Washington, DC's Attorney General Brian Schwalb is suing Amazon for allegedly excluding certain ZIP codes from enjoying Amazon Prime's speedy delivery. Schwalb claims that, beginning in 2022, Amazon stopped using its in-house delivery systems for Wards 7 and 8 while still charging those customers the same amount for a Prime subscription. According to Census Reporter, Ward 7 and Ward 8 are 83 percent and 82 percent Black, respectively.According to the suit, instead of using its own trucks, Amazon relied on UPS and USPS carriers to make deliveries - a decision that resulted in longer delivery times. Only 24 percent of packages to these Wards were delivered within two days. Schwalb also alleged that Amazon didn't notify any Ward 7 and Ward 8 residents about these changes.Worryingly, this isn't the first time Amazon has been called out for excluding majority-Black neighborhoods from the full benefits of a Prime membership. A damning 2016 report in Bloomberg indicated the practice was common across several metro areas. Amazon has since provided Prime Free Same-Day Delivery to Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, Chicago's South Side and the Bronx in New York City.Update, December 4 2024, 12:03PM ET: Amazon provided the following statement to Engadget:
As Rust Cohle famously put it in HBO's True Detective, "Time is a flat circle." So it's maybe not a huge surprise that Max is the latest service to bring cable-style linear channels to a premium streaming service.It's starting to test such channels in the US. Some ad-free subscribers will see a Channels option on the homepage of adult profiles. This will take you to a selection of 24/7 feeds of HBO programming, including HBO and HBO 2 simulcasts. Other channels will showcase prestige drama, comedy and classic HBO shows, movies and documentaries.The channels work pretty much like any linear TV network in the modern age. You can restart shows, rewind and fast-forward. On select devices, you'll be able to switch between channels directly in the player, without having to go back to the channels hub.This initial rollout lays the groundwork for more themed channels, which will start arriving next year. According to The Verge, Max may even offer personalized streaming channels down the road.These channels could help you avoid wasting time instead of scrolling through Max while figuring out what to watch. If you're in the mood to laugh, maybe just turn on HBO Comedy. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will surely be hoping that channels increase engagement and keep people using the streaming service. After all, lots of folks simply switch on the likes of CBS because they want to watch something and they trust the network's brand enough to deliver a show that suits them.Max already offers linear channels in Europe. Crave, a Canadian streaming service that has exclusive rights to the HBO library in that market, offers HBO and HBO 2 simulcasts as well. WBD notably pulled shows including Westworld and The Nevers from Max a couple of years ago. Roku and Tubi now offer free, ad-supported channels featuring HBO shows and other WBD programming.Rivals also have their own linear channels, including Disney+, Paramount+ and Peacock. Amazon, meanwhile, is shutting down Freevee and moving its programming to Prime Video.As if it weren't already evident enough that media conglomerates are trying to bring back the heady success that cable saw for decades, they're teaming up with each other through streaming bundles. One gets you Max, Disney+ and Hulu for $30 per month, while Comcast offers a package of Netflix, Peacock and Apple TV+ for $15 per month.Saving you money (compared with subscribing to these services separately) while dumping a ton of programming you don't care about into your lap? This is all really just cable 2.0.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/streaming-is-just-tv-all-over-again-165115834.html?src=rss
Google has begun rolling out private access to its Veo and Imagen 3 generative AI models. Starting today, customers of the company's Vertex AI Google Cloud package can begin using Veo to generate videos from text prompts and images. Then, as of next week, Google will make Imagen 3, its latest text-to-image framework, available to those same users.With Veo's rollout, Google says it's the first hyperscale cloud provider to offer an image-to-video model. To that point, OpenAI's Sora model is still only available to select artists, academics and researchers - though that could change quickly with the company teasing 12 days of product demos starting December 5.Of Veo, Google says the model creates 1080p footage that's consistent and coherent" and can run beyond a minute." The tool is also capable of working with both text prompts and images. In the latter case, it's possible to use either AI-generated or human-made pictures as the starting point for a video.Looking at the sample footage Google shared, it's evident Veo, like all AI models, can struggle with cause and effect. For example, in the clip of the roasting marshmallows, the treats don't yellow and char as they're exposed to the heat of a campfire flame. Artifacting is also an issue, as is apparent if you look closely at the hands in the concert footage.GoogleAs for Imagen 3, Google says the model generates the most realistic and highest quality images