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Weekly Rewind: Rolling Stones return, another Note 7 explodes, and more

weekly rewind top tech stories 10 08 2016 wr 06 head
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In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. So much news goes on that it’s almost impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of the top 10 tech stories from this week. Everything from how a new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 forced a flight to evacuate to everything we know about “Blade Runner 2049”, it’s all here.

Smoking replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 forces evacuation of flight

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 situation is getting more and more serious. Between children getting burned and fires getting started, Samsung has caused some serious havoc. The latest chapter in the saga? A smoking Galaxy Note 7 forced a Southwest flight to evacuate. The real kicker to this story is that the Galaxy Note 7 in question wasn’t an old model — it was one of the replacement models. What that means is that even replacement Galaxy Note 7 phones could be at risk of exploding. Obviously, that’s not good for Samsung.

Read the full story here.

Pixel phones, Daydream, Home — Oh my! Everything Google revealed at its Oct. 4 event

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Google announced a bunch of new hardware at its October 4 event, including two Pixel phones, a Daydream View VR headset, Google Home, Chromecast Ultra, Google Wifi and more. We gathered all the product news into one handy article. Here’s everything you need to know about the new products and when you can get them.

Read the full story here.

Everything we know so far about ‘Blade Runner 2049’

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In an era where studios relentlessly plunder the tombs of movies past, looking for the next successful remake or reboot, few revivals have caused as much trepidation and/or excitement as the upcoming Blade Runner sequel. Though some might consider it sacrilege to make a sequel to such a singular film, some big names behind the project — including Harrison Ford and Ridley Scott himself as producer and story developer — have made this one of the most anticipated sequels in the genre.

Read the full story here.

Jeep wants the Grand Wagoneer to be America’s Range Rover

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Jeep is moving forward with the development of a luxurious, range-topping SUV aimed squarely at Land Rover’s Range Rover. Recently approved for production, the long-rumored model will revive the storied Grand Wagoneer nameplate that has laid dormant for a quarter of a century. Some sources believe the Grand Wagoneer will share its basic platform and many mechanical components with the new Maserati Levante.

Read the full story here.

Amazon’s Alexa can be your extra hands in the kitchen with ChefSteps’ Joule

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Alexa gets to hang out with all the cool kids. Ford recently announced Amazon Alexa voice control system connectivity with three of its electric models. Now we learn that Alexa can take charge of ChefSteps‘ sous vide low-temperature water cooking appliance, Jouleaccording to Geek Wire. Cooking sous vide is a technique in which food in a vacuum bag is cooked in “precisely controlled, low-temperature water,” according to the ChefSteps website.

Read the full story here.

The Rolling Stones to release first album in more than 10 years in December

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Ever since it was reported that the Rolling Stones were headed back to the studio last December, fans have been eagerly anticipating new songs from the long-enduring rock legends. But given the length of time fans have already waited — the Stones’ last studio album came out in 2005 — most expected this latest release might be in gestation for a good while.

Read the full story here.

Why is it so hard to cancel a subscription to Jessica Alba’s Honest Company?

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The wheels of consumer rights often turn slowly. For consumers who have filed complaints with the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about actress Jessica Alba’s Honest Company, trying to cancel unwanted and unsuspected subscriptions to the companies product shipments is virtually impossible, according to Gizmodo.

Read the full story here.

Samsung is buying the new AI assistant from the masterminds behind Siri

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Samsung is not going to be left out of the artificial intelligence revolution, but realizes it can’t do everything itself, and that only by purchasing innovative companies can it ensure it’s at the front of the pack. That’s why it has acquired Viv Labs, an expert in artificial intelligence, with the plan of bringing its talents to Galaxy phones and other appliances in the future.

Read the full story here.

