Code sleuths at Mysk are challenging Apple's vaunted focus on privacy. The developers claim Apple's anonymous usage data for some in-house apps includes a Directory Services Identifier (DSID) uniquely linked to your Apple ID and iCloud data. Apple could potentially use this DSID to pinpoint your App Store browsing habits, according to Mysk. This seemingly contradicts Apple's assertion that "none" of the data is personally identifying, and appears to extend to iOS 16.

The researchers previously shared findings that iOS 14.6 sends large volumes of first-party app activity to Apple, even if you completely disable device analytics or otherwise limit collection. This includes your iPhone model, keyboard languages and other details that could theoretically be used to fingerprint your device. Gizmodo notes that users filed a class action lawsuit against Apple after Mysk published its privacy data.

We've asked Apple for comment, and will let you know if we hear back. Mysk pointed out that Apple's tool to prevent third-party app tracking debuted in iOS 14.5, so this shouldn't affect other software you use on your devices.

Just what Apple sees isn't clear. As Gizmodoexplains, Apple encrypts the usage data and isn't necessarily processing personal and general info together. The problem, as you might guess, is that Apple doesn't detail its analytics collection practices. There's a concern Apple might not be honoring its privacy promises, even if the data gathering is limited.

Amazon has started its Black Friday sales on a number of watches including $60 off the Watch Ultra, its best discount yet. We're also still seeing nice discounts on Apple's other new models, including the Watch Series 8 and Watch SE 2nd-gen, with savings up to 13 percent. 

Unlike the last sale, the Apple Watch Ultra models are available with both the small, medium and large Alpine Loop bands, so they should fit everyone's wrists. You can currently get one in green, orange and starlight colors, all for the same $739 price with any band size.  

As we detailed in our Engadget review, the Watch Ultra is geared toward outdoor activity and endurance athletes. It offers more refined navigation and compass-based features than regular Watch models, like the ability to set waypoints and guidance so you can follow your own breadcrumbs if you get lost. There's a new depth gauge and dive computer, along with accurate route tracking and pace calculations, thanks to the dual-frequency GPS. 

Like other Watch models, it also delivers sleep tracking, temperature sensing and electrocardiogram features, plus messaging, audio playback and Apple Pay. It currently offers about 36 hours of battery life, but that will increase to 60 hours maximum with an upcoming low-power mode.

If $739 is still too much, don't forget that the latest Watch Series 8 GPS model (41mm) is still on sale for $349 (13 percent off) in red or black with two different sized wrist bands. While not a huge update over the Series 7, it does carry some useful new features like a temperature sensor tied to women's health and Crash Detection. In addition, the budget Watch SE 2nd-gen model is also available at 8 percent off, bringing the already affordable $249 price down to just $229.

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Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon has discounted the Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 to $120. The 20 percent discount off the MK.2’s usual $150 price represents a new all-time low for the controller. Add to the fact that streaming hardware doesn’t frequently go on sale, and you have a promotion that budding content creators won’t want to miss.

Engadget featured the Stream Deck Mini in a recent gift guide. The MK.2 has the same strengths as its more affordable sibling while adding a few tricks. The device features 15 programmable keys that you can use to easily launch apps, mute your mic, turn on lights, post to social media and more. The number of customization options can be intimidating at first, but Elgato’s software makes setup easy. The MK.2 model also comes with a customizable faceplate, making it adaptable to any setup.

While the Stream Deck is primarily designed for streamers and content creators, anyone can take advantage of its programmable keys to make their workflow more efficient. With a bit of creativity, you can use the Stream Deck to open folders, control audio levels and launch your most used apps. It’s a great tool for those who frequently find themselves in video chats and presentations. As mentioned above, the Stream Deck MK.2 doesn't frequently go on sale, so act fast if you're interested.  

