Engadget

18.02.2025 19:02 Owners of a Volvo EX90 or Polestar 3 may soon be able to unlock and start their electric vehicle with a Samsung Galaxy phone. Samsung is rolling out Digital Key support for Polestar's SUV in North America, Europe and Asia starting this month. EX90 drivers in those regions and Latin America will get access to the feature in the coming days too. Samsung says it will support more models from each automaker in the future. You can use the Digital Key to lock, unlock and start a paired car using a supported Galaxy device . It's possible to share a key with family and friends if they need access to your car, and you can remotely lock or delete a Digital Key from a lost or stolen Galaxy phone. Samsung uses biometric and PIN-based authorization to help make Digital Key use secure. The company started rolling out Digital Key in 2021 . BMW, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia and Mini are among the other brands that support the feature.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/samsungs-digital-key-technology-now-works-with-volvo-and-polestar-evs-160357150.html?src=rss

18.02.2025 19:02 WhatsApp may face greater regulation in the European Union thanks to an increase in users on its open channels. The platform announced Friday that these feeds for news sources, public figures and more averaged approximately 46.8 million users in the EU during the last half of 2024. This increase in users means WhatsApp's open channels, akin to a social network, now qualify as a Very Large Online Platform under the EU's Digital Services Act . The DSA uses the labels very large online platform or search engine when the entity has more than 45 million monthly users in the EU. These designations allow the European Commission greater regulatory power around transparent advertising, content moderation, an annual independent audit, data sharing with the EU and more. Relevant online platforms must also mitigate and assess the risk of damaging and illegal content. WhatsApp's parent company, Meta, is already designated as a VLOP , alongside ByteDance, Amazon, Google and more. The European Commission will now need to determine whether to give WhatsApp the designation. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/eu-might-impose-further-regulation-on-whatsapp-152832935.html?src=rss

18.02.2025 19:02 The eufy RoboVac 11S Max is one of our favorite budget robot vacuums, and it’s now 44 percent off at Amazon, making it only $140. This affordable robot vacuum from a few years back can still trade blows against newer models even without Wi-Fi connectivity. The 11S Max has three power modes — Standard, BoostIQ and Max, and the company claims a noise level of around 55 dB. Even so, its suction power is nothing to scoff at. And should it accidentally try to swallow a charging cable, the beeping alerts are loud enough to hear from the opposite end of an apartment. As with the latest robot vacuums, the 11S Max has sensors that prevent collisions and falling down the stairs. Our tests show that it occasionally bumped into objects but also avoided the tester’s cat play tunnel when other budget vacuums didn’t. The 11S Max doesn’t have Wi-Fi, but we didn’t find that to be a major issue in our testing. The remote control has buttons for scheduling auto cleaning, selecting cleaning modes, manually returning the robot to the charging base and more. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-budget-robot-vacuums-is-44-percent-off-right-now-143706102.html?src=rss

18.02.2025 19:02 xAI has launched its Grok 3 models during a livestream with Elon Musk, who said they were "an order of magnitude more capable than Grok 2." The Grok 3 mini model can answer questions quickly, but it's not as accurate as the other models in the family. Meanwhile, the Grok 3 Reasoning and Grok 3 mini Reasoning models are capable of mimicking human-like reasoning when it comes to analyzing information the user needs. Other examples of AI models capable of reasoning tasks are DeepSeek's R1 and OpenAI's o3-mini. According to TechCrunch, xAI claimed during the event that Grok 3 Reasoning performed better than the best version of o3-mini on several benchmarks. Grok 3's features will initially be available to subscribers paying for X's Premium+ tier, which now costs $40 a month in the US. They will also be available through an upcoming separate subscription option for the standalone Grok app and Grok on the web. Based on leaked information, the subscription option will be called SuperGrok and will cost $30 a month. With the Grok 3 models enabled, users will be able to ask the chatbot to "Think" if they want to tap its reasoning capabilities for mathematics, science and programming questions. For even more complex queries, they can use the "Big Brain" function that requires additional computing. The models' reasoning capabilities power a new Grok feature called DeepSearch, which xAI describes as the "next generation search engine." DeepSearch will scan the internet and X, formerly Twitter, to conjure a brief summary for research inquiries. In addition to launching the Grok 3 models, xAI also revealed during the event that the Grok app will get a "voice mode" within a week, giving it synthesized voices to converse with users. Grok 2, the company's older models, will be open sourced in the coming months. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/xai-launches-grok-3-ai-claiming-it-is-capable-of-human-reasoning-140007172.html?src=rss

