logo
India overtakes China in smartphone exports to the US.

India overtakes China in smartphone exports to the US.

The Vergea day ago
Posted Jul 29, 2025 at 6:26 AM UTC Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Thomas Ricker Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Thomas Ricker
Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Apple
Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All iPhone
Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News
Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Policy
Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.
See All Tech
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Buy Apple (AAPL) for its Innovation-Led Dividend Strength
Buy Apple (AAPL) for its Innovation-Led Dividend Strength

Yahoo

time17 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Buy Apple (AAPL) for its Innovation-Led Dividend Strength

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is included among the . A wide view of an Apple store, showing the range of products the company offers. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has been a major force in reshaping the consumer electronics industry through groundbreaking products and services such as the iPhone, iPad, iTunes, and the App Store. Earlier this year, the company revealed its largest investment commitment to date, announcing plans to spend over $500 billion in the United States over the next four years. This pledge continues Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s long-standing support for American innovation and high-tech manufacturing. It will fund a variety of initiatives focused on artificial intelligence, silicon engineering, and skill-building programs for both students and the workforce nationwide. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has a strong dividend policy. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, which it raised by 4% in May this year. This marked the company's 14th consecutive year of dividend growth, which makes AAPL one of the best innovative dividend stocks. As of July 28, the stock has a dividend yield of 0.49%. While we acknowledge the potential of AAPL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None.

iOS 26 updates for AirPods preview: Enhanced audio recording, camera remote and more
iOS 26 updates for AirPods preview: Enhanced audio recording, camera remote and more

Engadget

time18 minutes ago

  • Engadget

iOS 26 updates for AirPods preview: Enhanced audio recording, camera remote and more

Of all the new iOS 26 features that Apple previewed at WWDC in June, AirPods updates were only briefly mentioned. Studio-quality audio recording and improved call clarity got top billing, while the addition of a camera remote control was also quickly discussed. However, when the beta software arrived last week, it turned out there were actually more features than described at the event, making this a meatier update for Apple's recent AirPods than initially indicated. I've spent some time testing all of the new tools, so here's what you can expect when you decide to use them. All of these updates are available for AirPods that have the H2 chip. Those include AirPods 4 , AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2 . You'll have to download the public betas of both iOS 26 and the latest AirPods firmware to use these features. If you're not feeling adventurous, all of these items will arrive this fall when the final versions of Apple's OS updates roll out. That's likely to happen for iOS and AirPods in early September, around the time the new crop of iPhones debuts. Apple may have framed the voice quality improvements on its AirPods as a boost for creators, but I'd argue the upgrade will be a welcome change for all. Sure, people who create content will benefit considerably from what Apple calls 'studio-quality audio recording,' but the improved performance in noisy environments is something anyone will appreciate. The company hasn't offered much detail on exactly what it did to produce higher-quality audio, only describing the change in an initial press release as the result of a mix of the AirPods' H2 chip, beamforming microphones and computational audio. That last update is likely doing the heavy lifting here, assisted by Apple's audio chip, of course. I asked Apple for more specifics, but have yet to hear back. Improved audio recording is available across iPhones, iPads and Macs, working in apps like Camera, Voice Memos, Messages (for dictation), Webex and more. Apple also says there's upgraded vocal sound quality for calls, offering 'more natural vocal texture and clarity' for Phone, FaceTime and other CallKit-enabled apps. As the voice upgrades are the most notable new features, I was eager to test them, and have spent the last several weeks doing just that (via the developer beta). Billy Steele for Engadget If you're recording in a quiet room, you'll notice that enhanced texture and clarity Apple promised. In my samples captured in Voice Memos, there's not a huge difference between new and old firmware, but there is a noticeable one. The bigger improvement came when I moved to a noisy spot. Here, Apple dialed back its noise suppression in favor of voice clarity. While you'll hear the slight roar of background noise in my audio clip, I actually sound better overall. That's a trade I'll bet many users will gladly make over the highly processed, digital-sounding results AirPods used to give us in less-than-ideal surroundings. I also noticed that both of my samples with the new software were captured with a 48kHz sample rate. This isn't new for AirPods audio recording/quality per se, but before this update some of my clips were still 24kHz — like my noisy sample with the old firmware. It seems like Apple is now defaulting to 48kHz as part of the overall sound boost, but that's currently unclear and is something else I've asked the company for more info about. The less exciting, but equally handy update for AirPods that Apple announced at WWDC is the addition of a camera remote control. Since newer AirPods have either force sensors or touch controls on their stems, the company saw fit to let you use those to take a photo or start and stop video recording. All of these tasks are done with either one press or a press and hold (you select which one you prefer when you enable the camera remote function). For photos, you get a three-second countdown before your device snaps the picture. This gives you ample time to put your hand down after pressing the AirPods stem so you don't ruin the selfie. For video, there's no countdown, but there is a second or two delay before the recording starts. So, if you're quick about it, you can get your hand away from your ear before showtime. However, you'll still have to reach for an AirPod or your phone when the time comes to stop recording, so there will be some editing to do there. This all works well, but just remember you have to enable the camera remote feature as it's not activated by default after the firmware update. Most AirPods users have probably fallen asleep with one or both of the earbuds in their ears. Apple's update will add automatic pausing when you've dozed off to help you not miss much of your TV show or podcast you were watching or listening to. However, it's unclear how this works. All we know is it's a simple on-or-off switch, and it's disabled by default. Some have speculated that it uses sleep data from the Apple Watch, but that hasn't been confirmed. Since AirPods have accelerometers, it's possible the feature may rely on detecting movement, but I've asked for a firm answer on what's going on here. Another item on the list of AirPods updates is automatic switching for CarPlay. This is supposed to seamlessly transfer the audio to your car's infotainment system from the earbuds when your phone connects to your vehicle. Again, there hasn't been much discussion of this, and my attempts to trigger it were unsuccessful. That may be due to the fact that it requires wireless CarPlay, but I'm not seeing specific options for this in my AirPods settings. I'm waiting for more info from Apple on this feature too, and hopefully I'll have more details to add to my observations soon.

