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• The best Amazon Prime Day wearable deals from Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and others
• Nintendo Japan will offer benefits to employees in same-sex unions
• Sega's Genesis Mini 2 hits North America on October 27th
• 'Wordle' players can soon sync their stats and streaks across devices
• Bandai Namco says it was hacked and customer data may have been accessed
• The best Amazon Prime Day 2022 deals still available
• DIY project transforms a Game Boy Camera into a modern mirrorless
• The best board game deals we found for Amazon Prime Day 2022
• Reddit won’t make you pay to comment in GIF form anymore
• The best Amazon Prime Day monitor deals from Samsung, BenQ, LG and others
• 'Bayonetta 3' is finally coming to Switch on October 28th
• Amazon's Blink Mini two-pack is on sale for only $30 for Prime Day
• Beats Studio Buds return to a record low of $100 for Prime Day
• Anker's Eufy robot vacuums are up to 48 percent off for Prime Day
• The best budget TVs and streaming gadgets for students
• Hasbro will 3D-print your face onto its iconic action figures
• Amazon Prime Day deals knock Eero 6 WiFi systems down to record-low prices
• Solo Stove's fire pits are up to 56 percent off for Prime Day
• Universal Audio’s amp sim pedals are an affordable route to convincing tube amp sounds
• The Meta Quest 2 VR headset comes with a $25 gift card for Prime Day
• The Morning After: First impressions of Nothing’s see-through smartphone
• Google slows hiring and says the company needs to be 'more entrepreneurial'
• Owlet's Cam 2 baby monitor uses AI to predict if a child is truly crying
• Google files a lawsuit that could kick Tinder out of the Play Store
• TikTok will age-restrict some videos from teens' feeds

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 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 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 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 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 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. If you don't see the option to link your account on the device where you play Wordle every day, hold on tight! The feature is coming to you soon. Once stats are linked to a New York Times account, this process cannot be reversed. Happy solving! 🟨 🟩 — New York Times Games (@NYTGames) July 12, 2022 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.

