Posts Tagged: back

Apple’s third-generation AirPods fall back to $140

Whether you’re looking for a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift for your special someone or a pick-me-up as winter rages, discounted AirPods are a solid option. Right now, Apple’s third-generation AirPods are down from $ 169 to $ 140 – a 17 percent discount. The sale brings these earbuds down to the lowest we’ve seen them this year.

The third-gen Apple AirPods came on the scene in 2021 as a major upgrade to their predecessor. For starters, they have a comfier design and IPX4-level sweat and water resistance. The third-gen AirPods also offer six hours of playtime (30 overall with the case), wireless charging with a Qi‑certified wireless charger and one hour of juice in just five minutes in the case. Plus, this model has always-on Siri and more accurately detects when the AirPods are in your ear. 

Are you looking for just the basics in your AirPods purchase? The second-generation model AirPods are also on sale, with a 30 percent discount dropping the price from $ 129 to $ 90. However, they don’t have wireless charging and last only five hours, or 24 hours with the case. 

If noise canceling is vital to you, then the second-gen AirPods Pro might be the right call instead. They’re currently 24 percent off, dropping from $ 249 to $ 190 — not far off from the standard price for the classic third-gen AirPods. In addition to noise canceling, the second-gen AirPods Pro offer transparency mode and Adaptive Audio. They also have six hours of battery life and 30 hours with the case. Plus, both the AirPods and the MagSafe case are IP54 sweat, dust and water resistant. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-third-generation-airpods-fall-back-to-140-122555116.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

This Samsung tablet is back under $100 — but for how long?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, featuring expandable storage of up to 1TB and an 8.7-inch touchscreen, is down to just $ 99 from Walmart after a $ 60 discount.
Digital Trends

Epic Games confirms Fortnite is coming back to iOS in Europe this year

Following Apple's announcement of enabling third-party app stores for iOS users in the European Union, Epic Games confirms that it'll be bringing Fortnite back to the iPhone and iPad in Europe later this year — by way of a new Epic mobile games store. This will mark the title's official return to Apple's platform since it was yanked back in August 2020, after Epic offered discounts to payments made directly to its own store, instead of Apple's App Store and Google Play which would take a 30-percent cut. iOS users have had to rely on Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now to play Fortnite, but this will soon be a thing of the past for those based in Europe.

Fortnite's grand return to iOS in Europe is all thanks to the EU's new Digital Markets Act, which goes into effect March 7. This allows developers to take payments and distribute apps from outside of the App Store, pending Apple's new "Notarization" approval process to spot harmful apps. Apple is also introducing a new fee structure that claims to cost less, if not the same, for most developers who publish to European markets.

Even though the upcoming changes will allow Epic Games to make money off iOS users once again (at least in Europe), founder and CEO Tim Sweeney called out Cupertino for the "new Junk Fees on downloads and new Apple taxes on payments they don't process." The exec later spotted more "hot garbage" in the details, particularly the terms related to requesting an entitlement from Apple. "Under what possible theory of antitrust regulation is it acceptable for a monopoly to decide what companies are allowed to compete with it, and on what terms they can compete? Apple makes a mockery of free market competition," Sweeney said in a post on X. The infuriated tone here comes as no surprise, especially after the US Supreme Court rejected Epic's appeal that Apple violated federal antitrust laws earlier this month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/epic-games-confirms-fortnite-is-coming-back-to-ios-in-europe-this-year-040818909.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

A four-pack of Apple AirTags is back on sale for $79

Apple AirTags can really come in handy when one of your belongings has gone missing, and with a deal on Amazon right now, you can pick up a four-pack of the trackers to keep more of your things protected. Normally $ 99, a 10 percent discount has dropped the price of a four-pack to $ 89 — and with a $ 10 coupon that’s being offered alongside the deal, that’s slashed even further to just $ 79. Just don’t forget to check the “Apply $ 10 coupon” box before adding it to your cart.

AirTags have become a staple for Apple device owners over the past few years. The Bluetooth trackers are a little bigger than a quarter and slim enough to slip into a wallet, making them a convenient way to keep tabs on your possessions. With the right accessories for your AirTags, they can also be attached to a keychain or stuck directly onto the tracked items to be sure they stay put. AirTags rely on Apple’s Find My network, which can provide precise location information as long as there are other Apple devices nearby.

