Sony’s WF-1000XM6 Wireless Earbuds Are On Sale for the First Time

Sony’s WF-1000XM6 are the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds you can buy, but they’ve been hard to recommend over the last-gen model because of the price. While the older version is often on sale for $248, the update costs $329 — and has never before been marked down. That’s why this deal is worth paying attention […]

Four Costco Tech Promotions Challenging Amazon’s Significant Spring Sale

early spring promotions on Amazon have increased ahead of the major event. Costco is currently offering fantastic seasonal discounts as well, with some comparable to Amazon’s top price cuts. Given Costco’s generous electronics policy, featuring a 90-day return period and a minimum two-year warranty, it’s advantageous to compare prices and buy from Costco when the deal is favorable.

Costco is providing a sign-up incentive for new members. Memberships begin at $65 annually, but by using the promo code SPRING26 when signing up, you can receive a $45 digital Costco Shop Card. Memberships also come with additional online shopping benefits, making it an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the spring offers. However, some of these discounts are only valid until the end of March, so now is the perfect time to stock up on popular electronics before the seasonal clearance concludes.

Blink Whole Home Security Camera Bundle

The Blink Whole Home Security Camera Bundle features a video doorbell, three outdoor cameras, a pan-tilt camera, and the Sync Module XR hub that connects all these gadgets. Costco is offering this bundle for $169.99 until March 31, a $100 reduction from its original cost. The Sync Module XR can connect with up to ten Blink Outdoor 4 cameras, and the pan-tilt camera works with the Alexa voice assistant for initiating video streaming or two-way audio.

Amazon also has a comparable deal available during the Big Spring Sale with the Blink Video Doorbell + Outdoor 4 bundle priced at $103.99. Nevertheless, Amazon’s offer does not include the additional pan-tilt camera. The pan-tilt camera is priced separately at $39.99, making the overall savings between the two retailers almost equal. Buying from Costco is beneficial if you’re looking to establish a complete home security system.

Gunnar Glasses’ Adventure After Shark Tank: Updates Following Season 9

In 2017, Season 9 of Shark Tank highlighted a product aimed at enhancing customers’ vision. It was a set of glasses engineered to filter out blue light from devices like computers and mobile phones. The brand was Gunnar Optics, and the product was known as Gunnar glasses. Although a deal was reached during the Shark Tank episode, it ultimately did not materialize during the due diligence phase following the filming. Regardless of this, Gunnar glasses have persisted in sales, and the company remains operational.

Gunnar Optics was established by Joe Croft and Jennifer Michelsen. Their mission was to shield individuals’ eyes from fatigue and possible harm caused by the blue light emitted from screens. The company was launched in 2006, more than a decade before appearing on Shark Tank.

Often, when a deal is not finalized on Shark Tank, the company may struggle to survive. This was true for Trunkster in Season 7, which couldn’t fully launch and left many dissatisfied customers. In contrast, Gunnar Optics has flourished, and these glasses can be found at various retailers today. They are ideal for desk work, computer gaming, or simply for use throughout the day.

The particulars of the Shark Tank deal

There exists a selection of blue light blocking glasses already on the market, and Gunnar aimed to become a significant competitor in this arena. Founder Joe Croft appeared on Shark Tank detailing the established nature of Gunnar Optics. The company was generating millions in annual sales and had a group of investors, each holding a portion of the business. Collectively, they had also infused millions into the company. Croft sought $750,000 for a 5% equity stake in Gunnar from the Sharks to assist with marketing initiatives.

The potential investors on the panel were not entirely convinced by the proposal. One concern raised was the involvement of multiple existing investors in the company’s ownership. Nevertheless, Lori Greiner was intrigued enough to extend an offer. She suggested a $375,000 investment along with an additional $375,000 as a loan. However, the agreement did not finalize after the show. It remains uncertain whether it failed to pass the due diligence phase or if Croft and the other owners opted to withdraw. Nonetheless, Joe Croft and Gunnar Optics persevered, generating millions in revenue. The company is still thriving today.

The current status of Gunnar glasses

Gunnar operates an active website where you can buy the glasses. Prescription lens options are also available if desired. They are not typically inexpensive. Available in various styles, some models featured on the website at the time of this writing are priced at $84, $99, and even $110. The company offers glasses for both adults and children, with specific models tailored for distinct purposes, like gaming glasses versus reading glasses. The glasses can also be found on Amazon and generally receive very positive reviews, averaging nearly five out of five stars for different models.

Gunnar is also active on social media platforms. They post daily on their X account, promoting different styles of glasses. Their Facebook page is engaged, with users sharing images of themselves wearing the glasses. From these channels, there are occasional updates on sales or promotions, so if you’re looking to purchase at a discount, those may be worthwhile to follow.

For some businesses, success follows Shark Tank even without investment, as illustrated by the LARQ water bottle from Season 12. Despite the Gunnar deal not materializing, it stands as another success story of a product featured on Shark Tank.

