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Caviar Turns Samsung’s Latest Foldable Handsets Into The Skull Capsule Collection

Tech industry insiders have been hinting at something major for Samsung’s roadmap for 2021. It was hinted that a new Galaxy Note model was not in development. Instead, what the latest Unpacked event unveiled were new foldables: The Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3. In Caviar’s hands, we see these transform into the Ragnarok and Catrina Calavera for the Skull capsule collection.

We have been featuring the Russian jeweler’s works for so long now. Still, we remain in awe of how they turn these flagship devices into extravagant accessories. Just like the Skull capsule collection. Given the foldable smartphones already come with premium price tags, Caviar’s clients are willing to pay even more for something more exclusive.

Up first is the Galaxy Z Fold3. Caviar goes for a black and red theme here as the Ragnarok now flaunts a dark titanium body with premium composites. Laser engravings of crosshatch patterns dot the rear cover. It becomes the backdrop of a polished titanium skull with scarlet jewelry enamel flames. Additionally, the eyes are actually rubies.

Next in the Skull capsule collection is the Catrina Calavera, which begins its journey as a regular Galaxy Z Flip3. The outer shell of the clamshell handset is now titanium with 18K gold inlays. A rose emblem in red and green composites occupy the upper section. Below, there is an 18K white gold skull. The decorative frame and skull sport sapphires, rubies, and emeralds.

Each is limited to a few examples only. Only 99 units for the Ragnarok, while the Catrina Calavera only gets 20. Perhaps this is a hint that there are more special editions aside from the Skull capsule collection on the way. We’re wondering what Caviar will be working on next.

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Images courtesy of Caviar

August 23, 2021 / Comments Off

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Elon Musk Says A Humanoid Robot Helper Called The Tesla Bot Is In Development

We love our boy Elon Musk despite his eccentricities. His haters constantly nitpick at his flaws but turn a blind eye when it comes to the man’s achievements. Aside from growing his established brands, he is likewise juggling several other projects. Although some might not see the light of day, we really hope the Tesla Bot eventually makes it to production.

This reveal is a big surprise for many given Musk’s recent opinions regarding artificial intelligence. He supposedly warns that advancements in machine learning may someday become a threat to humanity. Therefore, after seeing the Tesla Bot, we’re wondering where the guy actually stands when it comes to AI.

There are already rumors at this recent unveiling is just another farce for the man, but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. For the longest time, we have been dreaming of owning a humanoid robot. Don’t deny it because you do too.

The Tesla Bot might be the first to become commercially available given the company’s resources and tech. So far, we like the overall design which shows us a faceless automaton presented in a two-tone colorway.

The outline of the body looks masculine and we’re not sure if there are plans for an effeminate model. According to the presentation, human safety is crucial, which is why users can easily disable or avoid it when things go haywire. Its primary function is to take over most of our mundane tasks like cleaning.

Packing hardware and sensors like those used by Tesla’s autopilot systems, it should have an excellent awareness of its surroundings. The Tesla Bot stands 5’8” tall and weighs 125 lbs. Movements come from 40 electromechanical actuators. We can’t wait to see a working prototype demo soon.

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Images courtesy of Tesla

August 23, 2021 / Comments Off

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The Nest Brush Is A Self-Dispensing UV-C Toothbrush

Body grooming and oral health care are both parts of good hygiene and whether we like it or not, it is important to also take care of our pearly whites to avoid certain diseases. But when it can be time-consuming and worse, a great contributor to plastic wastes. What with the toothpaste tube and disposed toothbrushes ending up in landfills. Thankfully, the Nest Brush solves that problem.

This ingenious oral care kit consists of several items that make brushing not just fun but also sustainable. It has a minimalistic silicon toothbrush that operates manually but has the power of an electric one. The handle has a built-in toothpaste refillable container, which means no more packing those tubes during travels. It can store 30 ml of paste which is good for a month of brushing.

A press of the button on the handle pushes out a sufficient amount of toothpaste through internal channels into the silicon brush head. The silicone valve prevents the paste from drying and leaking while its ergonomic design makes it easy to clean the container from the inside.

Moreover, the Nest Brush comes with replaceable heads and a magnetic brush stand equipped with a UV sterilizer. It only takes less than a minute to sterilize the toothbrush using two powerful UV-C LED lights. The head of the stand also protects your toothbrush from dirty water splashes.

Of course, when it comes to travel, this one also has a travel case with a UV sterilizer. Simply put the brush inside and the sterilizing process starts immediately. It is battery controlled which is good for two months. Best of all, the Nest Brush uses soft food-grade hypoallergenic silicone bristles to make brushing painless.

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Images courtesy of Nest Oral Care

August 19, 2021 / Comments Off

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Save Up to 70% off a Smartphone with UpTrade

With school right around the corner, your child’s means of communication should be top of mind. But buying them a new smartphone can often seem like money down the drain. Let’s face it, they don’t always take the best care of their belongings. The solution? Buy them a used cellphone on UpTrade. Each of UpTrade’s used smartphones is professionally inspected and certified, and comes with a full report from the engineer who inspected it. Plus, each listing contains photos of the actual phone (not simply placeholder photos), so you always know exactly what you’re getting. If you want to be sure your child has a quality phone for back to school, but can’t justify the cost of a new one, look to UpTrade — you’ll often save between 50 and 70 percent off the retail price.

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August 18, 2021 / Comments Off

254

Retro Games Ltd revisits the Commodore Amiga 500 with the THEA500 Mini console

We’re already at the point of just giving up until there is enough inventory hopefully by next year. Even without dropping any names, gamers know we’re talking about the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Although you can occasionally spot restocks Microsoft’s new console, Sony’s game system is as elusive as ever. Thus, we might as well grab the THEA500 Mini.

The demand for modern remakes of vintage consoles is not dying out anytime soon. More so, with people stuck at home due to the pandemic, gaming is the best form of escapism right now. If like us, you already have a growing collection, then Retro Games Ltd introduces another one to add.

This time, they’re paying tribute to another iconic machine – the Commodore Amiga 500 – and it’s remarkable. Primarily marketed as a home computer, it didn’t take long for people to turn it into a gaming PC instead. The THEA500 Mini captures the look of the original but packs modern hardware and features.

It ships with 25 pre-installed games such as Worms: The Director’s Cut, Another World, Battle Chess, Pinball Dreams, and more. Retro Games is not locking you out of the software either. Users can download additional titles supported by the A500, A600, and A1200 platforms.

You can hook it up to your TV or gaming monitors via HDMI. Visual tweaks such as scaling, filters, and variable refresh rates are likewise available. Moreover, Save states will let you quickly jump back into the action after a break. The THEA500 Mini includes a two-button mouse and a USB gamepad. As for the keyboard, it’s purely an aesthetic element but you can always plug in one.

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Images courtesy of Retro Games Ltd

August 13, 2021 / Comments Off

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Can These $99 Earbuds Dethrone the AirPods with Pure Style?

