We learned last month that Call of Duty would be making the leap to the big screen with a planned motion picture project. Today, Deadline reported that two of the main creative forces behind the movie will be Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg.
Sheridan and Berg previously both worked on the 2016 film Hell or High Water and 2017's Wind River. Berg was a producer on those projects, but he's perhaps better known as a writer for the football drama Friday Night Lights. Sheridan's most recent endeavor was TV series Yellowstone, and he also worked on Lioness, Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King. For Paramount's Call of Duty adaptation, both will produce and co-write, while Berg is currently on board to direct.
Since the writers and director have only just been locked down, there still hasn't been any public discussion of what era of the lucrative CoD franchise the movie will tackle. Based on the duo's past work, something contemporary seems most likely, but it may be awhile before we have any confirmation of the story or casting.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/paramounts-call-of-duty-movie-taps-the-writers-of-yellowstone-and-friday-night-lights-175331091.html?src=rss
Early Black Friday deals are starting to pop up across the web, and a great one to check out is at Dyson. While we still think you have the best shot to get the steepest discounts the closer to Black Friday we get, some of the discounts on Dyson's site right now are some of the best we've seen. One of those is $290 off the Dyson V8 Absolute cordless vacuum, bringing it down to $300.
Dyson devices are all over our list of the best cordless vacuums, and for good reason. The company makes effective products. The V8 Absolute has been designed to clean all floor types, in addition to upholstery. It's also been engineered to squeeze into tight spots, which is great for hitting those oft-neglected parts of the home.
The suction power is on point and the battery lasts for 40 minutes before requiring a charge. That's just enough time to vacuum a standard-sized home if you don't stop for too many breaks. This model also comes with a HEPA filter.
The V8 is getting a bit long-in-the-tooth. If you want a newer model, the V11 Extra is on sale for $400, which is a discount of $260. This one boosts the suction power and increases the battery life to 60 minutes.
The early Black Friday sale isn't just for cordless vacuums. The 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum is on sale right now for $500, which is a massive discount of $500. This is one of our favorite robot vacuums, primarily because of its incredible suction power.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/dyson-black-friday-deals-early-sales-include-more-than-290-off-cordless-vacuums-173533605.html?src=rss
Unless you're a PC nerd like me, chances are you're not familiar with Fractal Design. The company has made a name for itself in recent years by designing some of the best cases you can buy for a DIY build. In a space known for its gaudy aesthetics, Fractal's products stand out for their simplicity. Now the company is entering the crowded audio space with the $200 Scape, a gaming headset that not only looks sophisticated, but also sounds surprisingly great too.
Design
The Fractal Scape features an attractive mix of materials.
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
I mentioned the design of the Scape first, and for good reason. It shows attention to detail, with a lot of thoughtful flourishes. The best of those is the dock that comes included with the headset. It charges the Scape inductively, so there's no need to align any charging pins, and it cleverly houses the headset's 2.4GHz wireless transmitter. When connected to your main PC, the dongle can sit inside the dock, ready to go when you want to use it with your PlayStation 5, PS4, Nintendo Switch or another PC or Mac (sorry, Microsoft fans, there's no Xbox support). The base also has wire channels to make cable management easy.
Those same thoughtful design touches extend to the headset itself. On the back are four buttons, a dial and a toggle that cover nearly every function of the Scape. You can adjust the volume, mute the built-in mic, switch between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, power the headset on or off, turn the RGB lighting on or off and switch between three EQ presets. What’s more, all of the controls feel distinct and are easy to use. There's also a USB-C connection for wired audio and a three-pole headphone jack for the detachable microphone.
The headset is primarily made of plastic, with a touch of brushed metal. Fractal offers the Scape in two colors — the aptly named light and dark — and despite the company's choice of materials, the headset feels undoubtedly premium. Tilt adjustment is limited — it's not possible to lay the ear pads flat on a table, for example — but the headband offers a fair amount of resistance, adding to the high-end feel.
