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The latest iPad Pro disables mics when its case is closed
These days, any connected device with a microphone could arguably be treated with suspicion, from smart speakers to phones to computers. Apple helped to address privacy concerns in 2018 by adding a feature that disconnects MacBook microphones when the laptops' lids are closed. The documentation of the latest iPad Pro models (as spotted by 9to5Mac) shows that the company's new tablets sport a similar capability. When a user closes the cover of a compatible case, the iPad's security chip will cut the mic, which should help prevent snooping.
How to make your Wi-Fi suck less while working from home
By Joel Santo Domingo This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full blog how to make your wi-fi suck less while working from home. If your Wi-Fi cuts out when you're streaming a movie, it's a bummer. But if it happens while you're talking to your boss over Skype or giving a presentation via Zoom, it can feel like a calamity. Working from home means you may have to be your own IT department and manage your Internet connection so that you can access company resources, connect with colleagues, and prove you're not slacking off. You can fix some problems without spending a dime, but some issues require buying new hardware.
Apple hints at item-tracking AirTags in support video
You don't have to rely on rumors or buried code to know that Apple is working on a tracking tag -- the company has inadvertently spoiled its plans. Appleosophy spotted an Apple support video (unsurprisingly removed) that hints at offline Find My support for currently unannounced "AirTags." The clip didn't provide a peek at the tag or otherwise outline their functionality, although it's clear they'll use Bluetooth to reveal the whereabouts of your lost items. They're believed to use ultra wideband for extra precision.
The Morning After: Intel's 10th gen mobile CPUs cross the 5GHz barrier
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. The coronavirus has caused an unprecedented shift of people working, learning and socializing from inside their homes, and Zoom has been there to take advantage. The group conferencing app is connecting people from all over the world, but with its increased popularity -- it went from 10 million meetings in December to 200 million last month -- there has come a new level of scrutiny. After some embarrassing security and privacy revelations and the rise of "zoombombing," CEO Eric S. Yuan said the company will dedicate all of its engineering resources to fixing its "biggest trust, safety and privacy issues." Will that be enough to keep its momentum going? Only time will tell, but until then, at least take some basic steps to keep "party crashers" out of your Zoom chats. -- Richard
Sonos has a big sale on its Beam, One and One SL speakers
Sonos is currently offering a decent $50 off a number of its speakers, taking them down to some of the lowest prices we've seen since Black Friday. The Sonos Beam, Sonos One and Sonos One SL are all reduced, and with Sonos offering free shipping as standard, now's definitely a good time to buy if you're in the market for some new sound gear. Buy Sonos Beam on Sonos - $350 Buy Sonos One on Sonos - $150 Buy Sonos One SL on Sonos - $130
Intel's 10th-gen H-series laptop CPUs reach 5.3GHz
Just like Intel said at CES, it's crossed the 5GHz barrier with its new H-series 10th generation notebook CPUs. And you won't need to shell out for the top-of-the-line Core i9 to do it: The new six and eight-core i7 processors reach up to 5.1Ghz (boost speed) on a single core. But if you want to go all out, the octa-core i9-10980HK hits 5.3GHz -- and it's fully unlocked for overclocking, to boot.
Eyesy is a Raspbery Pi-powered video synthesizer
Critter & Guitari gave its Organelle music computer a major upgrade last year. This year, it's turning its attention its line of video synthesizers. The ETC visualizer is being replaced by Eyesy, a Raspberry Pi-powered computer that turns sounds and music into Atari-esque pixelated animations. Like the ETC before it, the Eyesy runs visualization programs called "Modes" written in Python -- a relatively user-friendly language. Basically it's the visual companion to the Organelle. And you can find a library of official and user-created modes hosted on Patchstorage.com.
Dell XPS 13 review (2020): Tweaked to near perfection
How do you improve on a nearly perfect laptop? We gave the XPS 13 one of our most positive reviews ever last year -- and in 2020, Dell has managed to outdo itself again. The latest XPS 13 model has a larger screen with slimmer bezels, a bigger keyboard and a sleeker design. On their own, those aren't exactly life-changing upgrades. But taken as a whole, they make the XPS 13 even more refined than before. You could say it's more perfect than perfect.
Sony debuts $200 headphones with powerful ANC and long battery life
Over the last few years, Sony has given Bose a run for its money when it comes to noise-cancelling headphones. With the 1000X line, Sony has continued to improve both audio and active noise cancellation (ANC) in successive products. It also offers a taste of those high-end features in more affordable models, like the WH-XB900N I reviewed last year. Still, that Extra Bass option was $250. Now the company is back with another set of noise-cancelling headphones: the WH-CH710N. And this time, thankfully, they're even more affordable at $200.
Sony's latest true wireless earbuds have more bass and a lower price
Sony's flagship WF-1000XM3 true wireless earbuds have been our top pick since they arrived last summer. Even before that, the company had a few true wireless models under its belt, and today it's revealing the latest option. The WF-XB700 ($130) is a new entry in Sony's Extra Bass lineup, a range of devices that promise more low-end tone for those who crave it. In general, Extra Bass headphones offer a collection of handy features, but at a price that's more affordable than those powerful and pricey 1000X devices. With the WF-XB700, Sony packed the essentials in uniquely designed earbuds and kept the price well under $150.
Xbox Series X and PS5: The new consoles are all about crazy fast storage
The Xbox One and PS4 were the start of an unusual console generation. Both systems adopted very "PC-like" architecture and instead of a new generation we instead got a refresh where Microsoft and Sony both released faster versions of their existing consoles, the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. We may still have a few months left to wait, but finally we've gotten details of what the next real generation will bring. Microsoft and Sony have both stuck with the PC-like design of their predecessors, and are again using AMD as their CPU and GPU supplier, but the Xbox Series X and PS5 will be very different from the current generation. The biggest changes come from the storage systems. Considering the Xbox One and PS4 both still use slow mechanical hard drives, we figured a move to smaller, faster, more efficient flash-based SSDs was inevitable, but Microsoft and Sony have gone all out. Both systems feature custom storage interfaces with PCI Express 4.0 SSDs and custom hardware to handle real-time decompression. That means these drives will move serious amounts of data very quickly. The Series X is claiming transfer speeds of around 3-4GB/s, while the PS5 may be capable of data rates as high as 9GB/s. With data rates that high (the current consoles manage maybe 150MB/s in ideal conditions), load times should be cut down to seconds, and in-game load screens may become a thing of the past. Faster data rates could also enable higher resolution textures for more photo-realistic graphics, and enable you to switch between games with the click of a button. Add in a significantly upgraded CPU and a long-awaited AMD ray tracing solution for hyper-realistic lighting, and these consoles represent a huge leap forward. Hopefully, their benefits will also trickle down into the PC space as well, and games on every platform will be able to leverage these new possibilities to be faster and better looking. We don't know exactly when they'll arrive yet, or how much they'll cost, but we'll have more details on the Series X and PS5 as soon as they're announced.
The Morning After: MacBook Air (2020) review
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Remember when Steve Jobs pulled the MacBook Air out of a manila envelope? These days a thin-and-light laptop isn't that shocking, but Apple's original version is still one of the best. Dana Wollman's review is in: With the improved keyboard and upgraded base storage, this 13-inch laptop is an even better option than last year when its price started $100 higher. The only drawbacks? Just two USB-C ports and battery life that is good, but not best-in-class. If you want macOS and don't need Pro power or a discrete GPU, it's worth thinking about -- but I'm sticking with my XPS 13 2-in-1. -- Richard
Save $60 on Master & Dynamic’s much-improved true wireless earbuds
Master & Dynamic's improved true wireless MW07 Plus earbuds are on sale for $240 via Best Buy today. That's a $60 savings off one of the company's newest models. It's a deal of the day, so this price won't last for long. If you're in the market for true wireless earbuds, you may want to take a look before the discount disappears.
