Engadget

02.11.2024 15:50 Apple has determined that "a very small percentage" of iPhone 14 Plus models are having rear camera issues, and it has launched a service program to repair them for free. If your phone isn't showing a preview when you use its rear camera, then you may be eligible to get your phone fixed at no cost — you can also contact Apple to get a refund if you'd already paid for a repair. The affected devices were manufactured between April 10, 2023 and April 28, 2024, around half a year after the model started shipping in 2022. You can check your device's serial number on the official repair program page to know if your device is included. To get it fixed, you can bring your phone to an Apple Authorized Service Provider or to an Apple retail store after making an appointment. You can also contact Apple Support if you want to mail your device to a repair center. The program covers repairs for all eligible phones for three years after the original date of purchase, so you may want to keep it in mind in case your unit starts exhibiting the issue in the future. Apple says it may "restrict or limit repair" to the unit's original region of purchase, though, so you'll have to check with the company if you bought your iPhone while traveling outside your country. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/new-apple-repair-program-will-fix-iphone-14-plus-rear-camera-issue-for-free-110051988.html?src=rss

02.11.2024 01:00 If you’re wondering what happened to Amazon’s new and improved version of its Alexa voice assistant, you’re not alone. Bloomberg reports that the new Alexa is still stuck in its developmental phase and Amazon has cut off access to its beta phase including its new “Let’s Chat” phase. As a result, a planned late 2024 launch has been pushed back to next year. The problem seems to be with its large language models . The new Alexa is designed to understand more complicated questions from users but it’s also more likely to fail doing some of the most basic things the old version could do quite easily like create a timer or operate smart lights, according to a follow up report from The Verge. Amazon originally planned to unveil its new version of Alexa AI in October but now the timeline has been extended into next year. The original timeline planned to premiere the next evolutionary step in Alexa’s advancement on October 17 but Amazon decided to pivot and used the date to show off its new line of Kindle ereaders. Then in August, news surfaced that the new Alexa would be powered by Anthropic’s Claude AI and come with a monthly subscription fee. As ChatGPT began to rise in popularity in the summer of 2023, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy wanted to see if Alexa could compete if it had an AI upgrade. Jassy reportedly started peppering Alexa with sports questions “like an ESPN reporter at a playoff press conference” and its answers were “nowhere near perfect.” It even made up a recent game score for Jassy. Despite this, Alexa passed the good enough stage and Jassy and his fellow executives felt their engineers could build a beta version by the early part of 2024. Unfortunately, Amazon wasn’t able to meet its deadline. Even with the new deadline, the new Alexa still has a long way to go to fix its problems. Some employees told Bloomberg that the problem outside of Alexa’s innerworkings is with Amazon’s overstuffed management and a lack of “a compelling vision for an AI-powered Alexa.” .This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-reportedly-bumped-back-its-ai-powered-alexa-to-next-year-215041138.html?src=rss

02.11.2024 01:00 Disney is adding another layer to its AI and extended reality strategies. As first reported by Reuters, the company recently formed a dedicated emerging technologies unit. Dubbed the Office of Technology Enablement, the group will coordinate the company’s exploration, adoption and use of artificial intelligence, AR and VR tech. It has tapped Jamie Voris, previously the CTO of its Studios Technology division, to oversee the effort. Before joining Disney in 2010, Voris was the chief technology officer at the National Football League. More recently, he led the development of the company’s Apple Vision Pro app. Voris will report to Alan Bergman, the co-chairman of Disney Entertainment. Reuters reports the company eventually plans to grow the group to about 100 employees. “The pace and scope of advances in AI and XR are profound and will continue to impact consumer experiences, creative endeavors, and our business for years to come — making it critical that Disney explore the exciting opportunities and navigate the potential risks,” Bergman wrote in an email Disney shared with Engadget. “The creation of this new group underscores our dedication to doing that and to being a positive force in shaping responsible use and best practices.” A Disney spokesperson told Engadget the Office of Technology Enablement won’t take over any existing AI and XR projects at the company. Instead, it will support Disney’s other teams, many of which are already working on products that involve those technologies, to ensure their work fits into the company’s broader strategic goals. “It is about bringing added focus, alignment, and velocity to those efforts, and about reinforcing our commitment being a positive force in shaping responsible use and best practices,” the spokesperson said. It’s safe to say Disney has probably navigated the last two decades of technological change better than most of Hollywood. For instance, the company’s use of the Unreal Engine in conjunction with a digital set known as The Volume has streamlined the production of VFX-heavy shows like The Mandalorian. With extended reality and AI in particular promising tidal changes to how humans work and play, it makes sense to add some additional oversight to how those technologies are used at the company.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/disney-forms-dedicated-ai-and-xr-group-to-coordinate-company-wide-use-and-adoption-205011787.html?src=rss

02.11.2024 01:00 One of fantasy and sci-fi’s all-time greats has passed away. Artist Greg Hildebrandt, known for his iconic work on Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel and Magic: The Gathering, died on Thursday at 85. He and his twin brother Tim, who died in 2006, were a powerhouse duo — the Brothers Hildebrandt — until they decided to pursue solo careers in 1981. The duo was perhaps best known for their “Style B” poster for the original Star Wars in 1977. Released in the UK , the art shows Luke Skywalker heroically hoisting his lightsaber high above his head like King Arthur wielded Excalibur. He’s flanked by a blaster-toting Princess Leia, with C-3PO and R2-D2 looking on from behind. Darth Vader’s imposing mask peers down on them in the background among a sea of stars, the Death Star and starfighters. As for Luke and Leia’s noteworthy lack of resemblance to Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, neither the Brothers Hildebrandt nor Jung had access to the actors’ photos. So, they made do with generic hero images that could have been ripped from 1970s fantasy book covers. The Hildebrandt poster was used in the UK until January 1978, when it was replaced by Tom Chantrell’s “Style C” poster, which depicted the actual cast. Greg Hildebrandt / X The brothers were also strongly associated with a series of The Lord of the Rings calendars. Decades before Peter Jackson brought the films to live action , their art — which drew on their influence from classic Disney films — was the most prominent visualization of Tolkien’s epic for many a 1970s fantasy reader. Among Hildebrandt’s many other projects were comics for Marvel and DC, illustrations for Wizards of the Coast , magazines Omni, Heavy Metal and Amazing Stories, album art for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Black Sabbath and a long list of book covers. Hildebrandt also fought for freedom with his artistic gifts. After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he contributed illustrations for Operation USA’s benefit anthology comic book series. Profits were donated to Ukrainian refugee relief efforts. Explaining his decision, he wrote, “Any project that I can lend my art to that will thwart Putin is a project I will join with all my heart, soul and mind.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/greg-hildebrandt-iconic-star-wars-and-lord-of-the-rings-artist-has-died-at-85-193026772.html?src=rss

02.11.2024 01:00 A new update for Instagram posted earlier today could fix one of the most frustrating problems for creators. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, announced a new filtering update on Instagram for creators’ inboxes. Instagram users with a creator-designated account can now filter message requests in their inbox based on its sender in a similar way to Gmail’s labels. Creators can still sort their messages by the most “recent” received and by the “number of followers" but they can now filter out certain messages. The new filters include requests and messages from “verified accounts,” “businesses,” “creators” and “subscribers.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adam Mosseri The update also includes a way to sort all of your story replies on Instagram. If you go to the top of your inbox, you can also sort and filter your story replies “in case you just wanna get to these requests really quickly and easily,” Mosseri says. “Now there’s a lot more to do to improve the inbox for creators and requests but hopefully this is one step in the right direction,” Mosseri adds in his video. He also said this feature was one a lot of creators were asking for, so hopefully Instagram will be adding more inbox tools in the near future to make that part of the app a bit cleaner. Instagram has been toying with new ways to update its platform for higher profile users and creators for a long time now. The company started testing its creator account concept in 2018 that allowed celebrities and more famous social media stars to filter their direct messages and track stats of their followers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-reorganizes-message-requests-for-creators-191802121.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 Audible is offering a sweet promotion as an early Black Friday deal, allowing new users to sign up for three months of its Premium Plus plan for just $3. That breaks down to $1 per month. It’s only for new users, so anyone who has previously dipped their toes in the Audible waters are out of luck. This offer starts today, but is available all the way until midnight on New Year’s Eve. It’s only for US customers and, as usual, the subscription will automatically renew after the three months, so be vigilant about smashing that cancel button if it’s not working out. The regular price for Audible Premium Plus is $15 per month plus tax. Audible Premium Plus is the top-tier offering for listening to audiobooks. A membership provides access to the entire catalog plus a monthly credit to purchase nearly any title outright. Subscriptions also offer discounts on other newly-released titles. All told, there are thousands of books to choose from, along with podcasts and Audible Originals. To that end, there’s a whole lot of original content here for fans of different literary genres. James Patterson has an Audible Original that features a stacked voice cast, with Cobie Smulders and Reid Scott headlining. There’s also unique fare like sleep meditations and the like. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/audible-is-offering-three-months-for-3-in-an-early-black-friday-deal-183640016.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 VPNs, or virtual private networks, are everywhere. If you’ve spent any time at all on YouTube, chances are you’ve seen an ad selling VPNs — there have been literally hundreds and thousands of them. We test and review VPNs so you don't have to — but what even is a VPN? The pitch is fairly simple: a VPN can mask your IP address and the identity of your device by routing your traffic through a remote server. Sites and services will see a different IP address to your own, and your internet service provider will only be able to see that you’re connected to a VPN server, rather than what sites you’re visiting. That means a VPN can be an important tool to keep your data private and secure, especially if you need to connect to an unsecured network. If you’re on public WiFi, for example, you can’t be sure what they’re tracking while you’re surfing the internet. With a VPN, there’s an additional layer of privacy — as long as you make sure the VPN provider can be trusted. But a VPN should not be the end of your security journey. Complex passwords, multifactor authentication and other security basics should be way higher on your checklist. Another commonly advertised feature of VPNs is evading geoblocking techniques that companies use to prevent you from accessing certain content. Because you’re connecting to a remote server, a VPN can effectively change your location, allowing you to watch another country’s Netflix content or, say, watch Doctor Who on the UK-only BBC iPlayer. If you’re in the EU, it can allow you to access sites that are otherwise blocked due to the region’s strict data protection regulations. In the past, VPNs have even been used to skirt political firewalls put up to censor online access. With many VPN makers making sweeping claims about military-grade encryption, digital invisibility and lightning-fast speeds, it’s tough to know what’s true and what’s marketing hype. That’s why Engadget started evaluating VPNs in 2023, looking at a number of factors such as security, speed, latency, usage limits and price. And while we don't expect to ramp up to more VPN testing until 2025, our best VPNs guide will continue to be the home base of our coverage. In the meantime, this is our current VPN testing methodology. Background checks Before we install or sign up for a service, our work begins by investigating each product’s lineage. We reference privacy policies, transparency reports and security audits that are publicly available, and note the security specs of each service. We also look into each company’s history of security incidents like data breaches. We rely on some pre-existing academic work from bodies like Consumer Reports, VPNalyzer and others when looking into security specs. Setup The next step in our review process involves a close look at what it’s like to get set up on the VPN. This involves looking at the various platforms each VPN supports, from certain web browsers to Smart TVs, to better understand how it can be used. We also look to see just how easy it is to get started on a new VPN. Some will automatically connect to a secure server every time you use your device, while others make you jump through hoops to stay signed in. We seek to understand how user friendly and intuitive these VPNs can be. Usage limits While many VPN providers promise that their service works across every device all the time, there is often small print to consider. We scan the terms of service for each of the company’s plans to understand what they are offering. Is there a limit to the number of devices a user can have connected at once? Is there a “fair use” limit that kicks in after a certain amount of traffic? Are advanced features multi-hop connections locked to only the priciest plans? We investigate all of these things so you don’t have to. We also conduct many of our more specific tests at the same time, which allows us to verify companies’ claims about simultaneous device use. Speed and latency The first step in testing speed and latency is to ascertain the baseline of the connection before connecting to a VPN. We then use the “quick connect” feature