Engadget

27.11.2024 22:42 Bluesky is bigger than ever. But as the upstart social media service surges, the platform is facing some growing pains. Among them: The influx of new users has opened up new opportunities for scammers and impersonators hoping to capitalize on the attention — and Bluesky’s lack of a conventional verification system. A recent analysis by Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech found that 44 percent of the top 100 most-followed accounts on Bluesky had at least one “doppelganger,” with most looking like “cheap knock-offs of the bigger account, down to the same bio and profile picture,” Mantzarlis wrote in his newsletter Faked Up. Unlike many of its counterparts, which offer checkmarks and official badges to government officials, celebrities and other high profile accounts, Bluesky has a more hands-off approach to verification. Instead of proactively verifying notable accounts itself, the company encourages users to use a custom domain name as their handle in order to “self-verify.” For example, my employer Engadget currently has the Bluesky handle engadget.bsky.social. But if we wanted to “verify” our account, we could opt to change it to Engadget.com. Some media organizations, like The New York Times, Bloomberg and The Onion have done this for their official accounts. Individuals are also able to verify by using a personal website. But, the process is more complicated than simply changing your handle. It also requires entities to add a string of text to the DNS record associated with their domain. While in some ways it’s a clever solution to verification — only the actual owner of a website would be able to access the DNS record for a domain — it also has a number of drawbacks. It’s a manual process that’s not readily accessible to everyone who might wish to be verified. Verification is even more complex for those wishing to verify multiple accounts associated with the same domain, which may explain why some outlets, like The New York Times and NPR have custom handles, but don’t extend that verification to their reporters on Bluesky. Even Bluesky’s own tutorial suggests organizations seek assistance from their IT departments. There are other issues. Once you change your handle to match a domain you own, your old alias becomes available again. So you’ll either need to set up a new account to “squat” on your old handle, or risk an impersonator scooping it up. And even if you add a custom domain, it doesn’t offer foolproof protection against impersonation. A dedicated scammer could use a lookalike domain and “verify” an imposter account. Both accounts belong to AOC, but only the top one is "verified" under Bluesky's current system. Screenshot via Bluesky To make things more confusing, Bluesky itself gives no indication, other than the handle name, that an account has been “verified.” Verified accounts don’t have a visual indicator — like a check or a badge — that differentiates them from unverified ones, To combat this, some Bluesky users are coming up with their own makeshift workarounds. Hunter Walker, an investigative reporter for Talking Points Memo and early Bluesky user, has been proactively verifying journalists, celebrities and other high-profile accounts himself. So far, he’s verified more than 330 people, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Flavor Flav, Mark Cuban and Barbra Streisand. “I have a pretty high standard for journalism and reporting, and everything I say, I like to triple check the sources,” Walker tells Engadget. “I like to make sure it's confirmed. And it became apparent to me, participating in Bluesky, that on a basic level, nothing was confirmed.” Walker estimates he’s spent about 16 hours over the last couple weeks verifying accounts. He has different methods depending on the user, but it often involves communicating with someone from another account officially linked to them, like a company email address. For celebrities, their representatives are often able to confirm their official Bluesky handles. “I’ve caught so many scammers and imposters, and it's not always who you would expect,” Walker says. “Regular journalists sometimes have three or four imposters.” He says he’s been inundated with requests for his unofficial verification, and notes that a number of people he’s verified also use a custom domain. “They want something else … because a domain is not verification of identity.” Walker maintains “starter packs” of journalists and other prominent accounts he’s verified. Recently, he took it a step further, working with another user to create a custom labeling service that will append different emojis to accounts he’s verified to make his “verification” more prominent. Users who subscribe to the service will see a

27.11.2024 22:42 It’s been more than a hot minute since we’ve seen some new Sega Genesis classics in the Nintendo Switch online library, but we’re finally getting some today. The Switch Online Expansion Pack brings the frantic platformer VectorMan, the run-n-gunner Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS and the totally awesome ToeJam Earl in Panic on Funkotron to the Switch’s classic games library. VectorMan from BlueSky Software is a 2D platformer with impressive graphics for its time that often gets overlooked in the long hallway of the Sega Genesis’ legacy. The protagonist is a robot made of floating left on a resource ravaged Earth to clean up the mess humanity made when one of the supervisor robots named WarHead connects to a nuclear weapon and holds the planet hostage. VectorMan must blast his way through waves of enemies to free the Earth from WarHead’s clutches. So just think of VectorMan as Wall-E with a deathwish. The game has a pretty notorious degree of difficulty, but the slick graphics and fast pace of the gameplay makes VectorMan an underrated gem. Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS is a top-down military style shooter that started in the arcade before migrating to Sega’s Mega Drive and the Genesis in the early 90s. The concept is simple: run across the screen and shoot everything that moves before it shoots you. MERCS also has a huge arsenal of special weapons and some really cool boss battles that pit your puny mercenaries against a big ol’ battleship and even a harrier jet. If you don’t know the names ToeJam Earl, then welcome to one of the greatest slices of joy from gaming’s history. The most 90s video game duo ever got the sequel treatment with Panic on Funkotron in 1993. The second ToeJam Earl title took its titular alien heroes away from the unique isometric map that made the first game so memorable to a more traditional 2D platform game but they are just as vibrant, goofy and animated in their second outing. This is the first Sega Genesis update for the Nintendo Switch in over a year. The previous Genesis pack was released in June of 2023 and came with four games including Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, The Revenge of Shinobi, Landstalker and Crusader of Centy.