Joining the likes of Metroid 2, Kirbys Dream Land, Links Awakening, and tons of other amazing Game Boy games, Nintendo Switch Onlines retro catalogue now includes another classic: Donkey Kong Land. Its nominally a Game Boy adaptation of Donkey Kong Country for the SNES, but the game actually has a slightly different story, changes to enemies, and some entire levels that arent in Country.Grab a vine and join the thrills in the Land of Kong. Donkey Kong Land is now available to play for #NintendoSwitchOnline members! #GameBoy pic.twitter.com/OBYq0Faoh4 Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) November 22, 2024The main reason why I love Donkey Kong Land and, while were here, Donkey Kong Land 2 and 3, which will probably be on Nintendo Switch Online soon at the rate these retro games are getting added is the way that the Donkey Kong Country soundtrack got adapted for the Game Boys sound chip. The rearrangements of these classic catchy songs are very impressive; you can get a taste of the sound in the trailer thats in Nintendos post on X announcing the games addition to Switch Online. No shade to the SNES but I simply prefer the Game Boys sound. I used to pause this game just to listen to specific tracks.The original Donkey Kong Country trilogy is also already on Nintendo Switch Online, by the way, so you can really dive deep into the DK catalogue if thats your thing. These games hold up quite well considering theyre from the 90s. Incidentally, the DK Rap may not hold up quite as well, but it has a 2024 remake that rules.

On Thursday, October 10, 2024, I gave my first talk at an international event, the WordPress Accessibility Day (WPAD) 2024. Just a few months before, I was a newcomer to the world of web accessibility. Yet here I was, speaking to an audience of accessibility specialists and advocates, and they were genuinely interested in what I had to share. How did I get here? Most importantly, how can you get here?My Journey To Web Accessibility And Public SpeakingI first learned about web accessibility from contributing to caMicroscope as an Outreachy intern. Outreachy offers internships in open source and open science to people underrepresented in tech within their home countries. caMicroscope is basically an open-source tool for studying and analyzing digital images of body tissues.During my three-month internship, I worked on enhancing the caMicroscopes accessibility. I conducted accessibility audits to identify areas for improvement and fixed several technical issues to make the web app more accessible. Since this was my first exposure to accessibility, I spent a lot of time researching and learning, gradually building a knowledge base that would later inspire my first talk.The more I learned about accessibility, the more I realized how important it is to digital product design and user experience, yet few people seemed to be talking about it. Just before my internship ended, I began searching for accessibility events that I could attend to connect with people in the field. That was how I stumbled on the Call for Proposals (CFP) for WordPress Accessibility Day 2024.Initially, I was hesitant to apply. I wondered,What do I know about accessibility that people would care to listen to me?But I also thought,How often do you find a UX designer not only testing for accessibility but actually implementing technical fixes for the first time?This was my experience, my story, and no one could tell it better than me. The CFP also encouraged first-time speakers to submit a proposal. That was an additional motivation. I figured,Whats the worst that could happen?So, I pushed through my doubts, did extensive research to choose a topic, and finally submitted my proposal.When I received the email that my proposal was accepted, I was thrilled. But then came the next hurdle preparing the presentation itself. Now, I had to think deeply about my audience: what message I wanted to convey and how to make it engaging and informative. After all, people were going to spend their time listening to me. I wanted to make it worth their while.I reworked my slides at least four times. Even the night before my talk, I was still making edits (something I dont recommend!). Watching the sessions of speakers who presented before me helped me learn some last-minute tips, but it also led to comparing my slides to theirs, wondering if I was missing something. Up until my talk began, I struggled with imposter syndrome. What if I forgot what I was supposed to say? Or dont know how to answer a question that an attendee asks?Finally, the moment came. I spent 40 minutes sharing with attendees the importance of manual accessibility testing. Not long into my presentation, I felt my initial anxiety melt away. I was calm and enthusiastic throughout the rest of my talk. It was an amazing experience, one that Im grateful for.Since then, Ive submitted another talk proposal to speak at a different conference. While I still have some doubts, theyre no longer about whether or not Im qualified to speak but rather about whether or not my talk will be accepted. Ive grown since my first talk, and if youre considering a similar path, you can too.Why We Hold BackAt every tech event I attend, when the hosts introduce the speakers, the introductions typically go something like the following:John Doe is the Senior Product Designer at XYZ Company, bringing over seven years of expertise to his role. He serves as Chairman of the Technical Steering Committee for the ABC Community, contributing to its strategic direction and growth. As the founder of LMNOP, John has driven a startup that has generated over $XXXX in revenue and created over 500 jobs, making a substantial impact on the African tech ecosystem.Impressive. Inspiring. And for a newbie, maybe even intimidating.When theyre giving their talk, I often catch myself thinking:With so many years of experience, no wonder they know so much. When will I ever reach this level?I was subconsciously beginning to associate speaker with expert. I started believing that to qualify as a speaker, I needed an impressive title, years of experience, or some remarkable achievement under my belt. And I know Im not the only one who feels this way.How To Deal With Impostor SyndromeWhen I first saw the call for speakers for WordPress Accessibility Day, my immediate reaction was to scroll past it. After all, I had only been working with web accessibility for a short time. Surely, they were looking for seasoned professionals with years of experience, right? Wrong. Had I given in to this misconception, I would have robbed myself of an incredible opportunity for growth.If youve ever held back from submitting a talk proposal because you feel youre not qualified enough to talk on a subject, here are some tips to help you deal with the imposter syndrome:Embrace Your Newbie StatusThe reason you feel like an imposter is probably because youre cosplaying as an expert that youre not (yet), and youre afraid people might see through the facade. So, the fear of failing and the pressure to meet expectations weigh you down. Be proud of your novice status. And who said experts make the best speakers? Even the so-called experts get nervous to speak.Practice, Practice, PracticeAnother reason you may hold back is because you dont have speaking experience. But how do you gain speaking experience? You guessed right by speaking. So, speak. Or at least practice speaking. The more prepared you are, the more confident youll feel. Start by presenting to your rubber duck, your pet, a friend, or a family member. Each time you practice, youll discover ways to explain concepts more clearly and identify areas where you need to strengthen your understanding. Record yourself and watch it back. Yes, its uncomfortable, but its one of the best ways to improve your delivery and body language.Focus On Your JourneyYour recent learning experience is actually an advantage. You still remember what its like to struggle with concepts that experts take for granted. This makes you qualified to help others who are just starting. Think about it: Who better to explain the challenges of learning a new technology than