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• A new strength-training program from Garmin is rumored
• Get Fit would be aimed at beginners
• The number of compatible watches could be limited

It would seem that a new strength-training course is set to arrive on the best Garmin watches in the near future: apparently called Get Fit, the program is said to be aimed specifically at beginners.

This news comes from notable tipster the5krunner (via Notebookcheck), and follows on from the strength-training revamp rolled out in August. The existing courses in this category are Accumulation, Intensification, Exploring Benchmarks, Realization and Deloading.

The source says Get Fit will offer three weekly workouts over 12 weeks, bookended with two benchmarking sessions so you can see how much progress you've made (or haven't made) over the months.

As you may have already noticed, the Garmin Coach component of the Connect App was recently revamped to offer separate sections: Cycling Coach, Running Coach, and Strength Coach. Get Fit would slot into that last one.

Keep updated

The strength training option on the Enduro 3 (Image credit: Garmin)

We don't have any more details about the program, but the source says it'll appear "soon" – and "probably" before the end of the year. There's been no official word from Garmin about it so far though.

For now, the Strength Coach is only available on a limited number of watches: the Fenix 8, the Fenix 8 Solar, the Enduro 3, and the Fenix E. Whether Get Fit is available on any devices outside of those four remains to be seen.

If it is exclusive to the latest and greatest Garmin watches, our full Fenix 8 review will help you decide whether or not you should upgrade. In short, we found it to be a "phenomenal adventure watch" with "a smorgasbord of hardware and software features".

Last week we saw the first round of Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 updates pushed out to users in the beta channel, so be on the lookout for more new functionality in the near future – functionality that will help Garmin keep pace with competing watches such as the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

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• Sony's latest flagship mirrorless camera will be revealed next week
• Live event is on Nov 19 at 9am EST / 2pm GMT (Nov 20 at 1am AEST)
• Set to replace the Alpha A1

Sony has officially revealed that the A1 II will be its next mirrorless camera through a live event announcement on its website and social media channels – the event will take place on November 19 at 9am EST / 2pm GMT (that's November 20 at 1am AEST).

The second-generation model will succeed Sony's current flagship, the Alpha A1, which was launched back in January 2021, and is set to become the most powerful and versatile Sony mirrorless camera ever.

Details of what we can expect from the A1 II are thin on the ground, although Sony Alpha Rumors suggests that it could be a minor update of the A1, which at launch cost $6,500 / £6,500 / AU$10,499 for the body only.

Even if it is a minor update with the same 50MP stills up to 30fps and 8K video, the A1 II should still hold its own against 2024 rivals such as the Nikon Z9 and Canon EOS R1, which goes to show just how ahead of the game the A1 was back in 2021.

The next best professional mirrorless camera?

The Sony Alpha A1 was the first professional camera of its kind to boast a high-resolution sensor for superb detail and fast frame-rates to capture the moment for high-speed action.

Previously, pros would have to choose between detail or speed, but suddenly they had a 50MP camera that could shoot up to 30fps. It was a genuine game-changer that set a new bar for hybrid cameras.

The A9 III (above) was Sony's last professional camera – and the A1 II could inherit some of its design and features. (Image credit: Future)

Since then, Sony's rivals have got in on the game with cameras such as the Nikon Z8 / Z9 and Canon EOS R5 Mark II / Canon EOS R1. The Z8 and EOS R5 Mark II look like particularly good value now, so it'll be interesting to see what price tag (and potential upgrades) Sony gives the A1 II.

All will be revealed during Sony's live event on November 19 / 20, so do mark it in the diary if you're interested to learn about the A1 II and where it might rank among the best mirrorless cameras.

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• Android TV and Google TV may be moving to a biannual update cycle
• TV OSes don't need upgraded as frequently as phone OSes do
• Changes won't affect bug fixing or security updates

As we reported a few days ago, Google is making some changes to the hardware requirements for Google TV. But it's also making another big change, and that could mean a much longer gap between TV software updates in the future.

Google is reportedly moving to a two-year update schedule for Android TV and Google TV. We've seen that happen already, with Google skipping Android 13 for TV devices and moving from Android 12 to Android 14 instead. And now, Android Authority says that Android 15 is going to be skipped too.

