Ever since Apple re-branded as the “Privacy” company several years back, it’s been rolling out features designed to show its commitment to protecting users. Yet while customers might feel safer using an iPhone, there’s already plenty of evidence that Apple’s branding efforts don’t always match the reality of its…
You can snag a pair of the well-reviewed Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds for just $117 via Wellbots, a savings of $83. This matches the previous low for the product which was set during Amazon’s Prime Day event a few weeks back. Just pop in our exclusive discount code “ENGPIX83” at checkout and you’ll be good to go.
We called these earbuds the company’s best effort to date in our official review, praising the deep and punchy bass, the useful touch controls, wireless charging options and more. As a matter of fact, it even made our list of the best wireless earbuds for 2023. In other words, these are the real deal.
Our biggest complaint was the price, so this deep discount is more than welcome. However, we also called out the relatively lengthy pairing process and the half-baked transparency mode. The ambient sounds provided by the earbuds come in as muffled when this mode is activated, defeating the purpose of providing exterior noises in the first place. Beyond that short list of cons, however, these are considered the best earbuds on the market for Android devices. In most scenarios they sound absolutely fantastic.
This deal from Wellbots also extends to another big-time Google device. You can get the Google Nest Hub Max for $130, a savings of $100. Make sure to put in our exclusive discount code “ENGMAX100” to save all of that sweet, sweet cheddar. We praised the smart home controller upon launch, touting its accurate facial recognition tech, the integrated Nest camera, and the above-average sound quality, in addition to wide integration with smart home platforms.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-pixel-buds-pro-are-on-sale-for-117-130040494.html?src=rss
The highly sought-after nail tech is just here for the vibes — and to reimagine a long-running trope.
The next upgrade to one of the most ubiquitous chips in all of the Android ecosystem is trying to hit Google on its own turf, that being increasingly ubiquitous generative AI. Qualcomm’s week-long chip extravaganza in Maui showed off the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that’s ready for OEMs’ flagship devices shipping next year.…
It seems like just about every streaming service has raised their price this year – most recently, Apple TV+, Netflix and Disney+. In this episode, we chat with Janko Roettgers, author of the newsletter Lowpass, about the state of streaming media. Why are these companies pushing their prices up now, and what does that mean for you, the viewer? Does this mean the dream of cord cutting is over? (Spoiler: No, not really.)
Also, we chat about Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chips, adult film star Riley Reid’s new AI chatbot, and why Super Mario Wonder is the best 2D Mario game since Super Mario World.
Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!
Reporter Janko Roettgers explains what’s going on with streaming price increases – 1:0
Other News: 41 states use Meta over Instagram’s influence on kids – 23:15
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 brings more AI power to phones – 28:59
Snapdragon X Elite takes aim at Apple’s M series chips – 33:26
Working on – 42:30
Pop culture picks – 46:12
Credits
Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Ben Ellman
Guest: Janko Roettgers
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-podcast-streaming-video-price-hikes-131535731.html?src=rss
Double Tap is arguably the killer feature in the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The gesture is Apple’s answer to the problem of using a smartwatch when your opposite hand is holding a bag of groceries, dog leash, flashlight or anything else. In addition, it can be a splendid accessibility feature for people with disabilities that could limit arm or hand mobility. Although the company only offers limited customization of the feature at launch, you can tweak a couple of settings to fine-tune Double Tap to your liking.
Before you can use Double Tap, you’ll need to ensure your Apple Watch is up-to-date. It requires at least watchOS 10.1, which Apple rolled out to customers on October 25. First, you need to update your paired iPhone to at least iOS 17.1, which became available the same day. You can do that on your phone in Settings > General > Software Update.
After upgrading your phone’s firmware, open the Apple Watch app on your paired phone, and then go to General > Software Update. Tap “Install” and wait for the update to complete. Your watch must be charged to at least 50 percent while on its charger to initiate the installation.
Although Apple may offer more customization in future software updates, Double Tap currently only lets you change how it handles audio playback and the Smart Stack. The latter, new in watchOS 10, is the pile of widgets you view from your watch face by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or scrolling up with the Digital Crown.
First, open the Apple Watch app on your paired iPhone to customize these categories. Select Gestures > Double Tap, and then choose from the available options:
Playback lets you choose between pinching your fingers to play / pause (the default) or skip to the next track while listening to music or podcasts.
Smart Stack chooses how Double Taps navigates the pile of widgets. “Advance” means each tap moves to the next widgets (default), while “Select” will select the first widget with a subsequent tap.
After activating Double Tap, you can play around with all the things it can do. They include:
Audio playback: Pause / resume or (after changing the setting above) skip to the next track.
Phone calls: Answer or hang up a call.
Notifications: Initiate the primary action from any alert. For example, reply to a message or snooze a reminder. (It works with third-party apps too.)
Smart Stack: Scroll through widgets from any watch face.
View messages: Read a full message when you receive a new text.
Reply to messages: Reply with voice dictation when you get to the end of the message. Another Double Tap will confirm sending after you finish speaking.
