Google wants to make it even easier for users to get started with its video conferencing software which is why the company has launched a new Progressive Web App (PWA) for Google Meet.
The search giant's new PWA includes all of the same features as Google Meet on the web but since it's a standalone app, it's easier to find and use. It also helps streamline your workflow by eliminating the need to switch between tabs.
Google Meet's PWA runs on any device with version 73 or higher of Chrome installed and is compatible with a wide range of operating systems including Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and Linux.
Google Meet PWA
Users in a corporate or education environment will have to wait for their admins to install the new Google Meet PWA though they can install it themselves if they have the ability to add browser extensions to Chrome.
Admins can also use Google's Help Center to automatically install the PWA for their users or to manage PWA access.
In an effort to encourage Meet users to try out its new PWA, the company will also show a new offer in the upper right-hand corner of the main Google Meet opening page which reads: “Try the Google Meet web app. The Meet web app makes it easier to join your meetings and start your own video calls on your computer.”
The Google Meet PWA is available to all Google Workspace customers as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers and users with personal Google Accounts.
If you're looking for a streamlined video conferencing experience that's easy to find on your computer and launches quickly, then Google's new PWA for Meet is certainly worth checking out.
Legacy audio brand Klipsch has unveiled a new set of true wireless earbuds called the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC which don't just offer active noise cancellation – they let you pause and play your audio by tracking your head movements.
Klipsch’s new earbuds are set to rival the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds in price and performance when they drop in September for £299 / €349 / $299 (around AU$400), but the head-tracking playback controls could be an added edge.
On top of the Bragi Moves AI system that Klipsch says will continue to offer new functionality over the lifetime of the earbuds, the T5 II will also offer Qi-compatible wireless charging with up to 7 hours of battery life with ANC turned off and 5 with it on, plus another 21 hours of battery life in case (15 hours with ANC turned on).
Klipsch says it will be the first company to offer Dirac HD Sound in a pair of true wireless earbuds to drive its 5.8mm dynamic driver earbuds to deliver clear sound with a wide soundstage – potentially rivaling Sony’s DSEE Extreme audio upscaling tech – and two sets of microphones for exceptional noise cancellation.
Analysis: Can Klipsch clinch the high-end true wireless market?
Given Klipsch’s 60-plus year heritage in crafting audio products, you’d think it’d absolutely dominate the true wireless earbuds space – and yet, thanks to Apple’s marketing and ubiquity, climbing to the top of the sales charts has been a real struggle for brands like Klipsch.
According to Statista's metrics, Apple led Samsung, Xiaomi, Sony and others with 41% of all total true wireless earbud sales last year. All other manufacturers combined only accounted for around 30% of sales.
But unlike the new Nothing Ear 1 or Raycon earbuds, Klipsch isn’t trying to take on the Apple AirPods directly. Rather, it’s trying to take on the established players in the high-end true wireless space like Bose and Sony. Those companies have recently found a lot of success with their Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds and Bose QuietComfort Buds, both of which rank really well on our list of the best true wireless earbuds.
With its strong audio tuning skills and interesting embedded AI system, the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC could pose a real threat to Sony and Bose, but we’ll have to wait until September to see how they fare when they’re released to the public.
The PS5 is going to be nearly impossible to find in stock soon, according to our long-held expert analysis, even though today, in the second half of 2021, the PlayStation 5 console is easier (read: not easy) to buy. We also predicted this dip in PS5 demand that would offer a false sense of security, but now we're seeing that millions of consumers around the world are still trying to buy the Sony console and there's an 'October deadline' looming.
The solution? Our 24/7 PS5 restock tracker Twitter Matt Swider will send you in-stock PS5 alerts – if you follow his Twitter account and turn on notifications. The alerts have helped 63,000 people find a next-gen console since mid-February 2021.
It'll get much harder soon, according to our latest projections that show an increase in PS5 demand come October. People are putting off buying the Sony console, thinking it'll be easier to get soon, or appear on store shelves in 2021. On the contrary. Even if Sony were to ramp up the supply of PS5 Disc and PS5 Digital consoles, demand will skyrocket right before Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
► Warning: don't buy from other Twitter users. They're all scams. Only buy from the US stores Matt alerts you about. No one will sell a PS5 for just $550.