Since their arrival in 2016, Apple’s AirPods have comfortably become the ‘buds to beat. While some competitors skew more premium, and others more affordable, no other buds have managed to become even half as ubiquitous or iconic.

Yet.

The Ear (1) are one of the most hyped tech products in recent memory. The first product by Nothing, a startup company spearheaded by one of the co-founders of OnePlus, these wireless earbuds support premium features like wireless charging and active noise-cancellation and cost just $99. Oh also they look incredible.

After months of leaks and cryptic marketing, the Ear (1) have broken cover and are finally available for purchase. Sort of. They went on sale in early August, but only in limited supply from niche stores like Kith, HBX and Mr. Porter (which only further their hypebeast appeal); they’ll officially go on sale for everybody on August 17 when you can buy direct from Nothing’s website.

“Polishing the magnets, finding the right invisible adhesive, it was all carefully considered.”

In one sense, these buds have steep hill to climb. The Ear (1) are very late to the game and entering a very crowded market. Apple’s first AirPods were released almost five years ago and there are a ton of wireless earbud options to choose from — pretty much every tech and audio company has at least their one pair. According to a recent Statista report, the number of wireless earbuds is expected to triple from 2019 to 2022), and the Ear (1)’s sub-$100 price point takes them into impulse buy territory. But the market is only going to get more crowded from here.

Fortunately, they’ve got a killer feature virtually none of their competitors can match: pure style. Nothing collaborated on the Earbuds (1) with the wizards at Teenage Engineering, known for its evocative and hip synthesizers. Everything in each earbud is designed not only to work well, but also to look incredible, with a transparent vibe that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

“With Ear (1) we wanted to craft an iconic design, using transparency, that would stand out and celebrate the engineering underneath,” said Evangelidis. “Every design choice, from polishing the magnets to finding the right invisible adhesive, was carefully considered. We were even turned down by some suppliers who thought it wouldn’t be possible!”

“There is a sea of sameness with products blurring together.”

is, one of the co-founders of Nothing, because they are primarily an online company with a direct-to-consumer business model. “Where we do have retail channels, including HBX and Kith,” explained Evangelidis. “We’re still able to keep prices competitive because we’re only working with strategic partners who believe in what we are building with Nothing, versus simply wanting to transact.”

Courtesy

The $99 price point, while on the more affordable end, isn’t exactly as uncommon as it used to be. What was once the realm of sketchy knock-offs now includes a lot more options from reputable brands, as Google, Sony, Anker and Samsung all make solid wireless earbuds that come in at under $100. However, very few of those wireless earbuds support noise-cancellation. None support wireless charging. And none of them look this strike

The final product of the Ear (1) is something that looks completely unique, but it also doesn’t feel entirely unfamiliar. This is because the Ear (1) have the same general shape as Apple’s own noise-canceling wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro. The Ear (1) have stems that are obviously transparent and the charging case is totally different, but the shape of the stem and silicone eartips are very similar.

Evangelidis claims the stem-shaped design is more about function than anything else. “You can easily grasp the earbuds because of the stem’s distinct edges, and the flat surface is more intuitive for gesture controls, like swiping up and down for volume,” he said. “And the third microphone is placed at the bottom of the stem to make it that much closer to your mouth for better call clarity.”

While AirPods themselves increasingly creep down towards the $99 price range (they’re on sale at Amazon for $119 right now) and competitors like Wyze are managing ANC buds as low as $60, the Ear (1)’s look is the ace in the hole, according to Evangelidis.

“There is a sea of sameness with products blurring together,” he said. “The market is overdue for a new player that brings back some sort of excitement to the field of consumer tech, and one that celebrates design and artistry.”

Nothing

Nothing Ear (1)

nothing.tech

$99.00

August 12, 2021 / Comments Off

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8BitDo’s new Xbox Media Remote features backlit buttons and versatile compatibility

For the longest time, 8BitDo has been an awesome source of retro-themed gaming peripherals. Although many of its product designs are inspired by Nintendo’s classic silhouettes, it caters to other platforms as well. Generally, its controllers are compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, Steam, Raspberry Pi, and the Switch via Bluetooth. Now, Xbox users can grab a Media Remote for their consoles.

Just like Sony’s gaming systems, the Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S all ship with multimedia capabilities. Aside from gaming, users can access entertainment services such as Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, Hulu, HBO Max, and others.

You can just use the supplied controller to navigate and operate, but a Media Remote is much more convenient. Just like when you watch cable TV, the traditional shape of a remote just feels natural. The button placements make it perfect for one-hand operation.

In fact, Microsoft sells a dedicated Media Remote, which is compatible with previous and current-generation systems. What 8BitDo markets are more affordable yet high-quality alternatives. Moreover, there are two variants available: Long Edition and Short Edition.

Both models will work with the older and latest Xbox units. The Long Edition would pair nicely with the Xbox Series X with its black color scheme. It features a full number pad alongside all the necessary buttons for various functions.

Meanwhile, the Short Edition Media Remote sports a beautiful white colorway and is more compact. It ditches the number pad and a few other buttons. Motion sensors automatically engage the backlight for low-light visibility. 8BitDo executes everything cleanly and we think you’ll love it.

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Images courtesy of 8BitDo

August 11, 2021 / Comments Off

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The Best Webcams to Upgrade Your Video Chat

It was virtually impossible to buy a webcam in 2020, as the avalanche of video calls made so many of us realize just how bad computers’ built-in webcams can be.

Fortunately the price spikes and shortages are now (mostly) over, and right now you can quite easily get a great external webcam for a reasonable price. And you’re going to want to do so because video conferences and remote work don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

When shopping for an external webcam, you need to make sure it works with your computer, first and foremost. Then you need to decide how good (or expensive) of a webcam you actually need; most capture a 1080p video (which is likely a big improvement over what you current have), but there are a few higher-priced ones that can capture 4K.

Finally, each webcam is a little different. They have different design features, such as privacy shutters, built-in mics or lighting. Others come with built-in software that allows you to customize settings, like autofocus, exposure and field of view. You want make sure it fits your needs.

Logitech C920S Pro HD

Logitech

Logitech C920S HD Pro

Amazon

$69.95

Connection: USB-A
Compatibility: Mac and Windows

Best All-Around

The Logitech C920S Pro HD is a plug-and-play webcam that works with either Mac and PC. It has the same L-shaped design as its predecessor, the C920, so it’s really easy to attach to a monitor and, but also comes with an attachable privacy cover. It’s capable of capturing 1080p video and its built-in dual microphone array is great at picking up audio.

Logitech Brio Ultra HD

Courtesy

Logitech Brio Ultra HD Pro

Amazon

$199.99

$164.00 (18% off)

Connection: USB-A
Compatibility: Mac and Windows

Best 4K Upgrade

You can think of this as upgraded version of the Logitech C920S Pro HD, as it has a similar horizontal design, L-shaped mounting clip and an attachable privacy cover. The big difference is that it’s one of the few webcams that is capable of capturing 4K video. It supports premium features like autofocus, auto light adjustment and motion tracking with high dynamic range. And you can choose between three different-field of-views (65-, 78- and 90-degrees) via the companion app. The downside, of course, is price.

