Latest news with #OliverCragg
Android Authority
7 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Hot deal: Apple MacBook Air M2 drops to a mere $699!
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority Just when we thought the Apple MacBook Air M2 had exited the market, a new deal shows up offering the popular laptop at an amazingly low price. Originally launched at $999, you can currently get it for just $699. And it's actually still an amazing laptop! Keep reading to learn more about it. Buy the Apple MacBook Air M2 for just $699 ($300 off) This offer is available from Best Buy. While the discount applies to all color versions, not all are in stock. In my area, I can pick between Midnight and Starlight. Your options may vary. Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (M2, 16GB, 256GB) Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (M2, 16GB, 256GB) Thin, light, and powerful The MacBook Air with an M2 chip brings the thin and lightweight design you'd expect from an Air, but with all the might of the M2 silicon. See price at Best Buy Save $300.00 Sure, the Apple MacBook Air M2 is a 2022 device. It is now older and technically off the market, but hear us out here! The Apple MacBook Air M2 has aged amazingly, and I would be willing to argue it is likely the best laptop for most people, especially at this price. The MacBook Air M2 is still plenty capable. In fact, I am writing this very article with one. I also use it for editing RAW photos and video. I haven't seen it slow down once! Needless to say, the M2 chip and 16GB of RAM will handle all other normal apps and processes with ease. This makes it the perfect laptop for most users without specialized PC needs. Not only that, but keep in mind this was launched as a premium laptop. This means the rest of the experience is on the higher end of the spectrum. The design is pretty much identical to the M3 and M4 models. You would be hard-pressed to tell them apart side to side. It has the same metal construction that's now iconic of Apple laptops, as well as the fantastic backlit keyboard and large glass trackpad. Oliver Cragg / Android Authority The unit comes with a 13.6-inch display featuring a 2,560 x 1,664 resolution. It's on the smaller side, but that is also what makes the laptop so portable. After all, that is what the Air lineup is all about. And it is actually a really nice screen that can reproduce the DCI-P3 color gamut. It's very color accurate, making it an excellent option for designers, creatives, media consumption, etc. If you've been looking for a good laptop at a reasonable price, it's really hard to beat how much bang for your buck this one offers. Go get yours before they are gone! We can only imagine there isn't really much stock left.
Android Authority
11-07-2025
- Android Authority
dbrand finally has a fix for its Switch 2 Killswitch Joy-Con detachment problem
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR dbrand has found a solution for the Joy-Con detachment issue affecting its Switch 2 Killswitch case. Next week, the company plans to share a production schedule that outlines when you can claim your free replacement. The company also plans to send out silicone friction pads, which should make it easier to remove the console from the Dock Adapter with one hand. Earlier this year, reports began popping up about an issue with dbrand's Killswitch case for the Nintendo Switch 2. The issue in question revolved around the case's controller grips, which caused the Joy-Cons to detach from the console. After initially blaming its customers for the issue, the company reversed course and revealed that it had come up with two potential fixes and that an update on its decision would be published in the coming weeks. The company has now shared that it has found a viable solution. Today, dbrand announced that it has landed on a solution for the Joy-Con grip problem. The company has decided to go with a solution that involves completely redesigning the Joy-Con grip to eliminate the problem entirely. dbrand says that this solution came with the risk of being unable to mass-produce the fix, but it has re-tooled one of its mass production tools to address that concern. It has also decided to call these new controller grips the 'Joy-Lock.' Now that the fix has been proved to work and validated in a production environment, dbrand says it plans to share a production schedule next week. This schedule will outline when you'll be able to claim your free Joy-Lock replacements. In addition to the new grips, the accessory maker will also start sending users silicone friction pads to install on their dbrand Dock Adapter. Previously, users were having trouble removing the Switch 2 from the Dock Adapter with one hand. These friction pads should make it a little easier to do this. Before After The company notes that customers who have Killswitch case orders that have already shipped should expect to see an email early next week that provides details on redemption and shipment timing. For unshipped orders, the replacement parts will be in the box and the friction pads will be pre-installed on the adapter. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
25-06-2025
- Android Authority
dbrand stops blaming customers for holding Switch 2 case wrong, offers Joy-Con grip replacements
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR Users reported Switch 2 Joy-Cons easily detaching with the dbrand Killswitch case installed. dbrand's initial response echoed Steven Jobs' 'you're holding it wrong' debacle. Enhanced replacement units will be offered for free to all customers next month. If dbrand is known for anything, it's premium products and excessive snark. Usually that works in its favor, but when several customers revealed a flaw in the Killswitch case for the Switch 2 on Reddit, its signature style further upset frustrated users. The issue lies in the connection between the Joy-Con and the Switch 2 console, which relies on magnets rather than the mechanical rail in the Switch 1. There is a small air gap between the two, which prevents the Joy-Con from getting enough leverage to pop free. With the dbrand Killswitch grips attached to the Joy-Cons, that gap is ever so slightly smaller. In a post on Reddit that's more than 4,000 words long, the company detailed its reasoning behind