A pretty compelling case can be made that the most important synthesizer in history is the Minimoog Model D. When it was released in 1970 it was considered the first "portable" synth and it was among the first to distill the core tenants of what we consider modern synthesis into a self-contained, pre-wired package. It's been used by everyone from Kraftwerk, to Sun Ra, to P-Funk, to Giorgio Moroder, to Nine Inch Nails and Dr Dre. It is, in many ways, the platonic ideal of a synthesizer.
This is why vintage '70s models can fetch up to $10,000. And even the reissue from 2016 routinely goes for over $7,000. It's also why Moog is bringing the iconic instrument back, again, more than fifty years after it originally debuted.
Just like the original, the latest reissue is hand-built in the company's Asheville, NC factory with through-hole components housed in an aluminum and hard wood chassis. While it retains the original's sound and feel, it does include a number of modern amenities that debuted on the 2016 version, like an analog LFO with triangle and square eaves; an improved Fatar Keybed with aftertouch and velocity sensitivity; and MIDI integration. The new version also adds a spring-loaded pitch wheel that snaps back to the center on release — which it pretty much how pitch wheels work on every other synth.
You still get the same massive three-oscillator monophonic sound and iconic ladder filter. Plus the mixer offers thick saturation and screaming feedback for when you need to get a little more aggressive with your timbres.
While the Minimoog is back in production for now, it's not clearly how long that will remain the case. The company isn't calling it a limited run, but the previous reissue was only built for about a year before issues finding the necessary components caused the Model D to be discontinued once again. Hopefully this batch will last a little longer on the market. But there is some bad news — the price has gone up. A lot. While the last run of Model Ds would have set you back $3,749, the newest is going for $4,999. It's not cheap — but at least it's less expensive than a vintage version. The Minimoog Model D is available now worldwide.
Many people use WhatsApp to shop, and now they might not have to leave the app to find a store. WhatsApp now lets you search for businesses (those using the service's Business Platform, that is) by category or name. The feature is initially available in the UK, Colombia, Indonesia and Mexico, while Brazil will get an expanded version that also indexes small businesses.
WhatsApp also wants to handle the purchases. After a launch in India this August, the messaging app is now testing in-chat payments in Brazil. You can use your credit or debit card to check out directly instead of visiting the web, using another app or making a face-to-face transaction.
WhatsApp didn't say when it expected these search and payment options to reach the US and other parts of the world. In a statement, WhatsApp only said it would expand access "in the future." However, the debut is clearly focused on countries where WhatsApp is popular, such as Brazil. The South American nation is frequently one of the first to get new features, such as sending and receiving money.
It won't be surprising if the technology spreads to other regions. WhatsApp owner Meta has made a point of building shopping features into its core products, including Facebook and Instagram. These latest additions could help Meta provide a more consistent commerce experience across its apps — and, of course, make some extra profit.
Meta is apparently cracking down on employees who abuse their behind-the-scenes access. The Wall Street Journalsources claim Meta has fired or punished over two dozen workers for hijacking Facebook and Instagram accounts over the past year. Some of the offenders reportedly used Meta's account recovery tool, "Oops," and even took "thousands of dollars" in bribes from outsiders seeking access.
The perpetrators included Allied Universal's contracted security guards at Meta locations, according to the sources. The Journal has also interviewed companies that say they charge social media users for access to insiders willing to retrieve accounts despite company policy.
The Oops tool lets workers file reports about inaccessible accounts with the community support them, which then restores control. It's meant to be used only in rare situations, such as for public personalities and family members, and asks questions about the source of the request. Its use has supposedly climbed in recent years, The Journal says, jumping from 22,000 "tasks" in 2017 to 50,270 in 2020.
We've asked Meta for comment. In a statement, spokesperson Andy Stone said the company would continue to take "appropriate action" against anyone selling fraudulent services. Allied Universal said it always "seriously" responds to conduct violation reports.