When the AirTags aren’t in the range of any Apple devices to generate a new position, the app will show the item’s last known location. They don’t need to be charged, either, and should last about a year before the battery needs to be replaced. Users can add up to 32 items in the Find My app to track. With the Find my app, you can also ping the AirTag so it will play a sound and lead you right to the lost item if it’s within your vicinity.

AirTags come with an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, meaning they are pretty durable against the elements under normal conditions. They’re built to survive splashes of water and submersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. AirTags are the best Bluetooth trackers for iPhone owners thanks to the ease of use and peace of mind they bring.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-back-on-sale-for-79-160608453.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple’s 9th-gen iPad is back to its all-time low price of $250 ahead of Black Friday

Apple’s 9th generation iPad is $ 80 off at Amazon right now. The discount brings the 64GB variant down to just $ 250 from its regular price of $ 330, a record low typically only seen on Prime Day. You can also snag the 9th-gen iPad with 256GB of storage for $ 80 off at Amazon, where it’s currently down to $ 400 from its usual $ 480. 

The 9th-gen iPad came out in 2021, but it’s still a solid tablet especially if you’re on a budget. While its A13 Bionic chip isn’t the fastest or most powerful, it’s more than enough for basic productivity tasks, browsing and streaming. It earned a score of 86 when we reviewed it back at the time of its release, and it’s still one of the best iPads you can get that won’t break the bank.

It has a heftier build than the newer, sleeker models, with chunky bezels framing its 10.2-inch Retina Display, and a physical Home button with Touch ID. Apple’s 9th-gen iPad also still has a headphone jack and charges via lightning port. It has a 12MP ultrawide front camera and 8MP back camera, and supports Apple’s Center Stage video calling feature.

The 9th generation iPad comes in Silver and Space Gray, and the discount applies to both color variants for the Wi-Fi only model. It’s a great option for the casual iPad user, and the price right now can’t be beat. But, if those specs aren’t quite cutting it, Amazon is also running a deal on the 10th generation iPad, which is a step up. That model is currently $ 50 off.

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/apples-9th-gen-ipad-is-back-to-its-all-time-low-price-of-250-ahead-of-black-friday-154710678.html?src=rss

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

10.2-inch iPad just crashed back to its lowest price of the year

The Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the ninth-generation Apple iPad with a 10.2-inch Retina display is on sale from Amazon for $ 249, which is its lowest price this year.
Digital Trends

I ditched my Apple Watch 6 months ago. Here’s why I’m going back

Earlier this year, I decided to leave my Apple Watch behind for a different smartwatch. Nearly six months later, I’m going back to it. Here’s why.
Digital Trends

Missed out on a Kindle on Prime Day? They’re back on sale right now

Various models of Amazon’s e-book readers, including the Amazon Kindle Oasis and Amazon Kindle Scribe, are available with discounts in Best Buy’s flash sale.
Digital Trends

The old, good version of TweetDeck is back

Earlier this week, Twitter began migrating users to the "new" version of TweetDeck after its decision to limit how many tweets people could view temporarily broke the previous iteration of its list aggregator. For many, the change was a downgrade due to the new version missing some of the features found within its predecessor. If you want to go back to using the previous release of TweetDeck, now you can, but almost certainly only for a limited time.

As noted by The Verge, overnight some Twitter users noticed that the old TweetDeck was back without so much as an official announcement from Elon Musk, Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino or any of the company's official social accounts. Additionally, a handful of developers, including Harpy creator Roberto Doering, noticed Twitter's legacy API was working again, allowing their third-party clients to work once more. Again, how long that will remain true is hard to say.

"Please note that this doesn't mean that Harpy will be maintained again, seeing as Twitter will most likely shut down access to their legacy API (again) soon and third-party apps are still against their [terms of service]," Doering wrote on Harpy's GitHub page. When Twitter began forcing users to migrate to the new Tweetdeck, the company said users will need to be verified to continue using the tool, meaning most people will need to subscribe to Twitter Blue if they want continued access.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-old-good-version-of-tweetdeck-is-back-222423088.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple’s Mac Mini M2 falls back to an all-time low of $500

The Mac Mini M2 is the cheapest way to get Apple’s latest processors, and now Amazon is has dropped them back to the lowest prices we’ve ever seen. You can buy the 256GB version for just $ 500 ($ 100 off the regular price), the 512GB model for $ 690 ($ 110 off) and the Mac Mini M2 Pro for $ 1,100 — all the best deals we’ve seen.

