Gen Z Bought More Used in 2024

What’s New About the New Apple iMac

Apple recently announced its latest offering for 2024. Apple used the last week of October to show off new models of the Mac Mini, Macbook Pro, and the iMac. What is new about this new iMac that may lead buyers to upgrade their current Apple device or jump for the first time into the Mac ecosystem?

The New M4 Chip

Since introducing their own M-series chips in 2020, Apple has continued to increase speed and processing power. They claim that the new M4 in the iMac runs up to 2.1x faster than the M1 for processor-intensive work like photo editing and gaming. Apple also announced a new M4 Pro processor this year, but it is not currently available for the iMac.

New Colors

Those who want something more exciting than grey can now choose from seven new colors. The new iMac is available in vibrant shades of green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue, along with the now classic silver. To complete the look, every iMac comes standard with a Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse (or optional Magic Trackpad) in the same color as the iMac.

New Nano-Texture Display

The iMac’s built-in display is one of its most beloved features, and it got even better this year. For the first time, nano-texture glass is available as an add-on. The option dramatically reduces reflection and glare, making the iMac more suitable for use in brightly lit environments.

12MP Center Stage Camera

The new and improved camera adds two features for video calls and streaming. Center Stage uses AI to keep everyone centered in the frame, even when there are multiple participants. Desk View simultaneously shows the user and a top-down view of their desk.

Four USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 Support

Whereas the last version of the iMac offered four USB-C ports, only 2 offered Thunderbolt support, and that was limited to Thunderbolt 3. The new iMac comes standard with 4 USB-C ports that all provide Thunderbolt 4. This means faster data transfer for external storage and multiple displays.

Android Security: Tips to Keep Your Device and Data Safe

Let’s face it. Most of us are more dependent on our smartphones than we would like to admit. We also trust them with some of our most personal and critical information. That makes them tempting targets for cybercriminals. If you have an Android device, follow these tips to ensure your data stays safe and out of the wrong hands.

1. Use a Strong Password and Bio-metric Authentication

Some people don’t like the inconvenience of unlocking their phone every time they want to use it. However, a phone without a strong password is a gold mine for bad actors if your phone is lost or stolen. Fortunately, with fingerprint or facial recognition features, you don’t even have to type that password every time.

2. Keep Things Updated

Failing to keep your operating system and apps updated could put your data at risk. Updates often include security patches and bug fixes that will make your phone secure. When possible, enable automatic updates to stay protected without even thinking about it.

3. Avoid Risky Apps

The apps you install on your phone can potentially give criminals access to your data. It is best to only install apps from the Google Play Store. Even some of those can be risky, so it is best to look for apps from trusted developers with a lot of great ratings and reviews.

4. Be Careful What you Download

Whether you are on your laptop or your smartphone, hackers can try to gain access through compromised links or attachments. Be careful what you click on, especially if it comes via an email or text message from an unknown source.

Following these simple tips will help keep your device and your data safe and secure.

The Future of Display Technology: What to Expect in Consumer Electronics

When we are in the market for the latest TV, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, we will encounter some of the latest in digital display technology. Flat screen technology, first introduced in the 1990s, makes it possible for devices to be smaller, lighter, and more energy efficient. Technological advances allow for stunning visuals through higher resolution and faster refresh rates. Now, consumers can even shop for devices with bendable and foldable displays.

The original flat panel displays depended on LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), Digital Light Processing (DLP), or Plasma. While you may still find LCD panels in some lower-end electronics, all of these have been replaced with newer technology that continues to help improve everything from TVs to smartphones.

Today’s devices are powered by five main advanced display technologies, each with advantages making them suitable for common electronics applications.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) – These are, essentially, LCD panels that use modern LED backlighting. This gives them improved brightness and color accuracy. They are often found on computer monitors and TV screens.

QLED (Quantum Dot LED) – QLED technology uses nano-scale crystals to enhance LED displays. These “quantum dots” emit their own light when hit by the backlight and improve the brightness and range of color. QLEDs are currently found mostly in high-end TVs and are especially suited to bright settings.

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) – OLED is a breakthrough in that each pixel emits its own light. Because of this, no backlight is required, which leads to truer blacks and more vibrant colors. This display type is popular in high-end smartphones and premium TVs.

AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) – This technology adds a layer of semiconductors that provide faster response times. Their superior performance makes them popular for premium smartphones and tablets. They can also be manufactured to be flexible, which means you will find them in new foldable devices.

Top 5 MacBooks in 2024

If you are looking for a new laptop, you might want to consider the latest MacBook models from Apple. The MacBook is one of the most popular and powerful laptops on the market, with a sleek design, a good quality processor, and a long battery life. In this article, we will review the top five latest MacBook models for 2024 and compare their features, prices, and performance. Whether you need a laptop for work, school, or entertainment, there is a MacBook that suits your needs.

