Technologies
Take Up to $500 off New Microsoft Devices Right Now
Microsoft has huge markdowns on everything from laptops to accessories, making it a great time to upgrade.
Whether you prefer a laptop, tablet or desktop, it’s hard to deny that most of us spend a lot of time on our devices. And if you’re working with older tech or something that lacks adequate storage, power or speed for the apps and programs you need, it may be time to upgrade. You can save hundreds on all sorts of top tech from Microsoft during the company’s spring sale, including accessories. Some models have already begun to sell out, so we recommend shopping sooner rather than later for the best selection.
If you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, don’t worry — we’ve rounded up some of the best deals currently available so that you don’t have to scour the entire website to find solid options. Various offers end at different times, so keep that in mind as you shop.
While it’s not the latest model available, during Microsoft’s spring sale you can save up to $500 on select Surface Pro 8 devices now through April 30. This two-in-one design has enough power to work like a laptop with the right accessories, but is as portable as other tablets, giving you a lot of flexibility. It has a 13-inch screen, a built-in kickstand, Windows 11 and gets up to 16 hours of battery life per charge.
Another deal you can grab right now is up to $500 off select Surface Laptop 4 devices. The 13.5-inch model starts at $700 right now, whereas the 15-inch starts at $1,000. This offer is also available until April 30, while supplies last. And if you want to get the newer Surface Laptop 5, select variations are discounted by up to $400 now through April 16.
If you need to upgrade some of your peripherals, you can get up to 33% off select Microsoft PC accessories now through April 16. Save $25 on the Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub, $15 on the Microsoft Modern USB-C Headset, and $5 on the Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse. And for gamers, you can save up to $20 on select Xbox controllers for a limited time.
Technologies
Apple Launches Creator Studio Package as $13 a Month Subscription
Mac users can still buy the apps individually, but subscribers get access to Final Cut Pro and other Studio tools.
Apple is bundling its pro filmmaking and audio tools including Final Cut Pro with its productivity apps Keynote, Pages and Numbers into a subscription software suite called Apple Creator Studio.
The package, which includes apps for Mac, iPad and iPhone, includes Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, MainStage and the whiteboard app Freeform. Creator Studio will be available starting Jan. 28 at a cost of $13 per month or $129 per year, or $3 per month or $30 per year for students and educators. Mac users will still have the option to purchase software like Final Cut Pro for a one-time free. The current price for Final Cut Pro in the Mac App Store is $300.
While apps such as Keynote and Pages are already free on Apple platforms, it appears that new versions of those apps will receive access to beta features that will roll out first to Creator Studio subscribers. The announcement by Apple alludes to «new AI features and premium content» in some of the apps it otherwise makes available to use for free.
What the Creator Studio bundle comes with
The star of the show in Creator Studio is Final Cut Pro, the video editing software that will now include Transcript Search on both Mac and iPad. There is also a new Beat Detection feature Apple says uses an AI model to analyze a music track and display a beat grid, making it easier to cut video to music rhythms. The software also will include a new Montage Maker on iPad for quick social video creation.
Motion, the 2D and 3D graphics tool, and Compressor also integrate with Final Cut Pro. Apple touted Motion’s Magnetic Mask feature for isolating objects or people without the need for a green screen.
Logic Pro has new features for musicians, including a Synth Player addition to AI Session Players. Chord ID, a new AI feature, can create chord progressions from audio or MIDI recordings. A new Sound Library will have hundreds of royalty-free clips, samples and loops.
A revamped MainStage app gives subscribers access to instrument, voice-professing and guitar rig tools. Pixelmator Pro arrives with new tools and filters, and there will be an iPad version in addition to the Mac tool.
Freeform in the Creator Studio package will add premium content, including curated photos, graphics and illustrations. It will also get new AI features that include image creation.
Technologies
Reddit Outage Resolved: Here’s What Happened
Did you have trouble reading your favorite subreddits today? You weren’t alone.
If you had trouble accessing the news and discussion forum Reddit on Tuesday, you weren’t the only one. However, as of 10:15 a.m. PT, the site appears to be back up and running normally. Reddit’s status monitoring page, RedditStatus.com, notes that «all systems (are) operational» after the brief outage.
But earlier, at 9:30 a.m. PT, RedditStatus.com said the company was «investigating elevated errors across reddit.com and native apps.» RedditStatus.com reported degraded site performance for both desktop web use and native mobile apps.
Earlier on Tuesday, the site-monitoring service DownDetector also reported issues at Reddit, providing additional details. At one point on Tuesday, DownDetector received over 100,000 reports that the site was having problems. At 10:25 am PT, the report numbers fell to under 600. (Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
«Reddit is currently experiencing a significant internal outage causing widespread service disruptions,» the site said earlier Tuesday. «The impact is categorized as Very High, primarily affecting mobile app access (55%) and website connectivity (39%). While reports are heavily concentrated in major hubs like New York City and Chicago, the lack of ISP correlation suggests a broad, nationwide issue stemming from Reddit’s internal servers rather than external network providers.»
A representative for Reddit did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Another social media site, X, formerly Twitter, also showed problems on Tuesday, according to DownDetector. Those problems seemed to spike around 6:30 a.m. PT and improve after.
Technologies
This 3-in-1 Charger Is a Must-Have for Travelers, and It Just Hit a Record-Low of $95
Snag it for $45 off and charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch at the same time.
If you’re a frequent traveler, then you know that outlets are a precious commodity in places like airports and coffee shops. So why waste one on a single device when you can charge up to three at once? Right now, you can grab this seriously sleek Ugreen Magflow three-in-one foldable charger for just $95 at Amazon. That’s a $45 discount and the all-time lowest price we’ve seen. Just don’t wait too long, as this deal could expire at any time.
At just 7.4 ounces, this compact charging station is designed to be taken on the go. But despite its size, it still supports 25-watt MagSafe charging for iPhones, as well as 5-watt wireless charging for AirPods and Apple Watches. The charging stand also tilts up to double as a stand, and it’s equipped with 16 magnets to keep your phone aligned and securely in place. Plus, it’s got built-in protections against overheating, overcharging, short-circuiting and more to prevent damage to your devices.
Why this deal matters
This folding Ugreen charger is great for juicing up your devices on the go, and it’s never been more affordable. Plus, Ugreen makes some of the best MagSafe chargers on the market right now, so don’t miss your chance to grab one at a record-low price.
-
Technologies3 года agoTech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies3 года agoBest Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies3 года agoTighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года agoBlack Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года agoGoogle to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies4 года agoVerum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года agoOlivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies4 года agoiPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow
