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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Budget-Friendly Electronics at Walmart to Explore on Your Upcoming Trip
    Budget-Friendly Electronics at Walmart to Explore on Your Upcoming Trip

    Power Juice Slim Pro Power Bank available for $19.88 at Walmart. It features dual USB Type-A ports that allow you to charge several devices simultaneously, like your phone and earbuds. Monitoring the battery level of the power bank is simple with its four-LED light indicator.

    You can recharge the power bank with either a Micro-USB or USB-C cable. However, remember that the USB-C port is designated for charging the power bank itself, not your devices. If you’re seeking to charge devices via USB-C, you’ll need one of the top USB-C power banks.

    True to its name, this portable charger is

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on Apple Fitness+ Broadens Market Presence and Launches Dubbed Workout Offerings
    Apple Fitness+ Broadens Market Presence and Launches Dubbed Workout Offerings

    Following reports that Apple is dissatisfied with the subscriber numbers for Apple Fitness+ and is uncertain about the service’s future direction, the company has unveiled a considerable expansion of its fitness program to 28 new markets, along with the addition of dubbed episodes in three new languages. This initiative aims to enhance the service’s accessibility to a wider audience while preserving its position as one of the most innovative fitness programs available.

    As stated in a press release, Apple Fitness+ will launch in Chile, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Vietnam, and 17 other countries and regions beginning December 15. Customers in Japan can expect support early next year.

    “Thanks to its smooth integration with Apple devices, Fitness+ has motivated users to lead healthier lives each day,” declared Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of Fitness Technologies. “From experiencing real-time, personalized metrics directly onscreen with Apple Watch or AirPods Pro 3, to being able to take the service with you wherever you are on iPhone or iPad, we’re providing unparalleled motivation to users. We couldn’t be more thrilled to extend this experience to even more users worldwide with our largest expansion to date.”

    Apple Fitness+ has seen considerable enhancements over the last five years. Starting December 15, the company will roll out its most significant feature yet: dubbed workout programs. These digitally dubbed versions of workouts and meditations will be offered in Spanish and German, with Japanese dubbing to follow early next year as the service becomes available in Japan.

    The dubbed workouts and meditations will feature the actual voices of each of the 28 Fitness+ trainers. While this approach enables a broader audience to engage with the workouts, it is noteworthy that Apple opted for a Workout Buddy-like method rather than hiring actual individuals for dubbing. This decision comes despite Apple’s recent focus on human-driven projects over AI, as evidenced by their new Apple TV service launch and holiday film.

    Moreover, Apple is tackling one of the main challenges faced by the Fitness+ service by advancing beyond subtitles to provide dubbed programs. The company also intends to incorporate K-pop into its workout options.

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on New AirPods Configuration in iOS 26 Tackles Frequent Bluetooth Problems
    New AirPods Configuration in iOS 26 Tackles Frequent Bluetooth Problems

    ### iOS 26 Unveils ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ Feature for AirPods

    iOS 26 has introduced a range of new functionalities for AirPods, one notable feature that might go unnoticed is the ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ option. This capability enables users to stop their AirPods’ audio from being automatically redirected to other Bluetooth devices, including in-vehicle audio systems.

    #### Comprehending the Problem

    Numerous AirPods users have faced the irritating situation of their audio unexpectedly relocating to adjacent Bluetooth devices. This often happens without any input from the user, resulting in sudden loud sound from the speakers rather than the desired private listening experience via the AirPods. This issue can be especially disruptive during car audio use.

    #### The Fix: ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’

    With the launch of iOS 26, Apple has presented a remedy to this enduring issue. The ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ feature is crafted to ensure that audio playback continues through AirPods or other wireless headphones, even when other Bluetooth gadgets try to link to the iPhone.

    To activate this feature on an iPhone with iOS 26, users can adhere to these steps:

    1. Launch the **Settings** application.
    2. Select **General**.
    3. Choose **AirPlay & Continuity**.
    4. Switch on **Keep Audio with Headphones**.

