ZDNET's key takeaways The Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are by far the best noise-canceling earbuds I've tested, and they're currently discounted by $80 The earbuds deliver immersive sound, and they're the earbuds I rely on for flights to silence all external noise Prolonged wear can be uncomfortable more buying choices Bose's QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are $80 off ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, taking the price down from $300 to $220. These earbuds constantly impress me with their impeccable and all-silencing noise cancellation, which is why I can't travel without them. If you are in the market for a new pair of noise-canceling earbuds that will truly silence everything, you should get these.Whether you're traveling across the country -- or across town -- this vacation season, a good pair of noise-canceling earbuds can go a long way. They quiet down airplane engines and crying babies during long-haul flights, silence the clanking weights at your busy gym, and hush the background conversations in the office and at home while you work, listen, or read.Review:Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphonesBose's luxury noise-canceling earbuds 100% are. TheQuietComfort Ultra earbuds promise improved noise-canceling, higher-quality sound, all-day comfort, and an interesting take on spatial audio, and may just be the all-encompassing pair that shoppers have been waiting for.I spent many weeks with the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds and took a deep dive into its very best features. Are these the top earbuds you can buy? How do they stack up against the competition? And are they worth the price tag? I answer all of those questions below. details View at Best Buy The QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, which I'll refer to as the QC Ultra earbuds, come with Bose's Fit Kit that includes three pairs of ear tips, three pairs of stability bands, a charging case, and a 12-inch USB-C cable.The charging case is quite bulky; It's larger than my JBL Tour Pro 2 earbudsand my roommate's AirPods (2nd Gen), but has a sleek finish and has a nice, reassuring weight to it. Scuffs and scratches are also very visible on the White Smoke case that the earbuds came in, so I'd recommend picking up the Black or Moonstone Blue colorways if you want your accessories to look pristine.As far as audio performance goes, the QC Ultra earbuds deliver impeccable noise cancellation -- the best I've tried yet -- and robust sound. With the strong ANC, I was able to dig into my work by listening to my morning classical playlist and blocking out the noisy office chatter around me. When the parade outside my bedroom window grew so loud I couldn't sleep, I put these earbuds in my ear to dim it down (and it worked). By far, these are the best noise-canceling earbuds I've tried yet.More spherical than circular, the shape of the ear tip suctioned well to my ear, and I never had trouble with it falling out as I moved around. I appreciated that the touch controls on either ear were incredibly receptive, as other earbuds I've tried have had difficulty mastering capacitive touch controls.Also: Forget Sony and Bose: These JBL headphones are my sleeper pick for best of 2025One feature I especially enjoyed while listening to the QC Ultra earbuds was the different sound modes you can access through the Bose Music companion app. These buds don't just come with a Quiet mode and an Aware mode. You can cycle through six audio modes: Quiet, Aware, Immersion, Commute, Run, and Work. In the app or by lightly pressing your left earbud, you can take advantage of pre-set modes that turn on or off specific audio modes based on your daily activities, like a commute, run, or work. Nina Raemont/ZDNETBecause I want to be aware of my surroundings during my subway commutes, I especially enjoyed the commute mode on the app. It offers some noise cancellation, so I can properly hear and appreciate my music but blends it with a distinct level of sound awareness. Also: Everything you need for commuting to workImmersive Audio is Bose's take on spatial audio, and the new feature is something that sets the QC Ultra apart from previous generations of QuietComfort earbuds. Immersive Audio creates a thoroughly fun listening experience by adding an airy, multidimensional sound to whatever you're listening to.You can choose between "Still" for sitting or standing in place or "Motion," which keeps the feature working properly while you walk around. It's a cool feature and adds an extra layer of engagement to any workout or physical activity you perform with the earbuds on.Also: The best noise-canceling earbuds: Bose, Sony, and more comparedWhile listening to Dua Lipa's Swan Song, I toggled between Immersive Audio and Aware mode to hear the distinction between the different filters. Amusingly, I found that every aspect of the song was more spacious and immersive with Immersive Audio turned on.Though the immersive audio is a great feature, it can also be a battery drainer. By design, earbuds have a shorter battery life than larger headphones and speakers, as the internal electrical components can only handle so much with such little room. If you're cross-shopping, the QC Ultra earbuds' six-hour battery life is shorter than Sony's latest flagship earbuds, the WF-1000XM5, despite both earbuds being the same price.Another issue I've seen users on Reddit raise is Bose's connectivity problems. There was one week when my earbuds would sound staticky and randomly disconnect from my in-range phone, but Bose has fixed this problem with updates, as I haven't experienced connectivity issues in months with these earbuds. So if you're on the fence about buying these