Selling the smart home has been hard. Even Amazon has lost money in the space, despite putting hundreds of millions of Echo devices in people’s homes. Google has also reportedly struggled to turn a profit from its substantial investment in Nest. But now Google is seeing dollar signs in the prospect of selling AI-driven subscriptions […]
Present Offers: M5 MacBook Air $199 Savings, M3 iPad Air $400 Reduction, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Accessories, and Additional Items
**2026 Memorial Day Sales: Incredible Offers on Apple Devices and More**
As Memorial Day nears, prominent retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy are unveiling substantial reductions on sought-after electronics, especially Apple devices. This year’s promotions showcase some of the most remarkable prices we’ve encountered, making it a prime moment for shoppers to upgrade their technology.
### Apple’s 15-inch M5 MacBook Air at Its Lowest Ever
One of the highlighted bargains this Memorial Day is the **15-inch M5 MacBook Air**, which has dropped to an all-time low price of **$1,099.99**, down from its standard price of **$1,299**. This variant, equipped with **16GB of RAM** and **512GB of storage**, is experiencing a discount of nearly **$200** for the first time since its launch in March 2026. This deal is particularly significant as it represents the best available price on Amazon, making it a compelling choice for anyone in search of a new laptop.
### Clearance Deals on the 13-inch M3 iPad Air
Alongside the MacBook Air, the **13-inch 1TB M3 iPad Air** is also offered at a remarkable clearance price of **$1,049**, showcasing a **$400** reduction. This model has been aggressively discounted as Amazon clears its inventory for the forthcoming M4 version. With limited stock remaining, this offer is an outstanding chance for consumers seeking a high-performance tablet without the newest chip.
### Price Cuts on iPhone 17 Pro Max
For smartphone enthusiasts, the **iPhone 17 Pro Max** is currently benefiting from a rare price reduction of **$99**. Offered through Woot, these devices are identified as “pristine” and have never been utilized by customers. While the savings might not be enormous compared to brand new units, it’s a significant opportunity for those aiming to save on Apple’s latest flagship smartphone.
### Affordable 512GB 13-inch M5 iPad Pro
The **13-inch M5 iPad Pro** with **512GB of storage** is also discounted to **$1,349.99**, down from **$1,499**. This price cut signifies nearly **$150 off** and is among the best prices currently available for this model. With its robust M5 processor, this iPad Pro is perfect for professionals and creatives alike.
### New Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle
In the gaming arena, the latest **Nintendo Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle** is priced at **$500**, offering up to **$580** in value. This bundle is an excellent option for gamers intending to upgrade their gaming console.
### Sonos Memorial Day Offers
Sonos is also joining the Memorial Day festivities with discounts on various products, including the new **Era 100 SL Speaker**. This marks the first price reduction we’ve seen on this model, making it a fantastic time to improve your home audio experience.
### Accessory and Charging Promotions
Moreover, an array of accessory deals are available, such as Anker’s **Qi2 15W MagSafe power bank** for **$46** and a **Lenovo 5-in-1 USB-C hub** for just **$22**. These accessories can enhance your new devices wonderfully.
### Conclusion
With Memorial Day sales in progress, consumers have a special chance to capitalize on substantial savings on high-demand electronics. Whether you’re in the market for a new MacBook, iPad, or gaming console, now is the ideal moment to explore and enjoy discounts.
Spotify is creating an AI tool that allows subscribers to produce music covers and remixes.
As Spotify enthusiasts globally anticipate the return of their classic app icon, the company has unveiled a series of thrilling new functionalities. These comprise AI-driven remix tools, concert ticket reservations, and more.
### Spotify Secures Agreement with Major Label to Authorize Fan-Made Covers and Remixes
Spotify has finalized a groundbreaking licensing deal with Universal Music Group, permitting fan-created music covers and remixes on the platform. This innovative tool will allow fans to produce covers and remixes of their beloved tracks from participating artists and songwriters, utilizing generative AI technology. The effort is aimed at unlocking new revenue channels and improving music exploration.
