Brought to you by Uniq:The Lyden Collection features iPhone cases, AirPods cases, and magnetic cardholders, all crafted from premium vegan leatherette. Designed with both style and sustainability in mind, this collection adds a sophisticated touch while embodying our dedication to eco-conscious living. Check out the collection. Flashier features like camera upgrades, faster performance, and bigger screens usually take the spotlight when it comes to iPhone. However, Apples smartphone has evolved with powerful safety tools over the years. Heres a look at 6 safety features that offer real peace of mind with iPhone 16 and how you test them out or make sure thyere enabled.While the features below arent exclusive to iPhone 16, theyll be new for anyone upgrading from an iPhone 13, 13 Pro or earlier.iPhone 14 and 14 Pro were the first devices to get capabilities like Emergency SOS via satellite and Roadside Assistance via satellite with two years of access included for free. Then in fall 2023, Apple extended that so both iPhone 14 and 15 users will have the emergency services included for free until fall 2025. iPhone 16 users will have those features until fall 2026.Meanwhile features like Crash Detection, Safety Check, and Stolen Device Protection are included with modern iPhones and iOS with no subscription. Lets dig in.iPhone 16: 6 priceless safety featuresEmergency SOS with and without satelliteEmergency SOS on iPhone has been available for many years but the more recent enhancement has been Emergency SOS via satellite. That means even if you dont have WiFi or cellular service, you can request help from emergency services (in supported countries).While hopefully youll never need to use this feature Apple has built a demo into iOS for iPhone 14, 15, and 16 so you can practice using the feature before you need it in a real-life situation. Read our full guide below how how to try it out.How to use iPhone Emergency SOS via satelliteRoadside Assistance via satelliteBeyond calling emergency services, Apple has partnered with AAA and Verizon to deliver Roadside Assistance when youre without a connection.This is another good one to learn about ahead of needing to use the feature check out all the details in our full post: Roadside Assistance via satellite on iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 now works with both AAA and VerizonMessages via satelliteExpanding on Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance via satellite, Apple launched Messages via satellite with iOS 18 that lets users stay in touch with friends and family in the event you dont have WiFi or cell service.Shortly after launching, this feature saved lives during Hurricane Helene. If you find yourself in this situation, iPhone 14 or later will prompt you in the Messages app to connect to a satellite to send a message.Learn more about how this works:Messages via satellite provides lifeline to iPhone owners in Hurricane Helene falloutCrash DetectionThis feature is automatically enabled on iPhone 14, 15, and 16 (Apple Watch 8 and later too). But you can double-check its turned on by heading to Settings > Emergency SOS > Crash Detection.In the event a severe car crash is detected, your iPhone or Apple Watch sounds an alarm and displays an alert. If you dont respond in 20 seconds, your device automatically calls emergency services. But keep in mind this does require a WiFi or cellular connection to work.In the years since it debuted, weve seen a number of scenarios where the feature has saved lives.Apple Watch Crash Detection comes to the rescue yet again: Amazing technology that clearly impacted a persons lifeSafety CheckThis feature is available for any iPhone running iOS 16 or later. Its primarily aimed at those at risk for domestic abuse or similar. Safety Check for iPhone lets users immediately revoke location access others have including apps and also walks users through a security review.You can find this features in Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check or read our full guide below for all the details:Safety Check for iPhone: How to immediately stop sharing location and moreStolen Device ProtectionIn early 2024, we got a new safety feature for iPhone called Stolen Device Protection. The launch came after there was a rise in iPhone thefts in public places like bars.The great thing about the feature is theres very little downside to the user experience while providing a great boost to security.If you dont have it turned on or want to double-check, head to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection.How to turn on iPhone Stolen Device Protection; and should you?Do you have a favorite iPhone safety feature? Have any of these saved the day for you? Share your expereince down in the comments!Brought to you by Uniq:The Lyden Collection features iPhone cases, AirPods cases, and magnetic cardholders, all crafted from premium vegan leatherette. Designed with both style and sustainability in mind, this collection adds a sophisticated touch while embodying our dedication to eco-conscious living. Check out the collection. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Woah.Blast RadiusIn 2018, astronomers took the first-ever picture of a black hole, a fascinating and unprecedented glimpse of an event horizon.And as it turns out, the black hole dubbed M87*and located some 55 million light-years away also let out a massive belch of gamma rays while scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope team, an international collaboration combining data from sensors around the globe, were getting a closer look.The campaign gathered data from 25 terrestrial and orbital telescopes in"We were lucky to detect a gamma-ray flare from M87 during this Event Horizon Telescope's multi-wavelength campaign," said University of Trieste Giacomo Principe, coauthor of a new paper accepted for publication in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, in a statement. "This marks the first gamma-ray flaring event observed in this source in over a decade, allowing us to precisely constrain the size of the region responsible for the observed gamma-ray emission."Violent DelightsThe team is hoping the gamma ray outburst data will help scientists study the "physics surrounding M87s supermassive black hole," according to Principe.The researchers found that the outburst, an energetic flare releasing copious amounts of high-energy radiation, absolutely dwarfed the black hole itself, extending beyond its event horizon by tens of millions of times.The blast lasted for roughly three Earth days, covering an area roughly 170 times the distance from the Sun to the Earth.Scientists believe the flare is the result of material consumed by the black hole interacting with its external magnetic field.Explosions of this type are some of the most violent in the universebut are infamously hard to capture as they are usually only visible in specific wavelengths."The activity of this supermassive black hole is highly unpredictable it is hard to forecast when a flare will occur," said coauthor and Nagoya City University researcher Kazuhiro Hada in a statement.The team found that the "flare region has a complex structure and exhibits different characteristics depending on the wavelength," according to University of Tokyo astroparticle physicist and team member Daniel Mazin.It was such a violent event that even the overall ring structure of the black hole itself appeared to change in relation to the flare, suggesting an intriguing relationship between the two.But there's still a lot we don't understand about the nature of these massive celestial objects."How and where particles are accelerated in supermassive black hole jets is a longstanding mystery," said coauthor and University of Amsterdam professor Sera Markoff. "For the first time, we can combine direct imaging of the near event horizon regions during gamma-ray flares from particle acceleration events and test theories about the flare origins."More on the black hole: Scientists Capture Amazing Image of Black Hole at Center of Our GalaxyShare This Article

