This Prime Day MacBook Air deal is already great, but spending more makes it an even better value

Next to Black Friday, Prime Day is a great time to buy hardware from Amazon and Apple. On the latter brand, we’re seeing some of the best prices to date for the latest models of iPads, AirPods and AirTags, to name a few. And if you’re in the market for a new laptop, it’s also a great time to buy a MacBook, with prices starting at a record low $849 for the latest MacBook Air. It’s currently Engadget’s top pick on our best laptop list.

But I’m here to argue that you should spend $1,249 for that MacBook Air instead.

Here’s why: They get you in the door for that sub-$1,000 price, which is an enticing $250 less than you’d spend at the Apple Store. But Apple is notoriously stingy on memory and storage for its devices: The baseline model only has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB drive. That’s fine if you’re only using your laptop for the basics – say, social media, streaming video and light document creation. But even with cloud storage, that SSD will fill up very quickly with photos, audio and video if you’re doing anything creative. (Yes, you can get external USB drives, but they’re slower and ruin the lines of Apple’s sleek laptop.) And while Apple does a great job of managing software resources on the Mac, that 8GB of memory feels like a low ceiling.

So here’s what I did when Amazon ran a version of this same deal a few months ago: I paid to double both specs. For $1,249 (after clipping that same $50 on-screen coupon), you get 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Yes, a terabyte or more would be even better, but you pick your battles. And this configuration still saves you a cool $250 off the Apple Store price for the same configuration, while being a lot more future-proofed. For instance, if you’re laptop shopping for a high school or college student, this stepped-up model will survive a 4-year academic stint with more comfort than that $849 version.

If that’s still too steep, you can split the difference with the 512GB MacBook Air M2. It doesn’t have the extra RAM, but the otherwise identical slightly older model still gets you a very capable, modern Apple laptop with decent storage for just $999. But don’t wait: these laptop deals end today, and we don’t know if we’ll be seeing them again before Black Friday.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-prime-day-macbook-air-deal-is-already-great-but-spending-more-makes-it-an-even-better-value-154304978.html?src=rss 

EA Sports FC 25 brings women’s soccer to the career modes for the first time

We’re in that brief summer lull between Euro 2024 and European soccer leagues starting back up, so it’s time to find out what EA has in store for the next installment of its don’t-call-it-FIFA series. There are a ton of changes this year, but arguably the biggest headline is that EA Sports FC 25 will bring women’s football into the career modes for the first time in the franchise’s history. Five major women’s leagues will be available in Manager and Player Career Modes: England’s Women’s Super League, the NWSL in the US and the top leagues in France, Spain and Germany. The Women’s Champions League will be included as well.

The features are all the same as in the men’s side of the Career Modes to ensure parity. However, the financial model of women’s football is different, with lower budgets, shorter contracts and a smaller transfer pool. That’s reflected in the game. Managers, meanwhile, might start out in charge of a men’s team and be offered a job with a women’s side or vice-versa.

One other major update for Career Mode is a feature called Live Start Points. It will roll in real-world updates from 11 top leagues and 17 major cup competitions. For instance, Live Start Points will incorporate results from actual games and you can start from any week in a real-life season or after something significant has happened. So, if you want a challenge, you might start a career halfway through the Premier League season and choose a team that’s drifting away from the pack in the relegation zone. Player form, injuries, suspensions, goals scored, transfers, managerial changes and even points deductions will all be reflected in Live Start Points.

Another notable change for Player Career Mode is that you’ll be able to take control of some legendary stars who have long since hung up their boots in real life. The icons who you’ll be able to play as in the mode on release day are Andrea Pirlo (my choice has been made for me), Ruud van Nistelrooy, Kelly Smith and Thierry Henry. Those who pre-order the game will be able to choose from Ronaldo (the Brazilian one), Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham.

Another big update this year is the introduction of a five-versus-five experience called Rush. While Volta, a fast-paced casual mode from previous years that EA has nixed this time around, was distinct from the rest of the game, Rush is baked into the core FC 25 modes. You’ll find it in Ultimate Team, Clubs and Career Mode (where managers can accelerate young players’ development by winning Rush games).

Rush is built on the same gameplay depth and balance as full 11-a-side matches though it takes place on a smaller pitch. Each team has an AI-controlled goalkeeper but the rest of the human-controlled team plays fluidly with no fixed positions. You can play matches with a bunch of your friends in which each of you takes control of one player.

Some of the rules are different too. At kick-off, players will race toward the ball to try and take possession. If a player receives a second yellow yard, they’ll be issued a blue card and sent to a sin bin for one minute. Offsides are only applicable in the last third of the pitch instead of from the halfway line.