    Apple portrays this feature as a means to guarantee that audio stays with the headphones when other devices, like speakers or cars, connect to the iPhone.

    #### User Choices and Consequences

    Although the ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ option is disabled by default, it grants users increased authority over their audio experience. Some users might favor the earlier automatic switching behavior, which is why Apple decided to keep this feature off at first. Nevertheless, many users are likely to value the ability to avert unwanted audio disruptions.

    This feature may also enhance Apple’s improvements to CarPlay, providing a more fluid audio experience when utilizing AirPods alongside in-car systems.

    #### Summary

    The launch of the ‘Keep Audio with Headphones’ feature in iOS 26 is a beneficial update for AirPods users who have encountered audio hijacking problems with Bluetooth devices. By offering users the choice to manage their audio flow, Apple improves the overall user experience and tackles a prevalent annoyance. Users are encouraged to turn on this setting to experience continuous audio through their AirPods.

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on The Effect of Aged Text Messages on Android Device Performance
    The Effect of Aged Text Messages on Android Device Performance

    slow down your device when the storage space is limited.

    As individuals have primarily transitioned from standard text messaging to instant messaging platforms and social media applications like WhatsApp, Signal, Instagram, and Snapchat for conversing and sharing media with friends, the Messages application on Android devices is now predominantly utilized for verifying one-time passwords, delivery updates, and two-factor authentication.

    Frequently, the application becomes cluttered with messages from financial institutions, insurance providers, retailers, travel services, and various businesses. Promotional messages typically encompass several megabytes of information. Unwanted messages further contribute to the issue. These messages often include heavy attachments like images and link previews. When they accumulate over months, they consume substantial storage and increase the burden on the Messages application, which in turn slows down your device as well.

    Reasons messages are bulkier than previously and tips for managing them

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Top 10 Non-Gaming Applications for Your Steam Deck
    Top 10 Non-Gaming Applications for Your Steam Deck

    under-$50 useful gadgets). These are the most innovative applications of a Steam Deck we could locate that steer clear of gaming — some relating to hardware, some to software — but all ingenious, showcasing just how adaptable the Steam Deck can be.

    Let’s begin with the fundamentals, though: Almost all the additional applications we’ll highlight today depend on desktop mode, so what is it, and how do you utilize it? The Steam Deck operates on Linux in the background and features a custom interface atop a conventional KDE desktop. To access it, just press the Steam button, then choose Power, followed by Switch to Desktop. If you haven’t done this previously, it might feel a bit unsettling to discover that a full desktop OS is functioning behind the scenes. There are some distinctions from Windows, but most features should feel familiar. The key aspect to grasp is the Discover store, KDE’s official application store, where you’ll find most of the software discussed today. It’s represented by the little blue shopping bag icon, the third one in the bottom left. Click that, and you’ll unlock a plethora of software. 

    Broken deck? No: budget mini PC!

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on “Matt Damon’s Famous Sci-Fi Romance Film Draws Inspiration from a Philip K. Dick Short Story”
    “Matt Damon’s Famous Sci-Fi Romance Film Draws Inspiration from a Philip K. Dick Short Story”

    classic short tales have been adapted into sci-fi films, but one that arguably faced excessive changes was his 1954 narrative, “Adjustment Team.” The initial tale revolved around a real estate professional named Ed Fletcher, who, due to a fortuitous delay caused by a dog’s bark (no kidding), discovers a covert organization that manipulates reality itself. Rather than revealing this finding to the public, he is instructed by the Adjustment Team to remain silent, a directive he follows, even as his wife presses for explanations regarding his sudden absence.

    57 years afterward, the conspiratorial essence of this eponymous team was developed and examined in George Nolfi’s 2011 film, “The Adjustment Bureau.” The movie featured Matt Damon as American congressman David Norris, who learns about the titular organization that creates the facade of free will in existence. The bureau’s intentions get disrupted, however, when Norris encounters Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt), diverting him from his trajectory towards becoming the President of the United States. Increasing the stakes compared to the original narrative, “The Adjustment Bureau” turned out to be a respectable adaptation, though it did not receive as much recognition as some other stories drawn from Dick’s writings.

    The Adjustment Bureau is a decent yet overlooked sci-fi film

    <source media="(min-width: 429px)" srcset="https://www.bgr.com/img/gallery/a-philip-k-dick-short-story-inspired-a-beloved-matt

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on Apple Highlights Developer Utilities in Light of Australia’s Prohibition on Social Media for Users Below 16
    Apple Highlights Developer Utilities in Light of Australia’s Prohibition on Social Media for Users Below 16

    In advance of a law that will ban Australians under the age of 16 from having social media profiles, Apple is highlighting the resources available in the App Store to help developers ensure adherence. The law will go into effect on December 10, mandating that accounts for users under 16 be deactivated, and no new accounts may be established.

    Apple has released a statement in its developer newsroom detailing the obligations of developers and the resources they can leverage:

    1. **Declared Age Range API**: This API enables developers to offer age-appropriate experiences by requesting specific age ranges, such as under 16, and modifying app functionality as needed.

    2. **App Description on the App Store**: Developers are required to provide descriptions that assist users in assessing app suitability, including age limitations for social media.

    3. **In-app Controls on the App Store Product Page**: Apple has refined the age ratings questionnaire to encompass inquiries regarding in-app controls, like age verification and parental guidance. Apps that incorporate these features can display their compliance on their product listings.

    4. **Higher Minimum Age Rating**: Developers have the option to set a higher age rating than what is automatically assigned based on their questionnaire answers in App Store Connect.

    5. **Age Suitability URL**: Developers can add a URL linking to a site containing information about the app’s age-related content, which will be displayed on the App Store product page.

    For further details regarding Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, consult the official legislative resources.

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    • Richard
    • Comments Off on Netflix Will Keep Licensing Warner Series to Apple TV, Featuring Ted Lasso
    Netflix Will Keep Licensing Warner Series to Apple TV, Featuring Ted Lasso

    Netflix’s enormous $83 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery prompts significant inquiries for Apple TV, yet at least one possible concern appears to have been addressed. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos indicates that Warner’s television sector will keep providing programs to competing streaming platforms.

    Should Netflix’s acquisition of HBO Max and Warner Bros. receive the go-ahead from regulators, it could generate substantial consequences throughout the entire industry. Regarding possible implications for Apple and the Apple TV service, one initial worry has now seemingly been alleviated.

    Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos—also recognized as Apple TV’s The Studio actor Ted Sarandos—addressed the audience today at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. During his speech, he commended the efforts of the Warner Bros. Television Group, which is helmed by former Netflix employee Channing Dungey.

    Here’s what Sarandos articulated:

    “The television studio…produces and licenses content to third parties. We were never in that business. We are now. When you…get under the hood, that’s a really healthy business. It’s not as large as ours, and that’s why we haven’t really concentrated much effort on it. The growth potential in our core business has been more significant. But now in this transaction, we own that business, and Channing and that team do an exceptional job, and we want them to keep doing that exceptional work.”

    Among the programs that Warner’s TV studio creates are several of Apple TV’s most significant successes. These feature Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Bad Monkey, and Presumed Innocent—all of which are set to release new seasons. Although Apple TV is the exclusive streaming location for these series, they were not internally developed but rather are licensed outputs.

    When the Netflix arrangement was unveiled, it was uncertain whether the streamer would desire to keep making potential blockbusters for its competitors. However, it appears they intend to proceed with doing just that.

    Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month and showcases popular TV series and films such as Ted Lasso, Severance, Pluribus, and more. It can also be accessed through the Apple One bundle.