18.02.2025 19:02 We’ve long been fans of ThermoWorks’ instant-read thermometers for grilling and all kinds of cooking, and now you can get our favorite for one of the best prices we’ve seen. Engadget readers can pick up the Thermapen One for only $79 right now thanks to an exclusive deal that knocks $30 off the normal price. The Thermopen One is calibrated to record temperatures accurately, with an error margin of 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit . It also does this within a second. To help users check the temperature conveniently, the display rotates 360 degrees and has a smart backlight display that brightens when it’s covered or in a low-light environment. The company claims that a single AAA battery in the thermometer will last for 2,000 hours, and it’s partly due to how it automatically turns on or off when you pick it up or put it down. An IP67 rating makes it safe to use in wet and dusty locations for a while. If that’s not reassuring enough, each Thermapen One comes with a five-year warranty. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/grab-the-thermoworks-thermapen-one-while-its-on-sale-for-79-100052639.html?src=rss

18.02.2025 19:02 Spotify is rolling out a Music Pro tier later this year that will give users access to higher-quality audio and remixing tools, according to Bloomberg. The tier will reportedly cost users $6 per month on top of their $12 Premium subscription, but they'll be priced differently across regions and will be cheaper in less-developed markets. Many long-time Spotify subscribers, however, will probably say that they'll believe it when they see it. The service teased a high-fidelity streaming option way back in 2017 and had confirmed that it was working to provide users with access to lossless audio in 2021. Several reports about the feature's availability had come out over the years after the company's confirmation. In 2024, Bloomberg also reported that HiFi streaming is expected to arrive before the year ended as a $5 add-on. The publication's latest report says the pricing and timeline for lossless streaming could still change, because the company hasn't secured rights from all the major music companies yet. It's worth noting that Spotify recently announced new multi-year agreements with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. In addition to lossless streaming, Bloomberg says the Music Pro tier will give subscribers access to tools that will give them a way to mix songs by different artists. Some of those tools will be powered by generative AI tech. The tier will reportedly give users access to presales for concerts, as well, and could offer them the option to buy better seats than what they could get elsewhere. Spotify will be testing the tier's features over the next few months and will apparently be rolling out the add-on's tools and features in phases. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/spotify-could-offer-its-long-awaited-hifi-audio-tier-as-a-6-add-on-later-this-year-130043402.html?src=rss

