The second-gen Apple Pencil is back on sale for $79

The second-gen Apple Pencil stylus accessory is back on sale for $79, which is a discount of nearly 40 percent. That’s quite a deal, considering the usual price is around $130. Why Apple decided to charge well over $100 for magnetic pens in the first place is a whole other conversation, but at least there’s a sale for now.

This is a fantastic accessory and perfect for several iPad models, but we have to address the elephant in the room. Apple’s stylus lineup is something of a confusing mess. The company makes four different Apple Pencils and it can be difficult to suss out the best one for your particular tablet. For instance, the new Pencil Pro is only compatible with the latest iPad Airs and iPad Pros.

Therefore, this second-gen Apple Pencil is not appropriate for the just-released tablets. This model is the one to get if you use an older iPad Pro or Air, as long as the design predates those with the front-facing cameras on the long edge. It’s also a good match for the current iPad mini. Finally, it’s likely that every Apple tablet moving forward will feature a redesign similar to the latest Air and Pro, so only buy this stylus if you aren’t planning on upgrading your tablet anytime soon.

If you meet the above criteria, however, the second-gen Apple Pencil is a comfortable and highly useful stylus. It features tilt and pressure sensitivity, magnetic charging, wireless pairing and a light form factor. It’s miles better than the average Amazon knockoff, with next to no lag. You’ll be drawing exquisite pizza slices and cats before you know it.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-second-gen-apple-pencil-is-back-on-sale-for-79-160048381.html?src=rss 

Max just raised subscription prices again

It’s time for another streaming service to raise its prices. Up to bat, it’s Max, which was formerly called HBO Max, HBO Go, HBO and who knows what else. It’s the one with Sopranos and Game of Thrones.

The streamer is raising prices across the board, effective today, something we strongly suspected was on its way. Here’s how that will impact your bank account, should you want to nab a subscription just in time for season two of House of the Dragon.

The standard ad-free plan has shot up to $17 per month, with a yearly price of $170. This is an increase of $1 per month or $20 per year. The ultimate ad-free plan is now $21 per month or $210 per year. This is an increase of $1 per month or $10 each year. The ultimate plan adds 4K UHD streaming and the ability to stream on four devices at once.

There’s some good news for those who like really loud ads interrupting prestige TV and sad little Discovery reality shows. The Max With Ads plan will remain unchanged at $10 per month or $100 per year.

Current monthly subscribers will see a price increase on their next billing cycle, so sometime this month. Yearly subscribers remain locked into the lower price until renewal. This is the first price increase since the streamer rebranded to Max last year.

Max isn’t exactly riddled with new content lately. It’s actually been on something of a cancelling spree. House of the Dragon premieres this month, but that’s about it. We should get the Penguin series in the next few months, Dune: Prophecy by the end of the year and The Last of Us season two… whenever it’s ready. Let them cook.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/max-just-raised-subscription-prices-again-160849334.html?src=rss 

TheraGun massagers are up to 17 percent off right now

If you’re anything like me, you’re reading this a bit hunched over and with sore neck and shoulder muscles. While weekly massages would be a great way to treat it, that’s a big time and money commitment. Another option is the TheraGun Mini 2.0, our choice as an amazing gift for runners and fitness-minded college students. It’s still an investment, but right now, it’s on sale for $165, down from $199 — a 17 percent discount. 

The one-pound TheraGun Mini 2.0 is an amazing tool to use on the go, whether at the gym, when traveling or after a sports match. It has three speed settings and attachments with an ergonomic design that makes it easy to hold on to during use. You can get a “moderate 12mm” intensity and see visual routines. 

If you’re looking for something cheaper, check out the TheraGun Relief, the company’s newest massager. A 13 percent discount has cut its price to a record-low $129 from $149 in both Sand and Navy. The Relief is a good option if you want to keep your device in one place, as it has a larger frame and an extra third of a pound in weight. The massager is good if you don’t want anything super firm, with an intensity labeled “comfortable 10mm.” Plus, it offers TheraGun’s patented triangle grip, three speed settings and three attachments. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/theragun-massagers-are-up-to-17-percent-off-right-now-145408266.html?src=rss 

You might need to upgrade your Apple TV box to keep watching Netflix

Heads up for those of you who are clinging onto a second- or third-gen Apple TV box: you’ll need to upgrade soon if you want to keep watching Netflix through your set-top box. Netflix is ending support for those devices on July 31.

According to Apple Insider, Netflix is informing customers of the change by email. It didn’t fully explain why it’s ending support for the two boxes — each of which debuted over a decade ago — other than to say it’s doing so to “maintain the best possible Netflix experience.” In fairness, that’s tough to do on old hardware that won’t be able to support newer codecs.

In a broad sense, it’s a pity to see major services abandoning older hardware, especially since that will increase the chances of those products becoming waste and ending up in landfill. That said, there often comes a point where maintaining support for a dwindling user base of aging devices no longer makes sense.

As luck would have it, though, the latest version of the Apple TV 4K is on sale. The 64GB version has dropped to $90, which is $40 off and the lowest price we’ve seen for it to date.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/you-might-need-to-upgrade-your-apple-tv-box-to-keep-watching-netflix-151458362.html?src=rss 

WWDC 2024: How to Watch Apple’s keynote on June 10

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote is right around the corner. The festivities kick off on Monday, June 10 at 1PM ET. The keynote address is available to the public and you can watch it via Apple’s event website or on the company’s YouTube channel. Alternatively, you can just stay here and watch our embed.

This is WWDC, so it’ll be a software-focused event. Apple will most likely reveal many of the main features of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. It’s also possible we’ll get updates for watchOS, macOS and even visionOS, which is the operating system behind the Vision Pro headset.

This is Apple, however, so the rumor mill is grinding at a feverish pace. The whole world has gone AI crazy, to varying degrees of success, but Apple has remained mostly mum on the technology. Given the current tech climate, it seems likely that changes sooner rather than later. WWDC would be the perfect place to unveil what the company has been working on.

To that end, Apple is reportedly developing its own AI chatbot, likely an update to Siri. Rumors swirl that this tech isn’t ready yet, so Siri will remain just a fairly decent alarm clock for now. The company has, however, entered into a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. If Gurman is right, and he usually is, we’ll see something about that. The upgraded Siri will likely get a mention, but won’t be on devices until at least early 2025.

As for software updates, it looks like iOS 18 will finally bring RCS support to Messages. This messaging protocol offers end-to-end encryption and better media sharing. It’ll also improve texting compatibility with Android devices. Rumors indicate that Apple Music may get an OpenAI-powered tool that auto-generates playlists and Notes might get a voice-recording option. Other apps like Mail, Fitness and Health are expected to get new features, but there are no details as of this writing.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

There’s also those ever-tantalizing words of “just one more thing.” Last year, the company used WWDC to officially unveil the Vision Pro. Apple won’t introduce a new device category this year, the AVP was its first since Apple Watch, but there should be a Vision Pro global availability announcement and some updated features.

Despite last year’s Vision Pro reveal, we’re not expecting a lot of hardware news. It’s possible we’ll get a new Apple TV streaming box and, if we’re lucky, an AirPods Max refresh with USB-C. Don’t hold out hope for new tablets or laptops, as Apple recently released both iPads and MacBooks — though Apple could drop the just-released M4 chip in the MacBook Pro. The Mac mini and Mac Studio are both overdue for an update, as well. But it’s possible we get none of the above. There won’t be new iPhones until September, and the same goes for Apple Watch.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wwdc-2024-how-to-watch-apples-keynote-on-june-10-153000518.html?src=rss 

Samsung’s Odyssey G8 might be the best 32-inch gaming monitor of the year

After getting officially announced way back at CES 2024, all of Samsung’s new 2024 gaming monitors are finally available for pre-order today. However, while the massive 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95SD) garnered most of the attention when initial details came out in January, I recently had a chance to check out its smaller siblings in person (plus one of Samsung’s new smart monitors), which are just as impressive due to their lower prices and more-practical screen sizes.

Similar to the Alienware AW3225QF and HP Omen Transcend 32, the 2024 Odyssey G8 OLED (G80SD) and Odyssey G6 OLED (G60SD) are based on Samsung’s third-gen QD-OLED tech. That means you get rich colors and deep blacks along with support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and increased brightness compared to traditional OLED displays. But from there, the two monitors diverge slightly with the 32-inch G8 being more of an all-rounder thanks to its 4K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the smaller G6 is better suited for competitive gaming with its 2,560 x 1,440 resolution and 360Hz refresh rate.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

My favorite of the two is the G8, as it features a flat display (not curved like the Alienware) with an anti-reflective matte coating and an extremely sleek design that lets you appreciate its super-thin 0.15-inch panel. Meanwhile, Samsung has equipped both the G8 and G6 with a dynamic cooling system that better reduces temperatures and can even preemptively control brightness if needed. And, for the first time, Samsung is offering a three-year warranty in case the monitor succumbs to burn-in.

I also appreciate that even though it’s a relatively large monitor, the G8 supports height adjustment and the ability to rotate into portrait mode. As a nod towards convenience, it comes with built-in stereo speakers and a solar remote (similar to what you get from Samsung’s flagship TVs), so you can easily connect it to gaming consoles alongside a traditional PC. And in case that’s not enough, the G8 also features Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which allows you to access streaming services like NVIDIA GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming without needing to connect to another device.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Alternatively, for more hardcore gamers, the G6 packs almost all of the same tech (including the remote and matte coating) into an even more practical 27-inch display. You still get Samsung’s CoreLighting+ module in back to supply some ambient RGB hues and a similarly sleek metal design. Samsung even redesigned the G8 and G6’s feet to give people with unusual gaming setups more flexibility and room to position their mouse and keyboard.

Finally, while it’s neither OLED nor a gaming display, Samsung’s M80D Smart Monitor is a neat take on 4K office productivity. It features a magnetic mount for a detachable webcam, so you can easily position it without the need for a tripod or quickly remove it at the end of a video call. You can also pair it over Wi-Fi with other Samsung devices, allowing you to easily move images or files from one to another. Just like the G8 and G6, it supports Samsung’s Gaming Hub and the ability to stream shows from apps like Netflix natively on the monitor.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The G9 remains the true flagship of Samsung’s gaming monitors, but the company has now made great options at smaller sizes too. The Odyssey G8 and G6 will start at $1,300 and $900, respectively, while the M80D Smart Monitor will go for $700. Pre-orders go live today and will come with a $300 discount for anyone who makes an early purchase before official sales begin later this month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-odyssey-g8-might-be-the-best-32-inch-gaming-monitor-of-the-year-140026504.html?src=rss 

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