Tag Archives: author_name|Lawrence Bonk

The Ring Stick Up Cam is down to its lowest price yet

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The Ring Stick Up Cam is on sale for $55 via Amazon. That’s a discount of 45 percent and is the lowest price ever for the well-regarded security camera. Last time it got this low was Prime Day, but that was only available to Prime members. Now anyone can get in on the action.

This is a standard security camera, but it’s anything but bare-bones. It’s easily mountable to just about any surface and can be moved at will. It allows for two-way communication via a proprietary app or an Echo device like the Show. People can use these same methods to check in on the camera feed.

There are two versions of this security cam, and both are available with this sale. The only difference is how they are powered. One uses a removable battery pack and the other plugs into a power source. Obviously, the one with the battery pack (as seen above) is easier to mount in a variety of different locations, as there’s no worrying about a nearby outlet. The plug-in version, however, will never run out of juice.

These cameras will record footage and put it all in the cloud, but only with a Ring Protect Plan subscription. The plans range from $5 to $20 per month. On the downside, the two security cams lack some of the features found with the Pro model, so there’s no radar detection.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-ring-stick-up-cam-is-down-to-its-lowest-price-yet-152949573.html?src=rss

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on September 17

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming to last-gen consoles on September 17, including the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game was originally released for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC back in 2023.

For the uninitiated, this is a sequel to the absolutely fantastic Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It’s a third-person adventure with a bit of Metroidvania flair that’s set in the Star Wars universe in between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It’s a very good video game, particularly for franchise fans.

Pre-orders are available now and early purchasers get some bonuses. These include in-game cosmetic items that will turn the protagonist into someone who resembles Obi Wan Kenobi and a new blaster set. As for the software, EA says it’s been fully optimized to run on those older consoles.

It’s worth noting, however, that the game has struggled to run on PCs. EA has issued several updates to address performance problems but some still linger. To that end, the company’s prepping a new PC update that’ll release “in the coming weeks.” This will bring “enhancements to the game’s technical performance, controls and more,” in addition to “a variety of quality-of-life improvements.”

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor also recently released on Game Pass. The PS4/XB1 version will cost $50. A third entry in the franchise has already been announced because, well, Star Wars loves trilogies.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/star-wars-jedi-survivor-is-coming-to-ps4-and-xbox-one-on-september-17-181004549.html?src=rss

Teenage Engineering’s built a medieval-themed sampler, complete with Gregorian chants

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Teenage Engineering is no stranger to weird gadgets that defy description. This is a company that released a $250 toy car and, uh, whatever these are. We all knew that. We also knew that the company would likely be releasing a follow-up to its massively successful EP-133 K.O. II sampler. We couldn’t in a million years, however, have guessed that it would be a medieval-themed monstrosity.

That’s right. The sequel to the K.O. II is a sampler built entirely around sounds inspired by the middle ages. It’s all here, from Gregorian chants and lutes to drum sounds that recall Monty Python. The sampler also comes pre-loaded with tons of themed foley effects, like sword slashes, arrows, farm animals and, according to the company, “an actual dragon.” The EP-1320 Medieval has everything, if by “everything” we mean samples of screaming peasants.

Aesthetically, it’s basically the K.O. II with a different skin. The design features red calligraphy, castle towers and, of course, plenty of latin. As a matter of fact, it’s not even referred to as a sampler at all. The company’s calling it “the world’s first medieval electronic instrument” and there’s a large label on the front that reads “instrumentalis electronicum.”

The front panel of the EP-1320.
Teenage Engineering

There are new effects, for those worried it would just crib from last year’s model. These include something called a “torture chamber reverb” and another referred to as a “Bardic ensemble." The arpeggiator has been redesigned and there are hundreds of new multi-sampled instruments. Teenage Engineering also says, and I’m not kidding, that the drum pads smell of cocoa. We reached out about that last one and will report back when we get some info.

Of course, this is a sampler at heart, so users can put anything they want on it via the internal microphone or USB-C connection. It’s also essentially a K.O. II, so there’s the same punch-in FX tool, nine memory slots, dinky speaker and a battery compartment that holds four AAAs. But out of the box, it has everything you could possibly need for a D&D-themed rave.

