We may earn a commission from links on this page.I'll download any app. If I see an ad or hear about an app, it's going right on my phone. I don't care at all if it's all a scheme to get my data. My data is out there, baby, and it's too late to care, so I might as well reap all the benefits these flash-in-the-pan, VC-bolstering apps can give me. Most of the time, I don't get much. But sometimes, I get free stuff! I love trading my data and precious, finite time on this earth for meager rewards. Here are my favorite ways to do it. The best ways to get free food or drinksI've mentioned this before, but the Dunkin' Donuts app is elite in terms of rewards. The powers that be restructured it a few years back, which caused some controversy among the DD faithful, but if you play it right, you can get all kinds of treats for free. Yes, you have to spend money to earn money, but if you're already going to Dunkin', it doesn't really matter. For every dollar you spend, you get 10 rewards points, but if you visit 12 times in a month and hit "boosted" status, each dollar you spend until the end of the month earns you 12 points. Rack up enough points and you can get an espresso shot for 150, a donut for 250, coffee of any size for 500, and so on. There are also point-enhancing promotions going on all the time. Sometimes, you get bonus points for ordering a certain snack or visiting at a certain time. On Mondays you get 100 points just for mobile ordering. It all stacks up pretty quickly and soon enough, you're rolling in free drinks and bagels. Behold: A few months ago, I had over 25,000 points. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson In the food and drink sphere, I have a membership and associated app at pretty much every restaurant chain. McDonald's is a good one, since they're constantly running promotions where you can get a free something-or-other, usually for doing nothing but using the app. On days when I'm feeling frugal but not particularly health-conscious, you'll catch me mobile-ordering my way to one large fry and a big Diet Cokeand the fry? It's free. I'm not a big fan of Panera because the rewards are minimal (but again, this is all just my opinion) but I do think 7 Eleven has an underrated rewards app. I usually get a dollar or so off every few visits at least. If I could share one tip, it would be to encourage friends and family members who are lazy or distrustful of Big Tech to enter your phone number when checking out at any of these chain stores with rewards programs. By enlisting my mother and boyfriend, I have earned oodles of points and free things on their dime (though, at times, they discover at checkout that I am owed a reward of some kind and use it for themselves, which is just the name of the game, unfortunately). Look at all my options. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson For a slightly different spin on getting free stuff from a food app, try Seated. Again, I've evangelized on this one before. What sets Seated apart from other restaurant-affiliated apps is that the free things you get for using it don't come from the restaurants themselves. Instead, you get a percentage of your money back every time you use the app to make a reservation and eat a meal, then you can spend that money on gift cards for things like Uber, Amazon, and TJMaxx (or just have it deposited back into your checking account). Again, you have to spend money to make money, but it's better than getting nothing. I have gotten hundreds of dollars back from Seated and turned that into hundreds of dollars worth of free stuff. I was already going to eat at those restaurants, so by my logic, the things I bought with my earnings really were free. Seated has an involved, useful interface. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Other free-stuff appsI'm into makeup and personal care items, so I'm always looking for ways to get my hands on more. Years ago, I downloaded an app called Influenster, which promised free samples in exchange for a little effort on my part. Mostly, I had to review products. Within the app, you could read other users' reviews of various makeup, skincare, perfume, and other self-care items, so I was largely contributing to that. After earning up cred within the app, I started getting free stuff sent to me, all with the caveat that I would thoughtfully review it. There were other tasks I could complete, like creating public Instagram posts about products, but I declinedthat's not my style; I operate this free-stuff quest quietly. Even without completing those challenges, I was able to get a ton: I secured a few lipsticks from Revlon that I ended up liking so much I've consistently repurchased them since 2018, plus I got a perfume from Armani that got me more compliments than all my other fancy perfumes combined. I paid nothing. Not a cent. Great app. Honestly, I should download that one again, but I've moved on to two others that are pretty similar.First, I've been messing around with Goss, which is similar in terms of possible rewards. The best way I can describe it is like sports betting, but for pop culture. By using in-game currency to place bets on things like how many likes a celebrity's Instagram post will have within 24 hours or who will be voted off a reality show first, I acquire a second kind of in-game currency that can be traded for real-life products. Right now, I'm feverishly playing every day in the hopes of getting a Summer Fridays lip balm. Could I go to Sephora right now and buy one for $24? Absolutely I could. Is it more fun to answer questions, place bets, and gamify the whole ordeal? Absolutely it is. You can buy in-game currency with real-world money, but you don't have to. By completing arbitrary challenges like logging in every day or placing certain types of bets, you can quickly rack up enough to play consistently, all without spending a dime.Second, I've gotten very into Iris, which is an even closer match to Influenster. You earn up "gems" by reviewing products, posting discussions, and generally interacting with the community, which is comprised of people interested in beauty and skincare. These gems can be used on "drops," which are limited-time offers of products you can get sent to you, but then must review. The drops you're eligible for depend on your level within the app, with the quality of the items scaling up as you increase your own level. They're also quite limited: A drop may only have two pieces available, so you have to order it the second it hits your phoneunless you're saving up for something. Right now, I'm entertaining the delusion that I'll earn 45,000 gems fast enough to snag the final remaining Dyson Airstraight, a hair tool that costs $500 in the real world. The nice thing about Iris is that you can't even use real money to buy gems or boost yourself. You really do have to do it all on your own and pay nothing, which, if you don't count the "cost" of your time and labor, means it's all free. I am earning gems at a rate you wouldn't believe. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Thoughts on free-stuff appsI understand that nothing in life is truly free. I'm giving companies access to my data, plus I'm spending hours playing games, writing reviews, or even spending money to earn some back. I get that! But it's fun, and that's the point. By choosing apps that line up with the things you'd already be doingin my case, buying makeup or walking to Dunkin' twice a dayyou can earn free rewards, make a game out of it, and make the most of your daily activities.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Amazon dropped the Kindle Colorsoft, its first e-reader with a color screen, last fall, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that they were the first company to crack the concept: a device with a screen that offers all the benefits of e-inkno harsh backlight, easy readability in any lightthat wasn't just in muddy-looking greyscale. But while Amazon controls the vast majority of the e-reader market, lots of other companies are more innovative in their device designs, and others have been iterating on color e-ink for half a decade.One of the companies is Onyx International, a Chinese tech company that has been producing e-ink e-readers and tablets since the early days of the Kindle, under the brand name Boox. Yes, the name suggests a company that produces cheap junk, but Boox devices are hardly knockoffs (the Boox Palma, which I reviewed last year, is my own e-reader of choice). Over the years, the company has launched features like touchscreens, front lights, and, yes, color screens alongside or even before Amazon. Boox Note Air 4C Color E-Ink Notebook $499.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $499.99 at Amazon Onyx Boox Note Air 3 C $449.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $449.99 at Amazon SEE -1 MORE The Boox Note Air series is a notable example. First launched in 2020, these e-readers/digital notebooks have a screen you can write on like papersomething Amazon didn't offer until the release of the first Kindle Scribe two years later. In 2023, the Boox Note Air 3C brought color into the mix, and that device has since been slightly improved. And though the 2024 Boox Note Air 4C seems comparable to various Kindle devices (it has the writability of the Scribe and the comic-book-friendly display of the Colorsoft), it does a hell of a lot more than serve up reading material. It's essentially a full-fledged tablet that can do most of what an iPad can do, but with a very different look and feel. Credit: Joel Cunningham A sharp displayfor color e-inkIts 10.3-inch display offers the same clarity as your average Kindle, with a resolution of 2480 x 1860 and 300 dpi in black and white, and 1240 x 930 and 150 dpi in color mode. It has a temperature-adjustable frontlight that makes reading easy on your eyes under any conditions. It weighs 420g, or a little under a full pound, making it a bit heavy for one-handed use. The "octo-core" processor is a 2.07Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G, which is on the slower side for a modern tablet but fast enough for most of the tasks you'll likely be using the device to accomplish.At 5.8mm, it is stylishly thin, and the build quality feels smooth and solid. The device is pretty spare, with only a USB-C charging point and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner. Having used the Boox Palma, I miss that device's action button, which could be mapped to accomplish specific tasks (I always set mine to perform a manual screen refresh).Battery life isn't greatOn the downside, battery life can't compare to a typical e-ink device, which might go a week or more between charges. If you're using all of the features the Note Air 4C has to offer, you'll find the battery drains about as fast as any other tablet might. It doesn't help that the color screen tech basically requires you to keep the frontlight at 100% at all times; in one of the faster refresh modes, you'll lose basically all the advantages of a power-sipping e-ink display. Generally, if you're a heavy user, expect to charge it every day. If you're just using it for reading, it should last you several days to a week.An e-reader and a full-featured e-ink tabletTo most, an e-ink screen screams e-reader, and you certainly could use the Note Air 4C as a dedicated e-reader, but it does a lot more. The device runs on Android 13 and is not locked to any particular ecosystem, which means yes, you can download any e-reading apps you likeKindle, Nook, Kobo, Libby, etc. But you can also download most any other app available on the Google Play Store. But let's entertain the notion: It's certainly a fine e-reader, if a larger screen is what you're looking for. The dirty little secret of the e-ink world is that every company, from Amazon to Nook to Boox, uses essentially the same screen tech, as there are really only a couple of companies that produce it. The Note Air 4C, then, uses the same basic color screen as the Kindle Colorsoft, called the Kaleido 3 (though Amazon claims to have developed its own custom display stack for improved clarity and responsiveness). It's nice to be able to read comics in color on an e-ink screen, but they look worse than they would on an LCD screen, let alone paper. Credit: Joel Cunningham While color on an e-ink tablet is certainly novel, it still feels like little more than an experiment to me. Color images can look passable on the Note Air 4C, but only justthe results tend to look washed out and a bit grainy, with the dpi dropping from 300 in black and white to just 150 in color, a hugely noticeable reduction. You certainly will never be fooled into thinking you're reading them on an LCD or OLED display like you'd find on an iPad. One thing that does set Boox devices apart is their variable refresh rate, which allows you to choose how often the screen refreshes based on the app