Now that WWDC 2018 is over and we know we’re not getting any new Macs, the best Macs in 2018 still have a lot of life left in them. When you’re considering one of the best Macs, keep in mind that performance, specs and design are far more important in the way they work with macOS than each of them separately. That’s why it doesn’t make much sense to pit the best Macs and Windows 10 PCs head to head. And, because all the best Macs us macOS High Sierra – soon to be macOS Mojave – it’s easier to stand by our benchmarks, knowing full well that all the best Macs can use the same software.

In 2018, the best Macs are incredibly varied. We may not know what the future holds for Apple, but there are plenty of great Macs that are worth your hard-earned money. You’ve got MacBook Pros with OLED  Touch Bars where the function keys used to be – we may even get a full OLED keyboard in the future. Then you have something like the iMac Pro, which has become even more powerful with an up to 18-core Intel Xeon processor. So, how should you pick the best Mac for you?

Well, you’ll be glad to know that we’ve come up with an ordered list that includes the most up-to-date MacBooks, iMacs and Mac minis that you can buy in 2018. The only Macs you won’t find on this list are the ones we’ve yet to have the chance to review, or those that frankly didn’t make the cut following their consideration. Without further ado: on your mark, get set, let’s take a look at the best Mac desktops and laptops you can spend your money on today.

1. 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2017)

CPU: Dual-core Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 – 650 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, (2,560 x 1,600) IPS | Storage: 256GB – 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Dimensions (H x W x D): 30.41 x 21.24 x 1.49cm

If you were expecting the 13-inch MacBook Pro of this year to rectify our complaints of late 2016, you ought to be prepared for disappointment with the latest iteration of Apple’s professional-grade laptop. However, if what you craved were updated internal specs and the same all-aluminum unibody design of yesteryear, the mid-2017 MacBook Pro will absolutely please you. Complete with the same controversial Touch Bar and some pretty beefy specs, the MacBook Pro is a marvel to behold, even if it’s still limited to Thunderbolt 3 ports alone.

Read the full review: 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2017)

2. 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display (2015)

CPU: Quad-core Intel Core i5 – Core i7 | Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 M380 – R9 M395 (2GB) | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 27-inch Retina 5K (5,120 x 2,880) IPS | Storage: 25GB – 1TB PCIe Flash; 2TB – 3TB Fusion Drive | Dimensions (H x W x D): 51.6cm x 65cm x 20.3cm

If you want the big screen of an iMac with the precision of a Retina display then there’s only one iMac for you: the iMac with 5K Retina display. It comes with a choice between two Intel Core i5 chips as well as 1TB of HDD or Fusion Drive storage and it’s so pretty we want to marry it. For designers and video creators looking to make the move to pixel-heavy content, the 5K iMac pairs an illustrious display with a heaping deal of screen real estate to boot. It may not have the expandability of a Mac Pro, but at least you don’t have to worry about buying a monitor.

Read the full review: 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display (2015)

3. 21.5-inch iMac (2017)

CPU: Dual-core Intel Core i5 – quad-core i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 – AMD Radeon Pro 560 (4GB) | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 21.5-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080; sRGB) – 4K UHD (4,096 x 2,304; P3 wide color) Retina IPS display | Storage: 1TB HDD – 1TB Fusion Drive SSD | Dimensions (H x W x D): 20.8 x 6.9 x 17.7 inches (52.8 x 17.5 x 45cm; W x D x H)

You know you’re getting an unusually good value from an Apple product when, even at the entry-level, you can expect high performance, lots of storage and more ports than you know what to do with. The latest in Apple’s all-in-one desktop lineup, that’s the 2017, 21.5-inch iMac in a nutshell. There’s still no touchscreen, but at a fraction of the cost of Microsoft’s Surface Studio, you might be thankful that there isn’t. Instead, you’re getting a 7th-generation Intel processor and your choice of an IPS display carefully wrapped in an all-metal chassis. 

Read the full review: Apple iMac (2017) 

4. 12-inch MacBook (2016)

CPU: Dual-core Intel Core m3 – Core m7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 12-inch Retina (2,304 x 1,440) IPS | Storage: 256GB – 512GB PCIe Flash | Dimensions (W x D x H): 28.05cm x 19.65cm x 1.31cm

Apple’s 2015 MacBook refresh wasn’t for everyone and, despite being rosier and “goldier” than ever, that contention didn’t change in 2016. Most notably, Apple’s replacement of our favorite ports with the brand-new USB-C remains controversial.There’s also the keyboard, wherein Apple has re-engineered every key to be thinner and far less springy to the touch. Even though its Intel Core M processor has nowhere near the power of the Pro or even the Air, the laptop is more than capable of running iMovie, Photos, and even Photoshop with ease.

