Technology - Kalakshar US

Sundance premiere Luz explores how VR can help us find connection in the real world

We’re so used to seeing virtual reality depicted nefariously in films like The Matrix, Virtuousity (a forgotten ’90s classic) and The Lawnmower Man, it’s genuinely surprising to see something that treats VR in a potentially positive way. In Flora Lau’s Luz, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this week, there’s no major downside to VR, it’s just another way for humans to connect. And in the case of the film’s two lonely leads, art gallery worker Ren (Sandrine Pinna) and pseudo-gangster Wei (Xiaodong Guo), VR serves as a life raft of human connection, something that could help them find peace in a world where they both feel adrift.

Set in modern-day Chongqing (a city so neon-filled and futuristic it seems more sci-fi than real) and Paris, the characters in Luz live alongside technology familiar to us. Smartphones and OnlyFans-esque livestreams featuring young girls are commonplace. But the virtual reality hardware in the film — including ski mask-like goggles, pointed finger sensors that resemble a witch’s nails — is both a step ahead, and slightly behind, where we are today. Luz, both the name of the film and the VR world people visit, is a fascinating artifact of the immersive reality space from several years ago. That was before we knew finger tracking could be the main input mode in a VR/AR headset like Apple’s Vision Pro.

Ren and Wei experience the VR world of Luz as an escape from their real-world troubles, though that ultimately proves futile. Ren tries to connect with her stepmother Sabine (the legendary Isabelle Huppert), an emotionally distant Paris gallery owner who is avoiding any help for a potentially fatal illness. Wei, meanwhile, is trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter Fa, who he can only see anonymously via that aforementioned livestream.

The lead’s storylines intersect during an in-game hunting expedition for a mysterious neon deer, which appears to be the closest thing to “winning” Luz. Wei and Ren reluctantly bond, and eventually they start to find ways to heal their emotional wounds. It’s an intriguing concept, though we don’t spend enough time with both characters hanging out in VR to truly sell their relationship.

Sundance Institute

Luz doesn’t attempt to deliver a fully CG VR world like Ready Player One (thank god), instead we see a hyper-stylized version of the real world with an abundance of neon lights, floating particles and characters dressed as if they’re about to head to Comic-Con. Obviously, it’s an easier way to convey VR, but the film is also portraying a version of the technology that’s practically identical to the real world. If VR were truly so immersive, why even bother with real life connections? (Stylistically, it reminds me of Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii’s forgotten Polish sci-fi film, Avalon, which also explored how people can redefine themselves in a VR simulation.)

While Lau goes to great lengths to craft gorgeous VR imagery, what the film really needs is more time for its two leads to sit down and talk to each other, instead of having us infer emotion as they stare off into the distance. At just an hour and forty two minutes, there’s plenty of room for more character exploration. But at least we get some intriguing conversations between Ren and Sabine, with Huppert being her typically charming self. (Perhaps the most unbelievable aspect of the film is that Sabine, a hip presence in the visual arts scene, hadn’t tried VR until Ren convinced her. We’ve been seeing artists adopt VR for installations since 2016, so it’s far from a new concept.)

Luz is close to being a great film, with its strong performances and confidently composed cinematography. But through either restraint or weak screenwriting, we don’t always have a sense of how the leads relate to the world, or even what they think of each other. The overall approach feels too cold and distant for a film that’s ultimately about rediscovering human connection.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/sundance-premiere-luz-explores-how-vr-can-help-us-find-connection-in-the-real-world-140005020.html?src=rss

Google will let platforms and devices employees leave voluntarily prior to layoffs

Google has given US employees in the Platforms and Devices team the option to exit voluntarily before it starts cutting jobs. The news was first reported by 9to5Google. Google’s Platforms and Devices team has 25,000 employees and was formed when the company merged its Android and hardware teams last year. It’s in charge of a bunch of Google products, including Android, Chrome, ChromeOS, Pixel, Nest and Fitbit. However, only employees based in the US who are directly reporting to the division’s VP, Rick Osterloh, can leave voluntarily with a severance package.

Osterloh reportedly told the team in a memo that the “voluntary exit plan” is for those struggling to meet the demands of their role or those unhappy with the company’s hybrid work setup. People have until February 20 to sign up for the exit program, and since the memo says they’ll find out if they’ve been accepted on March 25, some people may not be able to leave the company with the severance package it’s offering. Google is scheduled to release its earnings report for the fourth quarter of 2024 in a few days, and it’ll be interesting to see if it reveals a decline in revenue or any other weakness that could’ve led to the buyout and impending layoffs.

