The term used for the delivery of film and TV content via the Internet is OTT, or over-the-top and does not require users to subscribe to traditional cable or satellite TV.  Want to operate your own OTT video service? Here is a glimpse at what to keep in mind.The term used for the delivery of film and TV content via the Internet is OTT, or over-the-top and does not require users to subscribe to traditional cable or satellite TV.  Want to operate your own OTT video service? Here is a glimpse at what to keep in mind.

Supported OTT video delivery protocol(s)

Below are some formats on how OTT video is delivered to your device today.

• Apple HLS (77.9%)
• Apple HDS (42.5%)
• Smooth Streaming (38.6%)
• RTMP (37.5%)
• MPEG-DASH (28.6%)
• Other

Content Delivery Network (CDN) delivery strategies

• Multi-CDN (43%)
• Single CDN (29%)
• Internal CDN (19%)
• Other

(Data from respondents from companies operating 0, services -multiple 8 single choice questions)

Technical challenges in offering OTT services

Part of the reason OTT did not develop more quickly than it did vs traditional cable was due to the tech challenge of delivering large amounts of content over the web.  Today, we have that capability.

Quality of service and experience, bandwidth limitation, player/UI functionality, device support, search/discovery functionality, security, scalability, player window for live linear content, and traffic spikes are all big challenges still faced with offering OTT services today.  Some areas just don’t have the capability of providing the bandwidth needed, some countries are poor and residents do not have access to required devices, and others prone to hackers and attacks.

As with everything else available on the Internet, one of many crucial aspects is maintaining OTT security strategies across all networks & devices. Some of these security elements to consider include:

• Authentication
• Geoblocking/geofencing
• DRM (multiple and single schemes)
• Access control
• Tokenization
• Other

Devices & Apps – Potential points of delivery?

Distribution of streaming video is still a challenge in 2016 but getting better and better as more streaming devices become available on the market and as broadband connections improve in areas that once did no have good service.

Devices that streaming video can reach
There are numerous devices out on the market today that streaming video can reach.  Smartphones have majority share of the market at almost 70%, followed by tablets at 50%, and PC’s and laptops at 40%.  Smart TV’s 14%, Apple TV 9%, Google Chromecast 8%, Roku 8%, Amazon Firestick 3%, Tivo 1% and Boxee 1% and new and upcoming devices also have a good amount of users using their devices.  Sticks and boxes 31%, are currently used more than Smart TVs at 14%, but these numbers are continuously changing as TV’s now ship out with Smart TV functionality.

Devices that apps can reach
Devices that can support apps include the following:

• Tablets (90%)
• Desktops/Laptops (88.6%)
• Smartphones (87.1%)
• Internet/Streaming STB (55.4%)
• Smart TVs (47.1%)
• Game Consoles (33.2%)

Business – Where does the revenue come from?

Revenue from OTT comes from subscriptions and monetization.  The US online video market is by far the largest, bringing in 8.5 billion in 2015, with projected growth of 50% every year.

Part of the reason OTT did not develop more quickly than it did vs traditional cable was due to the tech challenge of delivering large amounts of content over the web.  Today, we have that capability and are seeing it spread more and more.

OTT can largely be broken down into three different revenue models:

• SVOD (subscription-based services such as Netflix and Hulu)
• AVOD (free and ad-supported services such as Crackle and Hulu)
• TVOD (transactional services such as iTunes, Vimeo On Demand and Amazon Instant Video that allow users to pay for individual pieces of content).

While in 2016, it is still easier for most households to keep the existing model of paying their cable provider, people are more and more converting to the streaming video and on demand model, like Netflix. Besides Netflix, here are some others:

In this dynamic market a modular, variable and open solution that meets all of the specific requirements – today and tomorrow – will be vastly superior to a static, proprietary backend.

Infographic brought to you by Siemens Convergence Creators
Source: http://www.convergence-creators.siemens.com/ott-streaming-video-management.html

Related: Future of IPTV

Originally posted 2016-07-07 18:43:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The post Delivering film and TV content via the Internet first appeared on Information Technology Blog.

Over the past decade there have been significant technological advances in the world. Microsoft attempted to buy Yahoo, Apple developed its ultra-thin Mac laptop, Honda began selling its zero-emission hydrogen fueled car, the FCX Clarity, and a tiny computer with a six-inch screen inside a stuffed leather pillow is released by Chumby. The computer has internet access and can show incoming email, play games, and display news headlines.

One of the realizations as we look back on a decade of technology use is how prevalent the internet has become. Our everyday lives revolve around it. How many times do you check your Facebook feed? Or Twitter updates? Society has grown dependent on access to the internet in every aspect of life. The online world has grown as a conduit for business, recreation, travel planning, schooling, communication, and shopping.

Media Access

Have you ever heard of the term “hot off the press”? That saying derived from a time when the most current news was literally just printed in a newspaper. That developed into internet access and content providers developing strategies to organize and distribute the latest news effectively. Once upon a time the HTML was simply Times New Roman font, completed with a flashing link. Now online content can be published with RSS feeds, social networks, blogs, smartphones, tablets, and a myriad of other tools. Available content for the world to see has exploded over the last decade as every person now has an opportunity and the capability to have their voice heard online.

Can you hear me now?

Personal communication has soared to new heights. In the early 2000’s, internet use was a stationary event. If you had a cell phone, it was most likely a flip phone with none of the bells and whistles that are standard fare for today’s choices. These days, more than 95% of Americans own a smartphone. Having a phone that can stream movies, play endless music, have a personal GPS, play games, and access the internet and social media is a development of the last decade. With the use of smartphones, the dependency on land lines has diminished greatly, making access to online amenities available on the go as well at home.

Social Media

The development of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media also propelled internet use from a stationary to a social environment. No longer do we look up topics of interest on the internet and join the occasional chat group. Today we socialize almost on a minute to minute basis. We have platforms such as Skype for personal and business face time. We have the capability to interact with each other in real time, and the phenomenon is growing.

Wi-Fi

Another area of noticeable growth is the use of Wi-Fi. It didn’t take long for businesses everywhere to get on the Wi-Fi band wagon. With the development of smartphone and better laptops, and eventually tablets, Wi-Fi gives users an unprecedented mobility with their internet access. Business owners were quick to realize that their customers want to stay connected online, and therefore began to provide Wi-Fi hot zones for the customer’s use. If you are eating lunch at your favorite restaurant you can let your friends know immediate. If you are on vacation and want to stream your favorite program, there is a Wi-Fi hot spot available for your enjoyment.

Online Streaming

Anyone of the age of Facebook will not only never remember a time before online social media, but won’t ever know what it was like to have to watch a program only when it was available on television. The concept of being in the living room by a certain time and only getting up during commercials is a lifestyle that is obsolete to the older generation, and unknown to the younger. Streaming your favorite program or movie through Amazon, Netflix, or Hulu is how this generation rolls. Having the availability to watch your favorite show from a decade or more ago, or catch up on a season you missed from last year can be done through streaming. Because of online streaming consumers can now watch any documentaries, movies, TV shows, exercise videos, and even music videos they want, when they want.

Shopping

Another major change in the world due to the growth of online availability the shopping experience of the consumer. One of the first known purchases online was in 1994, believed to be a pizza from Pizza Hut. On July 16, 1995, Amazon opened for business. The company grew from a humble two-garage operation to what it is today: a billion dollar, international shopping platform.

For example, if you are shopping for insurance for your new car, and you live in New Zealand, you can easily find options, such as Youi Insurance. Further you can check out in social media like youi nz youtube to know more about the company and decide with your best interest at heart without ever leaving your home.

Conclusion

The online world has grown into every aspect of our lives, creating a smaller world, and more accessible information and products. Cyber security is a good way to make sure your business and personal information stays safe. Unfortunately, as the online world continues to grow, so will the dangers of identity theft and hackers. Explore the advancements of technology with confidence while you protect yourself against threats.

Originally posted 2018-01-22 18:13:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The post How Online World Has Grown In The Last Decade? first appeared on Information Technology Blog.

Information technology is one of few occupations that provide real-world functionality, security, and other critical solutions to every job sector and niche of the economy. Regardless of industry, businesses that continue to grow will inevitably require a variety of IT solutions to operate effectively and efficiently.

Many IT professionals recognize that long-established businesses continue to adhere to various tactics, strategies and methods of operation that burden both the company overall and the IT departments in which they work. Streamlining these inadequacies in pursuit of more efficient solutions is only sensible.

In the spirit of progress, let’s examine a few steps that businesses and IT departments can take to ensure greater IT efficiency overall.

