Author Archives: Igor Bonifacic

Peacock Cyber Monday streaming deal gets you a one-year Premium subscription for only $20

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Most of the best streaming deals we've seen for the holiday season are still available for Cyber Monday — but many of them will end soon. One of which is this Peacock Cyber Monday deal that ends at the end of the day today. With it, you can get your first year of Peacock Premium for only $20 when you use the code YEARLONG at checkout and pay the total upfront. If you prefer to pay each month, you can get the same access for $2 per month for the first year with the code BIGDEAL at checkout. As is the case with many streaming deals, this offer is only available to new subscribers.

If you recently canceled your Peacock subscription on account of NBCUniversal raising prices in July, this is a good opportunity to pay less for the service than it cost before the hike. Since launching in 2020, Peacock has accumulated more than 20 million subscribers on the back of programming like The Office, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and reality TV shows like Love Island. NBCUniversal has also invested in original programming, releasing shows like Bel-Air, which reimagines The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a modern-day drama series. Since May of last year, the service has also offered next-day streaming of Bravo shows in effort to differentiate itself from competing streaming platforms.

A subscription could be a gift for yourself or a family member. Either way, $20 for a year of service is hard to beat, especially with streaming prices rising across the board.

Your Cyber Monday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Cyber Monday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Cyber Monday tech deals. Learn about Cyber Monday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Cyber Monday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Cyber Monday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cyber-monday-streaming-deals-its-the-last-day-to-get-a-one-year-peacock-premium-subscription-for-only-20-090038948.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday deals include up to $300 off Shark robot vacuums on Amazon

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The shopping event of the year isn’t over just yet, and if you’re looking for a robot vacuum to keep your home clean, one of Engadget’s favorites is on sale for a stellar price this Cyber Monday. Right now, you can get the Shark AI Ultra for half off, or $300 less than its $600 MSRP. For those in the market for a robot vacuum that can clean their floors too, Shark also offers a version of the AI Ultra with mop functionality built-in. After a 43 percent discount, that variant is currently $400, down from $700. Either way, those are excellent prices for a pair of robot vacuums that offer a compelling mix of features and cleaning performance.

As mentioned above, we like the Shark AI Ultra a lot here at Engadget, with both the standard and 2-in-1 models appearing in our guide for the best robot vacuums. In fact, we consider the Shark AI Ultra to be the best midrange pick for most people. Setup is easy. All you need to do is take the vacuum out of the box, plug in the base and download Shark’s companion app on your phone. Once the AI Ultra completed its first “explore run,” we found it was a reliable cleaner, doing its best to avoid any obstacles that were left on the carpet or floor. It was also much quieter than competing models in and around the same price range. However, the best feature of AI Ultra is that it comes with an auto-empty station, and one that features a bagless design. That means you won’t need to spend extra money on the AI Ultra over time.

As for the 2-in-1 model, its water-and-solution based cleaning abilities are basic, but beat having to bring out an old-school mop and bucket. In our testing, the AI Ultra Ultra 2-in-1 left our hardwood and tile floors noticeably cleaner. As I said, both models are great options, particularly when they’re as affordable as they are right now.

Your Cyber Monday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Cyber Monday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Cyber Monday tech deals. Learn about Cyber Monday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Cyber Monday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Cyber Monday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cyber-monday-deals-include-up-to-300-off-shark-robot-vacuums-on-amazon-183038708.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday deals include 42 percent off one of our favorite Samsung microSD cards

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For Cyber Monday, Amazon has discounted a selection of Samsung SSDs, including the company’s highly-regarded Pro Plus line of microSD cards. Through the end of tomorrow, the 128GB model is 42 percent off, making it just $11 before tax and shipping. If you need more storage, the 512GB model is also on sale, as are the 256GB variants of the Pro Ultimate and Evo Select models. After a modest 9 percent discount, the former is currently $32, down from $35.

Amazon has also discounted Samsung’s excellent T7 Shield portable drive. At the moment, the 1TB model is 6 percent off, or $5 off its typical $85 price. While this SSD is an Engadget favorite, we’ve seen it previously drop below the price Amazon is selling it for currently.

Samsung’s Pro Plus, Pro Ultimate and Evo Select lines are all featured in our guide to the best microSD cards. We like the Pro Plus models for their mix of performance and affordability. Although they’re not the fastest microSD cards Samsung sells (that distinction goes to the Pro Ultimate line), you’ll be hard pressed to find competing models in the same price range that offer better performance. In our testing, Samsung’s Pro Plus cards achieved sequential write speeds of around 130 MB/s and sequential read speeds of around 165 MB/s. Samsung also offers a 10-year warranty on its Pro Plus models.

If you’re unsure of what model to buy, your decision should be informed by what you plan to do with your new microSD card. If you intend to record a lot of 4K footage with either a camera or drone, you will need a faster card. Our guide has all the information to help you make your decision, but the short answer is to look for a model with at least a “V30” speed rating. For other cases such as storing dash cam footage and Switch games, you can save money by going for a slower model.

Your Cyber Monday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Cyber Monday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Cyber Monday tech deals. Learn about Cyber Monday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Cyber Monday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Cyber Monday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cyber-monday-deals-include-42-percent-off-one-of-our-favorite-samsung-microsd-cards-161524306.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday Lego sale 2023: Deals on Marvel, Star Wars and Mario sets are available on Amazon

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Some of the best Lego sets are on sale for Cyber Monday, including fun sets from the Marvel, Star Wars and Mario lineups. If you've been meaning to knock a few more to-dos off your holiday shopping list, there are plenty of good Lego deals to be had. Of note is the Iron Man Armory 496-piece kit that normally costs $90 but is now down to $45. The set comes with five minifigures — including an appropriately smug Tony Stark – and three battle suits. Plus, you get one of Stark’s sports cars, though it’s not an Audi R8 like the one seen in Endgame.

If you're more of a Guardians of the Galaxy fan, the Spectacular Spaceship is also on sale. After a 40 percent discount, this $100 set is down to $60. Being slightly more complex and made up of 1108 pieces, the New Guardians’ Ship is suitable for children aged 10 and older. It comes with five minifigures from the latest movie: Mantis, Drax, Star-Lord, Nebula and Adam Warlock. The cockpit of the ship is large enough to seat three of the characters. If you download the Lego Builder app, you can access additional instructions on how to put the set together.

There’s also the Super Mario Adventures Starter Course. At the moment, it’s 20 percent off, making it $48 instead of $60. This set is suitable for kids as young as six years old, so it’s a great option for younger children. Compared to the Lego Marvel sets, what makes the Mario ones so great is that they encourage kids to be creative by thinking up their own course designs instead of simply follow an instruction manual.

And finally, for the Star Wars fan in your family, consider the Darth Vader Helmet set, which is $16 off and down to $64. Its part of a larger "helmet" family in the Star Wars Lego lineup that includes figures for the Mandalorian, Commander Cody and Captain Rex. It's possible that the imposing nature of the Darth Vader set when fully completed is one reason why it's the most expensive of the bunch. If you like sets like this but want to spend a little less, the other three models are only $56 each right now.

Your Cyber Monday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Cyber Monday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Cyber Monday tech deals. Learn about Cyber Monday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Cyber Monday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Cyber Monday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-cyber-monday-lego-deals-save-on-marvel-star-wars-and-mario-sets-205015549.html?src=rss

Blink cameras are still on sale for Black Friday for up to 60 percent off

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Black Friday might have come and gone, but if you’re looking to protect your home, Blink security cameras remain on sale, with some of the company’s products as much as 60 percent off ahead of Cyber Monday. The highlight of this weekend’s promotion is the Blink Mini, which is discounted to a modest $20. Although that price doesn’t represent a new all-time low for Blink’s diminutive security camera, it’s still a good deal at 43 percent off its $35 MSRP and only about $3 more expensive than Engadget has seen it fall to during some past sales.

The Blink Mini is best suited for monitoring areas inside your home. It offers 1080p video capture and two-way audio, allowing you to communicate with other people and pets using the Blink mobile app. The camera can also send real-time alerts to your phone whenever it detects motion. Like other Blink devices, the Mini comes with a free 30-day trial to Blink’s subscription plan. The service allows users to save clips to the cloud and stream up to 90 minutes of live footage in one sitting. Also included in the box are a mounting kit, USB cable and power adapter.

Another deal worth considering is the Blink Outdoor system with solar panel charging mounts. This package bundles together three third-generation Blink Outdoor cameras. Normally the entire kit costs about $425, but after a 60 percent discount, it’s down to $169.96. The included solar panel charging mounts greatly simplify installation since you don’t need to worry about wiring or batteries like with some other outdoor camera systems. Additionally, the third-generation model is water-resistant and rated to work in environments as cold as -4 degrees fahrenheit. The built-in 1080p camera features a 110-degree field of view. Although Amazon offers a newer outdoor model, the three-pack kit is still a compelling package, particularly when it’s nearly $255 off.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blink-cameras-are-still-on-sale-for-black-friday-for-up-to-60-percent-off-164255049.html?src=rss

The Meta Quest 2 VR headset is still on sale in an Amazon Black Friday deal

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Good things come to those who wait, and if you decided to hold off on buying the Meta Quest 2 when it was discounted by $50 as part of Amazon’s early Black Friday sale, your patience is about to be rewarded. Now that Black Friday has come and gone, not only is the headset still on sale for $249, but Amazon is also throwing in a $50 credit toward future purchases. To claim the credit, tap the “Redeem” button below the product price. Once you go to pay for the Quest 2, a message will appear explaining that the coupon will arrive in your email inbox within 24 hours of Amazon shipping the headset to you.

Although the Quest 2 is a few years old now, it’s still one of the best VR headsets on the market, and for good reason. Although its successor, the Quest 3, arrived earlier this fall, the new model starts at $500. In fact, most other VR solutions cost about that much. What’s more, the Quest 2 remains capable, thanks to its 6GB of RAM and Snapdragon XR2 processor. And although it could offer a wider field of view, the Quest 2 still features a decent display, with the headset’s two LCD screens producing a resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 per eye and refreshing at a smooth 90Hz. Best of all, the Quest 2 is one of the comfortable VR headsets on account of it being completely cordless.

As for games and experiences, the Quest Store has one of the strongest libraries in the business, and it’s even possible to connect the Quest 2 to a PC to play medium-defining titles like Half-Life: Alyx. Add the headset's excellent motion controls, and at $249, the Quest 2 is the best value in VR. An extra $50 gift only sweetens the deal.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-meta-quest-2-vr-headset-is-still-on-sale-in-an-amazon-black-friday-deal-154752345.html?src=rss

Amazon Black Friday deals: Get a $10 gift card when you buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

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If you recently treated yourself to a Samsung Galaxy S23, Amazon’s Black Friday 2023 sale will allow you to complete your setup with a pair of Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Thanks to a 33 percent discount, the earbuds are $160 at the moment. That’s a new all-time low price for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, which normally cost $240. 

All three colorways — graphite, white and bora purple – are included in the sale, and, as of the writing of this article, in stock. Additionally, the retailer is offering a $10 Amazon gift alongside the earbuds, though you can forgo them if you want an additional $3 discount off the price of the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.

While the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro didn’t make the cut for the list of the best wireless earbuds you can buy in 2023, they’re still a great option, particularly if you own a Samsung phone. When he reviewed them last year, Engadget’s resident audio geek, Senior Editor Billy Steele, awarded the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro a score of 86. At the time, he found them to be one of Samsung’s best sounding pairs of earbuds. They offer plenty of bass without losing detail in the low end. Moreover, the sound signature is open while also being full and filled with detail and clarity. At the same time, Samsung managed to improve noise cancellation performance and, more importantly, the fit of the earbuds. Compared to their predecessors, the Galaxy Buds Pro 2 are noticeably more comfortable, though the touch controls can make fit adjustments tricky.

Compared to newer models, the Buds 2 Pro could offer better battery life. In our testing, Steele found they were good for about five hours before they needed charging. If you end up using ANC a lot, the included charging case provides approximately 18 hours of additional use, which is less than most competing models. Call quality is also lacking, and as with any pair of first-party earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will work best with a Samsung phone — though of course it’s possible to pair them with any Bluetooth-compatible device.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-black-friday-deals-get-a-10-gift-card-when-you-buy-the-samsung-galaxy-buds-2-pro-000048868.html?src=rss

Xbox Black Friday deal: Save $50 on the Xbox Series X console and get a $50 Amazon credit

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Microsoft’s Xbox Series X has received a rare discount for Black Friday. Until the end of the weekend, Amazon is selling the 1TB model for $449, or $50 off MSRP. Although not a record low for the Series X (Amazon sold the console for about $10 less this past summer), this is still a great opportunity to purchase the most powerful system in Microsoft’s stable. That’s because the retailer is also including $50 credit toward future Amazon purchases. Once the company ships the Series X to your home, you can expect to receive the credit in your email inbox within 24 hours.

The Xbox Series X is the most powerful gaming console on the market, and though it would be nice to see Microsoft secure more exclusives for the system, it would be hard to argue that the Series X doesn’t have a lot going for it. With about 12 teraflops of processing power, the latest Xbox can play games at 4K and up to 120 frames per second, with full HDR support built-in. Provided you own a suitably high-end TV with HDMI 2.1 connectivity, the Series X will deliver some of the best console graphics on the market today.

