Posts with «consumer discretionary» label

The Morning After: Final 'Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' trailer showcases Link's allies

Nintendo shared one last trailer of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom before it launches on May 12th. It teases the whole Hyrule world – including the floating island – as well as Link's allies, who will fight alongside him. The plot is typical Zelda fare: You have to find the princess and defeat Ganon. But the fused weapons and vehicles both seem to be major parts of how the game will play. You can even build a robot to take on enemies that have their own battle platform. Robot Wars, but make it Zelda?

– Mat Smith

​​The Morning After isn’t just a newsletter – it’s also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.

The biggest stories you might have missed

DJI’s newest drone is a $16K model for pro filmmakers

Ubisoft+ game subscription service officially launches on Xbox

Google's Nest doorbells are 28 percent off right now

‘Star Trek: Picard’ turns a corner and jumps on the rollercoaster

The best gaming headsets for 2023

Google Maps will help you navigate US national parks

WhatsApp makes it harder for scammers to steal your account

PBS has also quit Twitter over its 'government-funded media' label

Fellow public broadcaster NPR said this week it would stop tweeting.

PBS has halted its use of the platform. The organization hasn't posted on its Twitter account since April 8th. Both PBS and NPR claim the label, which previously read "state-affiliated media," doesn't represent them accurately. Twitter previously reserved such labels for state-run outlets, like China's Xinhua News Agency and Russia's RT and Sputnik.

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How to choose the best pizza oven

What you need to look for when shopping for one.

Small outdoor pizza ovens have become popular for backyard cooking in recent years. While anyone with a decent-sized patio could install a permanent one, these versatile products are more compact and store easily in a bag when you’re not using them. That makes them great if you have limited outdoor space. Alongside what to look for, we’ve separated outdoor and indoor pizza ovens – so everyone gets pizza in 2023.

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ASUS' ROG Phone 7 uses AI to automatically record your wins and losses

The new external cooler doubles as a subwoofer.

ASUS ROG

For someone (and some reason), ASUS continues to create its pro-gamer ROG phones. Once again, they wouldn’t look out of place beside keyboards, gaming mice and beefy gaming laptops. The ROG Phone 7 series, this time, incorporates AI for automatic gaming capture. The new clip-on cooler also now doubles as a subwoofer for even… louder gaming. In Taiwan and Europe, you can pre-order select models in the ROG Phone 7 series starting today. ASUS has confirmed the ROG Phone 7 series will eventually launch in the US.

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Researchers used machine learning to improve the first photo of a black hole

The photo algorithm was trained on over 30,000 black hole simulations. 

Lia Medeiros / Institute for Advanced Study

Researchers have used machine learning to tighten up a previously released image of a black hole. As a result, in a report published today in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the portrait of the black hole at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy, over 53 million light years away from Earth, shows a thinner ring of light and matter surrounding its center. They used PRIMO, “a novel dictionary-learning-based algorithm” that learns to “recover high-fidelity images even in the presence of sparse coverage” by training on generated simulations of over 30,000 black holes. It’s an impressive new use of AI, even if the result isn’t particularly visually stunning. And don't get any ideas, Samsung...

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-final-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-trailer-showcases-links-allies-111556568.html?src=rss

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is $55 off right now

If you're looking for a new smartwatch but aren't keen on Apple devices, Amazon's latest price cut may excite you. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Pro is down from $450 to $394.49, which is a 12 percent savings and lower than the price we saw back on Cyber Monday

The Galaxy Watch Pro is one of Samsung's newer options and includes GPS route tracking, a full analysis of your body composition and a titanium case. The Pro also goes beyond the original with an advanced sleep tracker, improved bioactive sensor and better battery life. 

It's worth mentioning that, while not on sale, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is still over $100 cheaper— a good option if you're looking for a reliable smartwatch with all the basics. It's our pick for best smartwatch for Android users. Plus, it comes in some fun band colors, like like purple and sapphire.

As for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, just the black model with bluetooth are discounted. The gray with bluetooth and the LTE version of both colors are still full price. 

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/samsungs-galaxy-watch-5-pro-is-55-off-right-now-091732479.html?src=rss

'Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League' is delayed until February 2nd, 2024

It'll be quite a while before you can help take out the Justice League. As recent reports suggested, Warner Bros. Games and Rocksteady Studios have delayed Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League once again following a brutal reaction to a showcase of the game. Rather than arriving on May 26th, the title now has a release date of February 2nd, 2024. That's yet another delay after Warner Bros. Games pushed back the game from an initial 2022 release window to sometime this spring.

