MacworldUSB-C is the modern connection standard shared by most new devices today. It comes in several different formats but they all have the same reversible connector at the end. By the end of 2023, most of Apples devices will use USB-C for charging and data transfers. Lightning was also reversiblewhere it doesnt matter which side of the connector faces up or down as you plug it inso no big change there, but USB-C is much more than just a symmetrical design.It can transfer data fasterpushing Lightnings 0.48Gbps to up to 40Gbps (USB4 and Thunderbolt use the same Type-C connector), and next year to 120Gbps. Apples iPhone 15 has a USB-C port, replacing the old trusty but proprietary Lightning cable that has been a part of iPhones and older iPads since 2012. Apple supplies a USB-C charging cable in the box, but if you want a single cable for fast charging and data transfersor just a spare charging cableweve rounded up some of our favorites to help you get the best one.Some are fast, some are super-powerful, a couple are retractable, and some are just fun. Yes fun!FoundryFoundryFoundryNote that the cables reviewed here are USB-C to USB-C (or backward-compatible Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt). Old iPhone chargers had the non-reversible rectangular USB-A connector to connect to the charger and a Lightning connector that went into the iPhone. FoundryFoundryFoundryUsing a USB-C charger will enable fast charging even for iPhones with a Lightning port. You can still charge an Apple device with a USB-A charger but not at the fastest speed. From the iPhone 15 onwards its USB-C into the charger and USB-C into the iPhone. See our roundup of the best USB-C chargers for iPhone.We have even more tips that show you the fastest ways to charge an iPhone.Know your cablesNot all USB-C cables offer the same capabilities, so we explain each factor you need to consider. Fear not, for basic iPhone charging most USB-C cables will be fine. But some are finer than others. Macs use Thunderbolt cables that have the same Type-C connector as USB-C so look the same but have faster data transfer and charging speed options. You can use a Thunderbolt cable to charge USB-C devices, too.Apple ships a USB-C Charge Cable with the newest iPhones but Mac users need to buy a Thunderbolt cable to connect to a docking station or fast storage device. Having a spare cable or two hanging around the house or office is always advisableand there are better, cheaper, and more colorful USB-C and Thunderbolt cables than just those sold by Apple.Weve focused on USB-C charging cables as most people need them just to attach to a USB-C charger, but cables offer both charging and data transfers, although at different capabilities, depending on your requirements. Charging: All USB-C cables can carry a minimum of 60W (3A x 20V). Some support 100W (5A x 20V) charging, and some new Thunderbolt 4 cables can charge at up to 240W. 60W is more than you need for a phone and is perfect for the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Go for at least a 100W cable for the 14-inch MacBook Pro. While 100W is fine for a 16-inch MacBook Pro, that model can be charged at up to 140W, although Apple restricts fast-charging for that model to its own $49/49 USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable, which is included with the 16-inch MacBook Pro.Apple says that the iPhone 15 can be fast-charged from zero to 50% in 30 minutes using at least a 20W USB-C power adapter, which is the same speed the iPhone 14 got via Lightning. SO, we dont expect that the new iPhone 15 family will charge any faster than earlier models. Length: A long cable can be messy when your device is close to the charger, but a short one could leave your iPhone dangling out of reach. You may need different lengths of USB-C cable for each of your charging spaces. When it comes to transferring data, choose a cable thats as short as you need as the longer the cable, the greater the risk of signal degradationinvest in a Thunderbolt 4 cable for 2m data-strength confidence.Data transfer speed: iPhones with Lightning ports are limited to a slow USB 2.0 data transfer rate of just 480Mbps (480 megabits per second). Compare that to your Mac, whose Thunderbolt connection can reach 40Gbpsover 8,000% faster! Data transfer speed doesnt matter if all you are doing is charging a device but it is vital when connecting your Apple device to storage drives, docking stations, or monitors. While the entry-level iPad is also limited to 480Mbps, the iPad Pro, like a MacBook, supports Thunderbolts 40Gbps maximum. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus features USB-C that is limited to 480Mbps like with Lightning, but the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Maxs USB-C can sync at 10Gbpsuseful for backing up video or photos to a computer.Note that the USB-C cable Apple supplies with the iPhone 15 family is a Charge cable and limited to 480Mbps for syncing. If you use the Pro or Pro Max model with a cable for data transfer, youll do better with a 10Gbps or higher bandwidth cable.Best USB-C cables for iPhoneiPhones have included either a USB-C to Lightning cable (USB-C-to-Lightning) or even older USB-A to Lightning (USB-A-to-USB-C) for years, and elsewhere we have rounded up the best Lightning cables weve seen for iPhones older than the iPhone 15. USB-A is the larger, non-reversible connector. USB-C is required for fast charging.From the iPhone 15 onwards and also with the AirPods Pro 2, youll need a cable with USB-C on both ends (USB-C-to-USB-C) to charge an iPhone unless you charge wirelesslycheck out the best MagSafe wireless iPhone chargers. Apple supplies a USB-C-to-USB-C cable with all new iPhones, which can be used to change any Apple device that has a USB-C port, including AirPods and Mac accessories, once they are updated.Apple has released a LightningtoUSB-C adapterconfusingly named the Apple USB-C to Lightning Adapter ($29 at Apples U.S. store or 29 at Apples UK store) so you can convert an old Lightning cable into a USB-C cable for your new iPhone 15, but, as you might expect from Apple, its way more expensive than just buying one of the new and superior USB-C cables weve reviewed below.Weve rounded up our favorite USB-C cables. You can find cheaper online but we are recommending cables from trusted brands, such as Anker and Cable Matters. When charging your precious devices, you want to be sure that you arent putting them at risk of overheating and potentially causing a fire in your home.1. Apple USB-C Woven Charge Cable (1m)Pros Made by Apple 60W Robust woven design Cons Slow sync speed Charging: 60WCable length: 3.3ft (1m)Data transfer speed: 480MbpsColors: WhiteIf you want every iPhone accessory you own to be made by Apple, go with Apples own USB-C Charge Cable as a spare USB-C iPhone charging cableat 60W its powerful enough to charge even a MacBook Air. Surprisingly, Apple doesnt include this cable in its iPhone Accessories store but its a fine, if expensive, solution.Unlike Apples rather feeble plastic USB-C to Lightning cables, this 3.3ft (1m) charging cable has a robust woven design that means it is far less likely to fray or break with frequent winding and tugging. Apple also sells a 2m USB-C Charge Cable that is now also wovenits rated at up to 240W, overkill for an iPhone but top-end charging for any Apple USB-C device.Its USB 2.0 data-transfer speed is super slow compared to 5Gbps or faster USB-C cables but its the same as Lightning. That doesnt make a difference when charging your iPhone but if you are syncing an iPad or Mac via cable, transfer speeds will be frustrating.As the iPhone 15 Pro models boast 5Gbps data transfer, this cables low bandwidth is a bit of a disappointment if you sue the cable for syncing.Its available in only white. If you fancy a color that matches your new iPhone or your soft furnishings, you need to read on for one of the third-party USB-C cables that we recommend. Read on.2. Anker 310 USB-C to USB-C Cable Best budget USB-C charging cable for iPhone 15Pros Twin pack 60W Robust braided design Length options Charging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 3ft (0.9m) or 6ft (1.8m)Colors: BlackLike the Ford Model T, this 60W USB-C charging cable is available only in black. But the Anker 310 is a quality cable, with a tough braided construction thats super affordableespecially in this twin pack. Its data-transfer speed is slow (480Mbps) but, for charging an iPhone or small MacBook, its just what you need at a price that significantly undercuts Apple. And, as youll read later in this feature, its perfectly good for charging iPads and mid-sized MacBooks, too.3. Cable Matters 10Gbps USB-C to USB-C Cable Best charge and data cable for iPhone 15 Pro/MaxPros 100W Power Delivery 4K monitor support 10Gbps data transfer Available in Black and White Price When Reviewed:17,99Charging: 100WData transfer speed: 10GbpsMonitor support: 4KCable length: 3.3ft (1m)Colors: Black or WhiteApple has increased wired data transfer bandwidth to 10Gbps on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max20x faster than the USB-C of the plain iPhone 15s 480Mbps (0.48Gbps).If you