Electronic Arts

Moreover, EA has overhauled the tactics and positioning systems this year with something it calls FC IQ, which builds on the HyperMotion and PlayStyles tech from previous years. You’ll have more granular control over how to set up your team, such as how to manage transitions between attack and defense.

There are more than 50 new assignable player roles that determine how players act when they’re off the ball. There will be three to five roles per position available at launch, with different focuses for each (i.e. attacking, defending, ball-winning or roaming). Player roles are the flip side to Playstyles, which are about on-the-ball movement.

The roles are powered by real-world Opta data and a custom AI. EA says this will lead to more authentic off-the-ball movement and tactical intelligence. Different players are better suited to each role depending on their real-world proficiency.

You might instruct your attacking midfielder to play as a shadow striker and dash into the box when there’s an opening or to stay a bit further back and act more as a playmaker for the forwards. Perhaps you have a fullback who is effective when they float into midfield (such as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold), so you can tell them to do that. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of each role and balance out your team appropriately.

Team tactics are said to more closely resemble real-world styles so you can more easily replicate how your favorite club plays. You can stick with some presets or customize things completely — FC 25 will offer feedback of what works and what doesn’t about a tactic. As such, you can opt for some totally bananas, asymmetric formations. That could be useful if you want to overload players on one flank where the opponent has a relatively weak defender (like cough Kyle Walker cough). You’ll be able to share your custom tactics with friends using a unique code that works across platforms.

Smart tactics, which allow you to alter your setup in real-time during a game, will now include recommendations based on how a match is going. You might receive a suggestion to switch to a pass-heavy tiki-taka style or to absorb opponents’ attacks and focus on counters. An animated chalkboard will give you an idea of how a smart tactic change will alter the team’s shape. Player roles are reflected in all of these other updates, while commentary should pick up on tactical changes. Meanwhile, there are fresh on-the-ball playstyles for goalkeepers this year, such as rushing out to take on attackers or throwing the ball long.

Electronic Arts

Elsewhere on the gameplay front, there are some new weather effects, with wind and rain having an impact on things like crosses and the playing surface. Mascots will be available for some teams and players can even celebrate with them after scoring. There are more skill moves too, including drag turns and back-heel nutmegs. In addition, figures on the sidelines such as managers, fourth officials and substitutes, will be more reactive to in-game events.

There’s also a dirty new mechanic defenders will have at their disposal. EA is bringing professional fouls to the game this year. You’ll be able to deliberately cause a foul to stop an attack by, for instance, dragging an opponent to the ground by their shirt. Be careful though, as this is likely to incur a yellow card, and you’ll get a red card for persistent professional fouls.

In terms of the visuals, EA is bringing ray-tracing to the FC series for the first time in an enhanced visuals mode. You can opt to favor resolution instead, but both modes will target a framerate of 60 frames per second. You’ll also be able to view goals from a first-person perspective in replays, while there’s a new user interface that ‘s designed to be more accessible.

One last piece of good news: EA isn’t giving up on last-gen consoles just yet, but some features will be exclusive to PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. EA Sports FC 25 is also coming to PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch when it arrives on September 27. EA Play subscribers and those who buy the Ultimate Edition will get early access to the game on September 20.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ea-sports-fc-25-brings-womens-soccer-to-the-career-modes-for-the-first-time-160013124.html?src=rss 

Xbox 360’s digital store heads to Valhalla with an avalanche of cheap games

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 digital storefront will close up shop on July 29, which is creeping up on us. To commemorate the closure, the company is holding a fire sale of sorts, with all kinds of games available for around $1.

If you have a working Xbox 360 or if the game supports backwards compatibility, you can pretty much spend $20 and have stuff to play for years. The underrated FPS Black, by the Burnout devs, is just one dollar, and the iconic zombie shooter Dead Island is $0.74. That fantastic Strider reboot? It’s $1.50.

Of course, not every game is quite that cheap. Devil May Cry 4 will set you back a whopping $2 and Dishonored a full $3. Resident Evil: Revelations is $2, and the same goes for Dead Rising 2. Watch Dogs is $4, if you really wanna get crazy. You can see the full list by clicking the link above. 

Takes you back, doesn’t it?

