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Stearns & Foster offers five mattresses. Let's discuss the differences between the beds and decide which one's right for you.

With some of the best headphones in recent years available for just $219, why pay more?

The long, cold winter days of January are meant for shutting out the world, and to properly do so, you need a great pair of headphones. Fortunately, Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones are currently on sale for £300, down from $400 — a 25 percent discount. If you've considered them in the past, now is the time to pick up a pair: Our favorite wireless headphones are about $30 less than their typical sale price and have very rarely dropped lower. The only slight caveat of this deal: It's only available on the classic Black Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

We have been rightfully obsessed with Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones since they first came on the scene in May 2022. They earned a 95 in our review thanks to features like their 30-hour battery life and improved noise canceling with double the number of processors and microphones for ANC compared to its predecessor, the M4.  

The WH-1000XM5's sound quality has improved with the help of new 30mm carbon drivers, providing more clarity and a punchier bass. Even using the DSEE extreme has almost no impact on the condition of what comes through the speakers. Sony also cut the headphone's weight by a minimal 0.14 ounces, yet it has a much lighter feel and better weight distribution overall. Even the synthetic leather ear cushions are snug and comfortable.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-wh-1000xm5-anc-headphones-are-just-300-right-now-132545294.html?src=rss

Smart plugs are key members of any connected home setup. They add smarts to otherwise “dumb” devices like lamps, coffee makers, fans and anything else with a simple on/off switch. Once connected, you can set a schedule to have a lamp flick on just before sunset, or power on your humidifier an hour before bedtime. You can also program routines, like having all lights go out when you say goodnight to Alexa. But as we’ve learned in our tests, some are better than others at maintaining connectivity and working with a variety of voice assistants, and some are complicated to set up. Based on months of testing, these are our top picks for the best smart plugs worth your money.

What to consider when buying a smart plug

Before you buy one, it helps to know what a smart plug can and can’t do. They work best with things that have an on/off switch, making them great for lamps and other lights. If you want a plug-in fan to move some air around before you get home, a smart plug can help. You can load a basic coffee maker with grounds and water the night before and wake up to a fresh pot in the morning. And instead of an air purifier running all day, you could set it to just run when you’re away. But any device that needs to be programmed further, or requires a stand-by mode, isn’t ideal.

Setup and use

Adding a smart plug to your home is relatively simple. You’ll use the manufacturer’s app to initially connect, after which you can add the plug to a compatible smart home ecosystem. Both the brand’s app and your smart home app will let you name the plug, set schedules and program “routines” which control multiple smart devices at once. But as you can guess, a manufacturer’s app only lets you control products from that brand. If you want to operate a plug from TP-Link’s Kasa, a bulb from GE’s Cync and a camera from Wyze, you’ll need to use a smart home platform, which means you’ll need to consider compatibility.

Compatibility

Smart home devices connect through wireless protocols, often using more than one to communicate with your phone, smart speaker, router and in some cases, one another. The majority of smart plugs use Wi-Fi, but some have recently incorporated Matter, a relatively new wireless standard intended to solve compatibility issues between different brands and manufacturers, while also improving security and reliability.

More of these smart plugs are coming to market and, for now, most Matter devices work via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a low-power mesh network called Thread. Matter requires a controller that stays at home, like a hub or smart speaker, to manage things when you’re out and about.

As for Bluetooth, most plugs, including all Matter plugs, use the short-range protocol to get the device set up for the first time. Some can continue to run on Bluetooth in the absence of another option, but the connection isn’t as reliable and you won’t be able to control the plug when you’re away from home, or perhaps even just on the other side of the apartment.

Because Matter is relatively new, it may be easier to consider the manufacturer’s system you’d use the most. There are four major “branded” smart home platforms: Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, Apple’s HomeKit and Samsung’s SmartThings. The first two work with the widest range of brands and are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. HomeKit not only limits app access to Apple devices, but it’s also compatible with fewer plugs. You can also turn to open-source software like Home Assistant or go with the larger functionality of IFTTT if you want to, say, have your lights turn off when your Uber arrives. For the purposes of our testing, we stuck with the four big players. Nearly every plug we looked at clearly stated which platforms it works with, both on the packaging and retail product pages.

Of course, there’s no rule that says you have to stick with one home assistant. You might have an Echo Dot in the basement, a HomePod in the living room and a Google Nest Mini in the kitchen, each controlling their compatible devices. You only need to pair up the right smart home platform with the right device (and then just remember which speaker controls what).

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget Hubs and smart plugs

All of our top picks recommended here don’t require a hub and connect directly to your home’s Wi-Fi router. That means if you already have wireless internet and a smartphone or tablet, you can quite literally plug and play. The exception is Apple’s HomeKit. If you want to pair up a compatible plug with that platform, you’ll need a HomePod speaker, Apple TV or an iPad that stays in your home to control the plugs when you’re away.

