We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Prior to September 2024, any Apple user interested in active noise-canceling (ANC) AirPods would've had to shell out $250 for the AirPods Pro. With the release of the ANC AirPods 4, the tech is much more affordableand you can currently grab a pair of these $179 earbuds for $148.99. Apple also has a more budget-friendly version of the AirPods 4 without ANC; that model is currently for $99.99, down from $129.Both of these prices mark record lows, according to price-tracking tools. While the discounts aren't mind-blowing, the fact we're seeing any price reductions on newly released AirPods makes them a good deal, relatively speakingespecially outside of the typical Prime Day/Black Friday sales window. Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, with Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency Apple AirPods 4 (With ANC) $148.99 at Walmart $179.00 Save $30.01 Get Deal Get Deal $148.99 at Walmart $179.00 Save $30.01 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, Personalized Spatial Audio, Sweat and Water Resistant, USB-C Apple AirPods 4 (Without ANC) $99.99 at Amazon $129.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal Get Deal $99.99 at Amazon $129.00 Save $29.01 SEE -1 MORE The AirPods 4 have updated USB-C charging. Both models are powered by Apple's H2 chip, so you'll get Personalized Spatial Audio (so you can hear sounds seemingly coming from different directions as you move your head) and the ability to use head gestures to tell Siri "yes" or "no" (this also works for answering or denying calls). It's also likely Apple will add a live translation feature to both models when iOS 19 rolls out later this year.If you spring for the ANC AirPods 4, you'll get a charging case with a built-in speaker, which you can use with Find My to locate it if you lose them. You'll also get features like Conversation Awareness, which lowers your music volume when your AirPods detect that you're talking to someone; Transparency Mode, which lets you better hear your surroundings while your earbuds are in; and Adaptive Audio (combines ANC and Transparency mode to adjust ANC levels based on the noise around you). Keep in mind that since these are open style earbuds, lacking a silicone tip to better block out noise, the ANC will not be as good as what you can get from AirPods Pro or Beats Fit Pro.Both versions are rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, offer up to five hours of listening per charge (up to 30 hours with the charging case), and can handle automatic switching with your other Apple devices. You can read more about the non-ANC AirPods in PCMag's "excellent" review, and more about the ANC AirPods in PCMag's "outstanding" review.

Even if Punxsutawney Phil was correct, warm weather is still right around the corner. That means its time to prepare your outdoor space for maximum relaxation when temperatures begin to rise. Since this will likely include flexing your culinary muscle on the grill, nows the time to do a deep clean so youre ready for action.I dont blame you if you opted to let your grill hibernate during the winter months, but if thats the case, itll probably need a tune-up before spring arrives. If you did keep the grill in working order over the last few months, this is a good time for a scrub and polish before warmer temperatures inspire heavy use. Here are a few tips and tricks that will hopefully make things easier.Disassemble, scrub, reassembleBilly Steele/EngadgetA good rule of thumb when it comes to cleaning anything you havent used in a while is to take it apart as much as you feel comfortable and give it a thorough wipe down. For grills, this means removing the grates and any bars or burner covers basically, anything you can take out thats not the heating element. This gives you a chance to inspect the burners of your gas grill or the fire pot of a pellet model for any unsightly wear and tear. If those components are worn out or overly rusted, most companies offer replacements that you can easily swap out with a few basic tools.Once all the pieces are out, start by scraping excess debris off all sides of the interior with the help of some cleaner if needed. For a gas grill, this likely means pushing everything out through the grease trap. On a pellet grill, youll want to scrape the grease chute clear and out into the catch can, but youll also need to vacuum the interior with a shop vac just like you would after every few hours of use. And while youre at it, go ahead and empty the hopper of any old pellets that have been sitting since Labor Day. Fuel thats been sitting in the grill for months wont give you the best results when it comes time to cook so you might as well start fresh.Thankfully, pellet grill companies have made easy cleaning a key part of their designs. Webers SmokeFire has a set of metal bars on the inside that can be removed quickly to open up the bottom of the chamber. This is also a design feature of the companys gas grills. Simply vacuum or push the debris out the grease chute. The catch pan where all of the garbage ends up is also easy to access from the front of the grill, and you can remove the aluminum liner and replace it with a new one in seconds.Traegers most recent pellet grills were also redesigned to improve cleaning. Most notably, grease and ash end up in the same keg thats easy to detach from the front of the grill. The company also allows you to quickly remove all of the interior components, though theyre larger than what you find on the SmokeFire. Lastly, Traeger moved the pellet chute to the front of the Timberline and Ironwood, making it a lot more convenient to swap out wood varieties or empty an old supply.Youll want to get as much of the food leftovers out of your grill as possible for a few reasons. First, that stuff is old and lots of build-up over time can hinder cooking performance and might impact flavor. The last thing you want is old food or grease burning off right under an expensive ribeye. Second, in the case of pellet grills, not properly clearing out grease and dust can be dangerous. Its easy for grease fires to start at searing temperatures and if theres enough pellet dust in the bottom of your grill, it can actually ignite or explode. Thats why companies tell you to vacuum it out after every few hours of use.All of that dust, grease and debris should be removed before you fire the grill back up.Billy Steele/EngadgetTo actually clean the surfaces, youll want to get an all-natural grill cleaner. There are tons of options here, and it may take some time to find one you like. I typically use Traegers formula since its readily available at the places I buy pellets and Ive found it works well cutting through stuck-on muck. You want an all-natural grill cleaner over a regular household product as its safe to use on surfaces that will touch your food. Theyre also safe to use on the exterior of your grill without doing any damage to chrome, stainless steel or any other materials.Spray down the inside and give things a few minutes to work. Wipe it all clean and go back over any super dirty spots as needed. Ditto for the grates, bars and any other pieces you removed. I like to lay these out on a yard waste trash bag (theyre bigger than kitchen bags) so all the stuff I scrape or clean off doesnt get all over my deck. You can use shop towels if you want to recycle or paper towels if not, but just know whatever you choose will be covered in nasty black grime so you wont want to just toss them in the clothes washer when youre done. A pre-wash in a bucket or sink is needed to make sure you dont transfer gunk from your grill to your business casuals.In terms of tools, you dont need much. Ive tried that grill robot that claims to do the job for you, but Ive found sticking to the basics is more efficient. And honestly, when you get the hang of it, it doesnt take all that long. Its a good idea to have a wire brush specifically for the grates that you dont use to clean anything else. After all, this will be touching the same surfaces you put food on. I recommend another, smaller wire brush the ones that look like big toothbrushes for cleaning the burners on a gas grill. If you notice the flame isnt firing through one of the holes, you can use this to clean the pathway. Lastly, plastic is the way to go for a scraper, anything else and you risk scratching the surfaces of your grill. Sure, any damage done would be on the inside, but its still not a great feeling to knick up your previous investment.Check for updates before your first cookTraegerIf you have a smart grill from the likes of Traeger, Weber or another company, youll want to plug it in and check for software updates well in advance of your first grilling session. Chances are you havent cooked much since last fall, which means companies have had months to push updates to their devices. Trust me, theres nothing worse than spending an hour trimming and seasoning a brisket only to walk outside to start the grill and it immediately launches into the update process. This could extend the whole cooking time significantly depending on the extent of the firmware additions and strength of your WiFi.Thankfully, checking for updates is quick and easy. All you need to do is turn on your grill and open up the companys app on your phone. If theres a download ready for your model, the mobile software will let you know and its usually quite prominent. If theres not a pop-up alert that displays immediately, you can check the settings menu just to make sure. Sometimes for smaller updates, a company might not beat you over the head to refresh. However, starting a fresh slate of firmware is always a safe bet and will ensure your grill is running at its best when it comes time to cook.For a good time every time, clean after each useBilly Steele/EngadgetIll be the first to admit I dont adhere to my own advice here, but its nice to have goals. I will also be the first to tell you every single time I smoke a Boston Butt or some other super fatty cut of meat that I wish I wouldve done at least a quick cleaning right after the meal. Grease buildup is not only highly flammable but its much harder to clean once it cools and solidifies. Ditto for stuck-on sauce or cheese thats left on your grates after chicken or burgers. Its best to attack these things while the grill is still warm, but cooled down from the cook.You dont necessarily have to break out the shop vac each time for your pellet grill or empty the grease bin. But youll want to make sure that stuff is away from the main cooking area for safety and so any burn off wont impact the flavor of your food. A few cups of hot water can cleanse the grease run-off while that wire brush I mentioned is best for the grates. It also doesnt hurt to do a light wipe down with an all-natural cleaner so everything is ready to go when you want to cook again.New grills for 2025A number of grill companies have already announced their 2025 product lineups. If youre looking for new gear for the summer, some of them are already available while others will be arriving over the next few weeks. Of the big names, Weber jumped first, introducing its lower-cost Smoque pellet grill in early January. Starting at $699, this model offers the same connected grilling tools as the companys pricier Searwood, but a simplified controller and other design changes bring the price down. Weber also revamped the materials inside the cooking chamber to promote better air (and smoke) circulation. The Smoque grills should be available later this spring.Traegers 2025 models are already available, and they offer three all-new designs to choose from. The new Woodridge line has a similar concept as Weber: balancing features and performance at lower prices. The base model starts at $800 and offers Wi-Fi connectivity, but youll have to splurge for the Woodridge Pro or Woodridge Elite for things like Super Smoke mode, enclosed storage, pellet level sensor or a side burner. Even without all the bells and whistles, the entry-level Woodridge is a workhorse, and its a huge upgrade over the aging Pro Series.Middleby Outdoors also announced 2025 models for both its Masterbuilt and Kamado Joe brands. First, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1150 expands the smart, gravity-fed charcoal lineup with an option that offers more cooking space and better storage. Then theres the Kamado Joe Konnected Big Joe thats a larger version of the Konnected Joe I reviewed in 2023. Here, you still get Wi-Fi tools, an automatic charcoal starter and all the benefits of a ceramic, kamado-style grill.Lastly, the Brisk-It Zelos 450 packs in the companys Vera AI cooking platform for just $399. This smaller, simplified model follows the companys debut in 2024 with the Origin series. Its still a versatile smart pellet grill, but changes like a more basic onboard controller show that the Zelos 450 is designed to offer an AI sous chef at a lower price. Were sensing a theme there.Check out more from our spring cleaning guide.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/how-to-clean-your-grill-for-summer-outdoor-season-spring-cleaning-140040826.html?src=rss

