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More riders will have the chance to book a driverless vehicle, right from the Uber app.

While the AirPods Pro 2 are already the best AirPods available, it looks like future versions could get better in ways we hadn't really expected.

On February 4 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple a new patent (via PatentlyApple) relating to its line of in-ear audio hardware, which could see a future AirPods Pro model get more extensive touch controls – even if you’re using them with a pair of gloves, theoretically.

Touch controls are a tricky thing for in-ear headphones: unlike the roomier over-ear models, which have plenty of space to accommodate large touch panels, in-ear headphones need to react to quite small, precise movements.

The existing AirPods Pro 2 earbuds do support touch controls for volume, playback, and ANC modes, but through a limited series of presses and vertical swipes along the protruding stem.

This new patent, however, looks to replace the small vent in the AirPods Pro casing with an external touch sensor, likely enabling more controlled adjustments to volume, playback, and the like.

The diagrams included in the patent seem focused on vertical movements, like those used to adjust volume along the stem of existing AirPod models. It's possible that this sensor would allow Apple to ditch the stem sensor for a more reliable, responsive version, though the end product could potentially allow for a wider variety of inputs.

(Image credit: Apple / United States Patent and Trademark Office)

Crucially, this sensor doesn't seem to require capacitive touch inputs, like those enabled by the conductive touch of your finger, but rather through the motion of an 'object' moving up or down along the sensor's 'geometric' edges.

This suggests that users can deploy touch controls even with a gloved hand, allowing for easier volume and/or playback adjustment in colder weather – something at the forefront of our mind in the ongoing winter.

At the moment, you can play/pause/change ANC modes on the AirPods Pro 2 by pinching the stems, and this works with gloves on – but the volume control doesn't, which is a slightly frustrating inconsistency.

It’s been three years since the launch of the AirPods Pro 2, and it’s highly likely we’ll see the AirPods Pro 3 release some time in 2025. Just because something is patented, of course, doesn’t mean it’s about to be imminently deployed, but if Apple were able to squeeze this smart tweak to touch controls into the next version, it would be a nice quality-of-life upgrade.

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• Acrobat AI Assistant adds new "contract intelligence" feature
• Consumers and business owners often find unexpected terms after signing
• Contract intelligence will generate summaries and generate citations to validate them

Adobe has updated its Acrobat AI Assistant with a handy new feature that will help its users break down and understand important contractual information in PDF files.

The aptly-named contract intelligence update automatically detects contracts and summarizes complex language to make them easier to understand, highlighting key terms and generating citations as it goes to validate the summaries it produces.

The AI tool is also designed to compare up to 10 contract versions, checking for consistency and any discrepancies.

Acrobat AI gets contract intelligence

According to Adobe research, seven in 10 (69%) consumers have signed a contract without fully understanding what’s inside, with nearly two in three finding unexpected contract terms after signing on the dotted line.

In the announcement, VP for Product Marketing at Adobe, Michi Alexander, details how contract intelligence can reveal deposit rules and pet policies on apartment leases, cancellation policies within gym contracts and hidden fees in phone contracts.

Apart from consumers, the tool is also designed for small business owners, 91% of whom work with contracts at least monthly. Just like consumers, three in five SMB owners have discovered unexpected terms in their contracts after signing.

Common reasons for mistakes include the length and complexity of contracts, which are addressed with Adobe’s updated service.

The upgrade forms part of the wider Acrobat AI Assistant, which costs $4.99 per month with an annual commitment, and it’s already rolled out to paying customers.

Alexander summarized: “With AI, individuals and businesses can approach contracts with greater transparency, turning what was once a source of stress into an opportunity for inquiry, clarity and confidence.”

The launch of contract intelligence comes not long after Adobe upgraded its e-signature experience in Acrobat, by preserving document structure to improve reliability across all device types and adding new visual progress indicators to prevent users from missing fields.

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Every year, the end of Autumn marks a period of major sales. Starting with Singles Day and Black Friday and continuing to the Christmas shopping spree, consumers are desperately searching for big discounts. According to a UK-based survey, 67% of respondents feel that growing living costs pressure them to look for deals, and 71% believe this helps them save money. But does it, really?

For years, tech products have been among the most susceptible to manipulative pricing, figuring in previous fake discounts research in the UK, France, and the US. Conducted during Black Friday 2024, the latter study found that 37% of the hottest tech products saw significant price hikes just before the event, making Black Friday’s offer look like a major deal. However, the study tracked fewer than a hundred products, prompting the question of whether this trend can be observed more widely.

To get a more comprehensive review of the tech market deals, we decided to employ Oxylabs’ extensive data collection infrastructure and examine the prevalence of manipulative discounts in two major US marketplaces. We used our Web Scraper API to track almost 10 thousand unique tech products from August 13 to November 29, 2024, and here is what we found.

What is a fake discount? From legal definition to consumer utility

During our research, we tracked publicly available pricing data from 9714 unique products using US locations. We were especially interested in Black Friday 2024 and the discounts offered on this particular day. We based our research on legal definitions established in California, as it is considered to have the most explicitly defined rules — under Californian law, a ‘fake discount’ is observed if the seller cannot prove that discounted items have been regularly offered at their advertised former prices for a period of 3 months right before the discount.

After analyzing case law and recommendations, we decided to treat advertised former prices as “regularly offered” (or prevailing) in those cases when they were explicitly present at least 50% of the time during the 3 months period right before the discount. The drill was simple: if product X's advertised former price was 270$ on Black Friday day, we checked if this product was actually offered for 270$ at least 50% of the time (45 days) in the 3-month period prior to the event.

We observed pricing data on an hourly basis, meaning that every unique product URL has been monitored 24 times per day. All tech products were randomly selected from different product departments; however, we made sure our analysis covered the most popular tech categories, such as video games, computers, cell phones, wearable technology, etc.

Furthermore, when analyzing data, we noticed that some discounts might not violate the laws but still be exploitative and unethical towards the consumer. Thus, we decided to perform additional research and check if consumers really benefited from the Black Friday promotions in major US marketplaces. To do so, we analyzed whether people could buy discounted Black Friday products for less money one week, two weeks, a month, and two months prior to this event. Because if they really could, waiting for Black Friday to hunt a major tech deal saved them no money.

Suspicious discounts — 75% of cases

The first thing that struck us when analyzing data was that out of 4645 discounted tech products offered on Black Friday day, only 2786 met the main criterion — they were sold in the marketplace for at least 90 days during the observed 3-month period. All others occurred on the marketplaces fleetingly, sometimes being listed for a few days only.

Out of these 2786 products, 75% (2099 tech products in total) didn’t meet the main legal criterion — their advertised former prices were not regularly offered for a substantial period of time before the Black Friday discount. The worst situation could be observed in the following categories: wearable technology (86.1%), cameras and photography equipment (81.1%), computers and their accessories (81.2%), and video games (80.4%). The cell phones category saw the least violations — 65% of cases.

Seeing these numbers, we wondered how tech categories compare to non-tech ones. During the entire research period, starting with August 13, 2024, we monitored prices for over 61 thousand different products in both tech and non-tech categories. Aggregated analysis of tech and non-tech products showed that 60% of the deals didn’t meet the main legal criterion, compared to 75% when analyzing only tech products. It roughly confirms that tech products are more susceptible to ‘fake’ deals — a suspicion already raised by previous research.

At this point, we can draw two conclusions. First, three out of four discounted tech products in two major US marketplaces on Black Friday could have been fake discounts or, at best, manipulative deals. Unfortunately, we cannot prove it undeniably due to the reasons presented below, which brings us to the second part of the research.

Legal yet exploitative? The consumer utility

If the product was listed for a shorter period than 90 days, to see if the discount is genuine, one must check whether the advertised reference price was a prevailing market price, i.e., perform competitor analysis. However, anyone with experience in ecommerce web intelligence knows that acquiring reliable competitor pricing data retrospectively is nearly impossible. There is also an option to check if the seller clearly and conspicuously stated in the advertisement the date when the alleged former price did prevail. However, it is unclear where and how this data should be presented on the marketplace’s website.

Thus, we witness a huge gap in legal regulation, at least in the US. In the case of digital commerce, the 90-day period is excessive as the majority of small sellers do not keep the products in the marketplace for so long — global ecommerce is too dynamic. However, in cases when sellers do not follow this requirement, it is extremely complicated for consumers or regulatory institutions to factually prove a ‘fake discount.’

To see if consumers really benefit from the questionable Black Friday tech ‘deals,’ we performed additional analysis and checked whether the consumers could save money buying the same products before the Black Friday event. Web intelligence we gathered showed that the discounted Black Friday price was the lowest price during the entire week prior to Black Friday in only 27% of cases. The remaining 73% of tech deals were not saving consumers any money.

The situation looks more positive when we look at product prices at least a couple of weeks before Black Friday event:

• 2 weeks prior to Black Friday — Black Friday price was the lowest price in 72% of cases;
• One month prior to Black Friday — Black Friday price was the lowest price in 78% of cases;
• Two months prior to Black Friday — Black Friday price was the lowest price in 83% of cases;
• Three months prior to Black Friday — Black Friday price was the lowest price in 85% of cases.

