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Apple might be best known for its in-ear AirPods when it comes to sound, but headphone lovers also have the AirPods Max to consider. These headphones provide a solid option for anyone who wants to stay in the Apple family without worrying about losing a tiny earbud. The biggest issue is that they are costly. But, right now, Apple’s AirPods Max are 27 percent off, dropping to $399 from $549. The $150 discount is only $4 more than their Prime Day all-time low and is available in every color.

The Apple AirPods Max came on the scene in 2020 as the company’s first foray into headphones and have remained the sole option since. We gave the headphones an 84 in our review thanks to a lot of features we did like and some things we were unimpressed by. We liked the AirPods Max’s active noise cancellation abilities and easy-to-use buttons — such as when switching from ANC to transparency mode. The headphones also provide a balanced sound and have 20 hours of charge when ANC and spatial audio are enabled.

As we said, the biggest issue with these headphones is arguably the price, but this sale helps quite a bit. Other aspects we were less than impressed with include their 385-gram weight — though the wider headband balances it out. Plus, the earphones just aren’t that comfortable, as the rings are noticeable after only a few minutes of wear. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-max-are-back-on-sale-for-399-131059119.html?src=rss

The designer Tokujin Yoshioka has designed the LE SEL D’ISSEY perfume bottle for the fashion designer Issey Miyake, featuring an innovative use of light and materials. The bottle’s base is made of solid, oval-shaped glass, which refracts light throughout the container, creating an effect reminiscent of rippling water. This design choice illuminates the colored liquid inside, with light patterns resembling droplets rather than a single beam, adding a dynamic visual element.

The bottle’s form changes depending on how it’s held, with sharp lines and soft curves alternating as it is rotated—This interplay of shapes complements the sculptural quality of the design, aligning with the aesthetic themes found in Issey Miyake’s previous collections.

The bottle’s design serves as a tribute to the late fashion designer, reflecting the long-standing collaboration between Yoshioka and Miyake.

The theme of the bottle design is centered around salt and water, with the solid glass base evoking a block of salt or a geode; The concept of water is represented through the refracted light and the liquid inside the bottle, which together create a visual interplay between light and shadow.

Yoshioka aimed to express both the purity of water and the power of nature in the design, continuing the thematic legacy of Issey Miyake’s earlier fragrances, particularly L’EAU D’ISSEY, which was inspired by the theme of water.

Yoshioka incorporates elements of light, nature, and human senses into the project, aiming to create a design that engages multiple sensory experiences beyond just the visual, making LE SEL D’ISSEY a multifaceted homage to natural elements and human perception.

Illuminating Design: Tokujin Yoshioka’s LE SEL D’ISSEY Perfume Bottle

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

After teasing them at CES 2024 earlier this year, Samsung has officially launched the Premiere 7 and Premiere 9 ultra short throw (UST) 4K projectors. They offer enhanced picture quality compared to the previous Premiere LSP9T and LSP7T models, particularly in the areas of brightness and color accuracy. Samsung’s main goal with the new products, it said, was to give buyers a “cinematic experience.”

Smart TV features are available via Samsung’s Tizen OS, offering access to Samsung TV Plus, Netflix, YouTube and other streaming services. The newly integrated Samsung Gaming Hub also comes with more than 3,000 titles from Xbox and others, with no console needed. Both models include 4K AI upscaling and Vision Booster, which automatically adjusts color and contrast for different lighting conditions.

The Premiere 7 looks like a solid mid-range contender in the UST category with 2,500 ISO lumens of brightness and 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 HDR standard. That should allow for accurate colors and expanded dynamic range, though most projectors fall well short of required HDR specs in terms of brightness. 

Speaking of HDR, the Premiere 7 only offers HDR10, while others like the Formovie Theater can handle Dolby Vision content. As for sound, it comes with Dolby Atmos tech and 30W 2.2ch speakers.

Samsung

Meanwhile, the Premiere 9 sits a notch below the Premiere 8K UST projector also announced at CES. With the triple laser engine, it ups the brightness to 3,450 ISO lumens, below the Premiere 8K’s 4,000 lumens but higher than most 4K UST projectors (Epson’s EpiqVision Ultra LS800W 4K 3LCD projector is a notable exception with 4,000 ISO lumens). 

It also comes with Samsung’s answer to Dolby Vision, HDR10+. Considering the brightness and 154 percent DCI-P3 color accuracy, the picture should be impressive. It also features 40W speakers with Dolby Atmos in a 2.2.2 channel up-firing configuration. 

Samsung projectors can be expensive compared to others and the new models are no exception. The Premiere 7 retails for $2,999, while the Premiere 9 doubles that to an eye-watering $5,999. Both models are now available at samsung.com and across select retailers. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/samsung-expands-its-ust-projector-lineup-with-the-premiere-7-and-premiere-9-150002515.html?src=rss

Nintendo fans have a lot to look forward to, including the company’s new museum, a Donkey Kong theme park expansion coming to the US and, of course, the follow up to the Switch. But everything all boils back down to the games, and we’ll soon have a clearer idea of what’s coming to the Switch thanks to a double Nintendo Direct that the company has lined up for August 27. The stream will start at 10AM ET on YouTube with an Indie World showcase that will lead into a Nintendo Direct Partner presentation.

The two-for-one stream will run for around 40 minutes, but Nintendo stressed that there won’t be any news about its next console (it’s smart to manage expectations about that). Indie World presentations often feature a few games that suddenly arrive on the eShop that same day, so you’ll most likely have some new options to check out tomorrow.

The second showcase will include details on third-party games that are coming to the Switch. It’s interesting that Nintendo hasn’t divulged exactly which partner or partners it has lined up, perhaps indicating that it has a significant surprise in store. Yeah, yeah, we say this every single time that there’s a Nintendo Direct or Indie World, but if ever there was an ideal time for a Hollow Knight: Silksong release date reveal and a deep dive into the highly anticipated sequel, this feels like it. 

In any case, Team Engadget will be keeping a close eye out for any news from Team Cherry during the stream. We’ll keep you up to date with all of the notable announcements from the double showcase as well. You can watch the dual presentation here:

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/a-nintendo-direct-partner-showcase-and-indie-world-double-header-is-set-for-august-27-150333395.html?src=rss

It’s almost Labor Day so the sales have started to trickle in. Here’s a cool one. A whole bunch of Lego sets are on sale for 25 percent off from, uh, Barnes & Noble. That may not make sense on paper, but we assure you that these discounts are very real.

It’s tough to pick the “best” deal here, but the fantastic Death Star Trench Run kit is on sale for $52 instead of $70. This is a diorama of Luke Skywalker’s famous journey toward blowing up the Death Star, so it includes a detailed section of the murderous satellite, his X-wing, two TIE fighters and, of course, Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced fighter. All told, it includes 665 pieces.

A set based on Boba Fett’s throne room, pulled from the end credits sequence of the season two finale of The Mandalorian, is available for $75 instead of $100. This one features side characters like Fennec Shand, Bib Fortuna and more.

There are also plenty of Mario sets here, including the Super Mario Adventures Starter Kit. This set comes with a battery-powered Mario with LCD screens in his eyes, mouth and stomach to display “over 100 different instant reactions.” The iconic plumber also has a built-in speaker that emits sounds and music from the games. Other related sets include a gigantic Conkdor from Super Mario 3D World and a Luigi-centric kit.

However, the sale isn’t just for Mario and Star Wars. There’s a nifty Lego recreation of the Atari 2600 console, a rabbit ranch from Minecraft and the Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-lego-labor-day-sale-discounts-star-wars-and-mario-sets-by-25-percent-152319122.html?src=rss