Monthly Archives: November 2023

Headspace’s Black Friday deal knocks half off annual and monthly memberships

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Subscriptions to the Headspace app are half off this Black Friday for new and returning customers who have had memberships expire. Starting on November 14 through the 27th, the annual $70 fee will be slashed to $35. Alternatively, you could get a monthly subscription for $6.50 each pay period instead of $13.

A subscription to the mindfulness app will get you access to an entire suite of meditation programming, as well as sounds that can help you focus. But the app isn’t just for stress — it landed a spot on our best sleep app list. Users will also gain access to curated yoga and fitness videos that can help them stick to their fitness goals and in turn, improve overall wellness.

Headspace also offers video content and stress-relieving meditation programs specific for work and school. You can calm your nerves and learn how to connect with your peers by taking the advice of a professional before a presentation if you struggle with public speaking, for example. Or you could follow along with a 7-minute meditation clip to help you decompress after a long day at work. If you're new to meditation, you can start as a beginner through a four-week guided program assembled by a Headspace expert.

If you're navigating change or undergoing a stressful time, this Black Friday deal might be the perfect gateway into meditation and getting extra mental health support. If you're thinking about shopping for the holidays, Engadget has recommended a subscription to Headspace app as a thoughtful gift for teachers, or students alike.

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/headspaces-black-friday-deal-knocks-half-off-annual-and-monthly-memberships-140017944.html?src=rss

Uber is cracking down on users who give bad ratings just to get refunds

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Uber drivers (and riders) need to maintain a high rating to keep using the app, but bad actors can pull that score down. Some may even give a driver or courier a poor rating for a perfectly fine ride or food delivery just so they can get a refund. Uber says it's doing more to tackle that problem and to make the platform fairer and safer for riders and couriers.

The company says it has established new systems to pinpoint users who make complaints solely in an effort to get a refund or other appeasement. Uber says any allegations that these flagged users make will not impact a driver's rating or play a factor in account deactivation decisions. The company notes that this builds on a policy it's had since 2017 to discard low ratings for issues that are outside of a driver's or courier's control, such as heavy traffic.

Elsewhere, drivers and couriers will receive clearer information as to why Uber deactivated their account. They'll be able to ask Uber to review the decision and include any details that may help their case, such as video or audio recordings. In addition, drivers in the US who have been accused of operating their vehicle under the influence of drugs will have the option of taking a test to prove their innocence. Uber will cover the cost of the drug test.

These are part of a number of measures Uber is bringing in to make the platform safer and fairer for drivers. For one thing, the company is expanding its Record My Ride feature to more cities in the US. Drivers in more locations will be able to use their iPhone's front-facing camera to capture video of their trips. As with the audio recording feature that's now available nationwide, no one will have access to an encrypted video capture unless a driver sends it to Uber for review.

In another safety-oriented update, Uber says that in 2024 it will "significantly expand verification of rider identities to compare rider account details against trusted data sources or an ID document." Eventually, it will start informing drivers whether the rider they're set to pick up is verified. The idea is to give drivers more peace of mind before they accept a trip.

Other updates Uber has announced include Android Auto integration so the Uber Driver app can be accessed on a larger screen. That builds on previous CarPlay integration.

Drivers will soon be able to share real-time traffic and route information that other drivers can access, while information on roadworks, crashes and lane closures that are sourced from TomTom are automatically factored into Uber's suggested routes. Meanwhile, couriers can now see if there's free parking close to their destination and they can access more information about their drop-off point, including photos of the building or door.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/uber-is-clamping-down-on-users-who-give-bad-ratings-just-to-get-refunds-164045280.html?src=rss

Takashi Murakami adds iconic sapphire flower design to limited edition Hublot watch

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There are a lot of smartwatch options available in the market already but there are still who prefer their watches to just tell time. Some prefer these analog timepieces as they are more well designed and beautifully crafted than the smart versions. Hublot is still one of the top brands out there when it comes to watches and their latest one is a collaboration with iconic Japanese designer Takashi Murakami. Even for the most casual watch lovers, this seems to be something to aim for although it is a very limited edition.

Designer: Takashi Murakami for Hublot

There are only 50 MP-15 Takashi Murakami watches available and for a serious watch collector who likes pretty things, this is a must-have. Not only does it have the iconic motif from the Japanese designer of a sapphire flower, but it is also the first watch that Hublot produced for an exclusive release that has a central flying tourbillon and it also does not have a traditional dial. Instead, you get a complication in the center and the hands are moved to the edge instead of the center, running under the tourbillon.

The aforementioned tourbillon is in the middle and surrounded by the sapphire flower with 12 petals. The entire design is luminous and so you get to experience the play of light when it is reflected on the translucent flange and bracelet as well as the sapphire case, caseback, and crown. The flying centre tourbillon has a power reserve of 150 hours and a special pin to wind it up that can be charged through a USB port. All of the components for the watch are skeletonized, giving off a mixture of transparency and delicacy.

The overall effect of all these different elements make it look like it is floating in space. Since there are only 50 pieces of the MP-15 Takashi Murakami, you can expect that it is not cheap. But for those who collect rarities like this, the chance to own an intricate timepiece like this will probably be too good to pass up.

The post Takashi Murakami adds iconic sapphire flower design to limited edition Hublot watch first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ableton’s Push 3 controller is 20 percent off in early Black Friday deal

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Ableton’s simply-named Push controller, which is actually the Push 3 for those keeping count, is on sale for 20 percent off straight from the manufacturer, bringing the cost down to $1,600 from that eye-watering MSRP of $2,000. This deal’s for the standalone version of the hardware, so you can make beats wherever you want.

Ableton doesn’t do hardware sales too often, so this is worth considering if you’ve been on the fence about the Push controller. To sweeten the deal, the company’s also selling its DAW, Live 11, for 20 percent off, bringing the price down to $350 for the standard version and $600 for the complete Suite version with 70+ gigs of additional content. There’s also a bare-bones version for $80, down from $100.

If you’re an Ableton-head, you probably know that Live 12 just got announced with a release date of early next year. Don’t worry. Buying Live 11 now with today’s discount ensures a free upgrade to Live 12 when it arrives.

The latest and greatest Push controller is a hybrid device that works as a standalone groovebox or connected to the computer, similar to the Native Instruments Maschine+. We admired the Push controller when we used it, calling out the usefulness of the 64 MPE enabled pads and the power of the integrated 11th Core i3 processor with 8GB of RAM.

We were impressed by the decreased latency during use, noting that playing with the controller in standalone mode actually featured less lag than when working tethered to a computer. This makes it a fantastic device for live performances. The battery life isn’t the greatest, but that’s to be expected with all of that juice. The price is also exorbitant, which has been mitigated a bit by this sale.

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/abletons-push-standalone-midi-controller-is-20-percent-off-in-early-black-friday-deal-161429042.html?src=rss

Budget vs Expensive Android smartphones compared (Video)

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There is a big difference in price between budget Android smartphones and expensive Android smartphones, but is there really that much of a difference in their usability, a new video from Mrwhostheboss compares two handsets side by side. In the video below the Xiaomi Rdmi Note 13 which costs $349 is tested side by side […]

The post Budget vs Expensive Android smartphones compared (Video) appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

ADATA USB4 SE920 external SSD supports Thunderbolt 3 and 4

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ADATA USB4 SE920 external SSD supports Thunderbolt 3 and 4

ADATA has launched its first USB4 SE920 external SSD which is compatible with both Xbox and PlayStation consoles providing an easy way to upgrade your console storage without the need to take your console apart, supporting both Thunderbolt 3 and 4. With USB4 is set to become the new transmission standard for devices, aligning with the […]

The post ADATA USB4 SE920 external SSD supports Thunderbolt 3 and 4 appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Honor X50i+ Android smartphone unveiled

