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CNET
2 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Garmin Announces Its First-Ever Sleep-Only Tracker, a Lightweight Band Around Your Bicep
Garmin released today its new Index Sleep Monitor, a smart sleep band that gives users a closer look at their overnight vitals and recovery. In addition to tracking sleep duration and stages, the Index Sleep Monitor provides users with their overall sleep score, HRV status, Pulse Ox reading (a pulse oximeter that measures how much oxygen is in your bloodstream), breathing variation, respiration rate, skin temperature, women's health data, stress levels and Body Battery which is Garmin's branded energy monitoring technology. In a press release, Garmin's vice president of consumer sales and marketing, Susan Lyman, said, "We are thrilled to add the Index Sleep Monitor to our suite of innovative health and wellness products. Wearing this smart sleep band every night can provide in-depth sleep insights and a more complete picture of fitness and recovery so users can wake up ready to seize the day." The lightweight, breathable band is worn around the upper arm and comes in two sizes (XS to S; M to XL). After a night of sleep, the data is uploaded into the Garmin Connect app and syncs with other vitals, such as recorded activities, from compatible Garmin smartwatches. This fills in any gaps that one device may miss. Cleaning is also easy since the tracking device, a square Apple AirTag-like module, can easily be removed, and the band is machine-washable. It also has a seven-night battery life, which allows for daytime charging. If you don't wear your smartwatch to bed already, this device frees up the night to be the time to give your watch a charge. Garmin/CNET Smart wake alarm and women's health tracking Garmin A standout feature of the Index Sleep Monitor is its smart wake alarm. During a pre-selected time frame, the smart band detects when you're at the lightest stage of sleep and sends subtle vibrations to wake you up. The intention is to leave you feeling refreshed in the morning rather than groggy from deep sleep. This is an innovative feature in competitors' sleep-tracking devices, such as the Eight Sleep Pod 4. While some Garmin smartwatches already have women's health tracking available in the app, the Index Sleep Monitor utilizes your skin temperature to give further insight into period prediction and ovulation windows. The Garmin Connect app can store users' data such as symptoms, mood and cycle calendars. The Index Sleep Monitor is now available on Garmin's website for $170.
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Best Dishwashers for 2025
We did a deep dive into spec and user reviews and spoke with industry experts to find the best dishwashers for 2025. Tyler Lizenby/CNET Unlike most consumer tech and small appliances, which are easy to test in at home, large appliances like dishwashers have logistical hurdles that make hands-on testing much more difficult. The plumbing and electricity needs alone require special accommodations, not to mention the expense of shipping and storing bulky appliances. Because of this, I'm focusing on a research and data-heavy approach. I also surveyed four dishwasher experts to get the nitty-gritty details on what you should look for in a dishwasher. These experts include a dishwasher repair technician, an online appliance retailer, and two representatives for major dishwasher brands. To avoid potential conflicts of interest, they had no input in the evaluation process. I also examined over 8,200 customer ratings, prices and specifications to help you figure out the best dishwasher brand for your needs. While this approach is best for a detailed bird's-eye view of each brand, it's harder to recommend specific models based on performance, only customer satisfaction. Methodology Extensive pricing and customer rating data are a major component of my evaluation process. CNET Before I discuss my methodology, I want to point out that it differs heavily from those we use for hands-on testing. I normally pepper my methodologies with detailed insights and results for each product. However, the overwhelming amount of data limits me to fewer examples -- at least if I want to keep it moderately interesting. The data collection and analysis phase took over a week, which is much more than I typically dedicate to hands-on testing. However, the results provide a good foundation for my recommendations and which dishwasher model should represent each brand. Here's what I collected: 8,273 data points (prices, ratings, specifications) from 679 product pages on 34 retail and manufacturer websites (as of May 9, 2025) 483 unique dishwasher models across 42 brands 577 ratings based on 674,348 customer reviews (some product pages didn't have ratings) Energy Star data (as of May 9, 2025) Eventually, I picked 12 noteworthy brands. While I believe the brands I chose for this dishwasher review are the best options for most people, customer sentiment was also very high for dishwasher manufacturers overall—81% of brands had a median customer