Dravid predicts a sweep for Gill, domestic players dominate the nets

NAGPUR : The majority of Indian batters committed to double shifts in the nets against slow bowlers before the series opening since there is a strong chance that the plan to train rank turners for annihilating Australia will fail. The misunderstood Australian cricketer Steve O'Keefe had one notable performance against India in Pune six summers ago when a snake pit of a 22-yard delivery boomeranged horribly on the hosts, giving the left-arm spinner 12 of his 35 Test wickets in a single match. As if that weren't enough, Lyon questioned a lot during the subsequent test in Bangalore. The Indian team boasted nine specialist spinners on Tuesday: four from the core squad, five from within India, and one from abroad. The hitters are being helped by fringes. The majority of the work was done by the off-spinners Pulkit Narang and Jayant Yadav, as well as the leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, left-arm orthodox Ravisrinivas Sai Kishore, and Saurabh Kumar, while Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav would like to save their energies for the big five days. When Narang and India's Jayant, who neither rank among the top 10 domestic wicket-takers, are asked to simulate, it is very clear that domestic cricket lacks effective off-break bowlers. The continued disregard for Jalaj Saxena while Jayant is present indicates that Lyon is still very much on India's mind. Playing spin is something we have definitely practised, and we are aware of how the pitches will behave in India. We've gotten good at playing spin while keeping that in mind KL Rahul, the team's vice captain, provided a sneak peak into their pregame planning. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli both attempted to make sweep shots, but Cheteshwar Pujara focused more on blocking off-breaks with a strong forward stride. Everybody has their own unique plans. Everyone has their own preferred style of play that they have discussed with the coaches, or everyone wants to play a certain way. In an effort to improve our spin play, the batting group and I have talked about this said the vice captain of India. Rahul Dravid, the head coach, actually spent a lot of time with Gill and explained how to use some shadow batting to hold the sweep at bay. When a strong turn is being offered, he was observed demonstrating to Gill how to prevent offering a catch to a front short leg or leg gully. Later, Gill could be seen practising close-range catching with fielding coach T. Dileep while standing at the forward short leg. Although the squad lineup hasn't been revealed, it appears like Rahul will replace Gill at the top, who is currently going through a strong period. A good wicketkeeper will be required at all times because of the dry area on one side of the track, which means the ball will start contributing from the first game. Ind Vs Aus: When Team India's cricketer did not obey head coach Shastri's order Vinod Kambli's wife filed complaint against him for domestic violence Ex-Pak star Abdul Razzaq stuns with unexpected take on BCCI vs PCB row

Save $568 on Samsungs 9.1.2-Ch. Dolby Atmos Soundbar System at all-time low of $730

For a limited time, Woot is now offering the 2022 model Samsung HW-Q910B 9.1.2-Channel Soundbar System for $729.99 Prime shipped with non-Prime members being charged a $6 delivery fee. Normally going for $1,298, this 44% discount, or solid $568 price drop marks a return to the all-time low price weve tracked. Here you get a soundbar compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for a true surround sound setup for your home. The surround speaker and subwoofer connect wirelessly and can even tune themselves for the specific room theyre in. Rounding out the feature set here is AirPlay 2 and Alexa built-in that will allow you to stream music and videos to your new sound system. If you have a compatible Samsung TV, you can even skip out on the HDMI connection so you can have a truly wireless experience. Head below for more. more The post Save $568 on Samsungs 9.1.2-Ch. Dolby Atmos Soundbar System at all-time low of $730 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Redfall: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more

Redfall is an upcoming Xbox exclusive from the studio behind Prey and Dishonored. Here's everything we know about the mysterious, vampire-slaying co-op shooter.

Logitechs G713 Aurora Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard returns to low of $150

Amazon is currently offering the Logitech Aurora G713 Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for $149.99 shipped. Normally going for $170, this solid $20 price drop marks a return to the all-time low price for only the fourth time. The Tenkeyless design means the keyboard takes up less space on your desk to give your mouse more room to maneuver with GX Blue switches being used here, giving audible and tactile clicks. Youll also have per-key LIGHTSYNC RGB lighting customizable in Logitechs G HUB software which also allows for macro mapping. The detachable USB-C cable also makes transportation simpler and safer so you dont damage the keyboard or connector. Be sure to check out our hands-on review to learn more and head below for more. more The post Logitechs G713 Aurora Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard returns to low of $150 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Disney is bringing the first episode of 'The Mandalorian' to broadcast TV

For one night only, Disneys breakout Star Wars series is coming to cable TV. Ahead of the premiere of the third season of The Mandalorian on March 1st , Disney announced today it would air the shows debut episode, Chapter 1: The Mandalorian, on February 24th. If you somehow havent seen the series before, you can catch the episode that started it all on ABC, Freeform or FX. All three stations will air the 41-minute debut at 8PM ET/PT. If youve managed to avoid spoilers for The Mandalorian until now, first of all, great job; it couldnt have been easy. Second, we wont ruin the surprise, but the debut episode is a great taste of what made the first season of the series feel so special. It has a bit of everything that people came to love about The Mandalorian , including witty dialogue, fun action set pieces and, of course, a certain cute alien . This isnt the first time Disney has brought a Disney+ exclusive to TV. The company previously aired two episodes of Andor on ABC, Freeform and FX when it seemed that series was struggling to find an audience. Considering the company recently lost $1.5 billion on its streaming services, bringing The Mandalorian to broadcast TV makes a lot of sense as an effort to attract subscribers to Disney+.

Save $550 on ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 with Ryzen 9, RX 6700S, and 120Hz display at $1,100

Best Buy is offering the ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 Ryzen 9/16GB/1TB/RX 6700S Gaming Laptop for $1,099.99 shipped . Down from $1,650, this $550 discount marks the first sale that weve seen on the latest iteration of the Zephyrus 14 and delivers the best price yet. Ready to take your gaming setup anywhere, this laptop packs plenty of power. For starters, the Ryzen 9 is AMDs latest and comes with full support for the 16GB of DDR5 memory that the laptop ships with. On top of that, theres a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with 1TB of storage space to keep your games and documents offline and ready for use even without an internet connection. Then theres the RX 6700S graphics card, which easily drives the 14-inch 25601600 120Hz display with your favorite games. Keep reading for more. more The post Save $550 on ASUS ROG Zephyrus 14 with Ryzen 9, RX 6700S, and 120Hz display at $1,100 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Pick up two OLIGHT i5R EOS 350-lumen rechargeable LED flashlights for 35% off at $47

OLIGHT is currently bundling two of its i5R EOS Rechargeable LED Flashlights for $46.78 shipped . Down from a combined value of $72, todays deal saves 35% and marks the lowest price that weve seen for the i5R to date. Ready to deliver up to 350 lumens of brightness at a moments notice, theres also a lower-power 15 lumen mode should you just need a little bit of light. This compact flashlight weighs just 2.2 ounces and is just 95.4mm long, or 3.75 inches. Theres an included pocket clip on each flashlight so you can always know where to grab it from, be that a pocket in your purse or jeans. Plus, its rechargeable via USB-C and lasts up to 37 hours before its time to plug back in. Learn more about what you can expect from OLIGHT in our hands-on review of other models then head below for extra information. more The post Pick up two OLIGHT i5R EOS 350-lumen rechargeable LED flashlights for 35% off at $47 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

SK hynix Gold P31 M.2 internal SSDs return to Amazon lows starting from just $45.50 today

The official SK hynix Amazon storefront is now offering its 1TB Gold P31 PCIe NVMe M.2 Gen 3 Solid-State Drive for $79.99 shipped. Originally closer to $135 and more recently going for around $123, this is matching our previous mention and within cents of the Amazon all-time low. Youll los find the 500GB and 2TB variants marked down to $45.59 and $149.99 restively, down from the regular $70 and $108. While the Gen3 P31 isnt the latest and greatest a 500GB WD_BLACK PCIe Gen4 will run you more than the 1TB above at $84 ) it is also a more economical choice. SK hynix has been delivering some affordable internal SSD solutions for quite some time and the 3,500MB/s transfer rate on todays deal is quite respectable for the price. It also ships with a 5-year warranty and proprietary SK hynix HYPERWRITE cache technology. Get a closer look in our hands-on review and head below for more details. more The post SK hynix Gold P31 M.2 internal SSDs return to Amazon lows starting from just $45.50 today appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Microsoft's new Bing and Edge hands-on: Surprisingly well-integrated AI

The age of generative AI is upon us, and this week alone Google and Microsoft made major announcements around their respective products for the masses. While Google unveiled an experimental conversational AI service called Bard yesterday , Microsoft had a fuller slate of news to share at its event in Redmond, WA today . Through a partnership with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Microsoft is adding more advanced AI conversation models to power updates to Bing and Edge . The company's keynote today happened at breakneck pace, with demos whizzing by so quickly there was barely enough time to make sense of the updates. Thankfully, I was able to briefly check out a full demo here with Dena Saunders from Bing Engineering. It was nice to see everything at a more comprehensible pace, but it was unfortunately restricted to a set of scripted examples. I'll be getting access to the preview through my own whitelisted accounts in a bit so I will be updating this post with my personal impressions, but for now, I can break down at least what the updates look like on a demo computer. Bing improvements In general, there are four new areas of change coming to Bing (and we'll get to Edge later): Search, Answers, Chat and Create. The first update is the new search box. Instead of your typical long, one-line bar, there is now a box more similar to those on Twitter or Facebook that prompts you to ask Bing anything. The character limit is now 1,000. The idea is to make the process of looking for answers something more conversational similar to Google's approach for years now. When you submit your query, results are now displayed a bit differently. On the left is a column with your typical answers just like how you see it on Bing now. On the right, however, is a box that explains how the system found those answers. I initially thought this was similar to what Google does in its About this search panels, but I was wrong. This box is a home for the AI and fills up with text that appears in real time, complete with animation and a Stop responding button in case you don't have the patience to see the AI's explanation. Chat and create in Bing The third and fourth parts are the more interesting updates. Chat, for example, is a new way you can get solutions to the problems you're looking to solve. You can access the Chat page from the Bing results page by tapping the Chat button above the answers or by scrolling up (swiping down on touchscreens). When you're there, you can continue the conversation about your ongoing search, or use the Broom icon next to the text input field to clean the slate. This page is a more practical manifestation of the notion of an AI copilot it's basically ChatGPT or any other chat bot you may have interacted with while getting tech support from your bank or shopping website. But the results Bing's Prometheus model has been able to return are definitely more impressive. The outputs it can return along with the inputs it can understand make it much more versatile and therefore more useful. For example, you can tell it to create travel itineraries or meal plans with specific parameters and it'll actually give you lists with what to do or make each day. The demos I saw included coming up with 3-day itinerary for Snoqualmie or vegetarian meal plan with chocolate included in the dessert and each time Bing delivered the requested plans in plain, legible English that not only met the requirements but also cited its sources. It also didn't take very long for the system to produce the results we only had to wait between five and ten seconds on the demo Surface laptop. When the system is processing, you'll also see the Stop responding button to give up waiting for results, just in case you're running short on time. Like other conversational assistants, Bing's chat is capable of understanding context. In the demo, Saunders asked for spots to take photographs after first requesting a 3-day itinerary for Snoqualmie, and Bing replied with scenic locations in the same region. This story is developing, please refresh for updates.

Nikons new professional NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S melts away backgrounds with bokeh

Today Nikon is announcing its latest additions to the first-party NIKKOR Z lens lineup with the professional 85mm f/1.2 S prime and the pancake 26mm f/2.8. Designed for photo and video professionals, the 85mm f/1.2 S prime lens has been designed to retain crisp details with great bokeh that causes the background to just melt away. Also being announced today is the 26mm f/2.8 pancake lens designed to be your next everyday carry with the length coming in at less than one inch and weight just 125 grams. Both of these lenses are expected to become available in March 2023, and you can keep reading below the fold to learn more about them. more The post Nikons new professional NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S melts away backgrounds with bokeh appeared first on 9to5Toys .

LEGO announces first double VIP points promotion of the year launching February 10

After seeing a collection of new LEGO sets hit the scene at the start of the year, today were catching wind of the first double VIP points promotion of 2023. Making for a great chance to get extra cash back on your purchases , the latest of these events will be going live later in the week to cover new releases, upcoming pre-orders, and other must-have kits. more The post LEGO announces first double VIP points promotion of the year launching February 10 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Tested: Oakywoods gorgeously handcrafted wood/metal MagSafe stands and mounts

Today we are taking a hands-on look at the new range of Oakywood wooden MagSafe stands and mounts. Coming away impressed with its MagSafe charger , desk shelf , iPhone cases , and more in the past, we thought we would give the brands latest wood and metal gear a shot as well. Having just launched in the last few weeks and now available at 15% off for the holidays, nows as good a time as any to feature the wooden MagSafe stands from the brand in our Tested with 9to5Toys feature. more The post Tested: Oakywoods gorgeously handcrafted wood/metal MagSafe stands and mounts appeared first on 9to5Toys .

CRAFTSMANs RP+ 20V brushless drill/driver includes two batteries at $110, more

Amazon is offering the CRAFTSMAN RP+ 20V Brushless Drill/Driver Kit for $109.80 shipped. Down from $129, todays deal marks the first discount that weve seen since October, marking the lowest price in months. On top of that, it comes in at just $11 above the all-time low set back in September of $99, and is the best price weve seen since then. While most drills in this price range that include a battery have a brushed motor, this model delivers a brushless motor which is quieter, requires less maintenance, and is more powerful than the alternatives. There are two speeds to choose from, one with a 0-600 RPM range and the other going from 0-1900 RPM. Not only is there one 20V battery included, but this kit bundles two 2Ah batteries to ensure you can always have one on charge. Plus, theyre compatible with other CRAFTSMAN tools that you might have now or pick up in the future. Keep reading for additional CRAFTSMAN deals. more The post CRAFTSMANs RP+ 20V brushless drill/driver includes two batteries at $110, more appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Apple Releases New MagSafe Duo Firmware

Apple today released updated firmware for the MagSafe Duo charger that is designed to work with the Apple Watch and MagSafe-compatible iPhone models. The new firmware is version 10M3063, but in the settings app, you'll see a 256.1067.0 version number, up from 186.0.0.0. The MagSafe Duo was first released in 2020 alongside the iPhone 12 models, and it has not had a firmware update before. This is the first time Apple has tweaked the MagSafe Duo firmware, and with no notes available, it's not clear what's different. Apple's MagSafe Duo is meant to charge an iPhone and an Apple Watch, but it does not work well with the oversized Apple Watch Ultra . In fact, Apple published a support document instructing people on how to best adjust the Apple Watch Ultra to charge with the device. In some cases, the band needs to be removed before the Ultra and the Duo can work together, and the Apple Watch Ultra is not listed as a supported device on the MagSafe Duo page on Apple's website. There is no clear method for updating the MagSafe Duo's firmware, but it needs to be plugged in and connected to an Apple device for a firmware update to initiate. You can check your MagSafe Duo firmware by following the instructions in our MagSafe how to . Tag: MagSafe This article, Apple Releases New MagSafe Duo Firmware first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Todays Android game and app deals: Bendy and the Ink Machine, First Tree, and more

Tuesdays Android game and app deals from Google Play are now ready and waiting down below. Just be sure to check out the $170 price drops we are now tracking on the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G as well as offers on Motorolas unlocked Edge 2022 5G smartphone and the first deal on Googles new wired Nest Doorbell . As for the apps, highlights include Everybodys RPG, Boris and the Dark Survival, Bendy and the Ink Machine, The First Tree, Wilderless, and much more. Head below for a complete look at todays best Android game and app deals. more The post Todays Android game and app deals: Bendy and the Ink Machine, First Tree, and more appeared first on 9to5Toys .

MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra Appears to Be Slated for 2025

Apple's first microLED Apple Watch will launch in 2025, display analyst Ross Young said again today . Young previously suggested the 2025 timeline in January, but he claims that new information from Apple supplier Osram confirms the timeline. Osram in its 4Q 2022 earnings call said that it plans to begin reporting revenues from its microLED technology in 2025, with Young indicating this information pertains to a future microLED Apple Watch. Osram's full statement: Let me now provide additional information related to our development and industrialization program for our leading small structure size microLED technology. Based on the latest available information and its assessment, we can add that we currently expect to start reporting relevant revenues from our microLED technology in 2025. I can also confirm and emphasize that the customer engagement in this area is very deep, significant and active. The market feedback we received clearly confirms that we hold a strategic leadership position in small structure size microLED technology, and that we are the front runner for high volume industrialization of this next generation technology. Multiple sources have confirmed that Apple is working on a microLED Apple Watch, such as analyst Jeff Pu, but other rumors pointed to a 2024 launch. Young does not believe we will see the new display technology in an Apple Watch until spring 2025. Young has not offered details on the size of the display, but prior information suggests that it will measure in at 2.1 inches diagonally, which would make it appropriate for the larger Apple Watch Ultra . Introduced last September, the current Apple Watch Ultra features a 1.92-inch display, larger than the 1.77-inch display of the Series 8. microLED is still an emerging technology that display manufacturers are working to perfect, so it makes sense that it would be introduced first in the high-end Apple Watch. microLED technology uses microscopic LEDs that form pixels, offering more accurate color, high contrast ratio for improved HDR and viewing in suboptimal lighting conditions, support for viewing at wider angles, smaller chance of screen burn-in over time compared to technologies like OLED, fast response times and low latency for higher fps support, and reduced energy usage for improved efficiency. Apple is still early in the development of a microLED Apple Watch, and so the timelines could shift over the course of the next year. Young often provides accurate information thanks to his connections in the display industry, but sometimes his timing turns out to be off as Apple's plans evolve. Related Roundup: Apple Watch Ultra Tag: Micro-LED Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch Ultra (Buy Now) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra Appears to Be Slated for 2025 first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Get perfect tax filings every time with a FlyFin 3-year subscription for $49 (Reg. $250+)

Tax season is a part of the year that many of us loathe. If you would prefer to hand off the whole thing, FlyFin can help. This AI-powered app handles 95% of the process, and makes the rest easy. Right now, you can get a 3-year subscription for just $49 (Reg. $252) at 9to5Toys Specials. more The post Get perfect tax filings every time with a FlyFin 3-year subscription for $49 (Reg. $250+) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Score an extra official Apple Watch Sport Band at $35 (Reg. $49), plus Nike+ from $25

