New Gadgets

Apple announced the next iPhone operating system: iOS 14.

The preview of iOS 14 includes a major redesign of the iPhone home screen, picture-in-picture video, better widgets, a new way to automatically organize your apps called App Library and a new Siri interface. These features come alongside a new Translation app, the ability to unlock your car with your iPhone and an accessibility feature called Back Tap that lets you tap the back of your iPhone to take a screenshot, scroll and more.

The main new features of iOS 14 are largely focused on the home screen, the Today View and notifications. The very idea of an app is changing. Prior to iOS 14, there were apps and widgets, which are based on your installed apps and available on the Today View page. Now, there is a third form called App Clips for when you need the functionality of an app that you don't have.

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We've rounded up the top-performing inexpensive true wireless earbuds that sound pretty decent, and we've also got a list of the best cheap true wireless earbuds. But if you want to find the absolute best-sounding wireless earbud, the truth is that you'll need to prepare to spend more -- a lot more, in some cases.

The best wireless headphones also tend to be on the bigger side because size does seem to matter when it comes to the sound quality of a pair of true wireless earbuds. And that's where the one big caveat to all this comes into play: To achieve optimal performance, the best true wireless earbuds need to feel comfortable and fit right in your ear -- and you have to get a tight seal. If you can't get a snug fit with a pair of in ear headphones, you'll think you got ripped off and be sadly disappointed, which is why I suggest buying a pair from a store with a decent return policy, such as Amazon. I'd also like to add, if you have trouble finding ear buds that work for you, try ones that can accommodate an ear hook. It's life-changing.

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If you like the idea of blocking blue light, another approach is to get eyeglasses that automatically filter out the blue for you. Glasses USA has rolled out a line of frames with blue light blocking lenses and is offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on Bluease frames if you check out with discount code BOGOFREE. That's worth up to about $100, depending upon the frames you select.

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The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, right, and Note 20 are arresting, but expensive. Will they be worth the price?
Richard Peterson/CNET Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G reminds me of a figure straight from Greek mythology. With its sleek profile, resplendent bronze finish (for its signature color), and thick camera bump on the back staring out like a set of compound eyes, it doesn't take much more than a glance to see this new phone for power users is very much siren-meets-cyclops.

The Note 20 ($1,000, £849, AU$1,499) and 20 Ultra's ($1,300, £1,179, AU$1,849) looks are just the beginning of the story -- and there's far more below -- including one genuinely surprising change. But before we go there, it's important to understand the context into which these phones are coming to light. (The Galaxy Note 20 phones will be available for preorder Aug. 6 at 12:01 a.m. ET and are expected to arrive by the official sale date, Aug. 21.)

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Amazon Studios While clicking through Amazon Prime Video, you've probably come across a handful of Amazon original movies. They can be hit and miss, but some of them are surprising gems.
Amazon snaps up movies like Manchester by the Sea to show in the US, but it also nabs worldwide rights to originals perfect for a night in with a smaller screen.

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Mixed news today out of Microsoft. First, the company has confirmed that the Xbox Series X is formally launching in November, with support for thousands of games. The reason Microsoft can make this kind of claim is due to backward-compatibility with previous generations of consoles. For the PC space, this kind of announcement would be met with puzzled stares — imagine Intel, AMD, or Nvidia declaring that a new CPU or GPU would simply be incompatible with previous hardware — but in the console space, it’s a revolutionary play.

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Google wants to make your next hotel stay that much more comfortable. It's partnered with a few hotels to put its flagship smart display -- the Nest Hub -- into individual rooms with an experience tailored for the guest. In the hotel, you'll have access to the usual voice commands. For example, you can play music, check the weather and browse local restaurants. In addition, the Nest Hub will offer customized hospitality: So you'll be able to request towels, check hours for the pool, hear about special offers and more.
Hotels can also offer surveys and checkout services through the Nest Hub, and since the hotel sets up the device, you won't have to log in. Google will automatically delete any activities between guests and won't store audio.

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The Xbox Series S has been the worst-kept secret at Microsoft for some months now, but up until today, the company refused to let a little thing like reality spoil its desire for secrecy. Today, Microsoft finally gave up and admitted that it’s launching a lower-end Xbox Series X, formerly codenamed Lockhart, for the very reasonable price of $299.

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If you're in the market for a new tablet, it's easy to automatically opt for Apple's iPad (including the iPad Mini and iPad Air) and to overlook the Android tablet option, especially as fewer and fewer manufacturers are making them these days. While that may seem unfair, there are several Android tablets on the market that are doing their best to rival the Apple iPad.

While some might question the sanity of an Android tablet buyer in this day and age, the best models can meet any casual or professional need. Some Android tablets even work with a mouse or touchpad. And if you're already invested in the Android app ecosystem, you won't have to buy them again for iOS.

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Cuddle up with Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman's podcast.
Earwolf 2020 has been a great year for podcasts. We've seen an influx of celebrity-hosted, guest-driven podcasts and we've also been treated to a bunch of high quality episodic, narrative reporting.
There's a sea of fantastic podcasts out there. Below are our 2020 picks for those looking for something to binge.

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