Month: March 2024
Samsung Care Plus adds unlimited battery repair — for a price
Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge
Samsung is raising the price of its Care Plus device protection plans — but, in exchange, it’s throwing in unlimited battery repair. In an email spotted by Sammobile, Samsung tells customers that Care Plus and the more expensive Care Plus Theft and Loss plan will increase in price by $2.
The new pricing goes into effect on May 1st, 2024, which is when Samsung plans on rolling out a new unlimited battery repair option for “eligible devices.” To qualify for a battery repair, Samsung says the phone must have a charging capacity below 79 percent and no “additional damage.” The Verge reached out to Samsung for more information on which devices are eligible for unlimited battery repairs, as well as whether it will be completely free, but didn’t immediately hear back.
AppleCare Plus similarly includes repairs for batteries with less than 80 percent of their original capacity, while Asurion, a third-party device insurance company, offers plans with unlimited battery replacement. Google’s Preferred Care program, on the other hand, doesn’t spell out its battery repair policy but says it includes mechanical or electrical breakdowns and accidental damage.
Depending on which tier your phone falls under, the Care Plus update means you’ll have to pay anywhere from $5 to $13 per month for Samsung Care Plus or $10 to $10 for Samsung Care Plus Theft and Loss. Both Care Plus plans offer free repairs for mechanical breakdowns, as well as cheaper screen replacements and fixes for accidental damage. The main difference is that the Samsung Care Plus Theft and Loss Plan adds replacements for lost or stolen devices.
If you haven’t yet received an email about the price change, you can read it below (or on Reddit):
Dear X
We are writing to let you know about upcoming changes to your Samsung device protection program. Samsung’s records indicate that you are currently enrolled in Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss or Samsung Care+. In May 2024, Samsung will include Unlimited Battery Repair for eligible devices*, that exhibit a charging capacity below 79% as indicated by a diagnostic test, as a new feature to the Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss and Samsung Care+ device protection products. Customers will be eligible for Unlimited Battery Repairs without additional damage to the covered device being present. This repair option will be available through both walk-in or mail-in repair.
Additionally, effective on your May billing cycle, the monthly cost of Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss and Samsung Care+ will increase $2.
These changes will only impact the service contract portion of your Samsung Care+ Theft and Loss or Samsung Care+ product. There is no action required on your part, however, you may cancel your coverage at any time without penalty by calling 866-371-9501. Payment of the monthly charge on your first billing cycle on or after May 1 2024 will serve as confirmation that you accept these changes and that you wish to continue.
Samsung strives to continually enhance its Care+ products with valuable benefits to help better protect your Galaxy life enabling you to use your device with confidence. Please be on the lookout for future enhancements.
If you have any questions regarding these changes, please refer to the revised Terms & Conditions or contact Samsung Care+ directly at 1-866-371-9501
Best Regards, Team Samsung Care+
Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge
Samsung is raising the price of its Care Plus device protection plans — but, in exchange, it’s throwing in unlimited battery repair. In an email spotted by Sammobile, Samsung tells customers that Care Plus and the more expensive Care Plus Theft and Loss plan will increase in price by $2.
The new pricing goes into effect on May 1st, 2024, which is when Samsung plans on rolling out a new unlimited battery repair option for “eligible devices.” To qualify for a battery repair, Samsung says the phone must have a charging capacity below 79 percent and no “additional damage.” The Verge reached out to Samsung for more information on which devices are eligible for unlimited battery repairs, as well as whether it will be completely free, but didn’t immediately hear back.
AppleCare Plus similarly includes repairs for batteries with less than 80 percent of their original capacity, while Asurion, a third-party device insurance company, offers plans with unlimited battery replacement. Google’s Preferred Care program, on the other hand, doesn’t spell out its battery repair policy but says it includes mechanical or electrical breakdowns and accidental damage.
Depending on which tier your phone falls under, the Care Plus update means you’ll have to pay anywhere from $5 to $13 per month for Samsung Care Plus or $10 to $10 for Samsung Care Plus Theft and Loss. Both Care Plus plans offer free repairs for mechanical breakdowns, as well as cheaper screen replacements and fixes for accidental damage. The main difference is that the Samsung Care Plus Theft and Loss Plan adds replacements for lost or stolen devices.