In our Engadget review, we gave the Mac Mini a solid score of 86, lauding the performance and classic aluminum design. It’s tiny but mighty, with the M2 processor easily powerful enough for productivity chores and multitasking. The chip combines computing operations, like CPU, GPU, input/output interfaces and certain memory processes into one “system on a chip,” allowing for faster processing speeds.

On top of that, you get killer connectivity, with two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connections, HDMI 2.0 (with 4K 240Hz and 8K 60Hz output), two USB-A ports, a headphone jack and gigabit Ethernet (upgradeable to 10 gigabit). The M2 Pro model adds two additional USB-C ports, making it even more useful for creatives with a ton of accessories.

The Mac Mini M2 won’t replace your gaming machine, but it can handle nearly everything else you throw at it. The Mac Mini M2 Pro, however, is powerful enough for just about any task including content creation, if you can afford it. We wouldn’t recommend the overpriced storage or RAM upgrades, as the M2 is much more efficient with RAM than typical PCs. Still, if you’re looking for a cheap but powerful Mac, this is the way to go.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-mac-mini-m2-falls-back-to-an-all-time-low-of-500-091518407.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple iPad is almost back down to its cheapest-ever price

Thanks to Amazon’s Apple iPad latest deal, you’re getting the lowest-ever iPad price on the 9th Gen and 2021 model.
Digital Trends

Apple Watch Ultra is almost back down to its cheapest-ever price

Amazon is offering an Apple Watch Ultra Deal that drops it down to one of its lowest-ever prices. Now’s the time to buy!
Digital Trends

Disney is bringing ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’ back to theaters on April 28th

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is heading back to theaters. At its Star Wars Celebrations event in London, Disney announced today it would rerelease the classic film in cinemas in the US, UK and other parts of the world on April 28th. The theatrical rerun will give Star Wars fans the chance to celebrate the movie ahead of its 40th anniversary on May 25th.

Return of the Jedi won’t be the first time Disney has brought an old Star Wars film to theaters. Last year saw the brief return of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to the silver screen in anticipation of the debut of Andor on Disney+. In 2020, it was also possible to see The Empire Strikes Back in theaters in between Covid-19 lockdowns. Looking to the future, fans can look forward to three new Star Wars films, one of which will feature the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey.

Separately, Disney announced on Saturday that a new season of Tales of the Jedi is in production. Creator Dave Filoni shared the news during a Star Wars Celebrations panel dedicated to The Clone War. Tales of the Jedi was so fun the first time, I decided to do some more,” he told event attendees. Filoni didn't say when the new season would debut, but between all the new live-action series coming to Disney+ over the next year-and-a-half, there won’t be a dearth of Star Wars content anytime soon.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/disney-is-bringing-star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-back-to-theaters-on-april-28th-204108642.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google Pixel Watch is back down to its Black Friday price

Best Buy is offering Black Friday pricing with a Google Pixel Watch deal, but no telling how long it will last.
Digital Trends

Beats Fit Pro ANC headphones fall back to an all-time low of $145

Apple's Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds are a good option for folks who dislike the fit of regular AirPods, but don't want to pay the price for AirPods Pro. If you've been waiting for a deal on them, now's the time to act because they're back on sale at an all time low price of $ 145 (28 percent off) at Woot. 

Buy Beats Fit Pro at Woot – $ 145

The Beats Fit Pro scored a solid 87 Engadget review score based on their excellent ANC performance, good sound quality and comfort. For the latter, the "fit wing" tip can bend to a wide range of ear shapes while keeping the buds firmly in place. They also offer physical buttons to answer calls, control volume, play/pause music and skip tracks.

The sound quality is "balanced and powerful" with punchy bass as you'd expect with Beats earphones, while also offering great clarity. They support Apple's spatial audio, giving you the ability to listen to Dolby Atmos Music content in Apple Music, or TV/movies on Apple TV. They also have Adaptive EQ that adjusts low- and mid-range frequencies depending on ambient sound to keep audio quality consistent. The ANC is powered by Apple's H1 chip and does a good job of blocking distractions.

The main downside is the $ 200 price, double that of the regular AirPods, but at $ 145, they're one of the cheaper wireless ANC earbuds from a major brand. Bear in mind that while Woot is owned by Amazon, it doesn't have the same return policy. If you do want a pair of 2nd-gen Apple AirPods Pro wireless ANC earphones, those are still on sale for $ 200 at Amazon.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beats-fit-pro-anc-headphones-fall-back-to-an-all-time-low-of-145-090305318.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple’s AirPods Pro are back on sale for $200

If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet, look to Amazon. The retailer has discounted Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro. Right now, you can buy the earbuds for $ 200, down from $ 249. Not only is that the best price Engadget has seen for the AirPods Pro since they went on sale for Black Friday, but Amazon says it also will deliver the headphones before Christmas for customers who order today. So act fast if you have a friend or family member who you think will appreciate them as a gift.       

Buy Apple AirPods Pro at Amazon – $ 200

The 2022 AirPods Pro may not look different than their 2019 predecessor, but they’re a big upgrade.
Engadget Senior Editor Billy Steele awarded the second-generation earbuds a score of 88 when he had a chance to review them earlier this year. They offer improved audio quality, an even better transparency mode and the addition of touch volume controls. Apple also redesigned the accompanying charging case to make it sweat- and water-resistant and add a built-in speaker to make finding the case easier to find if you ever misplace it. About the only area where the 2022 AirPods Pro disappoint is battery life. You can expect about six hours of use from the earbuds on a single charge. That’s more than you could get out of the first-generation model, but less than some competing options offer. Still, the AirPods Pro are among the best earbuds you can pair with an iPhone, and a $ 50 discount makes them even more compelling. 

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Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Amazon sale brings Echo Show smart displays back to Prime Day lows

You’re getting another shot at grabbing Amazon’s larger Echo Show smart displays for prices much lower than retail if you missed their Prime Day deals. Prices for both Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15 have fallen back to the lowest we’ve seen for them on the website. The third-gen Echo Show 10 in Glacier White and Charcoal is currently listed for $ 170, or 32 percent off its retail price of $ 250. Same for the Echo Show 15, which you can also get right now for $ 170 or $ 80 off its usual price. 

Buy Echo Show smart displays at Amazon – up to 59 percent off

The Echo Show 15 is Amazon’s first smart display that you can mount on your wall, and the company expects it to be used as a picture frame or a bulletin board. And since having a 15.6-inch screen means you can also use it to play movies or shows, say, while you’re cooking in the kitchen, the e-commerce giant announced in September that it’s also rolling out the Fire TV experience to the device as a free update.

We praised the Echo Show 15 in our review for having a beautiful picture frame design, with its 0.7-inch white bezel and its black metal enclosure. We also found its screen to be the best out of all the Echo Shows’. It was so bright and sharp that Engadget Editor Nicole Lee was able to clearly see what’s displayed from about nine feet away. You can also clearly see the information on your widgets at a glance, thanks to its large screen. 

If you’d rather get a smart display with a smaller display, though, then the Echo Show 10 is the better option for you. It has a 10.1-inch HD screen and a 13-megapixel video camera that has auto-framing, so it can keep you at the center during video calls. You can use it as a photo frame, but you can also use it as a cooking companion — it can serve you daily personalized recipes and step-by-step instructions for them. 

In addition to those two models, Amazon is also selling the Echo Shows 8 and 5, as well as the fourth-gen Echo speaker at discounted prices. You can get the second-gen Echo Show 8 for $ 70, which is 46 percent off retail, and the second-gen Echo Show 5 for $ 35 to $ 40 (for the Kids’ version) or almost 60 percent off their usual prices.

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Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Why I stopped wearing my smartwatch — and why I haven’t looked back

Are you always available for your smartwatch or is it always available for you? If it’s the former, you know it’s time to give yourself a break.
Wearables | Digital Trends

Our phones are more addictive than ever — is there a way back?

Smartphone applications are often designed to be addictive, but there’s a growing movement to replace those designs with less addictive alternatives.
Android | Digital Trends

Toyota will buy back your recalled bZ4X EV

Toyota recalled the bZ4X in June over concerns the electric crossover's wheels could fall off at speed, and now it's taking extra steps to satisfy upset customers and keep vehicles off the road. Electrek has learned (and Engadget has confirmed) that Toyota's US branch is offering to buy back the bZ4X. The terms will vary based on your state and "particular circumstances," according to a letter to customers.

The automaker outlined compensation for those who still want the EV. You can continue to drive a loaner at no cost, complete with free fuel for the temporary car and storage for the bZ4X. You'll also get $ 5,000 credit towards your loan, lease or full purchase price. There will also be extensions to your warranty and free EVgo charging time.

Toyota is offering the buybacks and other perks "until a remedy is available." The recall also covers pre-orders for Subaru's sibling model, the Solterra, although that SUV hasn't yet reached American buyers.

There's no mention of just when or how Toyota will fix the bZ4X wheel fault. That makes the situation difficult for owners. The buyback gives them a chance to purchase another vehicle rather than wait indefinitely for a fix, but auto industry supply shortages could leave them either waiting months for a replacement or settling for a less-than-ideal alternative.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Remember Yelp? It’s back with a brand new app design

Yelp has struggled to find its footing in recent years, but now the company is launching a majorly redesigned version of its app for Android users.
Android | Digital Trends

Apple’s Mac Mini falls back to an all-time low of $570

The Mac Mini is already the most cost-effective way to get an M1-based Apple computer and right now, you can get an even better deal on one. Amazon has the 2020 Mac Mini M1 (with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage) on sale for $ 570 via a $ 99 checkout discount, matching the lowest price we've seen to date. 

Buy Mac Mini M1 at Amazon – $ 570

The Mini comes with an eight-core CPU, eight-core GPU, one more than you'll find in the base Air M1. It also packs a 16-core Neural Engine, so you can expect speedy performance, high energy efficiency and nearly instant wake times. It should provide enough power for most users, even content creators and it can even handle some gaming as well.

The exterior design of the Mac Mini is largely unchanged from the Intel model and that's a good thing. The small silver box will fit into nearly any desk setup without taking up too much space and it has a number of ports including two Thunderbolt connectors, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet connector and a headphone jack. 

Our biggest issue with the machine is its lack of upgradeability, as the RAM and SSD are soldered in place. If you can live with that, the Mac Mini M1 remains a good option for anyone in need of an updated, powerful desktop. It's best to act quickly though, as Apple deals often don't last long on Amazon.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

AT&T has your back this Father’s Day with these last-minute deals

Father’s Day is coming up and if you are still researching what to get your Dad this year then AT&T has your back with a bunch deals on devices ranging from Samsung’s Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab A7 Lite to the Galaxy Chromebook Go or Galaxy Watch 4. All you need to do is join […]

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Google Wallet is back with support for storing your Driver’s License

Remember Google Wallet? You know, the one that was renamed Android Pay and then most recently, Google Pay? Well, Google Wallet has been resurrected and it’s going to take over from Google Pay, albeit with a couple of new tricks. Confused? If you know anything about Google you should have been expecting this news when […]

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Apple’s second-generation AirPods are back down to $100

If you missed the chance to buy Apple’s second-generation AirPods when they were $ 100 a few weeks ago, Amazon has once again discounted them to that price. While we think most people are better off purchasing the third-generation AirPods or AirPods Pro due to their more comfortable fit, Apple’s older Bluetooth earbuds still have a lot to offer to iPhone owners. Like their more expensive siblings, the second-generation AirPods come with Apple’s H1 wireless chipset, meaning they include features like hands-free Siri and seamless pairing with the company’s other devices.

Buy Apple AirPods at Amazon – $ 100Buy Beats Studio Buds at Amazon – $ 99.95Buy Apple AirPods Pro at Amazon – $ 175

Amazon has also discounted the Beats Studio Buds. At the moment, they’re $ 50 off, making them $ 99.95. If you don’t mind the design of Beats products, they’re a better purchase than the second-generation AirPods. The Studio Buds come with active noise cancellation and IPX4-certified protection against sweat and moisture, two features you won’t find on Apple’s most affordable AirPods. They also feature a customizable fit with interchangeable silicone ear tips. The only thing you won’t find on the Studio Buds is Apple’s H1 chip, but they still come with one-touch pairing and hands-free Siri support.

Lastly, we’ll note Amazon is still selling the AirPods Pro for $ 175. While they’re a few years old now, the AirPods Pro remain among the best Bluetooth earbuds you can pair with an iPhone. We like them because they feature a customizable fit, IPX4 protection against sweat and active noise cancellation.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

[Opinion] OK Google, it’s time you gave us back the Power button

So, there’s a ‘feature’ that has crept into the Android smartphone experience with the proliferation of the Android 12 update, and it’s the power button being tasked with activating the Google Assistant ahead of what used to be its primary function. Instead of pressing the power button for a couple of seconds to access the […]

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Unlimited Google Photos Storage is back for T-Mobile customers*

We all know that free Unlimited Storage for Google Photos is no longer an option thanks to the search giant squeezing every bit of blood out of that particular stone that it can. If you are a T-Mobile subscriber, though, you will soon have the option of signing up to the Uncarrier’s exclusive Google One […]

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NASA rolls back SLS Moon rocket for repairs after multiple failed fueling tests

After multiple attempts to complete a critical fueling test of its next-generation Space Launch System, NASA has decided to finish the rocket’s “wet dress rehearsal” at a later date. On late Saturday evening, the agency announced it would move the SLS off from its launch pad and back to the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building to give one of its gaseous nitrogen suppliers time to complete a critical upgrade. Nitrogen supply issues had delayed two previous countdown rehearsals, according to Space News.

NASA will also use the opportunity to replace a faulty helium check valve and repair a minor hydrogen leak technicians found in one of the “umbilical” fuel lines running from the rocket’s mobile launch tower. “During that time, the agency will also review schedules and options to demonstrate propellant loading operations ahead of launch,” NASA said. It promised to share more information about the decision, as well as its plans moving forward, during a press conference scheduled for April 18th.

Since April 1st, NASA has tried three times to complete a “wet dress rehearsal” of the Artemis 1 Moon mission. The test is designed to replicate the countdown procedure the SLS will undergo when the mission hopefully gets underway later this year. NASA most recently attempted to complete a modified version of the test on April 14th, but that trial was cut short after it discovered the aforementioned hydrogen leak in the rocket’s mobile launch tower. Initially, the agency left the door open for another attempt as early as April 21st but then had a change of mind.

The delay may have a domino effect on the timeline for the Artemis 1 Moon mission. NASA has yet to set a date for the flight, and won’t do so until the SLS wet dress rehearsal is complete. Despite all the issues NASA has run into with its next-generation rocket, the agency remains confident it will fly. "There's no doubt in my mind that we will finish this test campaign, and we will listen to the hardware, and the data will lead us to the next step," said Artemis launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson on Friday. "And we will take the appropriate steps, and we will launch this vehicle.”

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Motorola is back in the flagship game with a new Edge Plus

Motorola is getting back in the game in a big way with the 2022 Edge Plus, a flagship smartphone to challenge Samsung and Google.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Apple’s 2021 iPad drops back to $299 at Amazon

Don't worry if you missed out on an earlier deal for Apple's 2021 iPad. Amazon is selling the 64GB entry-level iPad for $ 299, or $ 30 off the usual price. The 256GB variant recently dropped a similar amount to $ 449. That matches a previous discount at Walmart and Amazon, and is currently the lowest price we've seen for Apple's latest 10.2-inch slate. Just don't fret over color choices or shipping times — only Space Gray models appear to be in stock, and you'll have to wait around three weeks for it to be delivered.

Buy iPad (64GB WiFi) at Amazon – $ 299Buy iPad (256GB WiFi) at Amazon – $ 449

The basic design of the iPad hasn't changed much in recent years, but the under-the-hood upgrades are particularly notable this year. The tablet now uses an A13 Bionic chip that's reportedly 20 percent faster than in the previous iPad, making it a better fit for gaming or creative tasks. This may also be a good pick for an era of remote work and virtual friend visits, as an ultra-wide 12MP front camera offers Center Stage to keep you in view as you move around.

Just don't expect a revamp on par with the new iPad mini or 2020's iPad Air. You won't find an all-screen design, USB-C, second-generation Pencil support or an improved rear camera. This is for anyone who wants a no-frills tablet that should still last a long while — if that's all you're looking for, you'll probably be happy.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

How to back up your Android smartphone

Backing up your Android phone regularly is a wise move, in case it’s lost or damaged. Our guide will walk you through a variety of ways to back up your device.
Android | Digital Trends

How to back up your Apple Watch

If you’re wondering how to back up your Apple Watch, then we have the answers you need in this guide. Learn how to back up or restore an Apple Watch.
Wearables | Digital Trends

Fitbit’s Charge 5 tracker is back on sale for a record-low $130 at Amazon

Don't worry if you missed out on a Fitbit during Black Friday sales — there are now some big deals to help you stay in shape during the holidays. The Charge 5 has returned to a record-low price of $ 130 at Amazon, or $ 50 below its usual sticker. That could make it a solid bargain if you're looking for a high-end, fitness-focused activity tracker from a well-known name. The Inspire 2 is also down to $ 60 (normally $ 100) if you're happy with the essentials.

Buy Charge 5 at Amazon – $ 130Buy Inspire 2 at Amazon – $ 60

The Charge 5 ticks many of the boxes if you're determine to stay in shape. The extensive fitness and health tracking features help, particularly if you get the advanced data from Fitbit Premium. You can optimize your workout performance and understand your sleep quality, for instance. You can track your stress in addition to heart rate and blood oxygen level, and you'll have perks like GPS, Fitbit Pay and multi-day battery life.

There are limitations. Fitbit doesn't share activity data with Apple Health or Google Fit, and you can't steer music from the tracker's screen. There's also the matter of competition: you can find some close-enough alternatives from companies like Amazfit, Xiaomi and Amazon itself that will cost less (at least up front) if you can do without some frills. Fitbit's experience in the field matters, though, and the sale price makes the Charge 5 considerably more tempting.

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NASA pushes back crewed moon landing to 2025

NASA has officially adjusted its timeline for the Artemis III mission and won't be landing on the Moon in 2024. The agency is now aiming to land the first woman and next American man on the lunar surface in 2025 at the earliest, NASA administrator Bill Nelson has announced. NASA was originally targeting a 2028 launch date for its return to the Moon, but the Trump administration moved that date up by four years back in 2017. In a conference call with reporters, Nelson said "the Trump administration's target of 2024 human landing was not grounded in technical feasibility."

In addition to the unrealistic deadline, Nelson blamed Blue Origin's lawsuit against the agency for the delay. It had to put its contract with SpaceX on hold and pause work on the lunar lander that's meant to take astronauts to the surface of the Moon for a couple of times. NASA lost almost seven months of work on the lander as a result, which had cast doubts on the 2024 landing even before Nelson made his announcement. 

If you'll recall, NASA awarded SpaceX a $ 2.9 billion contract to develop a Starship-based lunar landing system back in April. The agency historically works with more than one contractor for each mission, but in this instance, it inked a deal with Elon Musk's company alone. Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin sued NASA over that decision, arguing that it wasn't given the chance to revise its bid for the project. 

Based on legal documents The Verge obtained in September, however, NASA felt that Blue Origin "gambled" with its proposed $ 5.9 billion lunar lander bid. The company allegedly set the price higher than necessary, because it assumed that NASA would award it a contract but negotiate for a lower price. The Federal Court of Claims ultimately ruled against Blue Origin a few days ago, dismissing its claims that NASA ignored "key flight safety requirements" when it awarded SpaceX the lunar lander contract.

Nelson's announcement comes shortly after NASA moved the uncrewed Artemis I flight test launch from this year to February 2022. That's assuming everything will go as planned — the Orion capsule and Space Launch System that will be used for the mission will still have to go through a battery of tests before NASA can schedule it for blastoff.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

We have the tech to curb drunk driving, but invisible forces are holding it back

Statistically, one person dies from drunk driving every 52 minutes in the U.S. — but it doesn’t have to be that way. We have the technology to stop it.
Emerging Tech | Digital Trends

Instagram back up after second major outage of the week

Just a few days after a global Facebook outage, Instagram went down for over two hours due to a different technical issue.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Facebook is coming back online after hours-long outage

Facebook services are slowly coming back online after one of the biggest outages in recent memory. Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger’s apps appear to be working again, though some of the websites are loading more slowly than usual. 

As of 6:05pm ET Monday, the "Facebook for Business Status" page was still showing "major disruptions," to the social network's core services. But that was still an improvement from earlier in the day when the website was offline entirely. 

"To the huge community of people and businesses around the world who depend on us: we're sorry," Facebook wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. The company confirmed its services "are coming back online now." In a post on Facebook, CEO Mark Zuckerberg also apologized for the services going down. 

Zuckerberg didn’t elaborate on the cause of the lengthy outage. In an earlier tweet, the company’s outgoing Chief Technology Officer, Michael Schroepfer, cited “networking issues.”

The outage lasted more than six hours, taking down Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Oculus. It also wreaked havoc on the company internally, with employees reportedly unable to access emails, Workplace and other tools. The New York Timesreported that employees were also physically locked out of offices as workers’ badges stopped working.

It also shaved billions of dollars off of Zuckerberg’s personal net worth as Facebook’s stock tanked, Bloomberg reported. Elsewhere, the company is still reeling from the fallout of a whistleblower who has accused the company of prioritizing “profits over safety.” The whistleblower was The Wall Street Journal’s primary source for several articles that details how Instagram is harmful to teens and the company’s controversial “cross check” program that allows high profile users to break its rules.

