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Amazon Signs Lease For Largest US Property Ever, Locking Up 4.1 Million Square Feet And 370 Acres In California

Filed Under: THE NEWS, Zerohedge

Amazon Signs Lease For Largest US Property Ever, Locking Up 4.1 Million Square Feet And 370 Acres In California

Amazon just signed a lease for its largest piece of property in the U.S. ever. 

The company just signed a lease for an astounding 4.1 million square feet in Ontario, California, marking its largest U.S. lease to date. 

The deal was consummated in the first quarter of 2022, according to BisNow. A developer for the project or the owner for the project was not immediately disclosed. 

The property will be a “five-story warehouse on Merrill Avenue near the Chino Airport”, the report says.

Meanwhile, Amazon already has a footprint in Ontario with a distribution center that it owns across the street from this parcel of land. 

The signing of a lease is notable for Amazon, BisNow reports, as “Amazon has been moving away from leases and toward owning its own properties, especially for bigger properties”. 

The project looks as though it could create 7 million square feet of industrial space and 1.4 million square feet of business park space. Prologis is said to be the developer that is mostly likely working on the project. 

The warehouse will replace 370 acres that were formerly agricultural land. 

 

Tyler Durden
Tue, 04/26/2022 – 12:25

Daily Deals: Where to Buy RTX 3060, RTX 3070, and RTX 3080 GPU Video Cards

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, IGN

RTX 30 series video cards are steadily popping up on Amazon at prices below what you will currently find on eBay. They haven’t quite reached MSRP levels, but they’re still hundreds of dollars cheaper – and more readily available – than the inventory we’ve seen just last month. We listed all the least expensive RTX 3050, 3060, 3070, and 3080 models on Amazon as well as some of the more popular premium models like the ASUS STRIX ROG and TUF series graphics cards. We’ve also listed some good deals on RTX 30 series equipped prebuilt gaming PCs. They’ve gone down in price as well and are still a better overall value if you’re looking to build out an entirely new gaming rig.

EVGA’s Best RTX 3080 12GB GPU for Only $999.99

RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3090 also available

This is EVGA’s best edition, the “FTW3 Ultra”, with a massive 3-slot triple fan cooler and an overclocked 1800MHz boost clock speed (compared to the 1710MHz boost clock speed on the 3080 FE) and an extra 2GB of VRAM (12GB vs 10GB on the 3080 FE). The 3080 is significantly more powerful than the previous generation’s champ: the 2080 SUPER. This is the card you want to get if you plan to game at 4K or 1440p with very high framerates. The RTX 3080 Ti and 3070 Ti models are also available at the lowest prices this year.

MSI GeForce RTX 3080 GPU for Only $969.99

The Gaming Z Trio card features a 2.5-slot triple fan cooling system and a metal bckplate. It also boasts a decent overclocked boost clock of 1830MHz compared to the 1710MHz on the reference 3080 FE. The Ventus 3X card also features a 2.5-slot triple fan cooling system and metal backplate. The “OC” is very nominal; a 1740MHz boost clock compared to 1710MHz on the reference 3080 FE.

MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GPU for Only $589.99

The RTX 3060 Ti is the best value you’ll get if you want to pick up a new RTX 30 series GPU. The RTX 3060 Ti performs on par with the previous generation’s champ, the RTX 2080 SUPER. It’s signficantly more powerful and less than $100 more than the next video card down, the RTX 3060. It’s also only slightly less powerful and almost $200 cheaper than the next card up, the RTX 3070. This card will easily handle games at up to 1440p, it’s more than good enough for VR gaming, and you’ll be able to push 144Hz or even 240Hz at 1080p.

More RTX 30 Series Video Cards in Stock on Amazon

For the first time since the RTX 30 series launch, Amazon has a decent supply of select RTX 30 series video cards available. Mind you most cards are still priced over MSRP, but they aren’t as exorbitant as they used to be, and most 3rd party cards have factory overclocks and rugged aftermarket cooling solutions to sweeten the deal. We’ve only highlighted video cards that are shipped and sold from Amazon directly; dealing with an unauthorized 3rd party marketplace vendor will in many cases void your video card warranty.