Amazon is now discounting a selection of official Apple Watch Sport Bands in several different styles down to $34.99 shipped . All detailed down below the fold, these are resting at some of the best prices weve ever seen if not hitting new all-time lows outright. Each one is down from the usual $49 going rate in order to deliver 29% in savings. Comprised of a soft, breathable high-performance fluoroelastomer material, the official Apple Watch Sport Bands arrive in avariety of colorsto either mix up the daily stylings of your wearable or refresh an aging option. Already ideal for working out and other tasks, there areNike+ editionswhich are also on sale that double down on the fitness-focused design with compression-molded holes for added comfort. Check outall of the options hereand then head below for more from $25 . more The post Score an extra official Apple Watch Sport Band at $35 (Reg. $49), plus Nike+ from $25 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Automate your HomeKit setup with Onvis Thread contact sensors from $25.50 (Amazon lows)

The official Onvis Amazon storefront is now offering its Thread-enabled HomeKit Door Contact Sensor for $25.49 shipped when clipping the on-page coupon . Marking one of the first chances to save, youre now looking at a $5 discount from the usual $30 going rate. This marks a return to the all-time low for only the second time, as well. You can also score a 2-pack of the sensors for $39.09 , down from $46. Having just hit the scene, these new Onvis contact sensors arrive to deliver Thread and HomeKit control for automating your space in the new year. Ideal for adding some extra security into the mix or setting routines to run based on when a door opens or closes, the sensors will let you take your smart home to the next level. Weve previously gone hands-on with Onvis gear and walked away impressed, too. Head below to see how these Onvis offerings compare to other contact sensors on the market. more The post Automate your HomeKit setup with Onvis Thread contact sensors from $25.50 (Amazon lows) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Save $50 on Turtle Beachs VelocityOne Flight Universal Control System in return to low of $330

Amazon is currently offering the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Universal Control System for $329.95 shipped. Normally going for $380, this $50 price drop marks a return to the all-time low price weve tracked only three times before. This all-in-one flight control system includes a yoke, trim wheel, and throttle quadrant to provide pretty much every control youd want to step up your casual flight simulator experience whether you play on PC or Xbox One, Series X|S. The throttle quadrant includes both push-pull and lever throttle controls with the yoke system using a 100% contactless system for creating 180 degrees of yoke rotation in addition to the integrated rudder and brake controls by your fingertips. The full-color flight management display allows you to monitor various data points while flying such as seeing ETA to destination, flight time, and more. You can learn more by checking out our announcement coverage . more The post Save $50 on Turtle Beachs VelocityOne Flight Universal Control System in return to low of $330 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Google Adding 'Bard' Chatbot to Google Search, While Microsoft Debuts Updated ChatGPT Technology for Bing

The growing popularity of OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot has inspired Microsoft and Google to add conversational AI functionality into their search products, with both companies making AI-related announcements this week. Google yesterday introduced Bard , a chatbot AI project that has been in the works for some time. Powered by Google's Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA), Bard is an experimental conversational AI service for Google Search that is set to become available to the public in the coming weeks. According to Google, Bard is designed to combine the breadth of the world's knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models, providing high-quality responses, which is exactly what ChatGPT does. Bard will be released with a lightweight version of the LaMDA AI, which Google says will scale well as it does not require much computing power. Bard's initial launch will be in a testing capacity, with Google set to make updates and improvements over time, and it will be rolling out on Google Search in the near future. Following Google's Bard announcement, Microsoft today held an event where it announced plans to add conversational AI tools to both the Bing search engine and the Edge browser. Microsoft worked with OpenAI on ChatGPT, and an upgraded version of the AI technology that powers ChatGPT is built into Bing and Edge. AI will fundamentally change every software category, starting with the largest category of all - search, said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Bing allows for complex searches that can help with things like planning a trip itinerary or researching a television to buy. Microsoft says that users can refine their searches by asking for more details, clarity, and ideas. Bing is also able to perform creative tasks like writing an email, creating a quiz for trivia night, prepping for a job interview, and more. The new Microsoft Edge browser is also available with added AI capabilities. Edge can do things like summarize reports and provide key information, create comparisons between companies and products, and compose content when provided a prompt. It can take into account tone, format, and length with instruction. Microsoft says that the new OpenAI model that it's using is more powerful than ChatGPT, and it has been customized for search. The AI model is faster, more accurate and more capable. The updated Bing search engine with ChatGPT integration is available as of today, though in a limited preview capacity. Users can try sample queries on the Bing website and sign up for the waitlist. Microsoft plans to scale the preview to millions of people in the coming weeks, and a mobile experience will be in preview soon. With Google and Microsoft both rolling out conversational AI products, it is possible that Apple could be planning to introduce similar capabilities to the Safari browser in the future. For now, AI chatbot functionality will soon be available through the Bing and Google Search engines that can be accessed through the Safari browser. Tags: Google , Chrome , Microsoft , Bing , Edge This article, Google Adding 'Bard' Chatbot to Google Search, While Microsoft Debuts Updated ChatGPT Technology for Bing first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Medifys 2-pack of MA-40 H13 HEPA Air Purifiers falls 35% to new all-time low of $321 (Reg. $497)

Amazon is now offering the Medify MA-40 Air Purifier 2-pack for $321.16 shipped. Normally going for $497, this 35% discount marks a new all-time low price weve tracked for this 2-pack. The last time this bundle was marked down this low was last summer. Each purifier here uses a HEPA H13 filter to remove 99.9% of harmful particles including allergens, odors, VOCs, smoke, pollen, and more from the air. Three different fan speeds allow you to choose the lowest option for virtually silent operation with the maximum noise level at just 66dB. The touchscreen allows you to adjust settings, change the up to 8-hour timer, turn on sleep mode, and more. With the MA-40, youre looking at up to 840-square feet being recirculated every 30 minutes. This 2-pack will give you even more flexibility with positioning so you can have one in your living room and one in your bedroom. Head below for more. more The post Medifys 2-pack of MA-40 H13 HEPA Air Purifiers falls 35% to new all-time low of $321 (Reg. $497) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Twelve South refreshes popular aluminum Backpack shelf for Apple Studio Display

Today, Twelve South is refreshing one of its more unique Mac accessories for Apples latest desktop monitor. The Studio Display first hit the scene last spring, and now one of 9to5Toys favorite accessories the company makes is being updated: the signature Backpack stand for the premium Mac companion. more The post Twelve South refreshes popular aluminum Backpack shelf for Apple Studio Display appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Run it all using Renogys portable power station with 100W USB-C PD at $430 in New Green Deals

Ready to power your home, campsite, or more, the Renogy Phoenix 500 is a rechargeable battery station that does it all. With a 495Wh capacity, this portable power station delivers three 800W AC outlets, 100W USB-C PD, and dual USB-A options, all without using any gas or oil. It also can be recharged with solar panels, making it a great off-grid solution as well. Coming in at $430 on Amazon, this power station is down $100 from its normal rate and on sale for the first time that weve tracked. We also have a wide selection of Tesla and e-bike discounts in todays New Green Deals, so you wont want to miss that either. Head below for other New Green Deals that weve found today and of course Electreks best EV buying and leasing deals . Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories . more The post Run it all using Renogys portable power station with 100W USB-C PD at $430 in New Green Deals appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Nespressos regularly up to $210 Vertuo Next Deluxe coffee/espresso machine at $128

Woot is now offering the Nespresso Vertuo Next Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine for $127.99 with free shipping for Prime members. A $6 delivery fee will apply otherwise. Regularly $210 directly from Nespresso and elsewhere, this model typically sits in the $199 range at Amazon and is now at the lowest price we can find. It is also a few bucks below our previous mention and about $7 under the sale price on similar models at Target right now. This one delivers the same easy to use and sleek design the brand is built on alongside the ability brew both coffee and espresso pods in a variety of sizes up to 18 ounces. The machine itself measures out at 5.5 inches wide, so it wont take up much space on the counter, and Woot ships this new unit with a 90-day warranty. Head below for more details. more The post Nespressos regularly up to $210 Vertuo Next Deluxe coffee/espresso machine at $128 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Xbox Series X vs. Series S

Are you having trouble deciding between the Xbox Series X and Series S? We take a look at these fourth-generation game consoles from Microsoft to find the best.

Apples official iPhone 13 series MagSafe Clear Cases on sale from $33 (Reg. $49)

Amazon is now discounting Apples entire lineup of official iPhone 13 series MagSafe Clear Cases . With prices starting at $32.99 shipped , each of the four styles would normally set you back $49. Todays offer amounts to at least 20% in savings, and delivers some of the best prices weve seen overall. These are the first discounts since back during the holiday shopping season kickoff in December, and match the Black Friday price cuts, as well. Theres up to 33% in savings depending on the style, which we break down below the fold. Designed to show off the look of your handset while still adding some protection into the mix, Apples official cases blend a clear polycarbonate with the ability to fend off drops and other damage as well as a raised lip around the front to keep your screen protected, too. Alongside just protecting your device, itll let you take full advantage of MagSafe accessories with integrated magnets and all of the usual Apple quality to refresh the look of your device, even if you dont plan on upgrading to a new 14 series handset anytime soon. more The post Apples official iPhone 13 series MagSafe Clear Cases on sale from $33 (Reg. $49) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Sharks regularly $500 AV911S EX Robot Vacuum with self-empty base falls to $300

Today only, as part of its Gold Box Deals of the Day, Amazon is currently offering the Shark AV911S EZ Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Empty Base for $299.99 shipped . Normally going for $500, this 40% discount, or solid $200 price drop marks a return to the second-best price weve tracked to date while coming within cents of the all-time low. This vacuum model doesnt typically drop from its regular price, and when it does the sales are short-lived. The bagless self-emptying base can store up to 30 days of dirt and debris with the robot vacuum itself roaming around your home cleaning tile, hardwood flooring, and carpet. It uses a row-by-row cleaning pattern to effectively clean your floors and it will return to the base when its battery starts running low. The design of the pickup brushes here makes this vacuum a good fit for homes with pets. You could start a cleaning session by pressing the button on the top of the vacuum, but you could instead connect it to your Alexa or Assistant setup and use voice commands. Head below for more. more The post Sharks regularly $500 AV911S EX Robot Vacuum with self-empty base falls to $300 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Microsoft Edge puts an AI copilot in your browser

Microsoft's use of AI on the web will extend beyond smarter Bing searches . The company is updating its Edge browser with an AI-powered copilot that assists with everyday tasks. Integration with the new Bing can help you get the key takeaways from a document, compare content and even draft posts (such as on LinkedIn) with a specific format, length or tone. The revised interface revolves around a new sidebar. You can use a chat feature in this space to ask questions like you would with Bing, while a compose option helps you write new content using prompts. You can also expect a new look. Microsoft Both Bing and the updated Edge are based around a new AI model, Prometheus, built with the help of OpenAI. While it draws some lessons from the popular ChatGPT conversational AI, it's billed as more powerful and optimized for search. Microsoft also claims it's a esponsible platform where protections against abuse and errors exist at every level. The new Edge is available now in preview form. While Bing is the highlight of Microsoft's AI announcements , the new browser clearly plays an important role. The AI capabilities theoretically give Edge an advantage over Chrome, Safari and other browsers. Of course, how long any lead lasts is uncertain. Google is holding an event tomorrow (February 8th) that may shed light on its bid to rival ChatGPT , and it won't be surprising if AI-driven search is part of that strategy.

Microsofts next-gen Bing uses a much more powerful language model than ChatGPT

Microsoft's oft-forgotten search engine is about to get a new lease on life. As expected, the tech giant announced on Tuesday that it is partnering with OpenAI to enhance Bing with the company's AI technology. However, Microsoft also had a surprise up its sleeve: the next release of Bing will feature a new next-generation large language model the company claims is much more powerful than ChatGPT and designed specifically to excel at search. Underpinning the search engine is a new proprietary technology Microsoft is calling the Prometheus Model. Among the benefits of Prometheus are more relevant search results. Microsoft claims the model will also make using Bing safer and allow the company to update search results more quickly. Microsoft The new Bing offers a chat function and an expanded search bar that allows you to input up to a thousand characters. In one demo Microsoft showed off during its event, Yusuf Mehdi, the company's consumer chief marketing officer, asked Bing to compare the most influential Mexican artists and their best-known paintings. Bing displayed its response in a new side panel that featured annotations and weblinks. Later, Mehdi asked the search engine to compare three pet vacuums while listing the pros and cons of each model. Mehdi said Bing could also help with questions where there might not be a precise answer. That said, in instances where Bing doesn't know the answer to a query, the search engine will still try to point you to useful information. Microsoft is also adding a button to allow users to share feedback on the search engine's new functionality. I think of this as Search with your own personal helper, Mehdi said. The chat feature is there for when you want to use the generative capabilities of OpenAI's technology. For example, say you want to start planning a trip to Hawaii. You can ask Bing to create a five-day itinerary for you. In its response, the search engine will include links to accommodations, flights and things you can do on the islands. The new Bing is available to preview starting today. Microsoft says anyone can visit Bing.com to try a few sample queries and sign up for the company's waitlist. Were going to scale the preview to millions in the coming weeks, Microsoft said. A mobile preview is coming soon as well.

Camera Comparison: Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. OnePlus 11 5G

Chinese smartphone company OnePlus today announced the official debut of the OnePlus 11 5G, which is the company's latest flagship smartphone. The device was already announced in China, but today marks the global launch so we thought we'd compare the OnePlus 11 5G to the iPhone 14 Pro Max to see how the camera measures up. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max is equipped with an f/1.78 48-megapixel Wide lens that uses a Sony sensor, while the OnePlus 11 5G is equipped with an f/1.8 50-megapixel main camera that also uses a Sony sensor. Both smartphones include optical image stabilization, along with additional cameras. The OnePlus 11 5G has a 48-megapixel 115-degree ultra wide camera, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 12-megapixel 120-degree field of view camera. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has the wider field of view, but it can't compete with the higher megapixel count on the OnePlus. Both devices support macro photos using their respective ultra wide lenses. The OnePlus 11 5G has a more advanced telephoto lens in some ways, as it is equipped with a 32-megapixel portrait telephoto lens that uses Hasselblad technology, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max is limited to a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. It is worth noting, though, that the OnePlus 11 is limited to 2x zoom, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max supports 3x zoom. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Hasselblad is a Swedish camera maker that has been developing camera technology for OnePlus smartphones since the OnePlus 9. OnePlus says that the device features DSLR-like depth tracking, natural bokeh, and light flare, simulating professional portraits captured by an actual Hasselblad camera. All three lenses are advertised as using Hasselblad color calibration for a more natural look, and OnePlus has also included a 13 channel multi-spectral sensor for light-color identifying, which is supposed to provide more accurate color and white balance. As for camera quality, the telephoto lens produces portraits with excellent background lighting and blur, but there is a skin smoothing algorithm for people that can make images look unnatural. There's too much post-processing going on, which means side-by-side, the iPhone portrait pictures turn out more true to life. With the standard camera in good lighting, you're not going to see much difference in image quality between the OnePlus 11 and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is typical of smartphone cameras these days. Images are sharp and detailed, with a neutral color palette, but the ultra-wide lens trends toward yellow tones, while the telephoto lens is cooler, which ultimately means images can look inconsistent across the three cameras. There are useful Hasselblad-designed filters that you can apply to photos, and there's a pro mode for DSLR-style customization. Night photos are fine, but nothing impressive, and the same goes for video. The iPhone definitely produces better quality video. Other OnePlus 11 5G features include a 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, always-on display technology, the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform used in Samsung's latest S23 devices, up to 16GB RAM, 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 7, and a 5,000mAh battery. It runs OxygenOS, which is based on Android 13, and is available for pre-order starting today. Make sure to check out the video to see the full camera comparison, and let us know what you think about the OnePlus 11 5G in the comments below. Tag: OnePlus This article, Camera Comparison: Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max vs. OnePlus 11 5G first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Drop Amazons 43-inch 4K Omni Series 4K TV in the bedroom at $230, more up to $180 off

Amazon has launched a number of notable sale events on a range of its in-house tech over the last week and now its time for the 4K Fire TVs. The streaming media player offers are already live from $20 , but we are also tracking hundreds of dollars in savings on the actual TVs starting with the 43-inch Omni Series 4K UHD model at $229.99 shipped. Regularly as much as $410, it more typically sits in the $300 range and after dropping to $290 over the last week, has now dipped down to $230 shipped . While the size and entry-level nature of this model might not be ideal for your main living room display in some cases, the 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, and HLGis great for the office, kitchen, spare bedroom, and more. Hands-free Alexa control, direct access to your streaming services, and three HDMI inputs are all included in the package here. Head below for more 4K Fire TV deals and details. more The post Drop Amazons 43-inch 4K Omni Series 4K TV in the bedroom at $230, more up to $180 off appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Microsoft will wipe free Teams business users' data if they don't upgrade to a paid tier

Now that Microsoft has launched its Teams Premium service, it's shaking up the free offering for work and not everyone will be happy. The company is retiring the existing Teams Free version for small business in favor of the similarly-titled Teams (free) on April 12th, and legacy data won't carry over. Your office will have to pay for at least the Teams Essentials plan ($4 per user per month) to preserve chats, meetings, channels and other key info. As Windows Central explains , the new Teams (free) tier will require a new account. Data in the old app, now rebadged as Teams Free (classic), will be deleted. Anything you haven't saved by then will be gone, including shared files you haven't downloaded. We've asked Microsoft for comment. This won't affect personal use, but it could prove to be a headache for small firms that previously relied on the free Teams to coordinate. They'll either have to start paying or they'll lose access to past discussions, not to mention deal with the headache of recreating their channel setups. This won't necessarily lead customers to switch to alternatives like Slack , particularly if they're heavily invested in Microsoft's ecosystem. It might, however, prompt outfits to reevaluate their plans if they can't justify many paid services.