If you haven’t yet received an email about the price change, you can read it below (or on Reddit):
Dear X
We are writing to let you know about upcoming changes to your Samsung device protection program. Samsung’s records indicate that you are currently enrolled in Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss or Samsung Care+. In May 2024, Samsung will include Unlimited Battery Repair for eligible devices*, that exhibit a charging capacity below 79% as indicated by a diagnostic test, as a new feature to the Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss and Samsung Care+ device protection products. Customers will be eligible for Unlimited Battery Repairs without additional damage to the covered device being present. This repair option will be available through both walk-in or mail-in repair.
Additionally, effective on your May billing cycle, the monthly cost of Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss and Samsung Care+ will increase $2.
These changes will only impact the service contract portion of your Samsung Care+ Theft and Loss or Samsung Care+ product. There is no action required on your part, however, you may cancel your coverage at any time without penalty by calling 866-371-9501. Payment of the monthly charge on your first billing cycle on or after May 1 2024 will serve as confirmation that you accept these changes and that you wish to continue.
Samsung strives to continually enhance its Care+ products with valuable benefits to help better protect your Galaxy life enabling you to use your device with confidence. Please be on the lookout for future enhancements.
If you have any questions regarding these changes, please refer to the revised Terms & Conditions or contact Samsung Care+ directly at 1-866-371-9501
Best Regards, Team Samsung Care+
Amazon is offering a rare deal on Philips Hue’s Festavia string lights
Philips Hue’s latest smart string lights offer plenty of preset scenes and a wide variety of vibrant colors. | Image: Philips Hue
Philips Hue lights set the mood in a way other types of home decor can’t, but sadly, they can be pricey. Thankfully, Amazon and Woot have both kicked off a Philips Hue sale, making many bulbs, dimmers, light strips, and other accessories a little more affordable for a limited time. Amazon is also currently taking 20 percent off when you buy two or more items featured on this page, while Woot is slashing prices on a handful of both new and refurbished items. That includes a three-bulb kit with a smart button and Hue Bridge for $67.99 ($32 off).
However, the real star of the show here is the Philips Hue Festavia string lights deal at Amazon, which drops the 65-foot smart lights to $175.99 ($44 off) when you clip the on-page coupon for an extra 20 percent off. Other products in the sale are also already on discount, including the Hue Bridge (now $46.99), which you can pick up with the string lights for $169.58 ($97 off).
Overall, Philips Hue’s Festavia are our favorite smart holiday string lights, the kind that let you easily set the mood during Christmas, the Fourth of July, graduation, and other notable occasions. They can brighten the inside and outside of your home with beautiful colors and magical preset scenes and even sync with music. What’s really neat is that they’re Matter-compatible, too, so they work with all major smart home platforms when you buy the Hue Bridge.
If you don’t like wearing traditional earbuds, you can pick up a pair of the Shokz OpenRun Pro in multiple colorways for around $140 ($40 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Shokz. That’s their second-best price to date and the best price we’ve seen since Black Friday.
Shokz’s latest bone conduction headphones are a good buy for outdoor runners, especially those who live in busy cities or like to jog in the evening. With their open-ear design, they can help you keep safe, allowing you to remain aware of passing cars, bikes, and other potential dangers. The Pro offer longer battery life and faster charging than other models in the series, and they feature a pair of additional bass enhancers that allow for more low-end rumble. Granted, closed-back pairs of wireless earbuds might still offer better sound — especially when listening to podcasts — but the OpenRun Pro still sound decent enough. They’re also IP55 rated for water and sweat resistance, so you needn’t worry about a little rain.
More ways to save
The 8BitDo Pro 2 controller is currently on sale at Amazon starting at $39.99 ($10 off), which matches its all-time low price. The Pro 2 is a terrific Nintendo Switch gamepad with a PlayStation-style build, one that boasts two programmable back buttons, comfy grips, custom profile switching, and wide device compatibility via Bluetooth. Read our review.