Apple Earned Roughly $900 Million from Generative AI Applications in 2025

Between January and August 2025, revenues from generative AI applications on the App Store almost tripled, primarily fueled by ChatGPT subscriptions. Here are the specifics.

### GenAI apps purportedly contributed nearly $900M in App Store fees in 2025

A recent report from AppMagic (via WSJ) indicates that “Apple’s income from GenAI applications increased from around $35 million in January 2025 to a peak of $101 million in August,” before declining again due to a drop in ChatGPT downloads.

Discussing ChatGPT, AppMagic reveals that OpenAI’s chatbot represented nearly 75% of the total commission increases from generative applications on the App Store, with Grok coming in second at 5%.

As highlighted by the WSJ, this is a significant amount for a company that still does not have a genuine competitor to ChatGPT and akin products, and it serves as a beneficial cushion while Apple navigates its partnership with Google to integrate Gemini as the foundational technology for the updated Siri:

> Its Siri chatbot remains underwhelming by contemporary AI criteria. What Apple possesses that other AI entities lack is a leading status in device manufacturing. Regardless of how sophisticated OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI develop their chatbots, iPhones continue to be a main conduit for reaching consumers.

Apple’s AI strategy contradicts the approaches of rivals who are investing hundreds of billions in chips and data centers to create state-of-the-art large language models. Apple is allocating a small fraction of that budget, instead concentrating on utilizing the personal data users save on their iPhones, along with custom-designed chips, to support an on-device AI approach.

Neither Apple nor Google has revealed the financial details of their collaboration, but Bloomberg reported last year that it is projected to be “approximately $1 billion annually.”

Ironically, it seems this cost may be indirectly financed by Google’s own rivalry on the App Store.

To read the WSJ’s report on AppMagic’s findings, follow this link.

### Recommended on Amazon

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AirTag 2 vs AirTag: Main New Features and Enhancements

# Apple AirTag 2: An In-Depth Look at New Enhancements

The successor to Apple’s AirTag was introduced earlier this year, coming five years after the initial version. Here’s a rundown of every new and enhanced feature in AirTag 2.

## Enhanced Precision Finding with New Ultra Wideband Chip

Precision Finding is a feature that utilizes your iPhone to assist you in accurately locating your lost AirTag through haptic, visual, and audio signals. With AirTag 2, Apple has included a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that allows Precision Finding to function from up to 1.5 times further than what was possible with the initial AirTag. Ensure you have an iPhone that supports this extended range. Additionally, users of compatible Apple Watch models can now employ Precision Finding to locate the new AirTag, a capability that was not offered with the original AirTag.

## Improved Bluetooth for Enhanced Range

Apple states that AirTag 2 features an upgraded Bluetooth chip that “broadens the distance at which items can be tracked.” However, it does not disclose the exact extent of improvement in this regard.

## Amplified Speaker

AirTag 2 includes a speaker that Apple claims is up to 50% louder than that of the original version. If you’ve ever activated your AirTag and struggled to hear its sound, this enhancement is aimed at you. The upgraded speaker enables you to hear AirTag 2 “from up to twice as far away,” according to Apple, facilitating the search for misplaced items.

## New Privacy Measures

The initial AirTag quickly fell prey to misuse by individuals for unwanted tracking. Although Apple has attempted to address this issue through software updates over time, it has also introduced some new privacy measures with AirTag 2. As per Apple, the new AirTag features a range of industry-first safeguards against unwanted tracking, such as cross-platform notifications and unique Bluetooth identifiers that frequently change.

## What Remains the Same: Battery Life, Design, Size, and Pricing

For all the modifications in the new AirTag, there is still a lot that stays unchanged. The battery life remains the same in the new AirTag, with Apple stating “more than a year” of operation before the battery requires replacement. The fundamental design and dimensions of AirTag 2 also correspond with its predecessor, meaning existing AirTag accessories will be compatible with the new AirTag. The pricing of the new AirTag remains unchanged.

Have you transitioned to AirTag 2, and if so, which features influenced your decision? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Marc Andreessen as a Philosophical Zombie

I admit, this is an innovation I did not see coming: Silicon Valley has invented the philosophical zombie from the classic thought experiment “lol how crazy would it be if there were a philosophical zombie.” Until recently, the philosophical zombie was a concept closely associated with Australian philosopher David Chalmers, who defines it as “someone […]

Top 5 Minimalistic Applications to Utilize in 2026

Minimalist devices such as the Mudita Kompakt and Light Phone III are recognized for including straightforward applications.

However, you don’t have to immediately seek out a minimalist phone to achieve a more tranquil digital existence. You can convert your existing device into a basic phone by utilizing some minimalist applications. There is still a vast array of contemporary apps available that provide fundamental features. We’ve compiled a list of five such apps that you can test on your iPhone or Android device right now.

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