Here are the best Kindle deals right now
The 2021 Kindle Paperwhite is on sale as part of a discounted bundle starting at $169.97. | Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge
When it comes to finding a device to use to read your ebooks, you have a few options to choose from. You can always buy a tablet or use your phone, but those devices are multipurpose and can be used for a ton of things, like surfing the web or doom-scrolling on Twitter. If you are looking for something to strictly read books, e-readers, while niche, are designed to store all of your books in a virtual library with limited functionality.
Amazon, one of the pioneers of the e-reader, has dominated the space for years with its ever-expanding Kindle lineup, which consists of several unique models with their own pros and cons. The bulk of the devices function as simple ebook readers; however, with the Kindle Scribe, Amazon looks to be moving beyond books and into the realm of writing — something that should make future Kindles function more akin to physical paper.
Below, we’ve listed each model currently available. Sometimes, there isn’t a deal for one or any of the products — which is often the case following shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday — but we’ve mentioned the most recent sale price in those instances. Also, keep in mind that Amazon offers 20 percent off all of its Kindles when you trade in select devices, so there are still other ways to save money when none of the models are available at a discount.
In case you missed it, Amazon announced a new entry-level Kindle last year, one that’s designed to replace the 2019 model. The latest Kindle — which starts at $99.99 — puts Amazon’s base e-reader more in line with the most recent Kindle Paperwhite, providing a number of quality-of-life improvements in the process. The new model features longer battery life, a 300ppi screen, and now charges via USB-C instead of Micro USB. It also touts 16GB of storage by default and comes in a new “denim” color, which resembles the soft blue you might associate with jeans.
The new base Kindle wasn’t the only e-reader Amazon introduced in September. The new entry-level model has arrived alongside a new Kindle Kids, which is identical to the standard model but comes with a handful of accessories and provides age-appropriate content for younger readers who prefer digital books. Like the last-gen Kindle Kids, the new model retails for $20 more than the base model, bringing the MSRP to $119.99.
In terms of add-ons, the new Kindle Kids edition consists of four items: the device, a case, a two-year extended replacement guarantee (in the event the device breaks), and one year of Amazon Kids Plus. The latter is the biggest selling point of the device aside from the kid-friendly patterns, as it allows parents to grant their kids access to a digital library of kid-friendly books like Percy Jackson and the entire Harry Potter series at no additional cost.
Photo by Chaim Gartenberg / The
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is identical to the standard model but features wireless charging and a sensor to automatically adjust the backlight.
Amazon’s latest Kindle Paperwhite is its 11th-gen model, which comes with USB-C support, longer battery life, and a larger 6.8-inch display. Given the e-reader launched just last year, however, we haven’t seen a ton of steep discounts yet. Thankfully, you can still pick up the last-gen model, which is frequently available for far less than the standard retail price.
The 2021 Kindle Paperwhite comes in three main configurations: an 8GB model with ads for $139.99, an 8GB model without ads for $159.99, and a 32GB ad-free Signature Edition for $189.99. The latter is identical to the standard Paperwhite except it also features Qi wireless charging and a sensor that will automatically adjust the backlight when needed. Amazon has also rolled out a Kindle Paperwhite Kids Edition for $159.99, which comes bundled with a kid-friendly cover, a two-year extended replacement guarantee, and a year of Amazon Kids Plus, much like the aforementioned Kindle Kids. All 2021 models are also similar to the 2018 model in that they feature a waterproof design and Audible audiobook support.
We recently saw the ad-supported Paperwhite drop to $99.99 for Amazon Prime members, which is just $5 more than the e-reader’s all-time low. Right now, however, it’s only available starting at $139.99 at Target, Best Buy, and Amazon. Just note that the latter retailer is also offering three months of Kindle Unlimited at no additional cost along with an ad-free model for $159.99, which equates to about $30 more than the slate’s most recent sale price.
Lastly, if you’re looking for the Kindle Paperwhite Kids Edition, it’s currently available at Amazon starting at $159.99, the e-reader’s full retail price and significantly more than its all-time low of $104.99. If want to outfit your child with additional storage, the 16GB model is also available at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy for $169.99 (its full retail price).
The Kindle Oasis is the most expensive of the lineup, starting at $250. The device comes in two storage configurations, 8GB or 32GB, and like the other models, you can get it with or without ads on the lock screen.
The 2019 Kindle Oasis looks very similar to the previous model. It retains its waterproof 7-inch 300ppi E Ink display and supports Audible audiobooks via Bluetooth. However, unlike previous models, it can adjust the color temperature to a yellow-toned display, making it easier to read at night.
In the past, we’ve seen the 8GB Kindle Oasis drop to as low as $174.99, which remains the lowest price to date for the standalone configuration. Unfortunately, the ad-supported Oasis is only retailing at Amazon and Best Buy right now starting at $249.99. If you prefer the model without ads, you can pick it up on Amazon for $269.99 with three months of Kindle Unlimited. Lastly, if you need additional storage, the 32GB model is available on Amazon with ads for $279.99 or for $299.99 without.
The ad-free Kindle Scribe is Amazon’s biggest e-reader to date — one that also represents a departure from past Kindle models. It packs a 10.2-inch display with 300 dpi, along with the same great battery life for which Kindles have become known. What separates the Scribe from other models, however, is that it comes with one of two styli, which can be used to annotate books, doodle, or jot down notes. We found the e-reader’s note-taking capabilities to be lacking in our testing, but Amazon plans to improve the software as time goes on, which will hopefully bring it up to speed with other E Ink competitors.
