Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Apple : The $26 billion T-Mobile-Sprint merger has officially been approved by the FCC

Apple : The $26 billion T-Mobile-Sprint merger has officially been approved by the FCC

The $26 billion T-Mobile-Sprint merger has officially been approved by the FCC

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 04:05 PM PDT

It’s official: the FCC has approved the merger of telecom giants Sprint and T-Mobile, a move that evens the playfield against juggernauts Verizon and AT&T, but critics say reduces competition and opens the door to anti-consumer behavior.

Now all that stands in the way of both companies joining up is a bipartisan lawsuit brought by 13 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia, according to AppleInsider. Once that’s resolved, Sprint and T-Mobile can proceed with a long-planned merger that will shrink the major US telecom field from four down to three.

After the DOJ approved the merger back in July, the FCC vote was one of the last remaining obstacles. It was split down party lines: Chairman Ajit Pai joined two Republican commissioners in approving the $26.5 billion merger, while the two Democrat commissioners voted against.

One of the latter, commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, wrote in the Atlantic that reducing the number of telecoms “will hurt consumers, harm competition, and eliminate thousands of jobs.” The same happened when mergers in other industries saw shrunk the number of major players, including airlines (which added baggage fees and smaller seats) and pharmaceuticals (raised prices for essential medications), Rosenworcel argued.

After the merger, Rosenworcel continued, there’s very little to prevent the newly-merged company from raising wireless prices on consumers - except the mega-telecom’s word that it won’t (for three years, anyway). Even though conditions for the merger require the new T-Mobile to help Dish Mobile become a new “fourth telecom,” ostensibly to preserve some degree of competition, it has little incentive to do so.

The other Democratic commissioner, Geoffrey Starks, echoed Rosenworcel’s dissent that fewer options would lead to higher prices in a memo. Further, he criticized the FCC’s approving a merger that had “changed significantly from the one that was originally proposed - twice” without allowing for public comment.

US Senators had previously urged US regulators not to approve the merger back in early 2019. But assuming the state attorneys general goes through, we’ll see the US telecom industry fundamentally change.

The post-merger telecom landscape

Initially, here’s how the telecom landscape is set to change. As part of the merger, T-Mobile and Sprint will cede prepaid phone subsidiaries like Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile to Dish Mobile, along with some of Sprint’s 800MHz spectrum - a deal which will cost Dish $5 billion.

Dish will also have to build out a partial 5G network by June 2023 that must cover 70% of the US population - if not, it faces a $2.2 billion fine. Obviously, this requirement is intended to assure some degree of 5G competition.

That’s especially important given how much of a lead the new T-Mobile will have on 5G. With the old T-Mobile 5G’s high-frequency mmWave and low-frequency sub-6 networks it’s begun to activate in 2019, plus mid-range Sprint 5G active in nine cities by the end of the year, the combined mega-telecom’s 5G will have plenty of markets covered - and be poised to expand 5G into rural areas, which need longer-ranged lower-spectrum signals in the sub-6 frequencies to reach individuals outside cities.

We’ll have to see how the landscape actually changes, assuming the state attorneys general lawsuit gets resolved without shifting the mega-telecom’s plans.

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Cray's Archer 2 supercomputer will be powered by AMD

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 02:10 PM PDT

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Centre has announced that HPE's Cray has been awarded the contract to build the Archer 2 supercomputer.

The new supercomputer is expected to be 11 times more powerful than Archer, though since Archer 2 will be built in the same room as the previous model, there will be two to three months of downtime.

Archer 2 will feature 11,696 AMD Epyc Rome CPUs which will allow the device to deliver almost 1.5m processing threads to users.

Archer 2

Archer 2 will aid the UK's science and research community by delivering a significant boost in computing power.

According to pre-construction performance estimates, the new supercomputer already looks to be multiples ahead of the current Archer system and it should be able to deliver 8.7x in CP2K, 9.5x in OpenSBLI, 11.3x in CASTEP, 12.9x in GROMACS and 18.0x in HadGEM3. Archer 2's peak performance is estimated at 28PFLOP per second.

Cray's latest supercomputer will be located in Edinburgh and its internals will be fitted into 23 Shasta Mountain direct liquid cooled cabinets. The inside of Archer 2 will contain 5,848 compute nodes, each with dual AMD Rome 64C / 128T CPUs clocked at 2.2 GHz, along with 1.57PB of RAM.

The original Archer supercomputer will end operation on February 18, 2020 and Archer 2 will become operational just a few months later on May 6, 2020 according to the official UKRI supercomputer site. Those looking to get some hands-on time with Archer 2 will need to wait an additional month for access as the system will be stress tested for 30 days.

Via Hexus

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Luigi's Mansion 3: release date, news, and features

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 12:26 PM PDT

It’s been six long years since Nintendo last released a game in the Luigi’s Mansion series, and with fans beginning to give up hope of another, the announcement that a sequel will hit Nintendo Switch in 2019 is very welcome news indeed.

Announced with a trailer during a Nintendo Direct on September 13, 2018 the tentatively named Luigi’s Mansion 3, is set to be released on Switch this Halloween - very spooky indeed.

During Nintendo Direct at E3 2019, we got a bunch of new details about what we can expect from the next game in the spooky series. Here's everything we know so far about Luigi's Mansion 3.

[Update: There's some brand new gameplay footage from Luigi's Mansion 3 to feast your eyes on. Check it out below!]

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The third entry in Nintendo's spooky series
  • When can I play it? October 31st, 2019
  • What can I play it on? Nintendo Switch

Luigi's Mansion 3

Image credit: Nintendo

Luigi's Mansion 3 release date

Luigi's Mansion 3 will launch for Nintendo Switch on October 31st, 2019 (AKA Halloween!). It's a very fitting release date for such a spooky title.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 trailers

A lengthy new Overview Trailer has been released for Luigi's Mansion 3 and it's chock full of new gameplay footage and a look at some new boss fights. The trailer commentary is in Japanese but if you're not a fluent speaker, what you're seeing will pretty much speak for itself. 

Gamescom 2019 brought us our longest look at Luigi's Mansion 3 yet. 30 whole minutes of gameplay showing both single-player and co-op in a brand new garden-themed level. Watch it for yourself below.

