The world of GPS sports watches has seen significant advancements, with top brands offering unique features and functionalities. In a recent article by ZDNet, we see the best sports watches of 2024 prioritizing smartphone integration, training plans, and data analysis capabilities. Brands like Garmin, Coros, and Apple have set the bar high, with quarterly updates and software support for years to come. The choice between these top-notch watches often comes down to personal preference and activity type.
Microsoft 365 Deal Alert: Get a one-year subscription for $40!
ZDNET recommends Microsoft 365, offering premium Office apps and 1TB OneDrive cloud storage across multiple devices. This deal is available through StackSocial, an authorized Microsoft partner. While this offer might be subject to change, it's likely that the deal will remain in effect.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/get-a-microsoft-365-license-for-40-with-this-deal/
Black Friday is just around the corner, and Samsung fans are in for a treat! ZDNET has curated a list of over 25 deals on various Samsung devices, including TVs, laptops, smartphones, and more. From discounts on high-end TVs to affordable tablets, there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking to upgrade your smartphone or score a great deal on a new TV, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-black-friday-samsung-deals-2024/
Early Black Friday Apple deals have started, offering discounts on MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and more. ZDNET has curated a list of the best deals available ahead of the sales event, including savings on AirPods 4, MacBook Air, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. With prices already dropping, shoppers can expect even better deals as Black Friday approaches. This year's sales event will take place from November 29 to December 2.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-black-friday-apple-deals-2024/
Openvibe, a social app that allows users to cross-post across multiple platforms, has added support for Threads, Meta's competitor to Twitter. This move aims to simplify the experience for users who want to stay connected across different networks like Mastodon, Nostr, and Bluesky.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/01/cross-posting-social-app-openvibe-now-supports-threads-too/
A new app, MyBallot AI, has launched to help voters make informed decisions at the polls. Developed by Mark Larman, the app allows users to ask questions and receive real-time answers about upcoming elections. Powered by Google Gemini and sourced from the Google Civic API and BallotReady API, the app also reveals its sources to avoid plagiarism concerns. This tool comes at a critical time, as misinformation remains a concern among voters. The app's goal is to provide a verifiable, non-biased source of information for voters.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/01/a-new-app-launches-to-help-keep-voters-informed-for-elections/
Apple has taken a 20% stake in GlobalStar, its partner for satellite connectivity services, in a deal worth $400 million. The investment aims to expand the partnership and improve infrastructure for emergency communication services like Emergency SOS on iPhone 14. As part of the agreement, GlobalStar will receive a prepayment of $1.1 billion from Apple. This move highlights Apple's commitment to providing reliable connectivity options for its users.
Apple has acquired Pixelmator, a popular image editing app available on Mac and iOS. The acquisition is pending regulatory approval, but no material changes are expected for the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps in the meantime. Pixelmator's statement emphasizes its commitment to reaching a wider audience and making a bigger impact on creative people worldwide.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/1/24285443/apple-pixelmator-acquisition-image-editing
DIY phone repair gains traction with HMD Skyline's user-repairable design. Tech reviewer Allison Johnson shares her first-hand experience replacing the battery and back cover, highlighting iFixit's detailed guides and available spare parts. The process took a few hours, including 30 minutes to obtain necessary cleaning supplies. This exercise has boosted Johnson's confidence in self-repair skills, emphasizing the importance of repairable phones.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/1/24284078/hmd-skyline-repair-ifixit-battery-replacement
As Election Day approaches, concerns about violence and intimidation are rising. Reports have surfaced of incidents in Florida, South Carolina, Arizona, and other states, including vandalism, physical altercations, and threats against election workers. The Justice Department has formed a special division to investigate these types of threats, which have been escalating since 2020. Meanwhile, authorities are bracing for potential chaos and sabotage from "insider threats" and attacks on voting infrastructure.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/election-violence-is-already-here/
Exciting news for developers and users of file systems! Ratarmount, a versatile tool, has been released with impressive features. By default, it will use AWS according to Boto3 library settings when no endpoint is specified. The software supports various file systems, including fsspec, smb, webdav, and dropbox, via environment variables or configuration files.
Breaking News: Apple Acquires Pixelmator!
Pixelmator, a popular image editing app, has announced that it will be joining forces with tech giant Apple. According to the official statement, the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and will not result in any immediate changes to the existing apps.
As part of this new chapter, the Pixelmator team aims to reach a wider audience and make an even greater impact on the creative community worldwide.
Source: https://www.pixelmator.com/blog/2024/11/01/a-new-home-for-pixelmator/
The European Union has announced a significant boost in funding for deeptech research and strategic scale-ups, with a budget of €1.4 billion (approximately $1.5 billion) for 2025. The increased investment aims to support innovation in areas such as AI, low-carbon technologies, agritech, and biotech. The European Innovation Council's Work Program for 2025 includes funding schemes for research-focused Pathfinder projects, commercialization-focused Transition projects, and startup/SME-focused Accelerator projects.
Wired recently released a list of the best headphones under $100. The top picks include JLab's tiny earbuds, Koss' iconic Porta Pros, and Logitech G Pro X gaming headsets. Other notable mentions include Belkin's kid-friendly headphones and a warning about cheap wired headphones that may require Bluetooth toggling on.
Source: https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-headphones-under-100/
The Internet Archive, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving digital records and making information accessible, has faced numerous cyber-attacks and security breaches. Despite its efforts to provide universal access to knowledge, the archive has been targeted by hackers and experienced significant downtime. As a result, concerns have been raised about the potential loss of valuable data and the impact on historians and researchers who rely on the archive.
Source: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3593110/leave-the-internet-archive-alone.html
A new online game, "You Are Jeff Bezos," has gained popularity for its thought-provoking and humorous take on wealth inequality. The text-based adventure game challenges players to explore the life of the world's richest person, Jeff Bezos, with the option to spend his vast fortune in various ways. Players can choose to fund NASA, double Amazon employees' salaries, or even buy Twitter.
Important Update: Elasticsearch Repos Disappear
ElasticSearch, a distributed search and analytics engine, has announced that its repositories have been removed. This change affects the entire ecosystem, including developers and users who rely on these tools for their work.
Hisense U8N TV Deal Available at Best Buy - A Premium-Quality Option for Gamers and Streaming Enthusiasts
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/hisense-u8n-deal-10-29-2024/
One of the most popular Mac calendar apps, Fantastical, is now available for Windows users. The app, known for its ease of use and powerful features, has been a top request among Windows users for years. With its new Windows version, Fantastical 4.0, users can enjoy all the features they love on their Apple devices, including natural-language processing and integrations with to-do list apps.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/29/24282304/fantastical-windows-calendar-app
The Technics SC-CX700 is a high-end audio system that offers a balanced and controlled sound quality. Reviewers praise its ability to extract every detail from recordings, with a focus on rhythmic expression and momentum. While it may not be flashy or attention-grabbing, the SC-CX700 provides a faithful representation of music. With a price tag of $2,999, this system is geared towards audiophiles who value precision and accuracy.