Category: Technologies

Apple’s long-awaited augmented reality and virtual reality headset is rumored to be shown off at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June. However, a noted Apple analyst on Thursday cast some doubt on whether the mixed reality headset will make its big debut at WWDC 2023.

Apple has pushed the mass production schedule for the headset back another one to two months due to concerns “about the AR/MR headset announcement recreating the astounding ‘iPhone moment,’” according to a tweet from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on Thursday. The delay “adds uncertainty” to whether the headset will be announced at WWDC, he said.

This week, Apple announced that its annual WWDC event, which typically spotlights its latest software, will kick off on June 5. Bloomberg reported last month that the company was planning to unveil the headset at the event.

Apple’s AR/VR headset remains mostly a mystery. The device, which has been rumored to be in the works for years, would go up against hardware from Meta, Microsoft and others. Apple’s headset could cost in the $3,000 range — Kuo’s tweet suggests the price could push toward $4,000 — and have features similar to those of Meta’s Quest Pro.

See Also: Best VR Headsets of 2023

If the iPhone maker does reveal a headset at WWDC, it could be the first of several devices. Reports have suggested Apple is working on AR glasses as well as a more affordable VR-type headset. CNET’s Scott Stein says that Apple’s first-gen AR/VR headset is unlikely to be the iPhone maker’s end goal, and is likely more “a sort of foot in the door.”

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ready for next-gen gaming? If you still haven’t gotten your hands on the Xbox Series X console from Microsoft and are looking for a deal, check out this bundle at Verizon. Right now you can get your hands on an Xbox Series X console and an Elite 2 controller in one bundle and save $100 in the process, bringing the price down to $580. (And you don’t need to have Verizon service to take advantage of this deal.) We don’t know how long this offer will last, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later.

The Xbox Series X is Microsoft’s flagship console right now. It offers 4K HDR gaming, custom solid-state storage, DirectX ray tracing and powerful performance. The console also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The Elite 2 controller has swappable paddles and D-pads so you can customize it to your exact preference. It also allows you to save up to three custom profiles. The Xbox Series X goes for $500 on its own and the Elite 2 controller is priced at $180 at the Microsoft Store, making this offer from Verizon a solid deal.

Read more: Best Xbox Deals: Save on Controllers, Headsets, Hard Drives and More

The Galaxy S23 series is the latest and greatest in Samsung’s flagship lineup, with multiple models claiming a spot on our list of the best phones overall for 2023. If you’re looking to get your hands on one, right now you can get a free storage upgrade at Amazon. That scores you the 256GB model of the Galaxy S23 for $800, which is $60 off and matches the price of the 128GB model. You can also snag the 512GB S23 Plus for $1,000 ($120 off) and the 512GB S23 Ultra for $1,200 ($180 off).

These discounts are also available on unlocked models, which means you don’t have to sign up with a service plan right away. There’s no set expiration for these deals, so get your order in soon if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

If you’re just after the basics, you can snag the Galaxy S23, which we named the best small Android phone on the market in 2023. It has a 6.1-inch AMOLED display, and the 256GB model comes with 8GB of RAM. Or, if you prefer a larger screen, you can upgrade to the 6.6-inch Galaxy S23 Plus for $1,000. The step-up 512GB model comes with 8GB of RAM, and it features a larger 4,700-mAh battery for all-day use.

And if you’re after the best of the best, you can grab the Galaxy S23 Ultra for $1,200, which we named the best premium Android phone for 2023. With the step-up 512GB model, you also get an extra 4GB of RAM, bumping the total up to 12GB. In addition to the larger 6.8-inch AMOLED display, the S23 Ultra also features a stunning 200-megapixel rear camera rather than the 50-megapixel camera found on the other models, and comes with Samsung’s S Pen stylus included for easy note-taking, navigation and more.

And if you’re looking for a different model, you can check out our roundup of all the best phone deals for bargains on iPhones, Pixels and more.

E-readers are lightweight, easy to use and allow you to read anywhere you go without carrying a bulky bag of books. Plus, switching your personal library over to a digital format can clear a lot of clutter from your shelves at home. Today only, you can snag a 2018 Kindle Paperwhite in new condition starting at just $60 for the 8GB version. You can also upgrade to the 32GB model for just $10 more, while supplies last. This offer expires tonight, March 30, so we recommend you placing your order sooner rather than later.

This Kindle Paperwhite has a 6-inch, 300 ppi, glare-free display that’s suitable for reading both indoors and outside in direct sunlight. It’s also rated IPX8 waterproof, so it’s a great option for those who enjoy reading by the pool or at the beach. Plus, this Kindle allows you to adjust font, text size and more so you can read comfortably. And for those with an Audible account, you can switch from reading to listening via Bluetooth over headphones or a speaker.

