Twitter will shut down the TweetDeck for Mac app on July 1st

TweetDeck will soon no longer be available as a standalone Mac app. Twitter will shut down that version of its client for power users on July 1st. “We’re saying goodbye to TweetDeck for the Mac app to focus on making TweetDeck even better and testing our new Preview,” a tweet from the TweetDeck team reads. “July 1 is the last day it’ll be available.”

Killing off the standalone app means Mac users may soon need to have the client open in a separate browser or juggle another tab if they want to keep using TweetDeck. As 9to5Mac notes, however, there are other options. You can turn web apps into native Mac apps using services such as Unite for macOS or Coherence X. Alternatively, you can switch to another app like Tweeten, which is based on TweetDeck.

There have been rumblings that Twitter plans to make TweetDeck a paid feature as part of Twitter Blue to prompt more people to sign up. Twitter’s prospective new owner Elon Musk has ambitious revenue goals for the subscription service, so moving TweetDeck behind a paywall doesn’t seem out of the question. 

Twitter started testing a revamped version of TweetDeck last year. The new-look TweetDeck uses the same design language as Twitter’s web app.

Focusrite Vocaster hands-on: Streamlined audio interfaces built for podcasters

Focusrite already makes some of the most popular audio interfaces on the market. If you’re a budding musician or bedroom producer, you’ve probably considered one of their Scarlett interfaces when building out your studio. They’re also great options for…

‘Diablo Immortal’ arrives a day early on iOS and Android

Diablo fans who have been eager to try the series’ first new game in a decade won’t need to wait any longer, as long as they’re willing to play on mobile. Blizzard has opened up access to Diablo Immortal a day early on iOS and Android. Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson said Blizzard rolled out the mobile version one day before the official release date of June 2nd to give it time “to propagate through all the global stores.”

PC players in most regions will still need to wait until tomorrow to dive in. Diablo Immortal will be in open beta on that platform for the time being. Those in some Asia-Pacific countries won’t be able to try the PC version until June 22nd, however.

Engadget Weekend Editor Igor Bonifacic tried an early access build and felt that it’s Blizzard’s best game in years, but had serious reservations about its microtransactions and the monetization approach. In addition, there are randomization elements that could run afoul of loot box bans in Belgium and the Netherlands. As a result, Blizzard won’t release the game in those countries.

Diablo Immortal is Blizzard’s second mobile game after Hearthstone and its first attempt at bringing an existing series to iOS and Android. Activision Blizzard, spurred by the success of Call of Duty Mobile and its King division, is making a bigger push into mobile games. The company said in 2020 that it has mobile titles in the works for all of its “most important franchises.” Blizzard is planning to release another mobile title, the free-to-play strategy game Warcraft Arclight Rumble, later this year.

Logitech’s new MX Mechanical Mini and MX Master 3S are already on sale

Don’t worry if you were waiting for Logitech’s MX Mechanical and MX Master 3S to go on sale before you took the plunge — the discounts are already here. Amazon is selling the compact MX Mechanical Mini keyboard for $133 (12 percent off), while the MX Master 3S mouse has dropped to $89 (11 percent off). You’ll have to be content with clicky switches for the keyboard, but these still represent meaningful savings for brand new peripherals.

Buy MX Mechanical Mini at Amazon – $133Buy MX Master 3S at Amazon – $89

The MX Mechanical Mini is the keyboard for gamers whose PCs double as office machines. You’ll get the crisp feel of the mechanical switches you often see in gaming keyboards, but the key pitch, ergonomics and noise are optimized for typing. You’ll also find productivity-friendly keys (such as Page Up/Down and Delete) that often go missing on smaller gaming-oriented layouts.

The MX Master 3S, meanwhile, is a refinement of a familiar (and arguably successful) formula. The creator-oriented mouse has twice the sensor resolution at 8,000DPI, and the quieter main mouse buttons should help you concentrate on work. It’s clearly meant as a companion to the MX Mechanical line, and might just be a good fit if you want high-end input devices without the ostentatious designs of gaming hardware.

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Instagram will push Amber Alerts to users’ feeds

Instagram will start pushing Amber Alerts to users’ feeds to notify them about missing children in their area. The company says the feature will start rolling out tomorrow and it will be live in 25 countries over “the next couple of weeks.” 

Even so, Instagram users shouldn’t expect to see them very often. The company notes that the alerts are meant to be “rare and specific to the search area.” Instagram will use factors like IP addresses and location data (if enabled) in order to determine which accounts to push the notices too.

When they do appear, the alerts will crop up in users feeds, not as in-app notifications. Unlike the mobile notifications that are often pushed via wireless carriers for Amber Alerts, Instagram’s version will include a photo and description of the missing child, as well other relevant details, like where they were last seen. There will also be a phone number to report sightings or other tips to law enforcement.

While not the first time Meta has added Amber Alerts — Facebook started surfacing them to users in 2015 — the company notes Instagram could be particularly impactful as it’s a “visual-first” platform that is already widely used by teens.

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 2 offers more speed and storage capacity

After a leak yesterday spoiled the surprise, Microsoft has unveiled the Surface Laptop Go 2, a $600 starter laptop with premium looks. It looks very much like the original, has an near-identical 12.4-inch 1,536 x 1,024 touch display, anodized aluminum …

Eero 6 mesh WiFi systems drop back down to record-low prices

Those looking to upgrade their home WiFi can often do so by investing in a more capable router. Now, you can pick up Amazon’s Eero 6 mesh WiFi system at some of the best prices we’ve seen. A single Eero 6 router costs $71 at the moment, which is 20 percent off and the cheapest we’ve seen it. A pack with one router and two extenders will set you back $159, while a bundle of three Eero 6 routers is down to $199.

Buy Eero 6 router at Amazon – $71Buy Eero 6 (router + 2 extenders) at Amazon – $159Buy Eero 6 (3 routers) at Amazon – $199

As the name suggests, this system supports WiFi 6 and one Eero 6 router will cover up to 1,500 square feet. That’s enough to cover a decently sized apartment, and you can spring for one of the multipacks if you live in a larger home. The dual-band system supports speeds up to 900Mbps and more than 75 connected devices. If you absolutely must have a Gigabit-capable router, you’ll have to opt for the more expensive Eero Pro 6 system instead.

You’ll also get a built-in Zigbee smart home hub with the Eero 6 system, which means you can skip buying a dedicated hub and connect IoT devices like smart lights, plus, locks and more directly to the router. You’ll be able to more easily control the smart home devices you already have (especially the ones that support Alexa voice commands) and it’ll be much easier for those who don’t have a smart home ecosystem yet to build theirs from scratch thanks to the built-in home hub.

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Apple’s AirPods Pro are just $180 right now

If you’ve been keeping an eye out for discounts on the Apple AirPods Pro, now’s your chance to grab a pair. The wireless earbuds are currently listed for $180 at Amazon — not quite an all-time low, but still $69 less than its usual retail price of $249. Unlike the basic AirPods, the AirPods Pro come with silicon tips that enable a more comfortable fit and give them the seal necessary for effective noise cancellation. We gave the earbuds a score of 87 in our review, praising them for having better audio than previous models due to their built-in amplifiers and the ability to automatically tune low- and mid-range frequencies to each user’s ear. In addition, we praised the earbuds for giving users hands-free access to Siri voice assistant and having IPX4 water resistance.

Buy Apple AirPods Pro at Amazon – $180

That said, Apple’s second-gen AirPods are also on sale for $100 right now. In case you’re looking for something cheaper and don’t mind that the model doesn’t have silicon tips, you can still get a pair for $100 or $59 off its retail price of $159. They aren’t quite that different from the first iteration of the earbuds, but they’re better at seamlessly connecting with your devices, thanks to the H1 wireless chipset.

But if you’re on the lookout for over-ear headsets, then head over to Amazon to see the website’s deal on the Apple AirPods Max. You can get the AirPods Max in Space Gray or Silver for $450, or $99 off its retail price. In our review, we discussed how the headphones have an excellent balanced sound quality, solid active noice cancellation and a lengthy battery life.

Buy Apple AirPods Max at Amazon – $450

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