MacworldRemembering the numerous passwords we use on a daily basis can be a real pain. Whether its logging into Amazon to order a new book, checking your online banking or settling down to watch something on Netflix, seeing the log-in box appear can make your heart sink. Then theres the fact that each site seems to require a different length or combination of certain characters, meaning you need different ones for nearly every site or service (which, sadly, is also a good idea). How are our limited human brains supposed to store all these weird strings of letters, numbers and special characters? All I want to do is stream Star Trek: The Next Generation for the 50th time, not prove my intellectual prowess! Password managers can help you manage all your passwords and login information across your Mac, iPhone, iPad and other Apple devices. Apple offers iCloud Keychain, but is that the best password manager for Mac and iPhone, or is there another password manager for Apple devices that would do a better job.PROMOTIONRoboForm Premium: Just $0.99/Month!Secure your passwords with RoboForm Premiumnow only $0.99/month, a massive 60% off! Exclusive to Macworld readers. Offer ends soon. Grab it today!$11.90/yr at RoboFormThese carry the burden of remembering everything for you, as you just have to create one master password, after which the app takes care of logging into all other accounts. They even make recommendations for really secure passwords, so you dont rely on the mixture of your birthday and the name of your first pet. Having only a single login to remember? That sounds good to us. Need some help coming up with a safe and secure password? Read our tips to make your passwords even stronger.Updated with details of Apples Password app. How password managers workThe idea of password managers is to simplify the way you access your various accounts. Instead of having to memorize multiple complex passwords for each of the services you use you need only recall one password or provide a fingerprint or Face ID and the password manager will automatically fill in the required details for you. Just remember this is only as safe as the password you use to unlock access to all your passwords so dont lock them all behind an easy-to-guess password, like your pets name. The password managers also offer various other features. For example, they can generate random, highly secure passwords for your accounts, they can warn you if your password has been compromised, and some can advise you about existing insecure passwords and support your efforts to update them.Obviously, security is a high priorityas the manager apps have the virtual keys to your kingdomwhich is why all of the options listed below use high-grade encryption to protect your details.Many also feature digital wallets so your bank details can be safely stored and used to make purchases online without having to root around in your pocket or bag for the card number and expiry date.A good Password Manager makes it easy to use strong, unique passwords everywhere on the web, no matter what platform or browser you happen to use. But to get the most out of them, you need to pay a subscription fee.Do you need a password manager? Is Apples Password app enough?Now that Apple has its own standalone Passwords app (which arrived in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia) do you need another Password Manager?As you will see from our review below, and our full review of Apples Passwords app, most users can replace their paid password manager with Apples free solution. Most people dont use a password manager at all, so getting them in the door this way is a good thing and Apple Passwords is definitely good enough for most everyday users.The problems arise if you are trying to switching from an existing Password Manager. Indeed, the biggest annoyance we ran into was making the switch and getting everything transferred over, as you can see if you read: Apples free Passwords app can replace your paid password manager (kinda). If you just love your current password manager and use it to connect to multiple platforms and browsers, it may well be worth continuing to pay its subscription fee.If youre thinking of switching to save the fee for your existing password manager, by all means move, just expect it to take a little time.For more ways to keep your data safe, read our iPhone security and Best Mac security tips articles.Best Password Managers for Mac and iPhoneApple Passwords Best For Basics Best Prices Today: RetailerPriceFreeView DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketFree at AppleApples Passwords app works well enough for the basic functions most of us rely on. It stores and fills login passwords, Wi-Fi passwords, 2FA codes, and passkeys. It warns you of easy-to-guess passwords, reused passwords, and passwords that appeared in major data breaches. Its also relatively easy to securely share passwords with others. Apple also provides its own suggested passwords for new signups.It doesnt give you much in the way of other featuresstored credit card and identification info to autofill in forms, secure document storage or notes, and so on. Apple has other apps that do those things in encrypted ways, but if you use other platforms and browsers, this information is not easily available.Increasing the font size on the 2FA codes by a few points would help. Theres text at the top of the Codes screen that shows you how long until the codes reset, but it scrolls off the top of the screen when you scroll down your listit should stay anchored at the top of the screen.Apples Passwords app gets the job done and is fine for the bulk of Apple users who dont regularly use other platforms or browsers. If you use the required extrensions it will even work for those who use Chrome, Edge and even Windows. Read our full Passwords review 1Password Best Password Manager Price When Reviewed:33,61 Euro pro JahrBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice1Password33,61 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket33,61 at 1PasswordOne of our long-standing favorites is 1Password which has a nice, clean layout and is simple to use. As well as storing and autofilling your passwords and Passkeys it can also hold other important information, such as your payment details, address, drivers licence and passport. All of which can be instantly called up to fill out online forms or checkout from websites and apps.Security is front and center, with 1Password boasting AES end-to-end encryption so only you will hold the key to your account. It also uses the Secure Remote Password (SRP) protocol, which allows you to authenticate your details to a site without the information