Author Archives: Sarah Fielding

Logitech gaming accessories are up to 50 percent off in early Black Friday sale

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Black Friday is still a couple of weeks away, but the sales are already starting. Take Logitech, which has markdowns on lots of its best devices on Amazon, including the G733 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset. The well-made and stylish headphones (we named them one of the cutest gaming accessories) are currently $120, down from $150 — a 20 percent discount. 

Logitech's G733 headset backs up its good looks with powerful sound, a 20-meter range and up to 29 hours of battery life. Plus, its stretchy band and interchangeable earbud tips give you a comfortable, easy fit. 

Among the many other Logitech mice, keyboards and headphones currently for sale, there are a few other stand outs to look into. The G Fits True Wireless Gaming Earbuds are down to $150 from $230 — a 35 percent discount. These are a great option if you just can't get earbuds to stay in your ear, with Logitech's Lightform technology molding the device to your ear in just one minute upon first use. They also come with 10mm drivers, dual built-in beamforming microphones and passive noise canceling. 

OK, enough about listening — let's talk about the tools you need for gameplay. The G Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse is currently marked down 38 percent, dropping to $80 from $130. Logitech built the mouse with input from professional esports gamers, and it shows, touting features like a 1-millisecond report rate connection and up to 25,600 DPI. Looking for a cheap entry point into Logitech's devices? Try the G203 Wired Gaming Mouse, down to $20 from $40 — a 50 percent discount. 

Logitech's G915 Lightspeed RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard rounds out some of our favorites on sale with a 36 percent price cut, making the device available for $160 instead of $250. The wireless keyboard provides 30 hours of gameplay and 16.8 million color options. Plus, you can choose between three distinct sounds for your perfect level of clacking. 

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/logitech-gaming-accessories-are-up-to-50-percent-off-in-early-black-friday-sale-103543145.html?src=rss

Samsung’s SmartTag 2 four-pack is just $80 right now

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Samsung only debuted its new SmartTag 2 in mid-October, but the device already has a great sale going. Right now, you can get four SmartTag 2 trackers for just $80, down from $92. The 13 percent price cut puts each one at just $20 — that's quite a saving compared to the $30 a single SmartTag2 costs. 

The original SmartTag came on the scene in 2021 as a counter to the AirTag and Tile — but only for Galaxy users. Now, with its newest iteration, Samsung has updated quite a few features, such as taking the Bluetooth and ultra-wideband (UWB) variants and combining them into one model. The SmartTag2 also does something Apple still hasn't mastered: providing a key ring for its smart tracker. The initial model simply had a punch hole. 

Samsung's SmartTag 2 is also IP67 dust and water-resistant, giving you an easier time for runs in the rain or letting your dog wander around with it in all sorts of weather. Plus, its battery life lasts 50 percent as long as its predecessor, giving you 700 days in Power Saving Mode and 500 days in Normal Mode. At the moment, the SmartTag 2 still only works for Samsung devices, but it's definitely a good option if you have one. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-smarttag-2-four-pack-is-just-80-right-now-122558604.html?src=rss

Amazon is bundling a Fire TV 4K Max and Blink Video Doorbell for $65 in early Black Friday deal

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Amazon bundle deals are a relatively common occurrence, but the latest one is a pairing we'd never expect: Ahead of Black Friday, Prime Members can get the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Blink Video Doorbell as a pair for $65. The Blink Video Doorbell is $60 on its own, so for another five bucks, you're getting the Fire TV Stick 4K Max — not a bad deal. The 4K Max is having its own sale right now, with a 25 percent discount bringing its price to $45 from $60. So, even if you factor in the sale, you're saving $40 overall, a nice steal.

While the only two things these items might seem to have in common is Amazon's ownership, if we think really hard, we can connect them. Well, not having to get up to check who's at the door while using your streaming device is good for starters. No, even better, you can activate Alexa on the Fire TV Stick to engage in two-way audio through the doorbell.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max supports Dolby Atmos audio, Wi-Fi 6E and HDR10+. Meanwhile, the Blink Video Doorbell shows a 1080p HD picture during the day, uses infrared night video and can be wired or wireless, up to you. All-in-all, they're both solid options to add to your home.

If you're just in the market for a new monitoring system, check out the massive sales across Blink's smart home doorbells and cameras lineup. The Blink Mini three-pack is currently 60 percent off, dropping to $40 from $100, while the new fourth-generation Blink Outdoor has four cameras available for 50 percent off, dropping to $180 from $360. Going back to the theme of bundles, you can pick up the whole Blink Home Bundle for 52 percent off, getting a Video DoorBell system, a fourth-gen Outdoor camera and a Mini for $102, down from $215.

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/amazon-is-bundling-a-fire-tv-4k-max-and-blink-video-doorbell-for-65-in-early-black-friday-deal-105046984.html?src=rss

YouTube’s new teen protections limit recommendations on potentially harmful videos

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External studies and internal reports alike have shown time and time again the negative impact social media can have on teens' mental health, leading to a range of safety precautions across platforms. Now, YouTube is expanding its well-being tools for young people, including recommendation limits on videos that could be harmful.

YouTube teamed up with its Youth and Families Advisory Committee to identify types of videos that could have a detrimental effect on a teens' mental health if repeatedly viewed. These categories included videos that idealized certain body weights, features and fitness levels or show social aggression. However, these videos are still searchable (and can be recommended at least once). To this end, YouTube has made its crisis resources — the information that appears if someone searches words like "self-harm" or "eating disorders" — into a full-page panel. The idea is that this will force viewers to take more of a break and more clearly state third-party crisis hotlines and suggestions for searches like "grounding exercises." 

The company is also increasing the frequency of its Bedtime and Take a Break reminders, with the latter automatically set to appear across videos every hour for viewers under 18. The frequency can then be adjusted in settings by the user or a parent. Breaks could be beneficial, given an August 2022 report from Pew Research found that 95 percent of US teens use YouTube, and nearly one-fifth of them are on it "almost constantly." TikTok, meanwhile, was the second most popular platform, with 67 percent of respondents using it — nearly one-third less than YouTube. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtubes-new-teen-protections-limit-recommendations-on-potentially-harmful-videos-133144681.html?src=rss

Netflix’s ad-supported plan will soon allow downloads and reward binge-watching

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Normally, all you get from binge-watching shows on Netflix are dry eyes and a popup asking if you're still watching — has the answer ever been no? But, Netflix is celebrating one year of its ad-supported plan by giving all users on that tier every fourth episode of a consecutive binge ad-free. That's certainly not a bad way to entice you into staying on the streamer for just one more episode (cut to five episodes later without moving).

Netflix is also rolling out downloads on its ad-supported tier, claiming to be the first streamer to make the option available for users who have ads included. While the binge-watching perk wont roll out until early 2024, the ability to download shows and movies should be available by the end of the week. However, it's unclear if downloaded shows will enjoy the binge-watching perk once it rolls out.

For a company that claimed it would never include an ad-supported tier, Netflix has certainly embraced the format since its November 2022 launch. It introduced its first Title Sponsorship during the most recent season of Love Is Blind. Netflix will continue with partnerships for another reality series, Squid Game: The Challenge, and The Crown's final season. Early 2024 will also see advertisers given the option to include a QR code in any of their US-based content.

Netflix's ad-supported plan is by far the cheapest option after the streamer cut its Basic tier in mid-2023. It comes to $6.99 each month, while the Standard plan is $15.49 and the Premium is $22.49. The lowest-priced tier allows for two concurrent streams and has been upgraded to 1080p video quality versus 720p.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflixs-ad-supported-plan-will-soon-allow-downloads-and-reward-binge-watching-115033226.html?src=rss

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds drop back down to a record low ahead of Black Friday

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Calling all Beats fans — or anyone considering an earbud upgrade, really — the Apple-owned tech brand has major sales going right now across its lineup. Notably, a 20 percent discount on the Beats Fit Pro brings the noise-canceling earbuds back down to their all-time low price for newer colors, coral pink, volt yellow and tidal blue. The earbuds have dropped to $160 from $200, a deal last seen on October Prime Day.

When the Beats Fit Pro launched in 2021, we were impressed with its comfortable fit and inclusion of spatial audio, hands-free Siri and solid noise-canceling abilities. The earbuds work on Apple's H1 Platform, come with dynamic head tracking and can hold up to seven hours of battery without noise canceling, 30 hours with the case. 

The Beats Studio Buds + are also $40 off, down to $130 from $170. They don't have all of the Fit Pro's features — the Studio Buds + use the company's Proprietary Platform and don't offer dynamic head tracking, ANC that adapts to external noise or bright colors. However, they do have a better battery life, lasting for nine hours when noise canceling is off and 36 hours with the case. 

If you're more of a headphone person, the last — and best — deal is for you. The Beats Studio Pro headphones are down to $200 from $350 — a 43 percent discount. These headphones offer ANC and transparency modes, lossless audio and a range of on-ear controls. Plus, they have the longest battery life, lasting up to 40 hours and offering a 10-minute Fast Fuel charge for another four hours of listening time. 

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/the-beats-fit-pro-earbuds-drop-back-down-to-a-record-low-ahead-of-black-friday-101752253.html?src=rss

Microsoft bans ‘unauthorized’ third-party Xbox controllers and accessories

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Microsoft is putting its foot down when it comes to unauthorized controller use. The company has begun banning any third-party Xbox controllers and accessories that aren't part of the "designed for Xbox" hardware partner program. A gamer posted the news to Restera after plugging in an Xbox-compatible controller and receiving a notification about the ban.

