Author: alex

Microsoft rebrands Game Pass — Ultimate now $30/month Microsoft has rebranded Xbox Game Pass into three tiers — Essential, Premium and Ultimate — and raised prices for the high-end plan. Here’s what changed and what it means for players. Key changes Game Pass Ultimate: $29.99/month (was $19.99–$20), a 50% increase. No annual/quarterly option announced; annual cost now ~$360. PC Game Pass: Raised to $16.50/month. New tier names: Standard → Premium ($14.99/mo), Core → Essential ($9.99/mo). Premium & Essential now include PC games. Added content: Ubisoft+ is included in Ultimate (adds +45 games today, many Assassin's Creed & Far Cry titles). Fortnite Crew joins Ultimate on Nov 18 (battle pass + 1,000 V‑Bucks monthly). Day‑one games: Ultimate members will have access to 75+ day‑one releases per year across console, PC and…

October Prime Day — Early Deals & Top Picks October Prime Day is on the horizon. If you have an Amazon Prime membership ($139/year), now’s a great time to grab early, Prime-exclusive discounts on tech and home essentials. Below are top early deals and where to find them on Amazon (affiliate search links included). Top Early Picks Apple MagSafe charger (25W, 2m) — Qi2.2-compatible MagSafe puck with a long 2m cable for flexible use. Find it on Amazon: Apple MagSafe charger (search) Blink Mini 2 (2-pack) — Compact indoor camera for pet/entry monitoring. Search on Amazon: Blink Mini 2 2‑pack (search) Shark AI robot vacuum (self-empty base) — Strong suction, home mapping and self-emptying base. Search on Amazon: Shark AI robot vacuum (search) Apple Mac mini (M4) — Compact desktop…

Meta to Use AI Chatbot Conversations for Ad Targeting Meta announced it will start using conversations people have with its AI chatbots to personalize content and ads across Facebook and Instagram. The change goes into effect on December 16, and Meta will begin sending in-product notifications and emails starting October 7. The company says the rollout will cover "most regions" but will initially exclude the European Union and South Korea. Meta gave an example: if you chat about hiking with a bot, you may then see recommendations for hiking groups, posts from friends about trails, or ads for hiking boots. According to reporting, there will be no way to opt out — if you interact with a Meta chatbot, that conversation can be used to inform ad personalization. Meta also…

Microsoft raises Game Pass Ultimate to $30/month — what it means for Xbox fans Microsoft has rebranded Game Pass tiers and announced significant price changes. The headline: Game Pass Ultimate now costs $30/month (a 50% rise from $20). PC Game Pass also rises to $16.50/month. Meanwhile, the new tier names are Essential ($10/mo) and Premium ($15/mo). What's included with the higher price? Ubisoft+ is added to Ultimate, bringing 45+ Ubisoft titles (Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, etc.). Fortnite Crew joins Ultimate on Nov 18 (battle pass + 1,000 V-Bucks/month). Over 75 day-one games available per year for Ultimate members (~6/month on average). Xbox Cloud Gaming exits beta with higher-quality streaming for Ultimate. Ultimate library now exceeds 400 games, including EA Play titles. Earn up to $100 in rewards per year by…

Microsoft Rebrands Game Pass — Ultimate Now $29.99/mo Microsoft announced a major overhaul of Xbox Game Pass on October 1, 2025: the service now has three rebranded tiers (Essential, Premium, Ultimate) and Game Pass Ultimate has increased to $29.99 per month (up from $20). That’s a steep rise and comes amid other Xbox price adjustments and new hardware announcements. What’s included in Ultimate now Ubisoft+ added to Game Pass Ultimate (adds many Ubisoft titles). Fortnite Crew will be included for Ultimate members starting Nov 18 (monthly battle pass + 1,000 V‑Bucks and perks). More than 45 games added immediately to Ultimate, plus an expanded library of 400+ games. Access to 75+ day‑one games per year across Xbox, PC and cloud (average 6/month). Xbox Cloud Gaming out of beta with Microsoft’s…

Alienware 16 Area‑51 — flagship gaming mothership (summary) Summary of the Alienware 16 Area‑51 review: Alienware returns to a desktop‑replacement form factor with a bold Liquid Teal finish, spaceship‑inspired design, strong cooling (Cryo Chamber), and class‑leading performance. This is a heavy, power‑hungry gaming laptop aimed at users who prioritize raw performance and style over portability. Design Distinctive Liquid Teal finish that shifts color with light. Mechanical keyboard with deep travel, RGB lighting, up‑firing speakers and visible internal window (Cryo Chamber) that improves thermals. Heavy at ~7.5 lb; most ports are rear‑facing (three USB‑A, two USB‑C, HDMI 2.1); microSD and 3.5mm on the left. Display 16" 2560×1600 LCD, 240Hz, G‑Sync, 500 nits, matte finish — bright and fast. Reviewer wished for more options (4K/OLED or higher refresh for competitive players). Performance…

Anker Prime charging lineup on sale — quick roundup Anker's new Prime charging devices are on sale with clip-on coupons. Highlights: Prime Power Bank (26,250mAh, 300W) — $184 (20% off with on-page coupon). Key specs: 26,250mAh (99.75Wh, TSA-approved), up to 300W total output across 2× USB-C + 1× USB-A, 140W per-port peak (with 5A cable) for fast laptop/phone charging, up to 250W input when charging via both USB-C ports simultaneously (50% recharge in ~13 minutes). More: Search on Amazon. Prime 3-in-1 MagSafe charger (Qi2 25W) — $184 (20% off with coupon). Wireless charges iPhone + Apple Watch + AirPods simultaneously, supports Qi2 25W and includes TEC active cooling. More: Search on Amazon. Prime GaN 3-port charger (up to 160W) — $120 (20% off with coupon). Compact GaN wall charger with…

EEOC sues Apple over alleged religious discrimination in VirginiaThe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of failing to reasonably accommodate the religious observance of a long-time customer advisor at an Apple Store in Virginia who observed the Sabbath. The suit alleges Apple did not adequately consider the employee's religious obligations when addressing scheduling and job requirements.Filed Tuesday, the EEOC says the company’s actions amount to religious discrimination under federal law. The case highlights ongoing tensions between employer scheduling policies and employees’ religious practices.What to knowWho: EEOC v. AppleWhere: Apple Store in Virginia, USAWhen: Lawsuit filed Tuesday (reported August/September 2023 originally)Thoughts? Should employers be required to change schedules or duties to accommodate religious observance?

Microsoft hikes Game Pass Ultimate to $30/month — What you need to know Microsoft has rebranded some Game Pass tiers and raised prices on its premium plan. Here are the key points: Game Pass Ultimate now costs $30 per month (a 50% increase from $20). Microsoft has removed annual and quarterly billing options, making the monthly price the primary option. At $30/month, Game Pass Ultimate costs $360 per year, which is more than double the current PlayStation Plus Premium annual plan (~$160). Microsoft previously raised the Ultimate price from $17 to $20 in July 2024, so this latest change nearly doubles the cost in ~15 months. Microsoft is also increasing prices on Xbox Series X/S consoles in the US, and pre-orders for the ROG Xbox Ally handheld show the higher-end…

iRobot Roomba 104 — Prime Day Deal: $150 (40% off) Looking for a budget-friendly robot vacuum on sale? The iRobot Roomba 104 is currently a standout deal at about $150 (roughly 40% off). It’s an entry-level robovac that handles everyday cleaning with reliable hardware and useful smart features. Key specs LiDAR mapping for efficient navigation and obstacle avoidance Specialized anti-drop sensors to prevent stair falls Multi-surface brush + edge-sweeping brush included Approx. 200 minutes battery runtime per charge App control with scheduling and custom settings Voice assistant compatibility: Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant What it doesn’t do Does not mop — vacuum only No dedicated debris canister included Who it’s for Great as a gift or as an affordable upgrade to an older robovac. If you want basic, effective vacuuming with…