Amazon’s Noise-Cancelling Echo Buds Are More Than Half Off Right Now

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, Variety

When Amazon released their second-generation earbuds last year, it almost seemed too good to be true.  They’re smaller, lighter and more comfortable than the company first go at wireless earbuds, for a fraction of the cost of competitors like Bose and Apple. And now these same Echo Buds are more than half off right now, […]

Amazon is adding a ‘fuel and inflation surcharge’

Filed Under: The Blaze, THE NEWS

This past Wednesday, Amazon announced that for the first time in the company’s history, it will be charging sellers a “5% fuel and inflation surcharge.”

According to CNN Business, the new fee is being imposed because “inflation has worsened significantly in recent months.”

In a company-wide memo, Amazon said, “In 2022, we expected to return to normalcy as Covid-19 restrictions around the world eased, but fuel and inflation have presented further challenges.”

“It is unclear if these inflationary costs will go up or down, or how long they will persist,” the company said.

Patrick Graham, a spokesperson for the company, said that the fee surcharge applies only to fee rates paid by sellers that choose to use Amazon’s fulfillment services. These services include the storage, packing, and shipping of products.

Reportedly, sellers who do not use Amazon’s fulfillment services will not be impacted.

Amazon’s fee is the latest example of how businesses are reacting to soaring energy costs and the general increased cost of goods and services due to inflation.

Last month, Lyft — the popular ridesharing service —announced that it was adding a surcharge of 55 cents to each ride given in order to offset the surging price of gasoline.

ABC News reported that all of the money being generated through this surcharge will be given directly back to Lyft’s drivers and that it would remain in place for “at least the next 60 days.”

In mid-March, Uber announced a similar initiative to that of their competitor. Uber announced that it would tack on a 45 to 55 cent surcharge on all of its rides and add a 35 to 45 cent surcharge on all Uber Eats deliveries.

However, drivers said the surcharge reimbursements they would be receiving from their employers weren’t enough.

According to a blog from “The Rideshare Guy,” 43% of Uber and Lyft drivers said they were driving less or quitting their rideshare gigs because of the rising cost of fuel.

These rising costs, and the little relief drivers received, prompted them to organize a protest in front of Uber’s Manhattan headquarters.

The new surcharge Amazon is implementing on its sellers could trickle down and affect consumers as retailers seek to pass along the rising cost of hosting their businesses on Amazon.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that suppliers raised their prices by 11.2% in March as inflation raised 8.5% year-over-year.

In the company-wide memo, Amazon said, “Like many, we have experienced significant cost increases and absorbed them, wherever possible, to reduce the impact on our selling partners. When we did increase fees, we were focused on addressing permanent costs and ensuring our fees were competitive with those of other service providers.”

Best Bluetooth speakers under $100 in 2022

Filed Under: PopSci, SCI-TECH

Best shower speakers under $100




Best overall The Amazon Echo is the best smart speaker for under $100 Amazon Echo (4th Gen.)










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An amazing at-home speaker with unlimited smart control possibilities.
Best waterproof The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is the best shower speaker with bass UE Wonderboom 2










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The best bluetooth speaker to take to the pool, beach, or bathtub.

Best portable The JBL Clip 4 is the best portable pick JBL Clip 4










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A tiny, but mighty, ultraportable speaker that packs a punch.

Inexpensive Bluetooth speakers can be hit or miss; some models stand up well against pricier units while others sink. Luckily, if you know what you’re looking for, you won’t have any trouble selecting the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 to fit your needs and budget. Whether you’re looking for something waterproof to bring with you to the beach or something super compact to accompany you on a backcountry hike, there is an affordable option out there. Just because you’re not ready to shell out $200 or more doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sacrifice special features, impressive battery life, or other elements that make you reach for a speaker whenever and wherever you want to tap into your favorite tunes. 

How we selected the best Bluetooth speakers under $100

If you visit my apartment, you will immediately see a veritable wall of Bluetooth speakers, large and small. I have what some may call a “deep enthusiasm” for portable sound. To start our selection process for speakers under $100, we listened to personal favorites, took a deep dive into technical specs, and consulted user reviews on additional models. We paid particular attention to sound quality, battery life, and connectivity to ensure that these affordable options provide an exceptional listening experience. Each model has a battery that lasts at least 10 hours, with a connectivity range over 20 feet, and special features that range from extra portability, waterproof ratings, stereo pairing, and voice assistant compatibility.

