Posts with «author_name|sarah fielding» label

The Kasa Smart Plugs Mini EP25 four-pack is down to its lowest price yet

There's something truly nice about not having to get up when you realize that light across the room is still on. If you're looking for that ease then check out the current sale on our favorite smart plug. The Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25 four-pack is on sale for $32.58, down from $50. The initial deal cuts its price to $37.58 with a $5 coupon available at checkout (though its limited to one per order). 

The Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25 works with Android and iOS devices and offers assistant support from Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and Samsung SmartThings. The plug has a stable connection, and you can give each one a unique name for easy control. The app is also clean and intuitive to use, with features such as timers, vacation mode and schedules.

There's also a deal on Amazon's Smart Plug, down to $20 from $25. We named it the best smart plug for Alexa-enabled homes, so this might be your best bet if you have a few Amazon Echo devices scattered around your house. You can use the existing account and designate the plug as a light in settings. Once that's set, all you need to do is tell Alexa which lights to turn on and off. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-kasa-smart-plugs-mini-ep25-four-pack-is-down-to-its-lowest-price-yet-134053853.html?src=rss

Motorola’s Edge 50 phone series includes a wood option

Motorola has announced the Edge 50 series, a trio of new smartphones that you can opt to buy with a body made out either a pearl polymer finish or with a wood back cover. The Edge 50 Ultra, 50 Pro and 50 Fusion boast the usual features you'd expect from an Android phone, with a garnish of the usual AI showiness.

Take the Edge 50 Ultra, which has a 4500mAh battery with 125W TurboPower charging — allegedly providing enough power for the day in just four minutes. The phone also has the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. The device also supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Head Tracking.

Then there's Style Sync, which allows users to "extend their personal style to their device by capturing and uploading a picture of the pattern of their outfit to generate multiple unique images." Basically, it creates wallpapers that match your outfit patterns and color palettes. This tool appears alongside another new feature in which users can describe a picture through a text prompt to get generated images displayed.  

Camera-wise, Motorola claims the Edge 50 Ultra has its most impressive system ever. Many of its features use AI, including adaptive stabilization, auto focus tracking and action shot. There's also the photo enhancement engine, which uses AI to apply shooting modes and finetune pictures for the highest-quality results. Outside of AI-powered tools, users will also have access to long exposure.

According to Motorola, the Edge 50 family are the first smartphones ever to use a Pantone Validated camera. Motorola created it and the display with the help of Pantone's color scientists to meet the latter's "evaluation and grading criteria by authentically simulating the full range" of Pantone Colors and Pantone SkinTone as both appear in the real world. Plus, the Edge 50 Ultra has a 6.67" Super HD pOLED display with 13 percent better resolution than its predecessor.

Motorola is also releasing its new Moto Buds+ with Sound by Bose. They offer active noise cancellation, EQ tuning and compatibility with Dolby Head Tracking. While we don't have an exact date yet for when the Edge 50 family will come to North America, the Moto Buds+ are available in Forest Grey starting today for $130.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/motorolas-edge-50-phone-series-includes-a-wood-option-114508701.html?src=rss

Anker power banks and chargers are up to 57 percent off right now

Amazon has deals running right now on some of Anker's best power banks and chargers. The sale includes our favorite MagSafe-compatible power bank for 2024: Anker's 10,000mAh Qi2 MagGo Power Bank. The device is down to $67.50 from $90 — a 25 percent discount. The only catch is that the deal is just available in white (though the black model is only $2.50 more).

Anker's 15W MagGo Power Bank was one of the first Qi2-certified devices available and can bring an iPhone 15 from zero to 50 percent in just 45 minutes. It can charge an iPhone to 100 percent and another time to 70 percent before needing another charge. It also offers a small screen indicating how much battery the power bank has left for charging or until it's recharged. The device comes with a kickstand for easy support while fueling up a phone. 

Other notable Anker devices on sale include the 552 USB-C Hub and the Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank with a 100W Charging Base. The 552 USB-C Hub is down to $30 from $70 — a 57 percent discount. It offers 9-in-1 connectivity and file transfer at up to five gigabytes per second. Then there's Anker's Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank, which is 30 percent off, dropping to $164.50 from $235. It offers two USB-C ports and one USB port that deliver up to 250W of power. The device charges at 100W with the included base or at 140W with a USB-C cable. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-power-banks-and-chargers-are-up-to-57-percent-off-right-now-135803380.html?src=rss

Samsung is once again the leader in global smartphone shipments

After being briefly overtaken by Apple in 2023, Samsung once again holds the title for most global smartphone shipments. The International Data Corporation (IDC) Mobile Phone Tracker's preliminary data for 2024's first quarter showed Samsung reclaiming the lead it has held since 2010. 