► Why trust TechRadar? We don't point you to a bunch of US retailer links, which are always dead ends. Others do that – not us. Matt Swider will send you a push notification when there's actual PS5 stock through his 24/7 tracking efforts.
Directions: Click on this image of an example of this Best Buy PS5 restock alert from Matt Swider and turn on notifications (that little bell icon) for instant alerts.
Why there's an 'October deadline' to find PS5 in stock
Not to sound ominous, but you have until October 2021 to find a PS5 restock, which is when we predict PlayStation 5 demand will soar worldwide, despite PS5 console sales reaching 10 million, according to Sony.
Millions of parents will want to buy their children a PS5 in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday, and they haven't been added to the pool of consumers who are actively looking to buy a PS5 console. That's a scary thought.
That's why you have just two months until the ramp-up to holiday shopping kicks off at most retailers. The little Timmy's of the world haven't asked for the PS5 yet, or even if they have, many parents haven't gone searching for the console. As soon as that switch is flipped, we are going to see PS5 demand skyrocket beyond what Sony can supply, and analysts we talked to agree.
A printed sign at Walmart that tells customers PS5 and Xbox Series X remain out of stock in stores.(Image credit: Matt Swider / Instagram)
"I honestly don't see this shortage getting better until next year," Anshel Sag, Senior Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told TechRadar. He noted that Sony isn't the only manufacturer in the hunt for PC components to make its PS5 consoles.
"With Qualcomm and Apple taking up vast swaths of 5nm, there isn't very much capacity left for vast jumps in demand even with process node optimizations, said Sag. "There still appears to be a lot of pent-up demand in the PC gaming segment which is still red hot and suffering from the worst GPU shortage I think I've ever seen in my 15-plus-year career."
When will PS5 restock in stores in 2021?
This is the question that keeps coming our way, and the truth is that we're unlikely to see major retailers stock the PS5 in stores in 2021. There are two reasons to keep the Sony console off of store shelves, and both have to do with consumer safety.
PS5 in stores in 2021? There's reason to believe you won't see this until 2022.(Image credit: Future)
First, American retailers have told TechRadar that they don't want crowds rushing to their stores, only to be frustrated and milling about with no intention of buying any other product except a non-existent PS5. That's a strain on customer service and a social distancing hazard.
Second, consumers willing to do anything to grab ahold of the PS5 present security concerns. We saw this first hand when Best Buy tried to sell RTX graphics cards in stores. Fights nearly broke out and yelling by both line-jumping consumers and Best Buy employees went on for nearly an hour.
We wouldn't put it past some retailers to tease PS5 stock to lure consumers to brick-and-mortar locations for other deals come Black Friday (at a point when there are other tempting deals to sway people who can't get a PlayStation 5). But, for now, online PS5 purchases and distribution methods remain much safer, according to PS5-carrying retailers we spoke to recently.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Mr.Whiskey)
How to buy the PS5 in the next two months
PS5 demand is dipping ever-so-slightly worldwide, and more people have been able to check out of online stores in the US and UK, according to our analysis. One of the secret reasons is that some – not all – stores are becoming better at reigning in resellers and bots.
Follow aPS5 restock tracker like Matt Swider: With over 60,000 people getting a next-gen console through our links, all at MSRP or with a bundle at face value, this has become the proven method to find the PS5 in stock.
Know which stores to avoid: Right now, only a few hundred have success during a Best Buy PS5 restock from our links. Bots have found a way to scoop up Best Buy and Walmart inventory before consumers have a chance.
Know which stores to buy from: The GameStop PS5 restock is a better situation for US consumers, as they've created barriers to entry: bundles and a $15 membership fee. In the UK, Amazon has implemented PS5 purchases for Prime members only. That's a brilliant idea to cut down on multiple checkouts from the same account.
Be open to PS5 Disc, not Digital: Too many consumers insist on buying PS5 Digital because it's slightly cheaper – $399 in the US instead of $499 for PS5 Disc. But the inventory just isn't there. Sony isn't making it nearly enough.
Bundles are your best option: In the US, at least, GameStop and Antonline serve up bundles that cost more than the standalone console, but everything is at face value when you add up the cost of the games and accessories. It also cuts down on the number of resellers, as they can't easily turn a profit on bundles.
