Amazons Fire tablets already start off pretty affordable, but Black Friday is the time where you can truly pick them up at the lowest prices. The companys most powerful tablet, the Fire Max 11, is down to a record low of $140 right now thanks to Amazons Black Friday deals. Thats a 39 percent discount. This is a fairly recent entry into Amazons library of tablets, having just been released last year. The Fire Max 11 boasts a large 11-inch LCD screen, a slim aluminum frame and plenty of smart home controls. Of course, it integrates with Alexa for voice controls. This is the cooler and more refined sibling of the Fire 10 and Fire 8 tablets. The tablet uses an octa-core MediaTek processor and weighs just over a pound. Theres a fingerprint sensor, support for WiFi 6 and 4GB of RAM. It runs Fire OS 8, which allows for split-screen and picture-in-picture features. This lets users slam some emails while, say, keeping an eye on a YouTube video. The tablet integrates with a keyboard and stylus, but those cost extra. There are some minor downsides. First of all, this is an ad-supported model thatll throw advertisements on the lock screen. In my experience, these are surprisingly unobtrusive. I hate ads and barely notice them. This sale is also for the 64GB version. Thats not a whole lot of room but the tablet does come with a microSD reader for up to 1TB of additional storage. There are a whole bunch of Amazon items on sale right now for Black Friday. These deals include the Kindle Paperwhite for $130 and the Echo Dot for $23, among many others. Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazon-black-friday-deals-pick-up-the-fire-max-11-tablet-for-a-record-low-price-103026882.html?src=rss

Its Black Friday, which means its one of the best times of the year to buy a new TV. If youre hoping to make a living room upgrade but arent sure which set to get and you dont want to fall victim to the many junky deals retailers throw out this time of year were here to help.Weve spent the past several days scouring trustworthy reviews and checking price histories to figure out which Black Friday TV deals are actually worth your attention. You can find our current favorites below, which include OLED and QLED panels from Samsung, LG, Hisense, Sony and TCL. If youre already happy with your TV, weve also included a few standout streaming deals, both on devices from Amazon and Roku and services like Hulu and Peacock.Some of the discounts below have actually been available for a few weeks, but most represent the lowest prices weve seen all the same. Well update this post throughout the day, so check back if you want a particular set that isnt hugely discounted just yet.Hisense U6N QLED TV (55) for $348 at Amazon ($200 off MSRP): Reviews around the web have praised the U6N as one of the years best budget-level TVs. Its one of the few options in its price range with mini-LED backlighting, quantum dots and full-array local dimming, features that help it deliver better contrast and richer colors than most of its direct rivals. Its picture will wash out if you dont view it straight-on, and its 60Hz refresh rate isnt the best for gaming, but its a good bargain all the same. While this deal has been live for most of November, its still an all-time low. Other sizes are similarly discounted. Also at Best Buy.Hisense U7N QLED TV (65) for $698 at Amazon ($300 off): The U7N is a standout for those who dont want to pay for a high-end set but can still go above the budget tier. It delivers higher brightness levels and better contrast than the cheaper Hisense U6N, plus it can play at 144Hz in 4K, so it can make PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X games more fluid in motion. Its viewing angles still arent ideal, however, and its limited to just two gaming-friendly HDMI 2.1 ports. This is another deal weve seen for a few weeks, but its the lowest price to date for the 65-inch version. If you'd prefer a smaller size, the 55-inch model has dropped to a new low of $478. Also at Best Buy.Hisense U8N QLED TV (65) for $898 at Amazon ($602 off): The U8N is another well-reviewed 2024 TV from Hisense. Like the lower-cost Hisense U7N, it offers mini-LED backlighting, quantum-dot color and 4K/144Hz support, plus it runs on the handy Google TV platform. The extra cash nets you a punchier image, with superb contrast for a non-OLED TV and higher brightness across the board. This deal ties an all-time low. Other sizes are discounted as well, but note that the 55-inch version isnt as bright as its larger counterparts, while the 75-inch set has slightly worse contrast. Viewing angles arent super wide either way. Also at Best Buy.LG B4 OLED TV (48) for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off): The B4 is LGs entry-level OLED TV for 2024. It gets you the essential perks of any good OLED set excellent