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ZeroBounce has released its Email Statistics Report for 2025, providing insights into email user behavior to help marketers optimize engagement. The report, based on a survey of 985 participants across four continents, details how individuals interact with their inboxes and what influences their email preferences. According to the ZeroBounce survey results, 93% of respondents check their email daily, with 42% doing so three to five times per day. While 35% of users spend less than an hour managing their inbox, another 35% dedicate between two and five hours each day to email. The survey highlights that email remains a crucial tool for both personal and professional communication. Among respondents, 79% stated they check their email for critical work-related messages, while 41% said they primarily look for discounts and promotions from brands. The study indicates that relevance is the primary driver of email engagement, with 46% of respondents opening emails consistently from brands that send relevant messages. Additionally, 67% of users prefer shorter emails, while 28% are indifferent to length as long as the content is tailored to their needs. The report also underscores the importance of permission-based marketing. According to the findings, 80% of people mark an email as spam if it “looks like spam,” while 55% report messages if the sender did not request permission to contact them. Additionally, 47% file a spam complaint when an email lacks an unsubscribe option. Frequent email campaigns can lead to subscriber fatigue, with 43% of respondents stating they unsubscribe from lists when brands email too often. The survey also reveals that while 76% of users check their spam folders, 25% only do so a few times per year, and 14% never review it at all. Despite the rise of alternative communication channels, email remains dominant for workplace interactions. Sixty percent of respondents identified email as their preferred work communication tool, surpassing messaging apps and other digital platforms. The report highlights the growing reliance on mobile devices for email access, with 64% of participants checking their inbox primarily on smartphones. Meanwhile, 25% of users never check their email’s Promotions tab, reinforcing the challenge for marketers to reach consumers outside of their primary inbox. ZeroBounce emphasizes that understanding these user behaviors can help marketers craft more effective email campaigns. The company provides email validation and deliverability solutions to improve inbox placement and minimize spam complaints. Image: ZeroBounce This article, "ZeroBounce Releases 2025 Email Statistics Report" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

ZeroBounce has released its Email Statistics Report for 2025, providing insights into email user behavior to help marketers optimize engagement. The report, based on a survey of 985 participants across four continents, details how individuals interact with their inboxes and what influences their email preferences. According to the ZeroBounce survey results, 93% of respondents check their email daily, with 42% doing so three to five times per day. While 35% of users spend less than an hour managing their inbox, another 35% dedicate between two and five hours each day to email. The survey highlights that email remains a crucial tool for both personal and professional communication. Among respondents, 79% stated they check their email for critical work-related messages, while 41% said they primarily look for discounts and promotions from brands. The study indicates that relevance is the primary driver of email engagement, with 46% of respondents opening emails consistently from brands that send relevant messages. Additionally, 67% of users prefer shorter emails, while 28% are indifferent to length as long as the content is tailored to their needs. The report also underscores the importance of permission-based marketing. According to the findings, 80% of people mark an email as spam if it “looks like spam,” while 55% report messages if the sender did not request permission to contact them. Additionally, 47% file a spam complaint when an email lacks an unsubscribe option. Frequent email campaigns can lead to subscriber fatigue, with 43% of respondents stating they unsubscribe from lists when brands email too often. The survey also reveals that while 76% of users check their spam folders, 25% only do so a few times per year, and 14% never review it at all. Despite the rise of alternative communication channels, email remains dominant for workplace interactions. Sixty percent of respondents identified email as their preferred work communication tool, surpassing messaging apps and other digital platforms. The report highlights the growing reliance on mobile devices for email access, with 64% of participants checking their inbox primarily on smartphones. Meanwhile, 25% of users never check their email’s Promotions tab, reinforcing the challenge for marketers to reach consumers outside of their primary inbox. ZeroBounce emphasizes that understanding these user behaviors can help marketers craft more effective email campaigns. The company provides email validation and deliverability solutions to improve inbox placement and minimize spam complaints. Image: ZeroBounce This article, "ZeroBounce Releases 2025 Email Statistics Report" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

More than two-thirds of the counties most at risk of a housing downturn were concentrated in five states, according to a new report from Attom. View the full article

I've recently rented a car in two different states. Both times I was asked if I wanted to pay an extra fee per day to avoid worrying about paying tolls—a crucial issue in some states, like Florida, that no longer accept cash on the road and sometimes won't even allow you to pay online. Both times I declined, and set my Google Maps to "avoid tolls." I was reasonably confident Google would keep me safe from an unpaid toll ticket, but my heart still skipped a beat when, a few weeks ago, I got a text message letting me know I had unpaid I-Pass tolls from Illinois. But then I took a closer look at the text. Missed toll texts are the latest scamIt turns out that texts purporting to be from a tolling administration telling you you have unpaid tolls and you have to pay up, or else face fines or even lose your driver's license, are the latest in an unending stream of text-based phishing scams trying to get you to give up your personal info (and your money). Transportation authorities in multiple states have issued warnings about these texts, which seem fairly legit at a glance. Typically they will purport to come from one of the major tolling programs—the E-ZPass in the northeast, FasTrak in California, I-Pass in Illinois. The text will inform you that you have an unpaid toll, provide a looming due date, and outline dire consequences for failing to pay up. Also included will be a handy, official-looking URL where you can make your payment. Accessing that link will take you to a site that invites you to enter your credit card or banking information to settle your fine. And I'm sure you can imagine what happens from there, because you've just given your credit card number to a scammer. How to spot a scam missed toll textAs scams go, this one isn't very sophisticated. The scammers aren't doing anything special to target you—they just have your phone number somehow and are including you in a mass spamming attempt in the hopes you'll be too distracted to notice the obvious signs the message isn't legit. So here are a few things to watch out for: Do you even use this particular tolling service? In the last week, I've received half a dozen of these texts. Some of them are for services I've used and could conceivably owe money (like I-Pass, which operates in Illinois, one of the states I recently visited). Others, not so much: I didn't even know California used something called "FasTrak" until I googled it. So take a beat to think: Is there a legitimate reason this tolling agency is asking me for money? I might have a missed E-ZPass toll, but I definitely don't have a missed FasTrak toll. Check the sender. One of the most obvious tells is the source of the text. Official automated texts will usually come from a 5-digit number. The texts I get telling me my E-ZPass has topped up, for example, come from "39769." Scam texts will more likely come from a full phone number, likely an international one, with an unfamiliar country code at the start (I recently got one from a number that began with "+44," indicating a number based in the U.K.). Another tell: If the sender is an email—especially if it's from a free email service like Gmail or Outlook (I've even gotten a few from Hotmail, which hasn't existed for years). Non-hyperlinked URLs. When a message comes from a legitimate sender, any URLs included will likely be clickable. Scam texts will almost always have non-clickable URLs, with weird instructions either telling you to copy and paste the address into your browser, or to respond to the text with a Y, and then close and reopen it. This is an attempt to get around an iPhone security feature. Conveniently (for the scammer), once you've responded to a text and then reopened it, the link they sent you before will become clickable, taking you right to the site that will steal your payment info. Look for other signs of an online scam. Chances are good the payment sites these URLs lead you to will also carry telltale signs of a phishing scam, like poor grammar, misspellings, or weird formatting. Luckily, all the ones I've been directed to visit via my most recent scam texts don't actually work, suggesting that the sites are being taken down as fast as the scammers can put them up. But I keep getting more of them, so they probably aren't going to stop trying. View the full article

