Technologies

Grab 2nd-Gen Echo Buds Noise Canceling Earbuds and a 3rd-Gen Echo Dot for $70 (Save $90)

Whether you want to stream your music at home or on the go, this deal has you covered.

If you’ve been wrangling with a decision on investing in a smart speaker for the home or true-wireless earbuds you can take on the go, Amazon has you covered. Right now you grab a pair of Echo Buds 2 and a 3rd-gen Echo Dot bundle for just $70 — saving you $90 off the list price. Essentially, you’re getting a smart speaker free with your purchase of Amazon’s noise canceling earbuds, so you don’t have to choose. This deal expires tonight, so be sure to get your purchase in before then if you want to snag this bundle at this price.

See at Amazon

Amazon’s second-gen Echo Buds are a good option if you want true-wireless headphones with noise canceling ability that don’t cost an arm and a leg. These buds have an improved design and fit over their predecessors; are compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri, allowing you to operate the earbuds via hands-free voice commands; and have an IPX4 water-resistance rating, meaning they’re protected against sweat so you can wear them during your workouts without worry. These earbuds also get up to five hours of playback on a single charge, with up to 15 hours of listening time total with the charging case.

The 3rd-gen Echo Dot is no longer the latest and greatest Echo Dot model on the market, but it is still a solid smart speaker. The fabric design provides a richer sound than previous models and you can even pair it with other Echo Dot devices and Bluetooth speakers for stereo audio or Alexa access all around your home. Whether you want to play music, check the weather, set reminders or more, you can do it all hands-free.

So don’t stress about whether you prefer to listen to your streaming services at home or on the go — with this deal, you don’t have to choose.

Technologies

iPhone 17 Preorders Spike and Overall Phone Sales Aren’t Slowing Down Despite Tariffs

Global smartphone shipments saw a notable increase in the third quarter of 2025. Plus, preorders for Apple’s new iPhone 17 beat out the iPhone 16.

Despite tariffs and market uncertainty, global smartphone shipments increased 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same time last year, according to the International Data Corporation. Additionally, preorders for the iPhone 17, which launched last month, outpaced last year’s iPhone 16.

These increased sales include premium phones like the latest iPhones and Samsung foldables, suggesting yet again that pricier phones still sell in periods of economic strain. It’s a remarkable achievement, says IDC senior research director Nabila Popal, citing shrewd financing options as the reason people keep buying these high-end phones, which cost anywhere from $800 to nearly $2,000.

«[Phone makers] have mastered the art of innovation not only in hardware and software to entice upgrades but also in removing purchase friction. They have flawlessly combined cutting-edge devices with innovative financing models and aggressive trade-in programs that make the upgrading decision a ‘no-brainer’ for consumers,» Popal said in an IDC press release.

Apple sold 58.6 million iPhones this quarter, an increase of 2.9% over the same period in 2024, with more preorders for the iPhone 17 series than its predecessor. But Samsung wasn’t far behind, with its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 selling better than all of the company’s prior foldables. The company still reigns atop the phone market with 61.4 million phones sold, representing 19% of the market in the third quarter of this year — an increase of 6.3% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, Apple lands slightly behind Samsung with 18.2% market share this quarter.

The other phone makers trailing Apple and Samsung are, in order: Xiaomi, with 13.5% of the market; Transsion, with 9%; and Vivo with 8.9%. The remaining companies in the phones industry, from Chinese stalwarts like Oppo and Honor to Motorola and Google, make up the remaining 31.4% of the market for the quarter. All told, 322.7 million phones were sold, up from 314.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, according to IDC.

IDC’s findings for the third quarter continue the small but steady growth of phone sales over the year, including a modest 1% increase in the preceding three months — which includes the April deadline when President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs. In the second quarter, IDC cited midrange devices like Samsung’s Galaxy A36 and other phones that started incorporating AI. But even persistent tariffs haven’t slowed down people’s appetites for pricier phones in the third quarter.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.