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-latest-switch-online-expansion-pack-update-includes-three-classic-sega-genesis-games-184621721.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 Black Friday is a great time to snag stocking stuffers and tech accessories at a discount. Engadget has reviewed and tested hundreds of small-but-useful electronics including speakers, cables, smart plugs, cameras, battery packs and earbuds, and we put the best ones in our related buying guides. Right now, many of those picks are seeing discounts that put them comfortably below the $50 mark. After you grab a few as gifts, don’t forget to grab an accessory or two for yourself. There are also a few subscription deals to check out. Here are the best Black Friday tech deals under $50 we could find from retailers across the web. Black Friday tech deals under $20 Amazon Halo: The Master Chief Collection for $10 : As part of the Xbox Black Friday sale, you can save up to 55 percent on titles . A number of our top picks for the best Xbox games are included in the sale, including this Halo collection, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, Street Fighter 6 and Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred. And if you’re looking for more deals on game titles, check out Jeff Dunn’s Black Friday gaming roundup. Amazon Echo Pop for $18 : Amazon’s smallest Echo will fit in any room in your home, so Alexa can add things to your shopping list, set a timer, or answer questions from anywhere. Anker Nano Charger 30W USB-C for $13 : This compact 30-watt wall charger is smaller than others of its wattage and can speedily juice up an iPhone or Android handset. Anker is one of Engadget’s most recommended accessory brands and this is the model we picked for our fast charger guide. Get the same deal at Anker with an auto-applied code. Anker Nano power bank with built-in USB-C connector for $16 : It’s the size of an old-timey lipstick case but packs enough juice to get a dying smartphone back in service with at least a half charge. It’s one of the winners in our guide to power banks. Also direct from Anker with an auto-applied code. Glocusent Tri-head clip-on book light for $16 : Glocusent’s book light can stand on a desk or clip to a book and casts a wide swath of light across the widest of pages. It’s a pick in our book lovers gift guide. Beshon European travel plug adapter for $13 : If you’re planning any trips abroad, take one of these, as Engadget’s Valentina Palladino recommends in our gifts for travelers guide. They come in versions made for Ireland, China and Japan, too. Elden Ring for $20 : One of our favorite games is down to the best price we’ve tracked. It feels impressively handmade despite its epic scale that feels big but never superfluous. Also at Best Buy. Amazon Smart Plug for $13 : If you rely on Alexa as your smart home assistant, this is an affordable and reliable way to control your lamps, fans and Christmas lights. It was one of the more reliable and fuss-free plugs I tested. Anker Nano II 713 Charger for $20 : This 45-watt charger has a single USB-C port and will let you take advantage of the faster charging speeds newer devices offer . It’s one of the picks in our iPad accessories guide. Also at Anker with an auto-applied code. Chipolo ONE for $20 : Our favorite Bluetooth tracker overall is loud, compact and readily tells you when you’ve left your keys behind. If you’re looking for a finding network to locate things you’ve lost out in the wild, this isn’t the one to get, but for everyday locating misplaced keys in the house, this is great. Belkin Apple AirTag secure holder for $15 : AirTags are great, and we recommend them for iPhone users, but they have no built-in method for attaching them. This is one of the gizmos we recommend in our guide to secure the tag to your luggage and more. Also at Amazon. Elevation Lab TagVault for $16 : Another recommendation from our guide, Elevation Labs fabric mount is ideal for sticking an AirTag inside your coat, backpack or anything else you want to track. Also at Elevation Lab without Prime. PopSockets Phone Grip for $15 : You can save 50 percent on the Pop Socket we recommend in our guide to iPhone accessories. Many other Pop Sockets are on sale directly from Pop Socket for Black Friday. J-Tech Digital Ergonomic Mouse for $18 : The best budget ergo mouse has a vertical grip that’s a little wider than others of its ilk, which we found to be more comfortable. There are RGB lights, which can be fun. But which can also be turned off. WAVLINK USB-C hub for $13 : The budget pick in our guide to USB-C hubs has an HDMI port, three USB connections plus a generous 10-inch cable to give you more options when plugging into your laptop or tablet. Anker USB-C 240W Bio-Braided cable for $12 : A fast charger won’t do much if the cable isn’t rated to handle the wattage. This 240W Anker cable is pulled from our list of the best iPhone accessories and will charge those devices as quickly as the brick and device will allow. Peak Design Packable Tote for $16 : We recommend this handy bag in our gift guide for travelers. We like that it zips shut, is water resistant and has a padded shoulder/hand strap. Plus it packs into itself and takes up just a little more room than a deck of cards. The Best Black Friday subscription deals under $50 Max / Engadget Max subscription for $18 : You can get six months of Max with Ads for $2.99 monthly instead of the usual $9.99. The subscription will automatically renew at that rate each month until the end of the promo period, when it'll automatically renew for the full $10. New and returning subscribers are eligible through Max.com, Roku, Apple and other streaming ecosystems, but is only open to new subscribers via Amazon Fire TV. Paramount+ Showtime for $6 : New and former subscribers can get two months of Paramount+ Essential or Paramount+ with Showtime for just $3 per month. It's one of our favorite streaming services and the best place to watch as much Star Trek as you want. As with all subscriptions, remember the standard pricing will auto-renew after two months. Peacock for $20 for : New and returning subscribers can get a full year of Peacock for just $20. It's also one of our favorite streamings services and has some excellent shows