Today in Gear: 5 Products You Need to Know

While new gear drops every single day, the speed and flurry of updates in the tech space feels even faster than any other industry (just check out the daily stream of content in our Tech section for proof of that). With Apple’s iPhone-focused event last week and Microsoft’s slew of updates and announcements at yesterday’s event, it’s clear the tech giants aren’t slowing down anytime soon. From significant updates on the Surface Pro 8 to Apple’s forthcoming issues with the EU, get the lowdown in this tech-focused edition of Today in Gear.

Roku drops all-new 4K Streaming Stick with major upgrades (and it’s only $50).

Roku

As far as entry-level streaming sticks are concerned, it’s going to be hard to top Roku’s Sreaming Stick 4K. Priced at just $50, the device plugs directly (and discretely) into the HDMI port on your television, boasting Dolby Vision HDR, intelligent bandwidth optimization and support across Apple AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Buying the latest all-in-one HP desktop will have your friends green with envy.

HP

HP’s new Envy 34 is an all-in-one desktop PC in every sense, coming with a 5K screen with streamlined (see: smaller) bezels. Technically speaking, it’s kitted with a wireless charging pad in the screen stand and an 11th-generation Core-i9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Max Q GPU. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Looking for an Airpods alternative? 1More has you covered.

1MORE

Apple’s Airpods have helped proliferate bluetooth earbud technology, but the price isn’t easy to swallow. 1More’s ColorBuds 2 deliver features like active noise cancellation, transparency mode and wireless charging — all for $80.

Microsoft makes major updates to the Surface series with the Surface Pro 8.

Microsoft

In an event yesterday, Microsoft announced a series of improvements across the Surface line, including the Surface Pro. Aesthetically speaking, the slimmer bezels are a visual plus. Under the hood, the tablet utilizes Intel’s latest 11th-generation processors and finally adds support for Thunderbolt 4. It drops the same day Windows 11 does, October 5.

Will the European Commission push Apple to ditch ports altogether?

Amelia Holowaty Krales, The Verge

Reports show that the European Commission is proposing a streamlined approach to smartphone ports, asking all companies to align on a single, uniform charging port — USB-C. Given that Apple is dead-set on using its proprietary Lightning port for wired connection, this might be the move that pushes Apple to drop ports on the iPhone, iPad and other devices altogether.

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