The New AirPods Are Here

$1.7B.

That’s how much Google is being fined in the EU for restricting rivals’ ads. 

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, the fine:

…deals with abusing the dominance of its search engine to block competitors in the niche market of selling text ads on the search results that appear on third-party websites.

It doesn’t come with a specific order to change Google’s business practices because the commission says Google ended the last type of anticompetitive behavior at issue in the case shortly after charges were filed nearly three years ago.

Back here in these United States, Facebook has announced it will stop allowing ad targeting by race, gender and age groups in the housing, jobs, or credit categories by the end of the year, according to an article in The New York Times:

The changes are part of a settlement with groups that have sued Facebook over these practices in recent years, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Fair Housing Alliance and the Communications Workers of America. They also cover advertising on Instagram and Messenger, which Facebook owns.

And Apple fanboys/girls everywhere unite, as Apple has finally launched its second gen AirPods. 

As covered by 9to5 Mac, the new versions come with a wireless charging case, a new H1 chip, hands-free “Hey Siri,” longer battery life and faster connections to devices.

The new AirPods are $199 with the wireless charging case and $159 with the standard case, and existing AirPods owners can purchase the wireless charging case separately.

For those who have been on the fence about AirPods, here’s my personal endorsement not paid for by Apple or anybody else: Buy them.

They’re one of the single most useful items of tech I’ve purchased in years. 

The only regret I had about not buying the first gen AirPods was that I didn’t buy them sooner.

I’ve used them on planes, trains, and automobiles, in noisy airports, riding my bike around Ladybird Lake in Austin, and beyond without any real issues.  

The thing you notice most: There’s no cord to get in the way or get caught up on your desk, your seatbelt, etc.

Also, my concerns (which I’m sure others had) about losing one of them — which I surely figured I would have by now — have faded away.

If you’re on the phone or emeetings a lot, or you listen to a lot of music and use an iPhone, they’re a no brainer and worth every penny.