Latest news with #Engadget
Engadget
14 hours ago
- Engadget
We might not be getting that handheld Xbox for some time
A lot of people (not least Engadget 's own Sam Rutherford ) have been asking Microsoft to make an Xbox-branded handheld for a long time. And it looked for a while like we might be getting exactly that in the not-so distant future. But Microsoft's priorities have reportedly shifted to improving the widely criticised performance of Windows 11 on existing third-party PC gaming handhelds. In an exclusive report, Windows Central claims that a dedicated Xbox handheld system, which could have launched in 2027 alongside the successor to the Xbox Series X, isn't the company's main area of focus right now, even if it remains keen on the idea. An internally developed handheld, for which Windows Central 's Jez Corden says he has seen a number of different codenames, is not currently being worked on, and he adds that no layoffs have taken place as a result of the strategic shift. While a native Xbox device might be some way off, the report makes clear that Microsoft is still very much active in the handheld market. A third-party console that it has been working on with ASUS, codenamed "Project Kennan", is still targeting a 2025 launch. It's likely this device, which could be equipped with AMD's Z2 Extreme chip, will ship with an improved Windows 11 experience better suited to a controller interface. The software's awkward integration in early iterations of PC handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally has been a big problem, and it's partly why people are so excited about the SteamOS experience no longer being exclusive to the Steam Deck. The Lenovo Legion Go S started shipping with SteamOS running out of the box this week, the first handheld not made by Valve to do so.
Engadget
17 hours ago
- Health
- Engadget
Theragun percussion massagers are up to $110 off right now
With the world the way that it is, it can't hurt to have a massage gun on hand. And now's a good time to snag one. Wellbots has an exclusive deal for Engadget readers on three popular Therabody models. Save up to $110 today on that tempting Theragun you've been eyeing. You'll save the most on the top-of-the-line model. The Theragun Pro Plus G6 is a powerhouse with a 16 mm amplitude. (That's how far it can travel with each pulse.) Its motor delivers up to 60 lbs. of force. That should be more than enough to pound out whatever ails you. The Theragun Pro Plus G6 supports vibration, heat and LED light therapy. It comes with five attachments: standard ball, dampener, thumb, micro-point and wedge. The device has an ergonomic grip, so you can easily reach those shoulder and back muscles. It's long-lasting: up to 300 minutes on a single charge. The gun even integrates with the Therabody app, where you'll find guided routines. This model usually costs an eye-popping $650. But can get it for $540 with our exclusive code. Enter ENGADGET110THERA at checkout. Although impressive, the high-end model is overkill for most people. You can also save on a model that's great for casual users. The Theragun Relief G6 is a lightweight massage gun (1.37 lbs.) that's easy to throw into a gym bag. It has a 10 mm amplitude, which feels less like hard pounding and more like a pleasant vibration. This one doesn't support heat therapy. But it still includes three attachments: standard ball, dampener and thumb. The Theragun Relief G6 retails for $160. But our code ENGADGET30THERA slashes it to $130. For something between the first two options, you can also save on the Theragun Prime Plus. Like the first model we covered, this one has an impressive 16 mm amplitude. It's 95 percent quieter than its predecessor, so it won't disturb anyone. This model also supports heat therapy. It includes four attachment heads: standard ball, dampener, wedge and heated percussive plus. You can also use it for cold and vibration modes, but those heads are sold separately. The Therabody Prime Plus typically costs $430. But Engadget's code lets you save $60. Enter ENGADGET60THERA at checkout to bring it down to $369. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice .
Engadget
19 hours ago
- Engadget
Ask Engadget: How do I set up an Xbox for my kid?
