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Nintendo has announced a couple of new Switch bundles in time for this year’s upcoming holiday shopping season. Starting in October, it will sell Switch consoles bundled with a download code for the digital version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a 12-month Switch Online Individual membership, which will give you access to classic NES, Super NES and Game Boy titles. The basic Switch system bundle with red and blue Joy-Cons will set you back $300. Nintendo already has an existing Switch-Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle, but it’s selling for $360 and only comes with three months of Switch Online subscription instead of 12. 
The company will also sell an OLED model bundle with the same inclusions as the basic one for $350, $10 less than what the current package with the non-OLED system costs. Nintendo’s OLED model has a bigger screen than the standard model with better battery life. There’s no time limit to get the bundles, but both options will only be available from the My Nintendo Store and in select retail stores until supplies last.
Nintendo could announce the next-gen Switch as soon as later this month. Based on previous reports, the new Switch will likely be fully backwards compatible for both digital and physical games. It is, of course, expected to have a more powerful processor than the first Switch, which was released way back in 2017, and could have 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The console is also expected to support NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling technology that would give the console the power to render games internally at a low resolution while producing a high-resolution output. It could either have an 8-inch display LCD display or a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, as well. The next-gen Switch will most likely be released sometime in 2025, though, and will not be available to purchase as a gift for others or yourself these holidays. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-will-sell-cheaper-switch-mario-kart-bundles-in-october-123024329.html?src=rss

Nintendo has announced a couple of new Switch bundles in time for this year’s upcoming holiday shopping season. Starting in October, it will sell Switch consoles bundled with a download code for the digital version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a 12-month Switch Online Individual membership, which will give you access to classic NES, Super NES and Game Boy titles. The basic Switch system bundle with red and blue Joy-Cons will set you back $300. Nintendo already has an existing Switch-Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle, but it’s selling for $360 and only comes with three months of Switch Online subscription instead of 12. 

The company will also sell an OLED model bundle with the same inclusions as the basic one for $350, $10 less than what the current package with the non-OLED system costs. Nintendo’s OLED model has a bigger screen than the standard model with better battery life. There’s no time limit to get the bundles, but both options will only be available from the My Nintendo Store and in select retail stores until supplies last.

Nintendo could announce the next-gen Switch as soon as later this month. Based on previous reports, the new Switch will likely be fully backwards compatible for both digital and physical games. It is, of course, expected to have a more powerful processor than the first Switch, which was released way back in 2017, and could have 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The console is also expected to support NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling technology that would give the console the power to render games internally at a low resolution while producing a high-resolution output. It could either have an 8-inch display LCD display or a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, as well. The next-gen Switch will most likely be released sometime in 2025, though, and will not be available to purchase as a gift for others or yourself these holidays. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-will-sell-cheaper-switch-mario-kart-bundles-in-october-123024329.html?src=rss

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The Apple Watch has been around for ten years. Looking at pictures of the device then, it might not seem like much has changed — even the apps drawer seems identical. But subtly and quietly, the Apple Watch – the company’s first new product line of the post-Steve Jobs era – has evolved to become capable of so much more today. Over the last few years, there have been some big leaps forward for the Apple Watch’s featureset, up to and including wrist-based ECG and heart-rate readings that were once the purview of science fiction. We’ve heard many testimonials, mostly from Apple at its events, about how the Apple Watch has saved lives — whether it be by detection of a fall or atrial fibrillation. Smartwatches as a category have matured and found their place, it seems, and the Apple Watch has carved out a comfy spot within the space.
So color me surprised when the Series 10 launched to very little fanfare last week. I guess I was expecting Apple to be a bit more self-congratulatory, but the company seemed to gloss over the product’s birthday. Instead, we got to learn about the device’s thinner profile and bigger screen with greater viewing angles. It also has smaller onboard speakers, apps for water sports enthusiasts and health features like the new sleep apnea monitoring and alerts. It may sound underwhelming compared to the seemingly futuristic features we were seeing in the Apple Watch’s early days, but the Series 10 is just following in the footsteps of the iPhone. It’s a mature product that’s traded massive annual overhauls for iterative updates that add up over time. For a smartwatch that has consistently been called the best in its class, the Series 10 largely continues that tradition, even as it walks back a feature or two thanks to ongoing copyright litigation.
Editors’ Note: While we’ve been testing the Apple Watch Series 10 for about a week, there are some features — including sleep apnea alerts — that we’d like to spend more time evaluating. As such, we’ll be returning to this review with further evaluation followed by a final rating in the near future.

Design and display
Compared to the Series 9, the latest Apple Watch is ever so slightly bigger and noticeably thinner and lighter. It’s not such a great difference that you’ll notice without having the two side by side, but every time I pick up the Series 10 I definitely feel a tiny spark of joy. The squatter shape, slimmer profile and more rounded corners somehow make the new watch feel a bit like a biscuit, while the Series 9 comes off more like a smaller mahjong tile.
Both sizes of the mainstream Apple Watch have grown ever so slightly, with the 41mm version now coming in at 42mm and the 45mm one sitting at 46mm. I’ve worn the smaller Series 10 and Series 9 on both wrists for a few days now and genuinely don’t find there to be a major difference in daily use. As significant as I think the thinner body and lighter weight is on the Series 10, it’s not like I was having trouble squeezing its predecessor through jacket sleeves before. I will say that the new model will certainly be more comfortable under the snuggest of my cuffs.
Apple cutting the Series 10 down to just 9.7mm thin is certainly a feat, considering the Pixel Watch 3 is still a pretty chunky 12mm thick. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 is the same height, so Google needs to play a bit of catch-up here.
The Series 10’s bigger screen does make some things easier to see, like road names on Maps and the clock when you’re in Spotify. You’ll likely find greater gains here by choosing larger font sizes, which is a bit of an obvious note but at least on the Series 10 you’ll have more room to work with. If you need something even bigger, you should consider the Watch Ultra 2, which has a 49mm screen.
Apple’s also using a wide-angle OLED this year to make things easier to read even if your wrist is simply resting on the table, not held up in front of your eyes. Again, in my side by side observations, the change is noticeable but not in a huge way. There does appear to be greater contrast between the digits of the time against the photo in the background, too, which makes the clock more visible at an angle.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

However, it’s worth pointing out that when you’re staring at the Series 10 face on, you might find its bezels noticeably thicker than on the Series 9. Even if you’re planning on upgrading from a Series 9, where you’ll be most primed to feel the bigger bezels’ impact on design, it’s still a tiny complaint, if at all. Thicker borders don’t really affect the watch’s performance.
Apple introduced some new watch faces with the Series 10, as it does with every successive generation. This time, the Flux face is supposed to make full use of the display’s wider angle view as it spills over the sides (sort of). There’s also a bit of an animation that mimics a second hand ticking across the screen, which is nice, but doesn’t add much to the experience.
There are other small design changes around the watch. For example, instead of an inch-long slit on the left edge for the speaker output, there now sits two half-inch grilles which blend more seamlessly into the watch. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the new jet black case color option, as well as the polished titanium models that replace the previous stainless steel ones. They’re nice options to have, if you can afford the $300 upgrade for the new lighter material.
Finally, part of why the Series 10 got thinner is its redesigned metal back, which allowed Apple to integrate the antenna into the case and compress two layers into one. There’s also a little so-called isolation circle to help maintain cellular performance. This isn’t something you’ll feel necessarily, but it does contribute to the Series 10’s overall thinness.
The Apple Watch Series 10’s speaker
Something Apple brought to the Series 10 is the ability to play music and podcasts through the watch’s onboard speaker. It might seem silly to want to use the tiny device for any sort of media, especially things like songs where you’d like at least some semblance of sound quality for the experience to be enjoyable. In the few days I’ve had the Series 10, I never found the need to stream songs from the speaker on the watch, until I had to test it.
At the maximum loudness in a quiet conference room, I enjoyed listening to Running Through the Night by Seori and Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter. It wasn’t as bass-heavy as I’d like for a regular listening session, but given the circumstances and the size of the watch, the mids and trebles were plenty clear and punchy. You’re not meant to rely on this for long periods anyway, and it’s just there to scratch an itch if or when it arises. With noisier environments, though, it’s a struggle.