Read the full review: 12-inch MacBook (2016)

5. 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016)

CPU: Quad-core Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530; AMD Radeon Pro 450 – 455 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.4-inch Retina (2,880 x 1,800) IPS | Storage: 256GB – 2TB PCIe Flash | Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.49cm x 30.41cm x 21.24cm

After some much-needed patience, we finally have the MacBook Pro overhaul we deserve. Complete with a thinner, lighter design, a Space Gray color option and an OLED Touch Bar in lieu of the function keys, this MacBook Pro introduces the big changes we’ve been waiting for. Although you may be turned off by the lack of conventional ports, there’s a lot to love about the 15-inch MacBook Pro, including lots of RAM, fast storage and a massive trackpad. Sure, you’ll be shelling out an extra wad of cash, but it’s the best MacBook Pro money can buy. 

Read our full review: 15-inch MacBook Pro (2016)

6. 13-inch MacBook Air (2015)

CPU: Dual-core Intel Core i5 – Core i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 6000 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3-inch HD (1,440 x 900) | Storage: 128GB – 512GB PCIe Flash | Dimensions (W x D x H): 19.7cm x 19.7cm x 3.6cm

The MacBook Air is in an interesting place. While it’s still one of the most popular and well-known laptops around, the iPad Pro and 12-inch MacBook have stolen much of its thunder. That is, unless you need the legacy USB 3, Thunderbolt 2 and SDXC card connectivity. Even without a Retina display or Force Touch trackpad, the 13-inch Macbook Air is still a great little machine, even if the 8GB of RAM and base 128GB of storage leave a lot to be desired. Plus, it still has the beloved MagSafe 2 charger onboard, as well as fantastic battery life.

Read the full review: 13-inch MacBook Air (2015)

7. Mac mini (2014)

CPU: Dual-core Intel Core i5 – Core i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Graphics | RAM: 4GB – 16GB | Storage: 500GB HDD; 256GB – 1TB PCIe Flash; 1TB – 2TB Fusion Drive | Dimensions (W x D x H): 19.7cm x 19.7cm x 3.6cm

The Mac Mini is Apple’s cheapest computer and has, for a long time, been its least powerful. Fortunately, Intel’s processor technology allows the desktop to be used for heavier tasks and Apple has brought the low-end model up to a decent specification. Available in three different variants – from a $499 (£399, AU$699) version with a 1.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM to a $999 (£949, AU$1,499) model with a 2.8GHz CPU and 8GB of memory – Apple’s smallest Mac is also one of its most resilient.

Read the full review: Mac mini (2014)

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article 

http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/mac-buyer-s-guide-2015-1295725

It’s that time of year again for The Test of The Champion race, aka the Belmont Stakes, to descend upon New York. This will be the 150th time the event has taken place since its inception making Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, the centre of attention once again.

The Belmont Stakes is one of the most attended horse races of the year and pulls in huge TV audiences sometimes with over 20 million viewers. And we’ll tell you ow to get a Belmont Stakes live stream from anywhere with no trouble whatsoever.

The thoroughbred racing should be very exciting this year, as always, thanks to that 1.5 mile track which makes for one of the longest Triple Crown races in the US. 

Unbeaten Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Justify, is set to smash records. The horse has already been working a smooth five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.40 five days before he tries to make history in the 150th Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. His trainer Bob Baffert, who trained American Pharoah in 2015 to be the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, is seeking to join “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons as the only ones in history to train two Triple Crown winners.

Another horse to watch out for, Restoring Hope, had his final major preparation for the Belmont Stakes, working three-quarters of a mile in 1:13 under jockey Florent Geroux, who will ride him in New York.

Here’s how to live stream the Belmont Stakes action from wherever you are.

How to watch the Belmont Stakes 2018: US live stream

The Belmont Stakes for 2018 is getting full coverage on NBC. So if you have access to that via your cable connection then all you need to do is flip over to the right channel. You can also access the live stream via the NBC Sports Live website.

If you’re out of the country and want to access the NBC US live stream, then we’d recommend using a VPN.

How to watch in the US without cable

If you don’t have a cable subscription, fear not, because there are other options that will allow you to watch NBC without having to subscribe to it. To make the entire process simple for you, we’ve listed three of our favorite options below:

• DIRECTV NOW $50 per month – DIRECTV NOW gives users all the channels needed to watch the racing and loads of other sporting events. Use DIRECTV NOW’s 7-day trial will let you test out the platform.
• Sling TV $40 per month – Sling TV is an inexpensive way to watch sport. Sling TV is compatible with Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One, Chromecast as well as lots of other devices and its easy to get started with a 7-day free trial. 
• fuboTV $19.99 for the first month – fuboTV has a low introductory price though after that the price goes up to $44.99 a month and includes 70 channels. There’s a 7-day trial available so you can test out its functionality for yourself.

How to watch the The Belmont Stakes 2018: Canada live stream

While NBC is taking care of the race coverage in the US, you’ll struggle to get coverage in Canada. As a result you’ll need to take to the interwebs to find a feed of all the action. 

fubo.tv will air the races live. You’ll need to sign-up to access the content but there is a free trial so this is a great way to watch just this event for free.