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Microsoft’s Black Friday deals are in full swing, meaning you can save a ton on Surface devices, Xbox accessories and more right now. Surface fans will want to check out the bundles on sale for the holiday shopping season. Microsoft is one of your best bets if you want to get most things you’ll need to make a Surface device your own all in one shot, while retailers like Amazon tend to have good deals on devices only.

One of our favorite bundles is on the Surface Laptop Go 2, which made our list of best cheap Windows laptops. Depending on the configuration you choose, you can save more than $200 on a bundle that includes the notebook, a Surface Mobile Mouse and a three-year protection plan. The most affordable config will run you just over $655, and that gets you the Go 2 with a Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. But we recommend springing for the next model up — that one has 8GB of RAM, along with the rest of the same specs, and the bundle will cost you just over $735. You’ll appreciate those extra 4GB of RAM when you’re doing any kind of multitasking, including having a plethora of Edge tabs open while running a couple of other apps at the same time.

While most discounts are on slightly older Surface device bundles, there are a couple available for the new Surface Pro 9 and the Surface Laptop 5. For the Pro 9, you can save at minimum $80 on a bundle that includes the two-in-one, a Surface Pro Signature Keyboard, a Microsoft 365 subscription and a two-year protection plan. Arguably most importantly, you can choose from either the Intel- or ARM-powered Pro 9s for this Essential Bundle, and we recommend going with the former to get the best performance possible. As for the Essential Bundle for the Laptop 5, you’re getting the same things as in the Pro 9 bundles, albeit without the keyboard attachment.

If you already have your computer of choice, Microsoft also has a number of good Xbox deals to consider. Not only can you get $50 off the Xbox Series S and get a headset along with it, but the company is also matching a lot of the Xbox controller deals we first spotted at Amazon. That's all on top Microsoft knocking up to 67 percent off certain Xbox titles, too.

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AirTags make great stocking stuffers for your loved ones who are constantly forgetting where they put their most important things. If you want to pick up a few, Amazon has the four-pack of AirTags for only $80 right now, which is the lowest price we've seen on that set. That also brings the price of each individual tracker down to $20, which is much cheaper than buying a single AirTag at its current $28 rate.

Apple joined the Bluetooth tracker space in 2021 with AirTags, which can help you keep track of your keys, wallet and other belongings. They pair quickly and seamlessly with iPhones (in a process very similar to that of AirPods), and you can digitally label them with the name of the thing they're monitoring.

After that quick setup process, you can see the last known location of your things from within the Find My app, and you'll even get alerts when, say, you've left your keys behind when you (and your iPhone) have moved to another location. From your phone, you can force AirTags to emit a chime to help you find your lost items more easily, and those with the latest iPhones can get on-screen directions to their missing things (as long as they aren't too far away).

Our biggest gripe with AirTags is a very Apple-y one: the trackers don't have a keyring hole, so you have to put them in a case, sleeve or another holder if you want to attach them to anything. Thankfully, most of our favorite AirTag cases are even cheaper than the tracker itself, so it may be a good idea to pick up a case for your loved one to whom your also gifting the AirTag.

Also, it goes without saying that AirTags are only viable for people with iPhones, or those otherwise steeped in the Apple ecosystem. Thankfully, there are a number of other options out there for non-Apple users, including those from Tile, Chipolo and Samsung.

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If you've been holding out for the best possible deal on the latest AirPods Pro, today might be the day to take the plunge. Apple's newest earbuds have dropped to $200 ahead of Black Friday proper, and that's $50 off their usual price and the best we've seen. They join the second-generation, standard AirPods, which have been on discount for a few days at $90 a pair. Some colors of the AirPods Max are also on sale for $450, which is $100 less than usual.

The second-gen AirPods Pro may not look very different from their predecessor, but that's because most of the changes lie on the inside. They include Apple's new H2 chip, which enables things like hands-free Siri, but also improvements like better sound quality and ANC, along with new features like Adaptive Transparency. In our testing, we found the new Pros to have significantly improved active noise cancellation and better sound than the model that came before it. The improved Transparency Mode is also the best we've tried on any wireless earbuds — it almost sounds like you're not wearing them at all when you enable this feature. That means you can more easily jump in and out of conversations, or just keep your AirPods in your ears for longer periods of time in between actively listening to music.

Otherwise, the new Pros are much the same as the previous models. You get deep integration with the Apple ecosystem, which is a big reason why some will choose these buds over others. Quick pairing and switching allows you to use them in between Apple devices seamlessly, and they have a decent, six-hour battery life. Their wireless charging case is both Qi-certified and MagSafe-compatible, so you have a lot of options when it comes to picking a charger for these buds. Overall, they're some of our favorite wireless earbuds at the moment, and they'll be hard to beat for Apple fanatics.

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Gamers with prepaid phones can finally play Overwatch 2. An Activision Blizzard community manager announced the changes on Thursday, reversing an overzealous anti-cheating move that had made it harder for new players to check out the game. The reversal came in the first-person shooter’s latest patch and is effective immediately.

Ahead of the game’s free-to-play early access period, which launched on October 4th, Blizzard had outlined a series of moderation tools to prevent cheating and smurfing, including the postpaid number requirement. Banning prepaid numbers from SMS verification may have been a well-intended move to reduce toxic behavior, as it’s much cheaper and easier for cheaters and trolls to set up prepaid numbers than postpaid ones. But unfortunately, it also blocked prepaid users acting in good faith from playing the game.

Blizzard’s other moderation tools are still in effect. Every Overwatch 2 player needs to connect a phone number to their Battle.net account to play, and that number can’t be tied to another account. You still can’t use VOIP, WiFi, text-only and internet phone services to verify your account, so you can forget about dusting off that old Google Voice number as a workaround. If you played the original Overwatch, you don't need to worry about SMS verification. Other moderation tools still in effect include audio transcriptions for reported voice chat recordings and automated review tools for poring through the resulting text.

It’s been a rocky launch for Blizzard’s online first-person shooter. In addition to blocking prepaid users, Blizzard said a DDoS attack left players stuck in a queue behind tens of thousands of other gamers. Bugs have also riddled the game’s early-access period, including missing items and currency, sections not populating and other areas becoming inaccessible. Soon after, Blizzard announced freebies to compensate players for the troubled rollout.

If you’ve been on the fence about Apple’s latest 11-inch iPad Pro, now is a good time to consider taking the plunge. Amazon currently has the entry-level 128GB model with WiFi for $729. Although that’s still a steep price, this model was only released a few weeks ago. Also, keep in mind the deal only applies to the Silver model.

This new iPad Pro is a minor update over its 2021 predecessor. Powering it is Apple’s updated M2 chip — the same silicon inside the latest MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The new chip makes the tablet a bit zippier than the last model, powering through heavy multitasking, media editing and the most demanding games.

The 2022 iPad Pro also adds a new hover feature that lets you hold the second-gen Apple Pencil over the screen to preview inputs and effects. Although that alone isn’t reason enough to upgrade, it’s a fun detail that could become integral as software developers tailor their apps for it. The high-end tablet also supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 networking.

If you own the 2021 iPad Pro, this probably isn’t the generation to upgrade. The M2 chip and hover feature are welcome additions, but everything else is unchanged from last year’s model. That includes the screen, chassis, cameras and battery — it’s a minor update to a tablet that was already overkill for most people’s iPad workflows.

Still, this model is the company’s best 11-inch model and an impressive hybrid device when you add the Magic Keyboard. In addition, the M2 chip runs smoothly with Stage Manager, Apple’s answer to persistent criticisms about iPadOS software not keeping up with cutting-edge iPad hardware. Stage Manager lets you keep up to four apps open in a single group with resizable, overlapping windows. Although the multitasking feature still feels like a work in progress, we expect Apple to keep tweaking and refining it in future software updates.