Screenshots

The Apple Watch Series 10 vs. sleep apnea
Arguably the biggest feature coming to the Series 10 is sleep apnea monitoring (though that feature is also available on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 via watchOS 11). This is only for people who haven’t been diagnosed with sleep apnea, meaning if you already know you have this condition, it’s not designed to help you see if your CPAP machine is effective, for instance.
I’ve not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and might very well be one of the 80 percent of people that has the condition and don’t know it. Still, it would be nice to know for certain and when watchOS 11 dropped yesterday, those of us on iOS 18 with compatible Apple Watch models were able to opt in to notifications. I went to the Health app to set this up, answered a series of questions about my age and whether I’d been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and was informed I was set up for the feature.
In the explanation Apple provides during the onboarding process, it says “Apple Watch tracks your breathing while you’re asleep and records any disturbances in a 30-day period.” It can notify you if those disturbances “are suggestive of sleep apnea,” so you can go to a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
It’s been only about a week since Apple announced sleep apnea notifications were coming, and clearly 30 days haven’t passed. I have yet to glean enough information for any alerts, and cannot yet gauge the impact of this feature.
The Apple Watch Series 10 as a health and fitness tracker
Barring changes that come with watchOS 11, which older Apple Watches will also get, the Series 10 is essentially the same as its predecessor when it comes to tracking your activity. As long as you’ve set things up right, you’ll get reminders to log your mood, take your meds and move after you’ve been idle too long.
Having just reviewed Google’s Pixel Watch 3, I can’t help but wish Apple were a tad more sensitive and consistent at automatically prompting me to start logging a walk. There’s no real guidance as to how long you have to have been active for the watch to suggest you’d been working out. That leads to some confusion and pure frustration when you think you’d walked or run enough for the auto detection to kick in, but only to find out you maybe hadn’t moved in the right way or for long enough.
I’ve been a yearslong Apple Watch user, so I’ve grown extremely familiar and reliant on its interface and the data it collects. I like diving into my calendar view and looking proudly at all the days I closed my rings. The Health app does a good job of presenting my recent trends and how that compares with my performance a year ago, subtly shaming me into realizing I should maybe take a few more walks a week. The Series 10 doesn’t differ much from the Series 9 in that way, and if you’re already in Apple’s ecosystem, this will largely feel extremely familiar.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

The Apple Watch Series 10’s water-sports features
There are some new tools on the Series 10 that are borrowed from elsewhere in the family, though. Apple’s brought the Watch Ultra’s Depth app over and introduced a new Tides app across the Series 10 and Watch Ultra 2 that should be helpful for those who spend a lot of time in the water.
I’m not a big water sports girl, but I do occasionally hang out at beaches. Whether it’s Long Island’s pristine, sandy shores or the rocky terrain of Red Hook’s Valentino Pier, I’ve certainly encountered sudden swells in water level that I’ve had to run to avoid. It’s not the biggest problem, of course, but I can see how the Tides app would help anyone plan a day. I launched the app, and in a few seconds, the Series 10 located the closest beach, informing me that the tide was falling and that water levels would hit their lowest at about 2:07AM.
I didn’t verify this by going to Newport Beach at 2:07AM to measure water levels, but even from my brief testing it appears to be a helpful app for those who need to know this information for a full day of surfing, for example. It’s also useful for those who want a convenient way to locate the closest body of water, since the map view shows beaches around you.
It’s hard to imagine the Depth app being useful for a non-snorkeler or non-scuba diver like me, as I’ve watched one too many videos of underwater cave diving gone wrong. But the Depth app and water temperature sensor could theoretically be useful in other scenarios. If you have a deep enough tub, you could potentially stick the Series 10 on your wrist into the bottom and get a reading for whether the water is too hot for your kid.
Unlike on the Apple Watch Ultra (1 and 2), which go down to 40 meters (131.2 feet), the Series 10’s depth gauge will only provide readings up to 6 meters. That does mean you won’t want to take this scuba diving, and it’s not rated for that, either. All three models I mentioned here offer the same water temperature capability, though.
The Apple Watch Series 10’s battery life and charging speed
In the few days I’ve had the Apple Watch Series 10, it’s generally outlasted the Series 9, not usually by much. One day, after a cross-training workout at 8AM followed by a GPS-enabled walk and a day full of Slack and Telegram alerts, the Series 10 still managed to have 46 percent left at 11:45PM when I got home. The Series 9 was struggling at 19 percent, and both had the same display and Always On settings. This is one aspect that I’d like more time testing to better understand, but considering the new watch’s slimmer profile and bigger screen, the fact that it even has similar runtime at all would be respectable.
Apple also updated the charging setup on its latest smartwatch, which should bring the Series 10 back to 80 percent in 30 minutes. It’s worth noting you’ll have to use a fast-charge-certified accessory, such as a charging cable from the Series 7 or later, which you can tell by confirming that the wire is braided. Faster recharge speeds are nice, since they make up for any shortfalls in battery life by making sure you don’t need to wait too long for your device to get back up to a healthy level.
Still, considering many devices from Garmin, Fitbit and even Samsung can last longer than two days and even up to seven days per charge, the Apple Watch’s day and a half feels like a number that could be higher. If the company were looking for ways to push the envelope further, battery life is certainly the area to investigate. I don’t mind charging my watch every morning (or night), but some people want to be able to go camping over a long weekend and not have to worry about bringing along chargers. Don’t tell them to buy an Apple Watch Ultra for that benefit.
Wrap-up
It’s hard to sum up how I feel about the Apple Watch Series 10. On one hand, I definitely still need more time to form a conclusion about things I don’t feel familiar with yet, like sleep apnea alerts. On the other, I feel like I already know this product very well, thanks to its similarity to its predecessor(s). Plus, with watchOS 11 bringing a lot of similar features to the Series 9, Watch Ultra 2 and more, it feels difficult to recommend anyone with a recent device spring for an upgrade. Some of my friends considering the Series 10 are coming from the Series 8 or older, and for them Apple’s latest certainly feels worthwhile.
However, those using an older model should be aware that upgrading to a newer Apple Watch would cost them access to the blood oxygen detection features. The company has yet to bring back the Blood Oxygen app that it removed from the Series 9 and Ultra 2 that it sells in the US, as a result of a patent lawsuit filed by Masimo. It’s entirely possible the company is able to revive this feature simply through a software update, but if this measurement is crucial to your daily life, it might be worth sticking with your Series 8.
Those looking for a huge leap forward because of the number “10” in the device’s name should be prepared to be underwhelmed. But just because the Series 10 isn’t a reinvention of smartwatches doesn’t mean it isn’t still an excellent companion device and well-rounded health-tracker. If you’re simply looking for a new Apple Watch or don’t care for SpO2 readings, and are coming from a model that’s at least two years old, the Series 10 will feel like a solid upgrade. And it’s still the best for any iPhone owner.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-10-review-legacy-and-sequel-in-equal-measure-120021405.html?src=rss

The Apple Watch has been around for ten years. Looking at pictures of the device then, it might not seem like much has changed — even the apps drawer seems identical. But subtly and quietly, the Apple Watch – the company’s first new product line of the post-Steve Jobs era – has evolved to become capable of so much more today. Over the last few years, there have been some big leaps forward for the Apple Watch’s featureset, up to and including wrist-based ECG and heart-rate readings that were once the purview of science fiction. We’ve heard many testimonials, mostly from Apple at its events, about how the Apple Watch has saved lives — whether it be by detection of a fall or atrial fibrillation. Smartwatches as a category have matured and found their place, it seems, and the Apple Watch has carved out a comfy spot within the space.

So color me surprised when the Series 10 launched to very little fanfare last week. I guess I was expecting Apple to be a bit more self-congratulatory, but the company seemed to gloss over the product’s birthday. Instead, we got to learn about the device’s thinner profile and bigger screen with greater viewing angles. It also has smaller onboard speakers, apps for water sports enthusiasts and health features like the new sleep apnea monitoring and alerts. It may sound underwhelming compared to the seemingly futuristic features we were seeing in the Apple Watch’s early days, but the Series 10 is just following in the footsteps of the iPhone. It’s a mature product that’s traded massive annual overhauls for iterative updates that add up over time. For a smartwatch that has consistently been called the best in its class, the Series 10 largely continues that tradition, even as it walks back a feature or two thanks to ongoing copyright litigation.

Editors’ Note: While we’ve been testing the Apple Watch Series 10 for about a week, there are some features — including sleep apnea alerts — that we’d like to spend more time evaluating. As such, we’ll be returning to this review with further evaluation followed by a final rating in the near future.

Design and display

Compared to the Series 9, the latest Apple Watch is ever so slightly bigger and noticeably thinner and lighter. It’s not such a great difference that you’ll notice without having the two side by side, but every time I pick up the Series 10 I definitely feel a tiny spark of joy. The squatter shape, slimmer profile and more rounded corners somehow make the new watch feel a bit like a biscuit, while the Series 9 comes off more like a smaller mahjong tile.

