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03.12.2024 21:10 There's a good chance you've heard of a white elephant gift exchange before, even if you have yet to participate or even know where the tradition originated. According to legend, the King of Siam would give a white elephant to courtiers who had upset them rather than having them executed. But this was a far more devious punishment. The recipient had no choice but to accept the opulent gift with gratitude, even though they knew they could not afford the upkeep for such an animal. Inevitably, this would lead them to financial ruin.This story is almost certainly untrue, but it has led to a modern holiday staple: the white elephant gift exchange. Picking the right white elephant gift means toeing a fine line: the goal isn't simply to buy something terrible and make someone take it home. Rather, it should be just useful or amusing enough that it won’t immediately get tossed into the trash. So here are a few suggestions that will not only get you a few chuckles, but will also make the recipient feel burdened. White elephant FAQs What is white elephant? A white elephant gift exchange is a party game typically played around the holidays in which people exchange funny, impractical gifts. How does white elephant work? A group of people each bring one wrapped gift to the white elephant gift exchange, and each gift is typically of a similar value. All gifts are then placed together and the group decides the order in which they will each claim a gift. The first person picks a white elephant gift from the pile, unwraps it and their turn ends. The following players can either decide to unwrap another gift and claim it as their own, or steal a gift from someone who has already taken a turn. The rules can vary from there, including the guidelines around how often a single item can be stolen — some say twice, max. The game ends when every person has a white elephant gift. Why is it called white elephant? The term “white elephant” is said to come from the legend of the King of Siam gifting white elephants to courtiers who upset him. While it seems like a lavish gift on its face, the belief is that the courtiers would be ruined by the animal’s upkeep costs. Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-7-best-white-elephant-gifts-for-2024-150516584.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 16:21 As of today, Chinese gallium, germanium and antimony are no longer being exported to the US. Germanium and gallium exports had already ceased in October, and antimony exports have dropped by 97 percent since September. This official declaration comes a day after the US announced it would further tighten technological exports to China, particularly referring to computer chips. This ban includes materials that have “potential military applications,” as per Reuters. The Chinese export ban primarily concerns what the government calls “dual-use items,” which are objects both the military and civilians can use. Due to this ban, graphite exports to the US from China must also undergo stricter reviews. However, they aren’t outright banned from exporting yet. Gallium and germanium are used to make semiconductors, and the latter can also be found in fiber optic cables and solar cells. As for antimony, you may find it in shotgun shells, nuclear weapons, night vision goggles and some batteries. These export bans are significant because China has been outputting 48 percent of globally mined antimony, 59.2 percent of refined germanium and 98.8 percent of refined gallium production. The US must now scramble to locate new deposits containing these materials, as the ban has already affected prices. Antimony trioxide has been 228 percent more expensive since the beginning of this year. China has been finding ways to be technologically independent since the US banned exports to the Central Nation. The result of such efforts include HarmonyOS, Huawei’s chips being used in AI development and the Beidou Navigation Satellite System.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/china-has-banned-certain-metal-exports-in-retaliation-to-the-us-chip-restrictions-144005531.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 16:21 The Twitch subscriber crown is back in Kai Cenat's hands, with the creator ending his month-long subathon at almost 727,700 subscribers, CNBC reports. He more than doubled the record of 326,650 subscribers VTuber Ironmouse set in September, who had, in turn, overtaken Cenat's number one spot — a competition I am suddenly very invested in. Cenat not only streamed every day during "Mafiathon 2" in November, but did so 24 hours a day. He was joined by a cast of characters that feels like the lead up to a bad joke: What do Snoop Dogg, Bill Nye the science guy and Kevin Hart all have in common? They were guests on Cenat's livestream — I warned you it would be bad. But, seriously, he managed to stream for 30 days thanks to these guests and takeovers from his team that allowed him to sleep or go to the bathroom without a camera joining. Twitch subscribers pay $5 for ad-free viewing and exclusives and, even with Twitch taking a serious cut, Cenat likely made upwards of $3 million. He stated that 20 percent of his proceeds will go towards a school he's building in Nigeria. Cenat currently holds 15.4 million followers on Twitch and 6.79 million followers on YouTube. We'll have to wait and see whether Ironmouse tries to reclaim the crown. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/kai-cenat-takes-back-his-twitch-subscriber-record-during-month-long-livestream-143006215.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 16:21 Intel's second-generation Xe2 Arc GPUs are real, and once again, they could be compelling options for gamers looking for capable video cards under $250. Confirming leaks from the past week, Intel today unveiled the $249 Arc B580 and the slightly less capable $219 B570, both of which target 1,440p gaming. They feature the company's new XeSS2 AI capabilities , including Super Resolution upscaling , frame generation and low latency modes. The goal, according to Intel, is to deliver more performance per dollar compared to NVIDIA's $299 RTX 4060 and AMD's Radeon 7600. It's a noble pitch, but one that's also a repeat of what Intel attempted with its previous Arc GPUs. We liked those cards well enough, and the company was diligent about rolling out driver updates, yet that hasn't stopped its overall GPU market share from falling to zero percent. I'd wager many gamers didn't want to take a chance on Intel's hardware and software when NVIDIA and AMD's offerings were battle tested and just a bit more expensive. Intel The power bump from the Xe2 cards might change the situation for Intel, though. The company claims the B580 is on average 24 percent faster than its previous A750 Limited Edition GPU in 1,440p with ultra graphics settings, and it also has a 10 percent lead on NVIDIA's RTX 4060. Intel Spec-wise, Intel's new GPUs should keep up with the demands of 1,440p-focused gamers. The B580 features 20 Xe cores, 20 ray tracing units, 12GB of VRAM and a 2,670 MHz clock speed. The B570 comes in with a bit less all around: 18 Xe cores, 10GB of RAM and a 2,500MHz clock speed. I'd wager most people would be better off spending the extra $30 for a bit more future proofing, but 1080p gamers might not see the need for much extra power. In a briefing with media, Intel Fellow Tom Petersen explained that the company learned a lot from its previous GPUs . "With XE2, we have a new hardware platform, and that allows us to deliver higher utilization, improved work distribution, and less software overhead," he said. "So at the end of the day, it's all about getting software efficiency up so that we can deliver the benefits of the hardware we're building." Intel At the very least, Intel's new XeSS AI features are competitive with NVIDIA's DLSS3. The B580 GPU can double the performance of Diablo IV when using XeSS, according to Intel, and the new frame generation feature should be able to push your fps count even higher. Just like NVIDIA's tech, it's not just upscaling graphics from a lower resolution, it's also interpolating entirely new frames. The company's XeSS2 low latency, or XeLL, also improves responsiveness by 45 percent. Intel claims the B580 trounces the RTX 4060 in AI LLM performance, achieving around 20 more tokens per second in Llama 2 and Llama 3.1 workloads. While it would be interesting to see if Intel can ever scale its Arc GPUs beyond the mid-range , I'm honestly more intrigued by how the company is innovating in the low-end. Thanks to the rising complexity of high-end GPUs, the idea of cheap and capable video cards has practically disappeared over the last decade. Intel could win over a loyal fanbase of budget gamers if it actually sticks with its GPU efforts. Intel If you're intrigued by these new GPUs, you won't have to wait long to get your hands on them. Arc B580 cards will be available on December 13 for $249, while Arc B570 models will arrive next month on January 16 for $219. Intel will be making its own Limited Edition version of the Arc B580 , but it's leaving the B570 cards up to its partners, including Acer, ASRock and Sparkle.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/intel-unveils-its-budget-battlemage-arc-gpus-with-xess2-ai-features-140027123.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 16:21 Automaker Jaguar hasn't been getting much attention in recent years, but boy has that changed in the last few days! Last week, the company announced that it had chucked out its roaring cat design in favor of a Bauhaus-esque minimalist logo that was met by the public with a fair degree of shock. Now, the company has unveiled the Type 00 concept car that's vastly different from anything it currently has in production, to say the least. What's most noticeable is the length, especially in the nose, and low roofline. From some angles, the new vehicle looks like a computer render that didn't quite finish, especially the blocky front and rear ends. Other design features are highly futuristic/whimsical like brass bars running down the middle and sides, an oval steering wheel, fold-away interior screens, butterfly doors and a travertine stone "plinth" separating the passenger and driver compartments. Jaguar All of this is part of Jaguar's new "copy nothing" ideology, designed to break away from current models. "When Jaguar's at its best, it threw away the car design rule book and created the E-Type and the XJS. These were objects of desire," said Jaguar's chief creative officer at Miami Art Week. Jaguar Jaguar projects that a production version will have up to 430 miles of range and fast-charging that will add 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Other specs like acceleration and top speed haven't been revealed, and production models will probably lack some of the exuberance of the concepts. Jaguar The changes have been met with derision from some critics, but Jaguar said the company aims to be disruptive. "We've certainly gathered an awaful lot of attention over the last few weeks," managing directer Rawdon Glover told Sky News. "We need to make sure that Jaguar is relevant, is desirable, is future proof for the next 90 years of its history." This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/jaguar-unveils-polarizing-concept-ev-as-part-of-its-rebrand-133026168.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 16:21 Cyber Monday is officially over, but as it has been for the past few years, it’s not totally done and gone. There remain a number of Cyber Monday deals you can still get right now, and that’s been a pattern we’ve seen persist over the past few years. Extended Cyber Monday sales tend to last for a couple of days after the main event. If you didn’t get the chance to shop yet, Engadget can help by sifting through the noise and highlight the best Cyber Monday tech deals you can still get today. The best Cyber Monday tech deals still available Apple Watch Series 10 for $329 : The latest Apple Watch is our top pick for the best smartwatch you can get thanks to its slightly thinner and lighter design, wide-angle OLED panel for better viewing angles, watchOS 11 features and slightly improved battery life. We gave it a score of 90 in our Apple Watch Series 10 review. Apple AirTags for $73 : These are the Bluetooth trackers to get if you have an iPhone, and they allow you to keep track of your keys, wallet and other belongings from within the Find My app. Just make sure to pick up an AirTag holder or case if you plan on using them with your keys. Samsung Evo Select microSD card for $18 : The Evo Select is our favorite microSD card in the budget bracket. Its mediocre write speeds make it less-than-ideal in a camera, but it should yield few complaints for most people just looking to add space to a Nintendo Switch or Android tablet on the cheap. Also available at Samsung. DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal for $89 : The latest version of DJI's smartphone gimbal includes improved