Posts Tagged: March

What to expect at Microsoft’s March 21 event

Microsoft is holding a digital event titled “Advancing the new era of work with Copilot” on March 21. Among the possible announcements are new Surface devices, potentially the first branded as AI PCs. It will already be the second Windows hardware event — and first mainline Surface Pro launch — without former chief product officer and longtime keynote presenter Panos Panay, who left for Amazon last year. Here’s everything we could see at the company’s first launch event of 2024.

The company describes the event as breaking down “the latest in scaling AI in your environment with Copilot, Windows, and Surface.” There are conflicting reports about exactly what we’ll see in late March. 

Windows Central claims an OLED Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 will headline the event, with their upgraded processors enabling “huge performance and efficiency gains” over their predecessors. However, a report from The Verge suggests this month’s event will only cover the business and commercial-focused versions of the devices — with much subtler upgrades than the consumer versions. The outlet claims the consumer variants with “a larger redesign” will follow later this spring.

The new devices will allegedly be powered by Intel Core Ultra or Snapdragon X Elite silicon with next-generation neural processing units (NPUs) for advanced AI tasks. The Intel variants are expected to launch in April, while the Arm-based Snapdragon ones will reportedly arrive several months later in June. If the reports are accurate, this would be the first time the Surface Laptop line has included an Arm-based version.

At least in the consumer models, the Surface Pro 10 is rumored to switch from LCD to an anti-reflective OLED screen. The device would be brighter than the Surface Pro 9’s screen and support HDR content. Meanwhile, the Surface Laptop 6 is rumored to include thinner display bezels (with rounded corners) and a haptic touchpad. Its updated port selection is said to include two USB-C and one USB-A on its left side.

The commercial / business models (which may be all we see at this month’s event) are rumored to include a built-in Common Access Card (CAC) reader and options with up to 64GB of RAM.

Image of a Windows keyboard with a dedicated Copilot AI key between the left arrow and Alt keys.
Microsoft

Whether at this month’s event or later, the new consumer-facing Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are expected to kick off Microsoft’s push for Windows 11-running AI PCs. They’ll reportedly be among the first to include an on-device version of Copilot. Other rumored AI features include real-time captioning and translation, upscaling and frame-rate smoothing for games, upgraded Windows Studio Effects and a feature called AI Explorer. Both devices will reportedly include a dedicated Copilot key.

AI Explorer is rumored to include a built-in timeline that’s searchable using natural language. Perhaps similar to the third-party Rewind AI app for macOS, the feature will allegedly log everything you do and see on your device, letting you sift through it with Copilot. It would let you ask the assistant things like, “Find me that thing about dinosaurs,” and see every moment in your PC’s history relating to them. (It could be a privacy nightmare if not handled properly, but expect Microsoft to offer security assurances like encryption and entirely on-device processing.)

The feature would also allegedly “understand context, help jumpstart projects or workflows, and even suggest tasks based on what’s currently on screen.” Other rumored features include the ability to tell Copilot to remove the backgrounds of onscreen images from third-party apps in the Photos app.

The AI features, which aren’t expected to be exclusive to the Surface devices, will reportedly arrive in this year’s annual feature update for Windows 11 (version 24H2), expected in the fall. Windows Central noted it isn’t clear whether Microsoft will discuss the features during the March event.

Engadget will have full coverage of Microsoft’s announcements on March 21 at noon ET.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/what-to-expect-at-microsofts-march-21-event-204559003.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

The 6 best budgeting apps to replace Mint come March 2024

The popular budgeting app Mint is going away. Parent company Intuit will shut down the service on March 24, 2024, and has suggested folks migrate to its other personal finance app, Credit Karma. I’m one of Mint’s 3.6 million active users (as of 2021, according to Bloomberg), using the app to track all of my accounts in one place without having to log into too many disparate banking apps. I’ve also used it to monitor my credit score, stick to a monthly budget, and set goals like building a rainy-day fund or paying down my mortgage faster.

With this news, looking for a Mint alternative beyond Credit Karma became a top priority. Intuit has not commented on whether it intends to fold Mint’s budgeting features into Credit Karma but as it stands, Credit Karma is not a Mint substitute. After trying Credit Karma and being unimpressed, I downloaded a number of competing money apps to see if any could cut it as a permanent Mint replacement. The following guide lays out my experiences, the results of my testing and our picks for the top Mint replacement apps available today. I also pledge to update this guide as the various apps I tested continue to add more features and, in some cases, correct known bugs.

How to import your financial data from Mint

Mint users should consider getting their data ready to migrate to their new budgeting app of choice soon. Unfortunately, importing data from Mint is not as easy as entering your credentials from inside your new app and hitting “import.” In fact, any app that advertises the ability to port over your stats from Mint is just going to have you upload a CSV file of transactions and other data.

To download a CSV file from Mint, do the following:

  1. Sign into Mint.com and hit Transactions in the menu on the left side of the screen.

  2. Select an account, or all accounts.

  3. Scroll down and look for “export [number] transactions” in smaller print.

  4. Your CSV file should begin downloading.

Note: Downloading on a per-account basis might seem more annoying, but could help you get set up on the other side, if the app you’re using has you importing transactions one-for-one into their corresponding accounts.

How we tested

Before I dove into the budgeting-app world, I had to do some research. To find a list of apps to test, I consulted trusty ol’ Google (and even trustier Reddit); read reviews of popular apps on the App Store; and also asked friends and colleagues what budget tracking apps they might be using. Some of the apps I found were free, just like Mint. These, of course, show loads of ads (excuse me, “offers”) to stay in business. But most of the available apps require paid subscriptions, with prices typically topping out around $ 100 a year, or $ 15 a month. (Spoiler: My top pick is cheaper than that.)

Since this guide is meant to help Mint users find a permanent replacement, any services I chose to test needed to do several things: import all of your account data into one place; offer budgeting tools; and track your spending, net worth and credit score. Except where noted, all of these apps are available for iOS, Android and on the web.