OpinionDecember 21, 20245 min readHow Feminism Can Guide Climate Change ActionFeminism gives us the analysis, tools and movement to create a better climate future for everyone. Its time to embrace itBy Laura Turquet, Silke Staab & Brianna Howell edited by Megha Satyanarayana Amr Bo Shanab/Getty ImagesThis year is projected to be the hottest on record. The latest United Nations estimates indicate that, without radical and immediate action, we are headed toward an increasingly unlivable planet with an increase of up to 3.1 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Solving the climate crisis requires urgent, global cooperation.But the yearly global climate meeting (called the Conference of the Parties, or COP) held in November in the petrostate of Azerbaijan upheld the status quo, at best. The current economic system that underpins that status quo is rooted in the extraction of natural resources and exploitation of cheap or unpaid labor, often done by women and marginalized communities. This system therefore drives the climate crisis while perpetuating inequalities based on gender, race and class. It prioritizes the interests of corporations, governments and elites in positions of power and wealth, while destroying the natural environment that poor and marginalized people depend on the most.We need a different tack to move the needle. As gender-equality researchers at the U.N., we see growing evidence that women, girls and gender-diverse people are bearing the brunt of climate change. And that raises a question: What if we approached climate from a feminist perspective?On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Feminism offers an analysis of how inequalities structure our world and therefore drive the climate crisis, among other global concerns. We believe that it provides a vision of a better climate future, and a practical approach for moving towards it. That sound future is not just about ending fossil fuelbased economiesthough that is urgent and necessarybut a more fundamental transformation of our economic and political systems.Women worldwide have unequal access to economic resources, such as jobs, bank accounts, land and technology. This means that when weather patterns change, disrupting infrastructure and public services, they are less able to adapt, recover and rebuild. As a result, their livelihoods and economic security are particularly at risk. U.N. Womens latest research finds that, globally, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty, and 236 million more women and girls into food insecurity, by 2050 under a worst-case scenario. In addition to income poverty, women and girls face rising time poverty. As water, fuel and nutritious food are harder to come by and the health care needs of family members increase, women and girls have to spend more time on unpaid care work. This reduces the time they have to do paid work, go to school or take care of themselves.This toxic combination of time and income poverty has far-reaching, long-term consequences. After years of slow progress in reducing rates of child marriage, for example, this practice is on the rise again in places experiencing environmental stress, as families struggle financially and see early marriage as a form of security for their girls. In drought-prone areas, girls are increasingly likely to drop out of school, as families cannot afford fees and need their girls to contribute to household work, stunting their opportunities for life.The feminist climate justice approach tries to address the interlinked challenges of climate change, gender inequality and social injustice. It is based on the recognition that women and girls who are poor, from lower castes or a marginalized ethnic group, or are disabled, are most affected by disasters and environmental degradation, while their knowledge and contributions to addressing them are consistently sidelined. A feminist climate justice approach elevates their voices and values their contributions to understanding the climate crisis and charting a new way forward. For example, women from Indigenous and local communities have used their traditional knowledge of tree species to lead sustainable forestry initiatives in Colombia; and in Bangladesh, during extreme floods, women relied on traditional rural cooking methods to provide food in remote affected areas.We need to move away from economies based on extraction and pollution, towards ones that are based on regeneration and care for one another and for the environment. These new systems would prioritize the well-being of people and the planet, over profits and elite power, to enable a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive and equitable future. This feminist vision builds on thinking from a diversity of cultural contexts and growing interest in well-being economies. For example, the Buen Vivir (Living Well) paradigm that underpins the development strategies of Bolivia and Ecuador is inspired by Indigenous knowledge and values that promote harmonious relationships between humans and nature. Meanwhile in Canada, a Quality of Life strategy was introduced to support a resilient COVID-19 recovery, focusing on improving key areas of life such as health, social belonging, environmental quality, prosperity and public trust.As detailed in our report Feminist Climate Justice: A Framework for Action, moving towards this vision requires action around four pillars.First, we must recognize women's rights, labor and knowledge. To be effective, climate policymaking needs to take into account the expertise that women, including Indigenous and rural women, bring to bear on issues like preserving ecosystems and environmentally sustainable agriculture. This is essential to avoid the problem of maladaptationwell-intended adaptation projects that either dont work or cause more harm than good.We must redistribute resources away from male-dominated, environmentally harmful economic activities towards those prioritizing womens employment, regeneration and care for both people and ecosystems. The idea of a just transition, which is gaining prominence on the climate agenda, must extend beyond