like Mrs. Davis, Poker Face and Killing It. Note this is the ad-supported tier, it is only available through Peacock's website and will auto renew after the year is up. Audible Premium Plus for $1 : If you don’t currently subscribe to Audible you can get three months of the audiobook service's Premium Plus plan for $1. The service is usually $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. Premium Plus gives you access to the Audible Plus library, and lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. Amazon Kindle Unlimited for $0 for one month : Amazon's ebook subscription service gives you access to a selected catalog of thousands titles for unlimited reading as well as some Audible audiobooks and magazines. Prime members can get two months for only $5. Headspace annual plan for $35 : Our top pick for the best meditation app has tons of courses that address specific anxieties and worries, a good in-app search engine that makes it easy to find the right meditation you need, and additional yoga routines, podcasts and music sessions to try out. Disney+ Hulu bundle for $36 : This Disney+ Black Friday deal gets you the ad-supported tiers of both Disney+ and Hulu for only $3 per month for one year. It's one of the best streaming deals of the seasons since it gives you the ability to catch up on all those classic Disney holiday movies, and the thousands of episodes of TV that Hulu has. Black Friday tech deals under $30 Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget Amazon Echo Dot for $23 : The Dot is Amazon’s most popular Echo speaker, delivering Alexa’s helpful assistance in a softball-sized package that puts out surprisingly decent sound. We named it the best smart speaker under $50. It also has an internal sensor that can tell you the temp in the room and trigger connected thermostat functions. You can also get it with a free smart bulb for the same price. Amazon Echo Dot Kids for $28 : The kids version is basically the same smart speaker but comes in a cute dragon or own skin and includes a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+. Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 for $21 : If you have a Samsung smartphone, this is the tracker we recommend. The finding network isn’t as vast as Apple’s, but in our tests, the accuracy was good and the physical design is one of the best of its kind. Roku Streaming Stick 4K for $29 : On our list of the best streaming devices we named the Roku Streaming Stick 4K the best pick for those wanting an ocean of free and live content. By combining Roku’s own free channels with content from other FAST apps this simple stick turns any screen into a portal to a near-infinite amount of movies and shows that you won’t pay a dime for. Also at Target and direct from Roku for $1 more. Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $28 : Anker’s Soundcore brand proves the accessory brand can make some excellent electronics and we named a number of Soundcore audio devices to our buying guides. This is one of the smaller and more affordable models from Anker and it’s currently back to one of its lowest prices yet. Anker Nano 3-in-1 10K portable charger for $30 : A top pick in our best power banks guide, this 10K brick has a built-in USB-C cable so you don't need to remember to bring one with you, plus it has an extra USB-C port for charging other devices. Also at Anker within an auto-applied code. HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 gaming headset for $30 : Though we ultimately recommend getting an external mic along with your wired headphones if you need to chat while playing, the Cloud Stinger 2 is our pick for a budget gaming headset. Also at Best Buy and direct from Hyper. Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget Kasa Smart Plug Mini 15A for $30 : Our favorite smart plug overall connects to all the major smart home platforms, including from Apple, Google and Amazon. It’s perfectly simple to set up, stays connected and makes it easy to make your lights do what you want them to. Also at Amazon. TP-Link AC1200 Wi-Fi Extender for $23 : This is our pick for the best budget Wi-Fi extender. It's easy to set up and offers good performance for the price. Just keep in mind it has smaller coverage and no support for Wi-Fi 6e. EarFun Free 2S wireless earbuds for $25 : These don’t sound as sharp as other budget earbuds we recommend and there’s no noise cancellation or transparency mode, but if you need a pair of earbuds under $50 these are decently comfortable with a sound that’s a bit richer than others in its price range. Amazon Echo Buds for $25 : Our favorite budget earbuds with an open ear design are made by Amazon. They don’t go all the way in your ear so you’ll hear more of what’s going on around you. The sound is decently separated, though we recommend tweaking the EQ in the Alexa app to bring down the treble a touch. Anker USB-C Hub 341 for $25 : Anker’s seven-port hub lets you use a range of extras with your tablet, which is why we named it one of the best accessories for an iPad. In addition to extra USB connections, you also get a microSD and standard SD card slots. Logitech Signature M650 wireless mouse for $30 : This portable mouse is great for anyone who changes locations when they work because it connects quickly and easily slips in a pack. It’s one of the gifts we recommend in our stocking stuffer guide. Also at Staples and direct from Logitech. Baseus 30W Magnetic Power Bank for $25 : An honorable mention in our battery guide, this small Baseus bank delivers a fast charge either wirelessly for MagSafe compatible iPhones or via the attached USB-C cable. Ransom Notes board game for $28 : Engadget’s Karissa Bell recommends this party board game in our gift guide thanks to its hilarity-inspiring appeal. It forces players to communicate complex concepts using a given number of word magnet tiles. Mysterium Board Game for $30 : Our own Valentina Palladino recommends this game to anyone who loves a good mystery. It takes Clue to the next level and is best played with friends and family on a dark and stormy night. Settlers of Catan board game for $26 : It's hard to find anyone into board games who hasn't yet played Catan, but this trading and settling game is a classic for a reason. Get it and prepare for some lively sheep bartering. Black Friday tech deals under $40 Engadget Xbox Wireless Controller for $40 : We’ve seen this deal before, but it’s a decent discount on a necessary accessory. The brighter colors are $45, but if you're happy with the standard-issue black or white, you'll save the most. Also at Best Buy and Target. Anker 525 charging station for $36 : This is one of the handy items that makes working from home easier, as we recommend in our WFH gift guide. It offers four USB ports up front and three extra AC plugs in the back. Blink Mini 2 for $35 : The newest Blink Mini wired security camera came out earlier this year and it supports 1080p video recordings, a wider field of view than the previous model and improved low-light performance. It may be wired, but you can use it outside with the $10 weather-resistant adapter. JBL Go 4 for $40 : JBL’s smallest portable speaker has up to seven hours of battery life on a charge, has an IP67 waterproof rating and has a tiny built-in carry strap so you can bring it wherever you go. Also at JBL and Best Buy. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $33 : Amazon's most powerful dongle supports 4K streaming with Dolby Vision, Wi-Fi 6E and live picture-in-picture mode so you can see security camera feeds directly on your TV as you're watching a show or movie. In addition to being a solid streamer, it also makes a good retro gaming device. Anker 633 Magnetic Battery for $40 : Choose from a MagSafe option or the 20W Power Delivery port via a USB-C cable . The handy kickstand means you can look at your phone while it charges and that port lets you charge non-MagSafe devices too. Blink Outdoor 4 $38 : Amazon’s latest outdoor Blink camera works well with Alexa, letting you check on your surroundings using the app or a compatible display : This is the larger-capacity model of the mid-range battery we recommend in our guide to power banks. Not only does it look cool, it’s durable and charges up a phone quickly through either the USB-C or USB-A port. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $40 : Engadget’s Mat Smith gave this title a favorable review earlier this year. It helps if you’ve played its predecessor and it’s absolutely stuffed with things to do. This is a new low for the PS5 exclusive. Govee Smart LED Light Bars for $35 : We like Govee’s playful smart lights and recommend the brand in our guide to smart bulbs. These light bars made the list in our stocking stuffer gift guide thanks to their versatility and there’s no end to the multiple colors and sequences you can program. Razer Basilisk V3 ergonomic gaming mouse for $40 : This is the gaming option in our guide to the best ergonomic mice. It’s super light and glides across multiple surfaces. The buttons are customizable and the thumb rest is comfortable. Also at Amazon. UGREEN Revodok Pro 109 USB-C hub for $38 : The top pick in our buying guide to USB-C hubs has a good array of ports, the ability to support two 4K monitors, and a nice long host cable so you can easily arrange it on your desk. Moft Tripod iPhone Wallet for $40 : Moft's origami-inspired accessories tend to be clever and surprisingly useful. This one is no different, combining a single-card wallet with a dual-height stand. I was impressed with the sturdiness of the stand in such a thin package. If you don't need to carry a single card, the wallet-less version is $32 right now. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $40 : Nintendo announced its Black Friday deals early, but they didn’t go live until November 25. The big callout here is Tears of the Kingdom. We found the game to be an absolute delight as it builds on all of the concepts and story introduced in Breath of the Wild. Black Friday tech deals under $50 Amazon JBL Clip 5 for $49.95 : JBL makes a good number of the winners in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers. We didn’t review this one formally for our guide, but it’s one of the more affordable models the brand makes and the clip plus dunkable water resistance makes it easy to bring JBL’s signature dynamic range just about anywhere. Also at Walmart and direct from JBL. Ring pan and tilt security camera for $50 : This security camera joined the Ring lineup only a few months ago, and this is the best price we've seen on it. It's part of a larger Ring sale that discounts home security gear by up to 50 percent . Amazon Echo Show 5 for $45 : The newest Echo Show 5 made our list of the best smart displays because it doubles as a “stellar alarm clock” with the auto-dimming screen, tap-to-snooze feature and a sunrise alarm. Plus the tiny, five-inch screen is perfect for a nightstand. Also, oddly, at Best Buy. Amazon Echo Spot $45 : The mini display just shows simple data like the time, weather or song that’s playing while the other half of the circle plays music. It’s an updated version of a model Amazon discontinued a couple of years ago and now it’s back. Elecom Nestout power bank 15,000mAh for $48 : For outdoor charging, this is one of the few portable batteries that can handle a dunk in water . We recommend it in our guide and particularly like the handy accessories like a tripod stand and light that you can buy to go on it. Also at Nestout for $1 more. 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller for $48 at Amazon : Engadget’s Jeff Dunn raved about this wireless gamepad for Switch and PC, calling it comfortable with durable Hall effect joysticks that should avoid the “drift” sensation that plagues many modern controllers. Also at Best Buy. Soundcore by Anker Space A40 wireless earbuds for $45 : Our top budget wireless earbuds are just $5 shy of their all time low. They have outstanding active noise cancellation for the price and offer a warm and pleasant default sound. Ultimate Ears Mini Roll for $50 : This less-than-a-pound sound maker came out at the same time as the Everboom and is the smallest speaker in UE’s lineup. It’s IP67 rated to be dust- and waterproof and can crank out 85 decibels of volume — impressive for something so small. Also at Amazon and B&H Photo. Tribit StormBox Micro 2 for $42 : This is the smallest speaker in our guide and it can go with you anywhere with the built-in strap. It pumps out impressive volume for its size and can go for 12 hours on a charge. The audio isn’t the highest fidelity, but this is more about bringing the vibes than emitting flawless musical clarity. Also directly from Tribit . Anker PowerConf C200 2K webcam for $48 : The budget pick in our buying guide to webcams is back down to a low it’s hit a few times before. We like the excellent video clarity and easy set up and customization. Also at Anker with a coupon code. Thermacell Mosquito Repeller for $43 : The mosquitos may be gone for the winter, but we all know they'll be back next year. This is one of the few mosquito-repelling products we recommend, so grab one now for a less irritating summer next year. Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding The Tantive IV for $44 : This set recreates the scene in which Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers battled the Rebels, and it includes seven Star Wars minifigures. Also at Target. 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-67-best-black-friday-tech-deals-under-50-164632067.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 Some smartphones are often excluded from the Black Friday deal fun, but that’s not the case for all of our favorite handsets. If you’re on the hunt for a solid smartphone that won’t break the bank, you can’t get much better than the Google Pixel 8a — and now you can pick it up at a steep discount. The Pixel 8a has dropped to $399 for Black Friday, or $100 off its usual price. This price is for a configuration with 128GB of storage, but 256GB models are also $100 off at $459. The Pixel 8a is our pick for the best midrange smartphone overall. We gave it a score of 90 in our review. Thanks to Google's inclusion of the Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a supports many of the same AI features that you'll find on flagship Pixel devices. We feel that the cameras are excellent, while that 6.1-inch 120Hz OLED display sure looks pretty. The Pixel 8a has great battery life too. It lasted for 20 hours and 29 minutes in our video rundown test, actually beating out the Pixel 8 by 13 minutes. On the downside, wireless charging is pretty slow as it maxes out at 7.5W. The bezels are a little thicker than you might like too, but otherwise the design is fairly slick. Another plus point is that the Pixel 8a is IP67-rated for dust and water resistance, so it should be somewhat durable. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/google-pixel-black-friday-deals-include-the-pixel-8a-for-an-all-time-low-price-180827166.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 Sony has revealed some games that PlayStation Plus members can claim in December, to help keep them busy throughout the long winter. This is a pretty good drop, and one pick is a bona-fide GOTY-winner. First up, the co-op delight It Takes Two. We enjoyed this split-screen co-op adventure, even if we found the story to be a bit on the cheesy side. Simply put, the game is a strictly two-player affair and each person controls one half of a married couple as they navigate areas inspired by Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and other movies in which people shrink down for some reason. It was a legitimate hit upon release back in 2021, eventually winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards. Temtem is monster-taming RPG, also known as a Pokémon clone. Pikachu-heads will find plenty to like here, including familiar turn-based battles and a whole bunch of cute creatures to collect. This game has a more robust online feature set than any Pokémon title, however, with an open world filled with actual people and their fighting pets. Players can chat and challenge these other tamers to battles. The entire game can also be played cooperatively with a friend. Finally, there’s Aliens: Dark Descent, a real-time strategy game in which players command a squad of marines as they try to stop a Xenomorph outbreak. As indicated by the title, it’s set in the universe of the Alien franchise, complete with sinister agents of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. The large open levels are fun to navigate and the vibes are stellar. Incidentally, this game also hit Xbox Game Pass today. All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on December 3 until January 6. Also, PlayStation Plus members only have until December 2 to add last month’s games, which included Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo and Death Note Killer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/decembers-ps-plus-monthly-games-include-it-takes-two-and-temtem-181039449.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 Black Friday deals are in full swing and you can save big on Beats headphones this year. One of the best discounts we’re seeing is on the Solo 4 wireless headphones, which are a whopping 50 percent off and down to $100. That’s a record low, and the discount applies to all color options. 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 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-50-percent-off-for-black-friday-150722820.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 The Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is on sale for just $140, which is a record low price. This early Black Friday deal brings the price down from $230, which is a savings of nearly 40 percent. That’s a whole lot of tablet for not so much money. This is a fairly recent entry into Amazon’s library of tablets, having just been released last year. The Fire Max 11 boasts a large 11-inch LCD screen, a slim aluminum frame and plenty of smart home controls. Of course, it integrates with Alexa for voice controls. This is the cooler and more refined sibling of the Fire 10 and Fire 8 tablets. The tablet uses an octa-core MediaTek processor and weighs just over a pound. There’s a fingerprint sensor, support for WiFi 6 and 4GB of RAM. It runs Fire OS 8, which allows for split-screen and picture-in-picture features. This lets users slam some emails while, say, keeping an eye on a YouTube video. The tablet integrates with a keyboard and stylus, but those cost extra. There are some minor downsides. First of all, this is an ad-supported model that’ll throw advertisements on the lock screen. In my experience, these are surprisingly unobtrusive. I hate ads and barely notice them. This sale is also for the 64GB version. That’s not a whole lot of room but the tablet does come with a microSD reader for up to 1TB of additional storage. There are a whole bunch of Amazon items on sale right now for Black Friday. These deals include the Kindle Paperwhite for $130 and the Echo Dot for $23, among many others. 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/amazon-black-friday-deals-the-fire-max-11-tablet-is-down-to-a-record-low-price-103026147.