Apple AirPods Archives

Love, hearing loss and Bluetooth settings

hear.com

Barry and I were on vacation in the Bahamas, soaking up the sun and enjoying island life until he caught a nasty virus. The next morning, he woke up and said, “I can’t hear out of my right ear.”

Just like that, his hearing was gone.

He saw a doctor on the island who put him on a steroid immediately. Once we got home, he started a series of injections right into his ear to try to restore the hearing. Nothing worked.

🧏🏼 That’s when reality set in

He’d permanently lost the hearing in one ear.

At first, it was just little things. We avoided our favorite restaurants because they were too noisy. Conversations turned into misunderstandings. I’d start to tell a story, then stop halfway through because it was frustrating for both of us when he couldn’t quite catch the details.

Barry, like a lot of people, didn’t want to get a hearing aid. “They make you look old,” he’d say. And I get it, no one wants to feel like they’re falling apart.

But hearing loss doesn’t just affect one person. It changes how we connect with the people we love. We’ve been married 25 years. I wanted us back.

📱 Tech to the rescue

I helped him tweak his iPhone when he first lost his hearing.

I went into Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Balance to shift sound to his good ear.
While there, I turned on LED Flash for Alerts for texts and calls so he wouldn’t miss them.
I also activated Background Sounds to cut out unwanted chatter.

That really didn’t help much.

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How to take Apple’s hearing test – and what to do if your hearing loss is more than mild

Apple.com, hear.com

Apple really pulled off a great feat. You can now test your hearing with your AirPods Pro 2 and an iPhone running iOS 18. It’s a groundbreaking feature, FDA-approved and perfect for catching mild to moderate hearing loss early.

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Don’t miss these early Prime Day deals

Amazon Prime Day starts Tuesday, but you can get a jump-start on deals now.

Don’t care about the latest and greatest Apple AirPods? Get a deal on an older model that works great (47% off, $69).
Upgrade your home office with a single-serve Keurig coffee maker for 40% off. Comes in cute colors, like pink or light ocean blue.
These leakproof bento box-style containers rarely go on sale, but they’re 30% off now in your kids’ or grandkids’ favorite colors. Hey, I want one for snacks …
Upgrade your external storage with 44% off a five-star-reviewed 1TB portable SSD. It looks nice, too.
Grab a quality digital meat thermometer for your summer grilling needs. It’s 52% off now — only $9.99.

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Everything Apple does with your health data

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The FDA just approved new Apple health features — AirPods as hearing aids, Apple Watches detecting sleep apnea. But what’s happening with your health info? I’ve got the details!

September is the apple of my pie: Apple’s set to show off the new iPhone 16 line, Watch Series 10 and AirPods on Sept. 10. The iPhone Pros and Watch have bigger screens, and the new AirPods look like a cross between 3rd-gen AirPods and the AirPods Pro. If you need a new iPhone (JoJo, talking to you!), just wait a little longer.

🎧 Drown out distractions on your Mac: If you’re in a loud place, turn on background sounds to mask unwanted noise. Go to Accessibility > Audio > Background Sounds > Choose, then pick from Rain, Ocean and more. Pair this with noise canceling earbuds (like the Apple AirPods Pro 2) for an even better experience.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Best early Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sales

Amazon.com

Amazon’s big Prime Big Deal Days sale isn’t for a couple of weeks, but there are already a ton of bargains to be had. By popular request, I’ve included a bunch below.

🛑 FYI: To score these deals, you’ll need a Prime membership. Use this link for a 30-day free trial.

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We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Labor Day 2024: Best deals on tech and more on Amazon

Amazon.com

Ah, Labor Day — time for burgers, poolside relaxation and unbeatable deals! Whether you’re in the market to upgrade your tech, add smart home gadgets or finally score that item you’ve been eyeing, I’ve got you covered.

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Apple's AirPod game changer

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Apple’s new AirPods Pro 2 just got FDA approval to double as hearing aids. But can they really pull it off? Find out what makes these earbuds more than just a great way to listen to music.

Amazon Labor Day sales: Deals on home goods and tech

Amazon.com

If you know me, you know I love a sale. Amazon’s Labor Day weekend deals are here, and I did some digging so you don’t have to. Here’s a link to everything on sale if you want to browse. Have fun!

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We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

AI is running for mayor

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A guy tried getting ChatGPT elected as the mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, but voters shut that down fast. Google secretly scraped $5 billion worth of data, moped thieves stealing AirPods Max, and Chick-fil-A is launching a streaming platform.

Apple clones? Samsung’s latest gadgets just leaked online. That includes the Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The Ultra smartwatch has a new, very Apple-like band. And the Galaxy Buds are looking a lot more like AirPods, too.

How to keep your AirPods in your ears

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Do your earbuds always seem to fall out? I’ve got a great trick to keep them in place.

How to clean your filthy AirPods

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Do you know what you’re actually putting in your ears? Find out the dirty details in this short podcast.

Doordash's bad tipper crackdown, iOS 17 laundry tool & spot deepfake pics

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Plus, is talking with AirPods on considered rude? We talk about it. Apple’s new marketing campaign has an unlikely star: a throat singer. Google introduces .ing domains — expect some odd new websites. Ways to trace your photos across the web, and how to take care of your cords.

Google launches Pixel 8 and more new tech - Everything you need to know

blog.google, store.google.com

Apple’s fall device drop gets all the love, but Google wants you to remember it’s here, too — with lots of shiny new tech and some seriously impressive AI upgrades coming soon to a phone near you.

Let’s break down everything Google just announced and see how the Pixel 8 stacks up against the new iPhone 15.

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AirPods as hearing aids, PayPal warning, Twitter alternatives

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Got a messy photo gallery? Use these tricks to clean it up. Plus, the best Twitter alternatives, hidden privacy report for your phone, YouTube’s new jingle, Google Maps update shows where EV stations are and an urgent Black Friday warning for shoppers with PayPal accounts. Also, Netflix now lets you cut off freeloaders and Apple AirPods can work as more affordable hearing aids.

Apple's science fiction is reality

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Apple’s new second-generation AirPods Pro blow the previous model out of the water. In 60 seconds, here’s a look at the incredible tech behind them.

What Apple announced in 60 seconds

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Are you excited about Apple’s new iPhones, AirPods and Watches? Listen to this one-minute podcast for the inside scoop.

Insider AirPod trick you'll wish you knew sooner

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Want to make the most out of your Apple AirPods? Listen now for a nifty trick to try out.