being sent to a server which could compromise security.A feature called Watchtower analyzes the overall strength of your online security and warns you if passwords are repeated or vulnerable. Theres also a password generator if you want to replace your tired old attempts with something a bit more secure. A free 14-day trial is available, but after that, youll need to move on to a paid subscription that starts at $36 (approx 29) per year. For this, youll be able to use the software on as many devices as you like, including macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux, plus the accompanying iPhone and Android apps.1Password has won numerous awards and is an easy service to recommend.Read our full 1Password review Dashlane Best For Features Price When Reviewed:52,99 Euro pro JahrBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceDashlane Premium3,71 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket3,71 at Dashlane PremiumDashlane is another hugely popular password manager, with a comprehensive suite of tools to make your life a lot easier.The app analyses your current passwords to see how secure they are and gives you an overall rating based on how often you reuse login details for multiple sites. Password monitoring will check if any of your details have been exposed in data breaches or have been reused too many times. Theres alsoa feature to auto-replace passwords instantly with ones generated by Dashlane.Its not only your account details that you can store in Dashlane, you can store bank details, your address and important documents like your passport and driving licence. Theres also a section for any secure notes you wish to keep safe. The app also supports Passkeys, which are the latest innovation which seem set to replace passwords in the long run. All your transactions between the app and sites are end-to-end encrypted using 256-bit AES technology. Theres also 2-factor authentication available, with the Dashlane app acting as an authenticator, and you get a VPN service as part of the paid tiers. Dashlane is available on a wide range of platforms, with dedicated apps for iOS/iPadOS and Android, plus extensions for Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox. Dashlane costs $59.99 (approx 48) per year for the individual account. There is a free tier available, which acts as a taster for the full package, and you can use it indefinitely, but with a limit of only 25 passwords. Read our full Dashlane review Bitwarden Best Free Password Manager Price When Reviewed:GratisBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceBitwardenFreeView DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketFree at BitwardenWhen it comes to technology, we often say that you get what you pay for, but in the case of Bitwarden, this isnt quite true. The service offers a really impressive range of capabilities on its free tier, so with this app, you get what you dont pay for!Without signing up for a premium account you get unlimited storage for passwords, credit cards, notes, and online account IDs, secure text messaging with individuals, a secure password generator, two-factor authentication, plus the ability to either have your data stored on the Bitwarden servers or one you host yourself. Oh, and you can sync all your devices, rather than the single one offered by most other free tiers.Should you want to expand the features, then the Premium tier costs $10 (approx 8) per year and adds secure file sharing, 1GB of encrypted file attachments, additional two-factor authentication options, password safety analysis, and access to your account by family if you die or become sick. Encryption is high-grade stuff, with Bitwarden deploying end-to-end AES-256 bit encryption, salted hashing, and PBKDF2 SHA-256, all of which are down locally on your machine.Apps are available on a wide range of platforms, including macOS, Windows, Linux, pretty much every browser you can think of, Android, and iOS, and theres even a secure web version if you find yourself without your device.If youre looking for value when it comes to password managers, its very hard to look past Bitwarden.NordPass Easy To Use Password Manager Price When Reviewed:25,35 EuroBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceNordPass28,42 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket28,42 at NordPassOne of the newest additions to the password manager arena is NordPass, which is made by the same fine fellows at NordVPN. The latter is one of our favorite VPNs, as youll see from our Best VPN for Mac roundup.NordPass offers full desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus the standard iOS and Android offerings. You can also use NordPass through browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Brave, Edge, and Safari.NordPass has all the features youd expect from a modern password manager, with quick importing of existing passwords from other services, zero-knowledge architecture, local encryption, 2-factor authentication, password generation, and secure storage for credit details and notes. Theres of course autofill for logging into accounts, folders to store passwords for work, home or other classifications, security monitoring for password hacks, support for biometrics, plus a neat interface to manage all of your various data.NordPass offers a decent free tier, which supports unlimited passwords, stores credit card details, and secure notes, plus has the ability to sync across all your devices. The main drawback is that you can only be logged into one device at a time. But if you can work with that its a service you should definitely investigate. The paid tiers start at $35.88/28.68 p/a for a single Premium account, but there are frequent deals (currently $35.76/28.56 for two years).Read our full NordPass review Roboform A solid password manager Best Prices Today: RetailerPriceRoboForm (annually)$11.90View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket$11.90 at RoboForm (annually)RoboForm works across iPhone, iPad and Macs, plus you can use it on Windows and Linux as well as Android.Set up is simple. Download the relevant app or extension, then sign up for an account. Theres a free trial that gives you access to the Premium tier features for 14-days, then you can either continue to use it for free on the limited tier or sign up to a fully-functional paid variety.As well as passwords you can store personal details (e.g. address and phone number), your passport, driving license and other sensitive data. You can import your existing login details from other services or your browser.The Mac interface is a little basicthe desktop client looks like a Finder window. On iPhone, the main page has buttons along the bottom that allow you to navigate between Identity (passport, etc.), the built-in Browser, Authenticator, Tools section, secure share, and Emergency Access feature (for family, should something happen to you).The browser version features Roboforms one-click login where you select the site from your logins or history that you want to access and Roboform opens the page and automatically log into your account. Most people will probably stick with their normal browser, in which case Roboform acts like any other password manager, prompting you with stored account details when you attempt to login.The password generator does a good job of helping you choose new passwords. You can select the number of characters, numbers, symbols, upper or lower case, and create passphrases.Theres a built-in authenticator and Roboform can handle two-factor authentication. You can also use passkeys instead of passwords.Theres a Security Centre that analyses your password integrity. This includes how many times youve used the same ones, how complex they are, and if theyve been involved in hacks. Everything you do is end-to-end encrypted via AES 256-bit encryption, with PBKDF2 SHA256.Roboform offers a limited free tier (one device with unlimited passwords). The Premium tier (which used to be called Roboform Everywhere), adds the security center, access on all your devices, customer support, and web access to your account. Its available for $29.98/29.99 p/a but at the time we reviewed it there was a deal for $11.90 a year.Read our full RoboForm Premium review Keeper Best Of The Rest Price When Reviewed:41,64 Euro pro JahrBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceKeeper Security41,64 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket41,64 at Keeper SecurityKeeper can store unlimited passwords, auto-generate strong new ones, and sync passwords across multiple devices, all while holding credit card details and other important payment details in its secure vault. Theres also support for Passkeys, which is good.AES 256-bit encryption is all performed locally, so Keeper can never know your details, but there is the option to securely share folders and passwords with friends and family if they need to access any of your accounts. The included secure messaging service is also useful for communicating these requestsTheres also support for Touch ID on the Mac and iPhone, with the latter also working with Face ID, plus Apple Watch compatibility and the option of using two-step authentication.Keeper Unlimited Password Manager is available from $34.99/24.99 per year, but there is a free tier that is limited to one device and ten passwords. LastPassPrice When Reviewed:34,80 EuroBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceLastPass34,80 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket34,80 at LastPassLastPass is probably one of the best-known password manager, thanks to it being one of the original pioneers in the field, however, in recent years its lost its crown after being hit with several hacks, including at least one that stole encrypted customer data. This recent history makes it harder to recommend.Not that security measures arent there, the company explains that it uses AES 256-bit encryption with PBKDF2 SHA-256 and salted hashes to ensure complete security in the cloud. The app does all of its encryption locally, so LastPass never knows your master password, and the Premium tier also supports a form of two-factor authentication for another layer of security. You can either use LastPass locally on your device via dedicated apps (macOS, iOS and iPadOS), or via the web with plugins and extensions available for Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Microsoft Edge all of which allow you to automatically access login details for sites and accounts or have LastPass autofill the login fields on your behalf.Just like with other managers you have access to a vault where all of your passwords are stored, and these can be changed to more complex alternatives at the touch of a button. LastPass will also advise you on how secure your passwords are for your existing accounts. Getting set up is easy too, as you can import existing passwords from web browsers, email, and other password managers. One drawback is that, at the time of writing, LastPass doesnt yet support Passkeys, although the company says that the features is on its way. The app offers a digital wallet to store your card details, plus another area for official ID such as passports and driving licenses. The Note section is a place where you can keep Wi-Fi passwords, insurance details and any other important documents that you need to access. Its also possible to securely share account details and logins with friends and family, even if they dont have LastPass.There is a free tier, although this is limited to one device, so if you want to sync across your Mac and iPhone youll need to move up to the Premium tier. At the time of writing, this will cost $36/31.99 per year. Those wanting more scope can opt for the family plan which includes six user accounts and only costs $48/40.80 per year.One of the advantages of a paid plan is an Emergency backup which means that, should you suffer an accident or even pass away, your family will be given access to your account.Read our full LastPass review EnpassPrice When Reviewed:8,59 Euro im ersten JahrBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceEnPass8,59 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket8,59 at EnPassThose looking for a simple, secure solution that doesnt break the bank would do well to consider Enpass.The macOS client is completely free, but if you want to add the same features to your iPhone or Android device then youll need to move to the Enpass Premium tier that costs $23.99/19.49 per year. If you prefer to buy a lifetime license, you can pick one up for $99.99/82.99.Enpass doesnt store any of your information on its servers. Instead, everything is encrypted and kept on your personal device so you never lose control of your data.Details can be synced securely via iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, Box, or ownCloud/WebDAV, to keep all of your devices in step.You still have the classic features of other password managers, such as auto-fill forms, security analysis of your passwords and generating complex replacements easily, secure storage for sensitive information, passkey support, and AES 256-bit encryption, plus support for iOS, Android, and Apple Watch devices.There are plenty of fine-tuning options for those who are a little bit more hands-on, but we like the no-nonsense approach and the fact that your data never leaves your device.

MacworldBefore it gained the option for cellular functionality back in 2018, the Apple Watch used to be unfavorably compared with rival smartwatches that included LTE support. But is the capability really that useful? The latest Apple Watch models being able to process Siri queries and requests on-device, for example, means one less reason why you would need a cellular connection. When you consider that the cellular version of the Apple Watch Series 10 costs $100/100 more than the standard model (and thats before you pay for data!), you may well be wondering if its worth the extra expense of getting a cellular Apple Watch. Were here to help answer that question.Why you need an Apple Watch with cellularThe benefits of cellular connectivity on an Apple Watch are pretty clear-cut. Rather than having to carry both your Watch and your iPhone around with you, you could leave the house with simply your Apple Watch. Theres already some functionality that works without any kind of internet connectionApple Pay, for example, or fitness trackingbut having cellular on the watch expands the roster of features you can use without your phone.The Apple Watch Ultra always comes with cellular but you can get the Series 10 and SE in GPS or cellular configurations.Jim Martin / FoundryFitness enthusiasts can get a lot from a cellular Apple Watch. Runners, for example, can stream music from Apple Music or another service, rather than fussing with syncing music to the Watchs local storage. They can also continue to get notifications while they work out, including iMessages and emailsthough whether thats a benefit or a distraction is a matter for personal preference.A cellular Apple Watch will also be able to make and receive phone calls without requiring your iPhone.Another reason why you might need cellular is if you plan on setting up a device using the Apple Watch For Your Kids (formerly Family Setup) feature. This allows you to set up an Apple Watch for a family member who doesnt have their own iPhone. A cellular plan isnt required to set up an Apple Watch for a family member, Apple explains, but is necessary for some features. To get full functionality youll need an Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular.Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm)Read our reviewBest Prices Today:0.01 at idealo | 439 at Computeruniverse | 449 at AlternateWhy you dont need an Apple Watch with cellularLets look at the other side of the coin.There are plenty of things that your Apple Watch can do without a cellular connection (or the assistance of an iPhone). For many features, all you need is to be able to connect to Wi-Fi, which may well be available. And you might not even need that. One feature that used to require a cellular or Wi-Fi connection was Siri, but the Apple Watch Series 9 and later can process Siri queries and requests on-device, with no web connection required. We discuss all the things an Apple Watch can do without an iPhone in a separate article.Whether or not you need cellular will depend a lot on what you intend to use your Apple Watch for. Ask current owners about their usage, and I guarantee that the answers will be far more limited than the Watchs full capabilities. But little of that has to do with the lack of cellular connectivity on the Apple Watchwe dont think most Apple Watch users are annoyed that they cant get their notifications when their phone isnt nearby, because most of the time their phone is nearby.Another reason to avoid an Apple Watch with cellular is that the capability may be a drain on battery life. The devices battery performance will be impacted by the extent that you use cellular, so you might not want all those notifications, and you might not want to stream Apple Music at the highest quality, for example. (Look at ways to maximize battery life on the Apple Watch and ways to save data on the Apple Watch for related advice. Or for accessories that could help, check out our round-up of the best Apple Watch chargers and docks.)Finally, theres the financial question. The cellular-enabled model is more expensive than the non-cellular offerings, of course. And on top of that cost, no cellular provider is going to give away data for free, so there will either be an additional monthly data cost, or you will be sharing data with your iPhone. Either way, its likely to cost you more.On balance we dont think that those tradeoffs are worth the relatively meager benefits of adding cellular connectivity to the Apple Watch. But its important to reflect on what you need from your smartwatch and consider how the tradeoff looks for you.Apple Watch SE (2nd generation, 44mm)How much does a cellular Apple Watch cost? The cellular Apple Watch Series 10 costs $100/$100 more than the standard version, while the SE costs $50/70 more if you want to include cellular. The Apple Watch Ultra is only available with cellular.Some networks will charge you extra to get data on your Apple Watch, while others allow you to add it to an existing iPhone contract and share the data.In the U.S. you can get a cellular Apple Watch plan with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Xfinity Mobile, and many more. See Apples exhaustive list of providers. Most plans cost $10 a month for unlimited data in conjunction with an existing wireless phone plan.AT&T offers the 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 for $13.89 a month for 36 months, though you can get it for less with a trade-in.Verizon offers the same model for $13.88 a month.T-Mobile will sell you an Apple Watch SE, in the 40mm size, for $99, when you activate a new line on a qualifying Apple DIGITS or Apple Watch Standalone line. This will allow you to activate your existing T-Mobile plan on your Apple Watch.Xfinity Mobile includes unlimited talk and text with a $10 smartwatch fee.In the U.K., you can get a cellular Apple Watch contract with Three, EE, O2, and Vodafone. (Only Three and EE support Family Setup/Apple Watch For Your Kids, though).Three lets you connect your watch to your iPhone on its network and share the data allowance between the two, so theres no additional cost. Youll need to sign up for the companys Smartwatch Pairing Plan.EEs Apple Watch offers include an Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) with 4GB of data for 26 a month and zero upfront cost.For more advice on buying an Apple Watch, take a look at our round-up of the best Apple Watch deals and our in-depth Apple Watch buying guide.

Apple's latest installment of quarterly earnings is on January 30 after market close, and there are five key points that Apple needs to make to satisfy investors.Apple CEO Tim CookMorgan Stanley has proven to be one of the more accurate and reasonable firms that cover Apple. In a new note released on Friday by the firm, analyst Erik Woodring notes that the earnings setup feels very similar to a year ago. Like a year ago, he is expecting a street beat, but a lower than expected second quarter revenue predictions.Specifically, the firm remains bullish on its overweight rating and maintained $273 price target. Woodring expects revenue of $124.0 billion, and $2.31 earnings per share. This all implies a 3.7% revenue growth which is roughly in line with what Wall Street expects as a whole. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Amazon wants you to enjoy a stress-free tax season with deals on TurboTax for Mac, allowing you to get a head start on filing your tax return. Deluxe, Premier, and Business versions are all on sale.Save up to 47% on TurboTax for Mac.Amazon's TurboTax deals apply to both Windows and Mac versions, with discounts up to 44% off. Prices for the Deluxe version start at $36.99, while Premier is marked down to $64.99 and Home & Business has fallen to $75.99.Save on TurboTax Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The group of academics honored as part of the 2025 Architectural Education Awards have been announced by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) in recognition of their efforts in scholarship and teaching at ACSA-accredited schools in the United States and Canada.The group was led by University of Minnesota professor Thomas Fisher, who was named the Topaz Medalion winner in December in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects (AIA). As in past years, the 2025 program also included winners of the annual Journal of Architectural Education (JAE) Award and the Technology | Architecture + Design (TAD) Research Contribution Award.Rounding out the group was a five-member group, who, individually, were named winners of the Distinguished Professor Award. TheUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaignwas particularly well-represented with wins in three separate categories. You can view the ACSAs full list of Architectural Education Awards winners below.AIA/...

Alongside its new story trailer, Assassins Creed Shadows has received several hands-on impressions, previews, and details, including the reveal of its first expansion. Ubisoft has also detailed the PC requirements, and though it doesnt outline the amount of installation space, a solid-state drive is mandatory.The other notable aspect is that ray tracing is on across the board with Selective, Standard, and Extended categories (applying to global illumination and reflections). The resolution, frame rate and quality settings will vary based on your hardware, though the requirements are all based on dynamic resolution and upscaling. Yes, even playing at 4K/60 FPS on Ultra with Extended ray tracing.Thankfully, Shadows packs tons of features on PC. The in-game benchmark returns for measuring performance and ultrawide resolutions are supported. You can also leverage Nvidia DLSS 3.7, AMD FSR 3.1 and Intel XeSS 2 alongside uncapped framerates, HDR, AMD Eyefinity, Nvidia Surround, and dynamic resolutions.Assassins Creed Shadows is out on March 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

If theres one game I enjoyed immensely last year and yet begrudgingly forced myself to endure, its Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. No, not because of the story, changes, mini-games or any other complaints others may have had (though some issues annoyed me more than others). It was purely due to the visual quality and performance on PS5.As much as I was looking forward to Performance mode delivering 60 FPS, I also mentally prepared for some hits to the graphical quality. They were far more drastic than imagined, though, and while Square Enix did improve several aspects at launch and after, the fidelity wasnt doing it for me. Its a shame because of how great the environments, cutscenes, and battles looked.While it received an update on the PS5 Pro, utilizing PSSR to achieve a 4K output while hitting 60 frames per second, Rebirths PC version is what I truly looked forward to. Would it finally showcase this visual masterpiece in all its glory? Would Cloud and friends look even better than before? Could it be the definitive way to experience the sagas continuation, following up on Final Fantasy 7 Remakes excellent port?Now that its almost here, the answer is yes, for the most part. Some aspects could still do with improvements and further optimization but as it stands, Square Enix has delivered. Lets jump into everything you should know about Final Fantasy 7 Rebirths performance and graphical fidelity on PC as well as how it compares to the PS5 version.Graphics Settings and Test RigThe graphics settings for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on PC are pretty standard fare. Graphics quality falls into three presets Low, Medium, and High but you can customize separate options for minimum and maximum Dynamic Resolution Scaling, background model detail, ocean detail, character model detail and effect details.Texture resolution, shadow quality, fog quality its all here, and there are even options to adjust the number of characters displayed and their shadow distance. A separate font is also available for better text legibility when playing at lower resolutions. The anti-aliasing is intriguing because it offers three options TAA, TAAU and DLSS.There are no separate upscaling options for DLSS like Quality or Performance, much less the ability to select AMD FSR or Intel XeSS. Square Enix never really said it was implementing the latter, but not even having different modes for DLSS is odd. Heres hoping it arrives sometime after launch if only to provide those in need with the option.Our test rig consisted of an AMD 5950X, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 64 GB of RAM, and an NVMe SSD PCI-e 4.0. Aside from 50 percent minimum Dynamic Resolution Scaling, all