The firings are small compared to Meta's overall (if now greatly reduced) headcount. However, they might produce mixed results for the social networking giant's reputation. While it gets rid of employees who misused their powers, it comes roughly a year after allegations that Meta let VIPs break the rules, and three years after the company discovered that employees had access to exposed user passwords. Simply put, it hasn't always been clear that accounts have been secure and treated equally.
Toyota impressed many onlookers this week with a sleeker redesign for the Prius. It turns out that the 2023 Prius Prime, the plug-in hybrid model, is also getting the new look as well as some other upgrades. For one thing, Toyota says that a larger lithium-ion battery will improve on the previous model's EV range of 25 miles by over 50 percent (i.e. to at least 37.5 miles). As such, you'll be able to take longer trips before starting to use gas.
Another neat feature is the solar roof. These panels can recharge the battery when the Prius Prime is parked. When you're on the road, the solar roof can provide auxiliary power to functions like air conditioning to lessen the load on the lithium-ion battery. Toyota adds that the solar panels' electrodes are concealed to maintain the plug-in hybrid's sleek look. "A focus for Prius Prime is to allow it to have a similar ethos to the new Prius hybrid model, but with a little something extra — more performance, technology, safety and even a little attitude," the automaker said.
Toyota
The 2023 model is lighter and more rigid than previous ones, Toyota claims, while it has a low center of gravity and larger luggage capacity. The vehicle is two inches lower, an inch wider and an inch longer than the previous Prius Prime, with a hip point that's nearly an inch lower too.
In terms of performance, Toyota says the fifth-generation hybrid powertrain and 2.0-liter engine help deliver a horsepower increase of nearly 100 hp over the last-gen model to 220 hp. The vehicle can seemingly go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds too.
As with the base Prius, the Prius Prime supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Toyota's own Intelligent Assistant enables you to search for directions, tweak audio settings, change cabin temperatures and more with voice commands. To help you figure out how to get to where you're going, the Cloud Navigation system uses the latest available map, traffic and routing information. Alternatively, you can get some help from a live agent via Destination Assist.
Other features include a JBL Premium Audio system with eight speakers and six USB-C ports. A digital key system is available on some trims as part of the Remote Connect service, enabling you to lock and unlock doors, start the engine and more with your phone.
Toyota
Elsewhere, the Prius Prime comes with Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert as standard on all trims. Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking is available as an option on SE variants and as standard on the XSE and XSE Premium grades. Those who opt for the XSE Premium trim will have the option to use a Panoramic View Monitor feature that allows for a live rotating 360-degree view around the vehicle, as well as a hands-free system that can help with parallel parking and reversing into a parking space.
Although Toyota will announce pricing and availability for the base Prius by the end of the year, you'll need to wait longer to find out that info for the Prius Prime. The company says it will reveal pricing and the on-sale date for the plug-in hybrid in the first half of 2023.
Lyft's app is now more useful for taking care of your own car, not just hailing a ride in someone else's. You now have access to a trio of maintenance and parking features in the US through a dedicated app section. You can ask for 24/7 roadside assistance through Agero, including tow trucks. SpotHero now helps you reserve parking. And if you need a repair or tune-up, you can soon book car maintenance at Goodyear Auto centers.
Not surprisingly, Lyft is offering some incentives to Pink subscribers. A membership covers four roadside help "events" per year, and Goodyear's services are 15 percent off. Most of the features are available nationwide, although you can't get roadside help in Nevada. Parking services are only available in 30 cities, including Chicago, Denver, New York City and San Francisco, although Lyft says more regions are "coming soon."
It's not hard to see the strategy behind these additions. On top of boosting Pink subscriptions, this could keep you in Lyft's ecosystem even if you have no need for ride hailing, bikes or scooters. The company can help you through "all phases" of your life, as fleet head Jody Kelman explains. Still, you might not mind if you're willing to trade flexibility in providers for the convenience of booking all your car services in a single app.