rating of 4 stars or higher (out of 5 possible). I wasn't able to evaluate countertop or portable dishwashers for this review. To make this comparison and my recommendations easier, I selected a "representative model" for each brand to highlight what I like most about the company. Your budget and preferences may lead you to a different model, but the representative is a solid starting point. Evaluating over 674,000 online customer ratings to find the best dishwashers Online customer reviews aren't the best replacement for hands-on testing, so it's vital to scale the sample size beyond a handful of models. John Carlsen/CNET For large-scale data journalism projects like these, this means crawling every online resource I can find to create a comprehensive spreadsheet. While these numbers can help us find broad trends, there are three limitations: Limitation 1: There's a lot of overlap Some retailers host reviews from the manufacturer's website in addition to those from their own. John Carlsen/CNET Some retailers, especially Home Depot and Lowe's, host reviews from the manufacturer's website in addition to those from their customers. To their credit, the overlapping reviews have clear labeling, but it complicates things for me. For example, the Bosch SHE53C85N has 10,907 reviews on Bosch's website, 4,924 on Lowe's and 3,140 on Home Depot. Altogether, that's 18,971 reviews. Using on-page review filters, I eliminated 3,970 overlapping reviews to reach 15,001 ratings. However, even this number isn't foolproof -- because Bosch shares reviews among similar models, making the number fuzzier with no way to focus on a single model. To Bosch's credit -- as well as other brands -- it discloses this info below shared reviews. Granted, many dishwasher models have only cosmetic differences, but I'd love to filter out as much overlap as possible. Limitation 2: Incentivized reviews Incentivized reviews tend to skew positive so we weigh them less heavily. John Carlsen/CNET Incentivized dishwasher reviews result from a manufacturer or retailer soliciting customer reviews after a purchase. These reviewers didn't get a free dishwasher to review, but they probably got a coupon or another benefit -- for example, KitchenAid had a Ratings and Reviews Sweepstakes in 2024. This type of review isn't completely useless since it can encourage customers who would never review a product otherwise. Still, most incentivized reviews have a tendency toward glowing reviews -- though plenty have a one-star rating. This practice may skew the numbers a little -- even when a company asks customers for an honest opinion, so it's best to treat online ratings as a rough guide rather than a definitive answer. Limitation 3: Brands that don't sell dishwashers online A limited online retail presence means fewer user reviews to analyze. John Carlsen/CNET I can't analyze customer reviews that don't exist. Miele is the biggest example from my research because it directs buyers to authorized dealers instead of selling dishwashers directly through online retailers like Home Depot. In these cases, I rely on word of mouth, other expert reviewers and specifications, which isn't ideal. How do customer ratings affect our rankings? Filtering out all incentivized reviews and overlap may be possible with a small dataset, but it's a far more difficult with a category as large as dishwashers. Still, I feel like the sheer volume of data somewhat offsets these limitations. After identifying broad trends in the large dataset, I chose a representative model that I believe best showcases each brand's strength. The representative models are among the highest-rated products from a brand, which aren't always those with the highest ratings or most popularity. Evaluating dishwasher specifications Once I have a lineup of representative models, I dig deeper into the specs for those products to highlight the features that helped them stand out from the competition. Maytag While customer reviews can reveal consumer sentiment, they might gloss over a dishwasher's features. So, reviewers often fill in the gaps with manufacturer specifications -- even for hands-on tests. In this case, I pulled many specs from the product names in my dataset. This is because some retailers list specs in the dishwasher's name. Check out this example from Home Depot: Bosch 500 Series 24 in. White Top Control Tall Tub Pocket Handle Dishwasher with Stainless Steel Tub, 44 dBA Let's break it down: Bosch 500 Series (SHP65CM2N) 24 inches wide (full-sized dishwasher as opposed to an 18-inch compact dishwasher) White finish with a control panel on the top of the door and a pocket handle rather than a towel bar handle Stainless steel tub Sound level of 44 dBa Most dishwasher product names I collected follow a similar pattern, so I standardized the formatting. From there, all it took was a few formulas to summarize the features of hundreds of models at once. I won't stray too deep into the weeds on this -- data analysis can be very boring -- but I think it's pretty neat. Once I have a lineup of representative models, I dig deeper into the specs for those products to highlight