If you look at your Roomba with disgust, thinking about what a far cry it is from the Jetsons’ Rosey the Robot, help is on the way. Bloombergreported on Friday that Meta plans to leverage its advances in AI and augmented reality to build a platform for futuristic humanoid robots that can help with household chores like folding laundry.
Meta is reportedly creating a new team within its Reality Labs hardware division, which handles Quest VR headsets and the long-term Orion AR glasses project. Although it will build robot hardware during development, Meta’s long-term goal is more like Android, where Google makes the software platform that almost all of the industry (outside of Apple) uses. Meta would make the underlying sensors, AI and software for other companies to put inside their hardware. In other words, it wants to be the Android of androids.
Like The Jetsons’ Rosey the Robot, Meta’s version would help with household chores.
Warner Bros. / YouTube
At least initially, Meta plans to make household chores the project’s central focus. Bloomberg lists folding laundry, carrying glasses of water, putting dinnerware in the dishwasher and other home chores as examples to build excitement around what could be an unsettling product category for many people. (For examples of why those concerns may be warranted, look no further than the Unitree G1 robot that ran full-speed at Engadget’s Karissa Bell at CES, momentarily pinning her against the onlooking crowd.)
Speaking of Unitree, Meta has reportedly held early discussions with the Chinese robotics company, which also makes a quadruped “robot dog” that can run around, climb stairs and sit on its hind legs like a good girl. Meta is also said to have discussed its plans with California-based humanoid robot maker Figure AI, which can count OpenAI, Nvidia, Microsoft, Intel and Jeff Bezos among its investors.
Karissa Bell for Engadget
Today’s humanoid robots aren’t advanced enough to pitch in around the house like Rosey, but Meta believes all the resources it’s sinking into AI and XR are paving a road to that destination. Although the company thinks it will be a few years before useful humanoid robots are widely available, Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth reportedly views the company’s progress in hand tracking, low-bandwidth computing and always-on sensors as advantages.
“The core technologies we’ve already invested in and built across Reality Labs and AI are complementary to developing the advancements needed for robotics,” Bosworth reportedly wrote in a memo. “We believe that expanding our portfolio to invest in this field will only accrue value to Meta AI and our mixed and augmented reality programs.”
Meta isn’t alone in raising its eyebrows at the prospect of home robots for (likely rich) consumers. Last year, news broke that Apple was working on robotics. Ditto for Google. Both companies have published research papers on their robotics work. Flying cars may have to wait, but Rosey is looking a lot less like a pipe dream.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-is-reportedly-working-on-humanoid-robots-that-help-with-chores-192453416.html?src=rss
After being rumored to be in the early stages of the project last year, Meta confirmed today that it’s building “Project Waterworth,” an over 50,00 km subsea cable that will connect five continents. The company has partnered on other cable projects previously, but this would be the first piece of subsea infrastructure it owns outright.
The project touches land in the US, Brazil, India, and South Africa, and is apparently breaking new ground technically, too. Meta claims Waterworth is the longest 24 fiber pair cable project in the world, and the company is using “first-of-its-kind routing” to place the cables as deep as possible, “at depths of up to 7,000 meters.” If cables aren’t deep enough, undersea hazards, like boats dropping and dragging their anchors, can cause permanent damage, disrupting service.
Meta
Meta’s announcement doesn’t go into detail about how the cable will be used, beyond noting that subsea cables enable “digital communication, video experiences, online transactions and more,” and that high-speed connectivity is a necessity for “AI innovation.” On their own, Meta services and platforms are said to account for about 10 percent of global fixed internet usage and 22 percent of mobile traffic, so at the very least the company’s existing businesses stand to benefit from a stable connection.
Interestingly, Meta isn’t only one backing the new project. A United States-India joint statement released after Prime Minister Modi visited the US revealed that India is financially involved in Waterworth, too. The country plans on helping to finance, maintain and repair the portions of the cable that are in the Indian Ocean.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-confirms-its-building-its-own-subsea-cable-190153227.html?src=rss
Apparently President’s Day was created to honor George Washington’s birthday. But now on a Monday in February we celebrate every US president by shopping for deals. Nixon, Taft, Coolidge, Polk, Johnson, Hoover and all those other guys — they’d be quite proud of us. In our searches we found quite a few deals on the tech we recommend, including $100 off Apple’s new iPad Mini, a streaming deal for a year of Peacock for $30 and an $80 discount on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 . If you’re already thinking about spring cleaning, you may want to check out the robot vacuum deals we gathered up from both iRobot and Dyson. And if you’re in the market for security cams, a number of Amazon’s Blink devices are currently discounted. Here are the best President’s Day tech deals from this week that you can shop right now.
