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**Amazon Unveils Alexa Plus for the Internet**

Following the debut of Alexa Plus (Alexa+) last February, Amazon is now prepared to extend the AI assistant’s reach to the web for Early Access users. By introducing Alexa Plus online, Amazon aims to make the Alexa AI assistant accessible to everyone, even for those without any Amazon devices featuring Alexa like Echo speakers and Fire TV gadgets nearby. For Amazon customers already engaging with Alexa Plus through their devices, the launch of Alexa Plus on the web will enhance the ease of interaction with the AI assistant.

Another significant motivation for offering Alexa Plus through Alexa.com is Amazon’s strategy to effectively compete with chatbots that have surpassed Alexa in popularity, such as ChatGPT and Gemini. When ChatGPT gained immense traction in late 2022, it revolutionized the tech landscape. In response, a multitude of tech companies began creating their own chatbot alternatives or developing AI-centric products. At that time, Alexa was already functioning as a voice assistant on Amazon devices, but it was not on par with ChatGPT.

While Alexa could stream music and place orders for users, ChatGPT answered general inquiries in conversational language. Now, three years later, chatbots like ChatGPT have acquired new functionalities, evolving into even more effective AI tools than the version that went viral in 2022. Nevertheless, it is not until early 2026 that Amazon begins to earnestly compete with other chatbots. That being said, Alexa Plus won’t be a direct equivalent to ChatGPT.

**Capabilities of Alexa Plus**

Amazon announced in a press release that Alexa Plus has developed “swiftly” since its introduction in February. The AI assistant interacts with thousands of services and devices, reaching tens of millions of users. Amazon stated that Alexa Plus has transformed how people utilize voice assistants, recording “twice the conversations, three times the purchases, five times the recipe requests” since its release last year.

For its web version, Amazon promotes a comprehensive Alexa Plus experience. The AI can respond to questions, “delve into intricate subjects,” generate content, plan travel, assist with schoolwork, manage documents, and collaborate with various apps and devices. The assistant allows control of smart home functionalities through the web, aids in creating to-do lists, updates calendars, and facilitates restaurant reservations. Alexa Plus also boasts meal planning and recipe discovery, with extensive integration with Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods. Thus, Alexa Plus can assist in grocery shopping tailored to your needs, provided the items are purchased from Amazon.

Alexa Plus can also link with other Amazon devices, including Fire TV. Users can inquire about specific shows and receive personalized suggestions, which Alexa will recall on their Fire TV. Alexa leverages Echo Show displays to offer culinary guidance. Additionally, Alexa Plus is compatible with a wide array of smart home devices, enabling users to manage their smart homes through the browser. This could involve unlocking doors, monitoring security cameras, or adjusting a thermostat. The smart home products that Alexa can manage will be listed in a sidebar on Alexa.com for easy access.

**Accessing Alexa Plus**

Alexa Plus might not boast the more advanced AI capabilities offered by other chatbots. There is no support for advanced reasoning and voice interaction, and it remains uncertain whether it can produce images as seamlessly as products like ChatGPT and Gemini. Furthermore, it is unclear if Alexa Plus can provide programming assistance and in-depth research reports, features you might expect from other chatbots. However, Alexa Plus is still in its formative stages: Companies such as OpenAI and Google have refined their chatbots over multiple years to become the robust tools they are today.

In other words, Alexa Plus is accessible through an Early Access program, indicating that Amazon is still in the initial phases of development. Interested users can sign up for Early Access to experiment with Alexa Plus on the web. An active Amazon Prime subscription is not required to utilize Alexa Plus online. However, Alexa Plus will be complimentary for Prime members once the Early Access testing phase concludes. Non-Prime users will incur a charge of $19.99 per month for Alexa Plus. The AI assistant is also available on mobile through the Alexa application.

charging your mobile overnight could be harmful. Others, too, drift off while watching YouTube or browsing TikTok. Nonetheless, the optimal spot for your phone at night may not be in the bedroom at all. Instead, it’s advisable to leave your phone outside of it.

Over time, many have debated where one should store their phones during the night. Much of this centers on how “harmful” the radiation and light emitted by phones can be to your sleep cycles. The other, more pressing issue, is the potential fire risk posed by keeping your phone too near your bed.

While contemporary smartphones have advanced significantly in managing heat dispersion — some models like the OnePlus 13 feature highly effective vapor chambers for cooling — dozing off with your phone beneath the covers or your pillow can greatly restrict airflow. If you’re charging your device, this heat output escalates and has previously caused phones to ignite. For this reason, it is strongly advised to charge your phone in a space with good ventilation, like a flat countertop or table, away from anything that might obstruct cool air from reaching it.

