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Verizon temporarily drops the 5G fee on its most expensive data plans
Verizon (Engadget's parent company) is shaking up its offerings. Today, it introduced four new unlimited plans -- Start, Play More, Do More and Get More -- which will replace the three current unlimited plans. Surprisingly, each new plan is $5 less expensive than its previous equivalent, and for a limited time, Verizon is waiving the $10-per-month 5G fee for the three top-tier options.
Amazon will disconnect Dash Buttons on August 31st
Amazon stopped selling its Dash buttons earlier this year, which spelled the death knell for the gimmicky product. After this month, you won't be able to instantly order household necessities when you tap the button. As an Amazon spokesperson told Engadget in a statement:
Is Samsung's Galaxy S10+ a superb flagship?
Reviews Editor Cherlynn Low had a lot of good things to say about Samsung's flagship Galaxy S10+ when it hit the market back in March. There was its big, beautiful HDR10+ display, a cleaner UI, impressive battery life, an upgraded camera software and the ability to wirelessly charge compatible devices. But it also included an inconsistent fingerprint sensor, lousy AR emoji and one of the less popular digital assistants, Bixby. Overall, Cherlynn favored the hardware over the software and gave the Galaxy S10+ a top-notch score of 91.
Burger King takes the Impossible Whopper nationwide August 8th
Burger King announced today that it is adding the Impossible Whopper -- the chain's famous Whopper burger made with a plant-based patty from Impossible Foods -- to its menu nationwide. Starting on August 8th, you'll be able to go to any Burger King location in the United States and get your hands on the alternative meat burger.
FTC warns Equifax claimants will get 'nowhere near' $125 cash payout
When the FTC and other government agencies reached a settlement deal with Equifax over its massive data breach, people affected were offered as much as $125 in cash. Now, the FTC is encouraging claimants to choose the free credit monitoring option instead, because there's absolutely no way everyone is getting $125. Apparently, the money earmarked for cash payments is only $31 million -- a tiny fraction of the $700 million settlement all the parties agreed on.
Google 'Play Pass' is a $5 monthly Android app subscription
Google is testing a service called Play Pass that would offer users "hundreds of premium apps and games" for a monthly fee, according to Android Police. The idea of the offering cropped up last year on XDA Developers after users spotted code references in Google Play. It could be similar to Apple's Arcade, but offer a selection of both apps and games (rather than just games) for $4.99 per month, "with no ads or in-app purchases," according to the screenshots.
Sony WF-1000XM3 review: Simply the best true wireless earbuds
Sony is no stranger to the true wireless-earbud craze. The company introduced the WF-1000X almost two years ago and followed with the WF-SP700N in 2018. However, even with that experience, Sony hasn't really seemed to hit its stride. There are always issues holding the products back from making the leap. Sony has perfected its over-ear noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM3, and now it's leveraging some of that technology to improve its true wireless buds. Enter the $230 WF-1000XM3, Sony's best true-wireless product and a new contender for the top spot overall.
Vizio begins updating its TVs with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit
After unveiling it at CES 2019, Vizio has announced that it's finally rolling out support for Apple's AirPlay 2 and HomeKit platforms. Coming via an update to its SmartCast 3.0 platform, it'll let users play videos, music and photos directly from iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. Best of all, it'll work not just on its recent 2019 TVs, but on Vizio SmartCast models dating all the way back to 2016.
Nintendo's Switch Lite is now available for pre-order
Nintendo revealed a cheaper, handheld-only version of its ultra-successful Switch a couple of weeks back. The Switch Lite won't ship until September 20th, though you can pre-order one as of today.
LG's high-end 4K TVs get AirPlay 2 and HomeKit first in the US
You don't have to wonder when LG will roll out AirPlay 2 and HomeKit to its TVs in the US -- it's here. The Apple ecosystem support is now available to higher-end 2019 LG TVs in the country through a firmware update. The features are currently ready for OLED and NanoCell 4K LCD sets with ThinQ capabilities, excluding the SM8100 series. Other 4K sets will get their updates later in the year.
What we're buying: Elf Audio's Koala Sampler
This week, Senior Editor Billy Steele indulges his inner DJ with a $4 app.
Ask Engadget: Should I buy a laptop or a 2-in-1 for school?
