Engadget RSS Feed |
- Sonos' Roam speaker is still 20 percent off, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals
- 'God of War: Ragnarok' reportedly lands this November
- UK regulator plans to launch probe into Google's and Apple's mobile duopoly
- The Beats Fit Pro are back on sale for $180
- Engadget Podcast: Apple's WWDC 2022 and the Surface Laptop Go 2
- The Morning After: IKEA and, er, Swedish House Mafia made a turntable
- Nintendo Switch Online gets three special version Kirby games
- NHTSA deepens its probe into Tesla collisions with stationary emergency vehicles
| Sonos' Roam speaker is still 20 percent off, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals Posted: 10 Jun 2022 08:46 AM PDT If you're still looking for the perfect Father's Day gift, you have a bunch of options that you can get for less right now. A rare sale on the Sonos Roam and Move speakers discounts them both by 20 percent, while a number of Apple devices are on sale, too. The Google Pixel 6 Pro smartphone is still $100 off, plus Solo Stove's fire pits are up to 43 percent off. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. Sonos RoamNathan Ingraham / Engadget Sonos' portable Roam speaker remains 20 percent off and down to just over $143. We gave it a score of 87 for its great audio quality, compact and durable design and ability to play stereo audio when two are paired together. Buy Sonos Roam at Amazon - $143Buy Sonos Roam at Sonos - $143Sonos Move The outdoor-friendly Sonos Move is also 20 percent off and down to just under $320. It earned a score of 80 from us for its excellent sound quality, Bluetooth connectivity, weather-resistant design and great battery life. Buy Sonos Move at Amazon - $320Buy Sonos Move at Sonos - $320Sonos refurbished saleKyle Maack/Engadget Sonos has discounted a bunch of refurbished speakers and soundbars. You can pick up the Arc soundbar for $718, or $180 less than the cost of a new model, and the Sonos Five speaker for $439, or $110 less than a new unit. Sonos' refurbished program tests all devices to make sure they're as good as new and these devices come with the same one-year warranty as new products do. Shop Sonos refurbished saleApple Watch Series 7 Both the 41mm and 45mm versions of the Apple Watch Series 7 are $70 off right now and down to record lows: $329 and $359, respectively. We gave the wearable a score of 90 for its larger display, faster charging capabilities and powerful watchOS 8 features. Buy Apple Watch Series 7 at Amazon starting at $329Apple Watch SE The Apple Watch SE in 44mm is down to a record-low of $229 right now, or $80 off its normal price. We gave it a score of 88 for its powerful performance, comfortable design and handy watchOS features. Buy Apple Watch SE at Amazon - $229AirPods (3rd gen) The latest AirPods are $30 off and down to $150, which is only $10 more than their all-time-low price. We gave the buds a score of 88 for their improved audio quality, more comfortable design and longer battery life. Buy AirPods at Amazon - $150Apple AirTags A pack of four AirTags is down to $89 right now, or $10 off its regular price. If you have a few things you want to keep track of, this is a good opportunity to pick up a few AirTags that can help you do so. AirTags show you the location of your things in Apple's Find My app, and if you have an iPhone that supports Precision Finding, it can lead you directly to your stuff. Buy AirTags (4 pack) at Amazon - $89Nintendo Switch Online bundleSanDisk You can still get half off a bundle that includes a 12-month membership to Nintendo Switch Online's Family plan and a 128GB SanDisk microSD card. Nintendo's subscription includes cloud backup for game data, online gaming and access to a bunch of NES and SNES titles, while the microSD card will let you easily add more space to your Switch. Buy Switch Online + microSD card bundle at Amazon - $35Beats Fit ProBilly Steele/Engadget The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are back on sale for $180, or $20 off their usual price. We gave them a score of 87 for their good sound quality, strong ANC and handy features provided by Apple's H1 chipset. Buy Beats Fit Pro at Amazon - $180Google Nest DoorbellGoogle The battery-powered Nest Doorbell is on sale for $130 at Amazon right now, or nearly 30 percent off its normal price. This IoT device is easy to install since you don't have to hardwire it, and it'll send you alerts when someone shows up at your doorstep. You can also pick up the Nest Cam Outdoor for $129 or the Nest Cam Indoor for $80. Buy Google Nest Cameras and Doorbells at AmazonGoogle Pixel 6 ProDavid Imel for Engadget Google's Pixel 6 Pro smartphone remains $100 off and down to $799. We gave the flagship a score of 91 for its excellent cameras, lightweight design and clever voice software. Buy Pixel 6 Pro at Amazon - $799Roku UltraRoku The 2022 Roku Ultra is 20 percent off and down to a new low of $80. The updated set-top box just came out last month and it includes the new Voice Remote Pro with a rechargeable battery and a remote-finder feature, plus support for 4K, HDR10+ streaming. It's also worth noting that the Roku Streambar remains on sale for $99. Buy Roku Ultra at Amazon - $80Buy Roku Streambar at Amazon - $99Solo Stove You can get up to 43 percent off fire pits at Solo Stove right now.You'll find the deepest discount on the big