Love ’em or hate ’em, the cicadas are coming. 2025 will bring back Brood XIV, the largest of all 17-year periodical cicada broods. Cicada enthusiasts surely don’t mind the noisy creatures. But if you’re someone who finds the constant nighttime buzz bothersome and live in one of the following 13 states, maybe consider investing in a good pair of noise-canceling earbuds. Brood XIV are expected this spring in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, a group that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, told USAToday that some areas will get more of the critters than others, and that based on historical data and the weather, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas can expect to hear the visitors first, starting as early as the end of April. “It takes about two full weeks for the great bulk of the cicadas to come out,” Kritsky said. “Once they start coming out at a specific location, that starts the clock. You’ll have cicadas at that location for the next six weeks.” And though Kritsky predicts that this year’s gang will be heavy in some areas, 2024 was a much busier (and buzzier) year for cicadas. That’s because 13-year cicadas, Brood XIX, and 17-year cicadas, Brood XIII, both emerged last year, according to the University of Connecticut’s research team. That was the first time the two broods synced up since 1803, and it won’t happen again until 2037. If you’re thinking that you’ve seen cicadas way more than once every 17 years, you’re not wrong. There are seven species of cicadas that emerge on different schedules. Four have 13-year cycles and three have 17-year cycles. Plus, most cicada species are annual, which means you can see—and hear—some species every year. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. International Women's Day, in one form or another, has existed since around 1909—placing the holiday's inception roughly in line with the early days of film. It seems fitting, then, to take a look at movies that examine and celebrate the accomplishments (and trials) of real women in history. This isn't an exhaustive list of movies about women who've changed the world (or at least changed their worlds), and there are plenty of very important women whose lives have never been touched by filmmakers (and others, sadly, with movies that aren't streaming—I'm looking at you Hypatia of Alexandria and Agora). But, like International Women's Day itself: It's a start. Colette (2018) Rural village girl Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (played by Keira Knightley) begins an affair with Henry Gauthier-Villars, the author known only, absurdly, as "Willy." He supplements his income by hiring ghostwriters to produce works to be released under his more bankable name and, when he realizes that Colette isn't without storytelling talent of her own, he comes to see her as a source of free material for the Willy brand. As her works become increasingly successful, Colette finds herself unwilling to be locked in a closet toiling for her husband, instead coming to assert her own artistic (and sexual) agency as one of the most important French writers of the last couple of centuries. Her ultimate independence and popularity among women readers helped to change the ways in which books are marketed while also broadening the range of topics (including a lot more sex, and not all of it straight) about which women could be seen to discuss in print. You can stream Colette on Prime Video. Colette (2018) Learn More Learn More Hidden Figures (2016) There's nothing easy about orbital mechanics (I'm told—I count on my fingers), and Hidden Figures tells a story of math involving three women: Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe). Long neglected by history books, Hidden Figures dramatizes the stories of the Black women who performed complex calculations in an era before computers, and then became expert programmers once machines were introduced. Their calculations put John Glenn into space. You can rent Hidden Figures from Prime Video. Hidden Figures (2016) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Norma Rae (1979) Sally Field (who won an Oscar) plays the title’s Norma Rae Webster, based pretty squarely on real-life union organizer Crystal Lee Sutton. A factory worker in North Carolina is fired for running off a union sign on the company printer, leading to the climactic, indelible moment when she brings the factory to a complete standstill. One of the most memorable moments in American movie history—when Norma Rae stops the factory with her hand-scribbled "union" sign—is straight from history, and it made Sutton a labor icon. You can stream Norma Rae on Watch TCM. Norma Rae (1979) at Watch TCM Learn More Learn More at Watch TCM Live Nude Girls Unite! (2000) Sex work is work, and workers in the industry face challenges both universal and unique in fighting for wages or improved conditions. In the late 1990s, the staff at the Lusty Lady, a San Francisco peep show, were faced with arbitrary wage policies, racism, and lacked even the most basic job perks while dealing with problem customers without management support. When the staff threatened a strike, management wouldn’t even concede that what the women did was a real job; as though they were doing it for fun. So they got organized, resulting in a truly groundbreaking moment in labor history, even if sex workers still struggle for recognition. Filmmaker Julia Query actually worked at the club and brings a sharp insider’s perspective to this documentary. You can stream Live Nude Girls Unite! on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Live Nude Girls Unite! (2000) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video On the Basis of Sex (2018) Felicity Jones stars as a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who, later in life, became the Supreme Court Justice most likely to appear on a T-shirt. The consequences of the end of Ginsburg's career are very much present, but the movie takes us back to the very beginning, with the Harvard law-school student caring for her ailing husband and young daughter while studying. Despite graduating at the top of her class, she's unable to find work until she's introduced to case involving a man who was denied a tax deduction for nursing care of his aging mother because the law was limited to either a woman or a husband. Ginsburg came to believe that a precedent in a case involving a man facing sex discrimination could be used in later cases involving women; while it didn't have quite that impact as precedent, it did lead to changes in law and Ginsburg's success paved the way for other women in American law. You can stream On the Basis of Sex on Netflix or rent it from Prime Video. On the Basis of Sex (2018) Learn More Learn More Harriet (2019) A woman aided by the Underground Railroad system, Harriet Tubman (played here by Cynthia Erivo) quickly became one of its most effective conductors, and is now remembered as the most important single name in the entire operation, an unquestioned leader who approached the quest for freedom with a religious (literally) zeal. Later, she lead soldiers in battle during the Civil War before becoming a leader in the suffragist movement. A $20 bill with her face on it seems like the least we can do, but in the meantime, Kasi Lemmons' thrilling and heartfelt, if occasionally formulaic, biopic will have to do. You can stream Harriet on Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. Harriet (2019) at Hulu Get Deal Get Deal at Hulu The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) Carl Theodor Dreyer's essential historical drama makes as clear a case as any film does for the distinct power of silent cinema, with Renée Jeanne Falconetti offering one of the medium's most profound performances. Interrogated by the French clerical court relentlessly about her belief in her own mission from God, Joan remains steadfast even as it seems that the very architecture around her is closing in to damn her. In the end, whether she's right or wrong, it feels as though Joan's defiant face is the only authentic thing in her increasingly confined world, and her status as a martyr to women in western religion is made secure. You can stream The Passion of Joan of Arc on Max, Tubi, and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Suffragette (2015) Blending real-life figures like Emmaline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep) and Emily Davison (Natalie Press) with leads more loosely based on actual suffragettes, the film explores the voting rights movement in Britain of the early 20th century through the eyes of 24-year-old laundry worker Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan). Though only reluctantly caught up in the struggle, Maud gradually becomes radicalized when she witnesses the cost that other women are paying for their activism. Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, and Ben Whishaw make up some of the rest of the impressive cast. You can stream Suffragette on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video. Suffragette (2015) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Madame Curie (1943) Though there are elements of melodrama here, at least on the surface, this classic Hollywood biopic from director Mervyn LeRoy has a deep appreciation for the hard mental and physical labor involved in scientific breakthroughs. Greer Garson stars as Marie Curie, working alongside her husband, Pierre (Walter Pidgeon) as she begins a study of pitchblende rock that leads her to the discovery of uranium, and that begins a long and intensive process of refining the substance such that its properties can be fully studied. You can rent Madame Curie from Prime Video. Madame Curie (1943) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Little Women (2019) While decidedly not a biography, this specific adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel does a better job than many biopics at capturing something of the spirit of the author. Played here by Saoirse Ronan, Jo March has always been a bit of a stand-in for the similarly unconventional Alcott, a parallel that director Greta Gerwig takes a step further in the movie's climax. She deliberately blends the novel's reality with Alcott's life story, reminding the viewer that Little Women, while groundbreaking, wasn't entirely the book that Alcott set out to write. There's a great biopic about Alcott yet to be made, but, in the meantime, this 2019 adaptation of her most influential work pays tribute to the writer in smart ways. You can rent Little Women from Prime Video. Little Women (2019) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Barbie (2023) Sticking with Greta Gerwig for a moment, and on the subject of movies that come at their subjects sideways, Barbie pays tremendous tribute to the doll's creator Ruth Handler (played here Rhea Perlman), even as the inventor and magnate only gets limited screen time. Set in matriarchal Barbieland, the film finds Margot Robbie's Barbie doll escaping into the real world to discover both her own worth as an icon and the limitations placed on her that she's never understood. After a couple of cameos, Ruth shows up in the final act to put a button on her creation's journey, both in the movie and in the real world. A full-length biopic about the creation of Mattel (and Handler's IRS issues) could doubtless be fascinating, but couldn't possibly do a better job of relaying her cultural impact. You can stream Barbie on Netflix and Max or rent it from Prime Video. Barbie (2023) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Death and Life of Martha P. Johnson (2017) Using a belated investigation into Johnson' mysterious death as a framing device, the film follows activist Victoria Cruz's exploration of the lives of Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and other key figures in the early days of the gay liberation and trans rights movements. While death is the starting point, the movie focuses on the messy and strident vibrancy of Johnson's life and work, and speaks to the challenges and sacrifices for the progress that's been made (and sometimes un-made) in LGBTQIA+ equality. You can stream The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson on Netflix. The Death and Life of Martha P. Johnson (2017) at Netflix Learn More Learn More at Netflix Queen of Katwe (2016) A kid from one of Kampala, Uganda's biggest slums, forced to drop out of school at age nine, Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) had the good fortune to meet chess coach Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) at a young age. This smart, feel-good movie charts her real-life progress to the top of the chess rankings first in Uganda, before she competes globally. It might be a bit early to suggest that Mutesi has changed history (her first Candidate title came in 2012), but she's certainly providing inspiration for Ugandan women across a number of fields. You can stream Queen of Katwe on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Queen of Katwe (2016) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Frida (2002) Stepping from the shadow of her, at one time, more famous husband Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), Frida Kahlo became one of Mexico's most important artists, blending intimate themes with revolutionary ideas and blurring gender lines—as she did in her own life—and chronicling her own disabilities in ways unheard of at the time. She and her art gave voice to a budding Mexican nationalist movement, and her life serves as a reminder that art can move nations at least as powerfully as traditional politics. Salma Hayek stars in this ultra-stylish adaptation from director Julie Taymor, one that earned multiple Academy Award nominations. You can stream Frida on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. Frida (2002) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ Elizabeth (1998) Cate Blanchett plays Queen Elizabeth I, a woman of whom you might have heard, a wildly unlikely heir to the throne of England who became the modern British monarchy, securing her country militarily in a fraught time while solidifying a religious framework that's with us to this day. In many ways, it’s a film about choices: We meet Elizabeth first as a young woman with no expectation of rule, but see that, as she gains power, her options contract rather than expand. Given the enormous pressure to select a husband, and the limitations placed on her choice, she ultimately opts for public celibacy as the “Virgin Queen,” reflecting, in a way, the impossible divide modern women must often navigate between career and family. Women in history are often seen working behind the scenes to change the world but, in Elizabeth, we have someone who very much took center stage. You can stream Elizabeth on Starz or rent it from Prime Video. Elizabeth (1998) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Lady (2011) Aung San Suu Kyi's legacy has been complicated by failures of leadership (to say the least) during her later role as State Counsellor of Myanmar, but there's no question that her impact on the history of that country and its halting moves away from military rule has been immense. The daughter of an independence leader, the movie sees her living a comfortable life in England before being drawn into the politics of her homeland, becoming a leader and figurehead for independence and democracy. Michelle Yeoh gives a thoroughly impressive performance as the complex Nobel laureate. You can stream The Lady on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. The Lady (2011) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Battle of the Sexes (2017) Emma Stone and Steve Carell star here as Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in the lead-up to the titular "Battle of the Sexes" in 1973. King is a top women's tennis player, frustrated that the payouts for matches are dramatically lower than anything men would be expected to play for. Riggs, meanwhile, is struggling in his marriage and finances because of a gambling addiction. He hits upon the idea of a flashy, money-making exhibition match with a very reluctant King, reasoning that, even well past his prime, he's perfectly capable of beating even the best woman player. She's eventually convinced to join in and the rest is sports (and queer) history. You can rent Battle of the Sexes from Prime Video. Battle of the Sexes (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video View the full article

McDonald’s, Wingstop, and Starbucks are among Gen Z’s most popular and appealing restaurant brands, according to Dcdx’s new Magnetic 100: Restaurants report, measured by organic, user-generated content. The report looks at what young consumers spent their hard-earned money on in the first quarter of 2025, noting which brands attracted the most organic conversations, either by generating online buzz or through word-of-mouth, including during big cultural moments such as the Super Bowl and holidays like Valentine’s Day. Some surprising names to crack Dcdx’s top-10 roster this year were Crumbl Cookies (#6) and Raising Cane’s (#7), a fast-casual chain specializing in chicken fingers. Here’s the top 10 rankings from the new Magnetic 100: Restaurants: McDonald’s Wingstop Starbucks Chipotle Taco Bell Crumbl Cookies Raising Cane’s KFC Chick-fil-A Subway It’s worth noting that some of the top brands have had success with special-item offerings for a limited time, such as McDonald’s, which has collaborated with popular celebrities in creating some special-edition meals; and Crumbl, which features a rotating menu of cookie flavors. Gen Z’s spending power grows A lot has been written about Gen Z’s spending habits, mostly because the 12-to-27-year-old demographic’s spending power is expected to grow to $12 trillion by 2030, according to Nielsen. That would make it the wealthiest generation to date, giving it significant influence over the products retailers and manufacturers choose to sell, both now and in the future. It’s also the largest generation in history, making up more than 25% of the global population. The report makes clear that brands aren’t just competing for dollars, but also for a share in an ongoing and crowded online conversation. For example, the report’s top 100 brands racked up 7.78 billion total engagements, with McDonald’s, the leading brand, generating 1 billion engagements alone. Of the 139 total restaurant brands analyzed in the report, the top 6 brands drove more than 50% of the conversation in the restaurant category, representing nearly 4 billion engagements. View the full article

Former Barclays CEO is fighting FCA ban over allegedly playing down ties to the dead paedophileView the full article

MP who criticised leader Nigel Farage is accused of bullying View the full article

Chair says US central bank in no ‘hurry’ to cut interest rates at end of turbulent week for Wall StreetView the full article

There’s something magical about having a pool you can just dip into any time you want. That’s why it’s estimated there are nearly 11 million pools in the U.S., most of them residential. But pools are expensive. Aside from the price of installing one, it can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 annually to own and maintain a pool, which is why it’s often advisable not to add a pool to your home if you’re thinking of selling it someday. If your house already has a pool, or you want those summertime pool parties more than you want your money, you can at least cut down on those pool maintenance costs with a few simple steps. Use a pool coverOne of the easiest ways to lower your pool maintenance costs is to use a pool cover. Covering your pool when you’re not using it has several distinct benefits: It slows evaporation, which saves you money because you won’t have to refill your pool as often. It keeps the pool cleaner by keeping debris out of the pool, which can help your pool filtering system last longer because it won’t be under as much stress. It reduces the amount of chemicals you’ll need to put into the water—these chemicals break down easily in sunlight, so the more the pool is covered, the longer they will last. It will keep the water warmer, reducing the need to run a heater. Filter at nightMany people run their pool filters 24 hours a day. That’s understandable, because no one likes to dive under the water and discover dead bugs, rotting leaves, and other gross stuff floating around. But most pools only need to be filtered about eight hours a day to get a full “turnover” of the water, depending on the volume of your pool and the gallons per minute (GPM) your filter can handle. Running the filter for those eight hours at night has another benefit: Chances are electricity is cheaper then, so you’ll pay less overall to keep your pool clean. Clean the filterWhile the rule of thumb for cleaning out your pool’s filter is to do it every few months, the more often you clean it the more efficiently your filter will run, and the less wear and tear you’ll put on it. You can see physical evidence of this by checking your filter’s pressure (measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI). If it’s above the normal range (typically anywhere between 10-25 PSI depending on the size of your filter and pool), it’s working harder than it should be. Cleaning out your filter twice a month is probably ideal, especially if your pool is located in a spot that causes it to fill up with debris regularly. It’ll save you money in the long run because your pool systems will last longer. Keep the chemicals and water level in balanceA pool is a system, and that system has to be kept in balance: Chemicals. A large standing body of water will quickly turn into a swampy mosquito farm if you don’t treat it with a cocktail of chemicals, including sanitizer (usually stabilized chlorine). Checking the pH level, chlorine, alkalinity, and other factors on a regular basis will reduce your maintenance costs because it will reduce the frequency of bacterial and algae blooms, and keeping the acidity level of your water low will protect your equipment from damage. Water. One of the simplest things you can do to keep your pool maintenance costs low is not overfill your pool. If you fill it to the brim, every time someone steps (or dives) into it a large volume of water will be wasted as it sloshes over the rim. Over time you’ll be paying to refill the pool more than you should be. Add a dark-colored pool linerIf you’re paying to keep your pool warm, you should consider putting in a dark-colored liner. This can be a DIY job—you’ll need to drain the pool, remove the old liner if you have one, and install the new one—though you’ll be better off hiring professionals. A darker pool liner will keep the water naturally warmer because it will absorb more of the sun’s energy. You could also install a solar-powered heating system, of course, but that will cost a lot more than a liner. View the full article

