Spotify has announced that its Car Thing experiment will become an official product that will ship to selected Spotify Premium customers.
Car Thing, an unfortunately chosen name for a streaming media player, works by syncing up with your car’s stereo system, either via Bluetooth or with an included 3.5mm aux cable. The idea is that Car Thing will work with all older cars that don’t use CarPlay or Android Auto, and still rely on older head units for their audio.
When it’s synced, Car Thing displays your favorite music, podcasts, playlists and trending content on Spotify, which can then be selected using touch controls, the dial, four quick select buttons or the built-in voice assistant that can be summoned by saying “Hey Spotify”.
The player is expected to cost $79.99 (around £60, AU$100) when it’s available to the public, but Spotify will make it available for just $6.99 (the shipping cost in the US) for Spotify Premium subscribers who sign up on Spotify’s website to get one during the limited window. Unfortunately, though, it's available only in the US for now for a limited time and Spotify has yet to announce global availability.
Spotify’s first piece of hardware is... certainly something
Spotify made the announcement about Car Thing on its blog, emphasizing that the device was made in response to the issue that its everyday users face – namely, getting Spotify to play on older cars for their morning commute. To that end, Spotify says, don’t expect it to turn into a hardware company overnight:
“Our focus remains on becoming the world’s number one audio platform – not on creating hardware – but we developed Car Thing because we saw a need from our users, many of whom were missing out on a seamless and personalized in-car listening experience.
“No matter the year or model of your vehicle, we feel everyone should have a superior listening experience,” Spotify said in the blog post.
Admittedly, smartphones can do a lot of what the Car Thing can do – like play music on Spotify using a voice assistant over Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable – but Spotify's player is certainly a unique solution that gets a lot of style points.
Another Samsung Unpacked is happening on April 28, and it's anyone's guess what's coming – though given the mention of 'Galaxy' in the scant event description, we could see the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 or a new Galaxy Tab tablet launched.
The event was surprise announced with a single tagline: 'The most powerful Galaxy is coming.' And, of course, a teaser video showing a mysterious something overloading gadgets and appliances all over town.
That 'most powerful' tagline implies we won't be seeing non-flagship phones we expect like the Samsung Galaxy A82 despite purported images of that phone leaking out, nor does that seem to match other expected devices like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 despite recent mentions of those true wireless earbuds.
The business password management company 1Password has launched a new offering called Secrets Automation that allows organizations to secure, manage and orchestrate their infrastructure secrets.
As the number of SaaS applications has massively expanded over the years, infrastructure secrets are multiplying like never before and are now scattered across multiple services and cloud computing providers. While companies often try to protect these secrets through home-grown solutions and awkward hacks, human error can easily lead to them being compromised with organization-wide ramifications.
With 1Password's new Secrets Automation offering though, secrets such as corporate credentials, API tokens, keys and certificates can all be stored using the same security found in the company's password manager.
CEO of 1Password, Jeff Shiner explained why the company decided to create Secrets Automation in a press release, saying:
"Companies need to protect their infrastructure secrets as much as their employees' passwords. With 1Password and Secrets Automation, there is a single source of truth to secure, manage and orchestrate all of your business secrets. We are the first company to bring both human and machine secrets together in a significant and easy-to-use way."
Secrets Automation
1Password's Secrets Automation provides organizations with the ability to store credentials, tokens and other secrets fully encrypted with a single source of truth for all of their secrets.
The service also offers granular access control so that IT admins can define which employees and services have access and what level of access they are granted. For organizations that already use 1Password, adopting Secrets Automation will be hassle-free as the new offering is built on the user interface of the company's password manager. It also integrates with other tools including HashiCorp Vault, Terraform, Kubernetes and Ansible with more integrations on the way.
In addition to launching Secrets Automation, 1Password also announced that it has completed its acquisition of the secrets management company SecretHub which protects nearly 5m enterprise secrets a month. The SecretHub team along with CEO Mark Mackenbach will be joining 1Password to help accelerate the 1Password Secrets Automation roadmap.
