theverge--2020-12-06--The true price of a PlayStation 5

The true price of a PlayStation 5

This past week I ’ ve been watching eBay , trying to decide if I should sell my PS5 .
I wouldn ’ t dream of becoming a scalper , but it ’ s getting hard to ignore just how much it ’ s worth .
My daughter and I had beaten Astro Bot and Miles Morales , so I thought I ’ d peek at the resale market .
Wow , are they worth a lot !
And it ’ s not just the PlayStation 5 — I found that Xbox Series X and S , Nvidia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 3060 Ti graphics cards , and AMD ’ s rival RX 6800 and 6800 XT GPUs are all commanding incredibly high prices on the resale market .
It no longer surprises me how each big ticket holiday gaming gadget sells out nigh-instantly anytime they ’ re restocked ; the incentive for scalpers is just too high .
They ’ re so high even folks like me , who bought one intending to use it , might have to think twice .
( That 's capitalism for you . )
Example : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retails for $ 499.99 .
But it ’ s easily worth double that on eBay : I averaged the actual final sale price of a hundred PS5s , subtracting a few sketchy outliers , to arrive at a street price of $ 1,024 .
Mind you , that ’ s not the asking price : that ’ s what people are actually paying for these consoles .
I ran the same numbers for the PS5 Digital Edition , the new Xboxes and all six graphics cards .
Here are the results : I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or used consoles to get to these numbers , and you can easily see how strong the PS5 ’ s demand is in particular : even the PS5 Digital Edition ( without the disc drive ) is worth nearly as much as the disc version that retails for $ 100 more .
While scanning through , I also saw that including extra games , controllers or accessories is n't even necessary : sometimes it was enough to justify an extra $ 100 or $ 200 , but a PS5 didn ’ t need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
( Some Xboxes with extra accessories seemed to be worth $ 50 to $ 100 more than others , but people are clearly buying for the consoles themselves . )
All this means unless the situation changes drastically , the scalping isn ’ t going to stop anytime soon .
If there ’ s a bright spot for would-be console buyers , it ’ s that not every PS5 and Xbox listed on eBay is actually selling , even if quite a few are .
In terms of volume , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 units on eBay on December 3rd alone , but some $ 1,000 PS5 and $ 850 Xbox Series X listings ran out the clock without getting sold .
( Most PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S seemed to be selling , but there were also far fewer of them listed than the disc-based models . )
On the PC side of things , the new Nvidia and AMD graphics cards appear to be in incredibly short supply judging by eBay listings , though .
Almost every single card I saw found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priced RTX 3090s — and even there , there were a handful of $ 2,400 and $ 2,500 sales for what ’ s nominally a $ 1,500 GPU .
The shortages feel very real : maybe a hundred RTX 3080 cards changed hands on December 3rd , even fewer RTX 3070 cards , and only 27 of the new AMD cards trickled down to eBay buyers that day .
As we ’ ve discussed repeatedly at The Verge , all of these items are practically impossible to buy at an actual store for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re lucky , have connections , or are willing to pay for bots or scalpers , you might not be able to find one at all — and retailers have do n't have the right incentives to fix that .
We like to think we ’ ve got some fast , savvy dealhunters on staff , but many of us are still struggling to find a new GPU , PS5 , or Xbox .
Each and every supposed opportunity to buy is another shitshow .
“ Coming soon ” is almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock , ” and if we actually manage to get one into our digital shopping cart in that blink of an eye , it ’ ll often vanish before checkout .
The December 2nd launch of the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti was no exception , with retailers failing to launch at the scheduled time and others gone before they actually appeared to be in stock .
Best Buy was a particular joy : It ’ s also fun to see GameStop and Newegg “ restock ” these products — where “ restock ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extras .
Can you blame them , though , when eBay shows even those buyers could get their money 's worth based on the current supply and demand ?
This pattern has played out many times before , and it 's likely that supply will eventually catch up .
Usually , these companies do n't intentionally create scarcity , even if it felt like that to me in early 2008 when I camped out in a freezing Best Buy parking lot for a Nintendo Wii a full year after that console launched .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , with companies like Microsoft and Nvidia signaling it may be months before things even out .
I ca n't remember a holiday season with this many must-have items , either : Tickle Me Elmo , early Power Rangers and that Nintendo Wii were typically one-offs !
I ’ m still leaning against selling my PS5 on eBay ; I just like the idea of trading it for an AMD RX 6800 , like I suggested in my review .
But it 's no easier to find that GPU than it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks like I 'd need most of the gains I 'd see from selling the console to buy that graphics card on eBay , too .

This past week I’ve been watching eBay, trying to decide if I should sell my PS5. I wouldn’t dream of becoming a scalper, but it’s getting hard to ignore just how much it’s worth. My daughter and I had beaten Astro Bot and Miles Morales, so I thought I’d peek at the resale market. Wow, are they worth a lot!
Example: The full-fat PlayStation 5 with a disc drive retails for $499.99. But it’s easily worth double that on eBay: I averaged the actual final sale price of a hundred PS5s, subtracting a few sketchy outliers, to arrive at a street price of $1,024. Mind you, that’s not the asking price: that’s what people are actually paying for these consoles.
I ran the same numbers for the PS5 Digital Edition, the new Xboxes and all six graphics cards. Here are the results:
PS5, Xbox, GPU street prices: Holiday 2020 Item Retail Price Street Price PS5 (disc) $499 $1,024 PS5 (digital) $399 $990 Xbox Series X $499 $835 Xbox Series S $299 $471 Nvidia RTX 3090 $1,499 $2,076 Nvidia RTX 3080 $699 $1,227 Nvidia RTX 3070 $499 $819 Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti $399 $675 AMD RX 6800 XT $649 $1,232 AMD RX 6800 $579 $841
I didn’t weed out any open-box or used consoles to get to these numbers, and you can easily see how strong the PS5’s demand is in particular: even the PS5 Digital Edition (without the disc drive) is worth nearly as much as the disc version that retails for $100 more.
While scanning through, I also saw that including extra games, controllers or accessories isn't even necessary: sometimes it was enough to justify an extra $100 or $200, but a PS5 didn’t need one to rake in $1K or more. (Some Xboxes with extra accessories seemed to be worth $50 to $100 more than others, but people are clearly buying for the consoles themselves.) All this means unless the situation changes drastically, the scalping isn’t going to stop anytime soon.
If there’s a bright spot for would-be console buyers, it’s that not every PS5 and Xbox listed on eBay is actually selling, even if quite a few are. In terms of volume, the PS5 and new Xboxes each moved around 1,000 units on eBay on December 3rd alone, but some $1,000 PS5 and $850 Xbox Series X listings ran out the clock without getting sold. (Most PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S seemed to be selling, but there were also far fewer of them listed than the disc-based models.)
On the PC side of things, the new Nvidia and AMD graphics cards appear to be in incredibly short supply judging by eBay listings, though. Almost every single card I saw found a buyer, save the most exorbitantly priced RTX 3090s — and even there, there were a handful of $2,400 and $2,500 sales for what’s nominally a $1,500 GPU.
Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge
The shortages feel very real: maybe a hundred RTX 3080 cards changed hands on December 3rd, even fewer RTX 3070 cards, and only 27 of the new AMD cards trickled down to eBay buyers that day.
As we’ve discussed repeatedly at The Verge, all of these items are practically impossible to buy at an actual store for their retail price right now. Unless you’re lucky, have connections, or are willing to pay for bots or scalpers, you might not be able to find one at all — and retailers have don't have the right incentives to fix that.
We like to think we’ve got some fast, savvy dealhunters on staff, but many of us are still struggling to find a new GPU, PS5, or Xbox. Each and every supposed opportunity to buy is another shitshow. “Coming soon” is almost always immediately followed by “Out of stock,” and if we actually manage to get one into our digital shopping cart in that blink of an eye, it’ll often vanish before checkout. The December 2nd launch of the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti was no exception, with retailers failing to launch at the scheduled time and others gone before they actually appeared to be in stock.
Best Buy was a particular joy:
It’s also fun to see GameStop and Newegg “restock” these products — where “restock” means upselling us on bundles with unwanted extras. Can you blame them, though, when eBay shows even those buyers could get their money's worth based on the current supply and demand?
This pattern has played out many times before, and it's likely that supply will eventually catch up. Usually, these companies don't intentionally create scarcity, even if it felt like that to me in early 2008 when I camped out in a freezing Best Buy parking lot for a Nintendo Wii a full year after that console launched.
But we are living through unprecedented times right now, with companies like Microsoft and Nvidia signaling it may be months before things even out. I can't remember a holiday season with this many must-have items, either: Tickle Me Elmo, early Power Rangers and that Nintendo Wii were typically one-offs!


theverge--2020-12-06--Go read this NY Times report about how police departments are using drones

As drones get smarter and the Federal Aviation Administration issues more waivers for its drone regulations , we ’ re likely to see more law enforcement agencies using them in their day-to-day , including for 911 calls .
The formidable Cade Metz writes for The New York Times about what this looks like in practice , and to be perfectly honest , it ’ s extremely disconcerting , as Chula Vista , California officers “ chase ” a “ suspect ” using a drone : When the man left the car , carrying a gun and a bag of heroin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following as he sprinted across the street and ducked behind a wall .
But as he threw the gun into a dumpster and hid the bag of heroin , the drone , hovering above him , caught everything on camera .
When he slipped through the back door of a strip mall , exited through the front door and ran down the sidewalk , it caught that , too .
Watching the live video feed , an officer back at headquarters relayed the details to the police on the scene , who soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody According to the Times , the Chula Vista police department uses drones on around 15 emergency calls a day , part of its Drone as First Responder program .
In July , the Chula Vista PD received approval to fly its Skydio drones beyond visual line of sight in emergency situations , but with conditions : It couldn ’ t fly higher than 50 feed above the nearest obstacle , had to stay within 1,500 feet of the pilot , and had to return to visual line of sight “ as soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drones used in the Times ’ example above were DJI drones ) .
Budget cuts for police departments are looming as local governments try to weather the economic downturn of the coronavirus pandemic .
There ’ s also the push toward reexamining how police departments are funded , and drones provide a more cost-effective option than helicopters and pilots , the Times article notes .
Plus , the drones can allow for “ policing ” that adheres to social distancing guidelines .
But as a policy analyst with the ACLU told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Technology like drones “ could allow law enforcement to enforce any area of the law against anyone they want.
” To read more about how police departments can use drones and the myriad issues involved , check out this unsettling report in the New York Times .

When the man left the car, carrying a gun and a bag of heroin, a nearby police car had trouble following as he sprinted across the street and ducked behind a wall. But as he threw the gun into a dumpster and hid the bag of heroin, the drone, hovering above him, caught everything on camera. When he slipped through the back door of a strip mall, exited through the front door and ran down the sidewalk, it caught that, too.
Watching the live video feed, an officer back at headquarters relayed the details to the police on the scene, who soon caught the man and took him into custody


theverge--2020-12-06--SpaceX has launched a second Dragon capsule to the space station

Update December 6th , 11:35AM ET : SpaceX successfully launched its latest mission to the International Space Station , using its upgraded Dragon capsule that will dock with the station tomorrow at about 1:30PM ET .
Original story : This morning , SpaceX is set to launch its latest batch of cargo and supplies to the International Space Station , but the company is using a slightly different spacecraft for this flight than resupply missions of the past .
SpaceX is flying its newly upgraded Dragon capsule to transport the goods to space — the same vehicle that the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the station .
SpaceX has been resupplying the space station since 2012 , and for all of its 20 previous missions , the company has used the original version of its Dragon cargo capsule .
SpaceX started developing a new Dragon capsule , though , to transport people to and from the ISS .
Called Crew Dragon — or Dragon 2 — the vehicle carried its first crew to space in May .
With the new version operational , SpaceX decided to discontinue the use of its old Dragon capsule and use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cargo .
The Dragon 2 capsule sports a number of upgrades over its predecessor ; SpaceX says it can carry 50 percent more science payloads .
The new Dragon is also capable of automatically docking with the space station .
The previous version had to be berthed : it would slowly approach the ISS , while a crew member on board the station would use a robotic arm to grab the incoming capsule and move it onto an open docking port .
Dragon 2 doesn ’ t need any help from humans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This mission will bring supplies for the station and astronauts , and is also bringing several experiments to the ISS .
They include the European Space Agency ’ s Bioasteroid , which will test how biomining— the process of using microorganisms to extract elements from rocks— is affected by microgravity .
The mission also will have the first COVID-19 drug research experiment in space on board , to try to improve the efficiency of antiviral drug remdesivir .
Also on board will be Nanorocks ’ commercial airlock module— basically a large metal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ISS— designed to get payloads and other materials from inside the pressurized environment of the ISS out into space .
Once this capsule reaches the space station , it won ’ t be the only Dragon attached to the ISS .
On November 15th , SpaceX launched a crew of four to the ISS on another Dragon capsule , which docked with the station a day later .
That means there will be two Dragons docked at the ISS after this flight gets off the ground .
“ It ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dragons on the space station simultaneously , ” Sarah Walker , the director of Dragon mission management at SpaceX , said during a press conference ahead of the flight .
“ And it really ushers in a season of continuous Dragon presence for the near future , at least through the end of 2021.
” The mission was rescheduled due to weather concerns but is now slated to launch at 11:17AM ET from Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
SpaceX is using one of its used Falcon 9 rockets for the mission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times before .
In fact , it ’ s the same rocket that launched SpaceX ’ s first crew of two the station in May .
After the flight , the Falcon 9 will attempt to land on one of SpaceX ’ s drone ships in the Atlantic .
The Dragon capsule is expected to dock with the ISS on December 7th .

Update December 6th, 11:35AM ET: SpaceX successfully launched its latest mission to the International Space Station, using its upgraded Dragon capsule that will dock with the station tomorrow at about 1:30PM ET.
Original story: This morning, SpaceX is set to launch its latest batch of cargo and supplies to the International Space Station, but the company is using a slightly different spacecraft for this flight than resupply missions of the past. SpaceX is flying its newly upgraded Dragon capsule to transport the goods to space — the same vehicle that the company has been using to fly astronauts to the station.
SpaceX has been resupplying the space station since 2012, and for all of its 20 previous missions, the company has used the original version of its Dragon cargo capsule. SpaceX started developing a new Dragon capsule, though, to transport people to and from the ISS. Called Crew Dragon — or Dragon 2 — the vehicle carried its first crew to space in May. With the new version operational, SpaceX decided to discontinue the use of its old Dragon capsule and use the upgraded version to carry both crew and cargo.
The Dragon 2 capsule sports a number of upgrades over its predecessor; SpaceX says it can carry 50 percent more science payloads. The new Dragon is also capable of automatically docking with the space station. The previous version had to be berthed: it would slowly approach the ISS, while a crew member on board the station would use a robotic arm to grab the incoming capsule and move it onto an open docking port. Dragon 2 doesn’t need any help from humans to dock and attach itself to the ISS.
This mission will bring supplies for the station and astronauts, and is also bringing several experiments to the ISS. They include the European Space Agency’s Bioasteroid, which will test how biomining— the process of using microorganisms to extract elements from rocks— is affected by microgravity. The mission also will have the first COVID-19 drug research experiment in space on board, to try to improve the efficiency of antiviral drug remdesivir. Also on board will be Nanorocks’ commercial airlock module— basically a large metal cup that attaches to the exterior of the ISS— designed to get payloads and other materials from inside the pressurized environment of the ISS out into space.
Once this capsule reaches the space station, it won’t be the only Dragon attached to the ISS. On November 15th, SpaceX launched a crew of four to the ISS on another Dragon capsule, which docked with the station a day later. That means there will be two Dragons docked at the ISS after this flight gets off the ground. “It’ll be the first time that there are two Dragons on the space station simultaneously,” Sarah Walker, the director of Dragon mission management at SpaceX, said during a press conference ahead of the flight. “And it really ushers in a season of continuous Dragon presence for the near future, at least through the end of 2021.”


theverge--2020-12-07--LG developing sliding doors made of transparent OLED displays

LG has partnered with Swedish manufacturer Assa Abloy Entrance Systems to develop automatic sliding doors with built-in transparent OLED displays , the company announced today .
The doors will be aimed at businesses , and LG says they ’ ll be able to greet customers , communicate with employees , or show ads .
LG has been showing off its transparent displays for a little while now , and it unveiled a range of transparent signage early last year .
Now , we ’ re seeing the panels used in the real world .
In August , LG announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windows of subway carriages in Beijing and Shenzhen in China , and OLED-Info reports that both Panasonic and Xiaomi ’ s transparent OLED TVs use LG panels .
South Korea ’ s other major display manufacturer , Samsung , has also experimented with transparent OLED displays in the past , but The Korea Herald reported in 2016 that it had ceased production of the technology .
LG ’ s announcement doesn ’ t give much of an indication of when these high-end doors might become available for businesses .
But considering the transparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can ’ t be too far away from decorating the world ’ s most decadent shopping centers .

LG has partnered with Swedish manufacturer Assa Abloy Entrance Systems to develop automatic sliding doors with built-in transparent OLED displays, the company announced today. The doors will be aimed at businesses, and LG says they’ll be able to greet customers, communicate with employees, or show ads.
LG has been showing off its transparent displays for a little while now, and it unveiled a range of transparent signage early last year. Now, we’re seeing the panels used in the real world. In August, LG announced that its displays were being used in the windows of subway carriages in Beijing and Shenzhen in China, and OLED-Info reports that both Panasonic and Xiaomi’s transparent OLED TVs use LG panels.
One photo shows how the doors could be used to show ads. Image: LG
South Korea’s other major display manufacturer, Samsung, has also experimented with transparent OLED displays in the past, but The Korea Herald reported in 2016 that it had ceased production of the technology.


theverge--2020-12-07--Ikea ends publication of iconic printed catalog

After a 70-year run , Ikea is discontinuing the publication of its printed catalog .
Ikea ’ s decision comes as catalog readership is in decline and the company becomes increasingly more digital .
After initially resisting online shopping , the company was forced to embrace it during the pandemic .
Ikea says its online retail sales increased by 45 percent worldwide last year with ikea.com reporting four billion visits .
The company has also improved its suite of apps to make discovering and buying products easier , while opening smaller stores located in city centers meant to reach people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than either the Bible or the Quran At its peak in 2016 , Ikea says that 200 million catalogs were distributed in 32 languages .
A BBC documentary once claimed that the Ikea catalog was the largest publication in the world , with more copies printed than either the Bible or the Quran .
The first Ikea catalog was put together by Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad in 1951 .
“ For 70 years [ the catalog ] has been one of our most unique and iconic products , which has inspired billions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grüss , Managing Director , Inter IKEA Systems BV .
“ Media consumption and customer behaviors have changed , and Ikea is already increasing digital investments while volumes and interest in the catalogue have decreased.
” Ikea says it will commemorate the catalog with a book launching in the autumn of 2021 .