Some smart plugs require a hub regardless of which platform you use. For our guide, we focused on the simplicity (and lower cost) of options that work on their own, but hub-dependent devices may make sense in certain situations. Some companies, like Aqara for example, make a vast range of smart home products, adding automatic shades, window sensors, smart locks and air quality monitors to the more traditional cameras and plugs. If you’re going all-in on one brand and plan to get a plethora of connected devices, a hub can keep your Wi-Fi network from getting too crowded and provide a more seamless setup with reliable connectivity.

We tested the Aqara plug and hub and, while we found the connectivity was good and the proprietary app to be helpfully configurable, it’s tough to recommend the nearly $100 combo to anyone who isn’t planning to get a complete Aqara smart home setup.

Sharing

Once a plug is set up with your platform and voice assistant of choice, anyone can control the plug just by talking. If someone else wants to control things with their phone, things get more complicated. Google makes it easiest, allowing you to invite another person just by tapping the + button within the Home app. Whomever you invite will have full access to your connected devices – including cameras – so this is only for people you trust the most.

HomeKit makes it similarly easy to grant app access to someone else, but as with most things Apple, it only works for other iOS users. Amazon only allows you to share access to your Echo, not your connected home devices.

Many smart plug manufacturers allow you to share control through their app by inviting another person via email. But this only grants access to devices of that brand. Hopefully as Matter expands, multi-admin features will become more widespread.

How we tested the best smart plugs

Before we decided which smart plugs to test, we considered brands Engadget staffers have had the best experiences with, both in review capacity and personally. We also checked out other online reviews. We then looked at factors like price, compatibility and relative popularity. I got ahold of ten indoor smart plugs and four outdoor versions from eight manufacturers.

I set up each one using its proprietary app, then added it to all compatible smart home platforms. Plugging in a cadre of lamps and string lights, I tested the plugs using an iPhone 11, Galaxy S10e, Echo Dot, HomePod mini and Nest Mini. I accessed the plugs via the apps and through voice commands and controlled them in my home and away from it. I programmed schedules and routines and moved the plugs to different outlets, including ones in the basement to gauge range. For the outdoor devices, I plugged them into an outlet in the garage (approximately 85 feet from my Wi-Fi router) and an outlet attached to the back of the house.

Here’s every smart plug tested before settling on our top picks:

• Amazon Smart Plug

• Emporia Smart Outlet*

• GE Cync Indoor

• Wyze Plug

• Roku Indoor Smart Plug SE

• Belkin Wemo smart plug with Thread

• TP-Link Kasa EP25

• TP-Link Kasa Ultra Mini EP10

• Meross Wi-Fi Dual

• TP-Link Kasa KP125M (Matter)

• Eve Energy (Matter)

• Aqara Smart Plug (hub required)

• AmazonBasics Outdoor Smart Plug (outdoor)

• Wyze Plug Outdoor (outdoor)

• TP-Link Kasa Outdoor EP40A (outdoor)

• TP-LINK Outdoor Dimmer KP405 (outdoor)

*Emporia issued a recall on its smart plugs purchased before August 1, 2023 due to a potential fire risk, though no incidents were reported. The plugs have since been updated to resolve the issue and are back on sale. We’ll be testing the revised version for an upcoming update to this guide.  

Honorable mentions GE Cync Indoor

My main concern with the Cync plug is the way the scheduling works within the proprietary app. Instead of programming when an outlet should turn on, you tell it when it should turn off. Despite my best efforts, I could not figure out how to program the Cync-connected lamp to come on at sunset, as I did with every other plug. Other than that, the app is very elegant, set up is easy and reliability is spot on. It only works with Alexa and Google Home, not HomeKit or SmartThings, but at $15, it’s a couple bucks cheaper than the Wyze plug that has the same compatibility.

The best outdoor smart plugs

Most people will likely use outdoor plugs for two things: patio lighting and holiday string lights. The devices are designed for the outdoors with ingress protection rating of IP64 or higher, which means they’re impervious to dust and can handle splashing water from rain and sprinklers. They have a longer Wi-Fi range than indoor plugs, for obvious reasons, and many have dual outlets, with individual control over each one.

Setup is the same as for indoor plugs: you’ll use your phone to help the plug find your Wi-Fi using its proprietary app. The only tricky part is getting your phone within Bluetooth range of the plug (which it uses to initialize setup) and in Wi-Fi range at the same time. I had to awkwardly stand at a triangulated point in the middle of my driveway to get things communicating properly. Once set up, the plugs will communicate using your router for voice and app control and your phone needn’t be anywhere near the plug.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-smart-plug-131542429.html?src=rss

From beta updates to hidden features, here's what to know about iOS 17.