Enjoy some sweet nostalgia with the new Xbox 360 Blades dynamic background, available today. pic.twitter.com/AYElkktM9K

— Xbox (@Xbox) July 16, 2024

Microsoft has also brought back the 360’s iconic Blade dashboard as a dynamic theme for modern consoles. If you are of a certain age, this is likely to fill you right up with nostalgia. It looks like the old UI. It feels like the old UI. It doesn’t, however, make that satisfying “whoosh” sound. You can’t win ‘em all. As for the aforementioned deals, they vanish like bubbles on July 29.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xbox-360s-digital-store-heads-to-valhalla-with-an-avalanche-of-cheap-games-161551444.html?src=rss 

Amazon Prime Day is still going strong and this is what our tech-obsessed readers have bought so far

Amazon Prime Day deals continue today during the second day of the sale, and our Engadget readers have not slept on any of the best tech discounts this year. While our staff can usually anticipate which items will be most popular with our readers during sales like this (looking at you, Apple gear), there are always a few things that surprise us.

Below, we’ve gathered all of the gadgets our readers have bought in droves so far for Amazon Prime Day 2024 — there are the usual suspects here, as well as a few unlikely additions. If you’re even remotely interested in picking up some of the best tech deals for Prime Day while you still can, this is a good place to start.

Unsurprisingly, Engadget readers can spot a good deal on AirPods a mile away. The latest AirPods Pro can still be found at a $169 sale price, which matches the best price we’ve seen. These remain the best wireless earbuds for iPhone users and anyone who lives within the Apple ecosystem, but in general, they also provide excellent active noise cancellation (ANC), equally good transparency mode and a great sound profile.

Their biggest drawbacks are the lack of customization when compared to other buds on a similar caliber, and they have just a decent five- to six-hour battery life on a single charge. Speaking of the latter, this model on sale comes with the USB-C charging case that’s also MagSafe compatible, so you can power them up using wireless charging pads and stands.

This vacuum-mop hybrid Roomba was new as of April 2024 and it’s now discounted to $190 for Prime Day. iRobot claims the Roomba Combo Essential outperforms the Roomba 600 Series and has 20 times more suction power, and for this model in particular, it has a longer battery life as well — up to 120 minutes of run time per cleaning job.

As with all of iRobot’s cleaning machines, the Combo Essential works with the company’s mobile app to let you set cleaning schedules and check on the machine’s status as it’s puttering around your home. It’ll automatically return to its base when it needs a recharge as well, but note that it doesn’t come with a self-emptying base like some more expensive models do.

The Apple AirTag is our pick for a Bluetooth tracker for iPhone users — you can grab one for $24 for Prime Day, or a four-pack for between $75 and $89 (annoyingly, the price has not been consistent over the past 48 hours).

These small disks tap into Apple’s vast Find My network to track down missing items, calling on nearby iPhones to anonymously ping and triangulate the position. That makes them a great option to keep track of luggage on your next trip, or even just your everyday backpack or handbag. Just know that, if you want to attach one to your keys, you’ll have to buy an AirTag case or holder to do so.

In a somewhat surprisingly move, there are a handful of good Lego Prime Day deals to check out this year. Our readers have been partial to this Star Wars Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Fighter, which is down to $35 from its list price of $50. This Lego kit, which is recommended for builders aged nine and above, has 474 pieces so it should keep you and/or (pun not intended) your kids busy for a while.

The X-Wing has a retractable landing gear and a pair of spring-loaded shooters. You can convert the wings to attack position with the press of a button. The kit also comes with Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and General Dodonna minifigures that you can place in the cockpit, while R2-D2 has his very own spot on board.

Anker’s MagGo Power Bank was one of the earliest Qi2-certified devices on the market, and now it’s on sale for only $63. It has a 10,000mAh capacity, and its 15W capacities provide fast wireless charging. It’s on our list of the best power banks thanks in part to the fact that it brought an iPhone 15 from near-dead to half-charged in just 45 minutes — a feat some of our other top contenders have taken twice as long to do. If you’re looking for a portable yet versatile power source for your iPhone, this is a great option.

This Anker GaNPrime 150W USB-C charger is nearly half off for Prime Day and down to $60. Engadget readers likely have a ton of tech they need to keep charged all the time, and this brick lets them do that pretty easily, regardless of what devices they happen to be. It has three USB-C ports and one USB-A connector, and its max 150W of power output means it can refuel larger items like laptops as well as smaller things like wireless earbuds with no problem. Plus, the ability to plug in four devices simultaneous for a power-up can be a game-changer when you’re traveling or working on-location.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is Amazon’s most capable portable streaming device and you can grab one for only $35 for Prime Day. Just plug it into your TV’s HDMI port (or any TV while on vacation), and you’ll instantly have access to all of your favorite streaming apps, like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon’s own Prime Video.

This model supports fast Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and in addition to its 4K resolution, it offers Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG to make your shows and films look their best. It’s just one of many Fire TV devices on sale for Prime Day, with the most affordable being the Fire TV Stick Lite for $15.

Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-is-still-going-strong-and-this-is-what-our-tech-obsessed-readers-have-bought-so-far-153459702.html?src=rss 

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