Sony’s PSVR 2 gets its first discount during October Prime Day

There’s always something so exciting about the first time a big device goes on sale. In this case, Sony’s PlayStation VR2 has its first deal, dropping from $549 to $509.15 — a seven percent discount — right in the middle of October Prime Day. Sure, spending over $500 for a headset when the PlayStation 5 is $499 feels like a lot, but you can put the nearly $40 saved toward an extra game or two. 

Sony released the PS VR2 in early 2023, and it got an 84 in our review despite being priced a bit higher than we’d like. For starters, it’s a lot sleeker looking than its predecessor and is very comfortable to wear (it uses the same plastic as the PS5’s exterior shell and DualSense controllers). The PS VR2 also has eye tracking, and was the first time we saw haptics for your head. The device is solid, with great OLED displays and well-made Sense controllers.

The world might not be as enthralled with VR headsets as it was a few years ago, but there are still a range of new options on the market. With its current sale, the PS VR2 is close to the same price as Meta’s Quest 3 but is still far below the $3,499 necessary to buy Apple’s Vision Pro. The Quest 3 and Vision Pro are both mixed reality devices, but the PS VR2 is a good option if you only want virtual reality tailored for a console.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-psvr-2-gets-its-first-discount-during-october-prime-day-121528847.html?src=rss 

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is 25 percent off for October Prime Day

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event has an all-time low on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Usually $1,800, the October Prime Day deal can get you the foldable phone for $1,400 — 25 percent off and an all-time low. Or, if you prefer a clamshell design, Amazon also has the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 for $800, record pricing for the more compact foldable. Both devices launched in August, so you’re getting relatively new gear for less.

The Z Fold 5 folds like a book with a 7.6-inch display when fully expanded. It also has a narrow 6.2-inch Cover Screen outside for when you want to do something quickly without opening the device. Although the handset is an iterative update over its predecessor, it subtly refines Samsung’s five-year foldable formula with a Flex hinge that eliminates the device’s gap when closed.

The foldable uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip for faster benchmark performance than the Pixel Fold. Its screen is also brighter (1,750 nits vs. the Pixel’s 1,450 nits) than Google’s alternative. The Z Fold 5 supports stylus use, and its 4,400mAh battery lasted an impressive 19 hours 48 minutes (main display) and 23 hours 10 minutes (Cover Screen) in Engadget’s video rundown test.

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is still considered the best phone that folds lengthwise. The handset has a 6.7-inch internal display and a 3.4-inch “Flex Window” external one. It also uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy for impressive performance, and it bends into a compact device that should slide easily into a pocket or purse.

Your October 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. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall 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/the-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-5-is-25-percent-off-for-october-prime-day-123511247.html?src=rss 

Logitech keyboards, mice and accessories are up to 40 percent off in October Prime Day sale

Much like it did this summer, Logitech is offering solid discounts on gaming gear for October Prime Day (Big Deal Days), including keyboards, mice and other accessories. The G915 RGB mechanical gaming keyboard is down to $180, or 28 percent off, while the eSports-friendly G Pro X Superlight mouse has dropped to $110 (31 percent off). Meanwhile, the G703 Lightspeed mouse has dipped to $60 (40 percent off). And if you’re mainly interested in getting work done, Logitech is also discounting productivity gear like the MK470 slim wireless keyboard and mouse combo ($40 or 20 percent off), the Brio 501 Full HD webcam ($100 for a savings of $30), and the Zone Vibe 100 lightweight wireless headset ($80, a 20 percent savings).

The G915 Lightspeed keyboard uses low-profile GL switches that are half the height of typical mechanical key switches, making it about 25 percent faster to press a key. The version on sale uses the “tactile” key switch that lets you feel the actuation without being as noisy as the “clicky” version. It has a quintet of programmable keys and support for 16.8 million colors through the RGB lighting system. And of course, it’s wireless, using Logitech’s Lightspeed tech for minimal lag. 

Another key product on offer is Logitech’s G Pro X superlight wireless gaming mouse ($110, 31 percent off) that weighs just 63 grams, while offering excellent speed and accuracy. If that’s too much, the Logitech G703 model is marked down 40 percent to $60, and it’s still a solid gaming mouse. If it’s a headset you need, the Logitech G535 offers neutral sound and agreeable listening experience. Its Logitech G Fits wireless gaming earbuds are also on sale for $160 (30 percent off), delivering features like long battery life, premium sound and noise cancellation. And on the productivity side, the Brio 501 full HD webcam offers auto light correction, dual noise reduction mics and more. 

Your October 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. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall 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/logitech-keyboards-mice-and-accessories-are-up-to-40-percent-off-in-october-prime-day-sale-105500454.html?src=rss 

Google’s sustainability features now include an EV buyer’s tool

In the face of record heatwaves and dangerous flooding worldwide, we need all the help we can get to figure out the best environmental technology to buy without breaking the bank. To this end, Google has announced various new and expanded sustainability initiatives around EVs, home energy, city planning and safety.

