Infinix has launched its latest range of smartphones, the Infinix NOTE 40 series, and the range is made up of the NOTE 40, NOTE 40 Pro, NOTE 40 Pro 5G. The handsets come with Infinix’s All-Round FastCharge 2.0 technology. The NOTE 40 Series ushers in a new era of charging technology with its introduction of […]
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Amazon's Big Spring Sale is almost here, and deals on its Fire tablets are already trickling in. Take the new Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, down to $95 from $140 — a 32 percent discount. This sale brings the 32GB device to only $15 more than its all-time low since launching last October.
Amazon's new Fire HD 10 tablet is a solid boost from its predecessor, thanks, in part, to 25 percent faster performance and 3GB of RAM. It has a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen with 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, 5MP front and rear-facing cameras, and 13 hours of battery life. Plus, it offers a microSD slot that can be used to add another 1TB of storage. This model does feature lockscreen ads, and it currently costs $110 to buy the device without them.
Then there's Amazon's 32GB Fire HD 8 tablet, down to $65 from $100 thanks to a 35 percent discount. The eight-inch HD, 1280 x 800 resolution screen also features lockscreen ads at this price. The Fire HD 8 tablet's processor works 30 percent faster than its predecessor, and it has 2GB of RAM. For $30 less than the Fire HD 10 tablet, it offers similar features, just with not as high-quality (or large) a screen.
The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet and Fire 7 Kids tablet are among the other models on sale, with 22 percent and 36 percent discounts, respectively.
Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-discounts-fire-tablets-by-35-percent-ahead-of-the-big-spring-sale-145954252.html?src=rssApple is reportedly in talks with Google to integrate its Gemini AI in iPhones, Bloomberg reports, a move that should help both companies compete with OpenAI and its (heavily invested) partner Microsoft. While it might seem like an admission that Apple is lagging behind on AI, the partnership fits if you think of generative AI models as an evolution of web searching, something Google already provides to all of Apple's devices. According to the report, Gemini could be the cloud-based generative AI engine for Siri and other iPhone apps, while Apple's models could be woven into the upcoming iOS 18 for on-device AI tasks.
Bloomberg notes that Apple has also had discussions with OpenAI about using its own models, and it could still end up partnering with another AI outfit, like Anthropic. Apple could conceivably even work with multiple partners until its own generative models are up to snuff. But teaming up with Google makes the most sense, especially since the search giant is already giving Apple millions to bring search to the Safari browser.
Apple needs some sort of generative AI solution that it can implement this year (its own Ajax model will likely take years to match Gemini and OpenAI), and Google needs a quick way to bring its AI smarts to billions of devices.
There are regulatory concerns to consider — the Department of Justice has already sued Google over its search dominance, including the way it pays Apple and other companies to use its search engine. But given the specter of Microsoft and OpenAI's partnership — which turned the Bing search engine into an artificial intelligence hype machine overnight, and is now powering all of Microsoft's Copilot AI solutions — the potential gains could be worth the risk for Apple and Google.
There are still technical issues for Google to deal with too: Gemini was recently under fire for inaccurately rendering historical images. But even considering potential growing pains, a partnership with Apple helps both companies. And it also gives Apple room to develop its own models while OpenAI and Google deal with the growing pains of generative AI.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/of-course-apple-wants-to-bring-googles-gemini-ai-to-iphones-144604811.html?src=rssThe PlayStation VR2 doesn’t seem to have been a major hit for Sony. Just over a year after the headset debuted, the company has paused production until it deals with a stockpile of unsold inventory, according to Bloomberg.
The company is said to have manufactured well more than 2 million units. According to analysts at IDC, the company sold around 1.7 million headsets in 2023. Perhaps most concerningly for Sony, sales appeared to have slowed significantly throughout the year. Hardware sales often pick up ahead of the holidays, but the fourth quarter was the most sluggish sales period yet for PS VR2 per IDC — the firm says Sony sold just 325,200 units during those three months.
