Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Latest Tech News

Are thinking about picking up or renewing a PlayStation Plus subscription this Prime Day? Well, don't. 

Leave aside the fact that this year's PS Plus Prime Day deals are beyond disappointing; even if they weren't I would be offering you the same advice. Prime Day is not the best time to pick up or renew PS Plus if you want a decent discount, especially if you want to benefit from savings for years to come.

Instead, I strongly advise waiting until Black Friday 2022 for a substantial PS Plus deal – here's why.

An abysmal offering

ps plus

(Image credit: Sony)

First things first: let's look at the extremely scarce deals that are available on Amazon for PS Plus right now. From what I can see there's just one discount (if you can even call it that) in the UK and one in the US. 

In the US you can save 10% on 12 months of PS Plus, and in the UK you can literally save pennies on a three-month membership. (Not in the UK or US? Scroll down for deals in your region). These aren't necessarily Prime Day deals, per se, but even if we look at third-party retailers like CD Keys, there's not much in the way of discounts available right now.

You can check out Amazon's offerings below – although you'd be wasting your time:

PS Plus 12-Month Membership: $59.99 $54 at Amazon
Save 10% - You can save $6 on PS Plus right now at Amazon, but we advise holding off until Black Friday if you want a truly great deal, as we've seen PlayStation Plus prices drop considerably lower than this before.View Deal

PS Plus 3 Month Membership: £26.99 £26.53 at Amazon
Unless you're extremely keen to renew your PS Plus membership, or to pick one up, then we advise against going for this deal. The 46p saving is so minimal as to be meaningless.View Deal

So when should I renew?

Ratchet and Clank

(Image credit: Insomniac Games)

Black Friday is the perfect time to renew PS Plus, or get it for the first time. You'll find other discounts throughout the year, sometimes priced just as competitively as we see during the Black Friday period (the day itself is November 25 this year), but Black Friday is the one time you can actually guarantee the price will drop across a number of retailers.

Last year, for example, we saw a 12-month PS Plus subscription fall to just £29.95 at ShopTo in the UK, and to just $36.99 at CD Keys in the US. 

The best part of renewing or picking up a 12-month PS Plus subscription during this period is that when you need to renew next year it'll be Black Friday again, so you'll get a discount again. It's a genius strategy. You can even stack memberships, so you can buy up several years' worth of subscriptions at a discount if you're concerned that the price won't be as low again.

Even if you're at the critical point where your subscription is due to run out before Black Friday, I advise picking up a cheaper three-month subscription to tide you over until then (check out our cheapest PS Plus deals page for more).

However, during the sales period itself, I strongly suggest getting a 12-month membership rather than three months, as I've found this offers the best value for money. Plus, if you purchase a three-month membership during Black Friday, it'll run out at the end of February 2022, when there are typically no sales. 

How will the PS Plus revamp affect deals?

PS Plus Collection logo

(Image credit: Sony)

Great question. We're not entirely sure yet, but given that what was previously the standard PS Plus membership is now the Essential tier, we imagine that this tier at least will continue to see discounts. 

But we're hoping that the new Extra and Premium tiers, which are pricier than the regular subscription, will also get discounted. 

The revamp does, however, strengthen the argument that waiting until Black Friday for a good PS Plus deal is wise. As the revamp finds its feet and new games are gradually added to the tiered libraries, it's certainly worth holding off until November to see what tier does appeal to you.

Are you happy with your current PS Plus offering? Then sticking with the Essential tier may be best. Do you want to play a catalog of PS4 and PS5 games? Then maybe consider Extra. Want access to all that, plus retro PlayStation games? Then Premium could be for you.

Essentially, there's nothing wrong with waiting to see how it all shakes out and then deciding what is the best-value option for you.

More PS Plus deals

No matter where you live, you'll find all the lowest prices for PS Plus around the web right here, with offers available in your region. 

More Prime Day deals in the US

More Prime Day deals in the UK



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Latest Gadgets News

Infosys on Wednesday said it will acquire Denmark-based BASE life science for EUR 110 million (nearly Rs. 900 crore) in an all-cash deal. The acquisition will deepen Infosys' expertise in life sciences domain as well as strengthen its footprint across Europe.

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Fed Expected to Raise Rates Aggressively This Month, as Inflation Hits a New 40-Year Peak - CNET

The Federal Reserve's strategy hasn't panned out yet. But more rate hikes could push the US into a recession.