from simple text prompts, surpassing previous versions of Imagen in detail, lighting, and artifact reduction." Here again, however, you don't have to look too closely to see Google has more work to do.In the first example of a group of friends sitting on the trunk of a car, the original prompt includes mention of flash photography," but the subjects are clearly backlit. One could argue that a flash was used to create intense backlighting, but if the idea behind the prompt was to create something representative of flash photography from the 1960s, this image isn't it.Still, Google is keen to get more of its enterprise customers using generative AI. Citing its own research, the tech giant says among companies using generative AI in production, 86 percent report an increase in revenue. However, a recent Appen survey found return on investment from AI projects fell by 4.6 percentage points from 2023 to 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-generative-ai-video-model-is-available-in-private-preview-160055983.html?src=rss
RPG fans who love Hironobu Sakaguchi's work may be familiar with Fantasian, a 2021 Apple Arcade exclusive. Now, Fantasian is coming to Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC on December 5.As The Verge puts it, Fantasian is Final Fantasy in all but name. The port to these platforms is called Fantasian Neo Dimension and doesn't differ much from the original apart from added voice acting. The addition of voices will elevate the experience, and you'd be pleased to know that Square Enix is publishing this port, which ensures it gets the best treatment before release.One unique mechanic Fantasian has is the Dimengeon, a portmanteau of dimension and dungeon. If you activate this device in-game, the random battles will be stored and waiting for you to fight. The Dimengeon has a limit, which means you'll have to face your foes eventually.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/fantasian-an-apple-arcade-rpg-is-now-coming-to-consoles-and-pc-141543706.html?src=rss
Ubisoft's first-person shooter XDefiant, which launched less than six months ago with some success, will shut down on June 3, 2025. As part of that, the studio will close three production studios and lay off 277 employees.New downloads, player registrations, and purchases will no longer be available starting today, However, Season 3 will launch as planned and servers will remain online until June 3. Players who purchased the Ultimate Founders Pack or bought anything in the last 30 days will automatically receive full refunds within eight weeks."Despite an encouraging start, the team's passionate work, and a committed fan base, we've not been able to attract and retain enough players in the long run to compete at the level we aim for in the very demanding free-to-play FPS market," said Ubisoft's chief studios and portfolio officer Marie-Sophie de Waubert.Ubisoft confirmed that it will close its Osaka and San Francisco studios while ramping down its Sydney site. That will result in the loss of 277 jobs, or just over half of XDefiant's team, with the other half transitioning to other parts of the company. "I want to express my deepest gratitude for your work and contributions. Please know that we are committed to supporting you during this transition," de Waubert told departing employees.At one time, XDefiant was Ubisoft's fastest growing game ever, hitting 5 million users sooner than any of its other titles and eventually counting up to 15 million players. However, it couldn't build on that success and last month, rumors began to circulate that XDefiant would be shut down. "The game is too far away from reaching the results required to enable further significant investment," de Waubert said yesterday.Ubisoft has been going through a rough patch of late. The company recently cancelled The Division: Heartland before it launched and delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows until Valentine's Day 2025, following a disappointing launch for Star Wars Outlaws. Last year, the company cancelled three unannounced projects and commenced a restructuring program that led to over a thousand layoffs.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ubisoft-is-giving-up-on-xdefiant-130023396.html?src=rss
There's a chill in the air, lights have been strung through the trees and winter coats are a daily need. All this can only mean one thing: it's Spotify Wrapped season. Today, Spotify Wrapped begins rolling out to users across the globe with a slew of new features powered by Google's AI-powered NotebookLM.To be honest, some of it is, let's say, interesting. Notably, Spotify is releasing a My Wrapped AI Podcast with two hosts discussing all your listening preferences for the year. These hosts in question are powered by the same technology that NotebookLM uses to make audio overviews. The podcasts should last three to six minutes, are shareable and available for free and premium users in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland and Sweden for a limited time. If you love listening to AI then maybe this is exciting for you but, personally, I'm happy with my usual roundup. Spotify does caveat that it might not "provide a comprehensive overview" and could mispronounce words or use inappropriate language if its in a song title, for example.Then there's the AI DJ, which brings you through the music you listened to and provides commentary. Yes, this sounds a bit like the AI podcast, but it should focus more on the actual music and how you used the DJ. It should also touch on aspects like your top artists and most listened to songs. However, this feature and a wrapped version of Spotify's AI Playlist are only available to premium subscribers.As always, you can also see how your listening choices measure up against other users. Spoiler that's not really a spoiler: Taylor Swift and her album The Tortured Poet's Department took the most streamed spots for artist and album, respectively, both in the US and globally. Women took the top five spots for most streamed albums globally, while Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter held the title of most streamed song for the US and world. Other categories of interest include the top podcasts and most viral songs, plus one interesting addition: audiobooks.Spotify has leaned heavily into audiobooks this year, rolling out a subscription solely for the medium and new tools like a sleep timer and detailed author pages. So, it's no surprise that the platform has released its first ever year-end top charts for audiobooks. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas was the top audiobook for premium users in both the US and globally - a near inevitably for anyone paying even a little attention to book trends this year. Also new this year: Authors will join creators, artists, podcasters and advertisers in receiving a Wrapped all about how their readers listened to their books in 2024.As always, Spotify Wrapped is shaping up to be a bit cringe (as many new AI creations are) and the usual burst of fun. You can explore these features and more on your Spotify Wrapped or, if this has all been irrelevant to you, maybe on the just announced Amazon Music Delivered or through Apple Music Replay.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-wrapped-2024-includes-ai-hosted-podcasts-discussing-your-listening-habits-130002140.html?src=rss
Apple has wrapped up all your listening stats in a bow with its annual recap of your entire year in music streaming. This time, you can view the full Replay experience in the Apple Music app via the home, new and search tab - yes, no need to go to a microsite for your vital listening statistics. You can save a playlist of your most-played songs in 2024, though that and your stats will be cemented in January - if you're looking to kick out a particularly embarrassing song that's wormed its way into your head, you could spam other tracks? You can even access your Replays from previous years (something Spotify doesn't offer with Wrapped).More widely, the most-listened-to song on Apple Music overall this year was Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us," his most recent Drake-diss track. Benson Boone's Beautiful Things," meanwhile, was the most identified song on Shazam. Beautifully hard to identify.- Mat SmithGet this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest tech stories you missed
The connected fitness boom of pandemic-era lockdowns is long behind us (hopefully), but Growl, a new startup, is still looking to bolt a workout to the wall of your home. Think of Tonal, except instead of resistance training, it's a boxing-inspired heavy bag session.The wall-mounted Growl is, according to the company, powered by AI and Unreal Engine and appears to have overhead projectors, which beam the image of a life-sized coach onto the convex punching surface. 3D motion tracking technology claims to gather information about your form and technique and provide insights.Besides the projection, the bag has an interactive coaching system to help motivate users. It also supposedly supports side-by-side training, which works great for training partners.Growl isn't available yet, but pre-sales are likely to open in April 2025. Pricing is projected to be between $150 and $190 a month, putting it on the steeper end of fitness devices, if it ever ships. And keep in mind you'll need to install this thing into a wall that can withstand hours of punching.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/this-new-startup-wants-to-be-your-ai-powered-boxing-coach-120022634.html?src=rss
MSI has two new versions of the MSI Claw after the original landed with a thud earlier this year. The company's $900 MSI Claw 8 AI+ and $800 Claw 7 AI+ have Lunar Lake Intel processing, better battery life and quality-of-life improvements like redesigned sticks, bumpers and triggers. The previous model launched a touch late and a bit too pricey," according to Engadget's Sam Rutherford in our review. He said its performance was underwhelming compared to cheaper rivals, its software was too clunky, and it was plagued by an overabundance of optimization updates (presumably because MSI scrambled to fix its long list of problems). We haven't handled the new models, but their switch to Intel's latest Core Ultra 7 processor should lead to better performance and lower power consumption - two of the biggest marks against the A1M. The Claw 8 AI+ has an 8-inch (1,920 x 1,200) display, and the Claw 7 AI+ has a 7-inch (1,920 x 1,080) one. Both devices support a 120Hz refresh rate. However, they're LCD panels; you still won't find an OLED option here, like in Valve and Lenovo's alternatives. It... floats, too? MSI