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Honor X50i+

Honor has unveiled its latest Android smartphone, the Honor X50i+, and the handset comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display that features a Full HD+ resolution of 2412 x 1080 pixels and it comes with a 90Hz refresh rate. The new Honor X50i+ smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 mobile processor and the handset […]

The post Honor X50i+ Android smartphone unveiled appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

iRobot’s Roomba Combo j5+ is $300 off in an early Black Friday deal

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iRobot's Roomba Combo j5+ robot vacuum is $300 off in an early Black Friday deal via Wellbots. This is a record-low for the appliance, dropping the price to $500 instead of the MSRP of $800. In the past, discounts for the j5+ stalled at around $200 off. As typical with Wellbots deals, there’s a promo code. Just enter “ENGBF300” at checkout and you’ll be good to go.

The Roomba Combo j5+, as the name suggests, is a combination unit that includes both a vacuum and a mopping feature. It can pinpoint no-mop zones, so you don’t have to worry about the robot spraying fluid all over your brand-new carpet. The j5+ can also avoid more than 80 common floor obstacles. As a matter of fact, iRobot will replace the unit for free if it doesn’t avoid pet waste, as part of the company’s “P.O.O.P.” pledge. No, we didn’t make that up. It stands for “Pet Owner Official Promise.”

This is a well-regarded robovac with one obvious downside when compared to pricier models like the Roomba j7+ and the flagship j9+. Despite the combo functionality, you have to manually swap out the bins when switching between vacuuming and mopping. The more expensive robots do this automatically. Still, the j9+ costs $900 and the j5+ is currently on sale for $400. You’ll have to decide if that automation feature is worth the price difference.

Wellbots is also selling the junior-grade Roomba 694 vacuum for $115 off. Just enter “ENGBF115” and grab it for $159. This is your basic workhorse robovac with no mopping functionality. It does one job and it does it well, which is why it ended up on our lists of the best robot vacuums for 2023 and the best budget robot vacuums.

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/irobots-roomba-combo-j5-is-300-off-in-an-early-black-friday-deal-150047886.html?src=rss

How to set up Wi-Fi calling on your Android Phone

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Wi-Fi calling on your Android Phone

This guide is designed to show you how to set up Wi-Fi calling on your Android Phone. Wi-Fi calling is a feature that allows you to make and receive phone calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of your cellular network. This can be useful if you have poor cellular reception, such as when you’re indoors […]

The post How to set up Wi-Fi calling on your Android Phone appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Google’s Pixel Buds Pro fall to record low price of $117 in an early Black Friday deal

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Google’s Pixel Buds Pro earbuds are on sale for $117 via Wellbots. This matches a record-low for the well-regarded device and represents a savings of $83. Just pop the earbuds in your cart and put in the code “ENGPIXBF” at checkout. These earbuds drop to $117 every once in a while, but they don’t ever go lower than that.

We called these earbuds Google's best effort to date in our official review, praising the useful touch controls and wireless charging options. We also liked the deep and punchy bass offered by the buds and the fact that they ship with active noise cancellation technology, a first for this line. There’s a reason, after all, why the Pixel Buds Pro made our list of the best wireless earbuds for 2023.

The battery gets 11 hours per charge from the earbuds, but up to 31 hours with the included charging case. They are also IPX4 water-resistant and offer multipoint connection options. These are earbuds designed by Google, however, so Android users get some bonuses, like the company’s Translate Conversation Mode. If you’re tied into the Apple ecosystem, these may not be the best fit.

This isn’t the only Google product on sale via Wellbots. You can also snag a Nest Hub Max smart display for $124 with the promo code “ENGMAXBF.” This represents a savings of over $100 for the 10-inch touchscreen-enabled device.

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/googles-pixel-buds-pro-fall-to-record-low-price-of-117-in-early-black-friday-deal-140030014.html?src=rss