Bring wireless music to your home with the $165 Sonos Play:1

The powerful and compact Sonos Play:1 speaker is currently $35 off at eBay, dropping the price of it down to just $165. While $35 may not seem like a big discount, it isn’t too often that we see any savings on these speakers, so you don’t want to miss when it happens.

Whether you have Sonos speakers already spread throughout your house or are looking to get started with your first one, taking advantage of discounts when they are available is the best way to do this. You’ll be able to add a Play:1 to your existing setup or put it in a room or office to run independently.

Sonos does an amazing job of supporting its speakers and bringing new features to them often. Unfortunately, this price won’t last long. If you’re in the market for a Sonos speaker, be sure to grab one in either black or white before the deal ends.

See at eBay

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

Google Pixel and Pixel XL: Everything you need to know

A year on, Google’s Pixels remain important — this is what you need to know.

Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are fantastic. These phones are the first made entirely under Google’s control, following in the footsteps of the two Chromebook Pixels and the Pixel C tablet — and they marked a new era of smartphones blessed by Google.

That makes these phones interesting from a hardware perspective, wearing just the “G” logo on the back and taking on some neat design cues, but also in terms of how the software and features are deeply integrated into these aluminum blocks. Here’s everything you need to know about the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are coming

With almost a year in the rear-view mirror, the original Pixel and Pixel XL are about to hand off the torch to their successors. The Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be announced on October 4!

The offering is expected to follow a similar formula: two phones at different sizes and price points with the same set of core features and advantages. The difference in 2017 is that the phones are expected to be made by different manufacturers, with HTC taking the smaller Pixel 2 and LG taking the Pixel XL 2.

Read: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2: Release Date, Specs, Price and Rumors!

What will happen to the original Pixels?

Of course, the original Pixels will continue to live on — at lower prices, and still with plenty of runway in terms of software updates. They will get the newest version of Android Oreo, expected to be version 8.1, right alongside the new Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2. And aside from any hardware limitations (there shouldn’t be many), they should have all of the same features as well.

The original Pixels won’t be left behind — expect software support for Android P and beyond.

The interesting thing to see will be how much Google brings camera improvements back to the original Pixels. So much of what Google does with photography is in the software rather than hardware, and it’s feasible that the original Pixels could ride the wave of camera improvements through Android 8.1 and the new Google Camera app.

If you choose to hold onto one, the 2016 versions of the Pixel and Pixel XL will get Android P in 2018 as well — and get security updates for another year after that. So you don’t have to worry about being left behind in the dust.

Read (and watch) our Google Pixel review

The easiest way to learn about Google’s newest phones, as we experienced them closely after their launch, is to read our full review and then watch the video review that goes along with it!

Two sizes, same phone

Google’s branding for the Pixel phones is a tad confusing, as the name used in marketing is just “Pixel” while we of course we know there’s more than one phone available. But the way you should look at this is just two different screen sizes of the same phone: a 5-inch Pixel, and a 5.5-inch Pixel XL.

The phones are identical in terms of internal specs, build, hardware quality, features and software — there are just three differences to note: the Pixel XL has a larger 5.5-inch display, a higher 2560×1440 resolution, and a larger 3450mAh battery. That compares to the Pixel’s 5-inch 1920×1080 display and 2770mAh battery.

The drop in screen resolution shouldn’t be too upsetting considering the still-high pixel density at 5 inches, and of course when the body gets smaller, the battery is going to shrink as well. Battery life shouldn’t drop off much considering the smaller screen and resolution. Really, this comes down to how much screen you need to get your daily tasks done, and how much you can manage in your hand and pocket.

More: Google Pixel vs. Pixel XL: Which should you buy?

Nexus is dead. Long live Pixel!

The new Pixel and Pixel XL are of course not Nexus phones by brand, but they clearly carry on the legacy of the line. They come from Google, are sold unlocked, and epitomize the complete Google experience.