The best Amazon Prime Day 2022 deals still available Posted: 13 Jul 2022 09:32 AM PDT Update 7/13/2022: We've refreshed our list with the best deals you can get for day two of Amazon Prime Day. Amazon Prime Day is officially here and a number of our favorite gadgets are on sale. If you're a Prime member, you can save hundreds on devices from Sony, Razer, Samsung and others over the next 48-hours, plus Amazon has discounted most of its own devices, too. Prime Day can be somewhat tricky — yes, there are thousands of deals, especially across the consumer electronics category, but a good portion of them are not worth your time. We've collected the best tech deals for Prime Day 2022 here so you don't have to go searching for them. Sony WH-1000XM4 Engadget Sony's excellent WH-1000XM4 headphones are down to a new low of $228 right now. We gave these cans a score of 94 for their powerful ANC, immersive sound quality and multi-device connectivity. Buy WH-1000XM4 at Amazon - $228 AirPods Pro The AirPods Pro with the MagSafe case have been discounted to $170. These remain Apple's best sounding earbuds, and we liked them for their solid sound, powerful ANC and hands-free Siri capabilities. Buy AirPods Pro at Amazon - $170 AirPods (2nd gen) The original AirPods are down to $90. While they're a bit outdated at this point, these are still decent earbuds that we liked for their improved wireless performance and good battery life. Buy AirPods (2nd gen) at Amazon - $90 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 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 Apple TV 4K The latest Apple TV 4K has dropped to $109. While on the expensive side, it's a set-top box that Apple lovers will appreciate. We gave it a score of 90 for its speedy performance, Dolby Vision and Atmos support and much improved Siri remote. Buy Apple TV 4K at Amazon - $109 iPad The 10.2-inch iPad is down to $299. We gave it a score of 86 for its improved performance, excellent battery life, better front-facing camera and increased base storage. Buy iPad at Amazon - $299 Kindle Amazon's standard Kindle has dropped to $45, which is half off its normal price. We gave this e-reader a score of 91 for its improved contrast display, extra front lights and sleeker design. Buy Kindle at Amazon - $45 Kindle Paperwhite The Kindle Paperwhite is on sale for $95, which is a new record low for the e-reader. The updated model has 17 front lights, a sleeker design, an adjustable warm light, weeks of battery life and Audible support. Buy Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon - $95 Echo Dot The Echo Dot is on sale for $20 while the Echo Dot with Clock is down to $33. We like these tiny smart speakers for their good audio quality, compact design and tap-to-snooze feature. Buy Echo Dot at Amazon - $20Buy Echo Dot with Clock at Amazon - $33 Echo Show 5 The Echo Show 5 has dropped to $35, or $50 off its usual price. If you want a smart alarm clock, this is the smart display to get. We like its sharp 5-inch display, ambient light sensor, smart home controls and tap-to-snooze feature. Buy Echo Show 5 at Amazon - $35 Echo Show 8 The Echo Show 8 smart display is on sale for a record-low price of $75. It earned a score of 87 from us for its attractive design, stellar audio quality and improved camera for video calls. The first-generation Show 8 is also on sale and you can get a bundle with it and a Blink Mini camera for only $65. Buy Echo Show 8 at Amazon - $75 Fire HD 10 The Fire HD 10 has dropped to only $75 for Prime Day. It's the Fire tablet to get if you want the best performance possible. We like its 1080p display, 12-hour battery life and its Show Mode feature. Buy Fire HD 10 at Amazon - $75 Fire TV Stick Lite You can pick up Amazon's most affordable streamer, the Fire TV Stick Lite, for only $12 right now. It supports 1080p streaming and gives you access to some of the most popular services like Netlfix and Disney+. Buy Fire TV Stick Lite at Amazon - $12 Fire TV Stick 4K Max The higher-end Fire TV Stick 4K Max has dropped to $35, which is $20 less than usual. On top of all of the features in the standard Fire TV Stick 4K, the Max version also supports WiFi 6 and live picture-in-picture viewing. Buy Fire TV Stick 4K Max at Amazon - $35 Elgato Stream Deck Elgato's Stream Deck is down to $100 for Prime Day, or $50 off its normal price. This is a handy accessory to have for game streamer because you can customize its 15 LCD keys to do things like open apps, switch scenes, adjust audio and more. Buy Stream Deck at Amazon - $100 65-inch LG B1 OLED smart TV (2021) LG LG's 65-inch B1 OLED TV is 30 percent off for Prime Day and down to $1,500. This 2021 version runs on LG's a7 Gen 4 AI Processor 4K, works with G-Sync and FreeSync technologies and has Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support built in. Buy 65-inch LG B1 OLED TV at Amazon - $1,500 Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Samsung's original Galaxy Chromebook is nearly half off and down to $580. The discounted model runs on a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. We gave it a score of 74 when it first came out for its slick design, beautiful display and fast performance. Buy Galaxy Chromebook at Amazon - $580 DJI Mini 2 Fly More combo DJI A combo pack that includes the DJI Mini 2 drone plus a bunch of accessories has dropped to $479 for Prime Day. While DJI is on the Mini 3 at this point, this pack is a good option if you want all of the extra things you could ever need for your drone. Buy DJI Fly More combo at Amazon - $479 August WiFi smart lock Engadget August's 4th-gen WiFi smart lock is down to a new low of $150 right now, or nearly $100 off its usual price. We gave it a score of 80 when it first came out thanks to its minimalist design, easy installation and mandatory two-factor authentication setup. Buy August WiFi smart lock at Amazon - $150 Crucial MX500 SSD Crucial's MX500 in 1TB is on sale for $85, or 15 percent off its usual price. It's a good option if you need a standard 2.5-inch drive that works with both laptops and desktops. It also has AES-256 bit hardware encryption and integrated power loss immunity to protect your data. Buy Crucial MX500 (1TB) at Amazon - $85 Samsung Pro Plus microSD card Samsung's Pro Plus microSD card in 256GB is nearly half off and down to only $28 for Prime Day. It also comes with an adapter, so you can use it with more types of devices. You'll get read/write speeds of up to 160MB/s and 120MB/s, respectively, and a card that's temperature, magnet- and drop-resistant. Buy Samsung Pro Plus microSD card (256GB) at Amazon - $28 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Cherlynn Low / Engadget All of Samsung's Galaxy S22 smartphones are cheaper than usual for Prime Day. The biggest deal among them is on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which is down to a new low of $840. The Galaxy S22+ and the standard S22 are on sale for $700 and $600, respectively. We consider these to be some of the best Android phones you can get right now, so they're worth snatching up while they're deeply discounted. Buy Galaxy S22 Ultra at Amazon - $840Buy Galaxy S22+ at Amazon - $700Buy Galaxy S22 at Amazon - $600 Ninja Foodi Dual-Zone air frier Ninja Ninja's dual-zone air fryer has dropped to $160, which is 30 percent off its usual price. It earned a spot in our best air fryers guide for its large capacity, quick heat-up time and Smart Finish feature, which lets you prepare two different things at once and have them finish cooking at the same time. Buy Ninja Foodi Dual-Zone air fryer at Amazon - $160 NVIDIA Shield TV NVIDIA Both the NVIDIA Shield TV and the Pro model are on sale for Prime Day and down to $125 and $170, respectively. Both devices run Android TV and can take Google Assistant commands, plus they run on NVIDIA's Tegra X1+ processor and support 4K HDR Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and Chromecast streaming. Buy Shield TV at Amazon - $125Buy Shield TV Pro at Amazon - $170 Thermacell E-Series Repeller (2 pack) Will Lipman Photography / Engadget A two-pack of Thermacell E-Series repellers is $20 off and down to $60. It gives you a 20-foot zone of mosquito protection and each of them can last for 5.5 hours before they need recharging. Buy Thermacell (2 pack) at Amazon - $60 iRobot Roomba i7+ Devindra Hardawar / Engadget iRobot's Roomba i7+ is half off and down to $500 for Prime Day. This is slightly less advanced than the s9+, which is our current favorite premium robo-vac, but it remains one of the most powerful Roombas you can get. It also comes with a clean base, so the robot vacuum will empty its dustbin into the base automatically after each job. Buy Roomba i7+ at Amazon - $500 Shark AV2501AE robot vacuum Shark Shark's AI robot vacuum is down to only $380 right now, which is 42 percent less than usual. Shark robo-vacs are generally good picks thanks to their solid cleaning power and easy to use mobile app. This one also comes with a clean base, so you don't have to empty the robot's debris bin after each job — it handles that on its own. Buy Shark AI robot vacuum at Amazon - $380 Eufy robot vacuums A number of Anker's Eufy robot vacuums have been discounted for Prime Day, with some of them being close to half off. One of our favorites, the Eufy RoboVac 11S Max, is down to inly $130 right now, which is 48 percent off its normal price. Another solid pick, the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid, is $270 off and down to $380, which is the best price we've seen it. The 11S Max is a good budget machine with 2000Pa of suction and a handy remote that lets you change cleaning modes, set schedules and more. The vacuum-and-mop X8 Hybrid is a WiFi-connected device that has solid cleaning power, accurate home-mapping skills and a convenient "tap and go" feature. Shop Eufy deals at Amazon Samsung T7 Shield Samsung Samsung's new T7 Shield portable SSDs have been discounted for Prime Day. You can pick up the 1TB model for $100 or the 2TB model for $200 — both new all-time-low prices. Samsung just came out with these drives back in April, and they're designed to be more durable versions of the standard T7 series with extra drop protection and an IP65-rated design. Buy T7 Shield (1TB) at Amazon - $100Buy T7 Shield (2TB) at Amazon - $200 Tile trackers Tile Tile trackers are up to 30 percent off for Prime Day and you have a few different designs to choose from. The standard Tile Mate is down to $18, the Tile Slim is on sale for $24 and the Tile Sticker is down to $21. These Bluetooth chips help you keep track of your things digitally and they can lead you to your lost items by emitting a chime. Shop Tile devices at Amazon Beats Studio Buds Billy Steele/Engadget The Beats Studio Buds are on sale for $100 right now, or $50 off their usual rate. We gave them a score of 84 for their balanced sound, hands-free Siri controls and quick pairing with both iOS and Android. Buy Beats Studio Buds at Amazon - $100 Beats Fit Pro The Beats Fit Pro are 20 percent off and down to $160. We gave them a score of 87 for their comfortable, water-resistant design, good sound quality and ANC and long battery life. Buy Beats Fit Pro at Amazon - $160 Sony WH-CH710N Sony's affordable WH-CH710N wireless headphones have dropped to a new low of $68 for Prime Day. These are a great option if you want deep, punchy bass, solid ANC and 35-hour battery life all in a budget-friendly package. Buy WH-CH710N at Amazon - $68 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 David Imel for Engadget 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 Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 have dropped to $100, or 33 percent less than usual. These much-improved earbuds impressed us with their better audio quality, adjustable ambient sound mode and tiny, comfortable design. Buy Galaxy Buds 2 at Amazon - $100 Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Samsung's high-end Galaxy Buds Pro are on sale for $110 right now. They earned a score of 85 from us for their comfortable fit, wireless charging and good sound quality. Buy Galaxy Buds Pro at Amazon - $110 Jabra Elite 85t Jabra's Elite 85t earbuds are on sale for $120, or a whopping 48 percent off their normal price. We like these true wireless earbuds for their strong ANC, comfortable size and wireless charging case. Buy Jabra Elite 85t at Amazon - $120 Jabra Elite 3 Jabra's excellent Elite 3 earbuds have dropped to $50, or $30 off their normal rate. These already affordable buds earned a score of 88 from us for their impressive sound quality, good battery life, reliable touch controls and comfortable fit. Buy Elite 3 at Amazon - $50 Roku Streambar Valentina Palladino / Engadget The Roku Streambar is down to $90 right now. It's a compact soundbar that will upgrade any living room relying on an old TV with weak audio. 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 Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ You can pick up a Galaxy SmartTag+ for only $30 right now, or $10 off its usual price. This is Samsung's answer to Apple's AirTags, and it lets you keep track of items via your smartphone. If you're close enough to your lost stuff, you can even follow directions on your smartphone that will lead you back to it. Buy Galaxy SmartTag+ at Amazon - $30 TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug A four-pack of Kasa smart plugs is 24 percent off and down to only $23 for Prime Day. You can plug in any "dumb" appliance to these attachments to make them a bit smarter, enabling you to control them from your phone, set usage schedules and more. Buy Kasa smart plug (4 pack) at Amazon - $23 Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

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. Cart swapping action pic.twitter.com/Q4s9GehHcb — Game Boy Camera (@thegameboycam) July 10, 2022 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. The witch is back! Summon, slash and slay in style when Bayonetta 3 launches on #NintendoSwitch 28/10! pic.twitter.com/8UbzYYx4CV — Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) July 13, 2022 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.

Beats Studio Buds return to a record low of $100 for Prime Day Posted: 13 Jul 2022 06:45 AM PDT If you're on the hunt for budget wireless noise-cancelling earbuds in the Apple family, don't forget about the Beats Studio Buds. They're already well-priced at $150, but now you can pick them up at Amazon on Prime Day for just $100 ($50 off), matching the lowest price we've seen yet. Buy Beats Studio Buds at Amazon - $100 The Studio Buds earned an 84 score in our Engadget review and also made our list of best wireless earbuds for 2021. The small, comfortable design and IPX4 water resistance makes them great for workouts and, more importantly, they deliver good sound quality with Beats' famous punchy base. Active noise cancellation is solid as well, and they can adjust the volume based on your environment via the active gain feature. The Studio Buds use Apple's H1 chip, so they support Apple's Spatial Audio feature and let you easily switch between Apple devices — just as you can with a pair of AirPods. However, they're also device agnostic, so you can use the Fast Pair option to quickly set them up with your Android device. They also work with Find My Device on Android, so you can see their last known location. The main drawbacks are a lack of wireless charging and onboard controls, but most budget wireless buds lack those features. And at that $100 price point, you won't find many rivals that can match its features. Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

Anker's Eufy robot vacuums are up to 48 percent off for Prime Day Posted: 13 Jul 2022 06:30 AM PDT There are no shortage of robot vacuum deals for Prime Day, but some of the most affordable devices lie in Anker's Eufy family. A number of those robo-vacs are on sale for Amazon's shopping event, with one of our favorites being 48 percent off. You can pick up the Eufy RoboVac 11S Max is down to inly $130 right now, or nearly half off its original price. Another solid pick, the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid, is $270 off and down to $380, which is the best price we've seen it. Buy Eufy RoboVac 11S Max at Amazon - $130Buy Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybrid at Amazon - $380Shop Eufy deals at Amazon The 11S Max is actually a stronger version of the robot vacuum that made it into our budget robot vacuum guide. The standard 11S has 1300Pa of suction power, while the Max has 2000Pa, so you're getting a device that should do an even better job of sucking up dirt and debris. Otherwise, the 11S Max is basically the same as the standard model: at only 2.85-inches tall, it's slim enough to get underneath some furniture and it'll return to its base when it needs a recharge. It's not a WiFi-connected robot vacuum, which means you can't control it from your smartphone. However, it comes with a handy remote that has options for most of the big things you'd want to do with a robo-vac like change cleaning modes, set schedules and more. While the 11S Max is probably best for those who aren't sure how much they'll use a robot vacuum, the X8 Hybrid is for those who know a machine like this will fill a void in their home. It's a vacuum-and-mop hybrid device that comes with a 250-milliliter water tank that you can fill when you want to run a mopping job. As a vacuum, though, it's pretty powerful and we appreciated its accurate home-mapping skills, four different cleaning modes and its "tap and go" feature, which lets you send the machine to a specific spot in your home to clean. Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