tracking and a new Quick Launch feature for iPhones that automatically launches the companion app in camera view so you can get to filming. Also available at B&H Photo. PS5 Slim Digital for $374 : If you've been unable to get your hands on a PS5 until now, you can get a decent discount for the holiday shopping season. It earned a score of 87 in our original review for its speedy 4K gaming, minimal load times and excellent DualSense controller. Also available at Walmart, Target and Amazon. PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller for $54 : If someone on your list already has a PS5 , now's the time to stock up on extra controllers. These have a comfortable design and some of the best haptics we've tried on any console controller. Also available at Sony. Chris Velazco/Engadget Echo Buds for $25 : These are one of our top picks for the best budget wireless earbuds you can get right now thanks to their comfortable design, pocket-friendly case, automatic wear detection, multi-device connectivity and, of course, built-in Alexa voice controls. Bose QuietComfort headphones for $199 : The latest version of Bose's iconic QC headphones, these cans have excellent ANC, a comfortable design, 24 hours of battery life and a quick-charge feature that will get you two hours of battery after just 15 minutes of them being plugged in. Also available at Bose. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 for $899 : We gave the latest Surface Laptop a review score of 88 earlier this year, and we currently recommend it as a great mainstream ultraportable in our laptop buying guide. The caveat is that it runs on an ARM processor, which performs well but may not work with every app or peripheral you use. If you can live with that, though, the bright 120Hz display, upscale aluminum design and long battery life all impress. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $30 : Its story may run in place at times, but Tears of the Kingdom remains a prime example of an open-world game done right. Its world doesn’t kowtow to the player at every turn, and its delightful contraption-building mechanics provide a similar sense of freedom in solving puzzles. Samsung Pro Plus microSD card for $90 : If you want a 1TB card and don't mind paying for better performance, the Pro Plus is the top overall recommendation in our microSD card buying guide. It tested faster than the Lexar card above across our benchmarks, with a particular edge in random speeds. That means it should play a bit nicer in a portable gaming PC or a device like the Raspberry Pi, where it’d more frequently have to access smaller bits of data in random locations. This is a new low for the 1TB model, which Samsung released earlier this year. Also available at Samsung and B&H. Max six-month subscription for $18 : This Max Cyber Monday deal gives you access to the Ads tier for $3 per month for the first six months, coming out to a total of only $18 for that time period. New and returning Max subscribers can take advantage of this. Audible Premium Plus for $3 for three months : Those who don't currently subscribe to Audible can get three months of the audiobook service's Premium Plus plan for $1. Normally, the service costs $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. As a refresher, Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier: In addition to giving access the full Audible Plus library, it lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. We wouldn't call it essential, but if you've been on the fence, this is a good way to see if it'd work for you. Just note that the plan will auto-renew until you cancel. MasterClass Premium for $12/month : Premium subscriptions, which include access for up to six devices and offline mode, are 40 percent off for the holidays when billed annually. MasterClass' other subscription tiers are also discounted. Those who love learning and want to pick up a new hobby can take courses with some of the best in their respective fields. ExpressVPN two-year plan plus six extra months for $150 : Our top pick for best VPN for travelers provides access to tons of servers and had some of the fastest connections of any VPN service we tested. In addition to a VPN, this subscription tier gives you access to an ad blocker and password manager. Amazon Echo for $55 : We consider this to be the best smart speaker for $100 or less at the moment thanks to its loud audio with good bass quality, the ability to pair two together for stereo sound and Alexa’s utility. Amazon Echo Spot for $45 : This recently revived smart display is billed as a smart alarm clock, and it features a customizable screen, big sound for its size and all the perks for Alexa voice commands. Dyson Airwrap for $490 : This multipurpose styling tool uses the Coanda effect to create curls without excessive heat. It comes with a bunch of other attachments so it can be used as a hairdryer, heated brush and more. iRobot Roomba Vac robot vacuum for $149 : This entry-level robot vacuum has strong suction power with three cleaning modes and smart navigation, and you can control it and set cleaning schedules from the iRobot mobile app. Dyson V15 Detect Absolute cordless vacuum for $500 : This is our top pick for the best cordless vacuum you can get right now thanks to its excellent suction power, relatively light weight and good battery life. This model comes with a Fluffy Optic cleaning head that illuminates the ground in front of you so you can see where the most debris lies, and the pack-up includes three additional cleaning head attachments. Hisense U8N 4K TV for $649 : The U8N is the next step up from the U7N in Hisense's TV lineup, so it should provide better colors, contrast and brightness across the board. If you don't mind buying a smaller panel for around the same price, this is another new low. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ for $150 : Our top pick for the best budget Android tablet sports an 11-inch 90Hz display, a microSD card slot for extra storage and a hefty battery. Also available at Samsung. Solo Stove Bonfire Backyard Bundle for $400 : Solo Stove Cyber Monday deals include up to 30 percent off fit pit bundles that give you all of the necessary accessories to make the most out of your new fire pit. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-cyber-monday-deals-you-can-still-shop-from-apple-amazon-walmart-target-and-others-173752166.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 16:21 Virtual reality has come a long, long way since the days of Nintendo’s doomed Virtual Boy. The Meta Quest 3S just came out, Sony continues to offer support for the PS VR2 and there are a number of PC-connected VR headsets from HP, HTC, Vive and others. If you or someone you love has just dove head-first into the virtual world by buying one of these devices, the right accessories can make the experience even better than they thought it could be. But like any growing industry, there’s a growing number of virtual reality accessories out there and figuring out which are actually worth buying can be confusing. That’s where we come in: here are the best VR accessories for folks tired of boring-old actual reality.We tried to keep these picks as universal as possible, to suit the various VR ecosystems out there. However, some of the best VR accessories only work on certain platforms and we’ll note this stuff as we go. We also stayed away from experimental and expensive add-ons, like treadmills and force feedback clothing, to keep you from bankruptcy. Best VR controller accessories Best VR headset upgrades Best VR fitness accessories Best VR cables, chargers and batteries FAQs What equipment do you need for VR? What you need depends on the VR headset you buy. Some devices, like the Meta Quest 3, are entirely standalone, which means you don't need anything but the headset itself to use it. Other VR headsets need to be connected to a system from which it can draw power and run software. Some systems, like the HP Reverb G2, must connect to a PC, while others like the PS VR2 can connect to gaming consoles like the PS5. Most VR headsets come with the basic controllers you'll need to control actions and movement in virtual worlds. What's the difference between PC VR, Smartphone VR and Gaming Console VR? The main difference between those three VR systems is the main machine that allows the VR headset to run. PC VR headsets require a PC, like a gaming laptop or desktop, to run, while smartphone and gaming console VR systems require smartphones and gaming consoles, respectively, to work. Do all VR headsets need a phone? No, not all VR headsets need a phone to work. Many VR headsets have build in displays that sit in front of your eyes and basically act as your window into the virtual world.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/best-vr-accessories-150021126.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 16:21 AI-generated content played a much smaller role in global election misinformation than what many officials and researchers had feared, according to a new analysis from Meta. In an update on its efforts to safeguard dozens of elections in 2024, the company said that AI content made up only a fraction of election-related misinformation that was caught and labeled by its fact checkers. “During the election period in the major elections listed above, ratings on AI content related to elections, politics and social topics represented less than 1% of all fact-checked misinformation,” the company shared in a blog post, referring to elections in the US, UK, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, France, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil, as well as the EU’s Parliamentary elections. The update comes after numerous government officials and researchers for months raised the alarm about the role generative AI could play in supercharging election misinformation in a year when more than 2 billion people were expected to go to the polls. But those fears largely did not play out — at least on Meta’s platforms — according to the company’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg. “People were understandably concerned about the potential impact that generative AI would have on the forthcoming elections during the course of this year, and there were all sorts of warnings about the potential risks of things like widespread deepfakes and AI-enabled disinformation campaigns,” Clegg said during a briefing with reporters. “From what we've monitored across our services, it seems these risks did not materialize in a significant way, and that any such impact was modest and limited in scope.” Meta didn’t elaborate on just how much election-related AI content its fact checkers caught in the run-up to major elections. The company sees billions of pieces of content every day, so even small percentages can add up to a large number of posts. Clegg did, however, credit Meta’s policies, including its expansion of AI labeling earlier this year, following criticism from the Oversight Board. He noted that Meta’s own AI image generator blocked 590,000 requests to create images of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, JD Vance and Tim Walz in the month leading up to election day in the US. At the same time, Meta has increasingly taken steps to distance itself from politics altogether, as well as some past efforts to police misinformation. The company changed users’ default settings on Instagram and Threads to stop recommending political content, and has de-prioritized news on Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg has said he regrets the way the company handled some of its misinformation policies during the pandemic. Looking ahead, Clegg said Meta is still trying to strike the right balance between enforcing its rules and enabling free expression. “We know that when enforcing our policies, our error rates are still too high, which gets in the way of free expression,” he said.” I think we also now want to really redouble our efforts to improve the precision and accuracy with which we act.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-says-ai-generated-content-was-less-than-1-precent-of-election-misinformation-130042422.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 16:21 It’s been a quiet few news days as everyone seemingly parses deals from Black Friday through to Cyber Monday. But there’s always time for a shock announcement: Pat Gelsinger is retiring after over 40 years at the company and close to four years at the chip manufacturer’s helm. Effective December 1, Gelsinger left his post and his position on the board of directors. The board has created a search committee to “diligently and expeditiously” find a new CEO. Gelsinger oversaw Intel during a tumultuous time for the company. In late 2022, Intel laid off about 20 percent of its staff in some divisions. This year alone, the company announced it would lay off another 15,000 people — or 15 percent of its workforce — amid a $10 billion cost-reduction plan. — Mat Smith Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The biggest tech stories you missed PS5 anniversary update adds themes for each generation of the PlayStation Walmart Cyber Monday deals still available Amazon Prime members can play Death Stranding for free on Luna this month AOC is the first Bluesky user with a million followers She’s been active since early 2023. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the first individual account with a million followers on Bluesky. The decentralized social network has seen multiple spikes in user numbers since Twitter’s transformation to X and the recent US election, with its user base tripling in just three months. AOC has been active on the platform long before its post-election surge, posting 437 times since joining the platform in April 2023. Continue reading. Tesla Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck owners finally get SiriusXM access It’s part of the 2024 Tesla Holiday Update. Tesla Tesla is finally adding SiriusXM integration to its best-selling models. The long-requested feature is coming to the Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck as part of the 2024 Tesla Holiday Update. After receiving the update, owners will see SiriusXM in the media sources menu. You’ll need Tesla Premium Connectivity or an active Wi-Fi connection for access. Continue reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-intels-ceo-just-suddenly-retired-121545207.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 11:10 If you believe the rumors, we’re still a few months away from the announcement of the Switch 2. But an announcement still isn’t a release, so you still have plenty of time to spend with your original Switch. It’s a great time to catch up on the massive number of great titles that have come out recently, like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Mario Luigi: Brothership and Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. So, while you’re hammering away at your pile of shame, why not treat yourself and your Switch console by picking up a few of the accessories below to upgrade your experience? This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/best-nintendo-switch-oled-accessories-150048703.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 06:50 Cyber Monday 2024 is nearly over, but there are plenty of tech deals to consider if you’re looking for a few things for yourself or to give as gifts this year. As it has been for a few years now, Cyber Monday is basically just an extension of Black Friday: most of the best Black Friday deals have now become the best Cyber Monday deals , and there tend to be a few surprises thrown in as Cyber Monday exclusives. A number of our favorite gadgets continue to be on sale for Cyber Monday even as the day draws to a close, including earbuds, tablets, robot vacuums and much more. These are the best Cyber Monday deals you can still get right now. We expect most of these sales to expire tonight, so we recommend grabbing what you want before the end of today. Engadget's top picks Disney+ Hulu bundle one-year subscription for $36 : This Disney+ Cyber Monday 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. If you're only interested in the Hulu portion of the deal, you can get Hulu's ad-supported tier for one year for $12 — that comes out to just $0.99 per month. Apple AirTags for $70 : These are the Bluetooth trackers to get if you have an iPhone, and they allow you to keep track of your keys, wallet and other belongings from within the Find My app. Just make sure to pick up an AirTag holder or case if you plan on using them with your keys. Apple Watch SE for $149 : The most budget-friendly Apple Watch has all of the core features that the flagship one has, but lacks things like ECG monitoring. We consider it to be the best Apple Watch for first-timers, and anyone who's on a tight budget. Also available at Walmart. Anker 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 available at Anker. Anker 10K MagGo power bank for $54 : This is one of our top picks for the best power banks you can buy today thanks to its versatile capacity, speedy Qi2 charging capabilities, clear screen that shows remaining battery power and its built-in kickstand. The black model has the steepest discount, while the rest are down to $60. Also available at Anker. 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. Samsung Evo Select microSD card for $18 : The Evo Select is our favorite microSD card in the budget bracket. Its mediocre write speeds make it less-than-ideal in a camera, but it should yield few complaints for most people just looking to add space to a Nintendo Switch or Android tablet on the cheap. Also available at Samsung. Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum with self-emptying base for $300 : A version of one of our top picks, this Shark robot vacuum cleans both carpet and hard flooring well, has an easy-to-use app, a self-cleaning brushroll and a bagless self-emptying base that can hold up to 60 days worth of debris before you need to empty it. DJI Osmo Mobile 6 gimbal for $89 : The latest version of DJI's smartphone gimbal includes improved tracking and a new Quick Launch feature for iPhones that automatically launches the companion app in camera view so you can get to filming. Also available at B&H Photo. PS5 Slim Digital for $374 : If you've been unable to get your hands on a PS5 until now, you can get a decent discount for the holiday shopping season. It earned a score of 87 in our original review for its speedy 4K gaming, minimal load times and excellent DualSense controller. Also available at Walmart, Target and Sony. The best Cyber Monday tech deals Apple Watch Series 10 for $329 : The latest Apple Watch is our top pick for the best smartwatch you can get thanks to its slightly thinner and lighter design, wide-angle OLED panel for better viewing angles, watchOS 11 features and slightly improved battery life. We gave it a score of 90 in our Apple Watch Series 10 review. Also available at Walmart. Echo Buds for $25 : These are one of our top picks for the best budget wireless earbuds you can get right now thanks to their comfortable design, pocket-friendly case, automatic wear detection, multi-device connectivity and, of course, built-in Alexa voice controls. Anker Soundcore Space A40 for $45 : 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. Also available at Anker with a coupon. Bose QuietComfort headphones for $199 : The latest version of Bose's iconic QC headphones, these cans have excellent ANC, a comfortable design, 24 hours of battery life and a quick-charge feature that will get you two hours of battery after just 15 minutes of them being plugged in. Also available at Bose. Bose Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 for $899 : 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. If you prefer a bigger screen, a 15-inch version with a quicker Snapdragon X Elite chip and a 256GB SSD is down to a low of $1,053. Also available at Best Buy. PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller for $54 : If someone on your list already has a PS5 , now's the time to stock up on extra controllers. These have a comfortable design and some of the best haptics we've tried on any console controller. Also available at Sony. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $30 : Its story may run in place at times, but Tears of the Kingdom remains a prime example of an open-world game done right. Its world doesn’t kowtow to the player at every turn, and its delightful contraption-building mechanics provide a similar sense of freedom in solving puzzles. If Walmart runs out of stock, Target and Best Buy also have the game for $40, which is the second-best price we’ve tracked. Crucial X9 Pro portable SSD for $80 : The Crucial X9 Pro is our pick for the best portable SSD, offering dependable performance for most everyday tasks in a rugged, compact design. The 1TB version fell as low as $60 last year, but this is the largest discount we’ve seen in 2024. Also available at B&H, Best Buy and Newegg. Samsung Pro Plus microSD card for $90 : If you want a 1TB card and don't mind paying for better performance, the Pro Plus is the top overall recommendation in our microSD card buying guide. It tested faster than the Lexar card above across our benchmarks, with a particular edge in random speeds. That means it should play a bit nicer in a portable gaming PC or a device like the Raspberry Pi, where it’d more frequently have to access smaller bits of data in random locations. This is a new low for the 1TB model, which Samsung released earlier this year. Also available at Samsung and B&H. Max six-month subscription for $18 : This Max Cyber Monday deal gives you access to the Ads tier for $3 per month for the first six months, coming out to a total of only $18 for that time period. New and returning Max subscribers can take advantage of this. Peacock one-year subscription for $20 : The Peacock Cyber Monday deal is back this year, bringing 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 Premium or Premium Plus. Audible Premium Plus for $0.99/month for three months + $20 Audible credit : 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. Plus, you'll now also get an additional $20 Audible credit to use at your discretion. Amazon Kindle Unlimited for $1 for three month : Amazon's ebook subscription service gives you access to a catalog of thousands titles for unlimited reading, select Audible audiobooks to listen to and included magazines to read. Prime members can get a different deal: two months for only $5. MasterClass Premium for $10/month : Premium subscriptions, which include access for up to six devices and offline mode, are half off for the holidays when billed annually. MasterClass' other subscription tiers are also discounted. Those who love learning and want to pick up a new hobby can take courses with some of the best in their respective fields. ExpressVPN two-year plan plus six extra months for $150 : Our top pick for best VPN for travelers provides access to tons of servers and had some of the fastest connections of any VPN service we tested. In addition to a VPN, this subscription tier gives you access to an ad blocker and password manager. reMarkable reMarkable 2 bundles starting at $529 : Our top pick for the best E Ink tablet for most people has now been discounted when you pick up one of its folio cases and a marker to go along with it. The reMarkable 2 provides an excellent, distraction-free reading and writing experience, plus it has handy integrations with Google Drive and Dropbox. Dyson Airwrap for $490 : This multipurpose styling tool uses the Coanda effect to create curls without excessive heat. It comes with a bunch of other attachments so it can be used as a hairdryer, heated brush and more. Google Pixel Watch 3 for $280 : Google's latest smartwatch is down to an all time low price. This is the model we recommend for anyone with an Android phone in our guide to the best smartwatches and it earned an 84 in our review. It detects workouts quickly, has an extra long battery life and is one of the more attractive smartwatches on the market. The deal applies to the 41mm size with GPS only but the larger and cellular-enabled models are on sale too. Also at Best Buy and Target. Google Nest Indoor security camera for $70 : Google's security camera can tell the difference between people, animals and vehicles while it's monitoring your home, and it supports 1080p video, night vision and two-way audio. Theragun Mini 2.0 for $149 : This compact massager makes a great gift for a beloved parent or anyone else you think could use a little more TLC. It supports a couple of different head attachments that help relieve different muscles of the body and it’s arguably the easiest of Thergun’s devices to throw into a carry on or gym bag. Also available at Therabody. Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer for $280 : One of our favorite air fryers, this machine does a lot more than just air fry thanks to its 11 cooking modes, and while it's larger than a typical air fryer, that means it can cook larger things like a full turkey or chicken. Kindle Paperwhite for $130 : The latest version of the Paperwhite has speedier performance, a higher-contrast screen, a built-in warm light and 12 weeks of battery life. Echo for $55 : We consider this to be the best smart speaker for $100 or less at the moment thanks to its loud audio with good bass quality, the ability to pair two together for stereo sound and Alexa’s utility. Amazon Echo Spot for $45 : This recently revived smart display is billed as a smart alarm clock, and it features a customizable screen, big sound for its size and all the perks for Alexa voice commands. 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. 