“The Platforms & Devices team is offering a voluntary exit program that provides US-based Googlers working on this team the ability to voluntarily leave the company with a severance package,” Google said in a statement. “This comes after we brought two large organizations together last year. There’s tremendous momentum on this team and with so much important work ahead, we want everyone to be deeply committed to our mission and focused on building great products, with speed and efficiency.”

According to CNBC, employees were pleased with Google’s decision to offer voluntary exits with severance instead of going straight to job cuts. They were apparently aware of Google’s future cost-cutting efforts and asked for voluntary buyouts as an option.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-will-let-platforms-and-devices-employees-leave-voluntarily-prior-to-layoffs-130017394.html?src=rss

What will happen to TikTok? A look at the potential buyers.

TikTok may be back online, but the app’s future in the United States is still far from certain. President Donald Trump’s executive order delaying enforcement of the ban was only a temporary reprieve for the company.

While ByteDance was once resistant to the idea of selling TikTok’s US business, that seems to have changed since Trump took office. A ByteDance investor said that striking a deal to keep TikTok in the US is “in everybody’s interest.” Officials in China have also suggested they are “open” to a deal, according to The Wall Street Journal.

A number of people and companies have signaled some interest in TikTok. Trump himself has said he would like to see a “bidding war” for the app and that the US government should own a stake in the company. What an eventual deal may look like, though, is unclear. These are the offers we currently know about. Trump’s executive order gave the company 75 days to come to an agreement.

Oracle

NPR recently reported that Oracle was working with Trump Administration officials on “a plan to save TikTok that involves tapping software company Oracle and a group of outside investors to effectively take control of the app’s global operations.” Under this arrangement, ByteDance “would retain a minority stake in the company” but Oracle would oversee “the app’s algorithm, data collection and software updates.”

Headed up by Trump pal Larry Ellison, TikTok has an existing partnership with Oracle. The cloud company already hosts TikTok’s US user data and the company was a key part of TikTok’s original negotiations to remain operational in the US under a plan called Project Texas. (Those negotiations abruptly fell apart in 2022.)

Trump also previously signed off on a deal for Oracle and Walmart to acquire a 20 percent stake in TikTok in 2020, when the president tried to ban the app during his first term. That deal never materialized. Now, Trump’s position on Oracle is unclear. He told reporters that Oracle was not among the “many people” with whom he had discussed a deal for TikTok. (Ellison, notably, has been at the White House in recent days. He joined Trump and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for the announcement of the Stargate Project.)

Microsoft

Microsoft is reportedly also interested in playing a role in TikTok’s future, according to the same NPR story, which said Microsoft was among the “other potential investors” involved in the talks with Oracle. Trump seemingly confirmed this. When asked directly if Microsoft was interested in buying TikTok this week, Trump responded “I would say yes.”

As with Oracle, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has attempted to acquire the social media company. Microsoft was in talks to buy TikTok in 2020 and take over its US business, but the deal abruptly fell apart. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella later described it as “the strangest thing I’ve ever sort of worked on.”

Perplexity AI (and maybe the US government)

Just before TikTok briefly went offline, Perplexity AI threw its hat into the ring, offering a deal to ByteDance that “would “create a new entity combining Perplexity, TikTok US and New Capital Partners.”

Since then, Perplexity has reportedly tweaked its proposal. According to the Associated Press, the AI company is now floating a plan that calls for the “U.S. government to own up to half of that new structure once it makes an initial public offering of at least $300 billion.” Under this plan, ByteDance would keep a minority stake in the company and “would contribute TikTok’s U.S. business without the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app.”

MrBeast

YouTuber MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, joked on X about buying TikTok ahead of the initial ban. He later said that “so many billionaires” had reached out to him about making an offer that he was going to try to actually pull it off.

Okay fine, I’ll buy Tik Tok so it doesn’t get banned

— MrBeast (@MrBeast) January 14, 2025

At least one group has already confirmed his involvement, along with other “high-net-worth individuals” looking to make an “all-cash offer.” That group, led by employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley also reportedly includes Roblox CEO David Baszucki. According to Bloomberg, together they have put together “significantly” more than $20 billion for a bid, though it’s not clear how seriously their offer is being considered. Bloomberg notes that there’s also a possibility that MrBeast may attach himself to other bids.