Both sizes of the mainstream Apple Watch have grown ever so slightly, with the 41mm version now coming in at 42mm and the 45mm one sitting at 46mm. I’ve worn the smaller Series 10 and Series 9 on both wrists for a few days now and genuinely don’t find there to be a major difference in daily use. As significant as I think the thinner body and lighter weight is on the Series 10, it’s not like I was having trouble squeezing its predecessor through jacket sleeves before. I will say that the new model will certainly be more comfortable under the snuggest of my cuffs.

Apple cutting the Series 10 down to just 9.7mm thin is certainly a feat, considering the Pixel Watch 3 is still a pretty chunky 12mm thick. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 is the same height, so Google needs to play a bit of catch-up here.

The Series 10’s bigger screen does make some things easier to see, like road names on Maps and the clock when you’re in Spotify. You’ll likely find greater gains here by choosing larger font sizes, which is a bit of an obvious note but at least on the Series 10 you’ll have more room to work with. If you need something even bigger, you should consider the Watch Ultra 2, which has a 49mm screen.

Apple’s also using a wide-angle OLED this year to make things easier to read even if your wrist is simply resting on the table, not held up in front of your eyes. Again, in my side by side observations, the change is noticeable but not in a huge way. There does appear to be greater contrast between the digits of the time against the photo in the background, too, which makes the clock more visible at an angle.

However, it’s worth pointing out that when you’re staring at the Series 10 face on, you might find its bezels noticeably thicker than on the Series 9. Even if you’re planning on upgrading from a Series 9, where you’ll be most primed to feel the bigger bezels’ impact on design, it’s still a tiny complaint, if at all. Thicker borders don’t really affect the watch’s performance.

Apple introduced some new watch faces with the Series 10, as it does with every successive generation. This time, the Flux face is supposed to make full use of the display’s wider angle view as it spills over the sides (sort of). There’s also a bit of an animation that mimics a second hand ticking across the screen, which is nice, but doesn’t add much to the experience.

There are other small design changes around the watch. For example, instead of an inch-long slit on the left edge for the speaker output, there now sits two half-inch grilles which blend more seamlessly into the watch. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the new jet black case color option, as well as the polished titanium models that replace the previous stainless steel ones. They’re nice options to have, if you can afford the $300 upgrade for the new lighter material.

Finally, part of why the Series 10 got thinner is its redesigned metal back, which allowed Apple to integrate the antenna into the case and compress two layers into one. There’s also a little so-called isolation circle to help maintain cellular performance. This isn’t something you’ll feel necessarily, but it does contribute to the Series 10’s overall thinness.

The Apple Watch Series 10’s speaker

Something Apple brought to the Series 10 is the ability to play music and podcasts through the watch’s onboard speaker. It might seem silly to want to use the tiny device for any sort of media, especially things like songs where you’d like at least some semblance of sound quality for the experience to be enjoyable. In the few days I’ve had the Series 10, I never found the need to stream songs from the speaker on the watch, until I had to test it.

At the maximum loudness in a quiet conference room, I enjoyed listening to Running Through the Night by Seori and Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter. It wasn’t as bass-heavy as I’d like for a regular listening session, but given the circumstances and the size of the watch, the mids and trebles were plenty clear and punchy. You’re not meant to rely on this for long periods anyway, and it’s just there to scratch an itch if or when it arises. With noisier environments, though, it’s a struggle.

The Apple Watch Series 10 vs. sleep apnea

Arguably the biggest feature coming to the Series 10 is sleep apnea monitoring (though that feature is also available on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 via watchOS 11). This is only for people who haven’t been diagnosed with sleep apnea, meaning if you already know you have this condition, it’s not designed to help you see if your CPAP machine is effective, for instance.

I’ve not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and might very well be one of the 80 percent of people that has the condition and don’t know it. Still, it would be nice to know for certain and when watchOS 11 dropped yesterday, those of us on iOS 18 with compatible Apple Watch models were able to opt in to notifications. I went to the Health app to set this up, answered a series of questions about my age and whether I’d been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and was informed I was set up for the feature.

In the explanation Apple provides during the onboarding process, it says “Apple Watch tracks your breathing while you’re asleep and records any disturbances in a 30-day period.” It can notify you if those disturbances “are suggestive of sleep apnea,” so you can go to a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

It’s been only about a week since Apple announced sleep apnea notifications were coming, and clearly 30 days haven’t passed. I have yet to glean enough information for any alerts, and cannot yet gauge the impact of this feature.

The Apple Watch Series 10 as a health and fitness tracker

Barring changes that come with watchOS 11, which older Apple Watches will also get, the Series 10 is essentially the same as its predecessor when it comes to tracking your activity. As long as you’ve set things up right, you’ll get reminders to log your mood, take your meds and move after you’ve been idle too long.

Having just reviewed Google’s Pixel Watch 3, I can’t help but wish Apple were a tad more sensitive and consistent at automatically prompting me to start logging a walk. There’s no real guidance as to how long you have to have been active for the watch to suggest you’d been working out. That leads to some confusion and pure frustration when you think you’d walked or run enough for the auto detection to kick in, but only to find out you maybe hadn’t moved in the right way or for long enough.

I’ve been a yearslong Apple Watch user, so I’ve grown extremely familiar and reliant on its interface and the data it collects. I like diving into my calendar view and looking proudly at all the days I closed my rings. The Health app does a good job of presenting my recent trends and how that compares with my performance a year ago, subtly shaming me into realizing I should maybe take a few more walks a week. The Series 10 doesn’t differ much from the Series 9 in that way, and if you’re already in Apple’s ecosystem, this will largely feel extremely familiar.

The Apple Watch Series 10’s water-sports features

There are some new tools on the Series 10 that are borrowed from elsewhere in the family, though. Apple’s brought the Watch Ultra’s Depth app over and introduced a new Tides app across the Series 10 and Watch Ultra 2 that should be helpful for those who spend a lot of time in the water.

I’m not a big water sports girl, but I do occasionally hang out at beaches. Whether it’s Long Island’s pristine, sandy shores or the rocky terrain of Red Hook’s Valentino Pier, I’ve certainly encountered sudden swells in water level that I’ve had to run to avoid. It’s not the biggest problem, of course, but I can see how the Tides app would help anyone plan a day. I launched the app, and in a few seconds, the Series 10 located the closest beach, informing me that the tide was falling and that water levels would hit their lowest at about 2:07AM.

I didn’t verify this by going to Newport Beach at 2:07AM to measure water levels, but even from my brief testing it appears to be a helpful app for those who need to know this information for a full day of surfing, for example. It’s also useful for those who want a convenient way to locate the closest body of water, since the map view shows beaches around you.

It’s hard to imagine the Depth app being useful for a non-snorkeler or non-scuba diver like me, as I’ve watched one too many videos of underwater cave diving gone wrong. But the Depth app and water temperature sensor could theoretically be useful in other scenarios. If you have a deep enough tub, you could potentially stick the Series 10 on your wrist into the bottom and get a reading for whether the water is too hot for your kid.

Unlike on the Apple Watch Ultra (1 and 2), which go down to 40 meters (131.2 feet), the Series 10’s depth gauge will only provide readings up to 6 meters. That does mean you won’t want to take this scuba diving, and it’s not rated for that, either. All three models I mentioned here offer the same water temperature capability, though.

The Apple Watch Series 10’s battery life and charging speed

In the few days I’ve had the Apple Watch Series 10, it’s generally outlasted the Series 9, not usually by much. One day, after a cross-training workout at 8AM followed by a GPS-enabled walk and a day full of Slack and Telegram alerts, the Series 10 still managed to have 46 percent left at 11:45PM when I got home. The Series 9 was struggling at 19 percent, and both had the same display and Always On settings. This is one aspect that I’d like more time testing to better understand, but considering the new watch’s slimmer profile and bigger screen, the fact that it even has similar runtime at all would be respectable.

Apple also updated the charging setup on its latest smartwatch, which should bring the Series 10 back to 80 percent in 30 minutes. It’s worth noting you’ll have to use a fast-charge-certified accessory, such as a charging cable from the Series 7 or later, which you can tell by confirming that the wire is braided. Faster recharge speeds are nice, since they make up for any shortfalls in battery life by making sure you don’t need to wait too long for your device to get back up to a healthy level.

Still, considering many devices from Garmin, Fitbit and even Samsung can last longer than two days and even up to seven days per charge, the Apple Watch’s day and a half feels like a number that could be higher. If the company were looking for ways to push the envelope further, battery life is certainly the area to investigate. I don’t mind charging my watch every morning (or night), but some people want to be able to go camping over a long weekend and not have to worry about bringing along chargers. Don’t tell them to buy an Apple Watch Ultra for that benefit.