The Claw 8 has an 80Wh battery, while the 7-inch model has a 54.5Wh battery. It uses MSI's Cooler Boost HyperFlow tech, which includes dual fans and heat pipes. The company claims it outperforms competitors" (without stating which) when running at a power-efficient 17W. Each handheld has a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, so you could plug the handheld into a monitor and use it as a makeshift Windows PC. They even have CoPilot+ support built-in. MSI redesigned the new generation's joysticks, bumpers, D-pad and triggers for this generation. Although the last model had Hall effect sticks, the new ones also have it in their triggers. Ergonomics were a rare highlight in the previous model, and MSI touts the new handhelds as being tailored to fit the natural contours of the hand." As for the AI in the handheld's branding, MSI presumably refers to the XeSS upscaling tech in the Intel chip. However, the previous model also used XeSS, so maybe the company just wanted to scream to customers and investors that it uses AI. The new handhelds arrive on December 25. GameRant notes that their pre-order pages are listed without available stock (yet). Regardless, once you can buy them, the Claw 7 AI+ costs $800, and the Claw 8 AI+ will set you back $900. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/msis-new-claw-gaming-handhelds-have-lunar-lake-processors-and-nondescript-ai-powers-230028563.html?src=rss
Meta has confirmed its plans to use nuclear power to fuel US data centers. The company announced that it's accepting proposals from nuclear energy developers to work on the project, with the goal of adding between one and four gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity starting in the early 2030s."The company's request for proposals states that Meta is seeking partners that have experience with either Small Modular Reactors (SMR) or larger nuclear reactors." Axios reports that the company is geographically agnostic" about the location of potential nuclear sites. The company previously had plans to build a nuclear-powered data center, The Financial Times reported earlier this year, but the plans were scuttled after the discovery of a rare species of bees near the site.As new innovations bring impactful technological advancements across sectors and support economic growth, we believe that nuclear energy can help provide firm, baseload power to support the growth needs of the electric grids that power both our data centers (the physical infrastructure on which Meta's platforms operate) as well as the communities around them," the company wrote in a statement.Meta isn't the only major tech company looking to nuclear power to help power its AI ambitions. Google recently announced a deal to build multiple reactors in the US, with the goal of adding 500 megawatts of nuclear power from SMRs. Microsoft also said this year it wants to revive the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania to fuel its AI development.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-wants-to-use-nuclear-power-for-its-data-centers-225051671.html?src=rss
Former cryptocurrency leader Alex Mashinsky has pleaded guilty to two fraud charges. The founder and CEO of Celsius Network was indicted on seven criminal counts in 2023, including charges of fraud, conspiracy and market manipulation. He entered a not guilty plea at the time, but in a hearing today, Mashinsky pled guilty to two of those original counts. The first is commodities fraud and the second is a fraudulent scheme to manipulate the price of his company's in-house crypto token CEL. Reuters reported that as part of a plea deal, Mashinsky has agreed not to appeal any sentence of 30 years or less.Mashinsky's case is one of several fraud cases being pursued against leaders of cryptocurrency operations. The most well-publicized charges are those brought against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who was found guilty on seven counts of fraud in 2023.National agencies began a push into fraud charges for cryptocurrency schemes in 2022, when several notable companies filed for bankruptcy as token prices plummeted in response to rising interest rates and high inflation. That year, the Federal Trade Commission said that victims of crypto schemes had lost more than $1 billion since 2021.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/former-celsius-ceo-pleads-guilty-to-two-fraud-charges-224046043.html?src=rss
Vizio is now a member of the Walmart corporate empire. The retail company announced the completion of its $2.3 billion acquisition of the TV manufacturer on Tuesday.Walmart didn't just buy a TV brand. It now owns a new advertising platform. Vizio's SmartCast OS collects huge amounts of data from its 19 million active accounts, and the company makes the majority of its money from the platform. Walmart's new partnership with Vizio and its other smart TV brand Onn is sure to stir up the lucrative competition for advertising revenue, according to the Wall Street Journal.Walmart officially announced its plans to buy Vizio in February following early reports about its deal.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/walmart-completes-its-23-billion-purchase-of-vizio-222449239.html?src=rss