Project Liberty

Another set of investors that’s proposed a bid to buy TikTok is a group known as Project Liberty. Led by investor Frank McCourt, it includes Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank fame. The group initially came forward before the ban took effect. However, it’s not clear where they stand at the moment.

This deal changes by the hour. ByteDance itself is a very successful company. It’s worth about $250 billion, of which only 8.9% is TikTok USA. So while we’re focused on TikTok USA, the company could abandon it, just turn it off if they wanted.

There’s been a lot of hype from… pic.twitter.com/WRRSM224j5

— Kevin O’Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) January 29, 2025

O’Leary previously told CNBC that deals involving a government stake may not comply with the law. “That 50/50 deal, I would love to work with Trump on, so would every other potential buyer … But the problem with some of these ideas is they are inconsistent with the ruling of the Supreme Court,” he said. “I would love to do a deal, if the law provided for it, but I don’t have the luxury of breaching the order of Congress.”

This week, he said that the deal “changes by the hour,” writing on X that iIt’s clear to me now that we’re going to have to do a dance between the original owners, the founders of ByteDance itself, and interpreting the law of what Congress and Supreme Court has upheld.”

What’s next?

So where does all this leave TikTok? For now, the company is in the same limbo it’s been in since it was briefly taken offline. The app is still not available in Apple or Google’s app stores and it could go down again if the company is unable to reach a deal.

For now, though, it seems both the government and ByteDance are much more willing to negotiate than they have been in the past. While these are all the semi-credible plans we know about now, the situation is likely to change over the next few weeks as the various sides attempt to hammer out a viable deal. We’ll keep this post updated as new details emerge.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/what-will-happen-to-tiktok-a-look-at-the-potential-buyers-000110723.html?src=rss

GoPro pushes update to its entry-level Hero camera, adding 4:3 video for social clips

GoPro is rolling out a software update for its entry-level Hero camera that allows users to shoot 4:3 video in 4K. This is great for the kinds of clips that populate social media sites like TikTok, as the footage is taller. The update is available for free via the company’s GoPro Quik app on iOS and Android.

Obviously, the new aspect ratio is intended for social media content, but shooting in 4:3 has several use case scenarios. For instance, it can be the perfect choice for capturing video from a first-person perspective. If social media isn’t your bag, GoPro says that these 4:3 videos can easily be cropped to 16:9 “for a traditional widescreen look.”

There’s another tool available with this update that adds a bit of pizzazz when converting from 4:3 to 16:9. The app’s SuperView Digital Lens option adds a widening effect during the conversion process, which makes captured footage “look faster, more immersive and more exciting.” This app-based lens has been available for a while, but only worked with GoPro’s pricier offerings.

Speaking of budgets, the cute lil Hero camera is just $180 right now. It’s also incredibly light, at 86 grams. The company’s calling it the “smallest, lightest and widest angle GoPro, ever.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/gopro-pushes-update-to-its-entry-level-hero-camera-adding-43-video-for-social-clips-195325285.html?src=rss

OpenAI’s o3-mini is here and available to all users

OpenAI’s latest machine learning mode has arrived. On Friday, the company released o3-mini and it’s available to try now. For the first time, OpenAI is making one of its “reasoning” models available to free users of ChatGPT. If you want to try it yourself, select “Reason” in the message composer to get started.

According to OpenAI, o3-mini is faster and more accurate than its predecessor, o1-mini. In A/B testing, the company found o3-mini was 24 percent faster than o1 at delivering a response. Moreover, set to its “medium” reasoning effort, the new model can come close to the performance of the more expensive o1 system in some math, coding and science benchmarks. Like OpenAI’s other reasoning models, o3-mini will show you how it arrived at an answer instead of simply responding to a prompt.

“The release of OpenAI o3-mini marks another step in OpenAI’s mission to push the boundaries of cost-effective intelligence. By optimizing reasoning for STEM domains while keeping costs low, we’re making high-quality AI even more accessible,” OpenAI said. “his model continues our track record of driving down the cost of intelligence—reducing per-token pricing by 95% since launching GPT-4—while maintaining top-tier reasoning capabilities. As AI adoption expands, we remain committed to leading at the frontier, building models that balance intelligence, efficiency, and safety at scale.”