on VPN apps to connect to the “fastest” provider available when testing internet speed. Once connected, we run internet speed tests by Ookla and ping tests with meter.net. When relaying these results, we will note the average speed and ping across these results, as well as the difference between that average and our baseline when not connected to a VPN. Geoblocking We test all VPNs from within the US. To check that a service is able to effectively avoid geoblocking, we connect to a Canada-based server and attempt to access content on Netflix that is only available to users in that country. We then connect to a Hong Kong-based server to attempt to watch a news livestream on a YouTube channel that is exclusively available to users in that region. Finally, we conduct a gaming test by playing on servers in the United Kingdom. We’re looking to see not only if we can access the same content from all these servers, but also to test for lag or any other headaches that you could run into when using something. Checking for leaks A DNS leak happens when your device sends an unencrypted DNS query outside of your VPN service’s encrypted tunnel to an ISP’s DNS servers. This effectively nullifies the use of a VPN in the first place by allowing third parties to see and potentially track your browsing activity and IP address. A WebRTC leak is an issue that can occur in modern web browsers that can similarly expose your personal IP address to a website you’re on. While you can avoid this by configuring your browser to not send such data, a VPN should be able to prevent this from happening. To check for both of these issues, we use publicly available tools such as NordVPN’s IP address lookup tool and ExpressVPN’s leak tests before and after connecting to a VPN and make sure neither fault is occurring.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-we-test-vpns-175845189.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 Atari and developer Digital Eclipse have announced details of the next paid expansion for Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, a remarkable collection that's both a compilation of many of the publisher's games and a documentary about its half-century history. This second DLC is called The First Console War and it highlights the rivalry with Mattel’s Intellivision, Atari's first real competitor in the console market. The bundle includes 19 more games and eight video segments that delve into the rivalry, as well as what eventually led to Mattel making games for Atari systems. Atari and Digital Eclipse say the DLC includes more The First Console War DLC features additional interviews, vintage ads and never-before-seen historical artifacts that help tell the story of the battle between Atari and Mattel. As it happens, it was a war Atari ended up decisively winning, as it bought the Intellivision brand earlier this year. The DLC includes prototypes and other games that never saw the light of day until now. The full list is as follows: Air Raiders — 2600 M Network Antbear — 2600 M Network Armor Ambush — 2600 M Network Astroblast — 2600 M Network Frogs Flies — 2600 M Network International Soccer — 2600 M Network Dark Cavern — 2600 M Network Star Strike — 2600 M Network Super Challenge Baseball — 2600 M Network Super Challenge Football — 2600 M Network Swordfight — 2600 M Network Sea Battle — 2600 M Network Tower of Mystery Video Pinball — 2600 Basketball — 2600 Hardball — Atari 8-bit Final Legacy — 5200 Xari Arena — Atari 8—bit Desert Falcon — 7800 The Last Console War follows a previous DLC called The Wider World of Atari that arrived in September and added another 19 games to the collection. Factoring in the two expansions, Atari 50 will have around 130 games in total. Those who already have Atari 50 on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5 will be able to snap up The Last Console War on November 8. If you have the game on Atari VCS, you'll get the DLC as a free update early next year. If you're interested in picking up a bundle of the base game and both expansions, you can do just that with Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition. That'll be available on November 8 as well. The physical edition for Switch and PS5 costs $40. A steelbook for the Switch includes Atari 2600 art cards and other goodies and will run you $50.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/atari-50s-console-war-expansion-adds-19-more-games-on-november-8-181033645.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 The first American-made Polestar EVs are now on the road. The Swedish automaker said on Friday it delivered the first Polestar 3 SUVs to US and Canadian customers. The Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Biden in 2022, incentivizes automakers to manufacture EVs in the US, offering tax credits for companies and buyers. Polestar began stateside Polestar 3 production in August at its Ridgeville, South Carolina plant. Those vehicles will serve North American and European markets, complementing the company’s more established production in Chengdu, China. Tim Stevens for Engadget The automaker says American and Canadian Polestar 3 deliveries will pick up steam in the coming weeks. You can take one for a spin if you live near one of the automaker’s Polestar Spaces, essentially brand-building fancy showrooms in or near major US cities. The Polestar 3 is billed as the company’s coming-out party, expanding the niche reach of the first two models to a more mainstream audience. Engadget’s Tim Stevens tested the EV last month and found that, apart from a few early software glitches, the $73,400 and up SUV is “great.