the design, and why it's unlikely that the Joy-Cons will detach in everyday use. Essentially, the company expects all users to support the body of the Switch 2 with their fingers while holding the Joy-Con. dbrand bundled its initial response to Switch 2 case complaints. For users frustrated by the flaw in their $60 case, the whole thing stank of Steve Jobs' notorious 2010 'You're holding it wrong' response to the iPhone 4's connectivity problems. dbrand did admit that 'we do think there's an underlying issue for us to fix here' and promised to improve tolerances and quality checks to minimize the chance of detachment, but it also stuck to its edgy corporate persona. A section titled 'VIRAL VIDEOS AND YOU' placed some blame for the outrage on the users who found the issue, saying the videos themselves prompted others to 'validate the thesis that detachment can occur' on their own devices. In other words, if you didn't know about the flaw, it probably wouldn't bother you, so chill out about it. Reversing course After a few days of brutal comments on the initial post, dbrand returned to Reddit with a shorter, more somber update. In it, the company tried 'a new communication strategy where we both say fewer words and devote less of them to blaming you.' The company seems to have listened to its community, committing to retooling its molds to reduce the size of the lip and minimize the possibility of the Joy-Cons popping free. It's also working on a second solution that will eliminate the problem altogether, but it's not sure whether it's viable for mass production. The first run will be finished on July 10, so expect an update around that time. Regardless, all customers are eligible to receive replacement grips for free, whether from the retooled molds or the second solution. The company will reach out to everyone whose orders have shipped once it determines which solution provides 'the best possible version of this product.' Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
20-06-2025
- Android Authority
Nothing Phone 1 gets a feature-packed encore before the final curtain falls
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR The Nothing Phone 1 gets a new update with Android 15's Privacy space feature. Other additions include a Hotspot Manager, a toggle for face unlock vibration, and the June security patch. This may be one of the device's final feature updates, with no more OS upgrades coming. The Nothing Phone 1 might be nearing the end of its update life, but it's not quite done yet. A new software update is rolling out that brings one of Android 15's key features, with a specific tailoring to Nothing's UI. According to a post on the official Nothing Community forum, the update introduces Privacy space: a new secure area on your phone for sensitive apps and data. You can access it by swiping right in the app drawer, and it works much like the feature seen on other Android phones, requiring separate authentication and keeping apps isolated from the rest of the system. You can also set a different privacy password for both the new Privacy space and the existing App Locker. The update also brings a revamped Hotspot Manager for controlling connected devices, fixes an issue with the Glyph Composer lighting effect, and lets users disable face unlock vibrations via a new toggle. As expected, the June 2025 Android security patch is included, as well as other big fixes. This could be one of the last feature-rich updates for the Nothing Phone 1. Nothing previously confirmed to Android Authority that the device won't get Android 16, as it has already received its three promised OS upgrades. Security patches will continue for a bit longer, but new feature rollouts will likely start tapering off without the latest OS support. Initial user reactions to the Nothing post in the comments are mixed. Some celebrated finally getting Private space, while others voiced disappointment about ongoing camera quality issues they had hoped might be addressed in the update. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
19-06-2025
- Android Authority
The secondhand Switch 2 market is already a minefield of bricked consoles
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority TL;DR Reports of bricked secondhand Switch 2 consoles are already coming in. Nintendo has been banning consoles that use MiG Switch carts, with no recourse. This has major implications for the used Switch 2 market going forward. The Nintendo Switch 2 has only been out for a few weeks, but some lucky users have already found deals on secondhand consoles. One Reddit user reported finding such a deal, scoring a sweet $50 discount on the console, even though new consoles were sold out. Well, at least it seemed like a good deal, until an 'Error Code: 2124-4508' message appeared on the screen during setup at home. This error code prevents the console from using any online Nintendo services, effectively bricking the device. It's Nintendo's nuclear option in the war against piracy and ToS violations, and the company hasn't been shy about using it. For example, many users are reporting having their consoles bricked after attempting to use a MiG Switch cart. These carts can be used for piracy or to play backups of purchased games. Nintendo considers both use cases a violation of its ToS and doesn't differentiate between them when permanently bricking consoles. Odds of secondhand Switch 2 consoles being bricked are uncomfortably high. This creates a minefield for the secondhand Switch 2 market. There are currently no options to remove a console lock, so you must turn the console on and check that it can connect to Nintendo's servers before purchasing. The user mentioned above managed to return the console and get a full refund, but if you buy a used Switch 2 from a private individual or, even worse, eBay, your odds of getting stuck with a bricked console are uncomfortably high. Unless you can test the console yourself, it's better to avoid secondhand Switch 2 consoles altogether. The Nintendo Switch 2 retails for $449 for just the console, or $499 for the console and Mario Kart World. The game is a download code rather than a cart, though, so buying the bundle secondhand will likely leave you with a useless code, even if the console isn't bricked. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