This might also represent slight competitive advantage over main rival Uber, whose app still revolves around on-demand rides. In theory, you might stick to Lyft simply because it addresses more of your transportation needs.
Everyone has different levels of interest when it comes to home automation, but I'd argue that a smart lock is one of the best and most impactful ways of upgrading your abode. And with the Assure Lock 2, Yale's latest smart deadbolt is easy to install, it's simple to use and it works with all the major smart home platforms (including the recently finalized Matter protocol). Also, because the device is available in a wide range of finishes and configs, there's a good chance it'll fight right in with your home's design. In a lot of ways, it's the do-everything smart lock.
The basics
The Assure Lock 2 is available in three finishes (black suede, bronze and satin nickel) across four basic configurations: a $160 keypad version with physical buttons that can be specced both with and without a physical keyhole and a slightly more sophisticated $180 touchscreen model, which once again supports both keyed and key-free setups. By default, the lock features Bluetooth connectivity, but for people who want deeper integration with smart home ecosystems, Yale sells modules that can add support for WiFi, ZigBee and Matter. (Note: There are also versions of the lock that come with the WiFi module pre-installed starting at $240. However, while Yale says the Assure Lock 2 is fully compatible with the Matter standard, its Matter modules aren't expected to be available until early 2023).
For the purposes of this review, I'll be focusing on the keypad model with WiFi and a dedicated keyway, as it offers the best combo of traditional convenience and new school smarts.
Setup and installation
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
I admit the idea of installing a deadbolt might sound a bit intimidating for some, but there's really not much to be concerned about. Yale says the Assure Lock 2 is designed to work with most doors used in the U.S. and Canada, with support for boreholes up to 2 ¾-inches in diameter on slabs up to 1 ¾-inches thick. The only tool you need is a Phillips head screwdriver, so even mildly handly city folk like myself had no trouble screwing everything down in under 30 minutes. And that includes a small bit of troubleshooting I had to do with customer service.
The first step is removing your old deadbolt. After that, you can use the included installation manual or download the Yale Access app (you’ll need it later anyways) which features a really thorough step-by-step guide, complete with videos and visual aids. The box also includes a paper template to help you figure out the size of your door, which is important because there are a few packs of different-sized screws you'll need to use depending on its specific dimensions.
Once the deadbolt is installed, the next thing you need to do is mount the DoorSense module, which is what allows the Assure Lock 2 to figure out when your door is open or closed. You can choose to stick it on the door frame near the lock, which just requires a couple of included screws and some pre-installed double-sided tape. Or you can go for a more seamless installation by hiding the sensor inside the frame of the door. But you’ll need a ⅝-inch drill bit for that so you can hollow out a hole for the DoorSense's magnet.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The one part where the device got tripped up was during calibration, which is when the lock attempts to latch and unlatch itself in order to figure out when the door is properly secured. Unfortunately, even though my previous deadbolt was a WiFi Smart Lock from August (which like Yale is owned by Assa Abloy), the depth of my latch was a bit too shallow, preventing the lock from extending all the way. However, after calling Yale's customer support, a friendly agent named Victor had me email a picture of my lock, which helped us sort out the issue. And after digging out the cavity for the latch a bit more, everything worked perfectly.
In use
Once you get everything up and running, the Assure Lock 2 really shines. It's like a Ronco rotisserie oven, you just set it and forget it. You can assign multiple entry codes and invite guests as needed via the Yale Access app. If someone uses the PIN you assigned them, the app records a log of when they entered. However, if you use the auto-unlock feature, you may never need to use the keypad at all. That’s because anytime you go more than 200 meters away from home, it uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to determine when you are coming back so it can unlock automatically as you walk up. And even though on Android devices you get a warning that the auto-unlock feature may be a little slow on certain devices, I never had any issues when using either a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Google Pixel 6.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
When you're leaving, you can simply press the Yale logo to lock your door. Or you can be even lazier and enable the auto-locking feature. I have mine set to a latch a minute and a half after the door is closed, which is just enough for me to leave, walk to the trash chute in my building and get back before the deadbolt re-engages, but not so long that someone could feasibly sneak in behind me without being spotted. And because the deadbolt also supports voice assistant integration, you can unlock your door just by asking Google, Alexa or Siri. (For those worried about voice controls being a security issue, the system makes sure to ask for a PIN when using spoken commands. So don’t use them if someone you don’t trust is around.),
The unlocking options don't stop there though, because for those with Apple Watches, you can simply move your wrist near the lock and use Bluetooth to let you in. And as always, you can simply open the app if you prefer a more manual approach. Most importantly none of these options failed me even once during testing. So you may never need to use a physical key again unless you really want to (though, I still like having one as a backup in case of emergency).