The best budget TVs and streaming gadgets for students Posted: 13 Jul 2022 06:05 AM PDT Listen up, students: You deserve better than watching movies on a laptop in bed. If you want to truly be immersed in a film (or game, or TV show), nothing beats a large TV. And it turns out, you don't have to invest thousands to get started with a decent dorm entertainment system. LCD sets and streaming devices are cheaper than ever. So save that notebook for schoolwork — consider these inexpensive ways to upgrade your movie-watching and gaming experience. TVs for smaller spaces 43-inch TCL 4-Series Engadget A television with Roku or Google TV built-in is one of the easiest ways to start streaming content, making them ideal for most students. This 4-series TCL model sports a 4K screen (with upscaling from lower-res sources) and HDR, for better dynamic range. But best of all, you can usually find it under $300. It's not the most feature-packed TCL TV (the 5-series costs around $200 more and adds Dolby Vision), but it's one of the best options at that price. And at 43 inches, it's small enough to fit in most dorm rooms, while still offering enough screen space to immerse you in a film. Buy 43-inch TCL 4-Series TV at Amazon - $260 43-inch Vizio M-Series Quantum Engadget A slight upgrade from Vizio's entry-level D-series TVs, the M-series sets are better suited for gamers with support for billions of colors and AMD's FreeSync (which makes gameplay smoother). It also has a sub-10ms response time – not the fastest around, but speedy enough to make most games playable without feeling laggy. It also looks fairly modern, with a 3-sided bezel-less design. Best of all, it's fairly affordable, starting under $400. And if you want these features in a bigger screen, you can scale all the way up to 75-inches (just imagine that in a cramped dorm room.) Shop Vizio M-Series TVs at Amazon Bigger and better TVs 55-inch TCL 5-Series Engadget TCL's 5-series sets are available in Google TV or Roku flavors, and pack in plenty of value for their price. That includes support for Dolby Vision, a wide color gamut souped-up with Quantum Dots, and plenty of local backlighting zones to manage black levels and contrast. You'll notice a significant visual upgrade over the other budget sets mentioned, so we'd recommend upgrading to this one if you've got a discerning eye. The 5-series slim and bezel-less design also looks very modern, and it supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple's HomeKit. Buy 55-inch TCL 5-Series TV at Amazon - $450 Must-have streaming accessories Chromecast with Google TV Will Lipman Photography for Engadget If you're a heavy Google user, there's no better streaming device than the Chromecast with Google TV. Unlike previous versions of Google's puck, it has an interface of its own, along with a suite of streaming apps to choose from. And yes, you can still cast video from Android devices or the Chrome browser. The Chromecast is a great option if you're buying a cheaper TV, but be sure to check if your set already has Chromecast streaming built in. Buy Chromecast with Google TV at Amazon - $50 Roku Streaming Stick 4K Will Lipman Photography for Engadget If you own an older TV, or you just want something a bit zippier than your set's onboard apps, Roku's Streaming Stick 4K is worth snapping up. It's just $40 (and often less), supports 4K (with HDR and Dolby Vision), and it gives you access to Roku's entire app library. Best of all, though, it's so tiny you can easily bring it along when you're traveling. The Streaming Stick 4K also supports Apple AirPlay, giving you a way to cast video from iOS devices and Macs. Roku's bundled voice remote also makes it easy to search for things without pecking away at an onscreen keyboard. Buy Roku Streaming Stick 4K at Amazon - $50 Roku Streambar Will Lipman Photography for Engadget The Streambar is an unusual device. It's both a decent soundbar and a media streaming box. That's just so Roku. Honestly, if you're picking up a TV, you should really consider a soundbar of some kind. (We have a whole guide dedicated to that.) But we're recommending the Streambar here because it's a relatively simple and inexpensive solution that solves two common pain points: getting streaming apps and better sound. It's also a nice thing to have around to play a bit of music when you're not watching anything. For even bigger sound, you might also want to consider the slightly pricier Streambar Pro. Buy Roku Streambar at Amazon - $130 Jabra Elite 45H wireless headphones Will Lipman Photography for Engadget If you're living with roommates (or in a place with thin walls), wireless headphones will definitely come in handy. We recommend Jabra's Elite 45H because they're relatively inexpensive (at just $100), sound great and have a very comfortable design. They'll pair with most TVs or set-top boxes over Bluetooth, or you can just plug in a cable to Roku's remotes. The 45H last up to 50 hours on a charge, and, of course, they're useful far beyond your living room. They're easy to wear all day, no matter where you are. Buy Jabra Elite 45h at Amazon - $100

Hasbro will 3D-print your face onto its iconic action figures Posted: 13 Jul 2022 06:00 AM PDT Have you ever wanted to see your own face on the body of a Power Ranger or a Ghostbuster? Thanks to an ingenious partnership between Hasbro and 3D-printing specialists Formlabs, now you can. The Hasbro Selfie Series will let would-be heroes take a scan of their face with their phone and have a custom-made, look-a-like action figure delivered at some point afterward. In this initial blast, you can opt to become an X-Wing Pilot, Ghostbuster, Power Ranger or Snake Eyes from GI Joe, amongst others. It's part of Formlabs' growing project to turn 3D printing into a technological cul-de-sac into a viable way of making customized, mass-market products. The company has already teamed up with Sennheiser to make 3D-printed earbuds, and has branched out into making jewelry moulds, ventilator parts and false teeth. It also teamed up with Gillette to create customized razor handles which were manufactured using Formlabs' industrial printers.  Hasbro's Brian Chapman explained that, a few years ago, the company ran a competition at a comic-con to make custom action figures for five winners. They found the interest in the promo was so enormous that the company has always had an eye on developments in the 3D printing market.  Unfortunately, while it's been announced today, the Hasbro Selfie Series won't actually let you start scanning your head for a little while. In order to start, you'll need to download Hasbro Pulse, the company's dedicated mobile app, and get your face ready to be immortalized. Scans will open up closer to the expected ship date in the Fall, after which point you'll be asked to pony up $60 (plus taxes) and wait for your six-inch, "collector-grade" figure to arrive. Unfortunately, for now, the offering is only available to customers in the US, but hopefully over time, we'll see this make its way across the world.

Amazon Prime Day deals knock Eero 6 WiFi systems down to record-low prices Posted: 13 Jul 2022 05:30 AM PDT If you're looking for a way to upgrade your home's WiFi, Amazon's Eero 6 routers are a good option. Not only are there are a number of WiFi 6 options to choose from, but all of them have been discounted for Prime Day. The Eero 6 is on sale starting at $71, while the Eero Pro 6 starts at $148 for the two-day shopping event. The company's newest editions, the Eero Pro 6E and the Eero 6+, are available for $194 and $90, respectively. Buy Eero 6 at Amazon starting at $71Buy Eero Pro 6 at Amazon starting at $148Buy Eero Pro 6E at Amazon starting at $194Buy Eero 6+ at Amazon starting at $90Shop Eero 6 deals at Amazon Most people will be best served by either the Eero 6 or Pro 6 systems. The former can cover up to 1,500 square feet with just one node, and you can add additional routers into the mix to expand coverage for larger homes. It's a dual-band system that can reach speeds up to 900Mbps, and each router has two Ethernet ports built in. For Gigabit internet, the tri-band Eero Pro 6 is your best bet as it supports that level of speed, plus one router can cover up to 2,000 square feet. Amazon came out with both the Eero Pro 6E and the 6+ earlier this year, but they're very different systems. The Pro 6E is the best WiFi 6 system you can get from Amazon right now, and it gives you access to the 6GHz band to reach speeds up to 1.3Gbps. Each node covers up to 2,000 square feet, and you'll be able to connect up to 100 devices at once. The Eero 6+ sits in the middle of the standard Eero 6 and the Pro 6 systems. The dual-band router will give you speeds up to 1Gbps, coverage for up to 1,500 square feet and a device cap of 75. Plus, it has access to a 160MHz radio channel, which should provide faster wireless speeds. Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