Just like the original, it’s $300. Orders are available now. Diehards can also pick up a themed t-shirt, a vinyl record and a quilted carry bag.

The EP-133 K.O. II was a huge hit, but was plagued by some performance concerns, including a number of units that shipped with busted faders. TE says all of this was due to poor packaging. Let’s hope the company got all that sorted out.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/teenage-engineerings-built-a-medieval-themed-sampler-complete-with-gregorian-chants-164941795.html?src=rss

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is coming to PC, PlayStation and Xbox on October 17

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If there was ever a movie franchise that was seemingly made to be turned into a video game, it would be A Quiet Place. The films are basically already stealth horror titles. The premise, after all, involves bloodthirsty and noise-sensitive aliens. To that end, we already knew the franchise was getting the gaming treatment. Now we have an official release date of October 17 for the first digital spinoff. 

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is a first-person horror adventure that’s set in the same world as the movies, but tells a brand new story. In other words, you won’t be controlling a digital John Krasinski or a digital Lupita Nyong'o. You’ll play as a brand-new character charting her own path in this royally screwed up dystopia.

Just like the movies, players will have to rely on their wits and whatever simple tools they find when scavenging about, like flashlights and noise detectors. Developer Stormind Games, who was behind Remothered and Batora: Lost Haven, promises both thrills and chills. Today’s release date trailer certainly confirms that. The spooky vibes are off the chart.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead will be released on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Pre-orders are available right now and early purchasers get “exclusive in-game content and digital concept art.” The game costs $30.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/a-quiet-place-the-road-ahead-is-coming-to-pc-playstation-and-xbox-on-october-17-151706002.html?src=rss

Google’s latest Nest Learning Thermostat is much bigger and offers a customizable display

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Google just announced a refresh of the Nest Learning Thermostat ahead of next week’s Made by Google event. The fourth-gen smart thermostat has been completely redesigned, with a new form factor and plenty of updated features.

The LCD display is 60 percent larger than what’s found with the (now ancient) third generation, with a curved front that eliminates the appearance of bezels. Basically, the whole thing is a screen now, with no giant black plastic loop around the exterior. This leads us to another new feature. The larger display allows for more personalization, as the fourth-gen Nest offers customizable faces. This works just like how it does with smartwatches. You can turn the face into a clock, change colors or transform the background into something artsy. 

A thermostat pretending to be a clock.
Google

No matter which face you choose, the UI automatically adjusts what’s displayed on the screen depending on how far you’re standing from the thermostat. For instance, the font will be bigger the further you step back. This is all thanks to integrated Soli radar sensors.

As for the actual inner workings of the thermostat, the new Nest leverages AI for more accurate readings and to offer potential actions to save money on that monthly energy bill. It'll even take action on its own depending on the ambient temperature and other factors. The thermostat also comes with one wireless temperature sensor that you can place anywhere. This is helpful for sussing out cold spots or when trying to find a perfect average temperature across the whole home. Google says this wireless device can go for three years before requiring a battery replacement. You can also buy these separately, as each Nest integrates with up to six sensors.

The device boasts some eco-friendly bona-fides. The internal battery is made entirely from recycled cobalt and the packaging is free from plastic. Pre-orders for the new Nest Learning Thermostat are open right now, with shipments beginning on August 20. It’s available in three colors, including silver, black and gold. Each thermostat costs $280, with additional temperature sensors priced at $40 or $100 for a three-pack.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/googles-latest-nest-learning-thermostat-is-much-bigger-and-offers-a-customizable-display-130045155.html?src=rss

Apple’s AirPods Max drop back down to $400

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Apple’s AirPods Max headphones are on sale for $400 via Amazon. This isn’t a record-low, though it’s close, but does represent a savings of $150. The sale includes a bunch of colorways, like gray, blue, silver and pink.

For the uninitiated, these are Apple’s high-end over-ear headphones. They are, in a word, luxe. In our official review, we praised the excellent, balanced sound and useful ANC. These headphones sound very good, which is aided by an adaptive EQ system that automatically adjusts low and mid-frequencies. This algorithm takes into account how the headphones are being worn, such as the fit and earcup seal.

