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The 2016 election is almost six years in the past, but the results are still the most mind-boggling for Facebook parent company Meta. A years-long legal battle over the Cambridge Analytica scandal has put CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the congressional hot seat and forced numerous changes to Facebook’s privacy and security features. One of the most serious cases against Meta appears to be headed for settlement. The company has entered into a preliminary agreement in San Francisco federal court that will protect Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg from testifying.
Facebook exploded in popularity in the mid-2000s, eventually becoming the world’s largest social network. With all these users, the site was a source of information during the 2016 election cycle. The UK political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica’s collection of data on millions of Facebook users has hit the company hard, but the fallout has been minimal.
In the prime days of 2016, Facebook allowed third parties deep access to its platform. Cambridge Analytica used this access to collect data on approximately 50 million users (down from initial estimates of 87 million). The firm, which worked with then-candidate Donald Trump’s campaign, used the data to target ads and develop profiles of potential voters. There were also accusations of promoting racial bias to suppress black voters.
The lawsuit in the Northern District of California alleges that Facebook acted illegally by failing to protect user data. Zuckerberg and co have been reluctant to talk about the issue publicly, except for his 2018 visit to Congress. The data collected by Cambridge Analytica is not only about US-based users, but privacy regulators and legislatures in other countries haven’t even seen Zuckerberg.
The settlement, the details of which are still under seal, will spare Zuckerberg and Sandberg hours of sworn testimony about the company’s operations. Even if they were forced to testify, they probably wouldn’t claim that Facebook’s tools were being used to exfiltrate mountains of data on Facebook users.
The settlement was agreed in principle, and both Meta and the state asked for a 60-day break in the case to finalize the details. So, later this year, we’ll likely hear what it took to move the case. Hopefully, the financial penalty is slightly higher than the £500,000 UK fine. Cambridge Analytica faced collapse. It was discontinued in 2018, but several companies related to Cambridge Analytica still exist.
Amazon is now selling the 256GB Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet for just under $499.99 if you place your order soon. In fact, it needs to be really soon — Amazon says this price ends at midnight tonight.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet would normally sell for around $680 on Amazon, but those who order now will pay just $499.99, more than a quarter off and a savings of over $180. No discount codes or on-screen coupons required. Just order as you normally would and you’re good to go. You can even take delivery of your new Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet as early as tomorrow.
Buy: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE 12.4” 256GB WiFi Android Tablet w/ S Pen from Amazon: $499.99 | Original price: $680
A large 12.4-inch display brings your content to life indoors or out in bright colors, making the Samsung Galaxy S7 FE a great tablet for study time or a quick entertainment break.
At the time of writing, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet has over 3,200 reviews on Amazon with a combined rating of 4.7 stars out of a possible five. That’s a great score, and one that will give you a lot of insight into how popular this tablet is. This model is also the 256GB version, which gives you enough space for apps, media and games.
The large 12.4-inch display is great for viewing content and you also get an S Pen in the box for taking notes and drawing. All of that is now available with a huge discount, but again, work now. You don’t have many days left.
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Amazon’s new Android Days event is bringing really big deals on top Android phones We’ve already told you about the best-ever price for the new Google Pixel 6a, but now it’s time to shift focus to Samsung devices. The Galaxy S22 line has received some of its biggest price cuts to date.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra costs as low as $929, which means it’s discounted by $270. $250 off the Galaxy S22+ to $749 and $150 off the regular Galaxy S22 to $649. These are discounts on the 128GB models, but it looks like you’ll get similar price drops for 256GB and other storage options as well. Multiple colors are discounted.
I’m not sure I want to tell you about the goodness of this price. Samsung’s Galaxy S22 line is excellent And probably the phone we’ve used the most around the DL office this year. I’m a big fan of the Galaxy S22+, thanks to its battery life, camera, fit-and-finish and performance. Of course, the Ultra is a do-it-all phone with the S Pen and its own unique look for power users. Just being straight – I’d probably avoid the regular S22, as its battery life is borderline awful.