Solo Stove's fire pits are up to 56 percent off for Prime Day Posted: 13 Jul 2022 05:15 AM PDT Solo Stove products are joining the Prime Day follies with a bunch of products on sale at up to 56 percent off. The best deal is on the popular Solo Stove Campfire that normally sells at $150 but is marked all the way down to $66, for a savings of $84 (56 percent). You'll also find savings from 30 to 47 percent on the Ranger Backyard Bundle ($287), Bonfire with stand ($250), Bonfire Shield ($110) and Roasting Sticks/Fire Pit Poker accessory combo ($90). Shop Solo Stove Prime Day sale at Amazon We've recommended the stainless steel Solo Stove fire pits before because of the advantages over standard fire pits. They actively channel smoke away from the user thanks to a double-walled design that pulls hot air through vent holes and back into the fire. This keeps flames hot while reducing smoke and creating fine ashes. The Campfire model is the number one wood-burning camp stove out there and comes recommended by Backpacker Magazine and others. Along with the double-walled design, it's lightweight at just 2.2 pounds and designed to burn twigs, leaves, pinecones and wood as fuel, eliminating the need carry heavy and polluting cannister fuel. For serious campers, the Prime Day deal of $66 should be a no-brainer.  The Ranger ($287, sold with a stand, shield and shelter) and Bonfire ($250, sold with a stand) are larger at around 21 pounds each, but they're still light enough to move around the yard, bring camping or pack over to a friend's house. And if you opt for the Bonfire model, you can grab the Bonfire Shield for $110 (31 percent off) to stop hot embers from escaping. Finally, Solo Stove's Roasting Sticks and Fire Pit Poker combo is on sale for $90, netting you a $40 discount.  Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