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Another bonus of the Assure Lock 2's new design, is that now it’s around 30 percent smaller than before. And when compared to something like August’s locks, it also sports a more traditional, so you don’t have to explain how to unlock the door visitors want to leave (which happens a lot more often than you might imagine). However, the downside is that because you're replacing the entire deadbolt instead of adding a device on top of your existing hardware like with some of Yale's rivals, the Assure Lock 2 might not be a great option for renters or people with strict HOAs.
Also, while I didn’t do this myself, if you want to upgrade to a new lock but really don’t want to change out all your keys, Yale even offers a service called Keyed Alike. For a small fee ($4), you can send Yale the code for you current lock’s cylinder and when your new deadbolt arrives, it will work with your existing set of keys.
Battery life
Yale says the Assure Lock 2 with WiFi's battery life is around three months, depending on how often you're coming and going. And while I was initially a bit disappointed that the lock relies on four disposable AA batteries, Yale says that due to fire safety regulations, the company isn't allowed to use rechargeable cells. You can put your own rechargeables in if you really want, but if anything goes wrong, that's on you. Oh, and for anyone who goes with a keyless model, in the event that the lock's batteries die while you're out, you can tap a 9-volt battery on the contacts on the underside of the housing, which gives the lock just enough juice to let you in.
Wrap-up
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
With the Assure Lock 2, Yale has created a smart deadbolt that really covers all the bases. You get four different configs in a variety of finishes. And thanks to compatibility with a wide range of standard door sizes, there's a high chance it'll fit right in on your home. So while other smart locks offer similar features like auto-unlock and the ability to detect when your door is ajar, they often don't provide the flexibility of both keyed and keyless options while also lacking support for all the major smart home protocols (WiFi, Zigbee and Matter). But my favorite thing about the lock is that it accomplishes what every really great smart home device should do: it gets out of your way. Once it's installed and configured how you like, you don’t really have to worry about it again. The Assure Lock 2 makes it easier to track and control who's going in and out of your house and if you're looking at getting a new smart lock, this one needs to be at the top of your list.
We've seen all of these deals at various points in the past, but each match the lowest prices we've tracked to date, including the discounts we saw during the company's Prime Early Access Sale in October. There's a chance things drop lower on Black Friday proper, but since Amazon is advertising these offers as "early Black Friday deals," we'd expect them to carry over.
Within the lineup, the Echo Show 8 offers the best balance of price and performance. Its 8-inch, 1,280 x 800 resolution is sizable enough for most streaming and video calling needs, its processor can keep up with most Alexa-related tasks and its speakers are powerful enough to fill a room. The Echo Show 5 and its 5.5-inch display are a step down across the board, but it can still be useful as a smart alarm clock. We gave the two review scores of 87 and 85, respectively, last year. The Kids version of the Echo Show 5, meanwhile, is essentially the same as the original model, but includes a year of the company's Kids+ content service, a simplified interface, and a two-year warranty (the standard model comes with one).
The Echo Show 10 and Echo Show 15 are more niche — the former has a rotating base that lets its 10.1-inch display follow you around during video calls, while the latter's 15.6-inch panel is designed to be mounted on a wall. We gave them review scores of 83 and 78, respectively. Both are still difficult to recommend to most when the Echo Show 8 can do most of the same Alexa things for less, but if you want a bigger display, they're at least a bit more affordable here.
If you're into the idea of a smart display but prefer the Google Assistant to Alexa, Google's 7-inch Nest Hub and 10-inch Nest Hub Max are also currently on sale for $50 and $164, respectively. The broad strokes of those devices are similar to their Amazon counterparts, though the Nest Hub lacks a built-in camera for those who don't want another one of those in their home. We gave the Nest Hub a review score of 89 last year, while the larger Nest Hub Max earned a score of 86 back in 2019.
For most people, there’s no such thing as an essential Roomba if you can work your own vacuum cleaner. They’re nice to have, and do a job, but you’ll get better results if you can put the work in yourself. They also require more management than Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons or Red Dwarf’s Kryten. You’ll come to earth with a bump when you see this oversized hockey puck crashing itself into your baseboards, wondering where the future we were promised disappeared to. But, if you judge the new Combo J7+ on its own merits, it makes a far better case for itself than many of its rivals.
The Roomba Combo J7+ is iRobot’s first “true” two-in-one vacuum and mopping robot, doing both without intervention. There’s no need to add or remove a mop pad between missions, and none of the dreaded risk of cross-contamination. After all, if your two-in-one is infused with dirty water, it runs the risk of depositing its juices all over your freshly vacuumed carpets and rugs. That’s a first world problem, but one iRobot believes is a big impediment to people buying a premium floor-cleaning robot.
iRobot’s solution is to have the Combo J7+ hold its mop and pad on top of its chassis, only pulling it down when required. The machine’s sensors identify when it’s rolling over hardwood versus a carpet, and flips down the pad accordingly. It’s a fairly smart piece of engineering, and iRobot’s engineers deserve kudos for finding such an elegant solution. All you’ll need to do is fill the reservoir with water and some cleaning solution, and activate a mission from inside the iRobot app, choosing your dosage level (Eco, Standard or Ultra) before pressing start.
I’ve had the J7+ in my home for three weeks now, set up in my entrance hall, since the ground floor of my home is a mix of hardwood, laminate and rugs. My kids, who have to walk down a dirt track to get to school, love tracking mud and debris into my hallway upon their return. Plus, it means I can send it out after dinner to clean the kitchen floor to deal with the usual raft of child-created crumbs. Although more commonly, I choose to clean the floors during the mid-morning, when my kids can’t complain about the noise the Clean Base makes.
Daniel Cooper
The J7+ is the first Roomba to ship with iRobot OS 5.0, which improves upon the company’s work to avoid dangerous hazards. (I don’t know if I can say “rolling into a pile of dog poop and smearing it all over your carpets” in a way that’s brand safe, so just use your own euphemism.) After each mission, you’ll be asked to review obstacles that the robot detected during the trip, letting it know if the pair of sneakers you left by the back door is a temporary or permanent fixture for the future. The big point, however, is for the camera’s computer vision to identify these hazards and avoid them without having to bump into them.
I will say, I did find the early mapping runs to be a little more frustrating than I may have expected. Part of this was because I had to tidy up everything after my kids before I could send the machine out for a run. And that it was outfoxed fairly regularly by both my welcome mat and the threshold between the hallway and the kitchen. I wish, really, there was a way I could use my phone – with its boat-load of location-aware tech – to help build the map. For instance, I’d be happy to trace a rough outline of the ground floor of my home with my phone using dead reckoning, which you’d think would help speed up the process.
To be fair, this power has grown exponentially over the period of time I’ve had the Roomba in my home. A few days ago, the system asked if I wanted to craft a dedicated cleaning zone around the kitchen table, without any prompting from me whatsoever. That’s obviously a great way to spot-target areas of dirt buildup without having to do the whole kitchen floor every night, too. Credit where due, the Roomba has picked up a good sense of where everything is in my house, and where it needs to direct its energies.
