Apple’s AirTag 4-pack falls to $89

Apple’s AirTags don’t go on sale often, but we’re now seeing a solid deal from two separate retailers. You can pick up a four-pack at Amazon and Best Buy for $89, just a dollar higher than the best deal we’ve seen so far. The offer helps if you have multiple items you want to track, and unlike with the previous Woot deal, both companies have generous return policies.

Buy Apple AirTag 4-pack at Amazon – $89Buy Apple AirTag 4-pack at Best Buy – $89

If you’re in Apple’s ecosystem, AirTags give you some big advantages over rival trackers from Tile and others. The ultra-wideband functionality offers precise tracking with iPhone 11 (and up) devices when you get close, so you can tell whether your missing object is under a couch cushion or behind a chair, for example. Meanwhile, the AirTag network enabled by al Apple device users allows you to find a missing bag that might be a longer distance away. 

The coin-sized design is nice and simple and you’ll get a seamless experience thanks to the Find My App. You can also force the AirTag to emit a chime to help you more easily locate your item if you’re close to it. However, it doesn’t have a built-in keyring like rival devices, so you’ll need to buy additional accessories like the $35 leather keyring. 

The main drawback is that it only works with Apple devices, so Android users will have to look elsewhere, and battery life is also limited. Still, if you’re in Apple’s ecosystem, you can now pick one up for an extra discount with no worries about returns or the warranty. 

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Citizen may test an on-demand private security service in Chicago

Citizen will reportedly test an on-demand private security service in Chicago as part of a partnership with Securitas. The crime alert app and security company may offer a check-in service (in which agents could follow up with the victim of a crime to make sure they’re OK) and scheduled private security, according to Motherboard.

The app previously tested a rapid-response security service (not unlike a private police force) in Los Angeles with Citizen-branded cars. Security agents responded to calls from Citizen employees. Motherboard‘s sources suggested the response time was fairly slow, which may have led to the company taking a different approach in Chicago.

Citizen provides push alerts to users based on incident reports it puts together from police scanners. It also runs a $20 per month subscription service that connects users with agents who can direct emergency services to their location and notify contacts if it’s not safe for them to call 911 directly.

The move suggests Citizen is still interested in offering private security despite its questionable history and stating it wouldn’t run its own on-demand force (though it didn’t rule out partnerships). Apple and Google removed a previous version of the app, which was called Vigilante, from their stores for encouraging vigilantism. 

Last year, it was reported that Citizen’s CEO offered users a $30,000 bounty for tracking down an alleged arson suspect, but the app identified the wrong person as the culprit. Police apprehended the man but quickly released him for a lack of evidence. They later arrested another suspect in connection with the wildfires.

Amazon’s Kindle sale brings the Paperwhite back to an all-time low

Amazon’s latest Kindle Paperwhite is one of the nicest (and newest) e-readers out there, and you can now pick one up at an all-time low. It’s on sale for just $105, for a savings of $35 (25 percent) off the regular $140 price. You’ll also find deals on the regular Kindle with a built-in front light, Kindle Paperwhite Kids and Kindle Kids models. 

Buy Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon – $105

Amazon refreshed the Kindle Paperwhite last September, with the biggest change being a larger 6.8-inch, 300 ppi glare-free screen. The idea is that it’s supposed to look as much like real paper as possible, allowing for “easy reading in all conditions, even in direct sunlight,” according to Amazon. It’s also faster, allowing for quicker page turns, and comes with 8GB of storage, USB-C fast charging and an IPX8 water-resistant rating.

Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite returns to an all-time low in new sale
Steve Dent

If you’re looking for a cheaper model, the regular Kindle with a built-in front light is on sale for $55, for a savings of $35 off the regular $90 price. Though several years old, it’s still competitive thanks to the touchscreen with front illumination, high-contrast 167 ppi display and compact design. It comes with 8GB of storage and a single battery charge “lasts weeks, not hours,” Amazon says.

