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Apple's AirTag drops to $25 for Amazon Prime members at Woot

Posted: 12 Dec 2021 01:59 PM PST

It's now that much more affordable to scoop up an AirTag and track your keys or bag from your iPhone. Woot is selling single units of Apple's item tracker for $25 to Amazon Prime Members, and $27 for everyone else. The sale runs either until the end of 2021 or supplies run out, so this might be ideal for last-minute gifts or post-holiday splurging. Just be aware that Woot's return policy isn't the same as Amazon's, although you will have until January 31st to return anything purchased by December 31st.

Buy AirTag on Woot - $25

The AirTag has a handful of tricks to help it stand out from other find-my-stuff devices. The NFC-based pairing makes it easy to set up with iPhones, but the real star of the show is ultra-wideband support that helps you find tags with high precision. So long as you have a UWB-equipped Apple handset (the iPhone 11 or newer), you may know the exact spot where you lost your goods — helpful if something fell between the couch cushions.

The main catch, as is often the case with Apple gear, revolves around the ecosystem. While you can use an Android phone to help return an AirTag-equipped device or (soon) spot nearby tags, you'll need an iPhone to set up those tags and track them from afar. You'll also need accessories if you want to clip a tag to a keychain or backpack. The batteries are replaceable, though, and the simple design might be appealing if you think the alternatives are unwieldy or dull.

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Someone 'briefly compromised' the Indian Prime Minister's Twitter account

Posted: 12 Dec 2021 12:59 PM PST

People aren't done hijacking major politicians' Twitter accounts for financial gain. TechCrunch reports an intruder temporarily seized control of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Twitter account on December 12th in local time. The attacker tweeted a bogus claim that India had adopted Bitcoin as legal tender and pointed users to a (thankfully broken) scam website. The post was at odds with India's well-known disdain for cryptocurrency.

The Prime Minister's office didn't say much about the incident. It acknowledged that Modi's account had been "briefly compromised," but that it contacted Twitter and "immediately secured" the politician's profile. Twitter told TechCrunch something similar.

It's not certain just who's responsible, or how they hijacked the account (some speculated the attackers exploited a website flaw). This wasn't a large-scale campaign like the one that defaced the Twitter accounts of Joe Biden, Elon Musk and other major figures, though. It's chiefly concerning that someone breached Modi's account in the first place — world leaders are expected to have strict security, and Twitter even has a system for protecting high-profile users against attacks. While those measures aren't foolproof, they theoretically reduce the chances of incidents like this.

Amazon's Fire TV Cube drops to an all-time low price of $75

Posted: 12 Dec 2021 10:52 AM PST

Amazon just made it easier to rationalize the Fire TV Cube as a do-it-all speaker and streaming hub. The internet retailer has put the Fire TV Cube on sale for $75, or $45 off. That's a record low price for the media device, and even better than the Black Friday pricing from just two weeks earlier. You may want to act quickly.

Buy Fire TV Cube at Amazon - $75

The Fire TV Cube is still a very capable box two years after its introduction. It can play the latest 4K HDR video (including in Dolby Vision and HDR10+) from virtually every major video service, complete with Dolby Atmos sound. As a smart speaker, meanwhile, it offers hands-free Alexa that can help you control your smart home or get answers whether or not the TV is turned on.

If there's a reason for pause, it's Amazon's own lineup. The company recently introduced a Fire TV Stick 4K Max that, at a $55 normal price, may be a better value if you're more interested in streaming than Alexa chats. At this sale price, though, the Cube makes plenty of sense if you're looking for a single Amazon device to handle your living room tech duties, whether it's checking the weather or catching up on Wheel of Time.

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Chris Wallace leaves Fox News to join CNN's new streaming service

Posted: 12 Dec 2021 10:11 AM PST

CNN just landed a big name for its upcoming streaming video service. The network has revealed that Fox News host Chris Wallace is leaving his TV home of 18 years for CNN+ ahead of that service's early 2022 launch. The departing Fox News Sunday anchor said he was eager for the "freedom and flexibility" streaming would allow for interviewing major figures.

In his last Fox News Sunday show, Wallace said he wanted to both "try something new" and to "go beyond politics." He didn't indicate where he was heading next during that broadcast, however. Wallace is believed to be jumping ship as his contract expires. Fox, meanwhile, said it was "extremely proud" of Wallace's team and would fill his role with a rotating cast of journalists until it named a permanent replacement.

WarnerMedia, meanwhile, wasn't shy about touting its coup. The Wallace hire showed CNN's "commitment" to both CNN+ and journalism as a whole, CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker said.

It's too soon to say if CNN's move will prompt a talent war among streaming news outlets like CBSN. Fox News Sundayhasn't always fared well against comparable shows, like Face the Nation. Regardless, Wallace represents a big bet — CNN is clearly hoping his name will draw viewers to its internet-only service and provide an edge over competitors that might only see streaming as a nice-to-have extra.

'Halo Infinite' adds a dedicated Slayer playlist on December 14th

Posted: 12 Dec 2021 09:07 AM PST

One of the Halo series' best-known multiplayer modes is coming to Halo Infinite sooner than you might have expected. As Windows Centralnotes, 343 Industries community lead Brian Jarrard has confirmed a dedicated Slayer playlist is coming as part of an update on December 14th. This will be a "basic" mode rather than the variants 343 wanted to release after the holidays, but the developers planned to "bolster and expand" it in the future.

The Slayer playlist is coming alongside three already-promised options that include Fiesta, FFA and Tactical Slayer (SWAT). The December 14th update will also remove or ease the requirements for existing challenges while adding more to accompany the new playlists. There's a new challenge category based on player score that should better reflect your in-game performance, although it's only billed as an "initial step" toward true performance-based experience points.

This addition won't satisfy fans still waiting for promised features like campaign co-op or Forge, which won't arrive until mid-2022 at the earliest. However, the Slayer playlist release shows that 343 is eager to court those enthusiasts as quickly as it can, even if it means stripping out some extras.

Apple Watch Series 7 drops to $350 at Amazon

Posted: 12 Dec 2021 07:22 AM PST

Now's a good moment to buy if you've been chasing down the Apple Watch Series 7 as a gift — or as a treat for yourself. Amazon is selling the 41mm GPS model in blue aluminum for $350, a sizeable $50 below the usual price. Green and red models are also down to $380 if they're more your style. And if you'd rather save money with the Apple Watch SE, the gray 40mm model is down to $230 versus its usual $279.

Buy Apple Watch Series 7 at Amazon - $350Buy Apple Watch SE at Amazon - $230

The Apple Watch Series 7 is a subtle iteration of a familiar design, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The large screen (even on the 41mm model) makes a big difference for readability, not to mention control. Dust resistance and a more crack-resistant screen will help for venturing outdoors, while the fast charging should keep you going if sleep tracking or a lengthy workout has chewed through the battery. Add a strong app ecosystem and solid health features and the Series 7 is strong both as a first-time watch and a solid upgrade for anyone coming from Series 4 or earlier.

There are a few catches beyond the usual iPhone requirement. Apple's built-in sleep tracking won't compare to what you get from rivals like Fitbit and Samsung, and the S7 chip isn't a breakthrough in performance. There's not much to tempt an upgrade if you're using a Series 5 or 6. Beyond that, however, t's an easy choice at this reduced price.

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