All posts tagged: Upgrades

AirPods Max 2: H2 Upgrades, 1.5x ANC, and 9 Pricing Details

AirPods Max 2: H2 Upgrades, 1.5x ANC, and $549 Pricing Details

Published by skeptic

Apple has officially launched the AirPods Max 2, a significant upgrade to its premium over-ear headphones. Designed to cater to a wide range of users, including audiophiles, gamers and content creators, these headphones combine innovative technology with a focus on sustainability. Featuring improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), enhanced sound quality and a suite of intelligent features powered by the H2 chip, the AirPods Max 2 aim to redefine the listening experience. Additionally, Apple has taken steps to reduce the environmental impact of these headphones by incorporating recycled materials and eco-friendly packaging. Here’s an in-depth look at what makes the AirPods Max 2 stand out. Sharper Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) The AirPods Max 2 introduce a more advanced ANC system, offering noise-canceling performance that is up to 1.5 times more effective than the original model. This improvement ensures a quieter and more immersive listening experience, whether you’re in a bustling airport, a crowded train, or a noisy office environment. The enhanced ANC technology effectively blocks out background noise, allowing you to focus entirely on your music, …

Best Menswear on Amazon 2026: 68 Quick-Shipping Upgrades Approved by GQ Editors

Best Menswear on Amazon 2026: 68 Quick-Shipping Upgrades Approved by GQ Editors

Published by Jenni Sidey

How We Test and Review Products Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. How We Made These Picks We make every effort to …

Your Google Maps just got two huge upgrades – including a totally new driving experience

Your Google Maps just got two huge upgrades – including a totally new driving experience

Published by skeptic

Google Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Google Maps is introducing two new features. Ask Gemini lets you find answers conversationally. Immersive Navigation provides a totally new driving view. Google Maps just got a huge upgrade, and it might be one of the biggest ever.   In a recent post, Google detailed two features — Ask Gemini and Immersive Navigation. The first lets you find answers to questions with AI, while the second provides a totally new driving experience.  Also: 41 hidden Google Maps settings and features every power user should know The Ask Gemini feature works as you’d expect if you’ve encountered any of the other times Google has injected its AI into products. Instead of searching through Google for specific information, you can ask Maps conversational questions such: “Is there a public tennis court with lights on that I can play at tonight?” “Where can I charge my phone without having to wait in a long line for coffee?” “I’m driving to the Grand Canyon, show me …

Sonos just launched 2 new speakers, with some subtle but useful upgrades

Sonos just launched 2 new speakers, with some subtle but useful upgrades

Published by skeptic

Sonos/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Sonos announces the Play and Era 100 SL speakers. The Play speaker sits between the Sonos Roam and Move 2 portable speakers. The Era 100 SL is an entry-level access point into Sonos’ smart home speakers. After announcing a new professional-focused amp in January, Sonos continues to address its hardware drought with the Sonos Play and Era 100 SL speakers. The Play introduces a new tier of portable speakers, and the Era 100 SL is a more affordable entry point into the Sonos home theater system. Also: Sonos’ cheapest smart speaker is also the one I use the most. Here’s why The Sonos Play and Era 100 SL speakers represent novel pathways for existing Sonos fans to expand their system, and ways for new customers to become acquainted with the brand. Here’s what we know. Sonos Play: A new Sonos speaker tier Sonos headlines this speaker as “the most versatile speaker in the Sonos system,” falling in the middle of its portable lineup, …

OpenAI upgrades ChatGPT with interactive learning tools as lawsuits and Pentagon backlash mount

OpenAI upgrades ChatGPT with interactive learning tools as lawsuits and Pentagon backlash mount

Published by skeptic

The past ten days have been among the most consequential in OpenAI’s history, with developments stacking up across product, politics, personnel, and the courts. Here is what happened — and what it means. OpenAI on Tuesday launched a set of interactive visual tools inside ChatGPT that let users manipulate mathematical and scientific formulas in real time — a genuinely impressive education feature that landed in the middle of the most turbulent stretch of the company’s corporate life. The new experience covers more than 70 core math and science concepts, from the Pythagorean theorem to Ohm’s law to compound interest. When a user asks ChatGPT to explain one of these topics, the chatbot now generates a dynamic module with adjustable sliders alongside its written response. Drag a variable, and the equations, graphs, and diagrams update instantly. The feature is available today to all logged-in users worldwide, across every plan, including free. OpenAI tells VentureBeat that 140 million people already use ChatGPT each week for math and science learning. That is a staggering number. It also means …

Google upgrades Gemini for Workspace allowing it to pull data from multiple apps to create Docs, Sheets, Slides and more

Google upgrades Gemini for Workspace allowing it to pull data from multiple apps to create Docs, Sheets, Slides and more

Published by skeptic

Lest you thought Microsoft would have all the fun introducing new AI features for white collar enterprise work this week with its Copilot Cowork announcement yesterday, Google is here to take back the spotlight. The search giant and, increasingly, AI leader today announced a sweeping series of updates to its Gemini AI models embedded into Google Workspace — the productivity suite of cloud-based apps including Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more. They’re being made available both to individual consumers and enterprises, though you’ll need an AI Pro ($20 per month) or higher subscription plan for the former, and your enterprise will need to be enrolled in the “Gemini Alpha” program and have the features switched on by an administrator. The biggest news: it’s now possible to have Gemini automatically create these file types from a single text prompt and fill them out with information gathered from other files and apps throughout you, the user’s Google Workspace, including emails, chats, files, and the open web via Google Search. By synthesizing information across these disparate apps and …

YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Premium Lite: Are the upgrades worth the difference?

YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Premium Lite: Are the upgrades worth the $6 difference?

Published by skeptic

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. If you’re tired of YouTube ads, you might be inclined to purchase YouTube Premium to circumvent them. YouTube Premium includes other perks, such as picture-in-picture streaming and a unified membership with YouTube Music for $14/month. However, YouTube offers a mid-tier YouTube Premium Lite membership that limits ads and also offers picture-in-picture streaming. Also: YouTube launches cheaper Premium Lite plan – but are the trade-offs worth it? You might choose the YouTube Premium membership if you want a completely ad-free experience and all of the premium benefits. Still, you might choose the Lite membership to avoid the drawbacks of the free tier at a lower cost. Here’s everything you should know before making a decision. Specifications YouTube Premium Premium Lite Price $7.99/month $13.99/month Ad-free videos Yes Most videos Background play Yes Most videos Music subscription included Yes No Download and play offline Yes Most videos You should choose YouTube Premium if… Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET 1. You want to bundle videos and …

Two More Studio Display 2 Upgrades Leaked in New Report

Two More Studio Display 2 Upgrades Leaked in New Report

Published by skeptic

Macworld‘s Filipe Espósito today again reported that Apple appears to be developing two new Studio Display models with different specs. Based on lines of code in “internal Apple files,” which likely refers to a macOS Tahoe Kernel Debug Kit that leaked online last year, Espósito continues to believe that both of the new Studio Display models will feature ProMotion, enabling up to a 120Hz refresh rate, as well as HDR support for increased brightness and dynamic range. For the higher-end Studio Display, the report has revealed two more potential upgrades that had yet to be rumored until now, including superior speakers and more and/or higher-spec ports. Apple says the current Studio Display has a “high-fidelity six-speaker system” that supports Spatial Audio, and the monitor has one Thunderbolt 3 port that connects to and charges a Mac, and three USB-C ports for connecting accessories. The new Studio Display will likely feature at least one Thunderbolt 5 port, to ensure there is enough bandwidth for both 5K resolution at 120Hz and accessories. However, another leaker curiously claimed …

iPhone 18 Pro Max Features: Key Upgrades Explained

iPhone 18 Pro Max Features: Key Upgrades Explained

Published by skeptic

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is poised to be a standout addition to Apple’s flagship lineup, bringing a host of significant upgrades that enhance performance, usability, and innovation. With six major advancements, this device is designed to meet the evolving needs of modern users while setting a new standard for smartphones. From extended battery life to innovative camera technology, here’s a detailed look at the features that make the iPhone 18 Pro Max a compelling choice. 1. Extended Battery Life for All-Day Reliability Apple has prioritized one of the most critical aspects of smartphone functionality: battery life. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to feature a battery capacity exceeding 5,100 mAh, made possible by a slightly thicker design. This larger battery, combined with advanced internal components such as the C2 modem and next-generation network hardware, is engineered to optimize energy efficiency. For users, this means significantly longer usage times, even during power-intensive activities like gaming, video streaming, or multitasking. Whether you’re working remotely, traveling, or enjoying extended screen time, the improved battery ensures your …

These 4 boring smart home upgrades save more money than flashy gadgets

These 4 boring smart home upgrades save more money than flashy gadgets

Published by skeptic

Smart homes don’t have to be flashy. In fact, if you have a smart speaker that controls even a few devices in your home, like speakers and lights, and you use it to do things like set calendar appointments and check reminders, congratulations! You have a smart home. A smart home can, of course, be complex as well, with everything from smart security cameras to blinds, scenes that activate multiple things at once, voice-controlled robotic devices, and more. But sometimes, the smartest devices aren’t the ones that sit front and center, employing elegant designs. They’re functional and serve a purpose that pays off in other ways. Rather than fork over thousands for flashy gadgets, start or even expand a smart home with some simple ones. These won’t make visitors “ooh” and “ahh.” But they’ll achieve one of the biggest advantages with a smart home: helping you save money. Related Alexa vs. Gemini isn’t the right question — I use both for my smart home Why choose the best of both worlds when you can have …