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SAVE $60: The Amazfit GTR 4 smartwatch is on sale for just $139.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $199.99. That's a 30% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazfit Amazfit GTR 4 smartwatch $139.99 at AmazonWhile advances in technology continue to impress every day, the battery life on some essential gadgets can still feel lacking. If you've been sporting a smartwatch that can't make it through an entire day without recharging, Amazon has the perfect smartwatch deal for you.
As of July 23, the Amazfit GTR 4 smartwatch is on sale for just $139.99 at Amazon, marked down $60 from the typical price of $199.99. That's a 30% discount. This sale price is also the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon by a long shot.
One of the most impressive features on the Amazfit GTR 4 is its battery life, which can last up to 14 days. While many smartwatches are designed to track sleep, not all can get even 24 hours of battery life, which leaves us wondering what the opportune timeframe is to take the watch off in between tracking steps and sleep. The Amazfit GTR 4 keeps metrics on sleep quality, daytime naps, sleep cycles, and breathing rates throughout the night. And even in power-saving mode, the Amazfit GTR 4 can still enable sports modes and keep tabs on health metrics.
SEE ALSO: Fitbit vs. Apple Watch: Putting smartwatches and fitness trackers to the testThe watch also comes with access to Alexa, who can help you make calls from the watch with just a voice demand. And if you plan to head off on a run and listen to your favorite playlist while leaving your phone at home, connect your earbuds to the watch and tune into downloaded music. And while you're on that run, you'll still be able to read the watch's screen, thanks to its anti-glare technology on the glass bezel cover.
If you're in the market for a fully capable yet affordable smartwatch, look no further than the Amazfit GTR 4 on sale for its lowest price ever.
The sun, in a heightened state of solar activity, has hurled a potent mass of material at Earth.
This could mean glorious aurora, or Northern Lights, over parts of the U.S. on July 24, according to the federal government's Space Weather Prediction Center.
The inciting event, which occurred on July 21, is intense but normal. It's called a coronal mass ejection, or CME. These occur when the sun ejects a mass of super hot gas (plasma). "It's like scooping up a piece of the sun and ejecting it into space," Mark Miesch, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, previously told Mashable. These types of events happen more as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, which is expected in July 2025.
SEE ALSO: Why Earthlings are safe when huge solar storms strike our planetWhen these solar particles collide with Earth's magnetic field, an event called a "geomagnetic storm" can transpire in Earth's upper atmosphere. Many particles slam into molecules in the air, following magnetic lines to the poles where they deposit energy and produce fantastic atmospheric radiance (popularly called the Northern Lights in the Northern Hemisphere).
"The aurora may become visible over some northern and upper Midwest states from New York to Idaho," the Space Weather Prediction Center wrote on July 23. "Those wishing to see the aurora should visit our webpage for updates."
This last sentence is crucial: These are natural, variable events. Nothing is guaranteed, but certain regions may indeed be treated to a light show on July 24. You can check the Space Weather Prediction Center homepage, which includes an aurora forecast.
A graphic from the Space Weather Prediction Center announcing the expected geomagnetic storm on July 24, 2024. Credit: NOAA / Space Weather Prediction Center Tweet may have been deletedEarlier this year, in May, multiple coronal ejections created vibrant aurora across large swathes of the Northern Hemisphere, in areas that rarely see these atmospheric lights.
While such solar storms can sometimes pose serious threats to our power grids, satellites, and electrical infrastructure, fortunately these formidable events don't pose a threat to life on Earth's surface. Earth boasts both a robust magnetic field and atmosphere, which keep dangerous cosmic particles away from our fragile flesh.
"Without those we would be in real trouble," Bennett Maruca, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Delaware who researches the sun, told Mashable.
An image of a CME impacting an illustration of Earth's magnetic field, shown by the blue lines. Credit: SOHO / LASCO / EIT (ESA & NASA)Well above our clouds and weather, both the ionosphere and thermosphere (together ranging from some 50 to 400 miles up) absorb charged particles and damaging radiation, like X-rays and UV rays. Meanwhile, our planet's magnetic field loops out from the poles into space, trapping a lot of harmful solar energy a safe distance away (and in some cases deflecting these energetic solar particles).
Stay tuned for more space weather this year — some of it may light up our skies.
Tile trackers are on sale at Amazon and Tile's website as of July 23. Check out some of our favorite deals:
Best Tile tracker deals Best overall deal Tile Mate Essentials (4-pack) $64.88 at Amazon (Save $15 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best starter deal Tile Mate $17.99 at Amazon (Save $7) Get Deal Best for wallets and pockets Tile Slim (2-pack) $48.98 at Tile (Save $20) Get DealSummertime is prime travel time, but jetting around from place to place means more opportunities to lose your wallet, keys, and luggage. An easy way to give yourself some extra assurance is a Bluetooth tracker.
Luckily, as of July 23, Tile is running a sale on Amazon and their website, offering discounts on the standard Tile Mate, Tile Sticker, and essentials pack of several different trackers. Even if you're not big on traveling, these trackers are a great option for everyday items like a TV remote or your glasses case, or for a backpack ahead of back-to-school season.
Whatever you want a little extra help keeping track of, we've rounded up all the best Tile tracker deals below:
Best Tile tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Tile Tile Mate Essentials (4-pack) $64.88 at AmazonIt's probably not the option for someone who just wants to try a Bluetooth tracker out, but if you know you'll likely appreciate more than one of these trackers in a different shape, this bundle is an excellent deal. For instance, if you were to buy a Tile Mate two-pack and Tile Sticker on sale, you'd be spending about $55, putting you pretty darn close to the price of this bundle for one tracker less. The Tile sticker is especially great for household objects, while the Mates and Slim give you more flexibility for objects you take with you (with the latter being especially useful for a wallet or slipping into the pocket of some luggage).
More Tile tracker dealsTile Mate — $17.99 $24.99 (save $7)
Tile Sticker — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)
Tile Mate (2-pack) — $34.99 $47.99 (save $13)
Tile Slim (2-pack) — $48.98 $69.98 (save $20)
Tile Mate (4-pack) — $74.99 $99.96 (save $24.97)
SAVE $100: Snag the Bella Pro Slim espresso machine for just $49.99, down from the usual price of $149.99, at Best Buy. That's a 66% discount.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bella Bella Pro Series Slim espresso machine $49.99 at Best BuyEspressos are delightful (and necessary for some of us), but if you want to get one on the daily from your local coffee shop, it can be quite an expensive habit. The alternative is to get an espresso machine, which is an economical way to manage that coffee habit — and there's a great deal for caffeine-heads at Best Buy today.
As of July 23, the Bella Pro Series Slim espresso machine is on sale for $49.99 at Best Buy. That's $100 off the list price of $149.99, or a 66% discount. This sale price only lasts until the end of the day.
SEE ALSO: Home Depot's 12-foot skeleton gets more upgrades and friends in its huge Halloween dropThe Bella Pro Series Slim has a 20-bar high pressure pump to extract the flavor from espresso grounds, plus a steam wand that swivels 630 degrees for instant hot water for Americano-style coffees, or foam for cappuccinos and lattes. It's also a slim machine — at 11.34 inches high, 11.69 inches wide, and 6.06 inches deep — so it doesn't take up a lot of space in the kitchen. You also get programmable single and double shot options, which means making your morning espresso is a cinch.
Grab this espresso machine for under $50 and make mornings that much happier.
PRE-ORDER NOW: On July 23, iRobot announced a new flagship robot vacuum and mop that finally comes with a self-cleaning station: the Roomba Combo 10 Max robot and AutoWash dock. It is available to pre-order now for $1,399.99 and will start shipping in early August.
Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot + AutoWash Dock $1,399.99 at iRobotWe hope the likes of Roborock, Ecovacs, and Narwal fully enjoyed the peace of having a leg up on iRobot for the past year. Because the new Roomba rectifies the one glaring blind spot that held it back against competitors, and "best robot vacuums" lists across the internet are in for a shake-up.
Announced on July 23, the 2024 Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot + AutoWash Dock finally fills the major gap in the Roomba lineup: self-washing and drying mopping pads.
Credit: iRobotiRobot skipped this feature with the Roomba Combo j9+ that came out last September — an odd choice since the Combo j9+ did upgrade to a dock that automatically refilled the bot's water tank, which I found to be a bit of a futile glow-up if you're still having to manually wash soggy mopping pads after each mopping run.
