Pocket-lint Daily - Apple Mac updated & WhatsApp voice notes

Happy Wednesday! By Chris Hall | Wednesday January 18 2023 Have a great day.  - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [Facebook]([Twitter]([Instagram]( [Website](  Apple updates MacBook Pro and Mac mini with M2 options APPLE What's happened? Apple has taken the wraps off a new version of its [popular little Mac mini]( - now packing the similarly fresh M2 and M2 Pro chips for even more power, while also updating the [MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max options](. Why does it matter? The update means there are now new power options for the new laptops as we move into 2023. What's my take? Updating the MacBook Pro was rather predictable: having offered the M1 Pro and M1 Max in 2022, I don't think anyone was surprised to see the same move made with the 2023 models. But, it does leave the MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 (2022) sitting in the middle, and to our minds, not as attractive as the MacBook Air M2 from the same year, which is cheaper. However, the update to the Mac mini is more exciting. The last model (2021) offered the M1 and now you can get the M2 in the Mac mini for a lower price, which is great if you want a macOS desktop. And, the added availability of the M2 Pro on the Mac mini means it has a lot more grunt if you want to set it to more demanding tasks. It's a power move and great to see Apple taking the Mac mini a little more seriously.  WhatsApp voice status feature is rolling out to users in the coming weeks POCKET-LINT What's happened? WhatsApp is testing a new feature that [will let users upload a 30-second voice note]( as their status. Why does it matter? The feature is currently being tested by a selection of beta participants and seems to be rolling out to more. What's my take? If you haven't noticed, voice notes are taking over the world. People have stopped having conversations - or sending messages - and are instead sending voice notes back and forth. Giving people the option to have a WhatsApp status that's a voice note certainly picks up on this trend. If your WhatsApp status is "Hey there! I am using WhatsApp", then you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, and probably don't even care.  A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR Growatt VITA 550 - All the power you need on the go GROWATT Portable power generators provide their owners with a reliable power source wherever and whenever needed. But, not all generators of this kind are created the same. Some may lack the capacity to fulfill all needs, while others might lack certain advanced features. That’s precisely why Growatt created the [VITA 550](  - a portable power station that offers all of the benefits in a compact, easily transferable package. [Read more.](  LG C3 OLED evo initial review: Has the best got better? POCKET-LINT What's happened? LG revealed its 2023 OLED TV lineup during CES at the beginning of January in Las Vegas. The portfolio includes the wireless LG M3, the flagship LG G3, and the TV that is likely to be the company's sweet spot - the LG C3. Our quick verdict The LG C3 might not have the same panel improvements as the flagship G3, or the wireless capabilities of the M3, but there are some great features on board and if the best gets better, then we can't really argue with that. [Read our review.](  In Case You Missed it Both iPhone 16 Pro models [could get periscope cameras]( for better zoom. --- Play The Last of Us Part 1 for free as [PlayStation celebrates the TV show's release](. --- Amazon Fire TV Stick with an Alexa voice remote is now 25% cheaper, [priced at $29.99]( (was $39.99). That's a $10 saving on the HD video streamer, offering access to Hulu, Disney+, Netflix and much more.  From The Gear Loop ROSSIGNOL The best of the Slide & OTS Winter 2023: Top products that stole the show. [Read more.](  And finally... APPLE/POCKET-LINT Here's how the Apple MacBook Pro (M2 Pro/Max, 2023) models compare to the MacBook Air (M2, 2022). [Which should you buy?](  Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify](,  or access it on the web via [Acast](. In this edition, we talk about the EE Pocket-lint Awards 2022 and discuss all the winners. [Listen to the latest episode today.]( Thanks for reading - if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project] [Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( You are subscribed to this email as {EMAIL}. Click here to modify your [preferences]( or [unsubscribe](.