Here are the links to get you a Galaxy S22, S22+, or Galaxy S22 Ultra for cheap:
Greetings to all. This week we got a quick boost of space weather, just in time for Monday’s Artemis 1 launch. We have new data from Persistence, and regularly the record-breaking James Webb Space Telescope — surprise! – broke another record. We also salute the late, great Star Trek Former student Nichelle Nichols.
The solar climate continues to grow
Yesterday afternoon, a magnetic filament moved over the Sun, releasing a partial halo coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. It will arrive on Monday, but it will likely be a noticeable bump. NOAA gives a 50-50 chance that it will produce a mild geomagnetic storm, producing auroras around the Arctic Circle. So far, no one has predicted any risk to the Artemis launch.
Today’s space climate is much less mild, and changing rapidly. This morning, SpaceWeather.com reported that “Sunspot AR3089 is cracking in a series of M-class solar flares. The strongest yet (26 Aug @ 1216 UT) M7 registered and caused a shortwave radio blackout over much of Europe and Africa.” NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured one of these extreme UV flashes, which you can see here:
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an extreme UV flash from sunspot AR3089, shown below left. Photo: NASA SDO, via SpaceWeather.com
We still don’t know if AR3089 will come with an associated CME. Meanwhile, the report concludes, “AR3089 appears to be on the verge of producing an X-flare.” SOHO will become clearer with new data from the coronagraph.
Artemis 1 launches on Monday
Artemis 1 launch is fast approaching. On Monday, NASA’s long-delayed Space Launch System will lift off from Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It’s an uncrewed mission—but the rocket’s Orion capsule will still carry three unique passengers.
We’ve written about two of them before: the torsos of two female figurines named Helga and Zohar. Most crash test dummies are male-bodied, so most safety gear is sized for men. Unfortunately, this means that women are disproportionately likely to be injured during an accident or mishap. Helga and Zohar will be testing safety gear and a shiny new radiation protection jacket, for women of all sizes. That in itself is cool enough. But we’re happy to report that the launch will carry a third passenger: a mannequin named Commander Munikin Campos, who will lead the mission.
Final parenthesis for names #Artemis Munikin Challenge Live:
Delos: Nostalgic, romantic. The island where Apollo and Artemis were born, according to Greek myth.
Campos: Resourceful, problem solver. Dedicated to Arturo Campos, a key player in bringing Apollo 13 home.
The mannequin commander’s name is a nod to NASA electrical engineer Arturo Campos, whose contingency planning helped get the Apollo 13 astronauts home safely. Aboard Orion, the mannequin will test the Orion Crew Survival System, the spacesuits worn by Artemis astronauts during launch and landing.
Artemis 1 will not touch the moon. Instead, it’s bound for lunar orbit, where the Orion capsule will spend several weeks in orbit before splashing into the Pacific Ocean. NASA is streaming the launch, and Pad 39B’s YouTube stream is already live.
Break a leg, guys.
JWST releases its largest night sky image yet
The Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey (CEERS) has released the largest ever image of the night sky — and it’s from the James Webb Space Telescope. The new starfield data comes from Webb’s NIRCam and MIRI instruments. It’s a gorgeous composite shot, and it’s so new that scientists are still poring over it to make their reports.
According to the team, these images “cover the near-infrared to mid-infrared wavelengths of the EGS field — a small patch of sky near the handle of the Big Dipper.” The researchers have made the ultra-high-resolution images available on their Github for anyone who wants to poke around. This release, which the team calls Epoch 1, covers less than half of the total survey area of the CEERS survey, so it should yield larger-scale images in the future when the institute completes its work.
Web detects carbon dioxide in other planets’ atmospheres
Speaking of things named 39B, we’ve written about exoplanet WASP-39 b before. It is a so-called “hot Jupiter” – a gas giant roughly the size of Jupiter, orbiting very close to its host star. In fact, WASP-39 b is about 8 times closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun, and the planet’s “year” is only four days long. Hot Jupiters seem fairly common in the universe, and scientists are still figuring out why our own solar system lacks one.
However, Web Telescope can tell something about it. For the first time, JWST has detected carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of another planet.