someone who just overcame them?Focus On Sharing, Not ProvingShift your mindset from I need to prove Im an expert to I want to share what Ive learned. This subtle change removes the pressure of perfection and places the focus where it belongs on helping others. Share your mistakes, your aha moments, the resources that helped you. These are often more valuable than polished theory from someone whos forgotten what its like to be a beginner.Share Your ExperienceIm not the first UX designer to dive into accessibility, but out of many contributors who applied to the project, I was the one selected to improve caMicroscopes accessibility. Thats my unique angle. Your background and experience bring a perspective that others can learn from. Dont try to compete with comprehensive tutorials or documentation. Instead, share your practical, real-world experience. Focus on sharing:Specific problems you encountered and how you solved them;Lessons learned from failed approaches;Real-world trade-offs and decisions you had to make;Insights that surprised you along the way;Practical tips that arent found in standard documentation.Remember That The Audience Wants You To SucceedConference attendees (and organizers) arent there to judge you or catch you making mistakes. Theyre there to learn, and they want you to succeed. Many will be grateful to hear from someone who can relate to their current experience level. Your vulnerability and openness about being new to the field can actually make your talk more approachable and engaging.Why Newbie Voices MatterYou Bring A Fresh PerspectiveAs an early-career professional, you bring a fresh, unencumbered viewpoint to the table. The questions you ask and the solutions you propose arent constrained by the way things have always been done.This reminds me of the story about the truck that got stuck under a bridge. Experts spent hours trying complex maneuvers to free it until a schoolboy suggested a simple solution deflating the tires. Your recent learning experiences make you uniquely positioned to see solutions that seasoned professionals overlook.You see, innovation often arises from those not bound by conventional thinking. As a newcomer, youre more likely to draw parallels from other industries or suggest unconventional approaches that could lead to breakthroughs.You Inspire Others Like YouWhenever I see a call for speakers for an event, I have a habit of checking the speakers lineup from past events to see if theres anyone like me Nigerian, female, relatively new to tech, young. If I dont find anyone similar, I often feel hesitant about submitting a proposal. But if I do, Im immediately encouraged to apply.Your Story Has PowerYour story, your ideas, your fresh take they could be the solution to someones problem, ignite a new area of exploration, or simply give another budding professional the confidence to pursue their goals. Your journey could be exactly what someone in the audience needs to hear. So, dont let imposter syndrome hold you back. The tech community needs your voice.When you speak at events, youre not just sharing your own knowledge. Youre inspiring other newcomers to step up and share their voices, too. Representation matters, and youre contributing to the diversity of perspectives, which is necessary for progress and innovation.Benefits Of Speaking As A NewcomerBesides the anxiety that comes with speaking, are there benefits that you gain from being a first-time speaker at an event? Short answer: Yes. What are they?Your Knowledge GrowsYou know what they say: If you want to master something, teach it.When I started preparing for my accessibility talk, I extensively researched not just my topic but also how best to deliver it. I read articles on creating accessible presentations. I was speaking at an accessibility event, after all, so my slides and delivery had to be accessible to all in the audience. The questions from the audience also challenged me to think about accessibility from angles I hadnt considered before. Trust me, youll learn more preparing for a 30-minute talk than you would in months of regular work.You Become More ConfidentRemember that shaky feeling when you first pushed code to production? Speaking at an event is similar terrifying at first but incredibly empowering once youve done it. After my first talk, I found that I became more confident in team meetings, more willing to share ideas, and more comfortable with challenging assumptions. Theres something powerful about standing in front of a room (virtual or physical) and sharing your knowledge that makes other professional challenges seem less daunting.The Quality And Quantity Of Your Network IncreasesNetworking hits differently when youre a speaker. Before my talk, I was just another attendee sending connection requests. After? Industry leaders were reaching out to ME. I remember checking my LinkedIn notifications after my accessibility talk and seeing connection requests from people Id only dreamed of connecting with.Now, instead of trying to start conversations at networking sessions (which, lets be honest, can be awkward), your talk becomes the conversation starter. People approach you with genuine interest in your perspective, and suddenly, youre having meaningful discussions about your passion with folks who share it.It Gives Your Career A Significant BoostWant to know what sets you apart from other candidates with similar years of experience? Speaking credentials. Imagine listing Speaker at WordPress Accessibility Day on my resume. It shows initiative and expertise that goes beyond day-to-day work activities.Plus, conferences often give speakers free or discounted tickets to future events; thats premium access to learning and networking opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach for early-career professionals. Thats how you get to that level.You Contribute To The Tech Knowledge BaseOften, especially with virtual conferences, a recording of the event is uploaded on YouTube. That means anyone searching the web for a topic related to your talk will find your talk in the search results. Your 30-minute presentation becomes a permanent resource in the vast library of tech knowledge. I cant count the number of times a conference video addressed a concern I had or served as a resource for a talk or an article I was working on. Now, I get to be on the other side, helping someone else figure things out.And heres another bonus: those YouTube videos also work as a portfolio of sorts. So, not only are you contributing to the community, but youre also building a body of work that showcases your expertise and speaking skills.You Just Might Get PaidHeres something people dont talk about enough: many conferences pay their speakers or at least cover travel expenses. Not only are you learning and growing, but you might also get paid for it! Even if the event doesnt offer payment, the experience itself is invaluable for your portfolio.You Build Your Personal BrandEvery time you speak, youre building your personal brand. Your talks become content you can share on social media, add to your portfolio, and reference in job interviews. Imagine a recruiter saying to you, I remember you from your talk at a so-and-so conference. In an industry as competitive as tech, this kind of recognition is invaluable.Tips For First-Time SpeakersI found this article by Andy Budd on how to become a better speaker at conferences very helpful when I was preparing for my talk. In addition to his expert advice, here are a few tips Id like to share from my own experience as a first-time speaker:Choose A Topic Youre Passionate AboutWhen selecting a topic, pick something youre genuinely passionate about. Your enthusiasm will shine through your presentation and captivate the audience.Recently learned a new skill that simplified your workflow?Participated in a workshop that changed how you approach a problem?Discovered a clever workaround to a common problem?Topics like these, drawn from your personal experiences, make for compelling talk ideas.Heres a hack Ive used to uncover potential speaking ideas: instead of racking your brain when a call for proposals goes out, stay