Q: My question is how best to set up an Xbox for my kid. I want to know how to control use time and whether I should use my email to set up. – Guillermo from Utah A: You're in luck! Console parental controls have come a long way from the days of hiding NES systems (or their controllers) from unruly kids. Microsoft, in particular, has made it very easy through its Xbox Family Settings app for iOS and Android, which supports Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One systems. Once you've added your kids to your Xbox family group, you'll be able to manage and see reports of their playtime, restrict access to specific content, require parental approval for purchases and sort incoming friend requests. In typical Microsoft fashion, though, setting up Xbox family accounts can be a bit confusing, so let's go over it step by step. Turn on your Xbox and sign in with your Microsoft account. Press the Xbox button on your controller, and head to Profile & system > Settings > account > Family settings > Manage family members. Choose Add to family > Add new. Unfortunately, Microsoft requires an email address for new accounts. You can either entire your child's existing email if they have one, or choose the Get a new email option to create an Outlook email address. (This may seem a bit absurd for younger children, so if you don't want to create an email for your 6 year old, you may be better off just physically controlling access to consoles like the old days.) Next, you'll have to verify the addition of a new family group member. You can do so by either choosing This Xbox on the next screen and entering your Microsoft account details, or selecting Their phone/PC to have an email sent to you. In either case, you'll have to consent to the new member. In its documentation, Microsoft says "a child account is defined as any Microsoft account that's affiliated with an adult Microsoft account when the age of the child or teen is less than the age of majority for their country or region." These accounts are broken into "Child" and "Teen" categories, which specify age ranges between eight and 12, and 13 to 17. Microsoft notes there can be differences depending on location, like in South Korea where teen accounts range from 13 to 18. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget As useful as the Xbox Family app and child accounts may seem, they can also lead to problems while playing Minecraft, according to comments on Reddit. Reddit user "Microdad_" said they weren't able to gift a game to their child's account, they had to deal with a buggy website to allow them to play Minecraft and after all of that trouble their child still can't play in their realm. User "Electronic_Ocelot825" encountered similar issues, replying, "You are spot on. I go through same [sic] crap and it drives me to the point where I am furious.' As tech reporters, the Engadget staff is always answering questions from readers, friends and family about electronics, software, gaming, big tech policies and more. So we decided to write down our answers. This question came from a coworker from Yahoo, Engadget's corporate parent. If you've got a tech-related question you'd like us to answer for you, please email ask@
Engadget
2 days ago
- Engadget
The best microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256GB of built-in storage, eight times more than the original Switch and four times more than the Switch OLED. But the new console's improved performance means that some games will hog a ton of that space: Cyberpunk 2077 is a 60GB download, for one, while Split Fiction checks in at 73GB. Other titles aren't nearly as big, but chances are you'll eventually want to add more room to the device. When you do, you'll need a microSD Express card. These are not the same as the standard microSD cards you may have bought for the first Switch or other gaming handhelds — they're newer, faster and significantly more expensive. But if you want more space, they're your only choice. If you're looking to grab one today, we've laid out the best microSD cards for the Switch 2 and broken down what you should know before you buy. The SanDisk microSD Express Card and Lexar Play Pro. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget) The Switch 2 is the first mainstream device to require microSD Express for storage expansion, so there aren't many options available to buy just yet. To make things easy, here's a list of every microSD Express card we've seen at retailers at the time of writing: SanDisk microSD Express Card ($56 MSRP) PNY microSD Express Card ($47 MSRP) Remember: You're looking for microSD Express , not 'Extreme,' a la the branding SanDisk uses for some of its conventional microSD cards. A microSD Express card will have a big 'EX' logo printed on it — if you see that, you should be good to go. Nintendo says the Switch 2 technically supports cards with a capacity up to 2TB, but we haven't seen any microSD Express model go beyond 1TB just yet. It's also worth noting that GameStop and Onn (Walmart's in-house electronics brand) aren't manufacturers, so it's unclear who exactly is making their cards. Currently, stock for each of these cards has been extremely spotty. SanDisk's microSD Express Card has also increased in price since it first went up for sale in February; originally, it cost $45 for 128GB and $60 for 256GB. Either way, all of these cards are far pricier than traditional microSD options. The Samsung Pro Plus, for example, costs $17 for 128GB, $25 for 256GB, $43 for 512GB and $90 for 1TB as of this writing. All microSD Express cards will have this "EX" logo printed on them. (Nintendo/Engadget) We've already tested SanDisk's Express card and the Lexar Play Pro for our broader guide to the best microSD cards. Between the two, SanDisk's card has much faster sequential read speeds — up to 899 MB/s vs. 712 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark, to