Samsung has reportedly shipped 60.1 million units worldwide in quarter one, representing 20.8 percent of the market share. Apple shipped 50.1 million units for 17.3 percent of the market share. Both companies saw a decrease from 2023's quarter one, though Apple's was much more significant (-9.6 percent) than Samsung's (-0.7 percent). The top five brands remained the same in quarter one as all of 2023, rounded out by Xiaomi with 40.8 million units, Transsion with 28.5 million units and OPPO with 25.2 million units shipped. Transsion overtook OPPO to enter fourth place. 

The IDC points to these numbers as an indication that the smartphone market is strengthening. "Firstly, we continue to see growth in value and average selling prices (ASPs) as consumers opt for more expensive devices knowing they will hold onto their devices longer. Secondly, there is a shift in power among the Top 5 companies, which will likely continue as market players adjust their strategies in a post-recovery world," said Nabila Popal, research director with IDC's Worldwide Tracker team in a statement. "Xiaomi is coming back strong from the large declines experienced over the past two years and Transsion is becoming a stable presence in the Top 5 with aggressive growth in international markets. In contrast, while the Top 2 players both saw negative growth in the first quarter, it seems Samsung is in a stronger position overall than they were in recent quarters."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-is-once-again-the-leader-in-global-smartphone-shipments-122528177.html?src=rss

Google Pixel 9 phones might have emergency satellite messaging

It often feels like we live in a fully connected world, but anyone who has been caught without a signal at a time of need can tell you it's far from true. Emergency satellite connectivity is a solution to this problem, and one the Google Pixel 9 series and next-generation Google Fold will allegedly offer, according to Android Authority's Kamila Wojciechowska. The feature will purportedly be available for T-Mobile customers first, thanks to the network provider's partnership with SpaceX to create satellite messaging. It could become available on other networks in the future. 

The messaging service will allegedly ask users questions such as "What best describes your situation?" and "Are there weapons involved?" It's unclear whether the feature will be free for Google Pixel 9 and next-gen Google Fold users. T-Mobile hasn't confirmed pricing for its satellite messaging service in previous announcements. 

If the news is true, Google would be following in the footsteps of Apple, which launched its own Emergency SOS satellite feature in late 2022 for iPhone 14 users in countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The tool has since expanded to include the iPhone 15 and countries such as Australia and New Zealand, which have mass wilderness areas where cellular service is absent. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-pixel-9-phones-might-have-emergency-satellite-messaging-104421387.html?src=rss

Paid ChatGPT users can now access GPT-4 Turbo

OpenAI has brought the new GPT-4 Turbo to paid ChatGPT users. The company announced the news on X (formerly Twitter), sharing that its large language model has improved math, logical reasoning, coding and writing skills. In reference to the latter, a response to its initial post states that "when writing with ChatGPT, responses will be more direct, less verbose, and use more conversational language." Notably, in December, Microsoft integrated GPT-4 Turbo with its CoPilot AI chatbot and image generator DALL-E 3.

Our new GPT-4 Turbo is now available to paid ChatGPT users. We’ve improved capabilities in writing, math, logical reasoning, and coding.
Source: https://t.co/fjoXDCOnPr pic.twitter.com/I4fg4aDq1T

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) April 12, 2024

When OpenAI announced GPT-4 Turbo in November, it highlighted major upgrades to the system powering ChatGPT. At the time, OpenAI claimed that GPT-4 Turbo could receive six times as many pages of text — 300, compared to the previous 50. Given the breadth of information provided, this expansion could mean more complex prompts and responses. The large language model can also create captions or descriptions of image prompts and handle text-to-speech requests.

GPT-4 Turbo has even advanced since its initial announcement. OpenAI had initially increased its world knowledge to April 2023, a good jump from GPT-4's September 2021 cutoff. Now, GPT-4 Turbo has information all the way up to December 2023.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/paid-chatgpt-users-can-now-access-gpt-4-turbo-123031501.html?src=rss

Instagram will test nudity protection in messages to fight sextortion

Instagram is far from a gleaming example of protecting young people online, having failed to prevent its algorithm from promoting child sexual abuse material. But new features bring some (at least a little?) hope that the platform could become a bit safer. Meta announced it's rolling out new tools meant to protect users against intimate image abuse and sextortion — when a person is digitally blackmailed under threat of sharing intimate media.

