Apple sued for failing to implement tools that would detect CSAM in iCloud
Apple is being sued by victims of child sexual abuse over its failure to follow through with plans to scan iCloud for child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), The New York Times reports. In 2021, Apple announced it was working on a tool to detect CSAM that would flag images showing such abuse and notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. But the company was hit with immediate backlash over the privacy implications of the technology, and ultimately abandoned the plan . The lawsuit, which was filed on Saturday in Northern California, is seeking damages upwards of $1.2 billion dollars for a potential group of 2,680 victims, according to NYT . It claims that, after Apple showed off its planned child safety tools, the company failed to implement those designs or take any measures to detect and limit CSAM on its devices, leading to the victims harm as the images continued to circulate. Engadget has reached out to Apple for comment. In a statement to The New York Times about the lawsuit, Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz said, Child sexual abuse material is abhorrent and we are committed to fighting the ways predators put children at risk. We are urgently and actively innovating to combat these crimes without compromising the security and privacy of all our users. The lawsuit comes just a few months after Apple was accused of underreporting CSAM by the UKs National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-sued-for-failing-to-implement-tools-that-would-detect-csam-in-icloud-202940984.html?src=rss
X adds, then quickly removes, Groks new Aurora image generator
On Saturday, a new image generator called Aurora became available for some Grok users, many of whom shared the tools results on X touting their photorealism. But as of Sunday afternoon, Aurora appears to be gone. While it briefly showed up as an option in Groks model selection menu as Grok 2 + Aurora (beta), its since been replaced with Grok 2 + Flux (beta). It looks like Aurora may have gone public before it was meant to. In a tweet replying to one user who shared images of Teslas Cybertruck created with Aurora, Elon Musk said, This is our internal image generation system. Still in beta, but it will improve fast. Behold my images using the new Grok @grok image generator Aurora: 1. Ray Romano and @AdamSandler on a sitcom set pic.twitter.com/2V491RdjMF Matt (@EnsoMatt) December 7, 2024 It comes a few days after X made Grok 2 free to use , albeit with limitations for non-paying users. Groks previous image generator has been called out for lacking certain restrictions around the types of content it can produce, like offensive images of politicians and celebrities, and Aurora seems pretty much in line with what weve seen already in that regard. TechCrunch played around with Aurora for a bit before it was taken down and found it didnt reject a prompt to create an image of a bloodied [Donald] Trump. Thats in addition to examples shared on X of it generating images of public figures and copyrighted characters including numerous images of Sam Altman and Elon Musk, as well as an image of Luigi and Mickey Mouse in a boxing match. But, it wouldnt produce nudes, according to TechCrunch, so that's something. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/x-adds-then-quickly-removes-groks-new-aurora-image-generator-181917002.html?src=rss
Fortnite faces community backlash over the addition of bots in OG mode
Fortnite OG has enabled bots, but players find the artificially-unintelligent NPCs pose next to no challenge and detract from the battle royale experience.
Update: These deals are still live. Details below in the original post. Amazons Black Friday Week is now at the ready with millions of discounts across just about every product category and we are also seeing some of the best prices of all-time on its in-house gear. This past weekend we took the time to roundup the best-of-the-best of these in-house Amazon tech deals, including everything from its brand new Kindle models and the lowest prices to date on its 4K Fire TV Sticks, Echo speakers and displays, plus even more, but we have also now spotted the first deals on its All-new Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 4K UHD smart TVs starting from $269.99 shipped . Details below. more
Apple Vision Pro could soon work with PlayStation VR2 controllers
Apple and Sony have quietly been working on bringing PlayStation VR2 controller support to the Apple Vision Pro, Mark Gurman reports in the Power On newsletter. Gaming isnt exactly the Vision Pros strong suit, thanks in part to the fact that it doesnt support typical VR controllers. But Apple has reportedly approached Sony in hopes to remedy that. According to Gurman, the two partnered up earlier this year, and Sony has been working on the project for months. Apple and Sony planned to have support for PS VR2s Sense controllers ready by now, but the launch has been delayed as they iron out a few issues, Gurman notes like the fact that Sony doesnt produce and sell the controllers separately from its headset at the moment. Barring a scenario in which the project is abruptly scrapped, though, Gurman reports that we should still expect to see it happen. The ability to use Sonys controllers with the Vision Pro headset would bring benefits beyond its gaming potential too, allowing for more precise input for tasks like media editing than is currently possible with its eye and gesture-based controls. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/apple-vision-pro-could-soon-work-with-playstation-vr2-controllers-161547953.html?src=rss
9to5Toys Gift Guide: These everyday essentials kick off from $7
We all know how difficult it can be to reliably tackle last-minute Christmas shopping, so here at 9to5Toys we are kicking off our first list of recommended gifts roughly one month in advance. Instead of going after big-ticket items, this selection is focused on affordable items that folks can benefit from each and every day. If this type of product is right up your alley, you should swing by our new Steals page and subscribe to our daily newsletter . In many regards, you can think of Steals as already-affordable everyday gear thats now discounted even further. But enough about Steals, lets dive in to our gift guide of everyday essentials priced from $7 . more
All-new dark/light gray Beats Pill speakers with Find My return to $100 Black Friday low ($50 off)
Amazon has now brought back its Black Friday pricing on the new light and dark gray Beats Pill speakers. Regularly $150, you can score both of the latest colorways back down at $99.99 shipped . The standard red, black, and gold models have now jumped up $30 from the Black Friday listings, but the latest colors are now once again $50 or 33% off the regular price tag to match the lowest price we have tracked all-time. more
Apple could tie up with Sony for a critical Vision Pro upgrade
Apple is reportedly working with Sony to add support for PlayStation VR 2 controller on the Vision Pro headset, a deal that covers more than just games.
The Day 8 Best Buy 25 Days of Deals are now live , and its all about Samsung today. Ranging from smart TVs, gaming monitors, and microSD cards through to the best price around on the latest Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, we are also tracking gigantic price drops on Samsung washer and dryer combos and a wild $2,100 in savings on the brands Bespoke 29 Cu. Ft. 4-Door Flex French Door Refrigerator. Everything is waiting on this landing page for today only, and we have details on some highlights down below as well. more
Why iOS 18.2 is a must-have update even if you dont run Apple Intelligence
Macworld When iOS 18.2 rolls out to all iPhones on Monday, its going to bring a ton of great new features. Most of the focus is on the new Apple Intelligence capabilities, and for good reason: AI is Apples big marketing hook but the features are rolling out gradually over several months . The iOS 18.2 (and macOS 15.2) adds long-awaited image tools and ChatGPT integration that make Apple Intelligence a lot more useful. But if you dont have an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 Pro (or just dont care about AI), none of that matters to you. Fortunately, iOS 18.2 isnt just an Apple Intelligence drop, it adds a host of other quality-of-life features and changes, too. Here are all the new things in iOS 18.2 coming to your iPhone that have nothing to do with Apple Intelligence. Camera Control improvements After months of criticism , Apple is making several tweaks to the Camera Control button in iOS 18.2, for those with an iPhone 16. First, pressing and holding the button will launch the new Visual Intelligence feature. But there are some other quality-of-life improvements, too. In Settings > Accessibility > Camera Control youll be able to adjust the double-click speed. You can also enable an autofocus/exposure lock in Settings > Camera > Camera Control , so a light press on the button locks exposure and focus much as it usually does on the shutter button of a DLSR. Finally, theres a new toggle that requires the screen to be on for the Camera Control button to launch a camera app. Youll find that in Settings > Display & Brightness , which is sort of a confusing place for it. Foundry New Mail app with smart categories The Mail app will analyze the content of your emails and automatically categorize them into four categories: Primary: Your personal mail or mail that needs to be acted on right away. Transactions: Receipts, order confirmations, shipping notices, etc. Updates: News and newsletters, social media notifications, and the like. Promotions: Coupons, marketing offers, and so on. The four categories will exist as buttons at the top of the Mail app, and you can swipe left on them to show All Mail. And no, Apple isnt reading your emails. All of this happens on the device. Volume limit and lock screen slider In the Settings > Sound & Haptics menu, theres a new Volume Limit feature for your iPhones built-in speaker (volume limits for headphones have been around for a long time). It only affects media playback, not calls/FaceTime, alerts, or system sounds. Theres also a new option in Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual called Always Show Volume Control. This will put the volume control slider back on the bottom of the media playback controls on your Lock screen. That volume slider was removed back in iOS 16 (unless you were using AirPlay), and if you miss it, you can have it back now. Default messaging and calling apps In iOS 18.2s Settings > Apps youll find a new selection at the top, before your list of installed apps, called Default Apps. In this menu, youll choose default applications for things like email, browser, passwords & codes, and more. Most are options you had before (albeit scattered throughout Settings), but Messaging and Calling are new. There are no applications that qualify to populate those areas right now, but thats probably just a matter of existing apps needing new versions that use new frameworks. Foundry Sudoku puzzles in News+ If youre a News+ subscriber, you have access to several puzzles in the News app. Apple publishes daily crosswords, crosswords mini, and a word game called Quartiles. Now, daily Sudoku puzzles join the list. There is an easy, moderate, and challenging puzzle available each day. Foundry AirTag item location sharing Youve been able to share an AirTag with another iPhone user, but thats only really helpful for family members or trusted friends. With iOS 18.2, Apple is going to let you create a secure link you can share with someone else to let them see the location of an AirTag. Theyll be able to open it on any device, even just a web browser on any computer, and see the location of that AirTag. The link automatically expires after 7 days or when the AirTag is reunited with its owner, and of course the owner can turn off the sharing at any time. Whats more, Apple is working with a bunch of major airlines to make this sharing process a part of their customer service flow for lost luggage. Apple Charge time estimates? This isnt yet available in the IOS 18.2 beta, but 9to5Mac discovered code that suggests Apple will soon show you how much longer your iPhone has until it reaches a full charge. Its a feature thats been present on Android phones for a while and would be a welcome overdue addition to the iPhone. However, while the feature first popped up in one of the early iOS 18.2 beta codes, its not live yet. Theres a chance it will be switched on when iOS 18.2 is available for all on Monday. If not expect it in iOS 18.3 sometime in February.
NYT Crossword: answers for Sunday, December 8
The New York Times crossword puzzle can be tough! If you're stuck, we're here to help with a list of today's clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Sunday, December 8
The NYT Mini crossword might be a lot smaller than a normal crossword, but it isn't easy. If you're stuck with today's crossword, we've got answers for you here.
NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Sunday, December 8
Strands is a tricky take on the classic word search from NYT Games. If you're stuck and cannot solve today's puzzle, we've got help for you here.
NYT Connections: hints and answers for Sunday, December 8
Connectionsis the new puzzle game from the New York Times, and it can be quite difficult. If you need a hand with solving today's puzzle, we're here to help.
How to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas for free on Apple TV+
Macworld Christmas season is here, and there are lots of ways to get into the spirit of the season. One way is to watch a Christmas special on TV, and one of the best is A Charlie Brown Christmas . For decades, it aired on broadcast TV, but thats no longer the caseits now an Apple TV+ exclusive. Now, the fact that this institution is on a streaming service may cause you to exclaim, Bah! Humbug! and send Apple a stocking full of coal, but stop, sip some egg nog, and relax yes, Im talking about you, Uncle Fred . Apple is making A Charlie Brown Christmas available to anyone to watch for free, for a limited time. If you are an Apple TV+ subscriber, however, you can watch it anytime. How to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas for free on Apple TV+ On December 14 and 15, anyone with an Apple ID can watch A Charlie Brown Christmas . Anyone who owns an Apple device has an Apple ID, but if you dont, Apple IDs are free and you dont need a credit card to sign up. Once you have signed up, you can watch in several ways: Through the TV app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. On smart TVs with the Apple TV app. On the web at tv.apple.com . On an Apple TV device. Apple has all the classic Peanuts specials for the holiday season that used to air over broadcast TV. There is one more holiday special left for the season, Happy New Year, Charlie Brown , but it doesnt seem likely that it will be made available for free. In case you missed them and your holiday season isnt complete without watching them, you can watch Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on Apple TV+but they arent free anymore. You need to have an Apple TV+ subscription. Years ago, Apple acquired the rights to the Peanuts cartoon series that stars Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and other memorable characters. Since then, Apple has aired new Peanuts shows such as The Snoopy Show and Snoopy in Space , and new movies, including Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 , Lucys School , and Its the Small Things, Charlie Brown . The Apple TV+ subscription television streaming service is $9.99/9.99 per month. Apple TV+ is also included in the Apple One subscription bundles , which include other Apple services, such as Apple Music, Apple News+, and up to 2TB of iCloudstorage. Apple One bundles are priced between $19.95/19.95 and $37.95/37.95 per month. There are ways to get Apple TV+ for free thoughsee: All the ways you can get Apple TV+ for free . For more information about Apple TV+, read our Apple TV+ FAQ . We also have a detailed list of current Apple TV+ shows and upcoming shows .
Hey Siri, find me the best VPN. Okay, right here
Macworld Apple users, you know the struggle: You want the best VPN that isnt, how do we say this nicely, ugly? And hard to use? We want something that feels like it came on our Macs and iPhones, not like it was designed in the 1800s, and we found Windscribe. The interface is up to our standards, and a 3-year subscription wont run your bank account dry with our holiday sale. Pay just $69.97 for three years of VPN protection instead of $207 through December 15. Use the mobile and desktop apps and browser extensions on unlimited devices. You can try Windscribe free to see how it works on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, but you wont get all the features without paying. Beyond the obvious privacy and security protections that come with AES encryption, Windscribes 69 worldwide server locations also allow you to unblock content on streaming services. A bonus? You can block ads if youre on a web browser. Is Windscribe the best VPN for Mac and iPhone ? Try it yourself with a 3-year subscription at $69.97 (reg. $207) until December 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed to get this price. Windscribe VPN Pro Plan: 3-Yr Subscription $69.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.
Google sues after Consumer Financial Protection Bureau orders supervision of its payment arm
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Friday said it has ordered federal supervision of Google Payment Corp. after determining that it meets the legal requirements for such oversight. The CFPB monitors banks, credit unions and other financial institutions, and recently finalized a rule to supervise digital payment apps. In the order , which focuses on the Google Pay app and its peer-to-peer (P2P) payment service ( discontinued in the US earlier this year ), the CFPB said it has reasonable cause to determine that Google has engaged in conduct that poses risks to consumers. Google filed a lawsuit shortly after the announcement to challenge the decision, Reuters reports. The risks identified by the CFPB are tied to Googles handling of erroneous transactions and fraud prevention. Based on customer complaints, the order said it appears that Google didnt adequately investigate erroneous transfers, or adequately explain the findings of its investigations into these issues. The complaints also indicate Google didnt do enough to prevent fraud, the order says. But, the CFPB announcement notes that the order does not constitute a finding that the entity has engaged in wrongdoing, nor does it require the CFPB to conduct a supervisory examination. In a statement to TechCrunch , a Google spokesperson said, This is a clear case of government overreach involving Google Pay peer-to-peer payments, which never raised risks and is no longer provided in the U.S., and we are challenging it in court. The CFPB's order acknowledges that Google Pay was discontinued but says this is not a basis to refrain from designating Google for supervision, though it could affect whether it decides to conduct an examination. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-sues-after-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-orders-supervision-of-its-payment-arm-000829576.html?src=rss
X helped senators update the Kids Online Safety Act so it can't be used to stifle expression
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn announced on Saturday that theyve made changes to the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) with help from X to strengthen the bill while safeguarding free speech online and ensuring it is not used to stifle expression. The Senate passed the bill in July with a vote of 91-3, but its since stalled in the House, and its proponents are pushing for it to be passed before the end of the year. Xs CEO Linda Yaccarino also posted about the collaboration, and called for Congress and the House to pass the bill. After working with the bill authors, Im proud to share that weve made progress to further protect freedom of speech while maintaining safety for minors online, Yaccarino wrote in a post on X that was shared by the two senators. KOSA is meant to protect minors from addictive social media features and potentially dangerous content by placing a duty of care on the companies that own the platforms. But critics have argued that it could lead to censorship and other harms. The new changes, according to The Verge , clarify the conditions under which duty of care can be enforced and narrow its application around anxiety and depressive disorders, stating they must be objectively verifiable and tied to compulsive usage. In their joint statement, Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Blackburn (R-Tennessee) said: These changes should eliminate once and for all the false narrative that this bill would be weaponized by unelected bureaucrats to censor Americans. We thank Elon and Linda for their bold leadership and commitment to protecting children online and for helping us get this bill across the finish line this Congress. We appreciate that this endorsement and revised text reflects their publicly stated goal of furthering free speech without fear of censorship. We reiterate Xs call to pass KOSA by the end of the year it is clear that this legislation has overwhelming support from Congress. KOSA was first introduced in February 2022 and has faced opposition from groups including the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Its been revised multiple times. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/x-helped-senators-update-the-kids-online-safety-act-so-it-cant-be-used-to-stifle-expression-221853260.html?src=rss
New releases in fiction, nonfiction and comics that caught our attention this week. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/what-to-read-this-weekend-family-dysfunction-at-the-end-of-the-world-and-the-woman-who-challenged-victorian-medicine-200144632.html?src=rss
Fortnite is getting a 5v5 first-person shooter mode
A new game mode called Ballistic is coming to Fortnite in early access on December 11, bringing a 5v5 tactical first-person shooter experience. In Ballistic mode, one team will be tasked with planting a Rift Point Device which will detonate 45 seconds after its placed and the other team will have to stop that from happening. There will be one map (Skyline 10) to start and a limited selection of weapons and items, but more will be added down the line in major updates to come, according to a Fortnite blog post. Ballistic is a no-build mode, the Fortnite team says. All saved presets from your Locker will carry over into Ballistic, which supports existing Fortnite Outfits, Back Blings, Kicks, Wraps, Sprays, and Emotes! Pickaxes, Contrails, Instruments, Vehicles, and Jam Tracks are not used/supported. If you get taken out during a round, you wont be able to respawn. But, youll come back in the next round. The teams roles will swap after six rounds, and the match will end once one team has won seven rounds. Youll be able to play Ranked or Unranked. Ballistic mode will be available everywhere you can play Fortnite , except in South Korea and Russia, but the team says its working to make Ballistic available in both regions. Since its early access, players feedback will be used to improve the experience as it expands. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/fortnite-is-getting-a-5v5-first-person-shooter-mode-162200195.html?src=rss
PowerWash Simulators latest seasonal update is here, and its festive
If you've left Muckville clean enough to satisfy even its picky residents, this new task of cleaning up the Ice Rink is perfect for you.
Path of Exile 2 bugs making you feel exiled? Fixes are on the way
Path of Exile 2 is now out in early access, but it was a bumpy start. The team at Grinding Gear Games have laid out their approach to fixing the bugs.
Engadget Wrapped: The music we listened to the most in 2024
Spotify's 2024 Wrapped results arrived this week, and while the whole package seems a bit thin compared to previous years, we're still getting a kick out of seeing our listening habits laid bare. Apple Music also dropped its annual Replay, and Tidal's 2024 Rewind has landed, so non-Spotify users have some data to pore over too. For those among us who don't use any of the big streaming apps, well, it's still a nice time to reflect on personal favorites from this year. Here are some of the Engadget team's most listened-to songs, artists and albums in 2024 (and how we feel about those picks). Spotify Wrapped I hate to add to the list because of all the controversy around Spotify recently, but I have to say that the layoffs at the company do seem to have impacted how accurate I found my Wrapped report to be. While I certainly have listened to a lot of Ariana Grande in 2024 (I even wrote about it for our site!), I felt that the sections on what I was listening to in August were inaccurate. According to Spotify I was vibing to Rose and Bruno Mars' APT in August, but didn't that song get released quite a bit later? Anyway, judge me or don't judge me based on my listening all I can say is the data feels incorrect and incomplete but also fun and inconsequential. Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor, Reviews I was pretty ill this year, and I spent hours in hospital and clinic waiting rooms listening to music on Spotify. Apparently, March was my Pink Pilates Princess Strut Pop phase, because I mostly listened to Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande and Charli xcx. My top artist for the year, however, was Fujii Kaze, whose music gave me a lot of comfort when I needed it the most. Mariella Moon, Contributing Reporter RIP New Jeans Aaron Souppouris, Executive Editor Apple Music Replay I've had GNX on repeat since it came out, and it was one of the things that got me through our incredibly busy Black Friday coverage season. Very excited to see which of these tracks gets played live at the Super Bowl. My guess is well get tv off (with at least one Mustard! shout) and squabble up, at the least. Brat summer became Brat autumn, and it will continue to be a Brat winter for me. Top tracks: Club classics, Sympathy is a knife, and 365. Grasa is my true album of the year and its a must-listen for any urbano latino fans. Its fantastic experienced as an album from start to finish, and any edit you make based on personal preference is sure to be excellent. My favorite tracks Legendario, Manhattan, Menina are still on repeat in my personal playlists and will be carried over into 2025. While Renaissance remains my preferred album in this Beyonce cycle so far, Cowboy Carter has no skips. Daughter, Spaghetti and Sweet Honey Buckin are my faves. The Death of Slim Shady makes sense as a concept album to me and I think it succeeds as such. But Tobey is what really prompted me to give the entire album a listen when it came out, and Im glad I did. Tobey remains a top track for me, along with Renaissance and Somebody Save Me. Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor, Buying Advice Despite the fact that music streaming services push you to playlists and radio channels, I remain an Album Guy. And as usual, my top album of the year didnt come out this year, though its a relatively recent release. Daughters Stereo Mind Game was near the top of my list last year, but this April it rocketed up my list and was an obsession for the rest of the summer. That is thanks in large part to a live studio session they released on YouTube that was the only chance I had to hear these songs performed in a somewhat live setting, as Daughter didnt tour Stereo Mind Game at all. And since Im an album guy, the first four songs on the album were my second-through-fifth most played songs of 2024. The absurdly catchy Blame Brett by Canadian pop-rockers The Beaches was number one, from their excellent Blame My Ex album that also came out last year. I got obsessed with that album in late 2023 and it definitely carried over to the first half of 2024. The same thing happened with Tools 2019 opus Fear Inoculum I saw the band in November of 2023 for the first time in 21 years, and got re-obsessed and continued playing it throughout the year. Finally, something new from a very old favorite: David Gilmour, best known as the guitarist and co-lead songwriter of the legendary Pink Floyd, released his first solo album in nine years. He followed that with a very short tour that hit only four cities, New York City included. I was lucky enough to go see him a few weeks ago at 78, this could easily be the last tour he ever does, but he still brings it. Hes my favorite guitar player of all time, and the last song Scattered on Luck and Strange is an all-time great as good as almost anything else hes done. Bringing up the rear is another new album from an old favorite, Pearl Jam. More than 30 years after their debut Ten, they still know how to make a damn good rock album. Both Pearl Jam and Gilmour went with producers much younger than they were, trying to find people who werent going to be beholden with the work they had done earlier in long and impressive careers. If you ask me, it worked out in both cases. There are tons of other albums from much younger or less established artists I played all year long, including Bathe Alones I Dont Do Humidity, Adrienne Lenkers Bright Future , Billie Eilishs Hit Me Hard and Soft , Medium Builds Country, Girl in Reds Im Doing It Again Baby! and Waxahatchees Tigers Blood. Theyre all worth a listen but apparently this was a year for comfort and familiarity when I put things on repeat. Nathan Ingraham, Deputy Editor, News Tidal Rewind This year for me was apparently all about fixating on a handful of new songs and playing them to absolute death. And, um, Ariana Grande. I dont have Spotify, but my Tidal year-end playlist has every single song from Eternal Sunshine at the top, and Im slightly ashamed to say I can't argue the validity of that I had that album on a loop for months after it came out. Shes really talented, okay?? After that my most listened-to songs were Cry For Me by Castle Rat, Bloom by Baroness (probably an all-time favorite song for me, really), How Far Will We Take It? by Orville Peck and Noah Cyrus, Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish, Weird World by Allie X and Red Wine Supernova by Chappell Roan. I... contain multitudes... Theres a suspicious overall lack of emo on my 2024 wrap-up though, so Im going to take these results with a huge grain of salt. I mean, my go-to playlist is titled rawr xD. Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend Editor Personal Pick I don't have Spotify, so any recollection of particularly sticky music for me will necessarily be imprecise and skewed by recency bias. With that said: hooooooly moly can we talk about that Cindy Lee album ?? My journey with Diamond Jubilee went something like this: -What is this? -No really, what is this?? -Why can't I listen to anything besides this??? Its two hours of runtime play out like a secret radio station beaming some alternate version of '60s girl groups into 2024 and I absolutely fell in love with it and that was before even realizing Pat Flegel was in Women (another extremely cool, but very different band). Honorable mentions go to Adrianne Lenker's absolutely crushing Bright Future , which got me through recovery from a major surgery and the nervy bops on Robber Robber's Wild Guess . As to my actual most-listened songs? It's probably the stuff on my running playlist (Sheer Mag, Every Time I Die, Red Fang, 100 Gecs, IDLES, Femtanyl, Pissed Jeans etc.) Avery Ellis, Deputy Editor, Reports This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/engadget-wrapped-the-music-we-listened-to-the-most-in-2024-143150906.html?src=rss
Fortnite is finally getting a first-person mode next week
Ballistic is the long-awaited first-person shooter mode for Fortnite, and it's out next week.