Embrace Browser-Based Solutions

IT departments spend an inordinate amount of time installing images on each PC, updating users’ computers with new software, and otherwise troubleshooting compatibility issues. One such method for minimizing the amount of wasted energy IT departments must expend is by ditching desktop-based software in favor of browser-based solutions.

These days, there are browser-based solutions for just about any program imaginable. From word processing and spreadsheets to computer aided design and email management, very few pieces of software need to be installed to each user’s computer. Take Upverter.com for example, which allows users to utilize electronic design tools to build circuit boards and other useful electronic components. Given that Upverter.com and many other browser-based solutions are free to use, freeing up your IT department’s daily grind by embracing these solutions only makes sense.

Pursue an Open Source Policy

The more complicated the software offerings of a particular business, the more time IT employees have to spend making sure everything works together. Juggling aspects such as licensing and compatibility can be a pain. Thankfully, open source software eliminates many of these types of concerns.

Not only will an open source policy save businesses money, but extensive documentation and compatibility built into most of these offerings makes an IT employee’s life much easier with respect to troubleshooting and installation.

Have a “Burnout” Contingency Plan

IT employees work hard and perform many vital tasks every day. Most other employees don’t even realize the amount of work they do, but IT professionals certainly feel it over time. One common reason for efficiency loss in IT departments is due to “burnout.” This means that the daily grind can be grueling, causing workers to lose motivation.

As such, businesses should always have a burnout contingency plan for whenever one or more employees experiences this. This can be incredibly helpful in minimizing the loss of productivity in IT departments, but broader efforts can also be used company-wide to ensure greater efficiency.

Ensure Skill Advancement Opportunities

IT professionals need constant skill development in order to remain at their best. With new software, networking protocols, and technology in general constantly being unveiled, new certifications and methods of operation have to be learned.

Businesses that care about the efficiency of their IT departments must offer meaningful skill advancement opportunities to their employees. The most common IT skills and certificates are obviously a good place to start, but branching out and expanding those offerings as time progresses is imperative for maximum productivity.

 

At the end of the day, maximizing IT productivity revolves around ensuring employees don’t get burned out and have opportunities for advancement. Likewise, it is crucial that businesses advance in ways that minimize the unnecessary grind work that IT employees must navigate on a daily basis to ensure they can focus on more important matters. With these tips in mind, any business should consider how best to begin implementing a plan for greater IT efficiency.

Originally posted 2019-08-27 21:43:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The post Steps That Ensure Greater IT Efficiency first appeared on Information Technology Blog.

Technology is one of the most integral parts of human civilization and life. Human beings owe their success in becoming the most dominant species on Earth to technology. Technology is a term that refers to all the machinery and inventions that humans have always used.

This can include the first tools that early humans used to the machines that all humans currently use. It is an obvious fact that without technology, human beings are nothing. And without the advancement of technology, human beings are surely the first ones to go extinct.

Therefore, humans must find ways to upgrade their technology to prevent such a fate. This is currently happening at a faster rate than one can ever imagine. Currently, humans have reached the zenith of technological development. And they will reach a level far beyond this as well.

Therefore, everyone needs to know about the latest trends in technology. One should also know about the predictions experts are making about technological development. This can help one know about the upcoming advancements and opportunities technology can provide.

Possible Technological Trends That Might Happen Soon

There are several trends regarding the future of technology. The main aim of these trends is to make technologies better, more productive, and more useful. These trends are as follows:-

Increasing Number Of Devices With Computing Applications

Several devices will be present shortly that will have immense computing capability. These devices can be mobile phones, tablets, and many more. Currently, such devices do not offer all the features one can find in a computer. But this might not be the case shortly.

More phones with computing applications will be available soon. These will be faster in terms of service speed and more efficient. This will make such devices a good replacement for computers.

Introduction Of 5G And 6G

The latest versions of networks that will soon dominate the information and communication technology market are 5G and 6G. These are newer and more efficient forms of mobile communication technologies. These can provide greater mobile internet speeds and more network coverage as well.

These will soon replace 4G as the most useful network system. This will enable mobile phone users to have a better experience using such devices. These will also solve all the current issues that most people face while communicating on phones or using mobile internet.

Advancements in Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning

One of the most important technologies in the current times is Artificial Intelligence or A.I. This is an intelligent system that can think and solve problems. Such systems can make most processes automatic as well.

