Apple on Wednesday unveiled the MacBook Neo, a lower-priced addition to its laptop lineup starting at $599, as it looks to broaden its reach in a price-sensitive PC market while rivals face tighter supply of memory chips.

A lower-priced laptop marks one of Apple’s most aggressive entry points into the PC market in years. The new MacBook will be powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same processor that debuted in the company’s iPhone 16 Pro models in 2024.

At $599, it is far cheaper in both nominal and inflation-adjusted terms than Apple’s previous non-Pro, non-Air MacBook, which debuted in May 2006 at $1,099 — roughly $1,750 in today’s dollars.

The new MacBook is not Apple’s first foray into the price point. The company made a special $699 MacBook Air specially for Walmart using its M1 chip, which originally debuted in 2020, after retiring other models with that chip.

The new MacBook aims squarely at users of Google-powered Chromebooks and lower-end Windows devices, where Microsoft’s own efforts to shift to more battery-life-friendly chips made with technology from Arm have failed to ignite a sales boom.

Its foray into the mid-range PC segment could help Apple broaden its reach among students and first-time buyers.

In the midst of a global memory chip crunch, the new MacBook also comes with only 8 gigabytes of unified memory, half of the 16 gigabytes in the M4-based MacBook and less than the 12 gigabytes in the iPhone 17 Pro.

Global PC and smartphone markets remain highly price sensitive after several quarters of uneven demand, and hardware makers continue to navigate fluctuating component costs, particularly for memory chips.

Apple this week launched its $599 iPhone 17e with higher base storage and refreshed its MacBook Air and Pro lineup with new M5 chips and standard configurations with larger memory, as it looks to defend market share in competitive smartphone and softening PC markets, strained by rising memory costs.

Andrew Gunn, died at his home in Toronto after a two-year battle with ALS at age 58.

Gunn carved out a remarkable career as one of Disney’s most trusted producers.

He delivered a slate of family comedies and reboots that defined the studio’s early 2000s live action era.

From Freaky Friday and Sky High to The Haunted Mansion and Cruella, Gunn’s productions blended heart, humor, and spectacle.

He left behind a filmography that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Let’s take a look at Andrew Gunn’s filmography highlights:

Eddie (1996)

Andrew Gunn’s Hollywood journey began with Eddie in 1996, where he earned an early co‑producer credit on the Whoopi Goldberg comedy. 

This marked his official entry into film production and set the stage for his future career in family entertainment.

The Country Bears (2002)

In 2002, Gunn produced The Country Bears, a quirky Disney musical comedy inspired by the beloved theme park attraction. 

While unconventional, the film became a cult favorite among Disney fans for its offbeat charm.

Freaky Friday (2003)

Gunn’s breakthrough came with Freaky Friday in 2003, the hit remake starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. 

The body‑swap comedy was a box‑office success and cemented Gunn’s reputation as a producer of family‑friendly blockbusters.

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

That same year, Gunn produced The Haunted Mansion, a Disney adaptation led by Eddie Murphy. 

The film blended comedy with spooky visuals, bringing one of Disneyland’s most iconic rides to life on the big screen.

Sky High (2005)

In 2005, Gunn delivered Sky High, a superhero high school adventure that quickly became a fan‑favorite. 

Its originality and charm earned it a cult following.

College Road Trip (2008)

Gunn continued his Disney streak with College Road Trip in 2008, a family comedy starring Martin Lawrence and Raven‑Symoné. 

The film leaned into classic Disney chaos, following a father‑daughter road trip filled with mishaps.

Bedtime Stories (2008)

Also in 2008, Gunn produced Bedtime Stories, an Adam Sandler comedy where bedtime tales magically came to life. 

The film mixed fantasy with family humor, appealing to audiences of all ages.

Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

In 2009, Gunn reimagined a Disney classic with Race to Witch Mountain, a sci‑fi adventure starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. 

The reboot introduced the story to a new generation while honoring its roots.

Bad Santa 2 (2016)

Breaking away from Disney, Gunn produced Bad Santa 2 in 2016. 

The dark comedy sequel showcased his versatility, proving he could succeed outside the family‑friendly mold.

Unhinged (2020)

In 2020, Gunn pivoted sharply into gritty adult storytelling with Unhinged, a psychological thriller starring Russell Crowe. 

The film highlighted Gunn’s ability to tackle darker, more intense narratives.

Cruella (2021)

Gunn returned to Disney with Cruella in 2021, a stylish origin story of the infamous villain. 

Emma Stone’s performance brought fresh energy to the franchise, and Gunn’s production gave the film its edgy, fashion‑forward flair.

Freakier Friday (2025)

Most recently, Gunn revisited one of his biggest successes with Freakier Friday in 2025. 

The sequel to the beloved 2003 hit proved his enduring ability to breathe new life into fan‑favorite stories with a modern twist.

King Charles’s team seems to be taking a break from the ongoing royal crisis as they focus their energies towards something positive.

The Royal Collection Trust, a team dedicated to care and conserve the royal collection, marked a special occasion which celebrated the victory of good over evil. This particular sub-division of the Palace is also responsible for spotlighting historical works from history.

As Hindu Brits mark their annual religious festival of colour, the team decided to highlight the work painting from the late 18th century created by North Indian artists. They dubbed it as a “masterpiece of colour and devotion”.

“Happy Holi!” the statement began. “This vibrant Hindu festival celebrates love, spring, and the triumph of good over evil. In this fantastical scene, the god Krishna joins the gopis (female devotees) and a group of yogis for a joyful celebration in a forest grove.”

The painting comes from an album of Hindu deities as an apt tribute to the occasion.

The royal family has currently have been facing a slew of issues as King Charles is set to make a major decision. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s dark shadow continues to the follow the royals even though he has been removed from all ties.

There are growing calls from the public to remove Andrew from the line of succession and even though the royals have continued with their duties, there is a looming presence of the shamed ex-prince. This had been a pleasant break from the turmoil for the royals.