One of the most significant updates is that nudity protection is coming to private messages. Meta first confirmed it was building this technology back in 2022, and it will automatically activate the tool for users under 18. Once switched on, a machine learning tool will detect and blur images it suspects of containing nudity for the recipient. The analysis happens on the user's device, so messages should remain end-to-end encrypted without Meta ever having access to them. Users will have the option to view the image alongside a pop-up message from Meta that they shouldn't feel pressured to respond, along with a safety tips button and an option to block the sender. 

Meta's new tool — which it will start testing "soon" — also detects if a person is sending a nude image and warns them to "take care when sharing sensitive photos" while outlining potential risks. Plus, it reminds users that they can delete a message before anyone sees it. Then there's the final warning: a reminder to be responsible and respectful appears when someone tries to forward a message with detected nudity (though it still lets the image be forwarded).

Then there are the tools designed to detect potential scammers or sextortionists and make it more difficult for them to approach teens. Message requests from these possible bad actors should now go to hidden requests, and anyone already involved in a conversation will receive a warning with boundary reminders and steps to report users. As for young people, Meta previously barred people from messaging users 16 or under if they weren't mutually connected — even if the other account claimed to be the same age. Now, these potential scammers won't see the option to message a teen even if they follow each other.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-will-test-nudity-protection-in-messages-to-fight-sextortion-131516318.html?src=rss

iPhone users in 92 countries received a spyware attack warning from Apple

Some iPhone users got a very concerning alert to their devices on Wednesday. Apple sent notifications to individuals in 92 countries warning them that they may have been the target of mercenary spyware attacks, TechCrunch reports. "Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID -xxx-," the message read.

Apple's alert went on to share additional information about the incident. "This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it's never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously," the alert continued. Apple explained that it couldn't provide any information about what prompted the message out of concern that additional information would help attackers avoid future detection. The company uses internal information and investigations to pinpoint attacks.

This instance is hardly the first time Apple has had to send this sort of notification. Since 2021, individuals in over 150 countries have received similar messages, including a warning to some journalists and politicians in India last October. However, it's unclear which countries individuals received alerts in this time around.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/iphone-users-in-92-countries-received-a-spyware-attack-warning-from-apple-104554943.html?src=rss

Google Photos' enhanced editing tools will no longer require a subscription

In a rare move, Google is extending everyone access to subscriber-exclusive Photos tools. Free Google Photos users are getting its enhanced editing features without paying a minimum of $20 annually. This means all users will get a few of Google's AI-powered tools, such as Photo UnBlur, Magic Eraser and Magic Editor.

Photo UnBlur works just as it sounds, giving greater clarity to a photo that's a bit fuzzy. The Magic Eraser tool lets you remove or camouflage people or things from pictures, like a rogue trash can or photo bomber. Magic Editor uses generative AI to move, stretch and resize objects. You can even bring yourself to the center of a photo or closer to another person. It also lets you make large-scale edits, like changing the sky from gray to blue. Magic Editor Android and iOS Google Photos users will get ten monthly saves, while anyone looking to increase that limit will need either a Pixel device or paid Google One plan with 2TB+.

The Google Photos features will roll out to non-subscribers over a few weeks, starting May 15. On desktop, they will only be available if you have a Chromebook Plus that has ChromeOS version 118+. To access on mobile, you'll need at least Android 8.0 or iOS 15 and 3GB of RAM. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-photos-enhanced-editing-tools-will-no-longer-require-a-subscription-160015336.html?src=rss

Apple's 10th-gen iPad returns to a record low of $349

While the arrival of new iPad Pro and Air models seems imminent, rumor has it we won't be getting a classic update until next year. If you have no interest in waiting and want to explore some of the best iPads on the market, then the Apple 10th-generation iPad's current sale is for you. The 64GB Wi-Fi model is back down to its record-low price of $349 from $449 — a 22 percent cut. The discounted iPad is available right away in the blue version or for an extra dollar when applying a $79 coupon to the silver model. 

Apple released its 10th-gen iPad in 2022 and garnered an 85 in our review. It offered a new look and features, with new design elements such as a 10.9-inch screen and a Touch ID moving to the lock button. It also offers a liquid retina display with a 2360x1640p resolution.

The 10th-gen iPad comes with an A14 chip — a step up from the ninth-gen's A13 but still not as strong as the M1 and M2 that power the iPad Air and Pro. It comes with a solid battery that lasts 11 hours and 45 minutes if you play iTunes movies on rotation and almost 10 hours when you're working with an attached keyboard. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-10th-gen-ipad-returns-to-a-record-low-of-349-143630423.html?src=rss