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Ultimate guide on how to use an external SSD as a working drive on macOS Sequoia

It is easily possible to double the cost of a new M4 Mac mini by buying Apple storage — but if you know what you're doing, you can buy external drives, and save hundreds of dollars by working off those. Here's how.


External drives are vastly cheaper than Apple's storage upgrade prices

Apple's New Mac mini is a stunning bargain for its price and its performance — but maybe only in its base configuration. Once you start adding anything like more storage, you hit Apple's excessive upgrade charges and the bargain diminishes, or even goes away entirely.

It is true that Apple has made things better, both by increasing the amount of RAM that base model gets, and also by making 256GB the smallest amount of storage you can buy.


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What a VPN kill switch is, and why you need it

A kill switch can help prevent your privacy from being breached when your encrypted VPN connection stops working. This is why your VPN needs it.


An iPad disconnected from the Internet

The basic idea of a virtual private network (VPN) service is that your connection is more private. Using a secure encrypted VPN connection, your online actions are not able to be monitored by other web traffic.

However, there are occasions where you may not have the protection of a VPN. Rather than the encrypted tunnel to a different server, you may suddenly find yourself directly accessing the internet without the VPN.


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Holiday 2024 MacBook Buyer's Guide -- Which Mac laptop you should buy?

Apple's late 2024 update to its Mac and MacBook ranges has brought M4 to the product line. Here's how to choose the best portable Mac for your budget for the 2024 holiday season.


MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

Apple's fall product updates covered many areas, but for the Mac product category, it meant an update to M4. Following the introduction of the chip in the iPad Pro lineup earlier in the year, the MacBook Pro now uses the speedy chip.

Even better, Apple didn't stop at just M4, as it brought out M4 Pro and M4 Max variants as well. These additions offer a lot more performance options, and in the case of the M4 Max, more performance than an M2 Ultra in some benchmarks.


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Second developer beta of visionOS 2.2 finally arrives

One day after most of the other developer betas get new builds, visionOS 2.2 turns up for testers using the Apple Vision Pro.


The Apple Vision Pro runs visionOS

On Monday, Apple introduced the third round of developer betas for iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS SZequoia 15.2, it also brought out the second builds of tvOS 18.2 and watchOS 11.2 for testing.

Missing from the group was visionOS 2.2, but it arrived one day later, on Tuesday.


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iOS 18.2 could receive a full public release with Image Playground & ChatGPT on December 9

iOS 18.2 with access to ChatGPT integrations, Image Playground, and Genmoji could finally roll out to the general public on December 9 based on a notice recently posted by a UK carrier.


iOS 18.2 could receive a full public release on December 9.

On Monday, Apple released the third developer beta of iOS 18.2. Along with the various changes and quality-of-life improvements, the software also contains an update for carrier-specific settings.

The third developer beta contains an update for devices using the British carrier EE. The carrier settings shipped with iOS 18.1 and the second developer beta of iOS 18.2 had the version number 59.5.1, while iOS 18.2 developer beta 3 increased the EE carrier settings version to 60.5.2.


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Power press: Fixes for Apple's oddly-placed Mac mini button

Apple's decision to place the power button of the M4 Mac mini underneath has been questioned by users. In some cases, they've come up with their own "solutions" to the problem.


Mac mini power button

The introduction of the M4 Mac mini was welcomed by critics, with the already small Mac made to be even smaller. Getting to that size meant there had to be a compromise, and that took the form of an awkward power button placement.

Rather than at the rear, the button is instead underneath the corner of the Mac mini's enclosure. It's in a position that you have to lift or tilt the Mac mini to access it, which can be awkward for people with larger digits.


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Apple's smart display with smart home AI focus predicted for March 2025

The pivot from Apple Car set the stage for bigger investments in the smart home, and the initial products from that shift could be launching as soon as March according to a new rumor.


Apple could release an iPad-like home hub with AI and smart home features

Apple has offered smart home options since 2014 with the launch of HomeKit. Beyond Siri integrations, HomePod, and few product category additions over the years, the company's investment in the area hasn't been as strong as some of its competitors.

That could change as soon as March with the launch of a new smart display that isn't an iPad, doesn't have an App Store, and is voice-first. This device would be a precursor to the rumored display with a robotic arm that's been rumored since Apple Car was abandoned.


Rumor Score: ???? Possible


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Bluetti's new Elite 200 portable power station provides 17 years of charging

Check out the latest from Bluetti with an exclusive discount on the Elite 200 V2 portable power station capable of generating reliable 2 kWh power for 17 years.


Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is rated for 17-years of use - Image credit: Bluetti

Bluetti is an innovator in the home battery backup space that's been pushing the limits of consumer backup power solutions. The company offers some of the best portable power station units that serve you everywhere from the campground to your home during a power outage.

Tuesday, Bluetti has unveiled the latest in its lineup — the Elite 200 V2. It is a 2 kWh portable power station that is rated for 6,000 life cycles, which equates to over 17 years.


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How advanced content caching settings on the Mac works

Advanced configuration parameters control how your Mac stores cached content. Here's how to change the settings.


Content cache settings in macOS Sequoia.

Content caching controls what internet content gets stored locally in macOS when you visit websites and other online servers.

When you visit a site, some of the data (content) gets downloaded and stored locally on your Mac. This is so that if you access that content later, it can be loaded more quickly from the cache - instead of having to make more trips to the internet to fetch it again.


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Dance points to God

An OM DanceLink team shares the gospel with crowds during impromptu dance performances on city streets in Portugal.




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Dancers impact community in Portugal

A team of OM Dancelink dancers in Portugal impact the community through workshops, shows and street performances.