Spotify characterizes this AI-enabled remix and cover creation tool as a premium add-on for Spotify Premium subscribers. This initiative marks Spotify’s most ambitious AI venture to date, following the launch of an AI DJ feature and a unique Claude connector for music and podcast integration.
### Concert Tickets Are Being Enhanced with Reserved Feature
Besides music creation tools, Spotify is upgrading its concert ticket services with a new function named Reserved. This feature will secure up to two concert tickets for purchase solely for Premium subscribers in the United States. Reserved is tailored for devoted fans, utilizing artist listening history to ascertain eligibility, rather than appealing to casual concert attendees or ticket resellers.
While there are aspects to contemplate regarding the implementation of Reserved, the feature is set to link genuine fans with concert events. Additional details about Reserved can be accessed through Spotify’s official channels.
Spotify has also revealed updates for podcasts and audiobooks, which are part of the comprehensive announcements made during Spotify’s Investor Day 2026.
As users keep an eye on the situation concerning Spotify’s temporary disco ball app icon, these new features indicate the company’s dedication to innovation and improving the user experience on the platform.
Crucial Cost-Cutting Attributes for Android Users
Sorapop Udomsri/Shutterstock
Android smartphones facilitate one-click purchases effortlessly, particularly if you frequently utilize the Amazon Shopping app and have a saved payment option. Additionally, if you handle subscriptions via an app, the Google Play Store typically retains your previous payment method. However, this can lead to issues, as unintentional microtransactions may happen if you let someone else use your device, like a shared tablet.
This situation is frustrating, especially if children make purchases without realization. At times, those transactions can become permanent, which ultimately results in you spending more money than you would care to admit.
Fortunately, there are several protective measures that can block inadvertent payments, along with customizable limits that restrict you from exceeding your financial capacity, such as establishing a monthly spending cap for games and applications, or placing a ceiling on your data plan to avoid overage fees.
Enable payment verifications in the Google Play Store
New Exploits Found in Microsoft Defender: How to Stay Protected
Microsoft has identified a couple of exploits that could put your machine at risk, but there’s an easy fix.
Spotify Unveils Audiobook Creation Tool Powered by ElevenLabs
Spotify is releasing new audiobook plans later this year
Spotify Introduces AI-Driven Q&A and Briefing Tools for Podcasts
Spotify will let you generate daily or weekly briefs based on your prompts
Spotify Challenges Google’s NotebookLM with New App
Spotify is releasing the new desktop app as a research preview in more than 20 markets
Xreal Project Aura Incorporates VR Headset Features into Smart Glasses, Demonstrating the Strengths of Android XR
With a pocket-sized computing puck and a modern look, these are the Android XR smart glasses we have anticipated.
After a lengthy wait, we finally witnessed Xreal Project Aura in action at Google I/O 2026. These hybrid smart glasses are crafted to provide a VR experience in the form factor of smart glasses, allowing you to harness the full capabilities of the Android XR platform without the heft of a VR headset. Project Aura includes dual displays (one in each lens), speakers, and cameras to enhance the smart glasses experience.
To accomplish this, Xreal Project Aura is designed differently compared to other smart glasses available today. Instead of cramming all the electronics and battery within the glasses, Xreal will provide Aura specs with a compact computing puck that fits neatly in your pocket. This small puck contains the battery, Snapdragon processor, and most of the heavier components, ensuring the glasses remain lightweight and resemble a typical pair of glasses.
Xreal is equipping Aura glasses with an upgraded X1S chip and a suite of cameras that enable spatial tracking of your position, allowing for a complete VR spatial experience. This updated X1S chip prioritizes enhanced speed and multitasking compared to the X1 chip in the current-generation Xreal One glasses.
