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These budget earbuds turned an audiophile into an open-ear believer

ZDNET's key takeaways The Soundpeats PearlClip Pro earbuds are available now on Amazon for $59. The PearlClip Pro earbuds offer high-quality sound and a design that holds to your ear, no matter how active you are. The controls of the PearlClip Pro earbuds take some getting used to. $49.99 at Amazon As a runner and a lover of music, I'm always looking for earbuds that can marry those two things in an active form factor. For the longest time, the ideal option has been bone-conducting headphones

Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab is worth $12B in seed round

Thinking Machines Lab, the AI startup founded by OpenAI’s former chief technology officer Mira Murati, officially closed a $2 billion seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz on Monday, a company spokesperson told TechCrunch. The deal, which includes participation from NVIDIA, Accel, ServiceNow, CISCO, AMD, and Jane Street, values the startup at $12 billion, the spokesperson said. Several outlets reported in June that Thinking Machines Lab was close to closing this $2B funding round at a $10 bill

My favorite bone-conduction headphones have a 12-hour battery life and are perfect for running

ZDNET's key takeaways The new Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are the follow-up to the widely popular bone conduction headphones used by dedicated athletes, like marathoners and triathletes They're now available for $180. The OpenRun Pro 2 are as comfortable as ever, with a longer battery life than their predecessor. The volume of the headphones could be louder, and the microphone produces a warbled sound View now at Amazon I'm not running a marathon this fall, but if I were, I'd want the latest Shokz O

Fitbit’s Charge 6 fitness tracker is at its lowest price ever at Walmart

The Fitbit Charge 6 is one of the best fitness trackers we’ve tested, and down to an all-time low price of $93 ($66.95 off) at Walmart. The deal includes a six-month subscription to Fitbit Premium, a service that includes guided workouts, a wellness report, and other perks, and usually costs $10 per month or $80 per year. You can get the Charge 6 for $99.95 ($60 off), along with the same six-month subscription, at Amazon. The Charge 6 is the only fitness tracker under $200 with an FDA-cleared E

Forget AirPods - these Beats headphones work just as well with iOS and Android

ZDNET's key takeaways The Beats Solo 4 headphones are available for $200 in Matte Black, Slate Blue, and Cloud Pink. Beats' best-selling headphones return with up-to-date features, signaling that the company used the product's long hiatus wisely. A tight fit and small ear cups may cut your listening experience shorter than you'd like. $129.95 at B&H Photo-Video I've spent a lot of time testing headphones, and I find a new favorite with every fresh release. But one pair of headphones will

Google’s next Pixel Fold might be completely dust-proof

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold could be the first dust-proof foldable. A new leak published by Android Headlines says the Pixel 10 Pro Fold may come with an IP68 rating, which would make it completely dust-tight and allow it to withstand continuous submersion in water. To compare, Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Motorola Razer Ultra have

BYD has caught up with Tesla in the global EV race. Here’s how.

In mid-2022, when BYD executive Lian Yubo was asked to compare Chinese manufacturing with Tesla’s technology, he remarked that Elon Musk was an example that all Chinese carmakers could learn from. “Tesla is a very successful company no matter what. BYD respects Tesla and we admire Tesla,” he said in an interview on Chinese state media. Yet just three years later, Tesla’s technological lead over its Chinese rivals has narrowed dramatically. It is fighting to stay ahead in the world’s largest ca

US probes imports on drones and a raw material used in chips and solar panels

The Department of Commerce has opened national security investigations into imports of drones and polysilicon , a raw material used in chips and solar panels. Among other things, officials are looking into "predatory trade practices" and the capacity of other countries to "weaponize their control over supplies" of drones, drone parts and polysilicon, as well as derivatives of each. The DoC commenced the investigations on July 1, but has only just disclosed them publicly. The probes could lead t

Random selection is necessary to create stable meritocratic institutions

Campbell's Law (a variant of Goodhart's Law) states that the more a metric is used for social decision-making, the more it will be subject to corruption which distorts and corrupts not only the metric itself, but the very social processes it was meant to measure. Selection criteria for a position of authority are one example of such a metric. When selection criteria are opaque, it is difficult for them to become a target, preserving their utility as measures. For governance positions however, it

Samsung is thinking about Galaxy phones with built-in magnets, no wired charging

Eric Zeman / Android Authority TL;DR An official Samsung survey suggests that the company is thinking about Galaxy phones with built-in Qi 2 magnets. The survey also hints that these future phones could lack wired charging capabilities. This news comes as recent Samsung phones require a separate case for MagSafe and general magnetic accessories. Recent Samsung phones like the Galaxy S25 series support the Qi 2 wireless charging standard but don’t have built-in magnets. Instead, these phones