Spotlight President’s Day deal
The best President’s Day tech deals
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
Apple iPad mini for $499 at Amazon ($100 off): Apple’s smallest tablet was updated in October and got a new A17 Pro chip, which Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham found to be plenty fast for anything you’d want to do with the mini — casual browsing, couch binging, game playing and email checking. He gave it an overall score of 83 in our official review and particularly enjoyed it as a Balatro machine. It’s also our favorite (partly because it’s the only) small iPad on our list of the best iPads.
Apple AirPods 4 for $100 at Amazon ($29 off): Apple’s newest wireless earbuds came out in September and last week, they hit their lowest price yet. That price is still going strong, so you can still pick them up at a discount. Engadget’s Billy Steele gave them a review score of 88, saying they sounded clearer and more balanced than most open-back earbuds. Plus you get all the Apple-perks like fast pairing and device switching with other Apple gadgets, hands-free Siri and Find My tracking. Also at Target and Best Buy. There’s also a noise-canceling version on sale for $149.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
Apple 2024 MacBook Pro M4 for $1400 at Amazon ($199 off with coupon): Apple’s latest Pro-model laptop is down to $1,400 at Amazon with a discount and an on-page coupon. The 14-inch MacBook Pro has 16GB of memory and 512GB SSD storage and both the Space Black and Silver colorways are on sale. Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar gave the computer a 92 in his review and it’s currently Engadget’s pick for the best MacBook for creatives. It has a fast M4 chip, long battery life, bright display and Sharp 12MP Center Stage webcam.
Apple Pencil (USB-C) for $69 at Walmart ($10 off): Apple sells too many versions of the Apple Pencil. So we made a guide. The USB-C model works with all current-generation iPads, including the M2 iPad Air, the M4 iPad Pro, the new iPad mini and the 10th generation iPad. It’ll also work with a few older tablets too. Just note that this one attahced magnetically but doesn’t recharge that way, like the other Apple Pencils. And it doesn’t have pressure sensitivity. Also at Amazon and Target.
Peacock
Peacock Premium (One Year) at Peacock for $30 ($TK off): Here’s one from our new streaming deals guide: A year of Peacock’s streaming service is $30 if you use the code WINTERSAVINGS at checkout. The code is valid through February 18 and saves you 60 percent off the usual $80 annual fee. Though it’s called “Premium” it’s actually the ad-supported tier (Premium Plus is the ad-free plan but it’s not discounted and goes for $140 yearly). Peacock is one of our picks for the best streaming services and has some great original content, including Poker Face, a Twisted Metal adaptationand Mrs. Davis.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) for $135 at Amazon ($25 off): Our choice for best premium ereader. is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition that goes for $200 and isn’t discounted. The standard Paperwhite, on sale here, is basically the same machine, minus a few (inessential) perks like auto-adjusting front lights, extra storage and wireless charging. This is the lowest price we’ve tracked this year (it went about $5 lower for Black Friday) on a very lovely e-reader with remarkably fast page turns, a super crisp display and a great battery life.
Photo by Valentina Palladino / Engadget
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB) for $230 at Amazon ($50 off): Engadget’s Valentina Palladino found a lot to like about the Kindle Colorsoft in her review including quick page turns, the fairly accurate (if a bit cold) color technology and the pinch to zoom feature, which was especially nice for reading comics. If you’re just looking to read black and white text, you can save yourself a bit of money and go with the Paperwhite — text on the Colorsoft is not as crisp.
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max for $789 at Wellbots ($610 off with code): Wellbots has a few iRobot vacuums on sale for President’s Day, including the new Roomba Combo 10 Max and its Autowash Dock, which can empty and cleans the vac. Right now it’s on sale for $789 if you use the code ENGAD410 at checkout. That’ll take a full $610 off the hefty $1,399 MSRP. That’s even cheaper than the last time it was on sale. Not only does the robot itself mop and vacuum, the dock can hold 60 days worth of dust and seven days worth of dirty mop water. For a slightly cheaper combo robo vac, Wellbots is also discounting the Roomba Combo j5 for $239 instead of the full $529 with the code ENGAD210.
Dyson V12 vaccuum for $499 at Dyson ($150 off): Now through President’s Day, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim stick vacuum is $150 off. This is the lighter sibling to the V15 model we picked as the best cordless vac in our guide. This one includes the Fluffy Optic cleaner head that won us over in our testing. It’s a hard-floor brush head with a laser “blade” that clearly shows you the tiniest bits of dust so you can be sure to suck them up. The Gen5 Outsize Absolute is also on sale for $150 off. It’s down to $899. That model is the largest cordless vac and has up to 140 minutes of run time.
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget
Samsung LS60D Music Frame for $150 at Woot ($250 off): You might be familiar with Samsung’s Frame TV — the sets that mimic works of art when you’re not watching television. The Music Frame furthers that home-theater-as-decor aesthetic by hiding Dolby Atmos audio equipment behind what looks like a regular picture frame. This one doesn’t have a screen, instead you’ll insert your own photo or art behind the glass. Inside are two woofers, two tweeters and two mid-range drivers. The speaker array is capable of Dolby Atmos audio and it leverages Samsung’s SpaceFit tech to calibrate the sound to the room. We checked it out at CES 2024 and were impressed with how robust the music sounded.
Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker for $116 at Amazon ($44 off): Our current top pick for a fitness tracker is back on sale. It went as low as $100 for Black Friday, but this is the lowest price we’ve seen this year. Our favorite fitness tracker is the successor to our previous top pick, the Charge 5. This new generation has a more accurate heart rate monitor and the ability to pair with exercise machines via Bluetooth. Plus there’s now a physical side button for navigation in addition to the touchscreen.
8BitDo
Mill food composter for $874 at Mill ($125 off): A President’s Day sale from Mill, the kitchen composter company, will run until Monday, February 17 and will give you $125 off a new composter. If you’ve explored the different options for composting food and have decided to give a composting machine a try, Mill could be one to check out. The machine dries and grinds food scraps, reducing odors and bulk while creating grounds that you can add to your garden.
Blink Mini 2 (2-pack) for $38 at Amazon ($32 off): The Blink Mini 2 security camera sell for $40 each at full price, so this deal gets you two for less than the MSRP for one. The small security cameras have two way talk and listen, capture live video in 1080p and have infrared sensors for black and white images at night. You’ll need a Blink Subscription Plan if you want to save clips to the cloud, but if you also buy a Sync Module 2, you can save clips from your Blink Mini cameras to a flash drive.
Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2 for $35 ($35 off): Here’s a bundle that combines the Video Doorbell with a Sync Module 2, the device that allows you to store footage from your Blink cameras and doorbells locally. The doorbell offers 1080p daytime footage and infrared night video plus two-way audio. You can use it wired or on batteries that should last two years before needing to be replaced. The Blink subscription plan is required if you want person detection and the ability to store clips in the cloud.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell for $60 at Amazon ($40 off): Another Amazon security device company, Ring, is also having a sale right now. The discount matches the record-low price for the Ring Video Doorbell. This battery-powered model doesn’t need to be wired into your home, so you can put it near any door. The removable battery is rechargeable via USB-C and will likely need a refill every couple months. You’ll need a Ring subscription to access all the features, like person and package alerts and extended event history.
Apple
Apple Music (6 months) for $3 at Apple ($60 off): Normally an Apple Music subscription is $11 per month after a 30-day free trial. And when you buy a new Apple device, you usually get a three-month trial. But if you somehow haven’t yet signed up for the service, this promotion applies to you. The deal will run through February 27 and is open only to people who are entirely new Apple Music — current and previous customers are not eligible, nor are those who qualify for the free trial that comes with a new device. You’ll need to redeem the offer through an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Apple Music made our guide to the best music streaming services for its lossless streaming quality, ease of use with Apple devices and emphasis on using DJ curation over AI and algorithm playlists. Note that the subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel.
NordPass Premium (27 months) for $35 at Nord ($46 off): One of our favorite password managers for cross-platform availability is having a sale. NordPass Premium is currently available for $35 for 27 months. At full price, two years would cost you $81, and this deal throws in three months for free. NordPass also offers a free tier, but the Premium plan keeps you logged in when you switch devices while also helping you analyze your passwords to improve their strength.
LG B4 OLED TV (48″) for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off): 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.