What's happening with Google TV and Android TV updates?

According to Android Authority's source, Google privately announced a change to its software release plans at this year's Android TV partner conference. The change means that instead of offering an Android 15 update to Google TV and Android TV sets, Google plans to sit that one out and wait for Android 16 instead.

Android Authority has contacted Google to corroborate the story, but Google says that it has "nothing to share" right now.

The reason for the change seems simple enough: Android is a smartphone-driven operating system, and that means it's on a very intense upgrade schedule to meet the needs and demands of smartphone manufacturers and smartphone users. TV isn't anywhere near as fast-moving, and there's much less of a need for TVs to get operating system updates. And the version of Android for TVs is based on the Android Open Source Project, which tends not to have quite as many gee-whiz new features as Google's own Android.

What does that mean for you? Provided Google stays on top of bug fixes and security updates it shouldn't make much difference; as with other releases in the past, most of the new features arriving in Android 15 are for phones, not TVs. And there may be an upside: better to have a slightly older but solid TV OS with its bugs fixed and its security issues squashed than to have a newer OS that introduces new things to fix.

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• Oura CEO Tom Hale doesn’t think Apple will launch a smart ring
• This is despite analysts predicting that an Apple Ring could land in the coming years
• There's some basis for Hale's speculation, but it ignores Apple’s approach in other tech categories

Smart rings are steadily becoming all the rage in the wearables space. While they’re often a little lacking feature-wise compared to the best smartwatches their simplicity, as well as more compact form factor and longer battery life, make them an excellent alternative for some people – especially those among us that want to wear a classic analogue clock without losing out on too many health-tracking tools.

After Samsung got on board the smart-ring train with the Galaxy Ring there have been rumors Apple would join in too with an Apple Ring, but the Oura CEO doesn’t think that’s likely.

Speaking to CNBC, Oura CEO Tom Hale seemed unconvinced that Apple would create a smart ring, saying “I think they [Apple] are unconvinced about the value of having a ring and a watch together and they’re not interested in undercutting the Apple Watch as a business.”

He added, “Apple is very much a focused company. They’re like: ‘We’ve put our bet on the watch. We’re gonna make the watch our platform.’”

Hale certainly makes a good point; smart rings are direct competitors to other wearables, so Apple’s ring would potentially cannibalize part of its existing Apple Watch brand. However Hale’s argument has a few holes in it, with a big one being that Apple already creates different platforms within its product categories.

Apple makes multiple different kinds of Mac – with the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro and Mac Studio; different iPads – the regular, mini, Pro and Air; and even makes different Apple Watches already, with base and Ultra models. So offering an Apple Ring alternative to suit the needs of a different kind of user isn’t as outside of Apple’s usual strategy as Hale is arguing.

An Apple Ring won't come soon

Will the Oura Ring 4 have an Apple Rival? (Image credit: Future)

Where Hale makes more sense is when he says of smart rings that "it’s hard to do this product category right.”

As mentioned, smart rings are inherently less feature-rich than smartwatches – with a big difference being that lack of a screen. They’re also generally less impressive at tracking fitness goals, but are better for sleep and health, as their longer battery life means you need to recharge a ring a lot less often than a watch, and their small form factor means they're comfortable to wear when you're sleeping.

Making a smart ring that feels like good value for money and is well stocked with helpful tools, but isn’t bulky, is a tough line to walk. Especially when you factor in that Apple would want a new wearable device to slot next to its Apple Watch rather than replace it.

That challenge isn’t an impossible one to crack though, and while there’s no guarantee that Apple will or won’t create a smart ring, I still think an Apple Ring is more likely than not – just don’t expect to see it any time soon.

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ConnectWise was founded in 1982 as an IT solutions provider, making it one of the most experienced players in the industry right now. Over the years, it has continued to introduce and improve its products that have helped IT professionals worldwide. 

It recently won the 2024 Channel Futures MSP 501 Gala Award in the ‘Preferred vendor’ category for its RMM product. Additionally, it has also won 25 other awards in 2024 across various categories. This speaks volumes abouts its reputation, reliability, and effectiveness.

ConnectWise RMM offers excellent value for money for teams of all sizes. From automated patch management to AI scripting, there’s a lot you can do with ConnectWise. Plus, its informative dashboards, coupled with unified UIs, make it an easy-to-navigate tool, even if you use multiple ConnectWise products. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into ConnectWise, explaining what makes it such a sought-after RMM solution.

ConnectWise: Plans and pricing

ConnectWise offers three plans: Essential, Pro, and Premium. As the name suggests, Essential is the entry-level plan, with features like automated OS and third-party patching, AI scripting, intelligent monitoring, and several third-party integrations. We found this plan sufficient for most small and medium-sized businesses and MSPs.

However, should you decide to upgrade to the Pro plan, you’ll get additional features like advanced intelligent monitoring​, network monitoring, and backup monitoring.

The Premium plan is meant for cloud and SaaS management, as it comes with features like unlimited ScreenConnect Remote, remote camera sharing, and Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 SaaS backup.

However, to find out the exact pricing of each of these plans, you’ll have to contact ConnectWise’s sales team. It's worth noting, however, that most RMM platforms maintain an on-request pricing structure because they offer customized plans, which isn’t the case with ConnectWise. The plans are all well laid out in advance with pre-determined features. So, keeping an on-request pricing seems a little odd in this case.

ConnectWise: Features

ConnectWise offers a lot of handy features that make remote management a breeze. For instance, it’s one of the few RMM platforms to come with integrated ScreenConnect – its proprietary remote desktop access management software. The best thing is that you get this right from the most basic plan. 

(Image credit: ConnectWise RMM)

This brings in functions like seamless and quick endpoint connections, a shared toolbox, and universal compatibility. IT teams can solve problems remotely via the user’s camera without any additional downloads. With other RMMs, however, you have to integrate a third-party access software, which doesn’t work as seamlessly as an out-of-the-box solution like ConnectWise.

Speaking of integrations, BrightGauge is another addition we liked. It’s basically a reporting tool that consolidates all your information in one place, giving you access to insightful business intelligence (BI) dashboards. It can capture data to convert it into skimmable charts, which helps you analyze trends and patterns quickly. Just like ScreenConnect, BrightGauge is also available on the Essential plan.

ConnectWise supports both OS (Windows and Mac) and third-party patching. You can even automate the patching function with customizable scripts. What’s more, you don’t have to write a script from scratch, either, thanks to the platform’s AI-generated scripting function that does it for you.

ConnectWise also offers dedicated NOC services, where, essentially, the platform takes the workload off your shoulders. This applies to regular patching activities, day-to-day BDR, routing management, and recovery backup. 

This allows your IT teams to focus on more critical client issues, ensuring a better overall customer experience. However – and it's not very surprising – that this comes at an extra cost and isn’t included in any of the pre-designed plans mentioned earlier.

ConnectWise: Interface and performance

The main ConnectWise RMM dashboard is clean and neatly showcases various widgets. You can find information in the form of charts and graphs, and a quick glance will be enough to know the status of your endpoints.

However, it is ConnectWise’s Asio dashboard that steals the deal for us. Unlike other RMMs, the Asio dashboard combines all of ConnectWise’a product functions and 20+ UIs in a single place.

(Image credit: ConnectWise RMM)

You can get live endpoints, patching, and network statuses from the ‘Unified Monitoring & Management’ tab. The ‘Solutions’ tab lets you manage your PSA functions, such as assigning and resolving customer tickets. Next, the ‘Centralized Data’ tab at the bottom combines all your data across various products to avoid repetitive functions and enable hyper-automation across various functions. 

The best part is that the dashboard isn’t limited to ConnectWise products – you can also add third-party vendors to extend your data into Asio, ensuring that all your apps share only a single data portfolio. This eliminates constant back and forth and makes data management seamless and unified.

ConnectWise: Security

ConnectWise has put in a lot of effort to build a robust security architecture. It has adopted the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and complies with ISO27000 standards that focus on network security, vulnerability and threat management, and incident management, among other things.

The platform employs a formal change control process, which reviews, approves, and tests changes to network devices, information systems, and other system components. ConnectWise also maintains audit logs, with a detailed access history of various systems.

The endpoints are also secured through regular and thorough penetration tests, vulnerability, and phishing assessments. Plus, in case there’s any loss of data during a major catastrophe, ConnectWise has active disaster recovery programs running across their cloud environments.

However, it's worth mentioning that ConnectWise’s ScreenConnect was hacked in February this year when malicious actors exploited two vulnerabilities in its system. Both issues were patched in time and ConnectWise has, since then, strengthened its security infrastructure. 

Overall, the platform has put in a lot of thought into designing and enforcing its safety measures to ensure users have a safe experience.

ConnectWise: Support

The level of customer support you get from ConnectWise depends on your plan. Here’s a quick look at the support channels available. 

It’s good to see that email and live chat support are available to every single user, irrespective of their plan. However, do note that if you’re on the most basic plan, you’ll only be able to connect to the service team on weekdays between 8am and 5pm. For users of the Standard plan, support is available 24/7, and Premium users can access assistance even on holidays.

Additionally, there’s a dedicated community forum where you can discuss your queries with platform experts. We also found a good deal of product documentation on the website that will help you out with common issues or questions.

ConnectWise: Final verdict

ConnectWise is a fairly robust RMM software offering functions like intelligent monitoring, automated patching, and AI scripting. However, its unified Asio dashboard is the showstopper and easily what impressed us the most. 

Even if you have purchased a number of ConnectWise products, the Asio dashboard combines the data of all the platforms into a single panel. This saves you a lot of data duplication and gives teams a holistic view of the statuses of various endpoints. 

Next, the entry-level Essentials plan, according to our testing, is more than enough for most modern IT teams and MSPs. It comes with integrated features like ScreenConnect, which lets you remotely access and troubleshoot endpoints. Plus, its Business Intelligence reporting tool, BrightGauge, pulls out information-driven reports in no time.

However, you will have to reach out to ConnectWise’s sales team to get a quote, even though the website has well-laid-out pre-configured plans.

ConnectWise: FAQs How much does ConnectWise cost?

Although ConnectWise does not reveal its pricing, it has three clear-cut plans: Essential, Standard, and Premium. The entry-level plan comes with all essential RMM functions, such as remote Windows and Mac monitoring, OS and third-party patching, and automations.

The Pro plan comes with advanced intelligent monitoring capabilities​ and basic network monitoring​. Lastly, the Premium plan offers unlimited remote access and support and Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 SaaS backup.

Is ConnectWise legit?

Founded in 1982, ConnectWise is a trustworthy and legitimate company. With over 40 years of experience in the IT industry, ConnectWise has grown to be one of the most reputable names in the RMM space. Its 25+ awards in 2024 are a testament to its quality and reliability of products.

Plus, it takes security measures seriously and has detailed policies for vulnerability management and threat mitigation. These are based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), and the platform also complies with ISO27000 standards.

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• Volt Typhoon is rapidly rebuilding its botnet of legacy routers
• Traffic is being obscured through webshells and MIPS-based malware
• Critical infrastructure needs to upgrade away from EOL devices

US allies and authorities recently dismantled parts of a network of legacy routers in small offices and home offices (SOHO) infected with the KV Botnet malware, used by the notorious Volt Typhoon group to target US critical infrastructure.

However, a huge new botnet targeting the same vulnerable legacy edge devices within critical infrastructure is rapidly growing, and Security Scorecard’s STRIKE Team thinks it is Volt Typhoon emerging from the ashes.

‘End-of-life’ (EOL) devices, those for which manufacturer support has ended, are again the main targets for this growing network.

SOHO and EOL devices

This time, Volt Typhoon has adapted to more effectively obscure its traffic using a number of tactics. By using SOHO and EOL devices, Volt Typhoon can maintain persistence within legacy routers without fear of security updates that could potentially boot them from their infrastructure. The group has also been spotted using MIPS-based malware to hide its connections and communications through port forwarding via 8433.

Webshells are also being implanted into routers to maintain remote control, which also disguise malicious traffic inside the router's standard network operations. Many of these devices have been detected on the Pacific island of New Caledonia, acting as a transfer point for traffic coming from Volt Typhoon in the Asia-Pacific region heading into the US, and vice versa.

