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Here’s why everyone’s talking about them today

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Last we heard, Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 aren’t expected to be released until sometime in 2025. Apple has reportedly been developing the new AirPods Pro 3 earphones since late 2023, but the noise cancelling earbuds won’t be ready for release anytime soon. If you’re an Apple fan though, you’ve probably noticed that chatter surrounding AirPods Pro has really picked up lately. Since a next-gen model isn’t expected to debut anytime soon, why has everyone been talking about Apple’s AirPods Pro for the past few days?

Apple’s upcoming AirPods Pro 3 will have a few new features, sure. But nothing we’ve seen so far is very exciting. In fact, it’s not even the new model that everyone has been talking about. Instead, it’s the current-generation AirPods Pro 2 that have people buzzing, and it’s because they’re on sale right now at the lowest price ever. You can pick up a pair for just $179.99 at Amazon or at Best Buy.

Amazon Logo See Pricing
Amazon Logo See Pricing
Amazon Logo See Pricing
Amazon Logo See Pricing

If you check out our guide on the best AirPods deals available now, you’ll see that Amazon’s current AirPods Pro 2 deal is at the top of the list. With a price cut this big, it should go without saying that BGR would recommend them so highly.

As I’ve said before, AirPods Pro 2 are my earbuds of choice most of the time. You can read BGR’s in-depth AirPods Pro 2 review for all the info. They’re definitely not perfect, of course, but they’re great for me and other people who already own multiple Apple devices. That’s because they offer some cool integrations that you won’t get with other wireless earphones.

Here’s one example: when I’m working on my Mac, I have my AirPods Pro 2 connected for Zooms and FaceTime calls. But when I step away, I can easily bounce them over to my iPhone for voice calls.

There are other cool features you get with AirPods, such as quick pairing and support for Apple’s Find My app. You also get the ability to see the battery life of each earbud as well as the charging case in a widget on your iPhone or the menu bar on a Mac.

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On the flip side, AirPods Pro 2 don’t have the best sound quality for the money. Apple’s active noise cancelling tech is solid, but the bass is lacking, and the overall audio quality is a bit dull.

You get much better sound quality from Sony’s high-end earbuds, like the WF-1000XM4 ANC earphones. Of course, they also cost slightly more money, with a retail price of $300. But they’re on sale right now for as little as $94.97 if you buy them renewed. The price ranges from $94.97 to $140 depending on what condition you want them in. The choices are acceptable, good, and excellent.

Or, if you’re a bass-lover and you truly want the best of the best, Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are the most impressive ANC earbuds I’ve ever used. The noise cancelling is just as good as what you’ll find on AirPods Pro 2. Meanwhile, they offer sound quality that is far better than any AirPods, in my opinion. And the bass is out of this world, which is a big part of why I ditch AirPods Pro and switch to Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 when I listen to music most of the time.

The only real downside is the price, which is quite high even while Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 are on sale with a huge discount.

Amazon Logo See Pricing
Amazon Logo See Pricing

But as I mentioned, Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C are on sale with a big discount that drops them to just $179.99 at Amazon. That’s the all-time low price for this model. You can also pick up a pair at Best Buy for the same $179.99.

At that price, these popular earbuds should be at the top of the list for Apple fans.

And lastly, if you want to spend as little as possible, entry-level AirPods are down to $79.99. You obviously won’t get ANC or sound quality that’s quite as good, but they cost much less money.

Amazon Logo Available on Amazon

Be sure to read through BGR’s guide on the best AirPods deals for more AirPods models that are currently on sale.



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Five Blue Jays storylines as one-quarter mark approaches

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The Toronto Blue Jays started the 2024 regular season aiming for bigger things after crashing out in the wild-card series last fall. 

The campaign has not gone as planned so far. At 16-19 entering Tuesday’s game at Philadelphia, the Blue Jays were in last place in the American League East and a growing list of pitcher injuries has dimmed hopes for a quick turnaround. 