Security reporter Brian Krebs reported the outage was linked to issues with Facebook's BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) records, which prevented the company's services from being accessible. He later added it was "a routine BGP update gone wrong." DNS provider Cloudflare also cited BGP as the likely culprit, writing in a blog post that it was "as if someone had 'pulled the cables' from their data centers all at once and disconnected them from the Internet." 

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

The Essential team is back (without Andy Rubin) to make your phones more secure as OSOM

The team behind the Essential Phone is back at work, sort of. Essential is still gone, so don’t get your hopes up for a PH-2, but they might still have a hand in your next smartphone anyway. This time they’re focused on hardware and software security as a startup called OSOM, and they’re doing it […]

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Porsche pushes back the launch of its second EV to 2021

You’ll have to wait a while longer if you want to drive Porsche’s second-ever electric car after the Taycan. Porsche chief Oliver Blume told Bloomberg and others that the Taycan Cross Turismo’s launch has been moved from late 2020 to sometime in earl…
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Rockstar rolls back the ‘Red Dead Online’ update that broke everything

Rockstar Games recently tried to fix some Red Dead Online bugs it unintentionally introduced in July’s major update, which added a naturalist role to the game. However, it accidentally made things much, much worse on PS4 and Xbox One. There were glit…
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You can now back up your smartphone to Google One for no charge

Google One is now offering the handy new feature of allowing Android (and iOS) users the ability to back up their handsets, absolutely free*. You don’t need to be a Google One subscriber, you just need to have the app installed on the device you want to back up to. Of course, being free means […]

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Newton Mail comes back from the grave one more time

Newton Mail has had a very, very weird life. It started as a good, albeit expensive, email application with a ton of supercharged features; it wasn’t sustainable, however, so it was going to be killed off. At least, that was the original plan. Unlike Google’s Inbox, Newton Mail had a savior. Essential swooped in and […]

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Samsung will buy back your Galaxy S20 for 50% of its price, if you give it back within two years

It’s no surprise that the Galaxy S20 has gotten off to a slow start. Reviews for the Galaxy S20 Ultra haven’t been great, and the expensive starting price with no budget option hasn’t helped. Couple that with a current global pandemic, and, well, you don’t have a recipe for success. Samsung’s solution? They’ll give you […]

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The Morning After: Vine is back, but now it’s Byte

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. This week took some interesting turns between a possible peek at the Xbox Series X back panel and rumors of an iPhone SE2. Among the stories below that you might have missed, we've also launched a series of smar…
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Samsung’s new Galaxy XCover Pro rugged smartphone brings removable batteries back

Even though the buzz of CES 2020 is underway, Samsung managed to quietly bring a new phone to market: the Galaxy XCover Pro, a rugged smartphone that can take a beating. This is the successor to the XCover 4, which launched in 2017. Now, people that need a rugged smartphone have some higher-end tech available […]

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Google scales back town hall meetings following leaks

Google's weekly all-hands meetings have quickly become a source of leaks, and the company is apparently taking an aggressive approach to curbing those leaks: it's limiting the meetings themselves. The Verge has learned that CEO Sundar Pichai sent com…
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Here’s how to get your app drawer back on the LG G8 ThinQ and other LG phones

LG makes some killer flagship hardware, especially if you’re someone looking for a high-end phone that actually doesn’t have any compromises. The LG G8, for example, still has a headphone jack and microSD card, it has a regular fingerprint scanner, and there’s no weird design stuff going on, outside of a notch. It’s a killer […]

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Pixel 3a put some life back in Google’s smartphone business, doubling total Pixel sales year-over-year

Google’s Pixel sales since inception have been pretty lackluster. It’s not that the Pixels aren’t great phones, especially when it comes to camera quality and software updates, but they’ve just never really managed to take a bite out of the market, especially not without insane carrier promotions. But it looks like the Pixel 3a might […]

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Nokia is bringing the feature phone back, but this time they’re using Android, too

Feature phones still have a place in the market, however small. In countries like the US, there’s still some small demand for a phone that’s a little more basic without all the bells and whistles of something like a Galaxy S10, and in emerging markets there’s a need for devices that are less expensive and […]

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If you bought a Nexus 6P, you might now be eligible for up to $400 back

The Nexus 6P was a bit of a mixed bag. Not only was it among the last Nexus phones before Google shifted over to the Pixel line, it was really hit or miss on whether it worked well for users. It was a great phone, honestly, but was plagued with a ton of boot looping […]

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