This is not a drill, people: Tetris for the NES will join the Nintendo Switch Online library on December 12. Nintendo of America announced this exciting arrival out of the blue today on X. The NES port of Tetris initially launched all the way back in 1989, so it's been a very long time coming for this classic title to return to Nintendo hardware.That's not to say there haven't been many other ways to get your tetrimino fix. Tetris is a perennially popular puzzle game, with many official releases and plenty of knockoffs. And plenty of them, like the dazzling Tetris Effect, are extremely good. But the NES version is the one most frequently hailed as the best of the bunch. It's the iteration primarily used in the fascinating competitive Tetris circuit, and even after more than three decades, a player only just managed to 'beat' the game by, well, breaking its little computer brain. For those of us who missed out on the NES era, or those whose NES hardware bit the dust long ago, finally having a modern-day way to play this iconic version of Tetris is very exciting news.The Switch Online service has gotten a couple notable updates in the past few weeks. A trio of Sega Genesis games joined the online Switch library, and Nintendo also released a music streaming app for members of the subscription plan. While that's all well and good, the really exciting development will be the hotly anticipated announcement of the Switch 2, expected in March.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nes-tetris-is-coming-to-the-nintendo-switch-online-library-this-month-194523784.html?src=rss
When an established company enters a new product category, there's a lot of pressure on it to immediately impress the masses, especially when it has a proven track record in its industry. That's what Cambridge Audio faced this year when it debuted its first wireless headphones, the Melomania P100 ($279). It had already made the Melomania M100 wireless earbuds, but with a reputation largely built on hi-fi amplifiers, digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and speakers, the company was entering uncharted waters. With the P100, Cambridge Audio managed to leave a lasting first impression right out of the box. Starting with the refined look, it's evident that the company is serious about taking aim at the best in the category. It partnered aesthetics with long battery life, user-friendly maintenance options and a crisp, clear sound profile for a very compelling package on its first attempt. What's good about the Melomania P100? The P100 certainly looks like a set of flagship headphones. In an age when a lot of companies opt for plastic-heavy builds, even for their high-end models, it's nice to see a polished design for less than $300. Cambridge Audio combined aluminum accents with vegan leather and soft memory foam ear cups to do most of the heavy lifting here. There's also cross-hatched fabric on the underside of the headband that offers a textural contrast while maintaining the color scheme. Cambridge Audio didn't make any sacrifices on battery life with the P100, promising up to 60 hours of use with active noise cancellation (ANC) turned on. What's more, the company says you can eke out up to 100 hours of play time with ANC disabled, depending on volume levels and other settings. I had no trouble hitting 60 hours during my battery tests, which I run almost entirely while employing noise cancellation. And to keep the P100 running longer than some headphones would, the company allows users to replace the battery themselves when performance dips (ear pads are also replaceable). The P100 uses the same Class AB amplification that powers Cambridge Audio's CX series hi-fi amps. This provides sound performance that's audibly better" than what's found in nearly all wireless headphones, according to the company. Three-layer 40mm drivers complete the audio platform, which is tuned for precise highs and dynamic lows." During my tests, the P100 excelled at reproducing crisp, clean details across every genre I threw at it. Even in the heaviest parts of Sleep Token's Vore," the snare hits remained punchy, cutting through distorted guitar riffs with vocals layered in. Prominence is given to treble and mids though, as bass-heavy tracks like that one don't quite have the booming punch they typically do. As such, the P100 was at its best for styles that demanded less low-end growl - genres like country, jazz and 90s grunge. What's not so good about the Melomania P100? Billy Steele for Engadget My notes on the overall sound profile of the P100 aren't great news for those who crave a bombastic blast when listening to music by Kendrick Lamar, Kaytranada and other bass-heavy tunes. Cambridge Audio does offer a selection of presets to alter the tuning, as well as a full EQ for custom profiles. The changes were more subtle for the EQ sliders, so they didn't deliver the thump I was after. But, unlike a lot of equalizer options from other companies, none of these muddied the sound or made things worse. Despite the soft touch of the P100's ear pads, they don't offer enough buffer from the ridges of the ear cups during longer listening sessions. I used these on a cross-country trip that involved a full day of air travel and wearing headphones for a solid six hours. After about 30 minutes, I could start to feel those edges. And while they never became painful, this kept the P100 from competing with the likes of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Sony's