Kalakshar US

A few of Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks are on sale again, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which is down to $27. It went for $25 during July’s Prime Day, but that deal was only for Prime members — this one’s open to any one with the funds and inclination. This is a 51 percent discount off the $55 list price, and a sale we’ve seen a few times before. Two other streaming dongles are also on sale: the standard, HD-compatible Fire TV Stick is $25 instead of it usual $40, and the set-top Fire TV Cube is down to $120 as opposed to $140.  

Of the lot, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is probably best for most people, as it offers a performance boost for just $2 more than the standard stick. The Cube is likely just for those who want to route other systems, like gaming consoles, through their streaming device. The 4K Max offers quick loading and response times and it’ll help you control your Alexa-enabled smart home devices, letting you view live interior or exterior camera footage directly from your TV screen. There’s even a picture-in-picture view so you can see who’s at the door without stopping the show. The 4K Max also includes support for Wi-Fi 6 — so if you’re already set up for that standard or plan to upgrade in the future, this can take advantage of the broader connections. 

Our main concern with Amazon’s streaming devices is its less intuitive user interface. Fire OS isn’t as streamlined as Roku or Google’s streaming operating systems, and Amazon tends to favor its own content, heavily promoting its shows, services and products throughout the system. 

Right now, we think Roku has the best UI of any streaming device, as we detail in our latest guide on the topic. The dongle we recommend, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, is currently seeing a modest, 20 percent discount, taking $10 off its usual $50 price tag. That’s well above the all-time low of $25 that we saw for last year’s Black Friday sales, but it’s still a decent buy on a feature-rich streaming stick. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-fire-tv-stick-4k-max-drops-back-down-to-27-160054593.html?src=rss 

The Nintendo Switch isn’t dead quite yet. Nintendo has a solid-looking slate of games lined up for its console stretching well into 2024, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder (which I absolutely cannot wait for), Detective Pikachu Returns and maybe, possibly Metroid Prime 4. But there’s no denying that the 6.5-year-old console is getting long in the tooth, so Nintendo is gearing up for what’s next. To that end, the company reportedly showed developers tech demos for its next-gen system behind closed doors at Gamescom last month.

One of the Switch 2 demos was a beefed-up version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That’s according to Eurogamer, which points out that this was a tech demo and there’s no guarantee of a remastered or upgraded version of BOTW coming to the Switch 2, so don’t get your hopes up. That said, the demo was said to show BOTW running at a higher frame rate and resolution than the original Switch can handle.

Perhaps more intriguingly, VGC reports that Nintendo also showed The Matrix Awakens running on the dev kit. The captivating tech demo was originally designed to show off what Unreal Engine 5 can do on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, but Nintendo managed to get it working on an early version of its next system too. What’s more, the Switch 2 demo was said to feature NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling tech, ray-tracing and visuals comparable to those seen on the PS5 and Series X.

It’s unlikely that the Switch 2 will compete with the Sony and Microsoft systems in terms of pure horsepower. It definitely won’t if Nintendo retains the hybrid handheld format of the Switch, unless the company is content with a battery life of about 20 minutes. DLSS support is key, as that could help Nintendo run games at higher frame rates and resolution without having to jam more powerful components or an oversized battery into the Switch 2.

Nintendo is expected to release the Switch 2 (or whatever the console will actually be called) in 2024. It will be doing so in a far different gaming landscape than the groundbreaking Switch ventured into due to the likes of the Steam Deck and more advanced mobile gaming experiences. We’re seeing a new handheld PC gaming system show upalmost every week at this point. Thanks to emulation (and poor piracy protections on the original Switch), it’s not exactly difficult to run Nintendo games better than the company’s current console can handle, even while you’re on the go.

Nintendo might have its work cut out to convince gamers that both an upgrade from the original Switch is worthwhile and that the Switch 2 is a better option for them than a handheld gaming PC. Still, more advanced hardware, the company’s stellar track record of exclusive games and quality-of-life features like an easy way to transition to the Switch 2 could make the next-gen system enticing enough for those who might have been on the fence about snagging the upcoming console.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-is-said-to-be-showing-the-switch-2s-dlss-and-ray-tracing-capabilities-to-developers-161050817.html?src=rss 

Honda announced today that it’s switching to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for upcoming EVs sold on the continent. Honda models that go on sale in 2025 and later will use NACS instead of the Combined Charging System (CCS). The automaker says it’s developing an adaptor to allow pre-2025 Hondas to charge using Tesla’s system, as it further establishes itself as the North American standard less than a year after Elon Musk and company opened it up to rivals.

“We’re excited to announce that Honda will expand fast-charging access for Honda & Acura #EV customers by adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS),” Honda in America posted today on X (formerly Twitter). The company said it plans to launch a new EV model in North America in 2025 that includes the NACS port; all Honda EVs will use Tesla’s standard after that point.

Honda is also part of a recently formed group aiming to create a new charging network across North America with BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes and Stellantis. Honda and the other automakers said in July they wanted to “accelerate the transition to electric vehicles” and “make zero-emission driving even more attractive.” Honda’s press release today describes the NACS adoption as existing “in addition to” those plans, but we asked Honda to clarify if or how today’s NACS announcement might affect that coalition’s strategy. (We’ll update this article if we receive a response.)

Other vehicle manufacturers announcing NACS adoption in North America include Ford, GM, Mercedes, Polestar and Volvo. In addition, Texas announced in June that state-funded EV charging stations would need to include NACS.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/honda-will-use-teslas-ev-charging-standard-in-north-america-164539111.html?src=rss 

Victrola has introduced two new premium turntables: the Hi-Res Carbon and Hi-Res Onyx. Both products have built-in Qualcomm audio hardware that will allow for wireless vinyl record play to any Bluetooth or aptX-enabled speakers or headphones. This hardware upgrade is a major shift away from Victrola’s previous lineup which was only compatible with Sonos speakers.

The turntables support Bluetooth 5.4 and Bluetooth LE and feature Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio technologies. The Hi-Res models will still feature RCA outputs for self-powered wired speakers for the more traditional crowd.

Victrola’s Hi-Res Carbon and Hi-Res Onyx models are priced at $599 and $399, respectively, and are available today. Each runs $200 cheaper than their respective Sonos-compatible counterpart.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/victorlas-new-hi-res-wireless-turntables-wont-require-a-sonos-setup-172332224.html?src=rss 

A couple weeks ago, Sega did something it doesn’t normally do: it gathered up a bunch of its studios (Atlus, Amplitude, Sega of Europe and others) and put together a showcase highlighting a number of titles coming out over the next few months.

Sonic Superstars (Release date: October 17)

Like a lot of people, I have a love-hate relationship with Sonic. While the original games on the Genesis produced iconic levels like the Green Hill Zone and unforgettable characters like Tails, Knuckles and the lovable blue hedgehog himself, more recent titles often miss the mark (to put it politely). Sonic the Hedgehog ‘06nearly broke me and the Sonic Boom series was a particularly dark period for fans of speedy protagonists.

But Sonic Superstars feels like a return to form, expanding on the breakneck 2D gameplay the franchise was best at, while adding a super crisp art style that doesn’t rely on 16-bit nostalgia. Stages like Cyber Station Zone offer fun twists on the formula by letting you transform into voxelized squids or rockets as you traverse the level. In a lot of ways, it feels like Sega is finally giving side-scrolling Sonic games the overhaul they’ve needed for more than a decade, similar to what Nintendo is doing with Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Furthermore, Sega has added multiplayer co-op to a 2D Sonic game for the first time, and not coincidentally, it plays a lot like a modern Mario title. Health, or in this case rings are shared between all the players, so as long as your party possesses a single shiny loop, you can revive your friends (except for during boss fights). The one small issue is that due to the pace of the game, if you die you might get stuck in a floating bubble for a bit until things slow down and your friends get a chance to break you out.

Persona 5 Tactica (Release date: November 17)

This is probably the game I was most excited to try out, and even with high expectations I did not come away wanting. Not only is it a treat to hear more riffs on one of the greatest video game soundtracks in recent memory, there are so many mechanics from the JRPG franchise that transition seamlessly to the tactics genre, I’m kind of surprised it took Atlus this long to make a Persona spin-off like this.

Right away the game introduces concepts like team attacks and knockdowns that had me thinking about how to take down enemies in the fewest moves. And instead of Persona’s traditional elemental affinities, Tactica introduces new cover mechanics that make the game feel like a mix between XCOM and the Mario + Rabbids series. The chibi-style art is also fun and expressive without being too kawaii.

Also, while it’s always nice to have played Persona 5 for the added context, the title is a self-contained story featuring new characters, so you don’t need to spend 50+ hours playing P5 before diving into this.

Persona 3 Reload (Release date: February 2, 2024)

I don’t have much to say about Persona 3 Reload aside from I’m thankful that this game is finally getting the remake it deserves. The original basically paved the way for the last 15+ years of Persona RPGs. It’s kind of a shame Atlus isn’t including some of the extra content from Persona 3 FES and the PSP port (notably the female protagonist), but with discs for the original PS2 game becoming harder and harder to find, it’s nice to have a great looking and more widely available version coming in early 2024.

Endless Dungeon (Release date: October 19)

While I’m familiar with some of Amplitude Studio’s previous titles, the latest entry in the Endless series might be the most pleasant surprise I encountered at the showcase. It’s a twin-stick shooter with squad-based gameplay that’s layered on top of rogue-lite mechanics that allow you to unlock things like new weapons, characters and abilities. You can choose to go it alone and control up to three heroes at the same time (with some automated assistance) or play co-op (both local and online) with friends. Either way, the game is refreshingly challenging.

As you explore and open doors, you’ll unleash waves of enemies, collect items and upgrade skills. When you reach the final room, you’ll face a huge horde and even with one of the devs giving me pointers, we didn’t survive. But that merely highlighted the depth of the game’s strategic elements. From what I played, Endless Dungeon has exactly what I look for in a rogue-lite: deep mechanics and solid replayability (with engaging co-op as a bonus).

But my favorite thing is that, despite Sega’s long history on consoles, all of the games above will also be available on PC. This is a move the publisher said it wanted to embrace after seeing strong sales on Steam during the pandemic. Regardless, whether you’re an old-school 2D platformer junkie or someone who just wants more tactics games, there’s a lot to like from Sega’s growing family of studios. And that’s even with me running out of time to check out some of Sega’s other upcoming releases like Total War: Pharoah or Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/segas-summer-showcase-delivered-exciting-updates-to-some-of-its-most-iconic-franchises-152354209.html?src=rss