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2025-02-07 18:20:53| TRENDWATCHING.COM

Fusing a design icon, classical literature and modern technology, BIC Brazil found an ingenious way to showcase the iconic Cristal ballpoint's durability. To celebrate the pen's 75th anniversary, the French manufacturer used a robotic arm to transcribe the entirety of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet using just one Cristal. The arm wrote for 63 continuous hours and still had ink to spare.Based on the sole surviving manuscript in Shakespeare's handwriting, BIC's team used AI to analyze the script and create over 20 versions of the bard's scrawl before landing on an authentic representation. The resulting work, a 212-page book, was donated to the Real Gabinete Portugus de Leitura in Rio de Janeiro.By transcribing one of the world's most enduring love stories with its equally enduring pen, BIC makes a compelling case for the Cristal's legacy. Besides reminding viewers of how good blue ink looks on paper, the experiment explores the role of automation in creative processes particularly relevant as businesses navigate the balance between embracing advancements in AI and maintaining a human touch.

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 18:20:02| Engadget

The Trump administration has ordered states to stop a program to build fast EV chargers on highways throughout the country, according to a memo released by the Federal Highway Administration. The letter informs state transportation directors, who are in charge of instituting the program, that any plans approved by the Biden administration are now suspended until new guidance is issued. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program was approved by Congress as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It was intended to fill gaps in Americas EV charging network and was supported by $5 billion in grants. President Trump has long decried the program and regularly lied about the specifics during the 2024 campaign. The infrastructure law authorized $5B over 5 years for NEVI, a program that funds states to build fast EV charging stations. Buttigieg & DOE ensured this program set high quality standards.So far, 50 stations (green) are now open & 903 (purple) are underway#HappyBirthdayPete pic.twitter.com/KlgXMkMYKN Nerdy Pursuit (@nerdypursuit) January 20, 2025 To that end, Trump would often suggest that the Biden administration spent $9 billion to build eight EV charging stations. Sometimes he would lower the figure to just eight chargers. In reality, 55 charging stations have been built so far, according to data provided by The Washington Post. Just over $2 billion has been allocated to states, and much of it hasnt been spent yet. The mandate, as outlined in the new memo, will fulfill the financial obligations of NEVI, so long as a state already has a finalized contract with a charging company. Any unfinished contracts will likely be put on indefinite hold. Can an organization like the FHA unilaterally put the kibosh on a program that was approved by Congress? The legality here is unclear, but Loren McDonald, chief analyst at the EV charging analytics firm Paren, said I dont believe FHWA has the authority to do this. Ryan Gallentine, managing director at the national business association Advanced Energy United, said that states are under no obligation to stop these projects based solely on this announcement. He went on to call on state leaders to continue executing this program until new guidance is finalized. This move is also expected to be challenged in court. Im assuming the lawsuits from states will start soon, and this will go to court and Congress, McDonald said. But the Trump administration will succeed in just causing havoc and slowing things down for a while. Trump has been chipping away at EV policies since his first day in office. He issued an executive order that eliminated Bidens target to transition half of the countrys vehicles to EVs by 2030. Its expected that he will soon go after the federal tax credit for electric vehicles. But wont this hurt Trumps bestie Elon Musk? Tesla, after all, was one of the largest recipients of those NEVI grants. Its worth remembering that this mandate doesnt rollback any contracts that have already been finalized. In other words, Musk is probably perfectly happy with the $31 million his company already snagged from the government. He has also long-approved of the proposed elimination of the federal tax credit, likely because it would harm competitors much more than Tesla.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/trump-administration-stops-nationwide-ev-charging-program-172002768.html?src=rss

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 18:02:49| Engadget

The latest edition of our weekly deal roundup includes a range of discounts on Apple's AirPods. The standard AirPods 4 are down to $100, which ties their lowest price to date, while ANC version of those earbuds and the higher-end AirPods Pro 2 are cheaper than usual at $149 and $169, respectively. If you don't need new headphones, we're also seeing discounts on Peacock and Apple Music subscriptions, our favorite robot vacuum and microSD card for those on a budget, Sonos speakers and more. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.   Spotlight deal The rest of the best tech deals this week Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $169 at Amazon ($80 off MSRP): If you're willing to pay extra and don't mind a traditional in-ear design, the AirPods Pro 2 are still the best wireless earphones Apple makes and our favorite pair for iPhone owners overall. They have the same set of Apple-friendly features noted above, but add stronger ANC, a more secure fit, fuller sound (thanks to that in-ear design), an hour or two of extra battery life and onboard volume controls. As of last fall, they can also function as an FDA-approved hearing aid. That said, if you aren't tethered to the Apple ecosystem, there are other pairs with superior noise cancellation, battery life and audio quality out there. This discount is $15 more than the all-time low we saw around Black Friday, but it's a good $20 to $30 below the pair's typical street price and $80 less than buying from Apple directly. Also at Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Peacock Premium (1-year) for $30 at Peacock ($50 off, new and returning users only): New and returning subscribers can grab a year of Peacock's ad-supported plan for $30 through Feburary 18. (Yes, it's called "Premium" even though it has ads.) If you're not a current subscriber and don't see the discount, use the code WINTERSAVINGS at checkout. NBCUniversal ran a similar offer around Black Friday that dropped the subscription to $20, but this is still $50 off the annual plan's usual price. While we wouldn't call Peacock essential, it should be worth checking out if you're big into Premier League soccer, WWE live events or most shows from NBC and Bravo The Office and Law and Order included. The Samsung Evo Select. (The 1TB model is on sale today, not the 512GB model pictured here.) Jeff Dunn / Engadget Samsung Evo Select (1TB) microSD card for $70 at Amazon ($10 off): The Evo Select is the budget pick in our guide to the best microSD cards: It's certainly not the fastest model we've tested, but it's quick enough if you just want to boost the storage of a Nintendo Switch or Android tablet on the cheap without feeling totally bogged down. Just don't expect it to be all that great for large file transfers. This deal matches the all-time low for the extra-spacious 1TB model. Also at Samsung and B&H. Sonos Era 100 for $199 at Sonos ($50 off): To address the elephant in the room, no, Sonos is not doing well right now. A redesign of the company's control app last May has been a colossal failure, eventually leading to the departure of the audio brand's CEO and chief product officer last month and sizable layoffs just this week. It's hard to get jazzed about discounts with all of that in mind, but this is a deal roundup, and we still do recommend much of firm's audio gear in our various buying guides, so we're obligated to mention that the company is still running a sale on its soundbars and home speakers through February 9. One highlight is the Sonos Era 100 for $199, a $50 discount that ties the lowest price we've seen. This is the top midrange pick in our guide to the best smart speakers: While the software situation is still iffy, the hardware still delivers impressively clean and balanced sound for its size. If you just want a single speaker for enjoying music at home, it remains a decent value at less than $200. Also at Amazon, Walmart, B&H and others. The Sonos Era 100. Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget $100 Apple Gift Card + $10 Best Buy Gift Card for $100 at Best Buy ($10 off): If you buy a $100 Apple gift card at Best Buy, the retailer will throw in a bonus $10 gift card to its own store for no extra cost. Both cards will be emailed to you digitally. For the unfamiliar, you can apply an Apple gift card to just about anything Apple makes, be it a new iPhone, an Apple TV+ subscription or purchases on the App Store. If you're looking to grab something along those lines and know you'll shop at Best Buy again anyway, it's hard to complain about a bit of bonus money.  Apple Music (6-month) for $3 at Apple ($52 off, new subscribers and select devices only): Speaking of Apple services, the company is running a promotion that doles out six months of Apple Music for $3 total. Normally, a solo subscription costs $11 per month after a 30-day free trial, or a three-month trial if you've recently bought an Apple device. This newest promo comes with a few caveats, though: You must be new to Apple Music, not eligible for the aforementioned three-month trial and able to redeem the offer through an iPhone, iPad or Mac. If you meet all of that criteria, however, this is a nice way to get a half-year of music streaming for cheap. We praise Apple Music in our guide to the best music streaming services for its lossless streaming quality, ease of use with Apple devices and emphasis on letting actual people introduce you to new music. Apple says this deal will run through February 27. Just be aware that your subscription will be set to auto-renew until you cancel. The iRobot Roomba Vac Essential. iRobot iRobot Roomba Vac Essential (Q0120) for $130 at Amazon ($120 off): The Roomba Vac Essential is the top pick in our guide to the best budget robot vacuums. It's a basic entry-level model, as it navigates semi-randomly instead of mapping set paths and will still bonk into furniture every now and then. But it cleans well enough, especially on hard floors, and we've found it easy to set up and control through Roomba's mobile app. If you're on a budget and live in a smaller place that isn't inundated with pet hair, you could do much worse. This discount is the lowest price we've tracked and a $20 drop from the robovac's typical going rate in recent months. Also at Best Buy, Target and others. Anker 713 USB-C Charger for $20 at Amazon ($20 off): The Anker 713 Charger is a compact wall charger with one USB-C port that can deliver up to 45W of power. It's not the newest or fastest model out there, but it's easy to tuck in a bag and powerful enough to charge many modern smartphones and tablets at full speed. This discount matches the lowest price we've seen and takes about $8 off the device's common street price. Also at Anker. If you need something faster with a couple more ports, the 67W Anker Prime charger is also on sale for a low of $36. The Razer Viper V3 Pro. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Razer Viper V3 Pro for $145 at Amazon ($15 off): It's not a massive discount, but this $15 drop marks the lowest price we've seen for the Viper V3 Pro, which tops our guide to the best gaming mice. This is very much a niche device, aimed squarely at those who take competitive PC games seriously, but its 54-gram design is super lightweight, consistently responsive and comfortable for a wide range of grip types and hand sizes. Just don't expect it to keep you from getting owned in Counter-Strike 2 or Marvel Rivals on its own. Also at Best Buy. LG B4 OLED TV (48") for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off): This ties the lowest price we've seen for the 48-inch LG B4, which is the entry-level model in LG's 2024 OLED lineup. While it's not as bright or color-rich as some higher-end alternatives, it still offers the essential perks of any good OLED TV: superb contrast with deep black tones, clear motion, wide viewing angles and the like. It's also a nice value for gaming, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 120Hz. It's just better off in a darker room, and this particular model is relatively small. If you're curious about what other TV deals are available ahead of the Super Bowl, note that we have a separate roundup just for those. 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/deals/the-apple-airpods-4-hit-an-all-time-low-of-100-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-170248131.html?src=rss