contrast with deep black tones, wide viewing angles, fast motion, etc. but its not as bright as some upper-tier OLEDs, so its best kept in a darker room. That said, this is a stellar value if you dont mind a smaller panel. This discount ties an all-time low. The 55-inch version is also on sale for a low of $998, a price we've seen a few times before, while the 65-inch model has dipped to a new low of $1,198.The Samsung Frame TV.Amy SkorheimSamsung S90D QD-OLED TV (55) for $1,038 at eBay ($1,160 off): The Samsung S90D is a premium TV thats notable for its QD-OLED panel, which mixes the benefits of a good OLED display with a layer of quantum dots. This helps it put out a wider gamut of more vibrant colors, so images tend to pop more than they would on more traditional OLED TVs like the LG B4 or C4. It also has four HDMI 2.1 ports. Like all Samsung TVs, however, it doesnt support the popular Dolby Vision HDR format. This is the best price we've seen for the 55-inch model. It's available at eBay via Electronic Express, which Samsung lists as an authorized reseller. Clip the SHOPCYBER20 coupon at checkout to see the final price. If you want a bigger panel, the 65-inch model is also on sale for a low of $1,398 at Amazon, Samsung, B&H and Best Buy. Other sizes are discounted as well, but be aware that only the 55-, 65- and 75-inch versions use the superior QD-OLED tech.Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV (55) for $1,898 at Amazon ($500 off): The S95D is Samsungs flagship set for 2024. Its QD-OLED panel is excellent but mainly stands out for having a matte finish, which makes it noticeably more effective at fending off glare than most OLED TVs. That said, theres no Dolby Vision, and the matte coating can make black tones look closer to gray under direct light. In general, its more TV than most people need. But if youve got cash to burn, this deal is another all-time low. Also at Samsung and Best Buy, with other sizes on sale.Samsung QN90D QLED TV (43) for $898 at Amazon ($400 off): The Samsung QN90D is another high-end LED TV for those willing to trade the deep contrast and wide viewing angles of a good OLED set for higher brightness. Theres still no Dolby Vision, and most reviewers we trust suggest that the Hisense U8N is a better value. This set has two more HDMI 2.1 ports, though, plus it comes in a wider range of sizes, all of which offer similar performance. This is the lowest price weve seen for the 43-inch model. Other sizes are also discounted. Also at Samsung, B&H and others.Samsung The Frame TV (2024) QLED TV (55) for $898 at Amazon ($600 off): The Frame TV lags behind other sets in its price range in terms of picture quality, as it lacks local dimming to boost contrast. Instead, youd buy it for its style, since its built to look like a framed piece of wall art and display actual artwork on-screen. Beyond that, this is one of the few TVs with a matte finish, which helps it ward off glare in bright rooms. Amazon subsidiary Woot had the 55-inch model for $20 less earlier in the week, but this deal ties its largest discount otherwise. Other sizes are on sale, but note that the 43- and 50-inch versions have a lower 60Hz refresh rate (instead of 120Hz) and lack variable refresh rate tech. Also at Best Buy and Samsung.The Sony Bravia 7.SonyTCL Q550F QLED TV (55) for $250 at Best Buy ($200 off): The TCL Q5 is a relatively basic LED TV with a 60Hz refresh rate and no local dimming or HDMI 2.1 ports. This model also uses Amazons Fire OS software, which isnt quite as clean as other platforms. Most people should get the better-looking Hisense U6N instead. But if you really want to save an extra $100 or just need a cheap TV for a back room, it should do the job. This discount for the 55-inch model is the best weve tracked.TCL Q68 QLED TV (55) for $300 at Woot ($200 off): The Q68 is another cheapo LED TV that broadly falls short of the Hisense U6Ns picture quality, though it should offer better contrast than the TCL Q5 thanks to its local dimming feature. Like the Q5 and U6N, it can also play at a 120Hz refresh rate if you drop the resolution to 1080p or 1440p, which is nice for gaming. If you dont want to spend any more than $300 for a 55-inch set, this is the lowest price weve found for this particular model.TCL QM8 QLED TV (65) for $1,000 at Amazon ($500 off): If the Hisense U8N becomes unavailable, the TCL QM8 looks to be a decent alternative. It can get even brighter, according to reviewers we trust, but it has slightly worse contrast. Weve seen this discount a few times in recent months, but it ties the all-time low for the 65-inch variant. Also at Best Buy.Sony Bravia 7 QLED TV (55) for $1,298 at Amazon ($402 off): The Bravia 7 is a relatively premium set with mini-LED backlighting to improve contrast and quantum dots to boost colors. Reviews suggest that it provides