Your phone’s camera is a lot like your eyes. They both view the world around you, take in massive amounts of light and are quite sensitive. Importantly, both your camera and your eyes can be severely damaged by being pointed straight at a solar eclipse. So maybe don’t do that on Saturday.
Source: Gizmodo – How to Not Break Your Phone by Photographing the Solar Eclipse
Enlarge (credit: Vitamix)
Amazon’s Prime Day may be over this year, but not all the deals are gone. Whether you’re looking for Sony’s latest WF-1000XM5 headphones to Apple’s AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case, AirTags to Peblebee trackers, or home gear like Dyson, Vitamix, and Theragun, there’s plenty to choose from if you missed Amazon’s shopping event earlier this week.
The 14-inch and 13-inch models will have FHD displays with touch and non-touch options, as well as FreeSync technology. (credit: Valentina Palladino)
DeWalt drill kit with carrying bag. (credit: DEWALT)
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Source: Ars Technica – Dealmaster: Amazon Prime Day is over but these tech deals are still active
While most Apple chatter tends to concern the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macbook lines, the company is hardly neglecting those who prefer a desktop Mac. The Mac mini is a capable piece of kit, especially now that the company is shoving its Apple Silicon chips into them. Those interested in picking up a Mac mini may be interested to learn that an M2-powered model is currently on sale at B&H. It has dropped by $100 to $499 to match a solid deal that popped up in August.
This model includes an M2 chipset with an eight-core CPU, 10-core GPU and 16-core neural engine, along with 8GB of unified RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. It has a pair of Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports, two USB-A slots and one each for Ethernet and HDMI. The M2 Mac mini supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack too.
We gave the M2 Mac mini a score of 86 in our review back in January. We appreciated the machine’s performance and variety of ports, as well as its quiet operation. We liked the design too. While it largely looks similar to earlier models, this Mac mini has a slightly elevated base to improve airflow.
We didn’t have any major reservations with this version specifically, though upgrades are expensive and the more advanced M2 Pro model is too pricey. Our main quibble was not having any front-facing ports. Ultimately, there’s not a ton to dislike about the M2 Mac mini.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-m2-mac-mini-is-just-499-right-now-163023701.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Apple’s M2 Mac Mini is just 9 right now
Cloud gaming has many advantages, such as lowering the barrier to entry to triple-A titles that require beefier and beefier hardware these days. However, one downside to this ecosystem is that there is a vast centralized dataset that could make for a rather juicy target for hackers. This is exactly what ShadowPC, a high-end cloud computing
Source: Hot Hardware – Cloud Gaming Service Discloses Data Breach Affecting Over Half A Million Gamers
Believe it or not, adding a pinch of this, a handful of that, and a dash of “the good stuff” all counts as “measuring” your food; even if the unit of measurement is unique to you. There’s nothing wrong with spontaneously exploring flavors and ingredients when whipping up a meal. That’s part of the fun. It’s when you…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Measure Any Ingredient
You should have an Apple Watch if you use an iPhone. It is the defacto accessory, perfectly tailored to the iPhone user’s needs and, presumably, wants. I say “presumably” because Apple’s idea to add the Double Tap gesture is such a distinctive, niche feature to add to a wearable. And yet, it fulfills such a need. At…
Source: Gizmodo – Apple Watch Series 9 Review: The Best Smartwatch for iPhone Users Gets a New Gesture
The Biden administration announced plans on Friday to award up to $7 billion to construct regional hubs throughout the U.S. that support making and using hydrogen, in hopes of phasing out fossil fuels and slowing down climate change.
Source: Gizmodo – The Biden Administration Is Pumping Billions Into Clean Hydrogen
Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has confirmed it used AI voice cloning software to reconstruct the voice of a deceased actor for its Phantom Liberty DLC. Actor Miłogost Reczek voiced the character Viktor Vektor in the Polish version of the game and would have been tapped to reprise the role for the DLC, which came out last month, but he died in 2021 before its production. The developer told Bloomberg it decided to go this route as a way to “pay tribute to his wonderful performance,” and was given permission to do so by his family.