Things to consider before buying a Bluetooth speaker under $100

Just because you aren’t spending a fortune on your next Bluetooth speaker doesn’t mean you need to suffer at the hands of bad sound quality, poor battery life, or bulky, awkward sizing. While you may not be able to acquire all the bells and whistles of a more expensive model, if you prioritize your favorite features, you’ll still have a super satisfying sonic experience. 

Sound quality 

Perhaps the hardest thing to find with a more budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker is excellent sound quality. Bluetooth speakers, in general, aren’t necessarily known for audiophile-quality sound reproduction, so don’t despair if your new unit doesn’t sound exactly like your high-end studio monitors. That being said, you don’t have to settle for muffled, distorted, or limited audio. To find a Bluetooth speaker under $100 that can bump solid bass, maintain clarity, and support a plethora of genres and instruments, consider size, decibels, and frequency response. 

Size matters if you want to experience some heavy-hitting low end for personal listening or a raucous party—the physical constraints of components that make up a speaker can’t help but impact the sound. Larger units are generally better equipped to maintain distortion-free audio even as you turn the volume up, plus they have more room for well-designed subwoofers that can achieve lower registers. You are likely to get a more powerful, accurate low end when there are additional woofers or “bass radiators,” which can only be housed in a speaker that’s bigger than your iPhone. 

For more detailed information about volume, check out the speaker’s specs and look for a maximum decibel level, notated as dB. If you are primarily playing music inside, 100 dB is the loudest you’ll want to go, and we’d be surprised if you even enjoyed listening at this level (it’s akin to a jet plane flying directly overhead). On the other hand, if you’re hosting an outdoor party with many people in attendance, you could think about increasing the volume to 115 dB, which is concert-level; music at this volume will cover a large area, but you wouldn’t want anyone standing too close. Generally speaking, we are satisfied with Bluetooth speakers that maintain good sound quality at 85 dB for larger gatherings. 

Battery life 

A Bluetooth speaker is only as good as its battery life; at least that’s what I think whenever mine dies right before playing my favorite Solange song in the shower. In order to avoid the low-battery light flashing a warning right in the middle of the party, make sure you do a deep dive into a speaker’s description before buying. Luckily, many speakers under $100 can last between 10 and 20 hours without a charge, more than enough time for a podcast binge or a few days’ worth of “Yoga with Adriene” classes. If you aren’t worried about running out of battery on the go, consider going for a Bluetooth speaker that will let you keep playing music while charging. 

Size and portability 

When you set out to shop for a Bluetooth speaker, it’s important to consider where and when you’ll be rocking out the most. While most wire-free wonders are designed to move with you, not every speaker can claim prime portability. If you’re taking your favorite tunes to a nearby park, beach, or neighboring house party, don’t be afraid to grab a larger model to shove in a bag or carry by hand. Generally, the larger speakers have a bit of an edge over their truly tiny counterparts when it comes to sound quality. However, if you need a boost of music while riding your bike or hiking up your favorite trail, a small speaker will certainly suit your needs. There are even several portable speakers that weigh under 1 pound, so you don’t need to worry about being bogged down. We recommend a lightweight model with a built-in strap for easy outdoor listening.

Connectivity 

It’s no surprise that Bluetooth speakers are designed for, you guessed it, Bluetooth connectivity, which is a constantly evolving protocol. To make sure your speaker will perform its best for years to come, look for the most recent version of Bluetooth support you can find (at the moment that’s anything in the 5.0 range). A Bluetooth 5.1 or 5.2 speaker will have a more stable connection, which makes it easier to support brand-specific features like allowing more than one person to connect and control the speaker at a time. This feature is handy when it comes time to turn your party playlist over to a different DJ. If you want true stereo sound, search for a speaker with a robust connection designed to pair with another unit manufactured by the same company. That way, you can experience true stereo (while maximizing volume). And even if your speaker is Bluetooth, not all your sources might be, or they might occasionally have trouble connecting, so consider if you need (or want) a speaker that still offers an auxiliary (aux) jack, so you can physically connect your phone or computer with a 3.5mm cable. 

Also, consider the Bluetooth codecs supported by the speaker. Every single Bluetooth device supports SBC, but the shortcoming of making a universal format is it’s also the lowest quality. If you use solely iOS devices, a speaker that supports AAC will optimize your connection quality. And if you’re Android, aptX support does a similar job of being a higher-quality default. There are even more esoteric, brand-specific codecs beyond that, but they rarely accompany speakers in the under $100 price range.