18.02.2025 19:02 DJI has unveiled two new smartphone gimbals, the Osmo Mobile 7 and 7P, with the latter offering native app tracking on both Android and iOS thanks to its "Multifunctional Module." That feature is clearly designed to rival Insta360's Flow 2 Pro, which until yesterday only offered native app tracking on iPhones via Apple's Dockkit. The primary differences between the Osmo Mobile 7 and 7P is that the latter comes with the Multifunctional Module, while the Osmo Mobile 7 doesn't . The Osmo Mobile 7P also has a built-in extension rod that's missing on the Osmo Mobile 7. With that said, the products look very similar and have the same folding design carried over from the Osmo Mobile 6. A key addition to both is that the tripod is now built in to the gimbal so you no longer need to screw on an accessory like before. Steve Dent for Engadget DJI sent me the Osmo Mobile 7P to test, so I'll be referring to that product from now on. As with the Osmo Mobile 6, it's primarily designed as a three-axis gimbal to smooth out smartphone video better than your mobile device's built-in camera ever could, with the ability to shoot in both "Tilt Lock" and "FPV" modes for either steady or more dynamic footage. At the same time, you can control the gimbal's direction using the built-in joystick. It also tracks subjects automatically, and that's where the Multifunctional Module comes in. On the Osmo Mobile 6, automatic subject tracking only worked with DJI's Mimo camera app. Now, with the new module connected to your smartphone, the Osmo Mobile 7P can track your subject automatically in nearly any app on both Android devices and iPhones. Here's how it works. The Multifunctional Module can be mounted either forward for the main camera or backward for the selfie camera. It's about the size of DJI's Mic 2, and has a built-in tracking camera along with an LED light. It also works as a receiver for DJI's Mic Mini wireless microphones. Steve Dent for Engadget With the module installed on the side of the gimbal and connected via a USB-C cable to your phone, just open your app of choice . Then, simply hold up your palm to the camera or have your subject do it and tracking will begin automatically, as indicated by a green light on the module — then hold up two fingers to start and stop recording. From there, you can move around while you vlog or conduct a video call, and the Mobile 7P will move to keep you in view. It works reliably with only minor lag provided you stay within the gimbal's range of motion. Interestingly, Insta360 just released a similar module for its Flow 2 Pro gimbal called the AI Tracker that performs the same function. Up until now, native app tracking on the Flow 2 Pro only worked on iPhones via Apple's Dockkit function, so Android users were out of luck. Insta360's new module brings the same feature set to Android users, albeit at a cost of $40, or in a bundle with the Flow 2 Pro at $180. That does beg the question as to whether DJI will introduce Dockkit support for the Osmo Mobile 7/7P, as it would allow iPhone users to get the tracking benefit of the module without having to pay for it. However, DJI is staying mum on that matter for now. Steve Dent for Engadget Other features on both gimbals include 10-hour battery life, and when the gimbal isn't in use, it works as a power bank to charge your phone. With the DJI Mimo app, tracking supports multiple people in a scene as well as pets, and you can easily switch subjects by tapping on the tracking box. The Mimo app also supports panoramic shooting, dynamic zoom and other intelligent functions, along with zoom/focus control via the side wheel, which also activates the fill light. And of course, the Osmo Mobile 7P's Multifunctional Module works as a receiver for DJI's $59 Mic Mini transmitter, so if you have one of those, you'll get far better sound quality than you would from your phone alone — a big advantage over the Flow 2 Pro. Given the rivalry with Insta360, the Osmo Mobile 7/7P is an interesting addition to DJI's lineup — particularly in light of the Flow 2 Pro's very similar new AI Module. The Osmo Mobile 7 and Osmo Mobile 7P are now available to order with shipping starting today. There's no word yet on pricing for OM 7 Series Tracking Kit when it's purchased separately. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/djis-osmo-mobile-7p-gimbal-can-track-you-around-on-any-android-or-ios-camera-app-130037243.html?src=rss

18.02.2025 13:51 Last week, Apple’s Tim Cook teed up a new product for launch on February 19 — that’s tomorrow. Cook’s tweet also included an animated image of a shimmering Apple logo, which made a lot of us assume the reveal could be for a second-generation AirTag. It’s been rumored for a while that Apple would introduce a second-gen tracker sometime this year, and the original AirTag landed almost four years ago. So there are plenty of tech upgrades the tracker could benefit from. Rumors suggest the next AirTag may feature a more tamper-proof speaker to reduce stalking and an improved Ultra-Wideband chip with up to 3x longer tracking range. However, would the CEO of Apple tweet a mere accessory? Probably not. Following a barrage of leaks and rumors, a next-gen iPhone SE seems more likely. This upgraded entry-level basic iPhone may appear with a design closer to the iPhone 14. That means appearing with a notch, so no Dynamic Island, no home button. It’ll likely make the shift to USB-C and probably have enough power to run all those Apple Intelligence features too. It could also be a wildcard: Apple’s rumored smart display is meant to arrive sometime this year too. Having said all that, there isn’t really an Apple device as shiny as an AirTag. We’ll find out tomorrow. Hopefully alongside some more tech news because it’s been a quiet few days. — Mat Smith Get this delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The biggest tech stories you missed Sonic the Hedgehog 3 zooms onto Paramount+ on February 18 Viktor Antonov, art director for Half-Life 2 and Dishonored, has died Anyone in the US can now buy Nintendo’s Alarmo clock from the online store The best laptop power banks for 2025 Arm is reportedly developing its own in-house chip The new CPU could be a piece in the $500 billion Stargate AI project. Arm is reportedly planning to reveal its own processor this year, with Meta as the main customer. The chip would be a CPU designed for data center servers and customizable for clients. Last month, Arm’s parent company, Softbank, announced the Stargate project, a partnership with OpenAI to build up to $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure. Arm, along with Microsoft and NVIDIA, is a key technology partner for the project. Arm’s chip could now play a role in all of that. Continue reading. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review Incrementally better… again. Engadget It’s become a depressing trend from recent Samsung hardware: solid, capable devices that lack a strong enough reason to upgrade — or get excited, even. The Galaxy Watch 7 is a capable companion for Samsung phones, with great hooks into Samsung’s Health app, reliable activity tracking and zippy performance. The always-on display hits battery life hard, however, so we were tasked with recharging the device more often than we’d like. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121854699.html?src=rss