The machine does a great job removing small, loose particles from the floor, but it’s still leaving the odd outlier. Not to mention that, despite a lot of promises to not need much micromanagement, you’ll be filling the Roomba’s water reservoir very frequently. The container can take a fairly piddly 210 ml (around 7 ounces) of water, good enough for 40 square meters (430 square feet) of floor on high dose, enough just about for my modest, British ground floor. But if you’re in a McMansion with floors the length and breadth of a football field, you might need to refill the Roomba in the middle of a job.
In the US, the J7+ ships with the clean base, which will set you back $1,099.99 – a fairly massive chunk of change. Elsewhere, you can pick it up base-free, but if you’re buying a Roomba for the convenience, the base makes plenty of sense. The base is not only where your machine will charge itself, but it has its own vacuum that sucks out any debris that the Roomba picks up and deposits it inside its own bag. If I have a complaint, it’s that I wish the Roomba itself had some of the power of the Clean Base’s own suction, which is about as powerful (and noisy) as a jet engine. I also wish there was a way to disable this feature.
There are parts of iRobot’s sales pitch that leave me almost petulantly shrugging in hostile indifference. Like being able to order your Roomba to clean a specific high-traffic zone by barking a command to your home’s voice assistant of choice. I think using a voice assistant became passé after the third time you tried to impress your neighbors by changing the color of your living room lights in 2013. Yes, for older people, and those with accessibility needs, a good voice assistant connection is vital, but it’s also something that leaves me cold. Especially when it’s a lot easier to just activate a mission from the app, which is beautifully simple to do.
But, despite my objections, I have found this gizmo worming its way into my regular routine more than I ever expected. It’s actually a pleasure to walk back from the school run, see a pile of dirt on the floor and be able to magic it away with the press of a button. And setting it up to mop the floor as well, means that the number times I have to clean it myself has dropped massively. It may not replace your vacuum cleaner, or your mop, but it will mean you don’t have to use them anywhere near as frequently as you normally do.
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.
Black Friday has come early for Sony and those who love the company's audio gadgets. A bunch of our favorite headphones and earbuds are already on sale, including the excellent WH-1000XM5. They're currently discounted by 13 percent, so you can grab them for $348. That's still a steep price for a pair of ANC headphones, but considering they're our favorites at the moment, this discount is a good one. Meanwhile, the still solid WH-1000XM4 cans are $122 off and down to $228; the budget-friendly WH-CH710N cans are down to only $68; and the Sony LinkBuds S earbuds are on sale for $128.
Sony built upon the solid foundations in the XM4 to make this year's XM5. The new design makes them even more comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and they have noticeably better active noise cancellation as well. Now, the ANC in the XM4 was already stellar, so Sony just took it up a notch with the XM5 by adding a separate V1 chip to accompany the QN1 chip that was the star of the show in the XM4. In addition to that, the XM5 have a total of eight ANC mics, double the number in the XM4, and all of that adds up to a system that does a fantastic job of blocking out all kinds of noise.
Aside from that, the XM5 have all of the same features that the XM4 had: good sound quality, solid touch controls, multi-device connectivity, Speak-to-Chat and a 30-hour battery life. It's not surprising that they topped our list of best wireless headphones, nudging its predecessor off the list, so it's also not surprising that you'll have to pay a premium for them. We don't expect them to drop much lower than $348, so this is a good deal that you can get even before Black Friday proper. However, if you're willing to skip the enhancements in the XM5, the XM4 are still really great headphones that are made much better by this Black Friday sale price of $228.
If you're sticking to a strict budget this holiday season, Sony's WH-CH710N headphones are a steal at $68. They don't have as slick of a design as the XM5 (or the XM4, really), but they are comfortable and have decent ANC. We also like their 35-hour battery life, plus the fact that you can take calls hands-free if you link the headphones up with your phone's virtual assistant. As for the LinkBuds S, they are some of Sony's newest wireless earbuds and their key feature is smart playback. The buds will automatically play and pause music depending on your activity, plus they support ANC and high-resolution audio.
