The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is back on sale, this time for the lowest price we've seen since Black Friday. This particular deal is for the 40mm model and only for the green colorway, but you can always swap out the strap if that's not quite your style. This variant is 30 percent or $90 off the usual price of $300. In other words, it can be yours for $210.
Perhaps a cream strap is more of a match for your look. In that case, you can save on a version of the Galaxy Watch 7 with that too as it has dropped to $240. For the same price, you can get a 44mm Galaxy Watch 7 in green (which has a slightly larger, 1.5-inch screen). That also marks a discount of $90.
Samsung hasn't rocked the boat much with the last few iterations of the Galaxy Watch, but it's largely a case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" even if we do have some reservations about the latest generation of the wearable. We gave the Galaxy Watch 7 a score of 85 in our review. The always-on display's impact on battery life is our main bugbear, while running a finger along the bezel for navigation feels clunky.
That said, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers reliable activity tracking (with automatic logging for walks) and it delivers speedy performance. We appreciate that it looks more like a traditional watch than much of the competition too. While the Google Pixel Watch 3 is our pick for the best smartwatch for Android users, there's still a lot to like about the Galaxy Watch 7 especially at this price.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-samsung-galaxy-watch-7-is-90-off-165020232.html?src=rss
LGs 2025 lineup of its QNED Evo premium LCD TVs will be available to buy starting in May, following an initial reveal at the end of 2024 ahead of CES. The flagship QNED9M is the first QNED (Quantum Nano-Emitting Diode) TV capable of leveraging LGs True Wireless tech to wirelessly transmit and display 4K content, a feature previously exclusive to the companys more premium OLED TVs.
LG might be best known for its OLEDs these days, but the trickling down of the wireless functionality it first introduced back in 2023 with the Zero Connect Box is proof that the company isnt forgetting about its more affordable LCD sets. LG claims that with devices like game consoles or set-top boxes plugged into that external box, you can expect to transmit 4K content at up to 144Hz with no latency or loss in picture and audio quality. In a win for clutter-haters (and who isnt one of those), the only cable youll need to plug into the TV itself is its power cord. Its worth noting that models 55-inch and below top out at a refresh rate of 120Hz.
The QNED Evo lineup is powered by LGs Alpha AI processor. The updated TVs also benefit from LGs Dynamic QNED Color solution, replacing quantum dot tech, which produces more vivid and lifelike colors. QNED TVs combine quantum dot and nanocell technology with Mini LED backlighting that employs thousands of dimming zones. As a result, you get brighter images and higher contrast compared to a more traditional LCD panel, even if its still a step down from the self-lit pixels on an OLED display.
The new AI Magic Remote you get in the box has a dedicated AI button, which when pressed allows you to make personalized voice requests. The baked-in AI tech can also tweak the TV according to your personal audio and visual preferences, enhance faces and key scene elements, and produce virtual 9.1.2 surround sound from the built-in speakers.
The TVs also double as smart home hubs, offering multi-platform connectivity through LG ThinQ and Google Home. AirPlay and Google Cast are from your iPhone or Android device of choice.
With sizes ranging from 50 to 100 inches, the refreshed QNED Evo models roll out next month in the US, but prices still havent been announced.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/lgs-refreshed-qned-evo-lcd-tvs-are-arriving-in-may-161545392.html?src=rss
Google I/O is where we learn about many major features and updates that are coming to the companys ecosystem, including on the Android front. The company is doing something a little different this year. Just ahead of I/O, it will provide a deep dive into the future of Android with a special edition of The Android Show.
This is the first time that Google has held such a showcase before I/O. The company says that people have been asking for more ways to learn about how the Android experience is changing and giving the ecosystem its own spotlight ahead of the main event is one way to do that.
Google says it has so many new things to share" regarding Android, hence this edition of The Android Show (a series that the company has been running for developers on YouTube for a while). The presentation will feature Android Ecosystem president Sameer Samat. Android will still be featured at I/O, where Google is promising to reveal even more special announcements and surprises. Multiple Android keynotes are scheduled for the event.
The Android Show: I/O Edition will air on May 13 at 1PM ET. Google I/O takes place a week later, starting on May 20. As ever, well bring you all the important news and updates you need to know from the event right here on Engadget.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-is-giving-android-its-own-showcase-a-week-before-io-160035457.html?src=rss
Apples AirPods 4 earbuds are on sale via Amazon for $100. This is a record low price and a discount of $30. This particular deal is also available at Walmart and Best Buy.
These earbuds are considered some of the best AirPods available for purchase. The sound quality has been improved over the previous generation, which is nice. The big selling point to me, however, is the refined design. The AirPods 4 feature a legitimately comfortable fit, which is pretty rare in the earbud space. They dont even fall out when moving around, which is something we noted in our official review.
This model features the H2 chip that was originally introduced with the AirPods Pro. The chip allows for some advanced features, like Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. The earbuds also offer Adaptive EQ and 48kHz audio for video calls. Apple has even included the newly-developed Voice Isolation feature that removes ambient noise when talking on the phone.
The AirPods 4 earbuds do not have onboard volume controls and theres no option for wireless charging. Also, this model doesnt include ANC. The ANC-equipped version is on sale today for $149, which is a discount of 17 percent. The high-end AirPods Pro 2 earbuds are also on sale right now for $169. This is a discount of 32 percent, as the regular price is $249.
Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This articleoriginally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-4-fall-back-to-a-record-low-of-100-152310784.html?src=rss
Nothing sub-brand CMF just announced several new products, including a refresh of its flagship smartphone. The Phone Pro 2 looks to be an improvement over its predecessor in every major way.
The company says it's the lightest and slimmest smartphone it has ever designed. Its 7.8mm thin and weighs 6.5 ounces. That may make it the lightest phone Nothing has ever made, but the iPhone 16, for instance, is just six ounces.
The sixth-generation MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G processor includes an 8-core CPU that can run clock speeds up to 2.5GHz, which allows for an uptick in both processing and graphics when compared to the CMF Phone 1. The battery also looks particularly robust, with the company suggesting it can last two full days on a single charge.
Theres a 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED display and a four-camera setup, complete with a 50MP main camera. This system includes a telephoto lens, an ultra-wide and a front-facing selfie camera. Theres also a modular component to the camera array, as users can attach a fisheye and macro lens.
CMF by Nothing
The CMF Phone 2 Pro comes in four colors, but each color offers unique design elements. For instance, the black and light green models feature a back that mimics frosted glass and is bordered with a metallic frame. The orange model boasts a metallic sheen, while the white phone includes a paneled sandstone finish on the back.
The good news? These are budget-friendly phones. The 256GB model costs just $279. However, they look to be tough to get a hold of here in the US. Preorders technically open today, with shipments going out on May 6, but the phone is only available for those in the companys beta program.
CMF by Nothing
Now onto the earbuds, none of which will be available to purchase in the US at launch. The CMF Buds 2 look to be a standard entry-level affair, with ANC and tech that mimics spatial audio. They cost around $50.
The CMF Buds 2 Plus adds hi-res LDAC and a full EQ into the mix. These cost around $65. The CMF Buds 2a are made for budget-conscious consumers, though they still include ANC. They cost around $38. All of these earbuds will be available on May 6.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/nothing-sub-brand-cmf-just-announced-a-new-smartphone-and-earbuds-134517602.html?src=rss
Theres an understandable and undeniable pall hanging over The Last of Us after last weeks shocker. And its the calm before the storm thatll make up the rest of the season: Ellie and Dinas trip to Seattle to track down Joels killers. But amid the sadness of that loss and the frustration of Ellie not getting the support of the town in her revenge plan is the absolute delight of seeing more of Ellie and Dina together.
They were probably the highlight of the first episode their chemistry didnt immediately hit Joel and Ellie levels, but Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced were doing great work together right off the bat. Here, we get to see a lot more of them together, and Dinas combination of playfulness and planning is a solid counter to Ellies dry humor and impulsive nature.