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 There are a bunch of deals on consoles and video games for Black Friday. But even if you buy physical copies, current-gen consoles require that games be fully installed onto internal storage to minimize loading times. If you have a lot of games, you may want to have extra storage space. As such, Xbox Series X/S owners may wish to consider picking up Seagate's storage expansion card. The 2TB variant is on sale at the minute. It has dropped to an all-time low of $193.43 for Black Friday. That's 46 percent off the regular price. Let's face it, proprietary storage stinks, but the choice for Series X/S owners looking for more space is largely between Seagate's Storage Expansion Card and WD's Black C50. It's possible to store Series X/S games on a regular external drive, but you'll need to move them to internal storage or an expansion card anyway to actually play them. If you don't want to deal with shifting large files around and waiting for transfers to complete, or you don't want to delete and download games more than is necessary, an expansion card is the way to go. Seagate's version is one of our picks for the best Xbox Series X/S accessories. The 2TB version should give you ample space — at least until you start filling it up with all of the huge Call of Duty games that have started hitting Game Pass. 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/seagates-2tb-xbox-expansion-card-is-193-for-black-friday-180119953.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 Believe it or not, there are solid budget wireless earbuds out there and now’s a great time to look for them since many will be discounted for Black Friday. Case in point: the latest Echo Buds, a pair of our favorites, which are half off and down to only $25 as part of Amazon’s Black Friday deals. Amazon released its most recent generation of Echo Buds in 2023 and impressed us with its level of quality for an open earbud option. The semi-in-ear style allows for more ambient noise and might be more comfortable depending on your ear shape. The earbuds have some solid perks such as multi-device connectivity and a solid five hours of music playback. You can increase their life by another hour if you turn wake word off. You'll get up to 20 hours of charge with the case. As an Amazon device, the Echo Buds are also equipped with Alexa, so you can ask the assistant to play music, call someone, set a reminder or one of the many other standard tasks. Plus, you can use the Alexa app to set tap controls for muting your mics and changing your music. Speaking of music, these earbuds have 12mm drivers and a crisp overall sound . Be careful, though, when working out as their low IPX2 water resistance rating means sweat could be a 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/black-friday-deals-discount-the-echo-buds-down-to-only-25-100030874.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 The latest Kindle Paperwhite is barely a month old, but it’s already getting a discount for Black Friday. You can pick up the new ereader for $30 off, at a final price of $130. That’s a record low since the device’s debut, and it boasts faster page turns, a bigger and better screen and longer battery life. The sixth-generation Paperwhite has a seven-inch screen, noticeably bigger than the 6.8-inch one on its predecessor. Amazon also boosted the display’s contrast thanks to its oxide thin-film transistor display tech, which should help reduce eyestrain. It still has a warm light that you can tune to match your room’s lighting. The front light in the new model gets 25 percent brighter at its maximum level than the fifth-gen model. The new Paperwhite has 25 percent faster page turns than its predecessors, which Engadget’s Amy Skorheim found makes a marked difference in the reading experience. At 7.8mm thick, this is the thinnest Paperwhite to date. The ereader still has IPX8 water resistance, and the device uses a new rubberized texture that makes it easier to grip. Amazon estimates its battery will last up to 12 weeks per charge. It ships with a USB-C cable . You can also save on the new standard Kindle on sale for $85 . Although that model skips out on the warm light and has a smaller screen, it gives you a lighter and more compact ereader on the cheap. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-kindle-deals-include-the-new-paperwhite-for-30-off-090013343.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 With many online retailers already rolling out their annual Black Friday sales, a number of the better laptop discounts we expect to see on the big day itself are available now. If you need a new notebook, we’ve researched the market, checked price histories and rounded up the Black Friday laptop deals that are genuinely decent below. As of this writing, those include several notebooks we’ve tested and recommended for their best prices to date. The latest MacBook Air is available for a new low of $844, for instance, while Microsoft's newest Surface Laptop is $300 off. The top recommendation in our Chromebook buying guide is discounted as well, as is our pick for the best Windows notebook for those on a tighter budget. We’re updating this post through Black Friday as prices change and more deals pop up. Just remember that many of the deals below are for pre-configured models; if you want to spec out your machine more precisely, it's still worth buying directly from the manufacturer. The Apple MacBook Air .Engadget Apple MacBook Air for $844 at Amazon : The latest MacBook Air is our pick for the best laptop you can buy. It ticks nearly all the boxes for those who prefer macOS, from its premium design and comfy keyboard to its lengthy battery life and capable performance for everyday use. We gave it a score of 90 in our review. A recent Bloomberg report said that Apple will likely release a minor refresh early next year, but this is a new low for the current base model, which includes Apple’s M3 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. If you want more storage, the 512GB variant is down to an all-time low of $1,049. Also at Best Buy for $5 more. Apple MacBook Air for $1,044 at Amazon : The 15-inch MacBook Air is more or less identical to the 13-inch version in terms of features and performance, but it has a more spacious display and better speakers. It is about 0.6 pounds heavier, though. This is the best price to date for the base model with an M3 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, but a version with double the storage space is available for a new low of $1,234 as well. Also at Best Buy. Apple MacBook Air for $749 at Amazon : If you’re on a tighter budget, the last-generation MacBook Air gets you most of the things we love about the newer M3 model at a lower price. The main sacrifices are a slightly lesser chip, technically slower storage in the base model and no ability to connect to two external monitors. This ties the lowest price we’ve seen for the entry-level variant, which includes an M2 chip, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Also at Best Buy. The Apple MacBook Pro .Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Apple MacBook Pro for $2,099 at Amazon : The recently updated MacBook Pro is more laptop than most people need, but it's still a powerhouse for coders, media editors and those with more demanding needs. We gave it a 92 in our review earlier this month. Just keep in mind that there’s no USB-A port and, as with all Apple laptops, effectively no way to upgrade the device after purchase. This is the largest discount yet for the configuration with Apple’s M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. A version with 512GB of storage is $250 off and down to a low of $1,749 as well. Also at Best Buy. Apple MacBook Pro for $2,199 at Amazon : The 16-inch MacBook Pro adds a roomier display and a couple extra hours of battery life to the same excellent performance, build quality and mini-LED display of its smaller counterpart. The downside is that it’s heavier at 4.7 pounds. This is an all-time low for the config with an M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Also at Best Buy. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 for $899 at Amazon : 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. This configuration with a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is technically available for $800 at Micro Center, but only with in-store pick up. Otherwise, this is the best price we’ve seen. If you prefer a bigger screen, a 15-inch version with a Snapdragon X Elite chip and 256GB of storage is down to a low of $1,095. Also at Best Buy. The Microsoft Surface Laptop .Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget HP Pavilion Aero 13 for $580 at HP : The HP Pavilion Aero is the budget pick in our laptop buying guide. It feels a bit cheap, and its webcam is poor, but it’s thin and light, it has a decent port selection and its IPS display is solid for the money. This config with a Ryzen 5 8640 chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD should be fast enough for typical web browsing, word processing and light photo editing. This ties the best price we could find for the 2024 model since its release. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus for $369 at Best Buy : The Flex 5i Chromebook Plus tops our guide to the best Chromebooks. We like that its IPS touchscreen has a tall 16:10 aspect ratio, as it makes the device better-suited to word processing and reading web pages. It runs just fine for the basic tasks you’re meant to do with Chrome OS, and both its keyboard and trackpad feel reliable. Its battery life is mediocre, however, and at 3.6 pounds it’s fairly heavy for a 14-inch notebook. This discount is $20 more than the lowest price we’ve ever seen, and it’s been live for a weeks now, but it’s still a decent way off this config’s typical street price. It includes an Intel Core i3-1315U chip, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition gaming laptop for $700 at Best Buy : Although it’s a 2023 model, this configuration of the A16 should do the job for value-minded buyers. It comes with a 16-inch 165Hz 1,920 x 1,200 display, an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and an AMD Radeon RX 7700S GPU. You’ll still have to deal with the usual trade-offs of a cheaper gaming laptop: It can get warm under load, it’s bulky, the keyboard isn’t great and the screen is somewhat dim. But it’s powerful enough to run newer games in 1080p, the chassis is generally sturdy, and the battery can reach double-digit hours when you aren’t gaming. This discount is $20 above than the config’s all-time low but ties the best price we’ve seen otherwise. The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus.Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop for $1,615 at Amazon : While not a top pick in any of our guides, this configuration of the ROG Strix G16 should be a solid value for those in search of a 16-inch all-rounder gaming notebook. It includes an Intel Core i9-14900X chip, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which should be enough to run many games at high-ish settings without much hassle. The overall build doesn’t feel cheap, and the 2,560 x 1,600 240Hz display is both sharp and fast. The RAM and storage are user-upgradeable, too, though the battery life and 720p webcam aren’t ideal. This deal matches an all-time low. Another model with a 1080p panel, a Core i7-13650HX chip and a RTX 4060 GPU is on sale for a low of $1,100, but you’ll have to turn down game settings more frequently to get decent frame rates with that one. Alienware M18 R2 gaming laptop for $2,200 at Amazon : The M18 R2 is an iteration of the top 18-inch pick in our gaming laptop buying guide. It’s an absolute tank, but it’s put together well, and this configuration can blow through new games at high settings in 1080p or 1440p. It comes with a 165Hz 2,560 x 1,600 panel, an Intel Core i9-14900HX chip, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU. While this deal price is far from cheap, it's a new low for this variant. A lower-spec model is also on sale for $1,900, though that one will run into issues sooner with more demanding games. Apple iPad Pro for $849 at Amazon : The iPad Pro is still overkill for most people, but its class-leading OLED display, remarkably slim frame and powerful M4 chip make it a tremendous tablet. It can work as a laptop replacement for certain creative types, but you’ll have to live with iPadOS’ continued shortcomings in multitasking, file management and other computer-y tasks. If you’re thinking of making the switch — or if you’ve just got money to burn and want a more portable companion to your current laptop — this matches the lowest price we’ve seen for the latest 11-inch model. Just clip the $50 on-page coupon. If you’re willing to pay for a roomier display, the 13-inch iPad Pro is also on sale for a low of $1,099. 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-black-friday-laptop-deals-from-apple-microsoft-lenovo-asus-and-others-151347398.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 Now isn’t a bad time to try our pick for the best VPN service for 2024. ProtonVPN is on sale for 70 percent off 24-month subscriptions and 50 percent off 12-month plans . That averages out to $3 monthly if you go with two years and $5 monthly for the single-year option. It’s just one of many subscription deals you can find for Black Friday, making now a good time to check which services you use regularly have been discounted. ProtonVPN is Engadget’s favorite VPN service of 2024. Although most services passed our tests with high marks, Proton’s service stood out for its independently audited no-logs policy, a proven record of refusing law enforcement requests, open-source code and a peer-review program that discloses potential vulnerabilities. We also liked its user-friendly interface. The company offers a limited free plan, but ProtonVPN Plus gives you access to 6,500 servers in more than 110 countries. It also includes the company’s high-speed servers, BitTorrent support, a built-in ad blocker and the option to route your connection through multiple servers. Other Proton services are also on sale. That includes Proton Mail, the company’s fully encrypted email service that put it on the map. You can get 12 months for 60 percent off or 24 months for 30 percent off . ProtonMail recently added an AI-powered writing feature to its mail service. Even if you aren’t a fan of robots putting words into your mouth, the service still gives you up to 10 email addresses , smart filters and labels, one-click unsubscribe and dedicated mobile and desktop apps. 