When OpenAI first previewed o3 and o3-mini at the end of last year, CEO Sam Altman said the latter would arrive “around the end of January.” Altman gave a more concrete timeline on January 17 when he wrote on X that OpenAI was “planning to ship in a couple of weeks.”

Now that it’s here, it’s safe to say o3-mini arrives with a sense of urgency. On January 20, the same day Altman was attending Donald Trump’s inauguration, China’s DeepSeek quietly released its R1 chain-of-thought model. By January 27, the company’s chatbot surpassed ChatGPT as the most-download free app on the US App Store after going viral. The overnight success of DeepSeek wiped $1 trillion of stock market value, and almost certainly left OpenAI blindsided.

In the aftermath of last week, OpenAI said it was working with Microsoft to identify two accounts the company claims may have distilled its models. Distillation is the process of transferring the knowledge of an advanced AI system to a smaller, more efficient one. Distillation is not a controversial practice. DeepSeek has used distillation on its own R1 model to train its smaller algorithms; in fact, OpenAI’s terms of service allow for distillation as long users don’t train competing models on the outputs of the company’s AI.

OpenAI did not explicitly name DeepSeek. “We know [China]-based companies — and others — are constantly trying to distill the models of leading US AI companies,” an OpenAI spokesperson told The Guardian recently. However, David Sacks, President Trump’s AI advisor, was more direct, claiming there was “substantial evidence” that DeepSeek had “distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI’s models.”

Developing…

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-o3-mini-is-here-and-available-to-all-users-190918706.html?src=rss

Get four Apple AirTags for $70, plus the rest of this week’s best tech deals

It’s time for another edition of Engadget’s weekly deals roundup where we bring together worthwhile tech deals from the past week. If you’re in the market for home entertainment gear, you’re in luck thanks to Super Bowl-adjacent sales. Even if you don’t care about the repeat clash between the Eagles and Chiefs, you can still save up to 25 percent on Sonos speakers and get discounts on a number of decent TV sets. You can check those out in our separate TV deals roundup or browse a few highlights below. As for non-sports-related tech deals, a bunch of Apple gear is on sale right now, including AirTags, the Apple Watch and three models of iPads (the Pro, Air and mini). Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

Sonos Era 100

Sonos

Sonos Era 100 smart speaker for $199 ($50 off) at Sonos: One of our favorite smart speakers has returned to its lowest price yet. As part of a wider sale at both Sonos and Amazon, the Era 100 is $50 off. We gave it a score of 88 in our review thanks to its great audio that can reach loud volumes. We’re also fans of connectivity options that include Bluetooth and line-in. Sonos simplified its Trueplay tuning feature that optimizes the audio output for the room and the speaker will work with Alexa and Sonos’ own voice assistant (which just handles music duty, and the speaker doesn’t support Google Assistant).

Sonos Beam Gen 2 for $399 ($100 off) at Sonos: We named the Beam the best midrange soundbar and right now it’s $100 off. That’s $30 more than it was for Black Friday, but still a decent deal on a quality TV speaker that will make movies more immersive and dialogue more clear. You can also pick up the original Arc soundbar for $250 off — that version is likely being discontinued in favor of the Arc Ultra, which unfortunately is still full price.

Apple AirTag (4-pack) for $70 ($29 off) at Amazon: A new model of Apple’s AirTag is likely coming this year with predicted upgrades that include a longer range. But as it stands now, these are the best way for iPhone users to keep track of their bags, keys, luggage and more, according to our testing. AirTags rely on other iPhones to anonymously ping lost tags and we found that system almost spooky in its accuracy. This is a return to the record-low price the 4-pack of tags has hit many times over the past few months. Also at Best Buy.

Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro) for $399 ($100 off) at Amazon: We saw this deal a couple weeks ago and now it has returned. It represents an all-time low on Apple’s latest small-scale tablet. The iPad mini 7 is our pick for the best compact iPad — in part because it’s the only one —and we gave it a score of 83 in our review. Apple refreshed it last October with a faster chip and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. This configuration has 128GB of storage and Apple’s A17 Pro chip. It also boasts 8GB of RAM, which is enough to support Apple Intelligence features.