Here’s a look at five storylines as Canada’s lone big-league team approaches the season’s one-quarter mark (all statistics as of Tuesday afternoon).

RELIEF NEEDED

Reliever Yimi Garcia was in dominating form over the first month of the season but a sore back has forced him to watch the action from the bullpen of late. 

With fellow high-leverage option Chad Green (shoulder) and long reliever Bowden Francis (forearm) on the injured list, Blue Jays manager John Schneider has had limited relief options in recent days.

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Starter Yariel Rodriguez (back) is also on the IL, dealing another blow to a pitching staff that has yet to find its footing. 

Relievers Erik Swanson, Tim Mayza and Genesis Cabrera have been largely ineffective, putting added strain on a bullpen that has the worst earned-run average in the major leagues at 5.31.

QUIET BATS

The Blue Jays made changes in the off-season to try to get their offence going after a so-so year in 2023. 

Chief among them was giving bench coach Don Mattingly the additional title of offensive co-ordinator. His early efforts have yet to bear fruit. 

Toronto was in the bottom third among the 30 MLB teams in several offensive categories, including batting average (.226), homers (30), slugging percentage (.362) and hits (255). 

SCUFFLING STARS

The big names in the heart of Toronto’s batting order — with the exception of cleanup hitter Justin Turner — have simply not delivered at the plate so far this season.

The offensive statistics for slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., usual sparkplug Bo Bichette and leadoff man George Springer are well down from previous years.

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Bichette, in particular, is really having difficulty getting on track. A career .294 hitter, he’s batting just .195 with one homer and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .530.

The 39-year-old Turner, who signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays in the off-season, is hitting .283 with four homers, 16 RBIs and an .833 OPS.

MORE OF THE SAME

Right-hander Alek Manoah made his big-league season debut over the weekend and looked much like the pitcher who couldn’t find his consistency in 2023.

Manoah appeared primed to be an ace for the Blue Jays in 2022 when he was a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award. 

However, his game fell off last year and he was demoted to the minor leagues on two occasions. Manoah dealt with a shoulder issue at spring training and built up with Triple-A Buffalo before getting a start with the Blue Jays on Sunday in an 11-8 loss to Washington.

Manoah allowed six earned runs and four walks over the four-inning appearance. He had six strikeouts.

BRIGHT LIGHTS

There are some reasons for optimism despite the Blue Jays’ early struggles. 

In addition to Turner’s solid play, right-hander Jose Berrios posted a 1.44 ERA over seven starts, outfielder Daulton Varsho has shown some pop at the plate (six homers, 16 RBIs) and utilityman Davis Schneider (.270 average, 12 RBIs) looks like more than just a flash in the pan.

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Even though it’s still early, the American League East looks like it will be tough once again this year. The New York Yankees and the division-leading Baltimore Orioles have a share of the AL lead in victories with 23. 

At 25.9 per cent, the Blue Jays have the fifth-worst odds of making the post-season among AL teams, per FanGraphs.

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Apple Pencil comparison: 1st-gen, 2nd-gen, USB-C, or Pro – which is best for your iPad?

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Apple Pencil comparison

Today, Apple unveiled the new Apple Pencil Pro to make the Apple Pencil lineup a crazy mess. Still, there are actually two accessories you should be focusing on choosing from, depending on your iPad. In this Apple Pencil comparison article, we’ll let you know with which iPad each Apple Pencil is compatible, the main or lacking features, and what’s new with this accessory.

Apple Pencil comparison: Which Apple Pencil is compatible with which iPad? And how much do they cost?

Image source: Apple Inc.

First generation: This Apple Pencil is compatible with all iPads that feature a Lightning port or the iPad 10 with USB-C, as long as you buy a dongle to charge and pair the accessory. It costs $99. However, forget about this accessory if you don’t have a Lightning iPad.