WH-1000XM5 in terms of overall comfort. Cambridge Audio did well to cover all the basics on the P100. There's reliable, easy-to-use physical controls, solid adaptive ANC performance and support for aptX Lossless. Wear detection and multipoint Bluetooth are also in tow, as is wired listening at 24-bit/96kHz quality and a five-minute quick charge tool. What you won't find are things like speech detection, any mention of spatial audio or some of the automated features the competition offers. Sure, I can excuse the omissions on the P100 given the price, but these are the types of conveniences that are increasingly becoming core specs, so one or two would've been nice to have. Final verdict on the Melomania P100 I'm impressed by what Cambridge Audio has built for its first set of wireless headphones. It's obvious the company knows how to produce clear, balanced audio, even if the P100 could use a smidge more low-end tone. The combination of design, sound, repairability and battery life make this a compelling option at well under $300. And now that the company has a solid foundation to build on, I expect to be blown away by whatever comes next. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/cambridge-audio-melomania-p100-review-an-impressive-headphone-debut-192412530.html?src=rss
Despite Intel's recent woes, I didn't expect to see CEO Pat Gelsinger joining 15,000 or so of his colleagues being shown the door. Gelsinger is a storied engineer and business success who laid down an exhaustive rescue plan when he took the helm of the beleaguered chipmaker in 2021. It was never going to be a quick fix, given the company's long legacy of missteps. Gelsinger may be the public face of Intel's current malaise, but the problems started long before his tenure and will likely keep going.How Intel got hereGelsinger was tasked with addressing almost two decades' worth of bad decisions, all of which have compounded. Intel became an industry-swallowing behemoth as one half of the Wintel alliance, producing chips that went hand-in-glove with Microsoft Windows. The vast profits that flowed from this partnership meant there was an institutional reluctance to look too hard at new business ventures that could distract from its golden goose, still going strong all these years later.In 2005, then-CEO Paul Ottellini turned down the chance to make the iPhone's system-on-chip. It would have been easy for Intel, since it already made XScale ARM chips for mobile devices. You could find an Intel ARM chip inside popular phones like the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 and Palm Treo 650. A year later, it would sell XScale to Marvell, believing it would be able to shrink its x86 chips to work on smartphones. The first Intel Atom handsets showed some degree of promise, but the Snapdragons of the day - produced by considerably smaller rival Qualcomm - beat them pretty easily.At the same time, Intel was working on Larrabee, its own discrete GPU platform based on the x86 architecture. Despite several years of marketing bravado and suggestions it would kill" AMD/ATI and NVIDIA, Intel axed it in 2010 in favor of bundling integrated graphics into its regular processor products. The decision would hand the bulk of the GPU market to NVIDIA, making it the go-to name for gaming, supercomputers, crypto and AI, posting quarterly revenues of $35.1 billion on November 20.Could Intel have foreseen the meteoric rise of AI? Maybe not. But Reuters reported former Intel CEO Bob Swan turned down the chance to invest in OpenAI in 2017. It was looking for a hardware partner to reduce its reliance on NVIDIA, offering a generous deal in the process. Swan, however, reportedly said he couldn't see a future for generative AI, and Intel's data center unit refused to sell the hardware at a discount.Intel's core strength was in the quality of its engineering, the solidity of its product and that it always kept close to the cutting edge. (There are parallels to be drawn between Intel and Boeing, both of which are watching their reputation for quality erode in real time.) Sadly Intel's bread-and-butter business hit the skids after the company failed to produce 10-nanometer chips by its planned 2015 deadline. The company's famous tick, tock" strategy of launching a new chip process one year and a refined version the next ground to a halt.These issues enabled Intel's competitors to step in and steal a march, harnessing more modern chip architectures. AMD, which held a little over 10 percent of the chip market for much of the 2010s, has seen its market share double in the last few years. The biggest beneficiary, of course, was TSMC, the Taiwanese chip factory that has become the envy of the world. Even if Intel controls the bulk of the x86 processor market, it's TSMC that makes the chips for Apple, Qualcomm, NVIDIA and AMD, among others. Intel, meanwhile, was saddled with an older chip manufacturing process that it couldn't use to catch up with its rivals.The Gelsinger doctrineGelsinger was as close to an Intel lifer" as you could imagine, joining the company at 18 and rising to the position of Chief Technology Officer by 2001. In 2009, he left Intel to become COO at EMC and held the position as CEO of VMWare for almost a decade. After taking the reins at Intel, he laid down a detailed plan to mastermind its glorious comeback.Step one would be to separate Intel's design and manufacturing business into two distinct entities. With one eye on US subsidies through the Biden administration's CHIPS and Science Act, Gelsinger pledged to build two new chip factories harnessing the same EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography) technology used by TSMC.Gelsinger was also determined to reestablish discipline in Intel's chip business and get back to the tick, tock" structure. Unfortunately, the production delays that had been building up since 2015 meant that Gelsinger's target was just to get back to parity. In the interim, Intel would also get TSMC to manufacture some of its newest chips which, while costly, would help address any concerns the company was lagging even further behind.Nobody had any doubts as to the size of the task facing Gelsinger, but there was plenty of room for optimism. Gelsinger was humble enough to accept Intel couldn't simply stay on its current course, and had to embrace its new status. He proposed Intel could grin and bear the short-term pain for the company's eventual benefit. If it could build for the future, harness its rivals to keep it in the game and restore faith in its processes, Intel would emerge from this as the winner. All it needed was for nothing to get worse.Things got worseAt the end of October, Reuters reported Gelsinger made a colossal faux-pas when speaking about TSMC. The CEO was quoted saying You don't want all of our eggs in the basket of a Taiwan fab," and that Taiwan is not a stable place." This offended TSMC to such an extent that it ended a discount Intel had taken advantage of for yearsSadly, Gelsinger's desire to restore discipline to the chip division would also backfire, with the latest Core processors blighted by voltage instability issues. Intel was forced to extend those chips' warranties, which came at an additional cost it couldn't really afford. In August, it posted a loss of $1.6 billion and pledged to cut 15,000 employees in an attempt to right the ship. But it was forced to post the biggest quarterly loss in its history three months later, losing $16.6 billion, albeit much of that tied to revaluing company assets and paying for the layoffs. Worse, Intel's new production process, 18A, reportedly failed crucial tests ahead of its 2025 debut.Perhaps the lowest point in Intel's year was when its stock price fell low enough that it became a takeover target. Rumors suggested Qualcomm was potentially eyeing a takeover while others indicated ARM had made inquiries about purchasing Intel's product unit.Where does this leave Intel?The New York Times reports Intel's board grew frustrated with Gelsinger as his rescue plan was not showing results quickly enough." But Intel wasn't going to hire Gelsinger in 2021 and suddenly bounce back in 2024. Building large and complex chip factories isn't easy. Nor is getting thousands of engineers to solve difficult problems around chip yields. And obviously reversing a slide that started in 2015 was never going to happen overnight.Intel's board is presently looking for a full-time successor to Gelsinger but it's hard to see what someone else would do differently. After all, the company still needs to build those factories in order to own and control its future, and it still needs to fix its processes. Unless, of course, the next CEO is going to be told to just stanch the bleeding and keep the money rolling in. Even in its deeply-wounded state after a few bad quarters, Intel is still the biggest name in the x86 chip world and will keep making money for years to come.You could easily imagine Intel's board sitting around, prioritizing a few years of healthy profits at the cost of the company's long-term future. It can keep selling modified versions of its existing desktop chips, ceding the technological leadership to AMD, Qualcomm and others. There's probably a decade or two of big industrial clients who would be happy using Intel processors for their hardware for as long as they're still using Windows. Perhaps that would be fitting given how big and ossified Intel has become, admitting that it can't move fast enough to evolve.It's likely that scenario won't be allowed to happen given Intel's broader role in the global tech space. Even if the incoming administration criticized the CHIPS Act - Intel is still set to be its largest funding recipient - having a domestic manufacturer of Intel's scale will be an asset few sane governments would allow to fall. But just switching CEOs won't suddenly fix the company's big, hard-to-solve problems. It wasn't Pat Gelsinger who screwed up power design for Raptor Lake, nor did he pass on the opportunity to make the iPhone CPU all those years ago. The TSMC stuff, he can own that, but while a CEO sets the direction of travel, he can't micromanage every process in a company of Intel's scale. So whoever replaces him will have the same big stack of issues to tackle, knowing that the board's patience will be even shorter this time out.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/firing-pat-gelsinger-doesnt-solve-intels-problems-173420381.html?src=rss
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
by Valentina Palladino,Amy Skorheim,Jeff Dunn on (#6SNQ1)
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
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