because of Bose's notorious connectivity problems, rest assured that there isn't as many problems with the QuietComfort Ultra. Nina Raemont/ZDNETWith the Immersive Audio feature turned on, the QC Ultra earbuds' six-hour battery life quickly dropped to four hours, barely enough to get me through a workday. It's not a big problem if you go through one to two-hour listening sessions at a time, of course.One issue I have with the QC Ultra earbuds is that despite being equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, they're a pair of premium earbuds without Bluetooth multipoint connectivity. Without multipoint, you can't seamlessly switch the buds' audio output between two devices, like your smartphone and your laptop.Also: I was skeptical of these $350 wireless earbuds - until they knocked my socks offBose's accompanying QC Ultra over-ear headphones are equipped with Bluetooth multipoint, and the company says the feature is on the way for the earbuds. Still, for $299, I'd expect it to be available right out of the box.ZDNET's buying adviceIt's clear to me that Bose made noise-canceling and sound quality a priority with the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. For a pair of earbuds, the sound quality is top-notch, and the noise-canceling easily shields me from the loudness of car horns, train rides, and the many other sounds of New York City. I would recommend these earbuds to anyone who cares a lot about immaculate sound quality and the best noise canceling you can get.If you are looking for a pair of headphones that can keep up with your audio demands, the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the way to go, especially if you've been on the fence about the older, similarly-priced QuietComfort II buds.Featured reviews

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is just around the corner, which means you can snag deep discounts on TVs from brands like Sony, LG, Hisense, and more. But if you can't wait to upgrade your home theater, you can catch some great early deals on everything from basic smart TVs for second screens in bedrooms to high-end OLED models with all the bells and whistles, such as VRR support and object-tracking sound.Also: The best early Amazon Big Spring Sale deals live nowAnd if you want to compare prices, retailers like Walmart and Best Buy and even brands like Samsung offer competing sales and discounts on hundreds of TV models. With patience and a sharp eye, you could save hundreds on a great new TV. To help you narrow down your choices, I've created a list of the best TV deals I could find ahead of Amazon's Big Spring Sale and at competing retailers so you can find the very best discounts.Shop at AmazonBest TV deals for Amazon Spring Sale 2025Samsung Q60D 55-inch: $500 (save $300): The Q60D is a great mid-range option featuring object-tracking sound and a Pantone Validated dual LED panel for better color accuracy.Hisense U8N 85-inch: $1,700 (save $1,100): Hisense's flagship model at its largest screen size, featuring a 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR support.Sony X77L 85-inch: $1,000 (save $500): This Sony LED TV offers a 60Hz refresh rate, built-in voice controls, and exclusive VRR support for the PlayStation 5.Amazon Fire TV 4 Series 55-inch: $320 (save $200): A budget-friendly option from Amazon with built-in voice controls, 4K resolution, and HDR 10 support.Samsung S95D 77-inch OLED: $3,000 (save $1,400): Samsung's OLED TV gives you signature picture quality, object-tracking sound, Dolby Atmos support, and cloud gaming support.Hisense QD7 85-inch: $800 (save $300): This mid-range QLED TV from Hisense offers a 144Hz refresh rate, built-in voice controls, and a dedicated picture mode for gaming.Amazon Fire TV Stick 3rd Gen: $20 (save $20): Amazon's basic streaming stick offers 1080p resolution and supports thousands of streaming apps to turn your TV into the ultimate entertainment hub. Samsung/ZDNET Current price: $500Original price: $800Samsung's mid-range TV offers object-tracking sound, HDR10, a dedicated gaming hub, and built-in voice controls. Show more View now at Amazon Hisense/ZDNET Current price: $1,700Original price: $2,800A high-end Mini-LED TV from Hisense that offers Dolby Vision IQ HDR, Dolby Atmos, a 144Hz refresh rate, and built-in voice controls. Show more View now at Amazon Sony/ZDNet Current price: $998Original price: $1,498One of Sony's mid-range big-screen TVs with a 60Hz refresh rate, built-in voice controls, and exclusive VRR support for gaming with the PlayStation 5. Show more View now at Amazon Samsung/ZDNET Current price: $3,000Original price: $4,400Samsung's flagship OLED TV offers both Dolby Atmos and object-tracking sound, built-in voice controls, and a 144Hz refresh rate. Show more View now at Amazon More Amazon Spring Sale 2025 TV deals Kerry Wan/ZDNETSamsung DU8000 75-inch: $700 (save $200): A budget-friendly big-screen TV with object-tracking sound and cloud gaming support.Samsung DU9000 98-inch: $2,000 (save $500): One of the largest TVs on the market offers a 120Hz refresh rate, object-tracking sound, and a dedicated gaming dashboard.Samsung S85D OLED 55-inch: $950 (save $750): Samsung's entry-level OLED offers signature picture quality, object-tracking sound, and a 120Hz refresh rate.TCL QM85 75-inch: $2,000 (save $600): The TCL QM85is one of our favorite TVs with its razor-sharp picture quality, 144Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support.More 65-inch TV deals LG/ZDNETRoku Pro Series 65-inch: $720 (save $480): Roku's flagship TV is built around its streaming platform and features Dolby Vision IQ, a 120Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync VRR support for console gaming.Hisense U6N 65-inch: $500 (save $234): One of Hisense's