The best fitness trackers for 2025

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . If you're looking to get fit, sleep better or just keep a closer eye on your health, a fitness wearable is a great place to start. Whether you're into intense workouts or just want to hit your step goal each day, the best fitness trackers available today can offer loads of helpful feat

If You Have a Headache, Experts Recommend Eating These 9 Foods

Next time you have a headache, consider looking in your fridge or pantry for relief. Though they're not miracle cures, several foods may provide relief next time you have a headache or migraine, in addition to maintaining your hydration, exercise routine, sleep and managing stress. "The most important thing I tell patients is that migraines are highly individualized," says Dr. Nicholas Church, a board-certified member of the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Family P

Here's Everything You Need to Know About Satellite Connectivity in Phones

The words "satellite phone" probably conjure up an image of a clunky mobile monstrosity straight out of a spy thriller. These bulky and utilitarian traditional satellite phones are typically required in remote locations where cellular networks are unavailable. Nowadays, however, satellite connectivity can be found in regular smartphones too, thanks to new hardware innovations and unique partnerships with satellite network providers. They can't fully replace traditional satellite phones, but in

Nvidia is set to resume China chip sales after months of regulatory whiplash

Nvidia announced Monday that it’s filing applications to restart sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China, capping a spasmodic few months that saw the Trump administration impose restrictions, then quickly reverse course after a high-profile dinner meeting. The company expects to receive U.S. government licenses soon and begin deliveries shortly after, according to a blog post. Nvidia is also introducing a new “RTX Pro” chip designed specifically for the Chinese market, calling i

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Hits Digital Tomorrow With Tons of Extras

If you missed How to Train Your Dragon on the big screen—or more likely, saw it and want to watch it again, based on its box-office haul—tomorrow’s your lucky day. The hit live-action adaptation of the hit animated film arrives on digital July 15, with a physical version coming August 12. Best of all for fans, the home release is jam-packed with over 75 minutes of extras, including deleted scenes and multiple making-of featurettes, as well as a look at the film’s new theme park experience. Here

These Stylish Bluetooth Headphones With Unbelievable Battery Life Are Still Cheaper Than Ever After Prime Day

Amazon Prime Day discount still available: Marshall's Major V headphones are worth it even at full price, but right now they're at an all-time low price of $100 -- or around 38% off. Move quickly though, because with Prime Day done and dusted, who knows how long this price will stick around. I might not be a true battle-tested headphone expert like CNET's David Carnoy, but I still love headphones and I'm confident in what I like about them. My most recent pickup, the Marshall Major V on-ear Blu

Going off-grid? Leave your flagship at home and take this $300 Android instead. Here's why

ZDNET's key takeaways The Oukitel WP56 is now available for $300 on the official site. It's a mid-range phone that performs above its price point, with impressive battery life and durability. Like most Oukitel phones, the WP56 is particularly heavy and bulky. View now at Oukitel Let me set the stage for you. You're out in the wilderness. Maybe you're working on a job site, or you've taken your Jeep for some off-road action. The terrain and the weather are rough, and you might not have the me

Here's how a free software upgrade made the Sonos Ace worth their price tag

Jada Jones/ZDNET The Sonos Ace headphones are currently discounted to $299, $150 off their original price of $450. You can find this deal at Amazon, Best Buy, Sonos, and Walmart. It's been one year since Sonos released its first pair of consumer headphones, and although they made waves when they first dropped, how have they fared after the hype has died down? You can often find the Ace discounted, and if you're interested in them, that's the best time to buy them. Also: The best headphones of

Bose is offering an extra 25% off refurbished headphones, earbuds, and portable speakers

Some of Bose’s best headphones, earbuds, and speakers were nicely discounted for Prime Day, but just because the event has ended doesn’t mean the deals are over. Bose is currently offering discounts on a range of refurbished products, plus an extra 25 percent off on top of that with code SUMMER25. For example, Verge-favorite QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are down to $284.25 ($165 off) at Bose, the lowest price we’ve seen yet. The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are also down to $186.75 ($113 off) at

Here's why these simple midrange Bose headphones remain my daily drivers

ZDNET's key takeaways The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are available in seven colors for $349, and are often up to $100 off. They are true to the QuietComfort namesake, providing excellent noise cancellation and all-day comfort. However, like all of Bose's over-ear headphones, the QuietComfort have a short, 24-hour battery life. View now at Bose I have an arsenal of premium consumer headphones. The Sony XM6, Apple AirPods Max, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Beats Studio Pro, Sonos Ace, and more all

