theverge--2020-11-23--The best Black Friday deals you can get right now

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
The majority of Black Friday deals will launch the day after Thanksgiving ( November 26th ) in the US as usual , but the pandemic has shaken things up in yet another way .
The best deals will be happening online , with fewer in-person sales for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of those great deals are already available , so you can get started on your holiday gift ( or personal ) shopping .
With this post , we ’ re rounding up the best early Black Friday deals from retailers like Amazon , Best Buy , Walmart , Target , Adorama , B & H Photo , Newegg , and anywhere else we find deals you should know about .
Sonos has slashed the prices on several of its speakers ahead of Black Friday .
Three of its popular models are $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of up to 25 percent .
You can buy the Sonos Move , the company ’ s first portable speaker , for just $ 299 right now at Sonos and Amazon or $ 300 at Best Buy .
• The Sonos Beam is $ 299 at Amazon ( Usually $ 400 ) .
The deal is also available at Sonos ’ direct website .
This is a great entry-level soundbar .
• You can also buy Sonos Sub add-on speaker at a discounted price for $ 599 at Amazon ( usually $ 700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Sonos ’ direct website .
If you ’ re looking for a compact and inexpensive smart speaker , both of the latest Amazon Echo and Echo Dot devices are on sale .
The 4th Gen Echo Dot is down to $ 29 , which is the lowest price we ’ ve seen since its launch this fall .
The Echo Dot ’ s compact design might not be appealing to everyone , but if you are looking for an Echo Device but want something a bit bigger , you can grab the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 70 right now at a few retailers , including Amazon and Target .
Like this year ’ s Echo Dot , the Amazon Echo has an updated design that makes it more spherical in shape .
It also has much improved audio quality and the ability to connect Zigbee smart home devices .
Over at Adorama and Best Buy , you can buy a Google Nest Audio two-pack for $ 169 right now .
A two-pack for this smart speaker would normally set you back $ 199 .
You can get Bose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 299 at Amazon , Best Buy , B & H Photo , and Dell .
The price is only available in “ soapstone white , ” unfortunately , at all these retailers .
Apple ’ s AirPods Pro wireless earbuds are $ 190 at Woot right now .
This is the lowest we ’ ve seen yet on Apple ’ s flagship earbuds .
Compared to the standard AirPods , the Pro model features better sound quality and noise cancellation , plus support for Apple ’ s new spatial audio feature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wireless earbuds are down to just $ 110 at Amazon and Best Buy .
This is the best price we ’ ve seen for this model , which usually costs $ 150 outside of any discounts .
Compared to the standard Galaxy Buds , this upgraded model that launched alongside the Galaxy S20 series of phones has improved sound quality , microphones , and battery life .
If you are looking to buy two pairs of Galaxy Buds Plus , Best Buy has a few bundles , allowing you to buy sets for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and match which color you want for both pairs and are available in blue , black , light blue , red , and white .
Alongside the Plus wireless earbuds , Samsung ’ s Galaxy Buds are discounted at Amazon and Best Buy .
Normally , these earbuds would cost $ 130 , but you can get them for $ 70 at either retailer .
Unfortunately , the color options are limited at both retailers , so you can only buy these earbuds in either black or silver .
Newegg has a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wireless earbuds .
You can buy a pair of these earbuds in refurbished condition for just $ 85 .
These wireless earbuds feature a new design compared to its predecessor and improve on the battery life and sound quality .
If you are looking to pick up an iPad Pro this Black Friday , Amazon and Best Buy have Apple ’ s high-end iPad Pro for $ 730 .
This model includes an 11-inch display and a 128GB storage configuration .
If 128GB is not enough storage space for you , both retailers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ configuration , bringing the price down to $ 800 , which is what you would normally pay if you bought the entry-level 11-inch iPad Pro with the lowest storage configuration .
If you like Fitbit ’ s wearables and prefer to have a smartwatch by the company , you can get the Fitbit Sense smartwatch for $ 280 at Fitbit ’ s website or at Best Buy and B & H Photo .
Normally this model costs $ 330 and allows you to track your stress levels and measure your blood oxygen levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most affordable Watch that Apple made at $ 279 , but it ’ s even cheaper at Best Buy .
You can score the 40mm GPS version for $ 259 or the larger 44mm Watch for $ 289 at Amazon and Best Buy .
Each size looks similar to the more expensive Series 6 but lacks the always-on display and a few other features .
The Apple Watch SE aligns more with the Series 5 in terms of specs , but at $ 259 , it ’ s a fantastic value .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the SE differs from other recent Apple Watch models .
The Apple Watch Series 6 is also cheaper than usual at Amazon and Walmart .
Normally $ 400 for the 40mm GPS model , it ’ s down to $ 330 — but there ’ s a catch .
You must buy this model in either red or blue at Amazon and Walmart only has the red model in this size discounted right now .
If you have a large home and want to make sure all of the rooms in it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon and Best Buy has discounted the Eero 6 mesh Wi-Fi router .
You can get three units for just $ 479 .
Ahead of Black Friday , Google has discounted several of its products , including the Nest Wifi , and you can buy a two-pack for $ 219 .
The Nest Wifi system is easy to set up , and with two units , you can cover up to 4,400 square feet .
If you need a mesh router system that will cover more square feet in your home , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ router for $ 223 .
The mesh routers also include a built-in Zigbee smart home hub , allowing you to connect and control select devices with Amazon ’ s voice assistant Alexa .
If you prefer Netgear products , you can save 22 percent on a two-pack for the company ’ s Nighthawk mesh router system .
It ’ s designed for homes that have up to 400Mbps of internet speeds .
Netgear says its Nighthawk mesh router system provides up to 3,000 square feet in coverage and support for 25 or more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you can save $ 140 on an eight-piece Ring Alarm home security kit , and it comes with a free third-gen Amazon Echo Dot with purchase .
Normally $ 290 , this kit will only cost you $ 150 .
Circling back to Netgear , its $ 450 flagship mesh router system is also discounted .
You can buy the Orbi RBK752 Wi-Fi 6 mesh router system for $ 280 at Amazon or Best Buy right now .
This is a great product if you need something that will have the bandwidth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8K resolution in your house .
Samsung ’ s fast T7 USB-C SSD with 1TB of storage normally costs $ 200 , but you can buy this portable SSD for just $ 150 at Amazon and Best Buy .
It features optional password protection with AES 256-bit encryption and Samsung claims the T7 has up to 1,050MB/s transfer speeds .
It ’ s compatible with a variety of operating systems , including Windows 10 , macOS , and Android .
Unfortunately , it will not work on iPad or iOS devices and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S .
Peak Design has kicked off its “ Super Massive Black Friday sale ” with sizeable discounts on bags and tripods .
It might be tough to imagine when you might next need a durable backpack that can fit a lot of gadgets within , but the company ’ s “ Everyday ” lineup of bags is 20 percent off .
Its bigger “ Travel ” bags are also discounted .
If you ’ re into photography , Peak Design ’ s Travel Tripod and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are cheaper than usual .
Watch Dogs : Legion , the latest installment in Ubisoft ’ s hack-anything , open-world game , is down to $ 45 at Ubisoft ’ s official website , that ’ s $ 15 off , while it ’ s not the lowest we have seen this game go down , this title recently came out and this is still a good discount .
What makes this deal even better is that each version will net you an upgrade to the Xbox Series X / S or PS5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have much interest in the game , it ’ s an affordable way to check out what impressive ray-tracing graphics look like on the new console hardware .
The Last of Us Part II is one of the most popular PS4 games released this year .
If you have yet to experience Naughty Dog ’ s latest title , you can pick it up for $ 30 at Amazon , Best Buy , or GameStop .
This is the lowest price the game has been marked down to date .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can also play this game via backwards compatibility .
Speaking of popular PS4 games that released this year , Ghost of Tsushima is also on sale at its lowest price ever of $ 40 at Amazon and Best Buy .
Even better ?
If you purchased a PS5 , you can transfer your save data from your PS4 and experience the game in 60 frames per second , a feature exclusive to Sony ’ s next-gen console .
If you ’ re having trouble narrowing down what games you want , why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ get three for the price of two ” deal on video game purchases — even for newer titles like Call of Duty Black Ops : Cold War , Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla , and Yakuza : Like a Dragon , to name a few .
The list goes on , though one thing that isn ’ t eligible are first-party Sony games for the PS5 , like the Demon ’ s Souls remake , but you can pick up Godfall , which is available on Sony ’ s next-gen console @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cyberpunk 2077 , a game coming out next month is eligible for this promotion .
If you want 2TB of fast storage for your PC , Samsung ’ s 2TB 970 Evo Plus NVMe SSD is $ 250 at Newegg and Amazon , beating the lowest price by about $ 40 .
Over the summer , the price was steady at $ 350 .
A PCIe 3.0 M.2 SSD like this will fit in only certain kinds of motherboards ( so check before you buy ) .
Alternatively , it can also make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get an M.2 enclosure for it .
Either route you take , you ’ ll get a lot of speedy storage .
If you are in the market for a new gaming mouse , the Logitech G502 lightspeed wireless gaming mouse is $ 100 at Amazon , Best Buy , and GameStop .
Normally this gaming mouse is $ 150 .
It features It features eleven programmable buttons , a 25600 DPI , and fully customizable RGB lighting .

Cyber Monday is over, but some of the deals are still happening. We won’t be making any more updates to the post below, so if you you want to follow along with the Cyber Week developments, we’re tracking the latest deals here.
Original article follows below.
It’s the last big shopping opportunity of 2020, and if you didn’t already take advantage of some deals that debuted over the weekend, now’s your chance. Every retailer has debuted at least a few new deals earlier than ever, and we’re focused on adding them here — in addition to the great Black Friday deals you can still get. As you’re expecting, there are some great deals on gaming laptops, wireless noise-canceling headphones, earbuds, tablets, and much more.
We’ll be doing our best to keep this post updated during Cyber Monday, and stay tuned throughout Cyber Week as we give you as many chances as possible to get everything on your holiday wish list. We’ve put the latest deals right at the top for easy viewing.
Latest deals
You can still get Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds for $110 at Woot (normally $130 during Cyber Monday), but B&H Photo comes close with its new $120 price for the earbuds.
The latest August Wi-Fi smart lock is $40 off at Best Buy and includes a free Lenovo Smart Clock Essential. Your total checkout cost will be $210 (plus tax).
Jabra’s Elite 75t wireless earbuds (black) are $119 at Best Buy, which is the lowest price we’ve seen yet. All other colors are $140.
Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge
B&H Photo is selling the very extreme 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 curved gaming monitor for $1,250 with an expected availability date of January 28th, 2021. It’s not quite as low as Amazon’s $1,190 deal from last week, but it’s the best currently running.
Target is selling Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch together for $80. Given that each game usually costs $60, you’re saving $40 overall with this bundle. It’s lasting for the rest of Cyber Monday.
The $100 off deal on the latest MacBook Air with the M1 processor is back on at B&H Photo until the end of the day, or until stock sells out.
You can get two Amazon Echo Show 5 smart displays for $80 at Best Buy for Cyber Monday. Normally $45 each during Black Friday, this bundle will save you $10.
The best Cyber Monday deals on headphones
Whether you’re in the market for a set of wireless earbuds, noise-canceling headphones (or both!), Cyber Monday is delivering the goods with the best deals we’ve seen yet for models like the Apple AirPods, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus and Buds Live, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, and many more.
Sony’s WH-XB900N noise-canceling headphones are $118 at Amazon and Best Buy (usually $248)
Even more affordable yet, the Sony WH-CH710N noise-canceling headphones are just $88 at Amazon and Best Buy (usually $200)
Bose Noise Cancelling 700 Headphones (Certified Refurbished) $ 224 $ 380 41 % off $ 224 $ 224 $ 380 41 % off Bose’s flagship over-the-ear headphones allow you to connect two devices simultaneously and have a more modern design compared to other Bose headphones. You can grab a pair of Certified Refurbished ones for $224 (before tax) with code PREZDAY20 entered at checkout. $224 at eBay
Beats Solo Pro $ 145 $ 300 52 % off $ 145 $ 145 $ 300 52 % off Our top pick for best on-ear noise-canceling headphones. The Beats Solo Pro are ideal if you need a durable pair of headphones while you work out. $145 at Woot
The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless noise-canceling headphones are $350 at Amazon and Best Buy, knocking $50 off the normal price
Shure’s Aonic 50 noise-canceling headphones are $300 at Amazon and Best Buy — a whole $100 off their usual price
Apple’s AirPods with a wireless charging case costs $140, which is officially the lowest price. These have been selling for $150 throughout Black Friday, but this early Cyber Monday deal is live now at Amazon.
You can snag a set of Amazon Echo Buds, which also sound good and have Bose noise reduction technology. They cost $80, down from $130, and you’ll get a six-month subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited.
The Galaxy Buds Plus dropped another $10 at Amazon, down to $100 from their original $150 price. Other retailers are holding steady at $110, at least for now.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds are just $110 at Woot (normally $130 during Cyber Monday). The next best price is at B&H Photo for $120.
Also at $80 are 1More’s ColorBuds, a solid set of wireless earbuds that pop with color. These are normally $100, and you can get this deal through 1More
Related There are more Cyber Monday deals on wireless earbuds
The best Cyber Monday deals on TVs
Several TV models are discounted for Cyber Monday, but only a few of them are likely worth your money. We’ve plucked a few particularly good deals out from the bunch. There are very affordable TVs that have Amazon’s Fire TV software built-in, as well as more high-end options like QLED and OLED TVs that are best paired with a PS5 and Xbox Series X for gaming (or just if you want the best picture quality and contrast for TV shows and movies). Also, we’ve found deals on big-screened TVs that are cheaper than ever.
LG BX OLED $ 1620 $ 1800 10 % off $ 1620 $ 1620 $ 1800 10 % off The 65-inch BX Series supports 4K at 120Hz, a variable refresh rate, and has all the HDMI 2.1 features you could want in a new TV. $1620 at Best Buy (65-inch)
The best Cyber Monday deals on laptops
Laptops are always useful, but they’re especially handy to have amid the pandemic. Whether you’re planning to use one for school, work, or just to have fun browsing or gaming, we’ve selected some standout laptop deals.
HP’s Envy x360 13 2-in-1 is $750 at Best Buy (usually $1,000)
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 14-inch gaming laptop with AMD’s Ryzen 9 4900HS processor, Nvidia’s RTX 2060 Max-Q graphics chip, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD is $1,200 at Best Buy, down from its usual $1,450 price.
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 gaming laptop with a six-core Intel Core i7 processor, the RTX 2060, and 16GB of RAM is $1,050 with a rebate card at Newegg (usually $1,300)
Lenovo’s 17-inch Legion 5 gaming laptop with a six-core Intel Core i7 processor, the RTX 2060, and 16GB of RAM is $1,200 at Newegg (normally $1,400)
The G5 15 SE playing Valorant Photo by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge
Dell’s 15-inch G5 15 SE gaming laptop with AMD’s Ryzen 7 4800H processor, the Radeon RX 5600M graphics chip, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 144Hz refresh rate display costs $850, down from $1,050. This is a capable machine for the price.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 $ 800 $ 1200 33 % off $ 800 $ 800 $ 1200 33 % off The Surface Pro 7 is one of the best Windows convertibles you can buy. This model includes an Intel Core i5, a 128GB SSD, and 8GB of RAM. $800 at Microsoft$850 at Target
The Acer Aspire 5 is a solid budget laptop with an 11th Gen Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It costs $550 at Newegg, down from $650.
The best Cyber Monday deals on smartwatches & wearables
If you’re looking to get a fitness tracker, or a smartwatch to funnel notifications to your wrist, Cyber Monday is serving up some deals you’ll probably take interest in. The latest models from Fitbit and Apple are present here, and you’ll find those below.
Fitbit Sense $ 200 $ 300 33 % off $ 200 $ 200 $ 300 33 % off One of Fitbit’s more recent product releases, the Sense includes FDA clearance and allows you to track your stress levels in addition to measuring your blood oxygen levels. The watch also includes Google Assistant support. $200 at Amazon$200 at Best Buy
The Apple Watch SE was already somewhat affordable at $279, but it’s even cheaper at Target. It’s $50 off, letting you score the 40mm GPS version for $230 or the larger 44mm Watch in black for $259 at Target.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is also cheaper than usual at Amazon and Walmart. Normally $400 for the 40mm GPS model, it’s down to $330 — but there’s a catch. You must buy this model in either red at Amazon .
The best Cyber Monday deals on smart speakers
For Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Amazon’s latest batch of ball-shaped Echo smart speakers, including the fourth-generation Echo and Echo Dots, are cheaper than ever. These feature better sound performance than the previous iteration.
Sonos One (two) $ 378 $ 398 5 % off $ 378 $ 378 $ 398 5 % off The Sonos One is the base smart speaker in the Sonos system, and it puts out a surprising amount of sound from its compact size. $378 at Sonos
Sonos Five (refurbished) $ 495 $ 549 10 % off $ 495 $ 495 $ 549 10 % off The Sonos Five is a Sonos speaker with powerful sound and lots of volume. $495 at Best Buy
Photo: Dan Seifert / The Verge
Google’s latest Nest Audio speakers are available as a duo for $170, knocking $20 off the usual price for buying two together. These can be paired for a stereo arrangement for music and podcasts, and at some point, you’ll be able to use them as a home theater setup with Chromecast.
Best Buy still has stock of the big Google Home Max smart speaker for $150. This speaker usually retails for $300 outside of a sale.
We’ve been enjoying this Sonos Move deal that drops the price from $400 to $300 for the first time. This speaker supports Bluetooth for on-the-go or outdoor listening, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity to let it give your other Sonos speakers a boost.
These aren’t smart speakers, but Marshall’s Emberton Bluetooth speaker usually costs $150, but it’s down to $100 at Best Buy
Ultimate Ears’ WonderBoom 2 Bluetooth speaker is $50, down from $100 at Best Buy and Amazon
The best Cyber Monday deals on smart displays
If someone close to you, be it a friend or family member, is into video chatting via Facebook, a Facebook Portal device might be a good gift. There’s a range of devices available for less than usual, starting at $65.
If you’re a Prime subscriber and heavily invested in Amazon’s services, an Echo Show smart display might be the best choice. You can get the Echo Show 5 for just $45, and it comes equipped with a camera for video chats. It’s tough to beat when it comes to value.
Amazon Echo Show 5 (2019, first-gen) $ 40 $ 80 50 % off $ 40 $ 40 $ 80 50 % off The first-gen Echo Show 5 is more than just an alarm clock with Alexa built in. Amazon’s small smart display also features a camera that enables video chats. $40 at Amazon
Google’s Nest Hub smart displays are great if you like to watch YouTube, or have a big Google Photos library you want to show off on their screens. The smallest Nest Hub starts at $50, though only the larger Nest Hub Max can make video calls.
The best Cyber Monday deals on phones
There are a handful of great deals on unlocked phones like the Google Pixel 5, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G and OnePlus 8 for Cyber Monday, and a few more that are worth exploring if you’re in the market to upgrade with your carrier. In case you’re hoping to find iPhone discounts, Apple is offering a $50 gift card with the purchase of one.
The Galaxy A51 has a big screen and a big battery
Google Pixel 5 (unlocked) $ 450 $ 699 36 % off $ 450 $ 450 $ 699 36 % off Google’s 2020 flagship phone comes in one size, with a six-inch OLED screen and 128GB of storage. $450 at Woot
If you’re on Verizon and don’t mind activating a phone on Verizon to get a deal, you can save an extra $150 on top of that $50 discount at Best Buy. You can either opt to pay $500 for the Pixel 5 or $20.86 each month for 24 months through a Verizon device payment plan. Taking $200 off the Pixel 5’s regular price is great. You’ll just need to keep the phone on Verizon service for 60 days before it becomes unlocked.
At the OnePlus site, you can get the standard OnePlus 8 for $200 off its usual price, costing $599. B&H Photo is actually offering a slightly bigger price cut of $230 off. This phone shares a few similarities to the 8 Pro, like the Snapdragon 865 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Though, it doesn’t have wireless charging and its camera array doesn’t quite stack up as favorably. Also, it has a 90Hz refresh rate display compared to 120Hz on the 8 Pro, and the display itself is smaller (about 6.5 inches versus 6.8 inches).
Speaking of the OnePlus 8 Pro, Amazon recently knocked an extra $50 off the Black Friday sale price.
OnePlus 8 Pro $ 750 $ 1000 25 % off $ 750 $ 750 $ 1000 25 % off The OnePlus 8 Pro is filled to the brim with high-end features, like fast charging, a 120Hz refresh rate display, wireless charging, a fast Snapdragon 865 processor, and lots of RAM. $750 at Amazon$800 at OnePlus
The Pixel 4A with 5G is $200 off when new customers purchase it through the Google Fi MVNO service, resulting in a $299 final price. If you’re an existing Google Fi subscriber, you can upgrade to the 4A with 5G and get $150 off, knocking the price down to $349. Not bad, considering that’s the same price as the standard Pixel 4A that doesn’t have 5G support.
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
Until December 7th, Visible (owned by Verizon, operating on Verizon LTE) will give you a complimentary set of AirPods Pro with the purchase of any phone in the iPhone 12 series. The catch is that you’ll need to buy the phone and port your number to a new line in the same transaction.
The best Cyber Monday deals on streaming services
For new and returning customers (who haven’t subscribed in the last three months and who haven’t taken advantage of last year’s promo), you can get on Hulu’s ad-supported streaming plan for just $1.99 per month for a full year. After that, your monthly rate goes back up to $5.99.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
If you subscribe to YouTube TV by December 31st, you’ll get a free Chromecast with Google TV.
1Password is offering an exclusive offer to readers of The Verge until Thursday, December 3rd. You can save 50 percent each month on the cost of a family subscription (up to five people, and not restricted to a single household) to 1Password’s services, costing $2.50 per month for up to one year. After that year is up, you’ll be charged the regular $5 per month rate.
The best Cyber Monday deals on sound systems
It doesn’t cost much to get a soundbar, and thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s cheaper to get a particularly great setup. This list isn’t exhaustive, but we’ve picked out a few soundbar models that we like, and ones that are cheaper than usual.
Sonos Sub (third-gen) $ 599 $ 749 20 % off $ 599 $ 599 $ 749 20 % off The Sonos Sub is an add-on speaker that provides some extra low-end thump to any Sonos speaker system. $599 at Sonos (third-gen)
The best Cyber Monday deals on streaming devices
Unless you own a smart TV or a modern gaming console, you’ll probably want a streaming device to bring all of your favorite TV shows and movies to your television. Thankfully, you have plenty to choose between, and many options are discounted for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Related Find more the best Cyber Monday deals on TVs here
The best Cyber Monday deals on tablets & e-readers