We also praised the solid battery life, getting around 20 hours of use even with ANC and spatial audio turned on. The battery life is enhanced by an automatic “lower power mode” that kicks in after 72 hours outside of the case. This mode disables Bluetooth and Find My. There’s no power button, so the headphones never really turn off until the battery is completely drained. However, the quick-charge feature provides 90 minutes of listening time in just five minutes at the charger.

A case.
Billy Steele/Engadget

On the downside, the included case isn’t really a case at all. It’s basically a wraparound piece of cloth. However, resting the headphones inside of the "case" automatically puts them in a power-preservation mode. The other significant drawback is the price. Simply put, $550 is just a whole lot of money for a pair of headphones, especially ones that are over four years old. Many of the features have been surpassed by the newer second-gen version. In other words, these headphones don't have adaptive transparency and lack USB-C charging. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-airpods-max-drop-back-down-to-400-164310126.html?src=rss

New Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom footage features cute horseback riding and uh, smoothie shops

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Nintendo just dropped a rather lengthy new overview trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. That’s the top-down Switch entry that stars the titular princess instead of Link. The six-minute video focuses on “traversing Hyrule,” so there’s plenty of cool stuff here about the kingdom and, more importantly, the overworld map.

This looks like a brand-new map. Many people had assumed this game would lift the map from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Some of the landmarks, however, are in the same place. The castle is at the center, for instance, and the mountains are up top.

A map.
Nintendo

Otherwise, this game includes all of the various cultures and towns from 3D Zelda games. You can meet Gorons, Zora and even enter the all-female Gerudo Town. This is also the first top-down Zelda game to feature traversal by horse. There are a few horses in the trailer, though none look exactly like the world-famous Epona. It’s possible that Princess Zelda’s white stallion from Breath of the Wild is hanging around though. In any event, they are all pretty darn cute.

The trailer also shows off some deliciously kooky stuff, and we all love it when Nintendo gets weird. There are smoothie shops scattered throughout Hyrule, candy-obsessed Deku Scrubs and more.

Finally, there’s a newly-featured ability for Zelda called Bind. It forces objects and creatures in the game world to follow you around, likely for puzzle-solving purposes.

All of this is good news. This doesn’t look like a throwaway “end of a console’s lifespan” game. It looks adorable and inventive. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom comes out on September 26.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-zelda-footage-features-cute-horseback-riding-and-uh-smoothie-shops-154503850.html?src=rss

Say goodbye to Boomerang, the streaming service dedicated to classic cartoons

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Warner Bros. Discovery is shuttering Boomerang, a streaming service dedicated to classic cartoons, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The platform started as a digital cable channel back in 2000 before expanding to a streaming platform in 2017.

Boomerang will officially cease operations on September 30, giving subscribers around two months to quickly binge every Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo cartoon. However, some content will be folded into Max. The linear channel will continue to operate via cable and satellite providers, reaching an estimated 26 million homes.

Additionally, Boomerang subscribers will be grandfathered into Max’s ad-free tier “with no change” to the subscription price “until further notice,” according to an email sent to users. That’s a dang good deal, as Boomerang costs $6 per month and Max’s ad-free plan currently costs $17 per month.

An ad stating that Boomerang is ending.
Max

Max, however, is already home to much of the same programming as Boomerang. This includes Looney Tunes shorts, several Scooby-Doo shows, Tom and Jerry and The Flintstones, among others. It’s also home to the entire catalog of Cartoon Network shows and plenty of DC animated series, like Harley Quinn.

The company hasn’t specified which shows and movies would be making the move to Max, simply telling subscribers that “some Boomerang content may not be available” after September 30.

Boomerang isn’t the only cartoon-adjacent streaming platform on the chopping block. Kid-friendly Noggin shut down earlier this year after layoffs at parent company Paramount Global. On the upside, Disney+ has plenty of cartoons, given the pedigree, and the same goes for Netflix and Prime Video.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/say-goodbye-to-boomerang-the-streaming-service-dedicated-to-classic-cartoons-182127381.html?src=rss

Watch THQ Nordic’s digital showcase at 3PM ET

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THQ Nordic is holding a livestream showcase event at 3PM ET and you can watch it live via the YouTube embed placed below. If YouTube isn’t your bag, the event will also stream on the company’s Twitch channel and its Steam page.