Save $700 on Ankers 1080p Nebula Cosmos Smart Laser Projector in return to low of $1,000

Amazon is currently offering the Anker Nebula Cosmos 1080p Laser Projector for $999.99 shipped after clipping the on-page coupon . Normally going for $1,700, this 41% discount, or solid $700 price drop marks a return to the all-time low price weve tracked for this model. This projector brings Android TV 10.0 with access to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services in addition to casting thanks to the built-in Chromecast. It can project a screen up to 150-inches across with automatic keystone correction, autofocus, screen fit, and eye detection to keep you and your family safe. Projecting up to 2,400 lumens, this laser projector is perfect for family get-togethers, whether it be indoors or outdoors, night or day. Head below for more. more The post Save $700 on Ankers 1080p Nebula Cosmos Smart Laser Projector in return to low of $1,000 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Apple's Website Redesigned With New Drop-Down Menu Bars and More

Apple today redesigned its website on both desktop and mobile devices. The changes make it easier to find individual product pages and other helpful links. On the desktop, there are new drop-down menus that appear when you hover over the categories in the top menu bar, including Store, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Watch, AirPods, TV & Home, Entertainment, Accessories, Support, Search, and Bag. The new Entertainment category replaces Only on Apple and continues to highlight Apple's services. On mobile devices, an all-in-one drop-down menu is now located on the right side of the top menu bar. When you tap on a category in the menu, a submenu opens with individual product pages and other helpful links, similar to the desktop experience. All in all, these changes make navigating Apple's website more convenient and surface helpful resources that some customers might not have been aware of. This article, Apple's Website Redesigned With New Drop-Down Menu Bars and More first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Former Coinbase employee pleads guilty to insider trading charges

A former product manager at Coinbase has pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in what's believed to be the first crypto-related insider trading case in the US. Ishan Wahi initially pleaded not guilty last year. Federal prosecutors claim that, on at least 14 occasions, Wahi shared confidential information with his brother Nikhil Wahi and friend Sammer Ramani about cryptocurrencies that Coinbase was planning to let its users trade so the pair could buy them in advance. Once Coinbase announced that it would list the tokens, their values rose. Nikhil Wahi and Ramani are said to have then sold the assets to make a profit. The scheme allegedly generated north of $1.5 million in ill-gotten gains. Ramani has not been apprehended. Nikhil Wahi pleaded guilty to a wire fraud conspiracy charge in September and was last month sentenced to 10 months in prison. Ishan Wahi faces a prison sentence of between 36 and 47 months as part of his plea deal, according to Reuters . He'll be sentenced in May. Along with the criminal charges, Wahi faced a civil lawsuit from the Securities and Exchange Commission. He asked a judge this week to dismiss the suit, having claimed that the cryptocurrency tokens in question are not securities, meaning they would not be subject to SEC regulation.

Amazons new smart Halo Rise lamp with speaker, sleep tracking, more returns to $110 low

Amazon is now offering its new Halo Rise smart lamp for $109.99 shipped. After first launching back in September and seeing its very first price drop back at the top of the year, it has now returned to its all-time low price. This is 21% off the $140 going rate and matching the best price we have tracked from Amazon. For those unfamiliar here, youre looking at Amazons latest intelligent night stand companion. It delivers a hybrid setup with a built-in wake-up light designed to simulate the colors and gradual brightening of sunrise, a smart speaker with Alexa voice commands, and sleep tracking abilities. The silent, no-contact sensor technology is used to measure body movement and breathing alongside the ability to hear sleep summaries, wake to music, or set up a Routine with Echo gear integration. A 6-month Halo membership is included to unlock its full potential it will renew at $3.99 a month thereafter, but you can choose to forgo the ongoing payment plan manually. Hit up our launch coverage for more details and head below for more. more The post Amazons new smart Halo Rise lamp with speaker, sleep tracking, more returns to $110 low appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Can TikTok convince the US its not a national security threat?

TikTok is, once again, facing an uncertain future. The company has spent the last two years quietly negotiating with US government officials in order to avoid an outright ban. But that process has now stalled, and calls for a ban have only intensified. Next month, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, his first Congressional appearance. Many lawmakers have called for a more sweeping ban, and will likely quiz Chew about TikToks alleged risks to national security, and its parent companys Chinese ownership. TikTok has long denied that its a threat, and downplays its ties to China. But now the company is also trying a new tactic to prove it has nothing to hide: its Transparency and Accountability Center. The company first introduced the idea in 2020 , but the actual facility didnt open until recently due to COVID-related delays. Last week, the company took a handful of reporters on a tour of the center as part of a new charm offensive as it tries to fend off regulators and the looming prospect of more bans in the United States. Karissa Bell / Engadget The first thing you notice when you walk in is that, despite being dedicated to transparency, there are no windows in the space, which is housed in an office park near TikToks Culver City US HQ. Instead, visitors are greeted with neon-lit signs and big, interactive displays dedicated to explaining various aspects of the app. The company hopes visitors will walk away with a better understanding of how the app operates and, perhaps, less suspicion. We really do understand the critique that big media, big tech, plays as it relates to how algorithms work, how moderation policies work and the data flows of the systems, says TikTok COO Vanessa Pappas. A lot of these are unprecedented levels of transparency that we're providing. What youll actually learn by touring the center, though, largely depends on how much you already know about TikTok when you walk in the door. Its primarily dedicated to explaining the apps content moderation policies, and how it handles recommendations, both of which have been heavily scrutinized. There are two interactive exhibits: a moderation station, where visitors can play the role of a TikTok content moderator, and another room thats meant to demystify the apps vaunted recommendation algorithm. In the moderation room, you can watch sample videos presented in an interface similar to what TikToks actual content moderators see and try your hand at judging which ones violate the apps rules. Meanwhile, the room next door is dedicated to the algorithm. Its more of an illustrated FAQ that offers fairly broad explanations to high-level questions about how the app recommends content. The content is more detailed than TikToks extremely vague in-app explanations, but thats not saying much. For example, under the heading What information does TikTok use to create personalized experiences? it explains that users interactions with content are tracked to inform the underlying recommendation model. That might be useful info if you know nothing about how algorithms work, but it doesnt tell you very much about TikTok. Each explanation is also accompanied by a visualization and a snippet of simulated code the company tightly controls who can view the apps actual source code to illustrate whats happening at various stages of the recommendations process. But again, this felt like it was more designed for people who know nothing about TikTok rather than those who are trying to understand the nuances of its algorithm. There is a space at the transparency center, a server room behind a neon LATC sign, where auditors can enter and after heavy security dig into TikTok's actual source code. But the vast majority of visitors to the center will never make into that room. Overall, I can see how the tour might be a worthwhile exercise for lawmakers, who too often show they know shockingly little about how the internet works. But it also feels a bit performative, and I cant help but remember Facebooks infamous war room tour, when it invited reporters to visit a conference room dedicated to safeguarding elections only to shut it down a month later. To be clear, TikTok does intend for the transparency center to be a permanent fixture. And the company plans to open more of them in other locations around the world. But while these facilities may help Boomer lawmakers and regulators understand what TikTok is, Im not sure they will be able to dispel the perception that there's something else , something more secretive, going on within the company. Its one thing to illustrate how TikToks algorithm works at a high level, but its another to prove that something isnt happening. Karissa Bell / Engadget Its notable, then, that TikToks Transparency Center doesnt address some of the biggest concerns that have been raised about TikToK: its relationship with parent company Bytedance and whether the Chinese government could somehow take advantage of the relationship to advance its interests. If you fundamentally distrust the autocratic Chinese government, and how it uses its relationship with large Chinese-based corporations to extend its influence around the world, then all the promises TikTok can pile up are not going to completely allay your anxiety about TikTok, Paul Barrett, the deputy director of NYU's Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, told Engadget. TikTok does, however, have a plan to address government concerns that it could be a national security threat. The company has been locked in negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for more than two years over its future in the US. And it struck a deal with Oracle last year to safeguard US user data as part of this effort, known as Project Texas, to reassure US officials. Until now, TikTok has been fairly tight-lipped about Project Texas and its dealings with CFIUS. But now that those talks have stalled despite TikTok claiming its addressed every concern raised by regulators the company has been cautiously sharing more details about its arrangements with Oracle. Reporters who attended the tour were given an overview of the plan, but were asked not to directly quote the executives who described it. Central to the plan is a new US subsidiary called TikTok US Data Security (USDS), which will have an independent board of CFIUS-approved directors with national security and cybersecurity backgrounds. On the TikTok side, there will be two executives running the US subsidiary, who will report to the board. TikTok Meanwhile, all US user data will be housed within Oracles Cloud infrastructure with strict controls to prevent unauthorized access and to keep most data from leaving. (Some data about what US users are doing will inevitably have to leave in order to, for example, allow people to interact with content and users from other countries.) Oracle will also review TikToks entire source code, as will a separate, outside auditor. Future app updates will also be inspected by Oracle, which will take over responsibility for sending updates to the app stores. Oracle will also monitor TikToks recommendation algorithm and content moderation systems. The US government, via CFIUS, will continue to have visibility and oversight into what USDS is doing on an ongoing basis. TikTok says they are confident these steps address every issue thats been raised about what TikTok could potentially be doing. Executives also point out that the company has already dedicated an astonishing amount of money $1.5 billion and resources to Project Texas. If all thats good enough for CFIUS, they say, it should be good enough for Congress. Whether lawmakers will be satisfied with any scenario that allows TikTok to operate in the United States without being fully divested from ByteDance, though, remains to be seen. They [TikTok] can make all of these arrangements, and put in place all these safeguards, almost to infinity, Barrett says. And it's not clear to me that that would satisfy China hawks in the United States. Thats partly because TikTok is a convenient punching bag for lawmakers who want to appear tough on China. But there are also legitimate reasons to be concerned about TikTok. ByteDance recently fired four employees who accessed the personal data of an American journalist who had reported on the company. TikTok also has a history of taking, at best, a heavy handed approach to content moderation that some have equated with censorship favorable to the Chinese government. According to TikTok, Project Texas will ensure neither scenario can happen again. But the fact that it already has will undoubtedly lead to further questions about just how deep the companys commitment to transparency and accountability really is.

TP-Links latest Archer AX80 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router sees first price drop to low of $200

Amazon is now offering the latest TP-Link Archer AX80 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router for $199.99 shipped. Normally going for $230, this solid $30 price drop marks the first discount weve tracked to date for this new model router. This dual-band router utilizes beamforming technology to help provide even coverage around your home. Across the two radios, you can expect speeds totaling 5,952Mb/s with a combination 2.5GbE WAN/LAN port for those with faster internet. Additionally, you can integrate this router with Alexa to control the guest Wi-Fi network with just voice commands. The Tether app will help you set up your new Archer router with guided instructions and give you access to management features. Head below for more. more The post TP-Links latest Archer AX80 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router sees first price drop to low of $200 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Microsoft's AI event: Live coverage

Microsoft's set to make an AI-related announcement today at 1pm ET , but it will not be streaming the keynote to the public. Not to worry, though, we're here at the event in Redmond and will be liveblogging all the news the company is sharing today. After Google unveiled its ChatGPT rival Bard yesterday , Microsoft revealed it had been planning today's event all along, without disclosing many details beyond telling us to expect information about exciting projects. Thanks to a tweet from OpenAI's Sam Altman , though, we can at least guess that generative AI is on the agenda, if not the star of the show. We'll be starting this liveblog around 12:30pm ET, with myself (Cherlynn Low) on text and our head of video Brian Oh taking pictures. See you soon!

Britas sink faucet-mounted Water Filter System drops to under $15 today (Reg. $23+)

Amazon is now offering the sink faucet-mounted Brita Water Filter System at $14.79 shipped. Regularly $37, it has more typically sold for between $23 and $34 at Amazon over the last several months and is now at the lowest price we can find. This Amazon best-selling faucet filtration fixture is now matching the lowest price we have tracked there in over a year as well. It is designed to attach to your standard faucet to make your tap water cleaner and great-tasting. It delivers three spray options (filtered water, unfiltered water, and unfiltered spray), an electronic filter status notification, and everything you need to hook it up. Head below for more details. more The post Britas sink faucet-mounted Water Filter System drops to under $15 today (Reg. $23+) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Amazfit GTS 2 Mini smartwatch tracks over 70 workouts with 14-day battery life at $78 (22% off)

Amazon is offering the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini Smartwatch for$78.35 shipped.Down from $100, todays deal comes in at $2 below our last mention and is within $3 of the best price in the past six months. Ready to help you keep track of those New Years resolutions, the GTS 2 Mini features a slew of fitness tracking functions. There are 70 built-in sports modes covering everything from indoor to outdoor activities, alongside 5ATM water-resistance for swimming as well. On top of that, theres Amazon Alexa onboard as well as built-in GPS connectivity to keep track of those bike rides and runs. The battery even lasts for 14 days between charges, meaning you can go for multiple weeks before you have to think about plugging it back in. Keep reading for more. more The post Amazfit GTS 2 Mini smartwatch tracks over 70 workouts with 14-day battery life at $78 (22% off) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Nike offers new markdowns up to 65% off for Valentines Day with deals from $6

Nike drops new markdowns for Valentines Day with up to 65% off hundreds of styles and deals from $6 . Prices are as marked. If youre looking for a perfect gift, inside this sale you can find deals on running shoes, on-trend apparel, accessories, and much more. Nike Plus Members ( free to sign-up ) receive complimentary delivery. One of our top picks from this sale is the womens One Luxe Mid-Rise Leggings that are currently marked down to $44 and are available in three beautiful color options for spring. To compare, these leggings were originally priced at $90. The mid-rise design is highly flattering and designed to stay in place throughout any workout. Plus, the material was made to be double lined, so you can not see through them and highly lightweight for comfort all-day. Be sure to head below to find the rest of our top picks and you will want to check out the TravisMathew Valentines Day Sale here . more The post Nike offers new markdowns up to 65% off for Valentines Day with deals from $6 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Nintendo Direct February 2023: how to watch and what to expect

This is how to watch and what to expect from the February 2023 Nintendo Direct

Microsoft launches brand new shimmering Stellar Shift wireless Xbox controller today

Microsoft has now unveiled a new Xbox controller known as the Stellar Shift Special Edition. Microsoft took to the official Xbox Wire today to announce the latest entry in the Shift Special Edition series with a new shimmering blue-purple paint job to sit alongside the Aqua Shift and Lunar Shift two-tone models that were released last year. Now available for purchase , be sure to head below for more details. more The post Microsoft launches brand new shimmering Stellar Shift wireless Xbox controller today appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Razer's Blade 16 and Blade 18 gaming laptops are available tomorrow

You didn't have to wait too long to get Razer's largest Blade systems to date. The company has revealed that the new Blade 16 and Blade 18 gaming laptops will be available tomorrow, February 8th. The 16- and 18-inch systems respectively start at $2,700 and $2,900, although the configurations launching this week are strictly high-end models with RTX 4080 or 4090 graphics you'll have to spend at least $3,600 ($3,800 for the 18-inch model) to get something quickly. The 'entry' variants with RTX 4060 or 4070 GPUs will be available February 22nd. Each portable has its own set of tricks. The new Blade 16 has a unique dual-mode mini-LED display that can switch between a media-friendly 4K 120Hz picture and a gaming-oriented FHD+ (1,920 x 1,200) 240Hz image. The Blade 18, meanwhile, is a giant desktop replacement with a six-speaker spatial audio setup. Both use 13th-gen Intel Core i9 HX processors, and their RTX 40 series mobile graphics run at full power a peak 175W for the RTX 4080 and 4090. You won't do much gaming on battery, then, but this could save you from buying a tower PC for demanding games. Accordingly, Razer is updating its Synapse software to enable CPU overclocking on the Blade 16 and Blade 18. You can modify the core voltage, the maximum wattage for boost power and even the time that boost is allowed to run. Don't expect the results you'd get from overclocking a desktop (you're working within the limits of a laptop chassis), but this may help you squeeze some extra frames per second out of your machine.

Google will blur explicit images in search by default

Today is Safer Internet Day and Google is marking the occasion by revealing features designed to, well, make it safer to do things on the internet. The company says that, in the coming months, it will blur explicit images in search results for all users as a default setting, even if they don't have SafeSearch switched on. SafeSearch filtering is already the default for signed-in users under the age of 18. You'll be able to adjust the settings if you don't have a supervised account or you're signed out and you'd prefer to see butts and stuff in search results (the filter is designed to blur violent images as well). According to screenshots that Google shared, the blur setting will mask explicit images, but not text or links. The filter setting covers up all three. Google Meanwhile, Google is adding another layer of protection to the built-in password manager on Chrome and Android. The company says that if a user has a supported computer, they'll have the option to require biometric authentication before filling a saved password into a form. Google noted that folks can also use the feature to securely reveal, copy or edit passwords they have saved in the password manager without having to punch in their main password first. The company says it's bolstering privacy protections in the Google app for iOS too. Soon, you'll be able to secure the app using Face ID to keep prying eyes away from your data.

macOS 11.7.3 Breaks Safari Favorite Icons

Apple released macOS Big Sur version 11.7.3 in late January with security fixes , but the software update also introduced a new bug that prevents icons from appearing in Safari's Favorites section, according to widespread complaints online. Affected users have complained about the issue across the Apple Support Community , Twitter , Reddit , and other online platforms since the update was released last month. In one of the Apple Support Community threads, nearly 300 users have hit the Me Too button to indicate they are also experiencing the issue as of this writing. For affected users, many of the websites in the Favorites section that would normally display an icon simply appear blank or show a letter only. Image via Apple Support Community It's unclear if Apple is aware of the issue or if an additional macOS update will be necessary for a fix. In the meantime, updating to macOS 11.7.3 is still recommended due to the important security fixes implemented. The latest versions of macOS Monterey and macOS Ventura do not appear to be affected by this Safari bug. Tag: Safari Related Forum: macOS Big Sur This article, macOS 11.7.3 Breaks Safari Favorite Icons first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

WhatsApp Status Updated With Emoji Reactions, Voice Status, Link Previews and More Features: Details

WhatsApp is rolling out a bunch of new features globally to all users. The instant messaging app has added a more advanced privacy option to choose who can see their status updates as well as voice status updates, emoji reactions, and preview links on the status.