Second generation: Compatible with iPad Pro (up to M2), iPad Air, and iPad mini models with USB-C, but not the iPad 10. It costs $129.

USB-C: This Apple Pencil is compatible with every iPad featuring a USB-C port, despite the M4 iPad Pro. It costs $79.

Pro: This accessory is compatible with the newest M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air. It costs $129.

Main and lacking features

Apple Pencil comparisonImage source: Apple Inc.

These are all the features available in all Apple Pencil models:

  • Pixel-perfect precision: Write, sketch, and draw with precision;
  • Low latency: Feels as natural and responsive as using a pencil on paper;
  • Tilt sensitivity: Tilt Apple Pencil for shading and other effects.

These are the features available for USB-C Apple Pencil and 2nd gen versions:

  • Attaches magnetically: Store Apple Pencil on the side of your iPad so you’re ready when inspiration strikes;
  • Supports Apple Pencil hover on iPad Pro: Preview your marker before you make it.

Pressure sensitivity, which responds naturally to pressure, from light touch to a deeper press, isn’t available with the USB-C version, only with 1st and 2nd generation models and the new Pro accessory.

These are the features available for the 2nd generation and Apple Pencil Pro:

  • Wireless pairing and charging: Automatically pairs and charges when attached;
  • Double-tap to change tools: Quickly switch between tools;
  • Free engraving: Make it unmistakably yours.

Apple Pencil Pro has these unique features:

  • Barrel roll: Rotate the barrel to change the orientation of the shaped pen and brush tools
  • Squeeze: Opens a palette to switch tools, line weights, and colors
  • Haptic Feedback: Feel feedback when squeezing, tapping, and more
  • Find My: Easily find Apple Pencil in the Find My app

Should you buy the USB-C Apple Pencil?

USB-C Apple Pencil launched in October 2023.

USB-C Apple Pencil launched in October 2023. Image source: Apple Inc.

If you don’t own an Apple Pencil, surely. Although this accessory solves a long issue iPad users suffer, which is the Apple Pencil draining all the iPad battery whenever it’s attached to the tablet, I don’t think anyone with a 2nd-generation Pencil should buy it.

On the other hand, if you own the first generation and are willing to upgrade to a USB-C iPad soon, I think this is the best accessory to buy right now. It will magnetically attach to your iPad, won’t drain all of its battery, can charge this accessory using your existing USB-C cable, and has most of the features that all Pencils have.

Although Apple sells four different pencils, it has now removed the iPad 9 from the lineup, so you should forget about the Apple Pencil 1.

Lastly, if you are a designer or artist, you should probably buy the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil. Despite that charging issue I mentioned, it has all the features you might need. If you own an iPad Pro but don’t draw for a living, you’ll be more than okay with the USB-C Apple Pencil.

Here’s when you should buy the Apple Pencil Pro

Image source: Apple Inc.

Costing the same $129 as the second-gen accessory, you should buy this new pencil if you’re buying the M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro, as it will offer the best experience when drawing, signing documents, or expressing yourself.

Despite that, if you own an older iPad – or even when Apple releases the new iPad mini and base-model iPad – I think you should focus on the cheaper USB-C option.

Don't Miss: iPad Pro 2024: Release date, OLED, price, M4, features, Apple Pencil Pro, more

The post Apple Pencil comparison: 1st-gen, 2nd-gen, USB-C, or Pro – which is best for your iPad? appeared first on BGR.

Today’s Top Deals

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  3. Today’s deals: $50 camera drone, $44 Soundcore Q20 headphones, Super Mario Bros Wonder under $50, more
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Canucks’ Elias Pettersson misses practice ahead of Game 1 due to illness

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Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson was feeling under the weather and missed the team’s practice Tuesday as they prepare to host the Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Game 1 of the series is set for Wednesday night.

Pettersson played in all 82 games during the regular season and finished third on the team in scoring with 89 points (34 goals and 55 assists).

