The entry-level WF-C700N come in four colors, including two colorful pastel hues. | Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge The old “times have changed” applies to a lot of things — the way we consume media, the general office environment, Taco Bell. It also applies to wireless earbuds, which have come down drastically in price since the first pair of Apple’s now-iconic AirPods landed in 2016. Sony’s WF-C700N earbuds are a prime example of how you can now get a lot of functionality for very little, particularly since they’re available from Amazon, Best Buy, and Sony for as little as $98 ($21 off). So what does a sub-$100 pair of earbuds look like in 2023? Well, in the case of…

Apple this week began selling its new Beats Studio Buds+ in the UK and most other countries, with the exceptions of Brazil, Mexico, and Taiwan, where the earbuds will be available starting mid-August. The earbuds first launched in the U.S. in May. Key new features of the Studio Buds+ include a transparent design option similar to the Nothing Ear (2) earbuds, up to 36 hours of battery life with the included USB-C charging case, and up to 1.6× as much active noise cancellation as the original Studio Buds that launched in 2021. In the U.S., the earbuds are priced at $169.99. Studio Buds+ are essentially a sportier alternative to the AirPods Pro, and have a more compact design without "stems"…

Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsFun transparent design (other colors are available)Improved ANC and sound qualityGood battery lifePriced wellConsDon’t sound as good as AirPods ProMissing a few Apple ecosystem featuresNo wireless chargingOur VerdictPriced similarly to 3rd-gen AirPods, the Beats Studio Buds+ have a more usable design, ANC, and better sound quality. But they’re missing a few Apple ecosystem perks and 2nd-gen AirPods Pro have more features and sound better. Best Prices Today: Beats Studio Buds+ Retailer Price $169.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide In our review of the original Beats Studio Buds, we found they outclassed AirPods Pro in several ways but lacked some Apple-specific features. That, along with mediocre noise canceling, made them less desirable…

As some subreddits continue blackouts to protest Reddit's plans to charge high prices for its API, Reddit has informed the moderators of those subreddits that it has plans to replace resistant moderation teams to keep spaces "open and accessible to users." In a comment shared by r/Apple moderator @aaronp613, Reddit cited its Moderator Code of Conduct and said that it has a duty to keep communities "relied upon by thousands or even millions of users" operational. Mods who do not agree to reopen subreddits that have gone private will be removed.If a moderator team unanimously decides to stop moderating, we will invite new, active moderators to keep these spaces open and accessible to users. If there is no consensus, but…

What if, instead of saying “Hey Siri” to your HomePod to active it, you only had to glance at it? (via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)

What if, instead of saying “Hey Siri” to your HomePod to active it, you only had to glance at it? (via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an Apple lens)