Thursday, July 14, 2022

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Uber sued by more than 500 women over sexual assault and kidnapping claims

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 02:27 AM PDT

Uber is facing a lawsuit filed by more than 500 women who allege they were assaulted by drivers, CNBC has reported. The complaint states that "women passengers in multiple states were kidnapped, sexually assaulted, sexually battered, raped, falsely imprisoned, stalked, harassed, or otherwise attacked," by Uber drivers. The San Francisco law firm that filed the suit said it has about 550 clients with at least another 150 claims being investigated. 

Earlier this month, Uber released its second safety report showing that sexual assault reports in the five most severe categories fell 38 percent from 5,981 in 2017 and 2018 to 3,824 for the years 2019 and 2020. However, that may be correlated with the COVID-19 pandemic which saw a severe drop in ridership from 2020-2021. "We're constantly innovating and investing in the safety of our platform," Uber chief legal officer Tony West wrote in the report.

However, the law firm said that safety is not the company's highest priority. "Uber's whole business model is predicated on giving people a safe ride home, but rider safety was never their concern – growth was, at the expense of their passengers' safety," said Slater Slater Schulman LLP founding partner Adam Slater. "While the company has acknowledged this crisis of sexual assault in recent years, its actual response has been slow and inadequate, with horrific consequences."

The law firm criticized Uber for lax policies related to driver background checks and enforcement. It noted that Uber has "opted to hire drivers without fingerprinting them or running their information through FBI databases... [and] has a longstanding policy that it will not report any criminal activity – even assaults and rape – to law-enforcement authorities." 

Uber has yet to respond to the lawsuit, but Engadget has reached out for comment. An Uber spokesperson told Fox Business that it can't comment on pending litigation, but that the company "takes reports of this nature very seriously and has worked closely with advocates to develop a survivor-centric approach to handling such cases when they arise." 

Uber has a history of settlements and complaints related to passenger and driver safety. In 2016, The Guardian reported that Uber had paid out $161.9 million in safety-related lawsuits since 2009. In 2017, it faced a class-action lawsuit accusing it of "giving perpetrators of sexual assault, sexual harassment and physical violence access to thousands of 'vulnerable victims' nationwide." And in 2019, the company was sued for $10 million by a woman who was sexual assaulted by an Uber driver, saying the company put her in harm's way. 

Crypto lending giant Celsius files for bankruptcy

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 11:58 PM PDT

Celsius has filed for bankruptcy protection a month after it paused all customer withdrawals and transfers, according to The Wall Street Journal. The crypto lending giant left almost two million users unable to access their funds back in June due to what it described as "extreme market conditions." Back then, the company said that freezing withdrawals would help stabilize the liquidity of its assets to, in turn, help it meet withdrawal obligations. 

Celsius was one of the companies caught in the crypto crash, and it saw its token's value fall from $7 a year ago to $3 by early April this year. Based on the most current information from Coinbase, its token is now worth around 56 cents. As The Journal notes, Celsius offered much better yields than traditional banks to its customers — over 18.6 percent for deposits — and granted large loans backed by little collateral. That left the company with very little wiggle room to move when it felt the effects of the crypto downturn.

The crypto lender's board of directors explained that pausing withdrawals was difficult but necessary. They said when they filed for bankruptcy:

"Without a pause, the acceleration of withdrawals would have allowed certain customers — those who were first to act — to be paid in full while leaving others behind to wait for Celsius to harvest value from illiquid or longer-term assets before they receive a recovery."

Since Celsius isn't seeking court approval for withdrawals, they will likely remain inaccessible as the company restructures under the chapter 11 process. While filing for bankruptcy protects Celsius from some enforcement actions by regulators, though, it will not prevent authorities from investigating the company. Texas State Securities Board's director of enforcement, Joseph Rotunda, said the agency will continue its probe into the crypto lender. The states of Alabama, Kentucky, New Jersey and Washington are also looking into Celsius after it cut off people's access to their money. 

Hyundai's first EV sedan is the futuristic Ioniq 6

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 06:30 PM PDT

While Tesla, Ford and GM all (very publicly) vie for the top spot in the American electric vehicle market, Hyundai has quietly built a powerhouse lineup of EVs that threatens to surpass them all. On Wednesday (Thursday in Korea), Hyundai Motor Group officially unveiled the Ioniq 6, a streamlined sedan that offers an estimated 610km (380 mile) range and an intelligent interior that George Jetson would mistake for magic.

The Ioniq 6, like the other iterations of the Ioniq lineup, is built atop Hyundai's e-GMP platform. As such, the 6 is outfitted with an industry-leading 800V electrical architecture enabling a 10-80 charge in just 18 minutes.

It will be available with either a standard 55kWh battery pack or an optional 77.4kWh pack, equivalent to what the Kia EV6 and Polestar 2 offer. Combined with a miniscule 0.21 drag coefficient (which is also one of the best on the market), the Ioniq 6 is expected to top 610 km on a single charge. And like the Ioniq 5, the 6 also offers V2L capabilities, enabling it to charge your house, accessories and even other vehicles.

Its exceedingly aerodynamic exterior, available in a dozen different colors, has been likened to that of an Apple Mouse come to life — like someone shortened the back of Mercedes-Benz' ambitious AVTR Concept and gave it a duck lip. And optional 20-inch rims.

Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai

Drivers will have the option between RWD and AWD (2- and 4-motor) variants. Per Hyundai, the AWD will output 239 kW (320HP) with 605 Nm of torque and hit 60 from a standstill in 5.1 seconds. You'll have to opt for the small battery RWD model to achieve maximum efficiency and get the sub-14 kWh/100 km WLTP-estimated energy consumption.

Drivers will be able to tightly customize their preferred driving experience using the Ioniq 6's EV Performance Tune-up system. Dial in everything from steering effort and motor power, to accelerator pedal sensitivity and driveline mode. You can also group various aspect settings into quick selectable packages — like a loadout in Call of Duty, or Focus Modes in iOS.

"Our engineers have worked hard to deliver a car with human-centric purposeful features to ensure a completely stress-free driving experience with its focus on design sustainability, technology, and usability," Thomas Schemera, Hyundai EVP of Product and Strategy, said during a recent press call.

Its "cocoon-inspired" interior has been built as a "comfy and personalized hideaway" where, according to the company's launch video, people can take naps, bang out some light coding or office work and even conduct livestreams to their myriad social media followers — or, in reality, will serve as a quiet place to cry during lunch breaks. (Phil is a terrible manager and he doesn't deserve your efforts, you should just quit.)

Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai

To get you back into the mood before your next shift starts, the Ioniq 6 will offer Dual Color Ambient Lighting which lets the driver select from 64 shades and a half dozen preset themes and tint their vehicle's interior to their taste. The Relaxation Comfort Seats are optional but are designed specially for electric vehicles and are therefore 30 percent thinner than those used in gas vehicles. When combined with a completely flat floor (look Ma, no driveshaft!) and elongated 2,950-mm wheelbase, the Ioniq 6 should provide, "more space for passengers but without compromised to comfort," Schemera said. It'll also offer four type-C and one type-A USB ports in the front cabin to keep your various live streaming gadgets fully charged.

The interior features a 12-inch full-touch infotainment display and 12-inch digital cluster, which provide real-time travel radius mapping to inform the driver how far they'll be able to go on the charge they have remaining. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as is Bluetooth multi-connection — meaning you can wirelessly connect two devices to play through the 8-speaker Bose sound system.

While Hyundai (quite responsibly) does not claim any semblance of "self-driving" capability, the Ioniq 6 does feature a slew of Level 2 driver assist functions as part of the Hyundai SmartSense ADAS. That includes Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control, and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist all of which operate around the same theme of keeping you from smashing headfirst into other vehicles. The higher trim packages will also offer Junction Crossing, Lane-Changing Oncoming and Lane-Changing Side features, which will work to keep other vehicles from smashing headfirst into you at intersections. Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist will keep you from smashing headfirst into obstacles you can't even see.

Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and High Beam Assist will ensure that you don't speed but do turn down your high beams. The 6 will even watch you watch the road and issue a Driver Attention Warning if you start nodding off. Parking assist, cross traffic/parking collision avoidance and safe exit warnings are also available. Hyundai plans to continually tweak and update the Ioniq 6's features through OTA updates.

Pricing has yet to be announced for the Ioniq 6, though production is slated to begin in Q3 2022. Stay tuned, Hyundai will make the Ioniq 6's official American introduction in November.

Surgeons at NYU Langone transplanted pig hearts into two brain-dead humans

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 05:02 PM PDT

Earlier this summer, physicians at NYU Langone were able to successfully transplant pig hearts into two recently-deceased humans. The medical team performed the procedures on June 16 and July 6, using special pig hearts that were genetically modified to be more acceptable for transplantation into a human body. Both the bodies were donated by recently deceased individuals and were placed on ventilator support so the efficacy of the pig hearts could be measured more accurately.

The study arrives as the field of xenotransplantation — or the act of transferring organs from one species to another — is under increased scrutiny. The first person to undergo a pig heart transplant died earlier this year, of what scientists believe was an adverse reaction to a drug to prevent rejection. The heart also contained DNA associated with a pig virus. Since the incident, the medical community has called for more meaningful research on the subject, as well as better safety protocols. Meanwhile, the FDA is considering approval of clinical trials for pig heart transplantation in humans, the Wall Street Journalreported last month.

Both human subjects — a 72-year-old Navy veteran and a 64-year-old retired New York City teacher — were monitored for three days before being taken off life support. Neither heart needed any outside support and functioned normally, which researchers are seeing as a promising sign for future research. Despite the NYU experiment's positive outcome, surgeons cautioned that much more research is needed before pig heart transplants can be a viable alternative for people with heart disease.

"This is not a one-and-done situation. This is going to be years of learning what's important and what's not important for this to work," NYU's Dr. Robert Montgomery told the Associated Press.

Panasonic is building the world's largest EV battery factory in Kansas

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 04:20 PM PDT

Panasonic announced on Wednesday that it's inked a $4 billion investment deal with the state of Kansas to build and operate the world's largest battery cell production facility. The company has already identified a site near the city of De Soto, at a former ammunition factory.

"As the largest private investment in Kansas history and one of the largest EV battery manufacturing plants of its kind in the country, this project will be transformative for our state's economy, providing in total 8,000 high-quality jobs that will help more Kansans create better lives for themselves and their children," Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, said during Wednesday's press conference.

The plant will produce high-capacity cells for Tesla, according to Nikkei Asia. Panasonic already jointly operates the Reno, Nevada Gigafactory with the automaker. Tesla opened a third Gigafactory, in Austin, this past April. This project is expected to produce 4,000 permanent jobs at the factory as well as 16,500 construction jobs.

Despite the global economic shock and supply chain shortages instigated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tesla saw its vehicle deliveries jump nearly 90 percent between 2020 and 2021. The company had begun developing a proprietary line of batteries in 2019 and has been routinely snapping up exclusive deals with lithium suppliers.

Similarly, GM and Ford have made sizable investments in both battery and EV production facilities, in recent years. GM is spending $7 billion in Michigan alone, part of which is going towards a $2.4 billion battery and EV facility outside Lansing, while Ford has put up a whopping $29 billion towards its electrification and autonomous technology commitments. 

Amazon gave Ring footage to police without customer consent

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 03:45 PM PDT

As of July 1st of this year, Amazon has provided Ring footage to US law enforcement 11 times without user consent or a court order, according to a disclosure shared by Senator Edward Markey on Wednesday. The Massachusetts Democrat sent Amazon a letter last month with questions about the company's policies related to Ring and its relationships with police. Amazon responded to the letter at the start of July.

The disclosure marks the first time Amazon has shared this kind of information with the public. In its law enforcement guidelines, Ring says it reserves the right to "immediately" respond to police requests in cases where someone could die or suffer serious injury.

"In each instance, Ring made a good-faith determination that there was an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to a person requiring disclosure of information without delay," wrote Brian Huseman, Amazon's vice-president of public policy, of the 11 videos. Huseman didn't say the specific footage Ring shared with police.

In his letter, Markey asked Amazon to agree not to accept financial contributions from police or participate in sting operations. The company did not agree to those restrictions. In the past, Ring has actively courted partnerships with law enforcement and even gone so far as to author statements shared by police.

"It's simply untrue that Ring gives anyone unfettered access to customer data or video, as we have repeatedly made clear to our customers and others," a Ring spokesperson told Engadget. "The law authorizes companies like Ring to provide information to government entities if the company believes that an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to any person, such as a kidnapping or an attempted murder, requires disclosure without delay. Ring faithfully applies that legal standard." 

The news that Amazon shared footage with police without user consent at least 11 times this year is likely to add to the concerns many privacy experts have about the company. In 2021, the Electronic Frontier Foundation reported that the Los Angeles Police Department requested footage from Ring of Black Lives Matter protests captured by residential cameras. 

Markey used the disclosure to call on lawmakers to pass the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, a bill he introduced alongside Senator Jeff Merkley and Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Ayanna Pressley. "As my ongoing investigation into Amazon illustrates, it has become increasingly difficult for the public to move, assemble, and converse in public without being tracked and recorded," said Markey. "We cannot accept this as inevitable in our country."