After a 70-year run, Ikea is discontinuing the publication of its printed catalog.
Ikea’s decision comes as catalog readership is in decline and the company becomes increasingly more digital. After initially resisting online shopping, the company was forced to embrace it during the pandemic. Ikea says its online retail sales increased by 45 percent worldwide last year with ikea.com reporting four billion visits. The company has also improved its suite of apps to make discovering and buying products easier, while opening smaller stores located in city centers meant to reach people where they live.
More copies printed than either the Bible or the Quran
At its peak in 2016, Ikea says that 200 million catalogs were distributed in 32 languages. A BBC documentary once claimed that the Ikea catalog was the largest publication in the world, with more copies printed than either the Bible or the Quran. The first Ikea catalog was put together by Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad in 1951.
“For 70 years [the catalog] has been one of our most unique and iconic products, which has inspired billions of people across the world.” said Konrad Grüss, Managing Director, Inter IKEA Systems BV. “Media consumption and customer behaviors have changed, and Ikea is already increasing digital investments while volumes and interest in the catalogue have decreased.”


theverge--2020-12-07--The Mandalorian’s unique rifle is Nerf’s latest foam-firing Star Wars toy

If you have a 12-year-old , you might want to make sure they ’ re not reading over your shoulder right now — otherwise you ’ ll be spending some quality time explaining why they ’ re not getting a $ 120 toy blaster this holiday season .
Oh , who am I kidding : I ’ m having that chat with myself right now .
Yes , that ’ s the price of this fully functional foam-flinging replica of The Mandalorian ’ s Amban Phase-pulse blaster , which — if I ’ m not mistaken — is the longest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s over four feet ( specifically 50.25 inches ) long , features a light-up scope and “ accurate sounds ” after you install two AAA batteries , and it ’ s got lots of fake scratches and wear so it looks moderately broken in .
Most importantly , it lets you load a standard Nerf Elite dart just like he-who-wears-the-Beskar , by cramming a fresh “ cartridge ” into the pop-up breach .
Just push the white handle underneath the scope forward , and you ’ re ready to reload : As you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make it an effective Nerf weapon for an actual office skirmish or backyard battle : we ’ re talking about a single-shot , spring-powered blaster with a tremendous faux barrel ( which might create drag ) and a very minimal priming handle .
Hasbro declined to tell me how far it ’ ll shoot , either , which suggests the range is probably nothing to brag about — but here ’ s hoping for a surprise !
But most of Hasbro ’ s recent licensed tie-ins aren ’ t the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cool toys with an added foam surprise .
Nerf ’ s Halo MA40 Assault Rifle , the Rogue One Jyn Erso Deluxe Blaster , and the hard-to-find Episode VII First Order Stormtrooper Deluxe Blaster are rare exceptions to the rule .
In fact , if you ’ re looking for an accurate long-range foam blaster in 2020 , the one you want doesn ’ t necessarily come from Nerf !
Here ’ s what the actual Mandalorian prop looks like , in case you need a refresher : The new Nerf blaster will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PT / 4PM ET ( links to come ) , but you should know it ’ s not slated to ship until Spring 2021 .
I couldn ’ t afford the amazing Razor Crest toy this year , and I ’ ve already got my lightsaber , so I don ’ t think I can justify this one too .

If you have a 12-year-old, you might want to make sure they’re not reading over your shoulder right now — otherwise you’ll be spending some quality time explaining why they’re not getting a $120 toy blaster this holiday season. Oh, who am I kidding: I’m having that chat with myself right now.
Yes, that’s the price of this fully functional foam-flinging replica of The Mandalorian’s Amban Phase-pulse blaster, which — if I’m not mistaken — is the longest Nerf blaster ever made.
Click or save this one to blow it up to full resolution. Image: Hasbro
It’s over four feet (specifically 50.25 inches) long, features a light-up scope and “accurate sounds” (four blaster sounds, four charging sounds) after you install two AAA batteries, and it’s got lots of fake scratches and wear so it looks moderately broken in.
Most importantly, it lets you load a standard Nerf Elite dart just like he-who-wears-the-Beskar, by cramming a fresh “cartridge” into the pop-up breach. Just push the white handle underneath the scope forward, and you’re ready to reload:
The pop-up breach. Image: Hasbro There’s a button on the scope collar to turn the light on and off. It’ll turn off after two minutes. Image: Hasbro
The same handle primes the blaster when you pull it back. Which handle, you might ask? Here’s a GIF that shows it a little more clearly:
As you might imagine, all those characteristics won’t necessarily make it an effective Nerf weapon for an actual office skirmish or backyard battle: we’re talking about a single-shot, spring-powered blaster with a tremendous faux barrel (which might create drag) and a very minimal priming handle. Hasbro declined to tell me how far it’ll shoot, either, which suggests the range is probably nothing to brag about — but here’s hoping for a surprise!
Detailing on both sides (unlike cheaper Nerf blasters), plus attachment points so you can sling it over your back. Image: Hasbro The tips look pointy. Image: Hasbro
Here’s what the actual Mandalorian prop looks like, in case you need a refresher:
The new Nerf blaster will be available for pre-order today at 1PM PT / 4PM ET (Amazon, Hasbro), but you should know it’s not slated to ship until Spring 2021. I couldn’t afford the amazing Razor Crest toy this year, and I’ve already got my lightsaber, so I don’t think I can justify this one too.


theverge--2020-12-07--Apple working on a 32-core processor for high-end Macs

Apple is working on a new ARM-based processor with as many as 32 high-performance CPU cores that could appear in a Mac in late 2021 , according to a new report from Bloomberg .
The processor could also appear in a new “ half-sized Mac Pro ” in 2022 .
Alongside it , the company is also reportedly developing CPU designs with up to 16 high-performance cores and four power-efficient cores which are destined for new versions of the MacBook Pro and iMac .
The new processors could arrive as early as spring 2021 .
Future Apple Silicon designs could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated cores .
News of the upcoming processors comes as Apple has just released its first Macs powered by its own chips .
The new MacBook Air , MacBook Pro , and Mac mini each used the company ’ s M1 chip , which features a CPU with four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores .
However , the company ’ s more powerful machines like the Mac Pro continue to use Intel chips .
Apple has said it intends to transition its whole Mac lineup onto its own chips over the course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the increased CPU core count , Bloomberg reports that Apple is also working on chips with more GPU cores .
While the current M1 chip comes with either seven or eight GPU cores , Apple is currently testing models with 16 and 32-cores , and is working on chips with as many as 128 for late 2021 or 2022 .
Although Apple is working on a processor design with 16 high-performance CPU cores , Bloomberg notes that it might choose to release it with only eight or 12 cores enabled , depending on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple ’ s announcement of its switch to ARM-based processors , Bloomberg reported that it was working on a processor with a CPU featuring eight high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores .
A processor with this exact combination of cores is yet to be officially announced .
Considering Apple ’ s ambitious plans to move its entire Mac lineup onto its own silicon in the next two years , it makes sense that it has more powerful chips in development .
Its first ARM-based Macs have impressed thanks to their combination of power-efficiency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its more powerful Intel-based machines like the Mac Pro is likely to be a far bigger challenge .

Apple is working on a new ARM-based processor with as many as 32 high-performance CPU cores that could appear in a Mac in late 2021, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The processor could also appear in a new “half-sized Mac Pro” in 2022. Alongside it, the company is also reportedly developing CPU designs with up to 16 high-performance cores and four power-efficient cores which are destined for new versions of the MacBook Pro and iMac. The new processors could arrive as early as spring 2021. Future Apple Silicon designs could also feature GPUs with up to 128 dedicated cores.
News of the upcoming processors comes as Apple has just released its first Macs powered by its own chips. The new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini each used the company’s M1 chip, which features a CPU with four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. However, the company’s more powerful machines like the Mac Pro continue to use Intel chips. Apple has said it intends to transition its whole Mac lineup onto its own chips over the course of two years.
Apple’s existing M1 chip comes with 8 CPU cores; 4 high-performance cores, and 4 efficiency cores. Image: Apple
As well as the increased CPU core count, Bloomberg reports that Apple is also working on chips with more GPU cores. While the current M1 chip comes with either seven or eight GPU cores, Apple is currently testing models with 16 and 32-cores, and is working on chips with as many as 128 for late 2021 or 2022.
The M1 chip has up to eight dedicated GPU cores. Image: Apple
Although Apple is working on a processor design with 16 high-performance CPU cores, Bloomberg notes that it might choose to release it with only eight or 12 cores enabled, depending on how mass production goes.
Prior to Apple’s announcement of its switch to ARM-based processors, Bloomberg reported that it was working on a processor with a CPU featuring eight high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores. A processor with this exact combination of cores is yet to be officially announced.


theverge--2020-12-07--UK’s first electric-only car charging station opens for business

The UK ’ s first all-electric car charging station opened today near Braintree in Essex , marking a milestone in the country ’ s transition away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles .
The station is operated by Gridserve , and is the first of more than 100 locations it plans to build over the next five years .
The location consists of 36 electric vehicle chargers , delivering up to 350kW of power .
That ’ s enough to provide 200 miles of range in 20 minutes , according to Gridserve .
With an initial cost of £0.24 per kWh of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electric vehicle can be charged from 20 to 80 percent for under £10 ( less than $ 13.25 ) .
Gridserve claims these are the “ lowest ultra-high power charging rates on the market today.
” The station ’ s chargers draw power from renewable sources , including solar panels installed on the station ’ s canopies , and the company ’ s network of hybrid solar farms .
There ’ s also a 6MWh battery onsite to help balance the supply of power during peak times .
According to Gridserve , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store enough energy to drive 24,000 miles in electric vehicles the following day.
” The station has opened less than a month after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans for the country to ban the sale of new combustion engine vehicles by 2030 , The Guardian reports , with some hybrid cars and vans continuing to be sold until 2035 .
One forecast cited in a recent government report estimated that there could be over 10 million electric cars on British roads by 2030 , rising to 36 million a decade later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s first all-electric charging station , it ’ s not the first we ’ ve seen globally .
Last year , for example , a gas station in Maryland in the US replaced its traditional fuel pumps with four electric vehicle charging points .
CNBC reported that this made it the first gas station in the country to ditch oil in favor of 100 percent electric vehicle charging .