the features that helped them stand out from the competition. These in-depth specifications are the main component of every table in this comparison. (For extra insurance, I double-checked the info on each product page before putting it in a table.) This summary data was mostly useful in evaluating sound levels. It's how I determined that Samsung (DW90F89T0U12, DW90F89P0USRAA, DW90F89P0USR), Bosch (SHP95CM5N, SHP9PCM5N) and LG (LUDP8908SN) have the quietest dishwasher models at just 38 dBa. Evaluating Energy Star data for dishwashers Energy Star certification was a requirement for inclusion on this list. John Carlsen/CNET Every product in the top five needed to have an Energy Star certification. A direct download on took less than a minute to add to my spreadsheet, making this the easiest data to collect. Standard-size dishwashers must meet two criteria to earn an Energy Star label: use less than 240 kilowatt-hours per year (kWh/yr) of electricity and less than 3.2 gallons per cycle. (Energy Star says that 240 kWh per year equates to less than $50 in annual electricity costs -- $4.16 or less per month.) Requirements are tighter for compact dishwashers, which hold fewer than eight place settings. (Midea, my pick for the best compact dishwasher, holds exactly eight place settings, so it's technically a standard dishwasher, according to Energy Star.) As with specifications and consumer reviews, the Energy Star program isn't a catch-all method for finding a great dishwasher, but it's always helpful if you value energy-efficient appliances. Energy Star's greatest strength is its evolving criteria, with the latest update coming in July 2023. This also means older models won't keep an Energy Star label forever -- none of the dishwashers on Energy Star's current list were released before late 2017. Electricity usage Various Energy Star ratings influenced my dishwasher picks. Energy Star I gave the most credit to dishwashers that meet the Energy Star Most Efficient 2025 Criteria (PDF) because they go beyond the standard certification. Miele dominates the Most Efficient category in terms of numbers -- 20 models -- which is over three times as many as qualifiers from Bosch, Samsung and LG combined. Notably, the Miele G 5892 SCVi SL is the most efficient model at 200 kWh/yr. This is 16.67% more efficient than the base Energy Star rating of 240 kWh/yr. As for the normal Energy Star rating, GE, Miele, Bosch and Frigidaire had the most models that qualified for the Energy Star rating, with at least 39 models from each company. It drops off quickly from there, with LG, Midea and Samsung boasting between 17 and 23 Energy Star models. However, Cafe, Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Maytag had fewer than 10 Energy Star models -- Maytag sells only a single model with the certification. These brands meet the previous Energy Star standard but haven't yet caught up to the latest criteria from 2023. While Ikea sells only six Energy Star models, these comprise the entire lineup, which is a nice bonus for Ikea fans. Water usage Even the least water-efficient dishwashers use less than would be needed to hand-wash the same number of dishes. Lexy Savvides/CNET A handful of Bosch models use less than half the US Federal Standard (5 gallons) for water per cycle at just 2.3 gallons. While this is notable, even the least water-wise dishwashers on the Energy Star list use only 3.2 gallons per cycle -- a difference of just 0.9 gallons. Even dishwashers that don't meet Energy Star's electricity usage requirements can be water-wise, with the KitchenAid KDTM404KPS sipping only 2.4 gallons per cycle. However, there's a caveat with Energy Star's water usage calculations: they only examine the low end of a normal wash cycle, which sometimes uses more water on heavily soiled loads of dishes. Likewise, heavy-duty and quick wash cycles can use more water than the Energy Star specification. (You can find water usage estimates for each cycle in your dishwasher's manual or cycle guide.) Although I like knowing roughly how much water a dishwasher uses, Energy Star's water usage figures aren't useful performance indicators for other wash cycles, at least when reviewing products. For this reason, they don't influence my ranking decisions. Still, you can rest easy knowing that a full dishwasher load uses less water than hand-washing an equivalent amount of dishes in the sink. Remember to do a full load as often as you can since dishwashers' efficiency benefits diminish as load sizes go down.
Bloomberg
10-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Crypto Billionaire Hires Neuralink Employees for Brain Startup
Coinbase Global Inc. co-founder Fred Ehrsam has become the latest Silicon Valley billionaire to jump into the brain-health business, with his startup hiring at least eight people who used to work at Elon Musk's Neuralink. Unlike Musk's company, which inserts a chip in the brain, Ehrsam's Nudge aims to build a consumer headset-like product using ultrasound technology that Ehrsam hopes will treat brain diseases, improve your mood and help you sleep with the push of a button.