you're using. "HD" mode will give you the crispest text and images but only really only works for static images, or you'll see lots of "ghosting"an afterimage that lingers even after you chance whatever is on the display. When the skeletons are also ghosts. Credit: Joel Cunningham The other optionsBalanced, Fast, Ultrafast, and Regalwill sacrifice some detail at the expense of less ghosting and a faster refresh rate. You can change the refresh rate manually at the system level, change it while you're using an app, or choose preset refresh rates on an app-by-app basis. Credit: Joel Cunningham Great for comics and manga (if you aren't too picky)The large screen and color (however dodgy) might have you wondering if the Note Air 4C is a good choice for reading comics and manga, and to that I say: sure. Manga, especially, can look very nice on this device, mostly because the art is typically almost exclusively black and white. The sharpness and clarity of the screen makes manga really pop, and it's nice to be able to see the art at a much larger size than the typical tankbon volume. Credit: Joel Cunningham That said, color images aren't quite as satisfyingyou certainly can load up a graphic novel and appreciate it is more or less in color. But the best color e-ink can serve up with current tech is not exactly ink and paper, let alone the crispness you'd get with an LCD or OLED display. It looks OK at a glance, but at reading distance, you won't be able to ignore the fact that colors look muted and grainy, and that detail isn't great. Don't look too closely. Credit: Joel Cunningham If you've got a large collection of digital comics and you don't want to read them on a glossy tablet screen, the Note Air 4C is a great e-ink option, but you have to understand its limitations.App store access, gaming, and even YouTube (kinda)I haven't gotten a chance to use a Kindle Colorsoft nor a Scribe, so I can't directly compare them to the Note Air 4C, but I can note that on paper, it does everything those devices do (respectively, offer a color e-ink screen and a writable screen), and significantly more.Like the similarly capable Palma, the Note Air 4C has an impressively responsive screen. Relatively. While, again, not as smooth as scrolling on a phone or iPad, using the touch screen to scroll and read the internet is pleasingly familiar, and the slight dissonance you'll experiencing doing it is arguably a good thing, if you're looking to kick your doomscrolling, device addicted ways.This means that while you can download most any Android app you like, the experience of using many of them will be just worse enough as to be slightly annoying. All the apps that fall under the broad category of "reading" (including audiobook- and podcast-related apps) work pretty great on the Note Air 4C. It has a speaker, but it also has Bluetooth, and will work with your favorite earbuds. My various reading apps all work great, and retain their own features (note that the Boox OS doesn't include a dark mode, but you can still use an app-level dark mode, like the one on the Kindle app).Productivity apps like Gmail and Google Docs also work well, but anything more graphically intense will suffer. Other apps typically can be installed, but their performance will vary wildly. You can, for instance, download full-motion video apps like Netflix and YouTube, but the experience will not be very good. Even the "ultrafast" refresh rate can't really keep up with video, and the ghosting will make it difficult to actually, you know, see what you're looking at.Good for some games Credit: Joel Cunningham The same goes for gaming: You certainly can try to install a game like Subway Surfers on a Note Air 4C, and it will work, but the screen's slight input lag and slow refresh rate will make playing a challenge. However, less graphically intense games can work fairly well on the ultrafast refresh rate. I've managed pretty good games or Tetris and Block Blast, and card games, crosswords, and Wordle all play quite nicely with a color e-ink display.A versatile digital notebookThe real strength of the Note Air 4C, particularly in comparison to a device like the Kindle Scribe, its its versatility as a digital notebook. Though it comes pre-loaded with some fairly capable note-taking software, access to a full app store means you can also choose to use your program of choice. Credit: Joel Cunningham The native Boox Notes app will likely be enough to get you started. You can choose from a number of different pre-set templates, and modify them by writing on the screen with the stylus or inputting text with the touch screen. Depending on the program, you can work in split screen modefor example, in the image above I'm marking up a PDF while taking notes on the page opposite.A paper-like writing experience Writing on the Note Air 4C still kind of feels like a magic trick to me. Using the included stylus, it provides a pleasingly paper-like writing experience, with the slightly textured, matte screen offering enough resistance that you won't feel like you're just sliding your pen's nib across a slick surface.Responsiveness is pretty goodthere is only the slightest lag between pressing down and a mark appearing on the screen. It is worth noting that some users have anecdotally reported more lag in non-native apps; in the video above, I'm using the Boox Notes app, which performs well.Drawing on the Note Air 4C is kind of funmy kids love to use it for playing Pictionarybut I can't imagine it will be a super-satisfying experience for dedicated artists; the color reproduction is so middling, it can be hard to tell what you're actually producing without exporting it to another device. What's on the screen doesn't exactly match what gets exported. Credit: Joel Cunningham Durability concerns (or, make sure to get a good case)I've had a lot of good to say about the Note Air 4C. Now for the biggest caveat: By all accounts, this thing is fragile as hell, and if you want to protect your sizable $400 investment, you're going to want to treat it with extreme care.I'm speaking from experience here. I tested out the previous generation of this device, 2023's Note Air 3C, and everything was going swimmingly until I decided to take it with me on vacation. I stuck the device (secured in the standard Boox faux-leather cover) into my backpack's laptop sleeve and filled the rest of the bag with clothes (it was a short trip and I don't like paying for a full-sized carryon). I wouldn't say I crammed the bag full, but it was apparently full enough to exert some amount of pressure on the tabletthough certainly no more (and probably significantly less) than my laptop, iPad, and various Android tablets have survived. But the Note Air 3C didn't make it. When I pulled it out to read on the plane, I discovered the e-ink display had been damageda portion of the screen displayed a "shattered" effect that didn't go away with a reset. It's definitely not supposed to look like that. Credit: Joel Cunningham I reached out to Boox customer service (via a form on the company's English-language website) and promptly received notice that the screen damage was not covered by the warranty and that the repair would be more than $300approaching the cost of a new device. (I elected not to do this.) Lest you assume I'm simply clumsy, a bad packer, or I got a dud device, it's worth noting that the r/Onyx_Boox subreddit is filled with reports from users who have experienced similar screen failures. Some people admit to dropping or otherwise putting fatal pressure on the device, but others report seemingly spontaneous screen failures.I've been using the Note Air 4C with much more care for about two months, and I've had no issues, but I'm understandably anxious about how I treat it. If I put it in my bag, I always make sure it is nestled against something rigid (like my laptop) to avoid putting pressure on the screen. I try to only use it at home or in the office, because I don't trust myself not to drop it in transit. In short, if well-cared for, this device will likely serve you well for a long time. But if you're expecting the same kind of durability you get from an iPad, or even a standard-issue Kindle, you're going to want to spring for an aftermarket warranty. Bottom lineWith a $499 price tag comparable to a mid-range iPad and a far more limited use case, there's no question that the Note Air 4C is a device with niche appeal. But if you're looking for the features it offersa screen you can write on like paper, a color display for reading comics or marking up PDFs, an open Android operating systemit's hard to imagine you'll be disappointed with it. It's not for everyone, but the people who its for are going to be very pleased. (But really, I must reiterate, buy a good case.)Onyx Boox Note Air 4C specsDisplay: 10.3-inch, 2480 x 1860 and 300 dpi (black and white), 1240 x 930 and 150 dpi (color) Kaleido 3CPU: Qualcomm Octacore processorRAM: 6GBStorage: 64GBConnectivity: Wi-Fi 5 (2.4/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0Lighting: Frontlight with temperature adjustmentOperating system: Android 13Battery/charging: 3,700mAh via USB-CSize: 226 x 193 x 5.8mmWeight: 420g

Who hasnt sat up at night, pondering what it would be like to play a musical mobile game about peanut butter and jelly, performed in faux Shakespearean verse and animated in the style of Terry Gilliams Monty Python shorts? Well, wonder no more: The absurdist PBJ - The Musical (first previewed at Day of the Devs 24) heads to the App Store on March 26.Kamiboxs PBJ - The Musical is a collaboration between studio founder Philipp Stollenmayer and English musician and comedian Lorraine Bowen, famous for the delightfully whimsical The Crumble Song. When I saw Lorraine performing on Britains Got Talent in 2015, getting the Golden Buzzer from David Walliams, I knew I wanted to make something with her, Stollenmayer said. The quirkiness of her songs totally resonated with the vibe of my games, which include Sometimes You Die and the thematically similar Bacon - The Game.KamiboxPBJ - The Musical borrows elements of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, blending it with musical theatre (performed mostly by children!) and animated paper landscapes from actual cutouts. (When he isnt designing deceptively zany games, Stollenmayer is also a papercraft artist.) Peanut Boy, hailing from a black and white post-war America, steps in for Romeo, while Strawberry Girl, from a colorful and sweet world that raves of royalty, tackles the games equivalent of Juliet. You control characters through simple taps and drags as you push and pull cutout figures through the diorama.The developer says that, unlike the Bards version, this is no tragic play culminating in dual suicides. (Or, at least, not the kind to be sad about.) Kamibox says the games happy ending involves surprise! the creation of the beloved peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which a modern-day Shakespeare may have called The brightest heaven of invention as he packed little Susannas lunchbox.You can catch a snippet of the zany PBJ - The Musical in the trailer below. It arrives for iPhone and iPad on March 26 for $4. You can preorder it now in the App Store.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-weirdly-whimsical-pbj---the-musical-hits-the-app-store-on-march-26-175725209.html?src=rss

Super Bowl LIX is less than a week away, so it's a decent time to grab a new TV at a discount. If you're looking to make a living room upgrade before the Chiefs and Eagles go at it once again, we've searched through Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers to find a few Super Bowl 2025 TV deals that might actually be worth your time.To be candid, many of the discounts are the result of TVs naturally falling in price this time of year more than any Super Bowl-specific sales. In general, most TVs follow a similar pricing timeline: release in the spring, drop a little over the summer, receive a larger price cut around the holidays, then gradually become cheaper until being discontinued the next year. This pattern has taken shape again, and with TV makers like Samsung and LG unveiling their 2025 models during CES last month, last year's sets are likely to fall even further in the coming months.That said, if you must make a change today, a handful of well-regarded TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung, TCL and Hisense are back down to the prices we saw around Black Friday. In some cases, they're even cheaper. We've also found a few deals on other living room gadgets from Roku and Sonos. While we at Engadget do not formally review TVs, we've scoured feedback from other reviewers we trust and picked through price histories to ensure the discounts below are genuine deals.LG B4 OLED TV (48") for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off MSRP): This ties the lowest price we've seen for the 48-inch