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Kotaku

Fortnite's New FPS Mode Is Good, But A Bit Janky

Fortnite’s latest game mode, Ballistic, plays a lot like Valorant or Counter-Strike. The mode, currently labeled as being in “Early Access,” is rough around the edges and feels more like a demo than a full game. However, Ballistic is also proof that Epic can build first-person shooters that work in Fortnite, and…

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Kotaku

Ridley Scott Leaked Paul Mescal's Involvement In Beatles Biopic

With friends like Ridley Scott, who even needs a publicist? In a candid moment between directorial demigods Scott and Christopher Nolan at the Directors Guild of America, the Gladiator II director let it slip that his latest leading man, Paul Mescal, would be “doing the Beatles next,” in reference to the actor working…

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The Verge

The Verge’s 2024 holiday gift guide for tinkerers

Various gifts for tinkerers arranged in a vivid scene.

Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Whether you’re assembling a PC, planning an epic Etsy crafts store, or just fixing a squeaky old chair, we found some handy tools that anyone can appreciate.

Read the full story at The Verge.

Kotaku

Call of Duty Dev Explains Why Black Ops 6 Has So Many Wacky Skins

Black Ops 6, the latest entry in the Call of Duty series, contains some really bizarre and wacky cosmetics. And while some players hate them, it doesn’t seem like the developers behind the game are going to stop making them any time soon.

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The Verge

The best MagSafe and Qi2 chargers for your iPhone

Photo collage of various MagSafe chargers.

Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge

Thanks to Qi2, there are way more great chargers for your MagSafe phone than ever before.

Read the full story at The Verge.

Mastodon Feed

Reblogged by isagalaev ("Ivan Sagalaev :flag_wbw:"):

signalapp@mastodon.world ("Signal") wrote:

It costs around $50 million every year to ensure Signal is robust and available all over the world for anyone whenever they need it.

And as a nonprofit, that money comes from all of you; the people who believe that we all deserve a place to speak freely.

https://signal.org/donate/

The Verge

Here are the best iPad deals right now

A finger touching the iPad Air’s screen.

Deals on Apple’s latest slates are finally worth springing for. | Screenshot: Apple

While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, many great iPad deals are attainable outside those times. The day-to-day discounts may come and go like changing winds, but there’s often something to be saved, particularly on the more affordable iPads. The most recent iPad Pro and iPad Air are also starting to see substantial price reductions, and now that Apple has a new iPad Mini, we’re seeing regular discounts on the last-gen Mini as well.

It’s difficult to know where exactly you can find the most notable iPad deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, from the cheapo ninth-gen iPad of 2021 to the latest models equipped with Apple’s powerful M2 and M4 chips.

The best iPad (2021) deals

Announced alongside the iPhone 13 way back in 2021, the ninth-gen iPad is Apple’s aging entry-level tablet, one that’s still great at carrying out everyday tasks despite having been discontinued. The ninth-gen model originally started at $329 with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage, which arguably makes the newer 10th-gen model the better deal if you don’t need a home button or a headphone jack, as it now starts at $349 and is often on sale for even less.

The last-gen iPad has been receiving a steep discount for quite a while, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find in most configurations. That being said, Walmart is still selling the 64GB base model with Wi-Fi for $249 ($80 off), which is about $50 shy of its all-time low. As for the step-up 256GB variant, Amazon has it in silver for $359 ($120 off), which is $10 more than its lowest price to date.

A last-gen model is still worth considering

The last-gen iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed to keep you framed up and centered while on video calls. The tablet also carries over a number of features from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a smart connector for connecting a smart keyboard.

The best iPad (2022) deals

Although the newer 10th-gen iPad came out in late 2022, it’s still an excellent tablet — one we consider to be the best value for most people (once Apple dropped its price). The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it eliminates the 3.5mm headphone jack.

In the past, you could often buy Apple’s latest entry-level iPad for $349 ($100 off its initial launch price) — which is now the MSRP. Right now, however, the base model with 64GB of storage is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart for $279 ($70 off), which is about $30 more than its lowest price to date. Amazon and Best Buy are also selling the 256GB model starting at $429 ($70 off), which nearly matches its all-time low.

The best iPad Mini (2021) and iPad Mini (2024) deals

The new iPad Mini is similar to the outgoing 2021 model but comes with faster Wi-Fi and USB-C speeds, support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and a newer processor that supports Apple Intelligence. That said, the sixth-gen iPad Mini could still be worth a look if prices continue to drop. It has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, an A15 Bionic processor, a USB-C port, and options for 5G. It lacks the 3.5mm jack and dedicated home button found on the prior model, but so do all of the tablets in Apple’s current lineup.

Despite its age, the 2021 iPad Mini still technically starts at $499 with 64GB of storage (the seventh-gen model starts at the same price with 128GB of storage). Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $649, while the 5G cellular models are $649 for 64GB and $799 for 256GB. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want an Apple tablet in the smallest possible form factor, this is where the action is.

Although the seventh-gen iPad Mini is now widely available, it’s not worth the upgrade unless you want to leverage Apple Intelligence or the newer Apple Pencil Pro. Thankfully, you can still pick up the 64GB iPad Mini from 2021 at Walmart for $389 ($110 off), which misses its all-time low by $40. The 256GB sixth-gen Mini is also on sale at Walmart in select colors for $549 ($100 off), which is $50 more than its lowest price to date.

If you do want the newest Mini, you can get the 128GB base configuration with Wi-Fi at Amazon and Best Buy for a record low of $449 ($50 off). You can also get the Wi-Fi model with 256GB of storage for $549 ($50 off) at both Amazon and Best Buy, though Amazon currently does not provide a shipping estimate for the tablet.

The best iPad Air (2024) deals

Apple just recently launched the 2024 iPad Air, which features several small upgrades. The newer model doesn’t feature any groundbreaking changes compared to the 2022 release, but notably, there is now a 13-inch configuration in addition to a base 11-inch model. Apple also added Wi-Fi 6E radios and upgraded the chipset to M2, which enables the hover feature when using Apple’s latest styluses. You can use the newer iPad Air with the Apple Pencil Pro and both previous-gen Magic Keyboards, too. The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, while the comparable 13-inch model starts at $799.

Deals for the 2024 iPad Air started to appear before the latest model even hit store shelves. Right now, you can pick up the 11-inch base model with 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $499 ($100 off), which is its best price to date. The 13-inch iPad Air with 128GB of storage, meanwhile, is on sale at Best Buy for an all-time low of $699 ($100 off).

The best iPad Pro (2024) deals

Compared to the latest iPad Air, the 2024 iPad Pro is a far more impressive upgrade. The 11- and 13-inch models start at $999 and $1,299, respectively, and they are the first Apple devices to feature the company’s latest M4 chip, which brings moderate performance gains and dedicated hardware for on-device Apple Intelligence processing. The new Pro models can claim other firsts, too, such as being the first iPad models with OLED displays and the lightest Pros yet, which is true for both sizes. They also feature repositioned front-facing cameras that sit along the horizontal edge, which prevent you from looking as though you’re staring off into space on a video call.

As for deals, the 11-inch iPad Pro with Wi-Fi / 256GB of storage is on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo starting at $899 (about $100 off), which is only $2 more than the lowest price to date. The sleek and super-thin 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale in its 256GB base configuration at Amazon and Best Buy for $1,099 ($200 off), which is an all-time low price.

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Mother Jones

Arizona Sues Saudi-Owned Farm Draining Groundwater in the Desert

Arizona’s attorney general has sued a Saudi-owned farm operating a massive hay operation in the middle of the Arizona desert, alleging that the business is hastening the loss of the rural community’s rapidly depleting groundwater supply. The farm owned by Fondomonte uses billions of gallons of groundwater in La Paz County each year to irrigate […]

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The Verge

Steam is adding a new default option for game updates

An illustration of the Steam logo.

Illustration: The Verge

Valve is testing an option in the new Steam client beta that will force games by default to only download updates when you launch them.

Currently, Steam by default decides what game updates to download based on a few different things. As explained by Valve:

For games you recently played, Steam will download game updates shortly after they are released. For games that you haven’t played in a while, Steam might wait a few days to bundle multiple updates together or choose to download the update while you are asleep.

This new default option to wait to download an update gives players more control; as Valve points out, it means that users can hold an updating a massive game until they actually want to play it, which could be a relief for people with bandwidth caps.

You’ll find the new option in the beta Steam client settings under the Downloads section. “You can set the default to: let Steam decide when to update the game (based on factors like when you last played the game, bandwidth availability, etc.) or wait to update until the game is launched,” Valve says.

You can still set per-game download settings in a game’s Properties that override the global setting, but those options have “cleaned up descriptions,” according to Valve. And with the beta, you can also manage the per-game overrides in the overall Steam client Downloads settings.

A screenshot showing Steam’s Update settings. Image: Valve

The Steam client Updates settings with “cleaned up descriptions.”

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The Verge

The best deals on Apple Watches right now

Woman holding a purse while modeling the Stripes watchface on the Apple Watch SE (2022)

The latest Apple Watch SE is an entry-level smartwatch if there ever was one. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

In September, Apple launched its latest smartwatch, introducing the Apple Watch Series 10 alongside a black rendition of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Each wearable has its own pros and cons, as does the second-gen Apple Watch SE, but the recent introduction of the new wearables also means there are now more Apple Watch models on the market than ever before — and a lot more deals to be had.

But with all of those options, which one should you pick? Generally speaking, you want to buy the newest watch you can afford so that it continues to receive software updates from Apple. The latest update, watchOS 11, launched in September on the Apple Watch Series 6 and newer, ultimately leaving those still using an older Series 4 or Series 5 behind.

Picking up a watch from the latest (or a recent) generation ensures you’re getting a smartwatch with an updated design, a robust number of features, and plenty of sensors. Now, let’s get to the deals.

The best Apple Watch Series 10 deals

The Apple Watch Series 10 represents the latest wearable in Apple’s flagship Series lineup. It features the new S10 SiP chip, faster charging, and a wide-angle OLED display that’s brighter, larger, and easier to read than that of previous models. It weighs half as much as the Ultra, too, and is about 30 percent thinner despite its new 42mm and 46mm sizing. Other upgrades include an added depth and water temperature sensor, as well as a new FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection feature, the latter of which is also available on the last-gen Series 9 and Ultra 2.

While the improvements are certainly welcome, the Series 10 isn’t a vast departure from the prior model, the Series 9. That being said, you can already pick up Apple’s latest wearable at Amazon in the 42mm sizing with GPS starting at $329.99 (about $69 off) thanks to an on-page coupon. The GPS-equipped model is also on sale at Amazon in the 46mm variant for $359.99 (about $69 off), while the LTE models can be had at Amazon starting at $429.99 (about $69 off). Both of the latter discounts also require you to clip the on-page coupon.

Read our Apple Watch Series 10 review.

The best Apple Watch Series 9 deals

In 2023, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 9 alongside the second-gen Ultra. It uses Apple’s last-gen S9 SiP chip and a second-gen ultra wideband chip, which allow for onboard Siri processing and precision finding with select iPhone models. It also features a brighter, 2,000-nit display and support for Apple’s nifty “double tap” feature — two minor additions that are also present on the Series 10.

The Series 9 has been out for more than a year, but certain configurations have become increasingly difficult to find with the arrival of Apple’s latest watch. Luckily, the GPS-equipped Series 9 is still on sale at Target in the 41mm sizing starting at $299.99 ($100 off), or in the 45mm configuration at Walmart and Target starting at $329 ($100 off). There are also a handful of deals to be had on the LTE models with cellular connectivity, though none of them undercut the current price of the LTE-equipped Series 10 model by much, hence their exclusion here.

Read our Apple Watch Series 9 review.

The best Apple Watch SE deals

The Apple Watch SE received a refresh in late 2022. It has the same chipset as the Series 8, which is great, but with fewer sensors, no always-on display, and a slightly outdated design compared to the Series 8, Series 9, and Series 10. Those omissions might take this out of the running for some people, but it still may be exactly what you’re after. Best of all, it starts at $249 for the 40mm Wi-Fi / GPS model, which is $30 less than the previous generation’s baseline cost. Opting for cellular connectivity bumps the starting price up to $299 for the 40mm size (44mm adds $20 to each configuration).

At the moment, the best deals on the latest Apple Watch SE can be found at Amazon and Walmart, where you can pick the 40mm model with GPS in select styles starting at $189 ($60 off). The 44mm configuration, meanwhile, is available in select styles at Amazon and Walmart starting at $219 ($60 off). If you want the LTE configuration, the 40mm configuration is currently on sale at Walmart for $229 ($70 off), or in the larger 44mm sizing at Walmart for $259 ($70 off), its usual sale price.

Read our Apple Watch SE (second-gen) review.

The best Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals

The latest Apple Watch Ultra launched at $799 in September of last year with GPS and LTE support, much like the original model. The ultra-capable smartwatch has the most features, sensors, and ruggedness of any Apple Watch model available thus far, along with a display that’s 50 percent brighter than the first Ultra. The 49mm smartwatch also packs Apple’s S9 SiP and second-gen ultra wideband chips, just like the Apple Watch Series 9, while maintaining long-lasting battery life, precise GPS tracking, and a bevy of diving-friendly sensors.

In recent months, we saw the Apple Watch Ultra 2 dip to as low as $642 ($157 off) in select configurations. Right now, however, it’s only on sale at Amazon and Best Buy with a Trail Loop starting at $719.99 (about $79 off) or Amazon with an Alpine Loop starting at $759.99 (about $39 off). You can also pick it up with an Ocean Band at either Amazon or Best Buy, though neither retailer is currently discounting the burlier configuration.

Read our Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.

A note on the more premium models

While all of the Apple Watch models and colorways covered here are encased in aluminum (except the Ultra 2, which has a titanium build), Apple does make a more premium range built out of stainless steel and titanium. These offerings are functionally and aesthetically similar to their aluminum counterparts, with slightly refined colors and finishings — polished for the stainless steel and brushed for the titanium. However, they start at much steeper prices of $699 and above. They, too, can often be found on sale, but they’re never discounted as low as the standard base models, so we don’t include them here.

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Mastodon Feed

jsonstein@masto.deoan.org ("Jeff Sonstein") wrote:

ChatGPT seems to be barfing... too many folks wanting to use new video generation tool?

Mastodon Feed

fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:

Shoutout to my elder millennials who grew up watching these shows and still managed to find class consciousness.

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Mastodon Feed

Reblogged by jwz:

GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social ("Kevin Beaumont") wrote:

ai is the future, burn the planet

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Mastodon Feed

fromjason ("fromjason.xyz ❤️ 💻") wrote:

WordPress CEO Rage Quits Community Slack After Court Injunction:

"“I’m sick and disgusted to be legally compelled to provide free labor to an organization as parasitic and exploitive as WP Engine. I hope you all get what you and WP Engine wanted.” His username on that Slack has been changed to “gone 💀”"

Is there anyone from the web’s old guard who’s normal? https://www.404media.co/wordpress-wp-engine-preliminary-injunction/

Mastodon Feed

cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen") wrote:

Letting Aurora set the mood for the evening as I get ready to rest for the night. "Dreams":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ang0XnqTFps

NPR News

North Carolina GOP lawmakers enact a law eroding the Democratic governor's powers

North Carolina lawmakers have enacted a law over the governor's veto that would diminish the powers afforded to his successor and other other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections.

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NPR News

Rights group accuses Russian mercenaries of abuses against civilians in Mali

Malian armed forces, the Russia-backed Wagner Group and jihadi groups deliberately killed civilians and burned homes in Mali according to Human Rights Watch.

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NPR News

Judge declares mistrial over killing of gay University of Mississippi student

Jimmy "Jay" Lee's body has never been found, but a judge declared him dead. Jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict after over nine and a half hours of deliberation.

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NPR News

An explosion in the Afghan capital kills the Taliban refugee minister

The explosion struck inside the ministry, killing Khalil Haqqani, officials said. His last official photo showed him at a meeting chaired by the deputy prime minister earlier Wednesday.

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Mastodon Feed

nadim@infosec.exchange ("Nadim Kobeissi") wrote:

This is me according to Apple Intelligence’s new Image Playground feature

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The Verge

Epic’s dream is starting to come true — its store will be preinstalled on ‘millions’ of Android phones

Illustration of the Epic Games logo and Google logo inside of a Google Play logo.

Illustration by Cath Virginia / The Verge

Telefónica, one of the largest carriers in the world serving the UK, Spain, Germany, and Latin America with the O2 and Movistar networks, will begin preinstalling the Epic Games Store on every new compatible Android phone it sells — including Samsung phones.

It’s part of a “long term partnership” to bring the store and smash hit Fortnite to “millions” of the carrier’s devices, according to Telefónica and Epic. It’ll be the first time the Epic Games Store is preinstalled on consumer phones, and it could be the next big step in realizing Epic’s dreams of challenging Google’s app store monopoly and increasing its cut of revenue.

Last December, a federal jury unanimously sided with Epic Games in Epic v. Google, finding that Google had turned its Android app store and Google Play Billing service into an illegal monopoly. Epic originally sued in 2020, alleging that Google had “blocked” or “bribed” phonemakers and cellular carriers to keep games like Fortnite and alternative app stores from being preinstalled on phones.

But now, roughly a month after Judge James Donato barred Google from any further potential blocks or bribes, one of the world’s largest carriers will begin those preinstalls, adding an entire rival game store (one that may also carry non-game apps in the future) to Google’s own.

Technically, Epic only launched its Epic Games Store on mobile this past August. Previously, it wanted nearly every phonemaker and carrier to preinstall one of a couple different types of Fortnite installer apps to bring the game to their phones. It offered a variety of deals to tempt them, and Samsung, LG, OnePlus and Huawei all initially agreed to do so.

But OnePlus only ever managed to do so in India, allegedly because it needed permission that Google wouldn’t grant. (Google disputes that reasoning.) LG apparently backed out because of a Google contract as well.

Telefónica wasn’t one of the carriers that Google “bribed,” Epic spokesperson Natalie Muñoz confirms to The Verge, so it’s not like Judge Donato’s order is making this newly possible.

In fact, Telefónica has partnered with Epic in the past. In 2020, it began letting Movistar customers in Spain tack their Fortnite purchases onto their phone bill. That year, court documents revealed Telefónica could expect to earn five percent of the proceeds from those Fortnite players as a result. Verizon and Hutchison (Three, Wind Tre) were offered similar deals, but we don’t know if they’ll now follow suit.

I wonder what Samsung thinks about Telefónica preinstalling the Epic Game Store on its phones — this September, Epic sued Samsung as well.

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NPR News

The Game Awards 2024: Key nominees and what to expect

Morning Edition host A Martinez and NPR gaming editor James Mastromarino discuss the nominees of this year's Game Awards and their significance in gaming culture.

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NPR News

Dear Life Kit: My daughter was left out of the holiday newsletter — again!

A father wonders why his father-in-law keeps neglecting to mention his daughter in his annual newsletter to family. It includes updates on the other grandchildren. Why not her?

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NPR News

UHC murder suspect railed about U.S. health care. Here's what he missed

The man charged in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was critical of U.S. health care. Experts say the system's problems are complex and can't be pinned on one player or industry.

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NPR News

These neurons in the abdomen help form the gut-brain connection

Scientists have identified two types of brain cells in the abdomen that appear to control different aspects of digestion.

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Mother Jones

“It’s the Economy, Stupid” Is Never Just About the Economy

Amid the inevitable Democratic identity crisis this post–presidential election winter, there have been exasperated calls for the party to return to “the economy.” The op-ed writers, angling for their future role, are painting the usual scene. The party must sit once again at the kitchen table and talk pocketbook issues. It is a long-held idea. […]

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NPR News

The Geminids meteor shower peaks at the end of the week. Here's what to expect

The Geminids are one of the best and most visible annual meteor showers, when at least 120 meteors can usually be seen per hour. But 2024 will be different, thanks to the year's final full moon.

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Mother Jones

Why Describing Climate Shifts as “Tipping Points” May Backfire

This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Climate tipping points are a specter looming over our future—thresholds beyond which the Earth’s systems switch into new states, often abruptly and irreversibly. The long-frozen soil beneath the Arctic could rapidly thaw and release vast amounts of carbon dioxide and methane stored within […]

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NPR News

South Korea's Yoon defends martial law decree as an act of governance

In an address to the nation, President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed the opposition-controlled parliament has been destroying the country's liberal democratic order.

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