"We have made the tough but necessary decision to take the time needed to work on getting the game to be the best quality experience for players," a statement on the Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Twitter account reads. "Thank you to our amazing community for the continued support, patience and understanding. There is much more to share in the months ahead and we look forward to seeing you in Metropolis next year."

pic.twitter.com/iycWye9X42

— Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League (@suicidesquadRS) April 13, 2023

We got our most in-depth look at the game to date during a PlayStation State of Play in February, but it's fair to say that fans gave the deep dive a poor reception. The live service elements that Rocksteady showed off were the focus of the criticism, with many folks reacting negatively to the always-online requirement (something Arcane is working to nix from Redfall's single-player mode), as well as gating cosmetic items behind microtransactions and a battle pass system.

However, Rocksteady is reportedly using the extra time to polish the game rather than overhaul its live service aspects. The studio will be focusing on ironing out bugs and improving elements it feels aren't quite up to scratch, according to Bloomberg.

Whatever Rocksteady feels as though it needs more time to work on, announcing a delay of eight months only six weeks or so before the game was supposed to drop isn't a great look. That said, WB has the biggest-selling title of the year so far under its belt, which perhaps gives it a bit more flexibility to scuttle off Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League into early 2024. When it does eventually arrive, the co-op action-adventure game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-is-delayed-until-february-2nd-2024-201547147.html?src=rss

New 'Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' trailer shows Link's allies

Nintendo has shared one last trailer before The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom arrives on May 12th, and this one is worth watching if you're looking for some insight into the story. The rather lengthy clip showcases not only a large and varied world (including the floating islands above Hyrule), but Link's allies. As Zelda makes clear, "you are not alone." There's even a moment where Link offers a wagon ride.

The plot appears familiar — surprise, you'll have to find Zelda and defeat Ganon. Instead, it's the gameplay mechanics that promise to help Tears of the Kingdom set itself apart from Breath of the Wild. The skyborne islands factor play a large role, of course, but the reliance on fused-together weapons and vehicles is clearer in this new trailer. You can even build a 'robot' to take on Bokoblins that have their own battle platform.

The game is arriving alongside Tears-themed Pro Controller ($75) and Carrying Case ($25) accessories. You can also buy a special edition OLED Switch on April 28th for $350 if you're new to the platform or itching to upgrade from an early-model console. As the hardware and flurry of trailers suggests, Nintendo wants to be sure you're paying attention to the company's most important game of the year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-legend-of-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-trailer-shows-links-allies-144943398.html?src=rss

Shark's new 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop is cheaper than it's ever been

If you've been putting off any spring cleaning — who hasn't? — now might be the time to consider a helper. Robot vacuums have been popping up everywhere and, though they can be pricier than a do-it-yourself option, the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum is currently making a play for your home with a 43 percent off sale. It's still not an impulse buy in the check out lane, but, at $400 versus $700, it's the best deal we've seen since it launched.

This 2-in-1 model uses smart home mapping to clean in a precise grid, empties itself and has improved suction power. Shark also claims the mops can scrub floors 100 times per minute. Plus, like most robot vacuums, it's controlled through an app.

Shark has produced a few different robovacs in recent years, alongside impressive competitors like iRobot and Anker. This sale makes the 2-in-1 model cheaper than Shark's standard AI Ultra vacuum — even with its price currently down from $600 to $485. The standard model doesn't differ too much from the 2-in-1 model and made the list of our best robot vacuums of the year. But, it is missing a few features, such as the water reservoir, reusable mopping pads and improved suction. 

If you don't care too much about your robovac self-emptying, the Shark RV2410WD IQ 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop is a cheaper option, on sale at $295 versus $380. 

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/sharks-new-2-in-1-robot-vacuum-and-mop-is-cheaper-than-its-ever-been-101059636.html?src=rss

April's PS Plus Extra and Premium games include 'Doom Eternal' and 'Kena: Bridge of Spirits'

This may be a good time to be a fan of Bethesda's game lineup. Sony has detailed the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium game catalog additions for April, and more than a few of them come from Bethesda studios like id Software and Arkane. Most notably, you'll find Doom Eternal and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. These are no longer fresh games, but they're still some of the better-known first-person shooters in recent memory.

Other Bethesda titles bundled with the subscriptions include Wolfenstein: The Old Blood and the horror game The Evil Within. Not that you're stuck playing one publisher's games. The Pixar-like Kena: Bridge of Spirits is now available, as is the card battler/roguelike hybrid Slay the Spire and Ubisoft's extreme sports title Riders Republic. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is part of the package as well, although it's also available to Essential members.

PS Plus Premium members mostly get access to Bethesda classics. The first three Doom games and Doom 64 are included, as is Dishonored: Definitive Edition.

