Macworld At a glance Our VerdictThe 15-inch MacBook Air is the perfect laptop for those who want a large display, compact build, and enough power for general day-to-day computing. If you want more power for things like video editing and high-end gaming, however, then it’s the Pro all the way. Best Prices Today: Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M2, 256 GB, 2023) Retailer Price $1,234.00 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The MacBook Air has always been a svelte and compact device that is lightweight and easy to carry around. And now it’s got a big screen too: Apple has introduced a MacBook Air with a 15-inch screen that’s just as thin and light as the 13-inch model…

Macworld Even for what is reputedly a somewhat smaller-than-usual annual update, iOS 17 still brings with it a host of new features. As the beta process begins, there’s plenty to investigate and try out ahead of the software’s full release this fall. But as I perused the capabilities that are part of this latest upgrade, something interesting struck me: an older technology appears to be having its moment in the sun, as Apple embraces its utility in a bunch of new ways. That’s great not only because it means new features, but also because–as it’s something that’s been around for a while–those new features will be available on any iPhone that runs iOS 17. I speak, of course, of the…

Macworld There are a lot of choics out there when it comes to streaming subscriptions. Few, however, are as enriching as the Emmy Award-winning Curiosity Stream. And since you can get a lifetime subscription for way less than normal during our Deal Days Sale, it’s as affordable as ever. Deal Days is our version of Prime Day where you’ll find some of the biggest savings of the year on everything from subscriptions to electronics. Take this offer for Curiosity Stream as an example — A lifetime subscription would normally cost $400 but, from now until July 14 at 11:59 pm, you’ll save $220 off the regular cost which makes it a pretty impressive deal. With Curiosity Stream you’ll enjoy unlimited…

Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsWide range of functionsFamiliar operationCheaper than PhotoshopConsNot quite as comprehensive as PhotoshopNo AI-supported functionsOur VerdictFor beginners, hobby graphic artists and photographers Affinity Photo is an incredibly attractive alternative to Adobe Photoshop, which hardly differs from the class leader in terms of essential functions.Affinity Photo is now so similar to Adobe‘s software that a move to the former should be smooth, although beginners will need to spend some time getting to know the interface before they can fully exploit all the possibilities of Affinity Photo.With all that Affinity Photo offers, the software is a real bargain at $69.99/£67.99. Adobe Photoshop is for image editing like Microsoft Office for the office: absolutely dominant and in a professional…

32 keys is a lot of customized functions. | Image: Elgato Elgato’s Stream Deck holds a tiny place in the hearts of many here at The Verge. We just love buttons, and we love tinkering, so its programmable LCD buttons are kind of a perfect fit. And today, you can get the Elgato Stream Deck XL, which has 32 of those excellent macro buttons, for $199.99 ($50 off) at Amazon or for $3 more at Best Buy. A Stream Deck is a perfect companion for anyone doing extensive Twitch streaming on a Windows PC or Mac, but it’s also versatile enough to control just about anything on your computer — even smart home stuff. While most people may feel fine…

In a positive sign for China’s struggling mobile device industry, the country’s smartphone shipments saw a sharp increase in May, jumping 22.6% from previous months. Apple’s iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus Bloomberg News: Phone makers shipped 25.2 million handsets last month in the buildup to China’s second biggest shopping festival, 6.18, which features discounts that stretch from late May into June… marking a rise of over 4 million units compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. Smartphone providers Apple, Samsung, Oppo and Vivo are likely to see improving demand later this year after a slump through 1H. We expect the smartphone market to drop 4% in 2023 to…