The prime targets of Volt Typhoon’s activities are Cisco RV320/325 and Netgear ProSafe routers. Software maintenance releases and bug fixes for the Cisco RV320/325 ended in 2021, with STRIKE Team highlighting that Volt Typhoon compromised 30% of visible Cisco RV320/325 routers in just 37 days, with government and critical infrastructure being prime targets.

STRIKE Team recommends that government departments should address weaknesses such as the use of legacy devices within critical infrastructure to reduce the number of potential vulnerabilities and access points for cyber criminal organizations and state-sponsored groups.

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Founded in 2000, Kaseya is a well-known name in the IT and security management industry. With more than 24 years of experience, it now caters to more than 45,000 customers in 21 countries. In addition to its VSA RMM platform, Kaseya also offers a lot of other IT solutions, such as PSA, BCDR, cloud backup, email security, and pen testing. This makes it a one-stop destination for all your business's security needs.

Its VSA is an award-winning RMM platform offering features like device monitoring, IT automation and patching, remote access and control, omni-network SNMP monitoring, and mobile device management. You also get native ransomware detection and 600+ out-of-the-box scripts that help achieve quick automation.

However, a slightly steep price tag and a recent cybersecurity incident may have you wondering if it's the best network monitoring tool for your business. Read on to find out.

Kaseya VSA: Plans and pricing

As is the case with most RMM platforms, you’ll have to request a custom quote from the Kaseya sales team. However, after some digging, we found out that the prices may fall between $4-5 per endpoint per month, which, in our experience with RMM platforms, is a bit too high.

If you’re a large business with many endpoints, you’ll have good bargaining power. However, there are several other RMM platforms like TeamViewer that cost less than $0.50 an endpoint.

A silver lining when it comes to Kaseya VSA’s pricing is that you get a 14-day free trial. This gives you ample time to try out the platform before committing to a paid plan. It's worth noting that N-central RMM, another fantastic platform, also offers a free trial (30 days).

Kaseya VSA: Features

Kaseya VSA offers several monitoring and patch management functions, making it a complete RMM platform. You get the benefits of zero-configuration SNMP device monitoring for all your switches, printers, and routers in the IT network.

All you have to do is check a box, and Kaseya will start detecting and responding to alerts to various SNMP IT incidents. You can also automate actions to be taken whenever an alert is triggered. These include creating an alarm or a ticket or sending emails to recipients.

(Image credit: Kaseya VSA)

There’s also a VSA Network Topology Map, which shows you all the devices. Here, you can quickly identify an open alert – just look for a red alarm badge.

Kaseya automations can also be used for auto-remediation of IT issues by running scripts. For example, simple tasks like restarting a printer or rebooting a system after installing an application can be automated. There’s also an automation library with 600+ scripts, reports, and monitor sets, which gives you a head start, ensuring you don’t have to build a script from scratch.

IT technicians can remotely access endpoints with Kaseya to resolve any issues with full console access. There’s also a stealth mode remote control tool called Live Connect which gives you access to an endpoint without the user’s knowledge.

You can access the device’s desktop, memory utilization, and file and directory transfer. Feel free to even browse their drive, add, modify, or delete files, and make changes to files locally. The best part is that you can launch multiple sessions simultaneously.

Plus, just like Datto RMM, Kaseya VSA also comes with native ransomware detection, which detects any crypto-ransomware on endpoints using behavioral analysis. It immediately sends a notification to the IT technicians and starts the process of quarantining the affected files. This can come in handy even if you have a dedicated antivirus solution. After all, an extra layer of protection is always good to have.

Kaseya VSA: Interface and performance

Kaseya follows a simple interface with a white background laced with blue headers. All the functions can be accessed from a panel on the left. You’ll find various sub-options under each function, allowing you to quickly access any feature you need. All in all, it's nothing out of the ordinary, which, by the way, is a good thing!

(Image credit: Kaseya VSA)

Although the interface may appear to be too basic at first glance, it’s super effective and gets the job done. There are no lags or technical glitches with the platform, ensuring a seamless experience.

Just like with Datto RMM, you can create custom dashboards in Kaseya as well. This can be done using various widgets and charts. The default dashboard houses important pieces of information, such as system statuses, active alerts, etc. You can also edit each of these widgets – add or remove them as per your priorities.

Kaseya VSA: Security

Kaseya VSA complies with various security standards. For instance, the company conducts SOC 2 Type II audits, which validate the operating efficiency of its internal controls.

They're also in active compliance with the ISO 27001 standard, which lays down guidelines for the management of ISMS (information security management system). Users can also exercise their data privacy rights under GDPR and CCPA with Kaseya VSA. All communications between Kaseya agents and the Kaseya server are protected with industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption.

Apart from this, the company also conducts regular penetration tests (both internal and external) to ensure there aren't any unnoticed vulnerabilities in their system. You can also set up various role and scope-specific access permissions and enable two-factor authentications. Overall, Kaseya’s security structure is among the most robust we've seen.

With all that in mind, the fact remains that Kaseya was a victim of a ransomware attack this year. However, there wasn't any damage reported and the attack was neutralized in time. While this incident can be considered a black mark on Kaseya’s integrity, it has only helped the company bolster its security infrastructure.

Kaseya VSA: Support

Kaseya offers technical support through three channels: support tickets, email, and call. Phone support is available from Monday to Friday between 6am and 6pm EST. An advantage of using a global product like Kaseya is that there’s an active global community of users and technicians, where you’ll find answers to all your common queries.

Plus, Kaseya itself offers a lot of documentation, help, how-to articles, and YouTube videos that help you climb the platform’s learning curve.

Kaseya VSA: Final verdict

Kaseya VSA is a feature-rich RMM solution ideal for large IT teams and MSPs. VSA’s network discovery and SNMP monitoring will not let any device go undetected in your IT environment. You can then monitor them and get alerts in real time.

It’s also possible to auto-remediate common alerts with pre-designed scripts. There’s also a stealth remote control tool that gives technicians full access to any endpoint, with the authority to modify files without the knowledge of the end user. The Kaseya dashboard is likable, too. It's simple and allows you to drill down on various endpoint parameters with custom filters and reports – and you can also add a custom dashboard with widgets of your choice.

However, while Kaseya is certainly not short on features, they're priced at a premium. Although it doesn’t reveal its pricing, final costs may fall anywhere between $4-5/endpoint/month, which may be a tad too expensive for most businesses.

Plus, Kaseya suffered a cyberattack this year when the Russian ransomware gang REvil exploited a vulnerability in its systems. Although the issue has been resolved, the same cannot be said about the customers’ confidence in the company, which has affected its business as well. With that said, however, the company boasts a beefed up set of privacy and security credentials, which includes regular penetration testing to avoid such incidents in the future.

Kaseya VSA: FAQs Is Datto RMM part of Kaseya?

Kaseya acquired Datto RMM in April 2022 for $6.2 billion, but it still exists as a standalone RMM platform separate from Kaseya VSA. With Datto, you can natively administer your Microsoft 365 tasks through a single-user management platform.

It also comes with automated patch management for OS and third-party applications, as well as native ransomware detection. There’s also a built-in network topology mapping, which gives you a clear view of all the devices in your IT environment.

Is Kaseya safe?

Kaseya is an experienced IT company that complies with various standards, including GDPR and ISO 27001. Plus, it has established various internal security policies. Despite this, though, Kaseya was attacked by a ransomware gang this year, who managed to exploit a vulnerability in its systems.

However, the attack was quickly neutralized and no damage was reported. In fact, this incident has helped the company further strengthen its security structure. It now conducts regular penetration testing to avoid such incidents in the future.

What products does Kaseya offer?

Kaseya is a multi-product company offering a range of IT solutions. You can use its VSA RMM to manage and monitor all your endpoints. Additionally, the company also offers PSA tools, data backup solution, cloud management tools, and email security suite. There’s also Kaseya 365, where you get multiple product functions bundled into a single solution.

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• Mac mini M4 has been rated for repairability by iFixit
• The compact computer scored a 7/10 with a laudable modular design
• There are sticking points with the proprietary SSD, though

Apple’s Mac mini M4 has been given the teardown treatment by iFixit, and there are generally positive findings here, albeit with some catches.