want to take advantage of this significantly increased wired bandwidth, youll need a cable. like this one from Cable Matters, that also supports 10Gbps or higher, as the USB-C cable that Apple includes with all the iPhones is really for charging only and rated at 480Mbps.It can also charge at up to 100Wmore than enough for an iPhone but also enough for even the 16-inch MacBook Pro.4. Anker 333 USB-C Cable (10ft) Best long USB-C cable for iPhonePros Long cable 60W Robust braided design Color options Charging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 10ft (3m)Colors: Black, Red, SilverSometimes you just need a very long charging cable. Maybe your wall socket is on the other side of the sofa or deskor even in another roomand you need your iPhone to hand for calls and messaging. This 10-foot USB-C cable should be long enough for you.Sometimes you need a more colorful charging cable. Ok, you dont really need a more colorful charging cable but its nice to have the option. If you want even more color variations, but at a shorter cable length, keep reading Available in black, red or silver, this USB-C cable can charge at a decent 60Wmore than enough for an iPhone or iPad and decent for a mid-sized MacBook.5. CableCreation Short USB-C to USB-C Cable Best short USB-C cable for iPhonePros Short cable 60W Robust braided design Charging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 0.8ft, 9.6in (0.24m, 24cm)Colors: BlackThere are times when you dont want a long cable snaking all over your desk or tabletop. All you need is a short cable to charge your device.While we have seen shorter than this 9.6-inch USB-C to USB-C cable, some that weve tested have been flaky at charging so we prefer to go with a brand that we trust.It is too short to tangle but long enough to dangle from a wall charger.6. Cable Matters Retractable USB-C 2.0 Charging Cable Best retractable USB-C cablePros Retractable 60W Tangle free Charging: 60WCable length: 4 inches (0.1m) or 3.5ft (1m)Data transfer speed: 480MbpsColors: BlackA long trailing cable is just about excusable if hidden behind a desk but is wholly inappropriate in a handbag or stuffed in your pocket.Most of us find it helpful to keep a tangle-free charging cable in a car, briefcase or backpack. This cable takes up only a few inches of space when fully retracted. You pull the cable from both ends to extend it to five set lengths: 1ft, 1.5ft, 2.2ft, 3ft and 3.5ft.Data transfer is slow but it will charge even a mid-sized laptop if connected to a suitable wall charger.Its not braided by feels strong and will be protected in its winding shell.7. Baseus Free2Draw Mini Retractable USB-C Cable 100W Best retractable 100W USB-C cablePros Retractable 100W Tangle free Charging: 100WCable length: 4 inches (0.1m) or 3.5ft (1m)Data transfer speed: 480MbpsColors: White, Black, Purple, BlueAnother tangle-free retractable USB-C cable is the curiously named Baseus Free2Draw. Like the Cable Matters Retractable USB-C Cable, this is a compact, carry-in-your-pocket cable that, as soon as you hold it, declares itself a must-have. Who doesnt get annoyed by a drawer full of loose snaking cables?Pull the cable from both ends to extend it to four set lengths: 1ft, 1.9ft, 2.7ft and 3.3fta touch shorter than Cable Matters.It beats its rival by supporting 100W of charging powerenough for even the largest MacBook, whereas the Cable Matters cable maxes out at 60W. Data speed, as with the Cable Matters alternative, is a slow but usable 480Mbps USB 2.0. It will transfer data but its main function is charging.It is available in four colors to match your device or just your mood.8. Wave Bio-Based Charging USB-C to USB-C Cable Best eco-friendly USB-C cablePros Eco friendly 60W Price When Reviewed:10,95Best Prices Today:10,95 at WaveCaseCharging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 3.3ft (1m)Colors: Speckled recycled whiteThe exterior of this sustainable USB-C to USB-C cable is constructed using plant-based materials, thus reducing a reliance on petroleum-based plastics like thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).The packaging is recyclable (the bio-based cables are secured by a recyclable paper sleeve) and even the shipping is carbon neutral, offsetting the CO2 produced.Shipping outside the UK is an extra US$6.30 or 6, but if you value the planet thats not a lot to pay.9. Anker 643 USB-C to USB-C Cable Best USB-C cable color rangePros Color options Tough but flexible silicone Charging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 3ft (0.9m) or 6ft (1.8m)Colors: Misty Blue, Daffodil Yellow, Lilac Purple, Lavender Grey, Mint Green, Cloud White, and Midnight BlackIf you want a touch of personality with your tech kit, Ankers choice of seven mostly pastel colors gives you more options than the monochrome alternatives. Apple delights in offering its iPhones in various shades but religiously sticks to white for its charging cables. Anker claims that its 643 cablewith silicone covering a triple-layered system of copper wireshas a tensile strength of 220 lbs (100kg) and can withstand as many as 25,000 bends. We havent tested this, but it certainly feels tough enough to withstand more everyday rigors.Available in two lengths and a multitude of colors, there should be an option for one of your cable needs here.10. Casetify PowerThru USB-C to USB-C Cable Prettiest USB-C cablePros Color options Robust braided design with rounded head Price When Reviewed:50Best Prices Today:$28 at CasetifyCharging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 3.3ft (1m) or 6.6ft (2m)Colors: Cotton Candy, Light Mint, Lavender, BlackThis quality USB-C cable, available in two lengths, is from the people at Casetify who create such fun phone cases.They have carried over some of the fun into the dull world of cables with four color options. The Cotton Candy USB-C cable is a real beauty, graduating from a cyan blue to a cute pink. Even the black version is nicely speckled.Youll pay more than usual but you will get a premium braided cable that will bring joy everything you connect it to your device.11. Raycon Magic 180 Cable fits USB-C and Lightning iPhonesPros 100W Magnetic USB-C, Lightning and MicroUSB connectors Robust braided design and swivel head Cons Easy to mislay connector heads Charging: 100WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 3.9ft (1.2m)Colors: BlackWhile Apples move to USB-C will eventually mean fewer different cables and chargers, many of will live in a now more cluttered world of Lightning for this and USB-C for that.This cable can handle just about any charging connector you requireeven horrible old fiddly MicroUSB. It come with three connectors heads that magnetically clamp to cable end: USB-C for newer devices, such as the iPhone 15, Lightning for older Apple devices, and MicroUSB for whatever still requires this most-hated of connectionsoften a pair of cheap headphones.The end that the connectors fit on can angle 180 degrees, which should prevent cable wear and tear when moving the connected device. Its also nicely braided for strength.It seems a great solution but only if you dont lose the tiny magnetic connectors.Raycon also sells a longer cable, the 6.6ft (2m) Magic 180 Cable Pro ($29.99), which ships with an additional USB-C to USB-A adapter in case your charger is the old USB-A type. using it wont enable fast-charging with USB-A but it might save you buying a newer USB-C charger.12. Belkin BoostCharge Pro Flex USB-C to USB-C CablePros 60W Robust braided design Color and length options Cons Color and length range limited in U.S. Charging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 3.3ft (1m), 6.6ft (2m) or 10ft (3m)Colors: Black, Blue, White and PinkCuriously, this lovely cable from Belkin has a range of colors, including pink, and lengths, up to 10 feet, only in the U.K. The U.S. version is black or white and 3.3 or 6.6 feet only.Its a quality braided USB-C to USB-C cable in whatever length or color, but U.S. users might have to ask a friend across the pond to send them the fetching pink version.Best USB-C cables for iPadMost iPads on sale today feature a USB-C connectoronly the entry-level 9th Generation iPad still uses Lightning. But even the 10th Gen iPads USB-C is still limited to a 480Mbps data speed.The iPad mini has a USB-C port that supports 5Gbps; the iPad Air 10Gbps; and the iPad Pro has a USB4/Thunderbolt port that can zip data along at 40Gbps. Check your iPads data transfer rate before choosing a new cable.For charging only, any of the iPhone USB-C cables reviewed above will be fine as 20W should be enough to charge an iPadthe Anker 310 twin pack, reviewed above, would supply great USB-C charging cables for two devices. But if you are connecting to other devices or syncing via cable, we recommend cables that support faster data transfers. A 10Gbps USB-C cable, such as the Cable Matter cord below, is an excellent option if you dont want to spend a bundle on Thunderbolt.1. Anker 310 USB-C to USB-C Cable Best budget USB-C charging cable for iPadPros 60W Power Delivery Twin pack Robust braided design Length options Cons Not suitable for monitor connection Only in black