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 if you wish provided you have the separate $10 weather-resistant adapter. Billy Steele for Engadget Beats Pill for $100 : Beats came back to the Bluetooth speaker market with the completely redesigned Pill — and we think it was worth the wait. The durable unit earned a spot on our Bluetooth speaker guide and an 83 in our review. It offers much improved sound quality with impressive bass and full mids. You also get a long, 24-hour battery life and lossless audio over USB-C. Also at Walmart. JBL Clip 5 for $50 : It’s tiny, portable and brings its own clip along with it. You’ll get 12 hours of listening from its waterproof body and the whole thing weighs just over half a pound. Sonos Era 100 for $199 : The Sonos Era 100 is our pick for the best midrange smart speaker. We like the excellent sound quality plus it pairs well with other Sonos devices. It has Alexa built-in, so it can handle regular smart home duties, but it’ll also make your music sound far better than any spherical Echo can. Hisense U8N 4K TV for $649 : 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. Samsung QN90D QLED TV for $848 : The Samsung QN90D is another high-end LED TV for those willing to trade the deep contrast and wide viewing angles of a good OLED set for higher brightness. There’s still no Dolby Vision, and most reviewers we trust suggest that the Hisense U8N is a better value. This set has two more HDMI 2.1 ports, though, plus it comes in a wider range of sizes, all of which offer similar performance. Also available at Samsung and B&H. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ for $150 : Our top pick for the best budget Android tablet sports an 11-inch 90Hz display, a microSD card slot for extra storage and a hefty battery. Also available at Samsung. iRobot Roomba Vac robot vacuum for $149 : This entry-level robot vacuum has strong suction power with three cleaning modes and smart navigation, and you can control it and set cleaning schedules from the iRobot mobile app. Dyson V15 Detect Absolute cordless vacuum for $500 : This is our top pick for the best cordless vacuum you can get right now thanks to its excellent suction power, relatively light weight and good battery life. This model comes with a Fluffy Optic cleaning head that illuminates the ground in front of you so you can see where the most debris lies, and the pack-up includes three additional cleaning head attachments. Solo Stove Bonfire Backyard Bundle for $400 : Solo Stove Cyber Monday deals include up to 30 percent off fit pit bundles that give you all of the necessary accessories to make the most out of your new fire pit. Alternatively, you can pick up the Bonfire fire pit with its stand over at Amazon for only $196. Expired Cyber Monday deals Elden Ring for PS5 for $20 : Elden Ring is one of our favorites for most consoles, and you'll be hard-pressed to find it cheaper than this right now. It offers a rich, open world to explore and, depending on your play style, you can pursue a path as difficult as you want. Apple MacBook Air for $899 : The latest MacBook Air is our top pick for the best laptop for most people, and this model has 16GB of RAM built in — double the previous base amount. If you're ok with getting an M2 processor, that 13-inch MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM is also on sale for $749. Xbox Wireless Controller for $40 : This is another deal we’ve seen a few times before, but it’s a decent $5 to $15 off the Series X/S pad’s typical street price, depending on which color you pick. Several different models are on sale, with some of the more vibrant colorways available for $45 or $50. Also available at Best Buy, Target and others. Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $154 : The best AirPods you can get right now, these offer a secure, comfortable fit, good sound quality and ANC, plus excellent transparency mode. Thanks to a recent software update, the Pro 2 earbuds can be used as hearing aids if the user takes Apple's new hearing test and it discovers mild to moderate hearing loss. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-cyber-monday-deals-from-apple-amazon-target-walmart-best-buy-and-others-173752954.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 06:50 Streaming deals are hard to come by nowadays, especially after all of the price hikes that have happened in recent months. But Cyber Monday tends to be the time of the year when streaming deals could pop up the most. This year is no different, and one of the best streaming deals we found is on one year of Peacock. You can snag it for only $20, which represents a 75 percent discount. But the offer ends December 2, so you have just a few more hours to sign up if you haven't already. Peacock doesn’t have the name recognition of Netflix or Hulu, but it’s still home to plenty of good shows and movies. There’s a reason, after all, that the platform made our list of the best streaming services. Peacock isn’t just home to the aforementioned Love Island and other reality shows about love not set on islands. The streamer also airs some top-notch content like the AI-centric Mrs. Davis and the surprisingly-decent video game adaptation Twisted Metal. A Peacock subscription also allows access to SyFy shows like the underrated The Ark. Other worthwhile programs include Hysteria!, We Are Lady Parts and Killing It. There are a few little caveats. First, this subscription is the one with ads. Also, the offer is only available to new subscribers who are not currently paying for Peacock Premium or Premium Plus. Finally, it’s only available directly from Peacock, and not from third-party billers like Apple or Amazon. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/peacock-cyber-monday-streaming-deal-last-chance-to-get-a-one-year-subscription-for-only-20-080004595.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 06:50 If you've been looking for a good time to join — or return to — the Max streaming service, today's Cyber Monday deal is your perfect opportunity. Max is offering new and returning subscribers six months of access to its ad-supported tier for only $18. That comes out to $3 per month, which is a 70-percent discount from the service’s standard monthly price. That makes it an excellent time to finally catch up or binge-watch The Last of Us or House of the Dragon. The deal is only available in the US and will automatically renew during the six months — and beyond. If you don’t want to pay $10 monthly after the discount period, just remember to cancel before the renewal date. But don't delay, because today — Monday, December 2 — is the final day this deal is available. Max’s lineup has series and films like The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, The Penguin, Dune: Part Two, Everything Everywhere All at Once and Barbie. In addition, you get full series from HBO’s legendary archives, like The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and The City, Game Of Thrones and Six Feet Under. It also includes current and old content from Warner Bros., A24, Adult Swim, ID and the DC Universe. Again, today is your final opportunity for this deal, so head over to Max and log in or sign up.