Tesla's Director of AI is leaving the company (Updated)

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 03:22 PM PDT

Tesla Director of AI, Andrej Karpathy, is stepping down from his role at the company and from the helm of its Autopilot program. "It's been a great pleasure to help Tesla towards its goals over the last 5 years and a difficult decision to part ways," Karpathy announced via Twitter on Wednesday, having just returned from a four-month sabbatical. 

The news follows suspicions, then confirmations, that Tesla would be reducing its workforce by as much as 10 percent. The company has already laid off more than 200 employees from the Autopilot division and permanently shuttered its San Mateo offices. Musk has previously made overtures about packing up and leaving Silicon Valley, where Tesla was founded, for the sun-baked shores of central Texas. The company moved its headquarters from California to Austin last October and has heavily focused its new production capabilities there.  

Before becoming the Senior Director of AI at Tesla, Karpathy was a research scientist with OpenAI's deep learning program focusing on computer vision and generative modeling. Prior to that, he was part of Fei-Fei Li's research team at Stanford for his PhD. Karpathy has "no concrete plans" yet for the future but is looking to "spend more time revisiting my long-term passions around technical work in AI, open source and education," he noted in a subsequent tweet.  

Update (7:30 PM ET 7/13/22): The Information reports that Karpathy is not the only Tesla executive to depart today. A "senior director focused on DEI" has also apparently left, as well as Chris Rollins, a senior software manager in Tesla's energy division. Kristen Kavanaugh, a senior director focused on diversity and inclusion, resigned last month.

'Star Trek: Lower Decks' returns for its third season on August 25th

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 01:45 PM PDT

If you're missing your weekly dose of Star Trek since the first season of Strange New Worlds wrapped up, you won't have to wait much longer for another fix. Animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks will return on August 25th.

The third season has 10 episodes, with a new one arriving every Thursday. Paramount+ is promising a "shocking resolution" for the cliffhanger that capped off season two last October. The crew of the USS Cerritos will be tested "in (hilarious) ways they could never imagine," which may or may not have something to do with the consequences of stealing the ship.

The imminent return of Lower Decks should come as good news for its fans. Trekkers who prefer the live-action shows will need to remain patient, though, as the likes of Star Trek: Picard and Discovery aren't expected to return until 2023.

Tonal lays off 35 percent of its workforce

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 01:16 PM PDT

Connected fitness equipment maker Tonal is laying off 35 percent of its workforce, according to CNBC. Like Peloton, the company grew its headcount significantly over the last two years as demand for its product, a home weightlifting system, skyrocketed due to pandemic lockdowns. Before the start of 2020, Tonal employed about 110 people. It now has closer to 750 workers, CEO Aly Orady told CNBC. Orday said the move would help put Tonal on track to start making money within the next few months as it looks to go public.

"As we head into a recession — and many of us believe we're headed into a recession — it's really important that we become a business that's here for the long term," Orady told the outlet. Tonal will provide affected employees at least eight weeks of severance pay and healthcare benefits through to the end of September. 

Relative to Peloton, Tonal is coming out of the pandemic mostly unscathed. The connected fitness industry's best-known player laid off 2,800 employees, or about 20 percent of its total workforce, at the start of 2022. More recently, Peloton announced it would no longer build its own equipment.

The best Amazon Prime Day deals for college students in 2022

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 01:00 PM PDT

Yes, we know it's still summer, but now is the time to start preparing to go back to school. That's especially if you're starting college in a couple of months – you don't want to leave prep to the last minute. Fortunately, it's Prime Day and quite a number of discounted items are perfect for students heading back to the classroom. Whether it's a laptop or just things that will make dorm life a little easier, we recommend picking them up now to save yourself the headache later. Here's a list of the best back-to-school tech deals we've spotted so far.

Razer Blade 15

Razer Blade 15
Razer Blade 15
Will Lipman photography for Engadget

Razer's sleek Blade 15 is usually pretty expensive, but fortunately this particular version of it is $200 off, making it just $1,900. It features the 8-core 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 144Hz 1080p display. It's thin and compact, so it won't break your back if you're carrying it from class to class, plus it's powerful enough to use as a gaming machine. The custom backlight RGB colors on the keyboard are pretty cool too.

Buy Razer Blade 15 at Amazon - $1,900

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Microsoft

This particular configuration of Microsoft's Surface Pro 8 has also dipped in price to $1,188, which is 26 percent off its list price. It runs on Intel's Evo Platform Core i7, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. We've recommended the Surface Pro 8 as an option for those who like their laptops to occasionally double as tablets. It has a thin profile with minimal bezels and the 120Hz display makes scrolling long documents feel a lot faster.

Buy Surface Pro 8 at Amazon - $1,188

Soundance laptop stand

Soundance laptop stand
Soundance laptop stand
Soundance

The Soundance laptop stand is currently $24, which is 41 percent off its list price. However, you can save an extra 10 percent if you apply the on-page coupon, which will bring it down to just under $30. A stand like this helps raise your laptop to eye level, which helps promote good posture. It has a detachable design too, so you can break it down and carry it in your bag if you wish.

Buy Soundance laptop stand at Amazon - $24

Anker USB-C to Lightning 6-ft Powerline cables

Anker Powerline
Anker Powerline
Anker

Anker's two-pack of USB-C to Lightning Powerline cables is down to just $20, which is 35 percent off the original price. It's MFI-certified to work with all Apple devices, and it supports fast-charging, which is good news if you need to power up your almost-dead battery in a hurry. Plus, Anker's cables tend to last a lot longer than the standard Apple one that comes in the box. According to Anker, the Powerline lasts an average of 12 times longer with a 12,000-bend lifespan.

Buy USB-C to Lightning cables at Amazon - $20

Chromecast with Google TV

The Chromecast with Google TV is down to $40 right now. It's the best option if you're a heavy Google user, or really like being able to cast from your phone to your TV. We gave it a score of 86 for its handy remote control, good Google Assistant integration and 4K streaming chops with Dolby Vision and Atmos support.

Buy Chromecast with Google TV at Amazon - $40

Roku Streambar

The Roku Streambar is down to $90 right now. It's both a solid streaming device and soundbar, making it a good option for those without a ton of space to spare. We gave it a score of 86 for its solid audio quality, Dolby Audio support and built-in 4K streaming technology. The more advanced Streambar Pro is on sale for $150, too.