Fitbit finally launches a Charge tracker with built-in GPS
We may all be staying in a lot more to curb the spread of COVID-19, but that doesn't mean we're no longer working out. Whether you're doing HIIT or yoga sessions at home, or you're going for a solo run in a deserted forest, a fitness tracker can still help keep you on top of your exercise goals. Fitbit has a new product that has welcome features for runners or home fitness fans alike. In fact, before the Charge 3 launched in 2018, users were already clamoring for the company to add onboard GPS. But that didn't show up, and the Charge 3 got a real touchscreen instead. Now, almost two years later, Fitbit is launching the Charge 4 and yes, it sports built-in GPS.
The Morning After: Are classic Mario games coming to the Switch in 2020?
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. For streaming services and games companies, we're all a captive audience at the moment. For Disney+, the newest challenger, it's an opportunity. With lots of kids at home, an almost infinite run of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars content will save the sanity of many parents. Games, too, are suddenly appearing in stores, in rumors or at your front door as companies try to capitalize on all this stay-at-home time. For Final Fantasy VII Remake, it's a matter of getting the game to those who preordered it by the launch date, with the coronavirus affecting distribution. For Nintendo, well, it's still at the rumor stage, but releasing decades worth of Super Mario games for the Switch sounds like a very, very good idea to me. -- Mat
OnePlus will reveal its new phones on April 14th
OnePlus hasn't been able to keep a lid on its 8 series phones -- numerous details and photos have leaked over the past week. According to the spec sheets, the company has put most of its focus on the Pro model, which will feature wireless charging and an IP68 water-resistance rating -- features that have been noticeably absent from OnePlus' premium devices. We'll see if these rumors pan out on April 14th, when the company livestreams an event detailing the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. Ahead of the unveiling, OnePlus is touting its new 120Hz screens, which could be a big jump in quality compared to older 90Hz ones, as well as its commitment to 5G connectivity.
Microsoft pulls its smaller investments in facial recognition tech
Microsoft has been vocal about setting limits on facial recognition, and it's now backing that up with its financial support -- or lack thereof. The company is ending minority investments in facial recognition startups and is pulling its stake in AnyVision, an Israeli startup whose recognition tech drew controversy when word emerged of its use at West Bank checkpoints. These investments don't allow for the "level of oversight or control" Microsoft likes over facial recognition, according to a joint statement from Microsoft's M12 venture capital fund and AnyVision. The Windows maker will instead focus on larger investments where it has more of a say.
The Morning After: Powerbeats (2020) review
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. As many of us close out another week in isolation, the urge for social contact is growing. Karissa Bell has some advice on hosting movie and game night from a safe distance thanks to the internet and tools like Netflix Party. If you need to shake up your situation this weekend, then take a look right here. -- Richard
This week's best deals: Sony headphones, Surface Pro 7 and more
This week brought a great deal on our favorite pair of wireless headphones, plus a number of other good deals. Those who need to shut out the world can grab Sony's WH-1000XM3 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for $238, and those who need a new 2-in-1 can get a discount on Microsoft's Surface Pro 7 -- Type Cover included. Musicians can also still snag Native Instruments plug-ins for free. Here are the best deals from the week that remain available today. Sony WH-1000XM3 wireless headphones Newegg still has Sony's WH-1000XM3 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for only $238, which is $112 less than their usual price of $350. We gave these headphones a score of 94 and praised them for their excellent noise-cancellation capabilities and equally impressive audio quality. They have only a few downsides, one being finicky touch controls, but those can be easily overlooked when nearly everything else about these headphones is stellar. Buy Sony WH-1000XM3 on Newegg - $238
Xiaomi's Mi 10 Lite offers 5G for €349
For the most part, taking advantage of new 5G networks has meant buying some of the most expensive phones available on the market. With its latest phone, the €349 Mi 10 Lite 5G, Xiaomi hopes to change that.