Apple iPad Air M2

Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 128GB) for $499 ($100 off) at Amazon: This is a great time to grab our pick for the best iPad for most people. This is just a dollar off from the record low of $498 we’ve seen previously. We gave the M2 iPad Air a score of 91 in our review when the tablet came out last May. We think it hits the sweet spot between performance, features and price — particularly right now. The 13-inch Air is also $100 off. Both deals are also available at Best Buy.

Apple iPad Pro 13-Inch (M4, 256B) for $1,099 ($200 off) at Amazon: Apple’s latest high-end iPad is back down to a record-low price. The smaller 11-inch M4 iPad Pro is on sale for $899, though it’s been that price for much of the past few months. The M4 is Apple’s latest chipset — Apple put it in the iPad Pro before putting it in a MacBook. The Pro is an absurdly powerful tablet, handling tasks as demanding as video editing alongside the usual streaming, gaming and browsing people usually use tablets for. In our review, we called it one of the nicest portable screens we’ve seen with extremely fast performance, but also called it “prohibitively expensive,” especially when you factor in the accessories needed to get the most out of its potential.

Apple Watch Series 10

Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Apple Watch Series 10 for $329 ($70 off) at Amazon: This is a return to a record-low price for Apple’s latest smartwatch. The Series 10 is our pick for the best smartwatch overall . It has everything we like about the Series 9 but has a bigger screen that’s easier to see from different angles and an overall thinner design. It received a score of 90 from us in our review. Also at Best Buy.

Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor for $765 ($435 off with code) at Dell: Enter the code MONITORS15 at checkout for an additional 15 percent off the $900 sale price. The 34-inch model is $250 off, but there’s no available coupon code. This is one of our favorite gaming monitors and we called it “an incredible ultrawide OLED.” The curved QD-OLED panel features 4K resolution and a max refresh rate of 240Hz.

Google Nest Pro Wi-Fi routers

Engadget/Daniel Cooper

Google Nest WiFi Pro 6E mesh router for $120 ($80 off) at Amazon: Here’s a 40 percent discount on the Fog colorway — other hues are full price. This made our list of the best mesh routers because it’s reliable, easy-to-use and is perfect for those who want a mesh system that you can set up and then forget about. Also at B&H Photo.

Google 2024 Nest Learning Thermostat for $240 ($40 off) at Amazon: The latest iteration of Google’s smart thermostat is $40 off, which is about $10 more than the lowest price we’ve seen. Google says this latest model delivers more accurate readings thanks to the help of AI, offering suggestions on how to lower your energy usage and automatically adjusting your settings based on schedules, ambient temp, weather and more.

Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $28 ($17 off) at Amazon: A couple of Anker’s Soundcore speakers made our list of the best Bluetooth speakers, proving that the company is good at making more than just charging accessories. This one has an IPX7 waterproof rating, 24-hours of play time on a charge and 12 watts of output. The sale price is a return to a low we’ve tracked many times over the past year or so.

Anker USB C to USB C cable for $7 ($2 off) at Amazon: If your puppy also likes to chew on cables she finds on the floor, you may be in the market for a new one (cable, not puppy). Anker accessories number among our favorites on countless buying lists and this one is down to just $7. The 60 watt rating should be more than enough to fast charge any smartphone or tablet out there.

Anker USB C Charger (Nano 65W) for $30 ($26 off) at Amazon: For an equally speedy wall adapter, you can snag this 65 watt Anker charger for nearly half price. The compact brick sports three ports, two USB-C and one USB-A so you can charge up three different devices at once.

Crucial X9 Pro portable SSD

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Crucial X9 Pro 1TB Portable SSD for $70 ($30 off) at Amazon: Our favorite portable SSD is back to an all-time low price. It’s rugged and compact and performs well for its 10 Gbps speed class and offers fast-enough transfer speeds for most uses.

Sasmsung PRO Plus microSD Memory Card for $90 ($30 off) at Amazon: Our pick for the best microSD card is once again 25 percent off. We like this one for its consistent and quick read/write performance and excellent value, particularly when it’s on sale. Just note that there are faster cards out there, but this should serve you well if you’re looking for a good pick to free up more space on your Switch or add some speedy storage to a camera.