One final thing to keep in mind when considering connectivity is Bluetooth range. This describes how far you and your device can wander away before your sound starts to get fuzzy before ultimately getting disconnected. If you’re supplying the tunes for an outdoor barbecue and you only have a 10-foot Bluetooth range, chances are you won’t be able to get in and out of the house without someone yelling, “Where’d the music go?” Or you’ll end up leaving your phone sitting out in the open, where it might get accidentally dunked in a pool or test its durability against the patio. Look for a speaker with at least a 25-foot range or higher for maximum connectivity in various sonic scenarios. 

IP rating 

Almost every Bluetooth speaker will have an IP rating proudly stated in the product description or buried in additional specs. IP stands for “Ingress Protection,” which tells you just how fortified an electronic device is against dirt, dust, and water. If you’re looking for a speaker to sit in your car or on your bookshelf, having a high IP rating might not be important for your purchase. However, if you want a speaker to safely take with you to the beach, park, or bathtub perch—make sure you investigate how well it’s already protected from the elements.

IP ratings are typically composed of two numbers, or one number and an X. For example, the Wonderboom 2, a personal favorite, has an IP67 rating. The first digit describes particle protection, the second liquid. The “6” indicates it can keep out most dust and dirt particles, while the “7” means it can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes before any damage occurs, making it a great option for poolside tunes. The higher the number, the more protected your speakers will be from whatever threatens them. So, Wonderboom 2’s IP rating makes it one of the best shower speakers and the kind of speaker you could feel comfortable taking to the beach or for some lakeside listening. 

You may find an IP that replaces particle protection with an “X,” written as IPX7 for example. An “X” in place of any number means no data is available for that substance. You should assume that the speaker is not protected from said element when you see an X. 

The best Bluetooth speakers under $100: Reviews & Recommendations

Best overall: Amazon Echo (4th Gen.)

The Amazon Echo is the best smart speaker for under $100

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Why it made the cut: For under $100, the 4th-gen. Amazon Echo is the perfect at-home speaker with a built-in microphone, impressive sound quality, and multiple connectivity options. 

Specs

  • Battery Life: Not rechargeable 
  • Bluetooth Range: 30 feet
  • IP Rating: None
  • Size: 5.7 x 5.7 x 5.2 inches

Pros: 

  • Sound quality 
  • Auxiliary port 
  • Built-in mic 

Cons: 

  • Not portable 
  • Not waterproof 

While the Amazon Echo is not a speaker you can take with you on the go, it is the best option for indoor listening. Like its Echo predecessors, the 4th-generation model is easy to use and compatible with many smart devices, doubling as a smart home hub for those who have smart lights, switches, doorbells, locks, and more. Even without the extra fixtures, Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa can help you set up timers, reminders, check the weather, call your family and friends, or call up your favorite playlists. The built-in microphone and speaker capabilities make for streamlined, hands-free communication. Installing more than one Echo in your home means you can program and sync multiroom music.

Available in three sleek colorways, the Echo will not only look good but sound good, with dual front-firing 0.8-inch tweeters and surprising bass thanks to a 3.0-inch neodymium woofer. These three drivers combine to deliver a satisfying thump and improved clarity, plus they support Dolby Audio (but not Dolby Atmos). Wi-Fi enabled, you can cast music from your phone if you’re on the same network or let it take direct advantage of connected services like Amazon Music HD, Audible, or Spotify Connect if you want to reserve your Bluetooth for another device.  

The Echo orb is equipped with onboard controls that will allow you to control volume, mute the microphone, or skip tracks. An LED ring at the base of the speakers will illuminate when Alexa has been activated and glow red when the microphone is muted. At the back of the speaker, you’ll find a power input port and an aux port for analog connections. The Echo is not a portable speaker, so it will need to stay plugged in at all times, though the Bluetooth 5.0 connection means you can play from just about any smart device in your home (and most rooms, depending on the layout of your walls).

Best waterproof: UE Wonderboom 2

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is the best shower speaker with bass

UE Wonderboom

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Why it made the cut: The Wonderboom 2 is one of the best waterproof speakers around, with impressive sound coverage and solid battery life. 