flagship TV models offers support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and Wi-Fi 6 for more reliable wireless internet connectivity and faster streams, which helps reduce buffering time.LG C3 OLED 65-inch: $1,200 (save $300): The previous generation of LG's flagship OLED TVs still offers great features like a 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR.Sony Bravia 9 65-inch: $2,500 (save $500): Sony's flagship Mini-LED TV offers Dolby Vision HDR, exclusive VRR support for the PlayStation 5, and a 120Hz refresh rate.TCL Q65 65-inch: $350 (save $200): A budget-friendly TV with both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, built-in voice controls, and 60Hz refresh rate.Insignia F50 65-inch: $300 (save $150): A great budget-friendly TV that uses the Fire TV platform to give you access to thousands of streaming apps for movies, shows, music, and more.Panasonic X85 Series 65-inch: $1,100 (save $700): A mid-range OLED with Dolby Vision IQ HDR, a 120Hz refresh rate, and support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR for console gaming.More 85-inch TV deals TCL/ZDNetSamsung DU7200 85-inch: $800 (save $300): A budget-friendly big-screen TV with great picture and sound quality, and enhanced security via the Samsung Knox chip.Sony X93L 85-inch: $2,000 (save $2,500): An excellent big-screen TV from Sony with the brand's Acoustic Multi-Audio technology and Dolby Atmos for virtual surround sound as well as built-in voice controls and a 120Hz refresh rate.TCL QM6K 85-inch: $1,500 (save $400): TCL's flagship QD-Mini LED TV offers Dolby Vision IQ HDR, Dolby Atmos, a 144Hz refresh rate, and 500 local dimming zones for enhanced contrast.Hisense U7N 85-inch: $1,300 (save $900): A high-end QLED TV with a 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, and an Imax Enhanced picture mode for movie buffs.LG UQ7590 86-inch: $900 (save $300): A budget-friendly big-screen TV with a 120Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium VRR, and dedicated filmmaker mode.Hisesne A6 85-inch: $800 (save $200): A budget-friendly big-screen TV with a 60Hz refresh rate, DTS Studio Sound, and the Roku TV platform for access to thousands of streaming apps.Samsung QN85D 85-inch: $1,800 (save $400): Samsung's flagship QLED TV offers Dolby Atmos and object-tracking sound, built-in voice controls, and cloud gaming support.More Samsung TV deals Samsung/ZDNETSamsung QNX1D 55-inch: $850 (save $950): This Samsung store-exclusive TV offers Dolby Atmos and object-tracking sound, HDR brightness optimizer, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR for console gaming.Samsung QE1D 85-inch: $1,180 (save $1,620): A Samsung store-exclusive big-screen TV with object-tracking sound, a Pantone Validated screen for better color accuracy, and cloud gaming support.Samsung The Frame 85-inch: $3,000 (save $1,300): A high-end, gallery-inspired TV with an anti-glare coating, dedicated Art Mode, and personalized bezel.Samsung QN900D 65-inch: $3,500 (save $1,500): Samsung's 8K TV gives you four times the resolution of a 4K model, free TV with Samsung TV Plus, and object-tracking sound.Samsung The Terrace Full Sun 65-inch: $6,500 (save $3,500): This Samsung TV is designed for outdoor spaces with full sun exposure, making it perfect for decks and patios.More TV deals at Best Buy Sony/ZDNetLG C4 OLED 65-inch: $1,400 (save $300): An excellent OLED TV with support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision as well as Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR for console gaming.Samsung S90D OLED 65-inch: $1,400 (save $300): Samsung's flagship OLED features a Pantone Validated screen for better color accuracy and signature OLED picture quality.TCL Q6 98-inch: $1,500 (save $1,500): One of the largest screens you can get from TCL and one of the most affordable for its size.Samsung DU6950 85-inch: $700 (save $400): A Best Buy-exclusive budget-friendly big-screen TV with built-in voice controls and a 60Hz refresh rate.Sony Bravia 8 OLED 65-inch: $1,600 (save $700): Sony's flagship OLED TV offers support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio as well as Sony's Acoustic Surface Audio+ for sound that follows the on-screen action.LG G4 OLED 77-inch: $3,000 (save $1,000): LG's premium-grade OLED TV has a gallery-inspired design, and supports AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.Toshiba C350 75-inch: $450 (save $200): An ultra budget-friendly big-screen TV with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, Alexa voice controls, and an automatic low-latency game mode.Insignia QF Series 65-inch: $330 (save $170): An entry-level LED TV with a 60Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and Alexa voice controls.Samsung QN90D 75-inch: $1,800 (save $400): Samsung's flagship QLED TV features object-tracking sound, cloud gaming support, and a 120Hz refresh rate.Sony Bravia 7 75-inch: $2,000 (save $400): Sony's flagship LED TV features exclusive VRR support for the PlayStation 5, a 120Hz refresh rate, and video call support with the Bravia Cam.More TV deals at Walmart LG/ZDNETTCL S3 32-inch: $97 (save $10): An incredibly budget-friendly TV that's perfect as a second screen in your bedroom or kids' playroom with 720p resolution and the Roku TV platform for streaming.LG 70 Series 70-inch: $500 (save $150): A budget-friendly big-screen TV with a 60Hz refresh rate, HDR10 Pro support, and a preloaded suite of popular apps like Netflix, Apple TV, and Disney+.Sony X85K 75-inch: $700 (save $600): A mid-range big-screen TV with built-in voice controls, a 120Hz refresh rate, and exclusive VRR support for the PlayStation 5.Samsung Q60D 75-inch: $1,000 (save $200): Samsung's mid-range QLED TV features a Pantone Validated screen for