Smartphone Accessories: Momax iPhone 14 Pro Max MagSafe Clear Case $6 (58% off), more

Momax Technology (98% positive feedback in the past 12 months) via Amazon is offering its iPhone 14 Pro Max Clear Case for $6.29 once you clip the on-page coupon and use the code MV5SU2EZ at checkout. Down from its normal $15 going rate at Amazon, the case just dropped to $10.50 on sale there before todays additional discounts kick in. This delivers a total of 58% in savings and marks a return to one of the best prices that weve seen for a similar case all-time. Designed to fit the iPhone 14 Pro Max, this case features compatibility with MagSafe accessories. This is because Momax put a MagSafe magnetic ring in the case to help ensure things stay securely connected even through the TPU of the case. On the corners, theres built-in impact-resistant elastic airbags which help absorb drops or tumbles. Plus, the case itself is only 0.04 inches thick and weighs just 1.16 ounces, so it wont add a lot of bulk to your iPhone. More smartphone accessories: Ankers PowerCore 24K 140W Power Bank is a 9to5Toys favorite at $110 (Save $40) Skullcandy Dime True Wireless Earbuds: $20 (Reg. $26) | Amazon Save up to 50% on Anker ANC Liberty 3 Pro wireless earbuds today at $85 shipped JETech Galaxy S23 Case and Tempered Glass Screen Protector: $6.50 (Reg. $13) | Amazon Lexars 160MB/s A2 Silver memory cards hit new Amazon lows: 128GB $17 or 256GB $22.50 Baseus 65W 3-port USB-C/A Charger: $27.50 (Reg. $37) | Amazon w/ on-page coupon and code PMVZTO6C Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II pack personalized ANC and transparency modes at $249 Spigen 65W Dual USB-C Car Charger: $25.50 (Reg. $32) | Amazon Zagg takes 25% off portable MagSafe chargers, iPhone 14 cases, more for Valentines Day PopSockets MagSafe PopWallet+ sees rare 30% price drop today down to $28 (Reg. $40) Deals still live from yesterday: Apple Watch Series 7 is now a better value from $270 (Orig. $399) in 1-day refurb Woot sale AT&T 15W/7.5W Qi Wireless Charging Pad: $12 (Reg. $30) | AT&T Apples new AirPods Pro 2 return to all-time low at $200 for first time this year at Amazon Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless In-Ear Earbuds:$30(Reg. $70)| Amazon Anker charging accessories Gold Box knocks up to 45% off starting at $10 Baseus 10,000mAh 30W USB-C Portable Battery:$24(Reg. $36)| Amazon w/ on-page coupon and code 5Q4UX9FN Google Pixel Watch brings Wear OS to your wrist at second-best price of $300 (Save $50) amFilm 2-pack Galaxy S23 Tempered Glass Screen Protectors:$6(Reg. $12)| Amazon w/ on-page coupon and code DTV8QCSK Sonys new XM5 ANC Headphones return to $348 low alongside latest earbuds from $28 Mifaso USB/AC Surge Protector:$9.50(Reg. $15)| Amazon w/ code 5ISLLDDB Googles latest earbuds on sale: Pixel Buds Pro hit $150 (Save $50), plus A-Series at $79 more The post Smartphone Accessories: Momax iPhone 14 Pro Max MagSafe Clear Case $6 (58% off), more appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Deals: Get Up to $500 Off Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro on Amazon

Anyone shopping for Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro notebooks can save plenty of money this week on Amazon, which has up to $500 off select models of the previous-generation MacBook Pro. This includes sales on both 14-inch and 16-inch models of the 2021 MacBook Pro. 14-Inch MacBook Pro First is the 14-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Pro, 1TB) for $2,099.00 , down from $2,499.00. Amazon only has this sale available in Silver, and this is an overall second-best price on the MacBook Pro. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. $400 OFF 14-inch MacBook Pro (1TB) for $2,099.00 16-Inch MacBook Pro Moving to the 16-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Pro, 512GB), Amazon has this model for $2,099.00 in Space Gray, down from $2,499.00. Compared to previous sales, it's a second-best price on the notebook. $400 OFF 16-inch MacBook Pro (512GB) for $2,099.00 The 16-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Pro, 1TB) is on sale for $2,299.99 in Space Gray and Silver, down from $2,699.00. This is another second-best price on the MacBook Pro. $400 OFF 16-inch MacBook Pro (1TB) for $2,299.99 Lastly, the 16-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Max, 1TB) is available for $2,999.00 , down from $3,499.00. Amazon has this sale available in Silver, and it's a match of the lowest price we've ever tracked on this model of the 2021 MacBook Pro. $500 OFF 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Max, 1TB) for $2,999.00 You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook. Related Roundup: Apple Deals This article, Deals: Get Up to $500 Off Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro on Amazon first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Googles new wired Nest Doorbell with 24/7 recording sees first discount to $153 (Reg. $180)

Amazon is now discounting the new wired Google Nest Doorbell 2nd Gen for $153 shipped . Typically fetching $180, youre looking at the very first discount since launching last winter. Thats 15% off the usual going rate and delivering a new all-time low. Stepping up to deliver all of the features as the recent battery-powered offering, the new wired Nest Video Doorbell also arrives with the 24/7 recording feature that its untethered counterpart was missing. It packs much of the same refreshed design that on top of being less of an eyesore, integrates with Nest and your Assistant setup in much of the same way with 1080p recording to its local storage. Though keep in mind, youll have to rely on your standard doorbell wiring in order to get this smart home upgrade all set up. Get a closer look in our hands-on review and then head below for more. more The post Googles new wired Nest Doorbell with 24/7 recording sees first discount to $153 (Reg. $180) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Apple's 10.9-inch iPad is back down to an all-time low of $399

Here's a quick PSA for anyone who has had their eye on Apple's 10.9-inch iPad : the tablet is back on sale for $399 at Amazon , Target and Best Buy . For reference, Apple normally sells this entry-level 64GB model for $449, though the device's average street price on Amazon has hovered closer to $430 since it launched last October. Either way, this deal matches the all-time low we first saw over the holidays last year. Just note that, as of this writing, a few colors are out of stock at Amazon and Target. We gave the 10.9-inch iPad a review score of 85 this past October. It offers a more modern design than the cheaper 10.2-inch iPad , with flatter edges, thinner bezels, a Touch ID button and a USB-C port, much like you'd find on the pricier iPad Air or iPad Pro . It packs a roomier display than the 10.2-inch model despite being slightly shorter and lighter. Its A14 Bionic chip is still plenty powerful for media consumption, light work and other everyday tasks, and it still gets the usual 10-ish hours of battery life. And perhaps most conveniently, it's the only iPad whose front-facing camera is located along the landscape edge of the tablet, which is a much more natural position for video calls. There are a few quirks to consider, though. Unlike the iPad Air, the 10.9-inch iPad's display isn't laminated, so it can feel like you're interacting with an image below the glass rather than directly touching what's on screen. It also lacks an anti-reflective coating, so it's a little more prone to glare. It only works with the original Apple Pencil , not the vastly improved second-gen stylus . Nor does it support the same Magic Keyboard as the iPad Air or iPad Pro; instead, it uses its own accessory called the Magic Keyboard Folio that, while good, isn't as stable on your lap. It also lacks a headphone jack. As we note in our iPad buying guide , if you can afford to step up to the iPad Air , that is the better option overall. And if you just want a competent iPad for the lowest price possible, the 10.2-inch model is likely a better value. That said, the 10.9-inch iPad is still a fine middle ground for those willing to pay a bit more for a nicer-feeling tablet, and this discount should make its sacrifices a little easier to accept. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Save $80 on Boses Portable Smart Alexa/Assistant Speaker at $319 shipped

Joining its Valentines Day sale at 50% off and this notable price drop on the latest model Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II , Amazon is now offering a solid deal on the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Regularly $399, you can now land one in Triple Black or Luxe Silver for $319 shipped . Still fetching the full price directly from Bose , todays deal is matching the 2022 holiday price at Amazon where it hasnt gone for any less in over a year. Delivering 360 degrees of deep, clear, lifelike sound and powerful bass, this model works as a home or portable speaker with up to 12 hours of battery life per change, an IPX4 water-resistant rating, and support for voice commands via Google Assistant or Alexa. It is compatible with other Bose smart speakers and soundbars for a multi-room listening experience as well. Hit up our announcement coverage for a closer look and head below for more details. more The post Save $80 on Boses Portable Smart Alexa/Assistant Speaker at $319 shipped appeared first on 9to5Toys .

OnePlus Pad is the company's first tablet

OnePlus is finally ready to take the wraps off its first tablet , and it's just different enough that it might be worth considering in a sea of Android slates. The OnePlus Pad revolves around an 11.6-inch display with an unusual 7:5 aspect ratio and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate this might be your pick if you're a gamer or avid reader. The design also stands out with an easier-to-grip 2.5D edge and a central camera hump you're less likely to cover with your fingers. Some technical details aren't available as we write this, but the OnePlus Pad will be reasonably quick thanks to MediaTek's Dimensity 9000 chip and up to 12GB of RAM. Battery life might be healthy, too. The 9,510mAh power pack reportedly offers up to 14.5 hours of video playback, and 67W SuperVOOC fast charging can top up the tablet in 80 minutes. Dolby Atmos, meanwhile, promises cinematic audio. You won't have to hunt for accessories, either. The OnePlus Pad will ship with a pen (the Stylo) and a magnetic keyboard. The software will be familiar, although there are some appreciated touches if you also have a OnePlus phone . The Pad can easily use a handset as a cellular data hotspot, for instance. Don't expect to buy one right away. Release dates and pricing for the OnePlus Pad will be available in the coming weeks, the company says. As such, it's too early to say if this represents a good value compared to the Galaxy Tabs and iPads that dominate the higher-end tablet space. OnePlus Not that OnePlus is leaning solely on a tablet. The company has introduced the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, the expected sequel to its 2021 wireless earbuds . They're some of the first earbuds to support Android 13's official spatial audio implementation with compatible content, such as Disney+ and YouTube videos. If you have a OnePlus 11, you can expect Dolby Atmos support with head tracking. Regardless of how you listen, audio quality is also a focus complete with an unusual collaboration. OnePlus claims a studio-like sound thanks to dual drivers (with an 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter) developed with help from Dynaudio, and LHDC 4.0 Bluetooth audio that's close to wired fidelity. And if the usual custom equalizers aren't enough to fine-tune the characteristics, composer Hans Zimmer has created his own EQ, Soundscape, to emphasize the brighter tones and wider soundstages of movie soundtracks. Improved active noise cancellation (particularly for human voices) and lower-latency Bluetooth 5.3 LE are also available, and a 10-minute charge is enough to deliver 10 hours of listening (39 hours total with the case). The Buds Pro 2 will be available in the US on February 16th for $179 (179 in the UK). It's evident OnePlus is hoping to match or undercut competing products like the Pixel Buds Pro and second-gen AirPods Pro . And yes, it wouldn't be a OnePlus announcement without teasing future hardware. The brand is hinting at plans to unveil both its first mechanical keyboard, the OnePlus Featuring Keyboard 81 Pro (a team-up with Keychron. below) and the OnePlus 11 Concept, a still-mysterious prototype phone with imaginative design and industry-first features. You won't hear more about these in earnest until Mobile World Congress in late February. OnePlus