Tractors are getting more smarts to help keep an eye on crops and help automate the work when labor in in short supply — while still keeping a farmer in control. CNET's Bridget Carey gets a demo of John Deere's tech at CES 2024.

You don't have to go round and round when choosing an internet provider. CNET helps you compare broadband prices, plans and speeds in Round Rock.

Nanoleaf, the company best known for its modular wall lighting tiles, is now moving outside your house. As part of CES 2024's avalanche of smart home news, the company unveiled its first exterior lights designed to bring extra visibility to your home. It also announced the Orchestrator app that creates a light show synced up to your playlists and songs. 

The new Outdoor String Lights and Permanent Outdoor Lights are the company's first exterior lighting products, bringing "the magic of dynamic gradients and warm ambience to your home's exterior spaces, lighting up patio areas, backyards and gardens all year round," the company said. 

Nanoleaf also announced a new Smart Multicolor Lightstrip for indoor use. All the new panels work with the Nanoleaf app and integrate with the company's other products in terms of controls and customizations. You can also group products together to schedule automations using Matter hubs "and paint your own animations with multiple colors... for a stunning gradient effect," Nanoleaf said. The new products are set to arrive in Spring 2024, with pricing to be revealed at a later date.

Nanoleaf

The Orchestrator software, meanwhile, can create color and light shows using real-time music analysis and beat detection. It supposedly goes beyond existing music visualizers that simply pick up audio within a space by connecting directly to your computer's sound source to provide the "most accurate real-time audio-visual experience," the company said. In other words, you'll get light shows synced up perfectly to your preferred music apps, including playlists and songs. 

Orchestrator, set to arrive in Spring 2024, works via the Nanoleaf desktop app and is compatible with any music streaming platform or audio player. The company also announced that its Skylight Smart Modular Ceiling Light announced last year is now on pre-order at $250 for the Smarter Kit (3 panels), and $70 for each expansion pack (1 panel).

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nanoleaf-does-smart-outdoor-lights-now-123522915.html?src=rss

It’s all about changing your money mindset.

Rated TV-MA, the edgy new show intends to bring fury and force.

Several benchmark refinance rates increased this week, but rates should start trending down in the coming months.

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Getting into your home could get a lot more hands-free shortly. Lockly, a company with a name that gives away its focus on smart locks, unveiled a face recognition lock at CES 2024. The lock, known as Visage, only needs to scan your face in order to unlock the door — no fingerprint, keys or other devices required.

Lockly's Visage works with Wi-Fi and the Matter smart home standard to seamlessly integrate into your existing smart home — Matter's official certification is still pending. Visage uses a pair of 2MP-resolution infrared sensors to detect your face within a range of 2.6 feet from the device. It can store up to 100 profiles (how you would use that many unless it's an AirBnB is hard to fathom) and should unlock the door within a second and a half.

While Visage can operate with your face alone, it's also equipped with a 3D biometric fingerprint reader and is compatible with Apple's Home Key, iPhone and Watch. In fact, it's the first in Lockly's Zeno series, which focuses on Apple device integration. Visage should also work with Apple Home, along with technology like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Visage also uses existing Lockly technology like Air Transfer and the PIN Genie. Visage should launch this summer for the price of $350.

Lockly also announced the $80 Matter Link Hub at CES 2024 after claiming at last year's event that the device was coming. It should tell you who opened the Visage lock and allow you also to manage older Lockly devices from your Apple Home. Lockly plans to release the Matter Link Hub sometime this year.

Lockly

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/locklys-visage-smart-lock-can-unlock-doors-by-scanning-your-face-112539587.html?src=rss

As it often does in Las Vegas, Sony focused its CES 2024 keynote on some of the company's more esoteric products. To start with, it rolled out the Afeela electric car first introduced last year at CES, but did it with some gaming panache by driving it using a PlayStation DualSense controller. Otherwise, it mostly talked about how the in-vehicle experience is getting smarter thanks to our old friend, artificial intelligence (AI). 

Sony also unveiled something else we weren't expecting, namely a new mixed reality headset. Unlike the PlayStation VR 2 consumer model, though, this one is designed for "spatial content creation," so it's designed more for developers, creators and artists than users. 

It's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip (so it doesn't need to be tethered to a computer) and comes with a controller wand and a smaller ring-sized peripheral. It also sports dual 4K OLEDS microdisplays for a "crisp viewing experience" and allows for "user and space tracking" for mixed reality experiences. There's no word on price, but we should know more when it goes on sale later in 2024. 

