We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.During Black Friday sales, I'm always finding sales on cool new stuff that I don't already havebut I'm especially excited when I see there's a sale on something I do have, because that means I get to share the wealth. In this case, I'm excited to say that my favorite vacuum, the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce, is on sale for the shopping holiday. Actually, no. It's not my favorite vacuum; it's more than that. This thing is a vacuum and a mop. It's extremely cool, versatile, space-saving, and functional. The Bissel CrossWave OmniForce BISSELL CrossWave OmniForce Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner $229.99 at Amazon $379.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $229.99 at Amazon $379.99 Save $150.00 As I've mentioned before, I replaced my trusty (and very beloved) Bissell Featherweight Stick with the CrossWave OmniFore a few months ago. To be clear, I loved the Featherweight Stick. It's around $30 and beat the hell out of the vacuum I was using before that. I loved it so much, actually, that when I mentioned it in a different review earlier this year, Bissell sent me the CrossWave OmniForce to test out. It normally retails for $379.99, which is out of my price range, so while I was extremely grateful for this personal come-up, I recommended it to you all with the caveat that it's a little spendy. It's worth it, but spendy! Until today, anyway. For Black Friday, this thing is almost 40% off. Why I love the Bissell vacuum/mop comboI'm a big fan of this device because it allowed me to toss out my old vacuum and mop. It has a hefty suction force that yanks the dirt out of my rugs with almost alarming ease. It maintains a solid charge long enough for me to clean my whole apartment, so I'm not tethered to a cord. You can either use the vacuum on its own or go dual mode, vacuuming and mopping all at once. It has two tanks that keep clean and dirty water separate and cleans its own brush roll so dust and debris are shifted over into the dirty tank. It's a little heavier than what I was used to, but that's kind of the point; it's an all-in-one deal and it needs to be sturdier to pack its suction punch. I haven't run into any issues other than that, even with my propensity for buying dirt-cheap rugs that should, realistically, fall apart under any kind of pressure. Maybe that says more about the quality of my $22 rug, but I'm always impressed when it survives another round with the Bissell. In general, I am a Bissell brand loyalist. The devices are less expensive than other fancy vacuums on the market, but every Bissell I've owned or used has worked really well. If you're interested in everything the brand has to offer and want a nice discount, check out their other Black Friday deals. The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case $153.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) $21.99 (List Price $49.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (3-Pack) $99.99 (List Price $259.99) Dell Inspiron 15 3535 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop $449.99 (List Price $699.99) Seagate Portable 4TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive $99.90 (List Price $124.99) Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $199.00 (List Price $349.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team

Not all apps are created equal. For every incredible, must-have app on the Play Store, there are dozens of low-effort, ad-ridden, useless options as well. There's a lot you can do yourself to try to avoid these shovelware apps as you peruse the Play Store: Pay attention to reviews, scan the provided screenshots, investigate the privacy policy, and absorb the app's overall "vibe." This is not foolproof, however. No matter who you are, eventually, you download an app you think is interesting, only to open it and find another program you have to delete.Google may soon warn you about useless appsAs it happens, this responsibility might not be all on you going forward. Android Authority recently investigated version 43.7.19-31 of the Play Store app, and found something interesting: Google might soon tip you off whenever it thinks an app is a poor choice. The site found three messages Google is working on sharing with users whenever it detects one of these mediocre apps:This app is frequently uninstalled compared to similar apps on Play.Play has limited user data about this app.This app has few active users compared to others on Play.As you can tell from the messages themselves, Google is working off of a few pieces of evidence here: The company is looking at how many uninstalls the app has, against other apps in this particular category; the amount of user data available for the app (or lack thereof); and how many active users this app has when compared to others like it. According to Android Authority, these messages won't appear as alerts when you tap on the Play Store page for any given bad app. Instead, the message will be displayed inline with the rest of the details about that app. So, as you browse