providing new jobs for men laid off from fossil fuel industries to address the longstanding economic disadvantages women and marginalized groups face: persistent wage gaps; vast inequalities in land ownership, labor force participation, access to education, training and technology; and inadequate or absent social protection.We must ensure representation of diverse womens voices in environmental decision-making, whether in social movements, environmental ministries or COP delegations. In civil society, women organizing collectively within and across movements have the right to be heard and see their interests reflected, without being threatened, harassed and even killed for their activism. Ending impunity for violence against human and environmental rights defenders is therefore also essential.And we must repair the impacts of environmental degradationacknowledging that the Global North bears the largest share of responsibility for historical emissionsand guarantee not to repeat those harms. Wealthy countries need to make good on long-standing climate finance commitments and ensure resources get to grassroots womens organizations at the forefront of this crisis. As campaigners chanted at COP28, billions not millions, make polluters pay. Taxing and regulating the corporations that are causing climate chaos in developing countries is necessary as part of reparations.As well as the what of feminist climate justice, the how is equally important. The vast gap between the demands for bold climate action and sluggish government responses raises urgent questions on how to ensure accountability. Given the tensions and conflicts between countries at the moment, the fact that every government comes together each year to negotiate on climate is an achievement not to be dismissed. But still, it feels like we are a million miles from where we need to be. The role of social movementsfeminists, environmentalists, indigenous peoples organizations, youthworking with allies in the UN, governments and progressive business to demand faster, more radical action will be critical. Our hope is that the feminist climate justice framework can help unite a common understanding of the urgency and direction of necessary action across these four pillars to demand a more sustainable future.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.Laura Turquet is deputy chief of research and data at U.N. Women. Follow Turquet on Bluesky lauraturquet.bsky.socialand LinkedInSilke Staab is senior research specialist at U.N. Women. Follow her on Bluesky @silkestaab.bsky.social and LinkedInBrianna Howell is research analyst at U.N. Women. Follow her on LinkedIn

Amazon delays return-to-office mandate for thousands of workers due to space Dec. 19, 2024 at 6:38 am By Spencer Soper, Matt Day and JOHN GITTELSOHN Bloomberg Amazon.com wont have enough space for thousands of employees when they start returning to the office five days a week next month.The company recently told some personnel working in at least seven cities including Austin, Dallas and Phoenix that their return dates will be pushed back as much as four months, according to people familiar with the situation.Seattle-area officesIt was unclear on Thursday morning if any of Amazons Seattle-area offices will see return-to-office delays. In a statement, Amazon said for the vast majority of Amazonians, buildings will be ready on Jan. 2, but for some locations, there may be different timelines. The company said it is communicating directly with employees in those locations.The delay is the latest twist in a return-to-office saga that has roiled Amazons normally heads-down workforce. Some employees say theyre unhappy about being asked to come in full-time when many of their tech industry peers have more flexible work arrangements.Amazon employs more than 350,000 corporate employees worldwide mostly in the U.S. and its not clear precisely how many people are affected by the return-to-office delays. A company spokesperson said the vast majority of employees will have desks starting on Jan. 2. Employees in Dallas were recently told there wouldnt be sufficient space for them all to work five days a week in the office until March or April, one of the people said. Some workers in the companys Midtown Manhattan office in the Lord & Taylor building might not have space for full-time work until May, another person said. Amazon also notified employees in Atlanta, Nashville and Houston that it didnt have sufficient space for them all to return in January, Business Insider reported Monday.When Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy announced the aggressive return-to-work mandate in September, he and other executives said it was necessary to nurture an eroding company culture. But some employees suspect the mandate is an effort to thin the ranks and avoid layoffs and severance payments. Amazon denies this.Employees say they have proved in recent years that teams can be effective while working remotely. Some of those affected by the RTO delay reacted with relief evidence that the five-day office mandate is widely unpopular.For more than a year, most Amazon employees have been asked to badge in three days a week, though there are exceptions for teams and fully remote positions. Amazon didnt have enough seats ready for that initial return-to-office plan, including in Bellevue where Amazon has focused much of its headquarters growth after building out its Seattle campus.Some workers say the company is still struggling to host people three days a week. In recent interviews, employees complained of working from shared desks, crowded corporate canteens and a lack of conference rooms for confidential calls or team meetings. The company has added a feature to its room reservation tool that requires workers to attest they actually plan to use the space, an apparent effort to crack down on squatters looking for a quiet place to work.Its not an ideal moment to be seeking new office space. While vacancies soared as remote work surged during the pandemic, theres now a shortage of the high-quality space typically leased by tech companies. Amazon has been leasing temporary space from WeWork in New York and Silicon Valley in recent weeks, a WeWork spokesperson confirmed.Coming out of the pandemic, Amazon froze hiring and tapped the brakes on its own real estate development, pausing high-profile office projects in Bellevue, Nashville and at the companys second headquarters campus in Arlington, Virginia. Some of those projects have since resumed and could eventually ease the strain.A spokesperson said that in most cases, the return-to-office delays are the result of reconfigurations of buildings that had been laid out to accommodate part-time remote workers, rather than a lack of available office space. This story was originally published at bloomberg.com. Read it here. The Seattle Times does not append comment threads to stories from wire services such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post or Bloomberg News. Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. You can read more about our community policies here.

Auteurs Irfan Mehmood Associate Professor in Business Analytics and AI, University of Bradford Kamran Mahroof Associate Professor, Supply Chain Analytics, University of Bradford Dclaration dintrtsLes auteurs ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possdent pas de parts, ne reoivent pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'ont dclar aucune autre affiliation que leur organisme de recherche.PartenairesUniversity of Bradford apporte des fonds en tant que membre fondateur de TheConversation UK.Voir les partenaires de TheConversation FranceYoure running late at the airport and need to urgently access your account, only to be greeted by one of those frustrating tests Select all images with traffic lights or Type the letters you see in this box. You squint, you guess, but somehow youre wrong. You complete another test but still the site isnt satisfied. Your flight is boarding now, the tannoy announces as the website gives you yet another puzzle. You swear at the screen, close your laptop and rush towards the gate. Now, heres a thought to cheer you up: bots are now solving these puzzles in milliseconds using artificial intelligence (AI). How ironic. The tools designed to prove were human are now obstructing us more than the machines theyre supposed to be keeping at bay. Welcome to the strange battle between bot detection and AI, which is set to get even more complicated in the coming years as technology continues to improve. So what does the future look like?Captcha, which stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart, was invented in the early 2000s by a team of computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. It was a simple idea: get internet users to prove their humanity via tasks they can easily complete, but which machines find difficult. Machines were already causing havoc online. Websites were flooded with bots doing things like setting up fake accounts to buy up concert tickets, or posting automated comments to market fake Viagra or to entice users to take part in scams. Companies needed a way to stop this pernicious activity without losing legitimate users. The early versions of Captcha were basic but effective. Youd see wavy, distorted letters and type them into a box. Bots couldnt read the text the way humans could, so websites stayed protected. This went through several iterations in the years ahead: ReCaptcha was created in 2007 to add a second element in which you had to also key in a distorted word from an old book. Then in 2014 by now acquired by Google came reCaptcha v2. This is the one that asks users to tick the I am not a robot box and often choose from a selection of pictures containing cats or bicycle parts, or whatever. Still the most popular today, Google gets paid by companies who use the service on their website. Damn those bicycles.LilgrapherHow AI has outgrown the systemTodays AI systems can solve the challenges these Captchas rely on. They can read distorted text, so that the wavy or squished letters from the original Captcha tests are easy for them. Thanks to natural language processing and machine learning, AI can decode even the messiest of words. Similarly, AI tools such as Google Vision and OpenAIs Clip can recognise hundreds of objects faster and more accurately than most humans. If a Captcha asks an AI to click all the buses in a picture selection, they can solve it in fractions of a second, whereas it might take a human ten to 15 seconds. This isnt just a theoretical problem. Consider driving tests: waiting lists for tests in England are many months long, though you can get a much faster test by paying a higher fee to a black-market tout. The Guardian reported in July that touts commonly used automated software to book out all the test slots, while swapping candidates in and out to fit their ever-changing schedules. In an echo of the situation 20 years ago, there are similar issues with tickets for things such as football matches. The moment tickets become available, bots overwhelm the system bypassing Captchas, purchasing tickets in bulk and reselling them at inflated prices. Genuine users often miss out because they cant operate as quickly. Similarly, bots attack social media platforms, e-commerce websites and online forums. Fake accounts spread misinformation, post spam or grab limited items during sales. In many cases, Captcha is no longer able to stop these abuses. Whats happening now?Developers are continually coming up with new ways to verify humans. Some systems, like Googles ReCaptcha v3 (introduced in 2018), dont ask you to solve puzzles anymore. Instead, they watch how you interact with a website. Do you move your cursor naturally? Do you type like a person? Humans have subtle, imperfect behaviours that bots still struggle to mimic. Not everyone likes ReCaptcha v3 because it raises privacy issues plus the web company needs to assess user scores to determine who is a bot, and the bots can beat the system anyway. There are alternatives that use similar logic, such as slider puzzles that ask users to move jigsaw pieces around, but these too can be overcome. Slider Captcha:Some websites are now turning to biometrics to verify humans, such as fingerprint scans or voice recognition, while face ID is also a possibility. Biometrics are harder for bots to fake, but they come with their own problems privacy concerns, expensive tech and limited access for some users, say because they cant afford the relevant smartphone or cant speak because of a disability.The imminent arrival of AI agents will add another layer of complexity. It will mean we increasingly want bots to visit sites and do things on our behalf, so web companies will need to start distinguishing between good bots and bad bots. This area still needs a lot more consideration, but digital authentication certificates are proposed as one possible solution. In sum, Captcha is no longer the simple, reliable tool it once was. AI has forced us to rethink how we verify people online, and its only going to get more challenging as these systems get smarter. Whatever becomes the next technological standard, its going to have to be easy to use for humans, but one step ahead of the bad actors. So the next time you find yourself clicking on blurry traffic lights and getting infuriated, remember youre part of a bigger fight. The future of proving humanity is still being written, and the bots wont be giving up any time soon.

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In BriefPosted:10:30 AM PST December 21, 2024Image Credits:Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto / Getty ImagesOpenAIs GPT-5 reportedly falling short of expectationsOpenAIs efforts to develop its next major model, GPT-5, are running behind schedule, with results that dont yet justify the enormous costs, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal.This echoes an earlier report in The Information suggesting that OpenAI is looking to new strategies as GPT-5 might not represent as big a leap forward as previous models. But the WSJ story includes additional details around the 18-month development of GPT-5, code-named Orion.OpenAI has reportedly completed at least two large training runs, which aim to improve a model by training it on enormous quantities of data. An initial training run went slower than expected, hinting that a larger run would be both time-consuming and costly. And while GPT-5 can reportedly perform better than its predecessors, it hasnt yet advanced enough to justify the cost of keeping the model running.The WSJ also reports that rather than just relying on publicly available data and licensing deals, OpenAI has also hired people to create fresh data by writing code or solving math problems. Its also using synthetic data created by another of its models, o1.OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company previously said it would not be releasing a model code-named Orion this year.TopicsAI, gpt-5, OpenAI, Startups

Google has offered up its own proposal in a recent antitrust case that saw the US Department of Justice argue that Google must sell its Chrome browser.US District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google had acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in online search, with the DOJ then proposing a number of remedies, including the sale of Chrome, the spinoff of its Android operating system, and a prohibition on entering into exclusionary search agreements with browser and phone companies.Google filed an alternativee proposal Friday, with the companys vice president of regulatory affairs Lee-Anne Mullholland claiming in a blog post that the DOJs proposal reflects an interventionist agenda that goes far beyond what the Courts decision is actually about.Mulholland added that the bigger problem is that DOJs proposal would harm American consumers and undermine Americas global technology leadership at a critical juncture such as by requiring us to share peoples private search queries with foreign and domestic rivals, and restricting our ability to innovate and improve our products.As an alternative, Google proposes that it still be allowed to make search deals with companies like Apple and Mozilla, but they should have the option to set different defaults on different platforms (for example, iPhone vs. iPad) and in different browsing modes.The company also proposes that Android device manufacturers could have more flexibility pre-loading multiple search engines, as well as with pre-loading Google apps without Google Search or Chrome.Judge Mehta is expected to rule on remedies next year, with a hearing scheduled for April. Mulholland said Google isnt just planning to negotiate over remedies it also plans to appeal Mehtas August ruling against the company. But she wrote, Before we file our appeal, the legal process requires that the parties outline what remedies would best respond to the Courts decision.

In the pursuit of safeguarding essential data or addressing the significant challenge of limited free space on your computer, an external hard drive serves as an invaluable solution, effectively enhancing your storage capacity with ease. By utilizing a complimentary USB port and a modest amount of desk space, one can substantially augment their digital storage capabilities, with options available that range from several gigabytes to an impressive 44 terabytes.Also:Best cloud storage services of 2024An external hard drive can effortlessly cater to your every storage need with minimal fuss and maximum convenience. Get ready for the ultimate storage upgrade, say farewell to storage limitations, and embrace the boundless potential that awaits you.What's the best external hard drive right now?After dedicating countless hours to hands-on testing and scouring online reviews, I've made my pick for the best external hard drive on the market: The WD My Passport Ultra. This drive stands out for its user-friendly design, built-in encryption, and compact form factor. However, if your priorities include different storage capacities or a drive capable of withstanding rain and dust, don't worry. This list caters to those needs as well Sort by All The best external hard drive of 2024 Show less A common mistake I often see is people purchasing the largest, bulkiest external hard drive they can find, under the impression that it's the best solution for their needs. Later, they find themselves with a huge, noisy device that occupies too much desk space and is inconvenient to carry to the office or on the road.This is why I recommend the WD My Passport Ultra to those who need a compact, easy-to-use hard drive for a few critical files, or for moving data between systems, or for travel.Over the years, I've recommended this drive to dozens of people, ranging from home users in need of a backup solution to amateur photographers and videographers facing disk space limitations. Everyone who has purchased one has reported back that they've been satisfied with their choice.What sets this drive apart are two key features: It includes WD Backup software for PCs, which simplifies and optimizes the backup process, and it offers built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption, ensuring that data on the drive is secure.Given the solid reputation of the WD brand and the quality of their hard drives, I have little concerns about premature data loss.WD My Passport Ultrafeatures:USB-C and USB 3.1 interface | 1TB to 5TB capacities| 256-bit AES hardware encryption | 2.5-inch form factor | 3-year limited warranty Pros Backup software included Price is good Small enough to carry about Cons Needs to be reformatted to work with Mac A common mistake I often see is people purchasing the largest, bulkiest external hard drive they can find, under the impression that it's the best solution for their needs. Later, they find themselves with a huge, noisy device that occupies too much desk space and is inconvenient to carry to the office or on the road.This is why I recommend the WD My Passport Ultra to those who need a compact, easy-to-use hard drive for a few critical files, or for moving data between systems, or for travel.Over the years, I've recommended this drive to dozens of people, ranging from home users in need of a backup solution to amateur photographers and videographers facing disk space limitations. Everyone who has purchased one has reported back that they've been satisfied with their choice.What sets this drive apart are two key features: It includes WD Backup software for PCs, which simplifies and optimizes the backup process, and it offers built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption, ensuring that data on the drive is secure.Given the solid reputation of the WD brand and the quality of their hard drives, I have little concerns about premature data loss.WD My Passport Ultrafeatures:USB-C and USB 3.1 interface | 1TB to 5TB capacities| 256-bit AES hardware encryption | 2.5-inch form factor | 3-year limited warranty Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon The SL500 breaks the mold with its size. It's thin, light, and roughly the size of a credit card at only 4.8mm thick. The solid aluminum unibody construction fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and slips unobtrusively into a pocket.The design not only protects the drive from bumps and scrapes but also does a fantastic job of dissipating heat. The SL500 is also fast, capable of reaching up to 2,000MB/s read and 1,800MB/s write speeds, making it easy to move large files. Performance on Macs and other systems that don't support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 may be significantly lower.If you're looking for a thin, light drive that allows you to record ProRes video on your iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, the Lexar SL500 is definitely worth a look. Plus, it can easily slip into a pocket or bag.Lexar SL500features:USB-C and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface | 1TB to 4TB capacities| 256-bit AES software encryption | 2.5-inch form factor | 5-year limited warranty Pros Super thin Super light Fast Cable features Supports ProRes video on the iPhone Pro/Pro Max Cons Systems that don't support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 will see significantly slower speeds The SL500 breaks the mold with its size. It's thin, light, and roughly the size of a credit card at only 4.8mm thick. The solid aluminum unibody construction fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and slips unobtrusively into a pocket.The design not only protects the drive from bumps and scrapes but also does a fantastic job of dissipating heat. The SL500 is also fast, capable of reaching up to 2,000MB/s read and 1,800MB/s write speeds, making it easy to move large files. Performance on Macs and other systems that don't support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 may be significantly lower.If you're looking for a thin, light drive that allows you to record ProRes video on your iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, the Lexar SL500 is definitely worth a look. Plus, it can easily slip into a pocket or bag.Lexar SL500features:USB-C and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface | 1TB to 4TB capacities| 256-bit AES software encryption | 2.5-inch form factor | 5-year limited warranty Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less This is an external hard drive that James Bond would feel confident using to keep his secrets locked away. This drive has been certified to FIPS 140-2 Level 2 standards and features built-in 256-bit hardware encryption. So as to eliminate the need for software to be installed on the host machine, the drive has its own keypad for PIN entry.But that's not all -- this drive is packed with features to keep the data on it secure from prying eyes. From the 256-bit AES-XTS hardware encryption, the wear-resistant keypad (so PIN codes can't be guessed from the wear pattern), the touch epoxy resin used to seal the components, to the brute force self destruct mechanism, this drive is as good as they get.I have owned a number of Apricorn drives over the years, and they have all been exceptional in terms of performance and reliability.Apricorn Aegis Padlock Fortress features: USB 2.0/3.0 interface | 500GB to 2TB capacities| 2.5-inch form factor | 3-year limited warranty Pros Super secure encryption No software needs to be installed Bruteforce protection Cons Price is far higher than it's non-encrypted counterparts This is an external hard drive that James Bond would feel confident using to keep his secrets locked away. This drive has been certified to FIPS 140-2 Level 2 standards and features built-in 256-bit hardware encryption. So as to eliminate the need for software to be installed on the host machine, the drive has its own keypad for PIN entry.But that's not all -- this drive is packed with features to keep the data on it secure from prying eyes. From the 256-bit AES-XTS hardware encryption, the wear-resistant keypad (so PIN codes can't be guessed from the wear pattern), the touch epoxy resin used to seal the components, to the brute force self destruct mechanism, this drive is as good as they get.I have owned a number of Apricorn drives over the years, and they have all been exceptional in terms of performance and reliability.Apricorn Aegis Padlock Fortress features: USB 2.0/3.0 interface | 500GB to 2TB capacities| 2.5-inch form factor | 3-year limited warranty Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at B&H Photo-Video This is the go-to choice for those who require an enormous amount of storage but want to avoid the extra hardware and setup complexities of an NAS (Network Attached Storage) system. With capacities ranging from 4 to 22 terabytes, the WD Digital Elements is perfect for even the most demanding data hogs.However, don't assume that high capacity translates to a high price tag. The cost of the 22TB version breaks down to a reasonable $18 per terabyte. This makes it an ideal solution for individuals who manage or work with large media files, especially videos. It's a popular choice among drone pilots who do extensive filming.Also:The best NAS devicesI personally relied on similar drives for many years before my storage needs grew and I transitioned to a NAS system. Throughout all those years, these drives never failed me; they consistently performed well until I required even more storage capacity.The only downside I've noticed is that the drive can be rather noisy. Partly in my case this was due to me operating several drives on my desk simultaneously, but even a single drive can be far from silent on its own.WD Digital Elements features:USB 2.0/3.0 interface | 4TB to 22TB capacities| 3.5-inch form factor | 2-year limited warranty Pros Massive capacity Reliable data storage Backup software included Cons AC adapter powered, so needs a free outlet Quite noisy This is the go-to choice for those who require an enormous amount of storage but want to avoid the extra hardware and setup complexities of an NAS (Network Attached Storage) system. With capacities ranging from 4 to 22 terabytes, the WD Digital Elements is perfect for even the most demanding data hogs.However, don't assume that high capacity translates to a high price tag. The cost of the 22TB version breaks down to a reasonable $18 per terabyte. This makes it an ideal solution for individuals who manage or work with large media files, especially videos. It's a popular choice among drone pilots who do extensive filming.Also:The best NAS devicesI personally relied on similar drives for many years before my storage needs grew and I transitioned to a NAS system. Throughout all those years, these drives never failed me; they consistently performed well until I required even more storage capacity.The only downside I've noticed is that the drive can be rather noisy. Partly in my case this was due to me operating several drives on my desk simultaneously, but even a single drive can be far from silent on its own.WD Digital Elements features:USB 2.0/3.0 interface | 4TB to 22TB capacities| 3.5-inch form factor | 2-year limited warranty Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less While most external hard drives are destined for a sedentary life on a desk at home or in the office, this particular model is engineered for adventure. With its IP54 rain and dust rating, along with crush resistance up to 1000 pounds, this drive is ideally suited to endure the toughest environments.Considering the inevitable drops onto hard surfaces that occur during outdoor activities, the drive is equipped with rubber bumpers and internal shock absorbers. These features offer added protection to the drive's delicate components.However, it's important to note that this is still a hard disk drive, with spinning platters that store data. Despite the robust protection, any device with moving parts is inherently susceptible to damage from drops and vibrations. Therefore, exercising caution is advisable when handling this drive.I have owned several ArmorATD drives and have found them to be exceptionally durable. They have been particularly useful for backing up data. I usually carry multiple drives with me, ensuring that important photos and videos are duplicated across several units for added security.SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATDfeatures:USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 interface | 1TB to 5TB capacities| 3.5-inch form factor | 3-year limited warranty Pros IP54 rain/dust rating Designed for Mac Crush resistance up to 1000lbs Cons Needs to be reformatted for Windows use Chunky enclosure While most external hard drives are destined for a sedentary life on a desk at home or in the office, this particular model is engineered for adventure. With its IP54 rain and dust rating, along with crush resistance up to 1000 pounds, this drive is ideally suited to endure the toughest environments.Considering the inevitable drops onto hard surfaces that occur during outdoor activities, the drive is equipped with rubber bumpers and internal shock absorbers. These features offer added protection to the drive's delicate components.However, it's important to note that this is still a hard disk drive, with spinning platters that store data. Despite the robust protection, any device with moving parts is inherently susceptible to damage from drops and vibrations. Therefore, exercising caution is advisable when handling this drive.I have owned several ArmorATD drives and have found them to be exceptionally durable. They have been particularly useful for backing up data. I usually carry multiple drives with me, ensuring that important photos and videos are duplicated across several units for added security.SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATDfeatures:USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 interface | 1TB to 5TB capacities| 3.5-inch form factor | 3-year limited warranty Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon This is the ideal budget-friendly choice for those seeking simplicity without the high cost or complexity. It's a straightforward drive that can be easily connected to a system as needed. Remarkably compact, it's only slightly larger than the 2.5-inch hard drives found in laptops, making it one of the smallest and lightest external drives available.This drive is perfectly suited for individuals who manage small amounts of data, such as students or home users looking to back up essential files.Furthermore, this drive comes from Toshiba, a manufacturer known for its excellent track record. Toshiba's drives are renowned for their reliability, and you can expect years of dependable service from this model.Toshiba Canvio Basics features:USB 2.0/3.0 interface | 1TB to 4TB capacities|2.5-inch form factor | 1-year limited warranty Pros Small Budget option Durable, smudge-resistant shell Cons Short warranty period No frills, no software, no encryption This is the ideal budget-friendly choice for those seeking simplicity without the high cost or complexity. It's a straightforward drive that can be easily connected to a system as needed. Remarkably compact, it's only slightly larger than the 2.5-inch hard drives found in laptops, making it one of the smallest and lightest external drives available.This drive is perfectly suited for individuals who manage small amounts of data, such as students or home users looking to back up essential files.Furthermore, this drive comes from Toshiba, a manufacturer known for its excellent track record. Toshiba's drives are renowned for their reliability, and you can expect years of dependable service from this model.Toshiba Canvio Basics features:USB 2.0/3.0 interface | 1TB to 4TB capacities|2.5-inch form factor | 1-year limited warranty Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less If you're worried about data loss, then this is the external hard drive for you. Why? Because it takes a regular external hard drive and adds a second drive. This second drive can be used in one of two ways:It can be used alongside the first drive, doubling the capacity of the unit.It can be used as a redundant backup of the first drive in what is called a RAID array. This way, if one drive fails or the data is somehow corrupted, the data remains safe on the other.And I need to say this clearly: Drive failure is rare, but it happens, especially when you're transferring a lot of data (the kind of thing you might do if you are processing high-definition video, for example). If you have irreplaceable data, then an external hard drive like this is an important part of the solution when it comes to preventing data loss.WD My Book Duo features:USB 3.2 interface | 8TB to 44TB capacities| 3.5-inch form factor | 3-year limited warranty Pros Huge capacity Drive redundancy protects against data loss Pro-grade features and performancde Cons Big box Noisy Expensive If you're worried about data loss, then this is the external hard drive for you. Why? Because it takes a regular external hard drive and adds a second drive. This second drive can be used in one of two ways:It can be used alongside the first drive, doubling the capacity of the unit.It can be used as a redundant backup of the first drive in what is called a RAID array. This way, if one drive fails or the data is somehow corrupted, the data remains safe on the other.And I need to say this clearly: Drive failure is rare, but it happens, especially when you're transferring a lot of data (the kind of thing you might do if you are processing high-definition video, for example). If you have irreplaceable data, then an external hard drive like this is an important part of the solution when it comes to preventing data loss.WD My Book Duo features:USB 3.2 interface | 8TB to 44TB capacities| 3.5-inch form factor | 3-year limited warranty Read More Show Expert Take Show less What is the best external hard drive? Recognizing that your external hard drive requirements might vary from mine, my aim is to guide you toward options that cater to a broad spectrum of needs and preferences. Accordingly, my top selection is the WD My Passport Ultra. In my experience dealing with a wide range of users, this drive meets the needs of a good 90-95% of users. It stands out for delivering excellent value and reliability, comes with useful backup software, and includes the added benefit of built-in hardware encryption. However, if you're among the 10% seeking something a bit different, I've compiled a comprehensive list of external drives. This resource is designed to help you effortlessly compare their specifications and find the one that best matches your unique circumstances. External hard drivePriceCapacity (TB)InterfaceForm factorHardware encryptionWarrantyWD My Passport Ultra $130 5 USB-C and USB 3.1 2.5-inch Yes 3-year limited Lexar SL500$891USB-C and USB 3.2 2.5-inch No5-year limited Apricorn Aegis Padlock Fortress $232 2 USB 2.0/3.0 2.5-inch Yes 3-year limited Western Digital Elements $410 22 USB 2.0/3.0 3.5-inch No 2-year limited SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATD $1594 USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 3.5-inch No 3-year limited Toshiba Canvio Basics $57 1 USB 2.0/3.0 2.5-inch No 1-year limited WD My Book Duo $1199 Starting at 8, up to 44 USB 3.2 3.5-inch No 3-year limited Show more Which is the right external hard drive for you? Choose thisexternal hard driveIf you wantWD My Passport Ultra A drive for most people who want an inexpensive yet reliable drive with the added protection of hardware encryption. This drive is perfect for most users wanting a backup drive or a way to store files when their computer starts running out of space. Lexar SL500Need a drive that so thin and light you forget it's in your pocket, yet fast enough to be able to keep up with ProRes recording on your iPhone Pro/Pro Max? This is the drive for you! Available in capacities ranging from 1TB to 4TB, you only have to pay for the capacity you need.Apricorn Aegis Padlock Fortress You want insane levels of data security, from built-in 256-bit hardware encryption to bruteforce self destruct. This drive is as secure as they get! Western Digital Elements A drive for data hogs who keep everything. Yes, it's bigger and noisier -- and more expensive -- but this is a solid, reliable performer. SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATD To your external hard drive out with you on adventures. Water and dust-resistant, and built to survive bumps and drops, this drive is perfect for adventure. Toshiba Canvio Basics A minimalist, no-frills drive. This one is perfect for those who know they need to backup their data, but think it's going to need a lot of expensive hardware. WD My Book Duo To never get paranoid about losing data. This drive offers masses of capacity or the ability to have the data copies across two drives for added security. Show more Factors to consider when choosing an external hard drive External hard drives may not be the most exciting pieces of technology, but it's amazing how quickly people become interested in them after experiencing data loss. The following are things to consider when trying to choose the right external hard drive for your needs, and what I considered in creating this guide:Reliability:I've selected external hard drives from top-name brands to ensure the highest reliability. Hard drives are inherently reliable, and the products chosen are expected to offer about 5 to 7 years of effective life, after which it is advisable to replace them.Features: The selection includes basic drives for those with modest requirements, as well as models equipped with advanced features such as hardware encryption, water and dust resistance, and drive redundancy for added data protection.Capacity: The products come in a variety of capacities, allowing users to select a size that meets their needs without paying for unused storage space.Desktop or portable: Some want an external hard drive for use on a desk, others will want to take it with them. Generally, those with a 2.5-inch form factor are portable units, while 3.5-inch units are best forstatic desktop use.Price:I've ensured there is a range of prices to accommodate all budgets. Everyone deserves the opportunity to back up their data securely and affordably. Show more How we test external hard drives Having worked with technology for nearly three decades, and been a pro-am photographer and videographer for much of that time (so I've been testing and using backup solutions for many years), I've handled and tested a wide array of external hard drives from various manufacturers. With the exception of the SanDisk Professional G-Drive ArmorATD -- which is new to me, though I've owned an earlier version -- I have personally used all the drives listed in this guide. This gives me a practical understanding of what they offer in terms of features, performance, and long-term reliability.Additionally, I've considered user reviews to identify and exclude products that may have design flaws or reliability issues. Show more What is the difference between an SSD and an HDD external hard drive? SSD (Solid State Drive) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive) are two types of storage technologies used in external hard drives. SSDs are faster, more durable, and use less power because they have no moving parts, making them ideal for frequent transport and high-speed data transfer.HDDs, on the other hand, offer larger storage capacities at a lower cost per gigabyte but are generally slower and more susceptible to damage from physical shocks due to their moving parts.Also: The best SSDs Show more How do I choose the right capacity for my external hard drive? The appropriate capacity for your external hard drive largely hinges on your individual storage requirements. It's important to consider the types of files you intend to store, such as documents, photos, videos, or software, and their respective sizes.As a general guideline, a drive ranging from 500GB to 2TB ought to suffice for most users. However, for those dealing with significant volumes of high-resolution media files or needing backups for multiple devices, opting for a drive with a capacity of 4TB or more may be necessary.To make an informed decision, assess both your current and future storage needs. My recommendation is to estimate your present data volume and then double that storage capacity; this approach should adequately serve you for at least the next year or so. Show more Can I use one external hard drive for both Windows and Mac computers? Yes, you can use one external hard drive with both Windows and Mac computers, but it will require formatting the drive in a file system that is compatible with both operating systems.The exFAT format is widely recommended for this purpose because it is supported by both Windows and Mac without the file size limitations of FAT32. However, formatting the drive will erase all data on it, so be sure to back up your files before proceeding, otherwise you could be in a world of hurt.Note that many external hard drives come pre-formatted for one operating system, but can be reformatted for use with another. Show more Other external hard drives to consider Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

Updated Dec. 21 with further information about the dueling reports.Exactly what will next years iPhones look like? A recent report about the design of the iPhone 17 series claimed that the cameras would be seen in an all-new arrangement.This was a surprising development but was taken seriously as it came from a leaker with a decent track record. However, but its now been flatly contradicted. Since the contradiction also comes from a respected source, it may have left you wondering whats really what. And more viewpoints are being expressed, which add further confusion.Apple iPhone 16 Pro.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesFor instance, one report says this: We're still getting a regular iPhone 17, but there won't be an iPhone 17 Plus this year. Apple also plans to sell the iPhone 17 Air alongside iPhone 17Pro and Pro Max models, and rumors suggest there are some design changes coming to those models, too. So far, it sounds like we're going to get a half-aluminum half-glass design for the back panel that could improve durability, plus the camera setup could get a redesign, according to MacRumors, in a post which shows an image of the aluminum/glass hybrid.It has the cameras in yet another orientation, with a vertical series of camera on the edge. The render it shows screams Apple would never do this to me. While a mix of materials on the rear is entirely possible, the look is not very convincing. It looks interesting, but entirely without the wow factor that Apples industrial design effortlessly evokes.MORE FOR YOUIt also looks almost like its chief rivals flagship, that is, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Frankly, Apple would no more want that than the risk of appearing like the Google Pixel series.The original report from Weibo user Digital Chat Station included a render of an iPhone with a single row of cameras along the top edge of the phone. The render looked persuasive, and didnt claim to be the real thing, but it wasnt based on any leaked visuals or images.Three cameras in a row might look good but there are knock-on effects from them. The triangle of lenses on the back of the iPhone 15 Pro, for instance, have the benefit of being equidistant, which helps the seamlessness of switching from one lens to another.Also, as Ben Lovejoy at 9to5Mac points out, if a change to a straight line of lenses was coming, a vertical line makes more sense than horizontal because, most photos and video are shot in landscape mode. And, as discussed below, vertical lenses like on the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro enable the iPhones to shoot Spatial Video that can be played back on the Vision Pro.As mentioned, the previous suggestion was for an iPhone with a horizontal row of cameras instead of, for instance, the triangular placing on the iPhone 16 Pro. It meant an iPhone that looked strikingly similar to the Google Pixel 9 Pro. Some were skeptical that this could be correct, but more reports were needed to be sure.Now, theres a new post on Weibo from regular leaker Instant Digital, who has had a strong, though not perfect track record. It was spotted by MacRumors, and it offers a different viewpoint, saying (in machine translation), My source told me that the appearance of the back has indeed changed, but the layout of the three cameras is still triangular, not the horizontal bar spread on the Internet now.This makes a lot more sense to me, but lets dissect it a little. The triangular placing seems likely not just because its familiar but because it means that the current capability for recording Spatial Video with the iPhone held in landscape orientation continues.I would be astonished if Apple didnt preserve this feature intact for the next several generations at least.Where the report is less clear is exactly whats meant by the appearance of the back being different this year. Given the increased screen size of the current Pro models compared to 2023, I believe the display will be the same in 2025, so the changes will lie elsewhere.One rumor covers a camera area clad in aluminum rather than glass, though its thought that the majority of the iPhones rear will still be made of glass. Without that, wireless charging would be gone, and thats another key feature that is unlikely to disappear.When several reports from leakers with strong reputations clash, it can be confusing. But while there are still a lot of questions to be answered, the prospect of a Pixel-like camera design seems to have retreated.