Credit: Illustration: NASA, ESA, CSA, and L. Hustak (STScI); Science: JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team
We have previously detected atmospheric water vapor, sodium and potassium, but never picked up CO2 Before. So how did we do it this time? We get help from the planet’s orbit, which is “edge” with respect to Earth. In a blog post, NASA explains: “Because different gases absorb different color combinations, researchers can analyze small differences in the brightness of transmitted light across a spectrum of wavelengths to determine exactly what an atmosphere is made of.”
Perseverance finds more evidence of ancient water on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover and its companion space copter, Ingenuity, have shaken off some winter dust. This week, NASA announced that the rover found that the floor of Jezero Crater is composed of volcanic rock that has interacted with water. Two separate scientific papers detail the findings.
“One of the great values of the volcanic rocks we have collected is that they will tell us when the lake was present in Jezero. We know it was there more recently than the crater floor rocks,” said Ken Farley, Caltech’s Persistence Project Scientist, lead author of one of the reports. “This will address some key questions: When was the Martian climate conducive to surface lakes and rivers, and when did it change to the very cold and dry conditions we have today?”
To make observations, scientists used onboard instruments, including Perseverance’s SuperCam laser and a ground-penetrating radar called RIMFAX (Radar Imager for the Mars Subsurface Experiment).
Nichelle Nichols will rest in the stars
When the Vulcan Center rocket makes its maiden flight later this year, it will be carrying some particularly valuable cargo. The primary mission of the rocket is to introduce astrobotic technology Peregrine The lunar rover, however, will also carry its remains Star Trek Starring Nichelle Nichols.
Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock. Copyright: Paramount Pictures
On-screen, Nichols is best known for her role as Nyota Uhura in the 1966 television series. Star Trek. Nichols originated the part and returned to the character for it Star Trek: The Animated Seriessix Star Trek Feature film, a Futurama episodes, various fan-made projects, and several video games over the past 30 years.
Nichols portrayed the first interracial kiss in US television history with William Shatner. Her role as Uhura inspired Whoopi Goldberg’s portrayal of Guinan, as well as the NASA astronaut (and fellow Star Trek Actor!) Mae Jamieson. Following in Nichols’ trailblazing tradition, Jamison herself became the first black woman in space as well as the first person to be an astronaut and Star Trek the actor
Sophia, Nichelle Nichols on NASA’s Flying Telescope. As we mentioned in 2015: The observant reader may notice in the image below that Lt. Uhura was apparently accompanied by several trebles, which leaves some questions about the plane’s ultimate fate. Photo: NASA/Nichelle Nichols
Off-screen, Nichols worked with NASA over the years to recruit various astronauts, including Sally Ride and Charles Bolden. Even late in life, Nichols was a passionate advocate for space exploration and astronomy. He flew a dual science and outreach mission on SOFIA, NASA’s flying telescope, in 2015. And now, a part of him will rest forever in the starlight. Farewell to an icon.
Skywatchers Corner
As August approaches, why not try a little stargazing? At this time of year, the constellation Cygnus is a beautiful telescope target. Also, this weekend is the new moon. Skywatchers don’t have to deal with moonlight.
NASA skywatching expert Preston Dyches explains that Cygnus, the swan, flies high in the eastern sky after dark. Cygnus has an overall shape similar to a T or cross and has a star pattern sometimes called the “Northern Cross”.
The constellation Cygnus represents a beautiful swan across the dusty lanes of the Milky Way. Credit: NASA/Preston Dyches
Cygnus is anchored by its bright star, Deneb, which represents the swan’s tail. Brilliant Deneb is the northernmost of the three constellations of the Summer Triangle and is also visible through light pollution. If Deneb is the tail, then the double star Albirio is its beak. Albireo is great for stargazing, as it shows beautiful blue and gold colors through most ordinary telescopes.
Look for Denebi, the northernmost of the three bright stars that make up the summer triangle. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Cygnus lies in the plane of the Milky Way, so it is dense with unique features, including bright stars, dark dust clouds, the North America Nebula, the Veil Nebula, and the Blinking Planetary Nebula.
That’s all for this week, folks. We’ll be watching the Artemis launch livestream with you on Monday. See you again soon!
Apple suppliers are set to begin mass production of new iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models this year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a series of tweets, Kuo said the new devices will likely continue to use M2 chips based on the 5nm process used to date.