alert for inspiration in your day-to-day activities. As you go about your work or scroll through social media, jot down any concepts that pique your curiosity. That seemingly mundane task you were performing when the idea struck could serve as a fascinating hook for your presentation.Prepare ThoroughlyOnce youve settled on a topic, its time to dive deep into research and practice. Spend time mastering the subject matter from every angle so you can speak with authority. If you followed tip no. 1 (choose a topic youre passionate about and are drawing from your personal experience), you are already halfway prepared.But dont stop there. Rehearse your talk multiple times, refining your delivery and transitions until you feel confident. Watch recordings of similar presentations and critically analyze what worked well and where theres room for improvement. How did the speakers engage the audience? Were there any areas that could have been explained better? Studying successful talks will help you identify ways to elevate your own performance.Engage With Your AudienceA speaking engagement is a conversation, not a monologue. Encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Be responsive to the audiences needs and interests. If you notice puzzled expressions or hesitant body language, pause to clarify or rephrase. Making that personal connection will keep people invested and eager to learn from you.Start With A Virtual EventIf the prospect of speaking in front of a live audience makes you nervous, consider starting with a virtual event. The online format can feel more approachable since youll be delivering the talk from the comfort of your home, and youll have the flexibility to reference notes or prompts without the audience noticing.Connect With Other First-Time SpeakersWhen I was preparing my talk, I spent hours on YouTube searching for talks by people who shared my background. I was particularly interested in their early speaking appearances, so Id scroll through their video history to find their first-ever talks.These speakers werent polished professionals at the time, and thats exactly what made their talks valuable to me. Watching them helped me realize that perfection isnt the goal. I studied their presentations carefully, noted what worked well and what could be improved, and used these insights to strengthen my own talk.If youre more outgoing than I am, consider reaching out directly to other new speakers in your community. You can find them on Twitter, LinkedIn, or at local tech meetups. Building a support system of people who understand exactly what youre going through can be incredibly reassuring. You can practice your talks together and provide feedback to each other.Be AuthenticFinally, dont be afraid to let your authentic self shine through. Share personal anecdotes, tell jokes, discuss the challenges you faced, and be vulnerable about your own learning journey.Your honesty and humility will resonate far more than a polished, impersonal presentation. Remember, the audience wants to connect with you, not just your expertise.ConclusionIn retrospect, Im glad that I pushed past my initial doubts and applied to speak at WordPress Accessibility Day. It was a transformative experience that has accelerated my growth in the field and connected me with an incredible community.To all the newcomers reading this:Your voice matters. Your perspective is valuable. The tech community needs fresh voices and perspectives. Your I just learned this enthusiasm can be infectious and inspiring.So, the next time you see a call for speakers, dont scroll past it. Take that leap. Apply to speak. Share your knowledge. You never know who you might inspire or what doors you might open for yourself and for others.Remember, every expert was once a beginner. I hope youre inspired to take the stage and let your voice be heard.Further ResourcesGetting Started in Public Speaking: Global Diversity CFP Day, Rachel AndrewComplete Guide to Giving Your First Conference Talk, Gwendolyn FaradayHow to Prepare for Your First Conference Talk, Lisa Wentz M.A.How to Write a Conference Talk Abstract That Will Get Accepted, Linda Ikechukwu

With the holidays around the corner, comes lots of parties. For culinary curious friends or family, offering something delicious displayed with something cool the host can keep is a winner move. Whether you are shopping for someone early on in their culinary adventure or for the person who has every cooking gadget, here are several ideas to inspire your holiday gifting.Sterling Farms White Sturgeon Caviar \\\ $119CHROMA Sculptural Serving Bowl \\\ $199Showing up with caviar never disappoints. For the ultimate statement, add a uniquely distinctive and functionally shaped serving vessel to put the tin of white sturgeon on ice and shingled blinis.Petite Crudit Sampler by The Chefs Garden \\\ $33Patella Crescenda Microgreen Sprouting Kit by House of Thol \\\ $63Sometimes an outfit is all about the accessories. Well, one could say the same about a dish and its garnish. Give the gift of microgreens with a beautiful countertop sprouting kit. And while they wait for their own to grow, some adorable petite crudit will do the trick.Bodum Geo Salt & Pepper Grinder Set $49White Kampot Pepper by Mill Pepper Co. \\\ $24Black Kampot Pepper by Mill Pepper Co. \\\ $20Give the gift of nuance with black and white peppercorns. Sure, they come from the same plant, but as a result of being dried differently, they end up with a different appearance and flavor. Imagine having a chic designer grinder set dedicated to both white and black pepper that can live on the counter. Let the taste tests begin!Wave Pitcher by Sophie Lou Jacobsen \\\ $195Cheeky Syrups \\\ $15 eachFor the person who loves sophisticated cocktails, give a chic glass pitcher with flavored simple syrups to pre-batch bar-quality cocktails at home without making every ingredient from scratch.Omiso Vegan Soup Ball Gift Set \\\ $27Clyde Electric Kettle by Fellow \\\ $125With several cold months ahead, nothing brings comfort quite like a hot bowl of soup. For the person who loves the ease of instant soup but appreciates design and the months-long miso fermentation process.Pure Maple Syrup by Tree Juice \\\ $23OTTO: Modern Turkish Coffee Pot by Goat Story \\\ 55For the person who loves serving up pancakes with warm maple syrup.Ansel Travertine Tray by Nach Vorn \\\ $150Jasper Hill Farms Harbison Cheese from Saxelby \\\ $25Were you given a potluck assignment? This is NOT your cheesy charcuterie board. Serve a delicious creamy bark-wrapped cheese on a Dali-esque melting travertine tray.Desert Plaid Napkin Set of 4 by Block Shop \\\ $70For the person that loves to set a colorful table, you can never go wrong with a new set of novelty napkins or placemats. The textiles from Block Shop are hand block printed by 5th generation master printers in Jaipur. Made from 55% linen and 45% cotton, the soft desert palette with soft pink hem will add an unexpected and sophisticated pop to any holiday table.One-Handed Cake Server by MoMA \\\ $14Maple Cake Stand by Elise McLauchlan \\\ $140Since kitchen storage is so precious, its rare to recommend gadgets that only do one thing. However, for the person who hosts a lot of birthday parties, this Italian cake server is a must have. Paired with the stunningly smooth maple cake stand and youre sure to get invited every time.36 Yakitori Tabletop Charcoal Grill by Bincho Grill \\\ $492All-Natural Binchotan Charcoal Premium Mix Komaru \\\ $108For the outdoor cooking enthusiast, gift an authentic Japanese-style binchotan grill with charcoal for all their grilling needs.Follow along so you dont miss any of our2024 Gift Guidesthis year!This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Texture and color are two elements we strive to capture through words, photos, and videos. Yet, sometimes, an in-person experience is the only way to truly grasp a products potential. Thats exactly what happened when Design Milk visited Roland DGs headquarters. Familiar with the brands reputation for cutting-edge wide-format printing, we arrived expecting innovation but left completely inspired by the endless possibilities this technology offers.Examples of applications using the Dimensor S printer and DG DIMENSE technologyRoland DGA Headquarters in Irvine, CaliforniaAt the heart of our visit was Roland DGs Dimensor S printer and its groundbreaking DIMENSE technology. This powerhouse duo is redefining how we approach surfaces, enabling the creation of elevated textures on artwork, wallcoverings, flooring, and beyond. As Kitt Jones, Business Development and Co-Creation Manager at Roland DGA, aptly put it, When you think about it, everything is a surface. To prove his point, Jones pulled out a cowboy hat yes, a hat printed with DIMENSE technology, earning a round of chuckles from the room.Yes, even a sink is a surface.A surface as small as a the handles of cutlery can be transformed through Roland.But beneath the humor lies a profound truth. When you truly consider Jones words, the possibilities begin to unfold. This technology isnt just about making textured wallpaper; its about redefining the very concept of what a surface can be and transforming that. With this technology, you can turn flat, two-dimensional artwork into tactile, three-dimensional masterpieces. For illustrators and artists, this means unlocking a new realm where exacting colors and layered textures breathe life into their creations.Artwork by Jaime Derringer, founder of Design Milk, gains added depth and dimension when brought to life with the Dimensor S.Israel-based design studio Embo used the Dimensor S printer to craft textured wallcoverings, ceilings, and floor graphics for the Uma Thuma restaurant, making it into a uniquely memorable dining experience.For interior designers, the opportunities are even more exciting. Imagine crafting bespoke wallcoverings for clients who crave something one-of-a-kind. Whether its bold, graphic prints or subtle textures like grasscloth or shiplap paneling, this technology can instantly elevate a space all while saving time and cutting costs compared to traditional methods.Textured metallic ceilings draw the eye upward, inviting guests to take in the restaurants entire ambiance.A flowing graphic on the floor elegantly defines the bar seating area.Concrete becomes a canvas for digitally created designsAnd it doesnt stop there. Texture printing can turn even raw materials into extraordinary focal points. By using digitally printed texture molds created with the Dimensor S, you can turn an unremarkable wall whether indoors or out into a striking, intentional design feature. From backyard patios to commercial facades, the possibilities are limitless.The roll of freshly printed artwork, hot off the pressAn office wall gets a colorful update by EmboUp close texturesRoland DGs gold media adds a layer of dazzling metallic details in this mural by Embo.Our day with Roland DG revealed that the future of printing goes far beyond ink. Its about reimagining surfaces and transforming how we interact with the physical world. While Roland DG showcased the incredible capabilities of the Dimensor S and DIMENSE technology, its the visionaries of the design world artists, designers, and makers who will truly push its boundaries, unlocking its potential to revolutionize how we create and experience spaces.For more on Roland DG, visit rolanddg.com.

You dont need to pay such a big penalty for innovationPhoto by Jack Carter onUnsplashYour teammate rolls across the floor to yourdesk.They patiently wait for you to finish typing. No matter, youre already distracted. You dont work well when you can feel eyes uponyou.You turn to addressthem.A spiel begins: I was working through the requirements for microservice [X]you know, the one that handles API [Y], for feature [Z]. Well, I was in there, and I realized, why dont we just [A], because if we did that, then [B], [C], and if were lucky,[D]Youre not fully following along. Your brain is still trying to hold onto those last few thoughts you had, before you lose them completely and have to retrace your steps to figure out what you were thinking and why andhow. So yeah, that doesnt necessarily take into account [L] or [M], but if we[N]Youre barely holdingon [R] [S][T]Oh never mind. You might as well focus on this new thing. You apologize, say you missed a couple details and the story begins all overagain.And meanwhile, youve lost any stringified attachments to where you were in your brainspace.But then you get into it. Yeah! [A] through [T], that makes a lot of sense, plus [U], [V], and [W]. Lets see what Morgan thinks aboutthis(So much for anyone making progress today! But who doesnt love a shiny newthing?)/sadpandaThat idea might not have even been worth thinking about in the first placeor who knows, maybe its the next big thing thats going to push your startup into unicorntopia.All that you know at this point is it sounded like a decent idea, and it didnt hurt to put a little thought into. (Or didit?)And there it isthe moment that you realized your productivity was killed and your focus was derailed, all for an idea that probably wont matter in two weeks (if not two minutes). But youll do it again tomorrow, because thats what product teams do. We entertain ideas. We explore possibilities. We chase potential.And who can blameus?Well thats what were here to talk about. Take aseat!Good ideas are a dime a dozen. Theyre a lot like [checks metaphor list] potato chips. Everyone loves them, theyre addictively easy to consume, and before you know it, youve eaten the entire bag and feel slightly sick. But unlike potato chips, the consequences of gorging on good ideas last much longer than a bad case of indigestion.This is the idea taxthe hidden cost thats slowly bankrupting your product execution.The seductive dance ofideationWere all guilty of it. That rush of dopamine when we think weve cracked the code on the next big thing. That surge of excitement when we imagine the possibilities.It just feels so good to have goodideas.And thats exactly theproblem.While bad ideas are easy to shoot down (sorry Phil, were not adding a blockchain to our journaling app for cats), good ideas are insidious.They slip past our defenses with a wink and a smile (so flattering!).They sound reasonable.They feel achievable.They come with compelling user stories, undeniable pain points, intriguing solutions, and impressive slides about TAM, CAC, MRR, LTV, POC, MVP, PMF, and (dare I say it)IPO.But what everyone in the room fails to recognize or acknowledge is that every good idea you entertain comes with a tax bill. A very real drain on your very humanteam.The true cost of all thoseideas(Yes, even the good onesin fact, especially those.)Every time your team considers a new idea, youre spending more than just a little time to talk about it. The true expense starts the moment an idea enters your teams orbit (even just near one planetary team member), and you dont stop racking up bills until it gets absorbed into your sun (you build it) or it gets slingshotted back into outer space (you reject it). (Is this metaphor working?Anyway)All ideas, whether you ultimate execute against them or bail somewhere along the way, consume valuable resources. They affect your teams focus, clarity, and execution.Theyre more expensive than is apparent on thesurface.Strategic dilutionEvery good idea you pursue is a vote cast for a particular future. But when youre voting for everything, youre effectively voting for nothingboth because of the truth that if everything is a priority than nothing is, and also because, well, what exactly are you strategically building if youre building everything all atonce?Lets break this down with a realistic product scenario.You start with a clear vision: Were building the best AI sales call analyzer to train reps and level up their pitchgame.Then the good ideas start rollingin:Hey, what if we added real-time coaching duringcalls?You know whatd be cool? AI-generated discovery questions!Our enterprise customers really want pipeline management (or at least, thats what I imagine our enterprise customers would ask for, if we hadany).We should add our own video conferencingreps hate switching platforms.Have we considered adding follow-up email sequences?What about automated pitch deck creation?Wheres the prospect data enrichment?Buyer intent signals! We definitely need to show buying readiness scores!But look what happens to your strategynow youre competing with:GongZoomSalesforceHubSpotZoomInfoand every other tool (even merely tangentially) related to sales enablementAnd nobody knows what makes you specialanymore.Its like being at a restaurant with a 50-page menu. Sure, they can make sushi and pizza and tacos and curry but do you really trust them to do any of itwell?(In full transparency, my wife loves The Cheesecake Factory, but thats neither here northere.)And the truly insidious part? This dilution happens gradually. You dont wake up one morning and decide to completely abandon your strategy. Noit erodes one reasonable decision at atime.Well, were already analyzing pitch performance, so real-time coaching isnt that big a stretchSince were tracking sales conversations, we might as well predict their outcomesEveryone loves tool consolidation because it saves them money, so maybe we should just build our ownCRMAnd on andonBefore you know it, your product strategy resembles a Jackson Pollock paintinglots of activity, but good luck finding the focus. Your simple pitch improvement tool is now yet another all-in-one revenue acceleration platform (whatever thatmeans).Strategy is as much about what you say NO to as what you say YES to. When you try to be everything to everyone, you end up being nothing to anyone. Youre not making strategic choices; youre just accumulating features.Context switchingEvery time your team pivots to explore a new idea, theyre paying a mental toll. Research shows it takes 23 minutes to fully regain focus after a disruption. And in product development, were not just talking about a quick chat by the water cooler (or perhaps more aptly, by the robot barista).Were talkingabout:Engineers mentally unravelling complex technical architectures and keeping it all magically together in their braincachePMs juggling roadmap plans three years out, yesterdays sudden escalation, unrealistic stakeholder expectations, and overall death-by-meetingDesigners deep in user research, user interviews, user personas, user stories, and use casesall in the name of design exploration for a feature that may never see the light ofdayAnd this isnt happening just occasionally (as much as managers may pretend it is). Its happening many times per day, across the entire team, org, andcompany.For some roles, this can indeed be a quick side convo. Not in product development, though. There, each context switch requires rebuilding complicated mental models, understanding intricate system interactions, and maintaining consistent product vision across an ever-growing list of features.Yeah, that 23 minutes doesnt hold water for this team. Say goodbye to any semblance of productivity for the rest of theday.Decision fatigueYour brain has a finite amount of decision-making energy each day. Its like your phone batteryeach choice drains a little more juice, although unlike your phone, theres no quick-charge solution (unless you have time to sneak in a nap between meetings).Every good idea that simply must be discussed demands its fair share of your brainpower:Should we prioritize this now? (And if not now,when?)How does it fit within our strategy? (Or does it just seem to fit because we want itto?)Whats the opportunity cost? (And are we being honest with ourselves about those tradeoffs?)Should we build, buy, or partner? (And do we have bandwidth for any ofthose?)Who should be the owner of this effort? (And do they actually have capacity to take thison?)How will this impact our existing roadmap? (And all the promises weve already made, including last quarters bigideas?)Whats the minimum viable version? (And how are we defining viable in the grand scheme of MLP/MMP/MUP/MSP/MDP/MAP/MTP/etc.?)Before you know it, youre making your most important product decisions with the mental equivalent of 2% batterylife.And the other half of the equation isnt prettyeither.Youre working hard at all this, burning mental calories deciding what to do about that game-changing AI-powered feature to automatically post pictures of users pets to their personal social media pages (the pets pages, not the users) by taking advantage of the blockchain and Dogecoins impending moonshot sorry, where was I? OhyeahMeanwhile, youre not thinkingabout:How to improve your core product experienceWays to reduce customerchurnHow to give your users more Aha!momentsWhy onboarding seems to be taking too long for all newusersThose critical security updates your engineering team has been warning you not toignoreThe growing technical debt thats slowly-but-surely turning your codebase into spaghettiIts like spending all your energy choosing breakfast, and having nothing left for dinner. Except in this case, breakfast was deciding whether to add dark mode to your B2B enterprise software, and dinner was supposed to be figuring out why 10% of your user base left for your competitor lastmonth.Feature BloatEach feature you add is like buying propertyyoure not just paying the upfront cost, youre also signing up for the ongoing maintenance. The work on your residencethats just the cost of business (/living). But the work on your second and third home, vacation lakehouse, and rental propertiesthose are all a bit distracting and expensive so expensive.Youve got to constantly dealwith:Code that needs updatingsecurity vulnerability patches, third-party API changes, performance optimizations, bug fixes,Documentation that needs maintaininguser guides, API documentation, internal wiki knowledge base articles, onboarding docs, release notes,Support tickets that need answeringwhy doesnt this work like it used to?, I cant find the option for, is this a bug or a feature?, a myriad of edge cases you never could have imagined,Training that needs deliveringSales needs new demo scripts, Support requires new troubleshooting steps, Success needs new implementation playbooks, new hires need deeper onboarding, partners need capability briefings,The worst part? This tax increases over time. That simple feature you added two years ago? Its now critical to three of your biggest customers workflows, tightly integrated with five other features, andyou guessed itall that time spent ignoring it hasnt left it in very good shape but at the same time, any minor change requires a full regression testing cycle that makes your QA team break out in coldsweats.Of course, some of those features are worth the extra expenses. But that doesnt mean every brilliant idea is worth pursuing. You need to pick your battles wisely. Theres no such thing as set it and forget it in product development. Everything you build today is a commitment to maintain it tomorrow and the month after that and the year afterthatAn idea tax avoidance strategyDont worry, Im not suggesting you become a product development hermit, rejecting all new ideas at the door. But there are some things you can do to help yourself avoid the very painful costs of all those brilliant ideas.1. Protect your execution timestayfocusedFirst off, you need to make sure that big ideas arent getting in the way of doing good work and delivering customer value. So, create uninterruptible space for your product development team to actually, yknow, develop theproduct:Fix your calendaring woes and block off entire days to give your team time to truly focus purely on executionMake sprints actually sacred instead of allowing them to be blown up all the time (although first youll need to plan thembetter)Discuss ideas during dedicated discussion times (yes, even if thats a meetingbut put those either at the beginning of the day, end of the day, or duringlunch)Create explicit processes and allowances for the handling of emergency ideas (true emergencies are rare, but Im not trying to pretend that they dontexist)Encourage (force?) people to sit on their idea for a hot second (or really, a hot day or week)that gives them time to 1) sleep on it to see if its really that good (many will dissipate into the ether just from thistime saved!), and 2) formalize their thoughts on it (shower thoughts