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/polestar-delivers-the-first-us-made-polestar-3-evs-180002236.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 The newest version of Bose’s QuietComfort headphones are on sale via Amazon for just $200. This ties a record-low price, as these headphones typically cost $350. All told, the early Black Friday sale represents a discount of 43 percent. Most colorways are included with this deal, so have at it. A version of these cans made our list of the best wireless headphones, so there’s plenty to recommend. The battery life is fantastic, lasting around 24 hours on a single charge. There’s also a quick charge feature, which can squeeze two hours of additional use with just 15 minutes at the power outlet. These are primarily wireless headphones, but can operate with an analog connection. The adjustable EQ is great and, of course, the sound is top-tier. Bose is known for making some pretty good stuff. There are touch controls built into the earcups, which is handy, and active noise cancellation. This ANC can be adjusted to create a transparency mode, so you won’t walk into a truck or whatever. The headphones are also quite comfortable, thanks to plush earcups and a padded band. The only downside here is the price. It’s tough to recommend these headphones at $350, especially with rival products at similar price points from companies like Apple, Sony and Sennheiser. However, it’s really easy to recommend them at $200. That’s a legit steal. 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/boses-latest-quietcomfort-headphones-return-to-a-record-low-price-ahead-of-black-friday-174600060.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 It's the start of a new month and, as always, Amazon is set to give away a ton of PC games to Prime members. Once again, it's a pretty strong lineup. There's a broad range of offerings from immersive sims and classic platformers to splashy action-adventure titles and chaotic cooking simulators. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy , Mafia: Definitive Edition , Dishonored, Elite Dangerous and Super Meat Boy are among the more well-known titles on the list. Overcooked is brilliant fun and, in my opinion, a perfect relationship test. Meanwhile, if the idea of building and running a dinosaur theme park in which the attractions hopefully won't run amok is your thing, Jurassic World Evolution is one on the options. You can claim Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and Mafia: Definitive Edition today. Here's what else you can snap up and when, along with the launcher you can play each game on: November 7 Dishonored - Definitive Edition Duck Paradox Close To The Sun Disney•Pixar Cars Bang Bang Racing Snakebird Complete November 14 Ms. Holmes: The Case of the Dancing Men Collector's Edition Chasm: The Rift House of Golf 2 Tomb Raider: Anniversary Blade of Darkness November 21 Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Overcooked: Gourmet Edition Gloomy Tales: One-Way Ticket Collector's Edition Super Meat Boy Moonscars Riot - Civil Unrest November 27 Elite Dangerous Sir Whoopass - Immortal Death Jurassic World Evolution Mystery Case Files: The Dalimar Legacy Collector's Edition Shogun Showdown You still have time to grab some of October's Prime Gaming freebies, such as A Plague Tale: Innocence and Death's Door. Meanwhile, the latest batch of games that you can stream on Luna's Prime Gaming channel in eligible countries include Jackbox Party Pack 7, Saints Row: The Third - Remastered, Moving Out, Endling - Extinction is Forever and Infinite Minigolf, alongside mainstays including Fortnite and XDefiant.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amazon-prime-free-games-for-november-include-dishonored-and-guardians-of-the-galaxy-170021817.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 Apple is set to buy a notable developer of photo-editing apps. The company is acquiring Pixelmator, pending regulatory approval. Terms of the deal haven't been disclosed. While it seems likely that Apple will eventually bake some of Pixelmator's tech into its own Camera and Photos apps, the latter said "there will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS and Photomator apps at this time." However, it promised there will be "exciting updates" in the future. Pixelmator said in a statement that it has taken inspiration from Apple since the very beginning of its 17-year existence and that it has similarly focused on "design, ease of use and performance." After the deal closes and it joins Apple, Pixelmator expects to "have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world." For quite some time, Pixelmator's apps have been a popular alternative to the likes of Photoshop within the Apple ecosystem. Its tools are available on Mac, iPhone, iPad and even Vision Pro.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-buying-the-developer-of-one-of-the-iphones-best-photo-editing-apps-165853866.