That said, the Scape could be more comfortable. Clamping force feels just about right, but there's not enough padding along the top of the headband. I found I could wear the headphones for a few hours, but I eventually had to take them off to relieve the pressure that had built up on the top of my head. I'm also not a fan of the fabric Fractal used for both the headband and ear pads. It feels scratchy and it's not great at dissipating heat. Thankfully, the high-density memory foam beneath is plush and the pads were deep and wide enough to comfortably accommodate my ears.
Fractal has made it easy to swap the ear pads if needed; they come right off with just a small amount of force. For the time being, the company isn't selling replacements, but a spokesperson told me Fractal will send customers who need new pads a set for free. You just need to contact their support team.
Sound quality
The Scape comes with a set of custom-tuned drivers.
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
Out of the box, the Scape's dynamic drivers are tuned to a soft v-shaped curve, with an emphasis on accuracy over character. Bass frequencies are punchy without being bloated, and there's nice detail to mid-focused instruments like guitars. To my ear, the one issue with the Scape's default tuning were the upper mids and treble frequencies. They weren't shouty to the point of being sibilant, but there was definitely a harshness to the vocals of singers like Jeff Buckley and Caroline Polachek who are known for their falsetto. Thankfully, this was easy to fix with the Scape's built-in EQ settings.
I'll have more to say in the software section of this review, but Fractal's Adjust app allows you to make parametric EQ adjustments. This is different to most gaming headsets, which often limit people to restrictive fixed-band tweaks. Even when I used just five potential points of customization, I found I had a great deal of control over the tonality of the Scape.
Overall, for casual music listening these are excellent headphones capable of covering many different genres. When it comes to gaming, they're great too — with some caveats. For singleplayer games, the default tunings are an excellent match. Playing Ghost of Tsushima, the Scape did a great job of reproducing the game's immersive sound design, allowing me to soak in all the little audio details Sucker Punch packed into its rendition of 13th century Japan. The soundstaging isn't as expansive and lush as I'm used to with my Sennheiser HD 600, but for a pair of closed-back headphones, it's above average.
When it comes to competitive first-person shooters, some tweaks are required. I found all the default presets produced too much bass to easily isolate sound cues in games like Valorant. Again, Fractal's software made this simple to fix; however, the Scape can only store three presets. Some gaming headsets, particularly those from Steelseries, come with tunings for hundreds of different games. For the ultra-competitive gamer, this can be useful since every game has a different sound engine. I'm not one of those people, so I found the Scape had just the right amount of customization.
A closeup of the Scape's volume dial.
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
One feature you won't find on these headphones is active noise cancellation (ANC). Don't get me wrong, ANC is great, but I also didn't feel like the Scape was a worse product without it. My girlfriend is a Pelton fanatic and she does all of her daily classes without wearing headphones in our small apartment. In that situation, the Scape's passive noise isolation was enough to block the loud music coming from those workouts.
That said, the one area where the Scape could have been better is Bluetooth connectivity. It's a 5.3 headset, but codec support is limited to SBC and AAC. If you've ever tried a pair of wireless headphones only to be disappointed by how they sounded, SBC was probably to blame. When I used the Scape over Bluetooth, there was a subtle difference, but in a beat 'em up like Absolum, the game's excellent sound design was less effective because it sounded more compressed, with more lag between what was happening on-screen and the effects that followed.
I would have liked to see Fractal support more modern codecs like aptX Adaptive, but given that you need a dongle like the Creative BT-W6 to get access to those protocols on PCs and consoles, I can't fault the company for its decision. Also missing from the Bluetooth equation is multipoint support, meaning I wasn't able to connect the Scape to my PC or Switch and my iPhone at the same time.
The Scape's detachable microphone is fine but uninspiring. In listening back to a chat I had with some friends over Discord, I found the Scape compressed my voice to the point where there wasn't a lot of life or nuance to it. The optional noise cancellation algorithm does a good job of filtering out nearby commotion, but does so at the expense of adding more compression. You can flip the microphone to mute yourself, and if you're feeling lazy, the Scape also has a built-in mic — though it sounds about as good as you might imagine. Still, it's handy in a pinch.