LG B4, which is the entry-level model in LG's 2024 OLED lineup. While it's not as bright or color-rich as some higher-end alternatives, it still offers the essential perks of any good OLED TV: superb contrast with deep black tones, clear motion, wide viewing angles and the like. It's also a nice value for gaming, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 120Hz. It's just better off in a darker room, and this particular model is relatively small.Hisense U7N QLED TV (65") for $698 at Amazon ($300 off): Several reviewers we trust say that the U7N delivers better brightness, contrast and HDR performance than most TVs in its price range. It's built with most of the features expected from pricier LED sets, including quantum-dot color, mini-LED backlighting and a 144Hz refresh rate. It also runs on the handy Google TV platform. Its viewing angles are poor, so it's not great for watching shows with a large group, and you may need to tinker with settings to get an optimal image. But the 65-inch model should be a strong value at this price, which is only about $20 more than the all-time low we saw briefly around Cyber Monday. Also at Best Buy.The Samsung Frame TV.Amy SkorheimSamsung The Frame 2024 QLED TV (55") for $868 at Woot ($630 off): This deal from Amazon subsidiary Woot has been live for a few weeks, but it ties the best price to date for the 55-inch version of Samsung's stylish Frame TV outside of a one-off eBay coupon deal. You'd buy this set for its design above all else: It can't match the contrast and color volume of other TVs in its price range, as it lacks local dimming altogether, but it's convincingly built like a framed piece of wall art that can blend in with your home decor. Its matte panel helps it fend off glare in a bright room, and you can display actual artwork onscreen when you're not watching something. It's worth noting that Samsung unveiled a new and improved "Frame Pro" TV at CES, but we'd expect that to cost more whenever it arrives.TCL Q651G QLED TV (65") for $370 at Amazon ($180 off): The Q651G is a fairly basic LED TV that might appeal to gamers on a budget, as it can play at a fast 120Hz refresh rate albeit only when you drop the resolution from 4K to 1440p or 1080p. It's another one without local dimming, so its contrast is limited. Most reviewers suggest that the Hisense U6N (which isn't majorly discounted) provides a brighter and much more dynamic image for not much more. However, while the U6N can also play in 1440p/120Hz, the TCL model has a wider variable refresh rate (VRR) range in that mode. In simpler terms, that means it'll have an easier time allowing your PS5 or Xbox games to run smoothly. This discount marks a new low for the 65-inch model. Also at Best Buy.The Samsung S90D.SamsungHisense U8N QLED TV (65") for $898 at Amazon ($602 off): The U8N's picture quality is a broad step-up from the U7N above, with better contrast, more vibrant colors and supremely high peak brightness. It still has most of the same drawbacks mediocre viewing angles, minor blooming in a dark room, just decent upscaling of lower-res content but it should be a worthy upgrade if you have more cash to burn. This is another discount we saw for much of November and December, but it ties the all-time low for the 65-inch variant. Also at Best Buy.Samsung S90D QD-OLED TV (55") for $1,198 at Amazon ($600 off): The S90D stands out for its QD-OLED panel, which mixes the benefits of an OLED display with quantum dots to boost color performance. Most reviews say that it can put out a wider gamut of more vibrant colors and brighter HDR highlights than more traditional OLED TVs like the LG C4. It also has four HDMI 2.1 ports that can play up to 144Hz. It doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR, however, and Samsung's Tizen interface can be clunky. The company has also made the aggravating step of using both QD-OLED and more standard WOLED panels within the same product line, but this 55-inch version comes with the superior display in North America. (The 65- and 75-inch models do as well.) This deal is the second-best price we've ever seen and about $150 off this variant's average street price in recent months. Also at Samsung and Best Buy.The Sony Bravia 7.SonySony Bravia 7 QLED TV (55") for $1,198 at Amazon ($100 off): The Bravia 7 isn't as strong of a value as the Hisense U8N, but some reviews suggest that it's a decent alternative if you're willing to trade some contrast and peak brightness for a more accurate picture out of the box. Like the Hisense TV, its image washes out when viewed from an angle and it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports for gaming. In general, most people will be happier with a good OLED TV around this price. But if you want a brighter LED TV that looks great right away, this one might be worth a look. This is a new low for the 55-inch model. Also at B&H and Best Buy.Roku Ultra (2024) for $79 at Amazon ($21 off): Roku's Ultra set-top box is overkill for most, but it might be worthwhile if you prefer the simplicity of Roku's interface and need built-in Ethernet and USB ports. It supports just about all the major apps and HDR formats, plus it lets iPhone owners cast video from their phone via AirPlay. Unlike the cheaper Roku Streaming Stick 4K, it also comes with a rechargeable remote that has backlit buttons, built-in voice controls and a lost remote finder. We call it the best Roku player in our guide to the best streaming devices. This deal was available for much of the holiday season, but it ties the latest model's all-time low. Also at Roku, Walmart and Best Buy.Sonos Beam (Gen 2) for $399 at Sonos ($100 off): Yes, the recent overhaul of the Sonos app has been an abject disaster, to the point where the audio brand's CEO and other execs have left the company entirely. However, if you're not already tied up in the Sonos ecosystem and just want a clean-sounding soundbar that won't take up a ton of space in your living room, the Sonos Beam's hardware still does enough right to be worth a look. We call it the best midrange option in our guide to the best soundbars. It only has one HDMI port, and it's too small to deliver truly room-rattling bass, but it still compares favorably to most alternatives in its size range. This deal is $30 above the device's all-time low but still $100 off its typical street price. Other Sonos home theater gadgets are similarly discounted, including the more compact Sonos Ray for $179 