not-so-welcome, they need moremeat)Ideas without execution are just daydreams. And if you dont give your team space to execute, they wont build anythingbig idea or otherwise.2. Assess valueis it worthit?For the ideas that still make it to your desk, make sure theyre fully vetted. Its easy to get all starry-eyed at the prospects of a brighter futureits way more fun that the grind, anywaybut youve got to know the difference between a pipe dream and an honest-to-goodness executable game-changer.What specific problem does this solve for our coreusers?How does this amplify (or dilute) our key differentiators?Whats the true engineering cost?Which strategic opportunities will we sacrifice?Whats the downstream impact on product complexity?How will this affect other teams? And will that be in a good way or a bad way? (This is everyoneSales, Support, Success, Marketing, other Engineering teams, other Product teams, everyone)Ideas are easy; execution is hard. The more rigorous your assessment process, the less likely youll chase mirages. Your products success depends not only on the ideas you accept, but also on the ones youreject.3. Planchanging course every day isnt pivoting, itschaosJust because a decent idea indeed turned out to be a great idea, that doesnt mean you should pivot straight to building it. There are real implications for dropping what youre doing in the middle of doingit.Ruthlessly protect committed workyou committed for a reason, it should be rare to change course in themiddleCreate space for strategic bets (and build in check-in points so you can bow out if its not working out the way youdreamed)Balance core improvements with new capabilitiesyou cant move on all ideas, but you will need to move on some; even if you managed to create a moat, it wont survive forever unless you keep diggingitPlanning isnt about predicting the future, its about preparing for it. Your roadmap needs to be firm enough to execute against, but flexible enough to adapt. The best plans enable focus for today while maintaining optionality for tomorrow.4. Back to the beginningThis isnt really step 4, its back to step1.Now that you know the ideas actually worth pursuing, and have a reasonable and realistic plan to move forward with them, you can utilize all that time you freed up to focus on execution to build the next bigthing.This is the past you giving a gift to the current you. (But also, the current you giving a gift to the future younows not the time to break thecycle!)The cold, hardtruthLook, I get it. Believe me I get it. Saying no (or la la Im not listening while covering your ears) to good ideas feels wrong. It goes against our instincts as product people. Were builders, creators, innovators. Our natural state is to see the art of the possible everywhere welook.But (and this is the big but)your capacity to execute will always be smaller than your capacity to ideate. Always. Its like trying to drink from a fire hoseno matter how thirsty you are, youll only be able to swallow so much atonce.So:Protect the ever-loving heck out of your ability to dodont let big ideas get in the way ofthatBe sure that you want to move forwardthis doesnt mean you have to sign up for everything about everything about the idea (in fact, purposefully dont do that, give yourself outs along the way), but do your due diligence before youbeginMake a game planjust because you decided you will execute doesnt mean you have to start right now (i.e., remember step1)Keep the cyclegoingThe most successful product development teams arent the ones with the most good ideas. Theyre the ones who are ruthlessly efficient at executing on the rightideas.The payoff for skillfully managing your idea tax will be a team that can actually execute, features that actually ship, and a product that actually evolves one deliberate idea at atime.Speaking of good ideas Are you tired of fighting with Jiras UI? I get it. Thats why were building Momentumits Jira on the backend, but with a UX that actually helps you do agile. No migration necessary. Curious? Join the waitlist.The not-so-hidden tax of good ideas was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

From Duolingo, Typeform, Notion, Monzo & moreContinue reading on UX Collective

Laptops are one of the most commonly discounted items on Black Friday, whether you prefer MacBooks, PC laptops, Chromebooks, or gaming machines. But though the big day is a week away, deals are already popping up across Amazon, Best Buy, retailer websites, and more. With prices cuts as hefty as $400 off on laptops packed with top-of-the-line specs and modern hardware, its a good idea to start watching now for a killer price on a machine that hits your sweet spot, even though Thanksgivings turkey dinner is still but twinkle in your eye. Still debating? Check back here as we get closer to the day of, as I'll be making updates as more of the best laptop deals go live.(If youre interested in a new tablet or phone as well, head on over to our best early Black Friday tech deals page for a broader view of all the best discounts you can get right now.)Best Black Friday MacBook Deals Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID; Starlight $844.00 at Amazon $1,099.00 Save $255.00 Get Deal Get Deal $844.00 at Amazon $1,099.00 Save $255.00 Apple aficionados have plenty to choose from this Black Friday, with deals across the companys entire lineup of in-house M-series chips.Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M3 Chip: $849 at Amazon (was $1,099). This is Apples most recent MacBook Air, complete with the M3 chip, a base 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Thats more than enough for most people.Apple MacBook Air 15-inch with M3 Chip: $1,044 at Amazon (was $1,299). Largely similar to its 13-inch counterpart, this MacBook Air comes with a 15-inch screen, an M3 chip, up to 24GB of memory, and up to 512GB of storage.Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M2 Chip: $749 at Amazon (was $999). If youre OK going with a slightly older model, the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is $100 cheaper than the M3 model right now.Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M1 Chip: $649 at Walmart (was $699). Apples oldest M-series MacBook Air is still a strong workhorse, with an M1 chip, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of storage, although the smaller discount here might not make the compromise worth it.Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 Pro Chip: $1,699 at Best Buy (was $1,899). A slightly older model of MacBook Pro, this 14-inch laptop boasts an M3 Pro chip, 18GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD. Its a good compromise between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro.Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch with M3 Pro Chip: $1,999 at Best Buy (was $2,399). A screen upgrade on the M3 Pro Macbook Pro (not a typo), this model also has 18GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, but comes with a 16-inch display.Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4 Chip: $1,399 at Amazon (was $1,499). Apples most recent M4 chip is also on sale for Black Friday, and this MacBook Pro supplements it with a 14-inch display, up to 24GB of memory, and up to 1TB of storage. (Note that a base M4 chip might actually be weaker than an M3 Pro chip, depending on what youre using it for.)Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4 Pro Chip: $1,749 at Amazon (was $1,999). Or just do away with compromises. If you want a pro-level MacBook with a pro-level chip, this is a great pick. Youll get a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro chip, 24GB of memory, and up to 1TB of storage.Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro Chip: $2,199 at Amazon (was $2,499). This 16-inch screen upgrade to the M4 Pro MacBook Pro, with the same chip, up to 48GB of memory, and 512GB of storage.Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4 Max Chip: $2,899 at Amazon (was $3,199). This deal on Apples top-of-the-line MacBook Pro comes with an M4 Max chip, 36GB of memory, and 1TB of storage.Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Max chip: $3,199 at Amazon (was $3,499). A screen-size upgrade to the M4 Max MacBook Pro, this deal will net you a 16-inch display, 36GB of memory, and a 1TB SSD.Best Black Friday Windows Laptop Deals Dell - Inspiron 16 2-in-1 Mini-LED Touch Laptop Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor - 32GB Memory 1TB SDD - Intel Arc Graphics - Midnight Blue $999.99 at Best Buy $1,499.99 Save $500.00 Get Deal Get Deal $999.99 at Best Buy $1,499.99 Save $500.00 For those who, like me, grew up with a Windows PC, theres still plenty of deals on the tried-and-true standard this Black Friday, especially for those looking for something that can go toe-to-toe with a MacBook Air.Dell Inspiron 16-inch with Intel Core Ultra 7 Chip: $999 at Best Buy (was $1,499). This Windows laptop comes equipped with a modern Intel Core Ultra 7 chip and a lot of bonuses for the price point, including a convertible Mini-LED touch screen, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.Dell Inspiron 15-inch with AMD Ryzen 7 Chip: $449 at Dell (was $699). This Windows laptop is a respectable mid-ranger, with a Ryzen 7 7730U chip, 16GB of memory, 1TB of storage, and a 15-inch non-touch display.Lenovo Yoga 7 14-inch 2-in-1 with Ryzen 7 chip: $799 at Lenovo (was $1,024). This convertible Windows laptop can flip around to turn into a tablet, and it comes with a respectable AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS chip, a whopping 1TB of storage, 16GB of memory, a 14-inch touchscreen, and even a stylus.Samsung Galaxy Book 4 with Intel Core 7 Chip: $529 at Best Buy (was $899). If you didnt know, Samsung actually makes laptops! This Windows machine comes with a 15-inch display, an Intel Core 7 chip, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage.Lenovo ThinkBook 16-inch with Ryzen 4 7430U: $704 at Amazon (was $899). This laptop deal packs a lot of extra goodies for its price point, with a Ryzen 5 7430U CPU, 64GB of RAM, up to 4TB of storage, a Fingerprint Reader, and a copy of Windows 11 Pro.Best Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deals GIGABYTE AORUS 17: 17.3" Thin Bezel QHD 2560x1440 240Hz, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6, Intel Core i7-13700H, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, Win11 Home (AORUS 17 BSF-73US654SH),Black $1,541.93 at Amazon $1,749.00 Save $207.07 Get Deal Get Deal $1,541.93 at Amazon $1,749.00 Save $207.07 More powerful Windows machines tend to be labeled gaming laptops, and this Black Fridays deals in the category dont disappoint either, with options for gamers of almost all budgets.Dell Alienware m16 R2 Gaming Laptop with Intel Core Ultra 9 chip: $1,299 at Dell (was $1,699). This 16-inch gaming laptop from Dell packs a lot for the price, with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, up to 64GB of memory, up to 2TB of storage, and a 16-inch QHD+@240Hz display.Dell Alienware x16 R2 Gaming Laptop with Intel Core Ultra 7 chip: $1,799 at Dell (was $1,799). Another 16-inch laptop from Dell, this deal will get you an Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 16GB of memory, 1TB of storage, and a 16-inch FHD@480Hz display.Gigabyte AORUS 17 Gaming Laptop with Intel Core i9 chip: $1,541 at Amazon (was $1,749). This is a good, if a little old, premium gaming laptop option, with an Intel Core i9-13700H chip, 16GB of memory, 1TB of storage, and a 17-inch QHD@240Hz display.Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gaming Laptop with Intel Core i9 chip: $1,999 at B&H (was $2,649). One of the bigger splurges on this list, this deal will net you a 14th gen Intel Core i9 chip, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, 32GB of memory, 1TB of storage, and a 16-inch QHD+@240Hz display.Lenovo LOQ 15-inch Gaming Laptop with Ryzen 5 chip: $829 at Lenovo (was $908). This is one for gamers on a budget. It packs a modest AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS chip, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and a 15-inch FHD@144Hz display.Dell G16 Gaming Laptop with Intel Core i9 chip: $999 at Dell (was $1,499). An entry level 16-inch Dell laptop, this machine packs an Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of memory, a whopping 1TB of storage for the price point, and a 16-inch QHD+@240Hz display.Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop with Ryzen 5 chip: $699 at Best Buy (was $949). This is a modest way to get into PC gaming, with an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS chip, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and a 15-inch FHD@144Hz display.HP Victus Gaming Laptop with Intel Core i7 chip: $799 at Best Buy (was $1,099). A good entry-level Intel machine, this laptop comes with an Intel 12th Gen Core i7 chip, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 15-inch FHD@144Hz display.Best Black Friday Chromebook Deals Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 $319.99 at Amazon $439.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal Get Deal $319.99 at Amazon $439.99 Save $120.00 Chromebooks can be a great way to get a polished design on a budget, so long as youre ok with doing most of your work in the cloud. Here are some of my favorites discounted for Black Friday.Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: $319 at Amazon (was $439). This Chromebook comes with a few extra AI goodies thanks to its Chromebook Plus status, plus an Intel Core i3-1215U chip, 8GB of memory, 256GB of storage, and a 14-inch FHD display.HP Chromebook x360: $249 at Walmart (was $429). A budget way to get a convertible, this Chromebooks screen can flip around to become a tablet. It has an Intel Processor N100, 4GB of memory, 64GB of storage, and a 14-inch FHS touchscreen.Acer Chromebook Plus 514: $249 at Amazon (was $379). This Chromebook has some extra AI functionality as a Chromebook Plus, as well as an Intel Core i3-N305 chip, 8GB of memory, 128GB of storage, and a 14-inch FHS display.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3: $239 at Lenovo (was $399). This is a detachable Chromebook, meaning the screen and the keyboard can separate, so you can use the screen as a tablet. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chip, 4GB of memory, 64GB of storage, and an 11-inch 2K touchscreen.Acer Chromebook 516 GE Cloud Gaming Laptop: $449 at Amazon (was $599). This Chromebook is actually intended as a cloud gaming machine, thanks to a high-resolution and high-refresh rate display as well as a snazzy RGB keyboard. It has an Intel Core i5-1240p chip, 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage, and a 16-inch QHD+@120Hz display.Best Black Friday Laptop Deals Under $300 ASUS Vivobook Go 15.6 Laptop, AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, 8GB, 128GB, Windows 11 Home in S Mode, Mixed Black, E1504FA-AS33 $199.99 at Amazon $299.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $199.99 at Amazon $299.99 Save $100.00 Chromebooks can be great for working in the cloud, but not every budget laptop needs to be a Chromebook. Here are some cheaper laptops that still come with Windows installed.Acer Aspire Go 14: $279 at Acer (was $349). This laptop is a good cheap pick, and should be good for people whose work depends mostly on the cloud. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U CPU, 128GB of storage, 8GB of memory, a 14-inch screen, and Windows 11 in S Mode. Note that S Mode laptops can only use apps from the Microsoft Store by default, although this can be changed later.Lenovo Ideapad 1: $299 at Best Buy (was $579). This is a great way to get a touchscreen at a low price, and itll net you a 15-inch display, a Ryzen 5 7520U chip, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of storage.Asus Vivobook Go: $199 at Amazon (was $299). This laptop is among the cheapest ways to get Windows on this list, with a Ryzen 3 7320U chip, 8GB of memory, 128GB of storage, and a 15-inch display.Asus Vivobook 14-inch: $219 at Best Buy (was $429). For a slightly smaller budget laptop, this Vivobook is a good pick. It has a 14-inch display, an Intel 12th Generation Core i3 chip, 8GB of memory, and 128GB of storage.