Buy Roku Streambar at Amazon - $90Buy Sterambar Pro at Amazon - $150

Belkin MagSafe 2-in-1 Wireless Charger

Belkin MagSafe 2-in-1
Belkin MagSafe 2-in-1
Belkin

Need to charge both your iPhone and your AirPods at the same time? Then consider Belkin's MagSafe 2-in-1 Wireless Charger, which is just $75 today, making it 25 percent off the normal price. It'll only work with iPhones that are MagSafe-compatible, which are the iPhone 12 and up. We like it because it has fast-charging up to 15 watts, plus you can rotate the phone to either portrait or landscape mode.

Buy Belkin 2-in-1 charger at Amazon - $75

Sony WH-CH710N headphones

Sony WH-CH710N headphones
Engadget

Sony's excellent noise-canceling WH-CH710N headphones are only $68 today, which is 55 percent off its original price. Noise-canceling headphones are very useful for any student who needs peace and quiet in order to focus on their work. The WH-CH710N delivers plenty of sound-blocking power thanks to the dual noise sensor tech. It also has an ambient-sound toggle in case you want to hear what's going on around you. A bonus: it has an excellent 35-hour battery life, which is more than enough to last through several study sessions.

Buy WH-CH710N at Amazon - $68

Jabra Elite 45h headphones

Jabra Elite 45h
Jabra Elite 45h
Will Lipman photography for Engadget

If you don't need noise-canceling, consider Jabra's Elite 45h, which is only $50 for Prime Day (that's half off its $100 retail price). They sound great, plus they'll pair with most TVs or laptops over Bluetooth. It lasts up to 50 hours on a charge, and they're comfortable to use at home or while walking around campus.

Buy Jabra Elite 45h at Amazon - $50

Amazon Echo Dot

Echo Dot 4th gen
Echo Dot 4th gen
Amazon

Like with many Amazon products, the Echo Dot is discounted for Prime Day. It's currently a very enticing $20, which is 60 percent off the list price. We think it's a great device for students, as it won't take up much space on their desks. They can use it to play music from Spotify or Apple Music and of course they can ask Alexa to do all manner of things like checking the weather, finding out the day's appointments, and setting a reminder for deadlines.

Buy Echo Dot at Amazon - $20

Cosori Electric Gooseneck Kettle

COSORI electric kettle
COSORI electric kettle
Engadget

Whether it be for coffee, tea, or instant ramen, you'll love having an electric kettle in your dorm room. This model from Cosori is a very good one, plus it's just $60 for Prime Day, which is 16 percent off its usual price. It has variable temperature presets so you can dial the water to exactly how hot you want it, which is great for customizing the brew to different varieties of tea. It's also fantastic for pour-over coffee, as the gooseneck spout allows for a more accurate, gentle pour.

Buy Cosori electric kettle at Amazon - $60

Linenspa shredded foam pillow

Linenspa
Linenspa
Linenspa

Linenspa's oversized reading pillow is 20 percent off today, making it just $32. We recommend it as it helps change up your seating position so that you're not always sitting on your desk chair, plus it's a lot comfier than slouching on piled up bed pillows. The shredded memory foam provides good posture support, which in turn is super helpful for reading, playing games or just watching TV. We especially like the handle, as it makes it easier to carry around your room. 

Buy Linenspa pillow at Amazon - $32

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watchOS 9 preview: A hearty upgrade for workout and sleep tracking

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 12:31 PM PDT

Apple may have the best smartwatch around, but there are still some areas where it lags the competition, particularly in exercise and sleep tracking. With watchOS 9, the company is bringing a robust slate of Workout updates, alongside new watch faces, redesigned apps and the ability to detect sleep zones. Now that the public beta is here, we can get a first look at whether the company can close those gaps.

To install the watchOS beta, you'll need to have an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer, as well as an iPhone running the iOS 16 beta. That means if you don't want to risk losing your data, you might want to wait until an official release before updating.

Hearty changes in Workouts

Some of the most impactful updates are in workouts. Apple added pages that present more data when you're logging an activity, so you can easily keep track of things like your segments and splits or elevations. Of these new screens, my favorite is the Cardio Zones view, while I found the Activity Rings page the least helpful.

It was satisfying to see where my heart rate was during a 45-minute HIIT session, and the Apple Watch displayed that information clearly. There were five zones in different colors on screen, and the one I was in was highlighted. Afterwards, I learned through the Fitness app's new summary page that I had spent most of the time (about 22 minutes) in Zone 4, and Apple also helpfully displays the heart rate range for each zone.

Two Apple Watch screenshots alongside an iPhone screenshot showing the new Cardio Zone and Activity views in the Workout app, as well as the heart rate summary on the Fitness app on the phone.
Screenshots

The Cardio view is supposed to be available for all workouts, but I didn't see it in activities like Yoga, Dance or Cooldown. They do all support the new custom workout feature, though, which lets you create specific goals to focus on during your session. This is much more useful in distance or endurance-related activities like running, cycling, rowing or HIIT, where Apple offers suggested templates like 8 x 400m repeats, 1 mile repeats or 20 min of 20 sec / 10 sec. You'll get haptic and audio alerts when you hit your target heart rate, distance, calories or time.

You can scroll all the way down to set up your own, but this experience is pretty inconsistent across different workout types. For some activities, you'll have plenty of options like Pacer, Distance, Calories or Time. For others, like Open Water Swim or Rower, you'll only see Calories and Time, along with a Custom option that lets you set specific periods of work and recovery.

Not every activity is going to be compatible with distance or pace, so this inconsistency is understandable. Just don't expect the custom workouts feature to behave the same way for all your exercises.

Six screenshots showing the new custom workouts in the watchOS 9 beta.
Screenshots

Runners will find a lot of the watchOS 9 tools helpful, though. Apple also added new running form metrics like stride length, ground contact time, vertical oscillation and something it calls Power. That last one measures your responsive energy demand and is displayed as a number of watts. These new metrics are automatically calculated, and are only available during Outdoor Run workouts. You'll need to be using an Apple Watch Series 6, Watch SE or newer, too.

If you tend to run or bike along the same routes, watchOS 9 can also let you race against yourself in the new Race Route feature. When you complete Outdoor Run, Outdoor Cycle or Wheelchair Run Pace workouts, your iPhone will use on-device processing to group similar routes. The next time you start one of these activities, the Route view will tell you if you're ahead or behind your typical time, how much distance is left and alert you if you go off your usual path. Apple also added a new Pacer mode that lets you set a target time to complete a distance you specify, and will then guide you to hit the required pace to meet that goal. Garmin and Samsung watches have similar features, so Apple isn't breaking new ground here, but it's nice to see come to watchOS.