Universal Audio’s amp sim pedals are an affordable route to convincing tube amp sounds Posted: 13 Jul 2022 05:00 AM PDT I bought my first tube amp last year, after playing guitar for about 25 years. Before then I'd been completely reliant on solid-state amps and digital models. It was a revelation. And then a few weeks ago I had an almost equally revelatory experience when I first plugged in one of Universal Audio's UAFX amp modelers. UA is well known for its high-quality plugins that recreate vintage hardware. But last year it decided to get into the guitar pedal game with a trio of classic effects. And now it's expanding that lineup with three amp modelers in pedalboard-friendly formats. The company isn't the first to try this. It's not even the first to do it well. But it's clear after just a short time with them that the UA modelers stand head and shoulders above the rest. Terrence O'Brien / Engadget Let's start with the basics. The UAFX Amp Modelers come in three flavors: Dream '65 Reverb, Ruby '63 Top Boost and Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier. These are emulations of a Fender Deluxe Reverb, Vox AC30 and Fender Tweed Deluxe, respectively. I'm not gonna spend much time focusing on how close they come to recreating the originals down to the tiniest details. There are some shootout videos on YouTube that directly compare them, and I highly suggest you watch those if that's your biggest concern. But, let's just say they managed to trip up ears that are far more astute than my own. What's more important, as far as I'm concerned, is that they sound good, are easy to use, pack a host of advanced features and deliver an incredible value despite the seemingly lofty $400 price. I'll dig more into the tones later, but they sound amazing. Full stop. They're easily the best sounding amp sim pedals I've ever heard. Now, I'm not going to pretend that I've done side-by-side comparisons of every high-end amp sim out there. Specifically, I have never used a Kemper Profiler or a Headrush. But those are much more complex products with built-in effects, tens of amp sims and prices that can climb well north of $1,500 in the case of a Kemper. Terrence O'Brien / Engadget Each UA pedal is focused with laser-like precision on capturing the essence of a specific amp. Which, frankly, should be fine since most guitarists aren't showing up to gigs with a truck full of amps to switch between mid set. That's not to say there isn't variety or versatility here, though. Each pedal has multiple speaker cabinet options (three out of the box, plus three bonus cabs when you register) and can emulate classic mods or different revisions of the amp. They also have options and controls that are unique to each model. For instance the Ruby '63 has a high cut knob, while the Woodrow allows you to dial in room tone to recreate the natural ambience of a recording studio. This slight difference in features and controls is one of the reasons UA has cited for making three separate pedals, rather than cramming all three amps into a single unit. While it's true that the hardware and the software platform are more-or-less the same across the lineup, the difference in control schemes could needlessly complicate things. Right now the six knobs and three switches have at most two functions and are mode-dependent. So if you have the Dream '65 in "amp" mode you get treble and boost controls, but flip the middle switch to "alt" and those become speed and depth for the vibrato (which is really tremolo, but don't worry about that). If you tried to cram all three amps in a single pedal, some knobs would have to control four or five different parameters. That's simply too complicated if you ask me. The UAFX Amp Modelers strike an excellent balance between depth of control and ease of use. While the onboard controls are easy enough to wrap your head around, the UAFX app makes things even easier. You can't control every parameter using the desktop or mobile apps, but you can change presets, tag your favorites and customize the function of the two footswitches. Out of the box the left footswitch turns the pedal on and off, while the right switches between your last preset and live controls. But that's probably not the most useful configuration. Chances are you're just going to leave the amp sim on all the time. So using one switch to engage the boost or turn on the vibrato makes more sense. The app also comes loaded with presets that make dialing in excellent tones a cinch. There are over a dozen factory settings, plus artist presets from people like Nels Cline of Wilco, Jessica Dobson of Deep Sea Diver, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Cory Wong of Vulfpeck. The one thing to note here is that you can only update the pedals' firmware using the desktop app over USB. Which is probably for the better, since I've found that the Bluetooth connection to the mobile app can be a bit unstable. A recent firmware update improved the situation, but it still drops every so often. The last thing to mention before we move on to the sounds is the build quality. The UAFX modelers are just absolute bricks. While any stompbox worth its salt is going to be pretty rugged and made out of metal (they have to survive being repeatedly stepped on, after all), these are in a class of their own. They're quite a bit heavier than your average pedal, are cast from extremely dense aluminum and would definitely cause some serious damage if dropped on an exposed toe – barefoot players beware. Terrence O'Brien / Engadget Alright, so we've established that they're well built, feature excellent connectivity options (all three are stereo as well) and sound great, but what is it about the sound that sets them apart from the rest of the amp modelers out there? Well, the short answer is, the feel. I know, that's a bit nebulous, but there's something about the way these pedals respond to your playing that feels more natural and authentic than many modelers, even those based on impulse responses (IRs). An IR can get you a great sounding amp or cab sim, but because they're based on audio files, they tend to be less dynamic than the real deal. The UAFX pedals clean up considerably if you turn down the volume on your guitar, or play very delicately. And they creep into break up as you start playing harder. They also take effect pedals incredibly well, which isn't something you can assume in my experience, especially when it comes to dirt. My Fuck Overdrive and Part Garden fuzz pedals posed no challenge, and honestly the overdrive probably sounded better though the UAFX modelers than it does through my Blues Jr. This demo features a few sounds from the Ruby '63 Top Boost Amplifier with only slight EQing done in post. The last portion of the clip adds a delay pedal to the mix. Engadget · Ruby '63 Top Boost Amplifier This is where we have to stop lumping the three pedals together, though, because they all sound incredibly different from each other. No one is better than the other, but your personal preference will dictate which is the best choice for you. Do you want crisp clean tones that you can pair with iconic spring reverb and vibrato? The Dream '65 is the ticket. Need super bright chimy sounds that be pushed into classic blues-rock crunch? Then it's the Ruby you're looking for. And if you want darker, dirtier sounds, go for the Woodrow. Personally, I'm into the Dream. Its cleans are pristine and glorious. And when paired with the built-in spring reverb emulation it becomes a perfect machine for surf rock or more ambient styles where your pedalboard is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. It's also an excellent vehicle for funk and soul where you want something sharp that will cut through the mix without stealing the spotlight. Terrence O'Brien / Engadget Even though I have a board full of fancy reverbs and a tremolo pedal I'm head-over-heels for, I actually still found myself turning to the built-in versions of the Dream pretty frequently. The spring reverb here is as close to the real thing as you're gonna get. It drips and rattles just like the spring in my Blues Jr and I don't think I could pick it out as a digital effect in a blind taste test. The vibrato (which, again, is actually tremolo) is equally great. It has a warm vintage feel that is closer to the tube-power vibrato of yore, than my new-school tremolo. I also think that the three different boost channel options and six different cab simulations give you the most tonal versatility of the three pedals. Pairing the stock boost with the GB25 cab delivers excellent clean tones even at higher volumes. But flip to the lead mod and go with the EV12 cab and you can rip a pretty searing solo. The pedal even starts to break up a bit if you hit it with too hot of a signal. But it doesn't clip the way that, say, a digital audio interface would. Instead, it kind of crackles just like a real amp might. It's these nice little touches that make the UAFX pedals so convincing. The Woodrow goes in the opposite direction of the Dream. While you can certainly get clean tones from it, it excels at riff-rock crunch and arena-filling distortion. You can even push it into full on fuzz territory without the aid of pedals. With my humbucker-equipped Fender Toronado tuned down to C standard it was the perfect partner for knocking out Queens of the Stone Age songs. Overall, it has a darker, edgier tone that can almost reach sludge metal territory. It even works well with bass, which is handy if you want to have a single amp modeling pedal for everything. I used it to track a few bass parts on some demos and it sounded way better than any dedicated bass amp VST I've tried (which is admittedly very few). This demo features a few sounds from the Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier with only slight EQing done in post. The last portion of the clip adds a fuzz pedal to the mix. Engadget · Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier The Woodrow has few tricks up its sleeve too. One is that, like the Fender Tweed amps it's emulating, it has two channels: instrument and mic. They have slightly different characters and you can blend the two together here allowing you to take advantage of both the cleaner, but warmer, mic channel, and the brighter, dirtier instrument one simultaneously. There's also a dedicated knob on the front for dialing in room tone, allowing you to recreate the ambience of a miked amp in a studio. The Ruby also has a room emulation, and I will say it's one of the few things I think UA could improve on a bit. At lower settings – say, with the dial below nine o'clock – the effect is reasonably subtle and can make recording directly through your audio interface sound a little more alive. Anything beyond that, though – a full 75-percent of the range – is just too much for my tastes. At the extreme high end It makes your guitar sound like it's being played at the other end of a 100-yard stretch of sewer pipe. I'm sure there are some artistic applications for it, but I can't imagine there are many. This demo features a few sounds from the Dream '65 Reverb Amplifier with only slight EQing done in post. The last portion of the clip adds a reverb pedal to the mix. Engadget · UAFX '65 Dream Reverb Amplifier If you just ignore the room tone thing, the Ruby is another winner. It might cover the widest range of tones of the three, though I'll admit finding it the hardest one to dial in the way I like. (But once I did, it contained some of my favorite sounds.) As you'd expect from an AC30 emulator the Ruby handles the bright chimes of REM and U2 with ease, but when cranked gets the creamy sustain you associate with Queen. Plus, it's basically the quintessential British Invasion amp. You can easily push further into full on distortion too since it incorporates two popular boost options on the channel switch, and also changes between two different revisions of the amp. Normal mode is a 1961 AC30, which lacked the top boost circuit, paired with an emulation of the Dallas Rangemaster treble booster. Dialed in right you can get the thick sounds of Black Sabbath here. The Bril and Vib options are based on the 1963 top-boosted AC30, which is really what you want if you're going for that classic bright cutting tone. Honestly, you can't go wrong with any three of the UAFX Amp Modelers. Which one is best for you will depend entirely on your personal taste. That said, I suppose you could buy all three which, even at $400 apiece, would cost less than just one of the vintage amps they're modeling. And they're not just cheaper, but lighter, require less maintenance and are more versatile than their inspiration. They're never going to completely replace the real deal for a true enthusiast, but for someone recording in a small home studio or playing a lot of gigs in smaller venues it could become an indispensable part of their setup. This demo features the three UAFX modelers used on all of the instruments except drums and fully mixed. Engadget · All three amp emulators mixed on a song The UAFX Amp Modelers make it easy to lay down polished sounding guitar tracks without firing up my amp or worrying about mic placement. I can record in the middle of the night while my kids are sleeping or on a Sunday morning without annoying the neighbors. And for gigging musicians these can go straight into a PA system and almost nobody would know the difference. That means no lugging a heavy tube amp up and down stairs, or on a train. You can just grab your pedalboard and go. The one thing missing is a dedicated headphone out jack, which would make it an ideal practice companion while traveling. A decent amp sim is a useful thing for any guitarist to have. And while there are plenty of excellent ones out there, many of which offer multiple amp emulations in a single pedal, for my money the UAFX Amp Modelers are the ones to beat.