Razer Kiyo Pro

Razer

Razer Kiyo Pro

Amazon

$199.99

$179.99 (10% off)

Connection: USB-A
Compatibility: Windows

Best Webcam for Streamers

The Kiyo Pro is a better version of the entry-level Kiyo — but it comes at almost double the price. It still only captures a 1080p picture, but its superior sensor allows it to capture a higher frame rate (1080p at 60fps vs the Kyo’s 1080p at 30fps) and it supports HDR (the Kiyo does not). It has a more durable lens, a better and more flexible mounting system, and you can choose between three field-of-views (80-, 90- and 103-degrees). Unfortunately, it also isn’t compatible with Macs.

Anker PowerConf C300

Anker

Anker PowerConf C300

Anker amazon.com

$129.99

$99.99 (23% off)

Connection: USB-C
Compatibility: Mac and Windows

The Anker PowerConf C300 is an excellent all-around webcam that captures 1080p video with autofocus and has a built-in mic. It connects to your computer via USB-C, which is a rarity, so it’s a great plug-and-play option for people with newer laptops (it also comes with a USB-C to USB-A adapter). The PowerConf C300 is unique because it allows you customize a bunch of settings (including brightness, contrast, sharpness) and switch between three different fields-of-view via its companion app.

Razer Kiyo

Razer

Razer Kiyo

Razer amazon.com

$99.99

$79.99 (20% off)

Connection: USB-C
Compatibility: Windows

Razer’s entry-level webcam, the Kiyo, was created with streamers in mind. It has a built-in ring light — which is highly adjustable — that allows you to make sure your face is well lit at all times. It also comes with companion software that allows you to customize various exposure and autofocus settings. The only real downside is that it doesn’t with your Macs at all. Also, the built-in mic isn’t the best. But if you have PC and an external mic, the Kiyo is a solid webcam that captures a sharp 1080p video.

Dell UltraSharp

Courtesy

Dell UltraSharp Webcam

Dell

$199.99

Connection: USB-C
Compatibility: Mac and Windows

Released in mid-2021, the UltraSharp Webcam is a true 4K webcam (a rarity) that connects to your computer via USB-C (another rarity). You can adjust the resolution and the frame rates of the captured video — it can capture 4K at 30fps or 24 fps, and 1080p video at up to 60fps — and it also has some neat AI tricks to keep you in frame and in focus. The only real downside is that, considering its steep price, it still lacks a built-in mic.

Logitech StreamCam

Courtesy

Logitech StreamCam

Logitech amazon.com

$165.94

Connection: USB-C
Compatibility: Mac and Windows

The Logitech StreamCam is a webcam that shoots 1080p video (at up to 60fps) and connects to your computer via USB-C. It was designed with streamers in mind as it works with companion software that gives you a lot of customization options; you can adjust the usual features like picture resolution, frame rate, exposure and autofocus, but you can also easily add effects like filers or text overlays. It even comes with two mounts — one that works for your computer or monitor and another that works as a standalone tripod — so you can use it in several different ways.

August 11, 2021 / Comments Off

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The IKEA Starkvind Air Purifier Is An Elegant Addition to Any Room Setup

Air purifiers have taken on new meaning since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, with homes and establishments always in the market for the most sustainable and reliable option. But seldom you can find one that comes in an esthetically pleasing design, such as the IKEA Starkvind Air Purifier.

The Swedish brand takes a humble bedside table to great heights by incorporating digital upgrades. An entry into its IKEA Home smart category, this indoor device is ideal for rooms up to 215 square feet. It can be used on its own but when connected to the TRÅDFRI gateway, it turns into a wireless home cleaning device. You can control and schedule air cleaning via the IKEA Home smart app.

Moreover, the IKEA Starkvind Air Purifier gives you five different fan speeds and an auto-mode function. In auto, the fan speed adjusts accordingly to the amount of PM2.5 in the air. It also has a built-in quality sensor that tells you the current indoor air quality through the app.

This house humidifier also has a 3-filter system. The pre-filter captures big particles such as hair and dust. It also filters out 99.5% of smaller airborne particles such as pollens and other allergens. Then it also has gas cleaning which absorbs various gaseous pollutants, including formaldehyde, smoke from cigarettes or cooking, and other VOCs.

The IKEA Starkvind Air Purifier is available in two versions: as a stand-alone model or as a bedside table model. It will be available in the market starting October 2021 in IKEA retail channels.

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Images courtesy of IKEA

August 10, 2021 / Comments Off

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Google equips the Pixel 6 series with its Tensor SoC and premium craftsmanship

It’s that time of the year when big-name tech brands are about to refresh their hardware. Apple is gearing up for the next iPhone, while rival Samsung is reportedly unveiling the next Fold handset. Google is not about letting its competitors draw all the publicity. Therefore, it’s announcing the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be shipping with their own custom chipset.

The two models are not only shipping with Google’s new silicon but revamped build quality as well. Fans of the internet search group’s handsets will appreciate the changes. Among the duo, the flagship version is the Pixel 6 Pro, which packs a 6.7-inch display with a 120-Hz refresh rate.

Google is likewise holding back on the curved edges of the screen. Other distinct features include polished aluminum frames and a 4X optical-zoom folded telephoto lens. As for the other, it comes with a 6.4-inch 90-Hz touchscreen without the curving edges. It likewise drops the telephoto shooter.

The smartphones show us that the days of flush camera modules are over. As almost every range-topping smartphone now sports powerful imaging capabilities, the sensors require more space. As such, the camera bumps on Google’s upcoming devices are somewhat on the chunky side.

Finally, we have the SoC, which Google refers to as Tensor. The company is holding off from the specifics for now but might share closer to launch. Nevertheless, the new chip should give the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro beefier capabilities. We don’t have to wait long to find out as its launch should be a few in a few months.

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Images courtesy of Google

August 8, 2021 / Comments Off

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Enjoy Comfortable Mobile Gaming With The OtterBox MagSafe Mobile Gaming Clip

Mobile phone games are aplenty and those that come highly in demand (RPG games for instance), require a lot of maneuvers. Your phone’s keypads hardly make for effective gaming controls. When it comes to iPhones, there are only a few Bluetooth controllers that work. But with the OtterBox MagSafe Mobile Gaming Clip, you can easily turn your iPhone12 into a full-fledged gaming device.

The company, known for its durable protective iOS phone cases, has tuned in to the gaming scene with the release of this mobile gaming clip for Xbox controllers. What it does is let you attach your phone to the controller through Apple’s new technology, the MagSafe.