And yet, we can still infer from this data that only 1 out of 4 consumers could undoubtedly benefit from waiting specifically for the Black Friday instead of buying a product on any other day a week before the event. Moreover, we cannot be sure that the product’s price wasn’t artificially inflated at some point before the Black Friday as the first part of our research showed most deals do not strictly comply with legal regulation.

Hunting for deals in the age of AI

Although a significant percentage of suspicious discounts in major US marketplaces indeed surprised us, the trend isn’t new. Moreover, it has already been observed in other countries. In 2022, the European Commission inspected Black Friday sales, revealing that around 25% of price reduction announcements were inconsistent with EU law. An earlier study that monitored Black Friday deals in the UK showed that 85% of the discounted products had cost the same or less six months earlier.

Unfortunately, legal regulation alone is not enough to protect consumers. On the one hand, AI-driven web intelligence solutions enable regulators to keep tabs on thousands of websites simultaneously and monitor pricing changes on a large scale with relatively small resources. On the other hand, if the laws are too vague or don't meet the new reality of the digital economy, they become fictional documents preventing efficient ways to enforce the rules.

AI tools make it easier for sellers to perform complex pricing manipulations. Unfortunately, manipulative discounts aren't the only trap awaiting online shoppers in 2025. A recent study by originality.ai showed that during Black Friday, almost a third of product reviews from major ecommerce platforms, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, were likely AI-generated. This makes it even harder for consumers to understand if the seller is reliable and the product is worth the money.

With AI bringing both positive and negative effects to the e-commerce industry, consumers should stay aware of many different manipulation tactics and think twice before getting caught in the hunt for ‘deals.’ Major tech news websites have regular articles about good tech deals in big marketplaces — this information might help if you are planning to buy some gadget. It feels just rational to try to save a penny, but it's worth remembering that some tech deals, especially during major shopping events, might be nothing more than ghost discounts.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

It wasn't immediately clear what legal authority Trump would have to execute his proposals, and they would likely be met by fierce resistance from Palestinians and from regional Arab countries.

(Image credit: Alex Brandon)

Convert distance, currency and more in Calculator without Wi-Fi or using another app.

Amid all the Super Bowl hype, professional football teams are noticeably absent from the Twitter-like platform.

The game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, with a halftime show by Kendrick Lamar, takes place on Sunday February 9. Here's how to tune in.

President Trump has nominated Neil Jacobs to head NOAA. Some former NOAA employees are concerned about Jacobs' scientific integrity after his prior involvement in "Sharpiegate."

(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

High APYs won't stick around forever. Here's where you can score one now.

• A new Garmin public beta has dropped for the Fenix 7
• It features a new heart rate tweak and fixes to mapping
• Garmin has disabled the ECG feature in its public beta

After a disastrous week that saw an outage render most of its devices useless for 24 hours, Garmin is trying to get back on track with its continued rollout of beta features. The latest is the 20.14 public beta for owners of one of the best Garmin Watch models, the Fenix 7 range.

The change log includes some fixes and tweaks to a couple of key features, but installing beta software on the Fenix 7 series still disables the ECG feature.

Starting with what is included, Garmin notes the following updates:

• Added open connections notification to heart rate broadcast app.
• Fixed abnormal cadence issue when using metronome.
• Fixed color of BMX cycling profile.
• Fixed map not fully drawing.
• Fixed map settings not updating when changed.
• Various bug fixes and improvements.

That's a welcome list of fixes for mapping and a nice heart rate update, but as mentioned, installing the latest public beta will see you lose access to ECG. Here's what we know right now.

Garmin's Fenix beta drops ECG

(Image credit: Michael Sawh)

"Moving forward, the Beta software available for the Fenix 7 series will have the ECG feature disabled," Garmin said on its website. So if you want to continue using the ECG feature on your Fenix 7 series, you should steer clear of the public beta for now.

Garmin has confirmed that if you install the beta and change your mind, you can backdate your watch to restore its functionality.

Garmin also says that the feature "ECG feature will be made available again on versions of beta software that we anticipate becoming Live updates," and says users should see the ECH feature become enabled again in Beta software "toward the end of our quarterly beta cycles."

Garmin has been noting this for a while in its beta updates, but it has caught users out before, so it's important to be aware as many people rely on the ECG feature to monitor medical conditions.

Garmin recently rolled out its ECG feature to the EU and Australia, with support for models including the Garmin Venu 3 and the new Fenix 8.

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• EA's CEO has hinted that Madden and EA Sports FC are destined for Switch 2
• He believes the sports franchises "could bring real energy" to the console
• The full Switch 2 reveal is due to happen on April 2, 2025

Yep, you can probably expect the two biggest sports games in the world - Madden and EA Sports FC - to come to Nintendo Switch 2.

As reported by VGC, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson was posed the question of which franchises could make the jump to Nintendo's upcoming console at a recent earnings call.

Wilson stated that having a new platform available "gives us the ability to access and acquire new players. Typically, we’ve had franchises perform very well on Nintendo platforms."

Then, on the topic of the company's two largest sports franchises, Wilson added: “Certainly, our expectation is that products like FC and Madden and others might find real energy on the platform, as they have done in the past."

While Nintendo's current console has yet to receive any version of Madden, it has played host to a number of FIFA and EA Sports FC titles. Typically, though, these have been severely scaled back in terms of features and/or visual fidelity. It does seem that a more powerful Switch 2 could open the doors for more of EA's franchises to make the cut.

Wilson stressed that nothing is set in stone as of yet, saying there's "nothing in our models at this juncture. But our expectation is that any time a great new console comes into the marketplace that gives us access to new players and new communities, that we have the IP that will benefit from that.”

It remains to be seen just how much Electronic Arts will support the Nintendo Switch 2, but it certainly would be nice to have series like Need for Speed, Battlefield, and of course Madden available for play on the go.

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NZBGet is a free, open-source NZB downloader known for its speed, lightweight design, and extensive configuration options. It’s compatible across desktops (Windows, Linux, Mac) and devices like NAS systems, routers, and media players, making it easy to integrate into nearly any setup. Docker images are also available for popular architectures, allowing for easy deployment across a wide range of systems.

A browser-based interface makes it easy to manage and monitor downloads from any device. For advanced users, NZBGet has automation tools, including support for custom scripts, RSS filters, and RPC API for in-depth configuration to streamline large-scale downloads and automate much of the process.

To access Usenet newsgroups with NZBGet, you’ll need a Usenet subscription.

Check out our best Usenet provider guide for our recommended options.

Features

• Wide compatibility: NZBGet isn’t limited to desktops—it also runs on NAS devices, routers, and media players, allowing it to run with nearly any setup.
• Docker images: Easily deploy NZBGet on a wide range of systems using Docker images for popular architectures.
• Browser-based interface: Manage NZBGet from any browser, making it easy to control downloads from your PC, phone, or tablet.
• Resource-efficient: NZBGet uses as little as 32MB of RAM, ideal for low-powered or older devices without compromising performance.
• Fast downloads with repair capabilities: Includes intelligent PAR (Parity) file verification and multi-core repair, quickly recovering incomplete files and minimizing download issues.
• Advanced automation: Supports custom automation through scripts, RSS filters, and an RPC API for full control over the download process.
• Actively maintained and updated: Regular updates bring new features and optimizations, making NZBGet one of the most modern and up-to-date NZB downloaders.

(Image credit: NZBGet) Performance

NZBGet is one of the fastest NZB downloaders available, performing well even on low-end hardware. It uses minimal resources, making it a solid choice for devices with limited processing power or memory, such as NAS devices, routers, and other low-power systems where efficiency is key.

Features like multi-core repair and automatic retry handling ensure that downloads remain smooth and uninterrupted, even when dealing with incomplete or corrupt files. NZBGet can recover and repair these files in the background without requiring manual intervention.

Installation and Setup

The installation process is straightforward, with versions available for different platforms. On desktops, simply download and run the installer. Setting up on NAS devices or routers requires more technical knowledge, but the official NZBGet website has manuals to guide you through both installation and custom configuration.

Once installed, NZBGet’s browser-based interface makes the initial setup quick and easy. Users can configure download folders, adjust server settings, and customize preferences.

Adding Your Usenet Server Settings:

To begin downloading, you’ll need to add your Usenet server settings. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open NZBGet’s browser Interface: Open NZBGet in your web browser.
2. Navigate to Settings: Click on the "Settings" button in the top menu, then go to ‘NEWS-SERVERS’.
3. Add Server Information: In the "NEWS-SERVERS" enter your Usenet provider's details, including the server address, port, and the username and password for your Usenet account.
4. Test Connection: After entering the server information, click “Test Connection” to make sure NZBGet successfully connects to the Usenet server.
5. Save Settings: Once the connection is successful, click “Save all changes” to store your server settings.

(Image credit: NZBGet) Pricing

NZBGet is free and open-source, with no costs or premium tiers. You can download the software directly from the official website or the NZBGet GitHub page.

Support

Extensive setup guides and documentation are available on the NZBGet website that covers installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. There is also an active NZBGet Discord channel where users can ask questions, share tips, and get support from the community.

Final Verdict

NZBGet is one of the best NZB downloaders, and it’s free. Beginners will appreciate its simple setup and interface, while intermediate and advanced users will like the customizability and automation capabilities. Whether you’re running it on a dedicated NAS, an older PC, or a low-powered device, NZBGet’s performance and flexibility make it a top choice.