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How-To: Swap Your iMac, Mac mini or MacBook CD/DVD drive for a super-fast SSD

When I wrote a series of How-To guides showing how easy it was to swap old Mac hard disks for new solid state drives (SSDs), I focused on raw upgrades — slow mechanical drives for fast chip-based ones. The reason was simple: put an SSD in your Mac instead of the old hard disk, and you’ll be blown away by the speed increases. But as several readers have noted, there is another way to add an SSD to your Mac: you can keep your old hard drive, and instead replace the Mac’s CD/DVD optical drive, also known as a SuperDrive.

Swapping a SuperDrive for an SSD has a mix of pros and cons. It’s typically a little easier and less expensive to replace the SuperDrive than a stock hard drive, and you’ll always wind up with more internal storage than you started with. But you also lose CD/DVD reading and writing abilities — things fewer people care about these days — and you’ll need to set up your Mac to properly take advantage of the SSD. Read on for the details…


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9to5Toys Last Call: PNY 64GB USB3 Flash Drive $16, iPad Air 2 64GB $490, Olio Smartwatch giveaway, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Goat Simulator for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($5 value)

Amazon Gold Box – PNY storage up to 50% off: 64GB USB3 Flash Drive $16, 128GB microSD $52, 64GB SDXC $22, more

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB in Gold, Silver or Space Gray for $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

Giveaway: Olio Model One Black Collection Connected Timepiece for iOS and Android ($795 value)

NomadPlus converts your iPhone USB wall charger into a 1800mAh power bank: $20 shipped (Orig. $40)

App Store Free App of the Week: Matter 3D photo effects goes free for the first time ($3 value)

Pay What You Want For The 10 App Mac Power User Bundle (Orig. $383)

More new gear from today:

VIZIO 49-inch 4K 120Hz Smart LED UHDTV $650 shipped (Reg. $770), more

More deals still alive:

Back to school essentials you may have overlooked: Litographs tees, dorm decor, GE alarm kit, more

Bose SoundTrue On-Ear Headphones in black or white: $90 shipped (Reg. $120)

The coolest Apple-certified MFI Lightning cables you can buy for your iPhone, iPad and iPod

New products & more:

Thermos’ latest water bottle will nag you with iOS notifications to make sure you stay hydrated

The new Graava action camera uses your heartbeat to capture the best moments and make a highlight reel

 

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad mini 2 $230, SanDisk 128GB microSD $60, iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB $500, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB in all colors $500 shipped (Reg. $599)

Amazon Gold Box – SanDisk Flash Storage up to 50% off: 128GB microSD $60, 32GB Ultra Fit Flash Drive $11, more

iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi 16GB: $230 2-day shipped (Reg. $299)

iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi 16GB: $300 shipped (Reg. $399)

iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB in Silver: $449 shipped (Orig. $929)

13-inch Retina MacBook Pro: 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB $1,100 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

15-inch Retina MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch $1,819 shipped (Reg. $1,999)

Amazon Prime Day Hub, monster sales announced: Fire Stick $24, 32-inch TV $75, and 40-inch TV $115, more

Walmart CEO blasts Amazon’s Prime Day, promises a week-long sales event with “some special atomic deals”

Amazon is throwing itself a birthday party so big it’ll make you forget about Black Friday

Review: SanDisk’s new Connect Wireless Stick is one of the easiest ways to expand your iPhone’s storage

Giveaway: Win one of SanDisk’s newly released massive 200GB microSD cards ($250 value)

Small States: A-Lamp Design fashions charming lights for your home from US materials, multiple giveaways

More new gear from today:

Beats by Dre 1-Day Sale: Powerbeats2 Bluetooth Headphones, Pill 2.0 Portable Speaker $130 ea (Reg. $200)

RAVPower Portable 3,200mAh External Battery Pack w/ Flashlight: $7 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)

More deals still alive:

Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-inch Internal SSD $90 shipped (Orig. $140)

New products & more:

The Lemunati CS1 coverts your iPhone 6 into a Super 8 style camcorder for an “upgraded” filming experience

This TIE Fighter look-alike music machine plays your favorite action theme songs

 

Apple’s MacBook SSD OEM Samsung takes wraps off pair of monstrous 2TB internal solid-state drives

From 9to5Toys.com:

Samsung today has announced that it will be adding a 2TB option to its 850 EVO and PRO 2.5-inch internal solid-state drive offerings. Previously, the largest sized capacity was 1TB for both models, which have been on the market since last year. These new models will ship with a hefty price tag to match the larger storage capacity.

While these won’t fit in any recent MacBook/Pro/Airs, the new SSDs will allow you to upgrade older non-Retina SATA III MacBook Pros or Mac Minis/iMacs to 2TB drives.

More importantly, however, it means that 2TB PCI SSDs that will work withApple’s current and future Macs are right around the corner. We’d hope and expect that Apple would adopt 2TB SSD products within a year’s time.

The 850 EVO line includes a five-year warranty and can deliver read/write speeds of 540/520MB per second. Samsung’s 850 PRO solid-state drives double the warranty to ten-years and offer a slight speed bump of 550/520MB per second. Each product includes Samsung’s 3D Vertical NAND technology which stacks memory on top of each other enabling larger capacities and reduced power consumption, according to the manufacturer. Both models are consumer favorites, dominating the top spots in Amazon’s best-sellers list.

While a release date has yet to be announced, the EVO series is expected to carry a $800 price tag while a 25% price bump to $1,000 will deliver the PRO version. Samsung states that it will be expanding its mobile solid-state offerings with larger mSATA and M.2 form factors in the near future to address the laptop and gaming PC market.

In need of storage now? 9to5Toys currently has Samsung’s 850 EVO 500GB model on sale.

Samsung Electronics Leads Consumers into the New Era of Multi-Terabyte SSDs with Launch of 2-TB 850 PRO and 850 EVO

Samsung Electronics, a market leader in advanced memory technology and an innovator in consumer electronics, introduced the 2-terabyte (TB) 850 PRO and 850 EVO solid state drives (SSDs). Samsung’s 3D Vertical NAND (V-NAND) based retail SSD lineup now features 20 different products with a wide range of capacity options from 120 gigabyte (GB) to 2TB. Available in 50 countries, the launch of the 2TB drives addresses the ever-increasing consumer demand for high-performance and high-capacity memory solutions.

“Samsung experienced surge in demand for 500 gigabyte (GB) and higher capacity SSDs with the introduction of our V-NAND SSDs. The release of the 2TB SSD is a strong driver into the era of multi-terabyte SSD solutions,” said Un-Soo Kim, Senior Vice President of Branded Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to expand our ultra-high performance and large density SSD product portfolio and provide a new computing experience to users around the globe.”

The new 2TB 850 SSD PRO and EVO drives remain in the same 7-millimeter, 2.5-inch aluminum case as their predecessors did. Equipped with Samsung’s advanced chip solutions, including 128 individual Samsung 32-layer 128Gb 3D V-NAND flash chips, an upgraded high-performance MHX controller that supports 2TB capacity, and four 20nm-class process technology-based 4Gb LPDDR3 DRAM chips, the 2TB 850 family provides industry-leading performance and power efficiency. With added capacity, professionals and consumers can experience a smoother computing environment prepared for the intense demands of rich content such as 4K UHD video editing and viewing.

Samsung guarantees the 2TB 850 PRO for 10 years or 300 terabytes written (TBW), and the 2TB 850 EVO for five years or 150 TBW.

Following the launch of the 2TB 850 drives, Samsung will expand high capacity 3D V-NAND SSD lineups to include mSATA and M.2 form factors to address the gaming PC, laptop PC and high performance SSD markets.

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air 128GB Wi-Fi + LTE $449, Timbuk2 30% off, network UPS w/ USB ports $48, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

iPad Air 128GB LTE, Folio Case, more: $449 shipped, tax in NY ($280 off), iPad mini 3 $100 off, more

Timbuk2 30% off sitewide: Command Messenger Bag 2015 $97 (Reg. $149), much more

Keep your Wi-Fi and iPhone running during a power outage w/ APC’s Back-UPS Connect for $48 shipped (Orig. $80)

$10 Lumsing Father’s Day deals: 10,400mAh power bank (Reg. $20), Bluetooth speaker w/NFC (Reg. $16), USB chargers, more

Belkin is set to take on Philips Hue with its new WeMo smart home LED bundles

Ondesoft Mac Bundle with X-Mirage, iTunes Converter, Audiobook Converter and more: free ($146 value)

$50 iTunes gift card for $40 shipped

iTunes cards buy one, get one 30% off at Target, email delivery or 10% off at Best Buy

Restaurant and apparel gift cards 20% off: JCPenney, T.G.I. Friday’s, Legal Seafood, Steak n’ Shake, Jiffy Lube, more

Quick Review: Kano’s Raspberry Pi 2 computer kit shines as a learning tool for kids and DIYers alike

More new gear from today:

Seagate 8TB Backup Plus USB 3 Desktop Drive: $250 shipped (6TB: $200, 5TB: $134)

Samsung’s T1 Portable SSDs are smaller than a business card, now on sale: 250GB $98, 500GB $198, 1TB $398

More deals still alive:

App Store Free App of the Week: Slayin endless RPG goes free for the first time ($1 value

Charge up to four USB devices at once w/ this RAVPower Desktop Charger for $9 Prime shipped (Reg. $16), more

New products & more:

Giveaway: The DODOcase $80 Apple Watch and iPhone charging solution stands out amongst the rest

Parrot details new drones with upgraded specs for land, water and air

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Third-party SSDs to get TRIM support in OS X El Capitan, possibly Yosemite 10.10.4

Apple appears ready to allow third-party solid state drives (SSDs) to use TRIM, an OS-level tool for reclaiming unused space, as a new report claims that an at-your-own risk TRIM tool will debut in either OS X Yosemite 10.10.4 or OS X El Capitan 10.11. TRIM keeps SSDs running quickly as they get filled up with and purged of content, automatically reallocating deleted file space to be used by new files.

According to the report, MacRumors forum users experimenting with El Capitan’s new Rootless security system have discovered a new built-in tool called “Trimforce,” which force-enables TRIM for SSDs even if they weren’t “validated for data integrity while using that functionality.” The tool’s language suggests that the feature can be enabled at the user’s own risk: “By using this tool to enable TRIM, you agree that Apple is not liable for any consequences that may result, including but not limited to data loss or corruption.” Users of excellent third-party SSDs haven’t reported any issues with data loss or corruption under OS X.

Although a third-party app from Cindori called TRIM Enabler has enabled third-party SSDs to work properly under OS X, Apple partially blocked the app last year, forcing users to disable a new Yosemite security feature if they wanted TRIM support. In El Capitan, Trimforce can apparently be enabled without permanently disabling Rootless security. Cindori notes that “Apple has done a full 180 and opened up parts of their driver that allows you to access Trim functionality,” so updates will be coming soon to TRIM Enabler “to take advantage of the Apple sanctioned way of enabling Trim.”

There is some debate as to whether the Trimforce tool will make it into a late version of Yosemite or arrive first in El Capitan. A reader tip suggested that Trimforce is also found in the beta version of OS X Yosemite 10.10.4, but the aforementioned report claims that it is not yet in the beta code. In either case, easier third-party TRIM support is coming soon, a boon for Mac users interested in replacing their old iMac hard drives with SSDs for up to 5X speed increases.

9to5Toys Last Call: Transcend flash storage, DODOcase Apple Watch stand giveaway, iTunes Free App of the Week, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Amazon Gold Box: Transcend Micro/SD Cards, USB sticks & SSDs: $18 for 64GB, $288 for 1TB SSD

Giveaway: The DODOcase $80 Apple Watch and iPhone charging solution stands out

New Games/Apps: popular puzzler Threes! goes free-to-play the right way & Drop the Chicken 2 releases at 50% off

$50 iTunes gift card for $40 shipped: save 20% on apps, music, movies and more

Restaurant and apparel gift cards 20% off: JCPenney, T.G.I. Friday’s, Legal Seafood, Steak n’ Shake, Jiffy Lube, more

Father’s Day: Tommy Hilfiger, Nordstrom, more up to 50% off, DEWALT tools & gift cards from 20% off, more

More new gear from today:

RAVPower all-in-one travel router, wireless card reader and power bank for $31 Prime shipped (Reg. $47)

Chromecast free movie rental offer includes American Sniper, Interstellar, and more hits

More deals still alive:

Pay what you want Mobile-First Developer’s Bundle ($1,740 value, currently $6)

New products & more:

Sony’s new RX100 IV prosumer digital camera is loaded with features

Holus uses 3D holograms to bring images from phones and tablets to life

9to5Toys Last Call: Logitech Harmony Keyboard $70, Onkyo Wi-Fi A/V Receiver $185, DODOcase Apple Watch Stand Giveaway, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard for Apple TV, PlayStation & the rest of your living room $70 shipped (Orig. $150)

