBook Air in day-to-day use, but having that extra brightness on the MacBook Pro really does mean reflections don’t stand much of a chance, while working in bright conditions pose no issue at all. We didn’t stay outside too long – it was -5-degrees at the time of writing this review – but the MacBook Pro had no issues despite the glaring winter sun and frost reflections thrown at it.

The brightness is helpful at lower levels too though – like those red-eye flights where you might want to be working but the rest of the plane is asleep and could do without having a beam of light from your display in their eyes. Even at the lowest brightness mode, there’s enough to give you what you need from the display without blinding anyone – and it’s great for battery life too.

Source: www.GhanaCNN.com

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Tech

What is Google Help Me Write and when can I use it?

Published

24 hours ago

May 30, 2023

Nana Yaa Brefo

What is Google Help Me Write and when can I use it?’

Google has had autocompletion aids in apps like Gmail for a long while now, but it’s about to turbocharge things with artificial intelligence and change how you write emails and documents.

Help Me Write is what it’s calling this new generative AI feature, and it looks like it could be a pretty wild sea-change for regular users. We’ve got all the details you need about Help Me Write, right here.

What is Google Help Me Write?

Help Me Write is a new feature coming to Gmail and Google Docs that will help you to compose emails and sections of writing based on more limited inputs that you provide.

It’s basically a massive expansion of the Smart Prompts system that exists at present, which can autocomplete your sentences based on its knowledge of what you normally write.

The system uses Google’s large language model to compose its writing, and can be amended to suit a few different tones on offer once it’s been used – the main three being Formalise, Elaborate and Shorten. A fourth, “I’m Feeling Lucky” selection is a nod to Google’s one-tap search button.

How to use Google Help Me Write

We can see how Help Me Write works from Google’s keynote at I/O 2023, and it’s very simple. Taking Docs as our first example, the steps would be as follows once the feature is available.

Open up a new document
Click on the Help Me Write button at the top of the blank page
Write out a prompt for what you’re hoping to write
Click Create
Once created, click Recreate to generate a fresh option, or Refine to change the tone of the current content
When you’re happy with the content, click Insert to add it to your document.

In Gmail on your phone it’ll be even simpler, with the steps as follows:

Open Gmail and start a new message
Tap on the Help Me Write button that appears
Write a short prompt for your email and tap Create
Review the content generated, and tap the refresh icon to generate a new option
When you’re happy with it, tap Insert to add it to your email

When can I use Google Help Me Write?

Google says that Help Me Write has actually been in the hands of some users since March, so it’s definitely well on its way to a wider public release.

However, we don’t have a firm launch date for when everyone will be able to use the feature. Rather, Google said at I/O that it would be available later in 2023.

We’ll keep an ear to the ground regarding any possible roll-out date, of course.

What apps will get Google Help Me Write?

Google announced Help Me Write with a focus on Gmail and Docs, so those are two services where we can be confident that Help Me Write will arrive.

Gmail in particular will see it offer a really useful ability to convert emails from shorthand into long-form paragraphs with tones that fit the occasion and message.

Source: www.GhanaCNN.com

Tech

Best Upcoming PS5 Games: PlayStation 5 Titles To Anticipate in 2023 and Beyond

Published

24 hours ago

May 30, 2023

Nana Yaa Brefo

Best Upcoming PS5 Games: PlayStation 5 Titles To Anticipate in 2023 and Beyond

We’ve gathered the best PS5 games coming down the line right here for you, from confirmed releases to games that we’re certain are in the pipeline, including new trailers wherever they exist – all ordered from nearest to furthest away.

Street Fighter 6

Pre-order: Amazon
Release date: 2 June 2023
PS5 exclusive? No, also on PS4, Xbox and PC
Publisher: Capcom

The next big Street Fighter is on the way, with a new art style and what looks like it might be a free-roaming adventure mode, a huge potential shift for the series. There are new and returning fighters, and we’re hugely looking forward to seeing how it handles.

Diablo 4

Pre-order: Amazon
Release date: 6 June 2023
PS5 exclusive? No, also on Xbox Series X/S and PC
Publisher: Activision Blizzard

We’re looking forward to diving back into the addictive loot-fountain world of Diablo for the first full game in years, and with five classes to choose from and a huge open world to move around, it looks like it’s going to offer up a wealth of opportunities to hack and slash.

Final Fantasy XVI

Pre-order: Amazon
Release date: 22 June 2023
PS5 exclusive? Yes
Publisher: Square Enix

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

Pre-order: Amazon
Release date: 25 August 2023
PS5 exclusive? No, also on PS4, Xbox and PC
Publisher: Bandai Namco

If you love the idea of piloting a giant mecha-robot through deathly combat missions, customising every element of its construction so that it controls and fights precisely how you like, you’ll love Armored Core.

Brutally exacting and fast-paced, it’s the other long-running saga from FromSoftware, creators of Dark Souls and Elden Ring, but there hasn’t been a game for a while so this new title is much-anticipated

Source: www.GhanaCNN.com

Tech

How To Connect Two AirPods to one iPhone or iPad and Share Audio

Published

1 day ago

May 30, 2023

Nana Yaa Brefo

How To Connect Two AirPods to one iPhone or iPad and Share Audio

If you’re looking to connect two pairs of AirPods to the same iPhone or iPad, or temporarily connect another pair of AirPods or Beats headphones and share the same audio, you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you want to watch the same TV show on the Apple TV app or Netflix, or you want to listen to the same playlist through Apple Music or Spotify, here’s how to connect two AirPods to the same iPhone or iPad and share the audio.

What you will need

To connect two AirPods or Beats to the same iPhone or iPad, you’ll need to make sure you have a pair of compatible headphones and a compatible iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

Compatible iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches are: iPhone 8 or later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd gen) or later, iPad Pro 11-inch, iPad Pro (10.5-inch), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad (5th generation) or later, iPod touch (7th generation).

How to connect two pairs of AirPods to one iPhone or iPad

To connect a second pair of AirPods to your iPhone or iPad, you just need to follow the same process as you did to set up the first pair of AirPods connected to your device.

Go to the Home screen on your iPhone or iPad.
Open the case of your AirPods or AirPods Pro / Take your AirPods Max out of their Smart Case and hold near your device within 60 seconds.
A setup animation will appear.
Tap ‘Connect’
Read the screens and follow the instructions.
Tap ‘Done’
Any devices signed into the same iCloud account will see the AirPods automatically setup.
If you open your Bluetooth settings on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, you should see both pairs of AirPods in the list.

Source: www.GhanaCNN.com