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Mac Tips: How to fix FaceTime sign-in errors on Mac

Got an Apple, Mac or iOS tech question? We have the answer. FaceTime is a great way to see people from afar, but what do you do when FaceTime won't let you sign in? This week we have a reader who's experiencing that very problem, but don't worry; we have some ideas to help get FaceTime back in action.

Question

My iMac will not let me sign into FaceTime Version 3.0. FaceTime preferences says I am signed out, but I'm using the right Apple ID and password. When I go to the main window, FaceTime either ignores me or keeps telling me to check Network connections. I've never been able to connect. However, I have no problem using FaceTime on my iPhone 5. Any suggestions?

Answer

There could potentially be a few reasons for this error message, especially since you're connected online and are not experiencing other network issues. The first is that the Apple ID you're trying to connect with has two-step verification. If this is the case, then you must create an "app specific password" that is used with FaceTime on the Mac and only with FaceTime on the Mac (when this is enabled, you create a new password that is used for each app with your Apple ID).

To create an app-specific password for FaceTime, follow these steps:

1. Open Safari and navigate to appleid.apple.com.

2. Click "Manage Your Apple ID" and sign in with your Apple ID.

3. Select Password & Security > Generate an App-Specific Password.

Using the password that was given to you, sign into FaceTime on the Mac using your Apple ID and this password.

FaceTime Mac

If that doesn't quite do the trick, then while you're in the appleid.apple.com account management, ensure that your email address is entered correctly, and ensure that you've typed in that email address for your Apple ID to sign in when using FaceTime on the Mac. You'll also want to make sure that the email address you're using has been verified with Apple. To check that the email is verified, select "Name, ID and Email Addresses" inside of the appleid.apple.com website, and ensure a green "Verified" check is displayed on the Apple ID and Primary Email Address field.

Got an Apple tech question? Email ask@maclife.com.

The smaller iMac could go 4K in October

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While we're all expecting new iPhones at Apple's upcoming September 9 event, the Cupertino company may also have a new 4K iMac in store for us later in the year.

9to5 Mac claims a reliable source has informed them that Apple will refresh its smaller 21.5-inch iMac new 4K display along with the traditional processor upgrade. Apple will supposedly hold the announcement of the its new high-res all-in-one will until October where it may alongside OS X El Capitan and begin shipping in November.

Earlier this June we heard of the 4K iMac from a French journalist who uncovered references to a new display resolution hidden inside the code of the OS X El Capitan beta. The new 21.5-inch iMac will reportedly feature a screen resolution of 4,096 x 2,304 and potentially utilize a new line of AMD Radeon R9 processors.

October is looking to be a very busy month as recent rumors suggest the iPad Pro will also be announced in the same time frame. Until then stay tuned to this space.

Meet the bigger 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display

Updated: Buying Guide: 10 best laptops for students 2015

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Best laptops for students

Even for those who feel at home with their nose in a textbook, the end of summer break (or Winter recess) is a big bummer. But as much as it's a return to school and schedules, it's an opportunity. This is a fine excuse to invest in some fresh tech to make the coming academia-addled year a little more bearable.

If you're still reliant on a desktop, or if your laptop winces at the sight of a high-definition video lecture, it's time to look into an upgrade. And thankfully if you know where to look, it's possible to get a sleek and impressive notebook without blowing through your savings (or student loans).

We've pored through our archives from the past several months and picked the best laptops for school. Our short list spans a variety of budgets that range from power-sipping Chromebooks to help you with that 1,000 page dissertation to more powerful machines that'll do better at a dorm room lan party.

Update: Lenovo introduced a slim and sleek Surface Pro 3 rival at IFA 2015. Coupled with an Intel Skylake Core M architecture, the IdeaPad MIIX 700 delivers strong performance, improved graphics and long battery life in a sleek package with kickstand and keyboard cover. The company also refreshed a slew of laptops with Skylake at the IFA show.

Lenovo ThinkPad E555

1. Asus Zenbook UX305

A most affordable and excellent Ultrabook

Solid performance

Incredibly thin and light

Wonky video driver

Tinny speakers

Call it a MacBook Air knockoff all you want, the Asus ZenBook UX305 is one of the best and most affordable Ultrabooks available now.