Top 5 Latest MacBooks

  • Apple MacBook Air M2
  • Apple MacBook Air M3
  • Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3
  • Apple MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max
  • Apple MacBook Air M1


Apple MacBook Air M2

MacBook Air M2 is chosen by many users for its excellent performance and portability balance. The MacBook Air M2 is the ideal laptop for those who need to do their job while moving. It can be carried anywhere, but it is powerful, so you can do any work without problems. Its battery life is long, so it can be used for a long time without charging. Furthermore, the screen looks beautiful, making it ideal for watching movies and working on projects. Whether you are a student or a businessman, the MacBook Air M2 is convenient and reliable.

Features

  • Color Silver: Starlight, Space Gray
  • Chip: Apple M2 chip, up to 10 core CPU, 4 version cores and 4 efficiency cores, 16 core Neural Engine, 100GB/s memory bandwidth
  • Media Engine: Hardware Accelerator
  • Display: LCD Retina display 15.3 inch (diagonal) LED backlight display, IPS technology, native resolution 2880 × 1864, 224 pixels/inch, brightness 500 knits
  • Battery and Power: Movie playback with Apple TV application for up to 18 hours, wireless Web up to 15 hours
  • Charging and Expansion: Fast charging with MagSafe 3 charging port, 70W USB-C power adapter
  • Port: Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/ seconds), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/ seconds), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/ seconds)
  • Memory: 8GB configurable to unified memory, 16GB or 24GB
  • Storage: 256GB SSD, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB configurable
  • Keyboard and trackpad: Force Touch trackpad with 78 keys (USA) or 79 keys (ISO), 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverse T-array), Touch ID, environmental light sensor, accurate cursor control, and pen pressure sensing.
  • Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
  • Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD Camera, Advanced Image Signal Processor with Computational Video Function
  • Audio: Force Cancelling 6-speaker sound system with woofer, wide stereo sound, 3-microphone array with directional beam forming
  • Operating system: macOS, AC100V to 240V, 50Hz to 60Hz


Apple MacBook Air M3

MacBook Air M3 is expected to be a leader with a revamped design and enhanced performance. The new MacBook Air M3 is an ultra-thin laptop that is convenient for carrying. It is ideal for people who need to work on the go, such as students and people who have many business trips. Moreover, the battery lasts longer, so you don’t have to worry about looking for a charging location. Since the screen is easy to see, it is perfect for watching videos and working on projects that use many colors. The MacBook Air M3 is a laptop that looks good, works fast, and is very convenient.

Features

  • Color: Silver, Starlight, Space Gray, Midnight
  • Chip: Up to 10 core CPUs (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), ray tracing with hardware acceleration, 16 core Neural Engine, 100GB/s memory bandwidth
  • Media engine: H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW with hardware acceleration, video encoding engine, ProRes encoding/decoding engine, AV1 decoding engine
  • Display: 13.6 inches and 15.3 inches (diagonal) LED backlight display with display IPS technology, native resolution 2560 × 1664, 224 pixels/inch, brightness 500nits
  • Memory: Up to 24GB configurable memory
  • Battery and power: up to 18 hours of Apple TV app movie playback.
  • Port: Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter with 10-core GPU and storage and with 8-core GPU and
  • Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB
  • Charging and Expansion: 30W USB-C power adapter, MagSafe 3 charging port, Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/ seconds), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/ seconds)
  • keyboard and trackpad: backlit 78 keys (USA) or 79 keys (ISO) (inverse T-array with 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys), and brush pressure sensing function; Force click, accelerator, brush pressure touch ID, environmental light sensor, Force Touch trackpad and multi-touch gesture for accurate cursor control and delicate drawing
  • Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
  • Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD camera, advanced image signal processor with computational video function
  • Audio: 4 speakers and 6 speakers sound system, three microphone array with directional beam forming function
  • Operating system: macOS, AC100V to 240V, 50Hz to 60Hz


Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3 is a professional model with a balance of power and price. Equipped with a M3 processor, it delivers reliable performance for everyday work, creative work, and productivity improvement. As the cheapest MacBook Pro, it caters to professionals seeking reliable machines without spending as much money. Sophisticated aluminum enclosures, Retina displays, and comfortable keyboards keep you feeling luxurious. The 14″ display has a good screen size and portability balance and is suitable for multitasking. For designers, developers, and content creators, the MacBook Pro 14 M3 is a reliable tool for activities such as editing, coding, and video rendering.

Features

  • Color: Space Gray, Silver
  • Chip: Apple M3 chip, up to 10 core CPUs (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), ray tracing with hardware acceleration, 16 core Neural Engine, 100GB/s memory bandwidth
  • Media engine: H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW with hardware acceleration, video encoding engine, ProRes encoding/decoding engine, AV1 decoding
  • Display: 14.2 “(diagonal) Liquid Retina XDR display, native resolution 3024 × 1964, 254 pixels/inch, SDR brightness: 600nits
  • Memory: 8GB unified memory, up to 24GB configurable
  • Battery and Power: Movie playback with battery and power Apple TV application: up to 22 hours, wireless Web: up to 15 hours
  • Storage: Configurable to storage 512GB or 1TB SSD, 1TB or 2TB
  • Charging and Expansion: SDXC card slot, fast charging with 96W USB-C power adapter
  • Port: HDMI port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port, 2 Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/ seconds), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/ seconds)
  • Keyboard and trackpad: 78 keys (USA) or 79 keys (ISO), 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverse T-array), Touch ID, environmental light sensor
  • Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
  • Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD camera, advanced image signal processor with computational video function
  • Audio: Hi-Fi 6 speaker sound system with audio force canceling woofer, wide stereo sound, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max
  • Operating system: macOS, AC100V to 240V, 50Hz to 60Hz


Apple MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max is a powerful laptop for professionals who need the highest level of performance. Equipped with 16-core CPUs and 40-core GPUs, it is ideal for video editing, machine learning, and 3D rendering. With 16-inch Retina displays, rich memory options (up to 128GB RAM), and support for four external displays, the M3 Max is a versatile flagship product. Whether you are a creative professional or a data scientist, this laptop will do everything.

Features

  • Color: Space Black, Silver.
  • Chip: Apple M3 Pro chip, up to 18 core CPUs (6 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores), ray tracing with hardware acceleration, 16 core Neural Engine, 150GB/s memory bandwidth, Apple M3 Max chip, up to 40 core GPU s 14 Core CPU (10 Performance Core and 4 Efficiency Core), 16 Core CPU (12 Performance Core and 4 Efficiency Core), Ray Tracing with Hardware Acceleration, 16 Core Neural Engine, 300GB/s Memory Bandwidth.
  • Media engine: H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, video decoding engine, ProRes encoding/decoding engine, AV1 decoding with hardware acceleration.
  • Display: 16.2 “(diagonal) Liquid Retina XDR display, 1 3456 x 2234 native resolution, 254 pixels/inch, 1,000,000: 1 contrast ratio, SDR brightness: 600nits.
  • Memory: up to 36GB unified memory and Configurable to 128GB
  • Storage: Up to 8TB configurable.
  • Battery and Power: Movie playback with battery and power up to 22 hours Apple TV app, wireless web playback up to 15 hours.
  • Charging and Expansion: SDXC card slot, fast charging with included 140W USB-C power adapter.
  • Port: HDMI port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port, Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) 3.
  • Keyboard and trackpad: 78 keys (USA) or 79 keys (ISO), 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverse T-array), Touch ID, environmental light sensor.
  • Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3.
  • Camera: 1080p FaceTime HD camera, advanced image signal processor with computational video function.
  • Audio: The hi-fi six-speaker sound system has an audio force-cancelling woofer, wide stereo sound, and directional beamforming.
  • Operating system: macOS, AC100V?240V?50Hz?60Hz


Apple MacBook Air M1

The Apple MacBook Air M1 is one of the most affordable and versatile laptops in the MacBook lineup. It features the M1 chip, which is Apple’s first custom-designed processor for Macs. The M1 chip delivers up to 3.5 times faster performance, up to 5 times faster graphics, and up to 18 hours of battery life than the previous generation. The MacBook Air M1 also has a stunning 13.3-inch Retina display, a backlit Magic Keyboard, a Touch ID sensor, and a fanless design for silent operation. The MacBook Air M1 is ideal for students, professionals, and creatives who need a powerful and portable laptop.

Features

  • Color: Gold, Silver, Space Gray
  • Display: Retina display, 13.3 “(diagonal) LED backlight display with IPS technology, native resolution 2,560 × 1,600 pixels/inch, millions of colors, maximum resolution 1,680 × 1,050 pixels, brightness 400nits
  • Chip: Apple M1 chip, up to 8 cores CPU (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 16 cores Neural Engine
  • Battery and power: up to 15 hours of wireless Web, up to 18 hours of movie playback with Apple TV application
  • Charging and Expansion: 30W USB-C power adapter, Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/second)
  • Port: DisplayPort, USB 4 (up to 40Gb/ seconds), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/ seconds), 3.5 mm headphone jack
  • Memory: 8GB unified memory, up to 16GB configurable
  • Storage: 256GB SSD, 512GB SSD, 1TB, 2TB configurable
  • Keyboard and trackpad: 78 keys (USA) or 79 keys (ISO) (inverse T-array with 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys), environmental light sensor, Touch ID sensor
  • Wireless: Wi-Fi, 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 wireless network, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
  • Camera: 720p FaceTime HD Camera, Advanced Image Signal Processor with Computational Video Function
  • Audio: stereo speaker, wide stereo sound, 3 microphone array with directional beam forming function, 3.5 mm headphone jack
  • Operating system: macOS, 100V to 240V AC, 50Hz to 60Hz


Conclusion

In 2024, the latest MacBook lineup offers diverse options catering to various needs. The MacBook Air M2 balances performance and portability flawlessly, and it is ideal for on-the-go tasks with its long battery life and stunning display. Meanwhile, the revamped MacBook Air M3 promises enhanced performance and sleek design, perfect for students and frequent travelers. The MacBook Pro 14 M3 strikes a balance between power and affordability, catering to professional users on a budget. The MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max stands out for power users with its unmatched performance, making it ideal for intensive tasks like video editing. Even the older MacBook Air M1 remains a viable option for budget-conscious buyers.