Nintendo dropped a more in-depth gameplay trailer for Luigi's Mansion 3 during E3 2019. Check it out below:

Although the first trailer doesn’t give away much, it does give us a sneak peek at the high quality graphics and gameplay. Check it out below:

Luigi's Mansion 3 news and rumors

Post-launch DLC and expanded multiplayer content

Nintendo quietly updated the official website for Luigi's Mansion 3 to reveal that after its Halloween launch, “Paid DLC will come to Luigi's Mansion 3 in the future, adding new content to the ScareScraper and ScreamPark multiplayer modes.” Scarescraper is a co-op multiplayer mode while ScreamPark is a competitive multiplayer so while we can't be certain of which forms the content will take in the paid DLC, nor how much it will cost, we can surmise that it'll be at least as diverse as the two modes.

Puzzles
There are plenty of puzzles in the haunted hotel to keep you occupied (as well as a few hidden secrets). It'll take a combination of Luigi's Poltergust, plungers and Gooigi to solve them.

Luigi's Mansion 3

Gamescom 2019
We got a short amount of time with Luigi's Mansion 3 at Gamescom. Check out our hands on: Luigi's Mansion 3 review. If you want a further in-depth look at the game, don't forget to check out the brand new 30 minutes of footage released during Gamescom above. It gives a look at single-player and co-op in a brand new level of the game. 

Releasing this Halloween
Nintendo has confirmed Luigi's Mansion 3 will launch on October 31st, 2019 (AKA Halloween).

ScareScaper mode
This co-op and competitive mode sees you clearing rooms, taking on ghosts and completing challenges to collect coins. Can be played online or couch co-op.

Lots of rooms in the hotel
Including a greenhouse, film studio, and theatre stage.

Gooigi
Luigi can now summon a flubber-like version of himself that can slip through bars and walk over spikes. Even better, a friend can control Gooigi and you can co-op.

Luigi's Mansion 3

Image credit: Nintendo

New functions
Including Slam (which slams ghosts on the ground), Suction Shot (which attaches the plunger to an item before pulling it away, destorying it), and Burst (an air pressure group attack).

Story
Luigi's Mansion 3 sees Luig being invited to stay in a hotel alongside his friends Mario, Peach and co. But unfortunately the hotel isn't quite what it seems and things take a dark turn when he arrives. There are some ghost guests who refuse to check out and they're not exactly friendly.

Poltergust G-00
Luigi's got a brand new vacuum, in the form of the Poltergust G-00. This new super sucker can fire plungers, use jet propulsion to increase jumping, and use the Strobulb.

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Mozilla will launch a beta version of its new VPN

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 12:26 PM PDT

Mozilla has announced that it will launch a beta version of its upcoming VPN service in the coming weeks ahead of its general release.

The Firefox-maker launched the Firefox Private Network extension this month and it added a browser proxy to the company's web browser. However, it is currently only available for users in the US and resembles the VPN feature Opera added to its Android browser earlier this year.

Firefox Private Network helps protect user's data online by encrypting it and masking the IP address of a user's connection. Mozilla decided to choose Cloudflare as its partner for the service and Firefox users are connected to the nearest Cloudflare data center when they turn on Private Network in their browser.

The initial release lacked several key features such as the option to select different regions or servers and no information about the connection was displayed in the extension. 

Firefox Private Network

Now Mozilla has released new details about Firefox Private Network in an announcement. According to the company, a version of Private Network will remain free and beta testers will get 12 hours to use the service in the form of four three-hour passes. 

It is worth noting however that these passes run non-stop for three hours at a time without the option to split the time between different periods.

Additionally, Mozilla also plans to offer a paid device-wide solution that will not be tied to its Firefox browser.

Interested users in the US can visit the Firefox Private Network page and sign up to participate in the service's beta themselves.

  • We've also highlighted the best VPN services of 2019

Via GHacks

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Pokémon Go updates: all the news and rumors for what's coming next

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 12:18 PM PDT

Pokémon Go: the world's first augmented reality app to become a household name. Niantic's mobile AR game is still going strong two years after it first released, with a constant drip of events and updates keeping budding trainers glued to their phones and pounding the streets.

And while it hasn't managed to top the peak of its popularity in 2016, it's still going strong and finding plenty of new ways to improve its player experience.

So what's the latest news for Pokémon Go? As you'd expect, brand new features are being added all the time and community events are still going strong. Plus we have some more themed events and brand new Gen 5 Pokémon to catch!

But without further ado, here's our guide to all the latest Pokémon Go news and updates.

Pokémon Go news and Pokémon Go updates

  • What's new? There's a new Halloween event coming as well as the first worldwide ticketed Pokémon Go event!

First global ticketed event 

Players across the world will soon be able to purchase tickets for a special Pokémon Go event called A Colossal Discovery. 

The research story event will see the introduction of Regigigas, a Pokémon from the Sinnoh region. Players who purchase tickets will be able to embark on a series of tasks over a limited period which will see them have a chance to encounter the new Pokémon before it appears in EX Raids come November. 

Unlike other Pokémon Go events, this one is not location-specific so as long as players have tickets they can take part wherever they are. 

In addition to this chance of encounter, players will also receive a Colossal Discovery medal, up to 10 more Raid Passes for no extra cost, a Unova Stone, and a Sinnoh Stone.

The event will take place on November 2 between 11am and 7pm local time. Tickets can be purchased in the in-game store for $7.99/£7.99 until 5pm on November 2.

Flower Crown Eevee

There's also a brand new Research Breakthrough reward to enjoy. From September 1 until November 1, Eevee wearing flower crowns will appear in encounters for you to catch. Even more appealing, there's a chance some of those you encounter will be Shiny. Research Breakthroughs will be the only way you'll encounter these Pokémon so if you want to evolve every Eeveelution wearing a flower crown you'll have to get started now!

When's the next Pokémon Go event?

Halloween spooktacular

It's October so naturally there's a spooky Halloween event coming to Pokémon Go. This year, starting on October 17, more Shadow Pokémon will be available to save from Team GO Rocket. They include Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Electabuzz, Magmar, Lapras, Mareep, Seedot, Nuzleaf, Sableye, Trapinch, Cacnea, Shuppet, and Duskull.

Brand new outfits will be added to the in-game store, among them a Zubat Bag, a Pikachu Onesie, a Cubone Cap, a Litwick Cap, and a Mimikyu Bag.

And a new Shiny Pokémon is being added: Shiny Yamask.

For a limited time between October 17 and November 1there will be more Halloween-specific treats. 

During this time, more Ghost-type and Dark-type will appear in the wild, in raids and from eggs. 

Some Pokémon that you come across in the wild will be wearing costumes. Naturally, they're costumes of other Pokémon so expect to see adorable sights like Charmander dressed as Cubone or Squirtle dressed as Yamask. Even weirder, you might see some Pikachu dressed as Mimikyu. Some of them will also appear in Shiny form.

