Google-owned Nest and the Made by Google ecosystem: From a 2nd-generation wired Nest Doorbell to a new Google Home app
Google will be taking the wraps off its Pixel 7 smartphone and Pixel Watch smartwatch at its Made by Google event in New York City later this week, but today, Google-owned Nest is sharing a few new products and updates in the company’s smart-home ecosystem—from a new Nest Wifi Pro router with Wi-Fi 6E support to a redesigned Google Home app.
Last year, Nest debuted a second-generation Nest Doorbell (Battery), a battery-powered video doorbell. Now, it’s time for a second-gen wired version, for those who don’t want to worry about their doorbell running out of juice. It looks quite similar and has similar specs but is 30 percent smaller. There’s 24/7 recording support, and it stores three hours of important events in its local memory in case your Wi-Fi goes out. (Nest has doubled the onboard memory from the first-gen Nest Doorbell.)
The new stenoir is part of the company’s current lineup of internet enabled devices. This is the company’s first router with Wi-Fi 6E support, adding tri-band connectivity, an increasingly common feature on mesh routers. Essentially, the router now utilizes three different bands: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. The latter new band can transmit more data at faster speeds to your devices, though it won’t be as far-reaching, which is why it still employs the longer-range 2.4-GHz band. You can read about it in our explainer. The caveat? Your devices need to support Wi-Fi 6E too, and right now, that’s just a handful of recent phones and laptops.
The Amazon Prime Early Access Event: Getting the Swing from Cyber Monday to Prime Day with the Gear Observer (Gear Readers)
Back in 2015, Amazon made waves with its first annual Prime Day shopping event. You can not just make up a shopping holiday. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been compared to the sale, and it’s been done in some years. It spurred competing sales and millions of Amazon Prime memberships. And it’s happening again—kind of. Amazon has a new event called the Prime Early Access event and it runs from October 11 to October 12.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
Apple devices are expensive, and they don’t usually go on sale at the store. Sometimes third-party sellers like Best Buy and Amazon will offer discounts right now. A number of Apple devices are on sale at discounted prices, including iPad, MacBooks, and Apple Watches. Many of these deals are better than what we saw on cyber Monday, but some of them will end on Thursday.
The new Fire HD 8 is still a good price, even though it’s available for pre-order right now, but if you’re interested in a cheaper tablet, the Fire HD 8 is a great deal. The travel-friendly size, combined with a reasonably powerful processor, makes it nearly as capable as its larger sibling. It’s portable enough to take with you anywhere, and its screen won’t torture your eyes when you watch Netflix. It is possible to make the Play store more capable by following our guide on how to install it.
It was $5 cheaper on Prime Day and it is possible that it will drop down in price next week. The fourth-generation Echo Dot (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has been our favorite Alexa speaker for some time, but Amazon announced a fifth-generation model with better sound if you’d rather have the latest and greatest. The fourth-gen model is still a great device. It’s small enough to fit in any room, and the sound quality is decent despite its size. You can set alarms or timers, check the weather, listen to music, or play Skyrim with just your voice. The model with built-in clock can be purchased for $10 more.
We saw a historically low price for the AmazonEcho Show 8 on Prime Day, but this new price makes it even cheaper. You can use the 8-inch display size to check the weather or follow a recipe. There is a camera with automatic zoom and pan capabilities that can be used for video calling. For more recommendations, read the Best Smart Displays guide.
This is the best price we have been able to find. It is a bad sunrise alarm, but it is a decent nightlight. It works well in a guest room, since it has an option to double up as a sound machine. Controlling the lamp requires pairing it with either an Echo device or the Alexa app.
Only Prime members can use coupon codes, they need to be entered at checkout. We’ve seen this drop to $35 before, but never as low as $25. If you have limited space, you can use the Echo Show 5 instead of the Show 8.
WIRED Best Cheap Phones: The TCL 6-Series (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the Best TV for most people
The Best Cheap Phone was chosen by WIRED, because it’s our favorite phone, and the GooglePixel 6A is also our top pick. This deal is a match of the best discount we’ve seen. The value of thePixel 6A is unbeatable, with great performance, excellent cameras, impressive battery life, and a nice display. This is a great price for a new phone, you would be hard pressed to find a better deal.