and the Sub 4 subwoofer for $679. These offers are also available at Amazon and other retailers. Sonos says they'll run until February 9.TV deals that are no longer availableLG C3 OLED TV (65") for $1,197 at Amazon ($303 off): The LG C3 was released in 2023, but it's not a huge downgrade from last year's LG C4, so it's still worth considering when it's available for less. The C4 should be slightly better in terms of brightness and color volume, plus it supports refresh rates up to 144Hz rather than 120Hz, though the latter is only really useful for PC gaming. Neither model can quite match the QD-OLED panel on the Samsung S90D, but the C3 will still look excellent if you're not comparing the two side-by-side and just want to save some cash on a larger premium display. This discount ties the lowest price we've tracked outside of a handful of in-store-only and eBay coupon deals.Sony A95L OLED TV (65") for $2,498 at eBay via BuyDig ($500 off): The A95L is wildly expensive even with this discount, but many reviewers agree that it's the best TV on the market if money is no object. It's another QD-OLED TV like the Samsung S90D, but it's more color-accurate out of the box and should be better at preserving details in shows that aren't presented in 4K. It also supports Dolby Vision, unlike Samsung's TVs, and its Google TV software is generally easier to navigate than Tizen. The only serious drawback is that it's limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports, which may be annoying for those who own a soundbar and multiple game consoles. This discount from ties the lowest price to date for the 65-inch model; just use the code SAVEBIG20 at checkout. It comes from eBay via BuyDig, which Sony lists as an authorized seller.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-2025-super-bowl-tv-deals-from-samsung-lg-sony-and-more-161012315.html?src=rss

A new Fire TV update has quietly removed the ability to hide unwanted apps, but there is way around it using a third-party app.

These are the three Max movies and shows I'm looking forward to streaming this month.

Over the weekend, Elon Musk took to X with a series of tweets claiming that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was a criminal organization that needed to die. By this morning, the agencys doors were closed to employees, logos, and photos of its aid work were stripped from the buildings walls, and its website and social media accounts were gone.We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper, Musk tweeted on Monday. The tech billionaire is also the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which has been given increasingly wide-reaching power just over a month into the Trump administrations second term.The apparent dismantling of USAID comes after hundreds of its employees and contractors were fired or furloughed last week. On Saturday, five sources told NBC News that USAIDs director of security and his deputy were placed on administrative leave after attempting to stop DOGE employees from accessing secure USAID systems.Multiple U.S. legislators have warned that changes to the structure of USAID should not be under the executive branchs jurisdiction alone. Still, Musk appears to be moving ahead with attempting to shut down the agency.With regard to the USAID stuff, I went over [it] with [Trump] in detail, and he agreed that we should shut it down, Musk said in a video posted to X this weekend.So what is USAID, and what could a shutdown of the agency mean? Heres what you need to know:What is USAID?USAID was created in 1961 as Americas first single agency charged with spearheading foreign economic assistance, bringing together several existing programs under one umbrella. The agencys stated purpose is to [administer] aid to foreign countries to promote social and economic development.According to an archived USAID webpage, President John F. Kennedy said of the agency at the time of its creation, There is no escaping our obligations: our moral obligations as a wise leader and good neighbor in the interdependent community of free nationsour economic obligations as the wealthiest people in a world of largely poor people, as a nation no longer dependent upon the loans from abroad that once helped us develop our own economyand our political obligations as the single largest counter to the adversaries of freedom.What does USAID do?Over more than six decades of operations, USAID has taken a number of different approaches to administering foreign aid.In the 1970s, the agency focused on a basic human needs approach, mainly working to provide resources like food and nutrition, health assistance, and education. In the 1980s, it pivoted to larger programs focused on stabilizing foreign financial systems and currencies (in 1989, USAID played a lead role in planning and implementing programs following the fall of the Berlin Wall, according to the archived web page.)In 2023, USAID managed over $40 billion of appropriations provided to around 130 countries, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Of that amount, $16.8 billion went toward governance, while $10.5 billion went to humanitarian aid and $7 billion to health efforts. Per the CRS, the top 10 recipients of USAID funds in 2023 were Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Syria.Reflecting USAIDs poverty reduction mandate, 70 of the 77 World Bank-determined low- and lower-middle income countries received USAID assistance in FY2023, the CRS report notes. USAID programmed 40% of its funds in Europe and Eurasia in FY2023, the majority of which were for Ukraine.Why is this attempted shutdown happening?DOGEs purported mission has been to take an entrepreneurial approach to government by slashing excess regulations, [cutting] wasteful expenditures, and [restructuring] Federal Agencies. Musk is framing the attempted shutdown of USAID as part of that individualistic mission, calling the agency a scam and a grift. This morning, Musk reposted a tweet stating, Stop giving $ to countries that hate us.Meanwhile, experts are warning that killing USAID could have immediate effects on the U.S.s ability to deliver foreign aid, and that rebuilding the agency from the ground up would require a massive effort.Its a national security tool kit that has been developed over 60 years, Jeremy Konyndyk, president of the aid group Refugees International, said in an interview with The Washington Post. And if its destroyed, it cannot be easily rebuilt.

Want more housing market stories from Lance LambertsResiClubin your inbox?Subscribeto theResiClubnewsletter.This week, the U.S. is set to impose new tariffs as part of President Donald Trumps trade policy. Imports from Canada and Mexico are facing an additional 25% tariffwith the only exception being energy resources from Canada, which will have a 10% tariff addedwhile imports from China will be subject to a new 10% tariff.Although there were signs on Monday that at least some of these tariffs may be delayed, builders have already been feeling anxious. Indeed, on Friday the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) published a public letter asking Trump to exempt building materials from the increased tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing their harmful effect on housing affordability.The reason for the unease: Even before the tariff announcement, homebuilders were feeling pinched by spiked construction and labor costsjust look at the National Association of Home Builders latest national averages for itemized costs in each stage of construction for a new single-family home.In 2022, the average sales price of new single-family homes sampled by NAHB was $644,750 and includes costs for construction, the finished lot, financing, overhead and general expenses, marketing, sales commission, and profit. Total construction costs for the average new single-family home included in the survey was $392,241.In 2024, the average sales price of new single-family homes sampled by NAHB was $665,298 and total construction costs for the average new single-family home included in the survey was $428,215.Among new builds included in the survey, thats a 3.2% jump for average sales price and a 9.2% jump for total construction costs.Since mortgage rates spiked in late spring 2022, lower housing demandalong with builders in many markets offering more incentives and affordability adjustments to attract buyershas squeezed margins off the historic highs achieved during the pandemic housing boom. For some homebuilders, rising input and construction costs have further compressed margins over the past two years. See the chart below. (Note: Each category below includes all the costs paid by a builder that go into a particular item, including labor costs paid directly by the general contractor, the cost of hiring subcontractors, and the cost of materials, however they are purchased.)Homebuilders have seen one major area of relief: framing. During the pandemic housing boom, a surge in housing demand and remodeling demand collided with supply chain disruptions, sending lumber prices to historic highs. Sawmills, which had cut production early in the pandemic expecting a slowdown, struggled to keep up as demand soared, causing lumber prices to skyrocket.Lumber prices came back down as supply chains improved and demand for remodeling softened, thus lowering costs for framing.Indeed, the price per thousand board feet of lumber, currently at $592, is 58.3% below its peak of $1,419 in May 2021. Some lumber futures contracts at the time in spring 2021 were trading for over $1,700 per thousand board feet.The problem for homebuilders: The one area of price relieflumberalso happens to be one of the most vulnerable to a price squeeze if the new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods remain in place.Around 30% of the softwood lumber used in the U.S. is imported from Canada. This softwood lumber already faces an average duty of 15%, which could rise to 40% if Trumps additional tariffs take effect.

Designer Willo Perron has created a curving runway for the Spring-Summer 2025 show for fashion house Chanel, which took place in the newly restored Grand Palais in Paris.The curving, white structure is composed of two large C-shaped ramps stretched out to resemble an infinity symbol and pays homage to the '"infinite excellence of Haute Couture".Chanel and designer Willo Perron created a curved runway for the brand's Spring-Summer 2025 showThe show took place at the centre of the newly restored Grand Palais, which recently reopened after a significant restoration by Chatillon Architects and also served as a venue for the 2024 Olympics.Chanel said the brand has a "long-standing" relationship with the institution.Read: The Grand Palais was the most significant building of 2024"We have been the exclusive and long-standing patron of the Grand Palais since 2018 and in July 2024 renewed our commitment," Chanel told Dezeen. "Chanel thus becomes the Major Patron of the Grand Palais."Founder of Los Angeles studio Perron-Roettinger Willo Perron designed the runway to resemble the logo of the Chanel fashion house, two Cs that are linked at the centre.It is composed of two elongated C-shaped ramps"In the centre of the Nave at the Grand Palais, the runway is formed by a double C that sketches out the infinity symbol," said Chanel. "The infinite excellence of Haute Couture."The two forms rise at their centres, supported by metallic-wrapped bases, while each tail descends to touch the floor. Spectators were placed around the edges of the volumes and models ascended and descended along the centre, passing along the Palais floor.The runway sits at the centre of the newly restored Grand PalaisThe clothing on show featured a range of colourful materials including embroidered chiffons and the brand's distinct tweeds as an ode to Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel's use of colour, despite her well-known use of black.The collection was further organised to reflect the passage of daytime to nighttime, beginning with soft pastels that blend into darker hues.Models ascended and descended the structure's sloped curves"With her radical use of black, the couturire brought about a major aesthetic revolution," said Chanel. "Yet, she was also a great colourist."Chanel recently converted a Brooklyn diner into a pop-up shop, while Willo Perron worked with American design studio Sized and USM on a Los Angeles exhibition.Dezeen named the Grand Palais as the most significant building of 2024 in the last of our 21st-Century Architecture series.The photography is courtesy of ChanelThe post Willo Perron creates sculptural Chanel runway in restored Grand Palais appeared first on Dezeen.

As Mexico City art week kicks off, Dezeen has selected 10 exhibitions and showcases in architecture and design, from a collection of architect Alberto Kalach's notebooks to fairs showcasing collectible and industrial design.Anchored by Zona Maco, the yearly art week has been a stop on the international fair circuit for years, but only recently began to be a destination for designers.Galleries, institutions, and even full fairs dedicated to design have cropped up to represent the design world in the Mexican capital.Read on for 10 exhibitions to visit during Mexico City art week 2025.Woven Kitchen at Studio DavidpompaMexican industrial design studio Davidpompa will host an exhibition in collaboration with the iconic local restaurant Contramar at it's Roma Norte showroom.Drawing influence from the menu of Contramar chef Gabriela Cmara, the studio will showcase its newest collections alongside deconstructed cuisines, set in scenography laden with palma. Dezeen has collaborated with the studio to create an architectural guide to the city in celebration of the art week.4 to 9 February, Colima 264, Roma Nte., Cuauhtmoc, 06000Find out more about Woven Materials Feria Territorio at Espacio CDMXThe founders of October's Design Week Mexico have entered the fray with an exhibition hosted in the recently renovated Flix Candela-designed Espacio CDMX pavilion in Chapultepec Park.Furniture and objects by local designers such as Raul de la Cerda, Acoocooro, Drica and more will be on view for the first iteration of the fair.5 to 9 February, Av. de los Compositores 4, Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc, Miguel HidalgoManufacturing Processes by Manufactura at Laguna Local design and technology studio Manufactura will showcase a variety of manufacturing methods based onn circular materials and 3D printing at the Laguna art space within a Productora-designed restoration of a textile factory in the Doctores neighbourhood.A variety of other art and design showcases will be on at Laguna, including the opening of an outpost for Mexico City collectible design gallery ngulo Cero.1 to 9 February, C. Dr. Lucio 181, Doctores, Cuauhtmoc, 06720Alberto Kalach Through His Sketchbooks at BY Galera de ArquitecturaNomadic gallery BY Galera de Arquitectura will be showcasing decades of drawings and sketches by iconic Mexico City architect Alberto Kalach at a space in San Miguel Chapultepec.It is the first major exposition of the architect's drawings, and the gallery will present the work in an unfolding way, with new pages being revealed each day.4 to 9 February, Foro Rebollar. C. Gob. Rebollar 95Zona Maco DiseoMexican industrial designer Cecilia Len de la Barra will curate a section within the Zona Maco art fair that showcases a variety of designers, galleries and branded exhibitions.Each year the curators select a series of emerging designers that are showcased in the middle of the section. Other special exhibits at the fair include photography and antiques.5 to 9 February, del Conscripto 311, Lomas de Sotelo, Miguel Hidalgo, 11200Earthling; Life through Earth by Taller Los Tepalcates at Ago ProjectsCollectible design gallery Ago Projects will showcase work created by sisters Laura Enriquez Chvez and Asuncin Enriquez Chvez with Mexico City designer Durbecq.The work will include ceramic works for the home created using techniques Taller Los Tepalcates has for years put to use in their vibrant ceramic sculptures.3 February onwards, Paseo de la Reforma 382The Materia Archive 20202024 at Materia StudioLocal design agency and publisher Materia will launch a book highlighting the work of hundreds of architects and designers, with essays and photographs.The book collects the last four years of work by Materia's in-house magazine combined with new explorations of ancestry and design evolution, focusing on Mexico. The book will be launched on 7 February and then be available for viewing by appointment.Serapio Rendn 8, San RafaelUnique Design X at Expo RerformaNomadic design fair Unique Design X will return to the Expo Reforma alongside art fair Material for another edition, showcasing work by designers such as Hector Esrawe and Aldo lvarez Tostado.Known for thematic installations that accompany the gallery booths, the fair will also include a skateable object park to be used throughout the duration of the fair.8 to 11 February, Av. Morelos 67, Jurez, CuauhtmocBurn, Burn, Burn by Marcelo Suro at Base_showroomGuadalajara-based designer Marcelo Suro will showcase a collection of works with local design consultancy Base Agency.Working in what he calls "semifunctional typologies", Suro's work includes furniture and decor items crafted materials such as bronze, stone and glass.5 February onward, Calle Agustn Melgar 39, Condesa,Eny Lee Parke for CC-Tapis at Casa-Estudio Max CettoNew York designer Enny Lee Parker will showcase a new collection of two-dimensional ceramics for rug brand CC-Tapis at an iconic modernist house in Mexico City.Curated by Studio 84, the exhibition will also include work by designer studio Doshi Levien, as well as lighting by Flos and other design objects brought by Unno Gallery.Feb 4 to 8, by appointment only, Agua 130 Jardines del Pedregal, lvaro Obregn, 01900Mexico City art week takes place from 4-9 February 2025 across venues in Mexico City. See Dezeen Events Guidefor more architecture and design events around the world.The post Ten exhibitions for design lovers during Mexico City art week appeared first on Dezeen.