Five-star raids will be given a spooky twist with Darkrai making its debut and themed Field Research tasks will be available for a limited time. 

As far as special bonuses across this period there will be double Catch, Hatch and Transfer Candy. 

When's the next Pokémon Go Community Day?

  • What date is the next Community Day? November 16
  • Who's the starring Pokémon? Chimchar

Now that Trapinch has had its day, the next Pokémon Go Community Day has been confirmed to be taking place on November 16, between 11am and 2pm local time. The featured Pokémon for the event will be the fire-type Pokémon Chimchar. 

Across the day Chimchar will spawn more often and there will be a possibility you could encounter it in its shiny form. The event-specific move for Chimchar hasn't been confirmed yet but this will be revealed closer to the time.

During the event, eggs will only require one quarter of their usual distance to hatch and any Lure Modules will last for three hours rather than thirty minutes.

Pokémon Go update: what's next?

Niantic Wayfarer beta

Niantic will soon launch a beta of its Wayfarer tool which will allow players to review nominations for Gyms and Pokéstops, giving them a say in new places to play. Over the next few weeks the beta will roll out to a select playerbase with larger rollouts to come at a later time.

Pokémon Go Plus deals

Want to buy yourself a Pokémon Go Plus wearable? Check some of today's best deals down below.

(Image credits: Niantic/Pokémon Company)

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Best MacBook Pro accessories: the top peripherals for Apple's flagship laptop

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 11:58 AM PDT

The best MacBook Pro accessories could increase productivity and make your work flow all the more seamless.

The best MacBook Pro accessories aren’t just for frills. Apple is making the move towards thinner and lighter MacBooks, and while it’s producing laptops that are more powerful than ever in a slimmer and more compact form factor, they’re also now lacking in ports or a reliable, comfortable keyboard.

It’s wise, therefore, to invest in a few peripherals that help to improve your everyday computing experience with the MacBook Pro. We’re not just talking about aesthetically pleasing cases and fancy sound systems here. We’re talking about the best MacBook Pro accessories that should actually help increase productivity and make your work flow all the more seamless, as well as offer a more comfortable experience.

We haven’t had a chance to test all of these products ourselves, but don’t worry – we here at TechRadar are both MacBook and accessory experts, and we’ve used our tech expertise to find the best MacBook Pro accessories on the market right now. 

Cable Matters Aluminum Thunderbolt 3 Dock

The Cable Matters Aluminum Thunderbolt 3 Dock gives you access to all the essential ports is kind of a lifesaver.

With Apple updating its MacBook Pro line’s design to only feature Thunderbolt 3 ports, many MacBook Pro users who have upgraded to the latest models have found themselves lacking a variety of ports. Not having an SD card reader is one thing; not having easy access to even one USB 3.0 port is a bit of a disaster, especially since many MacBook Pro users are still relying heavily on those to connect their tools to their main computers.

A dock, therefore, that gives you access to all the essential ports is kind of a life- (not to mention, time- and space-) saver. And for that, Cable Matters’s Aluminum Thunderbolt 3 Dock gets our vote. Highly rated on Amazon, this 60W single cable docking solution gives you a host of ports that include five USB 3.0 ports (one of which boasts charging and syncing capabilities), a UHS-I card reader, an Ethernet port, an HDMI port and two additional Thunderbolt 3 ports. 

Plus, it lets you charge your laptop so you don’t have to have that additional charging cable cluttering your workspace, and it also supports dual 4K displays at 60Hz. This is an all-in-one accessory you won’t regret spending the large sum of cash on.

Logitech MX Master 2S

Logitech MX Master 2S is truly built to make your creative work flows as seamless as they can possibly be.

This writer is a big fan of what could be one of Logitech’s best productivity tools. Proving that a computer mouse can be more than just a pointing device to drag and click, Logitech MX Master 2S is truly built to make your creative work flows as seamless as they can possibly be. This is one of the best mice you’ll ever get your hands on, featuring six buttons and two wheels, all of which are highly configurable to make your computing needs easier – whether you need to open a lot of browser tabs or you have a few devices you’re using at the same time.

But, that’s not all. This mouse is wireless, forgoing the need for cables that only get in the way, and also boasts a battery life that seems to last a lifetime on a single charge (or 70 days, to be exact). Additionally, it’s solidly built, boasts advanced ergonomics and works on any surface. It’s no surprise that this makes our best MacBook Pro accessories list. When purchasing this, consider pairing it with the Logitech Craft Keyboard with Creative Input Dial, which we’re also fans of.

LaCie Rugged USB-C 5TB External Hard Drive

The LaCie Rugged USB-C HDD is rain-resistant, drop-resistant up to 4 feet and pressure resistant up to 1 ton.

It’s no big secret that Apple tends to charge a hefty sum when you try and upgrade your storage drive. They charge so much for so little, in fact, that it’s almost like highway robbery. And, with MacBook Pros already costing you an arm and a leg, it’s not sensible to do the upgrade. You’re better off getting an external hard or solid-state drive instead, which either won’t cost as much or give you more for the same price.

We like our LaCie Rugged USB-C External Hard Drive, which is one of the best MacBook Pro accessories for creative professionals who also travel a lot. In fact, you’ve probably already caught a glimpse of its hard-to-forget orange look being used by content creators at cafes. This rugged HDD, which can also be connected through USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, is rain-resistant, drop-resistant up to 4 feet and pressure resistant up to 1 ton. It’s also light and compact, which makes it easy to store and lug around when you’re on the go.

But, here’s the best part: for less than what it would cost you to upgrade to a 1TB on your MacBook Pro, you’re getting quintuple the storage space with this external hard drive.

Omni 20+ AC/DC/USB-C/Wireless Charging Portable Power Bank

Omni Charge, the world's first smart power bank, can pretty much charge any device.

These days, working remotely is pretty much part of the deal, whether it’s an occasional perk that your company offers or you’re a freelancer free to work anywhere in the world anytime you want. If you’ve ever worked out of the office, you might know the pain of MacBook Pros not really lasting an entire workday on a single charge. And, sometimes, carrying your charger isn’t enough – you might have to scour the area for a decent spot where you can charge in peace. 

That’s where a power bank capable of charging a laptop comes in. Omni Charge, the self-proclaimed world’s first smart power bank, can pretty much charge any device. And, by any device, we mean from the usual smartphones and tablets to actual laptops, like the MacBook Pro. It has AC/DC charging capabilities on top of its two rapid-charging USB ports, so that you can simultaneously charge everything all at once. It’s capable of charging a MacBook Air once completely, without taking up too much space in your backpack.

