Apple’s annual iPhone event sure brought the fire on the handset side of things, but the company also announced two new AirPod models to join the ever-growing lineup. There's the standard AirPods 4 and a slightly more high-tech AirPods 4 with ANC. 

The biggest news is perhaps the addition of USB-C to the charging cases. This finally brings the AirPods in line with the rest of the world and, most importantly, newer iPhone and iPad releases. The AirPods 4 earbuds should also fit better, thanks to some design refinements. 

Both versions of the earbuds also include the H2 chip, allowing for an improvement in sound quality. There's even personalized spatial audio, voice isolation and gesture-based Siri controls. You can nod your head, for instance, to make certain adjustments. All told, these buds should get 30 hours of battery life. 

Apple

AirPods 4 with ANC may look identical to the standard model, but there’s an advanced feature set. This includes active noise cancellation, which isn't always a given with earbuds, and wireless charging. Both models are available to preorder right now, with shipments going out on September 20. The fourth-gen AirPods cost $129 and the AirPods 4 with ANC costs $179. 

The company also announced a refresh of the AirPods Max over-ear headphones, after four long years of waiting. The latest model boasts USB-C charging (yay) and comes in new colors, like black, blue, purple and orange. The company did not announce a refresh of the AirPods Pro earbuds, and its long overdue.

Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/airpods-4-have-a-new-design-and-an-anc-upgrade-option-173900817.html?src=rss

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is cheaper than we’ve ever seen it before, dropping well below the Prime Day price. The company’s premium smartwatch is available via Amazon for $689, which is a savings of $110.

This is Apple’s latest and greatest (for now) ultra-premium smartwatch. It boasts the company’s Double Tap feature, which lets users pinch quickly in mid-air to bring up the home screen and make adjustments.

The high-end watch is geared toward serious athletes and others with specialized fitness-tracking needs, so the sensors are on point and the exterior is incredibly durable. It still features the same 49-millimeter form factor as the original, so it's not too chonky. The screen is much brighter than the OG Ultra, up to 3,000 nits. This should make it easier to read in low light conditions, which is another boon for extreme athletes who do early morning training sessions. 

As for power, the smartwatch includes Apple’s new S9 chip, which allows for the aforementioned Double Tap gestural controls and upgraded Siri functionality. The battery can last up to 72 hours on a single charge, so long as it’s in low power mode. Otherwise, it’ll brick out after around 36 hours.

This is a whole lot of smartwatch. Not only is it double the price of the Apple Watch 9, but it's chock full of features that most people don’t need. This is a machine for serious fitness enthusiasts or those who go off the grid for long periods of time. With that being said, today’s sale makes this thing pretty darn attractive for the rest of us.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-watch-ultra-2-drops-below-its-prime-day-price-163255875.html?src=rss

Apple did not announce the Apple Watch Ultra 3 during its iPhone launch event, but right now, you can save big on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The company's high-end, performance smartwatch is down to $689 at Amazon right now, much cheaper than what it was during Amazon Prime Day in July. That represents a savings of $110, which is one of the best discounts we've seen. Keep in mind that October Prime Day will be returning this year (although specific dates haven't been announced yet), so there's a chance this smartwatch could go on sale again in a few weeks' time.

This high-end watch is geared toward serious athletes and others with specialized fitness-tracking needs, so the sensors are on point and the exterior is incredibly durable. It still features the same 49-millimeter form factor as the original, so it's not too chonky. The screen is much brighter than the OG Ultra, up to 3,000 nits. This should make it easier to read in low light conditions, which is another boon for extreme athletes who do early morning training sessions. 

As for power, the smartwatch includes Apple’s new S9 chip, which allows for the aforementioned Double Tap gestural controls and upgraded Siri functionality. The battery can last up to 72 hours on a single charge, so long as it’s in low power mode. Otherwise, it’ll brick out after around 36 hours.

This is a whole lot of smartwatch. Not only is it double the price of the Apple Watch 9, but it's chock full of features that most people don’t need. This is a machine for serious fitness enthusiasts or those who go off the grid for long periods of time. With that being said, today’s sale makes this thing pretty darn attractive for the rest of us.

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October Prime Day 2024 is around the corner, serving as Amazon’s (un)official kickoff to the holiday shopping season. If you’re eager to snag some early holiday deals for those on your list (or yourself), here’s what we know so far about the next Prime Day shopping event.

When is October Prime Day 2024?

Amazon has not announced the dates of fall Prime Day 2024 yet, but we do know it will be returning sometime in October.

What is October Prime Day?

October Prime Day is an extension of the regular Prime Day sale held annually in July. It features exclusive deals on Amazon for Prime members, although not quite on as big of a scale as the main summer Prime Day.

How long is October Prime Day?

In years past, October Prime Day has been two days long, just like Prime Day in July.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-watch-ultra-2-is-cheaper-now-than-it-was-during-amazon-prime-day-163255367.html?src=rss

Apple did not announce the Apple Watch Ultra 3 during its iPhone launch event, but right now, you can save big on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The company's high-end, performance smartwatch is down to $689 at Amazon right now, much cheaper than what it was during Amazon Prime Day in July. That represents a savings of $110, which is one of the best discounts we've seen. Keep in mind that October Prime Day will be returning this year (although specific dates haven't been announced yet), so there's a chance this smartwatch could go on sale again in a few weeks' time.

This high-end watch is geared toward serious athletes and others with specialized fitness-tracking needs, so the sensors are on point and the exterior is incredibly durable. It still features the same 49-millimeter form factor as the original, so it's not too chonky. The screen is much brighter than the OG Ultra, up to 3,000 nits. This should make it easier to read in low light conditions, which is another boon for extreme athletes who do early morning training sessions. 

As for power, the smartwatch includes Apple’s new S9 chip, which allows for the aforementioned Double Tap gestural controls and upgraded Siri functionality. The battery can last up to 72 hours on a single charge, so long as it’s in low power mode. Otherwise, it’ll brick out after around 36 hours.

This is a whole lot of smartwatch. Not only is it double the price of the Apple Watch 9, but it's chock full of features that most people don’t need. This is a machine for serious fitness enthusiasts or those who go off the grid for long periods of time. With that being said, today’s sale makes this thing pretty darn attractive for the rest of us.

---

October Prime Day 2024 is around the corner, serving as Amazon’s (un)official kickoff to the holiday shopping season. If you’re eager to snag some early holiday deals for those on your list (or yourself), here’s what we know so far about the next Prime Day shopping event.

When is October Prime Day 2024?

Amazon has not announced the dates of fall Prime Day 2024 yet, but we do know it will be returning sometime in October.

What is October Prime Day?

October Prime Day is an extension of the regular Prime Day sale held annually in July. It features exclusive deals on Amazon for Prime members, although not quite on as big of a scale as the main summer Prime Day.

How long is October Prime Day?

In years past, October Prime Day has been two days long, just like Prime Day in July.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-watch-ultra-2-is-cheaper-now-than-it-was-during-amazon-prime-day-163255367.html?src=rss

Apple is finally bringing its Find My feature to South Korea in 2025. The company says the service will launch at some point during the spring, according to a translation of a press release published by AppleInsider.

For years, South Korea has been just about the only country without access to Apple’s tracking network. So what changed? It looks like one reason behind the move is an influx of user complaints. These complaints have merit, as Apple sells AirTags in the country. Without the Find My network, AirTags are basically useless little silver pucks.

Apple has not addressed the reason behind the sudden change of heart. According to the user petition, the company has kept the feature disabled due to "internal policy." The country has strict privacy regulations, so that could be what led to the aforementioned internal policy. In the past, Apple has said that Find My was absent from South Korea because the company was unable to export high-precision map data due to local laws, as reported by MacRumors.

To that end, South Korea is particularly protective of geographic data. Associated legal restrictions have long been a thorn in the side of international platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps, as real time mapping data is tough to come by. This has also impacted games that rely on mapping data, like Pokémon Go.

However, Find My already works in the country’s outlying territories like Baengnyeongdo and Ulleungdo, so who knows exactly why it’s taking so long for Find My to reach the mainland. In any event, this is good news for South Koreans who want to keep an eye on their precious belongings. Here’s hoping the platform works as intended. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/apples-find-my-finally-comes-to-south-korea-in-2025-185754477.html?src=rss

The American dream used to involve purchasing a home. As huge corporations buy up residential stock and wages lay stagnant, the new American dream is to scroll through Zillow and salivate at what could have been, if only we had been born into one of those families with money. To that end, Zillow just upped its AI game to make it easier to find a dream home that you’ll never be able to afford.

The popular real estate marketplace integrated some AI tools into its search feature last year, but it just released a fairly substantial software update that brings in more options. Users can now use natural language to find homes or rentals based on commute times or how far they are from schools or other points of interest.

Before this type of AI, people would have to use filters to come up with a list of appropriate domiciles. Now, you can just write “homes 20 min drive from Red Hook” and get some good listings. This should also be useful for areas with popular destinations. For instance, you could write “homes near Mall of America” instead of combing through every Minneapolis-adjacent listing.

Zillow

Today’s update also lets the AI algorithm search by cost, so you can add preferred pricing into the query. The AI-enhanced search already included the option to look for homes by ideal layout, location, style and condition. It's the money and commute stuff that's new. 

As with all things AI, Zillow’s tool is still a work in progress. It’ll be training itself as it's being used so as to “better respond to search queries that use natural, human-like sentences.” You should also be on the lookout for hallucinations. If it seems too good to be true, it likely is. In any event, the update’s rolling out now to the iOS and Android apps, with website support coming soon.

The platform has never been shy about incorporating tech into its feature set. It introduced 3D virtual home tours a few years back. More recently, the company integrated with FaceTime’s SharePlay feature to allow for cooperative browsing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/zillow-enhanced-its-ai-search-feature-so-now-you-can-sadly-stare-at-even-more-overpriced-homes-183857996.html?src=rss