Specs

  • Battery Life: 13 hours 
  • Bluetooth Range: 100 feet 
  • IP Rating: IP67
  • Size: 3.68 x 3.68 x 4.02 inches

Pros: 

  • Waterproof 
  • Sound quality 
  • Portability 

Cons: 

  • No auxiliary connection 
  • No onboard skip back 

The Wonderboom 2 is one of our favorite shower speakers, one of our favorite small speakers in general, and it has topped recommended lists of outdoor-friendly party speakers for a reason. If you’re looking for a speaker under $100 to take with you to the beach, pool, or bathtub, you can’t go wrong with the buoyant buddy. Bluetooth is just SBC, but two 40mm active drivers and two passive radiators deliver a frequency range of 75 Hz – 20 kHz and the 360-degree sound is pretty robust, hitting up to 87 dB in volume with “Outdoor Boost” mode. With an IP67 rating, the Wonderboom 2 is protected when submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes (though it floats, so that helps you grab it if you’re worried). It’s also protected against fine particles, so you don’t have to worry about damage from the sand lingering in your beach bag. Weighing less than 1 pound with a flexible looped handle, this is also a great speaker to clip onto your backpack for any adventure. Lasting up to 13 hours, you’ll get the most out of your day and then some, especially if you manage to snag two, allowing you to pair and play in true stereo sound. 

Best bass: Sony SRS-XB23 

The Sony SRS-XB23 are the best for bass

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Why it made the cut: The Sony SRS-XB23 is designed to deliver EXTRA BASS for bangin’ sound, with an impressive range and a sleek design.

Specs

  • Battery Life: 12 hours 
  • Bluetooth Range: 100 feet 
  • IP Rating: IP67
  • Size: 4.06 x 4.06 x 9.09 inches

Pros: 

  • Built-In Microphone
  • Party connect
  • Booming bass 
  • Five modern colorways
  • Innovative drivers achieve more bass with less distortion

Cons: 

  • Battery life can be depleted when playing at high volumes 
  • No aux input 
  • Pricier

Bass-lovers rejoice, the Sony SRS-XB23 is a Bluetooth speaker designed with you in mind. This pick boasts passive side radiators on each end that help the dual mica-reinforced “X-Balanced” full-range drivers achieve higher sound pressure and lower distortion, thanks to their atypical non-circular shape. This makes sure you get the full 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz spectrum from your music, plus more clean, clear rumble when Extra Bass Mode is triggered. A Bluetooth 5.0 connection—with support for SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs—guarantees you can extract all the bump. This speaker is equipped with a stereo pair mode and Party Connect, which allows you to connect two speakers for a properly spaced out left-right response or up to 100 for an even more bass bumping sound. Additional features include a built-in microphone for a seamless transition to phone calls and control via the Sony l Music Center app, which allows you to switch modes, select your favorite playlists, change songs, apply EQ, and more right from your device. Orient the speaker any way you like, standing up or laying down, and you can switch from monophonic playback to stereo playback (when horizontal) using the app. Not only does the SRS-XB23 impress when it comes to sound, but a removable strap and IP67 rating mean you can safely take it with you just about anywhere. 

Best portable: JBL Clip 4 

The JBL Clip 4 is the best portable pick

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Why it made the cut: The JBL Clip 4 weighs under 1 pound and is designed with a handy carabiner clip so you can get up and go without any limitations on your sound. 

Specs

  • Battery Life: 10 hours 
  • Bluetooth Range: 32 feet 
  • IP Rating: IP67
  • Size: 1.8 x 3.4 x 5.3 inches

Pros: 

  • Lightweight 
  • Integrated carabiner 
  • Colorways 
  • Waterproof 

Cons: 

  • No fancy features 
  • Battery life could be better 

The JBL Clip 4 is tiny but incredibly mighty; it’s a great speaker for runners, bikers, hikers, and more. The compact unit weighs just 0.53 pounds and measures less than 6 inches tall; its footprint is barely noticeable until you crank up the tunes. A 5-watt wonder, this ultraportable features Bluetooth 5.1 and delivers an impressive dynamic frequency response of 100 Hz to 20 kHz, which could even beat out some larger speakers. The integrated carabiner is easily clipped to a belt loop, backpack strap, or even your shower head for easy access and hands-free listening. An IP67 rating means there is nowhere the Clip 4 can’t go, rain or shine. And while this small speaker may forgo the extra features found in a larger unit, it packs a pretty powerful punch when it comes to sound quality, plus it fits neatly in the palm of your hand for maximum portability. 