The UK’s first all-electric car charging station opened today near Braintree in Essex, marking a milestone in the country’s transition away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles. The station is operated by Gridserve, and is the first of more than 100 locations it plans to build over the next five years.
The location consists of 36 electric vehicle chargers, delivering up to 350kW of power. That’s enough to provide 200 miles of range in 20 minutes, according to Gridserve. With an initial cost of £0.24 per kWh of energy, the company estimates an average-sized electric vehicle can be charged from 20 to 80 percent for under £10 (less than $13.25). Gridserve claims these are the “lowest ultra-high power charging rates on the market today.”
Solar panels at the station provide renewable energy to its 36 chargers. Image: Gridserve
The station’s chargers draw power from renewable sources, including solar panels installed on the station’s canopies, and the company’s network of hybrid solar farms. There’s also a 6MWh battery onsite to help balance the supply of power during peak times. According to Gridserve, “on windy winter nights the battery can store enough energy to drive 24,000 miles in electric vehicles the following day.”
The station has opened less than a month after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans for the country to ban the sale of new combustion engine vehicles by 2030, The Guardian reports, with some hybrid cars and vans continuing to be sold until 2035. One forecast cited in a recent government report estimated that there could be over 10 million electric cars on British roads by 2030, rising to 36 million a decade later.


theverge--2020-12-06--Floyd Mayweather is fighting Logan Paul in February

YouTuber Logan Paul has struck a deal to fight former boxing megastar Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a “ special exhibition ” match on February 20th .
The bout will be streamed as a pay-per-view on Fanmio .
Mayweather is an undefeated champion with a 50-0 record , multiple world titles in five weight classes , and an Olympic bronze medal .
Paul is best known for his controversial YouTube video where he filmed a dead body in a Japanese forest .
He has fought in one sanctioned boxing match : a loss to fellow YouTuber KSI .
Needless to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ festival of evenly matched athletic prowess .
But Mayweather is not above signing up to farcical contests for the spectacle and the payday .
His 50th official win involved him coming out of retirement in 2017 to face UFC star Conor McGregor , who had never professionally boxed before .
The following year he fought kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in a widely panned exhibition match , winning by TKO in the first round .
Mayweather called out Logan Paul last month on Twitter , making his thoughts on boxing YouTubers clear and saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kid games.
” Paul ’ s brother , Jake , responded to Mayweather ’ s comments ahead of his own fight against former NBA player Nate Robinson , which he ended up winning .
“ You know , it doesn ’ t bother me , ” Jake told The Daily Beast .
“ At the end of the day , he ’ s like 5-foot-4 , so he ’ s actually the little kid here , and obviously he just wants attention .
He ’ s fifty-something years old .
He should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to get relevancy by talking about the YouTube kids , because we ’ re the ones popping off right now.
” The whole situation is deeply silly , which is no doubt why organizers expect a lot of people to tune in .
The “ early pricing ” of $ 24.99 only applies to the first million PPV sales , with the price rising to $ 39.99 , then $ 59.99 on December 29th , then $ 69.99 from February 11th .

YouTuber Logan Paul has struck a deal to fight former boxing megastar Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a “special exhibition” match on February 20th. The bout will be streamed as a pay-per-view on Fanmio.
Mayweather is an undefeated champion with a 50-0 record, multiple world titles in five weight classes, and an Olympic bronze medal. Paul is best known for his controversial YouTube video where he filmed a dead body in a Japanese forest. He has fought in one sanctioned boxing match: a loss to fellow YouTuber KSI.
Needless to say, this is unlikely to be a festival of evenly matched athletic prowess. But Mayweather is not above signing up to farcical contests for the spectacle and the payday. His 50th official win involved him coming out of retirement in 2017 to face UFC star Conor McGregor, who had never professionally boxed before. The following year he fought kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in a widely panned exhibition match, winning by TKO in the first round.
Mayweather called out Logan Paul last month on Twitter, making his thoughts on boxing YouTubers clear and saying he’s “not the one for the kid games.” Paul’s brother, Jake, responded to Mayweather’s comments ahead of his own fight against former NBA player Nate Robinson, which he ended up winning.
“You know, it doesn’t bother me,” Jake told The Daily Beast. “At the end of the day, he’s like 5-foot-4, so he’s actually the little kid here, and obviously he just wants attention. He’s fifty-something years old. He should be in retirement. So he just wants to get relevancy by talking about the YouTube kids, because we’re the ones popping off right now.”
(Mayweather is actually 5-foot-8 and 43 years old. Also very good at boxing.)


theverge--2020-12-07--Google Stadia will let all users livestream games directly to YouTube tomorrow

From the very beginning , Google Stadia and YouTube were supposed to work together — thanks to the magic of cloud computing , you ’ d be able to click a YouTube ad to instantly begin playing a game , YouTubers would be able to invite their viewers to instantly join their game , and — perhaps most importantly — creators would be able to instantly , effortlessly be able to livestream their Stadia games to YouTube just by pressing a button on the controller .
None of those things happened at Stadia ’ s launch last November , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : every Stadia user will be able to livestream directly to YouTube starting tomorrow , a representative confirms to The Verge .
This afternoon , 9to5Google noticed that the feature appeared to be rolling out , and we spotted the ability to link a YouTube account in our Stadia accounts as well — though not the ability to actually stream yet .
I guess we ’ ll try that tomorrow .
According to 9to5Google , you ’ ll still have to give your stream a title and tweak a few settings , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( to comply with children ’ s protection rules ) .
It ’ s also not clear whether you ’ ll be able to stream in 4K quite yet , as Stadia originally promised .
You ’ d also likely need a $ 9.99 a month Stadia Pro subscription for that , like you do for 4K gameplay .
The feature couldn ’ t come at a more important time for Stadia : the service ’ s most important game yet , Cyberpunk 2077 , is arriving this week , at a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cards to build your own powerful PC are incredibly difficult and expensive to buy .
It ’ s the biggest test for Stadia yet , and one the company is banking on : buying Cyberpunk on the service comes with a full set of free Stadia hardware for a limited time — not unlike the set it gave free to YouTube Premium subscribers .
People streaming Cyberpunk 2077 from Stadia to YouTube could be the single biggest opportunity yet for Google to prove what its service can do .

From the very beginning, Google Stadia and YouTube were supposed to work together — thanks to the magic of cloud computing, you’d be able to click a YouTube ad to instantly begin playing a game, YouTubers would be able to invite their viewers to instantly join their game, and — perhaps most importantly — creators would be able to instantly, effortlessly be able to livestream their Stadia games to YouTube just by pressing a button on the controller.
None of those things happened at Stadia’s launch last November, but the biggest one is apparently arriving tomorrow: every Stadia user will be able to livestream directly to YouTube starting tomorrow, a representative confirms to The Verge.
This afternoon, 9to5Google noticed that the feature appeared to be rolling out, and we spotted the ability to link a YouTube account in our Stadia accounts as well — though not the ability to actually stream yet. I guess we’ll try that tomorrow.
According to 9to5Google, you’ll still have to give your stream a title and tweak a few settings, like whether your stream is appropriate for kids (to comply with children’s protection rules). It’s also not clear whether you’ll be able to stream in 4K quite yet, as Stadia originally promised. You’d also likely need a $9.99 a month Stadia Pro subscription for that, like you do for 4K gameplay.


theverge--2020-12-07--Second judge says Trump can’t ban TikTok

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that should keep the US Commerce Department from banning transactions with TikTok .
The Trump administration issued an executive order on August 6th that would have blocked transactions between US companies and TikTok and WeChat ’ s Chinese parent companies , ByteDance and Tencent .
Trump declared TikTok and WeChat a “ national emergency , ” citing privacy and security concerns .
That order invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( IEEPA ) , a law that allows Trump to ban transactions between the US and foreign entities .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision , US district judge Carl Nichols said that “ the government likely exceeded IEEPA ’ s express limitations.
” He granted TikTok ’ s motion for a preliminary injunction against each item the Commerce Department was attempting to prohibit .
Nichols also previously granted a preliminary injunction on September 27th that allowed people to continue downloading the app in the US .
At that time , he didn ’ t rule on the Commerce Department ’ s other restrictions .
A Pennsylvania federal judge had already effectively stopped TikTok from shutting down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a lawsuit brought by three TikTok creators .
The Commerce Department had already conceded the matter last month , saying it wouldn ’ t enforce the shutdown order on November 12th .
“ We ’ re pleased that the court agreed with us and granted a preliminary injunction against all the prohibitions of the Executive Order , ” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement .
“ We ’ re focused on continuing to build TikTok as the home that 100 million Americans , including families and small businesses , rely upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and true joy.
” “ The court ’ s ruling is consistent with the nationwide preliminary injunction granted by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on October 30 , 2020 , ” a Commerce Department spokesperson said in a statement .
“ The Department maintains that the E.O .
is fully consistent with law and promotes legitimate national security interests .
The Government will continue to comply with the injunctions and has taken immediate steps to do so , but intends to vigorously defend the E.O .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from legal challenges.
” The Trump administration had set a December 4th deadline for ByteDance to sell or spin out TikTok ’ s business in the US , but the government said that day that it would not extend or enforce the deadline .
President Trump has said he approves of a bid by Oracle and Walmart “ in concept ” that would create a US-based entity , TikTok Global , but it ’ s not clear how that would address some security risks , and the deal has not received final approval @ @ @

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that should keep the US Commerce Department from banning transactions with TikTok.
The Trump administration issued an executive order on August 6th that would have blocked transactions between US companies and TikTok and WeChat’s Chinese parent companies, ByteDance and Tencent. Trump declared TikTok and WeChat a “national emergency,” citing privacy and security concerns. That order invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law that allows Trump to ban transactions between the US and foreign entities.
“The government likely exceeded IEEPA’s express limitations.”
However, in his opinion accompanying today’s decision, US district judge Carl Nichols said that “the government likely exceeded IEEPA’s express limitations.” He granted TikTok’s motion for a preliminary injunction against each item the Commerce Department was attempting to prohibit.
Nichols also previously granted a preliminary injunction on September 27th that allowed people to continue downloading the app in the US. At that time, he didn’t rule on the Commerce Department’s other restrictions.
A Pennsylvania federal judge had already effectively stopped TikTok from shutting down on October 30th, in a ruling on a lawsuit brought by three TikTok creators. The Commerce Department had already conceded the matter last month, saying it wouldn’t enforce the shutdown order on November 12th.
“We’re pleased that the court agreed with us and granted a preliminary injunction against all the prohibitions of the Executive Order,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re focused on continuing to build TikTok as the home that 100 million Americans, including families and small businesses, rely upon for expression, connection, economic livelihood, and true joy.”
“The court’s ruling is consistent with the nationwide preliminary injunction granted by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on October 30, 2020,” a Commerce Department spokesperson said in a statement. “The Department maintains that the E.O. is fully consistent with law and promotes legitimate national security interests. The Government will continue to comply with the injunctions and has taken immediate steps to do so, but intends to vigorously defend the E.O. and the Secretary’s implementation efforts from legal challenges.”
The Trump administration had set a December 4th deadline for ByteDance to sell or spin out TikTok’s business in the US, but the government said that day that it would not extend or enforce the deadline. President Trump has said he approves of a bid by Oracle and Walmart “in concept” that would create a US-based entity, TikTok Global, but it’s not clear how that would address some security risks, and the deal has not received final approval from China.


theverge--2020-12-07--With guns drawn, police raid home and seize computers of COVID-19 data whistleblower

Eight months ago , Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force praised Florida ’ s COVID-19 dashboard as an example of “ the kind of knowledge and power we need to put into the hands of the American people.
” That dashboard was built by Rebekah Jones .
But in May , Jones was fired by the Florida Department of Health for reportedly refusing to manipulate that data to justify reopening the state — and now , Florida state police have raided her home and taken the equipment she was using to maintain a new , independent COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of tweets about the incident , including a video of police entering — with guns drawn .
Florida ’ s Department of Law Enforcement ( FDLE ) confirmed to the Miami Herald and the Tallahassee Democrat that police had a search warrant and had seized her equipment .
Here ’ s the department ’ s full statement as provided to The Verge : “ This morning FDLE served a search warrant at a residence on Centerville Court in Tallahassee , the home of Rebekah Jones .
FDLE began an investigation November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Department of Health regarding unauthorized access to a Department of Health messaging system which is part of an emergency alert system , to be used for emergencies only .
Agents believe someone at the residence on Centerville Court illegally accessed the system .
When agents arrived , they knocked on the door and called Ms. Jones in an attempt to minimize disruption to the family .
Ms. Jones refused to come to the door for 20 minutes and hung-up on agents .
After several attempts and verbal notifications that law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search warrant , Ms. Jones eventually came to the door and allowed agents to enter .
Ms. Jones family was upstairs when agents made entry into the home .
As the Tampa Bay Times reported last month , someone mysteriously sent an unauthorized message to the state ’ s emergency public health and medical coordination team , reading “ speak up before another 17,000 people are dead .
You know this is wrong .
You don ’ t have to be a part of this .
Be a hero .
Speak out before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an affidavit provided to us by the FDLE , law enforcement believes that Jones or someone at her address was the one who sent it .
We ’ re not publishing the affidavit because it contains lots of personally identifying information , but the FDLE claims the message was sent from a Comcast IP associated with her home address and email address , and the affidavit asks permission to seize and search all computer equipment police might find .
While there was a suggestion last month that the system might have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have particularly strong security anyhow : the affidavit says all of the registered users shared the same username and password .
Jones didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment , but on Twitter she says she ’ s getting a new computer and will continue to update her new website .

Eight months ago, Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force praised Florida’s COVID-19 dashboard as an example of “the kind of knowledge and power we need to put into the hands of the American people.” That dashboard was built by Rebekah Jones.
But in May, Jones was fired by the Florida Department of Health for reportedly refusing to manipulate that data to justify reopening the state early — and now, Florida state police have raided her home and seized the equipment she was using to maintain a new, independent COVID-19 tracker of her own.
Jones posted a series of tweets about the incident, including a video of police entering — with guns drawn.
Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) confirmed to the Miami Herald and the Tallahassee Democrat that police had a search warrant and had seized her equipment. Here’s the department’s full statement as provided to The Verge:
“This morning FDLE served a search warrant at a residence on Centerville Court in Tallahassee, the home of Rebekah Jones. FDLE began an investigation November 10, 2020 after receiving a complaint from the Department of Health regarding unauthorized access to a Department of Health messaging system which is part of an emergency alert system, to be used for emergencies only. Agents believe someone at the residence on Centerville Court illegally accessed the system. When agents arrived, they knocked on the door and called Ms. Jones in an attempt to minimize disruption to the family. Ms. Jones refused to come to the door for 20 minutes and hung-up on agents. After several attempts and verbal notifications that law enforcement officers were there to serve a legal search warrant, Ms. Jones eventually came to the door and allowed agents to enter. Ms. Jones family was upstairs when agents made entry into the home.
As the Tampa Bay Times reported last month, someone mysteriously sent an unauthorized message to the state’s emergency public health and medical coordination team, reading “speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. You know this is wrong. You don’t have to be a part of this. Be a hero. Speak out before it’s too late.”
According to an affidavit provided to us by the FDLE, law enforcement believes that Jones or someone at her address was the one who sent it. We’re not publishing the affidavit because it contains lots of personally identifying information, but the FDLE claims the message was sent from a Comcast IP associated with her home address and email address, and the affidavit asks permission to seize and search all computer equipment police might find.
Jones thinks Florida is trying to intimidate whistleblowers
But the COVID-19 data scientist says she didn’t do it, repeatedly denying to CNN in a full video interview that she’d accessed the system or sent any message, that the message doesn’t reflect how she talks and that the number of deaths quoted was wrong. She suggested that Florida police already knew she didn’t send the message, because they didn’t seize her router or her husband’s computer — only her own computer and phone.
“They took my phone, and they took the computer that I used to run my companies. On my phone is every communication I’ve ever had with someone who works at the state who’s come to me in confidence and told me about things that could get them fired or in trouble,” she told CNN, suggesting that the raid was designed to intimidate whistleblowers and critics of Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
A spokesperson for DeSantis told CNN his office had no knowledge of the investigation.
While there was a suggestion last month that the Florida messaging system might have been hacked rather than simply improperly accessed, it apparently didn’t have particularly strong security anyhow: the affidavit says all of the registered users shared the same username and password.
Jones didn’t comment when we asked, but on Twitter she says she’s getting a new computer and will continue to update her new website.
Additional reporting by Mitchell Clark


theverge--2020-12-07--COVID-19 vaccine monitoring program may be at risk of false reports

A text-messaging program to monitor any side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine may be open to manipulation , The Washington Post reports .
Experts worry that the newly-developed system focuses more on ease of use than security .
The program , called v-safe , is being developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) to check in with people after they ’ ve received a COVID-19 vaccine .
After getting a shot , they ’ ll be given a piece of paper with a QR code , which lets them sign up to receive texts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveys that ask questions about any symptoms someone experienced after receiving the vaccine .
Other vaccine safety monitoring systems that have been in place for decades , including the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System ( VAERS ) , will also be used to follow COVID-19 vaccine recipients .
Those are passive systems , and rely on patients or doctors reaching out to make a report .
V-safe is intended as an early , active way to understand people ’ s experience with the vaccine .
“ It ’ s going to start collecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collects data out to 12 months after the second vaccination , ” said Tom Shimabukuro , a member of the Vaccine Safety Team on the CDC ’ s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force , during the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting last week .
Any serious side effects reported through v-safe could trigger a follow-up call from experts in the call center at VAERS .
Fliers with the codes could be misplaced or left at a vaccination site Asking people to access the system through a QR code , though , may leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be misplaced or left at a vaccination site , and QR codes could be posted online .
Anyone picking up that sheet of paper or finding the code could register and submit false responses to the system , unnamed officials told The Washington Post .
The anti-vaccine movement organizes online , and officials worry those groups could flood the system .
Verification of concerning reports would be time consuming .
In a statement to the Post , the CDC said the system , “ is in the final stage of development , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the program has benefits , and unlike other vaccine safety reporting systems , could collect information from people who don ’ t directly seek medical care .
“ With any widely available technology , there ’ s an opportunity for people to use spoofing and other nefarious techniques , ” said Ed Simcox , former chief technology officer at the Department of Health and Human Services , according to The Washington Post .
“ That would undermine what is so potentially valuable about this system — going directly to patients , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple vaccines administered in diverse settings .
”

A text-messaging program to monitor any side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine may be open to manipulation, The Washington Post reports. Experts worry that the newly-developed system focuses more on ease of use than security.
The program, called v-safe, is being developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to check in with people after they’ve received a COVID-19 vaccine. After getting a shot, they’ll be given a piece of paper with a QR code, which lets them sign up to receive texts. The texts will direct them to online surveys that ask questions about any symptoms someone experienced after receiving the vaccine.
Other vaccine safety monitoring systems that have been in place for decades, including the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), will also be used to follow COVID-19 vaccine recipients. Those are passive systems, and rely on patients or doctors reaching out to make a report. V-safe is intended as an early, active way to understand people’s experience with the vaccine.
“It’s going to start collecting data immediately on day zero, and collects data out to 12 months after the second vaccination,” said Tom Shimabukuro, a member of the Vaccine Safety Team on the CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, during the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting last week. Any serious side effects reported through v-safe could trigger a follow-up call from experts in the call center at VAERS.
Fliers with the codes could be misplaced or left at a vaccination site
Asking people to access the system through a QR code, though, may leave it vulnerable. Fliers with the codes could be misplaced or left at a vaccination site, and QR codes could be posted online. Anyone picking up that sheet of paper or finding the code could register and submit false responses to the system, unnamed officials told The Washington Post. The anti-vaccine movement organizes online, and officials worry those groups could flood the system. Verification of concerning reports would be time consuming.
In a statement to the Post, the CDC said the system, “is in the final stage of development, which includes security testing.”
The simplicity of the program has benefits, and unlike other vaccine safety reporting systems, could collect information from people who don’t directly seek medical care.


theverge--2020-12-07--Apple and Google’s COVID contact tracing tech is finally coming to their home state of California