Anker PowerConf C200 2K Webcam for $48 ($12 off) at Amazon: Our favorite budget webcam is even more budget friendly with a $12 discount. We like the crisp 2K resolution, dual mics and customization options. If you need something to make your video meetings look better, this is a good place to start.

TV deals ahead of the Super Bowl

Engadget’s Jeff Dunn put together a roundup of TV deals that retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and others are offering ahead of the Super Bowl. These sales aren’t necessarily tied to the game — TV prices often fall around this time of year as manufacturers get ready to reveal new models in the spring. Still, there are some decent prices on TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung, TCL and Hisense that other trusted reviewers have deemed worthy (we don’t formally review TVs here at Engadget). A few picks are detailed here, but you can head here to see full list.

LG B4 OLED TV (48″) for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off MSRP): This ties the lowest price we’ve seen for the 48-inch LG B4, which is the entry-level model in LG’s 2024 OLED lineup. While it’s not as bright or color-rich as some higher-end alternatives, it still offers the essential perks of any good OLED TV: superb contrast with deep black tones, clear motion, wide viewing angles and the like. It’s also a nice value for gaming, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 120Hz. It’s just better off in a darker room, and this particular model is relatively small. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter, Buying Advice

Hisense U7N QLED TV (65″) for $698 at Amazon ($300 off): Several reviewers we trust say that the U7N delivers better brightness, contrast and HDR performance than most TVs in its price range. It’s built with most of the features expected from pricier LED sets, including quantum-dot color, mini-LED backlighting and a 144Hz refresh rate. It also runs on the handy Google TV platform. Its viewing angles are poor, so it’s not great for watching shows with a large group, and you may need to tinker with settings to get an optimal image. But the 65-inch model should be a strong value at this price, which is only about $20 more than the all-time low we saw briefly around Cyber Monday. Also at Walmart and Best Buy. — J.D.

Samsung The Frame TV

Amy Skorheim

Samsung The Frame 2024 QLED TV (55″) for $868 at Woot ($630 off): This deal from Amazon subsidiary Woot has been live for a few weeks, but it ties the best price to date for the 55-inch version of Samsung’s stylish Frame TV outside of a one-off eBay coupon deal. You’d buy this set for its design above all else: It can’t match the contrast and color volume of other TVs in its price range, as it lacks local dimming altogether, but it’s convincingly built like a framed piece of wall art that can blend in with your home decor. Its matte panel helps it fend off glare in a bright room, and you can display actual artwork onscreen when you’re not watching something. It’s worth noting that Samsung unveiled a new and improved “Frame Pro” TV at CES, but we’d expect that to cost more whenever it arrives. — J.D.

Deals from last week that are still live today

We assemble this deals roundup each week — and sometimes discounts from the previous week are still going strong when we put together the new one. If you didn’t catch last week’s post or were waiting to jump on an item or two, here are the sales that are still active today:

Crucial X9 Pro (1TB) for $70 at Amazon ($31 off MSRP): The X9 Pro is our pick for the best portable SSD, as it combines steady performance for most needs with a rugged, super-compact design that’s easy to take on the go. We saw this deal earlier this month, but it matches the largest discount for the 1TB model since late 2023. Also at Best Buy. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter, Buying Advice

Meta Quest 3S (256GB) + $15 Newegg gift card for $350 at Newegg ($65 off): The Quest 3S is the budget recommendation in our guide to the best VR headsets. While its older fresnel lenses aren’t as crisp or clear as the pancake lenses in the superior Quest 3, they’re good enough for most people just getting started with VR, and the headset as a whole is just as fast as the pricier model. More importantly, it supports all the same apps and games. The 256GB model has been $50 off at several retailers for a little over a week, but at Newegg you can now get a $15 gift card thrown in for no extra cost. Also at Amazon, Meta and others without the gift card. Meta says the price drop will end on February 8. — J.D.

Astro A40 TR gaming headset

Photo by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Astro A40 TR gaming headset for $100 at Amazon ($30 off): The Astro A40 TR is the top wired choice in our guide to the best gaming headsets. Its open-back design helps it sound wider and more spacious than most options in this market, which makes it better for picking out enemies in online shooters or just feeling more immersed in a big action game. Being open-back means it leaks and lets in a good chunk of outside noise, so you shouldn’t buy it if you often play in a noisy environment. The built-in mic isn’t the best, either. Still, the enveloping sound makes it worthwhile. This deal is only $10 more than the all-time low we saw around Black Friday. Also at Logitech and Newegg. — J.D.

