Categories
Ξ TREND

In Mission Impossible 7, Tom Cruise’s sunglasses are 10 times better than Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro headset



It’s go again ! Tom Cruise is back in Impossible mission this Wednesday July 12 for the seventh film in one of the best Hollywood sagas. This Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part 1 is of very good quality, finding itself in the middle of our ranking of Impossible mission. A purely subjective ranking which nevertheless includes a totally objective element: Tom Cruise’s XXL performances.

Without the American actor now aged 61, the franchise Impossible mission wouldn’t be what it is today: a real machine for making exciting action films that are a hit all over the world. Feature film number 7 has barely been released when the forecasts are incredible, in terms of revenue in dollars. In these films, Tom Cruise performs almost all of his stunts, from car chases in Paris or Rome to jumps into the void on a motorcycle, climbing buildings several hundred meters high or stunts in the sky on planes and helicopters. To succeed in these ultra-dangerous actions, Tom Cruise can count on his talent and his amazing duo: Luther Stickell and Benji Dunn. The two men guide him in his almost impossible missions, which often gives rise to a few touches of humor acting as breathing space between two fast-paced scenes. This is still the case, obviously, in Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part 1, including the scene at Abu Dhabi airport.

Tom Cruise’s glasses VS. Apple’s Vision Pro headset

We are in the first part of Christopher McQuarrie’s film and Ethan Hunt must find a key that will allow him to unlock a mysterious secret. Except he doesn’t really know who he’s looking for. Fortunately, his two sidekicks have concocted some magical sunglasses for him. This aviator model, which is of course reminiscent of the Ray-Ban Aviators, allows them to scan everyone they see and follow everything that happens in the airport. He can also pose as someone else to those who seek him, giving him a valuable head start on his enemies. We’re not going to tell you everything in every detail (go watch the film!), but we can guarantee that this pair of glasses, in addition to being chic with its gold frames and double bridge, is the best never seen in the cinema. In life, the closest thing to it is the Vision Pro headset unveiled by Apple on June 5 and which we were able to test. We really liked it, especially with the eye tracking pushed to its maximum, but we must admit that having access to a host of data from sunglasses like those of Tom Cruise is more practical, and more discreet, than walk around with the 500 grams on the head of the helmet (mask) from the Cupertino company. Even if we suspect that the pair of the actor Impossible mission thus technologically transformed would cost as much or more than Apple’s Vision Pro, announced at $3,500.

Categories
Ξ TREND

2023 Mac Studio review: Apple’s desktop that can do a lot

Announced in 2023 during a summer presentation, the M2 Ultra chip became the company’s most powerful computing solution. Of course, it would be strange to present such a solution and not use it. It was the M2 Ultra chip that received the updated Mac Studio computer. This is already his second generation. The predecessor pleasantly surprised us with its high performance, compactness and wide possibilities for interaction with different interfaces. What the 2023 Mac Studio is, and what the transition to a new chip gave it, we will look at in this material.

Mac Studio Design 2023

Apple has managed to create a truly fantastic device. The Mac Studio is similar in size to a pair of Mac Minis stacked on top of each other, but offers disproportionate power. The top side of the device is a square with rounded corners and the signature black apple logo on it. The width of each side of the computer is 19.7 cm, in other words, this is both the length and width of the device. And its height is only 9.5 cm. The computer cannot be called heavy – it weighs only 2.7 kg in the version with the M2 Max processor and 3.6 kg in the version with the M2 Ultra processor.

The side edges of the computer also received curves. The lower base is a mesh trapezoid, its smaller side is the support of the device. Inside the compact design is a revolutionary ventilation system specifically designed to allow the M2 Max or M2 Ultra to handle heavy loads at extremely high speeds and remain silent.

Mac Studio has a silver color, traditional for Apple technology, and the body is made from 100% recycled aluminum.

At the bottom of the front side there are three connectors and a power indicator. The back part is more than half given over to the ventilation mesh; below it are the remaining ports and connectors, as well as the power button. The case is non-separable – it is not possible to make any upgrades or repairs yourself.

The design of the device can no longer be called new – last year’s model looked exactly the same. Then Apple engineers were able to create a desktop solution, compact and as silent as possible, equipped with all the necessary ports. And it is logical to maintain continuity in this matter.

Mac Studio 2023 performance

It is already becoming a tradition to release Mac Studio in two configurations. The first is based on the M2 Max chip, and the second uses the top-end and just presented M2 Ultra. It is actually a pair of M2 Max processors connected by UltraFusion architecture. Both processors are manufactured on the 5nm process by Taiwanese manufacturer TSMC. The architecture used in the first generation of the Ultra chip makes it possible to provide enormous data speed on the internal bus with minimal latency and minimal power consumption. The second generation chip received 134 billion transistors, which is 20 billion more than the previous top solution, M1 Ultra.

The version with M2 Max is in itself a productive solution that can cope with any tasks offered to the computer. Mac Studio can easily work in parallel with several applications, process media content, record and mix music, and calculate complex processes. A 12-core central processor, 30 or 38 graphics cores and a 16-core neural processor are responsible for performance. The computer received 32 GB of unified memory (there are options with 64 and 96 GB) and an SSD drive with a capacity of 512 GB to 8 TB. Memory bandwidth reaches 400 Gbit/s.

The chip has 69 billion transistors and can reproduce up to 10 ProRes streams in 8K resolution, performs up to 15.8 trillion operations per second, supports up to 5 displays, hardware encoding/decoding of HEVC, ProRes and H.264.

The M2 Ultra-based computer version is a much more productive solution. Here the processor already has 24 cores, 60 or 76 graphics cores and 32 neural processor cores. The volume of unified memory ranges from 64 to 192 GB. The minimum capacity of an SSD drive is 1 TB, and the maximum is the same 8 TB. Memory bandwidth reaches 800 Gbit/s. According to Apple, the M2 Ultra is generally 20% faster than the M1 Ultra, and in graphics the superiority can reach 30%.

This chip is capable of playing up to 22 ProRes streams in 8K resolution, performs up to 31.6 trillion operations per second, supports up to 8 displays, hardware encoding/decoding of HEVC, ProRes and H.264.

And there are already real tests of the new Mac Studio. It is logical that this computer is compared with last year’s brother based on the M1 Ultra and top-end PCs. In the Cinebench R23 test using the Maxon Cinema 4D engine to test multi-core and multi-threaded processing, the new M2 Ultra was 18% ahead of the M1 Ultra, but almost half as bad as the 64-core Ryzen 5995WX. The specificity of the test is demanding on the number of cores.

The Geekbench 5.4.1 Pro test simulates the performance of popular applications, from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning. The new Mac Studio showed an advantage of 17% and 27%, respectively, in the multi-core and single-core tests over last year’s model. The HandBrake 1.4 test involved converting a 12-minute 4K video to 1080p resolution.

In browser tests, performance also increased from 15 to 30% relative to the previous Mac Studio model.

In graphics and gaming tests, the advantage of Apple products becomes even more obvious, here’s what GFXBench 5.0 showed when processing a 1440p scene:

Can I play Mac Studio with M2 Ultra? The computer rendered Rise of the Tomb Raider at 1080p at 170 frames per second on high settings. A modern Mac Studio is the best Mac for gaming, so Game Mode in macOS Sonoma can come in handy.

Mac Studio 2023 ports

Mac Studio lets you create the studio of your dreams with a true array of 12 high-speed ports. They are capable of performing various tasks: transferring photos and videos using SDXC, connecting to TVs or high-definition displays, and working with data storage devices. The computer works with wireless accessories using Bluetooth 5.3 and makes the most of the high throughput of Wi-Fi 6E.

On the front panel at the bottom left there are three ports: a pair of USB-C with speeds up to 10 Gbps for the M2 Max or a pair of Thunderbolt 4 for the M2 Ultra, speeds up to 40 Gbps. To the right of them is an SDXC slot with a UHS-II bus.

The back part is already much more functional, but it is hidden from the user’s eyes so as not to spoil the illusion of Apple minimalism. Below the ventilation mesh from left to right there are 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports. They support both Thunderbolt 4 itself with speeds of up to 40 Gbps, as well as DisplayPort, USB 4 (up to 40 Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps). This is followed by a 10-gigabit Ethernet connector, a power connector, two USB-A ports (up to 5 Gbps), an HDMI port with support for multi-channel audio, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Closing this row on the right is a small round power button.

These ports allow you to connect up to four Pro Display XDR monitors and one 4K TV.

The audio jack supports high-impedance headphones and can also act as a line-out for amplified speakers. The gradually aging Ethernet and USB-A ports have not gone away. And although they have already been abandoned in the MacBook Pro, the studio computer also offers such communication capabilities.

Mac Studio 2023 pricing

You probably shouldn’t expect this powerful computer to appear in official Russian retail stores in the near future. In the American App Store the prices are as follows:

  • Mac Studio with M2 Max chip, 12 CPU cores, 30 graphics cores, 16 Neural Engine cores – $1,999
  • Mac Studio with M2 Max chip, 12 CPU cores, 38 graphics cores, 16 Neural Engine cores – $2,199
  • Mac Studio with M2 Ultra chip, 24 CPU cores, 60 graphics cores, 32 Neural Engine cores – $3,999
  • Mac Studio with M2 Ultra chip, 24 CPU cores, 76 graphics cores, 32 Neural Engine cores – $4,999

Unified Memory Expansion:

  • From 32 GB to 64 GB (for model with M2 Max) – $400
  • From 64 GB to 128 GB (for model with M2 Ultra) – $800

Increasing SSD storage capacity:

  • Up to 1 TB – $200
  • Up to 2 TB – $600
  • Up to 4 TB – $1,200
  • Up to 8 TB – $2,400

Thus, in the minimum configuration the computer will cost $1,999, while in the maximum configuration it will cost $8,799. The price range is wide, but the performance of the options varies greatly.

Conclusion

Apple has decided to please its fans with an annual update of high-performance solutions – the Mac Studio series is proof of this. The 2023 model is noticeably superior to last year’s counterpart in all respects, and it is also so powerful that even the Mac Pro cannot beat it. But on its side are dimensions, therefore better heat dissipation. At its top-end configuration, the $9,000 Mac Studio outperforms the $17,000 top-end PC in almost every scenario. A Mac Studio computer in your home is not just stylish, but also a cost-effective, ultra-productive solution.

🔥 See also:

  • 50 macOS Finder shortcuts every Mac user should know.
  • How to select or move items on Mac without pressing the trackpad. Try it, it’s very convenient.
  • Launchpad in macOS: what it is and how to configure it correctly so that you want to use it.

Categories
Ξ TREND

Connect Roborock with Siri: This is how you use Apple’s voice control in a detour

The various vacuum and mopping robots from Roborock are practical helpers in the household and can make your everyday life easier. Roborock models can be connected and operated with some voice assistants, making integration into your smart home even easier.

Since Apple HomeKit, as the central hub for all smart home devices, does not yet offer a corresponding category for vacuum and mopping robots, you have to take a detour with Apple’s Siri in order to connect the voice assistant with your Roborock robots.

Control Roborock with Siri

Before you start connecting, you should download the Roborock app on your smartphone or tablet. Unlike Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, the voice assistant Siri is not listed in the Roborock app, but there is an alternative. All you have to do is install the shortcuts app and connect it to the Roborock devices. We’ll show you how it works:

Via the Shortcuts app

  1. 1

    First download the shortcuts app and set it up.

  2. 2

    If you open your Roborock app and go to your profile, you will also see “Voice Control” in the listing.

  3. 3

    So far only Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are listed as options there. At this point you can activate the Siri shortcuts, provided you have set up the app.

  4. 4

    On the home screen of your smartphone you will find the installed shortcuts app in the widgets. By pressing the + sign, you can add a new widget like Roborock to your app.

  5. 5

    After you have connected the Roborock app to your shortcuts app, you can execute the saved shortcuts via the Roborock devices.

Voice commands to Roborock robot vacuum cleaners

Using targeted voice commands to Siri saves you time and means you don’t have to operate your robot vacuum cleaner manually. Always make sure to say “Hey Siri” before you start using your shortcuts so that the voice assistant can react to your voice. If you still need inspiration, here are some suggestions for you:

  • Hey Siri, let the robot keep vacuuming.
  • Hey Siri, the vacuum and mopping robot should stop cleaning.
  • Hey Siri, send the robot vacuum cleaner back to the charging station.
  • Hey Siri, send the robot to the bathroom to mop.
  • Hey Siri, turn the vacuum and mopping robot back on.
  • Hey Siri, start the complete cleaning with the vacuum and mopping robot.

If you’re still looking for suggestions for Siri shortcuts, we have some handy automations for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. If you are not yet familiar with Siri shortcuts on the iPhone and iPad, we have a short introduction to this topic.

Categories
Ξ TREND

Fortnite’s new item store mocks Apple’s $73 million bill


In today’s dynamic twist in the Apple vs. Epic Games saga, Fortnite is subtly fighting back with the release of edgy-themed emotes in its latest Item Shop update.

In an intriguing twist in the ongoing legal drama between Epic Games and Apple, Fortnite’s Item Shop on January 18, 2024 added two emotes that appear to take a playful jab at recent developments: “Bring It” and “Make It Rain.” “

Latest Fortnite emotes mock Apple’s $73 million claim

This creative response follows Apple’s billing of Epic Games for $73 million in legal costs following their prolonged trial.

The “Bring It” emote, known for its provocative stance, and “Make It Rain”, symbolizing a flashy display of money, seem to be Epic’s way of making a statement in the virtual world of Fortnite. These emotes, popular among the game’s huge player base, often serve as a means of expression and, in this case, appear to be a subtle nod to the financial side of their legal battle with Apple.

This decision is not only a creative response, but also strategic from a marketing and engagement point of view. By leveraging this high-profile legal dispute into its game content, Epic Games is tapping into community awareness and sentiment regarding ongoing legal issues.

It’s a clever blend of real-world events with in-game elements, improving player engagement and keeping the game relevant and current.

Additionally, such additions to the game underscore Fortnite’s reputation as a cultural touchstone that often reflects and reacts to real-world events. The decision to include these emotes at this point is not only a playful gesture, but also a testament to how video games like Fortnite are increasingly intersecting with broader social and cultural narratives.

As the legal saga continues to unfold, it’s clear that Fortnite will remain at the forefront, not only as a game, but also as a platform for commentary and expression. This latest development of the Fortnite Item Shop is a reminder of the game’s unique position at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and sociocultural discourse.

For more Fortnite: