Monthly Archives: November 2023

The Morning After: Formula 1 wants AI to help it figure out if a car breaks track limits

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The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), F1’s governing body, says it will employ Computer Vision tech at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend. Drivers know the exact lines to take at corners for optimal lap times, but sometimes racers go out of bounds as they try to gain an advantage, and officials need to check cars stay within track limits. Four people had to review around 1,200 potential violations in July's Austrian Grand Prix, and some track limit violations went unpunished in October’s US Grand Prix. The FIA hopes to reduce the number of possible infringements officials manually review to around 50 per race.

Oh, and a tidal wave of deals on the usual gadget suspects. Black Friday gonna Black Friday.

— Mat Smith

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The biggest stories you might have missed

The Pixel 7a is 25 percent off and cheaper than ever

The best Black Friday deals on AirPods and AirPods Pro for 2023

Watch Zelda: Ocarina of Time, reimagined in the style of Studio Ghibli

Dbrand is suing Casetify for allegedly stealing its case and skin designs

Casetify apparently left in Easter eggs from Dbrand’s Teardown products.

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Dbrand

Accessory maker Dbrand — usually the target of litigation — has filed a “multi-million dollar” lawsuit against Casetify for allegedly ripping off the designs of its “transparent” Teardown products. The skins and cases look like the internal components of the device they’re applied to, such as smartphones and laptops. Dbrand and YouTuber Zack “JerryRigEverything” Nelson say Casetify stole those designs. They claim Casetify’s Inside Out cases have a poorly masked version of a label on Teardown products that features Nelson’s signature phrase “glass is glass, and glass breaks.”

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NVIDIA sued for stealing trade secrets after screen sharing blunder

Valeo said NVIDIA saved millions of dollars by stealing its trade secrets.

Black Friday means… more corporate litigation! NVIDIA is facing a lawsuit from French automotive company Valeo after a screensharing blunder by one of its employees. According to Valeo’s complaint, an NVIDIA engineer who used to work for Valeo had mistakenly shown its source code files on his computer as he was sharing his screen during a meeting between both companies in 2022.

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The best Black Friday deals 2023

Get record-low prices on tech from Apple, Samsung, Google and more.

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Engadget

Black Friday may still technically be one day, but it’s turned into a post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy. We at Engadget care most about consumer electronics, and Black Friday (along with Cyber Monday) typically brings the best prices on the best tech all year. Notable discounts this year are on AirTags, smart plugs, Dyson hair products, Sonos sound bars and more. Also, it’s worth checking out streaming services subscription deals for Peacock, Max and more.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-formula-1-wants-ai-to-help-it-figure-out-if-a-car-breaks-track-limits-121523661.html?src=rss

Black Friday 2023 deals are live: These are the best tech deals, hand-picked by our experts

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It's finally here — Black Friday 2023 has kicked off in earnest today and there are tons of great deals and record-low prices to be had on some of the best tech of the year. Even though we've been seeing early Black Friday deals pop up since late October, today is the day many people have been waiting for. If you've held out so far with the hopes of getting the best deals possible on tech like headphones, smartwatches, TVs and more, now's the time to shop. We're seeing record lows on tech across all categories, including some of our favorite gear of the year, too. Follow along with our Black Friday live blog where the Engadget team will be surfacing the best tech deals you can get for Black Friday 2023.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/black-friday-2023-deals-are-live-the-best-tech-deals-hand-picked-by-our-experts-120020255.html?src=rss

Apple Black Friday deals: The 9th-gen iPad is $99 off and down to a record-low price

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Some folks genuinely need a high-powered iPad to boost their productivity and help with tasks such as video editing and image processing. But many others are content to have an Apple tablet just so they can browse the web, catch up with friends and stream movies and TV shows.

If you're in the latter camp, or you're looking for an entry-level iPad for another reason, it's worth considering a slightly older model that's on sale for Black Friday. The ninth-generation iPad currently starts at $230 for a model with 64GB of storage at Target and Amazon. That's $99 off the regular price of $329. This is the best price we've seen for the tablet all year.

This is our pick for the best budget iPad and we gave it a score of 86 in our 2021 review. Sure, the design is pretty dated, but the 9th-gen iPad is still more than capable of handling casual tasks thanks to its A13 Bionic chip. That's the same chipset Apple used in the iPhone 11.

