Author Archives: Kris Holt

Early Prime Day Apple deals include the USB-C Apple Pencil at a record-low price

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If you're eager to snag some tech deals during October Prime Day next week, you'll be happy to know you can already do so today. Apple deals can be hit or miss during sale events like this, but at the moment, we're seeing a record-low price on the USB-C Apple Pencil. You can grab the peripheral for onl y $69, which is $10 off and the lowest price we've seen. While not a huge discount, it does represent a savings of 13 percent, and it is currently the most affordable Apple Pencil you can buy.

Apple debuted this model last year as its most budget-friendly Apple Pencil so far, and this sale makes the peripheral even more wallet-friendly. However, Apple's long had a problem with making it clear to consumers which version of the stylus is compatible with their iPad.

For the sake of clarity, here are all the iPad models with which the USB-C Apple Pencil works:

  • iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)

  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later )

  • iPad Pro 11-inch (all models)

  • iPad Air 13-inch (M2)

  • iPad Air 11-inch (M2)

  • iPad Air (4th generation and later)

  • iPad (10th generation)

  • iPad mini (6th generation)

Although being able to charge the peripheral with a USB-C cable is handy, this version does lack some of the fancier features of the Apple Pencil Pro (which you can also snag on discount now for $116) and second-gen Apple Pencil. While you can attach it to the side of iPads with magnetic holders for safekeeping and convenience, there's no support for magnetic charging. Pressure sensitivity isn't available and you can't use Apple's nifty double-tap feature. However, the company says the USB-C Apple Pencil does support pixel-perfect accuracy, low latency and tilt sensitivity.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/early-prime-day-apple-deals-include-the-usb-c-apple-pencil-at-a-record-low-price-144636083.html?src=rss

Valve’s Deadlock lets you turn cheaters into frogs

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Valve is continuing the wonderful tradition of messing with people who feel the need to cheat in multiplayer games. In the latest update to Deadlock, the company's wildly popular new hero shooter that's currently invite-only, Valve added the game's first anti-cheat system.

When the system detects a cheater, Deadlock will offer the opposing team a choice. They can have the rulebreaker banned immediately and end the match right away. Behind door number two is the option to transform the cheater into a frog for the rest of the game. Valve will ban them afterwards. Valve will roll out this approach to bans over the next day or so. The results of affected matches won't count for the other players in the lobby.

It's a very funny approach to tackling an all-too-common problem. Activision has also tried a number of approaches to embarrass Call of Duty cheaters, from cutting the parachutes of detected violators who drop into Warzone to taking their guns away. Banning cheaters is important, but why not have some fun at their expense first?

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/valves-deadlock-lets-you-turn-cheaters-into-frogs-172744142.html?src=rss

An Amazon Echo Show 5 and Blink Outdoor 4 bundle drops to only $60 ahead of Prime Day

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We typically see some Amazon devices, including Blink cameras, drop in price ahead of both Prime Days in July and October. This time around, Prime members have an exclusive deal available to them right now on a bundle that includes the Echo Show 5 smart display and a Blink Outdoor 4 camera system for only $60. That's a whopping $130 off the standard price and a record low. It's part of a larger early Prime Day sale on Blink devices, including multi-camera systems, video doorbells and more.

This bundle is one that makes a lot of sense. You'll be able to use your Echo Show 5 to get a live view of whatever the Blink Outdoor 4 camera is capturing with a simple Alexa command.

We recommend both products individually in our guides. We believe the Blink Outdoor 4 is the best wireless security camera around. The name is a bit of a misnomer as you can easily place it inside your home too, not least because it runs on two AA batteries. You'll only need to replace the cells every two years or so.

If you do place the camera outside, you can rest easy knowing that it's weather resistant. Other features include night vision, motion detection and two-way audio. You will need a Blink Subscription Plan to store clips in the cloud. Otherwise, you can save footage locally with a Sync Module 2 (which is available separately) and USB flash drive.

As for the Echo Show 5, it's one of the best smart displays with Amazon Alexa (only beaten out by its larger sibling, the Echo Show 8). It's a compact, 5.5-inch smart display that works well as an alarm clock on your nightstand. The tap-to-snooze function comes in handy there, while there's a sunrise alarm that gradually brightens the screen.

The Echo Show 5 does have a built-in camera, which might give you cause for concern if you want to place it by your bed. But the physical camera cover should sate any privacy concerns on that front.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/an-amazon-echo-show-5-and-blink-outdoor-4-bundle-drops-to-only-60-ahead-of-prime-day-144736754.html?src=rss

The Last of Us season two trailer shows Ellie in danger and Joel in… therapy?