Wrap-up

It’s hard to sum up how I feel about the Apple Watch Series 10. On one hand, I definitely still need more time to form a conclusion about things I don’t feel familiar with yet, like sleep apnea alerts. On the other, I feel like I already know this product very well, thanks to its similarity to its predecessor(s). Plus, with watchOS 11 bringing a lot of similar features to the Series 9, Watch Ultra 2 and more, it feels difficult to recommend anyone with a recent device spring for an upgrade. Some of my friends considering the Series 10 are coming from the Series 8 or older, and for them Apple’s latest certainly feels worthwhile.

However, those using an older model should be aware that upgrading to a newer Apple Watch would cost them access to the blood oxygen detection features. The company has yet to bring back the Blood Oxygen app that it removed from the Series 9 and Ultra 2 that it sells in the US, as a result of a patent lawsuit filed by Masimo. It’s entirely possible the company is able to revive this feature simply through a software update, but if this measurement is crucial to your daily life, it might be worth sticking with your Series 8.

Those looking for a huge leap forward because of the number “10” in the device’s name should be prepared to be underwhelmed. But just because the Series 10 isn’t a reinvention of smartwatches doesn’t mean it isn’t still an excellent companion device and well-rounded health-tracker. If you’re simply looking for a new Apple Watch or don’t care for SpO2 readings, and are coming from a model that’s at least two years old, the Series 10 will feel like a solid upgrade. And it’s still the best for any iPhone owner.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-10-review-legacy-and-sequel-in-equal-measure-120021405.html?src=rss

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After years of scrutiny over its handling of teen safety on its platform, Meta is introducing a new type of account that will soon be required for all teens under 16 on Instagram. The new “teen accounts” add more parental supervision tools and automatically opt teens into stricter privacy settings that can only be adjusted with parental approval.
The changes are unlikely to satisfy Meta’s toughest critics, who have argued that the company puts its own profits ahead of teens’ safety and wellbeing. But the changes will be significant for the app’s legions of younger users who will face new restrictions on how they use the app.
With teen accounts, kids younger than 16 will be automatically opted into Instagram’s strictest privacy settings. Many of these settings, like automatically private accounts, the inability to message strangers and the limiting of “sensitive content” have already been in place for teenagers on Instagram. But younger teens will now be unable to change these settings without approval from a parent.
And, once a parent has set up Instagram’s in-app supervision tools, they’ll be able to monitor which accounts their kids are exchanging messages with (parents won’t see the contents of those DMs, however) as well as the types of topics their children are seeing posts about in their feeds. Parents will also have the ability to limit the amount of time their kids spend in the app by setting up “sleep mode” — which will mute notifications or make the app inaccessible entirely — or reminders to take breaks.
Meta
The changes, according to Meta, are meant to “give parents greater oversight of their teens’ experiences.” While the company has had some parental supervision features since 2022, the features were optional and required teens to opt-in to the controls. Teen accounts, on the other hand, will be mandatory for all teens younger than 16 and the more restrictive settings, like the ability to make an account public, aren’t able to be adjusted without parent approval.
The company says it also has a plan to find teens who have already lied about their age when setting up their Instagram account. Beginning next year, the company will use AI to detect signs an account may belong to a teen, like the age of other linked accounts and the ages on the accounts they frequently interact with, to find younger users trying to avoid its new restrictions. The app will then prompt users to verify their age.
In the meantime, Meta will start designating new accounts created by 13 to 15-year-olds as “teen accounts” beginning today. The company will start switching over existing teens into the accounts over the next two months in the US, Canada, UK and Australia, with a wider rollout in the European Union planned for “later this year.” Teen accounts will be available in other countries and on Meta’s other apps beginning in 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-teen-accounts-with-parental-controls-will-be-mandatory-for-kids-under-16-120013852.html?src=rss

After years of scrutiny over its handling of teen safety on its platform, Meta is introducing a new type of account that will soon be required for all teens under 16 on Instagram. The new “teen accounts” add more parental supervision tools and automatically opt teens into stricter privacy settings that can only be adjusted with parental approval.

The changes are unlikely to satisfy Meta’s toughest critics, who have argued that the company puts its own profits ahead of teens’ safety and wellbeing. But the changes will be significant for the app’s legions of younger users who will face new restrictions on how they use the app.

With teen accounts, kids younger than 16 will be automatically opted into Instagram’s strictest privacy settings. Many of these settings, like automatically private accounts, the inability to message strangers and the limiting of “sensitive content” have already been in place for teenagers on Instagram. But younger teens will now be unable to change these settings without approval from a parent.

And, once a parent has set up Instagram’s in-app supervision tools, they’ll be able to monitor which accounts their kids are exchanging messages with (parents won’t see the contents of those DMs, however) as well as the types of topics their children are seeing posts about in their feeds. Parents will also have the ability to limit the amount of time their kids spend in the app by setting up “sleep mode” — which will mute notifications or make the app inaccessible entirely — or reminders to take breaks.

The changes, according to Meta, are meant to “give parents greater oversight of their teens’ experiences.” While the company has had some parental supervision features since 2022, the features were optional and required teens to opt-in to the controls. Teen accounts, on the other hand, will be mandatory for all teens younger than 16 and the more restrictive settings, like the ability to make an account public, aren’t able to be adjusted without parent approval.

The company says it also has a plan to find teens who have already lied about their age when setting up their Instagram account. Beginning next year, the company will use AI to detect signs an account may belong to a teen, like the age of other linked accounts and the ages on the accounts they frequently interact with, to find younger users trying to avoid its new restrictions. The app will then prompt users to verify their age.

In the meantime, Meta will start designating new accounts created by 13 to 15-year-olds as “teen accounts” beginning today. The company will start switching over existing teens into the accounts over the next two months in the US, Canada, UK and Australia, with a wider rollout in the European Union planned for “later this year.” Teen accounts will be available in other countries and on Meta’s other apps beginning in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-teen-accounts-with-parental-controls-will-be-mandatory-for-kids-under-16-120013852.html?src=rss

Read More 

Apple expanded its AirPod family with two new models last week. We’ve now tested out the AirPods 4 — and a second version with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) — and we have some thoughts. Improved sound quality and some advanced features are the key additions, but you’re more likely to notice the redesigned shape for keeping the buds more firmly (and comfortably) lodged in ears.
Engadget
With the ANC version, Apple offers useful noise cancellation while keeping your ears open — no silicone tips. There are also a lot of Pro features, but the issue is the more technically capable AirPods Pro are often on sale, undercutting those $179 buds.
I wouldn’t have guessed it, but the basic $129 AirPods 4 may be the better deal.
— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed
Flappy Bird’s creator wants you to know he’s got nothing to do with the new version
Apple’s iOS 18 is available now
iOS 18 preview: Waiting on Apple Intelligence

Meta bans Russian state media outlets on Facebook and Instagram
The ban on outlets like RT will take effect over the next few days.

Meta has banned RT and other Russian state media outlets on its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets,” the company told Engadget. “Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.” This comes days after the Biden–Harris administration publicly accused RT of spreading propaganda and disinformation online.
Continue reading.

Who asked for a Wordle VR app?
And who hurt you?

Meta
The New York Times has brought its all-conquering daily word game to a new platform in the shape of Meta Quest headsets. Wordle VR works in much the same way as the game on your phone or computer, with six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Except you’re wearing a VR headset.
Continue reading.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days announced
The fall Prime Day sale returns on October 8.

Amazon’s big sale event / buyer’s remorse generator will return this year on October 8 and 9, giving us all the more reason to call it October Prime Day as we have done in years past. Prime Day in July remains Amazon’s biggest sale event for Prime members, but ever since its debut in 2022, October Prime Day provides subscribers with thousands of exclusive deals during the two-day window. In case you missed out on that Echo. Again.
Continue reading.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-our-verdict-on-apples-new-airpods-4-111506361.html?src=rss

Apple expanded its AirPod family with two new models last week. We’ve now tested out the AirPods 4 — and a second version with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) — and we have some thoughts. Improved sound quality and some advanced features are the key additions, but you’re more likely to notice the redesigned shape for keeping the buds more firmly (and comfortably) lodged in ears.

With the ANC version, Apple offers useful noise cancellation while keeping your ears open — no silicone tips. There are also a lot of Pro features, but the issue is the more technically capable AirPods Pro are often on sale, undercutting those $179 buds.

I wouldn’t have guessed it, but the basic $129 AirPods 4 may be the better deal.

— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Flappy Bird’s creator wants you to know he’s got nothing to do with the new version

Apple’s iOS 18 is available now

iOS 18 preview: Waiting on Apple Intelligence

Meta bans Russian state media outlets on Facebook and Instagram

The ban on outlets like RT will take effect over the next few days.

Meta has banned RT and other Russian state media outlets on its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets,” the company told Engadget. “Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.” This comes days after the Biden–Harris administration publicly accused RT of spreading propaganda and disinformation online.

Continue reading.

Who asked for a Wordle VR app?

And who hurt you?

The New York Times has brought its all-conquering daily word game to a new platform in the shape of Meta Quest headsets. Wordle VR works in much the same way as the game on your phone or computer, with six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Except you’re wearing a VR headset.

Continue reading.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days announced

The fall Prime Day sale returns on October 8.

Amazon’s big sale event / buyer’s remorse generator will return this year on October 8 and 9, giving us all the more reason to call it October Prime Day as we have done in years past. Prime Day in July remains Amazon’s biggest sale event for Prime members, but ever since its debut in 2022, October Prime Day provides subscribers with thousands of exclusive deals during the two-day window. In case you missed out on that Echo. Again.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-our-verdict-on-apples-new-airpods-4-111506361.html?src=rss

Read More 

Intel is turning its foundry business, which manufactures chips for other companies, into an independent subsidiary. The company has revealed its plan in a note to employees from its CEO Pat Gelsinger, published over a month after Intel disclosed that it’s cutting 15 percent of its workforce. Intel is laying off more than 15,000 people as part of its $10 billion cost-reduction plan to regain financial stability following a second-quarter net loss of $1.6 billion. Gelsinger explained in his new memo that turning the foundry into a subsidiary “will unlock important benefits,” particularly the ability to evaluate and take external funding directly. 
Gelsinger said that there will be no changes to the foundry’s leadership, but the subsidiary will establish its own operating board with independent directors to govern it. According to CNBC, Intel is even considering making the foundry a separate publicly traded company. Intel is in the midst of modernizing its existing fabs and building new ones for its foundry business, which is costing the company billions of dollars, in an effort to catch up to its chipmaking rivals like TSMC and Samsung. The company has reportedly spent around $25 billion a year on its foundry business over the past two years, but that has yet to translate into profit. 
In April, the company revealed in a presentation to investors that the business posted $7 billion in operating losses for 2023, even larger than the $5.2 billion in losses that it incurred the previous year. It had a revenue of $18.9 billion, down 31 percent from its 2022 revenue of $27.49 billion. Gelsinger warned investors at the time that Intel expects its foundry business’ operating loss for 2024 to be even bigger and that it doesn’t expect to break even until 2027. The foundry’s finances aren’t the division’s only problem: Its next-gen manufacturing process referred to as “18A” reportedly failed crucial tests to prove that it’s ready to be used for mass production. 
In addition to announcing that the foundry business will become a subsidiary, Gelsinger also disclosed in the memo that Intel will be selling part of its stake in Altera, another chipmaker that it purchased for $16.7 billion in 2015. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/intel-is-separating-its-ailing-foundry-business-from-the-main-company-110043046.html?src=rss

Intel is turning its foundry business, which manufactures chips for other companies, into an independent subsidiary. The company has revealed its plan in a note to employees from its CEO Pat Gelsinger, published over a month after Intel disclosed that it’s cutting 15 percent of its workforce. Intel is laying off more than 15,000 people as part of its $10 billion cost-reduction plan to regain financial stability following a second-quarter net loss of $1.6 billion. Gelsinger explained in his new memo that turning the foundry into a subsidiary “will unlock important benefits,” particularly the ability to evaluate and take external funding directly. 

Gelsinger said that there will be no changes to the foundry’s leadership, but the subsidiary will establish its own operating board with independent directors to govern it. According to CNBC, Intel is even considering making the foundry a separate publicly traded company. Intel is in the midst of modernizing its existing fabs and building new ones for its foundry business, which is costing the company billions of dollars, in an effort to catch up to its chipmaking rivals like TSMC and Samsung. The company has reportedly spent around $25 billion a year on its foundry business over the past two years, but that has yet to translate into profit. 

In April, the company revealed in a presentation to investors that the business posted $7 billion in operating losses for 2023, even larger than the $5.2 billion in losses that it incurred the previous year. It had a revenue of $18.9 billion, down 31 percent from its 2022 revenue of $27.49 billion. Gelsinger warned investors at the time that Intel expects its foundry business’ operating loss for 2024 to be even bigger and that it doesn’t expect to break even until 2027. The foundry’s finances aren’t the division’s only problem: Its next-gen manufacturing process referred to as “18A” reportedly failed crucial tests to prove that it’s ready to be used for mass production. 

In addition to announcing that the foundry business will become a subsidiary, Gelsinger also disclosed in the memo that Intel will be selling part of its stake in Altera, another chipmaker that it purchased for $16.7 billion in 2015. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/intel-is-separating-its-ailing-foundry-business-from-the-main-company-110043046.html?src=rss

Read More 

Since 2022, Amazon has held a second Prime Day of sorts in October and that sale event is coming back this year, too. Prime Big Deal Days returns on October 8 and 9, but we’re already starting to see some decent deals pop up across Amazon’s site. As per usual, most of the deals we expected to see on October Prime Day will be exclusively for Prime members — and some of the early Prime Day deals we’re seeing now have followed suit.
If you don’t have a Prime membership, don’t fret too much — there are always a few discounts available for all shoppers. However, if you pay the $139 annual fee for Prime, now’s the time to put it to even better use. These are the best October Prime day tech deals we’ve found ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. We’ll be updating this post regularly in the lead-up to October Prime Day, so check back for the latest deals.
Prime Day deals on Apple gear
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
While it’d be wishful thinking to see discounts on the new AirPods or Apple Watch Series 10, there are still some decent Apple deals you can snag right now on iPads and accessories, plus some Beats gear.

Apple Magic Mouse (black) for $85 ($15 off): The white version of Apple’s popular accessory is still cheaper at $68, but the black colorway rarely goes on sale. Both mice pair quickly and are relatively light with responsive touch gestures.
Apple iPad (10th gen) for $299 ($50 off): The base iPad didn’t receive a refresh this year (yet), but Apple did cut the price to $349. It’s still selling for cheaper right now, down to $299, which is a record low.
Apple iPad Air (13-inch) for $720 ($80 off): The large model of our favorite iPad returns to one of its frequent sale prices. It’s about $20 more than its record low, but it’s still a good deal if you’ve been eyeing the 13-inch Air.
Apple Pencil (1st gen) for $69 ($30 off): If you have a 10th-gen iPad or older, this is the stylus to get. We’ve seen this discount for a couple of weeks now, but it’s still $10 below the average sale price. It’s also discounted at Walmart.
Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian headphones + 2 years of AppleCare+ for $270 ($109 off): If you’re really into the muted colors in this collection, this is the best deal we’ve seen on Beats’ pro-level headphones with AppleCore+ protection.
Beats Fit Pro Earbuds for $159 ($41 off): Our overall favorite pair of earbuds for running are on sale for $41 off. They’ve hit this price point often over the past few months, but it’s a decent discount on buds we found to be comfortable with a secure fit and great audio quality.
Beats Studio Buds for $99 ($51 off): They’re a tad old at this point, but the Studio Buds remain a decent buy at under $100.

Prime Day deals on Amazon devices
Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
We expect to see more Amazon gear go on sale as we get closer to October Prime Day, but for now, these discounts present a good opportunity to save on a few of our favorites.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $40 ($20 off): An often recurring sale, this discount is only $5 more than the record low. In addition to streaming shows, we like it as a retro gaming emulator and it even lets you play current games through XBox Game Pass cloud gaming.
Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet for $60 ($70 off): This is more than half off Amazon’s 8-inch slab that we consider to be a good couch device, or a first-time tablet for a child. It joins a few other Amazon tablets that are discounted right now.

Prime Day deals on Anker gear
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
It’s always a good idea to wait until shopping events like October Prime Day to stock up on charging gear from Anker, or any other company. It’s a safe bet that many more Anker devices will go on sale during the days of fall Prime Day, but those in need of an extra power bank or charger immediately can snag a few for less right now.

Anker MagSafe Charger Pad for $19.19 ($4.80 off): This Qi2 charging pad is back on sale for its all-time-low price, and it works with the latest iPhone 16 handsets.
Anker Nano Power Bank 10K for $32 ($8 off): This is the cheapest price we’ve seen for this 10K power bank that has a connecting USB-C cable built in.
Anker Prime Power Bank 200W 20K with 100W charging base for $140 ($45 off): The top premium pick in our best power banks guide, this 20K brick can recharge most mobile devices and has a handy screen that shows you the power flowing out of it, as well as the remaining charge.

