In January, Mercedes unveiled the Vision EQXX, an electric concept vehicle. It had a sleek exterior, active aerodynamics, and a battery pack that approached 100kWh while being lighter and taking up less volume than packs it had placed in production car…
Twitter initiates ‘poison pill’ to block Elon Musk’s takeover bid
The Twitter board isn’t willing to let Elon Musk buy the company without a fight. The board members unanimously approved a limited duration shareholder rights plan, which will be in place for one year starting today.
The rights will come into play if a single entity acquires at least 15 percent of Twitter’s outstanding common stock without the board’s approval. Should that become the case, certain shareholders will have the right to buy more stock. Flooding the market with new shares to dilute other investors’ holdings is called a poison pill strategy, and it’s designed to ward off a hostile takeover attempt.
Musk briefly became Twitter’s largest shareholder when it emerged he had quietly snapped up a 9.2 percent stake in the company. He was offered a seat on the board and if he had accepted, he would not have been allowed to build up an ownership stake of more than 15 percent. Musk turned down the board seat earlier this month, though. This week, Musk made an offer to buy the entire company for around $43 billion.
The company said in a press release that adopting the rights plan will “reduce the likelihood that any entity, person or group gains control of Twitter through open market accumulation without paying all shareholders an appropriate control premium or without providing the Board sufficient time to make informed judgments and take actions that are in the best interests of shareholders.” In other words, the move will make it harder for Musk to take his buyout offer directly to shareholders and acquire their stakes in piecemeal fashion.
Twitter says the plan is similar to one carried out by other publicly traded companies that have been subject to a non-binding acquisition proposal. Notably, the rights plan doesn’t prevent Twitter from accepting a buyout offer if it believes that’s in the best interest of its shareholders.
Musk claimed in his buyout offer Twitter has “extraordinary potential” and that he would “unlock it.” During a TED Talk just hours after making the proposal, Musk argued that Twitter’s algorithm should be open source, “so anyone can see […] there’s no sort of behind-the-scenes manipulation, either algorithmically or manually.” He also suggested he’d err on the side of having less moderation and expressed reservation about issuing permanent bans to users who break the rules.
Apple’s third-gen AirPods drop to $150, plus the rest of the week’s best tech deals
A number of gadgets remain on sale as we head into the holiday weekend. Apple’s latest AirPods remain $30 off and down to $150, and you can pick up the AirPods Pro for $175. Certain colors of the Apple Watch Series 7 are on sale for as low as $313, plus you can save on a bunch of Surface devices in Microsoft’s spring sale. Finally, Amazon has discounted its regular Kindle to $55 while also slashes prices of its Fire tablets. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.
AirPods (3rd gen)
Billy Steele/Engadget
Apple’s newest earbuds are close to their record-low price right now. You can grab the third-gen AirPods for $150, or $30 off their normal rate. We gave them a score of 88 for their improved design, much better audio quality and longer battery life.
Buy AirPods (3rd gen) at Amazon – $150
AirPods Pro
Billy Steele / Engadget
Apple’s AirPods Pro are back on sale for $175, which is 30 percent off their normal price. We gave them a score of 87 for their improved fit, good audio quality and solid ANC.
Buy AirPods Pro at Amazon – $175
10.2-inch iPad
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Both Amazon and Walmart have the entry-level iPad for $309 right now, or $20 off its normal price. We gave the slab a score of 86 for its improved performance, excellent battery life and Center Stage-capable front cameras.
Buy 10.2-inch iPad at Amazon – $309Buy 10.2-inch iPad at Walmart – $309
Apple Watch Series 7
Many color options of the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 are down to $330, or $70 off their normal price. The green model is even cheaper, coming in at $313. We gave the wearable a score of 90 for its bigger screen, faster charging and handy watchOS 8 features.
Buy Apple Watch Series 7 at Amazon starting at $313
Mac Mini M1
Engadget
You can pick up the Mac Mini M1 desktop for $570, which is an all-time-low price, thanks to a $99 coupon that’s automatically applied at checkout. It runs on an eight-core CPU, eight-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It’s a good option if you want a relatively new desktop that won’t take up too much space on your desk.
Buy Mac Mini M1 at Amazon – $570
Microsoft spring sale
Through April 21st, you can save hundreds on Surface devices, Xbox games and more in Microsoft’s spring sale. The Surface Laptop Go is up to $200 off, so you can grab the model with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $700.
Buy Surface Laptop Go at Microsoft starting at $400Shop Microsoft spring sale
Amazon Kindle
Engadget
Amazon’s regular Kindle is down to $55, which is $35 cheaper than usual. You can also pick up the Kids Edition for $65 instead of the usual $110. While the latest Paperwhites have a lot of bells and whistles, the standard Kindle remains a good option for those on a budget.
Amazon Fire tablets
Valentina Palladino / Engadget
A number of Fire tablets are on sale right now, including the Fire HD 8, which is down to $50. The larger Fire HD 10 has also been discounted to $100, which is $50 off its normal rate. These slabs are good options for those that want a basic, lightweight device for travel or doing things like online shopping and checking email from your couch.
Buy Fire HD 8 at Amazon – $50Buy Fire HD 10 at Amazon – $100
iRobot Roomba j7+
iRobot
iRobot’s Roomba j7+ and s9+ are $200 off at Wellbots right now when you use the code ENGMOM200 at checkout. These are some of the company’s most powerful robo-vacs: the j7+ has a convenient “poop-detection” feature while the s9+ has the strongest suction power of any Roomba. Both also come with clean bases, which allow the robots to automatically empty their bins after each cleaning job.
Buy Roomba j7+ at Wellbots – $599Buy Roomba s9+ at Wellbots – $799
Amazon smart thermostat
Amazon
Amazon’s smart thermostat is back on sale for $48, which is 20 percent off its regular price. The Energy Star-certified device uses Honeywell’s Home Thermostat tech to help you save on energy costs — and, like other Amazon devices, it works with Alexa so you can use voice commands to control the temperature in your home.
Buy smart thermostat at Amazon – $48
Google Nest thermostats
Google
Both Google’s standard Nest Thermostat and the more advanced Learning model remain discounted right now. You can pick up the regular version for $119, while the Learning Thermostat is still on sale for $200. They share most of the same features, but you’ll get a slicker design, a higher-res display and the ability to connect with Nest Temperature Sensors with the Learning model.
Buy Nest Thermostat at Amazon – $119Buy Nest Learning Thermostat at Amazon – $200
Chromecast with Google TV
Google
The latest Chromecast with Google TV is $10 off at Walmart and Best Buy, bringing it down to $40. We gave the compact streaming device a score of 86 for its solid remote control, good Google Assistant integration and support for 4K content with Dolby Vision and Atmos.
Buy Chromecast with Google TV at Walmart – $40Buy Chromecast with Google TV at Best Buy – $40
New tech deals
Apple gift cards
You can get a $5 promotional credit when you buy a $50 Apple gift card at Amazon when you use either the code APPLEDEAL or APPLEAPRIL at checkout. The promotional credit can be used on future Amazon purchases, and while it’s not a huge credit, it’s more than what we usually see attached to Apple gift cards.
Shop Apple gift cards at Amazon
Jabra Elite 7 Active
The Elite 7 Active earbuds are 17 percent off and down to $150 right now. These are some of Jabra’s newest buds and they have a special “ShakeGrip coating” that helps keep the buds in place during sweaty workouts. Plus, the elite 7 Active support adjustable ANC, HearThrough technology and four microphones for better call quality.
Buy Elite 7 Active at Amazon – $150
Satechi Easter sale
Through April 17th, you can get 15 percent off at Satechi when using the code EASTER15, and for orders of $100 or more, they’ll up it to 20 percent with the code EASTER20. Now’s a good time to pick up a new keyboard, mouse, USB-C hub or other accessory while you can get it for less.
NordVPN
NordVPN’s latest deal lets you save 51 percent off the price of a two-year subscription, so you’ll pay only $96 for that time period. After the first two years, the price goes up to $99 per year. NordVPN is one of our favorites thanks to its speed, its no-logs policy, the thousands of servers it has to choose from and that one account supports up to six connected devices.
Subscribe to NordVPN (2 years) – $96
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
iRobot’s poop-detecting Roomba j7+ robot vacuum is $200 off right now
Update 4/17/22: Amazon is now matching the sale prices on the Roomba j7+ and the Roomba s9+.
