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General Motors has temporarily stopped paying for advertisements on Twitter after Elon Musk closed the $44 billion deal to take over the website, according to the CNBC. Musk, as you know, is also the chief executive at Tesla, which overtook GM and all its competitors to become the most valuable carmaker in the US a couple of years ago. The company told the news organization that it’s engaging with Twitter to understand its direction under its new owner. Further, it said that it’s normal for the company to pause paid advertising in the face of a “significant change in a media platform.”

GM said in its emailed statement:

“We are engaging with Twitter to understand the direction of the platform under their new ownership. As is normal course of business with a significant change in a media platform, we have temporarily paused our paid advertising. Our customer care interactions on Twitter will continue.”

Over the past couple of years, the company had broadened its commitment to providing consumers more EV options in an effort to better compete with Tesla. The automaker announced an investment of $35 billion for its combined EV and self-driving development efforts in 2021. Earlier this year, the company also revealed that it’s building a third Ultium factory in the US that will make batteries for its electric vehicles. 

Shortly after he officially took control of Twitter, Musk posted a message to advertisers on his account in a bid to ease their concerns. “There has been much speculation about why I bought Twitter and what I think about advertising. Most of it has been wrong,” he wrote. He also said that advertising, “when done right, can delight, entertain and inform you…” For that to be true, “it is essential to show Twitter users advertising that is as relevant as possible to their needs.”

Here is Musk’s complete statement:

 

It’s been less than a day since Elon Musk began his takeover of Twitter, but his move to the top of the company is already impacting the platform. Following the news that the deal was completed, and that he had begun purging some of the company’s executive staff, some groups opted to test Twitter’s moderation rules.

The Washington Postalso reported that “racial slurs were posted rampantly overnight,” in the hours immediately after Musk’s takeover. The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), a nonprofit organization that studies disinformation on social platforms, said Friday morning that it had observed a sharp uptick in the n-word on Twitter.

“Evidence suggests that bad actors are trying to test the limits on @Twitter,” the group said. “Several posts on 4chan encourage users to amplify derogatory slurs.”

A Twitter spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment. As both The Post and NCRI point out, much of this seems to be organized on platforms like 4Chan and TheDonald, where users are encouraging each other to spread hate.

For now, it’s unclear how widespread these efforts are. As with past harassment campaigns, a small group of trolls can have an outsize impact, particularly at a moment of upheaval for the company. Musk, who according to Bloomberg has temporarily assumed CEO duties at the company, said Friday that he would not be reinstating any banned accounts or making “major” changes to the company’s content policies until he could for a “content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints.”

He also responded to a Twitter account called Catturd, which had complained about shadowbans and losing followers, that he would be “digging in more.” Musk has previously said that he wants to do away with permanent bans on the platform and that he would “err on the side of, if in doubt, let the speech exist.”

Notably, the uptick in racist slurs comes one day after Musk appealed to Twitter’s advertisers, saying that he didn’t want to turn the platform into a “free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.”

But the increase in hate speech has further fueled concerns that Twitter’s years-long effort to clean up its platforms could be reversed under Musk. Already, he has fired the company’s top policy executive, Vijaya Gadde, who played a central role in shaping the company’s content rules. That’s concerning, says Paul Barrett, deputy director of NYU’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights.

“The danger here is that in the name of ‘free speech,’ Musk will turn back the clock and make Twitter into a more potent engine of hatred, divisiveness, and misinformation about elections, public health policy, and international affairs,” Barrett said in a statement. “This is not going to be pretty.”

 

We recommend Amazon’s Echo Show 5 for those looking to adopt a smarter type of alarm clock, and as of this writing Amazon is running a sale that brings two of the diminutive smart displays down to $60 when you use the code SHOW52PK at checkout. We’ve seen individual deals bring the device as low as $35 in recent months, so this offer represents a slightly better value if you know you want multiple displays around the house (or if you want to grab one for multiple people). The Echo Show 5 technically has an MSRP of $85, but its average street price has typically sat in the $40-50 range in recent months.

We gave the Echo Show 5 a review score of 85 when it launched last year, praising its solid-for-its-size sound quality, compact design, and usual suite of Alexa-aided smart features. Its most natural home is on a bedside table, as the device is fitted with features like a “sunrise” alarm that gradually brightens its screen to more gently wake you up in the morning and the ability to tap the top of the display to snooze an alarm. The device’s 960 x 480 resolution display isn’t exactly high-end, but it’s competent enough given the device’s small stature, and an ambient light sensor lets it automatically dim when you turn the lights off at night.

