How to Make Your Online Passwords Ironclad

Welcome to Product Support, a column devoted to helping you get the most out of the stuff you already use.

Bill Gates predicted the death of passwords in 2004, and while biometrics are more common than ever, passwords have yet to go the way of the dinosaur. At the same time, never ending data breaches are releasing passwords into the wild every day and hackers armed with with databases full of leaked credentials are on the prowl to ruin your day or week or life.

“We’ve grown accustomed to the speed and convenience of the digital age, which means we don’t have our guard up as much in terms of protecting our personal information,” says Ryan Merchant, senior manager at Dashlane. “Yet, when we download apps, make purchases, and sign up for services online, most of us willingly give all of [our personal] information away without learning more about how it will be used.” To stay safe in this digital age, we’ve asked Merchant and Jeffrey Goldberg, the Chief Defender Against the Dark Arts (a.k.a. head of security) at AgileBits, the company that owns 1Password, for some helpful tips.

Long passwords are better than complex.

There was a brief time when requiring symbols and digits did make passwords stronger, Goldberg said, but today passwords with digits or symbols aren’t inherently more secure. There is still value in adding symbols and digits, but length is much more important. A strong password is at least between 16-20 characters — so too long to probably memorize. A really strong password is over 30 characters. Goldberg recommends using an automated password generator to create passwords.

Don’t make your password a phrase or ordinary word.

“Your password should never have names, words, dates, sequential numbers, or any combination of characters that someone can guess,” Merchant advised. “It has to be random to be strong.” He does suggest using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, and always include a mix of upper and lower-case letters.

Have a separate password for every account.

“Password reuse is a bigger problem than weak passwords,” said Goldberg. “It’s by far more important to have different passwords than to worry too much about the strength of the one password that you’re using in lots of places.” Even if it’s a very strong password, if used in numerous places, it is likely that at least one of those places isn’t treating your password securely. And once one password is discovered, then hackers are likely to try it out on every other site and service you use.

Use a password manager.

This is the single greatest security step you can take online. “We’ve found that that average American has well over 100 online accounts,” said Merchant. “I have over 500.” It’s nearly impossible to remember numerous passwords, but password managers, like Dashlane and 1Password, can automatically generate strong passwords for all of your accounts. They securely store them and then automatically log you in.

Change passwords regularly.

According to Merchant, this is one of the forgotten practices of password and cybersecurity. “It’s important to change them regularly, because oftentimes breaches are not discovered, or publicized, for months, and even years, after they have occurred.” This means that your account could be vulnerable for extended periods of time without your knowledge. Merchant recommends people change their passwords at least twice a year.

VPNs are your friend.

A VPN (or virtual private network) prevents ad-tracking cookies so browsing the web is more incognito — basically, they keep your information safe while connected to public wi-fi. “The danger is that unknown networks can hide a variety of dangers and leave the data you transmit extremely vulnerable,” Merchant said. So always use a VPN before connecting to the wi-fi at a coffee shop, university or airplane. There are a large number of VPNs, like Opera VPN, that are simple to setup and that keep you safe as well.

Keep your system and software up to date.

“Most actual intrusions into computers are through exploiting vulnerabilities that have already been fixed in updates that have been offered by the vendor,” Goldberg said. If your system has an option for automatic updates, use that option. Also, don’t install any software from dodgy sources. That said, just because you’ve downloaded from an official app store, that doesn’t guarantee that you won’t install malware; but it will dramatically reduce your chances.

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Found an AirTag That Isn’t Yours? Here’s What to Do

Welcome to Product Support, a column devoted to helping you get the most out of the stuff you already use.

Apple’s AirTags aren’t meant to track people. In fact, they’re designed to keep that from happening. If an unwanted AirTag is placed on your person or on your bag and you have an iPhone that’s running iOS 14.5 (or later), you’ll receive a push notification saying that an “AirTag Found Moving With You.” You can then make the AirTag play a sound to help you find it. And no matter what kind of phone you have, an AirTag will start ringing if it’s away from its owner for three days or longer.

If you find an unwanted AirTag that’s been “following” you, the first thing you can do is figure out who the AirTag belongs to. You can do this by holding the AirTag close to your smartphone, iPhone or Android and the AirTag’s NFC chip will direct the smartphone to a web page. If the owner of the AirTag has put it in Lost Mode, you’ll see a message from them and a phone number to contact.

If the AirTag has not been placed in Lost Mode, you’ll only be able to see its serial number (which is also on the back of the AirTag itself) — and you can’t really do anything with that. The best thing you can do is wait until the owner of the AirTag puts it into Lost Mode so you can return it to them.

If you don’t want to be “tracked” in the meantime, you can disable the AirTag by removing its battery.

How to disable an AirTag:

1. Flip the AirTag upside down so that you’re facing the polished metal side.
2. Remove the battery case by pressing down on the back of the AirTag and twisting clockwise.
3. Manually remove the battery.

Once the battery is removed, the previous owner of the AirTag will only be able to see the last reported location of the AirTag. If you want to get the disabled AirTag back up and running so that you can check if it’s been placed in Lost Mode, you can do so by putting the battery back inside it.

Apple

Apple AirTags (1-Pack)

Apple apple.com

$29.00

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How to Factory Reset an Apple AirTag

Welcome to Product Support, a column devoted to helping you get the most out of the gadgets and software you already use.

If you find somebody else’s AirTag, you can’t just steal it, whip its memory and then use it as your own. That’s because Apple baked each AirTag with security features that prevent exactly that. Each AirTag can only be associated with one person’s Apple ID — which, unfortunately, is why you can’t share AirTags with family members — and only that person can factory reset.

If you have an AirTag and you want to give it to a friend or sell it to somebody, you’ll need to factory reset it. This is a pretty easy thing to do if your AirTag is right next to you within Bluetooth range. If so, all you have to do is remove it from your Apple ID.

How to remove AirTag from Apple ID:

1. Open the Find My app.
2. Select the AirTag.
3. Scroll down and select Remove Item.
4. Select the Remove button.

If somebody finds your AirTag and you don’t want it back, they can factory reset it themselves and use it as their own — but only after you remove it from your Apple ID (following the above steps). After you’ve removed it from your Apple ID, the person will still need to perform the below factory resetting process because the AirTag isn’t in Bluetooth range of its previous owner.

How to factory reset an AirTag that’s out of Bluetooth range:

1. Remove it from the previous owner’s Apple ID (follow the above steps).
2. Remove the AirTags’s battery cover (press down and rotate clockwise).
3. Remove the battery.
4. Put the battery back in the AirTag and press down on it until it makes a sound.
5. When the sound finishes, repeat the process four more times, removing and replacing the battery each time. The battery should make a total of five sounds.
6. Put the battery cover securely back on the AirTag.

Once done, the AirTag will appear as new. It should be discoverable by placing next to your iPhone or iPad.

Apple

Apple AirTags (4-Pack)

Apple apple.com

$99.00

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5 Things You Didn’t Know Google Maps Could Do

Google Maps is by far the most popular navigation app with millions and millions of active users who love it for its simple-to-use interphase, robust features (such as real-time GPS navigation and integration with public transport schedules, like buses, trains, ferries and subways) and the fact that it works on basically any device you have, be it an iPhone or Android, Mac or PC. And Google added a bunch of new features.

Here’s what you need to know.

You can navigate indoors using a 3D Map.

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Google recently introduced a new feature to Maps called Indoor Live View that essentially works the same way as Street View for outdoor locations (like streets, buildings or intersections), but for well-trafficked indoor locations. When inside the Maps app, you can switch to this Indoor Live View and your 2D map will turn into a 3D map and you’ll be given augmented reality directions to help you stir towards a specific shop in the mall, the baggage claim of an airport, or a specific bus or train terminal. The idea is that you can better find your way while in those crowded and tricky locations.

Indoor Live View isn’t available in every airport, mall or transit station, but Google has rolled out the feature across select cities, such as Chicago, Long Island, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.

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Find out your destination’s weather before you get there.

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Google has added two “layers” to Maps that help people better prepare for the location that they are arriving in. First, there’s a new weather layer that, after you set a location, you’ll be able to quickly see the current and forecasted temperatures and weather conditions in that area; this way, you’ll know if it’s going to be raining or really hot before you get there and without having to open a separate app.

The other layer does the same thing but for air quality. After you set a location, you’ll be able to quickly see how healthy (or unhealthy) the air in that area is. You can use this information to remind yourself to bring a mask or your inhaler, or prevent you from even going to a place if the air quality is so bad.

Find eco-friendly routes.

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Google Maps is introducing a feature that will guide you (when driving) along an eco-friendly route, or a route with the lowest amount of carbon emissions, so long as it doesn’t affect the ETA of your journey too much. This feature will be on by default (although Google isn’t expected to roll it out to all Androids and iPhones until later this year) as its part of Google’s big initiative to fight climate change.

However, if you’re a speed demon who always wants to get to your location as fast as possible, you’ll have to opt out of it.

Find eco-friendly restaurants.

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If you’re looking to order from or go out to a restaurant, but you also want to make sure the restaurant is composting, recycling and just proactively being environmentally friendly, Google Maps recently rolled out a feature just for that. When researching a restaurant or shop, you’ll now be able to see an attribute for recycling (just click on the business, go to the About section and scroll down to Recycling).

If you’re a business, you can add an icon to your profile if you offer recycling (Here’s how). You can even specify which things you recycle, such as plastic bags, plastic household products, glass and even electronics. This way you can ensure that nothing you use at that business will end up in a landfill.

Find a smoother bike ride.

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You know how ski mountains have different trail markings (like green circle, blue square or black diamond) depending on difficulty? Well, Google is doing something kind of similar for its biking routes. Specifically, after you type in your route, Maps uses machine learning to find you the smoothest route (it basically just takes into account the flatness or steepness of your route). This way, if you’re not a skilled biker or maybe you’re transporting something fragile (like groceries), you can choose the path with the least amount of peril.

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The Best and Biggest Gadgets of April 2021

Spring is here, and so are the gadgets! This April was host to Apple’s first major event of the year, which brought the announcement of its long-awaited “AirTags” but plenty of other gadgets came out this month as well. Here are the highlights you should know about.

AirTags

Apple

Apple has finally announced the tiny item-tracking device that has been rumored for over a year and which works in its Find My network. It’s called AirTag and it’s a little circular gadget that you can place on your keys, in your wallet or stick them on your devices.

A single AirTag costs $29. A four-pack costs $99. They will be available on April 30.

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Apple TV 4K (with a new remote)

Apple

Apple announced a new updated version of its Apple TV 4K that comes with an all-new remote. The updated Apple TV 4K has a faster processor and supports high frame-rate HDR. It can also adjust the color balance of your TV so that whatever you’re watching looks best. The redesigned remote that ships with the new Apple TV 4K has a new five-way touch controller instead of the trackpad, a dedicated power button to turn on/off your TV, and the Siri button has been moved to the side of the controller.

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Colorful M1 iMacs

Apple

Apple announced new iMacs that are decked out with its M1 processing chip, 24-inch display, a thinner design, a smaller base, a 1080p webcam, improved microphones and better speakers (that support Dolby Atmos). The new iMac will be available in seven new colors, too, including red, white, blue, green, purple, orange and yellow.

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iPad Pro 2021 (M1)

Apple

Apple announced new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models with its M1 chip, as well as a new Thunderbolt USB-C port, support for 5G and a significantly improved camera system. The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a new Liquid Retina XDR display, similar to the Apple Pro XDR display. The 11-inch model of the M1 iPad Pro will not have this fancy new screen.