It's not all good news, unfortunately. Sony warns that Spider-Man, Resident Evil and NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 are some of the games departing the catalog by May 15th. As much as PS Plus' library of games has expanded since Extra and Premium became available, the additions aren't always permanent.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/aprils-ps-plus-extra-and-premium-games-include-doom-eternal-and-kena-bridge-of-spirits-165022648.html?src=rss

'Final Fantasy XI' is the focus of a State of Play event this Thursday

Sony has officially set its latest State of Play showcase for Thursday, April 13th. The stream will be available at 5PM ET on PlayStation’s various social media channels, including Twitch and YouTube. You can also check out the stream via the embedded video below, so keep this tab open.

The company announced that Final Fantasy XVI will be the guest of honor, with 20 minutes of new footage of the forthcoming Square Enix RPG. The game was announced back in 2020 and has suffered from a COVID-19 delay but it finally drops on June 22nd for PlayStation 5. So far, we’ve only seen trailers with minimal gameplay, so 20 minutes of footage is a real treat for anyone looking to get their Chocobo fix.

This is great news for action RPG fans, but it looks like Final Fantasy XVI will be the only game streamed during the event. Sony has given no mention of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Death Stranding 2 or even new titles for that just-released PlayStation VR 2. 

Though the actual gameplay of Final Fantasy XVI remains somewhat mysterious, trailers have highlighted the plot, which involves humans waking up massive monsters called Eikons and all of the fun that follows. The last mainline entry in the series was 2016’s Final Fantasy XV.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/final-fantasy-xi-is-the-focus-of-a-state-of-play-event-this-thursday-161303072.html?src=rss

The best sous vide machines for 2023

Learning how to cook sous vide (which translates literally to “under vacuum” in French) can be intimidating. Not only do you need to have a sous vide machine (aka an immersion circulator), some people will also say you need additional equipment like a vacuum sealer, special plastic bags and more. And while those things do help, they’re not 100 percent necessary and they shouldn’t scare you off one of the best and most accurate ways of cooking, especially proteins like meat and fish.

The hard part, though, is choosing the right device for you, as sous vide machines are relatively recent newcomers to home kitchens. After all, the first immersion circulator priced under $500 went on sale in 2009. Prior to that, these devices were typically only found in high-end restaurants or as playthings for celebrity chefs. So if you want to see which sous vide machine can up your cooking game, take a look at our picks for the best devices you can buy right now.

What we look for

While they might have a fancy name, the main things we look for in a quality sous vide machine are quite straightforward: ease-of-use, reliability and a good design. It should be easy to clean and have clear, no-nonsense controls. It should also have some way of attaching to a tank or pot so it doesn’t become dislodged during use. And most importantly, it should have a strong heating element and motor that can deliver consistent water temperatures to ensure your food hits the correct level of doneness every time.

The best overall: Anova Precision Cooker

Anova is one of the oldest names in the game. I’ve personally been using one of their older models for almost seven years and it’s still going strong. However, on the latest version of the Anova Precision Cooker you get a number of handy upgrades like digital touch controls, a longer power cord, a water-resistant IPX7 design and even Wi-Fi connectivity. And with a flow rate of eight liters per minute, it can heat up water faster than less expensive competitors.

But perhaps the best part is that, thanks to a collaboration with chef J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, the Anova app has one of the largest collections of tried and tested sous vide recipes from any manufacturer. So not only is it easy to use, the Anova Precision Cooker can help you find a ton of tasty dishes to try

Alternatively, if you like Anova’s devices but want something a bit more compact, consider the Precision Cooker Nano 3.0. Priced at $149, it’s a bit more expensive than the standard model but you still get all the most important features including dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, a two-line touchscreen and onboard controls so you don’t need to ever pair your phone to the Nano if you don’t want to.

Our upgrade pick: Breville Joule Sous Vide

If you want a more sophisticated immersion circulator, Breville’s Joule Sous Vide is a great choice. It has a slick, compact design, which is great for people with smaller kitchens, and because its motor is located at the very base of the device, you don’t need to use as much water to cook. So instead of requiring a huge dedicated tank, you can simply fill a three or four-quart pot with water and go from there. On top of that, because it has a magnetic base, it can clamp to the bottom of a pot without needing a separate clip or stand. It also supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The one downside is that because it doesn’t have onboard temperature controls, you need to pair it with your phone and use Breville’s free companion app every time you want to use it.