I don't usually bike, swim and run within one session, but for triathletes, the new Multisport workout mode makes it easier to switch between the three activities so you don't have to fiddle with your watch. Apple also added support for Kickboard as a stroke type, and swimmers can see a SWOLF efficiency score on their summaries.

New watch faces and interface

One of the nicer things about each watchOS update is the new faces, which offer a way to refresh your device. This time, Apple not only added the ability to change the background color of existing options like Modular and X-Large, it's also introducing new Playtime, Metropolitan and Lunar designs. The company redesigned the Astronomy screen, too, and it's similar to the iPhone version where you can choose between views of the earth, moon or the solar system. Meanwhile, Lunar lets you pick from the Chinese, Hebrew or Islamic calendars to display around the clock.

Three screenshots showing, from left to right, the new Modular, Astronomy and Lunar watch faces in the watchOS 9 beta.
Screenshots

I never knew how much I'd appreciate having the Chinese Lunar calendar within reach until I added this face. It has Mandarin characters telling me it's currently the fifteenth day of the sixth month, and I can use this to count how far we are from the next Lunar New Year or my grandmother's birthday (which my family bases on the Chinese calendar).

Apple also redesigned the calendar app, making it easier to add new events from your wrist. Siri also no longer takes over your whole screen when triggered, instead appearing as an orb floating over the clock.

Because I had set up Medications on my iPhone on the iOS 16 preview, I also received an alert on watchOS 9 when it came time to take my supplement. I could easily log that I had taken my meds, skipped them or snooze the reminder.

Sleep zones and other updates

Speaking of snoozing, Apple also added sleep stage-detection to watchOS 9, using data from the accelerometer and heart rate monitor. It'll detect when you're awake, and distinguish between zones like REM, Core or Deep sleep. This feature is way overdue, considering Fitbit has long been able to do this with even its midrange trackers. But while I didn't get around to testing Apple's system in time for this preview, I look forward to seeing how it compares when I do a full review.

A screenshot and a picture showing, from left to right, a Siri symbol floating on the watchOS 9 home screen, and a Medications reminder.
Screenshot / Engadget

There are some other updates I'd like to spend more time with, too, like the additional metrics when doing a Fitness+ workout. So far, my experience with the watchOS 9 beta has been smooth, and honestly the cardio zones workout view alone has made the installation worthwhile (for a gym fiend like me, anyway). If you're comfortable with the risk involved in running beta software, and can't wait till a stable release to get these new features, you'll likely enjoy what Apple has to offer today.

Netflix partners with Microsoft for upcoming ad-supported subscription tier

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 12:14 PM PDT

Netflix has found a partner for its upcoming ad-supported tier. On Wednesday, the company announced it plans to work with Microsoft on the effort. In a blog post published by Microsoft, the tech giant said it would provide Netflix with technological and sales expertise. 

As recently as last month, The Wall Street Journal suggested Google and Comcast were among the leading candidates to help Netflix build out an ad-supported tier. On Wednesday, Netflix said it selected Microsoft for the tech giant's "proven ability" to support its customers. "Microsoft offered the flexibility to innovate over time on both the technology and sales side, as well as strong privacy protections for our members," said Netflix Chief Operating Officer Greg Peters. Not mentioned is the fact that Microsoft doesn't operate a competing streaming service. 

Netflix co-CEO Reed Hasting first revealed the company was exploring cheaper plans this past April. The admission came after Netflix announced that it had lost 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2022. At the time, Hastings said the company planned to finalize the details of its plans "over the next year or two." Netflix is scheduled to announce its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. According to CNBC, the company recently warned Wall Street it may have lost as many as two million subscribers over the past three months. 

PS Plus Extra and Premium games for July include 'Stray' and 'Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade'

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 11:55 AM PDT

Sony has announced the first new batch of games for its higher PlayStation Plus tiers since it revamped the service. Along with the three titles that are available for PS Plus Essential members and those in the current Extra and Premium libraries, subscribers will have access to a bunch more games as of July 19th.

One of those is Stray, a cyberpunk adventure game in which you play as a cat with a drone companion. It's the first time that a third-party title will be available on a higher PS Plus tier on its release date. You'll have access to the PS4 and PS5 versions. 

Members will also be able to check out PS5 blockbuster Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. The PS4 version of Final Fantasy VII Remake was previously available to claim through PS Plus. However, for a while, those who snagged it were unable to get Intergrade without paying for the full game. Square Enix eventually relented and offered an upgrade path.

Also on July 19th, Extra and Premium members can play Marvel's Avengers on PS4 and PS5 at no extra cost. Things haven't exactly goneincrediblywell for that but the gameplay is solid. Crystal Dynamics just added the latest playable character, The Mighty Thor (Jane Foster), a few weeks ago.

On top of those, you'll have access to a bunch more Assassin's Creed games, Saints Row entries and some other games:

  • Assassin's Creed Unity (PS4)

  • Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag (PS4)

  • Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered (PS4)

  • Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry (PS4)

  • Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection (PS4)

  • Saints Row IV: Re-Elected (PS4)

  • Saints Row Gat out of Hell (PS4)

  • Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition (PS5)

  • Ice Age: Scrat's Nutty Adventure (PS4)

  • Jumanji The Video Game (PS4)

  • Paw Patrol on a Roll! (PS4)

  • ReadySet Heroes (PS4)

Premium members will be able to dive into a couple more PlayStation Portable titles in the form of No Heroes Allowed! and LocoRoco Midnight Carnival as well. That's a fairly solid slate of additions overall, with something for just about everyone.

Sony says it will continue to shakeup the PS Plus lineups on a monthly basis. It will refresh the Essential library at the start of each month and add new games to Extra and Essential a couple of weeks later. Bear in mind that games will cycle in and out of the Extra and Essential tiers, but you'll have access to Essential titles you claim as long as you maintain a PS Plus subscription.

The best Amazon Prime Day wearable deals from Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 11:00 AM PDT

Smartwatches and fitness trackers keep track of your activity throughout the day, but they've also become some of the most popular accessories over the past few years. There are more options to choose from now than ever before, and Amazon Prime Day deals have discounted many of our favorites. Our favorite picks for iOS and Android users, the Apple Watch and Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4, are down to the best prices we've seen, plus you can also save on devices from Fitbit, Garmin and others. Here are the best wearable deals we found for Amazon Prime Day 2022.

Apple Watch Series 7

The latest Apple Watch Series 7 has dropped to $279, which is a new all-time low. That's the starting price on the GPS-only models, but you can pick up a GPS + Cellular model for as low as $379, too. It's the most comprehensive wearable Apple makes and it earned a score of 90 from us for its larger screen, faster charging and handy features in watchOS 8.