Heads up! You can score the first price drop on PlayStation 5 Pro consoles right now
The very first deal on PlayStation 5 Pro has arrived folks and we certainly didnt expect to see a chance to save $50 or more on the brand new pro-grade machine this soon. While this isnt a straight up cash deal, you really dont have to run through very many hoops to score it at all. Combining the Target gift card promotion we spotted previously in its latest 44-page holiday ad , you can land $50 off a $500 gift card and then use that gift card to score what is effectively the best price ever on PS5 Pro. Head below for a closer look at how to make this happen. more
Welcome to 9to5toys Battlestation Weekly your go-to spot for the notable deals and latest releases in PC gaming at a glance every Saturday morning. We may have left Black Friday and Cyber Monday on our revierview mirror, but its safe to say that the holiday shopping spirit is strong and many of the amazing deals are still live for another look. This week, were highlighting many of the Cyber Week deals that are live and kicking, along with some fresh lows we tracked earlier this week on keyboards, SSDs, and more. Well also take a quick look at Intels Battlemage B-series GPUs along with a neat little elago accessory that you must snag for your desk. Hit the jump for a closer look. more
As you likely already know by now, Best Buys 25 Days of Deals sale is in full swing featuring notable price drops on everything from smart TVs and action cams to air fryers, snow blowers, smart cameras, earbuds, and more. The Day 7 deals are now up for grabs with a fresh batch of discounts on everything from smart plugs and ultra-affordable indoor smart cameras, scooters for the kids, and a Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR bundle with a FREE $75 Best Buy gift card thrown. Head below for a closer look. more
NYT Crossword: answers for Saturday, December 7
The New York Times crossword puzzle can be tough! If you're stuck, we're here to help with a list of today's clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Saturday, December 7
The NYT Mini crossword might be a lot smaller than a normal crossword, but it isn't easy. If you're stuck with today's crossword, we've got answers for you here.
NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Saturday, December 7
Strands is a tricky take on the classic word search from NYT Games. If you're stuck and cannot solve today's puzzle, we've got help for you here.
Welcome to 9to5Toys Electrified Weekly the best place to find all of this weeks best deals and new releases to electrify your life and protect Mother Nature. Theres no lag time between November and December savings events, as were already seeing extended Cyber Monday sales through the weekend alongside fresh early December sales, meaning the savings train is still cruising down the tracks. Leading the EV charge this week is Rad Powers early Christmas deals through to next week, which is giving us a surprise by returning the formerly-discontinued RadCity 5 Plus Commuter e-bike to market at $1,499 shipped . From there, we have extended savings and new price cuts from Lectric, Blix, Hiboy, Heybike, and even Greenworks. Outside the EVs, theres solid new and hangover deals alike on backup power solutions, with EcoFlows newly launched early Christmas sale taking up to 55% off its massive list of offers, with continued and returning low prices that even beat out its recent Black Friday pricing, like on the DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station going lower to its $649 low. Weve also got new sales/deals from Jackery and Goal Zero while there are extended savings on Anker SOLIX and Bluetti units. Weve also got robot mowers and snow blowers from Worx, portable electric fridges/freezers, and more. more
Asus Vivobook S 14 OLED Review: A Simple and Effective Laptop
Its not flashy, but this Asus laptop has all the power you probably need plus a crisp OLED display.
Astro Bot wasnt 2024s only great platformer. Try these 5 underrated gems
With all eyes understandably on Astro Bot late in the year, platformer fans may have overlooked some of 2024's best offerings. Here are 5 you may have missed.
9to5Toys Steals Weekly 50% off 20K MagSafe power bank, $19 shoe organizer, $7 desk pads, more
Welcome to 9to5Toys Steals Weekly your go-to spot for already-affordable everyday essentials that are now selling for even less. This weekly roundup pulls together all of the Steals from the past week, and puts them in a digestable list for you to consume every Saturday morning. This weeks Steals range from an 8- to 16-pair shoe organizer to an electric standing desk, a 20K MagSafe power bank, and so much more. Theres plenty to sift through, so head below to see all of the Steal-worthy markdowns. more
The best Apple deals: Huge savings on Macs, iPads, AirPods, and more!
Macworld Whether youre looking to gift an Apple product or just pick one up for yourself, weve scoured the web for the best prices on everything from Macs to MacBooks, iPads to iPhones, Apple Watches to Apple TVs, and more. And with Black Friday Apple rarely discounts its own productseven during its annual Black Friday shopping event , which will run from Friday, November 28, to Monday, December 1, 2025, it traditionally elects to give out gift cards rather than actual price reductions. It also offers year-round discounts to students , including a Back To School event where students can get up to $150 in gift cards when purchasing certain Apple products. Theres also the Apple Refurbished Store where you can sometimes grab a bargain. But if you want a new Apple device right now, other stores often offer up Apple discounts worth grabbing. In this article, youll find real-time pricing at all major retailers for Apples current lineup, and weve also highlighted some of the top discounts each week. Plus, for even more deals, weve linked to our dedicated deals round-ups for each product category. Use the table of contents to jump to the best deals right now for the Apple product you wantincluding the new iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, iPad mini, and all the M4 Macs, which were announced this fall. Best AirPods deals Foundry New AirPods were announced by Apple in September 2024. We arent seeing any deals on the new AirPods 4 yet, but they will be listed here as soon as we see any discounts. There are new colors for the AirPods Max to look out for too. Following the launch of new AirPods, the AirPods 2nd-gen and AirPods 3rd-gen were discontinued, however, we expect to continue to see deals on those products until stock runs out. U.S. Amazon, AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C case) : $170 ($79 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, AirPods 4: $119 ($10 off, MSRP $129) Amazon, AirPods 4 with ANC : $139 ($14 off, MSRP $179) Amazon, AirPods Max (USB-C) : $529 ($20 off, MSRP $549) Amazon, AirPods Max (Lightning) : $469 ($80 off; MSRP $549 Clearance ) U.K. Argos, AirPods (3rd gen, Magsafe) : 139 (40 off, RRP was 179 Clearance ) Amazon, AirPods (3rd gen, Lightning) : 129 (40 off, RRP was 169 Clearance ) Argos, AirPods 2nd gen : 109 (10 off, RRP was 129 Clearance ) Argos, AirPod Max, Lightning, 2020 : 429 (70 off, RRP was 499 Clearance ) See our dedicated round-up of the best AirPods deals Best iPhone and accessory deals Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry In the U.S. specific iPhone deals are hard to come by apart from carrier offers for new signups and trade-ins. We recommend checking Verizon , AT&T , and T-Mobiles sites if youre looking to change carriers or add a new line. Apple also offers trade-ins and carrier deals through its website. We also recommend that you look at our round-up of iPhone 14 deals as well as iPhone 15 deals for U.S. readers , and with the arrival of the iPhone 16 we will be tracking Where to get the best iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max deals in the U.S. In the U.K., we frequently see Apple-certified resellers discount unlocked iPhones. Look for money off at Amazon , Currys , and Very . We are recording all the best prices of iPhone 15 in the U.K. separately and we are tracking the best deals for the iPhone 16, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max separately. It is possible to find discounts on most iPhones in the UK, including older/discontinued handsets, including the following deals, but remember Apple has reduced pricing in the U.K. for the new range of handsets, so the discounts may not be as good as they look. Amazon, iPhone 15, 128GB, 681 (18 off, RRP now 699) Amazon, iPhone 15 Plus, 128GB, 793.61 (5 off, RRP now 799) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro, 128GB , 899 (RRP was 999 Clearance ) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro, 256GB , 999 (RRP was 1,099 Clearance ) Amazon, iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB , 1,099 (RRP was 1,199 Clearance ) Amazon, iPhone 14: 549 (50 off, RRP now 599) Amazon, iPhone SE (64GB) : 379 (50 off, RRP 429) Amazon, iPhone SE (128GB) : 429 (50 off, RRP 479) Amazon, iPhone 13 (128GB) : 449 (RRP was 499 Clearance ) Argos, iPhone 13 mini (128GB) : 499 (150 off, RRP was 649 Clearance ) Also see our dedicated round-up of the best iPhone deals and: iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (US) and iPhone 15 & iPhone 15 Pro deals (UK) iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Pro deals iPhone 13 deals Best iPhone SE deals Best iPad deals Dominik Tomaszewski/IDG You can save a decent amount on most iPads, from time to time we do see really good discounts, especially on the larger capacity models. U.S. Amazon, 10th-gen iPad (256GB) : $430 ($60 off, MSRP $499) B&H Photo, iPad mini (A17 Pro, 128GB) : $459 ($40 off, MSRP $499) Amazon, 11-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB): $549 ($50 off, MSRP $599) Amazon, 13-inch M2 iPad Air (128GB) : $739 ($60 off, MSRP $799) Best Buy, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, 8GB RAM) : $899 ($100 off, MSRP $999) Amazon, 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, 8GB RAM) : $1,194 ($105 off, MSRP $1,299) U.K. Amazon, 10th-gen iPad (64GB) : 308.97 (20 off, RRP 329) Amazon, 10th gen iPad (256GB) : 449 (30 off, RRP 479) John Lewis, 9th gen iPad (64GB) : 279 (RRP was 369) Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB) : 559.97 (39 off, RRP 599) Amazon, 11-inch iPad Air (M2, 512GB) : 843.97 (55 off, RRP 899) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2, 128GB) : 749 (50 off, RRP 799) Amazon, 13-inch iPad Air (M2 512GB) : 1,031.97 (67 off, RRP 799) KRCS: iPad mini A17 Pro, 128GB : 489 (10 off, RRP is 499) KRCS: iPad mini A17 Pro, 256GB: 587 (12 off, RRP is 599) KRCS: iPad mini A17 Pro, 512GB : 783 (16off, RRP is 799) Amazon, 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi) : 1,149 (50 off, RRP 1,199) John Lewis: 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi) : 1,249 (50 off, RRP 1,299) See our dedicated round-ups of the best iPad deals below Best iPad 10.9-inch deals Best iPad Air deals Best deals iPad Pro deals Best iPad mini deals Best Apple Watch deals Jason Cross/IDG The Apple Watch Series 10 arrived in September 2024. Its going to be a while until we start to see discounts, but when we do youll find them here. The arrival of the Series 10 marks the end of the Apple Watch Series 9, which Apple discontinued. The Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra 2 havent been updated and remain on sale. U.S. Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) : $330 ($69 off with coupon, MSRP $399) Amazon, Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm) : $379 ($69 off with coupon, MSRP $429) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (40mm) : $189 ($60 off, MSRP $249) Amazon, Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm) : $219 ($60 off, MSRP $279) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 : $700 ($99 off, MSRP $799) U.K. Argos, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm) : 299 (RRP was 399 Clearance ) Argos, Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm) : 329 (RRP was 429 Clearance ) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + Cellular) : 769 (30 off, RRP 799) Argos, Apple Watch SE (2022) : 209, 10 off, RRP 219) See our dedicated round-up of the best Apple Watch deals Best MacBook deals IDG Apple released new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4/M4 Pro/M4 Max processors in October 2024. Prices stayed the same, but the new base model now starts with 16GB of RAM. The MacBook Air, while still running on the M3 chip had a Unified Memory update in October 2024 and now ships with 16GB RAM as standard. Beware that some deals on the older models may be as good now that you can get double the memory for the same price and if you are outside the U.S. note that the prices of the new models are now lower than the old models were at launch. U.S. Best Buy, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/16GB RAM, $1,399 ($300 off, MSRP $1,699) Amazon, M4 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/24GB RAM , $2,250 ($249 off with coupon, MSRP $2,499) Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB) $949 ($50 off, MSRP $999) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB) $1,099 ($200 off, MSRP $1,299) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air M3 (8-core GPU, 24GB RAM 1TB) : $1,500 ($199 off with coupon, MSRP $1699) Best Buy, M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/8GB RAM : $1,299 ($300 off, Was $1,599 Clearance ) B&H, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $1,699 ($300 off, Was $1,999 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/18GB RAM : $2,099 ($300 off, Was $2,399 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Max 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB, 36GB RAM : $2,899 ($400 off, Was $3,399 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $1,999 ($500 off, Was $2,499 Clearance ) Best Buy, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/36GB RAM : $2,399 ($500 off, Was $2,899 Clearance ) U.K. KRCS, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/16GB RAM, 1,519.05 (78 off, RRP 1,599) KRCS, M4 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/16GB RAM, 1,709.05 (90 off, RRP 1,799) KRCS, M4 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/48GB RAM, 2,754.05 (144 off, RRP 2,899) AO, 13-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB) 1,199 (100 off, RRP 1,299, was 1,499) Amazon, 15-inch MacBook Air, M3 (10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB) 1,366 (100 off, RRP 1,499, was 1,699) Amazon, 13-inch MacBook Air, M2 (10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB) 949 (150 off, Was 1,099) John Lewis, M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, 1TB/8GB RAM : 1,695 (204 off, Was 1,899 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : 1,749 (350 off, Was 2,099 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro, 512GB/18GB RAM : $2,199 (400 off, Was 2,599 Clearance ) See our dedicated round-ups of the best MacBook Pro deals and the best MacBook Air deals . Best Mac desktop deals iMac IDG Apple released the M4 iMac and M4/M4 Pro Mac mini in October 2024. All models now start at 16GB RAM and the Mac mini has a completely new design with a smaller case and front-facing ports. Also note that if you are outside the U.S. prices on the new M4 Mac mini and M4 iMac are lower than they were, so the discounts may not be as good as they look when compared to the new models. U.S. Amazon, Mac mini, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB : $579 ($20 off, MSRP $799) Amazon, Mac mini, M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB : $744 ($55 off, MSRP $799) Amazon, iMac, M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB : $1,199 ($100 off, MSRP $1,299) Amazon, M2 Mac mini, 8GB RAM, 256GB : $499 ($100 off, MSRP $799 Clearance ) Amazon, M3 iMac, 10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB : $1,304 ($195 off, MSRP was $1,499 Clearance ) U.K. KRCS has already discounted the new iMac and Mac mini: KRCS: M4 Mac mini, 256GB/16GB RAM , 569.05, 29 off RRP 599 KRCS: M4 iMac, 256GB/16GB RAM , 1,234.05 (64 off RRP 1,299) Amazon: M2 Pro Mac mini, 512GB/16GB RAM : 1,199 (200 off, RRP was 1,399 Clearance ) Amazon: M2 Mac mini, 256GB/8GB RAM : 469 (180 off, RRP was 649 Clearance ) Amazon: M2 Mac mini, 512GB/8GB RAM : 637 (212 off, RRP was 849 Clearance ) Amazon, 24-inch M3 iMac, 8-core GPU, 256GB/8GB RAM : 1,009 (309 off, RRP was 1,399 Clearance ) Amazon, 24-inch M3 iMac,10-core GPU, 256GB/8GB RAM : 1,299 (300 off, RRP was 1,599 Clearance ) John Lewis, 24-inch M3 iMac,10-core GPU, 512GB/8GB RAM : 1,493 (306 off, RRP was 1,799 Clearance ) AO, Mac Studio M2 Max : 1,903 (196 off, MSRP 2,099) For more Mac deals check out our round-up of the best Mac Studio deals and the best Mac mini deals , plus our dedicated round-up of the best iMac deals .
How to get Lattice in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game like any other, meaning it has multiple types of currencies. Lattice is the most valuable, but you can't get it easily.
How to get and redeem the Model 42 Iron Man costume in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals is giving away a free Iron Man costume for anyone who redeems it, but it takes a bit of legwork. Here's how to get your hands on this new suit.
Google Wallet can now hold your US passport
Now youve got one less thing you have to fish for in your pocket or purse at the airport. Starting today, Google Wallet can carry a digital copy of your US passport and use them at Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) checkpoints. If you want to add your passport to Googles virtual wallet, first youll need to download the Google Wallet app and log into your account or create one. Check the prompt create an ID pass with your US passport and follow the instructions. The app will ask you to take a video selfie to verify your identity and scan the security chip in your passport. It should only take a few minutes for Google to confirm your identity. Your digital passport wont work at every airport. Currently, there are 27 states (and Puerto Rico) with at least one airport that accepts digital forms of identification. The TSA website can show you which states and airports accept digital IDs. Google has been testing the use and storage of digital passports in Google Wallet for some time. Several states have started accepting digital IDs just in the last few months. New Mexico is the newest state to accept digital IDs including drivers licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-wallet-can-now-hold-your-us-passport-215133683.html?src=rss
The worlds first magnetic charging stand for M4 iPad Pro is now marked down to $90 via Amazon
There are loads of magnetic iPad stands out there, but the options get extremely slim when it comes to stands that can carry your new M4 iPad Pro magnetically and charge it up at the same time. We have previously featured the KUXIU X33 Pro MAX magnetic iPad Pro charging stand and loved our hands-on time with it, but now you can score the regularly $120 solution down at $89.99 shipped courtesy of the brands Amazon storefront after clipping the on-page coupon . more
Apples first 5G modem will kick off a 3-year plan to leave Qualcomm behind
Macworld It has been over five years since Apple purchased Intels modem division and patents, and in all that time it hasnt managed to ship a product. Now, according to a new report from Bloomberg , the company is finally ready to bring its first 5G modem to market. Dont expect Apple to topple the modem giant Qualcomm, thoughat least not for a while. Apple plans to roll out increasingly more capable modems over the next three years. Apple has suffered a lot of setbacks in getting its modem to market, but supposedly has hundreds of test phones now across the world, working with carriers to do QA testing, which means it is likely to finally come to market this spring in the iPhone SE. The first modem is code-named Sinope, and supports only sub-6 GHz network frequencies, not the faster mmWave networks. Its behind Qualcomms best in other ways, too: it supports only four-carrier aggregation (Qualcomms modems support 6 or more) and tops out at 4 gigabits per second (Gbps) in lab tests, well behind the best Qualcomm modems in todays iPhones. Of course, real-world performance is far lower, anyway. Along with the iPhone SE this spring, that model is also slated for the new iPhone 17 Air (as some are calling the new mid-range ultra-thin iPhone due for release in the fall of 2025). It will have some advantages over using Qualcomms modemstighter integration with Apples processors should reduce power use, and it is said to scan for cellular signals more efficiently and better support connections to satellite networks. In 2026 with the iPhone 18 (and some high-end iPads through 2027), we should see the next modem, code-named Ganymede. It is said to catch up to the current Qualcomm modems with mmWave support and better carrier aggregation, and maximum speeds of 6Gbps. Of course, Qualcomm will have better modems on the market by then, so Apple will still be behind in some ways. The third modem, due for high-end iPhones and iPads starting in 2027, is code-named Prometheus. The report claims that Apple believes it can beat Qualcomm with a combination of better component performance, AI features, and next-gen satellite connectivity.