The Meta Quest 2 VR headset comes with a $25 gift card for Prime Day Posted: 13 Jul 2022 04:45 AM PDT The Meta Quest 2 is already pretty affordable at $299, but now Amazon is sweetening the deal by bundling it with a free $25 gift card. While you still have to pay its full price upon checkout — that's $299 for the headset with 128GB of storage — the deal still translates to seven percent in savings when you factor in the gift card you're getting from the purchase. You can also get the 256GB version of the headset formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2 with a free $25 gift card, though that option will set you back $399. Buy Meta Quest 2 128 GB with $25 Gift Card at Amazon - $299 We found the Meta Quest 2 to be an excellent standalone VR headset when we reviewed the device back in 2020. It's smaller than its predecessor and around 10 percent lighter, making it more comfortable to use. It has fast-switching LCDs with a resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 per eye and have 50 percent more pixels than the previous model. Shortly after the device's release, Meta rolled out an update that enabled 90Hz refresh rate for games, as well.  We also praised Meta for addressing people's concerns with the first Quest's hardware. That said, you need a Facebook account to be able to use the headset, at least for now. The company is changing that requirement soon and will instead require users to have a Meta account, which doesn't have to be linked to Facebook.  Amazon's free $25 gift card offer will only be available until the end of the day. Take note that the gift card might ship separately from the headset itself and might arrive at a different date. Get the latest Amazon Prime Day offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

The Morning After: First impressions of Nothing’s see-through smartphone Posted: 13 Jul 2022 04:15 AM PDT With its transparent back, light-up details and low-fi ringtones, the Nothing Phone 1 is framed as a playful reinterpretation of the smartphone, a category that (beside foldables) has become staid. Engadget It's an anticipated addition to the world of smartphones, and Nothing would do well to carve out a place for itself against not only the dominant Apple and Samsung, but an array of Chinese manufacturers with a lot of industrial might — and funding. I wanted to hate Nothing's first phone, which has gone hard on detail drip feeding, glamor shots and an awful lot of hyperbole. But my early impressions (I'm in the midst of reviewing the Phone 1 right now) are that, behind all that noise, there's a surprisingly decent smartphone here. And it's not prohibitively priced, either. Not competing with flagship cameras, screens and processors has led to prices starting at £399 (roughly $476). Sadly, there's no plan for US availability, but the challenge for Nothing is proving a new smartphone company can even exist in 2022. — Mat Smith   The biggest stories you might have missed You can now play 'Doom' inside 'Doom II' Netflix's 'Squid Game' is the first non-English series to earn a best drama Emmy nomination The best gadgets under $50 for students Nikon is reportedly halting DSLR camera development Meta apparently tells managers to identify people for layoffs The best Amazon Prime Day laptop and tablet deals from Apple, Lenovo, Razer and others Amazon Prime Day knocks up to $600 off some of Sony's best mirrorless cameras The best anti-Prime Day tech deals The best Amazon Prime Day 2022 deals so far All the tech deals worth your money for the 2-day shopping event. Oh god, it's Prime Day. The Engadget team has been hard at work sorting through the deals worth your time. We're pooling our best finds right here and updating our story throughout Amazon's sale season. We've got deals on many of our favorite wireless earbuds, an array of Apple gear, including iPads and Watches and, of course, loads of Amazon hardware. My shopping finger is currently hovering over the DJI Mini 2 drone kit. Continue reading. Apple and Jony Ive are parting ways It's the end of an era. Apple and Jony Ive are breaking up — and this time, according to The New York Times, it's for real. Ive left the tech giant in 2019 after over two decades and formed his own company called LoveFrom, with Apple as its first and primary client. The publication said both parties agreed not to extend their contract in the weeks leading up to its renewal. Ive reportedly wanted the freedom to take on new clients without needing to ask Apple's permission. Continue reading. Stunning images from the James Webb telescope Far more detail than Hubble. NASA NASA has unveiled the first batch of full-color images the James Webb Space Telescope sent back to Earth. The first image was of the Southern Ring nebula, which is around 2,500 light-years away, captured by JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). NASA says the telescope observed gas and dust from a dying star in "unprecedented detail." We've pulled a bunch of the most jaw-dropping images over on the site. Continue reading. Spotify is buying daily music trivia game 'Heardle' The game will remain free to play, and Spotify hopes to use it as a music discovery tool. Heardle, a music trivia game that popped up following the massive success of Wordle, has a new owner. Spotify has announced it's buying the game but didn't disclose the terms of the deal. Heardle is simply a game of name that tune. Players get six attempts to guess a popular song and, like Wordle, there's only one game each day to guess. Continue reading. Peloton stops building its own products after just 3 years It'll switch to third-party manufacturing for fitness gear like Bike and Tread. Peloton said in a statement that it's "exiting all owned-manufacturing operations" to simplify its supply chain and cut costs. It added: "We believe that this along with other initiatives will enable us to continue reducing the cash burden on the business and increase our flexibility." The company is still trying to course correct. In January, then-CEO John Foley said the company was "resetting our production levels for sustainable growth" following reports it was putting all production on hold. The following month, Peloton brought in a new CEO and laid off around 2,800 corporate employees, equivalent to 20 percent of the total workforce. Continue reading. Testing out iOS 16 beta A fun, useful and promising update. Engadget With iOS 16, the iPhone will get a whole new lock screen, edit and send options in iMessage, improved dictation, a medication tracker, new sharing features and more. iOS 16 is shaping up to be a beefier update than years past, making the beta more tempting than ever. Our highlight so far is the redesigned, customizable lock screen. Read on for all our impressions and check out our iPad OS 16 beta preview. Continue reading.