He also had just 12 penalty minutes and was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded to “the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”

Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2: Canucks vs. Oilers


Keep up with the latest news and analysis as the Vancouver Canucks battle the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Full coverage

The 25-year-old Pettersson had zero goals and three assists in six games during the first round against the Nashville Predators.

Watch the Canucks host the Oilers in Game 1 Wednesday starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

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5 best AI features on new Google phone

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You might not have even noticed that Google launched the new Pixel 8a smartphone on Tuesday, and I can’t blame you. Google chose to quietly announce the phone on Tuesday, May 7, which is the same day that Apple unveiled the revolutionary new OLED iPad Pro and the next-generation iPad Air. If you’re not an Apple fan, though, you probably don’t care at all about the company’s new tablets. You’ll almost definitely care about Google’s Pixel 8a, though, because it’s one of the most appealing phones that Google has ever made.

The Pixel 8a might not be as powerful as the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro, but it’s not supposed to be. Instead, the Pixel 8a is all about putting Google’s latest and greatest AI features in your pocket for as little money as possible. And the best part is that the Pixel 8a is available for preorder with a special deal right now on Amazon and Best Buy ahead of its May 14 release.

Amazon Logo See Pricing
Amazon Logo See Pricing

The Pixel 8a is a very capable mid-range Android phone, with the kind of specs you would expect to see in 2024. Highlights include a 6.12-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, front and rear 13-megapixel cameras, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, IP67 water and dust resistance, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. It also packs the Google Tensor G3 processor, the Titan M2 security chip, and up to 72 hours of battery life with Google’s Extreme Battery Saver feature.

That’s all good and well, but the real fun starts when you check out the AI features that Google added to the phone. Here are my five favorite AI features on the Google Pixel 8a:

  • Best Take: Uses AI to combine similar photos into one so that, if someone blinked for example, their eyes are open in the final shot
  • Audio Magic Eraser: Google’s AI can reduce or even entirely remove background noise from videos
  • Magic Editor: This awesome AI-powered photo editing feature lets you do things like change the background of a photo, move objects or people, adjust the lighting, or even completely remove things from a photo
  • Night Sight: Everyone knows about this great camera feature, which uses AI to combine multiple low-light exposures to make one image that’s gloriously bright and clear
  • Circle to Search: This might be my favorite AI feature from Google — just circle something on the screen, and you can quickly search it on Google

That’s just a small taste of what the Pixel 8a can do. If you’ve seen enough and you’re ready to order one, there are two great pre-order options that you need to check out.

Over on Amazon, you’ll get a free $100 Amazon gift card when you pre-order a 128GB or 256GB Pixel 8a. That effectively cuts your final price from $499 to $399 for the 128GB model, or from $559 to $459 for the 256GB version since you’re getting $100 back in the form of a gift card.

Amazon Logo See Pricing
Amazon Logo See Pricing

If you’d rather pre-order from Best Buy instead of Amazon, there’s a separate deal you can take advantage of. You’ll save $100 and drop the Pixel 8a starting price to $399 if you’re willing to activate it with Verizon or AT&T.



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CFL suspends Argonauts QB Chad Kelly for violating gender-based violence policy

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Watch Champions League Semifinal: Livestream PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund From Anywhere

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See at TNT Sports

TNT Sports

Watch Champions League games live in the UK with TNT Sports

See at DAZN

DAZN

Watch the Champions League in Canada from CA$30 a month

See at Stan Sport

Stan Sport

Watch the Champions League in Australia from AU$10 a month

Kylian Mbappé and co. will need to overcome a one-goal deficit today, as Paris Saint-Germain take on Borussia Dortmund in the decisive second leg of this UEFA Champions League semifinal. 

The frenetic opening encounter at the Westfalenstadion last week saw Niclas Füllkrug give Dortmund the advantage with a superb 36th minute strike. PSG missed a succession of good chances to equalize. 

PSG will be without experienced defender Lucas Hernández, who ruptured his ACL in the first leg, while Julien Duranville and Ramy Bensebaini are still out for the visitors. 

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services for watching every game wherever you are in the world.

Niclas Fuellkrug of Borussia Dortmund making a "thumbs-up" gesture, looking to his left.

Niclas Füllkrug scored what could be a crucial goal for Borussia Dortmund in the first leg against PSG last week. 

Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images/Getty Images

PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund: When and where? 

Paris Saint-Germain host Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on Tuesday, May 7 in the second leg of this UEFA Champions League semifinal. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CET local time in Germany, which is 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, 8 p.m. BST in the UK and 5 a.m. AEST on Wednesday, May 8, in Australia. 

How to watch PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund online from anywhere using a VPN

If you’re unable to view Champions League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action; that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN can stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you want an extra layer of privacy for your devices and log-ins while traveling and using various Wi-Fi networks.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to access the game. If your internet provider or mobile carrier assigns an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can fix that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. Be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it suspects is circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the great VPN deals taking place right now.

Sarah Tew/CNET

ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 35% — the equivalent of $8.32 a month — if you get an annual subscription. 

Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Livestream PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund in the US

American soccer fans can stream this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for UEFA Champions League matches.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $6 a month and Premium for $12 a month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.

The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming. It also lacks live CBS feeds and the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount. Black Friday savings are also still available, though we don’t know how long for.

Read our Paramount Plus review.

Livestream PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund in the UK

TNT Sports has Champions League live broadcast rights in the UK. 

TNT Sports

Formerly BT Sport, TNT Sports is offering Champions League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in the same way as its predecessor, including via Sky Q as a TV package, as well as by streaming online. It costs £30 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus’ library of documentary content.

Livestream PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund in Canada

If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.

A DAZN subscription costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year. It will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.

As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.

Livestream PSG vs. Borussia Dortmund in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.

Stan Sport will set you back AU$10 a month (on top of a AU$10 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.

A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.

Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN 

  • With four variables at play (your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN), your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
  • If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
  • If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs including Roku don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
  • All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main sites for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location. 
  • Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We recommend Brave.





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tvOS 17.5 RC now available to Apple TV

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tvOS 17.5 RC is now available to everyone with an Apple TV that can run tvOS. At this moment, it’s unclear what this operating system update offers, as we couldn’t find anything new. Apple also hasn’t provided release notes so far.

That said, it doesn’t seem tvOS 17.5 beta will bring anything major, as Apple is already preparing for the tvOS 18 update. We’ll discover more about this operating system on June 10 with the WWDC 2024 keynote.

With tvOS 17.4, Apple also brought a mild beta cycle, although it was full of references for unreleased products and operating systems. With beta 1, the company added references to unreleased homeOS software.

Most likely, this software could be used for a HomePod with a screen. Bloomberg and other outlets have reported on a HomePod with iPad integration, like an Amazon Echo Show product. Apple is also apparently working on a HomePod with a circular display. That said, instead of the current wave animations that we have on the HomePod, we could see music and weather data, for example.

That would come in handy, as tvOS 17.4 beta was adding a SharePlay feature for Apple Music. iPhone users could scan a QR code on the Apple Music app for the Apple TV and join a SharePlay session to add songs to a list and create a listening party. Unfortunately, Apple removed this function in the latest betas. It’s unclear if Apple might add this feature back with tvOS 17.5 RC.

That said, HomePod Software 17.4 added a new feature for Siri. According to the release notes, “This update enables Siri to learn your preferred media service, so you no longer need to include the name of the media app in your request.”

With that, if you use Pandora or YouTube Music, you don’t need to ask the HomePod to play a song on that streaming, as Siri will understand this is where you usually listen to songs.

