Google today introduced the Pixel Tag, its answer to Apple's AirTag. Pixel Tag is Google's first item tracker, even though Google implemented an item tracking network two years ago that's been used by third-party devices.


The Pixel Tag is made from stainless steel, and it is IP67 water- and dust-resistant. There's a built-in speaker that can play a sound when an item it's attached to is lost, and a button that causes a sound to play on a connected smartphone. An on-device button is one feature that distinguishes the Pixel Tag from the ‌AirTag‌.

Pixel Tags have an oval shape instead of a round shape, and they don't come with an attachment point and like the ‌AirTag‌, require an add-on accessory for adding to keys or bags. Like the ‌AirTag‌, the Pixel Tag uses a replaceable battery that lasts for up to one year. It works with Android devices running Android 9 or newer with Bluetooth 6, and can be tracked in the Find Hub app.

Google added Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband to the Pixel Tag, so it supports a precision finding feature when an item is lost nearby but out of sight. The Pixel Tag supports many of the same functions as the ‌AirTag‌, like alerts when an item is left behind and the option to share item location with multiple people.


The ‌AirTag‌ relies on Apple's Find My network when an item is out of range of its owner's device, and Google has a similar system. The Find Hub network taps into more than a billion Android devices for locating items.

Google has the same protections as Apple, and Android devices send alerts when an unknown tag is detected traveling with you. Unknown tracker alerts are cross-platform thanks to a collaboration between Apple and Google, so iPhone users will get an alert if a Pixel Tag is nearby and vice versa.

Google plans to sell Pixel Tags for $29 for one or $99 for four, which is the same price as the ‌AirTag‌ 2. Pixel Tags will launch in November 2026.
This article, "Google Unveils $29 Pixel Tag to Take On Apple's AirTag" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple hired former American Airlines executive vice president Nick Gatten as its new vice president of government affairs, reports Bloomberg.


Gatten will take on some of the duties of senior vice president of government affairs Katherine Adams, who is retiring at the end of 2026. Gatten will report to Apple senior vice president and general counsel Jennifer Newstead, with Adams to remain available in an advisory role until October 1.

Bloomberg says Gatten is a Republican that Apple felt would be able to align with the Trump administration while also working with democrats. He previously worked at Fannie Mae where he managed a team that interfaced with Republican members of Congress, and he oversaw government affairs at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and American Airlines. He is also on the board of the Faith and Politics institution, an organization that "cultivates mutual respect, moral reflection, increased understanding, and honest conversation among political leaders." From the article:

At the same time, Apple sees Gatten as someone who can work constructively with policymakers on both sides of the aisle, the people said. That will be especially important if the balance of power shifts in Washington. Democrats are vying to take control of at least one chamber of Congress in midterm elections in November, and Trump has less than 2 1/2 years left in his term.

Gatten will work closely with Tim Cook in his new role. Cook plans to step down as Apple CEO on September 1, with hardware chief John Ternus to take over. Cook will remain on as executive chairman, engaging with policymakers and governments worldwide.
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Samsung today said its Galaxy Buds Hearing Aid feature has been cleared by the U.S. FDA, which means hearing aid capabilities will be coming to the Galaxy Buds in the fourth quarter of 2026.


Samsung will join Apple in offering over-the-counter hearing aid functionality. Apple added an FDA-cleared hearing health feature to the AirPods back in 2024, allowing them to be used as a clinical-grade hearing aid.

Like the AirPods, the Galaxy Buds can replace a hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss, and Samsung is introducing a Hearing Test option like Apple did. Galaxy Buds users can do a self-administered hearing test in five minutes and the resulting clinical-grade audiogram can be used to adjust the built-in Hearing Aid feature.

The Galaxy Buds will amplify the sounds users have difficulty hearing, like high frequencies or whispers, which is also how the AirPods work. Noise elimination and beamforming also help Galaxy Buds users by focusing on the sounds in front of the user and suppressing background noise.

Samsung says it worked with the National Acoustic Laboratories and Samsung Medical Center to develop the hearing aid feature set. Hearing Aid features will be available on the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro. A newer Samsung Galaxy smartphone that supports One UI 8 or later is required.

After introducing hearing aid features in the U.S. in iOS 18.1, Apple has expanded availability to over 150 countries and regions. Apple had a two-year head start, but Samsung is now starting to catch up with a Galaxy Buds hearing health option that matches most of what the AirPods can do.
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Sonos is working on an upgraded version of its Ace headphones that will support AI, reports Bloomberg. The Sonos Ace Ultra showed up in an FCC filing earlier this week, with the product likely set to debut in September.


Sonos debuted the original Sonos Ace in 2024. Reviews praised the sound quality and active noise cancellation, but the headphone market is crowded, and Sonos' product launched shortly after its disastrous app redesign. The headphones also didn't fully integrate with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem, making them unappealing to Sonos users. Sonos ended up selling around 200,000 units, well below the internal one-million target it set.

Bloomberg suggests the new model will kick off Sonos' push into artificial intelligence. The headphones could support voice commands based on info in the filing, allowing them to be used with AI chatbots from third-party companies. Sonos CEO Tom Conrad said last month that AI will be an area of focus, with "conversational computing and predictive intelligence moving into the home."

The headphones will come in Greige, Shadow Black, Agave, Blush, and Sand, according to the FCC filing, but little else is known about them because most of the filing was redacted.

The original Sonos Ace were priced at $449 at launch and were competitive with the AirPods Max. The headphones had an over-ear design similar to the AirPods Max, and the same general feature set. Apple does not have a new version of the AirPods Max coming anytime soon, so the second-generation Sonos Ace headphones will still be pitted against the original AirPods Max design.
This article, "Sonos Preparing AirPods Max Rival With Voice Assistant Support" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Satechi today launched the ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger, a successor to the 140W ChargeView released last year. The ChargeView 240W can power multiple devices at one time, splitting 240W across six USB-C ports.


The ChargeView 240W has an LCD display that shows the live wattage of all ports that are in use. The C1 and C2 ports offer up to 140W each, while ports C3 and C4 can deliver up to 100W each. The final two ports offer up to 30W. These are maximum power levels, and actual wattage will vary based on how many ports are used at one time. If all six ports are in use, power would be split 70W/70W/30W/30W/20W/20W.

Satechi is offering the ChargeView in Space Black, and it has a metallic matte finish with a glossy display cover. The Space Black shade is meant to complement Apple devices like the MacBook Pro and Studio Display. There is an included stand that allows the ChargeView to be used in horizontal or vertical orientation on a desktop.

The ChargeView uses GaN technology so it is compact, and it has no fan, so it operates silently. Satechi notes that the device will redistribute power when a new device is plugged in, so there can be a momentary interruption in charging.

The ChargeView 240W can be purchased from the Satechi website or from Amazon for $149.99.
This article, "Satechi Launches 240W ChargeView Desktop Charger With Six USB-C Ports" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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