Instead of replacing Reczek outright, CD Projekt Red worked with Respeecher, the Ukraine-based voice tech company known for deaging Mark Hamill’s voice in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett to create a young Luke Skywalker. Another actor was hired to speak the new lines, and Respeecher’s software reworked them into Reczek’s voice, CD Projekt localization director Mikołaj Szwed told Bloomberg. Reczek, who Szwed described as “one of the best Polish voice talents,” had also voiced major roles in The Witcher series.
AI has become a contentious topic in the entertainment industry, and striking Hollywood actors are currently fighting for more protections around the use of their likenesses, among other things. In September, SAG-AFTRA voted in favor of a strike authorization for video game actors, too, whose jobs could be threatened by studios’ increasing reliance on AI. Zelda Williams — Robin Williams’ daughter — recently slammed the practice of emulating deceased actors using AI, saying that they cannot consent. In this case, CD Projekt Red says Reczek’s family was “very supportive.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cd-projekt-red-used-ai-to-include-a-deceased-actors-voice-in-cyberpunk-2077-dlc-161521634.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – CD Projekt Red used AI to include a deceased actor’s voice in Cyberpunk 2077 DLC
Apple received a class action lawsuit filed last week from people who claim its AirTag tracking devices allegedly led to “multiple murders.” The lawsuit claims stalkers or would-be killers use AirTags to track their victims by slipping them into a bag, in a car or directly on the individual. It adds that Apple hasn’t…
Source: Gizmodo – Apple Accused of Not Doing Enough to Stop AirTag Stalking in Class-Action Lawsuit
Enlarge / The crucial part, you see, is You. (credit: Microsoft / Activision Blizzard)
It has been a long road since January 2022 when Microsoft first announced its intentions to buy the gaming conglomerate Activision Blizzard King. But after overcoming a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit and appeasing UK antitrust authorities, it’s official: Microsoft owns the makers and publishers of Call of Duty, Fallout, Overwatch, WarCraft, Diablo, Candy Crush, and many more titles.
There’s even a trailer for it—a trailer for a corporate acquisition. It features iconic moments from Microsoft’s prior acquisitions, including Halo and Fallout, and Activision Blizzard’s titles, including a meme-friendly StarCraft moment, stripped of its “Hell” preface.
Microsoft’s trailer for purchasing Activision Blizzard.
“Whether it was late nights spent playing the Diablo IV campaign with friends from start to finish, gathering the entire family in the rec room for our weekly Guitar Hero night, or going on an epic streak in Candy Crush, some of my most memorable gaming moments came from experiences their studios have created,” said Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, in a press release. “It is incredible to welcome such legendary teams to Xbox.”
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Source: Ars Technica – Microsoft finally owns Candy Crush as it closes B Activision Blizzard deal
Amazon’s October Prime Day sale officially ended on Wednesday, but a few of the deals are still live as we head into the weekend. If you were hoping to check off a few more names from your holiday gift list or buy something for yourself at a discount, see what remains on sale below. We combed through our coverage over the past few days to find the best of what’s left. While Amazon has returned most of their own devices, like Echos and Kindles, back to their full prices, a handful of products from other brands like Google, Samsung and Anker, have maintained the lows they hit on Prime Day. Here are the best deals from Prime Big Deal Days that you can still get right now.
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 went down to $269 for October Prime Day and it’s still on sale. That’s lowest price we’ve seen since it came out a few months ago. You can’t get a better smartwatch than this one if you have an Android phone (bonus points if you have a Samsung phone), and it’s smaller and lighter than previous versions. Samsung brought back the spinning bezel on the Classic version, which is which makes the software’s UI easier to navigate, plus it has improved performance and updated health and fitness tracking tools.
The 15.3-inch version of Apple’s MacBook Air is still down to $1,049 for an entry-level model with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. That matches the best price we’ve seen and takes $250 off Apple’s list price. The MacBook Air is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and we gave the 15-inch model a review score of 96 earlier this year, as it covers just about all of the things we look for in a quality mainstream notebook. Compared to the 13.6-inch version, it also includes a more powerful speaker system and a slightly upgraded GPU. The SSD in this base configuration is technically slower than the one in higher-capacity SKUs, but that shouldn’t be a major problem unless you’re looking to do more complex work. In general, you wouldn’t buy the Air for things like high-res media editing, though its M2 chip is still plenty powerful for everyday tasks.
