Memorial Day weekend is approaching, and numerous retailers have already launched impressive discounts on a variety of tech gadgets. Highlights include the Sonos Roam 2 portable smart speaker at a new low of $134, Anker's Soundcore Select 4 Go at $19.99, Beats Pill for around $99.95, and the JBL Clip 5 for about $49.95. Earbuds and headphones such as Sony's WH-1000XM5, Bose QuietComfort Headphones, Beats Studio Pro, and SteelSeries Arctis Pro Nova Wireless gaming headset are also on sale. For TV and streaming, deals on Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Cube, and Fire TV Remote are available. Smart home products, from Blink Mini 2 cameras to Coway air purifiers and the Eero Pro 7 mesh router, offer significant savings. Smartwatches like Garmin Venu 3S, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 are discounted. Outdoor travel gadgets, including the LifeStraw Peak Series Straw, Epicka Travel Adapter, and Starlink Mini satellite internet, are featured. Additional deals include Dell laptops, Amazon Fire Max 11 tablets, USB-C hubs, wireless chargers, and more. These deals provide excellent opportunities for upgrading technology and preparing for summer.
Apple CEO Tim Cook intervened to oppose Texas Senate Bill 2420, which would require app stores to verify users' ages. Apple argues the bill threatens user privacy by mandating the collection of sensitive personal information even for basic apps, and conflicts with social media companies like Meta, which support such age-verification laws. The bill has passed the legislature and awaits Governor Greg Abbott's decision. Apple favors the federal Kids Online Safety Act that places responsibility on web platforms rather than app stores. The issue reflects broader debates over online age verification and privacy concerns, with states proposing various measures, some already enacted.
Pocket, the once popular bookmarking tool acquired by Mozilla, has been discontinued as Mozilla reallocates resources to projects better aligned with user browsing habits. Despite its decline, Pocket was a useful tool for saving articles and resources to revisit later. For those looking for Pocket replacements, several bookmarking apps offer similar features including free versions and cross-device syncing. Instapaper, now under Instapaper Holdings, is one such alternative with a clean interface and browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.
If you're expanding your 4K Blu-ray collection, Universal Pictures' Gruv Day sale offers great deals on Steelbooks, box sets, and individual titles. Highlights include The Lord of the Rings 4K trilogy for $41.99, HBO's Chernobyl series for $14.99, and a 2-for-$24 sale on over 65 top 4K releases like The Wild Robot, Dune: Part Two, and classics such as The Shining and Casablanca. Hurry, the sale ends May 23.
Google I/O 2024 revealed several important updates beyond AI, including new capabilities for Google Wallet, Wear OS smartwatches, the Google Play Store, and Google TV. Smartwatch users can look forward to Live Updates for tracking deliveries and rideshares by 2026. Google Wallet will introduce a Nearby Passes notification for easy access to passes like boarding passes and expand digital ID availability. Google Play is adding an "Ask someone else to pay" feature and tools to improve purchase experiences and app rollouts. Google TV will get Android 16 with Material 3 design changes and support for the new Eclipsa Audio codec developed with Samsung.
President Donald Trump's administration tried to revoke Harvard University's access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), potentially making nearly 6,800 international students deportable. This move, framed as holding Harvard accountable for alleged violence, antisemitism, and ties with the Chinese Communist Party, was blocked by a federal judge after Harvard filed a lawsuit citing First Amendment violations. The administration also demanded detailed information on international students' activities and disciplinary records, threatening to revoke Harvard's SEVIS certification if demands were not met. Harvard resisted these demands, unlike other universities, leading to the current legal battle. The lawsuit argues the government's actions retaliate against Harvard for exercising its rights and severely impact its international student body, forcing students to transfer or leave the country. The federal judge's temporary block on DHS's action ensures the students remain enrolled for now.
The leaders of OpenAI and Google have been closely competing since ChatGPT's breakout success. Ahead of this year's Google I/O, there was speculation whether OpenAI CEO Sam Altman would overshadow Google's event as last year when OpenAI launched ChatGPT's voice mode just before I/O. However, OpenAI made a significant move the day after by acquiring the 'io' hardware division of Jony Ive's design studio, LoveFrom, a strategic step that also stirred SEO competition. While Google's AI technology is technically advanced and widely used, OpenAI excels in capturing public attention and creating buzz. The acquisition involves $6.5 billion in equity for around 55 LoveFrom employees, including notable former Apple design leaders, signaling OpenAI's focus on innovation and influence.
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a tariff of at least 25% on iPhones and similar devices from Apple, Samsung, and other manufacturers unless production is relocated to the United States. Trump has expressed his expectation that Apple’s iPhones sold in the US be made domestically, rejecting production in countries like India. The tariff is expected to be implemented by the end of June and would target all companies manufacturing such products, including Samsung, to ensure fairness. This move follows reports that Apple plans to source some iPhones from India, where its main manufacturer Foxconn is investing $1.5 billion in a new plant. Apple has been diversifying production outside China due to geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite commitments from Apple to invest heavily in the US, experts doubt a fully American-made iPhone is feasible.
Amazon has decided to cancel its live-action series 'The Wheel of Time' after three seasons. Despite the third season being praised as the show's strongest, the decision was influenced by high production costs and declining viewership. The series, based on Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's books, was initially a major hit for Amazon, aiming to replicate the success of shows like Game of Thrones. Showrunner Rafe Judkins highlighted that Amazon was chosen as a partner for their commitment to long-term investment in series, but the dwindling audience numbers led to the cancellation.
The winners of the $TRUMP meme coin contest attended a private dinner at Trump National Golf Club, featuring a speech by President Donald Trump. However, the highlight was networking with top crypto traders, winning gem-encrusted watches worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a Capitol Hill Marriott afterparty. The entry process involved only a 'pretty light' KYC check, allowing a diverse group of attendees, including wealthy individuals and international guests with high crypto risk tolerance.