GoKawiil
Tech News
Energizer's 100-watt outdoor Bluetooth speaker, which offers up to 24 hours of battery life, is now available for $84.99, a price cut from its usual cost. The deal targets consumers seeking a portable, long-lasting speaker for outdoor use.
LG's collaboration with will.i.am has produced the Stage 501, a 25.8-pound Bluetooth speaker with dual woofers and full-range drivers delivering up to 220 watts when plugged in. Despite its party-oriented design, reviewers found it also performs well at low volumes, and it ships with an app offering EQ controls, karaoke features, and synchronized lighting.
CERT/CC disclosed that Skullcandy Dime 3 earbuds running firmware 1.0.0.28 accept Bluetooth pairing from nearby devices without any user approval, due to a flaw in the Airoha Bluetooth Audio SDK tracked as CVE-2025-20701. Skullcandy has released firmware 1.0.0.30 to fix the bug, but there is no way for users to update their earbuds manually or through the companion app.
Audio-Technica has released the ATH-AL5NC, a $279 wireless open-back headphone that pairs 53mm drivers with LDAC hi-res audio support and multipoint Bluetooth. The company says the headphones deliver up to 75 hours of battery life, with 15 minutes of charging yielding roughly eight hours of playback, and offer app-based control over EQ, presets and listening modes.
Woot is selling the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro headset for $164.99, nearly $100 off its usual price. The Xbox-branded version is highlighted as the best pick since it also works with PlayStation, PC, Switch and mobile devices. A 2XKO special edition model is also available for $149.99, though the deal only carries a 90-day Woot warranty instead of Razer's standard coverage.
Using Bluetooth or other signal jammers is banned in nearly all countries except for limited military use, under laws like the US Communications Act of 1934 and FCC regulations, alongside international rules from the ITU. These devices can disrupt Wi-Fi, medical equipment, security systems, and even emergency responder communications within a wide radius.
Sony has released the WH-1000XM4C, a refreshed version of its popular 2020 WH-1000XM4 headphones, priced at $300. The update adds Bluetooth 6.0, a 10-band equalizer with gaming EQ, a new lavender color option, and revised sound tuning, while keeping the same QN1 noise-canceling chip and four-microphone array. Battery life drops slightly to 27 hours from the original's 30, and Sony launched it alongside two new midrange models, the WH-CH730N and WH-CH530.
Portable CarPlay screens typically cost between $50 and $150, offering a cheaper alternative to buying a new car with built-in infotainment. Buyers should weigh screen size (6 to 11 inches), resolution (ideally at least 1280x720), audio output options like Bluetooth, AUX or FM, and whether the unit supports wireless CarPlay rather than requiring a cable.
Apple's Find My network is a separate, crowdsourced Bluetooth feature from the standard Find My app, and it must be manually enabled to locate an iPhone that is offline, in Power Reserve mode, or powered down. Users can verify and adjust these settings under Settings > [Name] > Find My, and should also enable Send Last Location, Location Services, and Bluetooth to ensure tracking works. Disabling Control Center access from the lock screen can also stop thieves from quickly enabling airplane mode to cut a stolen phone off from the network.
Security guidance highlights that leaving Bluetooth constantly active exposes phones to attacks like bluebugging and bluesnarfing, where nearby hackers exploit open connections. Recommended precautions include turning Bluetooth off when not needed, setting it to hidden rather than discoverable mode, unpairing phones from rental or sold cars, and disabling features like Android Auto's automatic activation or the iPhone's Live Listen tool.
Ottocast makes a small USB dongle that plugs into a car's existing CarPlay port and relays the connection to an iPhone over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a cable. After an initial Bluetooth pairing and approval step, the adapter automatically reconnects to the paired iPhone each time the car starts. The interface, controls and features remain identical to standard Apple CarPlay, with no separate Ottocast software layer.
Amazon is currently selling the Sony ULT Field 3 portable Bluetooth speaker for $138, a 34% cut from its $209.99 list price. The speaker features IP67 water and dust resistance, shock-resistant build, a bass-boosting ULT mode, and up to 24 hours of battery life, and holds a 4.6-star rating.