better color accuracy, a dual LED panel for a wider range of colors, and great upscaling of non-4K content.FAQs When is Amazon's Spring Sale 2025?Amazon's Spring Sale starts on March 25 and will run through March 31. That gives you six days to snag great discounts on tech like TVs, sound bars, and more.Are TVs really cheaper during Amazon sales?They can be. Many brands will often mark down popular models and screen sizes during Amazon sales to help move inventory ahead of new releases. And if you're lucky, you may be able to find an older model at a steep discount or a combination of coupons that help you save even more on a new TV.How did we choose these Spring Sale deals?While plenty of TVs are discounted for the Amazon Spring Sale, not all TVs and discounts are created equal. I focused on reputable brands like Samsung, TCL, and Hisense, as well as TV models that I and other ZDNET experts have reviewed and had hands-on testing experience with. I also made sure that each TV featured on this list had plenty of features that customers have come to expect as standard, such as built-in voice controls, preloaded streaming apps, and enhanced HDR.Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites withZDNET Recommends. Show more Amazon Spring Sale 2025

"The Trump administration must confront foreign governments directly to end pharmaceutical ... More freeloading," writes Pipes.AFP via Getty ImagesThis morning, the America First Policy Institute released an issue brief highlighting a genuine problemthe rest of the world free-rides on American pharmaceutical innovation. American consumers bear most of the global costs associated with drug research and development and so subsidize lower prices abroad.President Trump is already working to address similar foreign freeloadingmost notably by calling on our European NATO allies to contribute their fair share toward collective defense. He can, and should, apply the same firm approach to pharmaceutical pricing.Much of AFPIs analysis is correct. It accurately identifies foreign freeloading as detrimental to American patients and global research efforts.However, AFPIs proposed solutiona "most-favored-nation," or MFN, pricing policy that would set drug prices in Medicare based on the lowest prices paid in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Franceis fundamentally misguided.For starters, the MFN approach overlooks the complex dynamics of pharmaceutical pricing overseas. European countries use aggressive, government-backed negotiations to secure deep discounts from drug manufacturers.These "negotiations" often come with implicit and explicit threats. As just one example, if a manufacturer refuses to sell its products at dictated prices, a European government could retaliate by revoking its patents under Article 5 of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, which allows compulsory licensing when a patent holder declines to sell its product in a market.Plus, it isnt as if U.S. drug firms can simply band together and leave Europe if the continent refuses to pay more for drugs. Any coordinated efforts would be viewed as cartel-like behavior and trigger antitrust penalties under European Union competition laws.Given these constraints, pharmaceutical companies are effectively forced to accept artificially low prices abroad. Expecting American firms to respond to MFN by raising prices overseas simply isnt realistic.In other words, MFN wouldnt fix freeloading. But it would worsen the impact of European price controls on American innovation and investment.Adopting an MFN policy would effectively import Europes price controls into our own healthcare systemand thereby jeopardize Americas global leadership in pharmaceutical innovation. Developing a new drug currently costs about $2.6 billion, takes 10 to 15 years, and only about 12% of drugs entering clinical trials eventually reach patients.Despite these challenging odds, more than 60% of the worlds innovative medicines are developed in the United States.If the MFN proposal becomes policy, critical investments in drug research and development could sharply decline. A National Bureau of Economic Research study estimates that reducing U.S. pharmaceutical prices by 40% to 50% could lead to a 30% to 60% reduction in research initiatives.Similarly, research from University of Connecticut economist Joseph Golec found that America would have lost more than 100 new medicines from 1986 to 2004 under European-style price controls.Beyond limiting future discoveries, MFN pricing would delay access to new medicines already in development. The majority of new drugs first debut in the United States. Pharmaceutical firms prioritize the U.S. market precisely because it fairly compensates them for their substantial research and regulatory costs before they face markets with capped prices abroad.Lowering American prices to match Europes artificially low prices would intensify global freeloading rather than reduce it. Foreign governments would continue paying little, while U.S. research budgets would shrink.Competitors like China are rapidly expanding their biotechnology capabilities. MFN pricing risks shifting global medical innovation leadership from America to China.The United States possesses numerous trade tools and diplomatic levers to compel foreign countries to pay prices that reflect the true value of American-developed medicines. We need to use them.Price controls dont work, whether theyre devised domestically or imported from abroad. The Trump administration must confront foreign governments directly to end pharmaceutical freeloading. Doing so will protect U.S. innovation, preserve patient access to groundbreaking treatments, and maintain Americas unmatched global leadership in medical research.