Software
Fractal's Adjust app is web-based and easy to use.
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
I mentioned Fractal's Adjust software, but what I didn't note is that it's not an app you need to install on your computer. Instead, it's a website you can access through any Chrome-based browser. It's a small thing, but one I really appreciate. I can't count how many times I've had to troubleshoot issues with Windows that were caused by a conflict created by Logitech G Hub or NZXT Cam.
The web-based software itself is simple, with two pages, named Lighting and Audio, encompassing all the options you can tweak. The Scape comes with 10 lighting themes out of the box, and like the headset itself, these presets are understated and classy. Naturally, you can also create your own lighting schemes, and the tool for doing so is fairly robust.
A closeup of the Fractal Scape's EQ button
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
When it comes to the EQ adjustments you can make with the Adjust app, the one thing I'll add here is any presets you save are stored on the Scape, so they're available everywhere you want to use the headset. That was great because it meant I didn't need to Alt-Tab out of a game to switch the headset to a more competitive tuning.
The one area where Fractal's software feels lacking is when it comes to microphone controls. It's possible to adjust sidetone (the volume of your mic input as heard through the headset) and enable microphone noise cancellation, but that’s it. It'd be nice if it was possible to configure those settings for the two mics independently of one another, but the software doesn't support that right now.
Battery life
According to Fractal, the Scape can go up to 40 hours on a single charge with RGB lighting off. With the feature turned on, battery life drops to about 26 hours. I'll be honest, I had a tough time putting those claims to the test because of how easy it is to charge the headset. As best as I can tell, those estimates are accurate. I managed to get three days of battery life from the Scape with the RGB lights turned on and about eight hours of use each day.
One nice touch: when you tap the power button, the RGB lights will briefly illuminate to indicate how much battery life the Scape has left. Those same lights will turn off when you place the headset to charge so that they're not distracting.
The competition
With the Scape, Fractal has entered a crowded market. That said, the Scape is competitive with some of the best gaming headsets you can buy right now. At $200, it's $100 cheaper than the Audeze Maxwell, Engadget's pick for the best premium gaming headset. The Scape doesn't sound as good as the Maxwell or offer LDAC support for Bluetooth connectivity, but it's lighter and charging is easier thanks to the included charging base. If you ask me, the Scape also looks a lot better too.
If you can't live without ANC, your best bet is Razer's BlackShark V3 Pro, but it costs $50 more and doesn't sound as good as the Scape. You also need to put up with Razer's annoying Synapse software. For the best mic on a gaming headset, my longstanding recommendation has been the $199 Drop PC38X. It also has one of the best default tunings for competitive gaming. However, it's a wired headset, and Drop doesn’t offer a wireless option.
Wrap-up
The charging station also houses the Scape's 2.4GHz transmitter.
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
If you can't tell by now, I think the Fractal Scape is a great gaming headset. There are models like the Audeze Maxwell that beat it in one or two categories, but for $200 the Scape is an excellent all-around package. Nitpicks about comfort aside, the Scape sounds and looks great. It's also a tremendous first effort by Fractal, and I can't wait to see what the company does next in the audio space and beyond.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/fractal-design-scape-review-a-stellar-debut-173000007.html?src=rss
For anyone who juggles creative projects, streaming, or multitasking throughout the day, a regular keyboard just doesn’t cut it anymore for complex workflows. Shortcuts, macros, and visual feedback can make or break your workflow, but most macro pads feel either too basic for serious work or too locked down to customize the way you actually need them to function properly for your specific use case.
The Waveshare MK20 macro keyboard changes the game with 20 mechanical keys, each topped with a full-color LCD display, a 2.8-inch secondary screen, and dual programmable knobs for precise control. It’s a control deck that’s as expressive as it is powerful, designed for users who want complete creative freedom over their workspace and workflow without compromising on build quality or functionality.
The MK20’s compact, square form is crafted from aluminum alloy with a 2.5D high-transparency acrylic lens, giving it a premium, sturdy feel that matches high-end keyboards and professional gear. Available in black or white finishes, it looks right at home next to professional monitors and mechanical keyboards on any creative desk. The build quality is immediately apparent, with satisfying tactile feedback and durable materials throughout.
Each 0.85-inch LCD keycap can display static images, animated GIFs, or even video snippets, letting you theme your deck for different apps, games, or moods throughout your day and workflow changes. The secondary 2.8-inch display up top shows system stats, weather widgets, or custom information at a glance. The 20-screen splicing feature lets you create panoramic backgrounds across all keys for stunning visual effects.
Two high-precision, anti-slip aluminum knobs can be programmed for volume, timeline scrubbing, zoom, or any function you need during work or play sessions. Both rotation and press actions are supported, making them perfect for creative software like Premiere Pro or Photoshop, where precision control matters most. The tactile feel and smooth operation make adjustments satisfying and accurate every time you use them.
The MK20 runs a dual-system architecture with a T113-S3 processor running Linux for complex display logic and a GD32 MCU running QMK firmware for zero-latency mechanical input. Macros, key combinations, and mouse control are natively supported in QMK, and the drag-and-drop theme editor means you don’t need coding skills to make it your own or share configurations with the community.
The keyboard supports dynamic theme editing, real-time data widgets like CPU temperature and network stats through LibreHardwareMonitor integration, and even AI voice interaction for hands-free control during busy sessions. Home Assistant integration lets you control smart lights, devices, or automation with a single tap. The feature set goes far beyond basic macro functionality into true workspace automation territory.
With a detachable 24-degree stand, USB-C connectivity, Kailh Box Silent switches for quiet operation, and hot-swappable keys, the MK20 adapts to any workspace setup seamlessly. Whether you’re editing video timelines, streaming gameplay, or automating repetitive office tasks, it brings both power and personality to your desktop without taking up excessive space or requiring complicated software installation procedures.
The Waveshare MK20 is a macro keyboard built for users who want complete creative control over their workflow and visual environment. With its LCD keys, dual knobs, and open-source foundation, it offers the kind of flexibility and personality that typical macro pads simply cannot match, making it a compelling upgrade for anyone serious about their desktop productivity and creative expression.
Most home gadgets are designed for function, not feeling or emotional connection. Lamps and speakers fill their roles effectively enough, but rarely do they offer comfort or companionship during quiet nights or moments when you need a little extra calm to soothe anxiety. Finding a device that addresses both practical needs and emotional well-being remains surprisingly difficult in modern home technology.
Calmtern reimagines what a home object can be by blending a portable lantern with an AI speaker in one thoughtful package. It turns light and sound into a source of emotional support, making every room feel a little more welcoming and a lot more personal. The concept is simple yet powerful: bring comfort wherever you go in your home, whenever you need it most.
Calmtern’s silhouette is inspired by classic lanterns, with a translucent upper body for soft, diffused light and a ribbed base that houses the speaker and controls. The integrated handle makes it easy to carry from room to room, hang on a minimalist stand, or set on a bedside table wherever comfort is needed. The portable form invites movement and flexibility throughout your daily routine.
The minimalist design, matte white finish, and lack of visible branding let Calmtern blend into any space seamlessly, from modern apartments to cozy bedrooms and hallways. The ribbed texture provides visual interest and tactile grip, while the clean silhouette feels timeless rather than trendy. It’s a device that looks as good on display as it does tucked away when not in use.
The lantern emits a gentle, warm glow that reduces anxiety and creates a cozy atmosphere perfect for late-night reading, winding down before bed, or simply making a dark room feel safe and inviting. Touch controls on the top panel make it easy to adjust brightness or volume without fumbling for switches or apps in the dark when you’re half asleep.
Calmtern is designed to move with you throughout your daily life and routines. Use it as a reading lamp beside your favorite chair, a bedside companion that plays calming sounds for sleep, or a portable speaker for music and podcasts in any room. The rechargeable design means it’s just as useful on a patio as in a hallway, and the gentle light is ideal for nighttime trips.
Beyond practical functionality, Calmtern is a calming presence that helps reduce feelings of loneliness or anxiety when living alone, making the home feel warmer and more inviting during difficult moments. The combination of soft light, smart sound, and intuitive controls creates a daily ritual of comfort and relaxation that goes beyond what typical smart home devices offer users.
The sculptural form and ambient glow turn Calmtern into a visual anchor for any room, sparking conversation and encouraging moments of pause in otherwise hectic days. For anyone who wants their home to feel as good as it looks while maintaining simplicity and emotional comfort, this concept offers a compelling vision of design where technology and well-being move together naturally.
Immersive productivity for Windows 11 is now available on the Meta Quest 3 and 3S with the latest release of Meta's Horizon OS. The feature, called Mixed Reality Link, was available on a limited basis after public previews began last year. The Windows virtual desktop experience is now rolling out to all users.
After installing Mixed Reality Link on their Windows 11 PC, users will pair the machine with their Meta Quest headsets. Mixed Reality Link also supports portable, cloud-based solutions such as Windows 365 Cloud PC, Azure Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Dev Box and others. The virtual environment, which displays the equivalent of multiple high-resolution monitors, is similar to the Apple Vision Pro.
The stark difference in cost between the headsets makes this a far more approachable virtual working tool for the average consumer. The Meta Quest 3S starts at $300, while the Apple Vision Pro comes out of the gate at a hefty $3,500.
Facebook parent company Meta has been investing heavily in virtual reality and augmented reality technology. The company recently teased a futuristic VR headset that it says will offer VR experiences “indistinguishable from the physical world” as well as Ray-Ban smart glasses with Meta AI live translation and 3K video recording.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/mixed-reality-link-for-windows-11-and-meta-quest-headsets-is-now-available-to-everyone-165545794.html?src=rss
On Thursday, Samsung launched a desktop version of its web browser. Why bother putting its mobile browser on Windows? Well, the company offers a hint in describing Samsung Internet as "evolving from a PC browser that waits for input to an integrated AI platform." So, surprise, surprise: It's about AI.
As one would imagine, Samsung Internet on Windows supports cross-platform syncing of data like bookmarks, browsing history and autofill. The company says it also prioritizes privacy and security, offering standard features like tracker blocking and a privacy dashboard.
But those aren't likely the main reasons Samsung is launching a desktop web browser in 2025. (Incidentally, Samsung briefly launched Samsung Internet for Windows in 2024, before pulling it from the Microsoft Store without fanfare.) Instead, this launch appears to be about positioning it in the rapidly emerging landscape of AI browsers.
AI browsers have been all the rage lately. Samsung's move follows the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas, Microsoft's Edge Copilot Mode updates, Opera Neon's early access and general availability for Perplexity's Comet browser. Samsung says its cross-platform browser will advance its "vision for ambient AI," anticipating your needs and offering more personalized assistance. If Samsung wants to be part of that fray, it makes sense for its software to be available on the desktop, too.
Samsung Internet is available (via a beta program) for Windows 11 and Windows 10 (version 1809 and up). You can sign up on the product page.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/samsungs-web-browser-arrives-on-windows-with-an-ai-future-on-its-radar-163526726.html?src=rss
Convertible laptops with creative, flexible hinges are usually reserved for the premium end of the market, where prices climb well beyond what most people can comfortably afford. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is a dream machine for designers and students. Still, its price tag puts it completely out of reach for anyone working with a tight budget or limited funds for technology investments that exceed a thousand dollars.
The NWNLAP H140S brings that unique pull-forward, 4-in-1 design to a much lower price point, around $500, depending on promotions and configurations you choose. It’s a laptop that looks the part and offers surprising versatility for everyday tasks, but also comes with a few trade-offs you’ll want to consider carefully before making a purchase. The design inspiration is clear, but so are the practical compromises.
Designer: NWNLAP
The H140S stands out with its 14-inch touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge that lets you use it as a traditional laptop, tablet, tent, or presentation stand during meetings and classes. The 16:10 aspect ratio at 1920×1200 resolution and slim aluminum profile give it a modern, premium vibe that’s genuinely hard to find in this price range for convertible designs.
The minimalist lines and overall aesthetic echo the Surface Studio’s distinctive appearance, making it a statement piece for classrooms, coffee shops, or home offices where visual presentation matters to you. For students or remote workers who want their tech to look professional without spending professional-level money on flagship devices, the visual appeal alone makes it worth considering despite its performance limitations.
Under the hood, the H140S runs on an Intel 12th Gen N95 processor with up to 32GB DDR4 RAM and SSD storage options reaching up to 2TB for extensive file storage needs. It’s more than enough for web browsing, note-taking, video calls, and office work throughout the day, but don’t expect smooth gaming, video editing, or heavy creative workloads that demand dedicated graphics processing power.
The 1920×1200 IPS LCD touchscreen is bright and responsive enough for reading, sketching with a stylus, or streaming video content during breaks, but it can’t match the color accuracy, contrast, or peak brightness of true premium panels found in laptops costing three times as much or more. The difference becomes noticeable when working with photos or design files that require precise color representation.
With two USB 3.0 ports, USB-C, mini HDMI, microSD card slot, and a 7-color RGB backlit keyboard, the H140S covers the basics for students and remote workers without requiring dongles for everything you need. Dual-band Wi-Fi and a 4500mAh battery promise several hours of use, though battery life will depend heavily on your workload and brightness settings throughout the day.
The H140S is fundamentally about trade-offs and knowing what you’re getting for your money before committing. You get a flexible, Surface Studio-inspired design and impressive specs for around $500, but you’ll notice compromises in display quality, trackpad precision, build refinement, and overall performance under demanding tasks. For those who want the look and versatility of a premium convertible without the premium price, it’s a smart option.
It's been around three and a half years since season four of Stranger Things premiered. We finally have an actual trailer for the fifth and final season of Netflix's retro-soaked adventure series. It's a good thing, as the first batch of episodes drop on November 26.
As previously mentioned, this is a real trailer with tons of footage and not a teaser. It's over two minutes of Hawkins-based goodness. This is an action-packed affair that's heavy on emotion and light on the type of 1980s-style humor the show has become known for. That seems right, given the stakes are higher than ever.
If you just clicked on this and don't plan on actually watching the trailer, this is when I go into some light spoilers. It looks like the gang is trapped in Hawkins following the events of season four. There's a military enclosure around the city and, surprise, Vecna is back and looking for vengeance.
There's a very scary scene in which the entity looks to be controlling or torturing poor Will and we don't even know if he has a cassette player loaded with Kate Bush just out of frame. It's all very tense.
While the show premieres on November 26, this isn't a one-and-done season drop like many Netflix shows. It's being split into three installments. The first batch of episodes are set for November 26, with another batch dropping on December 25. The final episode will air on December 31 and is even coming to some movie theaters. It's a holiday miracle.
The showrunners do promise that this season will finally tell us exactly what the upside down is, which is something to look forward to. While Stranger Things is ending, the franchise will continue on. Netflix has some spinoffs planned for the future, but they won't have series creators the Duffer Brothers on board as showrunners. The pair recently signed a deal with Paramount.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/we-finally-have-a-real-deal-trailer-for-stranger-things-season-five-160222670.html?src=rss
The smart #5 is transforming the mid-size SUV market as a premium electric SUV that seamlessly integrates advanced technology, impressive range, and luxurious design. As the first mid-size all-electric SUV from the smart brand, the #5 is tailored to meet the needs of modern drivers who seek a perfect balance of performance, practicality, and sustainability. […]