SanDisk Ultra (1TB) microSD card for $69 at Amazon ($16 off): The SanDisk Ultra is slower than the top recommendations in our microSD card buying guide, especially when it comes to write speeds, so you wouldn’t want to stress it with large file transfers. If you can afford one of our main picks, get that instead. But if all you want is a big chunk of storage for as little cash as possible, it should be fine enough in a cheap tablet or gaming handheld. This ties the lowest price we’ve seen for the 1TB model. It’s a dollar more at SanDisk and B&H. — J.D.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (PC) for $15 at Steam ($45 off): Its mission structure is dated, the movement is clunky and some of the writing can be, let’s say, less than graceful. But Rockstar’s Old West epic remains an achievement in maximalist world design: painstakingly detailed (literally), filled with stories and shot with unusually cinematic flair. You may not finish it until 2026, but if you’ve been waiting to take the plunge, this is a new low for the Steam copy and only $2 more than the lowest price we’ve seen overall. Other Rockstar games are also on sale. — J.D.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection (PC) for $10 at Steam ($30 off): We’ve seen this deal multiple times over the past year, but it ties the all-time low for Microsoft’s Halo compilation, which gathers six of the iconic FPS series’ essential games in one package. (Well, five essentials, plus Halo 4.) We include this one in our list of the best couch co-op games, but note that the PC version here only supports online co-op, not local play. — J.D.

Super Mario RPG for $30 at Target: Super NES classic Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars didn’t necessarily need a remake, but this Switch version thankfully adheres the original’s oddball spirit while sprucing up the visuals for true 3D. If you’re in the market for a breezier, lower-stress RPG, it should fit the bill. This deal matches its all-time low. — J.D.

The ASUS ROG Ally

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

ASUS ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) gaming handheld for $450 at Best Buy ($200 off): The original ROG Ally isn’t as powerful or long-lasting as the newer ROG Ally X, and all Windows gaming handhelds are saddled with less optimized software than Valve’s Steam Deck, which remains the top pick in our buying guide. However, when it’s discounted to this extent, the older Ally is worth considering if you really want a handheld PC that can play games from any client, be it Steam, the Epic Games Store or the Xbox app. It’s still a touch more powerful than the Deck, too, and its 120Hz VRR display does wonders to keep games looking smooth. And for as slipshod as Windows can be, ASUS has made its Armoury Crate app at least a little easier to navigate over time. Just don’t expect more than a couple hours of battery life, and don’t bother using the microSD slot. This deal ties the all-time low for the model with a Z1 Extreme chip. — J.D.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-four-apple-airtags-for-70-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-180954439.html?src=rss

The Sims and The Sims 2 are back on PC as part of the series’ 25th anniversary celebration

Let’s run it all the way back to 2000. EA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Sims by making the original game and The Sims 2 available to purchase once again. You can buy them separately — with expansion packs included — for $20 for the original game and $30 for the sequel. A 25th birthday bundle that includes both costs $40 on Steam, the Epic Games Store and the EA app on Windows. EA Play Pro subscribers also have unlimited access to the games on the EA app starting today. There’s no word as yet on the re-releases coming to consoles or Mac.

Rumors emerged in recent days that the two games might once again be available to buy after EA released a teaser video that included user interface elements from them. Kotaku notes that the original game was only available on a physical disc format, while support for the sequel ended over a decade ago. Since then, players have had to jump through hoops to get them to run on modern systems. Maxis says it has been working to make the re-releases more compatible with Windows 10 and 11, but notes that it had to nix one expansion pack and some original songs from The Sims 2: Legacy Collection for licensing reasons.

I wish I still had the full-body scan I had captured of myself at the Millennium Dome in 2000 so I could properly play as a child version of myself in The Sims again (the avatar might still be on a floppy disc somewhere in my parents’ garage). Nevertheless, I’m sure I and many others will be spamming the “rosebud” cheat to afford all the gear we want for our virtual homes, while some folks will surely be happy to send a particularly annoying Sim for a swim then delete the pool ladder, prompting an appearance from the Grim Reaper.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-sims-and-the-sims-2-are-back-on-pc-as-part-of-the-series-25th-anniversary-celebration-170535474.html?src=rss

WhatsApp claims that 100 journalists and activists were the targets of Israeli-made spyware

WhatsApp has claimed that some users were “possibly compromised” by spyware, according to a report by The Guardian. The Meta-owned messaging app went on to allege that nearly 100 journalists and activists were targeted in the attack. Additionally, the platform says it has “high confidence” that the Graphite spyware came from Paragon Solutions, a company founded in Israel that was recently acquired by a US investment firm.