Read longer notifications: After opening an alert that doesn’t fit entirely on the screen, double-tap again to scroll through one that’s too long to display on your Apple Watch’s screen. You can repeat this until you’re at the end.
Alarm: Snooze an alarm.
Stopwatch: Stop or resume a stopwatch.
Timers: When viewing a timer, pause (if it’s running), resume (if paused) or end the timer.
Remote shutter: Take a photo on your iPhone when using the Apple Watch’s Camera Remote.
Workout: Start or stop automatic Workout reminders if it detects that you’re exercising without having started a workout on your watch.
When you use Double Tap, a blue hand icon appears at the top of your watch’s screen. If you try double-tapping on something that isn’t compatible with the feature, the icon will appear and shake back and forth like it’s saying, “No.”
If you navigate back to Settings > Gestures > Double Tap on your paired iPhone, you’ll see an option to disable the feature if you’re in a situation where you worry about triggering it accidentally. If you do that, you can always return to the same settings screen to re-enable Double Tap.
If you’re still on the fence about the Apple Watch models that support Double Tap, you can visit Engadget’s Apple Watch Series 9 review and our impressions of the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-watch-is-now-live-with-double-tap–heres-how-to-customize-the-gesture-on-watchos-101-133021753.html?src=rss
Bang & Olufsen, a renowned name in the world of high-end audio, has introduced its latest creation, the Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminium. This new speaker pays homage to the company’s legacy of excellence in aluminum design and craftsmanship. Notably, the grille of the Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminium is meticulously handcrafted at Bang & Olufsen’s Factory 5 in Struer, Denmark.
The brand calls the grille itself a “work of art” because it consists of over 3,500 aluminum discs that create the illusion of floating at the speaker’s front. Michael Henriksson, Vice President of Product Marketing at Bang & Olufsen, explains that they have a history of experimenting with circular patterns in their speaker grille designs.
However, this new style flips the concept on its head by making the circular shape the central focus, with sound flowing around it. The “floating discs” effect is achieved with a second layer of aluminum designed in a grid behind the surface, creating an optical illusion while allowing sound to pass through.
The Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminium joins an existing lineup of finishes, including Nordic Weave and Dark Oak. Henriksson notes that each variant has its unique style, and the Spaced Aluminium edition offers a more graphic, contrasting, and technical aesthetic.
The Beosound A5, launched in April 2023, is a versatile speaker designed to bridge the gap between portable and home audio. Its IP65 water and dustproof rating make it suitable for outdoor adventures, and it boasts over 12 hours of playtime and a wireless phone charger integrated into its top panel. The speaker can be controlled through an intuitive user interface or the Bang & Olufsen App.
The Speaker brings an integrated wireless charger for your phone.
Bang & Olufsen has a rich history of innovation in aluminum, dating back to 1955 when the company broke from convention to explore the use of aluminum in audio products. The focus on the Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminium edition remains on the unique qualities of aluminum, its texture, and sheen.
The new finish represents a culmination of Bang & Olufsen’s capabilities in aluminum design and serves as a testament to the company’s commitment to “pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities” with this timeless material.
Additionally, new software updates are planned for the Beosound A5, including automatic stereo pairing and the introduction of a feature called Fluid Sweet Spot, which optimizes sound output based on the listener’s position. These updates will be made possible through Bang & Olufsen’s forward-looking software platform, Mozart.
The Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminum edition is available for purchase at Bang & Olufsen’s official website for $1,499. The Nordic Weave and Dark Oak versions cost $1,099 and $1,299 respectively. For all of them, the brand offers free delivery, up to 3 years of warranty, and 24/7 customer support.
Bang & Olufsen Unveils Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminium Speaker
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The newly elected Republican House speaker and his wife, Kelly, have long intertwined their political and business lives.
Apple’s M2-powered 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 256GB of storage is $150 off its regular price at Amazon. That drops the tablet down to $1,050 just a few days ahead of Apple’s Scary Fast event. The company is widely expected to reveal its first M3 chipsets but it’s not certain that Apple will offer M3-powered iPad Pros immediately. You may have to wait until next year for a high-end tablet with the upcoming chipset.
Still, the M2 iPad Pro is our top pick for the best tablet you can buy right now. Even if Apple does announce an M3 iPad Pro in the coming days, it’s hard to go wrong with the current model. It runs on the same chipset as MacBooks, so you’d be hard pressed to find a faster or more powerful tablet.
We gave the M2 iPad Pro a score of 87 in our review. Apple didn’t give the tablet many upgrades compared with the M1-powered model, other than a few small tweaks and, of course, plugging in a more powerful chipset. However, the iPad Pro already had arguably the best display of any tablet around with the 120Hz ProMotion mini-LED screen. The design remains top notch, while battery life is strong.
Accessories such as the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil are helpful for productivity too. The 12.9-inch M2 model is our pick for the best iPad for power users thanks to the extra real estate compared with the 11-inch variant.
The 128GB version of the M2 iPad Pro, meanwhile, is available for a record low price. It has dropped by 10 percent to $990 at Amazon for a model without cellular connectivity.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-m2-129-inch-ipad-pro-is-150-off-ahead-of-apples-scary-fast-event-143023375.html?src=rss
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