If you missed the last sale on iRobot’s latest robot vacuums, you’re in luck. Both the Roomba j7+ and the Roomba s9+ are $200 off at Wellbots when you use the code ENGMOM200 at checkout. That brings them down to $599 and $799, respectively, which are both close to the best prices we’ve seen on both vacuums.
Buy Roomba j7+ at Wellbots – $599Buy Roomba s9+ at Wellbots – $799
The newer of the two is the Roomba j7+, which came out at the end of last year. It’s technically not as powerful as the s9+, but it has new AI-driven computer vision technology that helps it detect objects and move around them as it cleans. Because of that, iRobot dubbed this their “pet-poop detecting” robot, and the company even has the Pet Owner Official Promise (or P.O.O.P. for short), which states that you’ll get a new vacuum if the one you bought fails to avoid accidental pet poop in your home.
The Roomba j7+ isn’t the most powerful vacuum in the company’s lineup, but it does have 10x the suction power of a standard Roomba, plus smart mapping, dual multi-surface brushes and more. The “plus” model also comes with a clean base into which the robo-vac will automatically empty its dustbin after each cleaning job.
The Roomba s9+, on the other hand, is the top-of-the-line vacuum from iRobot, and it has 40x the suction power of the standard models, a 3D sensor for object detection and a design that helps it clean room corners more easily. Both it and the Roomba j7+ are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant, so in addition to controlling them from the iRobot mobile app, you can also tell them to clean up your home using voice commands.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Samsung’s $430 Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is aimed at students
Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 has arrived in the US market today as a 2-in-1 version of the Chromebook 2, with a price and features tailored for students. The key feature is a flip-around 2,560 x 1,600 WQXGA 12.4-inch touch display that can output 340 nits of brightness, making it decently viewable in bright sunlight. Depending on the position, that lets you use it in laptop, tent or flat tablet modes.
It’s designed to be durable and shock resistant and is relatively lightweight at 1.28 kg (about 2.8 pounds), with a relatively slim 16.9mm profile and smallish bezels. Connection-wise, you get a pair of USB Type-C, one USB 3.2 type A, a microSD slot and a headphone/mic port. For any remote learning activities, it offers a decent 720P front-facing webcam.
Samsung
The WiFi 6 feature should deliver fast connection speeds at school or in the dorm. If you want even better connectivity and have a mobile plan that allows for extra devices, you can add LTE connectivity. Samsung also offers some Galaxy-related features like Nearby Share and Phone Hub that lets you control your smartphone, even if it’s buried in a backpack.
Aside from that, the Chromebook 2 360 isn’t exactly a spec monster. It comes with 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM (8GB optional), up to 128GB of storage, an Intel Celeron N4500 CPU (with Intel UHD graphics) and a 45.5 Wh battery. Those specs are absolutely fine for Chrome OS and its ecosystem of Chrome and Android apps, however. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 goes on sale today starting at $430 for the 4GB/64GB WiFi 6 model. We don’t have pricing on the LTE model yet, but it’s an £80 (about $100) upgrade in the UK.
Build your own quantum computer with Google’s latest ‘simulator’
World Quantum Day was apparently yesterday, and Google feted the occasion with the launch of The Qubit Game, as spotted by 9to5Google. Created in partnership with Doublespeak games, it’s a “playful journey to building a quantum computer, one qubit at a time,” Google said. It also hopes the game, and World Quantum Day, will help generate some interest in the field.
The game resolves around Qubits, the basic building block of a quantum computer. It’s pretty straightforward (you won’t need to learn any quantum entanglement math or physics) with the goal of increasing the number of Qubits while keeping them cool. The more Qubits you have, the more difficult it gets. Eventually, you’ll “discover new upgrades, complete big research projects and hopefully become a little more curious about how we’re building quantum computers,” wrote Google Quantum head of education Abe Asfaw.
The goal is to draw attention to quantum computing, because it seems there’s a dearth of people working in the field. To that end, Google is bringing the game to the classroom, hoping to encourage educators to talk about the subject and expand access to quantum computing research.
“We need more students pursuing careers building or using quantum computers, and understanding what it would be like to be a quantum scientist or engineer,” wrote Asfaw. “For me, that’s what World Quantum Day is all about: showing everyone what quantum computing really is and how they can get involved.”