A great example is their trip to Seattle on horseback, as Dina challenges Ellie to name the best band she can think of for every letter of the alphabet, something Ellie eventually has quite enough of. Dina says she can come up with another game, and Ellie immediately quips they could just travel in silence, something Dina ignores and makes Ellie tell her about the first person she had to kill. Just the kind of lighthearted road trip companion Ellie needs right now.
Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO
Dina is at her best in this episode when she barges in on Ellie planning for a midnight escape from the city to bring Abby to justice on her own. Earlier in the episode, the Jackson town council votes down her proposal to assemble a large crew to go after the WLF group primarily because the town was so ravaged by the Infected horde the same day Joel was killed that they cant spare the people. Naturally, Ellie is ready to go rogue and go on her own, but shes not really ready. Dina shows up at her place, teases her for not planning to bring anything but guns, and lays out exactly what they need and what they dont. Oh, and she already has it all ready to go. Its a little too mean to say Ellie is not the brains of the operation, but shed almost certainly be in trouble without Dina.
Beyond her practical skills, Dina flirts with Ellie constantly throughout the episode, asking Ellie to rate their kiss at the New Years Eve dance, teasing her about wanting to wear her Converse on a lengthy journey, whispering in Ellies ear that she is a badass after Ellie makes a dorky, action movie-style proclamation. But perhaps the most telling comment she makes is after they very briefly discuss that NYE kiss Ellie says Dina was high, Dina says Ellie was drunk, and they both agree it didnt really mean anything. They then turn off the light in their tent, and Dina cant help but say she wasnt that high. Ramsey and Merceds version of will they, wont they brings some much-needed levity to their situation.
Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO
And to be clear, levity is much needed. Even though there isnt much real action, the fallout from Joels death and the Infected siege is all over this episode. It starts with Tommy slowly cleaning Joels body before the camera pulls out and shows a whole room of bodies covered with sheets. Thats followed by Ellie awakening in a hospital with a tube coming out of her chest; she then screams bloody murder at remembering what happened to her. Thats not to mention the sunrise visit to Joels grave where Ellie briefly smiles as she puts some coffee beans by his side, or her walk through his empty house where she finds his signature watch, revolver and jacket. Keep the tissues handy.
While Ramseys Ellie is at her best when partnered with Dina, she also does some great work on her own the aforementioned hospital scene is chilling, but my favorite Ellie moments in this episode are when shes trying (and failing) to convince people shes okay. Her speech to the town assembly encouraging them to go after the WLF is not the off-the-cuff anger that Jesse encouraged her to avoid, but you can tell Ellie is just trying to placate the masses instead of saying what she really wants. The same goes for her conversation with Gail the therapist when she leaves the hospital, though Ellie doesnt even try to hide her therapy platitudes behind a veneer of belief.
Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO
Oddly enough, its Seth (the bigot who got bowled over by Joel in episode one) who says what Ellie is really feeling, interrupting the meeting when someone objects to the plan to go to Seattle. Seth is enraged by what happened to a member of his community and thinks they should pursue justice at any cost. Its far from the most measured take, but it certainly feels like the most honest.
Thus its not a huge surprise when hes ready to help Ellie and Dina as they slip out of town, offering them a load of supplies and insisting Ellie take his better rifle. He says hed go with them except for catching some friendly fire during the Infected battle, to which Ellie replies are you sure it was friendly? Shes clearly not ready to forgive him for his words, but a better gun, some supplies and a shared desire for revenge gets her close enough. She shakes his offered hand as they ride out of town.
Infected Score: 0/10
The showrunners say season two will have more Infected than season one lets see if theyre sticking to their word.
No Infected to be seen here, aside from some charred corpses around Jackson. Thats just fine with me after last weeks showdown.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-last-of-us-season-two-the-path-recap-the-calm-after-the-storm-before-the-storm-120036861.html?src=rss
By all accounts, I am a good cook. Yet in all my years, I don't think I've ever made a wonderful batch of rice on the stovetop. Overcooking, undercooking, scorching; you name it, Ive done it. Those of us who grew up watching Alton Brown's insightful Good Eats cooking show may cling to the rule against bringing "unitaskers" into our kitchens, but I've decided that in order to more optimally enjoy my katsu, curries and burritos, it's time to bring in some specialized help.A rice cooker frees up your attention to do the rest of your food prep instead of babying your grains or abandoning them to a crispy, crunchy fate. I tested several options to find the best rice cookers that deliver delicious, fluffy rice every time, because life's too short to settle for disappointing food.
Best rice cookers for 2025
How we test rice cookers
Since rice is a foundation for so many different cuisines, I placed a high value on a machines ability to cook different grain types well. I started testing each rice cooker by making a Japanese style, sushi-grade white rice. The appliances that delivered tasty results moved on to the brown rice round, then the top performers made long-grain white basmati as a final challenge. Some models I tested included a steamer basket, but I didn't try all of them out. This is a rice-only party. Multi-cookers and steaming functions are merely a nice bonus in these, although if that's a feature you want, an instant pot might be more your jam.
While I weighed rice tastiness and texture as the most important criteria, I also assessed how easy the machines were to use and to clean. Because a cool piece of gear that sits in your cabinet gathering dust is a cool, but ultimately useless piece of gear. I limited my testing to models retailing for less than $300, which felt like the most I could recommend investing in a specialized appliance, and value for cost wound up being the distinguishing point for my top picks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/best-rice-cooker-120015478.html?src=rss
The UK's Children's Commissioner is calling for a ban on AI deepfake apps that create nude or sexual images of children, according to a new report. It states that such "nudification" apps have become so prevalent that many girls have stopped posting photos on social media. And though creating or uploading CSAM images is illegal, apps used to create deepfake nude images are still legal.
"Children have told me they are frightened by the very idea of this technology even being available, let alone used. They fear that anyone a stranger, a classmate, or even a friend could use a smartphone as a way of manipulating them by creating a naked image using these bespoke apps." said Childrens Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza. "There is no positive reason for these [apps] to exist."
De Souza pointed out that nudification AI apps are widely available on mainstream platforms, including the largest search engines and app stores. At the same time, they "disproportionately target girls and young women, and many tools appear only to work on female bodies." She added that young people are demanding action to take action against the misuse of such tools.
To that end, de Souza is calling on the government to introduce a total ban on apps that use artificial intelligence to generate sexually explicit deepfakes. She also wants the government to create legal responsibilities for GenAI app developers to identify the risks their products pose to children, establish effective systems to remove CSAM from the internet and recognize deepfake sexual abuse as a form of violence against women and girls.
The UK has already taken steps to ban such technology by introducing new criminal offenses for producing or sharing sexually explicit deepfakes. It also announced its intention to make it a criminal offense if a person takes intimate photos or video without consent. However, the Children's Commissioner is focused more specifically on the harm such technology can do to young people, noting that there is a link between deepfake abuse and suicidal ideation and PTSD, as The Guardian pointed out.
"Even before any controversy came out, I could already tell what it was going to be used for, and it was not going to be good things. I could already tell it was gonna be a technological wonder that's going to be abused," said one 16-year-old girl surveyed by the Commissioner.
In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 or you can simply dial 988. Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741 (US), 686868 (Canada), or 85258 (UK). Wikipedia maintains a list of crisis lines for people outside of those countries.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/uk-regulator-wants-to-ban-apps-that-can-make-deepfake-nude-images-of-children-110924095.html?src=rss
Forza Horizon 5 is the entire reason I have an Xbox Series S. Im not really a car guy in real life if money, practicality and burning through fossil fuels were less of a concern, Id get a fun hot hatch with a stick, for sure. I dont care about luxuries or exotics, and I drive a 12-year-old Prius C in real life. But Forza Horizon 5 so skillfully melds open-world exploration, intense competition and replayability while also letting me try out dozens of cars Ive daydreamed about driving that it felt like a must-buy.
My colleague Jess Conditts review of Forza Horizon 5 in 2021 pushed me over the edge. A couple months later, I got my hands on my first Xbox console and had put a startling amount of time into the game; I was far more addicted than I expected and having an absolute blast. In the three-plus years since, I have fallen off it a bit. Its not a daily or weekly play at this point, but there are definitely times where it gets its hooks back into me and I hit my favorite tracks, try different cars or dive into the weekly challenges.
And now, Forza Horizon 5 is available on the PS5, my preferred console. Its probably the biggest Xbox-born franchise to go cross-platform at this point and just the latest example of how Microsoft appears to be done thinking about console exclusives. More broadly, the company has given plenty of signs that consoles that sit under your TV arent its main priority moving a high-profile game like Forza Horizon 5 is just another example.
It works for me, though, because it means I really dont need an Xbox anymore. I might keep it around for a bit, because Im a pack rat and there are still a handful of titles on Game Pass Id like to play at some point. But there are so few games that one needs an Xbox for at this point that I could dump it and really not miss much of a beat there are already tons of games Ill never get around to without worrying about Game Pass.
And unsurprisingly, Forza Horizon 5 runs perfectly on the PS5. Everything that makes the game great on the Xbox shows up here, and I generally prefer the DualSense controller over the Xbox one. The triggers feel great for pumping the gas and brakes, and the haptic feedback is generally better too. Im a little sad to give up all my progression on the Xbox version specifically my garage full of cars Ive earned over the last few years. But, its also fun to start fresh and have a reason to unlock everything again and start fresh on the games many missions.
Even though this game is three and a half years old, its still worth picking up now. Developer Playground Games has been consistently adding new content, including the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions from 2022 and 2023. And along with the PS5 launch, theres a new Horizon Realms feature (coming to all platforms) that rounds up 11 limited-time evolving world areas that were previously featured in seasonal updates. Im not expecting much more in the way of major content updates at this point, but if youre new to the game on PS5 there is more than enough to keep you busy for a long time.
Playground Games
Visually, the game matches its Xbox Series X counterpart, with 60 FPS performance mode and 30 FPS graphics mode. Its an upgrade over the Series S version Ive spent so much time with, as that console maxes out at 1440p, and there are graphical upgrades that go beyond just resolution. But Forza Horizon 5 is an absolutely gorgeous game regardless of what console youre playing on, and Im not a pixel junkie. If you have the game already on an Xbox console, theres no real reason to buy it on the PS5 unless youre looking to streamline how much is under your TV.
As it turns out, thats where Im at right now. I need to cut back on my hoarding tendencies, and as much as I appreciate the tiny footprint of the Xbox Series S and the solid selection of Game Pass titles, I do not have unlimited space or time. I really appreciate what I got out of this little console over the years, but I dont think its a stretch to say that 75 percent of the time I used the Series S as a Forza machine. But hey, Microsoft got its cash from me and I got years of enjoyment, so Im not mad. I just hope if theres another Forza Horizon game in the future that it hits the PlayStation at the same time as the Xbox assuming there still is a console called Xbox, that is.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/forza-horizon-5-is-on-the-ps5-so-i-no-longer-need-an-xbox-110016202.html?src=rss
A Los Angeles-based startup is bringing an unexpected twist to the fertility industry with a social impact model typically seen in consumer goods. Cofertility's Split program allows women to freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the retrieved eggs to families who cannot otherwise conceive. This innovative approach transforms the traditional egg donation process, which has historically been criticized for commodifying women's bodies and reproductive capabilities.For people who want to preserve all of their eggs for their own use, the company also offers a 'Keep' program at a cost, while still providing community access and preferential storage rates. Cofertility recently secured Series A funding of USD 7.25 million. The capital will fuel expansion of Cofertility's proprietary platform, which handles everything from matching donors with recipients to managing the complex fertility journeys of its members.TREND BITEWith the average age of first-time mothers continuing to climb in developed countries, demand is growing for life-stage flexibility and reproductive agency. Meanwhile, healthcare is evolving from transactional to relational. Today's consumers especially Millennials and Gen Z increasingly expect healthcare solutions to reflect their values.Cofertility is tapping into those broader cultural shifts by moving fertility from a medicalized, often opaque and costly journey, to something more values-driven, community-oriented and transparent. Through no-cost options via the Split model, it democratizes access to egg freezing historically an expensive and exclusive option while building an emotionally powerful value exchange around helping others. The platform isn't just about eggs it's about empowerment, equity and agency.