17.02.2025 23:32 Sonic the Hedgehog shows no sign of slowing down — so to speak. The blue blur's third movie was a hit at the box office, and it's coming to Paramount+ sooner than you might have expected. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will land on the streaming service in the US and Canada on February 18 i.e. tomorrow. The film zoomed into theaters in December and vacuumed up cash faster than Sonic loses his rings when he runs into spikes. To date, it has pulled in over $478 million, making it the second highest-grossing video game film behind one that stars one of Sonic's oldest rivals. The Super Mario Bros. Movie raked in $1.36 billion. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 picks up soon after the events of the Knuckles spin-off series. It sees Sonic and the gang taking on a new opponent, a powerful hedgehog named Shadow . It's safe to say that Sonic et al probably make it through that encounter given that a fourth movie in the series is on the way. Sonic The Hedgehog 4 is scheduled to spin dash into theaters on March 19, 2027.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-zooms-onto-paramount-on-february-18-182404772.html?src=rss

17.02.2025 18:50 Elon Musk is taking aim at federal workers and organizations, through the Department of Government Efficiency . Now, Musk-owned X is blocking Signal.me links, a URL used by encrypted messaging service Signal that allows people to quickly contact others directly, the blog Disruptionist reports. Federal workers have used Signal to covertly report relevant and dangerous activities. Anyone who attempts to post a Signal.me link in a DM, public post or on their profile page receives error messages such as, "This request looks like it might be automated. To protect our users from spam and other malicious activity, we can’t complete this action right now. Please try again later." Other responses include, "We can’t complete this request because this link has been identified by X or our partners as being potentially harmful." Engadget confirmed the block in a test. Users who try to click existing Signal.me links get a message stating, "Warning: this link may be unsafe. The link you are trying to access has been identified by X or our partners as being potentially spammy or unsafe, in accordance with X's URL Policy." They can choose to ignore the warning and proceed to the link. Musk is working with President Trump to cut federal workers across the board. Over 9,500 employees were fired on Friday, February 14, alone. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/x-blocks-users-from-sharing-links-to-signal-170642686.html?src=rss

17.02.2025 18:50 DeepSeek, the massively popular Chinese AI assistant, has been temporarily unavailable from app stores in South Korea since February 15. A press release from the country’s data protection authority, the Personal Information Protection Commission , stated that downloads will resume once the Chinese AI company complies with local data protection laws, while those with the app can still use it. DeepSeek is also blocked on South Korean government and military devices. DeepSeek only established a local presence in South Korea on February 10. The company also acknowledged that it didn’t fully consider South Korea’s data protection laws when launching the service globally. Fortunately for South Korean users, the new AI powerhouse intends to cooperate with the PIPC. The PIPC says that inspecting DeepSeek will take some time. On-site inspections of six AI services from Google, OpenAI, Microsoft and others took around five months. This inspection should take less time because it only involves DeepSeek. In a statement to TechCrunch, the PIPC revealed that it discovered DeepSeek was transferring Korean users' data to ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. Local users were warned against entering personal information into the app. Last month, the Italian Data Protection Authority or Garante, sent DeepSeek an information request asking what type of data the models were trained on and several other questions. Other countries like Australia and Taiwan have also banned the app on government devices due to security concerns. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded to South Korea’s DeepSeek ban, claiming Beijing would never ask any company or individual to store or collect data illicitly.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/south-korea-pauses-downloads-of-deepseek-ai-over-privacy-concerns-163302959.html?src=rss

17.02.2025 18:50 Apparently President's Day was created to honor George Washington's birthday. But now on a Monday in February we celebrate every US president by shopping for deals. Nixon, Taft, Coolidge, Polk, Johnson, Hoover and all those other guys — they'd be quite proud of us. In our searches we found quite a few deals on the tech we recommend, including $100 off Apple's new iPad mini and a streaming deal for a year of Peacock for $30. Our top pick for the best Bluetooth tracker, the Chipolo One, is on sale and Engadget readers can get an additional 10 percent off , plus ThermoWorks' flagship instant-read thermometer is down to a near record-low price. Here are the best President's Day tech deals from this week that you can shop right now. Spotlight Presidents' Day deal The best President's Day tech deals Apple AirTags for $70 : This is a record-low price for a bundle of AirTags in which the price per Bluetooth tracker is only $17.50. While there are rumors of new AirTags coming soon, these remain some of the best Bluetooth trackers you can get at the moment, particularly if you are an iPhone user. Attach them to your keys, backpack, bike and other belongings to keep track of all of your stuff neatly within the Find My app. Apple 2024 MacBook Pro M4 for $1,400 at Amazon : Apple's latest Pro-model laptop is down to $1,400 at Amazon with a discount and an on-page coupon. The 14-inch MacBook Pro has 16GB of memory and 512GB SSD storage and both the Space Black and Silver colorways are on sale. Engadget's Devindra Hardawar gave the computer a 92 in his review and it's currently Engadget's pick for the best MacBook for creatives. It has a fast M4 chip, long battery life, bright display and Sharp 12MP Center Stage webcam. Apple Studio Display with tilt-adjustable stand for $1,300 at Amazon : We appreciated the excellent build quality of Apple's pricey display in our official review, but noted that it's probably only for Apple diehards. Both the standard glass model and the nano-textured glass option are on sale. The Studio Display made our list of the best monitors and has built-in speakers, a 12MP camera, three USB-C ports and a screen with 5K resolution — but a max refresh rate of 60Hz and single-zone backlighting. Apple Pencil for $69 at Walmart : Apple sells too many versions of the Apple Pencil. So we made a guide. The USB-C model works with all current-generation iPads, including the M2 iPad Air, the M4 iPad Pro, the new iPad mini and the 10th generation iPad. It'll also work with a few older tablets too. Just note that this one attahced magnetically but doesn't recharge that way, like the other Apple Pencils. And it doesn't have pressure sensitivity. Also at Amazon and Target. Peacock Peacock Premium at Peacock for $30 : Here's one from our new streaming deals guide: A year of Peacock's streaming service is $30 if you use the code WINTERSAVINGS at checkout. The code is valid through February 18 and saves you 60 percent off the usual $80 annual fee. Though it's called "Premium" it's actually the ad-supported tier . Peacock is one of our picks for the best streaming services and has some great original content, including Poker Face, a Twisted Metal adaptation and Mrs. Davis. ThermoWorks Thermapen One for $79 : This Engadget exclusive deal brings one of our favorite grilling gadgets down to a near record-low price. It displays temperatures super quickly on its easy-to-read display, and the latest model has a brighter display and improved accuracy when compared to the previous version of the thermometer. It also has an IP67 rating, so it'll stay protected against accidental spills. Chipolo One for $67.50 : Use the code ENGADGET10 at checkout to get an additional 10 percent off all Chipolo devices right now. That brings a four-pack of our favorite Bluetooth trackers down to $67.50, or roughly $17 per tracker. Chipolo devices work with Android and iOS, and in our testing, we found them to have the loudest ring and the speediest left-behind alerts, so it's unlikely you'll get too far before being alerted that you left some belongings behind. KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 quart tilt head stand mixer for $350 at Amazon : One of our top picks for kitchen tech is, unsurprisingly, KitchenAid's famed stand mixer. It's not only powerful, the seemingly endless array of available attachments make it a true kitchen multitasker. KitchenAid is hosting a larger sale for President's Day on its own website, and many of the brand's countertop appliances are currently up to $100 off. Dyson V12 vaccuum for $499 at Dyson : Now through President's Day, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim stick vacuum is $150 off. This is the lighter sibling to the V15 model we picked as the best cordless vac in our guide. This one includes the Fluffy Optic cleaner head that won us over in our testing. It's a hard-floor brush head with a laser "blade" that clearly shows you the tiniest bits of dust so you can be sure to suck them up. The Gen5 Outsize Absolute is also on sale for $150 off. It's down to $899. That model is the largest cordless vac and has up to 140 minutes of run time. iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max for $789 at Wellbots : Wellbots has a few iRobot vacuums on sale for President's Day, including the new Roomba Combo 10 Max and its Autowash Dock, which can empty and cleans the vac. Right now it's on sale for $789 if you use the code ENGAD410 at checkout. That'll take a full $610 off the hefty $1,399 MSRP. That's even cheaper than the last time it was on sale. Not only does the robot itself mop and vacuum, the dock can hold 60 days worth of dust and seven days worth of dirty mop water. For a slightly cheaper combo robo vac, Wellbots is also discounting the Roomba Combo j5 for $239 instead of the full $529 with the code ENGAD210. Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget Samsung LS60D Music Frame for $150 at Woot : You might be familiar with Samsung's Frame TV — the sets that mimic works of art when you're not watching television. The Music Frame furthers that home-theater-as-decor aesthetic by hiding Dolby Atmos audio equipment behind what looks like a regular picture frame. This one doesn't have a screen, instead you'll insert your own photo or art behind the glass. Inside are two woofers, two tweeters and two mid-range drivers. The speaker array is capable of Dolby Atmos audio and it leverages Samsung's SpaceFit tech to calibrate the sound to the room. We checked it out at CES 2024 and were impressed with how robust the music sounded. Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker for $116 at Amazon : Our current top pick for a fitness tracker is back on sale. It went as low as $100 for Black Friday, but this is the lowest price we've seen this year. Our favorite fitness tracker is the successor to our previous top pick, the Charge 5. This new generation has a more accurate heart rate monitor and the ability to pair with exercise machines via Bluetooth. Plus there's now a physical side button for navigation in addition to the touchscreen. Ring Battery Video Doorbell for $60 at Amazon : Another Amazon security device company, Ring, is also having a sale right now. The discount matches the record-low price for the Ring Video Doorbell. This battery-powered model doesn't need to be wired into your home, so you can put it near any door. The removable battery is rechargeable via USB-C and will likely need a refill every couple months. You'll need a Ring subscription to access all the features, like person and package alerts and extended event history. Apple Apple Music for $3 at Apple : Normally an Apple Music subscription is $11 per month after a 30-day free trial. And when you buy a new Apple device, you usually get a three-month trial. But if you somehow haven't yet signed up for the service, this promotion applies to you. The deal will run through February 27 and is open only to people who are entirely new Apple Music — current and previous customers are not eligible, nor are those who qualify for the free trial that comes with a new device. You'll need to redeem the offer through an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Apple Music made our guide to the best music streaming services for its lossless streaming quality, ease of use with Apple devices and emphasis on using DJ curation over AI and algorithm playlists. Note that the subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel. NordPass Premium for $35 at Nord : One of our favorite password managers for cross-platform availability is having a sale. NordPass Premium is currently available for $35 for 27 months. At full price, two years would cost you $81, and this deal throws in three months for free. NordPass also offers a free tier, but the Premium plan keeps you logged in when you switch devices while also helping you analyze your passwords to improve their strength. EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra for $5,299 at EcoFlow : The whole-home backup battery and inverter from EcoFlow is on sale for a Valentine's Day/President's Day sale at the manufacturer's site. Mill food recycler for $874 at Mill : A President's Day sale from Mill, the kitchen food recycling company, will run until Monday, February 17 and will give you $125 off a new food recycling bin. If you've explored the different options for composting food and have decided to give a machine a try, Mill could be a good one to check out. The machine dries and grinds food scraps, reducing odors and bulk while creating grounds that you can add to your garden. Expired Presidents' Day tech deals Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $169 : Everyone's favorite buds fell to a record low of $154 for Black Friday, but this is the best price we've seen this year. They're a little older at this point, debuting in 2022, but they're still our favorite wireless earbuds for iPhone. Engadget's Billy Steele gave them a score of 88 in his review when the buds first came out, citing the fantastic sound and amazing transparency mode. Apple AirPods 4 for $100 at Amazon : Apple's newest wireless earbuds came out in September and last week, they hit their lowest price yet. That price is still going strong, so you can still pick them up at a discount. Engadget's Billy Steele gave them a review score of 88, saying they sounded clearer and more balanced than most open-back earbuds. Plus you get all the Apple-perks like fast pairing and device switching with other Apple gadgets, hands-free Siri and Find My tracking. Also at Target and Best Buy. There's also a noise-canceling version on sale for $149. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for $135 at Amazon : Our choice for best premium ereader. is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition that goes for $200 and isn't discounted. The standard Paperwhite, on sale here, is basically the same machine, minus a few perks like auto-adjusting front lights, extra storage and wireless charging. This is the lowest price we've tracked this year on a very lovely e-reader with remarkably fast page turns, a super crisp display and a great battery life. Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition for $230 at Amazon : Engadget's Valentina Palladino found a lot to like about the Kindle Colorsoft in her review including quick page turns, the fairly accurate color technology and the pinch to zoom feature, which was especially nice for reading comics. If you're just looking to read black and white text, you can save yourself a bit of money and go with the Paperwhite — text on the Colorsoft is not as crisp. 8BitDo Pro 2 controller for $39 at Amazon : The black version of one of our picks for the best Switch controllers is down to a record-low price. The programmable controller is compatible with the Switch, Apple devices, Android devices, Windows PC, Steam Deck and Raspberry Pi. Blink Mini 2 for $38 at Amazon : The Blink Mini 2 security camera sell for $40 each at full price, so this deal gets you two for less than the MSRP for one. The small security cameras have two way talk and listen, capture live video in 1080p and have infrared sensors for black and white images at night. You'll need a Blink Subscription Plan if you want to save clips to the cloud, but if you also buy a Sync Module 2, you can save clips from your Blink Mini cameras to a flash drive. Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2 for $35 : Here's a bundle that combines the Video Doorbell with a Sync Module 2, the device that allows you to store footage from your Blink cameras and doorbells locally. The doorbell offers 1080p daytime footage and infrared night video plus two-way audio. You can use it wired or on batteries that should last two years before needing to be replaced. The Blink subscription plan is required if you want person detection and the ability to store clips in the cloud. Samsung Evo Select microSD card for $70 at Amazon : The Evo Select is the budget pick in our guide to the best microSD cards: It's not the fastest model we tested, but it'll serve as a way to add storage for your Nintendo Switch or Android tablet. This deal matches the all-time low for the extra-spacious 1TB model. Also at Samsung and B&H. iRobot Roomba Vac Essential for $119 at Amazon : The top pick in our guide to the best budget robot vacuums has hit a new low price. It can't map paths in your home, instead it randomly traverses a room until it's covered the area. But it has good suction and cleans well, plus it's easy to set up and control through Roomba's mobile app. Also at Best Buy and Target. LG B4 OLED TV for $600 at Best Buy : This ties the lowest price we've seen for the 48-inch LG B4, which is the entry-level model in LG's 2024 OLED lineup. While it's not as bright or color-rich as some higher-end alternatives, it still offers the essential perks of any good OLED TV: superb contrast with deep black tones, clear motion, wide viewing angles and the like. It's also a nice value for gaming, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 120Hz. It's just better off in a darker room, and this particular model is relatively small. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-presidents-day-deals-on-apple-samsung-dyson-peacock-and-more-173252871.html?src=rss

