Electric vehicle company Rivian is rolling out new software today. The lead feature is Enhanced Highway Assist, which controls steering, acceleration, and braking on compatible highways. It relies on an infrared camera in the rearview mirror to ensure that the driver is still paying attention to the road, even though their hands don't need to be on the wheel. This resource is only rolling out to Rivian's Gen 2 vehicles; the blog post did not address whether it would also come to Gen 1.There's also a new driving mode for Rivian's Performance Dual-Motor lineup. Rally Mode is now available as one of the Off-Road Mode options. When enabled, the vehicle will provide heightened responses to steering and throttle on a range of terrains. Several Dual-Motor vehicles are also getting the option for a post-purchase performance upgrade that introduces three new drive modes: Rally, Sport and Soft Sand. This performance upgrade is a one-time cost of $5,000.Both Gen 2 and Gen 1 are getting other elements of the software update. Side mirror auto-tilt when the car is reversing, allowing a driver better visibility of their wheels and the curb when parallel parking, and tire puncture detection are part of the package. Rivian is also adding an option to change wheel type in the mobile app's Settings menu to receive more-accurate driving range estimates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/rivians-latest-update-offers-hands-free-highway-driving-201926973.html?src=rss

Some users are reporting issues with HP LaserJet MFP models after a March 4 firmware update.

Plankey also held positions in cyber during the first Trump first administration.

For ages, real estate has been defined by the tangible: buildings, land, square feet. Nowadays, however, the worlds most valuable businesses make their money from what is intangiblebrands, networks, knowledge, and experiences.As of 2020, 90% of the value at the S&P 500 comes from intangible assets, up from 32% 40 years ago. The equivalent figure for major European companies lags behind, at just over 74% in 2020, a factor that likely contributes to Europes lower growth rate and per capita GDP. Much of the difference is made by a few unmatched American technology platforms.Real estate, too, must evolve beyond its physical footprint.At Atrium Ljungberg, where I work, we started that process a long time ago. Our market offering is not only built on bricks and mortar, but interactions and services happening inside and between offices, apartments, and retail spaces. This makes them greater than the sum of its parts. Our portfolio is more than a collection of buildings: It is the life between buildings. For that reason, we dont operate buildings separately, but focus on developing large, interconnected districts.In a way, we could be seen as a platform company, enabling people, businesses, and ideas to connect and grow. This philosophy drives our megaprojects redeveloping parts of Stockholm.Real estate as a platform businessAt their core, platforms create value by coordinating interactions, reducing barriers and transaction costs, and enabling large-scale economic activity through network effects. The highest-performing businesses on the S&P 500 today create ecosystems where value is co-generated, but facilitated by these companies.Of the worlds 10 largest companies by market capitalizationfrom Amazon and Alphabet to Metaseven can be considered platform businesses. All sprung up in the last two decades. Swedens most valuable company, Spotify, fits into the platform archetype too.Lets apply platform logic to urban environments. A thriving city district is a dynamic system where different actorsresidents, businesses, visitors, civil society, cultural institutionsinteract in ways that ideally enhance each others experience. The role of a developer, then, is not just to build and lease space but to curate and connectfacilitating an ecosystem where people and businesses can thrive. This includes thinking beyond the traditional landlord-tenant relationship. A more holistic approach ultimately delivers increased value also to individual tenants.Just as nightclub owners need the right crowd, we carefully consider the first tenants in our developments: Who will create the most value for others in future? They lay the foundations for whoever comes next. This is also how you must start growing a platform. Weve introduced flexible memberships that allow businesses to access workspaces across different locations. Weve partnered with mobility providers to offer shared transport solutions that reduce car dependency. Weve invested in cultural programming that extends a districts life beyond office hours.In each of these cases, our broader ambition is to generate lasting impact for our customers and other stakeholders, including city councils.Why we report livability to financial marketsUrban environments have always derived their value from interaction, not just location. The classic example is the agglomeration effectwhy businesses cluster, for instance, in financial or life sciences districts, or why creative industries thrive in repurposed warehouse spaces. Its no secret that economic productivity is shaped by knowledge, relationships, and cultureand you likely see this in your own work. This