Category: ambient music

Erik Thompson | The Current

As we close the book on 2022, here are 10 music events throughout the Twin Cities to celebrate the start of 2023. For even more New Year’s Eve options, check The Current’s Gig List for additional shows you can take in on Dec. 31.

New Year’s Eve with Davina and the Vagabonds at Dakota

The smooth soul-pop confections of Davina and the Vagabonds have the early birds, the night owls, and the homebodies all covered with their New Year’s Eve shows at the Dakota. They have an early dinner show scheduled at 6 p.m., and follow that up with a festive cocktail show starting at 10:30 p.m. which includes a champagne toast at midnight. If you don’t feel like leaving home, catch a livestream of their late show from the comfort of your own couch.

6 p.m. dinner show $140; 10:30 p.m. cocktail show $100; 10:30 p.m. livestream $15

Snowta Night 2 Featuring Tipper at Armory

This two-night EDM extravaganza brings 2022 to a rousing, bass-driven close on Dec. 30-31. The second evening features celebrated London trip-hop, downtempo ambient DJ/producer Tipper. Joining Tipper is a range of DJs, including Kursa, KLO, Resonant Language, Boggdogg, Base2, MikeRat and Conduit.

Doors and showtime at 6 p.m., $99 general admission, $129 VIP tickets

New Year’s Eve Day Brunch with Cornbread Harris Ensemble at Icehouse

Not all of us can stay up until midnight, but if you still want to enjoy some live music, the Icehouse has the perfect show for you. Beginning at 11 a.m., you can hear Minneapolis music legend Cornbread Harris as you take in a tasty, hearty brunch. (If late-night dance parties are more your thing, Icehouse has you covered as well, with Soul Friday: Collective Renewal New Year’s Eve Party for Queer Women of Color and Friends beginning at 9 p.m.)

11 a.m.-2 p.m., $5 reservation fee which goes directly to the artist

Honky Tonk New Year’s Eve at Turf Club

The Turf gets countrified this NYE, as locals Cole Diamond, Turn Turn Turn, and Molly Brandt put on a festive hoe-down. Diamond will bring the classic outlaw country sound; Turn Turn Turn’s glorious Americana harmonies accent a smooth blend of folk, pop, and country; along with Brandt’s lyrical storytelling and stirring country sound.

Doors at 7 p.m., showtime at 8 p.m. $15 advance tickets, $20 at the door

The ’80s New Year’s Eve with DJ Jake Rudh at First Avenue

The celebrated Transmission dance party celebrates music of the ‘80s to ring in the new year. Led by The Current’s Transmission host Jake Rudh, this party will have the iconic checkered dancefloor of First Ave filled with revelers reliving the familiar hit songs from their youth — or, gasp, their parents’ youth.

9 p.m. doors and start time, $20 advance, $25 at the door

Kiss Me – A ’90s New Year’s Eve at 7th St. Entry

Next door to First Ave’s ‘80s-themed dance party, the Entry hosts a ‘90s night featuring massive hits from across all the genres presented by the DJs from You Oughta Know.

Doors at 8 p.m., showtime at 9 p.m., $22 advance tickets, $25 at the door

Frogleg New Years at Fine Line

Minneapolis’ Frogleg’s fusion of rock, reggae, bluegrass, soul, Americana and folk should go over perfectly at the Fine Line’s New Year’s Eve celebration. Also on the bill, Jaedyn James’ rich, soaring vocals will fill the club and get the crowd dancing for this NYE party hosted by beatbox extraordinaire Heatbox.

Door time at 7 p.m., showtime at 8 p.m., $25 advance, $30 at the door, $50 reserved balcony seating

Brothers Entertainment New Years at Palace Theatre

The Palace highlights the breakout talents of the local Somali music community on New Year’s Eve, including Ilkacase, Sharma Boy, Kiin Jama, and Hodan Abdirahman. DJ Flavio, DJ Feermo, DJ Cash and DJ Naciim will spin tunes throughout the festivities.

Doors at 8 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m., $83 general admission, $68 balcony, $200 VIP tickets

New Years at Mortimer’s Featuring Dumpster Juice

If you prefer your New Year’s Eve party loud, messy and chaotic, then get yourself to Mort’s for Dumpster Juice, Virgin Whores and Silt. Boisterous, high-octane rock ‘n’ roll, cheap drinks, and no frills will be the themes for a night to leave your ears ringing and your mind reeling long into 2023.

Doors at 9 p.m., showtime at 9:30 p.m., $10

New Year’s Eve with Sleeping Jesus at The Hook & Ladder

To craft a blissful noise to help usher in the new year, the Hook has booked the ethereal dream pop sounds of Sleeping Jesus, psych rockers the Immaculate Beings, and post-punk indie rock band Present Company. There will also be DJ sets by Pill Collin$ & The Bean to add to the festivities.

Sine Music is set to release the long-awaited new album “HOPE” by Thomas Lemmer. The album will be available on all known download stores and streaming services. The album will also be available in Dolby Atmos and High-Resolution Audio format.

“HOPE” – an album name that couldn’t fit better into our present time. Thomas Lemmer produced the 16 tracks and four bonus tracks of the album during the pandemic. But the current events encouraged Thomas Lemmer to form an antipole with his music. His music helps to retake courage and to continue, even in seemingly hopeless situations.

Thomas Lemmer proves his versatility again with “HOPE“. He uses different styles like chillhop, chillstep, downtempo, pop ballads, ambient with neoclassical influences up to deep house on his current long-player. Despite all the variety, a common theme runs through the album and his unmistakable compositional signature and sound.

It is also extraordinary that he has dedicated himself to covering a song for the first time. With “THE POWER OF LOVE” (originally by Frankie Goes To Hollywood), he produced a reduced, almost acoustic version of this world hit. The album was mastered in High Resolution Audio format at Monoposto Mastering Studio (Robin Schulz etc.).

In addition, the album is released in Dolby Atmos format. For this purpose, the album was remixed and prepared by Eric Horstmann (Moderat, Rodriguez Jr., and others) at Immersive Lab Studios in Berlin.

Listen to the tracks below.

This story is part of 12 Days of Tips, helping you make the most of your tech, home and health during the holiday season.

You should always mess with your iPhone‘s settings, especially if you just got a new one — maybe even as a gift this Christmas. There’s always something you can toggle on or off to make your iPhone work better for you, you just need to know where to look. If you’re burning through battery, you might always turn on low-power mode. If you working out is your thing, you might set up a shortcut to automatically turn on your workout playlist when you walk into the gym.

No matter what you need, you’re bound to find some cool customization options — some that you know and others that you might have never heard of — in your settings. Want to declutter your home screen? Use your battery a little less throughout the day? You can do all of that and more with these 22 iOS settings.

And if you want to take a look at some hidden iOS features, check out how to unlock your iPhone’s hidden trackpad and the best hidden features on iOS 16. Also, if you’re looking to upgrade to the latest phone, check out the best deals on the iPhone 14 right now.

1. Stop apps from tracking your exact location

Apps like Doordash, Postmates, Google Maps and Waze all require your exact location to deliver food to the right location or direct you to where you want to go. But not all apps need to know precisely where you are at every moment.

You can easily prevent any app from tracking your exact location. In the Settings app, choose an application (like Instagram, for example), tap Location and then toggle off Precise Location. Any app with Precise Location off will only know your approximate location, within a few miles.

Read more: Why You May Want to Revoke Precise Location Permissions From Instagram

2. Turn the back of your iPhone into a button

The back of your iPhone can be used as a secret button to activate certain actions, like take a screenshot or enable low power mode, and run shortcuts that can automatically play music when you arrive at the gym or turn on your smart lights when you get home. However, the option is hidden deep in your settings — here’s how to find it.

In the Settings app, go to Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and choose one of the two tapping options (double or triple tap). You should see a list of actions you can run by tapping the back of your iPhone, like opening your camera, turning on the flashlight, scrolling up and down and more. Tap on on action or shortcut to set it for double or triple tap.

3. Bring back full-screen incoming call alerts

If your iPhone is unlocked and you receive a phone call, a banner-style notification will appear at the top of your screen, with a photo and name of the person calling, and the options to pick up or deny the call. But this banner wasn’t always there.

Before iOS 14, the incoming call screen would take over your entire display when your iPhone was unlocked and in use. It was disruptive, sure, but it also got the job done. 

When the banner appeared, it was a welcome change for many, because it’s more discreet and allows you to still use your phone while receiving a call. However, if for any reason you’re not a big fan of the banner and want to revert to the more attention-grabbing full-screen alert, go to Settings > Phone > Incoming Calls and tap Full Screen.

4. Turn off 5G coverage you don’t want or have

Apple touts a Smart Data feature that’s specific to its 5G phones (iPhone 12 and iPhone 13) that will automatically switch between 4G LTE and 5G networks based on how you’re using your device. 

However, you may find that your iPhone’s battery drains faster than it did before. If you don’t want to sacrifice battery life for faster 5G speeds, shut it down. You can always turn 5G back on when you want it, or when service in your area improves.

To turn off 5G on your iPhone 12 or iPhone 13, forcing it to always use 4G LTE even if you have 5G coverage, open the Settings app, then go to Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data and tap LTE.

Alternatively, if you want your iPhone to exclusively use a 5G connection when available, you can select 5G On.

Read more: AirPods 3 vs. AirPods Pro: Comparing Apple’s Latest Earbuds

5. Fine-tune how much data is used by a 5G connection

If you’re happy with your 5G performance, here’s a network-related setting you should check out. Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode, where you’ll find three different options: Allow more data on 5G, Standard and Low Data Mode.

Even though there are brief descriptions below the three different settings, they don’t paint a complete picture for the first option. According to an Apple support document, allowing more data on 5G will give you high-quality video and FaceTime calls. It also enables your phone to download software updates and stream high-definition Apple TV and Apple Music content, and it allows third-party developers to also improve their respective apps.

The default setting on this page will depend on your carrier and your data plan, so it’s a good idea to check your iPhone and make sure it’s correctly set to your preference.

6. Stop apps from cluttering up your home screen

The App Library is a place where you can quickly find and access all of your applications. And while apps are housed here, all newly downloaded apps also appear on your home screen. This may not be a problem if you download apps sparingly, but if you’re installing new apps on a consistent basis, they can quickly clutter up your home screen.

To stop downloaded apps from appearing on your home screen, go to Settings > Home Screen and select App Library Only. If you want to find the app, you’ll have to swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library.

7. Unlock your phone while wearing a face mask

One of the frustrating aspects of wearing a face covering has been the inability to unlock an iPhone with Apple’s Face ID technology. Because half of your face is covered, Face ID just doesn’t work. And while entering your passcode to unlock your phone works, it’s not as convenient. 

With iOS, you now have the option to turn on a face unlock feature that makes it easy to unlock your iPhone when you’re wearing a face mask. Before the update, you could only unlock your iPhone if you owned an Apple Watch. 

To unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch, open the Settings app on your iPhone and then open the Face ID & Passcode option. Scroll down until you find the Unlock with Apple Watch section (you must be connected to an Apple Watch for the setting to appear), where you can turn on the feature for any watches linked to your iPhone. 

If you have an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 that runs iOS 15.4 or later, you can unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask without an Apple Watch. Go to the Settings app and open Face ID & Passcode. From there, you can toggle Face ID With a Mask and choose the Face ID With a Mask option. It’s pretty awesome. 

8. Put the address bar in Safari back on top

The address in Safari migrated to the bottom of the screen with the introduction of iOS 15 — a welcome addition for those with smaller hands who had difficulty reaching it with one hand at the top. While this move might feel more natural, since it’s closer to the keyboard and where you typically place your thumbs, it can be off-putting since many people are used to seeing the URL bar near the top of the screen.

If you want to put the address bar back at the top of the screen, go to Settings, tap Safari and choose the Single Tab option under the Tabs subheading. 

9. Add features that can be used when your iPhone is locked

There are times when you might want to have certain info handy even when your phone is locked. That’s why Apple allows you to enable some features without having to unlock your device, such as the notification center, Control Center, the ability to reply to messages and the Wallet app.

To customize the features you’d like to access on the lock screen, launch the Settings menu, tap Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode when prompted. Scroll down until you see the Allow Access When Locked section, and toggle the sliders based on your preferences. 

10. Make your favorite email app or web browser your default

It was a long time coming, but 2020’s iOS 14 update finally brought the ability to choose your own default apps — at least for email and web browsing. That means that when you tap a link or an email send button, your iPhone will automatically launch the web browser or email provider of your choosing rather than Safari or Mail. 

To get started, open the Settings menu and select the app you’d like to set as a default (such as Google Chrome or Outlook). You should then see a button that says Default Mail App or Default Browser App. Tap that option and select the app of your choosing instead of Safari or Mail. 

Read more: If You Care About Your Privacy, You Need to Change These Browser Settings

11. Get full notifications on your lock screen

The first time you experience Apple’s Face ID tech, you’ll notice that you can’t see the content of new alerts and notifications on the lock screen. For example, instead of seeing who sent you a text message and what it says, you’ll only see a generic Messages alert.

By default, all iPhones with Apple’s Face ID tech will hide the content of an alert until you pick up your phone and unlock it. It’s a privacy feature that I rather enjoy, but I also understand how it could be annoying (I’ve heard a few complaints from readers and family members alike).

You can change how notifications appear on your lock screen by going to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews and selecting Always. Conversely, you can select Never if you want to keep the content of your notifications always hidden from the lock screen.

12. Turn off (or on) HDR video for sharing videos

Phones in the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups can record high dynamic range (HDR) video with Dolby Vision. That means your videos will be brighter with more accurate colors and improved contrast. Sounds awesome, right? It is. But there’s a problem — not every app or service will work with HDR video. 