Soon, this technology will also undergo several advancements. The current versions of Artificial Intelligence also have machine learning as an important part. This allows such technology to learn from events and make decisions.

Both of these technologies will soon receive massive upgrades. The result is that these technologies will soon act and think like human beings. Most software engineers will program such technologies to assist humans in different operations.

These technologies will also form an important part of cyber security. This is because, with the help of machine learning, Artificial Intelligence systems will be able to point out cyber-attacks and neutralize them. These systems can also assist human beings n making better decisions in different areas.

Advancements in Extended Reality Technologies

The extended reality technologies include A.R. and V.R. mostly. These technologies form a major part of games and are useful in training programs. Soon, these technologies will also receive several advancements.

There will be several gadgets that will provide V.R. services to people. The virtual reality simulations will be so realistic that one might feel it hard to differentiate it from the real world. However, this is not something that one should worry about.

This will make such technologies more suitable for training programs in different fields. These will also make gaming a better experience as well.

The Introduction Of 3D Printing

One of the best forms of technology that will soon become available is 3D printing. This will involve special printers that will be able to produce 3-dimensional models. In simple words, this is a technology that will create models of literally any object.

This technology will revolutionize sectors such as the medical and teaching industries. These sectors can often require models for different purposes. For this, innovative versions of 3D printers will soon be available.

These might also revolutionize the engineering sector as well. The machines can do this by building small machines or at least models. Therefore, these will be some of the best pieces of technology one can use shortly.

Possible Predictions About Technological Advancements

The facts mentioned above only talk about the technological trends that will happen in the future for sure. However, many experts also predict that certain advancements will soon happen. These advancements can seem straight from science fiction books and movies.

However, this is not the case anymore, as these technologies will soon become a reality. These are as follows:-

The Increase in The Number Of Robotic Citizens

One of the fascinating technological predictions involves robots. This prediction states that robots will soon become as intelligent as humans. These robots will look and resemble humans or even animals. These will have highly advanced A.I. systems running them.

Such robots will dominate the workforce and take away most jobs. However, many say they will only greatly decrease the workload for people. They will do this by becoming assistants or even bosses.

Advancement in Genetic Engineering snd The Rise of Superhumans

Currently, one of the most innovative gene editing tools is CRISPR. This tool uses advanced A.I. and other systems for editing the genes of microbes. However, these systems might become innovative enough to edit the genes of other living creatures. And that includes us as well.

Many scientists might use more advanced forms of such technologies to create superhumans. These will be babies who will have modified genes since birth. Scientists might also do this to plants and animals as well. This will prevent species extinction in a world that might soon fall victim to nuclear wars.

Flying Cars Driven By A.I.

Flying self-driven cars will soon be a reality. These will use A.I. systems that will work as per the voice command of a car’s owner. Companies like Tesla are developing such cars currently.

These might also not run on fossil fuels too. Instead, these will run purely on electricity.

Conclusion

The futures of technological advancements seem to be very bright for the human race. This will lead to the lives of people becoming more comfortable and stress-free. Innovative technologies will also lead to the creation of more jobs as well.

All this signifies that technological advancements will lead to a new golden age for humankind. This can lead to humans becoming smarter and more sophisticated. This might also end all the causes of suffering that human beings are currently facing.

Originally posted 2023-04-12 15:56:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The post The Future of Technology: Emerging Trends and Predictions first appeared on Information Technology Blog.

The world is becoming increasingly more digital and, whilst this is a good thing for a number of different reasons, this huge shift brings with it questions and scrutiny as to what exactly these huge tech companies are doing with such vast amounts of data.

The leading tech companies, including Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft – giants within the tech world – have all recently been accused of following unethical practices.

From Meta being questioned in courts over its advertising regime, to Amazon facing concerns over the fact that their Echo devices are potentially recording private conversations within the home, it’s not surprising that users are looking for more information as to how their data is being used.

With this comes the counterargument that big tech companies are doing what they can to strike the balance between privacy rights and ensuring that their product and the experience users get from using them don’t change.  But, how exactly are the big tech companies using and utilising sensitive and personal data while ensuring they still meet and adhere to the ever-expanding list of privacy rights? Let’s take a look.

Is Our Data The Price We Pay For Free?

In marketplaces and stores, we exchange legitimate currency for goods and services. But, with social media and other online platforms, we’re instead paying with our attention. A lot of online users are unaware of the expansive trail of browsing and search history that they leave behind.