Best budget: Anker Soundcore Flare 2

The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 is the best budget pick

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Why it made the cut: The Anker Soundcore Flare 2 boasts many of the features found in more expensive models, including PartyCast, LED lights, and a waterproof rating. 

Specs

  • Battery Life: 12 hours 
  • Bluetooth Range: Unk.
  • IP Rating: IPX7
  • Size: 3.5 x 3.5 x 6.31 inches

Pros: 

  • LED light show 
  • PartyCast technology 
  • Soundcore App 

Cons: 

  • Battery life depletes quickly with high volume 
  • Does not support stereo sound 

The Flare 2 is a budget-friendly speaker with select high-end features that deliver a bang for your buck. With solid sound quality, satisfying 12-hour battery life, and a solid IPX7 rating, this 16-ounce can-styled speaker lets you stay connected to your favorite music, podcasts, and more at home or on the go, in the sun or light rain. The Flare 2 utilizes 20 watts to power dual drivers and bass radiators, with an engaging  360-degree output of 73 Hz – 20 kHz. PartyCast mode lets you pair up to 100 speakers together for a truly robust array of speakers, plus you can create a custom EQ for each speaker to tailor your sound to your style. Not only will you be able to enjoy sonic pleasure, but a beat-driven light show can accompany the digitally reinforced BassUp response. The Flare 2 features two light rings and six lighting modes that can be triggered via the Soundcore app; when PartyCast is enabled, you can sync lighting changes and create your own mini music festival—the Electric Daisy Carnival EDM festival won’t have anything on you. 

FAQs

Q: How many watts is a good speaker?

While there isn’t a set amount of wattage that determines a good speaker, you can use this measurement to assess volume output. Wattage typically determines how loud a speaker can get, but not the quality of the sound. Larger speakers with higher wattage can typically generate more volume, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be free of distortion. For more information regarding your speaker’s sound quality, investigate its frequency range and sound pressure levels, notated as SPL.

Q: How long should a Bluetooth speaker last?

In terms of battery life, w  believe that a good Bluetooth speaker should last at least 10 hours. We want to have the option of all-day listening, or at least be able to turn on the tunes a few hours a day without having to charge every single night. Most speakers worth their salt will have at least 10 hours of battery life, however, this may decrease if you listen to music at high volumes. The purported battery life typically reflects usage at mid-range volumes; lower volumes may result in more hours, and high volumes are likely to result in less. 

Q: Is JBL or Bose better?

When it comes to finding portable Bluetooth speakers under $100, JBL is going to be a better option. Bose does not currently have a model that regularly retails for under $119. However, they do occasionally have sales or run special promotions (one of our favorites, the Bose Soundlink Micro, is one to watch, as it dips under a C-note). JBL, on the other hand, has several budget-friendly options, including the JBL Clip 4 and JBL Go 3. These JBL models are compact, travel-friendly units designed to move with you. However, if you plan on looking for a high-end speaker, soundbar, or home system in the future, Bose is certainly a brand worth investigating. 

Final thoughts on picking the best Bluetooth speakers under $100

When it comes to finding the best Bluetooth speakers under $100, there are many options to wade through before finding the one that’s perfect for you. Prioritizing your budget doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice important features. Would you prefer something extra portable? Are you emphasizing sound quality? Do you need a speaker you can dunk in the water? As long as you know when and where you want to rock out, you won’t have a problem finding a Bluetooth speaker to fit your style. 

The post Best Bluetooth speakers under $100 in 2022 appeared first on Popular Science.

Daily Deals: Get $5 Off Your First Amazon App Order of $10 or More

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, IGN

Amazon is offering a nice incentive for those of you who shop at Amazon but have never used the Amazon Store app. This is a great opportunity for you to try out the app and see why it’s an easier way to make purchases from a small mobile device. In related news, you can also buy a $50 Apple Gift card and score another bonus $5 Amazon credit. All models of Apple AirPods as well as the newest Apple Watches are also on sale, at the lowest prices we’ve ever seen. If you’re a PS5 owner, there’s a 2TB PS5-compatible SSD that’s finally gone under the $200 threshold. These deals and more below.

Get $5 Off Your First Amazon App Order of $10+

Note: Scan the QR code on the landing page to get the coupon

This is essentially free money for those of you who have yet to use the Amazon app. Sign up for the Amazon app and get $5 off your first in-app purchase of $10 or more. No strings attached. The Amazon app is a very easy way to make your purchases on Amazon from a mobile device. This is an instant discount instead of cashback, so you’d be getting $5 off your order total during checkout. In addition to being able to buy items more easily from your mobile device, the Amazon app features real-time tracking and delivery notifications, 360° product views, live chat support 24/7, and a built-in price alert.