A dearth of compelling games (or at least the perception that's the case) hasn't helped make the PS VR2 attractive to prospective buyers. Overall, Sony has only released four VR experiences for the headset and is yet to announce any other first-party games for the platform. It also recently shuttered its London Studio, one of its few in-house developers that had been making VR games. The lack of backward compatibility for games from the original PS VR headset may have harmed the current model's prospects too.
In our review, senior editor Devindra Hardawar gave the PS VR2 a score of 84, feeling that while it was a great headset overall, the high price and doubts over long-term support were significant concerns. Additionally, the headset only works with a PS5, but that could be about to change.
Sony recently revealed that it was testing official PC support for the PS VR2, and it hopes to roll that out later this year. That could potentially give the company a much larger customer base for those who are interested in the hardware but don’t want a PS5. As such, that might help it sell some of its stockpile. Another thing that would help is reducing the price. At $550, the PS VR2 costs more than a PS5, which is absurd.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-may-have-paused-ps-vr2-production-to-clear-a-backlog-of-unsold-units-142930523.html?src=rssEven though it's not technically another Prime Day, the Amazon Spring Sale includes a number of decent deals on gadgets we've recommended. Case in point: You can pick up the top pick in our best budget wireless earbuds guide, the Anker Soundcore Space A40, for an all-time low of $49. That's a dollar less than the noise-canceling pair's previous record low and $10 below its typical street price over the last couple of months. This deal is sold by Anker directly and applies to the black model; if you'd prefer a different finish, the blue and white versions are also on sale for a dollar more.
We like the Space A40 for blending pleasant sound with strong active noise cancellation (ANC) and most of the features you'd find on more expensive earbuds. That ANC isn't quite as powerful as higher-end pairs like Sony's WF-1000XM5, especially when it comes to muting voices and other treble-range sounds, but it still punches well above its price range. It'll automatically adapt to the noise level of your surroundings by default, though you can manually set it to different intensity levels as well.
While this isn't the most detailed-sounding set of earbuds you can buy, it's a more pleasant listen than most budget-level options we've tested. It boosts the upper-bass range out of the box, but it doesn't come off as bloated or sloppy. If you don't like the default sound profile, you can pick from one of several EQ presets or customize the EQ curve yourself through Anker's companion app.
The actual earpieces are light and comfortable, with an IPX4 water-resistance rating that's enough to survive most workouts. They last around eight hours per charge, with another 40-ish hours available through a compact case that supports wireless charging. They can also connect to two devices at once. There are still some trade-offs: The mics are mediocre for phone calls; the touch-based controls are a little limited; and there's no wear detection, so your music won't pause automatically when you take out an earbud. But at this price, the pros should outweigh the cons.
This discount comes as part of a wider sale on Anker headphones that includes the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, the runner up in our guide, on sale for $74.50. That's a $25 discount. The Space A40 is a better value, but that pair offers most of the same benefits for those who prefer a more AirPods-style design. Other in-ear and over-ear models are also discounted.
Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/our-favorite-budget-wireless-earbuds-from-anker-are-cheaper-than-ever-during-the-amazon-spring-sale-141811743.html?src=rss
In the realm of smartphone features, the Always On Display (AOD) stands out for its convenience and practicality, especially for users who like to glance at their device for notifications, the time, or other quick info without fully waking the phone. Traditionally, this feature has been a hallmark of newer or more advanced iPhone models, […]
The post How to Use The Always On Display on Any iPhone appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
Developers will know that having the right tools at your disposal can make a significant difference in your productivity and efficiency. Visual Studio Code, a popular code editor, offers a wide range of extensions that enhance its functionality and streamline your development workflow. In this article, we’ll explore 12 must-have Visual Studio Code extensions that […]
The post 12 Visual Studio Code Extensions to improve your productivity and development workflow in 2024 appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.
Following on from previous announcements that Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI would release and open source version of its Grok AI Model. Today the company has announced the release of its open-sourced Grok-1 AI model, making it freely available to developers and researchers worldwide. The announcement came on March 17th, after much anticipation and […]
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Better weather is on the horizon and that means more time outside using your phone to capture all the beautiful blooms — but you don't to run out of battery mid-snapshot. Thankfully, Amazon's Big Spring Sale has proven to be a boon for Anker deals. A range of the company's products are currently on sale, including the Anker Prime Power Bank, down to $125 from $180. The 31 percent price cut makes one of our best power banks for 2024 much more accessible.
Anker's Prime Power Bank is a great choice if you're sick of guessing how much juice your power bank has left. This premium portable charger digitally displays its battery percentage. The device can charge your iPhone to 75 percent in 47 minutes and to 100 percent in an hour and 48 minutes. An iPad clocks in at 54 percent after 47 minutes and 100 percent after two hours and 11 minutes. The charger has a sleek look for a high price point but the screen seems easily scratched.
Notably, the Prime Power Bank's sale doesn't include the charging base (that will cost you $235 for both), but it's not necessary. You can fully recharge the power bank in 37 minutes with a USB-C cord at 140W — faster than the base's 100W charging capabilities.
Other notable power banks included in Amazon's sale are Anker's 622 Magnetic Battery and 737 Power Bank. The 622 touts the largest discount of the group with a 43 percent cut bringing it's price to $40 from $70. It snaps right onto the back of an iPhone and provides up to 17 hours of battery life. The device, which is available in blue, also comes with a PopSockets attachment.
The Anker 737 Power Bank is a bit more expensive, with a 38 percent discount dropping its price to $80 from $130. However, it offers three charging ports (two USB and one USB-C) and works with laptops, iPhones and Androids. USB connections have 18W of power while the USB-C provides 60W.
Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon’s Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog’s car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-power-banks-and-wireless-chargers-are-up-to-43-percent-off-for-the-amazon-big-spring-sale-132737510.html?src=rss
Although wireless charging has been around for years, it was only until Apple finally joined the fray that the technology really became popular. Of course, it was Apple’s MagSafe spin on wireless charging that really caught on, but it still sparked interest in a future where wires and cables are a thing of the past. We’re still a long way from that future considering how wireless charging works today, but that’s not to say that there is no progress to improve the situation. These wireless charging product designs, for example, are based on such ongoing development and prepare us for a world where desks can be completely devoid of cables, especially those for charging your multitude of devices.
Designer: Sprout Studios
As convenient as wireless charging might be, especially magnetic wireless charging, the requirement to have the device and the charger touching is still quite restricting. Not only that, you still have to make sure that the charging coils are aligned properly, which is what made it necessary for Apple to implement MagSafe in this way. But what if you could get rid of that restriction? Then every surface or anything on your desk can become a wireless charger.
That’s exactly what these designs are proposing, based on technology being developed by startup DeepCharge. Even a laptop mat, for example, can become a wireless charger that can accommodate phones, earbuds, and other devices as well. This Laptop Pad also has extra features like an antimicrobial frantic top and LED lighting to indicate charging status. You don’t have to ensure that devices are in the right area. Simply place them on the mat and watch the LED indicator light up. Another design involves a charging pad that also acts as a landing pad for drones, though that requires attaching some feet to the quadcopter.
A more ambitious design, however, is based on “transmutation” and “energy hopping” technologies that are still being developed. In a nutshell, it could turn any surface, like a desk or a shelf, into a wireless charging area. Then you have small wireless charging stations that can transfer power from a central hub and distribute it even in areas out of reach of your desk. Pretty much like how mesh routers work today, except spreading electrical power instead of data.
Although the concepts in this collection still look like your conventional technical products, the technology it relies on opens the door to even more flexible designs. Anything on your desk or shelf, be it an accessory or even a piece of decoration, can become one of those satellite charging hubs. With wireless computer peripherals and data connections, such a design could lead to cleaner and tidier workspaces, unless of course, you start cluttering your table with even more devices to charge.
The post Wireless charger concepts imagine a world free from power cables first appeared on Yanko Design.