The best budget immersion circulator: Inkbird Sous Vide Precision Cooker (ISV-200W)

For those who want to try out sous vide cooking without dropping a bunch of money, Inkbird’s Precision Cooker is a great entry-level choice. While it’s not quite as powerful or fancy as more expensive rivals, it covers all the bases for just under $90 (and it’s often on sale for even less). Not only do you get a built-in screen with Wi-Fi connectivity, the Inkbird has a powerful heating element with a 0.1-degree Celsius accuracy. Cooking temps range from 77 degrees Fahrenheit to 210 degrees and with a timer setting that goes up to 99 hours, you can try to recreate some of those super long, multi-day recipes like you’ve seen on YouTube in your own kitchen.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-sous-vide-133025288.html?src=rss

The Environmental Protection Agency proposes stricter vehicle emission rules

The Biden-Harris administration has proposed stricter pollution standards across the auto industry as part of their goal to increase EV production and slow climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new guidelines would mean that, by 2032, 67 percent of new light-duty vehicles, such as sedans and light trucks, and 46 percent of new medium-duty vehicles sold will be EVs. The proposed changes could also lead to almost 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions to be avoided through 2055 — about double the US's 2022 emissions. 

Details on the proposed emissions standards aren’t fully clear, but are set to include targets for EV sales and new rules that punish automakers who exceed CO2 standards within the next five to ten years. "Specifically, EPA is proposing stronger CO2 standards for MY 2027 HD vehicles that go beyond the current standards that apply under the HD Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas program," the agency said in a statement. "EPA is also is proposing an additional set of CO2 standards for HD vehicles that would begin to apply in MY 2028, with progressively lower standards each model year through 2032." 

This year has already seen continued progress for EV manufacturing and sales. Tesla reported increased first quarter sales that were 36 percent higher than the same period in 2022, and four percent higher than the last quarter. Volkswagen pledged $193 billion dollars towards EV technology, including batteries and raw materials, over the next five years.

EV purchases are clearly heading in the direction the Biden administration hopes: EV sales accounted for 5.6 percent in 2022, compared to 1.8 percent in 2020. In California, EVs made up almost 19 percent of yearly new car sales. That upswing is set to continue in 2023 with 225,000 EVs sold in the first quarter — about seven percent of all new vehicles. The same period saw used EV purchases increase by almost a third, thanks potentially to their prices decreasing.

At the same time, cost is still a huge barrier for making EVs mainstream. Last year, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, providing EV buyers subsidies up to $7,500 for SUVs, trucks, and vans under $80,000 and cars under $55,000. Even used EV purchases could get up to $4,000. Recent updated guidance from the US Treasury Department, however, limited how many EVs would qualify for a subsidy

Another issue is making sure people have somewhere to charge all these EVs while they're on the go. Currently, there are 130,000 public charging stations across the United States, with President Biden aiming to tackle demand by building another 500,000 by 2030. Part of this plan entails teaming with local officials to build them in widely accessible spaces, with regional governments needing to apply for funds by May 30th. If all goes well, no one would live farther than 50 miles from a charger. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-environmental-protection-agency-proposes-stricter-vehicle-emission-rules-123026451.html?src=rss

Playdate's first store update adds four games and a calculator

The Playdate's Catalog games store has received its first update since its launch last month, and it's a small but eclectic five-title mix that even includes a productivity app. The official headliner, Core Fault, is a survival game that has you piloting a mining droid as it collects resources and dodges unhappy aliens. However, the real star might be Crankulator. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like — it's a calculator that uses the handheld's crank to enter values. It can even use a synthetic voice to relay calculations like a modern-day Speak & Math.

Other additions include the physics-driven flight game Gravity Express, the mahjong adaptation Sparrow Solitaire and the spooky puzzle solver Life's Too Short. The prices range from just $1 for Life's Too Short through to $10 for Gravity Express and Sparrow Solitaire. As with the initial game batch, these are effectively impulse buys.

✨ Oh!! Our first-ever Catalog drop has landed!!

There are five new titles to grab, including the Survivors-like game Core Fault, the beautiful Sparrow Solitaire, a talking calculator…?!, and more.

Check Catalog on your Playdate, or visit https://t.co/di58Ue9TgD today! pic.twitter.com/UR6nnOARtt

— Playdate (@playdate) April 11, 2023

The Catalog selection is still tiny at 21 titles. For comparison, the first "season" included with the Playdate provides 24 games. However, this first expansion might give an idea of what to expect — namely, a modest but steady stream of quirky experiences built around the console's black-and-white display and unusual controls. They likely won't replace epics like the latest Legend of Zelda game, but they're not meant that way. These are quick fixes you can play while you're waiting for the bus or taking a work break.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/playdates-first-store-update-adds-four-games-and-a-calculator-210551529.html?src=rss