BGR will let you know if we discover anything new with tvOS 17.5 RC. Apple has also seeded the Release Candidate versions of iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5, watchOS 10.5, and macOS 14.5. visionOS 1.2 beta 5 was released instead of an RC version. We’ll let you know if we find anything new with these updates.



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Could a $40,000 Equinox Membership Really Help You Live Longer?

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On Monday, the high-end gym chain Equinox introduced a longevity program with a $40,000 annual membership fee.

According to a news release, Optimize by Equinox is “designed to unlock the peaks of human potential” through personalized nutrition, sleep and fitness coaching “based on members’ unique biodata.” The program is being run in partnership with the lab test startup Function Health, which was co-founded by Dr. Mark Hyman, an influential functional medicine physician. Function sells direct-to-consumer blood tests that assess cardiovascular, metabolic, liver, kidney and thyroid health, among other things.

According to Function’s website, its aim is to help people “live 100 healthy years.” Equinox doesn’t put a number on its goal.

“Health span is what we’re trying to figure out,” said Julia Klim, vice president of strategic partnerships at Equinox, referring to the number of years a person lives without serious illness. “But inherently, if your health span is good,” your life span should also improve, she added.

The program is the latest in a string of concierge health and fitness services that have capitalized on the current fascination with self-optimization and longevity. It isn’t even the most expensive — a $10,000-a-month fitness club is opening in Manhattan this spring. But scientists who study aging say that whether these services can deliver results worth their cost of enrollment is an open — and largely unanswerable — question.

So what do you get for $40,000? Optimize gives users access to Function’s panel of blood tests ($499), an Equinox membership (ranging from $3,600 to $6,000 per year) and an Oura smart ring (starting at $299). But most of the cost comes from 16 hours a month of one-on-one coaching. That consists of three weekly personal training sessions, two 30-minute meetings per month with both a sleep coach and a nutritionist, and a monthly massage. (Equinox private coaching averages $160 a session.)

There is little doubt that exercising, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep — in addition to maintaining strong social relationships — are the best things a person can do for their health and longevity, said Dr. Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Barzilai added that “there certainly is value” to personal training to help people improve their strength and flexibility, but he couldn’t say whether the Equinox program was cost effective.

That’s in part because, when it comes to longevity, it’s still unclear which type, intensity or duration of exercise might achieve the best results. Put another way, experts don’t know “whether this $40,000-a-year program is going to move you farther along that path” toward healthy aging than the cost of a pair of running shoes would, said Daniel Belsky, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

A related open question is whether the blood tests can tell you much about how to personalize your workout, diet and other health protocols.

Looking at the panels of over 100 tests that Function offers, Dr. Belsky said that they’re largely “garden-variety medical tests” a person could get through his or her doctor’s office. Some of them could inform clinically meaningful changes to a person’s diet or fitness regimen. But, he added, “the quality of interpretation of these data is absolutely critical to them generating any value, let alone approaching the value that’s being advertised.”

Jonathan Swerdlin, the chief executive officer and a co-founder of Function, said that the company contracts with doctors and nurse practitioners to review the results. (The frequently asked questions section of Function’s website says that the service “provides detailed insights from the world’s top doctors specific to each result.”)

Optimize members can then choose to share these insights with their team of Equinox coaches, who, Ms. Klim said, have been specially trained to know how to incorporate the findings into their recommendations.

For example, according to a representative for Function, if a lab test reveals that a member’s apolipoprotein B, which is related to cholesterol, is elevated, the report will indicate that increasing aerobic conditioning could help lower it. The Equinox trainer may then change the member’s workouts accordingly.

“The tests themselves, I mean, they do cost some money, but you’re really paying for the management system, if you will, the concierge service,” said Michael Snyder, a professor of genetics at Stanford University who has helped found numerous personal health companies, including one that sells panels of blood tests similar to those offered by Function.

For some people in pursuit of a healthier, longer life, the cost of white-glove service may be worth it. Others may just opt for the running shoes.



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