The TCL 6-Series (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best TV for most people. This is one of the best deals we’ve seen for the 55-inch size. The quantum dot panels give viewers bright colors, deep blacks and excellent contrast. This TV also has Roku built right in for easy streaming capabilities. Every size is on sale, and we recommend it for entry level TV shoppers, but if you don’t need the latest and greatest, the 5-Series is almost as good as the 6-Series. Read more about them in our Best TVs guide.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-early-amazon-prime-day-deals-access-sale-2022/
The Amazon Prime Day Sale – the Last Chance to Catch Up with Your Compatibility and Gaming Simulator (The Case of the Prime Mouse)
Our favorite mouse is on sale. Technically made for esports gaming, the Prime isn’t cluttered with too many buttons. It’s snappy and responsive, with clicky buttons. The range is reliable and smooth, it moves on any surface.
This is the last time we have seen a deal like this. If you missed it, now is a good time to purchase it and you can expect it to go on sale again for that price in the future. This machine has a hot water spout and built-in burr grinder. Load it with beans and use the digital display at home to make drinks. There’s even a steam wand for easy lattes and cappuccinos. Our Best Espresso Machines and Best Latte Machines guides have additional picks, including some that are easier on your wallet.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-early-amazon-prime-day-deals-access-sale-2022/
Comparison of various low-cost paper weights and the price of the Z Flip4, iPad Mini, and other compact, multi-purpose folding devices
One of the best ways to get your work out in is with free weights, and many different weights of them are on sale for historically low prices. They have good customer reviews though we haven’t tested them ourselves. The rubber has a bad smell when it arrives, but a few days of good air flow should kill that smell if it arises. Note that these are sold individually, so you’ll need to add two to your cart if you’re trying to get a pair.
The smaller of Samsung’s folding phones, the Z Flip4 feels like a “normal” phone when it’s unfolded, but fold it up and it’ll slip into some seriously small pockets. It’s almost like a StarTak, but with a real screen. The battery will get you through the day, but not much longer. Still, if you’ve been wanting a folding phone, this deal is the cheapest we’ve seen on this new model.
The iPad Mini is an excellent travel companion. It is small and portable, and it is a great place to display movies or Ebooks. Equipped with an A15 Bionic processor (the same one powering last year’s iPhone 13), it’s fast enough to handle both taxing apps and games. With Apple Pencil support, it’s possible to use it for a notebook or sketchpad. It dipped to this price for Cyber Monday, but it’s still a solid deal.
The Razor Mini Mini: a Portable, Low-top-of-the-range Tablet Dock for Wirelessly Powered Macs and PCs
This dock works on all of the newer versions of the iPhone. If you put your phone on a circular center pad it will stick to it, and be able to wirelessly charge it. The highlight is in the back. The desk can be used to charge several items with the array of charging ports. A couple of ports and an AC outlet.
The smaller, corded companion to the Razor Ultimate is what this is. Don’t let the “mini” in the name fool you—this is a standard-size mouse and the accuracy is very good. You can get a cheap mouse if the one below is out of your budget.
Click the coupon button on the page to see the discount at checkout. If you use the coupon code, this deal is back after being highlighted a few weeks ago. With just a single USB-C cable connected to your laptop, you get an extra 15.6-inch screen that’s thin and lightweight, and you can bring it anywhere you go. It is fortified with a kickstand case so you may want to look for something more sturdy.
This is the lowest price we have ever seen on this chair, which is our favorite budget option in our Best Office Chairs guide. It has a headrest and mesh that allows for good flow of air. It does the job very well.
Amazon Prime Day Deals Access Sale 202-222: The Best Soundbars for Fitness and Outdoors at 50 Off Amazon & Best Buy
If you really enjoy fitness and outdoorsy stuff, the Applewatch Ultra can be yours for just $50 off at Amazon and Best Buy.