17.02.2025 18:50 Tired of losing stuff? Chipolo is selling a four-pack of its One Bluetooth trackers for $67.50. This represents a discount of 32 percent. Just remember to pop in the code “ENGADGET10” at checkout. That brings the sale price of $75 down to $67.50. The discount applies to all colorways, and there are a bunch to choose from. There are also combo packs that include multiple colors. This gadget not only made our list of the best Bluetooth trackers, but it’s our very favorite release in the product category. The One is a near-perfect tracker. The battery lasts two full years, it works great with both Android and iOS devices and the ringer is incredibly loud. This is great news for those who tend to misplace items under mountains of linens or between couch cushions. There’s also no perceptible lag between pressing the Ring to Find button and hearing the trill. This isn’t true of many rival trackers. It even has a handy hole for attaching to keychains and the like. This may seem like an obvious design element, but Apple AirTags lack this hole. The only downside involves the finding network. Chipolo isn’t a big name like Apple or Samsung, so there are fewer people on the network. This could be an issue if you don’t live in a major metropolitan area. Basically, the One is perfect for looking for lost items in or near the home, but not as useful when searching for misplaced stuff out in the wild. One last thing. Remember that coupon code from before? It works across the entire site, so feel free to grab a ten percent discount on everything else Chipolo makes. This includes wallet trackers that are shaped like credit cards and smaller tracking rings. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-a-four-pack-of-chipolo-one-bluetooth-trackers-for-32-percent-off-130015886.html?src=rss