is why companies pay a premium for office space in vibrant areas, why retail thrives in lively environments, and why people prefer communities that offer more than a place to live.If a company attracts or keeps better talent because of the neighborhood its in, or if a retail street sees increased foot traffic because of a carefully curated mix of tenants and public spaces, the economic impact of these factors isnt always obvious at first. But to every CEO, CHRO, or owner, their significance grows over time.Many employers that ignored these factorswhether by relocating or staying in the wrong placelater dealt with talent flight, engagement drop, and operational struggles. In retrospect, the consequences were clear.It is no coincidence that many of the worlds most valuable companies were born in Silicon Valley, which is an exceptionally livable and well-balanced environment. The repercussions of the areas rapid economic growth have since put pressure on some livability aspects, but the livable foundation was a key ingredient to its success.Against this background, weve developed our own index to capture a wider set of critical livability values. The index not only measures factors like safety and accessibility, but also social interaction and cultural vibrancy.Over the past few years, weve significantly advanced our own index score measured across our developments. Since we are a listed company, this score is regularly reported to the stock market, alongside our financial and decarbonization reporting. However, the index is not just a reporting measureit is directly linked to our sustainability bonds, integrating these intangible values into our financial structure. The more we improve livability, the lower our cost of capital. Its a way of quantifying what the market increasingly understands: Places that cultivate interaction, well-being, and identity hold lasting value.Well-being as a shared valueOne of the most overlooked aspects of value, crazily enough, is well-being. Urban loneliness is rising. Stress levels are rising. The way we design and activate spaces in real life can either worsen these problems or help solve them. The platform mindset is crucial here: Isolation is the biggest obstacle to well-being, which relies on interaction, a core function of platforms.The best urban areas are those where people feel connectedto their neighbors, to culture, to work, and to nature. This is why we emphasize not just physical design but the social and emotional experience of a place. That includes shared green spaces and foodsome would argue this matters mostto diverse retail, health, and leisure offerings. Developing a place which shapes peoples daily lives comes with great social and economic responsibility, affecting their health, creativity, and sense of belonging.How urban development must evolve in the platform eraAs the economy continues to shift toward intangible value, championed by platforms, the best real estate developers will understand their role not just as builders or operators, but as city life shapers. This means embracing new objectives, new partnerships, and a new mindsetone that sees urban areas and individual buildings as centers for interaction rather than just physical assets. Urban planners and architects play important roles, but developers are the economic engines defining both projects and functionality over time. Still, compared to architecture, real estate often lacks an innovation mindsetsomething that has real consequences.We need platform companies in the physical world to be as ambitious as platforms in the virtual one, otherwise it will lose its relative appeal. Relying solely on digital platforms to shape how people live and interact is hardly a sustainable model. To create conditions for greater well-being, we need to strengthen the real-world layer that digital platforms cant replace.The real-world city naturally exposes us to spontaneous encounters and experiences, sparking creativity in ways algorithms cannot replicate. It engages our innate reward systems through meaningful interactions, making cities uniquely capable of driving both innovation and human well-beingwhether or not we actively seek it. This is precisely what digital platforms, with their self-reinforcing bubbles, struggle to achieve. It is also why the city remains humanitys greatest invention, effortlessly breaking through our mental echo chambers to prove its value as our ultimate interactive platform.Real estate clearly has a void to fill, as the industry isnt fully delivering on the promise of cities as platforms. To change this, we must learn from the most successful platform companies today. They can teach us a lot about structural efficiency and capacity to shape behavior and economic activity.Digital platforms are not role models in every aspect, but they have certainly demonstrated how to challenge the status quo, link people and companies in new ways, and generate economic value on an unmatched scale. These are all needs in the physical world. There is a clear opportunity for the real estate industry to apply platform principlesand every reason for us to do it.Linus Kjellberg is the head of business development for Atrium Ljungberg.The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more.

