When only one AirPod produces sound, the likely cause is a charging problem. Owners are advised to clean the case's charging port and contacts, fully charge the case, then check both AirPods' battery status via the iPhone popup or Batteries widget before testing the faulty earbud alone. If cleaning and recharging don't fix it, a factory reset through iPhone Bluetooth settings is the next step, with slightly different reset button sequences for older versus newer AirPods models.
Pairing a phone with a rental car's entertainment system via Bluetooth can prompt a sync of contacts and other data, which may be stored on the vehicle's infotainment system indefinitely unless manually deleted. Using a USB cable with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead offers encrypted connections that don't expose this data. Rental companies like Avis state in their policies that customers are responsible for removing their own data and that the company isn't liable for information left behind.
Sincere Inc. has released a limited-edition 'After Hours' version of its Pixel Tunes portable Bluetooth CD player, priced at 12,980 yen (about $83). Unlike the brand's three other translucent colorways, this smoke-tinted model contains phosphorescent material that makes its shell glow green in the dark. The player includes modern touches such as USB-C charging, Bluetooth 5.3, and a 60-second anti-skip buffer, alongside 5-7 hours of battery life.
A developer who already used Home Assistant to track bin collection schedules built a new project called BinRange to detect whether bins had actually been moved. The system uses a fixed ultra-wideband radio anchor, six battery-powered tags attached to wheelie bins, a 3D-printed enclosure, custom firmware with wireless updates, and integration with Home Assistant to combine location data with collection schedules. The build followed an earlier, less successful attempt using Bluetooth tags and a proxy, and was developed with heavy use of AI coding tools including Codex and Astra.
Bitchat, Jack Dorsey's Bluetooth-based offline messaging app, has been removed from Apple's and Google's app stores in India after the government invoked Section 69A of the IT Act. Apple's takedown notice, shared by Dorsey, said the app remains available outside India but that access via TestFlight is also blocked there, and Bitchat's website appears inaccessible across Indian ISPs. The move follows an earlier July order directing GitHub to remove Bitchat's code repositories.
Amazon has cut the price of the Marshall Major V wireless headphones to $89.99, down from a $129.99 list price, a 31% discount. The sale price sits just $2 above the headphones' lowest recorded price to date.
Amazon is selling JBL's Soundgear Sense open-ear true wireless earbuds for $83, a 50% cut from their $165 list price. The earbuds use JBL's OpenSound air-conduction design, offer up to 6 hours of battery life (24 hours with the case), Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint pairing, and an IP54 rating for sweat and dust resistance.
Amazon is selling the Bose SoundLink Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $179, down from its $269 list price, a $90 discount. The speaker offers up to 20 hours of battery life, USB-C charging, an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, and Bluetooth support for aptX Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound. It carries a 4.6-star rating on Amazon.
Legato has launched its Frames eyewear, which embeds AI-driven hearing assistance into glasses arms starting at $999, targeting adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The device uses AI to isolate voices from background noise and a dual-speaker design that directs sound to the wearer while leaking almost none to others nearby. All audio processing runs on-device with no cameras or recording, and the glasses weigh 34 grams with 10-12 hours of battery life.
Amazon unveiled the Kindle Click, a $34.99 Bluetooth remote that lets readers turn pages without touching their Kindle screen, alongside a redesigned Kindle lineup. The accessory works with all new Kindles and models from 2024 onward, and Amazon suggests it for use cases like reading under covers, on a treadmill, or during flights.
Amazon has updated its Kindle, Paperwhite and Colorsoft e-readers with thinner, lighter designs, faster page turns, and optional aluminum bodies made from 80% recycled metal. Prices range from $150 for the base Kindle to $320 for the top Colorsoft Signature Edition, with new accessories including a $60 charging dock, an $80 page-turn cover, and a $35 Bluetooth remote called Kindle Click.
Georgia Tech engineers led by Alex Abramson developed a system called SWANS that lets implanted devices communicate by sending electrical signals through body tissue rather than Bluetooth or NFC radio waves. The system mimics ionic conduction used by neurons, passing voltage signals through tissue instead of nerves to coordinate multiple implants like pacemakers and insulin pumps.