Shares of Costco (COST) fell over 7% in midday trading on Friday after the wholesale retailer reported mixed second-quarter earnings results, missing profit estimates but beating on revenue, as the company braces for the impact of tariffs and inflation on consumer spending. “The tariffs are very fluid right now, so it’s hard to give any predictions about what we can do, but our people are well equipped to deal with anything coming our way and we have great partnerships with our suppliers,” CEO Ron Vachris said during the company’s earnings call. “Our people are nimble and ready to go.” Costco’s Q2 revenue came in at $63.72 billion, slightly beating analyst estimates for $63.11 billion. Meanwhile, same-store sales jumped slightly from 6.38% to 6.8%, beating forecasts for an increase of 6.4%, and e-commerce came in at an increase of 20.9%. However, adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.02, missing estimates of $4.11. And while overall same-store sales were up, the company missed estimates in Canada and other international markets. One advantage Costco has over some other retailers is its popular membership, whose fees make up more than 70% of its operating profits. Costco raised those fees last year for the first time since 2017; a basic Gold Star individual membership now costs $65, while an Executive membership is $120 to $130. Another good sign: Costco announced it expects to open 12 new stores across the nation in 2025, including seven locations this spring in March and April. Here’s a list of those seven locations: Brentwood, CA Genesee County, MI Highland, CA Prosper, TX Sharon, MA Weatherford, TX Stuart, FL In addition, Vachris said the company plans to open two locations in Canada and four other international locations in the coming six months. According to Costco’s website, two of those international stores will be in Minami Alps, Japan and Ardeer, Australia. Costco currently operates 897 warehouses, with a majority of those in the U.S. and Puerto Rico (617). Other locations include Canada (109), Mexico (41), Japan (36 ), UK (29), Korea (19), Australia (15), Taiwan (14), China (7), Spain (5), France (2), and one each in Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple just casually announced the new M4 MacBook Air with sales beginning on March 12. While that may be exciting news for anyone looking to get the latest and greatest devices, it can also be a boon for anyone hunting for deals. After new products launch, there tend to be some great discounts on earlier models to help clear inventory. Apple unfortunately has a pretty controlled sales market, so finding new units of earlier models may be difficult. But if you’re familiar and comfortable with the wide world of refurbished products, you can find some excellent deals on slightly older MacBooks. To help you start your search, I’ve rounded up a few exciting options from the refurbished market. M1 Pro MacBook ProThis refurbished M1 Pro MacBook Pro comes in under the new $999 MacBook Air, but offers some upgrades. It has more storage than a base MacBook Air, matches its memory, features a large 16-inch display, and comes with extra ports. This model also runs an M1 Pro chip, which is a more powerful version of the M1 chip that dazzled so many in the tech community. 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) $949.00 at Amazon $1,040.00 Save $91.00 Get Deal Get Deal $949.00 at Amazon $1,040.00 Save $91.00 M3 MacBook AirIf you don’t need the latest processor, the M3 MacBook Air could serve you well. This discount from Amazon offers a new M3 MacBook Air for $200 less than the newer model. This one is thankfully upgraded to 16GB of memory, which improves both the device's ability to run multiple tasks at once, as well as its overall longevity. 13-inch M3 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 256GB storage) $799.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,099.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $799.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,099.00 Save $300.00 M2 MacBook AirYou can go yet another generation back and save even more on a Mac. This M2 MacBook Air from Amazon is still in new condition, and costs just $699. It’s not a base model either, shipping with the all-too-important 16GB memory upgrade for future-proofing. 13-inch M2 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 256GB storage $699.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $999.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $699.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $999.00 Save $300.00 M1 Pro MacBook ProFor less than the price of a new M4 MacBook Air, you can grab this beefed up M1 Pro MacBook Pro. It, too, comes with 16GB of memory, ensuring better longevity, and it even includes 512GB of storage. This unit is in "Excellent - Refurbished" condition, so it should still look and work like new, and it gets a one-year Allstate warranty. The same configuration is also available from Amazon for $899. 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) $889.72 at Amazon $978.00 Save $88.28 Get Deal Get Deal $889.72 at Amazon $978.00 Save $88.28 M3 Pro MacBook ProThis 16-inch MacBook Pro is a sizable discount next to the M4 Pro models Apple now offers. eBay is currently offering it for $1,679.95, down from $2,099.99. The 18GB of memory and powerful M3 Pro processor offer a big edge on heavy computing workloads, and comes with a fantastic display. This model is eBay Certified Refurbished, so you can expect a like-new machine and enjoy a two-year warranty backed by Allstate. View the full article

As the US-Canada tariff war continues, the Ontario premier faces the defining challenge of his careerView the full article

The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment's February drop is looking like a precursor for what might be a difficult 2025 Spring homebuying season. View the full article