Ive always been vocal about the need to fight inequality in our own backyards. As a resident of New Yorks Capital Region, I built my marketing business here. And in 2020, I founded Business for Good Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropy organization focused on closing the growing wealth gap and providing a hand up to underserved entrepreneurs. The inequality is blatantly real.The 23.3% poverty rate is more than twice as high in Albany versus the 11.1% national average. In fact, New York is one of the most economically unequal states in the country. While local and state government have made promises to help clean up the city, reduce crime rates, and create more affordable housing, the reality is that we havent seen much movement and things arent getting better.If we truly hope to level the playing field and tackle these inequities, then those of us driving change in the private sector will simply need to keep our eyes on the ball, and step in where government officials are not. The growing wealth divide in the U.S.While those in political power might not always care to acknowledge it, income inequality remains one of the greatest challenges facing our country, to the point that the U.S. continues to boast a significantly larger wealth gap between the rich and poor than any other developed nation in the world.To put the issue into perspective, according to the Peter G. Petersen Foundation, the income of the 20% of wealthiest U.S. households rose 165% between 1981 and 2021, whereas middle and low income households have only seen growth of 33% and 38%, respectively. And if our political leaders arent even willing to recognize, much less take action to address the nations growing wealth divide, then making a real impact will require the collective effort, dedication, and resources of private advocacy groups and philanthropists in our communities.The compounding threat of housing inequalitySadly, for the millions of people living in underserved communities across the nation, overcoming income insecurity isnt about striving for the American dream, but rather ensuring they can feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. And as the U.S. economy continues to grapple with an ongoing housing shortage and affordability crisis, this growing sense of anxiety and desperation has the very real potential to result in further increases in poverty, crime and social unrest.The state of housing affordability in America today is frankly appalling. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there is currently an estimated shortage of over 7 million affordable homes in the U.S., not even close to enough to accommodate the nearly 11 million extremely low income families throughout the country. Ive witnessed this devastating reality firsthand while living in the Capital Region.To address these issues, Albany announced an executive budget proposal earlier this year that would include a $400 million investment toward revitalizing the community. However, Albanys government has once again been slow to act, and the commitment has not been seen through, further underscoring the need for community and business leaders to work together to drive meaningful change, with or without state or federal institutional support.Relying on the private sectorAs someone whos been lucky enough to have a successful career as an entrepreneur, and who recognizes how the unfair advantages provided to certain groups prevent others from getting ahead, Ive frequently struggled to understand the states unwillingness to step in and put an end to the widespread inequalities that have been plaguing this country for so long.This is exactly the issue I set out to address when I founded the Business for Good Foundation. And if theres one thing Ive learned in my experience, its that providing those who are less fortunate with equal access to resources and opportunities is often all it takes to uplift an entire community.Going forward, I wont simply sit on my hands any longer and wait for state leaders support to do whats right. Instead, I plan to double down on our work in New Yorks Capital Region through a heightened focus on fostering business growth, economic inclusion, housing stability, and community development to build a better, more equitable world for all. Its my hope that other business leaders across the private sector will do the same.Ed Mitzen is cofounder of Business for Good.The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more.

The Montreal-based design studio, Mnard Dworkind, has finished a distinctive residence encased in cedar, crafted to envelop its residents in the serene ambiance of a Quebec forest. Spanning 280 square meters (3,000 square feet), the Q8 Residence was completed in 2024 and is situated at the base of a hill within the Quartier 8 development in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.A major focus on orientation and choosing where to maximise and minimise glazing as well as a careful material selection and strategic spatial arrangements helps the home foster this strong connection to nature while providing a warm, open, and functional living environment, said Mnard Dworkind (MRDK) co-founder David Dworkind.Designer: Mnard DworkindThe house is composed of a series of staggered volumes, each distinguished by different exterior cladding materials, giving it the appearance of asymmetrical stacked boxes. From the northern approach, the structure appears largely closed off, with minimal openings, prioritizing privacy and heat retention during the winter months.Visitors will arrive through gravel driveway that leads to a threshold at a western carport, which spans the main house and the storage room. A zig-zag-shaped corner extends into the carport, separating the entryway from a path that leads around the house to the family areas. The informal entry is neatly tucked into an interior corner where a bent lower