Best Mac or MacBook for students

Thinking of buying a Mac or MacBook for school, college or university work? Here, in our best Mac for students guide, we take a look at Apples current Mac line-up to find out which Mac is best for students. Well examine whether you should get a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for college, or if another Mac might actually be a better choice. If youre already at University, or have been offered your place, then you should ensure that you make use of Apples student discount. You can save hundreds on a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac or Mac mini at the U.S. Education Store , Apple Education Store U.K . or the Australian Education Store . Read about how to get a discount from Apple here . Plus, starting in late June in the U.S. and July in the U.K., Apple will kick off a a Back To Uni event , where Apple gives people looking to buy a Mac for university a free pair of AirPods. That same event is currently running in Australia and other Southern Hemisphere locations. If youre looking for stability, security and a reliable and easy to use operating system then Apples Macs come highly recommended. If might seem that Macs are expensive compared to their Windows alternatives, however the added premium is justified, and, as you will see if you read on, you dont have to break the bank to buy one. You may also like to read our Apple student buying guide which evaluates the right devices for every level. How much can students save on a Mac? Before we begin its worth casting your eyes over whats available and how much you can save with the education discount. If its a MacBook Pro you want you could save more than $200/200. MacBook Air M2 (2022) Read our review MSRP: $1,199 Best Prices Today: $1049.00 at Adorama | $1,165.53 at Amazon | $1165.53 at Amazon US MacBook Air : June 2022 saw Apple reveal the M2 version of the MacBook Air, which then went on sale that July. The company is still selling the entry-level M1 MacBook Air that features the first Apple silicon processors that were introduced in November 2020. There are therefore three MacBook Air models: one with the M1 Chip that offers a 7-core GPU and 8-core CPU, and two with M2 chips, one with a 8-core GPU and 8-core CPU, and the other with a 10-core GPU and 8-core CPU. The MacBook Air starts at $999/999, but the price for students is lower: $899/899. The new M2 model costs $1,199/1,249 or $1,099/1,149 for students. Students save $100/100. Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) Read our review MSRP: $1,299 Best Prices Today: $1179.00 at Adorama | $1,269.00 at Amazon | $1299 at Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro : There are two 13-inch MacBook Pro models. These also arrived in November 2020 and feature the M1 chip like the Air, although in both cases this is the 8-core GPU version. Prices start at $1,299/1,349, student prices from: $1,199/1,249. Students save $100/100. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023) MSRP: From $1,999 | Model reviewed $2,499 Best Prices Today: $1,949.00 at Amazon | $1999.00 at Adorama | $1999.00 at Best Buy 14-inch MacBook Pro : Apple updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips in January 2023. The M2 Pro is a faster variant of the M2 found in the 13-inch MacBook Pro. There is also the option of an even faster M2 Max, but thats more than most students would require. Normal pricing starts at $1,999/2,149, but education pricing starts at $1,849/1,989. Students save $150/160. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023) Read our review MSRP: $2,499 | $2,699 | $3,499 Best Prices Today: $2,449.99 at Amazon | $2449.99 at Amazon US | $2499.00 at Adorama 16in MacBook Pro : Apple also updated the 16in MacBook Pro in January 2023. Like the 14in MacBook Pro this model is powered by an M2 Pro or an M2 Max, the M2 Max would be beyond the requirements of most students. Normal prices start at $2,499/2,699, but education pricing starts at $2,299/2,479, which is still probably beyond the budget of students. Students save $200/220. You might only be interested in a Mac laptop and in this article we will look into whether the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro is a better choice for students but there are other Macs worthy of consideration. Apple 24-inch iMac (M1, 2021) Read our review MSRP: From $1,299 Best Prices Today: $999.00 at Adorama | $1249.99 at Newegg US | $1,295.00 at Amazon 24-inch iMac : In May 2021 Apple updated the iMac with the same M1 chip as that found in the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro, but it also gave it a redesign, and extended the screen from 21.5-inch to 24-inch. At launch prices started at $1,299/1,249. However, the prices increased outside the U.S. in January 2023 so the iMac now starts at 1,399 in the U.K. for example. Student pricing starts at $1,249. Students save $50. Apple Mac mini (M2, 2023) Read our review MSRP: From $599 Best Prices Today: $599 at Amazon US | $599.00 at Adorama | $599.00 at Best Buy Mac mini: The Mac mini was also updated in January 2023 when it gained two options: an M2 Chip like the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro or an M2 Pro chip like that used in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro . There is still one Mac mini model on sale that offers an Intel processor. Normal prices start at $599/649, but education pricing starts at $499/539 for the M2 model. Students save $50/50. Mac Studio M1 Max (2022) Read our review MSRP: $1,999 Best Prices Today: $1999 at Apple | $1999.00 at Adorama | $1999.99 at Best Buy Mac Studio : Unveiled in March 2022, the Mac Studio will be overpowered the vast majority of students, but its not a bad option if you are looking for a powerful Mac with a lower price. Its the most affordable way to get a ton of RAM and the ultimate in graphics, so if thats what you need it might be suitable. Prices start at $1,999/1,999, but education pricing is from $1,799/1,798.80. Students save $200/200. Best MacBook (or Mac) for college Choosing the best Mac for college or university depends on what you are going to be studying as well as how much you have to spend. Weve created this students guide to buying a Mac to help you choose the right Mac for college, school or university. We consider what students are likely to need from their Mac, what features are worth paying more for, and how students can save money on a new Mac. We also take a look at Apples range of Macs and the built to order options available that might be useful. Plus, weve collected together some accessories, software and services that could come in handy during your course. Which Mac to choose depends on what your needs are as a student, and the course you are taking. If youre doing a degree in film and video, or music, or graphic design then it might make sense to also look at one of our other Best Mac For guides for that subject area: Best Mac for graphic design Best Mac for making music Best Mac for video editing Best Mac for programming Best Mac for photo editing Best Mac for gaming (in case you have any free time) Well look at each Apple laptop option as well as the iMac and Mac mini below. How to get a discount on a Mac for university or school Were sure that you are probably looking for a bargain Mac, so before we guide you through the best Mac options for students well explain how you can save money. If you are looking for a Mac for your children to use for school work the MacBook Air or Mac mini might appeal as low cost options, but there are other ways that you might be able to get a more powerful Mac for less money, well explain your options below. Note that only higher education students can take advantage of Apples education discount though, school age children can only take advantage if the equipment is being purchased by the school. The best Mac bargains are usually on older models, although we do see discounts on current Macs as well. If you see a good discount on an older Mac its important to be aware of what the newer models offers so that you know what you are missing out on and can judge whether the deal is as good as it appears to be. For one thing, older Macs are likely to feature Intel processors rather than Apples M1, M2 or their variants, which could put you at a disadvantage in the future (and will certainly mean your Mac depreciates in value very quickly). If you are picking an Intel Mac then make sure that it is a relatively recent Intel chip to ensure that Apple will at least support that Mac until the end of your course. See: How long does Apple support Macs for. Rather than buying an old Mac, either second hand or refurbished, we recommend that you buy a new Mac at a discount. There are a number of ways to save money on a new Mac: Get an Apple student discount: If you are a registered student youll be able to get a discount on a new Mac if you shop in Apples Education Store. You can find out all about it in more detail in our Apple Education Store explainer , but in short itll get you money off your Mac and its well worth it! If you are in the U.S. visit the U.S. Education Store. If you are in the U.K. visit the UK Apple Education Store (U.K. students will need to have proof of their student status in order to access it. Theres also an Australian Education Store. Wait for Apples Back to Uni Sale : Apples Education Store usually offers a Back to Higher Education deal during the summer months. From around June to October in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Europe Apple gives away AirPods to university and higher education students buying a new Mac or iPad. In 2022 Apple changed the give-away to up to $150/150 in vouchers, but in 2023 it is back to giving AirPods away, based on the Higher Education deal currently between January and March in Australia. Buy a refurbished Mac : Take advantage of Apples refurbished store where the company sells ex-display, returned, and previous-generation Macs at a discount. The benefit of buying refurbished from Apple is that the products come with a full years warranty. You can also get a refurbished Mac elsewhere with many resellers offering the same service, but beware that not all refurbished Macs are equal. Usually refurbished means that the Mac is guaranteed to be in full working order, but do check with the reseller. Heres a guide to how to buy a refurbished Mac. We also look at why you should buy a refurbished Mac here Buy second hand/used : One advantage of buying refurbished is that it should be guaranteed to work and you should have no problem returning it if there is a problem. These are reasons why we dont recommend buying a second hand Mac . If you do see a deal on a second hand or used Mac just be especially cautious. Look out for reseller discounts : You can also see some great discounts on new and old models from Apple resellers. Check out our latest deals round ups at the links below. Best MacBook Pro deals Best MacBook Air deals Best iMac deals Best Mac mini deals Best Mac Studio deals If you are a student heres how to get Apple Music for half price . Plus students with an Apple Music student subscription also get free access to Apple TV+ for a limited time. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro for students Its likely that this is the question you are hoping to get an answer to: should I buy a MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro? We compare the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in detail here , but from the perspective of a student, heres what youll want to keep in mind: MacBook Pro The MacBook Pro are more expensive and more powerful Mac laptops than the Air. If bought new, the range starts from $1,299/1,349 for the 13-inch MacBook Pro and goes up to $3,499/3,749 for the top-of-the-range 16-inch version (you dont need that model!) Heres whats on offer right now: 13-inch MacBook Pro, M2, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 256GB or 512GB storage, 8GB Unified Memory, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. From $1,299 / 1,349 . 14-inch MacBook Pro, M2 Pro, 10-core or 12-core CPU, 16-core, 19-core or 30-core GPU, 512GB or 1TB storage, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB or 96GB Unified Memory, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port. From $1,999 / 2,149 16-inch MacBook Pro, M2 Pro, 12-core CPU, 19-core, 38-core GPU, 512GB or 1TB storage, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB or 96GB Unified Memory, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port. From $2,499 / 2,699 . It is unlikely that you need the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro and the price is likely to be prohibitive to students anyway. The good news is that doesnt matter because if you are a typical student the 13-inch MacBook Pro will be more than sufficient. If you need a more powerful Mac because your course calls for it then you can save a bit of money by choosing the 14in MacBook Pro over the 16in model both models offer the same specs so you arent forfeiting any high-power options. Read: 14in vs 16in MacBook Pro. There are two versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro to choose from: one has 256GB of storage while the other has 512GB, but costs an extra 200/$200. There is no other difference between the two models so you need to decide if the extra storage is necessary. We would suggest that if your photo or music library are taking a lot of space up on your Mac you should look to iCloud storage solutions such as iCloud Photos and iTunes Match ). Another benefit of the 13-inch MacBook Pro is 20 hours battery life. This beats the MacBook Air by 2 hours and the 14-inch MacBook Pro by 3 hours. Older Mac laptops only claimed 10 hours so this is a definite benefit of the M1 and later Macs. That entry-level MacBook Pro comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports (which double up as USB 4). You wont find the older USB-A port on any new Mac laptop. If you want USB-A ports you would have to consider a second-hand Mac laptop, or a desktop Mac, get an adaptor , or just get rid of your old mouse and keyboard and go wireless. Heres our round up of the best USB C docks . The 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro offer a much wider selection of ports including HDMI, SD card reader, and MagSafe charging in addition to the USB/Thunderbolt ports. For most, the entry-level MacBook Pro model should be a decent enough spec to get your work done without any issues. The M2 MacBook Air and M2 MacBook Pro side by side See the MacBook Pro in the US Apple Store and the UK Apple Store . 13-inch MacBook Pro M2, 10-core GPU, 8-core CPU, MSRP $1,299/ 1,349: Retailer Price Adorama $1179.00 View Deal $1,269.00 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299.00 View Deal $1359.2 View Deal B & H Photo Not Available View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices 13-inch MacBook Pro, M1, 8-core GPU, 8-core CPU , MSPR was $1,299/ 1,299: Apple has discontinued the M1 MacBook Pro, but you may still find one on sale, likely at a discount. Here are the best prices right now. Retailer Price $499 View Deal $714.99 View Deal $1104.99 View Deal $1,399.99 View Deal $1477.43 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices MacBook Air You might assume that the MacBook Air is low-powered in comparison to the MacBook Pro, but now only does the MacBook Air offer the same M2 chip as the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it has also got a bigger screen, better FaceTime cameras, and some other benefits when compared to the alternative machine. If youre looking for a MacBook that doesnt break the bank and offers the ultimate in portability and great battery life, then the MacBook Air might be the perfect fit. And the best bit: you can get a MacBook Air for $999/999. Heres how the MacBook Air range looks: M1 MacBook Air, 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports $999 / 999 M2 MacBook Air, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and MagSafe charging port $1,199 / 1,249 M2 MacBook Air, 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 512GB storage, 8GB RAM, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and MagSafe charging port $1,499 / 1,549 Assuming you are looking to spend as little as possible to get a new Mac you might be considering the 999/$999 model and we think that would be a good choice, but do keep in mind that this model was launched in November 2020 so its almost two years old. The newer M2 MacBook Air is $200/250 more, and may be worth the additional outlay, not just because it is newer, but because it benefits from a redesign that has brought a bigger, better and brighter screen, an improved camera for video calls, as well as the more powerful M2 chip. The MacBook Air is undoubtedly the best value Mac laptop you can get, so if thats what is important to you its the one to buy. Its also fractionally lighter than the MacBook Pro. As with the MacBook Pro, there are no USB-A ports on the MacBook Air, just two USB-C and a headphone jack. However, the M2 MacBook Air does add a MagSafe port, so you can charge your laptop and still have two USB ports free. As we mentioned in the MacBook Pro section above, the MacBook Air offers 18 hours battery life, according to Apple. This is less than the 13-inch MacBook Pros 20 hour, but bound to be more than enough to get you through a day and an all-nighter at university. Wed say that you can confidently buy a 2020 M1 MacBook Air as it will be more than adequate for the needs of a student, especially those who are predominantly writing essays and conducting research. The fact that it costs999/$999 is a real bonus. If you have a bit more money to spend then the M2 MacBook Air with its bigger screen and better FaceTime camera will prove useful when you arent studying. If you need more storage you may find external storage or even iCloud storage can work out cheaper. (If you have a big Music library, for example, pay for iTunes Match so you can keep your music in the cloud. If you have a big photo library turn on iCloud Photos and subscribe for additional iCloud Storage). You can buy the MacBook Air in the Apple Store but resellers often offer good discounts. You will see the best deals listed below: MacBook Air, M1, 8-core CPU/7-core GPU, $999 /999 : Retailer Price Adorama $649.00 View Deal $979.00 View Deal $999.00 View Deal $999.99 View Deal $1249 View Deal B & H Photo Not Available View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices MacBook Air, M2, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, $1,249/ 1,199 : Retailer Price Adorama $1049.00 View Deal $1,165.53 View Deal $1165.53 View Deal $1199 View Deal $1199.00 View Deal B & H Photo Not Available View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Mac laptop vs Mac desktop for students Student life normally involves a far amount of mobility traveling to lectures, libraries, the occasional coffee shop, and then possibly home for weekends and term breaks so it makes a good deal of sense to consider a laptop rather than a desktop Mac. While the screen sizes in MacBooks are smaller than iMacs, you can always buy a cheap screen and use that with your laptop when you are home. Or, if you also have an iPad, you might be able to link your iPad to your MacBook and use the iPad screen too (heres how to use your iPad as a second screen for your Mac ). You could also use that iPad for taking notes when you are at lectures read our guide to the best iPad for students . However, there are some benefits to buying a Mac desktop. Generally it is the case that you pay more for a Mac laptop, compared to the same specs on a desktop. The Mac mini, for example, is Apples cheapest Mac despite having some pretty impressive specs. However if you compare the 24-inch iMac with a similarly speced Mac laptop the iMac is considerably more expensive. iMac vs Mac mini for students While we appreciate that there are plenty of benefits associated with choosing a laptop for university, you may be better off with a desktop. iMac The iMac might be one for consideration for a student but its a non-portable Mac, which might deter many students from purchasing one. You wont be able to take it with you to lectures or cart it home on a train for the holidays but you will be able to work more efficiently thanks to its 24-inch screen. In May 2021 Apple introduced a 24-inch iMac with a brand new design that comes in a choice of seven different colours and has a M1 processor. Thanks to its design its certainly a Mac that will make a statement to anyone entering your dorm room. Heres how the iMac models line up: 24-inch iMac M1 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports $1,299 / 1,399 M1 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, two USB 3 ports $1,499 / 1,599 M1 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 512GB storage, 8GB RAM, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, two USB 3 ports $1,699 / 1,799 There are two main issues with the iMac. One is that it is not portable so may not suit your needs on that basis alone. The other is that its price is a lot higher than the Mac laptops and where in the past that was justified by more powerful processor or discrete graphics, that is not the case these days. The 24-inch iMac is basically the same as the 13-inch MacBook Pro, sure it offers a 4.5K 24-inch display, improved FaceTime camera and excellent speakers, but its still a big price to pay when you lose the portability of the laptop. If its an iMac you want though you can buy the iMac in the Apple Store or check out these deals below: Here are the best deals right now: iMac, M1, 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 256GB SSD MSRP $1,299/ 1,249 : Retailer Price Adorama $999.00 View Deal $1249.99 View Deal $1,295.00 View Deal $1298.95 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1299.99 View Deal B & H Photo Not Available View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices iMac, M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB SSD MSRP $1,499/1,449: Retailer Price Adorama $999.00 View Deal $1,299.99 View Deal $1299.99 View Deal $1499.00 View Deal $1499.99 View Deal $1844.99 View Deal B & H Photo Not Available View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Mac mini A much better option is the Mac mini, which features a M2 or M2 Pro chip and was last upgraded in January 2023. Starting at the new lower price of $599/649 it is the cheapest Mac going. The only compromise here is the lack of monitor and keyboard. There are three Mac mini models. Two have the M2 chip and the other has an M2 Pro chip. Heres how the Mac mini models line up at the time of writing: M2 Mac mini, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 256GB storage, 8GB RAM $599 / 649 M2 Mac mini, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 512GB storage, 8GB RAM $799 / 849 M2 Pro Mac mini, 3.0GHz quad-core, Intel UHD Graphics 630, 512GB storage, 8GB RAM $1,299 / 1,399 Weighing in at 1.3kg, its about as portable as a desktop Mac gets. You could, in theory, take it home on the train, as long as you had a spare monitor waiting for you when you got there, for example. If you are on a budget this is the way to go. Get an entry-level Mac mini and ask around for an old keyboard, mouse and monitor. You may be using second-hand accessories, but your Mac will sit at the heart of it all. You could even plug the Mac mini into your TV, although we wouldnt recommend writing your dissertation on a TV screen. In fact, of all the M2 Macs the Mac mini is the one that gets our recommendation, it gives you all the power of the M2 chip at a great price. And as for that M2 Pro optionif you need an M2 Pro chip its a lot cheaper than a 14-inch MacBook Pro. You can buy the Mac mini in the Apple Store , but you may get a good deal from one of these resellers: Mac mini, M2, 8Core CPU / 10Core GPU, 256GB, MSRP: $599/649: Retailer Price $599 View Deal Adorama $599.00 View Deal $599.00 View Deal $599 View Deal $599.00 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Mac mini, M2 Pro, 10Core CPU / 16Core GPU, 512GB, RRP: $1,299/1,399: Retailer Price $1299 View Deal $1299.00 View Deal $1299 View Deal $1,299.00 View Deal Adorama Not Available View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Which Mac should you get for university? Our pick of the entire Mac range if youre a student is the M1 MacBook Air. Its light, fast, and at 999/$999 for the entry model it offers great value for an excellent machine. Its the all-rounder here. If you dont need portability, then the M2 Mac mini is also a very good option (it is considerably more portable than an iMac, so at least transporting it home shouldnt be too problematic). Its powerful and the low price of $599 /649 is very attractiveyou just need a monitor, mouse and keyboard. If you do have some extra money to spend the M2 MacBook Air will give you a better screen, better webcam and an attractive new design to show off in lectures. If youre looking to save a few pounds then keep an eye on the Apple Refurb Store . Apple often offers previous-generation Macs with decent specs for less than their newer counterparts, so its worth a look if you are lucky you will find M1 Macs on sale there. Refurbished Mac models are fully checked and come with a one-year guarantee. We explain the best way to buy a second hand or refurbished Mac, and recommend you also read why you should buy a refurbished Mac for more information. One last thing to mention: If you are at University you can benefit from Apples Student Discounts , and, at certain times of the year, Apples Back To School deal could mean you get free AirPods. Mac

Ankers PowerCore 24K 140W Power Bank is a 9to5Toys favorite at $110 (Save $40)

Ankers official Amazon storefront is now offering its beloved GaNPrime PowerCore 24K Power Bank for $109.99 shipped after youve clipped the on-page coupon . Normally fetching $150, youre looking at $40 in savings as well as the second-best discount to date. This comes within $10 of the all-time low and is the best in nearly 2 months since back during the start of the holiday shopping season. Having just hit the scene late last fall, Ankers new portable battery quickly won over our hearts at 9to5Toys , as well as our readers too. It arrives as the brands most capable solution yet with a 140W USB-C PD output, which lets it effortlessly refuel an M1 Pro MacBook, as well as iPhones, iPads, and more without breaking a sweat. Theres also a built-in display for monitoring charging stats in real time. Dive into our Tested with 9to5Toys review for some additional info and then head below for more. more The post Ankers PowerCore 24K 140W Power Bank is a 9to5Toys favorite at $110 (Save $40) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

The M2 Pro wont magically turn the Mac into a gaming machine

Now that the Mac mini is available with an M2 Pro, Apple is making the case that its a great gaming computer. As the Mac mini site states, you can jump into graphics-intensive AAA games like No Mans Sky and Resident Evil Village with fluid frame rates and high fidelityall enabled by the incredible GPU performance of M2 or M2 Pro. And with really good native support for Xbox and PlayStation controllers in the latest version of macOS, yes, you can certainly have a good time gaming on a Mac that costs less than $2,000. But after kicking the tires for a while and comparing them against PC offerings, its clear that Apple has a very long way to go. In a recent interview with TechCrunch, Apple executives admitted that getting the Mac up to speed will take some time. Apple Silicon is fantastic, but the holistic gaming experience on a Mac is as frustrating as ever. If Apple is going to woo gamers, it has a lot of work ahead of it. Performance is decent, but the price is not Firing up Resident Evil Village on our Mac mini our $1,800 configuration has the full M2 Pro chip with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSDand its clear the chip can handle modern AAA games. With the games Prioritize Graphics preset at a 1080p resolution, performance varies from around 70fps to over 120fps, depending on the location and action. Turn on the new MetalFX Upscaling feature in Quality mode and performance jumps about 30 percent or so with no real discernible loss in quality. You can even crank it up to 4K resolution and play at 40-60fps in Prioritize Graphics mode. Thats perfectly respectable performance, especially for a computer as tiny and silent as a Mac mini. But it gets crushed by a comparably-priced Windows gaming PC. A prebuilt gaming PC like the one I frequently play on, with a Ryzen 9 5900X and GeForce 3070 Ti, currently retails for about $1,850 a Best Buy . And it absolutely destroys the Mac mini in game performance. Resident Evil Village at the same settings runs at three times the framerate. The same strenuous outdoor courtyard that hovers in the mid-70s on the Mac mini runs over 220fps on the PC. At 4K resolution with upscaling enabled, I got well over 120fps, not 40-60fps. Hell, the PC runs at 1440p resolution with ray tracing enabled at 160fps here. Ray tracing isnt even available on the Mac. The same scene at 1080p with the Prioritize Graphics preset and upscaling enabled. The Windows PC (right) is over 2.5 times faster. Its hard to find modern games to benchmark because the pickings are so slim for the Mac. For fun, I ran our Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark on the Windows PC. At 19201200 with the High preset, the Mac clocks in at 118fps. The PC doubled it at 234fps! Of course, these computers are only comparable in their price. The Mac mini is a fraction of the size and essentially silent, while the gaming PC is big and full of fans. But performance is an utmost concern for gamers. Games have to look great and run smoothly, now and in the future. And the fact is, when it comes to playing games, you can get at least twice the performance out of a PC for the same price, or equal the Mac minis performance at a fraction of the cost. Sure, the PC will be bigger and more power-hungry, but also upgradeable (another primary concern of gamers). Put bluntly: the M2 Pros gaming performance is fine but its nothing to boast about. Where are the games? Even if the Mac mini didnt deliver half (or less) of the gaming performance at this price, it would be a poor choice because the games just arent there. The big AAA game experiences for the Mac section that Apple promotes on its Mac mini page proudly features No Mans Sky , a PC and console game released more than six years ago and its still not out yet on the Mac! Apples got it on their Mac mini hype page and its still coming in 2023. Nothing says Mac gaming like heavily featuring a six-year-old PC game that isnt even out yet for the Mac. Apple Mac gamers used to be able to count on the latest Blizzard titles, but Overwatch never shipped on the Mac, Overwatch 2 has no Mac release in the works, and neither does Diablo IV . A look at the Steam top sellers page is grim indeed. Only two of the top 15 games have Mac versions, and theyre both over 10 years old. Only two of Steams top games are also available on the Mac, and theyre both a decade old. Yikes. Foundry The fact of the matter is that the Mac is in no better place with the biggest game releases than it has been for the last decade: One or two new big games make it to the Mac (where they look and run worse than their Windows counterpart), a few other big releases make it to the Mac a year later, and 90 percent of the games you want to play never get to the Mac at all. A roadmap for Mac gaming If Apple actually wants to make the Mac a gaming platform worth paying attention to, its going to have to take some drastic steps. Trying to build a little hype once a year around a new chip and that one big-name game we have isnt going to cut it. Its probably too much to ask for Apple to produce a Mac with good gaming performance that doesnt cost a fortune. Windows PCs are going to enjoy a huge price-to-performance advantage for a long time. But Apple could at least do something about the software situation. The company has shown its willingness to embrace outside gaming devices by supporting Xbox and Playstation controllers natively in macOS (and iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS), leaving behind years of awful MFi program controllers. Imagine what the same willingness to get along could mean in the software world. MacOS has great support for PS5 and Xbox controllers. Apple shouldnt stop there! Foundry Valves Steam Deck is a hit with gamers even though it runs a Linux-based OS, and Linux is just as far behind in game support as macOS. How is it successful? Because Valve and its partners made a software compatibility layer called Proton . It takes Windows games and translates everything to run on Linux. Its even open sourcejust imagine what the Apple engineers responsible for Rosetta could do if they set their sights on making Proton work on a Mac! Apple should definitely do this, and work with Valve to offer the same sort of compatibility list in Steam. This is likely a six-month software project that could instantly make hundreds of top PC games available, now and in the future. How do all these top-selling Windows PC games run great on the Linux-based Steam Deck? A compatibility translation layer called Proton. Foundry But thats not enough. Apple cant keep forcing everyone who makes native Mac apps to use their Metal graphics API. Nobody wants to do that for a platform as small (for gaming) as the Mac. Supporting the more widely-utilized (by game developers) Vulkan API for Apple silicon would go a long way toward showing game developers that Apple is willing to meet them halfway. Finally, theres the blunt instrument that always works: cash. Apple is sitting on a massive pile of gold like a dragon, with over $150B in cash and cash equivalents. It would have an enormous impact to spend just one percent of that idle cash on payments to publishers to make Mac-native versions of their big games, available day-and-date with the Windows versions. Thats $1.5 billion in make a Mac version too bribes, enough to fully fund dozens of Mac versions of top upcoming games per year. Game development is a years-long process, so this method wouldnt have an immediate impact. The Proton for Mac initiative could make a massive difference in the short term, with pay-to-play versions taking over after a couple of years. Whatever Apple decides to do, its clear that its current path has not delivered. The Mac as a gaming platform is in just as bad of a place now as it has been for the last decade. Gaming, Mac