Almost everything is logged and monitored online, right from the very first interaction and, depending on the web browser you use, some will collect more information than others. There are costs involved in almost every digital and online service we use and it costs money to host servers and sites – so why do we get to browse for free?

Simply because the cost is being underwritten in other ways. The most common form is through advertising, but the ways that only a few people think about, or want to think about, is through the harvesting and use of our data. Every single website is tracked or recorded in different ways and by different people, from marketing agencies who analyze the performance of a website to broadband providers who check connections.

Users will struggle to understand why companies want their data, but that’s simply because they don’t quite understand the value behind it. Data is currently considered to be one of the most valuable assets, mainly because it is a non-rival entity – this means that it can be replicated for free and with little to no impact on the quality. The nature of data means that it can be used for product research, market analysis or to train and better inform AI systems. All companies want more data in order to have as many financial and legal incentives and rights as they can.

What Are Cookies?

Data tracking is done through cookies, which are small files of letters and numbers which are downloaded onto your computer when you visit a website. They are used by almost all websites for a number of reasons, such as remembering your browsing preferences, keeping a record of what you’ve added to your shopping basket or counting how many people visit the site. Cookies are why you might see ads online months after visiting a website or get emails when you’ve left something in a shopping basket online.

Why Do Big Tech Companies Want User Data?

How Laws Have Changed How Companies Use Your Data

In the EU, data is more heavily protected than it is in the US, for example. EU laws have taken a more hardline stance against the big tech companies when it comes to protecting users, with the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, in place to offer the “toughest privacy and security law in the world”.

This law makes it compulsory for companies, particularly big tech companies, to outline specifically what it is they are using data for. This law was passed in 2016 and any company which violates it is subjected to fines which either total 4% of the company’s overall revenue, or €20 million – whichever is greater. In 2019, Google was fined a huge €57 million for violating GDPR laws, citing that they posed huge security risks.

Unlike the EU, the US does not have comprehensive laws to protect online users, which is what allows these companies to have access to data that they can then use to take advantage of said data. Following the EU’s introduction of GDPR, both Facebook and Google had to change and update their privacy rights and laws, but in the US, there is still some way to go.

This is because Google makes a lot of money from their user data. Over 80% of Google’s revenue comes from the advertising aspect of its business, which allows advertisers to target ads for services and products based on what users are searching for, with this information gathered from Google. Google is the largest search engine in the world, so all of these user’s data quickly adds up. It’s been said that “Google sells the data that they collect so the ads can be better suited to user’s interests.”.

Advertisers will also make use of Google’s Analytic data, which is a service that gives companies insight into their website activity by tracking users who land on there. A few years ago, there were rumours that Google Analytics wrongly gave U.S intelligence agencies access to data from French users, whilst Google hadn’t done enough in order to ensure privacy when this data was transferred between the US and Europe.

Reasons Why Big Tech Companies Want Your User Data

• Social media apps want information on how you use their platform in order to give you content that you actually want. TikTok in particular works to build you a customised and personalised algorithm to try and show you videos that you will actually engage with to keep you on the app for longer based on ads and content that you have previously watched and engaged with.
• Big tech companies will be interested in your data so that they can show you relevant ads. Most of the big tech companies make a lot of money through advertising on their platform, so they want to ensure that they keep advertisers happy by showing their services or products to the consumers who are more likely to convert.
• Your data will be used to personalise your browsing and platform experience to keep you coming back.

How Is Data Collection Changing?

One of the biggest reasons why companies are using your data is in order to serve you better when you are online. But, in terms of big tech companies, these reasons are often very different. With more and more people relying on technology provided by the likes of Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon, these companies need to be more reliable and be held to accountability more so that the rights of consumers are protected.

Changes and popularity in technology such as AI and cryptocurrency are becoming increasingly more common, and with these technologies comes the increase in risks of scams and fraud, such as the recent Hyperverse case. It is important now more than ever for these companies to put user’s minds at ease and improve their privacy rights.

Originally posted 2024-04-13 23:13:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The post Data Dilemmas: Balancing Privacy Rights in the Age of Big Tech first appeared on Information Technology Blog.

We generally think iPads are the best tablets for most people, but they usually don’t come cheap. To help those looking to grab one today get the most value possible, we’re keeping an eye on sale prices and rounding up the best iPad deals we can find each week.