The company says the digital showcase will offer updates on a bunch of games, like Titan Quest II, Way of the Hunter, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and the upcoming remake of Gothic 1. The press release does suggest that there will be more games spotlighted during the event, but didn’t name names. It also says there will be “new announcements.”

There’s a car-shaped elephant in the room here. The press release advertising the event is titled “The day of (W)reckoning is at hand.” This is almost certainly a reference to the company’s long-gestating racing franchise Wreckfest. Are we getting a sequel or maybe a remake? Time will tell.

Not that much time though. The stream officially starts at 3PM ET, but there’s a pre-show at 2:45 ET hosted by HandyGames. This subsidiary of THQ Nordic is responsible for titles like Lock’s Quest and Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt, among others.

One final thing. If you’re into puzzles or internet-based mysteries, THQ Nordic did drop a hint about something else that would be covered during the event. The Wheel of Fortune-esque teaser simply says “_ _ e E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.” Make of that what you will.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-thq-nordics-digital-showcase-at-3pm-et-164018041.html?src=rss

Apple is fighting Tencent and ByteDance over in-app payments in China

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Apple has been pressuring ByteDance and Tencent to close loopholes in China that funnel customers to external payment systems for making in-app purchases, according to a report by Bloomberg. Anyone living in the West knows the drill here. Apple wants that 30 percent commission.

Reporting indicates this pressure campaign began in May. Apple allegedly warned Tencent that it would reject crucial WeChat updates if it didn’t eliminate the ability for users to make payments outside of Apple’s ecosystem. Tencent complied with the original request, issuing an update in July, but Apple went one step further.

WeChat is home to thousands of third-party mini-games and experiences. Apple asked Tencent to disable in-game chat between creators and players, as that's another theoretical loophole that could funnel users to third-party payment systems. Tencent has yet to agree to this request.

Back in June, Apple reportedly did something similar with ByteDance. It threatened to withhold updates of Douyin, which is basically the Chinese version of TikTok, unless it plugged any gaps that steer users away from that much-coveted 30 percent commission. According to Bloomberg, ByteDance has yet to issue a formal response.

These are aggressive moves on the part of Apple. China is the world’s largest smartphone market, sure, but the iPhone isn’t the dominant brand throughout the country. As a matter of fact, the phone failed to crack the top five in sales last quarter and the company recently experienced a 6.5 percent decline in profits.

It’s also worth noting that both ByteDance and Tencent aren’t happy corporate warriors looking out for the little guy. These massive companies levy their own commissions on creators and likely didn’t want Apple cutting into their bottom lines.

An Apple spokesperson was unusually blunt in a statement to Bloomberg, simply saying that company guidelines dictate that the sale of all digital goods must go through its system and that the review team has the power to reject app submissions that violate that policy. Neither Tencent or ByteDance issued a comment to Bloomberg. 

China, like the rest of the world, has been cracking down on walled gardens like Apple’s App Store. Despite the country’s hesitance to continue allowing closed ecosystems controlled by a single entity, Apple CEO Tim Cook is bullish about its prospects in China. “We continue to be confident in the long-term opportunity in China,” he said during a recent earnings call. “I don’t know how every chapter of the book reads, but we’re very confident in the long term.”

Apple is facing numerous legal hurdles all over the world regarding its Hungry Hungry Hippos approach to gobbling up commission fees. The European Commission issued a ruling that dictates it must allow app developers to steer users to payment systems and offers outside of the App Store. The company also faces potential fines from the EU, to the tune of ten percent of global annual revenue. As for the US, Epic sued Apple over its developer transaction fee policy and many other companies have expressed their own concerns. It's also worth nothing that Tencent owns a 40 percent stake in Epic Games. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-fighting-tencent-and-bytedance-over-in-app-payments-in-china-155949462.html?src=rss