Once I had my shortlist of six apps, I got to work setting them up. For the sake of thoroughly testing these apps (and remember, I really was looking for a Mint alternative myself), I made a point of adding every account to every tracking app, no matter how small or immaterial the balance. What ensued was a veritable Groundhog Day of two-factor authentication. Just hours of entering passwords and one-time passcodes, for the same banks half a dozen times over. Hopefully, you only have to do this once.

The best Mint alternative: Quicken Simplifi

No pun intended, but what I like about Quicken Simplifi is its simplicity. Whereas other apps try to distinguish themselves with dark themes and customizable emoji, Simplifi has a clean user interface, with a landing page that you just keep scrolling through to get a detailed overview of all your stats. These include your top-line balances; net worth; recent spending; upcoming recurring payments; a snapshot of your spending plan; top spending categories; achievements; and any watchlists you’ve set up. You can also set up savings goals elsewhere in the app. I also appreciate how it offers neat, almost playful visualizations without ever looking cluttered. I felt at home in the mobile and web dashboards after a day or so, which is faster than I adapted to some competing services (I’m looking at you, YNAB and Monarch).

Getting set up with Simplifi was mostly painless. I was particularly impressed at how easily it connected to Fidelity; not all budget trackers do, for whatever reason. This is also one of the only services I tested that gives you the option of inviting a spouse or financial advisor to co-manage your account. One thing I would add to my initial assessment of the app, having used it for a few months now: I wish Simplifi offered Zillow integration for easily tracking your home value (or at least a rough estimate of it). Various competitors including Monarch Money and Copilot Money work with Zillow, so clearly there’s a Zillow API available for use. As it stands, Simplifi users must add real estate manually like any other asset.

A screenshot of the
Dana Wollman / Engadget

In practice, Simplifi miscategorized some of my expenses, but nothing out of the ordinary compared to any of these budget trackers. As you’re reviewing transactions, you can also mark if you’re expecting a refund, which is a unique feature among the services I tested. Simplifi also estimated my regular income better than some other apps I tested. Most of all, I appreciated the option of being able to categorize some, but not all, purchases from a merchant as recurring. For instance, I can add my two Amazon subscribe-and-saves as recurring payments, without having to create a broad-strokes rule for every Amazon purchase.

The budgeting feature is also self-explanatory. Just check that your regular income is accurate and be sure to set up recurring payments, making note of which are bills and which are subscriptions. This is important because Simplifi shows you your total take-home income as well as an “income after bills” figure. That number includes, well, bills but not discretionary subscriptions. From there, you can add spending targets by category in the “planned spending” bucket. Planned spending can also include one-time expenditures, not just monthly budgets. When you create a budget, Simplifi will suggest a number based on a six-month average.

Not dealbreakers, but two things to keep in mind as you get started: Simplifi is notable in that you can’t set up an account through Apple or Google. There is also no option for a free trial, though Quicken promises a “30-day money back guarantee.”

The best Mint alternative (runner-up): Monarch Money

Monarch Money grew on me. My first impression of the app, which was founded by a former Mint product manager, was that it’s more difficult to use than others on this list, including Simplifi, NerdWallet and Copilot. And it is. Editing expense categories, adding recurring transactions and creating rules, for example, is a little more complicated than it needs to be, especially in the mobile app. (My advice: Use the web app for fine-tuning details.) Monarch also didn’t get my income right; I had to edit it.

Once you’re set up, though, Monarch offers an impressive level of granularity. In the budgets section, you can see a bona fide balance sheet showing budgets and actuals for each category. You’ll also find a forecast, for the year or by month. And recurring expenses can be set not just by merchant, but other parameters as well. For instance, while most Amazon purchases might be marked as “shopping,” those for the amounts of $ 54.18 or $ 34.18 are definitely baby supplies, and can be automatically marked as such each time, not to mention programmed as recurring payments. Weirdly, though, there’s no way to mark certain recurring payments as bills, specifically.

A screenshot of the
Dana Wollman / Engadget

Not long after I first published this story in December 2023, Monarch introduced a detailed reporting section where you can create on-demand graphs based on things like accounts, categories and tags. That feature is available just on the web version of the app for now. As part of this same update, Monarch added support for an aggregator that makes it possible to automatically update the value of your car. This, combined with the existing Zillow integration for tracking your home value, makes it easy to quickly add a non-liquid asset like a vehicle or real estate, and have it show up in your net worth graph.

The mobile app is mostly self-explanatory. The main dashboard shows your net worth; your four most recent transactions; a month-over-month spending comparison; income month-to-date; upcoming bills; an investments snapshot; a list of any goals you’ve set; and, finally, a link to your month-in-review. That month-in-review is more detailed than most, delving into cash flow; top income and expense categories; cash flow trends; changes to your net worth, assets and liabilities; plus asset and liability breakdowns. In February 2024, Monarch expanded on the net worth graph, so that if you click on the Accounts tab you can see how your net worth changed over different periods of time, including one month, three months, six months, a year or all time.

On the main screen, you’ll also find tabs for accounts, transactions, cash flow, budget and recurring. Like many of the other apps featured here, Monarch can auto-detect recurring expenses and income, even if it gets the category wrong. (They all do to an extent.) Expense categories are marked by emoji, which you can customize if you’re so inclined.

Monarch Money uses a combination of networks to connect with banks, including Plaid, MX and Finicity, a competing network owned by Mastercard. (I have a quick explainer on Plaid, the industry standard in this space, toward the end of this guide.) As part of an update in late December, Monarch has also made it easier to connect through those other two networks, if for some reason Plaid fails. Similar to NerdWallet, I found myself completing two-factor authentication every time I wanted to get past the Plaid screen to add another account. Notably, Monarch is the only other app I tested that allows you to grant access to someone else in your family — likely a spouse or financial advisor. Monarch also has a Chrome extension for importing from Mint, though really this is just a shortcut for downloading a CSV file, which you’ll have to do regardless of where you choose to take your Mint data.

