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19.11.2024 18:13 There are tons of hot Black Friday deals worth checking out already, but here's one that can help you keep the temperature just right. Google's fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat can be yours for $225, which is a $55 discount. The deal is available at Wellbots and you'll need to use the code ENGBFNLT55 at checkout to receive the savings. Google unveiled the latest version of its Nest Thermostat back in August. This is a solid deal on a new product. The thermostat employs AI to deliver what Google claims are more accurate readings and to make suggestions on how to save energy and cut down on your utility bills. The thermostat will tweak settings by itself too, depending on factors such as the ambient temperature. To measure that, a wireless temperature sensor is bundled with the device. The sensor can run for up to three years before a battery replacement is needed, according to Google. You can buy more sensors and connect up to six to the Nest Thermostat while dotting them around your home. This model's display is 60 percent larger than that of its predecessors. The display is more customizable too. You have a variety of faces to choose from, just like on a smartwatch. It's possible to make the thermostat appear like a clock or to change its colors. One neat feature is that the Nest Thermostat uses integrated Soli radar sensors to determine how far away you are from it. It will automatically tweak the UI based on how close you are. The more you move back, the larger the font size will be to improve the legibility. 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/googles-latest-nest-learning-thermostat-is-55-off-ahead-of-black-friday-140053458.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 18:13 This past summer, Lyft began testing its driver verification program in nine cities. Now, the feature will be available nationwide. The program mirrors Uber’s own verification system, which went live for US customers in September. With either company, the verification system works about the same: rider names are cross-referenced against a database to ensure they are who they say they are. Failing that, riders can upload photos of government IDs to enroll. Ideally, verified identities will make drivers feel safer picking up complete strangers in their cars. Along with the verification program, Lyft is adding a few quality-of-life improvements. The app will now inform drivers if their passengers are in areas like bike or bus lanes. Drivers in some places will also find out if a route goes through a school or traffic enforcement. Additionally, Lyft is piloting a restroom finder for drivers. Like Uber and Waze, it's also implementing real-time road alerts that allow drivers to mark accidents, heavy traffic or road closures.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/lyft-is-bringing-rider-verification-to-the-entire-nation-140013926.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 18:13 Amazon is battling back against Spotify on the audiobook front. Starting today, Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers in the US, UK and Canada have access to Audible's library of a million-plus audiobooks. Individual subscribers and the primary account holders of the family plan can listen to one book a month at no additional cost alongside their music and ad-free podcasts. Naturally, Amazon doesn't want to cannibalize Audible's business. Along with a swathe of on-demand content, the latter's Premium Plus subscription offers one audiobook credit per month. Redeem that and the title is yours to keep forever, even if you cancel your plan. Amazon Music Unlimited's approach is more like a library. You can effectively borrow one audiobook from Audible's catalog at a time. You can listen to the book as much as you want during that month. When your next billing cycle starts, you can try another one — or borrow the same audiobook for another month. You can, of course, subscribe to Audible or buy audiobooks ad hoc if access to one per month isn't enough for you. As it happens, Amazon is offering new Music Unlimited subscribers three months of free access. Otherwise, Amazon Music Unlimited costs $10 per month or $99 per year for Prime members and $11 per month for other users. Last year, Spotify started offering Premium subscribers 15 hours of audiobook listening per month at no extra cost , with the option to add 11 hours of listening time for $11. The company later introduced an audiobook-only plan with 15 hours of listening time for $10 per month — just $1 less than it costs for a Premium plan with the same benefit plus much more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-music-unlimited-subscribers-can-now-borrow-audiobooks-from-audibles-library-140002085.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 18:13 Sony is reportedly in talks to purchase Japanese publisher Kadokawa, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the dealings. Kadokawa owns FromSoftware, which is behind incredibly difficult Soulslike games, including Elden Ring, Dark Souls and Bloodbourne. Sony already holds a 14 percent stake in FromSoftware. Elden Ring is the brain child of director Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin and available on Sony's PlayStation 4 and 5, among other platforms. FromSoftware released it in early 2022 and it has since sold over 25 million units. Its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, also sold five million copies in just three days when it came out in June. FromSoftware isn't the only studio Kadokawa owns. Sony would also gain ownership of Acquire, Spike Chunsoft and Gotcha Gotcha Games — bringing the developers of games like Mario Luigi: Brothership, Shiren the Wanderer and Tenchu under its umbrella. Plus, purchasing Kadokawa would expand Sony's existing anime and manga portfolio. Sony is valued at about $114 billion, but it's unclear how much it's willing to fork out for Kadokawa. However, sources say a deal might go through in the next few weeks, so we should have more information then. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sony-reportedly-in-talks-to-buy-elden-ring-and-dark-souls-developer-133015041.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 18:13 Accessing and securing the cloud is a necessity for companies and Microsoft has taken another step by announcing the Windows 365 Link device. According to Microsoft, "it enables desk-based users to work securely on a familiar Windows desktop in the Microsoft Cloud with responsive, high-fidelity experiences." Windows 365 Link is a small, lightweight device that Microsoft claims can immediately wake from sleep, boot up in seconds and locally process video conferencing solutions like Microsoft Teams. It doesn't store local data or apps, has security baseline policies enabled and doesn't allow for individuals to disable security features. Plus, logging in requires Microsoft Entra ID along with the Microsoft Authenticator app or USB security keys. Microsoft's new device also works with dual 4K monitors, an audio port, four USB ports, an ethernet port, Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E. The Windows 365 Link is currently available in preview but should come to select areas in April 2025 for $349. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/microsoft-made-a-349-hardware-client-to-connect-to-cloud-pcs-133027364.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 18:13 We at Engadget spend a lot of time thinking about the best tech gifts for anyone and everyone in your life. But during that process, we often can’t help but think about the things we’d like to receive as gifts. We encourage everyone to treat themselves in some way while scrambling to find gifts for those they love, and it’s about time we take our own advice. Here, we’ve compiled a list of gadgets on our staffers’ wish lists with the hope that it may inspire you to splurge a bit on yourself this year. Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-tech-gifts-on-our-editors-wishlists-130043069.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 18:13 Nintendo Switch players, you can get Life is Strange: Double Exposure on your console starting today. Square Enix says the game, which been available on the Xbox Series X|S, PC and PlayStation 5 since October 29, comes later than the other versions because it has been "meticulously ported" for the Switch. Its lighting system has been rebuilt and its assets have been optimized so that they'd perform well and run smoothly in both docked and handheld modes. Double Exposure picks up from the events of the first game and revolves around the original Life is Strange protagonist Max Caulfield. Max is older in this newer installment and now has the power to shift between two different timelines. In Double Exposure, Max's best friend Safi was murdered and found dead in the snow. She then uses her powers to investigate Safi's murder, mainly to solve the crime in one timeline and to prevent it from happening in the other timeline where her friend remains alive. The digital version of Life is Strange: Double Exposure will be available today, November 19, at 8am PST/11am EST. You can get the base version with the full game, the Deluxe Edition with two additional outfits for Max and the Ultimate Edition with five additional outfits , as well as a cat companion for the protagonist. Square Enix will release a physical version on January 28, 2025, which is now also available for pre-order. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/life-is-strange-double-exposure-comes-to-nintendo-switch-today-130005279.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 18:13 Black Friday is upon us once again, and the internet’s awash with gonzo deals on the world’s most sought after tech. Naturally, you’re too busy living your actual life to check if the deals on offer are as good as they’re made out to be. That’s why Engadget employs a crack team of spreadsheet nerds to comb through what’s hot and what’s not. If you’re in the market for a new device, keep your eyes on our guide of the real deals. For instance, a big chunk of change has been knocked off the M3 MacBook Airs to clear room for the M4s. Given the M3 was already a superlative-exhausting piece of equipment, that you can now snag one for as little as $899 is staggering. If I was in the US and in the market for a new machine, I’d have whipped my credit card out before writing this newsletter. I’m asking the universe for Fujifilm to offer an even tastier discount for the X-T50 in the coming days. — Dan Cooper Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! News in Brief iFixit’s PS5 Pro teardown reveals an easily replaceable CMOS batteryFinally. It might be time to say goodbye to Apple’s lightning to 3.5mm jack adapterGiven how many iPhones still use lightning, it seems premature. Apple’s next AirTag is coming in 2025 with privacy improvementsIt’ll be harder to tamper with too. El Capitan ranked the most powerful supercomputer in the worldIt’ll help manage the nuclear stockpile. Trump names commission member Brendan Carr as FCC chair He’s a co-author of Project 2025. FCC President-elect Trump has named Brendan Carr as incoming head of the Federal Communications Commission. Carr is a Trump man through and through, having previously served as an aide to Ajit Pai, and Trump appointed him to the FCC board in his first tenure. He also drafted the FCC portion of the infamous Project 2025 manifesto, is against Net Neutrality and pushes the myth Big Tech suppresses conservative speech. All in all, a swell guy. Continue Reading. America’s ‘news influencers’ skew conservative, Pew report finds Shocker. If anyone still believes the myth social media platforms suppress conservative speech, then this latest Pew report will… probably be dismissed as fake news. The thinktank has researched the state of “news influencers” who have stepped in to fill the void vacated by traditional news media. It found the most popular names online are more likely to skew right than left, and that a concerning number of people would rather get their news from individuals over publications with commitments to things like fact checking and proving what they claim. Continue Reading. Two Baltic Sea communications cables have been knocked offline Initial reports suspect sabotage. A crucial but unseen part of our internet infrastructure is the network of undersea cables that carries data between countries. Two of those, one between Lithuania and Sweden and one between Finland and Germany, were cut during the weekend. Officials haven’t yet made their findings public, but the hints are of sabotage by a hostile foreign power. Continue Reading. Roblox restricts DMs for kids under 13 and beefs up parental controls in safety push A story from the pages of ‘What, you weren’t doing that already!?’ magazine. Roblox Roblox is adding new restrictions to younger children’s accounts to beef up its nonexistent safety credentials. This includes plans to limit users under the age of 13 sending private messages to other users without parental permission. The company has also announced parents will be able to monitor their kids’ Roblox use from their phones. Continue Reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-get-ready-for-black-friday-121500820.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 18:13 If your Instagram recommendations have been feeling a little stale, you’ll soon have a way to make the app’s algorithm forget everything it thinks it knows about you. Meta is testing a new feature that will allow users to reset the algorithmic suggestions that power the app’s feed, Reels and Explore section. The company described the feature as a “test,” but said the update “will soon roll out globally.” With the change, users will be able to “reset suggested content” from the content preferences section in Instagram’s settings. This will, according to Meta, allow you to “start fresh” and provide an opportunity to re-tune the app’s suggestions. But while this may help you get an Instagram feed that better reflects your current interests, Meta notes that doing this kind of “reset” doesn’t delete any of your data from the app or change how the company serves you ads. Meta is framing the change as part of its push to bring new safety features to teens, even though the feature will be available to all users. “We want to give teens new ways to shape their Instagram experience, so it can continue to reflect their passions and interests as they evolve,” the company wrote in a blog post. The service has previously faced criticism over its recommendations, which EU regulators have suggested could encourage “addictive behavior.” The company notes that it has other teen-specific features meant to prevent its younger users from seeing inappropriate content. It recently introduced “teen accounts,” which have stricter privacy settings, and attempts to block certain types of harmful content from appearing in their feeds.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-will-let-you-reset-your-recommendations-120022492.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 13:01 It has long been possible to listen to music from within Opera's browser. If you go down its sidebar, you'll see a player icon where you can choose from Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer and then log into any of them with your account details. But now Opera has teamed up with Spotify and has made the music streaming service the default option on the company's flagship browser with generative AI features, Opera One. After logging into your account and activating the player, you'll be able to detach it from the sidebar and move it around the screen to a place that wouldn't interrupt your workflow. The player will float inside the browser and will not disappear if you tab away. It also automatically fades out the audio that's currently playing when you join meetings and calls. Your songs will remain paused for the duration of the call or meeting and will resume as soon as it's over. Perhaps the best thing about the companies' teamup, if you live in a certain location at least, is that you can get Spotify Premium for free if you don't have a subscription yet. If you're in Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, the US or Vietnam, you can redeem two to three months of Spotify Premium at no cost from within the browser's sidebar. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/spotify-is-now-the-default-music-player-in-the-opera-one-browser-090024069.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 13:01 PC gamers have almost too many options when it comes to titles to play, which is a great problem to have. With decades of games to choose from , the options are endless. You also get the perks of backward compatibility and console-beating graphical performance — if you've got the coin for it when you’re building your perfect kit or picking up a high-powered gaming laptop. The whole idea of what a gaming PC is and where you can play it is shifting, too, with the rise of handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck. We've tried to be broad with our recommendations here on purpose; here are the best PC games you can play right now. Best PC games to play right now Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-best-pc-games-150000910.html?src=rss