Free trip to Mars, anyone? T-Mobile’s CEO is offering a ride to the red planet

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T-Mobile boss John Legere tweeted on Wednesday that when he joined the company, “people thought I was from Mars.” While some may actually still believe this to be the case, most people are just happy to have the charismatic CEO here on Earth entertaining the masses with his unique approach to brand promotion. Taking his marketing antics to a whole new level, Legere’s tweet also included an announcement of a grand contest with a stellar prize: a free trip to his homeland Mars.

Read the full story here.

Playing brain games won’t improve or protect your memory, study finds

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There is no proven crossover or transference from playing brain-training games to real-world benefits. You will not gain improved memory or sharper intellectual abilities according to a meta-analysis, or study of studies, cited by Extreme Tech. There is also no evidence that brain games will stave off Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other age-related conditions associated with cognitive loss.

Read the full story here.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals
A person holding a partially open Galaxy Z Fold 4.

While the more recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has turned attention away from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Z Fold 4 is still an incredibly capable smartphone. Newer tech releases often make previous generations much more affordable, and that’s certainly the case with the Z Fold 4. While much of what’s available out there are refurbished models, there’s some huge savings to be had on a Z Fold 4. Retailers like Amazon and Back Market offer great ways to save, and we’ve got all of the information you need to do so. Reading onward you’ll find links to the best Samsung Z Fold 4 deals you can shop right now, as well as a little information on what each retailer has to offer with a purchase.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Best Buy
The Unlocked 512GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is on clearance at Best Buy. The popular retailer is really showing up with this deal, which sees the Z Fold 4 marked down to $700 and makes for nearly $1,300 in savings. Even more savings are available if you have an eligible device trade-in.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Amazon
Amazon may currently have the widest variety of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals. You’ll find both the 256GB and 512GB models discounted there, as though much of what's available are renewed models. Don't hold back because it's renewed, though, as Amazon has a great return policy should you receive something that doesn't live up to its condition. You can save even more when purchasing a Galaxy Z Fold 4 at Amazon if you have an eligible device to trade-in.

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Best refurbished iPhone deals: Get an iPhone 14 for $513
An iPhone 13 in white color option.

The Apple iPhone is one of the best phones on the market, and because of it they don’t often come cheap. There are some great iPhone deals out there, but it’s rare to find significant discounts on newer models without having to commit to a longterm contract with a carrier, and it’s even less frequent you come across one of the best iPhones with a major price drop. This is where shopping refurbished can come in handy. Refurbished iPhones — for the most part — will come backed with a functionality guarantee or extended return window, making refurbished iPhones as safe of a purchase as shopping new. There are a lot of refurbished iPhone models seeing great price drops right now, which is why we’ve done the heavy lifting of rounding up all of the best refurbished iPhone deals. You’ll find them below, as well as some information on which refurbished iPhone might be best for you.
iPhone XR -- from $136

A refurbished model but one that's unlocked and comes with a full one-year warranty, the Apple iPhone XR is still pretty stylish for its age. It has a large 6.1-inch LCD screen with 1,792 x 828 resolution with Liquid Retina technology ensuring it looks super sharp. Powered by the A12 Bionic chip, it's starting to show its age but still has potential. There's also a 12MP back camera that can shoot 4K videos while the front-facing camera is 7MP and ideal for selfie-taking.

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The best iPads in 2024: the 5 best ones you should buy
The backs of Apple's iPad Air and iPad Pro, with the tablets place on a table.

Apple's iPad is undoubtedly one of the most popular tablets on the market right now. There are several different models to choose from, but no matter which one you go with, you'll be getting one of the best tablets out there. Still, Apple provides an abundance of choice here, and with so many different versions — and almost annual updates — it can be tricky to know which one is the best to get.

All of Apple's iPads are pretty great, and they're each designed with a slightly different audience in mind, so it's hard to pick a single one as "the best." That's why we've broken this list down by categories; after all, there's an ideal iPad for nearly every situation. Whether you're looking for the best overall iPad, the best iPad on a budget, something in the middle of the pack, or even the best small iPad, we've got you covered.

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