Apple Expanding iPhone's Communication Safety Feature to More Countries

In recognition of Safer Internet Day today, Apple has highlighted the company's software features and tools designed to protect children online, such as Screen Time and Communication Safety . The press release was shared in Europe only. Communication Safety is an opt-in feature in the Messages app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch that is designed to warn children when receiving or sending photos that contain nudity. In its press release today, Apple indicated that it is expanding the feature to more regions around the world in partnership with local experts. In recent months, Communication Safety became available in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, after launching earlier in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. When the feature is enabled, photos containing nudity are blurred and the child will be warned, presented with helpful resources, and given the option to message someone they trust for help if they choose, according to Apple. On its Child Safety page , Apple assures that Communication Safety is private and secure: Messages analyzes image attachments and determines if a photo contains nudity, while maintaining the end-to-end encryption of the messages. The feature is designed so that no indication of the detection of nudity ever leaves the device. Apple does not get access to the messages, and no notifications are sent to the parent or anyone else. In December, Apple announced that it abandoned its controversial plans to detect known Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) stored in iCloud Photos. Communication Safety is unrelated to those former plans and is on-device only, according to Apple. Tag: Apple Child Safety Features This article, Apple Expanding iPhone's Communication Safety Feature to More Countries first appeared on MacRumors.com

OnePlus 11, High-end Performance For $700

Launched in China in early January 2023, the OnePlus 11 is coming to the U.S. (and the world) today . According to a message written by OnePlus President Li Jie on Weibo, the new flagship smartphone broke the fastest sales record in the history of OnePlus just two hours after the launch in China. Looking at the impressive specs list in relation to the price, we understand the instant success. The successor of the OnePlus 10 Pro (released in the U.S. in April 2022 at $899), the OnePlus 11 boasts an upgraded Snapdragon flagship SoC , a slightly better rear camera , and an upgraded fast-charging adapter (U.S. market). No more Pro The manufacturer dropped the Pro from its flagships name, and the new branding reflects the convergence of high-end specifications with a premium price in one single device. Offering great performance at an extremely competitive price point seems to be OnePluss top priority, according to OnePlus founder Peter Laus presentation at the OnePlus 10T launch last August. To achieve this goal, OnePlus has focused on several things but if we had to boil it down, it would come down to excellent computing platform performance , fast battery charging, and a very good camera . Better performance To claim the high-end title, the OnePlus 11 had to feature Qualcomms latest flagship processor , the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 , that powers the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra , S23 plus, and S23 . The OnePlus 11 gets a significant boost in performance over its predecessors equipped with the previous generations of the Snapdragon 8, the 8 Gen 1 (10 Pro), and the 8+ Gen 1 (10T). Qualcomm claims that the new generation CPU is 35% faster while delivering 40% greater power efficiency. The graphics performance increased by 25% with a 45% improvement in power efficiency. After running a few benchmarks on the OnePlus 11, we can confirm the performance boost approximately along those lines. Stay tuned for our OnePlus 11 review with the benchmarks charts. When RAM and storage are concerned, there are two variants, one with 8GB RAM and 128 GB storage that costs $699 , and another with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage , for $100 more . Display The 6.7-inch WQHD (32161440) AMOLED display features an upgraded LTPO 3.0 adaptive refresh rate technology that automatically selects the best refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on the users activity. Similarly to LTPO 2.0, LTPO 3.0 operates at variable refresh rates from 1 to 120Hz but is supposed to offer an improved power efficiency. Camera The camera system tuned by Hasselblad is better than the previous flagship model, although the price of the new phone is $200 lower than the launch price of the OnePlus 10 Pro ($899). The primary camera sensor is a Sony IMX890 50MP 1/1.56 (quad-pixel) that is paired with an IMX58 48MP Ultrawide camera and an IMX709 32MP 1/2.74 RGBW sensor with 2X optical zoom that OnePlus calls Portrait Tele. The phone maker dedicates the third camera to portrait shots and claims it improves the bokeh effect by providing more details in the blurry background. To evaluate mobile cameras, we use our CAMERA HW score . Based on the specifications, we calculated a CAMERA HW score of 178 , which places the OnePlus 11 in the ballpark of the Xiaomi 12T Pro (176), the Xiaomi 12 Pro (177), the Pixel 7 (180), and the Pixel 7 Pro (189). This is an upgrade from the 164 CAMERA HW score of the OnePlus 10 Pro. Battery Charging speed is one of the strengths of OnePlus, the OnePlus 10T is the fastest-charging phone available in the U.S. that offers 160W supports and goes from 1% to 80% in only 13 min! (as we measured for our review ) Due to the voltage limitation in North America, devices can charge at a maximum of 120W. The OnePlus 11 model for the U.S. comes with 5000 mAh battery and 80W SUPERVOOC charging technology while the Chinese version offers 100W . As we measured, the OnePlus 11 charges from 0% to 63% in 15 minutes, which is way faster than the high-end phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (16%), the iPhone 14 (25%) , or the Pixel 7 Pro (18%) . OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Alongside the new smartphone, OnePlus is launching the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 , a pair of wireless earbuds that support spatial audio with six-axis sensor head tracking . Featuring active noise cancellation, 54 ms low latency, Hi-Res audio, and IP55 water resistance, the Buds Pro 2 deliver 39 hours of playback on a single charge. Price and Availability The smartphone and the earbuds will be available for pre-orders on Feb 7th, 2023, and for sale on Feb 16 th , 2023 . The OnePlus 11 comes in two colors, Titan Black or Eternal Green , and costs $699 for the 8GB+128GB version , and $799 for the 16GB+256GB model. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 comes in Obsidian Black or Arbor Green for $179. OnePlus 11, High-end Performance For $700 , original content from Ubergizmo . Read our Copyrights and terms of use .

Motorolas unlocked Edge 2022 5G smartphone has a 144Hz display at new low of $299.50

Amazon is offering the unlocked Motorola Edge 2022 5G 256GB Smartphone for $299.53 shipped. Down from a typical rate of $350 at Amazon over the past few months, todays deal comes in to deliver a new all-time low that weve tracked at $50 below our last mention. Ready to replace your aging smartphone, the Motorola Edge features the latest tech without breaking the bank. The 6.6-inch FHD+ OLED display features a 144Hz refresh rate, which makes it ideal for gaming on-the-go. Then, when it comes to capturing family memories, the 50MP triple camera system with stabilization, an ultra-wide lens, and even macro vision, will make recording those moments a breeze. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1050, this smartphone will do great for mobile gaming, photo editing, and more. Plus, the Motorola Edge will last up to two days on a single charge and theres both fast charging and Qi wireless support making it super easy to top off mid-day or overnight when needed. Keep reading for more. more The post Motorolas unlocked Edge 2022 5G smartphone has a 144Hz display at new low of $299.50 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Todays best Mac and iOS app deals: First Tree, Chronos Principle, Summer Catchers, more

All of todays best iOS game and app deals are now waiting for you below courtesy of Apples digital storefronts. Just be sure to also check out the price drops we are now tracking on Apples compact iPad mini 6 , the 10.2-inch iPad , and the all-new 10.9-inch variant as well as everything youll find right here . As for the apps, highlight offers include The First Tree, The Chronos Principle, Summer Catchers, Teslagrad, Deep Sleep, Insomnia Help, and much more. Head below for a complete look at todays best Mac and iOS app deals. more The post Todays best Mac and iOS app deals: First Tree, Chronos Principle, Summer Catchers, more appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Apple admits Mac gaming will take some time, teases iPhone-like annual updates

With the arrival of the M2, M2 Pro, and M2 Max, Apple has shown that its new chips are the most exciting thing to happen to the Mac in years. In an interview with Tim Millet, vice president of platform architecture and hardware technologies, and BobBorchers, vice president of worldwide product marketing, TechCrunch has learned a little about Apples plans for its M-series chips. On the transition Millet said the M1 chip was about resetting the baseline and redefining what it meant to have a laptop in many different ways. He said Intel was a great partner through the years with a team that really actually were inspired by the direction that Apple pushed them. However, he somewhat laments that while the Mac benefited from that interaction, Apples competitors products benefited from that interaction as well. On gaming When it comes to gaming, Borchers said the AAA community is starting to wake up and understand the opportunity. Despite the very capable M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, gaming on Mac remains a sore spot. Borchers describes gamers as a serious bunch, and appears to understand their frustration. I dont think were going to fool anybody by saying that overnight were going to make Mac a great gaming platform, Borchers said. Were going to take a long view on this. Borchers described working with Capcom on Resident Evil Village to avoid making it an awkward port. He said his team spends a lot of time thinking about how to make sure that were staying on that API curve, though he understands that the Mac isnt there yet. We know this will take some time, he added. But were not at all confused about the opportunity; we see it. And were going to make sure we show up. On the roadmap While Millet said the goal of Apple silicon is to make machines that are good enough to buy whenever regardless of whats coming and when, he understands that Mac users may feel snubbed by the pace of the iPhone. He doesnt want to force Mac releases, but also wants to get new Macs in the hands of our customer as soon as possible. We want to reset to the technology curve and then we want to live on it, he said. Millet said he doesnt want the Mac to stray too far away from the pace of iPhone releases. We dont want to leave [Mac buyers] wonderingdo they not care about us? A new phone shipped last year. Why didnt the Mac get the love? Mac

Hot Wheels: Rift Rally is another mixed reality racer from the makers of Mario Kart Live

Hot Wheels: Rift Rally is a new mixed reality game from Velan Studios, the creators of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit . Like Nintendos 2020 title, you control a real RC car while your screen shows an augmented view from its cockpit. It will be available in March for PS5 / PS4 and iOS. The game bundle includes one toy car, which you can drive in two modes: Campaign and Stunt. In Campaign, you set up gates around your room, which you drive the car through to complete the different maps (each includes unique challenges). Meanwhile, Stunt mode skips the gates, letting you drive wherever you want while performing digitally enhanced drifts, wheelies and burnouts to beat your high scores. It supports a solo campaign and multiplayer. When playing with a friend, they can bring their car for competitive racing or (on PlayStation only) play co-op using a single toy vehicle as the action switches between controllers. Velan Studios The bundled Chameleon car can appear onscreen as any of 22 different virtual vehicles with over 140 variants. It includes endless options for digital customization, including performance mods that change how the car moves across your space; for example, adding an acceleration boost in-game will make the toy car drive faster. In addition, you can play various mini-games, puzzles and challenges to unlock new vehicles and mods. Although the software is free to download, youll need to buy at least a $130 Standard Edition, which gets you the Chameleon car, four Rift gates and a charging cable. A $150 Collectors Edition swaps in a special edition Chameleon while adding a (non-playable) McLaren Senna Hot Wheels die-cast toy. Hot Wheels: Rift Rally launches on March 14 and is available for pre-order starting today.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuits studio has made an AR Hot Wheels game

Hot Wheels: Rift Rally builds upon the mixed reality RC car racing formula that Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit established.

OnePlus 11 review: A back-to-basics flagship phone

Last years OnePlus 10 Pro is set to be replaced by the OnePlus 11. There wont be a OnePlus 11 Pro, and there wasnt a regular OnePlus 10. Things could be more straightforward, but what are you going to do? Barring any spinoffs, this is OnePlus flagship phone, the focus of all its attention, development budget and everything else. Leaks meant we knew what the OnePlus 11 would look like long before it was officially unveiled. It has everything we loved about OnePlus in the past: a powerful, high-end processor, a vivid screen and (after a brief diversion ) a competitive price tag ($699). The OnePlus 11 launches the same week as a trio of phones from Samsung, the dominant Android phone player. The 2023 Galaxy S series has phones that are both bigger and smaller, pricier and cheaper, than OnePlus newest phone. Fortunately, this new flagship has one trick to stand out from Samsungs new lineup: incredibly fast 100-watt charging. Design Mat Smith/Engadget OnePlus has made some changes to the design. The company drew inspiration from sports cars (it has collaborated with McLaren in the past) and swiss watches. This apparently led to a unibody slab with a stainless steel camera array. There are some fine details in the camera glass which gives it a little bit of a watch aesthetic, but its basically just another giant camera pop-out. The metal bezel protrudes slightly more than the glass, which should help avoid scratches. Initially, I thought it was a little too big and ostentatious, but its roughly equivalent to the unit on the iPhone 14 Pro and the Pixel 7 Pro s Cyclops camera bar is arguably even flashier. The OnePlus 11 also answered the pleas of the OnePlus faithful by reintroducing its Alert Slider. If you havent seen it on previous phones, its a metal slider just above the power button on the right edge that swaps between silent, ring and vibrate modes. OnePlus claimed in previous years that the removal was due to space demands inside the phones and that the slider would make a return, so the company has at least fulfilled that promise to its fans. For the rest of us, Im not sure we need it. Then again, Im the kind of person that keeps my phone on silent pretty much all the time. The phone comes in glossy gray-green (Eternal Green) and sparkling black (Titan Black) color options. I thought the black finish would have a gritty, 3D-printed feel to it, but its closer to slate somehow smooth and grippy at the same time. I dont understand the physics of it either. Meanwhile, the green version is a lot like last years phones. The shiny finish is unfortunately a canvas for all your fingerprints and smudges. The OnePlus 11 has a gorgeous 6.7-inch 2,048 1,080 OLED screen that can reach up to 120Hz refresh rates. Once again, theres an LTPO panel that can now dip low at 1Hz when the always-on display (AOD) is on. OnePlus claims that, compared with typical 30Hz AODs, OnePlus 11s 1Hz AOD consumes 30 percent less power. Of course, its not using much power to begin with as an AOD, but could lead to a little more battery life in the long run, even if its not represented in our typical battery rundown tests. Aside from the upgraded AOD capabilities, this screen is otherwise identical to the OnePlus 10 Pro which isnt a bad thing. Its another area where OnePlus often goes toe-to-toe with the best smartphones out there, despite typically costing hundreds of dollars less. Camera Mat Smith/Engadget The OnePlus 11s primary camera is a new 50-megapixel sensor, with a f/1.8 aperture. It sounds similar to the OnePlus 10 Pros main camera, but uses a bigger 1/1.56-inch sensor. This works alongside a 115-degree ultrawide 48MP camera that pulls double-duty for macro shots. This time, OnePlus flagship has a 32MP telephoto camera, up from a measly 8MP on its predecessor. However, optical zoom tops out at 2x, while the lower-res OnePlus 10 Pro could punch in at up to 3.2x optical zoom. Its an unusual change to make. Which is the better solution? While I didnt have last years OnePlus 10 Pro to compare directly with the OnePlus 11, the images didnt seem as muted as I remember. Of course, they werent as magnified, but given the higher-resolution, I can always crop in without ruining the results too much. Its pretty much a manual digital zoom, cropping like this, but you benefit from a better sensor before you crop away the excess megapixels. Mat Smith/Engadget The OnePlus 11s camera array, what it calls its third-generation Hasselblad Camera, is improved, and still comes with some addictive filters for stills and video. However, It doesnt quite reach the pinnacle of smartphone photography, led by the Galaxy S22 Ultra, iPhone 14 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro, though. The OnePlus 11 seems to do its best work on landscape and street photography. Theres a Pro mode again, so you can dabble in RAW editing, but I was more than happy with the JPGs. The OnePlus 11 also features an AI Highlight video mode. The phone uses image processing to maintain even levels of exposure when recording video and shifting between areas of different lighting. I tested it out on a sunny afternoon, on a bridge, but I didnt see too many tangible benefits to overexposure. It works a little better when youre filming in a mostly dark situation, but, oddly, this is meant to be the standout software feature for this years OnePlus flagship its not particularly remarkable. Performance and battery life Mat Smith/Engadget The OnePlus 11 has the de facto top Android processor: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Its powerful, sure, but the bigger benefits might come through longer battery life. According to the chip maker, its new Adreno GPU can offer up to 45 percent better power efficiency. OnePlus software doesnt appear to have changed much since the OnePlus 10 Pro. OnePlus claims its HyperBoost Gaming Engine uses machine learning (and Qualcomms latest processor) to balance performance and battery drain. The caveat here is that its only compatible with major mobile titles like Genshin Impact . Its also hard to tell whether it offers a discernible impact on games, when so many other phones are similarly specced and offer a similar experience. The OnePlus phone series typically offers decent battery life. So its no surprise that the OnePlus 11 clocked almost 20 hours on our video rundown test. Although the battery icon seemed a little sticky around 100 percent after playing video for a good two hours. The only phones that beat that are the companys own OnePlus 10T and the iPhone 14 Pro. While thats great, the speed that OnePlus 11 can charge is even more impressive. 100W charging is here the kind of wattage we get with laptops. Theres a compatible charger in the box, thankfully, but its proprietary tech, so you'll need this specific charger, this cable and OnePlus latest phone to hit those heady charging speeds. OnePlus says it takes 25 minutes to reach a full charge from empty, and in practice, thats been accurate. The ability to plug my phone in for a brief stint (roughly ten minutes) and have it top up 50 percent is magical. However, theres no wireless charging. Its not a deal breaker for me but its definitely something to note as missing from a flagship phone. Id take these heady charging speeds over wireless charging any day. Wrap-up Mat Smith/Engadget The OnePlus 11 has a great screen (again), incredibly fast-charging (again) and cameras that are better than its predecessors. However, the supercharge speeds seem to be the only unique thing that the OnePlus 11 brings to the table. But is that enough to make you want to upgrade from an older phone, or choose a OnePlus over the competition? At $699, with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, thats $100 less than last years flagship. Its a much better deal than its predecessor and this could be a deciding factor. The OnePlus 11 sits between midrange devices, like the Pixel 6a, and premium phones including Googles Pixel 7 and Samsungs Galaxy S23 series. In many ways, you get the best of both, but against the dominance of other phone makers, it needs to do more to distinguish itself.

Todays best game deals: NBA 2K23 from $20, Immortals Fenyx Rising $15, and more

This is the place to find all of the best price drops on Nintendo Switch titles as well as a series of Xbox and PlayStation releases everyday of the week. We are now tracking new Amazon all-time lows on NBA 2K23 with deals across all platforms. Starting from $19.99 on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are also marked down to $24.99, both with free shipping for Prime members or in orders over $25. These deals are also matched at Best Buy . Regularly in the $35 to $40 range as of late, these are some of the lowest prices we have ever tracked and the best we can find. Players will embark on a swashbuckling basketball journey aboard a spacious cruiseliner equipped with pristine courts, scenic views, and a boatload of rewards alongside era-specific visuals that capture Michael Jordans ascent from collegiate sensation to global icon. You might even catch your first glance of Kyrie in his new Mavs jersey too.Head belowfor the rest of todays best Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox games deals. more The post Todays best game deals: NBA 2K23 from $20, Immortals Fenyx Rising $15, and more appeared first on 9to5Toys .

