ExpressVPN review
Macworld At a GlanceExpert's Rating ProsSimple to use on all platformsBig focus on privacy and transparency105 countriesConsA little barebonesOur VerdictExpressVPN is fast and simple to get to grips with, offering a great way to get around geoblocking at a reasonable price. While the Mac app is a little basic, that’s arguably part of its charm – you open it, click, and go, but you will miss out on additional features like antivirus tools offered by some rivals. Price When ReviewedFrom $8.32 a month for one year + 3 free months. Usually $12.95 a month.. Best Prices Today: ExpressVPN Retailer Price ExpressVPN $8.32 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket In our time appraising VPNs this year, we’ve found that ExpressVPN is also held up in the community. As one of the biggest names in the game, alongside NordVPN, we were always going to review it, but could it really be that much more impressive than so many of its rivals to earn such a glowing reputation? As it happens, the answer is yes. While ExpressVPN isn’t without its quirks, as so many VPNs are, it’s remarkably easy to use, stripped bare of additional features on the Mac to be boiled down into the simplest way to connect to servers in over a hundred countries. To roll it back, though, why would you want a Virtual Private Network? Reasons to use a VPN are threefold at the basest level. For one, you can circumnavigate geoblocking, letting you watch whatever’s on Netflix in the UK while you remain comfy on your sofa in California, for example. It’s also a great way to protect your data while browsing the web from a network that’s public or unfamiliar. Heading to the coffee shop? A VPN can encrypt your connection to minimize the risk of prying eyes. Finally, even when you’re browsing at home, they can minimize the chances of your internet provider or just about anyone else seeing what you’re doing. What I love about ExpressVPN is you can do just about all of this with two or three clicks at most. It even does well to mitigate some of the speed lost from pinging your data off to distant lands, dropping less than 13% of download speed in our testing. Combine that with a relatively decent price for a one-year membership and you’ve got an ideal first stop for VPN newcomers. ExpressVPN features in our round-up of the Best VPNs for Mac. It’s also included in our Best VPN for iPhone and Best VPNs for iPad articles. Features & Apps Server Choice: There are over 100 countries with ExpressVPN servers. Server Choice: There are over 100 countries with ExpressVPN servers.Foundry Server Choice: There are over 100 countries with ExpressVPN servers.Foundry Foundry As you’d expect from a household name, ExpressVPN has native apps on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android, Windows, and just about anything else. If you’ve got a smart device, there’s a good chance ExpressVPN can run on it, and that’s handled through an account-specific Activation Code that’s easy to set up. You can use it on eight devices at once, which is a step up from the five that it used to offer – although disappointingly you won’t be able to get unlimited devices like something like Surfshark. It’s worth noting that, outside of encrypting your connection to minimize the presence of “bad actors”, there’s no Malware protection on offer here, although you can install a password manager called ExpressVPN Keys. Both ExpressVPN and its password manager have browser plugin support, too, so you can use either from within your browser of choice. Outside of that, though, ExpressVPN is refreshingly simple. There are no subscription tiers, no convoluted add-ons, and you can open the app or use the menu bar item on a Mac to get browsing safely and securely in seconds. With that said, if you do want that sort of safety net for malware, something like NordVPN might be worth a look instead. Or take a look at our round-up of the Best Antivirus for Mac. Opening up ExpressVPN is much faster than some competitors we’ve tested, with a slick animation when you hit the “on” button to connect to your chosen server. It’ll add a series of shortcuts to apps and sites you use often, too, letting you quickly hop to them when you’re connected, and there are Advanced Protection features, too – more on those in a moment. I’ve also had great experiences with the 24-hour live chat. Within minutes I can be connected to a real human (no chatbots, hooray!) and able to discuss any issues. Performance Speed Tests: You can run speed tests on any server in the world. Speed Tests: You can run speed tests on any server in the world.Foundry Speed Tests: You can run speed tests on any server in the world.Foundry Foundry To set expectations – NordVPN remains faster than ExpressVPN. Its loss of around 12% of download speed is pretty hard to beat, but 13% on ExpressVPN’s part is still better than many. VPNs will always experience some speed loss simply because you are routing your traffic to a server in another country. ExpressVPN offers no fewer than six different choices for protocol (including the automatic option). Lightway, the company’s own option, is rapid. That’s going to net you the best speeds, but for compatibility, you can switch to another version of Lightway or OpenVPN – although we lost 24% of speed using the latter. It’s worth noting that Advanced Protection features will disable OpenVPN and IKEv2. The tradeoff is that these features can block trackers, malicious sites, ads, and adult sites. That’s great for families using Express for all of their browsing activity, adding additional peace of mind. In my testing, I’ve not found much that Lightway couldn’t handle, too, so it may end up being much simpler to just leave the automatic setting on. You can also run speedtests within the app on multiple server locations to get an idea of what to expect when connecting, and that’s handy for countries with multiple server locations. Privacy & Security IP Address Checker: The IP address checker opens in a browser window, rather than in the app. IP Address Checker: The IP address checker opens in a browser window, rather than in the app.Foundry IP Address Checker: The IP address checker opens in a browser window, rather than in the app.Foundry Foundry Circumnavigating geoblocks is great and all, but it means little if your VPN doesn’t offer some degree of privacy. The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, meaning it’s free from the majority of intelligence-sharing agencies’ jurisdiction, while it also operates a no-log policy. It doesn’t have anything like the PureVPN “always-on” audit process, but it undergoes regular audits each year. There’s a sizeable section of the ExpressVPN site with a focus on security, transparency, audits, and more, too, called the Trust Centre. The company also operates a “bug bounty” program to reward anyone capable of finding vulnerabilities in its apps, servers, website or anything else. It’s worth noting, however, that using something like the IP address checker or DNS leak test within the app takes you to a separate webpage, which is a shame – but maybe that’s the price you pay for a faster native macOS experience. Pricing and plans ExpressVPN’s pricing is a little of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s more expensive than many of its contemporaries and doesn’t allow access from unlimited devices as some do. On the other hand, you get a solid, speedy connection with minimal fuss and optional extras, and you don’t have to tie-in for a two-year deal to get the best value. That latter point is important because VPN legislation can change regularly depending on which way the wind is blowing, although at least you tend to get prices locked in for the duration of your plan. Still, the 12-month option here is likely to suffice for many, although it’ll cost more than comparable alternatives. Verdict ExpressVPN is an easy-to-use, fast VPN service with plenty of protection from prying eyes and dodgy coffee shop Wi-Fi, as well as near-limitless potential for enjoying streaming services in any of its server locations across 105 countries. Even with the fairly steep pricing, it’s very easy to recommend for its no-nonsense approach to a VPN. MacOS, Security Software and Services, VPN

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Apple considering multiple sizes for all-screen foldable MacBook
After years of rumors, Apple's all-screen folding MacBook may be getting closer to reality, and could also be offered in multiple sizes.A generated image of a foldable MacBook conceptThe folding MacBook, which could resemble a large iPad with a foldable mid section, may be a few years away from release. Even so, Apple is preparing its supply chain for its production.In a Thursday supply chain report from Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is considering a 20.25-inch display option. However, it may also use an 18.8-inch display panel as well. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Affinity update adds QR code generator, variable font support
Affinity 2.5 is here, with a handful of new tools including a QR code generator, some user experience upgrades, and support for ARM on Windows.Affinity's new QR code generatorAffinity, known for its line of creative software geared toward photographers and designers, has rolled out Affinity 2.5, the first update since the company was acquired by Canva in March.The new update brings a new QR code generator to all three programs, allowing users to quickly add codes to their documents. The codes can be scanned to perform actions, such as visiting websites, initiating phone calls, sharing contact info vCards, or launching FaceTime or WhatsApp. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Microsoft working on Word for Mac freeze fix, here are two workarounds
Over the last couple of months, we’ve seen more and more Mac users deal with serious lag and freezing in Microsoft Word. Now a Microsoft employee has confirmed a fix is in the works as well as recommending a workaround while we wait. more…

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Sick of wimpy portable chargers? Try this beast.
If you're sick of wimpy chargers, maybe it's time to try the beastly new Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Portable Charger Power Bank. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Arc Search for iPhone goes conversational with ‘Call Arc’ feature
Today in the latest update to Arc Search for iPhone, search is becoming more conversational. The new ‘Arc Search’ feature aims to replicate the dynamics of talking on the phone, providing Arc users with a more voice assistant-like experience. more…