The device still has its uses outside of the bedroom, as it can tell you the weather, play music, display recipes, show Ring security cam feeds and control compatible smart home gear like any other Alexa machine. But that smaller display naturally won’t be as pleasing for video as the panel on a larger device like the Echo Show 8, and the included camera is only 2MP, so it’s best used in a pinch, not for extended video calls. (It does come with a privacy shutter, however.) This also isn’t the most performant device, so it’s better off sticking to simpler Alexa commands, casual music streaming, and that alarm clock functionality. 

All of that is easier to accept when the device is deeply discounted, though. Google’s Nest Hub is a fine alternative for those who prefer to use the Google Assistant or just want a bedside display with no camera at all. If you’re looking to add a couple of smart displays to your home and are already onboard with Alexa, though, this is a solid chance to save a few bucks.

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

 

It’s been nearly a decade since the Pebble smartwatch started shipping to backers of its wildly successful initial Kickstarter campaign, but there’s still life in the ol’ dog yet. The wearables are now compatible with Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, as well as 64-bit-only Android devices that will arrive later.

As noted by Ars Technica, Katharine Berry, who works on Wear OS and is a prominent member of the Rebble group that’s keeping the Pebble ecosystem alive, wrote that the latest Pebble update comes four years after the previous one. The last update allowed for many of the Pebble app’s functions to run on independent servers. Fitbit, which Google has since bought, shut down Pebble’s servers in 2018, two years after buying some of the smartwatch maker’s assets.

Along with Pixel 7 compatibility, the latest update also improves Caller ID reliability on recent versions of Android. While the app isn’t available on the Google Play Store, the APK is signed with official Pebble keys and retains Google Fit integration, Berry noted.

On the surface, this might finally appear to be the end of the line for Pebble in terms of official support. “Thanks to Google for providing us with one last update,” Berry wrote on Reddit. However, as Ars Technica points out, it looks like a Pebble hackathon is set to take place next month. So if your Pebble’s e-ink screen and battery are still holding up, it might be useful for a while longer yet.

 

Some of the biggest deals in tech right now come courtesy of Samsung Week, a sales event running through November 1st, in which the electronics giant has discounted a wide swath of their current-model devices. We’re seeing record low prices almost everywhere — as in, lower than Amazon’s October Prime Day deals. Google dropped some compelling offers of their own, with a third off the Pixel 6a and 25 percent off their Pixel Buds Pro. We also found Halloween sales from JBL, XBOX and PlayStation with discounts on older models and titles. Amazon’s Echo devices are also on sale, with the Echo, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 all at least 40 percent off. Here are all the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

Back in July, we named the Pixel Buds Pro Google’s best earbuds yet, giving them a score of 87 in the review. This week they hit their lowest-yet price of $150 on Amazon, that’s even lower than it was for October’s Prime Day and a full $50 off the MSRP.

Our senior news editor, Billy Steele, was particularly impressed with the punchy bass and solid noise cancellation, noting that the active noice cancellation (ANC) is a new feature for Google’s latest buds. Our tests matched Google’s claims of seven hours playback with ANC on and around 11 hours with it off. A fully charged case will more than double those times and the case can be charged wirelessly, unlike the non-pro (A-Series) model.

The controls let you access the Google Assistant, skip tracks, activate ANC, take calls and more with on-board taps and presses that are fully configurable. While they don’t yet offer spatial audio, the audio still felt spacious. One reservation we noted in our review was the $20 price bump from the previous model. Now that you can save $50, it’s a good time to dive in.

Buy Google Pixel 6a at Amazon – $299

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

The Galaxy Watch 5, our current top pick for an Android smartwatch, dropped to a near-lowest price since Samsung released the wearable back in August. Both sizes are $30 off, bringing the 40mm model to $250 (Bluetooth model) and the larger 44mm to $280. Our wearables expert Cherlynn Low gave the Watch 5 a solid 85 in her review, confirming that “for Android users, this is the best smartwatch around.” The heftier, outdoor-focused Pro version of the Watch 5 earned an 86 in the same review and it’s currently on sale for $400 for the Bluetooth version. Both sizes of the LTE-enabled models are $70 off. 

As Samsung’s current flagship watch and at just a few months old, this is a rare discount for the Galaxy Watch 5. As part of Samsung Week, the discount will likely go away after November 1st. So if you’re an Android user itching for the best tracking and coaching you can put on your wrist, you might want to check out the deal. 

Buy Galaxy Watch 5 at Amazon – $230

Samsung The Frame 55-inch smart TV

If you like the idea of having something other than a black void staring back at you when your TV is off, this is the week to go for Samsung’s The Frame TV. We’re seeing a discounts that go up to $1,000, depending on screen size, with the big-but-not-too-big 55-inch model at $998 (that’s $500 off). The home theater-style 85-inch model is where you see the $1,000 savings, bringing the price down to $3,298. 

