Technologies

Woot’s Latest Refurb iPhone and Apple Watch Sale Saves You Hundreds

Get your hands on recent models like the iPhone 14 Plus, Apple Watch Series 7 and more at bargain prices.

Apple’s latest iPhone tends to top our list if the best phones available each year and its various Apple Watch models frequently feature on our list of best smartwatches. But enjoying the polished Apple experience comes at a premium, with Apple products often costing more than devices from competing brands. However, if you don’t mind a preowned device, you can save a lot of money next time you buy an Apple product. Woot currently has a massive selection of refurbished Apple Watches and iPhones to choose from, which can save you a ton of cash compared to buying from Apple directly.

See at Woot

The majority of the devices you’ll find at this sale are listed as «Grade A» refurbs. According to Woot, that means that these items have been tested to be in full working condition and will show minimal signs of cosmetic wear and tear. Batteries are also tested to function at minimum 85% capacity.

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If you want the most up to date model, Today’s sale features the current-gen iPhone 14 Plus for the first time, and it’s actually listed as factory reconditioned meaning it will be in pristine condition with a battery capacity of at least 95%. Only one configuration is offered, the 512GB model in black, but it’s discounted to just $820 which is a far cry from this model’s $1,199 price brand new.

The previous-gen iPhone 13 is also included in the sale with prices starting at $600. Considering Apple still sells this 256GB device from $799, it’s a rare chance to save on a really recent model. If you want to spend a little less, the iPhone 12 is still an excellent phone that’s more than sufficient for most people thanks to its 5G capabilities, OLED display and powerful A14 Bionic chip. It’s a great value starting at just $360, which is over $200 less than buying new from Apple directly, or $290 for the iPhone 12 Mini. In our iPhone 14 review, CNET’s Patrick Holland said there isn’t a compelling reason to upgrade to the iPhone 14 from the iPhone 12, meaning this is still a great phone for a lot of folks today.

On the smartwatch side, the Apple Watch Series 7 from 2021 is the latest model available from $240. Outside of the temperature sensor and crash detection features found on the Series 8, the older Series 7 has basically the same display, battery life, connectivity and features making it a solid option in 2023. The Apple Watch Series 6 is available for even less, as little as $190, and will still work great for the average user, or you can spend even less with a Series 4 model starting at just $130 — ideal for someone just testing the waters with their first Apple Watch.

Cheaper devices like the iPhone SE and iPhone 8 start at $120 and the Apple Watch Series 3 is available from $95, but beware that support for future software updates isn’t guaranteed and the Series 3 doesn’t support the current WatchOS 9 update.

Overall, these are some of the best value Apple deals you’ll find right now. These offers will end May 27, or when these refurbished models sell out, so we recommend acting sooner rather than later.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, March 5

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 5.

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 was a bit tricky. I was thrown off by 1-Down, as it turns out there are multiple slow-moving creatures whose names would fit in a five-letter space. Read on for all 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.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Poli ___ (college major)
Answer: SCI

4A clue: Person with a superior attitude
Answer: SNOB

5A clue: Word whose letters are appropriately found from left to right in … CHARISMA
Answer: CHARM

6A clue: … PRECIPITATION
Answer: RAIN

7A clue: … UNSIGHTLY
Answer: UGLY

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Slow-moving creature
Answer: SNAIL

2D clue: Like a groan-inducing joke
Answer: CORNY

3D clue: Co. that created the first floppy disk
Answer: IBM

4D clue: Furry variety of carpet
Answer: SHAG

5D clue: World Class Wreckin’ ___, music group in which Dr. Dre got his start
Answer: CRU

Technologies

Gemini Expands to Live Camera Feeds: What It Means for Your Privacy

Gemini for Home’s AI is getting a significant upgrade — if you don’t mind it peering through your security cam.

Google’s Gemini for Home AI originally could only access stored video clips from compatible security cameras. It could answer questions about object locations, notify you when a UPS van arrived and provide daily summaries of motion-detected activity captured by the cameras. Now, that AI analysis is getting a significant live viewing boost.

According to Anish Kattukaran, chief product officer for Google Home, and his latest X posts on the changes, Google Home is introducing the ability to ask Gemini for Home Live Search questions, letting the AI look at what the camera currently sees, analyze that footage and explain it.

«You can now ask Gemini to understand the current state of your home,» Kattukaran wrote. «(For example), Hey Google, is there a car in the driveway?'»

These options will be available only to Google Home Premium Advanced subscribers, with plans starting at $20.

A Google representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Other upgrades to Google Home include the full rollout of Yale Smart Lock integration and improved casual conversation with Gemini for Home.

How invasive are these Gemini live viewing features?

Concerns about Gemini AI accessing security cameras on demand are understandable. Similar privacy questions have arisen with features like Ring’s pet-finding Search Party and the extent of law enforcement access to Flock Safety surveillance.

Unlike Ring’s cut-short partnership, Google Nest has never had any contracts with surveillance companies like Flock. However, the company has shared footage with police in the past, most notably when Nest recovered cloud footage, first assumed deleted, from a Nest camera, to help in the case of Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of Today Show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.

It is unclear whether the new Live Search feature will allow Gemini for Home to access cameras on demand in cases involving law enforcement requests. According to Google’s description, Gemini for Home can use Live Search whenever questions pertain to a home’s current state, giving the AI broad access. Google has not yet clarified whether Live Search can be disabled or how live camera feeds might be handled in relation to police or other privacy concerns.

Whenever Gemini for Home accesses a Nest camera, the footage may be used for AI training purposes. Details about how Live Search is activated and managed have not been fully disclosed. By default, the latest Nest cameras provide 6 hours of free cloud video storage, but Gemini for Home can only access stored or live footage if people have the appropriate subscription plan and have enabled the feature.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for March 5, #528

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for March 5, No. 528.

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

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition offers some tricky red herrings. Arsenal is a famous soccer/football team, of course, but that’s not how it is used here. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Useful things.

Green group hint: Baseballers hang out here.

Blue group hint: March Madness.

Purple group hint: George R.R. of Game of Thrones fame.