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All-screen M5 MacBook with foldable display and Vision Pro price now rumored for 2026
Apple is working on all-screen foldable devices. Unlike its competitors, however, its focus seems less on foldable smartphones and tablets, and instead on an all-screen foldable laptop. Ming-Chi Kuo has previously reported that Apple was developing a 20.3-inch MacBook device for 2027, but today the analyst has shared several key new details about the futuristic MacBook model. One such detail is that Apple is now eyeing an earlier 2026 launch for the product. more…

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How to see your heart rate zones on Apple Watch and iPhone during or after workouts
A handy health and fitness feature with watchOS and iOS is the ability to see your heart rate zones on Apple Watch and iPhone. Read on for what they mean, how to see your max heart rate, manually edit your zones, and more. more…

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Major Apple supplier TSMC expects annual revenue growth of 10% in semiconductor industry
Taiwanese contract chipmaker TSMC, a major Apple supplier, on Thursday forecast an annual revenue growth of 10% in… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Go from song idea to full track in seconds with AI music generator
Got great song ideas or lyrics? AI-powered music generator Supermusic can transform them into fully realized tracks in an instant. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Uber surge pricing in effect all the time, say drivers; opaque pay
Uber surge pricing is supposed to be applied to especially busy times and places, when riders may prefer paying a substantial premium to not being able to get a ride at all. But drivers are claiming that Uber now effectively applies this pricing model all the time – and keeps most of the difference … more…

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Bolt brings iPhone tech to spine surgery: Vanguards of Health Care
Bolt Navigation has shrunk the use of a navigation system for spine surgery into an Apple iOS device, an iPhone, utilizing… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Share a link with quoted text in Messages [Pro Tip]
If you want to share a link with quoted text in Messages, there’s an easy but hidden way to do it in Safari.  (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Pixelmator Pro revamps image editing with AI masking tools
The new Pixelmator Pro 3.6 for Mac update concentrates on masking, a key way of selecting objects to edit or delete now being sped up by AI.Notice how the right of the image has been removed using the new masking toolsLong-standing Mac image editor Pixelmator Pro gains significant updates multiple times a year, but this newest one is specifically a revamp of a tool at the heart of the app. While there are many ways to select part of an image to work on, the app's masking feature was the quickest to use — but then sometimes fiddly to get just right.Choosing the Quick Selection tool and dragging over an image still selects parts of it, but an on-screen set of masking tools also appears. With those, users can quickly fine tune what has been selected. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The best educational apps on iPad for kids and young students
The iPad can be an important tool in a parent's playbook for instilling a love of learning early on. These are some of the best educational apps for younger learners.Students using iPads in elementary schoolWe don't intend to add to the problem of "TV and computing devices as babysitters" that has generally been viewed as detrimental, but some screen time is unavoidable. Instead, the key is balance — and when screen time is needed, make sure it's full of high-quality, age-appropriate content.An iPad mini — especially one in a rugged child-proof case — can be a vital part of early learning before a child is ready to start public school or homeschooling. It can also play an important role in assisting young students in and after school. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Future iPads and iPhones could tell stressed users to calm down
Apple is researching how to bring its Apple Vision Pro physiognomy sensor technology to give iPads and iPhones the ability to detect stress in a user.What an iPad could do when it detects that its user is stressedBack in the 1980s, if an original Mac went wrong, it would play the sound of a crash, and display Susan Kare's bomb icon. It was a piece of whimsy that you really, really, really did not appreciate when you'd just lost your work.Decades on, Apple could be about to make a similarly enraging move, though this time with good intentions. Apple wants to add a new health feature, where a device such as an iPad can tell when you're having a bad day. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple may soon have to allow third-party app stores in Japan too
After European legislation forced Apple to allow third-party app stores across 27 countries, Japan is planning to introduce a similar legal requirement. The antitrust legislation is currently being debated in the Japanese parliament, but is expected to be approved by the end of June … more…