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When it comes to the hottest footwear of the last decade, shoes from the Nike/Adidas duopoly – Air Force 1s, Dunk Lows, Yeezys and so on – have dominated the conversation. The last 12 months, though, has seen a once much-maligned brand rise like a phoenix from the ashes to rank proudly among the biggest names in contemporary fashion. 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen: Crocs – the colorful foam clogs made famous by young children and elderly gardeners the world over – are officially the biggest shoes of 2022 (just ask Justin Bieber or Pharrell Williams), and Amazon has seen fit to discount a huge swathe of the brand’s range as part of its annual Prime Day deals event. 

The unisex Crocband 2 clogs, for instance, are now just $34.99 (down from $49.99) in a variety of colors and sizes, while the Crocband 3 sliders have also enjoyed a price cut (down to $20.99 from $29.99). We’ve rounded up a few more of the best Amazon Prime Day Crocs deals below, but you’ll have to act fast – these quickfire savings will only last until midnight (PT) tonight. 

The best Prime Day Crocs deals:

Crocs unisex-adult Bayaband clogs: $49.99 $34.99 at Amazon
Save 30% - This particular variety of Crocs will do a great job of letting onlookers know that you are indeed wearing genuine, shop-bought Crocs (as opposed to a pair of Crocs wannabes). For just $34.99, you'll get the brand's famously comfortable rubber soles and "sports mode" straps (as the internet now calls them), as well as a hard-to-miss logo emblazoned on either side of your feet. What's not to like?View Deal

Crocs unisex-adult classic tie dye clogs: $54.99 $24.50 at Amazon
Save 55% - If you're in the market for something a little more colorful this Amazon Prime Day, then these classic tie dye Crocs are the shoes for you. There's not much more to say about these beauties, except that multiple celebrities have been seen wearing them (and proudly, we might add). Grab them for $30 less until midnight tonight.View Deal

Crocs unisex-adult classic tie dye clogs: $49.99 $39.91 at Amazon
Save 20% - If wacky styles aren't your thing, then the regular Crocs are also discounted on Amazon right now (though not as part of Prime Day). The online retailer stocks a massive range of colors for this iconic iteration of the brand's famous footwear, so whether yellow, green, blue, red or white kicks are your calling, there's a cut-price pair of Crocs waiting for you right now.View Deal

Crocs Jibbitz 13-pack shoe charms: $39.99 $23.99 at Amazon
Save 40% - What are Crocs without Jibbitz? Every pair of Crocs can hold 26 of these friendly-looking rubber attachments, which are designed to be traded with friends and family (they're basically the footwear equivalent of Pokémon), and Amazon is currently offering this 13-pack for 40% less as part of its Prime Day sale.View Deal

As mentioned, you'll need to act quickly if you want to cash in on these stellar Crocs deals. All but one of the above discounts are Amazon Lightning Deals, meaning they expire when the clock positioned next to their respective product listing hits zero. In this case, you've got until midnight tonight (PT) to make use of the savings.

For more of today's biggest and best discounts, head over to our Prime Day deals page for a roundup of the latest and greatest Amazon offers. 

More of today's best Amazon Prime Day deals:



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Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Latest Tech News

It turns out today's criminals don't need to download Tor and head to the dark web to get their hand's on your data, as the private details of thousands of pensioners in the UK are available on normal Facebook groups.

BBC Breakfast Live was apparently able to purchase the details of 1,000 people living in Britain for just £160.

The personal data was said to include names, home addresses, email addresses, estimated net worth as well as estimated income bracket.

Who are they targeting?

Wealthy pensioners are particularly at risk, the BBC says, with many Facebook posts advertising sets of data with tags such as “rich people”, “high income”, “home owners”, and “old age”. 

The BBC laid the blame squarely on Meta for not scrubbing its platform clean from this type of illegal activity.

Meta has responded to the allegations, saying: "We remove this content when we become aware of it and have taken down the groups in question".

Unfortunately being young and a long way from home ownership might not protect you from cybercrime.

UK businesses are reportedly getting caught by fraudsters more often than the global average.

A solid majority - 64% - of UK firms experienced an instance of fraud in the last two years, an increase from 56% in 2020, and well above the global average of 46% according to PWC's Global Economic Crime Survey.

This might not have been the first instance in which Meta has handed data over when it shouldn't have.

A Bloomberg report has accused Apple and Meta of handing over sensitive data to cybercriminals who had been impersonating police, and who managed to steal data from numerous tech companies using the trick.

The news comes as the way in which Facebook handles data is coming under greater scrutiny, at least within the EU.

Irish regulators have decided to force the social media giant to stop sending users' data to the US, forcing them to store data locally. 

Via MSN



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Prime Day AirPods Sale: Quick, Grab Hugely Discounted AirPods 2 Before It's Too Late - CNET

This massive deal has brought back historic low pricing for Apple's AirPods 2. But you'll need to act quickly.

