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Why MacBook Neo Is Going to Change Everything

​I need you to understand why the MacBook Neo is a big deal.. Maybe it’s not clear to you yet because you haven’t put your fingers on it to know it handles like a premium machine. Maybe it’s hard to feel the joy a pink or yellow laptop brings until you open one with colorful keys.. Watch this: Apple Gets It Right! Hands-on with MacBook Neo. Maybe you scoff at the specs, because it runs an iPhone processor and has 8 gigs of RAM, but you don’t realize the A18 Pro chip performs better than the M1 in MacBooks still being sold today (which also still come with 8 gigs of RAM).. Maybe you don’t think about how, for most people, a MacBook Air with an M5 chip that costs over $1,000 is overkill for their needs. It’s possible you’re not considering all the people who own an iPhone, but don’t bother investing in a MacBook because of its cost.. I got a chance to tinker with the Neo this week, Apple’s newest 13-inch machine that starts at $599 and does everything I need, with style and pizazz to boot. It has a 1080p front camera for video calls. The battery lasts 16 hours. And students can get it discounted to $499. By all measures, I didn’t feel any of the compromises on features were major. For the first time, we have a MacBook priced to compete with mid-range Windows laptops and Chromebooks.. In this week’s episode of One More Thing, embedded above, I take you along as I experience the Neo for the first time, along with exploring other hardware Apple updated this week, including the iPhone 17e and new accessories.. This might just be Apple’s smartest move in hardware in years. This is the moment where the MacBook isn’t just for rich kids or creative professionals. Many people own an iPhone but opt for cheaper computers to do basic work. And now, by Apple lowering the gate of entry, you’ll see more first-time Mac owners enjoy the benefits of having a laptop that syncs better with their iPhone software and services.. Apple held a special event in New York City on Wednesday, inviting journalists and video personalities a chance to get up close with the new machines. When Apple’s vice president of hardware, John Ternus, debuted the Neo to the crowd, he explained the purpose of its creation was simple:. “We want to get the Mac into as many people’s hands as possible,” he said.. During my time at the event, it was clear that the main mission of the Neo is to attract people who have never bought a Mac before. But I also see it as a smart buy for commuters or those wanting a secondary machine for the family.. I also got to demo products on the other end of the spectrum. It’s easy to lust over the specs of the latest MacBook Pros, now with the option to get a M5 Pro or Max chip that’s stuffed to the gills with more cores than I’ll ever need. A fully tricked-out model can go as high as $6,899. I saw the benefits by watching someone use AI to code an app in under a minute. In a blink, another program used AI to layer new instruments on a music track.. But creatives hav  

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Champions League Soccer: Stream Galatasaray vs. Liverpool Live From Anywhere

​Can Arne Slot’s Reds handle the febrile atmosphere of RAMS Park?  

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Tech

Enjoy Our Favorite Plumber’s Special Day This Mar10 Here at CNET

​March 10, lovingly known as Mar10 Day, is a chance to celebrate Nintendo’s most enduring hero. And his brother (whatever he’s called).  

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These Fun New Emoji Should Be Dropping Soon in iOS 26.4

​The distorted face was voted the most-anticipated new emoji, but it’s OK to be wrong.  

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The Sonos Play puts the best parts of the Era 100 in a portable speaker

​Sonos has just announced its first new products since 2024, when the company’s plans went sideways after a disastrous update to its app. First up is the Sonos Play, the company’s latest portable speaker. Long-time Sonos watchers will recognize the name from the old Play:1, Play:3 and Play:5 speakers, but this new model has little to do with those products of the past. The $299 Play is a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker that sits between the $179 Roam 2 and $499 Move 2 and could be the “goldilocks” speaker in the company’s portable lineup, at least based on what I know so far.The closest comparison for the Play is the excellent Era 100, which Sonos released back in 2023. At 7.6” tall, 4.4” wide and 3” deep, it’s much thinner than the Era 100 which is over 5 inches deep. And compared to the Move 2 (9.5” x 6.3 x 5”) it’s much more portable. That goes for weight, too — the Play is less than 3 pounds, compared to over 6.5 pounds for the Move 2. It’s not the kind of speaker you’ll throw in your bag and forget about, like the tiny Roam 2, but it’s far more portable than the Move 2. Finally, the Play is IP67 rated, just like the Roam 2. That means it can be submerged in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes; it’s also dustproof. The grab handle on the back of the Sonos Play.SonosFrom a speaker component perspective, it’s again quite similar to the Era 100. It has two tweeters positioned at a 90-degree angle for stereo separation paired with one midwoofer; it also has two additional passive radiators to increase the bass response in its relatively small case. The Era 100 lacks those passive radiators but is otherwise identical. Obviously, we’ll have to listen to the Play before saying how closely it compares to the Era 100, but this speaker should significantly outperform the Roam 2 simply due to the increased size of its components. The Move 2, on the other hand, is extremely loud and will likely still be the best choice for people who want a speaker to cover a large outdoor space.You’ll find familiar controls on the Sonos Play, which comes in black or white. (Fingers crossed for future color options like the lovely trio that Sonos offers on the Roam.) On the top surface are buttons for play/pause, volume up and down and a microphone toggle. On the back is a power button, a Bluetooth button and a physical switch that disconnects the microphone for increased security. Finally, there’s a new feature here: a removable plastic grab loop. Sonos was keen to note that the Play is a full-featured member of the Sonos ecosystem. Like all of its other speakers, that means you’ll see all Sonos speakers in the app and can group them as you see fit, or have different music playing on different speakers throughout the house. You can also pair two of these in stereo. If you remove one from your network (say you’re outside and away from Wi-Fi), you’ll need to re-pair them though. In addition to controlling playback via th  

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MacBook Neo Review: The Best Laptop for $600 Is Even Better at $700

​The MacBook Neo is an absolute banger of a budget laptop, but life’s too short to live without Touch ID.  

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