Working on the idea that any space can be your workspace, this device is one of the best MacBook Pro accessories designed specifically for the mobile lifestyle.

Stand Steady SideTrak Monitor

The Stand Steady SideTrak Monitor will save you a lot of time and make your work flow more efficient.

Admittedly, there’s still a few kinks to be worked out. However, considering that the light and thin SideTrak Monitor is Stand Steady’s first attempt at a secondary monitor, it’s actually very impressive. If you’ve got anything like this writer’s daily workload, this monitor will save you a lot of time and make your work flow more efficient. If not, then you’ve got a screen to put Netflix on so you won’t have to compromise on your work area, which will help with productivity.

Granted, Apple is just about ready to release macOS Catalina, which should allow iPad users to utilize their tablets as a secondary screen to their MacBooks. Still, SideTrak’s got that feature beat when it comes to a few things. To start, this 1080p resolution IPS display is designed to be mounted on the back of your laptop screen, which means it’s actually naturally situated right next to your main display, making your experience all the more seamless. It also rotates 270-degrees so that it may be utilized for intimate group presentations and collaborations. 

If you’re looking for the best MacBook Pro accessories to increase productivity and cut down the amount of time you work on tasks, the SideTrak Monitor is one of them.

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The best Fitbit Versa prices and sales in October 2019

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 11:43 AM PDT

If you're looking for a quality smartwatch, but don't want to pay the price of an Apple Watch, then the Fitbit Versa is an excellent option. The popular fitness tracker has been discounted from a number of popular retailers since there is a newer version of the Fitbit smartwatch out (the Fitbit Ionic) that retails for more. We also have the best prices for the Fitbit Versa Special Edition as well as the Fitbit Versa Lite Edition.

The Fitbit Versa tracks all of your activity which includes steps, heart rate, distance, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes, hourly activity and stationary time. The Versa smartwatch is also waterproof so you can tracks laps and calories burned during swim workouts. Enjoy your favorite music on the Versa with 300+ songs that you can store or connect to Bluetooth headphones so you can listen to music or podcasts wire-free. 

The Versa will also help you keep on track with your health and fitness goals with personalized reminders. You can also personalize your workouts with on-screen coaching that adapts by provided feedback. The Versa also features female health tracking which allows women to log their period and gain insights into fertility and other health stats. The Versa also has the basic smartwatch features such as getting calls, texts, and notifications and accessing your favorite apps.

The Fitbit Versa price normally retails for $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$299.99, but we often find a number of retailers that have the smartwatch on sale so you should never pay more than the price we've listed. 

The best Black Friday Fitbit Versa smartwatch deals and prices

While you can still shop current offers below, there's no harm in looking forward to Fitbit Versa discounts during Black Friday. To help you out, we've put together a guide on how to find the best deals during Black Friday 2019. We'll also tell you everything else you need to know, such as when the sale starts, what prices you can expect, and what items will be on sale.

The best deals on the Fitbit Versa smartwatch

If you're interested in contactless payments or switching up the look of the Versa smartwatch, then you can upgrade to the Fitbit Versa Special Edition. The special edition version of the smartwatch allows you to choose from a charcoal or lavender woven band rather than the classic Versa band. The Fitbit Versa Special Edition also has a built-in NFC chip that allows you to make secure payments without your wallet. You can make payments on the go with your credit and debit cards with a tap of your wrist anywhere that accepts contactless payments.

The best deals on the Fitbit Versa Special Edition

If you're looking for a cheaper version of the Fitbit Versa, then you're in luck. Fitbit has announced the "Fitbit Versa Lite Edition" which is priced significantly lower than the original Fitbit, currently priced at $159.95 / £149.99 /AU$249.95. The Versa Lite is available for pre-order now and should be available for purchase sometime in mid-March. 

The Fitbit Versa Lite Edition has many of the core features that the Fitbit Versa has despite its lower price tag. The Versa Lite can track your heart rate and all-day activity like steps, distance, active minutes and calories burned as well as sleep with helpful insights. The Versa Lite also has the standard smartwatch features such as call, text and calendar notifications as well as access to your favorite apps. 

So what does the Versa Lite Edition lack? Unlike the original Fitbit Versa and Special Edition, the Versa Lite doesn't have personalized on-screen workouts, and you also can't upload and store your music to the smartwatch. While the Versa Lite's price is lower than the original Fitbit Versa, which retails for $199.95 /£199.99 /AU$299.95, you can often find sales on the Versa that drops below the price of the Versa Lite.

The best deals on the Fitbit Versa Lite Edition

The Fitbit Versa 2 was just released this past August and is available to purchase with a starting price of $199 / £199 / AU$329. Fitbit's 2nd generation smartwatch features an updated design with a bright AMOLED touchscreen and an always-on display option. The Versa 2 includes a new processor which Fitbit claims to be its fastest yet and offers a further 24 hours of battery life.

The smartwatch also now has Amazon Alexa built-in, which allows you to check the weather, set timers, and control other smart home devices using just your voice. The Versa 2 offers the same health and fitness features as the original smartwatch with 24/7 heart rate monitoring and helpful insights into your sleep. You can also send messages, make calls, and receive notifications.

The best deals on the Fitbit Versa 2

If you need more information on key features of the Fitbit Versa or how much the smartwatch normally costs, we've answered some common questions below to help with your buying decision.

What are the best features of the Fitbit Versa?

Some of the key features of the Fitbit Versa are the design, health and fitness tracking and the long-lasting battery. The Versa design got a makeover from the previous model and now has a more attractive, sleek look for everyday wear. The Versa smartwatch will also track your sleep, letting you know the time spent in different stages and personalized tips on how to improve. The Fitbit Versa offers a 4+ day battery life so you can track your activity, play music, text and more throughout the day without worrying of recharging your battery.

How much does a Fitbit Versa cost?

One of the biggest selling points of the Fitbit Versa vs. an Apple Watch is the price. The Fitbit Versa retails for $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$299.99 and is one of the best smartwatches you can get for under $200. Since the Versa has been out for almost a year, you can normally find discounts and sales from popular retailers on the smartwatch.

Fitbit Versa bands

Specific Fitbit devices do have interchangeable bands, and the Fitbit Versa is one that can be customized with interchangeable wristbands. Several retailers besides the Fitbit website sell Versa bands such as Amazon and Walmart. Styles include bands that look more like a traditional watch and bands that have more sporty features such as breathable air holes. The interchangeable wristbands are also made out of variety of different materials that include stainless steel, woven fabric, and leather to name a few.

Shop more fitness tracker sales with our roundup of the best Walmart deals that are happening now.

Learn more about the Fitbit smartwatch with our Fitbit Versa review and also learn about the cheapest Fitbit Versa with our Fitbit Versa Lite review.

See more of the best cheap Fitbit sale prices and deals that are currently available.

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UK government abandons its porn block plans

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 11:37 AM PDT

The UK government has announced that its controversial plans for a porn block to prevent children from viewing adult content online have been dropped.

The porn block was first announced in 2015 and was slated to come into effect last year but it was repeatedly delayed as the government continually ran into problems regarding its implementation.

Under the policy, all adult internet users that wished to view pornographic content online in the UK would have had to prove that they were over 18 by providing some form of identification. Websites that refused to implement the age checks faced being blocked by UK ISPs or having access to payment services withdrawn.

The porn block however ran into legal, practical and technical difficulties. Privacy groups protested that it would be possible to connect an individual's online browsing habits to their identity and this data could potentially be obtained by hackers, despite reassurances from age-verification sites.

The UK government was also forced to exempt large social media sites from the porn block over fears that sites such as Twitter and Reddit could be blocked for allowing users to access adult content.

Porn block

Back in June, the implementation of the porn block was delayed for an additional six months as the government had failed to inform the EU of its proposals.

In a written statement, the new digital secretary Nicky Morgan explained that although the porn block is no more, the government's proposed online harms regulation will continue to protect children online, saying:

“The government has concluded that this objective of coherence will be best achieved through our wider online harms proposals. As a consequence, will not be commencing Part 3 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 concerning age verification for online pornography. The Digital Economy Act objectives will, therefore, be delivered through our proposed online harms regulatory regime. This course of action will give the regulator discretion on the most effective means for companies to meet their duty of care.”

While a nice idea to protect children from being exposed to adult content online, the porn block was overly complicated and had the potential to open the private online activities of adults up to hackers.

  • Browse the internet without restrictions with the best VPN services of 2019

Via The Independent

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Best MacBook Air cases: the top shells and sleeves for MacBook Air

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 11:20 AM PDT

If you've got a MacBook Air, you'd be smart to make sure it's protected. The aluminum chassis on the laptop helps keep it stable and light, but the MacBook Air won't look nearly as nice if that metal gets scratched or dented. That's where a MacBook Air case, skin or sleeve can come in.

MacBook Air cases will offer extra protection for your device, helping keep it safe in the event of falls, scrapes, dents and other mishaps. So, when the worst happens, the case can take the brunt of the accident instead of your expensive MacBook Air. Even if you got a great MacBook Air deal, it's worth it to protect it with a case.

We haven’t had a chance to test all of these cases ourselves, but don’t worry – we here at TechRadar are both Mac and accessory experts, and we’ve used our tech expertise to find the MacBook Air cases on the market right now. And, because we’ve included our exclusive price comparison tool, you can be confident that you’re getting the best MacBook Air case deal on the internet. 

Mosiso's MacBook Air case is an excellent option for the 13-inch laptop. It offers protection for the top, bottom and sides of the device. These cases even include screen protectors and keyboard covers. And, if simple protection isn't enough, the Mosiso MacBook Air cases come in a wide variety of styles, so you can change up the look of your laptop to whatever suits you. That style even extends to the keyboard cover in many cases. It's all the better when considering the case keeps all the ports available, has ventilation on the bottom, and includes rubber feet so your MacBook Air won't slide around too much.

If you want to protect your MacBook Air while upgrading its style, then dbrand is your best bet. dbrand's textured vinyl skins come in an incredible variety of styles, and you can decide whether you want to cover the top, bottom, palm rest, trackpad, or any combination of these. You can get the protection and look you want. From plain colors to skins that mimic materials like wood and stone, there's an option for you. The skins easily adhere to your device without leaving residue if you want to remove them later. 

If you don't want a case that lives on your MacBook Air permanently, then you can protect your device with a sleeve. And, the Dagne Dover sleeve has Apple's blessing, as it's sold directly on Apple's website. It offers the cushion that comes with neoprene as well as the water resistance. The sleeve includes a secondary pocket inside that can fit a notepad or iPad as well. And, an included strap attaches to the sleeve for easy carrying when you're on the go. Unlike most cases, if you upgrade to a similar-sized laptop later, you'll likely still be able to use the sleeve.

MoKo's faux leather sleeve for the MacBook Air offers a convenient and classy way to carry your laptop from place to place while keeping it safe. The sleeve shuts securely with a magnetic clasp, but it leaves a small gap so you can plug your charger in while the MacBook Air is inside. The suede-style, felt interior keeps your laptop safe from scuffing. And, an exterior pocket can store papers while an additional card holder can store your ID or a credit card. 

If you have an older 13-inch MacBook Air, you may need something a little different. That model from 2010 to 2017 had a different design from the newer models, but Speck has a form-fitting case that can keep it protect so you can get even more longevity out of the laptop. The Presidio Clear case shows through so you can see the original color of your laptop. Meanwhile, its dual-layer design ensures a snug fit while also offering drop protection for falls up to four feet. Showing even more consideration, the design has raised edges, so you can get a better grip of the device and avoid drops in the first place.

  • These are the best Macs with which to accessorize

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Best AMD Ryzen laptops: the top laptops with AMD processors inside

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 11:06 AM PDT

AMD is scoring some serious credit with its latest Ryzen 3000 series processors (CPUs) in desktop computers, but when it comes to mobile devices, Intel has still dominated. But, there are secretly plenty of great Ryzen laptops available running on AMD's hardware. 

More and more manufacturers are beginning to include AMD's CPUs in their machines, including higher-end devices. And, with AMD's push into efficient 7-nanometer architecture, it's likely we'll continue to see more AMD CPUs powering laptops in the future.

If you want to get your hands on a laptop running on a Ryzen CPU right now, there are some strong options. 

We haven’t had a chance to test all of these laptops ourselves, but don’t worry – we here at TechRadar are laptop experts, and we’ve used our tech expertise to find the best AMD Ryzen laptops on the market right now.

If you want a Ryzen laptop that can flip over backward to work in tablet mode as well, then the HP Envy x360 13 is a strong choice. It features mobile Ryzen 3000-series CPUs in a quality chassis that won't weight down your backpack or wallet.

For productivity, you'll get plenty of mileage from the Ryzen CPU inside, and the Vega graphics can give you a slight boost in certain tasks. The display is a Full HD touchscreen with Gorilla Glass protecting it, and it's decently bright. All of that comes in a metal body that's almost too slick for the price HP asks.

Read the full HP Envy x360 13 review

The ThinkPad is one of the most iconic laptops there is, and Lenovo has added Ryzen processors into the ThinkPad X395, a thin and light model. The laptop can feature up to a Ryzen 7 Pro 3700U quad-core CPU and 16GB of DDR4-2400 memory. It also uses a PCIe-based SSD for fast storage.

The ThinkPad X395 has a 13.3-inch anti-glare display available at up to Full HD with a 300-nit IPS panel. At just 16.9mm thick and 1.28kg (2.84 pounds), the X395 is thin and light, making it easy to take with you. And, thanks to a tough design and a spill-resistant keyboard, you can count on the ThinkPad X395 to withstand some abuse and the occasional mishap.

Acer Nitro 5

If you want to game on AMD's hardware, the Acer Nitro 5 has you covered. It comes at an affordable price while packing a Ryzen 7 3550H quad-core CPU and Radeon RX 560X GPU for the full AMD gaming experience. It comes with 8GB of memory (RAM) installed, but there are two memory slots, opening the door for upgrades.

That combination of hardware should be a decent amount of power to handle gaming on the 15.6-inch, Full HD display of this laptop. There are plenty of USB ports to connect peripherals like gaming headsets and mice. And, thanks to the narrow bezels on either side of the display in this new model, the Nitro 5 is as svelte as ever.

Lenovo's Flex 14 series of 2-in-1 laptops has received the Ryzen treament, with new models including up to the Ryzen 7 3700U CPU, though we like the value of the Ryzen 5 3500U model we've found with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The laptop includes a 14-inch, Full HD display that fully supports the included active stylus, so you can get artsy with this laptop.

With the 360-degree hinge, you can flip the laptop over to use as a tablet. And, Lenovo's fast-charging can get your battery back up to 80% charge in just an hour. It also include both USB-C and USB-A ports for versatile connection options.

The Asus ZenBook 14 puts Ryzen CPUs into one of their most elegant homes. It's designed thin and light, weighing just 1.12kg and measuring just 16.9mm thick. That's achieved in part thanks to the super slim bezels, which measure just 2.9mm on the sides of the display.

Thanks to this design, Asus manages to fit a 14-inch display into a smaller form factor. And, that display has 100% coverage of the sRGB color space. Despite its thin design, the laptop still has two USB-A ports and a full HDMI port along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C and a microSD card reader.

Inside, it comes with up to a Ryzen 7 CPU with 16GB RAM and 1TB of PCIe SSD storage. All of that's packed into a rugged aluminum chassis. As a fun extra, the trackpad doubles as a number bad. You can see our review of the Asus ZenBook 14 Intel-model here. We're still waiting on availability of the Ryzen models.

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Intel works on 10nm desktop processors to close gap with AMD's 7nm CPUs

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 10:31 AM PDT

AMD's Ryzen 3000 processors are champions of the desktop space right now, and that's leaving Intel in a tough spot. Despite rumors that Intel might try to catch up by skipping straight to desktop processors (CPUs) using 7-nanometer (nm) architecture, the company still has plans to bring its 10nm architecture to desktop devices, according to PC Gamer.

From the Ryzen 5 3600 at the bottom of the stack to the Ryzen 9 3900X at the top (at least as far as commercially available options), AMD's CPU offerings with its 7nm architecture are amazing blends of performance and price.  And, that value has let AMD eat up Intel's market share.

That sudden shift in power dynamics in the market offered some feasibility to the rumor Intel would skip 10nm architecture for desktops in order to focus on a 7nm design that would compete directly with AMD. So far, Intel has released processors built on its 10nm Ice Lake architecture in mobile devices, but we haven't seen desktop versions available to consumers. 

And, a leak from HardwareLUXX had suggested Intel wasn't satisfied with the speeds achieved by Ice Lake, and would therefore focus on 7nm for desktop processors instead. That rumor had previously been refuted by Intel to Tom's Hardware, but without clarity on just what Intel would release. Since then, PC Gamer learned from a source that Intel still fully planned to release standalone desktop CPUs.

A numbers game

At a glance, it might seem like Intel skipping 10nm to focus on its 7nm architecture would make sense. After all, AMD is already there and thriving. 

But, processor architectures aren't all created equal. Intel has stressed that its 10nm process node is comparable to 7nm nodes designed by other foundries. Though, we'll really have to wait and see, since AMD's 7nm desktop processors don't go head to head with Intel's current, 10nm mobile processors. Still, Intel's 7nm architecture should be a further improvement on that, assuming Intel doesn't run into some of the speed issues Ryzen 3000 CPUs have encountered.

This battle is only going to heat up (though the processors themselves may get cooler and cooler), as Intel's 7nm chip aren't coming until 2021 while AMD may be moving onto an enhanced 7nm+ Zen 3 architecture in 2020

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AWS may finally be breaking up with Oracle

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 10:31 AM PDT

Amazon's cloud computing division AWS has announced that it has decided to utilize its own databases instead of Oracle's and the company has finally turned off its last Oracle database.

AWS has managed to move 75 petabytes of internal data stored on almost 7,500 Oracle databases back to its own service.

In a blog post, AWS's Jeff Barr explained that the database migration is now complete after several years of work, saying:

“Today I would like to tell you about an internal database migration effort of this type that just wrapped up after several years of work. Over the years we realized that we were spending too much time managing and scaling thousands of legacy Oracle databases. Instead of focusing on high-value differentiated work, our database administrators (DBAs) spent a lot of time simply keeping the lights on while transaction rates climbed and the overall amount of stored data mounted. This included time spent dealing with complex & inefficient hardware provisioning, license management, and many other issues that are now best handled by modern, managed database services.”

While the majority of Amazon's Consumer business has been moved off of Oracle's databases, some third-party applications which are tightly bound to Oracle were not migrated.

AWS databases

Amazon has been working to move off of Oracle databases for the last several years but due to the size of its projects, this was a difficult and time consuming task.

Over 100 consumers services have been moved to AWS databases including many customer-facing tools such as Alexa, Amazon Prime, Twitch and others. AWS also moved a number of its internal tools like AdTech, its fulfillment system external payments and ordering to its own databases.

Each team at the company moved an Oracle database to an AWS database service such as Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Aurora, Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) and Amazon Redshift. The company also revealed that each group was allowed to choose the service they wanted based on their own individual needs and requirements.

While the move certainly bodes well for AWS, Oracle is losing a huge customer and Amazon's departure could encourage other companies to follow suit.

Via TechCrunch

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Best laptop accessories: the best peripherals for laptops today

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 10:20 AM PDT

Your laptop is capable of a lot. It packs just about everything you could need electronically into one device. But, that's not to say it couldn't do with a few accessories to expand or augment its features.

