GoKawiil
Tech News
A China-only laptop dubbed the 'QwenBook' has been introduced, marketed on its ability to run multiple operating systems at once rather than relying on a single native OS. The device appears aimed at users who want flexible, possibly cloud-dependent computing rather than a traditional dedicated PC setup.
Finnish two-person studio DoublOne has released Paperman, a macOS application that applies a paper-like textured overlay across the entire screen. Users can choose from textures such as Classic Matte, Sunbaked Parchment and Whisper Weave, and adjust the intensity of the effect. Co-founder Zoé Kilperti says the design aims to break up the harsh uniform light of modern displays, similar to how physical paper softens edges.
Amazon is discounting mid-range 13-inch M5 MacBook Air configurations by $150, bringing 16GB/1TB models down to $1,449 and 24GB/1TB models to $1,649. Separately, Apple's official refurbished store has 15-inch M5 MacBook Air units marked down by as much as $300. These sit alongside other current promotions including $50 off AirPods Pro 3, $240 off the entry Studio Display, and over $100 off various M4 iPad Air models.
A Verge columnist proposes that Apple create a cheaper Mac Mini variant, dubbed the 'Mac Neo,' powered by an iPhone-class chip rather than the full M-series silicon in the current $899 M6 Mac Mini. The suggestion follows the success of the MacBook Neo, which uses a smartphone chip to deliver a $699 laptop with a solid screen, keyboard, and battery life.
Google and five PC makers have unveiled the first Googlebook laptops, priced from $899 to $1,299 and available for preorder now ahead of an October 4th store launch. Each model bundles a year of Google AI Pro with 5TB of cloud storage plus trial subscriptions to YouTube Premium, Photoshop and CapCut, and Google says the machines will receive up to a decade of software updates. The Acer Googlebook 14, a convertible with an OLED touchscreen, starts as the cheapest option but Acer has warned its $899 price is a limited-time launch offer that could rise later.
Apple has begun shipping the redesigned Mac Studio, keeping its 2022-era chassis but adding M5 Max and M5 Ultra chip options in place of last year's M4 Max and M3 Ultra. The top configuration reviewed—36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 256GB RAM, 4TB storage—runs $12,299, while entry M5 Max and M5 Ultra models start at $2,499 and $5,499 respectively.
A tech guide outlines how users should back up their Windows or Mac laptops before discarding or replacing them, using tools like Windows Backup, OneDrive, Time Machine, and iCloud, along with third-party software for local drive backups. It also advises checking synced browser data, removing dongles or SD cards, and signing out of accounts and software licenses before disposal.
A new round of weekend discounts on Apple products includes up to $100 off AirPods Max 2 and $50 off AirPods Pro 3, alongside price cuts on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Pre-order savings have also returned for the new M6 Mac mini and Mac Studio, plus $150 reductions on M5 MacBook Air models and other accessories like AirTag 2 and MagSafe battery packs.
With iPhone 18 Pro units now arriving to customers, retailers are running discounts across new cases, chargers, and cables alongside an existing $50 markdown on AirPods Pro 3. Amazon is also offering pre-order savings on the upcoming M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini lineup, plus a $320 cut on the entry 24GB M5 MacBook Pro.
Amazon has brought back a pre-order discount on the base M6 Mac mini (16GB/256GB), now priced at $879.99 ahead of next week's release, alongside a similar deal on the 24GB configuration. The retailer is also matching an all-time low of $330 off Apple's 2026 Studio Display XDR, part of a wider batch of discounts covering AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 3, the M5 MacBook Air, and a Thunderbolt 5 dock.
Amazon has launched early pre-order discounts across the newly announced Apple lineup, including AirPods 5 with ANC dropping to $125 and AirPods Pro 3 at $199. Multiple Apple Watch Series 12 configurations and the black Apple Watch Ultra 4 with a Translucent band are also seeing modest price cuts ahead of this week's deliveries. Separately, B&H is offering between $320 and $450 off select M5 and M5 Pro MacBook Pro configurations, while Amazon has $150 off the M5 MacBook Air and various Anker charging accessories on sale.
Apple's coming macOS 27 (Golden Gate) update will support MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon going back to 2020, but it will not run on any Intel-based Mac. Since Apple stopped selling Intel MacBooks in 2021, those machines will only get limited security patches on their last compatible macOS version going forward.