LudwigCredit: BritBoxIf I had to describe the new cozy mystery Britbox series Ludwig in just one line, it would be: Hercule Poirot meets Monk, with a puzzle-solving twist.Ludwig is the nom de plume of John Taylor, played by David Mitchell. Mitchell also plays Johns twin, DCI James Taylor (not to be confused with James Taylor). John is a brilliant, awkward puzzle-setter. His brother is a police detective.His brother has also mysteriously vanished, leaving a cryptic note for his wife, Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin). Confused and frightened, Lucy contacts her brother-in-law and pleads with him to come and help. ReluctantlyJohn rarely ever leaves his househe agrees, taking the taxi shes already sent and making his way to his brothers home, where Lucy and her son Henry (Dylan Hughes) live.Lucy gives John a mission: Pretend to be James and infiltrate the police department where James has surely left his little orange notebook. Go to the office, grab the notebook, and get out. Once they have the notebook, they can start puzzling together where James has gone, and why his note to Lucy sounds so dire. Is he in danger? Is there some conspiracy at play involving the police?John reluctantly agrees, but things dont go quite as planned. For one thing, he doesnt know anybody at the police station, and Lucys notes on Jamess colleagues are woefully limited. Once at the police station, John is roped into a murder investigation by his brothers partner, DI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola). Not knowing who to trustJamess note made it very clear to trust no oneJohn finds himself on his first case. Because hes a brilliant puzzle-solver, he quickly finds he has a knack for solving mysteries and extracting confessions from the killers.The six-episode series follows a murder of the week format, all while John and Lucy try to puzzle together Jamess mysterious disappearance. Each episode digs a little deeper into the overarching mystery, while also giving us a delightful new murder case to solve.The cast is brilliant from top to bottom. Mitchell is wonderful as John Taylor, a man whose awkwardness, honesty and brilliant mind make him both a terrible spy and a magnificent detective. His colleagues at the station are also charming and, for the most part, instantly likable. Gerran Howell plays DC Simon Evans, a bumbling and adorable young detective. (You may recognize Howell from HBOs The Pitt). His no-nonsense partner, DC Alice Finch is played by Izuka Hoyle. Olas DI Carter is a bit more mysterious, having recently been transferred to the department. John learns he has ties to Chief Constable Ziegler, played by Ralph Ineson, a man who John immediately suspects of some kind of foul play. The only person at the station who seems to suspect that John isnt who he says, is IT specialist Holly Pinder (Sophie Willan).Every episode of the show presents a fun new mystery that only Ludwig can solve. Fans of Agatha Christie-style cozy mysteries will have a blast puzzling these out alongside our endearing fake-detective. And the overarching mystery provides a deeper and more complex story to keep us invested. The series is clearly setup for a second season, and thankfully that season has already been confirmed by the BBC.This is easily one of the best new mystery shows Ive seen in a long time, and one of many great excuses to grab a BritBox subscription. The first two episodes are out now, with subsequent episodes releasing each Friday for the next four weeks.Have you watched Ludwig? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.

Back to 2000s: Over the last week, multiple users have reported that YouTube is not meeting its usual quality standards. Some videos and Shorts display as a garbled, pixelated mess. The company is aware of the problem and is working on a fix, but does not know what is causing the quasi-outage. Over the past few days, many viewers have reported that YouTube seems to have gone back to the digital stone age. The 20-year-old video-sharing platform struggles to provide optimal, or even moderately decent, streaming quality, resorting to the lowest video resolutions despite users having ample network bandwidth.Some usershavesuffered this weird quality issue for days, degrading their watching experience to 360p and sometimes 144p resolutions. Manually bumping up the quality to 1080p has helped in some instances. However, others have found that doing that results in endless buffering. At least a fraction of users complain that YouTube simply refuses to stream at a decent quality, no matter what they do.The issue isn't isolated to a single platform, either. Users have reported resolution issues on Windows, iOS/iPadOS, and Smart TVs. Android appears to be the only ecosystem where YouTube is still working as intended, which means smartphones and tablets based on Google's OS can currently provide the best YouTube experience. Coincidence?Imagine trying to suffer through this when trying to watch your favorite YT content.Not even Google seems to know what is going on with YouTube. The company acknowledged the issue on Wednesday, admitting that the platform is serving "some" users lower resolutions than usual. However, it had no further details besides those we learned from affected users. Google said it is working on a fix but did not provide a time frame when things should go back to normal. // Related StoriesWhile Mountain View tries to fix its video platform, streaming addicts could evaluate a few alternative solutions. As mentioned, YouTube should work fine on any Android device. Competing, albeit admittedly lesser, video platforms, such as Vimeo or Dailymotion, sometimes have similar content. Even Facebook could do the trick if you're desperate enough to jump in that hole. Don't forget Twitch, as well. Many gaming streamers on YouTube also have Twitch channels.Video quality is just another thorn in the side of YouTube viewers. The platform has recently been in a tirade, forcing users to abandon their ad blockers. It has also hiked prices for Premium users while offering them a cheaper "mostly" ad-free option. From the look of things, Google is prepping users for the old cable switcheroo from the late 70s and early 80s. This bait-and-switch hooked cable subscribers with mostly ad-free content, like MTV, then dumped commercials on them on top of their premium subscription costs.