Apple’s MagSafe is a new way to charge iPhone 12 models. It also makes it easy to attach accessories like PopSockets, wallets, tripod mounts, cameras, and more. This functions the same way for the OtterBox MagSafe Mobile Gaming Clip. It is compatible with the Xbox Series X|S Controller, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, Xbox One Controller, and with the brand’s Easy Grip Controller Shell. The company suggests pairing it with an OtterBox for MagSafe case.

Once attached, you get access to all the features on the Xbox controller. You can also use it as a tabletop stand when detached. Plus, it is easily adjustable and you can do so with one hand. You can tilt it any way you please. This way, you don’t have to detach the clip every time and break your gaming momentum.

The OtterBox MagSafe Mobile Gaming Clip comes at a price of $40. It is easy to install, reduces wrist stress during all-day gaming, and with its precision-fit design, it stays out of the way of the features on the Xbox controller. The company suggests pairing it with an OtterBox for MagSafe case.

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Images courtesy of OtterBox

August 5, 2021 / Comments Off

253

Everything We Expect Apple to Announce At Its Big Fall Event

Apple is set to hold its next big hardware event this fall. No exact date has been revealed as of yet and it’s unclear if Apple will have one or two events — if you remember, last year it held two separate events, one in mid-September for the iPhone 12, iPad Air and the two new Apple Watches, and another event in early November for the M1 MacBook Air, M1 MacBook Pro and M1 Mac mini — but we know that Apple is definitely gearing up to release a bunch of new products. And it’s going to happen sometime soon.

Here’s what we know so far.

The iPhone 13

Apple

The next big hardware event will most definitely be headlined by the iPhone 13. Like previous years, Apple is expected to release four different iPhone 13 models, but give that Apple gave us a pretty big redesign with iPhone 12 (in the form of flat edges and the integration of MagSafe), you shouldn’t expect the iPhone 13 to look that much different.

The big improvements are set to be with the display, in that the iPhone 13 might get an always-on display (like the Apple Watch Series 6) and a 120Hz refresh rate. The camera system is set to get a pretty big boost, too, in that it could bring the LIDAR sensor that helps with low-light photography and AR effects, to all iPhone 13 models instead of just the “Pro” models.

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Apple Watch Series 7

Apple

Apple hasn’t given the Apple Watch a serious redesign in the last few years, but that’s expected to change with the Series 7. According to multiple sources, Apple is expected to give the Series 7 flat edges, just like the iPhone 12, which will make the smartwatch even more rugged and drop resistant. It’s expected to have slimmer bezels and a bigger display. And it will have a new sensor that tacks your blood glucose, your blood pressure and blood alcohol levels.

Last year was the first year that Apple gave us two completely new Apple Watch models in the Series 6 and the more affordable SE. It’s pretty obvious that Apple is going to release the Series 7, which is the next-generation version of the Series 6, but it’s not as clear if Apple is going to release a new version of the SE. It could leave the SE as is and just kill off the Series 3, which can’t really handle the newest software updates.

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14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros

Courtesy

The next-generation of MacBook Pros are set to get announced sometime this fall — it could happen at the iPhone event this September or sometime later on — and they’re supposed to get quite the upgrade. Not only is Apple set to finally give the M1 treatment to its high-end MacBook Pros (specifically, the 16-inch model), but the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch Pros could get a drastic redesign, too.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known Apple analyst, these next-gen MacBook Pros be roughly the same size but have thinner bezels and a larger edge-to-edge display. They also could get a new MagSafe power connection — which Apple killed off in 2016 but recently brought kind-of back with the M1 iMac — and this could help charge the new MacBook Pros even faster than before.

The keyboard and port situation is poised to look quite different, too. Apple could be set to kill off the Touch Bar, which has been a pretty polarizing feature, and bring back the traditional row of function keys. It’s also expected that the new MacBook Pros will have more than just USB-C ports, with Kuo predicting Apple to bring back the two things that professionals really want: an HDMI port and SD card reader.

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iPad mini (6th-Generation)

Apple

Apple is expected to announce a new iPad mini this fall and its rumored to be getting a big design refresh. Apple hasn’t updated the design of the iPad mini since 2016 (and hasn’t refreshed the internals since March 2019), so this update is long overdue.

The upcoming sixth-generation iPad mini is expected to more closely resemble the design of the most recent iPad Air in that it will likely have Touch ID integrated into the side power button — still no Face ID, though. It will have a slightly larger 8.4-inch display (compared to the current 7.9-inch display) and thinner bezels, with the overall size of the new mini set to remain about the same. It seems unlikely, but Apple could even give it a USB-C charging port.

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AirPods (3rd-Generation)

Courtesy

Apple is gearing up to announce the next generation of AirPods (not AirPods Pro). It’s been over two years since Apple gave us its second-generation AirPods (back in March 2019) and we’re due for an update.

The third-generation models are expected to adopt the design of the AirPods Pro — meaning shorter stems or swappable silicone ear tips — but won’t likely have all the same premium features, like noise-cancellation and transparency modes. They could have the built-in sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope) to enable spatial audio, however, which would be a big upgrade for people watching videos or movies on their iPhone.

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August 5, 2021 / Comments Off

204

Understanding the Basics of Real User Monitoring

Real user monitoring (RUM) involves monitoring that can capture and analyze website users’ transactions on that site. It is an excellent way to determine user experience, such as transaction paths and load time. And it is one of the most important aspects of application performance management.

What it Does

RUM is a type of passive web monitoring, since these services run in the system’s background, observing interactions. A common tool used in this process is Pingdom Real User Monitoring for the business. The process can track functionality, responsiveness, and availability. It relies on processes that collect data right from the end user’s browser, and it works because of the JavaScript on every page. The script is able to gather the data from each person that visits the page, transferring the data back to you. When you are working with this process, data visualization is useful since it collects information from many users across a wide range of metrics. Being able to use area graphs and bar charts can make it easier to process the information and see what is going on.

Examples of RUM

This is used for monitoring websites and applications to check for problems that other methods of testing would not discover. For example, bank software might monitor its end-user portal to look for login problems or other issues. And a blog owner might run background monitoring to determine when pages take the longest to load. For example, during peak times, pages might timeout more, and that can cause the site to rank lower on search engines.

The Benefits

One of the main benefits of monitoring users is to determine the way they are using your app or website. And you can obtain useful metrics, such as a page’s load time. It is not hard to identify problems or prioritize issues with RUM either since you can replay users’ sessions while looking at the transaction paths. The process also helps you measure certain targets since you can track real visits to the page. That way, you can find issues at both the page and network level. If there are issues near the lower levels, they are often difficult to spot.

Best Practices

There are a few best practices to follow, which will ensure you are getting the most out of the process. For example, it is best to consider specific objectives and track them. That way, you can align your needs with company goals in order to succeed. For instance, perhaps you want to see more conversions. You could create a goal of increasing them from 12 percent to 16 percent.

