The AirPods 4 and Google’s 4K streamer are just two of this week’s best deals
Happy Saturday, folks! After a few weeks of middling deals, we’re starting see things pick up. Some of our favorite deals of the holiday season have returned in some fashion, making now a great time to pick up deal stalwarts like the AirPods 4 with ANC or Google’s TV Streamer (4K). We also stumbled upon a deal that knocks $5 off a pair of Lego Roses, as well as another that lets both new and returning subscribers snag a month of Apple TV Plus, completely free of charge. So let’s get into it, shall we? If you can afford it, I highly recommend the AirPods Pro 3, which are on sale at Amazon and Walmart right now for $199 ($50 off). However, if you’re an Apple user looking to save some cash, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation make for a surprisingly good alternative, especially since they’re on sale at Amazon and Walmart for $119 —...
Happy Saturday, folks! After a few weeks of middling deals, we’re starting see things pick up. Some of our favorite deals of the holiday season have returned in some fashion, making now a great time to pick up deal stalwarts like the AirPods 4 with ANC or Google’s TV Streamer (4K). We also stumbled upon a deal that knocks $5 off a pair of Lego Roses, as well as another that lets both new and returning subscribers snag a month of Apple TV Plus, completely free of charge.So let’s get into it, shall we?If you can afford it, I highly recommend the AirPods Pro 3, which are on sale at Amazon and Walmart right now for $199 ($50 off). However, if you’re an Apple user looking to save some cash, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation make for a surprisingly good alternative, especially since they’re on sale at Amazon and Walmart for $119 — about $20 shy of the all-time low we saw during Black Friday.Despite their open-style design, the AirPods 4 with ANC offer the best sound of any AirPods to date (save the Pro models). The noise cancellation is remarkably effective at lowering the volume of the outside world, and because they’re an Apple product, they’re loaded with all the usual ecosystem tricks. That means you’ll get support for head-tracking spatial audio, automatic device switching, and live translation courtesy of iOS 26. The ANC also packs a few Pro-level features, including wireless charging and a built-in speaker on the charging case that lets you track it via Apple’s Find My app.
Read our AirPods 4 review.
Apple Airpods 4 with ANC
Where to Buy:
$179 $119 at Amazon
$179 $119 at Walmart
$179.99 at Best Buy
Ready or not, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Per usual, we’ll be publishing several gift guides in the run-up to the main event on Sunday, February 14th; however, if you want to get a head start on shopping for your supposed sweetheart, Lego’s Roses are on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Target for around $9.91 (about $5 off), nearly matching their best price to date. Lego does sell more robust floral sets — hell, you can currently buy a dozen stems for around $55 — but this 120-piece kit feels like a more subtle surprise. Just pair it with an actual vase, and voila: instant brownie points.
Lego Roses
Where to Buy:
$14.99 $9.91 at Amazon
$14.99 $9.91 at Walmart
$14.99 $9.99 at Target
These days, most TVs are equipped with a way to access Netflix, HBO Max, and a laundry list of other streaming apps. That said, a dedicated device like Google’s TV Streamer (4K) — which is now available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Google for $79.99 ($20 off), nearly matching its all-time low— can provide better customization, faster performance, and more advanced search functionality than many 4K TVs.Google’s speedy Chromecast follow-up supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, along with a handy Find My feature that lets you locate the remote when it inevitably falls between your couch cushions. It can also cobble together recommendations from across streaming services, and thanks to its built-in support for both Matter and Thread, you can leverage it as a smart home hub, making it easy to control your lights or view livestreams from connected cameras. We just wish it weren’t limited to Wi-Fi 5, even if the built-in ethernet port does help.
Read our full Google TV Streamer (4K) review.
Google TV Streamer (4K)
Where to Buy:
$99.99 $79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 $79.99 at Google
$99.99 $79.99 at Best Buy
In case you weren’t aware, Apple TV Plus has basically become the streaming service if you’re a sci-fi fan, with recent standouts like Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus further cementing its status in recent months. Thankfully, if you hadn’t had an opportunity to dig into the streamer’s movie and TV catalog, both new and qualified returning subscribers can currently sign up for a free 30-day trial for a limited time.If you’re not into interstellar travel or hive mind antics, rest a**ured that you have other options. The second season of the high-stakes wine drama Drops of God and the third season of Shrinking — an excellent comedy starring Jason Segel — are now underway, and the next season of Ted Lasso is (finally) set to premiere this summer after a three-year absence. Just be sure to cancel your membership before the trial period ends; otherwise, it will renew at the current rate of $12.99 a month.
Apple TV Plus (30-day trial)
Where to Buy:
Check price at Apple
More ways to save this weekend
Anker’s MagGo charging puck has returned to $14.99 ($15 off) at Amazon, matching its lowest price to date. The Qi2-certified charger only outputs up to 15W of power, and while the newest iPhone models technically support up to 25W wireless charging, you’re likely going to have to pay a premium for the privilege. Anker’s Qi2 offering is cheap, effective, and comes with a five-foot cable you can plug into either your laptop or a power adapter.