Developers will need to update their apps in order to accept HDR video, but even then, the person viewing the video will need a capable device to see the difference in quality. For Apple devices, those include the iPhone 8 or newer, the 2020 iPad Air, the second-generation iPad Pro and some Macs. 

So, what can you do to share videos universally? Well, you have a few options: 

• You can turn off HDR video by going to Settings > Camera > Record video and turning the switch next to HDR Video to the Off position. Going forward, all videos will be captured in standard dynamic range, and you shouldn’t have any issues sharing or editing it.
• Leave HDR Video turned on, but when you want to share the video, with Facebook for example, use the Photos app instead of going into the Facebook app and uploading it. When you use the Photos app, your iPhone will automatically convert the video to SDR and upload it. When you send the video to another iPhone user, Apple will detect if their iPhone, iPad or Mac is compatible with HDR Dolby Vision. If it’s not, Apple will convert the video automatically.
• If you leave HDR Video on and need to edit your video, you can use Apple’s iMovie app or the Photos app that’s built into your iPhone. You can even use iMovie to export the video as SDR if needed. 

13. Customize your home screen with fancy wallpaper

Another home screen tweak you should make involves your wallpaper or background. Apple has added some new wallpapers of its own, with a pretty cool twist. 

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and select Wallpaper from the list. Make sure the switch labeled “Dark Appearance Dims Wallpaper,” which you’ll see below the two thumbnail previews of your wallpaper, is turned on. Now, tap Choose a new wallpaper and select either Stills or Live. See the circle near the bottom of each wallpaper? It’s half black, half white. 

That circle means that the wallpaper has both light and dark mode versions and will change automatically based on the system status of your phone. 

You can also set live wallpapers as your background if you’re not sold on dark and light mode.

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14. Turn on dark mode to save your battery

Speaking of dark mode, if you don’t want to have to repeatedly adjust your screen’s brightness, you can use your phone’s dedicated dark mode. Dark mode converts all of the white backgrounds in apps to, more often than not, a black background. In turn, your phone is able to save battery power thanks to the darker colors. 

Turn it on by going to Settings > Display & Brightness and selecting the Dark option at the top of the screen. 

Apple’s apps will automatically switch to a dark color scheme, and most third-party apps have also adopted the feature. 

15. Manage your notifications with Focus Mode

We get a lot of notifications every day, but not all of them are relevant all the time. With iOS 15, Apple introduced a feature called Focus Mode. Think of it as a custom Do Not Disturb feature that’s tailored to specific circumstances. 

Focus Mode blocks less relevant alerts, while allowing notifications from important people and apps to come through so that you don’t miss anything. You can set up different types of Focus Modes for specific circumstances. 

Apple currently offers options for Do Not Disturb, personal, sleep, work, driving, fitness, gaming, mindfulness and reading, but you can also create your own custom mode. You can schedule Focus Modes so that they turn on automatically when needed, and display your status in apps so that others know you have notifications silenced. 

To get started, open the Settings menu, tap Focus and choose one of the available options to set up your notification preferences. Tap the plus (+) symbol in the top right corner to add a new Focus. 

16. Make your screen text bigger or smaller

With a couple of taps on your iPhone’s screen, you can adjust the font size to make it easier to read. Open Settings and go to Display & Brightness > Text Size where you can use the slider until you’re happy with the font size. 

For a little added oomph, you can turn on Bold Text (it’s just below the Text Size button). 

17. Add an alternate appearance to Face ID

Apple’s facial recognition feature — Face ID — constantly learns different aspects of your face with each scan. If you’re struggling to get Face ID to consistently recognize you, try the Alternate Appearance option. 

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > enter your PIN > Set Up An Alternate Appearance and go through the process of enrolling your face again. 

18. Disable auto brightness for longer battery charge

Your iPhone’s screen brightness level can have a big impact on battery life. By default, iOS will automatically adjust the display’s brightness based on how much light its ambient sensor detects. But if you want to take complete control, you can disable auto-brightness, meaning the brightness level will stay where you set it until you adjust it again. 

Open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and at the bottom of the page, you’ll find a switch to turn off Auto-Brightness. 

Now, whenever you want to adjust your screen, you can do so by opening Control Center with a swipe up from the bottom of the screen on a device with a home button, or a swipe down from the top-right corner on newer iPhones. 

19. Triage your privacy settings

The first time you set up an iPhone with all of your apps, you’re bombarded with prompts asking for permissions to access personal information ranging from tracking your location to your Apple Health information or your camera roll. 

It’s far too easy to get in the habit of approving everything just so you can use the app, but take a few minutes and go through your privacy settings to tailor what each app can and can’t see. We walk you through the whole privacy process in two quick steps. 

20. Use Control Center to access apps with a swipe or tap

The iPhone’s Control Center is a convenient spot to quickly change songs, turn on airplane mode, connect to Wi-Fi or start a timer, but there’s so much more to it than that. You can quickly turn your flashlight on, check on a timer or start recording your screen with a quick swipe and tap. 

Customize which apps and features are available in Control Center by opening Settings > Control Center. Remove an option with a tap on the red minus button or add an option by selecting the green addition button. Drag features up or down using the three-line icon on the right side of the screen. 

Personally, I like having quick access to the Wallet app and toggles for low-power mode and dark mode. 

As a reminder, if you have an iPhone with a home button, like the iPhone SE, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center. If you have an iPhone with Face ID, you’ll need to swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen where the battery icon is. 

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21. Organize alerts with Notification Summary

Apple wants to help you manage your notifications in iOS, starting with the Notification Summary feature. Rather than letting notifications pile up on your home screen, you can schedule alerts that aren’t urgent to arrive in a bundle at a specific time of day. 

Important notifications like calls, direct messages and other time-sensitive alerts (like the status of your Uber or Lyft ride, for example) will still appear immediately.

To try this out, open Settings, press Notifications and tap Scheduled Summary. 

22. Change Siri’s voice

If you’ve recently set up a new iPhone, you may have noticed that Siri no longer defaults to a female voice. Instead, you’ll be asked which Siri voice you want to use, including several more recent options. Once you’ve made your selection, Apple will change Siri’s voice across all of the devices linked to your Apple ID.

You can check out the voice options by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice. To learn more, check out our complete guide to changing Siri’s sound. Apple also added a gender-neutral Siri voice option for English speakers.

For more, here’s how to set up your new iPhone and how to transfer your data from your old iPhone. Plus, this iOS trick gives you more iCloud storage for free.

Kraftwerk, Trans-Europe Express (1977)

The quartet from Düsseldorf were midwives to synthpop with this LP, but it was not purely seminal – in capturing a sense of the epic European landscape and the clean modernity of a Continent still on a post-war upward trajectory, it had an intrinsic beauty. Expansive opening track Europe Endless was a sparkling, hopeful journey through the “Real life and postcard views” of the Continent. In 1980s New York The Hall Of Mirrors would be sampled by hip hop pioneers, and the schlocky riff of the title track provided the foundation of Afrika Bambaataa’s pivotal Planet Rock.

Neu!, Neu! (1972)

The Düsseldorf krautrock duo were an offshoot of an early incarnation of Kraftwerk, and probably only slightly less influential. Their debut album, produced by electronic innovator Conny Plank, opened with the epic, 10-minute long Hallogallo which invented the famous motorik beat and, as well as being one of experimental rock’s seminal moments, is still a deeply intriguing, energising listen a full half a century later. Both ambient music and punk would be shaped by these 45 minutes of innovation, and Bowie and Eno would be more than inspired by it in their work later in the decade.

Can, Tago Mago (1971)

It is difficult to believe that Cologne’s foremost experimental rock band didn’t have a crystal ball when they recorded this landmark krautrock double album. Made at the 15th century Schloss Nörvenich, a setting that lent it an inimitable atmosphere, it explored psychedelia, free jazz, funk and prog, but in doing so created myriad new sounds which makes it impossible to categorise (keyboard player Irmin Schmidt called it “witchy surprisings”). But Tago Mago also rocked out compellingly for the whole of the first disc, and taken as a whole this hypnotic journey shows what the album format was made for.

Aphrodite’s Child, 666 (1972)

The Greek psychedelia project included Demis Roussos and Vangelis, and this, their third and final LP, was a concept album based on the Book of Revelation. Roussos’ almost religious vocals and the transcendent musical journey of The Four Horsemen has been rediscovered in recent years, featuring on ads and film.

Röyksopp, Melody A.M. (2001)

The debut from the Norwegian ambient duo was a downbeat masterpiece, with tracks like the atmospheric So Easy and the whimsical Eple capturing the early 2000s zeitgeist and forming the musical backdrop to the last 20 years as they were used extensively on screen.

Rammstein, Mutter (2001)

Four years after their single Du hast announced the birth of the Neue Deutsche Härte (“new German hardness”) to the rest of the world, the kings of German industrial released this classic. It featured single Ich Will which gave them their only UK Top 30 hit.

dEUS, Worst Case Scenario (1994)

The Belgians’ quirky indie rock debut sounded like Tom Waits, U2, the Velvet Underground and the Eagles all at once. Never have a band sounded less like where they are from or proved so convincingly that is no bad thing.

Robyn, Body Talk (2010)

Sweden’s queen of Nordic melancholy dance-pop truly arrived with this LP that was chock full of modern masterpieces. Ballsy, feminist tracks like Don’t F***ing Tell Me What To Do and Fembot nestle next to Dancing On My Own and Call Your Girlfriend, stone cold contemporary classics of pop heartbreak.

Daft Punk, Random Access Memories (2013)

Over a decade after breaking through to international success, the Parisian duo proved they still had plenty of gas in the tank, releasing this career-defining album that was simultaneously deeply retro and fully contemporary, with lead single Get Lucky staking its place as a new pop classic.

Jacques Brel, Ces Gens-Là (1966)

Brel’s ninth album contained such classics as the twisted love song Mathilde and his hymn to male friendship Jef, and was fully evocative of his Gitane smoke-wreathed on-stage drama. The hyperactive La Chanson de Jacky was the LP’s centrepiece. Covered to chart success by Scott Walker, it inspired a generation of artistically-inclined musicians.

Django Reinhardt, Parisian Swing (1965)

Released over 10 years after the Belgian-born Romani guitarist’s death, this album captured him in his 1930s heyday. Many a guitar god of the 1960s would claim him as an influence.

Neneh Cherry, Raw Like Sushi (1989)

Stockholm-born Cherry’s perfect pop album was eclectic, idiosyncratic and generally uncategorisable, but also always effortlessly cool, its socially conscious lyrics tempered by sass and humour.

Golden Earring, Moontan (1973)

Disapproving the idea the Dutch band were a one hit wonder via their Radar Love, Moontan was accomplished hard rock spiked with Hawkwind-esque space rock. It reached No. 12 in the US.

Telex, Looking for Saint Tropez (1979)

The musical equivalent of a Magritte painting, proving you can always look to the Belgians for disruptive creativity, this album contained pivotal proto-techno single Moskow Diskow.

Lady Pank, Lady Pank (1983)

In the midst of martial law, Poland’s premier new wave band released their debut album. Second single, the reggae-rock Mniej niż zero (“Less Than Zero”) became a signature song.

Air, Moon Safari (1998)

45 minutes of Gallic cool, the electronic duo’s debut album ran the gamut from deeply retro electropop to chill-out and dream pop, with the stonking lead single Sexy Boy its centrepiece.

Tangerine Dream, Phaedra (1974)

The German electronic pioneers’ cinematic debut album takes us to some interplanetary realm. Founder Edgar Froese’s experimentation would be seminal for ambient and new age music.

Scorpions, Love at First Sting (1984)

As they head for their 60th anniversary, this is still a landmark LP for Germany’s premier rock band, containing their hits Still Loving You and Rock You Like A Hurricane.

Ghost, Impera (2022)

The latest from the theatrical Swedes was a No. 2 album on both sides of the Atlantic, confirming their unlikely blend of doom metal, psychedelia and pop has taken them to superstar status.

Taraf de Haïdouks, Musique Des Tziganes De Roumanie (1991)

The exuberant sound of the lăutari (Romani musicians) of Romania was captured on this, the debut album by the celebrated troupe from a village just south of Bucharest. The ultimate party music.

Jean-Michel Jarre, Oxygène (1976)

A classic of synthesiser pop which divided critics but was a runaway commercial success. Its fourth movement – the sound of a cosmic odyssey – became globally ubiquitous.

Camarón de la Isla and Paco de Lucía, El Camarón de la Isla con la colaboración especial de Paco de Lucía (1969)

The debut LP of the peerless flamenco singer, this was also the first several collaborative albums with the greatest flamenco guitarist of all time. The two would be pioneers of nuevo flamenco.

Einstürzende Neubauten, Halber Mensch (1985),

One of the greatest industrial albums ever made, this was the masterpiece of the West Berlin band whose name means “Collapsing New Buildings”. Listen out for power tools and scrap metal as percussion.

Mayhem, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994)

Hardly everyone’s cup of tea, this classic work from the violent Norwegian black metal scene can’t be beaten for sheer atmosphere and sonic brutality.

Jacques Dutronc, Jacques Dutronc (1968)

Commonly referred to as Il Est Cinq Heures after the signature track it contains, this LP confirms Dutronc’s status as a 1960s rock genius on a par with Ray Davies.

Behemoth, The Satanist (2014)

The magnum opus by Poland’s internationally successful blackened death metal band was a full-on aural assault. A Top 40 LP in the US, it proved Europe’s underground sounds are now fully overground.

Amália Rodrigues, Amália Rodrigues (1962)

The Queen of Fado had been on hiatus before this album caught her at the height of her powers, capturing the melancholy spirit of Lisbon’s signature sound in its finest form.

Afterhours, Hai Paura Del Buio? (1997)

Are You Afraid of the Dark?, the post-grunge band from Milan’s fourth album, had a galvanising effect on Italian rock. Single Male di Miele is considered Italy’s Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Ewert and The Two Dragons, Good Man Down (2011)

The Estonian band’s second album had a compelling indie energy and folk underpinning. The first release outside their native land, it would win them the EU’s European Border Breakers Award.

Angèle, Brol (2018)

The debut from the Belgian rising star was a manifesto for Millennials, with whimsical, witty pop songs dealing with social media, sexual harassment, depression and same-sex attraction.

The Rustavi Choir, Georgian Voices (1989)

This album, the first by the ensemble founded in the 1960s to be released outside of the USSR, captures the deeply mysterious and staggeringly beautiful polyphonic singing of Georgia.

Mercyful Fate, Don’t Break the Oath (1984)

The King Diamond-fronted Danish act’s second album was a searing work of early black metal, establishing the occult and an extreme sound as the genre’s foundation.

DakhaBrakha, Light (2010)

The Ukrainian folk ensemble have branded their sound “ethno-chaos”, melding styles and using traditional instruments from across the world. This, their third album, finds them in all their anarchic beauty.

Heilung, Ofnir (2015)

Hailing from Norway, Germany and Denmark, Heilung’s “amplified history” is the atavistic sound of Dark Ages Europe. This, their debut, is one of the most remarkable LPs of recent years.

Gipsy Kings, Gipsy Kings (1987)

The French rumba Catalana band’s breakthrough album opened with the smash single Bamboléo and was rooted in the sheer exuberance of the Romani musical traditions of southern Europe.

Bathory, Blood Fire Death (1988)

The Swedish extreme metal band transition between the black metal sound pioneered on their previous three albums and the Viking metal they would invent on 1990’s Hammerheart on this LP.

Molchat Doma, Etazhi (2018)

The Belarussian trio whose name means “Houses Are Silent” hark back to the post-punk, goth rock and darker synthpop of the 1980s on their brooding, icy cold second album. A recent gem.

Hanoi Rocks, Two Steps From the Move (1984)

Hair metal may have been synonymous with LA, but one of its major influences came from 5,000 miles away, and Helsinki’s outrageous rockers peaked with this bombastic LP.

Focus, Moving Waves (1971)

The Amsterdam outfit staked their place in the history of prog with this, their second album. While it featured the hit single Hocus Pocus, it was an album to sit down and immerse yourself in.

Édith Piaf, A l’Olympia 1962 (1962)

While this live album hardly caught Piaf at her best – she was already a frail figure at 46 and would die the following year – her character is etched on every note.

Satyricon, Nemesis Divina (1996)

Part of Oslo’s notorious black metal scene, Satyricon brought a new sophistication to the genre with this epic, uncompromising album now considered a classic.

Vangelis, Albedo 0.39 (1976)

Between Aphrodite’s Child and his Oscar-winning film soundtrack work, the incredibly prolific Greek composer explored the space music trend on this, his mesmerising commercial breakthrough.

Faust, Faust (1971)

Hamburg’s krautrock originals tested the definition of “experimental” with this three-track debut LP, with everything from weird tape samples to proggy grooves. As bonkers as it is inspired.

Serge Gainsbourg, Histoire de Melody Nelson (1971)

Gainsbourg’s concept album finds him narrating a typically seedy story of a romance with a teenage girl. Its fusion of funk, psychedelic and orchestral elements was something unique and influential.

Opeth, Blackwater Park (2001)

A landmark progressive metal album from the Swedish four piece. Epic and intimate, abrasive and intricate all at the same time.

Moebius and Plank, Rastakraut Pasta (1980)

The nexus at the heart of krautrock, Conny Plank teamed up with Dieter Moebius of space rock duo Cluster on this experimental, reggae-influenced LP.

Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (2010)

The Danes’ metal-rockabilly has made them a major export in recent years. This, their fourth album, broke the Billboard 200 and was the best incarnation of their anthemic, hard rocking sound to date.

Françoise Hardy, Françoise Hardy (1971)

Hardy left her yé-yé reputation behind with this intensely personal album, usually referred to as La question after its second single. Stylish, sexy and very, very French.

Gojira, From Mars to Sirius (2005)

Although hugely musically and thematically ambitious, this environmental concept album by the French technical death metal band was anchored by a consistent and convincing heaviness.

Brodka, Granda (2010)

The Polish Idol winner struck out for a new sound on this LP, with electronica and punk meeting the folk music of her native southern Polish highlands.

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript November 17, 2022

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. misses on earnings expectations. Reported EPS is $0.54 EPS, expectations were $0.6.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Dolby Laboratories’ Conference Call discussing Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results. During the presentation, all participants will be in a listen-only mode. Afterwards you will be invited to participate in a question-and-answer session. As a reminder, this call is being recorded, Thursday, November 17, 2022. I would now like to turn the conference over to Ashley Schwenoha, Senior Manager, Investor Relations for Dolby Laboratories. Please go ahead, Ashley.

Ashley Schwenoha: Good afternoon. Welcome to Dolby Laboratories fourth quarter 2022 earnings conference call. Joining me today are Kevin Yeaman, Dolby Laboratories CEO; Robert Park, CFO; and Maggie O’Donnell, Head of Investor Relations. As a reminder, today’s discussion will include forward-looking statements, including our first quarter and fiscal 2023 outlook and our assumptions underlying that outlook. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made today, including, among other things, the impact of current macroeconomic events, COVID-19, supply chain issues, inflation, changes in consumer spending, and geopolitical instability on our business.

Dolby, Music

A discussion of these and additional risks and uncertainties can be found in the earnings press release that we issued today under the section captioned Forward-Looking Statements as well as in the Risk Factors section of our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-K. Dolby assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements made during this call as a result of new information or future events. During today’s call, we will discuss non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures is available in our earnings press release and in the new Interactive Analyst Center on the Investor Relations section of our website. So, with that introduction behind us, I will now turn the call over to Maggie.

Story continues

Maggie O’Donnell: Thank you, Ashley, and thanks, everybody, for joining us today. So last quarter, we tried something different with the format, and it seemed to be really well-perceived, so we’re going to try to do the same thing today. I’m going to be leading our conversation with both Kevin and Robert, and then we’re going to turn it over to our analysts for Q&A. So, let’s get started. Kevin, obviously, this is a really dynamic environment. Can you talk about that and how it’s impacting our business?

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Kevin Yeaman: Yes. The past year, and for that matter, the last few years have been a challenging environment. I don’t think that’s news to anybody. It’s a combination of the pandemic, geopolitical issues, supply chain inflation, all of this has come together to create an environment of uncertainty and change. And most of the industries we serve have been significantly impacted by some combination of these factors. As it relates to this quarter, it continues to be a tough environment, and our results did come in lower than what we expected. Since we last talked, the estimates for consumer device shipments have continued to come down across a number of categories, particularly in PC and TV. And transaction cycles are taking longer right now.

We’re in an environment with a lot of challenges that affect not just us, but our partners and our customers. And so our customers, both current and potential continue to be engaged, but we’re seeing some of those engagements taking longer. At the same time, we’ve accomplished a lot over this quarter and over this last year, and we’re making progress in our key focus areas. We continue to strengthen our movies and TV ecosystem. We had significant growth with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in terms of increased content across services and streamed content, and we’ve expanded across all the device categories that people use to enjoy their favorite movie and TV content. We have fantastic momentum across the Dolby Atmos Music ecosystem. We have more artists, more studios on board.

The amount of music and Dolby Atmos continues to expand and we have more ways for people to enjoy that music across streaming services and devices and increasingly their car. And we’re building out our ecosystem for user-generated content, which this is what enables a growing number of consumers to capture and share their memories in Dolby Vision across their favorite platform. So, our strategy has not changed and we’re confident in the opportunity ahead and consumers have a seemingly insatiable demand for entertainment content. We’re hard at work to bring the Dolby experience to all the ways consumers experience that content, whether it’s movies, TV, gaming, sports, music, user-generated content and all the devices that those experiences are enjoyed on.

We also see audio/video content and the ability to interact digitally in audio/video, increasingly become a part of everything we do online. And with Dolby.io, we can improve these experiences and bring Dolby to a far wider range of used cases. So, while there are near-term headwinds, we’re staying focused on what we can control and we’re confident in the opportunity ahead.

Maggie O’Donnell: Great. That’s great context. Let’s talk a little bit about the revenue drivers. So, over the last year, you’ve been talking about revenue drivers in the context of both foundational and Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Imaging — or sorry, imaging patents. Can you start with foundational?

Kevin Yeaman: Yes. And maybe as a reminder for people who might be new or newer to the story, our foundational audio revenues are made up of our audio codecs and audio patents and these technologies are deeply embedded in the ecosystem for entertainment audio and they’re delivered across a broad diversity of consumer devices. And we’re included on such a significant number of those devices that this part of the business is sensitive to the macroeconomic environment, especially as it relates to consumer device shipments. So, for this year, foundational was down nearly 15% and ended up at roughly 70% of our licensing revenues. And while macro challenges continue to make it difficult to predict the near-term, based on current data points, we’re expecting foundational to be down again in FY 2023.

And — but it’s important to note that these technologies are fundamental to the playback of content, they have been for decades and they will continue to be for years to come. And this is a strong position to be in. We’re going to continue to strengthen it. And once the end markets stabilize, we expect that foundational revenue will continue to be a contributor to our growth.

Maggie O’Donnell: Makes sense. And what about Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and imaging patents?

Kevin Yeaman: Revenue from those areas grew roughly 30% versus last year. That is a little bit slower than we expected as of the last call. I said these areas are not as sensitive to the macro environment as foundational. It’s more about getting on more of the devices with these relatively more technologies, more devices that are shipping, but they’re not immune to the macro. The largest growth driver, what drove the 30%, one of the largest growth drivers was movie and TV content. We’ve built this incredible ecosystem of content around Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and that’s led to broad adoption by content services. And so we’re seeing growth in living room devices like TVs, set-top boxes, sound bars and beyond. We also saw strong growth in Dolby Cinema as the box office began to improve from the pandemic lows and we also had a lot of progress beyond that.

We’re — we’ve laid the foundation for new ways to experience Dolby and laying the foundation for new growth in areas like music and automotive, user-generated content with Dolby Vision Capture. We’re always looking for ways to bring Dolby to new experiences. So, the opportunity ahead of us is significant. We are confident that we have the opportunity to double the size of these revenues in the mid-term, and we’re targeting 15% to 25% annual growth over the next three to five years.

Maggie O’Donnell: Got it. So, we’re going to let Robert talk a little bit more about revenue in a few minutes. But first, let’s dive into the three main focus areas that you mentioned at the beginning. First, the movies and TV ecosystem in the living room, there’s music and auto, and there’s also the user-generated content with Dolby Vision Capture. So, can we start with the living room?

Kevin Yeaman: Yes. Well, with movies in TV, like I said earlier, we have very strong adoption across the creative community and great distribution across content services. And all of that means that it’s easier than ever to access your favorite content in Dolby. We firmly established Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos as the best way to enjoy movies in TV, and we have broad adoption across premium 4K models. And of course, we began to move this deeper into lineups. And that’s what we’re going to be focused on expanding more deeply into lineups like we’ve done with partners such as Sony and VIZIO. It also means pursuing remaining partners, and that includes the house brands, the big box retailers, that makes up part of the market. So, we are also focused on — we’re always looking for ways to become a part of more of the content that people care most about.

And a great example of that is live sports. There’s a few examples of content that bring out more emotion than live sport. And big events can actually drive TV purchases. So, it’s a way to bring Dolby into more living rooms. And so we’re particularly excited that Comcast announced this morning that X1 customers are going to be able to enjoy the World Cup in Dolby Vision.

Maggie O’Donnell: That’s great. That’s huge news. Let’s also let’s move on to the music and auto initiatives, what are you seeing there?

Kevin Yeaman: Well, as is the case with all of our ecosystem, it starts with content. And enthusiasm from artists, the increasing availability of mastering tools and studios means an increasing amount of music available in Dolby. Universal Music Group recently said on its earnings call that 80% of its top streaming artists have tracks available in Dolby Atmos and that makes up nearly half of streamed music consumption. They also said that 90% of consumers surveyed reported that they listen longer when they’re listening in Dolby Atmos. So, once you have the content, then it’s about the availability of the content to the consumer, and we made a lot of progress this year. We added Tencent’s QQ to our roster of streaming partners.

With Apple and Amazon, that means that we now have three of the top five global streaming services in the world. We also added a number of top regional services in markets like South Korea, the Middle East, China. And this quarter, we added Gaana.com, which is a top music streaming service in India. So, it’s that combination of content and availability, what we at Dolby refer to our ecosystem. That’s what creates the value proposition to our device partners. And we continue to see demand signals across all the ways consumers enjoy their music, but especially — we’re especially focused on automotive. And we’ve added more than half a dozen auto partners in just over a year. In just the past couple of weeks, we’ve added Polestar and Lotus at the Paris Auto Show a few weeks ago.

Mercedes was showcasing the Dolby Atmos Music experience and it got great reviews. And just last week, Volvo announced the EX90, which is the soon-to-be released electric SUV will feature Dolby Atmos. So, we’re really excited about all of that. We’re going to stay focused on bringing more streaming services to life, bringing on more auto partners, going deeper into lineups with the partners we’ve brought on board, and that’s what drives growth in this ecosystem. Our goal is to make Dolby Atmos Music the way everyone experiences music all the time.

Maggie O’Donnell: Great. That’s awesome. So, on the third focus area, Dolby Vision Capture. Can you talk about that?

Kevin Yeaman: Yes. What’s exciting about this is enabling consumers to engage with Dolby Vision content on a daily basis. And that that significantly enhances our value across the mobile device ecosystem. It started a couple of years ago when Apple introduced Dolby Vision Capture. And this year, we expanded into Android. We — last quarter, Xiaomi launched the first Android smartphone with Dolby Vision Capture in China. They launched another model with Vision Capture this quarter. And it’s often striking when we look back at our videos that we’ve taken over the years, how sometimes that older content can be a little unfulfilling. It can be washed out. The colors aren’t right. But with Dolby Vision, you get a giant leap in quality.

And you can tell things like — from the light, what time of day it was or what season was it? What was the weather? Everything looks more vivid and just like you remember it. So, this is important to smartphone makers because we all use our phones as these memory capture devices every day and the camera is a major reason that people upgrade their phone. So, we expect to see more adoption of this. And capturing the memories is one thing, well, it’s even more important to sharing them. So, that’s why we’re so excited to see the ecosystem coming together with services. In China, we have services like WeChat, QQ, Bilibili, enabling the sharing of Dolby Vision content so that hundreds of millions of users on these platforms can experience those same vivid memories.

So, this year, look for us to continue to be focused on expanding this Dolby Vision Capture ecosystem with more services and more devices.

Maggie O’Donnell: Got it. So, of course, in addition to those three main focus areas, there are a lot of other things we’re working on. One of those is Dolby.io. Can you talk about that a little bit?

Kevin Yeaman: Yes. With Dolby.io, we’ve created a platform that enables developers to create experiences that are highly immersive, and audiovisual content and interactivity are increasingly a part of everything we do online. Dolby.io makes it easy to integrate the Dolby experience into a wide range of use cases that had become a part of our everyday lives. It’s been a little over two years since we launched. We’re continuing to see strong increases in developer engagement that takes the form of developers signing up for the platform and engaging with and working with our APIs. One area we’re seeing a lot of demand is in real-time streaming. So, this is a use case that developers are looking for. So, it’s easy for them to understand.

It’s also easy for them to integrate. And our offerings differentiate it because, of course, it brings very high quality. It can scale to a very high number of users and we have exceptionally low delay times, and that’s what brings the action and the viewer closer together. So, it makes the experience as close to real-time as possible and that’s critical for a number of use cases. We’re also seeing a lot of customers that are starting with or have started with real-time streaming and then expanding to enable our real-time interaction so that the audience can interact with one another. The presenter can interact with the participants and have a conversation that flows very naturally. That’s made possible by things like our audio spatialization, which makes it easier to know where the sounds are coming from.

And with — combined with extremely low latency, you don’t have those delays that can get caused when people are talking over one another. And beyond that, we’re having a lot of conversations with companies and developers who are focused on inventing the next-generation of online immersive experiences. And the audio experience is top of mind. They are creating rich and complex environments that require high-quality audio and spatialization to be realistic to keep people in those experiences. A lot of interest in areas like virtual performance, social events, sports, big company events. Music is also top of mind. And we just talked about the momentum we have in Dolby Atmos Music. And of course, that can come into play in these worlds. But combined with spatialization, it creates the opportunity for events of virtual concert, for instance, then the audience can be having a realistic experience interacting with one another.

If it’s some kind of a social event or a company trade show, if you have background music, the music can be high quality, but you also have the realistic ambient environment. So, early days, but we’re really excited about the opportunities.

Maggie O’Donnell: So, lastly, the macro environment is obviously going to continue to be challenging. How are you planning to manage the business throughout this period?

Kevin Yeaman: Well, we always managed through many economic downturns and many technology transitions. And we’re coming at this from a position of strength given our strong business model, balance sheet, proven ability to generate cash. And we’re planning for it to continue to be a tough environment in the near-term. And so we’re going to be wise with our resources. Our headcount is roughly flat year-over-year. We’ve paused hiring except for the most critical hires and we’ve taken a number of cost savings measures. And on top of that, the management team is regularly reviewing our resource envelope and our resource allocation to make sure that we continue to be aligned to where the opportunities are. And Robert can elaborate on this further.

But we understand what it takes to go through an environment like this and come out the other side strong. For us, the formula starts with, first and foremost, staying true to who we are. Consumers have the seemingly insatiable demand for entertainment content and audiovisual experiences are becoming a pervasive part of everything we do. So, our purpose has never been more relevant, and there’s incredible opportunity to bring more Dolby experiences to more people around the world. And we’re always hard at work reinventing what that means, what it means to have a Dolby experience and bringing those experiences to the content that’s most important to them. We know that to do all this in this kind of environment requires extraordinary focus and that’s why you hear us talking about our key focus areas.

And we’ve just talked about the momentum that we have across movies and TV, music, user-generated content, bringing more developers to IO. So, we’re clear on what our most present opportunities are. We’re going to focus on what we can control, and we’re going to act with urgency to bring more Dolby experiences to more people, and that’s what grows the business.

Maggie O’Donnell: Great. Makes a ton of sense. Thanks, Kevin. And let’s now turn to some of the numbers. Robert, can you walk us through the financials for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2022?

Robert Park: Thanks, Maggie. Of course, let’s start with Q4. Total revenue in the fourth quarter was $278 million, which fell short of the total revenue guidance we provided on our last call. This was driven by a couple of factors. Based on what we’re seeing, including data points from industry analysts, there were further declines in consumer device shipments, especially for TVs and PCs compared to when we provided guidance in August. This negatively impacted our current quarter revenue estimate. Last quarter, we mentioned that we were seeing transaction cycles take longer in the environment, particularly in Asia and within mobile, and this had a greater impact than we expected on Q4. Now, as a reminder, our licensing business is based on unit shipments.

In general, we estimate revenues from unit shipments each quarter and trued up the following quarter based on actual reported shipments from our partners. We also have transactions that reflect revenue from units shipped in prior periods, which we call recoveries and transactions where the customer will commit to minimum volumes for a given period where all or a portion of the revenue is recognized upfront. These transactions are all related to unit shipments. The only difference is the timing and amount of revenue in any given quarter. Our partners remain actively engaged and we expect these transactions to close, but the process is taking longer. Now, let’s get into the Q4 details. Q4 revenue was down 2% year-over-year, driven primarily by lower unit shipments in PC, broadcast, CE and gaming.

This was partially offset by growth in Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and imaging patents as well as an increase in products and services revenue, driven by improvements in the cinema industry. Q4 revenue comprised of $249 million in licensing revenue and $29 million in products and services revenue. Now, to our full year results. Fiscal year 2022 revenues were $1.25 billion compared to $1.28 billion in fiscal year 2021, resulting in a year-over-year decline of 2%. Within that, licensing revenue was $1.16 billion, while products and services revenue was $89 million. Fiscal year 2022 licensing revenue was $1.16 billion, down 4% year-over-year. Foundational audio made up roughly 70% of our licensing revenue in fiscal year 2022. Revenue for foundational audio declined about 15% year-over-year, primarily as a result of lower device shipments, especially in areas like broadcast, gaming, and auto and lower recoveries in broadcast and mobile.

We also had a tough comp against the higher-than-normal true-up in fiscal year 2021. Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and imaging patents were about 30% of total licensing revenue. This portion of our licensing revenue grew roughly 30% in fiscal year 2022 compared to nearly 20% growth in fiscal 2021, driven by higher adoption and new licensees as well as increased box office, which positively impacted Dolby Cinema. Now, let’s get into the end markets. Broadcast represented about 37% of total licensing in fiscal year 2022. Full year broadcast revenues declined by $42 million or negative 9% on a year-over-year basis, driven by lower TV unit shipments and lower recoveries, both impacting primarily foundational audio. This was partially offset by growth in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and TVs and set-top boxes.

In Q4, broadcast revenues declined year-over-year, driven by lower unit shipments, partially offset by increases in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Mobile represented about 21% of total licensing in fiscal year 2022. Full year mobile revenues declined by $22 million or negative 9% on a year-over-year basis as the prior year benefited from timing of deals, including recoveries, partially offset by increases in Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and imaging patents. Q4 mobile revenues were down year-over-year, driven by lower unit shipments. Consumer Electronics represented about 16% of total licensing in fiscal year 2022. Full year CE revenues increased by $4 million or 2% on a year-over-year basis, driven by growth in Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, partially offset by lower units.

Q4 CE revenues were down year-over-year, driven by lower recoveries and lower unit shipments, partially offset by growth from Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and imaging patents. PC represented about 13% of total licensing in fiscal year 2022. Full year PC revenues increased by $9 million or 6%, driven by Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and imaging patents and higher recoveries compared to fiscal year 2021. This is partially offset by lower PC shipments, primarily in the back half of the year. Q4 PC revenues are down year-over-year, driven by lower unit shipments, partially offset by growth in Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and imaging patents. Other markets represented about 13% of total licensing in fiscal year 2022. Other markets were flat year-over-year, driven by improvements in Dolby Cinema, offset by unit declines in gaming and auto.

Q4 other markets declined driven by lower gaming units and true-ups. Beyond licensing, our products and services revenue were $89 million in fiscal year 2022 compared to $67 million in fiscal year 2021. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by higher product sales as a result of improvements in cinema industry, and we also saw revenue growth from Dolby.io. Total non-GAAP gross margin in the fourth quarter was 87% compared to 90% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021. Gross margins came in lower, driven by a higher mix of products revenue. Non-GAAP operating expenses in the fourth quarter were $182 million compared to $190 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021. Operating expenses were below the low end of our guidance for Q4, driven by lower variable incentive compensation expenses.

Non-GAAP operating income for Q4 was $60 million or 22% of revenue compared to 23% of revenue in Q4 of last year. Non-GAAP income tax in Q4 was within our range of guidance at 18% compared to 12.7% in last year’s Q4. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by the mix of our income between different tax jurisdictions and lower discrete benefits. Net income on a non-GAAP basis in the fourth quarter was $53 million or $0.54 per share per diluted share compared to $60 million or $0.58 per diluted share in Q4 of 2021. On a full year basis, non-GAAP operating income was $376 million or 30% of revenue compared to $451 million or 35% in fiscal 2021. Full year net income on a non-GAAP basis was $320 million or $3.14 per diluted share compared to $383 million or $3.66 per diluted share in fiscal 2021.

During the fourth quarter, we generated $51 million in cash from operations compared to $110 million generated in last year’s fourth quarter. We ended the fourth quarter with just over $900 million in cash and investments. During the fourth quarter, we bought back about 2.9 million shares of our common stock and ended the quarter with about $361 million the stock repurchase authorization available going forward. We announced — also announced today a cash dividend of $0.27 per share, an increase of $0.02 or 8% compared to the prior quarter. The dividend will be payable on December 8th, 2022 to shareholders of record on November 30th, 2022.

Maggie O’Donnell: All right. So, before you get into the numbers for fiscal year 2023, how are you thinking about guidance going forward?

Robert Park: I’d start by saying We are continuing to operate in a challenging and uncertain environment. Not only is the world still dealing with repercussions from the pandemic, but there has also been supply chain imbalances, geopolitical instability, high inflation, and monetary tightening to address it, and the list goes on. Our customers and partners are similarly impacted by the uncertainty in the environment and as a result, we are seeing this impact not only unit shipments, but the timing of some transactions as we discussed earlier. Many companies who stopped giving guidance during the pandemic are still not providing guidance. All of this is to say that our visibility is limited and predicting what will happen in the next year is difficult.

With this as the backdrop, I’ll be providing a high-level scenario for FY 2023. Based on what we are seeing right now, including data points from industry analysts, we are expecting declines in consumer device shipments, particularly for TVs in North America and Europe, and globally for PC and CE. This mostly impacts our foundational audio revenue, which we project will decline mid-single-digits during the year. As Kevin said earlier, we are targeting 15% to 25% growth in Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and imaging patents, and we expect this to be driven by growth in the broadcast, mobile, and other markets. We assume this will more than offset the declines in foundational audio that we are expecting. With these assumptions, we are projecting total revenue for fiscal year 2023 to grow low single-digits year-over-year.

Within this, we anticipate licensing revenue to be up low single-digits with products and services revenue expected to grow high single-digits. Now, let’s talk about OpEx. For the full year, we are currently anticipating non-GAAP operating expenses to increase roughly 2% compared to prior year. We will see growth from our annual merit increases and normalization of incentive compensation for employees compared to fiscal year 2022, which came in significantly below 100%. We are also seeing inflationary pressure in some other areas, and increased travel expenses. This is mostly offset by cost-saving measures such as organizational adjustments and reductions in infrastructure costs. We will continue to limit hiring to the most critical roles, while focusing our investments on the areas that have the largest impact toward our long-term opportunities.

This would result in operating margins of roughly 30% on a non-GAAP basis for the year. We will continue to be disciplined with our spend, review our resource envelope and allocation on a regular basis, and make adjustments as the year progresses. We anticipate that non-GAAP earnings per share could grow at a slightly higher rate than revenue.

Maggie O’Donnell: Great. Thanks for the full year context and perspective, how about Q1?

Robert Park: Well, let me reiterate that volatility from this economic environment has made forecasting more challenging in the near-term, and that includes visibility into Q1. In addition, revenue lumpiness from timing of deals is more acute in the quarters than on the full year. That said, based on what we are seeing right now, we see Q1 revenue ranging from $300 million to $330 million. Within that, licensing revenue is estimated to range from $280 million to $305 million, while products and services is projected to range from $20 million to $25 million. Compared to Q1 of last year, we expect lower unit declines in TV and PC and lower recoveries. At the same time, we continue to see growth from Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Non-GAAP gross margin is estimated to be 90% plus or minus. Operating expenses in Q1 on a non-GAAP basis are estimated to range from $180 million to $190 million. Our effective tax rate for Q1 is projected to range from 19% to 21% on a non-GAAP basis. This is higher than fiscal year 2022 as we are forecasting lower benefit from foreign tax credits. We also benefited from discrete items in fiscal year 2022 that are not included in fiscal 2023. We anticipate the full year tax rate will be in a similar range. So, based on a combination of the factors I just covered, we estimate that non-GAAP Q1 diluted earnings per share could range from $0.76 to $0.91. Let me restate Q1 revenue range is $300 million to $330 million.

Maggie O’Donnell: All right. Robert, do you have any closing remarks?

Robert Park: Yes, Maggie. It remains a tough environment and while the near-term is uncertain, we are well-positioned for growth in the long-term. Dolby has a durable business model, a strong balance sheet, and healthy cash flows, even with today’s tough market conditions. Our foundational audio technologies are broadly penetrated across a wide variety of content and devices. And much of the opportunity lays ahead, with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and imaging patents as we continue to expand further into new use-cases like live sports, user generated content, and auto. We are also excited about Dolby.io as a long-term growth factor as it greatly expands our addressable market. All of this give us confidence in our ability to drive revenue and earnings growth into the future.

Maggie O’Donnell: Great. All right. That wraps up my portion. Let’s turn it over to the operator and our analysts for some Q&A.

To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here.

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Gavin Luke could barely believe his luck. He’d spent nearly his entire life dreaming of being a musician, ever since he started piano lessons as a child. There was a semester spent studying at Berklee College of Music, and another stint trying to break into writing film scores for Hollywood. None of it stuck. Then he struck gold: His piano instrumentals started getting picked up on Spotify playlists like “Sleep” and “Deep Focus.”

Making money on digital streaming platforms, or DSPs, is notoriously difficult, but Luke does just that. The game changer came in 2016, when Luke and Swedish record label Epidemic Sound decided to upload his catalogue of music to Spotify.

The next year, at age 40, he finally made more from music than from his day job with a Minneapolis mortgage company. Two years after that, he sat steadily around 3 million monthly listeners — numbers that beggared belief for an artist with only 600 followers on Facebook, fewer than 500 on Instagram, and who didn’t play live shows. “I always say the more successful I become, the more paranoid I become about it, that this is too good to be true and it’s all going to go away someday,” Luke says.

Luke’s is a name that few music fans might recognize, but he’s part of a growing subset of musicians who earn a living almost entirely from instrumental mood music playlists. “Peaceful Piano,” the most well-known of these, boasts 6.7 million subscribers, making it one of the most popular playlists in any genre on Spotify.

These classically tinged songs are defined by their thoughtful, receding quality, bare-bones piano movements that belie expectations of commercial appeal. But with listeners looking to tune out of the noise of traumatic times and limitless streaming options at their fingertips, this music offers the perfect salve — even as the artists who create it remain largely anonymous.

Luke suspects he’s a unique case, but he’s hardly alone. Jacob David, a composer in Copenhagen, isn’t as far along the curve as Luke but is traveling on much the same trajectory. He uploaded his first recording, “Judith” — written for his niece’s church confirmation — to Spotify in 2015. Four years later, the song took off when Spotify unexpectedly added it to its “Peaceful Piano” playlist. “That was when I said, ‘Okay, the numbers for this are crazy. This could be a living,’” he recalls. “Judith” has since accrued more than 17 million plays on the platform, while David’s monthly listenership is 1.2 million. Like Luke, he was able to leave his job, in his case as a primary schoolteacher, last year to pursue music full time.

The explosion in popularity of these playlists dovetailed with an increased demand for wellness resources, even before the coronavirus pandemic thrust self-help to the forefront of public discourse.

In 2019, the National Institutes of Health pledged $20 million in research toward music therapy and neuroscience. “I think people are having trouble sleeping because they’re super, super anxious, so there are more people looking for [relief],” says Toby Williams, the music therapy director at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. “And I think the people who work at Spotify are super smart. They’re trying to find as many categories as possible to hook as many people in as possible.”

It’s not just Spotify, either. After Luke’s streams on the Swedish platform were unexpectedly cut in half in 2020, Epidemic sent out an email the following spring advising its artists that their music had been added to a host of other platforms, like Amazon Music and YouTube Music. “When that happened, my numbers probably quadrupled,” Luke says, still gobsmacked. “I don’t even care about Spotify anymore now, because it’s so many different platforms now. And the income has just gone through the roof” — to the tune, he says, of “close to seven figures.”

But Spotify continues to lead the way for most. Founded in 2006, it launched its first playlists in 2015, which turned into a sprawling network of options either curated by humans or programmed by algorithms.

In the case of some official editorial playlists, the curators function much as radio once did, holding the power to turn a song into a hit with placement on the right playlist. “The labels, when they’re trying to break their artists, they’re pushing hard to these DSPs to try and land on as many different editorial playlists as possible, just to give their songs a fair chance to hit as many different audiences as possible,” says Parker Maass, a senior member of the marketing staff at Three Six Zero, a Los Angeles-based artist management company.

Once an artist is placed, Spotify is prone to add it back into that listener’s algorithm, but repeated plays don’t necessarily equate to fan engagement. Because listeners tend to start a playlist and simply let it play, they might hear a new artist’s song without noticing who the artist is. “The saying we have now is ‘streams do not equate to ticket sales,’” says Maass.

Gavin Luke is part of a growing subset of musicians who earn a living almost entirely from instrumental playlists. (Ben Pien)

Copenhagen composer Jacob David was able to leave his job as a teacher last year to pursue music full time. (Andreas Thaulow)

This ambiance-driven listenership is an unexpected twist on a long-standing tradition. “The logic [of radio consumption] has always been: Don’t play anything that will make someone change the channel,” says Elijah Wald, musician, scholar and author of the book “How the Beatles Destroyed Rock ’n’ Roll.” “And that’s what you’re talking about when you talk about playlists. The point is, as long as it doesn’t break the mood, it’s all fine.”

Mood music, or functional music, has existed far longer than music for music’s sake. During the Middle Ages, minstrels were retained by royal courts to provide pleasant atmosphere. Even classical music was often “pretty tinkling in the background,” as Wald puts it.

By the mid-20th century, albums of mood music were produced, as Spotify playlists would later be, to serve as aural complements to domestic activities. Muzak is perhaps the most well-known variation of recent decades.

Luke is acutely aware of the fact that his music often functions as background — while people work, when they’re at yoga classes, or even at hospitals. Far and away his most successful playlist at the height of his Spotify listenership was the “Sleep” playlist. He chuckles at the thought that his music might be playing while listeners aren’t really listening. “They put it on a loop so the ‘Sleep’ playlist plays all night long while they sleep. I swear to God, I had almost 2 million streams just in like a week the first time I had a song on there,” he says.

Rigidly clocking in at under three minutes — Spotify counts a play after 30 seconds and pays by the play, meaning shorter songs and more of them is key — the songs on these playlists ripple along on melodies that plunk like stones skipping on placid water. They never rise above a swell or a calm cascade of notes, hinting at tension rather than embodying it, but they’re more than enough for, say, a computer to register an “emotion” and log it into its metadata.

When heard on their own, songs like Luke’s or David’s can sound like incomplete thoughts, fragments of an idea that haven’t been given their full shape. But played in succession, there’s a hypnotic quality, and it’s almost impossible to tell where one song ends and the next begins — which is, in a sense, the very idea of the playlist.

However soothing the songs may be, the music on these mood playlists shouldn’t be mistaken for therapy. “Music therapists are trained to be in relationship in music with a client, actively making music. So it’s really not the same thing at all,” Williams cautions. She draws a distinction between an activity with a therapeutic quality, which may feel helpful in the moment, and actual therapy. “The course of therapy is systematic. It happens over time,” she says.

Contrary to neatly categorized tags like “Focus,” “Chill” or “Wellness” that proliferate on a platform like Spotify, what works for one patient may have an entirely different effect on another. “There’s really no science, no definitive science behind” the labels Spotify uses, Williams adds. “It’s somebody’s subjective idea of the mood that these particular songs might make.”

Still, David says he’s had several fans write to him to say that his music helped a loved one through an illness, or that they use it to meditate or put their baby to sleep. He first encountered this phenomenon while playing piano at a nursing home, when he noticed how residents’ faces lit up when they heard the music. “I’m not especially a calm person in general, I guess, but when I play it calms my mind,” he says. “And if it calms me, maybe it can calm other people.”

Luke is more unsentimental. He likens himself to a carpenter who might be asked to build a round table one week and a square one the next. In some cases, he admits, he doesn’t even remember his own songs, of which he estimates he’s amassed around 700. “Every once in a while I hear an old track of mine and go, ‘Oh yeah, that was actually pretty good. I forgot about that,’” he says, laughing. “Then the new month happens and it’s like, ‘All right, on to the next set of [songs]. I’ve got to pay the mortgage.’”

On the whole, Williams sees the popularity of these mood playlists as a positive development. “I’d say people are more aware of alternative ways to make them feel better, and more holistic ways, and it’s because it’s more in the mainstream. It’s more accessible,” she says.

Even if listening to the music doesn’t lead fans to seek options like music therapy, it could reflect a broader shift in thinking. “The more health-seeking people are, the better, in general, for society. And people having better access to the idea even of using music, using breath, using movement to naturally take care of themselves is a good thing.”

That may not be the way that Luke once saw his career playing out, but he’s not going to take it for granted. “I suppose if I was writing music with lyrics and vocals that had a real powerful meaning to me, I guess I wouldn’t be jumping up and down if it got on a sleep playlist. But, you know, it is what it is,” Luke says, adding: “It has meaning to me, but it’s more meaningful to me that other people get to hear it. What’s the point in writing music if no one ever hears it?”

On her new release for Texan imprint Western Vinyl, Hollie Kenniff explores the complex relationships between memory and place through expansive, emotive ambient music. 

Fittingly titled We All Have Places That We Miss, the record deftly captures the bittersweet tang of nostalgia through gorgeously layered instrumentals that envelop synths, piano and guitar in a carefully chosen palette of effects and sonic processing, resulting in a quietly moving tapestry of sound that soothes and uplifts in equal measure. 

Working within a genre that’s traditionally been somewhat male-dominated, Kenniff draws inspiration from fellow female artists within the burgeoning ambient experimental scene, including Rachika Nayar, Ann Annie and Madeline Cocolas. “A lot of ambient music that’s been made up until recently has mostly been by men,” she tells us. “Hopefully, with more women composing this sort of music, it will push this genre into some new spheres, with their own experiences and perspectives.” 

We caught up with Hollie Kenniff ahead of the release of the new project to find out more about her unique approach to music-making. 

When did you start making music, and how did you first get started? 

“Although I had done various other music things beforehand, my husband Keith and I started making music under the moniker Mint Julep in 2010. It was mainly as a love letter to our shared admiration of shoegaze which we still continue to write and release material for.

“I always loved ambient music and started making that type of music specifically in 2017/18. It was refreshing to use my voice in a way that was not focused on traditional verses and choruses (in fact, no words at all) but more about texture and mood.”

Tell us about your studio/set-up. 

“Keith and I share a studio in our home. I have always found it easiest to work from home rather than to have to commute to a separate studio. The key is always trying to be aware of that work/life balance so I try to have a work ethic that when I am in the studio it is focused on music and very much treat that as an office space rather than another room in the house. 

Having simplicity in my workflow allows me to not get too overwhelmed by the number of tools

“Our setup is pretty minimal, everything is done in the box, and we don’t use any outboard gear, but I tend to use a lot of guitars in my work to create textures and parts, so I have a simple but effective pedalboard with a solid reverb/delay (Eventide Space), looper (ditto) and I love the Shallow Water pedal by Fairfield Circuitry. 

“I also use the piano quite a bit. I think having simplicity in my workflow allows me to not get too overwhelmed by the number of tools and rather to focus on ideas and have it set up so that I can easily just create rather than tinker.”

What DAW (or DAWs) do you use, and why did you choose it?

“Studio One. Keith and I both use it and it’s the best of both worlds for mixing and music creation.”

What one piece of gear in your studio could you not do without, and why? 

“We have a G&L semi-hollow ASAT special from the late 90’s which I use a lot. There’s just something about an instrument as opposed to a synth, a slight imperfection. I think guitar is so overused in general, but there are lots of ways to manipulate the sound that makes it a unique tool.”

What’s the latest addition to your studio?

The hardest thing about ambient music is knowing when to hold back

“We recently got a new piano (Yamaha U3) and it has such a nice lovely warm tone. Although we have a good collection of tape recorders in the studio, I find it so fun to play around with a lot of the tape emulation plugins that are out now. I really like Reels by AudioThing and Sketch Cassette. They’re best used moderately but it’s a great quick tool to make something feel just ever-so-slightly worn.”

What dream bit of gear would you love to have in your studio?

“I would really like to start dabbling in modular synths, but that is quite a rabbit hole! Also, there are so many amazing guitar pedals nowadays, so there’s a pretty big wish list going right now on that front.”

When approaching a new track or project, where do you start?

“A lot of times, with the kind of music I write, I find it best to start with some sort of simple synth drone just to set up the overall texture or mood or a loopable riff on guitar or piano. I think the hardest thing about ambient music is knowing when to hold back. It’s a lot more difficult than it seems.”

What led you towards producing ambient music specifically?

“My husband Keith has been writing ambient music for quite a while (as Helios) and so over the years, even though I was a big fan of ambient music before he and I met, I’ve been exposed to a lot of aspects of this genre in the past 15 years or so. I think ambient music, even though it’s still quite “niche”, has a bit more traction than it used to and there are a lot of exciting things happening within the genre and the overall community.”

What other artists do you look to for inspiration?

“As a female making music in this genre which has been historically male-driven, it is quite inspiring to see other women composers writing music in this genre. Also, I think there’s been growing gains with women composers in other corners of the industry as well. 

“Rachika Nayar, Sophie Hutchings, Julia Kent, Aisha Burns, Ann Annie, Rachel Grimes, Karen Vogt, Midori Hirano, Claire Deak, Olivia Belli, Forest Management, Madeline Cocolas are among a few of many who I find inspiring.”

If you had to pick one song/album that’s been most influential on your work, what would it be?

“Kraftwerk – The Man Machine. I discovered Kraftwerk early on and it really made an impact on what could be done with electronic music and helped open the door to explore a lot of different kinds of music.”

What do you think makes you unique as a producer and musician?

Hopefully, with more women composing this sort of music, it will push this genre into some new spheres with their own experiences and perspectives

“I think not having a “traditional” trajectory in this genre and starting this specific project later on, has allowed for some perspective in regard to what my intention of this music would be. I spent the better part of the last decade making louder music and I think it’s been refreshing to switch gears in the past 5 years to do something almost exclusively textural, restrained, and open-ended and not to think about lyrics/song structure. 

“I think a lot of ambient music that’s been made up until recently has mostly been by men, so hopefully, with more women composing this sort of music, it will push this genre into some new spheres with their own experiences and perspectives.”

What are you currently working on? 

“My husband Keith and I are working on a new album as Mint Julep, as well as a new ambient project, and I’m continuing to work on more upcoming music for my solo material.”

Hollie Kenniff’s three production tips

1. Be patient

“Be patient. I think it’s important to take time and consider what the intention of a piece of music could be. Rather than just making a “cool track”, what does this add to the general musical conversation?”

2. Make the most of what you have

“Learn to use the gear you have. I don’t think gear is necessarily as important as it used to be, even though there are more options now. Nowadays people can make music very easily and I think it can be done on a very minimal setup. Sometimes restraint in this department can inspire creativity.”

3. Enjoy your own music

“It’s OK to listen to and enjoy your music. Sometimes I hear musicians (or artists/filmmakers etc…) say that they make something and then never listen to it after it’s released or send it out into the world and let it go. I think it’s OK (and not self-involved) to want to listen to your music! 

“You’re making music that is tailored to tickle your own ears, and hopefully will resonate with others, so it should be something you can sit with and enjoy as a listener as well.”

We All Have Places We Miss will be released February 10th on Western Vinyl. 

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It’s almost Christmas. You’re practically out of time to order the perfect present and still have it arrive by Dec. 25. If you’ve been scrolling through Amazon’s best holiday deals, you might be wondering: what’s the last day you can order at Amazon for Christmas?

There’s a shipping deadline approaching. If you want your gifts to come on time, we recommend ordering them from Amazon as soon as possible. But if you’re leaving your gifting decisions to the last minute, keep reading to discover the last day you can order at Amazon for Christmas. 

What’s the last day you can order at Amazon for Christmas?

The last day you can order at Amazon for Christmas is Dec. 22. Amazon has free two-day shipping, but nothing is guaranteed. Shipping delays happen! Especially the closer we get to Christmas. We’d recommend ordering your holiday presents as soon as possible. 

Amazon Prime members may be able to order later

Amazon Prime members may be able to order gifts on Amazon as late as Dec. 23 or even Dec. 24 with same-day shipping. However, your options are likely to be much more limited the longer you wait. Non-Prime members can pay for expedited and same-day shipping on most items for an added fee.

Join Amazon Prime for $15 a month or $140 annually

The best holiday deals at Amazon 

Christmas is less than two weeks away. Do you have gifts for everyone on your list yet? Don’t worry, there are still plenty of deals that you can get at Amazon ahead of the holidays. The major retailer has deals on iRobot robot vacuums, Apple AirPods Pro, top-rated kitchen gadgets and more. We even found deals on gift cards, perfect for gifting friends and loved ones this Hanukkah and Christmas.

Read on for our favorite deal picks at Amazon’s sale, or tap the button below to see all the deals.

Reload $100 on an Amazon gift card, get a $12 Amazon credit

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Amazon gift cards make great stocking stuffers. Amazon is offering a $12 credit when you reload an Amazon gift card with $100 or more for the first time. Find out if you’re eligible below. 

Amazon gift card reload deal: Reload $100, get a $12 credit

AirPods Pro 2: $229

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The latest Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds have an upgraded wireless chip for improved audio functionality, a new low distortion driver for clearer audio and improved active noise cancelation. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 provide truly custom sound: You can use your iPhone’s camera to analyze your unique ear anatomy and find the perfect audio settings for you.

The design of the AirPods Pro 2 is fairly similar to the previous generation, but Apple has introduced touch control to the AirPods Pro 2 to help users more seamlessly control their AirPods.

Get the second generation Apple AirPods Pro (2022) for their best-ever price at Amazon now.

Apple AirPods Pro 2, $229 (reduced from $249)

Looking to save even more money? You can get a big discount on the second generation of Apple AirPods at Amazon, too.

Apple AirPods (second generation), $115 (reduced from $159)

JBL Tune 130NC true wireless earbuds: $50

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These JBL earbuds feature advanced noise-canceling technology for a solid price. They offer a 40-hour battery life without noise-canceling or 32 hours of battery life with noise-canceling engaged. The earbuds are water-resistant and sweat-proof.

CBS Essentials writer Kaylyn McKenna bought these during Amazon Prime Day 2022. “I think that these earbuds do an excellent job with both the active noise canceling and ambient noise cancelling features. They connect really easily and offer a long battery life, plus the sound quality is about the same as AirPods.”

These JBL earbuds are on sale at Amazon for half off. They’re a great AirPod alternative if you want all of the features of the AirPod Pros at a price far lower than the least expensive Apple AirPods.

JBL Tune 130NC noise-canceling wireless earbuds, $50 (reduced from $100)

Kindle Oasis essentials bundle: $234

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The super-thin and light Oasis has the most features of any of the current Kindle models. It has a larger screen, auto-adjusting light sensors, page-turn buttons and an automatic, rotating page orientation. Unlike the Paperwhite, it’s made of glass and aluminum. The Kindle Oasis is waterproof, too, making it the perfect e-reader for the poolside or beach reading.

The bundle includes a Kindle Oasis, a leather cover and a power adapter. It comes in 8 GB and 32 GB storage options.

Kindle Oasis essentials bundle (8 GB), $234 (reduced from $320)

 Kindle Oasis essentials bundle (32 GB), $259 (reduced from $350)

Crest 3D Whitestrips teeth whitening kit: $30

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Save $15 right now on Amazon on this pack of 44 Crest Whitestrips teeth-whitening strips — that’s 22 treatments in total. Crest promises its strips will get your teeth significantly whiter in just 20 days. Plus, they’re billed as being safe on enamel. Rated 4.6 stars at Amazon.

Crest 3D Whitestrips teeth whitening kit, $30 (reduced from $45)

Keurig K-Mini coffee maker: $70

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This mini coffee device is a great option for small spaces. 

The five-inch-wide Keurig coffee maker lets you brew up to 12 ounces of coffee, hot chocolate, tea and more. It offers an energy-efficient feature that automatically turns the coffee maker off 90 seconds after you’ve brewed your cup. 

Keurig K-Mini coffee maker, $70 (regularly $100)

iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum: $599

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The iRobot Roomba j7+ is designed with the issue of dog poop in mind. This smart vacuum includes iRobot’s P.O.O.P., or “Pet Owner Official Promise,” guarantee. Your Roomba j7+ is guaranteed to avoid pet waste, or iRobot will replace your vacuum for free. 

The vacuum features a powerful, three-stage cleaning system with iRobot’s most powerful suction. The home-cleaning device uses an edge-sweeping brush to get into corners. The Roomba j7+ features dual multi-surface rubber brushes that flex to adjust to different floor types. Best of all, they don’t get tangled with pet hair.

When it’s done cleaning, the device automatically empties into its included clean base for easy dirt disposal with enclosed bags. Just empty the cleaning station once every 60 days.

iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum, $599 (reduced from $800)

The iRobot Roomba j7 is a bit more affordable and also offers the P.O.O.P. promise. (A cleaning station is not included.)

iRobot Roomba j7 robot vacuum, $399 (reduced from $650)

iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO robot vacuum with automatic dirt disposal: $399

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The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO uses “Imprint Smart Mapping” technology to map your home. Use your connected phone to direct the Wi-Fi-enabled robot vacuum to clean any room you want. You can even schedule a future clean. This Roomba is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.      

The smart appliance learns your cleaning habits, and can suggest extra cleanings during peak pollen and pet-shedding seasons. And don’t even worry about dumping out your dustbin. The Roomba i3+ EVO features iRobot’s “Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal” system, and empties your accumulated dirt into an enclosed bag. 

iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO robot vacuum with automatic dirt disposal, $399 (reduced from $599)

You can also get the iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO robot vacuum bundled with the Braava Jet M6 for $648.

iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO plus Braava Jet M6, $649 (reduced from $900)

iRobot Roomba 694 robot vacuum: $179

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The Roomba 694 is Wi-Fi-enabled. Control the vac with your connected smartphone or device via the iRobot Home app. The Roomba 694 has a 90-minute run time before it automatically docks and recharges. 

“We have two dogs, one that sheds moderately,” a customer says. “I purchased in hopes that it at least would help between regular vacuuming. I vacuumed first with my Dyson then set it free. When it was done with the job, I didn’t expect much in the dust trap… I was wrong! It was full! Super impressed.” 

iRobot Roomba 694 robot vacuum, $179 (reduced from $274)

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen): $28

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The fifth-generation Amazon Echo Dot has a number of new-for-2022 features, including improved audio, a temperature sensor and Eero Wi-Fi built in (requires a compatible Eero network). 

Use this Amazon smart speaker to control your home via voice commands, make calls hands-free, play music, set an alarm and more. Choose from three colors.

“Very cool and speaker sound is superb,” wrote an Amazon customer. “The speaker sound is tremendous!”

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen), $28 (regularly $50)

Blink Mini smart home security camera (2 pack): $30

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Start or expand your smart home security setup with a two-pack of Blink Mini cameras. They’re on sale at Amazon for less than half price when you buy a bundle of two. (You’ll get an even better price per camera if you buy three.)

The Blink Mini smart home security camera features 1080p video recording (cloud-based saving optional), motion detection and two-way audio. Blink Mini works with Alexa, so you can monitor your cameras from your Amazon Echo Show ($85) via voice command.

Blink Mini smart home security camera (2 pack), $30 (reduced from $65)

Blink Outdoor home security camera: $70

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The Blink Outdoor is a water-resistant security camera designed to monitor the outside of your home. It features two-way audio, motion detection and a live video stream. It is battery-operated and has a two-year battery life.

Like the Blink Indoor camera, the outdoor offering also comes in a variety of multi-packs and bundles.

Blink Outdoor camera kit (1 pc.), $70 (reduced from $100)

Blink Outdoor camera kit (3 pc.), $150 (reduced from $250)

Garmin Vivoactive 4: $176

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The Garmin Vivoactive 4 with a 45mm case is 45 percent off right now at Amazon. This Garmin smartwatch uses Garmin’s Pulse Ox technology to track your energy levels, respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, heart rate, hydration levels and more. It can stream downloaded music from Spotify and Amazon Music. When paired with your smartphone, the watch can receive incoming notifications.  

This Garmin smartwatch features more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor-sports apps. Want a personal trainer on your wrist? This watch can show you animated workouts via your watch screen.  

Available in a variety of colors.

Garmin Vivoactive 4 (black), $176 (reduced from $330)

Anova Nano sous vide precision cooker: $99

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If you’ve never had sous vide cooked meat and vegetables, well — you’re missing out. The 12.8-inch Anova Nano sous vide precision cooker circulates heated water at exact temperatures to cook foods to perfection. Rated 4.7 stars on Amazon.

Anova Nano sous vide precision cooker, $99 (reduced from $149)

Ring Alarm 8-piece kit with Ring Indoor Cam and Echo Show 5: $300

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This Ring Alarm set brings together three components: Amazon’s video-capturing Echo Show 5, the Ring Indoor Cam and an eight-piece Ring Alarm system featuring a Ring Alarm keypad, a base station, a motion detector, a range extender and four contact sensors. The bundle is rated 4.7 stars (out of five) by Amazon users. 

As with other Ring DIY home-security systems, other (sold-separately) pieces can be added as your needs change or grow. And, yup, because of the Amazon-Ring connection, the Ring Alarm system works with Alexa (as do the Ring Indoor Cam and Echo Show 5, natch).  

Ring Alarm 8-piece kit with Ring Indoor Cam and Echo Show 5, $300 (reduced from $385)

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: $879

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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra features a 6.8-inch screen, compared with the standard S22’s 6.1-inch screen. It also offers a 40MP front camera, compared with the standard 10MP front camera, for better selfies. The back camera is also enhanced with a better wide-angle camera and stronger zoom functionality. 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (128 GB), $879 (reduced from $1,200) 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (512GB), $1,131 (reduced from $1,400) 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: $960

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The Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers enhanced charging support, an upgraded processor chip and some notable camera upgrades. It also includes aesthetic improvements such as a slimmer design and a new Bespoke edition.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 includes two rear cameras — a 12-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide. The rear cameras convert to front-facing selfie cameras with a flip of the phone. The Galaxy Flip 4’s Flexcam camera captures vivid photos at a wide range angles. It also offers a mode to capture better photos at night.

The smartphone features a 6.7-inch foldable display screen with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus. This upgraded Gorilla Glass offers improved scratch resistance and durability. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 supports 25 W wired charging and features 15 W wireless charging support, another upgrade from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 (256 GB), $960 (reduced from $1,100)

Ring Video Doorbell bundle with Echo Show 5: $70

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The Ring video doorbell bundle boasts a 1080p HD outdoor camera with enhanced features that let you see, hear and speak to anyone from your phone, tablet or PC. 

Receive mobile notifications when anyone presses your doorbell or triggers your built-in motion sensors.

Ring Video Doorbell bundle with Echo Show 5, $70 (reduced from $185)

65″ LG OLED B1 Series Alexa built-in 4K smart TV: $1,729 

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This 4K smart TV with Alexa built in has a 65-inch OLED display. The LG TV adjusts your viewing and audio settings automatically to provide the best viewing experience, no matter what you are watching. It is also a popular choice for gaming due to its 120 Hz refresh rate and gaming mode feature.

65″ LG OLED B1 Series Alexa built-in 4K smart TV, $1,729 (regularly $2,297)

Apple MacBook Air (2020): $800

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This is one of the best deals you’re going to be able to find on a MacBook. Right now on Amazon, the 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 chip is only $800. This lightweight MacBook features Retina display, an impressive 18-hour battery life and fast performance. There is a 2022 edition out, so this is a slightly older model — however, it is unbeatable deal for a new MacBook.  

13″ MacBook Air (2020), $800 (reduced from $999) 

Apple iPad Air 5: $500

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Introduced in 2022, the 10.9-inch Apple iPad Air 5 is the latest in the lightweight iPad Air line. The iPad Air 5 offers performance up to 60 percent faster than the prior model, thanks to Apple’s turbo-charged M1 chip. The device boasts a 12 MP wide-angle back camera that supports 4K video. It also offers touch ID, and Apple’s Liquid Retina display.

Available in five colors; prices vary. 

Apple iPad Air 5 (64 GB) (pink), $500 (reduced from $599)

Apple iPad Pro (2022)

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Apple’s high-end tablet, the iPad Pro, features a Liquid Retina XDR display, a pro camera system (12 MP wide; 10 MP ultrawide) and a Thunderbolt port for lightning-speed data transfers. Looking for a traditional laptop experience? It’s compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard. 

The latest iPad Pro comes with several major upgrades. One of the most notable changes is that the 2022 iPad Pros are equipped with the M2 chip, the same fast and powerful chip included in the latest MacBooks. The M2 chip makes this the fastest iPad yet — and an excellent choice for video editing, streaming or gaming.

11″ Apple iPad Pro 4th generation (WiFi, 128 GB), $749 (regularly $799)

50″ TCL QLED 6-Series with 4K resolution: $948

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If you’re already used to a certain interface, switching can be tough, especially if you’re not particularly tech-savvy. Fans of the super-simple Roku platform will enjoy this TCL model with a built-in Roku system. Plus, the picture quality of this 6-Series model is stunning for the money. 

55″ TCL QLED Roku 5-Series with 4K resolution, $948 (reduced from $1,500)

Save over 50% on artificial trees, wreaths and more Christmas decorations

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Take advantage of the following deals on National Tree Company artificial wreaths, centerpieces and Christmas trees. All are rated four stars or higher, and all are discounted at Amazon now.

Baggallini Soho backpack: $94

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This Baggallini backpack makes a great gift for a busy student or working professional that wants a stylish way to take their laptop and supplies on the go. It also features a luggage handle to easily attache to rolling suitcases, making it a great gift for travel enthusiasts as well.

Baggallini Soho backpack, $94 (reduced from $118) 

Hisense U6 Series 4K fire TV: $359

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This TV offers great picture quality at an affordable price. It includes Dolby Vision HDR and quantum dot Wide color gamut technology for accurate color and clear picture quality. Amazon Fire TV is built-in to the Hisense fire TV, so you can easily access all of your favorite programs from Paramount+, Hulu and more.

Hisense U6 series 4K fire TV, $359 (reduced from $530)

Instant Pot dual pod plus: $150

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Can’t decide between Keurig and Nespresso? Instant Pot makes a dual coffee and espresso maker, the 4.4-star-rated Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus. 

This kitchen gadget is compatible with K-Cup pods, Nespresso capsules and ground coffee when used with the included reusable pod. It lets you brew up to 12 ounces of coffee and up to six ounces of espresso at a time.

Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus, $150 (regularly $230)

KitchenAid Artisan series 5-quart stand mixer with pouring shield: $350

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The KitchenAid Artisan series 5-quart mixer features a 10 speed slide control. 

The kitchen device comes with a flat beater, dough hook and wire whip attachments. If “aqua sky” isn’t your color, this stand mixer is available in a wide variety of shades.  

KitchenAid Artisan series 5-quart stand mixer with pouring shield, $350 (regularly $460)

Vitamix 5200 blender: $430

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The professional-grade Vitamix 5200 blender has a dial that can be rotated at any point during the blend to achieve the texture you want. Its blades move so fast that you can make hot soup out of cold ingredients, right in the blender.

The Vitamix 5200 blender comes with a tamper (a tool that lets you manually move ingredients in the blender) to help with thick blends.

Vitamix 5200 blender, $430 (reduced from $550)

Furbo dog camera: $147

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Looking for the perfect holiday gift for pet owners? Check out the Furbo dog camera. 

This camera can help you stay connected with your pets while you’re away from home. It features two-way audio and wide-angle video. The best part? You can use the Furbo app to toss your dog treats. You can even create a custom voice recording to play when the Furbo dispenses treats for your pet. 

The app also sends you alerts when your furry friend is running, barking, moving around or appears to be throwing up. You can always stay up-to-date on what your pet is up to while you’re gone with the Furbo. You even also get a cute video diary of your pet’s day at the end of the day.

Furbo dog camera, $147 (reduced from $210)

65″ Amazon Fire TV Omni series 4K smart TV: $720

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The Amazon Fire TV offers a 4K experience with support for Dolby Vision, HDR 10 and HLG. This smart TV is a must-have for Alexa owners. You can go entirely remote free and ask Alexa to play live TV, stream your favorite TV shows and movies, check sports scores, set timers and reminders, start video calls and more.

The Amazon Fire TV Omni series gives you access to over 1 million movies and TV episodes, plus the streaming platforms you subscribe to. Want to broadcast whatever’s on your phone right into your living room? Use the TV’s Airplay function to share videos, photos and music from your compatible smart devices to your Fire TV.

The Amazon Fire TV Omni series is available in multiple sizes. Prices vary.

65″ Amazon Fire TV Omni series 4K smart TV, $720 (reduced from $830)

Petcube pet monitoring camera: $30

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Check in on your pets while you’re at work or out to dinner with the Petcube pet camera. The Petcube streams and records in 1080p video, while providing sound and motion alerts. 

If it records anything suspicious or concerning, pet parents can access 24/7 live chat with a veterinarian via the Petcube app. 

Petcube pet monitoring camera, $30 (reduced from $50)

Bearpaw Skye women’s boots: $49 and up

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These comfy winter boots make a great holiday gift. They’re made with a cozy wool blend lining and wool blend footbed to keep your feet warm during the winter/

Pricing varies by size and color.

Bearpaw Skye winter boot, $49 and up (reduced from $70)

L’or barista system coffee and espresso maker: $139

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This espresso machine and coffee maker combo is a great gift for the coffee lovers in your life — and you can get it for $50 off right now on Amazon. The barista system offers an at-home French café experience with 6 different brewing sizes.

L’or barista system coffee and espresso maker, $139 after coupon (reduced from $189)

Best Walmart deals on popular holiday gifts

If you’re finishing up your Christmas of Hanukkah shopping and looking for a great deal at Walmart, start here. The retailer is offering deep discounts on a variety of most-wanted holiday gifts, including Apple Watches, Samsung tablets, HP Chromebooks and more. 

Best budget Roku TV deals at Walmart

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Looking for the perfect budget TV for the holidays? Head over to Walmart — the retailer has restocked a number of its bestselling budget Roku smart TVs. No matter what size or resolution you need, there’s a deal for you.

Here’s a list of the best Roku TV deals at Walmart. As of publication, all these deals are still available.

• 24″ Onn Roku 720p HDTV, $88 (reduced from $138)
• 32″ Onn Roku 720p HDTV, $108 (reduced from $144)
• 32″ TCL Roku 3-Series 720p HDTV, $118 (reduced from $148)
• 32″ TCL Roku 3-Series 1080p HDTV, $148 (reduced from $250)
• 42″ Onn Roku 1080p HDTV, $158 (reduced from $248)
• 43″ Hisense Roku 720p HDTV, $198 (reduced from $249)
• 50″ Onn Roku 4K UHDTV, $238 (reduced from $268)
• 50″ TCL Roku 4-Series 4K UHDTV, $248
• 55″ TCL Roku 4-Series 4K UHDTV, $278
• 58″ Hisense Roku 4K UHDTV, $298 (reduced from $338)
• 65″ TCL Roku 4-Series 4K UHDTV, $378
• 55″ Elements Roku 4K outdoor TV, $998 (reduced from $1,298)

PlayStation 5 God of War Ragnarok bundle: $599

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If you’re trying to get a PlayStation 5 console, head over to the Walmart website now — the console has been going in and out of stock over the past week. You can use the links below to head straight to the PS5 listings at Walmart and see if you can get lucky and find one.

PlayStation 5 God of War Ragnarok bundle, $559

Playstation 5 God of War Ragnarok bundle (Digital Edition), $669

Xbox Series X: $609

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The Xbox Series X boasts 4K resolution at 120 Hz, 3D spatial sound, 1 TB of blazing fast storage (and fast load times). It’s backwards compatible with thousands of Xbox games — even your old Xbox 360 and Xbox games. 

Xbox Series X console, $609

Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm): $349

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The Apple Watch Series 8 is a durable smartwatch that is swim-proof, dust-proof and crack-resistant. It also comes with a new crash detection feature, which detects when the wearer is in a severe car crash and alerts emergency services of their location.

The Apple Watch 8 has a number of health-tracking features, including an optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG, blood oxygen sensor and a new body temperature sensor. You can also tap into yoga, meditation and other workout programs via Apple Fitness+. (Apple Fitness+ is a subscription service. It costs $9.99 a month; Apple Watch buyers get the first month free.) 

Apple Watch 8 (41mm) (GPS), $349 (reduced from $399)

Anker Eufy 25c robot vacuum: $96

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It’s pretty rare to find a robot vacuum for less than $100 — never mind a top-rated, voice-activated one like the Anker Eufy 25c robot vacuum. Head over to the Walmart now to get yours now for less than half its usual price.

The Anker Eufy 25c robot vacuum doesn’t skimp on features — it connects to your home Wi-Fi and can be controlled through an app or through your home’s smart speaker. It has 1,500 Pa of suction, three-layer filtration and a slim profile that helps it get under furniture to clean. It’s rated 4.4 stars at Walmart.

Anker Eufy 25c robot vacuum, $96 (reduced from $249)

75″ Vizio QLED 4K smart TV: $698

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This 4.6-star-rated television features 4K upscaling with Dolby Vision HDR, 32 active dimming zones, pixel-level brightness adjustment, and a gaming mode designed to reduce lag. Includes a voice remote.

We’ve seen most Walmart TV deals sell out really fast this season, so if you’re interested in scoring a top-rated Vizio television at a big discount, you’ll want to act now.

75″ Vizio 4K QLED, $698 (reduced from $998)

Wyze robot vacuum with room mapping: $149

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The Wyze robot vacuum, now less than half price at Walmart, features LIDAR navigation. The sensor on top of the vacuum maps your home, so you can create no-go zones on the accompanying app and have more control over cleanings. It’s able to handle height gaps of up to 0.8 inches, so it can easily transition between carpets and hardwood floors.

The Wyze robot vacuum has 2,100 Pa of suction and a 4.4-star rating at Walmart.

Wyze robot vacuum, $149 (reduced from $329)

Fujifilm Instax Mini 7+ bundle: $49

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This adorable Fujifilm Instax bundle is just $49 right now at Walmart.

The on-sale bundle includes a mini instant camera and a 10-pack of Instax film. Choose from six colors.

“This camera has been pretty fun to use,” wrote a Walmart customer. “It came with everything you need to get started: camera, batteries, film, and wrist strap. This would be fun for kids, teens, and adults!”

Fujifilm Instax Mini 7+ bundle, $49 (regularly $67)

Ninja professional blender: $50

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This 72-ounce countertop blender boasts a 4.6-star rating on Walmart. It features a 1,000-watt power base with ice crushing technology, making it perfect for smoothies. It comes with a recipe guide with 25 chef-inspired recipes. 

Get the Ninja professional blender now for 50 percent off right now. 

Ninja professional blender, $50 (reduced from $100)

Hoover Power Dash pet carpet cleaner, $69

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The Hoover Power Dash pet carpet cleaner features a dual-tank water system, fast heated drying and a removable nozzle. Includes a power spin brush roll and two cleaning solution pods to get you started.

Hoover Power Dash pet carpet cleaner, $69 (reduced from $119)

Apple AirPods Pro 2: $229

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The latest Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds have an upgraded wireless chip for improved audio functionality, a new low distortion driver for clearer audio, touch controls and improved active noise cancellation. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 provide truly custom sound: You can use your iPhone’s camera to analyze your unique ear anatomy and find the perfect audio settings for you.

Get the 4.4-star-rated second generation Apple AirPods Pro (2022) for their best-ever price at Walmart now.

Apple AirPods Pro 2, $229 (reduced from $249)

Apple Watch SE (1st generation): $199

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The Apple Watch SE, the most affordable model in the Apple Watch lineup, is even more affordable now with this deal at Walmart. The smartwatch offers a 40mm screen and boasts a wide range of health and fitness features. It can also be used to play music, check your tests and make calls when paired with your iPhone.

Apple Watch SE GPS (1st generation), $199 (reduced from $279)

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic: $199

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The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic comes in just two (classic) colors: black and silver. You can customize the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with a sold-separately Samsung band of your choice. You’ll save up to $200 at Walmart now with this holiday deal.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic (42mm), $199 (reduced from $350)

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic (46mm), $299 (reduced from $460)

Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset: $349

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The wireless Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset features a powerful processor, 3D positional audio, hand tracking and haptic (vibrational) feedback — all designed to immerse you in games like never before. This bundle includes Beat Saber and Resident Evil 4 VR.

Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset bundle (128 GB), $349

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Max wireless headset: $80

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This wireless gaming headset by Turtle Beach — compatible with the Sony PS4 and PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC — features 48 hours of battery life, a flip-to-mute mic, a low-latency wireless connection, and support for the Sony PlayStation 5’s 3D spatial audio. Save $50 at Walmart now.

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 headset, $80 (reduced from $130)

Lenovo Ideapad 1i: $129

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 This Lenovo Ideapad 1i has a 14-inch FHD display and Intel Celeron processor. It runs n the Windows 11 operating system. This affordable laptop is a great fit for students, professionals or anyone looking for a solid laptop to surf the web or watch Netflix on.

Lenovo Ideapad 1i, $129 (reduced from $375)

Magic Bullet blender: $20

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A personal blender can make a great holiday gift. Or you can treat yourself to this Magic Bullet personal blender to get a head start on your 2023 health goals. Either way, it’s currently an unbeatable deal at only $20. 

This personal blender lets you blend, mix, and chop your favorite smoothie ingredients or food items in seconds. The blender comes with a 16 oz tall cup, a short cup, a party mug, two resealable lids, a to-go lid and a recipe guide.

Magic Bullet personal blender, $20 (reduced from $35)

20-piece Beautiful by Drew Barrymore cookware set: $119

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The 20-piece Beautiful cookware set with a ceramic non-stick coating is oven safe to 500ºF and compatible with induction cooktops. It includes an 8-inch fry pan, 10-inch fry pan, 3-quart sauté pan, 3-quart saucepan, 2-quart saucepan, 5-quart Dutch oven and steamer insert, five cooking utensils and four cookware protectors.

The set is available in four aesthetically pleasing colors, all with gold handles. Dishwasher safe but hand wash recommended. Rated 4.9 stars at Walmart.

20-piece Drew Barrymore Beautiful kitchen cookware set, $119 (reduced from $199)

Vitamix 6500 blender: $399

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This Vitamix 6500 blender features three pre-programmed blending modes for smoothies, soup and frozen desserts. The kitchen gadget features a 64-ounce container and sturdy, aircraft-grade, stainless steel blades. It also offers variable speed control so that you can fine-tune the speed to fit each recipe as well as your own texture preferences.

Vitamix 6500 blender, $399 (reduced from $580)

55″ Elements 4K outdoor Roku TV: $998 

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This IP55 weatherproof TV with HDR10 is designed for outdoor use in all seasons — it works in temperatures from -4ºF to 104ºF. It features a tempered, anti-glare screen that’s bright enough for use in partial sun. 

55″ Elements Roku 4K outdoor TV, $998 (reduced from $1,298)

Lego Disney ‘Encanto’ the Madrigal house building kit: $40

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Build the Madrigal house from “Encanto” with 587 Lego pieces. It’s a three-level house that comes with a sticker sheet for decorating. It comes with two mini-doll figures and one micro-doll figure (of Abuela, Mirabel and Antonio), as well as capybara and butterfly figures. 

Lego Disney “Encanto” the Madrigal house building kit, $40 (reduced from $50)

Jetson Bolt folding electric ride-on with twist throttle: $298

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Why not put an electric bike under the tree this Christmas? This folding electric bike goes up to 16 miles per hour and runs for up to 15 miles on a rechargeable battery. It has twist throttle and cruise control settings. It also has a bright LED light for riding in the dark. This bike is recommended for ages 13 and up. 

Jetson Bolt folding electric ride-on with twist throttle, $298 (regularly $389)

FitRx SmartBell adjustable dumbbells: $94

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Looking to get in better shape for the holidays, or get a head start on your New Year’s resolution? Walmart is offering quite the deal on FitRx SmartBell adjustable dumbbells. Originally $200, you can get one for $89 now at Walmart.

The 4.4-star-rated FitRx SmartBell adjustable dumbbell can be adjusted from 5 to 52.5 pounds in 2.5-pound increments. An anti-slip handle and safety lock keep plates in place during your workout. Comes with a storage rack.

At this price, why not pick up a set of two?

FitRx SmartBell adjustable dumbbells, $94 (reduced from $200)

Cricut Explore Air 2 Daybreak machine bundle: $169

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The Cricut Explore Air 2 is a true workhorse. It cuts up to 100 materials quickly and precisely, using commercial-grade technology to control the direction of its blade and the cutting pressure to match different materials. This bundle includes 40 vinyl sheets and several helpful tools to use while crafting with the Cricut.

Cricut Explore Air 2 Daybreak machine bundle, $169 (reduced from $199)

Xbox Series S Holiday Edition console, $240

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Here’s your opportunity to put a brand new gaming console under the Christmas tree and save money while doing it: You can get a the all-digital Xbox Series S Holiday Edition console for $249 at Walmart now. Tap the link below to score the deal while you can. (Hurry — it won’t last.)

Xbox Series S Holiday Edition console (512 GB), $240 (reduced from $299)

The Pioneer Woman 11-piece knife block set: $40

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CBS Essentials readers can’t get enough of ‘The Pioneer Woman’ kitchenware — it seems to be the perfect combination of style, performance and value. This 4.7-star-rated stainless steel knife block set includes an eight-inch chef knife, an eight-inch bread knife, a 6.5-inch Nakiri knife, five-inch utility knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, four 4.5-inch steak knives, a pair of shears and an acacia block.

Available in four colors.

The Pioneer Woman 11-piece knife set, $40 (reduced from $49)

The Pioneer Woman live poinsettia in 6″ mug planter: $32

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This holiday-themed mug planter featuring Charlie the basset hound comes with a real, live dark pink poinsettia with at least five blooms. The low-maintenance plant makes a great decoration for you home — and a great gift to bring for holiday hosts.

The Pioneer Woman live poinsettia in 6″ mug planter: $32 (reduced from $40)

Squishmallows two-piece luggage set: $27

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The set includes 18-inch luggage with an easy-carry retractable handle and zippered storage compartment, plus a 10-inch plush backpack with adjustable shoulder straps. You can choose between four different characters and luggage designs: Cameron Cat, Fifi Fox (shown), Lola Unicorn and Winston Owl. 

Squishmallows luggage and backpack set, $27 (reduced $38)

Google Chromecast ‘Stranger Things’ Bundle: $50

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Here’s a holiday deal fans of “Stranger Things” won’t want to miss — Walmart is offering the Google Chromecast bundled with a “Stranger Things” Funko Pop! figure of Eleven for just $50. Google Chromecast supports streaming in 4K resolution and features a voice remote.

Google Chromecast “Stranger Things” bundle, $50 (a $62 value)

Apple iPad Air 5: $559

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Walmart is rolling back the price of the Apple iPad Air 5 for the holidays.

Introduced in 2022, the 10.9-inch Apple iPad Air 5 is the latest in the lightweight iPad Air line. The iPad Air 5 offers performance up to 60% faster than the prior model, thanks to Apple’s turbo-charged M1 chip. The device boasts a 12 MP wide-angle back camera that supports 4K video. It also offers touch ID, and Apple’s Liquid Retina display.

Choose from five colors. 

Apple iPad Air 5 (64 GB), $559 (regularly $599)

Lenovo Tab M8: $89

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If you’re looking for an affordable tablet this holiday season, check out the Lenovo Tab M8. The tablet offers an eight-inch HD display that’s great for streaming videos. The battery life is fairly long, with up to 15 hours of video playback on a single charge. The tablet also comes with a built-in kids-mode with Google Kids Space, making it a great gift for children.

Lenovo Tab M8, $89 (reduced from $119)

Apple AirPods (2nd generation): $120

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Just about anyone will love these budget-minded Apple AirPods. They’re not the latest model, but they’re still one of the most sought-after earbud models on the market.  

Retailing for $159 at Apple, they’re on sale at Walmart this week for $79. These AirPods boast more than 24 hours total listening time (with the wireless charging case), a foolproof, one-tap setup for Apple device owners and a low-latency wireless connection (for full immersion when consuming movies and music). 

Apple AirPods (2nd generation), $120 (reduced from $159)

Dyson V10 Animal cordless vacuum cleaner: $450

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This 4.0-star-rated Dyson vacuum is great for households with pets — and humans with long hair. According to Dyson, its “detangling Motorbar cleaner head deep cleans carpets and hard floors with hair removal vanes that clear long hair and pet hair from the brush bar.” It also has a hair screw tool with a conical brush bar that’s great for cleaning upholstery and pet beds. Its whole-machine filtration captures pet allergens and fine dust. And if that isn’t enough, it also transforms into a handheld vacuum.

Dyson V10 Animal cordless vacuum cleaner, $450 (reduced from $550)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: $149

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The top-rated Galaxy Tab A8 offers a 10.5-inch LCD display, 32 GB of storage and fast-charging capabilities.

Now on sale at Walmart for $149, the Galaxy Tab A8 is a great budget tablet for gifting.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (32 GB), $149 (reduced from $199)

Ninja Supra kitchen system: $99

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This Ninja kitchen system has everything you need for smoothies, dressings, dips and more. The 72-ounce blender pitcher features Ninja’s total crushing technology to easily blend ice and frozen foods. The system comes with two 16-ounce Nutri Ninja cups. The cups come with to-go lids. 

The system includes a food processor equipped with a chopping blade, and an extra dough blade that Ninja says can mix up to two pounds of dough in 30 seconds.

Ninja Supra kitchen system, $99 (regularly $149)

Gourmia 7-in-1 air fryer: $68

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 This 7-in-1 air fryer has 7 one-touch cooking functions, including air fry, bake, rotisserie and dehydrate. It has a touchscreen and a preheat option and cooking timer. You can even cook two different foods using different functions at once thanks to the air fryer’s dual-basket design.

Right now, you can get this 4.9-star-rated air fryer for only $60 during Walmart’s Black Friday sale.

Gourmia 7-in-1 air fryer, $68 (reduced from $99) 

Eufy by Anker RoboVac G32 Pro: $98

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This Wi-Fi-compatible robot vacuum can be controlled by your smartphone or voice assistant. 

This slim robot vacuum’s powerful 200 Pa suction operates quietly, at about the same volume as a working microwave. It automatically increases suction when extra vacuuming is needed and features an infrared sensor for evading obstacles and drop-sensing tech to avoid falls.

Eufy by Anker RoboVac G32 Pro, $98 (regularly $300)

Bissell CrossWave Pet vacuum: $199

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Looking for a more traditional Bissell upright vacuum, one that’s ideal for trapping pet dander and other allergens? Walmart is currently offering a great deal on this multi-surface wet dry vac. The Bissell CrossWave Pet features a tangle-free pet brush roll and a pet hair strainer that keeps all that shed fur from clogging up your machine.

Bissell CrossWave Pet wet dry vacuum, $199 (reduced from $299)

Samsung Galaxy Live Buds: $75

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The Samsung Galaxy Live earbuds are available at the deepest discount we’ve seen this holiday season. Samsung designed these earbuds with 12mm speakers and a form factor that allows them to deliver spacious sound quality, resulting in an immersive, concert-like experience. Fans of live shows may want a pair.

Samsung Galaxy Live Buds, $75 (reduced from $149)

HP DeskJet wireless all-in-one color printer: $49

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This budget-friendly HP color printer offers scanning, copying and mobile printing functionality. Get a free six-month ink subscription for it, when you activate a free HP+ plan.  

HP DeskJet 2723e wireless all-in-one color printer, $49 (reduced from $69)

Roku Ultra LT 4K streaming device: $30

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This compact streaming device lets you stream your favorite shows and movies from streaming services like Paramount+.HBO Max, Netflix and more in 4K. The Roku interface is fast and easy to navigate. Right now, you can get this device for only $45.

Roku Ultra LT 4K streaming device, $45 (reduced from $80)

Beats Solo3: $99

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The on-ear Beats Solo3 may be a good fit for music fans looking for a pair of bright-sounding headphones, especially those partial to rock, folk and country tunes. These headphones support spatial audio for a more immersive listening experience, soft ear foams for comfort, and up to 40 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Beats Solo3, $99 (reduced from $200)

Beats Studio Buds: $100

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These sweat-resistant earbuds are ideal for avid runners or gym enthusiasts. They offer two levels of noise-canceling; active noise canceling and transparency mode. 

Meanwhile, the IPX4 water resistance ensures they’re protected even when you’re sweating on them every day. 

Beats Studio Buds, $100 (regularly $150)

Holiday gift guides

As always, check back to CBS Essentials for holiday gift guides for every special someone in your life. Check back for more throughout the season.