March, 2020

• 18 March

  The return of the $999 MacBook Air

  

  In a world of incremental computer updates, the latest MacBook Air, announced Wednesday, has a lot of interesting stuff going on inside it. There are new CPUs, including quad-core Intel 10th-gen options. The default storage jumps from a measly 128GB to a more reasonable 256GB. Intel Iris graphics are a step up without adding extra …

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• 18 March

  Self

  

  As government and businesses step up measures to control the coronavirus, more and more of us are finding ourselves working from home rather than mixing it up with co-workers. But we still need to communicate, and that means conference and video calls. Yes, it’s adorable when a puppy darts into view, but it’s also distracting when there’s so much background …

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• 18 March

  Apple demos iPad’s new trackpad

  

  After bringing trackpad support to iPadOS, Apple is showing how the new addition will work on its devices, including the new iPad Pro, which was unveiled Wednesday. Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, demoed the addition in a video.  The iPad Pro comes with a new Magic Keyboard accessory, which includes a trackpad and MacBook-like backlit scissor keys. …

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• 18 March

  COVID

  

  This story is part of Crossing the Broadband Divide, CNET’s coverage of how the country is working toward making broadband access universal. With the COVID-19 outbreak in full swing in the US, schools and businesses across the country are closing down, employees are being asked to rely on their broadband connections to work remotely and school-aged children are attending “school” …

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• 18 March

  Ditch your bulky keychain with this $10 KeySmart Flex key holder two

  

  Full disclosure: I hate carrying keys, and in the past I’ve actively worked to eliminate keys from my pocket by switching to an August Smart Lock and leaving the back door keys inside the house. But even if you have to carry some keys around, you don’t have to let them jangle around on a ring and generally be a …

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• 18 March

  Apple’s new 2020 MacBook Air left out a key upgrade for people working from home

  

  It’s good Apple chose to bring its Magic Keyboard to the new $999 MacBook Air 2020. It could have just updated the smaller MacBook Pro after introducing the Magic Keyboard in the 16-inch MacBook Pro last fall. The MacBook Air is the best-selling computer in the lineup, so this brings the keyboard fix to a lot more people. The performance and …

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• 18 March

  Sling TV adds first free local channels for people stuck at home

  

  Sling TV has now added Fox News and its local affiliates (in select markets) to its free Stay in and Sling service, which is a response to the current coronavirus lockdown. Sling TV has traditionally avoided local channels in a bid to keep subscription costs low. Sling TV‘s rebrand of its existing free streaming service includes a stream of ABC News Live as …

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• 18 March

  This browser extension reveals Amazon books available free at your local library

  

  Wait! Stop! Before you order that copy of David Benioff’s City of Thieves from Amazon (a book I highly recommend), check to see if it’s available at your local library. Because free! Oh, I know what you’re saying: You don’t have time to visit your library’s website or check various ebook-borrowing apps (as described in how to get free ebooks from …

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• 18 March

  Apple MacBook Air 2020 vs. MacBook Air 2019: What’s new and different?

  

  Apple on Wednesday announced a new version of its least expensive laptop, the MacBook Air. Returning to its pre-2019 starting price of $999, the 2020 version features the Magic Keyboard first introduced on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, 10th-gen Intel processors, a new Force Touch trackpad and 256GB of storage for the entry-level configuration. It’s available for preorder from Apple now, it …

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• 18 March

  Samsung joins Apple, Microsoft in closing US stores to combat coronavirus

  

  For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. Samsung has become the latest tech giant to close its stores to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.  The company on Tuesday said that its stores in the US will be closed for an indeterminate time. While Samsung is the world’s biggest …

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