Prime Day deals on tech
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget
Early Prime Day deals on tech include discounts on robot vacuums, webcams, smart plugs and more. There are also gaming accessories that you can grab for cheap, along with storage gear in all shapes and sizes.

iRobot Roomba Vac robot vacuum for $170 ($80 off): This affordable robo-vac is only $10 more than it was during July Prime Day right now, making it an even better option if you want a robot vacuum without spending a ton.
Logitech Brio 500 Full HD Webcam for $93 ($37 off): Our top pick for the best webcam you can buy right now is $37 off, a decent discount even if it’s not a record-low sale. If you spend a lot of your day on video calls, this will be a solid upgrade to your computer’s built-in cam. It has a wide field of view, auto-light correction and shoots 1080p video.
Samsung Pro Plus microSD card for $100 ($20 off): This newly released, 1TB variant is down to its best price yet. The Pro Plus is the top pick in our guide to the best microSD cards.
Samsung T7 Shield (4TB) for $282 ($218 off): If you’re looking for a high-capacity portable SSD that can take a beating, this deal is the best price we’ve seen on the 4TB T7 Shield since June.
Baseus 30W/10000mAh MagSafe power bank for $28 ($18 off): Clip the 40-percent off coupon to get a record-low price on a power bank that earned a place in our guide to the best power banks you can buy. It quickly refills MagSafe-compatible phones and has a handy built-in cable.
Kasa Smart Plug EP25 (4-pack) for $34 ($16 off): These are our top pick in our guide to the best smart plugs available right now thanks to their compatibility across all four of the main smart home ecosystems, their easy setup process and reliable connection.
TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender for $20 ($30 off): Our top budget pick in our best Wi-Fi extenders guide is more than half off right now. While not a rare deal, it’s still a record-low price on a handy device that could help eliminate dead zones around your home.
8BitDo Ultimate C wired gaming controller for $15 ($5 off): Now at $1 cheaper than it was during Prime Day in July, this 8BitDo accessory is an even better option for PC gamers or folks looking for a more comfortable Steam Deck controller.
ASTRO Gaming A40 TR wired gaming headset for $100 ($30 off): Our pick for the best gaming headset is $30 off, a discount we’ve seen a few times this year. We found these to be comfortable with better sound than many headsets, but the mic performance is only OK.

Streaming subscription deals
Paramount+
While these discounts aren’t technically October Prime day tech deals, we’d be remiss not to mention them. While sales on streaming services are becoming more common, there isn’t as much rhyme or reason to them as there is to, say, Amazon’s Prime Day sale cycle. That said, if you see a discount on a service you’ve been meaning to try, it’s worthwhile to jump on it.

Disney+ Basic plan (with ads) for $2 per month: New and returning customers can take advantage of this sale price for three months, so roughly 90 days worth of access will only cost you $6. That tier is usually $8 per month and includes all Disney+ content, but with commercial breaks. As usual with these types of deals, the plan will automatically renew — and the regular price increases to $10 per month starting on October 17.
Paramount+ annual subscriptions for 50 percent off: Paramount+’s Essential plan (with ads) is only $30 for the first year, while the upgraded plan with access to Showtime, your local CBS station, and fewer ads costs just $60 for the year. Plans will automatically renew at the full price once the promotional period is over.
Fubo Pro live TV subscription for $50 for one month ($30 off): The service we named the best live TV streaming service for sports content is now offering $30 off all three of its plans for the first month. The Elite with Sports Plus plan is down from $100 to $70, while the top-level Deluxe package is $80 instead of the usual $110.

Everything you need to know about October Prime Day 2024
When is October Prime Day 2024?
October Prime Day will be held on October 8 and 9 this year.
What is October Prime Day?
October Prime Day is a members-only sale event run by Amazon in which the online retailer has thousands of sales on its site that are exclusively available to those with an active Prime members.
How long is October Prime Day?
October Prime Day will last two full days.
What is on sale for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?
Most October Prime Day deals will not be revealed until the days of the event. However, in years past, we’ve seen everything from clothing to household essentials to outdoor gear go on sale during this event. Engadget cares most about tech deals, and in past fall Prime Days, we’ve seen things like phones, tablets, headphones, earbuds, robot vacuums, smart home gear and more receive deep discounts.
Do I need an Amazon Prime membership to shop Prime Day deals?
Yes, because most deals will be Prime exclusives. However, there are always a few decent deals available to all Amazon shoppers, so it’s worth checking out Amazon’s site during October Prime Day to see where you can save even if you don’t pay for Prime.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-october-prime-day-2024-the-best-early-deals-we-found-ahead-of-the-big-deal-days-sale-050506494.html?src=rss

Since 2022, Amazon has held a second Prime Day of sorts in October and that sale event is coming back this year, too. Prime Big Deal Days returns on October 8 and 9, but we’re already starting to see some decent deals pop up across Amazon’s site. As per usual, most of the deals we expected to see on October Prime Day will be exclusively for Prime members — and some of the early Prime Day deals we’re seeing now have followed suit.

If you don’t have a Prime membership, don’t fret too much — there are always a few discounts available for all shoppers. However, if you pay the $139 annual fee for Prime, now’s the time to put it to even better use. These are the best October Prime day tech deals we’ve found ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. We’ll be updating this post regularly in the lead-up to October Prime Day, so check back for the latest deals.

Prime Day deals on Apple gear

While it’d be wishful thinking to see discounts on the new AirPods or Apple Watch Series 10, there are still some decent Apple deals you can snag right now on iPads and accessories, plus some Beats gear.

Apple Magic Mouse (black) for $85 ($15 off): The white version of Apple’s popular accessory is still cheaper at $68, but the black colorway rarely goes on sale. Both mice pair quickly and are relatively light with responsive touch gestures.

Apple iPad (10th gen) for $299 ($50 off): The base iPad didn’t receive a refresh this year (yet), but Apple did cut the price to $349. It’s still selling for cheaper right now, down to $299, which is a record low.

Apple iPad Air (13-inch) for $720 ($80 off): The large model of our favorite iPad returns to one of its frequent sale prices. It’s about $20 more than its record low, but it’s still a good deal if you’ve been eyeing the 13-inch Air.

Apple Pencil (1st gen) for $69 ($30 off): If you have a 10th-gen iPad or older, this is the stylus to get. We’ve seen this discount for a couple of weeks now, but it’s still $10 below the average sale price. It’s also discounted at Walmart.

Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian headphones + 2 years of AppleCare+ for $270 ($109 off): If you’re really into the muted colors in this collection, this is the best deal we’ve seen on Beats’ pro-level headphones with AppleCore+ protection.

Beats Fit Pro Earbuds for $159 ($41 off): Our overall favorite pair of earbuds for running are on sale for $41 off. They’ve hit this price point often over the past few months, but it’s a decent discount on buds we found to be comfortable with a secure fit and great audio quality.

Beats Studio Buds for $99 ($51 off): They’re a tad old at this point, but the Studio Buds remain a decent buy at under $100.

Prime Day deals on Amazon devices

We expect to see more Amazon gear go on sale as we get closer to October Prime Day, but for now, these discounts present a good opportunity to save on a few of our favorites.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $40 ($20 off): An often recurring sale, this discount is only $5 more than the record low. In addition to streaming shows, we like it as a retro gaming emulator and it even lets you play current games through XBox Game Pass cloud gaming.

Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet for $60 ($70 off): This is more than half off Amazon’s 8-inch slab that we consider to be a good couch device, or a first-time tablet for a child. It joins a few other Amazon tablets that are discounted right now.

Prime Day deals on Anker gear

It’s always a good idea to wait until shopping events like October Prime Day to stock up on charging gear from Anker, or any other company. It’s a safe bet that many more Anker devices will go on sale during the days of fall Prime Day, but those in need of an extra power bank or charger immediately can snag a few for less right now.

Anker MagSafe Charger Pad for $19.19 ($4.80 off): This Qi2 charging pad is back on sale for its all-time-low price, and it works with the latest iPhone 16 handsets.

Anker Nano Power Bank 10K for $32 ($8 off): This is the cheapest price we’ve seen for this 10K power bank that has a connecting USB-C cable built in.

Anker Prime Power Bank 200W 20K with 100W charging base for $140 ($45 off): The top premium pick in our best power banks guide, this 20K brick can recharge most mobile devices and has a handy screen that shows you the power flowing out of it, as well as the remaining charge.