When on, the TV delivers a vivid, quality image, and has an intuitive Tizen OS-powered smart TV experience. Even at a discount, The Frame isn’t cheap, so it’s best for those who care what their walls look like (or really don’t vibe with black mirrors). 

I have one of these myself and can attest to the realism of the effect. With an anti-reflective glass, light-adjusting output and a thin, flush-mount profile (thanks to a separate CPU) The Frame really does look like a piece of art hanging on the wall. An $8-per-month subscription is required to access the very extensive and curated Art Store, without it, there’s a smaller subset of art to display, or you can use your own photos.  

Buy The Frame 55-inch smart TV at Amazon – $998

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Samsung is also discounting their Galaxy Tab S8 to $550 for Samsung Week. That’s 22 percent off and just five bucks more than the lowest-ever price. We gave high marks (85) to the mid-range Tab S8+, but like our reviews writer Sam Rutherford noted, “there are two kinds of Android tablets: Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S line and everything else.” 

The Tab S8 is the most affordable of the Tab S8 lineup, even when it’s not on sale, due to its smaller screen size (11 inches). You still get the power to treat your tablet like a PC, using Dex mode that switches from a standard Android interface to a more powerful desktop-like view. The improved Qualcomm Snapdragon chip makes the S8 speedy and responsive, and the included S Pen feels great in the hand and makes for satisfying doodle sessions and easy note taking. 

The all-day battery means you won’t have to stop what you’re doing to find an outlet (though that capacity takes a noticeable dip with graphics-heavy tasks like streaming or gaming). With its bright display and full-sounding speakers, it’s a great pick for a premium tablet — and now it’s at a less-premium price. 

Buy Galaxy Tab S8 at Amazon – $550

Google Pixel 6a

True, it’s not the latest model Pixel, that honor goes to the just-released Pixel 7, but the Pixel 6a is still a great smartphone in its own right — and honestly, it’s less than six months old. If you’re not one to queue up for midnight releases, you can save a hefty $150, snagging a great phone for $299. 

Our hands-on review honored it with a score of 89, with our deputy reviews editor calling it “easily one of the best phones for the money.” Now that you’ll be handing over less money, the 6a is looking even better. 

While the Pixel 6a is a mid-range smartphone, we gave it high marks for its impressive 12-megapixel cameras, vivid OLED screen with tough Gorilla Glass 3 protecting the screen and a whopping battery — delivering 19+ hours in our tests, crushing Apple’s iPhone SE budget model. There’s no wireless charging and the refresh rate isn’t as fast as possible at just 60Hz, but for under $300 it’s an impressive entry.  

Buy Google Pixel 6a at Amazon – $299

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

Depending on which AI assistant you prefer, now may be a good time to get a couple more Alexas managing your space, with steep discounts on three different Echos. At half-price, Amazon’s fourth-generation Echo smart speaker drops below the discount offered for October’s Prime Day, down to just $50. 

Upon its debut, we reviewed the fourth-generation Echo and gave it an 89, praising the surprisingly formidable sound coming out of a relatively diminutive unit. We found that two speakers delivered a better listening experience than just one — and now that the $100 price point has been halved, getting two is an easier move. The speaker puts Alexa front and center and its abilities continue to improve and adapt to what users want in an AI, though the assistant is far from perfect, sometimes requiring a few goes to find the music tracks asked for in our tests.  

If you prefer a display on your smart hub, the current-model Echo Show 8 is selling for $70, which is the same price it went for during Prime. The smaller, nightstand-friendly Echo Show 5 is nearly 60 percent off at $35. And if you want to get two Show 5s, use the code SHOW52PK after adding two to your cart and pay just $60 for the pair at checkout. We reviewed both units at once last year when they came out and gave the 8 an 87 and gave the 5 an 85.  

Buy Amazon Echo at Amazon – $50

Beats Studio Buds 

We like it when a discount applies to every colorway of a product, which is the case with this deal on Beats Studio Buds. The newer Ocean blue, moon grey are 40 percent off at Amazon, right alongside red, white, and black. The discount puts them at $90, a new low that beats their October Prime Day price. When the Studio Buds came out last year, our own Billy Steele gave them a score of 84, particularly noting their balanced sound, unobtrusive size and in-ear comfort. 

They’ll give you eight hours of listening time on their own and a total of 24 hours with a fully (non-wirelessly) charged case. They deliver reliable active noice cancellation and are rated to withstand a sweaty workout. Best of all, they’re OS agnostic, pairing as happily with your iPhone as with your Android device. We think these buds give premium earbuds a run for their money at the $150 list price — at 40 percent off, they’re really pulling their weight. 

Buy Beats Studio Buds from Amazon – $90

Jabra Elite 3

We called the Jabra Elite 3 buds “the new standard for affordable wireless earbuds” in our review last year and right now they’re back down to $50 — that’s just $3 more than their lowest ever and an impressive $30 discount off the MSRP. While they’re not going to compete with premium offerings, say from Bose or Sennheiser they’re an impressive set of budget buds. 

They’ll pair with iOS or Android devices and have a compact design that’s comfortable in the ear. Their IP55 water resistance is perfect for working out and the on-board controls are reliable push buttons (as opposed to touch panels). There’s no ANC or wireless charging and, again, the sound can’t compare to premium versions, but if you’re looking for a low cost pair of earbuds that will deliver admirable sound quality, these might be your new set. 

Buy Jabra Elite 3 at Amazon – $50

Anker 622 portable wireless battery pack

No one likes running out of juice, and a wall charger isn’t always around, which makes Anker’s 622 a great backup for iPhone users. This week, the price dropped to $45 which is 25 percent off the MSRP and the lowest we’ve seen it. The portable battery pack delivers wireless charging with magnets that align with the iPhone 12, 13 and the new iPhone 14. 

In our test, we found a fully charged Anker 622 charged an iPhone 13 from empty to about 80 percent in just a few hours. What’s more is you can use your phone while it charges. With the on-board, fold-out kickstand you can even prop up your iPhone (landscape or portrait) and watch your IG Reels hands-free.  

Note that just the grey and blue versions are at this price point right now, but it’s a nice price for an extra charge on your phone, no matter where you are. 

Buy Anker 622 at Amazon – $45

Blink Mini cameras

Amazon just took 54 percent off a two-pack of their Blink Mini indoor security cameras, lowering them to $30 for the pair. That’s the same low they hit during Prime Day a few weeks ago, which means if you want to add cameras to your smart home set up, now might be the time. T

The Blink cameras take clear and sharp 1080p images and offer the ability to see, hear and talk to whatever or whomever moves into view. They’re motion activated and pair up with your Alexa-enabled smartphone or other Alexa home devices (like the Echo Shows, above). This particular set is wired, so you won’t have to swap out batteries, but you’ll need to factor in wall-outlet access when setting them up. 

Rather see what’s going on outside your home? The Blink Outdoor cameras are also on sale, with a single camera going for $60 (40 percent off) and a three-pack coming in at $125 (half price). These happen to be our current favorite wireless security cameras, even when they’re full price. The cams also pair up with Alexa and can be mounted anywhere there’s something to attach them to, even somewhere they’ll get rained on.  

Buy Blink Mini 2-pack at Amazon – $30

JBL Flip 5 bluetooth speaker 

All Hallow’s Eve doesn’t get the same love, sale-wise, as other holidays do, but JBL has decided the right way to celebrate spookiness is with a Halloween Sale on a bunch of their earlier model speakers and headphones. We named the Flip 6 a top pick for portable Bluetooth speakers in 2022. The JBL Flip 5 is the previous year’s model, but still delivers 12 hours of playtime and a IPX7 water-resistance rating that can handle a dip in three feet of water. During the sale, the Flip 5 is 46 percent off, bringing it down to $70, which is a pretty decent price for high-output sound packed up in a fairly rugged case that can go anywhere you do. 

Buy JBL Flip 5 at JBL – $70

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE gaming laptop

When the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE debuted, we gave it an 84, calling it a refined gaming notebook that “delivers all the power you’d want from a large gaming notebook” — without any unnecessary bling. Amazon is offering the Triton 500 SE at a $500 discount, which is about $60 lower than we’ve ever seen it and definitely the lowest it’s dipped since coming out in April of this year. 

The large, 16-inch screen delivers smooth and gorgeous graphics, thanks to the inclusion of Intel’s 12th-gen Core i9 processor and NVIDIA’s latest RTX 3080 Ti GPU. Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar particularly liked the Triton’s performance, noting that it was often on par with the more expensive Razer Blade. He also liked the fact that the laptop could easily transition from gaming den to an office meeting since its clean metallic design is free of any flashy (or downright obnoxious) decoration. 

While the keyboard and trackpad weren’t the best, and the speakers sounded a little tinny, that may not be an issue if you’re planning on plugging in peripherals. The “bag bundle” deal comes with an unassuming black slip case, but the real draw is the $500-savings on a high-performance gaming laptop.  

Buy Acer Predator Triton 500 SE at Amazon – $2,5000

Xbox and PlayStation Halloween game sales

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include something for the kiddos (and the kiddos at heart) by mentioning two Halloween sales on older, dark, creepy, gory or otherwise holiday-appropriate game titles. Both Playstation and Xbox are running sales with discounts up to 80 percent on titles like Witcher 3 (80 percent off at XBOX), Resident Evil 3 (70 percent off at PS) and Dying Light 2 (40 percent off, both stores). 

Shop the Halloween Sale at XBOXShop the Halloween Sale at PlayStation

Apple MacBook Air M2

We called Apple’s latest MacBook Air “near-perfect” in our review back in July when the ultraportable laptop came out. It remains one of the best general-purpose laptops we’ve tried and right now Amazon has it for $1,049 a savings of $150 over the list price. 

We were particularly impressed with the overall lightness of the Air, weighing just 2.7 pounds. It’s also much more balanced that previous models as Apple’s done away with the wedge shape and gone for a uniform thickness. The screen is beautiful, the speakers are great and the performance of the M2 chip makes the laptop plenty speedy. 

The battery lasted over 16 hours in our tests — more than enough for a full work day plus a streaming unwind afterwards. This is the 256GB configuration, which should be fine for most use cases, as long as you’re not trying to edit huge video files on a regular basis. The discount only applies to the midnight and silver colorways, but if didn’t necessarily have your heart set on the starlight hue, you can nab this all-purpose workhorse for a sweet discount.   

Buy Apple MacBook Air M2 at Amazon – $1,049

Sonos home theater bundles

Sonos just launched a 20-percent-off sale covering bundles of their soundbars, speakers and subwoofers. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading the sound from your smart TV to something a little more room-filling, this is worth checking out. 

We’re big Sonos fans, giving 85+ scores to both the Arc and the Beam in our hands-on reviews. Both of those are covered in different configurations during the bundle sale. Here’s a fuller breakdown of what’s on offer:   

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) + 2x Sonos One SL for $678, down from $847

Sonos Arc + 2x Sonos One SL for $1,038, down from $1,297

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) for $958, down from $1,198

Sonos Arc + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) for $1,318, down from $1,648

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) + 2x Sonos One SL for $1,277, down from $1,596

Sonos Arc + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) + 2x Sonos One SL for $1,637, down from $2,046

Shop Sonos home entertainment bundles

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

 

Twitter isn’t about to rush into big content policy changes now that Elon Musk owns the company. Musk has announced that the social network will form a moderation council with members holding “widely diverse viewpoints.” There won’t be any “major” content decisions or ban reversals until that council meets, the entrepreneur says.

Musk hasn’t named council members or provided a timeline for the council’s creation. We’ve asked Twitter if it can comment on the strategy or provide additional details, and we’ll let you know if we hear more.

The Tesla chief has vowed to make substantial changes to Twitter’s moderation policy, such as relaxing the overall rules and limiting permanent bans on people like Donald Trump. However, the council plans suggest Musk could take some time to implement a new approach, and may delegate at least some of the responsibility. He recently tried to reassure advertisers that Twitter won’t become a “free-for-all hellscape” where ads run alongside horrific posts.

This isn’t to say Musk is avoiding all swift decisions. He has already fired multiple executives, including policy head Vijaya Gadde. Musk reportedly informed rank-and-file staff that he won’t lay off as many people as feared, but he’s still expected to cut jobs in relatively short order. Tesla engineers are believed to be helping with a code review that could lead to technical revisions.

If and when the council arrives, critics will be watching it closely. Conservatives have long accused Twitter of silencing right-wing viewpoints, and have gone so far as to enact state laws that force social networks to carry more content. Others, however, have rejected the claims and contended that strong moderation is necessary to prevent hate speech and misinformation from gaining traction. A moderation panel theoretically addresses both sides of the debate, but its effectiveness is far from established at this stage.

 

Telegram and its users are looking into ways to make more money from the platform. One method users have tried is using third-party payment bots to sell paid individual posts on their channels. However, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov says the company had to shut down paid posts on iOS due to a complaint from Apple.

Durov said it “was great” that creators were receiving nearly the full sum of what their fans or subscribers paid for one of their posts. “Unfortunately, we received word from Apple that they were not happy with content creators monetizing their efforts without paying a 30 percent tax to Apple,” he wrote. “Since Apple has complete control over its ecosystem, we had no alternative but to disable such paid posts on iOS devices.”

The “30 percent tax” refers to the cut that Apple takes from in-app payments and app purchases. The company’s App Store fees have been the target of criticism from many corners, including news publishers, Spotify and, perhaps most famously, Epic Games.

Durov took a swipe at Apple, claiming it was a monopoly that “abuses its market dominance at the expense of millions of users who are trying to monetize their own content.” He expressed hope that regulators in various jurisdictions will take action “before Apple destroys more dreams and crushes more entrepreneurs.”

The Telegram CEO added that his team is working on ways to provide creators with easy-to-use options to make money from their content. He aims to help them do so “outside of Apple’s restrictive ecosystem.”

Telegram introduced paid features in June with a $5 per month Premium subscription. That opens up larger file upload sizes, faster downloads, the ability to follow many more channels and the option to pin chats. While the company itself hasn’t embraced paid posts as yet, it’s intriguing to see creators trying to find their own ways of making money from Telegram — even if Apple isn’t too happy about it.

 

Sonos has launched a new sale that discounts various bundles of the company’s smart soundbars, speakers, and subwoofers. All of the offers are still on the expensive side — the cheapest bundle starts at $678, and relatively affordable Sonos devices like the Ray soundbar or Sub Mini subwoofer aren’t included. Still, discounts of any sort on Sonos speakers are uncommon, and the bundles here take roughly 20 percent off several home theater devices we recommend, including the high-end Sonos Arc and compact Sonos Beam soundbars, the latest Sonos Sub subwoofer, and the Sonos One SL surround speaker.

Shop Sonos home theater bundles at Sonos

Here’s a list of the bundles on sale:

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) + 2x Sonos One SL for $678, down from $847

Sonos Arc + 2x Sonos One SL for $1,038, down from $1,297

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) for $958, down from $1,198

Sonos Arc + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) for $1,318, down from $1,648

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) + 2x Sonos One SL for $1,277, down from $1,596

Sonos Arc + Sonos Sub (Gen 3) + 2x Sonos One SL for $1,637, down from $2,046

The first-gen Sonos Beam is also down to $299 in white, which is a $100 discount, though that soundbar lacks Dolby Atmos support compared to the $449 second-gen model.

It’s worth noting that Sonos hiked prices on most of its devices last year, and if you aren’t looking for a whole-home audio setup, there are plenty other soundbars we like on both the premium and budget ends of the market that don’t try to lock you into one family of devices. Port selection on Sonos devices is typically limited as well, and none of the devices on sale here support Bluetooth audio. But if you can afford the premium, Sonos speakers still have the benefit of working easily in tandem, with simple setup processes, a polished universal control app, wide streaming service support, room calibration (albeit with iOS devices only), and Apple AirPlay functionality. 

We’ve also found the Arc, Beam, Sub, and One SL to offer quality sound for their intended audiences. We gave the top-end Arc and midrange Beam review scores of 85 and 88, respectively; both technically support Atmos, though the Arc is a bigger 5.0.2-channel bar that will better fill a large room compared to the shorter 5.0-channel Beam. The Sub is undeniably expensive but delivers powerful bass, while the One SL is just the excellent Sonos One without built-in microphones (which isn’t as much of a problem for smart assistant support when paired with a mic-enabled soundbar). 

With Black Friday around the corner, there’s always a chance we’ll see more deals before the end of the year. But if you’re been thinking of jumping headfirst into a new premium home theater setup, these discounts should lighten the load at least somewhat. If any of the offers above run dry, note that many are also available at B&H and Adorama.

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

 

Apple can rarely leave well enough alone. A year ago, I thought each of the four tablets in the iPad lineup was differentiated well from the others, and it was fairly easy to see what features you got as things got more expensive. The new 10th-generation iPad throws a wrench in things, though. It’s a complete redesign from last year’s model that cribs heavily from the iPad Air while also bringing a handful of compromises to upsell potential customers on Apple’s more expensive tablets.

But the new iPad also contains a few puzzling decisions and a $120 price hike — the base model now costs $449. Muddying the waters further, last year’s iPad remains available at $329. And while I think the improvements Apple made to the 10th-generation iPad are significant, I’m not sure how many people in the market for an inexpensive tablet will find these changes worth their cash.

Unlike last year’s iPad, which looked essentially identical to the basic tablet Apple has been selling since 2017, this year’s model has been completely redesigned. The Home button is gone, Touch ID has moved to the lock button, the bezels are smaller, the display is bigger, the edges are squared off and the front-facing camera has been moved to the iPad’s landscape edge. It’s a significant set of changes — but only if you haven’t seen an iPad Pro or Air in recent years. Apple has been making tablets with most of these design elements since 2018, so it’s not exactly a fresh look. While it’s slightly thicker and larger than the iPad Air I reviewed earlier this year, it feels essentially identical in the hand, with the exact same size screen.

A14

Inside the iPad is an A14 Bionic chip (first seen in 2020’s iPhone 12 lineup), a modest update over the A13 in last year’s model. It’s a strong performer, but it wasn’t all that slow to begin with. Of course, if you’re going to raise the price, you had better increase the performance. My modest work needs (Slack, Safari, Google Docs, Todoist, Gmail, etc.) didn’t tax the iPad in the least. Nor did any of the Apple Arcade games I played, and more advanced tasks like editing RAW photos in Lightroom or transcoding and exporting 4K video clips in 1080p were similarly smooth. Sure, the A14 trails the M1 in the iPad Air and the M2 in the new iPad Pro, but the vast majority of iPad buyers will be plenty happy.

There is one catch with the A14: this iPad can’t use the new Stage Manager multitasking and window-management features that are in iPadOS 16, as they’re limited to iPad Pro models from 2018 and later or the M1-powered iPad Air.

As for battery life, Apple continues to meet or exceed its 10-hour estimate it provides for every iPad. This model lasted 11 hours and 45 minutes while playing back a movie purchased from the iTunes Store. I didn’t quite hit 10 hours when using the iPad and its keyboard for work all day long, but it was close enough that I’m not complaining. Of course, more intensive tasks like gaming or editing video will reduce that time significantly.

Screen

Compared to last year’s iPad, the screen here is definitely bigger, but not better in any measurable way. It’s the same 10.9 inches as the iPad Air (up from 10.2 inches), and that does make working with multiple apps feel a bit less cramped. And a bigger screen in a body that’s essentially the same size is always a nice improvement. But, this display still lacks a lot of the niceties you’ll find on the Air. Specifically, the display isn’t laminated to the front glass, it’s missing an anti reflective coating and it doesn’t support the P3 wide color gamut.

These missing features were easier to ignore when it cost $329, but this new iPad only costs $150 less than the Air. That’s not to say this display is bad, but it’s clearly the worst in the iPad lineup — and its deficiencies are a lot more glaring at a higher price. I noticed the air gap between the screen and cover glass less than I expected, but it was a lot more noticeable when I held the iPad in my hands and moved compared to using it with the Magic Keyboard Folio.

Keyboard

Speaking of the keyboard, the new iPad has its own redesigned accessory here. The Magic Keyboard Folio is two separate pieces: a back that magnetically attaches and has a kickstand, and a keyboard that attaches to the side of the iPad. It then uses the Smart Connector located on its edge to sync and power the keyboard.

The folio design has one big deficiency compared to the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air and Pro. That keyboard is much better for lap typing. The folio, on the other hand, is not nearly as stable on your lap. Fortunately, the typing experience itself is much better than the old Smart Keyboard Cover that works with last year’s iPad. These keys have 1mm of travel, there’s a 14-key function row up top (the first Apple-made iPad keyboard to offer them) and the trackpad is large and responsive. It’s even bigger than the trackpad on the more expensive Magic Keyboard.

While I don’t care to use a folio-style keyboard on my lap, it was totally fine for long typing sessions at my desk. And the bigger trackpad and function keys are major improvements that I hope to see implemented on other iPad keyboards soon.

The elephant in the room is that this keyboard costs a truly painful $250; this means that the basic iPad with 64GB of storage and this Magic Keyboard Folio would cost $700. That’s a wild amount of money, and you could get an iPad Air and the second-generation Apple Pencil for just a little bit more, or pick up a solid Windows laptop if you’re going to be doing a lot of typing.

Cameras

Apple also made some significant improvements to the camera system on the new iPad. It now has the same 12-megapixel back camera as the Air. It’s not the best camera out there; as I always say, chances are good the camera on the phone in your pocket is better. But for anyone who wants to shoot video, it now offers 4K capture while last year’s model maxed out at 1080p.

More significant is the front-facing camera. Oddly enough, it’s exactly the same as last year’s – with one notable exception. Apple finally put the front-facing camera on the landscape edge of the iPad, which means your face will actually be centered if you’re taking a video call with the iPad in its keyboard folio (or just propped up with the kickstand). Amazingly, this iPad is the only one with this feature. The iPad Pro, the best tablet Apple sells, still has its camera on the portrait edge. Basic iPad buyers win out here.

Pencil

As you have already likely noticed, Apple has made some compromises to keep this iPad from infringing too much upon the Air and Pro. Nowhere is that more obvious than the fact that this tablet still uses the first-generation Apple Pencil, introduced way back in 2015. While the original Pencil is still a capable tool for drawing and note-taking, it has a number of issues. It has a built-in Lightning connector on the back; to charge it, you literally plug it into the Lightning port on your iPad (or use a dongle to connect it to a cable). It’s a very awkward setup, compounded by the fact that you can easily lose the cap that covers the charging end of the Pencil. It’s also a perfect circle, which means it rolls away easily, and there’s nowhere to store the Pencil on the iPad itself when you’re not using it.

All these problems persist. But now, the iPad uses USB-C for charging – which means there’s no Lightning port to plug the Pencil in for charging. Instead, you have to attach the Pencil to a new Lightning to USB-C adapter, plug that mess into a USB-C cable, and then plug that into your iPad. It goes without saying, but: this is far from a good experience. Yes, it’s good that people who have an original Apple Pencil can still use it, but the much-improved second-generation model is the future. It has a flat edge that snaps magnetically onto the side of the iPad for charging and storage, solving all the problems I outlined.

Every other iPad Apple sells (besides last year’s budget model) uses this accessory now, making this an obvious case of upsell. The second-generation Pencil is so superior to this setup that I would recommend anyone who is interested in using the Apple Pencil just buy the iPad Air instead. For $150 you get a more powerful processor, a significantly better Pencil experience, and a better screen.

iPadOS 16

iPadOS 16 was just released a few days ago, but I’ve been dabbling with it in beta for months. It’s mostly made of of tweaks that came to iOS 16 a month ago, with features like unsending and editing messages, undo send and scheduling messages in Mail, an iCloud Photo Library you can share with your family members, extensive collaboration features, the ability to copy text straight from a video and a number of other features we’ve covered in the past.

None of these things fundamentally change the experience of using an iPad, but there are still a number of useful features here. Of course, the one thing that does change the iPad experience is Stage Manager, the new multi-tasking and windowing system. But that’s only available on iPads with the M1 or M2 chip (as well as a few older iPad Pro models). As such, this new iPad is limited to the same Split Screen and Slide Over multitasking capabilities Apple has offered for years now. Given the smaller screen and the fact that Stage Manager is going through some growing pains, this likely won’t be a huge loss for most people.

How does it fit?

In a vacuum, the new iPad is an obvious improvement over its predecessor in a number of ways. By that measure, it’s probably worth the extra cash Apple is asking for it. A bigger screen, better cameras, a more powerful chip and a more modern design are all solid, and in some cases badly needed updates.

But putting it in context with the rest of Apple’s iPad lineup makes it a harder sell. If you have an older iPad, you’ll need new accessories, and both the iPad and keyboard folio cost more than older options. And Apple didn’t upgrade the Pencil, which isn’t bad if you already have one — but it’s going to have to cut the cord on the old one at some point, and this would have been a smart time to do so.

If you want the basic iPad experience and don’t want to spend too much money, last year’s model is still easy to recommend. And if you’re an artist who wants to make extensive use of the Apple Pencil, you’re better off saving up for the iPad Air or Pro.

This iPad is more like an “Air lite,” and it’s a common strategy for the company. In 2020, Apple took the iPad Pro design and put it in the iPad Air and subsequently bumped the price. Now Apple is doing that again, taking the Air design, putting it in the base model, and making it more expensive. My hope is that within a year or two, Apple adds support for the second-generation Pencil to this model and cuts the price below $400 again. That would make for an iPad that is easy to recommend. But for now, despite a number of improvements, this iPad is sandwiched between two models that probably make more sense for most buyers.

 

Twitter no longer lets you charge users to listen to live Spaces conversations. The social media heavyweight tells The Information in a statement that it has indefinitely “paused” its Ticketed Spaces test. The move will let Twitter concentrate on improving the “core Spaces experience,” the company says. It’s not clear how many eligible hosts were using the service.

The company started public testing of Ticketed Spaces in August last year, three months after it unveiled the feature. Effectively, it was a way for creators to put audio chats behind a paywall. An industry figure could hold a TED-style talk from home, while a star could hold discussions with their most loyal fans. Notably, Twitter’s potential profit was relatively low — it would take just a 3 percent cut from revenue below $50,000, and only demand 20 percent beyond that. While that fee include Apple and Google payouts, it still meant that hosts would take most of the revenue.

This isn’t to say Twitter is shying away from Spaces in general. The company is experimenting with support for live chats inside Communities, and is working on projects like themed stations and daily digests. However, the end to Ticketed Spaces comes as social audio pioneer Clubhouse (the inspiration for Spaces) has been rethinking its strategy and laying off staff. The live voice chat field just isn’t as hot as it was during the early pandemic, and that could make it harder to attract paying users.

What happens next isn’t clear. While the discontinuation of Ticketed Spaces isn’t connected to Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, the incoming leader has promised sweeping changes to the company as he tries to make it a “town square” while boosting its bottom line. We wouldn’t expect paid chats to come back, but they’re not necessarily dead.