Another option is to get yourself set up on a VPN service and access the NBC feed through that method.

How to watch the The Belmont Stakes 2018: UK live stream

Since you can’t access NBC on your TV in the UK, your best bet to watch the race – where you may well have a bet – is to get online. We haven’t found any sign that it will be broadcast in the UK by a regular broadcaster,

So instead using a VPN is the way to access the content as if you were in another country using the domestic coverage of the horse racing.

Main image courtesy of belmontstakes.com

http://www.techradar.com/news/how-to-watch-the-belmont-stakes-live-stream-the-race-from-anywhere

Alphabet’s Waymo hopes to launch the first US self-driving taxi service this year in Phoenix, Arizona, and potentially San Francisco, California. Depending on how these test runs go, Waymo could end up a household name in America. 

Now, we’ve learned that Waymo’s CEO also hopes to expand his company’s driverless taxis to Europe, though it could face stiff competition from local, more mainstream car brands.

John Krafcik, speaking at the Automotive News Europe Congress in Turin, Italy, told the audience that, “There is an opportunity for us at Waymo to experiment here in Europe, with different products and maybe even with different go-to-market strategies,” Reuters first reported. 

Last Friday, Waymo tried out its Fiat Chrysler (FCA) self-driving vans on a private racing track in Italy to impress FCA executives. 

Waymo’s first trip abroad! Thanks @FCAgroup for having us at Balocco Proving Ground in Italy where we gave our first rides outside of the U.S. with no one in the driver seat! pic.twitter.com/wYowSBJZnqJune 6, 2018

“For the first time we brought Waymo technology and demonstrated true Level 4 (autonomy), no humans in the front row, fully autonomous, no safety-net driving, right here in Italy – it was amazing,” Krafcik said.

Waymo executives, including Krafcik, have begun spending more time in the European Union in recent months, which the CEO said was to help the company better understand how the EU’s self-driving regulations differ from US state laws. 

While Waymo currently holds the crown of most reliable self-driving car, it doesn’t enjoy the same name recognition in Europe that it has in the United States. 

And its parent company doesn’t have the best reputation in the EU, having been hit with a €2.4 billion antitrust lawsuit and a €3.7 billion data privacy lawsuit in the past couple of years. 

“It’s probably safe to say the Waymo brand wouldn’t be as strong as some other existing incumbent brands that are already strong in Europe,” Krafcik said on stage. He admitted that, “It’s possible we will take a very different approach here than we would in the US.”

The most likely solution would be to partner with another, more mainstream brand to put Waymo self-driving cars on European roads. 

Waymo has a strong US distribution partnership with FCA and Jaguar; manufacturing began on 62,000 Fiat Chrysler minivans and 20,000 Jaguar I-Pace SUVs earlier this year. But, both partnerships exclusively cover US production, and Krafcik has made no indication that Waymo would partner with either for its European goals. 

One strong potential candidate is its self-driving rival, Uber. Its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, revealed last week that Uber had begun courting Waymo’s business, hoping to bring its driverless cars into Uber’s self-driving fleet. 

It’s entirely possible that Uber, an official EU taxi service, could provide a means for Waymo to jump into the European market. 

Playing catch-up with tough competition

Waymo is far from the only self-driving company with goals for European expansion. 

It’s not even the only American one. Ford, designer of pizza-delivering self-driving vehicles, began testing its driverless car AI in Europe last year, and aims to launch its taxi service by 2021.

But Waymo’s toughest rivals may come from European car manufacturers that enjoy both name recognition and brand loyalty from the region’s residents. 

German automaker VW launched Moia in 2016, an Uber-rivalling taxi service focused on creating self-driving cars and electric shuttles to ease traffic and reduce accidents. Volkswagen already began testing self-parking cars at Hamburg Airport this year, and it’s reportedly partnered with Apple for self-driving employee shuttles. 

BMW also began production on its self-driving car, iNext, in 2016, and aims to launch its own self-driving taxi fleet by 2021. In April, it opened a new R&D facility and campus north of Munich, Germany, where 1,800 employees will work on BMW’s rapidly expanding fleet. 

BMW’s partner, Amber Mobility, uses BMW’s i3 electric SUV for its self-driving fleet, and plans to launch a Zipcar-like service this year in the Netherlands. By 2021, Amber Mobility plans to launch a fully driverless vehicle. 

And, over in Stockholm, Sweden, Volvo is testing driverless cars and buses. 

With so many planned services set to launch in Europe within three years—many of which will be backed by big car brands like BMW and Ford—Waymo and Krafcik are likely wise to seek a European partner. Together, Waymo and its business ally will have a better chance of flourishing in such a crowded field. 

http://www.techradar.com/news/waymo-wants-its-driverless-cars-in-europe-but-it-could-face-challenges