Twitter says it will allow more political ads as it tries to claw back revenue
Twitter had banned political advertising, but it’s going to “expand” what’s allowed. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Twitter is going to “expand” the political advertising it allows on the platform in “the coming weeks,” the Twitter Safety account tweeted on Tuesday. Twitter banned all political advertising in late 2019, but the company is apparently loosening its rules just a couple of months after major ad agencies recommendedagainst buying ads on the platform.
Exactly what will change under the new policies outside of what’s mentioned in the tweet is unclear. But the return of political ads could have a major effect on the platform, especially ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. We asked Twitter for details, but the company has dissolved its press office since Elon Musk took over, so we’re not expecting a response.
However, this isn’t the only advertising change Twitter is announcing on Tuesday. The company is also “relaxing” its policies for “cause-based” ads (i.e., on topics like climate change or social equity) in the US. For this one, we found concrete changes on a Twitter website that indicate what’s changing.
According to this Twitter page, ads have certain restrictions; they are limited to “geo, keyword, and interest targeting,” for example, and shouldn’t “have the primary goal of driving political, judicial, legislative, or regulatory outcomes.” But according to a bullet point added sometime Tuesday (it does not appear in this cached version from earlier in the day), “advertisers whose cause-based ads target only within the United States are exempt from the above-listed restrictions.”
Twitter justifies the change by saying that “cause-based advertising can facilitate public conversation around important topics.” It’s unclear if the rules will be relaxed in places other than the US in the future.
More broadly, Twitter says that it will “align” its advertising policy “with that of TV and other media outlets.” It also says that with any changes, it will “first ensure that our approach to reviewing and approving content protects people on Twitter,” which is perhaps an acknowledgment that it will slow down on drastic changes like the sudden ban on links to competitors that was quickly reversed.
Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge
@TwitterSafety’s latest tweets about advertising policy changes.
What matters about Matter, the new smart home standard
The Verge
A comprehensive guide to the products that work with Matter — the Amazon, Google, Apple, and Samsung-backed smart home standard — and what you can buy right now.
Matter is a common language for smart home devices designed to simplify everything about the smart home, from purchase to setup and everyday use. Its biggest promise is making smart devices work with each other across platforms and ecosystems, no matter who made them. No more checking for the “works with” HomeKit, Google Home, or Alexa badges — Matter devices work with all of them. It’s also entirely local, so gadgets should respond more quickly. Yes, Matter should make your smart light bulb work just as fast as your non-smart light switch.
All this means you won’t have to pick a platform when adding Matter devices to your home. You can control your smart lighting, smart locks, etc., simultaneously with Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and even Bixby, should you want to. You can also easily switch your gadgets between platforms.
This article is a breakdown of the basics around Matter and how it will work in your home. Including which products and platforms will work with the new standard and when. For more on the technology behind Matter, check out this deep dive into the new standard: Matter’s plan to save the smart home.
As new information comes out, we’ll keep this article updated.
Developed and run by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, Matter is supported by a long list of companies. From platform owners like Apple, Google, and Amazon and major manufacturers such as Samsung and LG to smaller accessory-focused players like Nanoleaf, Eve, and Wyze, there’s an unprecedented industry coalition behind Matter. Which is why it’s probably going to work.
Matter isn’t a new protocol; it’s a specification for how devices should talk to each other. It runs over existing protocols: Thread for low-power, low-bandwidth devices such as light bulbs and sensors, and Wi-Fi or ethernet for higher bandwidth devices like streaming media players and cameras (when they arrive).
A key feature of the specification is that all devices can run locally in your home; they do not require an internet connection to work or to work together, although cloud connectivity is an option and allows for out-of-the-home control and integration with cloud services.
Early 2023 is when you can realistically expect to use Matter in your home.
What do I need to use Matter?
Image: Thread Group
This diagram explains how devices will communicate across the different protocols supported by Matter.
A Matter controller
To add and control Matter devices, you need a Matter controller. Unlike proprietary hubs and bridges from companies such as Philips Hue and Lutron Caseta, Matter controllers are not brand-specific. As long as it’s a Matter controller, it can control a Matter device — no matter who made it. (It doesn’t get old)
Matter controllers are built into the latest versions of Android and Apple’s operating systems, and all the flagship smart speakers and devices are now Matter controllers: including the Apple HomePod Mini, Apple TV 4K, Amazon Echo and Google Nest Hub speakers and displays, and Samsung SmartThings hubs.
Many different types of devices can be Matter controllers: smart speakers, voice assistants, apps, or hubs with apps. Their primary role is to manage communications, control, automations, and remote access (when enabled). Because of this, your Matter controller is ideally a device that is always in your home, always powered, and has a direct connection to your home network.
It’s worth noting that Matter controllers aren’t necessarily Matter devices. You probably won’t be able to control an Amazon Echo Show with your Google Nest Hub Max or a Samsung Family Hub fridge with your Apple TV.
A Thread border router
Matter works over Wi-Fi, ethernet, and Thread. Matter controllers take care of Wi-Fi and ethernet devices, but if you have Thread devices, you need a Thread border router to talk to the Matter controller. Helpfully, some Matter controllers are also Thread border routers.