But after the full-fledged self-cleaning station emerged as the clear robot vacuum trend at CES 2024 in January, even the most advanced Roomba was left in the dust with a price tag that was just too high for the lack of all-encompassing mopping maintenance.
SEE ALSO: Shark vs. Roomba: Comparing top-rated robot vacuum lineupsSo of course, iRobot's official graduation to the self-washing and self-drying mopping pad system is the big headline of the day. But the underlying tea is the uncharacteristically reasonable price tag. In the past, I've found that Roombas tend to be more expensive than similar counterparts without necessarily offering more to back that cost up (until those Roombas start going on sale regularly, at least.) This was most recently exemplified with the two budget Roombas that came out in April 2024.
So while the $1,399.99 price tag on the Roomba Combo 10 Max Robot + AutoWash Dock still may seem steep, it's totally in line with the other robot vacuum and mop hybrids with the self-cleaning mopping pad stations. Potentially more noteworthy is that $1,399.99 is the exact same price that the Combo j9+ debuted at last year. iRobot literally redesigned its dock to match the self-sufficiency consumers were asking for and left the price as is.
Overall, the new AutoWash dock will hold debris for up to 60 days at a time and can supply up to a week of clean water. The dust bin and water tank can be accessed from the front of the dock, meaning the top can be used as a full-time end table.
Like the Combo j9+, the Roomba Combo 10 Max's dock can blend in as furniture. Credit: iRobot What does the "Max" nomenclature mean for Roomba?Armed with the same suction power and scrubbing pressure that the Combo j9+ dishes out, the Roomba Combo 10 Max technically doesn't clean harder — but it does clean smarter. This is what iRobot means by "Max," which will become a completely new tier of Roombas.
The front-facing camera originally seen on Roombas to avoid running over small obstacles like pet waste and cords (creating what I think is the most reliable small obstacle avoidance on the market) is now also used to visually detect debris on the floor, triggering extra passes in that area. iRobot says that this visual pinpointing of dirty areas plus an enhanced version of the Dirt Detect sensors Roombas were already using will lead to dirty areas being tended to up to eight times more frequently.
The Roomba Combo 10 Max completes smart mapping faster than previous Roombas. Credit: iRobotThis attention to detail also applies to SmartScrub (the mopping mechanism of iRobot's retractable mop when it's in use). Compared to the Combo j9+, the Combo 10 Max's SmartScrub wipes back and forth more vigorously when grime is sensed, more closely mimicking the back and forth elbow grease a human administers when manually mopping.
Both vacuuming and mopping can be completed in the same cleaning run, with the retractable mop automatically avoiding getting carpet or rugs wet. And FWIW, the cleaning performance on both Combo j9+ and Combo 10 Max is still iRobot's most powerful ever. We're talking suction that's 100 times more powerful than the i Series Roombas, and two times deeper scrubbing than the other mopping Roombas.
If you missed out on Prime Day 2024, all hope is not lost. We were still able to wrangle a few great deals at Amazon a week after the official kick off of the shopping extravaganza — and on great brands, too.
Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on July 23. Be sure to check out our selections from July 22 as well — some of those deals are still live.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (64GB) $209.99 at AmazonThe new Amazon-exclusive Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite offers the same basic design as its previous iteration, but packs an updated Exynos processor and comes with Android 14 out of the box. Its predecessor is one of our favorite tablets for kids, so we can only expect that the extra boost of processing power will make us like it even more. It weighs only 1.03 pounds, has a large 10.4-inch screen, and lasts up to 14 hours on a single charge. Both the 64GB and 128GB versions are on sale, but only the 64GB version is down to a record-low price of $209.99. That's 36% in savings.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 75-inch Omni Fire TV $699.99 at AmazonIn the market for a new TV? You can snag a huge 75-inch Omni Fire TV for only $699.99 instead of its usual $1,049.99. That's a savings of 33% and matches its all-time low. The second-best TV in Amazon's lineup, the Omni series offers 4K everyday entertainment, Dolby Vision, Dolby Digital Plus, hands-free Alexa control, and slimmer bezels for a theater-like viewing experience. To kick off your cinematic experience, you'll even get a free six-month subscription to MGM+.