Charging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 3ft (0.9m) or 6ft (1.8m)Colors: BlackOur favorite USB-C charging cable for iPhones is also our recommended budget charging option for USB-C iPads. Its such a flexible solution that it is also our budget USB-C cable choice for smaller MacBooks; see below.Forget about it for data transfer or connecting a USB-C monitor, but for charging this affordable, durable cable is a great choice.2. Cable Matters 10Gbps USB-C to USB-C Cable Best budget USB-C cable for iPadPros 100W Power Delivery 4K monitor support 10Gbps data transfer Available in Black and White Price When Reviewed:17,99Charging: 100WData transfer speed: 10GbpsMonitor support: 4KCable length: 3.3ft (1m)Colors: Black or WhiteIf you want to sync your iPad or connect it to a storage device, dock, or monitor, as well as fast-charging the tablet, youll need a superior data transfer rate.The 10Gbps bandwidth gained with this premium USB-C cable should be plenty for most users, and the option of a white version is rare in such USB-C cables.3. Anker 515 USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB4)Pros 240W Power Delivery 40Gbps data transfer 6K monitor support for iPad Pro Cons Short Price When Reviewed:35.99Charging: 240WData transfer speed: 40GbpsMonitor support: 6KCable length: 3.3ft (1m)Colors: BlackFor ultimate iPad Pro data transfer bandwidth, choose a Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 cable.This Anker 515 USB4 cable is overpowered from a charging point of view but therefore offers some Apple tablet future-proofing. Remember, you wont harm your iPad using a premium higher-wattage cable.Where it wins is its 40Gbps data bandwidth, the maximum youll get from any USB-C cable, and capable of connecting an iPad Pro to a 6K USB-C display at 60Hz. Via a Mac, it could support an 8K display.Best USB-C cables for MacOnly the original 12-inch MacBook used standard USB-C. Macs since the 2016 MacBook Pro have used much faster Thunderbolt 3 or, from 2021 Thunderbolt 4 ports. Plain M1/M2 Macs (not Pro or Max) are listed as Thunderbolt/USB4 but can be regarded as the same as Thunderbolt 4 except for their one-screen limitation.If you are buying today, we recommend you go for a Thunderbolt 4 cable, which is the most capable standard and fully backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C. But theyre pricey, and if speedy data transfer is not a priority or you require the cable for charging only, a slower USB-C cable will suffice for fast charging.MacBooks require cables and chargers that support the USB Power Delivery (PD) standard. PD 3.0 supports up to 100W. PD 3.1 goes up to 240W.Check the maximum charging wattage supported by the cable. Smaller MacBooks require at least 45W, mid-sized 60W, and larger 100W. The 16-inch MacBook Pro can be fast-charged at 140W, but Apple has limited this feature to its own $49/49 USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable so USB-C and even 240W Thunderbolt cables are knee-capped at 100W.1. Anker 310 USB-C to USB-C Cable Best 60W PD USB-C charging cablePros 60W Power Delivery Twin pack Robust braided design Length options Cons Not suitable for monitor connection Only in black Charging: 60WData transfer speed: 480MbpsMonitor support: NoCable length: 3ft (0.9m) or 6ft (1.8m)Colors: BlackJust as we recommended the Anker 310 USB-C cable for iPhones and iPad charging, its hard to go wrong with this to charge small and mid-sized MacBooks, too. Buy the twin pack and use one for whichever Apple device that takes your fancy.Suitable for all MacBook Air models and the 13-inch MacBook Pro, this 60W USB-C cable is able to supply the charge you need to keep those MacBooks powered up.Its data-transfer speed is pretty feeble but as a charging-only cable, this is all you really need. It is not suitable for connecting a Mac to a USB-C monitorthat would require at least a 5Gbps cable.Its braided design makes it toughAnker claims it can be bent and unbent over 10,000 times. In this twin-pack, the Anker 310 USB-C cable is a very affordable option.2. Cable Matters 6-foot USB-C cable Best budget long 100W PD USB-C cablePros 100W Power Delivery 4K monitor support Long cable Price When Reviewed:15,99Charging: 100WData transfer speed: 5GbpsMonitor support: 4KCable length: 3ft (0.9m) or 6ft (1.8m)Colors: BlackThis jack-of-all-trades high-quality USB-C cable can charge at up to 100W, transfer data at 5Gbps, and connect a Mac to a 4K monitor. Its a premium build, but its thicker gauge wires make it tricky to roll up as easily or compactly as other cables.If you need faster data transfer, look to a Thunderbolt 4 cable.3. CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Cable (0.8m) Best short 100W PD Thunderbolt 4 cablePros 100W Power Delivery 40Gbps data transfer 8K monitor support Cons Short Charging: 100WData transfer speed: 40GbpsMonitor support: 8KCable length: 2.6ft (0.8m)Colors: BlackAs a certified Thunderbolt 4 cable, this guarantees 100W charging and super-fast 40Gbps data transfer speeds. If you just want to charge your MacBook, its probably overkill but if you need to use it to connect to a docking station or other device, we recommend you double-up on charging power and data speed.Backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C, you cant go wrong with a Thunderbolt 4 cable.4. Apple Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable (3m) Best long 100W PD Thunderbolt 4 cablePros 100W Power Delivery 40Gbps data transfer 8K monitor support Robust braided design Very long Cons Expensive Charging: 100WData transfer speed: 40GbpsMonitor support: 8KCable length: 10ft (3m)Colors: BlackIts certainly expensive, but this Apple Thunderbolt 4 cable is as long as you can get while maintaining 100W charging power and 40Gbps data-transfer speed. Its braided for strength and backward compatible with other Type-C connectors and ports.5. Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable (1m) Best 240W PD Thunderbolt 4 cablePros 240W Power Delivery 40Gbps data transfer 8K monitor support Robust braided design Cons Short Best Prices Today:$39.99 at SatechiCharging: 240WData transfer speed: 40GbpsMonitor support: 8KCable length: 3.3ft (1m)Colors: BlackTo connect your 16-inch MacBook to a Thunderbolt 4 docking station, you need both top data bandwidth and as much charging power as a cable can supportso you need a cable that supports both 240W and 40Gbps data transfer.240W, 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 cable doesnt yet come in anything longer than a meter (3.3ft). Both power and data speed are reduced as the cable gets longer. Active Thunderbolt cables help by pushing the data further but for now have the dual benefits of supercharging and fast. data transfer means youll need to keep your Mac close by. While it supports 240W device charging, Apple has capped its 16-inch MacBook Pro to fast-charge using only its own expensive USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable. We still recommend a 240W PD 3.1 cable as you want the best if you own the top-of-the-range Apple laptop.6. Plugable TBT4-240W-80CMR Best right-angled Thunderbolt 4 cablePros 240W Power Delivery 40Gbps data transfer 8K monitor support Right angled Charging: 240WData transfer speed: 40GbpsMonitor support: 8KCable length: 2.6ft (0.8m)Colors: BlackSometimes a cable plays hard to fit in tight spaces, and only a cunningly right-angled connector head will do the job.If thats the case, then this is the most powerful and fastest right-angled Thunderbolt 4 cable that money can buy. It will work at up to 240W, and as a Thunderbolt 4 cable of course offers 40Gbps data-transfer speeds. As mentioned above, Apple demands you use its own MagSafe power cable if you want to utilize PD 3.1 at 140W for its 16-inch MacBook Pro. FAQ 1.Which USB-C cable do I need to connect to a USB-C monitorDisplayPort Alternate Mode is a feature available to USB-C that handles video as if the USB-C cable was a DisplayPort cable. USB-C monitors can therefore connect directly to your laptop or via a USB-C hub or USB-C or Thunderbolt dock.However, not every USB-C cable supports video transfer so you need to choose the right type of cable.If your external display supports a direct USB-C connection, look for a cable that has at least a data-transfer rate of 5Gbps for 4K at 60Hz or 10Gbps for 6K. For 8K we recommend you use a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 cable. The higher the bandwidth, the less risk of signal degradation.Consider cable length, too. While compression technologies should kick in, the longer your cable, the more the signal can degrade so opt for as short a cable as you require when connecting from your MacBook or dock to a USB-C monitor. A fully featured C-to-C cable that is 1 meter or shorter will work just fine for 95% of what people need. The Cable Matters 10Gbps/100W 1m USB-C Cable is a recommended solution.If you need a longer cable, a 2m Thunderbolt 4 cable, such as the Cable Matters 2m Thunderbolt 4 cable.Some USB-C monitors can provide between 65W to 90W of power back to the laptop, so ensure your USB-C cable supports at least 100W if you want to use your USB-C monitor to power your laptop.