From time to time, a product captures the public’s imagination through social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram, thanks to enthusiastic reviews. Take, for instance, a trendy stain remover that gained traction for cleaning in 2022 or a blanket designed for adults that doesn’t bleed color. Their success can be unpredictable—sometimes they excel, other times it’s tough to decipher if the buzz is from a peculiar marketing strategy — yet a recently trending product heavily promoted on TikTok might actually deliver. Dubbed Loop Earplugs, they serve a straightforward purpose, but they excel at it. Loop Earplugs diminish noise to alleviate distractions.

They are not earbuds. They don’t connect to a phone or generate sound. They don’t even block out noise entirely — you can still perceive your environment while using them. They are crafted for situations where sounds are overwhelming, distracting, and potentially harmful to your hearing — such as music festivals or concerts. They also display an unusual yet charming appearance and come in a variety of styles. For example, there’s a McLaren Formula 1 Team X edition featuring a sleek two-tone burnt orange and black design, or a Coachella-inspired version that combines orange and blue in an imaginative blend. They aren’t limited to concerts, races, or extremely loud gatherings, which enhances their appeal. You can wear them in various settings, such as an open office; when managing energetic children; or while staying engaged in discussions in busy places.

Are they truly deserving of the excitement? Well, that’s a matter of opinion, but they are effective and users appreciate them. Presently, they boast hundreds of reviews on Amazon across diverse styles, all with ratings of four stars or higher. The Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs have amassed over 20,000 reviews.

Why is there such a buzz around earplugs?

To comprehend the TikTok phenomenon, a glance at the reviews will suffice. With over 20,000 assessments, an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, and 62% of these reviews being five stars (for the Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs), it’s clear there’s significant interest. They contain no electronics at all; essentially, they are just a silicone plug with an ear tip. How are they being utilized by so many?

Reviewers express that they wear them to sleep “every night,” and enjoy them so much they’ve purchased several pairs for home and travel. Others report that they are “super comfy,” and maintain their position throughout the night — notably, the Loop Quiet 2 is specifically designed for sleep. How about the McLaren or Coachella versions for live shows? Sure, you may opt for AirPods at a concert, but Loop Earplugs may offer a superior alternative.

Users are fond of the alternative variations as well. Reviewers claim they provide “excellent ear protection,” are perfect for concerts with intense, booming speakers, and are even “good on a motorcycle.” Allegedly, they reduce much of the noise encountered while riding a motorcycle while ensuring you remain fully aware of your surroundings. This is a mark of their effectiveness. Someone with hyperacusis and Misophonia, which makes them very sensitive to sound, stated they use the McLaren-style Loop Earplugs to help them “navigate so much with total calmness.” They seem to live up to the reputation.

Additionally, you might be pleased to learn that Loop Earplugs are among the TSA-approved travel accessories you can take on your next flight. Excuse me while I go order a few pairs.

affordable computer displays. However, that’s not always the experience you receive. What happens if you connect your new display and the colors appear distorted, the text looks unclear, and the motion seems sluggish? Some users believe this is simply the nature of monitors, concluding that their only option is to invest in a higher-quality one. Yet, the real issue often lies within the settings.

Contemporary operating systems and displays come equipped with numerous options, features, and configurations. Navigating these can be challenging, particularly for those unfamiliar with HDR settings, aggressive response-time adjustments, color calibration, scaling settings, or frame syncing. Each feature is intended to address a unique problem, and while it might seem wise to keep them “on” constantly, they can actually detract from your monitor’s performance. Even worse, these settings can make your monitor seem merely unsatisfactory rather than actually faulty.

The silver lining is that no setting is fixed, and you can easily enable or disable them as necessary. A few minor tweaks in the settings can elevate your subpar monitor into a sharp and responsive display that you truly appreciate.

The Guardian has reported that she has “a few friends who can’t bear to watch it because they’re quite unsettled by it.” Thus, although “Legion” enjoys strong ratings, be mindful that it might deviate from what one might usually anticipate from a Marvel property. Additionally, it carries an “Mature” rating, so consider this before introducing younger Marvel enthusiasts.

A few weeks following the launch of the initial iOS 26.3 Beta, Apple has introduced the second version — iOS 26.3 Beta 2. While the specifics of this build remain uncertain (Apple still hasn’t released comprehensive changelogs), it’s probable that the company has enhanced features included in prior releases, along with rectifying bugs. If Apple adheres to trends seen in previous years, iOS 26.3 will likely have fewer beta iterations compared to iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2, given that the final version is anticipated to be available in late January. Furthermore, among the new features, the company is working on several exclusive options for users in Europe.

For instance, Apple is preparing an updated notification system that will enable third-party smartwatches to receive alerts from an iPhone. Although this functionality has been confined to Apple Watch models until now, the company will allow users the option to select a third-party smartwatch for notifications instead. Additionally, specific to Europe, there is a new NFC capability with enhanced data sharing functionality over a Wi-Fi connection. While Apple has not clarified how these features will operate, they are among the list of enhancements the company needed to implement for users in the EU.

iOS 26.3 is set to bring other features as well. For everyone else, migrating data from Android to iPhone will become simpler during the setup phase. While both companies possess proprietary applications for transferring data, starting with iOS 26.3 and Android 16, Apple is incorporating a built-in feature to facilitate the migration of apps, messages, and photos more efficiently. The companies indicate that additional data will be made readily transferable in the future.

In addition, a new wallpaper is also anticipated, mirroring the black unity wallpaper of 2025. Although Apple typically reserves these for the Release Candidate version, new wallpapers have featured in previous iOS iterations of version X.3, as the company commemorates Black History Month in February. As always, we will keep you informed once more details about the updates in iOS 26.3 Beta 2 emerge. Apple is also releasing the second testing versions of iPadOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3, watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and visionOS 26.3.

connect a wired headphone set straight to your smartphone rather than opting for wireless options, a portable DAC can remedy both issues. Even more advantageous, portable DACs are easily obtainable on Amazon for a modest price of about $22. These gadgets not only simplify the process of connecting your headphones directly to your device but also provide considerably enhanced control over your music and sound, featuring options like PEQ tuning and high-resolution audio support.

Apple TV comes equipped with inherent calibration functionalities and methods, but unless you’re a passionate videophile aiming to create the perfect home theater setup, you likely don’t need to fuss over those details. If your goal is simply to enhance your TV’s appearance from your favorite spot on the couch, you can execute a swift D.I.Y. calibration by displaying a test image on the screen, and then tweaking the TV’s display settings until everything is to your taste.

**Presenting the Clicks Communicator: An Exceptional Android Experience**

The Clicks Communicator, scheduled to debut in 2026, is transforming the concept of an Android smartphone. In contrast to the standard all-screen or foldable devices dominating the marketplace, this gadget boasts a compact 4.03-inch screen and a built-in QWERTY keyboard reminiscent of the original BlackBerry. While it may bring back memories, the Clicks Communicator comes equipped with contemporary features that even Google’s Pixel phones can’t compete with.

**Budget-Friendly and Feature-Packed**

With a price tag of $499, or $399 during the preorder phase, the Clicks Communicator is intended as an auxiliary device rather than a primary smartphone. Despite its affordable price, it showcases several distinctive attributes: a Prompt Key for voice commands, customizable LED alerts, a mute toggle, a Clicks shortcut key, a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD support for up to 2TB, changeable backplates, a physical SIM card slot, and a silicon-carbon battery.

**Small Yet Mighty Design**

The Communicator is developed by the same brand renowned for Clicks Keyboard accessories. It measures 130.5 × 78.63 × 12mm and weighs 170g, making it more compact than the Pixel 10. Despite its size, it features competitive specifications: a 4.03-inch AMOLED screen, a 4nm chipset, 256GB of storage, a 50-megapixel main camera, a 24-megapixel front camera, Qi2 wireless charging, USB-C, Bluetooth, and NFC capability.

**Cutting-Edge Features**

The Clicks Communicator features a touch-enabled keyboard with an integrated fingerprint scanner. Its 4,000mAh silicon-carbon battery is particularly noteworthy, a feature absent in Pixel, Galaxy, or iPhone models. The device keeps the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card slot, features that many smartphone manufacturers have eliminated. It also allows for a physical SIM card, unlike the Pixel 10.

**Distinct Buttons for Improved Usability**

The Communicator includes exclusive physical buttons. The Prompt Key triggers voice messages and recordings, accompanied by a customizable Signal LED for alerts. A kill switch silences the phone, and a Clicks shortcut button permits quick actions. These functionalities are missing in Pixel devices. Moreover, the user-replaceable back panel offers customization options rarely found in flagship smartphones.

**Preorder and Launch Information**

Reserving the Clicks Communicator now provides a $100 discount, bringing the price down to $399, with two complimentary back covers included. A $199 reservation option is also available to lock in the early deal. Preorders conclude on February 27, with shipments scheduled for later this year.

the typical shopper may indeed find appealing. As we get ready to spend the upcoming days on the exhibition floor at CES 2026, here’s what piqued our interest at CES Unveiled on Sunday.