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 With each passing year, Black Friday seems to turn more and more into "Black November," with many retailers starting their holiday sales weeks before the day itself. But while the bombardment of promos can be annoying, it also presents a good chance to beat the rush and finish holiday shopping ahead of time, without paying more than you have to. To help you cut through the noise, we're rounding up the best early Black Friday deals we can find in one easy place. While most major tech retailers haven't started their early sales in earnest just yet, we've seen more than a few new discounts on gadgets we recommend pop up this week, bringing the iPad Air, Bose QuietComfort Headphones and Hisense 4K TVs, among others, down to their lowest prices to date. We'll continuously update this post as more Black Friday sales pop up, so if you've been eyeing something else, be sure to check back. Apple iPad Air for $497 at Amazon : This is a new low for the latest iPad Air, which we consider to be the best Apple tablet for most people. While it lacks the top-end performance and 120Hz OLED panel of the iPad Pro, it's much less expensive, and it still gets you a more futureproof M2 chip, a superior display and better accessory support than the base-model iPad. Also at Best Buy. Apple iPad Air for $694 at Amazon : If you'd prefer more screen space, the 13-inch iPad Air is also down to an all-time low at Amazon and Best Buy. This model can get slightly brighter than its smaller counterpart, but the two slates are virtually identical otherwise. Apple iPad mini for $400 at Amazon : The latest iPad mini only just arrived this month, but it's already $100 off with an on-page coupon at Amazon. Only the purple colorway is on sale, but this is a giant discount for a new Apple release, so we wouldn't expect it to last long. We gave the new mini a review score of 83: It's a minor refresh, but it continues to provide most of the iPad Air's strengths in a form factor that's easier to tuck in a bag and hold with one hand. This deal is available in additional colors at Costco, but only to store members. The Apple iPad Air .Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget Apple Pencil Pro for $93 at Amazon : While this deal is a couple bucks higher than the lowest price we've ever seen for Apple's top-of-the-line iPad stylus, it's still a sizable drop compared to buying from Apple directly. Just be aware that Pencil Pro is only compatible with the most recent iPad Airs and iPad Pros. Also at Walmart. Apple AirTag for $74 at Amazon : The AirTag is, unsurprisingly, the top pick for iPhone users in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers, as it uses Apple's giant network of Apple devices and ultrawideband tech to locate items accurately. Its effectiveness has had deeply unfortunate side effects, but if you use it as intended, it can provide a little extra peace of mind. While not an all-time low, this deal is a welcome drop from the usual $80 street price we've seen for a four-pack in recent months. Also at Best Buy. Apple MacBook Air for $700 at Amazon : This matches the all-time low for Apple's last-gen MacBook Air, which remains a perfectly competent notebook for everyday use. The caveat is that this model only comes with 8GB of RAM, so it's really only meant for lower-power tasks. Apple made 16GB of memory the standard across its MacBook lineup earlier this week, so this might be an instance of Apple trying to clear out old inventory. Still, this is a great value if you only need a laptop for basic web browsing, emailing and word processing. Clip the on-page coupon to see the full discount. The Beats Solo 4.Billy Steele for Engadget Anker Soundcore Space A40 for $45 at Amazon : The Space A40 is the longtime top pick in our guide to the best budget earbuds, as it delivers the kind of robust feature set we expect from pairs that cost three times as much. Call quality isn't the best, and it won't auto-pause when you take out an earbud, but its warm sound, powerful ANC, eight-ish hours of battery life and comfy design all impress for the money. This deal ties the lowest price we've seen — it's only available to Prime subscribers at Amazon, but you can also grab it at Anker's online store with an on-page coupon. Beats Solo 4 for $100 at Amazon : The Solo 4 is light on features and may be uncomfortable on larger heads, but its even-handed sound and 50+-hour battery life make it worth considering if you prefer a more compact on-ear design instead of traditional over-ears. We gave it a score of 79 in our review. This discount ties an all-time low and is also available at Walmart, Target and Best Buy. The full-size Beats Studio Pro is discounted as well, but that pair is a bit harder to recommend over the top picks in our wireless headphone buying guide. Bose QuietComfort Headphones for $199 at Amazon : This ties the lowest price we've seen for Bose's mid-tier noise-canceling headphones. At this price, their effective ANC and light fit make them a worthy alternative to higher-end pairs like the Sony WH-1000XM5 . That said, their bass-heavy sound won't be for everyone, and the XM5 has a more comprehensive feature set. Also