accurate colors out of the box and does well to preserve details in lower-resolution content, so its worth considering over the Hisense U8N if those are chief concerns. It only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, however, and its another LED TV with mediocre viewing angles. Most people will be happier with an OLED TV at this price, though this deal is an all-time low. Also at Walmart and B&H, with other sizes similarly discounted.The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.Photo by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetThe best Black Friday streaming dealsRoku Streaming Stick 4K for $29 at Amazon ($21 off): A pick from our guide to the best streaming devices, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K gets you snappy performance, Apple AirPlay support, and a dead-simple interface that makes it easy to access free shows and movies. It works with the necessary HDR formats and apps as well (Twitch aside), though its search function isnt as in-depth as some of its peers, and the UI looks fairly bland. This deal is $4 more than the best price weve tracked but still $11 off the sticks average going rate in recent months. Also at Target, B&H, Best Buy and others.Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $33 at Amazon ($27 off): This is a new low for Amazons best streaming stick, which runs fast and supports all the major apps and HDR formats. Weve found it to be surprisingly flexible as a gaming device, too, though youll have to put up with an ad-heavy UI that promotes Prime Video and other Amazon services above all else. Also at Target, Best Buy and others.Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for $22 at Amazon ($28 off): The standard Fire TV Stick 4K offers the same core experience as the pricier 4K Max for better or worse but comes with a slightly slower processor, half as much storage (8GB) and Wi-Fi 6 instead of the faster Wi-Fi 6E. Still, this is a decent value if you just want a competent 4K streamer for as little as possible. This deal is another all-time low. Also at Target, Best Buy and others.Roku Ultra (2024) for $79 at Amazon ($21 off): The Roku Ultra is overkill for most people, but it might be worth it if you like Roku's simpler UI and need a full-on set-top box with built-in Ethernet and USB ports. Unlike the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, it comes bundled with a rechargeable remote that supports voice controls, a lost remote finder tool and backlit buttons. (You can buy that separately, though.) This latest model added a faster processor and Wi-Fi 6 support. This discount ties the lowest price weve tracked. Also at Roku, B&H and others.The Roku Ultra.Will Lipman Photography for EngadgetDisney+ Hulu Duo Basic bundle one-year subscription for $36 ($96 off): The Duo Basic plan includes the ad-supported tiers of both Disney+ and Hulu, and normally, it'd cost $11 per month. Alternatively, you can get just Hulu's ad-based tier for $0.99 per month for one year, with the final cost being just $12. One of the older streaming services, Hulu still offers a wide range of recent TV episodes and a strong library of original series likeOnly Murders in the Building, The Bear, Pen15 and The Handmaids Tale. The only catch is that both offers are only available to new and returning users who havent subscribed in the last month. Both subscriptions will also auto-renew by default, so youll have to cancel manually if you dont want to pay beyond the discounted period.Peacock Premium 1-year subscription for $20 at Peacock ($60 off, new and returning users only): Peacock isnt exactly essential, but it should be worth adding to your streaming rotation if youre big into NBC and Bravo shows, Premier League soccer, WWE events or Sunday Night Football. This is a sizable discount on the services ad-supported tier, though its only available to new or returning subscribers. Those folks can also get a six-month trial for $2 per month, which works out to a $36 discount. If you dont see the price drop at checkout, use the code REALDEAL for the one-year promo or REALDEALMONTHLY for the six-month one. Note that the service will auto-renew by default.Max 6-month subscription for $18 at Max ($42 off, new and returning users only): If youre looking to binge The Sopranos, South Park, The Last of Us or anything else from Warner Bros. Discovery networks like HBO, TNT, TBS and Cartoon Network, youd get a Max subscription. Theres a fairly sizable movie selection as well, including several films from the buzzy indie studio A24. This deal gives six months of the services ad-supported plan for $3 per month ($18 total), but only to new and returning users, and only in the US. Normally, the subscription costs $10 per month. This is another one thatll auto-renew by default, so its worth setting a reminder to cancel before the discounted period ends.Paramount+ with Showtime 2-month subscription for $6 ($20 off, new and returning users only): Paramounts Black Friday offer isnt quite as appealing as the streaming deals above, as it only covers a two-month subscription. Still, if you want to stream local NFL games, Champions League soccer or shows from CBS, Nickelodeon, Showtime and MTV, this is at least a cheaper way to see if youd actually stick with the service at full price. This deal applies to either the ad-free or ad-supported tier. Again, its only available to new and former users, and the subscription will auto-renew until you cancel.Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-black-friday-tv-deals-for-2024-discounts-on-sets-from-samsung-sony-lg-hisense-and-more-161445159.html?src=rss

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Since 1924, the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade has been entertaining the masses while the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce are being prepared. On paper, that makes 2024 the centennial year, but the parade did not take place from 1942-44 because of World War II, so the big 100th birthday is still a couple years away. This years parade will take place on Thursday, November 28, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Lets take a look at some history, whats new this year, and how to tune in.Where did the giant balloons come from in the first place?Today, one of the most iconic elements of the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade is the presence of giant character balloons. It might surprise you to learn that the first three years of the parade didnt include them, as People magazine reports. A Felix the Cat balloon debuted in 1927, but it was filled with airnot heliumand held up by stilts.Even more surprising is what was done with the early floating creations. They were simply untethered and released, often traveling to Long Island, according to People. A reward was offered to whoever returned a balloon, but this caused some people to rip it into pieces to try to get a prize. This practice was discontinued when a balloon got caught in a propeller of a small plane almost, causing it to crash. Pilots and the environment are both thankful that today the balloons are deflated and stored for future use.Will there be new balloons in the parade this year?The 2024 parade will feature 17 character and 15 novelty balloons. Six of these are brand-new, as USA Today reports. Disney fans will be happy to see Minnie Mouse making her debut in balloon form. She measures in at 60 feet tall and 34 feet wide. Thats as tall as a five-story building and the width of five taxis.A new Spider-Man balloon will also grace the skies. This is the third version of the superhero, this time honoring the late comic book artist John Romita Sr.s vision of the character. It is 77.5 feet tall and 44 feet wide. To put that in perspective, that length is equal to two standard New York transit buses.Rounding out the list of new balloons is Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf, Gabby from Gabbys Dollhouse, Goku from Dragon Ball, and Marshall from PAW Patrol. Ballon lineup: You can see the full balloon lineup here.Ribbon cutter, parade route, performers, and moreThere is more to the parade than balloons. Twenty-two floats and lots of star power will also traveling the path from West 77th Street and Central Park West down Sixth Avenue to Macys Herald Square are 22 floats.The festivities kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and this years actress Alison Brie is doing the honors.Idina Menzel will be on board the Bronx Zoos Wondrous World of Wildlife float and will sing a song from her new Broadway show Redwood.T-Pain will perform on the Jennie-O Turkey float. The rapper is stoked to make his parade debut. Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, and Billy Porter will sing their hearts out in Herald Square.Route: You can see the full parade route here.How can I watch or stream the parade live?Hosts Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, and Al Roker will guide audiences through all the pageantry on NBC and Peacock beginning from 8:30 a.m. to noon in all time zones. If you have a pay-TV provider, you can watch NBC live online and via its mobile apps. If you miss it the first time, there is a chance of redemption for you with an encore at 2 p.m. ET/PT. Telemundo is also simulcasting the festivities in Spanish with hosts Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza.For those without Peacock, a traditional cable subscription, or over-the-air antenna with reception, your best bet is a live-TV streaming service that carries NBC. Those include: Hulu + Live TVFuboTVDirecTV StreamThe services are easy to cancel and offer free trials for new subscribers.

