Tag Archives: author_name|Will Shanklin

Meta pauses Quest 3 Elite Battery Strap sales, reportedly due to a charging flaw

Posted on by

Meta has temporarily stopped selling the Elite Strap with Battery for the Quest 3, reportedly because of a firmware-related charging defect. The $130 accessory, which extends the standalone VR headset’s runtime by up to two hours while providing a counterweight for comfort, is currently unavailable from Meta and third-party retailers. Short of conducting a recall, the company told Road to VR, which first reported the story, that it’s currently manufacturing a new batch that fixes the firmware issues allegedly behind the defect. Meta told the publication it plans to replace the headsets on a case-by-case basis for buyers who contact customer support.

Owners have reported that the Elite Strap’s battery typically works at first but stops charging the headset earlier than expected. Informal polls, anecdotal social media comments and a separate report from Road to VR earlier this month suggest the issue may be at least somewhat common. Meta hasn’t stated whether the defect is universal, but chalking it up to firmware that requires newly manufactured units suggests it may be. I own a Quest 3 with the battery accessory and haven’t noticed any charging issues, but I also don’t remember if I’ve run its battery down enough to have noticed.

Engadget contacted a Meta spokesperson, and we’re still waiting for confirmation and any extra details about what to look for. We’ll update this article if we learn more.

Product marketing image of the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap with Battery accessory. The add-on connects to the VR headset, adding a counterweight to the back of the head. It floats against a plain white background.
Meta

The company told Road to VR it’s working to stock fixed units “as soon as possible.” Meta’s product page for the accessory says it’s out of stock, and its listing has been pulled entirely from the websites of retail partners Best Buy and Target. Amazon’s product page says “currently unavailable.”

In addition to that model, Meta makes a $70 Elite Strap without a battery focused solely on ergonomics. The company also had early troubles with its Elite Straps for the Quest 2, as both versions of the 2020 accessory were prone to cracking. Meta paused sales of that model and extended the accessory’s warranty after issuing a fix for subsequent batches.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-pauses-quest-3-elite-battery-strap-sales-reportedly-due-to-a-charging-flaw-183018925.html?src=rss

Rivian’s electric truck is available to lease in 14 US states

Posted on by

Rivian has started a leasing program in 14 US states. The EV maker added the new financing option to its website on Monday (via Electrek), allowing customers to lease R1T electric pickup trucks for estimated prices starting at around $770 monthly (depending on your region). Since vehicle leases are categorized differently from purchases under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), lessees qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles.

The leasing program will be available to customers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. “We chose these launch states based on many factors including where our customers are located and where leasing is most popular,” a Rivian spokesperson wrote in an email to CNBC. Rivian told the outlet it plans to expand the program’s available states and vehicle models, but it didn’t offer a timeline or further details. It’s reportedly working with Chase for financing.

Although the Rivian R1T starts at $73,000, the leasing program currently only includes higher-end models hovering around $90,000. For example, when entering a Denver zip code, the automaker’s online configurator estimated prices from $87,000 to $91,000 with monthly payments in the $782 to $835 range. So, although the federal tax credits can make signing off on a new electric truck more manageable, it’s still limited to buyers with at least fairly deep pockets.

Rivian raised its production forecast for the entire year by 2,000 vehicles earlier this month. It now expects to move 54,000 units by the end of the year as it prepares for the long-delayed arrival of the Tesla Cybertruck.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/rivians-electric-truck-is-available-to-lease-in-14-us-states-215636074.html?src=rss

Tesla sues Sweden for blocking license plate deliveries during labor strike

Posted on by

Tesla sued Sweden’s transportation agency and postal service on Monday over a union strike blocking the company’s license plate deliveries in the country. The workers are striking to demand the non-unionized automaker sign a collective bargaining agreement, a standard practice that mechanics’ union IF Metall describes as “the backbone of the Swedish model.” However, the Swedish Transport Agency says it already received an interim decision from a district court ordering it to consent within seven days to Tesla’s request to collect license plates or face hefty fines. The agency says it’s too early to say what exactly that means for the standoff.