If you do need more storage space, the 512GB model with 8GB of RAM is on sale for a low of $1,249. Variants with double the RAM are up to $250 off as well. Meanwhile, the 13.6-inch MacBook Air isn’t discounted on Amazon, but it’s down to $899 at Best Buy. That’s $200 off the notebook’s list price.
Sony’s WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds went down to $278 for Prime Day and are still going for that price today. That’s a $22 discount and their best price yet. We think these are the best wireless earbuds on the market right now. Sony improved upon it’s already remarkable buds with a more comfortable fit, better sound quality and features likes adaptive sound and Speak-to-Chat.
The previous generation of Fire TV Stick 4K dropped to $23 for the sale and is one of the few Amazon devices still on sale. It has the same processor, RAM and storage as the standard Fire TV Stick, but it can stream 4K HDR content in all its glory. It also supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, while a picture-in-picture live view feature can show you feeds from compatible security cameras right on your TV screen.
Do note, though, that this is the previous model of the streaming stick. The newly refreshed Fire TV Stick 4K isn’t sale but has a faster processor and supports Wi-Fi 6.
One of the top Bluetooth options in our speaker guide is Anker’s Soundcore Motion +, which gives out good sound for its price point. The $100 MSRP is discounted to $70 if you clip the on-page copuon. That’s a 30 percent discount and an all-time low. It has a bright and bassy output and offers EQ customization in the app. Plus it’s water-resistant, so you can take it to the park or on a hike and share your good taste in music with whoever is nearby.
The top budget pick in our gaming headphones buying guide, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2, is on sale for $36. That’s a dollar more than it went for on Prime Day and only a modest $4 discount over its street price recently, but it’s still close to lowest price we’ve seen. The Cloud Stinger 2 doesn’t have the most balanced or detailed sound, but its V-shaped signature gives action scenes a nice level of impact, and its mic quality belies the dirt-cheap price. The design is comfortable too, though it’s made from cheap-feeling plastic.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro is down to $125 for Prime Big Deal Days, which is $25 more than the lowest price we’ve tracked but still $55 below its usual going rate. This is a recommended pair of bone conduction headphones, which means it hugs the side of your head and delivers sound by passing vibrations through your skull. (It’s not as uncomfortable as it sounds.) The main benefit is that this leaves your ear canals completely open, so you can enjoy a playlist or podcast without being shut out from the outside world. The downside, usually, is that you don’t get as full a sound as you would with a traditional pair. That’ll still be the case here, but we’ve found the OpenRun Pro to deliver more low-end depth than most of its peers. They’re fairly comfy and get up to 10 hours of battery life beyond that.
If you’re looking for a wireless headset, the Logitech G535 is back down to $80, which is about $25 below its average street price. This is an honorable mention in our gaming headsets guide, as we like its lightweight design, Bluetooth support and agreeable, relatively well-balanced sound. It forces you to crank the volume to reach a listenable level though, and its mic makes voices sound a little too thin. It also doesn’t work with Xbox consoles. But if you really want a wireless gaming headset for less than $100, it’s well worth a look.
The Samsung Smart Monitor M8 is down to just $500, which is $200 off its starting price (though it regularly sells for $600) and the lowest price we’ve seen thus far. This 32-inch display has built-in apps and allows you to access streaming services, just like you would on a smart TV. It can also act as a smart home hub, showing you your smart camera feeds and more. This discounted model is the updated 2023 version of the monitor that launched at CES 2022.
A slew of Google Nest home security devices are still on sale the day after Prime, including the battery-powered Nest Cam that can go inside or outside your home. Typically priced at $180, the security cam dipped down to $120 for Amazon’s October Prime Day event. The Nest Cam works with smart speakers and displays enabled with Alexa or the Google Assistant and can last up to seven months depending on how much activity it picks up. Its weather-resistant build and magnetic mount should make it easy to install on most surfaces. It sends live alerts to your phone and will even allow for on-demand check-ins without a subscription, though it only stores the last three hours for free. For six months of stored footage, you’ll need a Nest Aware membership.
In other Google deals, the Nest Thermostat is on sale for just $90, which is only about $10 more than the lowest price we’ve tracked and $40 off Google’s MSRP. This is Google’s entry-level smart thermostat, but it still lets you control your heating and cooling from anywhere, suggests tweaks to help you save money, and in some cases, can entitle you to rebates from your utility provider. It’s all relatively easy to program, and it works with Google’s Nest Hub and other smart displays like the Echo Show.