The next iPhone SEs new modem reportedly wont be as capable as Qualcomms
It seems increasingly likely that Apples fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature the first 5G modem the company has built in-house. A new report from Bloomberg both confirms earlier reporting from 9to5Mac and clarifies that Apples first modem wont be quite as capable as the chips the company is trying to leave behind. The new modem, reportedly called Sinope wont support mmWave , the short-range 5G technology Verizon offers that can theoretically reach speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. It also will only offer four-carrier aggregation as opposed to Qualcomms six, a technology that combines bands from several wireless providers simultaneously to increase network capacity and speeds, Bloomberg says. Apples modem will instead be focused on providing Sub-6 5G, the more common standard thats already supported on the current iPhone SE , which was released in 2022. In testing, Apples new modem reportedly caps out at download speeds of about 4 gigabits per second, slower than Qualcomms current mmWave models, but the difference is easier to justify on a cheaper device and might not be that noticeable anyway. The goal is ultimately to achieve even tighter integration between the modem and other components of the phone to offer more important benefits than just download speed, like improved battery life. Bloomberg writes that launching on the iPhone SE first is how Apple plans on managing the risks of its new hardware gamble. Debuting on the iPhone 17 Pro would be a mark of confidence, but most people expect a phone that costs upwards of $1000 to work without issues. Until Apple can guarantee that, the SE makes sense as a modem guinea pig. That wont be the case for long, however. Ganymede, Apples second-generation modem, should be ready for the iPhone 18 in 2026 and match Qualcomms current offerings with mmWave support and faster download speeds. In 2027, the companys Prometheus modem is aiming to surpass Qualcomm entirely in performance and artificial intelligence features. A report published later today suggests these new modem designs could also have a pretty big influence on more than just the iPhone. Bloomberg attributes the thinness of the rumored iPhone 17 Slim to the space-saving efficiency of Apples new modem, and also suggests that future Macs and Vision headsets could get cellular connectivity in the future, too. This would mark the first time a Mac had onboard cellular, though the iPad has had the option since day one. Theres still years before any of that happens, and the road to even get here has been long and winding. For one, Apples relationship with Qualcomm has been up and down. The companies were in a legal spat over patent violations that ultimately led to a settlement and a licensing deal in 2019. That same year is when Apples intention to move on from Qualcomm became more public with the purchase of Intels modem business . Apple has attempted to build a team that could create its first modem since then, and even re-upped its agreement to use Qualcomm modems through 2026 in 2023. It now seems like the company could be a position for that to be the last deal with Qualcomm it makes. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-next-iphone-ses-new-modem-reportedly-wont-be-as-capable-as-qualcomms-205330204.html?src=rss
Can you get free V-Bucks in Fortnite?
V-Bucks are the key to flair in Fortnite. You can always purchase V-Buck bundles through the store, but here's how you can earn them for free.
Get trapped on a pirate ship or in Draculas castle in Escape Simulator 2
The first Escape Simulator solved the biggest problem with VR puzzle games. Once youve solved everything, the games over. Unless you can erase specific memories a la Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind style, theres zero replayability. Pine Studios Escape Simulator added a custom builder mode where the community could build and share their own escape rooms with other players. Since the Internet has some of the most imaginative and insane minds on the planet creating custom games for the world, Escape Simulator is one of the few virtual puzzle games that you can keep playing. Now, Escape Simulator 2 is heading our way on Steam, and its got some new and potentially cool worlds to get stuck in by yourself or with friends. Escape Simulator 2 has some impressive-looking environments that can hold up to eight players at once. So far, the game will have 12 brand new escape rooms. A new trailer that dropped today shows three of the new escape room environments including a stranded spaceship, Count Draculas castle and a cursed pirate ship. The room editor mode also has a bunch of new toys, props and tools to create puzzles for the games growing community of escape addicts. Pine Studio also announced that Escape Simulator 2s custom room maker has a brand new lighting engine, building constructor and animation editor, according to a press release. Theres no release date or price yet, but theres a Steam page for the game up right now. Pine Studio This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/get-trapped-on-a-pirate-ship-or-in-draculas-castle-in-escape-simulator-2-202157156.html?src=rss
Android app price drops and freebies: Mortal Crusade, Skel and Defense, Dungeon Maker, more
Your Thursday afternoon collection of the best Android game and app deals is now ready to go courtesy of Google Play. On your way down, scope out the deals we are tracking today on Samsung Galaxy S10+/Ultra configs at up to $230 off , this all-time low on Microsofts Surface Laptop 7 with the 10-core Snapdragon X at $400 off , the return of Black Friday pricing on the Ring smart video Doorbell Pro , and the latest Best Buy 25 Days of Deals . As for the apps, highlights include titles like Mortal Crusade, Skel and Defense, Dungeon Maker, The Quest, Front Armies, and more. Head below for a closer look. more
If you're really bored, Xs Grok AI chatbot is now free to use
Is your weekend a bit bare-bones? Heres something that could entertain you for a minute or two. The chatbot Grok-2 is now free for everyone to fool around with on X. We knew this was coming and, well, now its here. Grok it up baby. There are some limitations for those who dont want to plunk down $8 (or more) each month for X Premium. The free tier only allows for ten messages in each two-hour period. Theres also a hard cap on image analysis , at three requests per day. This Grok-2 beta will now be the only game in X town, as its replacing the pre-existing Grok-2 mini chatbot. Breaking: Grok free tier is now available worldwide . It is very limited: Can analyze 3 images a day Can do 10 messages per 2 hours including images X has also removed Grok 2 mini. You can now only make queries to grok 2. pic.twitter.com/pHWsaLgewk (@blankspeaker) December 6, 2024 Look. Grok isnt the most advanced chatbot on the planet. All LLMs make mistakes , but Grok is particularly prone to them . It says right on the chat page that users should verify its outputs. To that end, it caused a stir earlier this year when the wee bot was caught handing out false election information . The image-generation component has also come under fire in recent months after it was used to create stuff like Barack Obama doing cocaine and Donald Trump pointing some guns . It has also been used to violate copyright, as it created stuff like an image of Mickey Mouse saluting Adolph Hitler . Xs new AI image generator will make anything from Taylor Swift in lingerie to Kamala Harris with a gun https://t.co/dTscQuGTaG The Verge (@verge) August 14, 2024 Its no secret that X has been hemorrhaging users as they depart for the greener pastures of Threads, Bluesky or, in rare cases, real life. Maybe Elon Musk and cohorts removed the Grok paywall to lure back dissatisfied users. However, its also likely that X made this move to better compete in a crowded marketplace. There are a bunch of free chatbots out there, including OpenAIs ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini and Anthropics Claude. It has been reported by the Wall Street Journal that xAI, which recently raised $6 billion in a funding round , is considering a standalone Grok app. This is another thing that most big AI companies already offer. X So if youre bored as paste, head on over to your (likely dormant) X account and give Grok a whirl. I did and it whipped up some images of cats eating spaghetti before I maxed out the query cap. Look at all of the spaghetti on that table. Bad kitties! This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/if-youre-really-bored-xs-grok-ai-chatbot-is-now-free-to-use-194715700.html?src=rss
All Marvel Rivals Team-Ups and how they work
Marvel Rivals brings all your favorite superheroes and villains together, but you can take things a step further with Team-Up Abilities. Here's how it works.
Crocs Cyber Week Sale takes up to 60% off hundreds of styles with deals from $3
Crocs Cyber Week Sale offers up to 60% off hundreds of styles for the entire family with doorbusters starting at just $3 . Prices are as marked. Customers receive free delivery on orders of $50 or more. A standout from this sale is this pair of Classic Clogs that are marked down to $30 , which is $20 off the original rate. These clogs are available in fourty color options and they make the perfect gift idea for any age. The design is completely buoyant making it a nice warm weather shoe and the slip-on design is convenient when heading out the door. With over 29,000 positive reviews, these clogs are rated 4.7/5 stars from Crocs customers. Find even more deals by heading below, or you can shop the entire sale here . more
Is Marvel Rivals cross-platform?
Marvel Rivals is the latest hero shooter title, bringing the greatest heroes and villains together. But does it bring us together with cross-platform support?
Twelve South debuts new Apple Store-exclusive travel version of its Find My wall charger
Back in early September Twelve South introduced what can only be described as one of the more impressive and exciting wall chargers with its new PlugBug . Wall chargers are inherently about as useful and necessary as they are the exact opposite of exciting. But with built-in Apple Find My actionnow we are talking. I have since had a chance to love every second of this thing after going hands-on and subsequently finding a permanent place for it in my Travel Kit, but theres a new, slightly more capable version on the block now. And by on the block, I mean exclusively at Apple Stores . more
Enjoy BBQ precision with NutriChefs smart multi-probe magnetic Wi-Fi thermometer at $67 (Reg. $80)
Amazon is offering the NutriChef Smart Wi-Fi BBQ Thermometer for $67.16 shipped. Normally sitting at a $80 full price tag, this newer model has seen few discounts since first hitting the market earlier in the year, the biggest of them taking costs down to the $61 low during Labor Day sales in September. Today, you can add it to your kitchen and grill arsenal with a solid $13 shaved off its going rate, dropping costs to the second-lowest price we have tracked just $6 above the all-time low. more
It only took 20 minutes for Fortnite OG to pass 1 million players
Fortnite OG released this morning as a permanent fixture to the game's lineup, and it broke 1 million players in 20 minutes.
Theres a new TMNT game in town, and its unlike anything the franchise has attempted before. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown , as the name suggests, is a turn-based strategy RPG. This means that players will control characters on a grid-based map, with each turn representing movement or an action of some sort. Theres one thing that sets this game apart from its SRPG cousins. Battles take minutes to complete, which is a far cry from the time-consuming affairs found in games like Unicorn Overlord . From the trailer, the fights look even zippier than the Mario + Rabbids series. Also, players control each turtle independently on a solo campaign before teaming up to take on a boss. The graphics look cartoony and on-brand, bringing to mind a tabletop session with D&D miniatures. It looks like all of the turtles favorite hang out spots are represented here, from the sewers to the NYC subway system. This could be a neat way to bring new players into the genre. Paramount Game Studios This is a unique entry in the TMNT franchise, but its also a new type of game for developer Scaffold Games. This is the company that brought us the absolutely disturbing Clickholding and the third-person shooter El Paso, Elsewhere . The company also made I Am Your Beast and Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator . None of these titles are turn-based tactical RPGs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown will be released for PCs sometime next year. You can preorder the game right now via Steam . Publisher Paramount Game Studios hasnt said anything about a potential console release, so perhaps hold off on organizing that pizza party. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-tactical-takedown-is-the-first-turn-based-game-in-the-franchises-long-history-175730833.html?src=rss
All Whimstar locations in Infinity Nikki
With over 300 Whimstars to collect in Infinity Nikki, it's tough to find each one. We'll show you where to find all Whimstars and explain their puzzles
Marvel Rivals is similar to other hero shooters on the surface, but there is a lot of depth and unique mechanics to learn. Here are the best tips and tricks.
