Author: alex

Aqara Smart Hub M200 arrives: compact Matter, Thread and Zigbee support Aqara today expanded its smart‑home lineup with the new Smart Hub M200 and a freshly announced radiator thermostat. The M200 is described as the smaller sibling of the existing Hub M3 and adds native support for Matter, Thread and Zigbee — making it a versatile bridge for a wide range of smart devices. The company positions the M200 as a compact, all‑purpose hub suitable for users who want a smaller footprint while retaining cross‑platform compatibility. Built‑in support for Matter and Thread means the hub can integrate more easily with modern smart‑home ecosystems and future devices. Key points New hub: Aqara Smart Hub M200 — a smaller alternative to the Hub M3. Protocol support: Matter, Thread and Zigbee for broad…

Black Friday TV deals: top picks across budgets and premium options Black Friday is an ideal time to upgrade your living room — retailers are already offering strong discounts on TVs from Samsung, LG, TCL and Hisense. We filtered current deals into three price tiers to help you choose the best value for your needs and room conditions. Below are standout early offers across under $500, $500–$1,000 and $1,000+ categories, plus streaming device picks. Prices change quickly during the sales period, so use this as a starting point and check retailer pages for real‑time stock and final discounts. Best deals under $500 Hisense U65QF (55-inch) — $428: Strong peak brightness for bright rooms; runs Amazon Fire TV. Good budget pick for well‑lit spaces. (Also available in 65/75/85" sizes at larger…

AMD to preview FSR “Redstone” upscaling tech on December 10 AMD has announced it will reveal FSR “Redstone” on December 10 — its next‑generation upscaling suite aimed at closing the gap with NVIDIA’s DLSS. The company says Redstone brings not just improved machine‑learning upscaling but also enhanced AI frame generation, ray regeneration and radiance caching. While AMD hasn’t published full technical details yet, early notes suggest Redstone is more than a pure upscaler. Key components advertised include: ML-powered upscaling: Improved image reconstruction and quality at higher upscaling ratios. AI frame generation: Frames generated via AI to smooth motion and increase perceived framerate. Ray regeneration: Techniques to reconstruct or refine ray‑traced effects — reportedly already integrated in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for the ray regeneration piece. Radiance caching: Faster…

Hypixel releases 15+ minutes of raw Hytale gameplay after buying rights back from Riot Hypixel Studios published over 15 minutes of unedited gameplay footage for Hytale — and it arrived the day after the studio reacquired the game’s rights from Riot Games. The company calls the clip “raw and broken, but still beautiful,” and says it was recorded on an older build and released to "break the curse" after the game’s cancellation and subsequent revival. The footage runs from live in‑engine sequences recorded in a single morning, using a legacy engine dating back to 2018. Hypixel notes the build is a few years old, so what you see is not a polished trailer but a candid glimpse of the game in its current state. Key takeaways 15+ minutes of raw…

EU Digital Omnibus: proposed easing of AI & privacy rules explained The European Commission has introduced a broad "Digital Omnibus" package that would revise several tech rules across AI, data, cookies and cybersecurity. The draft aims to simplify compliance for companies, centralize AI oversight, and reduce user friction from frequent cookie banners — while proponents say it will spur business growth across Europe. Key proposed changes include allowing certain AI firms access to shared personal data for model training, creating an AI Office to coordinate oversight of powerful general‑purpose models, and easing some timelines and paperwork burdens for smaller businesses. The Commission also suggests rethinking cookie consent flows so users see fewer pop‑ups and can save preferences. What’s changing — at a glance AI governance: Centralize oversight in a new…

WhatsApp beta tests support for multiple accounts WhatsApp’s latest beta build has started testing support for multiple user accounts within a single app installation. The feature appears aimed at people who want to separate work and personal profiles or manage several phone numbers without switching devices. Early beta reports suggest users will be able to add and switch between different accounts more easily, though specifics about the interface and exact rollout timing remain limited. This functionality has long been requested by users who juggle business and personal communications. What we know so far Beta-only for now: The feature is available in WhatsApp’s beta channel and is being tested with a subset of users. Switching accounts: Reports indicate an option to add multiple accounts and switch between them without reinstalling the…

PS5 Black Friday deals: $100 off consoles, DualSense & Portal discounts start Nov 21 Sony is dropping $100 off its PlayStation 5 lineup starting November 21: the PS5 Digital Edition falls to $399, the standard PS5 to $449, and the new PS5 Pro to $649. These retailer-backed discounts will be available at Sony’s store and major sellers like Amazon and Walmart when the sale goes live. The promotion also includes accessory markdowns: the DualSense wireless controller is down to $60, the DualSense Edge to $170, and the PlayStation Portal remote player to $180. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to pick up a console or upgrade your setup, this Black Friday weekend is one of the better windows. What’s included & why it matters Consoles: PS5 Digital Edition…

Best early Anker Black Friday deals: power banks, wireless chargers and webcams Anker’s Black Friday discounts are starting early this year, with solid markdowns on power banks, wireless chargers, webcams and other accessories. The brand is well regarded for reliable charging gear and affordable peripherals, and several favorites (including the Anker Laptop Power Bank and a budget webcam) are already showing up in retailer promotions. We recommend these picks for shoppers who want dependable, well‑tested accessories without breaking the bank. Below are the standout categories and tips for getting the best value during the holiday sale season. Top Anker deals to watch Anker Laptop Power Bank: A favorite for high‑capacity, high‑speed laptop charging — great for travel and long work days. Wireless chargers: Multiple Qi and MagSafe‑compatible models often see…

Black Friday 2025: Best early tech deals to shop now Black Friday discounts are already live — and Engadget has rounded up the best early tech deals across headphones, consoles, robot vacs, storage and more. While the deepest price drops often land the week before Thanksgiving, many current offers are solid picks if you want to finish holiday shopping early. Highlights from the roundup include a comfortable entry VR headset, record‑low accessory prices and strong savings on kitchen and smart‑home gear. Below are curated categories and top bargains to watch. Top picks right now Meta Quest 3S: $250 — a great VR headset for newcomers and budget buyers. Sony WH‑1000XM5 headphones: $248 — top‑tier ANC and comfort at a new low price. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max: $35 —…

Amazon bundle: Fire TV Stick 4K Max + Fire TV Soundbar for €129.99 (limited time) Amazon has discounted select Fire TV devices and is currently offering a bundle that pairs the Fire TV Stick 4K Max with the Fire TV Soundbar for €129.99. The promotion runs through tonight (offer expires at midnight) and — notably — the bundle price is cheaper than buying the soundbar on its own. If you’ve been considering an upgrade to a streaming stick and better TV sound without a big outlay, this bundle is a strong value: the 4K Max adds faster performance and enhanced streaming features, while the soundbar improves dialogue clarity and overall audio for shows and movies. Deal details Bundle: Fire TV Stick 4K Max + Fire TV Soundbar Price: €129.99 (limited-time…