Technologies

Best Buy Expands Apple Upgrade Program to Include iMac and Mac Studio Desktops

The «Upgrade Plus» program, which Best Buy launched for MacBook laptops in October, helps people finance Apple computers over 36 months and then upgrade.

Best Buy on Tuesday expanded its Apple computer upgrade program less than two months after its launch, helping people finance an iMac or Mac Studio desktop, in addition to its existing MacBook laptop offer from October. In each case, customers can finance an Apple computer over 36 months, with options to buy it outright at the end of the three-year cycle or turn it in for a newer model.

The move, which offers financing options through Citizens Financial, is among the first of its kind to bring smartphone-like payment and upgrade programs to the computer market. Best Buy’s program starts at $20 per month for a $999 MacBook, with $280.35 remaining to pay on the device, if customers are approved for a 0% interest rate after a credit check. If they trade it in for another MacBook, payments merely continue and Best Buy «will make the final payment on behalf of the customer.» Best Buy will also cover the final payment if a customer turns in the laptop instead of upgrading or paying the final price.

«We’re excited about the amount of customer interest we’ve seen in the Upgrade Plus program over the past couple months,» Jason Bonfig, Best Buy’s chief merchandising officer, said in a statement. «It’s been great to partner with Apple to now bring this program to iMac, especially during a time when customers are looking for value more than ever.»

Read more: Best MacBook for 2022

Best Buy’s move to expand its Upgrade program comes as monthly financing and subscription schemes have become increasingly popular across the tech industry. Apple, for example, doesn’t offer a similar upgrade program for its computers, but it does for iPhones. Other companies, including software giant Microsoft, have increasingly turned to financing and subscriptions as well to lure in new customers with low upfront costs for its Xbox video game consoles.

Environmental advocates believe these subscriptions may have another benefit as well. Companies and retailers are effectively incentivizing people to turn in devices when they’re ready to upgrade, which may help create «closed loop» recycling, in which older machines are kept out of landfills. Instead, they can be torn down for parts or refurbished and reused by someone else.

Best Buy said it plans to similarly find a «second life» for working devices turned in through its program.

The company’s fine print notes that the program does not include configure-to-order models, nor open-box, pre-owned or refurbished items. Citizens Financial will also charge between 0% and 29.99% interest annually, depending on a customer’s credit worthiness.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for April 7, #1753

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for April 7, No. 1,753.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle wasn’t too tricky, for a change. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has one repeated letter.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel, but it’s the repeated letter, so you’ll see it twice.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with D.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with E.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can relate to something that is closely compacted.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is DENSE.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, April 6, No. 1752, was SWORN.

Recent Wordle answers

April 2, No. 1748: SOBER

April 3, No. 1749: SINGE

April 4, No. 1750: SANDY

April 5, No. 1751: ENVOY

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Don’t be afraid to use our tip sheet ranking all the letters in the alphabet by frequency of uses. In short, you want starter words that lean heavy on E, A and R, and don’t contain Z, J and Q.

Some solid starter words to try:

ADIEU

TRAIN

STARE

NOISE

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, April 7

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 7.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.