Data brokers are selling flight information to CBP and ICE

For many years, data brokers have existed in the shadows, exploiting gaps in privacy laws to harvest our information—all for their own profit. They sell our precise movements without our knowledge or meaningful consent to a variety of private and state actors, including law enforcement agencies. And they show no sign of stopping. This incentivizes other bad actors. If companies collect any kind of personal data and want to make a quick buck, there’s a data broker willing to buy it and sell it t

Nicholas Hoult and Rachel Brosnahan Discuss Their Big ‘Superman’ Action Moments

There’s a moment early on in Superman when Lex Luthor is shouting commands for different fight moves to a team of people remote controlling a supervillain where you think two things. “It looks like Lex is playing a big, elaborate video game,” and “I’ve never seen anything like this in a superhero movie before.” Both things are true, and when io9 spoke with actor Nicholas Hoult about his villainous turn in the DC film, we asked him about it. Speaking in Los Angeles recently, we asked Hoult what

Not again: Sony’s WH-1000XM6 hinge shows signs of cracking

TL;DR A WH-1000XM6 user has reported a broken hinge, even after using the headphones “carefully.” While there has only been this one report so far, Sony supposedly redesigned the XM6 hinge to prevent this. The problem echoes an issue that plagued the previous XM5 model. The flagship Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are barely two months old, but a new report is raising concerns about their durability. Specifically, it’s an issue from the predecessor device we had hoped was in the past. A Reddit po

Why random selection is necessary to create stable meritocratic institutions

Campbell's Law (a variant of Goodhart's Law) states that the more a metric is used for social decision-making, the more it will be subject to corruption which distorts and corrupts not only the metric itself, but the very social processes it was meant to measure. Selection criteria for a position of authority are one example of such a metric. When selection criteria are opaque, it is difficult for them to become a target, preserving their utility as measures. For governance positions however, it

Building Modular Rails Applications: A Deep Dive into Rails Engines

I’ve been building Rails applications for the last 10 years on a daily base and almost all of them use active storage now. Users are uploading files and then the questions start rolling in from the team and they are always the same: “How much storage are we actually using?” “Can we see which files aren’t attached to anything anymore?” “What types of files are users uploading the most?” “Is there a way to browse through all our stored files?” I usually open the Rails console, write a few querie

Look Inside the Cinematic Legacy of ‘Godzilla’ In This Stunning New Book

Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the first Godzilla, and Toho has spent much of that 70th year going all-in to celebrate the King of the Monsters. From more movies, to theme park rides, to plenty of crazy merch, it’s been a great time to be a Godzilla fan, and it’s about to be even better. Ahead of its release this week, io9 has an exclusive look inside Godzilla: The First 70 Years, a titanic celebration of the last seven decades of kaiju moviemaking. Published by Abrams and written by

Sony’s Best-in-Class ANC Headphones May Have a Major Design Flaw

Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones might sound great, but that’s only if they don’t break before you put them on your head. While it’s too early to say whether Sony’s latest world-class headphones have a widespread issue, the first reports of broken hinges are starting to roll in, and they feel ominously reminiscent of similar problems with the WH-1000XM5. See Sony WH-1000XM6 at Best Buy In a Reddit thread that’s actually pulled from a Red Note post (sorry for the convolution; that’s just the way li

Apple gearing up for day one production of iPhone 17 in India, despite Chinese disruption

Apple is gearing up for simultaneous production of the iPhone 17 in both China and India, despite apparent attempts by the Chinese government to disrupt this. Achieving day one assembly in India has long been a key objective for Apple’s work in reducing its dependence on China as a manufacturing hub, but has never before been achieved … Apple’s goal of simultaneous production The vast majority of iPhones are still assembled in China, but Apple has for many years been working on boosting the n

The best cheap fitness trackers for 2025

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . If you’re looking to get healthier without spending a fortune, the best cheap fitness trackers prove you don’t need to splash out on the best smartwatches to stay on top of your goals. Whether you're counting steps, keeping track of heart rate monitoring or trying to improve your sleep

Where are the iPhone’s WebKit-less browsers?

It’s been 16 months since a DMA ruling allowed iOS developers like Google and Mozilla to use their own browser engines in the EU, so… where are they? According to the Open Web Advocacy (OWA) — a nonprofit group of software engineers that advocates for the open web — Apple continues to place technical and financial restrictions on WebKit-alternative iOS browser engines that effectively stifle competition. OWA says these barriers include insufficient testing tools outside of the US, hostile legal