Technologies
Got a new MacBook? You Need to Change This Setting ASAP
Apple has tap-to-click turned off by default, but you should turn it on.
Having unboxed and set up many MacBooks over many years, there’s one setting that drives me up the wall. So if you’re buying a new MacBook or got a new model for the holidays, you should always try clicking a few boxes in the System Preferences menu.
This trick will work in everything from the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro to the new M2 13-inch MacBook Pro and M2 MacBook Air, as well as older MacBooks.
One of the best things about MacBooks has always been the huge glass trackpad, which always felt more responsive and offered more surface area than the touchpad on most Windows laptops. The difference has narrowed over the years, but it’s still hard to beat a Mac trackpad. However, it makes me nuts to see (and hear) people clicking down on their touchpads to do anything. Guess what? These touchpads haven’t physically depressed when clicked on for years. Instead a clever bit of haptic feedback makes it feel like you’ve clicked down.
Windows laptops have long been set up for tap-to-click, which means a simple tap of your finger works the same way as a left mouse button (or ancient touchpad button) click would. A two-finger tap is the equivalent of a right mouse button click.
But every time I set up a new Mac, I spend several moments tapping on things with no effect, because MacOS has tap-to-click turned off by default. Why? I’m assuming it’s just to make my life more difficult. Fortunately, it’s easy to fix. And if you’re a determined clicker and have no intention of becoming a tapper, that’s OK — change these settings and you can still click away, but now the tapping will work, too.
As a bonus, while we’re doing this we’re going to turn on both Exposé, which is a useful multifinger gesture, and tap-and-drag, which is a much easier way to move things like folders around on the screen.
Fix Apple’s dumb default touchpad settings
- System Preferences > Trackpad > Point & Click > Check the checkbox for Tap to click (which is unchecked by default).
- System Preferences > Trackpad > More Gestures > Check the checkbox for App Exposé (fifth checkbox from the top).
- System Preferences > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options > Check the checkbox for Enable dragging (without drag lock).
The instructions above work if you’re using MacOS Monterey or earlier OS versions. If you’re using the new MacOS Ventura system, expected to be widely available in the fall of 2022, the instructions are mostly the same, but you’ll be accessing the new System Settings menu, rather than the older System Preferences menu.
That’s it, your MacBook is now set up in a logical way.
Technologies
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Technologies
The Best PS5 Deal Sold Out On Black Friday, but It’s Back Ahead of Cyber Monday
This amazing PS5 Black Friday deal is back as an early Cyber Monday offer. It has already sold out once, so don’t miss your chance this time.
Black Friday deals kicked off a bit earlier this year, meaning buyers had more time to shop for great discounts. However, it also meant some of the hottest offers disappeared faster than ever. One of the most exciting gaming deals was a $100 price cut on the PlayStation 5 Slim digital edition. This deal already sold out once, but it’s back as an early Cyber Monday offer for $399 on Amazon. So, if you’ve been waiting to get a PS5, there’s no better time.
You can also get the version with a disc drive for $450, and the mighty PlayStation 5 Pro for $649. All of these are $100 off, so you can get a great deal regardless of your preference.
The disc‑free console is the cheapest option, but it means all your games will need to be downloaded. While digital discounts can go pretty far, physical games are nearly always cheaper if you know where to look. If you’d rather save a bit of money in the long run, then go for the disc drive version now.
Not only will you be able to play any old PS4 discs in your collection, but you’ll also be able to borrow games from friends and take advantage of discounts on physical titles at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and more.
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The PS5 Pro is the pinnacle of the PlayStation offerings and has more speed and power all‑around, making it ideal for those who only want the best.
If you decide to commit to Sony with a new console, then it’s definitely worth taking a look at all the best PlayStation deals for even more savings on games, headsets and controllers. You can save a lot of money if you can be patient with these things.
CHEAP GAMING LAPTOP DEALS OF THE WEEK
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$950 (save $850)
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$800 (save $150)
Why this deal matters
The PS5 doesn’t drop in price often, and this is an excellent discount on three different versions. Being able to save $100 across the Slim digital, Slim disc and Pro models is a rare opportunity. Whether you’re looking to get your very first PlayStation 5 or upgrade to the Pro, this is a fantastic chance to do so — especially since the Slim deal has already sold out once and may not linger for long.
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Technologies
The $69 AirPods 4 Black Friday Bargain Is Still Around. Get It While Stocks Last
If you’re quick, you can grab Apple’s AirPods 4 for $69, a budget-friendly deal that feels hard to pass up.
There were a lot of deals on your computer screen this Black Friday, some more exciting than the others. One of those was this AirPods 4 deal, which is still available on Amazon. If you’ve been waiting to buy new earbuds, pick up the entry-level AirPods 4 for just $69 right now (normally $129). This is a record low price.
If active noise cancellation is a must, you’ll be happy to see that the AirPods 4 with ANC are currently selling for $139 on Amazon (normally $179). This isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen — they were down to $100 on Black Friday — but it’s still a decent discount.
The Apple AirPods 4 are available in two formats. The non-ANC version usually runs $129, while the ANC model typically sells for $179. With this discount, you pay only $69 for the non-ANC model. These AirPods have been redesigned for a more comfortable fit. The Apple H2 chip allows for voice isolation whenever you have to take calls in a noisy environment. The AirPods 4 also offer personalized spatial audio and a battery life of up to 20 hours.
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These AirPods are dustproof and waterproof and include a smaller case for easier carrying. You can use them with Siri for added voice control options, which lets you start calls or choose your audio. You can also shake your head or nod to respond to prompts.
Looking for deals on other new Apple devices? We rounded up the best iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11 deals.
HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK
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$248 (save $152)
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$170 (save $181)
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$199 (save $150)
Why this deal matters
Apple makes superb audio gear, and the AirPods offer good sound quality and a comfortable fit for most people. «They may not be quite as cheap or as small as the AirPods 2, but they sound a lot better and have a lot more features,» says CNET audio expert David Carnoy, who thought $100 would be a good price for them.
The lower-priced AirPods lack noise-canceling features, but for just $69, this is a deal you should seriously consider.
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