My go-to smart speaker rec for family and friends, the Sonos Era 100, is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Sonos’ online storefront for $179 ($40 off), its second-best price to date. The feature-packed speaker sounds noticeably better than the last-gen Sonos One, with improved bass response and support for stereo playback. It’s also equipped with Bluetooth, and like the larger Era 300, it lets you listen to wired audio sources via line-in — a**uming you pick up a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter, that is. Read our review.
I regret to inform you that most of the standout t**les from Woot’s so-called “Video Game Mega Sale” have been snapped up at this point, though you can still grab a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom for $44.99 ($15 off). I’m a big fan of the game’s chibi miniature-style art design and its clever open-world formula, which, while a little formulaic, is still fitting for Princess Zelda’s first solo outing on the Nintendo Switch. Read our review.
SpaceX made more revenue as an AI company than a space company
SpaceX's AI revenue grew more than three times to $2.6 billion from the year before, mostly because of deals that the company made to provide compute to other AI companies, according to SpaceX's quarterly earnings. The AI division, which the company said in its documents to go public was the...
SpaceX's AI revenue grew more than three times to $2.6 billion from the year before, mostly because of deals that the company made to provide compute to other AI companies, according to SpaceX's quarterly earnings. The AI division, which the company said in its documents to go public was the source of most of its value, lost $1.5 billion this quarter, slightly less than in the same quarter last year.SpaceX made deals with Anthropic in May and Google in June to provide compute to the other two AI companies, putting it in competition with other neoclouds such as CoreWeave. The increased presence in AI is also driving the company to spend mor …Read the full story at The Verge.
William Garcia Boston
Published by: aplhsindia.in
A Microsoft executive got Doom running in Paint using a clipboard hack
If you thought Microsoft's Azure CTO should have better things to do than getting classic FPS Doom to run in MS Paint, you'd be very wrong.
If you thought Microsoft's Azure CTO should have better things to do than getting classic FPS Doom to run in MS Paint, you'd be very wrong.
William Garcia Boston
Published by: aplhsindia.in
The Steam Controller has one kryptonite, and it caused me to swap controllers
I bought the new Steam Controller with the expectation that it'd be the last gamepad I'd ever need, and the hardware makes a great case for that. While there are controllers out there that combine a couple of the elements of what Valve has done, none of them have full...
I bought the new Steam Controller with the expectation that it'd be the last gamepad I'd ever need, and the hardware makes a great case for that. While there are controllers out there that combine a couple of the elements of what Valve has done, none of them have full parity with the Steam Controller. The trackpads are great, the gyro is really solid, and the traditional gamepad elements like the buttons and joysticks are as good as it gets.
Olivia Miller Seattle
Published by: aplhsindia.in
5 tools that turned my self-hosted media server into something better than any streaming service
My living room media setup started with a simple goal. I wanted my movies and television shows on hardware I controlled, with one clean interface instead of a pile of streaming apps that each remembered different watch histories.
My living room media setup started with a simple goal. I wanted my movies and television shows on hardware I controlled, with one clean interface instead of a pile of streaming apps that each remembered different watch histories.
Cody Soto Ireland
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Your old PC just got Bluetooth 5.4 for $7
If you're looking to move away from cable clutter, Bluetooth is one way to go. You can use the technology to connect vital accessories, transfer files, listen to audio, and more. If you have an older PC or laptop, there's a pretty good chance it might need a Bluetooth upgrade....
If you're looking to move away from cable clutter, Bluetooth is one way to go. You can use the technology to connect vital accessories, transfer files, listen to audio, and more. If you have an older PC or laptop, there's a pretty good chance it might need a Bluetooth upgrade. This Ugreen Bluetooth 5.4 USB dongle is the perfect solution, and costs just $7 right now thanks to a 33% discount on Amazon.
Michael Johnson Chicago
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I tried 3 self-hosted Claude alternatives on the same documents, and one crushed the others
Document chat is a non-negotiable part of most of my workflows these days. Yes, NotebookLM still holds the crown in this department, but only when I'm getting serious with coursework. For all of my other documents, I default to my daily AI, Claude. However, Claude is still a cloud tool...
Document chat is a non-negotiable part of most of my workflows these days. Yes, NotebookLM still holds the crown in this department, but only when I'm getting serious with coursework. For all of my other documents, I default to my daily AI, Claude. However, Claude is still a cloud tool at the end of the day, which means there are certain docs I don't feel comfortable just handing over.
Amanda Hamalainen Finland
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Transcoding is the part everyone gets wrong, and the fix is usually a cheaper GPU than you think
Anyone who has ever built a Jellyfin server eventually reaches the same crossroads — a couple of friends start streaming remotely, and someone tries to play a file on a device that can't handle the original video format. That's what makes the "effortless" server start sweating, and you instinctively think...
Anyone who has ever built a Jellyfin server eventually reaches the same crossroads — a couple of friends start streaming remotely, and someone tries to play a file on a device that can't handle the original video format. That's what makes the "effortless" server start sweating, and you instinctively think of plugging in a faster Ryzen processor, a newer motherboard, and maybe even a memory upgrade. Those upgrades aren't nearly as easy as they once were, but they were still mistakes I almost ended up making.
Jane Smith Los Angeles
Published by: aplhsindia.in
AMD’s data center business is booming while gaming takes a backseat
Driven by demand for AI capacity, AMD's data center revenue more than doubled year-over-year in its latest earnings report, reaching $6.7 billion. That's up from $5.8 billion in Q1, and jumping 107 percent from the $3.2 billion it reported for the same period a year ago. During Tuesday's earnings call,...
Driven by demand for AI capacity, AMD's data center revenue more than doubled year-over-year in its latest earnings report, reaching $6.7 billion. That's up from $5.8 billion in Q1, and jumping 107 percent from the $3.2 billion it reported for the same period a year ago. During Tuesday's earnings call, AMD CEO Lisa Su said the company expects "data center segment revenue to more than double year-over-year in 2027," as well. At the same time, AMD's gaming revenue fell 31 percent compared to last year, to $779 million, as price hikes and component shortages slowed sales for the Xbox Series X / S, PS5, and Valve's Steam Deck. On a call after …Read the full story at The Verge.
Olivia Miller Seattle
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Now you can securely link multiple phones to one Signal account
You can link more devices with one phone number on Signal now, including an Android phone or iPhone. Signal already supported linking PCs and iPads, but not additional phones. When you link a device on Signal, you can check and respond to new messages across all of your linked devices....
You can link more devices with one phone number on Signal now, including an Android phone or iPhone. Signal already supported linking PCs and iPads, but not additional phones. When you link a device on Signal, you can check and respond to new messages across all of your linked devices. You can also choose whether or not to transfer an end-to-end encrypted copy of your previous messages to each newly linked device to mitigate the risk of devices that might be shared, lost, or compromised.The update is rolling out now with Signal version 8.20 on Android and version 8.22 for iPhone / iPad. Signal also says it has made "significant interface …Read the full story at The Verge.
Jane Smith Los Angeles
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Your monitor’s HDMI 2.1 port is lying about what it can do, and it’s all perfectly legal
There was a time when HDMI 2.1 ports were extremely rare, but even today, the ones on most gaming monitors aren't delivering the features they're supposed to. An HDMI 2.1 port should support not just 48 Gbps bandwidth, but also features such as eARC, ALLM, dynamic HDR, and more. In...
There was a time when HDMI 2.1 ports were extremely rare, but even today, the ones on most gaming monitors aren't delivering the features they're supposed to. An HDMI 2.1 port should support not just 48 Gbps bandwidth, but also features such as eARC, ALLM, dynamic HDR, and more. In reality, manufacturers can implement just one of these features and market "HDMI 2.1" to move units.
Jar Rodriguez United States
Published by: aplhsindia.in
I ditched my clipboard manager after finding this cross-device clipboard app
Lately, my workflow revolves around AI tools much more than it used to. I'm constantly copying prompts, AI responses, code snippets, research, and links while switching between my desktop, laptop, and phone. My clipboard manager still does a good job of remembering everything I copy, but that's no longer my...
Lately, my workflow revolves around AI tools much more than it used to. I'm constantly copying prompts, AI responses, code snippets, research, and links while switching between my desktop, laptop, and phone. My clipboard manager still does a good job of remembering everything I copy, but that's no longer my biggest problem. These days, I need that content to be available wherever I'm working next. After looking for a better solution, I came across OctoClip. It combines clipboard syncing with simple file transfers, which turned out to be a much better fit for the way I work today.
Michael Johnson Chicago
Published by: aplhsindia.in
Don’t screw this up, Marvel
In less than a week, Spider-Man: Brand New Day raked in $1 billion worldwide and had the biggest box office opening weekend in Hollywood history. The feature has been a reminder of why Sony is probably never going to give up the Spider-Man film rights, and highlighted how Marvel Studios...
In less than a week, Spider-Man: Brand New Day raked in $1 billion worldwide and had the biggest box office opening weekend in Hollywood history. The feature has been a reminder of why Sony is probably never going to give up the Spider-Man film rights, and highlighted how Marvel Studios was smart to strike a deal to bring the character into its own films. But as successful as Brand New Day has been, the larger MCU has been stuck in a confounding slump for the past few years. And while this latest Spider-Man movie was truly excellent, it's not necessarily a sign that Marvel has figured out how to get things back on track.Though Brand New Da …Read the full story at The Verge.