The Beats Studio Pro headphones are on sale for $180 right now. which is a dollar more than they sold for on Prime Day and still a sizable $170 discount. We reviewed these back in July when they came out and gave them a decent review score of 81. Unfortunately they didn’t push any of the top picks from our our best headphones list off their pedestals. They aren’t bad, however, offering pleasant, even-handed sound and good noise cancellation. Though Beats is now owned by Apple, these headphones still play nice with Android. There’s no wear detection and the mostly plastic design isn’t super premium, but at this price, you may not care.
The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 is another small speaker we like that puts out decent volume for its size, and for Prime day it went down to $48, which is $12 off its usual going rate. Right now it’s on sale for $60, but an on-page 15 percent coupon brings it back to that Prime Day low. This device has a strap on its back that works well on belts, backpacks, or even bike handlebars, so it’s easy to take on the road. And “on the go” is where the StormBox Micro 2 performs best, as it’s more about portable volume than pure fidelity.
The Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro 6E is holding strong at $300 right now for a pack of three routers. That’s within a dollar of the lowest price it’s sold for on Amazon. It’s one of the best Wi-Fi 6 router systems you can get at the moment thanks to its easy setup process, convenient Google Assistant integrations and Matter and Thread support. If you’re looking for a not-too expensive way to upgrade your home Wi-Fi system, and one that will take little time to set up, Google’s is the one to get.
Our favorite streaming stick, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, remains at $37 after the sale. It packs a ton of features into an affordable package, including 4K HDR streaming capabilities, Dolby Vision, AirPlay 2 and private listening when you have a pair of headphones. And since it’s so small, it makes for a great travel entertainment device too.
The Hisense U6K is one of the more affordable TVs. And the 55- and 65-inch models are still down to $400 and $548, respectively. We’ve seen these deals before, but each matches an all-time low. The U6K is has received generally positive reviews around the web, as it’s one of the few budget-level sets with quantum dots, full-array local dimming and a mini-LED backlight. All of that should help it deliver better contrast and color volume than most TVs in its price range. It’s not ideal for gaming though, as it’s limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and lacks HDMI 2.1 ports. In general, it can’t match the brightness or viewing angles of a more expensive set, but it looks to be a good buy if you’re on a tighter budget.
For a well-reviewed midrange model, the Hisense U8K provides much better contrast and peak brightness, plus more gaming-friendly features like ability to play 4K content at up to a 144Hz refresh rate. That one is down to $748 for a 55-inch model and $998 for a 65-inch set.
iRobot’s Roomba 694 dropped to $199 for Prime Day and stayed there. While that’s still $20 more than the lowest we’ve seen it go, it’s still a good deal on our favorite cheap robot vacuum. It’s got strong suction power, an attractive design and easy to use app. It’ll be a good option for robo-vac novices, or anyone that doesn’t want to fuss too much with an automatic dirt sucker. It clears hard and carpeted floors well, and it automatically returns to its base once a cleaning job is finished so it can recharge.
The Samsung Pro Plus microSD card is on sale for $20 right now. It’s our top pick in our best microSD card guide because it was the most consistent of the ones we tested, with some of the best overall speeds and all of the important ratings that a good card should have: U3, V30 and A2. It’ll be a great pick for your tablet, smartphone or Nintendo Switch, and it comes with a full-sized adapter in case you need to use it with a camera or connect it to your computer.
The Crucial MX500 internal drive is on sale for $46 right now. It’s been an Engadget favorite for a while thanks to its sequential read speeds of 560MB/s and a standard 2.5-inch design that should make it easy to swap in for your desktop’s or laptop’s used-up drive.
New Apple Watches don’t come with power adapters, so if you’re looking for one that can deliver a quick charge, we recommend Anker’s 511 (Nano 3) charging brick. It’s down to $20 which is a mild, $4 discount, but still a welcome price for a worthwhile smartwatch accessory.
The OtterBox Fast Charge Power Bank is currently just $36 for the 15,000mAh capacity model, which is the version we tested and recommend in our portable battery guide. This pack looks sharp and delivers a fast and reliable charge via USB-C or USB-A.