Earlier this week, I proclaimed the brand new M4 MacBook Air the best MacBook for most people. In short, that's because Apple packages everything that's already great about modern MacBook Airs with its latest M4 chip, all for a fantastic MSRP of $999. The thing is, the M4 chip itself isn't brand new: Apple first rolled it out with the iPad Pro last May, before introducing the M4 MacBook Pro in October. Before this week, Apple had cemented the MacBook Air as the previous generation brand: If you want an entry-level Apple computer, you could buy the M2 MacBook Air for $999, or the M3 MacBook Air for a little more. If you wanted M4, well, that's "Pro" territory. M4 vs. M4No longer: Whether you buy a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, you're getting the M4 chip. These chips are almost identical between Air and Pro, but with one caveat. The SoC (System on Chip) comes with a 10-core CPU (four performance cores and six efficiency cores) and a 16-core Neural Engine on all models, and a 10-core GPU on the Pro. You can get a 10-core GPU on the Air, but only if you pay extra. If you buy the entry-level $999 machine, you get an eight-core GPU. Those additional two GPU cores will cost you $100. It's a small difference, but a difference that, on paper, suggests better performance from the M4 MacBook Pro—especially for graphics-intensive tasks. If you work with animation or high-resolution video, or play AAA games, those two GPU cores on the Pro could come in handy. However, paper specs mean very little for real-world use: It's when you see how these machines actually perform when put to the test do you know how big (or small) these differences really are. We'll need to wait for Apple to release the M4 MacBook Air before we see those real-world tests in action. But in the meantime, we do have some evidence that goes beyond the spec sheet. As reported by Wccftech, testers have uploaded Geekbench Metal benchmarks for the M4 MacBook Air to the internet—and the results are illuminating. This test examines a chip's GPU performance via Apple's Metal API. The eight-core M4 MacBook Air scored 54,864 on the test, while the 10-core M4 MacBook Pro scored 57,788. That's a 5% gain for the MacBook Pro, which, while certainly nice to have, is not the huge jump you might expect from an additional two GPU cores—especially when you consider the Pro starts at $1,599. Again, benchmarks don't necessarily reflect real-world usage. Those two cores might push the Pro more than these results imply. Plus, the Pro has internal fans to keep the M4 chip cool under pressure. The Air doesn't have fans, which means it may slow down performance if things get too hot sooner than the Pro would. We'll simply need to see how these two machines stack up side-by-side when review units arrive. Power and priceRegardless, the M4 MacBook Air is shaping up to be a powerhouse of a machine—especially for the price. The M4 MacBook Pro, for example, costs $600 more, and while you gain additional perks like a brighter, higher-quality display, double the storage, an HDMI port, and SDXC card slot, you might find you prefer the extra $600 in your wallet. Ignoring these perks, if you're someone who is buying a Mac with power in mind, you no longer need to count out the Air. In fact, it should probably be your first choice, only ruled out if the work you do requires the extra "oomph" the Pro can offer. To be clear, this comparison is between the M4 chip, not the M4 Pro chip. You can only get the M4 Pro in the MacBook Pro, and that model starts at $1,999. At that point, it's a very different discussion. View the full article

A London espionage trial has provided rare insight into the activities of Jan Marsalek, the former payments executive, and how Moscow is outsourcing its spyingView the full article

Prime minister also open to exploring how French atomic weapons can protect whole continentView the full article

Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman, one of the central bank's more inflation-wary officials, said the balance of risks for monetary policymaking could soon shift. View the full article

With tax season in full swing, smart filers are looking to maximize every deduction available to them. We're all familiar with common tax deductions like mortgage interest, charitable donations, and retirement contributions. However, there are plenty of unexpected deductions and other little-known uses for pre-tax money. Andy Phillips, Vice President of H&R Block’s Tax Institute, shares some more unexpected facts about deductions. For instance, people who are wrongfully incarcerated may be able to exclude settlement money they receive to compensate them. And if you’re just starting to repay your student loans for the first time, you might not know that most taxpayers can deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest payments each year. Here are some more of the strangest tax deductions people have claimed and actually gotten away with. Gambling lossesWhile gambling winnings are taxable income, the IRS allows taxpayers to deduct their gambling losses up to the amount of their winnings. This deduction is often claimed by professional gamblers and those who frequent casinos. Your pool or hot tubIf you are self-employed and use your backyard pool or hot tub to entertain clients or employees, you may be able to deduct a portion of your operating costs and even the initial installation. Just make sure to carefully document the business uses. SnacksDaycares can deduct set amounts for the breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided to children in their care. TamponsMenstrual care products like tampons and pads are qualified expenses you can pay with your health savings account. Pet care for service animalsFor the most part, deducting medical expenses for pets is not allowed as a medical expense on your tax return. The only exception is when an animal is a certified service animal, like a guide dog, to assist you. Service animals generally aren’t considered pets though. If you have a physical disability or are hearing or visually impaired, you can deduct medical expenses for your pets if they are certified service animals. Expenses that may be covered include purchasing, training, and maintenance of the animal which includes food, grooming, and medical care. Some cosmetic surgeriesA taxpayer can deduct medical expenses for cosmetic surgery necessary to improve a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease. Breast reconstruction after cancer and vision correction surgery are examples of a deductible surgery. Clarinet lessonsBelieve it or not, the IRS has allowed deductions for clarinet lessons as a medical expense in certain circumstances where the lessons were recommended by a doctor to help treat a health condition like stammering or neurological issues. You'll need a physician's letter to claim this one. EV chargersIf you install an electric vehicle charger in your home, you may be eligible for a tax credit. Similarly, while you can’t just run an extension cord out the window and make bank letting people charge their EVs, there are other ways to monetize a home EV charger. Construction expensesIf you build a house, construction expenses you can include are the land, materials, architect fees, building inspection fees, and building permit fees. The bottom lineRemember to keep accurate records and consult with a tax professional if you have any questions or concerns. While the above deductions might not apply to you, there are still plenty of deductions to make sure you're taking advantage of—like home office perks or retirement contributions. And if you want to avoid the April 15 scramble, be sure to check out the best filing services for 2025. View the full article

