Technologies

I Love One Thing About the New Nike Special Edition Powerbeats Pro 2 Earbuds

Beats and Nike have collaborated to bring us the Powerbeats Pro 2 — Nike Special Edition. I go hands-on with them.

Beats has released plenty of special edition products in the past, «collaborating» with various celebrities, including Kim Kardashian. But the new Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Special Edition is the first time it’s linked up with Nike. The buds have the Nike Swoosh on the right bud and the Beats «b» on the left, as well as Nike’s two-tone black and yellow colors and its «Just Do it» slogan printed inside the lid. They’re available via an early-access lottery today on SNKRS, then they’ll launch globally on March 20 for $250.

Read more: Best wireless earbuds of 2026

The Nike x Powerbeats Pro 2 have all the same features as the standard Powerbeats Pro 2, including built-in heart rate monitoring that syncs with Apple’s Fitness app and Nike Run Club1. Perhaps the coolest things about them is the Volt-speckled charging case, which has a bit of texture to it and is slightly easier to grip than the standard Powerbeats Pro 2’s case, which has a smooth matte finish.

The collaboration makes sense given that the Powerbeats Pro 2 are sports buds with an ear hook design that are popular among hardcore and recreational athletes. They’re fairly pricey, though: The standard Powerbeats Pro 2 also list for $250 but sometimes get discounted to closer to $200 online. You can read my full review here.

Beats has recruited longtime brand ambassador LeBron James for the launch, which isn’t a surprise. But he’s not promoting the buds playing basketball, but golf. In the promo video, James shows off his «less-than-elite» skills on the links while using the Powerbeats Pro 2 to tune out a trio of critics, played by professional golfer Tom Kim and actors Lionel Boyce and Travis «Taco» Bennett. He’s «embracing the game on his own terms.»

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.

Technologies

2 Cases Show Supreme Court Isn’t Holding ISPs Responsible for Piracy

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 8, #1032

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for April 8, No. 1032.

Looking for the most recent 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, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough. The purple category is a fun one, once you see the connection. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

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

Yellow group hint: In the group.

Green group hint: Appearance details.

Blue group hint: Often found in gyms.

Purple group hint: They help you see.