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Inside Apple's Audio Lab: How AirPods Are Tested & Tuned Apple's audio lab blends engineering, music and design — from a vintage stereo gifted by Steve Jobs to advanced anechoic chambers and the Fantasia Lab. The team validates AirPods features like clinical‑grade hearing tests, Personalized Spatial Audio, ANC and studio‑quality recording. Vintage inspiration A massive vintage stereo, a gift from Steve Jobs, sits just past reception. It's a symbol of the team's focus on music and the importance of sound in Apple products. Hearing tests & booths Apple uses audiometer-style booths to run thousands of hearing screenings—matching clinical accuracy—to create personalized hearing profiles that inform tuning and accessibility features. Media tuning lab Tuning engineers (from concert sound to Broadway and acoustic engineering) listen to thousands of hours of content in…

Early Prime Day 2025 deals — shop now Amazon Prime Day returns Oct 7–8, 2025 — but many Prime Day deals are already live. Below are standout early discounts across tablets, desktops, storage, audio, power banks and streaming. No Engadget/rss links included — shop via the Amazon searches (affiliate links) or follow the product names to compare. Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) — $449The M3 upgrade brings faster performance for productivity. Shop: Apple iPad Air 11 M3 on Amazon Apple Mac mini (M4) — $499Compact desktop with M4 and 16GB base RAM. Shop: Apple Mac mini M4 on Amazon Samsung EVO Select microSD 256GB — $20Reliable, no-frills expandable storage. Shop: Samsung EVO Select 256GB on Amazon Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go — $23Small, loud Bluetooth speaker (IP67). Shop: Anker Soundcore…

CarPlay in iOS 26: New Look and FeaturesWith iOS 26 Apple gives CarPlay a significant refresh. The update focuses on making the in-car iPhone experience more compact, informative and easier to interact with while driving.Key changesNew visual design: A fresher, more compact interface with translucent elements and new wallpaper options.Widgets on the dash: Add widgets from iPhone apps (even apps without native CarPlay widgets) for quick access to info.Live Activities: Real-time tracking (flights, rideshares, deliveries) integrated into CarPlay widgets.Improved Messages: Tapbacks and pinned conversations for safer, faster communication while driving.Smarter navigation: Better zooming and map interaction; pinch-to-zoom where supported.Refined call handling: Incoming call UI now coexists better with navigation and other content to reduce distraction.Read the official Apple summary for more details: Apple — iOS 26 overviewWhich CarPlay feature do…

Paramount+: 50% Off Annual Subscriptions — Offer Ends Sept 18 Paramount+ is running a limited-time promotion: annual subscriptions are 50% off through September 18. The discounted annual pricing is: Essential (ad-supported): $29.99/year (normally ~$59.99) Premium (ad-free + Showtime): $59.99/year (normally ~$119.99) The key details: Offer requires upfront annual payment. Monthly subscriptions are not discounted. Deal is available to new and eligible returning subscribers. Offer appears targeted to the U.S. market — check the Paramount+ site for regional availability and full terms. Why it’s a strong deal At $29.99/year (about $2.50/month) for Essential or $59.99/year for Premium, Paramount+ becomes one of the best-value streaming options if you watch regularly. Premium also adds access to Showtime titles like Yellowjackets and Dexter: Resurrection, plus the Star Trek catalog including Strange New Worlds and…

Wacom One 14 — 14-inch beginner-friendly graphics tablet Wacom has released the Wacom One 14, an entry-level graphics tablet with a larger 14" IPS 1920×1080 display aimed at beginners and students. It sports a textured, anti-glare surface intended to feel like paper and resist fingerprints. Notably, it does not include multitouch — it's designed to be used with the included battery-free pen (16 ms response, pressure sensitive, two customizable buttons) which clips to the top of the tablet. Key specs Display: 14" IPS, 1920×1080, textured surface, anti-glare Input: Battery-free pen, pressure-sensitive, 16 ms response, 2 customizable buttons No multitouch Connectivity: USB-C or via Wacom converter for devices without DisplayPort Alt Mode/Thunderbolt Software: Bundled trials (e.g., Clip Studio Paint Pro trial, Skillshare lessons, Foxit for PDFs) Price at launch: $300 Pros…

Waymo to Launch Robotaxis in Nashville — Public Service in 2026 Waymo is expanding its robotaxi service to Nashville, with autonomous driving operations expected to begin in the coming months and public service planned for 2026. Initially, riders in the area will be able to hail rides using the Waymo app; Lyft integration will follow later, giving users the option to request Waymo vehicles through Lyft. Key details Autonomous operations: starting in the coming months (local testing/limited operations). Public launch: expected in 2026. Initial hailing: Waymo app; later option via Lyft. Current Waymo cities: San Francisco (Bay Area), Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta. Other expansion/testing: Denver, Seattle (testing), Miami, Washington D.C.; test rides allowed in NYC (with a human safety driver) and testing in Tokyo (initially with human drivers).…

TextSniper for Mac: Major Update Adds macOS Sequoia Support and Arabic OCR TextSniper, the handy Mac app that captures on-screen text, has received a substantial update. The release adds full support for macOS Sequoia and expands its OCR language set to include Arabic and Najdi Arabic. The update also brings performance improvements and continued support for features like QR and barcode recognition. What's new Full support for macOS Sequoia New recognition languages: Arabic and Najdi Arabic (Sequoia required) Performance fixes and minor bug fixes Continued support for QR code and barcode scanning, custom word lists, and vertical text recognition Pricing TextSniper uses a one-time purchase model per Mac. Current distribution listings show a price around $11.99, and the developer describes it as a perpetual license. Where to get it Official…

Samsung EVO Select 256GB microSD — $20 deal Looking for extra storage? The Samsung EVO Select 256GB microSD card is on sale for $20 (down from $27). This budget-friendly card offers solid performance for phones, tablets and gaming devices. Key specs Capacity: 256 GB Read/write speeds: up to 160 MB/s (UHS-I) Compatibility: smartphones, tablets and the original Nintendo Switch (not the second-generation model) Includes adapter (per Samsung) Why consider it Engadget has recommended this model as a reliable, affordable option for expanding storage without breaking the bank. It’s a good pick for extra photos, games, videos and apps. Where to buy Check current pricing and availability on Amazon: Samsung EVO Select 256GB microSD on Amazon (affiliate) Note: This post summarizes a deal originally reported by Engadget; the original link has…

iPhone Air — Erste Pressestimmen (englische Zusammenfassung) Die Lieferung des iPhone Air beginnt am Freitag. Erste Tester heben vor allem das extrem schlanke Design und das geringe Gewicht hervor: nur ca. 165 Gramm. Im Folgenden eine ausführliche Zusammenfassung auf Englisch. Quick summary The iPhone Air launches this Friday (reported availability: Sept 19, 2025). Early press reactions praise its ultra-thin, lightweight titanium construction and premium feel, while noting some trade-offs compared with thicker Pro models. Key specs (reported) Weight: ~165 g Material: Polished titanium (lighter than aluminum alternatives) Thickness: ~5.5 mm (very slim) SIM: eSIM-only in certain regions (no physical SIM tray) Colors: Sky Blue, Light Gold, Cloud White, Space Black (reported) Press reactions Early reviewers consistently emphasize the sensation of "the lightest iPhone yet" and praise the combination of premium…

Skip Apple’s $99 iPhone Air MagSafe Battery — Better MagSafe Options Exist Apple’s new iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone yet — and Apple launched a specially designed iPhone Air MagSafe Battery alongside it. But the battery pack is expensive and not great value. Here’s a quick breakdown and a recommendation for better alternatives. Quick summary Apple iPhone Air MagSafe Battery: ~3,149 mAh, listed ~12.26 Wh, tops out at 12W wireless charging (unless using passthrough while plugged in), price: $99. Anker Nano / Anker 622 Magnetic Battery (5,000 mAh): ~5,000 mAh, roughly 19–25 Wh depending on reporting, Qi2/MagSafe-compatible, up to 15W wireless charging, typical price: ~$55–60. Value math - Apple: 3,149 mAh for $99 → about $0.03 per mAh. - Anker (5,000 mAh) at ~$55 → about $0.01–0.011 per mAh.…