By now, most people know not to trust everything they see on TikTok. But scams on the platform are becoming increasingly sophisticated, thanks to deepfake technology. A new report from Media Matters for America, published this week, identified multiple TikTok accounts using deepfake influencers and fake storytimes to promote wellness products to unsuspecting users. These accounts appear to be part of an affiliated network, using the same content format and often promoting exactly the same products with little to no scientific backing. One now-deleted TikTok account, which had over 245,000 followers, amassed more than 4.1 million likes promoting its “secret to perfect hair.” Hawking a batana oil to increase hair growth (link in bio), the account featured a number of videos of an influencer claiming to be the wife of Korea’s highest paid plastic surgeon, a former Victoria’s Secret model, and a gynecologist. She claimed this batana oil was the secret to her long luscious hair, despite there being no research to back this up. The secret, in fact, is deepfake technology. A reverse image search by Media Matters strongly suggests that the women in these videos were AI-generated. The same influencer—posed identically, in the same outfit—appeared in multiple videos promoting different brands and products. Fake influencers are not the only trick scammers are adopting. Wellness trends travel fast on TikTok, often gaining momentum through word of mouth and personal anecdotes. Scammers have caught on to this and are now exploiting popular formats like the #storytime trend, which has 36.9 million posts on TikTok, to market their products. “My wife and I have spent three years trying to conceive after getting married without success,” reads a slide from one account that was spotlighted in the Media Matters report. “I felt guilty, helpless and ashamed for not giving her the family we dreamed of.” The slides that follow detail the couples struggle and eventual polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis. These videos likely resonated with many viewers. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the leading causes of infertility, affecting approximately one in 10 women of childbearing age, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Determined to help her I found this supplement on Amazon that thousands swear by,” the final slide reads. “She started taking it, and for the first time in years, her cycle became regular—we’re finally hopeful again.” Of course, the supplement in question is conveniently linked in bio. Women with PCOS are often the prey of scams promising miracle cures via dubious supplements. But they are not the only ones. “Whoever or whatever created these accounts is trying to capitalize on the internet’s obsession with wellness,” writes Media Matters’s senior investigative researcher Olivia Little. “Nearly every username contains some combination of wellness buzzwords, and the accounts exclusively hawk health and beauty products.” As deepfake technology becomes ever more sophisticated, consumers must remain ever more skeptical of what is being sold to them online. View the full article

Trading could soon be very different on the Nasdaq stock market if the stock exchange gets its way. That’s because Nasdaq president Tal Cohen has announced the exchange’s plans to introduce 24-hour trading to the platform in the near future. The move to 24-hour trading would represent a seismic shift for the Nasdaq—and present opportunities and challenges to investors, businesses, and the media who cover them. Here’s what you need to know. Nasdaq proposes 24/5 trading In a blog post published today, Nasdaq president Tal Cohen has proposed what is colloquially called “24/5 trading”—the ability to trade stocks and other securities on exchange 24 hours a day for 5 days a week. In the blog post announcing Nasdaq’s intention, Cohen calls the potential move a “pivotal moment” of modernization for the exchange. “We are excited to share that Nasdaq has begun engaging with regulators, market participants and other key stakeholders, with a view of enabling 24-hour trading five days a week on the Nasdaq Stock Market,” he wrote, noting that 24-hour trading could “expand wealth-building opportunities” and “broaden investor access.” However, the Nasdaq operates in a highly regulated industry, so it cannot unilaterally decide to offer 24-hour trading. Not only does it need to get regulatory approval, but it must also ensure that it and its technology and financial partners that enable millions to trade securities on its platform have it within their means to facilitate a switch to 24-hour trading. “The U.S. equities markets process millions of messages per second, and every incremental change—whether in trading rules or the guardrails that protect investors—requires seamless industry-wide coordination, thoughtful planning, testing, and coordinated implementation,” Cohen noted. “A harmonized and aligned approach across all markets is key to avoiding operational complexity and ensuring a seamless customer experience.” While Cohen didn’t explicitly state the company’s new proposed 24-hour trading hours, given that they would be five days a week, the new trading period would likely run from 12:01 a.m. on Monday to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Eastern Time (ET). Currently, the Nasdaq trades from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET Monday to Friday, like other major U.S. markets. The Nasdaq also currently offers extended trading hours. Pre-market trading runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET, and post-market trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday. If the Nasdaq gets approval for its new 24/5 trading schedule, it will add an additional eight hours to every trading day. Who does 24/5 trading benefit? Well, one of the biggest beneficiaries, of course, is Nasdaq. The exchange makes its money by charging fees for the services it provides with each trade. The more trades being made, the more money Nasdaq stands to make. But Nasdaq would argue that a move to 24/5 trading will benefit investors in general, who would be able to trade any time they want during the five-day workweek. However, another big benefit would be to a specific type of investor: those who live internationally, especially those in Asia. Due to time differences, many investors in Asia—at least retail investors—are typically off work or sleeping for the night when American exchange activity is at its height. For example, there is a 14-hour time difference between Japan and New York. By switching to a 24/5 trading schedule, investors in Asia would have more access to U.S. markets during their normal waking hours. “Attracting more investment to our markets presents a compelling opportunity for both the U.S. and global economy,” Cohen wrote. “It is therefore incumbent on us to enhance access for those operating across different time zones.” Companies and the media may find 24/5 trading challenging Of course, while Nasdaq and international traders might find 24/5 trading beneficial, other entities—including the companies whose shares trade on the Nasdaq and the media who report on them—could find the move challenging. Companies, especially the ones found on the tech-heavy Nasdaq, like Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia, and more, like to control when investors receive news about them, as much as they can, anyway. The reason for this is that news, especially when it’s first disseminated, can make a stock’s price swing wildly in one direction or another. This is why many companies report their earnings before or after regular market hours. Retail investors typically don’t trade in those hours, which helps mitigate any large-scale fear- or greed-based selling or buying when news hits. If stocks are traded 24/5, companies lose this buffer—which could lead to increased trading volatility. If this change happens, every CEO or CFO will have to be extra careful what they say during earnings calls, as any statement—correctly interpreted or not—could lead to instant trading volatility. And for the media covering Nasdaq companies—and the markets in general—well, they will no longer be able to call it a night after 4 p.m. If the Nasdaq is trading 24/5, that means U.S. financial news is now happening 24/5, and investors are going to want real-time analysis and updates. When does Nasdaq’s new trading begin? Currently, there’s no definitive date for Nasdaq’s 24/5 trading sessions to begin because the change needs to be approved by regulators—and Nasdaq needs to get the buy-in from its partners and the companies that trade on its exchange. However, if everything goes as Nasdaq would like, Cohen says the company anticipates 24/5 trading to begin “in the second half of 2026.” Nasdaq, Inc. shares (Nasdaq: NDAQ) are currently down less than 1% to around $75.56 in early morning trading after the news was announced. View the full article