The Associated Press reported Monday that Tesla, which delivered over 9,000 EVs to Swedish customers in 2022, described the actions of The Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) as a “unique attack” on the US company. Tesla’s lawsuit reportedly urges a district court to fine the Swedish Transport Agency 1 million kronor (US$95,803) while allowing Tesla to “retrieve license plates.” The registrations are held up because workers at state-owned postal service PostNord stopped supplying the plates to Tesla after its workers joined the strike.

The lawsuit allegedly claims the Swedish Transport Agency refused the automaker’s request to pick up the license plates itself or, failing that, send them through a different channel. Reuters reports Tesla filed two lawsuits: one against the Swedish Transport Agency and another against PostNord.

In a statement to Engadget, Swedish Transport Agency spokesperson Ann-Sofie Masth confirmed the lawsuit and revealed the court’s interim decision. “The Swedish Transport Agency has now received an interim decision from the Norrköping district court to consent within 7 days to Tesla collecting license plates directly from our sign manufacturer. It appears from the decision that our sign manufacturer has announced that it is prepared to provide the signs directly to Tesla, provided that the Swedish Transport Agency agrees to this. We at the Swedish Transport Agency now need to analyze the announcement and assess what consequences this has for us and what measures might need to be taken to implement the decision. It is currently too early to say exactly what that would mean.”

FILE- Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks before unveiling the Model Y at Tesla's design studio March 14, 2019, in Hawthorne, Calif. A Florida judge ruled Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, that a jury should decide whether Tesla and Elon Musk oversold the electric car company's Autopilot system that caused the fatal crash of a software engineer who engaged it and took his hands off the steering wheel. A trial is scheduled for 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tesla, not exactly a union-friendly company, has a policy against signing collective bargaining agreements, claiming its employees already have equal or better terms than what the union proposed. The argument that it takes good enough care of its employees to void the need for a union echoes one Tesla CEO Elon Musk made in 2017 when accused of allegations of poor working conditions and low pay at the company’s Fremont, CA factory.

IF Metall, Sweden’s most prominent manufacturing union, began striking on October 27. Although Tesla doesn’t have a manufacturing plant in the country, it has several service centers, which stopped working on Tesla vehicles after going on strike. Other unions in the Nordic nation, including dockworkers, cleaners and electricians, have joined the strike in an act of unity. A component maker joined the unions on Friday in a sympathy action.

In Tesla’s court filing, the company reportedly described the decision as “a unique attack on a company operating in Sweden,” claiming the refusal to deliver the license plates would affect “a large number of consumers who ordered a new car from Tesla.”

In a statement to The AP, an IF Metall representative said, “We are doing this for the sake of our members, to ensure that they have safe working conditions.” A Swedish Transportation Agency spokesperson reportedly told Reuters, “We at the Swedish Transport Agency do not share this view and therefore Tesla has decided to have the issue tested in court, which is their right.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-sues-sweden-for-blocking-license-plate-deliveries-during-labor-strike-190547427.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Black Friday sale has Ember Smart Mugs for record-low prices

Posted on by

Amazon’s Black Friday deals include record-low prices on Ember self-heating coffee mugs. Typically $130, the 10-oz. Ember Smart Mug 2 starts at $90. The devices keep your coffee, tea or other heated beverage at an ideal temp and make a perfect gift for coffee lovers. The white, black and red variants are all on sale, but the black and red versions cost $100. Only the white model is available for $90.

The Ember Smart Mug 2 can heat your coffee between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit, preventing your cozy, warm drink from becoming lukewarm and unpleasant. It has a companion app for Android and iOS that allows you to pick your favorite temp, set it and forget it.

The mug begins heating automatically when it detects liquid and will go to sleep when it’s empty. It lasts up to 80 minutes per charge, but leaving it on its bundled charging coaster means it can last all day, no matter how insatiable your caffeine habit is.