If you owned (or lusted after) Nexus phones in the past for their simplicity, direct support from Google, and clean integration of Google’s own apps and services, you’ll be served just as well by a Google Pixel.

Updates come from Google, guaranteed

One of the most compelling reasons to buy a phone from Google is software updates. Not only will the Pixels be supported by two years of guaranteed Android platform and feature updates, but you’ll also be getting monthly security patches for three years as well. Those updates won’t be such a pain to take, either, as Android Nougat introduced seamless updates that get in place in the background and apply quickly on reboot.

There are lots of phones with really cool software features right out of the box, but it’s their shaky continued support a year or two down the road that make us take pause. If you don’t want to worry about when or where your future software update is coming, the Pixels should be your top choice.

You get 24/7 support built in

It’s not necessarily a software feature at its core, but part of the justification of the Pixels’ high prices is the inclusion of live 24/7 support direct from Google. The support is built right into the settings of the phones, and lets you quickly contact Google for a phone call or chat to talk about what’s going wrong with your phone.

Much like Amazon pioneered on its Fire tablets, Google can also start a screen sharing session with you so you can literally show your exact problem to the support person and figure it out while on the phone. It’s these sorts of things you may not think about all the time, but when you just can’t figure out a problem it’s great to have it there. The feature may be particularly useful if you’re looking at the Pixel for a less tech-savvy family member or friend — you’re no longer the tech support!

The best part about the 24/7 support is how it becomes even more useful as the phones get older and approach (or surpass) their warranty dates.

More: The Pixel’s secret weapon: 24/7 support

You get unlimited full-quality camera backups for life

Google Photos and the Pixel are a match made in heaven. Not only do the Pixels have excellent cameras, but Google allows all Pixel owners to back up their photos and videos — even 4K video! — in full resolution for free, forever.

It’s one of those things that Google can do only because it owns the entire stack, and it makes owning the phone even better.

More: The Pixel’s secret weapon: Unlimited high-resolution camera backups

You should look at Project Fi

If you’re looking to switch carriers after getting your Pixel, you may want to look into switching to Google’s own carrier offering called Project Fi. It’s an awesome carrier that doesn’t tie you down with contracts, agreements, lengthy bills or overage charges — it’s all about simplicity, just like the Pixels.

With Project Fi, your Pixel will actively switch between using Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular networks depending on which is best, and will also jump on open Wi-Fi outside of your house as well as let you make calls and texts over any Wi-Fi network. It’s just $20 per month to start, plus $10 per gigabyte of data you use, no matter how much you use. You’re refunded for data you buy but don’t consume in the month, and you can even use that data outside of the U.S. with no extra fees. There’s even a group plan where you can bring along your family to Project Fi.

You can get a Project Fi SIM card for free when you order your Pixel, or if you already have one on the way you can pick up a SIM card when you sign up for Project Fi online.

Having Pixel problems?

If you look around a little, you’ll see there are plenty of reported problems with the Google Pixel, from Bluetooth to Wi-Fi to microphones cutting out. Google has promised to fix all of them in time, and may have fixed any issues before you got to them in particular, but in the meantime, you can find our running list of Google Pixel issues and share your stories.

Common Google Pixel problems and how to fix them

Pixel owner? Hop in the forums!

Even though there are new Pixels on the horizon, there are still millions of people happily using the originals. Maybe you’re one of them! To keep the discussion going, see how your phone is holding up compared to everyone else, and troubleshoot any ongoing issues you may have, you’ll want to join our Google Pixel forum!

Updated September 2017: This article was completely rewritten to reflect current information and the coming of the Pixel 2!

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

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NPR’s biggest podcasts are available on the iHeartRadio app

There’s a new place to listen to your favorite NPR podcasts: the iHeartRadio app. A press release says that Fresh Air, How I Built This, Invisibilia, Planet Money and Up First will be available via the app, among some 30 others. So, wherever the iHeartRadio app exists (Android, iOS, Alexa are a few examples) you’ll be able to catch up on Radiolab. It isn’t the biggest news in the world, but more access to NPR’s podcasts is sure to make a few people happy today.

