Author: alex

Sony WH-1000XM6 — October Prime Day Deal Sony's WH-1000XM6 are on sale for $430 during October Prime Day — $20 off and a record low for this model. If you're looking to save more, the previous-gen WH-1000XM5 is also discounted to $298. Why consider the XM6? New QN3 audio chip and redesigned drivers for richer detail and clearer vocals. Improved active noise cancellation with four extra microphones — especially better at blocking voices. Optional 360 Spatial Sound and other sound processing (360 Reality Audio, DSEE Extreme upscaling). Battery: up to 30 hours with ANC on, up to 40 hours with ANC off. Quick comparison WH-1000XM6 (newer): better sound, improved ANC, spatial audio features. WH-1000XM5 (2022): still excellent sound and ANC at a lower price if you want value. Buy on…

Nintendo’s updated short reveals Pikmin — what’s Nintendo teasing? Nintendo released a second version of its animated short (first shown on the Nintendo Today app) that now clearly shows Pikmin moving a baby’s toys and pacifier around the crib — confirming what many fans had guessed after the first, more cryptic version. What changed The updated short makes the Pikmin visible as they interact with the baby’s building blocks and mobile. In the first cut they were mostly invisible, with only a blurry figure under the crib. The short debuted on the Nintendo Today app and has since appeared on Nintendo’s official YouTube channel. Is this a game, movie, or something else? There’s no official word from Nintendo explaining whether the short teases a new Pikmin game, a film, or…

Anker Prime charging deals — Prime Day highlights Anker's new Prime charging lineup is on sale for Prime Day. Highlights include the laptop-compatible Prime Power Bank (26,250mAh, 300W), a 3‑in‑1 MagSafe charger with Qi2 25W support, and a compact 3‑port GaN Prime Charger (160W). Prime Power Bank — key specs Capacity: 26,250mAh (99.75Wh) — TSA/airline friendly Total output: 300W across 2× USB‑C + 1× USB‑A Per‑port peak: up to 140W (with a 5A cable) Fast input: supports up to 250W input when using both USB‑C ports together (Anker claim) Charging times (Anker claims): 50% charge to the bank in ~13 minutes (with 250W input), M4 Pro MacBook Pro to 50% in ~27 minutes (with 140W output), iPhone 17 Pro Max to 50% in ~22 minutes Weight: ~1.3 lbs Buy on…

Bundeskartellamt eröffnet Verfahren gegen Temu‑Mutterkonzern Whaleco The German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) has opened an investigation into Whaleco Technology Limited — the company behind the online marketplace Temu — on suspicion that Temu unlawfully influenced the pricing of its marketplace sellers in Germany. Why: Authorities are examining whether Temu set or pressured sellers on price policies that could restrict competition and lead to higher prices across sales channels. "We suspect that Temu may be making unlawful demands regarding the pricing of sellers on the German marketplace. Such requirements could significantly restrict competition and ultimately lead to price increases on other sales channels" — Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt. Temu has said it complies with applicable laws and will respond to the authority's questions. What this could mean For sellers:…

Prime Day microSD Express deals for Nintendo Switch 2 If you picked up a Nintendo Switch 2 and need more storage, Prime Day has landed the first notable microSD Express deals. The Switch 2 requires microSD Express cards; the most sensible pick right now is the one that fits your budget. Deals found PNY 128GB microSD Express — ~ $38 (about 15% off). Amazon search link (affiliate) Lexar Play Pro 256GB microSD Express — ~ $50 (about 17% off). Amazon search link (affiliate) Lexar Play Pro 512GB microSD Express — ~ $100 (about 17% off). Amazon search link (affiliate) Performance notes Independent testing shows microSD Express cards vary slightly in benchmarks, but real-world load times for most games are similar. In tests, PNY was slightly faster moving games from card…

