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A Benjamin Franklin docudrama coming soon to Apple TV+ will have the founding father taking on the dangerous task of convincing the king of France to financially support the American Revolution.
Legendary actor Michael Douglas has the title role of Franklin, a limited series premiering in April.
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Apple TV+ Franklin docudrama will be thick with political intrigue
In 1776, Benjamin Franklin is sent to France to convince the monarch to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy. Against the odds he succeeds and [Spoiler alert] the fledgling United States wins the Revolutionary War.
As Apple TV+ says:
“At age 70, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinced an absolute monarchy to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy. By virtue of his fame, charisma and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and hostile colleagues to engineer the Franco-American Alliance of 1778 and the peace treaty with Great Britain in 1783.”
It is easy to picture Franklin’s mission to Paris as a bunch of men standing around discussing diplomacy, but the trailer for the Apple TV+ series emphasizes the intrigue and danger … because of course it does.
So much talent
Michael Douglas has over 50 years of acting experience. Among his many accolades are two Academy Awards and five Golden Globes.
The drama also stars Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place) as Temple Franklin, Thibault de Montalembert (Call My Agent!) as comte de Vergennes, Daniel Mays (Line of Duty) as Edward Bancroft, Ludivine Sagnier (Lupin) as Madame Brillon, Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan) as John Adams and Théodore Pellerin (There’s Someone Inside Your House) as Marquis de Lafayette.
The series was directed by Tim Van Patten (The Pacific, The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire).
Coming to Apple TV+ in April
Franklin will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes on Friday, April 12. These will be followed by one new episode every Friday through mid May.
Watching comes with a subscription to Apple TV+. The service is $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle.
And Apple’s streaming video service also includes much more than historical dramas, of course. There are comedies, science fiction, children’s shows, nature documentaries, etc.
Samsung has been attempting to blur the lines between flagship and mid-range Galaxy smartphones for the last couple of years, and the company may have taken the most giant leap toward that goal yet with the Galaxy A55.
The Galaxy A55 is the most exciting phone in the lineup in recent memory. Samsung has sprinkled plenty of upgrades that we expected and some that we didn’t, and after 24 hours with it, I have some thoughts to offer on the Korean giant’s latest premium mid-range phone.
Spoiler alert: the Galaxy A55 has positively surprised me in several ways. Right out of the box, you can feel the difference made by Samsung’s decision to use more premium materials on every side. The Galaxy A54 was the first phone in the lineup with a glass back, but its plastic frame took away some of the allure.
Our initial Galaxy A55 hands-on experience is mostly positive
Samsung has fixed that by opting to use a metallic frame on the Galaxy A55, in addition to upgrading the display glass to Gorilla Glass Victus+ from the A54’s Gorilla Glass 5. The result is a phone that feels no less than a flagship in the hand.
However, the bezels continue to be obnoxiously big. Samsung has also somewhat ruined the metal frame with a slightly rough finish. The rough finish covers all of the frame except the area around the volume and power buttons. Thanks to Samsung’s Key Island design, the frame is raised around the buttons, and the raised part has the smooth finish that we see on Samsung’s flagship smartphones.
The Galaxy A55’s performance appears to benefit from optimization that was sorely lacking on its predecessors, at least as far as the out-of-the-box experience is concerned. The A55 uses a new Exynos chip–the Exynos 1480–that has a GPU designed in partnership with AMD, and it seems to be doing its part in making the user interface feel quick and smooth.
The 12GB of RAM on our review unit may be helping as well, though I’m hoping the variants with 8GB of RAM will perform similarly. I also hope game developers will work quickly to optimize their games for the Exynos 1480: since this is a new chip, Call of Duty, which remains one of the most popular games on mobile platforms, only lets you use the low graphic settings at this moment.
I also noticed some lag in the camera app. Changing the zoom level while video recording is active takes a second or two sometimes, which just isn’t acceptable in a mid-range phone with specs like the A55’s. Samsung will likely make optimizations with software updates, but I would have prefered it to not be an issue in the first place, especially given how the A55 otherwise performs remarkably well.
I haven’t been able to test much else on the Galaxy A55 in the short time it has been my primary device, so you will have to wait for our full review to find out what’s good about this phone and what isn’t. The initial vibe is a positive one, though.
It has been nearly two years since Apple first previewed next-generation CarPlay at WWDC 2022, and it has still yet to become available in any vehicles. Below, we recap the latest information about the upcoming software system.
Apple’s render of next-generation CarPlay from WWDC 2022
Next-generation CarPlay will have deeper integration with a vehicle’s instrument cluster, climate controls, FM radio, and more. It will also support multiple displays across the dashboard, and offer a variety of personalization options.
Launch Timing
Aston Martin and Porsche previewed their customized next-generation CarPlay designs in December. Aston Martin said it would release its first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay support in 2024, including a new model of its high-end DB12 sports car. Porsche did not provide a timeframe or specific details about its own plans.
A spokesperson for Porsche this week told us that it has no update to provide about next-generation CarPlay availability at this time, while a spokesperson for Aston Martin has yet to respond to our request for comment.
Porsche’s next-generation CarPlay preview from December 2023
In January, Apple updated its website to confirm that the first vehicle models with support for next-generation CarPlay will debut “in 2024,” but it has yet to provide a more specific timeframe. This wording is shown on Apple’s websites for several countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and others.
Committed Automakers
When it first announced next-generation CarPlay, Apple said the following automakers were committed to offering it in new vehicles:
Acura
Audi
Ford
Honda
Infiniti
Jaguar
Land Rover
Lincoln
Mercedes-Benz
Nissan
Polestar
Porsche
Renault
Volvo
Beyond the addition of Aston Martin, it is unclear if this list has changed since that initial announcement at WWDC 2022.
Aston Martin’s next-generation CarPlay preview from December 2023
Apple has not indicated if any next-generation CarPlay apps or features will be available in existing vehicles with standard CarPlay support.
New Features
Instrument Cluster Integration
Next-generation CarPlay will integrate with a vehicle’s instrument cluster, including the speedometer, tachometer, odometer, fuel gauge, engine temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and more. Apple says drivers will be able to choose from several gauge cluster designs and layouts, including brand‑specific options.
Climate Controls
You’ll be able to access your vehicle’s climate controls directly within the new CarPlay interface, allowing you to adjust the temperature of the A/C or heat, fan speed, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and other options.
Multi-Display Support
Next-generation CarPlay will be able to appear across all of the displays in a vehicle, providing a consistent experience across the infotainment system, instrument cluster, and any additional screens on the dashboard. Apple says the new CarPlay will be tailored to each vehicle model to accommodate unique screen shapes and layouts.
Widgets
Widgets will be a key part of the new CarPlay experience, offering at-a-glance information such as trip duration, fuel economy, distance traveled, calendar events, weather, phone calls, the status of a HomeKit-enabled garage door, and more. It will also be possible to view and scroll through the widgets within the instrument cluster.
FM Radio App
Next-generation CarPlay will include an all-new Media app that allows you to easily control the FM radio in your vehicle, such as to change the station.
Auto Settings: This app will let you manage paired iPhones and adjust vehicle settings.
Car Camera: This app will display the vehicle’s rear-view camera feed.
Charge: For electric vehicles, this app will display battery level, charging status, time remaining until the battery is fully charged, and more.
Climate: This app will provide access to a vehicle’s climate controls within CarPlay, allowing you to adjust the temperature of the A/C or heating system, fan speed, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and more.
Closures: This app will display if any of the vehicle’s doors are opened, and it might also display vehicle warning symbols.
Media: This app will provide access to FM and AM radio station controls within CarPlay, along with other media options like SiriusXM. It is unclear if SiriusXM will offer satellite connectivity, or remain limited to internet streaming. Users will be able to select from a list of music genres, such as Top 40 and Rock.
Tire Pressure: This app will display air pressure for each of the vehicle’s tires, and provide low pressure, high pressure, and flat tire warnings.
Trips: This app will provide a variety of driving-related data, including the vehicle’s average speed, fuel efficiency or energy efficiency, the total time elapsed and distance traveled on a trip, and more.
iOS 17.4 also revealed that next-generation CarPlay will likely display a “Goodbye” animation on the dashboard display after the driver shuts off the vehicle:
As previously announced by Apple, additional images found in iOS 17.4 confirm that users will be able to adjust the theme and color scheme of next-generation CarPlay, including the appearance of the instrument cluster:
Apple released iOS 17.4 in early March, and it is possible that it will be the minimum software version required for next-generation CarPlay when it eventually launches. However, it is also possible that Apple still has final preparations to make in iOS 17.5 and beyond, so we will ultimately have to wait and see when the software is ready.
More Images
Summary
Apple says next-generation CarPlay will launch in 2024, but a more specific timeframe is still unknown. Aston Martin and Porsche have previewed their next-generation CarPlay designs, and the recently-released iOS 17.4 update for the iPhone includes hidden code-level references to next-generation CarPlay apps and features.
The repair website iFixit today shared a video teardown of the base model 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip and 256GB of storage, and it shows that this configuration is equipped with two 128GB flash storage chips. This change results in significantly faster SSD speeds compared to the equivalent MacBook Air with the M2 chip, which has a single 256GB storage chip, as the SSD can read and write from the two chips simultaneously.
YouTube channel Max Tech ran Blackmagic’s Disk Speed Test tool with a 5GB file size test on both the M2 and M3 models of the 13-inch MacBook Air with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, and they found the SSD in the M3 model achieved up to 33% faster write speeds and up to 82% faster read speeds compared to the SSD in the M2 model.
Apple’s decision to switch to a single 256GB chip for the base model M2 MacBook Air was controversial, even though the slower SSD speeds are unlikely to be noticed by the average user working on common day-to-day tasks. Fortunately, the base model M3 MacBook Air’s SSD speeds are now roughly equivalent to the base model M1 MacBook Air again, so customers no longer need to be concerned about this potential limitation.
Apple still sells a 13-inch M2 MacBook Air with 256GB of storage for $999, so customers who want maximum SSD performance should avoid that model.
Beyond this SSD-related change, the teardown shows that the M3 MacBook Air models have a virtually identical internal design as the M2 models. The video provides a look at the battery cells with adhesive pull tabs, logic board, trackpad, and more.
While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are still around six months away from launching, there are already many rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped new features and changes expected so far. These are some of the key changes rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models as of March 2024:Larger displays: The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with larger 6.3-inch…
Apple appears to be internally testing iOS 17.4.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website’s logs this week. Our logs have revealed the existence of several iOS 17 versions before Apple released them, ranging from iOS 17.0.3 to iOS 17.3.1. iOS 17.4.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear when…
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple’s flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple’s iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company’s more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%…
Apple’s next-generation iPad Pro models are expected to be announced in a matter of weeks, so what can customers expect from the highly anticipated new machines? The 2022 iPad Pro was a minor update that added the M2 chip, Apple Pencil hover, and specification upgrades like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. The iPad Pro as a whole has generally only seen relatively small updates in…
iOS 17.4 was released last week following over a month of beta testing, and the update includes many new features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 17.4 introduces major changes to the App Store, Safari, and Apple Pay in the EU, in response to the Digital Markets Act. Other new features include Apple Podcasts transcripts, an iMessage security upgrade, new emoji options, and more. Below, we…
Apple plans to release new iPad Pro and iPad Air models “around the end of March or in April,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He also expects new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories for iPads to launch simultaneously. Apple is expected to release a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air In his Power On newsletter on Sunday, Gurman reiterated that Apple is preparing a special build of the…
Apple today announced three further changes for developers in the European Union, allowing them to distribute apps directly from webpages, choose how to design in-app promotions, and more. Apple last week enabled alternative app stores in the EU in iOS 17.4, allowing third-party app stores to offer a catalog of other developers’ apps as well as the marketplace developer’s own apps. As of…
Earlier this week, Apple announced new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, the first Mac updates of the year featuring M3 series chips. But there are other Macs in Apple’s lineup still to be updated to the latest M3 processors. So, where do the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro fit into Apple’s M3 roadmap for the year ahead? Here’s what the latest rumors say. Mac Mini Apple announced …
AirPods can work surprisingly well as hearing aids. Thanks to Transparency mode, AirPods Pro will boost the sound of your environment around you. They can give you freaky Spiderman super-hearing if you boost input volume to the max. And Conversation Boost on the latest AirPods Pro 2 can intelligently raise the volume of people talking to you (while lowering the volume of your music or podcasts).
My prescription hearing aids were out of action recently due to a battery problem, so for a few weeks, I used my AirPods Pro as hearing aids.
For the most part, they’ve been pretty good. They work best when set up properly, which is a bit of a chore, but here’s how to do it.
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How to use AirPods as hearing aids
If you experience mild to moderate hearing loss, you can use AirPods Pro as great part-time hearing aids, boosting sound in noisy environments. They also work well as a substitute when you forget your regular hearing aids (or their batteries run out of charge).
Apple’s noise-canceling earbuds also can serve as a great starter device. Most prescription hearing aids cost between $3,000 and $10,000, and require professional hearing tests, fitting and adjustment. Before diving in, you might want to experiment with boosting your hearing with a pair of AirPods Pro.
There’s also no social stigma against wearing AirPods as there is with wearing hearing aids. No one will know you’re using them to augment your hearing — although you might appear rude at first keeping them in while you talk.
They can give you superhuman hearing capable of picking up whispered conversations across the room, too. Just boost the input volume to the maximum. Note: Be very careful listening to anything at high volumes; even just a few minutes at a loud volume can damage your ears even further.
The latest model AirPods Pro 2 are among the best wireless earbuds you can buy for your iPhone and other Apple gear. They offer excellent sound quality, battery life and active noise cancellation, among other advanced features.
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03/13/2024 02:09 pm GMT
Researchers say AirPods are already as good as hearing aids
Professional hearing aids are super-expensive, but researchers found that AirPods already work nearly as well as most hearing aids. In 2020, scientists pitted a pair of AirPods 2 and first-gen AirPods Pro against a basic hearing aid and a premium pair. In almost all the tests, they found the AirPods Pro were as good as the basic hearing aid and only slightly less effective than the premium pair. Even the AirPods 2 “helped participants hear more clearly compared with wearing no hearing aids,” the study found.
Apple doesn’t yet have approval from the Food and Drug Administration to sell AirPods as OTC hearing aids and hasn’t made any announcements about this possibility, but it’s rumored to come soon. The company has been adding a lot of features to AirPods Pro that make them suitable — including Conversation Boost, muting background sounds, and particularly Transparency Mode, which makes all this possible.
AirPods Pro work great as part-time or starter hearing aids, but they’re not a full-time replacement yet.
Apple’s earbuds still don’t work as well as my Oticon More hearing aids: The battery life is much shorter (AirPods Pro get about five to six hours versus 18 to 24 hours for the Oticons), and they aren’t as good at boosting voices.
I’ve been using Apple’s latest AirPods Pro (second generation), which Apple launched in September 2022, as substitute hearing aids.
I was in this boat myself. I had trouble hearing people speak in loud environments, but I had no idea of the extent of my deafness until I got fitted with hearing aids. When I first tried them on, I was astounded and almost choked up. Suddenly, I could hear the leaves rustling in the trees and sand crunching underfoot as people passed by: sounds I was oblivious to beforehand. It’s been an amazing experience getting my hearing back.
If you own AirPods Pro, perhaps you should try setting them up as hearing aids to see if they make any difference. If so, you can then explore getting prescription hearing devices.
Start with an audiogram
This is my audiogram after taking a professional hearing test. It shows moderate hearing loss in higher frequencies. The test tones had to be played louder in order for me to hear them. (Ignore the coffee stains!)
Before setting up AirPods as hearing aids, I highly recommend getting an audiogram, a chart that shows the results of a hearing test. It shows how loud sounds need to be for you to hear them at different frequencies — low-pitched through high-pitched. As you can see in the audiogram above, I have moderate hearing loss in higher frequencies: The test tones had to be played at much higher decibels in order for me to hear them.
If you import an audiogram, your AirPods will create an individualized sound profile for you, boosting the frequencies you have trouble hearing. It makes a huge difference.
If you’ve taken a professional hearing test, you’ll likely have been given an audiogram — usually, it’s just a printout. Simply take a picture of your audiogram with your iPhone and it’ll be ready to import.
Luckily, you don’t have to take a professional hearing test: Some free apps will create very accurate audiograms for you. (Jump to the section below detailing how to get a free audiogram using an app.)
However, you don’t need an audiogram to use AirPods as hearing aids. There’s a built-in hearing test during the setup process that gets pretty close.
AirPods as hearing aids: Step-by-step setup instructions
Here are the steps to transform AirPods into assistive hearing devices.
7. After taking the test, choose Custom Settings.
8. If you have an audiogram already saved, choose it when customizing Headphone audio.
Here’s what the whole process looks like with screenshots:
1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, then Accessibility, then AirPods
Start in the Settings app, then tap Accessibility. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
First, connect your AirPods to your iPhone. (This works the same way on an iPad.) Then open the Settings app on your iPhone, then tap Accessibility. Scroll down to AirPods and tap that to select the AirPods you want to customize.
2. Scroll down to Audio Accessibility Settings
Choose the AirPods you want to set up. Make sure they are connected, or you might get an error. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Make sure you are wearing your AirPods, then tap on them if your device says they are Connected. On the next screen, scroll down to Audio Accessibility Settings.
3. Tap Headphone Accommodations, then Custom Audio Setup
Under Headphone Accommodations, you will find the Custom Audio Setup section. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
At the top of the screen, tap Headphone Accommodations, then tap Custom Audio Setup. The next screen asks you to add your audiogram.
4. Import your audiogram
To add an audiogram, just take a picture of it. The camera automatically reads the numbers in the chart. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
If you have an audiogram printout, hit Continue in the setup wizard. If doing this for the first time, you’ll first be asked to add your audiogram. Choose Add Audiogram, then import the chart using the iPhone’s Camera, Photos or Files app. I used my iPhone’s camera to take a picture of the audiogram I got from a professional hearing test, and the camera imported the results automatically.
After importing, if there’s any data missing, you’ll be asked to fill in any missing numbers.
5. Customize your AirPods Pro’s Transparency Mode
If any of the audiogram data turns up missing during import, you’ll be asked to fill it in. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
After hitting Save, you can adjust amplification (basically the volume level of the AirPods you’ll be using as hearing aids), left and right balance, and tone. You can turn on Ambient Noise Reduction and Conversation Boost, both of which should make it easier to hear people in face-to-face conversations. I recommend turning on both of these, and went with the default amplification. (I crank it up for Spiderman-like super-hearing as needed.)
Hit Done.
6. If you don’t have an audiogram, take the built-in hearing test (or use a free app)
Apple’s hearing test asks you to rate samples of speech and music. It’s basic, but good for a start. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
If you don’t have an audiogram, you can take Apple’s built-in hearing test to generate one. First, make sure you’re in a quiet environment. The test asks you to compare samples of music and voices, asking which sounds better — version 1 or version 2. If they sound about the same, choose the first one. The test takes just a couple of minutes.
Alternatively, you can use one of the free apps mentioned below to generate an audiogram.
7. After taking the hearing test, make sure to choose Custom Settings
Choose Custom Settings. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
At the end of the built-in hearing test, make sure to choose Custom Settings.
8. If you have an audiogram already saved, choose it when customizing Headphone audio
If you already have an audiogram saved in the Health app, it’ll appear here. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
You may already have an audiogram saved in the Health app. If so, it’ll appear on the first screen after hitting Custom Audio setup in step 3 above.
Choose the latest audiogram, and hit Use Audiogram. You’ll then be able to customize settings, as in Step 6 above.
How to get an audiogram using a free app
The free Mimi hearing test app can create an audiogram to be imported into the Health app. Screenshot: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
If you don’t have an audiogram, you can use the Mimi Hearing Test or SonicCloud Personalized Sound apps. After taking the free hearing test, simply import the results into the Health app.
Both these apps mimic a professional hearing test. You listen to a range of tones at various frequencies and volumes, and the app creates an audiogram based on your responses.
I tried both apps and got basically the same results as the professional audiogram, which makes me confident they are both pretty accurate. However, the numbers from both apps were slightly off. (That could indicate my hearing deteriorated since my last professional hearing test.)
Obviously, if you want the greatest accuracy, head to your doctor or hearing specialist.
After taking the hearing test in either app, you’ll be asked to connect to Apple Health. Since this is private health information, you must permit the third-party apps to connect with the Health app. Hit Give Permission.
Your audiogram will be imported and will show up in the custom audio process.
Which AirPods offer Transparency Mode?
Using AirPods as hearing aids relies on Transparency Mode, which lets in outside sounds so you can hear what’s happening around you. Transparency Mode is often used when listening to music, but if you use your AirPods in Transparency Mode without any media playing, they act as hearing aids.
Transparency Mode is available on the following AirPods and Beats earbuds:
The latest model AirPods Pro 2 are among the best wireless earbuds you can buy for your iPhone and other Apple gear. They offer excellent sound quality, battery life and active noise cancellation, among other advanced features.
The U.S. House of Representatives today approved legislation that would force TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the social media network or face a ban in the United States. The Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act will now go to the Senate, where its fate is unclear.
U.S. lawmakers want TikTok to be sold to a company outside of China due to concerns that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to hand over data from users located in the United States. If China made the request, ByteDance would not be able to refuse. There have also been suggestions that China could use TikTok to spread political propaganda.
ByteDance has attempted to alleviate these fears by storing data from U.S. users on servers owned by Oracle, but the White House and lawmakers do not believe that is enough.
If passed, the bill would require ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months to a company approved by the U.S. government. Should ByteDance not sell the company, U.S. app stores would not be able to distribute the app without breaking the law, effectively leading to a ban. China would also need to approve the sale, and the Chinese government made it clear last year that it would “firmly oppose” a forced sale.
There are a limited number of companies with enough capital to be able to afford TikTok, and the obvious choices, such as Google or Meta, would likely be barred from acquiring it due to antitrust concerns.
Should the bill make it through the Senate, U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that he would sign it into law. A number of senators have expressed worries about the wording of the act, and it does not have universal support at this time.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Baseus rolled out its new Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank on Monday. The thin portable power bank keeps MacBooks and other devices going.
The 65-watt, 12000mAh power bank includes a charge information display, intelligent app control and can charge up to two devices at once.
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Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank
The new Baseus Blade 2 smart power bank is super-slim for portability, so you can bring it with you and keep your MacBook going. It comes with intelligent features like a charging status screen and a control app. And it can power up two devices at once.
Baseus described the bank, showcased at CES 2024, this way:
The Blade2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank stands out with its impressively flat design, weighing approximately 11 ounces. Its sleek dimensions of approximately 0.4 inch thickness, and just 0.3 inch at its thinnest point, make it effortlessly portable, easily slipping into computer bags without occupying much space. This convenient new portable power bank from Baseus provides recharging capabilities anywhere, without the hassle.
Despite the thin portable power bank’s compact profile, its 12000mAh Polymer Lithium battery packs a lot of power. It uses EV-grade Silicon Carbon Anode battery technology. It boasts 20,000 recharging cycles for long-lasting performance, according to Baseus.
Custom digital display and Intelligent Control App
A display tells you the bank’s charging status and an app helps you control the device. Photo: Baseus
The device features 65W fast charging output for laptops and other devices. And its PD60W self-charging input shows up on a custom digital display interface powered by BDIP digital power technology.
Baseus Intelligent Control App enables real-time monitoring, personalized settings and charging insights on the go, Baseus said.
“For maximum convenience and versatility, users can take advantage of superior charging for all their devices with the dual C-port setup that allows them to charge two devices at the same time,” the company said. “Using BPS2.0 intelligent power distribution technology, the 45W and 20W Type-C ports provides complete peace of mind knowing that all their devices can be fully charged and ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
Universally compatible, the thin portable power bank works with more than 1,000 devices and supports PD, SCP, QC, FCP, AFC, and many other fast-charging protocols for a variety of devices.
The power bank comes equipped with up to eight different safety protocols in place. They include short circuit, over-discharge, temperature, over-charge, over-power, restore, over-current and over-voltage protection, Baseus said.
You can buy the Baseus Blad e2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank at Baseus or Amazon for $99.9. But a promotion running until March 25 discounts it to $69.99. Just check the box on Amazon to use code 30OFFBLADE.
This ultra-slim 65-watt power bank offers fast charging with app control with LED charging status display. The 12000mAh portable charger works with MacBooks, iPhone 15/14 Series, Samsung, iPad, Switch, Steam Deck and more.
Phil Drapeau, senior vice president of Future Coffee Systems at Keurig, says partnering with Delica was a way to accelerate the timeline on research Keurig has been doing for years. “I think at this point it’s been for four to five years that we’ve been working on this process,” Drapeau says. “Working with Delica really allowed us to focus on adapting the technology for the North American consumer, to accelerate and drive development.”
Environmental Benefits
Photograph: Keurig
Standard, non-compostable K-Cups are tossed out, which creates an environmental problem. But the benefits of the K-Round aren’t just in removing a potential pollutant from the environment, or the carbon footprint of plastic manufacturing. There are some real benefits from cultivating the seaweed or algae needed to make the new K-Rounds, according to Eleftheria Roumeli, assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute.
“The algae is photosynthetic, so it’s uptaking CO2,” Roumeli says. “That’s why there’s so much incentive right now. The US government alone has given I don’t know how many millions of dollars for algae cultivation, because it’s such a great carbon sequestration mechanism.” The natural process of cultivating algae for purposes like the K-Round increases the amount of carbon captured from the atmosphere. “It’s a really great option, because the algae is a natural carbohydrate that when it decomposes in the environment, there is no problem. Scientifically, it’s not novel, but practically, it’s kind of important that we do it.”
There could be problems down the road if people end up dumping too many K-Rounds or coffee grounds into a specific area, like a backyard. Roumeli says that just like using too much fertilizer or bio char, accumulating too much in one area could disturb ecosystems. But this would still be better than the current situation.
“Definitely the benefits are absolutely outweighing the negatives,” Roumeli says. “One of the best things is that you have something that is now renewable in your lifetime.” However, she warns that companies need to do studies before deciding where they will cultivate algae, as it needs to be in harmony with the local environment.
Keurig says it will be releasing both products to broader audiences after fine-tuning them with some customer feedback. The Keurig Alta and the K-Rounds will enter into a beta test this fall, which you can sign up for here.
Amazon today has the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE for $189.00, which is just $10 higher compared to its all-time low price. This deal is available in the Silver Aluminum Case with Winter Blue Sport Loop and Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Loop, and only Amazon has the discount.
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You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE on sale right now, available for $219.00 on Amazon, down from $279.00. This is another near all-time low price that’s just $10 away from the lowest price on the Apple Watch SE, and it’s available in Midnight, Silver, and Starlight Aluminum options.
This model of the Apple Watch SE launched in September 2022 and remains Apple’s most affordable Apple Watch. The Apple Watch SE lacks some of the upgraded features you’ll find in some Series 9 or Ultra 2 models, like temperature sensing, ECG functionality, and blood oxygen monitoring, but it will otherwise provide you with all key Apple Watch features, and at the cheapest price possible.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are still around six months away from launching, there are already many rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped new features and changes expected so far. These are some of the key changes rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models as of March 2024:Larger displays: The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with larger 6.3-inch…
Apple appears to be internally testing iOS 17.4.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website’s logs this week. Our logs have revealed the existence of several iOS 17 versions before Apple released them, ranging from iOS 17.0.3 to iOS 17.3.1. iOS 17.4.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear when…
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple’s flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple’s iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company’s more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%…
Apple’s next-generation iPad Pro models are expected to be announced in a matter of weeks, so what can customers expect from the highly anticipated new machines? The 2022 iPad Pro was a minor update that added the M2 chip, Apple Pencil hover, and specification upgrades like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. The iPad Pro as a whole has generally only seen relatively small updates in…
iOS 17.4 was released last week following over a month of beta testing, and the update includes many new features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 17.4 introduces major changes to the App Store, Safari, and Apple Pay in the EU, in response to the Digital Markets Act. Other new features include Apple Podcasts transcripts, an iMessage security upgrade, new emoji options, and more. Below, we…
Apple plans to release new iPad Pro and iPad Air models “around the end of March or in April,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He also expects new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories for iPads to launch simultaneously. Apple is expected to release a larger 12.9-inch iPad Air In his Power On newsletter on Sunday, Gurman reiterated that Apple is preparing a special build of the…
Apple today announced three further changes for developers in the European Union, allowing them to distribute apps directly from webpages, choose how to design in-app promotions, and more. Apple last week enabled alternative app stores in the EU in iOS 17.4, allowing third-party app stores to offer a catalog of other developers’ apps as well as the marketplace developer’s own apps. As of…
Earlier this week, Apple announced new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, the first Mac updates of the year featuring M3 series chips. But there are other Macs in Apple’s lineup still to be updated to the latest M3 processors. So, where do the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro fit into Apple’s M3 roadmap for the year ahead? Here’s what the latest rumors say. Mac Mini Apple announced …
Owen Wilson tees up in an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series about golfers. Photo: Markus Spiske/Pixels
The list of comedies on Apple TV+ is expanding with one starring Owen Wilson as a washed up golf pro stepping up to coach a teen in the sport.
The series — which does not yet have a name — seems to have a lot on common with Ted Lasso, another sports-themed comedy that was an enormous success for Apple TV+.
Owen Wilson is the latest star given an Apple TV+ series
Ted Lasso followed a haplessly optimistic American football coach (played by Jason Sudeikis) who is recruited to lead an English soccer team. In his upcoming series, Owen Wilson plays a hapless golfer taking a try at coaching. The similarities are hard to miss.
“The comedy follows Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. After he gets fired from his job at an Indiana sporting goods store and his wife walks out on him, Pryce hedges his bets entirely on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom.”
What makes the series interesting is, of course, its star. Owen Wilson is fresh off the successful run of Loki on Disney+. Before that, he was in Wedding Crashers and The Royal Tenenbaums.
The as-yet unnamed Apple TV+ show was created and written by Jason Keller (Ford v Ferrari). It will be directed by the team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Fleishman is in Trouble, Little Miss Sunshine, Battle of the Sexes).
Given that Apple TV+ just recently greenlit the series, Owen Wilson’s big premiere on Apple’s streaming service is many months away. Only time will tell if it can match the huge success of Ted Lasso.
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