Sony is celebrating God of War's 20th anniversary with goodies found in digital Norse mythological worlds, an LA art studio and your dusty old record player. The highlight is Kratos' positively badass Dark Odyssey skin (above). In God of War II, acquiring that game's version required hours of punishing gameplay on the most brutal mode of the 2007 sequel; all you have to do in 2025 is own a measly copy of God of War: Ragnark. The Dark Odyssey collection will be a free update on March 20 for all God of War: Ragnark players on PlayStation and PC. You get Kratos' shadowy black and gold look (above) that once required beating God of War II on God Mode difficulty (that would be the really hard one), as well as Dark Odyssey-themed armor, weapons, shields and more for the Ghost of Sparta, Atreus and Freya. If you haven't sunk enough hours into the game to max out your weapons, you may be disappointed to learn that the Dark Odyssey weapon skins are only available for the fully upgraded version of each. But at least Santa Monica Studio is adding the ability to edit the appearance of the weapon attachments and shield rnd. Sony / Santa Monica Studio / Ollie Hoff Also part of the 20th-anniversary celebration is a boatload of merch. These include a new set of art prints (like the one above by Ollie Hoff), a two-volume retrospective book set that chronicles the franchise's development since 2005 and a 13-LP soundtrack set of Kratos' two decades of immortal skull-bashing. (You'll also be able to order double LP soundtracks for the Greek trilogy games for the first time.) But no God of War collection would be complete without the 67-inch Jrmungandr pictured below. In a nice detail, it includes a magnetized tongue to grip a removable Leviathan Axe. (Given that there's no companion Kratos plush, we'll assume he met a slithery demise in this timeline.) Sony / Santa Monica Studio If you live in Southern California, you can check out a God of War exhibit at Gallery Nucleus in LA, showcasing new artwork inspired by the franchise, concept art and "unique memorabilia." It runs from March 15 to 23. Finally, for those who are curious about the franchise but don't own all the games, you can check them out for less. PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra members can claim his last three journeys God of War Ragnark, God of War (2018) and God of War III Remastered from the game catalog. And PC gamers can buy a discounted God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnark $20 and $48, respectively on Steam. You can read about the full list of anniversary goodies on the PlayStation blog. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/god-of-wars-20th-anniversary-celebration-gives-you-kratos-most-badass-throwback-skin-185354289.html?src=rss

Cursor AI refuses to help code and tells a developer to do it himself.