The 9th-gen iPad has a 10.2-inch display, but it's unfortunately somewhat susceptible to glare. Unlike newer iPads, which have switched to a USB-C charging port, you'll still need a Lightning cable to top up this one's battery. It's one of the last iPads to feature a Home button and while the 12MP front-facing camera is capable enough, it's positioned along a portrait edge of the screen, which makes video calls a little more awkward. One major plus point of this model: it's the only iPad still on sale that features a headphone jack.

If you're looking for something with extra power and a more refined design (but aren't ready to pony up for an iPad Air or Pro), consider snagging the 10th-gen iPad. That's $100 off for Black Friday as it's down to $349 for a configuration with 64GB of storage. This tablet has Apple's A14 Bionic chip. Other pros include USB-C charging and the front-facing camera moving to the landscape edge of the screen. We gave this model a score of 85 in our review.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-black-friday-deals-the-9th-gen-ipad-is-99-off-and-down-to-a-record-low-price-100000164.html?src=rss

Black Friday speaker deals include up to $180 off Sonos gear

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Sonos is a big name in the audio world, and many Engadget staffers are big fans. One thing you'll notice about their speakers, however, is that they rarely go on sale. Which is makes the company's Black Friday sale particularly compelling. Sonos speakers and soundbars are up to $180 off right now, at both Sonos' own storefront and via other retailers. We're seeing discounts on home theater products of up to 20 percent off, and portable speakers going for up to 25 percent off. Many bundles with multiple speakers are also on sale. These offers are available until Cyber Monday, aka November 27.

Sonos Era 100

The Sonos Era 100 is our pick for the best mid-range speaker around and at $199, it's $50 off for Black Friday. We gave the Era 100, which debuted earlier this year to replace the Sonos One, a score of 88 in our review. You won't always find Bluetooth and line-in (though you'll need an adaptor for that) support on Sonos devices so it's great that they're included here. You can use built-in mics to tune the audio output for the room.

Unfortunately, there's no Ethernet jack or Google Assistant integration — the latter is less of an issue if you connect an Era 100 to another smart speaker with Assistant support. We also found that there's no real stereo separation on a single speaker. So, if you can swing two units, that might be the way to go. You can pair them for stereo playback and with other Sonos devices for a richer home theater or whole-home audio experience.

Sonos Roam

The portable Roam speaker is on sale too. It's down from $179 to $134. The Roam is smaller than the Move (it weighs less than a pound). At this price point, it's even more competitive with many portable Bluetooth speakers. The Roam earned a score of 87 in our review with the durability, waterproofing and audio quality all proving to be plus points. If you can afford two Roam units that you can pair together, even better. However, at around 10 hours, the battery life wasn't stellar in our testing and the Roam isn't the loudest portable speaker out there. That's an important consideration when it comes to outdoor parties. Still, the Sonos Roam is our top pick for the best portable smart speaker.

Sonos Beam Gen 2

Speaking of home theaters, if that's the kind of setup you're looking for, you may want to pick up a Sonos soundbar too. The Sonos Beam includes Dolby Atmos audio in its second iteration, which marks a significant improvement from the first gen as it has more immersive audio. Even though it doesn't have upward firing Atmos drivers, the Beam Gen 2 sounds darn good. As such, it's our pick for the best mid-range soundbar. It's available for $399 during the Black Friday sale.

Sonos Arc

If you're looking for a more premium soundbar experience, the Sonos Arc may be of interest. The higher-end soundbar has dropped from $899 to $719. We gave the Arc a score of 85 in our review, lauding it for stellar audio and its adaptability in terms of how it accounts for different types of content and other connected speakers. The cylindrical design gives the soundbar a modern look too. As with the Beam, you won't be able to hook up all of your devices directly to the Arc, since there's only one HDMI input. Still, it's our runner-up pick for the best premium soundbar after Sony's HT-A7000.

Sonos Sub Mini

It may be the case that you're looking to beef up the low end of your existing Sonos setup. If so, it's worth considering the Sonos Sub Mini. The compact subwoofer can be all yours for $343 during the Black Friday sale. It's down from $429. We gave the Sub Mini a score of 87 in our review. It delivers terrific bass output for its size. Unfortunately, it's not compatible with portable Sonos product, such as the Move and the Roam, but it pairs easily with the company's wired speakers. As such, the Sub Mini is a great addition to home theater setups in apartments and smaller homes.

Sonos Roam

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonos-black-friday-deals-knock-up-to-180-off-speakers-and-soundbars-140031968.html?src=rss

The Apple Watch Series 9 drops to a record-low $329 for Black Friday

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The latest and greatest Apple Watch Series 9 is on sale for $329 as part of a larger Black Friday event over at Amazon. This is a record-low for the smartwatch, which isn’t surprising as it just launched back in September. The deal’s for the 41mm model and is available with multiple band and watch colors.

We loved Apple’s newest smartwatch in our official review, calling out the gesture-based control system that lets you perform many tasks without ever having to swipe on the screen. To that end, the Series 9 has on-board Siri functionality, so requests don’t have to head to your phone before being processed. This drastically improves the speed when using the voice assistant.

Of course, this is an Apple watch so iPhone integration is best-in-class, thanks to the app and the inclusion of a second-generation ultra-wideband (UWB) chipset. You can, for instance, easily use the watch to locate your phone when it has scuttled behind the couch. The iPhone and Apple Watch are meant to go together, like really expensive peanut butter and jelly.

The health and fitness tracking and related sensors are also excellent, which is a primary reason why many people pick up one of these watches. However, the Series 9 lacks blood oxygen and temperature sensors, which may be a dealbreaker for some. There’s also the battery life, which depletes after around 18 hours. This is great for a full day of use, except for those who want to indulge in the watch’s sleep tracking features. In other words, you’ll have to charge it before you go to sleep. Despite those nitpicks, this is the best Apple watch you can buy in 2023.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-watch-series-9-drops-to-a-record-low-329-for-black-friday-110024040.html?src=rss

OnePlus 12 wood texture leak fires off Internet debates on bold design choice

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Although it seems to have become a bit quieter and more business-minded of late, OnePlus was a brand that boasted bucking trends both in the way it designed phones and how it conducted its business. The first OnePlus phone, for example, sported a removable back cover and cover designs that included uncommon materials like sandstone and wood. More recent OnePlus designs have become less daring and more conventional, though the company does offer unique variations or accessories from time to time. Such a time might be coming later this year with the new OnePlus 12, which might don a wooden back yet again, whether as an integrated rear panel or an aftermarket accessory.

Designer: OnePlus (via Digital Chat Station)

The OnePlus One was quite the rebellious teen when it launched back in 2014. It carried flagship specs but dangled a price tag that sounded too good to be true. It brought back removable batteries and back covers that you could swap to your heart’s delight. The latter was an important detail that appealed to a style-conscious market, a market that tends to make things go viral on the Internet, which is probably what helped make OnePlus an overnight sensation. Those days are long gone, but the company might be making a throwback soon, depending on how you interpret this latest leak.

According to a reliable tipster, the OnePlus 12 will feature a “classic wood grain shell,” a phrase taken from an auto-translation of the original text. The image below shows proof of that, complete with all the unevenness and imperfections that give wood its natural beauty. Naturally, with only one part of the phone’s back shown, the revelation sparks plenty of discussions and speculations on what that “shell” really means.

On the one hand, it could be a completely new variant that uses wood or “faux wood” as the material for the OnePlus 12’s back panel. This is a possibility if you consider that OnePlus no longer makes its back covers removable, just like every other smartphone in the market today. On the other hand, it could simply be a special edition of protective cases, though it would seem to be extra slim if that were the case (no pun intended).

What makes the guessing game a bit more complicated is that OnePlus has actually done all of those over the course of its history. The OnePlus One, for example, was notable for its SwitchStyle covers that included bamboo, walnut, and sandstone textures. More recently, it launched a limited “Marble Odyssey” edition of the OnePlus 11 5G that employed 3D microcrystalline rocks to achieve the unique look and feel of marble. Suffice it to say, OnePlus is at least still keen on pushing the boundaries of materials, textures, and designs that give its smartphones more personality than your average handset.

The post OnePlus 12 wood texture leak fires off Internet debates on bold design choice first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Echo Show 5 drops to $40 in Amazon’s Black Friday sale

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The Echo Show 5 smart display has dropped to $40 as part of Amazon’s Black Friday sale. That’s 56 percent off the MSRP, representing a savings of $50. This matches a record-low price for the device. It’s worth noting that this deal is for the latest and greatest 3rd-generation of the display that was originally released earlier this year.