For starters, Google is providing more insight into if an EV is right for you and, if so, which one. Across 21 countries, an updated Fuel Cost Calculator takes the guesswork out of how much money an EV could save you, estimating a particular model’s annual charging cost versus a similar-sized car’s gas expenses. Exclusively in the US, searches like “best electric cars” should now provide the option to compare aspects like range and price. You can also see which government incentives are available. Similarly, in the coming weeks, you should be able to explore how far an EV could take you along a specific route in the US based on elevation and charging stations. Google plans to bring the feature to Europe in early 2024.

Your home energy search is getting a similar upgrade. The next time you look for a heater or air conditioner, you should have the option to compare their energy efficiency and see which comes with financial incentives.

In the face of increased natural disasters, Google is expanding tools like its Flood Hub. This platform has been available in 80 countries but will now include over 800 riverside locations in the US and Canada. Google has also teamed up with the US Forest Service to use machine learning for a large-scale update to the organization’s fire spread model — it helps train firefighters and plan difficult battles.

Google is further increasing its influence on urban planning decisions with a new Google Earth feature demonstrating the solar flux of each given building per year. At the same time, a Cool Roofs tool should soon be available in 15 cities globally that lays out which areas cool roof integration could be most beneficial.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-sustainability-features-now-include-an-ev-buyers-tool-110014912.html?src=rss 

Google’s AI stoplight program is now calming traffic in a dozen cities worldwide

It’s been two years since Google first debuted Project Green Light, a novel means of addressing the street-level pollution caused by vehicles idling at stop lights. At its Sustainability ‘23 event on Tuesday, the company discussed some of the early findings from that program and announced another wave of expansions for it.

Green Light uses machine learning systems to comb through Maps data to calculate the amount of traffic congestion present at a given light, as well as the average wait times of vehicles stopped there. That information is then used to train AI models that can autonomously optimize the traffic timing at that intersection, reducing idle times as well as the amount of braking and accelerating vehicles have to do there. It’s all part of Google’s goal to help its partners collectively reduce their carbon emissions by a gigaton by 2030.

Google

When the program was first announced in 2021, it had only been pilot tested in four intersections in Israel in partnership with the Israel National Roads Company but Google had reportedly observed a “10 to 20 percent reduction in fuel and intersection delay time” during those tests. The pilot program has grown since then, spreading to a dozen partner cities around the world, including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Manchester, England and Jakarta, Indonesia.

“Today we’re happy to share that… we plan to scale to more cities in 2024,” Yael Maguire, Google VP of Geo Sustainability, told reporters during a pre-brief event last week. “Early numbers indicate a potential for us to see a 30 percent reduction in stops. We believe green light is unique because it is more scalable and cost effective for cities than alternative options.” Ideally, cities would deploy the models across grids of neighborhood blocks to create “waves” of propagating green lights.

Google

“Our AI recommendations work with existing infrastructure and traffic systems,” Maguire continued. “City engineers are able to monitor the impact and see results within weeks.” Maguire also noted that the Manchester test reportedly saw improvements to emission levels and air quality rise by as much as 18 percent. The company also touted the efficacy of its Maps routing in reducing emissions, with Maguire pointing out at it had “helped prevent more than 2.4 million metric tons of carbon emissions — the equivalent of taking about 500,000 fuel-based cars off the road for an entire year.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-ai-stoplight-program-project-green-light-sustainability-traffic-110015328.html?src=rss 

October Prime Day 2023: The Best Prime Day Lightning Deals and Updates

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is finally here and a number of our favorite gadgets are included in the sales. For the second year in a row, Amazon has given its Prime members another exclusive deal event in the fall, complementing its standard Prime Day that typically happens in July. It provides Prime members the opportunity to shop members-only deals and sales across pretty much everything available on Amazon — clothing, household goods and, of course, tech. The latter is most important to us at Engadget and there are good deals to be had as part of this year’s October Prime Day.

Our live blog below will surface all of the best Prime Day deals you can get during Prime Big Deal Days, with a particular focus on gadgets including laptops, TVs, headphones, wearables, gaming gear and more. Follow along to make sure you don’t miss any discounted items that may be on your holiday shopping list.

Your Fall 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. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/october-prime-day-2023-the-best-prime-day-lightning-deals-and-updates-110052712.html?src=rss 

Anker chargers and accessories get deep discounts for October Prime Day

Thanks to October Prime Day deals on many of Anker’s best accessories, you can get a premium charge for a lot less money right now. The sale includes chargers for every need, such as the three-port Nano II 65W USB-C charger with space to juice up your phone, computer and headphones all at once. The small charger is available for 39 percent off, dropping from $56 to $34. Similarly, the slightly larger Prime 67W USB-C Charger with two USB-C ports and one USB-A is 37 percent off, bringing its price from $60 to $38.

The best deal comes courtesy of Anker’s fast charging 765 USB-C to USB-C cable, which is down from $35 to $15 — a 57 percent discount. It’s compatible with the new iPhone 15 models, along with the MacBook Pro 2021, iPad Pro, iPad Air 4th and Samsung’s Galaxy S23+ and Ultra. If you’re still loyal to a USB charger but your cords are breaking at the seams, pick up Anker’s lightning cable three-pack for 20 percent off, dropping from $25 to $20.

Then there’s Anker’s portable chargers currently on sale for every time you stay out later than expected or drain your battery playing games. The Prime 20K Power Bank is down to $22.40 from $28 and can juice up an iPhone 12 halfway in 30 minutes using USB and USB-C chargers. For $30 (down from $60), you can pick up Anker’s Magnetic Portable Charger 5K for wireless charging. Plus, the Prime Power Bank with 200W Output and a smart display has fallen from $130 to $90 for Prime Day — giving you high-speed charging with enough money left over to buy quality cables.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-chargers-and-accessories-get-deep-discounts-for-october-prime-day-110527447.html?src=rss 

The Morning After: Our verdict on the Meta Quest 3

The $500 Meta Quest 3 won’t tempt over as many VR newcomers as the Quest 2, but it’s still a solid step forward for Meta. It has all the upgrades you’d expect (sharper screens and lenses, faster performance), and it also has full-color mixed-reality cameras, so you can use VR apps alongside a view of the real world. Squint a bit, and you can almost see what Apple is aiming for with the Vision Pro.

Engadget

While there isn’t any face or eye tracking (found on the pricier VRs), Meta ditched the annoying rings from the Quest 2 gamepads. After testing the Quest 3 for a week, Engadget’s Devindra noted it’s the first headset that doesn’t make him feel trapped while using it. Since the real world is easily accessible, it’s simpler to integrate a movie into your life while still acknowledging/ checking in on your real-world environment. Check out our full review.

— Mat Smith

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Shop the best early deals for October Prime Day 2023

Apple iPhone 15 review

The most substantial update in years.

Engadget

Not everyone needs the most expensive high-specced iPhone. This year’s update to the vanilla Apple smartphone brings a lot of bang for your buck. That includes a substantially upgraded camera sensor (12-megapixel up to 48-megapixel), four new pastel-hued colors (even if our reviewer wasn’t a fan, I think they’re gorgeous) and USB-C. With the iPhone 15, Apple offers enough to make this year’s device a worthwhile upgrade — that’s not always the case.

Continue reading.

​​How hackers are using Bluetooth to track police activity

Devices are ‘constantly shouting’ about what cops are up to, hackers said.

Law enforcement uses all sorts of tech to track individuals, but some people are using technology to listen back. Bluetooth devices have a unique 64-bit identifier called a MAC address, and those signals reveal where police are – and even when they activate devices like body cams or Tasers. Modern police kits are overflowing with Bluetooth-enabled tech — even the gun holsters supplied to some cops send a Bluetooth ping when a sidearm is unholstered. Hackers, aware of these signals, can now monitor what local police are up to.

Continue reading.

Unity CEO John Riccitiello stepping down, effective immediately

It comes during a backlash over changes to the company’s pricing model.

Unity game developer said John Riccitiello will step down as president and CEO of the company after nine years in leadership, effective immediately. Just a month ago, Unity rolled out some significant concessions to its developer pricing model after widespread backlash over its plan to charge developers for game installations. The upheaval came simultaneously as a series of massive layoffs at the company. Unity expects third-quarter revenue to fall somewhere between $540 million to $550 million — up 67 to 70 percent from last year.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-our-verdict-on-the-meta-quest-3-111611006.html?src=rss 

The best October Prime Day AirPods deals for 2023

There’s no shortage of headphones and earbuds on sale for October Prime Day, and included among them aire Apple’s AirPods. Whether you need to pick up a pair as a holiday gift for a loved one or you need to replace an aging pair of your own buds, AirPods are some of the best options out there for iPhone users. These are the best deals we found on AirPods for Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event.

Apple AirPods Pro

The second-generation AirPods Pro with USB-C have dropped to $189 for Prime Day, which is a new record low. Apple made a ton of small but noticeable improvements to these models, so now they have better sound quality, noise cancelation and Transparecy Mode. There remains no competition if you have an iPhone and live within the Apple ecosystem — these are the best earbuds to get if you fall into that category.

Apple AirPods (3rd gen)

Apple’s third-gen AirPods are on sale for TK right now. These buds are leaps and bounds better than their precedessor, with big improvements in sound quality, battery life and overall comfort. While they lack ANC, they are a good option for any Apple lover who just wants a reliable pair of wireless earbuds.

Apple AirPods (2nd gen)

The second-generation AirPods have dropped to $89 for Prime Day, which is close to their record-low price. These earbuds are a bit old at this point, but if you have less than $100 to send and want a pair that work seamlessly with iPhones and other Apple devices, they fit the bill. They fit similarly to Apple’s EarPods and they have decent wireless range, but we ultimately recommend spending a tad bit more and getting the 3rd-gen AirPods if you can afford them.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple’s high-end AirPod Max headphones are on sale for TK right now. While there are better wireless headphones out there at prices that won’t empty your wallet, the AirPods Max are good for Apple lovers and those who want a comfortable yet unique design, excellent sound quality and good battery life. And since they cost $550 normally, it’s always better to wait until they’re on discount like they are now to buy them.

Your October 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. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Fall 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/october-prime-day-airpods-deals-181657149.html?src=rss 

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