Tablets are also worth considering if you need a tool for school, leisure, or to unwind on. From Amazon’s very affordable Fire tablets to the mid-range and high-end iPad models, we’ve included a little bit of everything, as well as accessories to help you get the most out of your purchase. Also, if you like to read and are interested in great Kindle e-reader deals, you’ll find those below as well.
The latest iPad mini tablet with 64GB of storage is $100 off at Best Buy, making for the biggest discount we’ve seen yet.
Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019, 64GB) $ 108 $ 190 43 % off $ 108 $ 108 $ 190 43 % off Amazon’s first USB-C-compatible device, which features a 10.1-inch screen, 64GB of internal storage with the option to expand via microSD, and a second antenna to maintain a better Wi-Fi signal. $108 at Amazon
The Kids Edition Fire HD 10 is $130 instead of $200. This version includes the tablet, a tough case, a year’s worth of the FreeTime Unlimited subscription, and a two-year replacement guarantee if it breaks.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus (32GB, ad-supported) $ 50 $ 110 55 % off $ 50 $ 50 $ 110 55 % off Amazon’s Fire HD 8 Plus packs a lot of value in for the money. It’s a suitable vessel for all of your Prime content, and this model, in particular, supports wireless charging. $50 at Amazon (refurbished)
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, a 10.4-inch Android tablet with 64GB of storage, costs $250 (usually $350) and includes a free $30 gift card with purchase
The Brydge Pro Plus keyboard has an integrated trackpad, so you don’t need to use the touchscreen (or, at least as much)
The Brydge Pro Plus 12.3-inch (left) and the Brydge Go Plus Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
If you have the Surface Pro 7 or any model going back to the Surface Pro 4, Brydge’s Pro Plus 12.3-inch keyboard with a trackpad is $30 off its usual price, totaling $120.
The Brydge Go Plus, made for the Surface Go, is $100 ($40 off)
The best Cyber Monday gaming deals
While there are no PS5 or Xbox Series X/S deals to speak of, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other great price cuts. In fact, for the Nintendo Switch you’ll find the best prices yet on first-party games and accessories. Plus, new releases for the Xbox One and PS4 (several of which include free next-gen upgrades) are discounted.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is $30 at GameStop (usually $60), lower than the best-ever price.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is $40 at GameStop (usually $60), lower than the best-ever price.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is $40 at GameStop (usually $60), its lowest price.
Super Mario Maker 2 is $40 at GameStop (usually $60), its lowest price.
Yoshi’s Crafted World is $30 at GameStop (usually $60), the lowest price ever.
The landscapes in Ghost of Tsushima are serene
Watch Dogs Legion is $30 at Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy (usually $60), its lowest price ever. If you buy the Xbox One version and upgrade to that console’s successor, you will receive the next-gen version free of charge.
A still from Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is $13 at Best Buy (usually $30), the lowest price ever. If you own or buy an Xbox Series X / S, you will receive a free upgrade for this game via Smart Delivery.
Gears 5 is $5 at Best Buy (usually $30), the lowest price ever. If you own or buy an Xbox Series X / S, you will receive a free upgrade for this game via Smart Delivery
The best Cyber Monday deals on PC tech
It’s always a good time to make some smart upgrades to your PC. And while that’s usually a costly endeavor, Cyber Monday is making some of it a little cheaper. You’ll have to continue your search for an Nvidia RTX 3080 another day, but for now you can save on monitors, storage and peripherals.
The W-Type keyboard next to the W-Touch wireless trackpad Photo: Brydge
For the first time, Brydge has discounted its W-Touch standalone trackpad for Windows 10. Normally $100, it’s down to $70.
The W-Type wireless, full-sized Bluetooth keyboard is discounted by $20, bringing the price down to $40.
Samsung’s 2TB 970 Evo Plus NVMe SSD is $250 at Newegg and Best Buy , beating the lowest price by about $40. A PCIe 3.0 M.2 SSD like this will fit in only certain kinds of motherboards (so check before you buy).
Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe SSD (2TB) $ 250 $ 300 17 % off $ 250 $ 250 $ 300 17 % off Samsung’s PCIe 3.0 M.2 NVMe SSD like this will fit in only certain kinds of motherboards with read and write performance levels of up to 3,500MB/s and 3,300MB/s. $250 at Newegg
For an even faster M.2 drive that’s actually capable of delivering quicker read/write speeds for both PCIe 3.0 and motherboards with PCIe 4.0 support, Samsung’s 500GB 980 Pro NVMe SSD is $120 (usually $150) at Amazon.
Related Find many more deals on PC accessories right here
The best Cyber Monday deals on smart home tech
You can add some smarts to your home with a smart speaker, and you can go even deeper with tech like a smart lock for your door, a Wi-Fi-connected security cam, and an alarm kit. This can be expensive to do, but as you probably guessed, it’s a lot cheaper to outfit your home with these upgrades now that Cyber Monday is here.
If you need a security camera, the Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera is discounted to $100 from $130 at Amazon.
Ring Video Doorbell 3 $ 140 $ 180 22 % off $ 140 $ 140 $ 180 22 % off The latest Ring video doorbell features enhanced dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz support, as well as a new motion zone feature that can spot movement within five to 15 feet of your front door, or wherever you prefer to install it. $140 at Amazon
Ring’s Video Doorbell 3 Plus, which offers four-second video previews of alerts, is $160 instead of $230. Likewise, you can add an Echo Show 5 to the order for $10 more.
The SimpliSafe base next to the keypad. Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
SimpliSafe’s home security systems are 50 percent off, starting at $114 for the most basic bundle. Each bundle includes a free SimpliCam (a $99 value).
Related Here are some more Cyber Monday deals on smart home tech
The best Cyber Monday deals on mesh Wi-Fi routers
One of the most practical upgrades you can make for yourself this weekend. Get a mesh Wi-Fi system if your current router isn’t cutting it in terms of speed or signal strength. A multi-router system casts a wide net of connectivity, so you’ll experience far fewer slow or drop-out zones. And if you have several people in your home — each using several devices to their name — there’s even more reason to make the upgrade.
Google’s Nest Wifi mesh routers are steeply discounted, starting with the single unit that’s $135 instead of $169 at Amazon and $139 at Best Buy.
Related Check out more deals on mesh routers here
The best Cyber Monday deals on misc. tech
A number of retailers are selling the DJI Osmo Action for $199, a discount of about $50 from its regular price. The Osmo Action is similar to GoPro’s line of action cameras, and comes with both front and rear facing screens.
The Oculus Quest 2 with 64GB of storage is $300 at Newegg, which is the normal price, but it comes with a $15 Newegg gift card today. While it’s currently backordered, you can still get the gift card with your purchase.
Segway Ninebot
Ninebot Segway’s Max electric scooter is $649 instead of its usual $800 purchase at Wellbots. This beats a recent discount we covered by $50. This purchase is also tax-free for US residents living outside of NY state.


theverge--2020-11-23--Uber and Lyft just scored a huge federal transportation contract

The US government awarded a big transportation contract to Uber and Lyft this week , authorizing the ride-hailing companies to provide transportation to up to 4 million federal employees and their families .
The General Services Administration , the procurement arm for the federal government , granted the five-year contract to Uber and Lyft , the companies confirmed .
The contract is worth up to $ 810 million , though it ’ s unclear how much each company will receive .
While individual federal employees have previously been able to use ride-hail services for travel , the new contract allows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within agencies and directly work with officials to promote the service .
The contract was awarded to Uber for Business , the ride-hailing company ’ s business-to-business division .
“ The expansion of our customer base to include government is a natural next step for us , and we ’ re proud to help federal agencies tackle some of the biggest administrative challenges they face , ” Ronnie Gurion , global head of Uber for Business , said in a statement .
Lyft also hailed the contract as a good sign for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already works closely with select agencies , but with this award under our belt , we see an opportunity to be the preferred rideshare partner for many other top federal agencies , ” a spokesperson said .
A spokesperson for GSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment , but in a blog post back in April , the agency said it was able to negotiate a 2–4 percent discount with the companies , compared with large commercial customers .
Uber and Lyft also agreed to waive technology fees charged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the agency said .
The contract with Uber and Lyft “ modernizes official travel and will make it easier , and cheaper , to use rideshare services for official travel , ” Federal Acquisition Service Assistant Commissioner for Travel , Transportation and Logistics Charlotte Phelan wrote .
“ No new apps to download - and no paper receipts to lose .
”

The US government awarded a big transportation contract to Uber and Lyft this week, authorizing the ride-hailing companies to provide transportation to up to 4 million federal employees and their families.
The General Services Administration, the procurement arm for the federal government, granted the five-year contract to Uber and Lyft, the companies confirmed. The contract is worth up to $810 million, though it’s unclear how much each company will receive.
While individual federal employees have previously been able to use ride-hail services for travel, the new contract allows the companies to formally launch their services within agencies and directly work with officials to promote the service.
“a natural next step for us”
The contract was awarded to Uber for Business, the ride-hailing company’s business-to-business division. “The expansion of our customer base to include government is a natural next step for us, and we’re proud to help federal agencies tackle some of the biggest administrative challenges they face,” Ronnie Gurion, global head of Uber for Business, said in a statement.
Lyft also hailed the contract as a good sign for the growth of its business. “Lyft already works closely with select agencies, but with this award under our belt, we see an opportunity to be the preferred rideshare partner for many other top federal agencies,” a spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for GSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in a blog post back in April, the agency said it was able to negotiate a 2–4 percent discount with the companies, compared with large commercial customers. Uber and Lyft also agreed to waive technology fees charged to use back-office vendor data and reporting capabilities, the agency said.


theverge--2020-11-23--China launches ambitious mission to bring back samples from the Moon

Today , China successfully launched its most ambitious mission to the Moon to date — this one designed to bring a handful of lunar rocks back to Earth before the end of the year .
If successful , it ’ ll be the first time in nearly half a century that dirt from the Moon has been returned to Earth and the first time that China has retrieved materials from another world .
The mission , called Chang ’ e 5 , is the latest in a long line of lunar missions that China has been conducting over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made its first soft landing on the Moon with Chang ’ e 3 , making China just one of three nations to put a spacecraft on the lunar surface .
Then in December 2018 , China launched Chang ’ e 4 and successfully put a lander and rover on the far side of the Moon in early 2019 — a feat that no other nation has accomplished .
So far , only two nations have ever returned materials from the Moon Now with Chang ’ e 5 , China plans to bring back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , only two nations — the United States and the former Soviet Union — have ever returned materials from the Moon .
Chang ’ e 5 could soon be next , and lessons learned from this mission could put the country on course for even more complex flights to the Moon in the future .
“ This is one thing that the Chinese space program is very good at , ” Andrew Jones , a freelance reporter specializing in China ’ s space program , tells The Verge .
“ They set incremental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what they ’ ve achieved and make more ambitious targets.
” But first , a lot of things have to go right , and Chang ’ e 5 is perhaps the most complicated mission that China has ever launched .
For one thing , the mission is fairly heavy , with all of the hardware needed for the roundtrip Moon flight weighing in at about 8.2 metric tons or around 18,000 pounds .
To get Chang ’ e 5 en route to the Moon , China used its most powerful rocket , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took off from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site located in south China .
The Long March 5 lofted a total of four robotic spacecraft for Chang ’ e 5 , which will work together to bring back between 2 to 4 kilograms of lunar sample back to Earth , according to Jones .
The quartet starts off its journey together , traveling to the Moon in a big pack .
One of the four includes a service spacecraft that will help provide solar power and propel the group to the Moon .
After entering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the spacecraft — a lander and a vehicle to take off from the lander — will break away and descend to the surface .
The lander will then use instruments to drill into the Moon , passing along the material it collects to the ascent vehicle sitting on top .
That ascent vehicle will then act as a mini-rocket , taking off from the Moon and meeting up with the hardware still in lunar orbit .
Once it docks with the service spacecraft , the lunar sample will pass into the fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on Earth .
The trio will then leave lunar orbit and head back to Earth .
Eventually , the return capsule will break away with its precious materials inside .
Since it will be coming in so fast from the Moon , the capsule will actually bounce off the Earth ’ s atmosphere once before diving toward the planet and eventually landing in Inner Mongolia .
It should be a quick mission , lasting just 23 days or so All in all , it should be a quick mission , lasting just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landing of the lunar material , Jones says .
That ’ s because Chang ’ e 5 is not designed to survive the harsh lunar night , a two-week period that occurs every month when part of the Moon ’ s surface is plunged into darkness and temperatures can drop well below -208 degrees Fahrenheit ( -130 degrees Celsius ) .
To survive such an extreme environment , the surface spacecraft would need to be equipped with special heating instruments — such as radioisotope generators that radioactively decay over time and generate warmth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these generators to survive the lunar night , but such materials are missing on Chang ’ e 5 since this is designed to be a quick “ grab and go ” mission .
That means in less than a month , China could bring back the first samples of the Moon returned to Earth since the Cold War era .
US astronauts famously brought back lunar rocks collected during the Apollo missions in the 1960s and ’ 70s , while the former Soviet Union performed a handful of successful lunar sample return missions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last time lunar rocks came back to Earth occurred in 1976 with the Soviet Union ’ s Luna 24 robotic probe .
Chang ’ e 5 is targeting a particularly enticing part of the Moon called Oceanus Procellarum .
This unexplored area has relatively few craters on its surface compared to other parts of the Moon .
One theory is that volcanic activity may have occurred in this area late in the Moon ’ s life , smoothing away craters that were there before .
Getting samples from this region could provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this volcanic activity might have occurred , providing a better snapshot of how the Moon formed and evolved over time .
The complexity of Chang ’ e 5 is also a deliberate choice for China “ It ’ s a big deal for the science community in China , and also the data will be keenly followed by scientists internationally , ” Jones says .
The complexity of Chang ’ e 5 is also a deliberate choice for China , according to Jones , as it will allow the country to test out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orbit around the Moon .
China could have opted for the ascent vehicle to take the lunar samples all the way back to Earth .
But Jones notes that the meetup in lunar orbit is meant to test out capabilities needed on future missions .
A mission designed to return samples from Mars could certainly draw from Chang ’ e 5 .
But it ’ s also important to note that this mission is very similar in its flight profile to that of NASA ’ s Apollo missions , which used similar techniques @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is much more of an Apollo kind of mission profile than it was for the Soviet robotic lunar sample return , ” says Jones .
“ So the idea is that they ’ re playing out and practicing for future crewed missions to the Moon .
”

Today, China successfully launched its most ambitious mission to the Moon to date — this one designed to bring a handful of lunar rocks back to Earth before the end of the year. If successful, it’ll be the first time in nearly half a century that dirt from the Moon has been returned to Earth and the first time that China has retrieved materials from another world.
The mission, called Chang’e 5, is the latest in a long line of lunar missions that China has been conducting over the last decade. In 2013, the country made its first soft landing on the Moon with Chang’e 3, making China just one of three nations to put a spacecraft on the lunar surface. Then in December 2018, China launched Chang’e 4 and successfully put a lander and rover on the far side of the Moon in early 2019 — a feat that no other nation has accomplished.
So far, only two nations have ever returned materials from the Moon
Now with Chang’e 5, China plans to bring back samples of the Moon. So far, only two nations — the United States and the former Soviet Union — have ever returned materials from the Moon. Chang’e 5 could soon be next, and lessons learned from this mission could put the country on course for even more complex flights to the Moon in the future.
“This is one thing that the Chinese space program is very good at,” Andrew Jones, a freelance reporter specializing in China’s space program, tells The Verge. “They set incremental targets and goals, and they build on what they’ve achieved and make more ambitious targets.”
But first, a lot of things have to go right, and Chang’e 5 is perhaps the most complicated mission that China has ever launched. For one thing, the mission is fairly heavy, with all of the hardware needed for the roundtrip Moon flight weighing in at about 8.2 metric tons or around 18,000 pounds. To get Chang’e 5 en route to the Moon, China used its most powerful rocket, the Long March 5. The rocket took off from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site located in south China.
The Long March 5 lofted a total of four robotic spacecraft for Chang’e 5, which will work together to bring back between 2 to 4 kilograms of lunar sample back to Earth, according to Jones. The quartet starts off its journey together, traveling to the Moon in a big pack. One of the four includes a service spacecraft that will help provide solar power and propel the group to the Moon. After entering the Moon’s orbit, two of the spacecraft — a lander and a vehicle to take off from the lander — will break away and descend to the surface. The lander will then use instruments to drill into the Moon, passing along the material it collects to the ascent vehicle sitting on top.
That ascent vehicle will then act as a mini-rocket, taking off from the Moon and meeting up with the hardware still in lunar orbit. Once it docks with the service spacecraft, the lunar sample will pass into the fourth spacecraft — a capsule designed to land back on Earth. The trio will then leave lunar orbit and head back to Earth. Eventually, the return capsule will break away with its precious materials inside. Since it will be coming in so fast from the Moon, the capsule will actually bounce off the Earth’s atmosphere once before diving toward the planet and eventually landing in Inner Mongolia.
It should be a quick mission, lasting just 23 days or so
All in all, it should be a quick mission, lasting just 23 days or so from launch to landing of the lunar material, Jones says. That’s because Chang’e 5 is not designed to survive the harsh lunar night, a two-week period that occurs every month when part of the Moon’s surface is plunged into darkness and temperatures can drop well below -208 degrees Fahrenheit (-130 degrees Celsius). To survive such an extreme environment, the surface spacecraft would need to be equipped with special heating instruments — such as radioisotope generators that radioactively decay over time and generate warmth. Previous Chang’e missions included these generators to survive the lunar night, but such materials are missing on Chang’e 5 since this is designed to be a quick “grab and go” mission.
That means in less than a month, China could bring back the first samples of the Moon returned to Earth since the Cold War era. US astronauts famously brought back lunar rocks collected during the Apollo missions in the 1960s and ’70s, while the former Soviet Union performed a handful of successful lunar sample return missions in the 1970s. In fact, the last time lunar rocks came back to Earth occurred in 1976 with the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 robotic probe.
Chang’e 5 is targeting a particularly enticing part of the Moon called Oceanus Procellarum. This unexplored area has relatively few craters on its surface compared to other parts of the Moon. One theory is that volcanic activity may have occurred in this area late in the Moon’s life, smoothing away craters that were there before. Getting samples from this region could provide scientists with a better understanding of when this volcanic activity might have occurred, providing a better snapshot of how the Moon formed and evolved over time.
The complexity of Chang’e 5 is also a deliberate choice for China
“It’s a big deal for the science community in China, and also the data will be keenly followed by scientists internationally,” Jones says.
The complexity of Chang’e 5 is also a deliberate choice for China, according to Jones, as it will allow the country to test out how to rendezvous and dock spacecraft in orbit around the Moon. China could have opted for the ascent vehicle to take the lunar samples all the way back to Earth. But Jones notes that the meetup in lunar orbit is meant to test out capabilities needed on future missions. A mission designed to return samples from Mars could certainly draw from Chang’e 5. But it’s also important to note that this mission is very similar in its flight profile to that of NASA’s Apollo missions, which used similar techniques for putting people on the Moon.


theverge--2020-11-23--Apple head of security accused of offering iPads as bribes for concealed gun permits

A California grand jury has indicted Apple ’ s head of global security on charges that he tried to bribe Santa Clara County officials to procure firearms ( CCW ) licenses , according to a news release .
Santa Clara district attorney Jeff Rosen alleges that Thomas Moyer offered 200 iPads — worth about $ 70,000 — to Capt .
James Jensen and Undersheriff Rick Sung in the Santa Clara County sheriff ’ s office , in exchange for four concealed firearms licenses for Apple employees .
The charges came after a two-year investigation .
“ In the case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Undersheriff Sung and Cpt .
Jensen managed to extract from Thomas Moyer a promise that Apple would donate iPads to the Sheriff ’ s Office , ” Rosen said in the news release .
The iPads were never delivered , according to Rosen ’ s office , because Sung and Moyer became aware in 2019 that the district attorney was executing a search warrant for the sheriff department ’ s CCW records .
Moyer ’ s attorney , Ed Swanson , said in a statement emailed to The Verge that his client @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , adding he believed Moyer was “ collateral damage ” in a dispute between the Santa Clara sheriff and district attorneys ’ offices .
“ He did nothing wrong and has acted with the highest integrity throughout his career , ” Swanson said .
“ We have no doubt he will be acquitted at trial.
” According to Bloomberg News , Moyer has been at Apple for about 15 years and has been its head of global security since November 2018 .
He wrote a memo in 2018 warning Apple employees about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media , which he wrote “ can become part of your personal and professional identity forever.
” Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday .

A California grand jury has indicted Apple’s head of global security on charges that he tried to bribe Santa Clara County officials to procure firearms (CCW) licenses, according to a news release. Santa Clara district attorney Jeff Rosen alleges that Thomas Moyer offered 200 iPads — worth about $70,000 — to Capt. James Jensen and Undersheriff Rick Sung in the Santa Clara County sheriff’s office, in exchange for four concealed firearms licenses for Apple employees.
The charges came after a two-year investigation. “In the case of four CCW licenses withheld from Apple employees, Undersheriff Sung and Cpt. Jensen managed to extract from Thomas Moyer a promise that Apple would donate iPads to the Sheriff’s Office,” Rosen said in the news release. The iPads were never delivered, according to Rosen’s office, because Sung and Moyer became aware in 2019 that the district attorney was executing a search warrant for the sheriff department’s CCW records.
Moyer’s attorney, Ed Swanson, said in a statement emailed to The Verge that his client is innocent of the charges filed against him, adding he believed Moyer was “collateral damage” in a dispute between the Santa Clara sheriff and district attorneys’ offices. “He did nothing wrong and has acted with the highest integrity throughout his career,” Swanson said. “We have no doubt he will be acquitted at trial.”
“We expect all of our employees to conduct themselves with integrity,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement to Ars Technica. “After learning of the allegations, we conducted a thorough internal investigation and found no wrongdoing.”
According to Bloomberg News, Moyer has been at Apple for about 15 years and has been its head of global security since November 2018. He wrote a memo in 2018 warning Apple employees about the potential consequences of leaking information to the media, which he wrote “can become part of your personal and professional identity forever.”


theverge--2020-11-23--GM abandons Trump’s war against California’s pollution powers

General Motors announced today that it is abandoning Donald Trump ’ s effort to take away California ’ s ability to set fuel efficiency standards .
The company , along with Fiat Chrysler and Toyota , previously backed Trump ’ s efforts to roll back fuel efficiency standards .
Under the Clean Air Act , California has historically been allowed to set its own emissions standards , which are tougher than federal guidelines and typically set the bar for the entire auto industry in the US .
California is the largest auto market in the US and the 10th largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately withdrawing from the pre-emption litigation.
” GM is now aligning itself with President-elect Joe Biden ’ s plans to hasten a transition to electric vehicles in an effort to combat climate change .
“ We are confident that the Biden Administration , California , and the U.S. auto industry , which supports 10.3 million jobs , can collaboratively find the pathway that will deliver an all-electric future , ” GM CEO Mary Barra wrote in a letter to environmental groups today that was shared with The Verge .
“ To better foster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdrawing from the pre-emption litigation and inviting other automakers to join us.
” Last week , GM pledged to boost spending on the development of its electric vehicles .
The company said that it would launch 30 new electric vehicles by 2025 .
In March 2020 , Trump rolled back an Obama-era plan to put more fuel-efficient vehicles on the roads .
Nearly two dozen states sued the Trump administration in response .
Even other car companies balked at the administration ’ s attempt to roll back the fuel efficiency mandate .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ford , Volkswagen , Honda , and BMW all sided with California .

General Motors announced today that it is abandoning Donald Trump’s effort to take away California’s ability to set fuel efficiency standards. The company, along with Fiat Chrysler and Toyota, previously backed Trump’s efforts to roll back fuel efficiency standards.
Under the Clean Air Act, California has historically been allowed to set its own emissions standards, which are tougher than federal guidelines and typically set the bar for the entire auto industry in the US. California is the largest auto market in the US and the 10th largest in the world.
“We are immediately withdrawing from the pre-emption litigation.”
GM is now aligning itself with President-elect Joe Biden’s plans to hasten a transition to electric vehicles in an effort to combat climate change.
“We are confident that the Biden Administration, California, and the U.S. auto industry, which supports 10.3 million jobs, can collaboratively find the pathway that will deliver an all-electric future,” GM CEO Mary Barra wrote in a letter to environmental groups today that was shared with The Verge. “To better foster the necessary dialogue, we are immediately withdrawing from the pre-emption litigation and inviting other automakers to join us.”
Last week, GM pledged to boost spending on the development of its electric vehicles. The company said that it would launch 30 new electric vehicles by 2025.
In March 2020, Trump rolled back an Obama-era plan to put more fuel-efficient vehicles on the roads. Nearly two dozen states sued the Trump administration in response. Even other car companies balked at the administration’s attempt to roll back the fuel efficiency mandate. While GM and a few others supported Trump, Ford, Volkswagen, Honda, and BMW all sided with California.


theverge--2020-11-23--Apple extends deadline for requiring in-app purchases for apps selling online classes and events

Apple on Monday announced an extension to its deadline for requiring in-app purchases for online events and classes offered within iOS apps to June 30th , 2021 .
Apple previously adjusted what types of events are subject to its in-app purchase policy and standard 30 percent cut back in September , with the original intention of requiring in-app purchases in all appropriate apps by December of this year .
Apple cited the coronavirus pandemic , writing in a developer update posted to its website , “ As the world fights COVID-19 , we recognize that adapting experiences from in-person to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” This deadline extension means developers have more time to temporarily reap the full profits of their sales Requiring in-app purchase options for outside services like video streaming and exercise classes offered through iOS has been part of the company ’ s policy for quite a while , but this specific change is focused on the adjustments made following Facebook ’ s September complaint .
Facebook ’ s issue was framed around event organizers losing out on much-needed money for their digital events offered through the Facebook app during COVID-19 , because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commission .
Apple decided to waive the fee till the end of the year , and the company adjusted its policy to focus on group events and classes to keep one-on-one experiences free from Apple fees .
This deadline extension means developers have more time to incorporate in-app purchases in their apps where applicable and to temporarily reap the full profits of their sales .
Apple ’ s other recent App Store changes suggest it ’ s inclined to make some concessions , whether because of pressure from developers or regulatory scrutiny from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an anti-trust investigation in Europe .
The best example is Apple ’ s recently announced App Store Small Business Program .
Any developer making under $ 1 million in sales per year will be able to apply next year and if approved receive a reduced 15 percent App Store commission .
Other companies like Amazon have negotiated such exemptions , albeit in back room deals rather than public battles .
Amazon Prime Video is able to offer subscriptions with a reduced 15 percent Apple commission and sell in-app purchases and rentals without being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase option .

Apple on Monday announced an extension to its deadline for requiring in-app purchases for online events and classes offered within iOS apps to June 30th, 2021. Apple previously adjusted what types of events are subject to its in-app purchase policy and standard 30 percent cut back in September, with the original intention of requiring in-app purchases in all appropriate apps by December of this year.
Apple cited the coronavirus pandemic, writing in a developer update posted to its website, “As the world fights COVID-19, we recognize that adapting experiences from in-person to digital continues to be a top priority.”
This deadline extension means developers have more time to temporarily reap the full profits of their sales
Requiring in-app purchase options for outside services like video streaming and exercise classes offered through iOS has been part of the company’s policy for quite a while, but this specific change is focused on the adjustments made following Facebook’s September complaint. Facebook’s issue was framed around event organizers losing out on much-needed money for their digital events offered through the Facebook app during COVID-19, because of Apple’s 30 percent in-app purchase commission. Apple decided to waive the fee till the end of the year, and the company adjusted its policy to focus on group events and classes to keep one-on-one experiences free from Apple fees.
This deadline extension means developers have more time to incorporate in-app purchases in their apps where applicable and to temporarily reap the full profits of their sales. Apple’s other recent App Store changes suggest it’s inclined to make some concessions, whether because of pressure from developers or regulatory scrutiny from its on-going legal battle with Epic and an anti-trust investigation in Europe.