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Ben Crump Weighs in with Details in Shooting of Black Air Force Airman by Fla. Cop

Updated as of 5/18/2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET

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Ecobee’s Smart Thermostat Premium is nearly matching its all-time low

Small Ecobee thermostat on a tan wall in between closet and staircase.
Surprisingly, Ecobee’s smartest thermostat also makes for a decent air quality monitor / smart speaker. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

The temperatures are about to soar now that summer is almost upon us — and so are our cooling bills. If you want to keep comfy while saving money on your energy bills, it’s worth investing in Ecobee’s Smart Thermostat Premium now that it’s down to its best price of the year. Normally $249.99, right now you can buy it at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Ecobee for $219.99, which is $10 shy of its all-time low.

Ecobee’s smart thermostat is our favorite on the market, one that goes beyond your typical heating and cooling needs. It can adjust your HVAC system based on where you are in your home (if you’re home at all), and even keep your pets safe as you travel thanks to its support for various temperature alerts and reminders — a feature that saved my colleague’s rabbit as recently as last year. Ecobee’s premium thermostat also integrates well with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, and IFTTT, so you don’t have to lock yourself into a specific ecosystem.

What’s even more impressive, though, is how versatile it is. Yes, it’s a smart thermostat, but Ecobee’s step-up model can also function as a decent smart speaker, an indoor air quality monitor, and even a hub for Ecobee’s smart security system. It doesn’t do a bad job, either. It can respond to both Alexa and Siri commands, and though it’s pretty basic as far as air quality monitors go, it can still calculate how clean your air is based on carbon dioxide levels, relative humidity, and VOCs. How many smart thermostats can do that?

Read our Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium review.

A few more deals to kick off the weekend

  • Now through May 19th, Nomad is running a buy one get one free promo on all of its iPhone cases when you use offer code BOGOCASE at checkout. The sale extends to leather cases for all four iPhone 15 models, too, some of which are already discounted — including the attractive Modern Leather Folio case for the 15 Pro, which is down to just $48 ($12 off).
  • For the second time this month, JLab’s Go Air Sport have fallen to $19.88 ($10 off) at Amazon, matching their all-time low. For the price, JLab’s fitness-focused earbuds have a lot going for them, including decent sound and dedicated hooks for a more secure fit. They also sport an IP55 rating for sweat and dust resistance, providing some extra peace of mind during sweaty workouts.
  • Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Controller is available from Verizon in white for $35.99 ($25 off), which is one of its best prices to date. The gamepad doesn’t have customizable buttons like some pricier models, but it still offers good comfort and features for the price. It supports USB-C and Bluetooth, for example, so you can use it with your Xbox, PC, or mobile device. It features a dedicated share button, too, letting you easily save and share clips with whomever you see fit. Read our guide to the best Xbox controllers.

A profile of Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters, who led the company's successful crackdown on password sharing and is now pushing a focus on live programming (Lucas Shaw/Bloomberg)

Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
A profile of Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters, who led the company's successful crackdown on password sharing and is now pushing a focus on live programming  —  Now all he's got to figure out is live programming, sports, gaming, pricing and, oh, advertising.  —  In mid-February, Greg Peters …

Adult friendships can be tough. Babes gets it.

Eden (Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau) have a heart-to-heart
Image: Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection

Maybe best friends DO get shafted as we grow up!

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Every Hip-Hop Diss Track Released in 2024 (So Far)

2024 is the year of hate in hip-hop. There’s been so many diss tracks released this year that’s hard to keep track, and that’s not even including the ones put out by Drake and Kendrick Lamar during their infamous beef (that could still be going on).

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