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September 26 is The Last of Us Day and to mark the occasion, HBO has dropped the first proper trailer for season two of its misery simulator TV adaptation. This expands on a sizzle reel we saw several weeks ago, which included the first glimpses of Catherine O’Hara’s character (seemingly a therapist) and Kaitlyn Dever as a pivotal newcomer, Abby. There’s more of both here, including that terrifying sequence of infected nearly crushing Abby under a chain-link fence.

There are quite a few other recognizable moments from The Last of Us Part II in the new clip, including an encounter between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and an infected in an abandoned supermarket and a famous scene of her playing guitar for Dina (Isabela Merced). The game’s subway segment is featured, along with the Seraphites and Jeffrey Wright, who reprises his Part II role as the leader of a militant faction. Of course, Joel (Pedro Pascal) is featured throughout the trailer too — he plays guitar with Ellie and sheds a tear, seemingly while in a therapy appointment with O'Hara.

Unfortunately, the clip doesn’t narrow down the release date for the season, which will air in 2025. However, HBO boss Casey Bloys recently indicated it will arrive in the first half of next year to make it eligible for the next Emmy awards (the same goes for the next season of The White Lotus).

Elsewhere, Naughty Dog is marking TLoU Day in its own way with some new merch and other tidbits. There’s a new bunch of TLoU-related avatars and emoji you can pick up using Steam Points, along with a thematic Steam Deck startup video. Meanwhile, PS Plus Extra and Premium members have access to the PS5 remake of the first game at no extra cost starting today.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-last-of-us-season-two-trailer-shows-ellie-in-danger-and-joel-in-therapy-160401898.html?src=rss

Early Prime Day deal bundles a free $30 gift card with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds

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Here’s a tasty offer for anyone who’s been on the fence about picking up the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. If you snap up the earbuds from Amazon, you can claim a free $30 gift card.

There's no discount on the earbuds themselves, unfortunately, as they still cost $229. That's not a huge shock, since they were only just released. Still, you'll at least get a $30 gift card that you can spend on whatever you want on Amazon.

We gave the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, the company's first earbuds with a Tensor chip built-in, a score of 88 in our review. Engadget senior reporter Billy Steele appreciated the comfortable design and the sound quality (citing the "punchy bass, full mids, crisp highs"). Those features alone make the upgrade worthwhile. Having a longer battery life than the previous model is a definite plus, while you'll get hands-free access to Gemini AI on a compatible device.

On the downside, spatial audio is only available for video-streaming apps for the time being, but not audio, so that's odd. You'll also need to be more precise when it comes to using the touch controls, as there's a smaller panel to work with. Google has also increased the price with the latest version of the Pixel Buds Pro, but at least the $30 gift card offsets that.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/early-prime-day-deal-bundles-a-free-30-gift-card-with-the-google-pixel-buds-pro-2-earbuds-150229486.html?src=rss

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed until February 14

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You can strike one game off of the busy fall 2024 calender. Ubisoft has delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows until February 14. It was originally supposed to hit PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac and iPad on November 15.

You can probably guess the main reason why Ubisoft is pushing the latest entry in the saga back by a few months. While all of the features are largely set, the company needs more time to iterate on them and to polish the game as a whole.

"We understand this decision will come as disappointing news, especially to those who've been waiting patiently for an Assassin's Creed game inspired by Feudal Japan, but we sincerely believe this is in the best interest of the game, and ultimately your experience as a player," Assassin's Creed executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté wrote in a statement on X.

In a financial statement [PDF], Ubisoft said it made the call to delay Assassin's Creed Shadows partly because of what it learned from the release of Star Wars Outlaws. One of the main criticisms levied against that game is that it had too many punishing stealth sequences, especially in the early goings. Ubisoft has rolled out some changes to make those parts of the game less onerous.

Ubisoft confirmed that despite positive reviews, the initial sales of Star Wars Outlaws "proved softer than expected." It's hoping to polish Outlaws and improve the player experience to help the game find a larger audience during the holiday period. To help with that, the title will hit Steam on November 21.

To that end, Ubisoft is hoping that the extra time it's taking with Assassin’s Creed Shadows will allow "the biggest entry in the franchise to fully deliver on its ambition, notably by fulfilling the promise of our dual protagonist adventure, with Naoe and Yasuke bringing two very different gameplay styles."

Meanwhile, Ubisoft says it's shaking up some of its business practices with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It says this game will mark the return of the company bringing its games to Steam at launch, rather than making them exclusive to Ubisoft Connect on PC for several months. It's also planning to ditch the Season Pass model. There will be no early access period, but those who preorder Assassin’s Creed Shadows will get the first expansion for free.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/assassins-creed-shadows-is-delayed-until-february-14-184514006.html?src=rss

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed until February 14

Posted on by

You can strike one game off of the busy fall 2024 calender. Ubisoft has delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows until February 14. It was originally supposed to hit PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac and iPad on November 15.