at Bose.com, Target and Best Buy. The higher-end QuietComfort Ultra, meanwhile, are $100 off and put out even stronger ANC, though we still prefer the XM5 for around the same price. Anker Soundcore Motion+ for $69 at Amazon : We recommend the Soundcore Motion+ in our guide to the best portable Bluetooth speakers. While it isn't especially light or compact, it pumps out a more spacious sound than most speakers in its price range, it's waterproof and it lasts a decent 12 to 15 hours per charge. We've seen this discount a few times before, but it comes within a few bucks of the lowest price we've tracked. Also at Anker's online store with an on-page coupon. The Anker Soundcore Motion+.Photo by Jon Turi / Engadget Amazon Fire HD 10 for $75 at Amazon : No Fire HD tablet comes close to matching the performance, build quality and app support of an iPad, but they're significantly more affordable, and they still work well enough if all you need is something for casual streaming, e-reading and web browsing. At this price, the 10.1-inch Fire HD 10 is likely a better value than the smaller Fire HD 8, as it has a sharper display, it's a tick faster and it can last slightly longer on a charge. Just be ready to deal with a bunch of ads for Amazon's own apps and services. This discount ties an all-time low, and it's also available at Best Buy and Target. Amazon Echo Show 5 for $50 at Amazon : We highlight the Echo Show 5 in our guide to the best smart displays. While the Echo Show 8 — which isn't majorly discounted yet — has a roomier display, louder speakers and sharper cameras, this 5.5-inch model provides most of the same functionality in a design that's easier to fit on a nightstand. If you're already onboard the Alexa train, it'll work nicely as a smart alarm clock. This deal is $10 more than the all-time low we saw last Black Friday, so it may drop further in the weeks ahead, but for now it matches the best price we've seen in 2024. Also at Target, Kohl's and Best Buy. Blink Outdoor 4 for $180 at Amazon : The Outdoor 4 is a wireless, IP65-rated outdoor security camera we highlight in our guide to the best smart home gadgets. It captures decent 1080p video, it's relatively painless to install and it supports features like night vision, motion alerts, local storage and two-way talking. The catch is that it locks things like person detection and cloud storage behind a subscription plan. Still, it's a solid value on balance, and this deal furthers that. We've seen this price on a six-camera bundle for a few weeks, but it's still an all-time low. An eight-camera pack is also on sale for $250, another low. Audible Premium Plus for $1 at Amazon : 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. The Amazon Echo Show 5.Amazon Hisense U7N 4K TV for $700 at Amazon : Various reviews around the web suggest that the U7N is one of the year's better TV values, with impressive brightness and contrast for the money. It supports up to a fast 144Hz refresh rate in 4K, which is great for gaming, and it runs on the easy-to-grok Google TV platform. Its image can wash out when viewed at an angle, though, and it's limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports. This discount is a new low for the 65-inch model. Also at Best Buy. Hisense U8N 4K TV for $728 at Amazon : 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. Also at Best Buy. Backbone One for $60 at PlayStation Direct: The Backbone One is an comfy gamepad that snaps around your phone and lets you play mobile or cloud-based games without having to rely on touch controls. We've recommended it before. This deal on the PlayStation-themed version isn't an all-time low, but it's $10 to $20 less than the usual discounts we've seen over the past year. Sony's listing doesn't specify whether this is the first- or second-gen model — the latter can fit a wider range of phones and cases — but that shouldn't be a major hindrance if you use an older iPhone or Android device. Both the USB-C and Lightning variants are on sale. Black Friday FAQs When is Black Friday 2024? Black Friday 2024 lands on November 29 this year. When do Black Friday deals start? We expect some Black Friday deals to start as early as November 1. Over the past few years, retailers have been kicking off the holiday shopping season earlier and earlier. This trend will continue in 2024, and you’ll likely find early Black Friday deals available online and in stores in the weeks before the actual shopping event. When do Black Friday deals end? Some Black Friday deals will end immediately on Saturday, November 30. But those will likely be few and far between. Along with starting deals earlier and earlier, retailers have also extended Black Friday deals past the day for a while now, too. In the tech space, we’ve seen many Black Friday deals in the past run through Cyber Monday. Where are the best Black Friday deals? There is no one place to buy all of the best Black Friday deals, but you can expect the big retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target to have many of the same Black Friday deals available — both in the lead up and on the day itself. We also recommend checking direct-to-consumer sites like Apple, Samsung, Sonos and others to make sure you’re getting the best deal before you cross things off your list. Does Apple have Black Friday deals? You typically will not find cash discounts on Apple’s website for Black Friday, though it has offered various gift card bundles during Black Friday in recent years. You may be able to find local Apple store discounts on accessories, but Apple isn’t a retailer known for slashing prices on its products. However, you can find more traditional Apple Black Friday deals at other retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy. 