If you need more room on your Switch, SanDisk’s officially licensed microSDXC card is a good pick, particularly when it’s on sale. Right now a 128GB model is within a dollar of its all-time low at just $18.
Our favorite microSD card for most people is the Samsung Pro Plus. It had the fastest sequential write speeds and random performance of any card we tested, and the USB reader that comes with included with this listing helps it reach higher speeds on compatible devices. It’s listed at $38 for the set (though it often goes for $25), and now Prime Day in October brings it to $23.
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-23-best-amazon-prime-day-deals-you-can-still-shop-for-today-160104086.html?src=rss
Source: Engadget – Prime Day is over, but these are the 23 best tech deals that are still available
This guide shows easy and multiple ways to install the latest version of Python and Pip package manager with practical examples.
The post Python 3.12 Installation on Linux With Hands-On Examples appeared first on Linux Today.
Source: Linux Today – Python 3.12 Installation on Linux With Hands-On Examples
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Equifax a smidge over $13.6 million for severe failings that put millions of consumers at risk of financial crime. From a report: The regulator branded the entire debacle “entirely preventable” — from Equifax’s failure to promptly notify regulators to the way in which it misled the public over the severity of a security breach back in 2017. The original fine should have been greater; the true sum was $19,428,836 but the company received a 30 percent discount for agreeing to the penalty early into the proceedings. It also received a 15 percent credit for good behavior during the investigation.
After first opening the investigation in 2017, the FCA’s fine comes after the ICO wasted less time imposing a penalty of $609,092 in 2018. “Cybersecurity and data protection are of growing importance to the security and stability of financial services,” said Jessica Rusu, FCA chief data, information, and intelligence officer. “Firms not only have a technical responsibility to ensure resiliency, but also an ethical responsibility in the processing of consumer information. The Consumer Duty makes it clear that firms must raise their standards.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Equifax Scores .6 Million Slap on Wrist Over 2017 Mega Breach
Over the course of almost 10 years and four movies, a central mystery has lingered in the films of Legendary Entertainment’s Monsterverse: what the hell is Monarch and what are they doing?
Source: Gizmodo – Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ First Trailer Promises Big Mysteries and Bigger Monsters
Forge, Halo’s in-game map creator, has appeared in every mainline Halo game since Halo 3, allowing fans to bring back beloved older maps, fashion creations of their own, or just create unique, quirky experiences within Halo’s timeless and tweakable sandbox. Once season five of Halo Infinite launches, however, players…
Source: Kotaku – Hands On With Halo Infinite’s New Forge AI Toolkit (It’s Awesome)
Having a quality knife you can depend on is only half of the cutting equation. A knife needs to be maintained with honing and sharpening, but knife care extends to the cutting board. Cutting boards provide you with a large, stable surface for slicing and dicing, and they can make clean up a whole lot easier, but the…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Choose and Care for a Cutting Board (so It Doesn’t Mess up Your Knife)
When it comes to the inaugural crewed launch of Starliner, it increasingly feels as though Boeing and NASA are chasing the proverbial carrot on a stick. The latest delay pushes the earliest available launch date to April 2024, a month later than planned, in what’s a seemingly never-ending succession of postponements.
Source: Gizmodo – Boeing’s Starliner Faces Further Delays, Now Eyeing April 2024 Launch
NASA’s goal to reduce costs on its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket by switching to a commercial service contract was dismissed in the latest audit of the space agency’s ongoing Moon program.
Source: Gizmodo – NASA’s Plan to Trim SLS Moon Rocket Costs Not Good Enough, According to Report
All Things Open 2021 was the conference’s ninth outing, and with Covid still very much around was held both online and in-person.
The post All Things Open 2021 – Tentative Steps Out of Quarantine appeared first on FOSS Force.
Source: FOSS Force – All Things Open 2021 – Tentative Steps Out of Quarantine
One of the accouterments that accompany the “Art” of PC building is very simple: the cables. Sometimes, it’s because enthusiasts just want them to look ultra cool. Other times, it’s because they add a significant utility to the design of your build. That’s where CableMod enters, with their custom sleeved cables. Since the introduction of the
Source: Hot Hardware – CableMod’s Revised 12VHPWR Adapter Is Here And Free For Early Adopters, How To Claim