Amazon’s Black Friday sale also includes the larger (14 oz.) Ember Smart Mug 2 for $40 off. Other than size, this model has the same features, battery life and temperature range as the 10 oz. version. The white model is available for the sale price of $109.46 at the time of publication. Alternatively, the copper metallic model is only $129.95, down from its usual $180.

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/amazons-black-friday-sale-has-ember-smart-mugs-for-record-low-prices-212058308.html?src=rss

PS5 Cyber Monday deals 2023: You can still get $50 off the PlayStation 5

Posted on by

Cyber Monday may be over, but there are still a few deals on the PlayStation 5 lingering on the internet today. You can save $50 on the console by itself, or about $60 if you pick up the PS5 with the latest Spider-Man game. Color options are slim, but you can still save upwards of $25 on PS5 controllers today, and there are a number of PS5 game deals still to be had as well. Here are the best PS5 games you can still get even now that Cyber Monday has come and gone.

Sony PS5 Slim console with Spider-Man 2

If you’re happy to go disc-free, Amazon has the month-old PS5 Slim console bundled with a digital code for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which Engadget found to be “bigger and better” than the 2018 original, for $499 ($60 off). Sony’s “Slim” PS5 console (officially called the PS5 Digital Edition) removes the system’s disc drive but lets you change your mind later. Unlike previous digital variants, the disc drive is a modular attachment you can add later as a separate $80 purchase.

Sony PS5 console with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

You can also get the console with Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III for the same price. This is the latest version of the gaming system with its removable disc drive already included and mounted. You also get a digital copy of the newest Call of Duty game, which includes remastered versions of all 16 maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009).

Sony PS5 console (with disc drive)

A GameStop Cyber Monday deal has the PS5 console on sale for $450 ($50 off). This standard model includes a built-in disc drive that lets you choose between physical discs (without any extra purchases) or digital downloads of your favorite games.

Cyber Monday PS5 game deals

Unfortunately, most of the best deals we saw on PS5 games over the weekend are gone now. However, you can still get the dramatic action-RPG Final Fantasy XVI is still down to $35. The well-reviewed turn-based RPG Octopath Traveler II is still available for $30 and Assassin's Creed Mirage remains $20 off at $40. Sony has also started an "End of Year Deals" sale with a few OK discounts on first-party games, including the wholesome action game Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and the open-world samurai game Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut for $30 each.

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

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ps5-cyber-monday-deals-2023-you-can-still-get-50-off-the-playstation-5-195013341.html?src=rss

The Ooni Fyra 12 pizza oven is 30 percent off for Black Friday

Posted on by

Ooni has the Fyra 12 wood pellet pizza oven on sale for 30 percent off this Black Friday. Usually $349, you can pick up the acclaimed outdoor pizza maker for $244. This model is one of Engadget’s favorite pizza ovens, and the Black Friday deal returns its price to an all-time low.

The Ooni Fyra 12 uses “sustainably sourced hardwood pellets,” reaching 950 degrees Fahrenheit in 15 minutes — making stone-baked pizzas in as little as a minute. The oven’s gravity-fed hopper automatically refills its pellet tray, keeping your pizzas baking without constant equipment checkups.

The oven makes 12-inch pizzas so everyone with you can tailor their pies to their liking. It weighs a mere 22 lbs, and most people can easily transport it from home to backyard, campground, tailgates or other outdoor get-togethers.

Lifestyle marketing photo of the Ooni Pizza Steel 13, a stainless steel slab for oven-baked pizza. An oven door is open as we view a ready-to-eat pizza on the steel surface.
Ooni

Also discounted among Ooni’s Black Friday deals is the Pizza Steel 13. This slab slides into indoor stoves to make those pizzas taste like they came from dedicated pizza ovens. Its stainless steel surface heats rapidly and retains warmth as you bake away. An excellent choice for those who spend less time outdoors (or want to keep their budget tighter), the Pizza Steel 13 is on sale for $70 for Black Friday (typically $100).