Google has reportedly put Character.ai founder Noam Shazeer in charge of its Gemini AI.Shazeer worked in software engineering roles at Google for almost 18 years before leaving to found his own company. Now hes returning to co-lead Googles Gemini AI efforts alongside Jeff Dean and Orial Vinyals, The Information reported, quoting an internal memo.The move follows the signing of a deal between Google and Character.ai earlier this month.Google provided the startup with more funding in return for a non-exclusive license for its current LLM technology.Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas with whom he cofounded Character.ai in 2021 were expected to join Google as part of the deal.Other Character.ai employees were expected to stay with the company, though, expanding on the startups products, with the companys general counsel, Dominic Perella, stepping in the role of interim CEO.LexicaArt co-founder Sharif Shameem resurfaced an old anecdote about Shazeers hiring interview with Google during which he reportedly described a better way to correct spellings than the one Google was then using.Shazeer is well respected in the field of AI, and has co-authored several research papers on the topic including important ones on LaMDA, PaLM, and ST-MoE.Both LaMDA and PaLM have been heavily used by Google in its products and the company further expects to integrate Gemini into its products.Google is not the only one courting expertise from startups. Rival cloud service providers such as Microsoft and AWS have also signed deals with smaller AI companies to either acquire the team behind their products, or their technology.One of the biggest examples is Microsofts investment into OpenAI, following which Microsoft started integrating GPT-powered Copilots into all its products.AWS and Oracle, too, have heavily invested into Anthropic and Cohere respectively in order to better their generative AI services on offer.

Weve all been there. Youre working on a document or a spreadsheet, or using email, and BAM! One of your Microsoft Office applications starts acting weird or stops responding.Please relax, and dont give in to panic or upset. This sort of thing does occur from time to time, and it is often quite easy to repair.Common issues with Microsoft Office appsWhether you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or a perpetual-license version of Office (such as Office 2019 or 2021), these are some typical problems you might encounter that would necessitate a repair operation:App wont launch, or hangs shortly after launch (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)App reports an error after attempting an update, or update wont workApp runs sluggishly or on-screen updates dont match keyboard inputsStyles or formatting doesnt work properly or cant be changedFile save (or Save as) doesnt workExcel doesnt provide access to or recognize some/all formulasIndeed, there are lots of ways Office components can and sometimes do go wrong. When such things happen, thats when repairs can help.How to repair Microsoft OfficeIn this story, Ill take you through a series of progressively aggressive (and more time-consuming) repairs for Windows-based Office apps. At each step in the path, I assume the preceding items in the sequence havent worked.Spoiler alert! The absolute worst case requires running a cleanup tool on the current Office installation, followed by a clean install of a new copy of Office. That has never failed in my experience, any time Ive had to go that far.That said, lets start with Step 1. In many cases, this will be the only step in the sequence. Why? Because it fixes many of the ails and gotchas that can occasionally bedevil Microsoft Office.Step 1: Close all apps and reboot your PCThis technique usually fixes one of the most common causes for Office issues: updating Office while apps or applications in the suite are open. The installer/updater can get hornswoggled when this happens, and Office instability can result.If you decide to update Office, the best thing to do is to exit all Office apps or applications first, apply the updates, then reboot the PC when the updates are finished. Then you can be relatively sure that everything will work as it should when you next open Office apps for continuing use. For an illustrative war story on this topic, see my July 9, 2024 blog post Word Gets Seriously Weird.Step 2: Run the Office Quick Repair toolAll Office installations include a built-in repair tool. Thats a good place to go if a simple reboot doesnt fix what ails Office.Subscription-based versions of Office may be accessed through Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Find your Microsoft 365 or Office 365 installation in the list. If you click on the ellipsis at its right, as shown in Figure 1, youll see two options: Modify and Uninstall.Figure 1: In the Installed apps list, click the ellipsis to the right of a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 item and select Modify.Ed Tittel / IDGSelect Modify, and the Microsoft Office repair dialog will open, as shown in Figure 2.Figure 2: The Office repair dialog offers two options: Quick Repair and Online Repair.Ed Tittel / IDGFor perpetual-license versions of Office (e.g., Office 2021, 2019, or something older) youll need to start in Control Panel > Programs and Features and right-click on any Office component. Then select Modify from the pop-up menu, at which point the same Microsoft Office repair dialog shown in Figure 2 will open.As you can see, there are two radio buttons in the Office repair tool: Quick Repair and Online Repair. Youll want to try them in that order. (Online Repair is the subject of the next step in this sequence.)For the record, Quick Repair uses local files from your PC to attempt its fixes (no download required). As its name suggests, Online Repair downloads known, good, working files from Microsoft servers to do likewise. Online Repair takes longer but uses a guaranteed source that may overcome local file issues that could otherwise stymie repairs.However you get to the Microsoft Office repair dialog box, you should attempt its Quick Repair first. Select the Quick Repair radio button and then click the Repair button at the bottom right. The tool will ask you to confirm that youre ready to start, as shown in Figure 3.Figure 3: You must click Repair one more time to actually start that process.Ed Tittel / IDGWhen permission is explicitly granted, the repair tool grinds through its paces to attempt repairs using local files. While this process is underway, the progress bar shown in Figure 4 will cycle back and forth.Figure 4: As repairs are underway, youll see the blue segment cycle back and forth inside the progress bar at the bottom of the window.Ed Tittel / IDGWhen the Quick Repair tool is finished, a completion notice (or an error message) will appear on your PC. Figure 5 shows a successful completion.Figure 5: If the repair completes without errors, youll see a simple Done repairing! at its conclusion.Ed Tittel / IDGAlthough the status information in Figure 5 says You can now close this window and use your programs, you may instead decide to reboot your PC before returning to work inside Office.If you received an error message or the Quick Repair doesnt result in a working Office installation, you can re-run the Microsoft Office repair tool using the Online Repair option instead. In that case, proceed to Step 3.Step 3: Use the Office Online Repair ToolI wont go through every step of the Online Repair tools progression. Why? Because its essentially the same as the Quick Repair sequence shown in Figures 2 through 5.On my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme laptop (8th Gen/Coffee Lake CPU, 32 GB RAM, Samsung OEM PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi LAN connection 802.11ax), Quick Repair took between 3 and 4 minutes. On that same machine, Online Repair took nearly 6 minutes. (It took 150 seconds just to get to the Please stay online notification shown in Figure 6.)Figure 6: The Online Repair tool shows progress during its download process.Ed Tittel / IDGWhen the Online Repair is complete, it shows an all set message and flashes a notification that you can return to work using Office apps as well. The former appears in Figure 7.Figure 7: The Online Repair tool announces successful completion with Youre all set.Ed Tittel / IDGIf running the Online Repair tool doesnt result in a working Office environment, or if it emits an error message instead of the foregoing status, youll need to move onto Step 4. In my experience using the Quick and Online Repair tools, only 1 in 5 or so Office troubleshooting incidents have required another step.Step 4: Try Microsoft SaRAMicrosoft SaRA is the shorthand name for the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant. Microsoft itself uses this program for troubleshooting. Indeed, if you call Microsoft Support or engage with them via online chat, they may ask you to run this web-based tool (or run it for you, as circumstances may dictate).The basic web UI for SaRA for Office appears in Figure 8. As you can see, it also supports tabs for Outlook, Teams, and Advanced Diagnostics as well. If youre still troubleshooting, you will know which one(s) to explore. There are five Outlook buttons, three Teams buttons, and five Advanced Diagnostics buttons (of which the ROI Full Scan is probably the most helpful) in addition to the seven general Office buttons visible in Figure 8.Figure 8: The Office tab for SaRA offers options for Excel startup and general Office issues.Ed Tittel / IDGPlease note: this tool helps only with issues