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 17:06:01| Engadget

Here's another chance to get a discount on Amazon's first ereader with a color display. The Kindle Colorsoft has dropped back down to $230. That's $50, or 18 percent, off. The deal brings the Kindle Colorsoft back down to a record low price. We saw the Kindle Colorsoft hit $230 for the first time in January. However, that discount was only available to Prime subscribers. There's no such restriction this time around, as you don't need a membership to take advantage of this deal. There's one additional perk here: the Colorsoft comes with three free months of access to Kindle Unlimited. As such, you'll have access to more than 4 million ebooks during that time. After the free access period is over, your Kindle Unlimited access will automatically renew. The service costs $12 per month, so be sure to cancel before your three-month freebie expires if you don't want to pay for it. A number of early Kindle Colorsofts, including our initial review unit, developed a yellow bar across the bottom. However, Amazon said it was resolving the issue, and it offered refunds and replacements to those affected. Although we haven't encountered the problem on our replacement, we have removed the score from our review until we've tested the ereader for a longer period of time and made sure the issue doesn't re-occur. That said, we appreciate the quick load times and page turns of the Kindle Colorsoft. The auto-adjusting front light is a plus, while it was very welcome to see that, by default, this model does not have ads on the lock screen. A pinch-to-zoom feature is also handy, especially when it comes to reading graphic novels. The ereader has 32GB of built-in storage and it supports Audible audiobooks. It should run for up to weight weeks on a single charge. You can recharge the battery wirelessly or via USB-C. The big selling point is, of course, the color screen. The Colorsoft has a seven-inch display with a 300 pixel-per-inch (ppi) density for black-and-white material and 150 ppi for color content. Last but not least, the ereader has an IPX8 rating, meaning it can withstand immersion in up to two meters of freshwater for up to 60 minutes and 0.25 meters of seawater for three minutes, per Amazon. As such, you won't have to worry too much about getting the Colorsoft wet when you take it to the pool or beach. 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/deals/the-kindle-colorsoft-is-back-on-sale-for-50-off-160601607.html?src=rss

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 16:30:37| Engadget

When Weber launched a smart grilling platform, a connected grilling hub and its first pellet grill in 2020, the companys new era hit a few speedbumps. The Weber Connect technology was a solid foundation for aspiring outdoor cooks at any skill level, but the SmokeFire grill suffered from big temperature fluctuations, pellet feeding issues and was prone to grease fires. Those problems led to inconsistent performance for a lot of people. In 2024, the company debuted an all-new model as it sought to move past the troubles of its first. The Searwood ($899 and up) offers a new design with a reworked internal construction for a more direct auger path for those pellets. Its still a smart grill, so Weber Connect is onboard once again. But the biggest changes are a lower price and a manual mode that allows you to cook with the lid open without sacrificing performance. The design of the Weber Searwood While the Searwood has a similar overall barrel shape to the SmokeFire, there are some notable changes. First, the pellet hopper was moved from the back to the side, with the new location being what a lot of the competition offers. This simplifies the auger path too, which should remedy some of the problems users encountered on the previous version. The display and controller is now on the front edge of the grill instead of toward the back which makes for easier access. The hopper was relocated where the small shelf was, but you can use the top of the pellet holder to rest any tools or pans. Another big change on the Searwood is its legs and wheels. Where the SmokeFire had sturdy legs with durable casters on each one, this version has two regular wheels on one end and just legs on the other. This makes the Searwood more difficult to move, and it means youll have to pick up one end to relocate it. All the heavy stuff is on the wheeled side, so this isnt a big lift, but the lack of casters means youll need more room to maneuver. Billy Steele for Engadget The new wheels are entirely plastic and the legs arent as robust as what was on the SmokeFire. Perhaps this is one area where Weber felt it could save money to lower the price of Searwood. If youre not moving the grill a lot, this probably wont be a concern, but the lack of quality here stood out to me. You do gain a large shelf under the grill, which is something the SmokeFire didnt offer. Going back to the controller and display, Weber did an excellent job with the update there. The numbers are bolder and easier to read from a distance and the single-knob controls are simple to use. The display can show you set temperature, actual temperature, probe temperature and timers, plus there are mode indicators and a fuel gauge that keeps tabs on pellets. All around, the new display and controller is an upgrade over what was on the SmokeFire. Inside, rows of the companys Flavorizer bars were replaced with a single, larger deflector that shields the fire pot from grease and food debris. All of that waste and pellet dust can be scraped to the bottom of the grill for easy removal via the slide-out pan underneath. Youll still probably want to use a shop vac for deep cleaning, but you can get rid of a lot of waste with just a scraper. Cooking with the Weber Searwood Billy Steele for Engadget Like all pellet grills, the Searwood has a wide temperature range that allows you to use it for slow smoking and quick searing. More specifically, those numbers go from 180-600 degrees Fahrenheit, so baking, roasting and more are also possible. I mostly use pellet grills for hands-off, low-and-slow barbeque of large cuts like brisket, pork shoulders and ribs. Thats where I focused most of my testing, although I made sure to give this grills open-lid feature a few trial runs. For slow smoking, the Searwood is a reliable machine, maintaining heat throughout the cook and recovering quickly each time I open the lid. That latter feature is thanks to the grills Rapid React system that also preheats the device in 15 minutes or less. The Searwood imparts lovely smoke flavor in various foods, but pork shoulders (Boston Butts) and our Thanksgiving turkey were my two favorites. My wife no longer allows me to cook our holiday bird any other way after I smoked it on a Searwood. Most pellet grills have a setting that allows you to enhance flavor with more smoke at certain temperatures. Weber calls this SmokeBoost, but it only works at 180 degrees. I wouldve liked for this to be available at any temperature under 225 degrees, like Traeger offers on its products, for some more versatility. Weber recommends that you use SmokeBoost at the beginning of your cook for extra smokiness before raising the temperature to your desired level. To be clear, the grill puts plenty of smoke into your food without this, so if the low starting temperature is off-putting, you certainl dont have to use SmokeBoost. Billy Steele for Engadget A big addition to the Searwood is the manual mode that allows you to use the grill with the lid open. This means you can use it for direct-flame searing or as a griddle, if you have the proper insert to do the latter. Unlike a lot of pellet grills, the Searwoods manual mode keeps fuel and fan speed constant with the lid up, so it can maintain output at times when other grills would pause. You just select a level of 1-10 corresponding to how hot you need to cook and the grill does the rest. This works well, but youll probably still want a charcoal kettle for live-fire searing in most cases. During my tests, I preferred to use the Searwood as a griddle rather than a sear machine. The Searwoods smart features come through a Wi-Fi connection to the Weber Connect app. This is the software the company debuted in 2020 when it first launched its smart grilling platform. However, Weber has significantly updated the app over the last few years and the current version offers a smooth experience. With Weber Connect, you can monitor temperatures and control the grill remotely, plus there are live graphs that plot out your progress, notifications to tell you when food is ready and theres a ton of recipes when you need some ideas. Weber Searwood accessories The degree to which you can customize a new grill is almost as important as its factory features. Weber has been providing add-ons via its Weber Crafted collection for a while now, and some of those items are compatible with the Searwood. Once you have the required frame kit, you can utilize a smaller griddle insert, dual-sided sear grate, pizza stone and grilling basket. My favorite accessories for this grill are the rotisserie and the full-size griddle insert for $130 and $149 respectively. If you need more shelf space, youll have to buy extra pieces. There are folding options that attach to both the front and side of the Searwood, and theyre both $75. Youll need to replace the side handle with the shelf if you go that route. The competition Billy Steele for Engadget At $899, the Searwood 600 is $100 cheaper than the SmokeFire EX4 was at launch. Like its predecessor, the Searwood comes in two sizes, with the larger XL 600 starting at $1,199. The SmokeFire is no longer available, but Weber just announced the Smoque and Smoque XL at $699 and $899, respectively, if you want alternatives from the same company. Those new grills have a simplified controller and other streamlined changes, but the overall design is similar to the Searwood. I expect to review the Smoque sometime this spring. Traeger recently announced its Woodridge lineup and the mid-level option in that trio is a solid alternative to the Searwood. The Woodridge Pro is more expensive than the Searwood 600 at $1,000, but its also a larger grill. The entry-level, $800 Woodridge is a workhorse that handles the basics without some of Traegers handy features. Jump to the Woodridge Pro and you get shelves, Super Smoke mode and a pellet sensor in the hopper. Wrap-up Dont call it a comeback, but Webers Searwood is a good rebound from the stumbles of the SmokeFire. The grill is definitely more reliable than its predecessor and most of the changes enhance the overall cooking experience. Manual mode is a nice bonus, as is the addition of a fuel sensor in the pellet hopper. My biggest gripe is the base, where I wish the company had gone with something sturdier like Traeger implemented on the base-model Woodridge. Still, the Searwood is a versatile smart grill without the headachs, and thats exactly what you want when youre spending precious time cooking outdoors. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/weber-searwood-review-second-times-the-charm-153037440.html?src=rss

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 16:00:41| Engadget

Spring cleaning (itll be here before we know it!) sure is easier when your faithful robot servant handles the floors. Wellbots has iRobots Roomba j9+ on sale for 46 percent off. The robovac typically costs a whopping $900, but you can use our exclusive code ENGAD415 at checkout to cut its price to $485, a record low. The Roomba j9+ has a three-stage cleaning system, multi-surface rubber brushes and suction that iRobot says is 100 percent stronger than its Combo i Series robovacs. Although this model doesnt mop like its more expensive sibling, the Combo j9+, it will suck up dirt and debris on your carpets and hard floors. Once you set it up, the vacuum creates a map of your home, letting you pinpoint the areas you want it to target. It also has a nifty feature called Dirt Detective that automatically figures out which rooms are the dirtiest and adjusts its suction and cleaning passes accordingly. The Roomba j9+ self-empties dirt into its charging dock, which has an advanced bag inside that stores up to 60 days of debris. That means less emptying for you compared to entry-level robovacs. iRobot Its PrecisionVision navigation system can steer around obstacles like shoes, socks, cords, toys and thankfully pet waste. If it somehow manages to run into an unfortunate present from your pooch, iRobot will replace your j9+ for free through its cleverly named P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise). The Roomba j9+ is compatible with all the major voice assistants: Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. So, you can bark at it to clean your kitchen while you kick back in your recliner. Not a bad way to spring-clean. To get the iRobot Roomba j9+ for the $485 sale price, be sure to use our exclusive coupon code ENGAD415. 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/deals/irobots-roomba-j9-is-over-400-off-right-now-150041303.html?src=rss

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 16:00:00| Marketing Profs - Concepts, Strategies, Articles and Commentaries

Catch up on select AI news and developments from the past week or so. Stay in the know. Read the full article at MarketingProfs

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 15:01:00| Engadget

Looking to upgrade to newer earbuds? The recently-released Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds are on sale via Wellbots for $189. Thats a discount of $40, which isnt bad for a product thats barely six months old. Just remember to pop in the code ENGAD40 at checkout. Thats right. This ones an exclusive. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 easily found a spot on our list of the best wireless earbuds. We appreciated the tiny, yet comfortable, design and the fantastic battery life. The earbuds get around eight hours of use per charge, but the included charging case allows for 30 hours of juice. We were complimentary to these earbuds in our official review, saying that the improved fit and sound quality alone are worth the upgrade. Speaking of sound quality, these buds produce booming bass, full mids and crisp highs. Your playlists are gonna sound great. The earbuds have also been built to work with Google Gemini, thanks to an integrated Tensor A1 chip. However, this integration works best when paired with a modern Google Pixel phone. Other techy features include active noise cancellation, multipoint Bluetooth, conversation detection and more. On the downside, the touch panel is extremely small, making it somewhat difficult to make adjustments on the fly. Luckily, theres an app for that kind of thing. The original price is on the higher side, but this sale alleviates a bit of that frustration. If $189 is still a bit too rich for your blood (no judgment), Wellbots is also selling a pair of the standard Google Pixel Buds for just $59. Just enter the code ENGAD30 at checkout. 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/deals/googles-pixel-buds-pro-2-are-40-off-right-now-140100404.html?src=rss

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 15:00:13| Engadget

OnePlus has been a bit up and down since it merged with Oppo back in 2021. It gained greater access to powerful components and partnerships with brands like Hasselblad, while its software and product lineup took a few steps back before finding its stride again. But now, three generations after the merger, OnePlus latest flagship phone the OnePlus 13 feels like a fantastic return to form. In some areas, the company is even pushing the limits of hardware and gadget design in ways that rivals from Samsung and Google arent. And with a starting price of $900, OnePlus has managed to undercut its closest competitor too, which makes this phone a great choice for anyone who cares more about getting hardware upgrades than fancy new AI tricks. Design and display: Peak brightness and style In a time when Apple, Google and Samsungs top phones all sport minor twists on practically the same formula, I love that OnePlus is doing its own thing. Instead of a completely boxy design, the OP13 has tapered edges that curve gently to meet its metal frame. You still get the companys signature Alert Slider which makes it a cinch to set your phones ringer to silent, vibrate or fully audible. But my favorite design feature is that if you opt for the Midnight Ocean or Artic Dawn colors, the phone comes with a micro-fiber vegan leather back. And in a world full of glass bricks, OnePlus organic upholstery is simply a joy to touch. This is the kind of handset Id feel sad to throw in a case. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Meanwhile, the OP13s 6.8-inch OLED panel dazzles thanks to bright, vivid colors and a silky 120Hz refresh rate. With a peak of up to 4,500 nits, it gets even brighter than other Android flagships including Samsungs new Galaxy S25 Ultra (2,600 nits). The one aesthetic choice Im still not sure about is the gigantic circular camera module on the back. Between its pearlescent finish and the four circles for its lenses and the flash/autofocus system, it almost looks like OnePlus smashed a chronograph watch into the rear of the phone. But maybe thats just me. Performance and software: So much memory The OnePlus 13 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip along with 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. However, unlike the processors used in Samsungs Galaxy S25 family, the chip in the OP13 doesnt feature any additional customizations or overclocking. This leads to benchmark results that are about five percent lower (9,267 for the OP13 vs 9,828 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra in Geekbench 6 multi-core). In the real world, though, the phone still feels blisteringly fast. Id even argue that due to the OP13s greater amount of memory, its a better choice for multitaskers or anyone who likes keeping a bunch of apps open in the background. Furthermore, over the past few years, OnePlus has refined Oxygen OS so that it feels smoother and more responsive than it did when it became a fork of Oppos ColorOS back in 2022. Sam Rutherford for Engadget On the AI front, OnePlus is keeping things refreshingly lowkey. The phone supports Google Gemini and Circle to Search for all your summarizing and question-asking needs. Theres also an improved search feature inside the phone itself that makes it a bit easier to find specific files and a smarter Notes app that uses machine learning to polish up, elaborate or condense quick thoughts. But thats about it aside from an AI-powered translation feature that arrived shortly after launch, which is generally competent but not especially novel or exciting. So while AI is definitely present, it isnt nearly as big of a focus as it is on the Galaxy S25 family, which isnt a bad thing. Cameras: Nearly top tier Sam Rutherford for Engadget The OnePlus 13 features a trio of 50-megapixel sensors for its main, ultra-wide and 3x telephoto lenses, plus a laser-detect autofocus system for increased sharpness. Altogether, its a solid package that can capture great-looking images at a variety of distances and viewing angles, with OnePlus adding things like its dual exposure Clear Burst tech to help make snapping fast-moving subjects a bit easier. In terms of image quality, the OP13 does a good job of splitting the difference between having rich, saturated colors and crisp details, but without exaggerating things like you often see on Samsung phones, which tend to oversharpen or push warm tones a bit too hard. OnePlus 3x optical zoom lens matches those on similarly priced rivals like the S25+, though it's still short of the 5x lenses found on the Pixel 9 Pro and S25 Ultra. One small issue is that in low light, the OP13s Night Mode sometimes struggled to keep up with the Pixel 9s Night Sight, resulting in photos that arent quite as sharp or detailed as youd like them to be. Its close, bu to me, OnePlus cameras remain a half-tier below Samsung, Google and Apple when shooting pics in darker environments. Battery life and charging: Super fast, but its proprietary It feels like every high-end Android phone has been stuck with 5,000mAh batteries for the past half-decade. But for this go around, the OnePlus 13 has smashed past that barrier with a 6,000mAh cell, resulting in class-leading longevity. On our local video rundown test, it posted a time of 30 hours and 18 minutes, which is almost an hour longer than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (29:27) and nearly three hours better than a basic Pixel 9 (27:32). Sam Rutherford for Engadget Meanwhile when it comes to recharging, the OnePlus 13 leads the way too with wired speeds of up to 100 watts or an impressive 50 watts wirelessly. However, the major caveat is that because OnePlus relies on its proprietary SUPERVOOC tech, youll only get those blistering rates when using the companys first-party peripherals. Thankfully, an 80-watt charger comes in the box, though if you want to hit max power, youll need to upgrade to OnePlus 100W Dual Port adapter. Its a similar situation for wireless charging, which requires the companys 50W AIRVOOC puck. That said, the OP13 recharges more than twice as fast as a Galaxy S25 when using a cable and more than three times quicker wirelessly. Plus, you can still use universal power adapters in a pinch, youll just have to live with greatly reduced wattages. Another small wrinkle is that though OnePlus says the 13 supports Qi2 charging, it doesnt play nicely with magnetic third-party accessories without some help. In my testing, while the phone provides a weak magnetic connection, every Qi2 peripheral I tried slid off with the slightest movement. Like Samsung did with the Galaxy S25, OnePlus solution was to make a case with its own set of magnets that allows add-ons to attach with much greater security. Wrap-up Sam Rutherford for Engadget Throughout the years, OnePlus has used taglines like flagship killer and ultra in every way as a means of taking shots at its biggest rivals from Samsung, Google and more. But for the OnePlus 13, it feels like the company just went and made a really solid premium handset without a bunch of AI fluff. The phone has excellent performance, a massive battery and a gorgeous screen that can hang with the displays on any of its competitors. It also sports a unique design with some down-to-earth touches like its optional faux leather back. Granted, camera quality could be a touch better, especially in low light, and I really wish OnePlus had just included full magnetic Qi2 compatibility instead of forcing people to rely on a case. But hey, at least you get a superfast wired power adapter (which, unlike a lot of phones, comes in the box) and the option to use the companys blazing charging puck if you want to go cable-free. Sam Rutherford for Engadget But most importantly, for a starting price of $900, you get longer battery life, a brighter screen, more RAM, greater storage and the same 3x zoom as a base Galaxy S25+ all for $100 less. Theres no other way to put it, thats just a good deal, even if OnePlus software support only lasts for six years instead of the seven you get from Samsung and Google. The OnePlus 13 is an example of how to keep things simple in an increasingly complex and AI-obsessed world while delivering on all the essentials.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/oneplus-13-review-a-focused-flagship-that-ignores-the-ai-hype-140013418.html?src=rss

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

2025-02-07 14:35:09| Engadget

The week has been a mixed bag for Apple. First, it launched a new iPhone app for organizing events and being actually social; then, it had to contend with a third-party app store offering a porn app in the European Union. And theres nothing like an Apple-pornography headline to draw the eye. But first, Apple Invites, where you can host an unlimited number of events, each one limited to 100 participants. Its also possible to invite non-iPhone users. What?! You can use your own photos or backgrounds in the app as an image for the invite and even arrange a communal playlist through Apple Music. Of course, theres some Apple Intelligence shoehorned in. Image Playground is built into Invites to generate images for your events when there arent any appropriate photos. Engadget What about the future for existing invite apps, like Evite, Partiful, Luma and the rest? Well, all isnt lost: Only paid iCloud subscribers can create invites in the app and prices start there at 99 cents a month, while rival apps offer free basic event invites. Also, the web experience for non-iPhone people is pretty clunky and painful. At least for now. Meanwhile, a third-party app store called AltStore PAL announced a porn app called Hot Tub was now available to iOS users in the European Union. The marketplace described it as the first Apple-approved porn app which probably isnt entirely accurate. Its seemingly the first time a porn app has been available natively for the iPhone. Apple said it was deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. And just to add further corporate spice: Longtime Apple App Store foe Epic gave the alternative app store a MegaGrant last year to help fund the core technology fees third-party app stores are required to pay Apple. Not that its directly affiliated with this adult entertainment portal. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney took to X to say, the Epic Games Store doesnt carry this app, doesnt carry any porn apps, and has never carried porn apps. Mat Smith Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! How to use Apple Invites to plan your next event The biggest tech stories you missed Reddit temporarily bans r/WhitePeopleTwitter after Elon Musk claimed it had broken the law Protecting the US from hackers apparently isn't in Trump's budget Sonos may release its long-rumored streaming box this year Oura Ring 4 long-term review It remains the smart ring to beat. Engadget Despite the appearance of rival smart rings from the likes of Samsung, the Oura Ring 4 remains the best option. It tracks your sleep, activity and stress levels, is comfortable to wear and looks, shock, like a regular ring. The battery life is admirable, lasting up to seven days, with new features including 24/7 heart rate tracking and temperature monitoring. However, these features are only available if you pay for a monthly subscription and that may remain the biggest caveat for this $349 ring. Continue reading. In 1996, IBMs Deep Blue beats Kasparov at chess The first chess win for a computer against a world champion. IBM This week, we go back 29 years. Back when we were barely saying artificial intelligence, let alone AI, on February 10, 1996, IBMs Deep Blue chess computer defeated fleshbag world champion Garry Kasparov. It marked the first time a computer beat a high-level opponent. However, Kasparov won the series 4-2. It wasnt until a year later that Deep Blue bested him in a rematch. Ask Engadget! AMA or AEA. Ask Mat, he's listening.Engadget Should I upload pictures of my children to the cloud? Is it safe?  Whats the most reliable EV brand?  Which streaming subscription should I drop, and why is it Prime Video?  Were bringing back Ask Engadget, with an entirely new email address: askmat(AT)engadget.com. No personal questions, please.  Ask Mat something!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-133509185.html?src=rss

Category: Marketing and Advertising
 

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