The website is famous for taking apart hardware and rating it in terms of design and repairability considerations, and iFixit begins its video teardown by underlining just how much smaller the new Mac mini is compared to the computer in the past.

Apple achieved this by cramming a lot of components into a small space in an impressive manner, and something to note is that the power supply has been changed from a single module to a board that runs across the top of the chassis.

There’s also a large fan inside the Mac mini M4 and an innovative cooling design which is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of keeping the power used in check given the limited space in the more compact chassis.

Another interesting move on the cooling front is that the Mac mini with vanilla M4 has an aluminum heatsink, whereas the model with the M4 Pro SoC has a larger copper heatsink to better cool the more powerful processor, which makes sense of course.

There’s good news on the storage front: the SSD is removable, as we’ve already heard about, so upgrading to a bigger drive is possible. We say that, but there are caveats here, which we’ll come back to in a moment.

The plus point of removable and replaceable ports is also noted, at least on the front of the Mac mini – sadly the rear ports are soldered (as is the system RAM, alongside the M4 chip itself at the heart of the machine).

The controversial position of the power button on the underside of the Mac mini also gets a mention, inevitably, along with an observation that perhaps Apple is overly concerned about aesthetics here.

Overall, iFixit praises the thinking about the modular design, with the likes of those ports (on the front), and the storage, pinning a 7/10 (provisional) score for repairability on the Mac mini M4.

Analysis: Storage and Apple’s proprietary choice

Coming back to the issue of storage, while the SSD can be upgraded, there are catches as mentioned (which we already touched on in a previous report). The drives are physically different between the Mac mini with M4 and the computer with the M4 Pro, so you can’t swap SSDs between those models. However, iFixit did successfully upgrade a base Mac mini M4 with a 512GB SSD from another model replacing a 256GB drive.

The other fly in the ointment here is that the SSD is a proprietary Apple drive, so you can’t just go and buy any old solid-state drive and plug it into your Mac mini. You’ll need an SSD from another Mac mini, or one sold by Apple – if the company starts offering these (which isn’t the case yet). So, that rather limits the storage upgrade options as you can imagine.

There is the possibility that third parties will produce compatible SSDs for Mac mini upgrades, and indeed there have already been announcements to that effect. The downside of such a ‘fudged’ (well, unofficial) drive installation could be that Apple closes off this avenue via firmware updates that render the third-party SSD inoperable, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves here.

Let’s just hope Apple sells SSDs for Mac mini storage upgrades itself, but skeptics are already doubtful this might happen – and the point of the replaceable drive here is more about facilitating repairs, than upgrades.

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Cookiebot is a comprehensive consent management platform designed to help businesses comply with data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Founded by Cybot in 2012 and now part of Usercentrics, Cookiebot aims to streamline the process of managing user consent through customizable banners and detailed tracking reports. It's particularly geared towards small to medium businesses that need user-friendly and efficient solutions.

While the platform excels in its integration capabilities and user interface, it has its drawbacks. Notably, there's no mobile app, and many advanced customization features are locked behind paid plans. Despite these limitations, Cookiebot remains a popular choice for businesses seeking a reliable consent management solution.

Cookiebot: Pricing

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Cookiebot offers a variety of pricing plans designed to meet different business needs and budgets. The pricing structure allows businesses to choose a plan that fits their requirements.

The Free plan is a great starting point for small websites with up to 50 subpages. It includes essential features like pre-made banner templates and Google Consent Mode support, making it ideal for businesses looking to meet basic privacy regulations without spending extra money.

For more advanced features, Cookiebot provides several Premium plans: Lite, Small, Medium, and Large. The Lite plan starts at $8 per domain per month and includes all premium features. The Small plan is priced at $16 per domain per month and supports up to 350 subpages. The Medium plan costs $34 per domain per month for up to 3,500 subpages, while the Large plan, at $56 per domain per month, is for websites with over 3,500 subpages.

Each Premium plan comes with advanced features like custom banner creation, multi-language support, and detailed analytics. Cookiebot's pricing reflects the value of these features, offering a scalable solution for managing consent across multiple domains and subpages.

Overall, Cookiebot's pricing is competitive and offers flexible options to meet various needs and budgets. The platform provides excellent value for money with its comprehensive feature set, making it a smart choice for businesses wanting to ensure privacy compliance.