related to Office installation, set-up, removal activation and sign-in, along with more focused checks for Excel, Teams, and Outlook issues on the other tabs. If none of these fit your situation, move along to Step 5.Otherwise, work your way through the various Office buttons in the SaRA UI shown in Figure 8, and explore the other tabs (Outlook, Teams, and Advanced Diagnostics) as well. If some particular buttons text addresses your specific issue, SaRA can probably help. If not, youll need to advance to Step 5.Step 5: Wax off, wax on (remove and replace Office)If you have to go this far during actual Office repairs, my condolences. Youre probably feeling pretty frustrated by now. Be of good cheer! Were going to download and run a tool that completely obliterates your current Office installation. Then youll download and install a fresh, new installation from the Microsoft Office download page.First, a precautionary detourWhenever you make major changes to a Windows PC and what were about to do surely counts its a good idea to back up your current installation and know how to restore it. That is, unless you already have a current image: I make a fresh one at 9:00 every morning usingMacrium Reflect, and I always keep the Macrium Rescue Disk (a bootable flash drive that knows how to find and restore Macrium image files) handy.Even so, if it were late in the day, I would make a fresh backup myself at this point. On my systems, this typically takes under 15 minutes, so its not a huge wait. (It just took 7 minutes on my test PC.) YMMV.One more thing: if youre running an older version of Office namely Office 2016 or older youll need to save a copy of your Office key in case you need it upon reinstallation. WinAero.com has a handyscriptyou can use to retrieve such keys: make sure you get it, write it to a file, and put it on a USB drive before you go any further down the wax off, wax on path described here. Then youll be able to access it later on, should you need it.Newer versions (and subscriptions) are registered with Microsoft activation servers online, so those keys can find themselves, as it were.Download and run OffScrubFirst, download Microsofts automated tool for Office clean-up from the Support page named Uninstall Office automatically. Its named SetupProd_OffScrub.exe, so Im in the habit of calling it OffScrub. Once you install and run that file, youll see it uses an older, .exe-based incarnation of the SaRA tool to do its specific thing namely, to remove all traces of any existing Office installations on the PC where its run.The first thing it does is to install a slimmed-down version of SaRA. It asks for permission to install before commencing, then asks again for agreement when the installer gets up and running, as shown in Figure 9.Figure 9: Before you can run any SaRA tools, you must agree to its license terms.Ed Tittel / IDGClick I agree as shown above, after which Windows may request permission to install a supporting DLL. Agree to that if it appears. (It will not if the DLL is already present on the target PC.)Finally, the SaRA interface for OffScrub appears, as shown in Figure 10. This particular PC is running a subscription version (type = Click to Run); perpetual versions will appear as Office 2019 or 2021 (or something older, if thats what youve got). Click the checkbox to remove the corresponding Office installation, then click the Next button (lower right) to proceed, as shown in Figure 10.Figure 10: Check the Office installation you wish to remove, then click Next to proceed.Ed Tittel / IDGWhen you click Next, OffScrub gets to work. First, it detects the chosen installation (this took under a minute on the X1 Extreme), uninstalls the chosen Office files (10 minutes or so), and cleans up everything related it can find in the registry and in the Windows file system (12+ minutes). Then, finally, your old install of Office is gone, gone, gone.Once OffScrub has finished, you must then reinstall Office. If youre running a subscription or current perpetual edition, you can visit the Microsoft support page Download and install or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 and follow its instructions.If youre running an older version of Office, youll need to lay hands on the right installer. If you dont have it, you can use the HeiDoc.netMicrosoft Windows and Office ISO Download Toolto grab the version you need. I just checked: it still works for Office versions from 2010 through 2019.The end of the Office repair road?If Office still doesnt work after the wax off, wax on maneuver, youve got bigger problems than you thought. That means its time to think about an in-place upgrade install for the Windows OS itself as your next move. I wrote a step-by-step story on that very topic for Computerworld in 2018: see How to fix Windows 10 with an in-place upgrade install.Heres hoping this step-by-step guide has helped you solve your Office problems as simply as possible. You dont want to walk this whole road unless you must. (I know, from bitter experience.) Good luck!This article was initially published in April 2021 and updated in August 2024.

I wish generative AI (genAI) tools were truly useful. Theyre not. I keep tinkering with the programs ChatGPT, Meta AI, Gemini, etc., etc. Mind you, they look useful if you dont know any better. Their answers sound plausible. But if you look closer, even if you forgive them for their hallucinations that is, lies youll see all too often that the answers they give are wrong.If youre operating at, say, a high-school-grade report level, genAI answers are fine. (Sorry, teachers.) But if youre digging deep into a subject, which is where I live, its another story.I know more than the average large language model (LLM) about subjects such as Linux and open-source software. What genAI can tell you about those subjects might sound right, but the deeper you dive into the details, the poorer the information.Indeed, all too often, the end result is annoying and obnoxiously wrong. Worse still, its erratically wrong. If I could count on its answers being mediocre, but reasonably accurate, I could work around it. I cant.This isnt just my take. AsBusinessWeekreported, many seriousGPT-4 users are finding it increasingly lazier and dumber.Others agree. As one person put it on Reddit recently, ChatGPT 3 and 4 today are much less effective and helpfulthan when I signed up for pro 1 year ago. That sounds about right.In my book, even the best genAI chatbot,Perplexity, seems to be going downhill. One of the things I liked about Perplexity was that it would give me sources for its observations. I found it useful when I could think of it as a turbo-powered search engine. In the last few days, though, its been getting flaky, and I can no longer count on it pointing out where it found the information it repackaged for me.Why is this happening? Im not an AI developer, but I pay close attention to the field and see at least two major reasons theyre beginning to fail.The first is the quality of the content used to create the major LLMs has never been that good. Many include material from such quality websites as Twitter, Reddit, and 4Chan.As Googles AI Overview showed earlier this year, the results can be dreadful. AsMIT Technology Review noted, it came up with suchpoor quality answersas users [shoud]add glue to pizzaoreat at least one small rock a day, and that former US president Andrew Johnsonearned university degreesbetween 1947 and 2012, despite dying in 1875.Unless you glue rocks into your pizza, those are silly, harmless examples, but if you need the right answer, its another matter entirely. Take, for example, the lawyer whose legal paperworkincluded information from AI-made-up cases. The judges were not amused.If you want tosex chat with genAI tools,which appears to be one of the most popular uses for ChatGPT, accuracy probably doesnt matter that much to you. Getting the right answers, though, is what matters to me and should matter to anyone who wants to use AI for business.As the genAI giants continue searching for more data, this problem will only worsen.AnEpoch AI study found thatwell run out of high-quality data by as early as 2026.That leads to the second problem. Today, more than ever, genAI-produced content is replacing expert human content. The result isnt just that the bad data pushes out the good; its more insidious than that.A recentNaturepaper found that indiscriminately learning from data produced by other models causes model collapse a degenerative process where, over time, models forget the true underlying data distribution, even in the absence of a shift in the distribution over time. I just like to call this Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO).Since I see no chance that companies will stop using genAI to produce documents for a fraction of the cost of real subject matter experts and experienced writers, quality will only continue downhill.We might, believe it or not, already be at peak AI as far as quality goes. Isnt that a scary thought?Now, I am not an AI luddite. Special-purpose genAI chatbots based on LLMs dedicated to a particular topic, such as troubleshooting a program or spotting a potential cancer, are already very useful. Other uses, such asAI-driven non-player characters in online games, will improve gameplay, andAI friends for lonely people, such as ElliQ, couldhelp many folks.But as a way to replace knowledge workers, which all too many companies seem intent upon, forget about it. Except forCEOs they could be replaced by AI chatbots.I doubt many people would notice much of a difference except it would save companies a ton of money.

