Apple

Apple's $349 (£319, AU$499) Siri-powered HomePod smart speaker produces awesome sound across a broad range of genres, making it stand out, particularly compared to the $199 Sonos One, Google's $399 Home Max and Amazon's next-gen $100 Echo. Its crazy-fast setup and excellent long-range Siri microphones also make it appealing. Offering multiroom audio and stereo pairing, courtesy of AirPlay 2, helps the HomePod compete with Alexa and Google Assistant speakers.But it isn't all good news. Siri still has a lot of maturing to do before it can compete with Alexa or Google Assistant. Buying a HomePod also means you're signing up for a speaker that's built with the Apple Music streaming service in mind. You can't play Spotify and other third-party music services straight from the HomePod via a Siri command. Instead, you have to send that audio to your Apple speaker from the corresponding mobile app. You really need to be OK with these limitations to … [Read more...] about Apple HomePod review: Great sound, but it’s trapped in Apple’s world

Editors' note: The 2017 iPad reviewed here has been replaced by the a newer iPad introduced on March 27, 2018. The 2018 iPad adds compatibility with the Pencil stylus and a faster A10 processor. It sells for the same retail price as its 2017 predecessor, and is otherwise nearly identical. Previously, in June 2017, Apple unveiled a new iPad Pro. Starting at $649, £619 and A$949, that model replaces the original 9.7-inch iPad Pro, packing a bigger screen -- a 10.5-inch Retina display -- into a footprint similar to that of the cheaper, 9.7-inch, non-Pro model. Compared to the 2018 iPad, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro also comes equipped with a more powerful processor, higher-quality cameras. Those same specs are also available in a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which starts at $799, £679 or AU$1,249. Newer iPad Pro models are rumored for later in 2018.Original review follows.Remember the iPad? In the afterglow of its splashy 2010 debut, Apple's tablet became the post-smartphone … [Read more...] about Apple iPad (2017) review: Faster and cheaper, but not exactly exciting

The new Samsung Galaxy Watch was unveiled alongside the Galaxy Note 9 back on August 9, and -- like the Note -- is available for sale as of today. We've only had the Watch for a bit more than 2 days, so we're not ready to render a final verdict yet. But we have plenty of impressions after our first 48 hours:First off, If you're interested in the Samsung Galaxy Watch, you'll have to decide what size to get. Having a small wrist, I initially thought I'd be a candidate for the smaller 42mm model, which comes in Midnight Black or Rose Gold and starts at $330 (£279) for the non-cellular editions (LTE models will ship later this year for $50 more). But after trying the silver-only 46mm version ($350, £299) at a launch event in New York City, I quickly realized I'd made a mistake, and immediately opted for the larger model. While it's a little heavier, it fit my wrist comfortably and has some clear benefits: Not only is its screen bigger but it has better battery life. I also … [Read more...] about Samsung Galaxy Watch hands-on: 4 ways it’s better than Apple Watch (so far)

Whether you think Apple's AirPod headphones make you look goofy or not, here's the bigger question: Are they actually good headphones? And are they worth buying versus other "true wireless" models, with separate left and right earpieces, let alone versus "regular" Bluetooth in-ear headphones, those quaint old-fashioned wireless models that connect the two earbuds with an actual cable?The short answer is that these $159 Apple headphones (£159 in the UK and AU$229 in Australia) are better than you'd expect, especially for owners of Apple products. That general sentiment has led to them being the runaway hit that they are today. It also helps that they're comparably well priced, particularly when you consider that such competitors as the Jaybird Run and Bose SoundSport Free cost more (in the case of the Bose, significantly more).But if there's one thing I've learned from using them for several months -- and from hearing from other people who've used them -- is that a … [Read more...] about Apple AirPods review: Apple’s AirPods have improved with time

Best Deals of the Day The best deals from around the web, updated daily. $40 noise canceling headphones, a handy utility cart, and the ultimate Apple Watch accessory lead off Thursday’s best deals from around the web. Bookmark Kinja Deals and follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or sign up for our newsletter to never miss a deal. Best Tech Deals The worst part of Apple Watch ownership is packing the power cord when you travel. Not only is it a lot bulkier than a Lightning or microUSB cable, it’s also probably the only one you own, meaning you have to take it out of your nightstand charging dock, and put it back when you get home. So annoying! That’s what makes this battery pack so genius. At only 700mAh, it’s small enough to work as a keychain, but big enough to charge your watch 1.5 times, which should get you through a weekend with ease. And for longer getaways, you can even plug in a microUSB cable (which you should already have in your bag) and use it … [Read more...] about Thursday’s Best Deals: $40 Noise Canceling Headphones, Apple Watch Accessories, Sperry Sale, and More