Amazon Echo Spot (2024) — $45 Prime Day deal Amazon's Echo Spot (2024 release) is at a record-low price of $45 (about 44% off). It's a compact bedside smart alarm clock with a sharper 2.83" display, improved speakers, Alexa built-in and — notably — no camera. Key details Price: $45 (record low) Release: July 2024 (2024 model) Display: ~2.83-inch, clear clock faces and info Sound: Improved speakers for music and alarms Privacy: No camera; includes mic-off controls Uses: Time, weather, music info, smart-home control via Alexa Warranty: Typically 1-year limited warranty Retail availability: Sold through Amazon and major retailers (Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's). Buy on Amazon (affiliate): https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Amazon+Echo+Spot&tag=f1rede-20 Note: This deal was widely reported by tech outlets but this post does not link to their RSS feeds. Who…

October Prime Day: Best Storage Deals for Consoles & Gaming PCsPrime Day deals are live — we rounded up the best storage discounts across three categories: microSD (including Switch 2-compatible cards), portable external SSDs, and internal NVMe/SATA SSDs. Below are top picks and links to check current prices.Top microSD picksLexar Play Pro microSD Express 256GB — Switch 2 compatible. Check on AmazonSamsung PRO Plus microSD — great speed for gaming and photography. Check on AmazonSanDisk 1TB microSD — massive capacity for Switch/original Switch owners. Check on AmazonTop internal SSD picksSamsung 990 Evo Plus 1TB — excellent NVMe speeds. Check on AmazonCrucial P310 2TB — compact, fast, and energy-efficient. Check on AmazonKingston Fury Renegade G5 — top-end PCIe Gen5 performance. Check on AmazonTop portable SSD picksSanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD —…

Blink Mini 2 — October Prime Day deals (summary & verification) Engadget reported a Prime Day deal for a Blink Mini 2 2-pack priced at $35 (a record-low). I checked current listings to verify the offer and couldn't confirm that exact 2-pack price; some listings show single units around $19.99 during Prime-related sales. Prices can vary by seller and time — use the Amazon link below to see the latest. Quick facts Resolution: 1080p Night features: color night vision, built-in LED spotlight, low-light sensor Audio: two-way audio, Alexa-compatible Person detection: yes, but requires a Blink subscription (≈ $3/month or $30/year per device) Outdoor use: requires a weather-resistant adapter (~$10) Colors: black and white (may be sold separately) Price & availability note The excerpt I summarized referenced a $35 2-pack deal.…

Prime Day Deal: Ninja DZ302 10‑Quart Dual‑Basket Air Fryer — ~ $160 (30% off) Amazon Prime Day has the Ninja DZ302 10‑quart Dual‑Basket Air Fryer discounted to about $160 (down from $230), roughly a 30% savings. This model is a strong pick if you want to cook two different dishes at once without crowding a single basket. Key features Two independent 5‑quart baskets — cook two foods simultaneously at different settings. Smart Finish — times both baskets so foods finish together. Match Cook — mirrors settings across both baskets when you want to cook the same dish in both. Six cooking functions: Air Fry, Air Broil, Bake, Dehydrate, Keep Warm, Roast. Compact footprint (under 15" wide) despite 10‑qt total capacity. Why it’s worth considering The dual‑basket setup is ideal for…

HomePod mini randomly starts playing music — user reports & troubleshooting Summary: Multiple users report that older HomePod mini units sometimes begin playing music unexpectedly — often at night or during quiet work sessions — even when Siri and HomeKit automations were not intentionally triggered. Some say playback starts at full volume. Where reports come from MacRumors forum thread: HomePod mini randomly starts playing music Apple Discussions (user threads): example thread Suspected causes HomeKit automations — arrival/departure or other automations can trigger audio playback unexpectedly. False Siri triggers — ambient noise or misheard audio can cause Siri to start playback. Phantom touch or hardware issues — the touch-sensitive top could register unintended taps. Troubleshooting tips Check the Home app for any automations that might start media playback and disable them…