We'll continue to offer expert advice on how to buy the PS5 between now and the end of 2021, but we're giving everyone fair warning: between now and the start of October is your best chance to purchase the Sony console.
In two months' time, it's going to become much harder when parents wake up to the fact that they need this console to fulfill their child's Christmas wish list. It's at that point PS5 will become Jingle All the Way's Turbo Man and you may be duking it out with a crazed Arnold Schwarzenegger-like parent during the holiday rush.
Recent Xbox Series X restock dates offer promising signs, as the Microsoft console has been in stock at multiple retailers in the US and it stays in stock longer today than it did in the first half of 2021. It's a just matter of finding an Xbox restock.
To get in-stock Xbox alerts, our 24/7 Xbox restock Twitter tracker Matt Swider is live tracking American retailers, including Best Buy, Target, Walmart and the official Microsoft Xbox store. You'll be the first to know when the Xbox Series X is in stock, as we offer free in-stock alerts and exclusive restock news throughout August 2021.
► Warning: Don't buy from other Twitter users. They're all scams. Only buy from the US stores Matt alerts you about. No one will legitimately sell Xbox Series X for just $550.
► Why trust TechRadar? We don't point you to a bunch of US retailer links, which are always dead ends. Others do that – not us. Matt Swider will send you a push notification when there's actual Xbox stock through his 24/7 tracking efforts.
Update: Last week, we saw both Walmart and the official Microsoft Xbox Store offer the console for a few minutes, which is longer than normal, and hundreds of our followers were able to purchase the Microsoft console for its $499 MSRP.
Directions to get our Xbox alerts: Click on this image of this Walmart Xbox Series X restock alert from Matt Swider and turn on notifications (that little bell icon) for instant alerts.
Best Buy Xbox Series X dates have been pretty consistent in 2021 with nearly weekly console drops through its online store (never Best Buy in-store Xbox restocks). The last stock went live in the US on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, meaning there was no restock last week after a month of the popular electronics retailer offering new consoles weekly.
There was a more recent Best Buy PS5 restock a little over a week ago on a Friday, but Xbox buyers were left out in the cold and Best Buy offered no consoles last week. Like a lot of American retailers, Best Buy has had the Xbox in stock longer, but drops happen fewer times than the Sony disc and digital consoles.
Best Buy restock dates have been random, although the in-stock time has always fit into a daylight hours window: 9:38am to 5:05pm – so basically the whole day, but at least this information tells you it's never overnight nor it is in the very early morning. That can make it difficult to buy the Xbox Series X from Best Buy if you're stuck at work during those hours.
The random restock date and times at Best Buy are why our Xbox Series X restock alerts have become so crucial for people.
Walmart Xbox Series X restock time
Next Walmart Xbox Series X restock: maybe Thursday, August 5 at 3pm EDT if it happens this week
Last Walmart Xbox Series X restock: July 29 at 3pm EDT
The Walmart Xbox Series X restock date and time are consistent, even if the patterns in which it has an Xbox restock are never guaranteed: the day of the week and time are always on a Thursday at either 2:30pm EDT or 3pm EDT, according to our Xbox Series X restock expert Matt Swider. Walmart doesn't stray from this date and time.
It's important to subscribe to our alerts – you'll be the first to know and can get a link directly from the tweet. You should open it up on a web browser right at 3pm EDT (if it happens then – the latest Walmart PS5 restock time has been at 3:35pm EDT) and we'll tweet out helpful advice like using the mobile app at the same time to constantly tap the Walmart Xbox Series X add-to-cart button.
(Image credit: Twitter / Matt Swider)
GameStop Xbox Series X restock
Next GameStop Xbox Series X restock: Unknown, but it's overdue
Last minor GameStop Xbox Series X restock: Thursday, July 15 at 11am EDT
Last Xbox All-Access bundle restock at GameStop: June 23 at 2pm EDT
Only GameStop in-store Xbox Series X restock in 2021: June 16 at store open
Last major GameStop Xbox Series X restock: Wednesday, May 26 at 2pm EDT
As you can see, the GameStop Xbox Series X restock strategy is all over the place, with the last major online inventory launching back on May 26. There have been other Xbox restock events since that date: on June 16 we saw the first and only major in-store restock at retailer stores – GameStop or otherwise – in 2021; on June 23, we saw an Xbox All Access bundle go live; and this past Thursday, July 15, the retailer briefly bundled the Xbox Series X console with an extra blue Xbox controller, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and $20 gift card and F1 2021.
We're hoping for more – and better – Xbox Series X GameStop bundles in the near future, as the game retailer keeps trying different things with its Xbox inventory. And, of course, we'll be there with Twitter alerts.
Last Microsoft Xbox Series X restock date: Thursday, July 29 at 6:05pm EDT
Microsoft has diverted Xbox console stock to its Xbox Insiders program
Beta testers (of new dashboards) get access to buying a console
It requires powering up your Xbox One console
Microsoft has locked in Thursdays at its go-to restock date, although it has also done Sunday night at 11:59pm previously. While it did have a restock for a few minutes (maybe a whole three minutes) on Thursday, July 29 at 6:05pm EDT, it has been diverting its Xbox stock from its own retail store to a new pilot program.
The Xbox Insiders Xbox Series X upgrade plan, first discovered by Bradon Hofer, is actually a great incentive for people who want to beta test dashboard tweaks and other system updates that Microsoft is developing for its consoles. And if you're stuck testing things out on an old Xbox One and wanting to upgrade to the new Xbox Series X, really you should be the first in line.
Note: you'll need to power up your old Xbox One console in order to log into this particular Xbox Insiders menu. You access it online, nor can you find the menu on an Xbox Series X. This prevents Xbox Series X owners from ordering a second console from their brand new system.
Target Xbox Series X restock: daily online locally
Target Xbox restock are online locally now almost every morning
Only a few zip codes have the Xbox Series X for sale – and only a few consoles at that
This is very different from the nationwide Xbox Series X restocks before
Every weekday morning and sometimes on Saturdays, Target has the Xbox Series X in stock at random stores to be bought online (no, you cannot buy the Xbox in stores in the US at this time). The problem is that it's hard to issue Twitter alerts when it's usually select stores in a city and there are as few as five consoles as part of the Xbox restock.
Target has switched from a nationwide restock date to offering the Xbox Series X at a local level (again only to be bought online buy picked up in stores) and it has the Xbox consoles for sale as they come in every morning.
Walmart and GameStop had Xbox Series X in stock through All Access for weeks and no one noticed
The pay-as-you-go program does hook you into a 24-month contract
Stores like Walmart and GameStop often restock the Xbox Series X through the Xbox All Access bundle, which works a lot like a smartphone plan. You pay for the console over time, but you're also signed up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which is actually something you should look into buying alongside an Xbox anyway).
After 24 months, you save a couple of dollars with this Xbox Series X plan, but you're on the hook being required to pay for it for two years.
The Xbox Series X restock news continues to be a mixed bag. The console is readily available when there's a restock, but retailers in the US haven't made the new Xbox for sale except for a few restock dates in late June and the first half of July. Demand has fallen, but so has supply. At first, it may be difficult to buy Xbox Series X once things do become steady again (as more demand piles up), but as soon as those pent-up needs are met, it will just sit there in stock again, according to our analysis.
Amazon Xbox Series X restock
Believe it or not, Amazon hasn't had an Xbox Series X restock since Prime Day in late June. That means the online retailer is also overdue to put up the Xbox for sale, and that many of its customers are going to clamor for the opportunity to buy it due to all of the pent up demand. It's going to be chaotic to say the least.
Something that Amazon has been doing overseas with restocks is limited sales to Prime customers. This would overcome the many troubles that Amazon (and also Walmart) has with resellers scooping up all of the consoles with the use of bots. So far, the Prime-only restock events haven't come to the US.
With the launch of the Halo Infinite beta, there's going to be growing demand for the Xbox Series X, and we're live tracking all of the major US retailers and updating our exclusive restock reporting every step of the way.
Planning to declutter? Don't throw your old stuff out – sell it on eBay instead! And if you happen to be in lockdown and concerned about how you're going to ship it all to your potential buyers, worry not.
eBay Australia has taken the difficulty out of that equation by partnering with shipping company Sendle, making it not just easy but also safe for sellers to ship their parcels.