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-ooni-fyra-12-pizza-oven-is-30-percent-off-for-black-friday-130032284.html?src=rss

This Black Friday deal knocks the Fitbit Charge 6 down to $100

Posted on by

Amazon has a Black Friday deal on the Fitbit Charge 6 that brings the wearable back down to $100. That’s $60 off the sticker price for this fitness tracker that only launched in September. It pairs with Android and iOS phones and offers what the company calls its most accurate heart rate tracking yet.

The Fitbit Charge 6 marks the return of the physical side button, which the company removed from the Charge 5. The fitness tracker also has deeper Google integration than previous models, showing Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions on your wrist, supporting Google Wallet for payments and allowing YouTube Music playback.

The wearable ships in three color options, including black, red and white. (All three are eligible for the sale.) Each unit includes two bands (large and small) in the box, so you don’t have to measure your wrist and choose carefully before buying.

The Fitbit Charge 6 has a body made of aluminum, glass and resin housing its 1.04-inch AMOLED touchscreen. The device’s battery lasts an estimated seven days per charge, and it can pair with Bluetooth Heart Rate Profile-supported exercise equipment, including brands like Peloton, Nordic and Tonal.

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/this-black-friday-deal-knocks-the-fitbit-charge-6-down-to-100-030048419.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Kindle is down to $80 for Black Friday

Posted on by

Amazon has ereaders aplenty on sale for Black Friday. You can get the entry-level Kindle for $80, close to a record low. In addition, the retailer has its higher-end Kindle Paperwhite for $120, the Kindle Scribe for $240 and the Kindle Oasis for $180.

The latest Kindle, Engadget’s pick for the best budget reader in 2023, has a 6-inch display with a crisp 300ppi pixel density. Its screen is glare-free with a front light you can adjust to match your environment’s brightness. It’s also Amazon’s lightest and most compact Kindle, weighing only 5.56 oz (158 g) — about 23 percent lighter than the Paperwhite.

Typically $100, the Kindle’s $80 sale price approaches its all-time low of $65 from July Prime Day 2023. The device ships in black and denim (blue), includes a charging cable (but not a wall plug) and lasts an estimated six weeks per charge. Its sale price includes lock-screen ads: Although they’re pretty unobtrusive and won’t disturb your reading, you can pay more upfront or change your mind later and pony up (usually $20) to remove them through your Amazon account.

Kindle Paperwhite

Although the budget model will offer enough features for most people, the pricier Kindle Paperwhite adds a few extra perks. Its screen is bigger, at 6.8 inches. Its front light has more LEDs (17) for more even coverage, and it lets you adjust its warmth, making the illumination more yellowish or white to match your surroundings. It also adds IPX8 water resistance, meaning it can handle up to two meters of submersion for up to 60 minutes. In addition, its battery lasts an estimated 10 weeks. Usually $150, Amazon’s Black Friday sale has the Kindle Paperwhite for just $120.

Kindle Scribe

If you want a larger device that doubles as a digital notebook, the Kindle Scribe is also on sale. It has a 10.2-inch display and a bundled stylus for creating notes and annotating PDFs or books. Although its limited cloud syncing abilities have frustrated some customers, the device is cheaper than direct rivals like the reMarkable 2 and Boox’s various e-ink tablets — while including access to the Kindle Store. Typically $340, you can get the Kindle Scribe now for $240.

Kindle Oasis

Although the Kindle Oasis hasn’t been updated in a while, the 2019 model is still an option for those who like using physical page-turn buttons instead of tapping the screen. The 7-inch, 300 ppi ereader has a warm light (similar to the Paperwhite) to adjust its front light from white to amber. Like the Paperwhite, it’s also rated IPX8 for water resistance, and its design and weight distribution make it exceptionally comfortable for one-handed use. The typically $250 Kindle Oasis is on sale for Black Friday for $180, making it easier to justify paying for a (still lovely) four-year-old product.