Hopefully you were able to snag whatever iPad you’ve been eyeing at some point in the last couple of weeks, as most of the all-time lows we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday have expired. If you were late to the party, though, there are still some savings to be had, including $100 off both iPad Air models and an all-time low for the 13-inch iPad Pro. Beyond tablets, other Apple devices like the AirPods 4 with ANC, Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Pencil Pro are still on sale at their Black Friday prices. Here are all of the top deals on Apple gear we could find this week.

Best iPad deals

Apple iPad Air (13-inch, M3) for $699 ($100 off MSRP): The 13-inch iPad Air is exactly the same as its smaller counterpart, only it has a larger and slightly brighter display. We gave it a review score of 89 earlier this year. This deal is $50 above the discount we saw on Black Friday but still $100 cheaper than buying from Apple directly. Also at B&H.

Apple iPad Pro (11-inch, M5) for $927 ($72 off): The latest iPad Pro is still far more tablet than most people need, but its class-leading OLED display, impressively thin design and super-powerful M5 chip make it a luxury experience for those who can afford it. This 11-inch model sold for $899 during Black Friday, but the device was only released in October, so any sort of savings is still noteworthy. Also at Best Buy for $949.

Apple iPad Pro (13-inch, M5) for $1,199 ($100 off): It’s not a massive discount, but this matches the lowest price so far for the larger iPad Pro, which may be worthwhile if you’ve got cash to burn and want to use an iPad as your main computer. We gave it a score of 85 in our review. Also at B&H.

Best Apple deals

Apple Watch SE 3 for $199 ($50 off): This discount has been around for a few weeks, but it’s the lowest price to date for Apple’s newest entry-level smartwatch. We gave this device a score of 90 in our review last month: The big upgrade is an always-on display, which makes it so you no longer have to wake the watch to check the time or notifications. It still includes most of the essential health and fitness features beyond that, plus it now runs on the same chipset as the higher-end Apple Watch Series 11. Also at Walmart.

Apple Watch Series 11 for $329 ($70 off): The SE 3 may be a better raw value, but the Apple Watch Series 11 remains our preferred smartwatch overall for iPhone owners. Compared to its cheaper sibling, it has a bigger, brighter and more scratch-resistant display, longer battery life and a few advanced health features like an ECG app and hypertension alerts. It also earned a score of 90 in our review. This is an all-time low for the standard 42mm model, but keep in mind that there’s no pressing need to upgrade if you already own a Series 10. Also at Walmart.

Apple Pencil Pro for $95 ($34 off): The Pencil Pro is Apple’s most feature-rich stylus, offering pressure sensitivity, wireless charging, haptic feedback and unique gesture controls compared to the standard USB-C model (which isn’t significantly discounted). Just note that it’s not compatible with the entry-level iPad and other older models. While this discount is only $5 below the device’s usual street price, it’s still the largest discount we’ve seen this year. Also at Walmart.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) for $1,349 ($250 off): The newest MacBook Pro is the “best high-end” pick in our laptop buying guide and a fine choice for creative types who need something more powerful than the MacBook Air. The latter is still a much better value for most people, but the Pro gets you a superior mini-LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, more ports and improved performance, especially with GPU-intensive tasks. It can even hold its own with certain games, though it’s noticeably thicker and heavier than the Air. We gave it a score of 92 in our review. This deal matches the lowest price to date for a configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Also at Walmart.

Apple Mac mini (M4) for $679 ($100 off): The latest iteration of Apple’s tiny desktop PC has a smaller footprint, a faster M4 chip, 16GB of RAM by default, two front-facing USB-C ports and an extra Thunderbolt 4 port. It can also drive three external displays, though it lacks USB-A ports entirely. We gave a higher-end model with Apple’s M4 Pro chip a score of 90 in our review. This deal marks the lowest price we could find for a configuration with the base M4 chip, 24GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

Read more Apple coverage:

• The best AirPods

• The best Apple Watches

• The best MacBooks

• The best iPhones

• The best iPads

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-ipad-deals-this-week-include-100-off-the-ipad-air-m3-150020616.html?src=rss

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© Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

Threat intelligence company Recorded Future is launching a $20 million fund for early-stage startups developing novel data intelligence tools. The Intelligence Fund will provide seed and Series A funding to startups that already have venture capital funding, Recorded Future says, as well as equip them with resources to help with the development and integration of intelligence […]