the page, you'll see a summary of the app from the developer, the app's safety, ratings and reviews for the app, and, oh, a tag that subtly suggests this app isn't worth your time at all.Because these metrics aren't necessarily smoking guns that the app is trash, it makes sense Google wouldn't blast these alerts whenever people access the app's page. Instead, it's a helpful warning for potential users to keep an eye out before taking the plunge on an appuseful for avoiding wasted time, but also critical for avoiding wasted money, if the app charges a fee.This wouldn't be Google's first app detection featureNone of this is currently liveAndroid Authority discovered these messages within the code of this version of the Play Store, not within the actual Play Store pages themselves. It's possible Google might never actually take off with this feature, although there's precedent to think they might: The company recently rolled out live threat detection for Google Play Protect, a feature that looks for potentially malicious apps on your phone. If detected, the system pings you about the suspected app, so you can evaluate whether or not it actually seems like a threat.Whether it's for identifying malware, or to simply save you from a useless app, I'm all for Google investing resources into these types of warnings for users. Let's hope other players in big tech follow suit. The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case $153.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) $21.99 (List Price $49.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (3-Pack) $99.99 (List Price $259.99) Dell Inspiron 15 3535 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop $449.99 (List Price $699.99) Seagate Portable 4TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive $99.90 (List Price $124.99) Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $199.00 (List Price $349.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team

While you could say the Bluetooth earbuds space is thriving, you could also say the amount of variety in the market can make it confusing to decide which pair will be the best Bluetooth earbuds for you. There are plenty of high-quality options out there, with solid active noise cancellation (ANC) like the AirPods Pro 2, sound quality and designs, so for many, the decision will come down to unique features that big companies like Sony, Bose, Apple and Samsung put in their products.I've tested and reviewed dozens of sets of earbuds a year for Engadget, constantly pitting new models against the previous best across all price ranges to keep this list of the best true wireless earbuds up to date. This guide explains why my current selections for the best wireless earbuds made the cut, and offers some shopping advice in terms of everything you need to know before choosing the best true wireless earbuds for your needs.If earbuds arent your jam, however, you can check out our best headphones buying guide, covering our favorite wireless, over-ear headphones, noise-canceling headphones and more. Table of contents Best wireless earbuds of 2024 What to look for in wireless earbuds How we test wireless earbuds Other wireless earbuds we tested Wireless earbuds FAQs Best wireless earbuds What to look for in wireless earbuds When it comes to shopping for earphones, the first thing to consider is design or wear style. Do you prefer a semi-open fit like AirPods or do you want something that completely closes off your ears? If youre shopping for earbuds with active noise cancellation, you'll want the latter, but a case can be made for the former if you want to wear them all day or frequent places where you need to be tuned in to the ambient sounds. The overall shape of earbuds can determine whether you get a comfortable fit, so can the size and weight, so youll want to consider all that before deciding. And remember: audio companies arent perfect, so despite lots of research, the earbud shape they decided on may not fit you well. Dont be afraid to return ill-fitting earbuds for something thats more comfortable. As wireless earbuds have become the norm, theyre now more reliable for basic things like consistent Bluetooth connectivity. Companies are still in a race to pack as much as they can into increasingly smaller designs. This typically means a longer list of features on the more premium sets of earbuds with basic functionality on the cheapest models. Carefully consider what you cant live without when selecting your next earbuds, and make sure key items like automatic pausing and multipoint connectivity are on the spec sheet. Youll also want to investigate the volume and touch controls as youll often have to sacrifice access to something else to make that adjustment via on-board taps or swipes. Some earbuds even offer app settings to tweak the audio profiles or firmware updates to improve performance over time. For those in the Apple ecosystem, features like auto-pairing with devices, especially with AirPods Pro 2, can be an added advantage, while Android users may want to look for models that offer similar cross-device functionality. When