Your trackpad might be good enough in a pinch, and your keyboard could do for sending off a quick email. For serious work, you may find yourself wanting something better, though. That's where some of these accessories can come in.

Handy laptop accessories will make sure your device's shortcomings are easier to overlook. We've picked out several products that we feel can dramatically improve the experience you have using your laptop. And, they may be enough to keep you from needing to spend a load of extra cash to upgrade to a new laptop.

We haven’t had a chance to test all of these accessories ourselves, but don’t worry – we here at TechRadar are laptop experts, and we’ve used our tech expertise to find the best laptop accessories on the market right now.

The FileHub from RAVPower is an enormously capable device that can benefit just about any laptop. While many accessories rely on USB connections to connect to your laptop, the file hub uses Wi-Fi. In other words, it won't matter if your computer only has one USB-C port or only has USB-A ports.

The FileHub creates a wireless local network to allow for wireless data transfer. That's a good start, but it gets better with the FileHub's built-in SD card reader and USB port. This means you transfer files and backup data between USB drives, SD cards, and your laptop without any wires.

It also has an Ethernet port, so you can connect it to modems and use it as a Wi-Fi router. You can also use it to extend existing Wi-Fi networks.

Anker's compact USB-C hub is a helpful device for ensuring the USB-C port on your laptop isn't a limitation. It can turn a single USB-C port into five separate connectivity options all at once.

It has two USB 3.0 Type-A ports that you can plug thumb drives, external hard drives, keyboard, mice, and more into. It also has a full-size SD card reader and a microSD card reader. And, there's an HDMI port with support for up to 4K at 30Hz or 2K and Full HD at 60Hz.

The hub also includes a handy travel pouch to keep debris out of the ports and to protect the attached cable.


If your laptop's keyboard and trackpad don't feel like they're as good as they could be, you don't have to rely on them. The Corsair K83 Wireless keyboard is a brilliant option to upgrade.

The Corsair K83 combines an excellent feeling keyboard with a trackpad into a device that's ready to sit on your lap, offering comfortable typing and mouse navigation while your laptop sits on a table. The trackpad even has separate mouse buttons for easier click-and-drag control.

You'll be able to connect the Corsair K83 to your laptop using the included USB dongle, which offers a gaming-level 1 millisecond response time. Or, you can connect it via Bluetooth, freeing up your USB ports for other devices.

Read our full Corsair K83 review

Logitech's MX Master 2S wireless mouse is simply the best mouse you can get for productivity on your laptop. It combines an excellent, ergonomic design (albeit only for right-handed users) with multiple scroll wheels and customizable buttons.

Aside from its impeccable tracking, which can make mouse-intensive work a lot easier than a trackpad would, the option to customize the buttons can help you navigate extra quickly. Plus, its support for both Bluetooth and USB connectivity means you can choose how you want to connect to your laptop. The battery will keep you using it wirelessly for up to 70 days on a single charge.

Read our full Logitech MX Master 2S review

While our laptops' storage is getting ever faster with SSDs and more recently PCIe-based drives, the cost is also going up. And, that's leads many to buy laptops with smaller capacities – 128GB and 256GB laptops are not uncommon.

Upgrading to higher capacities generally comes at a high price, and you may not need that much storage right away. And, unless you're loading your laptop up on software, you may not need to go with an internal upgrade at all. SanDisk's Ultra Fit drive is a potent add-on that can plug into a USB port and simply live there permanently.

We've added 128GB of storage to our laptop and never unplug the drive. It makes for a great boost to storage, and is excellent for holding files, pictures and videos. With USB 3.1 speeds, files transfer quickly. And, if you're worried about security, the drive can be encrypted, so someone can't easily access your files by snagging the drive.

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Fake iOS jailbreak could be putting iPhone users at risk

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 09:16 AM PDT

A new vulnerability has been discovered which exists across legacy iOS hardware and while some have used it to jailbreak their devices, Cisco Talos recently discovered that cybercriminals have set up a fake website looking to capitalize on users trying to jailbreak their iPhones.

However, instead of actually jailbreaking a user's device, the site just prompts users to download a malicious profile that the attackers then use to conduct click fraud.

Checkm8 is a bootrom vulnerability that impacts all legacy models of the iPhone from the 4S through the X. The campaign discovered by Cisco Talos tries to capitalize off of a project called checkrain which uses the checkm8 vulnerability to modify an iPhone's bootrom and load a jailbroken image onto the device.

The Checkm8 vulnerability can be exploited using an open source tool called “ipwndfu” developed by AxiomX but the attackers being tracked by Cisco Talos run a malicious website called checkrain.com that preys on users searching for the legitimate checkrain project.

Checkrain

The fake checkrain site tries to appear to be legitimate by claiming to work with popular jailbreaking researchers such as “CoolStar” and Google Project Zero's Ian Beer. The page prompts users to download an application to jailbreak their phone but there actually is no application, as the attackers are trying to install a malicious profile onto the end-user device.

When a user first visits the fake website, they are presented with a download button. Cisco Talos noticed several things about the site, including the mention of A13 devices which aren't vulnerable to Checkm8, which indicate that the website is not legitimate.

Additionally, the website says that users can install the checkrain jailbreak without using a PC but in reality, the Checkm8 exploit requires that the iOS device be in DFU mode and is exploitable using an Apple USB cable. Another tip off was the fact that the fake checkrain site uses an SSL certificate from LetsEncrypt while the actual site doesn't even have an SSL certificate.

Once the download button is clicked, an app with a checkrain icon is downloaded an installed onto a user's iPhone. However, while the icon may appear like a regular app, it is actually a bookmark to connect to a URL.

Instead of providing users with an authentic jailbreak, the threat actors behind this campaign are instead using their devices to commit click fraud. 

As tempting as a jailbroken device may seem, by trying to exploit the Checkm8 vulnerability, you could be opening your device and your data to hackers.

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This Disney Plus trailer shows off hundreds of launch films and shows

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 09:16 AM PDT

If you can't wait until Disney Plus launches in mid-November, Disney has dropped a massive three-hour-long trailer to give you a sneak peak at the animation through the ages coming to the much-hyped TV streaming service.

It's not quite every launch title – the video is named "Basically Everything Coming to Disney+ in the US" – and the exact titles on Disney Plus are going to vary between various territories. But it gives an easy visual run-through of what TV shows and films we can expect from the service, without having to scroll through 600 individual tweets on the Disney Plus Twitter account (which also happened this week).

You can see the Disney Plus trailer below.