If you’re comfortable buying refurbished, Amazon’s Smart Thermostat is on sale at Woot with a 90-day warranty for just $29.99 ($50 off); Woot will also give you $5 back through the end of today, March 29th, when you use promo code SMARTFIVE. That’s not a bad deal on a thermostat that’s capable of learning and adapting to your habits, which is a feature typically reserved for pricier models. Read our review.
You can buy four of TP-Link’s Kasa Matter smart plugs for $42.76 (about $27 off) at Amazon, which is a new low. Along with adding smarts to lamps and other traditional gadgets, the plugs support the new Matter standard, meaning they’ll work with a wide range of platforms. They can also monitor your energy consumption, helping you save money on your power bill.
Along with the kid-friendly version of the Kindle, Amazon is now selling the latest Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage starting at $129.99 ($20 off), which is the best price we’ve seen since Black Friday. (Best Buy and Target are also matching that price.) The Paperwhite is the best Kindle on the market, with adjustable color temperature, monthslong battery life, and a waterproof design you won’t find on the entry-level model. Read our review.
Right now, you can get 15 percent off select gaming-related gift cards when you buy a pair at Best Buy. For example, you can pick up two PlayStation Store gift cards worth $110 for $95 ($15 off), along with gift cards for Xbox, the Meta Quest store, Twitch, and more.
Philips Hue’s latest smart string lights offer plenty of preset scenes and a wide variety of vibrant colors. | Image: Philips Hue
Philips Hue lights set the mood in a way other types of home decor can’t, but sadly, they can be pricey. Thankfully, Amazon and Woot have both kicked off a Philips Hue sale, making many bulbs, dimmers, light strips, and other accessories a little more affordable for a limited time. Amazon is also currently taking 20 percent off when you buy two or more items featured on this page, while Woot is slashing prices on a handful of both new and refurbished items. That includes a three-bulb kit with a smart button and Hue Bridge for $67.99 ($32 off).
However, the real star of the show here is the Philips Hue Festavia string lights deal at Amazon, which drops the 65-foot smart lights to $175.99 ($44 off) when you clip the on-page coupon for an extra 20 percent off. Other products in the sale are also already on discount, including the Hue Bridge (now $46.99), which you can pick up with the string lights for $169.58 ($97 off).
Overall, Philips Hue’s Festavia are our favorite smart holiday string lights, the kind that let you easily set the mood during Christmas, the Fourth of July, graduation, and other notable occasions. They can brighten the inside and outside of your home with beautiful colors and magical preset scenes and even sync with music. What’s really neat is that they’re Matter-compatible, too, so they work with all major smart home platforms when you buy the Hue Bridge.
If you don’t like wearing traditional earbuds, you can pick up a pair of the Shokz OpenRun Pro in multiple colorways for around $140 ($40 off) from Amazon, Best Buy, and Shokz. That’s their second-best price to date and the best price we’ve seen since Black Friday.
Shokz’s latest bone conduction headphones are a good buy for outdoor runners, especially those who live in busy cities or like to jog in the evening. With their open-ear design, they can help you keep safe, allowing you to remain aware of passing cars, bikes, and other potential dangers. The Pro offer longer battery life and faster charging than other models in the series, and they feature a pair of additional bass enhancers that allow for more low-end rumble. Granted, closed-back pairs of wireless earbuds might still offer better sound — especially when listening to podcasts — but the OpenRun Pro still sound decent enough. They’re also IP55 rated for water and sweat resistance, so you needn’t worry about a little rain.
More ways to save
The 8BitDo Pro 2 controller is currently on sale at Amazon starting at $39.99 ($10 off), which matches its all-time low price. The Pro 2 is a terrific Nintendo Switch gamepad with a PlayStation-style build, one that boasts two programmable back buttons, comfy grips, custom profile switching, and wide device compatibility via Bluetooth. Read our review.
If you’re comfortable buying refurbished, Amazon’s Smart Thermostat is on sale at Woot with a 90-day warranty for just $29.99 ($50 off); Woot will also give you $5 back through the end of today, March 29th, when you use promo code SMARTFIVE. That’s not a bad deal on a thermostat that’s capable of learning and adapting to your habits, which is a feature typically reserved for pricier models. Read our review.