Hacking experts allege that this was a “zero-click” attack, meaning that the targeted users wouldn’t have had to click on a nefarious link to get infected. This is a similar method to another large-scale WhatsApp hack, in which spyware called Pegasus infected over 1,400 devices. Once a device is infected by something like Pegasus or Graphite, the spyware operator has total access. This even includes the ability to read messages sent via encrypted applications like WhatsApp and Signal.

WhatsApp says it has informed the 100 or so users of the potential attack, but has declined to disclose where they are based and who they are. It did say that it disrupted the alleged attacks back in December, though it’s unclear how long the targets may have been under threat.

“This is the latest example of why spyware companies must be held accountable for their unlawful actions. WhatsApp will continue to protect people’s ability to communicate privately,” a company spokesperson said. WhatsApp has sent Paragon a “cease and desist” letter and says that it’s exploring legal options.

As for Paragon, it recently entered into a controversial $2 million contract with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department. Wired reports that the one-year contract tasks Paragon with providing a “fully configured proprietary solution including license, hardware, warranty, maintenance and training.” The company has yet to respond to the allegations from WhatsApp.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/whatsapp-claims-that-100-journalists-and-activists-were-the-targets-of-israeli-made-spyware-171701672.html?src=rss

Season 5 of MultiVersus will be its last

The rumors were true: Warner Bros.’s platform fighting game MultiVersus will shut down online services after Season 5 ends on May 30. The upcoming season, which begins February 4, promises two new characters: Aquaman and Lola Bunny. Real money can no longer be used for microtransactions as of today, but players with premium currency in-game can use it until the shutdown.

The game had 20 million players less than a month after the open beta began in July 2022, but the developing studio Player First Games also took it offline for 10 months in March 2023, only fully launching on May 28, 2024. Despite the strong start, the player count dropped sharply in 2023, and the hype died instantly, as seen on Steam Charts. The open beta’s promise was seemingly undermined by predatory microtransactions and a long grind to unlock content.

MultiVersus will remain playable offline after Season 5 ends, though the game will be removed from Steam and other stores. While disheartening to see a once-promising platform fighter head to the landfill, Brawlhalla, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 and Fraymakers remain viable alternatives, as does the obvious poster child for the genre, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/season-5-of-multiversus-will-be-its-last-154839513.html?src=rss

Sonos speakers and soundbars are up to $250 off right now

If it’s your turn to host a Super Bowl party this year, you might be looking to beef up your sound system before all of your guests turn up. Perhaps with something like that in mind, Sonos is running a sale on its speakers and soundbars on both Amazon and its own website. One of its products, the Era 100, has dropped to an all-time-low price of $199. The speaker will typically run you $249.

The Era 100 is our pick for the best midrange smart speaker and we gave it a score of 88 in our review. It delivers great audio and can reach loud volumes, while Bluetooth and line-in support are certainly welcome. With the Era 100, Sonos has simplified its Trueplay tuning feature by making use of built-in microphones to optimize audio output for the room the speaker is in. On the downside, while the Era 100 works with Alexa and Sonos’ own voice assistant, it doesn’t support Google Assistant.

Like other Sonos speakers, the Era 100 can be used as part of a whole home audio system. So you’ll be able to set up units in other rooms so that even when they’re away from the TV, your guests can still hear all of the action at the same time as everyone else.

It’s also possible to set up two Era 100 units as rear speakers in a home theater setup. If that’s the route you wish to go down, you might want to have a soundbar in place too. As it happens, several of Sonos’ models are on sale.

The original Arc soundbar is down to $649, which is $250 off. As for the Beam Gen 2, that can be yours for $100 less than usual at $399. We reckon the Beam is the best midrange soundbar. However, the Arc Ultra, our recommendation for the best premium soundbar, isn’t on sale this time, unfortunately.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonos-speakers-and-soundbars-are-up-to-250-off-right-now-155920350.html?src=rss