Today could be a very good day to buy wearable tech as a gift. Amazon is discounting a few smartwatches and fitness trackers, most notably the Apple Watch SE. Apple's 'starter' wristwear is on sale for an all-time low price of $219, a full $60 off. You'll have to buy a 40mm GPS model with a silver aluminum case and Abyss Blue Sport Band to reach that price, and you'll have to act quickly — this could sell out soon.

There are also discounts to be had if you're either an Android user or not particularly attached to Apple's wearables. The Fitbit Sense smartwatch is also on sale for an all-time low price of $200 (normally $300), while the Fitbit Charge 5 tracker is down to $130 (typically $180).

The Apple Watch SE at this price is an easy choice if you have an iPhone. It only costs slightly more than the old Series 3, but it boast a much larger screen, speedier performance and more powerful software. You won't get the always-on display or advanced health tech of models like the Series 7, but that won't matter if you're just looking for a good smartwatch to track workouts, answer calls or check the weather.

Fitbit's devices, meanwhile, are fine choices if you're focused on health. The Sense is a bit sluggish and and may take some time to learn, but its extensive health features (including stress tracking) could easily make it worthwhile. The Charge 5, meanwhile, offers many smartwatch-level perks in a tracker-level design. Just remember that Fitbit's data doesn't directly funnel into third-party platforms like Apple Health.

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New York City could soon reduce the chances of AI bias in the job market. The Associated Pressnotes the city's council has passed a bill barring AI hiring systems that don't pass yearly audits checking for race- or gender-based discrimination. Developers would also need greater transparency (including disclosures of automated systems), and provide alternatives like human reviews. Fines would reach up to $1,500 per incident.

The bill was passed November 10th. Departing Mayor Bill de Blasio has a month to sign it into law, but hasn't said whether or not he will. If the measure goes forward, it would take effect in 2023.

A signed law could reduce the chances that AI hiring technology skews candidate pools and the demographics of the resulting employees. Pro-business organizations like the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce are already in favor, suggesting the disclosures are vital for both employers and their talent.

However, there are already concerns an enacted law wouldn't help as much as promised. The Center for Democracy & Technology's Alexandra Givens told the AP the bill doesn't account for other biases, such as ableism or ageism. This also assumes the audits are effective — New York University's Julia Stoyanovich argued the requirements were "very easy to meet." There's a concern the legislation might inadvertently shield employers whose AI platforms have different or harder-to-detect biases.

Apple's decision to allow ratings for its own apps is producing... mixed results. As developer Kosta Eleftheriou and The Verge have noticed, the official Podcasts app has flipped from an abysmal 1.8-star rating to over 4.8 in the space of just a few weeks thanks to a surge of reviews. As you might have guessed, though, this wasn't the results of a (non-existent) feature update during that period. Rather, the blame appears to rest on app prompts and more than a little confusion.

The iPhone maker told The Verge that iOS 15.1 started prompting users for ratings and reviews "just like most third-party apps." However, many people thought they were rating the show they were listening to, not the app — and that led to a flood of scores and reviews for podcasts.

This issue hasn't affected many other first-party apps, such as Apple Maps (2.8 stars as of this writing). Even iTunes Store ratings, while high (4.8 stars), include reviews that largely focus on the app rather than the content.

The prompts do bring functional consistency to Apple's apps — it's easy to trash them if you like. At the same time, though, the mixups are inflating Podcasts' value and rendering the scores useless for many people deciding on podcast clients. The shift also underscores the problem with trusting ratings and reviews regardless of platform. It's still relatively easy for misguided users, activists and fraudsters to skew that feedback.

Google's Play Store on the web is dated, to put it mildly — the big sidebar and card-like listings wouldn't look out of place on a phone running Android Lollipop. The company appears ready to drag its portal into the modern era, though. Android Police and a tipster said they've discovered a redesigned Play Store that's much more in keeping with the current mobile app.