Buy Series 7 at Amazon - $279

Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch SE
Engadget

You can pick up the Apple Watch SE for only $219 right now, or 22 percent off the normal price. If you've never had a wearable before, this is the Apple Watch to get. We gave it a score of 88 for its comfortable design and responsible performance.

Buy Apple Watch SE at Amazon - $219

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 has dropped to $150 for Prime Day, or 40 percent off its usual price. We consider it to be the best smartwatch for Android users right now, and we gave it a score of 85 for its comprehensive health tracking, bright screen and improved third-party app support. Also on sale is the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, which you can pick up for $260.

Buy Galaxy Watch 4 at Amazon - $150Buy Galaxy Watch 4 Classic at Amazon - $260

Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbit Charge 5 fitness tracker
Valentina Palladino / Engadget

Fitbit's Charge 5 is 30 percent off and down to $105, which is the best price we've seen it. This is Fitbit's most comprehensive fitness band and it earned a score of 82 from us for its full-color touchscreen, built-in GPS, onboard EDA sensors for stress tracking and multi-day battery life.

Buy Fitbit Charge 5 at Amazon - $105

Withings ScanWatch

Withings ScanWatch 42mm version
Steve Dent

Withings' ScanWatch is $90 cheaper than usual and down to $210 right now. It's a hybrid smartwatch with an analog watch face, but a lot of tech under the hood. It has built-in ECG and SpO2 sensors, plus two subdials that show activity data and smart alerts from your phone throughout the day. Also on sale are the Withings Steel HR and HR Sport, which are down to $120 and $140, respectively.

Buy ScanWatch at Amazon - $210Buy Steel HR at Amazon - $120Buy Steel HR Sport at Amazon - $140

Garmin Vivoactive 4S

Garmin Vivoactive 4S
Garmin

A number of Garmin wearables are on sale for Prime Day, with one of the best deals being the Vivoactive 4S for $188. That's nearly half off the original price and only $3 more than its all-time low. The Vivoactive 4S has an impressive seven-day battery life and it monitors all-day activity, heart rate and sleep, plus it has a build in blood oxygen sensor, too.

Buy Vivoactive 4S at Amazon - $188Shop Garmin deals at Amazon

Amazon Halo View

Amazon Halo View
Amazon

Amazon's Halo View fitness band is 44 percent off and down to only $45 right now. You're getting the fitness tracker along with a one-year membership to the accompanying subscription service that includes access to on-demand workouts. In addition to tracking activity, heart rate and sleep, the Halo View can also measure body fat percentage and deliver call and text alerts to your wrist.

Buy Halo View at Amazon - $45

Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

Nintendo Japan will offer benefits to employees in same-sex unions

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 10:56 AM PDT

Nintendo Japan will provide employees in same-sex domestic partnerships with the same benefits it offers to those in heterosexual unions, even though Japanese law does not currently recognize gay marriages. The company announced the policy in a July 12th update to its corporate social responsibility guidelines that was spotted by Go Nintendo (via Variety).

A new section titled "Introduction of a Partnership System" notes the policy has been in place since March 2021, and that the company has since begun recognizing common-law marriages in the same way as legal marriages. "At Nintendo, we want to create a work environment that supports and empowers each and every one of our unique employees," the company said.

Additionally, the update notes that Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa sent a note to employees on gender diversity, asking workers to understand that their words and action can cause emotional pain, even if there was no harm intended. Nintendo says it's also working on implementing new systems and training courses designed to create a more supportive working environment.

Among G7 nations, Japan is the only country that does not recognize same-sex marriage. While LGBT activists have made some breakthroughs in recent years, a court in Osaka upheld the country's ban this past June. While there's growing public support for legalizing same-sex marriage, LGBTQ individuals still frequently face discrimination, according to a 2020 survey. Of course, discrimination, particularly the kind that happens in the workplace, is not unique to Japan. You need only look at the all news coming out of Activision Blizzard – and before that Riot Games, Ubisoft and countless other examples – to know that gaming companies frequently fail to protect their most vulnerable employees.

Sega's Genesis Mini 2 hits North America on October 27th

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 10:47 AM PDT

Sega has announced it's bringing the Genesis Mini 2 to North America on October 27th. The company previously said its latest retro console will go on sale in Japan on the same day (though it's called the Mega Drive Mini 2 there). 

The system follows the Genesis Mini, which Sega released in 2019. The latest edition has a fresh library of more than 50 games, including Sega CD titles. The lineup features the likes of Sonic CD, Virtua Racing, OutRun, Shining Force CD and Fantasy Zone (a Master System and arcade game that was never released on Genesis). Sega is promising a previously unreleased game as well. More than half of the games have yet to be revealed.

One of our few complaints with the Genesis Mini in our review was that it came with a three-button controller. If the packaging is anything to go by, it seems you'll get a six-button controller this time around.

Pre-orders are open now. At the time of writing, the Amazon listing shows that the console will ship from Japan to the US for $103.80 plus a $22 delivery fee. Engadget has asked for clarification on North American pricing. It's unclear whether the cosmetic Sega CD attachment will be available to buy on this side of the Pacific.

'Wordle' players can soon sync their stats and streaks across devices

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 10:07 AM PDT

The New York Times has announced a handy feature for Wordle players who want to keep their streak going no matter the device they're playing on. The publication, which bought the ultra-popular daily word game in January, said players will soon be able to sync their stats and streaks across devices. You'll need a Times account to do so. Note that after you sync your stats, there's no way to unlink them.

This is a welcome update. It'll be handy for for those who play the game on their office computer during the week, for instance, or on both their phone and PC. Sure, in the grand scheme of things, Wordle stats don't mean all that much. Still, if you've correctly guessed mystery words for many days in a row on your desktop system and you're going out of town, you won't need to break your streak.

It's not clear exactly when the Times will roll out the sync option to everyone, as Polygon notes. Hopefully, the publication can avoid the kinds of issues it had when it moved Wordle over to its own website. Some players lost their streaks during the transition.

Bandai Namco says it was hacked and customer data may have been accessed

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 09:41 AM PDT

Bandai Namco said it was the victim of a cyberattack and that hackers accessed confidential information. The company told Eurogamer it is investigating the matter, though it noted there's a chance that "customer information related to the Toys and Hobby Business in Asian regions (excluding Japan)" was present on servers and PCs the hackers infiltrated.

Earlier this week, a ransomware group claimed it carried out an attack on the Elden Ring publisher. Bandai Namco has now confirmed that someone breached its systems. "On 3rd July, 2022, Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. confirmed that it experienced an unauthorized access by third party to the internal systems of several Group companies in Asian regions (excluding Japan)," the company said.

It's not clear when Bandai Namco discovered the breach or when it resolved the issue. The publisher said it took "measures such as blocking access to the servers to prevent the damage from spreading." It's working with third-party partners to shore up security.

Bandai Namco is assessing the "existence of leakage, scope of the damage and investigating the cause." The company says it will disclose findings of the investigation "as appropriate." It also apologized "for any complications or concerns caused by this incident."

Hackers have targeted a number of gaming companies in the last few years. Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red was the victim of a ransomware attack early last year, but it refused to pay up. The developer said a few months later that data stolen in the attack was circulating online. Hackers have also infiltrated EA and Capcom systems in the last couple of years.

DIY project transforms a Game Boy Camera into a modern mirrorless

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 09:28 AM PDT

Nintendo's Game Boy Camera has inspired countless DIY projects over the years, from a telephoto lens adapter to an AI model trained to colorize photos captured by the accessory. However, few are likely to match the creativity of the Camera M by photographer and modder Christopher Graves.

In a Twitter thread spotted by Gizmodo, Graves detailed how he turned the humble Game Boy Camera into a mirrorless camera. Using a combination of custom PCB and parts from a repurposed Game Boy Pocket, a 1996 variant of the original 1989 model that was smaller, lighter and more power efficient, he transplanted the internals of a Game Boy into a shell that looks like a Fujifilm X-E4. As for the Game Boy Camera's 128 x 128 pixel CMOS sensor, Graves put that into a custom cart attached to a CS lens mount and a manual focus varifocal lens. The nifty thing about Camera M is that it's possible to use an original Game Boy Camera in place of the custom cartridge he hacked together.

In either case, the resulting device still takes greyscale 128 x 112 photos, but the ergonomics and user experience are vastly improved. Graves replaced the Pocket's original screen with a backlit IPS display, making it easier to use the camera at night, and added a 1,800mAh battery that can power everything for up to eight hours. It even comes with USB-C charging. Graves told Gizmodo he hasn't tried playing any games with his creation yet but speculated turn-based RPGs like Pokémon would be fun with the button layout he devised. So far, only one Camera M exists, but Graves said he's "strongly leaning" toward selling conversion kits or even complete kits.

The best board game deals we found for Amazon Prime Day 2022

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 09:15 AM PDT

Prime Day is an excellent opportunity to score deals on all sorts of useful items, from laptops to robot vacuums. But all work and no play makes for a dull time, which is why we're also glad to see plenty of Prime Day deals on board games too. They're not just the usual suspects like Monopoly either — there are quite a number of quality titles here that tabletop gamers of all levels will enjoy. Below is a selection of the best deals we've found, plus we've compiled a much longer list of discounted games (and expansions) here in case you're in the mood for more.

Shop board game deals at Amazon

King of Tokyo: New Edition

King of Tokyo
King of Tokyo
Iello

The latest edition of King of Tokyo is on sale for just $25, which is $20 off its $45 list price. This is easily one of the most beloved board games of all time due to how welcoming it is to all ages. If you know how to play Yahtzee, you know how to play King of Tokyo. Plus, the theme is super fun: you play as giant Kaiju monsters destroying the city of Tokyo while battling other monsters for supremacy. If you already know you like this game and want to go all out, then consider upgrading to the King of Tokyo Monster Box, which is just $42 ($28 off the $70 retail price). This giant box includes the base game as well as all of its expansions. You'll get extra monsters, extra power cards and more.

Buy King of Tokyo at Amazon - $25Buy King of Tokyo Monster Box at Amazon - $42

Calico

Calico
Calico
AEG

Calico, a tile-laying game of quilts and cats, is available for just $22, which is 45 percent off the original price. Players in the game compete to sew the coziest quilt and attract cats. Each quilt has a specific pattern that must be followed but players will also need to create unique color and pattern combinations in order to draw the finest felines. This visually stunning game has a lot of strategy to it, and those who like abstract games will probably enjoy this.

Buy Calico at Amazon - $22

Splendor: Marvel

Splendor: Marvel
Splendor: Marvel
Space Cowboys

Splendor: Marvel is discounted to just $28, which is 44 percent off the original rate. It's essentially a re-theming of the original Splendor board game with the Marvel universe. Instead of just collecting regular jewels, you'll be gathering Infinity stones, recruiting heroes and villains, and finally claiming the Gauntlet to win the game. Those new to board games will pick this up easily, especially if they're already big fans of all things Marvel. If you're not that keen on Marvel, however, the original Splendor game with a Renaissance Europe theme is also on sale for $25.

Buy Spendor: Marvel at Amazon - $28Buy Splendor at Amazon - $25

Dixit (2021)

Dixit
Dixit
Libellud

The latest 2021 refresh of Dixit is currently on sale for $25, which is 36 percent off its list price. This game is fantastic for parties, as it accommodates three to eight players and is very lightweight. We've also found that it works for kids as well as adults. In it, players take turns picking one of 84 dreamlike illustration cards and coming up with a story based on it. The rest then have to pick a card that best matches that story. All of the cards are shuffled, then they'll have to secretly vote for which card is the one the narrator chose. The game is fun and quick, plus the art is gorgeous too.

Buy Dixit at Amazon - $25

Disney Villainous

Disney Villainous
Disney Villainous
Ravensburger

Disney's Villainous board game is discounted to $24, a solid 40 percent off its $40 list price. In this game, players pick one of six Disney bad guys – options include Captain Hook, Maleficent, Ursula, Jafar, Queen of Hearts and Prince John – and compete against one another to achieve their evil goals before everyone else. If you want, you could also get Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots for $24, which adds more villains like Gaston, Lady Tremaine and the Horned King.

Buy Disney Villainous at Amazon - $24Buy Disney Villainous: Despicable Plots at Amazon - $24

Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

Reddit won’t make you pay to comment in GIF form anymore

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:10 AM PDT

More Reddit users will have the option to add GIFs directly in comments starting today. Until now, the feature was only available for Powerups subscribers. But with Reddit winding down Powerups, it's making some of the previously paywalled features available to everyone. Inline GIFs in comments is one of those.

If the feature is enabled on a subreddit you want to comment on, you'll be able to select a GIF from a curated library from Giphy. Moderators of safe-for-work subreddits and those that aren't quarantined will be able to opt in if they want members of their communities to use GIFs in comments. GIF comments will be automatically available on new subreddits, though mods can switch them off in the community settings. Redditors can include text in their comment alongside a GIF as well.

For those who didn't use Powerups, the only way to include a GIF in a comment was to link to one on a third-party site. Now, users can make GIFs appear directly in threads, which could make conversations a bit more lively. There is a downside, though. Scrolling through a thread full of large GIFs could drain your data allowance fairly quickly.

The best Amazon Prime Day monitor deals from Samsung, BenQ, LG and others

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 07:30 AM PDT

Amazon Prime Day offers a great opportunity to upgrade your work-from-home setup. You've probably been using it a lot recently and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, but it can get expensive to upgrade the tools you may have been using for the past two or more years. One of the biggest expenses can be an external monitor, but it can also be one of the most useful gadgets in your setup. If you spend most of your day hunched over a laptop, an external monitor can help you improve your posture and overall comfort throughout the day. Whether you're looking for your first monitor or want to upgrade the one you currently have, a number of good ones are on sale for Prime Day. Here are the best monitor deals we found for Amazon Prime Day 2022.

Samsung monitors

Samsung Smart Monitor M5
Samsung

A variety of Samsung monitors are on sale for Prime Day, and they include the company's M5 smart monitor. Both the 27-inch and 32-inch versions of the M5 have been discounted, and these displays double as smart TVs. You can use either as a regular external monitor, but built-in technology gives you access to streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and others.

Shop Samsung monitor deals at Amazon

BenQ monitors

BenQ curved gaming monitor
BenQ

BenQ has a handful of monitors on sale that cover both work and play purposes. Some of the best deals are on "gaming" monitors, but they can be used for both your next streaming session and general work tasks. This 27-inch EX2710S monitor is $121 off and down to $209, while this 27-inch EX2710R curved monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate is $310 off and down to $290. You can also pick up BenQ's 34-inch EX3410R ultrawide display for $470, or $130 off its usual price.

Shop BenQ monitor deals at Amazon

LG monitors

LG UltraGear gaming monitor
LG

LG has discounted a bunch of monitors for Prime Day, including curved, UltraWide, UltraGear and other types. Those on a budget will find a few options under $200, while those who want larger displays or screens with faster refresh rates can save hundreds on higher-end models.

Shop LG monitor deals at Amazon

Dell monitors

Dell 24.5-inch 240Hz FHD monitor
Dell

Dell gaming monitors are up to 35 percent off for Prime Day, with the steepest discount being on this 24.5-inch 240Hz FHD monitor, which is down to only $200. It has fast refresh rates, a 1ms GtG response time and 99 percent sRGB color coverage. You can also pick up a 32-inch 165Hz curved gaming monitor for $254 and this 34-inch WQHD curved monitor for $390.

Shop Dell monitor deals at Amazon

ViewSonic monitors

Viewsonic 34-inch Ultrawide ColorPro display
Viewsonic

Plenty of ViewSonic monitors are cheaper than usual right now, and you can pick one up for as much as 35 off. On the budget side of things, you can get this 22-inch 1080p gaming monitor for $110, or this 22-inch 1080p, thin-bezeled screen for $106. On the higher end, the company has knocked 23 percent off this 32-inch 4K ColorPro monitor, bringing it down to $550, while this 34-inch Ultrawide ColorPro display with FreeSync is on sale for $640.

Shop ViewSonic monitor deals at Amazon

Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

'Bayonetta 3' is finally coming to Switch on October 28th

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 07:15 AM PDT

December 2017 feels like a lifetime ago and yet that's how long it's been since Nintendo announced Bayonetta 3. Fast forward four and a half years and the long-awaited sequel finally has a release date. It's coming to Switch on October 28th, meaning that Nintendo's sticking to its pledge of releasing the game this year.

Nintendo revealed a fresh trailer and more details about what to expect. Bayonetta 3 takes place in Tokyo, the mountains of China and some other locations. Bayonetta will have a new ability at her disposal called Demon Masquerade, which taps into the power of the demon that's linked to her weapon to help her attack foes with hellish combos. There's a new character as well. You'll be able to control Viola, a witch in training who can unleash a feline demon named Cheshire on enemies.

Along with the base game, fans will be able to snag a Trinity Masquerade Edition from some retailers and the My Nintendo Store. It includes a full-color, 200-page art book and reversible cases for all three games in PlatinumGames' series (Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 are sold separately). More details about the bundle, including pre-order info, will be revealed later.

Perhaps with that collectors' edition in mind, Nintendo announced a physical version of the original Bayonetta for Switch. It will arrive on September 30th and cost $30, but it will only be available in limited quantities.

Although it delayed the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild until next spring, Nintendo currently has the most extensive first-party slate of any of the big three console makers for the rest of the year. A remake of Live a Live will arrive on July 22nd. One week later, Nintendo will release Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Splatoon 3 will be available in September and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will land in November, with Bayonetta 3 filling the gap between those.

Amazon's Blink Mini two-pack is on sale for only $30 for Prime Day

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 07:00 AM PDT

Amazon has discounted most of its Blink wireless security cameras for Prime Day this year, but one of the best deals is on the budget-friendly, wired version of the camera. You can pick up a two-pack of Blink Minis for only $30 right now, which is more than half off the original rate. Along with that, you can grab a Blink Indoor kit for as low as $55, an Outdoor kit for only $60 and a Blink Video Doorbell for $35.

Buy Blink Mini (2 pack) at Amazon - $30Buy Blink Indoor at Amazon - $55Buy Blink Outdoor at Amazon - $60Buy Blink Video Doorbell at Amazon - $35Shop Blink deals at Amazon

If you're on the fence about choosing the Blink system for your home, giving a Blink Mini a try is a great place to start. Not only are they the most affordable of the bunch, but they also include most of the features the standard Indoor and Outdoor cameras have. The biggest drawback is that the Minis are wired, so you'll have to place them inside and need an outlet. Otherwise, they act much the same as the regular Blink cameras do, recording 1080p video, sending you motion alerts and supporting two-way talk. The Minis also have infrared night vision for clearer nighttime footage, plus Alexa support.

For those that already have Blink cameras around their home, Prime Day offers the chance to pick up a couple more at the best prices possible. Both the Indoor and Outdoor cameras have all of the features that the Blink Mini does, plus they're completely wireless. That makes it much easier to place them anywhere around your home, especially if you have the right mounting accessories to pair with them. Both versions run on AA batteries that will last up to two years before they need replacing, and the Outdoor models are weather-resistant, too.

Amazon recently expanded the Blink system to include a Video Doorbell, which is essentially a cheaper version of a Ring doorbell. Blink's has a slimmer profile and can be installed either wired into your doorbell's hardware or wirelessly. Just like the cameras, the Video Doorbell records in 1080p, will send you motion alerts and lets you speak to people at your front door using its two-way audio feature.

Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.
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