Source: iTunes, Google Play, iHeartRadio

The best monitor arms

By Anna Perling

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

After researching more than 60 monitor arms and testing 10 over the past two years, we found that the AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm is the best for most people who want to save space on their desks. It accommodates a wide range of positions and angles to improve workstation ergonomics, and it’s adjustable, easy to set up, and unobtrusive. It’s also sturdy enough to support heavier monitors.

Who should get this

Hunching over a laptop is terrible for your back and neck. Photo: Kevin Purdy

If you work at a computer for long periods of time, a monitor arm can help prevent back and neck pain by positioning the screen in an ergonomically ideal location. Alan Hedge, an ergonomics expert and director of the Human Factor and Ergonomics program at Cornell University, recommends that the top of a screen be about 2 to 3 inches above eye level, because human eyes see more below the horizon line than above. Monitor arms are also helpful if you alternate between sitting and standing at your desk or share a workstation with people of varying height.

How we picked and tested

From left to right: the Ergotron LX Monitor Arm, the Ergotron LX Tall Pole Monitor Arm, and the AmazonBasics Single Monitor Arm. Photo: Ryan Flood

Everyone has a different body and a different workstation, so the wider range of motion a monitor arm has, the better. A good monitor arm should support VESA mounts, the most common standard supported by most displays. Monitor arms must also sturdily attach to a wide range of desks and include cable-management options. We also like to see clear assembly instructions and a strong warranty.

We tested by assembling each monitor arm, attaching each arm to a Dell UltraSharp U2715H (our previous pick for the best 27-inch monitor), and mounting each to a desk. For each arm we assessed the setup process, sturdiness, and the range of movement, and we had people of varying heights use and adjust the monitor in both sitting and standing positions.

Our pick: AmazonBasics Single Monitor Arm

The hefty clamp on the AmazonBasics is easy to secure onto a desk. Photo: Ryan Flood

The AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm is the monitor arm we recommend for most people because it’s the most adjustable, the easiest to set up, and the sturdiest arm for the price. It has 13 inches of height adjustment, extends outward up to 25 inches, and can tilt 70 degrees backward and 5 degrees forward. You can also pan and rotate a full 360 degrees for vertical alignment. It comes with a 1-year warranty covering damage to the arm, but not damage to your monitor.

The AmazonBasics desk clamp and VESA mounting plate are both sturdy, an absolute must for an arm designed to hold an expensive monitor. The wide, heavy desk clamp is easy to tighten, and in our tests, jostling the base didn’t move the arm at all.

We don’t love the AmazonBasics Single Monitor Arm’s cable-management system, which consists of a flimsy piece of plastic that hooks onto the underside of the lower arm plus zip ties that hook cables under the top portion of the arm. If the AmazonBasics arm’s cable management doesn’t cut it for you, we recommend the Velcro ties we describe in our home-office furniture and supplies guide.

Runner-up: Ergotron LX Monitor Arm

The polished aluminum finish makes the Ergotron look slightly fancier than the AmazonBasics. Photo: Ryan Flood

If our pick is sold out or you don’t mind spending around $35 more for a monitor arm with a longer warranty, we also like the Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Monitor Arm. The Ergotron LX is nearly identical to the AmazonBasics aside from the polished aluminum finish on the arm and base. The Ergotron also has a considerably longer warranty (10 years, versus the one-year warranty on the AmazonBasics). Beyond those differences, however, the Ergotron is equally sturdy, adjustable, and easy to assemble, which is why it’s not our top pick: the AmazonBasics has the same features for a lower price.