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/amazons-kindle-is-down-to-80-for-black-friday-133030100.html?src=rss

HW Electro’s solar-powered Puzzle will bring microvan cuteness to the US in 2025

Posted on by

Japanese EV automaker HW Electro (HWE) says its delightfully boxy Puzzle will come to the US in 2025. More “kei van” than kei car, the electric vehicle has rooftop solar panels and equipment for commercial disaster relief (including a crowbar!). But it could be equally appealing for those wanting an EV with maxed-out charm and a minimal environmental footprint. It’s on track to be HWE’s first vehicle available in the US market.

HW Electro CEO Xiao Weicheng said that the Puzzle “embodies HWE’s core values of sustainability, connectivity and social contribution.” Its solar panels mean owners could perhaps drive it for much longer than typical EVs without plugging in. It also includes emergency features like power outlets, photovoltaic panels, built-in WiFi, USB ports, a first aid kit and a crowbar. Notably, these features are all on the vehicle’s exterior.

As reported by The Independent and Electrek, HWE unveiled the Puzzle micro-van at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show before teasing 2025 US availability this week in New York. “With Puzzle, a new world begins,” Weicheng predicted.

The EV, currently still in the concept stage, has a two-person cabin and looks strikingly smaller than the gargantuan EVs Americans are growing accustomed to. The Puzzle aligns with Japan’s regulatory definition of a kei car, ideal for tight or crowded roadways and cramped parking spots. The vehicle has 15-inch wheels, and it’s over six feet tall, nearly five feet wide and over 11 feet long. It has a cargo capacity of 770 lbs and sliding rear doors for easy cargo management. Its sole passenger seat folds down to boost its hauling capacity (and can double as a work surface when not in use).

HWE hasn’t yet revealed the Puzzle’s price or max speed. Auto Evolution reports that its lithium iron phosphate battery will offer a 125-mile range.

It’s hard to predict what America’s EV market will look like by the time the Puzzle arrives in 2025. Although sales are growing, consumer demand has fallen behind auto industry projections, leaving room for uncertainty as the world tries to avoid climate change’s most catastrophic scenarios.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hw-electros-solar-powered-puzzle-will-bring-microvan-cuteness-to-the-us-in-2025-202326474.html?src=rss

The Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad is 28 percent off in an Amazon Black Friday deal

Posted on by

Amazon has a hefty price cut on the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro / Air. The Black Friday deal drops the (typically $299) accessory’s price to $215, which represents a 28 percent discount. Initially launched in 2020, the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad provides an easy and seamless way to jump between tablet and laptop(-ish) modes. Attach your iPad magnetically to the accessory’s back (it appears to “float”), and Apple’s software immediately recognizes it for typing and cursor control — no Bluetooth pairing or cables required. Engadget recommended it as one of the best iPad accessories.

Its (scissor mechanism) keys feel similar to those of recent Mac keyboards, and its trackpad, although smaller than those on MacBooks, gives you desktop-like cursor control and swipe-based multitasking gestures in iPadOS. The accessory supports USB-C passthrough charging, so you can juice up your iPad while plugging an external drive or monitor into the tablet’s port. The accessory is available in black and white.

This model is only compatible with recent iPad Pro and iPad Air models. Specifically, it supports the 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation through the current 4th-gen model) and iPad Air (4th and 5th generations). If you have the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, there’s a separate Magic Keyboard model for it that’s also on sale: You can grab that one for $299 (it’s usually $349).

If you've already got a keyboard that works for your iPad setup, a few of our other favorite iPad accessories are on sale as well. The second-gen Apple Pencil has dropped to $89 for Black Friday, and Tablift's iPad holder is on sale for $32 for Amazon Prime members as well.

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-magic-keyboard-for-ipad-is-28-percent-off-in-an-amazon-black-friday-deal-175522472.html?src=rss