Distinctively different from every other smart glasses model
Xreal shared a significant portion of Project Aura’s key details following the Google I/O 2026 presentation yesterday, a whole year after the first reveal at last year’s I/O. During a product briefing ahead of I/O 2026, Xreal indicated that the glasses are set for their commercial launch this year. Whether this will coincide with the new Samsung-engineered AI glasses in the fall, or closer to the holiday season, remains uncertain.
Following the information release on Tuesday afternoon, there has been some misunderstanding regarding how Project Aura operates. These glasses are not the same as current-generation models like Xreal 1S or Viture Beast. Those models are merely wearable displays that require a connection to another device, such as your phone, laptop, or even a device like the Nintendo Switch 2.
Xreal Project Aura is designed to function independently, although it can also act as a wearable monitor if desired. Typically, you will connect it to the computing puck mentioned earlier to experience the full advantages of Android XR. This includes comprehensive spatial tracking of your environment and hand tracking (to facilitate natural movement and interaction), as well as compatibility with all existing Android 2D and spatial applications.
The puck itself resembles a phone, but it isn’t. It represents a clear advancement on 2024’s Xreal Beam Pro, featuring dual USB-C ports on the bottom.
Xreal has not specified a particular Snapdragon chipset for the computing puck. However, as it’s built to deliver the complete Android XR experience, it will be significantly more competent than the chipsets typically found in all-in-one XR glasses like Ray-Ban Display or even the monocular display glasses being developed by Google and Samsung.
Project Aura boasts a 70-degree field of view (FoV), which is approximately 15 degrees broader than the best smart glasses available today, yet still 20-30 degrees narrower than a VR headset such as the Meta Quest 3. Whether this will be suitable for regular VR gaming remains to be seen, but the glasses should be ideal for mixed-reality games that superimpose virtual elements onto the real world or utilize the real world as a setting.
From Android Central managing editor Derrek Lee’s firsthand experience and analyst Anshel Sag’s observations, it’s evident that Xreal and Google have invested considerable effort in effectively adapting the VR experience into an elegant pair of smart glasses. Sag notes that the narrower FoV is impressive and accurately reflects the Galaxy XR experience. As a regular Galaxy XR user, this is precisely what I was hoping to discover!
Moreover, the image quality and performance appear to match that of the headset for daily usage. Given that the glasses integrate Gemini, they can recognize faces and automatically dim the display so that you can best see the individual in front of you, creating an experience akin to a magical floating display.
Project Aura currently lacks a definitive product name, price, or specific release date, but we anticipate its availability later this year, likely priced similarly (or slightly higher) than the newly announced Xreal ROG R1 glasses from last week. Xreal is distributing the first 1,000 dev kits at no cost, which means developers can start creating Android XR spatial applications right away without incurring significant expenses. The outlook for this technology is exceptionally promising, and Aura will spearhead the next major XR advancement.
Apple TV Set to Air Its Initial Significant Live Sports Event Captured Solely with iPhone 17 Pro
Apple TV is poised to transform the sports broadcasting arena by leveraging the iPhone 17 Pro to capture live events. This weekend, the platform will air a Major League Soccer match between LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo FC, marking the inaugural occasion a major professional sporting event will be filmed entirely on an iPhone.
Apple’s venture into live sports production commenced last autumn with a trial during Friday Night Baseball, where the iPhone 17 Pro was utilized to film a game featuring the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. Building on this experience, the forthcoming MLS match will highlight the capabilities of the iPhone 17 Pro in a live sports context.
As per Apple’s press release, the match will include a variety of camera perspectives and angles, featuring team warmups, player introductions, and distinctive in-net goal views. The sleek design of the iPhone enables inventive filming techniques that traditional, larger cameras cannot replicate, ensuring a novel viewing experience for fans.
The live broadcast is set for Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. PT. Viewers can stream the match through an Apple TV subscription, which also provides access to a range of original shows and movies, in addition to sports content without any extra charges. Apple TV is offered for $12.99 per month, with discounts accessible through the Apple One bundle.
This event signifies a notable milestone in sports broadcasting, as Apple continues to delve into the convergence of technology and entertainment.