A sleeker-looking option: Fully Jarvis Monitor Arm

For the sleekest ergonomic setup, go for the Jarvis. Photo: Michael Hession

If you want a nicer-looking monitor arm and are willing to put up with a slightly more difficult assembly process, get the Fully Jarvis Monitor Arm. It’s one of the best-looking monitor arms we tested; it comes in white, black, and silver. The Jarvis has a 13-inch vertical range, can extend 24 inches side to side, tilt 90 degrees, rotate 180 degrees, and pan 360 degrees. It also maintains the same VESA compatibility as our other picks, and comes with a five-year warranty covering damage to the arm only.

The Jarvis was slightly more difficult to set up than the AmazonBasics arm, even though Fully released a video and improved the setup process since the last version we tested. In our tests, we needed a second person to help mount the monitor onto the arm, and thought balancing the arm while assembling the desk clamp was a bit awkward.

For tall people at a sit/stand desk: Ergotron LX Tall Pole Monitor Arm

The extra 6 inches on the Ergotron LX Tall Pole will give people over 6 feet tall enough height to properly position their monitor. Photo: Ryan Flood

If you’re over 6 feet tall and need a monitor arm to use with an adjustable standing desk, we recommend the Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Monitor Arm Tall Pole. In our tests, we found that the 7-inch pole in the regular LX arm wasn’t quite tall enough to properly position a monitor for tall people, and the 13¼ inch pole in the extra-height version was necessary to achieve ergonomically ideal monitor heights. The LX Tall Pole is just as sturdy and easy to set up as the regular Ergotron arm; the two arms are identical aside from the pole length.

For dual-monitor setups: AmazonBasics Dual Side-by-Side Monitor Arm

The AmazonBasics dual monitor arm is similar to the single-arm version in design and adjustability. Photo: Ryan Flood

We recommend the AmazonBasics Dual Side-by-Side Monitor Display Mounting Arm for anyone who needs a dual monitor arm. As with the single-arm version, the AmazonBasics dual-arm model is sturdy and easy to adjust, and it has an impressive vertical range. It can support two 27-inch monitors and 40 pounds total. It offers the same features as the Ergotron dual arm, but it’s cheaper and offers just a one-year warranty (Ergotron offers a 10-year plan).

The AmazonBasics dual arm can adjust 13 inches vertically, extend 25 inches side to side, tilt 70 degrees backward and 5 degrees forward, and rotate 360 degrees. In our tests, both arms on the AmazonBasics held tension and were easily adjustable, moving from side to side, forward and back, and even vertically to accommodate for a range of dual-monitor setups. This model doesn’t allow for stacking, however.

This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from The Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus Launch at Virgin USA and Over 25 Additional Countries on September 29

Virgin Mobile USA today announced that it will begin shipping iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus pre-orders on Friday, September 29, the same day the devices launch in 29 additional countries around the world.

Virgin said its Inner Circle members will be able to pre-order the devices on Friday, September 22, but it’s unclear if Apple will be accepting pre-orders on that date as well in the second wave of launch countries.

Apple began accepting iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus pre-orders at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time for major carriers AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint, in addition to SIM-free models. Virgin’s date is one week later, but for the iPhone X, it will accept pre-orders starting Friday, October 27, the same day as Apple.

The next countries include Andorra, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, India, Isle of Man, Israel, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Apple’s online store doesn’t operate in all of those countries, but iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus should be available in limited quantities through authorized resellers and carrier partners where available.

Virgin operates on the Sprint network. Inner Circle members get unlimited talk, text, and data for $50 per month, with a few caveats: video quality is limited to up to 480p, music streams at up to 500 kbps, and games stream at up to 2 Mbps. Virgin promises 4G LTE speeds for “practically everything else.”

Customers who use more than 23GB of data in a billing cycle will be de-prioritized during times and places where the network is constrained.

Until September 28, customers who buy a new iPhone, or bring their existing iPhone and transfer their phone number from another carrier, will receive one year of unlimited talk, text, and data for just $1 with AutoPay enabled. The device must be a CDMA model, and the same caveats mentioned above apply.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tag: Virgin Mobile
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