This week's 10 best Amazon deals: Apple, Shark, Greenworks and more
This week's 10 best Amazon deals: Apple, Shark, Greenworks and more

CNN

time19 minutes ago

  • CNN

This week's 10 best Amazon deals: Apple, Shark, Greenworks and more

Every Wednesday, I dive into Amazon and scour page after page to find all of the retailer's best deals. This week's highlights include everything from all-time low prices on best-tested MacBooks to hidden gems with steep price cuts attached like Shark's novel cooling fan and this electric Greenworks lawn mower. Apple 13-Inch MacBook Air M4 Easily one of the best discounts I have seen all year. A chance to save $200 on our pick for the best overall laptop has to top the list this week. It's an all-time low price that makes the newest MacBook Air an even better recommendation for back-to-school our review Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Fan Speaking of new all-time low prices, this Shark misting and cooling fan has now reached an unprecedented low. We last tracked a 20% off sale, and now it's seeing a 33% discount to under $100 for the first time. Bring continuous coolness to your home office and bedroom while it's plugged into the wall, or go cordless to bring a refreshing breeze while lounging outdoors. KitchenAid 12-Inch Stainless Steel Utility Tongs I have desperately needed a new pair of kitchen tongs, and this stainless steel option from KitchenAid has gone on sale just in time. It's 41% off if you act fast, and comes backed by the best-ever Amazon discount. Stanley 34-Ounce All Day Slim Bottle I don't care for the massive Stanley water bottle trend, but this alternative caught my eye. Stanley's All-Day Slim Bottle fits neatly in your hand, offering the same specs you know and love from the brand in a smaller, double-wall vacuum-insulated design. Hisense 6,000-BTU Window Air Conditioner This isn't the best window air conditioner that we tested, but a rare 20% discount makes this Hisense unit a better buy. It's down to the lowest price of the year, just in time to provide extra cooling tech compared to a standalone fan like the Shark model higher up on the list. Amazon Basics Adjustable Tray Table Lap Desk Don't let the on-page list price of this lap desk fool you! I dug a little deeper into the pricing history and found that this normally sells for $70 — Amazon is just being coy when it comes to actually showing the full 66% discount. This is a new all-time low price for the retailer and an enticing back-to-school deal for those days when you just want to get work done on the couch or in bed. Best Choice Products 10-Foot Pop Up Canopy Tent This canopy tent will ensure you and your friends stay in the shade through upcoming Labor Day picnics or fall football tailgates. Amazon's price drop ensures you can save some serious cash with 38% off the going rate. Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 One of our top-tested Bluetooth speaker picks just dropped by $20 in all four colors. The Wonderboom 4 serenades quite a few of CNN Underscored's editors, including me, and is a reliable option for poolside listening this summer. Read our review Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker One of the cheapest options my colleagues have tested, the Mr. Coffee 12-cup brewer is compact, simple to operate and yields a very competitive cup for less thanks to today's deal. It may only be 21% off, but it is down to the lowest price in several months as a result. Read our review Greenworks 80-Volt 21-Inch Push Electric Lawn Mower This is your one-click ticket to having a more well-kept lawn this summer. The electric lawn mower ditches the annoyances of gas and oil from your routine while bringing a more sustainable model to your tool shed. This one features a 21-inch cutting deck and comes with an 80-volt battery at the second-best price of the year. Every week, Amazon drops hundreds of new discounts in practically every product category it carries. Sifting through row after row of digital store shelves to find the best deals isn't everyone's idea of a fun time, so let me put in the work for you. After shopping around, comparing other retailers and checking pricing history, I found 10 enticing offers that are worth adding to your cart. CNN Underscored looks out for your wallet daily, with our deals team scouring sales at the top of every morning. They tap a range of techniques and consider various factors to determine if a deal is worthy of coverage, such as price history checks, available coupon codes and competitor pricing. Our deals team, consisting of senior editor Rikka Altland, editor Jacqueline Saguin and associate editor Elena Matarazzo, is passionate about unearthing deals that we would be tempted to shop ourselves. We also enjoy finding a great deal on a coveted item (especially one that's a best-tested pick by our experts) because it means we're helping our readers make savvy buying decisions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store