name one benchmark — which theoretically makes it better equipped to reduce load times. The Play Pro is quicker for sequential writes (up to 720 MB/s vs. 650 MB/s), available in more sizes and should be cheaper at 256GB whenever it's in stock. (SanDisk says the 128GB version of its card has slower sequential writes than the 256GB model, too.) Random performance is about equal, so the two should be similarly adept at keeping large games like Mario Kart World running smoothly. We mainly tested those cards on a Windows PC and Mac, though. How they perform on the actual Switch 2 remains to be seen. We'll test as many options as we can once we have our hands on the console, but for now we can't say if it'll render all microSD Express cards to similar speeds. That was largely the case with the first Switch: Once a (regular) microSD card hit a certain threshold of performance, there wasn't that much practical difference between it and other alternatives. The Switch 2 is working with a different standard, but if something similar were to happen again, the 'best' microSD Express card would simply be the most affordable one from a reputable brand in the capacity you want. That brings us to our main piece of advice: If you can hold off on buying one of these things early on, that's probably a good idea. It's not just about the lack of testing — truthfully, we'd be surprised if any of the cards above were truly 'bad.' It comes down to value: Barring more tariff shenanigans, all of these cards are as expensive today as they're ever likely to get. The Switch 2 is already popular and will continue to be, thus more microSD Express cards will need to be made and prices will (eventually) come down. Try to use all 256 of the gigabytes baked into the Switch 2 first, even if it means having to delete a game or two. But if you're absolutely sure you want more space right away, the cards above should be good enough. A microSD Express card like the one on the right has a second row of pins on the back. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget) Most microSD cards are based on a standard called Ultra High Speed (UHS), of which there are three versions: UHS-I, UHS-II and UHS-III. The vast majority of cards you may have bought in the past utilize UHS-I. These have one row of pins in the back and a theoretical maximum data transfer speed of 104 megabytes per second (MB/s). (Though many cards are able to surpass that limit with proprietary tech and card readers.) The original Switch has a UHS-I microSD slot, as do most other gaming handhelds like Valve's Steam Deck. UHS-II cards add a second row of pins and can reach up to 312 MB/s. These are pricier and much less common than cards based on UHS-I, but they're supported by some cameras and higher-power handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X. UHS-III, meanwhile, is twice as fast as UHS-II in theory (624 MB/s), but no microSD cards have actually used it. UHS-I cards have held on over the years because they're cheap, widely supported and fast enough for the things most people need them to do: record 4K video, stash photos and so on. But with the Switch 2, Nintendo needs more. The new console is dramatically more powerful, which allows it to run demanding games that may have originally been built for stronger hardware like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or gaming PCs. The device also uses UFS 3.1 storage internally, which is much speedier than the eMMC storage used by the original Switch. (A custom file decompression engine should help improve load times as well.) So if the Switch 2 is going to accept microSD cards, it needs ones that won't bring a serious drop-off in performance and can hold up with modern games. The Nintendo Switch 2. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget) Hence, SD Express. This standard has technically been around since 2018 but mostly went nowhere until the Switch 2 came along. It also uses a second row of pins, but it lets microSD cards take advantage of the PCI Express (PCIe)/NVMe interface, which is the same underlying tech used by modern SSDs. As a result, it can produce considerably faster read and write speeds, with a current theoretical maximum of 985 MB/s. As noted above, real-world performance won't be quite that fast. Even if it was, the best microSD Express cards would still be much slower than the NVMe SSDs used by the PS5 and Xbox. (Sony recommends SSDs with sequential read speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s.) And they'll fall well below their peak speeds under sustained loads: SanDisk, for instance, says sustained write speeds for its 128GB Express card can drop as low as 100 MB/s. But they're still a marked improvement over old UHS-I cards, and in theory, they should be quicker than some older SATA-based SSDs when it comes loading game levels, asset streaming, retrieving saves or copying games to external storage. Whereas SanDisk's microSD Express card can produce sequential read speeds around 900 MB/s, Lexar's Professional Silver Plus — the top UHS-I pick in our general microSD card guide — topped out just over 200 MB/s, and that's with a proprietary reader. (On the first Switch, it'd be closer to 100 MB/s.) Sequential writes and random speeds were three to four times better as well, and sometimes even more depending on the benchmark we used. It remains to be seen how well these Express cards will hold up with extended use, and there's no way to know exactly when their sky-high prices will drop. Non-Switch 2 devices that support microSD Express are still exceedingly rare, and the standard itself isn't backwards compatible with UHS-II, so you'll be limited to UHS-I speeds if you want to use your card with another device (unless you buy a pricey external reader). Still, while the increased costs and limited selection are annoying, the tech itself seems worthy of a next-gen Switch.
Engadget
2 days ago
- Engadget
Make summer travel easier with 1Password
We already know that using a password manager makes your online life that much easier. But with 1Password, even summer travel is easier. 1Password serves as a digital strongbox where you can securely store all your relevant passwords in one place for easy retrieval, protected against password thieves and hackers. It's especially ideal for businesses, but 1Password is a great option for personal users, too. That's why Engadget has named 1Password the best overall password manager you can get. The basics of a password manager are right in the name: It makes it easy to create secure passwords, and ensures you never forget them, auto-filling passwords for seamless log-ins, keeping passwords encrypted to prevent against attacks and easily sharing and managing passwords with family and trusted partners. With 1Password, there's a 'secret key' that only you know on top of the master password, adding another layer of security before you can even log in. The app now also supports passkeys that are protected by biometric authentication via fingerprint, facial recognition or PIN, so you can store every important password you have for online access. Plus, our Engadget reviewer found that it's very intuitive to use and easy to set up. And with summer finally here, it's worth calling out that 1Password's already impressive list of features includes some lesser known options that are particularly suited to travel. Vaults with cross-device access: Once you set up a 1Password account, you can access all your relevant passwords and access them across all your devices, regardless of operating system. But it's not just passwords: Create a vault in 1Password, and you can also securely store key documents across devices, from your smartphone to your laptop and your tablet. This might include booking confirmation details, passport information, event tickets and more. This ensures you're well prepared for your vacation or trip, even when navigating a new city or country. Travel Mode: Crossing borders while traveling internationally is more stressful than ever. 1Password's dedicated Travel Mode protects your sensitive data when you are in a new location. It will temporarily remove sensitive data from your devices when it detects that you are in another country, then allows you to restore it once you return. This might be secure work-related logins, for example, banking accounts, social media logins or credit cards you aren't using while away. It's not about having anything to hide. Travel Mode ensures someone isn't able to access your personal information should your phone be lost, stolen, or confiscated, protecting your right to privacy in the process as well. Family management: Set up your entire family in the app and securely share travel itineraries, emergency contacts, and other important documents. This keeps everything organized and everyone connected while ensuring the information is protected. That means even if you're in a dead zone (or just going digital detox at the spa), the rest of your family still has easy access to the restaurant reservations, concert ticket QR codes or concierge contact information, for example. Autofill Details: Making a last-minute change to your airline booking? 1Password's autofill feature handles the bulk of the work (such as filling in all that address information for the umpteenth time). Save profiles in the app to automatically populate pertinent details in those neverending online forms. This saves valuable time and reduces the stress and necessity of repeatedly entering the same information, especially when you're making the changes at the last minute from the backseat of a cab. Secure Password Generation: 1Password can create unique and strong passwords for you that are virtually impossible to crack. It will also remember these passwords so you don't have to. This levels up security and prevents you from jotting down passwords in a notebook or keeping somewhere that can easily be breached. 1Password offers two subscription options for personal users: an individual plan and a family plan with access for up to five family members. Both come with a 14-day free trial to check it out first. With plans being offered at half price right now for a limited time, you'll want to snag this 50 percent off deal before it's gone and be protected every month for less than a single hot morning coffee. That means you'll pay only $17.94 for one year of the individual plan or $29.94 for one year of the annual plan. But don't delay: This offer expires June 15, 2025.