CNET
06-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
The Sonos Ace Headphones Have Never Been So Cheap
Sonos is a name that you've probably seen associated with wireless speakers more than anything else, but it finally entered the headphone market last year. The Sonos Ace headphones instantly became real competition for some of the top headphones from more familiar headphone companies, which is always a good thing for consumers. When CNET's audio expert David Carnoy reviewed the Sonos Ace, one of the few downsides he pointed out was the high price tag, but that's less of an issue right now, thanks to a limited-time $175 discount. This deal brings the price down to just $274, a price that makes this the best deal that we've seen to date. The catch? This deal ends this weekend which means you only have a very limited amount of time to act. On a more positive note, you do get to choose between the white and black versions when placing your order. Carnoy liked the headphones a lot, stating that "overall the Ace deliver a more premium listening experience, as well as better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance" than many other options at this premium price range, but did state that the price tag itself was an issue. They're comfortable, have strong spatial audio and they look good to boot. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. These headphones boast support for lossless audio via Bluetooth and their USB-C port, while plush memory foam ear pads ensure a comfortable fit all day long. You'll also get up to 30 hours of battery life even with ANC enabled, while just three minutes on the charger gets you up to three hours of playback. The newness of the Sonos Ace headphones and the rarity of Sonos deals make this one of the best deals on headphones right now, especially if you like having the latest devices. Why this deal matters The Sonos Ace headphones are currently available at a significant discount. You can save $175 on these if you are quick. This is the lowest price we've seen, but the limited-time status means you need to act soon. We don't expect this price to be beat any time soon, so keep that in mind when planning your purchase.
Khaleej Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Sales of consumer tech and durables in Middle East and Africa to hit S68 billion this year
Total sales of consumer tech and durables in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is expected to rise two per cent this year to $68 billion, a report showed. with 2 per cent growth rate. According to NielsenIQ, a leading consumer intelligence company, emerging markets such as the Middle East are leading to global growth in global consumer tech and durables sales. Strong economic sentiment in specific countries within the MEA in 2025 will continue to drive the region's overall demand for consumer technology. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are seen as priority markets for premium smartphones, TVs, and laptops. However, demand for lower-priced devices is also increasing, with lower-income consumers buying Chinese brands that offer strong features and functionality at lower price points. In 2025, brands selling into the Middle East and Africa must navigate fragmented consumer profiles and a crowded retail landscape. Success will depend on clear brand differentiation and tailored product ranges that balance price and functionality across diverse markets. Staying informed on global consumer trends is also essential, as MEA consumers rapidly close the gap in trend adoption. The revenue share of phones equipped with an AI processor, by region in MEA, is 32 per cent of total sales. In smartphones, foldables are a small segment, but volume demand is growing fast within Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In the UAE, premium purchases overall are being boosted by higher-income expatriates returning from Russia, together with foreign tourists to UAE buying portable tech to take home with them. Saudi Arabia's growth in gaming PCs and accessories will continue, driven by the social adoption of e-sports in the country. Globally, consumer tech and durables sales are likely to reach $1.29 trillion — driven by emerging markets, replacement cycles, and premium innovation - in the year ahead. 'Manufacturers and retailers should focus on creating solutions that address real-world challenges and elevate the consumer experience. This involves leveraging cutting-edge technologies to offer products that are not only high-quality but also user-friendly and impactful', says Andrey Dvoychenkov, NielsenIQ General Manager APP. 'By doing so, they can build stronger connections with consumers who are increasingly seeking products that align with their values and enhance their daily lives.' The tech demand is increasing across generations, but it is much more vocal in Gen Z, the report showed. Data shows that 48 per cent of Gen Z regularly use a wearable device that autonomously tracks and learns their behaviour. This number is only 31 per cent for Gen X. In another point, 46 per cent of Gen Z leverages AI in their mobile devices to automate and speed up their everyday decisions whereas it is only 34 per cent for Gen X. 'As we see significant adoption of new technologies for younger generation, the demand and early adoption of any new technology or trend will be driven by Gen Z,' the report said.
