The base iPad will reportedly switch to USB-C this fall

Apple may finally give its starter iPad a much-needed technology upgrade. 9to5Macsources claim Apple’s next base tablet will switch from a Lightning port to USB-C upon launch sometime in the fall. Like most recent iPads, you could plug directly into monitors and other peripherals while improving the speed of wired data transfers.

There are also hints of a broader performance upgrade. The new entry iPad will supposedly include a larger screen with the same resolution found in the iPad Air. You wouldn’t get the same image quality as the Air, but you wouldn’t have to settle for a significantly smaller display just to save some money. Apple will also equip the iPad with the fourth-gen Air’s A14 Bionic chip and introduce 5G support to cellular variants, according to the tipsters.

There’s no mention of whether or not Apple will freshen the design of the iPad, including support for the Magic Keyboard or second-generation Pencil. It wouldn’t be surprising if the slate received a makeover, however. The base iPad is the last model to stick to Lightning, a home button and other features that have been around for a decade or more. If the rumor is accurate, the new version would jump into the modern era while still giving buyers a reason to spend extra for the Air.

Adobe will release a free version of Photoshop for browsers

Adobe plans to debut a pared down, web-only version of its popular photo-editing tool Photoshop, The Vergereported today. The company is currently testing this new freemium version with users in Canada, but will eventually make it available to a wider audience. For now, anyone in Canada who creates an Adobe account can access the free, browser-only version of Photoshop. Engadget has reached out to Adobe to find out when it plans to make the tool available to users worldwide, and will update when we hear back.

Photoshop has long been the industry standard for image editing, but its monthly license fee likely dissuades most from using it. Meanwhile, free or freemium photo-editing software like Pixlr, Canva and Photopea have embraced casual users and also grown more sophisticated in their offerings. As The Verge notes, Adobe is making its basic photo editing tools available for free in order to reach users that don’t belong to its usual audience. Adobe’s hope is that some freemium Photoshop users will become paying subscribers, especially since the company plans to offer more advanced features on the web-only version that can only be unlocked with a subscription.

If this sounds somewhat familiar, it’s because Adobe launched its web-only version of Photoshop and Illustrator for subscribers last fall; though their functionality was limited to basic editing and sharing comments among collaborators on projects. This new, free web version of Photoshop significantly expands the available tools, and allows users to start new projects, as well as access more advanced color correction and editing tools.

Microsoft ends Internet Explorer support in Windows 10 tomorrow

Internet Explorer is bowing out just short of its 27th birthday. As revealed last May, Microsoft will no longer support the Internet Explorer 11 desktop app for Windows 10’s usual Semi Annual Channel as of June 15th. You’ll still receive IE11 support if you’re using Windows Server 2022 or an earlier OS release with a long-term service extension, but this marks the effective end of software updates for most people. Windows 11 doesn’t include an IE desktop app.

The Edge browser’s IE Mode will still receive support through 2029 or later, so you won’t be stuck if you just need compatibility with the older web engine. Microsoft won’t be subtle in pushing you toward its newer browser, however. The company will “progressively” redirect users from IE to Edge in the next few months, and will permanently disable the old software through a Windows update.

The deadline marks the end to a bittersweet chapter in Microsoft’s history. Internet Explorer launched alongside Windows 95, and offered a first taste of the web to many people who hadn’t already used early browsers like Netscape Navigator. It played a key role in popularizing the internet, and for some became synonymous with going online — it had 95 percent of usage share by 2003, and wasn’t eclipsed by Edge until 2019.

However, Internet Explorer was also closely linked to some of Microsoft’s worst practices. While bundling IE with Windows helped web newcomers, it also stifled competition. The US’ 2001 antitrust case against Microsoft revolved around accusations that the company abused IE restrictions to maintain Windows’ market dominance. The browser also developed reputations for poor security (particularly through ActiveX controls) and non-standard rendering that frequently forced website creators to optimize for IE. Microsoft eventually addressed some of IE’s most glaring flaws, but the slow pace of that turnaround helped browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox rise to prominence — there’s a reason why the current Edge browser is based on Chromium rather than in-house tech.

You probably won’t miss IE much as a result. It’s still hard to ignore the program’s impact, though, and its flaws ultimately led to more browser choices as well as a shift toward true web standards. IE’s legacy may persist for years to come.

13-inch MacBook Pro M2 will be available to preorder on June 17th

You won’t have to wait too long to buy a Mac with an M2 chip inside. Apple has announced that it will start taking orders for the 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 on June 17th, with customers getting their orders on June 24th. The system starts at $1,299 ($1,199 for education) with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro offers a simple performance boost over the M1 model, for better or for worse. You’ll still get the familiar design, the Touch Bar and two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. It’s still a capable machine with 20 hours of battery life, but this isn’t a major overhaul.

In a sense, its greatest rival will come from Apple: the still-to-be-released MacBook Air M2. You won’t get a cooling fan or the longest possible runtime, but you will get a larger screen, a MagSafe power connection, more free ports and a slimmer, lighter chassis. The 13-inch Pro is best for those who need sustained computing power for long periods, but can’t rationalize the cost of the 14-inch system.

Google Maps now shows toll prices on Android and iOS

Google Maps can already help you avoid toll roads, but now it will let you know just how much you’ll pay if you take those (supposedly) quicker routes. Android Policenotes that Google has enabled its previously promised toll pricing in Maps for Android and iOS. Check the route options before you navigate and you’ll get an estimated cost based on when you’re travelling.

You can also tell Maps to show prices with or without toll passes. The app will still let you avoid toll roads whenever possible.

The prices should be available for about 2,000 toll roads in the US, India, Indonesia and Japan. More countries are “coming soon,” Google said. This won’t be the most comprehensive feature at first, then, but it could prove valuable if it saves you money or time on a lengthy trip.

The best smartwatches

Just a few years ago, the case for smartwatches wasn’t clear. Today, the wearable world is filled with various high-quality options, and a few key players have muscled their way to the front of the pack. Chances are, if you’re reading this guide, you’v…