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/max-cyber-monday-streaming-deal-ends-tonight-get-six-months-of-access-for-only-18-165721378.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 01:40 Cyber Monday streaming deals have come in strong again this year, and one of the best is on Disney+ and Hulu. The Duo Basic bundle is on sale for $3 per month for one whole year, which comes out to $36 for the entire time period. This bundle gives you access to Hulu’s basic tier with ads and Disney+’s basic tier with ads, and only new users or subscribers who canceled their plans at least a month ago are eligible to redeem the discount. If you're only interested in the Hulu part of the deal, you can get Hulu's ad-supported tier for $0.99 per month for one year, which comes out to just $12 for the first year. But both offers end tonight, so you have a few more hours to take the plunge if you haven't already. The Duo Basic bundle gives you the basic tier of Hulu and Disney+, both with ads, and only new users or subscribers who canceled their plans at least a month ago are eligible to redeem the discount. Note that there's no ESPN Plus included — but if you're not into sports, that's a nice net savings here. 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. After 12 months, the subscription will renew at the regular price if automatic renewal is enabled. Disney+ is one of the best streaming services out there, focusing on providing family-friendly content but also with some more mature content. If you want even more adult-oriented shows and series, Hulu fits the bill. Both have original content as well. There are a number of other Cyber Monday streaming deals still available now as part of Cyber Monday subscription deals. Key among them are discounts on one year of Peacock and six months of Max. Here are more details: Hulu for $0.99 per month for one year : If you're only interested in the Hulu portion of Disney's deal, you can get Hulu's ad-supported tier for one year for $12 — that comes out to just $0.99 per month. While you'll have to deal with ads, you get access to Hulu Originals, six user profiles, two simultaneous streams and access to a library with thousands of TV shows and movies to choose from. Peacock annual subscription for $20 : This Peacock Cyber Monday 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 Cyber Monday deal gives you access to the Ads tier for $3 per month for the first six months, coming out to a total of only $18 for 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+ Cyber Monday 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/disney-and-hulu-cyber-monday-streaming-deal-ends-tonight-get-one-year-of-the-duo-basic-bundle-for-36-140024066.html?src=rss

03.12.2024 01:40 We’re big Lego fans here at Engadget, so it’s not difficult for us to understand why the building block sets are some of the first items to sell out during the holiday shopping season. Kids and adults alike seek out Lego sets all year round, and they make particularly good gifts. Whether you know your recipient loves Star Wars or Super Mario, or they don’t have a fan-favorite franchise and just love building stuff, there are Lego sets out there that all kinds of people will love. And no, they don’t all cost hundreds of dollars — some, like seasonal advent calendars, come in at $50 or less. If you’ve got a Lego lover on your holiday shopping list , these are the best Cyber Monday Lego deals for 2024 that you can still get now that Cyber Monday is nearly over. Most of these deals are on Amazon, but you can find the same pricing direct at Lego and other retailers like Target. The highlights for Cyber Monday include a couple of Lego advent calendars: one for Disney fans and another that's more general for all kids. Lego makes a bunch of other advent calendars in addition to these, and we expect to see more of them go on sale in the coming days. There's also the beautiful Insect Collection, which when completed, includes three life-size, posable models of a butterfly, Hercules beetle and Chinese mantis. Even as someone who detests bun appreciate the elegance of this set and how striking they'd look sitting on a shelf. Star Wars, Super Mario and Harry Potter sets have been discounted as well. For example, this Star Wars set recreates the "boarding the Tantive IV" scene from Star Wars: A New Hope in which the Rebels battle Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers. This Super Mario expansion set includes a brick-built Bowser and his muscle car, and once complete, you can pull the lever on the car to make its hood ornament move. We'll be updating this post through the entire Black Friday and Cyber Monday time period, so check back for the latest offers. Cyber Monday Lego deals Lego Marvel Dancing Groot 76297 for $36 Lego Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 for $25 Lego Ideas The Insect Collection 21342 for $64 Lego Super Mario Bowser’s Muscle Car Expansion Set 71431 for $24 Lego Super Mario Adventures with Interactive Mario, Bowser Jr.’s Clown Car Playset 71439 for $40 Lego Super Mario Penguin Family Snow Adventure Expansion Set 71430 for $15 Lego Super Mario Piranha Plant 71426 for $48 Lego Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding The Tantive IV Fantasy Toy 75387 for $44 Lego Star Wars Droideka Model 75381 for $52 Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian Ambush on Mandalore Battle Pack 75373 for $17 Lego Star Wars The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter 75325 for $48 Lego Star Wars: The Clone Wars Captain Rex Y-Wing Microfighter Building Set 75391 for $10 Lego Harry Potter Hedwig at 4 Privet Drive 76425 for $16 Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle Owlery Toy 76430 for $36 Expired Cyber Monday deals Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit Building Set 42179 for $60 Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds 76419 for $136 Lego Disney Advent Calendar 43253 for $32 Lego Super Mario Yoshis’ Egg-cellent Forest Expansion Set 71428 for $7 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/lego-cyber-monday-deals-save-up-to-29-percent-on-star-wars-super-mario-sets-195025962.html?src=rss