It is important to relate the performance and information you gather to the business. Begin with your goals, and then allow the process to flow down to the way your systems meet your goals. Think of RUM as a dashboard that allows you to check your progress on a regular basis. You can also use this method to keep an eye on your website’s current speed. If the site loads faster, you are more likely to keep customers engaged and rank higher on search engine results pages. The same is true of mobile apps.

August 4, 2021 / Comments Off

300

Today’s Best Deals on Amazon Right Now

One of my favorite things about being an Amazon Prime member is how easy it makes finding great daily deals on a variety of products. In the past year or so, I have purchased several items that were discounted for one day only to realize they are top-notch quality and extremely useful. Whether you’re in the market for a new gadget, looking to stock up on household essentials, or in the need of a new book, Amazon has you covered.

Below are a few of my favorite daily deals currently available through Amazon’s Gold Box Deal of the Day and Lightning Deals.

GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight S1000

//34% OFF

These flashlights come with a car charger and an AC wall adapter for rechargeable batteries, which is a nice extra. They each measure 1 inch in diameter by 6.25 inches long, produce 160 lumens of light, and run on 3 AAA batteries (included). I keep one in my backpack at all times because it attaches to my belt loop and can be used to use as a lantern or shine in the face of would-be attackers.

BUY ON AMAZON

Youdgee Muscle Massage Gun

//45% OFF

This massager is designed to let you exercise your own muscles and tense them up, as opposed to the masseuse working on them for you. In theory, this means it could strengthen sore muscles over time. However, my personal experience has been that it actually loosens tightness in the muscle instead of strengthening it (it still feels good though). I would recommend this for people who have very tight muscles to begin with, but anyone looking to increase their muscle strength should look elsewhere.

BUY ON AMAZON

Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker

//27% OFF

The speakers float, making them perfect for riverside picnics or pool parties. The Soundcore also comes with an auxiliary cord so you can connect it to just about anything.

This is one of my favorite deals because it delivers high-quality sound for a relatively low price and the fact that it’s water-resistant means I can bring it with me on family outings without worrying about rain or spills.

ASTONISHING SOUND: Breathtaking stereo sound with deep bass is delivered with exceptional clarity and zero distortion by two high-sensitivity drivers and a patented bass port

DURABLE AND WATERPROOF: Designed with ruggedness and versatility in mind, the speaker is not only shockproof but also waterproof to withstand heavier splashes of water.

BUY ON AMAZON

Bekototek Surge Protector

//21% OFF

This 15-amp surge protector features a whopping ten outlets plus four USB ports (for smartphones and small electronics) for charging. So whether you’re looking to charge several items at once, or just one device using multiple ports, this is the deal for you.

A great way to save space and charge multiple devices at once. I keep one of these in the kitchen, where my phone and my girlfriend’s tablet charge while we cook dinner.

This surge protector features 10 AC outlets and 4 USB charging ports, so it’s great if you have a lot of electronics to plugin. I like its convenient on/off switch, which helps me save energy when not using it. It has a built-in circuit breaker switch in case you do have an overload and a safety shutter that protects against electrical hazards.

BUY ON AMAZON

Camping Fan with LED Lantern

//40% OFF

I’ve used this portable fan on camping and hiking trips, as well as in my car. It is great for outdoors because it can be attached to the top of a tent or hung from a branch or railing (with included rope), or simply placed on the ground. It helps push cold air up into the tent at night when most people are sleeping and you want to move the hot air out. The lantern is a nice addition because it provides soft light in a dark environment, which can help relax on an evening when everyone wants to go to sleep early.

This is a great product whether you are camping, fishing, or hunting in the mountains, hiking and walking on a hot summer day, driving your car to far destinations for vacation, going on a picnic with friends and families.

BUY ON AMAZON

Redragon M602 RGB Wired Gaming Mouse

//41% OFF

The Redragon M602 RGB gaming mouse has a great design, is comfortable to use for extended periods of time, and has LEDs that change colors depending on which game you are playing. The macro shortcut buttons allow you to pre-program what each key does in your game of choice (for example if a certain key switches weapons).

I was looking for a good gaming mouse and this one has been great. The buttons are very responsive and I appreciate that they can be used for both left-handers and right-handers by changing the button layout. It’s also very comfortable to use for long periods of time, which is important if you want to be able to play games all night!

BUY ON AMAZON

PS5 Charging Station

//17% OFF

I bought this charging station to organize my PS% controllers. It turns out that it is the best thing I could have done as they tend to get tangled up when set next to each other on a table in the couch room. Having them organized on a stand makes them much easier to find when I need to play.

This charging stand comes with 4 charging ports and 2 wireless controller holders. It charges fast and has a space-saving design that keeps your PS5 controllers organized on a table or shelf, ready for use whenever you are playing. It makes a great gift idea, especially for parents who want to keep the controllers out of the way, away from kids that want to play all day. I’ve been very happy with my PS5 charging station.

The charging station works as advertised and I like that it has a nice sleek design that blends in with my other electronics. It charges both controllers at once (I have two PS5 controllers) and connects to the console via a USB cord. The lights on top indicate when the controllers are charged (they turn red when fully charged) and it also has a USB port for charging your mobile device. The station charges controllers pretty quickly as well, in about 3-4 hours depending on how much charge was already available in the controller when you plug it in.

BUY ON AMAZON

Here are some other great deals available on Amazon:

August 3, 2021 / Comments Off

231

Should You Buy Apple’s Wireless Keyboard with Touch ID?

Apple has finally made the accessories it introduced with the M1 iMac this spring available for standalone purchase. These accessories include the first Magic Keyboards with Touch ID ($149+), an updated Magic Mouse ($79) and an updated Magic Trackpad ($129). Previously, you were only able to get your hands on these accessories with the purchase of an M1 iMac, but now you can buy each individually from Apple.

There are few caveats, however, and because of them these new accessories might not be a good fit for you.

You can’t buy these new Mac accessories in colors.

One of the big selling points with all these accessories was color — when you bought an M1 iMac in one of its seven colors, you got a Magic Mouse (or Magic Trackpad) and a Magic Keyboard that matched — but Apple is only selling its new accessories are only available in one color: silver.

If you were hoping to buy a Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad in the one of the other colors, including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple or blue, those aren’t available at this time (and we don’t know if Apple will ever sell them).

The new Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad aren’t much different.

Second, the updated Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad are very similar to models that Apple has previously been selling. The big difference is that all the new accessories come with a USB-C to Lightning cable instead of a Lightning to USB cable. The new cable also has a new woven design. The only design difference is with the new Magic Trackpad, which has a refined shape to perfectly match the new Magic Keyboard.

All in all, there’s very little reason to upgrade to a new Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad if your current Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad is working just fine.

Touch ID won’t work on non-M1 Macs.

The new Magic Keyboards are the most different from their predecessors for a few reasons. They have new dedicated Function keys for Spotlight, Dictation and Do Not Disturb. They also come with a USB-C to Lightning cable with a woven design (just like Apple’s other new accessories). And they are the first Magic Keyboards to have a dedicated button for Touch ID.

Touch ID is the big upgrade because is it allows you to unlock your Mac with your fingerprint (rather than having to type in a password). You can also quickly verify purchases with Apple Pay. It’s a huge selling point for these new keyboards — but it won’t work with non-M1 Macs.

The reason for this that M1 chip allows the keyboard and Mac to communicate wirelessly in a really secure way, but can only be done a computer that has Apple’s M1 chip — so, the newest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini or even iPad Pros. If you have a Mac with an older Intel chipset, these new accessories will still work, but you won’t be able to use Touch ID.

All of Apple’s new accessories are available for purchase now on Apple’s website.

LEARN MORE

August 3, 2021 / Comments Off

186

These JBL Bookshelf Speakers Look Like An Instant Classic

JBL just announced new bookshelf speakers that look iconic and vintage — and you might actually be able to afford them. The all-new L52 Classic have the same walnut wood veneer enclosure and striking foam grille (available in black, blue or orange) as the company’s the company’s $2,500 L82 Classic, but they cost significantly less. You’ll be able to purchase a pair for just $1,000.

The main reason the L52 Classic are so much cheaper is size. They are smaller (or “scaled-down,” according to the company) versions of the L82 Classic. Each L82 Classic weighs roughly 14 pounds and stands 18-inches tall, while each L52 Classic weighs 11 pounds each and standing 13-inches tall.

The nice thing about this size difference is that it means that the L52 Classic are small enough to actually fit on your bookshelf, while the L82 Classic most definitely can’t. In fact, the L82 Classic are so big that they need to be paired with JBL’s expensive companion stands (which cost $250) to sound their best. The L52 Classic, on the other hand, are small enough to fit on the speaker stands you already have.

As for sound quality, the L52 Classic won’t deliver the same grandiose sound as the much larger L82 Classic, but they still should be plenty big for most rooms. Each L52 Classic has a similar two-way design, with an 0.75-inch titanium dome tweeter, a 5.25-inch white cone woofer and a front-firing tuned bass-reflex port. The L52 Classic should work with most amplifiers as they aren’t nearly as power hungry as their larger siblings.

If you’re smitten by L52 Classic and are interested in buying them, you’ll have to wait. According to the company, they’ll go on sale sometime this fall but before the holidays.

JBL

JBL L52 Classic

jblsynthesis.com

$1,000.00

August 2, 2021 / Comments Off

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The Most Beautiful TVs You Can Buy Are OLEDs. Period.

The most beautiful TVs you can buy are all OLEDs. Period. OLED technology produces darker blacks, superior contrast and more lifelike colors than any LED LCD TV. That said, for years the main strike against buying an OLED TV was that they were wickedly expensive. When LG released the first OLED TV back in 2013, it was a 55″ model that cost roughly $15,000.

In 2021. the prices for OLED TVs are much more reasonable. For example, you can buy a 55-inch OLED TV for well-under $2,000. Yes, they’re still expensive, especially when you can get a similarly sized 4K LCD TV for well-under a grand. But if gorgeous picture quality is your jam, it’s really OLED or bust.

The next thing to know is that all the major manufacturers that sell OLED displays source the technology from one company: LG. That’s right, LG makes the OLED displays for Sony and Vizio, as well as LG-branded OLED TVs. So don’t worry about the quality of the OLED slipping from brand to brand.

Instead, you can focus on the same factors you would with older TV technology: size, thinness, pixel resolution, speaker quality and general aesthetics, as well as newer concerns like curvature, processing chips, HDR compatibility and smart functionality. Whatever your priorities, if you’re in market for a new TV, it might finally be worth it for you to spend a little extra on an OLED.

LG C1 OLED (2021)

B&H

$1,496.99

The C1 Series is the next generation of LG’s 2020 CX Series, which had previously been the recommendation for the best OLED TVs that most people should buy. Like its predecessor, the C1 Series boasts excellent picture quality with support for popular HDR technologies, like Dolby Vision and HDR10, as well as Dolby Atmos. The difference is that LG added gaming features to the C1 Series — HDMI 2.1 and a 120Hz refresh rate panel — to optimize them for next-gen consoles. Also, LG added an 83-inch model — the biggest screen size in the line — for people who want the biggest OLED possible.

Sizes: 48″, 55″, 65″, 77″, 83″
Price: $1,397 — 5,997

LG CX OLED (2020)

LG CX (2020)

LG Best Buy

$1,899.99

The LG CX Series is still one of the best OLED TVs you can buy, but it’s an older version of the company’s C1 Series and innately not quite as nice. The two lines produce basically the same picture quality and support the same HDR technologies. They both have a 120Hz display panel and have the same number (4x) of HDMI 2.1 ports, meaning they work excellently with next-generation consoles. The main difference is that CX has a slightly older processor and uses a slightly older UI, so it’s not going to run quite as snappy. On the plus side, the CX is a year older and you can often find a better deal on one.

Sizes: 48″, 55″, 65″, 77″
Price: $1,397 — 3,000

LG A1 OLED (2021)

Amazon

$2,199.99

$1,896.99 (14% off)

The A1 Series is LG’s most affordable and entry-level line of OLED TVs — and they’re new to 2021. They’re able to deliver pretty much the same excellent picture quality as the company’s higher-end C1 OLED line, but the big tradeoff is that they aren’t designed for gamers. The A1 Series doesn’t have an HDMI 2.1 connection and doesn’t support the high refresh rates (120Hz) that the next-gen consoles take advantage of.

Sizes: 48″, 55″, 65″, 77″
Price: $1,300 — $3,000

Vizio OLED (2020)

Vizio

Vizio OLED (2020)

Best Buy

$1,299.99

Vizio has long made some of the best budget 4K LED TVs on the market. Its first-ever line of OLED TVs, which the company released near the tail end of 2020, are good all-around options for people shopping on a budget. Available in two sizes – 55″ and 65″ — the TVs get bright, support all the popular HDR technologies and have a specific game mode that supports a 120Hz refresh rate. You can use any soundbar or home theater system, but these TVs do have a specifically designed stand that’s designed to hold Vizio’s Elevate soundbar.

Sizes: 55″, 65″
Price: $1,300 — $1,900

Sony Bravia XR A80J (2021)

Sony

Sony Bravia XR A80J (2021)

Best Buy

$2,299.99

The Sony A80J is, quite simply, one of the best all-around OLED TVs you can buy. It pairs a stunning picture quality (that supports all popular HDR technologies and has a max 120Hz refresh rate) with a premium design and a sound system that’s surprisingly great. Additionally, the Sony A80J runs Google TV’s smart operating system, which is really intuitive, and supports AirPlay and Chromecast for easy streaming for either Android or Apple devices.

