Your mousepad improves the usability of your mouse, allowing it to operate with improved accuracy and without jitter. While some mice don’t require the use of a mousepad, some users, such as gamers, continue to use them for their slick surfaces, helping to give them an in-game advantage. Whether you’re a gamer or not, you should consider cleaning your mousepad from time to time. As mousepads rest upon your work surface, they can accumulate dust, dirt, and other particulates.
If your mousepad is really showing its age, though, it might be time to upgrade. Be sure to check out our guide on the best PC gaming accessories, including a selection of great mice and mousepads.
Luckily, to clean a mousepad, you don’t need any special tools or chemicals; in fact, you likely already have everything you need at home. Mousepad surfaces can be extremely delicate, so we want to avoid putting them through too much stress. Using standard household dish soap, along with a bit of elbow grease, is a great way to get your mousepad clean.
Step 1: Place your mousepad on a flat surface for cleaning.
Step 2: Wet your cloth under warm water from the tap, then squeeze it out so it is damp. If you are using a soft brush, wet the bristles under the warm water.
Step 3: Place a small dab of dish soap on your cloth or brush.
Step 4: Touch the cloth or brush to the mousepad’s surface and begin scrubbing using a small circular motion; this process may take a bit of time.
Step 5: Once satisfied with your mousepad’s cleanliness, run the entire pad under cool running water from the sink to remove any soap and debris.
Step 6: Use a dry towel to dry your mousepad; if needed, give the mousepad time to air dry before using it again with your computer.
When cleaning a mousepad, you may be tempted to take a few shortcuts, but be warned that many mousepads can be damaged if handled too roughly. While it may seem like a good idea at first, do not put your mousepad in a washing machine, dishwasher, or microwave; these devices can be too aggressive with your soft mousepad. Additionally, avoid using a clothes dryer, hairdryer, or any other heat source to speed up the drying process, as many mousepads use plastics that can potentially melt under these circumstances.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.