Prime Day deals on tech

Early Prime Day deals on tech include discounts on robot vacuums, webcams, smart plugs and more. There are also gaming accessories that you can grab for cheap, along with storage gear in all shapes and sizes.

iRobot Roomba Vac robot vacuum for $170 ($80 off): This affordable robo-vac is only $10 more than it was during July Prime Day right now, making it an even better option if you want a robot vacuum without spending a ton.

Logitech Brio 500 Full HD Webcam for $93 ($37 off): Our top pick for the best webcam you can buy right now is $37 off, a decent discount even if it’s not a record-low sale. If you spend a lot of your day on video calls, this will be a solid upgrade to your computer’s built-in cam. It has a wide field of view, auto-light correction and shoots 1080p video.

Samsung Pro Plus microSD card for $100 ($20 off): This newly released, 1TB variant is down to its best price yet. The Pro Plus is the top pick in our guide to the best microSD cards.

Samsung T7 Shield (4TB) for $282 ($218 off): If you’re looking for a high-capacity portable SSD that can take a beating, this deal is the best price we’ve seen on the 4TB T7 Shield since June.

Baseus 30W/10000mAh MagSafe power bank for $28 ($18 off): Clip the 40-percent off coupon to get a record-low price on a power bank that earned a place in our guide to the best power banks you can buy. It quickly refills MagSafe-compatible phones and has a handy built-in cable.

Kasa Smart Plug EP25 (4-pack) for $34 ($16 off): These are our top pick in our guide to the best smart plugs available right now thanks to their compatibility across all four of the main smart home ecosystems, their easy setup process and reliable connection.

TP-Link AC1200 WiFi Extender for $20 ($30 off): Our top budget pick in our best Wi-Fi extenders guide is more than half off right now. While not a rare deal, it’s still a record-low price on a handy device that could help eliminate dead zones around your home.

8BitDo Ultimate C wired gaming controller for $15 ($5 off): Now at $1 cheaper than it was during Prime Day in July, this 8BitDo accessory is an even better option for PC gamers or folks looking for a more comfortable Steam Deck controller.

ASTRO Gaming A40 TR wired gaming headset for $100 ($30 off): Our pick for the best gaming headset is $30 off, a discount we’ve seen a few times this year. We found these to be comfortable with better sound than many headsets, but the mic performance is only OK.

Streaming subscription deals

While these discounts aren’t technically October Prime day tech deals, we’d be remiss not to mention them. While sales on streaming services are becoming more common, there isn’t as much rhyme or reason to them as there is to, say, Amazon’s Prime Day sale cycle. That said, if you see a discount on a service you’ve been meaning to try, it’s worthwhile to jump on it.

Disney+ Basic plan (with ads) for $2 per month: New and returning customers can take advantage of this sale price for three months, so roughly 90 days worth of access will only cost you $6. That tier is usually $8 per month and includes all Disney+ content, but with commercial breaks. As usual with these types of deals, the plan will automatically renew — and the regular price increases to $10 per month starting on October 17.

Paramount+ annual subscriptions for 50 percent off: Paramount+’s Essential plan (with ads) is only $30 for the first year, while the upgraded plan with access to Showtime, your local CBS station, and fewer ads costs just $60 for the year. Plans will automatically renew at the full price once the promotional period is over.

Fubo Pro live TV subscription for $50 for one month ($30 off): The service we named the best live TV streaming service for sports content is now offering $30 off all three of its plans for the first month. The Elite with Sports Plus plan is down from $100 to $70, while the top-level Deluxe package is $80 instead of the usual $110.

Everything you need to know about October Prime Day 2024

When is October Prime Day 2024?

October Prime Day will be held on October 8 and 9 this year.

What is October Prime Day?

October Prime Day is a members-only sale event run by Amazon in which the online retailer has thousands of sales on its site that are exclusively available to those with an active Prime members.

How long is October Prime Day?

October Prime Day will last two full days.

What is on sale for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?

Most October Prime Day deals will not be revealed until the days of the event. However, in years past, we’ve seen everything from clothing to household essentials to outdoor gear go on sale during this event. Engadget cares most about tech deals, and in past fall Prime Days, we’ve seen things like phones, tablets, headphones, earbuds, robot vacuums, smart home gear and more receive deep discounts.

Do I need an Amazon Prime membership to shop Prime Day deals?

Yes, because most deals will be Prime exclusives. However, there are always a few decent deals available to all Amazon shoppers, so it’s worth checking out Amazon’s site during October Prime Day to see where you can save even if you don’t pay for Prime.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-october-prime-day-2024-the-best-early-deals-we-found-ahead-of-the-big-deal-days-sale-050506494.html?src=rss

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We knew Amazon would revive its Prime Big Deal Days sale event this fall, but we didn’t know the exact dates until today. The online retailer announced that the sale event will return this year on October 8 and 9, giving us all the more reason to call it October Prime Day as we have done in years past. This is the third iteration of the fall sale event that Amazon has used as its (un)official kickoff to the holiday shopping season.
Prime Day in July remains Amazon’s marquee sale event for Prime members, but ever since its debut in 2022, October Prime Day provides subscribers with thousands of exclusive deals to shop during the two-day window. In turn, it also provides Amazon a way to boost sales during the same time period and, arguably more importantly, increase the number of overall Prime subscribers. While we expect most of the deals during Prime Big Deal Days to be exclusively for Prime members, there are always a few thrown in that are available to all Amazon shoppers.
As for the deals we expect, it’s a safe bet that Amazon’s own devices will be on sale: things like Echo speakers, Kindle ereaders, Blink security cameras and more. We usually see tech like wireless earbuds, speakers, robot vacuums and SSDs go on sale during events like this as well. While it might feel too early to even think about holiday shopping, it’s a good idea to entertain. If history is any indication, the sale prices we see during October Prime Day will be similar (and in some cases, the same) as those we see during Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year. If you can shop early and cross a few things off your list, we recommend doing so.
To give you an idea of what we could expect to see during October Prime Day this year, these are a few of the standout deals we saw during the 2023 event:

Apple AirPods Pro for $189 ($60 off): $169 is the new record low for the AirPods Pro, and they are usually a contender for one of the best tech deals of the holiday season.
Apple Watch SE for $149 ($100 off): This was a record-low price, and considering we did not get a new SE from Apple earlier this month, this remains the budget-friendly Apple Watch to get.
Anker Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds for $54 ($26 off): We’ve seen our favorite budget wireless earbuds drop to as low as $49 multiple times in the past year.
Amazon Echo Show 5 for $40 ($50 off): This remains the all-time-low price on the tiny smart display; it was $10 more during July Prime Day.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for $95 ($45 off): The latest Kindle Paperwhite’s record low price is $100. Considering how lackluster the Kindle deals were during July Prime Day, we’d be happy to see $100 or less on this model during October Prime Day.
Google Pixel 7a for $399 ($100 off): This has dropped to a record low of $299 since this time last year, and we’d ultimately recommend the Pixel 8a instead now for most people.
Samsung 55-inch The Frame smart TV for $998 ($648 off): This model has dropped a couple more dollars since last year, but $998 remains a decent sale price.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-prime-big-deal-days-dates-announced-the-fall-prime-day-sale-returns-on-october-8-and-9-050356195.html?src=rss

We knew Amazon would revive its Prime Big Deal Days sale event this fall, but we didn’t know the exact dates until today. The online retailer announced that the sale event will return this year on October 8 and 9, giving us all the more reason to call it October Prime Day as we have done in years past. This is the third iteration of the fall sale event that Amazon has used as its (un)official kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

Prime Day in July remains Amazon’s marquee sale event for Prime members, but ever since its debut in 2022, October Prime Day provides subscribers with thousands of exclusive deals to shop during the two-day window. In turn, it also provides Amazon a way to boost sales during the same time period and, arguably more importantly, increase the number of overall Prime subscribers. While we expect most of the deals during Prime Big Deal Days to be exclusively for Prime members, there are always a few thrown in that are available to all Amazon shoppers.

As for the deals we expect, it’s a safe bet that Amazon’s own devices will be on sale: things like Echo speakers, Kindle ereaders, Blink security cameras and more. We usually see tech like wireless earbuds, speakers, robot vacuums and SSDs go on sale during events like this as well. While it might feel too early to even think about holiday shopping, it’s a good idea to entertain. If history is any indication, the sale prices we see during October Prime Day will be similar (and in some cases, the same) as those we see during Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year. If you can shop early and cross a few things off your list, we recommend doing so.

To give you an idea of what we could expect to see during October Prime Day this year, these are a few of the standout deals we saw during the 2023 event:

Apple AirPods Pro for $189 ($60 off): $169 is the new record low for the AirPods Pro, and they are usually a contender for one of the best tech deals of the holiday season.

Apple Watch SE for $149 ($100 off): This was a record-low price, and considering we did not get a new SE from Apple earlier this month, this remains the budget-friendly Apple Watch to get.

Anker Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds for $54 ($26 off): We’ve seen our favorite budget wireless earbuds drop to as low as $49 multiple times in the past year.

Amazon Echo Show 5 for $40 ($50 off): This remains the all-time-low price on the tiny smart display; it was $10 more during July Prime Day.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite for $95 ($45 off): The latest Kindle Paperwhite’s record low price is $100. Considering how lackluster the Kindle deals were during July Prime Day, we’d be happy to see $100 or less on this model during October Prime Day.

Google Pixel 7a for $399 ($100 off): This has dropped to a record low of $299 since this time last year, and we’d ultimately recommend the Pixel 8a instead now for most people.

Samsung 55-inch The Frame smart TV for $998 ($648 off): This model has dropped a couple more dollars since last year, but $998 remains a decent sale price.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-prime-big-deal-days-dates-announced-the-fall-prime-day-sale-returns-on-october-8-and-9-050356195.html?src=rss

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Meta has banned RT and other Russian state media outlets on its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets,” the company told Engadget in a statement. “Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.” Meta shared briefing materials with Reuters, in which the company said it found evidence in the past that Russian outlets took steps to prevent their foreign interference activities online from being detected. It said it expects the outlets to continue with their deceptive practices. The ban will be enforced over the coming days. 
The company’s announcement comes days after the Biden administration publicly accused RT of spreading propaganda and disinformation online. Authorities said that RT is spreading propaganda and information to justify and back its invasion of Ukraine using media outlets catering to locals, such as ones targeting Africa and France. 
Meta restricted Russian state media’s access to Facebook in Ukraine back in 2022 at the request of its government, in order to limit the spread of those outlets’ content. In response, Russia blocked Facebook in the country a few days later and opening a criminal case against the company. A judge later found Facebook and Instagram guilty of “extremist” activity, effectively banning Meta from opening offices and doing business in Russia. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-bans-russian-state-media-outlets-on-facebook-and-instagram-012424410.html?src=rss

Meta has banned RT and other Russian state media outlets on its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets,” the company told Engadget in a statement. “Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.” Meta shared briefing materials with Reuters, in which the company said it found evidence in the past that Russian outlets took steps to prevent their foreign interference activities online from being detected. It said it expects the outlets to continue with their deceptive practices. The ban will be enforced over the coming days. 

The company’s announcement comes days after the Biden administration publicly accused RT of spreading propaganda and disinformation online. Authorities said that RT is spreading propaganda and information to justify and back its invasion of Ukraine using media outlets catering to locals, such as ones targeting Africa and France. 

Meta restricted Russian state media’s access to Facebook in Ukraine back in 2022 at the request of its government, in order to limit the spread of those outlets’ content. In response, Russia blocked Facebook in the country a few days later and opening a criminal case against the company. A judge later found Facebook and Instagram guilty of “extremist” activity, effectively banning Meta from opening offices and doing business in Russia. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-bans-russian-state-media-outlets-on-facebook-and-instagram-012424410.html?src=rss

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OpenAI has announced significant changes to its safety and security practices, including the establishment of a new independent board oversight committee. This move comes with a notable shift: CEO Sam Altman is no longer part of the safety committee, marking a departure from the previous structure.
The newly formed Safety and Security Committee (SSC) will be chaired by Zico Kolter, Director of the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University. Other key members include Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, retired US Army General Paul Nakasone, and Nicole Seligman, former EVP and General Counsel of Sony Corporation. 
This new committee replaces the previous Safety and Security Committee that was formed in June 2024, which included Altman among its members. The original committee was tasked with making recommendations on critical safety and security decisions for OpenAI projects and operations.
The SSC’s responsibilities now extend beyond recommendations. It will have the authority to oversee safety evaluations for major model releases and exercise oversight over model launches. Crucially, the committee will have the power to delay a release until safety concerns are adequately addressed. 
This restructuring follows a period of scrutiny regarding OpenAI’s commitment to AI safety. The company has faced criticism in the past for disbanding its Superalignment team and the departures of key safety-focused personnel. The removal of Altman from the safety committee appears to be an attempt to address concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the company’s safety oversight.
OpenAI’s latest safety initiative also includes plans to enhance security measures, increase transparency about their work, and collaborate with external organizations. The company has already reached agreements with the US and UK AI Safety Institutes to collaborate on researching emerging AI safety risks and standards for trustworthy AI. 
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-new-safety-board-has-more-power-and-no-sam-altman-230113547.html?src=rss

OpenAI has announced significant changes to its safety and security practices, including the establishment of a new independent board oversight committee. This move comes with a notable shift: CEO Sam Altman is no longer part of the safety committee, marking a departure from the previous structure.

The newly formed Safety and Security Committee (SSC) will be chaired by Zico Kolter, Director of the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University. Other key members include Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, retired US Army General Paul Nakasone, and Nicole Seligman, former EVP and General Counsel of Sony Corporation. 

This new committee replaces the previous Safety and Security Committee that was formed in June 2024, which included Altman among its members. The original committee was tasked with making recommendations on critical safety and security decisions for OpenAI projects and operations.

The SSC’s responsibilities now extend beyond recommendations. It will have the authority to oversee safety evaluations for major model releases and exercise oversight over model launches. Crucially, the committee will have the power to delay a release until safety concerns are adequately addressed. 

This restructuring follows a period of scrutiny regarding OpenAI’s commitment to AI safety. The company has faced criticism in the past for disbanding its Superalignment team and the departures of key safety-focused personnel. The removal of Altman from the safety committee appears to be an attempt to address concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the company’s safety oversight.

OpenAI’s latest safety initiative also includes plans to enhance security measures, increase transparency about their work, and collaborate with external organizations. The company has already reached agreements with the US and UK AI Safety Institutes to collaborate on researching emerging AI safety risks and standards for trustworthy AI. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-new-safety-board-has-more-power-and-no-sam-altman-230113547.html?src=rss

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Hundreds of Amazon drivers in New York City have joined the Teamsters union in the hope of obtaining better pay and working conditions. The union says a majority of drivers at each of three delivery service partners (DSPs) working out of a Queens warehouse have signed authorization cards.
According to a Teamsters press release, the drivers have been organizing for a year to secure fair pay, consistent schedules, reasonable workloads and proper pay maintained trucks. They walked off the job last December as part of a nationwide protest against Amazon’s alleged unfair labor practices and union-busting efforts.
At least on paper, joining the union should give the drivers more leverage as they push Amazon for better working conditions. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the company will play ball. The Amazon Labor Union, one of the first major successful organization efforts within the company in the US, has yet to secure a union contract, two years after forming. The group became a Teamsters affiliate this summer.
However, the union has found some success on behalf of Amazon workers. Last month, a regional National Labor Relations Board director determined that Amazon is a joint employer of some third-party drivers in Palmdale, California. The Teamsters hope that finding will set a precedent for the rest for DSP drivers elsewhere. The Queens drivers are the first Amazon workers to organize with the Teamsters following that decision.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/hundreds-of-amazon-drivers-in-nyc-join-the-teamsters-union-202758685.html?src=rss

Hundreds of Amazon drivers in New York City have joined the Teamsters union in the hope of obtaining better pay and working conditions. The union says a majority of drivers at each of three delivery service partners (DSPs) working out of a Queens warehouse have signed authorization cards.

According to a Teamsters press release, the drivers have been organizing for a year to secure fair pay, consistent schedules, reasonable workloads and proper pay maintained trucks. They walked off the job last December as part of a nationwide protest against Amazon’s alleged unfair labor practices and union-busting efforts.

At least on paper, joining the union should give the drivers more leverage as they push Amazon for better working conditions. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the company will play ball. The Amazon Labor Union, one of the first major successful organization efforts within the company in the US, has yet to secure a union contract, two years after forming. The group became a Teamsters affiliate this summer.

However, the union has found some success on behalf of Amazon workers. Last month, a regional National Labor Relations Board director determined that Amazon is a joint employer of some third-party drivers in Palmdale, California. The Teamsters hope that finding will set a precedent for the rest for DSP drivers elsewhere. The Queens drivers are the first Amazon workers to organize with the Teamsters following that decision.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/hundreds-of-amazon-drivers-in-nyc-join-the-teamsters-union-202758685.html?src=rss

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