Sizes: 55″, 65″

Price: $1,899 — $2,500

Sony Bravia XR A90J (2021)

[product contentProductId=’2c29d2b4-8801-47cc-af60-a9d7163eea58′ mediaId=’58b34938-a709-49d7-96ba-8a13c5c15139′ align=’center’ size=’large’][/product

The Sony A90J is a higher-end version of the Sony A80J. It’s a stunning TV, but it boasts almost the exact same design, capabilities and picture quality as the Sony A80J. If you’re looking to justify the price bump, the Sony A90J has three upgrades over the Sony A80J. It gets slightly better HDR performance (thanks to the addition of Sony’s heatsink technology). Its remote control has motion-activated backlighting to help you see the buttons in the dark. And it comes in a larger 83-inch model.

Sizes: 55″, 65″, 83″

Price: $2,800 — $8,000

Sony A9S (2020)

Sony

Sony A9S (2020)

Amazon

$1,899.99

$1,299.99 (32% off)

The Sony A9S is a solid OLED TV for people looking for a small and relatively affordable option. It’s only available in a 48-inch model, making it good for small rooms. It’s also a good fit for people wanting to try out an OLED TV as a PC monitor. There are a few caveats, however. It supports Dolby Vision HDR but not for HDR10+. It also lacks a newer HDMI 2.1connection, meaning it can only transmit 4K at 60fps (although it can do 1080p at 120Hz), making it not the best fit for next-gen consoles.

Sizes: 48″
Price: 1,500

August 2, 2021 / Comments Off

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How to Clean and Take Care of your Vinyl Collection

The immense popularity of music streaming has also, ironically, helped bumper vinyl sales. It turns out that the ease of listening to music these days, from services like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Youtube, has actually cultivated a desire for people to have an analog listening experience. They want to physically hold, place and play a record, and then ultimately collect it; a growing vinyl collection can actually be shown off as decor.

A proper vinyl collection requires more care that storing CDs or, of course, digital music files; and there are a few fundamental things that every vinyl enthusiast, whether they have a large or small collection, should know. That way their records can sound great and last years to come.

How to dry clean your vinyl records.

Using a carbon fiber anti-static brush — like this one from the Turntable Lab — to clean your records is important and easy. It safely gets in the record’s grooves to get rid of dust and other particles that could impact sound quality. To properly clean, spin the record on the turntable and have the brush resting lightly on top. After a few seconds, carefully drag the brush off the record. (Here’s a helpful instructional video.) In an ideal world, you should use a brush to clean a record before and after each use.

How to wet clean your vinyl records.

Wet cleaning your records involves using a cleaning fluid — like this one from Pro-Ject — and a micro-fiber cloth, with the goal to remove dust, dirt and even fingerprints from your records. It takes more time than the dry brush method, but it gives the record a deeper clean. To clean, simply spray the solution on the record, wait a few seconds for it to seep into the grooves, and the dry the record by using the micro-fiber cloth and following the groves around. (Here’s a helpful instructional video.)

Keep your collection cool and dry.

Vinyl is, in layman’s terms, a type of plastic material and thus needs to be taken care of accordingly. To preserve any time of plastic you want to keep it in a cool, dark and dry climate. If the room where you’re storing your records is too hot or humid, they are more prone to bending or warping and thus can’t be played.

Never stack your records. Store upright like books.

There’s a reason why you rarely see records stacked on top of each other: it’s not good for them. It doesn’t matter whether they’re in their jackets or inner sleeves, stacking your records can lead to warping. The weight of each record puts unneeded pressure on the records, which can cause them to crack or bend. It’s not great for the album artwork on the sleeve, either.

Don’t touch the surface of the records.

All of the musical information of record is stored in its grooves and anything, especially your hands, can affect the playback of the record. If you want the best possible sound quality, you should only handle the record by touching its outside edges or its inner label.

The Short List: Top Vinyl LPs to Buy

Harvest by Neil Young

musicdirect.com

$46.99

Reprise

Maggot Brain by Funkadelic

Westbound Records amazon.com

$59.96

Southbound Records

Natty Dread by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Bob Marley musicdirect.com

$24.99

Island Records

Revolver by The Beatles

musicdirect.com

$22.99

Capitol Records

Don’t leave records out.

A record should live in its sleeve and jacket, meaning the only time it should be out is when it’s playing. The idea is that this minimizes the chances or dirt and dust from getting into the record’s grooves.

Inner sleeves aren’t overkill.

While polypropylene sleeves are probably better than paper sleeves (more durable, better protection, last longer), an inner sleeve serves an important purpose no matter the material. It prevents the record from shaking or scratching while inside the jacket, while also keeping out dust and other things that could potentially hide inside the record and affect its sound quality. Basically, don’t throw out your inner sleeves. And replace them when ripped, damaged or lost.

Place — don’t drop — your records back in their inner sleeves.

When you’re done listening to a record, you want to place it back into its inner sleeve and jacket as carefully as possible. Quickly dropping it back in can damage the record as well as the sleeve.

July 23, 2021 / Comments Off

250

Why a Discontinued Sonos Speaker Is Still in Absurdly High Demand

The Play:5 — specifically the 2015-“Gen-2” model — is one of the most beloved Sonos speakers of all time. For years, it was the company’s biggest and best-sounding standalone speaker (and the only one with a line-in connection to hook up a turntable). The problem is that, today, it’s really difficult to buy.

There’s a very sensible reason Sonos doesn’t make the Play:5 (Gen 2) anymore. Instead, it makes a version that looks and sounds virtually identical, and goes for the same $500 price, the Five. So what’s the problem? Nothing for new buyers. But it’s a major headache for anyone, like me, who owns a Play:5 (Gen 2) and wants to turn it into a larger system by making a stereo pair.

Gear Patrol

Sonos Five

Sonos sonos.com

Sonos says the upgraded internals of the Five are more future-proof, but that’s at the cost of being past-compatible: The Play:5 (Gen 2) and the Five can’t be stereo paired together. And, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s just no way around it.

This wouldn’t be such an issue if the Play:5 (Gen 2) speaker was easy to find and buy. But it isn’t. At all. A dwindling supply plus a growing demand for completing stereo apirs means these speakers are very much and even increasingly in demand. After all, until their resale price exceeds $1,000, it’s still cheaper to buy one at a markup to complete your stereo pair than it is to buy two new Fives.

There is one silver lining: The difficulty of buying a new Play:5 (Gen 2) prevents you from doubling down your investment on aging hardware. Though speakers are typically timeless (vintage units still sound incredible), the digital guts in Sonos speakers means that, eventually, they are all but certainly going to be left behind by new software. That’s a price you’re paying for conveince. And while getting rid of your Play:5 now is a headache, it may put the pain of obsolecense a little further off into the future.

Meanwhile, if you have a Play:5 (Gen 2) speaker and you really want a true stereo sound, you have a few options — but none of them are great.

The Play:5 (Gen 2) and the Five next to each other.

Gear Patrol

Look out for a refurbished Play:5 (Gen 2) from Sonos.