Kuo said he doesn’t expect TSMC, Apple’s chipmaker, to be ready to make 3nm chips until January 2023, meaning they’ll be too late for Apple’s new iPad Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro. iPad Pro is expected to be announced already in October alongside the release of iPadOS 16. However, it is still unclear when the new MacBook Pros will arrive, although an October release would make sense there as well.
(1/4) EMS must buy components from October for products that will enter mass production in 4Q22, but the 3nm chips won’t be available until January 2023. So I think the new MacBook Pro and iPad Pro, which will enter mass production in 4Q22, adopt the new but unlikely 3nm processor. https://t.co/8JR4LOHFVs
The new MacBook Pros are expected to feature the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, with the current models using the M1 Pro and M1 Max parts. It was suggested that a 3nm manufacturing process could be used, but this now seems unlikely.
Apple’s A17 chip, set to power the iPhone 15 in September 2023, is already expected to use that process.
A 3nm manufacturing process does not necessarily mean that the chips will be significantly faster, although the reduction in power consumption and heat generated often allows the chips to run faster.
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Twitter announced today that it is introducing podcasts to its platforms through a redesigned Spaces tab According to Twitter, less than half of its users in the US even listen to podcasts monthly, so instead of forcing them to leave the platform, it’s bringing podcasts to them. It’s very important, Twitter!
Interestingly, Twitter will have a fun way of recommending podcasts you should check out. For example, if you regularly interact with Vox Media, Twitter will recommend Vox podcasts to you. Makes sense to me.
These new hubs will also feature the most popular and engaging podcasts from around the world Our internal research indicates that 45% of people who use Twitter in the US also listen to podcasts monthly, so we’ll automatically recommend compelling podcasts to help people easily find and listen to the topics they want to hear more about. For example, if someone regularly interacts with Vox content on Twitter, they’ll likely see a Vox podcast in a Spaces hub.
The redesigned Space tab, home to podcasts, is now live for a select number of users on iOS and Android in the US. Look for it to hit your device at some point. As for me, I’ve never opened the Space tab and I still don’t want to. I’m just like that, you know?
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Google closed its $2.1 billion Fitbit acquisition in early 2021, but we’re already seeing the results. Fitbit has announced two new smartwatches (plus a fitness tracker) that feature a new version of Fitbit OS with deeper integration with Google services and a more Google-y design. They will cost you, though. The new Sense 2 costs $299.95 and the Versa 4 costs $229.95.
Unlike most smartwatches, Fitbit focuses on battery life. Both new watches can last about six days on a charge, meaning you won’t have to take them off as often. It’s a key part of Fitbit’s health and fitness pitch. Because the more you wear the watch, the more data they can feed into Fitbit’s algorithms.
Fitbit calls its “all-day body-response” tracking a major innovation in the Sense 2. It uses a continuous electrodermal activity (CEDA), heart rate sensor and skin temperature to monitor stress. There is also an EKG to monitor for atrial fibrillation. Fitbit says it redesigned the Sense 2 to integrate the sensor electrodes in a more streamlined fashion. So, it looks more like an Apple Watch, if that’s possible.
The Sense 2 still supports all the usual workout features that made Fitbit famous, but that’s the primary focus of the cheaper Versa 4. However, it still has the basics like heart rate tracking and a blood oxygen sensor. It comes in more funky colors than the Sense 2.
Fitbit includes a 90-day trial of Fitbit Premium, which otherwise costs $10 per month. The service also offers sleep tools, mindfulness exercises, Fitbit’s daily fitness score, and long-term data trends. In my experience, this subscription isn’t worth it unless you’re really into fitness and you like Fitbit’s “holistic” approach. Perhaps most interestingly, the new smartwatches are getting access to Google Maps and Google Wallet for contactless payments — good news, fitness buff or not. Google and Fitbit won’t say when these apps will arrive, but it’s happening “soon.”
The Sense 2 has a raft of fitness sensors
The $99.95 Inspire 3 fitness tracker is also getting some significant updates. While it’s less capable than the company’s smartwatches, it now has a full-color OLED screen and a blood oxygen sensor to go along with the heart rate monitor. Although it can last up to 10 days on a single charge. The Inspire 3 and new smartwatches are available for pre-order today If you’re looking for a watch with less of a fitness focus, you might want to wait for the Pixel Watch, which is expected to launch later this year. It will run the full Wear OS software instead of Fitbit OS. That means it won’t last nearly as long on a charge.
Apple today released the first beta of iPadOS 16.1 and also confirmed that iPadOS 16 will not release in September as originally expected.
We’ve been hearing for weeks now that Apple might delay iPadOS 16 and now it’s been made official.
TechCrunch With reports that iPadOS 16.0 will never actually ship, iPadOS 16.1 will arrive first in October. As a result, we can probably expect iOS 16.1 to be released in October as well.
This is a particularly big year for iPadOS. As our own platform with features designed specifically for iPad, we have the flexibility to deliver iPadOS on our own schedule. This fall, iPadOS will ship after iOS as version 16.1 in a free software update.
Apple was reportedly struggling to get iPadOS 16 in a fit state for its expected release in September, thanks in no small way to Stage Manager proving problematic. The new multitasking system has come in for criticism from many, and Apple is said to be improving things with iPadOS 16.1.
The biggest update this time around is the ability to resurrect the Stage Manager side rail with a gesture when the feature is full screen. Other updates including 16.1 are the standard spate of beta bug updates
The news comes as Apple released the seventh beta of iOS 16, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 to developers ahead of their September release.
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Time can really fly when it’s summer, product events pop up, travel happens, and everywhere you turn there’s another device to add to the review list. I’m mentioning all of them because we gave you our “first listen” thoughts on the Google Pixel Buds Pro about a month ago. I have no idea where the last few weeks went, but I can imagine some of you wanting to get the final thoughts on whether or not Google nailed it with their most expensive earbuds yet.
What are Pixel Buds Pro?
To quickly recap, the Pixel Buds Pro are Google’s latest earbuds and the first truly wireless earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). They can also be quite expensive at $199.99. They come in four colors: Charcoal, Lemongrass, Coral and Mist.
Google rates these new Pixel Buds Pro to have up to 31 hours of battery life with ANC off and up to 20 hours of battery life with it on, in which case you’ll get extra charge from the battery. During a single listening session, this means 11 hours (ANC off) or 7 hours (ANC on) of use.
Each bud features touch controls including forward or backward swipe (volume up or down), single/double/triple tap and a long-press or touch and hold. Nothing is customizable beyond touch and hold, where you can set that action to toggle Google Assistant or ANC settings. These settings may be different for each bud.
The included case has wireless charging and also charges via the USB-C port. Connection to your phone or computer is via Bluetooth 5.0, the bud has IPX4 water resistance (IPX2 in the case), and 3 microphones with wind-blocking mesh covers to aid your conversations. You also get access to a Pixel Buds app that lets you control the touch controls I mentioned, turn the Smart Volume EQ setting on or off, access multipoint and audio switch toggles, and more.
Finally, ANC options include turning ANC on or off as well as a transparency mode. You know, this mode tries to amplify noise in the world in real-time to safely cross the street or carry on a conversation from someone in the room with you.
So, are the Pixel Buds Pro any better?
For this review period, I used two different pairs of Pixel Buds Pro, the charcoal pair that Google sent me to test, and a fog pair that I bought ahead of time. For the first week or two I used the charcoal pair and have been on the mist pair ever since. There is no difference between the two other than the exterior color. They have the same case, same set of features and sound the same to my ears.
How do they fit?
I’m going to hunt down my “first listen” here and say that I still think these sounds pretty awesome. Again, though, Google’s Pixel Buds seem to fit my ears perfectly out of the box, and that doesn’t change with the Pixel Buds Pro. The sound and fit experience may be different for you, but I really couldn’t ask for a better out-of-box start.
The fit, which doesn’t use any kind of wing tips (it comes with a difference in ear tip sizes), magically fits into my ears and barely moves or rattles. I’ve worked out at the gym, taken them for runs, used them in my office, and worked outside the home and still haven’t dropped a bud. I really don’t think I could have gone any other way for them to fall unless I was trying to hang upside down or something. I’m not going to do it – I’ll get old and hurt myself.
If there’s any negative about how the Pixel Buds Pro fit, it’s probably their overall size. They’re big ol’ buds, which I get because of the ANC and battery, but they’re beefy. Previous Pixel Buds had this lightness that allowed me to wear them for long periods of time without any fatigue. For several weeks now, I’ve definitely experienced some ear fatigue after extended listening (an hour or more). I may be able to get more used to their size with daily long listens or their weight and bulk may always give me some trouble. Still hard to know.
So while the Pixel Buds Pro fit like a glove out of the box, and no matter what I do while wearing them, they’re a bit bulky and heavy on my ears. They may sound great, but wearing them for hours can be tiring.
Speaking of how they sound…
Several weeks into this test and my thoughts on how the Pixel Buds Pro sounds similar to what I originally said right out of the gate. In case you missed it, here’s the bulk of that initial listen:
The bass has a smooth, deep depth that sustains in a truly satisfying way that most true wireless earbuds can’t. The highs have a richness and clarity that is intoxicating. There’s an excitement when you throw a big booming song into the Buds Pro. Yes, I gave The Weeknd’s “High For This” my usual test and it passed with flying colors. I threw a bunch of Labrinth and his wild digital beats and heavy bass at them, and came away happy again. I brought out Jeff Buckley for the first time in a while to feel that emotion and your boy is tearing up now. OK, that’s a bit much. The old camp, after overplaying the last two years, sounded fresh again. It’s heady sound at best.
I’ve since added old Dashboard Confessional “Unplugged,” Ray LaMontagne, Ghostface Killah, and more to this Buds Pro, and my takeaway remains that I love the sound. If I want clear rappers, vibrant elegance or one of the best rappers ever to bless my ears, I’ll happily reach for the Pixel Buds Pro and turn on the ANC. Nothing sounds fake or anything very Distorts sound like digital or ANC in an uncomfortable way that an algorithm thinks you might enjoy.
For sessions where I want lots of pleasant audio and the outside world to disappear somewhat, I’ll probably continue to use the Pixel Bud Pro. I think when I’m in the office or on the plane or on the couch at night when my wife swallows the Virgin River and I need a way to be present, I’ll use these. For more active experiences, such as when out running, I think the weight and size may keep them away from my ears, and I’ll probably go back to my cheaper Pixel Buds sometimes.
Other things I like
battery life: I haven’t had any problems with battery life, probably because I never exceed the battery limit when using a pair of earbuds. I don’t live a life that requires earbuds for more than an hour or an hour and a half max. I work from home, don’t commute, and am rarely out in public by myself so wearing earbuds isn’t something I do very often. But when I wear these, I’m getting close to what Google promises for battery estimates. I’ve had ANC on for the past 30 minutes and I’m down 7%. Calculate it and I’ll use 7 hours before I die. With the ANC off, my tests always came in around the 11-hour mark.
Touch control: Google has brought forward and backward volume controls that I missed while using the A-series. These touch controls are very good and really just work. They are not sensitive yet very Sensitive to the point of being annoying. Taps are precise, swipes give you easy access to volume, and long presses to switch ANC modes or fire up Assistant are no problem. These are the best touch controls in the business (yet).
case: The case that Google has used for the Pixel Buds Pro is very similar to the case for the Pixel Buds (2nd Gen). That’s a good thing, since this case is addictively clicky and flippy, it charges quickly, and it has a nice weight to it. When you hold these buds or slip them into a pocket or bag, they feel premium, like you’re getting what you’re worth. The addition of wireless charging is also a nice bonus.
Firmware update: In this first month of ownership, Google has already sent at least two or three updates to the Pixel Buds Pro. If there’s one thing you know you’ll get with a Pixel product, it’s great software support. Assuming there are no hardware flaws with the Pixel Buds Pro, they should only get better. it’s exciting
Google Assistant: It works really well on these earbuds. You can say “OK, Google” without yelling and it will light up very quickly While I don’t use it for a ton of action, setting reminders, asking about my day, or checking notifications, these work as seamlessly as a Nest hub or my phone during my day.
Multipoint connection: Pixel Buds Pro allows you to connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and will intelligently or automatically try to switch to one of the devices when a call comes in. You can switch between the two as quickly as an audio source. In my limited testing (because I rarely make or receive calls), it works well. If anything I can tell you that switching media sources is very easy and works as advertised.
call: Here’s a flaw in my review of the earbuds, and I know you’ll be upset about this, but yeah, I’ve only made a few calls on them and can’t possibly offer you the right take. Unfortunately, I just don’t call or talk to many people on the phone. However, I had a long talk with my father about this and could hear him clearly. He also did not say anything about the connection being weak. This is just one of those areas where you have to rely on other reviews and what they say. apologizing
What could use some work?
Real EQ settings or presets: Google may one day give us EQ settings for Pixel Buds, but they haven’t yet And I’m well aware that most phones from companies like Samsung have built-in EQ options, so maybe Google doesn’t need to. But I want to offer some preset or something for pixel bud app. When you listen to Pixel Buds Pro, you have no control over the sound. There is a “Volume EQ” option, but its only function is to “enhance bass and treble frequencies at low volume levels.” I want to be able to change the sound more depending on my style or type of music.
Transparency mode is fine: Clarity mode is supposed to help you hear your surroundings while giving you a high-end audio experience It worked fine for me during testing. For one, there’s a noticeable hum when the mode is on, presumably because it’s actively listening for your surroundings. But sounds like a person talking or driving come out incoherently For example, as I’m writing this review, I’m sitting outside and my wife is watering her flowers and (I think) talking to me. The conversation is mostly one-sided because I can’t hear her, the hose, or any other sounds she’s making. Google will likely continue to tweak it, so I’ll give them a chance to do so.
What do we buy?
As mentioned above, I’ve already purchased a pair and plan to use the Pixel Buds Pro when I need a high-end audio experience in wireless form. And while they worked fine during my workouts or runs or commutes, their weight and softness was a bit tiresome at times. However, I’ll keep testing in that situation to see if my ears get used to them, because the sound is pretty good and I don’t want to go back to the lower-end Pixel Buds A sound, even if they do fit lighter.
For you, the questions probably start with your budget. At $199, these aren’t cheap. You get many of the high-end features you’d expect for $200, along with ongoing software support They also clock in at $30 less than Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. My ears love them and for the price, I think they are worth it.
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The age of dinosaurs lasted 165 million years, but that changed one lucky spring day 66 million years ago. Scientists have long known that a large object hit the region we now know as the Yucatan Peninsula, causing a mass extinction that ended the dinosaurs’ reign on Earth. After the discovery of a second impact crater off the coast of Africa, we may have to rethink the end of the Cretaceous period.
Scientists call the potential impact structure a nadir crater. They say it formed around the same time as the famous 100-mile-wide Chicxulub crater in the Gulf of Mexico. The new crater is smaller, about 5 miles in diameter, and is covered by several hundred feet of sediment. It was discovered by accident when researcher Wisdean Nicholson of Heriot-Watt University used seismic data to study the tectonic plate divide between South America and Africa. And there it was – something that looked a lot like an impact crater.
The newly published study says the structure has all the typical features of an impact crater, with a long rim and a central rise. The Chicxulub impact was undoubtedly the primary threat to life on Earth 66 million years ago. That event rained fire on much of Earth and blotted out the Sun for years, but a second major impact certainly didn’t help matters. The Nadir impactor was probably about 1,300 feet (400 m) across and sank through half a mile of water before hitting Bedrow.
Nicholson told CNN that such an impact could cause powerful earthquakes across Africa and tsunamis across the Atlantic Ocean, which existed but were much narrower at the time. Living organisms that survived the Chicxulub event may have been wiped out by this second impact.
If confirmed, the Nadi crater could rewrite geological history. We can tell right away that there is something underwater off the coast of Guinea that looks like an impact crater. Although Nicholson’s preliminary dating shows that the nadir event occurred at the same time as Chicxulub, there is a margin of error of 1 million years. If Nadir and Chicxulub are related, they may have been part of a cloud of objects that fell to Earth, or perhaps they were part of the same object that broke up in the atmosphere before landing in two different places. To confirm this is the result of an asteroid strike, we need to drill into the seabed and analyze the minerals. Sooner or later, someone is going to do it.