Lifetime access to Matts Flights Premium Plan, is available for just $79.97 (Reg. $1,800) through December 15. After the whirlwind of holiday celebrations, the dreary routine of winter can feel stifling. Whether craving sunshine or finally checking off a destination from your bucket list, start 2025 with a break. Thanks to Matts Flights, you can access unbeatable flights anywhere for up to 90% off. more
Amazon is offering homeowners an affordable means to clear snow from your walkways this winter with Worxs 40V 20-inch Cordless PowerShare Snow Blower for $299.99 shipped. Carrying a $400 price tag recently since falling from its $440 MSRP over the summer, we last saw this same price pop up just after New Years Day for a short period before spending the rest of 2024 keeping above $319. While we have seen in go lower in past years, youre still looking at a solid $100 slashed off its tag here at the lowest price we have tracked this year plus, it delivers snow-clearing support at a more budget-friendly price than many heavier-duty competitors. more
Crypto evangelist David Sacks will serve as Trump's AI and cryptocurrency advisor
Donald Trump has picked a crypto bull to advise him on AI and cryptocurrency policy. On Thursday evening, the president-elect took to Truth Social to share that he was appointing former PayPal COO David Sacks to serve as his White House A.I. & Crypto Czar. Trump said Sacks would also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. David will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness. David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas, Trump wrote, adding Sacks would safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship. As an appointee to one of the presidents advisory councils, Sacks does not need to go through the usual Senate confirmation process required for cabinet picks and federal agency leads. Sacks does not have previous government experience. Trump instead highlighted his business credentials, pointing to his tenure at PayPal and later Yammer, which Sacks founded in 2008 and Microsoft acquired in 2012 for $1.2 billion. Sacks is also a close confidant of Elon Musk and provided part of the funding Musk used to buy Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 . Sacks has broadly advocated for smaller government and less regulation, though he also pushed hard for the Biden administration to intervene when Silicon Valley Bank became insolvent in 2023. congrats to czar @DavidSacks ! Sam Altman (@sama) December 6, 2024 Where is Powell? Where is Yellen? Sacks tweeted before regulators moved to fully protect deposits at SVB . Stop this crisis NOW. Announce that all depositors will be safe. Place SVB with a Top 4 bank. Do this before Monday open or there will be contagion and the crisis will spread. Alongside Paul Atkins , who Trump picked to lead the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Sacks is likely to reshape US policy on cryptocurrency and AI. Under the Biden administration, the federal government sought to regulate the crypto industry. Sacks, however, is a vocal proponent of the industry. He is also a major investor in Solana and other crypto-related ventures such as Multicoin Capital. As for Trump, appointing Sacks to his advisory council shows just how much his stance on crypto has changed. As recently as 2021 , he said he thought Bitcoin seemed like a scam, and advocated for very, very high government regulation of the currency. That was before the crypto industry funneled $131 million during the 2024 election to get 274 pro-crypto candidates elected to the House of Representatives and 20 candidates to the Senate. During his campaign, Trump promised to make the United States the crypto capital of the planet. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/crypto-evangelist-david-sacks-will-serve-as-trumps-ai-and-cryptocurrency-advisor-170522273.html?src=rss
Google prolongs the lifespan of the Pixel Fold, 6 and 7 with extended OS updates
Google has delivered a surprise holiday gift to folks with a Pixel 6, Pixel 7 or Pixel Fold . The company says it will give those devices two extra years of OS upgrades. The handsets were originally slated to get three years of OS updates and five years of security patches, but now it's five for each , starting from when the devices first hit the Google Store in the US. As the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro debuted in October 2021, Android 15 was slated to be the last big OS update for those smartphones. However, they'll now get an extra two years of fresh features, giving them an extended lease on life. The move might work against Google's business interests to a degree, as it could dissuade those who are clinging onto a Pixel 6, 6a, 6 Pro, 7, 7a, 7 Pro or Fold from upgrading anytime soon. And ICYMI, #PixelFold along with #Pixel6 and #Pixel7 generation users will now get two additional years of OS updates! This extended support will total five years starting from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US: https://t.co/Y50A92TiqC Made by Google (@madebygoogle) December 5, 2024 Google has shifted away from having one big annual feature dump with the release of a major new Android version each fall. Instead, the company is now peppering the rollout of new features throughout the year with Pixel drops . To that end, Google suggested on a support page that the Pixel 6, 7 and Fold's extra OS updates may also include new and upgraded features with Pixel Drops. Starting with last year's Pixel 8 lineup, Google promises seven years of OS and security updates for its devices in large part to comply with the software requirements of a California right-to-repair law that came into force in this year . Pixel 6, 7 and Fold users aren't getting quite that lengthy period of support, but this is still a positive step for sustainability. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-prolongs-the-lifespan-of-the-pixel-fold-6-and-7-with-extended-os-updates-164712505.html?src=rss
GoPros HERO12 Black action camera just dropped to a new all-time low at $249 (Reg. up to $349)
We are now tracking a deal at Amazon that drops GoPros HERO12 Black action camera down to $249 shipped. This is regularly a $299 action camera that has fetched as much as $349 in recent months, and its now seeing a solid 38% discount on its listed price. Todays offer on Amazon drops this action camera $50 below its previous all-time low, landing at the best price we have tracked for it to date. It shares a lot of similarities with the newer HERO13 Black action cam and you can learn more about it below. more
The official Govee Amazon storefront is bringing back Black Friday pricing on its latest Holly-Jolly Multi-Light Christmas Set at $199.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page $100 off coupon . Normally priced at $300 in full, we spotted the first discount last month in early Black Friday sales with $50 shaved off the rate, which grew to a $100 discount a week before the official seasonal sale. This low price is returning here today plus, youll get it within a short time to add to your holiday display well before Christmas arrives in a few weeks. Its even beating out Govees pricing directly from its site , where youd have to spend $10 more, at the moment. You can land an additional 5% in savings when bundling the set with any of these other smart ambient lighting options. more
Plenty of outlets are in reach with this 10-foot 12-in-1 USB-C surge protector at $14.50 (Reg. $25)
Addtam 10-foot 12-in-1 USB-C Surge Protector Buy for $14.50 (Reg. $25) Clip the on-page 20% off coupon. Prime-exclusive discount. What we love If you struggle to get power to one end of a room, this lengthy 10-foot power strip is here to save the day at an affordable price. Youll find 8 AC outlets that are widely spaced apart, two Type-C, and dual USB-A ports. The USB-C outputs top out at 15W while the Type-A ports can reach 12W. There also happens to be 1,080-joule surge protection onboard, as well. more
Riot is making a physical League of Legends TCG, and it's not LoR
Riot just announced a trading card game (TCG) based on League of Legend s . Its called Project K and looks like a whole lot of fun. The cards look exquisitely-drawn and pull from IPs throughout the wider LoL universe, including the Netflix hit Arcane . Project K is not a physical version of the pre-existing digital card game Legends of Runeterra , though it does use some characters and locations from that one. Its a brand-new thing that the creators say is designed for everyone who loves card games, collecting and connecting with friends across the table. To that end, there are multiple game modes to suit different types of players. Like many trading card games, players can form unique decks that encourage particular playstyles. For instance, a Jinx deck, from Arcane , is useful for causing as much mayhem as possible. Thats kind of her whole thing. If this seems familiar, thats because Riot teased a card game for China earlier this year, called Rune Battleground . This looks like it could be the very same game, based on some of the art accompanying the back of the cards as seen in both trailers. Now on to some bad news. Riot already has a publishing partner for China, but not in the rest of the world. Its currently looking for a US-based partner. This will likely delay the games release a bit, though its coming out in China early next year. Despite this hiccup, the company says itll be opening up preorders for an Arcane Box Set of the game in the coming months. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/riot-is-making-a-physical-league-of-legends-tcg-and-its-not-lor-162923406.html?src=rss
OWC 3.3-foot Thunderbolt 4 Cable Buy for $19.50 (Reg. $29) What we love Tap into as high as 40Gb/s data transfers and 240W charging speeds with this 3.3-foot Thunderbolt 4 cable from OWC. This cable also supports USB 4 and is backwards compatible with prior versions of USB as well. This makes it an option that can handle just about anything you throw at it. more
EcoFlow has launched its early Christmas sale that will run through December 16 and is taking up to 55% off its power banks, power stations, solar generator bundles, home backup bundles, and accessories with some free gifts and bonus savings thrown in too. One notable standout undercutting its Black Friday pricing is the DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station which is down at $649 shipped . Normally running you $799 at full price, weve seen a few varying discounts since this newer model was released back in September, with Octobers Prime Day event taking the price down to the $649 low while the recent Black Friday sale only saw it go to $699. That low price is returning here today, saving you $150 and giving you a second chance at the lowest rate we have tracked. There are even a few bundle options here, with the power station coming with a 220W solar panel for $949 , down from $1,448, or two 220W panels and a protective bag at $1,199 , down from $2,166, or you can grab it with a 800W alternator charger for $999 , down from $1,398. more
The PlayStation 5 is still $75 off, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are in the rear-view mirror, but some of the better deals from the onslaught of sales are still available. Both PlayStation 5 consoles are still $75 off, for instance, while the Apple Watch Series 10 remains about $70 off at $330 (with a coupon). If you're looking to grab a few tech gifts for the holidays, we've sorted through the best of what's left for our latest weekly deal roundup. We've also included a few new discounts, including the noise-canceling version of Apple's AirPods for a new low of $139. Keep in mind that shipping times may be delayed in some cases after the shopping rush last week, though. PlayStation 5 (slim) for $424 at Amazon ($76 off MSRP) : While this 15 percent price drop isn't the biggest we've seen, larger discounts for Sonys console have been uncommon over the past year. This bundle throws in a few Fortnite skins and V-Bucks , while the console alone is available for the same price. Alternatively, you can pair the machine with the recent RPG Dragon Age: The Veilguard or an EA sports game for $450 at Walmart or Best Buy . Also at Target , GameStop and PlayStation Direct . Sony says its holiday PS5 sale will run through December 24. PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (slim) + NBA 2K25 for $374 at GameStop ($76 off) : If you don't care about owning physical discs, you can save another $50 upfront by getting the all-digital PS5. This bundle includes the latest NBA 2K game as a freebie, though the Fortnite bundle noted above and the standalone console are each available for $375 too. Also at Amazon , Target , Best Buy and PlayStation Direct . The PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller. Aaron Souppouris for Engadget PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller for $54 at Amazon ($21 off) : While not an all-time low, this is cheaper than most deals we've seen for Sony's PS5 pad in the last year. The discount applies to several different color options, but note that some are priced $5 higher than the others. Also at Best Buy , Walmart , Target and PlayStation Direct . Xbox Wireless Controller for $39 at Walmart ($21 off) : This is another deal weve seen a few times before, but its a decent $5 to $15 off the Xbox pads typical street price, depending on which color you pick. A few different color options are still on sale, with some models priced $5 higher. Just remember that this gamepad requires a pair of AA batteries or a separate pack for power. Also at Amazon and Target . PlayStation VR2 + Horizon Call of the Mountain for $349 at Amazon ($251 off) : Sony's middling software support has made the PSVR2 difficult to widely recommend , but if you have cash to burn and want to dive into games like Gran Turismo 7 , Tetris Effect or the Horizon spin-off bundled here, this is the headset's lowest price to date. Also at Best Buy , Walmart , Target , GameStop and PlayStation Direct . Sony says this deal will go through January 3. The Apple AirPods 4. Billy Steele for Engadget Apple AirPods 4 with ANC for $139 at Amazon ($40 off) : This is a new low for the noise-canceling version of Apple's latest AirPods, which arrived in September. We gave them an 86 in our review, touting their improved sound quality, iPhone-friendly features and surprisingly effective active noise cancellation (ANC) despite their open design. They're worth considering over the AirPods Pro if you hate the feeling of traditional in-ear headphones, though their four- to five-hour battery life isn't great and there's still no way to adjust volume from the earbuds themselves. Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm) for $330 at Amazon ($69 off) : The latest Apple Watch is our top pick for the best smartwatch . It's slightly thinner and lighter than previous models, with a rich wide-angle OLED display, (mildly) improved battery life and the usual array of fitness tracking features. We gave it a score of 90 in our review . This ties the best price to date for the 42mm model, though you'll need to clip the on-page coupon to see the full discount at checkout. The larger 46mm version is also on sale for $360. Apple AirTags (4-pack) for $73 at Amazon ($26 off) : Apple's Bluetooth tracker is our top pick for iPhone users, unsurprisingly, as it can accurately locate your belongings right from the Find My app. A waterproof design and replaceable battery help as well. Just make sure to grab a holder or case if you want to attach one to your keys. This deal is $5 off the lowest price we've seen but still $7 off the four-pack's typical street price on Amazon. Also at Walmart . The Samsung Evo Select. Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget Samsung Pro Plus (1TB) for $90 at Amazon ($30 off) : The Pro Plus is the top pick in our microSD card buying guide . It's not the cheapest card you can buy, but it tested faster than most of its peers in our benchmark tests, with a particular edge in random performance. That lets it play a bit nicer in a portable gaming PC or a device like the Raspberry Pi, where itd more frequently have to access smaller bits of data in random locations. This is a new low for the 1TB model, which Samsung released earlier this year. Also at Samsung and B&H . Samsung Evo Select (2024) (256GB) for $18 at Amazon ($4 off) : The Evo Select is our favorite microSD card in the budget bracket. Its mediocre write speeds make it less-than-ideal for a camera, but it should yield few complaints for most people just looking to add space to a Nintendo Switch or Android tablet. This is an all-time low for the new generation 256GB model, which brings sequential read speeds more in line with the Pro Plus. Also at Samsung . Razer Basilisk V3 for $40 at Amazon ($30 off) : The Basilisk V3 is the top wired pick in our gaming mouse buying guide for those who prefer a more ergonomic shape. This discount ties the device's all-time low. Razer released an revised version with an improved sensor a few months back, but that one costs $80 and isn't an essential upgrade while the old model is still in stock. Also at Best Buy . The Razer Basilisk V3. Jeff Dunn / Engadget Astro Bot for $50 at Walmart ($10 off) : The inventive 3D platformer Astro Bot is the closest thing the PS5 has to a modern Super Mario game, even if it is a bit too reverential to the PlayStation brand. Engadget's Jessica Conditt called it one of the best games Sony has ever made in her review . The game briefly fell to $43 at Amazon on Black Friday, but this is its best price otherwise. Also at Best Buy , Target and GameStop . Helldivers 2 for $25 at Amazon (Prime only, $15 off) : The co-op shooter Helldivers 2 straddles the line between Starship Troopers -esque satire and genuinely rousing, strategically engaging action. You could do much worse if you want a multiplayer game you can hop in and out of at your leisure. This deal is for Amazon Prime subscribers only, but it beats the previous low we saw on Black Friday by $5. Metaphor: ReFantazio for $50 at Amazon ($20 off) : Its about as subtle as youd expect a game named Metaphor to be, but the latest from the minds behind Persona 5 is a fantasy JRPG through and through: bombastic, stylish and deeply earnest. (And long.) This leftover Black Friday deal marks its lowest price to date. Also at Walmart . Super Mario RPG for $33 at Best Buy ($17 off) : The lively and brisk Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is one of the Super Nintendos essential games. It didnt necessarily need a Switch remake, but it got one last year anyway. Thankfully, the new version keeps the originals oddball spirit intact as it spruces up the visuals for true 3D. If youre in the market for a lighter RPG, this discount is only $1 above the price we saw on Black Friday. The Bose QuietcComfort Ultra. Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget Hisense U7N 4K TV (55) for $478 at Amazon ($320 off) : Several reviews around the web call the U7N one of the year's best TV values. It pumps out better brightness and contrast than most alternatives in its price range, plus it supports a fast 144Hz refresh rate at 4K, which helps PS5 and Xbox games look more fluid in motion. Its picture will look washed out if you don't view it straight-on, however, and its limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports. This is the 55-inch model's all-time low. Other sizes are similarly discounted. Also at Best Buy and Walmart . Amazon Echo Buds for $25 at Amazon ($25 off) : We highlight the Echo Buds in our guide to the best budget earbuds for those who prefer an unsealed design that doesn't totally mute the outside world. They sound decent for the price and can connect to multiple devices at once, though they aren't fully water-resistant. This deal matches their all-time low. Bose QuietComfort Ultra for $299 at Amazon ($130 off) : The QuietComfort Ultra is the top noise-canceling pick in our guide to the best wireless headphones . Its ANC is not only among the strongest we've tested, it's also adjustable on a 10-point scale, so you can set it to a more comfortable level in quieter environments (unlike our top overall pick ). It's exceptionally comfortable, too, though there are crisper-sounding and longer-lasting options out there. While this deal isn't an all-time low, we don't see the headphones fall below $300 often. Note that the offer only applies to the Diamond finish. Bose says it'll end later on Friday. Also at Bose , B&H and Best Buy . The Amazon Echo Buds. Jeff Dunn / Engadget Amazon Echo for $55 at Amazon ($45 off) : The latest Echo is the est under $100 pick in our smart speaker buying guide thanks to its strong-for-its-size audio quality, stereo pairing support and (mostly) handy range of Alexa skills and smart home integrations. This discount comes in $5 above the lowest price we've seen. Other Echo devices are still on sale as well, including the smaller Echo Dot for $23 and the Echo Spot smart alarm clock for an all-time low of $45. Ultimate Ears Everboom for $200 at Amazon ($50 off) : The Everboom is a mid-sized entry in Ultimate Ears' portable speaker lineup. We gave it a review score of 75 this past September and currently include it in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers . Its rugged waterproof design, 20-hour battery life and 360-degree sound make it a solid outdoor companion, though it's somewhat bulky, and it's not the best at reproducing fine details in tracks. This deal price is an all-time low but only applies to the blue colorway as of this writing. The Ultimate Ears Everboom. Billy Steele for Engadget Audible Premium Plus (3-month) for $3 at Amazon ($42 off) : Non-subscribers can still get a three-month Audible Premium Plus trial for $1. Normally, the audiobook service costs $15 per month after a 30-day free trial. As a refresher, Premium Plus is Audible's upper tier : Apart from giving access the full Audible Plus library, it lets you keep one title from a curated selection of audiobooks each month. We wouldn't call it essential, but this is a good way to see if it'd work for you if you've been on the fence. Remember that the plan will auto-renew until you cancel. MasterClass Premium (1-year) for $144 at MasterClass ($96 off) : MasterClass is still taking 40 percent off the cost of its annual subscription plans for new or returning users, bringing the Plus and Premium tiers down to $108 and $144, respectively. As a refresher, both options support offline viewing the cheaper Standard tier does not but the Premium plan lets you watch from six devices simultaneously instead of two. Either way, this is a decent chance to save if you've been interested in taking one of the service's many celebrity-led courses . The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024). Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) for $1,650 at Best Buy ($350 off) : The 14-inch ROG Zephyrus G14 is the top pick in our guide to the best gaming laptops . We gave it a score of 91 in our review, praising its (relatively) elegant aluminum chassis and beautiful 120Hz OLED display. It can get toasty under load, and the memory isn't upgradeable, but this config can still handle more demanding games at high settings and the native 2.8K resolution without much trouble. It includes a Ryzen 9 8945HS chip, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and an RTX 4070 GPU. Outside of one drop to $1,600 back in July, this ties the best price weve seen. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8-inch) for $899 at Amazon ($300 off) : We gave the latest Surface Laptop a score of 88 in our review , and we currently recommend it as a great ultraportable in our laptop buying guide . The caveat is that it uses an ARM processor, which runs well but may not work with every app or peripheral you use. If you can live with that, however, its bright 120Hz display, upscale aluminum design and long battery life all impress. Besides in-store-only deals, this is an all-time low for the config with a Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. A 15-inch version with a faster Snapdragon X Elite chip and 256GB of storage is down to a new low of $1,044. Also at Best Buy . Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 12) for $1,099 at Lenovo ($500 off) : The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is an honorable mention for business-minded users in our laptop buying guide, and it earned a score of 87 in our review. This is the lowest price weve seen for the config with Intel's Core Ultra 5 135U chip, 16GB of (non-upgradeable) RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 14-inch 1,920 x 1,200 display. Just use the coupon code X1G12TDDEAL at checkout. Other configs are still discounted, including a more powerful model with a Core Ultra 7 155U chip and 32GB of RAM for $1,391. Enter HOLIDAYTHINKDB at checkout for that one. The Dyson V15 Detect. Mat Smith for Engadget Dyson Airwrap for $490 at Amazon ($110 off) : This multipurpose styling tool uses the Coanda effect to create curls without excessive heat, and it comes with a bunch of other attachments that let it work as a hairdryer, heated brush and more. It's certainly not cheap, but this is a good 18 percent off its normal street price. Also at Dyson . iRobot Roomba Vac Essential (Q0120) for $149 at Amazon ($101 off) : This entry-level robot vacuum has decent cleaning power with three cleaning modes and the ability to set cleaning schedules from iRobot's mobile app. It's a fairly basic model with no obstacle avoidance tech, but it should work for first-time or budget-minded robovac buyers. This deal has been live for a few weeks now but comes within a couple bucks of the device's all-time low. Also at Best Buy . Dyson V15 Detect Absolute for $500 at Dyson ($250 off) : The V15 Detect is our pick for the best cordless vacuum thanks to its excellent suction power, impressively portable design and hour-long battery life (which is fairly long for these things). This model comes with a Fluffy Optic cleaning head that illuminates the ground in front of you so you can better see where dust and debris is hiding. You get a few other cleaning head attachments in the box alongside that. This discount matches the lowest price we could find. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-playstation-5-is-still-75-off-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-155032019.html?src=rss
Black Friday pricing on the new Samsung Galaxy S10+/Ultra returns at up to $230 off
Amazon is now offering up to $150 off the new entry-level Samsung Galaxy S10+ tablet, but the ongoing Samsung Cyber sale has now brought back the price drops we featured during the early Black Friday festivities. The official Samsung site is now once again offering the Galaxy Tab S10+ starting at $849.99 shipped from the usual $1,000 list as well as the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra starting at $999.99 shipped , down from the regular $1,200. This is as much as $200 in savings, but youll also find price drops across the various storage configurations, including as much as $230 off the 512GB S10+. Head below for a closer look. more
3 new PS Plus games you should play this weekend (December 6-8)
This weekend, PS Plus subscribers should check out It Takes Two, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, and Blood Omen 2.
LISEN MagSafe Car Charger Buy for $14 (Reg. $35) Clip the on-page 20% off coupon. What we love Quickly and affordably get a MagSafe car charger in your vehicle with this solution from LISEN. It has a peel-and-stick design that will have it on your dashboard in seconds. Once plugged into power, it distributes up to 15W of power to compatible devices. more
Apple's AirPods 4 with ANC drop to a new low of $139
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are in the rearview mirror, but you can still find great deals this holiday season. Case in point: Apple's AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) have dropped to their lowest price to date. You can pick up a pair for $139, which is $40 off the list price. While we think the AirPods Pro 2 are the best AirPods overall, the ANC-enabled AirPods 4 are still a solid choice. We gave them a score of 86 in our review . Apple released two AirPods variants a few months ago, one with ANC and the other without. We gave the ANC-less model a score of 88 as they had a number of improvements over the previous generation AirPods while still being fairly affordable and delivering great bang for your buck. Of course, the lack of ANC in the base model is a negative. The other variant delivers effective ANC performance overall. Other upgrades over the base model include Conversation Awareness, Adaptive Audio and Transparency mode. The AirPods 4 with ANC (unlike the base option) also have a charging case that supports MagSafe and Qi-compatible wireless charging, as well as a built-in speaker that emits beeps when you activate Find My. One of our main reservations about the AirPods 4 with ANC is that the superior AirPods Pro 2 (which typically cost $249) often go on sale we've seen them dip to $169. That's cheaper than the list price of the AirPods 4 with ANC. However, this discount makes those AirPods easier to recommend. Meanwhile, the base AirPods 4 have dropped to $119 . That's 10 bucks off the regular price. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-4-with-anc-drop-to-a-new-low-of-139-151521702.html?src=rss
Todays iOS app deals and freebies: Swim Out, Dungeon Maker, ISS Real-Time Tracker, more
Friday is here and we are ready to cap off the work week in App Store deals with this mornings collection of deals and freebies. Before we dive in though, be sure to scope out the new all-time low we spotted today at Amazon on AirPods 4 with ANC down at $139 . We also have the return of Black Friday pricing across the Apple Watch Series 10 lineup , a new low on Twelve Souths iridescent AirFly SE in-flight AirPods audio transmitter , and this ongoing deal on the official Apple Watch Ultra Trail Loop . As for the apps, highlights include title likes Swim Out, Hyperforma, Dungeon Maker Dark Lord, ISS Real-Time Tracker, and more. Scope them all out after the fold. more
3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (December 6-8)
If you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber who loves racing games, this is your weekend to shine.
Baseus 20,000mAh 20W MagSafe Power Bank Buy for $23 (Reg. $46) Clip the on-page 50% off coupon. What we love These days I generally leave chargers at home and carry a large battery instead when heading out for a day or two. Its so much easier to top things off when you dont have to worry about dealing with outlets. This expansive 20,000mAh solution is ready to refuel devices like iPhone 15 Pro Max up to 2.9 times. This paves the way for keeping you juiced up for several days when away from power outlets. Wireless charging tops out at 7.5W and an integrated USB-C port reaches up to 20W. more
We are now tracking a deal at Amazon that drops Microsofts Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC in black down to $799.99 shipped. This $1,200 machine is the base model of this laptop thats powered by Qualcomms 10-core Snapdragon X Plus chip. It dropped to the $899 mark for Black Friday week, todays 33% discount knocks it $99 below that price to mark the lowest price we have tracked for it. You can also get it in Platinum , Dune, and Sapphire colorways, but theyre all fetching $899 right now with a lighter 25% discount. Head below for more details. more
While we are still tracking a number of big-time deals, including some hangovers from Black Friday and Cyber Monday and some as part of the latest Amazon holiday sale, we are first going to feature this offer on the new LEGO Horizon Adventures for Switch . Costco members can score the very first chance to save on this one, as it has now dropped down to $39.99 shipped . Thats $20 under the regular $60 price tag and the best we have tracked to date. This one is still up at $60 for Switch gamers and now selling for $52.99 shipped on PS5 over at Amazon. The recently-released official LEGO title takes Aloy and the gang on an all-new brick-built adventure with online and couch co-op action. You can get a complete look at what this one is all about in our launch coverage right here and be sure to scope out the new LEGO 77037 Aloy and Varl vs Shell-walker and Sawtoothset too.Head below for more. more
The new AirPods 4 with ANC are $25 cheaper now than Black Friday
Macworld If you missed out on the tremendous AirPods deals this Black Friday, your patience has been rewarded. Amazon is selling the new AirPods 4 with ANC for $139 , a savings of $40 and $25 lower than their best Black Friday price. Apples new AirPods 4 are a massive upgrade over the prior model, which had the same $179 price tag. They have a slightly new look with a shorter stem and a refined fit, but the real magic is on the inside. For the first time, Apples mid-range earbuds have active noise cancellation, which will block out outside noise so you only hear the music. Youll also get an H2 chip for Voice Isolation, Conversation Awareness, and Siri gestures, as well as improved audio quality, better battery life, and dust, sweat, and water resistance. In our 4.5-star review , we praised the AirPods 4 with ANCs value and features, as well as the clarity and volume when listening to music and podcasts, as well as the long battery life. In short, theyre fantastic earbuds and a good option for people who prefer the open-ear design over the AirPods Pros tight silicon seal. SO go grab a pair now before the price goes back up. Get AirPods 4 with ANC for $139
This 60W 4-port front and back seat car charger just hit $8 (Reg. $20)
AINOPE 60W Front and Back Seat USB-C Car Charger Buy for $8 (Reg. $20) Clip the on-page 20% off coupon. What we love Keep your entire entourage happy with this versatile car charger that supplies power to both the front and back seat. This is achieved with a standard car charger with two USB-A ports up front and a 5-foot extender that sends two USB-A ports to the back. In terms of power output, youre looking at a maximum of 60W, with two 18W and two 12W ports at your disposal. more
Black Friday pricing returns across every Apple Watch Series 10 configuration today, deals from $330
The latest Apple Watch Series 10 saw some notable $70 price drops across the lineup for Black Friday, and after jumping back up in price and select configurations going out of stock at Amazon, some on-page coupons have landed to bring back much of same deals again. Unwrapping a brand new 2024 Apple Watch Series 10 this year would be something seriously special, never mind just scoring one for yourself to rock at upcoming get togethers and help meet your 2025 New Year fitness resolutions. And now you can make the happen back down at Black Friday pricing starting from $330 shipped . more
Cricuts official 360 Ultimate Table Lamp plunges to $50 at Amazon ($99 off)
Cricut Bright 360 Ultimate LED Table Lamp Buy for $50 (Reg. $149) What we love It doesnt matter if you personally enjoy crafting or still need to purchase a gift for someone you know who does, now is an incredible time to score this official lamp made by Cricut. It features a fully-adjustable design thanks to having four points of articulation that are paired with a counterweight to deliver easy one-handed adjustment. Once toggled on, youll have 1,500 lux of color-accurate lighting. more
The official TEAMGROUP storefront on Amazon is now offering its 1TB Pro Plus microSD card for $57.99 shipped. This particular unit has fetched as much as $75 in recent months, but its now seeing a 23% discount. Todays $17 markdown lands this 1TB memory card and adapter combo down to its lowest price of the year. Its now fetching $22 below the lowest price weve tracked for Samsungs 160MB/s EVO Select card , making it a great alternative if youre looking for something cheaper. Head below for more details. more
This 3-in-1 retractable USB-C cable handles it all for $12 Prime shipped (Reg. $20)
LISEN 3-in-1 Retractable Cable Buy for $12 (Reg. $20) What we love While USB-C has finally become the dominant type of I/O these days, many of us still have a few devices that rely on older connectivity types to be charged or powered up at all. This cable aims to ensure youre ready for just about anything with USB-C on one end and on the other youll find 27W Lightning, 10W microUSB, and 60W USB-C. A retractable design makes this a solid option for your travel bag, desk, and more. more
Nanoleafs Matter Over Thread HomeKit Smart Cup Lamp back in-stock and now at $90 low
Joining an ongoing deal we spotted on the bands portable CONO smart lamp yesterday, the official Nanoleaf Amazon storefront now has what appears to be limited stock of its Matter Over Thread Cup Lamp on sale for $89.99 shipped. This Nanoleaf x Umbra collaboration regularly carries a $130 price tag and is now seeing a solid $40 drop to match the lowest price we have tracked since its debut in October of last year. more
NYT Crossword: answers for Friday, December 6
The New York Times crossword puzzle can be tough! If you're stuck, we're here to help with a list of today's clues and answers.
NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Friday, December 6
The NYT Mini crossword might be a lot smaller than a normal crossword, but it isn't easy. If you're stuck with today's crossword, we've got answers for you here.
NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Friday, December 6
Strands is a tricky take on the classic word search from NYT Games. If you're stuck and cannot solve today's puzzle, we've got help for you here.
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How ChatGPT's Canvas Can Help You Use AI More Productively
Canvas, which is available to OpenAI's paid subscribers, is a little bit like an AI-powered Google Docs. Here's how to use it.
Helldivers 2 showed us the best and worst of gaming in 2024
For both positive and negative reasons, Helldivers 2 will go down as one of 2024's year-defining games.
Still live: Ultra-affordable A9+ and S6 Samsung Galaxy tabs still at $149 Black Friday pricing
Update: These Black Friday deals are carrying over into the December holiday season. If youre looking for a super affordable 2024 tablet for casual browsing, video chatting, or even something for the whole fam, the Amazon Black Friday sale is now offering Samsungs Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Android tablet down at $199.99 shipped . Regularly $330, this is $130 off, $30 below the early Black Friday sale price, and within $0.50 of the lowest we have ever tracked. This is easily one of the most notable deals we have tracked since its release back in April and among the most affordable Samsung tablets we have seen to date that actually ships with the S Pen in the box. more
Brazilian judge overturns ruling that forced Apple to open up its Store
Last week, Brazil's antitrust regulator CADE ordered Apple to allow users to download apps and make purchases from outside its App Store, with a 20-day deadline and fines for not complying. Now, a Brazilian federal court has overturned that injunction, ruling that it was disproportionate and unnecessary, 9to5Mac reported. Cade ordered Apple to allow third-party developers to tell users about alternative ways to make in-app purchases (subscriptions, etc.) so developers wouldn't be forced to pay Apple a commission. It also demanded that Apple open up its ecosystem to other stores or allow sideloading. If Apple didn't comply within 20 days, it faced a fine of 250,000 Real (around $43,000) per day. Apple appealed that ruling on the grounds that the changes would be too difficult to implement within that time frame and the court agreed. [The] technical complexity of the changes and the global regulatory impacts in similar decision in other regions, such as the European union, reinforce the need for such changes to be discussed in greater depth, a judge ruled. CADE began investigation following a complaint by local e-commerce company Mercado Libre, which accused Apple of anticompetitive behavior. The regulator can appeal the ruling and still force Apple to comply. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/brazilian-judge-overturns-ruling-that-forced-apple-to-open-up-its-store-130039766.html?src=rss
Flagship2024 Ring smart video Doorbell Pro drops back to $150 Black Friday low (Reg. $230)
We tracked some notable lows on the latest Ring smart doorbell releases for Black Friday this year at Amazon, and the best of them have returned for the lead up to holiday 2024. You can now score the 2024 flagshipRing Battery Doorbell Pro back down at the same $149.99 shipped we featured for the Prime Day events and Black Friday this year to match the lowest price we have tracked on Amazon since its release earlier this year in February. more
Ankers 0.7-inch 4-port 65W USB-C slim charging station is down to just $24 today (40% off)
As a part of its now live Holiday Tech Deals sale event , Woot is offering Ankers 4-port 65W USB-C charging station down at $23.99 Prime shipped (a $6 delivery fee will apply otherwise). Dont forget to enter promo code 20PERCENT during checkout to see the discounted price. This is regularly a $40 charging unit at Amazon which is now seeing a straight up 40% discount. Todays offer on Woot delivers a significant discount on this model, landing the best price we can find. Head below for more details. more