The error code is explained in detail on Microsoft's support blog: "From the moment you connect an unauthorized accessory and receive error code 0x82d60002, you'll have two weeks to use the accessory, after which time it will then be blocked from use with the console." Microsoft's advice? Get in touch with the company you bought the controller from and return it — a bit savage, but very clear.

Microsoft's motivation for the crackdown could stem, in part, from a desire to block cheat devices like Cronus Zen. Fellow gaming companies have been working hard to ban their use during gameplay. Of course, Microsoft's decision could also stem from a probable increase in sales of their own controllers and accessories.

Brook Gaming, one of the companies with impacted products, released a statement assuring customers that it would "spare no effort in identifying potential solutions" to this new policy. In the meantime, there's likely to be a drop in sales for its and other third-party manufacturers' Xbox products.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-bans-unauthorized-third-party-xbox-controllers-and-accessories-124703807.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Echo Show smart displays fall back to all-time lows

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A few of the Echo Show devices are touting major sales right now, dropping to their all-time-low prices. The 2023 third-generation Echo Show 5 has fallen to $40 from $90 — a 56 percent discount. The Echo Show 8 is marked down nearly as much, with a 54 percent discount bringing its price to $60 from $130. 

The third-gen Echo Show 5 is a great option if you're looking for a simple smart home device that does all the basics your family needs. Its 5.5-inch 960 x 480 resolution display is perfect for checking the weather, picking a song or displaying your favorite photos. It also has a 2MP camera for making video calls or checking in on your home while you're away. Listen to Prime Video, Spotify and more through its 1.7-inch speaker. 

While there's a newer Echo Show 8 available, there's still a lot to love about the second-gen model (and not just that it comes without a $150 price tag). The eight-inch screen has a 1,200 x 800 resolution display that can do all the same things the Echo Show 5 can, just in better quality — plus, it can stream Netflix, while its counterpart can't. The Echo Show 8 also comes with a 13MP camera with auto-framing to look your best while on video calls. 

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/amazons-echo-show-smart-displays-fall-back-to-all-time-lows-114005160.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Echo Show smart displays fall back to all-time lows

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A few of the Echo Show devices are touting major sales right now, dropping to their all-time-low prices. The 2023 third-generation Echo Show 5 has fallen to $40 from $90 — a 56 percent discount. The Echo Show 8 is marked down nearly as much, with a 54 percent discount bringing its price to $60 from $130. 

The third-gen Echo Show 5 is a great option if you're looking for a simple smart home device that does all the basics your family needs. Its 5.5-inch 960 x 480 resolution display is perfect for checking the weather, picking a song or displaying your favorite photos. It also has a 2MP camera for making video calls or checking in on your home while you're away. Listen to Prime Video, Spotify and more through its 1.7-inch speaker. 

While there's a newer Echo Show 8 available, there's still a lot to love about the second-gen model (and not just that it comes without a $150 price tag). The eight-inch screen has a 1,200 x 800 resolution display that can do all the same things the Echo Show 5 can, just in better quality — plus, it can stream Netflix, while its counterpart can't. The Echo Show 8 also comes with a 13MP camera with auto-framing to look your best while on video calls. 

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/amazons-echo-show-smart-displays-fall-back-to-all-time-lows-114005160.html?src=rss

Sony’s WH-1000XM5 ANC headphones drop to $330

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While there are plenty of good headphones on the market, Sony's WH-1000XM5 ANC model is really in a league of its own. Now, the temptation to pick up our favorite wireless headphones of the year has spiked thanks to an 18 percent discount, dropping Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones to $330 from $400. This deal brings them just $2 short of their Prime Day all-time-low $328. 

So what makes the WH-1000XM5 headphones so great even a year and a half after Sony released them? The headphones have an unmatched mix of features, including a remarkable sound quality that is crisp and clear while providing a punchy bass during 30 hours of battery life. The M5 comes with eight ANC mics — double that of its predecessor. Plus, the wireless headphones have an updated fit that makes the 0.55-pound device feel light and remarkably comfortable. It's no surprise we gave them a 95 in our initial review. 

Sony's top-tier headphones also have all the controls you need without having to pick up your phone. You can use physical and touch control buttons to change the song, make a call or change the noise mode (which can also change automatically as you move throughout the day). The Speak-to-Chat feature will even pause your audio as soon as you start talking. 

If you're more of an earbuds person, Sony's WF-1000XM5 buds are down to a record-low price of $250. These just came out this summer and they feature a ton of improvements like upgraded drivers, new chips and a big bump in sound quality. The WF-1000XM5 are more comfortable than their predecessors, and they support advanced features like adaptive sound and Speak-to-Chat.

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/sonys-wh-1000xm5-anc-headphones-drop-to-330-100824048.html?src=rss