Give us some Disney, already

Hype is building for the Disney Plus service, with a huge raft of titles set to come our way when it launches in the US and Canada on November 12, and New Zealand / Australia on November 19.

The issue of exactly which titles we'll get is an interesting one, with licensing difficulties between territories meaning that some countries could get the short straw – while the lack of a Disney Plus UK launch date is still giving us grief over how far behind the UK will be. 

In the meantime, though, this three-hour trailer is probably the purest shot of Disney you can find – though it might be better played in the background rather than a three-yard stare. You might want to look at the best Netflix movies, best movies on Amazon Prime, or best 4K Blu-ray movies for something with an actual plot.

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Save nearly £30 on this fantastic waterproof speaker ahead of Black Friday

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 09:16 AM PDT

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is one of the best portable speakers we've reviewed – and now it's cheaper than ever thanks to a 30% discount over at Amazon.

Since its release in June, this is the lowest price we've seen for the floatable waterproof speaker, bringing it down from £89.99 to just under £62 – a bit of a bargain if you ask us. 

The Wonderboom 2 is optimized for listening outdoors, with an 'Outdoor Boost' mode, an IP67 dustproof/waterproof rating, and an impressive 13 hours of battery life – an increase of 30% compared to its predecessor.

Rugged design and powerful sound solidify the Wonderboom 2 as one of the best portable waterproof speakers you can buy – that's why we awarded it 4.5/5 stars when we reviewed it back in June.

It comes in a range of cool colours, but this particular deal only applies to the peach-hued model. 

While a saving of over £28 is never to be sniffed at, it's worth bearing in mind that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up very soon – and that means the Wonderboom 2 could be discounted even further. 

If you want to wait, make sure you bookmark our Black Friday deals page for the latest news from the massive sales event; however, if you're in a hurry to get your hands on a new Bluetooth speaker, you can check out the deal below.

Today's best portable speaker deal

Via What Hi-Fi?

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Apple AirPods price cut by 15% ahead of Black Friday deals

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 09:00 AM PDT

With Black Friday just around the corner, it's surprising to see Apple's second-generation AirPods with a price like this. Savings of up to 15% can see you rocking the wireless buds far sooner than you might have planned if you've been holding off for the deal of a lifetime. 

Walmart is currently offering AirPods for just $144 ( with the standard charging case) and $169 (with the wireless charging case) in the US. Meanwhile, the UK sees prices down to £140.99 and just £169 respectively. 

Already sporting first-generation AirPods? Amazon is also discounting the wireless charging case by itself across the US and UK. You can pick it up now for $69 at Walmart / £69 at Amazon to give your existing buds a new lease of life. 

With Apple's H1 chip under the hood and hands-free access to Siri, the latest generation of AirPods pack a punch in streamlined usability over their predecessors. Simply pop the wireless headphone buds into your ears and enjoy seamless integration with all your Apple gadgets at double the switching speed - no more waiting around to connect to a new device, second-generation AirPods swap easily. 

That H1 chip serves its purpose, too. Apple originally planned to double the talk time of their first-generation buds, but in reality you'll get around an hour extra - not bad for three hours instead of two. You will, however, notice the boost in your call performance, essentially reducing the time it takes for you to connect and improving both incoming sound and outgoing speech quality. Plus, 30% lower latency will keep things running smooth and snappy.

There's never been a better time to scoop up an AirPods deal. This outstanding price comes just after the release of iOS 13, which opened up AirPod functionality to iMessage and other third-party messaging apps as well as shared listening, a nifty new feature that allows you to pair two sets of AirPods to a single device. 

AirPods price cuts - US

AirPods price cuts - UK

If you're looking to complete your ecosystem, check out these Apple Watch deals, or find the best iPhone 11 deal to suit you. Holding out for the next generation of AirPods? Find out all the latest AirPods 3 news. 

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Pre-Black Friday price cut on the 4K Fire TV Stick at Amazon

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 08:56 AM PDT

If you're looking to snag a pre-Black Friday price cut on the best-selling Fire TV device, then you're in luck. For a limited time, Amazon has the 4K Fire TV on sale for $34.99. That's a $15 discount and the best price we've found for the Alexa-enabled streaming device. Amazon also has the 2nd generation Fire TV Stick on sale for $24.99. 

The 4K Fire TV stick allows you to stream your favorite content in 4K Ultra HD resolution. Just plug the stick into your TV, connect to the internet, and watch your favorite movies and TV shows from apps like Hulu, Amazon Video, Netflix, and more. You'll get access to tens of thousands of channels with storage capacity for thousands of apps, games, and Alexa skills. The Fire device also includes an Alexa voice remote so you can browse shows, launch movies, adjust the volume, and more completely hands-free.

Like we mentioned above, this is the best price we've found for the Fire TV Stick, and we don't know how long Amazon will have the streaming device on sale. If you don't want to wait for Black Friday to snag a discount, then you should take advantage of this deal today.

Fire Stick deals:

You can find more Fire TV device deals with the best Amazon Fire TV deals, prices and sales that are happening now.

Learn more about the upcoming November sale with our guide to Black Friday 2019: the date and deals predictions.

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Sony is bringing immersive audio to Tidal, Amazon Music and Deezer very soon

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 08:54 AM PDT

Want something extra special from your music streaming services? Well Sony's 360 Reality Audio technology, which recreates the experience of live music by enhancing tracks for a surround sound feel, is set to come your way very soon.

Sony 360 Reality Audio will be coming to a host of music streaming services later this year, with a launch window (given to Engadget) suggesting it won't arrive any later than November. There'll reportedly be 1,000 tracks available in the format, marking a somewhat hesitant launch giving the massive libraries of the services they'll be coming to.

Amazon Music HD, Tidal, and Deezer will all be getting tracks featuring the technology, though Spotify won't be supporting it at launch. A lesser-known streaming service called nugs.net, though, apparently will.

Spatial audio

There's been an ongoing push for high-resolution audio, with Tidal's Masters tier for high-res audio tracks, and Amazon making over 50 million lossless songs available in CD quality in its Amazon Music HD tier.

But Sony 360 Reality Audio is specifically trying to give a different flavor to the music available beyond the bitrate and audio detail, with a sense of music filling the space around you – in a similar way to the Creative SXFI Air headphones, though built into dedicated tracks rather than an all-round hardware feature for whatever you're listening to.

The lack of Spotify support isn't overly surprising, given that the massive streaming service is still relying on mp3 audio (which requires less data to stream) rather than chasing high-res quality – though if you want premium audio from a music streaming service, it seems there are plenty that want to give it to you.

Via Engadget

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