Daily Deals: Onkyo 5.2-Ch Network A/V Receiver $185, Lexar High-Performance MicroSDXC $73, more

Crucial M500 960GB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $290 + $4 shipping (Reg. $340+)

Pay what you want Mobile-First Developer’s Bundle ($1,740 value, currently $6)

$50 iTunes gift card for $40 shipped: save 20% on apps, music, movies and more

Restaurant and apparel gift cards 20% off: JCPenney, T.G.I. Friday’s, Legal Seafood, Steak n’ Shake, Jiffy Lube, more

Father’s Day: Tommy Hilfiger, Nordstrom, more up to 50% off, DEWALT tools & gift cards from 20% off, more

More new gear from today:

Sony Bluetooth speakers: SRSX3 in white $80 (Reg. $128), SRSX5 in black $95 (Reg. $150)

Games/Apps: Captain Toad Treasure Tracker $33 Prime shipped, Slayin for iOS goes FREE, more freebies

More deals still alive:

Apple-Certified MFi iPhone 6 2,500mAh Battery Case: $25 Prime shipped (Reg. $45

Apple begins selling iPad mini 3 on its refurbished online store

New products & more:

June Oven has better specs than MacBook & was designed by former Apple engineers

Sonder keyboard’s E-ink display keys bring a fully customizable setup to your Mac

9to5Toys Last Call: $50 iTunes Gift Card for $40, Retina 5K iMac $1,700 w/ .edu, iPad Air 2 64GB $485, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

$50 iTunes gift card for $40 shipped: save 20% on apps, music, movies and more

$100 off Apple’s new Macbooks (+Airs/Pros and iMacs) w/.edu email address at Best Buy – Retina 5K iMac for $1,700 w/ .edu or $1,800 without (Reg. $2,000).

iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB in Silver or Space Gray: $485 shipped (Reg. $599)

Father’s Day: Tommy Hilfiger, Nordstrom, more up to 50% off, DEWALT tools & gift cards from 20% off, more

Gibson’s new Trainer Bluetooth headphones designed by Usain Bolt are available for pre-order today

Review: Mohu Channels tries to bring your TV services together, Leaf antenna goes on sale

More new gear from today:

Canon refurbished cameras w/ 1-yr warranty: T5i DSLR w/ 18-55mm Lens Kit $450, PowerShot SX510 HS $130, more

Pencil by FiftyThree Stylus up to 20% off: Graphite $40 (Reg. $50), Gold/Walnut $50 (Reg. $60)

More deals still alive:

2Do task management app for iOS/Apple Watch goes free (Reg. $15)

The ad-free version of Trivia Crack goes free (Reg. $3)

New products & more:

The Smart AC Control from tado° lets your iPhone control your existing air conditione

9to5Toys Last Call: 32GB Wi-Fi Flash Drive $30, iPhone 6/Plus cases from $2, 480GB Pro SSD $200, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Add 32GB to your iPhone or iPad wirelessly for $30 (Orig. $60) or via Lightning for $50 (Orig. $80)

Verus iPhone 6/Plus and 5/s cases in multiple styles and colors starting at $2 shipped

SanDisk Extreme Pro 480GB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive $200 shipped (Reg. $230+), more

EC Technology 22,400mAh Ultra High Capacity Power Bank $29 Prime shipped (Reg. $39)

Bose updates its best-sounding Soundlink Mini II portable Bluetooth speaker with (almost) everything we asked for

2Do task management app for iOS and Apple Watch goes free for the first time (Reg. $15)

Apple’s all-new 12-inch MacBook is available to ship today, Gold model included + small discounts and potential tax advantages

More new gear from today:

Amazon Gold Box – up to 68% off iconic actors/directors collections: Clint Eastwood 22-Disc Blu-ray set $47, more

The Smart AC Control from tado° lets your iPhone control your existing air conditioner

More deals still alive:

iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB in all colors: $500 shipped (Reg. $599)

iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi 16GB $300 shipped (Reg. $399)

New products & more:

Here Active Listening Earbuds let you control the volume of the world

Microdia plans a microSD card with 512GB of storage space, release in July

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad mini 2 WiFi+LTE 64GB $330, Retina MacBook Pro $1,100, Mac app bundle $20, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi 16GB $300 (Reg. $399), iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular 64GB $330 (Orig. $729)


Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch (latest model) 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,100 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

The Summer Mac Essentials Bundle: Unibox, Noiseless, Hider 2, Jump Desktop and more for $19.99 ($204 value)

Amazon Gold Box – up to 50% off Logitech iPad gear: Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard $37 (Reg. $50), more

GoPro’s new HERO+ LCD brings a touch display to its entry-level action camera

SanDisk details new portable USB C solid-state drives for MacBook and high capacity flash drives

Father’s Day Gift Guide: top picks, exclusive discounts and a $482 giveaway

More new gear from today:

Kindle for Kids Bundle: Kindle e-reader + kid friendly cover + 2yr. warranty $99 shipped ($140 value)

More deals still alive:

30 discounted iTunes movie bundles: Jurassic Park $20, Godfather & Lord of the Rings Trilogy $15 ea, more

PlayStation Plus free games for Junes: Metal Gear Solid V Ground Zeroes, more

Xbox Live free games for June: Massive Chalice, Just Cause 2, Thief, more

New products & more:

Splatoon for Wii U inks the scene with colorful gameplay and an exclusive bundle

The Best Mac Accessories and Upgrades

Over the past six months, I’ve published quite a few tutorials to help Mac users improve the performance of older computers, as well as some great guides to the best Mac accessories across a variety of categories. Today, I’m tying them all together in this handy, one-stop roundup of the best Mac accessories and upgrades.

This guide walks you through everything: in one place, you can learn about the best Mac hard drives, RAM upgrades, docks, keyboards, trackpads, stands, bags, and travel accessories out there. And you can also get free apps to improve your Mac’s storage and responsiveness, find plain English explanations of your Mac’s technical specs, and learn about the little security screws Apple uses to tamper-proof its machines. There’s a lot inside, so you may want to bookmark this piece for future reference!…


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Review: OWC’s Envoy Pro mini hides a MacBook-like SSD inside a USB 3.0 flash drive

Across the How-To guides I’ve written for adding solid state drives (SSDs) to iMacs, Mac Pros, Mac minis and MacBooks, there was one option I left out: thumb drives. While external SSDs such as Elgato’s Thunderbolt Drives and Samsung’s T1 can do two things — dramatically speed up Macs and add storage space — thumb drives tend to be much slower, lower in capacity, and made from inexpensive materials to achieve smaller sizes and price points.

Other World Computing’s new Envoy Pro mini (120GB/$119, 240GB/$199) sits directly between thumb drives and SSDs in both features and performance. “It’s nearly twice as fast as the average thumb drive,” OWC says, and roughly the size of an actual adult thumb — larger than most USB flash drives, but a lot smaller than traditional external hard drives, while promising “desktop-class” SSD speeds, capacities, and build quality. Unlike common plastic thumb drives, it’s made from aluminum and uses a USB 3.0 connector, yet matches desktop SSD 120GB or 240GB storage capacities. It’s affordable, but clearly designed to be a professional option.

How does it actually stack up? Read on…


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How-To: Reclaim your Mac’s old hard drive or build a new one with an external USB enclosure

Earlier this year, I wrote several guides to boost the speeds of older Macs by swapping their internal hard drives for super-fast solid state drives (SSDs). As readers have confirmed, their older iMacs, MacBooks, and Mac Pros have seen dramatic improvements with new SSDs. But some people were left with a question: what should I do with my Mac’s old hard drive? Throw it away?

A great answer: put it in an external hard drive enclosure and keep using it! My latest How-To shows you how easy it is to reclaim your Mac’s old drive by installing it in a nice USB enclosure such as Akitio’s SK-3501U3 (shown here), which I chose because of its Mac-matching design, reasonable sub-$40 price, and compatibility. External enclosures are also ideal options if you want to choose a high-quality hard drive mechanism for yourself, rather than taking a risk on whatever might be hidden inside a fully-assembled external drive. I’ll explain that, and much more, below…


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CalDigit unveils durable USB-C Tuff drive for the 12-inch MacBook, T4 nano RAID drive w/ HDMI & Thunderbolt 2

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USB-C is the sole port on Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook, and CalDigit today announced a version of its durable external drive that takes advantage of the new reversible USB 3.1 port. CalDigit Tuff features a USB-C port and cable for connecting the portable drive to the Apple’s ultra-thin notebook, and an included adapter cable ensures compatibility with the USB port that you’re used to seeing on your hardware as well. Since the new MacBook’s thin and light profile intends for it to venture out of your office and into the wild, CalDigit Tuff is ruggedized to endure drops, splashes, dust and other extreme environments.