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-proton-vpn-deals-for-2024-include-up-to-70-percent-off-membership-plans-192530420.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 Black Friday streaming deals have come in strong again this year, and one of the best is on Disney+ and Hulu. The Duo Basic bundle is on sale for $3 per month for one whole year, which comes out to $36 for the entire time period. This bundle gives you access to Hulu’s basic tier with ads and Disney+’s basic tier with ads, and only new users or subscribers who canceled their plans at least a month ago are eligible to redeem the discount. This bundle with ads contains content from Disney+ and Hulu. The content is still the same as with ad-free plans, including movies and series like Deadpool Wolverine, Frozen, Godmothered and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the anticipated Star Wars series only on Disney+. If some of these newer shows aren’t to your liking, there are likely older classics worth your time in the library. The deal will begin on November 27 and end on December 2. After 12 months, the subscription will renew at the regular price if automatic renewal is enabled. Disney+ is one of the best streaming services out there, focusing on providing family-friendly content but also with some more mature content. If you want even more adult-oriented shows and series, Hulu fits the bill. Both have original content as well. There are a number of other Black Friday streaming deals available now as well. Key among them are discounts on one year of Peacock and six months of Max. Here are more details: Peacock annual subscription for $20 : This Peacock Black Friday deal brings the price of one year of access to the ad-supported tier down to only $20. Note that the subscription will automatically renew at the regular rate after the first year, and the deal is only available to new subscribers who are not currently paying for Peacock. Max 6-month subscription for $18 : This Max Black Friday 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 the promo period. New and returning Max subscribers can take advantage of this. Paramount+ with Showtime two-month subscription for $6 : New and former subscribers can get two months of access to either the ad-supported tier Essentials or the Showtime tier for only $6 in this Paramount+ Black Friday deal. Essential lets you watch on three devices at once, while the premium tier includes access to Showtime originals and ad-free viewing . 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/hulu-black-friday-streaming-deals-include-one-year-of-the-disney-hulu-bundle-for-36-140024466.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 A bunch of Amazon’s in-house-made gear has been discounted for Black Friday, and some of the best deals so far are on its streaming devices. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max, the company's most powerful streaming dongle, has dropped to a new low of $33. That's a 45 percent discount off its original $60 price tag. This compact streamer supports 4K content and comes with an enhanced Alexa Voice Remote and Wi-Fi 6E support. You can, of course, use it to access Amazon Prime Video, along with Netflix, Disney+ and all your favorite services. While the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is a good option for streaming, we also use it for something a bit different: playing retro games. Our senior reporter Jeff Dunn bought one to play games from the PS1, Game Boy, Genesis, old arcade games and more. He finds it works much better than having to lug around any bigger devices. However, using your Fire TV Stick 4K Max to play old games requires a bit of setup so, if you're interested in trying it, may I direct you to Dunn's helpful guide here. Amazon's Fire TV Cube is also discounted as part of a larger sale on Fire TV devices for Black Friday. Right now, you can pick up the streaming device for 29 percent off, dropping to $100 from $140. The Cube is your pick if you want access to ethernet and hands-free use with Alexa. It's more powerful than the 4K Max, but, for the price difference, it's a tough call if it's worth it. 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-deals-drop-the-fire-tv-stick-4k-max-down-to-an-all-time-low-of-33-140334161.html?src=rss

27.11.2024 22:42 As of January 15, 2025, PlayStation’s Shuhei Yoshida will leave Sony but not retire from the industry entirely. Yoshida made the announcement while on the PlayStation Podcast Tuesday He hasn’t provided a reason why he’s leaving. Many know Yoshida as Sony Interactive’s Head of Indies Initiative, a position he got in 2019. In other words, he’s in charge of getting indie games onto PlayStation consoles by networking with indie developers and promoting the games they made. Before this, he was part of the original team behind the first PlayStation console, meaning he’s been working on these consoles since the very beginning. We interviewed him back in 2013 to talk about Sony’s commitment to indie developers. Yoshida believes that since PlayStation has been in good hands and has been thriving since its release, it’s time he moved on. His love for the console series remains, and he’s still highly optimistic about its future. You may have seen his powerful roast of Microsoft’s previous plan to prevent Xbox One owners from easily sharing physical games back in 2013. It only took Yoshida 21 seconds to make his point that the PS4 wouldn’t have such restrictions and how bad of an idea Microsoft dreamed up. His horror when playtesting an early build of 2018’s God of War is also somewhat known. As noted by Kotaku, Yoshida’s announcement is almost a week away from the PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, December 3.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/shuhei-yoshida-is-leaving-playstation-in-january-after-three-decades-172042338.html?src=rss