it comes to battery life, the average set of earbuds lasts about five hours on a single charge. You can find sets that last longer, but this is likely enough to get you through a work day if youre docking the buds during lunch or the occasional meeting. Youll want to check on how many extra charges are available via the case and if it supports wireless charging. Companies will also make lofty claims about call quality on wireless earbuds. Despite lots of promises, the reality is most earbuds still leave you sounding like youre on speakerphone. There are some sets that deliver, but dont get your hopes up unless reviews confirm the claims. Sound can be subjective, so we recommend trying before you buy if at all possible. This is especially true if you're an audiophile. We understand this isnt easy when most of us do a lot of shopping online, but trying on a set of earbuds and listening to them for a few minutes can save you from an expensive case of buyer's remorse. If a store doesnt allow a quick demo, most retailers have return policies that will let you take earbuds back you dont like. Of course, you have to be willing to temporarily part with funds in order to do this. We also recommend paying attention to things like Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos, 360 Reality Audio and other immersive formats. Not all earbuds support them, so youll want to make sure a perspective pair does if that sort of thing excites you, especially if you plan to use them for playback of high-quality audio. How we test wireless Bluetooth earbuds The primary way we test earbuds is to wear them as much as possible. We prefer to do this over a one- to two-week period, but sometimes embargoes dont allow it. During this time, we listen to a mix of music and podcasts, while also using the earbuds to take both voice and video calls. Since battery life for earbuds is typically less than a full day, we drain the battery with looping music and the volume set at a comfortable level (usually around 75 percent). To judge audio quality, we listen to a range of genres, noting any differences in the sound profile across the styles. We also test at both low and high volumes to check for consistency in the tuning. To assess call quality, well record audio samples with the earbuds microphones as well as have third parties call us. When it comes to features, we do a thorough review of companion apps, testing each feature as we work through the software. Any holdovers from previous models are double checked for improvements or regression. If the earbuds were testing are an updated version of a previous model, well spend time getting reacquainted with the older buds. Ditto for the closest competition for each new set of earbuds that we review. Other wireless Bluetooth earbuds we tested Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 The Galaxy Buds 3 combine ANC with an open-type design, which renders the noise-blocking abilities of the earbuds mostly useless. Still, theres great low-end tone with ample bass when a track demands it. There are also lots of handy features, most of which require a Samsung phone. But at this price, there are better options from Google, Beats and Sony Sennheiser Momentum Sport I really like the overall shape of the Momentum Sport earbuds. Theyre more comfortable than the Momentum True Wireless 4 and fit in my ears better. Whats more, the body temperature and heart rate sensors work well, sending those stats to a variety of apps. However, that sport-tracking feature works best with Polars app and devices, so theres that consideration. Also, the audio quality and ANC performance isnt as good as the MTW4, and these earbuds are pricey. Beats Solo Buds Theres a lot to like about the Solo Buds for $80. For me, the primary perk is theyre very comfortable to wear for long periods of time thanks to some thoughtful design considerations. You only get the basics here in terms of features and, as expected, the overall sound quality isnt as good as the pricier models in the Beats lineup. You will get 18 hours of battery life though, since the company nixed the battery in the case and beefed up the listening time in the buds themselves. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds Bose created something very unique for this set of earbuds that allows you to stay in-tune with the world while listening to audio content. The clip-on design is very comfortable, but sound quality suffers due to the open-type fit, especially when it comes to bass and spatial audio. Audio-Technica ATH-TWX7 These stick buds have a compact design thats comfortable to wear and the warm sound profile is great at times. However, overall audio performance is inconsistent and theres no automatic pausing. Master & Dynamic MW09 Retooled audio, better ambient sound mode and reliable multipoint Bluetooth are the best things the MW09 has to offer. Theyre expensive though, and you can find better ANC performance elsewhere. Beats Studio Buds + Updates to sound, ANC and battery life top the spec sheet here, and the new clear color option has some throwback energy I love. But there are some basic features missing, and Beats doesnt come close to Apples natural audio quality in transparency mode. JBL Tour Pro 2 These earbuds are feature-packed, including a touchscreen smart case. They arent the most consistent in terms of overall performance though, and Im not convinced that case provides a lot of utility just yet. Wireless earbud FAQs What is considered good battery life for true wireless earbuds? Most wireless earbuds will last five hours on a single charge, at the least. You can find some pairs that have even better battery life, lasting between six and eight hours before they need more juice. All of the best wireless earbuds come with a charging case, which will provide additional hours of battery life but you'll have to return each bud to the case in order to charge them up. Is sound quality better on headphones or earbuds? Comparing sound quality on earbuds and headphones is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. There are a lot of variables to consider and the differences in components make a direct comparison difficult. Personally, I prefer the audio quality from over-ear headphones, but I can tell you the sound from earbuds like Sennheisers Momentum True Wireless 3 is also outstanding. Which wireless earbuds have the longest battery life? With new models coming out all the time, tracking the hours of battery life for each this can be difficult to keep tabs on. The longest-lasting earbuds weve reviewed are Audio-Technicas ATH-CKS5TW. The company states they last 15 hours, but the app was still showing 40 percent at that mark during our tests. The only downside is these earbuds debuted in 2019 and both technology and features have improved since. In terms of current models, Master & Dynamics MW08 offers 12 hours of use on a charge with ANC off (10 with ANC on) and JBL has multiple options with 10-hour batteries. What wireless earbuds are waterproof? There are plenty of options these days when it comes to increased water resistance. To determine the level of protection, youll want to look for an IP (ingress protection) rating. The first number indicates intrusion protection from things like dust. The second number is the level of moisture protection and youll want to make sure that figure is 7 or higher. At this water-resistance rating, earbuds can withstand full immersion for up to 30 minutes in depths up to one meter (3.28 feet). If either of the IP numbers is an X, that means it doesnt have any special protection. For example, a pair of wireless earbuds that are IPX7 wouldnt be built to avoid dust intrusion, but they would be ok if you dropped them in shallow water. Which earbuds stay in ears the best? A secure fit can vary wildly from person to person. All of our ears are different, so audio companies are designing their products to fit the most people they can with a single shape. This is why AirPods will easily fall out for some but stay put for others. Design touches like wing tips or fins typically come on fitness models and those elements can help keep things in place. Youll likely just have to try earbuds on, and if they dont fit well return them. What wireless earbuds work with PS5? PlayStation 5 doesnt support Bluetooth audio without an adapter or dongle. Even Sonys own gaming headsets come with a transmitter that connects to the console. There are universal options that allow you to use any headphones, headset or earbuds with a PS5. Once you have one, plug it into a USB port on the console and pair your earbuds with it. Recent updates July 2024: Updated our list to include the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-wireless-earbuds-120058222.html?src=rss

Max isnt the only one of our favorite streaming services with a juicy Black Friday deal. From now until December 4, you can get two months of Paramount+ for $3 monthly. Formerly CBS All Access, the platform has original series like Star Trek: Discovery and a growing selection of sports content. The deal applies to the Paramount+ Essential (with ads, usually $8) or Paramount+ with Showtime (ad-free, usually $13) tiers. Although the latter is the better value during Black Friday, remember youll get charged standard pricing after the two months expire. So be sure to cancel in advance if you dont want to pay the full price after the promo ends. Paramount+ has originals like Star Trek: Discovery and Picard, Tulsa King (for the Sly Stalone fans) and Lioness. The platforms sports content includes the NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, European League and NWSL soccer matches. The deal only applies to new and former subscribers, so youre out of luck if you already pay for the service. Also, note that the sale only applies to monthly pricing, not annual subscriptions. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/paramount-black-friday-deal-get-a-two-month-subscription-with-showtime-for-6-203106884.html?src=rss

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San Francisco's Mayor-elect, Daniel Lurie, has begun tapping tech heavyweights and business leaders to help with his goal of overhauling the city's image.