Buy a $50 Apple Gift Card, Get $5 Amazon Credit

Promotional credit will be listed at last step of checkout

Amazon is offering a free $5 credit when you purchase a $50 Apple gift card. The Apple gift card can be used to redeem pretty much anything on Apple’s site, including products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more. Spend it on in-app content, books, subscriptions and even iCloud storage to secure files from all your Apple devices. You can use it to pay for in-app currency in games like Genshin Impact on your iPad or iPhone.

New Apple AirPods Pro Noise-Cancelling Earbuds

This is the newest generation model with the MagSafe compatible wireless charger. The AirPods Pro is considered one of the best noise-cancelling in-ear headphones you can get, especially for under $200. The noise cancellation is considered to be even better than the Bose Quietcomfort because of the natural noise isolating design of the in-ear earbuds. If you don’t care much for the AirPod Pro’s noise cancelling feature and you’re on a budget, the new 3rd gen Apple AirPods 3 with MagSafe compatible charging case is also on sale today. And even that’s still a bit too much of an overspend for you, the AirPods 2 with wired charging case is on sale for under $100.

Apple Watch Series 7 and SE

The Series 7 is Apple’s latest and greatest watch. Today, both the 41mm and 45mm models are heavily discounted on Amazon (cheaper than Black Friday). The biggest upgrade the Series 7 has over the Series 6 is the display. It has the same always-on Retina display, but it’s 20% bigger and features a more crack-resistant front crystal screen. It also adds on even more health-related features, like measuring your blood oxygen or taking an ECG. If the Apple Watch Series 7 is out of your budget and you don’t think you’d make much use out of the health features, the newest Apple Watch SE is also on sale today at the lowest price ever. This affordable smartwatch features a Retina OLED display, Aple S5 chip, optical heart rate sensor, fall detection, and an always-on altimeter.

Razer Anzu Smart Glasses

These Razer smart glasses retail for a ridiculous $199.99. Fortunately, they’re on sale today for a much more reasonable price of $59.99. The Razer Anzu glasses comes with two types of interchangeable lenses; blue-light filtering lenses for PC use and polarized lenses for outdoor use. They also feature a built-in mic and bluetooth speaker for hands-free calling.

Crucial P5 Plus 2TB M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD for $199.99

Lowest priced PS5-compatible 2TB SSD ever

Crucial’s newest P5 Plus series PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 SSD meets all the requirements for your PS5 SSD upgrade. It supports transfer speeds of up to 6,660MB/s, well above the 5,000MB/s minimum threshold. No heatsink is included but you can buy a cheap PS5 compatible heatsink on Amazon and put it on yourself (it’s super easy).

MSI GeForce RTX 3080 GPU for Only $969.99

This is easily the best price we’ve seen for an RTX 3080 video card since launch. At this price point, the RTX 3080 is a better value than the 3080 Ti, which costs at least $300 more at reputable vendors. The performance gap between the 3080 and 3080 Ti is about 3%, hardly noticeable. The 3080 is significantly more powerful than the previous generation’s champ: the 2080 SUPER. This is the card you want to get if you plan to game at 4K or 1440p with very high framerates. Because other RTX 3080 cards are still selling for at least $1200, it’s very unlikely that this model will stay in stock for very long.

EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU for Only $1299.99

This RTX 3080 Ti is only $100 more than the MSRP of the reference model RTX 3080 Ti FE. This is EVGA’s best edition, the “FTW3 Ultra”, with a massive 3-slot triple fan cooler and an overclocked 1800MHz boost clock speed (compared to the 1665MHz boost clock speed on the 3080 Ti FE). Arguably, this is worth the $100 price premium over the FE model.

PNY GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GPU for Only $588.99

The RTX 3060 Ti is the best value you’ll get if you want to pick up a new RTX 30 series GPU. The RTX 3060 Ti performs on par with the previous generation’s champ, the RTX 2080 SUPER. It’s signficantly more powerful and less than $100 more than the next video card down, the RTX 3060. It’s also only slightly less powerful and almost $200 cheaper than the next card up, the RTX 3070. This card will easily handle games at up to 1440p, it’s more than good enough for VR gaming, and you’ll be able to push 144Hz or even 240Hz at 1080p.

