Lyft on Tuesday unveiled a new membership plan: Lyft Pink. The ride-hailing company said the plan, which costs $19.99 a month, is ideal for people who take three or more rides a week. Lyft Pink offers a 15% savings on all car rides, complimentary bike and scooter rides, priority airport pickup, and surprise offers and …
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Avoid speed traps: Google Maps on iPhone finally gets Waze’s most controversial feature
Millions use Google Maps instead of the default Apple Maps every day on their iPhones ($500 at Best Buy) to estimate their commute, plan road trips or otherwise just bum around town. This week, Google finally pushed an update to the Google Maps iOS app that allows those users report road incidents — like car accidents, speed traps and other obstacles — right …
Read More »How to keep your devices charged during the PG&E power outage
California’s largest energy provider said it will continue cut power to customers across Northern and Central California this week because of heightened fire risk due to dry conditions and forecasts of high winds. PG&E’s planned blackouts may affect as many as 850,000 customers across 36 Northern and Central California counties. PG&E is cutting the power to avoid a repeat of …
Read More »Apple focused on the cameras for the iPhone 11 Pro. Now we find out if people cared
Two years ago, Apple pushed the price of its mobile phones to a thousand bucks with the iPhone X. In September, it made the case for its pricier phones by adding a wide-angle camera, night mode and better battery life. Apple even gave us the slow-motion selfie, which it calls a slofie. Apple likes the gimmick so much it’s trying …
Read More »Razer’s Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds aim to eliminate audio lag when gaming
Razer’s got a new set of wireless earbuds that it says will provide immersive audio for gaming, without annoying lag. The $99.99 Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds, released Tuesday, feature Bluetooth 5.0, touch controls and voice assistant compatibility, as well as being water- and sweat-resistant. But what’s likely to pique your interest is Gaming Mode, which Razer says reduces latency to …
Read More »The $400 JBL Link 500 smart speaker is on sale for $150
I don’t know if JBL is clearing out inventory or what, but in recent weeks the company has offered some damn good speaker deals. The latest: The JBL Link 500 smart speaker for $149.95 with promo code CNET500. It lists for $449.95, though it was $399.95 when CNET reviewed it. The best deal I’ve seen elsewhere: $249.95. Update: This deal is …
Read More »Razer Junglecat puts Joy
Attaching a game controller to your phone while on the go can be a clunky, annoying production, and many mobile games can feel nonresponsive, awkward or just impossible when you’re chronically fatfingered. Razer hopes to solve that problem with its new Junglecat, which provides Nintendo Switch Joy-Con-like controllers for Android phones. Initially, the $100 (£100, AU$168) gamepad will only work via …
Read More »PlayStation Vue is dead. These are the best alternatives
Are you a PlayStation Vue subscriber? Sorry to break it to you: Not anymore, you’re not. After trying (and failing) to find a buyer for the streaming-TV service, Sony abruptly announced plans to shutter Vue at the end of January 2020. That means you’ve got just about three months to decide on a replacement. Thankfully, there are plenty of options, …
Read More »Samsung Galaxy Book Flex and Ion laptops first with QLED displays, wireless charging touchpads
Samsung’s done with 2019 — at least as far as its laptop lineup is concerned. While we’re still waiting on the Qualcomm-powered Galaxy Book S to arrive (Samsung says it’s coming soon), the company announced its first two laptops coming in 2020: the two-in-one Galaxy Book Flex and clamshell Galaxy Book Ion. Both available in 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch sizes, the …
Read More »911 calls need vertical location accuracy, FCC’s Ajit Pai says
Location accuracy for apartments and offices needs to be improved so that first responders can locate 911 callers, US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Ajit Pai said Tuesday. Vertical — or z-axis — location accuracy fo within three meters would help when someone is calling from a multi-story building, Pai said. “Even if first responders know which building you’re in …
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