Author: Richard

New Beta Firmware Available for AirPods Pro 3 Prior to iOS 26.2 Release

### New AirPods Beta Follows Last Week’s Fresh Public Firmware

Last week, Apple launched a new firmware update for all users owning AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods 4. Today, the brand has introduced a new firmware release aimed specifically at beta testers with AirPods Pro 3.

#### Upcoming iOS 26.2 and AirPods Live Translation

iOS 26.2 is on the way, set to deliver the AirPods Live Translation feature to a broader audience. This update is anticipated to bring additional AirPods functionalities, as Apple has just released a new beta firmware update for testing.

The most recent firmware build is **8B5025a**. Apple usually schedules AirPods firmware releases separately from its software updates, which can sometimes coincide but often do not. The latest public firmware rollout might be the last before the complete launch of iOS 26.2.

With several weeks left until the public launch, it’s feasible that today’s beta firmware will be prepared for general availability by then. The official notes for the most recent public firmware solely reference “Bug fixes and other enhancements,” hinting that new features may be showcased in the upcoming beta.

Although Apple has not revealed specific information about what to anticipate from today’s beta firmware, users are encouraged to express their feedback and any observable changes in the comments section.

#### Top AirPods Pro Accessories

For users aiming to improve their AirPods experience, considering the best accessories can offer extra functionalities and protection.

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Public Beta 3 of macOS Tahoe 26.2 is Now Released

### Apple Introduces macOS Tahoe 26.2 Public Beta 3: What to Anticipate

In light of the recent arrival of the third round of developer betas, Apple has officially released macOS Tahoe 26.2 public beta 3. This update offers some intriguing advancements for users keen to dive into the newest features and enhancements.

#### Apple’s Public Betas Have Followed a Peculiar Timeline

The last few weeks have experienced a change in the timing of Apple’s public beta launches. Specifically, macOS Tahoe 26.2 public beta 2 made its debut at an odd hour—4:00 p.m. ET—signifying a break from the usual release rhythms. Additionally, during this timeframe, only macOS and tvOS saw public beta builds being issued, even though iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS also had developer builds made available shortly beforehand.

With the introduction of macOS Tahoe 26.2 public beta 3, Apple has synchronized this release with its other operating systems. The build number for this iteration is 25C5048a, which corresponds with the developer beta that was rolled out the previous day.

A notable new feature in macOS Tahoe 26.2 is the addition of the **Edge Light effect**, which improves video calls by providing a virtual ring light effect around the screen’s edges. However, aside from this enhancement, there have been few updates, both visible and in the background. Users can look forward to exploring the beta further to find any additional significant modifications.

#### How to Get Started with macOS Tahoe 26.2 Public Beta 3

For those keen on trying the new public beta, the installation steps are simple. Here’s how to begin:

1. Sign up for Apple’s public beta program at

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Top 5 Electric Cars for Winter and Snow, Advised by Specialists

choosing the appropriate EV for usage in winter conditions involving snow necessitates careful consideration of certain technical and performance aspects. Cold temperatures affect driving behavior due to slippery surfaces, snow, and ice, but battery performance is just as crucial. Lithium-ion batteries show decreased chemical reactions in low temperatures, which leads to diminished energy availability and slower charging speeds. Moreover, heating the cabin in EVs directly utilizes battery power, further diminishing the effective driving range.

In addition to reduced range, winter driving requires excellent traction, either all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive capability, a well-designed stability control system, and tires suitable for snowy and icy conditions. When assessing EVs for use in winter, important factors should consist of: the extent of range reduction in cold weather (the durability of the battery and thermal systems), whether the vehicle incorporates a heat pump or other effective cabin and battery heating methods, the strength of the driveline and AWD systems in low-grip scenarios, as well as cold weather charging efficiency.

Research indicates that in freezing conditions, many EVs generally operate at 75% to 85% of their optimal temperature range. Vehicles featuring a heat pump generally experience less range loss. In snowy areas, vehicles with a lower center of gravity (due to ground-mounted battery packs), improved chassis stability, and specialized winter/traction models perform better. Let’s examine five EVs that excel in winter and snowy conditions, combining range durability and effective traction.

