This Week's Best Apple Deals — iPad A16 256GB $50 Off, Plus MacBook Air, Pencil Pro & More We generally consider Apple’s iPads the top tablets for most people, but prices can be steep. This week’s deals are light — anticipated bigger discounts may arrive during Amazon Prime Day next week — but there are still a few solid savings across Apple gear. iPad (A16) 256GB — $50 off. A good pick if you want ample storage without breaking the bank. Find it on Amazon: iPad A16 256GB on Amazon. Apple Pencil Pro — $99. High-end stylus with pressure sensitivity, wireless charging, tilt detection, haptics and gestures. Amazon search: Apple Pencil Pro on Amazon. MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 512GB) — $999. Thin, light, long battery life; this config ties an…

Shark Robot Vacuum Prime Day Deals — AV2501S & Matrix Plus 2‑in‑1 Fall Prime Day deals are live early: notable Shark robot vacuums are discounted to record lows. Two highlights on Amazon: Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum — $229.99 (~58% off). Key features: up to 120 minutes runtime, self-emptying bagless base (stores ~30 days of debris), HEPA filtration (captures ~99.97% of dust/allergens), accurate home mapping and an easy-to-use app. Shark AV2610WA Matrix Plus 2‑in‑1 (Matrix Plus) — $299.99 (~57% off). Key features: vacuum + mop (mops scrub ~100x per minute), Matrix Mop app control for targeted deep-clean zones (Shark claims ~50% better stain cleaning), self-emptying base. Why consider these? Both deliver solid cleaning performance, LiDAR/AI mapping and app controls. The AV2501S is a strong pick for longer runtime and…

YouTube TV and NBCUniversal reach multi-year deal YouTube TV and NBCUniversal have agreed to a multi-year deal ensuring NBCUniversal’s channels remain available on the streaming service. Key points: Channels preserved: NBC, Telemundo, Bravo, CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, Oxygen True Crime, MSNBC, USA, Syfy, Universo and more. Sports: Sunday Night Football and other NBC sports programming remain on YouTube TV. NBCSN: The relaunched NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will return this fall to complement NBC’s sports coverage. Peacock: Peacock will be offered as an add-on subscription through YouTube Primetime Channels in the coming months. Other notes: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment titles will still be available to buy or rent on Google TV and YouTube; the Peacock app remains available through Google Play. However, negotiations with TelevisaUnivision (Univision) did not reach a deal…

Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft & Refreshed Kindle Scribe — Overview Amazon introduced two notable additions to its Kindle Scribe line at its fall hardware event: Kindle Scribe Colorsoft Price: $630 Key features: 11" color E‑Ink screen, stylus-enabled note-taking, new rendering engine for lower latency and more natural writing. Availability: Later this year (2025). Amazon search (affiliate): Search for Kindle Scribe Colorsoft on Amazon Refreshed Kindle Scribe (B/W) Prices: $500 (frontlit version) and $430 (no front light). Key features: Larger 11" black-and-white E‑Ink screen that matches typical paper sizes, stylus support, improved performance and screen feel. Availability: By the end of the year (2025). Amazon search (affiliate): Search for Kindle Scribe on Amazon Quick take If you value note-taking and want color on an e‑ink device, the Colorsoft looks like a…

EA $55B Takeover, ROG Ally Xbox X Rumors & The State of Gaming — Podcast Recap This week: Electronic Arts agreed to be acquired and taken private in a $55 billion deal led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The move will reshape the industry and raise questions about influence, strategy and what it means for gamers. Key topics EA to go private — $55B: Deal announced by EA; major implications for publishing, studios and investor strategy. Source: EA press release. ROG Ally Xbox X rumors — $1,000 price tag: Reports claim a high-end ROG Ally variant with Xbox integration could cost around $1,000. Treat as unconfirmed rumor — no official launch details yet. Xbox state & hardware: Conversation covers Xbox’s strategy, cloud gaming, and…

BleeqUp Ranger: AI cycling camera glasses — quick take The BleeqUp Ranger mixes an action camera, open‑ear headset, walkie‑talkie and sport sunglasses into a single lightweight frame. Manufacturer pricing: €399 standard, €439 with premium Zeiss lenses. Key specs 4‑in‑1: 1080p action camera, open‑ear audio headset, walkie‑talkie, UV400 sport sunglasses Battery/service: ~1 hour recording on the glasses (extendable with helmet‑mount battery +4 hours) AI features: highlight detection and automatic editing Weight: ~45 g; IP54; anti‑fog lenses; Zeiss optional Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon W5; supports prescription lenses via replacement/clip‑on Availability & buying Available for pre‑order / direct purchase on the manufacturer site. Not widely listed on retail yet — monitor availability on Amazon (affiliate search link): Amazon: BleeqUp Ranger. How it compares to a smartwatch (e.g., Apple Watch Series 11) The Ranger targets…

Audible: 3 Months for $3 — Limited-Time OfferAudible is offering 3 months for $3 (billed at $0.99/month for the first three months). After the trial period, the membership will auto-renew at $14.95/month. This limited-time offer is available to new members through December 16.What you getAccess to thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and Audible OriginalsOne audiobook per month with your membership to keep in your libraryPromotional extras for some Prime members (offers may vary)Official offer details: Audible offer pageShop on Amazon (affiliate): Search Audible on AmazonNotes & verificationThese terms were verified against Audible's official promotional pages. Prime Day dates can vary year to year; if you saw a specific Oct. event date in other coverage, check Amazon's announcements for the latest schedule.Join the conversationThinking of trying Audible? Reply below and tell us…

Best microSD Cards for Nintendo Switch 2 — Quick Guide The Nintendo Switch 2 uses microSD Express ("EX") cards for storage expansion. These are faster and more expensive than traditional microSD cards. The console includes 256GB internal storage (UFS 3.1) — using it yields the best load times — but many modern games can quickly fill that space. Key takeaways Switch 2 requires microSD Express (look for an "EX" logo). UHS-I cards aren’t sufficient for expansion. Real-world performance between EX cards is similar — pick the lowest-priced option in the capacity you want. SanDisk’s microSD Express card often rates fastest and most consistent, but it costs more. The console’s internal storage remains faster than any card. If you can, use the built-in 256GB first and wait for wider availability and…

Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers — Quick Guide Portable Bluetooth speakers give you big sound on the go: from pocket-sized travel models to larger units that fill a living room. We tested the best speakers across budgets and use cases—beach trips, camping, backyard parties or just moving your music around the house. Why buy one? Compact, quick pairing with phones Indoor and outdoor use with many models offering splash or drop resistance Options focused on bass, battery life, or ruggedness Key factors to consider Weather-proofing Look at IP ratings (e.g., IP67) for water and dust resistance. Higher numbers mean better protection—good for beach, pool, or rain. Battery life Expect ~12 hours as a baseline; louder listening and bass-heavy playback can cut that in half. Check whether the speaker uses USB-C or…

Apple Removes ICEBlock from App Store After DOJ Demand — Safety Concerns Cited Apple has removed ICEBlock and other apps that allowed users to mark or report recent ICE activity from the App Store. The takedowns followed demands from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice, which told Apple the apps posed safety risks to federal law enforcement after the gunman who attacked an ICE facility in Dallas reportedly used tracking apps to target agents. Apple told reporters it created the App Store to be "a safe and trusted place to discover apps" and that it acted "based on information we've received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock." Attorney General Bondi said such apps were "designed to put ICE agents at risk just…