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Weekly Rewind: Adobe kills Flash for mobile, B&N fights Fire with Nook, Apple finally fixes iOS 5 battery life

Kelly Montgomery
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Didn’t have time to keep up with every ripple in the technology pond this week? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last week.

Broken Adobe FlashAdobe kills Flash for mobile

We first reported on this bombshell announcement on Wednesday, when we heard that Adobe would no longer be developing Flash for mobile devices, instead focusing its efforts on HTML5. Our own Geoff Duncan took a hard look at the decision, how the company came to it, and what it means for Apple, other mobile companies, and the future of Adobe. The announcement could also mean potential problems for connected TVs like Google TVs, which rely heavily on Flash to deliver video content.

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Apple releases iOS 5 update with fix for battery life issues

In a response to “batterygate” — the stream of iPhone owners complaining about rapidly draining battery life with the new iOS 5 update, Apple started testing out a iOS 5.0.1 update among a small group of users earlier this week. The update worked, so as of yesterday, iOS 5.0.1. was made available for all iPhone users and included the battery fix, bug repairs for some iCloud issues, and improved Siri voice recognition for Australian users. 

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Twitter unleashes new “Activity Stream” 

This week, Twitter started rolling out a new “Activity Stream” feature that looks a whole lot like the Facebook news ticker. The new element aims to connect users with other people they might want to follow, and give them a peek at what their friends are doing and who they are following. We examined the new Twitter addition to see whether it fits into where we think the company should be going or if it’s just a useless copycat of nemesis Facebook.

Barnes & Noble releases new Nook tablet

On Monday, the big box store came out swinging against Amazon and the Kindle Fire with a new 7-inch Nook tablet. The brand new tablet offering has a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 7-inch, laminated IPS “Vivid View” LG display for $249. We were on-hand at the event to give our first impressions of the new tablet and give you the inside scoop with a hands-on video. We’ve also got a spec showdown to give you the details on the new Nook and its competitor, the Kindle Fire.

Facebook reveals winners and losers of new Open Graph

It’s been over a month now since Facebook introduced its new Open Graph feature, which allows outside applications to be much more integrated into the Facebook interface and profile pages. This week we got to see some of the effects of the new feature, including which companies have benefitted the most from the increased app integration.

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Kelly Montgomery
Kelly Montgomery
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelly Montgomery is a magazine journalism graduate from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications…
Best Apple Watch deals: Series 9 and Ultra 2 discounted
Someone wearing an Apple Watch Ultra 2, showing the Modular Ultra watch face.

The Apple Watch has become one of the best smartwatches on the market. And while Apple deals are traditionally somewhat difficult to come by, the Apple Watch has always been a good Apple product to turn to for some savings. That’s certainly the case right now, as some of the best smartwatch deals are on various Apple Watch models, and several models are offering substantial savings. From the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to older Apple Watch models that come in at relatively low prices, we’ve tracked down all of the best Apple Watch deals taking place right now. Read onward and you’ll find plenty of details on how to save, as well as some information on which Apple Watch may best suit your needs.
Best Apple Watch SE deals

The first-generation Apple Watch SE, which was released in 2020, and the second-generation Apple Watch SE, which was rolled out in 2022, are the most affordable ways of getting an Apple Watch. They don't give up too much in order to keep costs low compared to their more expensive peers though. The Apple Watch SE 2, in particular, still provides comprehensive fitness tracking features, a comfortable fit, and excellent software as it can be updated to Apple's latest watchOS 10.

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Best Samsung tablet deals: Discounted tablets as low as $184
Recent apps view on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

Samsung makes a huge lineup of quality yet affordable tablets, many of them in competition to be among the best tablets, and many more often found among the best tablet deals. With a wide set of prices ranging from budget to premium, a Samsung tablet makes a great investment for almost anyone who enjoys the touchscreen form factor. There are quite a few Samsung tablet deals worth shopping right now, and we’ve done the heavy lifting of tracking down the best. Among them you’ll find discounts on the likes of the budget tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite and the high-end tablet Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. So whichever end of the tablet spectrum you fall on, or if you land anywhere in between, read onward for more details on the best Samsung tablet deals available right now.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 -- $184, was $230

If you need a bigger screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is another solid budget option. It is 10.5 inches and runs a much better 1920 x 1200 resolution, which also makes it a better option for watching content. It does have a much smaller capacity at 32GB, although you can always expand it with a MicroSD, so it's not a dealbreaker. That said, the 3GB of RAM is very much within the limits of what's going to give you a smoother experience, but it's the sort of compromise you deal with when going for a larger screen at a budget price.

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Is the Oura Ring waterproof?
The Oura Ring Horizon resting on a green succulent plant.

The Oura Ring is a highly sought-after wearable device available in different styles and price ranges. It allows users to track their sleep and recovery, stress levels, illnesses, and fitness routines -- and it even provides features specific to women's health. With so many features,  you might wonder whether the watch is waterproof. Let's find out.
Is the Oura Ring waterproof?
Technically, the Oura Ring is not waterproof. Instead, it's water-resistant up to 330 feet (100 meters). This is the case for most modern gadgets. You'll often find water resistance protection on products, which is good, but it's not exactly the same as being waterproof. But what does that really mean? We explain below.
Can you go swimming with the Oura Ring?
The Oura Ring has a certain level of protection that allows you to wear it while swimming, showering, and snorkeling. However, wearing the Oura Ring during scuba diving or when there is a risk of extended water submersion or extreme pressure is not advisable. Oura recommends avoiding wearing the ring in such scenarios to ensure its longevity and proper functioning.

Oura further explains: "The Oura Ring operating temperature ranges from [-10 to 52 degrees Celsius and 14 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit]. You can safely wear your ring in the shower, hot tubs, saunas, ice baths, and cryotherapy tanks. However, extended exposure to extreme temperatures (below 0°C/32°F or above 35°C/95°F) may lead to battery damage."
How does this compare to other smart rings?
Of Oura's chief competitors, only the Ultrahuman Ring Air provides similar water resistance. By contrast, the Amovan Smart Ring only provides water resistance up to 50 meters. The Oura Ring offers the same level of protection as the Apple Watch Ultra, making it an excellent alternative to smartwatches. However, it surpasses the Apple Watch Series 2 or later and the Google Pixel Watch 2, which can only resist water up to 50 meters.

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