Want extra legroom on your flight? Theres a fee for that. Care for a window or aisle seat? Pay up. There once was a time when airlines didnt charge extra for certain seats, but over the past two decades, so-called ancillary fees have become a regularand costlypart of modern air travel. In fact, theyve been designed right into the buying process. And soon, airline executives will answer for that.A new Senate report released this month found that from 2018 to 2023, five major and low-cost airlines brought in $12.4 billion in revenue from seat fees. In part, investigators blame rising fees on tactics like dynamic pricing and dark patterns meant to deceive customers and boost the airlines bottom line. Such tactics have created a windfall for an industry thats already recorded record profits this year.The blame lies in part on the user experience of the airline ticketing interfaces themselves. Airline websites and mobile applications bury critical information, such as the cost of selecting a particular seat, at later stages of the booking process, the report reads. At some airlines, proprietary algorithms use consumer data to help set the price of fees so that different people attempting to book the exact same flight at the exact same time may be charged different prices for checking a bag.Airlines great unbundlingIts part of a larger unbundling strategy in the industry thats designed to charge customers separately for goods and services, according to the report. Consumers once knew the seat theyd have for an up-front fee, but would-be travelers now have to navigate a veritable maze of add-ons, seat maps with varying prices, and luggage charts before clicking pay.Now executives from the investigated airlinesAmerican, Delta, United, Spirit, and Frontierhave been called to testify on the seat fees before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on December 4.Early ancillary fees can be traced to Spirit Airlines, the low-fare carrier that lowered ticket prices in 2006 and charged for everything else. After the start of the Great Recession, other airlines followed Spirits lead, with American, Delta, and United introducing a $15 first-checked-bag fee in 2008. More fees followed.Today American, Delta, and United charge $35 to $40 to check your first bag, while carry-on bags, advanced seat assignments, and Wi-Fi all cost extra. Turns out its pretty complicated to fly basic economy (which is itself a new tier to navigate).Meanwhile, airlines are investing more in luxury experiences that come with premium price tags. On Tuesday British Airways announced major improvements to its first-class seating inspired by luxury hotels. Delta is upgrading its seats and opened a luxury lounge at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. Even travel-size toiletries have gotten a luxury makeover for high-income travelers.In theory, the fees now under scrutiny began as a great deal for people who were willing to travel light and without any frills, but investigators found that consumers now face higher costs, increasingly complex fees, and few ways to avoid them.Unbundling has not lowered the cost of flying for consumers, who now face additional charges to fly with carry-on or checked bags or to sit next to their minor children, the reports authors wrote. These costs are only expected to rise without any meaningful limitation, according to investigators, who found ancillary fees are unconnected to the actual cost of providing the service they cover. The report, which follows new Department of Transportation rules about fee disclosures announced this year, recommends that Congress require airlines to provide more granular fee data and strengthen fee disclosure, and calls for further investigation into potential abuses and whether current airline ancillary fee practices comply with transportation tax law.

Japanese studio Kengo Kuma and Associates has refurbished the interiors of the Endo at the Rotunda sushi restaurant at the former BBC Television Centre in London.Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA), which designed the original space, made a number of significant changes to the omakase restaurant, which is located in the rooftop pavilion on the eighth floor of the circular glass building.Endo at the Rotunda is located in a rooftop pavilion at the Television Centre"This projects was an unusual one," KKAA architect Javier Villar Ruiz told Dezeen."It consisted on the renovation of a space that we at KKAA had originally designed. The original counter that once structured the whole space, now was going to be reduced in order to create a new lounge space."Kengo Kuma and Associates designed an undulating cedar bench for its loungeTo keep the "spirit of the original counter" in the new lounge space, KKAA designed a large cedar wood bench with an undulating, stacked shape that gives the room an organic feel."We avoided the simple solution of just populating the new space with lounge chairs and tables and decorative elements; and instead we gathered the seatings into one big wooden bench that recovers the presence power of the counter," Ruiz explained.Read: Kengo Kuma and Associates cloaks Chinese clay museum in handmade tiles"Indeed, we designed this bench as the result of stacking sections of wood exactly to the ones in the counter, creating a dialogue between both bench and counter," he added.By adding more wood, the studio also aimed to soften the space, which has floor-to-ceiling windows.A wavy paper-like installation hangs from the ceilingIt also added a wavy installation made of polyester fabric, designed to look like paper, which is suspended from the ceiling and adds an ethereal feel to Endo at the Rotunda."Sushi restaurants in Japan are usually small, cozy, intimate, enclosed spaces," Ruiz said. "For Endo we had to transform a rooftop pavilion mainly made out of glass and metal showcasing impacting panoramic views of London.""The undulating forms of the ceiling, the counter and the bench have the aim to soften the geometries of the existing architecture, creating a sense of comfort," he continued.The wooden bench has a stacked designKKAA chose to work with wood as it's the traditional material used for sushi bars."Because of the dialogue between the new lounge bench and the sushi counter, using wood was the natural choice," Ruiz said."Genuine Japanese sushi experience is always related to the presence of wood, specially in the counter, not only because its traditional feel, but because of the sensorial qualities that it brings to the whole experience: the natural warmth of its touch and the subtle nuances of its scent."The restaurant, which seats 10 people, serves an 18-course edomae sushi menu that combines British produce with Cornish and Spanish seafood.Other recent Kengo Kuma and Associates projects include a wooden Christmas tree that will eventually be turned into furniture and a Chinese clay museum cloaked in handmade tiles.The photography is byBenjamin McMahon.Project credits:KKAA team: Javier Villar Ruiz, Jaime Fernandez Calvache and Marian Dominguez DuranThe post Kengo Kuma designs London sushi restaurant with undulating wooden bench appeared first on Dezeen.