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Apple’s supply chain could include ‘blood minerals’ from eastern Congo
International lawyers representing the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo have said that Apple’s supply chain could include “conflict minerals” or “blood minerals.” The terms are used to refer to minerals sourced from conflict zones, in which armed groups use forced labor, and the proceeds are used to buy weapons for armed conflict … more…

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iPhone/iPad retro game emulators: How to find and play the best classic games
Macworld In early April, Apple made a surprise decision to allow retro game emulators in the App Store. With them, you can now play old classic games from early game consoles and arcades, but the legalities around doing so are a little complicated. Here’s what you need to know about retro game emulation on iPhone and iPad, including some of the top apps, how they work, and what to do about ROMs. What is retro game emulation? The processor in your iPhone (or laptop or home PC) is many times more powerful than the processors used in old classic arcade games or home consoles like the NES, SNES, Genesis, GameBoy, etc. That means today’s devices are capable of playing older games without breaking a sweat—which is where game emulators come in. Game emulators have been around for a very long time on PCs, where enthusiasts have used the power of modern processors to made software versions of the processors and systems used in old game machines. Modern iPhones have been capable of this for a long time, but Apple has forbidden them for years due to its App Store terms. Now, emulators are allowed, but they have to follow all applicable laws regarding copyright and game distribution. That means that the emulator you download is kind of like getting a virtual GameBoy or NES, without any games. What are ROMs? ROM stands for read-only memory. Old game cartridges, like old arcade games, stored all the actual game code and art in banks of ROM memory. (These days, whether game data is stored in ROM chips on a cartridge or CD, retro game enthusiasts have taken to calling all old games “ROMs.”) ROMs are basically packages of all the game data, without the game system. It’s the equivalent of dumping all the data from your old Super Mario Bros. or Metroid cartridge into a ZIP file. Without the game system to play them, they’re more or less useless. There are lots of sites out there where you can download ROMs, and some legal but many are not. A lot of ROM distribution lies somewhere in a grey area. Where can I get ROMs? The legality of downloading ROMs is complicated. In most cases, it is a copyright violation to make available the data from a game, and usually to download it as well. So the site you’re downloading Pokemon from is probably breaking the law, and you may be breaking the law to grab it as well. There are totally legal and free ROMs, though. Romhacking.net is a site where enthusiasts hack together new custom ROMs for retro game systems, and release them for free. It has a list of free and legal ROMs. But these are new games, not the popular games you played 30 years ago. A common legal grey area is whether or not you can download the ROM of a game you already own. For example, if you own an old Legend of Zelda NES cartridge, can you find a site that has a copy of it and download it? Legally, you would be well within your rights to take a special piece of hardware that reads all the data off the cartridge and makes a personal copy of it, not for distribution (a process called “ROM dumping”). Any site you download a ROM from, even if you own it, is probably breaking copyright law by distributing it. But downloading the game you own is a bit of a legal grey area. Most enthusiasts acquire ROMs that “fall off a truck,” so to speak. It doesn’t take a lot of searching to find ROMs to download, legal or not. Be careful: ROM packages and sites are a common vector for viruses and malware. One legal and safe way to get ROMs legally is to buy retro game collections, most of which are actually emulators wrapped in a package with a set of ROMs. For example, the SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics collection on Steam has about 50 of the best Sega classic games available for around a dollar each, or in a deeply discounted bundle. If you install them and look at the game directory, you’ll see a directory called “uncompressed ROMs” that has all the games you bought. They’re yours, legally purchased, so you can use them in any emulator you want. To use ROMs with game emulators on iPhone or iPad, you’ll have to either download them into the Files app on your iPhone or put them in a cloud storage location (like iCloud Drive) that can be accessed by the app. The apps don’t provide direct access to ROMs themselves, however, you have to load your own. What are the best emulators for iPhone and iPad? Just after Apple changed the App Store guidelines to allow emulators, a few were quickly released and pulled. But since then, several more projects have landed and they provide a good experience. More are on the way. Here are the key projects to be aware of. Delta The Delta game emulator has been around for years, even on iPhone. It wasn’t allowed in the App Store, so they built their own project called AltStore to distribute it via sideloading. Popularity has obviously surged since appearing in the App Store. Delta has great Nintendo support and fantastic controller skins. Delta has great Nintendo support and fantastic controller skins.Delta Delta has great Nintendo support and fantastic controller skins.Delta Delta Delta currently supports the following systems: Nintendo Entertainment System Super Nintendo Entertainment System Nintendo 64 Game Boy (Color) Game Boy Advance Nintendo DS Sega Genesis (beta) It’s an incredibly full-featured product. It supports fast-forward speeds, save states, cloud sync of save states to other devices, and even downloads box artwork for the games you load. In addition to virtual on-screen controllers it supports all kinds of physical controllers, including Xbox and PlayStation controllers, MFi controllers, Nintendo Switch joycons and Pro controllers, and even Bluetooth or wired keyboards. You can even AirPlay your games to your TV! Just start screen mirroring in Control Center and the game will be on the TV while the virtual controller will be on your iPhone. If you want to emulate Nintendo games, Delta is the place to start. A dedicated iPad version is on the way too. It’s just a matter of making all the system and controller skins and squashing a few more bugs. RetroArch The interface and controller skins could use a little work, but RetroArch is a very capable emulator. In fact, it’s a front-end for a lot of open source emulator projects (called “cores”), and includes too many to mention here. RetroArch’s interface is a little rough but it supports lots of systems and has an Apple TV app. RetroArch’s interface is a little rough but it supports lots of systems and has an Apple TV app.RetroArch RetroArch’s interface is a little rough but it supports lots of systems and has an Apple TV app.RetroArch RetroArch RetroArch includes cores to play games from too many systems to list them all here. There’s support for old Atari and Intellivision systems, Commodore 64 and Amiga, PC Engine, Neo Geo, lots of Nintendo systems, multiple Sega systems, and even PlayStation and PlayStation Portable. There are sometimes multiple different cores for an individual system, and loading up your ROMs isn’t as seamless as it could be, but RetroArch will play a lot more than most other emulators in the App Store. Oh, and there’s even a native Apple TV version! PPSSPP The core for this one is included in RetroArch, but if you want to just play PlayStation Portable (PSP) games you might have a better experience with the PPSSPP app. It has a built-in “Homebrew store” where you can download and play homemade PSP games, and the PPSSPP site has some help with how to dump PSP games on your own or prepare dumps by turning them into .ISO or .CSO files. PPSSPP has a “HomeBrew Store” to play homemade games, and an easier interface than RetroArch. PPSSPP has a “HomeBrew Store” to play homemade games, and an easier interface than RetroArch.PPSSPP PPSSPP has a “HomeBrew Store” to play homemade games, and an easier interface than RetroArch.PPSSPP PPSSPP Provenance Provenance is not yet on the App Store, but it has been available for some time on AltStore. Like RetroArch, it’s a front end for multiple emulation cores. The App Store release will support nearly as many console systems as RetroArch, but not the older computers like Amiga and Commodore 64: Atari 2600 Atari 5200 Atari 7800 Atari Jaguar Atari Lynx Bandai WonderSwan Mattel Electronics Intellivision NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 (CD) NEC PC-FX NEC SuperGrafx Neo Geo Pocket (Color) Nintendo GameBoy (Color) Nintendo GameBoy Advance Nintendo N64 Nintendo NES/Famicom + FDS Nintendo PokeMini Nintendo SNES Nintendo Virtual Boy Sega 32X Sega Game Gear Sega Genesis/MegeDrive (CD) Sega MasterSystem Sega Saturn Sega SG1000 Sony PSX Sony PSP It’s generally very well regarded, with lots of features to customize the cores and performance, automatic downloading of metadata and art for games in your library, support for MFi and iCade controllers, and supposedly very good performance. There’s a Test Flight beta for Patreon supporters, but the full App Store release should be coming soon, and with an Apple TV app as well. Provenance is well-regarded on AltStore, and will debut on the App Store very soon. Provenance is well-regarded on AltStore, and will debut on the App Store very soon.Provenance Provenance is well-regarded on AltStore, and will debut on the App Store very soon.Provenance Provenance Gaming, iPhone

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X Likes will be made private, but Likes count will still show
The social network formerly known as Twitter has confirmed that X Likes are to be made private, so only the author of the post can see who has liked it. The company says that this is to protect people who are afraid to publicly Like “edgy” content, though users have mixed views … more…

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