Illustration by Grayson Blackmon / The Verge
The Thread logo
Thread is a low-power, low-latency wireless protocol that creates a self-healing mesh network. This means the more devices you have on it, the better the range and reliability will be. Similar to the Zigbee protocol, Thread works on the same 2.4GHz spectrum and is designed for the same low-power devices: sensors, light bulbs, plugs, and shades.
But Thread is IPv6 based, which means it can talk to the internet directly, whereas Zigbee devices require a hub, and often a proprietary one. Thread also has lower latency and is an open protocol — Zigbee has become hopelessly fragmented. Like Matter controllers, Thread border routers are platform agnostic, so any Thread device can connect to them.
Thread border routers don’t need a hardwired internet connection. They just need continuous power and Wi-Fi. This means that, unlike traditional bridges and hubs, they can be almost anything from a smart light or smart speaker to a fridge, television, or thermostat. In the long run, it’s likely that your next Wi-Fi router will contain a Thread border router, so you won’t have to worry about this at all.
Today, existing devices from Amazon, Apple, Eero, Google, and Samsung have Thread border routers that support Matter.
Which smart home platforms support Matter?
The four big platforms — Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and Samsung SmartThings — all support Matter. This means you can use any of their apps, smart speakers, hubs, and smart voice assistants as Matter controllers to manage your connected devices.
Because of a Matter feature called Multi-Admin — which lets you control the same Matter devices with multiple platforms — you don’t have to use one of the big four to control your devices. Several companies have already said their apps will become Matter controllers, including the TP-Link Tapo app, the Aqara app, and the Wiser app. And there will likely be more options soon.
You do need to use an app. Matter doesn’t have its own app. It isn’t a platform; it’s just the language the devices speak to each other. You’ll need to pick an app to manage that language and tell your smart thermostat to turn down and your lights to turn off when you lock your door. With Matter, these types of automations will run across devices from different companies that weren’t previously compatible.
So, yes, you will be able to control the new Nest Thermostat with Apple’s Siri or an Eve smart plug with Amazon Alexa. Plus, you can use the Apple Home app on your iPhone to turn on the living room light, and your partner can use the Google Home app on their Android phone to turn on the same lights.
Here is a rundown of what each of the smart home platforms has said it is doing to support Matter:
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
The Echo Dot with Clock will be a Matter Controller over Wi-Fi.
Amazon Alexa Matter support
A total of 17 Echo devices — including all of the current lineup — became Matter compatible in December 2022. So far, they only support Matter-over-Wi-Fi — and just three out of the first Matter device types: smart plugs, smart bulbs, and smart switches.
The Alexa app supports Matter on Android, and Amazon has said it will update the iOS Alexa app in 2023. Its flagship fourth-generation Echo smart speaker will also become a Thread border router “early next year.” Amazon’s Echo Studio, Echo Show 10, and Echo Plus speakers also technically have the capability to be border routers, but Amazon has not announced if those will be updated.
Amazon’s mesh Wi-Fi network company, Eero, has committed to supporting Matter, too. Most of its existing routers can already act as Thread border routers and will be upgraded to support Matter early next year. (See the full list below.)
Google Nest and Google Home Matter support
As of December 15, 2022, all Google’s Nest smart speakers and displays can act as Matter controllers. Newer products with Thread built in — such as the Nest Wi-Fi, Nest Wi-Fi Pro, Nest Hub Max, and second-gen Nest Hub — are also Thread border routers. Android devices and the Google Home app are also now Matter-compatible and can add Matter devices to Google Home smart homes.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
The new Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet is a Matter controller and Thread border router.
Apple Home Matter support
As of iOS 16.1, Apple’s HomePod, HomePod Mini, and 2021 and 2022 Apple TV 4K models are already Matter controllers. The HomePod Mini, Apple TV 4K Wi-Fi + Ethernet (2022), and Apple TV 4K (2021) are also Thread border routers. All Apple’s operating systems — watchOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and HomePod software — are now Matter certified, too.
“We believe all smart home accessories should work together to provide the most choice and interoperability for customers without compromising security and privacy,” Apple spokesperson Jacqueline Roy told me. “This is why we helped create and contribute to the new Matter standard so that all smart home accessories will have the same level of security, privacy, and ease of use that Apple customers enjoy today with HomeKit accessories.”
Samsung says its Galaxy smartphones and tablets, newer smart TVs and monitors, and its Family Hub refrigerators will get updated to support Matter-over-Wi-Fi.
The $35 SmartThings HubDongle will get Matter and Thread early next year. It already supports Zigbee and can be plugged into a smart TV or fridge to add full support for SmartThings-compatible Zigbee and Thread devices.
SmartThings hubs will not bridge existing devices into Matter. So your connected Zigbee and Z-Wave devices won’t show up in other Matter ecosystems — only in SmartThings.
Will I need to replace my existing smart devices?
Matter is designed to include devices already in our homes, and while some existing Thread devices that companies said might get upgraded to Matter now won’t, there are potential upgrade paths for many gadgets.
Zigbee devices can be bridged to Matter through their existing hub (both Philips Hue and Aqara have pledged to do this).
Some Wi-Fi devices can get Matter compatibility with an over-the-air firmware update.
Theoretically, some Zigbee devices could get device-level Matter-over-Thread support, though no such updates have been announced.
Aqara’s existing hubs, including theM2 Hub (left), G2H camera hub (center), and M1S hub (right), will be updated to bridge connected Aqara devices into Matter.
Current devices that can’t be upgraded to Matter will continue to work with the platforms they already work with. They will coexist with Matter devices on those platforms and can be used alongside them in routines and automations.
Bluetooth-only devices that don’t rely on bridges, such as Eve’s earlier line of security and sensor products or GE Cync’s Bluetooth mesh bulbs, can’t be updated to work with Matter since Matter doesn’t support Bluetooth except for device setup. Eve has already rolled out new Thread-enabled versions of almost its entire range of Bluetooth products.
Because the Matter specification was delayed several times and only finalized in late 2022, several manufacturers — including Nanoleaf, Belkin WeMo, and Schlage — shipped Thread products that they expected to update with Matter support, only to find that the hardware couldn’t handle the software requirements of the final version.
Instead, all those companies have announced plans to launch new Matter-enabled products next year. It’s a good idea not to buy any Thread products going forward until they have Matter support.
What about Z-Wave and Zigbee?
To date, we haven’t heard of any Z-Wave hubs that will expose their Z-Wave devices to Matter. Jaeyeon Jung, executive vice president and Head of SmartThings at Samsung Electronics, told me there is a significant technical complexity to doing this. “Looking at each legacy device and coming up with a way to convert each to Matter would be a huge process,” she said. “We still have to look at all the technical details to see if that would be possible.”
The Z-Wave Alliance is promoting solutions to bridge existing Z-Wave devices into Matter. Chipmaker Silicon Labs has developed both software and hardware solutions to enable this. But none of these have yet made their way into products you can buy.
For now, if you have Z-Wave or Zigbee devices, stick with whatever hub you are already using or switch to SmartThings or Home Assistant if you want Matter and your current platform won’t support it.
Will I still need hubs and bridges to run my smart home?
Yes. If you have devices that work through a bridge today, you will need to keep your bridges and hubs to continue using these devices. This applies to things like Philips Hue lighting products, Aqara sensors, Z-Wave and Zigbee devices going through a hub like Samsung SmartThings or Hubitat, or Ikea smart home devices on its older Trådfri gateway.
In an ideal world, you should not have to buy any more bridges or hubs. “Matter is going to be cheaper for device makers. It’s going to be cheaper for a lighting company, for example, to make an IP-based bulb [than continue to build bridges],” says Chris LaPré, head of technology for the CSA. “In the long run, Matter will take over, and eventually, you’ll just get rid of all the bridges.”
However, Signify — which owns Philips Hue — has said it will continue to use a bridge with its Zigbee-based lighting products and has no plans to make any of its other products directly Matter enabled.
Image: Connectivity Standards Alliance
The Matter logo should appear on new Matter-compatible devices.
Which products will work with Matter?
Most companies that have announced Matter devices say they will start shipping in Q1 of 2023.
New products that are compatible with Matter should have the Matter logo on them (it looks a bit like a stick person wearing bikini bottoms). Many manufacturers are adding Matter support to existing devices with over-the-air firmware updates. (More on this in a bit.)
The first device types supported in Matter are:
Light bulbs and light switches
Plugs and outlets
Door locks
Thermostats and other HVAC controllers (mini-splits, etc.)
Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
The Eve Motion motion sensor will get a firmware upgrade on December 12th to support with Matter. Image: Philips Hue
The Philips Hue Bridge will bring Matter to existing Hue devices, though the devices themselves will not be updated.
Devices that should work with Matter in Q1 of 2023
*Tuya Smart is an IoT development platform service provider that supports over 446,000 developers with schematics for over 1,100 smart home products from robot vacuums to smart lights. It already has Matter certification for a number of light bulbs and smart plugs. Brands that use Tuya include Teckin, Gosund, Nooie, Lidl, and Iotty
How easy will it be to add a Matter device to your smart home?
Adding a Matter device to your smart home should be very simple and similar no matter which device you’re adding or which platform you’re adding it to. Although in early testing, I ran into some hiccups. But once all the software updates have rolled out things should be smoother. Essentially, it’s much like adding a device to Apple’s Home platform today.
Matter uses numeric and QR setup codes and Bluetooth Low Energy to add a device to your network. Open the device maker’s app or your smart home platform app, scan the QR code or manually enter the numeric code written on the device, and follow the prompts.
NFC pairing will be an option for some devices, letting you tap the device with your phone. And some platforms will support auto-detection, so your phone will just see there is a device ready to be paired and prompt you to add it.
Once your device is set up in one platform, you can add it to other apps and platforms using Matter’s multi-admin feature. The process to share is similar to onboarding, only you don’t have to have the device in hand, as the app creates a pairing code for you.
Is Matter private and secure?
Smart home adoption has been slow as people are concerned about their privacy and security. The CSA says keeping devices secure is a core tenet of Matter.
“We are secure by design, we take a zero-trust approach, we use specific industry-standard encryption technology, and every device gets authenticated before it joins the network,” says Michelle Mindala-Freeman, head of marketing at CSA. “Every message is secured on the network, and Matter supports secure over-the-air updates.”
In terms of your home’s data, that relationship remains between you and the individual manufacturers, says Mindala-Freeman. However, Matter’s privacy principles outline data privacy protections, including minimizing how much data is shared in any Matter interaction and defining the purpose of data sharing when requested. As a bonus, because Matter has trust built into the system, you won’t have to continually input your passwords to connect ecosystems, explains the CSA’s LaPré.
The significant advantage of Matter devices — direct IP control that lets them speak straight to the internet — is also seen as a possible security concern. The CSA says Matter’s security approach delivers security that is “strong, agile (to address the evolution of things like encryption types over time), and proactive, with a community of members who do threat modeling and mitigation,” says Tobin Richardson, president and CEO of the CSA.
The approach is one of resilient security while still getting the benefits of an IP-connected world “rather than security by obscurity,” he says. Until devices are out in the wild, confirming this approach’s proficiency is hard, but the intent checks all the right boxes.
Which smart home device categories won’t work with Matter?
Image: Ring
The new Ring Alarm Pro from the Amazon-owned company does not support Matter over Thread, says the company.
Smart security cameras don’t currently work with Matter, but the CSA has said they will be part of a future update. How that will work in practice is unknown. Apple contributed the framework of its HomeKit smart home platform to Matter, so it’s possible that its HomeKit Secure Video may also be part of that contribution. We’ll have to wait and see.
Smart sensors are part of Matter, but home security systems are not — yet. Many smart homes run with an alarm system as the main hub, so the lack of integration here could be a deal-breaker for some.
Mitch Klein, executive director of the Z-Wave Alliance — a technology used widely in home alarm systems for door / window sensors, motion sensors, and other devices — explains that there will be significant challenges to porting that technology to Matter. “Securing UL approval for security devices is exceptionally difficult, and Matter has numerous challenges here,” he says. “UL is a benchmark and often an insurance requirement. All professionally-installed security systems insist on UL approval.”
Speaking of cameras and alarm systems, one of the biggest smart home companies in both these spaces — Ring — hasn’t offered any indication it will support Matter. I asked how / if Ring Alarm might integrate into Matter last year, and a spokesperson stated: “Ring Alarm Pro does not support Matter over Thread.”
Whole home audio streaming (the tech from speaker companies like Sonos and Bose) is not currently supported, and we don’t know how Alexa, Apple, and Google’s current multiroom music streaming solutions will integrate with Matter. There is a Matter casting feature in the specification, but so far, there haven’t been any implementations of it announced.
Update January 3rd, 2023, 5:05PMET:Updated to reflect Matter updates and rollouts (and some delays) through the end of 2022.
Update November 16th, 2022, 3:45PM ET:This article was originally published in October 2021. Following the launch of Matter this month and the beginning of the availability of products. We have revised much of it to keep it current.
Shower pods are here to turn your bathroom into a spa
Sprig Shower Infusion System. | Image: Kohler
Ever wish you could bring the spa home with you? Well, now you kind of can. Kohler announced a new aromatherapy shower infusion system at CES 2023 that will add a spa-like experience to your daily showers — just get ready to add shower pods to your shopping list.
Kohler’s Sprig Shower Infusion System consists of a gadget capable of attaching to any showerhead paired with Sprig Shower Pods. Once the shower is on, Kohler’s Sprig Shower Pods infuse the water stream with a combination of scents, like eucalyptus, chamomile, and lavender, as well as ingredients that are supposed to be good for the skin, like hyaluronic acid and sodium. Kohler says the pods are safe to use on the entire body and should run for “several minutes.”
While you can use the device with any showerhead, one part of it is very Kohler-specific: you can only insert Kohler’s Sprig Shower Pods into the gadget’s holder. These will have to be purchased separately and start at $21 for a six-pack of single-use pods or $24 for a single multiuse pod with eight uses.
Image: Kohler
Sprig Shower Pods.
The shower infusion system starts at $119 and will be available to purchase during the first quarter of 2023.
Kohler isn’t alone in thinking shower infusions could be the next hit wellness gadget. This month, the shower tech startup Hai is launching a product called Fuse, which can also attach to any showerhead and infuse the water with scents and vitamins. At $49, the attachment is much cheaper than Kohler’s, though, and launches on January 25th. Instead of pods, Hai’s shower infusion system uses “infusion tablets.”
Image: Hai
Hai shower infusion tablets.
The tablets are made from ingredients like sodium bicarbonate and citric acid and come in scents like lavender and mandarin. They’ll cost $26 for a 16-pack or can be purchased for $20 per month.
Samsung Display’s new QD-OLED TV panels can hit 2,000 nits of peak brightness
Samsung Display’s 77-inch QD-OLED TV panel. | Image: Samsung Display
Although Samsung is yet to officially reveal its lineup of QD-OLED TVs for the year, its display division has just teased a couple of key specs: a maximum peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and an increase in power efficiency of up to 25 percent.
2,000 nits of peak brightness is around double what Samsung’s debut QD-OLED TV, the S95B, was able to put out last year. It also appears to be higher than the 1,800 nits that an LG spokesperson told FlatPanelsHD that its 2023 G3 model should be able to reach (although LG’s TV may go higher depending on exact picture settings).
Although peak brightness isn’t the be-all-and-end-all of picture quality, brighter screens tend to produce better HDR with more impact and vibrancy. And if they’re able to sustain this brightness over a large portion of the screen, it could also make Samsung’s new TVs more viable for use in bright rooms, where dimmer OLED models can suffer from excessive reflections and generally poor visibility. A peak brightness of 2,000 nits would put Samsung Display’s new QD-OLED panels in the same ballpark as a bright Mini LED TV like Hisense’s U8H.
Image: Samsung Display
Samsung Display’s ultra-wide 49-inch QD-OLED for monitors.
Samsung Display says it’s been able to push the brightness of its Quantum Dot OLED (aka QD-OLED) panels further this year thanks to a combination of a new brightness optimization algorithm and a new material. The company’s press release says the IntelliSense AI algorithm “collects information on each pixel in real-time and uses it to precisely control light” while the HyperEfficient EL material makes the TV’s blue emitting layer more efficient and hence brighter and clearer.
In addition to being brighter, Samsung Display’s QD-OLED panels are now available in a wider variety of sizes. There are the 34-, 55-, and 65-inch panel sizes that we saw appear in last year’s monitors and TVs, but this year they’re joined by a larger 77-inch TV panel that was initially teased in September. There’s also an ultrawide 49-inch QD-OLED panel that’s set to appear in Samsung’s new Odyssey G95SC monitor.
There’s no word on pricing, availability, or even the model numbers of the TVs that these panels are expected to appear in. But if Samsung’s 2,000 nit promise is reflective of the real-world brightness of its latest TVs, then 2023 may see one of the key issues that have plagued OLED TVs for years finally addressed.
Investors convert ‘totally worthless’ NFTs into tax write-offs
A new service offers a way to offset losses from NFTs during a grim crypto winter that saw demand for digital collectibles vanish
Just a year ago, Washington DC’s Hirshhorn art museum – the capital’s preeminent contemporary art museum – was asking whether non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were “fad or the future of art”. Twelve months on, it looks like “tax write-off” might have been the right answer.
This year was not just the year that cryptocurrency values were burned by investor fears, rising interest rates, inflation and scandals, it was the year that crypto’s cartoonish art cousin the NFT – an electronic identifier confirming a digital collectible is real – collided with reality.
Tesla falls short of its goal of growing 50 percent in 2022
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Tesla delivered just over 1.3 million vehicles in 2022, missing its goal of achieving 50 percent growth year-over-year. The company needed to hit approximately 1.4 million deliveries to meet its target, indicating that transportation and logistics challenges continue to plague the EV company.
Tesla said it delivered 405,278 vehicles in in the fourth quarter of 2022, which includes 17,147 Model S and X vehicles and 388,131 Model 3 and Y vehicles. Wall Street analysts had been predicting 415,000 vehicles delivered during the quarter. For the year, the company delivered 66,705 Model S and X vehicles, and 1,247,146 Model 3 and Y vehicles.
Analysts were hoping for a robust 1.8 million vehicles delivered for the year, but Tesla needed to deliver just 1.4 million in 2022 in order to meet its goal of 50 percent growth for the year. And despite just missing that goal, it was another record quarter of deliveries for the EV maker, which has been dealing with a number of challenges this year, many of which have nothing to do with Elon Musk buying Twitter.
“We continued to transition towards a more even regional mix of vehicle builds which again led to a further increase in cars in transit at the end of the quarter,” the company said in a statement. “Thank you to all of our customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and supporters who helped us achieve a great 2022 in light of significant COVID and supply chain related challenges throughout the year.”
It was a year of unique struggles for Tesla, which included flagging demand, an aging lineup, and increased competition from legacy automakers. Musk’s purchase of Twitter led to a subsequent sharp decline in Tesla’s stock price, which plunged by as much as 65 percent over the course of the year. The rout shaved billions from Musk’s own net worth, leading him to claim the unfortunate designation as the first person to lose $200 billion, according to Bloomberg.
CES 2023: all the news from the year’s biggest tech conference
Samar Haddad / The Verge
At the year’s biggest tech show, we’ll see next-gen TVs, stylish laptop updates, questionable smart home tech, and a lot of strange and surprising gadgets.
CES, also known as the Consumer Electronics Show, is the biggest tech trade show of the year, kicking off the first week of January and setting the stage for trends, announcements, and ascendant product categories we’ll see throughout the rest of 2023. The show will give us an early look at the latest developments in TVs and laptops, useful (and sometimes invasive) smart home gadgets, and plenty of phones, monitors, cars, and smart toilets in between.
For 2023, CES runs from January 5th through January 8th. But the news will start coming in before then: Samsung, LG, Sony, and quite a few others will kick things off with a day of press conferences on January 4th. And you can bet that companies eager to get their news out will start sharing announcements even earlier in the week. It’s going to be a busy start to the new year.
The Verge will be covering CES on the ground in Las Vegas. You can follow along here for all the latest news and plenty of hands-on video coverage from the show. After a couple of quieter years — CES 2021 was online-only due to the pandemic, and CES 2022 saw just a quarter of the show’s typical attendance due to omicron concerns — the Consumer Technology Association, which organizes CES, expects this year’s show to be more of a return to form, with busier halls and a lot more news to go around.
Samsung is releasing two ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitors in 2023
Samsung claims that the 49-inch Odyssey G95SC is the world’s first 32:9 aspect ratio OLED gaming monitor. | Image Credit: Samsung
OLED gaming monitors are everywhere at CES 2023, and Samsung’s lineup is no exception. The company revealed the Odyssey G95SC monitor today, a 49-inch model that it claims is the world’s first 32:9 aspect ratio OLED gaming monitor. It also reminded us that its Odyssey 34-inch G8 QD-OLED monitor that debuted in the fall during IFA 2022 will be releasing “very soon.”
What sets these two models apart from what LG recently announced is that they use Samsung’s own QD-OLED tech, not LG Display’s latest panels. Below I’ve embedded a sidebar explaining how QD-OLED differs from OLED, but the TL;DR is that it’s able to produce a more contrast-rich picture at higher brightness levels — one of the few limitations of conventional OLED tech.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around how cool it’d be to sit in front of Samsung’s new 49-inch Odyssey G95SC. Thankfully, it can wrap itself around my head instead. It has a super-wide 32:9 aspect ratio, expanding to 5,120 x 1,440 resolution with an 1800R curve. This model has a fast 240Hz refresh rate. It’s coming later in 2023 with no price tag attached for now.
Image Credit: Samsung
Both the 49-inch Odyssey G95SC and the Odyssey G8 (shown here) have a subtle 1800R curve.
The Odyssey G8 is a bit smaller across the spec sheet, but it has a similar panel to what shipped in Alienware’s stellar QD-OLED gaming monitor from 2021. It matches key details including the 34-inch size, 21:9 aspect ratio, the 1800R curvature, its 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, and a 175Hz refresh rate. Samsung still hasn’t shared a price, but we’ll update this post if that changes.
Samsung claims that both of these monitors support HDR True Black 400, a VESA spec that means they can reach 400 nits of peak brightness. However, it’s possible that they’ll deliver lower brightness in reality, depending on what you watch on them. During HDTVTest’s review of the Alienware QD-OLED monitor, which has the same True Black spec as these new Samsung monitors, it delivered closer to 280 nits while displaying an all-white screen (the most brutal challenge for an OLED).
These monitors are meant to connect to powerful consoles and PCs, but they also support Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which lets you wirelessly connect a controller to play on cloud streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now. They also have Smart Hub, which let them access smart TV apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more. In terms of ports, both of them feature Mini DisplayPort, Micro HDMI 2.1, and USB-C charging of up to 65W.
Apple’s battery replacement prices are going up by $20 to $50
If you need a new battery, now might be the time. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge
Apple is raising the price of getting a new battery installed in most iPhones, iPads, and Macs, starting on March 1st. The company made the announcement on the devices’ repairpages, in small text under its price estimators, which was noticed by 9to5Mac.
How much the price hike is depends on what device you have. For iPhones, it’s simple — Apple’s site says “the out-of-warranty battery service fee will be increased by $20 for all iPhone models prior to iPhone 14.” For phones with a home button, that means the price will be going from $49 to $69, and for Face ID phones that means it’ll be going from $69 to $89. Those prices, by the way, were put in place in 2019, after Apple ran a year-long promotion where you could get a new battery for $29, to make up for its battery throttling controversy.
For “all MacBook Air models” the price increase will be $30, bringing the price from $129 to $159. For the MacBook (the 12-inch computer introduced in 2015, though Apple’s site only lists battery service options for the 2016 and 2017 models) and MacBook Pros, the $199 replacements will be going up by $50, to $249.
The iPads are the trickiest, just because there’s so many versions. The price increase is $20 across the lineup, but will apply to the following models, according to Apple’s website:
iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and prior) — the current is the 4th-gen, released in 2022.
iPad Pro 10.5-inch
iPad Pro 9.7-inch
All iPad minis
All iPad Airs
The price increases aren’t necessarily the most surprising thing ever — Apple’s latest iPhones already had more expensive replacements than their predecessors, as did the iPad Pros.
The elephant in the room is Apple’s self service repair program, which lets you buy batteries for an iPhone 12, 13, or 2022 SE, as well as for a MacBook Air. (Technically you can buy batteries for MacBook Pros as well, but they come as part of a $500-plus top case assembly.) The company’s DIY option has never been a great value compared to just bringing it in to an Apple store, but it’s unclear whether it’ll also be getting more expensive. There doesn’t appear to be a price increase warning on the separate Self Service Repair Store site — battery and screw kits for the iPhone 12 and 13 currently cost $69.00, though you can get around $24 back if you return your old battery. Apple didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment about its DIY pricing.
In theory, the battery replacement fee change shouldn’t affect people who have paid for Apple’s extended service plan — the company’s repair pages for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad all say something like “Your product is eligible for a battery replacement at no additional cost if you have AppleCare+ and your product’s battery holds less than 80% of its original capacity.”
That last part is worth noting because even if you find your battery life intolerable, Apple’s policy is that you’d have to pay to get it replaced unless your device’s software has marked a battery health problem. I have personal experience with this restriction — I took my AppleCare Plus-protected iPhone 12 Mini in to get a battery replacement in February 2022, and was told I’d have to pay if I wanted one because the maximum capacity listed in Settings > Battery > Battery Health and Charging was 84 percent.
Since then it’s felt like my phone’s battery life has cratered even further, but that number hasn’t changed by even a single percent. Even if my phone’s battery has only diminished by 16 percent and hasn’t actually gotten worse in the past year (again, I highly doubt this), it’s still a pretty rough experience; it’s gotten to the point where I have to charge my phone throughout the day if I plan on leaving the house at all.
It’s already a frustrating situation, but I can’t imagine how annoyed I’d be if my AppleCare plan expired in March, after the cutoff date. Thankfully (?), it expired in December, so I have some time to get it at the old price — even if I’ll be slightly annoyed that I have to pay for it at all.
It's the beginning of a new year, and economically we are in a bit of trouble. But some amazing technologies are coming to market this year that I look forward to seeing. The post Tech Industry Trends and Predictions for 2023 appeared first on TechNewsWorld.
A partial list of all the EVs that qualify for the new $7,500 tax credit
Photo by Andrew J. Hawkins / The Verge
As of January 1st, 2023, a bunch of electric vehicles became newly eligible for the $7,500 tax credit, which passed into law as part of the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act a year ago.
Some models new to the list had lost their eligibility when their manufacturer hit the previous credit’s sales cap of 200,000 vehicles (Tesla models, Chevy Bolts). Others have recently shifted their production to North America, meeting one of the crucial requirements (VW ID.4).
There’s still a lot in the air right now — the Treasury Department has set a March deadline for releasing guidance on some of the thornier issues surrounding battery material sourcing and other rules that could drastically reduce the eligibility list if enacted — but for now, these are the EVs that qualify.
Foreign automakers are pressuring the Biden administration to give them a piece of the action, while Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) is threatening to block the implementation in an effort to prevent companies from exploiting loopholes. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk is whining about how it’s “messed up” that certain versions of the Tesla Model Y that exceed the $80,000 price cap don’t qualify, while a bunch of hybrid Jeeps do.
Bottom line: if you’re unsure whether the new EV you’re eyeing qualifies for the credit, talk to an accountant. Every state has at least a few CPAs that are familiar with the EV tax credit craziness and can help you navigate the murky waters ahead. They can also tell you what state incentives, if any, may be available.
This list is a good start, but don’t consider the last word.
U.S. Pours Money Into Chips, but Even Soaring Spending Has Limits Amid a tech cold war with China, U.S. companies have pledged nearly $200 billion for chip manufacturing projects since early 2020. But the investments are not a silver bullet.
Sport, TV, tech and fashion: what does 2023 have in store for us?
From culture to politics, the cost of living crisis, lifestyle, the environment and science – the next 12 months will bring new stars, trends and challenges. Our experts point the way
There has been an audible buzz about Jack Draper in tennis circles for a while. But in 2023 expect the 21-year-old from Sutton in south-west London, who also has a contract with IMG Models, to crash into the mainstream. He certainly has enough of the right stuff, including the whiplash serve and punishing groundstrokes on the court, and the looks and personality off it.
Is modern life ruining our powers of concentration? Is the ping of a text stealing our focus or do we just lack willpower? And could mindless scrolling ever be good for our brains? Elle Hunt unpacks some surprising truths
How does it feel inside your head? Turn your attention inwards. Maybe you’re daydreaming, allowing your mind to wander. Or maybe it feels sharp and alert. Maybe your thoughts are forging freely ahead, a sign that you have achieved the fabled state of “flow”. More likely, however, your brain feels like a browser with too many tabs open. From the widespread reports of a post-pandemic “brain fog” and the books on “deep work” and “stolen focus” topping bestseller lists, to the soaring diagnoses of ADHD in adults and children, it seems we are increasingly concerned by our ability to pay attention.
Early last year, the Centre for Attention Studies at King’s College London found that 49% of 2,000 adults surveyed felt their attention span was shorter than it used to be. Almost as many (47%) agreed that “‘deep thinking’ has become a thing of the past”. These are generalisations and impossible to quantify – we have no consistent measure of attention or deep thinking, let alone of contrasting those through history with today’s. But the response proves that we at least perceive there’s a problem.
‘He’s having the time of his life!’ How Tariq the Corn Kid embraced global fame – and broccoli
The seven-year-old’s deep love of sweetcorn made him a viral sensation. But how do you top meeting Michelle Obama and starring on The Drew Barrymore Show?
It was the height of summer when seven-year-old Tariq declared: “For me … I really like corn” – and promptly became an internet sensation. His video interview with Julian Shapiro-Barnum, host of web series Recess Therapy, went viral, as his description of corn as “a big lump with knobs” and general enthusiasm for the vegetable racked up views around the world.
“What do you like about corn?” asks Shapiro-Barnum in the video, which was shot at Smorgasburg, a weekly food festival in Prospect Park, New York. “Ever since I was told that corn was real, it tasted good,” says a gap-toothed Tariq, seemingly bemused by the sheer existence of corn. “But when I tried it with butter, everything changed! … I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing! It’s corn!”
Labour pledges to toughen ‘weakened and gutted’ online safety bill
Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell vows to target algorithms that bombard children with harmful content if party wins power
Tough new laws that would protect children from being bombarded with seriously harmful online material, will be introduced as a top priority of a Labour government.
After meeting families who have lost children as a result of exposure to harmful content, the shadow culture secretary, Lucy Powell, has won the backing of party leader Keir Starmer to legislate as one of the first acts of a Labour government, if the party wins the next election.
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