If you consider upgrading to this model from an older iPad Pro, this will also be your introduction to Center Stage. The feature uses machine learning to track your (and others’) faces during a video call in apps like FaceTime and Zoom. The frame follows you if you move to the side or go from sitting to standing. And if someone else enters the frame, it also pans out to bring them into the shot.

Should you prefer a bigger screen, Amazon also has the 12.9-inch model for $1,069, which is $30 off what you’d pay at Apple. Although that’s less of a price cut, that model’s screen is bigger and more vibrant with mini-LED tech.

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Apple's sweet-spot earbuds are now at their best price to date. Amazon is selling the third-generation AirPods at an all-time low of $140, or $29 off. That makes it an easy choice if you're interested in perks like head-tracking spatial audio and wireless charging, but don't need the active noise cancellation and snug fit of higher-end models.

The third-gen AirPods address many of the concerns you might have had about Apple's mid-tier wireless buds in the past. They offer dramatically improved audio quality, with a more immersive sound, cleaner highs and consistent bass response. They're more comfortable, and the six-hour battery life is long enough for a cross-country flight. And you might even prefer the more open design to that of the AirPods Pro — you won't need a transparency mode to listen to a colleague.

These won't be for everyone. You can use AirPods with Android and Windows devices, but they're still best-suited to the Apple ecosystem. And while they're sweat-resistant, you might not want to wear the third-gen models during vigorous workouts. At this price, however, they sit in a good middle ground and are more competitive with rivals' earbuds.

Thankfully, you also have choices if you're looking for discounts on Apple's other models. The second-gen AirPods remain at $90 if you're happy with no-frills audio and wired charging. The latest AirPods Pro, meanwhile, are still down to $230 if you want the company's best in-ear listening experience. It's just a question of your needs and budget.

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If companies are going to make augmented reality glasses you'd actually want to wear, they'll need chips that are powerful but won't require a large battery on your head. Qualcomm thinks it can help. The company has unveiled a Snapdragon AR2 Gen 1 platform that's built with slim AR glasses in mind. The multi-chip design reportedly delivers 2.5 times the AI performance of the company's XR2-based reference design while using half the power. You could have eyewear that intelligently detects objects in the room while remaining slim and light enough to use for hours at a time.

Part of the trick is to spread the computing load across the glasses' frame, Qualcomm says. The primary, 4nm-based AR processor includes a CPU, Tensor AI processing, graphics and engines for features like visual analytics. It can support up to nine simultaneous cameras for tracking both your body and the world around you. A co-processor elsewhere in the glasses includes an AI accelerator for tasks like eye tracking and computer vision, while a third chip handles connectivity to networks and phones. This not only better-balances the weight, but leads to smaller circuit boards and fewer wires than you'd see with a single do-it-all chip.

That networking is also important, Qualcomm says. Like Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in phones, AR2 Gen 1 is one of the first platforms to support WiFi 7. That's crucial not just to provide the gobs of bandwidth for connecting to a handset (up to 5.8Gbps), but to reduce latency (under 2ms to your phone, according to Qualcomm). Combined with lag reduction in the processor and co-processor, you should have a more natural-feeling and responsive experience.

Hardware built on AR2 Gen 1 is in "various stages" of progress at multiple well-known companies, including Lenovo, LG, Nreal, Oppo and Xiaomi. Importantly, Microsoft had a hand in the platform requirements. Don't be surprised if you're one day using AR2 for virtual collaboration in Mesh, not to mention other Microsoft apps and services.

Qualcomm has also introduced meaningful updates to its audio technology. New S3 Gen 2 Sound and S5 Gen 2 Sound platforms promise to make the latest listening tech more commonplace, including spatial audio with head tracking, lower latency for games and the latest take on adaptive active noise cancellation (think of the transparency modes found on some earbuds). You won't see real-world products until the second half of 2023, but these chips could democratize features that were previously reserved for pricier buds and headphones.