Google slows hiring and says the company needs to be 'more entrepreneurial' Posted: 13 Jul 2022 03:35 AM PDT Google has announced that will slow its pace of hiring for the rest of 2022 and told employees to "be more entrepreneurial," Bloomberg reported. Much like Meta and other tech companies, CEO Sundar Pichai cited an "uncertain global economic outlook" for the change of pace and said that the company would consolidate operations and streamline "where investments overlap." Google's pace of hiring was also torrid in the second quarter of 2022 as the company added 10,000 new employees to its 163,906 workforce, up 17 percent year over year. For the rest of 2022, however, Google will focus hiring on engineering, technical and other crucial roles. Moving forward, we need to be more entrepreneurial, working with greater urgency, sharper focus, and more hunger than we've shown on sunnier days. In some cases, that means consolidating where investments overlap and streamlining processes. In other cases, that means pausing deployment and re-deploying resources to higher priority areas. Microsoft also plans to cut a small number of jobs due to a realignment in its business groups, according to Bloomberg. Those will affect groups including consulting and partner solutions around the world. However, the company plans to continue hiring in other roles and will finish 2022 with a higher number of employees.  Other tech firms have said that the slowing economy will affect hiring. Yesterday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg warned employees that "one of the worst downturns [it has seen] in recent history" could affect the company, while telling managers to "move to exit" poor performers "who are unable to get on track." Netflix, Unity, Coinbase and Paypal have all recently cut jobs as well.

Owlet's Cam 2 baby monitor uses AI to predict if a child is truly crying Posted: 13 Jul 2022 03:00 AM PDT Owlet is giving tired parents new tools they can use to (hopefully) get little bit more sleep than what they're getting with a baby in the house. The company has launched the Owlet Cam 2, which uses AI and machine learning to decipher sounds from the nursery and determine whether the baby is truly crying. It sends parents notification through the Owlet Dream App when it detects sounds, motion or crying from the baby's room. The camera can also send parents video clips of sound and movement that they can watch on their phone anytime.  The 1080p HD camera comes with the features its predecessor has, including 4x zoom, night vision, two-way talk and room temp reading. However, unlike the previous version that only comes in white, it's also available in Sleepy Sage, Dusty Rose and Bedtime Blue. Owlet has also rolled out a new predictive sleep technology feature for its system that automatically tracks the baby's sleep and wake windows when used with the company's Dream Sock. As its name implies, it can predict when the baby might be ready for sleep and can let parents know through the Owlet app — it can even adjust the child's anticipated sleep window as they age. That way, parents can plan their own rest periods and other activities around the baby's sleep schedule. Predictive sleep will be available to both new and existing Dream Sock users through a firmware update slated for release today. Those who don't have a Dream Sock can still take advantage of the feature, though, by manually adding sleep sessions through Owlet's app.  The company originally sold its monitoring device as the Smart Sock, but it had to pull it from US shelves after getting a warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the FDA did not identify any safety concerns, the agency argued that it should be classified as a medical device due to its heart rate and oxygen level monitoring features. Owlet stopped selling the sock in the US last year to pursue the authority to market those features as part of the device's offerings. But company made it available for purchase in the US again earlier this year under a new name: the Dream Sock. The Owlet Dream Duo that bundles a set of socks with a second-gen cam is now available for $439, but those who already have socks can get the the second-gen cam alone for $159. In the US, buyers can purchase the devices from Owlet's website, as well as from retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart and Best Buy.

Google files a lawsuit that could kick Tinder out of the Play Store Posted: 13 Jul 2022 02:45 AM PDT Google has counter-sued Match seeking monetary damages and a judgement that would let it kick Tinder and the group's other dating apps out of the Play Store, Bloomberg has reported. Earlier this year, Match sued Google alleging antitrust violations over a decision requiring all Android developers to process "digital goods and services" payments through the Play Store billing system.  Following the initial lawsuit in May, Google and Match reached a temporary agreement allowing Match to remain on the Play Store and use its own payments system. Google also agreed to make a "good faith" effort to address Match's billing concerns. Match, in turn, was to make an effort to offer Google's billing system as an alternative.  However, Google parent Alphabet claims that Match Group now wants to avoid paying "nothing at all" to Google, including its 15 to 30 percent Play Store fees, according to a court filing. "Match Group never intended to comply with the contractual terms to which it agreed... it would also place Match Group in an advantaged position relative to other app developers," the document states. Match group said that Google's Play Store policies violate federal and state laws. "Google doesn't want anyone else to sue them so their counterclaims are designed as a warning shot," Match told Bloomberg in a statement. "We are confident that our suit, alongside other developers, the US Department of Justice and 37 state attorneys general making similar claims, will be resolved in our favor early next year." Match is referring to an antitrust action launched last year by States and the federal government probing Google's Play Store fees. Shortly before that, Google dropped its fee on app developer revenue to 15 percent on the first $1 million, and 30 percent after that. At the same time, it announced it would enforce a policy requiring all developers to process payments through the Play Store's billing system. Earlier this year, a Senate bill moved forward targeting in-app payments in both Google and Apple's stores.

TikTok will age-restrict some videos from teens' feeds Posted: 13 Jul 2022 02:00 AM PDT Back in February, TikTok said it was working on new ways to age-restrict certain types of content in an effort to ramp up its safety features for teens. Now, the company is sharing more about its rating system, called Content Levels, which it plans to roll out "in the coming weeks." The company has compared its approach to the ratings systems used by the movie and video game industry. It's meant to filter out videos with more "mature" themes from the feeds of its teen users. It will apply to videos that wouldn't otherwise break TikTok's rules but may be inappropriate for younger users of the app. With the change, when teens between the ages of 13 and 17 encounter a video that contains "mature or complex themes," they'll instead see a notice that the video is age restricted. "When we detect that a video contains mature or complex themes, for example, fictional scenes that may be too frightening or intense for younger audiences, a maturity score will be allocated to the video to help prevent those under 18 from viewing it across the TikTok experience," TikTok explains in a blog post. The company didn't share how it would determine these maturity scores, or what criteria it would use to classify its videos. TikTok noted that the feature is still an "early version" and that they plan to add additional capabilities in the future. Company executives have previously said they also want TikTok users to be able to choose what type of content they are comfortable with. TikTok In the meantime, the app is also adding a new way to filter out unwanted topics from their "For You" page. The update, also expected in the coming weeks, will enable users to mute certain words or hashtags they no longer wish to see videos about. TikTok also offered an update on its work to avoid potentially problematic "repetitive patterns" in its For You recommendations. The company previously said it was testing ways to avoid overloading people with a lot of content about topics that can be potentially troubling, like mental health or eating disorders. Now, TikTok says those early tests have been successful, and that users in the United States are less likely to see many videos about these topics at once. TikTok is now working on making the feature available in more countries and languages.

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