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HyperJuice Magnetic Wireless Battery Pack

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This is a 5,000mAh portable battery that magnetically clips to the back of the iPhone 12. It charges via USB-C, however it does not support the super fast 15-watt wireless charging that MagSafe promises; it tops out at 7.5-watts of wireless charging speeds.

Price: $40

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Naim Audio Mu-so 2 Wood Edition

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Naim Audio released the Mu-so 2, the second generation model of its all-in-one wireless speaker, back in 2019. Compared to the original Mu-so, it has six new individually amplified drivers, a new processor with 10 times the power, the ability to stream tracks up to 32bit/384kHz. It has support for AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Tidal, Spotify Connect, Roon, and Bluetooth, all topped off with HDMI ARC and optical connections so you can use it as a soundbar. Now Naim has released a special edition version of the Mu-so 2 that has a wood exterior (instead of steel) and a golden hue. It costs $600 more than the standard Mu-so 2.

(Check out our original review of the Mu-so 2, here.)

Price: $2,290

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Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold

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Xiaomi announced its first ever foldable smartphone this week. The Mi Mix Fold shares a similar look and feel to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold. It can fold inward and vertically, which allows you can use it like a traditional smartphone, or you can unfold it and use it as bonafide tablet. Additionally, it has a number of the specs you’d expect in a premium smartphone, such as a snappy processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 888), a fancy camera system, a beautiful OLED display and support for wireless charging. The catch? It’s only available in China right now.

Price: TBA

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Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal

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The Beoplay Portal is a luxury gaming headset (B&O’s first) that’s designed to work perfectly with all Xbox consoles (Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One) thanks to the Xbox Wireless protocol. There’s no boom microphone, either, which means that the Beoplay Portal, with its built-in Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, can be paired with your smartphone or computer when you’re not gaming and used as wireless noise-canceling headphones.

Price: $499

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Pioneer DJ VM Series of Active Monitors

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Pioneer DJ announced a new line of active near-field speaker monitors that are designed to emulate the sound of a studio or club, but in your own space. There are three different-sized models: VM-50 ($169), VM-70 ($229) and VM-80 ($289). Each speaker will be decked out with a 4 mm-thick aluminum front baffle, Class D amplifier, Aramid fiber cones and Vortex Bass Accelerator, all of which, according to the company, are designed to “accurately reproduces sounds, including deep low-end frequencies while cutting out unwanted vibrations.” Each model will be available in early April.

Price: $169+

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Casio GSW-H1000 Smartwatch

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The Casio GSW-H1000 is the company’s first G-Shock smartwatch that runs on Google’s Wear OS. (It’s also the first G-Shock smartwatch with a color display.) As with Casio’s previous G-Shock smartwatches, the GSW-H1000 is super rugged, with excellent shock- and water-resistance, and comes with all the necessary sensors (GPS, compass, heart-rate, accelerometer, gyrometer and altitude sensor) as well activity-specific tracking features you’d expect from a premium sport smartwatch. It will be available in the middle of May.

Price: $699

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Belkin Magnetic Phone Mount with Face Tracking

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This isn’t a wireless charging stand. Belkin’s new phone mount is designed to work with the latest iPhones, as it uses MagSafe to magnetically hold it in place. What makes it super unique is that uses face tracking (via Belkin’s companion app) and a 360-degree rotating base so that your iPhone’s camera can follow you as you walk around your room; it’s feels similar to what the Amazon’s new Echo Show 10 can do with its own rotating base. It seems like the ideal little gadget for people making videos on TikTok or YouTube, however, it won’t work with certain video calling apps, such as FaceTime or Zoom.

Price: $65

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Cambridge Audio Evo

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Cambridge Audio’s Evo is a high-end streaming amplifier that can basically do it all — you just need to add speakers. It supports pretty much every sort of streaming you’d want (including AirPlay 2, Chromecast,Qobuz, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Bluetooth). And its HDMI ARC connection means you can you use it as your home theater’s hub. Also, it’s beautiful. The Evo has a 6.8-inch display to show album artwork, a wonderfully large volume knob, and its wooden trim is the cherry on top.