Recap: The AI accelerator race is driving rapid innovation in high-bandwidth memory technologies. At this year's GTC event, memory giants Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron previewed their next-generation HBM4 and HBM4e solutions coming down the pipeline. While data center GPUs are transitioning to HBM3e, the memory roadmaps revealed at Nvidia GTC make it clear that HBM4 will be the next big step. Computerbase attended the event and noted that this new standard enables some serious density and bandwidth improvements over HBM3.SK Hynix showcased its first 48GB HBM4 stack composed of 16 layers of 3GB chips running at 8Gbps. Likewise, Samsung and Micron had similar 16-high HBM4 demos, with Samsung claiming that speeds will ultimately reach 9.2Gbps within this generation. We should expect 12-high 36GB stacks to become more mainstream for HBM4 products launching in 2026. Micron says that its HBM4 solution will boost performance by over 50 percent compared to HBM3e.However, memory makers are already looking beyond HBM4 to HBM4e and staggering capacity points. Samsung's roadmap calls for 32Gb per layer DRAM, enabling 48GB and even 64GB per stack with data rates between 9.2-10Gbps. SK Hynix hinted at 20 or more layer stacks, allowing for up to 64GB capacities using their 3GB chips on HBM4e.These high densities are critical for Nvidia's forthcoming Rubin GPUs aimed at AI training. The company revealed Rubin Ultra will utilize 16 stacks of HBM4e for a colossal 1TB of memory per GPU when it arrives in 2027. Nvidia claims that with four chiplets per package and a 4.6PB/s bandwidth, Rubin Ultra will enable a combined 365TB of memory in the NVL576 system.While these numbers are impressive, they come at an ultra-premium price tag. VideoCardz notes that consumer graphics cards seem unlikely to adopt HBM variants anytime soon.The HBM4 and HBM4e generation represent a critical bridge for enabling continued AI performance scaling. If memory makers can deliver on their aggressive density and bandwidth roadmaps over the next few years, it will massively boost data-hungry AI workloads. Nvidia and others are counting on it.Image credit: ComputerBase

Samsung has issued an official response in regards to the firmware update earlier in March that bricked the HW-Q990D soundbar the best soundbar currently available as well as some other Samsung models, including the HW-Q800D and HW-S801D. The following is the official response sent to Digital Trends by Samsung:Samsung Electronics has identified a software update error as the cause of the operational issue affecting certain 2024 soundbar devices. We are taking immediate action to resolve the situation. Samsung is offering free repairs for all affected unitsregardless of warranty status.Recommended VideosEarlier in the month, Samsung released firmware update 1020.7 that rendered the Q990D soundbar inoperable. Reports from users on ther/soundbars on Reddit,Samsung forums, andAVS Forum were posting about the update causing the soundbar to get stuck in eARC mode with no way to get it working again. (The story was originally reported by The Verge.)Please enable Javascript to view this contentA moderator on the European Samsung forums messaged saying that Samsung AV Product Specialists were aware of the issue and an OTN (Over the Network) update was the cause of the bricking, and that the OTN update was suspended. Apparently the firmware update did not affect users that initiated the update over USB.That original post from the Samsung forum moderator continued, If your issue is the result of an OTN update, then it will be necessary to arrange an engineers inspection and repair in order to get this resolved. Samsungs official statement above doesnt specifically indicate that non-working units will need to be sent in for repair instead of a new firmware fix being forced to resolve the problem, but if they do, at the very least it sounds as though Samsung will cover the cost.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsAndroid 16 release datePhones that can download Android 16Notifications with Live updatesAudio SharingAdaptive refresh rateHaptics tuned to appsNew Easter eggCamera controlsAdvanced Professional Video (APV) recordingA place to store your health recordsAmbient mode for BLE hearing aidsDesktop modeAndroid 16 has already reached the final stages of development and the final release is just a few weeks away. With this earlier-than-usual number update to Android, Google is focusing mostly on under-the-hood improvements and practical improvements.While Android 15 focussed little on visual upgrades brought in privacy features, such as partial screen recording and Private Space. This year, too, Google doesnt seem too keen to focus much on a radical aesthetic overhaul.Recommended VideosIf you are curious about the update, here is everything you must know about Android 16, including when it will be available, which devices already have it, and which features are likely to make it to the final release.RelatedTushar Mehta / Digital TrendsGoogle released the Android 16 developer previews and beta months ahead of the usual schedule. As such, Android 16 beta 3 is already live, and we have already reached the Platform Stability stage, suggesting Google is only making final touch-up and fixing bugs rather than testing new features. This period is meant for developers to adapt their appsBased on the time release timeline, we expect the stable version of Android 16 to arrive sometime after April. Though we dont have any official statements, there wouldnt be a better time than Googles annual developer conference Google I/O, which will kick off on May 20th this year.Tushar Mehta / Digital TrendsAt the moment, Android 16 is limited to Googles own Pixel phones, starting Pixel 6 and newer. Although the list may expand over the coming weeks, these phones currently support Android 16 beta if you would to try:Pixel 6/6 ProPixel 6aPixel 7/7 ProPixel 7aPixel FoldPixel TabletPixel 8/8 ProPixel 8aPixel 9 Pro FoldThe newly launched Pixel 9a is not officially on the list yet, but you should have no problems running the latest version of Android on it.If you wish to try out the Android 16 beta on your phone, head over to this link, and select the devices you wish to be updated.The shorter-than-usual window between the release of stable Android 15 and Android 16 builds leaves less time for several upgrades, but there are some noteworthy features we would see coming to Android this year after all.Example of Android 16 Live updates for a delivery app. GoogleOne of the most insightful features on Android is the support for Live updates from apps that deal with time-sensitive notifications and update. A prime example is food delivery or cab-hailing apps, which will now show the completeness of your order or more simply, the time left to arrival through an animated progress bar in a dedicated tile on the top of your notifications and on your lock screen.The progress bar functionality is already present in iOS (as Live Activities) and has also been implemented by several Android OEMs, including OnePlus. Now, with this change, Google is stepping up to make this a standard functionality in Android, which means it will be available on all devices that run Android 16 and above.Meanwhile, developers have access to APIs that will enable live tracking feed from their apps to be shows through animated tickers. When not viewed directly, the information will be condensed into small pill-shaped icons on the status bar, displaying only the most important information, such as the time left. Heres an example from developer Viktor Mykhailiv:Besides live tracking of orders from food delivery apps or cab services, Live updates will also display the ETA for a trip in Google Maps when the app itself is minimized. While the actual utility will depend on apps, and many might not support it initially, we can expect big ones like Uber to be onboard soon.Meanwhile, Google is demonstrating how Live updates will work with the new Android Easter egg, which we will look at later in this article.Android AuthorityIf theres one way Bluetooth headphones have not been able to match up to wired ones, even the lowest quality, its the ability to split audio into two different headsets. And almost a decade after Apple forced the entire phone industry to give up on headphone jacks, Bluetooth headphones havent quite been able to replicate the functionality besides on a small set of unpopular smartphones.Google, however, intends to finally fix this with a feature called Audio Sharing, which will cast the audio from one pair of Bluetooth earbuds or headphones to another. This basically means that while one person can control the audio playback on their phone, others can join through what Google calls an Audio stream.The feature relies on Auracast, an audio broadcasting technology where people can tune in to specific broadcast channels much like radio through their Bluetooth headphones. The only requirement for Audio Sharing on Android to work is that the headphones must support Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) while the phones must support Auracast. As a result, it will work only on Pixel 8 and newer Google devices (but not Pixel 8a). For other Android devices, we will have to wait which manufacturers implement support.Folks at Android Authority were able to activate the functionality and give us a glimpse of the interface, though we dont have it at our end yet.In addition to earphones, people with certain other compatible devices, such as hearing aids, will also be able to join audio streams. But, this will come at the cost of reduced audio quality.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsMost smartphones at least those running Android feature displays with refresh rates beyond 60Hz. But with refresh rates that go up to 120Hz, 144Hz, and sometimes even 165Hz, battery consumption becomes a big issue. Another disadvantage is that not all apps run at the highest rates, which can cause frame tearing or jitters in the interface a term that is usually called jank.Some high-end Android devices bypass this limitation by using LTPO displays that support variable refresh rates, or multiple variable steps. For instance, a high-end from 2025 would support refresh rate values such as 1Hz, 10Hz, 24Hz, 30Hz, 48Hz, 60Hz, 72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz. The display uses a refresh rate that is closest to the content that is being displayed on the screen. That, of course, does not apply to less premium phones which typically only support fewer values, such as 30Hz, 60Hz, and 120Hz.Even with the most expensive devices, the decision of which refresh rate to pick depends on the content played on the screen, which can lead to delay, albeit by a few milliseconds. Secondly, most displays are tuned to run different refresh rates at different display color modes based on how they were calibrated.To solve this, Google is looking at PC gaming monitors and adding what it calls Adaptive refresh rate deeper in the Android framework. Although the feature was first introduced in Android 15, it will become more mainstream in Android 16. The deeper integration means a display can switch between refresh rates more seamless without changing display color modes and allows more apps to take advantage.In addition to reducing jank, adaptive refresh rate should also improve battery life on phones, allowing