The support shared among readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In fact, our community's knowledge and insights are a reason why many of you participate in the comments. We truly value the time and detail you all spend in responding to questions from your fellow tech-obsessed commenters, which is why we've decided to bring back our "Ask Engadget" column. This week's question is a buying comparison between a Chromebook or a 2-in-1 Surface Pro 7. Weigh in with your advice in the comments -- and feel free to send your own questions along to ask@engadget.com! I'm going to college in September and I want a device that can do all. At first I wanted to get a Surface Pro 7 since it's both a laptop and tablet (I would think a tablet is necessary for drawing diagrams) but then my friend told me I should just go for a Chromebook since it's cheaper and will get me by. What do you think?
A student's guide to keeping track of your finances
For many students, their first year at college is the first time they'll be entirely responsible for their personal finances. Such independence can be stressful, but it doesn't need to be as long as you're savvy, organized and disciplined. And there are plenty of apps and services that can help you stick to a budget when you're worried about cash.
Regal Cinemas unveils its unlimited movie subscription service
Regal Cinemas is the latest company to offer an unlimited movie ticket subscription service. The details of its new Regal Unlimited program were posted on its website today. The service isn't up and running just yet, but according to Deadline, it should launch in less than a week.
The tech you need to declutter your academic life
Japanese decluttering extraordinaire Marie Kondo has inspired many to get rid of unnecessary junk in their homes. As it turns out, clearing out stuff that doesn't "spark joy," per the MariKon program, can actually help you feel good about your life. Having less mess is not only good for general well-being but can also make you more productive at school. Just as Kondo showed the world the life-changing magic of tidying up on Netflix, I am about to show you how much more manageable your academic life can be when you declutter your backpack, locker and dorm. And no, I won't be asking you to consider if your possessions spark joy. Our goal is to give you all the tools you need to succeed at school without anything extraneous dragging you down.
The best (and mostly free) apps to help you keep up in class
By design, school is supposed to challenge you -- to push at the boundaries of your understanding of the world and make you a more well-rounded person. It's not supposed to be easy as much as it is fulfilling, but thankfully, there are ways to make your educational journey a little less difficult. Luckily for you, a lot has changed since most of the Engadget team went to school. To help out, we've gathered a few apps here that should prove especially useful as you gear up for more long days of learning. (Trust us, you'll probably miss them someday.) Oh, and don't worry: Every one of these handy apps is available for iOS and Android, so everyone gets to benefit.
T-Mobile won't sell the Galaxy Fold
Samsung has revealed the beleaguered Galaxy Fold will finally ship this September, but you won't be able to buy it through T-Mobile. The carrier has confirmed it won't sell the foldable smartphone.
The best streaming services for cord-cutters on a budget
Even though there are dozens of video-streaming services to choose from, thankfully they're not all the same. And for those of you who may be on a budget, like students, that's a great thing, because it means you can likely find one that suits your needs. Whether you're trying to save money or simply don't care to have a cable subscription, there are plenty of standalone streaming services for watching TV, movies and sports, both live and on demand, that aren't too expensive.
Is Google’s Nest Hub worth your $129?
Last October's release of the Nest Hub (neé Home Hub) wasn't Google's first foray into smart displays -- the company had already released the Home, Home Max and the Home Mini. They were all solid, if not outstanding, hits with reviewers. The Nest Hub earned praise from Senior Editor Nicole Lee for the premium feel of the fabric finish, the substitution of an ambient EQ light sensor for a camera, and for how it worked (fairly) seamlessly with other Google products, including the Nest Hello doorbell.
Samsung will release the Galaxy Fold in September
Three months. That's how long it has been since Samsung announced it would delay the Galaxy Fold due to issues that arose after reviewers got their hands on its nearly $2,000 device. People pointed out a hinge that could let debris fall inside and its screen protector as problem areas, and Huawei similarly delayed its folding Mate X. We've had speculation about how the company could fix it, rumors that a redesign is complete and hints that updates are incoming, but very few official statements until now. Samsung has revealed the next step for the Fold, which is to release the device in September in "select markets." The company listed several changes in its press release, and they're in line with the earlier rumors. Along with the press release, Samsung also released a gallery of photos of the device, and it looks to our eye pretty much like the Fold already did.