19.11.2024 03:13 Two undersea communications cables in the Baltic Sea have been knocked offline, and at least one appears to have been physically cut. CNN received confirmation from a local telecom company that a cable between Lithuania and Sweden was cut on Sunday morning. A second cable, about 60 to 65 miles from the first, routes communications between Finland and Germany. The cause of that outage has yet to be determined, but officials suspect “intentional damage.” The outages follow a September warning from the US about an increased risk of Russian “sabotage” of undersea cables. That came after a joint investigation from public broadcasters from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland that Russia had deployed a fleet of spy ships in Nordic waters. They were reportedly part of a program designed to sabotage the cables . This doesn’t leave the European nations entirely without online communications, as data is typically routed through multiple cables to avoid overreliance on a single one. Cinia, the state-controlled Finnish company that oversees the second cable, said it wasn’t yet determined what caused the outage since they haven’t yet physically inspected it. However, the sudden outage reportedly suggests it, too, was cut by an outside force. The foreign ministers of Finland and Germany released a joint statement on Monday. “We are deeply concerned about the severed undersea cable connecting Finland and Germany in the Baltic Sea,” they wrote. “The fact that such an incident immediately raises suspicions of intentional damage speaks volumes about the volatility of our times. A thorough investigation is underway. Our European security is not only under threat from Russia‘s war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors. Safeguarding our shared critical infrastructure is vital to our security and the resilience of our societies.” The Lithuania-Sweden cable, which handles about a third of Lithuania’s internet capacity, is expected to be repaired “over the next few weeks,” and weather could determine the precise timing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/two-baltic-sea-communications-cables-have-been-knocked-offline-214130723.html?src=rss

18.11.2024 22:11 A four-pack of Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 trackers are on sale via Amazon for just under $62. This Black Friday deal brings this particular combo pack down to a record low price. The typical cost is $100, so this represents a discount of 38 percent. This is one of our favorite Bluetooth trackers, and with good reason. They are the perfect companion accessory to Samsung phones. The finding network is vast and the battery life is fantastic. These trackers will stay powered on for up to 500 days, or even longer with Power Saving Mode enabled. We also appreciate the simple, yet aesthetically pleasing, design. There’s an actual hole for keychains, which is something Apple AirTags lack. These trackers are IP67-rated for water and dust-resistance. This means that the unit is protected from dust that’s larger than 1mm in diameter and that it can be submerged in water up to one meter deep for up to 30 minutes. Just don’t throw it in a lake and you should be good to go. The four-pack includes two white tags and two black tags, for a little yin and yang action. There’s not really a serious downside here for Samsung users. However, there’s a major caveat for everyone else. The SmartTag2 trackers only work with Samsung phones and tablets. 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/a-four-pack-of-samsung-galaxy-smarttag2-trackers-is-38-percent-off-for-black-friday-194307496.html?src=rss

18.11.2024 22:11 Black Friday is almost here and, boy oh boy, do we have some related deals to prove it. Solo Stove just dropped a massive Black Friday sale that offers significant savings on fire pit bundles. The most notable deal here is for the Bonfire Backyard Bundle, which is down to $400 from $580. That’s a nice savings of $180. This combo pack includes the well-regarded Bonfire smokeless fire pit and a whole swath of related accessories. The bundle comes with a removable ash plate, a lid, a carry case, a stand and an outdoor shelter, among other items. This deal also icludes the Bonfire itself. Solo Stove’s fire pits easily made our list of the best outdoor gear for the fall, and the medium-sized Bonfire is likely the company’s most popular item. It creates a roaring fire, but without all of that hazardous smoke. What's not to like? The Bonfire is a wood-burning fire pit that gets much hotter than conventional fires, allowing for “uninterrupted enjoyment in the outdoors.” The sale extends to other fire pit bundles. The high-end Yukon bundle is $650 instead of $940 and the budget-friendly Ranger bundle is $310 instead of $445. Amazon is also getting in on the action. Outdoor enthusiasts can pick up the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 fire pit, complete with a removable ash pan and stand, for $196. That’s a discount of over 40 percent. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-solo-stove-deals-will-save-you-up-to-30-percent-on-fire-pit-bundles-182758981.html?src=rss

18.11.2024 22:11 The Pixel Watch 3 is one of the smartwatches that's available for a lower price than usual in early Black Friday deals. Just a couple of months after Google debuted the wearable, it has hit a new record low price of $280. That's a solid discount of $70 on the Wi-Fi-only 41mm model. The LTE-enabled version of that size is on sale too, but only if you opt for the matte black aluminum case with an obsidian band. That Pixel Watch 3 model has dropped by 17 percent to $373. The Pixel Watch 3 is our pick for the best smartwatch for Android users. It's Google's finest Pixel Watch yet. It has a display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen can drop to just 1 nit of brightness while you're asleep to help conserve battery life. The smartwatch can run for over 24 hours on a single charge. Handily, the Pixel Watch 3 charges faster than previous models too. Thanks in part to the help of Fitbit's knowhow, the wearable is a great activity tracker. Functions include detection and custom running plans, along with the ability to track other metrics such as Cardio Load. However, you'll need to stump up for a Fitbit Premium plan to access more in-depth coaching. Some software quirks and slight bulkiness are other drawbacks of the Pixel Watch 3. Other features include the likes of weather forecasts, calendar alerts and map directions that you can access via Google Assistant voice commands. In the end, we gave the Pixel Watch 3 a score of 84 in our review, with Engadget deputy editor Cherlynn Low calling it a "a serious smartwatch ready for the competition." 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/google-pixel-watch-3-drops-to-280-ahead-of-black-friday-183726496.html?src=rss