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When Apple introduced the MacBook Neo in March for $599, it gave Windows laptop manufacturers a serious challenge. Powered by the A18 chip, the Neo quickly became a top recommendation for students and casual users who didn’t need a Windows machine.

Now Acer is fighting back with the Swift Air 14, a 14‑inch notebook unveiled just before Computex 2026. Priced from $699, it runs on Intel’s latest Core Series 3 processors, also known as Wildcat Lake. On paper, it appears to be one of the first genuine attempts to create an affordable Windows laptop that can sit next to Apple’s Neo without being completely outclassed.

Wildcat Lake still has a performance problem

The biggest question revolves around performance. The Swift Air 14 is offered with either a Core 5 or Core 7 Wildcat Lake chip, both featuring six cores. Early testing shows these CPUs improve on older budget parts, but they still lag noticeably behind Apple’s A18. That performance gap makes the Swift Air 14 a tougher sell, especially since it starts $100 above the Neo.

There’s another drawback: the Swift Air 14 won’t qualify as a Copilot+ PC because its NPU delivers only 17 TOPS. In plain language, running AI features locally on this laptop will be challenging.

The likely base configuration also raises eyebrows. Acer says the model supports up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512 GB of storage, yet the $699 version is expected to ship with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. That may be adequate for light users, but 8 GB on a Windows 11 machine can feel cramped once multiple browser tabs, Teams, background apps, and updates start piling up.

Acer may still have a few practical wins

The Swift Air 14’s strongest asset could be its overall hardware package. It sports a 14‑inch WUXGA panel (1920 × 1200) with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 120 Hz refresh rate, 350 nits brightness, and 100 % sRGB coverage. It isn’t the sharpest or brightest screen in its class, but the higher refresh rate is a pleasant addition.

The notebook is powered by a 70 Wh battery, with Acer claiming up to 19 hours of video playback and up to 16 hours of web browsing. It’s also slim and lightweight at 1.25 kg and just 12.9 mm thick, featuring an aluminum chassis available in sage green, frost blue, blossom pink, and lilac purple.

Additional practical features include an FHD IR webcam with a privacy shutter, Windows Hello facial recognition, quad stereo speakers, dual digital microphones, Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, two USB‑C ports, one USB‑A port, and a headphone jack.

While the Swift Air 14 may not surpass the MacBook Neo in raw performance, it still offers Windows shoppers a stylish, portable, and long‑lasting alternative.

Dell released a wave of new laptops on May 29, 2026, just four days before Computex 2026 opens in Taipei on June 2. Amid a loaded spec sheet, nearly every flagship model in the new batch offers optional 5G cellular connectivity.

While the capability has traditionally been reserved for ultraportable or enterprise‑grade devices, Dell is signalling that always‑connected laptops are no longer a niche requirement.

Which Dell laptops now offer 5G in the US?

There are three models in this batch that ship with optional 5G cellular connectivity, all from the Pro 7 Series family.

First, the Pro 7 Series 13 2‑in‑1 compact laptop runs on Intel Panther Lake and is priced at $2,539 in the US for a custom build, or $2,989 for a pre‑configured unit.

You can configure it with up to a 16‑core Intel Core Ultra 7 366H processor, 64 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a 2 TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD, Wi‑Fi 7, and optional 5G. The top‑end spec reaches $6,353.

For a more budget‑friendly option, the Pro 7 Series 13 2‑in‑1 with AMD Ryzen AI 400 (P703265) starts at $2,421 configured. It can be equipped with the Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 470, 64 GB of LPDDR5X‑8533 RAM, 2 TB PCIe Gen 5 storage, Wi‑Fi 7, and optional 5G connectivity.

If a larger display is desired, the Pro 7 Series 14 2‑in‑1 also offers the 5G option and comes in both AMD and Intel variants. The AMD model (P704265) begins at $2,552, while the Intel version (P704260) starts at $2,719. Both support up to 64 GB RAM and 2 TB PCIe Gen 5 storage.

What else did Dell launch in the US without 5G?

Dell also introduced three non‑5G laptops in the US this week. The Pro Precision 5 Series 14 (PW514261) is a 14‑inch workstation starting at $2,577, featuring Intel Panther Lake with vPro, up to 64 GB of LPCAMM2 RAM, and a unique Ubuntu Linux 24.04 LTS option alongside Windows 11 Pro.