ESHYFT was keeping a large database without a password, containing all sorts of sensitive data.

Between rising tariffs, an increased cost of living, and extensive federal layoffs, February felt pretty abysmal for lots of American workers. Now, theres data to show that it might have been one of the worst months in recent history for employee sentiment.Thats according to Glassdoors monthly Employee Confidence Index, a report that uses Glassdoors database of millions of employees reviews to get a real-time pulse on employee confidence in their companys six-month business outlook, according to the companys website. Last month, the share of employees reporting a positive six-month business outlook fell to 44.4%its lowest point since Glassdoor began publishing the index in 2016 (for context, the average outlook hovers around 50% positive).Sentiments were low across the board, but some industries were hit harder than others. These are the sectors where workers felt the most pessimistic about the coming months:Government and Public AdministrationOver the past several weeks, Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been on a mission to reduce waste by slashing tens of thousands of federal jobs, including gutting the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), halving the Department of Education, and laying off 10% of the workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Not surprisingly, these massive cuts have resulted in rising job security fears among government employees. Employee confidence in the government and public administration sector plummeted by 4.9% month-over-month, bringing the total decline to 7.3% year-over-year.Cuts to the government workforce initiated by DOGE have thrown the future of the federal workforce into disarray, resulting in weakening sentiment, the report reads. Only 38.1% of government workers had a positive [six-month] outlook.RetailDissatisfaction among government employees was matched only by retail workers. Similarly, only 38.1% of retail employees reported feeling positive about the futurethough, to be fair, thats only a 0.1% drop from this time last year.The retail industry has seen a barrage of headwinds in recent months. As the cost of living continues to rise, many consumers are opting to spend less, with major retailers including Walmart, Target, and Costco reporting noticeable dips in consumer spending last month. Meanwhile, the ongoing retail apocalypse has seen thousands of stores close across the nation, with companies like Joann fabrics and Party City going out of business entirely.Restaurants and Food ServiceBehind government employees and retail workers, food industry employees were the third-most dissatisfied sector in the new report. The restaurant industry is currently facing down a number of potential tariffs that could make products like coffee, tea, fruit, and vegetables much more expensive, and in some cases, inaccessible. Meanwhile, some of the nations largest fast food chainslike McDonaldsare struggling to attract customers in an era of frugal spenders, who increasingly view meals on-the-go as a luxury.

A U.S. influencer has united Australiaand much of the worldin outrage after filming and filming herself snatching a baby wombat from its mother and posting the clip online.The Montana-based content creator, known as Sam Jones, calls herself a wildlife biologist and environmental scientist on her now-private Instagram account. In a since-deleted video, shot in Australia, Jones is seen grabbing a baby wombat from its mother near a remote road at night. She runs back to her vehicle, holding the animal up to the camera, as the mother wombat runs after them.I caught a baby wombat, Jones exclaimed in the video. The animal appeared to be distressed in the clip, wriggling and hissing. A man behind the camera can be heard laughing: Look at the mother, he said, its chasing after her! The baby appears to be a common wombat, which is a protected marsupial found only in Australia.According to BBC news, the caption of the now-deleted post read: My dream of holding a wombat has been realised! Baby and mom slowly waddled back off together into the bush.Responding to early criticism, Jones defended her actions in the videos comments. The baby was carefully held for one minute in total and then released back to mom, she wrote. They wandered back off into the bush together completely unharmed. I dont ever capture wildlife that will be harmed by my doing so.That didnt stop the user backlash and Jones, who has more than 92,000 followers on Instagram, made her account private. But the videoand other posts allegedly from her account, including images of her holding an echidna and a little sharkcontinue to circulate online.On Friday morning, ABC Australia sent out a news alert saying the influencer had left Australia voluntarily, as a petition calling for her deportation amassed over 39,000 signatures.Theres never been a better day to be a baby wombat in Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke responded to news of her departure, according to the Associated Press. Earlier that day, Burke confirmed that authorities were reviewing Joness visa conditions for potential breaches of immigration law. I cant wait for Australia to see the back of this individual, I dont expect she will return, he said in the statement received by the Associated Press.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also weighed in. I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals, take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there, he said. Take another animal that can actually fight back, rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother. See how you go there.

Gadgets are becoming highly utilitarian owing to their clever designs imbibed with modern tech to make them highly usable for everyday use. The MINI Mobile Power Bank concept dubbed Innostyle is no different, representing the intersection of design and practical functionality, offering an advanced portable energy solution for modern users who love to keep their gadgets handy. With a sleek, compact form factor, this power bank is designed to be visually appealing and highly efficient, making it an ideal accessory for individuals who prioritize aesthetics and convenience in their everyday tech gear.One of the standout features of the MINI Mobile Innostyle is its transparent casing, which allows users to view the intricate internal design. Like many other see-through gadgets inspired by the Noting design language, this one too goes for the cool style. This transparency, combined with the subtle neon accents, creates a futuristic, cyberpunk-inspired look that not only reflects the power banks modern capabilities but also makes it a conversation starter. The overall design is clean and minimalist, with an emphasis on precision and style, making it an accessory that complements any tech collection.Designer: Wenyanwen DesignDespite its small size roughly the dimensions of a credit card the MINI Mobile Power Bank packs impressive functionality. The device is equipped with a high-speed, three-in-one intelligent charging cable, allowing it to charge a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, earbuds case, and other USB-powered gadgets. This versatile feature eliminates the need for multiple cables, offering a more streamlined and organized charging experience. Its efficient battery capacity ensures quick charging, providing the necessary power to keep devices running throughout the day.Innostyles compact design ensures that it can easily slip into a pocket or bag, making it incredibly convenient for on-the-go use. With the matching colored lanyard to go with the peppy color options it comes in, the power bank can be hooked onto your everyday carry. Whether commuting, traveling, or simply running errands, users can rely on this power bank to provide a reliable dose of charge for modern devices whenever needed.This power bank is more than just a practical everyday carryit offers both style and functionality in one sleek package. The MINI Mobile Innostyle power bank is perfect for those who need a reliable power source without sacrificing aesthetic appeal or portability, making it a must-have for anyone with a fast-paced, mobile lifestyle!The post Meet the Innostyle Power Bank, a classy, transparent gadget thats reminiscent of Nothing tech first appeared on Yanko Design.

She was so prolific reimagining things as varied as toys, typewriters, umbrellas and ice-cream makers that she earned the nickname Lady Edison.

MacworldAccording to a report from Bloomberg, Senior Director of Siri and Information Intelligence Robby Walker held an all-hands meeting to discuss the recent delay of new Siri features.He called the delay of these key features ugly and embarrassing, according to the report, and said the team was facing a bad period. The features in questionon-screen awareness, personal context, and in-app actions, have reportedly been delayed until at least 2026, but Walker did not state in the meeting when the features would actually be delivered. Apple has only said publically that the new Siri features would arrive in the coming year.The features were promoted before they were ready, he acknowledged and lamented that his team is probably feeling pretty bad right about now. According to Bloombergs account, Walker vowed to deliver an industry-leading virtual assistant.Its unclear if Apple has the right organization or vision to achieve that. As we wrote recently, Siri didnt just miss a deadline for new advanced AI features, its actually embarrassingly bad at all the things its already supposed to do well. Walker said that, while the company is aiming to release the delayed Siri features in the iOS 19 timeframe, it may not even make that release target. We have other commitments across Apple to other projects, he said, adding We want to keep our commitments to those, and we understand those are now potentially more timeline-urgent than the features that have been deferred.It is becoming increasingly obvious that Siri is in bad shape and hope is not on the horizon. Dramatic improvements are needed not just to catch up to rivals, but to deliver existing Siri features at a quality level Apple can be proud of. It may be that Siri needs to be entirely re-engineered from the ground up, and that sort of thing can take years, even if its already underway. Meanwhile, Apple rivals in the AI space are racing aheadby the time Apple delivers a new and improved Siri, how advanced will the competition be?The Bloomberg report states that Apple doesnt plan to fire any executives over Apples increasing AI troubles, but that the situation can change at any time.