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Latest Tech News

I'd never even tried bone conduction headphones until a couple of months ago. I had just started in my role as TechRadar's fitness editor, and I was itching to give them a try. Lo and behold, they're now my favorite thing ever, and cheaper than ever in the Prime Day deals

The Shokz OpenRun are my headphones of choice (which we called "the world's best bone conduction headphones") and they're now cheaper than ever. Previously, they've only been discounted to around $110, but right now on Amazon they're down a full $40 from RRP to just $89.95. Check them out in full below:

(Not in the US? Scroll down for the best Shokz deals in your region)

Today's best Prime Day Shokz bone conduction headphones deals

Shokz OpenRun wireless bone conduction headphones | $129.95 now $89.95 on Amazon
Save $40 -
These bone conduction headphones from Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) which leave your ears open to the wider world while blasting out the tunes through bone conduction technology. Essential to keep your ears out for traffic when running. Fast-charging, comfortable and it makes your run safer.View Deal

The best bone conduction headphones (which, let me be clear, are the pair above) send the sound through the bones in your skull into your eardrums rather than into your ears directly. 

This allows you to both listen to your favorite tunes, podcasts and audiobooks (see the best audible deals for a good selection, I'm currently polishing off Return Of The King) and keep your ears open on your run. 

With clarity on both fronts, I feel more aware of traffic, pedestrians and occasionally wild animals, so I can run safely while still enjoying a solid audio experience. For me, it's a better experience than most earbuds' active noise canceling transparency modes, as the air between your ears isn't fighting for space. It sounds weird, but I encourage you to give them a try at this price. 

Not convinced? I've dropped a couple more bone conduction headphones deals below, on other Shokz products.

AfterShokz OpenMove wireless bone conduction headphones | $79.95 now $55.95 at Amazon
Save $25 -
These bone conduction headphones are not as good as the OpenRun, with six hours' charge as opposed to eight and slightly lower water resistance. However, they're cheaper, so if your budget's tight, these are the ones to go for.View Deal

AfterShokz Aeropex wireless bone conduction headphones | $129.95 now $89.95 at Amazon
Save $40 -
An older version of the OpenRun which is still an improvement on the OpenMove, it doesn't have fast charging, but does come bundled with a handy sports belt to keep your phone or mid-run snacks handy. View Deal

More bone conduction headphones deals

No matter where you live, you'll find all the lowest prices for Shokz headphones around the web right here, with offers available in your region. 

More Prime Day deals in the US



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The Power of Infrared Imaging: Why NASA's Webb Telescope Can Reveal the Hidden Universe - CNET

This is how the agency's next-gen space explorer can show us an unfiltered version of the cosmos.

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Latest Tech News

There are a ton of Assassin’s Creed Prime Day deals this year, and now they are live, here are some of the highlights you are going to want to consider. 

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has been going since 2007, with 12 main games in the series and a whole host of spin-offs littering the back catalog. That’s why it’s entirely understandable if you’ve missed a couple of entries into the franchise. However, these Prime Day deals are here to help you fill out your collection. 

There are a lot of discounts on Ubisoft’s tentpole franchise that you are going to want to consider. Some of them have even hit all-time lows on Amazon across multiple platforms, including Assassin's Creed Valhalla. So, if you are looking to soak up some Assassin’s Creed goodness, now is a good time to do it. 

Today's best Assassin's Creed Prime Day deals

Today's best Assassin's Creed Prime Day deals (US)

Assassin's Creed The Ezio Collection (Nintendo Switch): $39.99 $19.99 at Amazon
Save $20 - The Ezio Collection on Switch has fallen to its lowest-ever price, just $19.99. It's a fantastic bundle, collecting Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations in one package. They're some of the series' best games that came out at the franchise's peak.View Deal

Assassin's Creed Chronicles (PS4): $29.99 $20 at Amazon
Save 33% - This isn't an amazing price for Assassin's Creed Chronicles, especially as it's nowhere near the best game in the series. We've seen the game drop much lower than this in price but if you want a PS4 game for $20 then it's worth considering.View Deal

Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection (Nintendo Switch): $39.99 $19.99 at Amazon
Save $20 - Two Switch games plus DLC for under $20? Yes, please. While Rogue isn't exactly a memorable game in the series, Black Flag is one of the best Assassin's Creed games to date and is worth the price tag alone. Grab this collection while you can.View Deal

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (PS4): $59.99 $19.99 at Amazon
Save $40 -This may not be the cheapest we've seen Valhalla but, considering that it takes around 90 hours to beat the main story and extras, it's a lot of game time for your buck. Thankfully, it's also a great game, too, and will unleash your true inner Viking.View Deal

Assassin's Creed Odyssey (Xbox One): $59.99 $19.93 at Amazon
This may not be the lowest price we've seen for the Xbox One version of Assassin's Creed Odyssey on Amazon but, for under $20, you'll get an enormous return on your investment, as the game - which is a great modern entry - can easily take over 100 hours to complete. Why not take a virtual holiday to ancient Greece for less than a takeaway?View Deal

Today's best Assassin's Creed Prime Day deals (UK)

Assassins Creed Valhalla (PS5): £57.99 £14.99 at Amazon
Save £43 – This is the lowest price we've ever seen Assassin's Creed Valhalla on PS5 by a whole £5. Considering that it takes around 90 hours to beat the main story and extras, that's a lot of game time for your buck. Thankfully, it's also a great game, too, and will unleash your true inner Viking.View Deal

Assassin's Creed Valhalla (PS4): £57.99 £14.99 at Amazon
Save £43 – This is the lowest price we've ever seen Assassin's Creed Valhalla on PS5 by a whole £5. Considering that it takes around 90 hours to beat the main story and extras, that's a lot of game time for your buck. Thankfully, it's also a great game, too, and will unleash your true inner Viking.View Deal

Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Xbox One/Series X): £57.99 £14.99 at Amazon
Save £43 – This is the lowest price we've ever seen Assassin's Creed Valhalla on PS5 by a whole £5. Considering that it takes around 90 hours to beat the main story and extras, that's a lot of game time for your buck. Thankfully, it's also a great game, too, and will unleash your true inner Viking.View Deal

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Ragnarök Edition (PS5): £57.99 £30.99 at Amazon
Save £27 – This matches the lowest price we've ever seen for Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Ragnarök Edition, so if you want to get it, this is a great time. This edition comes with the base Valhalla game and includes the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC. View Deal

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Dawn of Ragnarok (PS4): £34.99 £22.99 at Amazon
Save £12 – On PS4,  this is the lowest we've seen the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC at Amazon. Dawn of Ragnarok takes Ragnarok's protagonist, Eivor, up against Norse gods, as they help Odin face off against ice foes from Jotunheim.View Deal

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Dawn of Ragnarok (Xbox One/Series X): £34.99 £24.99 at Amazon
Save £10 – On Xbox One/Series X,  this is equal to the lowest we've seen the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC at Amazon. Dawn of Ragnarok takes Valhalla's protagonist, Eivor, up against Norse gods, as they help Odin face off against ice foes from Jotunheim.View Deal

Assassins Creed Odyssey (PS4): £54.99 £12.99 at Amazon
Save £42 – This is the lowest price we've seen for the PS4 version of Assassin's Creed Odyssey on Amazon. For less than £13, you'll get an enormous return on your investment, as the game - which is a great modern entry - can easily take over 100 hours to complete. Why not take a virtual holiday to ancient Greece for less than a takeaway?View Deal

Assassins Creed Odyssey (PS4): £54.99 £12.99 at Amazon
Save £42 – This is the lowest price we've seen for the PS4 version of Assassin's Creed Odyssey on Amazon. For less than £13, you'll get an enormous return on your investment, as the game - which is a great modern entry - can easily take over 100 hours to complete. Why not take a virtual holiday to ancient Greece for less than a takeaway?View Deal

Assassins Creed The Ezio Collection (PS4): £39.99 £10.95 at Amazon
Save £28.05 – The Ezio Collection has fallen to its lowest-ever price, just £10.95. It's a fantastic bundle, collecting Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations in one package. They're some of the series' best games that came out at the franchise's peak.View Deal

Assassins Creed The Ezio Collection (Xbox One): £39.99 £11.99 at Amazon
Save £28 – This is the lowest price we've ever seen for this collection on Amazon for Xbox One. Assassin's Creed The Ezio Collection is a fantastic bundle, collecting Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations in one package. They're some of the series' best games that came out at the franchise's peak.View Deal

Assassins Creed The Ezio Collection (Nintendo Switch): £39.99 £29.85 at Amazon
Save £10.14 – At £29.85, this discount matches the lowest price we've ever seen on the collection. Better yet, being able to take Assassin's Creed The Ezio Collection on the move is a great selling point. Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations are some of the series' best games at the franchise's peak. Playing them on a handheld console is just the cherry on top.View Deal

The highlight is undoubtedly Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which has reached an all-time low of just £14.99 on PS5, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S in the UK and $19.99 on PS4 in the US. The game was a massive hit when it launched in 2020, and the trip through a Viking setting is well worth that price, especially considering the game can run over 100 hours. 

In the UK you can also pick up the biggest Assassin's Creed DLC ever made – Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok – for a reasonable £24.99 across PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, which matches the lowest it's ever been.

Elsewhere, on the PS4, the massive ancient Greece-based Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is the lowest it's ever been on the console in the UK, matching its lowest price on Xbox consoles at a staggering £12.99, with those in the US able to pick up a solid 67% discount on Xbox One. Assassin’s Creed The Ezio Collection has reached it’s lowest ever price on Xbox One (and only slightly higher than the lowest ever on PS4), at a very reasonable £11.99 in the UK. That comes to an excellent £3.99 for each of the games included. In the US, you can pick up the collection of Switch for just $19.99.

More Assassin's Creed Valhalla deals

These Prime Day deals are for the UK only, but if you're based somewhere else, worry not. Below you can see the best prices for Assassin's Creed games in your region from across the internet.

More Prime Day deals

US

UK



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Monday, July 11, 2022

Amazon Prime Day Alternatives: Shop the Best Anti-Prime Day Deals Now - CNET

Not a fan of Amazon? Want to support other businesses during these days of discounts? Here are the best sales taking place outside of Amazon.

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Latest Tech News

If there’s one thing to be sure of these days it’s that we won’t run out of things to charge anytime soon. As desks become more cluttered and devices continue to fight between power and portability, trying to keep everything juiced up to avoid the all-to-real battery anxiety is an extra stress no one needs right now. 

Thankfully, as the technology in our devices has improved, charging technology has improved as well. The latest breakthrough in charging tech is the use of Gallium Nitride (GaN). The fancy name simply means companies can now pack incredibly powerful chargers in remarkably small packages. 

Baseus has been making high quality chargers and accessories for over 10 years and it has leveraged this new GaN material to power its new “PowerCombo” series of chargers. The first one is the PowerCombo 65W Hybrid GaN Power Strip capable of charging 6, yes 6, devices at one time.

PowerCombo charger on desk charging a laptop and iPhone

(Image credit: Baseus)

The PowerCombo charger has 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, and 2 full sized AC power outlets which means it can charge almost any device that could conceivably end up on a desk or in a travel bag. While the 65W may not handle the highest end, most power-hungry laptops and desktops, most of the mainstream ones should be just fine. 

For example, it technically can charge the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pros, but it won’t do it at full speed which means it will take quite a bit longer to charge than normal. And if it’s under heavy workload while plugged in, the charger may not be able to keep up. 

Most other lower powered devices like the new MacBook Air will charge just fine and it can even handle a new MacBook Air and say, an iPhone 13 simultaneously.

It’s not uncommon to find several devices on a desk at any one time these days and the PowerCombo series is designed to handle it all. 

New MacBook Air?   Check

iPhone?    Check

Apple Watch?   Check

iPad?    Check

What about all four at the same time?   Yup, all of it.

PowerCombo 65W charger on desk surrounded by devices

(Image credit: Baseus)

But Baseus didn’t stop there. The 2 full sized AC ports on the sides can also handle monitors, a PC, or nearly any other device you might need to plug in. That means that the days of carrying around multiple chargers while on the go are over. One device literally has all the power and ports you need to keep everything charged while traveling. 

PowerCombo chargers are also compatible with manufacturer’s fast charging protocols like Apple’s 20W PD fast charging and Samsung’s AFC 45W fast charging. For reference, the two USB-A ports support single port 60W Max and 18W QC fast charging while the USB-C ports support either 65W from one port or the charger can intelligently charge multiple devices at the best speeds. So a MacBook Air will charge at 45W while the iPhone will charge at 20W. 

65W PowerCombo charger in bag

(Image credit: Baseus)

The best part is the PowerCombo series are all designed with safety in mind. They are equipped with heat temperature protection as well as over-current, over-voltage, overcharge, overload, overheat, and short circuit protection. They are certified safe by RoHS, the FCC and the ETL. 

One more thing. There’s also a 100W version with surge protection coming on August 15th so definitely keep an eye out for that one. 

The 65W one is available now and Prime members can save an extra 53% off during Prime day this year making the price a compelling $47.99 during the Prime Day sale. Head on over to Amazon to grab yours today. 



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HBO Max: The 31 Best Movies to Watch - CNET

The Bob's Burgers Movie hits HBO Max tomorrow. Here's what you can stream while you wait.

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Hyundai Recalls 10,600 Ioniq Hybrids to Fix Fire Risks... Again - CNET

The re-recall comes after Hyundai received reports of problems in vehicles that were given a previous remedy.

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Latest Tech News

Unitree has launched the first known robot app store, which provides canned actions that you can upload or download and add to your robot. ...