Read the full review: Zenbook UX305

Best laptops for students

2. Acer Chromebook 15

Chrome OS comes to the big screen

Absolutely radiant display

All-day battery life

Sudden crashes

Tinny but serviceable speakers

The Acer Chromebook 15 asks if you need a big machine to just run a Chrome browser, and I say 'oh, yes.' The Chromebook 15 takes Chrome OS to new places as it's the first device to arrive with a 15.6-inch display and the first to come with Intel's newest Broadwell processor.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15

Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (early 2015)

3. Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-inch with Retina Display

The fastest small MacBook Pro yet is a force of nature

Retina Display

Faster processor

Force Touch underdeveloped

Unchanged design

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is an excellent option for students who may need more power than a Chromebook or a MacBook Air without sacrificing portability thanks to its long battery life, relatively light weight, and high resolution display. Students on a budget will be happy to know that they can get started right away as the MacBook Pro with Retina display ships with free copies of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote out of the box as well as iMovie, Photos, and GarageBand for basic, creative projects.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display

Acer Chromebook 15 C910

4. Acer Chromebook 15 C910

The colossus of Chromebooks

Fast processing speeds

Long battery life

Too heavy

Awkward keyboard

Don't be fooled by this fatso. The Acer Chromebook 15 C910 is a durable workhorse that will reward you for looking past its size in favor of its performance, long battery life and stylish good looks.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15 C910

Best laptops for students

5. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch

Finally, battery life within our grasp

Fantastic battery life

Haswell processors

No Retina screen

Not user upgradeable

While it has yet to make the leap into Retina, this is still the laptop that the ultrabook aspires to, thanks to incredible battery life and AC Wi-Fi.

Read the full review: MacBook Air 13-inch

Best laptops for students

6. Asus ROG GL551

The best entry-level gaming laptop available

CPU: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (quad-core, 6M cache, up to 3.5GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M (2GB GDDR5 RAM); Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16GB DDR3L (2x 8GB at 1600MHz) | Screen: 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080), matte finish | Storage: 1TB HDD (7,200 rpm) | Connectivity: 802.11g Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 1.2MP, 720p webcam | Weight: 6 pounds | Dimensions: 15.0 x 10 x 1.3 inches (W x D x H)

Impressive performance

Solid build

Finicky screen

Rather thick

With a surprising amount of horsepower under the hood, you couldn't ask for more from the Asus GL551, save for maybe a better screen.

Read the full review: ROG GL551

Best laptops for students

7. Acer Aspire V7

Offering great all-round performance this is ideal for a student

CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-4200U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.60 GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 750M (4GB DDR3 RAM); Intel HD Graphics 4400 | RAM: 8GB DDR3L RAM | Screen: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 glossy IPS touchscreen | Storage: 500GB (5400 rpm with a 16GB SSD cache) | Connectivity: 802.11n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p webcam | Weight: 4.41 pounds | Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches (W x D x H)

Seamless design

Gorgeous screen

Rough trackpad

Short battery life

A short battery life and an obnoxious amount of bloatware hold back this otherwise excellent notebook that tows the line between Ultrabook and gaming laptop.

Read the full review: Aspire V7

Read: Acer Aspire V7 review

Surface 3

8. Microsoft Surface 3

Thinner, lighter, quieter, cheaper

CPU: Quad Core Intel Atom x7-78700 processor (2MB Cache, 1.6GHz turbo boost to 2.4GHz) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 10.8-inch ClearType Full HD Plus Display (1920 x 1200) | Storage: 128GB | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 3.5 megapixel front-facing camera; 8.0 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus | Weight: 1.37 pounds | Dimensions: 10.52 x 7.36 x 0.34 inches (W x D x H)

Display

Design

Keyboard

Storage

If you want the cheapest and most portable Surface tablet money can buy for lightweight computing tasks, the Surface 3 fits the bill. Power-hungry users should consider the low-end Surface Pro 3 instead.

Read the full review: Surface 3

Best laptops for students

9. Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Thinner, lighter, quieter, cheaper

CPU: 1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400 | RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 | Screen: 12-inch, 2160 x 1440 multi-touch (ClearType, 3:2 aspect ratio) | Storage: 256GB | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: Two 5MP webcams (1080p HD video) | Weight: 1.76 pounds | Dimensions: 7.93 x 11.5 x 0.36 inches (W x D x H)

Sharp display and design

Huge Type Cover upgrade

Runs hot at times

Type Cover still optional

Not without its drawbacks, this is the brightest shining example of not only Microsoft's vision of a laptop-free future, but the entire laptop-tablet hybrid category.

Read the full review: Surface Pro 3

Lenovo ThinkPad E555

10. Lenovo ThinkPad E555

A ThinkPad, but without the price tag

Great keyboard

Decent performance

Poor battery life

Heavy

Forget Lenovo's Essentials range, the ThinkPad E555, bears all the qualities (well, almost) of the legendary ThinkPad family but without the price tag.

Read the full review: ThinkPad E555

Originally contributed by Joe Osborne and Kevin Lee.

Yahuui Blog

Friday, September 4, 2015

Apple : Mac Tips: How to fix FaceTime sign-in errors on Mac

Apple : Mac Tips: How to fix FaceTime sign-in errors on Mac

Question

Answer

Best laptops for students

1. Asus Zenbook UX305

2. Acer Chromebook 15

3. Apple MacBook Pro 13.3-inch with Retina Display

4. Acer Chromebook 15 C910

5. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch

6. Asus ROG GL551

7. Acer Aspire V7

8. Microsoft Surface 3

9. Microsoft Surface Pro 3

10. Lenovo ThinkPad E555

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