Engadget Podcast: Nintendo Switch Sports and Elon Musk’s ongoing Twitter affair
This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Sam Rutherford discuss the new Nintendo Switch Sports games, a coincidental week of beauty gadget coverage and the ongoing saga of Elon Musk trying to own Twitter. We also go over Activision Blizzard’s new Chief Diversity Officer and Meta laying claim to almost half of all digital asset sales in its virtual world.
Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!
Subscribe!
Topics
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Nintendo Switch Sports – 1:53
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Checking out the Theraface Pro and PMD Personal Microderm Classic – 14:56
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Elon Musk isn’t done with Twitter, might be trying to buy the company – 23:59
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Blizzard has hired a Chief Diversity Officer to help sort out its whole mess – 36:31
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Meta wants a 47.5% cut on all items sold in the Metaverse – 40:45
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Vivo’s X Fold has a fingerprint reader on both screens – 44:28
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Sonos bought a startup that makes speakers powered by light – 48:53
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Working on – 53:52
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Pop culture picks – 55:14
Video livestream
Credits
Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Sam Rutherford
Producer: Ben Ellman
Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos, Luke Brooks
Graphics artists: Luke Brooks, Brian Oh
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien
Opera’s crypto browser is now available on iOS
Opera launched its dedicated “Crypto Browser” into beta back in January, promising to make Web3 as accessible as any Web2 website. The company released the browser for Windows, Mac and Android users back then, but the version for iOS devices still wasn’t ready for rollout. Now, Opera has announced that the Crypto Browser for iPhones and iPads is out and available for download from its website.
The browser comes with a built-in non-custodial crypto wallet that supports the Ethereum, Bitcoin and other blockchain ecosystems. It will allow users to buy crypto coins with fiat currency and to trade any supported token without needing to install extensions. In addition, the browser will give users access to Web3-based NFTs and decentralized apps, including 7,000 services based on the Polygon ecosystem.
One of the browser’s other features is a Crypto Corner start page, where users can get live information and updates on cryptocurrency, such as the latest prices and events, airdrops and relevant podcasts. Opera says it designed the browser for both veteran crypto users, as well as newbies who still need help navigating cryptocurrencies and Web3.
Jorgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera, said in a statement:
“The interest in Web3 is continuing to grow. The Opera Crypto Browser Project was built to simplify the Web3 user experience that has often been bewildering for mainstream users. Opera believes Web3 has to be easy to use in order to reach its full potential and a mass adoption.”
Opera didn’t say whether the iOS browser supports the more energy-efficient Etherium Layer 2 standard. It did launch Layer 2 support for the Android version back in February, however, which the company claims makes it the first mobile browser to have the feature.
The Morning After: MIT engineers’ stroke-surgery robot
Don’t worry, yes, there are even more Musk machinations, but first let’s broach something a little different — and possibly lifesaving. A team of MIT engineers is developing a telerobotic system for neurosurgeons. It unveiled a robotic arm that doctors can control remotely using a modified joystick to treat stroke patients.
The arm has a magnet attached to its wrist, and surgeons can adjust its orientation to guide a magnetic wire through the patient’s arteries and vessels to remove blood clots in the brain. Like in-person procedures, surgeons will have to rely on live imaging to get to the blood clot, but the machine means they don’t have to be physically with the patient.
There’s a critical time window after someone suffers a stroke to ensure the best chance of recovery. The robot could make treatment possible even if a neurosurgeon is miles away.
— Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
Elon Musk offers to buy Twitter for $43 billion
‘Twitter has extraordinary potential. I will unlock it.’
Elon Musk has offered to buy Twitter for $43 billion, telling the SEC in a filing that the deal would be good for free speech. “I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy,” he wrote. If the deal goes through, Musk plans to take the company private.
It was another busy day for Musk: He held a TED talk where he said he wants Twitter’s algorithm to be open source. And hopefully the final Twitter–Musk headline for the week: The Tesla boss is no longer the biggest shareholder of Twitter. At least, for now.
Researchers create a high-efficiency cell that converts 40 percent of heat energy to electricity
More efficient than many steam turbines.
Researchers have revealed a new thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cell that converts heat to electricity with over 40 percent efficiency and performance nearly on par with traditional steam turbine power plants. The cells have the potential to be grid-scale “thermal batteries,” generating energy dependably with no moving parts.