The company also discussed its latest offerings from Sony Pictures entertainment, some PlayStation stats and more. The press conference went on for 46 minutes, but we've cut it down to just six so you can get the gist as quickly as possible.  

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-sonys-ces-2024-keynote-in-under-6-minutes-110037656.html?src=rss

They're big, they're bright, they're... transparent? Here are the most noteworthy televisions announced at the show.

OpenAI and its biggest backer, Microsoft, are facing several lawsuits accusing them of using other people's copyrighted works without permission to train the former's large language models (LLMs). And based on what OpenAI told the House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee, we might see more lawsuits against the companies in the future. It would be "impossible to train today's leading AI models without using copyrighted materials," OpenAI wrote in its written evidence (PDF) submission for the committee's inquiry into LLMs, as first reported by the The Guardian.

The company explained that it's because copyright today "covers virtually every sort of human expression — including blog posts, photographs, forum posts, scraps of software code, and government documents." It added that "[l]imiting training data to public domain books and drawings created more than a century ago might yield an interesting experiment, but would not provide AI systems that meet the needs of today's citizens." OpenAI also insisted that it complies with copyright laws when it trains its models. In a new post on its blog made in response to the The New York Times' lawsuit, it said the use of publicly available internet materials to train AI falls under fair use doctrine. 

It admitted, however, that there is "still work to be done to support and empower creators." The company talked about the ways it's allowing publishers to block the GPTBot web crawler from being able to access their websites. It also said that it's developing additional mechanisms allowing rightsholders to opt out of training and that it's engaging with them to find mutually beneficial agreements. 

In some of the lawsuits filed against OpenAI and Microsoft, the plaintiffs accuse the companies of refusing to pay authors for their work while building a billion-dollar industry and enjoying enormous financial gain from copyrighted materials. The more recent case filed by a couple of non-fiction authors argued that the companies could've explored alternative financing options, such as profit sharing, but have "decided to steal" instead.

OpenAI didn't address those particular lawsuits, but it did provide a direct answer to The New York Times' complaint that accuses it of using its published news articles without permission. The publication isn't telling the full story, it said. It was already negotiating with The Times regarding a "high-value partnership" that would give it access to the publication's reporting. The two parties were apparently still in touch until December 19, and OpenAI only found out about the lawsuit on December by reading about it on The Times.

In the complaint filed by the newspaper, it cited instances of ChatGPT providing users with "near-verbatim excerpts" from paywalled articles. OpenAI accused the publication of intentionally manipulating prompts, such as including lengthy excerpts of articles in its interaction with the chatbot to get it to regurgitate content. It's also accusing The Times of cherry picking examples from many attempts. OpenAI said the lawsuit filed by The Times has no merit, but it's still hopeful for a "constructive partnership" with the publication. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-admits-its-impossible-to-train-generative-ai-without-copyrighted-materials-103311496.html?src=rss

2024's tax season begins on January 29. If you want to get a head start on filing this year, an online IRS account could help you out.

The IRS' W-2 is the primary tax form for most working Americans. But what should you do if you don't receive one?

With Apple's Vision Pro VR/AR headset set to go on sale on February 2, we're starting to see more details about the app requirements. For example, the company has released guidelines for visionOS developers planning to release apps and there's one strange caveat. It would rather developers don't use the terms AR and VR when referring to Vision Pro apps, but rather call them "spatial computing apps," according to the developer page spotted by 9to5Mac. 

"Spatial computing: Refer to your app as a spatial computing app. Don’t describe your app experience as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), or mixed reality (MR)," the company states. The headset itself should be called "Apple Vision Pro" with three uppercase words, while "visionOS begins with a lowercase v, even when it’s the first word in a sentence." The terms should never be translated or transliterated, Apple added. 

Given that they're definitely going to be AR and VR apps built for an AR/VR headset, Apple may want to differentiate its own offerings so that consumers don't confound apps for other VR/AR headsets, particularly Meta's Quest 3, with its own. At the same time, Apple has used those terms extensively to describe the headset, with CEO Tim Cook calling Vision Pro an "entirely new AR platform" when it launched at WWDC 2023. 

In the same document, Apple asked developers to indicate if their AR/VR, er, spatial computing apps contain movements like quick turns or sudden changes in camera perspective. That way, the product page will show a badge to warn users. It also described the use of privacy labels and game controllers. As mentioned, the Apple Vision Pro headset arrives on February 2 for $3,495 — a price likely to attract only highly motivated buyers. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-tells-developers-not-to-call-their-ar-and-vr-apps-ar-or-vr-apps-085136127.html?src=rss

Samsung's Flex In & Out Flip concept is like a Galaxy Z Flip that you can fold in both directions.