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Hands-on: This hub fixes the MacBook Neo’s biggest limitation

Apple’s new MacBook Neo is one of the most exciting and disruptive products Apple has released in years. Starting at just $599, or $499 through the education store, it delivers incredible performance and build quality without much compromise. You get a laptop that looks, feels, and performs like a true Apple laptop. But like many Apple products in 2026, it lacks a variety of ports. I would argue that customers used to this price range expect more than just two USB-C ports from their Windows counterpart. That’s where Kuxiu’s new X53 Laptop Hub & Stand comes into play. It combines a full USB-C with an extremely high-quality adjustable laptop stand that gives MacBook Neo and even MacBook Air users their ports back! Here is what you should know.

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How to watch Formula 1 races on Apple TV

Starting with the 2026 season, Apple TV has entered an exclusive deal to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States, including all Grand Prix, qualifying and practice sessions in the United States.

In short, that means you need an Apple TV subscription to watch Formula 1 races this season. In this post, we’ll break down exactly how to subscribe, how to save money, what is the best device to use to tune in, and what you can watch for free.

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Apple @ Work: IT leaders fear vendor lock-in as the ‘Cloud Only’ dream fades

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For the last decade, the strategy for many IT departments was simple: move everything to the cloud to save on costs. The promise was moving faster, with less downtime and less maintenance, but as we settle into 2026, the reality is looking a bit different for some teams. Parallels has just released its 2026 State of Cloud Computing Survey. The results paint a picture of IT teams slowing down on “cloud at all costs” because they are realizing it’s leading them into vendor lock-in.

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Here’s Alicia Keys at Apple Grand Central for 50th anniversary experience [Gallery]

Apple today held an impromptu 50th anniversary celebration at its Grand Central store, featuring renowned artist Alicia Keys. This is the first of many that’ll take place around the world, and Apple Grand Central was just the kickoff! I had the honor of getting to attend the performance, and I’ll be sharing all of my photos here.

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HomeKit Weekly: Shelly Gen4 Plug brings Wi-Fi 6, Matter, and Thread to a single smart outlet

Shelly Smart Outlet

Choosing a smart plug usually feels like a gamble on which protocol will win the war. Belkin recently ended support for its Wemo line as well. Shelly has apparently decided to stop gambling and just include everything. I’ve been testing the Shelly Plug US Gen4, and it’s great! It supports Matter, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and, in a rare move for a smart home device, Wi-Fi 6. It also includes precise power metering, a feature I think is awesome for a modern smart plug.

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Apple Grand Central retail store closed due to special activity [U]

Update 3/13: The event appears to be for a special performance. Alicia Keys is the rumor. There’s a pink piano and Apple’s 50th anniversary signage.

9to5Mac’s Michael Burkhardt is in attendance and has spotted Apple CEO Tim Cook. Michael also spotted a set list that contains several Alicia Keys songs.


Apple Grand Central in New York City is closed today and tomorrow due to some sort of mysterious special activity.

Customers visiting Apple’s retail location in Grand Central Terminal will be turned away until normal hours resume on Saturday, March 14, at 10 am.

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Deals: MacBook Neo $569, MacBook Air up to $320 off, Apple Studio Display XDR $100 off, Ocean Band, more

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by the MacBook launch week deals – up to $320 off Air, $200 off M5 Pro models, and more, but we have also spotted a chance to save some cash on the already affordable MacBook Neo from $569 as well. Amazon is now offering $100 off new 2026 Apple Studio Display XDR, we have this 1TB M3 iPad Air at a giant $350 off, and we also have a new Amazon all-time low on Neon Green Apple Watch Ultra Ocean Band. Head below for a closer look at everything.

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