MacBook Pro

Review: PlugBug World by Twelve South, the versatile little charger Apple should have made

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 2, 2015

Aren't you sick and tired of those unsightly, clunky wall chargers lying underneath your desk? I'm all for simplification so solutions that cut down the number of power adapters needed to juice up my devices are bound to win my attention.

Twelve South's PlugBug World is a cute hybrid charger which connects to any MacBook brick or Apple USB wall charger.

By integrating an additional 2.1-Amp USB port, this compact accessory can quickly recharge any iOS device, or a lower-powered USB device, while feeding power to a MacBook at the same time.

Continue reading as I let you in on the PlugBug's little secrets, such as its cunning adaptability, versatility and smart design choices that make it stand out from other products and turn it into an indispensable companion in your mobile arsenal.

‘Modbook Pro X’ turns your 15-inch Retina MacBook into a powerful tablet

Cody Lee ∙ July 30, 2014

Folks longing for a more powerful Apple tablet may want to checkout the new Pro X project from long-time MacBook-modifier Modbook. The company has taken to Kickstarter to market its latest creation—a 15.4" quad-core tablet with Retina display that runs Mac OS X.

The Modbook Pro X will be available in a number of configurations, based on the new Retina MacBook Pros Apple unveiled just this week. Packages can include a processor as fast as Intel's 2.8GHz Haswell chip, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2 terabytes of flash storage...

Apple updates Retina MacBook Pros with faster processors, more memory

Cody Lee ∙ July 29, 2014

As expected, Apple has refreshed its family of MacBook Pro with Retina display laptops this morning. The updates add faster processors and more memory, and come just after the launch of the company's annual back-to-school promotion.

There are three new 13-inch models and two new 15-inch notebooks, all of which have received the latest versions of Intel's i5 and i7 Haswell processors. In terms of additional memory, Apple has doubled the entry-level RAM for both lines...

Upgrading to a 4K monitor: enjoy Retina quality graphics on an external display

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

As many of you know, I'm rocking a 13" Retina MacBook Pro, and I love it. The screen is killer, it's fairly fast, and it's portable.

But as I begin to take on more "intense" projects, I'm starting to realize that I simply don't have enough screen real estate to be the most productive I can be. I need an external monitor.

The problem is, and if you're a current Retina MacBook owner you've no doubt faced a similar conundrum, most of the popular external displays pale in comparison to the Retina display. Even Apple's mighty Thunderbolt Display, with its 27" screen and 2560x1440 native resolution, looks downright grainy when placed side-by-side with the Retina screen of a MacBook Pro.

So what to do? You could hold off until Apple finally decides it wants to get with the program and offer a Retina capable Thunderbolt Display, or...or...or! You could get a ultra-HD 4K capable monitor right now and enjoy a "Retina" experience.

That's exactly what I decided to do. Inside, I'll break down some of the pluses and minuses of my latest pickup, Dell's ($799 on Amazon) 24" ultra-HD display, the UP2414Q.

Apple details 4K hardware support in OS X 10.9.3

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 16, 2014

Perhaps the key headline feature of the newly-released OS X Mavericks 10.9.3 is proper support for external 4K monitors. Previously, Mavericks would render text, icons and other user interface elements as-is, so everything appeared tiny due to the densely packed pixels on 4K monitors.

OS X 10.9.3 uses pixel-doubling to enable a true Retina experience where the size of the user interface does not change, it's just a lot sharper because OS X has a lot more pixels per square inch to work with.

Apple has now refreshed its support document with detailed information regarding compatible 4K monitors, display modes, video interfaces and Macs...

Apple rumored to launch 12-inch MacBook alongside MacBook Air refresh

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

According to a forum post made by a reputable user on the Chinese website WeiPhone, Apple could release a new 12-inch MacBook in the near future. The slim notebook is expected to be released without a fan, and will feature a redesigned trackpad and Retina display. The all-new trackpad will lack a mechanical button for tactile clicking, leaving multi-touch gestures as the sole method of input.

This is the same user that leaked the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display in the past, making this rumor slightly more credible. It also helps that well-connected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo already predicted last October that Apple will be launching a 12-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display at some point this year. The notebook will combine portability and productivity into one…

Apple said to phase out non-Retina model from MacBook Pro lineup

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 5, 2014

After reportedly making the decision to axe the iPad 2 "in the near future", now comes word that Apple's non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro model is next on the chopping block. If true, this would streamline the company's notebook offering after the non-Retina production winds down in the second half of 2014, in time for a refresh around Intel's forthcoming Broadwell processors.

The move would reduce the Mac notebook lineup to non-Retina MacBook Airs (which may or may not get a Retina treatment later this year) and all-Retina MacBook Pros, potentially leaving future MacBook Pro buyers without a built-in CD/DVD optical drive...

How to keep your MacBook awake while its lid is closed

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 3, 2013

NoSleep is a handy menu bar utility that I use each and every day to keep my MacBook Air awake. It’s like speed for your Mac. Even with the lid on the MacBook closed, it stays awake.

The best thing about this utility is that it can be easily toggled on or off by means of a single click on its menu bar icon. NoSleep is a simple tool, yet it does feature a few options to customize the way it works. Have a look inside as I showcase NoSleep on video.

Relive every moment: you can now stream the iPad keynote from Apple’s website

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 22, 2013

Apple's iPad keynote video is now available for streaming straight from its website. It works on mobile or desktop, and through a web browser, but you'll need the QuickTime plug-in installed in order to enjoy the presentation on beige Windows boxes. If history is an indication, the clip should hit YouTube and iTunes in a couple days tops.

Until then, block out the next 86 minutes of your life, sit back and relax, grab some popcorn and enjoy as Apple CEO Tim Cook and his sidekicks Phil Schiller (SVP of Worldwide Marketing), Craig Federighi (SVP of Software Engineering) and Eddy Cue (SVP of Internet Software and Services) deliver the latest on the Retina iPad mini, iPad Air, 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pros, the next-gen Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks and iLife/iWork...

Apple unveils new 13″ and 15″ MacBook Pros, drops price tags

Cody Lee ∙ October 22, 2013

Apple continues to run through its iPad keynote, and now that Craig Federighi has announced that OS X Mavericks is going to be available as a free update, Phil Schiller has taken the stage to talk about the hardware that'll run it.

Two new MacBook Pros have been introduced thus far, a 13-inch and a 15-inch. Both of them have been updated with Intel processing chips to increase performance and battery life, and both have received $200 price reductions...

Speculation mounts over availability dates for new iPads, MacBook Pros and Mac Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Apple has kicked off its blockbuster Fall with September's double iPhone launch and followed-up by updating the iMac family with Intel's fourth-generation Haswell chips, 8GB of RAM standard across all models, faster graphics and ultra-fast PCIe flash storage and other goodies.

Now, our attention has already turned to other products in Apple's 2013 pipeline. AllThingsD last week claimed Apple will hold an iPad media event on October 22 and today a pretty reliable French blog has published availability dates for the upcoming new iPads, as well as updated MacBook Pro notebooks and the next-generation Mac Pro...

Best Buy offering free Apple TV with purchase of 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro

Cody Lee ∙ Updated September 17, 2017

If you happen to be in the market for a new Mac laptop, you may want to check out your local Best Buy. Not only has the retailer knocked $200 off the prices of its Retina MacBook Pros, but it's also now offering a free Apple TV with purchase.

The promotion is good for all 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro purchases, and includes a free third-generation Apple TV at checkout—no mail-in rebates or anything. And between that and the aforementioned discount, that's a savings of at least $300...