You can buy four of TP-Link’s Kasa Matter smart plugs for $42.76 (about $27 off) at Amazon, which is a new low. Along with adding smarts to lamps and other traditional gadgets, the plugs support the new Matter standard, meaning they’ll work with a wide range of platforms. They can also monitor your energy consumption, helping you save money on your power bill.
Along with the kid-friendly version of the Kindle, Amazon is now selling the latest Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage starting at $129.99 ($20 off), which is the best price we’ve seen since Black Friday. (Best Buy and Target are also matching that price.) The Paperwhite is the best Kindle on the market, with adjustable color temperature, monthslong battery life, and a waterproof design you won’t find on the entry-level model. Read our review.
Right now, you can get 15 percent off select gaming-related gift cards when you buy a pair at Best Buy. For example, you can pick up two PlayStation Store gift cards worth $110 for $95 ($15 off), along with gift cards for Xbox, the Meta Quest store, Twitch, and more.
Microwave Flower Press – CNET
6.3 x 6.3 “, w/ 2 felt pads & 4 washable lining cloths.
6.3 x 6.3 “, w/ 2 felt pads & 4 washable lining cloths.
Report: Redesigned M3 iPad Pros, large-screened iPad Air now expected in May
Next-gen iPads will be Apple’s first new tablets since late 2022.
Enlarge / The M2 iPad Pro. The updated version will come with refined designs and new accessories. (credit: Apple)
If you’ve been waiting for new iPads to come out, prepare to wait just a little longer: Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that redesigned iPad Pros with Apple’s M3 chip, plus refreshed iPad Air models with the M2 and a larger-screened option, should now arrive sometime in “early May.” Gurman had previously reported that new iPads could arrive in March or April, not long after the updated M3 MacBook Airs.
Gurman suggests that “complex new manufacturing techniques” for the new iPad screens have “contributed to the delay,” and that Apple is also “working to finish software for the devices.”
The details of what the new iPads will look like hasn’t changed. The new iPad Pro models will shift to using OLED display panels for the first time and will have their designs tweaked for the first time since the 2018 iPad Pros introduced the current rounded, slim-bezeled look. Those new iPad Pros will also come with redesigned Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories, though it’s unclear whether those accessories will be totally rethought or if they’ll just tweak existing designs to work with the new tablets.
Avoid Expensive Airfares: 3 Quick Hacks to Save Money on Plane Tickets – CNET
Now could be the best time to get cheap tickets, especially if you’re planning to fly this summer.
Now could be the best time to get cheap tickets, especially if you’re planning to fly this summer.
PyPI stops signing up new users to try and block malware campaign
Hundreds of typosquatted packages were being uploaded, so PyPI is forced to act.
Python Package Index (PyPI), the largest repository of Python packages, has once again been forced to suspend new account and new project registrations.
Cybersecurity experts from both Checkmarx and Check Point observed a large-scale cyberattack in which threat actors tried to upload hundreds of malicious packages to the platform, in an attempt to compromise software developers and mount supply chain attacks.
The packages mimic legitimate ones already uploaded to PyPI, an attack usually called “typosquatting”. It relies on developers being reckless and picking up the malicious version of the package, instead of the legitimate one.
While Checkmarx says the attackers tried to upload some 365 packages, Check Point claims at least 500. Regardless of the total number, the attack’s goal is to get the victims to install an infostealer with persistence capabilities. This infostealer grabs, among other things, passwords stored in browsers, cookies, and cryptocurrency wallet-related information.
Registrations reopened
PyPi seems to have addressed the issue in the meantime, as at the time of writing, registrations were reopened.
PyPI is the world’s biggest repository for open-source Python packages, and as such, is facing a constant barrage of cyberattacks.
In late May 2023, the platform was forced to do the same thing, as it faced an “unimaginable flood of malicious code” being uploaded to the platform.
In an announcement posted on the PyPI status page, the organization said: “The volume of malicious users and malicious projects being created on the index in the past week has outpaced our ability to respond to it in a timely fashion, especially with multiple PyPI administrators on leave.”
It took the company the entire weekend to lift the suspension.
Via BleepingComputer
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