Yukon, which is $320 off and down to $400. We like these fire pits because they create much less smoke than their cheaper competitors and, out of the three models available, two of them are pretty portable, too. Shop fire pits at Solo StoveRoomba 694 iRobot's Roomba 694 has dropped to $180, or $94 off its usual price. It earned a spot in our best affordable robot vacuums guide thanks to its good cleaning power and easy to use mobile app. Buy Roomba 694 at Amazon - $180Roomba j7+ iRobot's Roomba j7+ is down to $599 at Amazon, or $200 off its normal price. We included the Roomba j7 in our best robot vaccums guide because it did a good job cleaning both carpeted and hard floors, plus it has good obstacle avoidance and an easy to use companion app. The j7+ adds a clean base into the mix, so the robot will automatically empty its bin into the clean base after every job. Buy Roomba j7+ at Amazon - $599Sony Days of Play sale Sony's Days of Play sale on Amazon discounts a bunch of PlayStation accessories, including all six PS DualSense controllers. You can pick up any of them, including the vibrantly colored ones, for $59, which is up to 21 percent off their normal prices. Shop Days of Play sale at AmazonAnova Precision CookerAnova Anova's Precision Cooker sous vide machine is down to $133 right now, or 39 percent off its normal price. We like its easy to use onboard controls, WiFi connectivity and 1,000 watts of power. Buy Anova Precision Cooker at Amazon - $133Sony WH-1000XM4Billy Steele / Engadget Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones are down to $278, which is 21 percent off its normal price. While Sony just came out with the XM5 headphones, these cans remain a good option for those that want excellent sound quality and ANC to match. Plus, you'll save more than $100 compared to the XM5 if you pick up the XM4 while they're on sale. Buy WH-1000XM4 at Amazon - $278Fitbit Father's Day saleValentina Palladino / Engadget Fitbit has discounted most of its wearables ahead of Father's Day, and if you spend $125 or more, you'll get $20 off your next purchase before the end of June. The Charge 5 tracker is down to $130, while the Versa 3 is on sale for $170 and the Sense smartwatch has fallen to $200. Shop Fitbit Father's Day saleFollow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. |
| 'God of War: Ragnarok' reportedly lands this November Posted: 10 Jun 2022 08:38 AM PDT God of War: Ragnarok might make its 2022 launch window after all. Bloombergsources say the marquee PS4 and PS5 game will be released in November despite recent claims it might be delayed to 2023. Sony's Santa Monica Studio is poised to announce the release date later in June, the tipsters said. The debut had supposedly been pushed back from September, but there don't appear to be further worries. European sources talking to Gamereactor had maintained the game wouldn't be ready until next year. The no-shows at both the June 2nd State of Play event and this week's Summer Games Fest helped fuel speculation about a lengthy delay. The Bloomberg contacts said there had been "several" internal and public delays for Ragnarok since the 2020 announcement, with at least some due to the pandemic and the need for remote work. Sony hasn't commented on the rumor, and there's no guarantee the new God of War will stay on track. A November ship date wouldn't be surprising, though. Game developers often plan to release their biggest titles during the all-important holiday shopping season, particularly before Black Friday (the day after American Thanksgiving in November). And when Ragnarok could easily be the most important PlayStation game of the near future, a holiday premiere could be crucial for Sony's bottom line. |
| UK regulator plans to launch probe into Google's and Apple's mobile duopoly Posted: 10 Jun 2022 06:00 AM PDT The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded that Google and Apple "hold all the cards" when it comes to mobile phones a year after taking a closer look at their "duopoly." It's now consulting on the launch of a market investigation into the tech giants' market power in mobile browsers, as well as into Apple's cloud gaming restrictions. In addition, the CMA has launched a separate investigation into Google's Play Store rules — the one that requires certain app developers to use the tech giant's payment system for in-app purchases, in particular. The CMA has concluded after its year-long study that the tech giants do indeed exhibit an "effective duopoly" on mobile ecosystems. A total of 97 percent of all mobile web browsing in the UK is powered by Apple's and Google's browser engines. iPhones and Android devices typically come with Safari and Chrome pre-installed, which means their browsers have the advantage from the start. Further, Apple requires developers to make sure their iOS and iPadOS apps are using its WebKit engine to browse the web. That limits the incentives Apple may have to invest in Safari, the CMA said. The agency also pointed out that Apple enforces policies that prevent cloud gaming apps from being available to download from its App Store. Under its rules, cloud gaming services would have to individually submit each playable game for review and approval if they want to be listed. The company eventually carved out an exception, but only to make services like Xbox Cloud Gaming available on iOS devices through a browser. In its announcement, the CMA explained that the lack of intervention would allow the tech giants to maintain and even strengthen their hold not just over mobile browsers, but also over mobile operating systems and app stores. Their duopoly could stifle competition and limit incentives for individuals and other companies to innovate and develop new products and technologies for those markets. |
| The Beats Fit Pro are back on sale for $180 Posted: 10 Jun 2022 05:44 AM PDT If you missed the previous sale in April, you have another chance to pick up the Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds for less right now. Amazon has them for $180, which is 10 percent off and one of the best prices we've seen. We saw the buds drop to around $153 in January of this year, but it was only for a brief period of time and that sale price hasn't returned since. That makes the current sale even more appealing if you've had your eye on Beats' latest buds. Buy Beats Fit Pro at Amazon - $180Being owned by Apple has its perks and it shows in the Beats Fit Pro. These buds have most of the convenient features that AirPods do, but with a more comfortable and secure design. They look similar to the Beats Studio Buds, with the exception of the flexible wingtip that helps them fit better into different ear shapes and stay put during intense workouts. Their design is also IPX4-rated, so sweat won't bother them either. These buds also impressed with their sound quality and ANC. They pumped out audio with depth and clarity, plus punchy bass that never overpowered, and the buds support Adaptive EQ and spatial audio. ANC is good as well, and while it's not as strong as that from Bose or Sony, it gets the job done and will sufficiently block out surrounding noises. Inside the Beats Fit Pro is Apple's H1 chip, which powers things like one-touch pairing, Find My support and hands-free Siri access. Aside from Apple's own AirPods, Beats earbuds like these are solid options for iPhone owners since they're designed to works seamlessly with all Apple devices. As for battery life, Beats estimates six hours of listening time with ANC turned on, and you'll get up to 27 hours of total use time when you employ the extra charges provided by the buds' case. Our biggest gripes with the Beats Fit Pro are is lack of wireless charging capabilities and the fact that some features are iOS exclusive, however the latter is to be expected. But Android users aren't totally out of luck: the buds have their own dedicated Android app with supports fast pairing, control customization and a battery status indicator. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. |
| Engadget Podcast: Apple's WWDC 2022 and the Surface Laptop Go 2 Posted: 10 Jun 2022 05:30 AM PDT This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Sam dive into all the announcements from WWDC 2022, as well as what it was like to cover the event both remotely and in-person. How did we (and our audience) feel about things that we did and didn't see at the show? Plus, Sam tells us more about Microsoft's new Surface Laptop Go 2, plus news on regulations around USB-C and our right to repair our devices. 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 podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!
|
| The Morning After: IKEA and, er, Swedish House Mafia made a turntable Posted: 10 Jun 2022 04:20 AM PDT IKEA has partnered with electronic music giants Swedish House Mafia to release the new OBEGRÄNSAD ("unlimited" in Swedish) collection themed around music and creativity. The highlight so far is a surprisingly slick record player, which has Bluetooth speaker support and a minimalist design. IKEA has form for intriguing tech-homeware collaborations, having already launched music and lighting products in collaboration with Teenage Engineering just a few years ago. (I still have their tiki cups – I don't know why the collection included tiki cups…) There's also some furniture in the new line, including a desk for music production, complete with two speaker stands and a pull-out shelf for MIDI keyboards and other controllers. Expect the collection to land this fall. — Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed
NASA's James Webb telescope hit by a micrometeoroidBut it should be OK.Astronomers everywhere have high hopes for NASA's James Webb telescope. But between May 23rd and May 25th, a larger than expected micrometeoroid hit one of the telescope's primary mirror segments. The event was significant enough for NASA to pick up a "marginally detectable effect in the data," but not enough to affect the telescope's performance. In NASA's announcement, it said the James Webb team performed an initial analysis and found it still performs at a level that "exceeds all mission requirements." Dell unveils a slimmer XPS 13 and a detachable 2-in-1The company's premium ultraportables evolve.Dell While all eyes are on the flashy new XPS 13 Plus (even if it doesn't have a headphone jack), Dell hasn't forgotten about its mainstay premium ultraportable — or its convertible cousin. The XPS 13 is now even slimmer and more power efficient. The XPS 13 2-in-1, meanwhile, has transformed from a foldable laptop into a detachable Surface competitor. The new XPS 13 is available today starting at $999, and the 2-in-1 should land later this summer. Watch Netflix's first 'Cyberpunk 2077' anime series trailerThe team has been working on it since 2018.Netflix Netflix and CD Projekt Red have unveiled the first trailer for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, their anime series based on the game Cyberpunk 2077. The companies announced the project back in 2020, and it's set to be released this September. Studio Trigger is known for its wild designs and projects, like Kill la Kill and Promare. Edgerunners looks like it will feel at home with those other anime series. It'll be directed by Studio Trigger founder Hiroyuki Imaishi. Meta is reportedly discontinuing Portal devices for consumersPortals will become business-focused devices instead.Meta will no longer release Portal devices for consumers, according to The Information and Variety. The company is reportedly repositioning the smart display and home video line as a business product and discontinuing current consumer versions. Variety says Meta will sell all the remaining inventory of previously released models and continue providing support for existing customers. It was also something our Senior Editor, Karissa Bell, mused on years ago. |
| Nintendo Switch Online gets three special version Kirby games Posted: 10 Jun 2022 03:20 AM PDT Nintendo has been boosting its Switch Online retro library at a fast pace, recently adding Congo's Caper, Rival Turf and Kirby 64. Now with version 3.3.0, it's adding three more Kirby titles, all special SP versions with secret modes unlocked: Kirby Super Star, Kirby's Dream Land 3 and Kirby's Dream Course. Kirby Super Star originally launched on Super NES with eight side-scrolling platform games, including two minigames. Secret modes available include Meta Knight, Milky Way Wishes and the Arena. SNES platformer Kirby's Dream Land 3, meanwhile, includes extra options like Play Extra Course and the Dance Select option. Finally, with the miniature golf game Kirby's Dream Course (SNES), you automatically get 100 percent completion and access to all stages if you choose. A Nintendo Switch Online subscription unlocks online play, cloud saves and access to a library of NES and SNES games on the Switch. To gain access to N64 and Sega Genesis titles, you'll need an additional paid tier called the Expansion Pack. Switch Online costs $20 annually, while the Expansion Pack is $50 per year. |
| NHTSA deepens its probe into Tesla collisions with stationary emergency vehicles Posted: 10 Jun 2022 02:35 AM PDT The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has deepened (PDF) its investigation into a series of Tesla crashes involving first responders to an engineering analysis. As The Washington Post explains, that's the last stage of an investigation, and the agency typically decides within a year if a vehicle should be recalled or if the probe should be closed. In addition to upgrading the probe's status, the investigation now covers 830,000 units, or almost all the Tesla Model Y, Model X, Model S and Model 3 vehicles the company has sold since 2014. This development expands upon the investigation the NHTSA initiated back in 2021 following 11 collisions of Tesla vehicles with parked emergency responders and trucks. Since then, the agency has identified and added six more incidents that occurred over the past couple of years. In most of those crashes, Autopilot gave up vehicle control less than one second before impact, though Automatic Emergency Braking intervened in at least half of them. The NHTSA also found that the first responders on the road would've been visible to the drivers at an average of eight seconds before impact. Plus, forensic data showed no driver took evasive action between 2 to 5 seconds prior to impact even though they all had their hands on the wheel. Apparently, nine of the 11 vehicles originally involved in the investigation exhibited no driver engagement visual or chime alerts until the last minute before the collision. Four of them didn't exhibit any engagement visual or chime alert at all. The NHTSA also looked into 191 crashes not limited to incidents involving first responders. In 53 of those collisions, the agency found that the driver was "insufficiently responsive" as evidenced by them not intervening when needed. All these suggest that while drivers are complying with Tesla's instructions to make sure they have their hands on the wheel at all times, they're not necessarily paying attention to their environment. That said, the NHTSA noted in its report that "a driver's use or misuse of vehicle components, or operation of a vehicle in an unintended manner does not necessarily preclude a system defect." As University of South Carolina law professor Bryant Walker Smith told The Post, monitoring the position of a driver's hands isn't effective enough, because it doesn't ensure a driver's capability to respond to what they encounter on the road. In addition, the NHTSA noted that the ways a driver may interact with the system is an important design consideration for Level 2 autonomous driving technologies. These systems still aren't full autonomous and still mostly depend on the human driver, after all. "As such, ensuring the system facilitates the driver's effective performance of this supervisory driving task presents an important safety consideration," the agency wrote. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment