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Indonesia's investment minister, Rosan Roeslani, said that the country is expecting $1 billion from Apple as an investment. It's important to note that Indonesia has banned iPhone 16 sales locally because the smartphones must contain at least 40 percent locally-made parts. Apple doesn't have any manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, so it cannot meet this requirement.Roeslani further said that Apple should invest even more in the future if it intends to make Indonesia a part of its supply chain. He also remarked on how an Indonesian Apple plant can create jobs.Previously, Apple had proposed to invest $100 million in building an accessory and component plant in Indonesia. The Indonesian government rejected it due to not meeting principles of fairness."While Apple still doesn't have local plants to meet the 40 percent local content requirement, it does have application developer academies in Indonesia. That was why older iPhone models could be sold in the country. They remain on sale as of now, and there's been no indication that Indonesia is looking to ban them currently.Reuters had contacted Apple for comment on the situation but has yet to receive a reply.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/indonesia-expects-apple-to-invest-1-billion-to-get-the-iphone-16-back-on-sale-162906748.html?src=rss

It's that festive time of year again. All of the algorithm elves living inside our favorite music-streaming apps have begun cranking out personalized best of" lists in the vein of Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay. This year, however, there's a new kid on the block. Amazon Music just rolled out its own version of a yearly recap.It's called Amazon Music Delivered, which I guess is a play on the fact that the company delivers lots of packages in real life? In any event, the yearly recap displays all of your favorite songs, artists and podcasts from throughout the year. The tool will even show off the top request you've made with Alexa." Uh oh. I asked Alexa to sing that horrible, yet catchy, song about cats like 25 times this year. Will that count?The feature is available to all Amazon Music customers. This includes Prime members who use the basic version and those who sprang for the monthly Unlimited subscription. Just head to the Library page and tap on the banner that says 2024 Delivered." You can access a playlist by asking good ole Alexa about your top songs of 2024.Amazon also says that Alexa might play an exclusive, special message" from one of your top artists, though the company didn't note how many artists took part in this promotion. It just says that eligible customers will see a flashing yellow light on their Alexa devices" if a message is waiting.AmazonJust like the other streamers, Amazon Music has also revealed its most popular artists and songs of the year. Taylor Swift took the top artist spot while Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone snagged the top song prize.The various Amazon Music tiers can be a bit confusing, as with most of the company's digital offerings. Prime members automatically get something called Amazon Music Prime, which allows access to a catalog of 100 million songs and podcasts. There are no ads for this tier, but members are tied to playlists and shuffles, which is kind of like how the free Spotify tier works.Amazon Music Unlimited removes all restrictions, but costs $10 per month for Prime members and $11 for non-members. Finally, there's Amazon Music with Ads, which is an ad-filled version of the standard Prime-based tier. It doesn't cost anything and is available to everyone, even people not interested in free and expedited shipping.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/amazon-music-now-has-its-own-version-of-spotify-wrapped-162216481.html?src=rss

Apple Music users have had access to the Replay feature throughout 2024, but now Apple has wrapped up all of your stats in a bow with its annual recap of your entire year in streaming. This time, you'll be able to view the full Replay experience in the Apple Music app via the home, new and search tabs. You'll need to be on iOS 18.1 or later to see it there. In previous years, you had to go to a microsite to get the Replay lowdown, though that's still an option on the web.As always, you can save a playlist of your most-played songs in 2024, though that and your stats will be finalized in January. Also, if you missed them or want a point of comparison, you can still access your Replays from previous years (something Spotify doesn't offer with Wrapped).Along with the usual details about your top artists, songs, albums, genres and playlists - as well as the total number of minutes you've listened to Apple Music - there are some new features this year. You'll now see if you're in an artist's top 500 or 1,000 listeners, expanding beyond the top 100 limit from previous years. You can check out the longest streak of consecutive days you've streamed from Apple Music. There's the option to view your top song, artist and album by month. You'll also see the first date that you listened to your top artist, song and album of the year.Artists, meanwhile, have access to their own version of Replay for the first time. Via the dashboard, they can see the total number of minutes that subscribers have listened to their music, total listeners, top cities and most-shazamed song.The most-listened to song on Apple Music overall this year was Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us," the hook-laden diss track that utterly ethered Drake. Benson Boone's Beautiful Things," meanwhile, was the most identified song on Shazam.For what it's worth, I've had 55,265 minutes of Apple Music listening time so far this year. To my complete lack of surprise, Chappell Roan is my top artist and "Pink Pony Club" is my most-listened-to song. My other top three artists are Charlotte Cardin (who you should check out since she's fantastic) and Queens of the Stone Age, which I'm completely happy with because I have impeccable music taste. I won't mention who's in fourth place or the fact her Eras Tour wraps up this weekend.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/apple-music-replay-is-here-to-highlight-your-impeccable-or-terrible-taste-161402068.html?src=rss

Remember when it was nearly impossible to get your hands on a PS5? Those days are over now, which is only a good thing for gamers and those looking to get the console for the first time. Cyber Monday may be over, but discounts on the PS5 are still around. You can still get the PS5 Slim for $75 off at Amazon, Walmart, Target, Sony and other retailers. You can get the digital edition for $374, or the disc-based model for $424. While we wouldn't call this a budget console, these deals make it just a bit more affordable and an ideal time to see what all the PS5 fuss is about if you don't have one yet. Despite the moniker, there's nothing slim about the specs. This is a regular PS5, with the same horsepower as the original unit. However, the PS5 Slim is 30 percent smaller and around 25 percent lighter. When it comes to tech, smaller is typically a good thing. Both versions ship with a DualSense controller and a 1TB SSD. These consoles also come with Astro's Playroom pre-installed, which is the precursor to the incredible Astro Bot. They don't, however, come with a vertical stand. That'll cost extra. The digital-only model, obviously, doesn't ship with a disc drive, though there's a standalone drive available for those who would rather make that decision later. Otherwise, this is a PS5. There's no other way (right now) to play games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. It also runs cross-platform hits like Star Wars Outlaws and Elden Ring, in addition to pseudo-exclusives that made their way to PC like God of War Ragnarok. This sale is not for the recently-released PS5 Pro, so you won't get all of those graphical upscaling bells and whistles. However, that new console is a whopping $700, whereas these PS5 Slim consoles are just over half that. And we'd be remiss if we didn't also mention the sale happening on DualSense Wireless Controllers that work with PS5 consoles; you can pick them up starting at just $54 a piece at Amazon and Sony. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/playstation-cyber-monday-deals-still-available-include-75-off-ps5-slim-consoles-080645807.html?src=rss

As of today, Chinese gallium, germanium and antimony are no longer being exported to the US. Germanium and gallium exports had already ceased in October, and antimony exports have dropped by 97 percent since September. This official declaration comes a day after the US announced it would further tighten technological exports to China, particularly referring to computer chips.This ban includes materials that have potential military applications," as per Reuters.The Chinese export ban primarily concerns what the government calls dual-use items," which are objects both the military and civilians can use. Due to this ban, graphite exports to the US from China must also undergo stricter reviews. However, they aren't outright banned from exporting yet.Gallium and germanium are used to make semiconductors, and the latter can also be found in fiber optic cables and solar cells. As for antimony, you may find it in shotgun shells, nuclear weapons, night vision goggles and some batteries.These export bans are significant because China has been outputting 48 percent of globally mined antimony, 59.2 percent of refined germanium and 98.8 percent of refined gallium production. The US must now scramble to locate new deposits containing these materials, as the ban has already affected prices. Antimony trioxide has been 228 percent more expensive since the beginning of this year.China has been finding ways to be technologically independent since the US banned exports to the Central Nation. The result of such efforts include HarmonyOS, Huawei's chips being used in AI development and the Beidou Navigation Satellite System.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/china-has-banned-certain-metal-exports-in-retaliation-to-the-us-chip-restrictions-144005531.html?src=rss

The Twitch subscriber crown is back in Kai Cenat's hands, with the creator ending his month-long subathon at almost 727,700 subscribers, CNBC reports. He more than doubled the record of 326,650 subscribers VTuber Ironmouse set in September, who had, in turn, overtaken Cenat's number one spot - a competition I am suddenly very invested in.Cenat not only streamed every day during "Mafiathon 2" in November, but did so 24 hours a day. He was joined by a cast of characters that feels like the lead up to a bad joke: What do Snoop Dogg, Bill Nye the science guy and Kevin Hart all have in common? They were guests on Cenat's livestream - I warned you it would be bad. But, seriously, he managed to stream for 30 days thanks to these guests and takeovers from his team that allowed him to sleep or go to the bathroom without a camera joining.Twitch subscribers pay $5 for ad-free viewing and exclusives and, even with Twitch taking a serious cut, Cenat likely made upwards of $3 million. He stated that 20 percent of his proceeds will go towards a school he's building in Nigeria. Cenat currently holds 15.4 million followers on Twitch and 6.79 million followers on YouTube. We'll have to wait and see whether Ironmouse tries to reclaim the crown.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/kai-cenat-takes-back-his-twitch-subscriber-record-during-month-long-livestream-143006215.html?src=rss

Intel's second-generation Xe2 Arc GPUs are real, and once again, they could be compelling options for gamers looking for capable video cards under $250. Confirming leaks from the past week, Intel today unveiled the $249 Arc B580 and the slightly less capable $219 B570, both of which target 1,440p gaming. They feature the company's new XeSS2 AI capabilities (which are also coming to the older Arc cards), including Super Resolution upscaling (like the original XeSS), frame generation and low latency modes. The goal, according to Intel, is to deliver more performance per dollar compared to NVIDIA's $299 RTX 4060 and AMD's Radeon 7600.It's a noble pitch, but one that's also a repeat of what Intel attempted with its previous Arc GPUs. We liked those cards well enough, and the company was diligent about rolling out driver updates, yet that hasn't stopped its overall GPU market share from falling to zero percent. I'd wager many gamers didn't want to take a chance on Intel's hardware and software when NVIDIA and AMD's offerings were battle tested and just a bit more expensive.IntelThe power bump from the Xe2 cards might change the situation for Intel, though. The company claims the B580 is on average 24 percent faster than its previous A750 Limited Edition GPU in 1,440p with ultra graphics settings, and it also has a 10 percent lead on NVIDIA's RTX 4060. (Intel's benchmarks show the B580 performing 43 percent faster than the RTX 4060 in Cyberpunk 2077, but at the same time it's nearly 20 percent slower while playing RoboCop: Rogue City.)IntelSpec-wise, Intel's new GPUs should keep up with the demands of 1,440p-focused gamers. The B580 features 20 Xe cores, 20 ray tracing units, 12GB of VRAM and a 2,670 MHz clock speed. The B570 comes in with a bit less all around: 18 Xe cores, 10GB of RAM and a 2,500MHz clock speed. I'd wager most people would be better off spending the extra $30 for a bit more future proofing, but 1080p gamers might not see the need for much extra power.In a briefing with media, Intel Fellow Tom Petersen explained that the company learned a lot from its previous GPUs (which also marked the first time Intel seriously worked on discrete graphics since 2010). "With XE2, we have a new hardware platform, and that allows us to deliver higher utilization, improved work distribution, and less software overhead," he said. "So at the end of the day, it's all about getting software efficiency up so that we can deliver the benefits of the hardware we're building."IntelAt the very least, Intel's new XeSS AI features are competitive with NVIDIA's DLSS3. The B580 GPU can double the performance of Diablo IV when using XeSS, according to Intel, and the new frame generation feature should be able to push your fps count even higher. Just like NVIDIA's tech, it's not just upscaling graphics from a lower resolution, it's also interpolating entirely new frames. The company's XeSS2 low latency, or XeLL, also improves responsiveness by 45 percent. Intel claims the B580 trounces the RTX 4060 in AI LLM performance, achieving around 20 more tokens per second in Llama 2 and Llama 3.1 workloads.While it would be interesting to see if Intel can ever scale its Arc GPUs beyond the mid-range (the previous Arc 770 was a solid RTX 3070 Ti competitor), I'm honestly more intrigued by how the company is innovating in the low-end. Thanks to the rising complexity of high-end GPUs, the idea of cheap and capable video cards has practically disappeared over the last decade. Intel could win over a loyal fanbase of budget gamers if it actually sticks with its GPU efforts.IntelIf you're intrigued by these new GPUs, you won't have to wait long to get your hands on them. Arc B580 cards will be available on December 13 for $249, while Arc B570 models will arrive next month on January 16 for $219. Intel will be making its own Limited Edition version of the Arc B580 (above), but it's leaving the B570 cards up to its partners, including Acer, ASRock and Sparkle.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/intel-unveils-its-budget-battlemage-arc-gpus-with-xess2-ai-features-140027123.html?src=rss

Automaker Jaguar hasn't been getting much attention in recent years, but boy has that changed in the last few days! Last week, the company announced that it had chucked out its roaring cat design in favor of a Bauhaus-esque minimalist logo that was met by the public with a fair degree of shock. Now, the company has unveiled the Type 00 concept car (that's a photo, not an illustration) that's vastly different from anything it currently has in production, to say the least.What's most noticeable is the length, especially in the nose, and low roofline. From some angles, the new vehicle looks like a computer render that didn't quite finish, especially the blocky front and rear ends. Other design features are highly futuristic/whimsical like brass bars running down the middle and sides, an oval steering wheel, fold-away interior screens, butterfly doors and a travertine stone "plinth" separating the passenger and driver compartments.JaguarAll of this is part of Jaguar's new "copy nothing" ideology, designed to break away from current models. "When Jaguar's at its best, it threw away the car design rule book and created the E-Type and the XJS. These were objects of desire," said Jaguar's chief creative officer at Miami Art Week.JaguarJaguar (which has been owned by India's Tata Motors since 2008) projects that a production version will have up to 430 miles of range and fast-charging that will add 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Other specs like acceleration and top speed haven't been revealed, and production models will probably lack some of the exuberance of the concepts.JaguarThe changes have been met with derision from some critics, but Jaguar said the company aims to be disruptive. "We've certainly gathered an awaful lot of attention over the last few weeks," managing directer Rawdon Glover told Sky News. "We need to make sure that Jaguar is relevant, is desirable, is future proof for the next 90 years of its history."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/jaguar-unveils-polarizing-concept-ev-as-part-of-its-rebrand-133026168.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday is officially over, but as it has been for the past few years, it's not totally done and gone. There remain a number of Cyber Monday deals you can still get right now, and that's been a pattern we've seen persist over the past few years. Extended Cyber Monday sales tend to last for a couple of days after the main event. If you didn't get the chance to shop yet, Engadget can help by sifting through the noise (and swath of decidedly bad deals) and highlight the best Cyber Monday tech deals you can still get today.The best Cyber Monday tech deals still availableApple Watch Series 10 for $329 ($70 off): The latest Apple Watch is our top pick for the best smartwatch you can get thanks to its slightly thinner and lighter design, wide-angle OLED panel for better viewing angles, watchOS 11 features and slightly improved battery life. We gave it a score of 90 in our Apple Watch Series 10 review.Apple AirTags (four-pack) for $73 ($27 off): These are the Bluetooth trackers to get if you have an iPhone, and they allow you to keep track of your keys, wallet and other belongings from within the Find My app. Just make sure to pick up an AirTag holder or case if you plan on using them with your keys.Samsung Evo Select (2024) (256GB) microSD card for $18 ($4 off): The Evo Select is our favorite microSD card in the budget bracket. Its mediocre write speeds make it less-than-ideal in a camera, but it should yield few complaints for most people just looking to add space to a Nintendo Switch or Android tablet on the cheap. Also available at Samsung.DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal for $89 ($40 off): The latest version of DJI's smartphone gimbal includes improved tracking and a new Quick Launch feature for iPhones that automatically launches the companion app in camera view so you can get to filming. Also available at B&H Photo.PS5 Slim Digital for $374 ($75 off): If you've been unable to get your hands on a PS5 until now, you can get a decent discount for the holiday shopping season. It earned a score of 87 in our original review for its speedy 4K gaming, minimal load times and excellent DualSense controller. Also available at Walmart, Target and Amazon.PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller for $54 ($21 off): If someone on your list already has a PS5 (or if that someone is you), now's the time to stock up on extra controllers. These have a comfortable design and some of the best haptics we've tried on any console controller. Also available at Sony.Chris Velazco/EngadgetEcho Buds for $25 ($25 off): These are one of our top picks for the best budget wireless earbuds you can get right now thanks to their comfortable design, pocket-friendly case, automatic wear detection, multi-device connectivity and, of course, built-in Alexa voice controls.Bose QuietComfort headphones for $199 ($150 off): The latest version of Bose's iconic QC headphones, these cans have excellent ANC, a comfortable (if a bit dated) design, 24 hours of battery life and a quick-charge feature that will get you two hours of battery after just 15 minutes of them being plugged in. Also available at Bose.Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) for $899 ($300 off): We gave the latest Surface Laptop a review score of 88 earlier this year, and we currently recommend it as a great mainstream ultraportable in our laptop buying guide. The caveat is that it runs on an ARM processor, which performs well but may not work with every app or peripheral you use. If you can live with that, though, the bright 120Hz display, upscale aluminum design and long battery life all impress.The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $30 ($40 off): Its story may run in place at times, but Tears of the Kingdom remains a prime example of an open-world game done right. Its world doesn't kowtow to the player at every turn, and its delightful contraption-building mechanics provide a similar sense of freedom in solving puzzles.Samsung Pro Plus (1TB) microSD card for $90 ($30 off): If you want a 1TB card and don't mind paying for better performance, the Pro Plus is the top overall recommendation in our microSD card buying guide. It tested faster than the Lexar card above across our benchmarks, with a particular edge in random speeds. That means it should play a bit nicer in a portable gaming PC or a device like the Raspberry Pi, where it'd more frequently have to access smaller bits of data in random locations. This is a new low for the 1TB model, which Samsung released earlier this year. Also available at Samsung and B&H.Max six-month subscription for $18 (70 percent off): This Max Cyber Monday deal gives you access to the Ads tier for $3 per month for the first six months, coming out to a total of only $18 for that time period. New and returning Max subscribers can take advantage of this.Audible Premium Plus for $3 for three months ($42 off): Those who don't currently subscribe to Audible can get three months of the audiobook service's Premium Plus plan for $1. Normally, the service costs $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. As a refresher, Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: In addition to giving access the full Audible Plus library, it lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. We wouldn't call it essential, but if you've been on the fence, this is a good way to see if it'd work for you. Just note that the plan will auto-renew until you cancel.MasterClass Premium for $12/month ($8 off): Premium subscriptions, which include access for up to six devices and offline mode, are 40 percent off for the holidays when billed annually. MasterClass' other subscription tiers are also discounted. Those who love learning and want to pick up a new hobby (or refine an existing one) can take courses with some of the best in their respective fields.ExpressVPN two-year plan plus six extra months for $150 (82 percent off): Our top pick for best VPN for travelers provides access to tons of servers and had some of the fastest connections of any VPN service we tested. In addition to a VPN, this subscription tier gives you access to an ad blocker and password manager.AmazonEcho for $55 ($45 off): We consider this to be the best smart speaker for $100 or less at the moment thanks to its loud audio with good bass quality, the ability to pair two together for stereo sound and Alexa's utility.Amazon Echo Spot for $45 ($35 off): This recently revived smart display is billed as a smart alarm clock, and it features a customizable screen, big sound for its size and all the perks for Alexa voice commands.Dyson Airwrap for $490 ($110 off): This multipurpose styling tool uses the Coanda effect to create curls without excessive heat. It comes with a bunch of other attachments so it can be used as a hairdryer, heated brush and more.iRobot Roomba Vac robot vacuum (Q0120) for $149 (40 percent off): This entry-level robot vacuum has strong suction power with three cleaning modes and smart navigation, and you can control it and set cleaning schedules from the iRobot mobile app.Dyson V15 Detect Absolute cordless vacuum for $500 ($250 off): This is our top pick for the best cordless vacuum you can get right now thanks to its excellent suction power, relatively light weight and good battery life. This model comes with a Fluffy Optic cleaning head that illuminates the ground in front of you so you can see where the most debris lies, and the pack-up includes three additional cleaning head attachments.Hisense U8N 4K TV (55-inch) for $649 ($450 off): The U8N is the next step up from the U7N in Hisense's TV lineup, so it should provide better colors, contrast and brightness across the board. If you don't mind buying a smaller panel for around the same price, this is another new low.Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ for $150 ($70 off): Our top pick for the best budget Android tablet sports an 11-inch 90Hz display, a microSD card slot for extra storage and a hefty battery. Also available at Samsung.Solo Stove Bonfire Backyard Bundle for $400 ($180 off): Solo Stove Cyber Monday deals include up to 30 percent off fit pit bundles that give you all of the necessary accessories to make the most out of your new fire pit.Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-cyber-monday-deals-you-can-still-shop-from-apple-amazon-walmart-target-and-others-173752166.html?src=rss

AI-generated content played a much smaller role in global election misinformation than what many officials and researchers had feared, according to a new analysis from Meta. In an update on its efforts to safeguard dozens of elections in 2024, the company said that AI content made up only a fraction of election-related misinformation that was caught and labeled by its fact checkers.During the election period in the major elections listed above, ratings on AI content related to elections, politics and social topics represented less than 1% of all fact-checked misinformation," the company shared in a blog post, referring to elections in the US, UK, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, France, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil, as well as the EU's Parliamentary elections.The update comes after numerous government officials and researchers for months raised the alarm about the role generative AI could play in supercharging election misinformation in a year when more than 2 billion people were expected to go to the polls. But those fears largely did not play out - at least on Meta's platforms - according to the company's President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg.People were understandably concerned about the potential impact that generative AI would have on the forthcoming elections during the course of this year, and there were all sorts of warnings about the potential risks of things like widespread deepfakes and AI-enabled disinformation campaigns," Clegg said during a briefing with reporters. From what we've monitored across our services, it seems these risks did not materialize in a significant way, and that any such impact was modest and limited in scope."Meta didn't elaborate on just how much election-related AI content its fact checkers caught in the run-up to major elections. The company sees billions of pieces of content every day, so even small percentages can add up to a large number of posts. Clegg did, however, credit Meta's policies, including its expansion of AI labeling earlier this year, following criticism from the Oversight Board. He noted that Meta's own AI image generator blocked 590,000 requests to create images of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, JD Vance and Tim Walz in the month leading up to election day in the US.At the same time, Meta has increasingly taken steps to distance itself from politics altogether, as well as some past efforts to police misinformation. The company changed users' default settings on Instagram and Threads to stop recommending political content, and has de-prioritized news on Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg has said he regrets the way the company handled some of its misinformation policies during the pandemic.Looking ahead, Clegg said Meta is still trying to strike the right balance between enforcing its rules and enabling free expression. We know that when enforcing our policies, our error rates are still too high, which gets in the way of free expression," he said." I think we also now want to really redouble our efforts to improve the precision and accuracy with which we act."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-says-ai-generated-content-was-less-than-1-precent-of-election-misinformation-130042422.html?src=rss

It's been a quiet few news days as everyone seemingly parses deals from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday. But there's always time for a shock announcement: Pat Gelsinger is retiring after over 40 years at the company and close to four years at the chip manufacturer's helm. Effective December 1, Gelsinger left his post and his position on the board of directors. The board has created a search committee to diligently and expeditiously" find a new CEO. Gelsinger oversaw Intel during a tumultuous time for the company. In late 2022, Intel laid off about 20 percent of its staff in some divisions. This year alone, the company announced it would lay off another 15,000 people - or 15 percent of its workforce - amid a $10 billion cost-reduction plan.- Mat SmithGet this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest tech stories you missed

Streaming deals are hard to come by nowadays, especially after all of the price hikes that have happened in recent months. But Cyber Monday tends to be the time of the year when streaming deals could pop up the most. This year is no different, and one of the best streaming deals we found is on one year of Peacock. You can snag it for only $20, which represents a 75 percent discount. But the offer ends December 2, so you have just a few more hours to sign up if you haven't already. Peacock doesn't have the name recognition of Netflix or Hulu, but it's still home to plenty of good shows and movies. There's a reason, after all, that the platform made our list of the best streaming services. Peacock isn't just home to the aforementioned Love Island and other reality shows about love not set on islands. The streamer also airs some top-notch content like the AI-centric Mrs. Davis and the surprisingly-decent video game adaptation Twisted Metal. A Peacock subscription also allows access to SyFy shows like the underrated The Ark. Other worthwhile programs include Hysteria!, We Are Lady Parts and Killing It. There are a few little caveats. First, this subscription is the one with ads. Also, the offer is only available to new subscribers who are not currently paying for Peacock Premium or Premium Plus. Finally, it's only available directly from Peacock, and not from third-party billers like Apple or Amazon. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/peacock-cyber-monday-streaming-deal-last-chance-to-get-a-one-year-subscription-for-only-20-080004595.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday sales are a good opportunity to get a good deal on new gear - particularly if you're looking for something for your kitchen. We've tested countless small appliances and cooking tools over the years and new reviews are rolling in all the time. Right now, we're seeing a bunch of that kitchen tech on sale.In our buying guides, a few brands consistently top the list - like Anova, Fellow, Breville and Instant Pot - and many of those brands are getting some of the biggest discounts we've seen all year. These are the best Cyber Monday kitchen deals on the cooking gadgets and tools we recommend.The best Cyber Monday kitchen deals for 2024Whether for buying guides, reviews or our own use, we've tried plenty of gadgets that make home cooking simpler and more enjoyable. We also recently put together a cooking gift guide full of our favorite stuff. Our picks include low and high tech devices for kitchens both indoor and outdoor and right now, lots of those harder-to-categorize recommendations are currently on sale for Cyber Monday and listed here.Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget

Robot vacuums can help automate a chore you may loathe doing yourself. And even if you don't mind vacuuming regularly, it's undeniable that it takes time out of your day that you could be using for other things. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday time period is a great time to look for one of these smart home gadgets because you can often find them for hundreds of dollars off their usual prices - this year is no different. We've seen steep discounts on many of our favorite robot vacuum cleaners, as well as some cordless vacuums too. These are the best Cyber Monday vacuum deals you can still get in the final hours of the sale.Cyber Monday robot vacuum deals

Three years after buying Crunchyroll for over $1 billion, Sony plans to capitalize on its purchase (and piss off countless anime fans) by shutting free users out of one of its most popular series. The company said that starting soon, you'll need a paid subscription to watch past the first 206 episodes of One Piece. Cue the obvious jokes about locking a show about pirates behind a paywall. (Yo ho!)Crunchyroll will use a tiered rollout to block free members from most of the anime, which has been in production since 1999. On December 23, the Water 7 to Fishman Island story arcs will become paywalled. On January 20, Punk Hazard to Whole Cake Island (and six specials) will be locked behind subscriptions, followed by Reverie and Wano Kuni to Egghead Island on February 17.Until Sony's new content lockdown takes effect, free users can (as they always have been able to) watch the entire series with ads. Snippets of One Piece are also available on Hulu and Netflix (the latter also hosts the live-action version). But Hulu's library only reaches episode 384, while Netflix's goes to 238. The series currently has over 1,100 episodes.Sony is reportedly in talks to buy Japanese publisher Kadokawa. In addition to games like Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Bloodborne, the studio produces anime like Overlord and The Rising of the Shield Hero. If today's news is any indication, watching much anime in the West that doesn't go through Sony may soon require the digital equivalent of the Straw Hat Pirates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/crunchyroll-will-soon-paywall-most-of-one-piece-214652714.html?src=rss

Aside from Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best times of year to pick up an Echo speaker, a Fire tablet or a Kindle ereader from Amazon. While the online retailer typically saves all of the best discounts on its devices for the members-only sale events, it's a safe bet that those deals will come back around for Black Friday. This year is no different: we're seeing record-low prices (or close to them) on all of Amazon's gadgets. These are the best deals you can get on Amazon devices for Cyber Monday 2024.

While most of the storage-related deals available for Cyber Monday are the same ones we saw on Black Friday, they still present a good chance to save more than usual. If you're looking to add some space to your PC, tablet or gaming handheld, allow us to do the research for you. Here are the best Cyber Monday SSD and storage deals we could find.Before you browse, note that storage prices have generally steered upwards over the past year, so many of these discounts aren't quite all-time lows. That said, all of the SSDs, portable drives and microSD cards we highlight below are at least cheaper than they've been in several months. We'll update this post if prices change and more discounts arise over the course of the day.

Disney+ and Hulu aren't the only ones of our favorite streaming services with a good discount right now. From now until December 4, Cyber Monday streaming deals get you two months of Paramount+ for $3 monthly. Formerly CBS All Access, the platform has original series like Star Trek: Discovery and a growing selection of sports content. The deal applies to the Paramount+ Essential (with ads, usually $8) or Paramount+ with Showtime (ad-free, usually $13) tiers. Although the latter is the better value during Cyber Monday, remember you'll get charged standard pricing after the two months expire. So be sure to cancel in advance if you don't want to pay the full price after the promo ends. Paramount+ has originals like Star Trek: Discovery and Picard, Tulsa King (for the Sly Stalone fans) and Lioness. The platform's sports content includes the NFL on CBS, UEFA Champions League, European League and NWSL soccer matches. This Cyber Monday streaming deal only applies to new and former subscribers, so you're out of luck if you already pay for the service. Also, note that the sale only applies to monthly pricing, not annual subscriptions. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/paramount-cyber-monday-deal-get-a-two-month-subscription-with-showtime-for-6-203106949.html?src=rss

Here's a collaboration I wasn't expecting. The hit gaming franchise Call of Duty and the hit Netflix show Squid Game are teaming up for some kind of game mode to commemorate the latter's second season.We don't exactly know what this partnership will entail, but it looks like a game mode for both Black Ops 6 and Warzone. There's a trailer but it's devoid of any real details.We do know that we don't have long to wait. The description underneath the trailer notes that Squid Game comes to Call of Duty this January." This makes sense, given that season two of the Netflix show drops on December 26.Maybe players will enter the titular Squid Game with a full arsenal of modern weaponry. Or maybe we'll actually play as the psychotic guards, gunning down desperate contestants with reckless abandon. Late stage capitalism, baby! In any event, we'll find out next month.This is just the latest promotion for the Netflix sensation. There's a multiplayer smartphone game launching in a couple of weeks and a bizarre LARPing experience that costs $40. There's even an actual reality show based on its fictional counterpart. Nobody actually dies on that one, but there were some on-set injuries and other ridiculous issues.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/call-of-duty-is-getting-some-kind-of-game-mode-inspired-by-squid-game-175829671.html?src=rss

There are plenty of great gadgets on sale today for Cyber Monday that will track your steps or wake you up. But, personally, I'm more interested in the discounts on tools that will boost my beauty routine this winter. So, I'm very excited that the Dyson Airwrap is down to $490 from $600 on Amazon - a 18 percent discount. That brings it to only $10 more than what we saw last year. Ok, so spending half a grand on hair tools is still quite an investment, but it should be a big boost to your hair. We named it one of the best self-care gifts for 2024 thanks to its air flow system. It uses the Coanda effect to style your hair - theoretically causing less damage to your locks than typical hot tools. The device also comes with six attachments, including a wide-tooth comb, diffuser and Coanda smoothing dryer. The Airwrap is only one of the Dyson hair products on sale for Cyber Monday. Right now, you can buy the Dyson Airstrait Hair Straightener (another of our self-care gift picks) for $399, down from $500 - a 20 percent discount. The same deal is available on the Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener, while the Supersonic Hair Dryer has dropped to $329 from $430. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-deals-include-a-110-discount-on-the-dyson-airwrap-153056335.html?src=rss

If you've been interested in binge-watching The Last of Us or House of the Dragon, Cyber Monday streaming deals have a more affordable way for you to do so. Max is offering new and returning subscribers six months of access to its ad-supported tier for only $18. That comes out to $3 per month, which is a 70-percent discount from the service's standard monthly price. This deal ends today, though, so now's the time to sign up if you haven't already. The deal is only available in the US and will automatically renew during the six months - and beyond. If you don't want to pay $10 monthly after the discount period, just remember to cancel before the renewal date. But don't delay, because today - Monday, December 2 - is the final day this deal is available. Max's lineup has series and films like The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Penguin, Dune: Part Two, Everything Everywhere All at Once and Barbie. In addition, you get full series from HBO's legendary archives, like The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and The City, Game Of Thrones and Six Feet Under. It also includes current and old content from Warner Bros., A24, Adult Swim, ID and the DC Universe. Again, today is your final opportunity for this deal, so head over to Max and log in or sign up.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/max-cyber-monday-streaming-deal-will-get-you-six-months-of-access-for-only-18-165721635.html?src=rss

It's no secret that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to pick up Apple devices. You'll rarely find direct discounts at Apple, but other retailers tend to have good sales this time of year on things like iPads, MacBooks and AirPods. Case in point: the AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $154 right now, which is a record low. The recently updated AirPods 4 are also on sale, starting at $119. While we periodically see AirPods dip in price throughout the year, the best time to buy is during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday time period. However, that also means they can be some of the first tech items to sell out, so if you've had your eye on a new pair or want to gift one this holiday season, we recommend buying them now. AirPods Pro 2 are the best wireless earbuds that Apple makes with excellent sound quality and ANC, plus good battery life. They have all of the conveniences you'd expect from a pair of Apple earbuds, like quick paring and switching between Apple devices and hands-free Siri. And with a recent software update, the AirPods Pro 2 can double as hearing aids for those who take Apple's hearing test and the results show mild to moderate hearing loss. Whereas the AirPods Pro 2 have looked and felt mostly the same since their initial launch, the AirPods 4 received a big overhaul this year. They now come in ANC and non-ANC styles, and they have a slightly revised open-wear design. The H2 chipset inside gives them the same Apple conveniences as the AirPods Pro 2, but note that neither model supports MagSafe charging via wireless chargers. But these buds have improved sound quality and a better fit than the AirPods that came before them, and they're noticeably more affordable than the Pro 2. If you prefer over-ear headphones, your only option in the Apple ecosystem (aside from Beats) is the AirPods Max. You can grab them for $400 right now. We always recommend waiting for a sale to buy these cans since they start off much more expensive than all of our other top picks for the best wireless headphones. They also sport the H2 chipset inside, plus good sound quality and ANC, reliable touch controls and a solid battery life. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-apple-deals-discount-the-airpods-pro-2-to-an-all-time-low-price-165732840.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday deals are here, and that includes many Apple devices. You can pick up a four-pack of Apple AirTags for just $70, which brings the price per tag down to $17.50. That's a record-low price for the four pack and the cheapest we've seen on the price per unit. Apple AirTags easily made our list of the best Bluetooth trackers, particularly for regular iPhone users. We love the vast finding network, which really helps when you misplace a tag. Just think of all of those AirTags, iPhones and other Apple devices out there helping to create this network. Apple AirTags also offer the ability to tap into the ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless protocol. This creates a sort of game out of finding lost items, as long as the object is within 25 feet of the phone. The screen will display directional arrows and a distance meter so you can zero in on the lost item without having to ring the AirTag. There are some caveats. These trackers only really work with iPhones, so Android users should buy something else. Also, the ringer only goes for seven seconds at a time, which isn't always enough time to track something down. Finally, there's no attachment point for connecting to a keychain or a related item. However, there are plenty of good AirTag accessories to solve that problem. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-cyber-monday-deals-bring-a-four-pack-of-airtags-down-to-70-191040048.html?src=rss

Pat Gelsinger is retiring after over 40 years at the company, and close to four years at the chip manufacturer's helm. Effective as of December 1, Gelsinger has left both his post and his position on the board of directors. The board has now created a search committee to "diligently and expeditiously" find a new CEO. In the meantime, Michelle Johnston Holthaus, the next CEO of Intel Products, and David Zinsner, executive vice president and CFO, will serve as interim Co-CEOs of the entire company.While Gelsinger held previous positions at Intel, he had most recently spent a decade-plus in senior positions at EMC and VMWare. In 2021, he returned to Intel to replace Bob Swan, who held the title of CEO for for a bit over two years. "As a leader, Pat helped launch and revitalize process manufacturing by investing in state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing, while working tirelessly to drive innovation throughout the company," said Frank Yeary, who will become interim executive chair during the transition. "While we have made significant progress in regaining manufacturing competitiveness and building the capabilities to be a world-class foundry, we know that we have much more work to do at the company and are committed to restoring investor confidence."Gelsinger oversaw Intel during a tumultuous time for the company. In late 2022, for example, Intel laid off about 20 percent of its staff in some divisions. This year alone, Intel has failed quality tests and announced it would lay off another 15,000 people - or 15 percent of their workforce - amid a $10 billion cost-reduction plan. Reporting by Bloomberg indicates the company's board lost confidence in Gelsinger's leadership due to these setbacks, and he was given the option to either retire or be forced out, which explains his very sudden departure.Update, December 2 2024, 11:26AM ET: This story now includes additional reporting from Bloomberg.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/intels-ceo-pat-gelsinger-has-suddenly-retired-151410215.html?src=rss

Until very recently, my only experience with VR was a one-minute demo about nine years ago. With an Oculus Rift strapped to my face, a virtual catapult hurled me over a low-res city. It was painfully disorienting and I felt my legs give way a bit. I swore off VR for a long time after that unpleasant experience.Fast forward to 2024 and I was finally ready to try again. An attractive Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal on a PlayStation VR2 proved irresistible. But I felt like I needed to get my sea legs under me before tackling something more immersive and ambitious like the bundled-in Horizon: Call of the Mountain.As it happened, the day on which my PS VR2 unit arrived also marked the debut of a VR version of one of my favorite games of the last few years, Trombone Champ.The original game is a bit like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, only instead of using a plastic imitation of a musical instrument to play notes as they appear on screen, you're moving a joystick or mouse and pressing a button to "toot." This time around, in Trombone Champ: Unflattened, you hold a virtual instrument to your mouth with one hand while using the other to slide to the correct (or wildly wrong) notes, mimicking an actual trombone.Unfortunately, I had some trouble setting up my PS VR2. The right controller was working just fine in my PS5's menus and such, but button presses weren't working in-game and I couldn't grab the slide of the virtual trombone. I found the solution on Reddit, where users have mentioned similar trouble with new controllers, which in some cases appears to be due to debris getting stuck behind a trigger. In my case, I was able to fix the problem by desyncing the controllers and only re-registering them with the PS5 once I was in-game.Obviously, the first thing I had to do in the Trombone Champ: Unflattened tutorial was more or less figure out how to play the opening fanfare of the main Super Mario. Bros theme. From there, I dove straight into the campaign.The aptly named Flat2VR (which made a well-regarded VR mod for Half-Life 2) adapted Trombone Champ for VR. It did an admirable job of bringing Holy Wow Studios' game to a new format with a fresh look and feel. Rather than trying to follow the notes of a song on a 2D chart, you'll need to be on your toes as they fly at you on both sides. After a couple of songs, though, I changed a setting to have them on just one side to make it easier to focus.You're also tooting your way through these (primarily royalty-free) songs on stage in front of an audience of Nintendo Mii-style characters. I was trying my best to play these songs properly to get a good score, so I tuned out the crowd for the most part so I could concentrate.That changed when I tried a ska song I don't recall hearing before. I didn't know where it was going and I struggled to keep up at the highest difficulty. The crowd wasn't having any of it. Unlike in Guitar Heroand Rock Band, there's no fail state here if you miss several notes in a row. The song keeps going, no matter how badly you mess up. As such, the audience was booing me relentlessly and I couldn't get them back on board. Flat2VR Studios/Holy Wow StudiosIt's been a long time since I've been on stage in a band or doing musical theater (yup, I was one of those kids), but I've never had a reaction like that. It weirdly cut to my soul, yet I was having a blast at the same time. Sorry to disappoint my virtual haters. I tried flipping them off with my floating hands, but it didn't work. I resorted to pointing at myself with my thumbs in a that's right, this guy" motion, another thing I wouldn't have tried in a non-VR experience.Trombone Champ: Unflattened is wildly fun and easily one of the most delightful gaming experiences of 2024. Astro Bot and Another Crab's Treasure, two of my favorite games of the year, both kept a smile on my face throughout - but Trombone Champ: Unflattened had me full-on cackling. I can't imagine that I could have chosen a better intro to VR.There's a bit more to it, including a free play mode that unlocks all the songs for you (DLC tracks seem to be on the way). I did enjoy vandalizing - I mean, customizing - my trombone with spray paint too. I'm sure Glenn Miller would have loved that.Maybe I'll get better at Trombone Champ: Unflattened over time. If not, I don't care. Being bad at this game makes it all the more enjoyable. The game's at its best when you're playing along with a song you're familiar with. You know how it's supposed to sound, so screwing up is much funnier.While there are challenges that reward you for doing well, it's almost as if the game wants you to suck at it. The toughest songs would be nearly impossible to nail, maybe even for actual professional trombone players, since they wouldn't have the same tactility of having the instrument in their hands.The PC adapter for PS VR2 has been out of stock for a while in Canada. But when I get one I'll probably also snap up the PC version of Trombone Champ: Unflattened there because modders are already adding custom songs into the game.One song that modders inevitably added to Trombone Champ was the ultimate rhythm game track: Dragonforce's Through The Fire and Flames." In the original game, it's so tough that even an "autotoot" tool that plays notes automatically struggles. So I've no doubt that trying to play it myself in VR will go very wrong and be highly entertaining.Trombone Champ: Unflattened is out now on PS VR2, Meta Quest and Steam VRThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/trombone-champ-in-vr-is-some-of-the-most-ridiculous-fun-ive-had-all-year-161811221.html?src=rss

Thanks to the deals we see during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday time period, you can usually stock up on tech gear you need for yourself without going over budget while also picking up all of the holiday gifts you need. When it comes to mobile accessories, particularly charging gear, Anker makes a lot of our favorites. Whether you're looking for a new power bank to take with you on your next trip or a wireless charger to put on your nightstand, Anker probably has one that will fit your requirements. We've collected all of the best Anker Cyber Monday deals below so you don't have to sift through them yourself.

According toReuters, Uber now offers boat-hailing services on Dal Lake, located in the Kashmir region in India. These wooden Shikara boats are decorated with bright colors and have seemingly comfortable pillows to let tourists enjoy a scenic boat ride.Those who want to enjoy the Dal Lake Shikara rides through Uber can make reservations at least 12 hours (and up to 15 days) in advance.Currently, around 4,000 Shikaras operate on Dal Lake. According to Uber, the app will let riders match with Shikara operators but won't charge a fee. All of the boat ticket money paid by the passenger goes to the operator.The Shikara operators shared mixed feelings about Uber's entry into the market with Reuters. Some say working with Uber can help prevent bargaining and cheating, while others claim this won't make a difference.Of course, this isn't the first time Uber is offering transport besides cars. Uber Copter launched in 2019. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is another service available in London, and it recently launched across Europe this summer. The company has also inserted itself into scooter rentals, flight bookings and, improbably, coders for hire.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-now-offers-boat-hailing-in-india-160156465.html?src=rss

If you've been patiently waiting to buy a robot vacuum for your home, one of Engadget's favorites is on sale for Cyber Monday. Amazon has discounted the Shark AI Ultra by 50 percent to $300. With the price cut, the AI Ultra is only $5 more than it was for Prime Day in July. What's more, the model that's on sale comes with a docking station that can store up to 60 days, instead of 45 days, of dirt and debris. As mentioned, the Shark AI Ultra is one of Engadget's favorite robovacs; in fact, it's the model our reviewer thinks most people should buy. The AI Ultra offers reliable cleaning performance, accurate in-home mapping and an app that makes it easy to get the most out of your new vacuum. Another consideration is the AI Ultra comes with a base station that features a bagless design. In our view, that's one of the primary reasons to buy Shark's robovac over competing models. While some of the AI Ultra's rivals will cost you less upfront, over the lifetime of one of those devices you may end up spending more due to their potential reliance on proprietary garbage bags. The AI Ultra is also great if you value a vacuum that's quiet. In our testing, Shark's model produced significantly less noise than some of the other robovacs Engadget tested. It also did a commendable job of avoiding cat toys and other obstacles, with an object detection feature that allows the robovac to detect things as small as four inches. As long as you don't need a built-in mop, the Shark AI Ultra is a great purchase, especially at $300 off. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sharks-excellent-ai-ultra-robot-vacuum-is-half-off-for-cyber-monday-120022214.html?src=rss

While the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale events are arguably the best times of the year to pick up most gadgets, they're also a great time to save on subscriptions and services you may already have or that you've been wanting to try. Whether it's an audiobook service like Audible, streaming service like Peacock or an online learning subscription like MasterClass, you can typically find good subscription deals during this time of the year. Also, many of them also make it pretty easy to give a subscription, if you're considering it as a gift for a loved one this year.To make it easier to find the services you want and need this year, Engadget has curated the best subscription deals you can get for Cyber Monday this year. Most of them end today, so now's the time to take the plunge while you can still save.Best Cyber Monday subscription deals

Amazon's Kindle Scribe is on sale for Cyber Monday, dropping to $270 from $340. That's a 21 percent discount and, while not a record-low price, it's pretty close. This pack gives you the 16GB E Ink tablet and the Basic pen. Just be aware: this discount is on the first-gen Scribe that debuted in 2022. Amazon announced an update model in October, but it has yet to be released. If you're holding out for an upgrade, you'll still have to wait a few more days for that one. The Kindle Scribe was Amazon's first tablet to support handwriting with a stylus. It's conveniently lightweight despite being larger than other Kindle models, with a 10.2-inch screen. And unlike some other writing-focused notebooks out there, the screen is lit so you can use it in low-light settings. It comes with the Basic Pen, and can convert your handwriting to text thanks to an update it got in 2023. It's a good option if you're looking for a tablet with an e-paper display that can handle basic writing tasks on top of being a solid ereader. Taking notes on books with the Scribe can be a little clunky though. You can't write in the margins or directly on the text in most cases, but you can create sticky notes that'll be linked to the words you've selected. There are certain books you can write on directly after Amazon rolled out an update with the feature last year, and those can be found in the eBooks you can write on" section of the Amazon's online store. Amazon's upcoming Kindle Scribe solves these issues, with a more seamless way of taking notes on books and the ability to write in the margins. That model is slated for release on December 4. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-deals-discount-the-kindle-scribe-by-21-percent-144838338.html?src=rss

If you're looking to stock up on PS5 controllers, now is the time. There's a Cyber Monday deal that discounts the wireless DualSense controller down to $54 at various retailers including Amazon, Target and Best Buy. These gamepads typically cost between $75 and $80, so this is quite the sale. Even better? The deal applies to a whole bunch of colorways to suit whatever wacky aesthetic you got going on, though some colors are selling for a bit more at $60. A brand-new PS5 ships with one of these controllers, but you need two to enjoy some sweet couch co-op. We called out the gamepad in our official review of the PS5, saying it had some of the most advanced haptic controls" we've ever experienced. The analog triggers can be manipulated to emulate various sensations, like pulling an arrow back or running out of ammo with a gun. It's a gimmick, sure, but a fun one. The built-in haptics also allow for more realistic rumble, which is heads and shoulders above what the DualShock 4 offered. There's a built-in microphone, a headphone jack, a tried-and-true button layout and a pair of joysticks. It's a really well-designed controller. It's a DualSense. It is not, however, a DualSense Edge. That's Sony's ultra-premium controller that costs nearly $200. That one offers extra features like easy button remapping, multiple joystick nubs, customizable rear paddles and more. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-playstation-deals-discount-the-dualsense-wireless-controller-to-54-081313677.html?src=rss

iPhone users who want the smartwatch experience without shelling out a fortune have a great option in the Apple Watch SE, and the wearable is cheaper than ever right now thanks to a Cyber Monday deal. The Apple Watch SE has dropped to $149 at Amazon. That's a discount of 40 percent or $100 off - the best discount we've seen. The Apple Watch SE is a good choice for iPhone users who have yet to hop into the smartwatch ecosystem or perhaps are clinging onto a much older Apple Watch but don't need a flagship model. If you're looking for something more advanced, you'd be better off with the Apple Watch Series 10, which is also currently sitting at a record low price for Cyber Monday and is our pick for the best smartwatch overall. The second-gen Apple Watch SE is our pick for the best budget Apple Watch and we gave it a score of 89 in our 2022 review. It has the same chipset as the Apple Watch Ultra and Series 8, and it should feel faster if you're coming over from, say, a Series 6 or earlier model. The SE shares some, but not all features with flagship Apple Watches. It supports crash detection, heart rate monitoring and emergency calling, and it is water resistant to 50 meters. We felt that the screen was easy to view, even when the sun was shining brightly. Fitness tracking is accurate (which is pretty important!). Perhaps most crucially, the Apple Watch SE is light and easy to wear. The Ion-X glass isn't quite as robust as the sapphire crystal on other recent Apple Watch models, so you'll likely want to be extra careful with it. Other features present on other Apple Watch devices that are missing here include an always-on display, blood oxygen monitoring and temperature sensor. The very handy Double Tap feature isn't available here either. While we feel that this is a good price for the second-gen Apple Watch SE, it's worth bearing in mind that a new model could arrive in the coming months. Apple is reportedly working on an Apple Watch SE with a plastic casing in a bid to reduce the price and allow for bolder color options. It's unlikely that Apple will announce this model before next year, though. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-watch-se-is-40-percent-off-for-cyber-monday-183924545.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday deals make it a bit easier to consider investing in something new. If that something for you happens to be a reliable assistant for home cleaning, consider this Dyson 360 Vis Nav, one of our choices for the best robot vacuums. This is the first time it's been discounted since Dyson started selling these earlier this year. You can pick it up for $200 less than usual at $999 both at Amazon and Dyson directly. We put this robot vacuum through its paces, and you can see the results in our Dyson 360 Vis Nav review. It managed to suck up an impressive amount of dog hair in our tests and has 360-degree vision augmented with LED lights to prevent collisions and accidents. While not perfect, it only hit chair legs a couple of times. On top of this, the robot has more than enough sensors and memory to remember your room's layout. Even if you're not home, you can tell the vacuum to start cleaning up if you've connected it to your MyDyson app. It compiles deep clean reports and other useful information to help you find the right settings for better results in the future. Sadly, it doesn't have a self-emptying base, but the debris ejection process is straightforward. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/dyson-cyber-monday-deals-get-you-200-off-the-360-vis-nav-robot-vacuum-143634945.html?src=rss

The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal is on sale via Amazon for just $89, as part of a Cyber Monday deal. This knocks 36 percent off the price and represents a record low for the camera-stabilizing device. It's part of a larger DJI Cyber Monday sale that includes drones, action cameras and more. For the uninitiated, this product keeps a steady lock on smartphones so as to provide smooth camera and video footage. The Osmo Mobile 6 is a step up from its predecessors in nearly every way. It features a newly-designed handle that's more comfortable to hold and a larger clamp to accommodate all of those modern giant phones. The clamp can also wrap itself around smaller phones in bulky cases. This model boasts a built-in extension rod, so it doubles as a selfie stick. It also features the company's ActiveTrack software. This allows for increased stability over longer distances and will actually track subjects as they turn, spin or move. Another new feature is Quick Launch for iPhone models. This automatically forces the phone into the camera view when the gimbal is unfolded. There's a built-in status panel to check battery levels, a timelapse feature, gestural controls and a whole lot more. It's a nifty little gadget. On the downside, this is a lot of money for a smartphone clamp, even at $89. This is for people who prioritize top-tier footage. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-dji-osmo-mobile-6-gimbal-is-down-to-the-lowest-price-weve-seen-for-cyber-monday-161257663.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday deals are coming in hot. Take Beats, which is leaning into the sale season with discounts on a range of its products across Amazon. There are a few great deals, including a 50 percent drop on the Beats Solo 4 wireless headphones bringing them to $100 from $200. The Beats Solo 4 headphones came out in April and received a 79 in our review. They're a solid item, especially for 50 percent off, and offer features like over 50 hours of battery life. They also have solid sound quality and clarity, especially with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos. However, they aren't the most comfortable of headphones on the market (especially for big heads) and don't have automatic pausing. The overall sale includes the Beats Pill, a portable bluetooth speaker, that's also down to $100, from $150 - a 33 percent discount. The Pill can wirelessly connect to your Android or Apple device or to a laptop through a USB-C cable. It also holds 24 hours of battery and can charge your phone and other devices through that USB-C cable. Plus, it has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating so it's shouldn't have issues if you use it outside. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/beats-solo-4-headphones-are-100-off-on-amazon-for-cyber-monday-150722190.html?src=rss

We're big Lego fans here at Engadget, so it's not difficult for us to understand why the building block sets are some of the first items to sell out during the holiday shopping season. Kids and adults alike seek out Lego sets all year round, and they make particularly good gifts. Whether you know your recipient loves Star Wars or Super Mario, or they don't have a fan-favorite franchise and just love building stuff, there are Lego sets out there that all kinds of people will love. And no, they don't all cost hundreds of dollars - some, like seasonal advent calendars, come in at $50 or less. If you've got a Lego lover on your holiday shopping list (or if that person is you), these are the best Cyber Monday Lego deals for 2024. Most of these deals are on Amazon, but you can find the same (or similar) pricing direct at Lego and other retailers like Target.The highlights for Cyber Monday include a couple of Lego advent calendars: one for Disney fans and another that's more general for all kids. Lego makes a bunch of other advent calendars in addition to these, and we expect to see more of them go on sale in the coming days.There's also the beautiful Insect Collection, which when completed, includes three life-size, posable models of a butterfly, Hercules beetle and Chinese mantis. Even as someone who detests bun appreciate the elegance of this set and how striking they'd look sitting on a shelf.Star Wars, Super Mario and Harry Potter sets have been discounted as well. For example, this Star Wars set recreates the "boarding the Tantive IV" scene from Star Wars: A New Hope in which the Rebels battle Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers. This Super Mario expansion set includes a brick-built Bowser and his muscle car, and once complete, you can pull the lever on the car to make its hood ornament move. We'll be updating this post through the entire Black Friday and Cyber Monday time period, so check back for the latest offers.Cyber Monday Lego deals

It can be tough to shop for a photographer or videographer during the holidays because there's so much gear out there, and a lot of it is super expensive. Whether you've got someone like that on your holiday gift list, or you're looking to upgrade some of your own camera gear, Cyber Monday deals can help make it less burdensome on your wallet. Most of the major camera manufacturers including Sony, Canon, DJI, Nikon and GoPro are offering substantial discounts this year on a bunch of products, so it's likely you'll find something that will fit within your budget. These are the best Cyber Monday camera deals we found for 2024.Cyber Monday action cam and drone deals

If you've been waiting for the right time to buy a new iPad, AirPods or Mac, Cyber Monday is your chance. Starting about a week before Black Friday, we began seeing all-time lows and first-time discounts on nearly everything Apple released this year and nearly all of them are still live.While it's tough to find direct, non-carrier deals on iPhones, the rest of Apple's lineup is on sale from retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart and more. (Apple's own website currently has a gift card promotion, but no discounts.) We've rounded up the best Cyber Monday Apple deals out there, along with links to our reviews so you can hear our advice before you buy.The best Cyber Monday Apple AirPods dealsApple has four models of AirPods right now: The AirPods Pro 2, the over-ear AirPods Max and two AirPods 4, one with active noise cancellation and one without. Apple has been doing a lot of interesting things with their headphones lately, making this a good time get a pair.

Cyber Monday streaming deals have come in strong again this year, and one of the best is on Disney+ and Hulu. The Duo Basic bundle is on sale for $3 per month for one whole year, which comes out to $36 for the entire time period. This bundle gives you access to Hulu's basic tier with ads and Disney+'s basic tier with ads, and only new users or subscribers who canceled their plans at least a month ago are eligible to redeem the discount. This bundle with ads contains content from Disney+ and Hulu. The content is still the same as with ad-free plans, including movies and series like Deadpool & Wolverine, Frozen, Godmothered and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the anticipated Star Wars series only on Disney+. If some of these newer shows aren't to your liking, there are likely older classics worth your time in the library. The deal runs from November 27 through December 2. After 12 months, the subscription will renew at the regular price if automatic renewal is enabled. Disney+ is one of the best streaming services out there, focusing on providing family-friendly content but also with some more mature content. If you want even more adult-oriented shows and series, Hulu fits the bill. Both have original content as well. There are a number of other Cyber Monday streaming deals available now as well as part of Cyber Monday subscription deals. Key among them are discounts on one year of Peacock and six months of Max. Here are more details:

Intel is gearing up for an announcement on December 3 about its Arc GPUs, and a number of recent leaks paint a picture of what we can expect to see. In a post on X this weekend, Intel said only that it's got some big graphics news" coming, and wrote cryptically in a followup that it's going from A to B." But reports from VideoCardz claim the event will bring a pair of Battlemage desktop GPUs - the Arc B580 and Arc B570 - that'll be launched December 12.According to VideoCardz, the B580 will have 20 Xe2 cores, a 2.8GHz GPU clock and 12GB of VRAM. The B570 on the other hand will reportedly feature 18 Xe2 cores, a 2.6GHz GPU clock and 10GB of memory. The B580 will sport a 192-bit memory bus, versus 160-bit for the B570, spec sheets shared by VideoCardz show.

For the most part, the best TV deals for Cyber Monday are the same ones we saw during Black Friday (which have available for a few weeks themselves). That doesn't make it any less of a good time to grab a quality TV at a decent price, though. If you're hoping to make a living room upgrade but aren't sure which TV discounts are actually worthwhile, allow us to do the research for you.We've spent the past several days scouring trustworthy reviews and checking price histories to figure out which Cyber Monday TV deals are actually decent. You can find our favorites below, which include OLED and QLED panels from Samsung, LG, Hisense, Sony and TCL. If you're already happy with your TV, we've also included a few standout streaming deals, both on devices from Amazon and Roku and services like Hulu and Peacock.As in recent years, many of those TV manufacturers kicked off their holiday sales toward the start of November, but most of the discounts below represent all-time lows either way. We'll continue updating this post if prices change as the day rolls along.The best Cyber Monday TV deals for 2024

Black Friday has come and gone, but you can still get substantial discounts on Sonos products. Until Monday, you can get up to $200 off the company's speakers and soundbars, with one of the highlights being $50 off the Sonos Era 100 - it's down to a record low of $199. If you're in the market for a soundbar, consider the Sonos Arc. Now that the Arc Ultra is available, Sonos has discounted its previous flagship soundbar by $200 to $699. For something more affordable, the Beam 2 is currently $369, down from $499. Lastly, there's the Era 300. Right now, you can buy the Dolby Atmos-compatible speaker for $359, instead of $449 as usually priced. All of these deals are being matched by Amazon, too. More than a few of Sonos' speakers, including the Era 100, have found a spot and stayed on Engadget's list of best smart speakers. If you care about music but still want a speaker with modern features, a Sonos system is the way to go. Not only do the company's speakers sound great, but you also get access to things like AirPlay 2 that make it incredibly easy to play exactly the song you want to listen to in the moment. You may have seen that Sonos bungled the release of the latest version of its companion app. That's true, but as things stand, the company has done a lot of work in recent months to fix its software. As a daily user, I can safely say the Sonos app is in much better shape now than it was in the spring. Other than the premium price that comes with Sonos products, there's not much they don't do as well or better than the competition. With the discounts the company is offering for Black Friday, its speakers come even more highly recommended. If Sonos isn't the brand (or price point) for you, then check out the other Black Friday speaker deals that are still available. There are discounts on speakers from Marshall, Bose, Anker and more. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonos-black-friday-deals-are-still-going-get-up-to-200-off-soundbars-and-speakers-131538350.html?src=rss

Bose's most recent QuietComfort headphones have dropped to $199 for Black Friday, bringing the over-ear cans down to a record-low price. With this 43 percent discount, you can get a pair of headphones with excellent active noise cancellation for a fraction of their usual price. And whether you're eyeing them for yourself or for someone else as a gift, you have seven colors to choose from. A version of these cans made our list of the best wireless headphones, so there's plenty to recommend. The battery life is fantastic, lasting around 24 hours on a single charge. There's also a quick charge feature, which can squeeze two hours of additional use with just 15 minutes at the power outlet. These are primarily wireless headphones, but can operate with an analog connection. The adjustable EQ is great and, of course, the sound is top-tier. Bose is known for making some pretty good stuff. There are touch controls built into the earcups, which is handy, and active noise cancellation. This ANC can be adjusted to create a transparency mode, so you won't walk into a truck or whatever. The headphones are also quite comfortable, thanks to plush earcups and a padded band. The only downside here is the price. It's tough to recommend these headphones at $350, especially with rival products at similar price points from companies like Apple, Sony and Sennheiser. However, it's really easy to recommend them at $200. That's a legit steal. If you're looking to save on other gadgets this holiday weekend, be sure to check out Engadget's Black Friday roundup. We've listed the 51 best tech products you can still save money on. Picks include the PlayStation 5, Meta Quest 3S and Apple MacBook Air. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/bose-quietcomfort-headphones-are-43-percent-off-for-black-friday-174600388.html?src=rss

The latest Kindle Paperwhite is barely a month old, but it's already getting a discount for Black Friday. You can pick up the new ereader for $30 off, at a final price of $130. That's a record low since the device's debut, and it boasts faster page turns, a bigger and better screen and longer battery life. The sixth-generation Paperwhite has a seven-inch screen, noticeably bigger than the 6.8-inch one on its predecessor. Amazon also boosted the display's contrast thanks to its oxide thin-film transistor display tech, which should help reduce eyestrain. It still has a warm light that you can tune to match your room's lighting. The front light in the new model gets 25 percent brighter at its maximum level than the 5th-gen model. It's one of our picks for the best ereader. The new Paperwhite has 25 percent faster page turns than its predecessors, which Engadget's Amy Skorheim found makes a marked difference in the reading experience. (The review was for the more expensive Signature Edition, but it has identical page turns.) At 7.8mm thick, this is the thinnest Paperwhite to date. The ereader still has IPX8 water resistance, and the device uses a new rubberized texture that makes it easier to grip. Amazon estimates its battery will last up to 12 weeks per charge. It ships with a USB-C cable (but no power brick). You can also save on the new standard Kindle on sale for $85 (from $110). Although that model skips out on the warm light and has a smaller screen, it gives you a lighter and more compact ereader on the cheap. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-kindle-deals-are-still-available-get-30-off-the-2024-paperwhite-090013955.html?src=rss

Audible is offering a sweet promotion as a Black Friday deal, allowing new users to sign up for three months of its Premium Plus plan for just $3. That breaks down to $1 per month, and you'll get a $20 Audible credit on top of that to use as you see fit. It's only for new users though, so anyone who has previously dipped their toes in the Audible waters are out of luck. This Black Friday offer is available now, and it runs all the way until midnight on New Year's Eve. The $20 credit part of the deal will disappear after Cyber Monday, though. It's only for US customers and, as usual, the subscription will automatically renew after the three months, so be vigilant about smashing that cancel button if it's not working out. The regular price for Audible Premium Plus is $15 per month plus tax. Audible Premium Plus is the top-tier offering for listening to audiobooks. A membership provides access to the entire catalog plus a monthly credit to purchase nearly any title outright. Subscriptions also offer discounts on other newly-released titles. All told, there are thousands of books to choose from, along with podcasts and Audible Originals. To that end, there's a whole lot of original content here for fans of different literary genres. James Patterson has an Audible Original that features a stacked voice cast, with Cobie Smulders and Reid Scott headlining. There's also unique fare like sleep meditations and the like. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-audible-black-friday-deal-is-still-available-get-3-months-of-access-for-only-3-183640594.html?src=rss

Black Friday is usually the best sale of the year on cameras and accessories and this year there are some particularly great deals this time around. Most of the major manufacturers including Sony, Canon, DJI, Nikon and GoPro are offering substantial discounts across a wide range of products, whether you're looking to spend a couple hundred dollars or several grand. Those include multiple options from our guide to the best cameras of 2024, so you'll get great value for tried and tested gear. These are the best Black Friday camera deals we found for 2024 that you can still get right now.Black Friday action cam and drone deals

Aside from Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday is the best time of year to pick up an Echo speaker, a Fire tablet or a Kindle ereader from Amazon. While the online retailer typically saves all of the best discounts on its devices for the members-only sale events, it's a safe bet that those deals will come back around for Black Friday. This year is no different: we're seeing record-low prices (or close to them) on all of Amazon's gadgets. These are the best deals you can still get on Amazon devices for Black Friday 2024.

If you're looking for an excellent midrange smartphone for yourself or a loved one among all the Black Friday deals, your search may be over. Google's Pixel 8a is still on sale even after Black Friday. It has dropped by $100 to $399. That's not quite the lowest price we've seen for the handset. It fell to $380 at one point, but this is still a good deal if you're looking for a great phone that won't break the bank. This price is for a configuration with 128GB of storage, but 256GB models are also $100 off at $459. The Pixel 8a is our pick for the best midrange smartphone overall. We gave it a score of 90 in our review. Thanks to Google's inclusion of the Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a supports many of the same AI features that you'll find on flagship Pixel devices. We feel that the cameras are excellent, while that 6.1-inch 120Hz OLED display sure looks pretty. The Pixel 8a has great battery life too. It lasted for 20 hours and 29 minutes in our video rundown test, actually beating out the Pixel 8 by 13 minutes. On the downside, wireless charging is pretty slow as it maxes out at 7.5W. The bezels are a little thicker than you might like too, but otherwise the design is fairly slick. Another plus point is that the Pixel 8a is IP67-rated for dust and water resistance, so it should be somewhat durable. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-phone-deals-include-the-google-pixel-8a-for-100-off-180827065.html?src=rss

Black Friday is over and Cyber Monday is right around the corner, and this shopping period has brought some of the lowest prices of the year on quality TVs. If you're looking to buy a new set, we've scoured through reviews and checked price histories to find which Black Friday TV deals are genuinely worth your time and still available now.You can find our favorites below, which include OLED and LED TVs in various sizes from Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense and TCL. While more than a few of these discounts have been available for a couple of weeks, most represent the lowest respective prices we've tracked.If you're already happy with your set, we've also rounded up a few noteworthy deals on media players and streaming services. We'll update this post as more discounts pop up, so check back if there's a particular TV you want that isn't on sale just yet.The best Black Friday TV deals for 2024

It's hard to beat the promise of a big box for one-stop shopping. Target is one of my favorites if I just want to browse with no agenda, because I'll inevitably stumble on something fun or on sale. Or in the case of this Black Friday deal, both. Target is currently selling a Meta Quest 3S for $300, as is Amazon. That's the usual price tag for this virtual reality headset, but both retailers include a $75 gift card along with the tech (On Amazon, use the code QUEST75 to get it.) That covers a lot of impulse buys. There's a lot to recommend the Meta Quest 3S for a virtual reality fan. In fact, it's our pick for the best budget VR set. Even if you're investing in a lower-range VR headset, you'll want to have plenty of software to run on it. The Quest 3S has a large app library and it can be used to stream games from a PC. While some headsets can be unpleasant to wear for very long, reviewer Devindra Hardawar found that wasn't an issue with the Quest 3S. And although it has made some sacrifices on the screen and lenses to keep the costs down, this set still delivers a strong, immersive virtual reality experience. The content included with any Quest headset purchase will help you get started in VR. Batman: Arkham Shadow is one of the most notable exclusive games for Meta's Quest 3 and Quest 3S, continuing the lineage of the Arkham game universe initially developed by Rocksteady Studios. You'll also get three months' subscription to the Meta Quest+ catalog of games. Keeping the subscription after the trial period will cost $8 a month. Or use that gift card and pick up a title to keep. Beyond the Meta Quest 3S, there are tons of amazing gaming deals available for Black Friday. Check out great discounts on some of our favorite consoles, games and accessories here. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-black-friday-deal-on-the-meta-quest-3s-includes-a-free-75-gift-card-115856107.html?src=rss