Sonos doesn’t sell new Play:5 speakers anymore, but it does occasionally sell refurbished models from the “Certified Refurbished” section of its website, which normally go for $399. The problem is that they’re very rare. At the time of writing, the Play:5 (Gen 2) is the only new-ish Sonos speaker that you can’t buy a refurbished model of. You buy refurbished models of the Play:1, One, One SL, Arc, Beam, Playbar and Sub — but not the Play:5. And when Sonos does make refurbished models of the Play:5 (Gen 2) available, which is almost exclusively during the holidays, they sell out fast. Like, almost instantly.

Best Buy also occasionally sells refurbished Play:5 speakers but I can’t remember the last time they were available. (I’ve been looking for months.)

Buy a wicked expensive Play:5 (Gen 2) from Amazon.

If you go on Amazon, you can buy a new Play:5 (Gen 2) speaker — but it’s so expensive that it’s hardly justifiable. At the time of writing this, Amazon is currently selling them for $690 a pop, and that’s down from a peak price of $750 earlier this year. It’s an extremely hard sell considering that you can buy a Five, a newer version of that speaker, for several hundred bucks less. Or two Fives that you can actually pair for just a few hundred bucks more.

Buy a preowned Play:5 (Gen 2) from eBay.

The “best deal” you can get on a used Play:5 (Gen 2) speaker is if you were to buy one on eBay or from some other third-party seller. You can sometimes find them on eBay for less than $300. The problem that they aren’t certified refurbished by Sonos or Buy Buy’s Geek Squad, so you’re wading into unknown territory. Most third-party sellers have pretty good return policies, but you’re going to have to watch your step and be prepared for the possibility of an adventure if you take this route.

Bite the bullet and buy two new Fives.

Even if you don’t want to buy on eBay, you can try to get rid of your own used Play:5 (2nd Gen) by selling it on eBay, Craigslist, or elsewhere, and use that money to fund the purchase of a new pair of current-gen Fives.

You can’t trade in your Play:5 (Gen 2) speaker to Sonos which got rid of its controversial trade in program in 2020 and replaced it with an Upgrade Program. Instead, you can get a discount of up to 15 percent on new speakers if you provide proof of purchase for older ones. If you qualify for 15 percent discounts on both speakers (which you need to have two older Sonos speakers to be able to do), you’re going to get $150 off ($75 off each), bringing your total to around $850.

Maybe, just maybe, if you get lucky with your own Play:5 resale, you can come out having spent nothing more than a chunk of your time.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

July 22, 2021 / Comments Off

247

7 Things You Didn’t Know Google Maps Could Do

Google Maps is by far the most popular navigation app with millions and millions of active users who love it for its simple-to-use interphase, robust features (such as real-time GPS navigation and integration with public transport schedules, like buses, trains, ferries and subways) and the fact that it works on basically any device you have, be it an iPhone or Android, Mac or PC. And Google added a bunch of new features.

Here’s what you need to know.

How to measure distance on Google Maps

It’s actually pretty easy to find the exact distance between locations when using Google Maps. If you’re using a smartphone or tablet, all you have to do is open the Google Maps app and drop a red pin by tapping and holding a spot anywhere on the map.

Then, look at the bottom of your screen which will now indicate the address of the pin you just dropped. Click on that address and you will see an option labeled “measure distance” just underneath the icon for “Directions.”

From here, you can scroll anywhere using the black crosshairs and it will tell you the distance of that location to your red pinned location. You can select the “+” icon to drop multiple points on the map and get the distance between all of them. (

If you’re using your computer, you can do the same thing by right-clicking anywhere on Google Maps and choosing “measure distance.”

How to navigate indoors with Google Maps

Courtesy

Google recently introduced a new feature to Maps called Indoor Live View that essentially works the same way as Street View for outdoor locations (like streets, buildings or intersections), but for well-trafficked indoor locations. When inside the Maps app, you can switch to this Indoor Live View and your 2D map will turn into a 3D map and you’ll be given augmented reality directions to help you stir towards a specific shop in the mall, the baggage claim of an airport, or a specific bus or train terminal. The idea is that you can better find your way while in those crowded and tricky locations.

Indoor Live View isn’t available in every airport, mall or transit station, but Google has rolled out the feature across select cities, such as Chicago, Long Island, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.

LEARN MORE

How to see the weather at your destination in Google Maps

Courtesy

Google has added two “layers” to Maps that help people better prepare for the location that they are arriving in. First, there’s a new weather layer that, after you set a location, you’ll be able to quickly see the current and forecasted temperatures and weather conditions in that area; this way, you’ll know if it’s going to be raining or really hot before you get there and without having to open a separate app.

The other layer does the same thing but for air quality. After you set a location, you’ll be able to quickly see how healthy (or unhealthy) the air in that area is. You can use this information to remind yourself to bring a mask or your inhaler, or prevent you from even going to a place if the air quality is so bad.

How to find eco-friendly travel routes in Google Maps

Courtesy

Google Maps is introducing a feature that will guide you (when driving) along an eco-friendly route, or a route with the lowest amount of carbon emissions, so long as it doesn’t affect the ETA of your journey too much. This feature will be on by default (although Google isn’t expected to roll it out to all Androids and iPhones until later this year) as its part of Google’s big initiative to fight climate change.

However, if you’re a speed demon who always wants to get to your location as fast as possible, you’ll have to opt out of it.

How to find eco-friendly restaurants in Google Maps

Courtesy

If you’re looking to order from or go out to a restaurant, but you also want to make sure the restaurant is composting, recycling and just proactively being environmentally friendly, Google Maps recently rolled out a feature just for that. When researching a restaurant or shop, you’ll now be able to see an attribute for recycling (just click on the business, go to the About section and scroll down to Recycling).

If you’re a business, you can add an icon to your profile if you offer recycling (Here’s how). You can even specify which things you recycle, such as plastic bags, plastic household products, glass and even electronics. This way you can ensure that nothing you use at that business will end up in a landfill.

How to find the best biking route in Google Maps

Courtesy

You know how ski mountains have different trail markings (like green circle, blue square or black diamond) depending on difficulty? Well, Google is doing something kind of similar for its biking routes. Specifically, after you type in your route, Maps uses machine learning to find you the smoothest route (it basically just takes into account the flatness or steepness of your route). This way, if you’re not a skilled biker or maybe you’re transporting something fragile (like groceries), you can choose the path with the least amount of peril.

How to avoid crowds on public transit with Google Maps

Google

Google is updating Maps with more crowdedness information, so that commuters using certain public transit can see how crowded a train or bus is at a particular time. The information, which is a mix of historical data based as well as real-time reporting from people using Maps, has been available for roughly 200 cities, but as of July 2021, Google is bringing it over 10,000 locations across 100 countries. To access this crowdedness information, all you have to do is navigate to a certain place using Maps, scroll down to see the Transit Details, and then scroll down to find crowdedness predictions.

July 21, 2021 / Comments Off

299