CalDigit Tuff starts at $139.99 for 1TB HDD with availability starting in July (new MacBook orders currently deliver in 4-6 weeks). A solid state drive version with up to 1TB of storage will also be available while a higher capacity 2TB HDD option will be offered.
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How-To: Choose the best external hard drive for your Mac (or iOS device!)

I feel old saying this, but having used computers since before external hard drives existed, I can say with certainty that buying a hard drive is easier today than it’s ever been before. For traditional drives, prices are low, options are numerous, and capacities are so high that your only choices are “enough space,” “more than enough space,” and “way more than enough space.” I could point you towards a gigantic 5-Terabyte $139 Seagate USB 3.0 hard drive right now and end this article without another paragraph. Since Apple doesn’t even sell a Mac with that much disk space, you could back up five (or more) computers to that drive without running out of room. Or you could store a decade worth of digital photos alongside a giant media library. For $139!

But buying an external hard drive isn’t necessarily that simple. There are a bunch of factors worth considering before making a purchase, including everything from reliability to portability, design, capacity, speed, and connectivity. Some hard drives are really cheap but have a higher chance of failing after a year or two of heavy use. So in this How-To, I’m going to discuss the big issues you need to consider, and guide you towards the best external hard drive for your needs…


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How-To: Upgrade the SSD in your MacBook Air or Retina MacBook Pro, boosting size & speed

Over the past two weeks, I’ve written about the (surprisingly easy) process of adding solid state drives (SSDs) to radically speed up older iMacs, and the varied challenge levels of adding SSDs to older Mac Pros, Mac minis, and non-Retina MacBooks. Today’s guide looks at the easiest SSD installations of all: the MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro. A new SSD in one of these machines could have two, four, eight, or sixteen times the original storage, plus two to four times faster speeds.

Apple shipped most MacBook Airs and all Retina MacBook Pros with solid state storage, so upgrading these machines for extra capacity and speed is generally as simple as picking a new drive, then using two special screwdrivers during the installation process. Assuming your MacBook is old enough to be out of warranty — except for a few specific models — you’ll find that pretty much anyone can handle this swap with the right tools. Below, I’m going to show those tools to you, as well as the MacBook-ready SSDs that are worth considering…


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How-To: Update your old MacBook, Mac mini, or Mac Pro hard drive with a fast SSD

My Mac is now silent. After installing a solid state drive (SSD) with no moving parts, the drone of my iMac’s hard drive and fans has given way to such an absence of sound that I only hear the high-pitched squeal of my office lights.

My Mac is now fast. Even with 400GB of available space, OS X Yosemite’s constant hard drive accessing had brought my quad-core, 3.4GHz Core i7 machine to its knees. Now I’m seeing five times the hard drive speeds, apps are loading instantly, and my iMac feels as responsive as the MacBooks and iPads that beat it to the SSD game.

Last week, buoyed by (finally!) reasonable SSD prices and a desire to try a DIY project, I walked through the steps to replace a prior-generation iMac’s hard drive with an SSD. Similarly excited readers have pointed out that older MacBooks and certain other Macs are also easy to upgrade… but at least one Mac (surprise: the Mac mini) is not. So below, I’ll show you some great SSD options that you can install yourself, ask a tech-savvy friend/repair shop to handle for you, or choose as external solutions.


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9to5Toys Last Call: PNY flash storage up to 50% off, Motorola SB6141 modem $55, iOS freebies, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Amazon Gold Box – up to 50% off PNY flash storage: 256GB USB 3.0 flash drive $70 shipped (orig. $130)more

Motorola SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem (refurb) $55 shipped (orig. $90)

Amazon Fire TV streaming media player $34 w/ Sling TV subscription or $84 w/o

Kensington KeyCover Bluetooth iPad Air Keyboard Case: $10 shipped (orig. $80)

ZAGG 30% off + free shipping sitewide: Slim Book Bluetooth iPad Keyboard cases from $84, much more

Small States: Cord Shoes churns out handmade boots with a story behind every pair, $250 giveaway

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How-To: Now’s the right time to swap your old iMac’s hard drive for a fast new SSD

If you bought your iMac 3-5 years ago, there’s probably nothing so seriously wrong with the hardware that you need to consider replacing the machine. Sure, the new iMac with 5K Retina Display looks a little nicer, but at a steep $2,499 starting point, it’s still a luxury, not a necessity.

Yet there’s something you can do for $200 to $500 that will radically change your iMac’s performance: install a solid state drive (SSD) in addition to or instead of its original hard drive. SSDs use high-speed memory chips rather than the spinning platter mechanisms in traditional hard drives, achieving up to 5X benefits in speed while requiring no moving parts. Five years ago, SSDs were both expensive and limited in capacity, making them unlikely components for most Macs. Today, high-quality, capacious SSDs can be had for reasonable prices, and they’re surprisingly easy to install in iMacs. With limited expertise and only three tools, I swapped out my old hard drive for an SSD in roughly 30 minutes. Here’s how I did it, and – if you’re up for a quick do-it-yourself project – what I’d recommend for you.


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9to5Toys Last Call: iTunes Free App of the Week, Omaker 10000mAh power bank $17, SSD deals, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

iTunes Free App of the Week: ProCam 2 ($1.99 value)

Omaker 10,000mAh Dual 2.1A USB Batteries with 1W flashlight: $17 Prime shipped, (+ 5200mAh battery: $30 shipped)

2.5-inch SATA III SSDs: Samsung 850 250GB $110 (Reg. $150), Crucial MX100 256GB $90 (Reg. $128)

Apple discounts nearly forty of the most popular productivity apps for iOS and Mac

Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro w/ Retina display (newest) 2.8GHz/8GB/512GB: $1,599 ($200 off)

Apple 11.6-inch MacBook Air (newest version) 1.4GHz/4GB/128GB $750 (Reg. $899)

Apple 11.6-inch MacBook Air (mid 2013) 1.3GHz/4GB/256GB: $849 (orig. $1,099)

More new gear from today:

More deals still alive:

New products/ongoing promos/info:

Zac’s holiday gift guide – a little something for everyone’s iPhone, iPad, & Mac

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Most of my favorite gift picks this year fall into the category of using the iPhone and iPad on the road so I already shared my favorite gift items for road warriors including CarPlay in-dash receivers and more. The Mac, though, is less transit-friendly when it comes to gifts unless you’re looking for a power adapter for charging in the car, so below I’ve collected some more Mac-friendly gift picks as well as a few analog options and more. Catch up with the rest of 9to5Mac’s holiday gift guides for more ideas and follow 9to5Toys.com for the latest deals. 
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9to5Toys Last Call: SanDisk 64GB iOS Flash Drive $68, Belkin Bluetooth car kit $28, Intel 120GB SSD $60, more

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

SanDisk Connect Wireless iOS Flash Drive: 64GB for $68 (Reg. $100) and 32GB for $45 (Reg. $60)

Add Bluetooth to your car – Belkin Hands-Free Bluetooth Car Kit: $27.58 AC shipped

2.5-inch Solid-State Drives: Intel 530 Series 120GB $60 (orig. $150), Crucial m4 256GB (refurb) $85 (orig. $300)

Apple’s former Director of Industrial Design is behind the new Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight

Civilization: Beyond Earth is coming to Mac this holiday season

Review roundup: Kindle Voyage is unanimously the best e-reader ever but is its $199 price tag justified?

 

Best Buy trade offer is the best way to jump from iPad 2 to iPad Air 2

Small States: Tinsel and Timber makes beautiful wooden homes for Apple TV and other accessories, multiple giveaways & 10% promo code

Other new deals:

More deals still:

New products/ongoing promos:

LaCie announces d2 Thunderbolt 2 drive w/ new design & optional SSD upgrade

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LaCie is out today with the new d2 Thunderbolt 2 drive featuring a new design with a smaller footprint and an optional SSD upgrade for adding faster storage to the mix. The new LaCie d2 is an up-to-6TB hard drive spec’d at 7200 RPM with speeds up to 220 MB/s and two Thunderbolt 2 ports alongside a USB 3 port. Aside from the new design, part of the LaCie d2’s story is the option to add a solid state drive to the package with a user-upgradable solid state drive panel from LaCie to make the d2 even faster and more capable. LaCie says the optional SSD upgrade offers a theoretical speed boost from 220 MB/s to 1150 MB/s for data transfer:
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