The rethink appear to scrap the large sidebar and cards in favor of a simple four-button navigation system and big, clean-looking listings with auto-playing trailers for games. You can filter apps by device type. If you need to access your library or redeem a gift card, options like those have moved to the account switcher common to Google web apps.

AP characterized the redesign as a "work-in-progress," and had to switch to the Korean Play Store (the Taiwanese version also worked) to see it. We've asked Google if it can comment on this possible test. If the site does hint at a larger overhaul, though, it could be welcome if you routinely shop for apps and media from your computer.

Apple might be eager to minimize future complaints about working conditions. NBC News said it obtained a newly released internal memo telling employees they're allowed to discuss conditions and pay outside the company. Staffers should be free to talk about issues in the way they "feel most comfortable," including with managers and the People (human resources) team.

We've asked Apple if it can confirm the memo and comment on the release. The statement would reinforce the rights private workers already have under the National Labor Relations Act, which lets workers both organize and discuss conditions, as well Apple's own conduct policy.

Provided the news is accurate, it could represent a bittersweet moment for critics of Apple's working culture. The memo supports their beliefs the company unfairly limited talk about labor issues by shutting down surveys and Slack channels. Employees like Ashley Gjøvik also accused Apple of punishing workers for speaking out for by putting them on leave or even firing them.

However, the statement is also coming too late to prevent significant damage. Apple now faces eight labor charges alleging issues like harassment and wrongful dismissal. Outspoken #AppleToo advocate Cher Scarlett (who settled with Apple) just left the company, too. While a memo like this might allow more discussion going forward, it can't change the past.

Google's Pixel 6 is barely weeks old, but that isn't stopping rumors about its budget counterpart. Well-known tipster OnLeaks and 91Mobiles have posted what they say are Pixel 6a design renders, and they might prove polarizing. The future mid-range phone would resemble the upscale Pixel 6, including the signature camera bar, in-screen fingerprint reader and centered hole-punch selfie camera. However, the headphone jack from the Pixel 5a and other "a" models appears to have vanished — you might have to rely on an adapter or wireless audio if the render

Little is known about the specs, although the Pixel 6a will reportedly be smaller than its counterparts with a 6.2-inch OLED screen. You'd get dual cameras, too. Processing power is a larger question. While Google is eager to tout the 6's custom Tensor chip, it's not certain if the company would either create a low-cost Tensor for the 6a or rely on third-party chips.

However accurate the leak might be, it's likely early. Google didn't release the Pixel 5a until August this year, and that was ultimately a tweaked 4a 5G. The 6a might be several months away, and there's a chance the design could change before then. A "lite" Pixel 6 would make sense, at least. Flaws aside, it's a return to form with an eye-catching design. A lower-cost counterpart might spur sales of more affordable Pixels, not to mention reinvigorate the "a" line's historically drab design.

The ranks of orbit-capable spaceflight companies just grew ever so slightly. TechCrunchreports Astra has reached orbit for the first time when its Rocket 3 booster launched shortly after 1AM Eastern today (November 20th). The startup put a mass simulator into a 310-mile-high orbit as part of a demonstration for the US Air Force's Rapid Agile Launch Initiative, which shows how private outfits could quickly and flexibly deliver Space Force payloads.

This success has been a long time in coming. Astra failed to reach orbit three times before, including a second attempt where the rocket reached space but didn't have enough velocity for an orbital insertion. 

Company chief Chris Kemp stressed on Twitter that Astra was "just getting started" despite the success. It's a significant moment all the same. Companies and researchers wanting access to space currently don't have many choices — they either have to hitch a ride on one of SpaceX's not-so-common rideshare missions or turn to a handful of options like Rocket Lab. Astra hopes to produce its relatively modest rockets quickly enough that it delivers many small payloads in a timely fashion. That, in turn, might lower prices and make space more viable.

Have you been eying Apple's third-generation AirPods, but wishing the price wasn't quite so close to the AirPods Pro? Now might be a good time to buy. Woot is running a one-day-only sale that drops the price of the newest AirPods to $170, or $10 below the official sticker. You'll get an additional $5 off if you're an Amazon Prime member, too. Remember that Woot's return policy is stricter than Amazon's, although you'll thankfully have until January 31st, 2022 to return items bought during the holidays.

The newest AirPods represent a big stride forward for Apple's "default" wireless earbuds. The design is not only more comfortable for many people, but much better-sounding — you should hear crisper highs and improved, consistent bass. The longer battery life, water resistance, spatial audio and MagSafe wireless charging support also help. These are easy picks if you live in the Apple ecosystem (though they technically support other platforms) and just want a pair of solid, easy-to-use earbuds for excursions or video calls.

The catch isn't so much that ecosystem bias as... well, other sales. The AirPods Pro have frequently been discounted (they're $190 as of this writing), and we wouldn't rule out better bargains in the future. That's not much more to pay for active noise cancellation and silicone eartips that can improve stability. We also wouldn't rule out the ANC-equipped and potentially comfier Beats Fit Pro, at least if you can find them at a lower price. With that in mind, these buds last much longer on battery than the AirPods Pro and might be preferable if you like a more open feeling than their isolating counterparts.

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You'll likely have to keep using Peacock if you want to stream Premier League games. As Bloombergnotes, NBCUniversal has signed a six-year deal keeping it as the Premier League's official US broadcast partner. The arrangement gives NBC Sports access to all 380 matches each season until 2028. The pact also gives NBC sole rights for Spanish language coverage.

The two didn't say how this would affect Peacock's coverage. However, the Premier League highlighted Peacock as a platform that could reach "every home" with internet access. NBC Sports became the Premier League's American partner in 2013 and will have its existing agreement until May 2022.

There's a real chance Peacock will continue streaming many (though not all) of those games. Bloomberg pointed out that Premier League matches have been one of the few reliable sources of viewers for the fledgling service — the renewed deal could keep them watching and out of the hands of rivals like ESPN, which made a bid for Premier League rights. This could also drive free Peacock users to the Premium tiers currently needed to watch the league's games online.

The extension won't thrill you if you were looking for more ways to stream the exploits of Chelsea, Liverpool and other top-flight teams. However, it at least provides some consistency if you were already a Peacock user or happy to watch on Comcast's various other platforms.

Meta's efforts to encourage healthy teen usage habits aren't enough for some state officials. The New York Timesreports a coalition of state attorneys general has launched an investigation into Instagram's effects on teens. California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Vermont are concerned Meta might be offering and promoting Instagram to the younger crowd while knowing the potentials for mental and physical harm. If so, the social media giant might violate states' consumer protection laws.

The investigators are most worried about Meta's techniques to boost the "frequency and duration" of interactions at the expense of teens. Leaked internal research showed that Instagram hurt a significant percentage of teens, particularly girls, resulting in issues ranging from depression to self-harm.

A Meta spokesperson told Engadget the accusations were "false" and showed a "deep misunderstanding" of the situation. You can read the full statement below. It previously shared research data and claimed the leak misrepresented its work,providing "context" suggesting that certain information couldn't be used to reach conclusions about average behavior or links to mental and physical harm.

Meta has taken some steps to address worries, including encouragements to take breaks and "pausing" work on Instagram Kids. There's also no certainty the probe will lead to more substantive action. Nonetheless, the company is under much more pressure to safeguard teens — it could face legal repercussions if the states don't feel it has done enough.

These accusations are false and demonstrate a deep misunderstanding of the facts. While challenges in protecting young people online impact the entire industry, we’ve led the industry in combating bullying and supporting people struggling with suicidal thoughts, self-injury, and eating disorders. We continue to build new features to help people who might be dealing with negative social comparisons or body image issues, including our new 'Take a Break' feature and ways to nudge them towards other types of content if they're stuck on one topic. We continue to develop parental supervision controls and are exploring ways to provide even more age-appropriate experiences for teens by default.