After a month of testing on university campuses , California ’ s governor just announced that the state is launching its COVID contact tracing app to the public this Thursday , December 10th .
The app is called CA Notify , and its launch makes California the 18th state ( plus Washington , DC ) to release a contact tracing app .
It ’ s also the largest to have done so since the technology was announced in April .
The first app of its kind was released in Virginia back in August , so it ’ s been quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California is home to Apple and Google , the two companies that developed the contact tracing technology the app uses .
Apple CEO Tim Cook and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai have tweeted in support of the app : The app uses the contact tracing API that was added to iOS and Android back in May , and it requires an iPhone with iOS 14.2 or a phone running Android 6.0 or above with Bluetooth Low Energy .
Basically , your phone will automatically exchange a private key with another phone if they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key doesn ’ t contain location or any personally identifying information . )
When someone tests positive , they can press a button to send a notification to every other person using the app whose phone virtually bumped into theirs , letting them know that they should get tested and quarantine .
If you ’ re concerned about privacy , it ’ s worth noting that the exposure notification won ’ t include any information about who exposed whom or when and where it happened .
It will only say that you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Android phone , the CA Notify app will be available on December 10th for download on the Google Play Store .
California ’ s site has a guide for iPhone users , but it ’ s pretty simple : go to the Settings app then to Exposure Notifications .
Tapping “ Turn on Exposure Notifications ” will let you select California as your region and turn on the tracing .
( iPhone owners won ’ t need a separate app . )
It also seems like iPhone users will be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as shown in the tweet bellow .
I ’ ve tested it , and it does let you add it , but warns you that “ you will not be able to share a COVID-19 Diagnosis with other users until CA Notify is fully enabled statewide ” .
Since California is home to the tech companies behind the tracing technology , I ’ m hoping we ’ ll see a high rate of adoption .
It ’ s just unfortunate that it ’ s taken seemingly tech-forward states like California ( which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) this long to roll out the app .
Washington state , the home of Microsoft and Amazon , just rolled out its app last week .
Update December 7th , 5:50PM ET : Added tweet showing how you can turn on exposure notifications early on iOS if you live in California .

After a month of testing on university campuses, California’s governor just announced that the state is launching its COVID contact tracing app to the public this Thursday, December 10th. The app is called CA Notify, and its launch makes California the 18th state (plus Washington, DC) to release a contact tracing app. It’s also the largest to have done so since the technology was announced in April. The first app of its kind was released in Virginia back in August, so it’s been quite a long time coming, especially considering California is home to Apple and Google, the two companies that developed the contact tracing technology the app uses.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai have tweeted in support of the app:
The app uses the contact tracing API that was added to iOS and Android back in May, and it requires an iPhone with iOS 14.2 or a phone running Android 6.0 or above with Bluetooth Low Energy. Basically, your phone will automatically exchange a private key with another phone if they’re within Bluetooth range. (The key doesn’t contain location or any personally identifying information.) When someone tests positive, they can press a button to send a notification to every other person using the app whose phone virtually bumped into theirs, letting them know that they should get tested and quarantine. If you’re concerned about privacy, it’s worth noting that the exposure notification won’t include any information about who exposed whom or when and where it happened. It will only say that you’ve been exposed.
If you have an Android phone, the CA Notify app will be available on December 10th for download on the Google Play Store. California’s site has a guide for iPhone users, but it’s pretty simple: go to the Settings app then to Exposure Notifications. Tapping “Turn on Exposure Notifications” will let you select California as your region and turn on the tracing. (iPhone owners won’t need a separate app.) It also seems like iPhone users will be able to turn it on before the official launch, as shown in the tweet bellow. I’ve tested it, and it does let you add it, but warns you that “you will not be able to share a COVID-19 Diagnosis with other users until CA Notify is fully enabled statewide”.
Since California is home to the tech companies behind the tracing technology, I’m hoping we’ll see a high rate of adoption. It’s just unfortunate that it’s taken seemingly tech-forward states like California (which is currently seeing a spike in cases) this long to roll out the app. Washington state, the home of Microsoft and Amazon, just rolled out its app last week.


theverge--2020-12-07--Razer’s new Blade 15 Base model is just $1,499

Razer ’ s Blade 15 is one of the best 15-inch gaming laptops .
It ’ s far from a budget purchase , but Razer has released the most affordable model you can buy .
As of today , there ’ s a new Blade 15 Base model up for preorder that is just $ 1,499 .
It ’ ll ship on December 25th .
The model includes a Core i7-10750H , 15.6-inch 120Hz screen , GeForce GTX 1660 Ti , 16GB of RAM , and 256GB of SSD storage , plus an open M.2 slot .
For ports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen 2 , two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 , and an HDMI 2.0 .
Note : these are almost the exact same specs as the $ 1,599 Blade 15 Base that you can already buy .
The biggest difference is that more expensive model has a 144Hz display .
As of this writing , that model is on sale for $ 1,499 on Razer ’ s website .
That means there ’ s little reason to preorder the upcoming Base model when you can get a better screen right now for the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those prices will likely change down the line . )
Another thing to note is the storage .
Let ’ s face it , 256GB is not a lot of storage for a gaming laptop .
You won ’ t be able to fit a ton of titles on there .
The expandable storage means the 256GB is more forgivable , but you ’ ll still need to go through the hassle of buying an additional drive if you plan to upgrade .
Alternatively , a Blade 15 Base with a 512GB SSD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Razer ’ s website , which is only $ 100 more than the base model .
As long as it stays at that price , it ’ s certainly better value .
( You ’ ll also get the 144Hz screen , as well as a GeForce RTX 2060 , and you can buy the model right now rather than having to preorder . )
But if $ 1,499 really hits the sweet spot for you , and you ’ ve missed the sale on the 144Hz model , you can preorder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Razer ’ s website .

Razer’s Blade 15 is one of the best 15-inch gaming laptops. It’s far from a budget purchase, but Razer has released the most affordable model you can buy.
As of today, there’s a new Blade 15 Base model up for preorder that is just $1,499. It’ll ship on December 25th. The model includes a Core i7-10750H, 15.6-inch 120Hz screen, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage, plus an open M.2 slot. For ports, you’ll get two USB 3.2 Gen 2, two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, and an HDMI 2.0.
Note: these are almost the exact same specs as the $1,599 Blade 15 Base that you can already buy. The biggest difference is that more expensive model has a 144Hz display. As of this writing, that model is on sale for $1,499 on Razer’s website. That means there’s little reason to preorder the upcoming Base model when you can get a better screen right now for the same amount of money. (Both of those prices will likely change down the line.)
Image: Razer
Another thing to note is the storage. Let’s face it, 256GB is not a lot of storage for a gaming laptop. You won’t be able to fit a ton of titles on there. The expandable storage means the 256GB is more forgivable, but you’ll still need to go through the hassle of buying an additional drive if you plan to upgrade. Alternatively, a Blade 15 Base with a 512GB SSD is currently on sale for $1,599 on Razer’s website, which is only $100 more than the base model. As long as it stays at that price, it’s certainly better value. (You’ll also get the 144Hz screen, as well as a GeForce RTX 2060, and you can buy the model right now rather than having to preorder.)


theverge--2020-12-07--Comcast extends offer of free Wi-Fi hotspots through June 30th, 2021

Comcast is extending its COVID-19 support programs through June 30th , 2021 , including free access to public Wi-Fi hotspots and discounts on internet service plans .
The company says this is the third time it has extended its programs during the pandemic .
Comcast ’ s Internet Essentials plan for low-income households is currently free for the first 60 days for new subscribers .
With this extension that offer will be available through June 2021 .
Additionally , access to free Xfinity WiFi hotspots will be extended as well , regardless if you ’ re a Xfinity subscriber or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zones ” — its name for local community centers wired with Comcast internet — are also continuing as an ongoing project .
Lift Zones are meant to reach low-income students who might have inconsistent internet access at home .
Switching to remote learning or a combination of in-person and online instruction has made internet access critical for students , so having a place to log on that ’ s theoretically close to home helps .
Switching to remote learning has made internet access critical for students Comcast isn ’ t alone in offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T ’ s “ Access from AT & T ” program , which offers discounted internet service for families that participate in certain government assistance programs , was expanded to include families that meet a basic income eligibility during the pandemic .
AT & T is also waiving data overage fees for all of its home internet plans , though both changes are currently slated to end on December 31st , 2020 .
Verizon ’ s offerings are slightly different .
The company has a $ 20 discount on monthly payments for new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communications Commission ’ s low-income Lifeline discount program , along with 60 days of free router rentals .
Sign-ups are accepted through the end of 2020 , and customers can keep the discount as long as they qualify , according to Verizon .
All three companies signed on to the “ Keep Americans Connected ” pledge created by the FCC in March when the main focus at the time was not terminating internet service for 60 days , whether or not customers were able to pay their bills .
Those 60 days have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic continuing to infect wide swaths of the country , there ’ s currently no equally expansive measure to protect customers .
AT & T , Verizon , and Comcast are all offering ways to maintain your connection — but not without subscribers taking action first .
Correction : A previous version of this article suggested that “ Lift Zones ” were also being extended through June 30th , 2021 .
Lift Zones are an ongoing project with no end date .
We regret the error .

Comcast is extending its COVID-19 support programs through June 30th, 2021, including free access to public Wi-Fi hotspots and discounts on internet service plans. The company says this is the third time it has extended its programs during the pandemic.
Comcast’s Internet Essentials plan for low-income households is currently free for the first 60 days for new subscribers. With this extension that offer will be available through June 2021. Additionally, access to free Xfinity WiFi hotspots will be extended as well, regardless if you’re a Xfinity subscriber or not. Comcast’s “Lift Zones” — its name for local community centers wired with Comcast internet — are also continuing as an ongoing project. Lift Zones are meant to reach low-income students who might have inconsistent internet access at home. Switching to remote learning or a combination of in-person and online instruction has made internet access critical for students, so having a place to log on that’s theoretically close to home helps.
Switching to remote learning has made internet access critical for students
Comcast isn’t alone in offering discounts during the pandemic. AT&T’s “Access from AT&T” program, which offers discounted internet service for families that participate in certain government assistance programs, was expanded to include families that meet a basic income eligibility during the pandemic. AT&T is also waiving data overage fees for all of its home internet plans, though both changes are currently slated to end on December 31st, 2020. Verizon’s offerings are slightly different. The company has a $20 discount on monthly payments for new Fios subscribers who qualify for the Federal Communications Commission’s low-income Lifeline discount program, along with 60 days of free router rentals. Sign-ups are accepted through the end of 2020, and customers can keep the discount as long as they qualify, according to Verizon.
All three companies signed on to the “Keep Americans Connected” pledge created by the FCC in March when the main focus at the time was not terminating internet service for 60 days, whether or not customers were able to pay their bills. Those 60 days have long been up, and despite the pandemic continuing to infect wide swaths of the country, there’s currently no equally expansive measure to protect customers. AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast are all offering ways to maintain your connection — but not without subscribers taking action first.


theverge--2020-12-07--FCC awards SpaceX $886 million for satellite internet network

The Federal Communications Commission announced $ 9.2 billion in awards to companies providing broadband internet to rural areas across the US , and Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX was one of the biggest winners .
The company will receive $ 886 million over the next 10 years for its Starlink satellite broadband project , under the Federal Communication Commission ’ s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund .
Starlink is SpaceX ’ s constellation of satellites that will fly at low altitudes around the Earth , providing internet on the ground below .
SpaceX already has launched 900 of the planned 12,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-Earth orbit .
Musk has said the company needs 800 satellites in space to provide “ significant operational capabilities.
” SpaceX kicked off its Better Than Nothing Beta for Starlink broadband in October after introducing a private beta over the summer .
Other big winners in the FCC auction included LTD Broadband , which will get $ 1.3 billion ; Charter Communications , which will receive $ 1.2 billion ; and the Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium , which is getting $ 1.1 billion .
Between 24 and 163 million people lack broadband internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem is especially acute in rural areas .
The incoming Biden administration is expected to increase federal broadband spending in 2021 to bridge the so-called “ digital divide .
”

The Federal Communications Commission announced $9.2 billion in awards to companies providing broadband internet to rural areas across the US, and Elon Musk’s SpaceX was one of the biggest winners. The company will receive $886 million over the next 10 years for its Starlink satellite broadband project, under the Federal Communication Commission’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.
Starlink is SpaceX’s constellation of satellites that will fly at low altitudes around the Earth, providing internet on the ground below. SpaceX already has launched 900 of the planned 12,000 satellites needed for the Starlink system into low-Earth orbit. Musk has said the company needs 800 satellites in space to provide “significant operational capabilities.” SpaceX kicked off its Better Than Nothing Beta for Starlink broadband in October after introducing a private beta over the summer.
Other big winners in the FCC auction included LTD Broadband, which will get $1.3 billion; Charter Communications, which will receive $1.2 billion; and the Rural Electric Cooperative Consortium, which is getting $1.1 billion.


theverge--2020-12-07--Uber’s fraught and deadly pursuit of self-driving cars is over

Uber is selling its autonomous vehicle business to Aurora Innovations , a San Francisco-based startup founded by the former head engineer of Google ’ s self-driving car project , the two companies announced Monday .
As part of the deal , Aurora ’ s self-driving cars will eventually operate on Uber ’ s ride-hailing platform .
Uber will invest $ 400 million in Aurora and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will join the startup ’ s board of directors .
It ’ s unclear whether the acquisition will result in any layoffs .
“ Aurora has committed to making offers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Uber spokesperson said .
“ We are working through the details with Aurora and will notify our teams in the coming weeks.
” The deal marks the end of Uber ’ s ambitious dream of replacing it ’ s fleet of human-powered taxis with robot drivers .
The ride-hailing company believed that by pouring millions of dollars into developing its own technology , it could eliminate its main cost factor — drivers — and take over the world of transportation with cheap , plentiful autonomous vehicles .
The deal marks the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fleet of robot taxis to replace its human-powered one Instead , Uber faced one disaster of its own making after another .
The company was sued by Waymo for allegedly stealing the Google offshoot ’ s trade secrets .
The companies eventually settled , but Uber ’ s former star engineer ( and ex-Googler ) Anthony Levandowski was recently sentenced to 18 months in jail for the crime .
More troubling than that , though , was the death of Elaine Herzberg in March 2018 .
The 49-year-old woman was struck and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walking her bike across the street in Tempe , Arizona .
It was likely the first known fatality by an autonomous vehicle .
After a lengthy investigation , the National Transportation Safety Board split the blame between Uber , the safety driver , the victim , and the state of Arizona in a blistering official report that also took the federal government to task for failing to properly regulate the industry .
The company was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by local authorities .
Uber settled a lawsuit with Herzberg ’ s family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed criminal charges against Uber ’ s safety driver , claiming she wasn ’ t watching the road but was instead streaming The Voice on her phone at the time of the crash .
After the crash , Uber resumed testing its self-driving cars but in a much diminished capacity .
The company ’ s Volvo SUVs were only allowed to operate in a closed loop in downtown Pittsburgh , where the Advanced Technologies Group is headquartered .
The company recently unveiled its third-generation vehicle , with plans to begin testing in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco .
the coronavirus pandemic has pulled the rug out from under Uber But the coronavirus pandemic has pulled the rug out from under Uber , which has never had a profitable quarter in its existence .
With the evaporation of demand of its ride-hailing business , Khosrowshahi has been pushing to sell off the money-losing parts of the business in his pursuit of profitability .
Most recently , Uber reportedly sold its air taxi division to a California-based startup called Joby Aviation .
Aurora is an interesting choice for a buyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by former lead engineer for Google ’ s self-driving project Chris Urmson .
His co-founders are Sterling Anderson , who helped lead Tesla ’ s Model X project , and Drew Bagnell , who ran a research lab at Carnegie Mellon then left to work on autonomous vehicles at Uber .
The company is pursuing autonomous semi trucks ( which Uber was also working on but eventually abandoned ) as well as self-driving taxis .
To date , Aurora has raised $ 690 million in funding , and Urmson has been hailed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” thanks to his work helping to pioneer Google ’ s self-driving car initiative .
Fiat Chrysler , Hyundai , and EV startup Byton are also Aurora customers .
The company raised half a billion dollars last year in a funding round led by Amazon .

Uber is selling its autonomous vehicle business to Aurora Innovations, a San Francisco-based startup founded by the former head engineer of Google’s self-driving car project, the two companies announced Monday.
As part of the deal, Aurora’s self-driving cars will eventually operate on Uber’s ride-hailing platform. Uber will invest $400 million in Aurora and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will join the startup’s board of directors.
It’s unclear whether the acquisition will result in any layoffs. “Aurora has committed to making offers to the majority of ATG employees,” an Uber spokesperson said. “We are working through the details with Aurora and will notify our teams in the coming weeks.”
The deal marks the end of Uber’s ambitious dream of replacing it’s fleet of human-powered taxis with robot drivers. The ride-hailing company believed that by pouring millions of dollars into developing its own technology, it could eliminate its main cost factor — drivers — and take over the world of transportation with cheap, plentiful autonomous vehicles.
The deal marks the end of Uber’s fraught pursuit of a fleet of robot taxis to replace its human-powered one
Instead, Uber faced one disaster of its own making after another. The company was sued by Waymo for allegedly stealing the Google offshoot’s trade secrets. The companies eventually settled, but Uber’s former star engineer (and ex-Googler) Anthony Levandowski was recently sentenced to 18 months in jail for the crime.
More troubling than that, though, was the death of Elaine Herzberg in March 2018. The 49-year-old woman was struck and killed by a self-driving Uber vehicle while walking her bike across the street in Tempe, Arizona. It was likely the first known fatality by an autonomous vehicle.
After a lengthy investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board split the blame between Uber, the safety driver, the victim, and the state of Arizona in a blistering official report that also took the federal government to task for failing to properly regulate the industry. The company was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by local authorities. Uber settled a lawsuit with Herzberg’s family for an undisclosed sum. Police later filed criminal charges against Uber’s safety driver, claiming she wasn’t watching the road but was instead streaming The Voice on her phone at the time of the crash.
After the crash, Uber resumed testing its self-driving cars but in a much diminished capacity. The company’s Volvo SUVs were only allowed to operate in a closed loop in downtown Pittsburgh, where the Advanced Technologies Group is headquartered. The company recently unveiled its third-generation vehicle, with plans to begin testing in Washington, DC, and its hometown of San Francisco.
the coronavirus pandemic has pulled the rug out from under Uber
But the coronavirus pandemic has pulled the rug out from under Uber, which has never had a profitable quarter in its existence. With the evaporation of demand of its ride-hailing business, Khosrowshahi has been pushing to sell off the money-losing parts of the business in his pursuit of profitability. Most recently, Uber reportedly sold its air taxi division to a California-based startup called Joby Aviation.
Aurora is an interesting choice for a buyer. The startup was founded in 2016 by former lead engineer for Google’s self-driving project Chris Urmson. His co-founders are Sterling Anderson, who helped lead Tesla’s Model X project, and Drew Bagnell, who ran a research lab at Carnegie Mellon then left to work on autonomous vehicles at Uber. The company is pursuing autonomous semi trucks (which Uber was also working on but eventually abandoned) as well as self-driving taxis.


theverge--2020-12-07--Here are the best Amazon Echo deals right now

When it comes to the Echo smart speakers , Amazon has a slew of devices to choose from .
With so many Echo devices currently available , there is a device for every occasion .
Maybe you simply want to add Alexa to a room , or you are looking for an Echo device that will allow you to easily manage your other smart home products .
Regardless of the reason , these are the best Echo deals currently available right now .
This year , Amazon released the 4th generation of the Echo dot , which looks more like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But if you prefer the previous design , don ’ t worry — Amazon has not discontinued the 3rd-gen Echo Dot , which still retains the familiar dot shape .
Currently , the 3rd-gen Echo Dot gets frequent price drops , and right now you can get it for $ 25 at Amazon , Best Buy , and Target .
During Black Friday and Cyber Monday , we saw the 4th-gen Echo Dot go down to its lowest price of $ 30 .
That deal is still available at Amazon , Best Buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dot Kids Edition is by far the most adorable smart speaker on the market right now .
The Kids Edition is as spherical as its adult version , but is designed to look like a tiger or panda .
The device also comes with a year of Amazon ’ s Kid Plus service , which provides access to a slew of kid-friendly content , like audio books and games .
Right now , you can get this device for $ 40 at Amazon and Best Buy .
If you purchase it on Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Amazon Music Unlimited at no additional cost .
The 4th-gen Amazon Echo smart home hub has also gotten an updated look .
Like the 4th-gen Echo Dot , the 2020 Amazon Echo also includes a sphere-shape design , but it ’ s noticeably bigger than the Echo Dot .
If you are looking for just one Amazon Echo , it is down to its lowest price ever of $ 70 at Amazon , Best Buy , and Target .
If you buy the Echo from Amazon , you also get six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you are looking for two Amazon Echo devices , Best Buy is currently selling an Amazon Echo two-pack for $ 140 , which knocks $ 60 off its normal retail price .
If you are looking for an Echo device that functions more as a smart clock than an entertainment speaker , the Echo Show 5 is one of two smart displays to consider .
The Echo Show 5 includes a 5.5-inch display , making it easy to fit just about anywhere inside your home .
Not only does the device include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s also a physical shutter on the device , allowing you to block the camera ’ s view while keeping the always-on microphone active .
The Echo Show 5 usually costs $ 90 , but right now , you can buy the device for at its best-ever price of $ 45 at Amazon , Best Buy , and Target .
Amazon ’ s Echo Show 8 features an eight-inch display ; it costs $ 40 more than the Echo Show 5 .
When stacked up against the Google Nest Hub , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and functionality , the Echo Show 8 is the better option for a few reasons : it has a slightly larger display , better speakers , and a camera , allowing you to use it as a video chatting device .
Normally , this device costs $ 130 , but it has seen some good price reductions in the past .
We have seen the device go down as low as $ 65 .
But if you are looking to buy the device now , you can get it for just $ 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Target .
Last year , Amazon released its first pair of true wireless earbuds : the Echo Buds .
The Echo Buds offer superb sound quality , a comfy fit , and Bose ’ s noise reduction features .
And of course , they also include Alexa .
Right now , you can get the Echo Buds , plus six months free of Amazon Music Unlimited , for just $ 80 at Amazon .
If you ’ re interested in an Alexa smart speaker with better audio quality and Dolby Atmos support , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you may want to purchase .
There are no active deals right now for a new Echo Studio , but you can get it right now for its usual price of $ 200 at Amazon and Best Buy .
There is , however a deal on a bundle at Best Buy , which includes a Echo Studio and a Fire TV Stick 4K for $ 230 .

Amazon’s current Echo lineup offers a broad selection of smart speakers and displays that can fit just about anywhere in your home. Whether you want to place a voice assistant in your living room, replace the bulletin board in your office, or pick up a touchscreen-enabled device to showcase recipes in the kitchen, there's an Echo device for just about every occasion and use case.
Regardless of why you might want one, there’s always a way to save on Echo devices, from the last-gen Dot to the wall-mounted Echo Show 15. Even when they’re selling at full price, for instance, Amazon offers a 25 percent discount when you trade in select devices, meaning there are still other ways to save money when none of the models are on sale.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best prices available on each device in Amazon’s Echo lineup. Few of them are currently on sale, however, you can save on several Echo Dot models, including the fifth-gen Echo Dot and its kid-friendly counterpart. In most instances, you can also land an extra month of Amazon Music Unlimited at Best Buy with your purchase.
The best Echo Dot deals
Echo Dot (third-gen) $ 20 $ 40 50 % off $ 20 $ 20 $ 40 50 % off This puck-like Echo Dot is the third generation of Amazon’s smart speaker. It offers better sound than its predecessor, a compact design, and all the smarts that come with owning an Alexa device. $20 at Amazon$20 at Best Buy
In September, Amazon announced the fifth generation of the Echo Dot. It looks more like a sphere than an actual dot — much like its last-gen predecessor — but offers twice as much bass as the prior model and a temperature sensor; it also doubles as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender, though, said functionality is also available on the prior model thanks to a free over-the-air firmware update.
Despite the arrival of the new model, you can still pick up the third-gen Echo Dot, which retains the puck-like design of earlier models and is available for $19.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. As for the fifth-gen model, it’s on sale at Amazon and Best Buy, where you can pick it up with up to four months of Amazon Music Unlimited for $29.99 ($5 off).
If you’re looking to upgrade, Amazon and Best Buy are also selling the latest Echo Dot with a built-in LED display that showcases the time, weather, and other info for $39.99 ($20 off), which matches the speaker’s lowest price to date.
The best Echo Dot Kids deals
Echo Dot Kids (fifth-gen) $ 28 $ 60 53 % off $ 28 $ 28 $ 60 53 % off The Echo Dot Kids is Amazon’s kid-friendly smart speaker. Unlike the standard model, the Kids edition is available in one of two animal-themed configurations and comes with a year of Amazon Kids Plus at no extra cost. $28 at Amazon
Like the fourth-gen Echo Dot Kids, the fifth-gen iteration is as spherical as the adult version but is designed to look like a variety of creatures, specifically an owl or a dragon. It also comes with a year of Amazon’s Kids Plus service, which provides access to a slew of kid-friendly content, including audiobooks and games. That said, the latest edition features better sound, a temperature sensor, and other enhancements found on the standard model.
If you want to buy the newest, kid-centric Echo Dot, it’s available at Amazon and Best Buy right now for $39.99 ($20 off), which is $10 more than the speaker's all-time low of $29.99.
The best Amazon Echo deals
The fourth-gen Amazon Echo also received a makeover in late 2020. The latest model sports a sphere-shaped design like the newer Echo Dot models, but one that’s noticeably bigger. That said, it also touts a built-in smart home hub and produces better sound than the fifth-gen Dot thanks to a pair of 0.8-inch tweeters and a 3-inch woofer. It even functions as a Wi-Fi extender for Eero mesh networks, much like the fourth- and fifth-gen Echo Dot.
Although we’ve seen the fourth-gen Echo drop to $49.99 in select instances, it’s currently only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $99.99, its typical retail price.
The best Amazon Echo Studio deals
If you’re interested in an Alexa smart speaker with better audio quality and Dolby Atmos support, the Echo Studio is the Amazon product to check out. Although the speaker made its debut in 2019, Amazon recently rolled out an over-the-air software update that imbues it with new spatial audio processing technology and frequency range extension, which supposedly allows for improved clarity and a more immersive sound profile.
Although we saw Amazon’s Echo Studio drop to $174.99 ($25 off) earlier this month, it’s currently only available in back or white at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy for $199.99. Like with other Echo devices, however, the latter retailer is offering four months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free with each purchase, as opposed to three.
The best Echo Show 5 deals
Amazon Echo Show 5 (second-gen) $ 85 Amazon’s Echo Show 5 is an ideal smart display for a nightstand. You can set alarms with Alexa using your voice, play music, control smart displays, get a weather report, and more. When the alarm goes off, you merely need to tap the top of the Echo Show 5 to snooze it. $85 at Amazon$85 at Best Buy
If you are looking for a compact Echo device that functions more as a smart clock than an entertainment speaker, the Echo Show 5 is the Echo device to consider. The latest edition, which launched in 2021, features an always-on microphone, an upgraded 2MP camera, a 5.5-inch display, and a physical shutter, allowing you to block the camera’s view.
Right now, the second-gen Echo Show 5 is available at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, where you can pick it up in black, white, or blue for $84.99 (the full MSRP).
The best Echo Show 5 Kids deals
The Echo Dot isn’t the only Echo device with a kid-friendly design. The Echo Show 5 Kids offers all of the same features as the standard, second-gen Echo Show 5, only with a vibrant print on the rear and a year of Amazon’s Kids Plus service, which grants your family access to a trove of videos, games, and other kid-friendly content. It even comes with a two-year warranty, providing a bit of protection from whatever your child might (literally) throw at it.
As far as pricing goes, the Echo Show 5 Kids is available right now at Amazon and Best Buy for $94.99, the smart display’s full retail price and $55 more than its lowest price to date.
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The best Echo Show 8 deals
Like the Echo Show 5, the Echo Show 8 is typically available in two distinct models, both of which feature 8-inch displays and dual speakers. However, unlike the first-gen Echo Show 8, the latest model is equipped with a 13MP camera and some unique software tricks, one of which grants it the ability to keep the subject centered in the frame as they move around.
We recently saw the second-gen Show 8 drop to $69.99 ($60 off), which is nearly the speaker’s lowest price to date. That said, it’s only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target right now for $129.99 (the MSRP). Best Buy is offering the second-gen model with four months of Amazon Music Unlimited at no additional cost, however, as opposed to the standard three.
The best Echo Show 10 deals
Two years ago, Amazon introduced a third-gen Echo Show 10. The device features a 10.1-inch HD screen and, unlike the Show 5 and Show 8, the 2021 model allows you to adjust the angle of the screen. It’s also mounted on a motorized, swiveling base that allows the display to follow you as you move. If you plan on doing a lot of video calling, this is the model to get.
The best Echo Show 15 deals
Amazon Echo Show 15 $ 250 The Echo Show 15 is a large, wall-mounted device that acts as a shared hub for families to view notes, upcoming calendar appointments, and more. The 15.6-inch device also features support for Amazon’s Fire TV interface, as well as the same Alexa functionality as other Echo displays and smart speakers.
$250 at Amazon$250 at Best Buy
Unlike other smart displays in Amazon’s Echo lineup, the new Echo Show 15 is a large, wall-mounted device with a 15.6-inch touch display. It’s designed to replace the likes of bulletin boards and calendars, and as such, it functions as a shared hub for families where everyone can see digital sticky notes, upcoming calendar appointments, shopping lists, and other reminders. It also features support for Alexa, meaning it offers the same functionality as other Echo displays and smart speakers, and you can even use it as a decent 1080p TV in your kitchen or to display photos and artwork. It’s compatible with an optional stand, too, though, we’d argue it remains a better fit for your wall than your countertop given its size.
We’ve only seen a handful of discounts on the Echo Show 15 since it launched at the end of 2021, with the steepest dropping it to an all-time low of $169.99. Unfortunately, however, you can only pick it up right now at Amazon and Best Buy for $249.99, its full retail price.