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    • sparta
    • Comments Off on Guide to Accessing Spotify Wrapped 2025, YouTube Music Recap, and Apple Music Replay
    Guide to Accessing Spotify Wrapped 2025, YouTube Music Recap, and Apple Music Replay

    Re-experience the Year Through Music

    For aficionados of music, December truly represents the most magical period of the year — it’s the time we receive our end-of-year statistics from our beloved music streaming platforms. Whether you indulge in music just a handful of hours each week or throughout every day and night, you are undoubtedly accumulating substantial time on your preferred streaming music service.

    While these platforms excel at introducing us to fresh artists to explore, there’s also great pleasure in revisiting our cherished classics as the year comes to a close. This year, the top end-of-year compilations feature some thrilling new aspects you won’t want to overlook, including Spotify’s “listening age” and “listening archive” functionalities. Here’s the way to locate those year-in-review playlists on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

    How to access your Spotify Wrapped 2025 playlist

    Spotify’s Wrapped 2025 experience is now live in the app and on the Spotify Wrapped webpage. This year, the Wrapped 2025 experience presents a variety of statistics derived from your listening history, along with numerous options to share and reflect on your musical journey.

    There’s also a unique feature: your “listening age,” which calculates your age based on your musical preferences. It contrasts your Wrapped 2025 data with that of others in your demographic according to the release years of the tracks you loved the most. New for 2025 is a “Spotify Club” element that links users with others who share similar musical tastes. Here’s how to enter your Wrapped 2025 experience:

    1. Launch the Spotify app.
    2. Swipe right to left from the tags at the top and select Wrapped.
    3. Click the Let’s go button.
    4. From the primary Wrapped landing page, you’ll also find options for Your Stories, Your Feed, and more.

    There are Wrapped 2025 cards available for audiobooks and podcasts too. Some users will receive video messages from authors of their favorite audiobooks, featuring personalities like Dan Brown, James Patterson, Abby Jimenez, and others.

    The standout AI-driven feature for 2025 is the “Listening Archive.” This utilizes AI to sift through Spotify users’ listening histories to highlight their most noteworthy or significant streaming days in 2025. You might encounter days like “the biggest listening day” or “the most nostalgic day.” All of these offerings and more are accessible in the Spotify app for Premium members.

    How to access your YouTube Music 2025 Recap playlist

    1. Launch the YouTube Music app.
    2. Select the 2025 Recap banner that shows up on the Home tab. It may also appear on your Speed dial on the YTM home tab.
    3. Click the Get your Recap button for your statistics, or scroll down to see your 2025 Recap playlist.

    If the banner for your YouTube Music Recap fails to show on your Home tab, there’s an alternative method to access your 2025 Recap, along with past seasonal Recaps.

    1. Open the YouTube Music app.
    2. Tap your profile icon in the upper right corner.
    3. Select Your Recap.

    From here, you should be able to view your 2025 recap. If you see “Nothing to hear here,” then the 2025 Recap isn’t accessible for your account yet.

    Even if you lack a 2025 Recap for your personal profile, this section will still display various YouTube Music Playlists featuring top songs from the previous year. You can swipe left to right to browse through different playlists, hoping to uncover something you haven’t yet experienced.

    How to find your Apple Music Replay 2025 playlist

    Apple switched things up with Replay this year. You can now view your Replay 2025 statistics anytime on a monthly basis at the Apple Music Replay website. Additionally, the complete year-in-review experience is now accessible for 2025. Here’s how to locate it in the Apple Music app with the following steps.

    1. Launch the Apple Music app.
    2. Tap on the Home tab.
    3. At the top of the page, select Replay — Your music story is here.
    4. Hit the Play your highlight reel button.

    Sign up for streaming

    If you haven’t yet encountered these year-end playlists in your favorite music application, be patient. They are gradually being rolled out in Spotify and YouTube Music, in addition to Apple Music, though not everyone has access yet. Consider checking the Google Play app to see if there are any updates available for your apps. We anticipate that more streaming music services will be updating their platforms and releasing these playlists as the year concludes.

    If you are not already subscribed to one of these popular streaming music services, what are you waiting for? Many provide free trial durations of one to three months, and some also have additional discounts and family plans available!

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