WD Easystore 5TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive

This portable hard drive adds more storage to your PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Portable drives are much smaller than their desktop hard drive siblings and require no additional power other than the obligatory USB port.

Nintendo Switch Sports with Free Water Bottle

If you want to pick up a copy of the upcoming Nintendo Switch Sports game, Walmart is the place you should get it. The game itself isn’t discounted, but you do get a free branded steel water bottle. No other legitimate vendor has the game for cheaper, so this is the best deal you can get right now.

HP Victus RTX 3060 Ti Gaming PC for $875

This is far and away the lowest price we have ever seen for a prebuilt gaming PC equipped with an RTX 3060 Ti GPU. Once you hit the product page, you’ll have to select “RTX 3060” for $250 and a “500W Power Supply) for $50. You can buy the system as is, or you can choose to add a few more choice upgrades. You certainly have leeway with this super cheap price.

48″ and 55″ LG C1 4K OLED Smart Gaming TVs

Supports 4K @ 120Hz for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X gamers

This is the lowest price we’ve seen for both the 48″ and 55″ LG C1 OLED TVs. If money isn’t an object, OLED TVs are considered the best TVs you can buy right now. Compared to traditional LED LCD TVs, they offer better image quality, deeper blacks, better contrast ratio, wider color gamut, and super fast response times. They excel at both gaming and viewing 4K HDR content. In terms of general usability, they consume less power and they’re very thin and sit flusher against the wall. Amongst OLED TVs, the LG C1 is oft considered the flag bearer; it’s the one TV that all other OLED TVs are compared against. The LG OLED TV boasts several generations of optimizations under its belt and the latest C1 model is future proofed with technology like HDMI 2.1 (4K @ 120Hz), variable refresh rate, G-SYNC, the newest LG A9 Gen4 processor and a revamped webOS smart TV interface.

15% Off Instacart Gift Card

Score a $100 Instacart gift card at Best Buy for only $85. Instacart is an online service that delivers groceries from your local neighborhood right to your door; you’ll never have to step foot into any grocery store. Depending on your location, you can even get same day delivery within 2 hours of ordering. For us gamers, that saves us lots of time.

Dell XPS RTX 3060, 3060 Ti, and 3070 Gaming PCs

Dell is offering deals on XPS gaming PC equipped with an 11th gen Intel Core i7 processor and your choice of RTX 3060, RTX 3060 Ti, and RTX 3070 video cards. The RTX 30 series video cards are getting a bit easier to find, but most vendors (including reputable ones like Amazon) are still charging for hundreds of dollars over MSRP. If you’re building out an entire new gaming PC, in most cases you’ll still save a lot of money going the prebuilt route, especially since Dell is offering an unbeatable price for a solidly built, warrantied gaming rig.

ASUS ROG RTX 3080 Gaming Desktop PC

One of the least expensive pre-built RTX 3080 equipped gaming PCs on the market has been discounted by an additional $300 today at Best Buy The price is quite a surprise because ASUS ROG gaming PCs are generally considered to be better built than your average prebuilt PC with quality components and a slick gaming aeshetic. This particular model is equipped with an unlocked 11th generation Intel Core i7-11700KF processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 2TB HDD for extra storage.

ASUS Vivobook 14″ Laptop w/ WQXGA+ OLED Display

This ASUS Vivobook laptop has one of the best laptop displays we’ve seen, especially at this really low price. The 14″ OLED display sports a 16:10 WGXGA+ (2880×1800) resolution with a 100% DCI-P3 color range and Pantone color calibration. It’s paired with an Intel Core i5 processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD. It even has a Thunderbolt 4 port.

Video Games on Sale

C4 “Frozen Bombsicle” Zero Calorie Energy Drink

Note: Use Amazon Subscribe & Save checkout to get this deal

This deal is always popular with the IGN crowd when it comes along. C4 energy drinks usually cost about $2-$3 apiece at your local convenience store. On sale you might be lucky to find them for about $1.50. This deal lets you score a 12-pack for only $11.20. That’s less than $1 per can. Each can contains 150mg of caffeine and a bunch of other stuff to keep you energized and hydrated. You won’t be getting any unnecessary calories either, since this is a zero-calorie zero-sugar drink.