Cookiebot: Features

Cookiebot helps businesses easily comply with data protection regulations while ensuring that users are informed and in control of their cookie preferences. Here are some of its top features:

Customizable consent banners

One of the best features of Cookiebot is its customizable consent banners. Users can adjust the design, layout, and compliance settings to meet regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and others. The platform supports both explicit and implicit consent types and provides options for different banner display formats, color schemes, and logo integration. This level of customization ensures that banners are legally compliant and match the brand.

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Detailed compliance reports

Cookiebot provides detailed compliance reports that give insights into user consent activities. The platform tracks the number of detected trackers and points out compliance issues, all organized into easy-to-read reports. This feature is essential for businesses that need to show compliance to regulatory authorities quickly.

CMS integrations

Another advantage of Cookiebot is its integration capabilities, making it simple to add to existing websites. The platform works with major CMSs like WordPress, Hubspot, and Shopify, allowing for easy implementation and management of consent banners across various web environments.

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Automatic consent record storage

Cookiebot automatically collects and securely stores consent records using SSL connections and strong encryption. This centralized consent log can be easily exported, making it simpler to demonstrate compliance to authorities when necessary.

Google consent mode support

Cookiebot also supports Google Consent Mode, allowing users to manage consent records effectively while ensuring privacy compliance. This feature is especially useful for websites that rely on Google services, helping to maintain analytics and advertising functionality without compromising user privacy.

• We've tested and rounded up the best privacy tool and anonymous browser of 2024.

Cookiebot: Setup

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Setting up Cookiebot is a simple process designed for users with different levels of technical skills. After signing up, users find a well-organized dashboard that clearly shows the available resources and tools. The platform's clean and user-friendly interface makes it easy to configure consent banners and privacy settings with little effort.

For first-time users, Cookiebot provides various resources to help with the learning process. Detailed help articles and video tutorials offer step-by-step guidance on setting up and customizing the platform to meet specific business needs. The onboarding process also includes a guided tour of the main features, quickly familiarizing users with the interface.

To implement Cookiebot, users just need to copy a script tag and insert it into their website's HEAD tag. Although this may seem challenging for those with limited technical skills, the platform offers clear guidance to ensure a smooth setup. For more complex integrations, Cookiebot's compatibility with Google Tag Manager provides an easier alternative.

Throughout the setup, Cookiebot focuses on being user-friendly and accessible. The design allows even novice users to manage consent banners and privacy compliance without feeling overwhelmed. Overall, Cookiebot's setup process is efficient and well-supported, making it a great choice for businesses of all sizes.

Cookiebot: Support

(Image credit: Usercentrics/Cookiebot)

Cookiebot provides strong customer support to help users manage their consent needs effectively. The platform offers various support options, including email and live chat, to accommodate different user preferences and time zones. Additionally, there’s a comprehensive help center filled with detailed articles and guides on different aspects of the platform.

Support quality is consistent across all plans, meaning users receive the same level of help regardless of their subscription tier. Response times are generally quick, with most inquiries addressed within 24 hours, which is impressive for a platform of this size.

Besides traditional support channels, Cookiebot also features a community forum where users can connect, share tips, and find solutions to common challenges. This forum is a great resource and helps foster a sense of community among Cookiebot users.

One area for improvement is the lack of phone support, which could enhance the overall user experience, especially for those who prefer direct conversations. Still, Cookiebot's customer support is reliable and effective, providing users with the resources they need to make the most of the platform.

Cookiebot: Final verdict

Cookiebot is a user-friendly consent management platform that provides strong compliance solutions. It offers customizable consent banners, detailed tracking reports, and easy integrations with content management systems, making it a great option for small to medium-sized businesses. The platform features an intuitive setup process and responsive customer support, adding to its appeal.

However, some users might find the lack of a dedicated mobile app and limitations of the free plan to be downsides. Still, Cookiebot delivers good value for money, with competitive pricing and options tailored to different business needs.

In summary, Cookiebot is a solid choice for businesses looking for an effective and scalable consent management solution. Its features and support help ensure privacy compliance in a more regulated digital world.

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