As for battery life, this e-reader can last up to six weeks per charge with normal use, giving you plenty of time before you need a boost, even if you’re on vacation. Note that this model is an ad-supported version, so advertisements will appear when the device is locked. However, you can opt out later if you want to with a one-time fee through your Amazon account. If you’re an avid reader or just want a distraction-free device so you don’t end up scrolling through social media when you’re trying to relax, this is a great deal.

YES Network, the New York Yankees cable channel, is joining the streaming game. Ahead of Thursday’s MLB Opening Day, the network announced that it’s now offering a direct-to-consumer streaming option for local fans who want to watch games without signing up for a cable or satellite package.

The new option will run $25 per month if purchased on a monthly subscription or $240 if purchased annually. As part of a special launch promotion that runs through April 30, YES will offer the service at a discounted rate of $20 per month (through the end of 2023) or $200 per year.

Once signed up, fans will then be able to watch games and other YES programming via the network’s website or its YES app, which is available on iOS, Android, Samsung TVs and smart TV platforms including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Google TV.

In addition to Yankees games, the YES Network also broadcasts games for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty. The network says that its new streaming option will be available in its “regional coverage territory,” which consists of New York state, Connecticut, northeastern Pennsylvania, and north and central New Jersey.

YES’ move marks the latest major regional sports network to offer an option to cord-cutters who want to watch their local teams without springing for a pricey cable, satellite or streaming TV package. The new option also comes amid a continued rise in cord-cutting and turmoil among regional sports networks.

Diamond Sports Group, which owns the Bally’s Sports regional sports networks and airs the local games for 42 teams across MLB, NBA and NHL, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. Warner Bros. Discovery, which broadcasts games for six teams across the three leagues on its AT&T SportsNet offering, similarly said earlier this month that it plans to exit the regional sports business.

Can anyone beat South Carolina? After four rounds of the women’s NCAA basketball tournament, that’s still the question. Led by the imposing Aliyah Boston, the reigning Naismith Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, South Carolina is the defending champion and has yet to lose a game this year. Iowa and the sensational Caitlin Clark are up next for the Gamecocks. The other Final Four matchup pits No. 1 Virginia Tech against No. 3 LSU.

Both Final Four games will be played on Friday in Dallas. Virginia Tech and LSU are up first, tipping off at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT), followed by the prime-time matchup of South Carolina and Iowa at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT). Both games will be shown on ESPN and ESPN Plus.

Here’s everything you need to know to watch the women’s Final Four and national championship game on Sunday without cable (and here’s how to watch the men’s tournament).

What are my other streaming options?

You can use a live TV streaming service to watch the women’s NCAA basketball tournament. All five of the major live TV streaming services offer the channels needed to watch every game, but keep in mind that not every service carries every local network, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries ABC in your area. You can also watch the remainder of the tournament on ESPN Plus.

All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live-TV streaming services guide.

Prusa Research on Wednesday launched the Original Prusa MK4. Based on the same design as its MK3S Plus — a frequent pick as the best 3D printer on many sites — this new version has been upgraded in almost every way.

While there are few aesthetic changes to the shape of the MK4 compared to the MK3, there have been a lot of changes under the hood to bring it up to speed with the latest innovations in 3D printing. Many smaller details are quite technical, but the main points can be seen below. The upshot of these upgrades is a printer that promises accurate and detailed prints almost three times faster than the previous generation.

• Faster print speeds through “input shaper and pressure advance” firmware updates
• Hardware upgrades to better support speed and quality changes
• Fast-swappable hot ends to let you use different size nozzles quickly
• Nextruder extruder system
• 32-bit mainboard, which allows for Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections
• Upgraded color LCD with model preview
• Fully automatic bed leveling to improve your first layer
• New multimaterial unit available as an add-on

Prusa has a reputation as a leader in the open-source 3D printing community. The MK4 will continue that tradition, allowing people to customize the machine how they want in the years to come. The company has also announced several upgrade kits that can upgrade your existing Prusa MK3 to variations of the MK4 — called the MK3.5 and MK3.9 — that will allow you to get almost all the MK4’s features, starting from $250.

Prusa announced the Prusa XL last year, but many of these have still not shipped. Because of this, the company has offered to switch preorders of the Prusa XL to the MK4 if you would rather pick up the smaller machine.

The Original Prusa MK4 is available now in a limited run, with more units to follow for $1,099, while the MK4 kit is due in the coming weeks. You can also order the upgrade kit for your MK3S Plus now if you want to upgrade rather than buy a new machine.

Apple’s iOS 16.4 was released Monday, and it brings new features and bug fixes to your iPhone, including 31 new emoji.

The new emoji include a shaking-head smiley, animals like a donkey, moose and a goose, and additional heart colors, including plain pink and light blue. The plain pink heart has been a long-sought emoji, according to Emojipedia, which named it one of the site’s top emoji requests in 2015. Last year’s significant emoji drop in iOS 15.4 included a melting face, a biting lip and a pregnant man, with 37 new designs in total.

Emojipedia said the new emoji came from Unicode’s September 2022 recommendation list, Emoji 15.0.

You can start using all the latest emoji by downloading iOS 16.4 now.

For more, check out how to decipher each emoji and take a look at the emoji you may have missed with the release of iOS 15.4.

Here’s the complete list of new emoji in iOS 16.4

1. Shaking Face
2. Pink Heart
3. Light Blue Heart
4. Grey Heart
5. Donkey
6. Moose
7. Goose
8. Wing
9. Jellyfish
10. Hyacinth
11. Pea Pod
12. Ginger
13. Folding Hand Fan
14. Hair Pick
15. Flute
16. Maracas
17. Khanda
18. Wireless
19. Rightward Pushing Hand
20. Leftward Pushing Hand
21. Black Bird
22. Rightward Pushing Hand: Light Skin Tone
23. Rightward Pushing Hand: Medium-Light Skin Tone
24. Rightward Pushing Hand: Medium Skin Tone
25. Rightward Pushing Hand: Medium-Dark Skin Tone
26. Rightward Pushing Hand: Dark Skin Tone
27. Leftward Pushing Hand: Light Skin Tone
28. Leftward Pushing Hand: Medium-Light Skin Tone
29. Leftward Pushing Hand: Medium Skin Tone
30. Leftward Pushing Hand: Medium-Dark Skin Tone
31. Leftward Pushing Hand: Dark Skin Tone

Google usually announces new Pixel products throughout the year, but 2023 could end up being a particularly important moment for the company’s device line. Google is rumored to be releasing its first foldable phone, which would directly compete with Samsung’s proven line of Galaxy Z Fold devices.

Google also introduced its own ChatGPT rival, Bard, which it opened up to the public in March. It wouldn’t be surprising to see new developments to Bard and hear about Google’s other AI ambitions during its I/O conference in May.

Both potential announcements would further signal that tech giants are thinking about what’s next for the smartphone and the apps that run on these devices in 2023. Samsung and Motorola, for example, both introduced new concept devices earlier this year with slidable and rollable screens, which could one day succeed today’s foldables. And Microsoft has its own revamped version of Bing that uses AI to provide more direct and conversational answers, giving Google stronger competition in the search arena it’s dominated for years.

Here’s a look at what we’re expecting from Google this year, based on rumors, reports and the company’s typical product launch schedule. We’ll be updating this story regularly as more leaks and reports surface.

Pixel 7A

If history repeats itself, Google will release a cheaper version of the Pixel 7 known as the Pixel 7A in the spring or summer. Google introduced the Pixel 6A at Google I/O last year before putting it on sale in July. That means we might be just weeks away from learning about the Pixel 7A, if Google does decide to announce it at its annual developer conference again this year.

We won’t know anything for certain until Google debuts the Pixel 7A, but some leaks and reports have provided clues about what it might include. Developer Kuba Wojciechowski, who claims to have found details possibly referring to the Pixel 7A in the Android codebase, suggests the Pixel 7A could have a screen with a higher 90Hz refresh rate and wireless charging.

That might not sound too exciting, but it’s notable because these two features are absent from the 6A. By bringing them to the Pixel 7A, Google would further close the gap between its premium and budget-friendly phones.

Another purported leak from Vietnamese website Zing News suggests the Pixel 7A will have a 6.1-inch screen just like the 6A and a design that resembles the Pixel 7.

If the Pixel 7A follows in the Pixel 6A’s footsteps, we can expect it to have the same Tensor G2 processor as the Pixel 7, but a camera that’s a step down.

Pixel Fold

Aside from Apple, Google is one of the only major phone-makers that hasn’t released a foldable phone or discussed plans to do so. But that could change in the near future. Reports from 9to5Google and WinFuture suggest Google’s first foldable Pixel device could arrive as soon as June.

The phone could avoid the Samsung Z Fold series’ tall, thin design in favor of a shorter, wider format with a look that’s similar to the Oppo Find N or Microsoft Surface Duo, according to reports and leaks from 9to5Google and YouTube personality Dave2D. Code in the beta for Android 13, which Wojciechowski says he discovered, also suggests the Pixel Fold would have a camera with main, ultrawide and telephoto lenses.

Google is known for undercutting rivals like Apple and Samsung on price with its regular Pixel phones. If Google does release a foldable phone, I’m hoping it takes a similar approach. Samsung currently dominates foldable phones with 62% of the market in the first half of 2022, according to Counterpoint Research, so it’ll be interesting to see if Google can give Samsung some worthwhile competition.

Sales of foldable phones are growing, but they still make up just a fraction of the broader smartphone market. Global shipments are expected to grow by 52% year-over-year in 2023, according to Counterpoint, reaching 22.7 million units. But when you consider that 304 million smartphones are estimated to have been shipped in the fourth quarter of 2022 based on Counterpoint’s findings, 22.7 million in a whole year seems like a drop in the ocean.

Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

Google typically releases new flagship Pixel phones in the fall, and we’re expecting the company to follow that same pattern in 2023. We won’t know what’s in store for Google’s Pixel 8 and 8 Pro until it announces those devices.

However, Google’s updates have been very camera-centric in recent years, with the Pixel 7 lineup gaining improved zoom and the Pixel 7 Pro receiving a new macro photography mode. With the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, which were the first Pixels to run on Google’s Tensor chips, we saw new features like Magic Eraser, Face Unblur and Real Tone. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Google push the camera even further on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, although we won’t know exactly what that looks like just yet. Both phones will also likely have a new Tensor processor, too.

Leaks have been scarce so far, but there have been a few reports claiming to provide details about Google’s next pair of Pixels. WinFuture reports the new phones will run on Android 14, which is expected to be the next major version of Android, and will have 12GB of RAM. Well-known gadget leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer also partnered with blogs MySmartPrice and SmartPrix to publish what are said to be renderings of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Android 14

Android 14 is currently available in a preview mode for developers, with the final consumer-ready version expected to arrive in the fall. Google releases new Android features and Pixel-specific features throughout the year, but its annual version upgrades usually provide sweeping platform-wide improvements.

Android 13, for example, introduced more color options for Google’s Material You interface, end-to-end encryption for RCS group chats in Messages and more privacy protections, such as the option to grant apps access to a limited selection of photos instead of your whole library.

Based on what we know about Android 14 so far, it seems like Google will continue building on these themes by making improvements related to power efficiency, privacy and accessibility. We’ll likely find out more at Google’s I/O developer conference in May.

Pixel Tablet

Google is taking a fresh approach to tablets with its upcoming Pixel Tablet, which will have a speaker charging dock that turns it into a Nest Hub when docked.

The company hasn’t revealed much about its upcoming tablet, but it did provide some details during its last Pixel event in October. Other than its speaker dock, we also learned that the tablet will have a nano-ceramic coating inspired by porcelain and will run on the Tensor G2 processor found in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.

Google said it plans to launch the tablet in 2023, although it didn’t provide specifics. We’re expecting to learn more at Google I/O or in the fall, when the company typically holds its Pixel product launch event.

More AI in Google Search and elsewhere

Following the success of ChatGPT, generative AI has been everywhere in 2023 — and that includes in Google’s products. The company already introduced its AI-powered search chatbot Bard and announced new AI features for Gmail and Google Docs for generating drafts and rewriting emails.

But we’re expecting AI to be a dominant trend at Google I/O conference this year, especially as it seeks to keep pace with Microsoft and other rivals. Google reportedly issued a code red in December after ChatGPT debuted, according to The New York Times, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Google use its conference as an opportunity to assert its authority in AI.

AI has been a prominent theme at Google I/O before. Last year, for example, Google discussed improvements to automation, like auto translation and transcription for video, as well as updates to Search that make it better at handling questions that combine text and images. With all the attention Microsoft’s Bing has garnered thanks to its incorporation of AI, Google will likely make AI and Search a centerpiece of its I/O presentation.

Pixel Watch 2

Google hasn’t discussed plans for future Pixel Watches, nor have there been many leaks or rumors about what’s next for Google’s smartwatch. But since Google’s Pixel phones follow a yearly cadence — as do the Pixel Watch’s biggest competitors like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch — it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Pixel Watch follow suit.

Based on Google’s current direction for the Pixel Watch, we can probably expect to see the same round design on its sequel. The latest version of Wear OS, which we’re expecting to hear more about at Google I/O, will also likely make an appearance. I’m also hoping to see longer battery life and a few extra health and fitness-tracking features, such as auto-workout detection.