Audi e-tron (premium plus)

Guide to Keeping Your Steam Deck Touch Screen Clean

Steam Deck modifications and enhancements can further boost its capabilities. However, like any electronic gadget, it is crucial to maintain and clean your Steam Deck periodically to prevent the accumulation of oil and grime. This is particularly important for the Steam Deck’s touchscreen, which you’ll likely be engaging with frequently as you browse your library and games. Keeping the screen clean is essential to prevent scratches and ensure smoother interactions. Although it may be tempting to grab Windex or your usual lens cleaner for the touchscreen, this has been widely discouraged on various forums and websites.

Instead, Valve advises a straightforward approach to maintain the cleanliness of the Steam Deck’s touchscreen display. According to the official Steam Support Care and maintenance guidelines for the Steam Deck, Valve suggests that Steam Deck users utilize a dry microfiber cloth for display cleaning. Furthermore, if liquid is necessary, Valve recommends applying a small amount of isopropyl alcohol on the cloth before gently rubbing the screen. Directly applying alcohol to the screen can lead to damage, which Valve states will not be covered under the handheld’s warranty.

Reasons to avoid using cleaning products on your Steam Deck

How to Improve Your Exercise Routine Utilizing Your Treadmill’s USB Port: 4 Impactful Techniques

how you can leverage your TV’s USB ports to energize streaming devices — as well as the kinds of gadgets you can connect to your phone’s USB ports — but what can you really accomplish with the USB ports on a treadmill? Aside from charging a mobile phone or power bank, there are additional ways to transform the USBs on our fitness equipment into genuine workout allies and entertainment hubs

Whether you’re a frequent treadmill user or simply seeking the right inspiration to resume exercising, we’ve devised four methods to utilize your treadmill’s USB port to enhance your workout experience. From powering handy workout gadgets to downloading essential software updates for your equipment, these suggestions are intended to make each workout more fulfilling.

Stay refreshed with a USB-operated fan

Perspiration is a normal aspect of the exercise routine, but that doesn’t imply you have to enjoy it. If you think you could benefit from a gentle breeze to help cool off while using the treadmill, consider getting a compact USB-operated fan. There are various models designed to attach and clamp onto the arms and other parts of your treadmill, and one of our top picks is the Gaiatop Mini Portable Stroller Fan. Offered in six different colors, the fan features a 2,000-milliamp rechargeable battery built in. When fully charged, you will receive

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Guide for Configuring Safety and Emergency Functions on the Pixel Watch 4

It takes just a few moments to make sure that your loved ones are informed in the event of an emergency, and that responders have the ability to access your medical and insurance details.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 and earlier models encourage you to establish critical safety and emergency functions. Since you likely bypassed this step to dive into using your new smartwatch, assistance is needed now to activate these features, ensuring your Watch 4 can request help during an emergency, even when there’s no cellular signal.

You are able to update your emergency and medical information in two locations. On your Pixel Watch 4, swipe down from the primary watch face, tap the Settings gear icon, and scroll down to the Safety & Emergency section. Alternatively, in the Pixel Watch mobile application, if your smartwatch is connected via Bluetooth, you can locate the same Safety & Emergency section under Settings on the main app screen.

Certain functions of the Pixel Watch 4 are automated; others necessitate prior manual configuration, such as Safety Check. This guide walks you through the surprisingly extensive array of safety features on the Watch 4 that can provide you and your family reassurance — or possibly save your life.

Configure and personalize Emergency SOS on the Pixel Watch 4

1. On your Watch 4 (or previous Pixel Watch model), access Settings, scroll to Safety & Emergency, and select Emergency SOS. If it’s not enabled already, switch the feature on.
2. Tap on Ways to initiate SOS. By default, you have to press the crown five times, then press and hold the screen for three seconds. Alternatively, you can set the Watch 4 to Automatically call; after the five button presses, it’ll contact 911 after a five-second pause.
– If you opt for the latter, decide whether to toggle Play a sound on or off; it’s a loud alert to notify you that it’s about to make a call, with a cancellation option displayed.
3. Finally, select Who to call for assistance. By default, Emergency SOS connects you to Emergency services, but you can opt for a personal contact instead by tapping Manage contacts and selecting an option from your saved contacts.