I loved the original PlayStation VR. I picked one up during the peak of the pandemic (my first foray into VR gaming), and I was blown away. Instead of spending my nights inside my apartment's small living room, I was walking through villages in Skyrim, exploring planets in No Man's Sky, and platforming through creative terrains in Astro Bot Rescue Mission.I was such a fan of the original that I argued it was a better VR headset buy in 2021 than an Oculus Questa stance many VR fans vehemently disagreed with. Three years later, however, the OG PS VR's drawbacks are more pronounced than ever: The OLED display is lower resolution than modern headsets (960x1080), and the headset requires a complicated array of devices and cables (including a camera) to set up. (To that point, I haven't set up the headset since my last move.) But more than that, the controllers are simply not VR controllers: While VR headsets have had finger-tracking controllers with joysticks for years, PS VR simply used the same Move controllers that have been available since the PS3.The PS VR2, however, released in February of 2023, addresses these issues: The OLED HDR display is much higher resolution (2000x2040), quadrupling the megapixels per eye compared to the original; there's some passthrough here, so you can actually see your immediate surroundings without having to take the headset off; the tracking is better, despite requiring no outside camera or peripherals; and the controllers are honest-to-goodness VR controllers, complete with finger tracking and joy sticks. And if you get tired of Sony's VR games, you can connect the PS VR2 to your PC, as if it were any other VR headset. PlayStation VR2 Headset With 'Horizon Call of The Mountain' $349.00 at Amazon $599.99 Save $250.99 Get Deal Get Deal $349.00 at Amazon $599.99 Save $250.99 Sony's second-gen PlayStation VR still wasn't perfect: Besides having a smaller library than some other VR headsets, the PS VR2 was and is expensive, retailing for $549.99. When you consider that you also need a PS5 in order to run this thing (it's not compatible with any PS4 console), it's a pricey setup indeed. That's why I haven't bought one yet, even if its plug-and-play approach would make getting back into VR easy.But you've read the headline: It's Black Friday season, and the PS VR2 is on sale. Sony announced a series of PlayStation Black Friday deals on Wednesday, running from Nov. 22 through Dec. 2. As part of that announcement, Sony revealed PS VR2 will be discounted as much as 40%.The math is a bit off, since you can actually snag a PS VR2 at 42% off: Right now, you can get the Horizon Call of The Mountain PS VR2 bundle for $349, down from $599.99. The standalone PS VR2 (no game included) is also $349, down from $549.99. All things considered, you're better off getting the Horizon bundle, since the prices are identical. That said, people are likely going to think similarly, so this bundle could sell quicker than the headset-only offer. I've seen the bundle unavailable once earlier today, but it's back right now, so act fast if you want one. The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet $149.99 (List Price $219.99) Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) $21.99 (List Price $49.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (3-Pack) $99.99 (List Price $259.99) Dell Inspiron 15 3535 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop $449.99 (List Price $699.99) Seagate Portable 4TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive $99.90 (List Price $124.99) Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $199.00 (List Price $349.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team

Remember in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when live audio was suddenly everywhere? The trend was made popular by the briefly viral phenomenon Clubhouse before seemingly every other online platform copied the feature for themselves.Since then, live audio has become mostly a footnote to a weird time when we were all stuck at home at the same time with nothing to do and listening to hours-long streams of strangers talking to each other passed as entertainment. Now LinkedIn, which was somewhat late to the live audio party in 2022, has opted to get rid of its standalone live audio events.In an update, the company says it will no longer support native audio events beginning next month. Users will stop being able to create new events as of December 2, and previously scheduled events will no longer work after December 31. Instead, the company is bringing together audio events with its live-streaming feature, LinkedIn Live. LinkedIn Live, however, requires creators to use third-party tools to set up streams. So while audio-only streams will still be able to exist on LinkedIn, they will take a few extra steps.LinkedIn isnt the only company to change course on live audio. Reddit, Facebook, Spotify and Amazon have all shuttered their pandemic-era live audio products.Even Clubhouse (which, yes, still exists) pivoted away from the format last year. The feature is, however going strong on X despite a few high-profile technical issues.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/linkedin-is-killing-the-standalone-live-audio-feature-you-probably-forgot-about-232705727.html?src=rss

Amazon is doubling its investment in Anthropic. The e-commerce giant will provide Anthropic with an additional $4 billion in funding on top of the $4 billion it committed last year. Although Amazon remains a minority investor, Anthropic has agreed to make Amazon Web Services (AWS) its primary cloud and training partner.Before todays announcement, The Information had reportedthat Amazon wanted to make any additional funding contingent on a commitment from Anthropic to use the companys in-house AI chips instead of silicon from NVIDIA. It appears Amazon got its way, with both companies noting in separate press releases that Anthropic will use AWS Trainium and Inferentia chips to train future foundation models.Additionally, Anthropic says it will collaborate with Amazons Annapurna Labs to develop future Trainium accelerators. Through deep technical collaboration, were writing low-level kernels that allow us to directly interface with the Trainium silicon, and contributing to the AWS Neuron software stack to strengthen Trainium, the company said. Our engineers work closely with Annapurnas chip design team to extract maximum computational efficiency from the hardware, which we plan to leverage to train our most advanced foundation models.According to another recent report, Anthropic expects to burn through more than $2.7 billion before the end. Before today, the company had raised $9.7 billion. Either way, its bought itself some much-needed runway as it looks to compete against OpenAI and other companies in the AI space.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-will-use-aws-ai-chips-after-4-billion-amazon-investment-222053145.html?src=rss