The next Nintendo Direct will take place on February 8th

Nintendo has scheduled its first Direct of the year. It will largely focus on games that are coming to Switch in the first half of 2023. Youll be able to watch the Direct on February 8th at 5PM ET on the companys YouTube channel . What Nintendo will feature during the stream largely remains a mystery, but we can read the tea leaves and speculate a bit. While its possible that well get a deeper dive into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom before that game arrives in May , itd be surprising if there were nothing about it at all in this Direct. Rumor has it that Nintendo may suddenly release Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp this week after a lengthy delay related to Russias invasion of Ukraine . If so, expect that to make an appearance. Tune in at 2 p.m. PST tomorrow, Feb. 8, for a #NintendoDirect livestream featuring roughly 40 minutes of information mostly focused on #NintendoSwitch games launching in the first half of 2023. Watch it live here: https://t.co/8ce3reaEig pic.twitter.com/Pmf41dQWIw Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 7, 2023 With the Mario movie on the horizon, perhaps well learn something about the future of Nintendos mascot on Switch. Super Nintendo World will open at Universal Studios Hollywood next week , so expect at least a mention of that. We may learn more about Pikmin 4 as well , while Nintendo has Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon and Kirbys Return to Dream Land Deluxe lined up for this year. And then, of course, theres the ever-present expectation from fans that this, after years of patiently waiting, is when well finally get a release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong , which is supposed to arrive in the first half of this year . In any case, we wont have to wait too long to find out what Nintendo has up its sleeve.

7 Steam Next Fest demos to check out: Meet Your Maker, Afterimage, and more

Meet Your Maker, Afterimage, Tape to Tape, and more stand out as some of the best demos at Steam Next Fest.

TravisMathew takes up to 50% off clearance + extra 25% off orders of $150

TravisMathew takes up to 50% off clearance items and an extra 25% off totals of $150 or more . Discount is applied at checkout. Now is a perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with deals on vests for spring layering, polo shirts, shorts, swim trunks, t-shirts, and more. TravisMathew Rewards Members ( free to sign-up ) receive complimentary delivery. A standout from this sale is the Northern Vest for men thats currently marked down to $112 and originally sold for $150. This vest is great for layering in transitional weather and it has a color-block design thats very on-trend. It has an embroidered logo on the chest for a stylish touch and the material is infused with stretch, which is great for hikes and more. Find the rest of our top picks from TravisMathew below and you will want to check out our fashion guide for additional deals today. more The post TravisMathew takes up to 50% off clearance + extra 25% off orders of $150 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Mercedes is finally bringing an electric van to the U.S.

The redesigned 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is the first electric van from Mercedes to be offered in the U.S.

Get ready folks, the next major Nintendo Direct showcase kicks off tomorrow afternoon

Rumors have been surfacing all over the net about the next Nintendo Direct and details have now officially been confirmed! Most supposed leaks pointed at the next Nintendo Direct hitting sometime this week and we now officially know it is. Nintendo has taken to its official Twitter feed to announce its next online Switch game showcase and we are now just over 24 hours away. Head below for more details. more The post Get ready folks, the next major Nintendo Direct showcase kicks off tomorrow afternoon appeared first on 9to5Toys .

LEGO officially reveals new Lord of the Rings Rivendell set with 6,167 pieces and 15 minifigs

After a teaser earlier in the week , today were getting an official look at the all-new LEGO Lord of the Rings Rivendell set. Stacking up to over 6,000 pieces, this massive display-worthy creation officially reboots the brick-built world of J. R. R. Tolkien complete with tons of intricate details, 10 minifigures, and so much more. Launching on March 6, we breakdown everything you need to know about the new set $500 set below. more The post LEGO officially reveals new Lord of the Rings Rivendell set with 6,167 pieces and 15 minifigs appeared first on 9to5Toys .

A 1-year Costco Gold Star Membership and $30 Digital Costco Shop Card* could be yours for just $60

When it comes to shopping for your family, or even yourself. There are some great reasons to join a warehouse club like Costco . Become a Costco member today to enjoy great savings on thousands of products for your household needs, from groceries to personal care items, both online at Costco.com and at more than 800 warehouses across the U.S. Through Costco Services, you can find even more savings on things like pet insurance, identity protection, personal checks, and more. Costco works with select providers to offer services for home maintenance and renovation needs. If youre looking for ways to save on travel, you can find those at Costco, tootrip to Bora Bora, anyone? And lets not forget about the popular Costco Gas Stations . Right now, you can sign up for a one-year Costco Gold Star Membership for $60 and get a $30 Digital Costco Shop Card* via email within one week of redeeming your membership, which can be used at a Costco warehouse or online. This promotion is only available to customers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Prices subject to change. *To receive a Digital Costco Shop Card, you must provide a valid email address at the time of sign-up. If you elect not to provide a valid email address, a Digital Costco Shop Card will not be emailed. Valid only for nonmembers for their first year of membership. Limit one per household. Nontransferable and may not be combined with any other promotion. New members will receive their Digital Costco Shop Card by email within 2 weeks of sign-up. Costco Shop Cards are not redeemable for cash, except as required by law. A Costco membership is $60 a year. An Executive Membership is an additional $60 upgrade fee a year. Each membership includes one free Household Card. May be subject to sales tax. Costco accepts all Visa cards, as well as cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT and Costco Shop Cards. Departments and product selection may vary. Health and Beauty

Apex Legends Season 16 Brings Team Deathmatch, to Be First Season Without New Hero

Apex Legends season 16 is scheduled to kick off on February 14, and ahead of that, developer Respawn Entertainment has revealed that it is adding the much-requested Team Deathmatch mode to the game. For the first time, a new season in Apex Legends will not introduce a new hero. Instead, it will feature a reworked class system divided into five.

Save up to 50% on Anker ANC Liberty 3 Pro wireless earbuds today at $85 shipped

Alongside solid price drops on Apples AirPods Pro 2 and the latest Bose QuietComfort buds , the official Anker Amazon storefront is now offering its Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro Noise Cancelling Earbuds for $84.99 shipped. Regularly $170 and currently matched directly from Anker , this is up to 50% off the going rate and the lowest price we can find. While we have seen them regularly selling for between $100 and $130 over the last few months at Amazon, todays deal is matching our mid-December holiday mention and the first notable drop since. As youll know from our hands-on review , the Liberty 3 Pro deliver active noise cancellation alongside HearID tech that analyzes your ears and level of in-ear pressure to create a tailored profile. From there, you can expect to score 32 hours of battery life on a single charge with the included wireless charging-ready case as well as compatibility with both iOS and Android smartphones. Get a closer look right here and head below for more. more The post Save up to 50% on Anker ANC Liberty 3 Pro wireless earbuds today at $85 shipped appeared first on 9to5Toys .

'iPhone Ultra' Concept Envisions Apple's Rumored Future Top-Tier Smartphone

Apple has reportedly considered releasing a new top-of-the-line iPhone alongside future Pro and Pro Max models, tentatively referred to as iPhone Ultra, and one designer has taken it upon himself to envision what such a device could potentially look like. German industrial designer Jonas Daehnert came up with this impressive-looking concept (pictured) by marrying design elements of the Apple Watch Ultra with a smaller imagined iPhone Pro model, which he describes as 12mm+ thick the Ultra concept. Like Apple's more rugged Apple Watch, Daehnert's titanium iPhone chassis features rounded edges with a flat upper rim that sits flush with the display. Elsewhere, there are protruding Side and Volume Up/Down buttons reminiscent of the watch's crown guard. The extra thickness of the chassis presumes a larger internal battery. Other aspects of the Ultra design language that have been adopted for Daehnert's concept include a ruggedized Ring/Silent switch, a programmable Action button on the lower-left side, and a USB-C port located on the bottom with identical International Orange accent, sat in between expanded speaker grilles. I have no idea about all the leaks, Daehnert admitted when sharing the concept on Twitter . It was just an exercise to see if it's possible to adapt the Watch Ultra design language. Apple has discussed selling a new top-of-the-line iPhone alongside the Pro and Pro Max models in 2024 at the earliest, according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman . Based on this timeframe, the device would be part of the iPhone 16 lineup or later. Gurman previously said there was potential for an iPhone 15 Ultra that would replace the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year, but he has since revised that prediction, suggesting Apple might release an even higher-end Ultra model above both Pro variants by next year at the earliest. Gurman speculated that the device could feature additional camera improvements, a faster chip, a larger display, and perhaps a portless design without Lightning or USB-C. He also said the device would be pricier than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which starts at $1,099. Separately, rumors suggest that iPhone 15 Pro models could feature thinner, curved bezels in comparison to the iPhone 14 Pro models, producing an Apple Watch-like appearance. Rather than stainless steel, the iPhone 15 Pro models are also rumored to use a titanium frame , like the Apple Watch Ultra. Titanium is lighter and more durable than stainless steel. It is, however, also more expensive. Related Roundup: iPhone 15 Tag: Concepts Related Forum: iPhone This article, 'iPhone Ultra' Concept Envisions Apple's Rumored Future Top-Tier Smartphone first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Ray-Ban offers $50 off polarized sunglasses for Valentines Day + free shipping

Ray-Ban is currently offering $50 off polarized sunglasses for Valentines Day. Prices are as marked. Customers receive free delivery on all orders. One of the most notable items from this sale is the Original Wayfarer Classic Sunglasses . This style is currently marked down to $163 and originally sold for $213. These sunglasses are available in an array of color options and can be styled by anyone. They can be easily dressed up or down and each pair of sunglasses come in a leather case with a scratch resistant interior to keep them looking fresh. Plus, the polarized lens reduces glare, increases visual clarity, and enhances contrast. Find the rest of our top picks below or you can shop the entire sale here . more The post Ray-Ban offers $50 off polarized sunglasses for Valentines Day + free shipping appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Lexars 160MB/s A2 Silver memory cards hit new Amazon lows: 128GB $17 or 256GB $22.50

Amazon is now offering its best prices yet on Lexar Professional 1066x Silver Series MicroSDXC Memory Cards. You can now land the 128GB model at $16.99 and the 256GB variant at $22.49, both with free shipping for Prime members or in orders over $25. Regularly $22 and $35, respectively these days, both models are at the best price we can find and new Amazon all-time lows. For comparisons sake, the comparable Samsung Pro Plus models that clock in at the same 160MB/s are selling for $20 and the same $22.50 right now. The Silver Series also stands toe-to-toe in other departments as well A2 rating for app loading, V30 video speed support, and compatibility with a wide range of cameras, drones, Android devices, and more. They also both ship with the SD adapter as well. More details below. more The post Lexars 160MB/s A2 Silver memory cards hit new Amazon lows: 128GB $17 or 256GB $22.50 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Meta reportedly plans to open Horizon Worlds to younger teens as soon as March

Only adults 18 and older can sign up for Meta's Horizon Worlds at the moment, but according to The Wall Street Journal , that could change very, very soon. Meta is reportedly opening up its virtual reality social experience to younger players aged 13 to 17 as soon as this March as part of its efforts to grow Horizon's numbers and improve user retention. The Journal says it saw the information in a memo entitled Horizon 2023 Goals and Strategy in which Gabriel Aul, Meta's VP for the VR experience, outlined its goals for the first half of 2023. In the memo, Aul reportedly wrote that these younger users are the rue digital citizens of the metaverse and that Meta needs to ensure that it serves them for Horizon to succeed. Meta spokesperson Joe Osborne told the publication that [t]eens are already spending time in a variety of VR experiences on Quest, and [the company wants] to ensure that [it] can provide them with a great experience in Horizon Worlds as well, with age-appropriate tools and protections in place. Osborn didn't say what the experience will offer in the way of protecting young users. In 2021, The Journal reported that the company's own researchers found Instagram harmful for a sizable percentage of teens, particularly teenage girls. Meta paused its work on an Instagram for Kids as a result, and it has also launched a bunch of teen safety features for the app since then. It also automatically limited triggering or sensitive content for new users under 16. In addition to welcoming younger teens to Horizon, Meta is aiming to grow the game's monthly active users to 500,000 from 200,000 within the first half of the year. Perhaps more importantly at this point in time, it's targeting a retention rate of 20 percent. Apparently, Horizon had an 11 percent retention rate in January, which means only one in nine users returned to the experience the following month. Meta is hoping to achieve those goals by improving the service's reliability and performance and getting rid of bugs that may affect people's enjoyment. The company is aiming to release 20 new Horizon experiences built by third-party studios in an effort to win more people over, as well. Plus, it's apparently hoping to make the VR game a lot more accessible by rolling out a web version for mobile and desktopf by June. Meta teased the web version of the experience in the past, but the company missed its initial launch target last year. This year, the company is not only hoping to launch Horizon's web version within the next few months, it's also looking to have as many as 150,000 monthly cross-screen Horizon users in the first half of 2023.

Apple is still working on a charging feature that should have been in the iPhone 14

The launch of the iPhone 14 last fall was missing one key ingredient: reverse wireless charging. But sources cited by 9to5Mac report that Apple originally planned on including the feature, and would have done so if the companys engineering teams hadnt missed the deadline to complete development work. Reverse charging, also known as bilateral charging, is a feature whereby a device can both receive and transmit charge wirelessly. Its been available on high-end Android phones such as the Galaxy S23 for years. Technically, as 9to5Mac notes, the iPhone has included a rudimentary version of this function since the launch of the iPhone 12: plug your device into a power outlet, connect a MagSafe battery pack to the back, and it will start to charge up. But true reverse charging would give the iPhone the ability to charge up a far larger range of accessories, and enable it to do so purely from battery power rather than transmitting mains power through its chassis. The most obvious application would be charging an AirPods case when it is placed on the back of the iPhone, but any Qi-compatible accessory would presumably be able to work with the system. Reverse charging is a perennial iPhone rumor. Some thought it would arrive (in the true sense) with the iPhone 12although those hardware developments turned out to be for the MagSafe battery pack onlyand the same idea was predicted for the iPhone 13. Unsurprisingly, pundits repeated their claim for the iPhone 14 , but it now seems they were at least partly right. 9to5Mac, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, says the feature was slated for inclusion in last years new Pro iPhones, offering yet another incentive for users to pick the more expensive models. The company didnt hit its own deadline for the completion of the feature, which meant it didnt make the cut, but hopes to include it in a future model. The sources offer further detail of Apples plans in this area, which give hints as to why the company was unable to complete the project in time. It is, for example, a project with both hardware and software components, as Apple also wants to offer onscreen animations and sound effects to indicate that reverse charging is underway, and presumably to guide the user through the process. On the hardware side, the sources say Apple is developing a unique wireless power out firmware as the basis for the feature, and are wrestling with questions of heat management, efficiency, and charging speed. This new report will inevitably lead to rumors that reverse charging will finally arrive with the launch of the iPhone 15 later this year, but 9to5Mac cautions against such optimism. The sites sources warn that the feature could feasibly be delayed again, or even scrapped entirely. iPhone

Instants most affordable Essentials 4-qt. air fryer returns to holiday low today at $55 (30% off)

Amazon is now offering the Instant Essentials 4-quart Air Fryer for $54.99 shipped. Regularly $80 and currently on sale for $65 directly from Instant , todays deal is 31% off and the lowest price we can find. Not only is this matching the Amazon all-time low, but we have only seen it down this low twice before today. Youre looking at a simple, no-frills air frying solution for folks looking for a straight to the point solution without needing to mess around with all the bells and whistles. It features a 4-quart capacity with a pair of simple dial controls for time and temperature (170 to 400 degrees) alongside a non-stick dishwasher-safe basket, little to no preheating time, and enough capacity for up to 1.5-pounds of fries. Head below for more details. more The post Instants most affordable Essentials 4-qt. air fryer returns to holiday low today at $55 (30% off) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Amazon clears out Samsung Galaxy S22 5G with $170 discount to second-best price of $680

Samsungs new Galaxy S23 lineup hasnt even begun shipping yet, but that isnt stopping Amazon from starting to clear out the now previous-generation devices. Right now, Amazon currently offers the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S22 256GB Android Smartphone for $679.99 shipped in several styles. Normally fetching $850, youre looking at the second-best price ever thanks to todays $170 discount. This is the lowest weve seen since back in November during the Black Friday savings event, and comes within $18 of that discounted price. Samsungs now previous-generation Galaxy S22 smartphone arrives as one of the brands more recent entry-level offering that still packs plenty of flagship features. Everything is centered around a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display backed by a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ certification. Theres also the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC to drive the handset alongside a 3,700mAh battery to boot for all-day usage. Around back is a triple-sensor 8K camera array. Get a closer look at what to expect in our hands-on launch coverage . Head below for more. more The post Amazon clears out Samsung Galaxy S22 5G with $170 discount to second-best price of $680 appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Mozilla Developing Non-WebKit Version of Firefox for iOS, Possibly Anticipating Shift in Apple's App Store Policy

Mozilla is working on a non-WebKit version of Firefox for iOS in anticipation of changes to Apple's platform rules, The Register reports. Mozilla's GitHub repository contains code for the iOS version of Firefox with references to GeckoView, a wrapper for Firefox's Gecko rendering engine. Apple's App Store rules insist that browser apps on iOS and iPadOS must use its own WebKit browser engine , meaning that any version of Firefox based on Gecko could not be released under Apple's current policies. The app, which contains a settings page for toggling GeckoView, could be for internal testing, but postings from Mozilla software developers on GitHub suggest that it is for a secondary project, with open discussion of proper Gecko Firefox on iOS. Last week, it emerged that Google's Chromium team is working on a new browser for iOS based on Blink , seemingly in expectation of changes to Apple's platform rules. In the face of growing antitrust scrutiny, most recently by the Biden administration , Apple is rumored to be preparing to drop its browser engine restriction alongside broader measures to enable sideloading and third-party App Stores in Europe. The main motivator of the move is the European Union's Digital Markets Act , which is expected to compel Apple to make major platform rule changes as soon as next year . Similar legislation has been recommended by antitrust watchdogs in the United States , United Kingdom , Australia , and Japan. Tags: Firefox for iOS , Firefox This article, Mozilla Developing Non-WebKit Version of Firefox for iOS, Possibly Anticipating Shift in Apple's App Store Policy first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Rare deal drops Keurigs Wi-Fi smart coffee/latte maker with milk frother down to $200 ($50 off)

Amazon is now offering the Keurig K-Caf SMART Single Serve Coffee Maker for $199.99 shipped. Regularly $250 directly from Keurig and elsewhere, this is a solid $50 price drop and the lowest price we can find. This is also only the third notable price drop we have tracked on the Wi-Fi enabled model since it hit Amazon for the first time back in September, coming within $1 of the all-time low. Youre looking at a single-serve coffee, latte, and cappuccino maker with an included hot and cold milk frother. Connecting to the Keurig app unlocks BaristaMode, offering easy, step-by-step directions for your favorite coffeehouse beverages. Youll also find five brew strength options and six temperature settings to personalize your beverage further. More details below. more The post Rare deal drops Keurigs Wi-Fi smart coffee/latte maker with milk frother down to $200 ($50 off) appeared first on 9to5Toys .