displays to work at low refresh rates unless necessary.Tushar Mehta / Digital TrendsOver the years, Android OEMs have advertised iPhone-like crisp haptic feedback and vibrations. Brands like OnePlus have even been able to achieve it with alarms and ringtones on flagship devices. But beyond that and a handful of games that claim to support 4D vibration, the topic has largely been ignored.So, with Android 16, Google is adding richer controls for developers to integrate in their apps where they can assign different vibration patterns to different actions. Google says the new haptic APIs will allow developers define the amplitude and frequency curves of a haptic effect while minimizing the effects of hardware (vibration motor) available on the devices.This should result in better tuned haptic feedback across a multitude of apps, though the actual adoption lies with developers.Tushar Mehta / Digital TrendsAmong the major user-facing changes coming to Android 16 is its mightily overhauled Easter egg, a tradition which Android has carried on since the beginning. With Android 16, the spaceship Easter egg that originated in Android 14 reaches a seemingly more fulfilling form.Much like Android 14 and 15, the Easter egg has a small game where you can float around in the space and find other celestial bodies. With Android 16, there are seemingly more celestial bodies to find and even land on. Google has also added an autopilot mode, so you can simply appreciate its efforts rather than cribbing about how awfully baffling the steering controls feel at first.When you land on a planet, a tiny victory flag is hoisted. And when the spaceship takes off, theres a blast-off animation where the vessel springs up from the surface where you had previously landed. If you were hoping to score a win, there arent any checkpoints not the ones we spotted.But unlike any previous generations, you can minimize the Easter egg and jump back into action later by tapping the persistent notification.Tushar Mehta / Digital TrendsAs mentioned above, this floating notification is meant to exemplify the utility of the Live updates feature we discussed above. It displays your progress en route to your next destination, showing the remaining distance and ETA. However, you will have to start afresh if you swipe the notification away.Video hue and color temperature settings in Android 16. GoogleGoogle is making several under-the-hood changes to camera algorithms in Android, and the benefit may not be limited just to its own Pixel lineup.First, it is bringing Hybrid exposure, which will allow you to specifically illuminate or darken parts of a photo while letting auto-exposure take care of the rest of the frame. Apps will have control that combine ISO with auto-exposure or exposure time and auto-exposure, allowing greater flexibility on the amount of light in the image. And these features will not just be limited to the Camera app on your phone but also extend to apps such as Instagram and Snapchat.Second, video recording apps will have finer controls over hue and color temperatures separately while recording videos instead of just playing with white balance. This will allow for video recording with more accurate colors.Third, Google is also allowing third-paty apps such as Instagram and Snapchat to make use of the phones inbuilt night modes for better low-light photos.Lastly, there are improvements to motion photos and will allow HEIC format photos to retain their HDR metadata through UltraHDR support.Video recording on Android 16 is getting yet another boost in the form of added support for APV 422-10 Profile. APV or Advanced Professional Video is a codec that supports 10-bit encoding and video bitrates up to 2Gbps for perceptually lossless video quality while consuming 20% less space than other professional video codecs like HEVC.Google has opened up support to store your health records and make them readable to other apps. You can store medical records in FHIR format and then make them accessible to other apps using Health Connect a system app that lets you share fitness and activity related data across apps.That means you may receive your digital health records from one app say the one your hospital uses and share them with another app, such as a diagnostics app or one that may be used to predict cancer.Best BuyAndroid 16 brings functionality where volumes of hearing aids with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) will be automatically adjusted based on the ambient noise levels. This means the volume on hearing aids will automatically decrease in loud situations or increase when its quiet.In addition, Android 16 will also be able to switch the input source between the microphone on the hearing aids and the phone during voice calls. This will be handy in noisy environments when hearing aids microphones may not hear sufficiently.Samsung DeX Nadeem Sarwar / Digital TrendsFor a few generations of Android, Google has been brewing a native Desktop mode or a Chrome OS-like interface that will be projected onto a bigger screen when you connect your phone. Samsung already does this with DeX, but Google wants to make it standard across all phones.While there have been significant advancements this year, including a screen recording feature exclusively for the external monitor, to suggest Google may finally release it, this doesnt seem to be the case. We hope to see more developments in this regard over the coming months leading up to Android 17s developer preview, which might come later this year. But we wouldnt be surprised if Google decides to give us a glimpse of it during Google I/O in May this year.Editors Recommendations

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