Finally, the Pro 3 Series 14 and Pro 3 Series 16 are the most affordable devices in this release, priced at $1,579 and $1,569 respectively. Both run Intel Wildcat Lake processors, support up to 48 GB RAM, and offer optional 120 Hz displays.

One of my favorite things about macOS is that it comes with default apps to handle your everyday tasks. You get Safari to browse the web, the Mail app to handle your emails, and the Preview app to open and view photos and PDFs.

But what if you want to use a third-party app you prefer over the default app? Thankfully, Apple makes it easy to change the default apps on your Mac. So, whether you want to use Google Chrome or Outlook, here’s how you can set them as the default on your Mac. 

Change the default app for specific file types

Unless you’re looking to change your default web browser or email client (which we’ll cover below), there’s only one method you need to remember when it comes to changing your default apps on a Mac.

Let’s say you have a PNG file and want to change which app it opens in. By default, your Mac will open it with Preview, Apple’s built-in photo viewing and editing app. To change that, right-click or Ctrl+click the file in question, then click Get Info.

This will bring up a new window. Here, head to the “Open with:” section and choose your new app from the drop-down list.

Now, click the Change All button. Next time you double-click to open a file with the same extension, it will open with your new default app.

Change your default web browser

Safari is the default browser on the Mac, and it will satisfy most users. It’s fast, automatically stops any tracking links, and is easy on the battery. However, it’s also missing features. The extension support is abysmal, and tab management is not up to the mark. 

If for these reasons or some reason of your own, you want to switch your default web browser, you can easily do so in macOS. To do that, click the Apple logo in the top-left corner and open the “System Settings” app. 

Now, open the “Desktop & Dock” settings and scroll down to the Widgets section. Here, you will see a dropdown menu next to the “Default web browser” setting. Click on it and select your preferred browser to set it as the default. 

Now, whenever you click on a link, for instance, in an email forwarded from a friend, you’ll see this new default pop up instead.

Change your default email app

If there’s an app category that will have most productivity workers up in arms, it will be the email app. No two people can seem to agree on the best email app for their workflow. I myself constantly switch between email apps, hoping to find something that can stick for a long time, but never do. 

This has led me to conclude that there’s no perfect solution for emails, and we are doomed to switch to the next shiny thing. If you are also the same, these steps will help you switch the default email client on your Mac. 

Launch the Mail app on your Mac and hit the keyboard shortcut “⌘,” to open the settings. Alternatively, click on Mail in the Menu Bar and open settings. 

Click to open the General settings, and you will see a “Default email reader” option. As you can see, I am currently using Spark as my default email client, and you can use the dropdown menu to set your favorite email client as default. 

Common default-app change locations

As you saw, not all default apps are managed the same way in macOS. Use the table below to quickly find where Apple places the settings for the most common app categories.

Task	Location
Change default browser	System Settings
Change default email app	Mail Settings
Change default image viewer	Get Info
Change default video player	Get Info
Change default PDF viewer	Get Info

Frequently asked questions

Q. How do I make Chrome my default browser on Mac?

Click the Apple logo, open System Settings, and navigate to Desktop & Dock. Scroll down to the Widgets section and click the dropdown next to Default web browser. Select Chrome from the list.

Q. How do I change the default PDF viewer on Mac?

Right-click any PDF file and click Get Info. Under the Open With section, select your preferred PDF viewer from the dropdown and click Change All. All PDFs will now open with that app.

Q. Why does my Mac keep opening files with the wrong app?

Your Mac opens files with whatever app is set as the default for that file type. If the wrong app is launching, right-click the file, click Get Info, and change the default app under the Open With section.

Q. What does the “Change All” button do on Mac?

Clicking Change All sets your chosen app as the default for every file sharing that extension, not just the one you right-clicked. So if you do it on a PNG file, all PNG files will open with the new app going forward.

Q. How do I reset default app settings on a Mac?

Follow the same steps you used to change the default app. Right-click the file, open Get Info, and select the original app from the Open With dropdown. Click Change All to restore it as the default.

Q. What should I do if my preferred app doesn’t appear in the Open with list?

Click Get Info on the file, open the Open With dropdown, scroll down, and click on Other. Now, change the filter from Recommended Applications to All Applications to find and select your app.

Q. Can different users on the same Mac have different default apps?

Yes. Default app settings are tied to each user profile, so every user on the same Mac can set their own preferred defaults without affecting anyone else.

Default Mac apps are good, but third-party apps can offer more

There’s no doubt that Apple includes some excellent apps with macOS, and that too, for free. However, they offer limited features, and once you grow out of them, you can use the methods above to switch your default apps. You can read my favorite Mac apps list to find some excellent apps for your Mac.

Call of Duty players on last‑generation consoles are hitting another roadblock. After Activision revealed that the upcoming title, now identified as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, will skip PS4 and Xbox One, the publisher is also pulling Call of Duty: Warzone from those platforms.

Activision has confirmed a phased reduction of Warzone support on PS4 and Xbox One, culminating in a full termination later this year. The first phase starts on June 4, when Warzone will be removed from the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One digital stores, ending any new downloads for both systems.

Players who already own Warzone can still install and play it for a limited period. The game will remain functional on PS4 and Xbox One through the conclusion of Season 06 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

The next major change arrives on June 25, when the in‑game store for Warzone will disappear from the legacy versions. COD Points can be redeemed in the store until that date, and gameplay will continue to count toward Battle Pass progress. Those without a paid Battle Pass can still earn free‑tier rewards, such as new weapons, during the remaining Black Ops 7 seasons.

The final shutdown coincides with the launch of Modern Warfare 4 Season 1. Once that season begins, Warzone will no longer run on PS4 or Xbox One.

Upgrading may sting for PS4 holdouts

For PlayStation users, the timing is inconvenient. Sony’s Days of Play 2026 sale is active, but the PS5 console itself isn’t discounted. The upside is that players who upgrade can still snag discounted PS5 games, accessories, and PlayStation Plus memberships while the sale runs through June 10.

Activision assures that players won’t lose their Warzone progress if they switch to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC using the same linked Activision account. Items purchased with COD Points will also transfer. However, unused COD Points remain tied to the same console family, so PS4 owners can use them on a PS5, and Xbox One owners can use them on an Xbox Series X|S.

Warzone gave PS4 and Xbox One users a lengthy runway after the current‑gen consoles debuted. That runway is now almost gone, and anyone who wants to keep playing Call of Duty’s battle royale after this season will need to move to newer hardware soon.

I’m a fan of noise‑cancelling earbuds because the world outside tends to intrude without invitation. A short walk to the gym shouldn’t mean I have to hear every motorcycle, car horn, or construction drill the city throws at me.

The issue shows up on the way back, typically when I stop to make a purchase. I’m at the checkout holding my earbuds like tiny pricey pebbles, trying not to be impolite, trying not to drop them, and somehow turning the whole moment into a drama. Then one slips, and I’m bent over searching for inconspicuous black earbuds on scorching pavement.

So yes, I understand the attraction.

### Why open‑ear earbuds make sense

That minor irritation is where this segment starts to click. Shokz built its reputation on bone‑conduction headphones for runners and cyclists, while Bose and Sony have introduced designs that sit outside the ear rather than sealing it shut.

It’s a compelling pitch. Closed‑in earbuds send a clear social signal. Open‑ear models leave room for negotiation. Traffic noise still gets through. Colleagues are still audible. Boarding announcements, checkout small talk, and someone asking if you’re “free for a quick sync” can still reach you. You can keep a playlist, podcast, or call playing and still appear to be a functional member of society.

That convenience is hard to argue against, and that’s when the optics start to look a bit suspect.

### When the line blurs

In the office, things get stranger. Large headphones convey an unmistakable message. Noise‑cancelling earbuds do the same. They suggest, rightly or wrongly, that you’re working, hiding, concentrating, or choosing not to hear anyone read a calendar invite aloud.

Open‑ear models soften that cue. Someone can call your name and you can probably answer without removing anything. Maybe that’s considerate. Maybe the room has simply become another background layer, tucked behind a podcast, a playlist, a call, or an AI voice dictating your next move.

It creates a tidy social loophole: you’re technically reachable, but not fully present.

### How perpetual listening learned manners

This phenomenon extends beyond earbuds, illustrating how a harmless gadget can become overly self‑assured. The same logic applies to audio glasses, smart glasses, wearable AI, and any device that wants to stay invisible while staying active.

The hardware isn’t the villain. For runners, commuters, travelers, and anyone who needs situational awareness, it can be the difference between enjoying music and missing something crucial. I’d rather notice an oncoming car than savor one last crisp chorus before becoming a cautionary tale.

In the office, the effect leaves a strange aftertaste. Awareness becomes a product feature, while the underlying habit stays the same: constant stimulation delivered with better etiquette. Open‑ear earbuds don’t block the world; they renegotiate the terms.

I’ll listen if I have to, but until then I’d rather be elsewhere.

A commercial sodium‑ion battery already in use in China is entering performance territory once reserved for Tesla, adding fresh pressure on the cost edge of lithium‑ion technology. Researchers who evaluated Hina’s cells reported uniform output across a large sample, high power capability, and a design that mirrors key choices found in Tesla batteries. While the low‑cost sodium solution still needs work—particularly with charging in sub‑zero temperatures—it signals a cheaper route for electric vehicles, grid storage, and commercial vehicles that don’t require maximum driving range.

For automakers, the supply‑chain benefit could be as significant as the performance gain. Sodium is abundant and cheaper to source than lithium, which could help battery producers dodge some of the price volatility and supply bottlenecks that have plagued lithium‑ion production.

**How close is it to Tesla performance?**

The Hina cell stood out because the team didn’t stop after testing a single impressive sample. They measured 120 cells with impedance spectroscopy and found strong uniformity throughout the batch. That consistency is the signal that matters for real‑world manufacturing—high peak performance means little if factories cannot reproduce it reliably, especially in vehicles or grid packs that rely on predictable behavior.

The researchers also examined the cells at various currents and temperatures ranging from –20 °C to 45 °C, then used X‑ray imaging and a teardown to inspect the internal structure. The result was a commercial sodium cell that delivers unusually serious power performance for an early‑stage product in this class.

**Why does sodium shift the cost equation?**

The teardown revealed another cost lever inside the cell. Its cathode mix contains sodium, copper, nickel, iron and manganese, with copper employed in a way that could cut reliance on pricier metals such as nickel and cobalt. The cell also features a tabless double‑aluminum architecture. Because sodium does not react with aluminum the way lithium does, manufacturers can use aluminum foil on both sides of the cell instead of depending on copper for the anode current collector. This structural choice could lower more than just material costs by simplifying the current‑collector setup with cheaper aluminum. If sodium‑ion cells keep improving without leaning heavily on expensive metals, they could become a serious cost pressure point for lithium‑ion batteries in price‑sensitive markets.

**What still needs to improve?**

Cold‑weather charging remains the biggest weakness. Researchers found that low‑temperature charging is still problematic, meaning these cells would require careful thermal management before they can handle frequent charging below 0 °C. Energy density is another limitation; today’s sodium‑ion cells generally cannot match the top lithium‑ion batteries for long‑range EVs, so Tesla’s core advantage in maximum driving range stays intact.

Nonetheless, the opening is real. If Hina and other manufacturers enhance cold‑temperature charging, refine hard‑carbon anodes, and advance electrolyte chemistry, sodium‑ion batteries could claim a large role in grid storage, shorter‑range EVs, and commercial vehicles where lithium’s premium may not be justified.

Slate Auto’s stripped‑down electric truck is edging closer to hitting the streets. The startup announced that pre‑orders will begin on June 24, 2026, with an initial $300 reservation fee. It has also been accepting refundable $50 reservations, and recent emails to potential buyers urge them to lock in a spot now to secure a delivery window before the preorder rush.

We have the preorder dates, but the exact price is still missing.

Slate previously made headlines by claiming the base model could be priced under $20,000 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. That credit was later eliminated, and Slate has since been vague about the final cost, now indicating it will fall in the mid‑$20,000 range.

Thus, June 24 could be a pivotal day for the company. Slate built its brand around removing costly complexity and offering a straightforward, customizable EV at a price ordinary consumers can afford. If the final price drifts too far from the original bargain‑car promise, the truck could become harder to sell.

The concept remains attractive.

Slate markets its upcoming budget EV as a radically simple electric pickup that can be converted into an SUV, a work truck, or a personalized vehicle through accessories and kits. This no‑frills strategy has already drawn interest, with Slate reportedly gathering over 160,000 refundable reservations since unveiling the vehicle last year. However, it remains to be seen how many of those reservations will turn into actual sales.

The “buy now, upgrade later” model for EVs is undeniably appealing, and it could succeed—provided the price point aligns with consumer expectations.

Spotify has just introduced a suite of updates that many playlist enthusiasts have been longing for. The headline feature is the arrival of playlist folders on mobile devices—a capability that has been available on desktop for a long time but was missing on phones.

Now you can categorize your playlists by mood, activity, or genre directly from your smartphone, and even nest folders within other folders if you prefer a deeper hierarchy. Playlist folders are rolled out worldwide for all users, with no subscription needed.

Every new feature coming to your Spotify app

– Playlist folders are now accessible on mobile, allowing you to tidy up Your Library while on the move.

– Bulk editing tools let you move or delete multiple tracks, podcast episodes, or audiobook chapters from a playlist in a single action.

We support extremely organized listening habits around here 🤝📂 Which update are you trying first? pic.twitter.com/jc2T7O0On7

— Spotify (@Spotify) May 28, 2026

– Multi‑select queue management is available for Premium subscribers, giving you finer control over the upcoming playback without adjusting songs one by one.

– Background downloads finally arrive on iOS for Premium users, so music and podcasts continue downloading even when the app is closed. Android users have enjoyed this for years, making it a long‑overdue fix for iPhone owners.

– A new reshuffle button instantly creates a fresh shuffle order without the need to toggle shuffle off and on again, also limited to Premium accounts.

These changes provide a refreshing pause from Spotify’s recent focus on AI‑driven features, which have included AI‑generated daily briefings, personalized podcasts, and AI‑crafted song covers and remixes. Just yesterday, Spotify added a shortcut for clipping and sharing favorite podcast moments straight to social media.

Sometimes the most satisfying updates are the ones that simply make the app behave the way you’ve always wanted. Ensure your Spotify app is updated to enjoy all of these enhancements right away.

After years of going head-to-head with AMD for PC gaming supremacy, Intel now appears determined to challenge Team Red’s dominance in the Windows 11 gaming handheld market.

The company has just unveiled the Intel Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme processors, both based on the Panther Lake architecture used in Intel Core Ultra Series 3. Intel says the chips are tuned for handhelds, with 2 performance cores, 8 efficiency cores, 4 low-power efficiency cores, and graphics based on its latest Xe3 architecture. The top configuration uses Intel Arc B390 graphics, with support for real-time ray tracing, XeSS 3, Multi-Frame Generation, Xe Low Latency, and AI-based upscaling.

Intel wants a slice of the handheld pie

It was about time that Intel gave handheld gaming a real shot. AMD has dominated most mainstream gaming handhelds so far. Valve’s Steam Deck uses a custom AMD APU, while Asus’ ROG Ally X and Lenovo’s Legion Go use AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chips. Newer premium handhelds are also moving toward AMD’s Ryzen Z2 family, including the ROG Xbox Ally X with the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme.

Intel is now trying to push into that same category with OEM partners already lined up. According to Intel, Arc G-Series handhelds will begin rolling out from June 2026, with broader availability through the year. The first confirmed systems include Acer’s Predator Atlas 8, MSI’s Claw 8 EX AI+, and OneXPlayer devices. Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 will be available with both Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme, while the OneXPlayer 3 has been confirmed with the G3 Extreme chip and an 8.8-inch OLED display. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ was earlier spotted at an Australian retailer with the G3 Extreme, suggesting that a healthy number of handhelds could launch this year with Intel’s new chips.

Specs alone will not settle the fight

On paper, the Arc G3 Extreme appears to be Intel’s answer to the Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme, while the regular Arc G3 looks closer to a Ryzen Z2 rival. The comparison will come down to more than clock speeds or graphics architecture. Handhelds need stable performance within tight power and cooling limits, so battery life, thermals, driver support, and lower-wattage gaming will be key.

Intel is preparing Day-0 driver support and precompiled shaders to reduce launch delays and shader stutter in select games. Still, Arc G-Series will need real-world testing before it can be judged against AMD’s more established platform.