We’ve shared previous deals that were $50 below the current deal price. Everybody should have a soundbar, and this model is one of the best out there. It has fantastic audio quality for the price, and the included subwoofer adds depth with impressive bass. There are other bells and whistles like baked-in Amazon Alexa and Bluetooth for streaming music. Read more about it in our guide to the best soundbars.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/best-early-amazon-prime-day-deals-access-sale-2022-2/
The Thermapens, Tablets, and Washing Machines at Low Prices: 20 Deals to Save on Tech for the Holidays
Shipping adds $5, but even with those costs factored in, this is a match of one of the better deals we’ve seen. Thermapens are popular, we like them a lot. This specific model is featured in our Best Gifts for Home Chefs guide, while a slightly more expensive thermometer from the brand is included in our Best Grills and Best Grilling Accessories guides. The Thermapen One has a temperature read in one second, and a backlight that allows for accurate temperature taking even in the dark. It folds down to make it easy to store.
This is a great price if you don’t want to wait and you’re in the market. I have this same brewer on my desk. It’s great for folks that live alone or don’t have a lot of counter space. There are a number of colors on sale. It’s easy to make Pod Brewers more economical with a refill.
Technically, Black Friday isn’t for a few weeks, but that doesn’t mean retailers like Best Buy aren’t getting a head start on the holiday savings. Now’s the time to splurge on tech you’ve been eyeing all year long, so check out these stellar deals on everything from tablets to portable speakers to washing machines and much more.
We sifted through the hundreds of markdowns in this sale and found 20 of the best, including deals on our best tested products and wish list essentials. Browse our picks below, then be sure to check out the rest of the online savings for the next few weeks.
One of the lowest prices we’ve seen on this slate is here. The iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) features the M1 chip and USB-C charging, and it supports the second-generation Apple Pencil. This is great for drawing and writing, but not very powerful for most other tasks. iPadOS is still limiting when it comes to using it for work, but the latest version makes multitasking a bit easier. The Cellular model is also on sale for $650 ($100 off), one of its lowest prices ever.
The M1 processor is in the 2021 iPad Pro model. The new iPad Pro is an update that is only slightly different than the last one; you can save some money and get the new version.
During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Apple dropped the price of its stylus to a measly 89 dollars. As small as it is, this is the next best discount we’ve seen. It works with every iPad except the ninth-gen iPad.
This is the same price we saw during Cyber Monday and Black Friday. The best Apple laptop for most people is the newest MacBook Air. The display is bigger and better than on its predecessor, the design is sleeker, and the charging cord is a crowd favorite—MagSafe. It comes in handy, because you will get solid battery life.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro has a bigger screen than the 14-inch model. This thing is huge and somewhat difficult to travel with, but the extra screen room can be nice, especially for apps with a lot going on—perfect for video editors. This was a good deal, even if it was only $100 cheaper on Cyber Monday.
The Low-Cost AirPods Pro Deal: A Low-Budget Deal on Apple’s Wireless Charger for the MagSafe Duo
During Cyber Monday, this deal was $29 cheaper. The second-gen AirPods Pro can get you through a full workday with better noise cancellation and longer battery life. The ability to sync it with Apple’s Find is one of the new features that comes with the charging case. The app will emit a sound to locate them, as well as the option to charge it on an Apple watch puck. Read our Best Wireless Earbuds guide for more.
We’ve seen this dip a few dollars lower, but this is still a small discount on Apple’s official wireless charger for iPhone models with MagSafe (iPhone 12 and newer). It charges fast because it’s in the right place to give you the best power transfer. If you’re not right next to where the phone is plugged in, it’s hard to use it while it’s charging.
The MagSafe Duo is a great choice if you have both an iPhone and an Apple Watch, with respective spots for both. It folds in half too, which makes it really easy to travel with. This deal makes it a bit easier to use on the wallet, because it is so expensive.
This keyboard will fit the iPad Pro and the iPad Air. The keyboard has no feedback on the keys, but it is silent, so many people love it.
The Elevate: a super-affordable TV with surround sound and a dual-core processor for under $500$
When it comes to the centerpiece of the living room, a television is a good way to make it look nice. Right now, the prettiest TV we’ve seen is on sale. The Sony A90J boasts fast processing, a gorgeousOLED panel, and a user-friendly interface. It has weird legs at the end, so you’ll want to wall-mount it unless you have a super-long TV stand.
Need a super-affordable TV? Whether your budget is low or you want a screen in the bedroom, this one will do the trick, and it’s an even better value right now. You will be able to stream instantly with built-in Roku support, as this model has full-array local dimming for deep contrast and 4K resolution.
The Vizio M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 is the snazzier version of our favorite soundbar for under $500. The Elevate is Vizio’s version of the sleek Sonos design, with more rounded edges and a darker charcoal color. At a lower price, you can get all the benefits of surround sound.
I grew up in a computer room, so I remember that design very well. The Dell is not the Windows of old. This upgrade to our favorite has a high-performing processor, an invisible keyboard, and a futuristic trackpad.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/weekend-deals-december-10-2022/
Lowest Price 12.2inch Android Tablets: A Comparison with the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus, and Other Favorites
If you want to buy a 12.2 inch Tablets for this price, you can only choose the one from the South Korean company. The LCD screen looks great, and even the speakers sound good, so it’s great for streaming your favorite series. Just know there’s no headphone jack, and the performance can be stuttery now and then.
This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen on the Tab S8 Ultra, Samsung’s fanciest Android tablet to date. The smaller Tab S8 was the only one we evaluated, and the Ultra model has a much bigger screen, looks nicer, and is easier to use. It’s powerful, comes with the S Pen stylus, and has cameras in the center when in landscape mode so that you’re centered during video calls.
Out of all the Android tablets out there, the Lenovo Tab P11 Plus is among our favorites. It’s pretty fast for the money, and coupled with a decent 11-inch LCD screen, it’s great for playing games, putting on a movie, or even upping your productivity at work. If the latter is your goal, this tablet has a Productivity Mode when a Bluetooth keyboard connects for a more desktop-like interface. It isn’t likely to receive Android 12L.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/weekend-deals-december-10-2022/
The Galaxy Watch5 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommendations): A Minimal Smartwatch for Small Wrists and Fitness Tracking
This is a really cute device. The function of the Vivomove Sport is accurate fitness tracking, and up to five days’ worth of battery. It doesn’t have the GPS tracking that other Garmins have, but that’s nothing your smartphone can’t solve.
Some of the watches look large on me due to my small hands. The Lily Sport is our favorite small gps device, and it’s perfect for smaller wrists like mine. You don’t need to be tricked by its size; the screen of the Lilly Sport looks cute and tracks your fitness data.
No need to worry, if you want to pair your Smartwatch with your phone, look no further. The Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is great, especially if you have a Samsung phone, offering the ability to see and respond to notifications, reliable fitness tracking, and two-day battery life. The watch itself is attractive and comfortable too—a combination you don’t always get.
The Jabra Elite 7 Headphones: Cool Sound and Good Sound for Streaming Apps (Comments on the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headsets)
What makes the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones sound even better? I’m hearing they’re on sale. These noise-canceling wireless headphones are the best of the best with their 30-hour battery life and comfy cushioning. When you’re talking and pausing, they can even sense what you’re doing. I would say that’s handy, but it’s actually pretty hands-free. (Ba-dum-tssss.) This is the same price we saw during Black Friday.
One of the more premium pairs of wireless earbuds is the LinkBuds S. In addition to their ANC, they’re also special because of how lightweight and comfortable they are. Another bonus is that they support Sony’s LDAC codec for near-lossless audio. Their sound quality may not exactly match that of Sony’s pricier WF-1000XM4 earbuds, but these are far more affordable with this discount. However, be aware that their case lacks wireless charging. Read our review.
These headphones are just as good as they look. The Airpods Max are an accessory that have great noise cancellation, booming bass, and crisp sound. Is it one of the cool features? They can track your head movement while watching on streaming apps like HBOMax, giving you a surround sound experience.
We like the Jabra Elite 7 headphones for lifting weights or taking on the treadmill. The sound is great and you get an excellent rating for water and dust resistance. You can adjust the levels in the app to make your listening experience your own.
A Verge Deals Look at Nanoleaf Shapes Mini Triangles, Bose QuietComfort 45, and Nest Mini Speakers
Just in case Santa didn’t make it to your house this year, we’re bringing you a handful of post-Christmas content. Unlike a big dude that lives up north, the The Verge Deals team works hard all year to make sure its best discounts are all front and center for you to see. We managed to wrangle a few deals we think are worth seeing if you want to treat yourself.
Deals on Google’s Nest smart home devices are common, but this one’s unique: right now you can get the latest version of its Nest Mini speaker for just $24.99 ($25 off) from Wyze with your choice of a Wyze Bulb Color, a two-pack of smart plugs, an outdoor smart plug, or a smart light switch included
The Nanoleaf Shapes Mini Triangles Smarter Kit is usually $119.99, but is currently discounted to $99.99 at Best Buy, and comes packaged with everything you need to set up a small area of customizable accent lighting. The bundle comes packaged with ten individual touch-activated pieces that can be programmed to display specific themes or mirror the colors on your computer monitor, allowing for a more immersive gaming experience. Just like other Nanoleaf products, the modular light panels can also be controlled using either the Nanoleaf app or voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are available to buy for $249 at Amazon and Best Buy. Not quite their lowest price ever, but still worth checking out if you’re shopping for a relatively inexpensive pair of high-quality noise-canceling headphones. Living up to their name, the Bose headphones are remarkably comfortable, in addition to providing excellent noise cancellation. While the QuietComfort 45 headphones can’t be used while charging and lack audio support over USB-C, the solid battery life should ensure that these occasions are rare. We’ve put together a review.
Comparative Study of 27 Inch UltraGear Gaming Monitors at Best Buy for $149.99 – a Great Value for the Price
You can also find discounts on the 1TB model at Best Buy for $154.99. The 1TB model is a good option if you need a drive with a less expensive entry fee, but the 2TB model is the best value of the bunch.
If you don’t want to use cables, a M.2 slot can be inserted into a motherboard or other device, without having to use cables. SSDs also offer much faster transfer speeds than older SATA storage methods, allowing files to be moved around quickly and games to load faster.
The Sony earbuds are waterproof and can switch between noise cancellation and ambient sound. They have support for the LDAC.
There is a good value in the 27 inch UltraGear gaming monitors. This particular model features a QHD IPS panel with HDMI and DisplayPort to let you hook up a PC and a gaming console. It also touts a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and G-Sync compatibility.
A fast 1ms response time, a high refresh Rate of 144Hz, G-sync support, and an up to 1920 x 1200 resolution is what the QHD monitor has to offer. You can daisy chain multiple devices if you have two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort connection. It may not have show-stopping specs or a gargantuan panel, but 27 inches is a great size for many peoples’ desks, and the versatile, height-adjustable stand can tilt and swivel. It is difficult to beat the value without dropping down to a smaller size or lower-res panel.
Wyze: Bringing the Nest Mini Smart Speaker into Your Home: A Review of Apple’s Best-Friendly and Most Durable Apple Watch
The Nest Mini smart speaker is one of the simplest, most compact ways to bring the Google Assistant into your home. It allows you to control a range of compatible smart home accessories with just your voice (or get the weather or news updates read to you on-demand), in addition to telling it to crank up the jams. Wyze’s custom bundle makes for a great smart home addition, too, since it lets you pick based on what you want, be it a new smart bulb or a smart plug that’ll let you easily control some older, “dumb” accessories, like lamps and window A/C units. Read our review.
The Apple Watch has plenty of coin, but it is by far the biggest Apple Watch with the best battery life. The Apple Watch has more sensors than any other Apple Watch and acustomizable action button, but it doesn’t have a 49mm screen. There is a lot to enjoy if you can get over its heft on your wrist. It was the most durable watch in Apples current lineup and meant to take a beating when doing rigorous activities.