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/deals/the-best-presidents-day-tech-deals-on-apple-samsung-dyson-blink-and-more-173252189.html?src=rss
According to researchers, anyone who knows where to look can spray digital graffiti on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website. Two web development experts said the site doesn’t seem to be hosted on government servers and that the database it pulls from can be modified by those who locate it. At the time of writing, a message reading “these ‘experts’ left their database open – roro” is still visible on the DOGE site.
DOGE chief and President Trump consigliere Elon Musk said on Tuesday that his team would be as transparent as possible, with updates on its actions shared to an X account and website. As 404 Media notes, the DOGE website was pretty much blank at the time. Since then, it’s been hurriedly assembled to show a feed of posts from the entity’s X account, along with details about the federal workforce.
The researchers told 404 that the site appeared to be built on Cloudflare Pages instead of government servers. After looking at the site’s architecture and API endpoints, one was able to locate the database containing stats on government employees. They made changes to database entries that were reflected on the DOGE website.
It’s not the first time that a federal website operating under the Trump administration has appeared to have been slapped together. Just this week, the waste.gov was locked after it was reported that the site displayed a dummy WordPress page, complete with placeholder text.
DOGE does acknowledge that there are possible issues with its web presence. “This is DOGE’s effort to create a comprehensive, government-wide org chart,” a footnote on the DOGE website reads. “This is an enormous effort, and there are likely some errors or omissions. We will continue to strive for maximum accuracy over time.”
However, it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that a team tasked with making sweeping cuts to government spending and allegedly barging its way into federal systems that contain sensitive data on federal employees and citizens can’t secure its own website. Perhaps gutting the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency wasn’t the wisest idea.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/the-doge-website-is-seemingly-so-insecure-it-can-be-edited-by-anyone-160612228.html?src=rss
I really hate vacuuming and put it off as long as possible. But, my budget isn’t very robot vacuum friendly, so, alas I have no choice. However, that might change, as our favorite budget robot vacuum for 2025 is currently 48 percent off thanks to the Amazon Presidents’ Day sale. The iRobot Roomba Vac Robot Vacuum (Q0120) is down to $119 from $250 — a new all-time-low price.
There’s a reason iRobot’s Roomba Vac robot vacuum is across all our best lists (check it out alongside our top smart home gadgets). It’s an easy to use, high-performance robot vacuum that’s not going to break the bank. For starters, you can control the entire device with iRobot’s very easy to use app. All that’s required of you is connecting the Roomba to your home Wi-Fi network.
The Roomba Vac robot vacuum also offers features like Clean While I’m Away, cleaning schedules and up to two hours of cleaning on one charge — it automatically heads back to its charging station when on low battery. Plus, you can get a Clean Map report to see exactly where it cleaned.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-budget-roomba-drops-to-a-new-record-low-price-in-amazon-presidents-day-sale-152501507.html?src=rss
The recipients of the US government’s CHIPS and Science Act awards may not get the amount that they were initially promised. According to Reuters, the Trump administration is looking to assess and change the CHIPS Act’s current requirements. After that, it’s set to renegotiate some of the deals awarded by the Biden administration. It has also indicated a delay in some of the disbursements that are already scheduled, Reuters said. A spokesperson for Taiwan-based GlobalWafers said the company was notified by the program’s office that CHIPS Act policies are under review because certain conditions do not align with Trump’s executive orders. GlobalWafers is one of the program’s awardees that was set to receive $406 million in grants.
Former president Joe Biden signed the CHIPS Act into law in 2022 to boost semiconductor production in the US. While each awardee has different milestones they need to achieve in order to get grants, the goal is to get them to build new foundries and upgrade existing ones in the country. The Trump administration is reportedly concerned with many of the previous administration’s requirements for recipients. They include clauses added into contracts by Biden’s team, the news organization’s sources said, including requirements to use unionized labor when building factories and to provide factory workers with affordable childcare. The White House also isn’t happy that some of the companies, such as Intel, announced expansion plans in China after being chosen as a recipient.
The US government has yet to formally announce any changes to CHIPS Act policies, so it’s not yet clear how extensive they will be and how previous deals will be affected. Bloomberg reported last year that the Biden administration rushed to finalize deals with recipients after Donald Trump won the presidential elections. Trump vocally criticized the program in the past, calling it “bad” and arguing that increasing tariffs would attract chip companies without the government having to award any grants.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/trump-administration-reportedly-eyes-renegotiating-chips-act-awards-143035924.html?src=rss
Wellbots is offering multiple of iRobot’s Roomba Combo vacuum and mop machines for 40 percent off, and in one case, over 50 percent off as an early President’s Day sale. You can even get the new Roomba Combo 10 Max and its Autowash Dock, which can empty and cleans your robot, for $789, around $410 off its normal $1,199 price. That’s a good bit cheaper than the last time it was on sale.
The Roomba Combo 10 Max + Autowash Dock is a newer addition to iRobot’s lineup, and an important one. Besides combining the ability to vacuum and mop your floors, the inclusion of the robot’s Autowash Dock means you now have an automated way to clean and sanitize the Combo 10 Max’s mop brush. Combine that with its ability to empty itself, and you go a long way to towards doing away with some of the most annoying parts of owning a robot vacuum.
The Autowash Dock can hold 60 days worth of dust and only seven days worth of dirty mop water, so you will need to check on it occasionally, but that might be worth it for this deal. You can get the Roomba Combo 10 Max + Autowash Dock for $789, and save $410 with code ENGAD410.
The Roomba Combo j5 doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Combo 10 Max, but it does start at a much more approachable $449. The robot can both vacuum and mop your floors, and adapt its cleaning patterns based on the layout of your room. It can even identify high traffic areas of your home and give them extra attention so no dirt gets overlooked.
The robot’s dock is sold separately, so you won’t benefit from its ability to empty itself, but it should be relatively simple to upgrade down the road if you want. The Roomba Combo j5 is available for over 50 percent off, knocking a good $210 off if you use code ENGAD210.
The Roomba Combo i5 is a little bit older than the Combo 10 Max and Combo j5, but it’s still a competent helper when you need your floor vacuumed and mopped. Like iRobot’s other options, the Combo i5 maps your home to determine the best way to clean it, and can be completely controlled with a companion phone app if you want.
This model is also technically compatible with a self-emptying base, but it doesn’t come included, so you’ll want to buy it separately if you want to automate your cleaning process even further. You can lower the Roomba Combo i5 from its $349 starting price to $189, a savings of $160, with code ENGAD160.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/irobots-roomba-combo-vacuum-and-mop-machines-are-more-than-50-percent-off-right-now-140049700.html?src=rss
Chip designer Arm plans to unveil its own processor this year with Meta as the launch customer, The Financial Times reported. The chip would be a CPU designed for servers in data centers and would have the potential to be customized for clients. Manufacturing would be outsourced to a contract fab plant like TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) and the first in-house chip could be revealed as early as this summer, according to the FT‘s sources.
Last month, Arm parent Softbank announced the Stargate project, a partnership with OpenAI to build up to $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure. Arm, along with Microsoft and NVIDIA, is a key technology partner for the project. Arm’s chip could now play a role in that project, and also in Jony Ive’s mysterious AI-powered personal device, reportedly being developed in collaboration with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, according to the report.
Arm’s designs power nearly every smartphone and mobile device in the world, along with Apple Mac and Qualcomm-powered Windows PCs. They generally use less power for the same level of compute as Intel and AMD chips, so they’ve become desirable for data farms that power AI applications as well.
The move would put Arm in direct competition with many of its own customers like NVIDIA, which manufacturers its own Arm-based server CPUs. To date, Arm has never made its own chips — instead, it licenses its technology and patents to major companies like Apple. Those companies then customize the designs for their own needs and use a contract manufacturer like TSMC or Samsung to build the chips.
UK-based Arm is currently embroiled in a testy legal battle with Qualcomm over licensing terms. Meanwhile, parent SoftBank is reportedly close to purchasing Ampere, a server chip designer. That deal will be “central to Arm’s own chipmaking project,” according to FT‘s inside sources.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/arm-is-reportedly-developing-its-own-in-house-chip-130026316.html?src=rss
TikTok is once again available in Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store in the United States. The app disappeared from both Apple and Google’s stores January 19, 2025, as a nationwide ban took effect. Briefly.
What will ultimately happen to TikTok remains unclear. President Trump wants to strike a “deal” that will allow the company to remain operational in the US, including arrangements that would give the US government a stake in the company.
You know who’s probably furious? Every other social media company.
On February 19, maybe a new iPhone SE and a 2nd-gen AirTag.
Apple
In a tweet on Thursday, CEO Tim Cook told Apple aficionados to “get ready to meet the newest member of the family. ”What that product is remains a slight mystery, though we won’t have to wait too long to find out. The reveal will take place on Wednesday, February 19.
While we’ve focused on a next-gen iPhone SE, Cook’s tweet also featured an animated image of a shimmering Apple logo on what appears to be the outline of an AirTag. There have been rumors for a while that Apple would introduce a second-gen tracker sometime this year.
Also: AirTags have changed my life. Or at least stopped me getting locked out of my apartment multiple times in the last few years. It’ll be intriguing to see what else a tracker can offer. Please don’t make it AI.
The tech love story of 2025 is over. Honda and Nissan have ended merger plans. If they’d gone through with it and also brought Nissan-controlled Mitsubishi on board, the new entity would’ve had a net worth of around $50 billion.
The Financial Times reported in early February that Honda presented a new company structure that would make Nissan its subsidiary as a “take it or leave it” offer. Nissan decided to leave it.
Ask Engadget: Where is the best place to buy a cheap iPad?
Ask Mat Anything.
Thanks to all the early question-askers (hit me up on askmat(at)engadget.com), including a timely question in the face of new Apple hardware. From Matt Ali: What’s the cheapest way to get an iPad? And which one should I get in early 2025?
Instead of doing my own research or asking unhinged AI chatbots, I tapped our iPad expert (and reviewer), Nathan Ingraham, for an answer:
Engadget
“Apple hardware is known for being expensive, but the company has a store packed with high-quality refurbished products that can save you some serious cash. I’ve bought many devices there over the years and have never had a problem — everything is in like-new condition and has the same warranty as a brand-new product.”
At the time of writing, there are a few good options in Apple’s refurbished store if you want an iPad nearly as capable as the newest models but want to save some cash. If you want the largest screen possible, you can grab a sixth-generation, 12.9-inch iPad Pro with an M2 chip and 256GB of storage for $979. Considering the latest 13-inch iPad Pro starts at $1299, this merits consideration — especially if you’re an artist who wants a large canvas.
If you don’t need that large screen, consider the fifth-generation iPad Air. For $529, you’ll get an 11-inch display, M1 chip and 256GB of storage. That’s $170 less than the current M2 iPad Air with the same amount of storage. Apple’s standard iPad is also available refurbished, but you can often find a brand-new version of it on sale on Amazon. Between that and the rumors of a new basic iPad coming this spring, I’d avoid this one, for now.
If you want to upgrade the storage or get a model with cellular connectivity, that should also be doable for extra cash. For me, 256GB or 512GB is the sweet spot for storage — given the ubiquity of the cloud, having a ton of local storage doesn’t feel particularly necessary.
Similarly, cellular connectivity is probably not worth the extra cash unless you plan to travel with your iPad. Most of the time, you can easily tether an iPad to your phone if you need to get online quickly. But, those refurb options are available if you want them.”
Thanks Nate! Other tech dilemmas? Modern texting etiquette? The best way to make your wearable nag you into your new year fitness goals? Hit. Me. Up!
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121508200.html?src=rss
Sony is giving Days Gone the remaster treatment. Nestled in Sony’s latest State of Play event, the company announced that Days Gone Remastered is coming to PlayStation 5 and PC on April 25, 2025, with updated graphics and new content in tow.
Days Gone Remastered features “improved graphical fidelity, increased foliage draw distance, improved shadow and lighting quality” and support for the PS5’s 3D audio and haptics-stuffed Dualsense controller. You’ll be able to play through the zombie survival story of “former outlaw biker” Deacon St. John as it was originally conceived, and also enjoy a new permadeath mode, a “Horde Assault” mode, accessibility features and some point after the launch of the game, a speedrun mode.
Remastering another PlayStation game isn’t out of the ordinary. Sony’s done it to Horizon Zero Dawn and technically multiple timesto The Last of Us. It’s just that of all the PS4 games demanding some graphical spit-and-shine, and more importantly, a revisit from players, Days Gone doesn’t rank high. The game was fine, the large zombie hordes were impressive, it’s the story that left most reviewers wanting. And increased foliage draw distance doesn’t fix that.
The vast majority of people would prefer a Bloodborneremaster, and now nearly 10 years from that game’s original release, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen. Sony has been, on the other hand, at least somewhat invested in Days Gone. The game was brought to PC, there’s this remaster and the company was reportedly working to adapt the game to film in 2022, the ultimate fate of most of its franchises. Maybe Days Gone Remastered is just the start of a Days Gone renaissance.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sony-is-actually-remastering-days-gone-before-bloodborne-191411680.html?src=rss
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
