Author: alex

Microsoft raises Game Pass Ultimate to $30 — tiers rebranded, Ubisoft+ added, cloud gaming out of beta Microsoft has overhauled Xbox Game Pass as of October 1, 2025. The service is being rebranded into three tiers — Essential, Premium, and Ultimate — and brings both new content and higher prices. Key changes Game Pass Ultimate: now $30/month (up from $20 — a 50% increase). Includes Ubisoft+ and 45+ games added immediately. PC Game Pass: price increases to $16.50/month. Tier rename: Standard -> Premium ($15/mo); Core -> Essential ($10/mo). Premium and Essential now include PC games. Fortnite Crew: included for Ultimate members starting Nov 18 (adds Battle Pass + monthly V-Bucks). Xbox Cloud Gaming: officially out of beta; Ultimate gets highest-quality streaming option and lower wait times. Rewards: Ultimate members can…

AirPods Pro (3rd Gen) teardown — iFixit finds 0/10 repairability iFixit's teardown of the AirPods Pro (3rd generation) shows that Apple’s latest in-ear headphones are essentially impossible to repair at home. The team gave the earbuds a 0/10 repairability score after finding sealed, glued components and batteries that require destructive disassembly. Key findings Repairability score: 0/10 — earbuds and case are glued and require destructive opening. Batteries: Single glued-in cells in each earbud; the case battery is also glued in, making replacements impractical. Disassembly: Requires heat and prying tools that damage plastic housings; internal components aren’t modular. Design notes: Internal layout changes (fewer rare-earth magnets, foam-infused tips) but no meaningful improvement for repairability. Battery life: Reported reduction in case capacity vs previous generation (user reports and teardown details). Sources and…

Best streaming deals right now — save on Spotify, Fubo, YouTube TV, bundles & student offers If you’re feeling sticker shock from rising streaming prices, you’re not alone. There are still worthwhile discounts available — from free trials and first-month promos to student rates and bundle savings. Below are the top deals and tips to save when subscribing. Top current deals Spotify Premium (1 month free) — New users can try Premium for one month at no cost. Details: Spotify. (Remember it auto-renews; cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want the paid plan.) Fubo Pro — $55 for the first month (intro discount). Includes 224 channels, unlimited cloud DVR and up to 10 streams. YouTube TV — 3 months for $219 for new subscribers (about $73/mo effectively $73/mo…

Record-low deals on Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) & Series 10 — Prime Big Deal Days Quick summary: The second-generation Apple Watch SE (40mm, LTE) has dropped to a record-low price of $189 on select Amazon listings, and several Apple Watch Series 10 models can be found as low as $329. These are deals on prior-generation models — the SE 2 is from 2022 and Series 10 is last year's model — but they remain solid value for fitness tracking and notifications. Highlights Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) — 40mm, LTE: reported as low as $189 (record low). Note: previous-gen model released in 2022; SE 3 (2023) starts at higher prices. Apple Watch Series 10 — discounts available; some listings ~ $329. Who should consider these? If you want accurate…

Gemini for Google Home: AI replaces Google Assistant on speakers, displays and in the app Google is integrating Gemini into its smart-home ecosystem, gradually replacing Google Assistant on compatible speakers, displays and within the Google Home app. The move is intended to provide more natural, conversational control of devices and smarter household coordination. What Gemini for Home does Natural-language control: Control devices using everyday language without memorizing specific commands. Household task coordination: Coordinate routines and tasks across multiple devices (e.g., set up morning routines, manage chores). Conversational follow-ups: Gemini supports follow-up questions in a single conversation, making interactions more fluid. Subscription and advanced features Some advanced capabilities are tied to Google Home Premium (which replaces Nest Aware). That subscription may enable features like expanded device support, extended camera video history…

Microsoft 365 Premium — unconfirmed reports and what we know Summary: Multiple reports claim Microsoft will launch a new "Microsoft 365 Premium" plan at $20/month bundling the full Office apps, 1TB OneDrive and access to OpenAI models (GPT‑5, 4o) plus AI agents (Actions, Researcher, Analyst). These reports are currently unconfirmed by Microsoft. Key points Price reported: $20/month (same as ChatGPT Plus). Included: Office apps, 1TB OneDrive, access to OpenAI models (GPT‑5, 4o) and AI agents; early access to new AI features. No access to OpenAI custom GPTs or Sora video generation reportedly. Potential impact: Would make standalone Copilot Pro redundant for users on cheaper Microsoft 365 plans who’d otherwise pay an extra $20/month for higher AI usage limits. Unconfirmed items: Microsoft has not officially announced this plan or confirmed access…

Anker Intelligence: Soundcore App v4.0 adds “Anka” AI assistant with real-time translation Anker has updated its Soundcore app to version 4.0 and introduced “Anka,” an integrated AI assistant that brings voice control and real-time translation to compatible Soundcore earbuds. What’s new Built-in AI assistant (“Anka”) — voice-activated help and Q&A within the app and on supported earbuds. Real-time translation — two-way live translations for conversations, supporting many languages and played through earbuds or the phone. Redesigned app interface and expanded device management features. Supported devices Anker’s announcement highlights new AI-capable earbuds (for example, the Soundcore AeroFit 2 AI Assistant series). Availability varies by model and region — check the product listing for details. Where to get the app Download the Soundcore app here: Soundcore on the App Store Soundcore on…

Microsoft rebrands Game Pass — Ultimate now $30/month Microsoft has rebranded Xbox Game Pass into three tiers — Essential, Premium and Ultimate — and raised prices for the high-end plan. Here’s what changed and what it means for players. Key changes Game Pass Ultimate: $29.99/month (was $19.99–$20), a 50% increase. No annual/quarterly option announced; annual cost now ~$360. PC Game Pass: Raised to $16.50/month. New tier names: Standard → Premium ($14.99/mo), Core → Essential ($9.99/mo). Premium & Essential now include PC games. Added content: Ubisoft+ is included in Ultimate (adds +45 games today, many Assassin's Creed & Far Cry titles). Fortnite Crew joins Ultimate on Nov 18 (battle pass + 1,000 V‑Bucks monthly). Day‑one games: Ultimate members will have access to 75+ day‑one releases per year across console, PC and…

October Prime Day — Early Deals & Top Picks October Prime Day is on the horizon. If you have an Amazon Prime membership ($139/year), now’s a great time to grab early, Prime-exclusive discounts on tech and home essentials. Below are top early deals and where to find them on Amazon (affiliate search links included). Top Early Picks Apple MagSafe charger (25W, 2m) — Qi2.2-compatible MagSafe puck with a long 2m cable for flexible use. Find it on Amazon: Apple MagSafe charger (search) Blink Mini 2 (2-pack) — Compact indoor camera for pet/entry monitoring. Search on Amazon: Blink Mini 2 2‑pack (search) Shark AI robot vacuum (self-empty base) — Strong suction, home mapping and self-emptying base. Search on Amazon: Shark AI robot vacuum (search) Apple Mac mini (M4) — Compact desktop…

Meta to Use AI Chatbot Conversations for Ad Targeting Meta announced it will start using conversations people have with its AI chatbots to personalize content and ads across Facebook and Instagram. The change goes into effect on December 16, and Meta will begin sending in-product notifications and emails starting October 7. The company says the rollout will cover "most regions" but will initially exclude the European Union and South Korea. Meta gave an example: if you chat about hiking with a bot, you may then see recommendations for hiking groups, posts from friends about trails, or ads for hiking boots. According to reporting, there will be no way to opt out — if you interact with a Meta chatbot, that conversation can be used to inform ad personalization. Meta also…