The Echo Show 5 made our list of the best smart displays you can buy, and for good reason. This device is only 5.5 inches wide, thus the name, which could be too small for some people, but actually serves a useful purpose. The Echo Show 5 makes for a fantastic bedside device, as it fits snugly on a nightstand or even a small desk.

This also allows it to double as a stellar smart alarm clock, a feature Amazon has encouraged with regular software updates. The screen’s brightness adjusts automatically, thanks to an integrated ambient light sensor, and there’s a nice tap-to-snooze function. There’s even a sunrise alarm that slowly brightens the screen so you can wake up gently instead of being yelled at by a loud beeping noise. It does boast a camera, which might make you feel weird being as how it’ll likely be in the bedroom. Luckily, it also ships with a camera cover.

Amazon’s sale goes beyond the Echo Show 5, if you’re looking for a larger smart display. The latest Echo Show 8 is discounted to $105 from $150 and the large-and-in-charge Echo Show 10 is on sale for $160 instead of $250.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-echo-show-5-drops-to-40-in-amazons-black-friday-sale-130026088.html?src=rss

Apple Black Friday deals bring the AirPods Pro with USB-C down to $190

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If you've been eager to upgrade your wireless buds to Apple's latest, Black Friday deals will make that a little easier to do. The AirPods Pro with USB-C charging case have dropped to a record low of $190, which is $60 off their usual price. The third-gen AirPods are also on sale for $140. While Apple made tons of improvements to the more affordable buds, the AirPods Pro earned a spot on our best wireless earbuds list instead and are worth the extra spend.

The biggest perk of the latest AirPods Pro is their USB-C charging case, upgraded from Lightning earlier this year. The case is also MagSafe compatible, so you can use either a USB-C cable or a wireless charger to power it up. As far as battery life goes, the Pros should get up to six hours of listening time and a total of 30 hours of use when employing the extra juice from the charging case.

When Apple last updated the buds themselves, the company significantly improved audio quality and noise cancelation. Transparency Mode is a standout as well, which is the most natural sounding out of the many buds we've tested and reviewed. The AirPods Pro are, unsurprisingly, our top pick wireless earbuds for iOS users precisely because of how well they integrate with iPhones and iPads. You get quick pairing and switching with these buds, hands-free Siri access and spatial audio as well.

Apple's third-gen AirPods are a decent option as well, but you won't get many of the advanced features found on the Pros. There's no active noise cancelation, nor USB-C charging (you're stuck with Lightning), but you do get an IPX4-rated design, spatial audio, solid sound quality and all of the same iOS conveniences thanks to the H1 chip inside.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-black-friday-deals-bring-the-airpods-pro-with-usb-c-down-to-190-100004586.html?src=rss

A four pack of Apple AirTags is down to $80 on Amazon for Black Friday 2023

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If you've wanted a couple more AirTags to keep track of your keys, wallet or luggage, now's a good time to grab them. An Amazon Black Friday deal has brought the price of a four pack down to $80, which is close to a record low. That also brings the price per AirTag down to $20 each, which is a great price. If you really only have need for one extra Bluetooth tracker, you can buy one AirTag for $24.

Apple's AirTags leverage the company's Find My network that's powered by all of its devices around the world. You'll need to pair them with an iPhone or an iPad to be able to track them, of course, but as long as they're within range of another Apple device, you'll know where they currently are or what their last location was. The Find My map will be able to guide you, so you can find your purse, suitcase, wallet, or whatever it is you're tracking. 

You can make an AirTag play a sound on its built-in speaker through your phone or tablet to make it easier to find, or you can ask Siri to do it for you. If you have an iPhone 11 or later that supports Ultra Wideband, you'll have access to the Find Nearby feature that displays the distance to and the direction information for your AirTag. Your phone will also vibrate the closer you get to the tracking device. And if you want to be notified as soon as it's spotted by Apple's Find My Network, all you have to do is put the device in Lost Mode. When it comes to maintenance, you don't have to do much: The AirTag is water and dust resistant, and it runs on a coin battery that you only have to replace once a year or so. 

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-down-to-80-on-amazon-for-black-friday-2023-183636656.html?src=rss