You can probably guess the main reason why Ubisoft is pushing the latest entry in the saga back by a few months. While all of the features are largely set, the company needs more time to iterate on them and to polish the game as a whole.

"We understand this decision will come as disappointing news, especially to those who've been waiting patiently for an Assassin's Creed game inspired by Feudal Japan, but we sincerely believe this is in the best interest of the game, and ultimately your experience as a player," Assassin's Creed executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté wrote in a statement on X.

In a financial statement [PDF], Ubisoft said it made the call to delay Assassin's Creed Shadows partly because of what it learned from the release of Star Wars Outlaws. One of the main criticisms levied against that game is that it had too many punishing stealth sequences, especially in the early goings. Ubisoft has rolled out some changes to make those parts of the game less onerous.

Ubisoft confirmed that despite positive reviews, the initial sales of Star Wars Outlaws "proved softer than expected." It's hoping to polish Outlaws and improve the player experience to help the game find a larger audience during the holiday period. To help with that, the title will hit Steam on November 21.

To that end, Ubisoft is hoping that the extra time it's taking with Assassin’s Creed Shadows will allow "the biggest entry in the franchise to fully deliver on its ambition, notably by fulfilling the promise of our dual protagonist adventure, with Naoe and Yasuke bringing two very different gameplay styles."

Meanwhile, Ubisoft says it's shaking up some of its business practices with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It says this game will mark the return of the company bringing its games to Steam at launch, rather than making them exclusive to Ubisoft Connect on PC for several months. It's also planning to ditch the Season Pass model. There will be no early access period, but those who preorder Assassin’s Creed Shadows will get the first expansion for free.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/assassins-creed-shadows-is-delayed-until-february-14-184514006.html?src=rss

Meta reveals its Orion AR smart glasses

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Alongside the Quest 3S and AI updates, we got a glimpse of Meta's future at Meta Connect. After teasing the device several times in recent months, the company finally gave the world a proper look at its "full holographic" augmented reality glasses, which it's currently calling Orion. Meta is packing a lot of tech into those chunky frames, which aren't coming to market just yet.

The company first revealed five years ago that it was developing holographic smart glasses, but it has actually been working on the project for a decade. It claims that this is "the most advanced pair of AR glasses ever made" and results from "breakthrough inventions in virtually every field of modern computing." For one thing, it uses itty bitty projectors to display holograms onto the glasses.

These glasses appear far less cumbersome to wear than previous mainstream AR products such as Magic Leap, Microsoft's Hololens and even Google Glass. They also don't block you out from the rest of the world like a virtual reality headset (though Meta's headsets do allow you to see what's around you via the onboard cameras). As a result, you can see wearers' full faces, eyes and expressions without having to resort to a weird, eerie workaround like Apple is doing with EyeSight on the Vision Pro.

A person wearing Meta's Orion AR smart glasses
Meta

Meta said Orion is lightweight and works both indoors and outdoors. The company claims that the glasses allow for "digital experiences that are unconstrained by the limits of a smartphone screen" as they overlay holographic elements on top of the real world. In addition, Meta said Orion integrates contextual AI to help you gain a better understanding of the world around you.

The company added that you'll be able to look inside a fridge with the glasses on and get Meta AI to come up with a recipe based on what you have. You should be able hop onto video calls via Orion and view and send messages on Messenger and WhatsApp. Based on images that Meta shared, there will also be holographic versions of various other apps, such as Spotify, YouTube and Pinterest. 

A person wearing Meta's Orion AR smart glasses and looking at a holographic overlay of a video call and apps.
Meta

There's one key reason why Meta has been able to keep Orion lightweight: not all of the required tech is actually in the frame of the glasses. Orion comes with a required wireless puck that handles much of the processing and beams apps and content to the device. There's also a bracelet that you'll need to wear for gesture control. 

You're likely going to have to wait a few years to get your hands on this device (or at least a version of it). For the time being, Meta employees and "select external audiences" are able to use Orion. That's in order to help the company learn more and iterate on the product as it works toward a consumer version of the AR glasses.

Still, Meta claims that Orion is not just a research prototype but is instead "one of the most polished product prototypes we’ve ever developed, and is truly representative of something that could ship to consumers." By continuing to work on the product internally, "we can keep building quickly and continue to push the boundaries of the technology, helping us arrive at an even better consumer product faster," the company said. Part of that iteration includes bringing down the price of the glasses to make them more affordable, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

A roadmap that leaked last year indicated that Meta planned to release its first consumer AR glasses in 2027, though the company says it's aiming to do so "in the near future." As it happens, Snap also recently debuted its fifth-gen AR Spectacles, but for now those are only available to developers who are willing to pay a monthly $99 fee.