Buy Kindle with built-in front light at Amazon – $55

Finally, Amazon has also discounted two reader models for children, the Kindle Paperwhite Kids available near an all-time low at $115 or 28 percent off, and Kindle Kids ($65 or 41 percent off). The latter model is similar to the regular Kindle, but comes with a kid-friendly cover, 1 year of Amazon Kids+ and a “worry-free guarantee.” The latter, meanwhile, bundles the Kindle Paperwhite with the same options.

Buy Kindle Kids at Amazon – $65Buy Kindle Paperwhite Kids at Amazon – $115

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Apple Maps EV routing is now available for the Ford Mustang Mach-E

It’s about to get easier for Ford Mustang Mach-E drivers to find the nearest charging station, thanks to a new iOS 15.4 update for Apple Maps. According to 9to5Mac, EV routing can now be activated on the Mach-E through Apple Maps on CarPlay, Apple’s in-car system. The feature was first previewed during WWDC 2020, and now it’s finally been released to the public. Right now, only this current year’s vehicle and versions of the 2021 model with specific software versions have the new feature, but Ford hopes to roll the feature out to all Mach-E drivers before 2023.

Mach-E owners in need of a charge usually find the nearest station using the Apple Maps or Google Maps app on their phone, Ford’s built-in charging station finder or the FordPass App. This is likely cumbersome for many, especially when embarking on a long road trip. Now, Apple Maps on CarPlay can generate a route and identify charging points along the way.

Ford has full instructions on its website for how to activate EV charging on Apple Maps, but it should be as simple as pressing “OK” on a pop-up message that says “Get EV routes for your Mustang Mach-E” the next time you fire up Apple Maps through CarPlay and enter a new destination.

Google’s March feature drop finally reaches the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro

Earlier this month Google released its 10th Pixel feature drop containing new supported languages for Live Translate, Live Sharing in Duo calls and more. And while the latest patch had already rolled out to older devices (from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel 5), today the update began arriving on Google’s most recent flagships: the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. 

First spotted by Android Police, in addition to new software features, the update also brings a number of general performance improvements such as better thermal and battery management and faster fingerprint recognition. But perhaps even more importantly, the patch also contains a handful of bug fixes including a solution for a recent issue that was causing Pixel 6 phones to randomly disconnect from WiFi. 

Finally, for Pixel 6 owners on Verizon, Google’s March update is also adding support for the carrier’s new 5G C-band spectrum, which went live at the beginning of the year on January 19th. Verizon claims its C-Band 5G is up to 10 faster than 4G LTE, and that following its recent deployment, the company’s Ultra Wideband 5G now covers more than 100 million people across 1,700 US cities. 

While it’s a bit frustrating to see Google’s latest feature drop arrive last on the company’s most recent (and most expensive) phones, considering that the Pixel 6’s WiFi woes were caused by the previous January update (which itself was pushed back from December), it makes sense that Google postponed its release a bit. And hopefully, Google used that extra time to iron out any new bugs in the March update. Though based on the company’s recent track record, that might be a bit too optimistic. 

Apple service outages affect App Store, Maps and more (updated)

Notice Apple that several Apple services are unavailable? You’re not alone. As Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman notes, Apple’s system status page indicates outages across several major services, including the App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, on-device AppleCare, Find My, the iTunes Store, Maps and radio. The alerts note that some users are affected, and that problems may be “intermittent” (the App Store) or lead to slowdowns. We’ve asked Apple for comment.

Apple appears to be recovering. Gurman initially observed problems with the Podcasts app as well as school- and work-oriented services like Apple Business Manager and Schoolwork. Those products had come back online as of this writing, however, and Apple also marked iOS device activation as a “resolved outage.” Corporate and retail systems were reportedly down and have started bouncing back.

This isn’t the first time Apple has dealt with a significant service outage, and it isn’t as severe as in the past. The company grappled with multipleoutages in late 2020, including one on Christmas that may have stemmed from a flood of new users. Still, this isn’t exactly thrilling if you need to grab an app or navigate to a mid-day meeting.

Update 3/21 3:45PM ET: Apple now says all the outages have been resolved, including one with Fitness+ that surfaced after initial reports.