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Demon cast out through prayer

The Transform Surflink team prayed for a woman suffering from demon possession, and the demon came out.




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Youth learn new methods to share their faith

OMer Richard Sharp teaches practical and relevant methods of sharing the Gospel with Portuguese young people at a youth camp.




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Portugal Dancelink team clears way for Transit team harvest

A Transform 2012 Dancelink team in Mondim, Portugal, clears the way for a Transform Transit team to see the Gospel bear fruit four months later.




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OM Portugal begins outreach to Fátima

OM Portugal sends a Portuguese pastor and his family to begin outreach in the Catholic town of Fátima.




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What would you wish for?

One Finnish woman discovers that a simple question seems to be all it takes to talk about God in a postmodern world.




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Transform 2016: Surfing and dancing in Portugal

Surfing on the beach or providing a dance workshop were new ways to share the gospel in Portugal.




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Road-tripping through Portugal

Writer Nicole spent five days driving around Portugal this summer, hanging out with three Transform teams and listening to their stories.




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1 million seeking answers

Portugal Field Leader Givas shares about the May 2017 outreach to religious pilgrims in Fatima.




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From Texas to Tana - Part I

Caitlin, a student from the U.S. interning with OM Madagascar, shares what it’s like to leave home for the mission field.




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From Texas to Tana: What adventures will tomorrow hold? – Part II

Caitlin, an intern with OM, participates in African and communications orientation in South Africa before flying to Madagascar.




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Going the distance for the gospel

A Malagasy girl exemplifies dedication to spreading the gospel.




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From Texas to Tana: I am weak, but He is strong - Part III

Caitlin (USA) is humbled that joining the OM team in Madagascar has encouraged them in their work to carry the name of Jesus to others.




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A king encounters the King of Kings

The king of a small village in Madagascar welcomes the OM team to plant a church amongst his people.




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From Texas to Tana: On the floor of a grass hut – Part IV

Caitlin, an intern, reflects on the lives touched by God during the OM outreach to Sainte Marie Island off the coast of Madagascar.




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God transforms a family

A woman and her husband accept the Lord after hearing the gospel from an OM team visiting the island of Sante Marie.




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Listen to Me, Sainte Marie

God touches many lives on Sainte Marie Island during OM Madagascar's annual outreach, "Listen to Me, Islands".




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From Texas to Tana: To run faster and fly higher - Part V

Affected by the dark reality of hopelessness she’s encountered in Madagascar, Caitlin Red prays that God will do miraculous things amongst the Malagasy people.




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From Texas to Tana: Lessons for a lifetime - Part VI

Caitlin Red returns home after interning with OM Madagascar since August. Says Caitlin, “In Madagascar, I learnt enough lessons to last me a lifetime.”




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God provides for Hanta to join an OM outreach

Hanta, a committed young Christian from a rural village in Madagascar, learns that if she’s willing to obey God, He provides a way.




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Waves of prayer envelop Madagascar

The OM Madagascar team mobilises the Malagasy church for prayer through radio programmes and SMS messages.




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Sports ministry changes lives in Antananarivo

OM Madagascar uses sport as tool for reaching youth with the gospel and relationship building.




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Project Namana: reaching out a hand of friendship

Starting a Christian micro-finance programme has been a long-time dream for OM Madagascar. In partnership with OM Hong Kong, this will soon become a reality.




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The Malagasy church takes up the baton

The vision of OM Madagascar is to partner with the Malagasy Church in every ministry. This vision is being realised in Manakara.




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New hope found through Project Namana

Project Namana is OM Madagascar's microfinance project designed to empower the marginalised people in the city.




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What the witch doctor saw

A Malagasy witch doctor comes to faith in Christ during an OM outreach and is baptised just one week before his death.




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They got 'The Story'

Antemoro “coastal people” of Amosiala come to faith after learning about Christ through an OM team and volunteers from a neighbouring village.




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Perline of great price

Since joining OM’s Namana Project, one couple has developed a successful business, built their own home and can give their children an education.




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He Went to Church For the Candy

Pastor Rene Armand, a pastor from the Androy region of Madagascar, shares how he became a pastor.




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‘I want to be a missionary’

OM friend and volunteer Eddie Ramamonjiarivelo, from Madagascar, is a teacher and businessman with a heart for God’s kingdom.




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The well(ness) project

A well is built in the village of Tsimihevo, Madagascar, improving the standard of living for the whole community.




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Trusting Him for the future

Perla, meaning “pearl” in Malagasy, raises awareness about human trafficking and provides skills training, coupled with discipleship, to at-risk women and girls.




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Missions is for everyone

An outreach to the north of Madagascar was a new experience not only for those being reached, but for the participants and church as well.




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Transforming communities

Despite knowing very little about the Androy region, OMers Fara and Herimanina went willingly and have seen God at work.




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Worth more than jewels

Perla is a Freedom Challenge project in Madagascar that is empowering women through skills training.




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To understand who Jesus is

An OMers love for people from the Island of Comoros led her to start a Discovery Bible Study for them at a university.




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Media in missions

“Before Media Trek I thought: media--cool hobby, but not necessarily missional,” admitted Kotie-Alet from South Africa.




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Spreading the gospel

Siniore desires for her family and friends to know Christ’s love as she does. After a training, she took what she learnt and put it into practice.




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Working together

Fourteen young people participated in a month-long outreach within in their country. The result: unity.




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Music opens doors to hearts

In each village, a small crowd of people gathered, and children and adults watched the puppet theatre with much interest. The team also put on a concert featuring songs by Istvan Horvath, a member of the OM Hungary team, as well as English songs by the international team. during Easter