It turns out 2025 isn’t the year for legalized sports betting in Georgia. Efforts to send a state constitutional amendment to voters failed Thursday in the state legislature, as neither the amendment nor a bill laying out details ever came to a vote in the House. Voters in Missouri narrowly approved sports betting in a 2024 referendum, making it the 39th state to legalize the practice. But like in Georgia, legalization faces high hurdles in the 10 remaining states that bar sports gambling. Thursday was the deadline for each Georgia chamber to pass its own legislation to the opposite chamber. The measures still could be revived in the last month of the session, but it much less likely. Lawmakers could still consider the measures in the 2026 half of Georgia’s two-year session. “It came in late and I guess people just weren’t there yet,” said House Higher Education Committee Chairman Chuck Martin, an Alpharetta Republican, referring to a bill and constitutional amendment that were introduced only last week. “We’ll keep working with people and trying to do what’s in the best interest of the state,” Martin said, saying a referendum was still possible in on the November 2026 ballot. Sports wagering is backed by Atlanta’s professional sports teams, business groups and Republican Lt. Gov Burt Jones. But those powerful proponents have struggled to pass a law in the seven legislative sessions since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a federal law that banned commercial sports betting in most states. In Minnesota, a proposal failed on a 6-6- tie vote in a Senate committee on Feb. 13, even though the sponsor said his bill was supported by the state’s 11 Native American tribes, which operate casinos, the state’s two horse racing tracks, charitable gambling operations and local sports teams. California voters rejected wagering in 2022. A proposal to legalize sports betting passed the Texas House in 2023, but the state Senate spurned the proposal. One state where the issue is making progress is Hawaii, where the state House on Tuesday passed a bill that would legalize online sports betting. Missouri is currently making rules and taking applications from sportsbooks, with the launch of legal betting delayed until late summer or early fall. Without Democratic votes in Georgia, a constitutional amendment couldn’t achieve the two-thirds majorities needs to pass the state House and Senate. Republicans in the state are far from unified. Some GOP lawmakers oppose sports betting, warning that legalizing sports betting will provide a pathway to addiction, especially for younger gamblers. House Minority Whip Sam Park, a Lawrenceville Democrat, said Wednesday that his party wants to prioritize use of any tax money for prekindergarten. That was part of the constitutional amendment proposed by Martin’s committee. Supporters have argued that Georgians should get a chance to vote, arguing many already bet on sports illegally. “I believe strongly — and Georgians by wide margins agree with me — that this change will not only bring in much needed revenue to educate our youngest learners but also provide consumer protections that don’t exist in today’s black market,” State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, the Watkinsville Republican who sponsored the measure, said in a statement. Of the 38 states that currently allow sports betting, some allow only in-person bets, although most allow electronic betting from anywhere. —Jeff Amy, Associated Press View the full article

Four satellite operators in talks with Brussels and other capitals on providing back-up connectivity for KyivView the full article

Apple has unveiled its most powerful Mac to date, introducing the new Mac Studio, powered by the M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. The latest iteration of Apple’s high-performance desktop features Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, up to 512GB of unified memory, and up to 16TB of SSD storage, all within a compact design. The new Mac Studio is now available for pre-order, with official availability beginning March 12. “The new Mac Studio is the most powerful Mac we’ve ever made,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “A complete game-changer for pros around the world — powering both home and pro studios — Mac Studio sits in a class of its own, offering a staggering amount of performance in a compact, quiet design that fits beautifully on your desk. With this new Mac Studio, we’re delivering even more extreme performance with M4 Max and M3 Ultra, support for half a terabyte of unified memory, up to 16TB of superfast storage, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. Mac Studio truly is the ultimate pro desktop.” Performance Upgrades with M4 Max and M3 Ultra The Mac Studio with M4 Max is designed for professionals in video editing, software development, photography, and other creative fields. Apple claims that M4 Max offers “phenomenal single-threaded CPU performance with the world’s fastest CPU core.” The chip features an up to 16-core CPU, an up to 40-core GPU, and a Neural Engine that is over three times faster than the M1 Max. Apple states that the M4 Max variant of the Mac Studio is “up to 3.5x faster than Mac Studio with M1 Max and up to 6.1x faster than the most powerful Intel-based 27-inch iMac.” The device supports up to 128GB of unified memory and boasts a powerful Media Engine for video processing, featuring two ProRes accelerators. For even more intensive workflows, the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra offers a significant leap in performance. It features an up to 32-core CPU, an up to 80-core GPU, and a 32-core Neural Engine. According to Apple, this version delivers “nearly 2x faster performance than M4 Max in workloads that take advantage of high CPU and GPU core counts.” It also supports up to 512GB of unified memory and up to 16TB of SSD storage. Thunderbolt 5 and Expanded Connectivity The Mac Studio now features Thunderbolt 5, which enables transfer speeds of up to 120 Gb/s—three times faster than the previous generation. This enhancement allows for improved external storage performance, expansion chassis connectivity, and support for professional hub solutions. The M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio can drive up to eight Pro Display XDRs at full 6K resolution. Other connectivity options include a 10Gb Ethernet port, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot on the front for quick media import, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Designed for AI and Apple Intelligence The new Mac Studio is built to handle artificial intelligence workloads, capable of running large language models (LLMs) with over 600 billion parameters entirely in memory. Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI-powered personal assistant, is integrated into the Mac Studio experience. This feature supports advanced AI-driven tasks such as live transcription, writing assistance, and enhanced Siri functionality. Apple Intelligence processes many of its features on-device for enhanced privacy, while more complex requests are handled through Private Cloud Compute. Apple states that “users’ data is never stored or shared with Apple; it is used only to fulfill their request.” Environmental Commitment Apple emphasized its commitment to sustainability, stating that the new Mac Studio features “over 30 percent recycled content overall, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets.” The company aims to be carbon neutral across its entire supply chain by 2030. Pricing and Availability Mac Studio is available for pre-order starting today on apple.com/store, with in-store availability beginning March 12. The base model starts at $1,999, with an education discount price of $1,799. Configure-to-order options are available for expanded memory and storage capacities. Customers who purchase Mac Studio directly from Apple can access Personal Setup services for guided assistance with their new device. Additionally, AppleCare+ offers extended service and support, including coverage for accidental damage and battery service. Image: Apple This article, "Apple Introduces New Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article