Amazon hits US sellers with a 5 percent fuel and inflation surcharge
That’s on top of the fees they’re paying for Amazon’s fulfillment services.
Amazon will charge US sellers using its fulfillment services a five percent fuel and inflation fee. It will add the fees on April 28th to what it already collects from third-party sellers using the Fulfillment by Amazon service to store, pack and ship their goods.
Google’s Switch to Android app helps iOS users do just that
It can import contacts, calendar, videos, photos and more.
Google has finally countered Apple’s Move to iOS app by releasing Switch to Android for iOS on the App Store, confirming earlier rumors. As the name indicates, it’s designed to help iPhone and iPad users import contacts, photos, calendars and video to an Android device. It also shows users how to turn off iMessage in favor of Android messaging and transfer photos/videos by connecting to iCloud. It’s a big improvement over the current system, which requires users to back up photos, video, calendar and contacts through the Google Drive iOS app.
The best portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy
So many options.
Engadget
If you’re looking for a connected speaker, the options are good. And varied. You just need to figure out what you need — and how much you want to spend. We’ve separated our guide into three price ranges, from $50 up to $450 and even higher, while touching on exactly what you need to consider.
US warns of malware made to attack critical infrastructure
Hackers could hijack industrial systems.
The US is still on high alert for more cyberattacks against critical infrastructure. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Energy Department, FBI and NSA have issued a warning that hackers have developed custom malware to hijack industrial control systems. Nicknamed Incontroller by Mandiant researchers, the “very likely” state-backed code breaches controllers from Omron and Schneider Electric that are frequently used in automation, across power grids, manufacturing and other industries. Mandiant said the malware’s capabilities were “consistent” with Russia’s past efforts and its “historical interest” in compromising industrial control systems.
Moog made a Theremin for 2022
Mid-century styled Theremin, anyone?
Moog
The Theremin is how Bob Moog got his start building instruments and eventually selling kits for customers to make their own. Which makes it kind of a big deal when the company introduces a new model. The Etherwave Theremin is based on a 1996 design from Bob Moog himself and replaces its Etherwave and Etherwave Plus. It also looks much, much cooler.
DC Attorney General asks court to reconsider Amazon antitrust lawsuit
DC Attorney General Karl Racine has filed a motion (PDF) asking the court to reconsider its decision to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit he filed against Amazon in 2021. In the original lawsuit, Racine accused the e-commerce giant of “illegally abusing and maintaining its monopoly power by controlling prices across the online retail market.” Third-party sellers that use Amazon’s Marketplace have to abide by the company’s agreement, which includes a fair pricing policy. If they sell their goods for lower prices elsewhere, Amazon could remove their items’ buy box, suspend their shipment option and even terminate their selling privileges for “serious or repeated cases.”
The company stopped telling sellers back in 2019 in the midst of antitrust scrutiny that they couldn’t sell their products for cheaper prices elsewhere. However, the company later added back a clause under its fair pricing policy that’s nearly identical. Racine argued that since sellers price their goods with Amazon’s cut in mind, the policy artificially raises prices even on sellers’ own websites and on competing e-commerce platforms.
Amazon told us when Racine first filed the lawsuit that the Attorney General had it “exactly backwards.” The spokesperson said: “Amazon takes pride in the fact that we offer low prices across the broadest selection, and like any store we reserve the right not to highlight offers to customers that are not priced competitively. The relief the AG seeks would force Amazon to feature higher prices to customers, oddly going against core objectives of antitrust law.” The Superior Court of the District of Columbia sided with Amazon and threw out Racine’s complaint back in March.
Now, the DC AG wants another chance at proving that Amazon violated antitrust laws. His office’s amended complaint includes additional details about how the company’s policy violates DC code, mostly focusing on how it “causes prices to District residents to be higher than they otherwise would be” and how it inhibits sellers from competing with Amazon’s own products.
Racine said in a statement about the motion he filed:
“We’re asking the court to reconsider its decision to dismiss our Amazon case because the antitrust laws and facts are on our side and we are determined to continue standing up for DC consumers. Amazon illegally uses its market power to prevent sellers from lowering their prices on other platforms — including their own. This results in higher prices for DC consumers.”