form, wrapped in vertical larch siding, meets a rectangular upper volume adorned with white cedar shingles, alongside a short garden wall made of board-formed concrete. This interplay of materials creates a dynamic facade that resonates with the surrounding forest, said the team.The larch siding and ceiling materials seamlessly extend into the front entry, transitioning into a compact mudroom. This space then opens up into a double-height area that includes the living, dining, and kitchen spaces, promoting a sense of openness and connectivity at the heart of the house. In the kitchen, a pantry is cleverly concealed behind a sliding screen and cabinet, providing storage for small appliances while maintaining a clean, uncluttered look.A spacious screened-in porch spans the eastern side of the house, sheltered by the overhanging second floor. Serving as an additional dining and living area, the porch is protected from insects and is designed to capture the morning light. From the porch, one can access a square pool deck located on the southern side of the house, where a double-sided fireplace creates a matte column along the exterior facade.The western side of the house features a private suite, which includes a primary bedroom, bathroom, laundry area, and gym space, all thoughtfully designed to accommodate aging residents. This suite opens onto a sheltered triangular porch. A privacy wall curves outward to provide shade for an exterior shower area, which is further shielded by a large boulder discovered during the homes excavation. On the upper level, a portion of the hallway is dedicated to a cozy reading nook, complete with a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf and daybed, offering views over the double-height living room. This level also houses three more bedrooms and two bathrooms.Throughout the interior, the material palette mirrors the exterior finishes. A harmonious blend of larch wood, dark and light-stainedpine veneer, white walls, and lime wash creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. This cohesive selection of materials reinforces the connection between the homes interior spaces and its natural surroundings, the team concluded.The post This Serene & Cedar-Clad Oasis In The Heart of Quebecs Forest Blends Modern Design With Natural Harmony first appeared on Yanko Design.

Alexander Maxhams exclusive leak suggests the Pixel 10 Pro XL will maintain nearly identical proportions to its predecessor at 162.7 x 76.6 x 8.5mmdiffering only by 0.1mm in height. This dimensional consistency reflects Googles confidence in the Pixel 9 Pro XLs ergonomic success while enabling backward compatibility with existing accessories. The strategic relocation of the SIM tray to the upper edge creates space for enhanced speaker configuration, addressing landscape audio performance without disrupting the devices established footprint.Designer: GoogleGoogle is going to continue to offer a smaller and larger flagship Pixel device, Maxham notes, highlighting the companys commitment to serving diverse user preferences. The 6.8-inch display on the Pro XL variant maintains Googles two-tier premium strategy, acknowledging that display real estate requirements vary significantly among power users. This approach avoids forcing consumers to choose between device size and feature accessa compromise often required by competitors who reserve certain capabilities for their largest models.Via Onleaks + AndroidHeadlinePerhaps the most significant hardware shift occurs not in the Pro XL but in the standard Pixel 10, which appears to gain telephoto capabilities previously reserved for premium variants. CAD renders show an expanded camera bar on the base model, suggesting Google is democratizing zoom photography across its lineup. The triple-sensor array remains physically similar to its predecessor for the Pro XL, with improvements likely focused on computational processing rather than sensor hardware.Beneath the familiar exterior lies the Pixel 10 series most consequential evolution: the shift from Samsung to TSMC for manufacturing the Tensor G5 processor. This 3nm fabrication processidentical to that used in Apples latest chipsrepresents Googles response to persistent thermal management challenges in previous generations. While benchmark performance may not show dramatic improvements, efficiency gains should translate to extended battery life and sustained performance under loadaddressing key criticisms of earlier Tensor implementations.The processor maintains UFS 3.1 storage support rather than upgrading to the faster 4.0 standard, suggesting Google has prioritized stability and power efficiency over raw data transfer speeds.Via Onleaks + AndroidHeadlineUnlike the Pixel 9s launch, which preceded Android 15s finalization and created a temporary software disparity, the Pixel 10 series is positioned for a more coordinated release. Maxham reports that Android 16s planned AOSP availability on June 3rd aligns perfectly with the August hardware launch window, ensuring the new devices ship with Googles latest operating system. This synchronization extends to the broader Pixel ecosystem, with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold expected to debut alongside the standard and Pro models, while the mid-range Pixel 9a arrives this month.The Pixel 10 series will introduce Pixel Sense, representing Googles shift toward processing AI tasks locally rather than in the cloud. This approach enhances privacy while reducing latency for common AI operations. The Tensor G5s neural processing capabilities, combined with Android 16s machine learning optimizations, position the Pixel 10 Pro XL as a device that performs complex contextual computing without constant server communicationa meaningful differentiation in an increasingly AI-focused market.The post Pixel 10 XL Unveiled: Engineering Refinement Over Radical Redesign first appeared on Yanko Design.