Catch up on all the news from Meta Connect 2024!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-reveals-its-orion-smart-glasses-175353381.html?src=rss

Meta reveals its Orion AR smart glasses

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Alongside the Quest 3S and AI updates, we got a glimpse of Meta's future at Meta Connect. After teasing the device several times in recent months, the company finally gave the world a proper look at its "full holographic" augmented reality glasses, which it's currently calling Orion. Meta is packing a lot of tech into those chunky frames, which aren't coming to market just yet.

The company first revealed five years ago that it was developing holographic smart glasses, but it has actually been working on the project for a decade. It claims that this is "the most advanced pair of AR glasses ever made" and results from "breakthrough inventions in virtually every field of modern computing." For one thing, it uses itty bitty projectors to display holograms onto the glasses.

These glasses appear far less cumbersome to wear than previous mainstream AR products such as Magic Leap, Microsoft's Hololens and even Google Glass. They also don't block you out from the rest of the world like a virtual reality headset (though Meta's headsets do allow you to see what's around you via the onboard cameras). As a result, you can see wearers' full faces, eyes and expressions without having to resort to a weird, eerie workaround like Apple is doing with EyeSight on the Vision Pro.

A person wearing Meta's Orion AR smart glasses
Meta

Meta said Orion is lightweight and works both indoors and outdoors. The company claims that the glasses allow for "digital experiences that are unconstrained by the limits of a smartphone screen" as they overlay holographic elements on top of the real world. In addition, Meta said Orion integrates contextual AI to help you gain a better understanding of the world around you.

The company added that you'll be able to look inside a fridge with the glasses on and get Meta AI to come up with a recipe based on what you have. You should be able hop onto video calls via Orion and view and send messages on Messenger and WhatsApp. Based on images that Meta shared, there will also be holographic versions of various other apps, such as Spotify, YouTube and Pinterest. 

A person wearing Meta's Orion AR smart glasses and looking at a holographic overlay of a video call and apps.
Meta

There's one key reason why Meta has been able to keep Orion lightweight: not all of the required tech is actually in the frame of the glasses. Orion comes with a required wireless puck that handles much of the processing and beams apps and content to the device. There's also a bracelet that you'll need to wear for gesture control. 

You're likely going to have to wait a few years to get your hands on this device (or at least a version of it). For the time being, Meta employees and "select external audiences" are able to use Orion. That's in order to help the company learn more and iterate on the product as it works toward a consumer version of the AR glasses.

Still, Meta claims that Orion is not just a research prototype but is instead "one of the most polished product prototypes we’ve ever developed, and is truly representative of something that could ship to consumers." By continuing to work on the product internally, "we can keep building quickly and continue to push the boundaries of the technology, helping us arrive at an even better consumer product faster," the company said. Part of that iteration includes bringing down the price of the glasses to make them more affordable, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

A roadmap that leaked last year indicated that Meta planned to release its first consumer AR glasses in 2027, though the company says it's aiming to do so "in the near future." As it happens, Snap also recently debuted its fifth-gen AR Spectacles, but for now those are only available to developers who are willing to pay a monthly $99 fee.

Catch up on all the news from Meta Connect 2024!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-reveals-its-orion-smart-glasses-175353381.html?src=rss

Prime Day starts tomorrow and the Ring Pan-Tilt indoor Cam is already on sale for a record-low of $50

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Ring devices are on sale for October Prime Day already, joining a bevy of other Amazon devices that have discounts you can snag right now. Take, for instance, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, which was unveiled back in May. The device is on sale for $50. That's a discount of $30 and its lowest price to date.

There's no prizes for guessing what this camera can do — it has a motorized base that can rotate 360 degrees to give you a complete view of the room (as long as it's positioned optimally, of course). The camera also has a tilt range of 169 degrees and it captures HD video. It has the same features as other indoor Ring cams, such as Live View and two-way talk. Those with a Ring Protect Plan will gain access to additional features. There's also a physical privacy shutter that disengages the mic and camera.

Elsewhere, the new Ring Battery Doorbell is 40 percent off and down to $60 and the Doorbell Pro is 35 percent off and down to $150. These are both some of the newest video doorbells Ring has debut over the past year, and both have easy-to-remove batteries that you'll recharge periodically to keep the devices running.

Also, the regular Ring Indoor Cam has dropped to $30, which again marks a record low. It's 50 percent off the usual price of $60. Likewise, the Ring Stick Up Camera Pro is half off and has reached a record low price. This model, which is designed to withstand regular rain and snow while capturing footage in 1080p HDR, is on sale for $90.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/prime-day-starts-tomorrow-and-the-ring-pan-tilt-indoor-cam-is-already-on-sale-for-a-record-low-of-50-144458370.html?src=rss