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-early-black-friday-2024-deals-we-could-find-from-amazon-best-buy-and-more-163039545.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 Thousands of people took to the streets in Dublin to attend a Halloween parade that never came, according to reporting by The Independent. Why did they do such a thing? It was all due to an AI-generated ad that promoted the fake event. The My Spirit Halloween website advertised the completely fabricated Macnas Halloween Parade, which was supposed to take place from 7PM to 9PM on the streets of Dublin. News of the parade quickly spread online, and it even received a news ranking on Google. People waiting for a halloween parade. #DublinNo Gardai around, no official announcement, people waiting on the wrong side of the road...Someone did pull a big #hoax #Prank pic.twitter.com/zTQUShZrya— Artur Martins October 31, 2024 So, yeah, thousands of people put on their Halloween costumes and stood on the street for a couple of hours, waiting for an event that would never happen. They even left room in the street for the parade to pass by. That’s thoughtful, but also a bit sad. The situation forced Ireland’s police force to put out a message to urge would-be parade-goers to “disperse safely.” A spokesperson for the organization said that “contrary to information being circulated online, no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin city center this evening or tonight.” Please be advised that contrary to information being circulated online, no Halloween parade is scheduled to take place in Dublin City Centre this evening or tonight.All those gathered on O’Connell Street in expectation of such a parade are asked to disperse safely.Thank you. pic.twitter.com/KmVPFKEZbP— An Garda Síochána October 31, 2024 Local city councilor Janice Boylan expressed disappointment over the whole situation.“Everyone is trying to have a fun and safe Halloween. Having a parade to go to sounded really good,” she said. “I know an awful lot of people turned up. It’s a terrible pity.” The My Spirit Halloween listing has been taken down, but there remains the question as to why it turned up in the first place. It’s worth noting that this is a different entity from the popular seasonal retailer Spirit Halloween. The My Spirit Halloween website looks to come from Pakistan and posts all kinds of AI-generated content like the ad that caused all of this trouble, according to Yahoo News. This particular post happened to get picked up by TikTok and Google, causing the rapid dissemination of the, literal, fake news. It’s pretty wild, right? An AI-generated post likely created in Pakistan caused thousands of actual people to take to the streets halfway across the globe. What is that curse again? Oh yeah. “May you live in interesting times.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/an-ai-generated-ad-left-thousands-of-dubliners-waiting-for-a-halloween-parade-that-never-came-162550781.html?src=rss

01.11.2024 20:00 Black Friday may be 28 days away, but with the shopping holiday unofficially ballooning to the entire month of November, you can already save big on one of our favorite smart home gadgets. Amazon has a bundle of eight Blink Outdoor 4 cameras on sale for $380 off. The security camera usually costs $99 for one, and the bundle typically costs $630. You can get eight today for a mere $250 or six for $180. The Blink Outdoor 4 is only a little over a year old. Compared to its predecessor, the fourth-gen camera has a wider field of view , sharper day and night image quality and improved motion detection. Despite its name, you can use it indoors, too. If you pay for a Blink subscription, you also get person detection. It lets you set it up to only get notifications when an intruder is in your yard, not a squirrel or neighborhood cat. The plans cost $3 monthly or $30 annually for one device. If you get the higher “Plus” tier, which supports unlimited cameras, you’ll pay $10 monthly or $100 for a year. You can try the plan for 30 days before paying. But remember, the subscription is optional and only required for person detection and storing recorded videos in the cloud. The Blink Outdoor 4 supports 1080p live view, infrared night vision and two-way audio. You can also control it with your voice if you have Alexa devices in your home. Blink estimates the camera will last for up to two years with its included AA lithium batteries. Blink If eight cameras are more than you need, you can also save on a bundle of six Blink Outdoor 4 cameras. Typically costing $480, the early Black Friday deal shaves off $300, leaving you only to pay $180. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blink-multi-camera-systems-are-up-to-380-off-ahead-of-black-friday-161047669.html?src=rss