Entertainment
Here's where you can preorder Apple's new MacBook Pros with M4 chips
UPDATE: Oct. 30, 2024, 1:20 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with more info about the new M4 MacBook Pros.
Apple’s “Mac week” continues with the launch of new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros powered by M4-series chips (M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max). Starting prices range from $1,599 to $3,199, and preorders are now live in the Apple Store.
The M4 MacBook Pros will begin shipping on Friday, Nov. 8.
What’s new
Announced Wednesday (Oct. 30) following a brief leak on Apple’s website, the new models include a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, plus 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. They all come in space black and silver.
The M4 MacBook Pros are all equipped with Liquid Retina XDR displays that offer up to 1,000 nits of SDR brightness (a bump from 600 nits for SDR in their predecessors), and buyers have the option of upgrading them with a new “nano-texture display” for $150 more. This “dramatically reduces glare and distractions from reflections,” says Apple. It throws in a free polishing cloth worth $19.
Apple’s new nano-texture display option for M4 MacBook Pros should make their screens easier to view outdoors.
Credit: Apple
The top bezel of these displays contains a new 12MP Center Stage camera with support for “Desk View,” a feature that adds a top-down view of the user’s desk during video calls; the previous MacBook Pros had 1080p webcams.
Apple also claims that the new MacBook Pros offer up to 24 hours of battery life, which would make them the longest-lasting Macs ever made. (The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro lasted nearly 17 hours per charge in Mashable’s testing, for what it’s worth. A 24-hour battery life would put Apple’s laptops on par with fresh Copilot+ PCs like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.)
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On the connectivity front, the M4-series MacBook Pros all have an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, a MagSafe 3 charging port, a headphone jack, and support for WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The M4 model tacks on three Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the M4 Pro and M4 Max versions have three Thunderbolt 5 ports that promise faster-than-double transfer speeds.
M4 configurations
Geared toward “entrepreneurs, students, creators, or anyone doing what they love,” Apple’s new starter MacBook Pro comes with 16GB to 32GB of memory and 512GB to 2TB of SSD storage. (That first number is a welcome bump from the M3 generation’s 8GB of base RAM.)
It starts at $1,599 and maxes out at $2,749 if you tack on the nano-texture display option. It’s only available in a 14-inch size.
M4 Pro configurations
The M4 Pro MacBook Pro is aimed at “researchers, developers, engineers, creative pros, or anyone that needs even faster performance for more demanding workflows.” It can be configured with 24GB to 48GB of RAM and 512GB to 4TB of storage.
The 14- and 16-inch sizes start at $1,999 and $2,499, respectively; if you max out the latter and add a nano-texture display, it’ll cost you $4,249.
M4 Max configurations
Apple’s beefiest MacBook Pro to date is “[designed] for pros like data scientists, 3D artists, and composers who constantly push workflows to the limit.” The 14-inch model has 36GB of RAM, while the 16-inch version comes with 36GB to 128GB of RAM. Both have 1TB to 8TB of storage.
The 14- and 16-inch sizes start at $3,199 and $3,499, respectively, and maxing out the bigger one works out to $7,349.
For more information about Apple’s big week of refreshed devices, check out our Mac announcements hub.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