Additionally, Monarch just added the ability to track Apple Card, Apple Cash, and Savings accounts, thanks to new functionality brought with the iOS 17.4 update. It’s not the only one either; currently, Copilot and YNAB have also added similar functionality that will be available to anyone with the latest versions of their respective apps on a device running iOS 17.4. Instead of manually uploading statements, the new functionality allows apps like Monarch’s to automatically pull in transactions and balance history. That should make it easier to account for spending on Apple cards and accounts throughout the month.

Monarch also recently launched investment transactions in beta. It also says bill tracking and an overhauled goals system are coming soon. Monarch hasn’t provided a timeline for that last one, except to say that the improved goals feature is coming in early 2024.

The best up-and-comer: Copilot Money

Copilot Money might be the best-looking budget tracker I tested. It also has the distinction of being exclusive to iOS and Macs — at least for now. Andres Ugarte, the company’s CEO, has publicly promised that Android and web apps are coming in 2024 (more likely the second half of the year, Ugarte tells me). But until it follows through, I can’t recommend Copilot for most people with so many good competitors out there.

There are other features that Copilot is missing, which I’ll get into. But it is promising, and one to keep an eye on. It’s just a fast, efficient, well designed app, and Android users will be in for a treat when they’ll finally be able to download it. It makes good use of colors, emoji and graphs to help you understand at a glance how you’re doing on everything from your budgets to your investment performance to your credit card debt over time. In particular, Copilot does a better job than almost any other app of visualizing your recurring monthly expenses.

Behind those punchy colors and cutesy emoji, though, is some sophisticated performance. Copilot’s AI-powered “Intelligence” gets smarter as you go at categorizing your expenses. (You can also add your own categories, complete with your choice of emoji.) It’s not perfect. Copilot miscategorized some purchases (they all do), but it makes it easier to edit than most. On top of that, the internal search feature is very fast; it starts whittling down results in your transaction history as soon as you begin typing.

A screenshot of Copilot Money's iOS app.
Dana Wollman / Engadget

Copilot is also unique in offering Amazon and Venmo integrations, allowing you to see transaction details. With Amazon, this requires just signing into your Amazon account via an in-app browser. For Venmo, you have to set up fwd@copilot.money as a forwarding address and then create a filter, wherein emails from venmo@venmo.com are automatically forwarded to fwd@copilot.money. Like Monarch Money, you can also add any property you own and track its value through Zillow, which is integrated with the app.

While the app is heavily automated, I still appreciate that Copilot marks new transactions for review. It’s a good way to both weed out fraudulent charges, and also be somewhat intentional about your spending habits.

Like Monarch Money, Copilot updated its app to make it easier to connect to banks through networks other than Plaid. As part of the same update, Copilot said it has improved its connections to both American Express and Fidelity which, again, can be a bugbear for some budget tracking apps. In an even more recent update, Copilot added a Mint import option, which other budgeting apps have begun to offer as well.

Because the app is relatively new (it launched in early 2020), the company is still catching up to the competition on some table-stakes features. Ugarte told me that his team is almost done building out a detailed cash flow section, which could launch before the end of 2023, but more likely in early 2024. On its website, Copilot also promises a raft of AI-powered features that build on its current “Intelligence” platform, the one that powers its smart expense categorization. These include “smart financial goals,” natural language search, a chat interface, forecasting and benchmarking. That benchmarking, Ugarte tells me, is meant to give people a sense of how they’re doing compared to other Copilot users, on both spending and investment performance. Most of these features should arrive in the new year.

Copilot does a couple interesting things for new customers that distinguish it from the competition. There’s a “demo mode” that feels like a game simulator; no need to add your own accounts. The company is also offering two free months with RIPMINT — a more generous introductory offer than most. When it finally does come time to pony up, the $ 7.92 monthly plan is cheaper than some competing apps, although the $ 95-a-year-option is in the same ballpark.

The best free budgeting app: NerdWallet

You may know NerdWallet as a site that offers a mix of personal finance news, explainers and guides. I see it often when I google a financial term I don’t know and sure enough, it’s one of the sites I’m most likely to click on. As it happens, NerdWallet also has the distinction of offering one of the only free budget tracking apps I tested. In fact, there is no paid version; nothing is locked behind a paywall. The main catch: There are ads everywhere. To be fair, the free version of Mint was like this, too.

Even with the inescapable credit card offers, NerdWallet has a clean, easy-to-understand user interface, which includes both a web and a mobile app. The key metrics that it highlights most prominently are your cash flow, net worth and credit score. (Of note, although Mint itself offered credit score monitoring, most of its rivals do not.) I particularly enjoyed the weekly insights, which delve into things like where you spent the most money or how much you paid in fees — and how that compares to the previous month. Because this is NerdWallet, an encyclopedia of financial info, you get some particularly specific category options when setting up your accounts (think: a Roth or non-Roth IRA).

A screenshot of the
Dana Wollman / Engadget

As a budgeting app, NerdWallet is more than serviceable, if a bit basic. Like other apps I tested, you can set up recurring bills. Importantly, it follows the popular 50/30/20 budgeting rule, which has you putting 50% of your budget toward things you need, 30% toward things you want, and the remaining 20% into savings or debt repayments. If this works for you, great — just know that you can’t customize your budget to the same degree as some competing apps. You can’t currently create custom spending categories, though a note inside the dashboard section of the app says “you’ll be able to customize them in the future.” You also can’t move items from the wants column to “needs” or vice versa but “In the future, you’ll be able to move specific transactions to actively manage what falls into each group.” A NerdWallet spokesperson declined to provide an ETA, though.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that NerdWallet had one of the most onerous setup processes of any app I tested. I don’t think this is a dealbreaker, as you’ll only have to do it once and, hopefully, you aren’t setting up six or seven apps in tandem as I was. What made NerdWallet’s onboarding especially tedious is that every time I wanted to add an account, I had to go through a two-factor authentication process to even get past the Plaid splash screen, and that’s not including the 2FA I had set up at each of my banks. This is a security policy on NerdWallet’s end, not Plaid’s, a Plaid spokesperson says.

Precisely because NerdWallet is one of the only budget trackers to offer credit score monitoring, it also needs more of your personal info during setup, including your birthday, address, phone number and the last four digits of your social security number. It’s the same with Credit Karma, which also does credit score monitoring.

Related to the setup process, I found that NerdWallet was less adept than other apps at automatically detecting my regular income. In my case, it counted a large one-time wire transfer as income, at which point my only other option was to enter my income manually (which is slightly annoying because I would have needed my pay stub handy to double-check my take-home pay).

Budgeting apps we also tested

YNAB

YNAB is, by its own admission, “different from anything you’ve tried before.” The app, whose name is short for You Need a Budget, promotes a so-called zero-based budgeting system, which forces you to assign a purpose for every dollar you earn. A frequently used analogy is to put each dollar in an envelope; you can always move money from one envelope to another in a pinch. These envelopes can include rent and utilities, along with unforeseen expenses like holiday gifts and the inevitable car repair. The idea is that if you budget a certain amount for the unknowns each month, they won’t feel like they’re sneaking up on you.

Importantly, YNAB is only concerned with the money you have in your accounts now. The app does not ask you to provide your take-home income or set up recurring income payments (although there is a way to do this). The money you will make later in the month through your salaried job is not relevant, because YNAB does not engage in forecasting.

The app is harder to learn than any other here, and it requires more ongoing effort from the user. And YNAB knows that. Inside both the mobile and web apps are links to videos and other tutorials. Although I never quite got comfortable with the user interface, I did come to appreciate YNAB’s insistence on intentionality. Forcing users to draft a new budget each month and to review each transaction is not necessarily a bad thing. As YNAB says on its website, “Sure, you’ve got pie charts showing that you spent an obscene amount of money in restaurants — but you’ve still spent an obscene amount of money in restaurants.” I can see this approach being useful for people who don’t tend to have a lot of cash in reserve at a given time, or who have spending habits they want to correct (to riff off of YNAB’s own example, ordering Seamless four times a week).

My colleague Valentina Palladino, knowing I was working on this guide, penned a respectful rebuttal, explaining why she’s been using YNAB for years. Perhaps, like her, you have major savings goals you want to achieve, whether it’s paying for a wedding or buying a house. I suggest you give her column a read. For me, though, YNAB’s approach feels like overkill.

PocketGuard

PocketGuard is one of the only reputable free budget trackers I found in my research. Just know it’s far more restricted at the free tier than NerdWallet or Mint. In my testing, I was prompted to pay after I attempted to link more than two bank accounts. So much for free, unless you keep things simple with one cash account and one credit card. When it comes time to upgrade to PocketGuard Plus, you have three options: pay $ 7.99 a month, $ 34.99 a year or $ 79.99 for a one-time lifetime license. That lifetime option is actually one of the few unique selling points for me: I’m sure some people will appreciate paying once and never having to, uh, budget for it again.

From the main screen, you’ll see tabs for accounts, insights, transactions and the “Plan,” which is where you see recurring payments stacked on top of what looks like a budget. The main overview screen shows you your net worth, total assets and debts; net income and total spending for the month; upcoming bills; a handy reminder of when your next paycheck lands; any debt payoff plan you have; and any goals.

A screenshot of the
Dana Wollman / Engadget

Like some other apps, including Quicken Simplifi, PocketGuard promotes an “after bills” approach, where you enter all of your recurring bills, and then PocketGuard shows you what’s left, and that’s what you’re supposed to be budgeting: your disposable income. Obviously, other apps have a different philosophy: take into account all of your post-tax income and use it to pay the bills, purchase things you want and maybe even save a little. But in PocketGuard, it’s the “in your pocket” number that’s most prominent. To PocketGuard’s credit, it does a good job visualizing which bills are upcoming and which ones you’ve already paid.

PocketGuard has also publicly committed to adding some popular features in early 2024. These include rollover budgeting in January 2024, categorization rules in February and shared household access in March.

A screenshot of PocketGuard's iOS app.
Dana Wollman / Engadget

Although PocketGuard’s UI is easy enough to understand, it lacks polish. The “accounts” tab is a little busy, and doesn’t show totals for categories like cash or investments. Seemingly small details like weirdly phrased or punctuated copy occasionally make the app feel janky. More than once, it prompted me to update the app when no updates were available. The web version, meanwhile, feels like the mobile app blown up to a larger format and doesn’t take advantage of the extra screen real estate.

Of note, although PocketGuard does work with Plaid, its primary bank-connecting platform is actually Finicity. Setting up my accounts through Finicity was mostly a straightforward process. I did encounter one hiccup: Finicity would not connect to my SoFi account. I was able to do it through Plaid, but PocketGuard doesn’t make it easy to access Plaid in the app. The only way, as far as I can tell, is to knowingly search for the name of a bank that isn’t available through Finicity, at which point you get the option to try Plaid instead. Like I said: the experience can be janky.

What is Plaid and how does it work?

Each of the apps I tested uses the same underlying network, called Plaid, to pull in financial data, so it’s worth explaining in its own section what it is and how it works. Plaid was founded as a fintech startup in 2013 and is today the industry standard in connecting banks with third-party apps. Plaid works with over 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada and Europe. Additionally, more than 8,000 third-party apps and services rely on Plaid, the company claims.

To be clear, you don’t need a dedicated Plaid app to use it; the technology is baked into a wide array of apps, including the budget trackers I tested for this guide. Once you find the “add an account” option in whichever one you’re using, you’ll see a menu of commonly used banks. There’s also a search field you can use to look yours up directly. Once you find yours, you’ll be prompted to enter your login credentials. If you have two-factor authentication set up, you’ll need to enter a one-time passcode as well.

As the middleman, Plaid is a passthrough for information that may include your account balances, transaction history, account type and routing or account number. Plaid uses encryption, and says it has a policy of not selling or renting customer data to other companies. However, I would not be doing my job if I didn’t note that in 2022 Plaid was forced to pay $ 58 million to consumers in a class action suit for collecting “more financial data than was needed.” As part of the settlement, Plaid was compelled to change some of its business practices.

In a statement provided to Engadget, a Plaid spokesperson said the company continues to deny the allegations underpinning the lawsuit and that “the crux of the non-financial terms in the settlement are focused on us accelerating workstreams already underway related to giving people more transparency into Plaid’s role in connecting their accounts, and ensuring that our workstreams around data minimization remain on track.”

My top Mint alternative picks: Quicken Simplifi and Copilot Money

To conclude, you might be wondering what app I decided on for myself after all of this research. The answer is actually two apps: Quicken Simplifi, my overall top pick, and Copilot Money. For now, I am actively using both apps and still deciding, long-term, which I feel more comfortable with. I tend to prefer Copilot’s fast, colorful user interface, but as I explained above, it’s too lacking in table-stakes features for me to go so far as to name it the best overall option.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-budgeting-apps-to-replace-mint-143047346.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Humane AI Pin orders will start shipping in March

The Humane AI Pin is expected to start shipping in March. On Friday, the company posted on X (Twitter) that “those who placed priority orders will receive their Ai Pins first when we begin shipping in March.” The company had previously given an “early 2024” estimate for the screen-less wearable device designed to replace a smartphone.

Humane, founded by former Apple employees Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, views the smartphone (still their ex-employer’s bread and butter) as on its last legs. “The last era has plateaued,” TechCrunch reported Chaudhri as saying in a November press briefing. He views the AI-powered wearable product as “a new way of thinking, a new sense of opportunity.”

The $ 699 Humane AI Pin doesn’t have a screen; instead, it relies on voice cues and a projector that beams relevant info onto the user’s hand. The founders flaunt the device’s privacy focus combined with contextual intelligence, promising it “quickly understands what you need, connecting you to the right AI experience or service instantly.” Partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft and Tidal provide what the company calls “access to some of the world’s most powerful AI models and platforms.”

The pin runs on a quad-core Snapdragon processor with a dedicated Qualcomm AI Engine powering its Cosmos OS software. It ships in three color options, two of which add an extra $ 100 to its price. Buyers must pay $ 24 monthly to access the pin’s cellular data, built as an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) on top of T-Mobile’s network.

In addition to providing the March shipping date, Humane says the remaining orders will continue to roll out in the order they were received. Engadget emailed the company to ask when it expects current orders to go out, and we’ll update this article if it responds.

The Humane AI Pin is available to pre-order now from Humane’s website. The Eclipse (matte black on black) costs $ 699, while Lunar (polished chrome on white) and Equinox (polished chrome on black) colorways will set you back $ 799.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/humane-ai-pin-orders-will-start-shipping-in-march-185449334.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Apple may unveil M3 MacBook Airs in March alongside new iPad Pro and iPad Air models

Apple is planning some big hardware drops for early 2024, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In the Power On newsletter, Gurman predicts the company will release the next generation of iPad Pro and iPad Air in March — each of which is expected to come in two sizes — and the new M3 MacBook Airs. The Mac Studio and Mac Pro will likely be much later to the M3 party; Gurman writes that Apple won’t have these ready for release until at least the end of 2024, and they could even slip into 2025.

With the release of its new iPads, Apple is planning to make clearer distinctions between the models so the choices are less confusing for consumers, according to Gurman. The iPad Pro is expected to get Apple’s new M3 chip, an OLED display and come in two sizes: 11 and 13 inches. Apple will also release a new Magic Keyboard just for the Pro, Gurman says. The iPad Air, on the other hand, will come in a 10.9-inch version and a new 12.9-inch option, and use the M2 chip. The changes should make the differences between the high-end, midrange and standard iPads more obvious so people can more easily decide what fits their needs.

As for the M3 MacBook Air, Gurman says it’ll also likely come in March, in the usual 13- and 15-inch configurations. At that time, Apple may also kill off the 2020 M1 MacBook Air. Its higher-end models, the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, will be last to get the M3 upgrade.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-may-release-m3-macbook-air-in-march-and-refine-its-ipad-lineup-with-new-ipad-pro-and-ipad-air-205425798.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

‘Dune: Part Two’ delayed until March 2024 following writer strikes

The release of Dune: Part Two has been pushed back to March 15th amid ongoing writer and actor strikes, according to Variety. The hotly anticipated film was originally scheduled for November 3rd, but Warner Bros. and producer Legendary Entertainment agreed to delay it over four months — likely because the film wouldn't meet its full box office potential without publicity from the star-studded cast. 

The studio and production company held out on delaying the film as long as possible, according The Hollywood Reporter, but would have needed to start advertising the film by early September. It reportedly hoped the extra time would allow the cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken, to participate in a full marketing push.

Along with Part Two, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim have been pushed back to April 12th, 2024 and December 13th, 2024, respectively. Those dates were shuffled largely to accommodate Dune: Part Two

The ongoing labor actions by writers and actors in Hollywood are a result of long-simmering tensions over a number of issues, but particularly due to residual payments from Netflix and other streaming platforms. Warner Bros. Discovery was at the center of these in the recent past, as it elected to release some films either directly to its HBO Max (now MAX) streaming platform with zero or limited theatrical releases. However, CEO David Zaslav said last year that the company "will fully embrace theatrical" going forward. 

Dune: Part One performed well enough at the box office with a $ 402 million gross, but hype for the sequel is much higher. "Part One is more of a contemplative movie. Part Two is an action-packed, epic war movie. It is much more dense. We went to all new locations," said director Denis Villeneuve. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dune-part-two-delayed-until-march-2024-following-writer-strikes-075730012.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

T-Mobile customers can snag a free Season Pass to MLB TV worth $150 from March 28th

Having already given its customers an MLS Season Pass worth $ 99 back in February, T-Mobile is following up with a free Season Pass to MLB TV in case you had spare time left to watch yet another favorite sporting pastime. This latest reward is also courtesy of the T-Mobile Tuesday program which you’ll need to […]

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile customers can snag a free Season Pass to MLB TV worth $ 150 from March 28th

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Verizon subscribers can grab a year of Netflix Premium for free* and other perks from March 12

Verizon subscribers can look forward to the return of a year’s subscription to Netflix Premium as part of the carrier’s +play service from March 12 worth ($ 240). The +play product has also seen the addition of a further 10 partners offering anything from streaming services to meal deliveries. Naturally, there is a catch to the […]

Come comment on this article: Verizon subscribers can grab a year of Netflix Premium for free* and other perks from March 12

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Nothing will officially unveil its Ear (2) earbuds on March 22nd

With a habit of producing something out of Nothing, Carl Pei has today revealed that Nothing will be unveiling something the Ear (2) earbuds on March 22nd. With confirmation that Nothing will be launching a Snapdragon 8 series-powered smartphone later on in the year, it would be safe to say that the brand has a […]

Come comment on this article: Nothing will officially unveil its Ear (2) earbuds on March 22nd

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Hit Viking survival sim ‘Valheim’ hits Xbox on March 14th

Two years after indie survival game Valheim became an instant smash hit on PC, it has a console release date. It's coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on March 14th. Valheim will be available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers at no extra cost. The game's currently on PC Game Pass too.

Initially built by a five-person team at developer Iron Gate Studio, Valheim sold 5.7 million copies in its first five weeks and it was one of the highest-earning games on Steam in 2021. Players can team up with up to nine of their friends to go hunting, collect supplies, build bases, sail the seas, explore biomes, take down bosses and, of course, go fishing in a procedurally generated Viking afterlife.

Valheim will be available as a game preview on Xbox at the outset. "There's still a lot left to add before the game can leave Early Access," the game's Twitter account noted. Those who dive into Valheim on Xbox will be able to join up with pals who play on PC, as there's crossplay support.

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

Services shine in Apple’s record March quarter

Apple has reported its best financial figures for the March quarter, raking in a colossal $ 97.3 billion for the three-month period ending March 26.
Mobile | Digital Trends

The New Doogee S98 With Dual Screens And Night Vision Camera is Set to Launch On March 28th

The new S98 rugged phone was announced last month by DOOGEE. The company will launch the dual-screen rugged phone on March 28th on AliExpress and Doogeemall (the company’s official shopping platform). The Doogee S98 sports a unique dual-screen design. The display on the back is round like the one on the Huawei P50 pocket but […]

Come comment on this article: The New Doogee S98 With Dual Screens And Night Vision Camera is Set to Launch On March 28th

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

The OnePlus 10 Pro popped up to space ahead of launching in Europe and North America on March 31st

First launched in China back on January 11th, the OnePlus 10 Pro is finally set to make its official debut in North America, European, and UK markets on March 31st. Before then, OnePlus sent its newest flagship 38,000 meters into the stratosphere to take some stunning photos of the horizon with its Hasselblad color-tuned camera. […]

Come comment on this article: The OnePlus 10 Pro popped up to space ahead of launching in Europe and North America on March 31st

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Carl Pei’s Nothing will reveal its 2022 roadmap on March 23rd

Nothing, the brand started by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, will announce its 2022 roadmap in an event on March 23rd. While the company didn't reveal specifics other than a new community investment round that's coming this year, previous reports claimed that the company is developing its own smartphone that will be launched in April. 

It's said to feature design cues also found in the brand's wireless earbuds, specifically their element of transparency. If you haven't seen them yet, Nothing's earbuds have a see-through shell and come in a case that's mostly transparent, a design that adheres to the company's mission of making technology less obvious and more seamless. 

TechCrunch reported earlier this month that Pei showed the device to industry executives at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Famous leaker evleaks also tweeted a photo of Pei seemingly showing off a smartphone in his hand to Qualcomm chief Cristiano Amon. It was taken from a distance, however, so we'll have to wait for the official reveal — or for more detailed leaks to come out — for a clearer look. 

Considering Pei's background, it wouldn't come as a surprise if Nothing truly does release a smartphone. Pei previously told Bloomberg in an interview that the company is "building an ecosystem of smart devices" and that Nothing will build them "so these devices talk to each other." 

The Nothing (event): The Truth will take place on March 23rd at 2PM GMT/9AM EST. You can sign up to get notified when the livestream starts at Nothing's website.

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

How to watch Apple’s Peek Performance event on March 8

Apple has officially announced its much-rumored spring event, and on March 8, it will reveal some pretty exciting new product announcements.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Microsoft OneDrive app will stop syncing with Windows 7 and 8 on March 1st, 2022

Microsoft is trying to nudge more people toward newer Windows versions. As Thurottreports, Microsoft has warned that the OneDrive desktop app will stop syncing with personal Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 computers on March 1st, 2022. The software will no longer receive updates from January 1st onward. You can still use the web to manually transfer files, but that's clearly a hassle if you routinely access cloud files from an older PC.

Business customers won't have much of a reprieve, either. Microsoft is tying corporate OneDrive support to the Windows cycle for relevant machines. Windows 7 and 8.1 workplace users will have until January 10th, 2023 (the end of extended support for both platforms), while Windows 8 users are already out of luck.

The company wasn't shy about its reasoning. This will help "focus resources" on newer Windows platforms and technologies, according to OneDrive developers. In other words, Microsoft really wants you to upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11.

This isn't a completely unexpected move. Microsoft has long had trouble persuading some customers to upgrade to newer versions of Windows, to the point where companies and governments would rather pay for special support contracts than update. That hurts Microsoft's bottom line, of course, but it also poses security risks — WannaCry took advantage of organizations running outdated Windows versions. The new OneDrive policy may push some users to install newer Windows versions even if they're otherwise happy with an old operating system.

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

Those uncertified porn channels you don’t watch on Roku will be removed on March 1st, 2022

Already in a battle with Google to keep access to the YouTube app on its devices, Roku looks set to get rid of porn channels from the likes of Pornhub when it drops support for “non-certified” private channels that let content providers bypass Roku’s content guidelines. Roku will replace the “non-certified” channels with beta channels […]

Come comment on this article: Those uncertified porn channels you don’t watch on Roku will be removed on March 1st, 2022

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Check out the last Huawei P40 Pro details before its announcement on March 26th

Huawei is set to announce both the P40 and P40 Pro in just a few days during an online-only event happening March 26th. But even with the real announcement just a few days away, the rumors keep on coming. The latest leak clarifies the last few details about the duo of phones, including Huawei’s continued […]

Come comment on this article: Check out the last Huawei P40 Pro details before its announcement on March 26th

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Samsung shuts down its PC-to-mobile game streaming on March 27th

We hope you weren't counting on Samsung's PlayGalaxy Link to play your PC games on your phone. Samsung has quietly announced (so quietly that most didn't notice the news in late February) that it's shutting down the game streaming service on March 2…
Engadget RSS Feed

Disney Plus launches in the UK on March 24, O2 customers can snag 6-months subscription for free

Disney+ has been available in the US for a few months now, but thanks to content licensing issues its debut in the UK was delayed until March 24th, which is now just a week away. After signing promotional deals with carriers in France, Germany, Spain, and other European countries, Disney has teamed up with the […]

Come comment on this article: Disney Plus launches in the UK on March 24, O2 customers can snag 6-months subscription for free

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

All Apple Stores outside of Greater China are closing until March 27th

Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out a statement in the early hours of Saturday morning detailing Apple's worldwide response to COVID-19. Among the steps taken is news that the company will close its retail stores worldwide until March 27th. The only exceptio…
Engadget RSS Feed

Google Assistant will say goodbye to a Legend on March 23rd

Almost a year after its somewhat delayed appearance on the Google Assistant, which was almost a year after it was first announced back at Google I/O 2018, John Legend’s voice is set to disappear into the sunset from the service. So, if your idea of a perfect virtual assistant is Google Assistant replying to your […]

Come comment on this article: Google Assistant will say goodbye to a Legend on March 23rd

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Huawei P40 phones set for a March 6th launch, still no Google apps in sight

Huawei is in for a crazy few months. A new rumor pegs the launch of their next P40 series of devices in the next couple weeks, but the phones still won’t have Google apps. However, Google has applied for an exception to the current ban that prevents them from doing business with Huawei, which might […]

Come comment on this article: Huawei P40 phones set for a March 6th launch, still no Google apps in sight

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Samsung launches the latest Galaxy S series – S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra – Available March 6

Samsung just wrapped up its Galaxy Unpacked 2020 event with the launch of three 5G Galaxy S20 devices – the S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra. All will be available on March 6 with preorders starting on February 21st in the US. They should also be available across all carriers, but Verizon’s not getting the standard […]

Come comment on this article: Samsung launches the latest Galaxy S series – S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra – Available March 6

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Netmarble’s The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross launches March 3rd, pre-registrations are now open

Netmarble has just announced the launch date of its brand new game called The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross that will be available on the Play Store from March 3rd. Having already received more than 1 million pre-registrations since January 15th, Netmarble says that awards will now be available for those that pre-register for the […]

Come comment on this article: Netmarble’s The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross launches March 3rd, pre-registrations are now open

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

‘Saints Row IV: Re-Elected’ comes to Nintendo Switch on March 27th

While we have yet to hear new details about Saints Row V, you'll be able to play the franchise's best entry on Nintendo Switch when a port of the 2013 classic called Saints Row IV: Re-Elected comes out on March 27th.
Engadget RSS Feed

YouTube will retire its classic web interface in March

You'll have to let go of YouTube's older interface if you've been reticent to try the 2017 redesign. YouTube has warned that it's dropping the classic web interface in March, almost three years after its official replacement. The video behemoth isn…
Engadget RSS Feed

Galaxy S20 registrations are live with a March 6th release date according to Samsung slip-up

With just eleven days to go until Samsung officially takes the wraps off the Galaxy S20 range of handsets on February 11th in New York, the smartphone manufacturer made a small error when its registration page went live, revealing that deliveries would ship by March 6th. As you might expect, the information was quickly scrubbed […]

Come comment on this article: Galaxy S20 registrations are live with a March 6th release date according to Samsung slip-up

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

The Morning After: MoviePass is bankrupt, and the Model Y ships in March

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. OK, who had 2020 in the MoviePass-death pool? Everyone? I guess the good news is that even though this movie theater subscription business (and its parent company) is going belly up, the concept has spread to ot…
Engadget RSS Feed

YouTube Originals announces new documentary, “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert.” Premieres March 31.

In celebration of Coachella’s 20th anniversary, YouTube Originals is partnering with Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for a feature-length documentary, “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert.” It is set to premiere March 31. The announcement comes on the heels of Coachella’s official 2020 lineup, and for the tenth year in a row, YouTube is back as the exclusive live stream partner for both weekends of the iconic music festival. Watch the first teaser of “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert” here.

A documentary feature two decades in the making, “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert” opens up the vault for the very first time to present the performances and behind-the-scenes stories that shaped the music festival. The film gives a rare look at Coachella’s colorful beginning, presents exclusive, never-before-seen footage and interviews, and features key performances from some of the biggest names in music, including Billie Eilish, Kanye West, Daft Punk, Travis Scott, BLACKPINK, LCD Soundsystem, Rage Against The Machine, Pixies, Swedish House Mafia, Jane’s Addiction, Björk, The White Stripes, Madonna, Moby, Beck, Radiohead and more.