And while most would probably agree Sony’s PlayStation 5 has the more compelling exclusives, particularly for those who enjoy narrative-focused titles, the Xbox has plenty of must-play games too. Between releases like Starfield, Forza Motorsport and Halo Infinite, there’s something for everyone in Microsoft’s ninth-generation library. When you add Game Pass to the mix, and the fact all of Microsoft’s first-party titles are available on the service straight from day one, there’s a good chance you won’t need to buy many games at full price. That makes the console, especially when it’s discounted like it is this weekend, a great value for all but the most discerning gamers.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xbox-black-friday-deal-save-50-on-the-xbox-series-x-console-and-get-a-50-amazon-credit-231534117.html?src=rss

The best Black Friday deals on Ring cameras for 2023

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It wouldn’t be an Amazon Black Friday sale if the retailer didn’t discount some of the best gadgets from its in-house brands. Case and point: if you’re looking to add a security camera or two to your home, Ring devices are included in the long list of Amazon’s best Black Friday 2023 deals. The highlight of the promotion is a two-for-one package that bundles together a third-generation Echo Show 5 smart display with a Ring Video Doorbell. Normally, Amazon sells the two together for about $190, but after a 65 percent discount, the bundle is just $65, with both the satin nickel and venetian bronze Ring Doorbell colorways included in the sale.

For those who already own a compatible smart display, or prefer to use their smartphone to review footage, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is on sale on its own. At the moment, it’s 40 percent off, making it $150 or $100 less than its $250 MSRP. For comparison, the Doorbell Pro 2 offers 1,536p video capture where the more affordable Doorbell is limited to 1080p. Additionally, the flagship model features a radar sensor that enables two features Amazon calls 3D Motion Detection and Bird’s Eye View. The former makes the Doorbell Pro 2’s motion detection more accurate, while the latter allows the device to track a person’s movement across your front year in real time. That said, if all you want is a no-frills option, both the Video Doorbell and Video Doorbell Pro 2 include two-way talk. It’s also worth remembering both devices require a Ring Protect Plan to save footage for up to 180 days, something that adds to the cost of Amazon's security products.

As for the Echo Show 5, the second-generation model has been a perennial fixture on Engadget’s list of the best smart displays. The 2023 model is mostly an iterative update on its predecessor, adding a faster processor and a more capable sound system to the mix. The Show 5’s diminutive 5.5-inch display makes it best suited to sit on a bedside table, but in a pinch, it can double as a video calling device, thanks to the inclusion of a 2-megapixel camera. As part of a $65 bundle that includes another device, you could do a lot worse than the Echo Show 5.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-best-black-friday-deals-on-ring-cameras-for-2023-230028937.html?src=rss

Amazon Black Friday deals: Get a free Samsung SmartTag when you buy a Galaxy Watch 6

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Amazon has discounted one of the best smartwatches you can buy right now to a new all-time low price. Until the end of the weekend, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is 24 percent off. That means the wearable now starts at $230, down from $300. Included in the sale are the gold and graphite colorways. Other color options are sold out, and sizing is limited to 40mm and 44mm. 

However, if you’re set on a wearable with mobile connectivity, the LTE model is also on sale and starts at $270, down from $380. One other thing to note is the regular Galaxy Watch 6 does not feature the rotating bezel found on the Classic model. That variant is currently sold out on Amazon. To sweeten the entire deal, Amazon is throwing in a complimentary Samsung SmartTag 2. The lost item tracker is normally priced at $30.

The Galaxy Watch 6 is one of Engadget’s favorite smartwatches. Before the arrival of the Pixel Watch, Samsung consistently offered the best Android Wear watches on the market. And even though there’s more competition in the category now, the Galaxy Watch is still a great option for those looking for a dependable fitness and health tracker.

New to the Galaxy Watch 6 is a more vibrant, higher-resolution always-on display capable of reaching a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. Additionally, the refreshed screen is 20 percent larger than the one found on its predecessor. To power the Galaxy Watch 6’s brighter screen, Samsung equipped the device with a larger battery. According to the company, it’s possible to get up to 30 hours of use from the Galaxy Watch 6 with the always-on display turned on – though your mileage will vary depending on how you use the wearable. Inside, there’s also a more powerful processor.

On the software front, the Galaxy Watch 6 comes with more robust sleep-tracking and insights. The company also added an irregular heart rhythm monitoring feature that will alert you if it detects anomalies in your cardio patterns. Separately, the Galaxy Watch 6 can keep track of ovulation and menstrual cycles. If you own a recent Galaxy Watch device, the latest model doesn’t offer enough to upgrade. For everyone else, $229 is a compelling price for one of the best smartwatches out there.

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-black-friday-deals-get-a-free-samsung-smarttag-when-you-buy-a-galaxy-watch-6-211222331.html?src=rss