settings were on High with DLSS anti-aliasing, 38402160 resolution and 90 FPS enabled. Characters displayed is set to seven, while their shadow display distance is set to eight. So, how does the game fare on PC compared to the PS5 version on Quality Mode?PC vs PS5 Quality ModeBeyond resolutions up to 4K, DLSS, 120 FPS and adjustable displayed characters, Square Enix touts other improvements with the PC version. These include significantly improved lighting, allowing for more clarity, higher texture density and a bump to the background polygon density.The PS5 version of Quality Mode targets 30 frames per second and around 4K with a dynamic resolution. While the image clarity is generally decent on the console, its not as sharp as the PC version. It does stick close to the 30 FPS target, which is much better than dealing with the inconsistent Performance Mode. However, the fidelity is better overall on PC.The lighting alone presents a noticeable jump, coming across as more natural, while shadow edges look smoother and less blurry than on PS5. Perhaps the only real downside is the noticeable pop-in, especially in the open-world environments. The PS5 version had this too, for sure, but the increased fidelity and image quality make it all the more noticeable. Then again, its distracting when foliage is loading just a few feet away.Be that as it may, the PC version is still pretty stunning, with the high-resolution assets and lighting shining throughout.PC PerformanceSquare Enix recommends an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X or an Intel Core i7-10700, a Radeon 7 5700X or GeForce RTX 4080, and 16 GB RAM for 2160p/60 FPS on High settings. Our testing rig falls short in that regard, but we still achieved some pretty good performance. It was fairly consistent at 90 FPS, sometimes dropping to 85 before jumping back up again. Strangely enough, the same difference occurred when playing at 60 FPS, with frames occasionally dropping to 55. Though some of the busier fights and a few scenes in the first hour led to these frame drops, the PC version is otherwise strongly consistent.On my own set-up consisting of a Core i5-11400, 32 GB DDR4 RAM, and a GeForce RTX 4060, performance was pretty solid. When dropping to 1080p from 1440p, it felt more consistent even with pretty much everything set to High (Square Enix recommends Medium, so your mileage may vary). The same frame drops would occasionally occur, but once again, it didnt impact my enjoyment of the title.ConclusionFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth is unarguably one of 2024s greatest games and an exceptional follow-up to Remake, warts and all. The graphical issues on PS5 did it no favors, and you really have to wonder how many didnt jump in at launch because of the same. Even with the PS5 Pro offering improvements, dropping $700 to experience one game in better detail isnt exactly fiscally responsible.The PC version isnt perfect by any means. Between the pop-in, slight frame drops and lack of DLSS options, theres room for improvement. Id also like to see additional options in the future to fine-tune the fidelity even further.However, this is still a quality experience and represents the first step to really doing justice to Rebirths art direction, environments, cutscenes, characters, and so much more. Though Square Enix could probably offer even more customization in the future, the lighting improvements are an unexpected but welcome surprise that makes the world feel more vibrant and alive. Of course, the keyboard and mouse support isnt too shabby either and being able to assign functions to multiple keys and mouse buttons is nice.If youve been waiting to play Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on hardware that can truly make it shine, the PC port is definitely recommended. Heres hoping that the development team continues to refine and improve it, further enhancing what is currently the best way to experience Cloud and companys journey.

News Inside the TED Gift Hub: A tradition of generosityPosted by: Sabina Osorio January 23, 2025at 12:38 pm ESTThe Gift Hub at TED2024: The Brave and the Brilliant, April 15-19, 2024, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Photo: Felicia Chang / TED)Generosity matters. Whether youre giving your time, your talent or a special gift, generosity is an important force in the world. Giving back not only feels good,its good for you, too.At TED, we give our talks away for free on the internet. We give our brand away for free through our TEDx program. We empower people around the world who are bringing real change to their communities through free programs and initiatives like the Audacious Project, TED Countdown and TED Democracy. As head of TED Chris Anderson says: Be brave. Give what you can, and then be absolutely amazed at what happens next.Align your giving with your valuesTEDs global community is built on curiosity, bravery and generosity. TED donors, patrons and partners help fuel our nonprofit mission to bring the gift of knowledge to millions of people around the world. All of the TED Talks you know and love are made possible thanks to the generosity of others.This spirit of giving extends to our events, where our in-kind gifting partners play a crucial role. By donating their goods and services, these partners help create the extraordinary atmosphere that makes the TED experience spectacular.Each of our outrageously generous in-kind partners are carefully selected not only for their quality of products but also for how their values and mission embody the spirit of TED. These partnerships allow us to offer our attendees gifts that are meaningful, memorable and aligned with the ethos of our community.Attendees at TED2024: The Brave and the Brilliant, April 15-19, 2024, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Photo: Jason Redmond / TED)A look inside the TED Gift HubAt TED2024, the Gift Hub wasnt just about giving it was about discovery. Attendees explored a curated selection of in-kind gifts, resources and communities that reflected TEDs values, including:Sustainable livingWe partnered with Solgaard (recycled plastic backpacks), Grosche (eco-friendly drinkware), Stasher (reusable storage bags) and Heirloom (sustainable coffee) to inspire an eco-conscious lifestyle.Creativity and explorationFor those fueled by curiosity, brands like LEUCHTTURM1917 (notebooks to capture bold ideas), Celestron (telescopes for stargazing) and Huion (digital design tools) offered endless opportunities for creative discovery.Mindful connectionTo encourage moments of reflection, relaxation and connection, we featured thoughtful gifts from Flare Audio (enhanced sound experiences), Nidra (tools for better sleep) and ShareWell (a peer support community).Wellness and growthAttendees were introduced to innovative brands like FitnessGenes (personalized fitness insights), Molecular You (health and wellness profiling), Outway (performance socks) and Plankplad (interactive fitness), making health and personal growth accessible and exciting.Attendees and in-kind partners at TED2024: The Brave and the Brilliant, April 15-19, 2024, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Photo: Jason Redmond / TED)Emerging tech and designFrom cutting-edge devices to imaginative tech, brands like Anything Speaker (portable speakers), Bond Touch (connection bracelets), EarFun (audio devices), Frenz (smart headsets), Mobvoi (AI wearables), Mymanu (translation earbuds), ZWILLING (kitchenware), Shelly (smart home solutions) and Petit Qoobo (robotic cushions) showcased tools and tech that enhance everyday life.Elevated self-careTo bring holistic well-being into attendees lives, we partnered with brands like Aesop (sensorial products), Graydon Skincare, Flaus (oral care tools), VERIPHY Skincare (eco-conscious skincare), Aramweer Organics (South Sudanese natural skincare), Mwani Zanzibar (seaweed products) and Spicewell (nutrient-rich seasonings), bringing thoughtful self-care to every aspect of life.Playful discoveryFinally, for moments of joy and discovery, brands like Fufuly (playful relaxation tools), Page6 (market intelligence for leaders), MoFi Electronics (premium audio), and Wicked Problem Solving (problem-solving frameworks) brought unexpected delight to the Gift Hub.Every gift was thoughtfully curated, empowering attendees to choose items that truly mattered to them. This intentional approach shifted the focus from accumulation to discovery, prioritizing meaningful gifting, reducing waste and connecting attendees with products and ideas that aligned with their values and needs.Attendees and in-kind partners at TED2024: The Brave and the Brilliant, April 15-19, 2024, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Photo: Jason Redmond / TED)What will 2025 bring?As we prepare for TED2025 (April 7-11, 2025), were already imagining how to surprise and delight our attendees with gifts that embody the themes of the conference and the spirit of TED. What stories will the items in the Gift Hub tell? How can each gift inspire curiosity, spark connections and encourage generosity in the lives of our community?This years theme, Humanity Reimagined, challenges us to think deeply about innovation, collaboration and the values that define us. Our gifting partners are hard at work designing and curating items that reflect these ideas, blending creativity, sustainability and purpose.From practical tools that promote mindful living to unexpected treasures that spark joy, each gift in the TED2025 hub will be thoughtfully chosen to enhance the experience of being part of TEDs global community.Stay tuned as we unveil the partners and surprises in store for TED2025. We cant wait for you to see and feel the generosity that makes TED a tradition unlike any other.PartnershipsTED2024

New ResearchNeolithic Farmers May Have Buried These Mysterious Stones to Bring Back the Sun After a Volcanic EruptionUsing ice core samples, researchers linked a natural disaster with a trove of nearly 5,000-year-old artifacts discovered at an archaeological site in Denmark Researchers discovered 614 stone plaques and fragments at Vasagrd West, an archaeological site on the Danish island of Bornholm. National Museum of DenmarkOver the years, a variety of mysterious engraved stone plaques have been unearthed in Denmark. The decorative artifacts date to around 2900 B.C.E., during the Neolithic period.Now, researchers have proposed a theory about the plaques origins: They suspect Neolithic farmers may have carved and ceremonially buried them after a volcanic eruption blotted out light from the sun and made it difficult to grow crops, according to a study published this month in the journalAntiquity.The sun stones were discovered at Vasagrd West, an archaeological site on the Danish island of Bornholm, which is located in the Baltic Sea between Poland and Sweden.In recent years, researchers found 614 whole or fragmented pieces of plaques from ditches that were later filled in and covered with a layer of pottery, animal bones and artifacts. They suspect they were left by members of the Funnel Beaker culture, a group of farmers known to have inhabited the island.Initially, researchers thought Neolithic farmers might have buried the stones as fertility offerings to promote the growth of crops and a bountiful harvest. But then they realized the plaques had been deposited on only a few successive occasions or even during a single event.They wondered if some catastrophe had triggered the burials.We were looking for a natural disaster or climatic event that could have affected crop yields or the visibility of the sun, says study co-author Rune Iversen, an archaeologist at the University of Copenhagen, toNewsweeks Aristos Georgiou.Researchers turned to ice core samples from Greenland and Antarctica to confirm their suspicion: There, trapped in the layers of ice and air bubbles, they found evidence of a volcanic eruption around 2900 B.C.E.which lines up with the sun stones.The ice core samples suggest the eruption occurred near the equator, but its plumes of toxic gas and ash likely affected a large area. The ensuing haze may have been so thick it blocked out the sun and caused temperatures to plummet.This theory is backed up by other sources, including tree rings from Germany and the western United States, per the researchers.This sudden shift would have proved catastrophic for Neolithic farmers on Bornholm. They may have carved and buried the plaques in hopes of bringing back the sunor, possibly, as a way of celebrating after its return.If you dont have the harvest and you dont get the crops in, you wont have anything to sow next year, Iversen tellsNew Scientists Chris Simms. They must have felt pretty punished at that time because its just an endless catastrophe coming at them.Archaeologists wonder whether the volcanic eruption may have contributed to the Neolithic decline, a period when northern Europes human population decreased. Other possible drivers of this decline includeplague, war and famine.The Neolithic decline was followed by profound cultural and populational change as new societies appeared with the influx of people from the steppe north of the Black Sea into Europe, Iversen tells theArt Newspapers Garry Shaw.To confirm this theory, future studies might explore where the volcanic eruption took place, as well as the geographic spread of its debris.Could it, for example, have influenced (or even caused) the migration of steppe herders into Europe during the early third millennium [B.C.E.]? Iversen adds. If it impacted the life on the steppe, it could be a potential driver for these migrations, which we know from ancient genomics totally changed the genetic landscape of Europe.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Agriculture, Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Denmark, European History, Farming, History, New Research, Sun, Volcanoes

Why Do Mammals Have Outer Ears? Scientists Are Getting Closer to Solving the MysteryTwo new studies offer insights into the evolution and development of external ears, which appear in humans and other mammals but arent found in reptiles, birds or amphibians Elephants, bats, rabbits and other mammals have exceptional hearingand their outer ears may be a key reason why. PexelsMammals have exceptional hearing. Using echolocation, bats can detect tiny insects flying in pitch-black darkness. Elephants can recognize the calls of their companions from roughly a mile away. And rabbits can detect the sounds of predators before they ever get close enough to pounce.Physically, these animals are very different. But they all share one helpful anatomical feature: external ears.Scientists have long wondered about the evolutionary origins of outer ears, which are unique to mammals. Now, two new studies are unraveling some of the mysteries surrounding the soft, fleshy structures protruding from our heads.In one paper, published in early January in the journal Science, researchers report the discovery of a new type of cartilage that could help explain why mammals are such keen listeners.They stumbled upon the novel cartilage by chance, while getting ready to look at mouse ear tissue under a microscope. After using chemicals to dry out the ear tissue, they noticed it looked different from other types of cartilage. Its cells were filled with lipids, a type of water-insoluble compound thats usually found in fat tissue, rather than in connective cartilage. Researchers named the new tissue lipocartilage.Further analysis revealed the lipocartilage cells were similarly sized and tightly packed together, akin to bubble wrap or interlocking Lego bricks. And though the cells gave the tissue structural stability, the lipocartilage was also more flexible than other types of cartilage.When scientists went looking for lipocartilage in other creatures, they found it in the ears of other mammals, including humans, opposums and bats; they also found it in the noses, sternums and larynxes of mice. But they did not find the novel tissue in birds, amphibians and reptiles, groups of animals that do not have outer ears. This suggests lipocartilage may have contributed to the exceptional hearing of mammals, says Markta Kauck, a developmental biologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology who was not involved with the paper, to Sciences Mitch Leslie.The other paper, published in the journal Nature in early January, suggests the genes responsible for mammals external ears might have arisen from those that produce fish gills. It builds on previous research that suggests the jaw bones of ancient fish evolved into the three inner ear bones that mammals have today.This finding offers important new insight into the evolutionary underpinnings of outer ears, which are typically difficult to study, because cartilage disintegrates over time and does not fossilize like bone.When we started the project, the evolutionary origin of the outer ear was a complete black box, says Gage Crump, a co-author of the Nature study and a developmental biologist at the University of Southern California, in a statement.But through their work, the scientists discovered similar gene activity patterns and DNA sequences in the gill tissue of zebrafish and the ear cartilage of humans.The gills themselveswhich fish use to breathe underwaterdid not literally transform into outer ears. But, rather, when ancient fish evolved into vertebrates that could live on land, they didnt have to build their outer ears from scratch. Instead, they were able to repurpose the existing genetic programs responsible for creating gills, according to the researchers.Thats one of the amazements of life and evolution, Abigail Tucker, who studies developmental biology at Kings College London and was not involved in the research, tells Scientific Americans Viviane Callier. The regulatory network was still there and therefore could be co-opted and used again, this time to make an external ear structure rather than a gill.The team even revealed that the same genetic mechanism builds the gills of horseshoe crabs, invertebrates that have changed very little over the last 400 million years. When the first fish evolved, they might have repurposed the gill-forming genes from these ancient creatures.The bendy cartilage in mammals outer ears today, then, may be the last remnant of invertebrate cartilage, Crump adds to Scientific American.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Animals, Biology, DNA, Ears, Evolution, Fish, Genetics, Human Evolution, Mammals, Mice, New Research, Senses