YouTube also announced today that it will return for the tenth year in a row as the official playlist and live stream partner for both weekends of Coachella. This year, YouTube Premium members will receive exclusive Coachella perks, including access to a members-only allocation of passes for purchase. As general on-sale Weekend 1 passes are sold out, YouTube Premium members are one of the only groups with access to this limited supply. YouTube continues to take the magic of Coachella beyond the Indio desert and into the homes and phones of millions of people around the world, providing a global stage for artists and fans to connect with live stream performances from headliners to some of the biggest artists on the rise.


YouTube Blog

Huawei’s Richard Yu confirms P40 Pro to launch in March next year without Google apps

It’s just a couple of months since Huawei launched the Mate 30 Pro in Munich, Germany, a phone that was pretty much universally accepted as being outstanding with a single, fatal flaw – the conspicuous lack of Google apps and services thanks to the ongoing US ban. In a show of resolve, or perhaps just […]

Come comment on this article: Huawei’s Richard Yu confirms P40 Pro to launch in March next year without Google apps

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

‘Driveclub’ online features shut down March 31st, 2020

Driveclub has struggled despite its early hype and eventual refinement, and now Sony is ready to end its troubled saga. The company has announced that the servers for Driveclub, Driveclub VR and Driveclub Bikes will all shut down just before midnigh…
Engadget RSS Feed

Galaxy S10 release date expected to be March 8th

Samsung’s Galaxy S10 family of phones is expected to be announced at an Unpacked event on February 20th in San Francisco, but when will you actually be able to buy one of the phones? You won’t have to wait too long after the event, fortunately, as sources have confirmed some earlier reports of an official […]

Come comment on this article: Galaxy S10 release date expected to be March 8th

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Google won’t be announcing new YouTube Music service in March

Rumors have been swirling around about a new YouTube Music streaming service for quite some time, and we’ve been hearing that Google would officially announce the service in March, probably at SXSW. Now it turns out that might not have been completely accurate. YouTube’s head of music, Lyor Cohen, will definitely still be speaking at […]

Come comment on this article: Google won’t be announcing new YouTube Music service in March

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Trump will meet with video game industry leaders on March 8th

After a little bit of back and forth, it appears that the White House's meeting with the video game industry is on. At today's press briefing, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that a meeting will take place this Thursday,…
Engadget RSS Feed

‘A Normal Lost Phone’ arrives on Nintendo Switch March 1st

A Normal Lost Phone is the kind of indie game that seizes a tricky niche (mobile gaming) and leans into the form factor for a unique experience — a Gone Home or Life Is Strange that takes place entirely within a mock phone interface. The game will l…
Engadget RSS Feed

‘Jessica Jones’ season 2 reaches Netflix on March 8th

To say that the second season of Jessica Jones has been a long time in coming would be an understatement. Netflix premiered the first season of the investigator-turned-superhero show in November 2015, and it committed to a second season at the start…
Engadget RSS Feed

Sunday Screens: March 5, 2017

Welcome to Sunday Screens! Now you have a chance to share your home screen with the rest of our community. Let’s see if your home screen is one of the top five selections for this week. @Samit_hawx @TalkAndroid #SocialSaturday I love seeing my name on my phone so… pic.twitter.com/Hp31mouMne — Samit 🌟 (@Samit_hawx) March 4, […]

Come comment on this article: Sunday Screens: March 5, 2017

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Some carrier Priv units begin to receive the March security patch update

blackberry_priv_guy_smiling

Earlier this month, BlackBerry pushed their March update containing all the latest security patches to the Priv smartphone. According to sources, some carrier units have begun receiving the update.

While unlocked BlackBerry Priv units received the update a few weeks ago, some carrier variants are just beginning to receive it now. Some users on AT&T and T-Mobile have reported the arrival of the update on their Priv smartphone. Unfortunately, both carriers are yet to speak out about what has been fixed with the update, but one can assume that most of which is posted on BlackBerry’s site will be included. This will be liked below the article.

The update contains no major release, therefore it shouldn’t take up too much space. However, we still recommend charging your device and connected to a nearby Wi-Fi network before beginning the installation process. BlackBerry has taken updates with all seriousness since they began their transition to the Android ecosystem, let’s just hope it continues.

Source: BlackBerry
Via: CrackBerry

Come comment on this article: Some carrier Priv units begin to receive the March security patch update

Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!


Android News, Rumours, and Updates

11 March Madness apps to bring the game with you everywhere

You’ve got your bracket all filled out, you’ve got your favorites and upsets picked, now you just have to watch the games and see who wins. We’ve got some great apps to accompany your March Madness experience to make sure you see every moment.

The post 11 March Madness apps to bring the game with you everywhere appeared first on Digital Trends.

Android Army–Digital Trends

Apple Watch 2 and 4-inch iPhone 6C rumored for March unveiling

The Apple Watch 2 and iPhone 6C could be on the cards for an event in March, according to new rumors. The event would be held a year after the original Apple Watch launch, where Apple also announced the 12-inch MacBook.

The post Apple Watch 2 and 4-inch iPhone 6C rumored for March unveiling appeared first on Digital Trends.

Mobile»Digital Trends

Get more into NCAA March Madness on YouTube

Before your brackets have even been built or busted, we’ve got big college b-ball news. NCAA March Madness is now on YouTube and Google.

Starting with the 2015 NCAA Division I Basketball Championships, you can watch game highlights, pre- and postgame shows and more on the new NCAA March Madness YouTube channel. Subscribe to the channel to get all the latest updates around the tourney, from shows airing across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV.

 

As you’ve searched for March Madness on Google more and more every year, getting answers should be easy: you’ll see schedules, scores, links to game live streams and more just by doing a search for “March Madness” or any of the participating teams. You’ll now have more power at your fingertips than Jerian Grant and his disrespect for gravity.

mm-desktop-mobile.png

So stick around on YouTube and Google for your NCAA March Madness highlights and info, and if you need some selection inspiration, you can always brush up on your Barack-etology.

Roland Lange, Partner Manager, YouTube Sports, recently watched “2014 March Madness Moments.”


YouTube Blog