December's monthly security patches are here for Google's Pixel phones — or, at least, most of them. While the 2016 Pixels are getting what Google previously claimed would be their very last update after the two phones missed November's patches, the Pixel 4 and 4 XL are curiously late to the party, with no images posted just yet.
Are you a college or high school student who hates math class? Microsoft’s got your back. With the company’s latest Microsoft Math Solver app, you can now let the app do all of the heavy lifting for you.
So far, the app works just as expected in our testing, though we haven’t thrown anything too crazy at it. It offers several ways to solve math equations for you, including taking a photo of a math problem, typing it out, or even hand drawing it on the screen.
There are plenty of other math apps out there that provide similar functionality, but Microsoft’s solution seems to offer the most complete feature set. Apps like Photomath already allow users to take photos of math equations and solve them for you, but Microsoft Math Solver offers a couple of other features Photomath doesn’t.
If Microsoft Math Solver can’t find a solution to the answer on its own, it will use Bing to help you find the solution. Pair that with the app’s step-by-step explanations, learning tools, and overall feature set, and you have one of the most capable math apps available today.
We don’t actually suggest you use this to do your homework for you, but it can be handy for those of you who struggle with certain equations.
Recently, we announced a new feature which allows users to customize their Display Names to their liking, and so far everyone likes it but I've also had those pesky members ( @Goku Black ) asking me about adding/allowing sparkles option. The reasons why it's not enabled so far: Could be distracting when reading Could cause lag on (old) devices Extra images to be loaded every time, which would slow down the forum load times But now I leave it up to you, should we enable sparkles on display names or no? Vote in the poll! This is how the sparkle option would look like on Display Names: Sparkle Example Sparkle Example We can also add some other cooler effects, but again, the cons are quite important.
Apple in November released the 16-inch MacBook Pro, a replacement for the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The new MacBook Pro features a larger display, a new scissor keyboard that's more reliable, 9th-Gen Intel processors, and higher storage space and RAM.
For those of you who recently purchased a new MacBook Pro, we did a roundup of Mac-related accessories that you might find useful over on our YouTube channel.
Power Adapter Extension Cable ($19) - Apple's MacBook Pro models ship with a Power Adapter and a USB-C cable for charging purposes, but Apple no longer includes a Power Adapter Extension Cable in the box, so if you need a longer charging cable, you're going to need to purchase one yourself. Apple sells the cables on its website for $19, and while there are third-party options, it's probably safest to stick with Apple's version.
Incase Icon Lite Backpack ($50) - If you already have a laptop backpack designed for a 15-inch MacBook Pro, you should also be able to use it with the 16-inch model. If you're looking for something new, we like the Icon Lite Backpack, which has a minimal look but with plenty of storage space. There's a dedicated MacBook Pro sleeve, zippered compartments of various sizes, and some extra pockets to hold all of your gear. It's wrapped in Incase's Woolenex material, which is good at resisting water.
Native Union Stow Sleeve ($80) - For those looking at a more minimal protection solution that works with existing bags and backpacks, sleeves are a good option. The Native Union Stow Sleeve features a simple, no frills design with a leather and fabric exterior and a protective interior for the MacBook Pro. There's also an external pocket for papers you need to get to quickly. It's $80, but we suspect that the high-quality craftsmanship will hold up over time. There are, of course, plenty of other cheaper options that are just as attractive, so make sure to do some research before purchasing.
LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 ($649) - If you want to create a nice desktop setup for docking your MacBook Pro and you're someone who needs a ton of storage, the LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 is a good option, with storage capacity that starts at 8TB and goes all the way up to 28TB. There are two swappable drive bays at the front of the device, along with a USB-A port, an SD card reader, and two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports
Logitech MX Keys ($99) - Those who use an external display with their MacBook Pro might also be in need of a new keyboard. The Logitech MX Keys Keyboard features keys that are soft and easy to type on, plus it's backlit and has useful function keys.
Logitech MX Master 3 ($99) - Likewise, if you need a mouse for a desktop setup, the Logitech MX Master 3 pairs well with the Logitech MX Keys. The mouse is similar to the MX Master 2 but with a better scroll wheel, custom function buttons, and a new thumb scroll wheel. Both of these accessories support Logitech Flow for easily transitioning from one machine to another, and there are apps for customization options.
Do you have other favorite MacBook Pro products? Let us know in the comments, and we may include them in a follow up accessories video.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Welcome to Monday, it’s the start of another week and that means it’s time for Hard Fork’s wrap-up of the weekend’s top cryptocurrency and blockchain headlines. Take a look. 1. New cryptocurrency tax form from IRS According to CNBC, the US Internal Revenue Service has released a new tax form, asking cryptocurrency traders to declare their holdings. The IRS’ new “Schedule 1 for the 2019 tax season,” asks tax payers if they received, sold, sent, exchanged, or acquired virtual currency by any other means over the past year. Earlier this year, the IRS started sending letters to known cryptocurrency traders…