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Buds A Series $69.00 at AmazonReleased in 2021, the Google Pixel Buds A pretty much replaced the previous Pixel Buds. They feature the same great audio, comfortable fit, battery life, and Google Assistant. They're not great for iOS users and the bass is just OK, but as Mashable's Alex Perry noted, "if price and sound quality are all that matter to you, you'll have a tough time finding a better value than the new Pixel Buds." As of July 23, they're down to just $69 at Amazon — that's a savings of 30%.
Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG gram 14-inch laptop (Intel Core Ultra 5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $697.00 at AmazonA worthy MacBook alternative for PC people, the LG gram 14-inch laptop is impressively light at just 2.47 pounds. For comparison, the 13-inch MacBook Air weighs 2.7 pounds. It packs an all-new Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, offers flexible connection options (HDMI, USB 4, USB-C, USB 3.2, and aux), and lasts up to 12 hours on a single charge. As of July 23, the 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD configuration is on sale for only $697. That's 37% in savings and $3 cheaper than Prime Day. That also drops it to a new all-time low.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
SAVE $80: The Google Pixel Watch 2 (WiFi) is on sale at Amazon for just $269.99, down from the usual price of $349.99. That's a 23% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 2 (black case, black band, WiFi) $269.99 at AmazonPrime Day officially left us last week, but Amazon is still wowing us with epic discounts. Today's price drop includes a deal that'll appeal to Android users who are in need of a new smartwatch with impressive features.
As of July 23, the Google Pixel Watch 2 (black case, black band, WiFi) is just $269.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $349.99. That's a 23% discount, or a savings of $80. This sale price is also the lowest we've ever spotted at Amazon.
Since Google acquired Fitbit in 2021, the Google Pixel Watch 2 comes equipped with some great features you'd expect from both Google and the fitness tracking brand. In Mashable's showdown between the Google Pixel Watch 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9, the verdict was clear that Android users should opt for the Google Pixel Watch 2. The review also highlighted just how lightweight the Pixel Watch is, which could be perfect if heavy watches bother you.
In terms of performance, the Google Pixel Watch 2 comes with standard smartwatch features like getting texts, emails, and weather updates on your wrist. You can also access Google Maps and Google Calendar. Plus, you get all the fitness tech like heart rate and skin temperature tracking, stress monitoring, fall detection, and more. Google says you'll get about 24 hours of battery life with an always-on display, and re-charging takes about 75 minutes.
The Google Pixel Watch 2 has a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, which makes is a clear winner over the Fitbit Charge 6, for example, which only reaches 450 nits. In Mashable's comparison between Fitbit watches and Apple Watches, writer RJ Andersen says Fitbit (and therefore, Google) is the clear winner when it comes to durability and longevity.
If you're an Android user looking for a new smartwatch or fitness tracker, Amazon has your solution on sale. Score the powerful and feature-rich Google Pixel Watch 2 today for 23% off.
SAVE $120: As of July 23, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for just $209.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 36% off its normal price of $329.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite $209.99 at AmazonIf you're shopping for a new tablet, there are plenty of choices on the market. You aren't locked into iPads. But if you want something sophisticated enough to double as a portable workstation, one of Samsung's offerings works fantastically. And you don't even have to drop an entire paycheck to bring one home, thanks to a new deal from Amazon.
As of July 23, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is just $209.99, down from its normal price of $329.99. That's $120 off and a discount of 36%. This is the 64GB model, and all three colorways (Chiffon Pink, Mint, and Oxford Gray) are included in the sale.
This 10.4-inch tablet is an excellent option for working on the go. It boasts a 14-hour battery life, 64GB of expandable storage via microSD, and a slim and lightweight frame. It also comes with an S Pen that you can use as a stylus to sketch, write or draw if you'd prefer not to use your finger.
It's capable of powering your favorite mobile games and streaming content, thanks to its latest Samsung processor, crisp display and Dolby Atmos surround sound. Plus, with Samsung DeX, you can turn the tablet into an expanded desktop and control multiple windows on Samsung devices from your Galaxy Tab S6 Lite.
Be sure and snag this perfectly portable powerhouse while it's still in stock for less than $250.
Save $140: As of July 23, you can grab a refurbished Dyson Supersonic for $209.99 at Walmart, down from its usual price $349.99. This price cut saves you 40%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Refurbished Dyson Supersonic $209.99 at WalmartTake it from someone who's tested it out: the Dyson Supersonic is a seriously luxurious hair dryer that's way too expensive to justify recommending to 90% of folks, especially when dupes exist.
However, when the price of the hair dryer gets slashed to just over half of what it would cost at its full price brand-new (basically, when it falls to the price of a normal hair dryer) I can give it a more wholehearted recommendation. As of July 23, if you're willing to buy refurbished, you can get the Dyson Supersonic at Walmart for just $209.99, placing it firmly at one of the lower prices we've seen it.
Typically, even buying a refurbished model will run you $349.99 (as compared to a new model's $429.99). At the time of writing, Dyson is also offering a deeply discounted refurbished model directly on their website, but for $10 more at $219.99.
So what do you get with the Dyson Supersonic? For starters, the dryer comes with five magnetic styling attachments, including a wide tooth comb, diffuser, styling concentrator, and gentle air attachment. Like I wrote in my review, it's hard to imagine someone who will use all these attachments, but this sale price makes that less of an issue.
SEE ALSO: Is the Dyson Supersonic still worth it?As for how it performs, you'll have your pick between three speed and four heat settings. Dyson claims that the dryer never exceeds 212 degrees and helps prevent extreme heat damage. While I couldn't independently verify these specific claims when I tested the dryer, I can say that my hair dried quicker, shinier, and with less frizz than other dryers. It's also marginally quieter and more lightweight than other options, making hair drying generally feel like a more luxe experience.
Though the difference wasn't drastic enough for me to recommend it when it was twice the price of other dryers, it's much easier when it's on sale when it's in the same range. If you've been waiting for your moment to grab the Dyson Supersonic, now is an excellent time.
If there's one thing we need, it's to be more logged on. And Slack has found a way to do that for us.
If you have Slack on your phone, first of all, I'm so sorry. But apparently some smartphone app users who totally have a regular relationship with their jobs have been begging for widgets.
SEE ALSO: Slack's new AI 'Recap' feature will send you a daily digest of important convos"Three new Slack iOS widgets are here to make your workday a whole lot easier," Slack said in a post on X announcing the addition. "Add the Catch Up widget, Status widget, and Slack Launcher widget to your device and stay in the know on the go."
Tweet may have been deletedThe Catch Up widget occupies a 2x2 space and lets users see a quick overview of what they missed, as the name implies. You can see unread messages and mentions without having to actually open the app. The Status widget also takes up a 2x2 space on your phone and lets users select and change their status quickly. The largest of the three new widgets is the 4x2 Status widget, which allows users to use one of three predetermined options: one-hour "focus" and "lunch" statuses and a half-hour "take a break" status.
All jokes aside, if you have to have Slack on your phone, this might make it a bit easier to get done what you need to get done — and get back to your regular life quicker.
SAVE $499.99, GET FREE MONITOR: As of July 23, buy the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge for $1349.99 at Samsung and get a free 43-inch Smart Monitor ($499.99 value) with purchase.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge $1,349.99 at SamsungReady to splurge on a new laptop? Samsung's new Galaxy Book 4 Edge rolled out just last month, equipped with Galaxy AI and Windows Copilot as well as some impressive hardware specs, including a Snapdragon X Elite processor and decadent screen sizes. If you've had your eye on one, now's a great time to lock in a purchase, especially since Samsung has sweetened the deal considerably.
As of July 23, you can get the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge for $1,349.99 at Samsung. That's $499.99 off its normal price of $1,849.98. You also get a free 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 with your purchase, which is a $499.99 value. Just make sure to select it on the Samsung store page before continuing to the checkout.
The Galaxy Book 4 Edge boasts a 14-inch touchscreen display, a Snapdragon X Elite 3.4 GHz 12-core processor, 16GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and comes in the Sapphire Blue colorway. It's a great option for work or play on the go, with more than enough power to handle image editing, creating documents and spreadsheets, or you catching your favorite shows on streaming services while commuting.
The included 43-inch Smart Monitor M7 even makes a good external display for your new laptop if you plan on keeping it in one place. Watch your favorite shows in 4K HDR, connect via Wi-Fi, and take advantage of Samsung TV Plus separately from your computer to watch free live shows with no downloads or subscriptions. No matter what you plan on using it for, a free monitor with your new laptop plus savings on the computer itself is a deal worth grabbing. Be sure and pounce before this deal expires.
SAVE 23%: Amazon Prime members can grab the GoPro Hero10 bundle for just $199.99, down from the usual price of $259.99. That's $60 off and the lowest we've seen at Amazon for the bundle of camera and accessories.
Opens in a new window Credit: GoPro GoPro Hero10 bundle $199.99 at AmazonAmazon Prime Day might have already come and gone, but if you missed out on the massive sale, there's still hope: we're still seeing some awesome deals drop from the mega-retailer. One of the best deals today includes a perfect GoPro camera bundle if you've been meaning to capture more of life's best memories.
As of July 23, the GoPro Hero10 bundle is just $199.99 at Amazon for Prime members, down from the usual price of $259.99. That's a 23% discount, or a savings of $60. This sale price is the lowest we've ever seen offered at Amazon. To get this sale price, you'll need to be signed up and logged into Amazon as a Prime member. If you aren't yet, you can sign up for a monthly membership for $14.99 or save some money in the long-run with an annual membership for $139.
SEE ALSO: When is the next Prime Day? Here's how long you have to wait.GoPro has become the gold standard when it comes to recording life's best adventures, but the camera is easiest to operate with some accessories. Enter Amazon's deal on the GoPro Hero10 bundle. The package comes with the GoPro Hero10 camera, a rechargeable battery, carrying case, and a floating hand grip. You'll also get some necessary equipment like a USB-C cable for recharging, mounting buckle, and curved adhesive mount. The GoPro Hero10 camera itself is currently selling for $199.99 on the GoPro site, which means Amazon's deal adds in all those accessories essentially for free.
If you've been considering getting a GoPro for years now, today's sale bundle is a great beginner-friendly option. The Hero 10 packs in plenty of features, and you'll score some super useful accessories that make the recording experience easier and more seamless.
Hop on the GoPro wagon today by scoring the Hero10 with accessories for just $199.99 at Amazon.
When Dyson tells you it's debuting a top-secret new product, you pay attention. So, when Mashable was invited to preview and test a mysterious new Dyson product a few weeks ago, I was genuinely excited. And as of July 18, the British brand officially revealed the new product to the world — the Dyson onTrac headphones with active noise cancellation, set to debut in July 2024.
Also on July 18, I got my very own pair of onTrac headphones for testing and review. Check back for Mashable's full, in-depth review of these noise-cancellers. We're very eager to see how they compare to our favorite headphones, particularly other flagship noise-cancelling headphones.
So, what do we know, and what do we like, about these headphones so far?
Dyson onTrac Headphones in Copper colorway. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Dyson's testing the headphones marketDyson certainly has some competition in the premium audio space. The elite headphone class already includes the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sony WH-1000XM5, and Apple AirPods Max (a rumored AirPods Max 2 could also be coming in Fall 2024). And that's without getting into $1,600 studio-style wired headphones from brands Focal and Sennheiser.
Previously, Dyson released the futuristic (and slightly dystopian) Dyson Zone Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Air Purifier. We'll give Dyson a pass on these headphones, released in the wake of Covid-19, when we were all a little off our game. Fortunately, the onTrac headphones are a fresh start — and they come with a big step-down in price. As such, they mark Dyson's first big foray into the consumer audio space.
SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum Everything we know about the Dyson onTrac HeadphonesWhen can you get your hands (and ears) on these headphones? We don't have an exact launch date, but we expect to see a release in late July. As soon as preorders are available, we'll update this page. The onTrac Headphones will be sold at $499.99 at Dyson's online store.
The headphones will connect to a MyDyson app, where EQ presets will be available. Customization will be limited, but there will be presets for bass-heavy and high-range listening. Touch controls on the bottom of the earcups allow you to control the headphones. One of the controls is a mini joystick, which can be used to play, pause, skip, fast forward, rewind, and activate voice commands.
Dyson onTrac Headphones: The specs to knowThese headphones have some unique features, including a ridiculous battery life. We're still in the process of testing the battery and sound quality, but Dyson promises these headphones will offer 55 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation engaged. That's enough to give other headphones an inferiority complex.
To pull this off, Dyson did what it does best — it made improvements to a universal design. At first glance, you'll notice that the headphones have three cushions on the headband, as is typical. However, while the top cushion is made from cushy foam, the side pieces aren't cushions at all — they're extra battery packs.
Dyson onTrac headphones feature two built-in battery packs. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / MashableIn terms of audio, Dyson uses 40mm neodymium drivers with a range of -6Hz to 21kHz, letting you appreciate details at the lowest lows and highest highs. And for noise cancellation, Dyson uses eight microphones that sample the environment 384,000 times per second. In total, the headphones provide up to 40dB of noise reduction. The Sony XM5s — our current top pick for noise cancellation — also have eight internal mics for ANC.
Finally with microfiber and foam earcups and a headband designed to adapt to all head sizes, they promise comfort too. In a perfect world, they'll offer the comfort of the Bose QuietComfort line with the audio quality of Sony — but we're not rendering a verdict yet.
Swappable ear platesOur tech products are becoming part of our personal style. Your phone case, phone holder, headphones, and earbuds can all affect the impression you make as you move through the world. For listeners who like to show off their personal style, Dyson has added a pop of color and personality to these cans.
Some of the accessories available for the onTrac headphones. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable Close-up showing details of Dyson onTrac headphone earcups. Credit: Some of the accessories available for the onTrac headphones.The ear plates are made from CNC-machined aluminum (some also have a ceramic matte finish), and they can be swapped out. The ear cushions can be changed and the top band comes in a few different colors, letting you truly customize your headphones. Of course, you will have to purchase additional accessories to change the color. The headphones will come in four colorways at launch (copper, aluminum, cinnabar, and black nickel), with more colors for sale from Dyson and other retailers.
A Dyson rep told us they hope to have more color options available in the future. Between all the accessories, Dyson says more than 2,000 unique color combinations are already possible.
The onTrac headphones with ear cup plates removed. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable The headphones have 2,000 possible color combos. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable How do they sound?You'll have to wait for our full review, unfortunately.
When testing headphones, I like to listen to particular Radiohead and Florence & the Machine songs ("National Anthem" and "Between Two Lungs," if you're curious about this millennial's musical tastes). My initial listening sessions have been impressive, as is the noise cancellation. That said, I'm reserving judgment until I've had a few weeks to listen and compare.
I do have one spoiler alert for my upcoming review: The noise cancellation seems top-notch to me so far. I love slipping on noise-cancelling earbuds and headphones to drown out street noise, my partner's work calls, or the sound of Below Deck on the TV in the other room. These headphones instantly put me into a cone of silence.
Trying out the new Dyson noise-cancelling headphones, coming soon. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / MashableWhen I first saw the new Dyson onTrac headphones, I immediately spotted one feature that I didn't love. Personally, I'm not a big fan of products that include the brand name in prominent text. That's true for my clothing, and it's true for my tech. If these headphones didn't boldly say "Dyson" on the headband, I'd like the design a lot more. We'll see if I can get used to this detail as I test them out more.
In the meantime, you can head to Dyson to check out these headphones for yourself. And if you're a ride-or-die Dyson fan who isn't afraid to rep the brand (besides Apple, it's hard to think of a tech brand with more loyalists), you can sign up for updates on the Dyson website.
Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson onTrac Headphones with ANC $499.99 at DysonEditor's note: Check out our oft-updated live blog for all new developments about the Microsoft/CrowdStrike outage.
The recent global IT outage, in which a faulty update to cybersecurity company CrowdStrike's software brought down millions of Windows PCs, caused billions of dollars worth of damage across a number of industries, including airline transport, retail, and banking.
Mac devices, however, were not affected, as Apple's macOS operating system does not grant third party app makers kernel-level access, preventing the type of catastrophic error that resulted in the dreaded "blue screen of death" on Windows PCs.
Now, Microsoft is saying it wasn't able to put the same protections in place due to a long-standing agreement with the European Commission.
In a statement given to the Wall Street Journal, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company "cannot legally wall off its operating system in the same way Apple does because of an understanding it reached with the European Commission following a complaint."
This is referring to a 2009 agreement, in which Microsoft pledged to give third-party security apps developers the same level of access to its Windows OS as Microsoft itself gets. In contrast, Apple took away kernel access from third-party developers back in 2019, when it launched macOS Catalina.
SEE ALSO: Microsoft releases easier CrowdStrike fixThe faulty CrowdStrike update was devastating for IT systems around the globe as it caused a system crash on a multitude of Windows PCs. A fix could not easily be deployed as the systems would immediately crash again on reboot, causing a condition called "reboot loop."
In a letter to customers and partners, CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said it was taking steps to prevent "anything like this from happening again." The question, however, is what steps should Microsoft take to make sure one small update to a third-party software (CrowdStrike's or others') cannot wreak havoc on global IT infrastructure again.
We've asked Microsoft for comment on this issue, and will update this article when we hear back.
Space images never get old, do they?
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory being launched into space, NASA has published 25 brand new images snapped by the telescope — everything from supermassive black holes to supernova remnants. The telescope's X-ray technology allows it to light up regions of space that scientists wouldn't otherwise be able to see, including the matter orbiting black holes and exploding star debris.
“For a quarter century, Chandra has made discovery after amazing discovery,” said Pat Slane, director of the Chandra X-ray Center. “Astronomers have used Chandra to investigate mysteries that we didn’t even know about when we were building the telescope — including exoplanets and dark energy.”
You can see the full gallery here, but we've picked out five images below along with their descriptions to give you a taste.
SEE ALSO: Check out NASA's next space station. It won't orbit Earth. NGC 6872 Credit: NASA"In this composite image, a large spiral galaxy has some of its superheated gas stolen by a smaller, nearby neighbor. Centered in the frame, NGC 6872 is a large spiral galaxy with two elongated arms that stretch toward our upper right and lower left. Near the white dot at the heart of the galaxy, a cloud of neon purple tints the arms, which appear steel blue at the tips. The purple represents hot gas detected by Chandra. Just to the upper left of NGC 6872 is a second spiral galaxy. Its spiraling arms are much smaller, but the bright white dot at its core is quite large, suggesting a supermassive black hole. Some of the steel blue matter and gas from NGC 6872’s lower arm appears to be floating toward the smaller galaxy, likely pulled toward the supermassive black hole."
NGC 1365 Credit: NASA"This composite image features a close look at the supermassive black hole at the heart of the spiral galaxy known as NGC 1365. The brilliant black hole glows white at the center of the image, its outer edges tinted bright blue. From this core, two thick ropey red arms spiral out. Continuing their spiral curves, the arms extend well beyond the edges of the frame. Dotting the image are a series of white spots with neon blue outer edges. These are stars paired with smaller black holes or neutron stars, observed by Chandra."
MSH 15-52 Credit: NASA"In this composite image, a pulsar, a pulsar wind nebula, and a low energy X-ray cloud combine to create an uncanny scene of a skeletal hand preparing to grab a glowing ember. The hand reaches up from the bottom of the image, the ghostly blue flesh and white bones representing pulsar wind nebula X-rays observed by Chandra. A bright white spot in the wrist is the pulsar itself. Just beyond the hand’s fingertips, near our upper right, is a mottled yellow and orange shape that appears to glow from within. This is the low energy X-ray cloud observed by Chandra."
Jupiter Credit: NASA"In this composite image of Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun is set against the blackness of space, flanked by neon purple blobs. Here, Jupiter is presented in exceptionally clear focus. More than a dozen bands of swirling gas streak the surface, each a different texture and shade of grey. The gas giant is encircled by a fine, sky-blue ring, the same color as the large storm which swirls on its surface at our lower right. At the top edge of Jupiter, tilted just to our right of center, is a neon purple strip. A similar, smaller line of neon purple can be found at the bottom edge of the planet. Capping the planet’s magnetic poles, these purple strips represent X-ray auroras, created when high-energy particles collide with gas in the planet’s atmosphere. At our right and left, large hazy blobs of neon purple flank Jupiter, some larger than the gas giant itself. Like the auroras, these purple clouds represent X-rays observed by Chandra."
M16 (Eagle Nebula) Credit: NASA"This composite image features a region of star formation known as the Pillars of Creation. Here, tall columns of grey gas and dust emerge from the bottom edge of the image, stretching toward our upper right. Backed by dark orange and pink mist, the cloudy grey columns are surrounded by dozens of soft, glowing, dots in whites, reds, blues, yellows, and purples. These dots are young stars emitting X-ray and infrared light. Churning with turbulent gas and dust, the columns lean to our right with small offshoots pointing in the same direction. The misty glow, colorful stars, and lifelike grey dust formations combine to create an image of yearning cloud creatures at dusk, reaching for something just out of frame."
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