16.02.2025 23:21 Viktor Antonov, best known for his work as art lead on Half-Life 2 and Dishonored, has reportedly died at age 52. Half-Life writer Marc Laidlaw broke the news in an Instagram Story, and other former colleagues have since taken to social media to pay tribute as well. “I didn’t want to say much till I felt it was confirmed, but I learned today that Viktor Antonov, our visionary art lead on HL2, has died,” Laidla wrote in the now-expired post, which was reshared by LambdaGeneration on Saturday night. Antonov got his start in video games working on Redneck Rampage, and in addition to serving as art director for Half-Life 2 and Dishonored, he went on to consult on titles including Doom and Fallout 4. The Bulgarian artist just recently appeared in a documentary celebrating the 20th anniversary of Half-life 2 this past November. “RIP Viktor Antonov. I wish I told you how much admiration I had for you but we get caught in our lives until a surprise like this hits us,” Raphael Colantonio, founder of Arkane Studios and Wolfeye Studios, wrote on Bluesky. “You were instrumental to the success of Arkane Studios and an inspiration to many of us, also a friend with whom I have many fond memories.” In another post, game designer Harvey Smith added, “All this about his impact and talent is true, but I will also always remember how much he made me laugh, with his dry, devastating wit. RIP.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/viktor-antonov-art-director-for-half-life-2-and-dishonored-has-died-according-to-colleagues-203219167.html?src=rss

16.02.2025 23:21 Apple Vision Pro may soon get an update bringing Apple Intelligence to the headset, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The first Apple Intelligence features started rolling out to iPhone, iPad and Mac in the fall, bringing features like notification summaries, ChatGPT integration for Siri and Genmoji over the last few months. But Apple’s AI hasn’t yet made it to the Vision Pro. According to Mark Gurman, that may change with the visionOS 2.4 update, which sources said may arrive in April with Apple Intelligence and a new app for viewing spatial media like 3D images and panoramas. The first Apple Intelligence features to come to Vision Pro will reportedly include Writing Tools, Genmoji and Image Playground. Gurman reports that developers may get access to these features in beta “as soon as this week.” Don’t expect any major changes to Siri on Vision Pro just yet, though. According to Gurman, a “major AI overhaul” the company had been planning for the assistant has been delayed. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/vision-pro-will-reportedly-get-apple-intelligence-as-soon-as-april-180751381.html?src=rss