The Evo comes in two models. The Evo 75 ($2,250) is rated at 75 watts per channel and the Evo 150 ($3,000) at 150 watts per channel.

Price: $2,250

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Nomad MagSafe Mount for iPhone 12

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This is Nomad’s latest accessory for people who have an iPhone 12 and Apple’s MagSafe Charger. The MagSafe Mount is a weighted desktop accessory that holds Apple’s MagSafe Charger in place so that when you pick up your iPhone 12, the charger doesn’t come with it. Its stainless steel body weighs in at right around one pound.

Price: $50

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Fujifilm Instax Mini 40

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The Instax Mini 40 is the Fujifilm’s latest entry-level instant film camera. Like the Instax Mini 11 before it, the Instax Mini 40 is fairly straightforward and simple shooter. It has two main frills: a flash and a pop-out zoom lens (for selfie photos). The big selling point compared to the Instax Mini 11 is that the Instax Mini 40 definitely looks more like a vintage film camera. but that retro vibe comes at $30 price hike.

Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 40 will be available for purchase at the April.

Price: $100

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Samsung Galaxy A Series

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Samsung just announced its 2021 series of Galaxy A smartphones, which are essentially way more affordable alternatives to the company’s flagship Galaxy S21. They have less premium builds and generally not-as-great camera systems, but they actually don’t skimp out on that many flagship-level features. The three new Galaxy A smartphones that you should know about are: the Galaxy A32 5G ($280), the Galaxy A42 5G ($400) and the Galaxy A52 5G ($400). All three have basically the same design; a rear triple camera system (at least); and, as you can likely tell by their names, they all support 5G. They’re some of the most affordable 5G smartphones that you can buy.

Price: $280+

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THX Onyx

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THX, the brand best known for movie theater sound, has released its first-ever hardware product. The Onyx is a portable headphone amplifier and DAC combo that’s meant to plug into your smartphone or laptop and bring the best sound out of your wired headphones. It has a USB-C connection so you’ll be able to use with most new age smartphones or laptops; you’ll need a Lightning dongle if you have an iPhone.

Price: $200

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Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro

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This is Ring’s most advanced outdoor floodlight camera ever. It’s basically a more advanced version of the company’s first Floodlight Cam. It adds a new radar sensor that enables new 3D motion detection and “Bird’s Eye View”, just like the recently released Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, which this allows it to better detect and even create a top-down map of the movement (within the app). When motion is detected, the high-powered LED lights will kick on and light up your backyard.

It’s available for preorder right now and will be available everywhere in early May.

Price: $250

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JBL 4309 Bookshelf Speakers

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The JBL 4309 studio monitors are essentially smaller and more affordable versions of the company’s high-end 4349 studio monitors, which run for $7,500. Each 4309 loudspeaker is decked out with the company’s 1-inch tweeter, 6.5-inch mid-bass driver and twin-firing reflex ports, so that it sounds as dynamic as its larger sibling. And each speaker looks stunning, with a blue baffle, wooden veneer (either walnut or black walnut) and cloth grille — they’ve already been given a 2021 Red Dot Design Award. The JBL 4309 studio monitors will be available for purchase this June.

Price: $2,000/pair

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Canon EOS R3

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Canon announced the development of the EOS R3, the company’s most high-end mirrorless camera to date that’s most definitely aimed to compete against the Nikon z9. It will be the first EOS series camera to be equipped with the company’s new 35mm full-frame, back illuminated, stacked CMOS sensor. It will also have a DIGIC X image processor “for high-speed image processing that realizes high-speed continuous shooting of up to 30 frames-per-second.” And, according to the released photo (above), it will have a pretty robust body with a built-in vertical hand grip. No price or release date have been announced.

Price: TBA

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Roku Voice Remote Pro

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Roku announced three different new(ish) products this week. There’s its new entry-level 4K player, the Express 4K Plus, which replaces the Roku Premiere. There’s the Streambar Pro, which is basically a renamed version of the Smart Soundbar (now defunct). And, most notably, there’s the Roku Voice Remote Pro. It’s the first Roku remote that comes with a rechargeable battery and offers hands-free “Hey Roku” voice commands. It also comes with a headphone jack and a dedicated button for Apple TV+. The Roku Voice Remote Pro costs $30 and will work with any Roku TV or streaming device.

Price: $30

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Beosound Emerge

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Bang & Olufsen’s newest high-end wireless speaker, the Beosound Emerge, is designed to blend in with the other books on your bookshelf (although it kind of looks a little like a shrunk down version of the Flatiron building). It’s a relatively small powered speaker supports a number of wireless connectivities, including AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Chromecast and Bluetooth. It can be set up to work as a smart speaker that responds to “Hey Google” voice commands, too. It will be available this fall in either black or gold (the latter will cost an extra $200).

Price: $699+

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Spotify Car Thing

Spotify

Spotify has officially announced its first-ever gadget. It’s called Car Thing (yes, really) and it’s essentially a glorified Spotify remote for people who have cars with no built-in Bluetooth. The other feature that makes it better than just using your smartphone to control your Spotify music in your car is voice control — it responds to “Hey Spotify” voice commands to play sounds or playlists, as well as play/pause and skip tracks. In addition to voice commands, you can control Car Thing via its navigation buttons, large knob and touchscreen.

Car Thing is a very limited device, but the cool thing is that Spotify is offering it to Spotify Premium subscribers for free — but you have to apply for one through Spotify and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get one.

Price: Free (plus shipping)

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Microsoft Modern Webcam

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Microsoft’s newest webcam is a pretty basic option. It supports an HD video (not 4K) and connects to your computer via USB-A (not USB-C). It comes with a privacy shutter and has a built-in LED light that will indicate when it’s on. If you’re looking for a fairly affordable option that will upgrade your laptop or desktop setup, this looks to be a solid option. It will be available this June.

Price: $70

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DJI Air 2S

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The DJI Air 2S is the next-generation version of the DJI Air 2 that was announced last year. The big upgrade is that the Air 2S has a 1-inch sensor, which is twice the size of Air 2’s size and similar to the sensor in the company’s flagship Mavic 2 Pro, allowing the Air 2S to take much higher-resolution photos. It can also shoot better video, 4K at up to 60fps instead of the Air 2’s 4K at up to 30fps. The big downside? The DJI Air 2S is $200 more expensive than the DJI Air 2.

Price: $999+

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

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The all-new Surface Lap 4 has the exact same design as the 2019-released Surface Laptop 3. The big difference is that Microsoft is allowing you to choose which processor you want: either an 11th-generation Intel processor or AMD’s Ryzen 4000 series. The advantage of the AMD processor is that it promises incredible battery life (up to 19 hours). The Intel models are a little more expensive and don’t get the same battery life, but improved performance and, thanks Intel’s Iris Xe graphics card, better graphics.

Price: $999+

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Plugable USB-C Voltage and Amperage Meter

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If you’re interested in finding out how much power your device is getting while it’s charging, this $30 accessory is exactly what you want. It connects between your device and your USB-C charging cable, and then measures the voltage, amperage and the directional flow of the electrical current — and it shows you what’s happening in real time. And don’t worry, it won’t affect data transfer of your USB-C cable.

Price: $30

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Anker PowerConf C300 Webcam

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Anker is getting into the webcam market. The PowerConf C300 is a 1080p webcam that connects to your computer via USB-A. The neat thing about it is that Anker has integrated an AI chip that enables what the company is calling “smart framing,” which allows the webcam to keep you in focus as you move around the screen. The PowerConf C300 is available right now.

Price: $130

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Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Generation)

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Amazon has announced the second-generation versions of its 2019-released Echo Buds. The company claims that the new wireless earbuds have a 20-percent smaller design and they have improved active noise-cancellation (but they’re not Bose branded like the first-generation Echo Buds). They also support USB-C charging instead of micro-USB. Also, similar to Apple’s AirPods, you’ll be able to purchase the new Echo Buds with or without a wireless charging case. They’ll cost $120 or $140 with the wireless charging case, but right now Amazon is running a promotion, dropping each for $20 — that’s right, you can get the new wireless earbuds for $100.

Price: $100+

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Urbanista Los Angeles ANC

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The coolest thing about Urbanista’s new wireless noise-canceling headphones, the Los Angeles ANC, is that there’s a chance you never have to plug them in to charge. Yep, they’re solar powered. The headphones are made of a Powerfoyle solar cell material that can charge with any kind of light — even ambient light — so you don’t have to be wearing them outside on a sunny day. The headphones will cost around $200, although there’s no word yet on when they’ll be available.

Price: ~ $200

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Bowers & Wilkins PI7

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Bowers & Wilkins announced its first two pairs of wireless earbuds this week. There’s the PI5 ($249) and the PI7 ($399). Both models deliver active noise-cancellation and have a wireless charging case. The main difference is that the flagship models, the PI7, support higher-resolution audio (it supports Bluetooth AptX Adaptive streaming) and packs a 9.2mm driver unit that’s modeled after the company’s high-end loudspeakers. Maybe the most interesting thing about the PI7 is that their charging case can double as a Bluetooth transmitter (it comes with a 3.5mm and USB jack) in case you want to listen to your wireless earbuds on an in-flight entertainment system or a device that doesn’t have Bluetooth, like a Nintendo Switch.

Price: $399

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Fitbit Luxe

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Fitbit Luxe is the company’s newest fitness tracker and it’s designed as “luxury” or fashion-forward gadget. It works and looks similar to the company’s other thin fitness tracker, the Inspire 2, but the Luxe adds an AMOLED display – it’s the company’s first fitness tracker with a color display, just like it’s more expensive smartwatches — and a stainless steel casing, which you can get in either gold, silver or black. It has some more advanced tracking abilities, such as skin temperature and stress levels, as well as the more entry-level abilities, like tracking steps, calories, heart rate and sleep.

The Fitbit Luxe is available for preorder now, with shipping to start later in May.

Price: $150

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Polaroid Go

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The Polaroid Go is the company’s newest entry-level instant camera — and it’s tiny. Weighing just over half a pound, it’s about the size a small portable speaker or medium-sized. But despite it’s diminutive size, the Polaroid Go still packs all the same features as last year’s Polaroid Now, including flash, a built-in timer, and a button that shoots double exposures. It also has a new reflective selfie mirror for, well, shooting selfies. The Polaroid Go uses smaller instant film than most of the company’s other instant cameras, however.

It’s available for preorder now for $100, or bundled with film for an extra $20.

Price: $100

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Sony ‘Silent White’ WH-1000XM4

Sony

To date, Sony has offered its flagship noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM4, in black or silver colors. This week it added a third color: “silent white.” It’s a true white that, despite its pristine look, Sony promises is very stain resistant. Aside from the look, it boasts the same internals and sound quality as all other WH-1000XM4 headphones. The silent white color will cost you about $50 extra and be available (as a limited edition release) this summer.

Price: $399

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Epos H3 Gaming Headset

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The Epos H3 is a wired gaming headset that’s compatible with the latest PlayStation and Xbox consoles (as well as previous generation), as well as the Nintendo Switch and PC. At $119, it’s relatively affordable considering it adds plush ear pads, a large and satisfying volume dial, and a high-quality boom microphone. It’s available in either white or black models.

Price: $119

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Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 28

Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab 28 is a pair of luxury floorstanding speakers that promise excellent sound and copious connectivity options. Each speaker has three 3” full range drivers, a 1” tweeter on the front, and a down-firing subwoofer, and they’re packed with technologies that allow you to calibrate the sound to your specific room. The speakers support AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth, as well as wired connections such as Ethernet and line-in/optical. The other cool thing is that the speakers come with a replaceable connectivity module, which the company claims make them essentially future-proof.

Price: $14,750/pair

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Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360

Samsung

Samsung announced two new Galaxy Books this week. There’s the Galaxy Book Pro, which is a traditional laptop, and the Galaxy Book Pro 360, which is a convertible laptop with a touchscreen display. Both are Windows-powered machines that are optimized for people with one of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones (thanks to having support for apps like Samsung SmartThings and Samsung Notes). The biggest upgrade with both is that they are the first Galaxy Books with OLED displays, so they should be brighter with more contrast (aka better for watching movies!).

Both new Galaxy Books are available for preorder right now. They’re expected to ship on May 14.

Price: $1,000 (Pro); 1,200 (Pro 360)

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Simplehuman Cleanstation

Simplehuman

Simplehuman is best known for its excellent and well designed (and yes, expensive) trash cans, and the company has taken that same ethos and integrated into its first-ever UV smartphone sanitizer. The Cleanstation works kind of like a toaster; you place your smartphone into the top, it automatically lowers, sanitizers and (30 seconds later) rises up a clean smartphone. Its UV light chamber sanitizes all around the smartphone, so you don’t have to sanitize each side separately. And it’s available in three aluminum finishes: brushed, slate or white.

Price: $200

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AudioQuest JitterBug FMJ

AudioQuest

AudioQuest’s latest gadget, the JitterBug FMJ, is a noise filter that plugs into the USB port on your smartphone or computer and significantly reduces the noise that is inherent to all USB ports. It’s designed to act as a liaison between your device and external DAC, and help your music sound cleaner and clearer. It also has a metal exterior (FMJ stands for “full metal jacket”) so it should be a more durable and higher-quality version of the company’s existing JitterBug.

Price: $60

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Twelve South Forté

Twelve South

Twelve South announced a new wireless charging stand, the Forté, that fully supports MagSafe. This means that when connected to an iPhone 12, the Forté will be able to fast charge it at 15 watts, which is twice as fast as any wireless charger that doesn’t support MagSafe. The other cool thing is that the magnetic puck can be rotated flat and thus turn into a wireless charger for your AirPods or AirPods Pro.

Price: $40

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Nomad Base Station Mini

Nomad

Nomad announced a smaller and more affordable of its Base Station wireless charging pad. The Base Station Mini looks almost identical to the company’s existing wireless chargers — a combination of metal and leather — but it’s only large enough to charge one wireless device at a time. It’s powered by USB-C and as an integrated LED that lights up to let you know when it’s charging. It costs $60, but you’ll need a separate 20-watt USB-C wall adapter to get the most out of it because Nomad doesn’t include one. (Nomad can bundle its own USB-C adapter for an extra $14.)

Price: $60

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PopSockets PopGrip Slide Stretch

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If you’ve been frustrated by the fact that PopSockets’s grips haven’t worked with the newest iPhones (because of their flat sides), well, you’ve not been alone. Fortunately, the company has announced an updated version of its PopGrip Slide Stretch so that it fits the iPhone 12. They don’t have any kind of adhesive and the new PopGrip Slide Stretch can easily slide down your iPhone 12 so you can wireless charge it via MagSafe.

There are several different designs that you can choose from and they all cost just $15.

Price: $15

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Amazon Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus

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Amazon announced two new and upgraded versions of its Fire HD tablets this week. There’s the Fire HD 10 and the larger Fire HD Plus, both of which have been updated with brighter screens, slimmer bezels and more RAM, as well as a front-facing camera that’s better positioned for video calls. As per usual, these tablets are designed for people who want a significantly more affordable tablet that an entry-level iPad, which starts at $329.

The Fire HD 10 and Fire HD 10 Plus will cost $150 and $180, respectively. Both are available for preorder right now, with shipping set to start at the end of May.

Price: $150+ (HD 10); $180+ (HD 10 Plus)

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