Author: alex

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini‑LED (2nd Gen) — Mini‑LED upgrade and improved specs Amazon’s second‑generation Fire TV Omni replaces QLED with a Mini‑LED backlight, delivering noticeably better picture quality — deeper blacks, much higher contrast and very bright HDR performance. The new Omni keeps a quantum dot filter for vibrant colors while adding a high number of dimming zones (e.g., 512 zones in the 55" model) for improved local dimming. Key features Display: Mini‑LED backlight with Quantum Dot color filter Sizes: 55", 65", 75", 85" HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Gaming: 4K@144Hz support, two HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 6E, eARC Smart platform: Enhanced Fire TV OS with deep Alexa integration Audio: Dolby formats supported; built‑in sound is average — consider a soundbar for best results Overall, the Fire TV…

First Look: Carlinkit Mini Ultra Wireless CarPlay Adapter Carlinkit’s compact Mini Ultra CarPlay wireless adapter has recently become available in Germany. It sold out quickly after launch, but Amazon has reportedly restocked the small USB plug. We also picked one up and are sharing a concise roundup of what the adapter does and what to expect. What it is The Carlinkit Mini Ultra is a plug-and-play USB adapter that turns a car’s wired Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connection into a wireless one. It’s an ultra-compact dongle that connects to the vehicle’s USB port and establishes a wireless link to your phone via Bluetooth + Wi‑Fi. Key features Converts wired CarPlay/Android Auto to wireless Ultra-compact USB stick form factor (works with USB-A/USB-C via adapters) Upgraded Cortex‑A7 chip for improved responsiveness…

iPhone 17 roundup: rumors, iOS 26 & what to expect August is nearly over and Apple’s usual mid‑September event is likely on the horizon. Here’s a concise look at the most credible iPhone 17 rumors, what to expect from iOS 26, and other products that might join the stage. When? Most reports point to a September announcement (some sources suggest Sept. 9). Apple historically announces new iPhones in September, though official invites may arrive only a week or two ahead. Top rumors TechWoven cases: Leaks claim revamped fabric-style cases (similar to the old FineWoven) with two lanyard holes for carrying and new colors such as gray/black, blue, green, purple and orange. iPhone 17 Air: Expected to be an ultra‑thin model, possibly called iPhone 17 Air, reportedly using a basic A19…

iOS 26 Preview: Liquid Glass, Key Features & How to Try the Public Beta Apple’s iOS 26 arrives this fall with a major visual overhaul called “Liquid Glass,” a translucent home and lock screen aesthetic that will extend across Apple’s OS lineup. The iOS 26 public beta (currently at public beta 4) is available now via the Apple Beta Software Program. Notable Features Liquid Glass design — translucent apps, floating buttons, new home & lock look (dark/light adaptive). Improved screenshots — built-in Google and ChatGPT search options in the screenshot editor. Live Translation — real-time translation in Phone, FaceTime and Messages. Hold Assist — hold-your-spot feature for long customer-service waits. Visual Intelligence — search what’s on your screen (like reverse image search). Photos tabs return — separate Library and Collections…

Calibre 8.9: Improvements for Personal E-Book Collections Calibre 8.9 has been released with a number of small but useful improvements aimed at making personal e‑book management and export more reliable and visually faithful. Highlights Annotations browser: Results now show a color swatch next to annotations to make it easier to identify different highlight types. HTMLZ export: Support for embedded fonts in HTMLZ output, improving the visual fidelity of exported HTMLZ e-books. Device drivers & compatibility: Continued updates for Kobo and Tolino drivers, including options such as series-number templates for Kobo. Viewer & UI fixes: Faster opening of large EPUB files, improved highlight grouping, and accessibility tweaks (e.g., better scrollbar contrast in light mode). The update is part of Calibre's ongoing maintenance and feature refinements from its active open-source developer community.…

Ooni Labor Day Sale: Volt 12 Now $629 (30% Off) — Plus Koda 2 Max Discount Ooni is running a Labor Day sale that includes a notable discount on the Volt 12 indoor pizza oven. The Volt 12 has been reduced by 30% to $629 (down from around $899). The sale also includes the Koda 2 Max outdoor gas oven for about $1,039. Volt 12 — Key Points Type: Electric indoor pizza oven Price (sale): $629 (30% off) Max temp: Up to ~850°F — cooks pizzas in roughly 90 seconds Benefits: Fast preheat, roomy interior, set-­and-­forget operation compared to outdoor wood/gas models Shop on Amazon: Ooni Volt 12 on Amazon Koda 2 Max — Key Points Type: Extra-large outdoor gas pizza oven Sale price: ~ $1,039 (discount applied) Can handle…

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch — Animated Series Arrives Oct 14 Ubisoft’s Sam Fisher is coming back — not in a new game, but as an animated Netflix series. Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, written by Derek Kolstad (John Wick) and starring Liev Schreiber as an older, hardened Sam Fisher, premieres on October 14 on Netflix. What we know Format: Adult animated series Lead voice: Liev Schreiber as Sam Fisher Writer: Derek Kolstad New characters: Zinnia McKenna (voiced by Kirby Howell-Baptiste) Returning character: Anna Grimsdottir (voiced by Janet Garvey) Trailer highlights: Fisher returns to the field on a "personal" mission; the teaser heavily uses the iconic night-vision sound and shows Fisher sneaking in the shadows. Links & further info Official Netflix page: Splinter Cell: Deathwatch on Netflix Official teaser trailer (YouTube): Watch the teaser…

Sonos Era 100 & Sonos Ace — Back-to-School Discounts Sonos is offering back-to-school discounts on a couple of its popular products. The Era 100 — our pick for a midrange smart speaker — is discounted to $179 (down from $199). The Sonos Ace headphones are also on sale for $299 (down from $399). What’s on sale Sonos Era 100: $179 (was $199). Midrange smart speaker with excellent sound, built-in mics for Trueplay tuning and voice control. Sonos Ace headphones: $299 (was $399). Improved since launch with features like TrueCinema for spatial audio when paired with a Sonos soundbar. Where to buy You can search for the products on Amazon (affiliate links): Sonos Era 100 on Amazon Sonos Ace on Amazon Deals may also be available directly from Sonos' online store…

Anker MagGo 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Station — Deal Roundup Summary: The Anker MagGo 3-in-1 MagSafe charging station is a Qi2-certified dock that provides up to 15W wireless charging for a compatible iPhone, plus simultaneous charging for an Apple Watch and AirPods on one compact stand. Key features Qi2 certification and MagSafe compatibility 15W fast wireless charging (Qi2) Adjustable magnetic iPhone stand (45° vertical, 360° horizontal) Charges iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at once Pricing & availability Some reports list a record-low sale price of $63, but this price was not verified in retailer listings during research. Current confirmed listings found: Walmart: Walmart listing — $74.99 (at time of check) Best Buy: Best Buy product page Anker official product page: Anker MagGo product page Amazon search (affiliate): Search Anker MagGo on…

Google Vids: Edit videos directly in Google Drive (desktop) Google has rolled out Google Vids, an in-browser video editor integrated into Google Drive. When previewing a video in Drive you may see an Open button in the top-right; clicking it opens the clip in Google Vids where you can trim, add text, add music and make other edits. A new file is created after editing, so remember to save or export your changes. Key features Trim video clips, add text overlays and music, and use simple editing tools. Creates a new file after editing — export or save to keep edits. Supported formats: MP4, QuickTime, OGG, WebM. Clip limits: up to 35 minutes runtime and 4 GB per file. Desktop browser support: recent versions of Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge…