Pixel 6 disappoints audiophiles, discounted gift cards, a John Deere LEGO, Uber's EV, and more

December 18, 2021

Smartphone manufacturers aren’t that great at supporting high-quality audio. And I’m not talking about how they ditched the headphone jack just to sell crappy Bluetooth earbuds—although that’s part of it. I’m talking about sampling rates, the stuff that dictates how much “detail” a digital audio file can deliver to its listener.

Streaming platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal are pushing hard for “high-res” and “lossless” audio, which require a high sampling rate that smartphone hardware never seems to support. Audio nerds can get around this problem with external accessories, but not if they own a Pixel 6! A bug makes it impossible to enjoy high-res audio on the Pixel 6, but Google has simply avoided the issue since it was first reported in November. Check out the top story to learn more!

Other Highlights:

• Nissan took a 1980s Altima and turned it into a beautiful, weird little EV.
• We tracked down the best places to buy discounted gift cards, just in time for Christmas.
• You’ll get to ride in an Uber EV soon, but it won’t be very roomy.
• …and as always, so much more!

-Andrew

Music streaming got a big boost in quality this year, but Pixel 6 owners can’t enjoy it. A bug that’s affected the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro since launch prevents the devices from using external DACs, which are required for high-res streaming on Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music. And Google hasn’t addressed the problem. Read More »

Gift cards are one of the easiest gifts to pick up at the last second and are also extremely safe bets to make for everyone on your gift list. But just because a gift card has a certain value doesn’t mean that’s how much you have to pay. There are plenty of excellent resources online that offer discounted gift cards—both physical cards and digital. You just have to know where to look. Read More »

There are few things I like better than a good pair of earbuds with nice sound quality and a comfortable fit. Skullcandy’s new Push Active buds are just that, plus they’re designed to stay in place all day, making them an actually useful earbud option for athletes. Read More »

Common wisdom says that you should rent a car for super long trips and leave your EV at home. But let’s be real, you love your electric car and want to take it across the country, even if that means hunting for charging stations. Thankfully, Waze is adding EV charging station support to its app just in time for the holidays. Read More »

Back in October, we had the chance to review Vizio’s excellent 70-inch M7 QLED TV. It scored a 9/10 thanks to its beautiful 4K panel, impressive color accuracy, and shockingly low price. But if you bought the Vizio M7 QLED TV for $1100, I suggest averting your eyes—Best Buy is offering the TV with a crazy $350 discount. Read More »

Everyone has a reliable old deck (or three) of playing cards, but it’s probably time to upgrade them that isn’t missing cards or have a bunch of bent corners. This standard Rider black-back deck from Bicycle has a clean classic design that’ll look great at your next poker night. It also features the company’s iconic air-cushion finish for easy shuffling and optimum performance. Plus, with such a low price, you can easily grab a few decks at once in case you want to have backups or blend the decks while playing with larger groups.

Get it at Amazon →

To celebrate its Sunderland factory’s 35th anniversary, Nissan turned one of its most iconic vehicles into a one-off EV. Meet the Nissan Newbird, a modified 1980s Bluebird (called a Nissan Altima in North America) with a Leaf EV powertrain and a retro-inspired paint job. Read More »

It’s time to start clearing some room on your massive LEGO shelf. LEGO will launch four new Technic heavy machinery sets in March of 2022, including an official John Deere 9620R 4WD Tractor with a functional trailer and some all-new, very green bricks. Read More »

Earlier this year, a new electric vehicle startup named Arrival announced it had partnered with Uber to design the ultimate ride-hailing vehicle. Now, nearly eight months later, we’re finally getting our first look at the teeny-tiny EV. This week, Arrival and Uber revealed its first prototype designed with Uber drivers in mind. Read More »

Want to protect your iPhone 13 without slapping adding any additional bulk? A screen protector is a perfect option, as it protects the screen from cracks and scratches. Not sure where to start? Here are the best iPhone 13 screen protectors. Read More »

If you’re all about Christmastime, seeing red and green decorations and holiday lights everywhere probably sparks good feelings. It turns out lights, fanfare, and celebration help people around the world get through the winter doldrums! Read More »

A critical exploit in widespread Java library has been found, disrupting much of the internet as server admins scramble to fix it. The vulnerable component, log4j, is used everywhere as an included library, so you will need to check your servers and make sure they’re updated. Read More »