This partnership brings contactless courier pick-up right to your front door at no extra cost, and you won't even need a printer to get all the shipping information on the package!
As an alternative to Australia Post or expensive courier options, eBay has integrated Sendle as a direct, on-site shipping option, providing quick access to contactless door-to-door pick-up and delivery with no hidden charges – a far more convenient and safe option compared to queuing up at your local post office.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
It's as easy as 'sell, pack, Sendle'
With direct eBay integration, shipping items with Sendle is easy.
You just need to sign up for a Sendle account, then choose it as your preferred shipper in the eBay Seller Hub. By choosing to ship via Sendle, you’ll also be able to book a free courier pick-up at a convenient time, or alternatively, you can drop off the parcel at any of over 600 collection points spread across the country.
Shipping costs are affordable as well, with rates starting as low as AU$6.20 for same-city deliveries, while national shipping rates begin at just AU$7.65. Moreover, Sendle includes transit insurance by default, so your package is automatically covered up to the value of AU$300 at no extra cost. And because all Sendle parcels are hand delivered by courier, you’ll be able to track the delivery of your parcel from door to door, with shipping information uploaded automatically to your Sendle account.
Sendle is also a carbon neutral company, offsetting its carbon footprint by investing in projects that reduce emissions. So you can send off your items knowing you’re doing your bit for the environment, without needing to wait in line or spend a lot of money on shipping.
Most shipping companies insist you print out a shipping label for your package as it usually contains a barcode that helps the company keep track of deliveries. However, Sendle doesn't need you to do any such printing.
You can just handwrite the buyer's information on your package directly or on a sheet of paper you can stick to your box. Just be sure to add the seven-digit tracking number.
Just head to eBay's postage information page to see how easy it is to sell some of that clutter you've got lying around and score some extra pocket money in the bargain. So head to eBay and start selling today!
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If you're a regular Amazon shopper, you've probably already heard of Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading, but have you ever heard about Amazon First Reads?
It's one of Amazon's lesser-known reading services and it's a great way to save on newly released ebooks, even if you're not a Prime member. However, signing up for Amazon First Reads as a Prime member has its perks – you get one free ebook each month as opposed to discounted prices for non-Prime members.
If this sounds tempting and you haven't tried Amazon Prime yet, you can sign up now and you'll get a 30-day free trial to experience all the perks that come with a subscription.
Previously called Kindle First Reads, this Amazon reading platform gets you early access to newly released ebook titles published by Amazon Publishing. Each month there are about 10 titles selected across various genres available a month before general public release. You can find out what these titles are by signing up for the First Reads newsletter.
More importantly, though, these brand-new ebooks are available for a discounted price to every First Reads subscriber – usually for just AU$1.99 each. If you're a Prime member as well, then one of these books is totally free for you.
Amazon First Reads selections are released to subscribers on the first of each month and you get the entire month to decide which ones you want to read.
How much does Amazon First Reads cost?
Signing up for First Reads is free for anyone. You head to Amazon's First Reads microsite and sign up for the monthly newsletter so you know when the selected books are available to buy.
However, keep in mind that non-Prime members pay for the books they buy, although at AU$1.99 each, it's an incredible price for books you really want to read. A newly released ebook can cost about AU$7 to AU$10 apiece – saving you a decent chunk of change.
As mentioned earlier, Prime members can get one of these ebooks for free every month. If you'd like more, then you pay the usual AU$1.99 for the others. Whether you pay for your selection or not, the First Reads books are yours to keep.
In the US, Amazon allows First Read subscribers – both Prime and non-Prime – to even purchase hard copies of the monthly selection of books for a lower price than general availability. This option hasn't made its way across the Pacific to Australia, but we're hoping that will change soon.
If you're a Kindle Unlimited member, however, Amazon First Reads is a bit moot as all First Reads selections get added to the Kindle Unlimited library for free, but a month later when the titles are released to the general public.
Once you've made a purchase – free or otherwise – via the Amazon First Reads page, the book is automatically added to your Kindle library. You can then read the book on any Kindle device, including smartphones or tablets running the Kindle app.
And, unlike Amazon's other reading services, ebooks purchased via First Reads are yours to keep! As a Kindle Unlimited member, though, the First Reads picks are part of the rotating catalogue and will disappear from your library when you swap it out for something else.