The PS5 restock is April 13, with Sony Direct touting a special restock of the console limited to people who received a specific email. Their exclusive restock time is 12pm PDT, according to the email sent to select PlayStation Network members. Didn't it with that message with the special link? There's a chance Sony Direct PS5 drop for everyone else after that time (that's exactly what happened before in the afternoon). We expect an Antonline PS5 restock soon (it has next-gen stock at least once a week) and Walmart may finally have a restock this Thursday, April 14.
To get instant alerts for the next console inventory at US stores – both the Disc and PS5 Digital Edition – follow our PS5 restock Twitter tracker, Matt Swider.
When?Follow @mattswider, our PS5 restock Twitter tracker for notifications when the next PS5 restock is live at all US stores. It's the fastest way to get real-time updates. Do not buy directly off Twitter users – which are all scams – only to the websites Matt points you to.
The next Sony Direct PS5 restock is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 13 at 12pm PDT. This is the official store for the PlayStation brand, and the first restock is limited to people who received an email invite (with a special unique link).
The good news is that the last time Sony Direct did an invite-only PS5 drop, it opened up orders to the greater public (if you have a free PSN account). And it's overdue. There hasn't been a PS5 restock at Sony Direct in nearly three weeks (Tuesday, March 23 was the last date and the time was at 5pm EDT – look for our tweet around that time if it opens up to everyone else in the US).
Here's what our Sony Direct PS5 restock alert looked like last time (March 23 example shown):
🚨🚨🚨 And like that, we're back to PS5 restock💿 SONY DIRECT 💿 virtual queue is open right now!♻️RT this + follow @mattswider & @techradarPS5 Disc ($499) https://ift.tt/3rgzdjq Digital ($399) https://t.co/AI5byIZtmeMarch 23, 2021
The next Antonline PS5 restock is likely to be this week – and it may actually be the first with the Sony console back in stock. Antonline promises weekly drops of the next-gen console and it launched a PS5 bundle last week on a Tuesday. These are always in the form of loaded PS5 bundles, so the price is higher, but it's easy to snag the console that way. We're eager to see a PS5 Digital Edition, as it's been sold out at every store for several weeks, while other versions of the consoles have been available.
Antonline sell out of PS5 in three minutes, but when it goes on sale, there are no waves or in stock/out of stock funny business with the add to cart button and the American retailer ships fast. Basically it's the opposite of a Walmart PS5 restock.
Here's what our Antonline restock alerts look like:
🚨🚨🚨PS5 restock! 🐜 ANTonline 🐜 in the US has it right now.♻️RT this + follow @mattswider + @techradarAll PS5 bundle options https://ift.tt/3m5f673 tip: bundles are higher in $, yes, but they remain in stock longer.March 30, 2021
Walmart PS5 restock date and time
Rumored Walmart date: Maybe on Thursday, April 15 at 3pm EDT
There's a good chance that the next Walmart PS5 restock date and time is Thursday, April 15 at 3pm EDT. That's the retailer's pattern of launching consoles every other Thursday for a month, and then taking an entire month off. The last time we saw the Sony PS5 back in stock at Walmart, it was that infamous Thursday, March 18 at 3pm EDT. Prepare for waves of order if this is the correct and and time.
🚨Walmart PS5 & Xbox restock starts in 45 mins 2:30pmXbox Series S ($299) https://ift.tt/3vTPcaV Series X ($499) https://ift.tt/3cBBCBh Digital ($399) https://ift.tt/3eiD90e Disc ($499) https://ift.tt/2O8LWHJ this for help:https://t.co/ZewrQUKwkBMarch 18, 2021
Best Buy PS5 restock date and time
Rumored date: Best Buy PS5 restock date: Friday, April 16
Last Best Buy restock date: two weeks ago – Friday, March 26
The Best Buy restock date is expected to be Friday, April 16 at 12pm EDT / 11am CDT / 10am MDT / 9am PDT, according to the big-box retailer's past patterns. It had two rare misses over the last two Fridays, and the last PS5 restock was limited to PS5 Disc for $499. There was no inventory of the PS5 Digital for $399.
Best Buy has a Friday launch window of 12pm EDT to 3:15pm EDT (we haven't seen it later than that) and hasn't done a PS5 restock over the weekend in 2021. Our Twitter tracker has always picked up on when they 'add to cart' button goes live. In fact, we were able to run an exclusive report ahead of the official time thanks to sources at Best Buy warehouses regarding inventory.
Here's our PS5 restock tracker alert from Friday March 26:
🚨🚨🚨PS5 restock! 🏷 BEST BUY 🏷 ♻️RT this + follow @mattswider + @techradarPS5 Disc ($499) https://ift.tt/3rrvcZU it fast!March 26, 2021
Target PS5 restock date and time
Rumored restock date: Maybe sometime this week
Last restock date: Wednesday, March 31 at 7:40am EDT
The rumored next Target PS5 restock date was Wednesday, April 14, but we haven't seen the retailer get console inventory in recently. There wasn't a Target restock last week, either. We usually know ahead of time, too thanks to Jake Randall. In other words, there was no reason to wake up for the brutal 7:40am EDT / 4:40am PT PS5 drop time at Target unless we tweet about it in advance.
Here's what our Target PS5 restock alert looked like last time (March 31 example shown):
🎯 TARGET 🎯 rumor from @Jake_Randall_YT was right!♻️RT this + follow @mattswider + @techradar PS5 Disc ($499) https://t.co/Su99c2dOCs pic.twitter.com/xXZeUCrTBIMarch 31, 2021
Sam's Club PS5 restock
Possible restock date: Happens randomly on weekdays (any time)
Last restock date: Tuesday, March 23 at 1am EDT
Wait time: Online orders, average one week shipping
Sam's Club is overdue for a PS5 restock – the last time was a surprise at 1am EDT on March 23. That off-putting time made it stay in stock way longer than normal: a whole four minutes. That's a lifetime in the console restock world.
Sam's Club, unlike Best Buy and Walmart, doesn't do frequent restocks or stick to a time schedule. So it's important to follow our PS5 restock tracker for this store. While you don't have to be a member of Sam's Club to buy PS5, you will get charged a fee or use a temporary membership to purchase the Sony console.
Here's what our Sam's Club PS5 restock alert looked like last time (March 23):
🚨🚨🚨PS5 restock! 🔷 Sam’s Club 🔷 in the US has it right now.♻️RT this + follow @mattswider + @techradarPS5 bundle options https://ift.tt/2PWkpKa tip: bundles are higher in $, yes, but they remain in stock longer.March 23, 2021
The next GameStop PS5 restock date is likely to be late this week or early next week. We usually have to wait one week to one-and-a-half weeks for a GameStop PS5 drop consisting of bundles. And the last date was Tuesday, April 6, with a 45-minute wave of new Sony console stock.
GameStop didn't make its last restock very easy; most people who tried were met with error messages when clicking the add to cart button. We saw an easier restock on the morning of Friday, April 2 – maybe these were leftover consoles? Look for a bigger restock next to rectify all of those complaints earlier this week.
🚨🚨🚨PS5 / Xbox restock! 🛑 GAMESTOP 🛑♻️RT this + follow @mattswider + @techradarPS5 bundle options https://ift.tt/3crpdzL Series X / Series S bundles https://t.co/mjG5KZnFViMarch 23, 2021
This is the $499 question: when will PS5 restock at Amazon? The retailer was said to be ready to go live with 46,000 consoles in its inventory, according to our sources at its warehouses. However, we haven't seen the retailer update its PS5 Disc and PS5 Digital Edition pages beyond what third-party resellers are offering at outrageous prices, and theories are running rampant including whether or not it's saving the PS5 stock for Amazon Prime Day. New: We're told that the Xbox may drop sooner than the PS5, even though Amazon just had a small round of Microsoft consoles for sale three weeks ago.
You didn't miss it. Amazon PS5 restock was scheduled for today 14:00 UTC (10am ET). Could drop any time – it's up to Amazon. Best Buy last Fri was 3hrs late on me. Everyone doubted then too.The good news? Amazon has a 46,000 PS5 inventory–just waiting. I'll ping u. Info is free pic.twitter.com/c7UGidMjSKMarch 18, 2021
Costco PS5 restock date
Next restock date: Happens randomly on weekdays
Last restock date: March 9
Wait time: Online orders, average one week for shipping
The PS5 restock at Costco goes quickly, even though the retailer only offers the new console to its members. That really tells you how strong demand is for PS5. It often has reasonably priced PS5 bundles, so it's no wonder it sells out in four minutes, according to our PS5 restock tracker. The good news is that Costco is overdue for a Sony console restock.
Here's what our Costco PS5 restock alert looked like last time (March 9):
🚨🚨🚨PS5 restock! 🏬 COSTCO 🏬 in the US has it right now.MEMBERS ONLY♻️RT this + follow @mattswider + @techradar for instant Xbox & PlayStation 5 updatesPS5 Disc bundle https://ift.tt/3fQX7QT tip: bundles are higher in $, yes, but they remain in stock longer.March 9, 2021
TechRadar will continue to report on PS5 restock information as the news breaks. We'll keep this page updated with the most relevant data regarding Sony's console and when it's back in stock. Time is always a factor, so knowing when PS5 will be in stock at Best Buy and other retailers give you a better chance to buy it in April, rather than having to wait until the summer of 2021 – or even later this year.
Look for our Walmart PS5 restock alert
The Walmart PS5 restock is the big get when it happens, even though the retailer has recently been very slow to ship. It has offered more inventory than any other store in the US, so securing the Sony console can be easier – if you know how to tap that add to cart button relentlessly and turn on notifications for our Twitter tracker. You may not get the secret PS5 discount from Walmart, but you also probably don't want one if you're going to have to wait on the console to be delivered in late May.
The Walmart PS5 price discount explained
Walmart is offering anywhere from $50 to $100 off stuck-in-transit orders of the new Sony console, according to several Twitter replies sent to Matt Swider, as he tracks PS5 restock everyday. PS5-less customers have mixed emotions about this naturally. It should be noted that other customers saw their order cancelled.
The last Walmart PS5 restock, on Thursday, March 18, apparently sold more than the inventory the US retailer had on hand. We previously reported that it went through waves of stock every 10 minutes for two hours. Given the fact that PS5 demand is so strong, it makes sense that most orders were actually PS5 pre-orders.
With the promised delivery date of April 9 passed, Walmart began to issue emails notifying customers of a delay last week. Those who have been up-in-arms seem over the matter are getting something back for their trouble: a meaningful PS5 discount of up to $100. But it's only come to those who asked, according to their feedback.
Walmart hasn't been able to fulfill orders as fast as Antonline, GameStop, Costco and Sam's Club which take a week or less ship orders. Sony Direct can ship in two days if you have PlayStation Plus. Best Buy offers pick-up for online purchases anywhere from three days to one week after the order date, and Target is the reigning champ: same-day pickup from your local store after securing the PS5 console online.
However, not every Walmart customer has their console in limbo. During the most recent Walmart Xbox Series X restock last Wednesday, April 7, we saw the Microsoft console ship to customers almost immediately. For good reason, there wasn't a PS5 restock that day. But the retailer taking a breath is a sign that it's speeding things up and only having a console restock when it has inventory.
If you qualify for the revised child tax credit payments, you'll receive half the money in 2021 and the rest in 2022. Here's what else you should know about CTC checks.
We tested many coffee makers from leading brands to learn which is best. On the list are models from Bonavita, Ninja, Oxo, Technivorm, KitchenAid and others.
Realme 8 (6GB +128GB) is set to go on Sale again today via Flipkart and Realme.com at 12pm (noon). The phone is priced at Rs. 15,999 and comes with several offers.