As the EU does its deluded best toturn iOS into Android, the Apple ecosystem is focused onwhat really matters to business users: security, privacy, and platform integrity. Thats why enterprise tech leaders need to know that Apple MDM and security vendorJamf has got even closer to leading ID tech purveyorOkta.Jamf and Okta have worked together for years and in 2023 became the first to support ApplesSingle Sign-On (SSO) frameworkon Macs, following a similar introduction on iPhones and iPads shortly before.Identity, management, and securityWhats new is that Jamf has joined Oktas Elevate partners program, meaning the two firms will be able to work even more closely together on offering combined services to enterprise customers, while also building new service offerings.Henry Patel, Chief Strategy Officer at Jamf, explained: With Okta as the identity provider and Jamf as the management and security solution, joint customers can offer their end users uninterrupted and productive workflows, anywhere and anytime.The point of this combination wont be lost on IT.Jamf can deliver the MDM features Apple fleets need, while also protecting against security threats, spanning all the way from the endpoint to the enterprise core. The addition of core support for Oktas rapidly evolving collection of tools to protect and manage identity gives customers business-class management and protection of their device fleets.What the joint solution providesAs the companies put it, theirjoint solution lets customers handle all the following tasks:Enhance security with multifactor authentication (MFA) and passwordless single sign-on (PSSO).Enable seamless device enrollment with Enrollment SSO.Improve productivity with uninterrupted workflows, requiring fewer sign-ins with PSSO. No one likes to enter logins more often than they need to; it damages the user experience and rattles concentration.Ensure continuous conditional access, adjusting user access permissions based on changes in security status.Provide easy access to company resources and apps.Conditional access is particularly important in modern working environments.Managing complex remote work environmentsWhile there remain some well publicized holdouts against the distributed future of hybrid working, the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend showed the inevitability of workplace changes over time.While many in management resist whats inevitable,working patterns are changingall the same. That meansmore and more people will be working from where they areon the device they choose at the time they find most productive.The problem with that scenario is that enterprises must figure out how to protect their data outside of traditional perimeter security models, and thats what conditional access tries to do. Its a system that relies on signals such as location, time, device, or user to generate an insight into the extent to which a device can be trusted when it is used to try to gain access to company data.Theres a mountain of work that has taken place around conditional access across the last few years, and this taskaccelerated during the pandemic. ApplesDeclarative Device Management tech, Jamfsupportfor Microsoft Intune, and inclusion of Jamf at theAzure Marketplaceare all testament to the degree to which tech is building rock-solid identity and access solutions, whileSSO andpasskeysshow the user focus inherent to all these attempts.Enterprise-class simplicityIdeally, I suppose, device and endpoint security would be something that happened without any user involvement. (People tend to be the weakest link in security, after all.) And it is good tosee that kind of future being realizedacross Macs, iPhones, and iPads.Now, having said that even SSO shows there will always be some need for user interaction but reading between the lines of the Jamf/Okta announcement, its hard not to detect the intention: to deliverenterprise-grade securitythats simple and easy to use just like any of Apples own consumer technologies, protection that enables workers to focus on what they do, while giving IT the degree of control, security and identity provision they require. All of this deliveredwithout an ounce of kernel access like anenterprise-class platform done right, some might say.Please follow meonLinkedIn,Mastodon, or join me in theAppleHolics bar & grillgroup on MeWe.

Ah, the ever-present annual conundrum for any Pixel-appreciating Android aficionado: To upgrade or not to upgrade?Googles latest Pixel 9 devices are here earlier than ever this year, and while they may not feel like night-and-day departures from the previous Pixel models, they pack plenty of interesting improvements.Its certainly enough to be tempting and, potentially, to be a truly significant step up from your current Google-made Pixel gadget. But is it actually worth your while to get a Pixel 9, or are you better off hanging onto your current Pixel phone for a while longer?Having lived with the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL for a full week now, thanks to review units provided on loan from Google and coming from the perspective of someone who personally owns a Pixel 8 Pro, has owned plenty of Pixels before that, and has spent a significant amount of time with every single Pixel model to date lemme tell ya: There isnt a simple, one-size-fits-all answer.But there is some practical guidance I can give you based on my experiences with these latest Googley gizmos and my intimate knowledge of their assorted Pixel predecessors. And the most important variable to consider is which specific Pixel youre packin in your suspiciously sticky palm.So think it through with me, wont ya? And whether you end up snagging the latest and greatest Pixel or stickin with your current model, be sure to mosey your way over to my free Pixel Academy e-course next. Itll teach you all sorts of useful new stuff your phone can do for you, no matter which specific Pixel you end up possessing.Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8 (or Pixel 8 Pro)Well start with the most recent generation of Pixel devices the same generation Ive personally got in my oversized person-pocket this very minute.The Pixel 9 Pro (left) with the Pixel 8 Pro (right) different styles but similar sizes.JR Raphael, IDG(With this and all the subsequent comparisons, by the way, the same general advice applies regardless of whether youre thinking about the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, or the Pixel 9 Pro XL. This year, all of those devices are fairly similar and comparable in terms of their core qualities and capabilities with the main differences being that the Pro-level Pixel 9 models have better displays, the added presence of a telephoto camera for extra-exceptional zooming (along with the new Zoom Enhance feature for extra-powerful post-capture cropping and zooming), and a better front-facing camera for shameless selfies. And, of course, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is bigger.)This ones a somewhat two-pronged answer: Whether youve got the Pixel 8 Pro or its smaller Pixel 8 sibling, your not-even-quite-one-year-old Pixel is still perfectly peachy and still set to get Android updates for another solid six years yet. Youve got no particularly pressing reason to make the leap to the Pixel 9, and youd certainly be fine to stick with your current phone for another year or two at a bare minimum, maybe even longer.That being said, as someone with a Pixel-8-generation phone, theres a decent chance youre a tech enthusiast and the type of person who simply likes having the best available product. So if youre looking for a reason to upgrade, Ill give you a handful (with advance apologies to your wallet):Hardware design: Its not a make-or-break update or anything thatll have a massive impact on your day-to-day life, but the Pixel 9 devices really do have a sleek new look n feel to em thats quite enticing. It makes the previous-gen models feel a bit dated in comparison, once you get used to it. Google also says the new body makes the Pixel 9 twice as durable as its predecessors a claim thats tough to validate in any scientific way, but take it for what its worth.Size without compromise: If youre someone who prefers a smaller device but also wants the best of the best, the Pixel 9 marks the first time in a long time that youve got the ability to go compact without making any other sacrifices via the smaller but otherwise equal Pixel 9 Pro (non-XL version).Satellite backup: The Pixel 9 series includes two years of free access to Googles new emergency satellite system, which lets you contact emergency services and share your location even if youre in an area without regular cellular service. You probably (and hopefully!) wont take advantage of that often, if ever, but its certainly a nice bit of added assurance to have.Pixel Screenshots: The new and presently Pixel-9-exclusive app encourages you to capture screenshots whenever you see something you want to remember and then makes it easy to search through, ask questions about, and generally revisit that info later. Its one of the few genuinely clever and practical applications of generative AI right now, and it really is a useful addition. (Its possible that the app could come to older Pixel devices eventually, though Google has yet to confirm any specific plans around that.)Call Notes: The other genuinely useful AI-powered addition on the Pixel 9 series is Googles smart system for recording voice calls and serving up text transcripts and summaries right after. While you can emulate Call Notes on any Android device, its inevitably gonna be far less of a smooth, simple, and seamless setup. (Again, its possible this feature may make its way to older Pixel models at some point, but we dont know for sure if or when that might happen yet.)The Pixel 9 Call Notes feature (left) and Pixel Screenshots system (right) are productivity-aiding highlights of Googles new Pixel devices.JR Raphael, IDGOne big reason not to factor into your Pixel upgrading decision, if you ask me, is the thing that Google is emphasizing most prominently about the new Pixel 9 models and thats AI, in a more general sense, and the prominent new role played by the companys next-gen Gemini virtual assistant on these devices.Using the Pixel 9 at home, at work, and out and about in the real world, Gemini continues to be more befuddling than beneficial. Its incapable of performing the types of tasks most of us actually want and need from a smartphone assistant a.k.a. the stuff Google Assistant used to handle so easily and the new generative-AI-powered features it adds into the equation just arent all that compelling, reliable, or relevant for the Android assistant environment.The highly touted Gemini Live conversational chatbot experience might be the most effective illustration of all. This overview of the Gemini Live experience pretty much sums it up: Its awkward, factually challenged, and very much a solution in search of a problem. You might enjoy playing around with it for a few minutes, but odds are, you wont be pulling it up and conversing with it often not for any productivity-related purposes, at least. (And remember, too: The Gemini Live feature is available only with a paid Gemini Advanced subscription, which you get for a year with any Pixel 9 Pro purchase but otherwise costs 20 bucks a month to continue using.)And hey, who knows? Maybe thisll evolve and improve over time. But you shouldnt buy a piece of technology based on its theoretical future potential. You should buy it based on what it can do today. And today, theres no sugarcoating it: The Gemini AI experience just isnt great.(The good news is that while the Pixel 9 does still signify the beginning of the end of Google Assistant as an Android phone and tablet entity, you can still opt to switch back to Google Assistant on all the Pixel 9 models as of now, if youre ever so inclined.)To be clear: These really are phenomenal phones absolutely the best Pixels Ive ever used and arguably among the best all-around smartphones created to date. But theyre those things in spite of all the overhyped AI hullabaloo, not because of it.That aside, the Pixel 9s camera setup is a nice little bump up from what the Pixel 8 series offered, and the new Add Me feature for group photos is a nifty trick and something you might appreciate once in a while. The Pro models also have a much better selfie camera than what was present in last years phones. If you take a lot of selfies and care about their quality, this might be significant for you. By and large, though, unless youre the sort of person who stares intently at side-by-side images to search for subtle differences, I doubt youll notice much of a meaningful change in the types of non-selfie photos you get from these phones compared to the Pixel 8 models.Now, dont get me wrong: The Pixel 9s camera capabilities are incredibly impressive! But so is the camera setup on the Pixel 8. For most common purposes and in terms of real-world impact, the difference is relatively subtle from one generation to the next. Its a welcome bump forward, in other words, but we were already starting at such a high level that the realistic gains here arent exactly gonna be life-changing for most of us.The same goes for other internal upgrades like a 35% brighter display and 20% longer battery life, according to Googles estimations. I dont doubt that these claims are accurate, and they represent nice little boosts that any Pixel owner would eagerly accept. I just think youd be hard-pressed to really be aware of em in everyday use, and I wouldnt treat em as significant factors in any upgrade decision. The verdict, in short: If youre itchin for something new and youre the type of person who geeks out over the finer points of mobile technology (hiya!), youll be thrilled with the Pixel 9 upgrade coming from a Pixel-8-series phone. But at the same time, its certainly not a critical or particularly monumental upgrade, practically speaking, and theres nothing in the new phone that you need or thatll make a massive difference in your day-to-day life. The purely sensible advice would be to hang onto your current phone for a while longer though particularly with the current trade-in values for Pixel-8-series phones, you can give yourself plenty of excuses for making the leap now, if you want. And as a fellow Pixel 8 series owner myself, I dont think youd regret it one bit if you do.Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 8aGot Googles most recent midrange Pixel model? Moving to the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro would absolutely be an improvement for you, but thats in large part because youre moving from a more budget-minded proposition into premium flagship terrain.The regular Pixel 9 (left) may be comparable in size to the Pixel 8a (right), but beyond the surface, its a whole different story.JR Raphael, IDGThat means youll get a fancier-feeling and more premium phone body (for whatever thats worth to you), along with a higher-quality screen and plenty of extra bells and whistles including a slew of new camera-related goodies.The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are also in a completely different league when it comes to processing power, which can make the phone feel a fair bit snappier. That being said, the Pixel 8a is certainly no slouch with performance for most average-mammal needs, and you may or may not notice any obvious difference in your day-to-day use (especially if you arent doing a ton of multitasking and other high-resource-requiring work).The biggest question to ask yourself is why you went with the Pixel 8a in the first place. If its because of the price and value, then moving up to the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro probably isnt an advisable move. Your 8a still has a solid six and a half years (!) of active software support under its belt, and nothing about this upgrade would dramatically revolutionize your core user experience or what your phones capable of doing outside of photography, at least, but even there, were talking more niceties and added abilities as opposed to core competency.If past trends hold true, meanwhile, well see the next midrange Pixel the Pixel 9a sometime next spring. So thats also on the way as a possible upgrade within your current a-series path, should you want to move to something new but stay within the same pricing range. The verdict, in short: If youre jonesing for a more premium Pixel experience, youll be delighted by the move to a Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro but thats mostly because youre hopping from one product tier to another. For most people who bought the 8a in the first place, sticking with that phone for another year or two, at a minimum, will make more sense.Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 7 (or Pixel 7 Pro)Still rockin one of 2022s Pixel 7 series devices? You fall into a fun gray area of whether an upgrade to a Pixel 9 model would be worth your while.The Pixel 9 Pro (left) is about the same size as the Pixel 7 Pro (right), though with a much rounder, sleeker-seeming body.JR Raphael, IDGAs the last Pixel before Google moved from a three-year to its current seven-year software update promise, your device is only slated to receive Android operating systems updates through next fall October of 2025. That means you could easily wait another year (or arguably even two) to make the leap to a new phone, and I dont think youd be missing out on anything incredibly important if you did.That being said, youd absolutely appreciate the same series of Pixel-9-introduced improvements we mentioned a moment ago, when talking about Pixel 8 owners. In addition to that, youd gain the ability to use your phones Face Unlock system everywhere as a secure way to sign into banking apps or anywhere else authentication is required which is something that isnt possible in the Pixel 7 series.That improvement alone was what convinced me to pull the trigger on a Pixel 8 last year, when that capability first came into the equation. Small of a detail as it may seem compared to the more attention-grabbing Pixel tricks, its a real game-changer and something that has a meaningful, ongoing impact on your day-to-day life likely multiple times every single day.Youll also gain the unusual advantage of an on-device thermometer, which seemed silly when it first debuted with the Pixel 8 series last year but has since grown into a valuable addition now that it supports actual human temperature-taking. We can never find regular thermometers in my house, and even when we do, theyre frustratingly inconsistent and inaccurate in their readings. The Pixel 9s thermometer (on the Pro models only) is always there and ready, and its been incredibly consistent with its measurements in my experience. (As luck would have it, an under-the-weather kiddo has given me plenty of opportunities to test it out.)Still, this one mostly comes down to a matter of added niceties and conveniences of want over need. If you want it, its well worthwhile, and youll certainly see enough of a difference to justify the change. But you definitely dont need it, and if you arent feeling the urge to get something new, theres really no reason not to stick with what youve got for another year or so. The verdict, in short: The Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro would be a nice upgrade for you but by no means a necessary one. Ask yourself how much you truly want one of the devices and how much you can stomach the cost taking into account any trade-in variables for whatd be an inessential, if also enjoyable and efficiency-enhancing, purchase.Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 7aThe story with the Pixel 7a is honestly pretty similar to what we said a moment ago with the Pixel 8a though with the added consideration that the 7a will only receive Android OS updates through May of 2026.That means, in all likelihood, that itll get this years upcoming Android 15 update, get next years Android 16 update, and then reach the end of its road in terms of ongoing OS support. Thats a decent amount of life left, if you arent in any rush to jump into something new. And even when you do replace your current phone, you may prefer to stay on the midrange path and go with the more affordable Pixel 8a (or a future Pixel a model) instead.The Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro would be a significant upgrade from the 7a in every possible measure, and youd absolutely notice the difference. But your current phone is still fine. And just like with the Pixel 8a, the real question here is how badly you want to move to a more premium, high-end phone experience and how much youre willing to spend to get it. The verdict, in short: For most 7a owners, theres no pressing reason to upgrade though going from that phone to the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro would be a substantial and immediately noticeable improvement, if you simply wanted to give yourself the added advantages of the more premium Pixel path without any more waiting.Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 6 (or Pixel 6 Pro)Pixel 6 pals, youre next! And if youve been reading everything up through this point, youve probably got a pretty good guess of where were going with this.With each subsequent generation of Pixel, the argument for making the upgrade gets more compelling and thats absolutely true in the case of the Pixel 6.The Pixel 6 is set to receive current OS updates only through this coming October, which means youll receive Android 15 soon but then likely not see any additional OS updates after. That puts a firm, but not quite imminent, shelf life on your device, and youd be well-advised to consider a new phone by sometime next year ahead of Android 16s release at the very latest.As for right now, upgrading to a Pixel 9 model would give you some noticeable, meaningful improvements including the presence of Face Unlock for authentication (a huge quality-of-life upgrade, if you ask me!) along with a much snappier and more consistent fingerprint sensor as a backup option and some fairly significant camera upgrades. And, of course, youd gain access to all the other productivity-boosting Pixel-9-specific elements we mentioned in the first section of this story. The verdict, in short: You could hold off one more year, if youd rather, but upgrading to the Pixel 9 now would be a substantial upgrade for you and the time is nigh for when such a move will become highly advisable. If youre ready now, youll be delighted with the change the Pixel 9 brings you. If not, you could put the purchase off one more year and go with the Pixel 10 in 2025 instead.Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 6aOnce again, the Pixel 6a situation is pretty similar to what weve described with other Pixel a models though here, were looking at a two-year-old device down to its final year of active OS update support.Practically speaking, the 6as OS update support end-date of July 2025 means that itll likely receive this years upcoming Android 15 update and then reach the end of the road for any additional OS updates beyond that. Even with security updates still in the picture, it wouldnt be fully optimal and advisable to continue using past that point.Still, after Android 15, we likely wont see another major Android OS update until sometime next fall and by then, therell be a whole new crop of Pixel products to choose from. So you could easily hold off a little while longer and then think about getting either a new midrange model or one of next years Pixel 10 phones as a replacement.Once more, the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro would be a significant upgrade in every possible measure, and youd absolutely notice and appreciate the difference. But, again, your current phone is still reasonably okay if a little long in the tooth. The verdict, in short: The argument for upgrading from a Pixel 6a is a strong one, given how much things have moved forward in the time since that phones release but still, this is far from a must-upgrade scenario. And, just like with the Pixel 8a, the real question is if you even want to move to the higher-end Pixel path whenever you do upgrade or if youd rather stick with the less expensive midrange a phones. Thats a decision only you can make.Google Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 5 or any earlier Pixel modelThis last Pixel 9 upgrade decision is the easiest: If youre using the Pixel 5 or any Pixel model earlier than that, you should strongly consider stepping up to the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro now.These older Pixels are no longer actively being supported with current OS updates or even security patches, and all current features and added conveniences aside, that means theyre no longer advisable to use when it comes to the ever-important areas of optimal privacy, security, and performance for your phone. The verdict, in short: Its time for a new device, plain and simple, and the Pixel 9 models will be a tremendous, night-and-day leap forward for you in every possible measure. If youre on an older Pixel a model, you could consider going with the Pixel 8a instead, should you wish to spend a little less dough. But with any older Pixel, the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro would be the best upgrade you could make right now, and you would be positively thrilled with the change (in addition to being maximally protected, in terms of being on the most current software possible and avoiding any privacy-, security-, or performance-related liabilities).Wait what about the Pixel Fold?Using the first-gen Pixel Fold? The advice above doesnt really apply to you.Folding phones are their own beast, and its a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison to try to stack them up next to a standard slab-style device at this point.If you simply arent happy with your Fold experience and think youd rather go back to a more standard sort of phone form, youd be quite pleased with a move to a Pixel 9 model.Otherwise, stay tuned for more on the second-gen Pixel Fold a.k.a. the Pixel 9 Pro Fold soon. It isnt slated to ship until sometime in September, and Google consequently hasnt made review units of it available for assessment quite yet.Dont let yourself miss an ounce of Pixel magic. Come start my free Pixel Academy e-course to discover tons of fresh hidden features and time-saving tricks for whatever Pixel phone youre using.

From the editors of Computerworld, this enterprise buyers guide helps IT staff understand what the various remote IT support tools can do for their organizations and how to choose the right solution.

Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it will begin testing its controversial Recall AI search and recall feature for Windows Insiders in October. Earlier, it was slated for launch in June.As previously shared on June 13, we have adjusted our release approach to leverage the valuable expertise of our Windows Insider community prior to making Recall available for all Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft said in a blog post. With a commitment to delivering a trustworthy and secure Recall (preview) experience on Copilot+ PCs for customers, were sharing an update that Recall will be available to Windows Insiders starting in October.The Recall feature captures screenshots of on-screen activity, allowing users to search for information they saw or searched previously.However, it immediately raised concerns among security researchers that automatically capturing images without explicit user consent violates user privacy and could make sensitive personal information more accessible to attackers.In response to these concerns, Microsoft stated in June that the Recall feature would be disabled by default and pledged to implement additional security enhancements.We are adjusting the release model for Recall to leverage the expertise of the Windows Insider community to ensure the experience meets our high standards for quality and security, the software major said in June.For features such as Recall, ideally the data should be stored and processed completely on device locally and data shouldnt leave the laptop, said Neil Shah, VP for research and partner at Counterpoint Research. This will drive the real on-device, privacy-centric AI promise. If the model has to learn from users data and habits, it should also reside locally with the flexibility to encrypt the data and the model on-device.Microsoft has not specified a timeline for a broader release of Recall to all Windows PCs that meet the system requirements for Copilot+ PCs.Copilot+ PCs are a new class of Windows devices from various manufacturers that can run AI workloads. Microsoft unveiled Recall running on these devices at an event in May.The timing of the Recall features wider release could be critical, particularly with the upcoming holiday season. Consumers may be more inclined to purchase new devices if Recall is made available across all compatible PCs by then.Why is Recall a concern?Windows Recall is a new feature that is designed to come with new Copilot+ PCs, which Microsoft announced in May. This AI-powered tool takes screenshots of your screen every five seconds allowing you to search through a log of your past activities for up to three months.The screenshots are stored and processed on your device, secured with encryption. You have the option to exclude specific apps and websites from being recorded, and you can pause the Recall feature whenever needed.The concerns arise from two aspects. First, it is turned on by default, as per the initial announcement, and can record and store user data without obtaining explicit consent. Second, it does not conceal or hide sensitive data including passwords or financial data, that might appear on your screen.Device makers are keen to demonstrate that users can run AI models on their local PCs, bypassing the need for cloud-based services from companies like OpenAI. Apple has similarly equipped its latest MacBooks with the ability to run AI models locally.However, some generative AI-centric features for CoPilot will require cloud-based processing for tasks like information retrieval, search, or querying, Shah said. Ensuring that data remains securewhether on the device, in transit, or in the cloudwill be a key challenge. This aspect will also be a critical focus and differentiator for companies like Microsoft compared to Apple in the PC space.Security has become an increasing priority for Microsoft, especially after a Department of Homeland Security report in April raised concerns about Chinas breach of US government officials Microsoft-based email accounts.As Microsoft moves forward with the testing and potential rollout of Recall, the company will need to balance innovation with user privacy and security concerns, especially as it positions itself in the competitive AI and PC markets.