Technology

For those wary of losing their beloved Apple AirPods Pros, Spigen has now introduced a new case style that makes sure you know where your wireless headphones are at all times. The Tag Armor Duo is designed with a slot that holds an AirTag safely and displays the simple lost item tracker proudly. The case itself is crafted of rugged, scratch-resistant TPU with a textured finish for extra grip. Additionally, the case is outfitted with a carabiner and a cutout to access the Lightning charging port. Priced at $35 USD, the Apple AirPods Pro Tag Armor Duo case is available now on Spigen’s website. In case you missed it, Aer’s 2021 City Collection bags are designed for convenient carry. Read Full Article

Earlier this week, I started a search on Amazon and mistyped, entering just two letters in: “iv.” Amazon then helpfully compiled a list of suggested search results, almost all of which were for the horse de-worming version of the drug ivermectin. That drug is at the center of one of the more recent and more mind-boggling parts of the anti-vaccine misinformation story, a false cure touted by hucksters and others out to make a quick buck. This evening, Amazon spokesperson Craig Andrews tells The Verge that “Amazon’s autocomplete responses are driven by customer activity. We are blocking certain autocomplete responses to address these concerns.” Like Facebook, TikTok, and Reddit, Amazon has not gotten a lid on limiting the spread of COVID-19 misinformation. Unlike those platforms and others, ...

The Philips Hue line of smart bulbs is growing today with the addition of a bunch of new lights, strips, and lamps. There’s a bunch of stuff, so here’s a quick rundown: New filament bulbs that can change color temperature (plus a new candle shape for filament bulbs) Brighter options (75 watt and 100 watt equivalent) for color-temperature changing and full color versions of the standard Hue bulbs A “light tube” for illuminating around your TV (it’s meant to sync the colors to what’s on screen) Enhanced versions of the Signe floor and table lamps that can display multiple colors at once An upgraded TV-focused lightstrip, the “Hue ambiance gradient lightstrip,” which can likewise display multiple colors at the same time A new ceiling light called Infuse that can change colors and throws a bit...

If you’ve got a home full of Hue lights, there’s an easy new way to set the mood for your next party. Signify, which makes the Philips Hue line, is partnering with Spotify so that your lightbulbs can automatically sync up with whatever music you have playing, changing color and flashing along to the beat. There are already plenty of ways to sync your lights to music — including Signify’s own Hue Sync app — but those methods typically require letting an app or some external hardware listen in on everything you’re playing. This new partnership avoids that by letting the Hue Bridge tap directly into Spotify to see what’s playing once you’ve linked your accounts. A Hue Bridge and color bulbs are required That close partnership is also supposed to provide a better experience, letting the Hue sy...

Polaroid is introducing its most versatile product yet, the Polaroid Now+, reimagining the analog instant camera with connectivity upgrades and more creative tools than ever before. In addition to the core features such as autofocus, dynamic flash, and self-timer found on the first generation Polaroid Now, aperture priority and tripod mode functionalities are introduced, allowing creators to experiment with the depth of field and long exposures. The Polaroid Now+ connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and can be controlled through the Polaroid app to toggle between light painting, double exposure, manual mode, and more. For the first time, five physical snap-on filters are also included,  saturating photos in deepened contrast, color and experimental effects. The lenses come with i...

After months of testing, Facebook has now announced the continuation and expansion of its efforts to reduce political content on users’ News Feeds. Measures to achieve this were first announced and introduced back in February, when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted the increasing criticism against the company for allowing political content to take over its feeds. Tests to curb this were launched initially in Canada, Brazil and Indonesia, followed shortly by the U.S. Now, Facebook is also expanding coverage over to Costa Rica, Sweden, Spain and Ireland. “We’ve also learned that some engagement signals can better indicate what posts people find more valuable than others,” says Facebook. Using this data, the platform is looking to now place “less emphasis on signals such as how likely someon...

If you’re going to make the best product on the market, please go all the way. Case in point: the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is one of the best wireless gaming headsets ever made. In 2018, I tested it against every single competitor on the market (seriously, all of them), and none could beat its combination of excellent audio quality, a clear microphone, incredible wireless range, oodles of connectivity, and twin swappable batteries. It’s a nearly perfect gadget — but a couple of times a week, that “nearly” part makes me want to scream. Here’s how I described living with the Arctis Pro Wireless earlier this year: If I’m gaming with buddies and want a snack, I don’t need to stop chatting — I just walk several rooms away to the kitchen and the audio never cuts out. When a too-loud game ...

Rivian’s R1T electric pickup truck is finally set to ship next month after a series of delays — roughly three years after it debuted at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Ahead of the launch, though, MotorTrend got to spend a handful of days with the all-electric adventure truck, and the team there came away impressed by its performance. What’s more, they offer one of the best looks at the R1T’s interior, which borrows as much from Tesla as it does from other high-end off-road-focused vehicles. None of this is exactly surprising — Rivian has actually been quite open about the development of the R1T since its debut, regularly posting its own articles, photos, and videos along the way — but the truck features two large, crisp displays on the dashboard, In the preproduction version MotorTrend te...

Apple has pledged another $30 million to racial justice, on top of the $100 million it promised last year in the wake of George Floyd’s death. It includes funding for a wide array of causes, including a Global Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Equity Innovation Hub at California State University Northridge in Los Angeles, with the intent to create regional hubs at other universities, and an expansion of its work to bring community coding centers to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) by adding 11 additional schools to the roster. Last August, we calculated just how small the donations from Big Tech were compared to their immense profits, and today’s $30 million doesn’t really change the calculus there. At the rate Apple is currently raking in cash, it takes just 2.31 hour...

Amazon is working to solve a frustration with smart home speakers by introducing a feature called Adaptive Volume, which will make Alexa respond louder if it detects that you’re in a noisy environment. According to the company, the mode is meant to make sure that you can still hear Alexa’s responses over any background noise (like the sound of a dishwasher, people talking, or music playing on another device). Amazon says that the feature is currently available to US customers, and that you can activate it by saying “Alexa, turn on adaptive volume.” Amazon doesn’t mention adaptive volume working in the opposite direction, becoming quieter if there’s no background noise, but there are other ways to reduce the volume dynamically. One of them is Whisper Mode, where Alexa will whisper its respo...

Amazon is working on developing a new audio feature focused on live music, according to Axios.  Sources told the outlet that Amazon’s latest project is being led by the retail giant’s music division, and would involve paying podcast networks, musicians and celebrities for live performances. The feature will have a focus on live music, alongside talk radio programs and podcasts. Axios said that the goal is to offer users access to live performances through their Amazon Music accounts, and is in touch with major record labels to facilitate audio events. The feature, similar to competitors like Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces, would expand the types of content it can offer through its Alexa personal assistant. Amazon bought podcast subscription company Wondery last year for a reported $300 ...