Switching to a personal contact makes Emergency SOS feel less “official.” You can quickly reach out to family members for help, without incurring ambulance fees or involving law enforcement, but there’s no assurance they will answer promptly as 911 would.

I suggest keeping 911 as the default choice. You can depend on the Personal Safety app to inform family members.

Select what information is shared during an emergency

1. Press the crown and open the Personal Safety app.
2. Scroll down to Emergency info access.
3. Tap Share during emergency call to permit “Emergency Location Service” to share your GPS location and Medical Info with emergency responders.
4. Back in the main app view, tap Emergency contacts to manage your contacts; tap Add contact to include more or use the trash icon to delete contacts.
5. In the primary app view, select Medical Info and then Edit on phone.
6. On your paired device, you can input your date of birth, blood type, height, weight, allergies, pregnancy status, medications, address, organ donor status, and any other medical details. This information will be shared if you enabled “Share during emergency call” above.

Using the Personal Safety app for Safety Checks or Emergency Sharing

If you frequent the gym at night, return late from campus, or face any situation where you have concerns for your safety, the Pixel Watch’s Personal Safety app is a proactive solution to manage those worries.

1. Launch the Personal Safety app from the app drawer, then select Emergency Sharing.
2. Under “Share with,” toggle specific emergency contacts on or off, then tap Share real-time location.

Your contacts will receive an SMS reading, “You’re receiving this message because you’re an emergency contact for [Your name]. [Name] is sharing their real-time location with you: URL. Please call or text

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Best Buy Provides More than $140 Discounts on Meta Quest 3S Acquisition

The Black Friday offers are truly starting to ramp up at Best Buy.

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

To be truthful, when I reported on the Black Friday Meta Quest offers yesterday, I had no clue that Best Buy was about to overshadow every other retailer with an amazing deal of its own. Live and learn, right?

As of this morning, if you purchase the Meta Quest 3S 128GB during the festive sale Best Buy will provide you with a $50 discount off the price

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Battery Life Span of the Google Pixel 10

Will You Require Additional Portable Chargers?

Following the launch of the Google Pixel 10 series, numerous users are curious about the necessity of acquiring more portable chargers to ensure their devices remain powered throughout the day. The Pixel 10 lineup, encompassing the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL, features remarkable battery life and charging performance, but is this sufficient to negate the requirement for extra charging accessories?

Battery Performance of the Google Pixel 10 Series

The Google Pixel 10 series is built to deliver significant enhancements in battery life compared to earlier models. All three versions are rated to last a minimum of 24 hours on a single charge with typical usage. When Extreme Battery Saver is activated, Google asserts the devices can endure for up to 100 hours. The Pixel 10 is equipped with a 4,970mAh battery, the Pixel 10 Pro contains a 4,870mAh battery, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL is fitted with a 5,200mAh battery.

Charging Features

Although the Pixel 10 series provides satisfactory battery longevity, the charging features are another important aspect to take into account. The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro support 25W wired charging, while the Pixel 10 Pro XL can handle up to 40W. Utilizing a 30W USB-C PPS charger, the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro can achieve up to 55% charge in 30 minutes, whereas the Pixel 10 Pro XL can reach around 70% with a 45W charger.

Wireless charging is present across the entire lineup, with the Pixel 10 Pro XL enabling faster 25W wireless charging due to the Qi2.2 standard, while the other models are capped at 15W.

Is There a Need for More Portable Chargers?

Considering the enhanced battery life and charging speeds, the necessity for extra portable chargers might diminish for many users. Nevertheless, for those who are often traveling or extensively using their phones throughout the day, having a portable charger can still serve as a practical backup. The Pixel 10 Pro XL, with its larger battery and quicker charging features, is the optimal choice for those focusing on battery duration.

Ultimately, whether you need additional portable chargers hinges on your usage habits and way of life. If you frequently find yourself depleting your battery, investing in a portable charger could offer reassurance and convenience.

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