The latest 15-inch MacBook Air is bluer and better than ever beforeand it dropped in price.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsCan drive two external displays at 6K/60HzM4 provides a performance boostNew 12MP Center Stage cameraConsNo more Space Gray optionOur Verdict With the M4 MacBook Air, Apple addressed the major flaws with its predecessor, which was an excellent laptop in the first place. Is the M4 MacBook Air flawless? It might beidentifying its flaws is an exercise in personal preferences. This is the laptop for everyone.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayBest Prices Today: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M4, 2025)RetailerPrice1.499,00 View Deal1.499,00 View Deal1.499,00 View Deal1.499,00 View Deal1.499,00 View Deal1.499,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWhile the MacBook Air is Apples most popular laptop, its not the first in line to get Apples latest M-series chip. That honor goes to Apples most powerful laptop, the MacBook Pro, which was updated with the M4 chip last October. The MacBook Air traditionally gets the chip update a few months afterward and right on schedule, the Airs time has come for its M4 update.The MacBook Air is a great laptop with an M4 or even with the older M3 chip. But even with the four major changes in the M4 MacBook Air, only one of them is a compelling reason to ditch an M3 MacBook Air that you recently bought. And if youre still relying on an Intel-based MacBook Air, the M4 MacBook Air is an offer you cant refuseit has performance that will save you a significant amount of time.15-inch M4 MacBook Air: Our models specificationsApple offers three standard configurations each for the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air. The 15-inch MacBook Air in this review is customized with more RAM and storage than the top-end standard configuration, which starts at 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Here are the specs for our review unit:CPU: 10-core M4 (4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores)GPU: 10-core M4Neural engine: 16-coreMemory: 16GB unified memory (120GBps memory bandwidth)Storage: 512TB SSDDisplay: 15.3-inch Liquid Retina LED backlit display with IPS; 2880-by-1864 native resolution at 224 pixels per inch; 500 nits brightness; P3 color; True TonePorts: 2 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C; MagSafe 3; 3.5mm audioNetworking: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3Weight: 3.3 pounds (1.51 kg)Dimensions: 0.45 by 13.40 by 9.35 inches (1.15 by 34.04 by 23.76 centimeters)Battery capacity: 66.5WhPrice (as tested): $1,399/1,399/CA$1,999/AU$2,399The new Sky Blue option for the MacBook Air replaces the Space Gray color.Foundry15-inch M4 MacBook Air: PerformanceThe new MacBook Air spotlights its new M4 chip, which has a 10-core CPU (4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores), 8-core or 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. Compared to the M3 it replaced, the M4 has two more efficiency cores, two more GPU cores, and general CPU tweaks to make it a better performer.Geekbench 6.4Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Our performance analysis starts with Geekbench 6 for a general, overall view. In both the Single-Core and Multi-Core tests, the M4 MacBook Air was 23 percent faster than the M3 MacBook Air. Thats along the lines of what we usually get from one chip generation to another.The older the chip, the better the performance comparison gets with the M4. The M4 offers a 46 percent boost over the M2 MacBook Air; if you have an M2 Air, that boost is attractive, but you might shrug and decide you dont need to upgrade. If you have a M1 MacBook Air, however, the M4 upgrade is a lot more attractive from a pure performance perspective.If you have an Intel MacBook Air, well, Ive urged you to upgrade to an M-series Air since the M2, but I understand if youve hedged then, even with the M3. But upgrading to an M4 will being substantial time savings no matter what youre doing.Apples trackpad has long been a strength of its MacBook lineup.FoundryCinebench 2024Results are expressed as Cinebench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Cinebench 2024 is a test that performs 3D rendering. Most people who do the kind of work tested by Cinebench are using a higher-need MacBook Pro, but the MacBook Air is up to the task. Again, as we saw with Geekbench, the results show an solid incremental 21 percent boost from the M3 to the M4.HandBrake 1.9.2 video encodeResults are times in seconds. Lower times/shorter bars are faster.We used HandBrake to encode the Tears of Steel video from 4K to a 1080p H.265 file. When doing the encoding completely in software using the H.265 (x265) video encoder, the M4 is a healthy 31 percent faster than the M3. When using the available hardware acceleration through HandBrakes H.265 (VideoToolBox) encoder, the M4 was 40 percent faster.iMovie 4K video exportsResults are times in seconds. Lower times/shorter bars are faster.We exported a 10-minute 4K video at two settings in iMovie to gauge CPU performance. The M4 was 16 percent faster than the M3 when exporting the file using the ProRes codec. When we changed the quality setting of the export to High, the M4 advantage shrank to 6 percent.Blackmagic Disk TestResults are megabytes per second. Higher rates/longer bars are faster.The SSD results between the M3 and M4 MacBook Air are practically the same. Theres a little boost from the M2 to the M4, but you need to do long, sustained disk reads and writes to tell the difference.With the M1 and M2 MacBook Air with 256GB of storage, Apple used a single 256GB SSD chip, which adversely affected performance. The company changed that to a pair of 128GB SSD chips in the M3 MacBook Air, which improved performance. Our review unit has a 512GB SSD (presumably installed as multiple SSD chips), so we cant verify the performance of the laptop with a 256GB SSD, but it would seem unwise for Apple to go back to its old ways. We dont think you need to worry if youre eyeing an Air with a 256GB SSD.Geekbench 6 ComputeResults are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Geekbenchs Compute benchmark tests GPU performance using Metal or OpenCL APIs. If a game has been written natively for the Mac, it should be using the Metal API for the best performance. The M4 MacBook Air offers a 16 percent boost over the M3both of these chips have a 10-core GPU, so Apple has improved the M4s GPU.Videogame frame ratesResults are frames per second. Higher rates/longer bars are faster.Testing was done using the built-in benchmarks for Borderlands 3, Total War: Warhammer III, and Civilization VI.Game Mode for macOS automatically activates when a game launches to optimize performance.Geekbench AIResults are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster.Apple Intelligence is a major marketing message from Apple. Whether youre using the AI-based features or not, theyre part of Apple promotions going forward. Apple Intelligence started to appear in macOS Sequoia 15.1 and more features will be delivered over time.Geekbench offers an AI benchmark that checks the performance of Apple Neural Engine in its chips. But the way Apple Intelligence is implemented now doesnt feel super processor intensive so youre not going to feel a difference in say, using Image Playground on an M4 than on an M1.15-inch M4 MacBook Air: Ports, external display support, and connectivityApple still provides two USB Type-C ports on the M4 MacBook Air, but theyve been upgraded from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 4. This leads to the most compelling reason to upgrade from an M3 or older Air: the M4 Air can run up to two external displays at 6k resolution and 60Hz. Thats in addition to the laptop display, so theres no more clamshell compromise as was with the M3 Air. Thats a big deal for a lot of users who bought a MacBook Pro instead or turned to an external hub solution.Other than the better display support, users arent going to notice much of a difference between Thunderbolt 3 and 4. As usual, the Thunderbolt ports are also USB-C ports and these ports support the USB 4 specification, thus Apple calls them Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports.If you want, you can connect two 6K/60Hz displays to the MacBook Airs Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, and still be able to use the laptops display.FoundryThe M4 MacBook Air uses Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity. Apple has not commented on why it didnt upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 like it did with the iPhone 16, but its nothing to be concerned about. You need to be connecting to Wi-Fi 7 hotspots to take advantage of the faster speed, and theyre not readily available right now.15-inch M4 MacBook Air: CameraThe M4 MacBook Air drops the aging 1080p FaceTime camera for something more modern: a 12MP Center Stage camera. Its the same camera that Apple offers in the MacBook Pro, and it has much-improved image quality. Center Stage is a boon, too; I only realized recently how much I shift around while recording the Macworld Podcast (excuse me for the plug), and Center Stage helps make sure Im centered in the frame, which matters when youre in a video with multiple users. Video conferences are now the norm, so having a high-quality camera in the MacBook Air is a great and necessary feature.The 12MP camera on the Mac has been a long time coming. It was only four years ago that Apple introduced the 1080p camera to replace the 720p one starting with the iMac, while in the meantime, the 12MP front-facing camera has been on the iPhone since the iPhone 11 in 2019. So yeah, finally. (That also means longtime readers of Macworld can now stop hearing us harp about the Mac cameras. At least until 12MP becomes pass.)15-inch M4 MacBook Air: Battery life & chargingThe M4 MacBook Air has the same battery as before: a 66.5-watt-hour lithium polymer battery that Apple says offers 15 hours of wireless web and 18 hours of video streaming.Battery lifeResults are times in minutes. Longer bars/higher results are better.Our battery life test involved playing a loop of the 4K Tears of Steel video with the display set at 150 nits. The new laptop didnt last quite as long as the M2 and M3 MacBook Airs, but it still took nearly 18 hours to drain its battery. While using the M4 Air for work all day (mostly to write this review), I never had a concern for battery life and didnt need to plug it in until I was done for the day.The included 35W power adapter has two USB-C ports, so you can plug in another device and charge it along with the Air. Apple includes a braided MagSafe cable that is color-matched to the laptop.Apple includes a high-quality color-matched braided MagSafe cable and a 35-watt power adapter with two USB-C ports.Foundry15-inch M4 MacBook Air: Enter Sky Blue, exit Space GrayApple introduces a new Sky Blue color that replaces Space Gray. It almost feels like Apple introduced Sky Blue and dropped Space Gray to emphasize the color scheme it does with consumer-level products, which are offered in a rainbow of colors.Sky Blue is lighter than the Blue iMac (the one I reviewed last November) and its a nice shade that looks fine on a laptop. Its not the same as Ultramarine on the iPhone 16, but its close enough if youre into coordinating your Apple device colors.How a Silver MacBook Pro (left) compares to the Sky Blue MacBook Air.FoundryIf you want a darker MacBook Air, your only choice now is Midnight. I cant say Im going to miss Space Gray, but I didnt hate it, either. It varied in tone over the years, and I preferred it in darker shades. Apple will probably bring it back someday; maybe theyll spell it as Grey to give it new life.15-inch M4 MacBook Air: What didnt changeThis review focuses on what Apple changed from the M3 to the M4 MacBook Air. The following components did not change but should be mentioned since they do play a role in your buying decision. Ive included links to our original posts, in case youre interested in more detail.Design: Apple introduced this design with the M2 MacBook Air. Learn more.Display: The Liquid Retina (LED) display still looks great. Learn more.Keyboard and trackpad: Other than the mute icon, which gets a slash on the M4 MacBook Air, the keyboard is the same Magic Keyboard introduced with the last Intel model in 2020 and updated with the M2 redesign. Learn more.The Mute icon makes a comeback with the M4 MacBook Air.FoundryShould you buy the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air?In my M3 MacBook Air review last year, I said it was the best laptop choice for just about anyone. With the M4 MacBook Air, that holds, but this laptop is better. The M3 Airs clamshell compromise with the external display support was a deal killer for a lot of users. So, the M4 Airs expanded external display support is a more important upgrade than the performance improvements. Dont get me wrong, thoughfaster is always better. The 12MP Center Stage camera is an overdue upgrade that makes Apples general consumer laptop feel more professional.Its also cheaper by $100 across the board. The model we tested that sells for $1,399 would have been $1,499 for the same specs with an M3 chip. Thats a nice and surprising discount, especially considering you get twice the RAM you got when the M3 launched in March 2024.That all being said, if you have an M3 or M2 MacBook Air in a production environment and its external display support is a major hindrance to your productivity, then this is a no-brainer upgrade. But if thats not the case, then its also likely that you are not doing the type of work where the speed difference would have a noticeable effect. The MacBook Air you have will capably serve you for years to come.FoundryIf you have an M1 MacBook Air, well, thats when this M4 model looks very appealing. The M4 Air isnt just about a faster chip, its also a fresh design, an upgrade from a 720p FaceTime camera, and better external display support. Plus, the M1 Air was available only in a 13-inch design, and now theres also a 15-inch model available. So theres a lot more here to enjoy if you decide to upgrade.And finally, my recommendation to Intel-based MacBook Air owners is the same as with the M3 MacBook Air: Make the investment. Even if you need an Intel machine becuse youre relying on some tool or software that isnt Apple silicon-compatible, you need to rectify that situation because you are hindering your productivity. Make the change. You wont regret it.

MacworldAt a glanceExpert's RatingProsRugged designCompetitive priceGood performanceUSB-C interface, with USB-A adaptor includedConsNo Thunderbolt supportNot completely water-resistantOur Verdict Its not the fastest SSD you can buy for your Mac, but the Extreme Portable SSD is a good all-rounder at a competitive price. Its rugged design is great for outdoor use, and it now provides up to 8TB of storage, making it a good option for your time-machine back-ups and storing large photos and video files.Price When ReviewedThis value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefinedBest Pricing TodayWe last looked at SanDisks rugged Extreme Portable V2 way back in 2021 so it was certainly due for an update, and this latest model comes swaggering back with an even sturdier design and increased capacity that offers up to 8TB of storage. Its dropped the version number from the name, though, with SanDisk now simply calling it the Extreme Portable SSD.SanDisks product names can be a bit tricky too, as the company has several portable solid-state drives that look very similar and have similar names. Theres a model called the Extreme Pro Portable that looks identical and has a faster USB4 interface, but only offers a maximum of 4TB storage. Theres also a less expensive Portable SSD, which is competitively priced but not particularly fast, so you need to check the name and technical details on Western Digitals website to make sure you order the correct model (SanDisk is now owned by Western Digital, so its products are sold via WDs main website these days). The external design hasnt changed much for this update either, sticking with a perforated black case made out of silicon that provides plenty of protection, and a hook for a lanyard so that you can strap it to your belt or backpack when youre out and about. We tested the largest 8TB version of the drive, which is very slightly larger than the previous model, measuring 9.6mm thick, 52.5mm wide and 100.8mm long compared to 8.9 x 52.4 x 100.5 but its still slim and light enough to easily slip into your pocket when youre travelling, and there arent many rival drives that provide that much storage in such a compact and portable design.Performance hasnt changed much either, as this new model uses the same USB-C connector as its predecessor, with support for USB 3.2 (Gen 2). Theres a USB-C cable included in the box, and SanDisk also throws in a USB-A adaptor for older computers as well. SanDisk quotes the same speed for this model too, at 1000MB/s and 1050MB/s for write and read performance respectively. And, unsurprisingly, our tests found that the two drives produce very similar results when running the Black Magic Disk speed test, with the Extreme Portable reaching 946MB/s for write performance and 910MB/s for read performance. That cant match the performance of some of the faster Thunderbolt drives that are now available, but its still fine for general use and Time Machine backups.Take a look at the top SSDs for Mac that we have tested. The main difference is that this update for 2025 is even tougher than before, now boasting an IP65 rating for resistance to water and dust. This means that its sealed tight to prevent penetration of dust and other particles, and can withstand high-pressure jets of water. Its not completely water-proof though, so itll be fine in the rain, but you should avoid dropping it into deep bodies of water. SanDisk also states that the drive can withstand being dropped from a height of 3 meters, and to back it up the company provides a full five-year warranty as well. And, as mentioned, this model provides even more storage capacity too, starting at 1GB and going right up to 8TB, so it will be a good option for anyone that needs to store large, high-res photo or video files on their MacBook when theyre working outdoors. SanDisk also says that it has tested the Extreme Portable drive to ensure that its compatible with the iPhone 15 range as well, for people who like to shoot video on the move.The drive arrived pre-formatted using the cross-platform ExFat format, but its easy to reformat it using Apples Disk Utility on the Mac if you prefer. SanDisk also includes its own Security app on the drive, which provides password-protection and 256-bit encryption for your important files. We were also pleased to find that this 2025 model is less expensive too, costing just $99.99/94.99 for 1TB of storage, and going up to $549.99/538.99 for the 8TB option.Should You Buy The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD?Professional users may prefer a faster SSD that has a Thunderbolt interface, but Thunderbolt drives do still tend to be pretty expensive. The strength of the Extreme Portable SSD is that it provides good performance and high capacity, along with an extremely sturdy design that makes it ideal for outdoor use. Even better is the fact that it manages to do all that while still maintaining a competitive price that will appeal to both professional and more casual users.