Author: alex

NordVPN: Up to 77% off two-year plans — Deal summary NordVPN is currently offering deep discounts on its two-year plans, including three extra months for free on the two-year commitment. Prices NordVPN Plus (2 years): $108 for the contract + 3 months free (~73% off). Includes Threat Protection Pro, password manager, ad & tracker blocker. NordVPN Prime (2 years): $189 for the contract + 3 months free (~77% off). Adds encrypted cloud storage or NordProtect identity-theft protection and dark-web monitoring. Key features Threat Protection Pro (anti-malware) Password manager Ad & tracker blocker Encrypted cloud storage (Prime) / NordProtect identity theft monitoring (Prime) Notes Independent reviews report strong download speeds, a large server network and useful security features; some users find the interface inconsistent across platforms. Threat Protection Pro is highlighted…

Escape from Tarkov to arrive on Steam — Steam page 'available soon' Summary: Battlestate Games head Nikita Buyanov confirmed on X that Escape from Tarkov's Steam page "will be available soon," and reiterated the game's 1.0 release date of November 15, 2025. The move out of perpetual beta and onto Steam has raised questions from longtime players about whether they'll need to rebuy the game and how the studio plans to tackle cheating. What was announced Nikita Buyanov confirmed the Steam page for Escape from Tarkov is coming soon. Earlier announcements set the game's 1.0 launch for Nov 15, 2025, and Battlestate has said it plans console ports after the full release. Edition controversy Recently Battlestate unveiled the Unheard Edition (priced at $250), which includes a new PvE mode. This…

Stardew Valley 1.7 Confirmed — Barone Reassures Haunted Chocolatier Won't Be Delayed Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) announced a new Stardew Valley update — version 1.7 — during the Symphony of Seasons concert in Seattle and later confirmed the news on X. No release date or content details have been shared yet, but Barone reassured fans that "this will not hinder Haunted Chocolatier development." What we know 1.7 was revealed live at the Symphony of Seasons concert and confirmed on Barone's X account. No release window or detailed content list has been provided. Barone stated that work on 1.7 "will not hinder Haunted Chocolatier" — his next standalone title. Given the numbered update, 1.7 is expected to be more than a small patch, possibly similar in scope to the previous 1.6 update…

Best Labor Day Tech Deals 2025 — Top Picks and Where to Buy Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but it’s also a great time to save on tech. Engadget’s roundup highlights notable discounts across laptops, tablets, headphones, robot vacuums and more. Below are our top picks with quick notes and direct Amazon search links (affiliate tag included). Top deals Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) — $799Thin, light and long battery life. Search on Amazon: MacBook Air M4 on Amazon Apple iPad (11-inch, A16) — $299Solid performance and 128GB base storage. Search on Amazon: iPad 11" A16 on Amazon Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) — $449More color-rich display and stronger performance. Search on Amazon: iPad Air 11" M3 on Amazon Sony WH-CH520 headphones — $38Good sound and…

AI Search — This Week's Top AI Highlights Welcome to the AI Search newsletter. Below are the top highlights and how we handle sourcing and links. What we do Curate the top AI stories of the week with short summaries. Cross-check items with web research for accuracy when needed. Remove direct RSS source links from social posts; keep only important news links. Do not tweet stories that are purely about a publisher's own website or reviews of that website (e.g., posts about Engadget itself). Product links and affiliate policy If a story references a product available on Amazon, we include an Amazon search link with our affiliate tag. Example format: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=searchterm&tag=f1rede-20 Replace searchterm with the product name (spaces replaced by + or URL-encoded). How we post One tweet per news…

MasterClass Labor Day Sale — 50% Off Annual Memberships MasterClass is running a Labor Day promotion offering 50% off the first year of its annual memberships. That brings the monthly-equivalent prices to: Standard: $5/month (billed annually) Plus: $8/month (billed annually) Premium: $10/month (billed annually) These translate to roughly $60, $96, and $120 per year after the discount. MasterClass bills annually, so be sure to check the total annual charge before you buy. What you get: Hundreds of video classes taught by experts (each class typically has ~20 lessons at ~10 minutes each) In-depth downloadable workbooks for most classes Original series like Business Rebels and Skin Health Featured instructors include James Patterson (writing), Thomas Keller (cooking) and Steph Curry (basketball), among many others. Official promotion link: https://www.masterclass.com/promotion Quick tips: The discount…

Labor Day Deal: Apple AirTag 4‑Pack for about $70 Apple's AirTag 4‑pack is currently available for roughly $70 — one of the best prices we've seen this year. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, this is a strong buy. Why it's useful for Apple users Precision Finding (UWB): Works with supported iPhones for directional, room‑level locating. Find My network: Uses other Apple devices to help locate lost items even beyond Bluetooth range. Simple design & setup: Coin‑sized tracker, quick pairing with iPhone and ring/chime sound to help you locate items. Limitations No built‑in keyring — you'll need a holder or accessory to attach it to keys/bags. Best experience requires Apple devices; Android users don’t get Precision Finding and have limited functionality. Alternatives for Android users Chipolo: Search Chipolo on…

Dyson Labor Day Sale: 360 Vis Nav $500 & V15s Detect Submarine $800 Dyson is running Labor Day discounts on several vacuums. Highlights: 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum — now $500 (about 50% off). Noted for class-leading suction and excellent obstacle avoidance (cameras + LEDs). Large bin, but no self-empty base and it’s not a mop. V15s Detect Submarine (cordless stick) — now $800 (about $200 off). Features HEPA filtration and advanced wet-cleaning capabilities for carpets and hard floors. Why this matters The 360 Vis Nav stood out in testing for powerful suction — able to pull embedded dirt and pet hair with ease — and near-flawless navigation. At its prior $1,000 price it was harder to recommend because it’s a vacuum-only unit without a self-empty dock or mop function;…

What to read this weekend: Saga Doubles & The Voice Said Kill Here are a few recent releases worth adding to your reading list this week. 1) Killer on the Road / The Babysitter Lives — Stephen Graham Jones (Saga Doubles) Format: Saga Doubles (two novellas in one book) Publisher: Saga Press (Simon & Schuster imprint) Release date: July 15, 2025 Description: A chilling pairing of two thriller/horror novellas from Stephen Graham Jones about killers on the loose. Buy: Search on Amazon (affiliate) • Retailer listing • Kirkus review 2) The Voice Said Kill — Image Comics (new miniseries) Publisher: Image Comics (reported as a new miniseries). At the time of posting, full publishing details (creative team, issue count, exact release date) were not confirmed in the sources consulted. Buy…

TikTok Lets Users Send Voice Notes, Images & Videos in DMs TikTok is expanding its messaging tools. According to reports from TechCrunch and other outlets, TikTok will soon allow users to send voice notes, images and videos in direct messages and group chats. Voice notes: Up to 60 seconds. Media attachments: Up to 9 images or videos per message, from camera or phone library. Safety & age rules: Messaging is only available to users 16 and older. Images with nudity are auto-detected and blocked for users aged 16–18; users 18+ can toggle this detection on/off. Rollout: Features will roll out globally in the next few weeks. TikTok has been gradually enhancing messaging — it added group chats for up to 32 people last year and introduced the Footnotes feature this…