Amazon sale takes up to 53 percent off Echo Show smart displays

This is your chance to grab one (or some) of Amazon's Echo Show displays at a discount if you've been planning to buy any of them. Several models of the smart display are currently on sale, and Amazon is even offering most of them for almost half their original price. You can get the second-generation Echo Show 5 released in 2021 for $45 or 47 percent less than its retail price of $85. And, yes, all its available colors Charcoal , Deep Sea Blue and Glacier White are being sold at that price. Even the version for kids, which comes with parental controls, one-year free access to Amazon's Kids+ service, and a two-year worry-free guarantee, is available for $45 right now. The Echo Show 5 for kids will typically set you back $95. We gave the Echo Show 5 a score of 85 in our review and recommended it for those who want an alarm clock for their nightstand. It also has great sound quality for its size, and it lets you snooze your alarm by tapping the top part of the device. If you're looking for a smart display for your living room or kitchen, however, the Echo Show 8 may be a better fit. It's currently on sale for $75, which is 42 percent less than its retail price of $130. The device, available in Charcoal and Glacier White , has an 8-inch HD touchscreen and a 13-megapixel camera, making it a better option for video calls. In comparison, the Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch screen and a 2-megapixel camera. We found Echo Show 8's audio to be superior to its smaller sibling's, as well. Finally, in case you'd rather have a wall-mountable smart display, the Echo Show 15 is also on sale for $225, or $55 less than retail. It has a 15.6-inch full HD screen surrounded by a white bezel. Since the whole device is housed in a black metal frame, it could look like a painting or a large picture frame if you use it to display artwork or photos. The device's large screen real estate also means you can display widgets and see various information at a glance. Shop Echo Show deals at Amazon Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Mac Antivirus Deals: Cheap antivirus software to protect your Mac

Mac security software adds another layer of protection onto what Apple provides already with features that can help to protect your identity, passwords and financial details. These are the thing that criminals are after, and theyll often use cunning ways to extract them rather than spending time trying to break past Apples defences in macOS. Although some of the packages here are solely focused on macOS, others will also protect Android and Windows devices you might also own, and that makes the price of protection much cheaper per computer. Good security software should warn you before you click on a dangerous website, or open a phishing email with a dodgy attachment, which could trick you into handing over your bank details, passwords or other sensitive information. If you are in two minds about whether you need protection you might like to read Do Macs need antivirus software? Best antivirus for Mac Youll find the following Mac antivirus recommendations in our round up of the Best antivirus for Mac. Here are our top Mac antivirus recommendations: Intego Mac Internet Security X9 currently $19.99/17.99 a year for one Mac, get the deal here . Clario Antivirus 1.5 for Mac $50/50 a year (54% off the usual price of $107.88/107.88 a year), get the deal here . McAfee Total Protection currently five devices are $39.99 for one year in the US, and 42.49 a year for one years in the UK, get the US deal here / get the UK deal here . Norton 360 Deluxe currently $49.99/29.99 a year for five devices, get the deal here . Avast Premium Security currently $44.28/35.99 a year for one Mac, get the US deal here / get the UK deal here . Bitdefender Total Security currently 73%/38% off, $39.99 a year for five devices in the US, or 24.99 a year for three devices in the UK, get the US deal here / get the UK deal here . Best free antivirus for Mac There are a number of companies offering free antivirus software for Mac. You should always be cautious using a free antivirus and dont expect all the features of the paid for options. Avast Security for Mac offers a free option alongside the Premium plan. Get it here . Avira Free Antivirus for Mac is free and also includes a VPN. Get it here . AVG Antivirus For Mac free version offers basic features. Get it here . Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac is free to use. Get it here . Malwarebytes Antivirus for Mac has a free version as well as a paid version. Get it here . Sophos Home theres a free plan, plus you can get the full version for 30 days trial. Get it here. Best antivirus deals for Mac The above are our top recommendations, but you can save even more money than that. Check our the best deals weve seen below. Top 10 Antivirus Deals Intego Mac Internet Security X9 1 year, 1 Mac 1 From: Intego Was: $49.99/49.99 Now: $19.99/17.99 (50% / 58% off) View Deal Intego is our top pick for Mac antivirus. Its the fastest weve reviewed, and has an impressive clean-up rate. It comes with a brilliant firewall, too. Intego has just over 50% off right now. The RRP is usually $49.99/49.99 for one year/one Mac, but its $19.99/17.99 right now. Read our review: Intego Mac Internet Security X9 review (2021) Bitdefender Antivirus For Mac 1 Year, 3 Devices 2 From: Bitdefender Was: $59.99/39.99 Now: $39.99/24.99 (39% off) View Deal Bitdefender is one of our best picks for Mac and there is a great discount, so you can get it for $39.99/24.99 (usually $59.99/39.99). Thats a one year subscription for up to three devices. Get that UK deal here. The same deal in the US is here . Note that this is the price for the first year only. Its also worth checking out this deal on Amazon.com: you can pick up a great deal on Bitdefender Total Security. You can get two years cover of five devices for $30.99 (usually $149.99) or one year cover for five devices for $19.99. Get the deal here . Read our Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac review and our Bitdefender Total Security 2021 review. Norton 360 Deluxe 1 Year, 5 Devices 3 From: Norton Was: $104.99 / 84.99 Now: $49.99 / 29.99 ($55 / 55 off) View Deal Norton is one of our top antivirus picks, so its good news that you can get the first 12 months for only $49.99 . In the UK, thats just 19.99 until 5 January. After that, the first-year price goes up by 10, but that still saves you 55 off the usual price. And speaking of that, do note that the renewal price is $104.99/84.99 after that first year.Theres also the option of a two-year subscription and get two years for $89.99/89.99 ($44.99/44.99 a year) which sounds like a worse deal, but dont forget youre getting a discount on both years, not just the first, so it is cheaper overall. Read our review: Norton 360 Deluxe review Trend Micro Antivirus For Mac 1 Year, 1 Device 4 From: Trend Micro Was: $39.95 / 49.95 Now: $29.95 / 19.95 (25% off US / 60% off UK) View Deal Trend Micros online protection is available with 60% off right now for one year in the UK, or 25% off in the US (where its already cheaper). Its usually $39.95/49.95 a year. The US deal is here . Read our review: Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac review Clario Antivirus 1.5 for Mac 5 From: Clario Was: $107.88 a year Now: $50 a year (54% off) View Deal Clario is offering its Mac antivirus software for $50 a year which is 54% off the usual price of $107.88 a year. The UK pricing is equivalent normally 107.88 a year, currently discounted to 50 a year. F-Secure Total 3 devices 6 From: F-Secure Was: $89.99/79.99 Now: $67.49/39.99 (25% off / 50% off) View Deal F-Secure is offering a great discount on F-Secure Total. Cover three devices for $67.49/49.99 (RRP:$89.99/ 79.99). You can also cover five devices for $82.40/59.99 (RRP $109.99/99.99). Get the US deal here Read our review: F-Secure Total review Panda Dome Essential 1 Year, 1 Device 7 From: Panda Security Was: $47.99/29.99 Now: $23.99/17.99 (40% off) View Deal Panda Dome Essentials includes top-rated antivirus protection, plus a VPN (albeit with only 150MB of data to use per day). Right now, theres 40% off, and this applies not just on the Essential plan but also on Advanced, Complete and Premium. Avira Antivirus Pro 1 Year, 1 Device 8 From: Avira.com Was: $49.99/35.88 Now: $49.99/29.99 (17% off) View Deal Avira is well known for its free antivirus which is available for macOS as well as Windows. Its very effective, too and if you pay for the Pro version you get official support, more regular updates, plus email and web protection. Read our review: Avira Antivirus Pro review How to find a good antivirus deal It can be tricky to know where to start with antivirus. Protecting your tech from malware, ransomware and other cyber attacks is such an important thing to do, but most of the services available appear to be very similar to one another, so its hard to understand which are the most secure, and which are the best value. You can rest assured that we will only share deals here if we think theyre good enough to be worth buying. Everything we share here will be a great saving on a service we trust. We recommend taking a look at our article all about the best Mac antivirus to help you get a better understanding of which services we like most. Youll find that antivirus discounts can be huge, often at more than half price for your Mac or mobile devices. Do note that these are typically first-year deals, and at renewal youll pay the regular price. Antivirus, Personal Software

The Morning After: Google's ChatGPT rival is called Bard

In the face of so much ChatGPT news and buzz, Google announced on Monday its own chatbot AI project, Bard , will be unveiled with more details at Wednesday's Google Presents event in Paris. Bard will serve as an experimental conversational AI service, according to a blog post by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Monday. It uses Google's existing Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) platform, which the company has been developing for the past two years. However, it wont be open to everyone, like ChatGPT currently is, which ruins the hype a little. Google is starting with a lightweight version of LaMDA, open to a select group of trusted users before scaling up. Well combine external feedback with our own internal testing to make sure Bards responses meet a high bar for quality, safety and groundedness in real-world information, Pichai said. As well get into below, its a busy time for OpenAIs chatbot tech. Microsoft has a surprise event later today, and that AI-generated Seinfeld stream (based on OpenAIs GPT-3 Davinci model) was banned from Twitch. Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed Bastl Microgranny Monolith review: Vintage sampling grit in a portable package Nintendo classic 'Zelda: A Link to the Past' gets an unofficial PC port Anker charging accessories are up to 46 percent off in Amazon sale Google's Pixel 7 phones have dropped to their lowest prices to date Why Im reviewing Hogwarts Legacy 'The Last of Us' episode five will premiere two days early on HBO Max Overwatch 2's third season will let you turn Doomfist into One-Punch Man Sonys expansive PlayStation VR2 FAQ answers (almost) all your burning questions The $550 peripheral will arrive on February 22nd. Sony Sony has published a lengthy FAQ for all things PS VR2. Its promised more than 30 games to choose from during the launch window, defined as the first month from the release date. Among those are Horizon Call of the Mountain (a VR spin-off of the Horizon games) and VR modes for Resident Evil Village and Gran Turismo 7 , which will both be free for folks who already own them. As youve probably already heard, original PS VR games wont play on PS VR2. However, several developers have created PS VR2 versions of existing games and some are offering free upgrades. Unlike with PS VR, you don't need to plug in a camera to your PS5 to use PS VR2. You can, however, film yourself while playing by connecting a PS5 HD Camera. Continue reading. Microsoft is holding a press event tomorrow, with ChatGPT expected to feature heavily Microsoft may show just how cozy it's getting with OpenAI. Microsoft isnt going to let Google get the jump on the AI chatbot buzz. It has an event today, at 1 PM ET. The company is keeping tightlipped, but it's expected to show its integration of ChatGPT into Bing and other uses of the conversational AI technology. Microsoft first invested in OpenAI in 2019 and backed the startup again in 2021. Last month, it committed to a multibillion-dollar deal unofficially believed to be worth $10 billion over several years. Microsoft has had some misses with chatbots in the past hopefully, this will be different. Does this mean Ill actually start using Bing? Continue reading. AI Seinfeld was surreal fun until it called being trans an illness Whered everybody go? the Jerry character asked after a transphobic rant. Twitch Twitch has banned Nothing, Forever, the AI-generated Seinfeld stream, for at least 14 days following a transphobic and homophobic outburst. Its the latest example of hate in, hate out when AI chatbots are trained on offensive content without adequate moderation. As reported by Vice , during one of the recent AI-scripted standup acts, the Seinfeld counterpart suggested being transgender is a mental illness. In what almost seemed like an awareness of the materials offensiveness, the AI comedian quickly added, But no one is laughing, so Im going to stop. Thanks for coming out tonight. See you next time. Whered everybody go? Continue reading. Tinder adds an incognito mode The app will flag more examples of harmful language, too. Tinder is rolling out some new safety features and updates in time for Valentine's Day. Users will now be able to take advantage of an incognito mode, which Tinder says is a step up from hiding your profile completely. Only folks you Like will see you in their recommendations. In addition, you can block profiles that pop up in your suggestions, which could mitigate some awkwardness if you spot an ex or someone else from your life. Continue reading.

The next Mac Studio: Will Apples mini powerhouse die of neglect

Apple introduced the Mac Studio with M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips in March 2022. Positioned as a brand new Mac, its best described as a Mac mini on steroids. However, now that the M2 Pro Mac mini has arrived, the decision to buy a desktop Mac is a little trickier. Theres also the overdue Apple silicon Mac Pro that will soon join the mix. With a trio of pro-tier Macs, all eyes are now on the second-generation Mac Studio: When it will arrive? How fast will it be? And how Apple will differentiate it from the Mac mini and the Mac Pro? Mac Studio: Release date Now that the M2 Max chip has arrived in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, its seemingly only a matter of time before the chip makes its way into the Mac Studio. Based on the current model, the Mac Studio will also ship with an M2 Ultra chip, which will likely debut in the first Apple silicon Mac Pro. There is some expectation that Apple will unveil the new Mac Pro at WWDC in June, so it is possible that the Mac Studio update could come at the same time. However, there is some confusion about how Apple will distinguish the Mac Studio from the Mac Pro if they share the same chip. Bloombergs Mark Gurman claims that Apple wont need to. In an installment of his PowerOn newsletter , he wrote that he wouldnt anticipate the introduction of a Mac Studio in the near future. The upcoming Mac Pro is very similar in functionality to the Mac Studio and adds the M2 Ultra chip rather than the M1 Ultra. So it wouldnt make sense for Apple to offer an M2 Ultra Mac Studio and M2 Ultra Mac Pro at the same time. Gurman thinks its most likely that Apple either never updates the Mac Studio or holds off until the M3 or M4 generation. Could the Mac Studio be just like the iMac Proa stop-gap that Apple never updates and eventually discontinues? Its starting to look like that might be the case. Instead of an expected 2023 update to an M2 chip, we might not get an update until 2025, a full three years after its debut. Next Mac Studio: Price Assuming that Apple does launch a new Mac Studio, what will it cost? When Apple added the M2 Pro and M2 Max processors to the lineup with the introduction of the new MacBook Pro and Mac mini in January 2023, it updated pricing for some Macs in countries outside the U.S. For example, in the U.K. each iMac model now costs 150 more. However, the price of the Mac Studio stayed the same, indicating that Apple is either satisfied with the pricing, or that it is going to increase when the new models are introduced. One indication that the price of the Mac Studio could go up in the U.S. and elsewhere is the pricing of a similarly specced M2 Pro Mac mini . For example, if you were to configure a Mac mini with M2 Pro 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU, 32GB unified memory, and 512GB of storage, it would cost you $1,999/2,099, the same as a standard Mac Studio with M1 Max 10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 32GB unified memory and a 512GB SSD. All things being equal, youre getting a better chip and more expansion with the Mac Studio for the same price. So something has to give. Next Mac Studio: Design The Mac Studio has a very similar design to the Mac mini. Both are silver and have an Apple logo on the top. The base of the Mac Studio is exactly the same size: 7.7 inches square (19.7cm) as the Mac mini, but the Mac Studio is taller: 3.7 inches (9.5cm) rather than 1.41 inches (3.58cm). This is unlikely to change, although it would be nice to see a Space Gray option. Roman Loyola / Foundry Next Mac Studio: Processor and specs We already know what to expect from the M2 Max. As for the M2 Ultra, we can infer some details about the chip from rumors and our experience with the M1 Ultra, which is two M1 Max processors fused together. Heres how the chips break down: M2 Max CPU: 12 cores GPU: 30 cores/38 cores RAM: 32GB/64GB/96GB (with 38-core GPU) M2 Ultra CPU: Up to 24 cores GPU: Up to 76 cores RAM: Up to 192GB If Apple waits to update the Mac Studio until the M3 Max/Ultra or M4 Max/Ultra arrives, its hard to say how much faster the chips will be, but with an expected move to 3nm with the M3, the speed boost could be significant. Next Mac Studio: Ports The Mac Studio already has a good selection of ports, with four Thunderbolt 4 ports, 10Gb ethernet, two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.0, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. That was an impressive array of ports for 2022, but it came with some limitations. For one, the HDMI 2.0 port means users can only connect a display with 4K resolution at 60Hz. The 2023 Mac mini has an HDMI 2.1 port with support for 4K at 240Hz and 8K at 60Hz. Additionally, the 2023 Mac mini brings Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E, both of which are likely to make an appearance in the next Mac Studio. Mac

Apple to Hold In-Person Annual 'AI Summit' for Employees at Steve Jobs Theater

Apple will hold its annual AI summit for employees next week at Steve Jobs Theater, the first fully live in-person event at the company's Apple Park headquarters since the pre-COVID era. The summit is similar to Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, but for employees only, according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman, who shared news of the scheduled event in a tweet . As well as inviting staff to the Steve Jobs Theater, the in-person summit will also be live-streamed to employees unable to attend, similar to the way the company held public product announcement events before the pandemic hit. The last fully live, fully in-person product event was for the iPhone 11, which was held on Tuesday, September 10, 2019. Whether the AI summit is a sign that future product events will finally return in their traditional guise is now the question on many people's lips. Apple invited a limited number of developers to attend WWDC 2022 at Apple Park, but the event itself was pre-recorded, with no in-person presenters to showcase Apple's latest creations. Members of the media were also invited to the iPhone 14 unveiling this past September, but that keynote was pre-recorded, too. Interestingly, the event will be held in the Steve Jobs Theater at the Apple HQ and the in-person event will be streamed to employees as well. So, essentially how Apple held media events pre-Covid. Have to wonder if Apple will also return to that for public product launches. https://t.co/uhLv4se9oW Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 6, 2023 As Gurman notes, the latest AI summit comes at a time of much tech industry excitement surrounding the Microsoft-backed ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot and Google's recent announcement that it is releasing its own LaMDA-powered AI chatbot, called Bard. Google is adding the technology behind Bard to the Google search engine to enable complex queries to be distilled into digestible answers, and Microsoft is expected to follow a similar path by integrating ChatGPT into Bing Search. Tag: Mark Gurman This article, Apple to Hold In-Person Annual 'AI Summit' for Employees at Steve Jobs Theater first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums